by Mlyn Hurn
Jack grinned at his mother. "Duly noted, Mother." He paused and covered Laena's hands with his. "What is your opinion, Laena? I know I'm doing this back-ass-wards, and I should have told you my offers sooner."
Laena shook her head. She knew from things Ruth had said that Jack had offerings from some very large and influential law firms, not to mention the speaking engagements he could accept. And here he was now, almost proudly announcing that he would stay here. She had no doubt the decision was due solely to her being pregnant. "Ruth mentioned some things, but it is really your choice, Jack. So long as you are happy, that is what matters. People needs to enjoy what they do."
"Thank you, Laena. I saw Tony Banks around a few weeks back and we chatted for a while. Tony talked about how he had a pretty hectic law practice, being the only attorney in the surrounding area." Jack sipped his tea, looking from his mother to Laena.
Laena couldn't shake the feeling that more existed to this than met the eye, or the ear, in this case.
"I can see you are surprised," Jack said a few seconds later.
Ruth cleared her throat. "Is this a done deal?"
Jack looked from his mother to Laena. "You mean, can I back out and go with one of the more lucrative offers?"
"Yes, Jack. I know you've had some pretty amazing offers." Ruth nodded, frowning deeply.
Laena remembered that Ruth had talked about how Jack had met with all the large firms, been wined and dined and generally courted like a plum catch. She had no doubt that Jack would be a prime asset to any of the large law firms and would have joined as a full partner. His name would have been quite a coup to add to any letterhead. She couldn't help but feel that he made this decision for the wrong reasons. It was obvious that Ruth thought it was wrong, even though she had expressed a wish to have him near to home. That he decided to join an old family friend's law practice in town sounded suspiciously like a last-ditch solution to an unexpected problem.
A moment later, Jack touched the side of her face.
Startled, she realized she'd been shaking it. "You shouldn't settle for this. I'm sure the financial difference will be huge. Don't you want to travel, live in the big city and have the entire hubbub and so on? You've lived in the spotlight for a long time-"
"There's no need to be shaking your head or wagging your finger me, Laena." He reached out and grabbed the finger she'd started to point at him. "I know precisely what I'm doing. I know you're both shocked, as I'm sure the others will be as well. Even Tony, grateful as he is, still doubts my sanity. And money isn't everything, sweetheart, but don't go worrying about money. I have it all figured out on paper for you to see."
"Now that sounds like my son," Ruth spoke softly, covering her eldest son's hand. "But I'm sure you'll spend a lot of time explaining your decision to people."
Jack held Laena's gaze for a long moment before he looked at his mother. "True, Mom. But the last eight years have taught me how precious family is, and how much I have missed by being gone. When the boys were young, I was always working. I know it was hard on Celia, even though she never complained. I'm not making the same mistakes this time."
Laena felt that she had to let him know what she thought. "Jack, I would never prevent you from seeing your child...I mean, children." She stopped, not liking how her words sounded.
Jack nodded. "I know, honey. But I want to be home, and I know how it can be in the large firms. I also don't want my kids growing up in the city. And unless Mom kicks us out, I'd like to stay here."
Laena felt her heart catch. He hadn't said anything about marriage, and to be honest, she wasn't sure she would say yes even if he did ask. She couldn't imagine how horrible going through another divorce would be, and this one would be complicated by children. Still, he talked about them being together and living as a family. For her, that was enough for now. She smiled slowly, aware that Ruth watched her, as well as Jack. "I don't care what you do, Jack, so long as you are happy doing it. Money doesn't matter that much, so long as everyone is happy." She repeated her assurances.
Jack grinned. "You don't need to worry about me putting food in my children's mouths, Laena. I won't go into details now, but financially we'll be fine. Tony and I have looked at it pretty seriously. The work is definitely too much for one lawyer, and probably could be handled by one and half. What we want to do is make it so we both have the hours we want. If we both end up working three-quarters, we'll be happy. Tony loves to fish, and he complained that he never has the free time. His kids are in school and he wants to make sure he's there for them." He stood and started clearing the dishes away. "Any questions?"
