4. Melody
Melody
I don’t know what was on my plate because I can’t taste a damn thing with Jonas’s hand on my thigh. Weirdly, it doesn’t feel out of place. And it doesn’t feel sexual, either. It feels like a promise. Like he’s saying, “I’m here” in a supportive way.
Kaden pops the last piece of a roll into his mouth, burps then laughs as he says sorry. Marianna giggles.
“You guys are a mess,” Jonas says with a warm smile that I find fascinating. I wonder how that mouth would feel on my body.
I stand abruptly. “I’ll clean the kitchen if you want to help Kaden with his homework?” I need to keep my hands busy. My head is all over the place.
Jonas ruffles his nephew’s hair. “You have homework?”
Kaden looks crestfallen. “School is hard, Uncle Jonas.”
Jonas stands and puts his hand on Kaden’s shoulder. “I know, buddy. Marianna, come with us.”
She slides from the chair and skips after them.
I rinse the dishes and then load them into the dishwasher. The chore gives me a chance to put the heat between me and Jonas in perspective. The verbal tango we’ve danced to for years has reached the boiling point.
Sex is going to happen. Maybe we were always heading toward that, and I didn’t see it or maybe I didn’t want to acknowledge it. But I do now. I want Jonas. So I’ll have him. It’s cut and dried. In and out. Fuck on then fuck off.
I pause in the middle of the kitchen and glance toward the living room. Jonas is laughing with the kids as Kaden runs in circles bucking and mimicking horse sounds.
A loud timer goes off startling me and Jonas claps his hands. “Bath and bed time. C’mon, let’s go.”
There’s a chorus of complaints from the kids and I half expect Jonas to fold but he shakes his head. “Neither of you will want to get up tomorrow if you don’t go to sleep now.” He ushers them still protesting down the hall. In their wake, the house grows quiet.
I turn my attention back to the kitchen and wipe the counters, then decide to mop the floor. Though I’d cleaned up the spill the dog had caused earlier, it won’t hurt to make sure I didn’t miss anything sticky.
At least that’s the story I’m feeding myself. The real story is I’m wondering how having sex with Jonas will change things. In the future, will I recall visions of us naked and feel super awkward when I run into him?
We didn’t set an ending date for what’s going to happen, and I guess I’m expecting a dick sprint and not a dick marathon. A quickie just to put the lust monster back in the cage.
The floor is sparkling clean by the time I’m done and my thoughts are almost dick free. I put away the supplies then head to the back of the house. I’m halfway down the hall when Marianna runs to me clutching her favorite book. I’ve read it to her a million times and counting before tonight.
“Let me guess.” I pretend to think about it. “You want me to read this story to you tonight.”
“Yes!” She jumps up and down with excitement.
I scoop her up and carry her into her room. Pushing aside a collection of stuffed animals on her bed, I tuck her in then sit beside her.
I start reading and when the dragon becomes busy helping the boy save the kingdom, Marianna’s eyes drift shut. I smooth her hair away from her little face and then quietly close the book and set it on the dresser.
I leave her room quietly to go tell Kaden goodnight.
He’s sitting in bed looking worried.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Jonas returns and hands him a cup of water.
“I’m supposed to bring cupcakes to school tomorrow.”
“No problem,” I assure him. “We’ll stop on the way to school and buy some.”
He shakes his head as I finish speaking. “They’re for Angel.”
“That’s a new girl in his class who has celiac disease,” Jonas explains. “Raven bought gluten free flour and the other ingredients last week.”
“She forgot to mention it, but that’s still not a problem.” I gesture to Jonas. “Because your Uncle Jonas will put on a cute apron and bake them for you.”
Kaden looks relieved. “You will?”
“I will.” Jonas switches on the nightlight. “Go to sleep, buddy.” He quietly closes the bedroom door after we exit.
“I’ll go do something else until the cupcakes are done and then straighten up the kitchen again.”
“Are you trying to avoid me?” he asks.
