Dominick
As soon as Helena stepped back into the room, my eyes were glued to her. There were so many subtle changes and signs in her body that I'd completely missed before. Now that I knew she was pregnant, I didn't want to let myself overlook or forget a single detail. Ever since hearing the news, I'd caught myself admiring her even more than I used to.
If that were even possible.
Now, watching her do even the most mundane task held my attention like nothing else. She was just carrying in the duster she'd fetched from another room, but even that seemed graceful and smooth.
I was so preoccupied by looking at her that it took me a moment to notice she was carrying a stepladder, too.
"Wait, what's that for?" I asked, turning the vacuum cleaner off so we could talk.
"For getting rid of the cobwebs, of course," Helena said, pointing up to the corners of the room.
"You need a ladder for that?" I asked. My brain caught up with my mouth a split second later, and I winced at my own stupidity. Of course she needed a ladder to reach the ceiling. She practically needed a ladder to reach me.
Not that I minded going down for her, of course.
"Sorry, stupid question," I said, interrupting her answer before it began. "But how about I take care of that? It's much easier for me to reach everything, and it seems dangerous for you to be using that."
"Dominick," Helena began calmly, giving me a look somewhere between gratitude and wanting to playfully slap me. "Moving everything up into the attic was one thing. You were right about that, it was a lot of heavy lifting and climbing. I'm glad you were here to help, thank you."
"But?"
"But remember yesterday in the car, when you suggested that a five minute drive would be too hard for me? And earlier today, when you thought that vacuuming was too much of a strain? Those were kind of pushing it a little. But, worrying that it's too dangerous for me to dust? I'm pregnant, Hon, not bedridden."
Hearing her call me Hon was so sweet that it almost distracted me from the rest of what she said. Still, this was important. As much as I hated to argue, I reluctantly shook my head in disagreement.
"You're right, I am being a little overprotective," I admitted. "Or a lot. But I do have a point here. Climbing a ladder in your condition is dangerous, and I don't just mean the pregnancy. What if you got dizzy and fell? It's already happened once recently, and what if you'd been up high?" I asked, shuddering at the thought. "I want to keep you safe. Both of you."
"I know," Helena said with a warm, happy smile. She walked over to me, placing her hand against my hip reassuringly. "And I really, really appreciate everything you're doing. I don't want to sound ungrateful. It's just that I can't rely on you to do everything for me, because where would it end? Are you going to do all the shopping and my errands, too? I can't just take over your entire life like that."
"Well, I'm not that far gone," I said, enjoying Helena's arm wrapped around my waist. "How is shopping dangerous?"
"I could get hit by a car on the way to the market," Helena said bluntly.
Well.
Crap.
She was right, of course.
"I hadn't even thought of that," I said, frowning.
"It's still early, I'm sure you would've worked your way up to it. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience here. I had all the same thoughts about Ali just after she was born, you know."
"Well, you're a good mom."
"And you're a good man," Helena said, reaching up to give me a kiss. "But the world is a dangerous place, and nothing will ever be one hundred percent safe. Something might happen to me while I'm out shopping, but it's just as likely I'd have an accident if I stayed home instead. Maybe even more likely, if we checked the statistics."
"I guess," I said, having a hard time disagreeing with her logic.
It was harder to win a disagreement with a PhD than you'd expect.
"I could let you dust, but only if I vacuum. I need to do something, Dom. I can't just sit here and watch you do everything by yourself. I don't want to take advantage of you like that."
"Letting me do a few light chores is hardly taking advantage," I insisted.
"For a day or two, no. But I'm going to be pregnant for months. You would basically be a full-time housekeeper. You already have a job, and a good one at that."
"But summer is the off-season, and you won't be pregnant forever."
"Do you really think that you'll feel less protective afterwards, once there's a brand new baby around?" Helena asked.
Well, crap.
She was right.
Again.
"So what do you suggest?" I asked hesitantly.
"You have a point about the dizziness, so I think it's best if I brave the dangers of the vacuum after all," Helena said before dropping her voice to a low and sultry whisper. "And if anyone is going to be taking advantage of anyone here, I'd much prefer that you take advantage of me some more."
My cock throbbed at the thought, and suddenly our conversation about chores felt a lot less urgent.
"After all, I think we've proven that there's at least one strenuous activity that I can safely do," Helena murmured seductively, burying her face against my chest as she spoke.
"We're…we're not going to get any more cleaning done today, are we?" I asked huskily, kissing the top of Helena's head and running my palms along her shoulders and back.
"Probably not," she agreed with a purr. Her hand, already in the area, dipped below the waistband of my shorts.
When her fingers found my penis a moment later, it was already hard.
She continued to explore, and I began to do the same. She made it below my underwear just as my fingers hooked below her skirt, tugging it down to the floor. Her panties went next, and soon both of us were half naked.
Taking Helena into my arms, I carefully lifted her up and began to carry her back into the hallway. Grinding against me, she wrapped her legs around my back as I kissed her with a deep hunger. She returned the kiss with equal intensity, and soon we were making out for the second time that day.
Except, unlike when we were in the driveway, now we actually had privacy.
And a bed.
And at least a couple more hours before Ali got back home.
Today was going to be a good day.
A really good day.