Chapter 22: Be My Valentine

[Addisonsgirl]

As soon as Maddie turned into the driveway she saw David’s car parked in its usual space and knew that he was home. One part of her was filled with relief that he had not stayed away from home but another part of her – a much smaller one – wished that he was still out. She sighed heavily as she took the baby out of her car seat and headed into the house. She felt another reprieve when she heard the shower running as she closed the door. And despite her hurt and anger toward her husband why did the thought of him naked under the shower spray still make her pulse race?

As she drove home from Terri’s she realized she may have overreacted when she had overheard David’s conversation with Linda. But the thought of David even flirting with another woman made her jealousy rear up and her mind see only shades of green and red. And it was beyond her understanding that David didn't seem to have a clue about this. He who had freaked out when he had known that Sam had only called her! Another sigh escaped her as she laid the baby in her playpen while she took off her coat. But Jade wasn’t happy – she hated her playpen – and the baby began to scream in fury.

Maddie heard the shower stop and felt her heart beat faster. Quickly, she hung up her coat as her mind whirled in all directions. A few minutes later she heard David heading downstairs. She hated the fact that she felt anything but joy at the sight of David strolling down the stairs in his tight sweats with his hair still damp from the shower. She moved toward Jade pretending she hadn’t noticed David.

Before Maddie had a chance to see to Jade, David had already picked her up and the infant immediately stopped crying. “Really Maddie, does she need to scream her lungs out? You know she hates the playpen!”

Maddie controlled the tone of her voice. “I’m sorry she doesn’t like it but I need to put her in a safe place while I take off my coat,” she replied with a detached coolness she didn't feel. She looked at David smiling at the baby and felt like kicking him hard. “And if you pick her up every time she cries you’re going to spoil her, David,” she couldn't help adding.

She could see by the look in his eyes – glacier green – that he was still furious at her, and that in turn caused her back to go up. How dare he be angry at me when he was the one flirting with an old flame?! Bet if he caught me laughing and joking with Sam he wouldn’t like it one bit!

David ignored her comment. Really, was Maddie hoping to start another argument – this one regarding the best way to raise their daughter? He was in no mood to even speak to her, much less stir up the energy for another tiff. Once again the issue of her lack of trust in him caused him to see red. Would she ever trust him? It was so frustrating and infuriating. Ever since they had gotten together he had changed so much for her, and he had never ever given her a reason to doubt his complete and utter love and devotion to her – and still, she kept on accusing him of not being averse to cheating on her on every fucking chance he got! He had known a lot of guys in his life who eventually would have reacted to that constant mistrust with doing exactly what they had been accused of – like that old motto if you got the name why not play the game. Although he didn't feel that way, his patience with that aspect of Maddie's personality was wearing thin.

He decided to ignore her remark about spoiling Jade. Another fight was not what he was looking for. He wanted to spend some time with Jade and then collapse into bed. “I’m going to give Jade a bath,” he announced.

“She hasn’t eaten yet, David,” Maddie told him. “I was just going to heat up her bottle.”

David looked into the baby’s face as he replied to Maddie. “She doesn’t look hungry to me. Do you, Beanie?” He smiled into the baby’s face with an all-encompassing love. “She can wait.” And with that David strutted up the spiral stairs holding the baby in his arms.

Maddie made a move to follow them upstairs, but David turned to her with ice in his eyes. “Why don’t you go and make her bottle?” His voice dripped sarcasm. “We wouldn’t want her to starve now, would we?” David knew he was being mean, but he couldn’t help it. She had once again gone over the line, and he was livid.

Maddie felt as if David had slapped her in her face. Instead of provoking another fight with a snarky reply Maddie decided to ignore him, but she was fuming inside.

About 15 minutes later Maddie went into the nursery holding the bottle, David had just come out of the bathroom with the baby wrapped in a towel. Jade was patting David’s face with her chubby little hands as he spoke to her in low tones, their identical green eyes locked on each other and the sight tore at Maddie's wounded heart. If she hadn’t been so annoyed with her husband this would have been a beautiful moment to freeze in time. David nodded to her and put out his hand for the bottle. “I’ll feed her.” He waved his head and hand towards their bedroom. “I’ll be in in a few minutes.”

Maddie nodded without a word. She was afraid if she opened her mouth she would scream obscenities at him. How dare he make her out to be the bad guy? It took all her strength and an ironclad will to swallow her anger. She knew now was not the time to start another argument. David was not in the mood or state of mind to listen to anything she had to say. And truth be told, right at this moment, she lacked the energy to put up a good defense – or offense. She just wanted to collapse into bed, fall asleep and wake up to a new day.

About a half hour later, David came into the bedroom. The room was dark but he could see by the light of the moon that Maddie was already in bed wrapped in the blanket with her back facing toward him. He shook his head. Damn, she should be crawling to him apologizing for once again thinking the worst of him but noooo – here she was, playing the martyr. He felt his anger well up but instead of renewing the fight he just flopped down hard on the mattress causing the bed to shake. Maddie didn’t move, and irrationally enough, that increased his irritation at her. He pulled the blankets up over him as he turned his back on her, but he couldn’t resist one last barb thrown her way: "You don't have to pretend to be asleep, babe, I wasn't gonna try to touch you anyway."

Maddie felt the tears roll down her cheeks as she lay there quietly. She was furious at David’s words, but couldn’t even find a thread of energy to reply to his snide remark. She knew he was trying to rile her up and she refused to rise to his bait. Instead she lay there hurt, angry, and miserable until she finally fell into an uneasy sleep.

***
Maddie was making coffee as Jade sat in her carrier with her bottle propped up with towels so she could suck on it. She saw David come into the kitchen dressed handsomely in his light grey suit and felt tears prick her eyes. She turned her back on him to hide them from him.

Nice, David thought as he came into the kitchen and saw Maddie turn her back to him. She really was one hard headed woman. He bent down to kiss the baby. “Morning,” he tossed out to her back.

“Morning, David,” she replied flatly. “Do you want some breakfast?”

“Some toast will be fine,” he told her as he reached for a cup to pour his coffee.

A little while later the couple sat together at the kitchen table silently – the tension was so thick you could almost cut it with a knife. Neither knew what to say that wouldn’t be construed as an opening for a fight. Both sipped their coffee and ate their toast, but it tasted like ashes in their mouths. David looked at Maddie from underneath his eyelashes. Even at this early hour with no makeup and her hair uncombed she still looked ravishing to him. His heart turned over with love as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. The depth of his love for her was the main reason he felt so hurt and betrayed that she still lacked trust in him. If she knew how much he loved her, then how could she doubt him?

Maddie felt David’s scrutiny and felt uncomfortable. Maybe he was thinking she looked old and tired, but she had had no time to fix herself before he came down to breakfast. They ate together in tense silence.

“Don’t forget the rehearsal dinner tonight,” Maddie told him as she picked up the baby who had begun to fuss and kissed her rosy cheek. The words felt like rocks in her mouth. There were other things she wanted to scream at him, but she didn’t want to start another battle. She was still furious that he was going against her wishes for someone who was now practically a stranger to him – and that he was swiping her concerns aside in such a cavalier manner. She inwardly sighed with dismay.

“I won’t.” David got up to leave. “See you there?” He hated that their conversation was reduced to such superficial matters, but he wasn’t going to be the one to end this ridiculous disagreement between them.

Maddie nodded. “Terri and Richie are picking me up. Since the babies are both staying with my parents tonight, we thought it would be easier if they picked me up so that we’d only have one car.”

Maddie’s parents were babysitting for the two babies on Sunday too, the day of the wedding. Virginia and Alex were thrilled to have two babies to love and take care of and had poo pooed any nonsense from the two mothers that they were being taken advantage of. Although they weren't related to Nathan, they regarded Richie as extended family and, seeing the many similarities he shared with David, had taken an instant liking to him. And, like everybody else, they regarded baby Nate as his.

David nodded. “Good idea.” He bent down to kiss Jade on her velvety cheek before he left for the day. “Okay, bye.” David waved as he walked out of the room. Both started their days with heavy hearts, hurt and miserable and desperately missing the closeness they were used to sharing as a couple.

***
Bert and Agnes had taken the day off to prepare for the dinner and just relax before the wedding. The following day Agnes would be getting her nails and hair done, and Bert would be taking care of last minute wedding items, so they had figured that they would use that Friday to recharge their batteries. They got to the restaurant a little before 6 to wait for their guest to arrive. They had only invited their closest friends and family to this special dinner which Agnes’ mother had volunteered to pay for. Agnes was over the moon that her mother was thinking of moving back to L.A. since her daughter was now pregnant with her first grandchild.

***
The rehearsal dinner went by without any collateral damage, but everyone who was present noticed that there was an iciness hanging in the air between the Best Man and the Maid Of Honor, even if David and Maddie tried to behave normally with each other. Instead, they acted like strangers – barely talking to each other, anxiously avoiding touching each other and basically keeping their distance. It hurt especially Agnes' heart to watch their behavior – and particularly after she had noticed the sad and longing glances that Maddie and David both threw at each other when they thought the respective other wasn't looking. It was obvious: they had unresolved issues, and they were both unhappy about it; it was also obvious, though, that they were both too stubborn and too stupid to resolve them.

Agnes was really concerned; she had enough on her mind already with the impending wedding and the nearing arrival of baby Viola – she didn't need to be worrying about those two idiots ruining her wedding!

***
That Saturday morning, Bert had just gotten back home from a quick lunch after having run last wedding errands, when the doorbell rang. He was a bit nervous and discombobulated since his wedding was the following day, but he was trying to play it calm for his love muffin.

“Either Maddie or Terri,” Agnes said and went to open the door.

Richie was standing there, holding the baby carrier in one hand and a huge changing bag in the other. Behind him was Terri; she was carrying a modest overnight bag.

“Hey curlyhead,” Richie greeted her with a wink and kissed her on the cheek. “Tradin' in two for one, are you interested?”

Agnes laughed and shook her head. “If you promise to give him back in one piece tomorrow,” she replied and stepped to the side so Richie and Terri could enter. The women hugged, and Bert showed Richie upstairs where they had already set up the nursery for baby Viola. That night Nate and Jade were going to sleep there, and Terri and Maddie would share a guest room; together with Agnes' mother they would be there for Agnes, share her beauty day with her and help her get ready for the wedding. Bert and Richie would stay at the Addison house for the night.

