Compromising Positions: Chapter 10

[Addisonsgirl]

When David woke up the following morning he saw that Maddie was sitting at her vanity putting on makeup. He lie there quietly and just watched her for a few minutes. Although he was still angry about their discussion from the previous night about the daycare situation he still couldn’t marvel that this breathtaking woman was really his.

He loved to watch her when she was unaware of his scrutiny. He loved how her body was filling out with their baby growing inside of her; he loved her shiny hair and the curve of her neck. He watched her face through the mirror as she applied her lipstick. He felt his dick twitch when he thought about how those lips could bring him to heaven and back. But then their argument from the previous evening slammed back into him full force, and he couldn't believe what she had done... he had thought their relationship had reached another level of trust and understanding by now; he remembered how amazed he had been at the way she had made him full equal partner and how then they had resolved the question of the investment in LaSalle's client list – together. And now, here when it was about the future of their family, of their child, Maddie seemed to think she could decide it all by herself and set her solitary plan in motion without even mentioning a single word to him, as if he had not so much as the slightest say in it? That left him speechless. David had really thought that Maddie Hayes control freak was a ghost from the past, but obviously he had been dead wrong.

This had to be the worst fight in a long time – they had both gone to bed angry, and that was something he hated and, this particular time, had made him worry. He knew that eventually the subject had to be confronted, and he was afraid of how it would turn out.

When he thought about her duplicity in contacting daycare centers to dump their child without even discussing it with him and he felt his annoyance rise as his dick fell. He shook his head and ruffled his hair as he threw his long legs off the bed and stood up.

Maddie saw David through the mirror as he climbed out of bed. The sight of his long legs and muscular body topped by his adorably messy hair shot a bolt of heat through her body straight to her loins. Damn that man! Even when she wanted to strangle him she was still hot for him. She ignored him though; she had been up half the night fretting as he slept peacefully beside her and there were a few times during the night she wanted to slap that ever present smirk off his face.

She felt her heart heavy when she thought back to their fight. Maddie couldn't believe how sexist and stubborn David had shown himself to be about this issue! A woman had to stay home to take care of the child? These weren't the Fifties! Could he be really serious? He had been so adamant about his position and so unwilling to just hear her out that she had completely refused to listen to his reasons, to contemplate his motivation. It never even crossed her mind that maybe he would have been more open to listen to her if she had just brought it up to him before she had made her plans.

Maddie knew that eventually they would have to address the subject, but she was afraid of how it would turn out. The fight had been bad and went deep, and they had gone to bed angry which had hurt the most. They had been lying side by side in bed, but had seemed to far apart when she had wanted nothing more than to snuggle up in David's arms, the safest place in the world. She sighed deeply without even noticing it.

“I want to say good morning but not sure if it is…” David threw out. He watched as she turned to face him.

“It’s a fine day,” she told him simply with no detectable emotion in her voice although she was hurting inside.

David ruffled his hair again. “Okay, good.” was his only reply, sounding about as nonchalant as her and hurting about as much on the inside.

She stood up slowly. “So, what are your plans today?” Maddie knew he was working on a case with Bert and figured he would be out of the office for most of the day. She wasn’t sure if she was happy or not about him not being around that day.

David yawned and stretched his long body as he headed toward the shower. “Me and Bertie boy have a lot of leg work to do today and we have that stake out tonight for the father who thinks his ex-wife is leaving his kids alone at night.”

Maddie just nodded as she walked toward the outfit hanging outside of her closet on a hook. “I guess you won’t be around much then,” she remarked casually.

David threw her a look. “And why don’t you sound unhappy about that?” he asked suspiciously, his sixth sense tingling, figuring she wasn’t telling him something. “So what are you up to today that you don’t want me around to know about?” She better not be! he fumed to himself.

She hated that he had a sixth sense about her! Maddie didn’t want to lie but she didn’t want to start another argument. She sighed deeply as she removed her robe and stepped into her dress. David didn’t even look at her body he was staring directly into her eyes with green flames. “Oh, just this and that,” she replied vaguely, not even defending herself against his accusation, and David knew she was guilty as hell.

“This more than that?” David asked with a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.

Maddie didn’t answer right away. She stepped into her shoes avoiding his stare. “I’m going to visit a place or two,” she hedged, being deliberately evasive, still hoping he would leave it at that.

David felt his blood pressure rise with her allusive answers. “A place or two?” he echoed.

“Maybe more.”

“Um one of these place or two or more wouldn’t be A Child’s Place daycare?” David asked through gritted teeth. “It couldn’t possibly be that?”

Did David think he was her boss? She was just looking! Nothing was set in stone yet. “I’m just looking, David. No decision has been made.” she told him, and David hated the way she made it sound like it was completely up to her to make such a decision.

“Really? Well, my decision has been made, babe. No kid of mine is going to be dumped in daycare!” David’s voice was dangerously low.

Maddie turned to him with blue ice. “I’m not dumping my child anywhere!”

“Then why are you visiting? We never even discussed you working when the Bean is born! I assumed you’d be happy to stay home and take care of our baby!” David’s voice was rising in his ire. He couldn’t believe Maddie would leave their child with strangers! No, it wasn’t happening.

“David, I’m not talking about all day every day,” she made an attempt to explain. “I’m talking about….”

But this was not the moment for explaining or debating because now David's ears and mind were closed to any argument. His eyes chilled her to the bone and made her fall silent. “You’re talking about nothing. It ain’t happening!” he barked.

Maddie saw red and pointed at David, in that instant wishing her index finger was a loaded pistol. “You don’t control me, Addison!” Maddie’s voice was razor sharp. “You can’t tell me what to do!”

David looked at her furiously, his eyes battered her soul, “Yeah, watch me.” He yelled as he slammed into the bathroom.

Maddie was rescued from a day of brooding and anger by a phone call from her mother. David had just slammed out of the house without another word and not even a goodbye when the phone rang. Maddie had halfheartedly picked up the receiver with a mumbled greeting.

“Maddie, are you okay, dear?” Damn everybody and their sixth sense, couldn't she ever be all by herself and just feel miserable? But then, she knew that her mother only meant well, of course.

Maddie forced a lilt in her voice, she didn’t feel like discussing this fight with her mother. Maybe cause you know you were wrong to make appointments with daycares without talking it over with your future husband? a voice that sounded suspiciously like David scolded. “Hi mom. No I’m fine. I was just leaving for the office.”

From her mother's voice she could tell that Virginia smiled into the phone. “That’s what I was calling about. Why don’t we grab a hold of your delightful maid of honor and play hooky today – go shopping for dresses for the wedding?” she suggested.

Maddie hesitated; she was in no mood to shop for the most important dress of her life when she was in such a state of anger and confusion, but she didn’t want to say no to her mother, also because she couldn't really explain a no without revealing something about the fight between her and David. Besides, she really wanted Virginia to help her choose her dress, and she knew her parents had appointments with realtors all weekend long who were going to show them available condos for sale, so there wouldn't be many more occasions. “Oh, sounds like a plan, mom.” Maddie put on a false cheerful voice. “Why don’t I swing by your hotel, and then we’ll go to Blue Moon to pick up Agnes?” She dreaded going to the agency and really hoped that David would be out in the field so she wouldn’t have to see him, and just having that thought hurt her like hell.

