You Can't Go Home Again (29 page)

“I’m counting on it.”

This time, when she pressed her lips to his, she felt him
relax against her. Felt the sizzle of heat, the promise of passion. The desire
that was never far from the surface rose, overwhelming them both with just one
kiss. As his tongue darted out to meet hers, she felt the insistent tug of longing
pulse through her, bringing with it, frenzy.

As his blood began to heat, he barely registered the words
Dani said. “Couch… Jace.”

Pulling his lips away, he shook his head, partly in answer
but mostly to clear it a little. He grabbed her, tossing her over his shoulder
much like he’d carried her into the house. He started up the stairs, bypassing
her bedroom and heading into the master.

This time, instead of pounding on his back, she was lifting
his shirt, rubbing lazy little circles against his skin, right at the waist of
his jeans. When he felt her finger dip under the edge, he tightened his hold on
her legs. “You’re making it very difficult to walk, Danielle.”

He heard her soft chuckle, just before a couple more fingers
dipped into his jeans, her little nails scraping over his skin. He grabbed her
legs with his other hand, reaching up to gently smack her ass. Feeling her
little sigh against his back had his already aching shaft pulsing against his
zipper.

As they finally reached the master bedroom, Jace gave her
one more, harder, slap before tossing her backwards onto the bed. He knew he
should give her a chance to look around, but he couldn’t wait. She would have
years to look at the bedroom set he’d picked, but right now, he needed her. One
roaming look later, he knew she felt the same.

Her legs were slightly parted, inviting even though she was
still fully clothed. Her stomach rose and fell rapidly as her breathing sped
up, racing to keep pace with her desire. Her nipples were taut little buds
pressing against her shirt, leaving little doubt as to her wants. When he
reached her face, her lips open, her eyes glazed over, his own arousal rushed
to new heights.

She was here, in Austin. She was wearing his ring. His
overwhelming need to claim her rolled through him once again. He knew it was
foolish, should be sated since she’d agreed to marry him. Yet instead it was
somehow stronger; an almost primal need to take her, to prove that she was his.
He took a few deep breaths, trying to push the need back. When he felt her
hands lifting his shirt, grabbing for the snap on his jeans, he let go, giving
in to the urgency.

* * * * *

He shoved her backwards, bringing a little cry from her lips
as the breath whooshed out. He grabbed at her jeans, yanking them down and
throwing them across the room before he finally fell forward onto her.

When she felt his weight pressing her back into the
mattress, she went crazy. She needed to taste him, feel his skin against her
lips, her tongue. She pressed her face into his neck, nipping a little as she
worked her way down, then soothing her bites with her tongue.

As his chest pressed into her breasts, she could feel the
heat of his body even through her shirt. She rubbed her breasts back and forth,
needing the friction. When he bit gently on her ear, a whimper escaped her
lips. Her hips pushed up, pressing against him, trying to get closer.

She could feel the moisture rushing down, prepping her body
for him. She felt hollow, needy. She reached down, desperate to get his shirt
off, and grabbed the hem, tugging up until she couldn’t go any further.

Jace rolled off her, yanking his shirt off and tossing it to
join her jeans. Seeing his chest, all lean corded muscle, the light trail of
hair leading down into his jeans, she had to have him. Now.

She swung her leg, straddling him, feeling his hard length
pressing against her core. She grabbed her shirt, throwing it off. As her bra
joined the other clothes, Jace’s hands came up to knead her breasts. When his
thumbs grazed her nipples, her soft sigh joined his deep growl.

She had missed him. She had tried to ignore it, tried to
move on, move forward, but her heart had always belonged to Jace. Now, being
here with him, feeling the weight of his ring on her finger, felt too good to
be true. But if this was a dream, she never wanted to wake.

She covered his hands with her own, pressing harder,
encouraging him to use more strength, to squeeze tighter. She twisted her hips,
grinding against his shaft. When he ran his finger over her nipple again,
grazing it with his thumbnail, she felt the flutters start low in her belly.

