Moore Than Forever (5 page)

“Yes, you are going home, Little Man. All these new sounds you’re hearing, I bet they sound funny to you, huh?” Rearranging his blanket to ensure he stayed warm in the early winter chill, “Are you warm enough?” she asked her infant son, who was bundled up like a snowman in his snowsuit. “Uncle Seth’s snowsuit is nice and snuggly, isn’t it.”

Looking up, she peered out the window. Feeling slightly disoriented, at first, after a month of living at the hospital, she finally got her bearings and something wasn’t adding up. “Schooner, why are we still on Second Avenue? We’re heading into the Lower East Side.”

“Yeah,” he stayed focused on the road in front of him. Cabs cutting in on all sides.

“But we should have turned. Second Avenue is about to turn into Chrystie Street.”

“Yeah, I’m aware of that. Do you think it’s too soon to introduce Nathaniel to E Street Radio?” he changed the subject.

“Where are we going?” Mia’s sixth sense was kicking into gear. Something was not right.

“Home. Oh excellent, they’re already playing Bruce’s version of
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
. Nathaniel, this is The Boss.” Schooner made a right turn onto Broome Street and started to head into Little Italy. “We’ve never eaten in Little Italy,” he commented. “Why is that?”

“Because there are better Italian restaurants elsewhere in the city.” They were approaching SoHo, “Schooner, where are we going? Are we picking something up?”

Making a left onto Mercer Street, he finally replied, “No, we’re dropping something off.”

“What are we dropping off?” Mia was perplexed.

Stopping in front of a white building with a Corinthian columned entrance, he turned around and hit her with his All-American boy smile, “You. You and Nathaniel,” and he got out of the car.

Coming around to her side, Schooner opened the door and helped Mia out. Reaching across the seat, he unlatched the car seat from its base and lifted it out of the car.

“I don’t understand,” Mia searched his face.

Leading her into the building’s lobby and over to the elevator, he smiled and said, “You don’t need to.”

They entered an old lift and Schooner inserted a key into a slot and the elevator started to ascend. With a shit-eating grin on his face, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Showtime.”

The elevator door opened to a sun-drenched loft. Schooner could tell that Mia was still not processing what was happening. “Welcome home, Baby Girl.” He stepped out of the elevator and onto the loft’s gleaming hardwood floors.

Mia stood in the elevator, not moving.

Facing her and taking obvious delight in her confusion, he asked, “Are you going to join us?” Turning around, he walked past the couch and put Nathaniel’s carrier in the middle of the coffee table.

“I don’t understand.” Mia finally stepped out of the elevator, “Where are we?”

“We’re home.”

He could see by her face that it was finally starting to click as she looked around and saw some familiar artwork from her apartment.

“This is ours?” The grandeur of the real estate was seeping in as she tentatively began to walk around, gently touching the beautiful columns, marveling at the wood burning fireplace and running her hand along the honed Calcutta marble countertop in the open chef’s kitchen. She turned to him again, “This is ours? We live here?”

Taking Nathaniel out of his carrier, Schooner sat down on the couch with him to remove his snowsuit. Looking up, he nodded, “Yes. We live here.”

“We moved to SoHo?”

“We moved to SoHo.”

“When did this happen?” Mia sat down next to Schooner and Nathaniel.

“Before I went to California,” he looked pleased with himself.

“You didn’t tell me.”

“It was a surprise,” he handed Nathaniel to her.

“I hate surprises,” Mia announced.

Shaking his head, “I know.” Smiling, he stood up, “Come, there are more surprises.”

“Do we have the whole floor of this building?”

Nodding, “We do. Follow me.”

The first stop was Seth’s masterpiece. Nathaniel’s jungle room elicited a gasp from Mia.

“You can thank Uncle Seth for this, Big Guy,” Schooner ran his thumb down the baby’s soft cheek.

“Seth knew about this?” Mia’s eyes were wide.

“Yeah. He designed this room.”

“It’s exquisite. The details.” Mia walked around the room, “Look at the painting on this furniture and the walls and the ceiling.”

“He had a friend come in to do it. I love the tree branches painted on the ceiling. It really feels like the canopy of a jungle.”

“Schooner…” Mia was in awe.

“So, I’m dying here, Mia. Do you like the loft?”

“Like doesn’t even begin to describe it. This is space you see in design magazines. I’m speechless.”

Slinging an arm over her shoulder, he pulled her into him, “Come, there’s more.”

“Does it get better than this?”

Leading her into the spacious master bedroom, he said, “Let’s focus on two main areas here - the bathroom and your closet.”

“Oh my God!” Mia exclaimed, as they entered the bathroom with its huge marble walk-in shower and separate garden tub. “It’s heaven in New York City. Seriously, Schooner,” looking up at him, her eyes filled with delight.

“A few more weeks and I have plans for that shower,” he smiled down at her.

“Two more weeks and I’m yours.” Walking around the spacious bathroom, she commented, “This is larger than studio apartments I’ve been in.”

“Are you ready for your closet?”

“Am I going to want to come out of my closet?”

He shook his head no and led her in. Mia gasped again, shocked to see all her clothes and shoes neatly arranged in the massive space. One wall was all shoe racks, another contained built-in dressers, double and single rows of bars for hanging clothes and a huge full length freestanding antique mirror.

“Oh my God,” Mia repeated, “we live here.”

“Welcome home, Baby Girl.”

They walked out of the closet and back into the bedroom. An old fashioned bassinet was setup for Nathaniel next to their California king sized bed. Running her hand along the bassinet’s Scottish lace covered edge, Mia shook her head, “You really think of everything, don’t you?”

“I try,” he hit her with a real smile.

Mia got into the bed taking Nathaniel with her and Schooner joined them.