“Wonderful, dear! I'll be waiting for you then!”

“Great,” Maddie feigned enthusiasm and carefully put the receiver down. She put a hand on her belly and sighed deeply. “Daddy and I are gonna figure it out, Beanie,” she whispered. “Soon. I promise.”

***
About an hour later, the three women were leaving Blue Moon; Virginia was all adventurous and Agnes was very happy and proud that she would have the opportunity to participate at the important event to choose Maddie's wedding dress. Maddie herself seemed a little distracted and not enthusiastic at all. Her mother had noticed that but was determined not to mention it – yet.

When they exited the main office, Maddie seemed to be even more nervous and cleared her throat while they were walking down the hall toward the elevator.

“Ah... I'd like to stop for a moment at the fourteenth floor,” she said, and Virginia raised a questioning eyebrow. “I just want to take a quick look at... something.”

“Of course,” Virginia said and Agnes just nodded.

They got on the elevator and descended to the fourteenth floor where Maddie got off first and led the way, obviously looking for something. And then, at the end of the hallway, they reached a glass door with bright, colorful pictures of barn animals, letters of the alphabet and other child-like decorations.

Much to Maddie's surprise, Agnes exclaimed: “Oh, the daycare center!”

“Daycare center?” Virginia echoed.

“You know this place?” Maddie asked, and Agnes nodded.

“This is the perfect place!” she told them. “Bert and I have it already planned out – once we will have a baby ourselves, this is the perfect solution for taking care of the little bundle and continuing to work part-time!” She beamed. “I can't believe you and Mr. Addison had the same thought!”

Maddie grinned sheepishly. “Yes... what a coincidence...”

Virginia nodded thoughtfully. “It looks like a nice place,” she commented.

Later, when they were driving towards the boutique Maddie had in mind for picking out the perfect outfits for herself, her maid of honor and her mother, Agnes who was in the backseat continued to chat away happily about the daycare center.

“Wouldn't that be great, Miss Hayes,” she was saying, “if our kids attended the same daycare center, maybe at the same time? Two Blue Moon babies!”

“Agnes, remember... call me Maddie. We’re not in the office now.“ Maddie smiled. “And yes, that would be great,” she agreed. “You and Herbert are not planning to waste time, are you?”

Agnes shook her head. “Absolutely not! I've always wanted a big family.”

Maddie threw her secretary and maid of honor a fond sideways glance, remembering how motherly and naturally she had behaved two Christmases ago when she had found a lost baby in her apartment. She was sure that Agnes would make a great mother – and she was planning to place her child in a daycare center too! So, there couldn't really be anything wrong with it!

“And your fiancé is fine with the idea of a daycare center?” Virginia threw in.

“Oh yes,” Agnes confirmed. “I know I'll love being a mother, but nothing could ever keep me from going back to Blue Moon at least part-time.”

“Thank God,” Maddie remarked with a satisfied undertone. “Well, we're living in the Eighties, right?”

“Right, Miss Hayes. Herbert knows he'd better not stop me. Of course, I've told him that right after he proposed.” Agnes nodded fiercely; she had never been the one for pussyfooting around – if things needed to be said, she was the first to say them, no matter what, no matter to whom.

“Of course,” Maddie agreed and was suddenly happy that they had arrived at the boutique. Virginia watched her quietly from the side. She knew something was bothering her daughter but for now she wisely remained silent. She didn’t want to ruin their day.

Virginia was teary eyed when she saw Maddie came out of the dressing room wearing the perfect wedding dress. It had a strapless bodice and an empire waist that showed off Maddie’s beautiful neck and shoulders yet hid her growing belly. The dress had delicate lace trim on the waistline and the satin fabric with delicate beads fell gracefully to the floor. Virginia had seen Maddie in the most expensive designer dresses and gowns over the years but she had never thought she had ever looked as beautiful as she looked in her wedding gown.

“You look like a princess!“ Agnes cried when she saw Maddie in that dress. It was the fifth one she had tried on and everyone knew that this was the perfect one.

“Do you like it mom?“ Maddie twirled in front of the mirror fanning out the lacy train as she moved.

Virginia wiped her eyes with a tissue as she gazed at her daughter. “Oh Maddie. It’s perfect. You are going to be a beautiful bride.“ Virginia thought how qucikly the years had passed and now her baby was having a baby of her own. She smiled through her tears.

With Maddie’s gown out of the way the trio concentrated on finding  Agnes' Maid of Honor dress and Virginia’s Mother of the Bride dress which they both did successfully. Agnes‘ dress was a dark rose colored gown with beading down the back and lacy sleeves. Agnes adored it. Virginia had found a beautiful gold dress which brought out the highlights in her hair and made her look like a Queen.

Everyone was thrilled with the dresses they had bought. Three hours later, tired but happy, Maddie and Virginia dropped off a giddy Agnes at the Blue Moon building again and went out for a lunch; they had wanted to bring along the maid of honor as well, but Agnes had insisted that with Maddie, David and Bert out of the office, she should go back to work to keep an eye on everything. She knew the wobblies weren’t very reliable.

“Well,” Virginia said when they sat down at Maddie's favorite Chinese restaurant and were looking over the menu, “this was a very successful morning. I'm so glad we found lovely dresses for all of us. You will be a beautiful bride.”

“Thanks, mom.” Maddie smiled, but the usual gleam was missing.

“Is everything all right?” her mother asked casually.

“Of course,” Maddie replied brightly and tried to change the subject by asking about the realtors her parents had been in contact with. Virginia told her that she and Alex were to meet with a realtor that afternoon and look at three condos not far from the neighborhood where Maddie and David lived.

“So,” she finally said; Maddie's guts told her that now the inquiry was going to start, and she was right. “That daycare center in your office building really comes in handy, doesn't it?” Virginia asked.

“Yes...” Maddie's voice showed hesitance. She wasn't exactly keen on discussing the subject.

“As you said earlier, these are the Eighties...”

“...right...”

Virginia shrugged graciously. “Still, I must say I'm surprised that David agreed with the idea of you going back to work just like that.” She smiled. “I always thought he was an old-fashioned man in some things.”

Maddie sighed. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep anything from her mother anyway, so she could just as well tell her right away that there was a little trouble in paradise. “Well,” she murmured, “to be honest... David isn't really thrilled about the idea.” That was the understatement of the century.

Virginia raised a questioning eyebrow. “Oh?”

Maddie frowned in anger. “Oh mom, you're right,” she blurted out. “He's so old-fashioned! He thinks it's a mother's job to stay home with the baby!”

The elder woman cleared her throat. “Well, Maddie, you know that I come from a generation where this was the most natural thing in the world with no question at all. But...” – she raised both hands as in defense when she saw Maddie draw a deep breath – “...I know that times have changed. Although...”

“Although what?” Maddie wanted to know.

“Well, even if these are modern times, some things haven't changed,” her mother remarked.

“Such as?” Maddie was getting a little annoyed.

“A baby still needs its mother,” she said firmly. “I'm not sure if a full-time working mother...”