After a few minutes, Richie came downstairs again. “Junior's still asleep,” he told Terri, “I didn't wanna wake him up, so I left him in his carrier for now. You'll take him out in a few anyway, right? You know it's not good for his back to stay too long in the carrier.”

“What would I do without you, coach?” Terri teased.

“Still tryin' to push him out, I guess,” he replied smoothly, and she rolled her eyes.

“You better carefully think over who you bring in the labor room with you,” Terri said dryly to Agnes.

“Well, I guess I have only one choice,” Agnes replied gleefully.

Richie wrapped his arms around Terri's waist from behind, and she slightly leaned into him. “Why, ever regretted who you took, Knowles?” he purred into her ear, and she just smiled and shook her head, secretly enjoying the shiver that ran down her spine.

“Here I am,” Bert announced, rushing down the stairs with an overnight bag in his hand. “Although I hate to leave my love muffin for even one night.” He sighed theatrically, and Richie slapped his back.

“Courage, Bertie-boy!” he told him. “Let's just give them girls some space to breathe...” – he winked at Terri – “...and to miss us.” He bent down and kissed her temple, then he gave her butt a little slap and cut Bert's wordy goodbye ceremony short by simply grabbing him by the neck and steering him out of the house. Bert continued to blow kisses to Agnes and vow his undying love until Richie pulled him out of the door and stuck him in the car.

“Maddie should be here any minute too,” Agnes announced and nudged Terri a little. “So quickly, tell me what's going on!”

Terri threw her a surprised glance. “You noticed something's going on?”

Agnes rolled her eyes. “Are you serious? I've been watching them do this for three years.” Terri nodded; she remembered when she herself had had the strangest feeling that Agnes was seeing right through her when things between her and Richie had still been very confusing and unsure. And well, the tension between Maddie and David had been pretty obvious, coming to think of it.

“So, is it still about that waitress David wanted to loan money?” Agnes asked as they went into the kitchen to put on some coffee.

“Oh, you know about it then?” Terri inquired, and Agnes nodded.

“A little,” she confirmed. “Maddie told me about it a few days ago, and guess what happened?” Terri shrugged and raised her eyebrows in question, and Agnes went on: “She dragged me to that coffee shop, and we had lunch there. She wanted to take a look at that woman.”

“That's so Maddie,” Terri commented, “although I can understand that she was curious...”

“Well, she could have just told David that he wanted to meet the woman,” shrugged the pragmatic Agnes. “a reasonable request he could hardly have denied her. But why make it simple when you can have it complicated.” She sighed and shook her head.

Terri chuckled. “You seem to know them really well.” She went on more seriously: “Anyway, I was with Maddie the day before yesterday, and she was pretty upset about the whole affair. I told her she and David should talk to each other instead of at each other.”

Agnes nodded gravely. “Yep, that's what they do. And she didn't find your advice helpful?”

“Oh, she even followed my advice!” Terri revealed and told Agnes what Maddie had told her – that she had gone to the office to talk, and instead of finding David working late she had found him with Linda Cooper, flirting and telling her to call him.

“What an idiot,” Agnes commented and shook her head.

“You don't think he was going to cheat on her, do you?” Terri asked with a frown, and Agnes shook her head vigorously, her curls flowing and her earrings clattering.

“Not in a million years!” she almost snapped at Terri. “David is madly in love and completely devoted to her, and she knows it.” Agnes shook her curly head again. “But Maddie won’t admit she knows it and goes off half-cocked with jealousy. This is nothing new.“

“True, but he’s still an idiot sometimes,” Terri agreed with Agnes' earlier words. “Neither of them are easy, and both are stubborn like hell.” She shook her head. “Still, I thought they would sort things out. I mean, like you said – Maddie knows David wouldn't cheat on her. They should be able to settle the matter.”

At that moment the doorbell rang again.

Agnes went to the door with Terri on her heels. She saw almost the same scenery as shortly before, only this time the little family waiting on her doorstep consisted of David, Maddie and Jade. David held the carrier and the changing bag, Maddie was carrying a not so small overnight bag.

Agnes beamed. “Come in!” She hugged both of her friends and then beckoned David to follow her to the nursery with the baby; Maddie was left with Terri who took her overnight bag and just put at at the foot of the stairs.

“First things first,” she said and motioned her head to the kitchen. “We've made fresh coffee.”

Maddie just nodded gravely and followed her friend. Terri moved around in Agnes' new kitchen with ease and poured Maddie a cup of strong, hot coffee. She threw her blonde friend a glance from under her long black eyelashes and noticed the tiredness on Maddie's face; she looked like she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days. Not a good sign. Terri sighed inwardly; she felt compassion for Maddie and David for obviously having unresolved issues that made them unhappy, but then this was due to their own stupidity and stubbornness – and now, instead of making this a special day for pampering Agnes, they would have to deal with a gloomy and upset Maid Of Honor and give relationship advice. Not what a bride should go through the day before her wedding day, Terri thought, a little annoyed.

“So, Bert already left?” David's voice could be heard, and a moment later he and Agnes entered the kitchen. Terri noticed that he and Maddie avoided eye contact. She exchanged a quick glance with Agnes who gave a barely perceptible shrug.

“Yes,” she told David, “Richie took him along. They were going to pick up their tuxedos. He's so nervous.”

David chuckled. “We'll take good care of him, don't worry.”

Agnes beamed despite of the tension she felt in the room. “He's so happy and also lucky to have you as his friend, and now he has your brother too.”

“Yes,” Maddie suddenly piped up, and all eyes flew to her. She didn't look up though but continued to stir her coffee when she added: “The Addison brothers are always there for their friends.” The sarcasm in her voice was barely hidden.

Terri's and Agnes' eyes darted to David again, but his angry green eyes rested only for a moment on his wife's averted head. He ignored her acid remark and turned to Agnes again. “Hey, he's a good friend himself,” he told her softly, “and he's all right.” He bent forward and kissed her dark curls. “You girls have a great day. I'll see you tomorrow.”

He touched two fingers to his lips without directing his trademark finger kiss to anyone in particular and left, Agnes closing the door behind him.

Terri sighed and shook her head. “I take it you haven't resolved your problems yet?” she asked Maddie with an ever-so-slight edge to her voice.

“Is this still about the girl in the coffee shop?” Agnes asked without further preliminaries when she entered the kitchen again, not even pretending she hadn't noticed anything strange.

“Yes and yes,” Maddie answered both questions and sighed. “I'm sorry, I never intended to bother any of you with this...”

“Nonsense,” Agnes interrupted and poured herself a coffee too. “You know I hate to see you both like this,” she told Maddie. “So, you haven't really talked to each other since the fight at the office?”

Maddie's surprised stare flew from Terri to Agnes and back to Terri again who shrugged a little apologetically.

“I told her,” she explained. “We're worrying about you and David, you know.”

“It's okay,” Maddie replied with a sigh. “And – no, we haven't really talked. In fact, we have been avoiding the subject.”

“The silence game, really?” Terri blurted out, and Maddie raised her eyebrows. “But you know you ain't gonna resolve anything by avoiding the subject, right?”

“I'm not playing games!” Maddie pointed out, sounding a little miffed.

“No, you both are,” Terri replied dryly. “But this one game no one's gonna win.”

“Terri's right,” Agnes chimed in. “How long are you going to continue this?”

“Until David realizes that he can't treat me like that!” Maddie replied sharply, feeling the urge to defend herself. “I mean, you weren‘t there, neither of you! You didn’t hear what he said to that woman, and how his voice sounded when he said it.” She furrowed her brow at the memory. “And you can't tell me you wouldn't mind if it had been one of your men!” She raised her chin and challenged the other women to contradict her; neither of them did though.

“I would be furious,” Terri agreed.

“See?” Maddie couldn't hide the triumph in her voice.

“Still, the silence game is no solution,” Terri insisted firmly.

“Maybe we should analyze the problem to get to a solution,” Agnes suggested quickly.

“Analyze the problem?” Maddie echoed. “I don't need to analyze the problem. David's attitude is the problem.”

Terri looked away for a moment to hide the amused smile that flew over her face despite her annoyance, because that was exactly what she had expected to hear. “I think that's a good idea,” she commented and went on: “What exactly is bothering you the most, Maddie? That you overheard him flirting? That he wants to loan that woman the money?”

“All of the above!” Maddie replied promptly. For a moment she stared into her coffee thoughtfully, then she added: “But what hurts the most is that he doesn't even realize how all of this makes me feel – or he realizes but doesn't care.”

“I'm sure he doesn't realize it,” Agnes said quickly.

“Yeah, but he should!” Maddie shot at her.

“Men are stupid sometimes,” Terri shrugged.

“Oh yes,” Agnes agreed.

Maddie was glad for her friends' support. “And he has the nerve to be angry at me!” she pointed out furiously and shook her head.

“That's what I don't understand,” Terri commented, more to herself. “I mean – you're right here, you don't know that woman, and he hasn't seen her in years. There's nothing wrong with checking on her story.”

“Exactly.”

“Of course not,” Agnes murmured in a thoughtful voice, “but...”

“But?” Maddie inquired, and Agnes looked firmly at her.

“Well...” she began with a little hesitation in her voice, “the thing is...”

“What, Agnes?” Maddie wanted to know, sounding a little flabbergasted.

Agnes drew a deep breath. “Sometimes you have a way of... not really getting along your point well, even when you're right.”

Maddie's eyes narrowed dangerously. “What does that mean?” she asked.

Terri's eyes flew to and fro between the other two women; she had an inkling what Agnes was getting at.

“Do you remember what you said to David when he told you about his plans for that woman?” Agnes asked.

Maddie nodded vigorously. “Of course I do. I told him he was nuts thinking I'd gonna let him give our money to some woman he'd fucked around with.” She whirled around to Terri when she heard a weird sound from her and shot her a deadly stare when she saw the other woman had put a hand over her mouth and was obviously suppressing a giggle. “I beg your pardon, but how is that funny?” she asked icily.

“I'm sorry.” Terri pulled herself together. “It isn't.” She drew a deep breath. “But honestly, if I was addressed like that, my willingness to see things through my partner's eyes would drop to zero.”

“I was furious!” Maddie threw her hands in the air. “I mean, he didn't even consider the possibility that Linda could have made up that story!”

“But the money isn't really your concern, is it?” Agnes inquired softly.

