Amulet 2
S. Wolf
Published by S. Wolf at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 S. Wolf
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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Note: This story contains sexually explicit material, and is intended only for persons over the age of 18. By downloading and opening this document, you are stating that you are of legal age to access and view this work of fiction.
Author’s note: Welcome to Amulet 2. This story is a continuation of the adventures of Jason, and if you haven’t read Amulet yet, I highly recommend you do so before reading Amulet 2, since many of the events in this book are based on what happened in the original.
Here’s what readers are saying about the original Amulet:
“An erotic thriller that is both sexy and stimulating”
“It's sexy and sweet and romantic”
“Full of unexpected twists”
“A fun, sexy, sweet story”
“A rather sweet girl next door tale”
“Sexy and believable. Lots of fun to read!”
“An interesting young adult eye opener about true love”
“Another polished gem from the talented fingers of S. Wolf”
“Much more than just another sex book”
“Well written, humorous and racy”
Amulet 2
Chapter 1
Light from the rising sun filtered into the bedroom through the drawn curtains, illuminating the couple on the bed as they shared the pleasure of each other’s bodies. They were lying like spoons, his chest pressed to her back and his hips stroking into her with a gentle rhythm. His hand caressed her breast and held the weight of it, while her hand rested on her swollen stomach, fingers spread over the tightly stretched skin. Because of her condition this had become their favorite position.
Jason watched his wife in the dim light. As her pregnancy had progressed and her body changed, he had worried that his desire for her might wane. But the opposite had happened – he found himself wanting her even more. The life growing inside of her and her new curves had made her even more desirable.
This included the breasts he was currently fondling. Sam’s had always been full and round, but her pregnancy had not only enlarged them, but also made them more sensitive.
She must have been reading his mind because she murmured in a sleepy voice, “Those won’t be yours to play with much longer.”
“Which is why I’m enjoying them now,” he replied, and gave her nipple a gentle pinch. She breathed a slight moan in response.
“It’s not fair that the baby gets all this,” he continued, “I think we should share. I’ll take the one on the left, and she can have the one on the right.”
Sam giggled. “Won’t work. Mom told me the nipples get so sore, it hurts to have them touched.”
He stopped moving his hips. “Ok, new rule. There will be no mention of your mother, or mine, while my dick is inside of you.”
She giggled again, and wiggled her ass back against him, urging him to continue.
“Agreed?” he said.
“Ok, ok, no mom talk. Now keep fucking me.”
He grinned and resumed his slow thrusting. He couldn’t have held out much longer anyway. The clock radio told him they still had a half hour before he had to get up for work. During her pregnancy, they had discovered that this was the best time for them to make love, since she was exhausted in the evenings, and this allowed them to start their day in a very pleasant way. He was concerned that the baby was almost a week late, but figured her orgasms might hurry the process along.
He moved his hand off her breast and slid it downward, up onto the large curve of her round belly. Intertwining his fingers with hers, he continued his slow in and out motion, concentrating on the pleasure he was feeling.
When she had first started to get big, her confidence waned, and she needed constant reassurance from him that he still found her desirable. The truth was, her being like this kept him in a constant state of arousal. He couldn’t get enough of her, and they were making love almost every day, sometimes more than once. When he finally convinced her of this, she became comfortable with her body, to the point now where she didn’t even mention it anymore. He wasn’t sure how he was going to survive waiting six weeks after the baby was born before having sex with her again.
He nuzzled into the back of her neck, working his way through her soft hair until he reached skin. He knew she enjoyed this, and when he kissed her there, she moaned softly and arched in pleasure, reminding him of a stretching cat.
Her passion rose, and his pace quickened in response, while his lips nipped lightly at her skin. Their hips worked in unison, moving together and then apart, meeting in the middle with the soft slapping sound of flesh upon flesh. Her slick wetness coated him, and he slid in and out easily, her smooth passage tight around his full length.
“Feels so good baby,” she said, “just like that. I wish we could do this all day.”
“Mmm,” he moaned in response, his breath warm on the back of her neck. “Don’t tempt me.” He moved up to her ear, and whispered, “Hey, do you know I love you?”
She smiled, and her eyes closed. “I do baby. I’ll always be yours.”
“I’m getting close,” he said, “you ready?”
“Yes,” she said, more like a breath than a word. “Take me away.”
He slid his hand downward from her belly, following the sharp curve inward, as she spread her legs slightly to give him access. His fingers combed through her soft curly hairs, and then arrived at where they were joined, feeling his slick shaft sliding in and out between her puffy outer lips. Her lubrication was abundant, coating his fingers as he felt the cleft where her labia met, and then the familiar nub of her clitoris. She groaned low in her throat in response to his touch.
A second finger joined the first, and he began his rhythm on her, moving his fingertips in a small circle over the bump of flesh. She groaned louder, and he knew she was close, so he increased the pace of his thrusts into her, wanting to arrive at the same time.
“Yes baby, yes baby,” she breathed, “I’m, I’m, I’m comiiiiiiinnnnngggg!” It began as a word, and ended as a passionate cry, as her orgasm washed over her and she writhed in his arms. With one last hard plunge into her, he joined her ecstasy, groaning his pleasure into her ear as his body clenched in orgasm, jetting his seed deep into her, his shaft pulsating as her walls spasmed around it.
He felt like he was floating away with her, to a place where only they could go. A place that was warm and safe where they could be together.
After a few moments she relaxed back against him, sighing and snuggling close, and his arm curled protectively around her stomach.
“Thanks baby,” she said, still catching her breath, “I needed that. I’ve been so tense lately.”
