THIRTY

“What do you think of this one?  It’s kind of classic, but not old-fashioned-looking…”

Setting his wine glass on the carpet where he sat cross-legged and surrounded by catalogs, Jon squinted at the wallpaper sample Cate held up.  “It’s purple.  Like the last one.”

“It’s lavender, not purple.  And the last one had a textured finish.  This is matte.”  Cate rubbed her finger over the subtle shiny vertical strips on the wide swatch.  “Except for these bands.  That little bit of gloss will give it depth once it’s on the walls, make it look like stripes.” 

She turned the sample book to gaze thoughtfully at the paper, trying to envision it wrapping the high-ceilinged room.  “And if we do the drapes in something kind of creamy, to match the lace on the crib bedding…”

“Ohhhhhhh…..” Jon moaned melodramatically, raising his hands to rub at his temples.  “Baby, you’re killing me here…” 

Cate giggled at her husband’s exasperated whine.  “May I remind you whose idea it was that we spend New Year’s Eve picking out nursery decorations?”  She picked up her own glass and took a sip of sparkling cider before giving Jon a sweet smile.

“Yeah, but I didn’t think it would be this painful.”  Jon whimpered again and listed sideways, slumping onto the carpet.  He lay in an awkward heap for a moment before groaning and rolling onto his back, stretching his legs out and flinging his arms wide in mock-surrender.  “I can’t take any more purple wallpaper or fluffy curtains or stuffed porcupines…”

“That was a hedgehog, Baby.  Not a porcupine.”  Cate smirked as she corrected her husband.

“WhatEVER. It’s a prickly rodent.  Please, Baby.  Just pick something.  Or I’m gonna lay here and die of boredom.”

“Jon we’ve only been at this for two hours.  I’m not going to make a decision about spending thousands of dollars to redo a room in two hours.”

Jon’s reply was a gurgling noise and an exaggerated twitching of his extremities, simulating a death spasm.  He let his jaw slacken and his tongue loll out the side of his mouth as he feigned expiration.

Cate rolled her eyes as she laughed softly at her husband’s mediocre play-acting.  She knew he was teasing; Jon had thoroughly enjoyed browsing the nursery décor options with her until the last fifteen minutes or so.  Now that he was into his third glass of wine Jon’s interest in design was waning as his romantic urges increased.

“Uh oh.  I killed him.”  Cate observed aloud.  “Hmm.”  She carefully set her glass aside and closed the wallpaper catalog before shifting from her own cross-legged seat.  Leaning forward, Cate gently poked at Jon’s belly.

“I don’t know….” She continued her musing with a mischievous grin.  “Maybe I can resuscitate him somehow…”  Cate shifted to a kneel, then crawled forward to hover over Jon’s torso.  She smirked down at her silly, adorable husband, more than willing to abandon their evening’s task and play along with whatever he had in mind.

Despite his intention not to respond Jon’s mouth curved into a satisfied grin.  He gave another little twitch for good measure.

“Well, he appears to be breathing so CPR isn’t necessary.”  Cate’s tone turned coy as she narrated her role.  “Maybe he just needs a little… mouth to mouth.”  She giggled softly as Jon pulled his lolling tongue back inside his mouth, readying for her kiss. 

Slowly Cate lowered her lips until they hovered just above Jon’s, then she smirked slyly.  Her hesitation was answered by the flutter of sandy lashes as Jon peeked through a crack in his faux-death-closed lids.

“Ah, he’s responsive…” Cate murmured before making contact.  She stroked her mouth gently over Jon’s as her unrestrained chestnut hair tumbled forward over her shoulders, curtaining their faces.  Jon’s tongue slipped forward to trace across Cate’s lower lip before circling hers in a sweet, slow dance.

Cate purred happily against the kiss, then slowly pulled her face back.  Immediately Jon again feigned death, rolling his head to the side but unable to slacken his self-satisfied grin.

Cate chortled at Jon’s attempt to maintain his protest.  She knew what he wanted.  He knew that she knew what he wanted.  After their years together there was no need to play games.  But tonight she found his silliness charming.

“Well… I guess I’ll have to try something else,” Cate mused aloud as she straightened and pushed her hair back behind her ears.  She stood up on her knees and sidled closer to Jon before placing a hand against his chest.  Steadying herself with her brace, she swung a thigh across Jon’s hips, straddling his prone form.  Immediately his grin widened.

“Now, to somehow bring him back to consciousness…”  Cate’s sultry purr masked her true wicked intention.  She leaned forward, again lowering her torso over Jon’s, sliding her hand down his chest as she moved.  Her other hand joined its twin against Jon’s taut abdomen, both stilling for a moment as Cate stared down at her husband’s anticipatory smirk.

