Page 34 of Better than Revenge

“Maddie! Come get the toys off the stairs!”

I play Parkour around the toys as I rush down the stairs so I can make it to the door before he comes through it. We’ve been married for nearly ten years, and I still get excited when he comes home.

But today…there’s a line. And I find I’m fifth in it. Ahead of me? Two kids, a dog, and the fucking bunny Maddie got for her ninth birthday are all ahead of me. We have a full house now. Five kids, two dogs, and a menagerie of other pets all live in this house that me and Levi have made a home. And every one of us loves it when Dad comes back.

Today, he’s got Maddie’s twin brother, Mason, with him. Mason is so like his dad. Tall, strong, protective, loves working with his hands, and super-intelligent. And Madison is just like me. Messy, complicated, loud, and loves lounging and lolling more than anything else other than her family. My mom has the baby with her today so I could get some work done and his dad is coming to pick the rest of the kids up in a couple of minutes to take them to the park before dropping them off at Mom's place. Leaving me and my bad man some time to make plans and work on Operation: Baby Making.

I let them get their kisses and hugs before I come over for mine. Maddie groans at the top of the stairs.

“Mom. Dad. Can you not blind us with your PDA please.”

“Sorry, sweetie, no can do. Might as well get used to it.”

To prove the point I just made, Levi turns with me into a dip and places his lips right on mine in a breath-stealing kiss. The man leaves me speechless. He rights me and looks around him without taking his arm away from me.

“Have you been good for your mom today, little ones?”

“I was daddy,” Abby our youngest daughter says lifting her arms to be picked up, “But Maddie wasn’t. She made a mess and when mom told her to clean it up she screamed at her.”

Maddie’s eyes widen and she goes white.

“And she kicked the dog too.” Abby leans in close and whisper/yells it like she’s sharing all the secrets.

“Yeah, maybe if you hadn’t gone with the whole dog-kicking thing Dad would have believed you.” I rustle her hair. Everyone knows Maddie loves animals and would rather kick one of her brothers than the dogs. “Try her kicking Andy next time. Then Dad would believe you.”

The little girl giggles and wiggles to be let down before running off.

“They’ve all been really good today. Especially Maddie. She helped me with the little ones so I could work.” I catch her eye and give her a wink. Levi smiles at her before kissing her forehead.

“That’s my girl. Everyone ready for Grandpa?”

He gets shouts of encouragement and yeses as he gives them all hugs before he opens the door so they can wait for Grandpa to pull in.

“How did you know he was here?”

“Me and Mason ran into him at the store. He said he’d give us a five-minute head start so I could get my hugs and kisses in. And dad is always on time.”

We greet his father and help him get the kids wrangled before we come back inside to an empty, silent house.

“You miss them already, don’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“Because I know my sweet kitten.” He laughs. “Are you ready for another one?”

A small smile stretches across my face as I look up at the man who’s changed my whole life. “Yeah. I’m more than ready.”

He swoops me up in his arms and carries me to the bed so he can lay me down on the soft bed sheets.

“Then you’ll be happy to know, I’m pretty sure we’ve already made Operation: Baby Making a success, my love.”

“What?”

He crawls up to me before dropping kisses on my cheeks and neck. “You taste pregnant, sweet girl.”

“I do?”

“Oh yeah. So creamy and sweet.” He unbuttons the blouse I’m wearing, slowly exposing my flesh to him. He makes quick work of my bra too. “And you have been craving Cheetos and pickles again.”

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