Chapter 23

Tori rose slowly from the depths of sleep and lazily stretched. Or tried to. But her limbs could only move a short distance. Frowning slightly, she opened her eyes only to find darkness – not the shadowy darkness of an unlit room at night, but the absolute darkness of light being blocked out. A blindfold? Her heart started to race. What the...? “Richie?”

Soft lips pressed to hers, effectively silencing her. The familiar smell and taste of him reassured her that it was indeed her husband that had her bound and blindfolded. It was the first time they’d done this in a very long time – and not to the extent this night promised since that incredible night on their honeymoon. Memories of that night and the possibilities of this one sent adrenaline and anticipation coursing through every muscle and nerve in her body.

When his head lifted, she waited to see what he had planned next. She had no doubt she’d enjoy it. The best part about these types of ‘birthday gift’ requests from him was that they were as much for her as they were for him. She truly was the ‘lucky bitch’ Karin often called her.

A moment later, she felt her legs being spread and lifted by the bindings placed just above her knees, opening her completely to her husband’s gaze – if he chose to look.

He did. For long minutes, Richie let his gaze drift over his delectably displayed wife and planned his next move. Then he reached out for her.

Tori shivered as calloused fingertips roamed her body, setting fire to her skin, wondering briefly how he got her clothes off of her without her noticing it.  Deprived of sight, her other senses took over, especially her sense of touch.  And she liked what she was feeling.  And she wanted more.  She wasn’t even aware that her body lifted towards him – as much as it could anyway.

But Richie was. He noted every movement – however slight, every sigh and murmur she made.  This was part of what he wanted – to be able to touch her any way he chose, and see her honest response.  Blindfolded, she couldn’t react to his expressions or reactions, only her own feelings.  Glancing at her flushed face and restless body, he was satisfied that she was ready. Time to play.

Tori gasped as two long fingers traced the length of her dampening cleft and slid inside. “Oh!” It didn’t hurt, but she wasn’t quite wet enough for easy penetration.  But that wouldn’t be the case for long.  She sensed his shifting movement a split second before the tip of his tongue flicked her clit. It was like opening a floodgate. Each swipe over the sensitive nub called down more moisture from her depths until her fluids were flowing freely and the friction eased.

When he was able, Richie curled his embedded fingers slightly, searching for the little patch on the front wall of her channel that, when rubbed the right way, guaranteed a quick and usually fairly intense trip up passion’s peak. And today was no different. Within minutes of him finding the spot, her hips lifted towards him and her moans echoed around the room.

“Oh! Yes! Right there. Mmmmmm.”

Since this was meant to be an appetizer before the smorgasbord he had planned, he didn’t want to drag it out and tire her too soon. Closing his lips around her now swollen nub, he sucked gently. That, combined with the teasing of his fingers very quickly sent her over the edge.

“RICHIE!” Tori clenched her hands and arched her back as the spasms rocked her body.

Satisfied that there was now enough lubrication for the next instalment, Richie gave her a few moments to catch her breath while he readied the new toy he’d bought her. It was called the Pink Rabbit. It had multiple speeds, a gyrating head and ‘ears’ that stroked the clit. Moving it into place, he set it on the lowest setting and sat back to watch.

“Oh! Oooh!” Tori gasped. “What the hell? Mmmmm.” Within minutes she was lost in the new sensations shooting through her core. The only sound in the room –aside from the low hum of the vibrator - was her increasingly laboured breathing and soft moans. There was nothing to distract her from the movements of the toy imbedded inside her. “Oh God! Mmmmmmm.”

Richie watched in fascination as passion overtook his wife. Her sun kissed velvety skin, already flushed, soon became covered in a sheen of sweat. The minutes passed, her arousal grew, and her body began to undulate in rhythm with the movements of the twisting toy and her own needs. As she neared the peak her tempo increased until she was writhing, and crying out her pleasure.

“Yes! Oh God! Oooooooh FUCK!”

Richie couldn’t look away. His eyes were glued to the scene in front of him. The sight of his wife twisting and turning as much as the bindings would allow, her head thrashing as she tried to absorb and withstand the pleasure inundating her, finally losing the battle and succumbing, and seeing the ecstasy reflected in her face was....breathtaking. Fuck she’s beautiful! I can’t believe this incredible creature belongs to me!  Hearing her scream as a second orgasm rocked her, he grinned. Looks like Shirley was right about the toy. She certainly seems to be enjoying it.

