She stared at her pudgy belly in the full-length mirror, poked it a few times, and let out a heartfelt sigh.
“It’s not fair,” she muttered.
“What isn’t?”
Erica met her husband’s adoring eyes in the reflection and jerked her shirt down. “That I haven’t had pizza for a week and still haven’t lost any weight.”
“You had pizza three days ago, and that isn’t how it works,” he said, his voice and expression heavily laced with amusement.
“It’s been a week, I tell ya!” she denied hotly.
He squinted his eyes and strode to where she stood. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he pulled her back against his tall frame. He inched the shirt up over her protruding stomach and cupped her baby bump.
“Okay, A) It’s only been three days. B) You had donuts last night, or have you already forgotten making sweet love with me? C ) You’re beautiful and not likely to lose weight while you’re six months pregnant.”
“Pfft. Well, I’d better burn calories while nursing or I’m done with this baby making business.”
“We’ll get you on a more active exercise routine after our peanut is born. You’ll lose the baby weight,” he promised.
“But no running! I’m not down with that,” she warned.
His laughter warmed her. She now knew he’d love her even if she was the size of a barn—which wasn’t far from the truth.
Her train of thought derailed when Zack’s hand slid south of the border under the band of her maternity pants.
“Umm, what are you doing? Charlie and your mom are bringing Jacob back any minute,” she said.
“Never again mention my mother when we’re about to make love. Also, she just called to say they are stopping for ice cream, so we have at least twenty minutes for me to show my hot wife how much I adore her.”
“How horny you are, you mean.”
“That, too,” he confirmed, dropping to his knees in front of her to follow the trail of his fingers with his lips.
Because it was impossible to see him over her belly, she turned her head to watch him pleasure her by way of the full-length mirror. She caught his eye and his grin, feeling a surge of warmth to her lady bits.
“I love you.”
Zack pulled back to meet her tearful, chocolate eyes. Love shone bright and bold, right alongside his desire. “I love you, too, babe. Now let’s get naked. Time’s a’wasting.”
By the time Jacob arrived home, they were fully clothed once more, and sitting on the sofa. Erica’s legs were draped over Zack’s lap as he massaged her aching feet.
“Mom! Dad! I’m home!”
Erica always felt a little catch in her throat whenever he called her Mom.
“I brought you donuts,” Jacob sang out, entering the room.
“Have I told you how much I love your kid?”
As she watched Zack’s son, he threw back his head and laughed. A deep belly laugh so similar to his father that she had to grin. She wondered if he’d already thrown dirt on some girl’s dress and made her cry. Or had he offered her up a pencil on her first day and won her heart forever?
“What are you thinking about that has you smiling?” Zack asked, moving his ministrations up to her calf, eliciting a moan from her.
“What doesn’t have me smiling is the better question,” she quipped.
“Speak woman, or I hold the donuts hostage.”
“You wouldn’t dare do that to a pregnant woman,” Connie warned, sailing into the room followed by Charlie.
“No, of course not!” Zack smirked.
“Connie, did I ever tell you Zack ruined my pretty dress the first day of scho—”
Zack clamped a hand over her mouth. “She’s lying!”
“Mmmhmm, now why don’t I believe that?” his mother said wryly. “You’d better hope no one throws dirt at your daughter.”
Erica tried to warn Connie with her eyes and a slash of her hand. She hadn’t told Zack the results of the last ultrasound because he didn’t want to know the sex of their baby. The doctor had informed Erica when Zack had gone to set up their next appointment.
“Daughter?” He nearly dumped her on the floor as he jumped up. “We’re having a girl?”
She nodded, biting her lip, unsure how he’d take the news.
“Ohmygod, we’re having a girl!” he shouted. He hauled her up off the couch and wrapped her in a bear hug. “A girl!”
“Is now the time to show you the dress I got for her?” Connie asked, holding up a tiny replica of the outfit Erica had worn her first day of school.
“How did you find it?” Erica asked.
“It’s exactly the same!” Zack stated simultaneously.
His mother laughed and held up a photo of a five year old Erica. “Mary sent the picture to me. She thought you might get a kick out of it.”
“You had a copy of my dress made?” Erica asked tearfully. Damned hormones were making her a leaky mess.
“A gift from me and your mother. She swears this all started then.”
Erica and Zack shared a grin. “It did,” they said.
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Trouble With Lust.