Текст книги "The Dare"

Автор книги: Rachel Van Dyken

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Chapter Thirty-five

"Sorry." Grandma dabbed her eyes. "I just love that part." She blew her nose loudly and shook her head. "It seems true love finally does win in the end, doesn't it, Gus?" She stood and yawned. "Lovely talk. We'll have to do it again sometime."

"Sit."

"But I told you everything I know."

"Sit. Now."

Grandma rolled her eyes but sat.

"The ending. I need to know where this story ends, because where this story ends tells me where you end. In prison? Or in the free world."

Jace

I would be content holding her for the rest of my life. It had taken me awhile to work out the kinks. After all, taking more vacation? After being gone for a week? It wasn't sitting well with people, but I'd worked my ass off the last fourteen days, so I could do this with her, so I could go to Seattle and sweep Beth off her feet the way she deserved.

I was planning on staying until she relented. I went as far as to buy a Thor costume in hopes it would sway her plan. If that didn't work, I was going to have to resort to wine, and lastly Benadryl.

"What's going on?" a female voice demanded.

I pulled away from Beth and smiled as Grandma slowly walked into the waiting room.

"Dancing." Beth sighed happily.

I kissed her head.

Grandma's eyes narrowed. "And you two are… reunited?"

"Yes," I answered for both of us.

"And the child?"

"For the last time, I'm not pregnant!" Beth shrieked.

"But, honey bear, do you even remember your night with this one? For all you know, he could have put on a raincoat and chanted around the bed before he rutted you—"

"Oh, good Lord, did you say Rut?" Jace half whispered.

"It's what animals do, and we are animals."

"NO." Beth shook her head. "No, we aren't."

"At any rate, I'd get checked." Grandma sniffed. "Besides, I need more great-grandchildren."

I wasn't about to explain that technically they wouldn't be her great-grandchildren I had a feeling that there wasn't a way I was going to permanently exorcise her from our lives, so I may as well go with it.

"Oh" Grandma clapped, "and I'm happy to announce that Char is just fine! Low blood sugar! Pregnancy messes with you."

"So, she is pregnant?" Jake was probably scared shitless.

"Yup." Grandma beamed. "Grandchild number one, though I gave good ol' Travis an earful about how he clearly isn't doing things right in the bedroom, if Jake and Char are breeding first."

"Breeding?" Beth repeated under her breath.

"At any rate. I'm sure he's just fine now. I explained a few of the mechanics that I'm sure he was confused with. After all, a Grandma knows these things. To think he wasn't even aware of the best positions for conception! I sent him pictures."

"Of?"

"Kama Sutra." Grandma nodded "From the Google."

"Aw hell," I muttered.

"What?" Grandma shrugged innocently.

"Since everything's okay, I guess Beth and I will just go—"

First thought? Drink wine, followed by sex, more wine, more sex, no unplanned pregnancies, and hopefully I'd finally get to pull her hair. Thank God.

"Well, the media is having a frenzy. They watch poor Jake's house like it's Netflix. The story's already been leaked, wouldn't want you guys getting caught up in it."

"Oh." Beth's face fell.

"But never fear." Grandma straightened her jacket and smirked "I've got a plan." She turned the full force of her frightening gaze to me. "How good are you with driving vans?"

Chapter Thirty-six

"So you're saying he kidnapped himself?"

"That's what I'm saying."

"No drugs involved?"

Grandma shrugged. "That van has many uses. I may have hid the rufies under the seat to keep them from the feds, but really, Gus? I panicked!"

"So where is the senator? A reporter saw the van drive off. They saw you get in the van."

Grandma rolled her eyes. "Of course I got in the van. I promised them I'd take them to the airport!"

"The airport?"

"Yes." Grandma yawned. "Really it has been such a pleasure, and I do mean that, Gus, but I have better things to be doing rather than sitting here telling you love stories. If you don't believe me, call this number. I think by now," she checked her watch, "yes, by now the rest of the three days are up."

"Three days?"

"Of course." Grandma stood. "Jace promised Beth six full days of the fairytale, and she only got three. They're in Hawaii, you ass."

Jace

"You sure you're ready for this?" I asked, gripping Beth's hands in mine.

"Yes." She beamed. "I am."

"It's a big risk."

"It's worth it," she whispered.

"Well, then I guess there isn't anything more to say." I grinned. "Shit, shit!"

