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"I'm not sweet talking." I lift her hand to my lips. "You've made me the happiest man alive today. Thank you."
Her eyes soften. "We're in this together, remember? We’re partners."
Partners. No longer just two strangers joined by a single night, but a family. My chest swells at the thought.
"I know it's not going to be easy," I say. "Raising a child never is. But we'll get through all of it together. You won't have to face any of this alone."
She stares at me for a long moment, eyes shining with tears. “I know that,” she says at last.
***
On the rest of the drive back, I keep glancing over at her in the passenger seat. She stares out the window with a slight smile on her lips, one hand resting over her stomach.
When we reach home, I jump out of the car and open the door for her, extending my hand out to help her. Once we settle in the living room, I bring her a glass of water.
She sips it and sighs.
Everything is good, but anxiety still lingers in my heart. I want my wife to be happy, especially now. I want her to fear nothing.
I clear my throat. "About what you said at the doctor’s today—"
"It's fine," she says. "I overreacted. I know you and Suzannah are completely professional."
"I want you to feel secure, Robin. The last thing I want is for you to doubt my commitment to you and our child, especially since I’m the one who convinced you to marry me."
Her smile fades. She twists her hands in her lap, staring down at them. "It's not that. I just… I guess I'm still getting used to all these changes in my body. The hormones and everything."
I frown. "What do you mean?"
She flushes, dropping her gaze. "It's embarrassing, and I don’t know how to talk to you about it."
"You can tell me anything," I say gently. "We're partners, remember?"
She hesitates. Then, in a rush of words, she says, "Ever since I got pregnant, I've been… I feel… I'm always thinking of…"
The meaning hits me all at once. The doctor told us this could happen. My eyes widen. "You're aroused?"
Robin nods miserably. "All the time. I can barely focus on anything else. I don't know what's wrong with me. And then I think about our arrangement, and it feels so isolating."
"Nothing's wrong with you," I say. "It's perfectly normal for a woman's sex drive to increase during pregnancy."
"But not like this!" she protests as she rakes a hand through her hair. "I don't know how I'm going to make it through the next few months. I already feel like I'm going crazy."
I reach over to take her hand. "I'm here for you. However I can help, just tell me."
She searches my face, hesitant. Vulnerable. But there is a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Hope for relief. For pleasure. For a connection that goes beyond words and arranged marriages.
And I realize, with a surge of protectiveness and desire, that I would give her anything she needs.
I squeeze her hand. "Do you want me to go down on you?"
Robin's eyes widen, her cheeks flushing scarlet. But she didn't pull away.
"It's perfectly natural," I said gently. "And it will relieve the tension, at least for a little while. I want to take care of you." I brush my thumb over her knuckles. "Will you let me?"
She swallows, her gaze darting between me and the door. I can see the indecision and longing warring in her expression.
