All the Wrong Choices

by C. A. Harms

  A tear falls from her eye and runs over her cheek.

  "I'm so in love with you that half the time I can't think straight, I was then, and I still am now. I can't get over you, and I don't want to. I want this," I let go of her face and pull her closer. "I want us, I want the late nights on the couch, making out like teenagers and then taking you to our bed so I can spend the night making love to you. I want to wake up with your naked body pressed to mine. I want morning pancakes and sex on the kitchen counter." She smiles when I recap what we did only a few days ago. "I don't care what happened while we took our break. It didn't for a second change how I feel about you. I love you, I want you, only you."

  Cupping her face, I pull her closer, skimming her lips with my own. "You are the only woman who drives me so unbelievably crazy with lust that I feel like I'm going to ignite. Dani, you were made for me, and all the hell we went through to get to one another is worth it because now I have everything I can ever want with you. You are my dream, Dani girl, now will you please just let me love my girl."

  When she nods, I take her mouth once more and carefully begin to untie the side of her suit. With her bottoms gone and her top hanging loose, she wiggles closer, and with one hard thrust, I‘m buried deep inside the only woman my heart beats for.

  Dani is my heaven, and she always will be.

  She is my home.

  Chapter Forty

  Danielle

  I have just slipped my new pale pink open shoulder dress over my head when I hear the vibration of a phone against the hardwood of a table. Looking around the room, I notice Jonah's phone lights up on the dresser top.

  He is still in the shower, running a little late getting home from work. I know that it's probably his sister, making sure we are still on track for meeting her and her fiancé for dinner.

  It vibrates again, and I round the bed reaching for it but pause when I see the name on the screen.

  Heather.

  Stepping back away from it like it may burn me if I touch it, I listen for the sound of the shower still running. My curiosity is getting the best of me, and a massive part of me wants to snoop.

  Why is she texting him?

  My jealousy is getting the best of me, and I can't stop myself from picking up his phone carefully. As I put in his code, I hear the shower turn off, and the doors slide open. My heart feels as though it lurches in my chest, and I quickly toss it back to the dresser top. The thump as it hits only sounding like an echo in the silence of the bedroom.

  I hurry from the bedroom, practically sliding into the living room and jumping onto the couch, grabbing the controller to flip through the channels. Smoothing my hair and dress, I attempt to control my breathing and wait as if I had been in this very place all along.

  Several minutes later, I can hear the sounds of his footsteps getting closer as he comes out of the bedroom and pauses in the entryway leading to the very spot I'm waiting. I look up, fully ready to play it out, but when I find him with his phone in his hand, staring down at his screen smiling, I feel my stomach tighten. I continue to watch as he taps out a message before looking up to find me watching him.

  "There you are," had he not been entranced by his textathon with his ex, he would have already noticed me sitting there watching him.

  Instead of answering him, I force a smile and then turn back to the television.

  The idea of him still texting a girl he dated while the two of us were apart drives me crazy. Had the roles been reversed and I was the one that had some guy messaging me, he would have a whole lot to say, I'm sure.

  "You ready?" I can hear him shuffling around in the kitchen but keep my body facing forward and only nod. Unsure if he is looking at me long enough to notice but at this point, keeping my mouth shut is a whole lot better.

  "Have you seen the scissors?" More shuffling, "I have a string hanging from the sleeve of my shirt, and it's driving me nuts."

  "Second drawer down next to the refrigerator." One drawer closes before another opens.

  "Damn, babe, you know this place better than I do."

  I see him walk around the couch and stand beside me, but I remain focused on the TV. The sound of his phone vibrating once again, immediately without being able to control it, I roll my eyes and toss the controller on the cushion beside me.

  "Can you grab this?" I stand, and he holds out the scissors.

  After I cut the string, I turn around with my back to him and walk back into the kitchen. I open the drawer and toss the scissors back in a little rougher than necessary.

  Another vibrating sound triggers a reaction in me, and yes, I may have handled it all wrong, but I blame the jealousy. "You gonna answer that?"

  When I face him, I find him looking at me with a questioning stare. Which, of course, only manages to irritate me more. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about."

  Slowly he begins to walk toward me, and I don't look away.

  "This," he holds up his phone and moves it from side to side in a taunting manner.

  "You didn't have a problem texting her when you didn’t think I noticed."

  "Is someone cranky?" When he has me cornered in the kitchen, he continues to back me up until I have nowhere to go.

  "I wasn't," I confess. "Honestly, I was looking forward to tonight, but now, I think maybe you should just go without me, and I'll go home." His brow arches, but he doesn't respond. "I think most people want you with Heather anyway, so hell, who knows, if you ask her now, she may even be able to meet you there in my place."

  Leaning in closer, he nuzzles the side of my face, and I turn mine away from him. Skimming over my jaw with the tip of his nose, he kisses the side of my neck. "I must admit seeing you jealous does some exciting things to me."

  Again I roll my eyes, not aware he can see me, and I hear him chuckle.

