Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House

“It’s Christmas Eve, babies. Tonight we’re gonna watch the Polar Express.” Jamie gushed. “This is Daddy’s favorite time of year. It’s magical. Everyone is happy. Well ok, most people are happy. Everything is full of lights and happy music and bright colors. You’re going to love it.”

Cara giggled as she ran her hands through his hair. She was going to miss this routine when the babies weren’t in her belly anymore. She wondered if he’d still have these little chats with them then. Once in awhile, if he was so into it he wouldn't notice, she would sneak a video of him and send it to his mom, who she had sworn to secrecy. Heather loved them so much, she promised she wouldn’t say anything or share them with anyone, for fear that if it got back to him, he’d stop, or at least make sure he wasn’t being recorded.

All the way through the movie, he quietly narrated to the babies. Jamie’s love for Christmas was one of her first favorite things about him. He had taken her on an epic Christmas date early in their relationship — in fact, that was when they had officially become a couple. His childlike enthusiasm was irresistible.

This year, his parents were spending Christmas with his sister and her family. Heather and Randy had come down to Dallas the week before, but they’d have to wait for the bye week in January to have the whole family together in Victoria because the NHL only had a three-day Christmas break. So they were spending a quiet Christmas Eve alone, and her family would be over on Christmas Day. They had offered to host since they had the most space — not to mention the house was decorated within an inch of its life, thanks to Jamie the Christmas Feind.

Cara sipped her hot chocolate and watched the movie, Jamie’s quiet voice lulling her almost to sleep, until the scene with the sleigh bell at the North Pole. When the bell rang, one of the babies kicked. And every time the bell rang, the baby kicked harder, until she finally landed one square on Jamie’s mouth, where he had leaned in for a kiss.

“What the …” he jumped back, startled. “Was that … did she just kick me?”

Cara giggled. “Well I don’t think she meant to kick you. She’s kicking every time the bell rings. I think you just got in the way.”

“Think she’ll do it again?” he asked excitedly.

“Probably. I think the hot chocolate has them wound up. Her sister is dancing too.”

Jamie put his head back down on her chest and laid one big hand over her belly. They had a while to wait before the bell rang again, but he didn’t want to miss it. And he was hoping he could feel her sister moving too. But they were quiet.

“Awww, come on, babies. Show off for me. Please?”

“Maybe they’re bored because you stopped narrating.”

“Oh, you think? I’m sorry, girls. So they just dropped Billy off at his house, and he came running outside to show them that Santa had already been there and left his present. Now the hero boy is getting off the train and going into his — oh my god did you feel that?” He lifted his head and looked at Cara.

Laughing, she nodded. “Yes, Love, it’s kinda hard to miss when it’s my internal organs they’re bouncing off of.”

“Ok, yeah, I can see that. Does it feel super weird?”

“Yes,” she chuckled. “At first it was just little flutters. Like butterflies burping. But the last couple days it’s been a little more. But this is the first time it’s been this obvious. Like that,” she said, moving his hand to where one was squirming. “I think they've been asleep all day with all the activity, but I think they really like your voice.”

“Wow. Hello, sweetheart. Do you like this story?” Just then, the bell rang, and the other baby kicked. Cara moved his hand back to where it was, and every time the bell rang, there was a tiny thud against his hand. “That’s amazing.”

“I guess we’re gonna have to get her a sleigh bell, Cara giggled.

“Definitely.” He stared at her belly in wonder for a few more moments before he returned to narrating the end of the movie. When it was over, he pulled Cara’s shirt up so he could kiss all over her belly, said a few more sweet nothings to the babies, then pulled her off to bed.

…

Cara woke up to Jamie’s soft voice somewhere near her belly button. She didn’t open her eyes, though, just listened for a bit.

“... and when your mom wakes up, we’ll go open our stockings and have breakfast. But right now we’re gonna let her rest because it’s hard work growing two beautiful baby girls. I hope she likes what I got her for Christmas. I know she’ll love what I got for you.”

“What did you get me?” Cara asked as she reached down to run her fingers through Jamie’s impressive bedhead.

He jumped slightly, then leaned into her hand. “Good morning. Did I wake you?”

“Yes but it’s ok. I need to get up anyway. Now answer the question.”

“Not telling. You’ll see soon enough.” He rolled to face her and rested his head on her chest with a grin. “Merry Christmas, Beautiful.”

“Merry Christmas, Love,” she smiled.

His eyes sparkled. “Since you’re awake …”

“Yes,” she giggled. “We can get up and get Christmas started.”

