Текст книги "Fusion"

Автор книги: Tessa Teevan

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

I’D NEVER FORGET HOW it felt when Ava was placed in my arms. You hear all those clichés. Your heart is now living outside your body, you finally found your purpose in life, or whatever else the greeting cards say. I always thought that’s what they were. Clichés. But then I experienced it and knew that it was all so true.

Gazing down at Ava’s pink little face, her innocent eyes watching me, I was in awe. As my eyes were transfixed on my little girl, the magnitude of the moment rendered me speechless. I couldn’t believe that this beautiful, tiny human being was a product of our love. When Jeremy sat on the bed next to me and looked at his daughter for the first time, bursts of pride exploded in my heart.

Two days old and Ava Banks was already the most loved kid in the world. Visits from Mom, Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Banks, Jenna, Chris, Ty, and Lexi had all overwhelmed and exhausted me, but in the best possible way. As tired as I was, I couldn’t help but beam from the incredible amount of love and support Jeremy and I had and, in turn, Ava would have.

But it was right at that specific moment that I knew Ava was one lucky little girl. I’d just gotten out of the bathroom, having freshened up for our impending release. Jeremy was sitting in the rocking chair, holding our tiny bundle of joy in his arms. His expression was a mixture of pure love and awe. While he was speaking in hushed whispers to our daughter, she was staring up at him with rapt attention. His forefinger stroked her soft baby skin, and when he leaned down to place a kiss on her tiny fingertips, I fell deeper in love with him. If I’d have had my phone, the picture I could’ve snapped would’ve been perfect for a greeting card.

“Who knew dads were so sexy?” I asked, breaking the silence.

His head lifted, his eyes meeting mine. “She’s so tiny,” he whispered.

I crossed the room, placed my hand on his shoulder, and peered down at them. “She looks good on you.”

“Just like her momma,” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

As if on cue, a nurse popped her head into the room. “Okay, Banks family. Ready to go home?”

After two days in the hospital, I was more than ready to get home and settled in as a new family of three. Jeremy and I’d spent weeks preparing the nursery. Not to mention two nights of not sleeping with Jeremy was two nights too many.

She went about her duties, giving us instructions and tips for the future. Jeremy listened intently, taking note of things here and there, and it was so damn cute how serious he looked.

Until we got to the sex part.

“Now, to be on the safe side, the doctor recommends at least six weeks until you engage in intercourse with penetration,” she said matter-of-factly.

I grinned and poked him in the side. “Hear that, Jeremy? Six. Long. Weeks,” I said, dragging out each word for emphasis.

“Six weeks?” he asked, incredulous.

“Doctor’s orders,” I replied.

Jeremy’s lips curved into a playful smile, and I could only imagine what he was thinking. His glance flicked between the nurse and me.

“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But what’d your dentist say?”

I woke with a start.

Something wasn’t right.

My breasts were heavy and swollen, begging for relief—it was past feeding time. I groaned, wishing I could put my pillow over my head and go back to sleep. Ava, thank the heavens, was a relatively good baby. Okay, I’ll be honest and brag a little bit. Ava was the best baby. My pregnancy had been stellar—not a lick of morning sickness—and for the most part, she only woke through the night when she was hungry. But I was still exhausted beyond belief. Not getting more than three hours of sleep at a time thanks to my daughter’s appetite, I was starting to feel like the walking dead.

It was a small price to pay for the joy she brought to our lives though. A price I’d pay time and time again. Hell, even though she was only four months old, Jeremy was already talking about having another one.

Something I was getting pretty close to giving in on.

Just as I rose to feed Ava, I realized what was wrong. His side of the bed was empty, and he still had two hours before he had to be up for work. I smiled to myself. I was in charge of the night feedings, but sometimes, Jeremy still snuck in there.

We’d decided I’d stay home while Ava was a baby—at least, for now. Jeremy’s real estate business was more than enough to support the family, and we were comfortable. So I usually let him sleep at night because I could catch little naps here and there during the day. And even still, on nights like tonight, when I’d barely kept my eyes open through the latest episode of Criminal Minds, I knew exactly where Jeremy was.

When I padded down the hall and peeked into Ava’s nursery, my heart melted. I’d seen the sight in front of me a thousand times, but it never got old. Jeremy had always been sexy to me. But that right there? It was the most arousing thing I’d ever seen. There’s nothing like a hot, muscular man holding a tiny baby in his arms. Except for when the hot, muscular man holding a tiny baby in his arms was whisper-singing the most inappropriate song to her little ears.

An empty bottle sat on the bookshelf next to him, and thanks to the nightlight, I could see that Ava’s eyes were drifting closed. Jeremy’s voice softened, and he slowly rose. That’s when he saw me. I held a finger to my lips, and he nodded. Then he placed Ava in her crib and quietly shuffled to me. Before I knew what he was doing, he swept me into his arms and I had to hold in a squeal.