Then her fingers curled against his sides, violently tickling him.

“CATE!” Jon yelped, his eyes flying open wide as he squirmed against her assault.  He reached for her hands, but she adeptly shifted her straddle so they were shielded by her thighs.  “God… Cate… STOP IT!”  Jon gasped out his plea as he laughed uncontrollably. 

Chortling wickedly, Cate acquiesced.  She sat up, settling full onto Jon’s groin and causing him to grunt softly.  Raising a hand to sweep her hair back from her face, Cate smirked down at her now fully-animated husband.

“Ah.  A miraculous recovery.”

Jon laughed breathlessly.  “Yeah, yeah.  I oughta spank you for that.  You know I hate being tickled.”

Cate arched a coy brow.  “So spank me, then.”

“I can’t at the moment.  You’re sitting on Superman.”

“I don’t hear you complaining.”  Cate purposely shifted against Jon’s pelvis, inciting another little grunt.

“Oh, I’m not.”  Jon grinned up at his wife, his expression softening as he saw the happy gleam in her clear blue eyes.  “But pretty soon it’s gonna be midnight, and we gotta break out the hats and noisemakers.”

“Ah.  What time is it?”  Cate looked around, not recalling if there was a clock anywhere in the room.

“Judging from the show,” Jon nodded toward the intercom on the wall, where a brassy horn solo poured softly from the speakers.  “It’s gotta be gettin’ close.  They’re doin’ a medley.”

Cate cocked her head as she listened, taking a few seconds to recognize the melody.  Her smile mirrored Jon’s when it clicked in her brain.

“Oh.  Sam Cooke.  Something tells me you wanna dance.”

“I wouldn’t mind.  But that means you gotta get off-a me.”  Jon winked.  “But you can get back on me later.”

Cate giggled, replying by raising herself up off Jon’s pelvis.  She slipped gracefully sideways, settling back on the carpet next to Jon.  With a soft groan he pushed himself up to sitting, then climbed to his feet before smiling down at Cate and offering his hand.

“May I have this dance?”

“Of course.”  Cate smiled demurely and accepted his gentlemanly offer.  She let him help her up, then melted into the circle of his arms.  Cate purred contentedly as Jon crooned beside her ear and guided her in a slow shuffle.

Don’t know much about history

Don’t know much biology

Don’t know much about a science book

Don’t remember all the French I took

But I do know one and one is two

And I know that if you love me too

What a wonderful world this would be

What a wonderful world this would be…

Cate giggled softly as on the radio Southside Johnny wandered off into an improvised soulful scat, losing Jon’s singalong.  “Guess he’s done with that one.”

Jon chuckled.  “He’s stalling.  But that’s okay.  We don’t have to dance.”

Cate squeaked with surprise as Jon swiftly dipped and locked his arms around her thighs, below her derriere.  He lifted her off her feet as he straightened, then turned. 

“Jon!  Put me down!”  Cate half-laughed her protest as she clutched at his shoulders.  “You’re gonna hurt your back!”

“Nah, you ain’t that heavy yet.”  Jon’s tease implied their shared hope that in a few months Cate would be carrying extra pregnancy weight. “Lemme carry you around while I still can.” 

He shuffled slowly over to the side of the bed, carrying Cate upright.  Growling another exaggerated grunt he released his grip, dropping Cate to her feet at the bedside.

With a wicked chuckle Jon grinned down at his wife.  “So how’s about a little horizontal mambo, since upright dancing ain’t goin’ so good?”  His hand slipped under the hem of her simple blue cotton tee, sliding up to curve over her unfettered breast.

“That might be fun.”  Cate’s blue eyes sparkled at his proposition.  “You did say you wanted to have me half-naked by midnight.”

“Or all the way.”  Jon grinned lecherously.  “Except for a party hat, of course.”

“Well, of course.”

With a soft giggle Cate took a half step away from Jon, evading his gentle grope.  Jon let his hand fall to his side and gave Cate an expectant look.  She smiled sexily as her fingers curled under the edge of her t-shirt, then pulled it up and over her head. 

Tugging it free from her hair, she tossed the garment on the floor at her feet.  Cate arched a brow as she stood bare-bodied before her husband, not having bothered with a bra when she dressed earlier.  The sensation of his gaze roving appreciatively over her body made her tingle.

“Your turn.”

“Okay.”  Jon immediately followed her challenge, stripping off his orange Henley and dropping it on the floor beside Cate’s shirt.  He grinned smugly as he flexed his pecs, showing off a little.