The donkey moved forward with Beth atop it. Perfectly content that if he were in a race with a turtle, he'd lose by a long shot. He made his way down the small aisle.

I decided to walk alongside Beth and the annoying little ass. It seemed right that it wouldn't be her walking toward me or me waiting for her, but us traveling on the journey together. Because sometimes, that's how love is. It isn't a man chasing a woman, it isn't a man storming the castle, and it isn't the girl waiting for love to happen.

It's two people making a commitment. It's two people realizing that they hold the keys to their own happiness in their own damn hands. The problem? Most people forget that they have the power to live the fairytale. I'd forgotten I had the power, and in the end, I'd been willing to walk away from my future.

Beth had forgotten too.

So we walked hand-in-hand. She on Donkey and I next to them, you know, just in case the little shit got spooked and took off running with my future bride on tow.

"I see you've found it." The ship captain's face lit up with a smile, helping Beth off the donkey and into the boat.

"Found it?"

"You're keiki."

"Keiki?" Beth repeated.

"Long story," I muttered, jumping into the boat.

The captain took us out into the middle of the water and turned off the engine.

"Alright, let's make this quick, shall we?"

"Not very romantic is he?" Beth winked.

"I told him to make it quick," I admitted.

"Why?"

"Because I couldn't care less about saying the words – I just want to show you, what you mean to me. I'm sick and tired of words, Beth. I've been using words my whole career. I think it's time for a little action, don't you?"

"Yes," she said breathless.

"Do you take this woman to be your bride?" The captain asked.

"Yes." My voice rang out loud and clear in the warm afternoon air. "I do."

"And do you take this man to be your husband?" The captain cleared his throat. "You don't have to take him, you know."

"I do." Beth grinned and then said "Thor" under her breath.

"With the power vested in me by the state of Hawaii, I now pronounce you man and wife!" The captain grabbed two beautiful leis and placed one over each of our heads.

"May your womb be fertile," he said happily.

"Um… let's not get carried away." I laughed nervously.

"Grandma specifically said that in order to break the curse, I had to give you a blessing." The captain grinned mischievously. "I bless you with children – lots and lots of children."

"Take it off! Take the lei off!"

"Let it go," Beth whispered. "After all, it's best to just go with it when it comes to Grandma."

"Fine," I grumbled, fingering the damn fertility lei.

"Look on the bright side." Beth wrapped her arms around my waist. "If getting married was going to help your polls, imagine what children would do. Plus, that means we get to have all the sex."

"Side note." I cleared my throat. "If you keep quoting Grandma, I'm going to need one of her magic blue pills in order to perform."

"Aw, no inspiration?"

"None," I grumbled.

"I'm pretty sure I can take care of that." Beth's hot mouth pressed against mine, her tongue coaxing my lips apart.

"Where to?" the captain asked.

I swept Beth into my arms and pointed back to the shore, not wanting to pull my mouth from hers for one damn second. I was going to love her, cherish her, and honor her, and I was going to damn well remember it this time!

"Alrighty, then." The captain chuckled. "Back to the hut it is."

Chapter Thirty-seven

"Hawaii? This whole time? Are you saying you've successfully evaded the FBI and put us on a wild goose chase, all because you wanted to give the senator time to…"

"Play." Grandma stretched "But, of course. Every couple deserves time to discover one another. And I gave them that time."

"But we're the FBI."

"And I'm Grandma." She winked. "It's best to know your place in the world. Oh, and be a dear." She sighed. "Tell the president to call me back when he has a free moment, such a lovely dear man."

The agent blinked and then stood.

The door to the room opened. "Let her go. Her information checked out."

"But—"

"Nadine, we are so very sorry for this inconvenience."

Grandma patted him on the back. "It really is nothing. I'm glad Gus and I could spend some time together. I do love a good love story."

He grinned as Grandma waltzed out of the federal building.

"She's insane," the agent remarked to his superior.

"That woman helped us win the Cold War. Insane does not even begin to describe her."

Beth

Jace slammed the door to the hut behind him and stalked toward me. His hands moved over my white dress and down my bare arms.

"Are you attached to any thing you're wearing?"

"What? Why?" I shivered.

"Yes or no?"

"No."

"Good."

With a rip he pulled the dress from my body. You've got to be kidding me. That crap happened outside of movies. I was witness to it.