He took me down the hall to our bedroom and sat down. Then he lay back and rolled onto his side. The entire time, he kept me close to his body, and now, we were face-to-face.

“You know you don’t have to do that,” I told him, placing my hand on his jaw and enjoying his rough stubble. “I do appreciate it, but I also know you need your sleep.”

“Sierra,” he whispered, pulling me closer. “I could lie and say it’s for purely unselfish reasons, but it’s not. Sure, I think you need more sleep and I enjoy helping out, but it’s more than that.”

I gazed at him. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t really know to explain it,” he said. “It’s like…I spend all day running from one property to the next, and I’m always on the go. I come home to an amazing wife, a beautiful little daughter, and I spend my evenings with you both, playing with her, playing with you. And then we go to bed. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. In the best fucking way.” He smiled.

“Doesn’t sound so bad when you put it that way,” I whispered.

“It’s not. Not even close to bad. It’s amazing. I love it. I love our life, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. But there’s just something about sitting in that rocking chair at three in the morning, staring down at this tiny person you made. No sounds but her sucking from the bottle full of milk that comes from these,” he said, cupping a full breast.

I winced, but his sentiment was so beautiful I couldn’t interrupt him.

“Those are the moments when it really hits me. How beautiful my life is. Those quiet moments where I slow down and take it all in, counting every single one of my blessings.”

I knew exactly what he meant. That happiness in the stillness. In the quiet. It was everything. Sure, the hustle and bustle of life was exhilarating, but sometimes we forgot to slow down and smell the baby powder.

“Then take those moments, Jeremy, any time you need. They’re yours,” I whispered. “You deserve them.”

His hand slid down and squeezed my hip before moving to the small of my back and settling there. “You gave that to me, baby.” He paused, and my breath caught as his eyes searched mine. “The day you said, ‘I do,’ I thought I was the luckiest man in the world. I thought I had the whole world. And I did. I still do. It’s just… It’s a little different now. You’re not just my world, baby. You’re my fucking sun. And Ava? She’s my moon. Without the two of you, I’d have no light in my life. I’d be incomplete. Hell, I wouldn’t even exist anymore. With the two of you, I have everything, and my world can keep on spinning.”

Tears were streaming down my cheeks by the time he was done. My big, goofy husband had his sweet moments. This one? This one trumped all the ones that had come before. To the point that I was rendered speechless. So, instead, I let my actions speak for me and set about giving Jeremy his sun.

And maybe…just maybe another moon.

2010

“THAT WAS AMAZING,” I gushed as I rested my head on the headrest in Jeremy’s truck. My brain was fuzzy from the margaritas, but I was drunker from the experience than from the tequila.

Jeremy snorted, and when I glanced over at him, he shook his head and scoffed.

“I get serious husband points for what I just sat through,” he told me.

I gave him a tipsy grin. Little did he know, he’d earned much more than husband points for this.

“You know you enjoyed it just as much as I did. Your legs were shaking, just itching for you to be able to jump up on stage and show those men how Jeremy Banks breaks it down,” I teased.

He shook his head again. Then he pinned me with a sexy grin and then let his eyes drift down to my V-neck T-shirt. They rested on my cleavage and then rose to meet my eyes again.

“Serious husband points,” he emphasized.

So, as he pulled onto the highway, I slid across the bench seat, palmed his erection with my hand, and proceeded to give him what he’d earned.

We’d just spent the night celebrating my twenty-sixth birthday in the best way possible. With the Backstreet Boys.

Yup. My dear husband had surprised me with tickets to my favorite ’90s boy band. Sure, it might have been 2010 and they were pushing—and possibly passing—forty, but those guys could still bring it. And the sold-out crowd proved it, too.

I was still reveling in the night when we walked into the house. Jeremy grabbed a beer, and I followed him into the living room, smiling at the sight before me.

Lexi was, naturally, sitting on the end of the couch with a book in her hand and her husband’s head in her lap. Ty was stretched out, with Ava lying on his torso, both of them fast asleep. She didn’t even notice us until I pulled my phone out and snapped a picture.

She gave us a smile. “How was the concert?

I beamed.

Jeremy groaned.

Then we spoke simultaneously.

“Amazing.”

“The worst three hours of my life.”

I shot him a look, and his frown turned into a grin. He looked back at Lexi.

“But it was so, so worth it,” he amended, and I beamed once again.

“How was Ava?” I asked as Jeremy lifted our daughter from her uncle’s chest.

“She found the Scarface DVD and cried until Ty finally put it on,” she said, shaking her head then raising an accusing eyebrow at Jeremy. “Then, she called me a filthy animal when I’d kissed her goodnight.”

