Reclaiming Love: Forever Safe Romance

by Brynn Paulin

  “Where are you? We’re coming there.”

  “I don’t know if there will be somewhere to stay,” Jordan said then told them where we were. Strange relief filled me because I really had missed my family. I had been one-hundred percent fine with getting married without them. Belonging to Jordan was all that mattered to me, but having the other people I loved most here with us would just make it better.

  My dad was already typing away on his phone. “We’ll find a place, even if it’s a drive.”

  Meanwhile, my mom pointed at me. “We’re having a chat about this disappearing act when I get there, young lady—and about you moving so far away.”

  “We are staying, Mom,” I said, standing my ground.

  That was the nature of the rest of the conversation. My mother none-too-pleased with me, and my dad making travel plans for nine people—without even confirming the others could travel to Cherish Cove. When I finally convinced him that he should make some calls, we signed off, and I sagged into Jordan, burying my face in his shoulder.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  I shook my head without even lifting it. “No. This is going to be a circus.”

  “It’ll be okay. Want to go look at houses tomorrow afternoon?”

  I raised my head and quirked an eyebrow at him. The man was kind of crazy. We already had a mess coming to town to visit.

  “We’re going to need a place when we get back from Arizona,” he defended.

  “You’re right.” He was always the more analytical of the pair of us.

  “So I’ll make some appointments for tomorrow afternoon?”

  I reached to shut the lid of my laptop then turned and straddled his lap. “Sure.”

  “Lakefront or farther inland?”

  “Whatever you want.” I started kissing his neck. My hands caressed over the front of his sports shirt. “Thanks for having my back with my parents.”

  His hands flexed on my hips, moving me so I was grinding on the ridge of his arousal. God, he felt good against me. “I’ll always have your back, Van. Fuck that feels good. How’re you feeling?”

  “Hot,” I moaned.

  He cupped my pussy. “Here.”

  “I…” I rocked a few more times, feeling the strands of pleasure working into my core, everything there tightening, readying… “Oh…I’m good.” But there was something else I really wanted first. Another thank you for having my back, so to speak. Wiggling free of his grasp, I slipped off his lap.

  “Hey, where are you going?” he complained, grabbing at me to bring me back. I evaded and dropped to my knees.

  “Not going far, babe.” My fingers were already opening his pants. In a flash, I had his cock out and in my mouth.

  “Fuck, oh, fuck,” Jordan groaned. His fingers drove into my hair, guiding me just as I liked. I enjoyed the façade of power over his pleasure, but when it came down to it, he was the one in control.

  I sucked harder, savoring the smooth precum flooding onto my tongue. Humming, I took him deeper into my mouth. My tongue lashed over the ridges on his thick cock.

  “Take more,” he commanded. Though he still held me, he didn’t push, didn’t try to force his way in. That was all me, taking him to the back of my mouth. I gagged a little when I went too far, but my man seemed to like it, moaning in response.

  My mouth worked up and down. I alternated between drawing so hard he swore and his hips arched off the couch and doing a gentle suction that teased over him while my tongue tasted everywhere. When I cupped his balls, rolling them in my palm, I knew he wouldn’t last much longer.

  “I’m not coming down your throat, vixen,” he growled.

  In response, I sucked hard again.

  Jordan was having none of it. He yanked me up. I was over his lap before I knew what was happening. I giggled and fought to get away, but he held me fast. He shoved my jeans and panties to my knees. His hand clapped down on my ass with a resounding spank. I shrieked in surprise, but the pinch of pain morphed so fast it shocked me.

  “Jordan,” I gasped.

  “You’re such a bad girl. You know I don’t come in your mouth.”

  For some reason, it had always been his rule. I was curious about the taste, but I’d heard cum was awful, so I could live without swallowing it. It didn’t stop me from teasing my man. And this… Oh, I liked spankings.

  “Please…”

  “Please what, bad girl? Please stop?”

  “No! No, don’t stop!”

