Unpredictable Love

by Jean C. Joachim

  “You’re amazing,” he said, caressing her neck and shoulder before dipping his head to taste her. “These are perfect.” He closed his fingers around her breast. She pushed her fingertips into his back muscles a bit, feeling the power of his body.

  Peeking over his shoulder, she spied his butt. That had not been visible in the hospital. It was perfect and begged her to give it a squeeze. But he was too tall for her to reach. She inched down, but still couldn’t touch it. He raised his head and shot her a quizzical look.

  “Your butt. I want to squeeze it.”

  He laughed and moved up until she managed to satisfy her heart’s desire. Trent’s big hands rested on her thigh. A slight pressure parted her legs a bit, and he glided his fingers up slowly, until his thumb came to rest on her center. She gave a little squeak.

  He grinned. “Let’s make up for lost time.” He stroked her while his hard shaft bumped her thigh. She touched it, sliding her hand up and down. He grabbed her wrist.

  “Stop, or I’ll come.”

  She removed her hand and raised her gaze. His eyes had darkened with desire. He kissed her then trailed his lips down her neck, making her shiver. Trent eased one of his fingers into her. Her eyes drifted shut as the pleasurable ache inside her grew.

  “Is that good?” he whispered, his tongue on the shell of her ear.

  “Oh my God,” she uttered, her vocabulary having gone south.

  His knowing chuckle made her smile. Trent withdrew his hand, parted her knees and knelt between them. He gripped her face between his hands then smoothed them down over her skin, past her collarbone, and stopped at her breasts. After a light massage, his fingers continued downward until his thumbs rested on her sex.

  “God, Trent. Do it. Take me. I’m dying here.”

  “I’m not going to rush.”

  “Please!” She arched her back, pressing herself harder into his hands. When she heard the quiet rip of the foil, she opened to watch him cover himself. She laid her head back on the pillow, confident satisfaction would soon be hers, when she felt the swipe of his tongue on her hot flesh. Heat zinged through her as tension coiled between her legs.

  Her temperature spiked as desire flamed in her core. In a flash, he had mounted and entered her. He kissed her roughly as his hips moved. Jory raised her knees, and he filled her completely. She fastened her mouth on the soft part of his shoulder and moaned into his skin.

  “Oh, Jory, baby, baby, baby,” he muttered with each thrust.

  Every inch of Jory’s body sizzled as if her toe was jammed into a light socket. Flames of desire licked her insides, growing, spiraling until they consumed her. Her muscles tightened as he pumped into her, muttering endearments in her ear. Her eyes drifted shut. Magenta flashed across her eyelids as an incredibly intense orgasm ripped through her. Her hips undulated as she cried out his name.

  Then, pleasure flowed into every cell in her body, stretching down to her toes, like the waters of a river in midsummer. She slid her hands under her knees to keep them in position while Trent continued to move. Sweat dripped down from his chest to hers.

  He groaned her name and trembled for a moment then stopped. She peered up at him. His eyes were closed, his face muscles at ease. She studied the strong line of his jaw and the straight slant of his nose, his lips, so close to hers. Removing her hand from her knee, she palmed his smooth cheek. He blinked and smiled down at her.

  “Awesome.” He eased back on his haunches, pulling out of her. His hands rested on her knees, closing them. He placed a kiss on each before sliding his palms down the outside of her thighs to rest on her hips.

  Before she found her voice, Trent pushed up from the bed and headed for the bathroom. She stretched her arms all the way up and her legs down. A sigh of satisfaction and a grin greeted the Marine when he padded across the room.

  The bed dipped, signaling his return. She rolled on her side. He faced her, stroking her hair.

  “It’s late.” He sat up.

  “Stay.” She tugged gently on his wrist.

  “The night?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Yes. The night. The weekend.”

  He grinned. “You twisted my arm.”

  They snuggled together. Jory snaked her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. Trent pulled up the covers and switched out the lamp.

  “Come here. Closer,” he said.

  She cuddled into his embrace.

