14 comments/ 33388 views/ 26 favorites Maybe Just One Good Man? By: Maybe Just One Good Man? Then again - "I'm sorry, what..." "Sorry, you were...." Both finally broke into nervous laughter. He stopped first, still smiling and rose from the table to go to her. "Is your back hurting, Dee? Can I rub it for you?" She blushed prettily again. On close inspection he only saw a light spatter of freckles across her nose and shoulders. He was glad she had some though. He'd always been partial to women with freckles. He wondered briefly, if she spent more time outside, at the beach maybe, if she'd get more freckles, and if they'd cover her.... Pushing that thought aside he realized she was answering him. "...couldn't ask you to do that. Been having more back pain as the baby gets bigger....OOPH!" At that moment he could clearly see the outline of a small hand, or foot pushing against her belly, followed by the slow, undulating wave of motion caused by the baby rolling. "WOW! Does that hurt when it happens?" "Not usually...would you like to feel?" Not waiting for an answer she reached for his hand, pulling him closer to allow him to stand, open palm against her belly. It was, quite possibly, the most amazing thing he'd ever felt and he had nothing to compare it to. Looking down at the top of her copper tresses, her own natural perfume of clean girl rising around him, he longed to put his arms around her and pull her closer, perhaps risk a kiss, but she moved away again. Cocking her head up to angle a smile at him she rubbed her hand over the spot showing the most activity. "Little bugger gets most active at night," she said. "I'm hoping that's not a sign of things to come." "I dunno," he disagreed. "Seems like I remember my sister complaining about not getting a lot of sleep for a while when her kids were little." She started to chuckle and nod agreement, but it turned to a groan as she bent forward and back, both hands now on the base of her spine trying to relieve the pressure. Making up his mind quickly he pulled her into the other room, but then realized he had no idea either where to go from there or of the layout of the house. Sensing his confusion, she piped up - "Oh John, I'm SO sorry! Let me show you where everything is!" Whirling away before he could protest that she had nothing to apologize for, she reached back to nab his hand, pulling him behind her on a whirlwind tour of the house. As before, he was impressed at the neatness and cleanliness of the house, from the small half bath nestled under the stairs holding a cat pan. She has a cat! Where IS the cat, he thought briefly before she'd moved on. He was surprised at her nimbleness on the steps, but then realized she probably made the trip up and down stairs several dozen times a day. Still, he hovered close behind her, prepared to brace them both from falling should she slip. Upstairs the smaller bedroom was well on its way to becoming a nursery. Colorful homemade curtains hung in the windows and a crib box stood propped in the corner. Another rocker and a small chest of drawers, painted to match the curtain colors, completed the furnishings. Pretty sparse he thought, but functional. She's certainly done her best. Probably by herself. "So, was Scott excited about the baby too?" She frowned. "Well, he was young, you know. And he wanted to buy a motorcycle..." And YOU'RE not young too, he thought angrily. Probably a good thing the little S.O.B. had died when he had, otherwise I'd have to look him up and.... Hold on a second Rocky, he reminded himself with some humor - if he hadn't died, then you wouldn't be here....falling in love with his widow and baby. Shaking his head at his own foibles he realized they were moving into the main bedroom. What he hoped would eventually become THEIR bedroom. There was a wicker laundry basket on the floor next to the bed. Lined with towels for softness and holding a pillow in the bottom to serve as a mattress for a bassinet. He admired her inventiveness although he worried about the softness of the pillow and whether or not the baby might suffocate. At the moment though it was occupied by an enormous, long haired black cat, introduced as Shadow. The cat yawned and blinked at him widely when he scratched it under its chin. The bed itself was small - what would have been cozy under normal circumstances became barely possible with Dee in her current condition. A clean, but tattered quilt topped the little brass bed. And an odd assortment of furnishings provided storage. Pulling Dee over to the bed and having her lay down he asked if there was some lotion or hand cream in the house. She pointed at a small bedside dresser with a shaking finger, her eyes enormous and growing larger still when he asked her to get under the covers but pull up her gown. Finally, realizing the problem he patted her on the shoulder saying - "Just relax for a while, I wanted to try to give you a back rub and see if that helps." Despite the fact that she had already complied with his requests, he could feel the tension flowing out of her at his words and with the knowledge that, for now at least, more would not be asked of her than she wanted to give. Rubbing the lotion between his hands to warm it he began to rub her back, pressing firmly but not too hard, trying to imagine what would feel good under the circumstances. Hearing a small sigh of relief, and seeing her shoulders relaxing even further encouraged him to continue. He did so, renewing the lotion periodically as he rubbed her back for several long minutes until a particularly deep sigh made him aware of the fact that she had fallen asleep. Covering her gently and turning out the lights he paused briefly to run a hand lightly over the copper locks spread across the pillow. Dropping a kiss lightly on the top of her head he went out to find the bedding necessary to make up a pallet on the couch. # # # # She came down the stairs early the next morning finding him curled up still asleep, feet hanging