“Yeah, what he said,” Jake replied.
“Now come on, Jason, it's your turn, say after me...”
“Just shut the hell up and drive!” Came two clear voices, saying exactly the same words.
Josh laughed out loud. His older brothers were priceless, so different and yet so much alike.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jason crept into the bedroom he was sharing with Aviva and stood still, listening to her breathe. She was definitely sound asleep. Good, he thought, not wanting to explain his night’s activities right away. He needed time to process the information and come up with a soundproof explanation.
Heading for the bathroom, he peeled off his shirt as he went and removed the rest of his clothing once he was inside the small space, and the bathroom was small in comparison to what he was used to. Then he remembered that, in comparison, the UK was only a fraction of the size of the United States. He recognized his musing for what it was, an attempt to clear his mind of all that had taken place that night.
Turning on the shower, he stopped and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He looked terrible. His eyes were bloodshot with bags underneath, and his beard had grown in, giving him an unkempt appearance.
Jason could feel his strength ebbing, existing on less than eighteen hours sleep in over a week was too little, even for him. He needed to rest. Stepping into the shower, he quickly washed his body and stood under the spray for a few more seconds, allowing the water to beat down on his head.
Finished, he dried off and made his way back to the bedroom. Aviva was again laying on her side, a pillow supporting her lower back so that she wouldn't roll over in her sleep and cause herself further pain. Once again, Jason felt the rage rising up inside him as he looked down at his sleeping love. Pushing his feelings down, he carefully pulled back the covers and slid into the bed beside her.
Settling in, Jason faced Aviva as she slept. Careful not to disturb her, he pulled closer and slipped a hand around her hip, anchoring her in place. Moving so close that he could feel the puffs of her breath against his face, Jason allowed his eyes to close.
When it happened, he didn't even flinch. His angel was one of the daintiest women he had ever known, but every now and then she would snore like a fog horn. Jason fell asleep with a smile of contentment on his face.
~~~~~~~~~~
He awoke the next morning to find Aviva propped up on an elbow, watching him. This was the way he wanted to wake up each day for the rest of his life. Nothing could stop the dimpled smile that overtook his face.
“Morning, Angel, did you rest well?”
“Yes, thank you, and it's three thirty in the afternoon. We slept the morning away.”
“That's because we needed it,” Jason told her as he folded his hand behind his head and stretched out his long body. The sheets fell away to reveal his deep, muscular chest rippling with muscles. Oh Lord, Aviva thought, I love the way this man looks all day long, but especially when he's just woken up and still has the sleepy eyed look he’s wearing right now. Unable to help herself, her eyes ran down his chest and came to a stop at the top of the sheets from which she could make out his morning/afternoon glory that had risen and was most definitely shining.
“Like what you see?”
His words were met with silence.
The rumble of laughter pulled Aviva's eyes away from his erection, blinking as she realized he had asked her a question.
“Did you say something?”
“I said, do you like what you see?” he said again, still laughing.
“Oh, yes, indeed I do!” Aviva said with a laugh of her own and a wiggle of her eyebrows.
“Well, what ya gonna do about it?”
“What do you want me to do about it?”
“Sit on it,” Jason said, all traces of laughter leaving him in an instance. “I want to feel you all around me, sucking me inside you, riding me. I want to be buried so deeply in you, I can't go any further. I want to see your face when you come for me. Then I want us to start all over again...and again…and again.”
“Jason King, I love it when you say things like that to me, and you know what's even better?”
“What?”
“You can start over again...and again and again.”
Before Aviva had completed her sentence, Jason picked her up by the waist in a powerful move and she cried out in pain.
“I'm sorry, Angel, I'm sorry...I didn't mean...I forgot.” Aviva's eyes were closed tight as she bit down on her bottom lip to hold back any further sound. Even through her pain, she could hear how much her outburst had wounded him.
“It's okay, baby. I just think we're going to have to wait for a while.”
“Tell me what you need, Angel. Tell me what I need to do to make it better.”
Aviva could see that the pain she was experiencing was not hers alone. She knew this giant of a man would take it all away from her if it was within his power. The thought came to her again that she was probably one of the luckiest women in the world. She had the love of the best of men.
Laying her down on her side, Jason cupped her cheek and ran his thumb across it in a soothing motion. He leaned forward and kissed her brow then the corner of her eye, her nose and her lips, each touch a gentle expression of his love and care.
“Please tell me what to do. How do I make it better?”
Aviva reached up and ran the back of her fingers across the stubble of his cheek. She continued up into his hair, her eyes locked to his.
“Do you love me, Jason?”
“You know I do.”
“That's all I need to make it better.”
“Thank you for that, but I know I hurt you. Tell me what I can do to take the hurt away.”
“Let’s just lay here for a while. It's best when I stay perfectly still. On a positive note, the burns feel as though they're knitting together. When I move, they feel tight, do you know what I mean?”
“Let me look.”
“Later, for now, let’s just stay exactly as we are. I don't know if I ever told you, but this is my favorite time of day; waking up with you beside me.”
“No, you never told me that. This is the way I imagined, and want it to be, for the rest of our lives. Do you think you could spend the rest of your life with me, Aviva Johnson?”