“Yay!” he cheered, kissing her quickly before flying down the hall.

Chuckling, she climbed out of bed and stepped into the bathroom before she followed him. When she got to the den, he was fishing around under the tree, apparently on a mission for something specific.

“Aha!” he cried as he lifted a shiny green package with red ribbon.

“What’s that? I thought we were just doing stockings now and waiting for everyone to get here before we did the rest.”

“We are, we are. But I want you to open just this one before they come. It’s special.”

“Special, huh?”

“Mhmm.”

“Do I open it now or after breakfast?”

“Now? If that’s ok?”

“Ok,” she smiled. “But then we gotta eat.”

“Ok,” he grinned.

She took the package from him and carefully pulled off the ribbon before she tore off the paper and set the box on the bar to open it.

“Ooooh it’s pretty! And so soft. But I’m not exactly going to be in lingerie shape for a while, Love.”

“First off, you are in perfect lingerie shape. You are beautiful and curvy in new and interesting ways.” To illustrate his point, he ran his hands up from her hips to her breasts and pressed himself against her back where he could lean down and nuzzle her neck, just below her ear. “Second, it’s actually a maternity and nursing gown. It’s just also sexy. Like my hot, pregnant wife.”

“Oh,” she breathed. “Jame. If you start that right now, we’re never gonna get to breakfast.”

“I’ll just have you for breakfast.”

“Jamie please,” she whimpered, “we have people coming over soon.”

He spun her around in his arms and kissed her deeply before looking into her eyes and tucking her hair behind her ear. “Do you believe me that you’re sexy?”

“I don’t know how, but yes, I can tell you think so,” she blushed, looking down.

Jamie lifted her chin so she was looking in his eyes again, molten chocolate setting her body on fire. “I want to see you in that. Tonight. And then I will try really hard not to rip it off of you. You are gorgeous, you hear me? If we both weren’t so busy, I would keep you in bed all day every day and make you believe it.”

“You sure know how to ruin a pair of panties, you know that? Jesus Christ,” she swore. Jamie just smirked. “You’re making breakfast. I’m gonna go change.” She kissed him and then ducked out of his arms before she lost what little remained of her self control. Then she snatched up the box with her new nightie and used it to fan herself as she walked away.

Half an hour later, they sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, using the ottoman as a table for their gingerbread pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage while they went through their stockings, which they had filled for each other in secret the day before.

Jamie’s was filled with little things for his hobbies like golf balls and fishing lures, a few of his favorite candies, a pair of silly Santa socks, and one small Christmas ornament that had him choked up and then giggling his head off.

“What’s so funny? I thought it was sweet,” Cara frowned. She’d found a place that would put a sonogram on one side and the babies’ due date on the other. She thought it was perfect.

It took him a moment to catch his breath. “No, no, I love it.” He leaned in to kiss her sweetly. “It’s perfect, just like them. And you. I’m laughing at what’s in your stocking.”

“What?” She had made it through most of the stocking while he had opened his. There were just a couple things left in the bottom. A jar of belly butter to go with the rest of the pregnancy pampering that she’d already opened — and a Christmas ornament. It wasn’t the same ornament, but she burst into giggles just like he had. It was a snowman couple, one with a pregnant belly with “Babies” and “May 2020” on it. The snowmen had their names on their hats, and under the snowmen it said “We’re Expecting!”

“It’s adorable! Great minds think alike, huh?”

“Yup.”

She pushed all the goodies out of the way so she could crawl over and hug him. “I love everything, J. Thank you.”

“Me too, Baby. It’s all perfect,” he agreed with a kiss.

“And this is just the stockings,” she laughed.

“I love Christmas.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

“I hide it well,” he deadpanned.

Giggling, she stood. “We should clean this up and get ready for the invasion.”

“On it. I’ll take this stuff to our room and get dressed.”

Around 10 am, Cara’s family started to arrive — first Sean and Olivia, then Patrick and Colleen, and finally Molly and Brian with the twins.

Molly, frazzled, apologized for being late. “So sorry, the boys got a little carried away with their presents this morning,” she glared at them.

“It’s fine, Sissy, it’s Christmas. Let them have their fun.”

“See, Auntie gets it!” Harlan agreed before running off after his brother.

“Oh I can’t wait until these two make you late for everything,” Molly said as she patted her sister’s baby bump and bent down to greet its residents. “Hello, precious nieces! Please make your mother’s life a hell! Muah!” she laughed.

“Very funny. Oh!” Cara grabbed Molly’s hand and pressed it to where one twin was enthusiastically trying to fist bump her aunt.

