Warning: STEAM ahead. I've tried to keep it tame haha … don't read if it's not your thing!

(23/8/2019)

CHAPTER 75

The family headed home from their Christmas lunch in the early evening. Light snow had started to fall as they got closer to home. Everyone had fallen asleep in the car and Jack sat in silence as he drove, occasionally glancing at his wife and children.

Jack pulled the truck into the garage and began waking his daughters. Each of them sleepily headed inside before crashing on the couch. Jack carried Eve in last and set them up with a new DVD that they got as a present that morning. He returned to the truck and unloaded all the gifts and food before opening up Elizabeth's door and undoing her seat belt.

"Beth, sweetie … we're home" he said, caressing her face gently.

Her eyes fluttered open before they focused on him.

"Hey."

"Hey, sleepyhead. Do you feel better?"

Elizabeth smiled at him before pulling him toward her.

"You tell me" she replied as she pressed her lips to his. He leant into her, savouring the moment as their kiss quickly deepened.

Jack pulled back. "Come on, let me get you inside where its warmer."

He helped her out of the car and led her inside, the temperature instantly ten degrees warmer as they shut the door.

"Where are the girls?"

"Watching the new movie."

"Good!" she said yanking Jack by the hand. "I'm going to have a shower, Halley" she called out, "and Daddy is having a rest. I'll be back down soon, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy."

With that Elizabeth pulled Jack upstairs, leading him to their bedroom before she shut and locked the door and dragged him toward their ensuite. Once inside she pulled off her jumper, throwing it on the ground before turning the hot water on. She turned back to Jack as she began to unbutton her white shirt. As the top buttons fell away exposing her skin, Jack was jump started into action. He threw his own clothes off in a hurry, kicking off his shoes and yanking his jeans and underclothes off.

He heard Elizabeth's giggles but as he stood back up with no clothes on, taking in the woman in front of him, her laughter ceased. He moved closer to help her out of her jeans and underwear before she stood in front of him in just her bra. He wrapped his arms around her, finding the clip before he eased it off slowly. His lips found hers and Elizabeth pulled him into the shower without breaking contact.

The water cascaded over them both as his hands moved over her body eagerly. Elizabeth's arms wrapped around Jack's neck, her hands gripping the hair at the back tugging it as her tongue slipped into his mouth. Their kiss was passionate and their bodies responded accordingly now pressed together with the water cascading around them, although her belly was now more prominent, keeping some distance between them.

"You are so beautiful" Jack said as his hands wandered over her.

"I'm huge, Jack."

Jack laughed. "I'm surprised we don't have ten kids. You are even more stunning while pregnant."

"You've never said that before" she said quietly, looking down at him.

"How could I not? This belly …" he said holding her closely. "These beautiful curves …" he said as his hands roamed and his mouth covered hers. She groaned in response. "I can't wait any longer."

"Then don't."

Their eyes met, before their lips collided.

000

After some time in the shower, Elizabeth finally pulled away from Jack and carefully stepped out of the shower. His hands remained holding her hips, making sure she didn't fall.

"I better get back downstairs" Elizabeth said as she towelled herself off.

"Aren't you tired?" Jack asked running his hand down her arm.

Elizabeth smiled. "No. I've been waiting for that all day."

"Just don't push yourself, babe."

Elizabeth gave him a quick peck before leaving the shower. "I guess that means you're not interested in round two tonight then ..." she said with a grin as she wrapped her towel around herself and left the bathroom.

"I didn't say that!" Jack yelled after her. He leant against the shower wall. "I would never say that" he said quietly to himself.

Elizabeth returned back downstairs in her comfy sweats and jumper. Her daughters were unmoved as their eyes glued to the tv. Elizabeth smiled at their predictability. She went to the kitchen to prepare some dinner, her mind drifting back to Jack minutes ago and she could feel her body heating up again. She knew it didn't help her libido was at an all time high right now due to all the hormones running through her body. She finished preparing the dinner while trying to think of things to cool herself back down again. She was succeeding until the sexy man in question walked into the kitchen in nothing but some low hung sweats. Elizabeth dropped the knife she had been holding as it clattered to the bench.