  “Don’t ever leave me,” she whispered.

  “I won’t.” He kissed her hair.

  “Promise?”

  “Promise,” he replied.

  For the first time, Jory thought maybe dreams could come true.

  ****

  Jory’s fairytale unfolded that weekend. The lovers prepared meals together, fed the birds, walked in the woods, watched movies, and made love. Time stood still for the young woman. From their “stupid joke” contest while they chopped salad, to sharing childhood memories, to the heat of their passion between the sheets, the lovers existed in their own world.

  The apartment ceased to be a prison, a lonely place of banishment. It warmed into a home, tinged with love and laughter. Trent fit into her life like the last bit of a thousand-piece puzzle. When he had to leave on Sunday, Jory hopped in her car and headed for Pine Grove.

  Hanging with Nan and Amber, making a big Sunday night dinner, was far better than sitting alone and moping. Nan wasn’t home when Jory arrived, so she stretched out on the sofa to read. Before long, she was asleep with Pookie curled up behind her knees.

  The creaking of the hinges on the front door woke them. The cat stretched, jumped down, and scampered away. Jory pushed to a sitting position, yawned, and then smiled at Nan.

  “Where were you?”

  “Dan and I went shopping. There were a couple of garage sales I couldn’t pass up too.” Her aunt put down her shopping bag.

  “I made tea, but I’m sure it’s cold by now.”

  “We can reheat it. What’s up?”

  Jory followed Nan into the kitchen. The women got busy setting up the beverage. Nan pulled a confection out of the fridge while Jory fetched plates.

  “These are Laura’s scones. She’s got those tiny chocolate chips in them. If we heat them just a little bit in the microwave, the chips melt.”

  Nan narrowed her eyes as she stared at her niece. “You look like the cat who swallowed the canary. What happened Friday?”

  Jory grinned and felt color seep into her cheeks. “He stayed the weekend.”

  “Yippee! I knew it. I knew it.” Nan danced a little jig.

  The younger woman chuckled. “How did you know?”

  She shrugged. “Just did. Already told Dan to dust off his tuxedo for the wedding.”

  “What wedding?”

  “Yours and Trent’s,” the older woman said, beaming.

  “Aren’t you jumping the gun, just a little bit?”

  “It’ll happen. After what you two have been through, I have no doubts you’ll survive whatever life throws at you.”

  Jory pulled out her chair and sat down. “You know, that’s a good point. Hadn’t thought of that. We’ve been through a whole lot of crap already.”

  “And Trent is still knocking on your door.” Nan broke off a piece of scone. “Makes me feel real comfortable about handing you over to him.”

  Jory laughed. “You’re such a romantic! We’ve just started dating.”

  Nan made a face and waved her hand. “You two belong together.”

  “So, you’re predicting marriage from such an unpredictable love?”

  “I am.”

  “Where’s Amber? I want to tell her Trent and I are back together.”

  “She’s not here?”

  “Nope. Place was when empty when I arrived.”

  The women pushed up from the table and climbed the stairs to Amber’s room. Jory cringed when opening the door, expecting a horrendous mess. But the place was as neat as a military barracks. The bed was made and e
verything else was put in place. The rug had been vacuumed, the old, well-loved stuffed animals were huddled together on the bed by the pillows. There was an envelope on the coverlet, addressed to both ladies.

  Nan opened it, scanned it, and then handed it to Jory.

  Dear Aunt Nan and Jory,

  It looks like Jory is going to be reunited with Trent. It’s almost the best news I could have received. What’s better? Troy being offered a job as manager of one of his company’s stores in Florida. He’s asked me to marry him and move to Orlando. I jumped at it. Pine Grove is a little too small for me. Okay, a lot too small. I love Troy. He’s good to me, and I’m excited about the move.

  By the time you read this, we will have been hitched down at City Hall. I know I used to dream about a huge wedding, but face it—we just don’t have the money. And that’s okay.