Finally, after watching her come a third time, her cries ringing in his ears, he couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer. His body demanded to join the party. Turning off the vibrator, he eased it out of her body. Ignoring her sigh of relief, he knelt between her wide spread thighs, positioned himself and filled her with one steady thrust.

“Oh!” Tori groaned.

He wanted to be gentle and considerate, but watching her climax over and over had taken a toll on his control. Unable to help himself, he started to move, thrusting heavily and deeply. He was careful not to touch her anywhere else. Faster and faster, harder and harder he pounded into her. Leaning over her, he braced himself on his arms so that he could keep their contact minimal, and drove even deeper.

“Oh! Oh! Oh God! RICHIE!” Tori screamed his name as yet another orgasm ripped through her.

But he didn’t stop. Swivelling his hips he ground into her, pressing his pelvic bone against her clit.

“Oh shit! Yes!” Tori was shaking uncontrollably at this point, her cries reduced to whimpers.

Richie thrust even deeper, reaching for that elusive spot that would push her over the edge...and take him with her.

Tori opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. Her body when rigid, then convulsed.

Feeling her clamp down like a vice on his shaft, he exploded, flooding her with his warmth. Panting, he withdrew and loosened her leg bindings to let her rest while he caught his breath and got what he needed for the next course.

Tori was still trying to get her breath back and wrap her mind around what had happened to her over the last little while, when something cold was set on her stomach....and promptly melted with the heat of her skin. Ice?

She gasped and shivered and her nipples shrivelled at the touch of more ice. That was quickly counteracted by the heat of his mouth as it covered one hard tip and sucked up the moisture dripping off of it. “Mmmmm.”

Judging by the sounds she was making, Richie guessed that she liked the contrasting temperatures. Picking up another cube from the bowl beside him, he trailed it over her collar bone and up each arm. Then he bent and followed the same path with his mouth, licking and sucking up the rivulets of melt water. Lifting his head slightly, he pursed his lips and blew on the damp trail, smiling when she shivered.

Next, he turned his attention to her breasts. With a fresh cube, he started at the point where her breast met her torso and circled the perimeter. He continued with an ever shrinking spiral until he reached the tip. There he paused and watched in fascination as her nipple pebbled, hardened and elongated in response to the cold. Then he dipped his head, setting his lips to her skin and sucking up the moisture. Lifting his head, he switched sides and gave her other breast the same treatment.

He eased back and surveyed her heaving chest, hesitated, then picked up yet another ice cube, he turned back to his wife. Alternating between her plump mounds, he teased her hard nipples, varying between the ice and his hot mouth, occasionally blowing across the sensitive tips, noting that her moans and cries had changed to whimpers and her back arched towards him.

“Richie please!” A shudder shook her body.

Fighting back a chuckle, he relented and left her breasts to trail between them, down over her stomach – first the ice, then his mouth. He spent several minutes around her navel and the smooth skin of her rounded belly, drinking the water that gathered there and trying to feel for any movement. It shouldn’t be too much longer before his child was big enough to stretch and test the confines of his or her watery world enough for Daddy to notice.

“Richie, stop teasing!” Tori clenched her hands around her restraints.

His response was to tug on her leg bindings, opening her once more. She gasped and shivered as he trailed an ice cube along the inside of her thighs, then traced her cleft, up one side and down the other, caressing each swollen fold. Holding her open with one hand, he circled the ice around and over her clit with the other. Finally, he slid the cube inside her.

“Oooooh.”  Her hips lifted and swivelled at the cold on her heated flesh.

Richie waited a few moments, then bent his head and lapped up the water, letting his tongue slid along each fold and crevice before delving inside.

“Mmmm.....Richie!”

He circled her clit and watched her face, noting the gyrations of her body. When he judged the time was right, he used the flat of his tongue to stroke her nub and send her over the edge, shifting to suck up the mixture of water and her juices pulsing out of her with each spasm.

She was still shuddering and gasping for breath when she felt something touch her stomach. It felt like.....fur? Then another texture scraped her skin. Loofah?

For the next ten minutes Richie stroked her body, alternating between fur and loofah, covering every inch of her skin....several times, until Tori thought she was going to lose her mind. The contrasting soft and rough had her already zinging nerve endings sparking like the fireworks they’d watched a few days ago. Her skin felt like it was on fire everywhere he touched. 

“Oh God! Richie....stop. I can’t take any more.”

He ignored her plea and continued to caress her. Over and over, his hands roamed her body. She couldn’t take the torture any longer. She had to find a way to make him stop, a way to get a little bit of control back in this situation, even if it was only briefly.