“Of course it isn't!” Maddie exclaimed. “It's that woman!” She jumped up from her chair and started to pace through the kitchen. “The thought of him being in touch with that woman, that attractive woman whom he once had a thing with, a relationship, as he told me – that drives me insane!”

“And have you told him that?” Agnes asked.

Maddie stood rooted to the spot. “Of course I have!” she told her friend.

“Hmmm,” Terri made, and Maddie whirled around to her again.

“What does hmmm mean?” she growled.

Terri shrugged. “If I recall correctly what you said to me, you pretty much only told him that he had been about to... um... misbehave with that woman.”

“I didn't really mean that!” Maddie replied firmly, “and he knows it. He knows.”

“Are you sure?” Agnes swayed her head.

“Well, he should!” Maddie folded her arms. “And he knows that I'm jealous. He should know how I would feel.”

“True.” Terri nodded. “He's an idiot not to realize that.”

“Absolutely,” Agnes agreed. “Yes, he should know you would be jealous.” She cleared her throat again. “But you should know his weak point too.”

Maddie frowned. “Weak point?” she echoed. “What weak point?”

“That he's always afraid you don't really trust him.” Agnes shrugged. “I think that makes his blinds go down and makes him insensitive to your feelings. Which is stupid, of course – but it’s his weak point anyway.” She cleared her throat and added: “And you have to admit that you have given him reason to think that a few times already.”

“That doesn't change the fact that he's wrong,” Maddie insisted stubbornly.

“No, it doesn't”, Terri agreed in a soft voice. “But it might explain his attitude a little.” Maddie averted her eyes and looked down at her hands like if she was looking for an answer.

“Besides,” Agnes chimed in again, “shouldn't this be about communicating and resolving your problems so that you can be happy again – instead of making it about who is more wrong?”

Maddie almost shuffled over to the kitchen table and slumped on her chair again. “Maybe you're right.” She put her hands to her coffee mug that was still warm, as if wanting to warm them. Then she looked at both her friends. “But the problem is – he's not even willing to hear me out. I've tried to talk to him, I really have!”

Terri put her arm around Maddie's shoulder and smiled an encouraging smile. “Try harder.”

Agnes smiled too and nodded. “I'm sure he misses you as much as you miss him. I could see that yesterday.”

“What did you see?” Maddie asked with an unhappy frown.

“The way he looked at you when you didn't notice.” She smiled again. “Trust me, he does.”

Agnes reached out for one of Maddie's hands and squeezed it. Maddie felt a little relieved suddenly; things didn't seem so grey any longer.

***
Richie reached for the phone. "Let's check on the babies. And the babes too." He winked and turned to Bert. "What‘s the number of the mothership?" After a moment of confusion Bert gave Richie the phone number of his and Agnes' home. The couple had just bought a cute little ranch style house in the Hollywood Hills and Bert was so proud that he could set his love bunny up in their own little house so soon. Bert was a saver and had socked away enough money for a down payment for their love nest – it had been his wedding gift to his one true love. Bert smiled as he watched Richie dial the phone – he couldn’t wait to hear the lilting voice of his sweet love.

On the other hand, David shuffled his feet a little uncomfortably while his brother dialed. He wasn't really in the mood to talk to Maddie; he needed a little distance to get his hand on straight and hearing the sound of her voice would only distract him.

"Miss DiPestoooo," Richie purred into the phone, "soon to be Mrs. Viola. Hi, it's Richie. Yeah, these lonely guys just want to check on their better halves. Thanks." He waited until Agnes put Terri on the phone and threw his brother a wink. David smiled back uneasily while he watched the expression on his brother's face change subtly when he started to speak to Terri; he still had the usual mischievous twinkle in his eyes and the slight smirk on his lips, but there was also a warmth and that conspiratorial touch that came from the knowledge that a certain timbre of his voice and a particular choice of words would be understood only by his lover. David's heart sank a little lower when the thought hit him that he probably had the same expression on his face when he was talking to Maddie – when they were not fighting.

"Hey Knowles," Richie drawled in his deep voice.

"Hey coach," Terri replied, obviously happy to hear him. "What's up?"

"Just checking. How's my little man?" he asked.

"Tucked in and sound asleep," she told him.

"And how's my big girl?" his voice dropped even deeper, and David rolled his eyes, turning away a little.

Terri chuckled. "The cocoa's simmering, and everything's ready for the pajama party."

"Pajama party? M-hm... so tell me, which one are you wearing – the sexy flannel one with the fluffy teddy bears stitched on?" He pursed his lips, looking very much like David in that moment.

David could hear Terri's clear carefree laugh. "And wouldn't you like to know!" she replied. "I'll hand Maddie the phone now."

After saying goodbye to Terri, Richie turned to David, pushing the receiver into his hand. "Here, it's Blondie."

Almost reluctantly, David took the phone. "Maddie?" He really had nothing to say and hated that he felt uncomfortable talking to his wife.

"Hey David." Surprisingly enough, her voice sounded almost pleased to hear from him. Probably she had been sharpening her ax again and was going to throw some barb his way, David thought sullenly.

"How's things?" he asked with a neutral tone to his voice, sounding almost indifferent. On the other end of the line, Maddie felt a sting in her heart.

"Great," she replied brightly, hiding her hurt. "Everything's fine."

"The baby asleep?" His voice was devoid of emotion and lacked that husky pitch that made her legs weak.

"Yes." Maddie answered just as tonelessly as tears pricked her eyes. She tried to blink them away. She didn’t want to ruin their ‘pajama party‘ with her and David’s problems.

"Good.” David cleared his throat uneasily. It just didn't feel right to talk to Maddie like that, but he didn't know how to behave right now. He was still angry and hurt and he couldn’t pretend to be all lovey dovey on the phone. He cleared his throat uneasily. “Well, have fun. See you tomorrow, I guess. I'll pass over to Bert. Bye." And David handed Bert the phone while Richie frowned at him. Quickly, David looked away.

At Agnes' house, Maddie swallowed a hard lump in her throat when she handed Agnes the phone.

Bert started to shower his love muffin with lovey-dovey talk, and Richie turned to David: "So... spill, bro. What's wrong with you guys now? Can't probably still be about the bachelor party?!"

David had already forgotten about that minor tiff. "What? No, no." He shook his head and shrugged with a sigh. "Actually, it's ridiculous."

"You don't look so entertained to me," Richie remarked dryly.

"The hell I am." David snorted. "Same business as usual, I guess. Maddie has wreaked a shitstorm over my ass without any logical reason."

Richie chuckled. "Now you tell me, Dave... since when does a woman need a logical reason to wreak a shitstorm over your ass? Especially your woman?" Richie knew of course about the Linda fiasco, but he had thought his brother and his wife had already cleared that up.

"Not funny, Rich!" David replied bitterly, his face clouded and brooding. "This time it's pretty serious."

Richie saw that his little brother was at his wit's end at the moment and in need of a little advice; or maybe he just needed to look at his problems from another point of view. He asked more seriously: "What happened?"

A little reluctantly, David told Richie the whole story, starting with the moment he had met Linda Cooper at the diner. Bert joined them after getting off the phone with his blushing bride and was listening closely to David's story; he hadn't heard anything about it yet. His eyes widened as the story went on, and he couldn't believe that his idol and his lady love had gotten themselves into such a mess again. And, of course, the root of their problems was miscommunication, again. And David's obliviousness of Maddie's feelings. Bert opened his mouth, tempted to spill his wisdom again, but of course, he didn't want to get on the wrong side of his idol and Best Man. But then, a Viola always had to honor the truth. Before he could figure out what to do, Richie who didn't have such qualms blurted out bluntly:

"And you're surprised she kicked you in the guts?! Man, I'm surprised she didn't rip your balls off!" He expressed exactly Bert's thoughts; of course less eloquently than Bert would have done.

David flared up furiously: "What the fuck, Rich?! Don't tell me you're on her side with this?!"

Richie shook his head. "You know how she is! Seriously, what did you expect from her?"

"I expect my wife to trust me, for Pete's sake!” David exploded. “How many times do we have to go through this?! I mean, do you remember the stunt she pulled when I was tending bar?!"

"Even my love muffin was upset about that," Bert chimed in, nodding gravely.

"Thanks, Bert!" David told him.

“Um I haven’t added my opinion yet.“ Bert cleared his throat and ran his hand over his stubble, “but this time um sir – David,“ he stammered uncomfortable with giving his boss, friend and idol wrong, but things needed to be said. “I think you went down the wrong path with your lady love.“

David gave both men a cross look. „“Really, wrong path? My nutty blonde is still on the ‘don’t trust David‘ train." He air quoted the words ‘don‘t trust David'. “And really,“ David shook his head, “how can I ever forget that dumb stunt.“

"Not so fast, you knucklehead!" Richie interrupted and snapped his fingers. "That wasn't Maddie's finest hour, I agree – but these are completely different situations!"

David frowned. "How is that any different?!” he asked incredulously. “Both times show that she doesn't trust me at all!"

Richie threw his hands in the air in exasperation. "Oh, come on, you with that trust issue again, Dave!” he scolded his brother. “Don't you see this has nothing to do with trust?!"

"What are you talking about, man?” David ruffled his hair and threw his brother a shocked look. “It has everything to do with trust!"

Bert was nodding his scruffy head along with Richie. And then turned to David and shook his head. “No David, it truly doesn’t! It is a very different matter altogether. I think...“

David cut Bert off with a wave of his hand, “Nobody asked what they fuck you think, Viola!“

Bert was visibly shaken but he wasn’t to be deterred from his mission to make David see the error of his ways. “Listen to your brother this time, David.“ Bert’s voice was low but firm. “He is correct on what he is telling you.“

“And I’m telling both of you that Maddie’s not your woman and I’m telling you she is always doubting my fidelity. It fucking stinks!“ David ran his hands through his hair.

“I do understand your feelings, David, but...” Bert didn't know how to go on.

"Damn, bro, you have a really thick head, and I mean the one sitting on your neck." Richie tried to lighten the situation with a joke and knocked on his brother's head. David slapped his hand away angrily, and Richie added: "You know that if she didn't really trust you deep down, she wouldn't be with you."

David remembered that Richie had told him that already when he had been mad at his wife for spying on him undercover when he had been tending bar at Richie's place. He knew that his brother was right; still it hurt him that Maddie always acted and talked like she didn't trust him – if she trusted him, why couldn't she show him her trust? "But..."

