Tears, shining in her eyes, glimmered back at him. Her face was lit with a smile that dazzled. Reaching up her small hand to cup his strong jaw, she gently rubbed the stubble.
“I’m all right, honey. That was so amazing. As though we were truly one person. One body. One soul.” Looking deeply into his gorgeous eyes, she leaned in to place a chaste kiss on his lips. “I love you, always and forever.”
He closed his eyes momentarily, realizing once again how lucky he was. “Love you back, doll.”
The darkness of the night had blanketed the city, casting shadows over the couple lying tangled in the sheets. Her body half draped over his, he pushed her hair back from her face. With her head on his shoulder, he smoothed his hand over her body, ending at her flat stomach. His long fingers splayed out over the area that nestled their baby.
She looked up into his face, seeing the love mixed with awe at the thought of the new life they created. Sighing, she said, “Honey?” She watched as his eyes moved back up to hers. “I don’t want to argue about my job. I know it shouldn’t be dangerous, but I aIso know that things are happening that have gotten out of control. I want to do whatever I need to do to stay safe.”
He released a breath slowly, feeling a sense of relief sweep over him. “I never want to take anything away from you. I just know I’d die if I ever lost you again.”
Her hand moved up from his arm to his face, cradling his strong jaw. “I’ve been talking to my supervisor about how to stay involved without actually running the center.”
“What did he say?” Jobe asked, hope building.
“I really like working with the women, Jobe. I like counseling them much more than trying to be the center’s administrator. I’ve talked to Rose and she’s agreed to continue to be the teacher when we make a move to a new location. If I can just be the social worker who counsels and maybe goes into the schools to see about counseling some of the girls there, then I’d be happier. And safer,” she added quickly.
His arms tightened around her body, pulling her in as closely as he could, not willing to have any space between their heartbeats. “Baby doll, I think that would be amazing.”
“I have found a place and I’m going to go see it tomorrow. It’s more on the edge of town, in a house that’s already zoned for this type of facility. It’s about the same size, although the bedrooms are bigger so we might be able to accommodate more women at a time.”
“This is just exactly what I needed to hear, Mackenna. I found out from a meeting at work that things are getting worse with the Sixers. More dangerous.” Leaning back, he said, “But you gotta know. Alvarez Security and I are on it. You’re not only the most important person in my life, but Alvarez’s priority mission right now.”
She felt guilty that she had put up such a fuss earlier, knowing that this was not about control but about keeping her safe. She recognized how hard this was for Jobe. “Oh honey, I’m so sorry that I’ve put you through this,” she cried. At his look of confusion, she added, “I know this is hard for you. Hard for you to not feel control.”
Giving a rueful snort, he said, “I’m honestly doing a lot better with that. I think it’s your love that has made that better…not worse.”
“Really?” she asked with a small smile.
“Yeah. When I was overseas, the idea of being in love and not being able to control anything, made me crazy. But now? I’m good. I’m dealing. I’m learning that I don’t have to control everything. And most of all, as long as you’re in my life…we got this, babe. We got this.”
He leaned down and pulled the covers up, nestling their bodies tightly together. The stars twinkled over the city skyline, the moon now high in the sky casting a glow about the room. As they slid into peaceful dreams, they both had the same thought on their minds.
As long as you’re in my life…we got this.
Chapter 20
The next evening found Mackenna and Jobe pulling up to his parents’ house with Penny in the back seat.
Looking over her shoulder, Mackenna said, “Mom, the Delaro’s are going to be so surprised at how much you’ve progressed since using the gym and pool at the new place.”
“Ah know,” Penny said, her lopsided smile exuding her pride. “An ah can speak so much bet-ta now.”
As usual, Rachel ran out on the porch and was down the steps before Joseph ambled out of the front door. She grabbed Penny in a hug before turning to throw her arms around Mackenna in an equally exuberant greeting. Finally turning to her son, she beamed up at his face as she wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, baby boy, to see you smile does this old heart so much good.”
