Novel Concept Publishing
End Game © July 2011 J.E. Taylor
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End Game
By J.E. Taylor
Chapter 1
The dream gripped him and he moaned in his sleep.
He ran his hands up her thighs hesitating on her waist. She moved her hips in slow circles, her arms reaching into the air and her body bending gracefully with each arch. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes, breathing the air in slowly and reclaiming control.
He opened his eyes, staring into hers as she playfully rode him, both the edge of a smile and her fingers running over his chest causing him to shiver. His hands slid seductively over her body, her skin smooth and slick and he lingered on her nipples, running his thumbs over the hard nubs. Her body glistened with sweat and her eyes sparkled when she whispered his name.
“Jessie,” he whispered, sitting up in his bed three thousand miles away from the bedroom in the dream. The same dream he had night after night after night for the last five years.
Tom Whitman looked over at the clock on the nightstand. It was four in the morning and he wiped his face, glancing at the sleeping woman who ruined his life. Closing his eyes, he suppressed the urge to strangle her to death. He slipped out of bed and threw jeans and his bathrobe on. Picking up his cell phone, he snuck outside onto the beach.
Tom sat in the dark and listened to the ocean, scrolling down his phone list until her number was highlighted.
Tom stared at the phone and closed it.
It had been almost five years since he delivered the divorce papers to her and he went through this routine every night. He put his head on his knees and the emotions he held at bay for so long came rushing back.
To hell with it, he opened the phone again, pressing the send button and put the phone to his ear. When she answered, he closed his eyes and was silent.
* * * *
The shrill ring of her cell phone woke Jessica Whitman from a sound sleep and she glanced at the caller ID before she flipped the phone open. “Tom?”
“Jessie,” his voice shook and she could tell something wasn’t right.
“Is everything ok?” She glanced around her empty bedroom, the covers on the other side of the bed thrown back and Chris was nowhere to be seen.
“I miss you.”
She sat up and looked at the clock, calculating the time difference between east and west coasts. “Tom, it’s four in the morning in California, what the hell are you doing?”
“Going crazy without you.”
Jessica blinked, stunned. Not a word from him since he delivered the divorce papers, nothing for five years and now this?
Before she could formulate a response, her two boys bounded into the bedroom followed by Chris saying, “Happy Valentine’s Day Mommy!”
“Tom, go back to bed. I have to go,” she said into the phone, smiling at her family.
“Wait!”
Jessica took a deep breath. “Hold on.” She put the phone on her shoulder and looked down at the tray Chris put in her lap. A perfect heart shaped pancake covered with strawberries and whip cream sat on the plate. “Thank you very much,” she said to CJ, Tommy and Chris. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” She kissed each of the boys. “Mommy has a phone call that she needs to finish, ok?”
“Ok,” they both said and ran out of the room.
Jessica glanced at Chris and put the phone back to her ear. She put her finger up in the air to let him know she would only be a minute. “What is it Tom?”
Chris’s eyebrows rose.
“We finally finished the movie.”
“I know,” Jessica replied. The studio had fought the injunction and after close to four years tied up in court, they finally got the ruling they hoped for and began filming last year.
“The premier is in a couple weeks in New York City.”
“And?”
“I’d like you to be there.”
She didn’t say anything, debating on how to let him down easy.
“I’d like you and Chris to be there,” he clarified. “Please.”
“Why?”
“I need you there.”
“It’s been five years Tom. Besides, Sharon will be there with you. You don’t need me.” The click of his teeth and his sharp inhale traveled over the phone line and she actually felt the rage welling up in him from across the ethernet. “Tom is everything all right?” she asked, glancing up at Chris and knitting her brow.
He laughed at the question and then the distinct sound of a harsh sob filled the line. “It hasn’t been all right since . . .,” he trailed off letting silence fill the space.
“How old are they now?” He asked, changing the subject. “Your kids, how old are they?”
“They just turned four last month.”
“What’d you name them?”
Jessica hesitated and Chris nodded. Tell him, both his eyes and his voice in her head prompted. “Christopher James Ryan, we call him CJ.”
