Tessa stretched and reached out to draw Brad closer to her and found the bed cold and empty. She lifted herself up and looked over her shoulder. Lyndon was fast asleep. His long dark lashes looked so adorable on his angelic face. His tiny fingers curled over the sheet as he slept. Tessa carefully brushed the tousled hair away from his face and kissed his cheek. She reached for the phone and called her husband.

'Brad, you busy?'

'I'll be right there,' Brad replaced the receiver.

'You didn't come to bed,' Tessa accused her husband, disappointed that he was all showered and looking handsome in a designer suit, minus a tie.

'You must have been very tired last night,' Brad lowered himself on the bed and kissed her lips.

'I'm---still in my sleep shirt.'

'You wanted me to undress you with Lyndon in our bed?' He grinned, gently sliding his fingers carefully through her glossy mane of brunette hair.

'Why didn't you take Lyndon to his cabin?'

'You had him tucked in so securely, I thought you wanted him with us.'

'What time is it?'

'Ten thirty, UK time. We will be landing in an hour?'

'I hate jet lag.' Her body was telling her it was six thirty in the morning.

'Why we so grumpy?' Brad lowered his head and trailed a line of kisses down her throat.

'I don't know,' Tessa wrapped her arms around his neck.

'I think you should get showered and have some breakfast,' Brad suggested.

'Are we going straight home?'

'Yep.'

'Good. I'm going to wear jeans.'

'See you outside just now,' Brad rose and left their private cabin.

Lyndon was still sound asleep when Tessa was showered and dressed. There was still thirty minutes to go; she went out to join Brad in the public area. He was not alone. Bentley, Keri and Stacy were having breakfast. Aunt Bertha it seemed was still in her cabin. The captain was standing with Brad in deep conversation with him. There was still plenty of time before they were due to land. She supposed the aircraft was in the equally capable hands of the co-pilot.

'Morning everybody,' Tessa smiled. She was greeted by everybody including the pilot, who excused himself to return to his duty.

'I thought you're wearing denims,' Brad whispered in her ear, as he embraced his wife, admiring her slim fitting day dress.

'Can't button it,' she whispered back with a grin. Brad's adoring eyes fell to her stomach. Finally his wife was showing.

'You look beautiful darling,' Brad pressed his lips to her cheek.

'Thank you,' she smiled helping herself to a plate of delicious looking fresh fruit.

'Mrs. Blakely,' Bentley spoke. 'I've emailed you those documents you requested.'

'Thank you Bentley,' Tessa bit into a juicy slice of melon.
'So what you guys doing tomorrow?' she asked Keri conversationally.

'Er---Bentley's going to see his mum. We will do something when he returns,' Keri blushed, looking at Brad and quickly looking away again. He was flicking through a news journal. Brad looked up, smiled courteously and returned to his journal.

'Brad,' Tessa called out to her husband. 'I hope we're going to be grounded for a while. I don't want to see another aircraft for a long time,' she sighed.

'No long haul trips planned,' Brad winked. Tessa smiled as she saw Brad's eyes lower to her now visible baby bump.

'Momma!'

'Hi baby,' Tessa smiled at Lyndon standing at their cabin door. His ship in the bottle tightly clutched to his chest, he was in his PJ's, bare footed. 'Come here angel.'

Lyndon remained at the door. He lowered his head and playfully knocked his foot against the door.

'Morning my daddy,' Lyndon murmured and looked at his momma again.

'Morning son,' Brad crossed one ankle over the other and smiled at Lyndon.

'Good morning Lyndon,' Stacy smiled and stood up. Keri and Bentley tried to coax him to join them. Lyndon shyly remained where he was.

'Morning,' he smiled at Stacy and looked down again.

'Don't get up,' Tessa spoke softly to Stacy who promptly sat down again.

'Momma come here,' Lyndon demanded.

Tessa looked at Brad, remembering the conversation they'd had the previous day. She bit on her lower lip as Brad's teasing eyes made fun of her.

'Please---,' Lyndon directed a pleading look his mummy's way.

'Coming,' Tessa narrowed her eyes at her husband, as she rose.

'He's got you wrapped around his little finger,' Tessa heard Brad murmur.

'Shut up,' she scolded her husband and everybody laughed at the gentle banter.

'Morning sweetheart,' Tessa clutched Lyndon's hand to hers.

'Morning momma,' Lyndon smiled. 'Can I see Charlie please?'

'We first need to get you showered,' Tessa knelt down to unbuttoned his nightwear. 'Did you sleep well?' she kissed his lips.

'I slept in your bed momma,' Lyndon threw his arms around Tessa's neck.

'Yes you did,' Tessa tickled his chubby tummy, to gurgles of laughter from Lyndon. 'Would you like a light meal?  We will be landing shortly.'

'Yes please momma.'