“Holy shit!” She had to pause to swallow and lick her lips.  “Baby please! I....I feel so empty! I need you inside me.” Her voice deepened to a honeyed purr.  “I need to feel you...so big and hard stretching me.” She lifted her hips in invitation. “Don’t you want to come inside? I can guarantee you a hot...wet....welcome.”

He could never resist his wife when she was bent on seduction. Settling his hips between her thighs, he positioned himself and slowly penetrated her.

“Mmmmm...yes. That’s what I love best. Your fingers can excite me, your mouth can make me tingle and shiver, but this......mmmmm....your hardness deep inside me.....this shatters my world.”

Richie closed his eyes and groaned.

“Come closer baby. Let me feel your weight on me. I want to feel your chest rubbing against my breasts.”

He lowered himself down and braced his weight on his elbows.

Tori arched up to meet him and twisted her torso back and forth as much as she could, undulating against him like a cat in heat. “Mmmmm. That feels so good. I love the feel of your skin on mine....and how your chest hair tickles my nipples.”

Richie shuddered and started to move, stroking deep and slow.

“Oooooh...mmmm...yes. Damn baby that feels soooo good! I love how you fill me.” She moaned softly, her hips matching his languid rhythm. “So full....so deep.  Feels like you’re reaching my very soul. Mmmmm...yes. More Richie. Don’t stop!”

Richie grit his teeth and increased his pace a little. He knew what she was doing. Since she couldn’t use her hands she was trying to take back a little control by pushing him into orgasm with words. And damned if it wasn’t working! He only had himself to blame. When he met her, she was too shy and uncertain to talk about what they did when they made love, but he’d managed to convince her that not only was it more than okay, it turned him on. Now that was coming back to bite him. But he wasn’t going to give in one second before his body told him he absolutely had to. He swivelled his hips and thrust deeper.

Tori gasped. “Oh my God! Yes!” She squeezed him intimately, the corners of her lips lifting when he groaned in response. “I can feel every inch of you burrowing inside me....pulsing inside me.”

Richie thrust faster.

“Mmm....yes!” She started to pant. “You make me so wet....and so hot! I can’t get enough!”

His pace increased even more, but he held on.

“Mmmmm. Yes, baby yes! Like that. Let me feel all of you.” Her hips continued to move with his. Feeling her orgasm approaching she fought against it, and clenched rhythmically around his buried erection.

Richie groaned again and increased his pace even more.

“Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! Yes baby! Ooooh baby fuck me! Fuck me hard!” Her movements became frenzied and her head thrashed on the pillow. “Yes Richie yes! Yes! Yes! YES!!”

At the instant her body went rigid, Richie lost control and exploded. But he continued to move until her spasms faded and he was completely empty. He rested his head on the pillow above her shoulder and fought to breathe.

Finally, he lifted his head and looked at her face. His lips twisted into a wry smile at the expression of satisfaction on her face. He hadn’t spoken up to this point because he wanted nothing to distract her from the sensations he was intent on drowning her in. But he couldn’t stop himself. “Brat.”

She grinned. Before she could respond, her stomach growled.

Easing away, Richie loosened her leg restraints, and bent to press his lips to her rounded stomach before rising from the bed to call room service.

Chapter 22

“What do you want for your birthday?” Tori switched the phone to her other ear and rubbed her stomach, wondering if the little flutter she’d just felt was the baby or gas. “Is there anything in particular you need or want?” She had a few little things for the kids to give him, but she always gave him something special and personal and was looking for more ideas.

“How’s your morning sickness?”

“It seems to be gone. I’m still tired though. But what’s that got to do with your birthday present?”

“Well, if you’re feeling up to it, what I want more than anything is you, me, alone in a hotel suite with enough time for me to show you all the things I spent all those long, lonely nights in Europe dreaming about doing to you, over and over for as long as I can hold out.”

“So.....a couple hours then?”

“Oho! My angel’s being a smartass! Is that a challenge?”

“Think you’ll be ‘up’ for it? You’re not a teenager anymore.”

“Baby, you are sooo going to pay for that! I’m going to make you cum so hard and so many times you pass out. You’d better make sure you’ve got some recovery time set aside for afterwards....’cause you won’t be able to walk for awhile after I get done with you.”

His promise sent shivers down her spine. It had been a long time since they’d indulged in a marathon session that had left her in that condition. “Promises, promises.”

“Be prepared angel, you’re going to get as much as you can take.” And then some!

“Been shopping? What’d ya buy?” Jon gestured to the bag his brother-in-law was carrying.

