Chapter 4

Pablo decided not to stay long at the meeting, so he said goodbye to everyone and went home.

"You’re here!" Jimena greeted him excitedly.

"Did you spend the whole day locked in the room?" he asked, looking at the bed where his wife lay.

"I don’t feel well," she excused herself, her eyes full of sadness.

"Depressed again?" He sat down beside her.

"I don’t know." Two tears rolled down her cheeks, but she wiped them away in a flash. "I’m fine, don’t worry." She faked a smile. He nodded uncertainly and headed to the bathroom.

After a refreshing shower, Pablo fed the baby and put him to sleep. Then he carried him to his room and laid him down in his crib. He stayed for a while, gazing at him. A smile spread across his face as he gently caressed his son’s cheek, admiring him with pride.

"You weren’t planned, but you’re the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the best version of me. Did you know you got your father’s good looks, Little piece of me? My mini-me! You’re lucky to be a Mars since Mars men have a special charm with women. What will we do with you, little rascal? You’ll be the apple of discord among the girls, but you’ll choose the smartest and prettiest one." He smiled. "Rest, little one." He kissed his soft cheek.

Pablo left the baby’s room and entered his own, but he froze when he saw Jimena lost in her thoughts as she slipped on a white satin robe. He stood there, admiring his wife’s sculpted body, now that she had regained her weight. However, she still felt bad about her body.

'She didn’t even inflate like a balloon,' he thought. 'Jimena can be so exaggerated sometimes.'

From Pablo’s perspective, the pregnancy had suited her well—her muscles had toned, making her look curvier and more attractive.

At that moment, he realized just how beautiful she was and regretted the lack of attention he had given her. He loved how she looked in that white robe, with her long, messy blonde hair, giving her a wild, sensual allure.

She glanced at him, but he didn’t move. Instead, he got lost in those blue eyes that had a sparkle that drove him wild. He felt like the biggest fool in the world for noticing another woman when he had such a beautiful wife at home—one he had been neglecting.

She quickly lay down and covered herself with the thick blanket, as if trying to hide from him. He, however, took off his shirt and stared at his reflection in the mirror.

"Do you like my muscles?" he asked, flexing his arms and chest. Jimena laughed, entertained.

"You’re so childish!" she exclaimed, giggling.

"At least you’re laughing," he smiled and kept making his silly gestures, causing her to burst out laughing.

Pablo sat down in front of Jimena, took the blanket from her up to her neck, and she looked at him, surprised by his actions, especially when he took her hand and pulled her toward him, sitting her on his lap.

"What are you doing?" she asked suspiciously. She didn’t remember the last time he got so close to her.

"You’re beautiful, Jimena," he whispered, gently caressing her cheek as he stared directly into her eyes. She looked at him incredulously, sadness in her blue eyes.

"I’m not beautiful anymore, Pablo." Her eyes filled with tears. "I’m sorry..." Tears streamed down her face. "I shouldn’t have pressured you into marrying me; I... was scared. I didn’t want to be alone in this. Now you have to deal with a wife you don’t love. I understand if you’re unfaithful; I know you have your needs... needs I can’t fulfill because I disgust you." She let out a sob.

"What the hell are you talking about, Jimena?" He looked at her offended. "I’m not unfaithful, and you don’t disgust me."

"If you’re not unfaithful, then how have you been all this time? We haven’t had sex in over a year. We’re not a couple; we’re roommates who share the responsibility of being parents."

"I’ve endured it just like you," he lifted her chin. "You have your needs too."

"I think I should set you free, Pablo," she suggested, her voice trembling. "There’s no point in us staying together."

"Do you want to leave me?"

"No, but you want to leave me. You don’t love me, Pablo. I know it. You... don’t see me as a woman anymore."

"Forget that, please. I spoke without thinking. I’m an idiot who only knows how to say stupid things."

"But... I disgust you..."

"Of course not..."

"When you kissed me... you..."

"Jimena, I was in a hurry."

"Just excuses. You don’t touch me, you don’t kiss me, and we stopped making love, Pablo. That’s not healthy in a marriage. You don’t desire me anymore, and that’s why I feel guilty for keeping you trapped in this hell."

"Don’t say that, Jimena." He took her chin and kissed her on the lips passionately.

She responded immediately. She clung to him and stroked his hair as he bit her lower lip with passion, beginning to caress her body until the robe that had entranced him was gone.

Feeling her soft, warm skin on his chest drove him mad. He kissed her again, their tongues danced together, and their breaths became chaotic. Pablo lay her on the bed to have better access, able to kiss and touch every inch of her skin.

Her moans were music to his ears, and it was then that he realized how much he missed being so intimate with his wife. After he delighted in making her gasp with pleasure with his mouth and hand, he entered her with slow thrusts that gradually intensified as the pleasure became more delicious, and his body demanded more. After so long, both trembled with their bodies intertwined, drenched in sweat.

"Wow!" He pulled away from her, lying on his back as he tried to recover his breath. "That was... " He looked at her playfully. "Why did we stop doing this?"

"Because we’re idiots!" she answered with a playful exclamation, and then they both burst into loud laughter.

"Pablo..." Jimena suddenly sat up, giving him a full view of her bare torso, a sight that delighted him, thanks to the sensual image she presented.

"Yes?" he responded, still staring at her in awe.

"We didn’t protect ourselves," she said, terrified. He sat up in a single motion and turned pale.

"Aren’t you on birth control?"

"No... We never had sex after we got married, so I didn’t see the point in it."

"Shit!" He scratched his head, nervous. "Not again."

"What do we do?"

"I don’t know, Jimena, but I can’t handle another kid. If you get pregnant, I’ll throw myself off a bridge!" he said, his eyes full of horror and a huge knot in his chest.