Tessa put in a call for Lyndon's meal.

'And coffee?'

'No can do Lyndon Blakely. No coffee for you,' Tessa dressed him in denims and a sports shirt.

'Momma can I touch you?' Lyndon asked curiously.

'Yes you can,' Tessa's palm cupped his face.

'Our baby is growing,' he placed his tiny fingers gently on Tessa's tummy.

'Yes, not long now,' she ruffled Lyndon's hair.

'What shall I call our baby?'

'We're not sure whether it's a boy or a girl,' Tessa smiled. 'We'll name baby, when he or she is born.'

'Anybody hungry?' Brad walked in with a tray for Lyndon.

'Me, my daddy,' Lyndon clapped his hands. 'Thank you,' he smiled broadly at his daddy.

'How we doing?' Brad curbed his arm around Tessa.

'We're good,' Tessa smiled.

'Momma looks beautiful, my daddy,' Lyndon stuffed chicken pie into his mouth.

'I know,' Brad smiled, placing his palm protectively over Tessa's tummy.

'What's with you two this morning?' Tessa laughed softly.

'You look adorably pregnant in this dress,' Brad drew Tessa possessively into his arms.

'I'm going to call him Jack,' Lyndon announced.

'What if it's a girl?' Tessa and Brad spoke simultaneously. Tessa looked up into her husband's eyes. Was he wanting a girl then? Tessa thought her husband wanted a team of boys just like Lyndon.

'Girls can also be called Jack,' Lyndon held a piece of pie in his hand.

'Lyndon use your cutlery,' Tessa instructed.

'Okay,' Lyndon dropped the food back onto his plate and proceeded to wipe his hands down his chest.

'What are you doing Lyndon?' Tessa raised her voice seeing the food stains smeared across his shirt. 'You have a napkin on your lap!'

'Sorry momma,' his eyes became moist. He looked at his mummy dolefully. Tessa checked her watch.

'Darling let me feed Lyndon, while you find him another shirt,' Brad offered.

Tessa removed Lyndon's soiled shirt. She unzipped his luggage, found him a clean T shirt and slipped it over his head.

'Momma---can I please see Charlie?'

Tessa flicked the monitor on. She clicked on visuals that displayed the different areas within the aircraft and brought up the cargo hold where Charlie was resting under sedation.

'There you go sweetheart.'

'Charlie! Charlie it's me, Lyndon.'

'He can't hear you angel.'

'Can we go to him, my daddy?'

'We'll be landing in about ten minutes Lyndon,' Brad patted Lyndon's shoulder. 'Can you wait ten minutes son?'

'I guess so,' Lyndon ran his finger over the monitor.

'We should go and get strapped in our seats. Would you like anything else?'

'No thanks momma,' Lyndon draped his head on Brad's shoulder as they walked to the public area of the aircraft.

'What does Jack eat momma?'

'Whatever I eat. Do you have to call the baby Jack?' she sighed.

Lyndon cocked his head and giggled at his momma. 'My daddy, are we going to take my ship on the lake when we get home?'

'We can do that son,' Brad pressed a kiss on Lyndon's head as he buckled him into his seat.

'We'll be home in five minutes Stacy,' Lyndon grinned at Stacy.
He would have to be a little patient. It was going to take more than five minutes to get to Surrey. Lyndon proceed to tell her about Charlie in the cargo hold. He also guiltily told Stacy how he made his momma cross by smearing his greasy hands on his clean shirt.

'You joining us at the lake?' Brad asked Tessa.

'If you don't mind, you guys go ahead,' Tessa placed her hand on Brad's chest. 'I want to look at some documents.'

'We have the day off,' Brad reminded her.

'Can I just get some time to myself Blakely?' Tessa snapped. Brad raised his eyebrows, his eyes narrowed unbelievingly.

'You want time to yourself?' he hissed. He lifted her into his arms and stormed up to their bedroom. Tessa clung to Brad, more out of fear that she was going to fall.

'Brad---what are you doing? Where are you taking me?'

He ignored her questions and kicked their bedroom door opened. Tessa gasped when Brad dumped her on their bed.

'I don't want you stepping out of this bed, except if you need the bathroom.'

'You're ... grounding me!'

'No,' Brad placed her mobile and her briefcase on the bed. He pointed to the landline. 'You call the kitchen and have them deliver to you here, whatever you need.'

'I don't want to be in bed.'

'Are you in pain?'

'No,' Tessa yelled.

'Is the baby overly active?'

'No,' Tessa whispered.

'You stay put in bed until I return from the lake. Is that clear?'

'Yes,' she murmured. 'How long will you be?'

'About an hour.'

'I intend to work,' Tessa raised her chin defiantly.

'It's why I've put your briefcase on the bed. Is there anything else you require?'