Richie hesitated. “Just a few items for a little birthday celebration.....you don’t want to know.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Jon grimaced.

David’s ears perked up. “Yeah? Let me see.” Peering in the bag, he pointed to an item. “That works really well. She’ll love you forever.” He pointed to another. “I haven’t tried that one. Let me know how it goes.”

“I’ll see you guys in a couple days.”

“You’re not coming back to Jersey with us?” David tossed his bag into the trunk of the car. They had the next two days off before the next show and were close enough for a quick trip home.

“Nope, I’m heading down to Boston early.” Richie replied.

Jon frowned. “But your wife and kids are at my house.” He couldn’t believe Richie would choose to go in the opposite direction from his family.

“Actually, my wife is coming to meet me in Boston – to bring me my birthday present. You’re babysitting.”

“Great. You get quality time with your wife and I get no sleep thanks to your insomniac daughter.”

“Hopefully, I won’t get much sleep either. May be my last chance before she gets too big to play and loses interest. Besides, you’ll probably be up anyway. It’s in the genes.”

Tori’s imagination, fuelled by Richie’s promise of crippling pleasure had set up an aching in her core...and a few naughty thoughts of her own swirling through her head. She knew if she wanted to reduce the length of her torture she’d need to distract him early and get in a few good licks of her own – pun intended.  To that end she searched through her wardrobe...then went shopping.

“Mama where going?” Stevie asked as he watched his mother pack.

“I’m going to meet Daddy.”

“Me go?”

“No, you’re going to stay with Nana and Grandma Carol and Grandpa John and Aunt Dot. And Aunt Desiree’s going to take you to play with Rocco. Then Uncle Jon will bring you and Ava and Lauren to meet Daddy and I in Boston.”

“Oh. Me go simming?”

“Yes, my little tadpole, I’m sure Aunt Dot will take you in the pool.”

“What a tapole?”

“It’s a baby frog that lives in the water.”

“Oh.” He thought about that for a minute. “’Kay, me tapole. Ribbit!”

Tori laughed and hugged him.

Meet me for lunch in the hotel restaurant.

Richie read the text from his wife and grinned. And so it begins. Grabbing his room key he headed downstairs.

Tori watched her husband disappear into the restaurant then approached the concierge to arrange for her luggage to be taken up to their suite. Taking a deep breath, she headed for the restaurant.

Richie was sitting facing the door, and noticed her the minute she walked in....as did every other man in the vicinity. He was torn between pride and possessiveness. She was a beautiful sight in a strapless sundress in his favourite colour – purple – with its flirty just above the knee hem and high heeled strappy sandals that made her legs look a mile long. The only disappointment was that her hair was swept up and held off her shoulders in a clip. Oh well, just means I’ll have the pleasure of taking it down later. She drew the appreciative eye of every man she passed as she walked towards him.

The caveman growled.

As she approached the table, he stood to greet her. “Hi angel.” He bent to kiss her – longer and with a few degrees more warmth than a casual greeting and held her chair while she sat.

“Hi babe.”

Long fingers caressed her bare shoulders as he bent to murmur in her ear. “You look fantastic.” And she smelled even better. The scent of pikake rising from her skin assured him that she was game for everything he had planned. He stepped back and resumed his own seat across the table. “So how was your flight?”

“It was fine. Yours?”

“Fine. Who’s looking after the kids? Ma, Carol or Dot?”

“They were still arguing about who was going to have that privilege when I left. Plus Desiree wants Peanut for the afternoon to play with Rocco. But she might be better to bring Rocco to Dot’s.”

“Why?”

“Our little tadpole won’t want to leave the pool, even to play with his cousin.”

Richie laughed and picked up his menu. “That boy sure does love the water.” Suddenly, he felt something brush along the inside of his thigh and press against his crotch. He looked down to see a slender foot, with neatly painted nails nestled between his thighs, toes flexing rhythmically. Raising his gaze to his wife, he lifted a brow at her, but she was engrossed in her menu – or at least pretending to be. But the curved corner of her mouth gave her away. Nice try sweetheart, but distracting me won’t change what I have planned for you. If she was going to act like nothing was going on, he could too. “How are you and Acorn doing today?”

“Acorn?”

Richie grinned and shrugged. “Don’t like that one? How about Pistachio? Cashew? Chickpea?  Just trying to stay with the theme.”

She had to laugh. “Only if he or she takes after you...you’re nuts. To answer your question, we’re both fine. A little tired still, but no more nausea, thank God.”

“Any movement yet?”

“A few flutters, but nothing really substantial yet.” She smirked. “Don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything yet except hormone swings.”