off the too short couch. Not wanting to wake him, she still longed to brush her fingers through his close cropped hair. He looked so young sleeping, barely more than a teenager himself. She wished there was some way to thank him. She felt better than she had in weeks, rested, and....well, safe. That's funny she thought - why do I feel so safe with a total stranger when I didn't with my own husband? Shaking her head at her own whimsies she went into the kitchen to start coffee and breakfast. # # # # He woke some time later to the homey smells of bacon frying and coffee brewing. Food in the Mess Hall was always good, but he missed the little things about home cooking. The eggs fixed the way he wanted them, not scrambled to serve 400 - or bacon that was just done, neither limp nor carbonized. Oh well, he thought, it was the life he'd chosen. It was simply that, now - with the possibility of having a home and family of his own within his grasp - he found himself yearning for it with a near physical ache. After quick morning ablutions in the little half bath downstairs, interrupted midway by a paw under the door trying to pull the door back open, alerting him to Shadow's morning needs as well, he made his way into the kitchen. Dee sat quietly at the table nursing a cup of coffee, heavy with milk, while Rae Jeanne turned the bacon sizzling in the big cast iron skillet. An empty mug sat on the counter next to the coffee maker and he filled it, seating himself across the table from Dee. She started to move her chair, getting up to help Rae Jeanne, but at the scraping sound of the chair the older woman turned, shaking a spatula at her - "Don't even THINK about it, Missy! Just sit there and rest while you can. Next few days gonna be plenty busy without you wantin' to cook and clean too. You let the rest of us do for you for now!" A quiet tap on the back door served to punctuate her words and she opened it, nodding at the woman standing there - "Morning, Amy..." The woman came in, smiling at her and nodding pleasantly at him. Setting the covered dish on the counter she went to Dee's side - "DeeDee, honey - I made you that ham/macaroni and cheese casserole you liked so much at the block party. It's ready to go, just pop it in the oven - directions are there. If there's ANYTHING at all you need, or I can do..." They hugged tightly. Then she leaned across the table saying - "Thank you, Gunny. We ALL appreciate your help." She shook his hand firmly before heading back out. Rae Jeanne followed her and he heard the murmur of their voices for a moment before the little black woman came back in to finish cooking. He sat in somewhat stunned amazement, only to have the scene repeated another half dozen times during breakfast. # # # # The next few days passed in a blur of activity and fatigue. Rocky learned that the first few worn and threadbare outfits he'd seen Dee dressed in were not unique, all of her clothing seemed equally worn and threadbare too tight over breasts and belly - and he cursed again the selfishness of the man she'd been married to. He'd given she and Rae Jeanne his credit card and sent them out shopping - only to have Rae Jeanne hand it back to him with the receipt for one, dark colored maternity dress, suitable for the funeral. He'd nearly cussed Dee's stubbornness then but swallowed hard and reminded himself she'd never been allowed or encouraged to spend anything for herself or for the coming baby. He finally decided there was no help for it but to take her shopping himself. At first she refused to even look at things on the racks in the stores, finally, sizing her up with one eye and comparing what he saw with the clothes on the racks he began pulling things off hangers and handing them to her - dresses, jeans, jumpers and blouses were piled into her arms before he turned her with a push and sent her in the direction of the changing room. Firm instructions were given to her to get "whatever else" she needed by way of undies, nighties and such. While she was occupied trying on clothes, he headed for the infants' department. There he filled up one cart with things he thought they might/would/could need - diapers, both cloth and newborn disposables, bottles, towels and washclothes, thermometers, gowns and blankets, T-shirts and something called a "onesie". There were some awfully cute clothes for baby boys and baby girls, but he didn't know if she knew what she was having. An infant tub, car seat, another small dresser and a bassinet were all sent on a cart to the front to wait for his arrival. Some things he thought could wait a bit - walkers, high-chairs, playpens would not be needed immediately, although the money itself was no object. He hadn't had anyone or anything to spend his pay on for quite some time and the Corps had supplied all his basic needs. Finally he grabbed some things he thought she might enjoy - a mobile for the crib that played music and had big, cartoon-like animals hanging from it - a teddy bear made of some plush material, soft as a towel, that played music too and promised it was "Fully Washable and Stain Resistant" - some pacifiers and some rattling cloth toys completed his purchases. He turned to look for her, only to find her standing wide eyed behind him, staring at the wonders in the cart. He noticed she had only brought one pair of jeans, a jumper, and a couple of shirts - although she did have some gowns and packaged undies. He started to suggest she try on some other clothes, or that they could go somewhere else to look if she didn't like the selection here but she laid a finger across his lips to shush him, saying - "John - I'm not going to be pregnant that much longer - this is more than enough and thank you." Walking to the basket and looking at some of the things it held she smiled radiantly. "For this - I can't ever thank you enough!" "I didn't know if the baby is a boy or a girl so I waited to get some things until you got here..." "I don't know either - I...we wanted