  His hand smoothed over my no-doubt reddened ass. He gave me a few taps.

  “Jordan,” I whined.

  His palm smacked a little harder. “Like this?”

  Damn it, he knew I wanted more. This was just his way to show me who had the control, just like when I was on my knees in front of him. I didn’t hate it. We didn’t play domination and submission games, not formally anyway, but he knew I needed that more dominant, more alpha part of him to be at the forefront.

  “More,” I begged, and his hand smacked harder to give me what I wanted.

  Then he stopped, and my head dropped onto his thigh. I was going to kill him when he let me up. My pussy was dripping, and I needed him to send me over the edge with a hard, finger-fucking or driving that hard cock deep inside me.

  His hand rubbed over my ass again. “You’re right. Bad girls should get spanked.”

  Then do it!

  “But see, this is how it’s going to go. You tell me the ways you’ve been naughty and I’ll give you a spank for each one.”

  Well, that list would be long. I was about to start making up a ton of stuff.

  I panted, getting worked up at just the thought.

  “Waiting,” he prompted, dragging his fingertip along the crack of my ass. My cheeks reflexively clenched.

  “I…uh…” Now that I had my chance, I couldn’t get out words.

  “Should I start for you?”

  I nodded, feeling more than a little desperate.

  “Sending me that damn letter and telling me it’s over.” Spank! “Running away.” Spank! “Not telling anyone where you were going.” Spank!

  Okay, those were good ones.

  “Thinking you wouldn’t want me,” I added.

  He gave the spank then rubbed his palm over my rear. “Nothing could stop me from wanting you.”

  “Trying to make you come in my mouth.” Spank!

  “Living in that unsafe camper,” he supplied. Spank!

  “Calling you a suck-up.” Spank!

  “And…?”

  “Sometimes, I touch myself when I read sexy books,” I whispered.

  “That’s my pussy. You don’t get to touch it without me. One more…” Spank!

  Only one? I almost whined, but he shoved two thick fingers deep into me. “I can’t wait much longer to be in you. I need in here, fucking you.”

  “Um…making you wait to fuck me because you needed to spank me,” I tried. I got two smacks on my burning ass for that.

  Then I was moving. In one smooth motion, Jordan had me on the floor on my hands and knees. He pushed my head toward the carpet as he rose over me. Roughly nudging my legs apart, he drove all his thick inches into me, all the way to the hilt. His deep guttural yell mixed with my cry, twining as he fucked me hard. He was a beast unleashed. He vibrated with the power he’d kept tethered while we’d played our silly game. This was my man, his powerful need for me matched the desire raging inside me. My fingers clawed at the carpet. I shoved back into each drive until Jordan grabbed my hips. He held me in place for his carnal, bruising thrusts. It drove me right over the edge. I screamed as my climax took hold. Wave after wave pummeled me, drowning me in bliss so deep I didn’t know if I’d ever surface.

  “Van…Savannah. Mine,” Jordan grunted out. His breathing fell apart, his rhythm failing. “Fuck!”

  I moaned into the carpet as he filled me. We collapsed together, and I couldn’t remember ever being as perfectly blissful as I was right that moment. I’d been in love with him f
or a lifetime. I’d thought it was over. I was so wrong. As long as we both lived, it would never be over.

  Chapter Eight

  ~ Jordan ~

  I was alone. I shouldn’t fucking be alone.

  Just yesterday, I’d vowed to never wake up without her by my side.

  Rolling over, I reached out a hand to feel where Van should be lying, only to find cool sheets. I must have been sleeping like the dead not to hear her up and moving. Of course, I’d been awake awhile after her last night.

  I’d carried her in here after the hottest floor sex ever—not that I had experience with it, but there was no way there had ever been better. She’d already been asleep when I’d placed her on the mattress and tucked the sheets around her. I couldn’t relax. I’d just lain there, watching her. Touching her cheek, stroking my fingers along her arm. A few times, she’d made soft little cooing sounds and burrowed deeper into her pillow or closer to me.

