The Subtle Art of Love and War 3

Chapter 12: Because Of Me

Fucking Jo's brains out used to be my favorite part of the day... well, it still is because hell, have you seen my wife? But there's one thing that's very close to taking that top spot and that is laying in bed with my beautiful wife, my hand on her protruding belly as I wait for Baby Ash to reward us with slight movements, maybe a kick if he feels like being generous.

In the past few weeks, he's been very busy inside his mummy's womb. Jo would complain about the frequency in which she'd have to go to the loo or in a few occasions she'd accidentally piss herself due to our little boy's sudden movements, consequently prompting her bladder in action. But as much as she complains, we both know we love to feel him doing cartwheels in there.

"Baby," Jo says, catching my attention from the telly. "Right side, right side."

My hand moves in its own volition and feel her belly over one of my old white shirts which she's been wearing as her lounge and sleepwear. It hangs loose on her shoulders but almost snug around her belly and she's fucking adorable with those maternity leggings she pairs it with. We're currently laying in bed, Jo with her phone in one hand whilst I flicked back and forth between Bloomberg and ESPN.

And then Ash sends a flying kick to the lower right side of his mummy's tummy which makes my hand practically bounce off of her. "Oh, that was a strong one," Jo says with excitement and shining wide eyes.

He also doesn't stop with one kick. Apparently, our little boy is in the mood for a party tonight because he follows it up with another strong kick a few inches from the first. Then another punch on the other side.

My hands are flying all over Josephine's belly as she squirms and giggles. "He's really going at it in there," I chuckle with overflowing amusement.

Still not satisfied, Jo tugs the hem of my shirt she's currently wearing to expose her bump. Her skin is taut and stretched to the max and although I've been hearing her curse the stretch marks marring her otherwise smooth and creamy skin, I happen to love all the changes in her body. Her nipples have taken on a darker shade and they've grown along with her breasts; super sensitive too which is only in preparation for her lactation once our baby arrives. She's cursed the dark spots that have sprouted overnight-on her neck, on her armpits-but I only see her as my glowing very pregnant wife.

There is literally nothing wrong with the changes in her body and I will never tire of reassuring her. It took a while, for sure, but now I reckon she's started accepting these changes. There was a time when she wouldn't even let me see her body in the light, always wanting the lights off when we're fucking. But now... now she's starting to let me in again and I can't even begin to tell you how much that makes me happy. So goddamn happy. Because I hated seeing my confident wife being reduced to someone riddled with insecurities.

"It looks like a fucking alien," I remark as I watch our unborn child move and deform his mummy's belly with his tiny limbs.

Jo smack me right at the back of my head. Hard. "That's literally your son you're calling an alien," she glowers playfully at me.

"Look at it and tell me you think it looks nothing out of a sci-fi movie? Have you seen Alien vs. Predator?" I argue as I stifle my laughter with a straight face.

"It looks absolutely nothing like-oh, shit! I just pissed myself." Grunting, Jo wiggles her ass to the edge of the bed whilst I run to her side and help her balance on her feet before she waddles into our bathroom. "I swear, this boy is having a party in here," Jo tells me when she emerges from the bathroom, her hand gently rubbing her belly, a mixture of amusement and love in her tone and eyes.

"Imagine the chaos he's gonna cause while he's growing up, babe," I snicker.

"Oh god, I can't even begin to imagine," Jo cringes in mock horror whilst slipping back under the covers with me. "I Facetimed Kath earlier and she looked like a fucking zombie. She said she hasn't had enough sleep in the past five weeks since giving birth to Paxton. Have you talked to Felix?"