"Babe, I have a problem. I have three spots left on my tattoo for the twins' names. Which two should I use?" he asked as he turned his back to her and pointed at the area he was referring to.

Elizabeth could see where he was referring to but now that his strong muscular back was in front of her still with beads of moisture settled on his skin, her stomach fluttered. Elizabeth ran her finger gently over where he was referring to.

"Hmmm maybe here ... and here ..." she said, noticing her voice was low, almost seductive without her intention.

Jack turned his head to look at her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah" she said breathlessly.

Jack turned into her and then he was lifting her onto the kitchen counter, his lips attacking hers. Her hands clawed at him, pulling him closer. He kissed down her neck and she moaned quietly against him.

"Jack ..."

"Mmmm ..."

"We need to stop."

"You started it" he said as his hand ran up under her jumper, running his finger along the edge of her bra. She arched into him, her body betraying her. He sucked the skin on her neck as his fingers continued to tease her.

"Jack ..." she moaned.

"Wow. You are eager, aren't you baby?"

"Yes."

"Mommy! I'm hungry" Halley said walking into the kitchen. Jack had pulled his hand back in surprise. Halley looked up at Elizabeth on the counter with Jack's arms wrapped around her and didn't think anything strange about it.

"There's a packet of popcorn in the pantry."

Halley's face lit up and she opened the pantry, grabbed the packet and ran back out of the kitchen. The second she was gone, Jack's lips descended on Elizabeth's neck giving her a drawn out kiss to the sweet spot on her neck.

"I hope you got a good sleep in the car" he whispered into her ear, "because I'm going to wear you out tonight."

Then he gave her a wicked grin before helping her off the bench and walking out of the kitchen, giving her a wink over his shoulder as he left. Elizabeth let out a sigh of disappointment as she watched him depart.

The next morning Elizabeth woke to silence. She looked over at the time and found it to be really late. When she went to move, the muscles in her body groaned and she collapsed back on the bed. Then she remembered the events of the night and early morning and a smile overtook her face. Jack had really kept good on his promise.

Elizabeth rolled over carefully and only then did she see the note on the side table in Jack's handwriting.

Baby. Ma offered to take the girls for the afternoon. I've gone to drop them off. I will bring you back some lunch. Don't worry - I will be back to keep you warm and entertained in no time. Stay there. xx J

Elizabeth burst out laughing. She pulled herself from the bed and made her way to the bathroom. After freshening up, she pulled on some comfortable leggings and a long-sleeved top. She brushed out her hair and walked out of the bedroom, toward the stairs. The silence was deafening.

Elizabeth made her way into the kitchen and began to make herself a hot chocolate. It felt weird being left on her own in the house which was usually so full of noise. She grabbed her mug and went into the lounge room and settled herself on the couch and turned on the tv. It had been a long time since she had sat down and had control of the remote. She flicked through the channels until she found some show that looked intriguing. The Mountie character on the show looked like her own Jack. She stared at the screen, finding herself drawn further and further in to the show.

Elizabeth was startled when the couch shifted with weight and as she turned in surprise, she found Jack beside her.

"What are you watching?"

"Some show I found. You have to see this Mountie. He looks so much like you."

Jack laughed. "So he's very handsome?"

"Uh-huh."

Elizabeth's eyes remained glued to the screen waiting for the character to appear. Jack put his arm around her shoulders and after a few minutes, Jack broke the silence.

"I'm a little concerned. You're really fixed on that" he teased her.

"Sssh. You'll see."

A flash of red appeared on the screen and immediately Elizabeth was pointing. "Look at him. He could be your twin!"

Jack focused on the screen. Elizabeth was right, they did look very similar.

"I'm hoping I'm the better looking twin …"

Elizabeth smacked his chest playfully.

"Anyway, I thought I told you to stay in bed" he said as he nuzzled her neck, kissing her gently.

