by Ford, Mia
I immediately stood up and wrapped my arms around her pulling her in close. I had no idea if she wanted me to do this and I hoped I wasn’t reading too much into her being there, but I just needed that comfort, that human connection with someone I cared so deeply about.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I pulled back.
“No, that’s OK,” she said. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks. I can’t believe you’re here. It’s like a dream or something. Why are you here?” I asked.
She laughed. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I wanted to see that you are OK. I knew you would do great.”
“Well, that makes one of us,” I said. “But truthfully, you being here really helped.”
“I don’t see how,” she said. “But I’m glad. So, you have the money to pay your dad’s debt?”
“Yeah, I’ll be getting the check very soon,” I said. “And my dad is getting the help he needs with his gambling addiction as well.”
“That’s great news,” Naomi said.
“Thanks. Wow, I’m still feeling the adrenaline coursing through me.”
“What’s it like? I’ve never been in a fight before, believe it or not.”
“Yeah, it’s a different kind of feeling. When I was in second grade I got into a schoolyard scuffle with an upper classman who was way bigger than me. He beat me up pretty good, but something about it got inside of me and I wanted to fight again. Only this time, I wanted to make sure I’d never lose. So, I bugged my parents night and day until they finally enrolled me in karate. Then when I was a teenager mixed martial arts exploded in popularity and I got into that.”
“Wow, so I guess you’ve always been addicted to pain,” she said.
“Well, life is painful. As sure as you drink water, you will feel pain quite frequently in life. If you don’t embrace it and use it then your life is going to be pretty hard.”
She nodded. “Wow, I love your philosophy.”
“Thanks.”
We stood there in front of each other for a brief moment of silence. Finally, just when it was getting awkward, Naomi spoke.
“Look,” she said. “The other night I came to your house to tell you something. I think I need to say it now.”
“I’m all ears,” I said.
She took a long, deep breath, let it out, and began to speak.
“Ever since I met you, you’ve been a very big part of my life,” Naomi said. “I know that I said I didn’t want to get into a serious relationship at the time—and that was true—I wasn’t honest with you about why that was. It’s true that I was dealing with some issues from a breakup, but the key issue for me with being with you was your job. I have great pride and respect for our men and women in the military, but growing up in the family I did I also know the sacrifice they make and the sacrifice that their loved ones have to make, especially their significant others. And I’d always told myself that I could not handle making that sacrifice. I couldn’t stand the idea of constantly moving around and never having roots anywhere, and I could not get over the terror at the thought of losing someone I loved to tragedy.”
“I know,” I said. “I figured a lot of that out early on, but I didn’t want to pressure you about it. I thought it would just get better with time. I was wrong.”
“You weren’t totally wrong,” Naomi said. “You were right in a lot of ways. But I resisted it. And as things got hotter and heavier between us and I realized I was falling for you, I revolted and I shut it all down. That night when you told me how much you really cared for me—that freaked me out and I overreacted. I told you it was over. And I was wrong. I knew I was wrong. I knew I was saying goodbye to something wonderful, and I allowed myself to believe my own lies that I was doing the right thing. When really, I was just protecting myself from possible hurt.”
“That’s understandable,” I said. “I would never want to do anything to hurt you. But with what I do, that may be unavoidable. I know that. I made peace with the idea I might die young protecting and serving my country and it gives me great pride to make that sacrifice.”
“I know. I could see that and I have always found that so inspiring. I never wanted to fault you for that in any way. That’s why I never would have asked you to stop. That would have been so wrong of me. But that didn’t stop me from wishing you’d reach a decision like that on your own, and that wasn’t fair either.”
“It’s ok,” I said. “I understood.”
“And then I got pregnant and had Jodie, and everything became so complicated. You are such an amazing father and such a wonderful man. Seeing you with her just melts my heart. And the more I saw that the more in love with you I became. And basically, what I’m trying to say is I can’t live without you in my life anymore. I love you. I need you. I want us to be together.”
Naomi was in tears now. The emotions were pouring out of her.
“Hey,” I said as I wrapped her in my arms. I let her sweet, head fall on my shoulder where she rested. She was so soft and warm. The words she’d just spoken were swirling around in my head as if they were surrounded by pure light and happiness. That was all I felt at that moment. After so many months of wondering, wishing, and hoping that Naomi would return the love I’d felt for her for so long --it had finally happened.
“Baby, I love you, too. I love you so much,” I said, whispering in her ear.
She continued to hold onto me as I tilted her head gently towards me and kissed her sweet lips.
With the exception of Jodie’s birth, I’ve never had a happier day.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Naomi
“That’s a good girl. Momma loves you,” I whispered to Jodie before kissing her softly on the forehead as I laid her down in her bassinet. She’d just had her bottle and now she was drifting off to sleep, as was her routine.
