Chapter 26: Back in the Saddle Again

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The whole day long, all Jacob could think about was the coming evening. It was slowly torturing him—sort of a welcome torture though. It was time that he and Bella could come together once again and celebrate their love for each other. During the break between classes, he called her. "Hey, Bells. Did you get to see the midwife today? Yeah, and what did she say? Great, so everything's back to normal then? Okay, so I'll see later. Love you, bye."

To Bella, the conversation went something like this … Translation: "Hey, Bells. You better have seen the midwife today. Good, thank god, I can't wait much longer. I have to know what she said. Great, that means we can get it on tonight. Okay, I'll race home as quick as I can, so I can to see all of you naked tonight, and we can thunder under the covers. Love you to the moon and back, bye."

There wasn't much going on at the garage, so Jacob decided it was quitting time a little earlier than usual. It was just as well, he couldn't keep his mind on the job anyway. The boss let him go, and wished him a pleasant weekend. Yeah, if Jacob had his way about it, the weekend would be very pleasant indeed. He was punched out and in his car driving home in two shakes of a wolf's tail.

There it was, looming before him, home sweet home. When he stepped into the living room, he could see straight into the kitchen.

His wife was at the counter cutting up vegetables for dinner. As far as he was concerned, she was more beautiful than ever. Her hair was shinier, her skin glowing. Her figure had also filled out some. It was no longer girlish, but rather womanly, and in his eyes at least, sexier. He got closer and that scent of strawberries enveloped him. He hoped she never stopped using that shampoo, 'cuz he had come to associate that fragrance with his Bella. It started his heart racing every time he inhaled it.

And so while she was starting supper, Jacob sauntered into the kitchen.

"What are you doing home so early?" she asked.

He leaned against a chair, nonchalance being the look he was aiming for. "Oh well, you know, it's Friday and I thought, what the hell, I'll go home and see if Bella needs any help with dinner or anything."

Okay, so his excuse was pretty thin, and Bella was no dummy. She could see right through his little ruse, but it was kinda sweet, so she didn't call him on it.

His wife never once missed a chop of her knife, as she continued preparing the potatoes to go in the oven. She never even turned around to look at him. She was acutely aware of what was on his mind. He knew she'd gone to the doctor today, and that could only mean one thing.

Dammit, she wasn't playing along. Why wouldn't she at least turn around and pay some attention to her love-hungry husband. Well, I guess love-hungry wasn't exactly the correct adjective, since she saw to his needs in other ways, but it just wasn't the same as being able to physically love her the way he wanted to. It was driving him crazy just thinking about it.

Part two of his strategy coming right up! "I'm really tired, so I'll probably hit the hay early tonight. I'm gonna go shave and shower, and get that outta the way. I'll take Liam in with me, so you won't have to bathe him tonight."

Boy, he really had it all worked out. Bella's face split into an amused grin. He was so adorable when he was trying to be sneaky.

Running into their bedroom, Jacob lifted his son from the crib, kissing his forehead. "C'mere, Buddy, I missed you. Whaddya ya say, you get in the shower with your Daddy, huh? Won't that be fun?"

Liam made sweet little cooing noises, and smiled at his father. Jacob pressed him to his cheek, rubbing it against the infant's soft skin. "God, I love you, little guy. You are so damn cuuuute, just like Daddy."

He hoisted him up to his eye level and peppered his tiny face with a hundred kisses. Then he gazed into the those blue-brown innocent eyes. "Jacob loves your mommy whole bunches too, did you know that? Yeah, and he wants to give her lots of lovin' tonight. Now, you're gonna be a good boy and stay asleep tonight, right? 'Cuz otherwise, Daddy's gonna cry louder than you can. You don't wanna see a big boy like Daddy cry, do you?"

Whistling Hey There Little Red Riding Hood, he stripped off Liam's clothes and diaper, then doffed his own. The two of them got into the stall.

. . . . .

After donning his clothes—and wishing they'd be staying off instead—he re-dressed his pride and joy and went downstairs carrying Liam and his infant seat.

Her head turned slightly as he walked back into the room. He held his son up, so Bella could see him. "Look, honey, we both smell clean and fresh now."

"Yeah, you're fresh all right," she laughingly muttered.

Placing the baby in the infant seat, he crept up behind Bella and all at once, pounced on her grabbing her around the waist, as she shrieked in surprise. He growled at her, saying, "Mmn, you smell good too."

He tucked his head sideways into the crook of her neck, licking it, slowly and sensuously. "Mmn, you even taste good." He growled once more, "The better to eat you, my dear."

