Chapter 217

When they entered the living room, Ava ran up to Tori and searched her face. “Are you okay?”

Tori smiled and hugged her. “Yes sweetie, I’m fine. When I heard you come in the door I jumped up and ran down the stairs. I got dizzy and that made me sick.”

“Like when you ride the teacups?”

“Exactly like that.”

They settled on the couch and Tori sipped her tea while Ava filled them in on all the latest happenings in Mrs. Thurgood’s sixth grade class.

“Dinner’s ready.” Rosa announced from the doorway.

As Tori neared the kitchen and the aromas hit her nose, her stomach started churning. She stopped and put a hand to her stomach. Catching Richie’s eye, she grimaced and shook her head.

“No, no Miss Tori. You don’t come in here. You go sit in the living room. I bring you another cup of tea and some toast to settle your stomach.” Rosa urged her to turn around.

The knowing look in Rosa’s eyes told Tori that she had somehow figured out what the situation was. She smiled wryly. “Thanks Rosa.”


A few minutes later Richie came to check on her. “You feeling any better angel?”

She nodded. “Yeah, but if this isn’t because I got dizzy, then somebody better tell my stomach that this is pm not am.”

He chuckled and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “It’ll get better.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m not. It will get better. It just might get worse first.”

“Well aren’t you the bearer of glad tidings?” She gave him a baleful look.

He grinned and shrugged. “Well, you told me not to lie.”

“Oh, go finish your dinner and leave me to finish mine in peace.” She picked up a piece of toast and took a bite.

“Yes dear.” He kissed her forehead again and headed back to the kitchen.


By the time Richie and Ava joined her, having finished their meal, Tori’s stomach had settled and she felt herself again.

“So Bean, what do you want to do tonight?” It was Friday.

“Ummm….do you feel up to a guitar lesson?”

“I’m up for it if Daddy is.” Tori assured her.

“Sure. Do you want to go into the studio or bring the guitars out here?” Richie asked.

“Let’s go into the studio.” Tori didn’t want him to coddle her.

As Richie reached down to help her up, Tori stood on her own, settled an arm around Ava’s shoulders and lead the way down the hallway. Lips twisting wryly, Richie followed.

Two hours later, they called a halt to the lesson, and returned to the living room to watch a movie. Richie followed Tori into the kitchen where she opened a cupboard and reached for the popcorn.

“Are you sure you’re up to that?” He frowned slightly.

Tori set two bags in the microwave and pushed the buttons. “We’ll soon find out, but I feel fine now.” As the scent of the popcorn filled the room she inhaled deeply. “Yep, back to normal.” She glanced at him. “Relax Rich, we’ve got a long way to go yet. If you get uptight this soon, you’re never going to make it another seven and a half months.”

He sighed. “I know. I just need a little time to let it sink in.”

She stepped up and hugged him. “I know the feeling.”

The beep of the microwave broke them apart. Richie reached up and pulled two bowls from the cupboard and handed them to Tori while he went to the fridge to grab Coke’s for all of them.

In the living room, Richie handed Ava her drink and Tori handed her a bowl of popcorn. Turning to the couch, she watched as Richie set their drinks on the coffee table, settled himself in the corner and patted the cushion beside him in invitation. She accepted and curled up beside him, holding the bowl so that they could both reach it. His arm snaked around her, holding her tight against him. She leaned more heavily against him, rested her head on his shoulder and smiled as she felt his hand slide under the hem of her shirt and curve protectively over her still flat stomach, his thumb stroking the smooth skin idly.

After tucking Ava into bed, Richie returned downstairs and found Tori in the kitchen cleaning up their dishes. Walking up behind her where she stood in front of the sink, he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled his spot beneath her ear. “Are you happy?”

She tilted her head to the side to give him greater access, leaned back against him and rested her arms over his. “About the baby you mean?”

“Mmmhmm.” Talking about wanting a child was one thing, but sometimes being faced with the reality instead of just the idea was something completely different. He’d been down that road before, and he needed to know where her head was at.

“Ecstatic. You?” She sensed his need for reassurance, although she didn’t understand it.

“I….I don’t have words. Happy is too tame to describe what I’m feeling. It’s like….I’ve come out of the dark and found my world and my future brighter than ever. And it’s all because of you.” He squeezed her tighter. “And I’m scared to death that I’m going to fuck up and lose it all again.”

“Oh honey.” She turned despite his tight grip to face him, framed his face and searched his eyes. “You’re not going to lose anything. Remember what you told me that day by the river? There’s nothing we can’t handle together. And I’m not going anywhere. As long as we’re open and honest with each other, we can work through anything.” She reached up to kiss him. “I love you with all my heart. I’m not going anywhere.” She reached for his hand and pressed it against her womb. “We’re not going anywhere.”