Jon’s tease had the desired effect.  Cate growled softly and reached for Jon, unable to look but not touch.  Her eyes followed her hands as she ruffled her fingertips through the soft silvery-brown fur blanketing his hard chest.

“Hey, be careful there… no tickling,” Jon warned playfully.  He raised his hand to brush a callused thumb across Cate’s rosy peaked nipple.  Her little gasp made his smirk turn naughty.

“So where’d you put the party hats?” he inquired in a softer purr.

“In that bag, over on the dresser.”  Cate tipped her head toward the other side of the room.  “The noisemakers and confetti poppers too.”  Her fingers never stopped stroking over Jon’s chest as she spoke.

“We better put ‘em on pretty soon.”  Jon’s voice was silky, persuasive with a touch of mischief.  “S’almost midnight.”  He moved a hand to tug at the waist of Cate’s favorite jeans.  “But first I think you need to lose these.”

Cate glanced coyly up at Jon’s face, batting her lashes provocatively.  “I will if you will.”  She dragged a fingertip rapidly down Jon’s midline, watching his abs clench and ripple in response to the tickle.  She hooked the finger into Jon’s waist and popped the snap on his Levis.

“You first.”  Jon chortled quietly and stepped back, playfully rebuffing Cate’s attempt to further undo his pants.

Cate pulled a fake pout.  “Fine.  Tease.”

“You’re one to talk.”  Jon crossed his arms across his broad chest, being sure to flex his biceps an extra bit for Cate’s benefit.  He lowered his chin, giving Cate a sexy, persuasive smile.  “Hurry up now, Baby.  Tick tock.”

Cate giggled softly at Jon’s admonishment, then dropped her hands to her waist.  She gave him a sultry stare as she slowly unfastened her faded, patched jeans.  Slowly, teasingly, she slithered the worn denim down her thighs, revealing her skimpy, white-starred blue panties.  Shimmying a bit to coax the jeans to puddle around her ankles, Cate daintily stepped out of the pants and kicked them aside.

Jon chuckled.  “The Wonder Woman panties.  Ooh, I like those.”

“I know,” Cate replied smugly.  She mirrored Jon’s pose, crossing her arms under her breasts and giving him a challenging smirk.  “Go on.  Tick tock.”  She nodded at Jon’s groin.

Jon laughed and shook his head, reaching for his waist.  Without hesitation or tease he undid his fly and shoved the jeans down his legs.  After kicking them away he stood grinning in his plain navy briefs.  He re-crossed his arms and tossed his head, posing vainly.

“Oh.  No Superman undies?”  Cate pouted, a little giggle catching the end of her query.

“These are my Clark Kents.”  Jon smirked.  “Superman’s inside.”

“Ah.” Cate nodded.  “We don’t need a phone booth, do we?”

“Nah.  But if we don’t hurry up we’re gonna miss the countdown.”  Jon glanced at the bedside table, finally locating a clock.  “We’ve only got, like, eight minutes.”

“Plenty of time.”  Cate chuckled as she turned away.  She strolled across the bedroom, carefully stepping over the piles of catalogs and carpet samples strewn about. 

Jon growled softly as his gaze lingered on Cate’s star-spangled behind.  The bottom curves of her shapely ass peeked from beneath the snug panties, thanks to the little wedgie that formed between her cheeks as she moved.  He felt his own glutes tighten as beneath his undergarments as his cock stirred lustily.

Feeling Jon’s gaze on her, Cate provocatively swayed her hips a little bit more as she moved.  Posing briefly beside the dresser, she looped her fingers through the shopping bag’s twine handles.  She turned to face her husband with a naughty smirk before sashaying back to him, playfully swinging the little bag.  Her breasts jiggled enticingly with the movement of her arm.

“So, red or blue?”  Cate dropped the bag on the bed and reached inside.

“Umm…”

“Blue it is.”  Cate giggled as she reached into the bag and extracted a shiny blue conical cardboard party hat, adorned with silver tinsel trim.  Waving the hat at her bemused husband, Cate reached for the now-prominent bulge in Jon’s briefs.  “Dress-up time,” she announced, tugging at the elastic and dragging his navy undies downward.

Jon laughed throatily as Cate pushed his briefs down his thighs and dropped the party hat over his erection, festively decorating his anatomy.  “You gonna wear two?” he teased, nodding toward her bobbing breasts.

“No. You are.”  Cate giggled again and pulled another item from the brown paper sack.  This time it was a glittery bright-red cardboard cutout mounted on a curved silver headband.  She reached up to slide the party tiara onto Jon’s tousled head, settling the band firmly against his scalp.