His arm tightened around her. “Well, you do have a baby in you who’s stubbornly refusing to come out, so I can’t blame you. Heck, I’m tense and I’m not even pregnant.”
“Well then,” she said wiggling her ass back against him, causing his softening cock to slip inside of her, “I’m glad I’ve relieved some of your tension too.”
“Oh yeah,” he replied with a smile, “I’m very relaxed at the moment. I feel like I don’t have a bone in my body.”
She giggled at this. “I can only take credit for removing one of your bones.”
He laughed and hugged her tight. “It’s going to be weird having a baby around here, isn’t it?”
“Alexis,” she said. They had found out a month ago it was a girl, and decided on that name.
“Alexis,” he repeated, “our little girl.”
“I still can’t believe it,” she said, “Sometimes I go into the nursery and stare at the empty crib, wondering how it’s possible that a baby will soon be in there – a baby who’s all ours that we have to take care of. It’s scary.”
“You’re going to be a great mommy. No reason for you to be scared.”
She smiled. “As long as you’re around, I’m not scared of anything.”
“Daddy!”
His head jerked upwards. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Daddy!”
“That,” he said, “That voice.” There was a pressure on his chest and it was harder to breathe.
“I don’t hear anything,” Sam said.
“Daddy! Wake up!” The pressure on his chest was rhythmic now, as if something or someone was bouncing on it.
Sam was drifting away from him, slipping through his grasp like wisps of smoke. No, please no, he thought, I want to stay with her.
“Daddy! It’s my birfday! Wake up!”
Jason opened his eyes, and despite his pain he had to smile. Sitting on his chest was his daughter Alexis, the spitting image of her mother, with her wild red hair and bright green eyes.
“Good morning Alexis,” he said, reaching up to hold her still.
“It’s my birfday Daddy!”
“Happy birthday honey. How old are you today?”
“I’m free,” she said, holding up three stubby fingers.
“Then you get three kisses,” he said, then pulled her down, kissed her, and then raised her back up. “One!”
She giggled and squirmed in his arms, but he held her tight and pulled her down again, kissing her cheek. “Two!”
She laughed and wriggled harder as he raised her up, and then brought her down for the final kiss. “Three!” He held her to him and she lay on his chest, catching her breath.
“I love you so much baby,” he said.
“I love you too Daddy,” she replied, her weight so light and delicate on his chest.
He had the dream again. But this time it was especially painful. He didn’t have to look at the clock to know that it was almost three years ago to the hour when it had actually happened. In the three years since, he had relived it over and over, mostly in his dreams, but sometimes in his waking thoughts. It was, after all, the last time he and Sam had made love.
Alexis was too young to understand, but someday when she’s older, she won’t celebrate her birthday quite as gleefully as she does now. Because her birthday is also the anniversary of her mother’s death. Three years ago today had been the worst day of his life.
Chapter 2
He sat in the waiting room with his head in his hands, his brain still not accepting what the doctor had told him. Sam was dead? How was that possible? They had come here to have a baby. It was supposed to be a happy day.
Less than an hour ago, he had been holding her hand as their daughter emerged into the world. Then, everything went wrong, and they put him in this room to wait.
His Sam was gone. His soul mate and the reason he lived. It finally caught up to him and he wept like a child, the sobs coming in large gasps of breath. He wanted to be dead with her, and tried to will it to happen.
Maybe it was a dream. Maybe he was really lying next to Sam in their bed having a nightmare. He would soon wake up and hold her in his arms, and when she awoke, he would tell her about it and they would laugh.
After a while, two nurses came in and asked if he wanted to see her. He followed them numbly to a small room where Sam’s body lay on a hospital bed, covered in a sheet except for her head.
“We’ll be right outside,” said one of the nurses, and they left him alone.
He looked down at Sam lying there, eyes closed, her face puffy and still, and it reminded him of the day when he watched her sleep and realized that he loved her. His hand moved to her face and caressed her cheek, feeling her cool skin beneath his touch.
“I love you Sam,” he whispered through tears.
He leaned down and kissed her lips, almost expecting her to respond like she always did, kissing him back and embracing him. When he realized he would never feel that again, he broke down and cried, holding her in his arms as his body was racked by huge sobs. This is how the nurses found him when they returned a half hour later and gently led him away.
* * *
The sun blazed in a sky that was a breathtaking shade of blue, and Jason thought it would have been a marvelous day if not for the fact that he and about thirty other people were standing around Sam’s casket, waiting for it to be lowered into the ground.
I can’t do this, he kept repeating to himself, and he couldn’t have if Donna and Danny hadn’t been here to help him. If not for them, he would probably still be lying in his bed, refusing to get up and face the reality of having to bury the only woman he ever loved.
Donna was suffering almost as much as he was. She and Sam had become close in the past six years, and they had been so happy to discover they both had become pregnant around the same time. Donna was due in another month, but was even bigger than Sam had been. The pain of her grief was so apparent on her face, Danny was worried about her health.
Jason looked around at the crowd. His Mom and Dad were holding each other, as were Sam’s parents. Sam’s mom was back to her usual aloofness, after holding him and crying in his arms when she arrived at the hospital. All four parents had jumped on a plane for the hour flight when Jason had called Mrs. Scott and told her what had happened. They had all flown back home together for the funeral, including Sam’s body in the cargo hold. Alexis had remained in the hospital because the doctors had wanted to keep her under observation for a few days.
Becky was here, which surprised him, but for some reason he couldn’t explain, her presence made him feel better. She was standing with her husband, a tall attractive man with sandy blond hair, and they each held one hand of a small boy standing between them.