“Oh hey, that’s new. When did they start that?”

“Last night, actually. At least that hard. Jamie had them all wound up over Polar Express.”

“Did he?”

“Mhmm. One of them socked him right in the mouth,” she giggled.

“Oh now that’s not nice,” Molly snickered.

“I might have had them hopped up on hot chocolate,” Cara shrugged. “But he was narrating for them, and she got all excited about the sleigh bell. It was so cute, Moll.”

“I bet. He’s gonna be a great dad, isn’t he?” she smiled.

“So, so great. He is so in love. I can barely handle how adorable he’s being. And if you say anything to him about it, I swear to god I will have your children put slugs in your underwear drawer. You know how bashful he gets.”

“I would never,” Molly feigned shock, hand over heart, a devilish glint in her eye. “No need to resort to threats.”

“Mhmm. Don’t think I won’t do it.”

“Oh I know, you little shit. Quite well. Come on, let’s get in there before Mom lets them open our presents too.”

Once everyone had greeted and hugged one another, they all settled in the den with coffee or cocoa, and Cara and Jamie gave a full report on the state of the pregnancy while the twins distributed the pile of gifts from under and around the tree.

They took turns opening gifts, starting from youngest to oldest. There was a short debate as to whether Cara and Jamie’s twins counted as the youngest, which was settled when Molly and Brian’s twins decided they wanted Cara to open the babies’ present from them first: two sets of onesies. One set had one that said “Born First” with an arrow pointing up and one that said “Show Off” with an arrow pointing to the side. The other set both said “She did it” with an arrow pointing at the other twin. Laughter filled the room as Cara and Jamie held them up for everyone to see.

Jamie had wrangled Olivia a couple of game-used sticks from visiting players for her collection. She had gotten the babies matching hot pink onesies that said “My daddy’s tattoos are better than yours,” which made Jamie blush but also laugh, dimples cutting into his cheeks and eyes crinkling.

Molly had bought Cara a big C-shaped pillow that she said had saved her marriage when she was pregnant.

“It was way better than the 75 regular pillows she tried to sleep with,” Brian agreed. “There was no room for me! With that thing, I could still snuggle up behind her,” he said and kissed her on the cheek. “Couldn’t get my arms around her the last three months—” he trailed off, dodging Molly’s smack on the back of his head and a couple of thrown wrapping paper balls from the other women in the room. “What? Those two,” he pointed at his sons, “were huge!”

“And whose fault is that?” tiny 110 lb Molly asked with raised eyebrows at her burly husband.

“All mine,” Brian laughed and shrugged. “Doesn’t change the physics of the situation.”

Giggling, Cara leaned forward to where Jamie was sitting on the floor between her knees and gave him a gift and a kiss on the cheek. He smiled at her over his shoulder and then turned his attention to unwrapping the box. Inside was a photo of a wall with a large collage of frames and tree branches, making a family tree of photos.

“Does the wall look familiar?” Cara asked.

Jamie cocked his head to the side and looked closer. “Is that … our dining room?”

“Yep.”

“Did you? Wait.” he stood up and practically ran to the dining room. Everyone followed and stood admiring the photos — one of each little unit of their combined family, all taken at their wedding, surrounding a plaque that said “The Ryan - Benn Family.” Jamie looked at Cara. “When did you do this?”

“I’ve been planning it since July, but I put it up a couple days ago. I knew you wouldn’t be in here before today. When the babies get here, we can replace the one of you and me with one of all four of us.”

He turned to hug her and kiss the top of her head. “I love it.”

“Good. I know how important family is to you. We needed a place where we could have them all together in our house.”

As everyone shuffled back into the den, Jamie lifted her chin for a tender kiss. “This is the best gift. You are the best wife. And you’re gonna be the best mom.”

Beaming, Cara danced out of his arms toward the den with a singsong “Not done yet!” Jamie just followed her, chuckling.

They continued around the room, everyone taking turns opening their gifts, until it was Cara and Jamie’s turn again. She let him open the gift from Sean as she looked over his shoulder. He laughed as he held up a maternity t-shirt for her that said “Yes It’s Twins.” Molly guffawed and yelled “Perfect!” as Cara shook her head.

“I seem to recall you threatening to gut the next person who asked you that question,” Sean told Molly. “Figured we could get on top of it for her.”

There was also a shirt for Jamie with Rafiki from The Lion King holding up two cubs on Pride Rock. Jamie cackled and told Sean, “Thanks, that’s awesome,” as Olivia high-fived her dad.

