* I watched the scenery as it flew by from the passenger side seat window. My mate was driving us out for a picnic and then we were going to pick a Christmas tree. Elijah Bennett worked as a firefighter for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and his hours were ungodly. It was rare that we had a day together when he wasn't sleeping or taking care of things around the house we had bought. My hand rested on the swell of my belly. We had gotten pregnant sooner than we had meant to, but we embraced it.

* I watched the scenery as it flew by from the passenger side seat window. My mate was driving us out for a picnic and then we were going to pick a Christmas tree. Elijah Bennett worked as a firefighter for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and his hours were ungodly. It was rare that we had a day together when he wasn't sleeping or taking care of things around the house we had bought. My hand rested on the swell of my belly. We had gotten pregnant sooner than we had meant to, but we embraced it.
"I'm really excited to decorate. It's our first Christmas in our new home." He smiled and reached for my hand, kissing my knuckles.
"I'm just excited to be alone with you. I love my parents, but they hover." I laughed thinking about Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. They were sweet people who meant well, but he was right, they did tend to hover. And with my pregnancy, they would have driven me mad.
"Have you talked to David about the case he currently has you on?" I shook my head, thinking about work. Eli didn't like the hours I put in at the law office. But I had passed the bar and I loved my job.
"I haven't yet. He'll have to replace me. And then once the baby is born, I may not want to work." I thought about my sister, Gillian and wondered if she'd delivered her baby yet. Mother had sent word that she was pregnant but I hadn't heard anything more. To say my relationship with my mother was strained would be an understatement. She was furious with me for mating Eli in the first place. Then, getting pregnant had been a final insult to her. She texted me occasionally, but nothing constant. Gabriel didn't text much either and Gina Leigh was only God knew where. She enlisted and no one heard from her after that. It made me sad, how scattered our family had become. Our father would have been pained to see it. I knew I could put in more effort, but everyone had their own families and mates. My eyes were tearful when I snapped out of my reverie.
"You've been feeling more emotional lately." Eli remarked as he pulled up to the nature park. I nodded in agreement.
"It's the hormone's. Making me crazy, I think."
We got out of the car and I carried the blanket while Eli carried the basket of food. He dwarfed me as we walked to a place where we could picnic by a small stream. I laid the blanket out and knelt down as he handed me the basket. I set out the sandwiches that I had packed and we ate and just talked. I took a sip of water and choked on it, grabbing my belly.
"What?! What's the matter?" Eli was beside me in a flash. I grabbed hi hand.
"Nothing. I can feel the baby. For the first time." I pressed his hand to the fluttering moves.
"Can you feel it?" I watched his eyes soften in awe as he felt the moves. My own eyes were misty. He grabbed my face and kissed me, deepening it and pulling me onto his lap.
"Isn't this how we got this way?" I asked laughing against his lips.
"No. I think it was more this way." He eased me to my back and my body shifted to accommodate him. "Ringing any bells?" He asked as his hips pressed against the junction of my jean clad thighs.
"It's ringing a lot more than bells." I teased. His lips eased along my jaw and then down my neck. I shivered, the cold air like an erotic kiss where his hot mouth had been. We heard voices and eased apart just as a family of four strolled by, finishing their hike. We waved and I stood up.
"Let's find a tree." Teasingly, I grabbed the ax that he brought with us and grinned. He took it from me, laughing.
"Let's go, killer."