"Shut up and listen, kiddo," Richie told him and turned to Bert. "And you better listen too – this advice is gold." Bert nodded eagerly, and Richie turned to David again. "Maddie freaked out already at the abstract possibility that some anonymous chick could eventually lay eyes on you, which made her go undercover with your curlyhead." He pointed to Bert who nodded again. "Not because she really thought you would hit on some chick. But just the mere thought of other girls interested in her man drives her crazy.” Richie grabbed David's neck and squeezed hard. “Because she's crazy about you, jerk. That's what jealousy is about – hands off of what's mine, right?"

"Right,” David had to admit, “but..."

"Shush, I'm not done yet." David rolled his eyes but shut up and continued listening. "And now you go and suddenly are in touch with a chick from your past again,” Richie went on, “a hot chick, an ex-lover chick, separated from her husband... how on earth could you think she would not freak out??"

"In touch?” David echoed incredulously and ran his hands through his already messy hair. “Rich, I ran into Linda by coincidence, and it was all about loaning her some money, nothing more! And seriously, she's over the top with her jealousy."

Richie shook his head. "First thing -- you knew it before that she's jealous. So deal with it and stop whining,” he told his brother mercilessly. “And second -- what if the tables were turned?"

David frowned. "What do you mean?"

"What if she told you she wanted to loan money to some stud she used to boink,” Richie elaborated, “say that good looking space cowboy you told me about. Now, how would you like that?" David's face fell when it dawned on him what his brother was trying to say; Richie put his hands behind his ears in an exaggerated gesture. "What? I don't hear anything?"

David shook his head reluctantly. "I wouldn't be so thrilled about it," he grumbled.

Richie folded his arms. "See?"

"But I would not go and accuse her of being about to cheat on me!" David pointed out firmly and puffed out his chest in an almost Bert-like way when he added triumphantly: "I would trust her!"

Richie nodded and pursed his lips like he was contemplating something. "You would, huh?"

"Damn straight, Rich. I would!" David confirmed.

Richie pointed his finger at him like a gun. "But you would still hate it."

David still had no clue what his brother was aiming at and finally exploded, throwing his hands in the air: "Of course I would! I would..." When he realized what he had just said, he fell silent all of a sudden and stared at his brother, then at Bert and back to Richie again, with his mouth hanging open. "Oh, shit," he finally growled.

Bert just commented: "Uh-oh."

Richie put his hands on the shoulders of Bert and David. "Gentlemen,” he said almost solemnly, “we have to face it – love is a jungle.” The two other men nodded along with him before he continued sharing his wisdom with them. “And if you want to survive it,” he went on, “you have to make sure that your woman never lacks two things." He paused for effect, and David and Bert looked at him questioningly. "Good sex,” he told them firmly, “and lots of it. Trust me, they appreciate it.” He nodded to emphasize his point. “And almost as important – the feeling that you understand her, even if she's batshit crazy."

Bert nodded solemnly and cleared his throat before he spoke. "You, sir,” he told Richie, “are a great expert with the bodies and souls of the members of the gentle sex."

Richie frowned, obviously slightly confused, as he wasn't yet all too familiar with Bert-speak. "Whatever that means, Bertie boy."

David chimed in a little cluelessly. "So what do I do now?" he wanted to know.

Richie rolled his eyes; he couldn't believe that David still had to ask. "First of all, of course you tell her that Linda is out of the picture,” he told his brother without hesitation. “Which you should have done the moment you knew she wouldn't need your money, I might add."

David swayed his head. "Easier said than done,” he replied. “What if she doesn't hear me out?” he shrugged. “That's one of her habits, you know."

Richie threw his hands in the air. "Then you put your foot down and tell her to shut the fuck up and listen!” he made clear. “I said be understanding, not be her doormat. Do I have to teach you everything?!"

David smiled to himself; already, things didn't seem to be so dark anymore. "And second?" he asked.

Richie slapped his back. "You have to apologize for behaving like a thickheaded insensitive idiot, bro. Tell her you understand.” He nodded gravely. “And then apologize again."

David raised an ironic eyebrow. "And that's all?"

"No, of course not, dickhead,” Richie chuckled. “Third and most important,” he went on, “make her forget that there even exist other chicks than her in this world – and please don't tell me I have to explain how to do that – although I'm sure I could teach you some more tricks," he added suggestively and smirked.

David, almost his old self again, smirked back. "Don't worry, I never had a problem with that."

Richie slapped his back again and nodded appreciatively. "That's my bro."

***
Kisses and hugs and choruses of ‘mommy loves you’, ‘mommy’s gonna miss you’ rang out as Virginia and Alex each carried a baby to the car along with their car seats and all the equipment that came with two infants. Maddie’s parents had volunteered to keep the babies overnight – they had been young once and figured after a romantic wedding on Valentine’s Day the young couples would love a night alone without interruption from their infants.

After Maddie’s parents had left, the four women sat at the kitchen table talking and laughing over a leisurely breakfast. Maddie was trying to join in the regale but her heart was heavy. After she had spoken to David on the phone the previous night, Maddie had felt once more anger and hurt overtake the feelings of hope and expectation she had experienced after the talk with Agnes and Terri. How could she talk things out with her husband when he was still acting cold and angry? And the thought of him being angry at her only fueled her misery. How dare he? Maddie knew that if David had caught her flirting and telling Sam to call her he would be furious. But then she knew her thoughts were going into a vicious circle again; the talk to her friends had shown her that, and she knew she wasn't totally innocent about how things had developed. But she also knew that looking back and dwelling on the mistakes that had been made by both of them wouldn't lead them any further; they needed to look ahead and resolve their misunderstandings. Communicate. But that was easier said than done sometimes... she inwardly shook her head and tried to push thoughts of David out of her mind and concentrate on having a good time with her friends.

Agnes’ mother Clara had the women in stitches reveling them with tales of her various trips to exotic places around the globe. She was quite a character and it was easy to tell that she was quirky Agnes’ mother. Clara had just poured each of them another cup of coffee when their meal was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

Agnes left the table to answer the door and a few minutes later she came back into the kitchen carrying a large bouquet of beautiful red roses and heart shaped balloons. Her curly head was bent over the flowers breathing in their intoxicating scent.

Clara clapped her hands with joy. “What a beautiful gift from your young man!”

Agnes smiled as she shook her head. “These aren’t for me.” She handed the bouquet to Terri. “These are for Terri!” Agnes smiled at the other brunette who was grinning from ear to ear with happiness.

Terri was thrilled with her surprise. She was not a woman who had ever really cared about flowers and romance, but now with Richie she had begun to feel very differently – and this unexpected Valentine gift touched her heart – as well as other private places.

Maddie smiled at her friend. “They’re beautiful. I wonder who could have sent them?” she teased. Even though she was thrilled for Terri, a small voice in her head was asking Maddie where were her flowers? She tried to push that thought away as she teased Terri about her gift.

Terri smiled at Maddie as she placed the bouquet of flowers and balloons on a nearby table. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I feel so lucky to have found him.” She looked at Maddie as she pushed her curly hair off her face. “Don’t you feel that way about David?”

“About pinching him?” Maddie nodded, “most of the time.”

Clara laughed. “You’re hilarious, Maddie.” Her large eyes were filled with mirth.

“Yeah, I’ve heard I’m a regular Jan Murray.” Maddie suddenly remembered when David had thrown that line at her so long ago.

Agnes laughed and almost jumped with happiness. “I’m so happy that we’ve all been so lucky to find the last 3 good men left on the planet!” Maddie felt her heart ache as Terri and Agnes bubbled over with joy.

Later, when Agnes was taking a long hot bubble bath, the doorbell rang again. Clara and Terri were upstairs getting dressed, so Maddie who had called her mom to make sure they had all arrived home safely opened the door. A delivery boy stood there, uncomfortably carrying a huge teddy bear holding a honey pot with Love u Hunny – scrawled across it. Maddie instantly knew this gift was from Bert; it had Viola written all over it.

As she carried the stuffed bear upstairs to Agnes Maddie felt an ice cold rage overwhelm her. David Addison was insufferable. How could he not send her a Valentine gift or even call her and wish her a happy Valentine’s Day? She thought she heard Terri giggling on the phone earlier this morning – almost surely talking to the other Addison brother. The romantic one. Maddie saw red. She knew Bert had called because she had handed Agnes the phone. And she realized her husband hadn’t even asked to talk to her! She was angry but also miserably hurt. Of course she didn’t care for the flowers or a gift – it was just the thought that it was their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple and David didn’t even care. She had cared enough to get him a gift that she knew he would love. His present was in an envelope in her vanity. She felt tears prick her eyes. Damn that man.

Successfully, she talked herself into a childish, self-righteous rage again – conveniently blinding out the fact that she had bought David's gift before their fight and that she wasn't in the mood either to give him his gift, given how things were now between them.

***
David and Richie had managed to calm Bert down, get him into his tux and to look surprisingly handsome. They were waiting in front of the church, having arrived a good fifteen minutes earlier.

“Courage, men,” Richie told them in his full voice. “Bert, you're the man of the day, and you'll do just fine. Dave, you know what you have to do to set things straight with Blondie, and you'll do just fine too. Me, I'll...” He cleared his throat. “Well, I'll do just fine anyway. And, gentlemen, let me add one thing – “he slapped both other men's shoulders almost solemnly and smirked “ – I'm sure the three of us will all get very lucky tonight.”

“Hear, hear,” David chuckled, still a little nervously. After the talk he had had with the other two, he was determined now to resolve things with Maddie. Enough was enough – it was time now for both of them to let go of their stubbornness and to stop insisting on being right; he had realized anyway that he had been very stupid not to understand why Maddie had been so upset about all this, and even if she had contributed her share too, he was going to do his best to fix this – and he would do it now, before the ceremony would start. He wasn't going to waste one minute longer.

Shortly after the men, the limo with the women arrived. Bert wasn't supposed to see Agnes yet, so Richie pushed him inside. “I'll take over for you for a moment,” he said over his shoulder to David and ushered Bert ahead. David drew a deep breath and turned to the women. He didn't even notice that Agnes and Terri almost pushed Maddie out of the limo.

His wife looked breathtaking, as usual, and his heart beat faster. David wanted nothing more than to pull her in his arms, kiss her and tell her everything was going to be all right. When she turned around to him, her face was expressionless.

“Hey Blondie blonde, you clean up good,” he teased as he strolled over to her.

