Chapter 16
It had been like Christmas when Jesse and Richie got home with Stevie from school. The guys had managed to get the swing set with the tree house and sand box completed and the package from Nikki with all of the new clothes for Jesse had arrived. Stevie had spent the rest of the afternoon outside playing on his swing set/tree house/sand box with everyone – Tony, Billy, Ashley, Carly, Richie, and Jesse. It had taken Jesse threatening to spank him to get him to come in for dinner and to get ready for bed.
Now, with Stevie in bed and the other four out for the night, Jesse and Richie were in the family room watching television. Jesse leaned against him, her hand on his leg, as he played with her hair.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done today for Stevie…and me.”
“You’re welcome. I loved seeing the look on both of your faces but I can’t believe you hadn’t bought him one before now.”
“Didn’t have a way to get it down here and really couldn’t afford to pay someone to bring it or build it.”
“Even with Kevin’s money?”
“What I don’t spend on necessities, I put into a savings account for Stevie.” She took a sip of her drink and asked, “Will we be back before Sunday?”
“I hadn’t thought about it but I guess we could be. Why?”
“It’s Easter but if we don’t make it back, I’ve told Ashley where everything is.”
“I was hoping you’d be able to spend a little time with Ava, get to know her. You two will be together a lot this summer.”
Jesse was quiet realizing that Richie had probably planned to go to see Ava on his break. “You should have gone home instead of coming here.”
“She’s been in school so I wouldn’t have been able to see her that much.”
“How is Heather going to react to me being with you?”
“Not really that worried about it but she’s use to seeing me with other women.”
Jesse looked up at him as he took a sip of his drink and gave a contented sigh as she settled her head back on his shoulder. Things had really turned around for her.
As they continued to watch television, Jesse began to doze. For the last few weeks, she had been unusually tired. Her throat had been sore too and she knew she should go to a doctor but she really hadn’t wanted to take the time to go.
Richie shook her gently, “Jess, why don’t you go to bed?”
“It’s only nine-thirty,” she protested with a yawn.
“Uh huh, and you’re tired.”
“Are you coming to bed soon?”
“Yeah, I am.”
Jesse got up but Richie caught her hand and pulled her back to him to give her a kiss.
“Sweet dreams beautiful,” he cooed caressing her cheek.
“Come with me,” she pleaded holding his hand.
“Go change and I’ll join you in a couple of minutes.”
Jesse let her hand slide out of his and headed to the bedroom. Richie had been the perfect gentleman in every possible way, not once asking for more than a kiss. It had been more than five years since she’d been touched and she ached to feel Richie’s touch. She needed to know that she was desirable to him. With that in mind, she looked for the perfect nightie to tempt him…..black lace and blue satin with spaghetti straps. She brushed out her hair, set her alarm, and turned off the overhead light and turned on the bedside lamp. She was about to climb into bed when she heard him headed her way and a shiver of anticipation passed through her.
Richie stopped at the door seeing Jesse and his heart stopped. She was absolutely gorgeous; her dark complexion setting off the royal blue of her nightie, her shoulder-length dirty blonde hair; her blue eyes – he felt the ache in his groin.
“You like?” she asked shyly.
“Very much,” he replied as he moved to her. “What do you want, baby?”
“I need to know that you want me….to have me completely.”
“Yes, I do want you,” he growled sexily. “Why would you think I didn’t?”
Embarrassed, she tucked her head and in a little girl voice as she ran her finger down his chest, said, “The first night, you slept in the recliner. Last night, you held me but you never tried anything.”
“Jesse, I want to go slow with you. I want you to know what it’s like to be loved. I want you to know it’s NOT about sex for me. I want the whole package,” he answered using his finger to lift her chin.
“How long?”
“It’ll happen, baby, when the time is right,” he promised. He was using every ounce of his will power not to throw her on the bed and have his way with her. God, she was so damned hot the way the lace outlined her breasts dipping into the valley. He took her face in his hands tilting it up. “And when we do, our first time is going to be slow and passionate. I’m going to take all night learning every little inch of your body and what pleases you.”
“I look forward to that night…learning what pleases you.”
“You need to get some sleep, baby. You’re looking a little pale and you’ve been coughing a lot today.”
Jesse climbed into bed and Richie pulled the covers over her. “Promise me you won’t be long.”
“I promise,” and he leaned over to kiss her. Brushing her hair back, he said, “I’m just going to go back and turn off the lights.”
“What about Tony and Billy?”
“I’ll leave the porch light on for them. Close your eyes, beautiful.” Jesse did as he instructed and he placed a kiss on her lips.
It didn’t take Richie long to go back and turn off all the lights. He left one small light on for the guys along with the back porch light. Returning to the bedroom, he looked down and thought she was asleep. He stripped down to his briefs laying his clothes on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed. He wasn’t going to make love to her just yet but he wanted to feel her body against his. Sliding under the covers, he realized that her gown had ridden up to expose her hip and butt. He took a deep breath, placed his hand on the bare flesh…so soft.
She had felt the bed shift with his weight and then the warmth of his hand on her hip. She moved closer to him only to realize he was only wearing his briefs and felt his erection pressing against her. This was what she needed…his words were comforting but the physical reaction showing her how desirable she was made her heart soar. Reaching back, she took his hand from her hip and pulled it to her.
Richie put his leg across hers and pulled her tighter. His heart swelled with love for the woman in his arms. She had stolen his heart with a smile…his outlaw.