“And?”
“And Thomas Patrick Ryan,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving Chris’s.
* * * *
The name sunk in and Tom was silent. He closed his eyes and put his head back on his knees, not asking the question that shot into his head. He didn’t want to know, not now, especially since he made damn sure he’d never have a child with his bitch of a wife. He took care of that when Sharon demanded he get her pregnant, telling her he was sterile and then making an appointment the very next day. Snip, snip and his lie became fact.
“Please come to the premier.”
“Hang on.”
She covered the phone with her hand but he could still hear her muffled explanation to the man she choose to be with over him. “They finally finished the movie and Tom wants us to go to the premier in New York.”
Chris let out a surprised laugh. “Why?”
“Why do you want us there?” She asked and her kids came back in the room, arguing until Chris sent them out.
He sighed, hearing the boys in the background numbed his heart again and he looked at the dark ocean. “Because I need you to see the movie.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“I need you there,” he pleaded, his voice barely a whisper. “I need you at the premiere. Please.”
“Why do you need me there? Is this a publicity stunt?”
“God, no,” Tom recoiled. “I need you to see the movie. I need you to,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “Please.”
“I’ll see what we can do.”
“Jess, you don’t understand. You have to be there.”
“Tom, I said we’ll see.” The irritation crept into her voice.
He took a deep breath. “We’ll see means no.” He knew her well enough to know that was her favorite stall tactic. “Please.” He needed to see her again, even if it was from a distance, even if she was with him.
Silence and a sigh. “All right, we’ll be there.”
“Tell him to put Christopher Aris on the guest list, not Chris Ryan. I don’t want people finding out where we are,” Chris snapped from the background.
“Tell him I will.” Tom paused, tossing around the next question, debating on whether to ask or not. “Did you two ever get married?”
“No,” Jessica answered.
Tom closed his eyes and lay back on the sand. He mulled this fact over and tilted his head back, opening his eyes so he could see his house. He looked back at the stars above him and entertained an evil thought.
He sat up and shook his head, erasing the idea that popped into his mind, it would put Jessica at risk and he wasn’t willing to do that. “Thank you for saying you’ll come. Bye Jess.” Tom lay back down in the sand and closed the phone, putting his hands behind his head, staring at the constellations and wondered what his wife would do when she saw Jessica walking down the red carpet.
Chapter 2
Chris sat on the edge of the bed next to Jessica. “I can’t believe you said yes.”
Jessica shrugged. “Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
He shook his head. “I read the script.”
“When?”
“I had a copy delivered to me in New York the day the boys were conceived. That’s when I decided to push the injunction.”
The first bite of the pancakes diverted her attention from the morbid conversation to the delectable treat on her plate. “Did you make this?”
“No. CJ and Tommy insisted on doing it themselves and they wanted the heart to be just perfect so we have a garbage can full of less than perfect tries. The kitchen is a disaster.”
The grin she fell in love with surfaced, accented by dimples in his cheeks. “You are so good with them you know,” she laughed. “If you asked me ten years ago, I never would have guessed how wonderful a father you would turn out to be.”
“Being a father is one of the best things that ever happened to me.” He leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips. When he pulled back, his smile faded. “Are you going to tell him?”
“Tell him what?”
“That he has a son.” CJ was definitely Chris’s child with light brown hair and bright blue eyes, but as both Jessica and he suspected and a paternity test confirmed, little Tommy wasn’t.
Jessica shook her head. “No.”
“He has a right to know.”
“I know but he’s gonna want to see him.”
Chris nodded.
“I wouldn’t allow that bitch to set foot in our home, never mind anywhere near our son.”
“I wouldn’t either. I’d make her stand outside in the snow whether she wanted to or not.” He grinned. “Maybe she would even freeze to death,” he said enthusiastically, his eyes wide and sparkling with humor, making Jessica burst out in laughter.
“Thanks.” Jessica held up a fork full of pancake for him to taste. “I’ll give Em a call later and see if she’ll come to the city and watch the boys while we go to the premier.”