“Oh, great.”  Jon rolled his eyes with his sarcasm.  “You got a feather boa in there too, to make me look like a real Queen?  Or some of those stupid number glasses?”

Cate laughed at his playful grouse and gave him a light smack on the bare ass.  “No, but…” She reached to tip the bag sideways, shaking out an assortment of party favors and noisemakers onto the bedcovers.  She picked up a shiny cardboard horn and held it to Jon’s lips.  He grinned and obliged her offer, clamping the plastic mouthpiece between his teeth.

“Sew… hew dew I lewk?”  Jon’s question was distorted by his immobile jaw.  His grin widened as he braced his hands on his hips, puffing out his chest in a classic superhero pose.

“Actually, you look pretty ridiculous,” Cate laughed.  “Sorry, Baby.”

Jon replied with a sharp blast on his cardboard horn, making the little favor emit a shrill honk.  Giggling even harder, Cate reached up and plucked the horn from his lips.

“Lemme blow it.”  She smirked with her vaguely dirty statement.

“Okay!”  Jon thrusted his pelvis forward, making the paper party hat teeter from its perch on his pole.  Cate laughed as she reached to right the tilted cone.

“Oh, you want me to blow that one?” she asked innocently, slipping her fingers under the hat’s tinsely fringe to gently tickle the base of Jon’s shaft.  “But it won’t make a noise.”

“Baby, you blow that thing I’ll make any noise you want.”

“Mmmm.” Cate smirked at his promise.  She stepped closer and raised her palms against Jon’s bare pecs, then pushed lightly.  His grin broadened as he leaned backward, then dropped to a seat on the mattress’ edge.  Jon’s thighs parted eagerly, inviting Cate’s attention.  The blue party hat wobbled as a surge of eager anticipation pulsed through his ready shaft.

“I don’t know, Jonny… it’s only a few more minutes ‘til midnight.  That’s not much time for a proper blow.”  Cate’s sultry purr of dissent contradicted her actions as she dropped slowly to her knees between Jon’s parted thighs.  She slowly licked her lips in a wicked tease.

“So? Seems like a fine way to pass the last few minutes of the year to me.”

“You mean until…” Cate trailed a pair of fingers up the inside of Jon’s thigh, making his taut muscles quiver.  “…the balls drop?”

Jon groaned happily at the gentle cup of Cate’s hand around his sac.  “Somethin’ like that,” he nodded breathlessly.  He squirmed a little on the bed, inching forward to give her fuller access to his crotch.

“Mmmm….” Cate observed again.  With her unoccupied hand she reached up to remove the party hat from its perch.  Glancing coyly up at her husband’s gorgeous, grinning face, she lowered her lips to plant a soft, sucking kiss against his moistened head.

Jon growled with delight, stretching his legs out further on either side of Cate’s kneeling form as he leaned back and braced his hands behind him on the bed.  “Oh yeah, Baby….”

He let his head fall back and his eyes close as Cate’s mouth closed gently over the top of his cock, her tongue swirling lightly around its ridge.  Jon chortled as he heard the background music cease, replaced by the sound of crowd laughter and his old friend’s raucous shout.

Is it time yet? 

Where’s the damn clock?

What?  WHERE is it?

I have no fucking idea what’s going on…

Jon laughed softly at Southside’s banter, then turned his head to glance at the bedside clock.  Two minutes to midnight.  He started to sigh happily again, but the expression turned to a whimper with the withdrawal of Cate’s welcome mouth.

“Baby, don’t stop…”  He raised his head to give Cate a pleading look.

Cate pulled a playful pout.  “Your horn didn’t honk.”

Jon smirked.  “Well, you didn’t technically blow.  That was more of a suck.”

“Pfft.” Cate rolled her eyes with the hiss, but couldn’t hide a playful grin.  “Fine.”  Her lips pursed as she directed a gentle stream of air across Jon’s quivering purplish head.

“That doesn’t count.”  Jon shivered despite his protest, the light puff from Cate’s mouth making his balls tighten. 

“Oh, no?”  Cate arched a brow at her quibbling husband.  “Well, until I hear some noise…”

Jon gasped as her hand tightened around his nuts, the increased pressure catching him by delighted surprise.

“Okay, Okay!… Hooooonnnnk…”  he croaked weakly.  Jon grinned as his hips automatically pushed upwards, begging for her mouth.

Cate snickered, ignoring his silent plea.  “Well, that was pretty lame.”  She slipped her hand from Jon’s balls to the base of his shaft.  “And when the clock strikes midnight I want my lips to be on yours.”  She smiled.  “Not on your dick.”