to be surprised... These are just fine, John - they're perfect! We can get boy or girl clothes later when we know..." He smiled down at her, delighted at her inclusion of him in her future life with the "we" statement. Rae Jeanne had laughed as he unloaded his SUV, the little Santa Fe weighted down with his purchases. "Gunny, some men woo women with flowers and poetry - I take it you're tryin' diapers and maternity clothes." That day had been a shining moment during some of the forthcoming gloom... Try as they might, neither of them were ever able to recall more than a brief moment here and there during the next days. He clearly recalled passing under the high flag, hung from a pair of raised and extended fire truck "ladders", in the hearse carrying Dee's husband and suddenly wondering if he was doing the right thing or not. And later he would be able to recall the astonishing roar of the Harleys in the motorcycle escort and Dee's quiet voice in the minister's office when he put the ring on her finger and she said "I do." She, in turn, remembered the feel of the tightly folded flag as she had gripped it, and the sober face of the young Marine saying, "...with the thanks of a grateful nation..." And she remembered with emotions nearly as deep and moving, the feel of John's hand holding hers during the brief ceremony after - how it felt warm, dry, comforting - as though it "fit" somehow - and his voice promising to "love, honor and cherish" as long as they both lived... She found herself pondering that particular phrase at odd moments - "as long as you both shall live" - she wondered if it really meant BOTH of them, or if either of them died was the other then free to move on. She wondered if she would survive childbirth. Rae Jeanne had hugged her and assured her she would, had even said that was a common fear as you got closer to your due date. She wasn't so sure. She hoped John would be good to the baby and maybe find a good mama to raise him or her. Maybe if it was a baby girl he'd feel more tolerant and accepting than if he had to raise another man's son... She kept her fears to herself. # # # # John had gone to her last O.B. appointment with her. His intent had been to drive and assist and he hung back shyly in the waiting room, but the doctor, a brash young Major would have none of it when Dee handed him her purse and stood up. As the Major loudly scolded him for not stepping up to take a more active part in his wife's pregnancy, Dee flushed and began to stammer a denial and explanation. John stood up quietly, his hand in the small of her back quieted her protests and she looked up at him in surprise. Her eyes widened even further, nearly crossing when he dropped a kiss on her nose. "It's okay, honey. The Major's right. I've been gone too long and you've had to handle too much of this yourself already." Almost marching with resolution, she only saw hesitation on his face when they reached the exam room with the over-sized table and stirrups resembling some arcane piece of torture equipment. Even when he realized she was going to have to strip for the exam he didn't hesitate, although she felt her own fingers turning to cooked spaghetti as she tried to unbutton the side closure of the jumper she wore. Tsk'ing at her he began to take over, undressing her with swift gentleness, never lingering or making her feel any more awkward than she did already. Talking to her about inconsequential things he focused on her face and she was enormously grateful - never realizing how excellent his peripheral vision was or how much his hands ached to stroke all of the soft hills and valleys of her form. And she had no idea that his cargo khakis hid a steel hard, throbbing cock that he longed to bury between her thighs...or lips. He'd always thought that females, in the full flower of their womanhood, were beautiful. Unlike some men, who seemed to find pregnant women repellant, he thought they were wonderfully beautiful and mysterious...privy to some secret knowledge and understanding as they grew and bloomed. By the same token he'd never understood what some, men and women both, found abhorrent about the act of breast feeding. His sister, he recalled, had struggled mightily against both public opinion and the feelings of her husband and his family. It was, surprisingly, her own mother who was most out-spoken in opposition to her nursing until finally Meghan had given up the struggle and resorted to using the bottle. He hoped Dierdre was planning to nurse. He'd bought the bottles in case, and because he recalled that babies needed to drink water too but in his quiet moments he day-dreamed about her - flaming locks loose around her shoulders quietly rocking with a carrot-topped baby at her breast. Focusing his attention back to the here and now he realized, with a startling surge of something like envy, that the doctor had one gloved hand on Dee's belly and the other inserted inside her...inside his wife, by God, where even he had not yet dared to venture. Taking a deep rattling breath he glanced at Dee - and her pose of impassive indifference as she stared at the ceiling discussing her eating and bowel habits was enough to assure him of the clinical nature of the moment. "Still", he thought... Dee looked at him and smiled in reassurance as she heard him draw the second ragged breath in as many minutes, incorrectly assuming he was made physically uncomfortable by the clinical nature of some of the exam and discussion. She reached out a hand for him to hold as the doctor moved around the table, now examining her breasts and nipples, while they continued their discussion. John winced in sympathy when he saw Dee flinching at the manner in which the doctor was pinching and prodding her breasts and nipples. His eyes widened when he saw her nipples begin leaking milk. He had no idea lactation started BEFORE the baby arrived - but then, he thought, that makes sense if Mama has to be ready to provide sustenance to them right