Elizabeth giggled. "We can't stay in bed all day."

"Why not?"

After the previous night, she didn't know who's libido was worse. At least she had the excuse of crazy hormones.

"Jack, aren't you exhausted?"

Jack continued to let his lips wander along her neck.

"You're forgetting. We got remarried five months ago, but I'm still in the honeymoon period. And I want you as much as I can. If we don't have any interruptions, even better."

Jack pulled her down on top of him, his lips devouring hers.

"You're insatiable, Jack. Are you forgetting that I'm five months pregnant?"

"Not at all. It makes you all the more desirable. If you weren't pregnant already, you would be by now."

Elizabeth laughed against his lips. "Well this is the last time, Jack, so make the most of it."

"We'll see about that."

Elizabeth pulled back. "What does that mean?"

"It just means that you and I can't keep away from one another." As he said that, his hands slipped under her shirt, running gently up her sides and pulling her closer.

It was no secret that Jack and Elizabeth had always had a healthy relationship in that respect, at least prior to the accident.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"We'll see how long it takes for you to get pregnant again if you can't stay away from me."

"Jack, you need to think straight for a minute. I know this is just lust talking. Five kids is enough."

Elizabeth looked at him, slightly concerned. He hadn't said or done anything crazy for some time but now she just wasn't sure if she had been paying attention. But he had definitely got her attention now.

"I don't remember having Halley, Grace or Eve when they were born or as they grew up. It's only fair that we have three more to make up for that."

His warm hands moved over her, one hand moving higher to graze over the fabric of her lace bra.

"That is not a reason to have another baby, Jack."

"That isn't the only reason. But let's face it, we can afford it now. You never have to work again, if you don't want to. You love children. You look gorgeous when pregnant."

"You're crazy. It's not going to happen. As soon as the twins are born, I'll get the contraceptive implant.

"You can't get it until you stop breastfeeding." Jack's voice came out muffled as his lips continued to move against Elizabeth's neck, his hand simultaneously moving over her breast.

"I'll take the pill" she said, her voice coming out breathless.

"You will forget." Jack said as he pulled her shirt over her head and quickly removed her bra.

"You could get a vasectomy."

"No chance" he said seriously.

His mouth claimed the skin on her chest and he continued to move lower, sucking and nipping at her skin. She let out a breathless noise as his hands and mouth teased her body into submission. He broke away momentarily.

"Or you could give me what I want …"

Elizabeth moaned, her body betraying her. "Yes."

"Yes what?" he said as his hand slipped into her pants.

"Whatever you want" she sighed.

"Good girl" he said as he rewarded her for her answer.

Elizabeth was laying against Jack, her head nestled into the crook of his neck. She was thinking back to their conversation from earlier. There was no way she was having any more children. She just had to convince Jack. He hadn't had any "relapses" in weeks but she couldn't understand how he could possibly want any more children. She knew the twins were going to provide a lot of challenges and she was certain Jack had no idea how difficult it was going to be.

"We need to think of names, Jack."

"Two of each, I guess?"

"Yes. What do you like?"

"I don't know. What were our previous boy's names?"

"William was when we were having Halley but Lee and Rosie ended up using that."

"Yeah, that won't work. What else?"

"With Grace and Eve we both had Evan but then we chose Eve instead the last time."

"Okay, so that isn't too helpful."

They sat there quietly for a moment.

"You could use Liam though" Jack offered.

"Yeah, that could work. I like Ashlyn for a girl."

"That's alright."

After debating backward and forward, they had put Liam and Ashlyn on the short list but that was it. None of the other names they could agree on. Either Elizabeth had a student that had the name or Jack worked with someone who had the name.

"We have a few more months to make a decision so it's not the end of the world."

"Is it bad that I'm really hoping for boys?" Jack asked, his hand brushing over Elizabeth's back gently.

Elizabeth laughed. "That was what you said when we had Halley. After we had her though, you didn't care anymore."

"I suppose you're right. So long as they are healthy, it really doesn't matter."

"Exactly."