by MJ Masucci
“I was wondering if you want to go to the lake house for the upcoming Labor Day weekend?”
“I would love that, but we would miss the family barbecue at my uncle’s house. Besides, it’s only a few days away. They can’t cancel at this late date.”
“I already invited invite everyone up to Lake George a few weeks ago, surprise.”
“You did?”
“Of course. They aren’t just friends anymore; they are family. We could ask my parents and Suzanne if they want to join us, too.”
“I’ve never hosted a big group before.”
“Get used to it. I hope we can host many parties up there with family and friends.”
She put her wine glass down and curled up in his lap. He stroked her hair and tipped her chin up so he could possess her lips while her nails stroked the back of his neck, sending chills down his spine. His hands pulled the hem of her blouse out of her skirt, and he caressed the smooth flesh at her waist, moving higher he skimmed the undersides of her breasts, slipping his hand under her bra.
Her heartbeat thrummed in her ears as he seduced her with his tongue, lips, and hands. Unhooking her bra, he cupped her breasts then removed them to work at the buttons of her blouse. She moved her legs, so she was straddling his lap.
“We’ve never had sex out here. It’s one of the few places we have not,” he whispered in her ear and hoped tonight would be the first night of many more adventuresome places.
He pulled her blouse off and let it flutter to the tiles below their feet. Then he leaned back as she worked the buttons of his shirt. She opened it and kissed his chest, gently sucking on his nipples causing him to moan as he fisted her hair.
“I prefer our bed to out here.”
“I can oblige,” he said as he slung her over his shoulder and rose.
“Oh, so now that we are married you’ve become a cave man?”
“Me, Xander. You, Ava. I’ll show you how much of a cave man I can be.”
He gently laid her on the bed on her back. Pulling at the unclasped bra so that she was topless, he leaned over her and kissed her breasts. Then he kneeled in front of her and pulled her to the edge of the bed. Her face was flush with arousal as he slipped two fingers inside.
“You’re so wet. I want to taste you.”
“No.”
“No, you don’t want me to taste you?” he said as he raised his eyebrows.
“I want you in me.”
He pulled at her panties, slipping them off her ankles. He stood to remove his pants, then his boxers as he gazed down at her.
“I changed my mind.”
“What? For what?”
“I want you naked, and I want to move slowly.”
He lifted her onto her feet and unzipped her skirt, pushing it down to the floor. Picking her up, he placed her in bed and got on top of her. She whimpered as he worked his lips around her neck and nibbled along her collarbone.
“Please,” she pleaded.
“Hush, let me have my way with you. I promise you’ll love it.”
She knew that he wasn’t speaking out of turn. He always satisfied her. Ava arched her back and ground her hips against him. His cock was sandwiched between them, and she managed to work it so that his head was pressing against her cleft. Her gyrations made him hiss.
“You’re very insistent tonight,” he said between kisses.
“I want you.”
“I wanted to go slow.”
“I want you fast and hard.”
He latched onto her nipple with his teeth, gently sawing them back and forth.
“Oh God, that feels so good.”
In one quick movement, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He was still positioned at her cleft, and she shimmied her legs on either side of his hips, so she was straddling him. She grasped and rubbed his erection between her velvety folds making Xander groan.
“Do with me what you will, baby,” he panted.
She positioned herself above him and slowly sank onto him until he was fully engulfed. Instead of moving over him, she lay upon his chest, enjoying the sensation of fullness in her belly. Xander ran his fingers over her back causing her to break out in goosebumps. She looked up at him, her eyes glazed and she tightly squeezed her sex against him.
“Fuck, don’t do that,” his voice hoarse.
She sat up and began to move her hips. He thrust up to meet her until they were in a delicious rhythm. Ava threw her head back as guttural moans escaped from her. His hands palmed her breasts, and he rubbed her nipples against them. A thin sheen of sweat was forming on their skin as their coitus continued. Xander felt the familiar ripple against his length, and he grasped her hips in his hands to speed her motion as her climax took hold.
“Xander, Xander, Xander,” she panted, her eyes closed, head thrown up to the heavens.
He sat up and pushed her legs around his waist as he pulled her against his chest. Two more thrusts and he began to fill her with his cum. He kissed her breasts, his mouth gliding over her sweaty skin. She collapsed into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder and he held her tight in his arms.
“I wish it could always be this way,” she murmured.
“It will be. My passion for you will always be.”
She moved off his lap and to his side as he lay back against the headboard. Within seconds she had fallen asleep.
“Ava?”
She was silent.
“Sweetheart?”
Nothing but the sound of her gentle breathing. He reached over and pulled the sheet over them, and he snuggled against her while breathing in her scent. Neither of them moved during the night as the alarm buzzed at 5:00 AM. Ava stretched and planted a kiss on Xander’s cheek.
“Do you want to work out today before work?” she asked.
“Not really.”
“Come on; you’re getting soft. You’re going to have to go back to work in the lumberyard.”
