"Is sounding and behaving like a fishwife considered good decorum these days Simmons? because for as long as I've known you that's how I've perceived you. In the future I would implore you to keep your spiked tongue behind your teeth, or if you must, you may direct your venom my way. But make no mistake, Joanna is off limits to you and everyone else. That goes double for your coven. I know your game and it's not going to work."
She puffed up like a peacock, mouth opened and ready to blast me. I'm sure her good friend Melissa had already regaled her with the facts of our little tete a tete. Who gives a shit?
"Stuff it Natalie, hello Joanna and welcome to our family."
My sister Sandra smiled encouragingly at her, as we approached the table.
"Hello, thank you."
"I'm Sandra by the way, Jonathan's sister, and this is Donald our brother and I do believe you've met our parents. My husband Collin isn't here this morning, an early meeting at the office, you'll meet him later."
I seated Joanna next to me and got her a plate to fill at the sideboard, while Sandra asked her a million questions about the states and fashion; no doubt trying to diffuse the situation Natalie had stirred up.
"What will you have love?" I asked her softly. I could imagine that she hated being the center of attention her first time with the family, especially in such a way, but I am going to make sure she feels welcomed and that she belongs.
"Answer me Joanna, you do not cower from the likes of Natalie, she's not anymore welcomed here than you are trust me, and though she has a big head and likes to think much of herself, she's not nearly as important as she thinks she is." I wasn't exactly quiet when I said these things, because I wanted my family to know how fucking pissed I was.
Donald I'll deal with later, his attitude of being neutral where Natalie's nastiness was concerned was at an end, not when it affected Joanna.
"I'll just have eggs please." Her softly spoken words were hardly audible.
"You'll be needing more than that after the night we had yank." I whispered in her ear making her giggle and blush at the same time.
"Jonathan behave, your family already has a very poor opinion of me and it's all your fault horn dog."
"Hogwash, they certainly do not, and you're as much of a, what did you call me...? Oh yes, a horn dog; if I remember correctly, the last two times were all your doing, my poor man's body could hardly keep up with the demands you made of me."
"You lie, and stop talking about it at the table, your whole family's watching."
"They wouldn't know what we were discussing if not for that infernal blush of yours."
I got an elbow to the gut; I guess that meant for me to behave.
I got up to fill our plates and found my mother beaming at us. I rolled my eyes and carried on with my duty. I'm sure I knew what was going on in her head. Poor Joanna didn't know what she was in for with that one. I was pretty sure that before the day was out, she'd be buried in talks about weddings and arrangements and the lot. Mercifully, I will be spared that as I had things to do in the office. It would be good to see how she handled being here without me.
JOANNA
Wow, that Natalie really is a bitch; I almost had a heart attack when Jonathan said after breakfast that he was leaving me here alone for a few hours. I wanted to hide out in my room for the rest of the day, but he seemed to know that and told me in no uncertain terms that I must begin as I meant to continue; whatever that means.
Now I'm stuck in a room with the she witch and Sandra. Margaret had stepped out for a minute to take a phone call. It seems the women in Jonathan's family didn't work. They spent their days either shopping, remodeling something, or heading charity committees. Natalie seemed to find the fact that I used to be a waitress distasteful, then again she found pretty much everything about me distasteful.
It was only when she mentioned the dreadful Melissa that I finally understood her animosity towards me, and believe it or not, that changed the dynamics for me. When I'd believed that her attitude had to do with her distrust of the swiftness of Jonathan's and my relationship, the fact that we'd only just met and here he was bringing me home to meet the family and talking weddings, I'd been willing to give her time to adjust. But knowing it had more to do with her wanting him for her friend, game on.
"So Joanna, who exactly are your people and didn't they find it odd you coming all this way with a strange man?"
"If by people you mean family, I don't have much of one to speak of; as for Jonathan and I we were never strangers, more like soul mates who finally found each other." Chew on that you evil witch.
Margaret returned just in time to hear my answer, and was once again, all smiles.
"Oh that's so lovely Joanna, I for one am extremely happy that my son has found his great love as he puts it." She glared at Natalie as she said this, but I was sure she wasn't one to give in so easily, there will be more underhanded barbs headed my way in the future I'm sure.
"By the way Joanna I'll give you today and tomorrow to get settled, but then we must start the wedding preparations. Jonathan has informed me that it must be the soonest it can be, which means I have to start the bookings. These things take time and planning and for an event that large you generally need at least a year or two to get everything just right. My son has given me three months at the most; so you can see the need for us to get the ball rolling, as they say in America."
"Large, how large is large? I thought it would just be the family?"
"Typical." I looked up at Natalie's sneer and wanted to belt her one.
"Oh no dear, we're looking at at least a couple thousand, and that's if we cut out a few people, which we might not be able to do. I'm quite sure everyone who gets an invite will want to attend."
"Thousands?"
My heart was beating out of my chest; just what had I gotten myself into here?
JONATHAN
Chapter 18
"Jonathan, are you insane?"
