Epilogue

Seven months later...

Slipping the sundress over her head, she pushed her hair back and stepped out onto the balcony.  This would be the last time here for a while.  She smoothed her hand over the basketball her stomach had become.  A hand or possibly a foot beat a light tattoo against her palm and brought a quiet smile to her face.  She was seven months along and her travel days were just about over.  She had convinced her doctor to let her come here one last time before the baby came.  It would be another year, at her best guess, before they could get back to Hawaii so she was going to cherish every moment of these two weeks. 

Tipping her head back, she breathed deeply of the tropical salty air.  Opening her eyes she watched as the sun stretched fiery fingers of daylight in pinks and golds across the sky.  God she loved it here. 

“Everything okay, Sweetheart?”

She whirled around so fast she nearly lost her balance.  “Oh, Rich, you startled me.  I didn’t think you were awake.”

He looked out at the pending sunrise and then back at her.  “I’m usually not.  What’s got you up?”

She took his hand and laid it on her stomach, “this is one very active little baby.” 

He smiled at the light beat and followed the movement with his hand.  “Could be a whole marching band in there for all we know.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, “don’t even joke about that.  I’m only prepared to push out one kid, not an entire band.”

He chuckled quietly.  “And one is more than enough, Sweetheart.”  He took her hand and stepped toward the stairs.  “Take a walk with me?”

She followed along behind him, down the stairs and across the cool sand.  The tide was out and they strolled along the water, the sun creeping ever higher in the sky.

They hadn’t gone far when Richie angled them away from the water and on to dry sand.  He stopped and turned, taking both her hands in his.  “You know I want to marry you, right?”

Surprise colored her features and she nodded her head, “yes, I know.”  They had talked about marriage more than once since she had gotten pregnant.  She still wasn’t sure she wanted to go down that road again.    

“If I asked you right now” he started, “what would you say?”

She looked up into his eyes, “no, Rich.  I’d have to say no.”

He let of one of her hands go and reached into his shirt pocket.  “That’s what I figured.”  He let the necklace drop and it dangled between his fingers.  “That’s why I got you this instead of a ring.”  Letting her other hand go, he unclasped it and put it around her neck. 

She looked down at the pendant.  It was beautiful and it very nearly matched the ring he had given her the last time they had been here.  The bold, red rubies and lighter rhodolite garnets swirled together in an infinity loop, him and her, no beginning, no end.  “It’s beautiful, Rich.  But why?  I don’t need you to buy me jewelry to keep me around.  Even though I can’t see myself getting married again, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know” he told her.  “But I want you to know that I’m not going anywhere either.”  He took her hands again.  “I want you to know, right here, right now, that I will always be here for you, whether you take my name or not.  Whatever the future holds for us, the ups, the downs, the good, the bad, I’m not going anywhere.  Right here with you is where I’m going to stay.”

Emotion swam in her eyes, her hormones weren’t ready for such a declaration.  She took a deep, steadying breath.  What could she say to him after that?  She searched his eyes and opened her heart.  “Just because I won’t take your name, doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you.  I do, Rich.  I want to be with you more than anything.”  She put their hands on her stomach.  “I want us to raise this child together.  And I want you to know that I’ve got your back, always.  I love you more than I thought I could ever love someone again.  I’m here to stay, for as long as you’ll have me anyway.”

He chuckled and as their child moved he slid his hand over her stomach.

“Forever, Sweetheart.”

A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.  She nodded and as the sun rose higher into the sky, bathing them in its warm rays, she echoed his sentiment.  “Forever, Rich.”

 ***

Chapter One Hundred Ten

To:     The Girls

From: Q

Re:     And Baby makes 3

OMG girls, it happened.   Christmas morning I peed on the stick and pregnant popped up in the magic little window.  I can’t hardly believe it.  After all the years Mark and I spent trying to conceive Ben and then after, trying to give him a sibling and it never happened.  Now, here I am, pregnant with Richie’s baby.  It’s just a tad surreal.

And not to worry, I’m being super, uber careful this time.  No heavy lifting or climbing ladders at the habitat project.  I’m taking it easy as much as I possibly can.  Even right now, I’m lounging on the chaise in my library as I type this email.  I think after I get past the three month mark I might be able to breathe easily again.

I just don’t want to do anything to jeopardize this pregnancy.  I don’t think I could handle it if something happened again. 

And Richie is being so attentive.  He’s practically waiting on me hand and foot.  I can’t hardly imagine what he’s going to be like when I’m as big as a house.  LOL

All in all girls, I’m happy.  So very happy.  No, there is no wedding in the near future, but does it really matter?  I’m not sure I want to be married again, even with a baby on the way.  Richie says he does, someday, but he doesn’t seem to be in a big hurry to run to the altar and that’s fine with me.  I’m good with the way things are right now.

*Sigh*

Who could have known that beyond all the grief and sadness there was a whole new life out here just waiting for me?  Mark and Ben were my everything and I will never forget them.  But now, I have a new life to live with Richie and this new baby.  There is something to be said for leaving everything and everyone you’ve ever known and moving across the country to the strange and unknown.  New Beginnings aren’t for everyone, but for me, it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself.