'You, out of my bedroom,' she replied angrily, as she opened her briefcase and removed files from it.

'Our bedroom,' he lowered his head to kiss Tessa. She moved her face away. Brad gripped her chin tightly and pressed his lips to hers.

'See you in an hour,' he murmured and left her. Tessa opened her files and tried to work. She could not understand why she suddenly developed such a short fuse. She'd snapped at Lyndon on the plane. Now she was ranting at her husband. She spread the files out and opened her laptop. She tried to focus on working but her eyes became droopy. Her body craved rest. With her laptop still in her hands, Tessa fell sound asleep.

'Tessa, wake up.'

'No, I'm tired,' she moaned and in her sleep draped her arms around Brad's neck.

'Darling, Dr. Leighton is here,' Brad gently removed her arms.

Her gynaecologist was here, in their bedroom? Tessa's sleep disappeared. Her eyes flew open.

'Why? I'm not sick,' Tessa murmured.

'She's going to look you over,' Brad insisted. She should have known her overbearing husband would get paranoid. Come to think of it, she herself was acting rather out of sorts. Perhaps she needed to be checked out, by a shrink, not a gynaecologist.

'Hi, Dr. Leighton,' Tessa greeted politely.

'I just heard you say you're not sick, so I'm not going to ask how you're feeling,' Dr. Leighton smiled.

'Nothing's wrong,' Tessa smiled at the doctor, then glared at Brad, which the doctor unfortunately caught.

'Brad how about you leave us for a few minutes, while I examine Tessa.'

'I'll be in my study,' Brad nodded at the doctor.

'You want to talk about it?' Dr. Leighton smiled encouragingly at Tessa.

'Talk about what?' Tessa asked, avoiding the doctor's eyes.

'Your husband seems to think something's wrong,' she said gently.

'Nothing's wrong,' Tessa sighed.

'Stress at work?'

'Stress? No---we've just come back from a holiday.'

'Brad loves you. He's concerned.'

'I know he loves me,' Tessa lowered her head. 'I've just been ---moody. I don't know why,' Tessa lifted her head to the doctor.

'Is that all?' The doctor laughed softly.

'Yeah,' Tessa smiled. 'You know I'm healthy.'

'Yes you are quite healthy,' the doctor nodded, although I'm concerned about your weight.'

'What!' Tessa exclaimed as the doctor pulled  down Tessa's eyelids to look at her pupils.

'It's too low. You should be weighing a little more.'

'Please don't tell Brad that,' Tessa begged.

'It's difficult to keeps things from your husband,' Dr. Leighton smiled. 'He demands answers.'

'I promise I'll have larger meals. He'll become a mother hen if you tell him.'

'You're lucky to have a husband who adores you Tessa. A lot of women would give their right arm to be married to a man like Brad.'

Tessa dropped her head guiltily. 'I do appreciate him,' she murmured.

'Your hormonal changes are pretty normal for a pregnant woman,' Dr. Leighton smiled. 'I would not worry about the mood swings.'

'So you will tell Brad that nothing's wrong?'

'As that is the truth, it will be my pleasure.'

'Thank you Dr. Leighton.'

'I want to see you in my rooms in two weeks time.'

'I'll be there.'

'So you've just come back from the States?' The doctor enquired.

'Yes, just this morning ... last night . Oh I have no idea of the time,' Tessa laughed.

'The jet setting could have triggered your irritable mood swings, but there's nothing to worry about. Should I prescribe some medication just to relax you?'

'No thank you. I'm fine.'

The doctor stood up. 'Let me inform Brad on your condition, then I'll be on my way.'

'I'm sorry Brad dragged you all the way here.'

'It's difficult to say no to your charming husband. He can be rather persuasive.'

'Don't tell me,' Tessa grinned.

'Take care Tessa,'

'Thank you, good bye, Dr. Leighton.'

Tessa looked away sheepishly as Brad walked into their bedroom. He lowered himself on the bed and took Tessa's hand in his.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered.

Brad smiled. 'Dr. Leighton tells me it's pretty normal for my pregnant wife to have mood swings.'

'Is ---that all she said?'

'She also said I have an adorable and very healthy wife and that I must be patient with you.'

Tessa lowered her head, not wanting Brad to read her eyes.
Thank you Dr. Leighton.

Brad cupped her face. He pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. Tessa returned the kiss, angling her head, to better enjoy his kiss. She raised her eyes to his. She did adore her precious husband. Her fingers brushed his face caressingly.

'Where's Lyndon?'

'He's having  nap.   He did come in and kiss you.'

'I've been sleeping for a while then!'

'The grounding did you good,' he mocked. 'It seems your body needed some rest.'

Tessa looked down and toyed with the silk sheets. Lyndon must have been disappointed.

'Shall we have some refreshments?' Brad enquired.