“But mom!” Maddie interrupted. “Nobody's talking about working full time, of course! I want to stay home with the baby, of course I do, but not all the time!” She sighed. “Look, mom... I know there are a lot of women for whom it is completely fulfilling to be full-time mothers and nothing else, and that's really great – but it's just not the right thing for me!” She searched Virginia's gaze who had remained completely silent, listening. “You know I've been working for a living since I was very young,” Maddie went on, “and I can't imagine not going back to work at least part-time after a few months!”

“Oh, I see!” Virginia smiled. “So you're planning to work part-time, not full-time?”

“Of course not!” Maddie almost snapped. “Why is everyone thinking I'm going to dump my baby?”

“I haven't insinuated such a thing, Madolyn,” Virginia replied not angrily, but firmly.

Maddie immediately felt guilty. “I'm sorry, mom,” she backpedaled, “I didn't mean to snap.”

“It's okay, baby,” Virginia waved her off. “I'm sure though David wouldn't think that either...”

Maddie snorted furiously. “Oh, but he does!” she exclaimed. “He threw it in my face and told me I was selfish! Can you imagine that?”

Virginia frowned. “No, actually I can't... why would he say that? I mean, a few hours per week, as you told me, that's not dumping the baby.” She looked at her daughter searchingly. “Was he really aware of that? That you were talking only about part-time work?”

Maddie threw her hands in the air. “He didn't even want to hear me out!”

“I see...” Virginia pursed her lips in a thoughtful way. “That doesn't sound like David to me...” Maddie felt her annoyance grow because she had the feeling that her mother seemed to be taking that stubborn sexist's side instead of hers. Virginia felt the bad vibes and smiled; she had her ways to convey her message. “Oh, darling, you know – men can be so thick sometimes!” she told her brightly.

“What are you saying, mom?” Maddie wanted to know.

Virginia shrugged. “It's all about how you convey the message,” she said. “Your father, for example, just hates it to be presented with a fait accompli. Even if he usually does what I suggest, he just has to have his say.” She raised her hands again and added: “Which is absolutely legitimate, of course.”

“Of course...” Maddie agreed feebly, because, of course, there was nothing else to do than to agree. The whole time since the fight between her and David had broken out, the thought had been nagging away at her conscience – she had indeed gone behind David's back, and she knew how he hated that. She would hate it too, she admitted to herself.

“Maybe you just approached the issue the wrong way?” Virginia suggested indulgently.

Maddie squirmed. “Maybe...” Virginia just smiled at her and waited patiently, a question in here eyes. Maddie sighed. “Maybe I wasn't really diplomatic about it...”

“What did you say?” her mother asked softly.

“Actually I...” Maddie cleared her throat. “I called a few daycare centers to gather information before I talked it over with David. One of them called back. David heard the message on our answering machine and freaked out.”

Virginia leaned a little forward. “You called daycare centers before you even talked to David about your plans?” she ascertained.

“I was just trying to collect information,” Maddie quickly tried to defend herself, but Virginia wasn't going to take any cute apologies from her daughter.

“Behind your husband's back,” she stated firmly and corrected herself: “Future husband, but honestly, that doesn't make any difference to me. You went behind his back, Madolyn.” Maddie looked down at the table; now that her mother expressed it in words, it sounded terrible. “And you're surprised he didn't hear you out?” Virginia asked softly.

Maddie looked at her sheepishly. “I guess that wasn't too smart?” she offered.

“Smart or not, it was wrong,” Virginia told her bluntly.

“But David said it's a woman's job to stay home!” Maddie insisted stubbornly.

“That is wrong too,” the older woman agreed, “but I'm sure he will be willing to see your point of view if you try to talk to him in a reasonable way.”

Maddie smiled feebly. “You do have a high opinion of David, don't you?”

Virginia slightly inclined her head with a smile. “I do.”

Maddie sighed and shrugged helplessly. “And now?”

Her mother put her hand on hers. “If you want my advice, darling... first of all, apologize to him for going behind his back. And I'm quite sure, after that you will be able to make your point clear, and you'll find a compromise.”

Maddie sighed again. She knew her mother was right.

***
That night David was cranky and on edge as he sat in the Viola’s car waiting to see what the ex –Mrs. Grant was doing at night. David wasn’t even listening to Bert rambling on as usual. On days like this, when he was with Bert all day and into the night, David would sometimes go home with a raging headache. On nights like this, when he was sitting in a cold car with only Bert for company, he usually longed to be home, but that night he wasn’t wishing to be home, and that thought alone made him cringe inside. But he was in no mood to face Maddie and start up the same old argument again. He hoped that she would come to her senses when she had time to mull it over, but knowing his thick headed blonde that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. David shifted in his seat and sighed deeply.

Bert who had been talking about the case and bringing up all the cases they had worked on together (or that’s what it seemed like to David) stopped mid-sentence and looked at David when he sighed so loudly. “Are you okay, sir?” he asked, concern coating his voice.

“Yeah I’m right as rain.” David answered automatically not wanting to talk to his short sidekick about his problems with Maddie.

Bert nodded enthusiastically. “Oh Mr. Addison, sir, I am so looking forward to double dating with you and your lovely bride to be.” Viola gazed at David with hero adoration in his brown eyes. “Miss Hayes is a wonderful woman. And I cannot wait to dine with you and Miss Hayes and spend time with both of you in a non-business setting.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait.” David said snidely, hoping the other man would drop the subject, but Bert didn’t notice or if he did he ignored it.

“Where should we take out lovely ladies on that special night?” he wanted to know.

David shrugged. The last thing on his mind was dinner with Agnes and Bert. He wasn’t so sure he even felt like eating with his fiancée at his point, and he felt terrible for feeling that way. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He sighed again.

“Are you missing your lady love, sir?” Bert blabbed on.

“Yeah Bert, that’s it.” David nodded his head and put his feet up on the dashboard trying to get comfortable.

“I miss my love bug too.” Bert shook his curly head. “I wonder what my sugar cookie is doing now,” he sighed. “I know she is missing me as much as I’m missing her.” Bert looked at David. “As you know that Miss Hayes is feeling about you the same way you are feeling about her.”

“I’m sure she is.” David said dryly laying his head back on the headrest, fantasizing about his strong hands around Bert's neck.

“Ahh sir, in a few short months both of us will be married men.” Bert chuckled. “And you will be a dad, Mr. Addison.”

“Yep.” Great. Just the subject I'm dying to talk about.

“I know you know that marriage is a huge step especially for devil may care men such as ourselves,” Bert rambled on, completely unaware of David's hostile mood.

David rolled his eyes. Could this day get any worse?

“But a good marriage is built out of cooperation and communication.” Bert stated matter-of-factly. He nodded his head in agreement with himself. “Yes that is the key to a successful union. Talking and compromising.”

David’s eyes perked up. Compromise? Maybe he shouldn’t have been so quick to put Maddie’s idea down; maybe he should have listened to her opinions – but then he remembered how she had gone behind his back and his annoyance returned. Bert was indeed right – communication and compromising. Only, to be able to compromise you had to communicate first; and learning about Maddie's plans for the future of their family by a message on the answering machine was not his idea of communication. He tried to imagine what would have happened if he had acted like that; his temperamental shrewd princess would have ripped his head off of his shoulders. No, he really hadn't been wrong this time, he told himself.