Love you girls and I really hope you can find some time to come and visit. 

Miss you all-

Q

Chapter One Hundred Nine

Standing in the doorway, Richie sipped his coffee and watched her sleep.  It was unusual for him to be up and about before she was, but it was Christmas after all and they had things to do and somewhere to fly off to later.  But he lingered for a moment longer before crossing the room and settling on the edge of her side of the bed.  He hated to have to wake her.  She had put in a lot of hours in the last few weeks getting the last habitat house done in time to deliver it to the homeowners for the holidays.  And she had accompanied him to every charitable function on his calendar over the last few weeks.

Then last night she had wanted to go to Mass.  St. Bernardine’s in Woodland Hills had had a midnight service for Christmas Eve so, they went.  She had been a little emotional after the poignant service when she had taken a moment to light a candle and say a prayer for Ben and Mark.  It had been late when they got back and even later when they had finally made it to bed.  It was a rough time of year for her and everything seemed to be happening all at once.

It was no wonder she was still sleeping.

He set his coffee mug on the night table.  The week away would do her good.  He adjusted the blankets, his fingers lingering on her shoulder, tracing light circles on her soft skin.  It would do them both good.  He tucked her hair back away from her face, skimming his thumb across the crest of her cheek.  He watched her for another minute before giving her shoulder a gentle nudge.

“Sweetheart.”

When she didn’t move, he gave her another gentle shake and leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.

She moaned quietly and her eyes slowly fluttered open.  “Mmm.”  Her eyes were still slightly unfocused but she could make out her handsome morning wake up call.  “My own personal prince coming to wake me up with a kiss.”  Drawing her arms up from under the blankets she pushed her hair back from her face, smiled and stretched.  “Good morning.”

Richie took the hand closest to him and kissed her fingertips.  “Good morning yourself sleepyhead.”  He kissed her again.  “And Merry Christmas.”

With her free hand she rubbed her eyes.  “Merry Christmas to-” she trailed off when she noticed his shirt.  “Nice shirt, Rich.”  It was Christmas green and in bold red letters it stated I’m Not Santa, But You Can Sit On My Lap.”

He snickered.  “What, you don’t like it?”

She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped.  “It’s totally you.”  She pushed back the blankets, intending to get out of bed.

“You should see Ma’s.”  He helped her stand.  “Hers says Merry Elfin Christmas and it has a big Santa head on it.  It’s tradition around here.  We wear ridiculous Christmas t-shirts on Christmas Day, ma makes brunch and we open gifts before heading out to the airport to fly off to our separate corners of the earth.”

She wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his chest and giving him a quick squeeze.  “I guess it’s a good thing I have a shirt of my own to wear today.”

One well groomed eyebrow rose in question and surprise.  “You do?  Where is it?  I wanna see it.”

She laughed and nudged him toward the door.  “You’ll see it when I come downstairs.  I’m going to take a quick shower.  I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

“I could wash your back for you” he grinned, waggled his eyebrows at her and made to take a step toward the bathroom.

She laughed and shoved him away, “go.  I think I can manage to get myself clean this morning.”  Normally she would have taken him up on his very generous offer, but his mother and Ava were downstairs waiting.

“Okay, okay” he put his hands up in mock surrender.  “I know when I’m not wanted.”  He pressed a kiss to her forehead.  “Hurry up, Sweetheart, presents wait for no one.”

She was still quietly laughing as she closed herself in the bathroom.  She brushed her teeth and pulled off her cami and panties.  Just as she was about to sit down on the commode she noticed the empty toilet paper roll.  Really, Rich?  You couldn’t put out a new roll?  With a resigned sigh, she opened the cabinet under the vanity and grabbed a fresh roll.  The box next to the toilet paper had her pausing.  When had she had her period last?  Straightening, she hurried back into the bedroom and opened the calendar app on her phone.  Doing a little figuring, she hurried back to the bathroom.  Opening the cabinet, she grabbed a different box.  She was determined not to get her hopes up, but she was late and this would make an excellent surprise Christmas present for one very persistent guitar player.

Ripping open the package, she quickly sat down on the toilet and peed on the stick.

Grabbing a couple squares of charmin, she set the stick on the counter and quickly turned toward the shower.  She knew the routine.  Three minutes, and the window would either say pregnant or not pregnant.  It could take less, but she was going to give it the full three minutes before peeking.  She showered quickly, dried off and slicked on lotion, all without checking.  She combed out her hair and couldn’t stand the suspense anymore.  She peeked.

Pregnant.

Oh My God.  Oh My God.  Oh My God.  She couldn’t stop the grin or the happy little jig her feet were intent on doing.  Richie was going to be ecstatic.  She couldn’t wait to run right down and tell him.  She took a step toward the door and then she stopped and took a deep breath.  She couldn’t tell him yet.  Not in front of his mother and Ava.  No, she needed to tell him when they were alone so they could have a little time to let it sink in and celebrate before they spread the news around.