Jon chuckled.  “Fair enough.  Then you better hurry and climb up here… we got about a minute.”  Jon pushed himself forward, sitting semi-upright with a mild grunt as his position shift caused a clench in his groin.  He scooted back a little on the bed, then reached up and pulled the Happy New Year crown from his head.

“Here.  You need a party hat.”  Jon smiled and slipped the band onto Cate’s head, pushing back her auburn locks at her temples.  “Now c’mere.  About time for the countdown.”

Following his bidding, Cate climbed to her feet.  She paused long enough to allow Jon to tug her panties down her thighs, then quickly kicked them aside.  With a sexy smile Cate reached for Jon’s shoulders and climbed onto his lap, straddling his thighs.

Jon growled happily at the warmth of her mound against his cock, her soft strip of fur lightly tickling his shaft.  He slipped his hands up her thighs and gently gripped her hips, steadying her as she leaned sideways to reach toward her bag of party goods.  He gave an appreciative leer to her round breasts as they swayed with her stretch.

“You want one of those spinny things or the blow-out horn?”

“Doesn’t matter, Baby.  Whatever.”  Jon’s eyes dropped from Cate’s breast to her navel, where a diamond stud flashed in the bedroom’s soft pinkish light.

“Well… Ah, fuck it.  How about just some confetti?”

Jon chuckled.  “Sure. Fine. Whatever.”  His fingers tightened against her flesh as his cock twitched forward, straining toward her womanly warmth. 

It’s time?

You sure?

Where the… oh, THERE it is!

Lookie at that big ol’ ball gettin’ ready to slide down that pole!

Hey… ain’t that backwards?

Jon snorted at Southside’s dirty comment about the famous crystal ball in Times Square.  “How about you slide down my pole while we count down to midnight?” Jon grinned naughtily as Cate turned back to him, two small plastic fake champagne bottles in her hands. 

“Actually…” Cate handed Jon one of the confetti poppers and gave him a mischievous smirk.  “That might be fun.” 

“Well, climb on board, Baby.”  Jon dropped the bottle on the bed next to his leg and renewed his grasp on Cate’s hips, urging her into position.  With a sultry little purr Cate raised herself up on her knees and crawled forward, just enough to achieve the proper alignment.

“Mercy, Baby…” Jon couldn’t resist pressing his mouth to her warm flesh, nestling his face in the valley between her breasts.

Cate giggled at his eager nuzzle.  “Pay attention, or you’re gonna miss it!”  Her admonishment was lightly breathless; she was as ready as her husband.  The feel of his head twitching against her opening made her thighs quiver and her pulse race.  “Get your popper ready.”

“Oh, I’m ready to pop, Baby.” 

Ten!

Nine!

Eight!

Jon growled happily as Cate’s hips lowered, welcoming him inside.

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Cate’s soft purr of pleasure joined Jon’s throaty growl as she savored the fantastic sensation of him filling her with his rigid length.  Automatically her back arched, inviting his lips again to her breasts.

Four!

Three!

“God, Baby!… This is so… so fucking perfect…” Jon gasped as her arch caused his swollen head to drag hard against her front wall.

“Uh huh…” Cate sighed breathlessly from her parted lips.  She struggled to keep her eyes from drifting shut as an intense wave of pleasure washed over her.

Two!

One!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Cate’s rounded ass settled on Jon’s hard quadriceps as she fully enveloped him.  Together they gasped with pleasure, the deep impact sending shockwaves through both of their cores.  Their desire-darkened eyes locked, and together they smiled.

“Happy New Year, Baby.”  Jon tipped his chin up, offering her his mouth.  He sighed as her lips covered his in a sweet, barely restrained kiss.

“Happy New Year, Jonny.”

They sat still for a moment, smiling against their kiss, savoring the union of their bodies.  Then a powerful spasm rippled through Jon’s shaft, warning of his imminent release.

“OH!”  Cate yelped, his surge triggering her own ecstatic reaction.

“Oh fuck!… Cate…”  Jon’s fingers dug hard against the flesh of her hips as he grimaced with pleasure. 

“Jon…” With a gasp of his name she started to move, pulsing up and down his lap.

“No! Baby… wait.”  Jon’s forearms tensed as he stilled her movement.  His dick pulsed angrily, craving more stimulation.   He rolled to one hip, urging her to dismount him.

“Why?”

“I want you to…”

“Jon, I will. I swear.”  Cate smiled at Jon’s concern for her satisfaction, despite her mild dismay at the interruption.  “God, hurry….”  She clambered somewhat awkwardly off his lap and onto the bed.  The satiny duvet wrinkled under her writhing as she moved sideways, unnecessarily trying to make room for Jon on the enormous mattress.