Danny was beside Jason, being strong when he needed it. A few times when the “I can’ts” caught up to him, and the world lazily spun away, Danny’s arm would appear around his shoulder and hold him up, as if it were a tether to reality. But as they lowered Sam’s coffin into the ground, Danny’s will finally faltered, and he had to hold onto Donna as he broke down and cried.
Afterwards, the crowd drifted away, stopping by to give their final condolences to Jason and Sam’s parents before heading to their cars. After giving Sam’s Aunt Mary a hug, Jason turned and there was Becky, standing in front of him with tears streaming down her face.
She stepped into him and they held onto each other, crying together. When they separated, she held his hands in hers and said, “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you Becky, your being here means a lot to me.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever met my husband.” she said, and turned towards the man standing beside her. “This is Robert.”
“Nice to meet you Robert,” Jason said, shaking his hand and attempting a smile. “You’ve got a special girl here.”
Robert offered a solemn nod. “Sorry for your loss Jason.”
“And this is our son RJ,” Becky said, smiling down at the little blond boy between them.
Jason knelt down on one knee to be closer to eye level with the boy, and held out his hand. “Hi there RJ.”
The boy tentatively extended his hand and allowed Jason to hold it, but remained silent. Jason looked up at Becky and realized they had been in this position before, years ago when he picked her up for their date.
Becky must have remembered it too, because she started crying again. Jason stood and hugged her, and they wept together.
The evening of the funeral, they were all at Jason’s parents’ house. Donna, Danny and Jason sat on the front porch, while his and Sam’s parents were inside, talking in quiet voices. Donna and Danny were on the porch swing, with her head resting on his shoulder. Jason was sitting on the floor, facing them with his back against the wooden railing.
“Do you have any plans yet?” Danny asked.
Jason shrugged. “Haven’t thought much about it. Mom says the house across the street is for sale, and they’d love to have me move back here so they can help take care of the baby.”
“Sounds like a great idea,” Danny said, “Plus, we would be around to help too. I know it’s hard to think about now, but you should consider it.”
“It’s so strange,” Jason replied, “four days ago she was right next to me, and we had our entire future in front of us. Now, I’m just lost. I feel so empty.”
“Jason,” Donna said, “come up here and sit by me for a moment. I’d move down there, but I’m in no condition to be squatting on the ground.” She patted her very large belly.
Jason did as she asked, sitting beside her so she was sandwiched between him and Danny. She leaned away from her husband, and onto Jason’s shoulder, putting her arm around him. Donna always knew exactly how to make people feel better, and this time was no different. He relaxed under her touch, and took a deep breath.
He stared down at her bulging stomach. “That’s going to be a huge baby,” he said without thinking.
Donna smiled and Danny snorted.
“Should we tell him?” she asked Danny.
“Sure.”
She turned back towards Jason. “We were planning on keeping it a secret until they arrived, but it’s not one baby, it’s twins. Twin girls.”
Jason smiled. “Twin girls? That’s fantastic! Congratulations.” He hugged her tight.
Pulling back, he turned his attention to his friend. “Danny Mazzelli is having twin daughters? And people say there isn’t justice in the world?”
Donna laughed at this, but Danny just grinned.
“So,” Donna said, “Alexis is going to have some playmates.”
Jason thought about his daughter. Until he had first held her, he wouldn’t have thought it was possible to experience extreme grief and extreme joy at the same time. But as he held her with his heart full of sadness about Sam, a feeling of joy came over him as he stared down at her innocent face. She was his, and also Sam’s. Together they had created this wonderful bundle of life. He loved her the moment he first took her in his arms, and any wishes he had had about joining Sam in death were forgotten.
“I can’t wait to get back and hold her again,” he said, “You’ll see. It’s an amazing feeling.”
“I know I don’t have to say it,” Danny said, “but if there’s anything you need – anything – just ask.”
Jason was silent for a moment. Finally he said, “There’s is one thing I want to ask you.”
“Name it.”
“I want to borrow it for a while.”
Danny didn’t answer right away, but instead looked over at his friend with a questioning glance.
“Of course,” he finally said, “I still consider it partially yours. But can I ask you why?”
“I don’t plan on using it, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I’m just worried about you bud.”
Jason was quiet again.
Donna spoke up. “You’re going to use the amulet to try to talk to Ambriel, aren’t you?”
Jason nodded.
“Why?” Danny asked.
“Because the only miracle I’ve witnessed in my life came from her and her friend. And right now I’m in need of another one.”
“What can she do?”
“I don’t know, but I have to ask. I can’t go through life thinking there was a chance that I never tried to take.”
Danny picked up Donna’s purse and handed it to her. “Give it to him.”
Donna took the purse and reached inside, pulled out the amulet and offered it to Jason. He took it and held it up, watching the colors swirl. It was the first time he had seen it since he had given it to Danny over six years ago. It brought back a lot of memories, most of them good.
“By the way,” Jason said, “last time I talked to Ambriel way back when, she mentioned a test in your future. Did that ever happen?”
His two friends shared a quick glance between them. “Yeah,” Danny said, “but with everything else going on, this isn’t the time to talk about it. Ask me some other time.”
“Ok,” Jason said, looking hard at his friend with concern in his eyes.
After his friends said their goodbyes and left, he went up to his old room and lay on the bed. He ran the amulet through his fingers, remembering the other times that he had met Ambriel in his dreams. But sleep wouldn’t come, as thoughts of Sam refused to leave his mind.
He was staring at the ceiling when a gentle tap sounded on his door. “Jason?” his mother said softly, “you awake?”
“Yeah Mom,” he said, stuffing the amulet in his pocket.