Maddie was still hurt over David’s chilly phone call from the previous evening plus the lack of flowers, so she really wasn’t in any mood for his teasing, oblivious to the fact that this was his way of approaching her in a I-come-in-peace way. She quelled him with a look. “Really David, you need some new lines.” She tossed her hair haughtily. “You’re not funny.”

David’s face fell and his back went up. “I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was giving you a compliment.”

Maddie looked at him with blue ice. “You call that a compliment? Really, David, the depth of your romantic nature is astounding.” She was deliberately looking down her nose at him because she knew how much he despised when she did that. “You do know what astounding means.” She knew she was being extra bitchy without any other reason than that she wanted to hurt him as much as she was hurting.

David ignored her barb. He raised his eyebrows as a bitter grin curled his lips. “You know, what astounds me is the depth of your bitchiness. I told you a couple of times you can be a cold bitch, and boy, this is one of them. What’s got your silk panties in a knot now?” His eyes were green glass. A smirk ran up his face as he looked into Maddie’s angry face. “Is it still Linda?” He practically purred the name knowing it would infuriate his wife. Really, she was too much. He felt like an idiot when he remembered how rueful he had felt the evening before – hell, less than one minute before! – , after the talk with Richie and Bert; he had been ready to admit his mistake and apologize to her, ready to sort things out and make up, and here she went – making an ass out of him, treating him like an imbecile and like he wasn't good enough for her and never would be.

His tactics worked. Maddie was just about to slap the smirk off of her husband’s face when Agnes appeared out of no where.

“Okay, that's it!” Agnes exploded furiously, grabbed a totally shocked Maddie and David by their elbows and dragged them inside the church and into a side room; surprised and curious looks were following them which made Maddie feel embarrassed immediately.

"Agnes..." David protested.

"Shut your traps and listen!" she snapped and slammed the door shut behind them.

"But..." Maddie piped up.

"I said – shut up, both of you!" Agnes snarled, and they were both shocked and fell silent, staring at their friend with mouths agape. "I'm sick of this kindergarten crap from both of you!” Agnes raged. “Do you even listen to yourselves sometimes?” she asked furiously, just to answer her own rhetorical question, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. “Probably not, you're too busy protecting your egos!" She put her hands on her hips, and her dark brown eyes seemed to burn holes into her friends' foreheads; instinctively, Maddie and David backed away a step. Agnes went on in a shrill voice: "Now, this is supposed to be MY wedding day and I won't have the Maid Of Honor and the Best Man act like the grumpy old men from the Muppets Show!" She gestured wildly with both arms.

Now, David felt really guilty; not only for his insensitivity towards Maddie's feelings with the whole Linda affair, but now also for almost ruining what was supposed to be the most beautiful day in Agnes' life so far with his and Maddie's stupid tiffs. He raised his hands in a placating gesture, palms to Agnes. "Okay, listen..."

"I'm not through yet!” she interrupted him furiously. “I really thought you both would come to your senses today and just talk to each other, but no – God forbid that anything ever is resolved that easily between the two of you!” For a moment, the bride stopped her rant and looked to and fro her friends, then she shook her head in disgust. “Listen, I don't give a poop what it is you two are fighting about now or who threw the first zinger." Agnes turned to Maddie, shooting her finger at her like a bullet. "Probably you got mad again about something he said, or something he didn't say but was supposed to, or just have a case of foul mood again because you got your frigging panties in a bunch!" With the last words, her furious voice got so high-pitched it almost screeched; David chuckled, and Agnes whirled around to him like a banshee. "And you!” – her finger shot at him – “you're not much better! You probably were oblivious to her feelings like a bull in a China shop again and simply let your big mouth run ahead of your brain!"

Maddie and David looked at each other sheepishly, a little flabbergasted, then back at Agnes again; poor Agnes was panting now. When she spoke again, she forced herself to stay calm. "Now you might not be aware of it, but I spent three years trying to get you nincompoops together, and I'm not letting you ruin my wedding day in return! Is that clear?!" she asked in a menacing voice. Maddie and David just nodded, and Agnes drew a deep breath. "Good,” she replied curtly. “You have twenty minutes to sort out your shit before the ceremony starts. If you leave this room and have not cleared things between you...” – another deep breath before she went on in a choked voice – “...you may as well leave the wedding." She threw them a last disgusted glance, turned around on her heel, left the room and slammed the door.

Maddie and David were shocked, and for almost a minute neither of them spoke; then David murmured in a hoarse voice: "La Dolce DiPesto..."

Maddie commented almost tonelessly: "Wow... and she's so right... about everything."

Both were sobered all of a sudden, and their continuous bickering and nagging seemed so useless and vain to them. Without being aware of it, both of them thought back to the conversations they had had with their friends the previous day, remembered how they had sworn to themselves to sort out things with each other, to make a step towards each other. And today? What had even happened today? Had their good intentions just flown out of the window, like it seemed to happen so often?

Maddie shook her head at herself inwardly; she had been determined to talk to David, to let him know how his lack of understanding had hurt her, but also to explain to him why she felt like she felt and point out that she did trust him all the same – and then she poked and picked a fight just because he hadn't sent her flowers for Valentine's day? How childish are you, Madolyn? she chastised herself mentally.

David could have punched himself in the gut; the talk to Richie and Bert from the previous evening had made him see the whole Linda affair through Maddie's eyes – and he knew he needed to let her know that he understood her because he would have felt the exact same way if he was in her shoes; he needed to tell her how sorry he was for acting so thoughtlessly, even if of course he had never meant to hurt her in any way. He had been determined to talk to her and straighten things out right at the beginning of the day, but instead he had let her snippy attitude provoke him to get back at her just as snarky as before – when it should have been clear to him that she just kept nagging because she was still hurt. Could you be any jerkier, Dave? he asked himself ruefully.

For a moment, they just looked at each other; then Maddie drew a deep breath and started to speak when David was just about to open his mouth to talk. "I don't understand why it is so important to you to help that woman out," she blurted out, going right back to the roots of their argument.

"I told you!” David replied. “Because she's an old friend, she's a decent woman and she's had more bad luck than she deserves. That I was once involved with her has nothing to do with it." It was more important than ever to him that Maddie understood that he didn't have any other interest whatsoever in Linda Cooper.

"Oh, really?" Maddie couldn't help but retort.

"Yes, really!” he confirmed, keeping any sarcasm out of his voice. “And normally you would think the same way! That's so not you, to refuse an abused woman your help. You have a golden heart!” Maddie was a little taken aback when he said that, and it really touched her. David ruffled his hair. “I really don't understand why you're so against it – and don't give me that shit about giving away our hard earned money. You have given money away dozens of time in the past! And many of those times we were dead broke. At least now we have the money to give." He really hoped she would open up to him and tell him the real reasons for her harsh reaction. He suspected that Richie was right, but it was important to David that Maddie was honest with him about her feelings.

“You can't compare that!” Maddie insisted.

David shook his head. “No, you're right, you can't compare that. In might be morally right in both cases to help out, but those people were just clients to us, strangers. Linda is an old friend.”

“Your friend!” Maddie pointed out.

He nodded. “Yes, that's right, my friend.” He folded his arms. “And I tell you what, if she was a guy or someone I hadn't been involved with, you would see it exactly like I do. You're against it just because you're jealous! And that just seems plain selfish and stupid!” He draw a deep breath. “So what is your reason, Maddie?” he inquired. “I need to know! If this is about not trusting me again...”

“No, asshole, this hasn't got to do anything with trust!” Maddie exploded. “Can't you understand that I simply can't stand the mere thought of a woman, any woman, around you that has the hots for you or might make a pass at you? Even if you're not interested?”

So it was true; Richie had been right. David ruffled his hair again. “But honey...”

“Don't you honey me!” Maddie interrupted furiously, all her dams broken now. “Try and put yourself in my shoes for one moment – how would you like it if I loaned money to Sam or any other man I've been involved with?” she inquired. “Or, for what it's worth, any man who is trying to make a pass at me?”

“But she didn't make a pass at me!” he felt the need to point out.

Maddie snorted. “Come on, I heard what she said, and maybe she was just flirting, but how can I know what's in her mind?” she put her hands to her hips and raised her chin, throwing him a fiery, challenging look, and suddenly it was there again – the urge to kiss the angry pout off of her lips. He felt his dick twitch when she went on with verve: “And any step into my man's direction is one fucking step too close! You haven't answered my question. You always claim I should put myself into your shoes. Now put yourself into mine. How would you like it?”

David nodded almost solemnly. “I would hate it.”

Maddie was surprised he admitted to that so easily, and her heart leapt. Did that really mean that he understood how she felt? She melted inside, and suddenly it seemed so very important to her to make him know that she really did trust him. “And would that mean you would suspect that I’d cheat on you?”

He shook his head sheepishly. “No, of course not.”

Maddie nodded slowly and took a step in his direction. “See?”

After a few moments of silence David looked at her earnestly, and she almost drowned in his eyes. “Why didn't you tell me any of this?” he wanted to know.

“Don't you dare blame that on me, Addison!” she snapped. “Do I have to draw you a picture?! Don't you know I'm crazy about you? You're not stupid! You should have known!”

He knew now of course that he should have known it. But it was also important to him that it wasn't that he was completely clueless about her feelings – the hurt over what he thought she had implied had made him blind to them. “But you made it look like you were accusing me of still having a thing for Linda when you almost snapped my head off the moment I told you about her,” he explained. “And the other day at my office – I was really working late, and I didn't know she was going to drop by.” He drew a deep breath. “And of course I would never have...”

Maddie help up a hand to silence him. “Please,” she interrupted hastily. “I know that, David, I know.” She sighed deeply. “Yeah well, I'm not saying I handled that perfectly.” She shrugged. “But what I heard sounded really bad, and I just saw red.” She smiled guiltily, “and green.“

David gave a sheepish nod. “True,” he admitted. “It did sound bad. I'm an insensitive asshole, and I'm so sorry, baby.” He wanted to pull her in his arms, but she looked like she had something more she wanted to say.

She folded her arms as to protect herself; she still didn't feel too comfortable with what she was about to say, but she felt it necessary to show her good will. “Now, listen...” she cleared her throat. “If you promise me to keep the contact with her to a minimum, and if you really think she's trustworthy, then I won't oppose any longer against loaning her the money...”

“Oh...” David had completely forgotten to tell her that Linda really wasn't in the picture any longer. “That won't be necessary,” he told her quickly. “She's gone. She went home to live with her parents again until she gets on her feet.”