'Can we have it here in our bedroom?'

'I'll get Hastings to bring it through.'

'I'll take a quick shower in the meantime,' Tessa woke up.

After a leisurely and surprisingly enjoyable meal with Brad, Tessa wanted to go through her files in preparation for their board meeting.
Brad was on his laptop for an hour or so, whilst Tessa worked through her files. She was still busy when Brad wanted to turn in. She kissed him good night and it was the early hours of the morning when Tessa finally completed her preparation.

'So what time did you eventually come to bed?' Brad questioned, as they walked into the GR office building.

'About nine,' Tessa lied.

'It was after eleven when you kissed me good night,' he reminded her.

'Was it?' she pretended to think about it.

The staff seemed to be excited to see Tessa again after a two weeks absence. They greeted her enthusiastically with welcoming smiles. 'Go on up,' she slowly lifted her eyes to Brad. 'I'll be there just now,' she informed him with a smile.

Tessa took more than a few minutes to exchange greetings and pleasantries with the staff. They complimented her on how beautiful she was looking. Some boldly made naughty comments about Brad in his Speedo in the Bahamas. Tessa smiled. She hoped the frivolous comments would not get to Brad's ears. It had been bad enough that she had to bear witness to him blowing a gasket.

The girls had been delighted when Tessa had informed them, Keri had little gifts for them. Tessa had ordered bottles of perfumes and goodies in designer cosmetic bags for the ladies in GR's executive wing.

Her meeting with the RBD attorneys had gone very well. GR, by extension Bradley Blakely was now the proud new owner of the Russian Business Daily. An approved official photo of Brad along with a press release would be circulated globally on GR's latest acquisition. It had gone a little over schedule due to the translation of text for the Russian attorneys, but Tessa had been patient. She was getting text messages from Keri, informing her, the GR board was waiting upon her presence at her next meeting. As an attorney herself, she understood the absolute need for clarity, even in the simplest looking clause.

'Good day ladies and gentlemen,' Tessa slipped into the only vacant chair across from Brad. 'My apologies for keeping you waiting.'

Brad's eyes searched hers, enquiring on the transfer of RDB. She nodded and mouthed the word, congratulations. Brad smiled, with seeming visible relief. 'Thank you,' Brad mouthed back.

Somebody cleared their throat, indicating they wanted their meeting started. Smiling Tessa pulled out her files from her briefcase. Brad opened the proceedings and gave the floor to his executives. As she had guessed, the board wanted approval to implement an employee salary increase that was atrociously below the inflation rate, it was downright insulting to the lower level staff.

Tessa politely waited for the executive who began his introductory comments, to finish the presentation for the proposed incremental adjustments. Tessa watched as Brad nodded with concentration making the occasional note for himself.

'Mrs. Blakely?' the executive offered Tessa the floor to offer her agreement or challenge his proposal, as she was the responsible head for the administration and human capital element of GR.

'Thank you,' she slid a flash disk onto the mounted pc and brought up the files she had been working on the previous night.

There were gasps from everyone around the table except Brad, when Tessa had blown up the executives increases in the last financial year.

'Mrs. Blakely, we are not discussing executive staff increments,' the executive spat out rather impolitely.

'Let's discuss it.'
Tessa's eyes blazed angrily. 'Firstly, I reject this morning's proposal by the board,' she stood up.
'In light of that,' she smiled acidly. 'I submit this,' she flashed a laser light on her projected presentation. 'Extenuating evidence, if you prefer colleagues,' she pursed her lips.

Brad sat back on his chair and folded his arms. So this is what his wife was busy with till probably one in the morning. His eyes critically studied Tessa's graph maximised on the boardroom projector. It illustrated Brad's nett takings as chairman for the last year, along with hers and every other board member's. As a public company, this was not confidential information. Shareholders and executive staff were compelled to list their earnings.

'Now,' Tessa circled the percentage of the executives takings with her laser beam, as she paced about but remained close to her laptop to execute commands. 'That's a double digit increase this board has generously awarded itself. 'May I get an indication what percentage you plan to implement for yourselves next month?' she invited.
Heads lowered, bodies shifted nervously in their chairs.

'You are part of this board,' another executive angrily reminded Tessa.

'You will not address the speaker directly,' Brad exercised his chairman's prerogative.

'I beg your pardon Chairperson,' the executive mumbled.

'I propose the entire GR take an eight percent increase,' Tessa submitted.

'That's outrageous!'

'That's ridiculous!'

'They (junior level employees) are more than us!'

'I will not support this.'

'We work hard to ensure GR's healthy bottom line.'

Tessa listened patiently to all the angry feedback thrown at her. Her eyes went to Brad. He had remained silent. His elbows were on the table. His shirt sleeves rolled up, two index fingers rested on his upper lip. Tessa smiled inwardly. He always did that when he was thinking. Without saying a word she brought another slide onto the projector.

