Passionate Bid (25 page)

“Julian, I love this. Don”t stop.”

“No fucking way, hon.” Julian drove harder, ramming her with his long cock.

Just as she thought she”d die from intense pleasure, Julian slipped his hand around and touched her clit. “You coming, baby?”

“Yes! Oh yes.”

Julian surprised her when he pulled out swiftly, making her feel hollow. But a heartbeat after, he was licking her again, sucking her very center and rotating her clit the same time.

“Julian, I”m coming. Oh! Oh! Julian!”

It was the best orgasm she”d had in her life. Julian continued to suck her throbbing pussy. Before the pleasure ebbed away, he stood up and penetrated her again, triggering another orgasm.

“Now we fuck!” Julian hold on Joanie”s hips was hard but his pounding was harder.

Their lovemaking became rough. And she loved it.

Julian was panting, chanting her name repeatedly. His sacs slapping her clit titillated her. She could tell he was nearing his peak. Joanie reached down to massage him. That”s when Julian let out a growl so long and low Joanie wanted to cry. She loved pleasuring him the same way she loved the idea that they were doing it because they loved each other.

“Oh yeah. I”m coming, baby. Yes…fucking good.” Still joined, Julian kissed the column of her back. He helped her up then he maneuvered their bodies so he could sit on the chair while she sat on his lap.

“Should we go upstairs? You must be uncomfortable.”

“Not when you”re here with me. I want to stay like this forever.”

“Me, too.” Julian pulled her even closer. His mouth hot against her neck. But something else was hot—his tears. She tried to turn around, but Julian only tightened his hold. “What”s wrong, Julian?”

“Nothing. I”m just so happy I feel I”m ready to burst. You”re too wonderful to deserve me.”

“Stop it. You”re a good man, Julian. I think Dad knew it, too. He wouldn”t have lead you back to our lives if he didn”t believe that.” Julian sobbed on her neck, whispering, “I love you.”

The front yard buzzed with little screaming and giggling voices. Kids took turns riding the elephant and bumblebee coin operated rides. A clown, armed with a bucket of bubble mix, walked around blowing bubbles on the kids while Animal Andy was busy making animals out of his tube balloons.

Parents hovered around the food table, busy serving their demanding kids with all kinds of treats consisting of animal shaped cookies, pies, hotdogs, and candies. In the middle of the table sat a pink butterfly cake from the bakery.

A pink balloon escaped from one of the girl”s grasp and flew away. It danced in the air, then floated away. The kids laughed and pointed at the balloon, making the girl cry. But all the attention was immediately diverted when Animal Andy popped a balloon.

Joanie laughed at something Dana said. Julian stared at his wife sitting on the chair with her arm anchored with his grandma”s. She swatted Mark”s arm when he leaned in to say something that made his grandma shake her head.

He had flown in his grandma a few days ago to attend Sam”s birthday party.

She had cried her way to Oregon telling him, “I told you she’s got a good heart” in between blowing her nose. Joanie must have felt his stare and looked at him. He met her gaze.

Something invincible, maybe it was magic, connected them together. Julian felt a lump growing in his throat. He winked at his wife and laughed when she turned bright pink. He doubted his wife blushed because she was still shy around him, but because of what he did to her last night. The memory of their lovemaking had an immediate effect on him, especially the part that he knew wouldn”t be able to conceal if he didn”t stop thinking about how Joanie shattered in his arms.

Joanie must have read his mind, because she shook her head at him. He was still grinning when Sam came holding hands with her best friend Marcus. “Daddy, Marcus said he wants to open the presents now and the big one over there.” Heart soaring whenever Sam called him Daddy, Julian picked up Sam and hugged her tight. “What about you, pancake? Do you want to see your presents now?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Alright, let”s go.”

“Presents, presents,” Sam and Marcus chanted, drawing everyone”s attention.

The kids oohhed and ahhed at the presents, but he could tell everyone was anxious to see what was beneath the big white tarp. Finally, Sam opened her last present, a Leap Frog.

“The big one! Time for the big one, Daddy.”

“Okay.” Julian nodded at Mark standing by the power generator.

Mark smiled and turned on the generator. The popular music began to play.