Ruth laughed. "See, Laena. He is already well-trained, so I think we should consider keeping him around the house after all."
They all laughed heartily and then went about cleaning up. For now, the subject was closed.
* * * * *
Jack looked at the closed door to Laena's bedroom. All day long he had continued to feel that something wasn't right between the two of them. Proof had come after dinner when Laena excused herself to go up to bed. There were no sly glances or quick smiles in his direction, which in the past had been her signals for him to follow her, soon. He stayed in the living room with his mother for another two hours, watching television and talking.
Ruth stood finally. "I'm off to bed. Suit yourself if you want to stay up longer. I have a date with Frank tomorrow. We'll be leaving early, around nine, and going into Richmond for some shopping and dinner. If we're running late, we'll stay over and drive back on Sunday."
Jack got up from the sofa. He idly checked the door and began turning off lights. "Is it time for me to have a talk with Frank about his intentions towards you?" he asked laughingly.
Ruth shook her head. "No, you will not. And don't let your sisters know about this either."
Jack kissed his mother's cheek as they came to the stairs. Her bedroom was halfway down the hall. "I won't. Promise."
That was thirty minutes ago. After a long time in the shower, taking extra time to shave, it ended with cold water, which didn't help dissipate his desire one iota. More than anything, he wanted to go in and join Laena in bed. But he had little doubt that she was sound asleep by now. Turning, he walked the short distance to his room and paused outside the door.
"I thought I left the door open," he spoke quietly. Shrugging, he grasped the knob and turned it. Nothing happened. "What the fuck!" The damned door was locked. How could that have happened? More importantly, where was the key?
He turned quickly to go downstairs when he realized that he only had a small towel in his hand. Since his mother was downstairs and in bed, he had not taken a robe with him into the bathroom. Afterwards, he had dried completely, grabbing a small hand towel for his hair. Sighing heavily in frustration, he started for the stairs.
Laena's bedroom door was now opened slightly, and a faint light came from within.
Jack stopped. He was sure her door was closed when he'd passed earlier. Maybe one of the old keys was in her door. He could use it to open his bedroom. Pleased with himself for thinking of the solution, he stepped over to Laena's bedroom. As quietly as possible, he gently eased open her door. He hoped it wouldn't creak. Maybe he could get his hand around and check-
"If you've come to rob me, kind sir, you are ill-clothed for your endeavor," Laena spoke from her bed.
Jack's head turned first. He felt like a naughty schoolboy.
"Don't worry. I'm not the Mother Superior coming to teach a recalcitrant boy his proper manners," she added.
He saw that she was unable to keep from smiling. He slowly came into the room and saw she watched him closely.
Her gaze moved down, and then very slowly, almost as if she were inspecting for something, it came back up.
Starting to speak, he had to clear his throat first. "It appears the wind blew my bedroom door shut and somehow the damned door locked." Taking a couple of steps towards the bed, his gaze moved over her.
Her blonde hair was
curled over her shoulders. She wore some kind of frothy, filmy pale pink negligee. He could tell the bra was lace and her breasts spilled out of it big time. It was obviously pre-pregnancy because the satiny material stretched tautly across her rounded belly. Lying on her side, one leg slid forward, and kept moving up and down against the other one.
It wasn't easy, but he forced his gaze to meet hers. "I thought you'd be asleep."
"I dozed for a little, but I felt restless. You know the feeling... kind of itchy, all over. So I took a shower and shaved." Laena paused to rub the top foot up and down the calf of the other leg again. "Then I even put on lotion, all over my body. But it just didn't seem to help."
Jack felt his body reacting still further to her words. If she looked down, she'd have no doubt as to what he needed scratched.
"I wondered if you could help."
Jack coughed. "Uhm, sure, Laena, what do you need?"
"I had a few places I couldn't get covered too well, and I wondered if you would put on the lotion for me. Please?"