away... He tuned in when he realized that Dee and the doctor were discussing her breasts and lactation status. "...still want you to continue to try and get your nipples as tough as possible before the baby gets here. And be sure to wash carefully, 3 or 4 times a day for now, and follow up with liberal applications of the lanolin cream." "Yessir, I've been doing that every day. Sometimes, sir, my breasts seem to get really big and hard and hot...and then all of a sudden..." she blushed rosily. "Your milk lets down?" At her silent nod, the doctor continued, "That'll happen - more often after the baby arrives and your milk comes in good. When my wife was nursing just the sound of a baby crying would cause her to let down - church turned into a real challenge for her sometimes." They laughed obligingly as he prepared to continue, coming around the table while he removed his gloves. "All right then Gunny, Dierdre is making excellent progress. I'd be surprised if I see her back here next week. The baby has dropped now and she's thinning and effaced." At John's blank look he laughed and said, "Means the baby has settled into birth position and her cervix, the part of her body at the mouth of the uterus which was thick and heavy duty to keep the baby in place, is now thinning out and getting ready to open to allow the baby to pass through. I'm kind of surprised really that she hasn't been complaining of contractions at all." John had a startled thought, "Could that cause backaches?" "Hell yes! Dee, have you been getting backaches?" Both she and John began to simultaneously explain that she'd been getting backaches for some time, Dee adding that he'd been rubbing her back and it helped. Holding up both hands and laughing at the barrage the doctor nodded in approval at John for rubbing her back, "Well, she's probably going to go into labor any time now. She's not due for another week and first babies are notoriously slow, but if you want to speed things up you can try 'The Italian Method of Labor Induction'. I can guarantee that usually works." Maybe Just One Good Man? John had not made Gunnery Sergeant by being slow on the uptake but he felt like he was missing all the signals today. Dee on the other hand had again flushed rosily, he absently noted that this time her blush extended from the crown of her head to her toes and went through several shades of pink to crimson. Major Costello laughed again, "Have sex with her man! There are some excellent scientific reasons why it usually works but Mrs. Costello - my wife, not my mother mind you - always said that the muscle contractions of her orgasm seemed to trigger her labor..." Both of them watched with some fascination as Dee progressed through several more shades of red as she simultaneously struggled to sit up and cover herself with the paper sheet. John finally snapping back to attention in time to slide a supportive arm under her. She had dressed in silence, hiding behind the curtain of her hair. All his attempts to assist or to initiate conversation had been met with silence. He thought he knew what the problem was and, handing her into the Santa Fe, tried to make a joke out of it - "Well, that was fairly embarrassing, huh?" She ducked her head further, as though from a physical blow. He thought he heard a whispered "sorry" issuing from behind the hair hanging around her face. "What?" She refused to say more, bending to fumble with the connection of the seat belt around her. Closing the car door and hurrying around to the driver's side he climbed in, in time to take the buckle from her hand and snap it in place. She turned her head away, not realizing he had no intention of leaving until he knew what was going on. "Sorry for what, Dee?" "You don't HAVE to, you know..." "Have to what, honey?" Hearing a sniffle he disconnected the seat belt again, sliding it carefully back around her girth. Moving over as far as the bucket seat would allow he pulled some tissues from a packet in the glovebox. "What don't I have to do, Dee?" She was sobbing freely now, "I KNOW that I'm fat and ugly and disgusting and no man in his right mind would ever want me... It's okay! You DON'T have to...do what the doctor said..." She trailed off again, hiccuping with distress. "Dee! Oh sweetheart, is THAT what you think?" She nodded passionately. "Did he tell you that?" At her wail he leaned as far as he could, using all of his considerable upper body strength to pull her toward him without hurting her in the process. She went from struggling against him to collapsing on him in the blink of an eye, still sobbing but without the note of hopeless despair he'd heard at first. Cradling her against him as best he could, he smoothed her hair back from her face, kissing her lightly on forehead, eyes, nose...where ever he could reach. He noted in the process that, even with swollen eyes and a red nose, drippy from crying, she was still not unattractive to him. "Dee, honey - you are NOT fat or ugly and you are certainly not disgusting." Placing her hand firmly against the crotch of his slacks he added, "And if you were ever in any doubt whatsoever that I want you..." A giggle from the region where her face was buried against his chest gave him some hope, although she collapsed again in hiccups the next instant. She didn't remove her hand, however, he thought. The sound of footsteps on pavement alerted them to the presence of others in the parking lot. "Now is probably not the best time or place to show you exactly what an idiot I think your husband was..." Another giggle - I'm getting there he thought, not sure yet where "there" was going to wind up being ultimately. "So, for now sweetheart, dry your eyes. Can I take you out to dinner? Where would you like to go?" Tossing her hair back and smiling up at him she said, "Home Johnny. Take me home and show me there! Show me now!" She stroked him once lovingly before settling back in her seat and handing him the clasp for the seat belt again. Feeling much