He wisely didn’t touch that subject.

After they’d ordered and the food arrived he was afraid that while her nausea had gone, his was going to start. He sat and watched in fascination and horror as she squirted ketchup over her chicken Caesar salad. “Oh angel, how can you eat that?”

Tori shrugged, smirking as he shifted slightly in his chair. “Ask your Acorn.”

While they ate, they chatted about the kids, the tour, their extended family, even a few baby names. The whole time, Tori kept flexing her foot and rubbing against him. By the time they finished eating and prepared to leave the restaurant, Richie was glad he was wearing loose shorts. Even so he made sure to keep behind Tori as they walked out to hide the visible effects of her teasing.

Up in the room, Richie sat on the couch, reached for the remote and began surfing through channels. Tori was surprised, but joined him, sitting close beside him, resting her head on his shoulder and a hand on his thigh. She was a little frustrated that her teasing in the restaurant hadn’t yielded a stronger reaction, but she refused to give up that easily.

Richie fought a smile, sensing her mood. He draped his arm around her shoulders, letting his fingers dangle to caress her upper arm for a few minutes, then shifted to her upper chest, grazing the top curves of her breasts.

Tori shivered at the feel of his calloused fingertips on her skin and her breasts swelled in reaction to his touch. Realizing she needed to act quickly if she wanted to remain in control of the situation, she slid her fingers under the leg of his shorts and lightly scraped her nails along his inner thigh.

When he still didn’t respond, she decided that subtle wasn’t going to get the job done. She shifted until she could reach his neck and earlobe with her lips, tongue and teeth, and rub her hand over his crotch. The periodic rubbing of his hand over her back was the only sign that he was aware of what she was doing – besides the growing bulge under her hand.

Leaning back, she narrowed her eyes at him, but his gaze never left the television. So that’s the way he wants to play it, is it? Fine.  She slid off the couch to kneel between his legs and reached for his belt.

Richie stretched his arms out across the back of the couch and tried to keep a straight face while she opened his shorts and released him. He intended to remain unresponsive to her teasing for as long as he could, but that time period shortened considerably with the first touch of her fingers on his swollen shaft. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his teeth, determined to let her have her way....for as long as his control held out.

Which turned out not to be as long as he had hoped – she knew his weaknesses. Tori brought all her knowledge into play. Her fingers ran in light, teasing strokes up and down his length, then circled the base and squeezed. Bending closer, Tori licked the large head, then blew on it, grinning when his hips lifted towards her.

For the next ten minutes, Tori, licked and sucked, stroked and squeezed, and generally tortured and pleasured him in every way she could think of. He groaned when the tip of her tongue flicked the super sensitive spot just under the ridge on the underside of his shaft over and over again, then her lips joined the game and sucked on it. His hands clenched against the need to grab her head, push his erection deep into her mouth and finish it. But since he would have his way later, it was only fair that she got hers now.

Finally, Tori decided that he’d had enough – his face was flushed and sweat sheened, his eyes hot and black – and moved to end his torture. Cupping his sac with one hand, the base of his shaft with the other, she opened her mouth wide and took him in. Her hand and head moved in sync and she sucked harder and harder until he couldn’t hold back any more and with a satisfied grunt, exploded, shooting hot jets into the back of her throat.

When he was empty, she rose to sit on his lap, her head resting on his shoulder and waited for him to recover. His arms came up to hold her, his hands stroking her leg and back, his heart pounding under her ear.

By the time Richie got his breath back and his heart rate returned to normal, he glanced down to find her asleep. He grinned. Just as well, she’s going to need her rest.

Rising with her in his arms, he carried her into the bedroom and set about preparing for the rest of his birthday celebration.  

Chapter 21

Mid afternoon, Tori bent over to pick up a towel one of the kids had tossed aside, when Richie walked by. The sharp sting caused by his hand had her quickly straightening. “Hey! What’d you do that for?”

The only response she got was his low chuckles as he continued on towards his bandmates standing near the pool. Sapphire eyes narrowed and she glanced around until she saw her nephew. “Jess, come here for a minute.”

After a whispered conference, Jesse gathered Colton, Pete, Aaron and Billy and disappeared into the house. When they returned, Dorothea noticed what they were carrying and stopped them.

“What are you doing with those?”

“Aunt Tori wants them to nail Uncle Richie.” Jesse grinned. “She said it’s payback.”

“Oh?” Curious, Dorothea followed the boys over to where Tori and Karin stood. “What’s up?”