With another ready growl Jon rolled sideways after her, crawling toward the headboard.  He grinned as Cate slithered upward until she was reclining against the thick stack of pillows.  Swatting aside a pile of pink decorative cushions the decorator had placed on the bed, Jon eagerly covered Cate’s body with his.

“Fucking pillows…” he snarled playfully before capturing Cate’s mouth.  She arched against him, responding in kind to his plunderous kiss.

“Uh huh…” Cate gasped as their lips parted for a moment. “Baby…”

“Yeah…”  Jon’s breathy agreement was followed by a guttural grunt as he responded to her request. 

Cate whimpered happily as again he filled her and made her whole.  Her lips curved into a dreamy smile as she let him take over, surrendering her body and her spirit to the man who owned her heart.  Her arms snaked around Jon’s hips and her fingertips curled hard against his glutes, holding on tight as he danced inside her.  Her smile stretched into a wide-lipped moan of celebration when she felt him erupt, his orgasm fueling her own.

“Oh Christ, Baby…” Jon panted, careful to support his weight on his arms as his lower body trembled with delicious exertion.  “You… you had to have…”

Cate chuckled throatily, satisfaction dripping from her husky tone.  “God yes, Jon… I came.  Believe me.  There’s no faking that.”  She shuddered involuntarily as another spasm rippled through her womb.

Jon pulled back his head enough to give her a dazed grin.  “Well… so much for… for foreplay…” he panted, then took a deep breath.  “We did zero to sixty… in about a minute.” 

Still panting lightly herself, Cate nodded.  “Yeah, well…”  She giggled breathily and tipped her head in the direction of the speaker.  “Like the man says, we’re havin’ a party.”

Jon barked out a laugh at his wife’s silly joke, realizing just miles away the Jukes were ringing in the New Year with their raucous trademark song.  Their celebratory spirit now invaded the private party in the Bongiovis' luxurious bedroom, courtesy the radio broadcast.

Giving Cate a smirk, Jon pulled his hips back, turned onto one firm cheek, and sat up.  His unwelcome movement earned him a little snarl of displeasure from his wife, which he disregarded.

Jon reached for the foot of the bed where their party favors now lay strewn across the rumpled covers thanks to their impromptu romp.  Snagging a pair of the plastic popper-bottles, he turned back to smile at Cate.

“Here.  We forgot these.”

“We didn’t forget.  We just got distracted.”  Giggling quietly, Cate took the plastic bottle from Jon’s hand.  Her fingers closed around the string attached to the foiled top.  “Ready?”

Jon nodded, readying his own favor.  “Five… four… three… two… one…. Happy New Year!”  He laughed at Cate’s little squeal as together they yanked the strings, sending a shower of paper confetti and streamers floating over the bed and halfway across the room.

Tossing aside the emptied plastic bottle, Jon crawled over Cate’s leg and dropped heavily on the mattress beside her.  He offered her a sweet smooch, then groaned softly as he rolled onto his back.  Cate automatically turned toward him, curling against his side and nestling her cheek on his shoulder. 

Jon hugged Cate tight against him as his other hand laced with hers, resting on his abdomen.  He sighed happily as he watched the brightly-colored bits of paper flutter slowly down from the high ceiling to land on and around their relaxed bodies.

“Now this is a party.”

Cate smiled and turned her head to press a kiss against his chest.  “Yes, it is.”  She echoed his contented sigh.

Jon wiggled a little, shifting his recline to evade a soft lump under his shoulder.  Gently disengaging his hand from Cate’s for a moment, he awkwardly reached up and clawed at the item, sure it was another useless decorative pillow.  “Dammit,” he muttered, his fingers scrabbling to hold onto the plush lump. 

After a few seconds he succeeded in dragging the offending item from under his body, removing the source of his discomfort.  Prepared to fling the thing to the floor with its mates, Jon glanced at the trivial item in his grasp.  He paused when he saw what had been the source of his annoyance, his heart melting. 

Jon’s perturbed scowl turned to a soft smile as, instead of tossing the toy away, he gently laid the pink-ribboned, cream-colored teddy bear on his lightly-furred belly.

Cate raised her head and gave Jon a curious look, then a gentle smile.  “Well, that’s cute.”

“Yeah,” Jon agreed.  “Stephie used to have one kinda like it.  Took it everywhere.  Think she still has it, as a matter of fact.”

Propping herself up on an elbow, Cate reached for the plush toy.  Her smile turned wondering as she carefully cradled the little bear in the bend of her arm.

