“Apology accepted.” I stood and grabbed a box of tissues from beside the sink, plopping them next to her.
She took one and mopped her face.
“You do that so delicately, Jessa,” Delaney teased.
Delaney was a peacemaker. Every family has one, except mine. That’s not true. I’d been the peacemaker, as well as chief cook, bottle washer and nose wiper for Angi.
“Shut up, Dee.” She threw her wet tissue at Delaney.
“It’s okay,” I said. “We’re both pregnant, so hey, we’ll chalk it up to hormones.”
“It’s just...” she sighed and sat quietly a moment sipping her tea, “--this is good! It’s just that I was worried about Ty marrying you so soon after Rhea, and now, he’s all pissed at me for thinking he can’t take care of himself.” Jessa looked up at me, her eyes now bloodshot. “I won’t interfere anymore, though. I can tell you love him and you two are really trying.”
I sat, quietly absorbing the fact that she could see what I couldn’t even say.
“You love Ty?” Delaney asked.
Eyes on my cup, I nodded, too embarrassed to look up. I’d never told a soul about when I fell in love with Ty. “When I was in the sixth grade Jimmy Merk--y’all don’t know him, do you?” I asked softly, looking up at them.
They both shook their heads.
“Well, he asked me to the middle school mixer. I was so excited! He was the star of our middle school basketball team.” I snorted with laughter at how the most horrible, life altering experience of my twelfth year was so unimportant now. “He was also a jerk, and to this day is still an asshole, by the way. At least Mom had been half-sober when he picked me up, and Angi was asleep.”
“Who’s Angi?” Jessa asked.
“My baby sister.” I should have known something was wrong when we walked. No dad to pick us up, no corsage, nothing. He didn’t want his parents to find out he was running with Polly Blanchard’s daughter. What was that about the sins of the parents? “So there I was in this butt-ugly, homemade dress. I was so proud of that dress. It wasn’t bad, it was just cheap, ya know. And cheap always shows. Anyway, he dumped me on the bleachers and ignored me...”
“Why didn’t you just walk home?” Jessa asked.
“I was twelve ... and still dumb in the ways of men. Finally he comes up there and drags me behind the bleachers. Kisses me and tries to reach down my dress. Well, this stuff doesn’t stretch, so he can’t, and he’s tugging on the neckline and getting angrier and angrier.”
At the head of the table, Delaney chuckled. “Was the bodice sewn to a little band around the neck? You know, like a collar?”
I pointed and nodded as a snort of laughter broke free. “Yes! That’s it! Good old fashioned polyester! Okay, so anyway, I hit him and he tripped and fell. I took off running, right past half the basketball team who’d been spying on us, and snagged my dress on something. It ripped at the waistband so my panties showed. Ty found me hiding in the janitor’s closet.”
“Aww, he saved you.”
“Ty let me wear his suit jacket and walked me home.” When I got home, Momma was passed out drunk and Angi was sleeping with a bottle in her mouth. “He...” I stared at the tabletop, my laughter gone. “He had the gentlest eyes. And he offered me one of his arms. You know, like a gentleman.”
He still did that.
“So that’s when you fell in love with Ty?” Jessa asked, a tiny smile at her lips.
I nodded, not even bothering to deny it. “On Monday Jimmy Merk showed up at school with a black eye.”
That got her to giggling. “I remember with Zack. He was the first man to ever treat me like a lady.” She shrugged, her cheeks flushed. “There was a lot more to it than just manners, but...” she pointed at Delaney, “--manners are sexy.”
We were interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Oh Lord, I bet that’s Cassi and George, and I haven’t even started the spaghetti sauce.”
“I’ve got to get home.” Jessa struggled to her feet.
I hopped up and headed for the front door, Jessa right behind me.
It wasn’t Cassi but Travis. “Is my mommy here?”
Another fit of the giggles hit me. He was so damned cute, his dark hair covered with a “Spurs” ball cap and a smudge on his nose. Maybe a boy wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Yes, your mommy is here,” she answered from behind me.