“Let the man go, Rachel,” Joseph admonished, offering his son a shrug. Shaking his head as he shook Jobe’s hand, he whispered loudly, “You’d think your mom’s never seen you before, the way she carries on.”
A playful slap on his shoulder had Joseph turning around, pretending to be surprised that Rachel heard him. Jobe laughed as he threw his arm around Mackenna, ushering her into the welcoming home. They moved into the large kitchen, where Miriam, Rebecca, Hannah, her husband and their children were all gathered. Cooking for a lot of people was no challenge for Rachel and within a few minutes they had all heaped food on their plates and settled around the dining room table that had been extended by a cloth covered card table at the end.
Good food and good conversation flowed as the family enjoyed each other’s company. Miriam was pleased with Penny’s progress while Rebecca enchanted them with stories of her fourth-grade students. Hannah’s children ate quickly and then ran to the living room to play, leaving the adults to finish their meal.
Jobe and Mackenna continued to glance at each other, trying to decide on the right moment to tell their parents, but just when the time seemed right someone else would begin talking and the opportunity passed.
Joseph had been staring at his only son throughout the meal, knowing that Jobe was anxious. Not in the way he had been when he came home from the Army, but he noticed the way Jobe constantly sought out Mackenna’s hand underneath the table. And the way her eyes cut over to Jobe’s.
Mackenna finally rose from the table and grabbed her purse, still lying on the counter. Pulling out two small bags, she walked back over as Jobe stood as well. The others watched them carefully, uncertain what was happening. Looking up at Jobe, Mackenna gave a nervous smile and he answered her silent question with a nod.
“Mom, Rachel,” Mackenna began. “We wanted to give you two a little something, for…um…well, for just being great moms. We’d like you to open them together if you would.”
Jobe took the two gift bags from Mackenna’s hands and leaned over the table, offering one to Penny before giving one to his mom. “Mom,” he said softly, capturing Rachel’s gaze, “open it slowly, along with Penny.”
Rachel nodded, understanding that Penny needed a little bit more time to get the gift opened. She kept her eyes on Penny as she reached her hand into the bag at the same time. Both women felt a piece of cloth in the bottom of their bags and pulled them out together. Their eyes landed on baby bibs with the words, “World’s Greatest Grandma” printed on the front.
A quiet second of shock followed by shrieks of joy filled the room. Mackenna rushed to her mother as Rachel bounded out of her chair to throw her arms around Jobe. Joseph leaned back in his chair, fighting unshed tears as he held the gaze of his son over Rachel’s head. Jobe smiled at his father, accepting his nod of approval, as his mother continued to squeal.
Penny held her daughter tightly as tears ran unchecked down her cheeks. His sisters all moved to hug Mackenna as well, filled with questions of due dates and if they knew the sex yet.
Suddenly Rachel reared back looking up at her son. “You’re not married! You’ve gotta get married. No grandchild of mine is going to be born—”
“Rachel!” Joseph spoke sternly, never having raised his voice to his wife, instantly gaining her attention. “Our son’s come back to us, now. Lost him for a long ti
me, but he’s back. And with this beautiful woman who brought him back into her heart has now brought him back to us. So whatever they decide to do is good by me.”
Duly chastised, Rachel nodded her agreement. “Oh Joseph, you’re so right,” she agreed, but then turned to Jobe and said, “But you want to get married, right?”
Throwing his head back in laughter, he hugged his mother again before moving to Mackenna and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her back into his front. “Yes, we do want to get married. But we talked about it and we’ve agreed on doing things Mackenna’s way.”
The family all looked to her and she was glad that Jobe’s arms were tightly embracing her. Licking her lips, she said, “I just want to be married to Jobe. As soon as possible. No big wedding…just a simple ceremony with family and friends. That’s all. No dress, no cake, no big party. Just the people we love sharing the love we have for each other.”
She braced herself for the moms’ wails or the onslaught of protestations. She felt Jobe’s arms tighten as well, knowing his thoughts were the same. But all that met them were smiles.