“Hey! What are you looking at me like that for?” Jeremy asked, innocence on his face. His protest, however, was futile, because a second later, he busted out laughing. “It’s not my fault she has good taste in movies. Plus, she has ears like an eagle and remembers everything. She’s my little parrot, but she’s also a ninja. A parrot ninja. She hides and hears. She’s sneaky.”

“She’s going to be trouble,” Lexi warned with a smile, telling us something we were well aware of.

Jeremy was right. Ava wasn’t even quite two years old and I’d already been mortified when she’d pointed and called the mailman sexy.

Jeremy just laughed, ruffled my sister’s hair, and headed down the hallway to put Ava in her crib. Ty shifted in his sleep, and I glanced at my sister.

“He’s so good with her,” I said.

She simply nodded.

“You’ve been married nearly as long as Jeremy and I have. When are you going to give Ava a cousin?”

A shadow crossed her features, and something began to burn deep down in my belly. Before she could respond, Ty’s voice surprised me.

“What time is it?” he asked sleepily. Yawning, he blinked his eyes open. “Oh, hey, Sierra. How was the concert?”

I smiled even though I was troubled by whatever had just happened with my sister. “It was great.” It was my turn to yawn. “Thanks for watching Ava. I hope she wasn’t too much of a hellion tonight.”

He sat up and shook his head. “That kid… She’s something else,” he laughed, and I joined.

“She’s her father’s daughter,” I admitted.

“I’ll give you that.” He leaned over and kissed Lexi on her cheek. “Ready, babe?”

The look that had been on her face disappeared, and she turned to give her husband a knowing smile. “Of course. After all, as the song goes…”

His eyes lit up as they slid from his sister to me. “Who needs candles and cake…” he sang and stood, pulling Lexi up from the couch. His hand slid to her ass as he drew her into his side. Then his eyes danced with amusement as he sang the R&B song. “‘Birthday sex.’”

Jeremy walked into the room as Ty was finishing the song, and when he heard the words, he stopped in his tracks, his own eyes lighting up. “If I’d have known Ty was going to serenade us, I wouldn’t have gotten those tickets. Although this is kinda weird, you being my brother-in-law and all that. In fact, if you were any other man, I’d probably kick your ass for even thinking about sex while looking at my wife.”

“Banks, have you ever kicked anyone’s ass?”

Jeremy grinned, giving Ty his answer. “I’m a lover, man, not a fighter. Plus, this face is way too pretty to be punched.”

“Pretty?” Ty challenged.

“Fuckin’ beautiful,” Jeremy answered, and I silently echoed his sentiments.

“Okay, boys. As much as I’d love to stay and watch you verbally spar, I think we should probably get out of here and leave them to it…” Lexi trailed off.

“To do it,” Ty quipped.

Lexi groaned even though she smiled. “And, with that, we’re going. Have a good night, guys. Happy birthday, Sierra,” she said as she crossed the room and gave me a hug. “Love you.”

I returned the hug and maybe gave her an extra squeeze. “Love you, too.”

As soon as Jeremy closed the door behind them, he leaned back against it. “So…birthday sex, huh?” he asked, his gaze heated.

“Who needs candles and cake when I have that?” I said, waving my hand up and down.

“Fucking right,” he murmured.

My desire grew as he tugged his T-shirt over his head, revealing lean muscles. My mouth watered as he did a little striptease with his shorts then slowly slid his boxer briefs down his legs.

When he stood up straight, he held his arms out wide. “Happy birthday, baby,” he grinned. “I was saving the best show for last.”

A beautiful sight, that’s for sure. Jeremy, tan from hours working in the garden, his muscles lean and toned from helping Ty with his side job of flipping houses. He might have been the one selling the homes, but he was hell with a hammer.

In more ways than one.

And, now, I wanted him to hammer into me.

I was drunk on tequila and boy bands, and I wanted Jeremy in a fierce way. Much quicker than he had, I performed a striptease until I was completely naked in my living room. The lust in his gaze was all I needed. He stumbled back a step when I launched myself at him.

“Fuck me or lose me forever!” I announced as I wrapped my legs around his legs.

He was just as ready as I was. My hands gripped his shoulders as he pushed me against the wall and lined his cock up against my entrance. As much as I wanted to slam down onto him, I let him maintain control. I held my breath as he slid into me, inch by glorious inch, until he was buried deep inside.

Oh yeah, there was something to be said about birthday sex.

Hell, every time I had sex with Jeremy was the best.

He retreated and drove into me with a cadence that had me in a frenzy in seconds, and I came faster than I ever had before. I was sure Jeremy had just broken some sort of record. And I was just about to tell him this when he pressed a sweet kiss to my forehead.

My legs tightened around his waist, drawing him in deeper, riding him until he swelled inside me, ready for his own release. Then he gave it to me.

“Happy birthday,” he repeated.

