Chapter 9
Brando
I watch Joss through the kitchen window as she stands on the back deck, her arms wrapped around herself against the late March chill.
She's still wearing her work clothes from the supply store, but she's let her hair down from its usual ponytail, and the setting sun catches the silver threads that run through the gray.
After the long day we've had dealing with a delayed shipment and three difficult customers, seeing her out there looking peaceful makes something warm settle in my chest.
I finish steeping the chamomile tea and grab two mugs, adding a touch of honey to hers the way she likes it.
The past several weeks since we returned from her cousin's wedding have been a blur of adjusting to this new reality between us.
We're still figuring out the boundaries of being boss and employee during the day and lovers at night, but somehow it's working.
Maybe because we've always had a chill rhythm together, even before we crossed that line.
The back door creaks as I push it open with my shoulder, and Joss turns at the sound, her face lighting up when she sees me approaching with the steaming mugs. On her back deck, I hand her the tea and settle in next to her on the outdoor porch swing.
She takes an appreciative sip of her chamomile tea and interlaces her fingers through mine as we quietly, gently swing in the chilly March air.
The back of her house overlooks Ravenhart Mountain, and we watch the sun slowly dip beneath the peaks.
Resting her head against my shoulder, Joss looks up at me with her dark eyes, and a contented sigh escapes her full lips.
"Happy?" I ask.
"Very," she says.
We sit in silence, watching the sky turn darker shades of orange and pink.
Ever since we returned from her cousin's wedding, we fell into a natural rhythm of working together while dating.
Well, if you can call this dating. Immediately, the relationship was serious, and we both acknowledged that we were in it for the long haul.
A chill runs down my spine, and my girlfriend pulls me closer, resting her legs across my lap.
"Getting cold?" Joss asks.
"A little, but I like this," I say.
"I like you," she responds.
Grinning, I kiss her forehead before resting mine against it, and we stare into each other's eyes. A feeling of warmth comes over me, knowing I am with my person.
"Amos asked me today if we're thinking about moving in together," I say, stroking her hand with my thumb.
"What did you tell him?"
"That it's up to you. Your house, your rules."
Joss considers this, taking another sip of her tea.
"I've lived alone for so long. But I hate the nights you're not here."
"Me too," I admit. "My apartment feels empty now."
"Maybe we should talk about it seriously. I mean, I know it's new, but it feels awfully real. And you are here more nights than not lately."
The casual way she says it, like it's the most natural thing in the world, makes my heart skip. I've been wanting to bring this up the last two weeks but didn't want to push.
"I know it's early, but I'm just curious. Would you ever be interested in getting married?" I ask, surprised by the words tumbling out of my mouth.
"Of course," Joss says, sitting up straighter and studying my face. "Was that something you were worried about?"
"Well, you've never been married, so I didn't know if you had a thing against it or exactly why. I mean, I know you were engaged, but I don't know. I was just concerned."
Shrugging her shoulders, she sits back against the swing.
"I just focused a lot on my career, got close twice, but knew neither of those people was meant to be my forever. Then the Bart disaster happened. But look where my life took me."
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I dare to look at Joss, and my stomach flips, seeing the intense look her dark brown eyes are giving me.
"You're definitely meant to be my forever, Brando."
Taking her mug, I place it on the side table and scoop my curvy girlfriend up in my arms, carrying her into the house.
When we reach her bedroom, I playfully toss her on the bed and begin to strip, hungrily watching her as she slides out of her jeans and sweater.
When she throws her bra across the room, I dive on top of her, stealing her mouth with mine.
Giggling into my kiss, Joss wraps her legs around my body, pushing me against her, my cock rubbing along her clit. When I penetrate her, our moans mingle as we get lost in the feeling of each other.
I wrap my arms around her and spin us around so that I'm flat on my back, and my voluptuous love is on top. Her heavy breasts bounce above me. Digging my fingers into her round ass, I meet her bounces with my own thrusts as I delight in watching her face contort as her orgasm clearly builds.
When she comes on my cock, I reach up, pinching her nipples as she curses with shuddering gasps. I'm unable to maintain control any longer and explode into her as my back arches with a cry.
Joss collapses to the side of me, and we wrap our limbs around each other, hearts racing.
"Goddamn, I love you," I whisper.
She giggles into my chest, kissing my sweaty skin.
"I love you too."
We lie there catching our breath, and I can feel Joss's heartbeat gradually slowing against my chest. The room is quiet except for the sound of the wind picking up outside and the distant hum of the heater.
She traces lazy patterns on my skin, and I run my fingers through her hair, still damp with sweat.
"So," she says after a while, her voice soft and sleepy. "About that moving-in conversation."
I chuckle, tightening my arms around her.
"Is this your way of saying yes?"
"I'm saying I want you here every night. Plus, I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to fight over who forgot to take out the trash and whose turn it is to do the dishes."
"Those sound like pretty good problems to have," I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
"The best problems," she agrees, tilting her face up to look at me. "We'll need to figure out the logistics. What to do with your apartment, and how to handle things at work."
"We'll figure it out," I say, because with Joss, I believe we can figure out anything. "We've got time."
She settles back against my chest with a contented sigh.
"I never thought I'd have this. Someone who feels like home," she murmurs.
"You're my home. You're my everything."