Maddie's mouth fell open. “What? When?”

“She came to my office to tell me that when you heard us talking,” he explained.

“And you didn't tell me?!” she asked, her mouth agape in disbelief.

David felt guilty again; tiff or no tiff, he knew he should have told Maddie right away that Linda was going to leave town and that they probably never would see her again. He shrugged again. “You didn't seem so keen on hearing me out...”

Maddie had a sharp reply on her lips, and for a moment the old anger welled up inside her again, but then she remembered how their argument had gotten out of control and what she had practically insinuated, even if she hadn't really meant it; she swallowed and admitted in a small voice: “Well, I guess that evening everything that could have been said, done and understood wrong was said, done and understood so thoroughly wrong that...”

David shook his head at himself again and at them both, when he realized how far they had pushed each other again with their hot tempers and respective stubbornness and how deeply it had affected their relationship this time; and he swore to work even harder in the future to make sure something stupid like that would not keep them apart and miserable again for so long. He decided that enough words had been spoken for now and reached out for Maddie, grabbing her elbows and pulling her into his arms with a sudden move. “C'mere.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't back away for one second and came eagerly, as if she had been waiting for him to finally reach out for her, as if she had been longing to throw herself into his arms all the time – and she probably had. David realized with might how much he had missed her, and he kissed her with all the pent-up fervor, angst and love he had been harboring for almost a week. The moment she was deliciously trapped in his tight embrace, her arms flew around his neck and when his mouth ravished hers she responded with the same intensity, her feelings mirroring his. Eventually, they both had to come up for air, and their lips parted reluctantly.

“You're right, I was an idiot,” David said hoarsely and tucked a stray lock behind her ear like he had done so often, and she was beyond thrilled about that little so familiar gesture. “I should have known it would bother you, and it would have bothered me too.” He shook his head, angry at himself again. “I'm so sorry, babe. All I saw was your jealousy, and all I could think of was that you still don't trust me...”

“Oh, David!” she interrupted and hugged him close again. “I'm sorry too. I didn't mean it like that, I really didn't. You know I freak out when... when...” she didn't really know how to finish.

“Whenever you get jealous?” he suggested.

Maddie nodded “It feels so awful!” she blurted out. “It burns me up inside!”

David knew there would never be enough words in this world to really explain the amount of love he felt for this woman when he realized that she was seriously trying to fight her own demons too. He smiled his half-smile. “Hey, Blondie blonde,” he teased softly. “Anyone's burnin' you up, it's gonna be me.”

She smiled back through her tears, and they kissed again deeply, hovering close together, almost losing themselves in their passion. When they pressed their bodies together, Maddie could feel the massive boner in his pants, and her insides liquefied almost immediately; of course, he had missed her as much as she had missed him.

“Oh, David...” she sighed against his lips, “we can't... the wedding is about to start...”

It took them a few moments to get their composure back again, and after smoothing out hair, fixing ties and make-up and removing lipstick from where it didn't belong, they finally left the room and immediately spotted Agnes who obviously had been pacing around nervously, waiting for them to come out. When she saw them strolling towards her hand in hand, she rolled her eyes and murmured: “Oh, thank the Lord for small favors.”

“Agnes,” Maddie began, “we're so...”

The bride raised her hands imperiously. “I don't wanna hear about it!” she brushed her off and pointed to David. “Did you apologize?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yes I did.”

Agnes pointed to Maddie. “Did you apologize?” When Maddie nodded too, Agnes grabbed David's lapel with one hand and Maddie's wrist with the other in a surprisingly firm grip. “And did you mean it?”

Again, both nodded, and, finally. Agnes nodded too, even if it came off a little grimly. “Fine,” she said dryly. “Then let's get it on. Some of us aren't married yet.”

***
After the ceremony, Maddie and David were practically glued to each other. Like always, when they had had a fight and made up again, cleared the air, eliminated a misunderstanding, they felt like they were even closer to each other now than before. Understanding the other one a bit better, taking their relationship further forward, working and fighting for their love. It felt so good; both were convinced that if they were one of the couples that never fought, they wouldn't be as happy. This time their disagreement had kept them apart for nearly a week which had seemed to be almost unbearable. And it hadn't been only unbearable because they had gone for nearly a week without having sex; they had missed each other's nearness, physical and emotional – snuggling, talking, laughing together. Oh well, and yes, going for a week without making love drove them both equally crazy, and their heated making out had only increased their desire for each other.

Reluctantly, David loosened the grip he had enveloped Maddie in and whispered into her hair: “Let go of me for one minute, honey. I have to do my best-man-ly duty and look after Bert for a moment.”

“You should do your husbandly duty and take care of me,” Maddie protested in a deliberately suggestive voice.

“Oh, I will take care of you really good soon,” David purred into her ear, sending a shiver down her spine, “and I daresay you'll be very satisfied.” He ran his hand down her back and squeezed her butt for a second.

She thought of the beast in his pants that hadn't been unleashed for almost a week and desperately wanted this wedding reception to end. She laughed happily and playfully smacked his arm. “Okay, then go!”

He pursed his lips into his half-smile, touched two fingers to his lips and turned around, searching for Bert. Maddie smiled to herself and then scanned the crowd for the bride. When she had found Agnes standing at one side of the dance floor talking to Terri, she walked over to her. The new Mrs. Viola beamed at her and stretched her arms out. The two women hugged, observed by a smiling Terri.

“Oh Agnes, congratulations again!” Maddie said. “You look so adorable and happy!”

“Thanks, Maddie!” Agnes replied. “And thanks again for being my Maid Of Honor.”

Maddie was very moved. “My pleasure, really. And again, I'm so sorry we almost ruined your wedding,” she told her sheepishly. “That was stupid and selfish.”

“The most important thing is that you're good again,” Agnes stated seriously.

“I don't think we have to worry about that,” Terri threw in with a smile; she had watched the couple during the last two hours, and they looked as much in love as ever; maybe even more. In fact, love seemed to be in the air all around; a wedding was always a romantic setting, but this Valentine's day wedding was really special, and Agnes had done a great job picking out the decorations and flowers too.

The three women who had grown to be close friends over the last months shared a joined hug and an emotional moment before they were interrupted by David's amused voice:

“Three's a group grope. Any room left?”

“Addison!” Maddie scolded him in a disgusted voice, but was much to happy about their new-found closeness to be seriously annoyed.

“I'm in!” Richie chimed in in his deep voice, coming right behind him, and accompanied by the laughter of all three women they both hugged and kissed Agnes too, congratulated her and assured her that they had threatened Bert with serious bodily harm if he wouldn't turn out to be the perfect husband she deserved. Terri and Maddie smiled at the sight of the happily beaming Agnes with one handsome Addison brother at each side.

Terri told them appreciatively in her blunt way: "I swear you guys were born to wear a tux."

David slapped his brother's back and replied smugly: "The Addison brothers have many talents, Knowles. Looking good is one of them." Richie nodded with utter conviction.

Maddie rolled her eyes but could hardly contradict that statement; Terri raised an ironic eyebrow and commented: "And modesty is surely another one."

Richie shook his head and replied dryly: "Nah, modesty is for losers." All three women couldn't help but burst out laughing again, and he stretched out his hand to Terri. "Yo lady, wanna dance?" he drawled in his deepest voice. “Be my Valentine?”

She took his hand with and overly pompous gesture. "How could I resist..."

“You can't,” David called after her. “We're great on the dance floor too!”

“Among other places,” Maddie muttered under her breath and blushed a little when she could tell by a conspiratorial wink from Agnes that the not so blushing bride had noticed her remark.

“You go dancing,” she told them, “you deserve to have fun.”

“Later,” Maddie smiled. “We're just gonna stay here with you for a little longer.” She hugged her friend again.

At one edge of the dance floor, Terri and Richie were swaying to the music easily; despite their height difference they made a great dance couple. It helped of course that they were lovers and were absolutely used to move their bodies in sync.

"We've developed quite a routine at weddings," Richie remarked.

"Oh yes...” Terri smiled when she thought about the last wedding they had attended together – Maddie's and David's. That had been the day she and Richie had rushed to the hospital where Nathan had been born. It seemed a lifetime away. “And this time we're even gonna see the end of the reception!"

Richie chuckled. "True." He cleared his throat. "Hey, don't they say third time's the charm?"

She frowned. "Hmmm... yes, I think so, why?"

"What do you think about a third wedding?" he asked. Terri looked at him questioningly, and he added: "A wedding where you get to choose the music?"

Suddenly, her heart beat faster and her mouth was all dry; what was this talk about? Her thoughts went back to her belated birthday dinner at her place some time ago when Maddie had told her the back story to the earrings Richie had given her and had insisted they were a sign he was very serious about them and had it probably in mind to propose to her. She hadn't wanted to set her hopes too high back then; now she asked herself if Richie was aiming exactly at what she secretly had hoped for. She tried to keep calm and frowned. "What are you saying?"

Suddenly, he stopped moving, pulled something out of his pocket and held it up in front of her face. It was a ring with a small heart-shaped emerald. Terri's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened. Richie smiled and said simply: "Marry me."

“What?!” she gasped.

“I'm serious.”

Terri had to tilt her head back to look at him closely. "But Richie... we've been together only for three months!" she reminded him.

Richie smiled his adorable half-smile that always got to her. "And your point is...?"

"Don't you want to try a little longer?” she asked. “See how it works out?"

He shook his head. "What for? I already know all I need to know." His voice sounded absolutely calm and imperturbable.

She swallowed. "And what's that?"

Now Richie frowned and looked at her like she had asked something very stupid. "I want to spend my life with you and Nate," he told her in a determined voice and shrugged with a smile. "You are The One."

Terri's head started to spin. Could this really be? All the heard was You are The One, and the first thing to say that came to her mind was: "He might want to move out one day..."

He chuckled warmly. "But you won't." Terri's wit well had run as dry as her mouth, and all she could do was look at him dumbfounded; she still couldn't believe it. The thoughts were whirling in her head, and the intense look of his gorgeous eyes only added to her dizziness. She felt like that day on the beach when he had kissed her for the first time. He added softly, in his low voice: "I love you, Knowles. Didn't I mention that?"

Slowly, the meaning of his words sank in, and a happy beam crept over her face. When he realized that he had her, he held up the ring again and raised his eyebrows with an inviting nod. Terri flung her arms around his neck and literally jumped him, not caring who was looking on.