Let that be a lesson to women everywhere: When your man looks like Thor, he has superpowers in the bedroom.

The dress fell to my feet, leaving me in nothing but my white wedge heels and my lacey underwear.

My entire body felt heavy with need.

He reached out and fingered the lace material, his fingers grazing my breasts, making my entire body ache with need. Jace's eyes darkened and then turned questioning. "And this? Are you attached to this?"

"N-no."

"Good." With a tug, he had my bra off and my panties in a bunch on the floor.

"Holy Thor."

"What?"

Crap on a stick! Did I just say that out loud?

"Did you just say Holy Thor?"

Instead of looking horrified, Jace seemed… I looked down… quite inspired at the thought. Apparently, visions of Grandma were long gone.

"Yes, yes I did."

"Hmm." He bit down on his lip and grinned. "I think I like it."

"Yeah?" I felt myself blushing. Not only was I standing in front of him naked as a jaybird, but I'd just totally turned our first sexual experience, that we would remember, into something mildly embarrassing.

I licked my lips nervously and waited for him to touch me.

He stared instead.

I was getting more and more fidgety. Why the hell did he get to keep his clothes on? I moved to cross my arms, but he jerked my hands away, his eyes drinking in every inch of my naked skin until I was ready to squirm. He made me want him by just looking; one gaze and I was ready to jump him.

"I would have remembered this – I should have remembered this." Jace traced the outline of my breasts and moved down to my hips, worshipping me with his hands as he pulled my body against his. "Drugs or no drugs, a man should never forget perfection."

"I don't remember either," I said shyly as I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I remember the cookies." Lame, someone shoot me now.

"You remember cookies, but not me?" He grinned.

"They were good?"

"I'll show you good."

"Show me great," I dared.

"I can do that."

He gently pushed me away and started doing a naughty striptease. Okay, so it wasn't naughty, but in my head it was, because every movement was slow, teasing me with glimpses of golden tan skin and rock-hard abs. I wanted to pinch myself.

By the time the last shred of clothing was thrown to the floor, I was almost panting.

And then he touched me.

Our mouths collided.

Yeah, we would have remembered this? Wouldn't we?

His hands dipped into my hair as his tongue drew lazy circles down my neck. My knees buckled just as he swept me into his arms and carried me to the bed.

I closed my eyes when his godlike body hovered over me. "I'm only going to go slow once." His face was strained. "And then I'm taking you in the pool."

"For a swim?" I said innocently.

"Right." His eyes darkened. "For a swim, followed by taking you in the shower, something I've been dreaming about since the day you pressed your naked body against mine."

I gasped when he pushed inside me.

"I'm not a patient man when it comes to you, and the way I see it, I have three whole days to drive you wild."

He pressed further.

I winced in pain.

And froze.

Jace's eyes widened. "Well, hot damn." He gave me a smug grin. "It seems all we did that night was eat cookies. How about that?"

"But—"

"So maybe I'll have to go a little bit slower."

"I'd rather you go fast." I winced even more.

Jace laughed. "How about I just make you forget?"

His mouth was on mine, and I was flying as his body fully joined with mine. Yes, yes. I would have remembered this. I would have remembered the way our bodies fit perfectly together. I would have remembered the way I wanted to cry with each movement, not out of pain but sheer pleasure.

"I love you." The friction of our bodies was seriously going to be the death of me; it felt too good. I thought I was going to explode.

Instead, I gave in, gave in to my husband, to my future, and joined with him in what was sure to be one of many times we worked on those great-grandchildren for Grandma.

Chapter Thirty-eight

"The coast is clear." Grandma checked her watch. "Tell me, dear, just between the two of us, did he perform well? If not, I managed to save a few of those nice little charts. I'd be happy to book you for a morning session where we can pow-wow on ways to better communicate with your body?"

"Bye, Grandma."

"But dear! Do you even know what you're doing?"

"We'll figure it out."

"Beth, really, be reasonable! This old bird has been around for ages! Trust me, I know the sex."

"I'm hanging up now."

"Oh well, I'll send some photos just in case you get confused about which parts go where. Hell, the first time I was in a bedroom I—"

Beth

Chuckling, I hung up the phone and shook my head. "So, that was Grandma." I laughed. "She said the coast was clear." I wasn't about to tell him about the advice she'd given me or the pictures that were going to traumatize my cell phone for life. Talk of Grandma had a way of making my husband less godlike.

