The therapy session passed in the blink of an eye. Lavinia spoke candidly about the progress she and Karl had made over the past few weeks, opening up about the steps - both big and small - that they had taken to rebuild their relationship and the process of re-establishing that intimacy. She didn't shy away from the difficult parts either, acknowledging the lingering hurts and insecurities that still needed to be worked through.Throughout it all, Dr. Julia listened with her usual attentive presence, her warm eyes and occasional nods or murmurs of encouragement helping to settle Lavinia's nerves. When she finally fell silent, spent from the emotional outpouring, the other woman regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment."Lavinia," she said at last. "The progress you've made...it's remarkable, truly. To be able to open yourself up to Karl again, to that level of vulnerability and considering intimacy after everything you've been through…" She shook her head slowly. "It speaks vol
A week had passed, with Martin and Lisa's wedding just around the corner. It was late and Lavinia's throat felt parched. She slipped quietly out of the bedroom, careful not to make any sound. She padded into the dimly lit living room and noticed Karl shifting uncomfortably on the couch with a pained expression on his face as he pressed a hand to his lower back."Karl!" Lavinia hurried over, concern lacing her voice. "Are you okay? What's wrong with your back?"Karl looked up, trying to plaster on a reassuring smile despite the grimace. "Ah, it's nothing too serious, love. Just an old back ache flaring up, that's all." He waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about me, go on back to bed and get some rest."Lavinia couldn't shake the guilty feeling gnawing at her. She sank down on the couch beside him, worrying her lip between her teeth. "This is my fault though, isn't it?" she said quietly. "If I hadn't insisted on you sleeping out here..."A soft chuckle left Karl's lips. He reache
~The next Morning~The next morning, Lavinia slowly blinked her eyes open, feeling wonderfully rested and content. Sunlight filtered in through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the bedroom. She stretched languidly, her muscles deliciously loose after a night of deep, uninterrupted sleep."Good morning, beautiful," a low voice greeted her. She turned her head to find Karl propped up on one elbow beside her, his tousled hair and sleepy smile making her heart flutter. He reached out to tenderly brush a stray lock of hair from her face,"Good morning," Lavinia murmured back."Did you sleep well, love?" Karl asked, trailing his fingertips along the curve of her cheek."Yeah. How about you? Is your back feeling any better this morning?""Ah, yes, much better." Karl rolled his shoulders experimentally with a satisfied grunt. "I haven't felt this good in ages, all thanks to your magical hands last night." He shot her a wink, his eyes crinkling at the corners with delight."Well, I'
The rest of the days fairly flew by in a whirlwind of preparation. Before either of them knew it, it was time for the wedding. Lavinia got up at the crack of dawn to get ready for her brother's big day. She took her sweet time in the shower, letting the steamy water work its magic on her tense muscles. Ahhh, that felt good.Once out, she padded around the kitchen in her robe, whipping up a light veggie omelet and some toast. The familiar morning routine was almost therapeutic in its predictability.Now she sat on the edge of the bed, watching Karl still totally konked out and dead to the world. She reached over and gave his shoulder a gentle shake. "Hey sleepyhead, rise and shine. We're going to be late if you don't get your butt out of bed," she whispered, trying to rouse him urgently but affectionately.Karl responded with a groggy grumble, then turned and pulled her into a cuddly bear hug, nuzzling his face right into her chest like a kid. Lavinia couldn't stifle a giggle at h
Lavinia and Karl arrived fashionably late to the lavish, fancy schmancy wedding venue, turning a few heads as they made their stylish entrance. As soon as they stepped inside, Lavinia hurried over to the bridal suite where the bride was getting the final touches on her look. Lisa looked every inch the blushing bride in her exquisite white lace gown with its sweetheart neckline and delicate beading."Lisa, you look like an absolute vision in that dress! Girrrrrl, Martin's one lucky guy," Lavinia gushed, pulling her sister-in-law into a careful hug so as not to crease the delicate fabric. Lisa was glowing with joy in her elegant bridal get-up. She beamed back at her maid of honor. "Aw, stop it you! But thanks, babe! And might I say, you're stunning as always yourself. That dress is insane!"Their sweet little exchange was interrupted by the arrival of Talia, who playfully demanded attention with an exaggerated pout and hair flip. "Um, hello? What about little old me over here? Don't
