Isn't It Time (26 page)

Later in the afternoon, we were lazing about in the middle
of Jack’s bed, eating macaroni and cheese out of large bowls and regaining our
strength. Jack was completely naked, but I didn’t like to eat with my boobs
hanging out, so I was wearing his tee shirt again.

My phone rang and I twisted around and slithered across the
bed on my stomach, stretching my arm to place my bowl on the nightstand before
hanging over the side of the bed to dig the phone out of my purse.

“Jesus,” Jack said. I smiled and pushed my bare ass a little
higher in the air and wiggled it before coming up with the phone in my hand and
sitting back down.

I looked at the display and answered it. “Hey, Nate.”

“Hey. Listen, I only have a few minutes but I just wanted to
call and thank you.”

“Oh, this sounds like good news,” I said, smiling. “So
everything worked out the way you wanted it to?”

“Yeah. I talked to her as soon as I got to her house
yesterday and you were right.”

“She feels the same?”  I watched as Jack turned to put his
empty bowl on his nightstand before walking on his knees over to me.

“Yep. And this is going to sound cheesy as hell, but she
claims she’s been in love with me since she was seven years old.”

“What happened when she was seven?” I asked.  Jack lifted my
hair and started kissing the back of my neck. I jerked my neck away and swatted
at him.

“She says she took a fall off of her bike in front of me and
a couple of other kids. She banged herself up pretty good and was crying. She
said the other kids were making fun of her, but I helped her up and took her
home. And that was it. I don’t even remember it.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet. You were like her knight in shining
armor,” I said with a sigh. Jack snorted behind me, his hands sliding up under
my shirt, and Nate was laughing in my ear.

“Yeah, something like that. So anyway, we couldn’t really do
a lot of talking because Matthew was around, but my mom’s taking the boys
overnight tonight and I guess we’ll see how it goes.”

Jack was now pressed against my back with his hands on my
breasts, massaging lightly and flicking my nipples with his thumb. I squeezed
my elbows in tight to my side and tried to dislodge his hands, but he
persevered.

“I’m so happy for you,” I said into the phone. “But, Nate?”

“Yeah?”

“Use a condom.”  Another snort from Jack.

“Of course.”

“In fact, maybe you’d better double bag it.”

Nate was laughing as I continued. “And pull out, too – just
to be on the safe side.”

“Thanks for the advice, Mom,” Nate said, still laughing.
“But I think we’ll figure it out.”

“Okay.  But Nate? Guess where I am right now.”

“Well, I’d guess you’re in Jack’s bed.”

“How did you know that?” I felt Jack smile against my
shoulder and I twisted my neck to glare at him.

“Because when you were out this morning, he called me.”

“Oh.” I pouted at Jack. “He stole my thunder.”

“Yes, he did. But I’m very happy for the two of you.”

“Yeah, thanks. We’re pretty happy, too.” My pout turned into
a smile as I thought of Jack wanting to share his happiness the same way I had
when I called my mother. I loosened my arms to let him carry on with his work
under my shirt.

“I’m glad. But now I’ve got to go,” Nate said. “Talk to you
soon.”

“Okay. Bye Nate.” I ended the call and dropped the phone
over the side of the bed.

“You can’t possibly be thinking of going again,” I said to
Jack.

“Can’t I?” he said into my ear.

I twisted out of his grasp and turned around to face him. A
quick glance down his body confirmed he could indeed be thinking of going
again. In fact, it seemed he was past thinking and well into the done deal
stage.

“If I’m able to walk after this weekend, I’m going to be
very surprised,” I told him.  Then I shoved him onto his back and climbed on.

Thirty minutes later, I rolled off with a loud exhale. My
arms and legs were splayed wide in a most indelicate position and my eyes were
closed as I struggled to catch my breath.

“Whew! Wow. That was…that was…
wow
.  Will you marry
me?” I snorted out a laugh and brought my hand to my heaving chest.

I smiled when I felt Jack suddenly on top of me, lying
between my spread legs and resting on his forearms. “Okay,” he said, his face
inches from mine.

My eyes opened and looked into his. “Okay, what?” I asked.