The rest of the night David pretended to be asleep, just so Bert would stop talking. They hung around until after 3 and then headed home. Mrs. Grant had retired to her bedroom and their job that night was done.

When David got home Maddie was already asleep. He took a quick shower to wash off the day’s grime and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. What he didn’t know was that Maddie was only pretending to be asleep; she had been thinking about her mother's words all day, and she knew that she owed David an apology – but in the middle of the night with them both being cranky and tired probably it wasn't the right moment to address the issue in question. But of course she could never rest peacefully until she knew that he was safely home. As soon as she felt David fall asleep beside her, she fell into a restless sleep herself.

***
David was still dead asleep when Maddie left the house to do her the usual Saturday errands. Today she was missing David who made even the mundane errands fun with his usual jokes and craziness. She tried to push thoughts of David out of her mind as she visited the dry cleaners and the grocery store, but it was hard because everywhere she went everyone was asking where her hilarious side kick was: even when he wasn’t around David’s presence was everywhere she went.

Maddie was feeling gloomy as she pulled into the driveway, knowing that she would be entering an empty house. She knew that David was busy tracking down leads for the Anselmo case this afternoon and then would be on stake out with Bert again that night. She closed her eyes and sat in the car for a few minutes. She no longer was happy being all by herself in her too big house – the house seemed suddenly too large when she was in it alone, which it never had when she had been still living alone, but as soon as David was home it seemed the perfect size – but she told herself he was out working and would be home soon, and then hopefully they would be able to clear what was between them. She missed him so much, she really dreaded the idea of spending the rest of the day and into the night without him.

Finally, Maddie pulled herself together and entered the house. She was happy when her mom called her a bit later to tell Maddie they had found the perfect condo and wanted to take her and David out to celebrate. She told them she would be happy to join them but that David was working on a case that weekend. In a way she was glad that David was not around so that her parents wouldn’t see the tension between them.

“Is everything okay, darling?” Virginia asked in an urging voice, and Maddie knew her father had to be present because her mother didn't say more. But of course, she knew what she was aiming at.

“I'm working on it, mom, don't worry,” she told her. “David is really out on a case.”

“Okay,” her mother replied lightly. “We'll see you at the hotel then?”

“Sure, mom. Seven-ish,” she said absentmindedly and hung up.

***
David was not looking forward to another day out in the field with Bert. He was tired and more than a little upset. He couldn’t remember the last time he had deliberately avoided Maddie. He couldn’t remember a time where he hadn't wanted to talk to her or even look at her. The idea that she had been so sneaky to go behind his back on such an important issue was gnawing away at his insides and this made him nervous and scared. Here they were planning a wedding and he was worrying that the basic premise of their relationship as well as the trust between them had a huge crack in it.

“So, you and your lovely fiancée must be over the moon about your impending parenthood.” Bert’s smile was huge on his scruffy face. “I can tell you, sir, that the idea of having a child with the love of my life has filled me with joy.”

David was munching on a pretzel as he half listened to Bert. “Glad you’re filled with something,” he threw out hoping Bert would just shut the fuck up for once. David was feeling heartsick over this situation with Maddie. He knew he loved her with his entire being but if she forged ahead making crucial decisions without him and not even attempting to listen to his ideas then what hope was there for their relationship to succeed? Something had to give. He couldn’t see his child left day in day out among strangers and he couldn’t understand how Maddie could think that he was okay with it? Or, what was even worse, that she even seemed to think what he thought about it didn't matter! David was morose and just wanted this night to end. But then again he wasn’t looking forward to going home and fighting with Maddie, although he knew the subject had to be spoken about, and soon. He sighed.

Bert looked at David. “I know you feel the same way, sir. Seeing your eyes light up every time Miss Hayes and your child-to-be walk into the room is wonderful. I know you and Miss Hayes will be wonderful parents.”

“Yeah, when the kid isn’t dumped in a strange daycare.” David didn’t mean to say anything about his problems to Bert, but it just slipped out before he could stop himself.

“What do you mean, Mr. Addison?” Bert asked with a confused frown.

David shrugged. Maybe he did need to run it by another man. And his choices were limited at this point. David ran his hand over his face. Now that he had let it slip he could as well go on and spill the whole mess. “Maddie wants to go back to work. I’m against it.”

Bert’s eyes grew round. He was thrilled that his hero was actually confiding in him. Maybe Mr.Addison was finally realizing he could be a good friend. “But I am sure that Miss Hayes doesn’t want to work full time.”

David shifted in his seat and shrugged again. “I don’t know.”

“You don't know? Didn’t you ask her, sir?” Bert didn't believe his ears; he sat up straight as he doled out his advice. “Communication is a very big part of having a successful relationship.”

“Okay but...”

Bert went on: “And although I know our loves of the fairer sex can be a bit temperamental at times…”

“You’re telling me!” David nodded.

“We have to use our ears and our hearts to listen to them…”

“And how about they listen to us too, Bertie boy?” David threw in, somehow feeling the need to defend himself. Was Bert, his adorer, really taking Maddie's side in this drama instead of his? “Doesn’t the pendulum swing both ways?”

Bert was nodding his head emphatically. “Oh, of course Mr. Addison. Me and my honey bunny make sure to hear each other out and we try to talk about small problems before they become big problems. Communication and compromise, sir.”

“Yes, that sounds all good, Bert, but…”

“No buts, Mr. Addison, sir! You need to listen to what your love button is trying to say!” Bert was adamant. “Did you listen, sir?” Bert prodded. “Did you hear Miss Hayes and what she was saying?”

David cringed a little. “Truthfully, no I guess I didn’t hear Maddie out, but I just assumed…”

Bert cut David off. “No disrespect, sir – but to assume just makes an ass out of you and me.”

David grimaced. “Watching too much Odd Couple reruns?” he quipped.

“I mean it, sir.” Bert plowed on with fervor. “I mean, since we are chatting I hope you don’t think I am being nosy by asking if you actually heard Miss Hayes tell you that she was planning on returning to Blue Moon in a full time position?”

David thought then slowly shook his head. He admitted to himself that she had never said that. He just had figured that was what she meant. Of course, he had had his reasons for not hearing her out; he had been hurt, angry – and rightfully so, but that didn't change the fact that maybe they had been fighting over things that were misunderstod. Suddenly, the situation was looking a bit brighter. “No,” he admitted firmly. “No, I guess I didn’t hear her say that she wants to return full time.”

A smile lit up Bert’s face. “Take my advice sir and talk to her. Agnes and I have talked about what will happen when we are blessed with a little cherub and we have come to the decision that she will work part time a few hours a week until the baby is older. We are both happy with that plan.” Bert was nodding as he spoke. “And there is a wonderful daycare center right in the Blue Moon building sir!”

“I know,” David replied, “and that's exactly the reason I didn't hear her out in the first place!” Somehow, it was important to him suddenly that he didn't look like the bad guy to Bert. “She made arrangements to check that daycare center out – among a few others, I might add – without as much as saying one single word to me about her plans for our kid!” His jawline tightened. “Does that look like good communication to you?”

