Chapter Fifty-Eight

After being dropped off by Lance and Hannah, Laurie waited patiently while JC unlocked the door. When he finally had the right key and the door opened, JC stepped aside, letting Laurie go in first.

“Are you hungry?” He asked as he closed the door behind him. “I could make us something to eat.”

In the very next moment, JC felt himself being pushed against the wall in his front hallway and Laurie’s hands running up his chest. Her fingers started to undo the buttons on his shirt and in between the little kisses she applied to his throat, her tongue snaked out to lick his skin.

“I’m hungry, but only for you.” She murmured and continued her assault on his body.

JC wrapped his arms around her tightly and kissed her hair. He pressed his lower body against hers and groaned.

“God Laur… it feel like forever since you’ve been in my arms.” He started running his hands up and down her back.

“I think it has been.” She never stopped what she was doing. JC’s shirt had hit the floor moments earlier.

“Listen,” he said and reluctantly untangled himself from her. “I’m going to run upstairs and quickly clean the bedroom. Why don’t you go downstairs and select any wine from the top two shelves in the cellar? I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes.”

“That’s too long,” Laurie murmured and let her fingers caress his bare chest. Then she raised her eyes to meet his. “But I’m sure it will be worth the wait.”

JC gulped as he felt Laurie’s hand begin to travel further south and ran upstairs before he lost everything – including his composure – in the hallway. As he entered his bedroom, he swore he heard Laurie chuckling at his demise.

He quickly stripped the bed and threw the dirty sheets down the laundry chute. He frowned when he realized they still smelled like Alexandria and made a mental note to bleach them later. He remade the bed with a pair of silky soft sheets and sprayed them with an aromatherapy mist. He lit the few candles that were scattered around the room and went back downstairs to find Laurie.

JC located her in the kitchen surrounded by three bottles of wine, several plump, juicy strawberries and some slices of cheese. She smiled sheepishly at him.

“I don’t know where you keep the wine glasses…” her voice trailed off almost uncertainly.

“Right above your head,” JC whispered and pressed her into the counter as he reached for two glasses. “Are you planning on getting me drunk tonight?” He referred to the bottles on the counter.

“No, I… these ones looked good, but I wasn’t sure which you’d prefer.”

“They’ll all taste wonderful since I’m sharing it with you.” He kissed her temple. “I love you, Laur.”

“I love you too, Josh.” She whispered.

JC leaned into her again and he blindly chose a bottle of wine. He let his lips briefly touch the shell of her ear before he whispered, “Shall we?”

They walked up the stairs together hand in hand. JC carried the bottle of wine and Laurie carried the strawberries and cheese. The bed was already turned down and being the gentleman, JC let Laurie sit down first before he sat down himself. The plate was placed between them and they took turns feeding each other, occasionally letting their fingers trail across the other’s lips and sucking on them.

When the food was gone, JC placed the empty plate on the nightstand and poured the wine into the glasses. He passed Laurie hers and took his into his hand.

“This is the first time since we’ve found each other again that we can be together with almost no worries,” JC said softly. “Even if by some obscure chance that Alexandria finds out about us, I don’t care because we have the best lawyers in the world. There isn’t anything to keep us from each other anymore. Especially since we’re going to be a family.”

Realization dawned on JC’s face and he looked at the glass of wine Laurie was holding in her hand. “You can’t have this.” He said and took it away from her. “I can’t believe we almost let you drink that.”

“We got caught up in the moment, I guess.” She smiled and touched his face gently with her hands. “It’s all right. We have better things to do.”

“You’re right,” JC smiled and placed his still full glass beside Laurie’s on the table beside the bed.

JC reached for Laurie and pulled her as close to his body as he could. Emotions were running high as their lips touched, welcoming the other back into their life after their involuntary separation. Their legs intertwined and they felt comfortable with each other’s bodies immediately, as if they had never been apart. There were a few soft laughs and several thuds as clothing hit the floor.

**********

Laurie opened her eyes a couple of hours later. She was disoriented, but it didn’t take her long to remember where she was. She turned her head to look at JC’s still sleeping form and she smiled.

Last night had been so incredible for both of them. They had felt invincible and it showed in their lovemaking – it was passionate and more emotional than anything she had ever experienced before – and she was willing to bet that JC felt the same way. The way his hands caressed her body and ran slowly over her abdomen before he would lower his head and kiss it like he was kissing their unborn child.

The clock had just turned to show that it was two o’clock in the morning and she felt JC stir. His head turned to look at her and he was wide-awake.

“Hey,” she said softly. “Did I wake you?”

“Yeah,” he sat up a little and rubbed his eyes. “I didn’t feel your warm body against mine.” He pouted.

“I’m sorry.” Laurie repositioned herself against him and kissed his neck. “Is this better?”

“Much.” He murmured and the both quickly fell asleep again.