Aviva was spellbound by the intensity in his eyes and the sincerity in his voice. Was he asking her more than he had actually voiced? She was unsure. What she was sure of however, was that this was the man she had been meant to love. Aviva understood the moment for what it was. This was a perfect moment. At this point in time they were both exactly where they wanted to be.
The brushing of Jason's fingers against her cheek brought Aviva back to awareness.
“Where did you go?” Jason asked.
Before she could answer, there was a knock on the door accompanied by Jackson's cultured tone.
“Are you two awake?”
Jason and Aviva looked at each other and smiled as he placed a soft kiss against her lips.
Jackson knocked on the door a little harder at the continued silence. The whole household, except for him, had been asleep for at least twelve hours. It was enough time. He needed – no, wanted to go home, and in order for that to happen, he needed all his sons to get out of their beds. He had already successfully gotten Jake and Josh up. Well, they were awake but he was uncertain if that actually meant up. All that remained was for Jason to answer his call.
“You have twenty minutes to get up and come downstairs.” The continued silence reminded Jackson of his youth. On the one hand, he was conscious of the vagaries of young love, yet on the other, for this trip, he had experienced enough upheaval. It was time to go home.
Sequestered behind the closed bedroom door, the lovers lay side-by-side, looking into each other’s eyes. Jason saw an emotion buried deep in Aviva's eyes which troubled him.
“What's wrong?”
“I had a weird dream last night.”
�
�Go on,” he urged, curious as to what had caused this expression.
“I dreamt that I couldn't find you,” Aviva replied, her eyes taking on a faraway look as she once again became lost in the dream that had so disquieted her.
“What happened?”
“I dreamt that I couldn't find you. I searched everywhere, but I just couldn't find you. Your father and brothers were there and they couldn't find you either. It was as though you had just disappeared. One moment you were with us, and the next you were gone.” As she spoke, Aviva's words became quieter and quieter, realizing too late that she didn't want to give voice to her thoughts, fearing they would become reality.
Jason could see how much the dream worried her and mulled her words around his mind as how to best soothe her worries. “I'm not going anywhere – ever. You're stuck with me for as long as you want me, and if some day you decide you don't want all the studliness that is moi, well, that’ll be a sure sign that you've lost your mind.” He finished with a show of dimples.
Aviva was pulled out of her maudlin thoughts by his quip which took a moment to register with her conscious mind.
“Really…please, you need to get over yourself,” Aviva said, rolling her eyes at his outrageous comment.
“What, you don't think I'm a stud?” Even as he joked, Jason knew he had to say more, that there was a real worry beneath her comment and for that reason alone, he had to take her comment seriously.
“Look, Angel, you had a dream. It was disquieting, I understand that, but it was just a dream. I refuse to credit it with anything other than what it is; your subconscious mind worrying because I went out last night.” As soon as he spoke the words, he wanted to recall them. He had just given her the perfect opening to question him about what had taken place the night before. If he knew her, and he did, the questions were on their way.
“We need to get up. Jackson only gave us twenty minutes and we've already eaten into the time.”
She knew he had been waiting for her to begin questioning him about what he and his brothers had done the night before, but if there was one thing Aviva refused to be was predictable. Oh, she'd get her answers alright, just not when he thought she'd be asking the questions.
Chapter 18
Jason and Aviva arrived downstairs thirty-five minutes later to the smells of cooking. Jason's mouth immediately began to water, and Aviva's stomach grumbled in anticipation. Whatever was cooking smelled wonderful.
Pushing open the kitchen door, they found Jackson standing in front of the stove, an apron tied around his waist. Hearing the sound of the door, the three men who occupied the kitchen turned towards them.
“Perfect timing,” Jackson said. “Our meal is just about ready.”
“It smells wonderful, Jackson. Thank you. I didn't know you could cook,” Aviva spoke as Jason held out a chair for her to be seated.
Taking his own seat, he nodded to his brothers. They returned the greeting while drinking coffee, relaxed in their chairs.
“Good afternoon, sweet one. How are you feeling today?” Josh asked, giving Aviva the once over, the gaze of his handsome face directed at her alone.
The other two Kingdom men stared at her as they too waited for her to answer Josh's question. Their stillness spoke of their concern for her well-being and it touched her that they cared so much about her, a virtual stranger.
“I'm feeling much better today, thank you.” At her answer, the quiet remained for a few more seconds as they all stared at her in silent speculation. So intense were their stares, Aviva felt an almost uncontrollable urge to squirm.
“Umm, that coffee smells good.” She said the first thing that came to her mind, anything to break their stares.
“I'll get you a cup,” Jason told her, already in motion to rise from his seat.
“No, you stay there. I'll get you a cup.” Aviva jumped to her feet and slightly regretted her hurried movement as her back protested. But anything was better than having four pairs of dark green eyes pinning her with their intense regard.
As she moved away, Aviva was aware of the looks that passed between the men. Well, what did they expect, she thought, a little peeved at them. They were staring at her as though she were under a microscope.