Bert rubbed his stubbly chin. “I understand, sir...”

“See?”

Bert nodded. “I'm sure, sir, that Miss Hayes regrets that already.”

David raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You think?”

“Mr. Addison, has it ever occurred to you that – even being all considerate, like a good CEO should – sometimes Miss Hayes jumps a little ahead and says and does things she didn't really mean to?”

David almost chuckled. “Yeah, Bert, I think I happen to have experienced one or two of those occassions.”

Bert smiled and looked like a little cherub himself. “Oh, I bet you have, sir. Well, what I was trying to say is... I'd like to modify the advice I conveyed to you earlier.”

“Shoot.”

Bert cleared his throat, reveling in the moment. “You let your lovely bride deliver the well-deserved apology I'm sure she's already rehearsing in her mind, and then you hear her out and talk to her.”

“You know, Bert,” David said slowly, “in a crazy, very irrational way... this totally makes sense.”

Bert beamed. Suddenly David was in a hurry to get home. He would be willing to communicate and compromise – he only hoped that Bert was right and Maddie would be too.

***
Maddie tossed and turned in the big empty bed, more upset than ever. Although she had done her best to avoid the subject of childcare and working during the dinner with her parents, somehow it had been brought up when Virginia had innocently asked if she had already talked to David by now – not knowing that there really hadn't be any chance for Maddie to do so because that damn stakeout had lasted the whole day.

Of course, her father's ears had pricked up, and when she had lightly told him about the daycare center – of course not mentioning anything about the disagreement between her and David – he had made it pretty obvious that he didn't think it was a good idea for her to go back to work at all. Maddie knew her father’s old fashioned views concerning mothers and returning to work and she inwardly cringed at the thought that she was marrying a man with similar views. But she hoped that David would be more willing to compromise than her bull headed father. The situation hadn't escalated because Virginia had done her best to change the subject, and she had always been good at guiding her husband in the direction she wanted to, but for Maddie, the celebration had been spoiled.

She had been exasperated when she had gotten home, and of course, David wasn't home yet; God knew how long that stakeout with Bert would keep him away from home tonight. Or maybe, which was even worse, he was avoiding her. Maddie's heart was heavy. She needed to clear the air between them as soon as possible; it was tearing her apart inside, and she hoped that it affected David as much.

With an almost desperate sigh she sat up and turned the light on her nightstand on. The alarm clock read almost 3 am. Suddenly, she heard the entrance door downstairs and a few seconds later careful footsteps on the spiral stairway. Her heart leapt with a mix of joy and fear.

Then, the bedroom door was opened slowly, and a barefoot David walked in, obviously having discarded his sneakers on his way up. When he saw her sitting upright in bed, he stopped dead in his tracks, on his face an expression of surprise and something else she couldn't quite read.

"Hey," he said after a few seconds.

"Hey..." she replied with only a little hesitation in her voice.

"Sorry if I woke you up," David apologized and threw his black leather jacket on the overstuffed chair in the corner of the room which left him only dressed in his tight blue jeans and a black t-shirt, his favorite stakeout outfit. Fight or no fight, Maddie never failed to noticed how drop-dead sexy he looked.

"No no, I've been laying awake anyway," she quickly assured.

He drew a deep breath. "Maddie..."

She threw back the sheets and swung her long legs out of bed. "David, before you say anything, let me say something, please."

David swallowed and gave her a nod that looked somehow rueful, which surprised her but also gave her hope. Obviously, he had cooled down and had been thinking things through too, just like her. Maybe he was up for a sensible talk now.

She got up from the bed, drew a deep breath and gave herself a push mentally. Maddie had never shied away from what had to be done, and if she owed an apology she would damn sure deliver it. "I'm sorry I went behind your back,” she said firmly. “I was wrong not to talk to you before I started anything, and I really regret it." She gave him a very open, honest look and hoped it would reach him and open his mind to listen to what she had to say.

David swallowed again and just replied: "Okay..."

"But,” she went on, knowing she had to say this, “what you said about it being a woman's job to stay home when..."

David raised both his hands to interrupt her, but not in an aggressive manner, so she fell silent and let him talk. "Listen... I need to get this off my chest – I need you to know where that came from.” He ruffled his hair. “Look, Maddie, you and me... the two of us were brought up in a completely different way.” He motioned at her with his left hand. “You grew up in a very protected environment. Your mother was always home, and her main goal was it to take care of you and your father.” He raised both hands in a soothing gesture. “I'm not saying that it has always to be like that, but...” He stopped for a moment, and obviously, what he was going to say wasn't all easy for him. Maddie listened intently. Finally he blurted out: “You don't know how it is for a child with no mother around and a father who's hardly ever there, you don't know how it is when you have to grow up by yourself with nobody to guide you expect for an older brother who is even more immature than yourself sometimes.” He looked at her, and the intensity of his green eyes simply took her breath away. “You don't know that,” he repeated, “but I do. Which is mainly the reason I never really knew or cared how to live a structured life until I met you.” He blinked. “And that's not what I want for our child."

Maddie was deeply touched by his outburst. Of course she knew about his wild, not unproblematic childhood, and she also knew that the way he had grown up had had quite an impact on his life and the person he was. Still, she hadn't been aware of how much it still influenced him. "I don't want that either!” she assured him and was happy to see that she had his full attention this time, that he didn't shut down. She tilted her head slightly and looked closely at him, speaking deliberately calmly and slowly. “Yes, I will be a mother first and a businesswoman second, but you can be sure that I will always be a woman first and a mother second, just as we won't stop being a couple just because we're becoming parents,” she explained and added: “And I think you will appreciate that too!" She gave him a womanly half-smile pushing her point across with her eyes.

David nodded thoughtfully and pursed his lips. "Okay, so – what’s the plan that’s hidden under your blonde noggin?"

Maddie couldn't refrain from telling him: "I would have told you already if you had heard me out."

He folded his arms and replied: "Yeah well, I would have listened if you had talked to me about your plan before setting it in motion.” She sighed and looked down at her hands for a moment, knowing that he was right. “This isn't only about you,” David went on in a serious tone, “this is a decision we should make together, and I don't like the feeling of being left out of something as important as this. You would have been crazed if I had done such a thing!" He looked at her with raised eyebrows as if he was challenging her: and don't tell me that's not true.

Maddie nodded regretfully, "I know,” she admitted. “But we can talk about it now, right?” Without noticing, she touched her growing belly, and her voice assumed an almost pleading tone when she demanded: “You have to believe me, David, I would never simply dump our baby at..."

David raised both hands. "I know that, honey,” he interrupted his tone was also apologetic, “and that was a pretty nasty thing to say. I'm really sorry." He threw her a contrite look, and her heart was growing lighter by the minute. Wow, they were really handling things like adults here!

She nodded eagerly. "Okay.... Then let's talk about it now."

David shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and she was for a moment distracted by the sight of the muscles on his underarms flexing. "I'm listening," he said and she blinked a few times to concentrate on what she was about to say.

