Secrets of a Shy Socialite (18 page)

She looked away. “He, uh, warned me this might happen.”

“And you risked cracking your head open on the tub floor rather than asking me to sit in here with you on the off chance an experienced medical professional may be right?”

“I felt absolutely, totally fine before the shower.” She looked up at him with her beautiful blue eyes. “I took care of my mother for years. Trust me. I would not have risked a head injury by taking a shower if I felt the least bit unwell. I honestly thought I’d be fine.”

“How do you feel now?” he asked.

“Like I’d appreciate it if you’d sit in here with me while I rinse off.”

Good, because no way he was leaving.

“But please,” she said, starting to stand. “It makes me uncomfortable for you to look at me right now.”

He closed his eyes.

She kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

She turned on the shower. He waited until he heard the curtain close before he opened his eyes. “You okay?”

“Fine.”

He lifted his wet shirt over his head, then what the hell, stripped off the rest of his clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist. “Now that you’re cleared to take showers, does that mean no more sponge baths? Cause I was kind of really looking forward to giving you a sponge bath.”

She laughed. “You have got to be kidding me. After everything you saw just now, all you’re thinking about is giving me a sponge bath?”

As a matter of fact, “Yeah.”

“You’re amazing,” she said.

“Back atcha, baby.”

“I like it when you call me baby.”

“Why, Jena Piermont. Are you flirting with me?”

She turned off the water. “Please hand me a towel and close your eyes.”

Obviously, there was still work to be done. He closed his eyes and opened a large bath towel prepared to wrap her up in it. But they’d made some progress tonight. And progress was good.

Post op week two Jena let him take care of her drains, and she returned to their bed, although she slept out of reach and propped up almost as high as if she was in the recliner. At least he could hold her hand as they drifted off to sleep.

On the next Wednesday they returned to the surgeon’s office and Jena’s remaining drains were removed. That time he was allowed in the exam room but had to stay on the outside of the curtain. At least he could hear the doctor’s evaluation and instructions.

Progress.

Within a few days of drain removal things started to return to normal. Jena could move around better and required less assistance caring for the twins. But by far the best part was she resumed sleeping on her side so he could cuddle up behind her at night. An activity he enjoyed much more than smoking cigars, drinking beer, and playing cards with a bunch of guys into the early morning hours. So when Ryan gave him a hard time for cancelling his fourth poker game in a row, Justin told him to find a permanent replacement to fill his spot. Justin had no interest in playing every week. Here and there maybe, but right now he’d much rather spend his time with his fiancée and daughters.

Toward the end of post op week three it was as if the surgery had never happened. Except he had yet to set eyes on his lovely fiancée’s undressed post-surgery body, and they had yet to have sex.

Justin didn’t push. But he made it known when she was ready so was he.

Nothing.

So in the middle of post op week four, when he returned home from work, color him totally surprised when Jena greeted him at the door, wearing an instant hardon inducing red babydoll negligee with a matching, sheer, robe, complete with a hint of cleavage, and those silver stilettoes he loved.

“Welcome home,” she said with a hesitant smile. Shy. Unsure. She fiddled with her feathered hem. “I thought maybe...” She looked away. “If you wanted...” She swallowed. “We could try...”

“You look fantastic, Jena...amazing.” Justin’s sex-starved body went hard at the sight of her.

She gifted him with a beautiful smile, walked to him and went up on her toes for a kiss. Not the platonic pecks from the last few weeks. But a real tongue in the mouth, I want you naked now, kind of kiss.

As difficult as it was to do, Justin stopped her.

At her hurt expression he explained, “I have been in some terrible areas today and I need to shower. Five minutes. Tops.” He kissed her. Then ran for the shower chanting ‘Please don’t change your mind. Please don’t change your mind. Please don’t change your mind.’

He finished in three.

“Now.” He hurried into the living room, wearing nothing but a pair of briefs. “Where were we?”

She sat on the corner of the couch with her hands crossed in her lap her feet on the floor, looking prim. And nervous. “The girls are spending the night with Jaci.”

Finally. Justin joined her on the couch. Night after night, morning after morning, he’d held her close, aroused and wanting, waiting for her to be ready, waiting for this very moment, waiting to prove how inconsequential breasts had become. Because he loved every enticing, alluring, lovable inch of Jena and was raring to show her.

“Come here.” He patted his lap.

She looked over at him. “I’m not sure how this will turn out. But we need to get past this first awkward time if there’s any hope...” She turned her head. “I want to make you happy, to give you what you need. But...”

