Thrive

After three more days of mulling over the idea of going back to work and how my hours would be, I finally decided on what I wanted to do. It was tough, but I thankfully figured it out. I was lying on the couch reading while Alex had volunteered to run errands for me; he took Scarlett with him for some father-daughter bonding time which I thought was adorable. When I heard the door unlock about five minutes later, the smile on my face grew.

My two favorite people are home.

In came Scarlett with a case of the giggles, so I immediately unbuckled my daughter and picked her up without even looking at Alex.

“What’s so funny, cutie pie? Did Daddy make you laugh today?” I said in a baby voice.

She continued to giggle.

“You are so adorable.”

Alex cleared his throat.

“Oh, sorry honey. Didn’t know you were there.” I tried to say with a straight face.

I didn’t take my eyes off Scarlett.

“Abby.”

“Alex.”

I laughed and looked up at him; he cracked up as well. He tilted his head forward and kissed me.

"How was she while you two were gone?"

"An angel. She seemed to enjoy herself.”

“No crying?”

“None.”

“Really? Not even any fussing?”

“No. She was a model citizen.”

I laughed again.

“Listen. Let me bring the groceries in and we can talk.”

Talking. That’s exactly what I want to do.

“Ok.” I said smiling.

I set Scarlett up in her swing and put her stroller away before grabbing Alex something to drink. I came back to the living room to see a crying child and my husband bringing in a few bags of groceries.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” I said, kneeling to her level.

She wouldn’t stop. I hadn’t seen her cry like this during the day in three weeks. I heard him drop the bags and rush over.

“What’s going on?” he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I don't know, but I'm gonna go figure it out. I'll be up in the nursery when you're done. Okay?"

He nodded. I gently placed her in my arms as I stood up and then I went upstairs to her nursery. Once I had her diaper off, I knew exactly what it was; a nasty rash.

"No wonder you're not happy. I'd feel the same way."

After I tossed her diaper in the trash and was about to clean her, I heard Alex dash up the stairs like Superman.

"How is she?" he asked entering the room.

“Take a look for yourself.”

“Oh, pumpkin...”

She reached out for him and my heart broke.

“Mommy’s gonna make it better. I promise.”

He kissed her hands, then let them go. I lifted her legs and wiped her, but once I was done, there were still tears.

"Could you hand me the Balmex please?"

It was to the right of me. He nodded and handed it to me.

"Thanks."

Once I put the cream on, the tears ceased and I was ready to put on a fresh diaper.

"Someone's beginning to feel better." I said.

"May I do the honors?"

"Go right ahead, Sir." I said in a terrible accent.

He shook his head as he placed a fresh one on her.

"There we go. Good as new."

I picked her and gently pressed her against my chest.

"I'm gonna put her down for a nap. She looks exhausted."

"She's been a very busy girl today."

Hearing him speak in such a cutesy voice melted my heart. He stayed beside me as I did so; she quickly fell asleep.

“Wanna go downstairs?” I asked, taking his hand.

“Absolutely.”

“Have a great nap, Pumpkin.”

When we were downstairs and on the couch, I sighed and turned toward Alex.

“You know how I’ve been thinking about going back to work?”

“Of course.” he said, placing a hand on mine.

“I decided on cutting back my hours, spend time with Scarlett on my lunch breaks and get home before her bedtime. What do you think?”

"I like that idea. Sounds very sensible."

"I feel like that's the best option. I won't completely give up on my dream job unless I absolutely have to."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Cooking is your passion."

He pulled me into his lap so that I was facing him. I smiled before pulling my lips to his; he held on tighter as he continued kissing me.

"I love you so much." I said after a few moments.

"I love you, too."

"Anyway, have you eaten? It is one, after all."

"Scarlett did, an hour ago. I haven't since breakfast."

"Oughta get you some food then."

"Or, you could stay there."

"As tempting as that is, I'm gonna feed you."

I safely got out of his lap.

"If you must." he said dramatically, throwing his head back.

"What would you like?" I asked with my head already in the fridge.

"A sandwich."

"What kind?"

"Surprise me."

I shook my head before getting out ingredients for a monte cristo. It wasn't long before I heard his footsteps come into the kitchen.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"Yep."

"You are amazing." he said kissing my cheek.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure. How much longer?"

"Less than five minutes, Alex. Go sit down."

"You don't want me here?"

"Not now. I'm cooking."

"You liked it a year ago... a lot."

I bit my lip and smiled.

"That's beside the point. I'm busy."

"You were that day when you started cooking breakfast. I walked in and you were dancing and singing. You looked sexy as fuck like you do right now.”

I had a sudden urge to turn around and kiss him.

“You gotta... you gotta stop.” I said, getting flustered.

“Are you turned on right now?”

He had no idea.

“Sandwich’s almost done.”

I slid a saucer closer to me, so I could slide the sandwich right onto it.

“You are. You totally are.”

“Shut up.” I said shifting around.

I plated it, then turned to my right and kissed him.

“Eat.”

He laughed and took a bite of his sandwich.

“Delicious.” he said with his mouth full.

“See you, soon. You know where I’ll be.”

He smirked.

I turned on music and gathered what I needed to make corned beef hash; Pink came blasting through the kitchen.