The night fell and Lavinia's cramps showed no signs of letting up. She was finally feeling ready to try and get some sleep after indulging in chocolates accompanied by banana and strawberry slices. Her eyes were heavy-lidded with fatigue. Karl opened his arms to her, and she gratefully curled up against him, nestling her head into the crook of his neck with a weary sigh as he enveloped her in his warm embrace."Cramps still pretty bad?" he whispered worriedly, gently stroking her hair back from her clammy forehead."A little, but the tea did help take the edge off somewhat," Lavinia murmured back, her breath warm against his skin. She nuzzled closer, seeking his comforting presence. "Just having you here with me makes it more bearable though."Karl pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head, breathing in her familiar scent. "I'm glad. Now get some rest, my love. I'll be right here, holding you all night if that's what you need. We'll get through this together, like we do everythi
"Karl...I forgive you." Lavinia eventually spoke those three weighty words after taking a deep, steadying breath to brace herself.The words hit Karl like a raging wave, unexpected and utterly overwhelming. Before he could even begin to fully process the magnitude of what she had just said, Lavinia leaned in close and her soft lips met his in a kiss filled with the entire spectrum of emotions from their painful past - the anguish, the heartbreak, the bitter disappointment and shattered trust. But it was also infused with the tentative, fragile buds of hope for their future together, for a chance at redemption and a new beginning.For a long, suspended moment, Karl was stunned into stillness. His entire body went rigid as those three words she had uttered seemed to echo deafeningly in his mind. Had she really said what he thought she'd said? After everything that had transpired between them, all the damage he had recklessly caused, was she actually...forgiving him?"You...you're sur
The next morning, Lavinia was roused from her deep slumber by the gentle press of Karl's lips against her own. "Sweetheart, wake up," he murmured in a low, husky tone laced with affection.Lavinia responded with a contented hum, her eyes still closed as she instinctively pulled herself closer into the warmth of his bare chest. She nuzzled her face against the sculpted planes, inhaling the comforting, familiar scent of her husband's skin."Come on, sleepyhead, it's getting late. It's already noon," Karl chuckled, trailing a series of light kisses along her jawline in an attempt to further coax her from the clutches of sleep.Lavinia let out a muffled grumble of protest, burrowing deeper into the cocoon of sheets and blankets they were tangled in. The idea of leaving this cozy sanctuary, of facing the world outside after the heat of the previous night, was wholly unappealing. But she knew her husband was right - they couldn't simply remain in bed all day, tempting as the thought was.
When they finally broke apart, he maintained a feigned frown. “Is that all we’re going to do?” he asked gruffly.Lavinia giggled at his attitude. "You're being ridiculous."Before he could retort, she carefully lifted Jan from his arms and settled onto the couch, preparing to nurse the hungry infant. She pulled out her breast from under her light shirt and guided the baby's mouth to her nipple so he could contentedly suckle.Karl watched them for a moment with a complicated mix of tenderness and jealousy. "I think we need to start weaning him off breastfeeding soon so he can drink regular milk," he commented.Lavinia just rolled her eyes at him. She was long used to hearing this complaint from her husband. "Are you seriously jealous of your own child? He's still so young, I can't just stop breastfeeding him like that," she sighed.Karl turned his gaze away, feeling unreasonably envious of the peaceful intimacy between mother and child. He tried to push the feeling aside.“Finally, he's
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a piercing scream tore from her throat. “Aaaaaggghhhh! It hurts so bad! Karl, help me, please!” She clutched at him wildly.Karl was at a complete loss, watching his wife suffer so terribly.All he could do was hold her and try in vain to comfort her. "I'm here, I'm here...you're doing amazing, just keep breathing..."The medical team burst into the room in a flurry of chaos at the sound of Lavinia's screams. They swiftly but gently transferred her to the bed with the doctor taking charge."Okay Lavinia, you're fully dilated. It's time to start pushing on the next contraction," she instructed."No no no, I can't...I can't do it!" Lavinia shook her head even when the next contraction seized her body.Karl stroked her damp hair back. "Yes you can, baby. You're the strongest person I know. Just focus on me and push, I'm right here..."With a guttural, almost primal scream, Lavinia bore down hard. Her face turned beet red from the exertion."I
~Time flew by in a blur~"I am very nervous," Lavinia confessed while fidgeting with the hem of her maternity dress.The swell of her belly was now undeniable. It was a constant reminder of the life growing within her.Karl reached out, taking her hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, everything will be fine. No need to stress," he reassured her before turning his attention towards the doctor in anticipation.The doctor was getting ready to deliver the news that everyone had been waiting for."Here we go. Are you both ready to find out the gender of your little one?" the doctor asked.Lavinia and Karl nodded eagerly. They had discussed this moment countless times while imagining the different scenarios that could unfold.The doctor smiled. “Congratulations, you will have a son."Karl's face lit up with joy, "Did you hear that, my love? We're going to have a little boy, a little Sulivan who will look just like you," he exclaimed.Lavinia's smile mirrored his happiness.
