“Shadow boxes,” both girls said.
“What?” Evan asked.
“Shadow boxes. We’re going to put them in boxes that’ll hang on the wall in the nursery. They’re perfect,” Ginger said. “Now we need to find your baby pictures so we know which one belongs to you and which to Mitchell.” Her eyes danced with joy.
“Fine. I’m calling your mother.” Evan pulled out his phone. Ginger’s forehead wrinkled from confusion. “Hi, Mrs. Monroe. Yes, ma’am, Ginger’s fine. I need you to bring the outfit Ginger wore home from the hospital when she was born when y’all come for the wedding. We’re having them put in some kind of box and hung in the nursery. Thank you. See y’all next week.” Evan hung up the phone with a nod as if he won an argument.
“Evan, that’s perfect. Girl or boy, they’ll have a piece of us with them all the time.” Ginger wrapped her arms around Evan’s neck and kissed his cheek.
“You want the same thing, don’t you?” Mitchell asked Kayla. She slowly nodded without taking her eyes off him.
As the boys boxed the things they were keeping, and bagged the things they were throwing away, the girls moved to the bathroom where they threw everything away. In the back corner of the vanity was a box. Kayla pulled it out and opened it. Her eyes widened as she looked at Ginger, and they started giggling.
“Is that what I think it is?” Ginger said.
“It has to be. Look at the shape,” Kayla said.
“But it has an electric cord.”
Kayla plugged it up, and it started vibrating. “Oh my gosh! It still works, and it doesn’t have any settings. Holy shit! That wouldn’t take long,” she said a little louder than she intended.
“What wouldn’t take long?” Mitchell asked as he approached the door.
“What’s that noise…” Evan words trailed off as he saw what Kayla was holding. “Fuck, I did not need to see that.” Evan turned and walked back toward the closet.
Ginger followed. “Evan, for someone with a colorful sexual history, you aren’t doing well with this.”
“Darlin’, she’s my mother! I don’t want to think of her in that way.”
“Babe, how do you think you and Mitchell got here?”
Evan massaged his forehead. “In my mind, they only had sex twice. Once for me and the other for Mitchell. I don’t want to think about it any other way.”
“Is that how you want our children to see us?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”
“Well, I want them to know that a loving marriage consists of sex and it’s healthy,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Evan, your mom was in her forties when your dad died. Babe, she was still young enough to want, need, and enjoy sex. If she didn’t date anyone, she had to have relief somehow. It wouldn’t have been normal if she didn’t.”
Evan rested his forehead on Ginger’s. “I know you’re right, but it’s better for me to keep thinking my mother didn’t know anything about sex.”
Ginger shook her head. “You and Mitchell have talked about how your father was with your mother. There was a reason he was protective of her. He loved her, just like you love me. They may not have been into our kink, but they had a healthy love life. Subconsciously you know this, you just don’t want to admit it, and that’s okay. I love you.”
When Ginger turned around, Mitchell was standing in the doorway with the same look of shock on his face. She swore men were brought up to think women didn’t have sexual desires and needs. Then again, maybe it’s just boys who don’t want to think of their mothers as sexual beings. Ginger walked out of the closet and back toward the bathroom.
“Is Mitchell okay,” she asked Kayla.
“I think it just surprised him. He’ll be okay,” Kayla said with a smile.
“Throw it away. If we find anything else, we can’t tell them because I think it’ll drive them over the edge.”
25
That evening Mitchell was already in bed reading his journal when Kayla emerged from the bathroom. Each entry was like a letter to him, and she made sure to hit all the important events in their lives. He looked up when he felt the bed dip as tears stung his eyes.
“Are you okay?” Kayla asked as she snuggled next to him.
Mitchell wrapped an arm around her and brought her close. “She knew more than I gave her credit for, especially about us.”
“She wrote about us?”
“Mak, she wrote about everything from the time I was born, so yeah, there’s a lot about us since you’ve been a part of my life for so long. Reading some of these just brings back a lot of old feelings. Look at this one:
Dear Mitchell,
My heart is breaking for you. Today Makayla, your Mak, left Riverton Crossing. She said she needed to get out of here to breathe. You let her go, but it broke you to do it. I know she’s the love of your life. You may not believe it right now, but I promise the two of you will find your way back to each other. You two are just meant to be. You’ve known it since you were fourteen, and I’ve known it too. Give her the space she needs right now. She’ll come back.
I gave you an old song to listen to. You said it was exactly how you felt, so you’ve played it constantly today. The song is “You’re My Soul and Inspiration” by the Righteous Brothers. I pray that it brings you where you need to be in your heart and mind.
I love you, son. This pain will not last forever.
Love,
Mom
Tears fell down Kayla’s face as she read the entry in the journal. When she looked at Mitchell, she asked, “Do you still have that song? I’d like to hear it.”
Mitchell shook his head. “After Vegas, I got rid of it,” he said with sadness in his voice. “I’m sure we can download it though if you want.”
“It’s up to you. I’d like to, but if it’s too personal, I understand.” Kayla lazily rubbed her hand over the tattoo on Mitchell’s chest. “I don’t want to bring back the pain of that time in our lives.”
