“Good. That’s what I like to see. Now, eat your sandwich, and lie down.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re all seriously overreacting. The doctor said everything was fine.”

She rolls her eyes back at me. “I am not overreacting, nor is your husband. It is our job to treat you like a queen, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

“It was a tiny little fender bender. The doctors only checked me out because it’s standard, or something, for any pregnant patient to go to the ER after a car accident,” I say, repeating what the obstetrician told me.

“Standard, schmandard. I want you to take it easy. Why don’t you plan on watching a movie with me tomorrow? Something sweet and easy. A romantic comedy. Nothing that’s going to make you cry,” she adds.

“Will you make me popcorn?” I narrow my eyes, pretending I’m holding her hostage to my food demands.

“Whatever you wish, sweetie.”

“Popcorn it is then,” I say, and then eat more of the sandwich.

I let her take care of me, handing her the plate when I’m done, staying in bed. She leaves for her house, and Trey rejoins me, curling up next to me in bed.

“So, that was a fun evening,” he says, exhaling as he wraps his arms around me.

“I’ll say. Did you call that girl who hit us?”

“I was a little more concerned about you than the car,” he says. “I’ll call her tomorrow. I’m just glad you’re fine. How’s your head?”

“Better. Tylenol is like a miracle drug,” I joke.

“I gotta say, now that you’re here and safe and everything is fine, there was a moment there when I felt my heart stop. It was like all the air in the world was sucked out, and all I could feel was this terrible fucking sense of déjà vu,” he says, shaking his head, as if he can rid himself of whatever memories are lurking there. “Even though this never happened before. But still, I felt that way.”

“Me too. If that makes sense,” I whisper.

“But we’re here now, and you’re both good, and that’s all that matters. And hey, look on the bright side—we’ve had our big scare, right?” He smoothes my hair, runs his fingers through it, and then plants a kiss on my forehead. “Sure, it was scary for a bit, but it was minor, and now here we are. And you made it out all clear. We’re on the other side, and it’s all going to be fine now.”

“Yes. Everything is going to be fine,” I say.

“And I agree with Debbie. I want you to take it easy for the next few weeks.”

“You’re already plotting behind my back,” I tease.

He nods. “Yup. We are. You’re done with classes, and we want you to lie on the beach, read, play with the dog, watch movies—”

“Basically, stay away from cars?”

He smiles. “Exactly.”

“We’ll see,” I say with a yawn. “I think I just want to curl up to the ocean breeze and fall asleep.”

“Did you think I was going to try for a little action the night you’re all banged up from a car accident?”

I laugh. “Oddly enough, it hadn’t even occurred to me that you would put the moves on me right now.”

“I won’t. But if you want to sleep naked, I won’t complain.”

“The same goes for you,” I tell him, as I head to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. He does the same, then we return to the bedroom and I strip off my clothes, and pretend to do a sexy dance for him as he lies down on the covers. “Here’s that rain dance you said you wouldn’t mind.”

He laughs, and reaches out a hand to pull me into bed. “And I don’t mind at all,” he says then kisses my neck, my earlobe, my eyelids, soft, sweet fluttery kisses that make me feel warm and safe, the perfect antidote to a stressful day. I kiss him back once, lingering on his minty breath, before I shift to my side, and he spoons me.

Flesh to flesh, skin to skin, we drift off, and my head doesn’t hurt the next morning. As I stretch in bed, I feel back to normal, and a bit horny. Thanks to a full night’s sleep filled with incredibly dirty dreams, fueled by massive amounts of hormones cranking through my body, I am ready for a little something. Judging from the erection pressed against my back, Trey won’t need much convincing.

I reach my hand back and stroke him once, twice, three times till he stirs.

“Hmmm. Good morning to me,” he murmurs and kisses my neck, a sexy, sleepy morning kiss.

“It will be soon,” I tell him.

“Lucky me,” he says, looping his arm around me and cupping my breasts, squeezing them softly, then playing with my nipples.

I moan lightly and wriggle against him. “I’m ready,” I whisper.

“But how do you feel? After yesterday?”

“Totally fine. Like new.”

“Do you really think it’s a good idea to have sex after the car accident?”

I roll my eyes. “It was a tiny fender bender, and I’m all good. I feel fabulous. Here, let me show you.” I take his hand and slide it between my legs. He groans as he feels how ready I am for him. “See? I am one hundred percent normal and fine. I am your standard order thirty-six-week pregnant woman who still wants to have sex with her husband. And the doctor said I’m allowed. So count your blessings.”

“One,” he says, as if he’s counting. Then he strokes me more, making me gasp as his fingers draw delicious lines across me. “I’ve lost count,” he whispers sexily, working me where I’m hot for him. “But that’s only because you distracted me with your trick to have sex with me.”

I laugh. “Yes, I tricked you by dreaming about you doing naughty things to me last night.”

“Naughty things. Tell me more.”

“Trey,” I begin.

“Yeah?”

“Can we do it from behind?”

His hand freezes on my breast, and he tenses. “Really?”

“Yes,” I say, and I know he’s thinking of that time in the kitchen at his apartment. And he’s worried. But I’m not. I trust him completely. I trust him with my whole entire heart. “I want to. Besides, I’m pretty sure it’s the only position that’ll work right now.”

“Are you totally sure?”

I turn to look him in the eyes. “So sure. I want this. I want you like this.”

“I want you,” he says, “any way I can have you.”

We get out of bed only for him to line me up on the edge of the bed, my hands pressed against the mattress. He brushes my hair over my shoulder so he can kiss my neck as he edges his erection between my legs. I watch him as he enters me.

“Mmm. This is the perfect wake-up call from my wife.”

“I agree,” I say softly as he fills me up, and I shut my eyes, savoring the sensations, reveling in my need for him, my deep and hungry desire to be close to him right now, to feel him all the way inside me.

He makes love to me like that, slow at first, then faster, his hands on my breasts, then between my legs. He kisses my shoulders, keeps me close, whispers my name, telling me he loves me, he wants me, he will always want to touch me. I lift my butt higher, giving him more room to rock into me, to drive deeper, and he does, bringing me closer with each thrust. All the while he’s here with me, nowhere else, and it feels fantastic. Like we’ve come full circle.

And then we do.

I spend the day doing nothing but lying on the beach with The Sheriff, and it’s blissful, watching kids build sandcastles, and dogs chase Frisbees, and women set up under umbrellas to read their paperback beach reads. Trey’s at work, my semester is over, and I want to enjoy this free time while I can.

Besides, he and Debbie made it pretty clear they want me to do as little as possible. As the sun beats down on me, I can honestly say I don’t mind their directive. I don’t mind basking in the rays.

I even fall asleep on a blanket with the dog next to me, but when I wake up under the hot afternoon sun, there’s a dull throb in my forehead again, a reminder that Tylenol will be my best friend for a few days. As I stand up to collect my blanket and beach bag, the ground tilts momentarily, and my vision goes fuzzy. But within seconds, the dark stars in front of my eyes fade and I’m fine. Must have been from the sun blaring at me, blinding me momentarily when I opened my eyes after napping.