His mother came in and sat on the bed, taking his hand in hers. In the faint light, it looked like she had aged ten years since his last visit.
“Your room looks different without all your stuff in it,” she said. “Sometimes I come up here and think about all the little boy things that used to be in here.” She was crying, and he joined her.
“I’m telling you this because it would be great to have a child around again,” she continued, “whether it’s here or across the street. We talked it over with the Scotts, and they like the idea too. But it’s your choice son, so take some time to think about it.”
“I will Mom.”
“I love you Jason.”
“I love you too Mom, thanks.”
She leaned over and kissed his forehead, and one of her tears fell on his cheek. She wiped it away with her thumb and got up, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.
He finally fell asleep, and had terrible dreams about Sam. He dreamed he was back in the delivery room, and he tried to save her, but he couldn’t. Over and over it happened, and he couldn’t protect her no matter what he did.
He awoke with a start, and he guessed it was near dawn because the room was lit with a soft glow. But checking the time, it was only three o’clock. Opening his eyes and sitting up, he discovered the source of the light. Ambriel was sitting at the foot of his bed, watching him. The glow was coming from inside of her. Her hair was like it had been in the meadow, moving around her head in waves. Her amulet glowed also, but wasn’t as bright as she was.
“Hello Ambriel, nice to see you again.” He was about to ask her if this was a dream, but realized it didn’t matter.
“Hello Jason. Your heart is troubled.”
“I lost her. I was supposed to be her protector, and she’s gone.”
“You will be together again someday.”
“I don’t want to live without her.”
“Your daughter needs you now.”
“Ambriel, was it always fated to be this way? Was it always part of some plan for Sam to die?”
“No Jason. Mankind has free will. The choices people make matter.”
“Is there any way I can change what happened?”
Ambriel was silent.
“I need another miracle,” he continued, “I know I didn’t even deserve the first one, but I have to ask.”
“I understand, but what you are asking for is beyond my powers to give you.”
“So it’s impossible?”
“There is no concept of impossible in my world. But it is not my choice to make.”
“Will you ask for me?”
“Yes. But you must understand that time works differently for us. You may not get an answer right away, if at all.”
“Thank you Ambriel. I feel a little better knowing there’s a chance.”
“You are welcome Jason. And one more thing?”
“Yes?”
“Your mother is right. You should move back here.”
He smiled. “What good is the free will of mankind, if you women keep telling us what to do?”
Ambriel laughed. “Goodbye Jason.”
“Goodbye Ambriel.”
In an instant, she was gone, and the room was left dark. Sleep took him quickly, and it was deep and dreamless.
Chapter 3
The three-year-old had fallen asleep on his chest, and he gently slid her off and laid her head on the pillow. He rolled on his side and watched her sleep for a few minutes, a pleasure he had been enjoying more often recently. The older she got, and the more she looked like her mother, the more he would watch her and think about Sam.
He quietly got out of bed and went to his dresser, opened the top drawer and felt along the bottom, under his socks. He found the folded up piece of paper and brought it out, gingerly opening it.
He looked at Sam’s photo on the newsprint. The picture had been taken soon after their wedding, when their parents decided they wanted some professional photos of them to hang on their walls. Sam’s mom had picked it out and given it to the funeral director to be used in the obituary. So now Sam’s face stared out from the three year old newsprint, and below it were various facts about her, including “She is survived by her beloved husband of two years, Jason Clark Ramsey, and her daughter Alexis Ambriel Ramsey.” Beloved husband, that’s me, Jason thought.
He looked at the picture just under Sam’s. For some reason, he liked looking at this photo. It was of a Dr. Pamela Renton, a middle-aged woman with gray hair and a friendly face. He liked to think that since they both died on the same day, she and Sam were friends in heaven, and maybe Pamela was taking care of her. Scanning the text below the woman’s picture, he read a message from her husband: “I will always love my Pandabear.” He always smiled when he read this, and wished he had put something like that in for Sam.
He ran his finger over Sam’s picture. “I love you baby,” he whispered, and then refolded the paper and placed it carefully back in its place.
“Happy birfday to me! Happy birfday to me!” Alexis was singing as she chased her best friend and next door neighbor, Kaitlin Rader, across the patio and into the back yard. Jason and Beth sat at the table under an umbrella, and watched them go by, smiling at their youthful exuberance.
“So, how’re you doing today Jason?” Beth asked.
“Not great,” he replied. “I had the dream again last night.”
She reached out and took his hand in hers, squeezing it. Outwardly, he showed no reaction, but inside his emotions were in turmoil. A huge part of him still missed Sam, but there were other parts that missed a woman’s touch, and it had been three years since he had felt that. And this woman was recently making it clear that she was ready to take that step with him.
He had been in college when he had heard about Tom leaving her, and couldn’t believe it. They were his role model for what a happy loving couple was. He had visited them several times while he had the amulet, and what he witnessed between them was what he wanted with Sam. What he and Sam had was partly a result of what he had learned from Beth and Tom.
Tom had somehow gotten involved with his secretary, a fiery Hispanic woman, and he and Beth broke apart just as Kaitlin was born. When Jason had moved in next door, she was still suffering the effects of losing her husband, and despite the six year difference in their ages, they had became natural friends, sharing the common bond of loss.
On the day her divorce became final, he had his mom watch the kids while he and Beth sat at his kitchen table and got drunk together, a first (and last) for him. He held her in his arms as she cried it all out, and he was fairly sure he cried along with her, but couldn’t remember for certain. He did recall a moment where, as they held each other, a look passed between them, and he knew she wanted him to kiss her. And he wanted that kiss as much as she did. But fortunately it passed. If something had happened between them that night, they probably wouldn’t have remained friends.
