The Wanted Short Stories (12 page)

I rolled over, opened my eyes, and yawned. I reached for Jeff, but all I felt was empty space.

“I’m about to call and change our tickets to go home today.”

I sat up quickly and looked at Jeff. He was standing at the window, looking out over the Ohio River.

“What?” I yelled out.

Jeff turned and looked at me.

I jumped out of bed and grabbed my robe. “I don’t want to go home. We have five days. You said we had five days!” I shouted.

“Hey, Scott, can I call you back? Yeah, I’m meeting him in the lobby in about an hour to pay him. Yeah, by tomorrow, I hope. Let me call you back.”

I placed my hands on my hips. There was no way in hell I was going home early. We hardly ever got alone time. I still had four days left.

“Ari, I think it’s best if we just head home.”

My mouth dropped open. My heart broke in two because he wanted to go home, and then I quickly moved on to being pissed.

“Grow up, Johnson. I made a fucking bad call when I danced with that douche last night. I tried to tell you I was sorry last night, but you wouldn’t even let me talk. You didn’t even give me a chance to say that I’d acted like a child and I was sorry. You just up and decided that we don’t deserve to be alone together. Is that it? So, because I danced with a guy last night, you have decided that you’re going to sulk. Well, I’m sorry, but that is not happening. What happened between us yesterday afternoon was amazing. I haven’t felt like that in a very long time. I forgot what it was like to have passionate hot sex and to do wild and crazy things. I don’t want that to be it. I don’t want to go back to Texas with us not talking to each other because we’re mad. We’ll get home and just bury it all, and then we’ll go back to our everyday life. I don’t want that.”

When I began crying, Jeff took a step toward me, but I stepped back, and he stopped.

“I want us, Jeff. I want to just be with you. I want to spend the next four days laughing, making love, shopping, making love…and maybe more shopping.”

Jeff just stared at me, and a sob escaped my mouth.

“Damn it. You’re not pushing me away because of one stupid, meaningless fucking dance! The only pushing you’re allowed to do is with me up against a wall while you’re fucking me.”

Jeff dropped his cell phone to the floor and quickly walked up to me. He grabbed me and picked me up as I wrapped my legs around him. He slammed his lips to mine, and we began kissing each other like it was our last kiss. He slammed me against the wall and held me up as he tried to unbutton his pants. I moved my hands and helped him push his pants and underwear down. When his erection sprang free, I let out a moan.

I looked into his eyes and whispered, “I need my husband to fuck me—now.”

Jeff gave me his smile that made my heart melt.

He whispered, “I love you, Ari.”

“I love you, too.”

“Now is not the time to be gentle though, baby.”

He pushed open my robe and began sucking on a nipple as I grabbed on to his shoulders. He quickly pushed himself into me and began fucking me hard and fast. It was exactly what we’d both needed. We couldn’t do this kind of thing at home anymore, and to just let go and not try to be quiet was an unbelievable feeling.

“Harder, Jeff! Harder!”

He held on to me tighter and walked us over to the bed, never once pulling out of me. He dropped me onto the bed, and I let out a squeal. I could feel my stomach clenching from the way he was looking at me.

“Please, Jeff…please.”

“Move up, Ari, and grab the headboard.”

I scurried as fast as I could and grabbed the headboard.

“I’m going to fuck you, baby. Don’t let go of the headboard.”

I nodded my head. He slowly pushed into me and then pulled almost all the way out. I wanted to scream for him to go faster. He did it two more times, and I began thrashing my head back and forth.

“Jeff!”

He gave me a smirk and said, “You just feel so good, so damn warm.”

“Fuck me already!”

He pushed into me so hard and deep that I was shocked I hadn’t come on the spot. He dug into my hips and gave me exactly what I had asked for.

I felt the buildup beginning, and I screamed out, “Harder. Damn it! Harder!”

Our bodies slapped together, making the sexiest noises I’d ever heard.

“Ari…baby, I’m getting close.”

Then, it hit me. I started calling out his name over and over. “Jeff, I’m coming! Yes! Oh, yes! Jeff, harder!”

It didn’t take long before Jeff called out my name. He collapsed on top of me while panting for air. He rolled over, and we both lay there, desperately gasping for air.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I. Can’t. Breathe, Jeff.”

“My. God. You’re. Amazing. Do you know that?”

I let out a giggle as Jeff sucked in air. I rolled over and lightly moved my finger around in circles on his chest.

“I like being fucked by you,” I said.

His head snapped over to me. “And I like fucking you—a lot.”

I smiled as I crawled on top of him. I leaned down and placed my hands on his chest. “Then, do it more often.”

His eyes filled with lust, and he nodded his head.

It wasn’t often I could cause him to be silent, so I took in the moment and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Ari and I walked together, holding hands, as we window-shopped at all the little stores downtown. I was still flying high from our little round of lovemaking this morning, and by the glow on Ari’s face, I thought it was safe to think she was, too.

“I’m kind of getting hungry. Are you ready for lunch?” I asked.

She nodded her head. “Yes. I didn’t even realize how hungry I was until you said something!”

I saw a little café. “How about that place?” I pointed up ahead.

She turned and looked. “Perfect!”

We walked up to the hostess, and she quickly seated us on the patio.

Ari wrapped her arms around herself and began rubbing her arms.

“Are you chilly?

She smiled. “Just a little, but I’m okay.”

I stood up, took off my jacket, and handed it to her. “Here, babe. I have a T-shirt under my long-sleeved shirt.”

Ari gave me that adorable smile of hers where she scrunches up her nose and her eyes gleam with happiness. “Are you sure?”

