“Hey there, Miss Danger, how are you feeling today?” Tessa asks in a jaunty voice when I pick up the phone from the bedside table and slide it open.

I snort at the little title she’s given me and roll my eyes, leaning back against the pillows stacked behind me in Ben’s bed.

“Miss Danger? Really? It’s not like I intentionally drove into a pole,” I chuckle.

“I know, I know, but it’s still pretty badass that you survived it. People die in less dramatic car wrecks all the time, you know,” she says matter-of-factly.

“Thanks for the grim reminder, Tess,” I laugh. “I’ll try really hard not to fixate on that lovely statistic when I finally recover to the point of being able to drive again.”

“You’re going to drive again after what happened?” she gasps. “You couldn’t get me behind a steering wheel ever again for a million dollars if I was in an accident like that. I’d be scarred for life. So scary.”

“Well, you say that now, but trust me, after being in the hospital for a while and now being on bed rest for a couple weeks, I’m more than ready to get out of the house and go somewhere. Literally anywhere at all. I’ve been fantasizing about going to a coffee shop for a latte or even just doing some routine grocery shopping. It’s that bad.

“I’m not used to sitting around doing nothing. Usually, I’m so busy I hardly have time to sleep, much less lounge around the house all day like an invalid. I’m so bored, Tess. I must have watched every episode of Wheel of Fortune ever recorded by now,” I groan.

She giggles. “Not going to lie, that actually sounds pretty amazing to me. Just lying in bed, watching game show re-runs, having a sexy man dote on you and fulfil your every need. I’d love to boss my husband around for a bit,” she sighs wistfully.

“Yeah, I mean, I am definitely grateful to have Ben around to take care of me. He’s at work a lot, but whenever he’s home, it’s like he wants to make up for lost time. He treats me so well. I’m really spoiled here with him,” I gush, my mouth forming a happy grin that Tessa can probably hear over the phone from all the way in Denver.

“Good! You deserve a break, girl. Even before the accident, you were working your butt off.” Half-jokingly, she adds, “Ooh, what if this accident is just fate intervening to force you to take some time off?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Well, if that’s the case, I sure wish fate could have found a less painful way to make that statement. I’m healing up nicely, but it still hurts.”

“You’ll get there. Just be patient,” she advises.

“I’m certainly trying. But patience is, um, not my forte,” I admit with a chuckle.

“I know, hon. But you’ve got to heal so you can get right back in the saddle again. Oh, and speaking of bed rest, by the way,” Tess begins cryptically, “I have some news for you.”

“Uh oh. What’s going on?” I inquire curiously.

“Don’t worry. It’s good news!” she exclaims, and this time I’m the one who can hear her grinning through the phone. “I’m pregnant again!”

I gasp. “Oh my God. Tessa, that’s great! Congratulations!”

“Thank you, thank you. I’m pretty excited about it. Luke and I have been trying for a while, so it’s really the answer to our prayers. We want a big family, and this brings us one step closer to our dream,” she says.

“How far along are you? Can you, you know, feel it yet?” I ask.

“Not quite yet. But soon, I think. I’m already starting to crave pickles and peanut butter again, just like with the last pregnancy. Of course, that may just be my own gross craving and have nothing to do with the baby,” she says, laughing. “You should totally come visit sometime, soon! I would love to catch up and hang out in person. You know, once you’re able to move around and stuff more easily.”

“Oh, definitely. I’m dying to see you guys and the little one. Ben and I both work so hard, but we’re trying to be better about remembering to take a break now and again. So, yes, a visit would be a great idea!” I tell her enthusiastically.

“Yay! And of course, you should bring Ben. I can’t wait to meet him. And thank him for taking such good care of my best friend,” Tessa says warmly. I hear what sounds like a soft, whiny voice in the background and Tessa adds, “Oh! Looks like Kayleigh just woke up from her nap. I better go check on her before she starts wailing. Can I call you back tonight after she’s gone off to bed?”

“Yeah, sure! Of course,” I reply. “Tell Kayleigh that Auntie Claire says hi.”

“I will. She’ll love that. Bye!” my friend chirps brightly.

“Later, Tess,” I say, hanging up.

With a happy sigh, I glance over at the clock on the bedside table.

It’s still only mid-afternoon. I have hours to wait until Ben gets home from work.

I decide that the fastest way to make the time go by is to take a nap, so I carefully slide down under the sheets and watch daytime soap operas until I drift off to sleep.

The sun has already gone down by the time I wake up to the soft, gentle prodding of the man I love. I’m still wrapped up in the sheets, loopy and hazy.