But now, almost a year and a half later, Beth was making it clear that she was ready. Sometimes when they stood next to each other, she would rest her hand in the small of his back, letting her fingertips move in small circles. On the nights when their two girls would have sleepovers, they would sit on the couch and watch a late movie while the kids were up in their room. Lately, Beth had gotten into the habit of taking a couch pillow and laying it on his lap, and resting her head there as she laid sideways watching the television.
And he had reciprocated, coming up behind her sometimes and giving her neck rubs, or letting his hand rest casually on her knee as they drove together. He had seen this woman make love, and he was acutely aware of the passion she brought to the bedroom. Some days he desired her so much that he ached, but then thoughts of Sam would come and he would sink into a morass of guilt.
“What’re you thinking?” she asked.
He looked at her. Why do women always ask that question at the exact time when you least want them to know your thoughts? It’s like they have some internal antenna that can sense it.
He smiled at her. “I’m thinking that when my mother-in-law is here for the party today, we need to cool it with this.” He nodded towards her hand on his.
She smiled back at him, gave his hand a squeeze, and then pulled hers back. “I know, I know,” she said. “But it’s not like she doesn’t live right across the street, and see me over here all the time, even spending the night once in a while.”
“Yeah,” he replied, “I’ve been looking for an opportunity to tell her that when you do stay over, it’s all innocent, but it’s tough to bring up in normal conversation.”
She laughed. “It’ll be alright Jason. She’ll get over it.”
“You obviously don’t know the woman. She’s held a grudge against me since I was ten.”
Beth was laughing at this when a loud “Dude!” interrupted them. They turned to see Donna and Danny coming around the corner of the house. Danny had his arms full of wrapped presents, and a pregnant Donna was walking with their identical twin daughters, Hailey and Hannah, one in each hand.
“Uncle Danny, it’s my birfday!” Alexis came running up and latched onto Danny’s leg. He hobbled to the table, set the presents down, and then snatched up the little girl into his arms.
“Happy birthday Alexis!” he said, “My goodness, you’re looking more like your mother every day.”
“My mommy was booteful.”
“She sure was, and you are too. Hi Kaitlin.”
Kaitlin was peeking out from behind the swing set slide, her usual shy response to Danny. The blonde five-year-old wasn’t quite sure how to react to this man who was on her television, both in commercials and playing football.
“Hi Jason,” Donna said, and gave him a tight hug, her big belly pressing into him. She then hugged Beth, but it wasn’t as enthusiastic. She never said anything, but Jason got the feeling that Donna wasn’t sure about his involvement with Beth. He had shared his last conversation with Ambriel with her, and he believed she was holding out hope for a miracle.
Jason knelt down and gave Hailey and Hannah a twin hug. “You two are getting prettier every day.”
“Uncle Jason, you’re silly,” Hannah said, the usual spokesperson for the pair.
“I don’t know Dad,” Jason said, “these two are going to be twin heartbreakers when they get older, and the little Dannys start coming around.”
“Dude,” Danny said, “don’t even joke about something like that.”
Jason glanced at Donna, who was grinning.
“I’m just saying,” Jason said, “there’s lots of karma headed your way when these two get older.” He winked at Donna, who laughed.
“Daddy,” Hannah said, “what does karma mean?”
“It means you’re grounded until you’re twenty-one, that’s what it means.”
A while later, when all the friends and family sang happy birthday to Alexis, her face was lit by the three candles on her cake and her bright smile. Tears came to Jason as he remembered that look on Sam’s face so many times when she looked at him. He excused himself and went into the kitchen to be alone for a moment so he could compose himself.
He was wiping his eyes when someone came in and joined him. He turned, expecting to see Beth, but was surprised to see it was Sam’s mother.
“Hello Janice,” he said, finishing wiping his eyes. He had tried to call her mom a few times when he and Sam were just married, but it hadn’t stuck, and he finally resorted to using her first name.
“Hello Jason,” she said, watching him.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I saw her little face and it reminded me so much of Sam.” He combed his hands through his hair and then held his head between them, as if to keep it from exploding. He took a deep rasping breath.
“I saw it too,” she said. “The same look Sam always got when she looked at you.”
He looked at her with surprise. He didn’t know she had noticed.
As if reading his mind, she said, “She was my daughter. Of course I saw it. I always knew she loved you, even when she was a little girl. I think the only person who didn’t notice was you.”
He smiled. “Yeah, I was a dumbass.”
Her face softened. “Yeah, you were. But you eventually smartened up. The years that Sam had with you were the happiest of her life, so I thank you for that, even though I’ve been too stubborn to admit it.”
“Thank you,” he said, “That means a lot to me.”
“But Jason,” she continued, “She’s gone now. You have to move on.”
He couldn’t believe he was hearing this from her. “I don’t want to move on. I want her back.”
“She’s not coming back,” she replied, a bit too loudly.
The words hurt his heart. He wished he could tell her about Ambriel and what he had asked her, but she wouldn’t understand, and probably wouldn’t believe him.
“What about you and Beth?” she said, her voice softer.
“Janice, I swear to you, we haven’t done anything. We’re just friends.”
“Why are you just friends?” she asked. “You two seem like the perfect match, and you both could use someone in your lives.”
His mind swam. Was she trying to talk him into sleeping with Beth? This was too surreal.
“A word of advice Jason?”
“Sure,” he said, wondering what was coming.
“You wasted time being blind to my daughter’s love. Don’t do the same with this girl. Your daughter needs a mother.”
He stared at her, not believing what he had just heard.