  I should have just left her be, but I couldn’t stop thanking my stars that fate had reunited us, that we’d worked out the hurdle between us. Van couldn’t have kids. Or she thought she couldn’t because of the early onset menopause. I needed to talk to her about it.

  I hadn’t wanted to wake her up last night, but now, I had questions. My brain just wouldn’t stop clicking when I should have been asleep, and I’d done some googling with my phone app.

  “Van?” I called out.

  But the suite was too empty. I knew she wasn’t there.

  I didn’t like it. Why would she leave? Everything had been so…perfect. I closed my eyes, fighting back irrational panic. Think, Jordan. Think. She didn’t run. You know she didn’t run…

  She wouldn’t, right?

  She wouldn’t.

  I swung my legs out of bed and grimaced as I rose. I was always stiff in the morning, but after yesterday’s overzealous activities that I didn’t in the least regret, I was more sore than usual.

  Limping heavily, I headed into the sitting area, not bothering with clothes. Who would care if I was naked? Van wouldn’t, even if she were here.

  I smirked thinking of all the sex yesterday. Yeah…no regrets.

  My girl’s things were still all over the area. That led me to believe she wasn’t far, just as I’d already suspected. But where?

  Work.

  I hated it, but it was a fact of our lives for now. I’d be willing to bet she had a teaching position before long. And with the tech work I was starting, she could stay home soon if she wanted. Hell, she could stay home now. I had more than enough compensation and savings for us to live comfortably—frugally but still without wants.

  After a long shower to soothe my aches, I headed down to the café. I didn’t care who was around or what the rules were. I was getting my morning kiss, then I was claiming a spot somewhere down there and camping out until she was free.

  I scowled as I entered. Savannah was behind the breakfast counter, smiling at some asshole in the grill area, who was laughing at what she was saying. I growled, surprising myself, as the caveman need to grab her and throw her over my shoulder reared up. I balled my fists glaring at them.

  He saw me first and went instantly serious. I probably looked like trouble. Well, I would be fucking trouble for him if he made a play for my girl.

  Following his stare, Savannah turned. Her smile grew wider, and she flew in my direction. In a move that was probably against her work rules, she slammed into me. Her arms wrapped around me, and she kissed me hard and fast.

  “Don’t be a dick,” she said against my lips, making it clear she knew I’d been seeing red. “He’s my boss and a friend and nothing more. You know it’s only you for me.”

  “Yeah,” I gritted out, clenching a hand on her ass for good measure, “but does he know that?”

  “He knows. We were just talking about you.” She pulled back and grasped my hand. “Come on. You should meet him. The Woods are great people, and I hope we can stay friends even after I start teaching.”

  By now, this Woods guy had come around from the grill and stood where Savannah had been when she’d barreled into me.

  “Oakley,” she said. “This is my boyfriend, Jordan Camden.”

  “Fiancé,” I corrected, holding out my hand. “Nice to meet you. Sorry about the glaring.”

  “It’s okay. If some guy was smiling at my fiancée and I didn’t know the situation, I’d be ready to rip his head off, too.” He chuckled. “Can I get you a cup of joe? Someplace to watch her and glare at all her male customers?”

  “Uh…yeah.”

  He gave me a chin lift, and I felt a solidarity with him akin to what I felt with Savannah’s brother, Ian. “Just don’t scare off anyone, okay? My parents still want to make some money with the joint.”

  “Got it. As long as no one pulls anything.”

  The whole time, Van stood there, shaking her head at us. “You two are both ridiculous. I can take care of myself, you know?”

  “Not well,” I said at the same time Oakley said, “Not that I’ve noticed.”

  She huffed, but me and her boss fist-bumped. Then I pulled Savannah into my embrace. Right then, I was really glad it was early and I’d caught a break with no customers in the place.

  I nuzzled her cheek. “I love you more than anything; you know that. I don’t want to be away from you today. I’ll just sit over in the corner and mess around on my phone and check real estate listings while you work.”