Cara’s mom gave her a black dress to wear on New Year’s Eve that had room for her bump but still looked like a cocktail dress rather than a nightgown. And Jamie gave her a delicate necklace with a gorgeous diamond teardrop pendant that would be set off perfectly by the cut of the dress. Between the two of them, she was wiping tears from her cheeks for about the fifth time that day.

The last two gifts were for the babies. Cara opened the one from Jamie, an iPod loaded with Rockabye Baby! lullaby versions of Taylor Swift, Weezer, Adele, P!nk, the Tragically Hip, Vince Gill, and Fleetwood Mac, with a dock to play it on.

“Oh my gosh, these are amazing!” Cara gushed. “The boys had the Metallica and Guns N’ Roses ones. I didn’t know they had all these!”

“I got a little of everything, but there’s a ton more,” Jamie smiled. “You should see if there’s any more you want.”

“I love these, but I’ll look later. The babies are going to love them too.”

“I hope so,” he said as he leaned in to kiss her belly.

“Careful, Jamie,” Molly warned, smirking, “you’re liable to get kicked in the mouth doing that.”

Cara shot her a glare, which she covered with a giggle when Jamie looked up at her accusingly.

“Did you tell her about that?” he blushed.

“Oh don’t be mad, Jamie, one of them tried to boot me in the face earlier when I got down to say hi, so she told me about you getting popped last night.”

“I swear one of the boys nearly gave me a black eye once,” Brian chimed in.

“Oh he did not, you big baby,” Molly laughed. “They weren’t that strong. At least not until they were about a month old.”

“You weren’t the one getting kicked in the face!”

“Oh no, just in my bladder. And ribs. And everywhere else. All night long. Every day for four months. I have no idea, I’m sure.”

“Ok, fair point. Still, that one hurt.”

“I kissed it better.”

“After I picked you up off the floor from laughing at me!”

“I can’t help it if I find your dramatic ass funny,” she giggled.

“You are so lucky we’re not alone right now.”

“Ooooh, scary.”

“Ok you two, settle down before I get the hose,” Patrick laughed.

“Yes sir,” they both chuckled.

The rest of the family’s laughter tapered off as well, and Jamie picked up the last package to open, one from Cara to the babies.

“Oh man, these are amazing,” he said as he held up one tiny crocheted hockey uniform: skate booties, hockey pant bloomers, and a “helmet” with braided straps and a big crocheted flower on the front.

“They’ll match their little Stars jerseys,” Cara smiled.

“Yeah they will,” he smiled back. “Where did you find these?”

“Etsy, of course.”

“They’re perfect.” He put his hands on her belly and leaned in. “Babies, you gonna play hockey with me?”

“Geez!” Cara jumped as both twins rolled at the same time. “I dunno if that’s a yes or a no, but they mean it.”

“It’s a yes. Right, girls?” he giggled. “That’s right,” he grinned, dimples cutting into his cheeks, as he felt little shoves on both his hands.

“Well that’s adorable,” Liv sighed.

Jamie blushed but didn’t back away. “They like it when I talk to them,” he smiled. Cara glanced at Molly with raised eyebrows before looking down at Jamie with the biggest heart eyes.

“He’s right,” she said without taking her eyes off him. “They get all bouncy in there when they hear his voice. Liv, c’mere.”

Olivia crossed the room and sat next to Cara, who took her hand and pushed one of Jamie’s out of the way. “Show her, Love.”

“Babies, say hi to your cousin Liv,” he murmured, his face inches from Cara’s belly.

Sure enough, the babies did another somersault, right against Olivia’s hand. Her eyes flew open wide as she looked from Cara to Jamie and back again. “Holy crap!” she squeaked. “Does it hurt?”

“Not yet,” Cara shook her head. “I’m sure it will when they get bigger.”

Molly nodded. “Oh yes. Yes it will. Enjoy this cute, weird part while it lasts. And while you can still breathe.”

“Super looking forward to all that fun,” Cara laughed. “Right now, though, I can still fit food in this belly. Can we eat now please?”

“Did someone say eat?” At the mention of food, Keegan materialized from wherever he and Harlan had disappeared to.

“Yes, you bottomless pit, I did. But you better not get between these babies and a meal or it’ll be your last,” Cara jokingly threatened as Jamie pulled her up off the couch into a hug.

“C’mon, let’s get you fed before we lose a nephew.”

Chuckling, everyone filed into the kitchen and started pulling serving dishes out of wherever they were being kept warm or cold. Cara and Jamie had made the turkey, and the rest of the family had brought sides and desserts, so now they put on the finishing touches and carried everything into the dining room before sitting down to eat.