“Why don’t you ask both of them to come to the city with us?” he asked after he swallowed the bite he had taken from her.
“If Eric wins the game this weekend, he may be in the finals next weekend in New York anyway.” She plopped the last bite in her mouth.
“I’m going to go clean up the disaster area.” Chris took the tray from her.
Jessica slipped out of bed and headed into the bathroom to freshen up. She took her time, enjoying the hot water of the shower on the cold February morning. She stepped out of the bathroom to an unusually quiet house. She crossed to the hallway and stopped in her tracks.
A trail of red, pink and yellow rose pedals flowed down the stairs and at the bottom, a beautiful fur coat and a matching pair of fur slippers waited for her. She slipped them on and continued to follow the pedal trail through the family room and out into the back yard.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him leaning against the rock wall in his tailored Armani suit, his crisp white shirt open at the collar the way she liked it. His cheeks and hands reddened from Maine’s cold February air.
The scene so familiar to her that her hand fluttered to her mouth and her eyes welled up with tears. The dream she had long before she met him, the one she believed impossible when she was imprisoned and the one she fought against while married to Tom finally materialized before her eyes.
He dropped to one knee in the snow and pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket and opened it, revealing the most beautiful one carat diamond ring. Taking her left hand in his, he whispered, “Happy Valentine’s Day babe.” His lips curved into the smile that melted her heart. “Will you marry me?”
Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slid the ring on her finger and stood, wrapping his trembling arms around her and planting a cold kiss on her lips. “You just made me the happiest man on earth,” he said and led her back toward the house.
The boys danced around the door, crowding them when they walked in.
“We helped Daddy with the flowers,” CJ bragged.
“Did you like them?” Tommy asked.
“Yes I loved them.” Jessica smiled and gave each one a big hug.
“Hey boys, why don’t you head into the play room and give your Mom and me a few minutes. K?” He watched as they obeyed his request, tearing off together to the playroom.
She wiped the tears from her face and stripped the coat off before studying the ring on her hand. “This is absolutely beautiful.”
“I almost got you a ten carat rock, but I didn’t think you would like something that flashy.” He buried his hands in his pockets, shivering.
“This is just perfect.” She looked up at him and smiled, throwing her arms around his neck. “You’re shaking.”
“It’s fricken’ cold out there, and you took longer than I expected.” He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his frigid nose into her neck, nibbling on the tender skin over her clavicle.
She laughed. “You took longer than I expected too,” she said referring to the proposal. “And you didn’t have to do that outside.”
“It wouldn’t have the same effect.”
“What wouldn’t have the same effect? Waiting this long or the exceptionally romantic way that you asked me?”
He shrugged as he pulled away. “Both.” He planted a kiss on her lips. “Jessica Lynn Ryan, my wife. Who would have ever thought?”
“I knew long before we ever met.”
His brows knit together in a crease.
“I had a couple dreams about you when I was with Danny.”
“Really, what kind of dreams?”
She shrugged and lowered her gaze to the sparkling diamond. “Like the first time we actually met. Face to face in the chair.” She looked up at him, any trace of a smile disappeared. “I know, kind of freaky. I can still remember the day I had the dream.”
Chris cocked his head. “Really?”
“Yes. I actually thought it was triggered by something I saw.” She let out a little laugh. “We were coming back from Danny’s brother’s place in Vermont and stopped in Burlington to have lunch on the pier overlooking Lake Champlain. It was really ironic, as we were leaving, we ran into an old friend of mine that I hadn’t seen for a couple of years and ended up hanging out on the pier for a lot longer than we planned.”
Jessica chewed on her lip for a second, her gaze traveling to the window and the snowy backyard. “The pier had one of those little gas stations at the end that serviced the boaters and we watched several boats come and go.”
She stopped, tilting her head, losing herself in the memory. “I remember an exceptionally sweet speedboat, the sleek, fast type and I think it was midnight blue but I don’t remember the name on the back - just that it was written in bright yellow script and to be honest, I was a little envious. God how I would have loved a machine like that when I was a teenager!” She smiled and flicked her gaze back to his for a second.
