Author's note: This story was primarily written to instructions/suggestions from others. I hope they have enjoyed the result. But it is now time to move on.

Tommy left the envelope with 800 euros propped up against the vase on the hall-stand. After their night making love on the deck of the yacht, Barbara had asked Tommy to ring Henry and see if they could stay longer than the original week. She had been able to relax here, and Tommy had happily obliged her. They had extended their stay by three glorious weeks and, despite the seemingly insatiable hunger they had for each other, they had managed to visit local villages, sample some of the best restaurants, walk up to the waterfall and sail on the lake.

Annoyed by the implication that he was an easy mark, Tommy had refused to pay the exorbitant 'cleaning' rate for each week, especially after Henry had confirmed that Antoinette's primary function had been to entertain. Tommy had quickly corrected his friend's protest that he assumed Tommy knew what the house contained and was looking for company. "I love my wife, and do not need any other women," he had almost yelled down the phone, which had earned him a loving cuddle from Barbara.

Adjacent to the first envelope, he left one with another 50 euros for the blindfolds and fur-lined handcuffs they had packed in their cases.

"Maybe we should just buy our own," Barbara said as she looked at the envelope. "What will that woman think?"

"You know what Henry said when I rang to extend our stay."

Barbara laughed. "You looked so embarrassed and indignant."

"Do you blame me? Offering Antionette for a threesome." Tommy shivered.

"It might have been fun."

"Barbara!"

"I was joking." Barbara put her arms around him and nestled her face against his chest. "I could never share you."

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "You'll never have to."

"I know. I actually believe that now. Thank you."

"I'm going to miss this place, Barbara."

"Me too. Did you want to... one last time?"

They had returned to the playroom twice, once at his instigation and another at Barbara's insistence when Tommy had confessed that he enjoyed the heightened sensations when he was restrained and deprived of his vision. Listening to Barbara's breathing as she gently teased his skin with different objects and textures was a far bigger turn-on than the sensations themselves. While she had always been an enthusiastic lover, he knew she had always felt, despite his reassurances to the contrary, that because of her lack of experience she never satisfied him as thoroughly as other women had done. The mild bondage they had engaged in was new to both of them, and Barbara had explained how important it had been for her to experience something with him that he had never had with anyone else. For Tommy, sex had never been about power, but ceding control of their bodies to the other had given her confidence in her ability to please him which was having rewards in their lovemaking and relationship outside of the room.

He looked at her eyes. They were shining with need and an edginess that would drive him mad on the long drive home. "Yes," he said huskily, "I do."

Back in London, Tommy procrastinated three days before he broached the subject that had been on his mind for a couple of weeks. Even then he waited until she was snuggled in his arms in front of the television. "Do you want to go back to Dr Hewitt?" he asked, hoping it sounded casual.

She shook her head. "No. We should wait another couple of weeks. Just to see."

He brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I can count, Barbara. I know what you're hoping."

"I've been late before." Tommy understood not to press her. "If I am, I hope it was that night on the yacht."

Tommy kissed her gently. "Or that afternoon up at the waterfall. I can still see you standing naked under it, calling me to you like a siren."

"Didn't they lure sailors to their death?"

"Okay, bad analogy, but I'm helpless to resist you."

She looked up and smiled. "I'm glad. I... I just want to please you."

Tommy kissed her hair and nestled her closer. "You do, but it's so much more than sex, Barbara. I love you."

Barbara reached up and pulled his face down to hers then kissed him savagely. "But the sex is good too?"

"Hmmm. It's always wonderful with you."

Barbara put her hand on his thigh and used her thumb to tease him. "This show is boring. We could go upstairs."

Tommy muted the television and lifted her onto his lap. "Or we could stay right here."

Tommy watched Barbara carefully. Her face betrayed nothing, but her eyes did, at least to him. Dr Hewitt had his glasses perched halfway down the mountain chain of his nose. He glanced up once or twice but irritatingly gave no hints to his thoughts.

In the weeks since their return, Tommy had become convinced Barbara was pregnant. She had completely lost her taste for alcohol, and the idea of beer made her feel ill. At the same time, she was constantly hungry and had taken to eating roti for every meal. What really surprised him was how voracious she had become in bed. Two, sometimes three, times a night she would wake him by initiating sex. He considered buying little blue pills until he explained to Barbara that he was unable to keep up with her. Ever the practical woman, as long as they made love before retiring, she had simply started to demand other forms of servicing when she woke during the night. Tommy had been happy to oblige.

Finally, Barbara had agreed to see the doctor. He had confirmed their suspicions but had also warned against the risks of starting a family at Barbara's age. She had agreed to an amniocentesis, and now they held hands in a death grip while they waited for the results.

"Well?" Tommy demanded.

"The tests confirm that congratulations are in order Lord and Lady Asherton. There were no genetic abnormalities detected in your baby, and all the scans indicate everything is progressing normally. As long as we keep that blood pressure of yours under control, I expect a completely healthy pregnancy."

"Thank you, Doctor."

Barbara wiped her eyes and sniffed far too loudly, but Tommy did not care about decorum. He was going to be a father with the woman he loved. "Yes, thank you, doctor."

"Do you want to know the gender?"

"Yes." Tommy did not care what is was, as long as their child was healthy.

"No." Barbara had replied at the same time. She looked at him and shrugged. "I don't want to disappoint you."

"You know me better than that."

"Yes, but I know you're under pressure for a son, an heir."

"No, I'm not, and I won't have you pressuring yourself."

Dr Hewitt harrumphed. Red-faced they both turned and looked at him. "It's a boy, so there is no need to fret and put that blood pressure up."

"A boy!" Barbara's smile lit up the office. Tommy could almost feel her relief as she let out a long sigh. "That does make it easier."

Tommy put his hand on her slightly swollen belly. "It wouldn't have mattered."

She took his hand and held it against her. "I know, but it mattered to me."

"Well, it seems your holiday worked out Lady Asherton. I knew some gentle lovemaking in a calm environment would do the trick." The doctor was oblivious to the sly smiles the couple gave each other. If he only knew that their lovemaking had been far from gentle at times.

"Doctor?"

"Yes, Lord Asherton, it is perfectly safe for you to continue to have sex."

Tommy felt his face heat up until the skin felt tight. Barbara's smile was taut, and he thought she might begin to roar with laughter any second. "I was going to ask which hospital you recommended for the birth," he said trying yo muster as much dignity as he could.

Now Doctor Hewitt turned red. "Sorry, M'lord, that's what most fathers ask first."

Now both Tommy and Barbara had trouble keeping straight faces and so bid hasty farewells. Once they were in the lift, Tommy wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. "We're going to have a wonderful little baby."

Barbara nodded and smiled at him. "The look on your face when he mentioned sex. Do you think he knows we've been at it like rabbits?"

"Probably." Tommy looked down at her stomach. "Well little man, creating you has been interesting with everything from sperm samples and prostitutes to presumptuous doctors."

"Tommy!"

He looked up and smiled. "But it was worth all the embarrassment."

"It was." Barbara stroked his face then kissed him. "And you heard what the doctor said. Maybe we could stop the lift and..."

Tommy kissed her hard. "There might be cameras."

"There's a hotel. Next door. We could..."

"Mmmm." Tommy reached into his pocket and held up the blindfold. "We could."