“I think thas love-ly,” Penny said, standing to hug both Jobe and Mackenna.
“I do too,” Rachel agreed, smiling. “I think you two deserve to have all the happiness in the world.”
Letting out the breath she had been holding, she smiled back. “Thank you all. We were thinking about this weekend.”
Jobe looked at his dad and asked, “Pop, would it be okay if we had it in your back yard? We can get our friends here and have a justice of the peace.”
“Our minister will be glad to come, if you want him,” Rachel added, hope filling every word.
Mackenna smiled and, gaining Jobe’s approval, she said, “That’d be lovely.”
“I can bake a cake,” Penny said.
The women quickly pulled Mackenna out of Jobe’s arms and hustled the men into the living room so that they could begin planning. Within a half an hour, the simple foods and decorations had been decided on.
“Mom,” Mackenna said, gaining her mother’s attention away from Jobe’s sisters who were busy with food ideas themselves. “I’d like it if you’d walk me down the aisle.”
Smiling, Penny said, “Oh, bab-y girl, I would love that. You dad would be so proud.”
In the other room, the men listened as the women plotted and planned. Joseph went to his cabinet and poured a glass of dark red wine for Jobe, Daniel, and himself. He then turned to his son-in-law and said, “Daniel, you’re a good man. You’ve loved my Hannah and brought her healing. You’ve given us two beautiful grandchildren and I can only hope that Miriam and Rebecca find men as good as you.”
Jobe nodded to his brother-in-law as they took a sip. Then he turned to his dad as Joseph began speaking again, this time to him.
“Son, no man was prouder than me when you joined the Army and then when you graduated from Special Forces training. A family is always afraid, though, wondering if their child will return safely from a war. You did, but you weren’t the same. I worried, but just prayed that God would bring you back.” Lifting his glass again, he continued, “You were man enough to know what you had lost and willing to get it back. And that woman in there has brought you back to us. So my prayers have been answered.”
The men lifted their glasses once more, this time the lump in Jobe’s throat keeping him from tasting the wine.
“Pop? We’re not having any attendants, but Mackenna is going to ask Penny to walk with her and I’d be honored if you’d stand up with me.”
This time it was the lump in Joseph’s throat that kept him from answering. Instead he pulled his son into his arms, offering a hug as a response to Jobe’s question.
*
True to their wishes, the next weekend found all of their friends gathered in the Delaro’s backyard. The spring flowers in the flowerbeds provided the perfect backdrop. Miriam had hung Christmas lights in the trees over where the vows would be said. Borrowed card tables with white tablecloths and folding chairs were scattered around the yard. A long table held food that the women had prepared. Once the plans were out, Sherrie, Suzanne, Annie, Jennifer, and Annalissa all pitched in to provide dishes. Penny’s cake sat in the middle of the food-laden table, making the perfect centerpiece.
Annalissa brought her harp and at the designated time began to play Pachelbel’s Cannon in D, as the gathering turned to see Mackenna walking arm in arm with her mother down the makeshift aisle. Joseph reached out to place a steadying hand on his son, noticing that Jobe’s knees almost buckled at the sight of her walking toward him.
She was radiant in a long, cream colored dress, the sweetheart neckline showing off the pearl necklace that her mother had given her. Her reddish-blonde hair hung in waves down her back, with only the front pulled away from her face. Her eyes sparkled as she never took her gaze off of the man waiting at the end for her at the end of the aisle.
Handsome in his tailored suit, hair swept back, his face smiling at hers. For just a moment, her mind flashed back to seven years ago when she first saw him on the dance-floor. A younger version of the man in front of her. She quickly put that memory to rest, knowing that as much as she loved the man in the past, she loved the man that he had become even more.
Reaching his side, she smiled as she placed her hand in his. Within a few minutes, they had recited their vows of love, pledges of faith, and promises of forever. Jobe leaned down, placing a sweet kiss on her lips as they were declared husband and wife.