Pivoting around quickly, she tapped his upper arm with a wooden spoon. "Jacob Black—you're not fooling anybody, you know."

His head jerked back and he put on his most innocent expression. "Why, whatever do you mean, oh wife of mine?" He batted his long dark eyelashes at her in mock sincerity.

She tossed her head. "Cut the crap, Jake, and don't give me that look. You know perfectly well, what I'm talking about. Admit it; you've been counting the days. You're just dying to get me in the sack again, aren't you?"

His attempt at levity went out the window. His true feeling came pouring out in a deluge of words. "Hell, yeah. Big deal, haven't you thought about it? What's wrong with wanting to make love to my beautiful wife?" He sighed loudly, "That word—every time I say it—I want to shout it out. Yes, I've been counting the days, and yes, I wanna get you in the sack tonight. Liam and I even made up a pact. He's gonna be good so we'll have time to do it up right. Jeez, I need you so bad, Bells. Please don't turn me down, I'll curl up and die. It's been sooo many weeks; I've almost forgotten what it feels like. I think I've waited long enough; you gotta put me outta my misery. I mean it; I'm getting desperate for some real lovin' here."

She contorted her face in a semblance of concern. "But, Jake," she blurted. "I'm not ready yet."

Waiting until she could see his face fall in utter distress, she lit up with a grin. "Not until all the dinner's eaten and the dishes are washed."

It took a minute for that remark to register in his sex-starved brain. As he stood there dumbfounded, Bella drew him closer. "C'mere, loverboy. How about a smokin' kiss from one hot mama."

He captured her lips in a New York second, but just as they were really making time, Liam began to wail.

"Hold that thought," Bella advised him. "He must be hungry."

"That makes two of us," Jacob grumbled.

. . . . .

While at the dinner table, Charlie was amazed at how fast Jacob could eat. He was unusually quiet too. The way he and Bella kept glancing at each other, made him wonder what they were up to, as if he didn't figure it out. He mentally calculated how long it had been since Liam had been born. Yep, right on the dot!

Then he watched as his son-in-law hopped away from the table to help clean up before anyone else was even finished with their food. Needless to say, Jacob must've set a record for kitchen cleaning.

Bella went upstairs to nurse Liam, and put him down to sleep. Jacob commented to her father, "Well, I'm gonna pack it in early tonight. See you tomorrow, Charlie."

Well, at least someone's getting some around here, Charlie thought.

. . . . .

Jacob was cheerfully removing Bella's clothing, and hurling them into the laundry bin, when she straight-armed him. "Hey, big boy, I'm a little nervous about this. It's been a while, you know, so do you think you could take it kind of slow and easy?"

Slow and easy—wasn't that his usual style anyway? He didn't understand the men who rushed through their lovemaking like it was a race to the finish line. It didn't make any sense. Wouldn't they want to prolong their enjoyment? The longer it took, the better he liked it. He wished he could stretch it to make it last even longer. Never a quickie with his Bella; always a longie.

He stopped to comb his fingers through her hair, and kissed her sweetly. "Jeez, Bells, is that what you're worried about? You just had a baby, for cryin' out loud. You know I wouldn't hurt you; I only want to love you, that's all. I promise I'll be real careful." He smiled and winking at her, murmured, "Now, you just relax and enjoy the ride."

His clothes were the next to go, a little faster this time. Then, he eagerly lifted her and placed her down on her pillow. As they lay together on the bed, Jacob began to fondle her breast. At that moment, they both heard the rustling of the mattress in the crib. The baby let a slight whimper escape, and Bella felt her milk come down. Just then, Jacob squeezed her breast a little too firmly, and to his surprise, a stream of liquid sprayed him in the face. Stunned, he looked at Bella who couldn't help giggling.

"Jeez, I think I've been shot at, or else I'm having a very wet dream." A mischievous grin appeared on his face, and then, licking his lips, he quipped, "Hey, not bad. No wonder the kid's always crying for more." He opened his mouth wide. "How 'bout another taste?"

Bella reached over to the nightstand, and handing him a tissue to wipe his face, replied, "Liam gets first dibs, if there are any leftovers, you'll be the first to know."

. . . . .

Jacob kept his part of the bargain; he was gentle and loving. Bella couldn't have been in better hands than his. Liam honored his part also; he slept while they got reacquainted. There were jitters and excitement, and anticipation. The delirious couple felt like newlyweds. Wait—they were newlyweds. Anyway, it was like their first experience all over again; only better this time—much, much better. They fell asleep folded around each other with smiles on their faces. They were back in the saddle again.