Page 60 of Inevitably Yours

He had learned the hard way that tomorrow was no guarantee, and if that were the case, he’d learn to start living in the moment.

This moment, he was living memorizing every curve of her body as she slept draped in maroon cotton, the sound she made when she breathed in deep, and the way she caught herself if she made a soft snore.

Making every moment count was more important than controlling it. He finally got that. Speaking of making moments count, last night was a first for him as much as it was Augusta. Not in actions, but in the driving force behind them.

As they made love in ways Augusta had never tried, John realized he was more of the virgin than her. He had never let the moment control his actions before, emotions lead his body, not even during sex. That’s because I’ve never…felt this for anyone before.

His mind wandered; so did his hand. Softly, with a barely there touch, he slid the sheet down over her breasts, then her hips, and left it to rest at an angle just above her knees. He allowed his thirsty eyes to drink their fill at the well of the goddess who agreed to tie herself to him legally.

His eyes drifted to the ring he’d given her that she was so proud of that she showed it to everyone, even the UPS guy who delivered a package for Jan—one that seemed to upset Augusta. I guess I can get to the bottom of that when January gets home.

The fact that he didn’t hound Augusta for answers, well, that was a testament to his new let-it-go attitude. Although he hadn’t actually let it go, he just didn’t let it needle him to death. But he did need answers. January was as good as his little sister now, so her problems were his, and if there was a stressor between the two, he would fix it.

John hoped January would stick around for Augusta’s sake, but she seemed to be resigned to returning home at the end of the month. It was no secret her parents were calling constantly and even started hounding Augusta. Which was another thing on his…

John lost all train of thought when Augusta rolled over, grinding her luscious ass into his aching cock. He returned the favor and spoke into her ear.

“As much as I want to take you up on that invitation, we have a busy day ahead of us.” He indulged in one more twirl of his hips, finding slight relief in how perfectly his cock fit between her cheeks. The glide was sublime. He had cleaned them both well, but remnants of lube remained, making it a damn near impossible act not to continue the sensuous slide. “And it starts now.”

Before he could change his mind, John leapt out of bed and distanced himself from the parts of her that he wished to fuck into oblivion.

“But, I want to stay in bed. Just five more minutes.”

Heading to the shower, he tossed over his shoulder, “Suit yourself, but you know Frank and Francis will just barge right back here with the help of my sister, even if we are mid-stroke, so your choice. I prefer to be cleaned and dressed, besides, I have to leave for the airfield.”

“Would anyone like more coffee?” Augusta asked the entire Reid clan, which somehow managed to fit in her house. When John asked her to marry him, she was eager to start their new life together, she just didn’t realize the planning would start immediately.

Scratch that, I knew, she thought as she looked around at all the happy people talking cakes and flowers. Her gaze landed on each face and lingered there. These people, as a whole, meant more to her than the family she shared blood with, except January. Not just as a group, but as individuals. Every person here impacted her life in a positive way.

Each one had come so far from where they once were. For the first time, she put herself in that category too. She had never realized it before, but staring into January’s sad eyes brought it to focus; she had evolved for the better too.

It also brought to focus that January had sad eyes. They had been missing some of their luster since she had arrived, but the Thornes can do that to a person. Over her visit, they seemed to lighten and shine a bit more, but now, they were back where they started. Gus wanted to know why.

“Oh, this came for you, Jan,” John announced with her package in one hand and a drink in the other. Dang it, why did he pick now? Jan wouldn’t be happy about being outed in front of everyone. Gus had plans to tell John and hope the fatherly affection Jan felt for him might make her reconsider her employment, but out her like this…in front of everyone?

“Um, Jan doesn’t need that now. She can get it later.” Gus scrambled to intercept the package but failed. John’s long strides had the package in Jan’s hands before Augusta could even reach for it.

Jan thanked him and sat it on the floor beside her feet. Of course, everyone else in the room being Nosey Nellies started egging her on to open it. Everyone except Francis and Frank, that is.

“I’ll deal with it later, it’s just something for work.” Jan blushed and tried to turn everyone’s attention to a website that offered what they called rooted bouquets—flowers with roots and dirt so they could be planted after the ceremony. Of course, the Reid clan being, well, the Reid clan, they wouldn’t let it go.

Francis finally admonished them. “Shush, all of you, and let’s focus on the matter at hand, please? If January doesn’t want to show us her new stripper shoes or whatever, we should respect her wishes and let it go.”

Every man in the room exploded, as expected.

Every woman started clapping and cheering, also expected.

They were family, after all, and it was their little sister stripping, too. Gus let her eyes slide to John. He wasn’t livid; he was hurt. Gus patted his arm in comfort. Their exchange was silent, but each knew exactly how the other felt.

“Oh, stop it, all of you. Sit down and stop giving the child grief. And while you’re at it, stop acting like she is a streetwalker. She’s dancing, for crying out loud. If you ask me, being a stripper is the way to go. Good money, less hours than a nine to five, and lots of power. Dancers can turn smart men stupid with the twist of a hip and empty bank accounts with the flip of her hair. If I were thirty years younger—”

“Mom, no.”

“Gross.”

“Drill my eardrums, please.”

The reactions to Francis’ pronouncement were priceless.

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