A crease appeared between his eyebrows and he inhaled, waiting for the rest of the story.
“Anyway, one of the boys on board was just staring at me with his soda halfway to his mouth, looking like he just saw a ghost. Normally I would have just ignored him and walked away but those wide blue eyes, my Lord, those were the most amazing eyes I had ever seen.” Jessica chucked and sighed.
“The boat’s name was Anna,” Chris said, interrupting her train of thought.
Jessica cocked her head with her mouth parted, the memory barreling back as clear as if she was standing on that pier. “I think you’re right,” she said, narrowing her eyes and scanning the memory, specifically the boys on the boat and she broke out of his arms, her gaze snapping to his eyes. His amazing wide blue eyes.
“Jesus Christ, that was you.” Her arms broke out in goose bumps. “You and your brother looked so much alike, the only difference was the scar and that’s what I thought triggered the dream.”
“What were you wearing?” He asked, his voice cracking and he stepped backwards into the kitchen counter.
“A white sun dress.”
Chris burst out laughing but it was his nervous high pitched laugh. “You.” He pointed at her. “You were the angel I saw?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I remember glancing up and it looked like you had a halo of light all around you. Chris razzed me for years because I actually said the word Angel out loud.” He looked down at her as the implications of what he had seen resounded in his mind. “Jesus, Jess. You were my angel, even back then.” He took a deep breath and shivered. “That still doesn’t explain how you knew we would end up together though.”
“A few years later I had a dream of what just happened in the snow.” She pointed toward the back yard. “I think it was sometime after Emily was born. So I knew. I knew somehow we’d end up here, together.”
Chris didn’t know what to say.
“When you had me strapped in that chair and we first looked at each other I had a sense of deja vous but I couldn’t place where I had seen your face before and later when you tried to seduce me with the strawberries, the look in your eyes made something click and the dreams caught up with me. When I kissed you back, that’s when I knew for sure.” Jessica sighed and took a deep breath.
“So you’ve been playing me ever since we met?”
Jessica raised her eyebrows a little. “No, I haven’t been playing you.”
He looked down at the ring on her finger and back to her eyes, pressing his lips together, doubt evident in the tightness of his jaw. “Then why did you marry Tom?”
Jessica shifted and looked down at the engagement ring, avoiding meeting his gaze. “I loved him and thought I could change my future.”
* * * *
A bark of a laugh left his lips and he turned away from her, frustrated. “He almost derailed my morning and now this. This is just priceless.”
“It took a while for me to realize I belonged with you. I never felt like he was a part of me, like I do with you.”
He turned toward her.
“Chris, there’s no place I’d rather be.” She pulled away and went into the kitchen, returning with two envelopes in her hand. “Maybe this will help you understand.” She kissed him and handed him the cards.
He opened the first card. It was a Valentine’s Day card from the boys and he smiled as he read it. Her card was sweet but the sentiment wasn’t what made his eyes fill with tears, it was what she wrote that touched him far more.
Dear Chris,
I love the life we have made together. You have given
me such beautiful gifts in the boys and your love and quiet strength have
brought me more joy and happiness than I thought possible. I love you.
You are my soul mate and I would be lost without you.
Forever yours,
Jessie.
“Soul mate?” He blinked back the mist covering his eyes and crossed to her, taking her in his arms.
“Yes. You are my soul mate.” She leaned up and kissed him. “You make me feel like no other man ever made me feel.”
“And how is that Jess?” He ignored the urge to pull the thoughts from her mind. He wanted to hear her say the words.
“You make me feel loved. It’s in the way you look at me and the way you touch me . . .” She trailed off and blushed. “I had never felt that kind of passion, that kind of electricity in my life until I met you and it has only grown stronger since we’ve been together.”
Chris smiled down at her. “Good.”
“When do you want to get married?”
Chris looked at his watch. “How about right now?”
Jessica laughed and looked up at him. “You’re serious.” She stopped laughing and he nodded.