  "Like it does things to me." Thrusting his hips forward, I feel he is hard, and I push against his chest.

  "Nice to know that texting your ex makes you hard."

  "First off," he moves back enough to stare directly into my eyes. "No one makes me hard but you."

  I feel my heart racing, and I want to argue with him, but the look on his face ensures me doing just that will get me nowhere.

  "Second of all, we were talking about you."

  "Me," I'm fully aware of how sarcasm oozes in my voice.

  "Yes," the cockiness he had only moments ago is replaced with a soothing tone. His eyes much softer, skimming his thumb over my jaw, along my lower lip. "You," he adds, and again I'm less than convinced.

  "Look," Jonah attempts to give me his phone, but I don't take it. "Baby, I'm not arguing with you on this. I have nothing to hide."

  Realizing I have no intention of looking at his phone, he flips it around, taps a few times on the screen, and then turns it back around to face me.

  "She asked me if I finally got my girl."

  Looking away from the phone, I lift my gaze to him and find him smiling.

  "Dani, she knows all about you, and she also knows I could have never truly been with her because I'm in love with you."

  He sets his phone on the counter behind me and cups my face in his hands. "I told Heather I have the girl, and I'm never letting her go. Because she is the best part of me, even if she's challenging and stubborn and refuses to accept that she's all I ever think about. I'll keep making sure she knows even if she drives me crazy in the process."

  I try not to smile when he smirks at me, all cocky-like.

  "Well, I hate that you even kissed her."

  "But I never once kissed her the way I kiss you."

  "Not helping, Jonah," he leans in and hugs me close.

  Hearing him chuckle while he kisses over my jaw and up to my ear, "Do I need to show you just how much I want you?"

  "We're already late for dinner," we don't have time.

  "I already texted Avery, and she changed the reservation." He pulls me along with him toward the couch. Positioning me before him at the ba
ck of the couch, he then steps in behind me. "Hold on to the back of the couch," before I can ask why he begins to lift my dress and hooks my panties, lowering them to my ankles. "Now Dani," well okay then. I do what he asks, looking back over my shoulder, watching him undo his belt and then the button of his pants. Lowering his zipper, I feel my heart rate speed up with anticipation. With his foot, he nudges my legs farther apart.

  When he's positioned himself at my entrance, he pushes inside me, just enough to tease me before pulling back. "Jonah," I pant and shift back, seeking him, but he follows my movements stepping back and creating more distance between us.

  "Tell me you love me."

  "You know I do."

  Jonah applies pressure to my lower back, I arch, and he again pushes in, repeating his earlier movements.

  "Damn it, Jonah," I practically growl out in frustration, and his chuckle only adds to my irritated state.

  "Tell me you love me," he says again, and I glare at him over my shoulder.

  "I love you," now stop being an ass.

  "Tell me you know you're all I want." Has he lost his God damned mine?

  I start to stand, and again he presses his hand to my back and holds me in place. "No," he teases me once more, this time giving me a little more of him. "Tell me, Dani."

  Reaching around in front of me, he cups my breast and begins rolling my nipple. "You are all I want; tell me you believe me."

  "I believe you," this man infuriates me, but he also makes me incredibly happy too. He pushes into me from behind, filling me.

  "Now hold on to that fact, Dani, understand it. For the rest of my life, you own me. Nothing and no one ever will change it."

  Leaning over my body, his chest to my back, he kisses my ear. "Now, let me love my girl." And for the next hour, he does just that, thoroughly.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Jonah

  We enter the restaurant together; her hand tucked securely in mine. I know if I'd told her who we are meeting, she would have panicked, so I left her believing it was only Tucker and Avery as initially planned.

  After her near meltdown over Heather texting me, I don't want her to have another round of anxiety. I understand why she feels concerned. The idea of any other man touching Danielle would send me into an angry tailspin. But I meant every word I'd said, Dani is all I want. Then and now, and forever as far as I'm concerned.

  I can see the table up ahead, all the people that mean more to me than anything, except one, all sitting together laughing and smiling. I'm ready, more than willing, to introduce them to the woman I hope will one day be a part of my family. I already know they'll love her as much as I do. The idea of her finally knowing what it feels like to have a family who will love her unconditionally excites me beyond belief. She's never had that, and I want that for her. I want loyal, loving people surrounding my girl. I never want her looking back at times in her life when people who should have loved her, hurt her instead.

  My father is the first to notice us approaching, and he stands from the table, my mother following closely behind.

  Dani's steps slow as her hand squeezes mine tighter. "Jonah?"

  "It's okay, baby," releasing her hand, I circle my arm around her waist, pulling her in firmly to my side.

  "Son," my father holds out his hand, and I shake his. I notice how he looks over at Dani and smiles. "And you must be Danielle."

  "Yes, sir," she is nervous, her voice shaking with unease. I could have assured her, I could have stepped in and attempted to relieve her worries, but I don't. I know Dani will settle soon, so I allow my family to crowd her, and work their magic.

  "Henry, sweetheart," he holds out his hand, and when she places hers in his, he gives it a gentle squeeze. "You call me Henry."