“I don’t want to go there, at least not right now. I have you back, and that’s what I want to concentrate on. I just wish she were here to see how happy we are instead of her last memories of us being sad ones,” Mitchell said as he kissed her head.
“Oh, Mitchell, I wish I could make it up to her somehow.”
“You can.”
“How?”
“Just love me for the rest of our lives.” Mitchell smiled.
“That’s too easy.”
Mitchell closed the journal and pulled Kayla on top of him. “You know how I am, Mak. It won’t always be easy.” He cupped her face and gently kissed her.
Kayla’s hands fell to his sides. As he pulled her closer, her body sank onto his, and she moaned as his hand moved to her ass and squeezed while he pushed her into his hard cock. He groaned from the pressure of her body against his.
“Love me, Mak. Show me how much you love me,” Mitchell whispered against her lips.
Kayla rubbed her heated pussy along the ridge of his cock as she slid her hands under his shoulders. She rested part of her weight on her forearms, but her breasts were pressed against his chest as she moved to control the kiss. Her tongue requested entrance into his mouth, and he allowed her in, but took back the control as his hand moved from her jaw to the back of her head while tangling his fingers in her hair. As he tightened his grip, he pulled her head back which gave him access to her neck. He kissed and nibbled his way from one side to the other.
“Open your legs, baby.” Kayla raised her lower body to move her legs to the outside of his. As she started to push her torso off his, he held her tight. “I want inside you like this.”
“How can I show you how much I love you if I’m not the one in control?”
Mitchell smiled. “By giving me control, you’re giving me your trust. I need that and so do you. You couldn’t love me if you didn’t trust me.”
“Oh, Mitch,” Kayla moaned as he slid inside of her.
Mitchell moved his hands to her hip
s and moved her up and down his body. The friction was warming them from chest to hips. He bent his legs and planted his heels in the bed which caused her legs to spread farther apart. With the leverage, he was able to thrust harder into her.
“Ahhh,” Kayla cried. The timing of his thrusts and the movement of her body had Mitchell hitting the right spot on each stroke. “Mitch, I…I’m coming.” She buried her face in his chest as the wave of ecstasy washed over her.
“Mak…” Mitchell whispered as stream after stream of cum shot into her. He stayed firmly in place for several moments before he lowered his legs and rolled them over. “Oh God, Mak, I love you so much. Thank you for coming back to me. Thank you for forgiving me and keeping yourself just mine.” He kissed her from her lips to his favorite spot under her ear.
“Your heart completes my heart, Mitch. Thank you for never giving up on me.”
26
Evan and Ginger settled on the sofa in their room to look at the journal with one of his arms around her and one of hers across his abs.
“Are you sure you want to share this with me?” she asked.
“What better way to learn about my parents if not through my mother’s own words?” Evan responded.
“I’m sure it’s quite personal for you and her. I just thought you may want to read it by yourself first.”
Evan tightened his grip on her. “No, I want you with me.”
When they came to the entry made after Evan’s high school graduation, they both paused. Ginger tilted her head toward Evan while he glanced down at her. “We can skip this one if you want to read it when you’re alone,” she quietly said.
Evan shook his head. “Why don’t we lie down?” He shifted to where he was behind her, and she laid on one of his arms with his other over her hip. “Now more of me is touching more of you.”
Dear Evan,
This has been a hard year for you. You experienced your first case of puppy love, and I can’t believe it didn’t happen before your senior year in high school. Ruby Mae Johnson seemed to be a nice girl, but unfortunately, her family didn’t let her stay that way. You faced ridicule from others but remained steadfast in the way you were raised. You stood by her and defended her as long as you could. When it became obvious what her mother made her do, you stayed true to yourself. I’m proud of you, but I think it hardened you too. Your skepticism of others will make it hard for you to love again. I pray you’ll open your heart one day for the right girl.
I heard this song on the radio the other day, and you immediately came to mind. I don’t know if it’s the words or the pureness of Nat King Cole’s voice, but “When I Fall In Love” just had your name written all over it. I know you’ll guard yourself until you’re ready to settle down. She’s out there, son. I promise.
You didn’t have time to grieve the loss of a first love because you had to grow up quicker than I would have liked. Within a few weeks of ending things with Ruby Mae, your father died. I’m so sorry, honey, that you had to step into some pretty big shoes. I know you wanted out of Riverton Crossing, but thank you for agreeing to stay. I need your help with the ranch, but more with Mitchell. He’s at an age where he’ll need a male figure. Even though you’re his brother, he looks up to you, and I’m sure you’ve seen how he’s been with Makayla Gregory. I pray you’ll take him under your wing and show him how to treat a girl, just as your father taught you.
I can never tell you how proud you’ve made me with the man you’ve become.
Love,
Mom
Ginger’s shoulders were shaking by the time they finished reading. Evan laid the book on the floor and turned her toward him. The tear streaks down his face were nothing compared to the sobs that shook Ginger. As soon as her body faced his, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed hard.