**********

Justin smiled as he walked by the sofa that was situated under a window in the games room that looked over the lake. Michelle was curled up in a corner and she was fast asleep. He scanned the room to find Chris and approached him.

“Hey,” Justin said. “Stacy and I are heading out, we can give Michelle a ride home if you aren’t ready to leave.”

“Why? Does she want to go now?” Chris turned away from the bar.

“See for yourself.” Justin nodded his head in the direction of the sofa that Michelle was sleeping on. Chris’ face softened when he saw her.

“Nah, I can take her home. I’m just going to say goodbye to everyone before I wake her up. Thanks J.”

“No problem.” Justin said and walked back to Stacy.

True to his word, after Chris had said his goodbyes, he walked over to where Michelle was laying and gently shook her shoulder.

“Shelle… c’mon honey, you can sleep at home.”

“Chris?” She sighed sleepily and opened her eyes. “What time is it?”

“It’s a little after two. If you were tired, why didn’t you come find me earlier?”

“I didn’t realize I was.” Michelle sat up and got a little dizzy. Chris helped her to her feet. “Thanks.” She looked at him and noticed his cheeks were slightly flushed from the alcohol he had consumed. “Are you all right to drive or do you need me to?”

“You’d better,” Chris handed her the keys. “I’d probably blow over the limit. I’ve already told everyone that we’re leaving, so we can just head out. Did you have a nice nap?”

“Yeah, I never realized how comfortable that sofa was before. We should get one for the house.”

Chris snorted. “We have enough furniture that we never use, we don’t need to add to the collection. Besides, it’s not like we’re far from the compound.”

“All right,” she pouted slightly and unlocked the doors of the PT Cruiser. “You’re leaving your gifts here?”

“For the time being. I can get someone to bring them to the house tomorrow or whenever.” He replied.

The ride home was mostly quiet and because there wasn’t any traffic, they arrived home five minutes earlier than they normally would have. Chris immediately bounded into the house and upstairs to take a shower. Michelle knew he would be awake for a few more hours. She trudged up the stairs and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth while Chris showered. She hated it when the mirror was fogged up from the hot water. For some reason she needed to watch herself brush her teeth.

When she was finished, she walked back into their bedroom and changed into a pair of comfortable pajamas and went over to the closet to retrieve Chris’ birthday present. She had decided that she would tell him tonight.

She heard the shower stop and climbed into bed. She leaned against the headboard and pulled the blankets up far enough that they covered her lap, then she placed the present on Chris’ side of the bed and waited for him to come into the bedroom. When he entered the room five minutes later, he had already towel dried his hair and had another towel wrapped around his waist. He saw the present and looked at Michelle quizzically.

“What’s this?” He asked and walked over to the bed.

“It’s the first half of your birthday present.” Michelle told him. Even though they had been trying to get pregnant, she was nervous about telling him.

“So… is it just sitting here because you’re going to tease me with it or is it sitting here because I can open it?”

“You can open it,” she looked at him and smiled when she saw the look on his face.

Chris sat down on the bed and picked his present up. He shook it lightly. “What made you change your mind?”

“I just don’t think I can wait anymore.” Michelle shrugged sheepishly. “You know what I’m like. I’m surprised I held out this long.”

Chris laughed and tore into the paper that covered his present. He lifted the lid and peered inside, then gave Michelle a perplexed look. There was nothing in the box except for a pair of little baby booties and a bib that said, ‘I Love Daddy.’

“These are really cute honey, especially the bib… but don’t you think we should wait until we have a baby to get stuff like this?”

Michelle pushed back the covers and crawled over to where Chris was sitting before she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and whispered in his ear. “My due date is June 7^th.”

She felt Chris freeze as he digested the information, then he slowly turned to her with a huge smile on his face.

“For real?”

Michelle nodded.

“You’re pregnant?”

Michelle nodded again.

“I’m going to be a daddy?” His eyes shone with tears. Michelle felt close to tears herself.

“That’s usually how it works.”

Chris hugged her tightly and buried his face in her shoulder. “We’re going to be a family… I need to call my mom and tell her that she’s going to be a grandmother again.”

Michelle stroked his slightly damp hair. “Not at two-thirty in the morning baby.”

“This is just so incredible,” he whispered in awe and met her eyes. “I’m glad you didn’t wait until Wednesday to tell me.” He placed a hand over his abdomen. “We created a life… I’m going to get to teach him how to play football and hockey and…”

“How can you be so sure we’re having a boy?” Michelle laughed.

“I just have a feeling…” he said softly and moved so he could kiss her.

“Chris…” She murmured against his lips. “Your towel…”

“Doesn’t matter… I don’t need it anymore.” He pulled back slightly and his dark eyes stared into hers. He brought a hand up to stroke the side of her face. “I love you so much. With you I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Michelle sniffled. “I feel the same way.”

Chapter Fifty-Nine