'I hear you,' she spoke softly. 'You work hard and they, the junior staff are a greater number than the executive team. Tessa paused briefly, then went into attack mode. 'Do they not work hard?' She questioned. 'If you were not happy with any of your staff's performance, why have you not fired them? Why are they still in the employ of GR? If GR is carrying dead weight, then you,' she pointed to every member of the board. 'You are to blame.' 'If each one of you gives me a list of non performing employees, I will personally fire them,' Tessa guaranteed. 'But then that tells me there was no leadership from you.  In the eleven months to date, what have you done to manage  your employees and redress performance  challenges?  And as for them being more than you. Are they lesser human beings than you?' There was total silence in the room. Nervous tension was eerily tangible there.

'At eight percent, this is what each one of you will take home,' she flashed her laser on the screen again. At eight percent their increases were still staggering. A nervous hand went up from a gentleman in the corner.

'W---why are you not declaring the increases for Mr. Blakely and yourself.'

Tessa looked up at the screen. It reflected zero next to her name and Brad's.
'Brad and I will not be taking an increase,' Tessa announced.
Brad looked up, hearing his wife's unilateral decision. She had not discussed this with him.

'I have a wife and one and a half children,' he protested.

There was laughter around the room. Tessa smiled at her husband. She knew he would support her proposal. Her husband was rather a benevolent human being. She knew that one single fact about him.

'If you veto this,' she warned the board. 'I will not support an increase of more than four percent for this board, and,' she threatened, 'I will use my influence to ensure the chairperson's vote is for all the staff and not a select handful of entitled executives.'

That meant she was going to make sure her husband supported her proposal. There was united dissent amongst the rank of executives. Their unorchestrated remonstrations were deafening.

'Order!' Brad instructed. Immediate silence filled the room. 'I think Tessa's proposal is fair.' The chairman was not challenged. 'Our staff work hard,' Brad stood up. 'I think they should be adequately awarded.' Brad walked to Tessa's laptop. He picked up the remote and scrolled down on Tessa's presentation. He scanned the figures and his brain quickly did the math.

'Look at that,' he took the laser from Tessa and circled the monetary equivalent of Tessa's proposed percentage increases. Minus his and Tessa increase and the executives reduced hikes, the lower level increases were only marginally higher than last year's.

'We can even drop this to seven percent to give our shareholders a better return,' Brad stated, studying the projector.

'We'll accept eight,' there was a chorus of agreement from around the room.

'Motion accepted?' Brad winked at Tessa.

'Supported,' she smiled.

'Thank you Tessa,' Brad acknowledged her presentation and the positive outcome.

'My P.A. will send out a circular with the good news to all our staff,' she smiled. 'Thank you colleagues,' she acknowledged the board.

In a spirit of conciliation, each one of them came to her and shook hands with her. Some were complimentary enough to show appreciation of a champion who had the best interests of GR's staff at heart. Yes that was something that amazed Brad. From the day she was born she lacked nothing and never had to ever worry about finances. Yet his wife had a heart of gold and an incredible compassion for other human beings. He was pleased she was not desensitized to the needs of lesser privileged human beings.

Brad glanced at Tessa coming into their bedroom. As the months had progressed, she was becoming more beautiful with her pregnancy. She was in an open gown, revealing a satin sleep shirt. His one eyebrow did a neat acrobatic stance. Even though it was rather sexy, why the hell was she wearing it?

What the hell, Lyndon is not in our bed!

He noted his wife was conveniently not making eye contact with him.

In the last month she had been acting real strange. What troubled him most was the cold "keep away from me signal" that she emitted each night when she climbed into bed. Damn he was trying hard to heed her gynaecologist's plea to be patient with his wife, but Tessa was making things real difficult. She developed a tendency to withdraw into herself. Each night she slept with her back to him. No longer did she reach out to him. Even in her sleep, she kept her distance. He could not fathom this new reserve. His wife used to love cuddling. Brad had always woken up to his wife's legs deliciously entangled within his, but not anymore. Now it seemed she'd turned into an ice maiden. Twice she'd already snapped when he attempted to penetrate the barrier she had erected.

When Tessa removed her gown and climbed into bed in her night shirt, Brad silently counted to ten. He can do it. He had the patience, yes? He will do it her way, even if it killed him. Brad drew closer to her, his sturdy chest pressing against her back. He felt her stiffen. Still his hand curved over her waist, his lips brushed down her neck.

'I'm going to get a snack,' Tessa escaped out of bed. 'Don't ---wait up for me.'

What the hell is the problem?

Brad silently fumed, allowing her to leave.

Tessa hurried downstairs. She pulled out a chair in the kitchen and sunk into it. Raking her hands through her hair, she silently cringed.
I can't let him touch me.