“Dad says it’s your nap time.”
I didn’t bother smothering the snort that escaped or miss the dirty look she shot my way. “Have a great nap, Jessa.”
“Have fun painting, Betti.”
* * * *
After I threw all the ingredients for the sauce together and had it simmering, the four of us tackled the nursery and got it painted in no time. Cassi insisted on cracking a window so we all nearly froze to death, but she was adamant, scolding me about paint fumes. Honestly! While we painted the sauce simmered until the smell of tomatoes, garlic and basil reached us.
“So, George, what’s new?” I asked when we had a minute alone. I sat back on my heels and admired my handiwork. Cassi’s idea for a multi-colored nursery had been a good one.
“Same old shit.”
“George!”
“Sorry, Aunt Betti.” He squatted on the floor beside me.
“S’okay. I hear the Omni has a new movie coming soon. Something about the Titanic. Interested?”
“Yeah, I saw that on their website.”
“Alright then, I feel an outing coming on. Maybe a movie and lunch on the Riverwalk. A little shopping.”
“Shopping?”
Typical male. I giggled. “Okay, shopping is out.”
“What’s this about shopping?”
My head snapped up at the sound of Ty’s voice and I smiled. “Hi, baby. Hungry?”
“I could eat a plate.” He smiled back. My insides melted and sped up like quicksilver. “Who’s your friend?”
George introduced himself, stood and offered Ty his hand.
“George is my boyfriend, honey,” I teased from my kneeling position on the floor.
Ty shook George’s hand. “Only when I’m not around, okay?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied with a laugh. “I’ll go check on dinner.” Bless his tactful heart.
“It looks really nice in here.”
“Thanks.” I took one last look around, setting my brush down on the edge of the can, silently debating on how to get up without looking like a bull calf.
I gave up my struggle and looked at Ty. “Please help me up.”
With a laugh, he moved in front of me and helped me up. I stifled my embarrassment and leaned against him. My legs shook with fatigue. “I’m tucking you in early tonight, and tomorrow you’re taking it easy.”
“Yes, sir.” I didn’t even bother arguing. After the last couple of days, I could use a day off. Wednesday seemed so far away now.
Ty chuckled, lightly grazing my lips.
Reluctantly, I pushed away from the hard wall of his chest. There was always ... dessert. “Dinner, big boy.”
“Yeah, big boy,” Cassi teased from the door.
“I can take a hint. I’ll get cleaned up.” Ty strolled out and I followed, admiring my husband’s backside and fanning myself. Cassi giggled.
Cassi and I chopped salad fixings, while the pasta cooked and the kitchen quickly heated from the oven warming bread. Ty and George set the table while Delaney fixed drinks.
I set the salad on the table, pausing to give George’s shoulders a gentle squeeze. He leaned against my belly--right about the time I felt something move. I shoved him upright, afraid I’d imagined it.
“What’s wrong, Aunt Bet...”
“Shush.” I felt it again. A tiny vibration. Nothing more substantial than butterfly wings floating past your face. And again. “I felt the baby move,” I whispered, staring at my belly.
“Hah!” I flung myself at Ty who hugged me tight then held me at arms length.
“What’d it feel like?” If he smiled any harder, his face would have cracked. But then I was doing the same thing.
“Like ... like you know when you’re in the water and someone swims by real close?”
He nodded, his eyes like saucers.
“And you feel the water swoosh against your leg? Or your arm or whatever? Like that.” My face hurt from smiling and happy tears trickled down my cheeks.
“And on Wednesday we get to hear the heartbeat?”
“I thought your sonogram was on Wednesday?” Cassi asked from behind me.
“Cassi,” I squeaked in surprise. I laid my head on Ty’s chest and laughed. Behind me Delaney and Cassi giggled.
“Mom, you ruined it,” George scolded.
“A sonogram?” Ty’s breathing got a little ragged, his grip on me tightening.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“We get to see the baby?” His smile started to wobble. And so did mine.