“Well…” I decide to be honest. “Yes.”
“Why? Because you think I’m going to throw you down on the floor and do you if we’re alone together?”
“Aren’t you?” I follow him into the kitchen.
“Not this time.” He hands me an apron and lifts an eyebrow.
I wave him off. “I’ll only be in the way.”
“You won’t be.” He ties the apron around my waist, then drapes one around his own.
“I’m clumsy and not really good at this or anything except working on cars.”
“You’re not clumsy.” He takes out a set of cupcake pans. “You’re good at everything you do. I’ve witnessed that.”
“I wasn’t fishing for compliments.”
“I know that. Hand me a bowl.”
I sigh and go get one from a cabinet. “Seriously Jonas. You’ll be sorry if I’m around.”
He turns to face me. “I won’t.”
I don’t know how he can say that with such belief. I toy with the hem of the apron and then tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. He doesn’t have a clue what he’s in for. If something can be screwed up, I’m the right person for the job.
Jonas suddenly strides to me like he’s a man on a deadline. His arms enclose me against his chest in a warm hug.
I’m so surprised that for a few seconds, I stand there silently and absorb his strength. “What are you doing?”
“I felt like you needed a hug.”
I did but can’t admit that. So I joke, “Are you saying you’re clairvoyant now?”
“Yes. I perceive that you want to do naughty things to my body.”
I laugh. “Well, what do you know. You are clairvoyant.”
He laughs and pulls back. “We’ll finish the cupcakes, then I’ll let you have your way with me.”
“That’s awfully kind of you.”
“I know. I’m very kind cowboy.” He steps away and points to the kitchen island. “You add the eggs and vanilla and I’ll mix it up.”
“Look at us getting along without arguing,” I say as I take a carton of eggs from the refrigerator.
“That’s because you know if you’re a good girl, you get to have some of my dick.”
I laugh. “But I’m a bad girl. Does that mean none for me?”
“Bad girls get all of it.”
I shake my head. Never in a million years would I have imaged I’d be trading sexy banter with Jonas. I manage to add the ingredients without mishap and then help him add the mixture to the pans.
“Now what?”
“Now we wait while they cook.” He whips off our aprons and tosses them onto the counter. “And we enjoy a little foreplay until they’re done.”
“Foreplay…if I blink, will I miss it?”
He tips his head back and laughs, then settles his hands on my hips. His hands are warm, and firm, holding me in place. My breasts grow heavy, aching to be touched and my nipples peak. I swallow, unable to look away from him.
“I’ll take it slow and make sure you don’t miss out on anything.” He pulls me close until our bodies brush. “Your curves are so inviting.” His grip tightens.
“They’re friendly like that.”
He smiles as he slowly lowers his head. I can’t breathe. No, I’m afraid to breathe. Afraid I’ll break this spell between us.
His tongue traces the edges of his lips. “After I’ve eaten my fill of you, I’m going to run my tongue over my lips like this and lick off every drop of your sweetness.”
Saying “Okay thank you, please do that” seems a little awkward so I only nod.
He smiles again like he knows how his words affect me. Then he closes the space between our lips.
He tastes like I’m on a reckless journey I’ve waited for years to take.
His lips are soft, gentle like he’s brushing nectar from a flower petal and doesn’t want to hurt it. Then he deepens the pressure and kisses me like how I’ve always imagined he would be. Wild. Full of the promise to make me beg and scream.
He kisses me like he’s claiming ownership. Like he’s trying to unravel me.
We were the quiet before the storm and now we’re the raging, pouring rain as the sky of everything we’ve held back opens up. Every prior encounter, every past and present need fuses us together like we’re melting into each other.
Jonas drinks me in and I cling to him, clutching his T-shirt.
I don’t know who moaned. If it was me or him. I don’t know who pulled away first.
We break apart with the scent of vanilla in the air.
I’m afraid of the honesty hammering in my brain. The honesty telling me that this cowboy is capable of taking more than my body.