After the meal and dessert, and after cleaning up and portioning out leftovers for everyone to take home later, they gathered in the den to visit and play cards. Around 3:00, Colleen and Patrick headed home, as they had the longest drive, and by 4:30, Cara and Jamie had their house to themselves again.

Cara disappeared into their closet and emerged a moment later with a small package wrapped in metallic red paper, which she handed to Jamie with a mischievous grin on her face.

“What’s this? Forgot one?”

“Nope. Didn’t forget. It’s um … for your eyes only.”

Eyebrows raised, he started to unwrap it. “Oh? Like mine from this morning?”

“You could say that.”

“Why didn’t you give it to me then?”

“Because we had people coming over and I’m not a big tease like you.”

“Ohhh. So now that they’re gone, we can pick up where we left off?” He stopped opening the present and wrapped his arms around her, eyes intense but a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

Cara shrugged. “If you want. If you like what’s in the box.”

“Ok now I gotta know.” Leaving his arms around her, he kissed her while he finished unwrapping behind her back. When he was done, he pulled it up over her shoulder so he could see. His eyebrows shot up and he glanced from it to her and back. “Sexy Truth or Dare?”

“Mhmm. Just for you and me to play.”

“I dunno. Truth or Dare is …”

“I know. But if you get one you really don’t want to do, you can pass. It’s just me, Love. If you’re uncomfortable, that’s ok, we don’t have to. It just sounded fun.”

“You know I love sexy times with you,” he murmured into a kiss to her ear that made her moan. “How ‘sexy’ is this game, anyway?”

“Why don’t we open it and find out?”

Jamie sighed. “Ok. You won’t be mad if I chicken out?”

“Of course not. We don’t need a game. We can just get naked and be ourselves,” she giggled.

Laughing, Jamie shrugged. “Ok, c’mon. Let’s see what’s in here.”

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her off to the bedroom, his dick already interested even if his brain wasn't so sure.

“Just so you know,” she giggled, “there was a ‘kinky’ version too. I didn’t get that one.”

“Oh god. I can only imagine.”

“I’m going to, um, change into something more comfortable.”

“Mmm, can I help?”

“Save it for the game,” she winked. “Why don’t you do the same, though? Race ya.”

“You’re on. Go!” he laughed as he stripped out of his Christmas sweater and jeans. He dove into the dresser at the same time that she pulled out her new nightie from the box on the chair, but she only had the one piece to throw on, so she was faster.

“Ha! What do I win?” she giggled.

“My undying love?”

“Already got that. How about a kiss?”

“Done,” he said, and he pulled her close for a deep, lingering kiss that made her toes curl.

“For that, I’ll even go first. Damn,” she said dreamily.

Climbing onto the bed, she sat cross-legged and opened the game, which was a series of what were basically colored popsicle sticks with a “dare” directive on the red side and a “truth” question on the black side.

“Ok Jame, pick me a good one,” she smiled as she held the container out to him.

Pulling one stick out, he asked, “Truth or dare?”

“We’ll start easy. Truth.”

“Who is the most inappropriate person you’ve had a sexual fantasy about?”

“Ooooooh. Hmm. Like, actual conscious fantasy? Probably my high school biology teacher. He was also a soccer coach and he was ripped. I was not the only one either. So many girls asking for help dissecting frogs,” she giggled. “God, we should’ve been ashamed, but we weren’t. He was too hot.”

Jamie just shook his head and laughed as he held the canister toward her. “Ok, hit me.”

“Truth or dare, my love?”

“Truth. I think.”

“What is the largest age gap you’ve had between you and someone you’ve had sex with?”

“Oh. Huh. Um …” he scratched his head and blushed a pale pink just on his cheeks. “Like … 14 years? I think she was 38.”

Cara arched an eyebrow. “She teach you anything? Should I send a thank you note?”

“Maybe,” he grinned. “Ok your turn, Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” she said with her eyebrow still raised.

Jamie cackled as he read the stick. “Let me lick your lips and you have to resist kissing or touching me the whole time.”

Cara squeaked.

“Hey this is your game. You wanna pass?”

“No,” she pouted. “I can do it. I have self control. Do your worst!”

Jamie giggled as he leaned over and lightly ran his tongue across her lips. She whimpered but held still, so he did it again with more force. Somehow, eyes squeezed shut and hands in fists at her sides, she managed to resist.

“Ok, you win,” he pouted.

