The Thistles of Rose

27 • Exhausted

The door to my bedroom swings open.

Quickly, I grab the muslin cloth covering the part of my chest that's exposed from feeding Aurelia. I relax when I see that it's only Maya and not one of the boys or a burglar out to kill me.

Not that it's possible for anyone to sneak into our house again. Luca has men paroling every inch of this place. It's being guarded like a palace since his principessa came home four days ago.

"Maya!" I scold her.

"Sorry," she cringes, shutting the door behind her, "still not used to it."

I feel Aurelia starting to latch off from the sound of her familiar voice but, hurriedly, latch her back on again.

I didn't think breastfeeding would be so hard.

I thought it was easy; the baby sucks the nipple and out comes the milk. But it's a much more difficult process. I have to make sure she latches on properly because once she slips off, it's a miracle if she gets back on.

I've been on the verge of peeing myself because of the number of times I've needed a toilet while feeding her.

I pause my TV show and look down to see her eyes wide as she lightly hits her hand against my chin, repeatedly, while drinking her milk. She always does that when I'm feeding her. I catch her small hand in mine, pressing a kiss to it.

Maya gasps when she sits next to me. She peers over at Aurelia and loudly, whispers, "oh shit. Is it her nap time?"

I shake my head and she sighs in relief. She adores Aurelia. I mean, everyone in the house does. She's not just mine and Luca's blessing. She's theirs too.

They all have a special relationship with her. With Maya, she's like a little sister and a best friend to her.

"She's so adorable. I literally can't get over it," Maya beams. She crosses her legs, resting her chin in her palm as she gazes at her.

Then, her eyes skip between me and my baby. "I love how you're always matching with her."

I'm wearing a blue dress with little daisies on it and I put Aurelia in a dress the same shade of blue as mine. She's wearing a white headband so I decided to tie a white bandana in my hair too.

"Can't be a cute mom if I'm not," I tell her, readjusting Aurelia as a cramp forms in my arm.

I glance down at her oversized sweater. "Are you not hot in that?"

"Pft, I'm boiling," she exasperates, pulling it over her head, "but Brando would never let me leave the house like this."

Her outfit isn't bad. She's just wearing denim shorts and a white crop top. But, if you look close enough you can faintly see her nipples through the shirt. Her blonde hair brushes over it and she's plaited in one tiny braid. Now I see why her brother would have a problem with that.

"Also, I have big news!" She claps excitedly, then corrects herself, "well, two big news."

Eagerly, I wait for her to blurt it out. Maya grins, pointing to herself, "this little girl got her cherry popped, last night."

My eyes bulge. "You're lying?"

"Not this time," she winks and her shoulders dance.

Once, she pranked me saying that she did and then admitted that she was scared about it. Her ex, Jamie, pressured her but I made sure she didn't give in. I told her to have sex when she's ready.

Immediately, I ask. "Did you use protection?"

Maya nods, "just a condom."

"Who put it on?"