“Soft?” He jumped out of bed naked and flexed his arms and legs. Just look at this body. I’m rock hard.”
It was true, and he was rock hard in one particular place as his erection kissed his taut belly. She reached out for him, and he pulled away.
“I thought you wanted to work out?”
“I do.” She smiled sweetly and pulled the sheet away from her breasts.
“If you reveal anything else, we aren’t working out.”
She threw the sheet entirely off her body exposing her nakedness. Two hours later she sat in the kitchen, wrapped in a towel, drinking coffee. Xander was waiting for his bagel to toast, dressed only in boxers and dress socks.
“You’re a bad influence, Mrs. Wilder. If we keep skipping workouts, I’ll end up getting soft.”
She walked around the counter and placed her body against his. He immediately began to harden.
“I don’t see any problem.”
“You’re evil. We need to get ready for work.”
As she walked toward the bedroom, she turned back, “There is always office sex.”
They entered the office just before eight. Ava went to her desk while Xander went to his office. She was uncomfortable and full of sexual tension. She had no idea why since they made love twice before they came to work. It was Xander; she couldn’t get enough. Just the sight or smell of him made her body flush with heat, her core flood, and tingle. She sat at her desk checking her previous day’s transcription while squeezing her thighs tight.
Nothing she did relieved the pressure she felt. Sam came up behind her, scaring her as if she was doing something illicit right out in the open.
“Why is your face red? Are you feeling okay?” She placed her hand against Ava’s forehead. “You feel fine.” She leaned in, “Too much sex?”
She further reddened, “What? No. Ugghhh. Shut up!”
“I have something to discuss with you.”
Her stomach jolted and tightened. Anxiety started to creep into her like fog.
“Is it bad? Is Robert okay?”<
br />
“No, nothing like that. I guess I’m just going to come out and say it. I’m pregnant.”
For her friend’s sake, she acted overjoyed, but deep down she felt horrible.
“Oh my God, you are? How many weeks are you?”
“Just about four, I think, give or take. I wasn’t feeling well and my period was late by a few days. I thought I would take a pregnancy test and it came out positive. Please don’t be upset.”
“Why would I be upset? This is wonderful news. I have some of my own.”
“What?”
“I’m going to talk to the doctor to see if I can get pregnant. It’s been a few years, and maybe there’s a procedure they can do. They never fully explained why I couldn’t get pregnant, so maybe it’s something that can be repaired.”
“That’s wonderful,” Sam said as they hugged.
After Sam had gone to her desk, she returned to checking her transcription and headed to Xander’s office. He was sitting at his desk paging through a law book. She studied his features as he wasn’t aware of her presence. His wire-rimmed glasses gave him a studious look. Her heart filled with happiness as she continued to stare. She shifted, and he realized she was there.
“How long have you been standing there watching me, Mrs. Wilder?”
“Shh, someone will hear you.”
“At this point, I don’t care. I want to tell people you’re my wife.”
“We can’t, and you know why.”
“Yes, yes, I know. That old thing about your father being upset.”
She scowled at him, “Not just my father, both our families.”
The heat that she felt previously faded with the conversation. She wanted to tell everyone about their marriage, too, but it would create turmoil that she wasn’t prepared to handle. They were just starting to get their bearings as a married couple.
“Don’t get angry. I know.”
She huffed and sat down on the couch and began to page through a case folder.
“Did you call the doctor yet?”
“No.”
“Why not? Don’t be afraid of the unknown.”
“I’m not. The office doesn’t open until nine. That’s in fifteen minutes.”
Ava wasn’t in the mood to get involved with a heated discussion that she could see brewing. She grabbed the case folder and left his office without so much as a goodbye. She would work in the research room today.
At 9:13 AM, she called and made an appointment with Dr. Emory. Usually, the woman was booked solid for at least three weeks, but she had a cancellation two days from now, on Friday. Ava would finally get some answers. She went down to Xander’s office to let him know.
“Are you over your tantrum?” He asked as she entered.
“I wasn’t having a tantrum; I was simply avoiding an argument. I called Dr. Emory, and she can see me on Friday at three. I’m letting you know that I will be leaving at 2:30 that day and won’t be back to the office.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“Don’t be silly.”
“I wasn’t…Ava are you upset with me?”
“No, why?”
“You were short with me earlier, and I thought I did something.”
“No, I just want to do this myself. I need to do this myself. I’ll give you a full report when I get home.”
As it turned out, Friday could not get here soon enough. Ava couldn’t sleep or sit still as she tried to concentrate on her work. She also wasn’t eating, a fact that upset her husband.
Xander tried to be patient because he knew she had anxiety about her doctor’s visit, but finally voiced his annoyance with her when he had to repeat himself several times when they were discussing a case. She was happy when 2:30 came, and she could leave.
“Call me when you’re done. I want to know what the doctor says.”
“I will. Love you.” She gave him a small peck on the cheek and left the office.
Dr. Emory’s office was packed with patients when she arrived. Several were pregnant, and she hoped eventually she would be entering this office in the same condition. She was nervous, and the doctor was running a half hour behind schedule. She paged through Parents magazine until a little girl approached her.