She wrapped the little stick in the toilet paper and tucked it into her toiletry travel bag. She’d tell him later, once they got to Hawaii and could escape and be alone for a few minutes.

She hurried and dried her hair and pulled on her favorite Victoria’s Secret boyfriend pants and her Christmas t-shirt.  A smile kept tugging at the corners of her mouth.  How was she going to keep this secret, even for a few hours?

She practiced her yoga breathing all the way down the stairs and into the kitchen.  It was going to be a long day.

~

“What’s going on with you today?” Richie asked her as they settled into their seats for their flight to Hawaii.  She had been just a little too giddy almost today.  It wasn’t like her to be so happy and smiley for the entire day.  She had been more than a little chatty too.  It was almost like she was hyped up on speed or something.  But he knew she didn’t do that kind of thing.  Or she was trying to hide something from him.  He frowned at that thought.  He didn’t like the idea of her keeping things from him.

She was studying the two new charms on her bracelet.  Richie had given her a snowflake, “it’s the closest to the real thing I can give you out here” he had told her.  He had also given her a silver bead with a butterfly dangling from it.  It was the Love takes Flight charm he said. “Because you make my heart soar” he told her and her emotions had nearly gotten the better of her.  She almost hated herself for keeping her secret.  Finding her resolve to wait just a little bit longer, she fastened her seatbelt and turned to face him.  “Nothing, why? And why are you frowning?”

“You’ve been, I don’t know, ‘on’ all day.”  He fastened his seatbelt as the plane started to move.  “You’re not normally so chatty and smiley.”

“Well, it is Christmas, what’s not to be happy about?” she said and she leaned into him, pressing her breasts against his arm, “I’m also a little horny.”  Her eyes darted across the aisle, Ava had her headphones in.  Good.  She wasn’t paying them any attention.  She let her fingers wander up the inside of his thigh, coming to rest dangerously close to his rapidly waking cock.  “You going to find fault with that too?”

His hand quickly covered hers and brought it to his lips.  “Not a chance, but you know you have to wait, right?”  There would be no mile high club action on this flight.

She grinned, evilly.  “I know, but I can play a little, can’t I?”  She nipped his earlobe to prove her point.

He leaned in and captured her lips.  “Be nice, Sweetheart.  Or I may not be later.”

She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder, “fine.”  She drew her hand from his and walked her fingers down his chest.  “I’ll be good.”

He grabbed her fingers again before they could reach his belt.  “Sweetheart” he said on a laugh, “you are gonna be the death of me today.”

By the time they landed, he was hard as a rock, her panties were drenched and Ava thought they were both out of their minds.  “God how old are you guys?  Get a room already” she grumbled as she brushed by them to get in the car.  They were worse than kids her age. She rolled her eyes when they got in the car and stuck her headphones back in her ears.  At least she didn’t have to listen to them for much longer.

Ava disappeared as soon as Richie had the door unlocked and the alarm deactivated.  He took their things up to their room, Stephanie followed close on his heels.  As much as she wanted to throw him on the bed and ride him until the cows came home, she was bursting to tell him her news.

She paused in the doorway.  This was the third time he had brought her here and this room still took her breath.  It was done in every shade of blue from the palest watery hue to the deepest of midnights.  She was drawn, as always, past the wide bed with its gauzy canopy to the balcony doors and the stunning view of their private strip of sugary white sand and deep blue water.

Richie moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.  “I’m going to have you” he growled low in her ear, “right here,” he was still hard and he pressed his hips against her, “right now.”

She had barely nodded when his hand moved to the latch on the door and he urged her out onto the balcony and up to the railing.  Setting her hands on the railing he reached for the tie on her pants.  “Don’t move.”  Her pants slid low on her hips and his fingers eased them down further, leaving them to pool at her knees.  He drew a light trail up her leg, his fingers inching inside her panties.

She wiggled her legs, trying to widen her stance.  Wanting to give him more room.  Wishing he would hurry up already.  The light, stinging slap on her ass had her whipping her head around.  “Hey!”

His eyes had darkened to a rich chocolate and the gleam was slightly evil.  His grin matched the gleam in his eyes.  “Stop moving.”

She licked her lips, “but I wanted-”

He moved his fingers over her clit and up inside her.  “Is that what you wanted?”

She groaned and pushed her hips back, “that’s a little better.”  Even now she managed to find a little bit of sass for him.  It earned her ass another smack.

“Only a little?”  He pulled his hand away, taking her panties with him.

When she felt him moving behind her, she gripped the railing tighter, hoping he wasn’t going to make her wait much longer.

He didn’t.  He gripped her hips and impaled her with one steady thrust.  His head dropped back in ecstasy at the feel of her rippling and tightening around him.  “Fuck, darlin’.”

She pushed back against him, “I could say the same.”  She gasped when he pulled out and pushed back in.  “God.”

He bent over her, pushing at her hair, nipping at her ear.  “No, darlin’, it’s Richie” he chuckled quietly.  And with a flurry of frantic thrusts, he took them both over and into blissful ecstasy.