like a stallion in the gate at the start of the race he fumbled for a minute, looking for his keys, not realizing he'd already put them in the ignition when he entered the car. Gripping the wheel tightly and reminding himself firmly of the speed limit inside parking lots and on base he pulled out of the parking space, nearly rear-ending the car in front of him when he felt her delicate touch in his lap again. There was a close moment on arriving back at the house...home he thought emphatically...when Rae Jeanne had waved from her porch and started across the yard. Rocky had put his arm firmly around Dee, dropping his hand to stroke her ass when she leaned back against him, turning up her face to be kissed again. He waved at Rae Jeanne, calling "later" over his shoulder. Her whoop of laughter and applause followed them into the house. He wasn't positive but he thought the applause he'd heard issued from more than one spot in the neighborhood. Later he had to come back downstairs and check - not that they'd locked the door - more that they'd closed the door. Neither of them, it transpired, could recall the events from the moment they left the car to the time they arrived in the bedroom. He seemed to be on fire...or she was. He was fairly certain the interior of the house had heated up considerably since the time they'd left. Their hands continually ran into each other's hands in their frantic search for skin, and pieces of clothing apparently vanished into thin air. Their mutual sense of controlled haste took into account Dee's girth and need for attention on the stairs - freeing him to look, touch, stroke and taste to his heart's content - as long as he could do so without tripping her. Finally reaching the bedroom John unceremoniously tossed the cat out of the room, closing the door firmly behind him, before turning back to Dee. He leaned against the door for a moment, watching as she turned back the covers. She had tied her hair back - when had she done that he wondered - and was wearing it in a loose ponytail. It hung neatly between her shoulder blades, the color of sunset. And she'd lost her jeans and panties. As she bent over the bed the pout of her sex winked at him from under the tail of her shirt, drawing him like a magnet. Feeling the heat radiating from his body as he drew closer, she turned, suddenly growing shy again. She wanted to touch him, look at him, and taste him - to love him and have him love her - but she was afraid again that when he saw her he would turn from her in disgust. She was afraid to even look up from the floor, for fear of what she might see in his eyes. He lifted the blouse from her, reaching behind her to unsnap her bra. "Oh Dierdre!" Trembling fingers gently stroked the slope of her breast, tracing and circling one nipple, while the other hand moved to stroke the fullness of her belly. Lifting her chin he kissed her, tenderly at first but with growing passion, teasing her mouth with lips and tongue until finally she opened to him. Taking a ragged breath he said, "I don't want to hurt you sweetheart. I want you so much it hurts, but..." At that, she could finally open her eyes, looking directly into his clear, loving gaze. "You're not going to hurt me, John. I don't think you could ever hurt me." Taking his hand she turned to the bed, reaching to turn out the small bedside lamp. "Don't! Please...I...want to look at you." Bending over her as he kissed her deeply again he added, "And I want to make SURE that you can see ME!" She caught his meaning immediately, smiling as he slid onto the bed alongside her, "Don't worry. I'll make sure I use the right name!" She giggled briefly but sobered almost immediately. "Besides, it's not like Scott would ever..." her voice trailed off uncertainly. "Don't think about it!" he commanded. "Don't think about him! Just think about this - be here with me now, Dee!" Bending to her again, his lips covered hers, at once both tender and demanding. He gently teased and nibbled at her lips and tongue until he felt her breath quicken against his cheek, and her body relax against him. Sliding closer against her he pressed the hard ridge of his cock against her hip while his hands began a restless moving dance of passion on her body. Cupping her face as he lipped and nuzzled her ear and neck, his thumb softly stroked her lips until she gave a low throaty moan, opening her mouth to lick and suck it. He felt himself grow even harder thinking of how she might love him with her mouth. With his thumb wet with her saliva he reached to stroke her nipple, circling the huge, dark aureola, watching the nipple swell and grow larger. As the turgid peak grew hard and pebbled against his fingertips he realized the dampness was increasing too and looking, realized the swollen tips had begun leaking and oozing milk. Curious, as always, but having the luxury now to indulge himself he bent closer. Licking first one, then the other, he alternated breasts until both were stimulated and freely drooling milk. Her breasts themselves seemed firmer and swollen, the blue milk veins standing out against the white of her skin. Finally, unable to resist the temptation she presented any longer, he bent, engulfing one hot nipple. His curiosity, piqued when his sister briefly nursed, now returned full force. Flicking his tongue lightly across the distended point, he was delighted to hear Dee's groan of pleasure, almost immediately followed by several jets of sweet warmth filling his mouth. The taste was tantalizing, warm and sweet, not like cow's milk certainly, but - lifting his head, with milk running down his chin - "God! Honey - you're delicious!" Bending to nuzzle her again he set about suckling from her in earnest, switching breasts frequently and often, taking pleasure not only in his own actions, but in her increasing response. As he sucked she seemed to become more and more aroused by the minute. At first she arched against him, her hands moving over his shoulders, arms and