Jessica hesitated. “I want Emily and Eric there with us.”
“Okay. What about this weekend?”
Jessica shook her head. “Eric has a game.”
Chris thought for a moment. “Then how about when we’re in city? We could go to City Hall with the kids and get married, catch an early dinner and then to the premier after?”
“You really want to do that?”
“I want to marry you,” he replied. “I admit it’s not the most ideal situation, but it’s the next weekend Eric’s supposed to be with us.”
“You can set it up that quickly?” she asked then smirked, realizing how dumb a question that was. He could move mountains in record time when he set his mind to it.
“The question is do you want me to?”
“Yes. I’ll call Emily to make sure she’s available.” She grinned and he kissed her neck. The distant arguing of the twins interrupted them.
“Hold that thought.” She pulled away and headed up the stairs looking at the ring on her hand with a smile.
Chapter 3
Tom lay on the beach watching the sky turn from the black of night to the various colors of dawn.
She named one after me.
The thought kept repeating over and over and over, sobering him faster than usual, more effective than a jug of coffee or a slap in the face. This coupled with the fact they never married gave his restless brain a ray of hope.
He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep on the sand. Ice cold water smacked his face and he sat up, gasping.
Sharon stood over him, her face a mask of disgust and the bucket still in her hand, drops sliding down the side and dripping on the sand. “I’m getting sick of finding you passed out on the beach. When this premier is over, I’m checking you into rehab,” she announced and stormed back toward the house.
“Bullshit,” he called after her and he stood up, darting past her and blocking her path.
Sharon stopped on the steps. “If you don’t do what I want, I’ll order the hit,” she reminded him like she had numerous times over the last five years whenever he pushed the envelope.
Tom narrowed his eyes and ground his teeth together. “I’m not a fucking alcoholic,” he snapped, although even he had doubts about that. It was the only way to escape this hell called his life. His acting abilities only got him so far for so long and then he relied on the bottle to make the world believe this lie, this masquerade she insisted upon. Hatred burned in him, turning his natural boy-scout nature into a dark and brooding and volatile man he didn’t recognize. He turned and entered the house.
“You will do as I say,” she ordered and slammed the door closed.
Tom stopped in his tracks, his hands balling in to fists, fists that wanted to pummel every bone in her body until nothing was left but a bloody pulp. He took a deep breath gaining control over his murderous thoughts with the help of the dull pain of his fingernails creating welts in his palms.
She stalked in front of him. “Understand?”
He willed his hands to relax afraid they might take on a mind of their own and strike out at the blonde bitch blocking his path. “I’m not going to rehab.”
“Then you are going to stop drinking on your own.”
“Drinking is the only way I can get through the day being married to you.”
Her expression fell, her eyes widening and tears springing to the corners and he reveled in the pain he saw there.
“If you take that away from me, I may end up killing you.” He didn’t wait for an answer, skirting around her and crossing to the master bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. He turned on the shower and looked at himself in the mirror.
“What the hell have I become?” He asked his reflection. Eyes void of compassion looked back. He dropped his chin to his chest, closing his eyes and praying for the strength to get through another day without killing the woman who called herself his wife.
Chapter 4
“He asked me to marry him,” Jessica announced into the phone.
“It’s about time,” Eric replied.
Jessica laughed at her son’s reaction. “He just wasn’t ready Eric,” she defended Chris’s procrastination.
“He was ready the day he walked back into your life five years ago Mom. He was just afraid of the answer.”
Jessica looked out the back door at Chris playing in the snow with the boys. “I know, but he shouldn’t have been.” She smiled when he let the boys tackle him. “Anyway, think you can get away next Thursday night?”
“To baby sit?”
“Stop being such a smart ass, you already know why I’m asking.”
“I know and yes, I wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world,” Eric replied. “Want me to tell Dad?”
“No, I think it would be better coming from me. Is he there?”
“He’s at work; you want to talk to LeAnn?”
“No, I’ll give him a call later. How’s Sandy doing?” Daniel and LeAnn had a daughter a couple months before she had the boys.