Then with a whoop, he scooped her up in his arms and swung her around while kissing her the way he had wanted to ever since he had seen her. “I love you, Mackenna Delaro,” he said, still pressing his lips against hers. The kiss lasted until the shouts from their guests pulled them apart and, smiling, they walked back down the aisle to the good wishes of their friends.
That night, back at their apartment having chosen to wait until the New Beginnings Center had moved before taking a stress-free honeymoon, he pushed her hair to the side as he slowly unzipped the dress. As it pooled around her feet, he held her hand as she stepped out, wearing a strapless cream bra and matching satin panties.
“One of us seems entirely overdressed,” she said, running her finger down his white shirt. He had ditched his jacket and tie at the reception, but she impatiently began unbuttoning his shirt while swatting his hands out of the way. Pulling it down over his shoulders, it landed on the floor, next to her dress. Running her hands down his naked chest, she felt each muscle underneath her fingertips as they trailed their way down to his trousers.
“Stand still, soldier-boy,” she ordered, as her hands fumbled with his belt.
He lifted his eyebrow at her, smiling at her command. I can play this game…at least for a few minutes. She maneuvered his zipper down over his engorged cock then leaned forward to slide the pants down his legs.
Unhooking her bra from the back, she let it land on the growing pile of clothes on the floor.
Palming his dick, the silky thickness filled her hand as she wrapped her fingers around and began sliding her hand up and down his shaft.
He groaned, throwing his head back, the roaring in his ears drowning out the sound of her kneeling in front of him. Startled when her mouth replaced her hand, his head jerked back down to see her on her knees at his feet. Watching her slide his cock into her warmth, her hands on his hips, he fought to hold still and not fuck her mouth. His fingers splayed out on her head, the silken threads of her long mane sliding through his fingers.
She worked his cock, swirling her tongue around the head before sliding his length back down as far as she could go. She felt his hands move from her hair and down to grasp her shoulders, gently pulling his dick out of her mouth before lifting her to her feet.
“You done being in control?” he asked, a grin on his handsome face.
She sneaked a peek up, seeing his amused expression. “Yeah,” she whispered.
“Good, ’cause tonight’s about me making love t
o my wife, and doll, it’s gonna be all about you,” he promised.
He lifted her in his arms, carrying her to the bed and laying her down after tossing the comforter back. Lying beside her, he caressed her body from her neck down to her full breasts. Slowly. Tortuously. His mouth trailing behind his hand, he moved his lips from the sensitive skin where her heartbeat pulsed at her throat to her rosy-tipped nipples.
As he sucked one in deeply, she gasped as the electric sensations vibrated throughout her core. Clinging to his back, she stroked the corded muscles that rippled underneath her fingertips. She felt his hand continue its downward path as she opened her legs for easier access.
Sliding his fingers through her moistness, he inserted a finger into her pussy then soon joined it with another finger, beginning a scissoring motion. Eliciting moans from her lips, he smiled as his teeth nipped her breasts.
Her hips rose off of the bed searching for friction and he chuckled as she pleaded, “Now. Please, I need you now.”
Rolling his body over on top of hers, his cock stood at attention at her entrance. Resting his weight on his arms, he looked down into her perfect face. He waited until her eyes met his, a smile curving the corners of her mouth.
“We gave our vows today in front of everyone,” he said, “but this right here is my promise to you. My heart is yours, Mackenna. All my love for all my life.”
With that, he slowly pressed his cock into her slick channel an inch at a time until he was fully seated, holding her gaze the entire time. Watching as the gradual curve of her lips formed a smile, taking his breath away.
“You have all of me, soldier-boy. Always and forever,” she whispered into the night.
With that, he pulled back out and immediately plunged in again, this time harder and faster. He felt her inner walls drag him back in every time he moved out, as though her body needed the contact. Her breasts bounced with each thrust and he leaned down to suck a nipple into his mouth, tugging slightly.
Jobe: Alvarez Security Series Page 20