Page 73 of A Treasure To Keep
He grabs both my hands, kissing the back of them as he gives me big puppy dog eyes. UGH! Those eyes. They make me melt every time. “Mon trésor, you know I hate driving. How could I deny the kind offer?”
I wrap my arms around his neck, making it appear like I’m going to kiss him, but instead, I move my lips to the shell of his right ear. “You do anything like this again, and I’ll tie you to a chair naked, stuff my panties in your mouth, and make you watch while I make myself come. You’ll be unable to touch your poor weeping cock while you’re forced to watch my pleasure. Do you understand?” I pull back, wrapped in his arms, as I stare into his beautiful eyes. His pupils are blown wide enough that I can barely see the milk chocolate color of his eyes. He audibly swallows, responding by nodding his head. “Good boy.” I lean in, kissing him before I get into the back of Marco’s truck with Théodore.
During our entire relationship, I was sure there could never be a man more handsome than Andrea. As I stare at my son’s sleepy face, I know I’ve been proven wrong. Not that I’ll ever tell anyone, especially Marco. I’d never hear the end of it from him.
The entire car ride, Marco drives more cautiously than I’ve ever seen him drive. I wouldn’t consider him a reckless driver per se, but he’s keeping my anxiety in consideration with every acceleration, every time he passes a vehicle, and every turn.
My hand suddenly jumps to my chest, my heart thumping against my hand, when we pass the area where my car was hit. Where I was hurt enough that my son had to be born early to protect him. I stare at the side of the highway, locking onto the damaged guardrail I came to find out was the solid thing my car hit before tumbling over. My head pivots, not breaking contact with the rail until it’s out of sight. When I turn myhead forward, Marco is staring into the rearview window. He raises his eyebrows, silently asking me if I’m okay. Instead of answering him verbally, I mouth the next words, preventing Andrea from hearing my worries. “Watch the road.” Marco nods, flicking his eyes back to the highway in front of him. Thankfully, that interaction is missed by Andrea. He doesn’t need another reason to worry.
My body suddenly relaxes the second we pull into the parking lot. The vibration of Marco’s truck stops once he pulls his keys out of the ignition. He and Andrea climb out of the truck, slamming the door before I get the courage to open the door myself. Marco pops open the back door, unlatching Théodore’s car seat from the base. Simultaneously, Andrea opens the opposite door, offering his hand to help me down from the truck.
Andrea unlocks the apartment door, letting me walk in first to set the diaper bag on the coffee table. When I turn around, I fully note Marco with Théodore when he takes him out of the car seat, holding his body close to his chest. Can you say drool? Why the fuck is he that hot with a baby? I can practically hear the purring from under my skirt. Calm down, girl. It’s only some biological bullshit about him creating Théodore with me. Nothing about the fact that he’s a smoke show. At least, that’s what I’ll choose to believe.
Théodore’s soft cries interrupt my meowing nether regions. I know by this specific cry I’ll leak if I don’t feed him now.
Marco stiffens, convinced he did something wrong. “Remind me. What cry is this?”
“He’s hungry. It does sound similar to his ‘I’m new to this world, and I am crying because life is overwhelming’ cry. Hold onto him for a few more seconds while I get ready to nurse. Then you can hand him to me.”
Théodore latches almost immediately when Marco hands him to me, a small hum matching his suckling as he eats.
Marco links his hands behind him, rocking back and forth on his feet. How more childish can he get? “So uhhhh. What can I do?”
“You’re more than welcome to try and find the bed in the spare room. I was the bigger person and didn’t shred or burn the clothes you left here. Andrea will make us lunch soon. You can run to your place and grab anything you need for work and other personal items. Also, we’ll eventually need to discuss the dirt bike and when we’re returning it.” Marco pauses after that last sentence, scanning the room before swiping his keys from the entry table.
“What was that? Can’t hear you, I’m already leaving.”
Marco races out of the door, ignoring what I said about the dirt bike. No way in hell am I allowing my son on one of those death traps.
The door suddenly opens, Marco’s big ass head popping back in before slamming it again. “By the way, I have a matching one, and I got us both helmets. Okay, bye!” Fucking. Marco.
Andrea walks up to me, squatting in front of me, as he places one of his hands on my cheek. He caresses his thumb softly against my cheek as his eyes meet mine. His actions show affection while his eyes show concern. Probably the same concern I have.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to let him stay here?”
“Oh, it’s a terrible idea. You have to admit, it’s been nice having him around. Similar to how it was before everything happened.” Andrea’s eyes show his agreement without the words coming out of his mouth.
For a few seconds, we exist in silence while my statement hovers heavily in the room.
Eventually, Andrea stands, kissing Théodore on the head before kissing me and walking into the kitchen. I situate my top, laying Théodore on my chest to burp him. As I rock side to side,gently patting my hand on my son's back, I process the last few weeks.
Marco, Andrea, and I have been getting along since Marco walked into the NICU. The animosity between us slipped away the second Marco held Théodore, and I saw him in Marco’s arms. I find myself reminiscing about the months the three of us had and how, even though I hate to admit it, I miss us.
Chapter 81
Andrea
It’s Théodore’s official due date today, and El, Marco, and I have decided to celebrate how far he’s come. He’s thrived since coming home, now weighing the average size for a newborn, and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
I’ve updated ma mère every day on Théodore’s progress and El’s healing. She’s saving up to visit us, too proud to take the offer for me to pay for a ticket. Alessandro even offered to get a private flight for her. Directly after our phone calls, I hear her on the phone with El, confirming what I told her is correct. With the continued tension between her and her parents, having ma mère as a kind, motherly figure fills that void. She knows about the run-in with her father, and her parents know that she had Théodore, but have chosen to keep their distance. At least, as long as she decides to stay with me.
I unlock the door, walking in with the ingredients for a nice dinner. Once I set down the groceries, laughter comes from the spare bedroom. We’ve organized all the clothes, setting up a mock nursery while still keeping the bed for Marco to sleep in.The three of us trade nights, Théodore sleeping in a bassinet in our room one night, then his crib in his nursery. We’ve settled into a good routine of co-parenting, something I doubted could happen.
I make my way down the hallway, stopping in the doorway when I notice El, Marco, and Théodore in his nursery. Théodore is having his usual afternoon tummy time while El and Marco stimulate him with different toys. El doesn’t notice the look Marco gives her, but I do. I’ve noticed his occasional glances at me and El, and El unintentionally mimicking him. We’re denying what we did in the beginning, that we all want each other.
I lean against the doorframe, their heads whipping to me when I interrupt their moment. “Are you three having fun?”
“Hello, my love.” El stands, leaving Marco to stimulate Théodore as she wraps her arms around me.