“She’s a little terror. She is into everything and Dad is going nuts. It’s really fun to see him get riled up.”
Jessica chuckled. “The boys try to get into things, but it’s impossible for them to get away with anything.”
“Yeah, I know,” Eric said. “It’ll be the same when I have kids.”
Jessica watched Chris get pelted by the snowballs the boys rocketed at him. “Mmmm.”
“Anyway, I need to get going, I’ve got practice.”
“We’ll pick you up next Thursday after school.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Mom. Give my brothers a hug from me, same with Chris.”
“I will. Happy Valentine’s Day, and good luck at the game this weekend.”
“Mom?” Eric caught her before she hung up the phone.
“Yes sweetie?”
“Think you and Chris can make the game?”
“Where is it?”
“Worcester.”
“We’ll be there,” she said. “I’ll get the particulars from your Dad.”
“Thanks Mom, see you on Saturday.”
She dialed the familiar number to the house on the other side of town that Tom gave her in the divorce settlement. When Emily took a teaching job at York High School, Jessica gave her the keys to the house. She planned on signing over the deed to her as a wedding gift when the time came.
“Hi Mom,” Emily answered.
“Emily, can you take next Friday off?”
“Why?”
“Chris and I are getting married.”
Emily let out a little laugh. “It’s about time.”
“That’s exactly what Eric said, so, can you take the day off?”
“Sure, where’s the wedding?”
“We’re getting married in New York, so we’d pick you up next Thursday and have you with us for the weekend in the city.” She took a breath. “And I’d need you to sit for the boys Friday night if you wouldn’t mind?”
“I’d be delighted to. Do you want me to watch the kids for the whole weekend?”
“Thanks, but if Eric’s team wins this weekend, the finals will be in the city on Saturday.”
“Ah, ok. Where’s he taking you Friday night?”
Jessica paused and took a deep breath. “We are going to a movie premier.”
Silence blanketed the line. “What premier?”
“Survival Games. Tom called and asked us to come.”
“Really?” Emily said with a short burst of shocked laughter.
“Yes. We were a little shocked as well.”
“And you chose the same day to get married?”
“Chris wanted to get married today, but I wanted you and Eric there and next Friday is the first opportunity for all of us to be together.”
“Did Chris ask you to marry him before the phone call from Tom or after?”
Jessica knew where Emily was going. “He didn’t ask me to marry him because of Tom’s call. It wasn’t a spur of the moment thing. He and the kids planned it beginning with a pancake breakfast in bed and a rose petal trail leading me out to the rock wall,” she said. “Chris froze out there waiting for me and he had a ring, so it wasn’t because Tom called.”
“I’m sorry, but . . .”
“- Em, he had to have the flowers here before this morning and the ring. He planned this with the boys,” she repeated. “The call from Tom was just incredibly bad timing.”
“It’s just ironic, that’s all.”
Jessica chuckled. “I know, but despite the phone call, it turned out to be the perfect morning and the proposal was so completely romantic. I’m not talking a petal here and a petal there; it was a solid path of yellow, pink and red rose petals from the upstairs hallway, down the stairs, through the family room and the entire length of the backyard. And Chris must have stood out in the cold for close to a half hour in just his Armani suit waiting for me to get my lazy butt out of the shower. The poor guy’s teeth were chattering but I didn’t have the heart to point that out when he dropped to his knee.”
“Oh Mom, how perfect! You said he had a ring?”
“I’ll swing by on our way to the studio and show it to you,” Jessica replied, studying the bright diamond in the sunlight. “I need to give your father a call to tell him and see if I can pull Eric from school next Friday.”
“Dad doesn’t like Chris.”
“I know, but that’s his problem, not mine.”
“Good luck,” Emily said. “I’ll see you later.”
Jessica hung up, dreading the next call. Daniel, her first ex-husband, never accepted Chris and probably never would. He reminded Daniel of the man who kidnapped her and changed the course of their lives. If he ever found out the truth, that Chris was that man, all hell would break loose. Accessory to murder was a pretty serious charge and Ty Aris had committed several in his lifetime.