They stood there for long minutes just holding each other. Finally, he sighed heavily, kissed her and released her. “You’ve had a long, emotional day. You should go on up to bed.”

“Are you coming?”

He nodded. “Just as soon as I lock up.”


When he entered their bedroom he found her in bed, still awake, a soft look in her glowing sapphire eyes as she silently watched him undress. She lifted the covers and he slid in beside her, chuckling when she immediately cuddled close. He kissed her softly and stroked her back. Deepening the kiss, she caressed his chest and pressed even closer. Despite responding to her kiss – everywhere – he didn’t take things further. She could feel him holding back, and she had a feeling she knew why. To hell with that! I’m not going to be celibate for the next seven months!

Breaking the kiss, she narrowed her eyes, laced her fingers in his hair and tugged. “Don’t even think about it Sambora!” His brows rose. “I’m not some fragile piece of glass, and nothing we’ve done over the past five weeks has caused any problems, so knock it off. Your pregnant wife wants you to make love with her. NOW!”

“But…”

“NOW Richie!”

He chuckled and gave in. “Yes dear.” Despite her words he touched her carefully, reverently, rolling her on her back and stroking her from collarbone to waist over and over lingering on her sensitive areas while his lips and tongue teased and tasted her mouth.

“Hmmmm…” She sighed, closing her eyes and savouring the feel of his calloused fingers on her skin.

Grinning, he slid his mouth to her ear, nibbled on the lobe and nuzzled beneath it, noting the usual shiver that shook her body that made it his favourite spot. Moving down, he dotted open mouthed kisses over her upper chest and the top curve of her breast. He watched her face as he took the taut peak into his mouth, swirled his tongue around it and suckled lightly. She gasped and shuddered, her hands clenching in his hair, her back arching. Lifting his head, he kissed his way across her chest to give her other breast the same attention, keeping his caresses light as she was obviously more sensitive here now.

She smoothed her hands over his shoulders and back. “Richie now please! No more playing. I want to feel you inside me. I need to feel you inside me!”

Long fingers explored the swollen fold between her thighs. Finding her already moist, he slid two fingers deep, just to be sure she was ready.

“Mmmmmm…” She moaned, her hips lifting against his hand, trying to drive him deeper. When he just continued to massage her sensitive flesh with his fingers she frowned, shook her head and dug her nails into his back. “No! Not enough. I need more! Richie please!”

“Okay, okay.” He withdrew his fingers, shifted over her and lowered his hips between her eagerly spread thighs. Positioning the head of his swollen, aching erection at her opening, he braced his weight on his elbows, locked his eyes with hers and slowly penetrated her, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt. He watched her eyes darken and dilate, her pleasure clear in her face. He kissed her briefly and began to move. He kept his strokes slow and gentle.

“Oh! Mmmmm….yes…” She purred and caressed the long muscles of his back.

“There? Is that where you want me?”

“Yes! God yes!”

He lowered his chest down a bit more until the hard tips of her breasts were abraded with each of his movements. With a cry, she arched towards him and shuddered hard with her first climax. He continued to move, driving her on, never deviating from his rhythm. Twice more he brought her to the heights of ecstasy.

Panting, she raised a shaking hand to stroke his face and crooked a brow at him. He grinned. “Once more.”

This time he thrust just a little more forcefully – not hard, just not as gentle as he had been, and a little deeper. He growled his approval when she wrapped her legs around his waist and clung to him.

“Yes baby. Hang on tight. Take it all.” His breath was a hot gust over her ear.

“Richie!” It was more of a gasp than a cry as her body went rigid, then convulsed.

“Yes! Baby yes! Almost there.” He kept thrusting. “Tori!” He finally gave in to the demand of her sheath clenching around him, feeling his own climax overtake him, and let her body milk him dry.

When he had given her all he had, he quickly withdrew and rolled off of her, not wanting to crush her. Her body followed his, not wanting to give up the feel of his skin against hers. His arms gathered her close and they laid for several minutes waiting to catch their breath and for the world to stop spinning.

Glancing down he saw the smirk curving her lips. “What?”

The smirk became a grin. “Oh I was just thinking that the rumours of your stamina are just as on the mark as the ones regarding your…size…..and I am eternally grateful….for both!”

He chuckled. “Glad you approve.” He stroked her back and arm for several minutes. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

She lifted her head enough to meet his eyes. “I’m more than okay. You didn’t hurt either of us. I feel wonderful!”

“You are wonderful. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She yawned.

He chuckled. “Go to sleep angel.”

“Mmmmmhmmm.” She kissed the warm skin of his chest, settled her head in her favourite spot where she could hear his heartbeat and drifted off.

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he followed.