“Okay I’ll marry you.”

I lifted my head and kissed him, then extricated my arms and
wound them around his neck. “Jack, I was just kidding.”

“I know you were,” he said. “But I’m not. Marry me.”

My body stilled and I knew he was serious.  “Um, don’t you
think it’s a little too soon for that? I mean, we’ve been together less than
twenty-four hours.”

He brought his forehead down against mine. “It’s been six
years, Angie. There isn’t anything we don’t know about each other and I think
we both know we’re heading in that direction anyway. I love you so much I can’t
imagine spending even one day of my future without you. And I know you feel the
same.”

“Yes,” I said.

He lifted his head. “Yes, what?”

“Yes, I feel the same.”

“And…” he prompted.

“And, yes, I’ll marry you…with one condition.”

He smiled and brought his lips to mine. “All right, let’s
have it. What’s your condition?”

“Don’t you dare buy me an engagement ring; it’s a big waste
of money. Plain wedding band only.”

He shook his head and smiled. “People will think I’m cheap.”

“That’s just the point. Why spend all that money just to
impress other people? I don’t need it and I don’t want it.”

He frowned a little. “Now you’re sounding kind of militant.
This isn’t really the tone of the conversation I’d expect to have after I just
accepted your marriage proposal.”

I laughed and agreed.  “You’re right. How’s this? I love you
beyond reason and I would be happy – no, make that ecstatic – to be your wife.”

“That’s better.” He kissed me again and that went on for a
while before he rolled us both to our sides.

“Just one more thing,” he said.

“What’s that?” I asked, snuggling in and kissing his
shoulder.

“I was just wondering…what would it take for you to lose the
IUD?”

I smiled against his shoulder. “I’m not going to lose the
IUD; it’s in there pretty good.”

“No,” he said, pulling back and forcing me to look at him.
“I mean on purpose. What do you have to do to get it removed?”

“Oh. Are you saying you want us to get pregnant right away?”

“Yes.” His response was prompt and not unexpected.

“Don’t you think it would be better if we were married before
we did that?”

“I’ll marry you today. Now that I finally have you, I don’t
want to waste any more time.”

“I’m starting to think you only love me for my uterus,” I
said and he laughed with me.

“Not at all,” he said. “We both want children and we’re not
getting any younger. I’d just really like to get started right away.”

I agreed with that. I didn’t want to still be raising young
children when I was in my fifties. “Okay, agreed. But I still want to be
married first. Very small wedding. Very small,” I repeated for emphasis.

“Don’t want to waste the money?” he asked, grinning at me.

“Exactly,” I laughed. Then it occurred to me that I was
being rather bossy and selfish about the whole thing. “I’m sorry, Jack. I
shouldn’t be so bossy. What kind of wedding do you want?”

“The kind that makes you my wife,” he said, pulling me in
tighter against him.

My heart squeezed. “God, I love you so much.”

“And I love you. Now, about that IUD…”

I pulled back and looked at him. “You have a one-track
mind.”

“Two tracks, actually.” He smirked at me and kissed my
forehead. “So, does a doctor have to take it out?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I’ll make an appointment for you first thing Monday
morning.”

“Jack!” I laughed and pushed his shoulder. “I can make my
own appointment.”

“Okay, I trust you. But try to get in as soon as possible,
and I’ll make the arrangements so we can be married by next weekend.”

Everything was moving so fast. I probably should have been
alarmed, but I really wasn’t. It seemed perfectly natural and I found myself a
little disappointed that it would be a full week before we were officially
husband and wife.

“Sounds like a plan,” I said with a yawn.

“Let’s take a nap,” he suggested abruptly, pulling away from
me and reaching to bring the blankets up over us.

“Sounds like a plan,” I repeated and rolled over to my side.
He fitted himself against my back, pulling me in closer with an arm around my
waist.  I didn’t think I would ever get tired of that feeling of him against
me, holding me while I fell off to sleep.

I closed my eyes and smiled. “Jack?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not having four children.”

His arm around my waist tightened. “Hmmm. We’ll see.”