She walked to the freezer, opened it and hauled two containers out. She placed them on the table, lifted the lids and grudgingly studied the contents. One was double chocolate ice cream. The other was mint flavoured. She wrinkled her face. She hardly ever indulged in desserts. Tessa took a dessert spoon and carved out a piece of mint ice cream, forcing the spoon through her lips. She frowned at its too sweet taste.

Baby why couldn't you want carrots, or spinach or ... olives? I can do olives.

She went through the same motions with the chocolate ice cream. Her face was still creased with a frown when Brad entered the kitchen. With the spoon still between her lips, she slowly dragged her eyes up to his. Brad's eyes widened. His wife hardly ever bothered with desserts, now she had not one but two tubs of ice cream opened in front of her.

'I told you not to wait up,' she hissed and slammed the lids back on each container.

'I could have brought some up for you,' he murmured.

'I'm pregnant, not bed ridden,' she got up and shoved the tubs back into the freezer.

Brad remained silent, not wanting to provoke her. He followed her back upstairs, watched her slip into bed fully clothed and switch off her bed side lamp. He did not touch her, for she would surely attempt to escape again.

Sleep eluded Brad. Tessa's irrational behaviour troubled him. He loved his wife, he could not understand this cold, silent, reserved character she'd become. She had not behaved in this manner when she had been pregnant with Lyndon.

Brad was in a state of near paralysis when he awoke in the morning. Tessa's hand was lovingly around his neck. Her thigh was carelessly strung over his legs. It seemed Tessa woke up at the same time and realized she had Brad comfortably enveloped within her hand and limbs. Still stunned, Brad just gazed into her angelic looking face as if she was an apparition, a delightfully, appealing apparition. Her thigh was doing things to him that would make a temperature gauge hit danger level. Even through her flimsy satin shirt, he could feel her hardened nipples press against his chest.

'I'm your wife,' she murmured. 'Stop looking at me like I'm an alien.'

Unable to resist, Brad's hand snaked over her thigh. He heard her inhale sharply. Felt her coiled energy fighting her own arousal. He lowered his head to capture her mouth.

'We have to leave early,' she shifted away and threw off the sheets. 'I have an eight o' clock meeting.'

Brad shut his eyes. He reminded himself, she was a hormonal, pregnant woman and after the baby, he would have his wife back.

Just two more months, you can do it.

Tessa looked up from her keyboard when Keri slumped into the guest chair in her office. She looked at Keri questioningly.

'You better not have a meeting request for this afternoon,' Tessa warned. 'My husband is going to throw me out off the building.'

Keri laughed. 'He's so sweet, pampering you and making you work, mornings only.'

Tessa did not bother to enlighten Keri as to why her husband had instructed her to work mornings only. Brad was really taking revenge in the office. The limo driver was informed to collect his wife from the office every afternoon at exactly one P.M. If Tessa was caught up with work, unaware of the time, Keri would quietly come in, and remind Tessa that the driver was waiting. She was sure her husband instructed Keri, that his wife must stop working at one P.M.

'I wanted to remind you of the McGregor House's summer collection being exhibited tonight. You asked me to confirm your attendance.'

'Oh yes,' Tessa pressed her thumb and index finger to her forehead.

I forgot, with all the tension in the Blakely house lately.

'I know you love their exhibitions,' Keri smiled. 'And they love Mrs. Blakely's credit card,' Keri laughed.

Tessa smiled. She was going to need a new summer wardrobe. There was no way she was going to fit in her normal clothes again. She was as big as a house. Make it double storey house. Tessa sighed heavily.

'What's wrong?' Keri asked.

'I don't think I want them taking my measurements,' Tessa groaned.

'They won't need to, other than baby's weight; I don't think you've put on an ounce of weight.'

'Keri, this maternity dress is doing a fine job of concealing ... everything. I'm as big as a house.'

Keri threw her head back and laughed. 'I don't think any human can fit in a house as tiny as your frame.'

Tessa pursed her lips. She stood up. She'd forgotten to discuss it with Brad. Not that they talked or discussed much these days.

'I'm going to see Brad, then I'm leaving.'

'See you tomorrow,' Keri smiled.

Tessa nervously walked to Brad's office. Normally she just breezed into his office. Today, she knocked, waited three seconds, inhaled deeply then entered. Brad looked at his watch surprised that half the day was done already. He looked forward to one o' clock each afternoon. His wife came in, kissed him goodbye and left for home.

'Hi,' she murmured.

'Time to leave already?' he stood up and stretched. Tessa watched Brad's shirt flex over his muscular arms. As he stretched, his sturdy shoulders expanded to their full size. Tessa scolded herself, for Brad caught her gazing at him. She quickly spoke.

'McGregor's is exhibiting their summer range tonight from eight until eleven. I'd like to go,' she did not meet Brad's eyes.

