“Do you see Beni and Adil at that table?” someday my tongue or my cock to be trapped under here.”
“Phineas!” she gasped as he grinned unrepentant at her.
“Your body is incredible, Juniper. Every single curve, line, twist of it, has consumed my every thought.”
“Phineas,” she whispered as he went back to washing her off, “can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything you like.”
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep trying for a baby because I kept failing at it.”
“You didn’t fail, Juniper. Your body wasn’t ready and Kyst’s sperm was the problem. We’re sticking with this theory.”
“I know but it felt like it was me since it happens to me, but I didn’t want to try again and Kyst insisted we try, and I was annoyed about it.”
“Okay.”
“But now that it’s gone, and my body is acting like it never even happened, I realize, I really kind of wish I had a baby. I didn’t know how much I wanted it until it was gone again.”
“I tell you what,” Phineas shut the water off and reached for a towel and wrapped it around her body, tucking it under her arms and then reached for a second one to towel off her hair, “when you are feeling better, when the world doesn’t feel so volatile and your heart isn’t so bruised, there will be three men at your beck and call to give you as many babies as you want. If it doesn’t work the natural way, we will adopt or steal one for you.”
“You can’t steal a baby, Phineas,” she felt tears stinging her eyes at his sweetness.
“I would for you.” He smiled softly. “We all would burn this world to the ground for you Juniper. I don’t think you understand the impact you have on us in such a brief period of time.”
“All three of you?”
“All three of us.” He swept her up, carried her to the bedroom, and set her on the side of the bed. He looked around, “we may need a bigger bed though but for now, this one will do.”
“You’re really all going to stay with me?”
“There is nowhere else any of us want to ever be.”
“I think,” she pouted prettily, “I could really use some cuddles.”
“Then cuddles it is.”
He rubbed his chest with pride and smirked, “you like, sweetheart?”
“You have tattoos. How come I never noticed them before?”
He was edging her backwards into the shower and she eyeballing the ink on his chest. “Does that say Mama?”
“It does. I got it when my parents were going through a rough spot to show my support for her.” He stared at Juniper, “I hope you don’t ever take Kyst back.”
She shook her head, “are you kidding? My mama would kick my ass from here to Mexico and back. It’s a long way to Mexico from here.”
He chuckled, “it sure is.” He turned the water on and when it was warm enough stood her under the spray. “How is your tummy now?”
“Empty.”
“Are you hungry?”
“No. I mean, there used to be a baby in there, but it’s gone now. It’s empty. I think Kyst must have been jerking off all his good sperm and I was getting the leftovers.”
“I’m sorry you are sad, sweetheart,” he pressed a kiss to her forehead as he reached for shampoo to wash her hair.
She closed her eyes as his long fingers worked vigilantly to get the mess out of her hair.
“Don’t fall asleep on me in here,” Phineas’ commanding voice was low and soft as he rinsed her hair.
“It feels good.” She whispered as he washed it a second time. “Do you think I’m a bad person?”
“Why would I ever think such a thing?”
“Because I’m really sad I am not having a baby, but I don’t know if I’m sad about Kyst.”
“You’re not sad about Kyst?”
“I’m really angry.”
“You have every right to be angry.”
“Is it possible for love, real love, to evaporate?”
“I think,” Phineas put a good measure of conditioner in her hair as she remained with her eyes closed, “when someone you love deeply violates your trust on such a level it scorches the love beyond recognition. There will always be the ashes and remnants of the love, the memories of the good times and the happier moments but that betrayal is like a blanket of ash over it all. You can’t get it clean after and so it’s important to let it go.”
“Beni told me your dad cheated on your mom.
**
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.