Finding Valor (38 page)

Channie dipped her fingers into a can of shortening and smeared the goo inside the pan.
 

Josh reached over and swiped the wooden spoon out of the bowl. He hummed with pleasure as he licked the batter off.

“Josh!” Channie yanked the spoon away from him, leaving a glop of shortening on the back of his hand. “I wasn’t done with that.”

He grinned as he slid off the counter. He crept closer, stalking her.

Channie’s eyes narrowed as she backed away from him. “Don’t even think about it.”

He grabbed her around the waist with one hand and smeared shortening on her cheek with the other.

She squealed and writhed as she tried to escape his grasp. “You’re asking for it, buddy!”

“Give it your best shot, shorty.”

Channie managed to work one arm free. She plunged her hand into the bowl of batter then showed him her dripping fingers.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

She lunged for his head.
 

Josh ducked to the side, but she still managed to get a small amount of batter in his hair. Most of it landed on his neck. Quite a bit of it dripped inside his shirt, down the front of his chest. “I should make you clean that off with your tongue.”

Channie’s pupils dilated. She licked her lips but didn’t say a word.

Josh had no idea why he’d blurted out that highly suggestive comment, but it was a little late to take it back. He didn’t know what to say so he just stared at her. The silence stretched out until it grew uncomfortable. When Josh couldn’t stand it any longer, he said, “The batter has raw eggs in it. I don’t want you to get salmonella.”

Channie blinked then dropped her chin. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up while I get what’s left of this in the oven?” She patted his cheek and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Josh waited for her to slide the pan into the oven then brought his right hand to his chest and touched the star sapphire through his sticky shirt. He called up a small amount of energy and focused on his desire to clean up all the mess, not just what was on him. The air hummed with magic. Batter, flour, cornmeal, sugar and shortening floated off every stray surface, whirled into a mini-tornado then disappeared down the drain in the kitchen sink with a
whoosh.

Channie’s mouth fell open. She touched her cheek then stared at her fingers. “You cleaned me with magic?”

Josh shrugged, suddenly embarrassed. He didn’t want Channie to think he was showing off. “It’s no big deal.”

She looked around the kitchen with a growing expression of awe. “Everything’s clean…even the bowl and spoon.”

“It’s easier than doing it by hand.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Not really. Should I be?” Josh knew that magic could drain you, but honestly, he felt even more energized than before he’d used the cleaning spell. Just being near Channie was like being plugged into a light socket.

“After a spell like that? You should be exhausted. You should probably go lie down for a while.”

“Now that you mention it, I am a little tired.” He stretched and faked a yawn, hoping she’d join him.

“Come on.” Channie took him by the hand and led him into the master bedroom.

Yes!
 

She squeezed his hand then tugged him closer and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth. “Why don’t you take a nap while the cornbread is baking?”

Josh fell backwards onto the bed, taking Channie with him. “I said I was tired. Not sleepy.”

Her eyes widened in surprise then sparkled with delight as she fell onto the bed. “What did you have in mind?”

Josh rolled them both over, so he was on top, nudging her legs apart with his knees. He’d done it without thinking. Instincts taking over again. But nerves replaced instinct as soon as he realized what he’d done. He kissed the tip of her nose then flopped onto his back. He hid his eyes behind the crook of his elbow.

“Josh?” The tremor in Channie’s voice wrapped around his heart and squeezed. “Do I need to brush my teeth or something?”

He lifted his arm and found her sitting hunched over on the edge of the bed, hiding behind her curtain of hair. “No. You’re fine. You’re perfect.”

“Then what’s wrong? Why don’t you want to be with me?”

Josh sat up and brushed her hair over her shoulder so he could gaze into her emerald eyes. “I thought you wanted to take things slow this time.”

“I never said that.” She lifted her chin. She wasn’t crying, not yet, anyway. Her breath hitched. “You did.”