The child, who couldn’t be more than two had beautiful blond curls and big brown eyes. Her mother called her to her side, but Ava told her it was okay, that she had several nieces and nephews. She played with the little girl until her name was called.
She sat in the cold room dressed only in a thin gown waiting for Dr. Emory for what seemed like hours. The doctor examined her, questioning why she wanted to come in since it wasn’t time for her annual visit. She explained, and after the doctor had finished, she asked her to dress and come to her office for a chat.
Ava got dressed quickly hoping that the doctor could offer her some good news. She was still reeling from the news of Sam’s pregnancy, which she did not reveal to Xander. He would have launched into his overprotective mode if he knew.
“Were you told at the hospital why you could not get pregnant?”
“No. I was only told that I lost my pregnancy and an ovary.”
“Many women have one ovary and still get pregnant. I want to schedule you for a test called HSG, or Hysterosalpingogram. We inject dye into your uterus and fallopian tubes to determine where the problem might be. You might have some pain, but usually, ibuprofen before can help.
“What will this test show?”
“It reveals if you have an issue with your uterus or fallopian tubes where the problem originates. You might have a blockage or damage to your uterus that would prevent implantation of an embryo. Let’s not speculate until you have the test. I will perform it myself, right after your menstrual cycle is finished when your uterine lining is thinnest. When are you due?”
“Sunday.”
“I don’t have anything available until Friday, September twenty-sixth. If you cannot make it, then I will need to schedule in October.”
“What time on the twenty-sixth?”
“9:45 or 11:30. I do the procedure in our suite on the second floor.”
“I’ll take the appointment at 9:45.”
“You’re all set. There is something else I would like to talk to you about. I notice that your weight is down again. If you plan on getting pregnant, you can’t skip meals. You need to maintain a healthy weight and even gain a few pounds.”
“I’m trying but the past few weeks have been quite stressful.”
“I noticed that your name has changed on your file. Congratulations. When did you get married?”
“August fourth.”
“So not even a month. I wish you the best. Here are some pamphlets about the procedure. You should have someone escort you to and from. The nurse will not let you leave until we verify you have someone with you.”
“I’ll ask my husband. I’m sure he will want to be here with me.”
She thanked the doctor and took a cab home, calling Xander on the way. She explained that there was too much information to pass over the phone and she would discuss it with him when she got home.
He was waiting for her and had made dinner. As they ate, she told him of the procedure and that she would need him to escort her home.
“I don’t like the pain part.”
“You? I’m the one that has to deal with it.”
“But I told you, when you hurt, I hurt.” He reached over to stroke her cheek with his knuckles, and she kissed his hand.
“I know, but the doctor said she would minimize my pain with ibuprofen. I can handle some pain if it’s going to give me answers. I need to know what I’m up against.”
“We.”
“We what?”
“What we are up against. There is no more you now that we’re married.”
Later after dinner was cleaned up, they sat on the terrace sharing a lounge chair. The setting sun burned intensely as it slipped below the horizon. Ava closed her eyes as she felt the diminis
hing rays warm her face.
“Xander?”
“Yes, baby.”
“I’m worried.”
“Why?”
“Suppose the test says I can’t ever get pregnant?”
“It’s about a month away, and remember what I said about crossing bridges?”
“I do.”
“Then stop worrying. We will deal with what comes. Let’s enjoy the upcoming holiday. We have a lot of planning to do. Let’s make a shopping list so that we can email it to Annie. She will stock the house and get it clean and ready for everyone.”
“I’m so excited. Thank you for planning this.”
Chapter 22
Little Papi had been right; Fortaleza was beautiful. Liam stretched his body out on the towel and readjusted his sunglasses. Not only was the city beautiful, but the women. Oh, the women. Plenty of gorgeous bronzed bodies frolicking in the turquoise waters and walking the white sands of the beach.
Getting here had been an anxiety filled trip, especially when the customs agents went through his suitcases and scrutinized his passport. For the money he paid for his documents, he hoped that they looked authentic and he would get through customs without a hassle. Fortunately, they let him pass through, but as he glanced back, he noticed one of the agents pointing at him.
Papi told him that was normal and not to get worried. Liam had set up a wire account and transferred small bits of cash piece by piece until the entire two hundred grand was in an account under Papi’s alias.
Two weeks later they had everything set, and the pyramid scheme was in effect. Liam was nervous, which is why Papi had sent him to the beach for a few days to relax. He wasn’t very happy that he had to leave his revenge plot behind, but he planned on regrouping and coming back to the states to finish it. He would have preferred to complete it sooner, but not at the expense of being on Papi’s bad side.
He had no idea how tough the small man was until one of his security men made a mistake. He had been arrested in a bar fight. Papi sprung him only to teach him a lesson by chopping off the tip of his pinkie. The man, Pedro, was at least a foot taller and outweighed him by one hundred pounds but he cowered like a beaten dog.