“So, you’re not mad at me for keeping this from you?” he looked up at her with a well contrived sheepish grin.

Mia shook her head and smiled. “You are a control freak and I just need to get used to that. But no, I’m not mad. You done good, Pretty Boy. Real good. This place is exquisite and we’re living in SoHo, which is uber-cool, and we have space for visitors and Nathaniel has his own room. And I have a huge bathtub. This is just amazing.”

Nathaniel started to fuss and Mia propped up against the pillows and pulled off her shirt, “Someone’s hungry.”

Schooner lay back and watched them, a content smile on his face. “I think we’re going to have a great life here. It really has a neighborhood feel to it, doesn’t it?”

Mia nodded, “I’m just picturing all the shopkeepers knowing Nathaniel and watching him grow up.”

“This is our life now.”

“We took a circuitous route, but we got here,” Mia mused, looking lovingly at Nathaniel and then at Schooner.

“One more hurdle, Baby Girl, and I’ll have everything I want.” He ran a finger softly up and down Nathaniel’s arm.

“You’re on a mission, huh?” she smiled, looking deep into his pale sapphire eyes.

“That, I am.”

Mia nodded and looked back down at Nathaniel who had fallen asleep while nursing. Placing him gently on her shoulder, she rubbed and patted his back until he treated them to a raucous burp.

Laughing, Mia placed him in the bassinet and got back into bed facing Schooner.

Reaching out to play with her hair, he asked, “Two weeks more, huh?” and pulled her to his chest. “Oh Baby Girl, you have no idea what I want to do to you.”

Looking up at him, she smiled, “It’s smoochal.”

With his arms tightly wrapped around her and their legs tangled together, it was only a few short minutes before they were both fast asleep, catching the first of many much needed, and often elusive naps in their new bed, while Nathaniel slept peacefully in his bassinet next to them.

Chapter Ten

As was becoming a morning custom, Schooner rolled over to look at the video baby monitor and watched Nathaniel sleeping peacefully in his nursery. Feeling his movement and sensing he was awake, Mia opened her eyes and watched their son along with him. The security system and cameras that Charles had installed throughout the loft provided not only a sense of security, but assurance that Nathaniel was safe and sound.

Kissing her shoulder and spooning up against her, Schooner began, “Remember when I promised that I would take you to The Four Seasons or to the beach house when the doctor gave us the go-ahead?”

Mia nodded.

“So, where do you want to go?” Schooner’s chin rested on Mia’s shoulder.

Turning to kiss him, she shook her head. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to leave him.”

Pulling her tightly against him, “I love that and I love you.” He paused, “Do you feel ready? I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”

Laughing, Mia rested her head back on his shoulder, “Oh, I can think of a few positions that probably won’t stress my incision.”

Letting his teeth graze her neck and enjoying listening to her moan, he asked, “Oh, what did you have in mind?”

“Well, in no particular order, I could push you onto your back and straddle you and sit on your cock and ride it.”

“Yeah, that would work.”

Feeling him grow stiffer against her lower back at just the suggestion, Mia laughed, “Hold your horses, Pretty Boy, I’m not done yet. Or we could stay in the same position we are in right now with you behind me. Or… I could get on all fours over at the edge of the bed and you could stand on the floor next to the bed right behind me and really ram it into me that way.”

“Sold,” he whispered in her ear, “but first, I need to spend some time kissing you. Roll over,” he demanded.

Turning to face him, devil grin at full tilt, “Sex as a parent.”

Tossing his head back with laughter, “Yeah, and this is the easiest we’ll have it. When he starts walking, we’re toast. You’ll roll over and find him in bed.”

“So, are you telling me we should have lots of sex now?”

With a real smile lighting up his face, he nodded vigorously, “Absolutely, and we have a lot to make up for. It’s nearly Christmas and we haven’t made love since the summer.”

“Too long,” Mia reached out to push a dark blonde lock from his forehead.

Grabbing her hand and kissing her palm and each of her fingers, he pulled her to him. Gently biting her lower lip, his hand slid down her back as she moaned. Pressing her tightly against him, he could feel her molded against his rock hard cock.

“This is going to be fast,” he laughed, “because I am not going to be able to control myself.”

“Well, don’t leave me high and dry,” her look was dead serious, but her eyes were dancing with delight.

Reaching between her legs, he pressed a finger into her, “That train has left the station, babe. You’re dripping.” Adding another finger, he gently massaged her clit and began to kiss her hard, her moans stifled into his mouth. As his tongue slowly explored her mouth, her thighs clenched his hand and he could feel her muscles begin to quake.

Pulling away from their kiss, he looked at a wild-eyed Mia and laughed, “And I thought I was going to be quick.”

Pressing her forehead into his chest, “Holy crap, I needed that. Have I ever come that quickly?”

Shaking his head no, “Think you can handle another?” he challenged, smile firmly in place.

“Fuck yeah,” Mia looked up into his eyes, meeting the challenge.

Rolling away, Schooner opened the drawer on the night table and pulled out a condom packet. “Remember these things?” he laughed.

Playfully pulling it out of his hand, “Vaguely,” she laughed, “we haven’t used these since we were teens.”

Looking sheepish, “Yeah, well I knocked up my girlfriend, so I think we’d better use them.”

“Would be a damn good idea, Pretty Boy, but today is your lucky day,” Mia tossed the packet over her shoulder.

Schooner’s eyes widened with surprise.

“Breast feeding is a great contraceptive.” Shaking her head and laughing, “You knocked up your girlfriend, eh?”

“Yes, I did.”

And they both laughed.

Getting off the bed and facing her, “Now get on all fours, woman, like you promised, so that I can fuck the living shit out of you.”

Throwing off the blanket and grabbing a pillow, Mia complied. Backing up to the edge of the bed, her ass in the air, legs spread, she left herself open for him.