“You do make me happy,” he said. “Please.” He reached for her arm. “What I need right now is to hold you close.” To calm her nerves, rouse her passion and build her confidence.

In a show of trust that humbled him, she climbed over to straddle his lap. “Is this okay?”

He was so desperate to have her, hanging by their feet from the ceiling would have been okay. He nodded, placed his hands on her hips and guided her down.

Her eyes went wide with surprise when she settled on top of his erection.

“You feel what you do to me?” he asked, rocking beneath her, feeling her body relax. Good. “I want you just as much now as I did before.”

“Kiss me,” she said seconds before she set her lips to his.

Soft. Warm. Moist. Tentative. Justin channeled every bit of his love, relief, and hope for the future into the kiss he gave her back, careful not to squeeze her as tight as he wanted for fear he’d hurt her.

When Jena broke away, breathing heavy, looking slightly dazed, she said, “I love the way you kiss me.” She touched a finger to her lips. “I didn’t think it’d be enough but...” She rocked her hips. Tears formed in her eyes. “That feels so good.”

Justin massaged her through her panties, slid his hands up under her satin and lace teddy, down to her butt, pressed her down, swiveled, teetered on the verge of bursting.

She rubbed along his length. He stayed her hips. “Baby you don’t want to do that right now. Lift up.”

Jena did and he shimmied out of his boxers.

When she sat back down he met her bare sex. What the...? He looked down. When had she removed those sexy red panties?

“They have an opening. For you to...” She blushed.

Justin hoped she’d never stopped blushing for him. He thrust up. Made contact. So damn good.

“I’m on birth control,” she said. “And since both our STD panels came out negative...” She sank down, taking him inside of her, naked skin to glorious hot, wet, naked skin. His first time ever and it felt so good Justin wasn’t sure he’d survive it.

She leaned forward to whisper in his ear. “I’m not sure if I mentioned how much I appreciate all your understanding and patience over the past few weeks.”

She had.

“Or how lucky I am to have you as my soon-to-be husband.”

Yup. But he didn’t mind hearing it again.

“Or how much I love you.”

Now that he’d never get tired of hearing. “I love you, too, Jena.”

In a move that far exceeded her experience she jerked her hips and took him even deeper, making using his big brain near impossible. He fought to remain focused on the conversation.

Unsuccessfully.

He gripped her butt, withdrew and surged back in then pulled her down for a kiss. “Thank you for choosing me as your one and only.” He started to lift her teddy, needing to see all of her, to show her he was okay with the changes to her body, that they didn’t matter. Because he loved her.

“No,” she said, holding it in place. “I’d prefer to leave it on.”

Perfectly fine, as long as she didn’t push him away. “Did I mention my fondness for sexy negligees?” He caressed the smooth, luxurious wisp of fabric covering her belly.

“I’ve got dozens of them.”

And Justin couldn’t wait to see and feel and snuggle up against every single one of them.

EPILOGUE

Two weeks later

“Y
OU
look beautiful,” Jaci said to Jena.

“So do you,” Jena replied. Identical, in fact, from their matching ivory wedding gowns in simple, understated, tasteful, elegance to their updos, makeup and manicures.

“Mom would love that we’re getting married here.”

In her beautiful garden. “Thank you for suggesting it.” Insisting actually, just as she’d insisted on waiting to get married until Jena was all healed and ready to participate in a double ceremony. “I feel like she’s here with us.”

Jaci looked around and smiled. “Me, too.”

Jena would forever be indebted to her stubborn sister who’d refused to let her be content with a quickie courthouse wedding.

“Is that harp music I hear?”

Jaci listened. Then smiled. “Surprise!” She bounced on the tippy-toes of her pricy pumps. “I couldn’t help myself. I’d seen her at Patsy’s wedding last year. I came across her card while looking for a ring I’d misplaced. I called her and she had room in her schedule. It was meant to be.”

“You did it,” Jena said. While she’d been preoccupied by the twins, Justin and adjusting to her new body and her new life to realize. “Except for the hundreds of guests and mom being here, you’ve put together my dream wedding.” Right down to the harpist. “How did you know?”

Jaci picked at her bouquet. “You only talked about it incessantly when we were teenagers.”

“I didn’t think you listened.”

“Well I did,” Jaci said. “Over the years your fantasy kind of became my fantasy, too.” She shrugged. “So here we are.”

“I love you.” Jena hugged her sister. “And I don’t care if you wrinkle.”

“I love you back.” Jaci squeezed her tight. “I want you to be happy.”

Jena stepped out of their embrace. “I am.” So happy. So in love. So blessed. “And I want you to be happy, too.”

