For the Love of Us

by Kaylee Rose

  He knows me so well. I’ll show him the journal I’ve been adding to over the years. Maybe we can read it together, adding more as we explore the new us.

  Before I can answer he asks, “Go on, tell me what else did you plan?”

  I know what he's talking about. He saw the contents of the bag when he found the butt plug. The one that’s still inserted back there.

  “I bought that stuff because I’d love to experiment more. I don’t expect to do everything tonight, but I’m ready to try new things. Do the things we didn’t do in our twenties since we were so young, and you are such a gentleman, never wanting to push me.”

  He looks up, like he’s thinking hard about what I just said. “How ‘bout we start with this. Tell me a fantasy you have? Just one.”

  One fantasy—uh. I’ve been fantasizing all day so this shouldn’t be that hard. The blow job one? Well we kind of did that already. Maybe a drive somewhere dark for a re-do of truck sex? Oh, what about the cops and robbers dream I have at least once a week? I stashed away one of his old patrol uniforms somewhere. It will have to wait until I find it.

  No, I want this to be fantastic, like a grand re-opening. Something we haven’t been able to do with our children around. There is a lot, but my creative brain is on empty.

  “I’ve done all the planning for tonight. Maybe you should come up with something. I set this stage, it’s your turn to write the play.”

  I practically see butterflies and rainbows dancing around as I pass Brad the reins for the rest of our evening together.

  “I accept that challenge. Let’s head to the shower first, then we can get dirty all over again.”

  “Okay but you have to know, our bathroom is a dangerous place. I almost died in there earlier.”

  “What the hell are you talking about? How did you almost die?”

  I re-enact my near-death experience and Tina’s lifesaving efforts.

  “I slipped getting out of the bath and Tina almost had to do CPR to revive me. Well, not really, but you know how clumsy I am. I slipped on the tile and thought for sure I was on my way to the pearly gates. I’m fine, but my butt is twice as sore after those smacks you gave me earlier.”

  “First, I’m glad you’re ok. Second your ass seems perfect to me. Third, that precious plug is still waiting to be played with, princess. Now let’s hit the shower and see what the acoustics are like in the master bath.”

  “Oh, and don’t forget about that wonderful shower head you installed. Maybe it’s time to give it a try too and what about….”

  “Slow down, cowgirl, we can’t do everything tonight. I’ll take over from here. Okay?”

  Brad bends down, lifting me up over his shoulder and swats my ass once more. “And that’s just so you don’t forget, I love you, Callie. Forever.”

  “I love you too.”

  While Brad carries me to the shower, I think back to yesterday morning when this plan was formed. In my attempt to get Brad to notice me, I was able to see him more clearly too.

  Marriage isn’t easy. Keeping things fun and new when you’ve been together forever takes a lot of effort. I’m not expecting perfection, but what we’ve started tonight is a step in the right direction.

  In the end, fighting to keep our love alive was a risk, but I took it, and I found the us I was searching for.

  Epilogue

  3 Months Later

  Life in the Thompson house has gone through some major changes. Not just sexually, but the everyday things too.

  The tears and anxiety that plagued me months ago have been replaced with laughter, passion, lust and love.

  We both try, planning special nights and sometimes mornings.

  We recently had our own date night but didn’t need to leave home. Brad spread pillows and blankets in the center of the living room floor. We watched TV and ate buckets of buttery popcorn and handfuls of our favorite candy. Who needs to leave the house for a good time? Besides, we could have been arrested for the things we did during the intermission.

  Life changes as you get older. You can choose to sit back and go with the flow or make it exciting and new. We chose the exciting route.

  I shared my sex journal with Brad one night while lying in bed. Reading it together for the first time was so exciting. We jumped out of bed, drove down a back road in the middle of the night and had a repeat of the truck sex we had all those years ago.

  Our boys noticed a difference when they came home to visit. They said we seemed happier than they’ve seen us in years. Brad pulled both boys to the side and with a wiggle of his brow, proudly announced they would be wise to call before coming over if they didn’t want to be scarred for life.

  Brad’s laughter shook the house between the gross, Dad and that’s our mom protests. But it worked as we now get lots of calls before they visit and the drop-in laundry has finally stopped.

  It took them a few visits before they could look me in the eye again. I guess imagining my parents going at it all over the house would creep me out too.

  Oh, I almost forgot about the secret package Tina found for me.

  The morning after our reconnection, I handed Brad a simply wrapped box with a card on top. He opened the envelope with care, reading my words out loud. “Thank you for always taking care of me.”