That was my greeting when I entered my rooms, correction, our rooms, when I returned that afternoon from the office.
"Some seem to think so on occasion why?"
I released my tie as I kicked off my shoes, only one thing on my mind. In fact it seems there's been only one thing on my mind since we met. How long this delightful circumstance will last was anyone's guess, but I meant to enjoy it in its entirety. First I had to get to the bottom of whatever was bothering my little sweetheart.
"I can't plan a wedding for three thousand people."
Oh yes, I'd heard about this; mum had rang earlier a little apprehensive that she might've scared poor Joanna into an anxiety attack.
"Who asked you to? mum and Sandra are more than happy to handle the details. All you need do is give your opinion where you want to; trust me this is a walk in the park for those two."
"But it's not fair, I can't just ask them to take on that headache, ungh. I feel like such a spaz." She covered her face with her hands.
"Baby calm down, come here." I pulled her into my arms trying hard not to laugh at her obvious distress, but she was being so adorably cute. I picked her up so that her legs went around my waist, my hands under her fantastic ass.
"What's really bothering you sugar plum?"
She pulled her head back and grinned at me.
"Sugar plum?"
I shared her grin, glad to see that at least for now, the crisis was over.
"You're my little sugar plum aren't you?"
"You're a dork."
She rubbed noses with me.
"Yeah but I'm your dork yank; so how was your first day with the family?" I saw the look of discomfort before she hastily masked it. Giving her a slight squeeze I implored her.
"Tell me."
"I don't want to complain, it seems so childish; I mean you've brought me here and everyone else is so nice and you're marrying me, and I'm so happy and..."
"But?" I shook her a little.
"Your sister in law hates my guts."
&n
bsp; I kept my face neutral, not letting on to my inner thoughts at all; I wanted her transition to my home, her new home now, to be as smooth as possible.
"What did she do or say to make you feel that way sweetheart?" Still my voice was calm, almost fooled myself.
"Nothing, it's nothing, please don't say anything; I just wanted to get it off my chest. I can handle it though so no worries. So how was your first day back?"
That's how we're gonna play it are we? Okay, for now.
"I missed the hell out of you; all day I kept seeing your smile, or hearing your laugh. Tomorrow I think I'll take you with me, have you sit in my office like a piece of furniture, so that I can look at you whenever I want to."
"Uh huh, I'm sure that's all you'll be doing is looking."
I turned us over on the bed so I could look at her; really look into her eyes to see if she was okay. It can't be easy for her coming all this way, a new home, new family; the monumental task of planning a wedding for thousands of strangers hanging over her head.
"I don't want you to worry about anything okay, let the others take care of it, just tell them what you like and they'll do the rest, I promise, it's not a problem."
I was busy raising her top as I spoke, my hands hungry for the feel of her. I didn't give her a chance to respond, before my mouth was latched onto one of her nipples, my tongue playing around it until it grew full and firm. My fingers traveled down, down, to the waistband of her shorts until I gained entrance to her heat.
"Take them off." I sat back so I could throw off my own clothing in a hurry; buttons went flying as I tore the shirt apart. By the time she was naked I was half mad with lust; it felt like days and not hours since I'd been inside her. There was a madness that always seems to creep in whenever I needed her; it was all consuming and totally out of my control.
"Kiss me." Our mouths fused together even as I pushed her farther up on the bed, my much larger body covering her tiny frame.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry."
Looks like she'd caught the fever too. I rubbed my leaking cock head against her opening making her squirm and beg beneath me, enjoying the sound of her pleading with me to take her.
"What is it you want Joanna?"
"You, I want you, inside..." How she could blush in the throes of passion was a mystery but I love it, loved that innocence about her.
"Look at me."
Our eyes held as I eased into her, before the pleasure became too much, and I had to close my eyes. Her legs coming up and wrapping securely around my hips moved me to a quicker pace than I had planned.
"Fuck baby, you feel...so amazing...why...how...?" Words failed me, as she owned me with her sweet body. The slap, slap, slap, of our flesh rang out in the room as we moved fiercely against each other.
It was getting harder and harder to leave the warmth of her body after making love to her, but there was something I had to do.
"I'll be right back sweet baby; why don't you find something to watch on the tube until I get back?" She laughed and rolled around on the bed.
"What's so funny love?"
"The tube..."
She was off again; it made me happy to see her so carefree once more, no cloud of worry in her eyes. Leaning over the bed I kissed the laughter off her lips until she was panting for breath.
"Hold that thought love." I smiled until I was out of sight, and then I went looking for my prey. It was always best to deal with these things before they took root. Obviously my little talk when we first arrived hadn't done its job, so I was going to have to play hardball.
The family was gathered in the anteroom before dinner as was usual.
"Oh Jonathan you're here, where's Joanna, is she not joining us for drinks before dinner?"
"Isn't she considered too young in her country? Probably thinks we Brits are as misguided as they are across the pond." Natalie sniffed with disdain.