head as she thrust her breasts up to his face, demanding the loving attention he was so pleased to give her. As her excitement grew he felt her legs part and she turned toward him, as close as she possibly could considering the weight of the child she carried in her womb. Continuing to lave her nipples with his tongue, moving from right to left and back again to suck deeply of the life-giving nectar, he slid one hand down, over her belly to the heat rising from her cleft. She was dripping wet, her thatch matted and moist, and her entire sex swollen and pulsing against his hand. Gently parting her folds he slid his fingers down, pressing deeply to wet them before returning to the top of her slit to slide and flick them across the small hidden nub he found there. She was gasping now, a sound that was music to his ears. Her hips were rising to him, legs open wide as her passion built, and he found that, despite the pleasures offered by her breasts, he could no longer resist the offering she presented below. As he slid between her legs, wedging a pillow beneath her hips, he paused for an instant to admire the picture she afforded him. Legs splayed wide her hips danced against the bed in tune to the rhythm he was creating within her, her swollen breasts and nipples still slowly leaked milk, puddling in the hollow of her chest and wetting the sheet beneath her. Copper hair caught the light of the little lamp, reflecting back fire. Her hands alternately reached to stroke him, or clenched the sheets below her tightly as her arousal built. Seeing the thin gold band on her left hand he smiled to himself before bending to her again. His hands parted her folds, and taking a deep breath, he blew gently across her sex, watching as she twitched and spasmed in response. Finally, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply of her natural perfume he took a long, slow taste of her, licking from bottom to top of her snatch. She squealed with delight and thrashed her hips again, seeming to try to find a way to get closer to his mouth. He was willing to oblige her, burying his mouth hard in her cunt, loving the silken feel of her nether lips against his tongue, and the taste of the juices now flowing freely from between them. Careful still, afraid of hurting her, but eager to erase all traces of her past, he slid two fingers into the hot, wet tunnel between her thighs, moving his lips and tongue to focus on the eager little pearl pulsing in his mouth. Finding a thicker spot of tissue on the roof of her vagina he began gently stroking her. Sliding his fingers slowly in and out he made sure to apply pressure on her G-spot, simultaneously sucking steadily at her clit, flicking it from side to side. Briefly he wondered if his tongue would hold up to the strain, but then her legs clamped hard against his head while her hands sought to lock him in position - and then he was riding the tornado as she came hard against his mouth. Over and over her muscles spasmed while her honey poured over his lips and tongue. He was willing to drink as much as she had to give him but was starting to feel a burn in his lungs and knew that soon he'd need to come up for air. Finally, a slight weakening in the rigid pressure her hands and thighs were exerting allowed him to slide up and away, substituting a thumb to rub her clitoris as he took several deep breaths. Nuzzling her breast again he took another deep suck from the closest nipple, flicking it lightly with his tongue hearing her cry out, "Oh John!" as her pussy tightened around his fingers once more. His cock, as hard as it had ever been before, was oozing pre-cum and he was feeling a definite need to bury it somewhere warm and wet. He was at somewhat of a loss how to proceed from here. Straight Missionary was obviously not going to work, based on the size of her belly. He wasn't opposed to Doggy-style but he wanted their first time to be face to face if possible. He had a thought, but wasn't sure how Dierdre was going to feel about going for a ride. He bent to kiss her, and was thrilled with the way she threw her arms around his neck, kissing him back deeply, seemingly delighted at tasting herself on his lips and tongue. "Oh John...," she murmured against his lips. "That was...I've never...oh God, Johnny!" "I'm glad sweetheart!" Pressing her hand against the steel of his penis he inquired, "Do you feel up to more?" "DO I!" "Would you like to be on top? That won't be too much for you will it?" She grinned up at him, through the tousled web of her hair. He was beginning to think that her chipped tooth added a certain charm to her smile. "I'd love to try!" Climbing on top of him she was awkward with her bulk, but eager in spite of it all. He kept his knees bent behind her to allow him a little extra leverage below her, as well as to provide her with a little back support if needed. Looking up he watched as she tossed her hair back, settling smoothly onto him as though they had always been two halves of a whole. She moved somewhat tentatively at first, hesitant to hurt either of them but encouraged by his smiles and groans of pleasure. She was so hot and wet around him, and having her rocking back and forth on him was sweet agony. He wasn't sure how long he was going to hold out but was still determined to try and make this an event she would never forget. Reaching up with one hand he fondled and tweaked her nipples, enjoying the freedom this position gave him. He reached between them with his other hand, looking for the swollen little nub that he knew would set her free. Finding her clit he rubbed it smoothly surprised at how she immediately ground down on his fingers, nearly numbing them with the pressure. # # # # She looked down at his smiling face, the steel blue eyes that could on occasion, cast glances sharp as razor cuts, but which were now soft, out of focus - as though he were simultaneously seeing her, and looking beyond her somehow - and she felt the tight bands of ice wrapped