Several long, breath catching moments later, he straightened and pulled away from her.  Righting his clothes he helped her and drew her over to one of the chaises.  Cuddled together he tucked her hair back away from her face and lightly kissed her jaw.  “I didn’t hurt you did I, Sweetheart?”

She shook her head, “no, I’m just” she turned and pressed her lips to his.  “I’m not sure I can think straight yet.”

They lay tangled together, listening to the surf, watching the stars.  His hand moved and settled low on her belly and she started, remembering.  She popped up, nearly beaning him in the chin with her head.  “I almost forgot!”

“Forgot what?”  He had no idea what she could be talking about.

She moved quickly, nearly falling off the chair in her haste to stand.  “I’ve got something for you.”   She started for the door and stopped, turning back to him, “don’t move.”

He just smiled and made himself more comfortable on the chaise.  “I’m not going anywhere.”

She hurried inside and into the bathroom.  Rummaging in her bag she found what she was looking for.  Stopping to rifle through his carry on, she found his glasses and headed back outside.  She slipped the tissue-wrapped pee stick into her pocket and crossed to him.  She cocked her head and looked at him for a moment.  His eyes were closed and he looked completely and utterly relaxed.  She bit her lower lip, “hey.”

He opened his eyes.  “Hey yourself sweetheart.”  He noticed she had something in her hand.  “Whatcha got there?”

She looked down at her hand and stretched out her hand to him, “I thought you might need these to see your gift.”

His brows furrowed, “you got me something to read?”

“Sort of” she said as she straddled him on the chaise.  “Put them on” she urged.

He did as she asked, “well.”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the tissue-wrapped stick.  “Here” she held it out to him.

Their fingers brushed when he took the item from her.  She watched his face as he unwrapped it and studied it.  There was a sheen of wet in his eyes when he looked up at her and the smile lit up his whole face.  “Really, Sweetheart?”

She nodded.  Her smiled matched his.

“When did you-?”  How long as she known?

“This morning.  But I didn’t want to tell you until we were alone.”

Taking off his glasses he set them and the stick aside.  “Come here” he reached for her and pulled her down next to him.  “Best gift ever” he murmured in her ear as he drew her against him.

She settled her arm over his where it cradled her stomach.  “Rich” she whispered.

“Hmm, what?”

She angled her head up, “I’m going to be careful this time.  I promise to take it easy and not work so hard.”  She didn’t want anything to go wrong this time.

“Shh” he soothed her.  “Everything is going to be fine, Sweetheart.”

Laying there, she realized he was right.  Somehow she knew that even though she would worry, everything really was going to be okay this time.

♪♪♪♪♪♪

Chapter One Hundred Eight

Stephanie yawned.  Hugely.  God she was tired.  Having her family around for the holiday had been wonderful but exhausting.  They had crammed more into that short visit than she thought could be humanly possible.  After enjoying the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Thursday, the girls hit black Friday, hard.  Then, she and Richie took everyone to Disneyland on Saturday.  Sunday, they dropped a very tired group off at the airport and now, she was back working on her last habitat project of the year.  Hanging and taping drywall was enough to put anyone to sleep on a good day.  Add in a long overdue visit with her family, a man who believed sex trumped sleep and a holiday to boot?  Color her ready to drop.  And if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up dropping right into a bucket of drywall mud. 

Shaking off her latest case of the tireds, she rolled her shoulders, raised her power screwdriver and embedded the last screw into the corner of the sheet of drywall.  Taking a step back she surveyed her handiwork.  She smiled.  Mark had taught her well.  Setting the screwdriver in her toolbox, she got out the tape and her putty knife. 

Grabbing the metal handle, she grunted and dragged the five gallon bucket of drywall mud over to the corner and started on the dirtier part of the job.  Although, this part wasn’t as bad as the sanding.  That was the worst.  The dust got everywhere if you weren’t careful.  Taking her time, she made her way around the room, taping and mudding all the seams.  Evening out the last bit of mud with her putty knife, she stepped back and stretched, admiring her work.  “Not bad” she murmured.  Now she had to let it dry before she could come back with her sander and smooth it all out.  Then it could be primed and painted.  She cleaned up her area and picked up her toolbox, walking through the other rooms on her way out to her truck.  From the looks of the progress being made, they were on track to hand over the keys to the happy family right before Christmas.

She yawned again and climbed into the driver’s seat.  She really could use a nap.  Just a twenty minute refresher.  Checking the time on the dashboard clock she did a little mental math. If she took a lightning fast shower and didn’t straighten her hair for tonight, she could sneak in 30 minutes of down time before she had to be ready to face the photogs.  They had a benefit to go to tonight for Midnight Mission and next weekend was the Biker Bash and Toys in the Sun Run in Ft. Lauderdale.  She was kind of looking forward to that.  The thought of Richie in leather and possibly riding motorcycle made her tingly all over.  She pressed a little harder on the accelerator.  Maybe Richie would be home and she could make better use of that half hour she had been pining for.