“Awww, Love, you know that was so friggin’ hard.” She rubbed his cheek with her thumb. “Ok your turn.”

He smiled at her. “Truth.”

“Not ready for a dare yet? Ok. Have you ever taken someone’s virginity?”

Blushing all the way to his ears, he nodded. “Once. That I know of.”

“Were you gentle?”

“Is that part of the truth question?”

“No, just me being nosy.”

“I tried to be. But I was a big clumsy teenager.”

“I wish I’d known you then. You were so cute,” she smiled, poking at his bashful dimples.

“Shut up. Your turn.”

“Truth”

“Chicken.”

“That last one was hard! I need a break.”

“Ok. Oh yeah here’s your break,” he snickered. “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done while masturbating?”

“Oh shit.” It was her turn to blush furiously. “Um. Ok I gotta think. Gimme a sec.”

“What? Nothing come to mind?” he giggled.

She tried to roll her eyes, but she couldn’t help laughing. “Shut up, I’m trying to think here.”

“Do you do that much kinky shit when I’m gone? Or are you going back further than that?”

“No! Look, desperate times, man. You’re gone a lot and you’re on my tv looking all sexy and sweaty and … sometimes I really really miss you, ok?”

“But weird?”

“No, I don’t think anything I’ve ever done is really all that weird, per se. I guess maybe … ok don’t judge. Sometimes I’ll watch one of your sweaty rinkside interviews and get myself off in the middle of the den with some ice cubes and a fantasy about you fucking me into the boards at the rink.”

“Fuck, that’s hot. I’m saving that visual for later,” Jamie almost moaned, adjusting himself in his shorts. “Ok ok truth.”

“What’s the least sexual thing I’ve done that has gotten you aroused?” Cara smirked.

“Oh, shit, like, everything? Existing?”

“Well that’s flattering. But no, c’mon, there’s gotta be something that is like the opposite of sexy that did it for you anyway. Like seriously, I’ve gotten turned on watching you pick up dog shit in the back yard. What? You bent over. I saw that ass. It’s a thing, ok?”

Jamie thought for a minute, head cocked to the side, before shrugging. “Ok there was that one time at the barn after you and Finn had gotten into the mud when we were riding, so you were washing him. You were covered in mud and dust and probably horse shit, but you were in a soaking wet v-neck shirt and riding pants, leaning down to wash his legs, and … just ... in my head, I peeled those pants off and fucked you right there. And the jeans I was wearing were not comfortable after that.”

“Oh my god I remember that. Is that why you ran off to the bathroom? Did you rub one out at the barn?”

He turned beet red and nodded. “Ok your turn, dammit.”

“Truth,” she giggled.

“What non-sexual part of your body turns you on the most when I touch it?”

“Easy. My feet.”

“Really?”

“Yup. You dig your thumbs into the arches of my feet long enough and I might not need you to touch anything else.”

“Really. You’re serious. I can get you off just by rubbing your feet.” Jamie looked doubtful.

“Probably. I mean, I’ve never actually had anyone try it. But yeah, it’s definitely my number one erogenous zone.”

“Oh we will be conducting that experiment. Mhmm. Next question please.”

“Oooh. Have you ever had sex with more than one person at a time?”

“No,” he giggled.

“Then why are you laughing?”

“Well, I’ve never actually done it. But I’ve had it offered. More than once, actually.”

“Oh I bet. Never?”

“No!”

“Thought about it?”

“Not gonna lie. Yes, I thought about it. Really hard.”

“Regrets?”

“No, not really. I mean, obviously there's some curiosity. And it would probably be fun? But I had … concerns. About the girls who were offering.”

“Oh, I see. And now? What if I offered? With someone you trusted?” she smirked.

“Nah. I don’t think I could, now. It would just be … weird? It’d feel like cheating. Even if you were there. No. Would you? Want to, I mean?”

“No. I don’t share,” she smiled. “Truth again.”

Jamie snorted. “This one’s too easy. Have you ever called someone ‘Daddy’?”

“Oh hell no. You’re right. Too easy. Your turn. Still truth? Or you ready for a dare?” He shook his head no. “Would you rather have sex in a public park or a parked car?”

“Easy. Car.”

“Been there, done that?”

“Yup.”

“Yeah me too. Ok, last truth for me. I’m getting brave after this one.”

“What’s the least amount of time that’s passed between you having sex with two different people?”

“Oh. Um. Like, a while. Ok, well there was one time it was only a few days. But that was a one-time deal and I was in a really bad place and really fucking wasted.”

“I kind of wish I could say that. But uh, horny teenager. And then just bad judgment.”