I sat down in the chair in the corner and picked up the newest paperback suspense novel I was reading. I’d gotten hooked on Lee Child’s novels in the past few months (thanks to Heidi) and now I could not stop reading them. The plots were so engrossing. And they helped distract me from the day to day. But luckily, the day to day lately had been pretty sweet.
It was about a week since Jay won his fight and I’d told him exactly how I felt. When he said he loved me and then kissed me in that dressing room, I nearly crumbled. I had no idea how much pain and emotion was pent up inside of me. It was exactly the kind of purge that I needed.
And now I had the man that I loved, and he loved me back. Every time I thought about it I had the urge to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, or to make certain that I wasn’t just wishing this would happen and I was still too chicken to just talk to him about how I felt.
Why did I wait so long? Why did I lie to myself that way? I wasn’t sure I’d ever know, but I had come to the conclusion that I loved Jay more than the fear loved me. And I’d committed to the fact that I would never again let that fear keep a grip on me the way it had.
I was just getting into the book when I heard Jay come into my house. I wanted to call out to him, but was afraid I’d wake the baby. He eventually found me (my house wasn’t that large) and walked slowly into the guest bedroom I’d turned into a nursery right before Jodie was born. Jay had been sweet enough to help me do it.
“Hey,” he said quietly realizing that Jody was enjoying a trip to the Land of Nod.
I sat the book down, rose from my chair, and followed Jay out to the hallway where we strode towards the front room and kitchen.
“How was your day?” I asked.
“Well, it was different,” he said with a look of concern.
“What?” I asked. I could always tell when something was worrying him, but Jay was the type of guy that typically you had to pry information out of with a crowbar.
“Major General Wheeler suffered a stroke last night.”
“Oh no!” I gasped.
“He is going to be alright they think, but it looks like he will be in recovery for a while.
And they doubt he will ever be a hundred percent unfortunately.”
“That’s terrible,” I said. “I’m so sorry. Were you close with him?”
“Not really, but word around is that he is a great man and great at what he does.”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“Not really,” Jay said. He grabbed a cold beer from the fridge and opened it. “But he won’t be returning to his position.”
“Wow, so they think he will have some permanent damage?”
“Most likely, but this was his call. He said he didn’t want to come back if he wasn’t the same exact man. So, his job is open.”
“Do you think you have a good shot? I don’t see why they’d consider anyone else but you with your record and experience,” I said truthfully.
He smiled. “Well, it would seem that the powers there also agree with you. I just received the word that the job is mine if I want it.”
“What?” I exclaimed. “Just like that?”
“Yeah. I already gave them the word. I wanted to discuss it with you, but opportunities like that are quickly given and quickly given to someone else. The military doesn’t do ‘time to think about it’. Their world operates much too quickly.”
I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him deeply. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you, honey.”
“So, does this mean you will be permanently stationed right here?” I asked.
“Yes, unless I ever request to be moved somewhere else. Plus, I will make much more money.”
“That’s… that’s…” I choked up unable to get the words out. Everything was happening just perfectly all of a sudden. All of the things I’d been so worried about had just disappeared in the blink of an eye. I felt terrible that Jay’s good news came at the expense of someone else’s bad news, though. That was a conflict of another sort. But seeing how happy Jay was to have this new position, one he had earned and deserved, made me as happy as could be.
“So, I guess I’d better get damn used to it around here,” Jay said.
“Well, I think I can help you do that.”
“I’m sure you can,” Jay said. “I love you.”
“I love you , too.”
“It’s wonderful to hear you say that. And it makes what I have to say next so much better.”
Jay reached into his pocket and suddenly dropped to one knee. He pulled out a small box and opened it up in front of me. It was a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
The world stopped around me. Time had no meaning. My thoughts froze inside my head. It was just him and me there together; nothing else existed.
Jay spoke slowly. “Naomi Riggs, I’ve loved you since the moment I met you. I want our love to continue to grow and our family to continue to grow. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
I tried to answer, but the tears choked me up. I tried again and again until I was finally able to say, “Yes! Of course!”
Jay smiled and slipped the ring on my finger. Then he stood up and pulled me to him. I kissed him softly. His lips were strong against mine, moving deeper into the kiss. My body began to tingle as the lust started to course through me. Jay sensed it as well. He started to pour the passion into the kiss and his hands were suddenly around my waste working towards my ass. Once they inched their way down to the desired spot he began to squeeze my ass tightly in his strong, powerful hands.
I was wearing a pair of thin sweatpants that I’d changed into after I got home from work and picking up Jodie. The fabric was thin and the way he was gripping me I might as well not have been wearing anything. His fingers moved between my cheeks, feeling me through the cloth. I was already getting wet.
It had been a few days since we’d had a chance to make love and I found that once we were having sex regularly I needed it even more. I couldn’t get enough of him. I hoped I never would be totally satiated with him.
Jay scooped me up suddenly and carried me into the bedroom where he plopped me down on the bed.
His hands went to work peeling my sweatpants off and then pulling my underwear down to my ankles where I playfully kicked them off.
