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.