Richie caught her in his arms and laughed. "Whoa! Watch out! You don't want to break my back, now that we've just started to put it to good use..." She shut him up with her mouth, kissing him with fervor, and he held her firmly and effortlessly against him and responded with the same intensity; her feet were still lifted from the ground. People around them who had noticed the little scene smiled and a few even applauded. After a while, he carefully put her down on the floor again but still held her, and that was good because her legs felt like jelly. Their lips parted slowly, reluctantly... breathlessly.

"Just for the record...” he purred against her lips, “that's a yes, I presume?"

Terri laughed though her happy tears. "Oh yes... yes, it's a yes!" she exclaimed. Richie put the ring on her finger and she stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him again. "I love you, coach." They sank into a deep, passionate kiss again, forgetting everything and everyone around them.

On the other side of the dance floor, Agnes grabbed Maddie's arm and pointed over to Richie and Terri.

“Look!” she exclaimed, and Maddie and David both turned their heads and saw the couple standing there, wrapped up in each other's arms, slightly swaying, and locked in a passionate kiss that looked like they were awaiting the end of the world.

“Did I happen to mention that we Addison brothers are also great kissers?” David joked in an amused voice, secretly more than happy for his brother and their brunette friend.

“Jerk!” Maddie snapped and punched his right shoulder.

“I didn't mean that!” Agnes said impatiently and punched his left shoulder.

“Whoa!” he protested, but Agnes ignored him.

She clapped her hands together and told them in an excited voice: “He just put a ring on her finger!”

David and Maddie looked at each other and gasped in unison: “I knew it!”

The three of them rushed over to the couple which was surrounded by cheering on-lookers. They had stopped kissing now and just stood there, still enveloped in a close embrace, with flushed and happily shining faces, beaming and looking into each other's eyes.

Maddie and Agnes reached them at the same time. “Terri!” they exclaimed, and the short woman whirled around to her friends who pulled her into a tight hug, all three of them laughing and almost crying at the same time, immediately beginning to talk all at the same time. Richie just watched with a sheepish happy grin.

“My my my, bro,” David teased, “another Addison off the market? A sad day for all the chicks out there, huh?”

His brother laughed, remembering how he had tossed the exact same words at David when he had called him to tell him he was going to get married and would need a Best Man. “Very sad,” he replied with a smooth shrug. “But they're gonna have to deal with it, man.”

David grabbed his neck and squeezed hard. “Didn't think you'd scrape your wits together and recognize a good woman when you see one!” he told him, his congratulations masked with a brotherly teasing.

“Yeah, yeah,” Richie replied snidely, “that from the guy who waited three years...”

They shared a laugh and watched the three women who were still oblivious to their surroundings, talking, hugging, laughing, crying and admiring Terri's ring. After a while, Richie elbowed David roughly. “I'm gonna need a Best Man, bro.”

“I will fix your tie this time,” was David's answer, then a thought hit him like a ton of bricks and he slapped his forehead with his hand. “Aw no!” he exclaimed.

Richie frowned. “What's the matter?”

David nodded gravely. “I'm gonna have to throw another bachelor party...”

***
The reception was a rousing success. Everyone was having a wonderful time dancing, talking, laughing and just celebrating the newlyweds’ happiness. The dinner dishes had just been cleared away and the music had started up again when David felt a hand creeping up his thigh. He had been in a state of arousal for most of the night so when Maddie’s hand moved over his zipper area he suppressed a groan of desire. He opened his legs wider as her nimble fingers began to stroke his massive boner. David bent his head so that his lips were directly against Maddie’s ear causing her to shiver with desire. “My my woman, I think your hand has wondered into a forbidden zone.”

David’s breath on her ear and neck was almost driving Maddie wild. It had been almost a week since they had been intimate and her juices were flowing abundantly. She needed to get laid and soon. Their little tryst after they had made up along with the nearness of David – smelling his intoxicating scent – coupled with her being slightly tipsy from the champagne she was drinking was making her reckless and so very horny. Even now, with only her fingers stroking David’s cock through his cotton pants, she was almost near her point of release. The throbbing between her legs was a painful reminder of how addicted she had become to his dick and his lovemaking.

“Forbidden?” she whispered back, her eyes dark blue with her arousal and need. “I think not.” She threw David a sultry look and pressed her thigh against his as she took his hand and placed it on wet lace. His thumb fluttered across the swollen nub making her hotbox twitch with desire. God, that felt wonderful! She could have melted on the spot.

David looked around the room to see if anyone had any clue what was going on under their noses. He and Maddie were seated at the head table – or dais – which was propped higher than the other tables in front of the large room. His eyes moved to the happy married couple who were lost in each other – kissing and giggling and in a world of their own. He looked around – no one was watching them. People were getting up to dance, talking and laughing and having their own good times. He looked at Maddie who seemed unaware on their surroundings as she moved her hand over his zipper under the table. Thank God the table cloth was long and hid their erotic activity. David’s fingers moved lazily over Maddie’s damp panties, and he was pleased to hear her gasp of desire. “Like that, baby?” He kissed the side of her neck with soft baby kisses.

Maddie was on the verge of falling to pieces right there on the wedding dais. She suddenly realized that there were other people around – but for some reason the urge to come was even stronger than any sense of decorum or embarrassment she might have felt. “Let’s dance,” she told David suddenly as she pulled him up by the hand that had been petting her hotbox.

David widened his eyes in surprise. “Dance?” He nodded to his boner, “I can barely walk.”

Maddie only smiled cagily and giggled as she tugged him on to the dance floor. She plastered her body against his as she moved her hips to the throbbing beat of the music.

“Babe, unless you want me to come in my pants I think you need to stop.” He could almost feel the steaminess of her loins through their clothes, and he knew that after a week of not getting laid he might not be able to control himself. Maddie just chuckled in response as she pulled him by the tie out of the crowded hall.

“Where are you taking me, you horny hussy?” David teased with his trademark smirk riding up the side of his face. He wasn't exactly sure what she was planning, but she certainly looked like she was up to no good; the thought alone made his dick twitch and throb.

Maddie put her finger over her lips. “Ssshh you’ll see.” Her voice held all sorts of promises. She saw the door she was looking for and luckily it was unlocked. Looking around to make sure no one was observing them, Maddie pulled David into the coatroom, shut the door the locked it. She leaned with her back against the door as her eyes bored into David’s who couldn't believe his luck. “I think we’re alone now.” She licked her lips lustily.

David didn’t need any more of an invitation. He pressed himself against Maddie’s pliant body, his hands began to move under her gown – up and down her long legs spreading them a little at a time; moving the hem of her gown up slowly until it was bunched around her hips. His lips and tongue were kissing her savagely and with passion – his tongue almost raping her mouth while one hand pushed her panties to one side as he finally rammed his hardness into her throbbing core, causing her to cry out in ecstasy – his tongue began to burn a fiery trail down her neck over her throat to that spot and back again – over her lips to her ear, as his caramel coated voice whispered dirty words.

As soon as he moved into her David felt her pulsating around him. “Oh God, coming already, you horny bitch? You are so fucking hot tonight, babe.” David gasped against her neck. “Missed my big dick huh?” He pumped into her harder and faster.

“Oh yes, yes!” Maddie almost sobbed. “So much!”

The sound of their bodies thudding against the door increased their arousal. “Damn Maddie, your fucking pussy is so wet,” he groaned. “My cock’s on fire for you.”

“Then show me how much!” she panted, feeling the crazy urge to spur him on even more. “Come on, Addison, is that all you got for me after one week?”

“We – aim – to – please!” David grunted as he increased his pace, emphasizing every word with a deep thrust of his massive cock. “I'm gonna show you all right...” His dick was moving in and out of her; his tongue was moving slowly across the breast he had released from the confines of her dress. “Love your tits, babe,” he moaned as he picked up her long leg and wrapped it around his hips, plowing into her forcefully. “You’re my dirty girl. Come again for me, baby!”

Being pressed so tightly against the wall, David’s hard body slamming into her aching core while they were both almost fully dressed and hearing his dirty talk purred into her ear was driving Maddie insane. As soon as he pushed into her she began to spiral out of control into one amazing orgasm after the other. Her nub was throbbing and her hot box was pulsing around David’s hardness as she mumbled unintelligible words; she bit the inside of her cheek to muffle her screams of ecstasy. Her hands were tangled in his hair; her hips were moving in sync with his rock hard cock which was driving her insane the most as he fucked her hard and fast against the wall in the tight clothes closet. The chance that they might be discovered only fueled their passion. Maddie felt another orgasm rock her body; her hands moved down to clutch onto David’s muscular shoulders to steady herself since her legs had turned into wet noodles beneath her.

David pulled down the top of her dress and slammed into her repeatedly, and when he felt her fall to pieces around him again, the orgasm that overran over his body was mind blowing in its intensity. He pounded into her relentlessly as he came long and hard inside of her, muffling his screams by using his tongue as a weapon in her mouth.

Just as they were done they heard a sharp knock at the door along with a jiggle of the doorknob. David was surprised when he saw Maddie’s shrug.

***
On the way home Maddie was once again feeling amorous. That tryst in the coat closet had only fueled her desire for more, although she felt pleasantly sore already; it had been a rough ride. She blushed slightly when she thought about how they had almost been caught screwing like animals – David banging her against the door – by the coat check girl. They had heard the doorknob jiggle and then a loud knock on the door...

“Hello, is someone in there?” David and Maddie quickly made themselves look presentable – he pulled down the hem of her dress and pulled up the top; Maddie pulled up David’s zipper then buckled his belt – before they opened the door.

The coat check ‘girl’ was actually a sour faced middle aged woman. When the couple emerged from the closet she looked them up and down with her beady eyes. Her sensitive nose could smell the sex on them, and any fool could tell by their messy hair and red, swollen lips what they had been up to. In her coat closet!!! Harlots! What was wrong with the women of today’s world? Tramps the lot of them – but even she had to admit when she got a look at David that he was one sexy beast. Although, in her mind that was still no excuse. She ‘harrumphed’ her way to her station but her eyes told Maddie she thought she was a slut.

“I never!” the older woman mumbled.

Maddie raised her chin haughtily and threw the woman a venomous glare. “Maybe you should,” she muttered under her breath. “I think you need a good fuck.” When the words left her mouth Maddie couldn’t believe it, but she walked away with her head held high; David trailing behind her in stitches.