“Think about it,” she said, and turned and left the kitchen, leaving him in a daze.
After the cake had been eaten and the kids were busy playing with the new toys, Jason noticed Donna sitting alone on their backyard swing set, idly swinging. When Sam was pregnant, she had told him she wanted a swing set in their backyard, like she had in hers growing up. So when Alexis turned one year old, he dug up the yard and put it in. This one was wood instead of the old metal one, and when it was completed, it occurred to him that it looked very much like a pirate ship.
He walked over and sat on the open swing, matching Donna’s slow pace.
“You ok?” he asked.
“Just thinking about her. She would have loved days like today.”
“Yes she would.”
“We talked all the time about the children we would have. She said she wanted a big family. Maybe six kids.”
He smiled. “Yeah, she told me that too. I think it was because she was an only child, and she got lonely sometimes while growing up.”
“So you wanted lots of kids too?”
“I always told her we should have one first, and see how that goes.”
Donna laughed softly. “When she first got pregnant, she was convinced she was having a boy.”
“Really? She never mentioned that to me.”
“She never told you about her dream of Ambriel?”
He perked up. “She dreamed about Ambriel? Did she have the amulet?”
“No, she didn’t. But she described the meadow scene perfectly. When you found out later it wasn’t a boy, I assumed that she got that description from you, and it was just a normal dream.”
He thought for a moment. “I never described the meadow to her.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I figured I’d spare her the details of being naked with Ambriel.”
Donna smiled. “Probably a wise choice.”
“So Ambriel told her she was having a boy?”
“That’s what Sam said.”
“Huh. Even if it wasn’t really Ambriel, Sam was usually accurate with her dreams.” He recalled his visits to her with the amulet, and how she dreamed he was there.
Donna watched Alexis run across the yard. “Not this time.”
“How are you doing?” he asked, nodding towards her swollen belly. “You seem smaller this time. Can I assume it’s not twins again?”
She laughed. “No, not twins. Danny’s getting his boy.”
He smiled wide. “That’s great. He must be happy.”
“He’s busting at the seams to talk about it.”
He smiled at her.
“What?” she asked.
“He really is your broken off piece, isn’t he?”
She thought for a moment. “In every way.”
As they sat in silence for a moment, Beth’s voice carried across the yard, “Kaitlin, let Alexis play with that. It’s her gift.”
He watched Donna’s mouth tighten and her lips turn down into a slight frown.
He paused for a moment, and then said, “Beth and I are just friends.”
She glanced at him with a guilty look. “Is it that obvious?”
“No,” he replied, “but I know you very well.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not judging you. I just… I just can’t give up hope.”
“I understand. Part of me feels exactly like you do.”
“Part of you?”
“Yes. And the other part keeps reminding me that Ambriel said ‘if at all’, and that my daughter doesn’t have a mother, and that I’m sleeping alone.”
Donna looked at him sadly. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“It’s ok. If I didn’t agree with you, Beth and I would have slept together a long time ago. But I don’t know how long I’m supposed to wait before realizing the answer is no.”
Donna reached over and put her hand on his. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to see that side of it. But do me a favor Jason.”
“Sure.”
She gave a slight grin. “Don’t try to run that ‘we’re just friends’ bullshit by me again. I know you just as well as you know me.”
He returned the grin. Finally, tough Donna makes an appearance. “It’s a deal.”
Chapter 4
Jason relaxed back on the couch, glad this long day was coming to an end. Alexis certainly had her fun, but it was too much stress for him. The birthday girl and Kaitlin had zonked out on the floor a few minutes ago, and he and Beth had carried them up to Alexis’ bedroom, where Beth tucked them in.
“They’re out cold,” Beth said, coming down the stairs in the sleepover pajamas that she kept at his house. Long cotton pants and night shirt, they were far from provocative, but he couldn’t help but stare at her, remembering what she looked like nude. He recalled the first time he saw her naked, bending over the tub and giving him a very nice view of her ass, and began to get hard from the memory. He had considered many times telling her about the amulet, and how he had watched her and Tom make love, but she had enough to think about without adding that on top of it.
As she sat down next to him, he said, “Thanks for all your help today. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“No problem. By the way, I noticed you and Janice having a conversation in the kitchen. How’d that go?”
“Very interesting,” he replied.
“How so?”
“She seems to like you.”
“Me? What do you mean?”
“She thinks you and I make a nice couple.”
She stared at him. “Seriously?”
“Yes, her exact quote was that she thought you and I were the perfect match.”
Beth smiled and brought her legs up under her on the couch, facing him. “And what do you think?”
He returned her smile and reached out and took her hand in his. After a moment, he said, “Did I ever tell you I fantasized about you?”
“No,” she said, looking interested, “when was this?”
“Back when I cut your grass. I would fantasize that you would invite me in and we would do stuff.”
She grinned. “Stuff?”
“Hey, I was a naïve seventeen-year-old virgin. I wasn’t even sure what stuff I wanted to do.”
She laughed at this. “I see. So you expected me to show you the ropes then? Guide you through your first time?”
“Yeah, something like that,” he said, looking sheepish.
“Luckily for you, it didn’t happen,” she said with a grin.
“Why’s that?”
“Because you wouldn’t have survived the experience. I would have been too much for a seventeen-year-old virgin to handle. Your heart would have exploded.” She was wearing a smug grin.
Having seen her in action, he knew she was only slightly exaggerating. “Oh really? So you’re saying that under this calm ladylike exterior, beats the heart of a wildcat?”
“Looks can be deceiving,” she said, her eyes locked on his, “you’d be surprised.”
