The Only Way is Up

Part Sixty

Chapter Sixty

There was only one thing better than falling asleep in the man that you love's arms. And that was waking up in them.

It was still dark, early morning, but this baby was very nocturnal, and the constant kicks and wriggles weren't conducive to sleep. Rolling in Maxim's embrace, she studied him in the sliver of moonlight that shone through a tiny gap in the curtains. His strong jaw, always covered with stubble...other than at the ball, she remembered that night so vividly, when he'd charmed her world, with his smooth manners, dazzling smile and natural charisma. His eyelashes would make any woman jealous, fanning beautifully across his cheeks; his Slavic features were enhanced by his gently tanned, clear skin, and that thick unruly black hair. She was so lucky to have him to herself, now that she knew he was hers.

"Will you quit staring at me?"

She almost jumped at the sound of his voice, but his eyes stayed shut. Smiling, she reached out and traced her thumb across his eyelashes, "aren't I allowed to stare at my man?"

Eyes still closed, he smiled, "is that what I am? It sounds amazing when you say it like that."

"Well that's what you are."

Finally he pulled apart his right eyelid, "can't sleep? I thought we did enough to exhaust ourselves, earlier."

"I'm tired, but your wriggling baby isn't." She took his hand and placed it onto her stomach, just as the baby did what felt like a hundred and eighty degrees spin."

She couldn't see his face, but she heard his intake of breath, "I've missed so much."

It was her turn to sigh, "you did. But there's still so much to be involved in. We have to look to the future now, hey?"

He moved to plant his lips on hers, "you are so wise...", they wandered along her jaw to her ear, and nibbled there. "So right..."

She stretched, rubbing against him, and then suddenly it wasn't about talking. Maxim pulled her so that she rolled on top of him, and when she sat up, he smiled.

"Perfect."

His hands were suddenly free to roam all over her, and she could just make out the grin on his face as he ran them over their baby, tentatively, then up to her bare breasts, his thumbs finding her nipples and teasing her until she ground into him.

"That back fired," he murmured as he lifted her hips, allowed them to align. "Can't resist..." Suddenly his voice was a gasp and he lost the little control that he had.

When she opened her eyes again it was bright, sun streamed through the drapes, and the bed beside her was empty. Reaching for her phone she was stunned to see it was ten am, she never ever slept in that late. Sitting up, she reached for the pyjamas that had fallen from the bed at some point in the night and pulled them on, then ventured out of the bedroom.

Maxim was on the phone, his laptop open in front of him, as he glanced up, she saw the tension in his eyebrows, pulled into a frown.

He raised a hand, indicating he wouldn't be long, but she wasn't worried, given a little shake of the head, she headed to the kitchen to get a cold drink. She'd barely finished it when she looked up to see him stood in the doorway.

"Always do business in your pants?"

He glanced down at the boxer shorts, the only item he'd retrieved from her bedroom and grinned, "I would have talked to Artur naked...but it felt a bit wrong."