  After staring at the ceiling to reabsorb the emotional tears he’ll never admit to crying, he tore through the paper like a little boy at Christmas. Folded neatly inside the box was a brand-new pair of USC sweats. He rolled on the floor, cracking up at my silly gift.

  When he finally caught his breath, I told him to look under the pants. Tucked inside, a little blue box with a white ribbon was a box of matches and a folded hand-written note.

  Burn the old ugly sweats and we can check sex next to a campfire off the list.

  I’ve never seen Brad build a fire so quickly before that night.

  It’s Thursday, and I’m waiting impatiently, tapping my manicured nails on the glass tabletop in Java Spot.

  My coffee buddies arrive one by one, stopping to grab their drinks. They all say hi to Jack before taking their seats. With the extra bodies, we had to move to the back of the shop.

  Lily, from the dress store, now opens a little later on Thursdays, giving her the girl-time she always wanted. With our urging, she’s gone on a few dates but hated every one of them. I’m her fake emergency, get out of this date now, call. She’s ready to give up. I have something up my sleeve I think she’ll like.

  Jenni from the makeup counter and Lily’s niece, Angie, joins us when their college schedules allow. Their youthful behavior is laced with a maturity most women in their twenties have yet to master. I recognize a bit of Tina and me in their banter. I see a friends forever bracelet in their future.

  Tina wouldn’t miss our coffee date for the world. She loves having these ladies with us. Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed something different about my best friend. Tina’s bright smile has dimmed and her eyes have lost their shine. She’s withdrawn and quiet, happy to listen instead of chiming in with ideas and her usual positive spin on life. Something has her in a dark place and I won’t stop until I figure out who stole my BFF’s sunshine.

  My plan to get Brad to notice me was a success. This random team of women helped me get my life back together. Without their help I may not have found my happily ever after. My bond with them is strong, supportive and I love each one of them.

  Even with the darkness she’s fighting, Tina still leads our coffee therapy, holding hands to diffuse our negative energy. We take turns bitching about our frustrations, and of course we talk about sex. Lots of sex.

  That was another reason we moved to the back of the shop. The geriatric coffee crowd is definitely not ready for our X-rated conversations, and oh, man, the conversations we have should be written into a book. You would never believe the things we share.

  Acknowledgments

  To my husband and sons, without your love and support, I would never have had the cou
rage to publish this book. You always believe I can do anything I put my heart into, even when I can’t see it myself. Thank you for understanding what I need to be happy.

  Zane Michaelson, thank you for taking a chance on this redhead blogger and reminding me everyone starts somewhere. Your gentle nudge is what I needed to move forward.

  Gloria, thank you for your friendship and for being the other half of Double Trouble Book Club. You are the organized brain, I’m the silly entertainment and somehow it just works.

  Carol, your help while navigating through the book world is invaluable. I will never be able to thank you enough for all you do. More importantly, your friendship is precious to me.

  Even though we are thousands of miles apart, I’m always here for you.

  Maggie Jane Schuler, you are the mild to my wild side. I will get you to cross over someday. Thank you for guiding and encouraging me from the beginning. The lessons you’ve taught me will be carried into every book I write. How lucky am I that I get to call you my friend.

  Sharon Payne-Pennington, the reader who saw a shy, inexperienced blogger and decided to support me unconditionally. Thank you.

  Kat Flores, it all started with a bookmark. Who’d have thought we would become confidants and great buddies? Thank you.

  Michelle Cooper, my nosey Aussie. Thank you for believing in me and laughing at my corny jokes. I’m glad I can make you smile. Someday you’ll have to show me around Australia.

  To my editor Mina, I am forever grateful for your patience while I slowly learned the editing process. The extra time and effort you put into making me a better author was more than I could ever ask for. Thank you for kicking my butt when I needed it and cheering me on when you saw my improvements. You’re tough, but you have a huge heart. My thank you would’ve been longer, but I didn’t want to disappoint you and overwrite it. LOL

  To Cynthia Krietz, Crystal Albright, and everyone who shared my book, thank you.

  To all of the members in Reds Erotic Bookshelf. You have given me the courage to share this story. You are more than a group of readers. You are a family I am proud to be a part of. That includes you Official Timekeeper.

  THANK YOU

  ~Kaylee ‘Red’ Rose

  xoxo

  About the Author

  Kaylee Rose lives in Northern California with her very patient husband. Together, they have four amazing sons.

  When she isn’t writing, Kaylee is supporting the indie author community with her blog, The Redhead’s Romance Readers Book Blog, and planning ways to take another vacation, probably to Disneyland.

  For more information or just to touch base with Kaylee, you will find her at:

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