  Besides, I figure Nan can do that for Jory and Trent. We’ll come up for it. I’d better be the maid of honor! I hope you’re not hurt by this. I figured I’d take this chance while it was here. Besides, it’s time Jory got to lead her own life without worrying about me.

  I’m all grown up now. Time for me to leave home. I love you both so much, you can’t imagine. You’re my family and will be forever. But we all have to take our own paths, as Nan once said. And mine is taking me south. I hope you understand. You two are the best things that have ever happened to me, next to Troy. Take care.

  Love,

  Amber

  P.S. Thanks for teaching me how to make your beef stew and mac and cheese, Aunt Nan. Troy thinks I’m an amazing cook! Won’t he be surprised?

  P.P.S. I’ll text you my address as soon as I get one. Lol!

  Stunned into silence, the two women faced each other.

  “Are you kidding?” Jory said, when she caught her breath.

  “She’s right, you know.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re not going to have time to ride herd on her. You’re going to have your own life, a husband, kids, a career.”

  “I’ll always have time for Cookie.” Jory’s eyes watered.

  Nan hugged her. “Kitten, face it. She had to leave the nest sometime. Troy seems to be a pretty good guy. Best she’s ever gone out with.”

  “That’s not saying much.”

  Nan smiled. “I like him. Like the way he treats her. And since he’s getting this promotion, well, he’s pretty smart and a hard worker.”

  “Just the opposite of my sister.”

  “Now, now. Don’t be mean.”

  “I can’t believe she just snuck off and did this.”

  “Took a lot of guts. I’m proud of her. Yep. She’s finding her own path and making tracks. Gotta give her credit.”

  Jory burst into tears.

  “Come, come, Kitten. She’s not leaving the planet. You’ll see her. We can all go to Florida, and she’ll come home for Christmas.”

  “I suppose. But now that I’m living in Oak Bend, you’ll be alone.”

  “Me? Never. Dan can spend the night, for a change,” Nan said, wiggling her eyebrows. “And I have Pookie.”

  The cat meowed, right on cue.

  “Stop trying to find excuses. Reach for the brass ring, honey. It’s your turn.”

  Chapter Ten

  The following Friday night, Jory put napkins under the forks on her small dining table. She’d moved it to the window, where she and Trent could watch the birds at the feeder. They had found her at her new address and brought friends. Goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, titmice, and the occasional Hairy Woodpecker vied for perch space.

  She opened the window for fresh air then stirred the stew. Aunt Nan’s recipe was guaranteed to win hearts. Her late husband, Ben, had once remarked that it was her stew that had prompted him to pop the question.

  She’d commissioned Laura Daily to bake a luscious carrot cake for dessert. Jory had taken time for a long, luxurious bath. She had soaked in bath salts then applied her special perfume that had first snagged his attention. She slipped on a cotton, jersey dress in aqua and sandals.

  She flipped on the radio as Julian Lennon’s song came on. Yes, she agreed with him, it was much too late for goodbyes. Her thoughts turned to Amber. As far as Jory was concerned, it was too late for goodbye with her sister too. The journalist wandered to the sliding glass door that led to the deck and stood, staring at her feathered friends.

  Sure, Amber had been a nuisance—plenty of times. But she had also been Jory’s reason to get out of bed. After their parents had died, Jory had wanted to hide, disappear under the covers, and never come out. But she had had Amber to care for. Her sister had been the motivation for the seventeen-year-old to pull herself together. It hadn’t been easy, but she’d done it.

  She had cared for Amber, made her lunch for school, walked her to the bus stop, picked her up. She had bought her clothes, took her to the doctor and dentist, become her substitute mother, until they moved in with Nan, a year after they were orphaned. Jory didn’t complain, but she could be heard carrying on about some stupid thing Amber had done. She had wanted her sister to be better, be perfect, or at least get close, and got disgusted when the girl proved to be a mere mortal.

  Still, Amber and Jory were a team. The Walker girls faced the world together. The sudden departure of her sister left Jory bereft. A slight chill in the air sent a shiver up her spine. She hadn’t been lonely in years, so she wasn’t used to the feeling. It surrounded her like a coat of ice. She’d had a life, and now, she had none. Of course, Amber would say Jory had had no life. Maybe she was right, but it had been enough.

