I walk into the bedroom and the linens on the bed are thrown about from our baby-making sessions. I guess he has someone who'll come in to clean after we're gone. Or maybe I've a.s.sumed too much and it's something I should've taken care of prior to leaving. Too late now.

I feel him come up behind me and his arms wrap me in a tight coc.o.o.n. "Remembering what we did in that bed last night? And this morning?"

"I am-vividly. There's a lot of biological material on those sheets. I should have washed them this morning since we're leaving." It seems gross, and maybe rude, to leave the bedding for someone else to clean.

"I have someone who will come in to take care of it."

Well, there's no time for worrying about it now. "Okay. Let me take a look in the bathroom and then we can go."

I go inside for a once-over and decide I'm all good. If I leave something, I can buy it in Wagga. Maybe. It's not exactly a large town with a lot of shopping options but it's where Jack Henry and I have made our home, and I love living there.

I'm walking out the door when something in the trash can catches my eye. I stop and look at the blue box I've become so very familiar with since our honeymoon-one of our many boxes of spermicide. I reach down to take it out and hold it up while standing in the doorway. I clear my throat to catch Jack Henry's attention. "I see you trashed this. Did you take pleasure in doing that?"

He gives me a crooked grin. "h.e.l.l yeah, I liked throwing that s.h.i.t away. It makes our decision to have a baby feel much more real."

I'll agree with that. It's feeling very real right now.

We arrive at Avalon with about thirty minutes to spare before the bottom drops out of the sky and a raging thunderstorm descends. Laurelyn's standing at the wall of windows overlooking the vineyard, watching the sheets come down. "I love rain. It relaxes me."

I approach from behind and wrap my arms around her waist. "I don't dislike rain, only driving in it."

"It's perfect for napping."

"Then you should go lie down for a while and I'll get you up in a couple hours."

"I am pretty tired." She looks at me over her shoulder. "Both of us were up late, so I think you should join me." I'm not sure but I think this is an invitation for something besides napping? "It's Sunday-Mrs. Porcelli isn't here." Yes. This is an invitation for daytime s.e.x and perhaps a nap afterward. Both work great for me.

I tug on her hands. "I'm in."

I lower the roman shades, darkening the bedroom. "You're right. Today is perfect for napping."

She crawls onto the bed and then moves to her knees. She pulls her dress over her head and drops it before reaching around to unfasten her bra. "It is, but I think today is even more perfect for making a baby."

She's going full force at Project Conception and it's a total turn-on. "You're really in to this." I kick off my shoes and unfasten my jeans. I pull my T-shirt over my head and let it fall to the floor.

She wiggles her b.u.m as she pushes her knickers down her hips. "I don't do anything halfway."

I'm moving to the bed when she tosses the white lace at me, successfully landing it on my shoulder. I grasp the nearly nonexistent piece of fabric and bring it to my nose. Her scent is intoxicating and I'm positive it's impossible to ever get enough of it. I'm completely possessed by her. "Do you realize you hold complete authority over me?"

"Funny, I've thought the same thing about you on many occasions."

"I once chose to do things only if they pleased me. Now everything I do is for you because I want you to be happy."

She crawls to the edge of the bed to meet me and puts her arms around my shoulders. She drags her mouth across my jawline toward my ear. "And I am. You can't imagine how happy you make me."

"Bet I can."

She backs away and moves to sit on her b.u.m before sliding to the middle of the bed. She spreads her hair as she lies down, a precaution she takes so it doesn't get caught beneath her back. It's crazy how great she looks-s.e.xier than any woman I've ever seen photographed in a nudie mag-and she's for my eyes only. I covet that.

She's lying on her back with her feet apart and knees closed. She looks so timid and innocent, but I know better, so I kneel and place a hand on each leg and push them apart. She lifts her arms over her head and arches her back as she grasps the edge of the mattress. She knows something good is about to happen and I wouldn't dare disappoint.

Touch. It's so simplistic in certain aspects, and so very complex in others.

I place my thumb against Laurelyn's c.l.i.t, applying the slightest pressure, but I don't move it. The brain is the largest s.e.x organ for a woman, so I want her to antic.i.p.ate what's coming ... to crave it. I want to hear her ask me to give it to her. I won't deny that I enjoy holding this kind of power over her, the same as she enjoys the control she has over me.

She begins rotating her hips but my hand remains stationary, frustrating her to no end. I give her a few rotations of my thumb and she moans once before I stop. "Come on, McLachlan. Don't do this to me."

"Don't do what?"

She lifts her foot to my shoulder and pokes me with her toes. "You know what. You're teasing me."

"I need specifics."

She rolls her eyes. "You want me to talk dirty."