  She melted against me. “Okay.”

  “She’s only working until breakfast ends at eleven,” her boss told me. “And not coming back for a couple weeks.” He gave her narrowed eyes.

  “Oakley—”

  “No. You have a wedding then your honeymoon and getting the rest of your life moved here. I don’t want to see your ass here until mid-August.”

  “But tourist season…”

  “We’ll handle it. My sister’s been bugging the crap out of my parents. They’d love to stick her in here with me.” He pointed at us. “So after your shift, you’d better not be in the restaurant unless you’re eating. And really, just this once, you could go to Barke’s second-rate place down the street.”

  Savannah let out a bark of laughter. “Your brother’s place isn’t second-rate.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t tell Barke that. It’ll go to his head.” He headed back into the grill area. Savannah led me to a corner booth and brought me coffee and a bowl of creamer packets.

  “Pancake breakfast?” she asked.

  “Extra bacon.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Just hungry. I’ll be fine this one time. I promise not to lose the abs you love.”

  “Jerk. I meant your leg. You’re limping more today. Was I too rough?”

  I stared at her. Her too rough? Then I laughed. “No, babe, you were definitely not too rough, and you’d better be the same way today or I won’t spank your ass.”

  Her legs squeezed together, and her knuckles whitened on the pen she held. “Don’t… Don’t get me all hot when we can’t do anything about it.”

  “Waiting’s the best part.”

  “Neither of us is great with delayed gratification, and you know it.”

  “I don’t know about that. We waited six years after we started messing around before we actually had sex. That’s a long time to wait.”

  Savannah just stared at me, giving me a no-bullshit look that would probably freeze our kids in their tracks when we had them—by whatever method they came into our lives.

  “Fine. I’ll be good,” I promised.

  For now.

  * * * *

  ~ Savannah ~

  About ten minutes after I slid Jordan’s plates of food onto the table, customers started streaming in. These were the early risers, raring to get going with their day of vacation. We’d get a second wave in about an hour and a half when those who’d chosen to sleep in started trickling in.

  Since I was the only waitress on for this Tuesday morning, I hustled about taking
care of everyone. I felt Jordan’s constant presence, but I didn’t pay much attention to that corner booth other than to swing past to fill his coffee and remove his plates. Okay, maybe I dragged my fingertips along his bare arm once or twice. Sue me. I missed him.

  So when I did look his way and found him crouched down talking to a little boy, about three, I froze in my tracks. I just stared, my heart cracking at the affectionate expression on his face. Jordan loved kids so much. Loved them and wanted a family.

  Apparently, the child had been showing Jordan his little yellow car, and now, Jordan handed it back. The two appeared to be having an earnest conversation. That was just like him. He always made younger kids feel valued and important. He patted the boy’s shoulder, and the youngster ran back to his mom who’d been looking on affectionately.

  Jordan looked up and spotted me, grinning. I gave him a brittle smile back. It was too bright or stiff or…I don’t know. But his eyebrows drew together, and he straightened to his full six-plus feet. He took a step toward me, but I shook my head and scurried into the back room with my pile of dishes.

  I deposited them in the wash area and turned. And face-planted into a wall of muscle. Jordan’s arms went around me when I would have stumbled.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Fuck that. You looked like someone just kicked your puppy then ripped up all your favorite books.”

  “I was just remembering.”

  His pained expression told me he knew what I’d recalled, too.

  “Can I ask you something?” I nodded.

  “Did your doc actually tell you that you couldn’t have kids?”

  My forehead furrowed, and I bit my lip as I stared to the side, thinking of that horrible appointment.

  “He said the chances were minuscule. Then he put me on some pills—hormones and vitamins. I know what menopause is.”

  “And do you know a lot of women get pregnant in the early stages of it?”

  My head tilted.

  “Quite a few women conceive,” he added.

  “How do you…?”

  “Internet research last night after you fell asleep. I wanted to know what we were facing and if there were medical issues to look for. Also, I might have about six deadly diseases.”