~

Richie was nowhere in sight when she finally made it back to Calabasas.  He had left that morning to work in the studio on some new material.  She had been as surprised as anyone that he didn’t have a studio in his house.  “I like to leave the house and go to work” he had told her when she questioned him about that.  “I’d never get anything done if I stayed here.  Too many distractions” he had said as he waggled his eyebrows at her. 

She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed up the stairs, smiling at the thought of that conversation.  She’d have to distract him later, right now, she needed to make herself pretty. 

After peeling off her filthy work clothes, she turned the water on as hot as she could stand it and let the heat and pulsing jets of the showerhead ease her tired muscles.  She scrubbed her skin and shampooed her hair, letting the dust and grime from the construction site slip down the drain along with the foamy soap suds.  After conditioning her hair and a quick but careful touch up of her shaving, she stepped out and dried off with a big, fluffy towel.  She had just slipped her robe over her shoulders when she heard movement coming from the bedroom.  Richie must be back.  She smiled and cracked open the door, “Rich?”

“Hey Sweetheart” he said as he pulled off his shirt.  “You about done in there?”  He dropped the shirt in the hamper even as he worked the button and zipper on his jeans. 

She nodded and rubbed her hair with the towel, “yeah, just need to dry my hair.”

He scanned her up and down as he dumped the rest of his clothes in the hamper, his body taking immediate interest in what she wasn’t wearing.  “Mind if I shower while you do that?”

The tip of her tongue snaked out to wet her bottom lip as he sauntered toward her.  “No, not at all.”

He followed her into the bathroom and caged her in against the counter.  “I don’t know what it is about this little bit of pink silk you call a robe,” one hand left the counter and his fingertips lightly traced a path down the open vee to the knot of her belt.  Her nipples hardened and pressed needfully against the light silk.  “But it makes me nuts.”

Her hands slid up his broad shoulders and pulling him close, she kissed him hungrily.  “God Rich” she breathed as she nipped his full lower lip.  “Do we even have time for this?” 

“No, not really” he said between kisses.  “But damn if I’m going to stop now.”  He worked the slippery knot on her belt and the robe slipped open.  He cupped her breasts, thumbs circling the hard tips.

Her head dropped back, “we’ll just have to be quick about it.”

He helped her up onto the counter, he didn’t mind the occasional quickie-really, what guy did-but it seemed like lately that’s all they were getting.  “Quick now, darlin’, but it’s a good thing tomorrow is Saturday.  You’re going to be up late tonight.”  He made a silent promise to take his time with her later.  He stepped between her spread knees and his fingers slid along her lips.  “Fuck you’re so wet already.”

She reached for him, “what can I say, I like you naked.”

He grinned and stepped closer, dragging the head of his cock along her slit.  “That’s what I like to hear, darlin’.”  He pulled her closer to the edge of the counter and rolled his hips, burying himself in her in one long stroke.  The clasp of her muscles, the snugness of her wrapped around him nearly had him coming right then.  Closing his eyes he fought for control, but she felt so damn good around him.  His grip tightened on her hips and he pulled her even closer.  He managed a couple of slow strokes but fuck he was gonna come in a minute.  The light fluttering touch on his cock distracted him enough to open his eyes.  He found her watching as he slid in and out and that light touch was her fingers playing over her and him.  His eyes found hers.  She smiled at him.

“Go ahead, it’s okay.”

He pumped his hips harder, faster, “fuck, darlin’, I’m sorry.”  He groaned and his release rushed up his legs, flowing out of him and into her.

Dropping his head, he rested it on her shoulder and his lips nuzzled into her neck.  “I’ll make up for that later, sweetheart.”

She turned her head and pressed her lips to his.  “Nothing to make up for, darlin’.”  She had come too, it wasn’t as overwhelming as his had been, but it was enough to take the edge off, for now.

He gave her another kiss before slipping away, “one usually isn’t enough for you.” 

She winked at him and pulled her robe closed.  “It is for now.”  She took his offered hand and hopped down from the counter.  “You go shower, we’ve got someplace to be.”

He kissed her again and lightly tweaked her still hard-and-ready nipple.  “Yes ma’am.”

~

She fidgeted in her seat.  She hated this part of his life.  The closer they got to their destination, the more her stomach threatened to revolt.  She took a deep breath in and let it out.  She had done this a bunch of times now, you would think it would get easier with practice, but it never did.  She squeezed his hand when it covered hers and she started to settle.  Just that little bit of contact and her nerves were less frayed.  She turned to look at him, “are you sure I look all right?”  The slinky red top had gold metallic thread running through it and a high neck that hooked at the back of her neck, leaving her shoulders and back bare.  She had paired it with simple black trousers and her new favorite black Louboutin pumps with just a hint of sparkle on the toe and the telltale red soles. 

Richie’s fingers walked up her arm, tracing a light circle on her bare shoulder.  “You look amazing.”  His fingers wandered further, tangling in her hair, “and I’m glad you left your hair wild and free tonight.”