Now that he was fully awake and alert, Karl pushed himself up on one elbow to study her expression. “Are you in pain?” he asked urgently, his mind instantly leaping to worst-case scenarios about her and their unborn child’s wellbeing.But Lavinia was quick to ease his fears, offering him a small, almost embarrassed smile. "No, no, it's not that at all," she reassured him before pausing momentarily. "I...well, I have a craving. For oranges."The tension seeped out of Karl's shoulders after registering her words. He let out a quiet chuckle of relief.He reached out and gently caressed her cheek. "Oranges? At this hour?" he teased. "You do realize it's well past midnight, and we're not exactly in peak orange season right now."Lavinia's expression fell into a mild pout. The desire for those oranges seemed so strong, so urgent in that moment, even if she understood the unlikelihood of finding any at this late hour.Sensing her letdown, Karl quickly backtracked. "But don't worry, my love. I
It was truly a night to remember.Andre and Rosie found themselves in the quiet of their hotel room, where they were able to spend some quality time together.While Andre's hands were softly put next to Rosie's head against the door as he gazed into her eyes intensely."What are you doing?" Rosie's voice trembled."Why are you so tense? Are you afraid?" Andre asked before caressing her cheeks tenderly.Rosie offered him a smile and shook her head. "I'm not... I just...""Don’t be nervous, just let yourself go. I'll never hurt you, my love. Everything will be fine, trust me," Andre reassured her.Rosie battled to restrain her reactions as he moved in and pressed soft kisses along her neck. She bit her lip in an attempt to suppress her moans."I love you, Rosie, you know that," Andre murmured.Rosie nodded. "I know, my love, and I love you too," she managed to say before their lips met in a tender kiss.Andre carefully lifted Rosie in his arms before carrying her to the bed. He gently s
Karl’s grin broadened at her words and he drew the quilt over them both before they welcomed dreamland together.The next day, Lavinia was standing in the middle of the dressing room, clad in just her underwear, angling her body towards the full-length mirror. With a small smile, she ran her hands over the gentle swell of her baby bump, admiring the changes pregnancy was bringing to her figure.She grabbed her phone and started snapping a series of photos from various angles in an attempt to document this special journey.The bathroom door opened and Karl stepped in, fresh from the shower with a towel slung low around his hips.He raised an eyebrow at his wife's actions. "Uh, what're you doing there, babe?"Lavinia glanced over her shoulder with a smile. "I'm taking belly pics! Wanna get in on this?" She motioned for him to join her. "I want to have photos documenting my whole pregnancy so we can look back on it."Without hesitation, Karl crossed the room and wrapped his arms snugly ar
“Is my husband still angry with me?” she murmured.She could feel the scorching heat of his body through the thin silk of her negligee and smell the warm, musky scent of his skin. It made her head spin with a dizzying rush of want.Before Karl could respond, Lavinia closed the scant distance between them and captured his lips in a deep, hungry kiss.For a long, heated moment he seemed to melt against her. His mouth moved in tandem with hers as one of his hands slid up to fist in her hair.A low rumbling groan of pure masculine appreciation vibrated against her lips and it made her shiver with delight.Then, all at once, Karl seemed to come to his senses. He tore his mouth away from hers with a harsh curse. His hands quickly dropped away from her as if she had scorched him."Dammit, Lavinia," he growled.There was an unmistakable bulge tenting the front of his pajama pants. "Don't do this, not tonight. I'm serious."Lavinia felt her heart plummet at the rejection. "But Karl--""No buts.
Lavinia felt her stomach twist itself into an anxious knot when the realization struck her. Karl must have retreated upstairs to their bedroom, no doubt seeking the solitude and space his anger and hurt seemed to demand.She wavered in the doorway for a long moment, chewing nervously on her lower lip while weighing her options.Part of her wanted nothing more than to leave him be, to give him the time and distance he so clearly needed to process whatever emotions were raging inside him over the disastrous misunderstanding.Another, deeper part of her, however, knew that putting off a reconciliation would only breed more resentment and pain between them.No, better to bite the bullet and face the awkwardness head-on no matter how painful it might be.Drawing a fortifying breath, Lavinia finally turned on her heel and slowly headed for the stairs.By the time she reached the bedroom door, her heart was pounding a staccato rhythm against her ribcage. She could hear the muffled sounds of
Martin gestured grandly at the table laden with boxes of crispy fried chicken, mounds of buttery mashed potatoes, biscuits, and other picnic fare. “We were talking about food, you nutters! This glorious chicken, to be exact.”The revelation hit the women like a ton of bricks.Rosie’s face flushed a brilliant crimson, slowly lowering the rolling pin, suddenly feeling very foolish.“We…we thought…” She stammered, unable to meet anyone’s eyes when the weight of their overreaction crashed down on her shoulders. “Oh god, I’m so sorry.”Talia scoffed loudly. “Wow? After our whole dramatic scene?” She shook her head in disbelief, but carefully set the skillet down.Andre stepped forward. “It’s okay, really. I can totally see how it sounded out of context.” He shrugged. “But we were just a bunch of guys enjoying some food and…well, guy talk. That’s all.”Lavinia forced an awkward laugh while pressing a hand to her reddened face as the absurdity of the situation fully registered.“Chicken…we re