Tori explained what Richie had done and reached for the water balloon Jesse held out to her. The ice cold water filling it almost froze her hands. Her grin could easily be described as evil as she hefted the balloon and narrowed her gaze on her husband. “Perfect.”

Dorothea and Karin glanced at their own husbands, exchanged a look and reached for a balloon.

Tori went first. Taking aim, she pulled her arm back and let it fly. The missile hit its target right between the shoulder blades and burst, sending freezing water over his shoulders and down his back.

“What the F.....!”

Jon and David bent over with their laughter...for all of about a minute before they found themselves in the same boat.

Straightening, the three men tried not to shiver as they turned in the direction the balloons had come from, only to see their wives, grinning broadly, high fiving each other.

“What was that for?” Richie demanded.

“Payback.” Tori replied rubbing her posterior where his hand had connected, pointing a warning finger at him when he grinned unrepentantly.    

“What did we do?” David whined.

“Call it preventative medicine.” Karin explained. “A reminder that you’re home now, not on stage, and you need to mind your manners.”

Dorothea nodded. “Gotta bring you guys back down to earth every once in a while.”

“Hmpf!” Jon snorted and motioned his friends closer. A murmured plan was devised and, as one, they turned and started towards their wives.

The women promptly ran in search of bucket, bowls, hoses...whatever they could find that would hold or spurt water.

The teenagers watched in awe as their parents’ joke turned into a free for all water fight. They waited a few minutes, then joined in. Their first targets were the parents not already involved – and Tony - who then returned fire.

Tori’s parents, Joan and the senior Bongiovi’s just sat back and watched. Joan sighed in mock exasperation. “Kids.”

Later that night, Tori walked into the living room of the guest house after checking the kids to find Richie sitting in an arm chair wearing his reading glasses and chuckling at a book he held in his hands. 

Hearing his wife approach, he glanced up. “They asleep?”

They’d been a little worried about how Lauren would handle the fireworks since she’d never experienced them before, but instead of screaming and crying, she laughed and clapped her hands. Michael had just shaken his head. “Figures. Just like her mother. Never reacts the way you’d expect.” The Bongiovi’s had just smiled – it was exactly what they expected from one of the clan.

“Peanut is. Sweetpea’s still talking to herself.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Why don’t they make sedatives for children?”

“Come here. I have something for you.” He reached out for her hand.

“Wouldn’t we be more comfortable in the bedroom for that?”

Richie choked, amusement shining in his dark eyes. “Hussy! I’m not talking about that. I have a bedtime story for you. Come here and let me read it to you.”

Letting him pull her onto his lap, Tori curled against him, leaning her head on his shoulder, one fingertip tracing the cleft in his chin. “You look so sexy in those glasses.”

“Hush now and listen.” He kissed away her pout, cleared his throat and began to read.

The cats nestle close to their kittens now.
The lambs have laid down with the sheep.
You're cozy and warm in your bed, my dear
Please go the fuck to sleep

The windows are dark in the town child,

The whales huddle down in the deep
I’ll read you one very last book if you swear
You’ll go the fuck to sleep.

The eagles who soar through the sky are at rest
And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.
I know you’re not thirsty. That’s bullshit. Stop lying.
Lie the fuck down, my darling and sleep.

The wind whispers soft through the grass hon
The field mice, they make not a peep.
It’s been thirty-eight minutes already
Jesus Christ, what the fuck! Go to sleep.

All the kids from daycare are in dreamland.
The froggie has made his last leap.
Hell no, you can't go to the bathroom.
You know where you can go? The fuck to sleep.

The owls fly forth from the treetops

Through the air they sour and they sweep.
A hot crimson rage fills my heart love
For real, shut the fuck up and sleep.

The cubs and the lions are snoring,
Wrapped in a big snuggly heap.
How come you can do all this other great shit
But you can't lie the fuck down and sleep?

The seeds slumber beneath the earth now
And the crops that the farmers will reap.
No more questions, this interview’s over
I’ve got two words for you kid...fucking sleep.

The tiger reclines in the simmering jungle

The sparrow has silenced her cheep.
Fuck your stuffed bear, I’m not getting you shit
Close your eyes. Cut the crap. Sleep.

 The flowers doze low in the meadows
And high on the mountains so steep.
My life is a failure, I’m a shitty ass parent
Stop fucking with me please and sleep.

The giant Pandolins of Madagasgar are snoozing

As I lie her and openly weep.
Sure, fine, whatever, I’ll bring you some milk
Who the fuck cares? You’re not going to sleep!