“I'm talking about going back to work after a few months,” she explained, “and only for a few hours, maybe...” – she blew her cheeks and shrugged – “I don't know, maybe two days a week to begin with!” She threw him a quick glance and saw that he was intently listening, his face serious, but not grim, but otherwise not giving away anything yet. “Then we'll see how things are going and can decide from there how to proceed.” She paid extra attention to pointing out the “we”, paused for a moment and saw that he was nodding slowly, lips still pursed in thought. Encouraged by that, she added: “And there's this daycare center right in the Blue Moon office building... we would be only five minutes away from her.” David still didn't say anything, and Maddie drew a deep breath and finally wanted to know: "So, how does that sound to you?"

Slowly, he nodded again. “Sounds like a compromise,” he replied.

She raised a questioning eyebrow. "And is that good or bad?"

For the first time, David smiled his half-smile. "I think that's very good."

Maddie was extremely relieved. Slowly, a huge happy smile spread on her face, making her beautiful eyes sparkle, and for a moment they both just stood there, looking at each other, their eyes speaking volumes. Deep down inside, both were longing to throw themselves in each other's arms; so miserable had they both been without each other.

"So...” Maddie shrugged. “Maybe next week we can go together to check out that daycare center, what do you say?"

David ruffled his hair and shook his head. "Maddie, I trust your instincts. If you think it's fine..."

"No, David,” she objected almost fiercely, “I don't want to make this decision alone. And I'm sorry if I gave you the impression I did.” She smiled. “Forgive me?"

He snorted an adorable little laugh. "If you forgive me for being an ass and talking like a sexist,” he replied sheepishly.

Maddie's heart leapt with joy. They were home again. She assumed a playful tone. "But you're such a sexy sexist, Addison."

David raised a mocking eyebrow. "Did you just use my own line on me?"

She shrugged. "It was a good one."

For the fraction of a second they looked at each other, the air between them buzzing with electricity, and then they moved almost simultaneously. David took three quick steps towards her and reached out for her with both hands: "C'mere, knucklehead."

She threw herself in his arms, his right arm pulled her in a close embrace while his left hand went into her hair, and their lips crushed together in a passionate kiss. Maddie wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, she couldn't get close enough to him. It had been only two days since they had had their fight, two days during which they had hardly spoken, hardly seen each other, never touched. They were craving each other's nearness in an almost painful way, and not just in a physical sense.

When their lips finally parted, Maddie's face was flushed, her lips red and swollen and her hair a mess; David's eyes were glittering, and his heart was pounding inside his chest. Both were breathless, their looks hazed with desire.

"Missed me, huh?" he purred in a husky voice and with a playfully smug undertone and a smirk that sent a bolt of heat right between her legs that were about to turn to rubber. She knew he had missed her too.

"Every hour of every day, asshole," she replied slowly and pointedly.

The laugh lines around David's eyes crinkled in that way that always took her breath away. "It's been only two days," he said. She threw him a blue death ray but made no attempt to wriggle out of his embrace, and he blew her off of her feet by simply admitting: “They almost killed me.”

“Me too.“ She whispered huskily as her hands found their way under his t-shirt stroking, rubbing, adoring his muscular chest.

David pulled his shirt over his head and threw his head back as Maddie’s hot tongue flicked over his hard nipples. “Oh God, honey. I love that.“ He moaned as his hands snaked under her nightgown finding wet lace, “damn, you are so hot baby.“ Maddie grinned to herself when she remembered him saying on one occasion: You know what makes no sense? Nipples on men. But hey, that's the way God planned it. Given his reaction, she was pretty sure he had changed his mind about that.

Maddie got lost in the moment too and opened her legs, giving David’s magic fingers better access to her aching core. She had missed him and his velvet touch, but she also knew she would react the same way if they had made love only hours ago. Yes, she was that crazy about him. She felt her blood boil as his fingers swept over her throbbing nub barely touching it, teasing her until she was crazed for him. “Oh David,“ she moaned as she reached for his belt buckle and zipper, eager to feel his lovegun in her hands.

“Yeah, you can’t wait to get your greedy little hands on my big dick.“ David chuckled in his inimitable way which always caused Maddie’s juices to gush, “Yeah, Maddie I’m gonna fuck you so good baby. Show you what you missed.“ As if she didn't know that. But she didn't mind him showing it to her over and over... David kicked off his pants and boxers and ground his massive boner against her, causing her to gasp when she felt the hardness, pulling the hem of her nightgown up and over her head, leaving her wearing only her wet panties and nothing else. Overcome with desire and lust David pushed her against the vanity table. With one fluid motion he spun her around facing the mirror. “This time I’m going to show you what bad girls get when they sneak behind their man’s back,“ David whispered into her ear in a hoarse voice, his eyes piercing hers through the mirror – green heat which turned her insides to mush and her legs to jelly.

Once again the thought of doing something erotic and slightly kinky with David made her eager instead of ashamed. She had come a long way from the shy, unsure woman he had first taken to bed she relished this new sexual side of herself which he had woken in her. “I’m your bad girl?“ she asked breathlessly.

“Very bad,“ he purred into her ear as his hands cupped her breasts and squeezed them gently, his palms rubbing her hard nipples. She felt goosebumps spread all over her body. “I love your tits, honey...“ He began to stroke and caress her breasts as they both looked on through the mirror. Maddie was moaning as David’s hands pleasured her breasts, she began to move her hips against his dick. David chuckled again. “Play with yourself, babe. Pet that hot pussy,“ he urged in a bossy voice.

Maddie obeyed, her hand reaching between her legs and petting her hotbox as she watched herself in the mirror – and watched David watching her which turned her on immensely. Had anybody told her a few months ago that she would find herself in a situation like that, she would have gotten livid; now freeing the wild cat in her with a man she loved deeply and with whom she felt completely safe felt natural. She began to moan as his tongue moved over that spot just below her hairline that belonged only to him. Just before Maddie was going to come, David pulled her hand away from her aching core, pushed her over the vanity and smacked her on her curvy ass.

Maddie was stunned when she felt David’s hand strike her butt but wasn’t surprised to feel a blot of heat hit her right between her legs. She feigned outrage. “David Addison, what the hell are you doing?“

David smirked at her through the mirror; he knew she was playing along and enjoying it immensely. “You’ve been a very bad girl Miss Hayes.“ He nodded as he smacked her butt again but directly after his hand massaged the tender flesh, “I have to show you who is boss, babe.“ He thrusted his throbbing boner at her ass, and she shivered with delight. “If you want this you have to learn to just do as your told, honey.“ His voice was syrupy sweet. “Understand?“ He raised a mocking eyebrow as he pulled her hips against him thrusting into her aching core; he held her tight against him with one hand wrapped around her slightly enlarged waist while his other hand played with her hard nipples and swollen breasts.

“Ahhh David...” Maddie groaned as his dick entered her almost to its hilt. She pushed herself closer to David’s hard buried until she was filled with his hardness. “Oh yes, David, fuck me!“ she begged, and her body began to buck as his hot tongue traveled over her neck to that spot on the base of her hairline. “David, David, David!!“ She moaned louder and louder, each cry of his name increasing in volume until she was almost screaming it at the top of her lungs.

