Page 89 of Scrubbing In
“Yay!”
Wincing at her high-pitched excitement, I quickly glance at Leena. Her closed eyes scrunch tight for a moment before smoothing back into a relaxed slumber.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I turn with a “Shhh . . .” but it’s useless because Taylor has dropped my hand and is already out the door, racing through the house.
I turn back to my beautiful wife sprawled out asleep next to me. Her tank top is all twisted up, and if she weren’t wearing a nursing bra, her pretty pink nipples would be on display. My mouth waters at the thought of taking her full tits in hand and sucking a puckered tip between my lips.
If my wife wasn’t exhausted, and I didn’t have one child ready to wake the neighborhood and the other gnawing on his fist, I would be waking her with my tongue between her legs. Drowning myself in her heat. Relishing every lick and suck of her body, especially her fuller breasts. Something we both enjoy.
Gone are the days of lazy mornings, waking each other up in the most provocative ways—for now, anyway. It’s a bittersweet realization we will be living them again all too soon with how quickly little ones grow up. Therefore, I focus on savoring these fleeting moments while our babies are still little.
Seeing the dark circles under my wife’s eyes, I will my dick to calm down. The four month regression with this kid is no joke. Our son is a hungry boy, waking up more frequently the past few nights more than he ever was. Even alternating shifts, I got up with Nathan twice—thank god he takes a bottle, unlike his sister—he had Leena up multiple times, too.
But I’m unable to resist placing a gentle kiss on her temple. Then I’m out of bed and scooping up my little guy. After a quick stop in his room for a clean diaper and change of clothes, I make my way to the kitchen where I find Taylor sitting on the counter by the coffee maker, elbows bent on her crossed knees, chin resting on her palms, and an angelic look on her face.
I am not fooled. My daughter is a wild child. Looking around, my eyes sweep the kitchen until they land on the pantry door and the coffee grounds littering the floor.
Heaving a sigh, I say, “I see you got started without me,” as I place the baby in his bouncy chair.
Her shoulders climb up to her ears and her face screws up, likely trying to come up with a reason why she is not the culprit. I shake my head at her to stop that in its tracks.
“Hop off the counter, and you can hold the dust pan as I sweep up the mess.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
Cupping her head, I wait for her to look at me. “Taylor, next time wait for help. I know you like to get everything ready, but it’s more fun doing it together.” I try to outsmart her with this reasoning. I’m not sure how much longer she’ll buy it.
“Sorry, Daddy.”
I think I always pictured a wife and children in my future, even if it was always in the abstract, but I could never have imagined I’d be this lucky. Meeting Connor in residency changed my life. At the time, I thought it was because he cemented my passion for orthopedic surgery. But in reality, that was the first puzzle piece slotting into place that would eventually bring me back to South Carolina and closer to my family. All those moves brought me intoherorbit. I was meant to meet Leena and love her. That is why I’m on this earth. I will be thankful every day for the joy and contentment she brings to my life.
Leena
Really not wanting to wake up, I roll over and hug Julian’s pillow. It’s no longer warm, but I’ll never be able to get enough of how his smell clings to the pillowcase.
The sound of the bedroom door opening slowly followed by the sweet and earthy scent of coffee fully rouses me from sleep.
“Mornin’, pretty girl.” His deep drawl and nickname continues to melt my heart after all these years.
I stretch lazily and watch my shirtless husband with sweatpants hanging low on his hips walk into the room. It’s almost enough of a boost to get me out of bed. But since he’smoving towards me, I bask in the heat of his gaze. My eyes hungrily follow his progress across the room. Sitting by my hip on the edge of the mattress, he holds out a coffee cup in offering.
“Mmmm. Yes, please.”
Sitting up, I take the cup, but lean in to press my lips to his. Julian’s large hand cups my jaw and neck as he deepens the kiss.
Waking up every day to this man, loving him fully, and sharing this life we’ve built is everything I could have ever dreamed of.
With a few extra slow kisses, we pull back.
Sipping my perfect cup of coffee, I hum in contentment.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted to nurse Nate or pump?”
With the extra feedings lately, my breasts are full and aching. I decide to nurse as much as he wants because he is my last baby. Julian and I decided two kids are perfect. We won’t be outnumbered, one for each of us but still manageable solo.
“I’ll nurse him, then get ready.”
Reaching for my tumbler on the nightstand, he presses another kiss to my cheek. “Alright. I’ll bring you the little terror, and I’ll top off your water. What do you want to eat?”