“Whoa, darlin’, that was a good one. At least she didn’t say she was disappointed in me.” Evan angled her face toward him.
“How could she be? It seems she knew more of what was going on than you thought,” Ginger said as she tried to stop crying.
“Yeah, I thought I kept it hidden pretty well. I guess not.” Evan thought for a moment. “Funny. The next entry was the one I showed you earlier. The one she wrote just before I went to college, and I used for your proposal letter. She knew what I needed long before I did.”
“Mother’s intuition,” Ginger quietly said. “I hope mine is as good as hers.”
“You’re going to be a great mother,” Evan said as he kissed her on the nose. “How is my little guy? You didn’t overdo it today did you?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m pretty tired.”
“Let’s get a quick shower then.”
Evan picked Ginger up and carried her to the bathroom. He turned the water on then finished undressing her. As she got the towels, he stripped then tested the water.
“Come on. It’s ready.”
Evan helped her into the shower, pulled her into his body, and then lifted her. He kissed her as she wrapped her arms and legs around him. “She kept her promise of me finding you. I wonder if she knew you’d be a feisty redhead who keeps me on my toes,” he said between kisses.
“Do you think I’m who she would’ve picked for you?”
“Without a doubt.” He backed her into the wall of the shower. “I need you. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes, I need you too.”
He entered her slowly trying to make this moment to last. She wiggled her hips and moaned.
“Be good. You know I’m going to take care of you. Enjoy the stretch, darlin’,” he said as he rested his forehead on hers. “You feel fantastic.” He moved out and back in at an agonizingly slow pace.
“Oh, Evan, please.”
“Please what, darlin’? I’ve got you.”
“Faster, please.”
“Shh. All in due time.”
He took her hands and stretched them above her head at the same time he leaned into her. Her nipples puckered as her walls began to tighten around him. She tried to move her hips to increase the friction, but he clamped both wrists in one hand and swatted her ass with the other. Her eyes popped open, and he was staring straight at her.
“Be still. I’ll get us there together.”
“I’m so close. Just a little more.”
He didn’t increase the pace, but whispered into her ear, “I know. I feel your tight pussy milking my cock. Come for me, darlin’.” Ginger whimpered as her body contracted from the orgasm that swept through her. “That’s right,” he said as he let her ride it almost to the very end. As she started to come down, his movements became harder and quicker. She moved her hands to his shoulders as he moved his to her waist.
“Ride me, darlin’. I know you’ve got one more in you,” he said as he thrust inside her. Within minutes, she came again, this time more loudly, and he was right behind her.
“Ginger,” he whispered.
“Oh, Evan…”
Evan’s legs were shaking from the exertion, so he slowly lowered her. “I don’t want to drop you.”
“Do you need to sit on the bench?”
“Maybe for a second. I’ll wash when you’re done.”
Ginger washed her body and hair as Evan watched from the bench in the shower. When it appeared she was done, he went to stand, but before he could move, she knelt in front of him and started washing him, starting at his feet and was working her way up.
“Ginger, what are you doing?”
“I’m washing my man who takes great care of me.”
“Darlin’, you don’t have to do this.”
“I know, but I want to.”
Evan stayed on the bench for as long as he could just watching his woman bathe him. “Stand,” she said as she moved her eyes to his. Evan stood as she asked so she could finish what she’d started. He helped her to her feet and bowed his head for her to wash his hair. He’d never had a woman pay him this kind of attention. When she’d finished, he rinsed off as she stepped out of the s
hower.
He opened the door and found her standing there naked holding his towel with stretched arms waiting on him. He didn’t know what to say. He knew this kind of treatment happened in D/s relationships, so he didn’t understand why Ginger was doing this. Should he ask or just let her do this for him?
Once she finished drying him, he took her towel to do the same. From the water and the air conditioner coming on, she had chill bumps all over her. He pulled out the chair from her vanity and guided her to sit while he combed out her hair. With her hair neatly combed, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
She slid under the covers, and he snuggled in behind her. Once she’d gotten comfortable, he asked, “Why the special treatment in the shower?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just wanted to do that for you.”
“I appreciate it, thank you, but you know I don’t expect to be treated that way, right?”
“I know. In a few months, I wouldn’t be able to anyway. It was just an act of love, nothing more.”
“As long as it was out of love,” he said as he kissed her shoulder.
27
Monday morning, Evan was in his office working on the security detail for the street dance that was also his wedding reception when his desk phone buzzed. He pressed the intercom button. “Yes?”
“Mr. Charles Harper in on line two for you,” Rita said.
“Thank you.” He took a minute to change his train of thought before he picked up the receiver. “This is Chief Riverton.”
“Chief, this is Charles Harper. I’d like to speak with you about the officer you sent to see my wife last week.”
“Yessir. Is there a problem?”
“Can you please tell me why it’s necessary for my wife to assist this officer? Why isn’t one of the older, more experienced officers from this area looking into whatever it is he’s looking into?”
“Mr. Harper, did Officer Cox disrespect your wife in any way?”
Unexpected Guest: A Riverton Crossing Novel - Book Three Page 10