Jace yawned and stretched out next to me, completely naked. Thank Thor.

"And?"

"She said that if you ever get elected president, she wants to make some guy named Gus your… vice-president?"

"Tell her I'll think about it." He smirked. "And what the hell does she mean if I get elected?"

"Aww..." I patted his firm stomach, "I'm sure she was teasing."

"Damn straight. I have to be president, if only for the purpose of making Brett's life a living hell."

"Let it go, babe."

"Nobody messes with my wife."

"I like the sound of that."

"Babe?"

"No."

"Wife?"

"That one." I sighed happily and patted his chest. "I think I'm ready now."

"Are you sure?" Jace's eyebrows drew together in concern. "I mean, it's normal to take a break, Beth. Really, I'll understand."

"Nope. It's time."

"Fine." He held up his hands in surrender.

"Cookie me."

Jace pulled a chocolate chip cookie from the box and placed it in my mouth. "Your wish is my demand. Damn, you have a nice mouth."

"You should know." I blushed.

"Yes, I should."

A piece of hair fell across my face. He brushed it away and chuckled.

"What? Do I have cookie on my face?"

"No. It's not that."

"What is it?"

"Can I pull your hair?"

"Will you wear that Thor costume you brought while pulling it?"

"Only as long as you wear the She-Ra one and pretend to drown while I save you and your cookies."

"Deal."

Epilogue

Five years later

"Damn it, Grandma! We said no ponies!" Jake looked about five seconds away from losing his mind.

Travis chuckled and took a swig of eggnog, not caring that his house was getting blown to shreds by four small children or that Grandma had, in fact, bought each child a pony. Two for Jake's twins, one for Travis's little girl, and one for Jace's little boy.

Grandma had said every child needed a pet.

Travis had been thinking more along the lines of a turtle or something. Not a horse. But arguing with Grandma was ridiculous – she'd always win. And he was done fighting; he was too exhausted after staying up with their two year old last night when she'd had a nightmare. To be fair, the nightmare had been Grandma's fault anyway. She'd let Arabella eat her weight in cookies, and sugar had a way of making her have bad dreams.

"How about I tell everyone a story!" Grandma shouted.

Travis winced.

Kacey gathered all the kids around in a circle, though it looked more like a corralling of adrenaline junkies. Sasha was pulling Taryn's hair, Arabelle was yelling fornicate — a word Grandma had mistakenly used a few minutes previous, and little George was eating popcorn off the tree.

"Come on, kids." Jace took pity on Kacey and helped her round them up while Grandma grabbed a storybook.

"Now." Grandma smiled, she was nearing ninety-two but still looked beautiful. "I'm going to tell you each a story. A special story about your mommies and daddies. You see, they weren't always married, a long time ago, in a land far, far away—"

"Portland." Travis coughed, earning a glare.

"In a magical land," Grandma's eyes narrowed, "there was this beautiful grandma who decided that her grandsons needed a bit of help. So she did what any grandmother would do. She created special stories for each one of them, even taking pity on Uncle Jace when he was sad."

"Why was he sad?" the eldest twin asked.

"Yes, why was he sad?" Beth said in an amused voice.

"That's easy." Jace smirked. "Aunt Beth ate all my cookies."

"Not the only thing she—"

"Grandma!" everyone shouted.

"Anyway, where was I?" She beamed. "Sometimes children, magic does exist. Love is just like magic. It takes special care to discover, but once you have it in the palm of your hand, it spreads throughout your heart and soul. When you find love, you have to hold on to it. You have to promise to never let it go."

The eldest raised her hand again.

"Yes, Sasha?"

"Grandma, what if we miss our magic? What if we don't get it on time? What if it passes us by and we don't notice! Grandma, what do we do when we can't find it?"

"Well, dear," Grandma patted her head, "that's easy. Grandma already knows where your magic is." She poked Sasha in the chest. "It's right here, and if all else fails, I'll always be around right there, watching, waiting, and helping you every step of the way."

"Promise you'll never leave?" She sniffled.

"Promise." Grandma winked. "And grandmas never lie. Besides," her sharp gaze snapped up to Travis, Jake, Kacey, Char, Beth, and Jace, "it seems my work here isn't quite done yet.