This room is all I can remember

The furniture, crappy and cheap.
You win, you escape, you run down the hall
As I nod the fuck off to sleep.

Bleary and dazed I awaken

To find your eyes shut, so I keep
My fingers crossed tight
As I tiptoe away and pray
That you’re fucking asleep.

We’re finally watching our movie
The popcorn’s in the microwave *beep*
Oh shit! God Damnit! You’ve got to be kidding!
Come on! Go the fuck back to sleep!

By the time he finished they both were wiping tears of laughter from their cheeks.

“Oh my God! Where did you find that?”

“This guy...Adam Mansbach... wrote it on his Facebook page about his toddler who wouldn’t sleep and it went viral. Now he’s published it. Isn’t it great?”

“It’s hilarious! And very true.” Tori chuckled and snuggled closer. “She’s got to sleep sometime.....right?”

“She will. Your mother – and Carol – said that you and your brothers went in spurts and it never lasted more than a week at a time.”

“Gee thanks. That’s soooooo encouraging.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and rubbed her back. “Look at it this way. She can’t get out of her crib, so she can’t get into any trouble, and she’s not screaming. So just let her lie there awake if she wants, but you get some sleep.

She knew what he said made sense, but she felt horribly guilty going to sleep while her child was awake.  But the baby needed her to rest and wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Chapter 20

The Fourth started early for the inhabitants of the estate on the Navesink, especially for the parents of one Lauren Victoria Sambora. That pretty, stubborn little girl apparently decided that sleep was over rated and stayed up until well after midnight, playing with her Pooh bear...and her feet. Even her father’s music playing softly from the speaker next to her crib didn’t relax her enough to sleep.

“At least she’s not screaming.” Richie noted as he lay with her mother in their bed, the monitor on the table beside them and listened to her talk to herself.

Tori grunted. “Yeah, but you can bet she will be tomorrow when she’s overtired and ornery.”

“Good thing there’ll be lots of family to pass her off to.”

Tori’s family from Canada had arrived the night before and were billeted out between the senior Bongiovi’s, Joan’s and here on the estate. It made for a full house and a lot of noise and.....chaos...as only a large family can create. And he loved it.

But he knew it was a little much for Tori at this stage. “She’s okay angel.” He pulled her into his arms. “I’ll listen for her. You get some sleep.”

Several hours later, Tori sat down on a lounge chair beside her mother, Joan and Carol, a newly diapered Lauren in her lap. Jon approached to bring them drinks. Lauren grinned, crawled to the end of the lounge and held her arms up to her uncle commandingly.  When he didn’t pick her up immediately, she squealed her displeasure.

“Okay, okay.” Jon set down the tray he was carrying and picked her up. “Jeez. You certainly have your mother’s temper.”

The mothers snorted. Tori’s eyes narrowed. “Pot and kettle brother dear.” She turned to her mother. “I want to apologize for my behaviour growing up.” Pointing a finger at Jon, she added, “You and our brothers should apologize to your mother too.”

“Why? I wasn’t that bad. I didn’t scream like Lauren does.” Jon argued.

Carol snorted. “No, you just pitched whatever was offending you across the room. Toys, food, bowls, utensils.....you couldn’t pick up Tony to throw him, so you rolled him into a corner. I couldn’t leave you alone with him for more than two minutes for fear of you smothering him.”

“I’m still tempted some days.” Jon retorted. “But my kids weren’t like that.”

“Pfft!” Dorothea had joined them in time to hear the last part of the conversation. “You have a short memory honey....and you were away for the worst of it. Don’t you remember Stephanie screaming at the top of her lungs when I wouldn’t let her eat her ice cream cone in bed....or the whole week she wouldn’t sleep at night at all?  Or Jesse throwing a Frisbee, breaking a lamp and almost taking poor Copper’s head off because he wanted to go to the beach.....in January...in a blizzard?”

The older women all chuckled. Tori frowned. Seeing it, Helen reached over to pat her arm. “You just have to teach her that tantrums won’t get her what she wants. She’ll stop.”

“How do I do that when her father and uncles give in?” She tilted her head towards her giggling daughter who was currently alternating between pulling her uncle’s nose and pressing her hand against his mouth so that he would blow and make noises. Tori sighed. “Stevie is so much easier to deal with.”

“The first one often is. It’s how Mother Nature convinces you to have more. Plus he has Richie’s temperament.” Helen eyed Tori’s tired face. “Your hormones are making you feel more frustrated with Lauren right now too. And if she’s in a phase of not sleeping at night, being over tired is making it worse.”