"Yeah. I want to hear you say filthy things like a bad girl." She rocks against my hand and I move it away. "Uh-uh ... you don't get what you want until you ask for it."

I wait in antic.i.p.ation of the nasty things she might say. What will it be? Finger-f.u.c.k her? Suck her c.l.i.t? Put my tongue inside her? I'm hard with antic.i.p.ation but she shocks me with her words, as she often does. "I want you to put a baby inside me." Her voice is soft and so sweet. It crumbles any of the bad-boy exterior I pretend to have.

I was set to have fun, to play dirty. I wanted to make her beg for an o.r.g.a.s.m but hearing her ask me for a child changes everything. It brings out my tender side, a part of me I didn't know existed until she came into my life, and it's something she sees far too little.

I place my hands on her hips and rub my thumbs over her hipbones. "I can't wait to watch you grow with our child." I lower my mouth to her stomach and place a kiss below her navel. "I'm going to kiss your swelling belly every day."

Her hand is at the back of my head, her fingers stroking my hair. "You'll make a wonderful father."

I move up so I'm hovering above her, careful to not press too much of my weight against her. "You told me you were afraid you'd be a s.h.i.tty mother, like Jolie."

"We aren't supposed to address anything said during confessional. We agreed, McLachlan. That's the reason we can feel safe to say the things we wouldn't normally confess to one another."

"I know, and I'll only make an exception this one time because I want you to go into this knowing you are nothing like Jolie. You are the most self-sacrificing person I know and your love stretches beyond measure. It isn't possible for you to be anything but a wonderful mother."

"I love you."

"I love you too." She bends her knees and I pull back so I can move into position. She pulls me down so she can kiss my mouth and I whisper against her lips, "And this baby will be loved." Her hands find mine so she can intertwine our fingers. She squeezes them into a tight fist and watches my eyes as I enter her. "He or she already is."

She doesn't take her eyes from mine as I move in and out of her. It feels so intimate, like she's seeing straight into the depths of my soul, and it leaves me feeling spread wide, exposed. I've never felt a moment like this with anyone, and I love it. I want her to see all of me.

I'm sliding in and out of L slowly when I feel her legs come up and around my body. She's coaxing me deeper so I thrust harder, bringing me closer to climax. I push her legs back and apart as I thrust the last time, filling her body with a part of myself.

When I'm finished, I pull out slowly and reach for a pillow at the head of the bed. I motion for her to lift her b.u.m. "Upsy, love." She lifts and I slide the pillow under her hips, repeating the same routine as the night before with her legs in the air resting on my shoulders.

"I don't think my legs have to be up. I'm sure there's been plenty of babies conceived without being in this position."

She tries to take her ankles from my shoulders but I hold them firmly in place. "But the view is so very lovely, Mrs. McLachlan. It would be a favor to me personally if you stayed this way for a while."

She grins while shaking her head. "You're going to do it again, aren't you?"

"Do what?"

"Taunt me until you can have your way with me ... again."

"The first time, we make love because it's about the baby. The second time, we f.u.c.k because it's about us." She pretends to gasp in outrage, but I know she's used to the things I say so I rarely shock her anymore. "You didn't come just now so tell me, Mrs. McLachlan, what it is you want."

"I want you to rub me with those talented fingers of yours." She takes my hand and places my finger over her c.l.i.t. "Right here."

I begin moving in a circular motion. "Like this?"

She closes her eyes and her words come out as a breathy whisper. "Yes."

"You're one o.r.g.a.s.m behind me. I don't think it would hurt a thing to play catch-up while we're waiting. Do you agree?"

She's rocking her pelvis against my fingers and can't sit still. "I couldn't agree more."

"Then I have a task before me. A very beautiful one." I use my thumb to stroke her center up and down several times before concentrating on the tight nub at the top. It's her most sensitive spot and I alternate between fast and slow, hard and soft. She's building. I can tell by her body's reactions but I want to finish her off with a bang, so I lower my mouth and suck her c.l.i.t. I'm inconsistent with the pressure and speed so she's unable to predict what will come next.

A moment later, she fists my hair and moans, "Ohh ... ohh ... ohh." She unclenches her hand and her entire body goes limp. That's when I know she's in that place, the one where she's blissful and euphoric. There's no other feeling in the world like it.

I can't believe it. Jack Henry and I are trying to get pregnant. Addison is going to s.h.i.t when I tell her.

Daniel drops Addison and me at the Castlebury Hotel where we'll be dining at the restaurant Jack Henry recommended. She was running late, as usual, so we're doing brunch instead of breakfast.

An attractive hostess escorts us to our table and calls me by name-Mrs. McLachlan-when we're seated. How does she know?

I lift the menu but I'm not reading it. "That was weird, right?"

I can see that she doesn't know what I'm referring to. "What was?"