Jon’s heart melted at his wife’s hopeful expression.  A vision flashed in his mind, of Cate cradling an infant in her arms, her smile as loving and contented as the one that now graced her beautiful face.

“So…” His soft voice interrupted the vision.  “Should we see…?”

Cate looked up from the stuffed bear, her eyes gleaming.  Jon didn’t have to finish the thought; she could read his mind.  She shook her head gently.  “In the morning.  Tonight it’s just the two of us.  Tomorrow we’ll be three.”

Jon nodded, his heart jumping at her optimism.  Though nothing would physically change in the few short hours until daybreak, once they confirmed their baby was growing inside Cate’s womb things would never be the same.

“Okay.”  Jon half-whispered his agreement as he raised his head to offer Cate a tender kiss.  His hand settled on the little bear, imagining it was his soon-to be daughter.  He smiled against her lips, unable to contain his happiness.

“Let’s go to our room.”  Cate’s quiet suggestion voiced Jon’s thoughts.  “This one’s for the baby.”

He nodded his agreement.  “Yeah.”

“But let’s stay here just a minute more.”

“Okay.”

Cate settled back against Jon’s side, her cheek dropping again to his chest.  She carefully turned the stuffed bear so it lay on its back, nestled at the junction of their bodies.  Again Jon’s fingers laced affectionately between hers.  Together their hands settled on the little bear’s body, gently holding it between them like they would one day cradle their child.

Their hearts smiled as one.

*****

Drawing in a deep breath, Jon stretched.  He grunted as his reticent body quietly cracked and popped, his joints loosening with his muscles’ expansion.  Yawning, he relaxed for a moment before blearily cracking his eyes open.

Grey early light filtered around the heavy, drawn drapes, dimly illuminating the bedroom.  Jon’s sandy head rolled against his pillow as his lips curved, remembering what this morning would bring.

His smile relaxed to a thoughtful pout when Jon saw Cate’s side of the bed was empty.  His still-hazy blue gaze wandered to the digital clock on her nightstand as he wondered where she had gone.  6:13 a.m.  Still early for Cate, on a holiday weekend. 

Maybe she was too excited to sleep.

Jon blinked at the clock for a long moment before he yawned again.  Another stretch yielded a welcome ripple of pops along his spine.  Jon groaned again, then relaxed.  He really didn’t want to get out of bed just yet, but once he was awake he was awake.

Maybe Cate would come back in a moment and give him a reason to stay burrowed in the sea of luxurious bed linens.  Again Jon’s lips curved to a smile.

He lay there for several more long minutes, his mind drifting hazily as he half-listened for the sound of his wife’s footfalls in the hall or the click of the opening door.  Finally Jon’s bladder prodded him from his snug cocoon.

With an annoyed grumble Jon extricated himself from the bed, then sat on its edge for a long minute as he scrubbed his hands over his stubbly cheeks.  Pushing himself up, he trudged across the carpet to the wide doorway of the master bathroom.

Half-hopeful but not really expecting to find his wife in the magnificent bath, Jon snorted a sigh when he entered the empty chamber.  With an absent scratch at his behind he shuffled across the tile to the little room concealing the porcelain receptacle.

Jon stopped in front of the toilet, arching his back in another full-body stretch before leaning down to flip up the lid and rim.  He sneered quietly with mild annoyance that he had to make the effort; like most women his wife had a “thing” about keeping the lid down. 

Straightening his stance, Jon shoved the elastic waist of his briefs down and pointed his dick toward the bowl.  He groaned softly as the stream of urine splashed into the water, slowly relieving the pressure on his bladder.  Again he yawned, then dropped his chin to his chest.  His gaze wandered to the small trash can tucked into the corner beside the toilet.

Jon frowned, his brow furrowing with curiosity at the contents of the bin.  He readily recognized the markings on the long cardboard box, not even having to read the three-letter acronym to identify its contents.  Last night he and Cate had agreed to take the pregnancy test this morning, together.  Apparently she had either forgotten or changed her mind.

Giving his now-drained snake a brief shake before slipping it back inside his briefs, Jon leaned down to press the silver handle.  With a powerful whoosh the water swirled in the bowl.  The sound startled Jon enough that he quickly flipped the toilet seat and lid down, shielding his face from the unsanitary spray as he reached toward the trash bin.

Jon’s frown deepened as he withdrew the box from the can.  He could tell from the weight that its contents were intact; a quick inspection of the carton confirmed it was still sealed.  “What the hell…?” he mumbled, confused.  Clearly Cate had not yet self-administered the test.  Had she accidentally dropped or knocked it into the trash?