“God, yes… Jace! Aaahh!”

* * * * *

He heard her, felt the muscles in her thighs start to clench
his hips, and couldn’t stop himself from thrusting against her. He knew she was
on the verge, was going to come any second. His cock throbbed, pressing against
her core, trying to break through his zipper and sink home.

He sat upright, squeezing her hips to hold her in place as
she twisted faster and faster against him. He cupped her breast, lifting it to
his lips, rasping his tongue over the taut bud before sucking it into his
mouth.

As his lips closed over the peak, Dani went over too. He
felt her body tighten, the muscles clenching as she threw her head back and
moaned. Hearing her pleasure, seeing her let go, Jace fought not to follow her
to his own release. The blood in his groin surged, making him so hard he hurt.

He gripped her hips, thrusting against her once more before
tossing her onto her back again. He stripped off his jeans as fast as he could,
settling back on top of her and pressing his mouth down onto hers.

As their tongues battled, he ran a hand between them,
tugging her silky underwear to the side so he could plunge his fingers into her
waiting heat. Her orgasm had made her wetter than he could ever remember
feeling. He gritted his teeth, thrusting against her leg.

When she cried out, writhing against his hand, he lost the
battle. He grabbed her hands, pushing them up over her head as he moved his
hips, sliding his aching cock into her tight sheath.

“God, Dani…you’re so damn hot. I need you!”

“Yes, Jace… Yes…” she cried out, throwing her head back,
lost in her own pleasure.

When her legs wrapped around his hips, he gripped both
wrists in one hand, using his other for leverage as he worked his hips,
pistoning in and out of her as hard as he could.

When her orgasm broke over her this time, he could feel
every contraction, every pulse squeezing his aching shaft. He kept thrusting,
making sure she had her pleasure before giving in to his own.

* * * * *

Jace woke later that afternoon, feeling Dani soft and warm
beside him. A rush of feeling assailed him, making his heart swell. No matter
what life threw at them, he knew that if he could only wake beside her each
day, he could handle it. They’d be happy.

He wanted to find a way to tell her how he felt. He knew
there was no way she could ever really understand what she brought to him. She
was giving up so much to come back here, to be with him. And he was
unbelievably grateful. Whatever she saw in him, he couldn’t see it. But, he
wanted to be that. Wanted to be a husband, someday a father, who was worthy of
her love.

When she started to stir, she reached back, grabbing his arm
and pulling it over her. He was hard already. Always was when she was near. As
she wiggled her hips, pressing against him, he gently lifted her leg, sliding
inside her waiting heat.

He reached his arm around, softly brushing her nipple,
feeling it pebble against his hand. If he couldn’t tell her, he would show her.
This time wasn’t about sex, wasn’t about need. He wanted to show her just how
much he loved her.

He kissed her neck, soft, teasing brushes. He grazed his
hand down her side, reaching around to find her nub, rubbing softly to bring
her pleasure. When he heard her quiet sighs, he thrust a little faster, feeling
her sheath tighten around him. As her orgasm broke through her, he followed.

As the quakes settled, the relaxation set in. He leaned
forward and whispered in her ear. “I love you…always.”

She kissed his fingertips before dozing off again, a soft
smile on her face.

Epilogue

The reception was perfect, just as the wedding had been. As
she danced with Jace, her husband, she smiled softly and looked around at their
friends, their family. Jace’s parents and brother were there, smiling,
delighted to see their son married. And, if David was to be believed, even
happier that it was to Dani.

Jenn’s dad had walked her down the aisle and claimed the
father/daughter dance. They’d had two candles at the ceremony, lit in the
background in honor of her parents, but Jenn’s family had filled the void. Dani
knew that she wasn’t alone.

Dani’d had her own set of fireworks to deal with at the
rehearsal dinner. Nina had flown in a few days ago to be a bridesmaid, and
sparks had flown between her and Zack. Nothing compared to what she and Jace
put Jenn through, but sparks nonetheless. As she thought back to Nina’s teasing
smile, and Zack’s total discomfiture, she knew there was something there. She
kept hoping to get a vision to confirm that, but so far it was just women’s
intuition.