'You sure you can manage to stay awake Tessa?' Brad mocked. 'You get awful tired these nights.'

His innuendo was not lost on Tessa. She lowered her head and studied her fingernails. They looked healthy and in excellent shape. Most pregnant women complained about their brittle nails and hair. Tessa was looking her healthiest. She was radiant, her chestnut hair glowed. Her emerald eye sparkled. She was strikingly beautiful.

'Would you like to go out for an early dinner before we go to the exhibition?' Brad suggested, when she did not comment.

'Yes, that will be fine thank you.'

'I'll be home at five then.'

'See you later,' Tessa walked up to Brad and kissed him goodbye. Today Brad was not content with just her normal quick press of her lips against his. He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. When hesitatingly, Brad got acquiescence, he brushed his lips to hers, teasing her lips apart. He kissed her twice more before he released her.

Tessa stood in front of her bathroom mirror and studied her enormous tummy. She could not believe she was already seven months pregnant. She sighed heavily and cast a cursory glance at the door that led into their bedroom. Brad was waiting for her behind that door. Surely he did not still desire her, when she was so big and unattractive. Her breasts had enlarged considerably. She shut her eyes. She did not like herself any more. No, not one single bit. Before she got married, she knew she had been an attractive woman who always turned heads. It was not arrogance, but a fact that shaped her self confidence, that and the fact that she had an amazing intellectual ability. Her friends though she had a fairly good sense of humour as well.

Sadly, the relationship between her and Brad had become strained. She refused to allow Brad to see her unclothed. Every night she went to bed dressed in a sleep shirt. Every night in the last month she also pretended she was too tired to make love, yet she yearned to be in Brad's arms. She ached for his loving, but she could not bring herself to let Brad see her so huge like a baby elephant. How could she let Brad see her oversized, unattractive body, when his was one of breathtaking perfection? If he were to look at her naked body disapprovingly or with disappointment, she would never be able to live with that dejection. Tessa knew she was testing Brad, he was a man with a rapacious sexual appetite and she had been depriving him - for the last six weeks actually!

She realized the level of his frustration, when Brad instructed her to work mornings only, to ease her tiredness each night, but still she kept him at arm's length. What excuse would she give him tonight? She slipped on a sleep shirt, breathed heavily and walked out. He was reading a paperback, which he put away when Tessa climbed into bed.

'Good night,' Tessa reached over to kiss his cheek. She was too slow. As her lips made contact with his face, Brad swung his head, so his lips trapped hers. Tessa gasped and when she did, his tongue snaked into her mouth. A lightning bolt of desire ripped through her, but she fought it with all her might. Brad forced her down onto her pillow. His chest pressed over her upper body. She tried to fend him off, but his body was like a concrete pillar. After a short struggle, she managed to force him away so she could inhale some oxygen. Her chest heaved uncontrollably up and down. Desire was thumping inside her but she denied it. Brad slipped his hand under her silk night shirt. Heat coursed through her as his fingers caressed the tender flesh of her upper thigh. Tessa's hand closed over his, stopping him.

'Not tonight,' she whispered. Brad's eyes narrowed. She could feel the unleashed anger emanating from his body. She looked away so she did not have to feel his fiery glare burning a hole through her.

'None of the nights of the past two months have been convenient for you Tessa,' Brad lifted his head, but his body still towered over her. 'Perhaps I should call Keri and schedule a slot in my wife's diary to make love with me.'

Tessa shut her eyes. She knew she deserved the insult, after all which husband would put up with a wife's constant rejection, night after night after night.

'Have you lost interest in me?' Brad demanded. 'Perhaps I don't satisfy you anymore!' He growled.

'No! ---,' Tessa was at a loss for words. How could she explain her feeling of self loathe. How could she tell him, it was not him, but her? She was the problem.

'I'm tired of fighting you,' he flung the sheets off.

'Where are you going?' she held his wrist.

'Anywhere else is a better place right now,' he hissed.

It was almost one in the morning. Where would he go? To the lounge? To his study? Or to one of their guest suites?

'Please don't go,' she pleaded.

'I'm tired of lying next to your cold, unresponsive body Tessa. There is just so much I can endure.'

'You don't understand---.'

'Then make me understand,' he yelled.

'It's me,' she yelled back. 'I am the problem.'

'"Problem?'" He looked confused.

'I hate the way I look,' she sobbed. 'I don't want you to see me.'

Brad's eyes widened. He wanted to speak, say something, but no words came. 'You hate being pregnant. You don't want our baby?'

'Off course I want our baby,' tears rolled down her face. She was hating it more, that Brad was reducing her to tears. What was wrong with her? She never cried like a weakling.

'You know I want our baby.'

'So why do you hate being pregnant?' His thumb gently brushed the tears off her face.