No he wouldn’t. He had seen this woman with her ex-husband Tom, a man who was six-inches taller than himself, and about thirty pounds of muscle heavier. She had left him a panting exhausted heap, while she was still ready for more.
“Why am I getting the feeling that my heart is still in danger of exploding, even though I’m not seventeen and a virgin anymore?”
She laughed at this. “Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy on you at first.” She then paused and looked at him for a moment. “What do you think?”
The invitation was obvious, and he wanted her so much, but he said, “I think we better start this movie before it gets too late.”
She grinned at him, shaking her head slightly. “Tease,” she said, under her breath.
“Excuse me, did you say something?” He was smiling back.
“Me? I didn’t say anything.”
“I heard something,” he said, getting off the couch to put the DVD in.
He started the movie, and sat back down, expecting her to get her favorite pillow and lay on him. But she had something else in mind.
“Here,” she said, “sit back against the corner of the couch.” He did as she asked.
“Now put this leg up on the couch along the back.” Again, he followed her directions, and there was a space between his legs and she slid right into it, her back against his chest. His height allowed him to look over her, and they both had a view of the TV.
“How’s that?” she asked.
“Perfect.”
She snuggled back into him, and he wondered what he was supposed to do with his hands. She answered this by taking them in hers, and pulling them down around her stomach, so that she was in his embrace.
“Comfortable?” she asked.
That wouldn’t have been the first word he chose, but she did feel good against him. “Feels nice,” he replied.
It occurred to him what she was doing. Whether consciously or subconsciously, she had placed the two of them in what Tom had called her favorite position. He had seen Tom hold her like this as he leaned back against their headboard, her between his legs and leaning back into him. Some of her fiercest orgasms had happened while Tom held her like this, his fingers working slowly between the lips of her pussy.
These memories made him hard, and he shifted, not only trying to make himself more comfortable in his tight jeans, but also to hide his arousal as he moved his hips slightly away from her. She was having none of it, snuggling back against him again, erasing the gap, and he knew she could feel his hardness pressing against her. She obviously didn’t mind, and she even gave it one last squirm, rubbing herself against his erection before she settled down and began watching the movie.
They sat like this for a while, and he tried to focus on the film. He had hoped his erection would subside, but if anything, it got stiffer. Every few minutes she would shift slightly, as if she was getting comfortable, and he would feel her against him. Also, his nose was positioned right above and behind her ear, and whatever perfume she had on was driving him crazy.
About half way through the movie, he decided she had gone far enough in letting him know she wanted him, and now it was time for him to let her know she wasn’t alone in her desire. But it took him another five minutes to work up enough courage to actually do something. Sliding his hand from under hers, he moved it upwards, searching for the curve of her breast. Finding it, he cupped her in his hand, feeling her warmth through the material of her pajama top. Almost immediately, her nipple hardened against his palm, and she breathed out a sigh.
He brought his nose down near to her ear, and inhaled her scent. She responded by tilting her head away from him, exposing her neck to his breath. He kissed her lightly, right below the earlobe. She signed louder, and pressed back into him.
His fingertips searched for her nipple, and squeezed it gently through the cloth. A moan escaped her lips, and she arched her back, urging him on.
With his other hand, he felt around the bottom of her pajama top, searching for the hem. When he found it, he slid the hand underneath, tracing over the soft skin of her stomach as his hand traveled upward. Reaching her bare breast, he repeated his actions from the other, this time feeling her warm skin under his touch.
Her body was coming alive, as if emerging from a long state of dormancy, shifting in his arms, pressing upwards against his hands and then back downward, putting pressure on his stiff erection. His sigh of pleasure encouraged her to reach around behind her back, placing the palm of her hand against the bulge in his pants, and then pressing down again, squeezing him in her grasp.
He was becoming lost in the pleasure. It had been so long, and her touch was also bringing his passion alive. He sucked at the skin of her neck, as his hands gently kneaded her breasts, flicking his fingertips over her engorged nipples.
His hand outside of her pajama top slid back down, until he encountered the elastic waistband of her bottoms. Worming his fingers underneath, his journey continued, down over her flat stomach and then reaching the slight rise of her pubic mound. She wasn’t wearing any panties, and his hand slid down and cupped her, feeling the heat coming from inside, and the smooth shaved skin of her outer lips so soft against his fingers.
She moaned loudly, shifting her hips and spreading her legs, opening herself and encouraging his touch on her. They both had lost track of the movie, its only purpose now was providing some flickering illumination as they enjoyed each other’s bodies.
She was already very wet, her outer labia slick from her fluids. It coated his fingers and invited them to enter her. He allowed his middle finger to slip between her lips, feeling her warm slippery flesh engulf him.
Her hand was still behind her, holding his shaft tightly, and she squeezed it harder in response to his invasion, while groaning softly. Her other hand reached for his thigh, gripping him tightly through his pants to steady herself.
His finger slipped deeper into her, and the sensation changed from a loose wetness to a tight smooth grasping, as her pussy took hold of him, and drew him in further. She lifted her hips upwards slightly, urging him to penetrate her, and soon his finger was all the way in, his palm pressed against her spread labia.
His other hand left her breast momentarily, and pulled her hand from between them. She tried to resist, but he whispered in her ear.
“Just enjoy for now. My turn will be next.”
She nodded and relaxed back into him, surrendering herself to the pleasure he was giving her. His hand returned to her breasts, taking turns between them, softly pinching her taut nipples and caressing their weight.
His finger was still deep inside of her, and his thumb found her clit, rubbing a slow rhythm over it, rolling it under the pad of his thumb in gentle circles. He thought it was ironic that he had learned this from watching her and Tom, and now he was using it to please her.
