Coop

TWO YEARS LATER…

“Hurry,” I call into the kitchen. “It’s about to come back on.”

“I swear if you tell me to hurry one more time,” Eden says as she enters the living room, “I’m going to cut your balls off.”

I wince. “Babe, that’s harsh.”

Eden glares at me as she walks—no, waddles—around the couch carrying a bowl of popcorn. She sits down beside me, causing the cushions to indent enough that I roll slightly toward her.

She blows up a breath of air that lifts her bangs from her forehead and leans back with a hefty sigh. “I’m miserable.”

“I know, honey,” I say soothingly and with complete sympathy. While I think she’s cute as hell with her rounded tummy and grouchy attitude because she’s so big, I don’t like my woman feeling any sort of discomfort. Unfortunately, being six months pregnant with twins has brought about a lot of discomfort for Eden.

“Want to lie down and put your head on my lap?” I suggest.

“I’m not giving you a blow job,” she snorts.

Laughing, I flick my finger lightly at her earlobe, assuredly one of the places on her body that feels normal. “I don’t want a blow job. I just want you to be comfortable.”

“That won’t be comfortable,” she grumbles. “Heartburn is worse if I lie down.”

“Lean forward and I’ll rub your back,” I offer.

She glares at me. “Lean forward how? My stomach is the size of a beach ball.”

“Want me to rub your tummy?” I ask, running out of options to make her feel better.

Eden shakes her head glumly as she picks a piece of popcorn out of the bowl and eats it.

“I’ve got it,” I say as I’m struck with inspiration. I lean forward, push the coffee table away from the couch, and then drop down to the carpet on my butt near her feet. I pick up her leg closest to me, turn my body slightly so it’s resting over my thigh, and I start to massage her foot.

Eden groans in relief as her head flops back against the couch. I grin, happy I’m making her feel good.

“That feels amazing,” she mutters, but then her head pops up to look at me. “But I hate my feet. They’re swollen and look awful and I don’t want you to see them.”

“Eden,” I say. “You are more beautiful than I’ve ever known you to be, and that’s because you’re pregnant with our kids. It’s your round belly, and the way you waddle, and your swollen feet that I find un-fucking-believably attractive. In fact, I’ve got a hard-on right now just thinking about you that way.”

She snorts, but I’m not sure why. I totally have a hard-on. I’ve never been hornier for my wife since we found out she was pregnant. I’ll be fucking her tonight, gently, of course. The great thing about her being pregnant is that she’s turned on all the time too from the hormones. It’s fucking awesome.

“It’s on,” Eden says as she nods toward the TV, and I turn my head that way as I continue to massage her foot.

We watch the Oscars ceremony as the nominees for best actress are named. Eden is number four on that list for her role in Farewell, Gemma, which was the period piece she filmed in Ireland and London. I’ve got a soft spot for that movie, since it was a catalyst for me to get my head out of my ass.

We’re watching the live ceremony from the comfort of Goodnight House for two reasons. First and foremost, Eden’s six months pregnant with twins and we don’t want her traveling. Second, and probably just as important, Eden didn’t want to go. It’s not that she’s ungrateful for the nomination, or that she’s too good to attend. It’s just that she wanted to spend such an important night with only me, so she could experience it through my reactions. No spotlight, no one watching…just her and me on the edge of our seats, dying to know if she won. Doesn’t mean we won’t go to the next one, because there’s no doubt my wife will get nominated again. She’s that fucking good, and I know that because I’ve seen all of her movies multiple times.

An actress who I know but can’t place her name reads from the podium. “And the winner is…” She gives a long pause as she opens the envelope. “Eden Goodnight, for Farewell, Gemma.”

“Holy fucking shit,” I yell out at the top of my lungs as I explode off the floor.

The camera briefly pans the audience while a male announcer says in the background, “This is Miss Goodnight’s second nomination and second award for best actress,” then goes back to the actress on stage. “Eden is at home in Georgia waiting on the arrival of her twins, so I’m happy to accept this award on her behalf.”

She holds up the shiny gold Oscar and smiles at the camera.

I jump up and down, knowing I look like a lunatic, and then turn toward Eden, who is grinning at me.

“Holy fucking shit,” I repeat in amazement, then lean down to kiss Eden hard. “You fucking won.”

“I heard,” she says with a laugh.

“You’re amazing,” I tell her as I squat down between her legs, crossing my arms on her lap. “Simply amazing.”

“You’re sweet and I love you for saying that,” she says as she reaches out to run her fingers through my hair.

Leaning forward, I lay my cheek gently against her stomach. Sometimes I can feel one or both of the twins kick against me, but they’re silent now. Sleeping, I guess.

“Are you excited?” I ask her as she continues to stroke my head. Granted, she couldn’t jump up and down like me, but she seems silently stoic right now.

“I’m happy,” she says after a brief pause. “But honestly, I’d be happy if I didn’t win either.”

I lift my head up to look at her.

“I’ve got everything I need right here,” she tells me as her fingers skim down my cheek. “That Oscar was just icing on a very awesome cake I already have. Cake will be just as yummy without it, though.”

“You want cake don’t you?” I tease her. She’s always hungry, but hell…she’s eating for three.

“Actually,” she says with a heated sizzle in her gaze, “I’d like you to make love to me.”

That I can get on board with. I push up from the floor and extend a hand to Eden. She lets me pull her up off the couch, and I continue to pull her right into my arms. Her stomach keeps some distance between us, but I easily rectify that by leaning down to kiss her.

“My beautiful, sexy, pregnant wife,” I murmur against her mouth. “I think I’m going to fuck you from behind.”

She purrs into my mouth and wiggles her body against me. She’d be rotating her pussy to grind it against my dick if it could reach me, and she knows I’m fucking her from behind because, well…that’s the easiest way with how large she’s gotten. But her pregnancy has been smooth and she’s been in excellent health, so the doctor has given her the all clear for continued sex so far.

It’s just…now I’m very gentle. I do not want to do anything that will cause those munchkins to pop out early.

I lead Eden up the stairs slowly and she chatters about winning the Oscar. I listen the entire way.

We’ve made a wonderful life together. After setting the town on its ear by getting married at the courthouse that day she returned from Ireland, we managed to both have full and active careers and still spend the majority of our time together. That meant I traveled with Eden when she was filming, but that also meant that Eden cut way back on her responsibilities. Our home is in Newberry and whatever hotel we are staying at while she’s traveling.

So far, it’s been pretty easy, especially since I’m doing just design work.

But things are about to get a little crazy with twins on the way. Eden’s going to take a year off from work, and we’ve talked about hiring a traveling nanny when she starts filming again. Of course, I’ll be right alongside her when she’s working, or she’ll be back in Newberry raising our children in Goodnight House when she’s not.

It was a long road we traveled to get here, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Our life is perfect and we got here in the time frame we were supposed to.

We seized our second chance and were granted the ultimate reward.

Love.