David, as always, was delighted with her response to his lovemaking; he was used by now to her getting vocal, but regardless every time it astounded him again how completely and utterly she let herself fall when she was with him. “Yeah babe, scream my name,” he spurred her on. “I know you love this. You love when I fuck you hard, fuck you deep.“ David purred into her ear and did with fervor exactly what he was saying.

“Oh yes, yes!“ She screamed, almost out of control with the depth of her passion. Her entire body was vibrating now with the strength of her first orgasm. David felt her coming and thrusted into her harder, deeper, then he turned her around, sat her on the vanity chair sideways and began to push into her in that position. He was watching everything through the mirror and was almost dizzy with his lust and need as he watched his dick move in and out of her hotbox. Maddie turned her head to watch as well and began to come in wave after wave of passion, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist and clawing at his back. David’s climax came hard and fast, and he had to steady himself agains the vanity because he feared his legs would give way with the force of his orgasm.

Both of them came back to earth slowly. David grinned at her as he gently pushed her legs down and pulled her into his arms. “Wow!“ He exclaimed as he kissed her on the corner of her mouth.

Maddie, safely wrapped in his arms, raised her hand and wiped a few a few droplets of sweat from his forehead; the gesture was very tender and intimate. She smiled at the way his eyes crinkled with his cheekiness and whispered, still a little breathlessly: “Now I‘ll think of a way to show you what happens to hot-tempered boys who don't listen to their woman and act like sexist jerks?”

David was thrilled. “Fair enough,” he chuckled.

David and Maddie spent the rest of the day in bed alternately making love and talking about the Bean and their future together. They agreed they needed to compromise and communicate in the wise words of Herbert Viola; they also agreed though that due to their respective stubbornness they probably wouldn’t always live up to that ideal but swore to each other that they would try their best.

****
The next day – Monday – the couple left Blue Moon earlier because David had urgently suggested that they should take the Lamaze classes during the week at night instead of weekend mornings. He didn’t like the idea of having a schedule on the weekends and he was thrilled when Maddie agreed with him. They had gotten used to spending leisurely mornings in bed and they both were aware that once the Bean made her debut those mornings would be in the past – so they wanted to take advantage of them before they were spending the mornings on baby duty. Although they were excited about the Bean’s appearance they were also uneasy on how they would adapt to having a tiny dictator in their midst. But they knew that the joys would overcome any of their sacrifices, and in the end everything would fall into place.

David unlocked the door and slid into the driver’s seat next to Maddie. He smiled at her with his panty melting grin that came to him so naturally and without thinking, even when he didn't have any ulterior motive, and just as naturally Maddie was suddenly overcome with desire and a ferocious need to touch him. Before he even had a chance to start the car she leaned over and brushed her lips over his as her fingers made a beeline for his zipper.

David instantly became aroused as Maddie’s fingers undid his belt and unzipped his pants freeing his hardness into her hand. She moaned softly as she kissed his neck and nibbled her way across his chiseled jaw, engulfed by his very own intoxicating scent that spurred her on.

David chuckled deep in his throat. “Now now, Maddie... You’ve become a greedy strumpet,” he teased, “always wanting my big dick.”

“And you love it,” she replied in her husky bedroom voice and kissed him fully on the lips while she was getting a firm yet tender grip on his boner. Of course he was thrilled, like always when she showed her bold side and made a move on him. He was ecstatic that she was not afraid to show her desire for him and that she had no shame of proving she was his woman. She ended her kiss with a clearly noticeable, but not painful bite on his lower lip and looked deeply into his eyes for a moment, almost hypnotizing him; her perfect mouth curved into the ghost of an almost demonic smile, like sin itself, and in that second he knew what she was planning to do with that mouth. His dick came fully to life and started to twitch in her hands.

David laughed throatily as he spread his legs and pushed her head towards his throbbing boner. “Damn woman, I thought the 14 plus hours we spent in bed yesterday would satisfy that hungry hotbox, but hey who’s complaining.” He teased as he groped her breasts and snaked his hand under her dress.

“Never underestimate the raging hormones of a pregnant woman,” she murmured hoarsely against his throat and enjoyed the feeling of his pulse hammering madly against her feverish lips. Her hand was wrapped firmly around his rock-hard dick, stroking it languidly, moving up and down. He let his head fall back, leaning on the headrest, and groaned deep in his throat which turned her on even more.

Maddie unbuttoned David’s shirt and kissed her way down his perfect chest; she loved the way his chest hair tickled her face as she licked her way down to the prize below. She spread her legs to make room for David’s magic fingers which were now stroking her swollen nub. “David... David...” She moaned as she felt him push her head towards his massive erection. How she loved to pleasure him. Never in her life had she ever believed she would like to put a man in her mouth but she enjoyed doing it to David knowing how much he loved it. He had showed her exactly how to pleasure him, and now she was the Mistress of this sex game. She loved it almost as much as he did. She couldn’t wait to lick his thick shaft and play with his balls.

David groaned again as Maddie’s hot tongue replaced her hand and stroked his shaft up and down, back and forth teasing him until she took his full length in her mouth – her mouth was hot and he adored how she knew exactly what he loved and how he loved it. He loved how she made soft mewing sounds and moans as she blew him; she loved it as much as he did, and that turned him incredibly on. He groaned as he felt himself nearing his climax.

Maddie heard David’s groan and felt his dick growing bigger in her mouth – she knew he was close and began to speed up her motions.

David tangled his hands in Maddie’s hair and threw his head back against the headrest. “Oh baby, fuck it with your mouth. Oh God, that’s is so good.” He moaned deeply, “it’s perfect.” David thrust his hips toward her, thrusting into her mouth, “Oh, fuck me babe. I’m coming, Maddie!” David cried as he came so hard his head felt like it might explode.

David was trying to reboot his brain and Maddie was just pulling her head out of his lap when they heard a loud tapping at the driver’s window. Maddie’s face turned white as she sat up straight and straightened her dress. “David, someone is at the window!” she cried in horror.

Oh shit, David thought and quickly zipped his pants and took a deep breath. “Relax,” he told her, not feeling so relaxed himself. He knew that if somebody had seen what they had been doing it would be really, really bad. Maddie would be mortified beyond any measure and reason – and he could even understand her – and it would affect her willingness to let loose for a long time. He was angry at himself that he had let her hit on him, but she had been really adamant, and he surely was no clairvoyent ...

“Relax?!” she hissed in outrage. “What the hell are you...”

“Don't make a scene,” he told her firmly and started to roll down the window. “Act naturally.”

Bert Viola saw David’s silhouette sitting in the driver’s seat and without noticing that his boss’ head was thrown back in ecstasy, he headed straight to the car with purpose. He had just gotten a big break on a case he was working on and he wanted to share it with David. He tapped on the window hard, trying to get David’s attention. He wondered why it took him so long to roll down the window but he couldn’t see anything because for some reason the windows were fogged up. In his excitement to tell David of his discovery Bert didn’t even think of the cause of the fogged windows.

After Bert had told David his business he strutted away like a peacock with the echo of David’s praise in his brain. David smirked as he looked at Maddie who was staring out of the passenger window with glassy eyes. She was still mortified! She was sure that Viola had seen what they had been doing, and she wanted to shrivel up in a ball and fade away. What if he told the wobblies he had seen Miss Hayes giving Mr. Addison a blowjob in the parking garage? How could she ever face them again, knowing they knew she was as horny as a bitch in heat? Maddie’s face was bright red as she thought about how they would snicker at her.