Just as Julian thought, the kids recognized the sound and screamed, “Carousel!” Between Julian, Mark and the other parents, they pulled the tarp off and exposed the carousel. A frog, dolphin, turtle, unicorn, horse, elephant, pig, dragon, kangaroo, and of course, a pink butterfly completed the whirligig.

Sam”s squeal was the loudest when she saw the butterfly. She ran toward it, but Julian intercepted her. He tossed her high, hugged her tight. “Happy Birthday, Sam.”

“Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Can I go ride now?”

“Sure.” He sat her on the butterfly and made a point of showing the kids that everyone riding must wear their seatbelts.

The kids took turns riding the animals, but Sam hogged the butterfly. No one complained. Julian watched his child, dressed in all pink, laughing and kicking her legs. He wondered if they”d be able to take her away from the carousel.

“She”s a beauty, isn”t she?” Mark handed him a can of cold Coors. “I bet she”ll break many hearts someday.”

“Good.” He hoped to God she wouldn”t fall for someone who”d only hurt her.

He”d kill the guy or anyone who”d dare hurt his Sam. Julian snickered. Man, this must be how Saint Claire thought about Joanie. Now he understood why the old man went as far as purchasing a gun to force him to marry his daughter.

“Joanie looks good. Better than ever, in fact. Although I noticed her yawning.

I”d say she didn”t get enough sleep last night.”

“I can say the same thing about Dana. Thought I saw her wince when she sat down.” He looked at Mark. They looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

“Hey, I”m taking Marcus to see his grandma this weekend. Is it okay if I take Sam with us?”

“I have to ask Joanie first.”

“Okay. Let me know. I can come and pick her up. Sam said Joanie”s pancakes are brown now and not black. I want to see it for myself. And maybe have one, too.”

“You can have her coffee, too.”

“Really? Her coffee”s not as black as tar anymore?”

“Oh yeah. Still black, but it”s the best coffee I”ve ever tasted.” Mark smacked him on the back, laughing his head-off. “Man, you”re doomed.”

“What”s so funny?” Dana stood in front of them with her arms akimbo.

“Hey, sweets. Julian just told me how much he loves Joanie.”

“Well, what”s funny about that?”

“Nothing. It”s just a man thing.”

Dana rolled her eyes at her husband, but Julian didn”t miss the twinkle in her eyes. It was obvious the two were in love.

“Julian, I have something that belongs to Joanie. I think it”s time she gets it back.”

Dana opened her hand to show a simple gold band. He remembered asking Joanie what happened to it. Her reply had been, “somewhere.”

“She gave you this?” he asked.

“No. She pawned it to me. I didn”t want to take it, but she insisted. Mark and I offered to lend her money, but she wouldn”t listen.”

“How much?”

“Don”t worry about it, Julian.” Mark gave Julian a hard shove.

“Thanks, but no thanks. Joanie wouldn”t like it. I”ll pay you back. It”s the least I could do for your help, for watching over my family.”

“We love Joanie and Sam. And James, too. Sad you didn”t get to meet him without his gun pointing at you. James was a good father.”

“I know. Thanks you, guys.”

Julian pocketed the ring, excused himself and walked toward Joanie. She was describing the carousel to his grandma when he stood in front of her. Without saying anything, he pulled her up to her feet. Right there, in front of Sam”s guests, he kissed her. He heard a chuckle followed by giggles. Laughter and hoots echoed around them, but he didn”t stop kissing his wife. He couldn”t. His overflowing love for her had made him ignore the rest of the world.

When he was finally able to break his mouth from Joanie”s, he went down on his knees. Suddenly, all noise stopped except for the sound coming from the carousel.

“Julian, what are you doing?”

“Joanie Ravenwood, in front of Sam”s friends and their parents, and Grandma, I promise to love you for all eternity. I dedicate my life, my soul, to you and Sam. I love you. Will you marry me—again?”

Joanie stared down at him with her eyes quickly filling with tears. “No,” she said.

Gasped and groans were loud, but nothing compared to the blood pounding in his ears. “I understand.”

“No, you don”t. You see, we already had the best and most beautiful wedding. I don”t want another. Maybe someday, to celebrate our fiftieth, we could get married again. I love you, too, Julian.”

Julian let out his breath in a loud whoosh. He grinned and kissed Joanie”s hand before taking the ring out of his pocket. “In that case, Mrs. Ravenwood, it”s time you wear this.”