“Hey, I bet there were a lot more girls throwing themselves at you than there were guys for me.”

“I guess. I’m not … ashamed, exactly? And I don’t think anyone expected more or got hurt or anything. It just, I dunno, seems … dumb? That’s not really it either. Like, just … shitty, somehow.”

She reached out to brush his cheek. “Hey, if any of that experience helped you become the man you are now, I’m grateful.”

He smiled at her and kissed her palm before grabbing another stick. “You said dare this time. Here goes. Put a blindfold on, stick your tongue out, and try to guess what I touch it with.”

“Ooh. Ok. Be right back.” She darted off to the closet and returned with a scarf, which she tied around her eyes. “Ok, go. But don’t be gross!” she laughed before sticking out her tongue. Jamie giggled and leaned in, touching just the tip of her tongue with the tip of his. “Mmmm, I think I know but I need more data.” He barked out a laugh and leaned in again, this time swirling his tongue around hers. She grabbed the back of his neck then and pulled him into a kiss, tongues rolling over each other and along their lips and teeth. He pulled the scarf off her eyes and pulled back just enough to look at her, grinning at the dreamy smile on her face.

“Cheater,” he protested halfheartedly.

“I couldn’t help myself,” she countered. “I needed a kiss.”

“Good. I did too.”

“Your turn,” she said, still inches from his face.

“Dare,” he murmured.

“Oh, feeling froggy now, are we?” She pulled out a stick and smiled. “Whisper in my ear something sexy about me you’ve fantasized about while you’ve made yourself come.”

“Fuck, so many things.” He leaned in again, his lips almost touching her ear. “You in that green lace nightie with your ankles on my shoulders,” he whispered, “and my dick buried in you while you swear in foreign languages.”

“Putain,” she hissed, and he had to adjust his shorts again. “Dare.”

Jamie sat back and smiled. “Try to undress me with one hand.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” she smirked. Starting with his t-shirt, she pulled the back of it up and over his shoulders, then his head, then down his arms. “That was the easy part,” she said.

Pulling him up to his knees, she ran her hand inside the waistband of his shorts and inched them down his hips until they were far enough that she could reach between his legs and push them down with her hand on the backside of the waistband and her forearm on the front. Jamie took a deep breath and resisted the urge to put his hands on her head and push her face into his crotch.

She repeated the same motions with his boxers, but when she dipped into his waistband, she took the time to caress his skin, lingering on his ass before reaching around and gently pulling his half-hard cock out of the way of the elastic, which made him moan. The boxer briefs were snug, so they took longer than his loose athletic shorts, and he had to cross his arms to keep from interfering. When she reached between his legs this time, she deliberately grazed all the skin along the way, teasing him, and he lolled his head back and groaned.

Once she had both shorts and boxers down to his knees, she pushed him back onto his ass and pulled his legs out straight so she could drag them the rest of the way off. When she had them thrown on the floor, she raised her arms in triumph. “Yes! Ha!”

Jamie narrowed his eyes at her. “That. Was. Not. Nice.”

“What?” she batted her eyes innocently. “I was just following directions.”

“Uh-huh.” He crawled over to her and pulled her flush against him, hands on her ass and mouth on her neck.

“Mmm it’s your turn, J,” she hummed in his ear.

“Dare,” he growled into her skin. “And I hope you get a taste of your own medicine.”

She sat back and picked out another stick to read. “Oh this is bullshit,” she whined.

“What is it?”

“Kiss and lick my lips and try to get me to lose control and kiss you.” Cara glared at him.

Jamie cackled. “Perfect.”

“I am not kissing you,” she pouted.

“Sure,” he laughed. “Keep telling yourself that.” Settling his knees on either side of hers, he leaned in and traced her lips with his tongue before pressing his lips against them. Softly, gently, he kissed her, then lightly flicked his tongue and pulled at her lips with his teeth. Cara whimpered but didn’t move, and he chuckled under his breath and kept at it, kissing and prying at her mouth with his tongue.

After a solid minute, her lips relaxed ever so slightly, and he took the opportunity to suck her bottom lip between his, tugging until she opened her mouth just a bit, enough to run his tongue between her lips and along her teeth, and then she was lost, whimpering as she gave in and kissed him back, delving her tongue into his mouth and pulling his plush bottom lip between hers.

They kissed like that for a long moment before he sat back, a smug smirk on his face.

“Shut up, jerk,” she grinned ruefully. “It’s not fair, that mouth.”

Jamie just shrugged. “Dare?”

“Fuck it. What have I got to lose. Yes.”