Dani was thrilled! She would love to have Nina move out here
to Austin. She missed her. Most things about L.A. already felt like a distant
memory. A dream you can remember in vivid detail, but not quite real. But she
truly missed Nina.

She was looking forward to teaching at the local high school
with Jenn next year. She was already subbing while she worked on finishing her
master’s, but they had an opening for the coming fall. In the drama department!
Things couldn’t possibly have worked out any better. She wasn’t sure she would
like teaching, but watching teenagers discover the same love of theater that
she had was truly amazing.

She felt Jace’s lips, soft on her neck, just before he whispered
in her ear. “I love you, Mrs. Bradford.”

She smiled, glancing up to meet his eyes. “And I love you.”

“Are you about ready to go?”

“No, not yet. We only get one wedding—let’s stay and enjoy
it awhile.”

With a long, exaggerated sigh, Jace stepped back. “Okay.
Then I think we should stop dancing for now. Otherwise, I might just toss you
over my shoulder and carry you out of here.”

Dani quirked an eyebrow, smiling a little smile that clearly
said, I dare you.

When Jace pulled her to him with a growl, Dani laughed and
danced backwards. When Jace reached for her hands, Dani froze in place, her
muscles locking, her eyes glazing over.

* * * * *

Jace watched it happen and moved in next to her so no one
else would notice. After just a minute, she blinked, trying to refocus her eyes
on the room around her.

When he saw the soft smile, he felt his lungs suck in air,
and only then did he realize he’d been holding his breath. He had only had a
few nightmares in the six months since Dani had been back, but every time,
she’d lived through it all with him. And he hated it. But she’d also been
having more and more positive visions. Not just the bad things she’d seen in
the past, but happy things as well. Now, she looked not only happy, but excited
to the point of bursting.

With a quick glance around, making sure no one else was
listening, she bounced up and down on her toes before announcing, “It’s a boy!”

He felt his heart skip a beat. “A boy? Us? We’re having a
baby?”

“No, not us. Jenn and Bri. I don’t think it’s yet, or at
least she’s not pregnant yet, but it’s not too far away. Oh…don’t tell them.
You have to let them tell us.”

* * * * *

When she saw Jace’s terrified expression relax into a soft
smile, Dani figured she’d keep the rest to herself. For now.

Jace wasn’t quite ready to know they’d have a boy of their
own. And, just a few months younger than Jenn and Bri’s son, Daniel. Just like
she knew she’d have to let him decide on the name. No reason to tell him his
name would be Joshua. And that he and Daniel would be complete and total
hellions.

Some things were best discovered slowly.

WEP
Fiction

WEP Erotic Romance

I am a wife of fifteen years to a Navy Chief. I am the
mother of two wonderful children, a boy and a girl. Generally that is about as
far as I get before everyone assumes they have me summed up. However, I am so
much more. While those two things have and continue to be the most important
things in my life, they are not the sum total of who I am. I am stubborn,
mildly OCD, sarcastic, stubborn, feisty, independent, a fighter, oh and did I
mention stubborn?

Throughout my life I have been many things. A daughter, a
girlfriend, a student, a business woman, a wife, a mother, all the things that
come with that title (taxi driver, housekeeper, diaper changer, caregiver,
toddler chef making everything from chicken fingers to mac and cheese, school
aide, tutor, football AD, and currently working my way back to swimming with my
daughter). Now, as I sneak up on forty, I am finally discovering who I want to
be for the rest of my life. According to friends, I am a goth hippie. While I
am truly neither of those, I probably have pieces of each. What I am is exactly
like many of you... A woman on a journey to self-discovery, self-satisfaction,
and joy. Writing brings me much of that and I look forward to sharing my books
with you. Take a few hours for a peek inside my mind...

Check out my website at
http://www.aubriannahunter.com