His eyes dropped again to the can as he wondered.  He squinted at the debris inside the cylinder, then felt his heart sink as he recognized an unwelcome object.  Resting between a pair of crumpled tissues was a smooth, pink torpedo-shaped plastic tube, lightly streaked with dark crimson.  Next to it a shredded pink-lettered wrapper confirmed the brand:   Playtex.

“Oh, Goddammit!  No!….” Jon murmured over the lump swelling in his throat.  He blinked rapidly as his eyes misted with disappointment, then he turned and dropped heavily onto the toilet lid.  He slumped back against the tank, staring blankly at the unopened box in his hands.

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.  Today was meant to be a new beginning, the first day of the New Year and the First Official Day of their pregnancy.  Not the first day of Cate’s unwelcome, unexpectedly early period.

Swallowing hard, Jon swiped a hand across his eyes.  He sat for a moment longer, trying to figure out what to do.

He had to find Cate, to comfort her.  Jon could sense her devastation, just from the small clue he had extracted from the trash can.  But first he had to pull himself together so he could be what she needed him to be:  Her Rock.

Tossing the unused test back into the bin, Jon took a deep breath.  Again wiped a hand over his face, then drew it down to settle on his chest.  He sat silent, feeling his own heart breaking under his palm.  Then he stood and stepped out of the water closet.

“Cate?” Jon called tentatively, wondering if maybe she had slipped back into their room while he was sequestered in the W.C.  He moved to the bathroom door and looked anxiously around the bedroom.  The big bed was still empty.

Moving more urgently, Jon strode across the carpet and pulled open the suite’s doors.  He didn’t pause in the antechamber, stalking through the open doorway and out into the hall.  He stopped at the top of the stairs and again called her name.  Jon held his breath, awaiting Cate’s response.

Nothing.

Quickly Jon descended the stairs and rounded into the main hallway that ran the length of the mansion.  Swiveling his head to the left and right as he passed each open doorway, Jon again called his wife’s name.  He didn’t really expect a response from her, but he had to somehow express his rising anxiety. 

Reaching his office at the end of the hall, Jon turned and retraced his steps to the front foyer.  A quick scan of the electronic panel in the alcove off the entry confirmed the alarm was still armed; Cate hadn’t left the house.  Jon wheeled about and marched toward the kitchen, praying he would find his wife sitting silent at the table with a cup of tea.

She wasn’t there.

Stifling a wave of near-panic, Jon forced himself to stand still and take a deep breath.  As he slowly exhaled his mind ran methodically over the big house’s blueprint, identifying the areas he had not yet searched. 

Almost immediately he realized the answer.  Taking another breath and reminding himself to stay calm, Jon turned and headed back to the staircase.  At the top he turned right, retracing the path he had led Cate down the previous evening.

He turned the knob slowly and pushed the heavy door inward, then let out a silent sigh of relief.  Immediately a flood of sympathy and grief almost brought him to his knees.

She was curled on the bed, facing away from the door.  All around her lay the aftermath of their previous evening’s celebration:  wallpaper books and carpet samples piled on the floor, pillows and toys strewn across the room, uneaten hors d’ouevres and empty glasses resting on the dresser, party streamers and confetti scattered across the carpet.  Their passionately-shed clothing lay in a heap at the side of the bed, while in front of the windows the lace-swathed wooden crib now stood solemn and stark in the dim light of winter daybreak. 

Jon swallowed hard as the harsh symbolism of the empty crib knifed through his gut.  He blinked and looked away, returning his concerned gaze to his motionless wife.

Cate had shed the silky night slip she had worn to bed, replacing the feminine garment with a ratty gray thermal and plaid flannel pants.  Even her thick chestnut hair looked dull and somber, tangled limply behind her on the rumpled bed linens.  Against her chest Cate hugged the little stuffed bear she had so lovingly cradled the night before.

In the dawn light Jon could see the tear tracks shining against her pale cheek.

Jon’s mouth opened, but he hesitated.  He couldn’t formulate the right words and he didn’t want to make matters worse by uttering meaningless platitudes.  His heart ached for her as he cursed his helplessness.

So he did the only thing he knew how to do. 

Jon quietly closed the door and crossed to the bed.  He eased down on the mattress beside his wife, then turned onto his side.  Sliding his arm around her waist, Jon curled his body up behind Cate’s, spooning her.  Raising his head just enough to brush a tender kiss across her stained cheek, Jon settled his head on the pillow and tightened his arms around her.

Jon held her tight, tears of his own staining the pillow as her sobs filled the quiet room.