"Hello mother, in fact that, is the reason I chose not to bring my fiancee down for dinner. I think we'll be dining in our rooms until I move us to my place in Chelsea." I pointed at the shrew.
"What, whatever do you mean son?" I knew that would get mum's attention. I didn't miss dad sitting up in his chair with a look of concern on his face.
"Well it seems Joanna was made to feel less than welcome here..."
"What, she said that?"
"No mother, she didn't, in fact she tried valiantly not to share her discomfort with me, but I've grown to know her very well and she's not happy here."
"I don't understand, was it something I said? maybe the wedding planning has overwhelmed her. I told her I was more than happy to take care of the details." Mum was starting to fret, but I couldn't change course now, not even to put her at ease.
"It's not that; it seems Natalie has been making her displeasure at my choice of bride known, so I think it best since I brought this young girl all this way, that I shield her from such venom. You see I find it rather heartless to subject her to such behavior, since she has no family or friends here to support her, only me."
"That won't be necessary son; Donald I suggest you take your wife in hand before this gets out of control. Your brother has already made his feelings on the subject known, but apparently that wasn't enough. Natalie, you're my daughter in law, we accepted you into this family and have loved you as one of our own, but make no mistake. If the choice comes down to you or my son you'll lose every time. No one here mistreated you when you came into the fold, and I expect no less where Joanna is concerned. Do I make myself clear?" She nodded and ran from my father's wrath; he didn't lose his cool often, but when he did it was a thing to behold.
"I better go after her, I'm really sorry about this Jon, I thought she was over this whole you and Melissa thing; I'll talk to her." I felt bad for him, but not bad enough to apologize. She was his choice; he needed to make her understand that where Joanna was concerned, I will not allow anyone to hurt her. It seems I have no tolerance for it.
"Maybe I should go see Joanna and apologize."
"That won't be necessary mum, we're still going to stay in our rooms tonight, maybe we'll see you at breakfast."
I left the room to the murmurings of my family, this way they'll know I was dead serious about what I said. I refuse to subject her to any more bullshit. Taking a deep breath, I headed up the stairs once again, looking forward to spending some quality time with my wife to be.
She was howling with laughter when I pushed the door open; on the telly Edina and Pats were drinking Bolli and creating mischief.
"Oh no, this, this is what you found to watch?"
"They're hilarious."
"Just don't get any ideas from watching them; half of what they get up to is illegal in England."
I dropped down on the bed and drew her over to me.
"How do you feel about having dinner upstairs with me in our rooms?" I felt the tension leave her shoulders and wished I'd smacked Natalie one while I'd been at it. Not to worry, the next time the git did anything to hurt Joanna I would be sure to give her one, or better yet I'll let Joanna do it.
Chapter 19
The next few weeks seemed to go by rather swiftly. Joanna finally overcame her anxiety, and had jumped into wedding plans with both feet. She was usually smiling and full of information when I came home in the evenings, which made leaving her every morning much easier. I was still working really hard on getting her with child, and I wondered if she'd realized that she hadn't had her monthlies since we'd started making love.
"Uh oh, what're you smiling about over there sir Jonathan? I'm not sure I trust that look." Should I tell her about my suspicions, or wait and see?
"Come here baby." I was reclining on the lounger in our sitting room, waiting for her to finish getting dressed. Tonight she would be meeting some of the family's closest and dearest friends, as well as the assorted aunt, uncle and cousins. Mum didn't think it was appropriate for these forty or so people to meet her for the first time at the wedding, which was only a few short week
s away.
"You look fucking amazing, how much time do we have again?"
"Oh no you don't Brit, you're always getting me into trouble."
"Come on, its been hours since you've let me near you, I'll be quick I promise."
"Jonathan...ugh, now you're gonna mess up my pretty dress and my hair." She pouted prettily at me, not realizing that that just added to her fuck me appeal.
"I won't touch your hair, I promise, as to the dress...." I lifted the back of her dress up, but there was way too much material for me to just tuck it anywhere.
"I'll just hold it for you." She looked over her shoulder at me with a scowl; too late, I was already releasing myself and was not about to be denied.
"Nice panties love too bad..." I tore them from her body before rubbing my cockhead against her and easing in.
Each time was better than the last. I had to hold still and close my eyes against the riot of emotions that engulfed me at that moment. How could anything feel this good? Like she was made for me, like there was always meant to be an us.
"Jonathan." I love the way she calls my name in that fuck me now voice.
"Yes ma'am." I started moving into her heat, her dress held loosely in one hand as I used the other to pull her back onto my cock, nice and slow. The others could wait, some things just shouldn't be rushed.
JOANNA
The ball was in full swing, that's what Margaret called it. Not a party, but a ball. It was my presentation ball, kind of like a coming out party. I wish either Jonathan or his mother had told me that I would be meeting an Earl and a Duke, or that he himself was a Viscount; whatever that meant. Some of the guests were family members, but there were also longtime family friends here, like centuries long.
The Brit Page 5