“I am.” Jaci smiled.

“Well,” Jena said. “Neither one of us thought it possible, but we both managed to find great guys who love us as much as we love them. Despite daddy’s mandate.”

“And Jerry’s underhanded maneuvering.”

No. Their childhoods weren’t perfect. But with each new generation came the opportunity for change. “I won’t ever force my girls into marriage. Or allow either one of them to give up their childhood to take on adult responsibilities just to make my life easier.”

Jaci set her hand on her flat belly and looked down at it. “And I won’t allow my children to ever feel the pain and degradation of physical abuse. I will accept them and love them, faults and all, no matter how wild or badly they behave or how much they act out.”

“How could I not have seen it?” Jena said, eying Jaci’s protective, loving caress of her abdomen. “You’re pregnant!”

Jaci smiled and nodded.

“Oh, Jaci.” Jena wrapped her arms around her sister again. “I’m so happy for you. Now our children will be close in age. They’ll grow up together and be best friends.”

“Which is exactly what I wanted. But please, don’t say anything. I’m going to tell Ian tonight.”

“Dah-lings, you look mah-velous.” Aunt Mill, who’d spared no expense dressing up for the wedding and looked very Hollywood glamorous, walked down the stone pathway to where they stood. Out of hiding from her abusive husband just for the day, Jena and Jaci had decided having Aunt Mill at their ceremony was more important than any other local guests. “It’s time to go.” She reached them, turned around, and held out an elbow to each of them. “Your young men are getting antsy. I need Jena on the right and Jaci on the left.”

Jena looked at Jaci. And Jaci looked and Jena. And with sweet smiles they switched places.

Completely unaware, Aunt Mill led them down the pathway.

“I can feel your mother all around us.” Aunt Mill looked up to the clear blue sky and inhaled deeply. “As she was before the cancer and the head injury and she is exuberant.”

A fragrant breeze blew past.

They turned a corner and Ian, Justin, and the judge who would be performing the ceremony, came into view.

Marta stood to the right beside Justin, holding Abbie and Annie. Mandy stood to the left beside Ian, holding Maddie.

Justin, so handsome in his tuxedo, looked back and forth between her and Jaci.

Ian, looking equally handsome, winked at Jena then focused in on his real bride.

Aunt Mill stopped about five feet from the men.

Justin looked at Ian who motioned for him to go first so he walked toward Jaci and Jena’s heart squeezed. After all they’d been through together he still couldn’t recognize her. He extended his hand palm up in front of Jaci. Jena debated what to do. But at the last possible second, he turned toward Jena and quietly said, “I believe I’m supposed to be marrying you today, Jena, unless you’ve changed your mind.”

Joy fluttered just under her skin. “I haven’t.” She took his hand and accompanied him to stand before the judge.

A warm, fragrant breeze enveloped her in love and Jena knew, without a doubt, her mom was in attendance.

Abbie started to fuss.

Justin made a move toward Marta then stopped himself.

The judge started to speak.

Abbie started to cry.

“She’s not going to stop until you hold her,” Jena whispered.

And sure enough Justin took Abbie into his arms and she immediately went quiet.

“Sorry,” Justin said.

The judge continued.

Then Annie started to cry.

Jena took her from Marta and she immediately went quiet.

“Sorry,” Jena said.

The judge continued.

After they repeated their vows and as the judge said, “You may now kiss your brides,” Justin handed Abbie back to Marta and took Annie and handed her to Marta, and over their cries of protest said to Jena, “I love our girls, but some moments aren’t meant to be shared.” And he took her in his arms and kissed her.

During the small luncheon at Jaci’s condo—because Aunt Mill couldn’t be seen out in public—that followed, Jena whispered in her husband’s ear, “I forgot to tell you, your package arrived this morning while you were at the store.” The surprise present he’d ordered for her to wear on their wedding night.

Since Jena preferred to keep her foobs—fake boobs—under wraps, she and Justin had taken up the fun and surprisingly stimulating hobby of searching out enticing negligees and arousing outfits for her to wear to bed.

Justin smiled that smile that never failed to put her in the mood. “I can’t wait to see you in it,” he whispered back with a quick swipe of his tongue in her ear.

“And I can’t wait to see you see me in it.” Modeling for Justin turned out to be a highly erotic form of foreplay they both enjoyed, and Jena loved to watch his lust-filled eyes when she performed for him.

Their sex life had changed, but was no less satisfying than it’d been before surgery. Jena couldn’t remember what aroused nipples felt like, and she didn’t miss them at all.

* * * * *