Her body flushed at his touch and she leaned in to him, pressing her mouth to his.  “Can’t we just go back home and pick up where we left off earlier?”

“Sorry, Sweetheart” his fingers slid from her shoulder to her nape, the light scrape of his nails raising goose bumps on her flesh.  “This one is a must do for me.  It’s too important a night to blow off, even though I know the sex would be totally worth it.”

She grinned, “I know.  I’m just being stupid.  I’m sorry.  You know how much I don’t like this part of your life.”  The car slowed to a stop.  "And I don't know why I'm being so cranky about it tonight."  Normally she would put on a smile for him and bear the flashes and inane questions all the way to the door.

Richie didn't particularly like this part of his life either, but it was a necessary evil.  And he knew she'd be fine once they got out of the car.  He dropped his hand from her neck to tangle his fingers with hers.  “You ready?”

She nodded, found a smile for him and gathered her small clutch and her wrap.  “Let’s do this.”

Chapter One Hundred Seven

“Here you go” she handed the remote to Ava and turned to face the rest of the kids.  They had all spread out across the room and each had their own bowl of popcorn, drinks and a small plate of cookies.  “You guys all set?”

They all nodded and a chorus of “yea’s” rang out.  “Okay.  Just a couple things” she said.  “Michael, because he’s the oldest, is in charge.  Ava,” she turned to look at the girl, “you’re second in command.”

Stephanie’s niece Marissa spoke up.  “Why does she get to be in charge after Michael?”  They were the same age.

“Because she knows how to run all the gadgets in here and in the game room across the hall.”

“Oh.”  Marissa settled back in her seat somewhat mollified by her aunt’s reasoning.

“Little B,” Stephanie turned her attention to her youngest niece.

“What Aunt Steph?”  Her blue eyes were bright with excitement.

“The bathroom is right over there” she pointed to the partially closed door near the front of the room.  “Just in case you need it.”

“’Kay” the little girl responded with a sweet smile that showcased her dimples.  “Can we watch the movie now?”

“Sure, sweetie.”  She headed for the door and Ava pressed ‘play’ on the remote.  “We’ll be out back by the pool if you need us.”

She pulled the door closed and rested against it for a minute.  She was glad to have her family here, but man was it exhausting trying keep everyone entertained.

Stephanie headed back toward the kitchen and picked up the two plates of desserts she had put together earlier before stepping out onto the patio.  Her family was scattered around on chairs and chaises talking and having after dinner cocktails.  With the kids tucked away in the theater room, everyone was at ease and enjoying each other’s company.

It was a good way to end the day.

She moved away from the door and set the platters she was carrying on the nearest table.  “Anyone up for dessert?”  She had spent some time in the kitchen earlier and had made cookies, brownies and apple slices wrapped in pastry dough and baked into individual apple pie bites.

Richie came over and handed her the glass of wine he poured for her.  She had worked in the kitchen most of the day, making dinner, dessert and taking care of everyone else.  He wanted her to enjoy this time with her family, not spend it slaving away waiting on them.  “Why don’t you go sit down with your sister and sister-in-law and enjoy that wine?”  He pressed a kiss to her temple.  “You’re working too hard.”

She turned her head slightly and pressed her lips to his cheek.  “I just want to be sure everyone is doing okay.”

He laughed quietly and shook his head in disbelief.  “Have you looked around, sweetheart?”

She glanced around.  “Yeah, why?”

“Everyone is doing just fine.”  Her mom and dad were fully engaged in conversation with Joan.  Her sister and brother-in-law and brother and sister-in-law were having a healthy debate on God only knew what and the kids were having a ball in the theater room. 

“I know, but-”

He shushed her with a kiss.  “No buts.  You done good here, Sweetheart.  It’s time for you to enjoy the party now.”

She sighed.  He was right.  She raised on her toes and pressed her lips to his.  “Thanks.  Why don’t we take one of these trays and go see what my siblings are arguing about.”  She picked up one dessert laden tray and together headed across the patio.

She no sooner sat down when Jess grabbed her left hand.  “Is there something you need to tell us?”  She had been eyeballing her sister’s hand since she noticed the new sparkling addition to the ring finger at dinner.

“Um, I got a new ring?”  She answered sarcastically.

Jess looked over at Richie, “she’s a laugh a minute, isn’t she?”  Before he could say anything she turned her attention back to Stephanie.  “Come on, are you guys getting married or what?”

Conversations around the table and between her parents and Richie’s mom came to a screeching halt at Jess’s question.

Stephanie nearly choked on her wine.  “No” she sputtered and coughed.  “We’re not getting married.”  Richie came to stand behind her and rubbed her back.  She looked up at him, “are we?”

He shook his head, “no.  But we are committed to each other.  That’s what the ring is about.  Neither one of us is quite ready for the m-word just yet” he explained.  Although he was closer to being ready than she was, he was sure of it.

“Oh, well” Jess started before taking a sip of her wine.  “Congratulations.”  She squeezed Stephanie’s hand.  “Just be happy” she looked up at Richie, “and you,” she pointed at him “you take good care of her.”