David turned to the woman with a wicked glint in his eyes. “Listen to the lady. She knows of what she speaks.” Maddie playfully punched David in the arm as they walked away hand in hand.

...Maddie came back to the present when David turned the corner onto a dark street. She moved close to him as her hands began to wander to the bulge in his pants. “Nice...” she purred as her tongue flicked over his ear.

David nearly drove into a tree when he felt Maddie’s long fingers pulling down his zipper. Damn, the woman was hot. “Damn honey, you really missed my cock!” he commented smugly and gave her a sideways leer. “Unless you want to leave Beanie an orphan I suggest you wait til we get home, you greedy woman.” His dick twitched in eager anticipation when he thought about how much she loved it.

Maddie shook her head and continued her ministrations on his dick. “Pull over,” she demanded in a hoarse, bossy voice. “I want to kiss it now.”

Who was David to argue? He pulled over to a deserted lot by the side of the road, turned off the ignition, then threw Maddie a panty melting grin as his hand reached into the slit on the side of her gown. Her legs parted to allow David’s hand to move up her to her aching hotbox. David heard Maddie’s throaty moans as his fingers moved over her wet panties where fresh arousal had mixed with the orgasm from earlier that night. “So hot. So wet,” he purred as he pushed his hips a little up and her head down to his now exposed boner. “Lick it, babe,” he told her. “You love it.”

Maddie groaned as her tongue moved slowly over his steel shaft. She fluttered her eyelashes over his cock as her hand played with his balls. After a few short minutes she began to come in pulsating waves as David’s fingers played over her steamy loins. She wanted him to feel as good as she did as she opened her mouth to practically swallow his throbbing boner. Her hand and her tongue in sync with the movement of her mouth were bringing David to heaven.

David tangled his hands through Maddie’s hair and watched with fevered eyes as she took him in her mouth. He loved to watch her blonde head bobbing over his dick. Just the sight alone could bring him over the edge. “God Maddie, that is so fucking good babe,” he groaned. He was tugging on her hair, pushing her head closer to his lap, knowing she didn't mind when things got a little rougher. “Come on, suck it hard, honey,” he demanded in a bossy voice. “Yeah yeah like that. Oh yeah..” David moved his hips up and down pushing himself deeper into her busy mouth.

Maddie was blowing him just the way he had taught her; doing all the things to him that she knew he loved. She had never enjoyed doing this to a man until David. He had immediately brought out the wild animal in her, and she loved it. Giving David so much pleasure this way aroused her – the power she had over him as she worked on his twitching dick gave her more than a damp problem. She felt her nipples harden as she moved them against David’s open legs. Her nub was rubbing against her wet panties as her arousal peaked once more. She rubbed her thighs together to relieve the ache as she almost savagely moved her mouth over David’s throbbing cock. She knew he was near and began to move her head up and down on his cock faster and harder until she felt his cock exploding.

The hot wet tightness of her mouth, her fluttering tongue and her hot hand stroking his dick brought David to a shattering climax within minutes. He had created a wild sexy woman, and he was overjoyed with the results. He could almost smell her arousal, and he couldn’t wait to get her home and fuck her senseless in their bed.

“Wow.” David panted as he laid his head back to rest and regain his equilibrium before he continued their drive home.

Maddie kissed him lightly on the lips. “Sounded like you enjoyed yourself,” she teased a little smugly as she sat up in the passenger seat.

David’s fingers played over her hard nipples. “Oh, you bet I did,” he chuckled, “and now let me get us home so we can enjoy ourselves together.” He reluctantly removed his fingers as he started up the car and headed home.

From the corner of his eye he saw Maddie hitch up her dress and remove her panties until her blonde bush was displayed. The site of her slightly opened legs and her damp thighs made him rock hard immediately. His mouth was dry when he asked. “Um what are you doing?” He couldn’t help his hand from straying to the hot wetness beside him.

Maddie closed her legs trapping David’s wandering hand between her damp thighs. “Just saving time for when we get home.”

David sped home in record time, but instead of getting out of the car he practically propelled himself over the gear shirt and covered Maddie’s body with his, just like she had hoped he would. He pushed the button to recline the passenger seat with his foot and pressed Maddie against the car seat.

“Damn, babe,” he almost growled, “you want it, you got it.” He opened his pants with one hand as he ripped aside her panties with the other.

“Yeah, that's right, give it to me!” Maddie moaned and wrapped her legs around his waist as he pushed his throbbing dick into her hotbox.

“Can’t wait to fuck this pussy, babe. Can’t fucking wait,” he panted as he pushed into her with long, deep stabs oh his cock. They both came gasping with the intensity of their orgasms after only a few deep strokes of his cock.

Both of them lay there for a few moments. Then David sat up and grinned at her. “How many more times do we have to do it to make up for last week?”

Maddie smiled back. “Why don’t we meander up to the bedroom fella, and we can play it by ear.”

David ran his hands over her sticky hotbox. “It’s not your ears I intend to play with,” he purred.

After a hot bath where most of the water in the huge tub wound up on the floor – the couple dried each other off with huge fluffy bath towels which were almost immediately tossed on the floor next to their bed.

David was standing by the bed looking down at his wife who was lying on the silk sheets with her damp hair framed around her beautiful face and her legs slightly spread open. He licked his lips as his eyes roved unhurriedly over her shapely body. His dick was standing at attention as he moved slowly on to the bed. “God, you are gorgeous.” His fingers lazily moved over body.

He winked at her as he got up from the bed again and walked across the room to his closet and reached on the shelf. David came back carrying a large bag covered in hearts.

Maddie sat up in bed when she saw David carrying a large plastic bag covered with big red hearts over to the bed. With everything that had happened since they had made peace with one another she had forgotten it was Valentine’s Day. And she chastised herself when she remembered how snippy she had been toward David that afternoon just because he hadn’t sent her dumb flowers.

David reached into the bag and pulled out a huge red teddy bear. He held it up for Maddie to see. His eyes twinkled. “Ya think Beanie will like this?”

Maddie laughed. “It’s twice her size, David.” She hugged it and put the bear on the floor near the bed.

David shrugged. “She’ll grow into it.” He reached into the bag again and pulled out a long thin velvet box. A crooked grin spread over his face as he handed the box to Maddie. “Happy Valentine’s Day, babe.” He bent over and kissed her on the corner of her mouth. “With everything I almost forgot it was V-day.”

“Me too.” Maddie admitted as she held on to the pretty box.

David nodded to the box. “Open it, honey.” He sat beside her on the bed.

Maddie opened the box; when she saw what was inside her mouth fell open. “David, I love it!” She cried as she gently removed a sparkling diamond heart tennis bracelet.

A grin split David’s face. “I hoped you’d love it.” He took the bracelet from Maddie’s hand. The bedroom light bounced off the glittering diamonds as David placed the bracelet on Maddie’s wrist. She turned her wrist around to admire her gift. Then she wrapped her arms around David’s neck and smothered him with kisses. Sitting back on the bed she examined the bracelet more closely. “David, this must have been very expensive! How can we afford it?”

David stroked her wrist under the bracelet. “Blue Moon is making us good money, babe.” He pulled her on his lap. “And after how hard you worked and how much you’ve invested in the agency now it’s time to spoil you.” He began to rain soft baby kisses over her neck until he got to that spot.

Maddie pulled out of his arms. “Wait, I have something for you too.” She moved off the bed.

David snaked his hand between her legs. “Yeah, I know what you got for me.” He leered.

Maddie giggled and shook her head, then her ass as she strode across the room and reached into her vanity drawer. She pulled out a long white envelope, then walked back to the bed and sat back on his lap handing David the envelope.

David opened it and pulled out two tickets; his eyes widened. “Kings tickets, babe!” he exclaimed, and Maddie's heart leapt when she saw his boyish joy. “Wow. You know how much I wanted to see that new player Wayne Gretzky. Thanks, honey.”

“You can take Richie or Bert,” Maddie told him as her fingers ran up his thigh.

David put the envelope on the night table. “Where were we?” He gently laid her back on the bed as his fingers continued their journey over her body. “You are so beautiful, babydoll.” His voice was melted chocolate on caramel. “And you’re all mine.”

Maddie smiled into his eyes as her hand reached for his massive boner. “And you are one sexy, handsome guy.” Her hand closed around his hardness, “and all mine.”

She loved to watch David’s fingers on her body; it turned her on incredibly. Her legs widened in anticipation of those magic fingers pleasuring her tender loins. She had come so many times already that night so that she was pleasantly sore – but still ached for more. “Make love to me, big boy.” She winked at him as her fingers moved up and down his cock, “and I do mean big.” The diamonds twinkled as she pleasured him.

David’s cock jerked in her hand as he kneeled beside her. He took her hand off his boner and replaced his fingers with his dick. He moved his rock hard member all over her body until she was writhing with pleasure. “Oh David. Fuck me. Please.” Maddie begged.

David chuckled. “In due time, my horny wife.” He used his dick as a paintbrush stroking her body from the tip of her head to the balls of her feet and back – deliberately teasing her by rubbing the head of his member lightly across her swollen nub then moving on to her hard nipples. He put his dick against one nipple then the other as Maddie moaned with passion. “Okay babe, now you’re gonna get it good and fucked again! Slow but sure,” he purred into her mouth as he covered her body with his. His tongue played over her lips; his throbbing dick found its way inside her quivering hotbox where he had been so many times before.

Maddie gasped as David filled her completely; his hips were pushing against hers in a slow circular motion – his balls were pressing against her distended nub giving her unbearable pleasure. Maddie’s screams filled the air as she spiraled into an earth moving climax. “David, David, David!” she screamed – each cry of his name grew louder with every orgasmic spasm. Her legs wrapped around him tighter as they moved like scissors, making her hotbox feel even tighter which pushed David into his own unearthly orgasm.

He slowly opened his eyes and gazed at her with smoldering green. “Where did you learn that move?” he inquired.

She smiled up at him sultrily. “A girl has to have some secrets.” Then she laughed. “I just made it up. You liked it?”

David pulled her into his arms. “I loved it.” He shook his head. “You never fail to surprise me.”

She winked. “Keeps the love alive.”

David smacked her on the butt as he pulled her on top of him. “I know something that you keep alive.” He smirked as he began to kiss her until she was almost breathless.

That night, three happy couples in love were busy celebrating their passion in very similar ways – one newlywed, one freshly engaged and one recently reunited. A good night was had by all.