“Hey Blondie blonde?” David called to her to get her attention. He had a suspicion that Maddie hadn't realized yet that Bert hadn't gotten a clue of what had been going on, and of course she was not happy with what had transpired. “Blondie,” he repeated a little more softly.

She turned to him, saw his smirk and was instantly furious. “You think this is funny, don’t you?” Maddie raged. “He saw us, David!”

David shook his head in a determined gesture. “No, he didn’t,” he told her. “I would have seen it on his face, and Bertie boy was so wrapped up in his big breakthrough he wouldn’t have noticed if we were fucking on the hood of the car.” David’s smirk broadened and ran up his face. “Which sounds like a…”

“Stop it!” she screeched and shot at him: “I am tired of being embarrassed cause of your raging libido.” She conveniently forgot she was the one who had made the move on him.

“Because of what?!” David was speechless, but not for long. “Are you kidding me?” He threw in her face. “You’re the horny one who couldn’t keep her hands off me!” David pointed at her, “you are the one who wanted,“ he pointed at his crotch, “THIS! You made the moves on me, baby.”

Maddie knew he was right but chose to ignore it. “You could have pushed me away!” she insisted, but it sounded ridiculous in her own ears. Plus, she knew she would have been furious if he had done that.

David laughed. “Why would I? A blow job a day keeps the doctor away.”

“That’s an apple,” she fumed. She couldn’t believe she had turned into a bigger sex maniac than David. She hoped it was her hormones that were causing her sexual urges to go into overdrive, but she suspected it was the green eyed devil irresistibly smirking her way.

“Maddie, Maddie, Maddie...” David’s voice was placatory; he didn’t want her to be upset. Bert really hadn’t seen anything, and she needed to realize that. “I told you Viola didn’t see a thing. First of all the windows were fogged up, so was his mind with the story he wanted to deliver, and secondly we were already finished. Well, I was,” David moved closer to Maddie bent his head so that his lips were almost on hers and moved his hand up her dress, “but you weren’t.”

“Oh, for God's sake, David!” she snapped and pushed his hand away, but her voice sounded already a little less horrified. She frowned, still an alarmed expression on her face though. “Do you really think he didn't...”

“Not a peep!” David assured her quickly. “I'm one hundred per cent sure, Maddie.” She sighed and didn't reply, not fully convinced yet. “Honey, look at me,” he urged her, and automatically she turned her eyes on him. “If I had the slightest doubt about that, I would have been after him and straightened him out, and no word would ever have come over his lips. You know, if anybody besides Agnes can keep Bertie boy in line, it's me.”

She blew out her cheeks in a mix of frustration and relief. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I'm sure!” he emphasized and went on seriously: “Do you really think I wouldn't care if our employees snickered behind our backs about this?”

“Yeah well, they would snicker about me,” Maddie told him sourly, and David took her face in both hands.

“And do you think I would ever let that happen?” he asked earnestly.

She allowed herself a very feeble smile. “Guess not...”

He smiled his half-smile. “And there's another thing I would never let happen.”

Maddie raised a suspicious eyebrow; he had put on his up-to-no-good face. “And what's that?”

David leaned in a little closer. “I would never leave you unsatisfied...” His voice dropped about two nuances, enough to make her juices flow again, and his hand found its way back traveling under her dress. This time she didn't push him away.

Still, she protested feebly and more for decency's sake which he perfectly well knew: “You're awful...”

Instead of backing away though, she leaned in even closer, her eyes becoming hazed with desire again. She could feel his breath on her lips when he purred: “Yeah, right...” His voice was melted chocolate. His fingers traced her swollen nub, and David chuckled deeply as Maddie’s legs spread for him. He licked her lips and stroked her wet panties until she was moaning his name.

“Doesn't sound that awful to me...” he teased and started to massage her aching core in slow lazy circles.

“Oh God...” she panted as her hips started to rotate rhythmically along with his expert hand.

When he saw that she was just about to get to her release, David paused what he was doing and looked in her eyes. “Maybe we should stop. Someone might see us.” He said in a mocking voice.

“I hate you, David Addison!” Maddie cried as she placed his hand back on her hotbox.

“You love me,” he purred as he made her come long and hard.

***
They went to talk to their Lamaze instructor and managed to change the day without a problem; after that, both were looking forward to picking up some Chinese food on their way home and finish the day like a good day should be finished.

When they were just about to get in the car, suddenly Maddie pointed to a woman standing beside the car parked next to the Beemer who had her fists clenched and seemed to talk to the car angrily. “Look David, that woman over there seems to be having a problem with her car...”

David just threw her a furtive glance and chuckled. “Yeah, the hub better fix it pdq!”

Maddie shook her head. “No, David, she's alone.” He raised his eyebrows in question, and she added: “I saw her upstairs earlier... obviously she registered for the same Lamaze class. I heard her tell the instructor she's alone.”

David looked at the woman again. She was obviously a little further along in her pregnancy than Maddie was, and now she was kicking her car. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Why don't you ask her if she needs help?” Maddie suggested.

David nodded slowly. “You're right.” He opened the passenger door for Maddie and told her: “I'll be back in a moment.”

Maddie got in the Beemer, and David walked over to the brunette. When he had reached her he cleared his throat to announce his presence and asked: “Is there a problem with your car?”

The woman gave him a sarcastic look and snorted. “No, it's just a hobby of mine to yell at inanimate objects.” David couldn't help but laugh, and she blew her cheeks in annoyance. He could see she was maybe a few years younger than Maddie and a pretty dark type, and she looked strangely and vaguely familiar to him. “Sorry, I just didn't have the best day,” she apologized.

“That's okay.” He pointed to the car. “Do you want me to take a look?”

She shook her head. “No, thank you, actually I know what's wrong. It's the battery.” She sighed. “I knew it was no good, but I guess I just hoped it would hold out a little longer.”

David scrutinized her with his eyebrows drawn together and suddenly asked: “Have we met?”

The woman folded her arms and frowned in disbelief. “Seriously? Did you just use the oldest and worst pick-up line in the world on a random pregnant woman?”

He chuckled. “You surely sound like you know me... hey, just kidding.” He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder to his car. “Actually, I have my random pregnant fiancée waiting there in the car, and it seems we just registered for the same Lamaze class like you.”

“Oh...” she grinned sheepishly. “I'm sorry again, but...”

David raised both hands. “That's okay, there's a lot of creeps around. Anyway, I really do think you look familiar to me somehow...” He rubbed his chin. “I just can't wrap my mind around it now. Hey, why don't we give you a lift home, so you don't have to wait for a cab, and tomorrow you can call your mechanic?”

“Oh no, I wouldn't want you to...”

“Hey, it's no big deal, really. You shouldn't be alone in the streets at this hour.” He extended his right hand. “By the way, I'm David. David Addison.”

The brunette hesitated only for a moment, then she took his hand in a surprisingly firm grip and shook it. “Terri Knowles. And your offer is very tempting.”

David chuckled and offered her his arm. “C'mon and meet my fiancée.”