“And know the sex,” George added.
I nodded again, never taking my eyes off Ty. “Yeah.”
He looked up at our audience. Then took a step backward, dragging me with him. And then another, dragging me into the living room. Ty pinned me to the wall and smothered me in a deep soulful kiss. It wasn’t our usual sexual play of tongue and teeth but intense and spiritual. What he lacked in words, Ty made up for in that kiss.
What Ty couldn’t express with words he expressed with his body.
He needed to know I needed him. He needed to know I wanted him. He did care about me and he needed me, and we had the baby. I wrapped my arms around him and returned the kiss, telling him as skillfully as I could that I loved him and everything would be wonderful.
* * * *
No one hung around long after our celebration dinner. After I’d walked Cassi out, I locked up and filled the CD Player.
Leaning against the bedroom door, I watched the play of muscle in Ty’s back as he peeled off his thermal undershirt. He turned with an almost shy grin, the shirt not quite off. “You moaned.”
He caught me.
“I did not.” I crossed my arms and frowned.
His grin said he didn’t buy it. “Yeah, you did.”
“I want you.” I laughed and moved in for the kill. Slow dancing. Just like last night. I tugged the shirt from his hands, tossing it on the floor.
“Who is that?” he murmured, as if he’d just realized there was music playing.
“Etta James.” I swayed against him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “This is dancing music.”
“I didn’t know you liked blues.”
“I like all kinds of things.”
Ty leaned down and kissed me, his mouth smooth and mellow against mine. I opened my mouth and lightly traced his lips with my tongue while we danced. It was even better than our first dance the previous night.
We finally came up for air, and he kissed my forehead. “I made you a bath.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” he whispered against my lips.
“Oh, Ty.” We kissed and each one melted into another, deeper and hungrier, until I dragged him down on the bed with me. To hell with the bath. Our bodies all tangled on top of the covers, we lay there kissing, our tongues playing.
“I think I’m overdressed,” I whispered against his lips. I pulled away and quickly stripped, shivering at the feel of Ty’s fingers on my back.
From behind me, he pushed my hair out of the way and trailed kisses up my spine while unhooking my bra. I shivered again, letting it slide down my arms.
“Are you cold?” he whispered in my hair.
“No.” I arched against him, his strong fingers kneading my back. “Oh, Ty,” I moaned low in my throat, laughing softly and chattering while he made love to my back with his mouth and teased my breasts with his fingers. His hands wandered everywhere, in my hair, on my back and thighs, between my legs.
“I want you, Bee,” Ty he growled. He bit me again, nipping his way across my neck.
“How? Tell me. What do you want?”
“I want all of you. I wanna feel you... I wanna taste you.” He stood up and slipped his jeans off. “Lay back.”
I scooted up on the pillows and waited to see what he’d do. Naked, he moved across the bed until we were nearly nose to nose. We kissed, our tongues an easy tangle as we stretched out. I wrapped my fingers around his cock, enjoying the thickness and weight of him in my hand.
Ty groaned deep in his throat. “I can’t think when you do that. Lay back.”
He teased my nipples to tight little points, until I ached from head to toe and wriggled as close as I could, needing to feel his body next to mine. That got me chattering again. And this time there was no shutting me up. I wanted him, and told him so but all he could do was tease me. He was enjoying this way too much.
“Fuck me, Ty. Please ... baby,” was followed by a long low moan when he pinched my nipple. “Ty.” It stretched like sticky honey and one moan followed another as he suckled both. I wrapped my arms around him and through half-closed eyes, watched him play until I was drenched and my nipples ached.
He reached between my thighs and spread me wide. The cool air and his fingers sliding across my flesh only made things worse. “Ty, please!”
His fingers stroked me, exploring every crevice and fold as he released my nipple and let his lips trail down my body. I shivered, ready to help him when he knelt between my thighs, his palms holding my lips open, and gently blew. He planted a soft kiss on my pubic curls all the while watching me. My nails sank into my thighs.