around her heart for too long beginning to thaw and warm. No one in her life had ever loved her so gently, with such total focus on her pleasure. She wanted to remember this night forever. If it never happened like this again, if he left and never came back, she wanted to have enough memories to last the rest of her life. She felt his hands moving on her skin, sliding over the round of her belly as though it were something precious - well, she thought, it is of course, to me - but I never expected him to feel this way too. He didn't avoid her pregnancy but almost seemed to delight in it - the way he had sucked the milk from her breasts. Just thinking about THAT made her tingle again. She could feel the energy building as she moved on him. All of her senses focusing on those few square inches where their bodies joined. She could hear the wet squelching noise as she moved on him. As his hands moved on her body, tweaking and thumbing her nipples, sliding between them to rub her clitty she felt herself losing all control. Leaning forward, rubbing her crotch desperately against his fingers, she began to cum. Grinding and spasming against him, she rocked and shuddered. Her entire world now limited to the confines of the bed they shared she gasped and cried out - "Oh Johnny! OH JOHNNY! Oh YES....," and as she did, she felt him let go too, stiffening below her as he pumped his seed into her. # # # # It turned out to be a long night, and memorable in many ways. They had settled down to sleep - his arms wrapped protectively around her. She had slept but seemed restless to him. He dozed, waking to watch her, memorizing every line and detail of her face and form. He knew that when he was gone those details - the feel of her skin against the palm of his hand, and the smell of her hair - those would be the things he would think about on long night watches, the memories that would bring him back home. He noticed that during the times when her restlessness seemed to increase, the muscles along her belly seemed to tighten under his hand. He didn't know how long it had been going on when it finally dawned on him - contractions - Dee was having contractions. He thought about waking her but soon realized she would probably wake on her own when she got closer to her time. He did, however, try to keep a watchful eye on the clock and as the spasms dropped abruptly from roughly every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes, Dee woke with a groan. Wide awake now he tried to help her finish her packing, only succeeding in getting underfoot and in her way. He did manage to dissuade her from cooking his breakfast, but when he offered to cook for her she refused, saying it was probably better if she didn't eat much. He ate hurriedly as she paced and stalked around the first floor of the little house, occasionally stopping to grip a chair back, gritting her teeth and groaning. He offered to get Rae Jeanne but she turned him down again, smiling. Finally she paused her endless circling and said she was going to go get a shower. Hurrying behind her he managed to support her on the steps as one cramping contraction hit half way to the landing. In the bathroom he helped her undress before beginning to undress himself. "Really John? Are you sure? You don't have to..." Cutting off her half-hearted protests with a smiling kiss he set the water temperature, helping her climb in the tub. Turning her back to the water he held her in place, letting the warmth of the water help to soothe and relax her before filling his hands with shampoo and taking charge of her wet tresses. When her hair was clean, shining and soap free he soaped the washcloth and washed her. There was no clock available to watch but it seemed as though her pains were increasing in speed, intensity and duration. As he bent to wash her feet and legs, she began to tear up and when he realized it, asking her why, she broke down sobbing. Maybe Just One Good Man? "It's just not FAIR! Dammitall - we had one perfect night - and now we can't...for WEEKS!" and she sobbed harder. "You think it was a perfect night, Dee?" She sniffled, "Well, YEAH, don't you, John?" "And you want to do it again?" She seemed torn between sobbing again, or giggling at his earnest questions, "Well, DUH! Of COURSE I do, Johnny!" Giggling began to win. "Don't YOU want to do it again?" Standing to press against her he stroked his rigid cock across and around her belly, wrapping his arms around her, "I dunno....whaddaya think?" She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply, their tongues dancing as his hands began sliding over her soap slick body. Loving how he made her feel she responded, pressing closer against him and parting her legs for his caress. Forgetting for an instant, the circumstances that brought them to this moment they were both brought back to earth abruptly as she clung to him, bending at the hips and groaning deeply. "Okay - that's it - let's get you rinsed off and down to the hospital," he said, supporting her weight against him, noting with a feeling close to panic the tinge of blood swirling down the drain. # # # # During the hours of her labor he thought, more than once, that there was no understanding the female mind. It seemed damned unfair to him that the female of the species, supposedly the more fragile one, had to suffer so to bring the next generation into being. He KNEW that if men had to do it, or at least to share in the process, that population control would be a moot point. She still didn't want anything to eat but he did manage to get her to drink a coke, and later a fairly large milkshake. He rubbed her back for as long as she was allowed to lay on her side, helping her get up to go to the bathroom as needed, brushing and braiding her hair when she complained about it getting in her way. They'd walked and paced the hospital corridors until she'd gripped his arm so hard at one point he thought she might break it. Her face had turned red and she'd held