At first, I don’t even notice Ben is here, because he’s creeping up from the end of the bed so slowly. When I see him, I burst out laughing in surprise and he chuckles, leaning forward to kiss me on the lips, his hand cupping my cheek.

“How was your day, babe?” he asks, sitting next to me and stroking my hair.

I shrug. “Ah, it was good. Boring, mostly. I sat here watching TV like the doctor ordered. Oh! And I got a call from Tessa earlier. She told me she’s pregnant again.”

His eyebrows arch in surprise. “Wow, really? That’s a big deal.”

I nod and reply, “Yeah, she’s really excited about it. She and her husband Luke want a big family, so it all makes sense. Her day sounded much more riveting than mine, just sitting here. It feels weird, not being busy.”

“I know what you mean. I always feel so restless when I’m not working. Or at least, I used to feel that way. But now, I find myself kind of wishing the work days would go a little faster. I’m sure you can probably guess why,” Ben insinuates, giving me a wink.

I giggle and reach up for him, taking his hand and tugging him down to the bed.

“Well, you know . . . it’s been long enough that we don’t need to worry about that anymore,” I say with a smile I’ve been waiting all day to give him.

He raises his eyebrows and stares at me, scanning me from head to toe. “Wait, are you sure?”

“If I wasn’t,” I say, holding his eyes captive while I slowly undo his belt and slide his pants down. “I wouldn’t be doing this.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he says gently despite the fire burning in his eyes.

My heart is pounding. I’ve waited long enough. We’ve waited long enough.

“Then we’ll be gentle,” I assure him with a smirk, and I guide him onto the bed.

His clothes come off and his cock springs forth. It’s already stiff and ready, probably swelling up from the moment I touched his hand. The effect I have on Ben is something I’ll never get tired of.

I get on my knees on the bed while he sits back. I lick my lips, staring down at his impressive cock before I open my mouth and take him between my lips.

My tongue brushes against his velvety head as I massage his shaft with my hand. It’s like we never took a break from being intimate.

I don’t care about waiting anymore. I need this, and he sure as hell needs this. It doesn’t take long before I feel his cock pulse against my tongue. I get bolder, going further down his shaft and feeling more of him in my mouth.

He grips the sheets and groans, the thick sound coming from his chest urging me on. I work my tongue along the underside of his cock until I feel his crown touching the back of my throat. I work past the natural resistance of my body, working him up and down with my lips tight around his cock. Then there’s no room for my hand on his shaft anymore, and I start playing with his balls too.

I lose myself in him. Just as promised, he’s gentle, only stroking my hair and gripping the sheets, but I want more. I tease him, working his shaft relentlessly, trying to get him to come, and soon, I hear him draw in a sharp breath and start to push me away.

I obey, slowly running the tip of my tongue up his shaft and all the way to the tip. I smile at the strained, delighted look on his face.

“Fuck,” he groans, “I missed this. And I missed you,” he says, getting onto his knees and gently pushing me onto my back.

I let him, offering no resistance as he strips me naked and looks down at my body with hunger in his intense eyes. He doesn’t want to wait around any longer than I do.

He carefully picks up my legs and perches his wet cock against my pussy, then he slowly slides into me. Even though he’s being gentle, his strong hands have complete control over me, gripping my hips as he works his way in. His head falls back, and I look up at the strong, gorgeous man enjoying every second of my body and every inch of my pussy.

He starts to rock back and forth, and I reach up to feel his ripped abs and cut sides as he works, slowly moving in and out of me, really feeling everything we have to offer each other. He lowers his hands to my head, cupping my face and pressing a kiss to my lips. One hand fondles my stiff nipples as he thrusts into me. Gradually, he picks up his speed.

He’s so gentle and strong at the same time, and as our tongues dance and his hand holds the back of my head, I feel close to him—closer than I’ve ever felt to anyone.

He starts to move faster and faster, almost frantically, but he’s never too rough. My muscles clench around him, gripping him, and I feel his cock throb inside me, desperate for release.

“I want to feel you,” I moan against his mouth. “Give me everything you’ve been saving up, Ben.”

He opens his eyes and looks into mine, letting himself lose control, as my body tenses up. In a single beautiful moment, we come together, exploding against each other as our momentum keeps us moving to the same rhythm. He growls as our orgasms run their course.

Moment by moment, our bliss smooths out, and we’re left staring into each other’s eyes. His cock is still stiff in me, and we don’t plan on moving any time soon.

We’re as close as we can get physically. We have each other in every way possible. And we’re only going to grow even stronger together.