WADDLE
JESS
292 Nouchers
Later that evening, as everyone lounged in the living room, basking in the warmth of good food and the glow of family, Luke leaned closer to me. His lips brushed against my ear as he whispered, “The doctor gave us the go–ahead.”
I blinked at him, confused, tilting my head to look up at him. “What?”
Instead of answering, he wiggled his brows at me, which was so unlike Luke–usually so serious and broody–that I couldn’t hold back the laughter that bubbled up. My laughter startled him, making his frown deepen, and that only made me laugh harder.
I cupped his face, leaning in to kiss him softly. “How would that even work?” I whispered against his lips.
Luke smirked the kind that sent a warm shiver down my spine. “I have a few ideas,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing.
Then, with the most exaggerated stretch and yawn, he stood. “Josh, man, I need sleep before rehab starts tomorrow. And so do you. Thanks for everything, Laura.”
Josh waved him off with a grin, and Laura offered a warm smile, clearly amused by the theatrics. Luke reached down to pull me to my feet, and as I stood, he draped his arm around my shoulders, his fingers intertwining with mine.
“Goodnight!” I called over my shoulder as we made our way out.
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11:53
laughter echoing in the hall.
For a moment, I wondered if it would even be possible. I missed him–feeling him–so much it almost hurt. But navigating this felt like uncharted territory, and despite my hormones being all over the place and my desperate need for some kind of release, uncertainty held me back.
How would it even work? And worse, what if Luke took one look at me and thought, She’s a whale….
“Ugh,” I groaned aloud, letting the guilt and self–consciousness simmer down as I turned the shower handle all the way to cold. The icy spray shocked my system, pulling me out of my
thoughts. After a moment, I stepped out, grabbed a towel and dried off.
wwwwwww
As if he had been waiting for me, Luke opened the door just as I wrapped the towel around me. I jumped slightly, startled, but he didn’t seem fazed. The bedroom behind him was dimly lit, the flicker of candlelight casting soft shadows on the walls. The warm, musky scent of the candles made the space feel intimate, almost magical.
“Okay,” he said, leaning casually against the doorframe, his grin mischievous and impossible to resist. “I surrender. But the least I can do is give you a massage.”
I blinked at him, my resolve crumbling at the look in his eyes. His grin widened as he held up a bottle of oil, giving it a playful shake.
WADDLE
As soon as we stepped into the cool night air, his hand slid protectively to my belly. “Come on,” he murmured, steering me toward the house next door. There was something about the way his touch lingered and the way he leaned into me as we walked that made my pulse race.
I’m basically waddling like a duck–it’s not attractive! How can you even think about that?” I accused Luke as he steadied me, helping me up the stairs.
He grinned, not the least bit fazed by my outrage, and leaned down to kiss the top of my head. “Doctor said it’s good preparation, you know, for when the time comes,” he teased, his voice light and far too smug for my liking.
We reached the top, and he disappeared into the bathroom, flipping on the shower. His voice carried over the sound of the water. “Besides, if you can take all of me—birthing a baby should be a breeze!”
I gasped, mortified and utterly scandalized. “Luke!”
He turned just in time to dodge when I kicked a flip–flop in his direction. It sailed past his head and hit the bathroom wall with a dull thud. He burst out laughing, doubling over at my failed attempt.
“That is not attractive!” I yelled, my cheeks burning. “And this is not happening!”
Still chuckling, he raised–his hands in mock surrender, his grin wide and shameless. “Whatever you say, babe.”
I shot him one last glare over my shoulder before slamming the bathroom door shut, determined to ignore the sound of his