But back then, she hadn’t gone years without a man’s touch on her, and he could tell she wasn’t going to last long, even at this slow pace. Her breathing was already a rhythmic pattern, inhaling deep and moaning on the exhale.
He kept his movements slow, circling the hard nub of sensitive flesh that was so wet and slick from her excitement. Both of her hands were clutching his thighs, the fingernails unconsciously digging into him through the denim as she braced her body for the coming explosion. Her feet moved up onto the couch, almost under her, as she pressed her hips upwards, opening her pussy wider to his pleasurable assault. He could feel the cloth of her taut pajama bottoms pressing against the back of his hand.
Her breath became ragged, and her muscles tightened, and he knew she was right there. But still he continued the slow rhythm, knowing that’s what she wanted.
Suddenly, her body arched upwards, and he had to hold her to him. She cried out her pleasure in a gasping moan, her muscles locked tightly as her orgasm jolted through her. Her body was electric in his arms, spasms of pleasure causing her to jerk and twitch as she groaned out incoherent sounds of ecstasy.
Finally, she relaxed down into him, giving a final shiver of pleasure as his fingers slid out of her. His hands moved back around her stomach, holding her to him as she recovered.
After a minute, she sat up and turned to him. She was looking at him with a strange expression on her face.
“You ok?” he asked.
“Hell yeah, I’m way better than ok. That was fantastic. You reminded me of–”
And then she stopped, and he was glad she did. No need to bring that up now. It was only the two of them here – or so he thought.
“Daddy, I had a bad dream.”
He sat up quickly, and Beth moved away from him down the seat. He looked over the back of the couch and saw Alexis standing on the bottom step of the stairs. Luckily, they were still dressed, and from where she was standing, she couldn’t have seen anything that had happened between them.
He stood up and pulled his shirt down over the bulge in his pants before turning to her. He went over and picked her up, holding her so their faces were close.
“Tell me about your dream baby.”
“I dreamed about Mommy.”
“You had a bad dream about Mommy?”
“Yes.” Her lower lip quivered.
“It was just a dream. Tell me what happened.”
“A green monster was hurting Mommy.”
“A green monster? What kind of green monster?”
“A bad monster.”
“How was the monster hurting Mommy?”
“It shot her and made her die.”
“Honey, it was just a dream. No one shot Mommy.”
“And then the bootiful angel came.”
He stared at her. “There was a beautiful angel?”
“Yes. The angel said you could save Mommy.”
He stared silently at her.
“Daddy, are you going to save Mommy?”
He shook out of his thoughts. “Honey, we’ve talked about this. Mommy is in heaven waiting for us. She doesn’t need to be saved.”
The girl had calmed down, as she talked about the angel instead of the monster. Her eyes were beginning to close.
Turning to Beth, he whispered, “Be right back.”
He carried her up to her bedroom, and placed her back in her bed, tucking the covers up around her. She was almost asleep.
“Honey?”
“Yes Daddy?” she replied in a sleepy mumble.
“What did the angel look like?”
“A pretty boy,” she replied before drifting off.
He looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face.
After kissing her forehead, he went back downstairs and sat on the couch with Beth.
“Crisis over,” he said.
She slid over and sat next to him. “You ok?”
“Yeah, but that was weird. She’s never done that before.”
“She’ll probably forget all about it by tomorrow.”
“You’re right,” he said. But he didn’t think he would.
“Thank you Jason.”
He was going to ask her for what, but he saw her smile and he knew.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, smiling back.
“It’s still early,” she said, looking hopeful. “Your turn?”
He took her hand. “My turn is going to have to wait.”
She was quiet a moment. “I want you to know this is hard for me too. Hard to forget what I had.”
“I know it is Beth. We’re taking things slow, but we’ll get there.”
She turned to him and put her arms around his shoulders, pulling herself to him. His hands moved to her hips and held her. They sat there a while, embracing each other.
Chapter 5
Alexis and Kaitlin were playing a game on the wooden playground, and Jason wondered if it involved pirates. He was sitting on the bench watching them, and Beth was by his side, leaning against him with her head on his shoulder and his arm around her waist.
They brought the girls to the park every Sunday, watching them play as they sat on the bench and talked. This was the first time they had sat so close, partly because of what had happened between them last night, and partly because there was a teenage boy sitting at the other end of their bench, and they didn’t have any room to spread out.
They hadn’t talked about last night, but he had the feeling that more was going to happen between them today.
Kaitlin was walking across a low balance beam, and fell off into the soft padding of the playground. She appeared to be unhurt, but that didn’t stop her from crying.
“Uh oh,” Beth said, “someone’s wounded. I better go give her my sympathy.”
He laughed. “Mom’s kisses heal everything”
Beth got up, and walked over to the two girls. He watched her stoop and bend over her crying daughter, as Alexis stood by and looked on with concern.
“You two look happy together.”
The voice startled Jason, and he looked over to where it had come from. The teenage boy was staring straight ahead, looking at Beth and the kids.
“Excuse me?” Jason said.
The boy continued to look straight ahead. “I said you two look happy together. Are you?”
Jason was taken aback by the forwardness of the young boy. He looked at him closer. The boy appeared to be around fifteen, with long blond hair and almost feminine facial features. One of those guys who looked more beautiful than handsome.
“I guess we are,” Jason said, and then added, “It’s complicated.” He wasn’t sure why he felt the urge to explain this to the kid.
“Then why am I here?” the boy asked.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, why am I here Jason?” The boy turned his head and looked at him, his eyes bright blue even in the sunshine of the day.