I could hear the smile in his voice and my own smile widened
as I drifted off, thoughts of weddings and babies filling my head.

***

I eased into consciousness, aware of a hand on my breast.  A
warm, hard body pressed to my back. An insistent erection pushing between my
upper thighs, demanding attention.  A deep, sleep-roughened voice rumbling
against my ear. “Let me in.”

I shivered at the feelings of desire awakening all over my
body and adjusted my position, cocking my upper leg slightly.  I reached behind
me, circled my fingers around him and guided him inside.

I squeezed around him and released, rolling my hips and
using my internal muscles to milk him for several strokes while he stayed
immobile against my back.  “Oh, God,” he moaned. “I love fucking you.”  And
then he was off – whispering the words I loved to hear into my ear, gliding in
and out slowly while his fingers busied themselves between my legs.

We went on like that for a while and I could feel my orgasm
hovering, frustratingly close, but just out of reach. I moved his hand gently
from between my legs, up to my breast, then replaced the hand between my legs
with my own. Without a word of question, he slid his other arm underneath me
until he had me flush against his chest, his lips at my ear.  Both of his hands
were on my breasts, tugging and rolling the nipples, the sensations he was
creating pooling and centering at my core. I moaned loudly and increased the
speed of my self-stimulation. 

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he groaned against my ear. “That is
so hot - you’re killing me here.”  He applied more pressure to my nipples,
squeezing and twisting and I came hard, jerking against him and releasing
another deep moan.

“Fuck!”  In a flash, he had me on my stomach, and went to
his knees, grasping my hips and pulling them up with him.  I lay there
trembling, with my ass in the air, unable to think, let alone move, while the
aftershocks of my orgasm pulsed around him.  He didn’t seem to mind my lack of
participation and stilled briefly, one hand tight on my hip and the other
rubbing up and down over my ass.

“So beautiful,” he whispered.  He eased out slowly then
slammed back in, setting a furious pace.  If I hadn’t been lying there half
dead, I might have laughed at the sound of my ass slapping against his stomach.
He suddenly buried himself deep, his hands clamping hard on my hips and
groaning low in his throat as his orgasm shuddered through him.

He settled back on his heels, taking me with him, gliding
his hands soothingly over my lower back until his breathing calmed.  He pulled
out carefully and slid up over my back, kissing his way up my spine, while I
lay there like a blob, completely inert.

He rested his weight on his forearms and kissed my shoulder.
“I will never get enough of you,” he murmured.

I mumbled out an incoherent response against the pillow, too
pooped to form proper words.

He laughed lightly and rolled off of me and settled onto his
back.  “Come here, baby,” he said, reaching out and moving my hair off of my
face.

I grunted in his direction but used my legs and hips to
propel myself over the few inches to his side, never lifting my head or stomach
from the bed. He slid his arm under me and pulled me in. I plastered myself to
his side, feeling beautifully exhausted.

“I love you,” he said and kissed the top of my head.

“Love you more,” I mumbled.

“Let me know when you’re ready to go again.”

I raised my head slowly and gave him a look. “You have
got
to be kidding me,” I said.

“Yeah, I am,” he said, then burst out laughing. “But the
look on your face was hilarious.”

I gave him a half-hearted slap to the chest. “What time is
it?”

“About seven-thirty.”

“Already?  Wow, we slept a long time. Are you hungry?” I
asked foolishly.

“Starving. Do you want to go take a quick shower, then I can
put those burgers on the grill?”

I eased myself away from him and sat up. “Yeah. That sounds
good. Maybe the shower will wake me up a little.”

Jack sprang from the bed and I still sat there, watching and
envying his energy. He grabbed my hand and tugged. “Come on. And I’ll tell you
right now - I’m not making any promises this time.”

“Oh, God,” I groaned as he pulled me out of the bed. “Please
tell me you’re kidding again.”

“Am I?” he asked. Then he laughed and dragged me into the
bathroom.

Then we took a shower (and I was a little disappointed to
find that he
had
been kidding), ate some burgers, and spent the rest of
the evening cuddled up on the couch and watching television.