She took a deep breath and punched in the numbers. “Hi Danny,” she said when he picked up his phone.
“Hi Jess. Is everything all right?”
“Yes, everything’s fine. I’m calling to see if I can pick up Eric Thursday night next week. I know he would miss school Friday, but it’s for a really good reason.”
“What reason is that?”
“I’m getting married.” She listened to the silence on the other end of the line, biting her lower lip and turning away from the escalating snowball fight outside.
“Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Yes I am.” More sure than the day I married you. “Danny, he’s a very special man and he makes me happy. I know you’re worried because he grew up with the Aris family – but he isn’t one of them,” she said in response to his thoughts.
A sigh came over the line. “Ok. I’ll let Eric skip school next Friday. But Chris has to come in with you this time when you pick the kids up.”
“I’ll make sure he does, but don’t give him any shit. Ok?”
“I’ll try not to,” he said and she knew he’d slip some derogatory comment in, he always did whenever they ran into each other in York. “You coming to Eric’s game this weekend?”
“Yes, we are. Eric said it’s in Worcester?”
“At the Worcester Centrum. Tip off is at three.”
“We’ll be there. See you then.” She hung up the phone and walked back into the family room. Chris and the kids rolled in with a flurry of snow flying off their pelted coats, leaving mini-puddles on the tiled entry.
“We are on for next Friday.” She smiled.
Chris crossed the room and nuzzled his cold face in her neck. He chuckled and held her tighter when she tried to get away from his frigid nose and hands.
“You’re hands are freezing,” she complained with a laugh.
“I think it’s time we get Mommy.” He laughed and picked her up, dropped her on the couch as fair game for the boys. They pounced, tickling her with their chilly fingers and Chris joined in the fun.
“Stop,” she gasped through the laughter, their tiny hands burrowing in her armpits, wiggling and tickling relentlessly while Chris held her arms in the air. When Chris let go, she wrapped her arms around each of the boys, pulling them to her sides, stopping their playful attack.
“Come on, we need to get into dry clothes,” Chris said and started for the stairs. CJ and Tommy ran past their father and out of sight. He glanced at Jessica and smiled. “I still can’t believe how lucky I am.” He climbed the stairs, disappearing from view.
The boys came bounding down a few minutes later in dry clothing. Jessica set them up with their favorite video and wandered up stairs. She closed their bedroom door behind her and walked to the bathroom, leaning against the door jam, watching him step out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist and sent a sly smile in her direction.
“I wouldn’t bother with clothes,” she said.
“Is that so?” He approached her, the beads of water glistening on his skin and his eyes were sparkling like the surface of the lake when the sun hit it. Pulling her to him, he kissed her, running his hands under her shirt and peeling it over her head.
As always, his touch set her on fire. Every fiber ached, longing for his hands, his mouth, craving him like an addict craves heroin.
“Where are the boys?” He asked, his hands preoccupied with the button on her jeans.
“Watching that video they like,” Jessica said pulling him to her lips. “Make love to me.”
“Every day of my life,” he purred and stripped her clothing, maneuvering her onto the bed, his towel discarded along the way.
Each stroke of his hands, each flick of his tongue, each graze of his lips created a wake of ecstasy that rippled through her body, eliciting moans she muffled with the back of her hand.
He worked his way back to her mouth, sliding his hard cock into her dripping pussy, satiating her, and she met his thrust, pulling his hardness further into her, filling her and tendrils of pleasure spread through her making her gasp for breath. She ran her fingers through his wet hair, pushing it away from his face as he stared down at her, his hips moving leisurely, relishing the slow burn.
“I love you . . . Mrs. Ryan,” he said, the grin surfacing again.
“Back at you, Mr. Ryan.” Heat spread through her, cresting and she arched, her eyes rolling back at the power of the orgasm. Every muscle tightened, heightening the pleasure with each stroke of his cock. “Oh god Chris!”
