Ricardo taps his fingers against the armrest of the couch he's sitting on, on the phone listening intently to the booker on the other end. "Yeah," he says. "I'd love to do some dates in Texas in the future." He smiles a little, realizing that sometimes, yeah, he does miss that state. California will always be home, but Texas had had its charms as well. "Just email me a schedule and I'll let you know."
He's just hung up when he hears a soft tapping on the door and looks up to find Alicia peering in at him, a faint smile on her face when he motions her in. She slowly settles down in the couch next to him and he turns to face her. "Texas, huh?" she asks, quietly stroking her stomach.
"Yeah. Everything ok?" he reaches out for her, sprawling his hand over hers and she nods.
"Ye- yeah..." But then her face twists in pain and he leans closer to her. "It's, it's fine," she says. "I described them to my doctor and she says they're braxton hicks."
"Oh, I remember those, AJ had them. Like, false contractions, right?" At Alicia's nod, Ricardo begins rubbing circles against her stomach. "A precursor to the real thing."
"Yeah." Alicia smiles shakily. "I guess that means it's getting really close."
Ricardo nods, exhaling slowly. "Yeah, I guess it does." He leans in and cradles her face, gently kissing her. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," she breathes against his lips and he smiles. "Our baby is going to be so gorgeous."
"I think so too," he whispers, leaning back to look down at where their hands are interlocked over her stomach. "And extremely loved."
Her eyes shine as she stares back at him, so many emotions lost in her gaze that he can't pinpoint any of them outside of adoration. "Yes, of course." They kiss again and she sighs when he gently eases her up, sliding in behind her on the couch, before leaning hr back against him and hugging her close. She hums as he tilts her face towards him, exploring along her jaw and throat with his lips, sometimes nibbling against her heated flesh or tasting her with slight presses of his tongue.
"Alicia," he hums into her skin as her toes press into his calves and she whimpers, the rolling cramps absolutely forgotten as his touch steals away all of her senses, leaving her focused on nothing but him, the warmth of his mouth and the comfort of his hands on her. "You always taste so good," he informs her with a faint smile as she trails her fingers up and down his jaw, just needing to touch him somehow.
"You feel amazing," she whispers to him and his smile grows as he resumes his ministrations, Alicia exhaling slowly when she drifts along on pure comfort and pleasure, never feeling better than she has right now, in his arms.
As she stares up into his eyes and traces his jaw with her trembling fingers, tension draining from her body in one, dizzying rush, her resolve deepens. It can't happen any other way, she informs herself even as she gasps out his name against his jaw, clinging to him.
I won't let it.