She shook her head in denial. 'I don't hate being pregnant. I don't like the way I look, damn it. How do I make you understand? I can't believe you will look at me all big and huge and admire what you see,' Tessa covered her palms over her face.

She thinks I don't find her attractive! All these weeks, I thought she has lost interest in me!

Brad carefully removed her hands.

'Go away. Don't look at me,' Tessa sobbed, trying to hide in her pillow.

'You are not unattractive,' Brad protectively covered her with his arms. 'Didn't I tell you when you were pregnant with Lyndon, that I would love you even if you were bigger that Aunt Bertha?'

'You're just saying that, but when you see I'm as big as an elephant. You---you won't want me anymore,' she sobbed. 'I'm not attractive any more. I am not anything like I looked when you married me,' Tessa kept fighting Brad's hands off her body.

'Tessa listen to me,' he jerked her body to keep her still. He looked into her eyes and smiled.

'Before I married you, I knew many women, and they were very beautiful.'

Tessa sobbed hearing her husband speak of other women as beautiful.

'Darling, since the first day I met you, I have never found another woman, more attractive than you,' Brad told her sincerely. 'Now that you are carrying my baby, you are more attractive to me, if that is possible.'

'No,' she shook her head disbelievingly.

'Let me prove it to you,' Brad began unbuttoning her sleep shirt. His fingers trailed provocatively over her chest.

'No,' Tessa gripped his hands. 'I don't want you to see me naked,' but she was already weakening. Her grip on his hands loosened. Her inviting lips and her desire filled eyes betrayed her.

'Look into my eyes, darling,' Brad urged gently, as his eyes locked with hers. 'Feel my love through my lips,' he pressed his lips on the inside of her wrists. His lips moved up her slender bear arms erotically. Tessa fought and struggled, but she was weakening. 'And through my hands,' Brad continued ignoring her pleas. His thumb caressed her cheek, a finger traced over her upper lip. His hands captured hers above her head. Brad's thumb caressed the insides of her palms, making her tingle with desire. He laced his fingers through hers, above her head; an ultimate explicit expression of his love. Tessa sobbed, shutting her eyes tightly.

'To me, you are the most prized treasure Tessa,' he cried out huskily. She tried to resist when he began to unbutton her shirt. She lay still, unresponsive and disbelieving as Brad undid the last button.

'Brad no. I don't want to,' she pleaded half heartedly.

'Let me demonstrate,' he insisted.

'Turn the lights off,' she requested.

'They stay on,' he drew her hand down to his boxers. She felt his large engorged erection. 'Would I be aroused, if I did not desire you?' he challenged.

Tessa kept her eyes shut as Brad removed her night shirt. She did not see the adoration in his eyes as he admired the evidence of their growing baby in her womb, his seed, his baby.

'Open your eyes,' Brad instructed.

Very slowly her lids lifted. The expression in his eyes was best described as tender love, appreciation, pride, and she knew raw desire when she saw it. The desire rising inside her, like a phoenix, reflected in his charcoal eyes. His fingers trailed gently yet proudly over her stomach, making its way to her enlarged but beautifully shaped breasts. The tips of his fingers caressed, teased, aroused her flesh. Brad's tongue laved over her erect nipple. He gave the same ardent attention to her other breast. Tessa whimpered. She longed to touch Brad, to drape her arms around him, to kiss him, but she held back. Her fingers clutched the sheets like they were a life line.

'Darling, you are so beautiful,' Brad murmured. His fingers left her breasts and gently, smoothed over her stomach. Experimentally her hands touched his shoulders. Her fingers reached up and cupped his face. She kissed him. Her hands crept around his neck. She was starving for him. Her mouth and tongue could not get enough of Brad. His hands went lower, pushing through her silk panties. She was wet and ready to explode.

'Tessa,' she heard Brad's animated pleasure. His wife still desired him. She still enjoyed his love-making. Tessa moaned loudly, raising her pelvis to give Brad better access.

'Brad,' she breathed. 'I do want you. Oh I want you so much,' she cried. She looked into his eyes and all she saw was love, adoration, hungry desire. 'Take me now,' she pleaded, cupping his face tenderly.

'I'm not in a hurry,' he smiled. She should have known.

Brad took his time, savouring every inch of her body. He gave special attention to her aroused nipples. Then his lips found that sensitive bud between her thighs. His tongue reached inside and had Tessa begging, like a dormant volcano threatening to explode

'Please---enter me now,' she demanded.

She had to wait a few more agonizing minutes before he finished satisfying himself. Mindful of his very pregnant wife, he used his arms to support his own weight. When he penetrated her, Tessa thought she was going to black out from the exquisite torture. Taking his own sweet time, he filled her and exploded with the ecstasy they both craved.

       -end chapter thirty two-