"Well, sure, of course. Where is the bottle?" he asked, walking to the side of the bed. If she still didn't show any interest when he was done, he promised himself that he would leave her to sleep alone tonight. After all, she needed a lot of sleep, he was sure.
"Here!" Laena said and tossed him a small bottle.
He watched in surprise.
As quick as firefly, she slipped off the long robe and kneeled with her back to him, at the edge of the bed. One, two, three...the straps were slipped off, her hair pulled to the side and she looked up at him, over her shoulder.
God damn! Jack thought. Laena was a born seductress. Sighing heavily, he filled his hands with the cream and began applying it to her back. He covered the whole area, except what was hidden by the lower rear section of the short nightgown. "How is that?" he asked, surprised at the hoarseness in his voice.
"That feels much better, but there is still another place."
"Just name it."
Laena turned slowly to look up.
He watched as one of her hands lifted.
Hope rose, as did his cock, when her hand neared his body. Instead, she moved a little more and slipped her fingers between her breasts. A second later, she pulled out an antique-styled key ring.
"I think this might be the cause of the problem." She tossed the ring onto the floor and then pulled the cups of the negligee straight down. Her breasts popped free.
"Damn, woman! I think you are trying to kill me!" Jack took a deep breath. "Do you have any idea how sexy-?"
She slid her hands beneath her breasts, lifting them upwards. "Surely you don't mean these, kind sir? I wouldn't have thought a gentleman such as you would dishonor himself by speaking of a woman's-"
Jack laughed as he put one knee on the bed beside her. "Tits? Boobs?"
"Sir! I mean my womanly blooms!"
He pushed her back onto the bed.
Laena's hands fell to her sides and she smiled up at him. "Do you have plans for my blossoms?"
Jack put more lotion in the palm of one hand. As he rubbed his hands together, he spoke. "You could say that, for sure. I am going to rub my palms over these luscious beauties until you are crying out for me to suck your nipples."
"God, Jack, stop talking and just do it!" She grabbed his wrists, pulling him onto the bed more fully.
Jack grinned at her eagerness. "Never let it be said that I kept a lady waiting!" He promptly placed his hands on her breasts, massaging the cream in with varying strengths of motion.
Laena closed her eyes and moaned softly.
"My lady likes this, does she?"
"Hmm."
"Well, if the lady will turn over, I will happily finish her back." Jack offered, still not removing his hands though. He was sure he could see the indecision on her face.
After nearly half a minute, she turned over.
Jack grabbed the cream and squirted it liberally over her skin.
"Ooh! Cold!"
"I'll take care of that," he promised. Slowly he began rubbing his hands over her upper back once again. The cream eased his way down her back. At her sides, he ran his hands from mid-back down to her hips and back up. Finally, he slid his hands onto her ass cheeks. He massaged her quietly for a long time, and then with one move he ran them down onto her thighs.
Her legs parted, giving him plenty of space to do her inner thighs.
Jack went straight down her legs to her feet. He spent a long time on each foot. Without any warning, he went from sliding his hands around her ankles for the sixth time to straight up and in.
"Oh, my God!" Laena yelped in surprise as his hands further parted her legs.
"What do you know? There is already some moisture here...I don't think it's your moisturizing cream, honey."
"You win! I give up!" Laena muttered into the bedcovers.
Jack moved his fingers across her pussy lips, feeling their slick moisture. He leaned down, resting against her back for a few moments. Whispering, he said, "If I do this correctly, my love, we will both win."
Laena groaned as he slid two fingers inside her. A second later, another finger eased onto her clit. Wiggling and pressing against the erotic bud, he massaged her G-spot. She knew this wasn't going to last long. For the last two hours, she'd been up here fantasizing about what she would say and do. Her whole body was in overdrive.
"Can you lift up onto your knees?"
Laena heard him ask her through her sensual fog. Nodding, she pushed with her hands, and soon had her bottom in the air.
Jack's hands shifted her slightly, and then he resumed his erotic massage. The bed shifted as he got to his feet.
Laena wiggled her butt, wanting him to finish what he'd started. "God! Jack!" she cried out impatiently.