Richie nodded, loving the fierce protectiveness Jess had for her sister.  “You can count on that, darlin’.”

Stephanie finished her wine, “okay, this conversation has gotten entirely too serious.  You guys all have swim suits?  The pool is heated and the hot tub is a party waiting to happen.”

~

Stephanie and Richie were still chuckling quietly as they closed their bedroom door behind them.  The evening had been full of fun and laughter after the semi-seriousness of the whole let-me-see-your-new-ring-and-are-you-getting-married conversation. 

“I really like your family, Sweetheart” Richie said as he dropped his damp towel in the hamper.  “You sister, man, she could go head to head with David in a smart ass contest.”

Stephanie laughed, “yeah, she has no filter.  Never has.”  She headed toward the bathroom even as her hands fumbled with the tie on her bikini top. 

Stepping behind her, Richie’s fingers nudged hers from the stubborn knot the tie had become.  “Let do that” he murmured. 

She watched him in the mirror as his long, dexterous fingers untangled the knot and unhooked the back of her suit top.  It fluttered to the floor and he lowered his mouth to her shoulder.  She shuddered under the butterfly light touch of his lips to her skin.  Her nipples hardened and goose bumps bloomed under his light caress.  She closed her eyes and dropped her head forward as his mouth moved across her nape.   When she felt his hands slip down her sides to the edge of her bikini bottom she opened her eyes and found his in the mirror. 

His eyes had darkened to nearly black and he didn’t ask, he just held her gaze and pushed her bikini bottoms down her thighs.  His fingers glided back up the inside of her thigh and his chuckle was husky with want when those fingers skimmed the edge of her lips and came away wet.  “I’m not asking” he growled quietly in her ear.  “I’m just gonna take you tonight, darlin’.”  He didn’t want to give her the chance to change her mind or just flat out tell him no.  The door was closed, they were in their own bathroom.  He wasn’t going to stop now.

His fingers found her clit and all she could do was nod in agreement.  She gripped the edge of the counter and widened her stance, giving him more room.  His fingers continued their dance on that sensitive bundle of nerves and two fingers from his other hand slid into her from behind.  He was everywhere and she was nearly ready to scream.  When his lips skimmed across her shoulder again, she whimpered.  “Come on darlin’, I know you can do better than that” he taunted.  “I want to hear you” he nipped her ear lobe and pinched her clit.  Her knees nearly buckled and she came with a not-so-quiet groan.  She pushed back against him, wanting the hardness that had been pressing against her ass, inside her. 

Before she could fully get her legs back under her, she heard the rip of velcro and felt the slight breeze of his shorts falling to the floor.  His hands were back on her hips and he pulled her closer, impaling her with a quick thrust.  He hissed at the feeling of her clasping tight around him.  If he could just stay buried inside her like this forever, he could die a very happy man.  Then she rolled her hips.  And fiery fingers of release raced up his legs. He pumped his hips, and reached around to slide his fingers across her clit again and encountered hers.  “That’s right darlin’, play with that pretty clit and come with me.”  He pumped his hips harder and his hand slipped up to cup her breast, pinching her nipple.  She cried out as she came, tightening around him, pulling him along with her, draining him of everything.

Chapter One Hundred Six

Richie sank down into the hot tub and surveyed his handiwork.  He had lit a fire in the small chiminea near the hot tub and the candle glow from the rock/table on his right mixed with the soft glow from the solar lights scattered around the back yard.  Her wine and wineglass sat in wait.  Now, if his girl would just get her ass out her, everything would be perfect.  He leaned back and let the pulsing jet massage his back as he took a sip of his near beer.  It wasn’t anywhere near as good as a real beer, but it would do.  He sighed and rolled his shoulders.  They had had a rough few weeks but things seemed to be evening out.  Still no baby yet, but he wasn’t going to give up after only a few weeks.  He wasn’t going to let Stephanie get down about it either.  And with her family and his mother coming for the holiday, she would be distracted enough not to worry about it.   He hoped.

He turned to set his bottle back on the table and stopped.  She was standing in the doorway.  “I was beginning to think you were gonna stand me up.”  He tracked her movement across the patio.  Watching as she slipped off her little cover up robe and pulled a hair tie from her wrist.  He reached over to the table again and picked up his phone and quickly snapped a picture of her as she pulled her hair up.  God, she was beautiful. 

“Never.”  She finished getting her hair into a messy knot on top of her head and she noticed the flash from his phone.  “Did you just take my picture?”

He manipulated the phone and looked at the picture.  The soft glow of candle light played over her skin and you could just see her profile as her hands slid into all that glorious hair.  He quickly made it the new wallpaper on his home screen.  “Yeah, I did.”  He glanced at the phone again, “you wanna see it?”

She stepped closer to where he was sitting in the hot tub.  “Just tell my all my chins weren’t noticeable and my stomach isn’t hanging over the top of my bathing suit.”