Sometimes, I hate every single stupid word you say
Sometimes, I wanna slap you in your whole face (whoa oh oh)
There's no one quite like you, you push all my buttons down
I know life would suck without you (whoa oh oh)
At the same time, I wanna hug you
I wanna wrap my hands around your neck
You're an asshole, but I love you
And you make me so mad, I ask myself
Why I'm still here, or where could I go
You're the only love I've ever known)
But I hate you, I really hate you
So much I think it must be
True love, true love
It must be true love
Nothin' else can break my heart like
True love, true love
It must be true love
No one else can break my heart like you

Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Just once tried to wrap your little brain around my feelings
Just once please try not to be so mean (whoa oh oh)
Repeat after me now R-O-M-A-N-C-E-E-E
Come on, I'll say it slowly (Romance!)
You can do it, baby

At the same time, I wanna hug you
I wanna wrap my hands around your neck
You're an asshole but I love you
And you make me so mad, I ask myself
Why I'm still here, or where could I go
You're the only love I've ever known
But I hate you, I really hate you
So much I think it must be
True love, true love
It must be true love
Nothin' else can break my heart like
True love, true love
It must be true love
No one else can break my heart like you
Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Think it must be love (I love you)
I think it must be love (I love you)

Why do you rub me up the wrong way?
Why do you say the things that you say?
Sometimes, I wonder how we ever came to be
But without you, I'm incomplete

I think it must be
True love, it must be true love
It must be true love
Nothin' else can break my heart like
True love, true love
It must be true love
No one else can break my heart like you
Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No one else can break my heart like you
Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No one else can break my heart like you

When I got out the corned beef and I was moving and singing along to the music, I turned around to see Alex at the other counter; I blushed and paused my phone.

"Please don't stop. That was so sexy."

"I'll play it, but I can't promise you a show."

"Ok."

I pressed play and I began singing again.

"Happy?" I asked three minutes later.

He walked into the kitchen to where I was at the stove stirring food.

"Extremely." he said as I felt his fingers lightly touch the bare skin of my stomach.

He was behind me and flirting with my waistband and my body started to quiver at his touch. Ok. Time to turn off the stove. I backed into him as he traveled downward and into my pants.

"Turn off the music." I said breathlessly.

"What was that?"

He was teasing me.

"You heard me."

I headed up the stairs and toward our bathroom to freshen up before the man I can simply not resist walks in. I was stripped down to my bra and panties when he entered our room.

"Get naked." I commanded.

"You running the show, then?"

I gave him a look.

"I'll take that as a yes." he said, beginning to undress.

I sat down on the edge of our bed with my legs crossed. As each article of his clothing came off, the more turned on I was.

"Even my boxers?"

"What do you think naked means?"

Once he was completely undressed, I gestured for him to come over.

"How about you? You're still dressed."

"Half-dressed. I thought you'd enjoy removing the rest of my clothes."

The second he touched my shoulders, I kneeled in front of him and placed my lips on his cock. I noticed him tip his head back.

“Godfuckingdamnit.” he moaned as I wrapped my tongue around his cock.

It took everything in me not to smirk. When he was on the verge of cumming, the hand that usually grips my hair held onto it tighter.

“Fuck, Abby.”

I removed my mouth and finished him off with my hand resulting in cum all over my face. I stood up and kissed him passionately and quickly felt his hands undo my bra.

“You are so incredibly sexy." he said, tossing my bra across the room.

"Tell me something I don't know." I said, smirking.

“Thought I was the cocky one.”

“Well, you’re not the only who can be cocky.”

“You’re right.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

We stumbled onto the bed as we had done on several occasions. Instead of just removing my panties as soon as we were on the bed, he made the decision to leave them on.

“Aren’t you gonna-“

“Take your panties off? Well, I feel like teasing you at the moment.”

I growled before he attached his lips to my left thigh.

“Fuck, Alex.”

I ran my hand through his hair, wanting him to move slightly to the left.

"Is someone impatient?" he said, looking up.

"What do you think?"

He didn't answer me; what a surprise. He moved over and rubbed me through my panties; I bucked my hips, hoping that would change his mind and remove my panties, but it didn't. A finger slipped under and lightly traced my pussy a few times driving me even crazier.

"Alex, please." I begged.

He silently answered me by removing them, then, as soon as he tossed them, I pushed him onto his back.

"Why wouldn't you let me-"

"I need you inside me. Mama's horny."

He laughed.

"Mama needs to grab a condom."

I nodded and reached for one.

“Here you go, Daddy.”

He kissed me before putting it on; I took a seat and began rolling my hips into his. I closed my eyes and threw my head back and attempted to contain my moans, but it was proving difficult.

"Fuck." I half-moaned/cried out.

His hands remained on my hips per usual and gripped them tighter. Once we both came, I collapsed into him as I just had some of the best sex I've ever; he pulled out and straightened his legs.

"I love you." I said, stretching out my legs.

"I love you, too." he said, wrapping his arms around me.

I buried my head into his neck, clearly exhausted but extremely happy; I made a decision about going back to work which I find to be perfect, I have a happy child and such a great marriage and sex life. I couldn't imagine what else could top today's events.

Notes

FINALLY. Talk about an epic writer's block! I apologize. Also, not so sure about how I ended this chapter; it was tough.