"I know, darling." His fingers intensified and increased speed. He barely pulled free and thrust inside her.
"Yes!" Laena sobbed as he entered her, and after just a few thrusts, her body orgasmed hard. Her whole body shook. The only thing keeping her upright was his hand. Through the insanity of explosions going on inside her, she was dimly aware of Jack's continued thrusts. Each spasm of her cunt dragged and pulled against his thrusts. She tried to tighten and hold him, but it was impossible. Through the dimness of her remaining consciousness, she felt Jack speed up and shorten his thrusts. Soon he jerked forward, pressing and holding her tightly. She felt his seed exploding inside her.
"I'd love to stay inside you, love, but I don't want to crush you or the babies," Jack murmured to her softly a minute later, pulling free of her body. He stood at the side of the bed. "Crawl up here and get under the covers, Laena. I'll turn off the light."
When he got back, she was settled under the sheet and blankets. The dim light from her bathroom highlighted his face as he returned. She watched him climb in beside her.
He took several moments to settle. He didn't immediately spoon her, as he often did.
But then, she reminded herself, she was lying on her back.
"You must be tired, Laena. Throwing pots, throwing clay at ex-husbands and lovers and now seduction. Whew! I'd say that's a busy two days for a pregnant lady."
She couldn't tell if he was serious or teasing her. Immediately, she rolled onto her side to frown at him.
Jack grinned.
Instead of the snappy remark she'd thought of, she instead said what had been on her mind since his return. "Are you sure about this decision? It seems so dull compared to the other offers you could pursue. I know you are doing this because you feel responsible." She ended with a gesture towards her lower abdomen.
Jack laughed softly, rolling onto his side to look at her. "I am responsible, just as you are. We made those two babies in your belly. Responsibility is not a dirty word in my book. We may not be anyone's ideal couple. We have the age difference-"
"How old are you, Jack? It's not nice to make a woman discuss her age, but I'm nearly thirty-six, which isn't much at all in my opinion. I mean lots of peop
le of different ages-" Laena stopped abruptly. She'd almost said, "Marry." Jack hadn't yet brought up that topic. To be honest, she was still unsure about getting married again, even now that she was pregnant.
Last night she was still dealing with the idea of one baby, and now today she adjusted to the idea that she carried two babies. She wasn't panicking every hour. Ruth had spent a lot of time reassuring her. Still, she was an unmarried woman, soon to be an unwed mama. Not at all how she had planned to straighten out her life and get it back on track!
"So, the years don't matter?" Jack asked her softly.
Laena shook her head, partly to clear her head and the other to let him know it didn't make a difference to her. "We've been doing pretty well so far. My parents were in their sixties when I entered college."
"Hey." Jack reached over and gently brushed the strands of hair that clung to the sides of her face. "Tell me about your family. The couple of times I've asked you in the past, you managed to distract me."
Laena felt her cheeks flush. That was exactly what she'd done to avoid telling about her past. "I don't have any family left, Jack. Both of my parents are gone. They were both only children."
"God! You must have thought my family was a zoo!"
Shaking her head, she laughed. "Not completely. I soon learned all the animals' names and what to feed them. The only one to give me any trouble was the big silverback gorilla. His chest-thumping sucked me in."
Jack's laughter made her smile.
"You have the only chest I have any desire to do anything with, and thumping ain't it." He reached out and cupped her nearest breast, pushing the sheet down to her waist. Soon he narrowed his attention to her nipple, circling it with the tip of his finger. He flicked it several times. "Now, that might pass for thumping. Hmm, I'm thumping your nipple. Thump, thump."
Laena reached down and stopped him. "No. That reminds me of the rabbit. You know, the baby deer and...not sexy."
"Got it." Jack slid down his hand, pushing the sheet out of the way, exposing her rounded tummy. He rubbed her belly a few times and then leaned down. "Good night, babies." He pressed a light kiss to her tummy. Pulling back the sheets, he settled on his side. "Want to spoon?"