She was right. He hadn’t insisted they ‘take things slower’ for her benefit. It was for his. He needed to stop worrying about whether or not he made a fool out of himself. This girl loved him enough to marry him—
enough to have his baby
. She wanted him. She
needed
him. His insecurities were making her believe he wasn’t attracted to her.
I don’t care whether or not I can remember our wedding night.
I just want this to be good for
her
. I want to make her happy.

Magic stirred in Josh’s gut. He still didn’t remember having sex with Channie, but he didn’t need to. All he needed to do was give in to the joy of loving her.
 

“Come here.” Blood roared behind his ears as he kissed her. She moaned into his mouth then pulled away. At first, Josh was confused. But he figured out what she wanted when she wove her fingers through his hair and tugged his head to the base of her neck.

He lifted her onto his lap so that she was straddling him then trailed kisses up and down her throat. Her skin smelled like soap, but tasted sweet as honey. He’d never made out with anyone before, well, not that he could remember anyway. He’d never understood the desire to suck on a girl’s throat so hard it bruised her—until now. He refused to mark Channie, but damn, she tasted good.

She tugged on his shirt.
 

He broke free just long enough to yank it off then crushed his mouth against hers. He slid his hands under her sweater then trembled when his thumbs brushed the lacy lower edge of her bra. Her ribs were so prominent he could count them. That got his attention. He broke the kiss and lifted the hem of her sweater.

Channie misunderstood his intentions and pulled it the rest of the way off.

Josh’s gaze shifted to the front of her chest, but he was too concerned about her health to let it linger there for more than a second. He skimmed his fingers over her ribs. “When’s the last time you ate a decent meal?”

Channie folded her arms under her breasts, making them swell out of the top of her lacy, hot pink bra. “I’m not hungry.”
 

Josh shook his head to clear out the lust and forced his gaze to her eyes. “When was the last time you ate?”

“I had a couple of snickers bars and two cans of Dr. Pepper before Hunter got here.”
 

“Are you kidding me?” Didn’t she care about their baby? Maybe she just didn’t understand the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy. “You can’t just eat candy and soda.”

“You can go get me some fried potatoes from McDonald’s tomorrow.”

“French fries aren’t healthy.”

Channie gave him a playful shove. “I’ve got a ways to go before I start getting fat.”

“Give it a couple of months.” Josh dropped his gaze to Channie’s flat stomach.

Channie’s eyes flashed. “You better just shut up and kiss me before you dig that hole you’re in any deeper.”

Josh wouldn’t get anywhere by making her angry. He’d bring Channie some pamphlets or maybe go buy her a book about how to have a healthy pregnancy.

She grabbed his wrists and guided his hands to her back, right over the clasp of her bra.

The damn thing refused to cooperate but Channie didn’t seem to mind as Josh fumbled around with the hooks. If the way her body arched against his wasn’t proof that he was doing something right, the little noises escaping her throat were.

When the hooks finally sprang free, she dug her fingers into his back. The bite of her nails stung, but it also felt good. Channie stood up and slid her bra off her shoulders.

Josh’s mouth fell open. “You are so beautiful. I can’t believe you’re mine.”

“I’m yours all right. But that means you also belong to me. Stand up.”

Josh’s body hummed with excitement as she traced the waistband of his jeans with her fingertips. She popped the button then tugged at his zipper.
 

His eyes rolled to the back of his head. He grabbed her wrists. “Wait a second.”

Channie smiled and moved her hands to her own jeans. She unbuttoned the waistband then paused, blushing. “I didn’t have any clean clothes with me. The stuff I found in the chiffarobe isn’t what I would have picked out for myself.”

Josh’s voice was rough as gravel. “You could wear a potato sack and still be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I better be the only thing you’ve ever seen.”
 

“You are!” Josh gulped a quick breath. “I promise.”

Channie bit her lip, but kept her gaze locked on Josh as she lowered her zipper then wiggled out of her jeans, leaving her in nothing but a pair of barely-there panties that matched the bra on the floor.

“Holy sh—” Josh stopped himself just in time. The last thing he wanted to do was defile this perfect moment with profanity.

Channie blushed but didn’t hide her body as she stepped closer. She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of Josh’s jeans then slid them down past his knees.
 

