Baby Can I Upgrade You?

26. Crumbling Walls

Imani

"JJ, no! You better keep that brush away from me!" I warn him with my arms out in front of me as I step back from his menacing advance. 

"Oh, don't tell me you're afraid of a little paint." He flicks the brush forward, spraying some white paint on my red sneakers. Oh, he is so dead!

"You asked for it now!" I shout at him as I dip my hand in a can of white paint and slap it against his face and drag it down to his chest. JJ gasps in surprise, and he brings his brush-wielding hand up, drawing a cross on my exposed chest. We both stare at each other seriously, and we start laughing hysterically. I laugh until tears spill out of my eyes, and I have to sit on the plastic covered bench to catch my breath. 

Jaden joins me, and I enjoy his closeness and the happy atmosphere in the room. Our elbows and knees brush together, and it makes butterflies flutter in my stomach. I can't lie, Jay has been beyond good to me since coming back into our lives, and my heart has taken notice. Old feelings have been slowly creeping back up, and it both scares and excites me. Sitting here with him in our son's nursery that we've worked on together makes me feel happy... safe even, and I feel the walls around my heart crumbling down brick by resentment-filled brick.

"Okay, baby mama, your part is done. Go take a nap, and when you come back, everything will be in its rightful place." JJ gets up and helps me up, guiding me toward the door. He's put me on a resting schedule to keep this bun in the oven as long as possible, and I don't protest anymore. 

"Fiiiine... remember to put the rocking chair on the right, not the left." I turn back to point out the exact spot where I want the piece of furniture placed.

"Yes, ma'am!" He mock salutes me and spins me back around. "Off to bed with you, baby mama." Jay playfully slaps my butt, and I jump in surprise. I give him a warning look before slipping behind my bedroom door.

I make it onto my bed in a big huff. This pregnancy has me feeling like a beached whale, and I'm glad I have about three weeks left to go. I squirm around restlessly as my mind won't shut up about Jaden Fine-Ass Jones. Oh boy!

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"Oh my God! It's beautiful, JJ!" I gush excitedly as I do a three-sixty turn in our boy's brown and white bear themed nursery. Everything is exactly where I want it, and I am beyond impressed with his attention to detail. I especially love the three bears mural above the crib. It's perfect!

"I'm glad it's up to your high standards." Jay pecks my cheek as he wraps his arms around me from behind.

"Well, you did have pretty detailed instructions," I tease him, and I feel his chest rumble as he chuckles behind me.

JJ rests his chin on the top of my head, and we stand in comfortable silence, enjoying the moment. We'll soon be three, and the thought brings a content smile to my lips. Standing here in Jaden's arms I feel safe, whole, and I feel my heart open up to him. Our son is about to arrive, and I'd like him to come into a genuinely happy home. I think I'm ready to give Jaden a real second chance, and not just for the baby. Yes, this feels right, and I think it's time we turned the page on the past.

I turn around in his arms and look up into JJ’s sparkling hazel eyes. I hope our son has his eyes. As we look into each other’s eyes, I see nothing but adoration, hope, and love in his eyes, and I know I've made the right decision. We hesitantly close the gap between our lips, and when our lips finally connect, it feels like a burst of sensation has exploded. I feel hot and cold all at once with tingles running up and down my spine. Jaden holds my face between his hands as our lips move in a slow sensual rhythm as we relearn each other again. The kiss is tender and meaningful with a quiet passion. It's bliss!

We part breathlessly, and I couldn't be happier than I am right now. 

"Wow... I-I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that," Jay speaks softly while searching my eyes with an emotion I can't place.

"I'm not. I'm ready to let you back into my heart." I stare meaningfully into his eyes, seeing his heart on display. I know I can trust him with mine.

"Oh my God! Thank you!" He breaks out into a huge smile and starts to cover my face with kisses. I giggle and squirm with my eyes closed as he pecks the corner of my right eye. 

"Okay, okay, okay! Don't drown me in kisses!" I playfully protest as I push him away. JJ does free my face. Next thing I know, I'm hoisted up into his arms, and he's whisking me off to m— our bedroom.

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Jaden
"I like the name Sipho (Gift)." I throw my name in the ring, and Imani scrunches up her face, shaking her head no. "No, I don't like it. It's too common."

"Okay, what's your suggestion then, Miss Unique?" I tease her with a raised brow. We are lying in bed with Imani resting her head on my chest. She sticks her tongue out at me, and I lean into bite it playfully.

Imani shrieks and pushes me away. "Ewww! That was disgusting, Jay!" she scolds me and wipes her tongue on her top which makes me laugh harder.

"Baby, you know you love all of this!" I wiggle my eyebrows at her suggestively.

"Whatever!" She spreads her hand over my face and pushes my head back. "Anyway, I like Theo for a middle." She settles back on my chest, and I lay my arm across her chest, letting my hand rest on the apex of her belly.

"I like Theo too." I smile down at her, my index finger drawing circles around her protruding belly button.

"Finally, we agree on something!" she sighs, and I peck her right temple. "So, I say we park the first name for when he's here. He'll tell us if he's a Sipho—" Imani holds up her left hand and scrunches up her face, "or a Thando (Love)." She holds up her right hand and smiles at her preferred name.

"Deal!" I seal the deal with a peck on her lips. "What do you think, big boy?" I ask my son, and I gently squeeze around her belly to rouse a response from him. True to form, he kicks back against my hand. That's my boy! "I think he's on board."

"Me too." Imani looks up at me and our eyes connect in a glance of understanding.

I shift so I slide down to her eye level, hovering above her face. I take a moment to take in all the individually imperfect features that make up her perfect face. How did I get so lucky? I stare at her full plump lips, and I watch them part as she takes in a small breath. That tiny action is such a turn on that I can't help but close the gap between us. Our lips collide in a slow sensual embrace, and Imani moans into my lips and the kiss takes on a new urgency. I slip my tongue into her mouth, and we devour each other hungrily, our tongues tangling in a heated tango. I shift so my hand is free to travel up her side and onto her left breast. Imani’s breasts are almost double their size now, and I couldn't be happier. I fondle her breast gently as our lips continue their hungry embrace, and I feel my dick twitch to life. Shit! We need to stop. We can't have sex in her current condition, and I don't want to get to the point of no return, so I grudgingly pull away from Imani's delicious lips with a groan. She whimpers in protest at the loss of contact and tries to pull my face back.

"Sorry, we gotta stop, babe." I place my forehead against hers, and I see the understanding in her eyes. Imani nods minutely, and we shift so I'm spooning her, my hand loving stroking over her belly. I place a soft kiss on her shoulder, and I can feel her smile.

Laying here with my little family in my arms, I can't help but be impossibly happy and absolutely grateful. It breaks my heart to think that I almost missed out on all of this. I'm so grateful that the fates brought us back together and that Imani let me back into not only her home, but her heart. We are meant to be, and I'm not going anywhere ever again!