  Restlessness invaded her heart. She wanted to know her future, where she’d go and what she’d do. Should she stay in the apartment and be the managing editor at the paper for the next twenty years? She needed a new beginning, like Amber. Maybe Trent could be a part of that. Every night, she prayed he’d keep his word and be with her forever.

  Questions filled Jory’s head, yet the answers eluded her. She listened to their song, deciding she’d had enough of “goodbye” and was ready for “hello” in her life. Returning to her tiny kitchen, she salted the water for the noodles and waited for it to boil.

  The doorbell rang. She sucked in air when she opened the door. Trent had never looked more handsome in snug jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a khaki sports jacket. He smelled divine and held a huge bouquet of wild flowers, a package, and a bottle.

  “Wow. You look beautiful,” he said, stepping inside. “Here, these are for you.”

  She led him into the kitchen. “The flowers are gorgeous. Thank you,” she said, searching her cupboard for a vase.

  “They remind me of you. Different kinds of beauty mixed together. Wild.”

  She faced him. “That’s the sweetest thing.” She kissed him. He drew her closer for a more passionate one. She leaned into him, lingering to savor the fresh smell of his newly ironed shirt, which she now associated with him, and the taste of Trent.

  A distant sound of bubbles alerted her that the water was boiling. She eased away and returned to the stove. After putting in the noodles and directing him to open the bottle of merlot he’d brought, she took down two wine glasses.

  Trent filled them then raised his for a toast. “No more goodbyes.”

  She nodded and sipped. “Delicious.”

  “Nothing but the best for you.”

  “Let’s sit by the window. Bet the finches are there.”

  He set up two chairs by the glass, next to the dinner table.

  “Let’s see who you have here.” He sat next to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “Look at that. Your chickadee is chasing off the junco,” he remarked, pointing.

  “Why that aggressive little so-and-so.”

  She wasn’t surprised to hear him rattle off the names of the birds feeding on her dime. They inched closer as they watched the avian antics and chuckled at the little creatures. Trent took her hand in his. She wasn’t aware of it until the timer went off, signali
ng dinner was ready.

  As she pulled away, he kissed the back of her hand. If things weren’t about to boil over on the stove, Jory could have lost herself in his gorgeous eyes, passionate pools with flecks of green.

  Conversation centered around the food. Trent ate well, exclaiming how delicious it was. Jory smiled. The proof was in the eating, as Laura Dailey always said. And Trent wolfed down a share and a half.

  When Jory mentioned she’d gotten the carrot cake from Laura, Trent asked about the Daileys. The journalist filled him in on the important personages in Pine Grove. Fortunately, there weren’t too many.

  “We’ve talked about everything but us. I don’t like talking in circles. I want to know about you. What do you want? Where are you going?” She rested her elbows on the table.

  “Those are big questions,” he responded.

  “And I expect big answers,” she teased, grinning.

  “You first,” he said, kicking the conversation back to her.

  “I want to recreate the family I lost.”

  “Your parents?” He probed.

  “Used to be them. Amber’s run off to Florida, I don’t live with Nan anymore. I’m totally alone. I’ve never been by myself. It’s strange.”

  “You want a family to make up for what you’re lacking?”

  “I want some noise in the house. I want laughter, want hugs. I want happiness around me.”

  “How do you plan to do that?” He leaned back in his chair.

  “By marrying a man who loves me and having a couple of kids?”

  He nodded. “Got anyone in mind?”

  Jory looked away.

  “I might know someone,” he piped up.

  “Oh?” Her eyes widened.

  “I’m not exactly a perfect specimen anymore. Not that I was ever perfect, but at least I was physically. With my medical discharge, my military career is over. I don’t have much to offer. I’m only working freelance. Though I’m hoping to turn that into permanent. I can’t do the hundred yard dash. I’m bad tempered, hard to live with…”