Succulent (10 page)

“It’s not a waste. Would you just open it
Grayson? Please?” She pleaded. His lips tight, he opened it. It was
beautiful. Stainless steel with a Roman numeral face and black
leather straps. He couldn’t help but think that this watch was well
in the four thousand dollar range.

“Turn it over Gray.” She said tenderly. He
looked at her a moment, then turned it over.
With
all of our love, Love Josie and the kids.
, was engraved on the
back. His eyes filled with tears. “I left it open ended instead of
putting Phil and Gracie. After this week I know I’m pregnant.” He
smiled looking at her.

“Yeah. I knocked ya up real good.” He kissed
her. “ Thank you baby.” He took off his watch and put on the one
she gave him with her help.

“I didn’t know Grayson. If I wanted to get
married when you asked me.” She said softly. Grayson looked up at
her. He’d never known that. “In fact I was uncertain up to about
three years in.”

“Joanne.” He said. Josie looked up into his
eyes.

“But every night I go to sleep and I feel
you beside me.” She said. “Every morning I wake up in your arms,
I’m so happy I chose you. That you chose me. Grayson I love you so
much.” He pulled her to him.

“I love you too baby.”

“I bought it because I wanted you to always
know how much you mean to us.” Josie said. “We love you Grayson. We
all love you so much.” He kissed her deeply and held her to him
feeling like the luckiest man in the world.

*~*~*~*

They picked up the kids Sunday morning,
bright and early. Maggie opened the door finding Josie and Grayson
in a kiss. Josie let go but Grayson didn’t, he kissed her even as
she turned to face Maggie.

“I guess the trip worked out really
well.”

“It did.” Josie blushed.

“Thank you.” Grayson said. “Thank you, thank
you, thank you.” Josie and Maggie laughed. Grayson kissed Josie’s
cheek walking in. “Where is my horrible brother?”

“Making breakfast.” Maggie pointed inside.
Grayson disappeared into the kitchen. Josie smiled when the kids
screeched happily.

“So.” Maggie smiled. Josie shrugged closing
the door behind her.

“All I’ll say is Sunday I was a patient at
his hospital. Tuesday, was all out romance. Wednesday I was a fairy
and he was a giant. We did it in the woods.” Maggie squeaked.
“Thursday, I was a wench and he was a lord and Friday he was a
pirate.”

“Oh yeah.” She grinned. “How was that?”

“Well he raided my town and stole all of my
booty.” Josie said. Maggie got it instantly.

“You didn’t.” Maggie gasped. Josie nodded
giggling. “ How was it?”

“Pretty damn good Maggie.” Josie sighed.
“But I realized something on that trip. Every time I looked at him
I was happy. I picked good right. I made a good choice.”

“ Yeah, them Howe boys are something else.”
Maggie said looping her arm around Josie’s and leading her to the
kitchen.

John looked up at Josie and Maggie walked
in, she was so beautiful. Relaxed and refreshed looking. The kids
gave her a big hug and she gave them each a kiss. Grayson hadn’t
taken his eyes off of her since she walked in to the room. John saw
the pride and admiration in his brothers’ eyes.

“ You look good Jo.” John said walking over
and hugging her. Josie held him staring at Grayson. He smiled
lowering his head.

“ Your brother knows how to treat a woman
like a queen.”

“ Yeah I’ll bet.” John smiled at her. Josie
laughed softly. “ Hungry?”

“ Starved.” Josie said. She pulled out a
chair and sat talking to Grace and Phil about their week. Grayson
watched them fully to the gills with pride.

Maggie and John walked them to the car after
breakfast. The kids happily greeting the dogs who were wrestling in
the grass. The dogs took off when they saw Grace and Phil running
their way. Josie and Grayson let them all play while the grownups
talked. Soon they called everyone to the car and put them in their
places, the dogs in the back, kids in booster seats.

“Wait Maggie.” Josie searched the bag in the
back finding what she was looking for quickly. She took out a big
red bag from The Kitten Shop, which was the name of the sex shop
they had visited.

“What’s this?” Maggie asked.

“Trust me you’ll enjoy it.” She said softly.
“You may want to turn off the phones, you won’t want to be
disturbed.” Grayson grinned closing the trunk as John looked at
Josie.

“ Trust us,” Grayson said. “ You won’t want
to be disturbed. But work on your pirate accent.” He patted his
brother back. They thanked them again and got in.

As Josie pulled off Maggie looked into the
bag, she took out a costume packet.

“ Pirates.” She blushed. He looked into the
bag.

“ What is that?”

“ Our night.” She took his hand leading him
inside.

Josie settled the kids, checking their
homework before letting them veg out. Grayson unpacked, made sure
the dogs were fed, and their houses were cleaned out. He came in,
as it grew dusky out and Josie fed him, still she was beaming
bright and blushing in memory of their week together.

At ten she walked into the room and pulled
the door closed a little. Grayson sat his planner aside, taking off
his reading glasses as she crawled into bed. Josie kissed him
softly slipping her hand into his pants.

“ Doctor, I have a fever.” She whispered.
Grayson grinned kissing her.

“ Oh yeah?” He said. Josie nodded.

“ And a really bad aching.”

“ Well let me have a look see.” Grayson said
Josie pulled him onto her kissing him.

It was minutes later but felt like seconds.
Grayson kissed her neck thrusting harder. She whimpered holding
him, arching her back as she tried to meet him. He pulled up on his
hands staring down into her eyes as he thrust harder. They were
both hurdling toward their climaxes. Josie whimpered gripping his
ass, pulling him deeper into her.

“ Dad.” Phil yelled.

“ No.” Grayson said, Josie whimpered in
frustration.

“ Daaaa-deeee.” Phil sang loudly. Grayson
collapsed on her, frustrated. Josie sighed kissing his sweaty
shoulder.

“ I got him.” She said. Grayson rolled off
shaking his head.

“ I’ll get him.” He put his pants back on.
Phil called him again. “ See you back here in eighteen to twenty
years?” He said. She patted her belly.

“ Twenty sounds right.” Josie smiled. He
nodded, kissing her and walked out pulling on his shirt. She looked
up at the ceiling holding the sheet tightly over her chest. Josie
sighed not realizing that she was smiling from ear to ear. She
loved her husband to death and she wouldn’t trade him, or this love
they had, for the world.

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