Hold her

I stayed buried inside her for a long moment, both of us catching our breath. My hand was still resting on her belly, feeling the way it rose and fell with every shaky inhale.

Mia’s eyes were glassy. She looked up at me, and for the first time since we got back to her place, some of the sharp, lust-driven edge had softened.

She reached up and touched my face, her fingers gentle.

“Can you…” she started, then stopped, like she was almost embarrassed to say it. “Can you just hold me for a bit?”

Her voice was quiet. Small.

“I need it,” she admitted. “I need you to hold me.”

Something in my chest tightened.

I nodded and slowly pulled out of her. Mia let out a soft, involuntary sound at the loss. I moved to her side and carefully helped her shift onto her left side — the most comfortable position for her with how big her belly was. I slid in behind her, one arm sliding under her head while the other wrapped around her body, my hand settling naturally on the front of her stomach.

She immediately melted back against me.

Mia let out a long, shaky breath and covered my hand on her belly with both of hers, pressing it more firmly against her. Her body was still warm and slightly damp from the shower and sex. Her belly felt tight and full under my palm.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

I just held her, my chest against her back, my hand slowly stroking over the curve of her belly in slow, soothing circles. Every so often I felt a faint movement beneath my palm — the baby shifting.

Mia’s breathing gradually evened out, but she didn’t fall asleep. She just stayed there, tucked against me, letting me hold her.

After a few minutes, she spoke, her voice soft in the dark room.

“I haven’t been held like this in a long time,” she murmured. “Not properly. Not without it feeling like he’s doing it out of obligation.”

My thumb kept stroking her belly.

“You don’t have to do anything right now,” I said quietly. “Just let me hold you.”

She was quiet for a moment, then let out a small, tired laugh.

“You just fucked me stupid and claimed me like I was yours… and now you’re being gentle.” She turned her head slightly toward me. “It’s kind of messing with my head.”

I pressed a slow kiss to the back of her shoulder.

“I can do both,” I said simply.

Mia was quiet again. Her fingers traced lightly over mine where they rested on her belly.

“I meant what I said earlier,” she whispered after a while. “About not wanting boring anymore. About not letting him touch me like before.” She paused. “But this part… the way you’re holding me right now… I need this too. I don’t want it to only be rough and filthy. I need to feel wanted in other ways too.”

She gave my hand a small squeeze.

“Even if it’s just for tonight.”

I tightened my arm around her and pressed another kiss to her shoulder, letting my hand rest fully over the heavy swell of her belly.

“I’ve got you,” I said quietly.

Mia let out a soft, relieved breath and relaxed fully against me.

We stayed like that for a long time — my body curled around hers, my hand protectively on her pregnant stomach, the only sound in the room our breathing and the occasional faint movement from the baby beneath my palm.