Jay stood at the edge of the bed looking down at me. He was removing his clothes slowly, piece by piece. I loved watching him strip, revealing every single inch of his muscular body starting with the shirt. His chest was so ripped and well defined. His body was lean and athletic from a combination of great genetics and hard work. I loved working out with him and watching him sculpt his perfect looking physique.
He was starting to sweat now as he stood there shirtless, rubbing all over his glistening body. Jay moved his hand from his chest to his rock hard abs, rubbing, gliding his fingers between the separations between his muscles.
Meanwhile I was three fingers deep into my wet, gushing pussy. I wanted him so badly. I couldn’t stop biting my lip as I rubbed myself, touching my clit which was so sensitive. I wanted his hard cock to pound me like there was no tomorrow. I needed some pain today.
“Take it off,” I said.
“Say the magic word…” Jay replied.
“I need to be punished baby…” I purred.
“Close enough.”
Jay quickly took off his pants and his boxers. Now he was standing there looking like he’d been chiseled out of a piece of marble. His long, thick meat stick was slapping against his hand.
“Show me,” Jay said.
I began to finger myself furiously. Pretty soon I would come everywhere.
“I want to see it,” Jay said.
He wanted to see me come. Ok… I was going to show it all to him…
I was up to four fingers inserted, with my thumb triggering the magic button. I was so wet, so ready, and so close to coming. My eyes were permanently fixated on Jays’ magic cock which he was beating with hard, long strokes. Sometimes he would smack it against his other hand and then squeeze his balls a bit before stroking himself again. After each stroke his dick looked like it was getting harder and harder.
“I need it…”I said.
“No… you have to earn it first.”
I giggled with anticipation as I kicked the masturbation up another level. I was going to come so hard for him. I’d ripped off my top at this point and I was lying there completely nude rubbing my wet, tight pussy for him. He watched me intently. I could see on his face that he was massively enjoying it.
I was about to come. I could feel it rising up within me. I’d scooted along until I was almost falling off the bed when I felt it happened.
“Yes!” I groaned, careful to not be too loud to wake our daughter.
“That’s it!” Jay hissed. “Give it to me.”
I kept rubbing, propelling my orgasm harder and harder until I was completely spent. Lying back exhausted I tried to lift my head up to keep watching what Jay was doing with his extraordinary cock.
“That’s my babe…” he moaned as he came forward.
He reached down between my legs and slipped his thick fingers into my wet, throbbing pussy.
“AAAGGH!”I moaned. It was all so sensitive.
He removed his fingers which were now glistening in my juices and placed them in his mouth, slowly pulling them out to savor every drop of me.
Then he knelt down between my legs and began to polish me off with his tongue. I couldn’t keep from gasping as my body writhed and moved to get away from the overwhelming pleasure that he was putting me through. His longue, sexy tongue plunged into me and then began to move up and down and back and forth.
“Shit…” I gasped.
My hips bucked into him, feeding myself to his sweet mouth. The way he was licking me, cleaning out my sweet, wet, lustful juices felt heavenly. I was going to come again soon. I wanted him to taste every single drop of me when I did.
But he had other plans.
“Are you ready?” Jay asked.
“Yes!” I said. I was, too. Whatever he wanted to do I was more than ready for it. I wanted him so badly. He was my everyth
ing. I would have done anything for him.
Jay stood up and moved between my legs. His thick cock pressed against me. He moved it up and down and then around the outer edge as if warming it up, getting it used to the wetness.
And then without warning he stuck all of it inside of me, pushing until I was completely filled.
“AAAGGH!”I grunted.
And then Jay’s mouth was on mine, kissing and loving me as his beautiful cock pounded in and out of my tight, wet, slit.
Soon we were both erupting in total bliss.
Epilogue
Naomi
3 Months Later…
“You look awesome!”
Heidi was standing in front of me in her bridesmaids outfit. I wasn’t totally sure about the design and the color initially, but it had worked out so beautifully. Heidi, Megan, and Veronica were the hottest looking bridesmaids I’d ever seen. I had known Megan and Veronica since college. They both flew in from Atlanta and Cleveland where they went to work after college. We hadn’t seen much of each other since, but we’d kept in touch on social media and the occasional phone call. It was so awesome that they had been able to make it. My sister, my Maid of Honor (much to Heidi’s epic protest), was supposed to be there, but she was probably late as usual. She was going to be late for her own funeral, I just knew it.
“I know, right?” Heidi said. She turned to the other two and gave them big high fives all around. Heidi and my other friends had met just once before but they hit it off so well with her I almost felt like I’d been replaced at one point. Heidi had one of those personalities where she immediately treated you as if she’d known you for ten years.
“Yep, great job,” Megan said. “So, are you puking yet?”
“Oh, that is the understatement of the year,” I said. “I’m so nervous I think I might have to pee again, but I can’t take off this dress for several more hours, can I?”