by Susan Lewis
'Josh,' she sobbed only minutes later. 'Josh, I can't.'
'Ssh, you're there,' he told her.
She clung to him with arms and legs, helpless in the onslaught of so much sensation. He was thrusting in hard and fast, pushing in deep and sending her blazing towards the peak.
'Let it go,' he urged. 'Just let it go.'
Then he felt the might of it breaking around him in big, beautiful waves, carrying them both to a place of no return. He was right there with her, pushing her on and on, kissing her and watching her as she soared beyond his control. She was gripping him hard, digging her nails into his flesh and struggling for breath. She begged him to come with her, but he held himself back, letting her fly alone whilst using everything he knew about her to keep her there. Only when he sensed the pleasure turning to pain did he move more gently, gathering her in his arms and holding her close, as, shuddering and panting beneath him, she finally started to come down.
'Josh,' she murmured. 'Josh.'
'Ssh,' he whispered, kissing her.
Her eyes opened and gazed cloudily into his.
'OK?' he said softly
'Mm,' she answered. Then, bringing her lips back to his, 'Did I remember to tell you I love you?'
He kissed her deeply, pushing his tongue into her mouth and feeling the final throes of her climax still claiming him, before raising himself up on his arms. They both watched as he moved in and out of her with long, tender strokes, then he lay over her again and held her close.
Loving the feel of him still hard inside her, she said, 'I have to wonder how I could ever have felt so afraid.'
His voice was muffled by her neck as he said, 'Well, I guess I am pretty awesome.'
She spluttered with laughter, then moaned as he pushed in more deeply.
'Do you ever intend to come?' she asked.
'Just let me know when you're ready.'
'That could be now,' she said as he pushed in again.
He looked at her warily.
'Please,' she whispered.
For a long time he moved gently, his eyes never leaving hers as he began taking them back to the heights. He knew she'd be tender now, but he wanted her there with him when he finally let go. After a while he altered his rhythm, and as he found the most sensitive spot inside her, he heard her breath catch in her throat. The twists and turns of her body told him he had her now, and as he rode her he could feel the pressure inside him mounting. He knew, almost before she did, when she started to approach another release, and already he could feel himself going with her. This time he didn't hold back, and when at last it came it was so forceful and fast that it was as though everything in him was becoming a part of her. The
pleasure was so intense it was almost too much to bear. He held her tight, threw all his weight against her, then suddenly he spun onto his back, taking her with him, and said, 'Finish it.'
She rode him hard, her hands clamped over his on her breasts. He was still coming, she could feel it in the shuddering of his body, and the rapid spurts inside her. She knew how long he could make it last and wanted to draw it out to a point where neither of them could take any more. She did things to him that only she knew he needed, and as they gazed into each other's eyes they could feel their love circling like an invisible force around them, binding them together and prolonging this ecstasy of release. No-one else had ever come close to making either of them feel this way, and never had they given to anyone else like this. This was what they shared, what they understood of each other, and in the end nothing could come between them, because no-one would ever matter more, and no-one ever could.
Finally she lay over him, stretching her body along his and burying her face in his neck. His arms were around her, holding her tight, his lips were pressed against her, and as she listened to the pounding of their hearts and thought of the child inside her she knew she had never before felt such happiness and contentment.
It was a long, long time later when he lifted a hand to her hair and started to stroke it. 'Are you OK?' he asked.
'Mm. Are you?'
He was about to take a breath, but laughed.
'What's funny?' she asked.
'Shannon, telling me to be nice to you.'
She smiled and snuggled more closely to him. 'I promise not to tell how you excelled yourself,' she said sleepily.
He laughed again and kissed the top of her head. 'Are you about to flake out on me?' he asked.
'I think so.'
It was the last thing she remembered either of them saying until they were woken around eleven by Shannon and Dan coming home. He wouldn't let her get up, nor would he allow the children to enter the room.
'I hope you haven't killed her,' she heard Shannon saying hotly, as he made up a bed for Dan in the sitting room next door.
'I'm trying, but she doesn't go down easily,' he responded dryly.
Julia laughed and listened contentedly as he tucked Dan in, then went to rescue Shannon's guilty secret (beloved teddy) from the car, before coming back again. As he slipped in next to her, she wrapped her arms around him and they made love quietly and languorously before falling asleep again, only to be woken around eight the next morning by the sound of the TV in the next room.
Not ready to get up yet, they moved drowsily back into each other's arms, snuggling in close, until she turned so that her back was to his chest, and his knees came up under hers. It was meant to be a long, luxurious prelude to making love, but his fingers had only just begun toying lazily with her nipples when Shannon knocked on the door, and asked if they wanted some tea.
'Are they awake?' Dan shouted in a whisper,
and before anyone could answer he came bounding into the room. 'Shannon wouldn't let me come in,' he told them, 'and I've been awake for ages. But it's OK, because she gave me ten pounds to stay quiet.'
'If only I'd known it would go to such good use,' Josh muttered, making Julia laugh.
'It's cold out here,' Dan said, jumping onto the bed. 'Can I get in with you, Mum?'
'No, darling,' she cried, grabbing the duvet.
'Please. I'll stay still.'
'I don't have any clothes on,' she told him.
He grinned and looked at Shannon. 'They've been kissing,' he said.
Shannon rolled her eyes and blushed. 'You are such a child,' she informed him.
'I know, but I'm good at backgammon. Do you want to play, Dad? I can show you how.'
'Not right now, son,' Josh answered, rolling onto his back.
Julia rolled with him and rested her head on his shoulder.
'Are you going to get up?' Dan asked. 'We can go surfing.'
'Not bloody likely,' Josh responded.
Julia lost her yawn to a laugh, then slipped a hand between his legs.
Immediately he raised one knee to disguise what was happening.
'Anyway, I'm not a child,' Dan said to Shannon, 'because really they were making babies.'
Shannon flushed again as she looked at her mother.
Julia's eyes were shining, then turning to kiss
Josh on the cheek, she said, 'I think now's as good a time as any to tell him, don't you?'
Josh eyed his son meaningfully.
'Tell me what?' Dan pressed.
Julia's hand stayed where it was as she said to Dan, 'How would you like to have another sister or brother?'
Dan frowned. 'What, like now?' he replied.
'Duh,' Shannon chipped in.
'Well, in about five months,' Julia said.
Dan's eyes started to round. 'Oh wow!' he cried, getting it. 'That is so cool.' Then, grinning at Josh, 'Dad, you're the man!'
Julia and Josh burst out laughing, and Josh grunted as Dan landed on him.
'OK, now you know, you can leave us in peace,' Josh declared, somehow manhandling his son back to his feet.
'I'm getting into bed with you,' Dan grinned mischievously.
'Out! Now!' Josh roared. 'She's all mine until you've made us some breakfast.'
'Mum!' Dan protested.
'You know I never argue with Daddy,' she responded.
'Yes you do! All the time.'
'Does anyone ever listen to me around here?' Josh wanted to know.
'Can we spend Christmas here?' Shannon asked. 'Fen knows a great place to get trees.'
'I give up,' he declared, and turning Julia's mouth to his, he carried on as if they were alone.
'We're gone,' Shannon told him, grabbing Dan.
Still ignoring them, Josh rolled Julia back to the
position they'd been in before being so rudely interrupted, and was preparing to do something about the condition she'd created under the duvet when Shannon peeped back in the door.
'I suppose the Porsche is up for sale,' she said, and as Julia let out a laugh, she disappeared quickly, leaving her mother to explain the joke, which Julia promised she would, but not until Josh had finished doing what he unquestionably did best.