Pouring a cup of coffee for them both, she turned to inquire if anyone else needed a top off to find identical dumb grins plastered on all their faces. Their looks of amusement rubbed her up the wrong way. Aviva sucked her teeth and cut her eyes at them. “Bloody Kingdoms,” she muttered loud enough for them to hear. Met with their laughter, she slammed Jason's coffee down in front of him and flounced back to her seat, determined to ignore the arrogant men.
“Do we unnerve you, dear one?” Josh asked in his most seductive voice.
Aviva wanted to kick him for his comment, and then poke Jason and Jake in the eye for laughing at her while her back was turned. However, such a move was completely beneath her, well most of the time, plus Jackson was present so it definitely wasn't an option.
Coming to a quick decision, Aviva pulled up the most alluring look she could manage at such short notice, and smiled at Josh beneath her eyelashes. Jason immediately stilled, just as she knew he would. Watching her intently, eyes moving back and forth between her and his younger brother, brows knitted in a frown.
“You,” Jason said, pointing at Josh, “shut the hell up, and you...behave yourself.” He gave Aviva a warning look.
Josh roared with laughter as Aviva flipped him the bird as she took a sip of coffee.
“Alright children, play time's over,” Jackson told them as he started loading platters with enough food to feel ten normal sized men. They all knew however, that for them, the amount of food presented was just about right.
Jason got up to help Jackson bring the food to the table. He had prepared coq au vin with sweet button onions, button mushrooms, carrots and diced bacon. Wow, Aviva thought, this man can cook.
“Would anyone like wine?” Jake asked as he went to the refrigerator and withdrew two large bottles of water. The men all accepted while Aviva declined a glass of the Burgandy Jake opened to accompany their meal.
Nobody touched the food as they all turned to Aviva with looks of remembrance of their last meal together. Hiding a small smile, she bowed her head, and they all followed suit without hesitation.
“Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful meal that has been prepared for us and for which we are about to partake. Also Lord, I ask that you bless us all as we are once again gathered together. May the love we share for each other at this moment always be remembered and remain with us throughout our lives.”
Aviva looked up just before she spoke the final word to her prayer, and to her surprise, she saw that each of the other men had his head bowed and his eyes closed. “Amen.” Four whispered ‘amen’s followed her own.
With tears in her eyes, Aviva looked around the table and smiled. “Well, what are you all waiting for? The food’s getting cold. Let’s eat!”
Jason didn't need to be told twice. Reaching for the dish of coq au vin, he heaped a serving on Aviva's plate before he passed it along. Next, he piled her plate with wild rice and then baby potatoes. Aviva could only sit and stare at the mounds of food he had place before her.
“Baby, there is no way I can eat all this food!”
“Try.”
“But it's way too much.”
“How do you know that unless you try?”
“He's right, my dear. You only had a few mouthfuls last night so you must be hungry.” Jackson supported Jason’s statement.
Knowing when to back down, Aviva shrugged her shoulders and picked up her cutlery. Placing a piece of the tender chicken into her mouth, she closed her eyes at the taste as she chewed, and then went back for more.
Many mouthfuls later, she realized the room was unnaturally quiet. Glancing up, she saw that nobody else was eating. They were all staring at her as she heaped food into her mouth. Realizing just how hungry she was, Aviva couldn’t have cared less t
hat they were all looking at her as though she were a human waste disposal unit.
“What...this stuff is really good, so you can all just keep staring at me if you want to. The way this stuff tastes, I'm getting ready to eat everything on this table.”
Josh laughed and pulled his plate closer to his body and held on to it with both hands. Jake did the same and with a straight face, curled his large body over his, and gave her a horrified look. Jason and his father both smiled, happy that she was finally eating. Loading his own plate, Jason began to eat. The younger men ate quickly and in complete silence, proof of just how hungry they were. When they finished their first plateful, they all went back for seconds.
“Jackson, my complements. This coq au vin is absolutely wonderful. You really need to teach Jason how to make it,” Aviva said with a straight face.
“Teach me how to make it? I don't think so!”
“Jason, you need to know how to cook. Everyone should know how to cook,” Aviva told him, her attention still on the delicious meal.
“I tried it, didn't like it so I don't do it anymore. Cooking is way too fiddly, and I don't have the patience for it. Plus there are too many restaurants and take out places for me to worry about whether I can cook,” Jason finished matter-of-factly, clearly demonstrating that his inability to cook didn't bother him in the slightest.
“He's in good company. His brothers can't cook either. God knows I tried to teach them. How men as intelligent as my sons find cooking something as simple as eggs so difficult is beyond me.”
“Come on, Dad. We tried, plus we're pretty good at cooking eggs,” Jake defended himself and his younger brother.
Jackson snorted and shook his head at his eldest son's comment. When they remained silent and their faces began to take on a ruddy hue, he paused with his fork half way to his mouth. My God, he was serious, Jackson thought.
“You mean to tell me you weren't both burning everything in sight on purpose?”
Both men pushed their food around their plates, eyes downcast. Aviva thought them adorable in their embarrassment. They looked like a couple of schoolboys blushing that their father thought their attempts at cooking pitiful.
For Love and Vengeance Page 14