“Blindfold me and kiss your favorite part of my body for 60 seconds.”

“Oh no, anything but that!” she feigned horror with a hand over her chest. A few seconds later, the scarf was around Jamie’s eyes and he was flat on his stomach, her lips and teeth on his ass, leaving little marks all over the pale skin as he groaned and tried not to squirm.

When time was up, he rolled onto his side and looked at her with nearly black eyes. “Dare,” he almost growled.

“Oh fuck. Well, this’ll be game over. Make me come without using your hands or your mouth.”

Jamie thought for a moment. “Without touching you with my hands or mouth, or can I also not, like, speak or use my hands to, uh, move things?”

“Hmmm,” Cara contemplated with a devilish glint in her eye. “No, that’s just mean and unfair.” She let her eyes roam over his naked body, watched him idly stroke himself while he waited for her answer. Her mouth watered. “To both of us.”

That was all the permission he needed. He pulled her down beside him and ghosted his breath over her cleavage as he reached down to slowly pull off her panties. A moment later, he had one of her legs in between his and the other thrown over his hip, and he was teasing all over her folds with the tip of his cock. It wasn’t as precise as his fingers would have been, but he was hard and warm and wet, and he certainly knew where to touch to drive her wild. He took his time, all the while watching her with those intense eyes, his free hand tangled in her hair at the base of her skull, until he had her whimpering and clawing at his arms and chest. Upping the ante, he ran the head of his cock up between her lips to her clit and stayed there, rubbing up and down rhythmically, and her whimpers turned to soft, breathy moans.

Focused on the challenge at hand, he tuned out everything but her, including the throbbing near-ache of how hard he was, and he was rewarded when her moans expanded to include swearing and his name. “Fuck, Jamie. God, don’t stop. I’m so close. Ohhh, fuck. Jamie, please. Fuck, right there. Oh god. Fuck fuck fuck fuck …” As she came, he dipped lower to plunge into her with a groan and began pistoning in and out, the angle and her oversensitive body slamming her orgasm into overdrive and making her buck into him and cry out. Jamie, already about to burst before he was even inside her, lasted about 15 seconds before he came barreling over the cliff after her with a hand on her hip holding her tight against him.

They lay panting, his cheek pressed to her forehead, for several minutes before either of them could form a coherent thought. It was Cara who found her words first.

“Jesus Fucking Christ,” she laughed. “I had no doubt you could do it, but that exceeded expectations. My god.”

Jamie chuckled. “I’m glad you think so because I might be broken.”

“Did you actually hurt yourself?”

“Nah … well, I don’t think so, anyway. But that was borderline torture.”

“I was not expecting that game to go quite that way.”

“Yeah, I had no idea.”

“I mean, it was fun. Mostly. But if we play again, I think we should just do a few of them, not half the set.”

“Definitely.” Gingerly, he withdrew and rolled onto his back. “Ow.”

“Do I need to kiss it better?”

“No,” Jamie chuckled. “No, maybe tomorrow.”

“How about those lips? Can I kiss them?”

Pulling her up onto his chest, he nodded. “All night long, please.”

A lazy, comfortable makeout session ensued, lacking heat but full of affection. When their lips were tired, they curled up together and had a little nap before cleaning up and venturing into the kitchen for a light dinner. A quiet evening of Christmas specials and cuddles followed, with Jamie’s head in its customary place on her lap, sharing his holiday joy with his daughters.

“Merry Christmas, babies. Next year is going to be so fun with you two out here to play with and spoil and watch The Grinch with.” He sang the Grinch song to them, which made Cara giggle and join in and the babies squirm and kick along. Jamie was pretty sure he couldn’t be any happier than he was in that moment, his favorite time of year with his favorite girls.

Beaming, he kissed her belly and looked up at her with crinkled eyes. “I love you, Beautiful. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Love. Thank you for everything. For them, for my beautiful gifts, for playing that crazy game with me. But most of all for being you. I couldn’t imagine a better person to spend the rest of my Christmases with.”

“Good, because I plan to spend the rest of my Christmases spoiling the crap out of you and our seven kids.”

“Four.”

“Are you sure?” he giggled.

“Yes. Quite. Unless we adopt or you figure out how to be pregnant yourself.”

“Ok fine, four. Unless we adopt.”

Cara laughed and pulled him up for a sweet kiss. “How about we start with these two and see where we end up?”

“Sounds good,” Jamie smiled. He curled back into his spot on her lap and finished narrating The Grinch to the babies. Four really was fine. Probably.

Notes