* * * *
The sheer bliss of being inside her overwhelmed him and he lost control, speeding up the motion of his hips, thrusting deeper with each pass until his muscles seized and an eruption of semen shot inside her, triggering another sweet orgasm on her part. After shocks gripped him and he collapsed on top of her, relishing the curve of her neck, the warmth of her pussy and the tickle of her breath.
Chris sighed and propped himself up on his elbows, studying the swirl pattern of her eyes before glancing at the bedroom door, sending out his sixth sense to see what the boys were up to. He offered Jessica a half smile. “We left them to their own devices a little too long. They’re getting into trouble.”
He closed his eyes and sent out the command for CJ and Tommy to sit back down on the couch and then opened his eyes back up. “That will hold them for a few minutes.” He slipped off her and went to find some clean clothes.
* * * *
Jessica stretched then climbed out of the bed following the path of discarded clothing, putting each garment back on. “Chris?”
“Hmmm?” He stepped out from the closet, zipping up his jeans.
“Why did you take so long to ask?”
He pulled his sweater over his head then met her gaze. “You never mentioned marriage so I thought maybe it wasn’t really what you wanted.” He walked over to her and took her hands. “I got the rings after the boys were born but it took me this long to get up the nerve.”
Jessica put her hand on his cheek. “I would have said yes the day I made the decision to be with you. I thought you knew that.”
He shifted and dropped his eyes to the floor. “I never believed you really wanted to be with me.”
“Are you honestly that insecure?”
He nodded meeting her gaze. “I’ve always been where you’re concerned. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and this will all be a dream.” He touched her face and kissed her gently. “We have to get downstairs before they destroy the family room.” He pulled away from her lips and led her out of the room.
Half way down the stairs, his words sunk in. “Rings?”
He smiled back at her. “I bought matching wedding bands.”
“Can I see them?”
“As soon as we get lunch for the kids.” He headed down the stairs. The pillows, throw blankets and cushions from the couch were strewn over the living room floor and the boys were sitting on the cushion-less couch looking up at them with guilty expressions.
Chris looked at the mess and then back at the kids.
“He started it.” Tommy pointed at CJ.
“Liar, you started it.” CJ glared at Tommy.
“It doesn’t matter who started it,” Chris said looking squarely at CJ. “What matters is that you clean it up. And Christopher James, you shouldn’t lie. That makes me angry.” His eyes bore into his son.
“Ha ha,” Tommy whispered.
“Thomas Patrick,” Chris said, his eyes switching targets. “That was not right either.”
Both Tommy and CJ hung their heads and started to pick up the pillow cushions and put them back on the couch.
Jessica stood on the stairs watching him handle the boys. Chris’s look of disapproval always put them in line. It was as powerful as his smile and he glanced over at her and winked, causing her to turn her head so the children wouldn’t see the smile that appeared on her face. She hurried into the kitchen and made them sandwiches and chocolate milk, putting it on the table while Chris supervised the cleanup effort.
When CJ and Tommy sat down at the table, Chris disappeared and returned a moment later with two small ring boxes. He opened them both and set them on the counter.
Matching platinum wedding bands adorned with diamonds stared out at her and she smiled. “I love them.”
“Yours is engraved.”
Jessica picked up the ring and read the inscription.
All my love always & forever, Ty.
A tidal wave of emotions slammed into her at seeing his real name and her eyes welled up with tears. “Ty,” she whispered, blinking the mist away and pressing her lips together, swallowing the lump in her throat. She hadn’t called him by that name since the day they sent Frank’s ghost back to hell.
“I was tempted to put something with the phrase a million years on it, but I thought that would be in poor taste,” he said, cracking a smile.
She nodded and she put the ring back in the box. “They’re beautiful.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes.
“I couldn’t bring myself to put Chris in the engraving. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all. It’s who I fell in love with.” She kissed him. “And I miss calling you by that name,” she said too softly for the boys to hear.
Chris wrapped his arms around her. “I miss hearing it.”
Chapter 5
“I’m going out for a while, is there anything you need me to pick up?” Chris said, grabbing his coat off the rack.