The ring was a perfect fit. As perfect as his wife that can”t cook, clean or keep her hair tangle free. He was about to get up from his position when he felt Sam”s chubby arms wrap around his neck.

“I want another present.”

Julian stood up with Sam on his back. He kept one hand beneath her bottom to keep her from falling. “What do you want, Sam?”

“A baby brother!”

Joanie groaned while everyone laughed and clapped.

Rays of sunshine went through the openings between canopies of the cedar trees criss-crossing around the cemetery. Birds were scattered around the path and on the grass where the headstones lie still. Julian watched Sam ride her tricycle. Her basket full of flowers they had collected from Joanie”s garden.

Joanie hadn”t told Sam the truth about her papa. Someday, Sam would know about him. Right now, Joanie wanted Sam to keep thinking about her papa still living only sailing.

Sam stopped, turned around to smile at Julian, then waved before resuming to her task of scaring the birds away. Joanie explained Sam used to do that with her papa. To see if he was still behind following her. Julian told her, unlike her papa, he would follow Sam until she was old enough to make a decision for herself.

Julian looked at the woman walking beside him. She looked so fresh and breathtaking like a morning sun in her white spaghetti strap dress. Her hair, tied in a bun sagged, but she still managed to look sexy. Joanie oozed sex appeal without even trying. Tonight, he”d show her again how she affected him. Julian grinned at the thought.

“What”s funny?”

“You really want to know?”

“With that grin? Yeah.”

“How about if I just show you what I am thinking later?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“God, you”re insatiable.”

“You didn”t complain last night or the night before or the night before that.” He wrapped his arm around Joanie”s waist and pulled her close.

“I”m not complaining.”

“Good, because I know more positions to show you.”

“Lord help me from my horny husband.”

Julian laughed and kissed his wife. She tasted like morning sun and something uniquely Joanie. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Holding hands, they reached Saint Claire”s resting place. A simple head stone with his name, birth date and the date of his death were carved on the face of the stone. Beneath it, he read the words, “Here lies Sam’s Papa and Joanie’s Dad. The world will never be the same without you.”

Joanie kneeled in front of the stone and called out, “Sam, bring your flowers here, please.”

Sam brought the flowers then dropped them on Joanie”s lap. “A picnic!”

“No, bug. We are here to visit Papa. He”s here resting.” Sam”s little pink lips puckered. “Why? This is not his bedroom.”

“I know, bug. But this is where he”s going to stay forever.” Julian heard Joanie”s voice shake. He moved away from his wife and daughter to give them privacy. From a short distance, he watched them. Sam was arranging the flowers while Joanie remained on her spot, her head bowed.

Without a doubt praying for her departed father.

He smiled, watching Sam tuck flowers in Joanie”s hair. She threw the rest of the flowers in the air, then ran back to her tricycle. He bet Sam didn”t understand anything about her papa sleeping there.

Joanie stood up and followed Sam.

Julian took the opportunity to visit Saint Claire. It was hard to believe that the man who left a dark bruise on his rib when he poked him with his gun now rested beneath the earth. He could still see Saint Claire”s eyes full of hate and something akin to disappointment and sadness. Saint Claire threatened to haul his ass to court if he didn”t marry Joanie, but it was his words that had made him show up at the church.

“Marry my daughter, Ravenwood. That’s all I ask from you. She’s a good kid and a gem.

Look harder, you’ll know what I am talking about.”

He was right. Joanie was a priceless gem. Julian stared at Saint Claire”s name. “It may be too late, but I still want to thank you for giving me Joanie and for trusting me with Sam. I promise you I will take care of them to the best of my ability. I love them as much as you loved them. If you are listening, please forgive me for all the heartaches I”ve caused you.”

The wind picked up, disturbing the fallen leaves scattered around.

Somehow, Julian knew Saint Claire was there to see his family, and hopefully, to forgive him. “Rest in peace, Dad.”

Sam called his name. He turned around to see his daughter running toward him with Joanie a few feet behind her. He caught her in time before she head butted his crotch. “Hey, there.”

“I want to go home and ride Flitter.”

“Okay. How about you, Mama? Are you going to do some—”

“Julian!”