He held out his hand and helped her down the steps and into the tub.  “You only have one chin and” he tugged her around to stand in front of him, his fingers grazing the slight bulge of her belly. “Your stomach is fine.”  He turned the phone so she could see the picture.  “You’re beautiful and I couldn’t help but take your picture.”

She took the phone from his hand, taking a good look at the picture before setting it back on the rock/table.  It really wasn’t all that bad.  “You’re pretty good with that phone camera” she told him as she maneuvered herself around to sit next to him.  She looked around the tub, gauging where the jets were.  She floated over to sit across from him and the jet massaged her lower back.  She groaned out her relief as the jet eased her aching muscles.  “That feels soooo good.”

She had finished up her last project with Habitat for the holidays and had spent the bulk of the day getting ready for her family and Richie’s mom to arrive.  They all would land at LAX tomorrow for the Thanksgiving holiday.  And Richie’s mom was staying through until Christmas. 

“Here, Sweetheart” he held a glass of wine up in front of her.  “You look like you could use a little of this.”

She gave him a grateful smile.  “Thanks, babe.  This” she waved her free hand around the setting he had created, “it’s wonderful.  Just what I needed.”

He toasted her with hit nearly empty bottle, “what we both needed before the invasion tomorrow.”

Leaving the massaging jet, she resettled herself next to Richie and laid her head on his shoulder.  “Thank you.”

He drained his bottle and set it back on the rock/table before turning and pressing a kiss to her head.  “For what?”

She raised her head and sipped her wine.  “For opening your home to my family for the holiday.”  She wasn’t going home for Christmas this year, she was going to Hawaii with Richie and Ava so she had asked if her family could come out for Thanksgiving.  He had readily agreed and had even offered to fly them all out for her.  She hadn’t let him do that because she had planned on doing it herself.  So after a flurry of phone calls and emails, everyone was coming and they were going to need a convoy to get everyone from the airport back to the house.

“Our home” he corrected her.  He still couldn’t get her to think of this as her home for some reason. 

She looked around, it was still hard for her to believe sometimes that she lived in this huge, beautiful house.  She looked up at him and pressed her lips to his.  “Our home” she conceded.  She finished off her wine and moved to straddle him so she could set her glass on the little table.  She wiggled her hips a little and settled against him.  She smirked knowingly when he pressed his hips up against hers.  “Want something?”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight against him.  “What do you think?”

She rocked against him, “I think we’d better get our freak on tonight before the troops descend on us tomorrow.”

He raised a disbelieving eyebrow, “what are you saying?”  He feared he knew what was going to come out of her mouth next.

“There is no way I’m having sex with you with your mother and my parents under the same roof as us.”

His fingers dipped into the back of her suit and slipped down to stroke the top of the crack of her ass.  “You do realize that our room has a door that locks, right?”

She squirmed against him, “I know, but-”

Before she could finish her answer, his hands changed direction and slid up her back, unhooking and untying her top.  He dropped the scrap of material and gazed down at her.  Her nipples were hard, straining points under his gaze in the cool night air.  With every intention of changing her mind he dipped his head and took one of those tight tips into his mouth.

She rolled her hips against him.  Whatever she had been going to say was forgotten once his mouth was on her.  She gripped his shoulders, her short nails digging into his skin as he shifted his attention to her other breast.  Her hips moved against him, pressing harder, searching for that friction that would send her spiraling.

His hand slid to her hips, slowing her movement.  “Darlin’” he murmured.

She shifted, trying to break his hold.  She was so damn close.  “Hmmm?”

His grip tightened and he drew his mouth from her skin.  “Darlin’ stop.”

She opened her eyes and looked at him, “you want me to stop?” she nearly whined.

He knew she was right on the edge of orgasm and fuck if he wasn’t going to be inside her when she came.  He eased her off his lap and his fingers hooked into the silver links that crossed her hips, “just for a minute” he told her as he pushed her suit bottoms down her thighs.

She reached out and palmed his erection through his swim trunks before letting her fingers wander up to the string holding the shorts closed.  She made quick work of the bow and his trunks floated off to join her bathing suit on other side of the hot tub.  She reached for him again, trailing her fingers down the hard length of him, slipping lower to cup his tight balls before making the return trip up his length to gently squeeze the tip. 

He hissed out his pleasure and gently pulled her hand from him.  “Come here” he breathed as he stepped back and sat on the edge of seat.  He pulled her over him and groaned in relief when she straddled him and took him completely inside her.  He gripped her hips as she rode him.  There was no way he was going to give this up while their families were here.  His gaze locked on her hers, she was as close to bliss as he was.  His grip on her turned bruising and he pumped his hips up to meet hers.  Water sloshed over the edge of the tub and their groans of satisfaction rang in the air as they came together. 

She relaxed into him, her head resting on his shoulder with him still buried inside her.  She pressed her lips to the side of his neck.  “Always so damn good” she whispered.

He banded his arm around her waist, holding her to him, wanting to stay inside her as long as possible.  “You still wanna put a moratorium on sex while our families are here?”

A husky, sated laugh was her only reply.