“Please... Do it!” I panted and bit my lip.
At the first flick of his tongue, a long, loud groan slipped past my lips. His touch was light and tender, hesitant and unskilled. Together we found my clit, and he lapped and sucked, gently nibbling at it until my hips developed a mind of their own and arched against his tongue. Between his lips, tongue and the rough hairs of his goatee, I was in heaven.
I couldn’t watch, only chant his name and beg him to not stop as my orgasm gathered force. I was so close. With hips arched high off the bed, I grabbed his forearms, moaning long and loud as it hit me. The earth cracked open behind my eyelids and the most incredible climax rolled through me as Ty licked and teased.
He finally stopped, giving into my forceful tugs on his hair. We were face to face again, and kissed, rough and deep. I wriggled beneath him, spreading my legs wide and clawing at his back. “Now, Ty. Now, Dammit, make me come again.”
He thrust inside me, his strokes firm and sure and so deep the headboard slapped against the wall. Now he chattered the sweetest nonsense while I dug my nails in his back and hung on.
“So soft, Bee. So wet.”
He looked at me, his eyes hot. This wasn’t Ty. Not the Ty I know. My sweet, shy, sensitive husband had disappeared.
“You taste like honey, Bee. That’s why I call you Bee,” he gasped between thrusts.
“Remember on the couch.” He drew out and thrust again. “When you jacked me off.” And again.
“That’s the first time I tasted you.” One more. “My little queen Bee.” Again.
“Mine.” Again. “Ah, Jesus, Bee.”
I’d been so intent on his every word and move, my own peak snuck up on me. I bit him hard as he shouted and thrust inside me. It was either bite him or scream ‘I Love You.’
“Mine.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Knockin’ on heaven’s door
The sun was long gone by the time Ty got home, and he was chilled straight through, not to mention starving. He wanted hot food, a hot shower and a snuggle with his hot wife.
They’d woken up to rain, and after it let up, Dad sent him out to round up strays. Dancer had thrown him and he’d ended up face down in what had once been a dry creek bed. Of course, now it was full of running, muddy water and debris. He had no one to blame but himself. No, he could blame Bettina. All he’d been able to think about was her, la
st night and hopefully tonight.
Bone-weary and barely able to move, he leaned his head against the front door and kicked off his muddy boots before letting himself in the house.
Ahhh, heat. And hot food. Ty’s stomach rumbled at the smell of biscuits and ... stew? He just might make it after all. His cold, stiff fingers began to tingle. With a sigh, he dropped his boots on the tile entryway, praying Bee wouldn’t get ticked at him for muddying her floors.
“Look at you!”
His head snapped up at the sound of her voice. She stood in the kitchen doorway, a frown on her face and a dishrag clutched in her hands. “I’m sorry, I’m all muddy.”
“Strip, baby, and I’ll get you a towel.” She headed for the bathroom, her butt jiggling under stretchy green pants.
Smiling, he turned to flip the lock on the front door, then did as she’d ordered. Layer after layer of wet, muddy clothes hit the floor.
She reappeared, a towel in hand. “I started the shower, go get in and get warmed up.”
“I need to take my clothes...”
“I got it.” She waved him off. “Shower, now! Before you catch your death. Hot stew when you get out.”
He slipped out of his briefs and draped the towel around his waist, a chill zipping up his spine.
“Hey.”
He stopped and spun around, returning the easy smile she gave him. “What?”
She drew him down for a quick kiss, but before she could get away, he pulled her to him and deepened it. He couldn’t help himself. She just felt so damned good.
She looked up at him, a mischievous grin on her face. “I guess we know what you want for dessert, huh?”
“Sorry.” Beneath the towel, evidence of her effect on him made itself known. He shrugged and gave her a bashful grin before heading for the bedroom. He had to get himself under control.
Ty hung up his towel, then climbed in the shower, the hot water quickly warming him and easing his aches. Unfortunately, it did nothing for his hard-on. No way could he eat dinner like this.
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