Chapter Fifty-Two
Jessica
After Ruthie was fed, burped, and changed, Alan suggested we go pick up the keys to the new house and complete an online registry of anything we may need.
“I’ve already had people asking where we’re registered; this way I’ll be able to tell them.”
Mama didn’t object to me leaving Ruthie for a few hours. I’m sure the flowers and my new minivan had softened her up.
As we walked down the porch steps, Alan pulled the fob from his front pocket and asked, “Do you want to drive?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed before snatching the electronic key from him and racing to the minivan.
He’d just gotten in the passenger seat when I authoritatively demanded, “Seatbelt!” as I started the engine.
“Give me a dang second to close the door!” he replied with a grin.
The second I heard the click, I put the vehicle in drive and threw a little gravel as I pulled out of the driveway.
I fully expected him to admonish me like my dad would have. He just watched me with a smile from the passenger seat.
Finally, he asked, “So, what do you think? Do you like how it handles?”
“It handles great.”
But I wouldn’t have cared if I had to keep both hands on the wheel to keep it from veering off into the ditch. It was mine—well, ours. It represented freedom and not being at the mercy of Mama or anyone else for a ride. I could come and go as I pleased, on my timetable.
“Thank you so much for this. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
But maybe I could show him.
****
Alan
We picked up the housekeys and headed straight to the new place.
It was a blue Craftsman with a similar layout to Brian’s house, but smaller, with one less bedroom.
It worked—for now. Ruthie would have her nursery, and we could use the third bedroom for either a study nook for Jess or a guest room.
Since Adam’s place was bigger, I suspected my parents would stay with him when they visited.
Although it wouldn’t surprise me if they just bought something now that they had grandkids.
Plus, I was hopeful that Jess would eventually be willing to move to Lancastle. I could do the commute thing for six months, but it wasn’t a permanent solution.
I knew that wasn’t something I wanted to bring up for a while though. I needed her to marry me first.
One thing at a time.
We walked into the kitchen through the garage, and she proclaimed, “I still can’t believe we’re going to live here!” as she spun around the room.
“If you like this place, I can’t wait to show you my—our—Cape Cod in Lancastle.”
It had almost felt obscene living in such a big house by myself, but I’d built it with the hope that someday I’d have a family to fill it.
That day was almost here.
“When are we going there?”
“Before and after our honeymoon at the Cape, we can spend a few days there if you want.”
“So is your beach house in Cape Cod also a Cape Cod?” she asked with a giggle.
“No, that’s just a small cottage on the ocean.”
Her eyes widened. “Right on the ocean?”
“The beach is right out the back door.”
“Wow. I can’t wait to see it.”
“I can’t wait to show it to you. Ruthie’s going to love spending her summers there as she grows up.”
Although now that I thought about it, we were probably going to have to get a bigger place because I wasn’t sure if I could put an addition on the cottage.
Jessica got a faraway look in her eyes, like she was envisioning it. “I think you’re right.”
I pulled up the universal registry website we’d decided to go with and flashed my phone at her.
“Where should we start?”
Her smile was devilish when she reached for my hand and murmured, “In the bedroom.”
My cock sprang to life and exclaimed, “Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!” While my brain chided, “Hang on…” And my heart also tried to have a say, suggesting I’d be a fool to pass up the opportunity to hold her close.
I was still at war with myself when we found ourselves in our future bedroom.
****
Jessica
“We’ll definitely need sheets and blankets,” Alan observed when he stepped inside the room. “And pillows. I prefer the down alternative or gel ones. What about you?”
Is he seriously talking about the registry right now?
I thought I’d been clear about what I meant when I said we should start in the bedroom.
Apparently not.
I reached for his phone, which he handed over without objection—probably thinking I wanted to look at the website. Instead, I set it on the nightstand, then stepped toward him and placed my hands on his hipbones while I looked up at his face.
“Let’s worry about that later.”
His tone held a hint of warning when he said, “Babe…”
“I know, I know. You want to wait until our wedding night. But that doesn’t mean we can’t fool around a little before then, does it? I mean, we’re going to be apart for three whole days. That’s a long time to be missing somebody.”
“You’re right,” he said as he picked me up and laid me down on the bed.
The mattress was as hard as it’d been yesterday, and in the back of my mind, I noted that I was glad we had a new one coming that week. But I also didn’t care.
Alan laid down next to me and bounced a little on the bed like he was testing it out, chuckling, “Damn, I’m glad we’re getting rid of this thing.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
I wrapped my hand around his neck and pulled him closer. I didn’t want to talk about the mattress anymore.
And thank god he didn’t either, because if he’d had wanted to continue talking instead of kissing me, I might have burst into tears.
His lips were soft when they met mine, and when he moved to envelop my upper body with his, I immediately melted into his touch.
For the first time that I could remember, I felt completely safe. I knew in my bones Alan would always protect me and Ruthie.
I knew he wanted to wait, but I was ready to give myself to him right there.
I lifted my hips at the same time I pulled him closer. I needed to feel the weight of his body on mine. I didn’t want anything between us.
He trailed kisses down my neck, and I clung to the back of his head with my eyes closed tight, relishing how good his mouth felt on my skin.
His stiff cock notched between my thighs, and I arched my back as I tried to create more friction where I needed it the most.
Finally, he reached to undo my pants, and I whimpered in relief.
“Do you need to come, baby?”
“God, yes,” I moaned as I helped him take my pants off.
I lay bare before him, but instead of taking his jeans off, he traced his index finger down my seam and murmured, “You’re so wet.”
I automatically responded with, “I’m sorry,” and tried to close my legs.
He yanked them back apart and lazily circled my clit with his thumb. “Oh, darlin’, that wasn’t a complaint. That was a fucking compliment.”
Then he pressed a finger inside me, and I let out a long, “Ohhhh.”
“Keep your legs spread,” he commanded as he used both hands to pleasure me.
I didn’t understand why he hadn’t gotten naked yet. I wasn’t complaining, I just was unsure about what to expect. Jon had never gone to all this trouble before he climbed on top of me. It’d been more like a swipe of his finger to make sure I was wet, then thrust!
And then he’d finish before I’d even get started.
So as Alan brought me closer to climax without seeming to care about his own needs, I realized that the men in the books I’d read—the ones that Jon had said put unrealistic expectations in my head—really did exist.
And I was about to marry one.
My stomach clenched as I teetered on the edge, and I chanted, “Oh god, yes! Yes! Yes!”
He increased the speed and pressure on my clit and with a rough voice, commanded, “Come for me, baby.”
And just like yesterday, my body obeyed, and it felt like I was floating as I fell over the cliff with a final, “Yessssss!”
His deep voice telling me, “Good girl,” sent aftershocks through me.
Then he pulled me close, and I was wrapped in a cocoon of his warmth and scent.
And I promptly fell asleep.