I nodded my head as I walked around the table, and I helped her put it on. As I sat back down, I thanked God that Ari had made us stay. This whole morning and afternoon had been amazing.

The waitress took our drink order and gave us a few minutes to look at the menu.

I peeked up and let out a chuckle when I saw Ari looking at me. “What are you thinking about?”

She shrugged. “You. Us. How much I love you and how happy you make me.”

“I love you, too, baby, and you’ve always made me so happy, Arianna. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have you in my life.”

She glanced back down at the menu and then said, “I know what I want—a big cheeseburger with french fries…or maybe onion rings instead. Yeah, I want onion rings for sure.”

“You wanna split the onion rings?” I asked.

When she didn’t respond, I looked up.

“Really? Do you not know me at all? Onion rings, Jeff. Onion. Rings. No, I’m not sharing them with you.”

I dropped the menu and held up my hands. “Hey, the mind-blowing sex this morning must have screwed with my brain. I forgot how much you love them.”

Ari laughed. “I’d say. I think I might like a repeat of that mind-blowing sex this afternoon, if you’re, um…up for it.”

I grinned. “I’m in the mood for more, screw-with-my-head sex for sure. We could even try—” For some reason, I looked up and over Ari’s shoulder, and I instantly stopped talking.

You have got to be kidding me. What in the hell is he doing here?

Ari kicked me under the table and leaned forward. “What’s wrong? Just the thought of you being inside—ouch! Why in the hell did you kick me?”

I jerked my head and motioned for Ari to turn around.

She looked at me with a confused look, and then she turned and jumped up. “Daddy? Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?”

Mark glared at me as Ari wrapped her arms around her father. She pulled back and asked him again, “Daddy, why in the world are you here in Kentucky?”

When he finally stopped shooting daggers at me, he looked at Ari and smiled. “Your mother and I are in town for a Fragile X auction. A dear friend of mine from college is hosting the auction.”

“When’s the auction? Is it open to the public? Why didn’t y’all tell me about it? I swear, I told Mom that Jeff and I were going out of town.”

Mark snapped his eyes back at me, and I slid a little further down in my seat. The man still scared the shit out of me, and I was pretty sure his threat of knowing people who knew people had been spot-on.

“It’s tonight. It’s invite only, but I’m sure Jason wouldn’t mind at all if my daughter and her”—I smiled as he looked at me and shook his head—“husband came along as our guests. It’s a formal dinner and a dance afterward.”

Ari did that little jump she would do when she was excited. She clapped her hands and turned to me. “Shopping!”

I gave her a grin and began looking around for our waitress. I needed to put someone else between Mark and me.

As our waitress walked up, Ari quickly gave her father a kiss. “Plan on us being there for sure. I’ll call Mom here in a bit.”

Mark smiled warmly at Ari as he leaned down and gave her a kiss. He looked over at me as I stood up and he reached his hand out for mine.

“Mark, it was great to see you.”

He looked me up and down and frowned before giving me a smile. “You, too. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon…shopping.”

I quickly sat back down and swallowed hard as Ari giggled. When Mark turned and walked away, I felt like I could breathe again. I leaned back in the chair and looked up at our waitress, who had been waiting patiently.

“I need a drink, a very large drink,” I said.

“He does not. Don’t listen to him. I’ll have the cheeseburger, well-done with everything, um…and an order of onion rings with ranch dressing on the side, please.”

Ari tilted her head and smiled at me. I had no idea how she could recover so fast from all that.

“I’ll take what she ordered.”

The waitress laughed and took our menus. “Let me know if you change your mind about that drink.”

I nodded and mumbled, “I will.”

“Oh my gosh. We get to go to a formal dinner and dance tonight. How exciting! Maybe we could get a few leads on some horses tonight.” Ari sat back and began twisting her hair with her finger.

She only did that when she was nervous.

Aha! So, her dad overhearing us did bother her. I knew it!
“Does it not bother you at all that your dad—yet again—walked up on us talking about sex? And not just normal sex but mind-blowing, hot sex.”

Ari shrugged. “Nah. I’m pretty sure he knows we have sex. He has two grandchildren.”

I shook my head. “Not the same thing, Ari. Not the same thing.”

She pulled out her phone and waved her hand at me like she wanted to brush the conversation away.

Fine by me.
I’d be the one who dealt with her dad and his death stare all night long.

“Let me find a dress store. Oh! There’s one right around the corner. We’ll have to rent you a tux.” She looked at me through her eyelashes and bit down on her lip. “Oh God, I get so turned-on when you’re in a tux.”

I smiled and felt my dick come to attention. “Oh, yeah?”

She nodded her head. “Oh, yeah, very much so.”

I wiggled my eyebrows up and down.

Ari let out a little moan. “Mr. Johnson, I’m going to get a dress that will knock you out of your damn boots.”

I adjusted my tux in the mirror and ran my hand through my hair to give it that perfect look. Ari was still getting ready. She wouldn’t let me see the dress she had bought earlier today, and she’d kept teasing me with hints about it.

The bathroom door opened slowly, and I held my breath. When she opened the door completely, I exhaled quickly. I was pretty sure my mouth was hanging open.

Ari stood before me in a beautiful ivory strapless gown that was covered in lace. The slit on the side went far up her leg. I almost wanted to tell her she had to take the dress off and put something else on. I moved my eyes up and saw the diamond necklace with the matching diamond drop earrings. I had bought them for her for our five-year anniversary. Her hair was pulled up with just a few curls framing her face. Her bright-red lipstick made it seem like she had just stepped out of a movie set from the 1950s. My eyes wandered back down her body before landing on her perfect chest.