"The hostess called me Mrs. McLachlan but I don't know how she knew. I didn't make reservations, so there's no reason for her to know my name." My mind immediately goes to that place: is this woman one of the twelve and she knows who we are?

"You're married to Jack McLachlan. People know him and they make it their business to know who his wife is." Addison lifts her menu. "She's probably green with envy that she'll never get to f.u.c.k him."

I hope that's the case, but if she's one of the companions who came before me, then she already has. Many times.

The hostess is older than me but still young-not at all the type Jack Henry would've chosen.

I need to stop this. He's my husband so nothing before me matters. He told me so last night.

Another woman walks up to our table. "Mrs. McLachlan. Welcome to Fusion Restaurant. Julie is your server and she'll be with you shortly. May I get you something to drink while you look at the menu?"

I think I need alcohol. "I'll have a mimosa."

I expect the same from Addison but she surprises me. "Orange juice, please."

I feel a little weird drinking alone. "Why aren't you getting a mimosa? I know how much you love them."

Addison touches her hand to her forehead. "I have a headache. I don't figure it's a good idea to put champagne on top of that."

I pick up my purse and begin digging because I know she hasn't taken anything for it. That's how she is. "I'm sure I have something in my purse that you can take."

"I'm good, Laurie. You don't always have to take care of me like I'm a child."

She's never minded it before. "You're being p.i.s.sy this morning."

"I'm sorry. I was restless last night. You know I'm a b.i.t.c.h when I haven't had my sleep."

She's worse than a child without a nap when she's tired. "It's supposed to storm again later. It'll be a perfect day for napping."

We place our order and the food arrives. I still haven't brought up Ben and Chloe but I can procrastinate no longer. "Last night was Jack Henry's birthday party with the family and I gotta tell ya, Addie ... we were pretty shocked to see Ben there with Chloe."

"Oh h.e.l.l." Her eyes grow large.

"Why didn't you tell me they were dating?"

"I'm sorry. I know I should have-and I meant to-but I've had some pretty serious s.h.i.t going on lately."

Addie always has serious s.h.i.t going on. "So bad you forget to tell me my sister-in-law is dating your brother, whom my husband despises? Doesn't make sense that you would forget something like that."

Addison's eyes fill with tears. She squeezes them tightly and big messy drops roll down each cheek. "Laurie. I've messed up big time. I mean, I've really f.u.c.ked up." She carefully wipes the tears from her eyes using the corner of her napkin in an attempt to prevent smearing her perfect makeup.

I'm not oblivious to Addison's tendency to be dramatic, but dread grows deep within my gut. "I'm sure it isn't as bad as you think."

Her eyes appear larger than usual as she looks up to. More tears roll down her cheeks as she nods. "Yes, it is, and I don't think I can do the only thing that would fix all of it." She's sobbing and it scares the s.h.i.t out of me because this isn't my Addie.

I love my best friend but she's selfish as h.e.l.l, so there's only one thing that would make her react this way. Something must have occurred between her and the man she adores with all her heart. "Has something happened between you and Zac?"

She makes the ugly cry face and then uses her hands to conceal it. "Oh, something has definitely happened between us. I've joined that statistic they warn you about-the less than one percent of people whose birth control fails even when they take it correctly." Her body shakes because she's crying so hard. "I'm pregnant."

"Oh, s.h.i.t."

"Yeah," she laughs, but not the humorous kind. "Me having a baby is definitely an 'oh, s.h.i.t' moment."

I know they aren't married, so the timing isn't ideal, but I don't understand why her reaction is so extreme. She loves Zac. He loves her and they're great together. I have no doubt they'd marry and be together forever anyway. "It's a shock. I'll give you that, but I don't understand why you're so upset."

"Are you kidding me, Laurie? I'm not mother material. I'm too into me and what I want." She's shaking her head and looking at me like she thinks I may have lost my mind. "My mouth is too d.a.m.n filthy. The kid's first word would be f.u.c.k. No doubt."

"I think you'll make a wonderful mother and I'm sure Zac agrees. What did he say when you told him?"

Addison looks away. "I haven't told him."

"Why not?"

She looks so sad. "Do you really think he wants to hear that I'm knocked up?"

I can only stare at her as I think of how happy Jack Henry would be if it were me telling him we were having a baby. I can almost see the broad smile on his face, his bright blue eyes dancing with happiness. I imagine him scooping me from the floor and spinning me round and round as he tells me how much he loves me and how happy he is.

But this isn't happening to me, so I shove the daydream from my mind and return to reality. Addison's reality. "I'm sure a baby will come as a shock for Zac but he loves you. I don't think it'll be an unwelcome surprise."

She sighs while shaking her head. "You're wrong."