her breath, despite his exhortation to remember her breathing, and with a suddenness that surprised both of them she'd been surrounded by a puddle of dark, bloody fluid. A corpsman passing by had grinned and grabbed a handy wheelchair to seat Dee in, remarking - "That'll speed things up." John didn't think anything had sped up at that point, in fact it had seemed to him to slow things down. Dee now had a 'scalp monitor' wire inserted between her legs, in addition to the belly band she wore, and was forced to lie on her back - a position that seemed to increase her discomfort exponentially. A catheter had been inserted as well, a procedure that made him wince even to recall it, and an IV line decorated one slender arm. She wasn't talking much any more, or smiling either and he was getting worried, although all the doctors and nurses thus far had assured him she was doing 'fine'. He'd called Rae Jeanne to notify her and she had stopped by the hospital at one point. She had patted Dierdre's hand before taking him aside. "She's doin' jus' FINE, Gunny. How are YOU holding up? You wanna go home and get some sleep, I can stay with her for a while?" "No thanks, I couldn't leave her - and I couldn't sleep..." Rae Jeanne had chuckled then, patting him, and then surprising him with a hug and kiss on the cheek, "You're doin' a good job, Rocky! You hang tough now, not gonna be much longer I don' think." Time began to seem meaningless until the moment when a doctor, examining Dee again, patted her belly saying - "All right people. Time to rock and roll!" Then everything seemed to happen at once. Someone threw a set of scrubs at him while the doctor and a corpsman began to move Dee's bed out and down a long hall. He was running, trying to put on the scrubs and not lose sight of his wife. A laughing nurse stopped him - "Hold on cowboy! You've got those on backwards - let's get you straightened out..." As he stammered a protest she laughed again. "Your first? Don't worry son, you've still got a minute or two..." Getting him settled and suitably attired she pointed him in the direction of the delivery room. "Deirdre Rourke you said? Room 2. First set of doors on the left past the swinging doors." # # # # Pausing briefly in the doorway he was struck by the intensity and controlled chaos of the scene. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing as several scrub clad people moved around the room. Dee appeared to be naked now under the sheet covering her, her feet up in the stirrups, the gloved and masked doctor now peering intently between her legs. A nurse holding her up by the shoulders while she bore down, grunting, saw him standing in the doorway and waved him over - "There you are Dad!" He took her place, supporting Dee as she pushed, watching the mirror behind the doctor's head in fascination, as her perineum seemed to swell and bulge. "Almost there now, Mama." The doctor called. "Give me another good hard push. That's it! Keep pushing! I have hair - keep pushing! Relax..." The baby's swollen head seemed solidly wedged between the lips of her vulva - and he marveled at the miracle taking place in front of him. Tears stung his eyes and he kissed the top of Dee's head as she began to bear down again, finally forcing the small squirming body from between her legs. "It's a girl!" At the announcement cheers and applause broke out in the room. Someone slapped him solidly on the back congratulating him. The baby was laid against the naked skin between Dee's breasts. It...SHE (he grinned to himself) had squawked briefly at some of the indignities foist on her, but now laid, wide-eyed and sucking her fist, apparently contemplating the changes in her surroundings. Someone asked - "Does she have a name?" He shook his head but Dee laid a hand on his arm. "What was your mother's name again, John?" "Mary, sweetheart, but..." "Mary," she said drowsily. "Mary Fiona Rourke!" # # # # All too soon the days had passed. Dee came home from the hospital surprisingly slender except for breasts grown even bigger - standing firmly away from her chest and oozing milk at odd times. He'd been delighted to offer his help with the problem of too much milk for too small a baby. There had been brief moments of mild passion, the memories of which he carried with him. A memory of nursing at her breasts, milk surging into his mouth, catching her rubbing her legs together in arousal - telling her he'd be gentle - and stroking only her clit with saliva wet fingers until she came hard, locking her legs around his hand... Another moment when she found him masturbating for relief and kneeling took him in her mouth - loving him with lips and tongue until he came - drinking him down with delight - her turquoise eyes shining up at him as she licked her lips after... And most astonishing to him, last night when she woke him from sleep, stroking him into hardness then turning and presenting her ass to him - whispering shyly about something she had read, and wanting to make his last night at home special. They had taken it slowly, with plenty of the Vaseline now on hand for diaper changes. She wasn't sure at first if she could go through with it, but reaching below her he had stroked her to arousal and eventual excitement - burying himself within her ass and feeling her muscles clamp around him as she came, before finally cumming himself and filling her with what seemed briefly to be an endless supply of his spunk. Now they stood in the Terminal Building, baby Mary had a pink bow taped to her sparse red curls and was, once again, sucking her fist contentedly from a position against her mother's chest. Dee's eyes were huge, and swimming with unshed tears as he kissed her one last time. As he turned to grab his duffel she stopped him again. "Come home to us, Johnny! Stay safe...and come home to us!" He went to board the transport, feeling lighter of heart than he could remember, turning before he disappeared to wave and call - "I'll be back girls! I love you!"