  "Oh, Jonah," my mother practically squeals as she moves in front of my dad, "she is beautiful." She is talking to me but staring at Dani. "Oh my goodness, can you imagine how gorgeous the babies will be?"

  Dani glances at me, her eyes widening, just before my mother wraps her in a hug and pulls her close.

  "Stella, you're scaring the poor girl."

  Avery snickers, and I notice both her and Tucker laughing as they watch the entire event unfold. "You are already married with babies in her eyes," Avery says, and nothing about it makes me nervous. I'm completely okay with spending the rest of my life with Danielle. Something about seeing her belly grow with my children triggers a possessiveness inside of me. It makes me feel like the king of the fucking world.

  "Avery said you were pretty," my mom holds onto Dani's face after releasing her from one of her all consuming hugs. "But you are stunning, sweetheart. Those eyes," she looks away from Dani for the first time and looks at me, "and that smile. My boy is a sucker for a beautiful smile, and this one, oh my."

  "Stella," my dad chuckles, gaining my mother's full attention. "Will you let the poor girl sit down? You'll terrify her." As I said, I knew they would fall in love with her.

  When Dani's eyes find mine once again, I know my smile says it all. Nights with a loving family and my amazing girl, it's the life I want.

  After my mother and father have once again sat back down at the table, Dani takes in a deep relaxing breath, and her smile is brighter than any I've ever seen before. It's infectious, and she has had only a tiny taste of the kind of love the Brooks’ have to share.

  She has no idea what's coming at her.

  We finally sit down at the table. The chatting quickly begins to flow—questions regarding Danielle's family and home life before becoming a teacher skipped over like they never existed. I've already given them a little snippet of what kind of people the Abbotts are, and let's just say they're less than impressed. It may have played a small role in the overkill my mother provided, but to see the joy it brought Dani, I let it go. I'll suffer through my mother's need to suffocate if it means Dani feels what I know she is feeling right now.

  Throughout dinner, the conversations continue to flow so easily. We all share stories around the table, laughter echoes over the restaurant; it's the perfect night.

  After dessert, Dani and I shared a slice of strawberry cheesecake, which was terrific; I led her toward the exit. Stepping outside, I place my hand against the small of her back, and immediately she leans into me. Her shoulder resting to my chest, I kiss her temple and hear a sigh from behind. I don't even have to look to know it's my mother.

  "We have to do this again," she rests her hand on Dani's forearm and offers her a smile filled with adoration. It would seem my mother, too, has fallen in love with Danielle almost instantly. "And soon," moving closer, she offers Dani another hug, and my father chuckles. Like I'd said before, after my mother met Dani, the hovering would begin.

  For years she's been pushing me to date more, telling me she's not getting any younger and needs some grand-babies to spoil. And for so long, I kept my personal life very private. I didn't need her planting any ideas in the heads of just any woman. But with Danielle, I say go for it. Plant away. I'm not afraid of a life with her. I welcome it; now I'll let my mother help convince this beautiful woman that she belongs with me, with us.

  My toes curl into the sheets as my thighs tighten. Looking up through the bedroom's darkness, the light spilling from the bathroom light into the bedroom highlights Dani's form. The way she moves above me, her hips undulating in perfect rhythm as she takes me inside her over and over. Just the image alone is enough to make me explode but I hold out for as long as possible not wanting this to end.

  Tonight is the beginning of the rest of our lives. We’ve had our battles, we’ve fought our fears and conquered them, now is our time to live our dreams.

  I know what I want, and who I want it with.

  Allowing my palms to slide over her hips and along her sides she looks down at me and bites her lip. That is my breaking point. I grab her and flip her over, pinning her body beneath mine and push in deep, feeling her grow even wetter as she grips my cock tight.

  I say nothing, I don'
t have to. I can see she knows right now more than anything I need to possess her. My movements are hard and fast, Dani moaning with each thrust, her own hips lifting off the bed to accept me, I feel her nails digging into my chest, the burning sensation it causes does nothing to stop me.

  "Yes," she urges me on and I rotate my hips to ensure I'm hitting the very spot I know without a doubt will set her off. This body, though she was born with it, is mine to please. And I know how to give Dani what she needs, while gaining my own greatest desires.

  Like I said before, made for me.

  "Oh my God, yes!" Her voice echoes across the bedroom and when I feel her begin to pulsate there is no hope of being able to hold back. Slamming inside of her warm body once more I let go, and together we ignite.

  I'm not sure how long we lay at each other's side, but I know my body feels sticky with sweat as I continue to take one deep breath after another. I feel like I just ran a fucking marathon, but to be honest I'm ready and willing to go again. I can't seem to help it, Dani triggers a need so great inside of me she doesn't even have to touch me or speak, just knowing she is there is enough.

  "That was pretty intense," turning my head to the side I looked over to find her staring up at the ceiling. "I mean it's always intense but that was," she takes in a deep breath still staring ahead like she's hypnotized which makes me smile. "I may not be able to move tomorrow."