“So, you’re saying this will get better?” They all nodded. “Promise?”

“Where are the kids?” Karin asked as Tori dropped into the lounge beside her.

“Steph’s walking Lauren around hoping to get her tired enough to have a nap and Ava and Jenny are playing with Stevie in the pool.” She sipped her Coke. “How are you feeling?”

“Better now that David’s home. I don’t know why, but just having him nearby makes me feel more.....comfortable.” Karin blushed and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I know what you mean.” Tori glanced over towards the pool where Richie was standing with Jim and Michael, keeping an eye on the kids, her expression softening. “Must be some sort of primitive, animalistic thing. Breeding females need their mates close by to make them feel secure and cared for, no matter how.....unique....they might be.”

“Are you calling my husband strange?”

“Well, he’s not exactly normal.” Gabrielle commented from behind them. “But we love him anyway.” She shrugged. “At least he’s not boring.”

“True.” Tori laughed.

“How are the mothers to be doing?” Richie handed Tori her travel manicure kit, straddled the end of her lounge and held out his hand, revealing a snagged fingernail.

“Good thanks Richie.” Karin replied and turned back to Tori.

Without interrupting her conversation with Karin, Tori took the kit and proceeded to file and buff the nails on both hands.

“Thanks angel.” Richie leaned over to kiss her and rose to return to his lifeguard duties.

As soon as he left, Jon took his place, offering her his left hand first.

“Hey honey, how ya doing? Need anything?” David leaned over to kiss his wife and stroke her rounded stomach.

“No thanks, I’m fine.” Karin assured him.

When Tori finished with Jon and he left, David took his place and held out his hands.

Tori was halfway finished the first hand when she realized what she was doing. “Wait a minute! You’re a keyboard player, not a guitarist. All you need is a pair of clippers!”

“But you make them so much nicer.”

 “Don’t you guys have someone on staff to do this for you?”

“Yeah, but you do it better.”

“Thanks...I think.”

“There’s a new job for you Tori,” Karin chuckled. “Manicurist for the band.”

“Well, that would be a nice addition to my resume.” Tori retorted dryly. David wiggled his fingers and fluttered his eyelashes at her. She sighed, shook her head and grabbed his hand. “You’re spoiled.”

“Uh huh.” He was blatantly unrepentant. When she was done, he inspected her work, grinned and bent to kiss her cheek. “Thanks Bela!”

She looked up to see her oldest brother shaking his head. “Pregnancy’s made you a pushover.”

“You want your nails done too Jim?” Tori waved her file at him.

“Pfft!” Louise scoffed. “Nothing to file. He bites them off.”

“He still does that?” Tori looked back at her brother. “What are you?  Eight?”

Jim wrinkled his nose at her and would have flipped her off, but a group of kids ran by.

David stood between the expectant mothers. “Are you sure there isn’t something I can get for you? Pickles? Ice cream?” He looked at Tori. “Condiments? An exorcism?”

He ducked and flinched as towels hit him from both sides. “Ow!”

“Do you want the spare room or the couch?” Karin glared at her husband.

David hesitated, then grinned. “You won’t do that. Then you wouldn’t have me to cuddle with in that big bed.”

“I’ll introduce you to Bernie.” Tori offered. “He’s wonderful to snuggle with. I don’t know what I would have done without him the last few weeks. ”

“So you sleep with him when Richie’s away?” Karin asked playing along.

Tori nodded. “And even when he’s home during the last trimester. He fits just perfectly along your torso and between your legs.”

“And Richie’s okay with that?” Karin fought to keep a straight face as she watched the wheels turning in David’s head and his eyes bug.

“He’s a little jealous, but he wants me to be happy and as comfortable as possible.”

David kissed his wife and wandered off, a frown creasing his forehead. He didn’t notice two sets of eyes following him. Reaching Richie, he debated his words. He didn’t want to stir up a hornet’s nest, but he didn’t want his friend being taken for a ride either. That can’t have meant what it sounded like. Tori wouldn’t do that to him! “Hey man. Who’s Bernie?”

“Bernie? Bernie who?”

“I don’t know. Tori was just talking about him to Karin.” He paused. “She said he helped her sleep.”

Richie snorted. “It’s a fucking pillow! Tori put one of my shirts on it and sleeps with it when I’m away and during the last couple of months when her belly makes it difficult to find a comfortable position.”

David turned to glare at their wives. His expression darkened when both women burst out laughing. “Bitches. Both of them.”

“Yeah.” Richie clapped a hand to his shoulder. “And they’re all ours.”

“Lucky us.”