I released a sigh of pleasure and smiled down at him. “You’ll never have to get me another gift again. As long as I have your cock, I have it all,” I informed him.

He grinned and cocked an eyebrow. “Well, that’s good to know. Considering your pussy is the goddess who owns me, you never have to worry about not having it. I’m at your beck and call, baby. You can have me twenty-four-seven.”

“Will you fan me and feed me grapes whenever I ask?”

“Yup.”

“Bathe me when I’m feeling lazy? Massage my skin? Wash my hair?”

He stood back, and his hands held my waist as he lowered me to the floor and gazed down on me. “Consider me your own personal servant.”

“Can I bother you for a massage?” I asked, hopeful.

“I think that can be arranged. Go lie down, baby. I’ll get the wine and the oil.”

As I walked down the hall, I couldn’t help the smile that played on my lips.

Backstreets boys, awesome sex, and a massage?

I was one lucky woman.

Not that I needed the reminder, but still.

Even though I should’ve been sated from our wall sex, I wasn’t. Round two was on the horizon—as soon as his hands caressed my skin with his sensual massage.

“Happy birthday, baby,” he whispered against my bare skin, the stubble on his cheeks sending pleasurable sensations down to the tips of my toes.

By the time he was done, I was practically quivering with need from the way he’d worked my body over. I whimpered when he rose from the bed, missing his warmth of his naked chest on top of my back. I rolled to the side and propped up on an elbow as he left the room. Then he returned with an oddly shaped box in his hand.

Sitting up, I frowned when he drew near. “What’s this?” I asked.

He handed it to me. Something wicked gleamed in his eyes, which caused my curiosity to grow.

“Happy birthday, Sierra,” he repeated.

“You already got me tickets to the concert, Jeremy.”

“Consider this a mutual gift, then,” he responded then gestured to the box.

I crossed my legs and tore at the paper, tilting my head to the side when I saw what it was. I’d read enough erotic novels to have an idea of what this was, but still. I had to ask.

“An orthopedic bed wedge?” I asked. “What are you trying to say?”

“I want to grow old with you, Sierra. This is a token of my promise that I will love you until we’re old and gray. When our bones are creaky and our skin is wrinkled, I’ll still wanna bang the fuck out of you. I hear those things work well in the bedroom,” he said, wagging his eyebrows.

I couldn’t contain the laughter that bubbled up. “That’s one of the sweetest things you’ve ever said to me. When your balls are shriveled and you need Viagra, I’ll still ride your cock. As long as my hips can handle it, of course.”

“Baby, with you I’ll never need a little blue pill. And you better start drinking more milk. Your hips need to be strong.” His eyes gleamed with wicked delight as he leaned over and gave me a kiss. “I love you.”

My laughter died down. I smiled at him and pulled him on top of me so our naked bodies were aligned. I used my free hand to guide him to my core, and he sank into me without hesitation.

“I love you, too,” I whispered.

Sure, I’d already gotten my birthday sex, but I hadn’t nearly gotten my fill. Making love with Jeremy was one of my favorite pastimes. Every time, he met my needs. Hell, he exceeded them. And then he bought me an orthopedic bed wedge to use as a sex toy…

I couldn’t not be with him again tonight.

Unlike in the hall, Jeremy loved me slowly. Surely. Sweetly. So deliberately, his movements methodical while his thumb stroked my clit.

God, I loved him.

“I want it, Jeremy,” I said, breaking the silence as I wrapped my arms tighter around his back, drawing him in deeper.

“What do you want, baby?” he coaxed, stilling inside me. His body covered mine, and he braced himself on his elbows, bringing one hand up to push my bangs out of my face. His eyes were intense, swirling like the richest chocolate milk and gazing at me as if I held the answer to all of life’s greatest mysteries. “Tell me what you want.”

“The moon,” I whispered, my belly fluttering.

It’d been a while since we’d talked about trying, and even longer since I’d tracked my cycle. We’d tried for months right around Ava’s first birthday, and after months of disappointment, we were too stressed, too dejected after every month of my period coming, so we stopped. Not having sex, of course. But I stopped the tracking and the temperature taking, and the anxiety melted away. We’d try again when the time felt right, and that time felt like now.

“You want the moon, baby?” he asked.

“I…I do, Jeremy. I want the moon with you.”

He withdrew from me at a painstakingly slow pace that had me whimpering when he circled his hips, the friction electrifying my clit. He rose from the bed and grabbed the bed wedge before lifting my hips to place it underneath me.

“What are you doing?” I asked, breathless.

Jeremy was silent as he took hold of my ankles, set them on his shoulders, and repositioned himself between my legs. The tip of his cock nudged against my entrance. As he pushed in slowly, he locked eyes with me, his expression a mixture of both lust and love.

“I’m giving my girl what she wants,” he said.

Six weeks later, we found out he’d succeeded. Jeremy had given me another moon.