He kicked them aside.
 

Channie stepped closer and slid her hands up his chest. She sighed as she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her nearly naked body against his. The feel of her bare skin against his almost sent him over the edge.

Josh slammed his eyes shut.
Calm down. Think about something gross. Fried liver, maggots, dirty diapers…it’s not working!
Magic. Use magic. I want this to be the best sex Channie has ever had.
 

Josh sighed in relief as his body relaxed. He was still aroused—more so than he’d ever remembered—but he was back in control. He slid his hands under Channie’s thighs and picked her up.
 

She gasped in surprise then wrapped her legs around his waist. Josh kissed her soundly as he turned and lowered them both to the bed.
 

Channie broke the kiss. “I want under the covers.”

Josh would have preferred to keep every inch of her exposed to his hungry eyes, but it was more important for her to be comfortable. “As you wish.”

He helped her slide between the sheets. They laid on their sides, facing each other. He brushed a tendril of hair off her face then trailed his fingers down her neck, to her collarbone, over the top curve of her breast then pressed his palm against her heart. “You’re glowing.”

“So are you. Now, kiss me. Please.”

He wasn’t going to make her beg. He kissed her eyes, her lips, her nose and worshipped her body with his hands. It didn’t take long for them to shed the last bits of cloth separating them.
 

Channie wove her fingers through his hair and devoured his mouth until his lips were sore and swollen. He didn’t care. He’d kiss her until his lips fell off if that’s what she wanted. She twisted her head to the side and whispered one word, “Please.”

Josh’s heart leapt into his throat. He didn’t need to ask, ‘please, what.’ He knew what she wanted. He rolled her onto her back and slid on top, supporting his weight with his elbows.

Nothing could have prepared him for the total bliss of joining their bodies. He marveled at the way they fit together so perfectly, like two matching pieces of a puzzle. Both of them trembled but Josh wasn’t nervous. Not anymore. The physical pleasure was more intense than anything he’d ever imagined, but it was more than that. More than just sex. He gazed into Channie’s brimming eyes and blinked back tears of his own. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She cupped his face with her hands then hooked her heels behind his knees.
 

“Oh!” Josh pulled up more magic.
Make it last!

“Please, Josh. I need you.” Channie’s voice was so quiet, barely a whisper, but intense with emotion. “I need more.”

He could fight his own primal urges but not hers. His body reacted instinctively as their heart-bond lit up the room.
 

Channie fisted the sheets and arched her back then cried out his name.

Heat bloomed in Josh’s heart, expanding his chest with love and pride.
I did this. I gave her this pleasure.

But when she collapsed beneath him, her body limp and lifeless, Josh froze. He knew that sex during pregnancy was okay. If it weren’t Kassie never would have let Hunter touch her. But he didn’t know if there were any restrictions. He’d tried to be slow and gentle, but he’d lost control for a bit when Channie called out his name. “Babe? Are you okay?”

Her eyelids fluttered open as a lazy smile spread across her face. “I love it when you call me ‘babe.’ And I’m much better than just ‘okay.’”

He dropped his chin in relief.

“Your turn.”

“Huh?”

“I know you didn’t finish.”

“Oh. That’s okay.” This was about her, not him. He ducked down to kiss her forehead.

“You don’t want me to feel like a bad wife, do you?” She stuck her lower lip out in an adorable pout.

“No. Of course not.”

“Then don’t stop.”

Knowing that he’d already helped her find her release, freed Josh to find his own. It didn’t take long.
 

Another missing chunk of his life fell into place as he collapsed on top of Channie. He remembered their wedding and their wedding night. There were no flashbacks this time. He simply
remembered.
But the thing that pleased him most was the sudden boost of confidence. His mind finally believed what his heart had been telling him all along.
She loves me as much as I love her.

Channie patted his back. “Can’t…breathe.”
 

“Sorry.” Josh didn’t want to lose their connection so he held onto Channie as he rolled onto his back. He ran his fingers up and down her spine, knowing it would make her sigh. It did. He smiled as he remembered doing that on their wedding night.