By the time Monday morning rolled around, we were both
finding it hard to say goodbye. We had showered and dressed and were ready to
go – me to work, and Jack to head off to the airport for his meeting in
Chicago.

Sunday had been a beautiful day filled with deliciously
satisfying lovemaking, sweet conversations and lots of cuddling and laughter.
It was a perfect weekend and I was feeling sad, not only because it had to end,
but because I wouldn’t see Jack again until Tuesday morning.

Jack was worried about having to go at all, but the meeting
was important for the company and we both agreed it wouldn’t be a good idea for
him to miss it.  To make himself feel a little more secure about leaving me
alone, he was going to follow me to the office and make sure I was safely
inside before driving off to the airport. Then I had to promise him that I
would stay in at lunch and go directly to my parents’ house after work - and
call the police if I saw the silver BMW anywhere near me.

“Well,” Jack sighed, pulling away from our embrace. “I guess
we’d better get going.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” I said, pulling him back in.

He smiled and kissed me again, then squeezed me to him
tightly and held me with his lips against my hair. “God, I didn’t think this
would be so hard.”  He loosened his hold and rubbed my back. “Okay, on the
count of three, we step away and walk to our cars. Agreed?”

I smiled at how silly we were being, but he was right: This
was
hard. “Okay,” I said. “Agreed.”

Our arms tightened around each other as he counted off.
“One…two…three.” We broke apart and I whimpered and heard him sigh as we turned
and walked out the door. He opened my car door and held it while I got in. Then
he leaned in and kissed me goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“That seems so far away,” I said with a pout.

He smiled at the pout. “I know. Love you, Ange.”

“Love you, Jack.”

He was still smiling when he closed my door and then he
followed me to work, driving off only after I was inside the building and waved
at him.

I moved dejectedly to my office, thinking it was going to be
a long day if I didn’t snap out of the doldrums and try to think happy
thoughts.  The accounting department was quiet as I walked through – I didn’t
see Marla anywhere, and with Frank and Heather both gone it seemed a little
like a ghost town.

I unlocked my office door and went inside, deciding if I was
going to be stuck with doing the payroll again this week, I was going to work
my ass off to get it all done today. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with it for
the rest of the week when Jack would be back.

I made a pot of coffee, texted my mom to tell her I wanted
to come over after work and I’d explain when I got there, and then got
started.  I applied myself to the task diligently, stopping only to call my
gynecologist and schedule an appointment.

I made quick work of the emails and phone calls that tried
to interrupt me, and lingered over the texts, some naughty, some sweet, that
Jack was sending my way. I hoped he was paying as much attention to his meeting
as he was to me.

I worked straight through lunch, eating a leftover hamburger
at my desk. By 5:00, I saw I only had a couple of more hours left until the job
was finished so, since I didn’t have Jack to go home to, I decided to stay and
get it over with. I texted my mom again to let her know I wouldn’t be there
until later, then carried on.  At 7:30 I was yawning and relieved to finally be
done. If it hadn’t been for Jack’s messages brightening up the day, I might
have died from sheer boredom long before noon.

After closing up my office, I walked through the empty
building in search of the security guard.  I wasn’t really sure what he did all
night, but I found him in the break room, drinking coffee and watching a
portable television, and he agreed to walk me to my car.

I looked around the empty parking lot, the only other car
belonging to the guard, and didn’t see anything unusual. I relaxed and got into
my car, locking the doors before waving my thanks to the guard.

My phone beeped and I found another text from Jack. I
assumed his meeting was over and he was probably in his hotel room, because the
texts were getting increasingly sinful. This one was downright filthy. His
creativity with the dirty word made me laugh and turned me on at the same
time.  I shot back an equally filthy text, imagining his face when he got it,
and laughed out loud as I started my car and drove off.

Making a quick detour to my house to grab some clothes, I
took a minute in the driveway to read Jack’s response. That one almost made me
blush. Almost.

I ran up to the house wondering if I would be able to manage
phone sex later without my parents overhearing. I laughed again, my head filled
with thoughts of Jack and feeling happier than I had ever been. I unlocked my door
and hurried inside.

I never even saw that first punch coming.