Twelve Weeks

by Robin Edwards

  Just when I’m, sure she’s gone, I turn the corner into the living room and she her, holding her hair back as she looks over the pictures of my family lining the walls.

  Of course, she’s found a way to entertain herself, learning more about me. I can tell she appreciates me bringing her here, I just hope no one has upset her while we were separated. I could tell Nikki wasn’t the most welcoming and imagined her friends felt the same way.

  Jamie is so lost in her studying of the photographs, she doesn’t even notice me watching her. She’s so beautiful, and interesting, always wanting to learn about something. Jamie knows the real me like no one else ever has, and somehow she still loves me.

  There’s so much we have to learn about each other, but that only excites me, because she’s my favorite topic to study. While this trip has meant a lot to her, it has also shown me that she is the one for me. I am not interested in having a woman more concerned with pretending to be happy together when I can have the real thing, and that’s what’s standing right in front of me.

  Chapter Nine

  JAMIE

  I can still remember when the documentary debuted on television. I’d saved up my money from doing random chores around the neighborhood to buy a blank VHS tape, making sure I could record the life story of Jerry Ellis.

  He was remarkable, and his story was nothing short of amazing. For years, I watched that tape, so much that I came to know the words by heart. Jerry Ellis was an icon in my small town, and I couldn’t believe someone from so close to where I grew up could become so successful.

  The documentary told all about his past, which was exceptionally interesting, but what I remember the most was his life at the time of filming. He had five children, and the cameras followed them around as they played in the pool and practiced their instruments as Jerry Ellis looked on.

  I used to dream that he could be my dad, and every time I performed with my school band, I pretended he was in the crowd watching, critiquing my work like a proud dad. I studied his work like it was a subject in school, and can still attribute his style an influence to my current taste in arts.

  Jerry Ellis was so charismatic and seemed to be the nicest person in the world. He was always smiling, creating, and encouraging others to do the same. That documentary shaped my life in more ways than I can even imagine. As a child, I’d see myself in his work and believe I could create something as unforgettable as he did.

  That feeling of being watched is back upon me, and sure it must be the girls again, I turn with a forced smile, but to my surprise it’s Sam, watching me intricately.

  “Was he as nice as he seemed?” I ask him, looking back to the photographs of his dad.

  “Probably nicer. I’ve never met anyone as kind and generous as my dad. I’m always reminding myself how he would want me to give more,” he smirks, thinking of his dad.

  “You look like him,” I notice.

  I never looked at Jerry Ellis as an attractive man, because I was so obsessed with him as an artist, but I’ve heard other women remark about how sexy he was. To me, he was brilliant, and anything else is a bit of an insult.

  Now, looking at Sam, who I find to be the most attractive man I’ve ever seen, I can see his father, and finally the sexiness those women gawked at. Sam’s eyes light up when I tell him he looks like his father, and I realize that I may have met the first person to be a bigger Jerry Ellis fan than me.

  “I’ve heard that all my life,” he smiles, running his fingers through his hair.

  “I used to watch this documentary about him every single day when I was little,” I reveal, having never shared that with another soul.

  “I remember that documentary. Nikki was convinced we were going to be movie stars when the cameras showed up,” he chuckles at the memory.

  “I was so envious of you, and your family. I wanted a family like that so bad. I would lock myself in my room to watch you guys and pretend I was there while my parents fought right outside my door,” I look away, reliving the memory in my mind.

  “You used to see your parents fight?” He asks in a mix of disbelief and horror.

  “Did I? I think it was more normal to see them fight than not. My dad was controlling, like very controlling. My mom wasn’t allowed to even leave the house, but for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why she consistently defied him.

  “I grew up resenting the fact that she wanted her free will. I thought that if she just did what he said, she wouldn’t get punished like she was my mischievous sister or something. He was awful,” the memories come rushing back too strong as I recall the awful times my father would abuse my mother right in front of me.

  I can feel Sam’s eyes on me, but thankfully he doesn’t say anything, choosing to rub my back instead. I want to tell him my story, because I’ve never told anyone, and if there’s one person in this world I want to know the real me – all of me, it’s him.

  “The more rules she broke, the more creative he got with his punishments. My earliest memories, they would just yell and scream at each other. As sad as it is to admit, those are some of my fondest memories, because when they began to fight it was awful.

  “My mom would always start it, and I later felt like she just wanted to get one hit in, because the minute he turned violent, there was no help for her. She was tiny, even smaller than me. And my father was a linebacker, so he was big and strong. He’d pummel her until she was unrecognizable sometimes. I never understood how you could do that to someone you loved.

  “Then they would make up. My mom would have to stay inside because her face would be so battered, and my dad was happy she was finally obeying him. It’s hard to even say this now, but I would get so sad when my mother’s wounds healed. In some ways, I liked her all bruised up because that was when she did what my dad wanted and he was nice to us.”

  “Jamie, I had no idea. I’m so sorry,” Sam whispers, his hand moving in rhythmic circles on my back.

  “And then one day, my mom had the bright idea to just wear sunglasses. She could leave the house with her black eyes and no one would be the wiser!” I shake my head sarcastically remembering the awful day.

  “When my dad came home he was beside himself. He made me sit on the couch with him, waiting for her to get home. I can still remember the smell of the liquor on his breath, and the tension in the air. My stomach dropped when I heard the car pull in the driveway, knowing she had no idea what she was walking into.

  “The second she walked through the front door, he backhanded me so hard I flew across the room.”

  I can feel Sam’s body tense as his hand skips a beat in his methodical rhythm.

  “Everything was a blur from there, but the next thing I remember was my grandmother telling me I was going to live with her. I had ten minutes to pack my things, as a police officer stood outside my door. I remember grabbing my school backpack, stuffing it with all of my school books and supplies. I’d just got to the door or my bedroom, looking back for one last time, and I took off running to the VCR, remembering the recording of your father’s documentary. It was the only thing I wanted to remember from that house.”

  A single tear streams down my cheek as Sam pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly. Strangely, there are no tears to follow, as if I’ve used up all of my hurt from my childhood. Maybe I had mourned long enough. Lord knows I cried through most of my adolescence and all of my high school years.

  “You can always be a part of my family, baby,” Sam whispers in my ear, and it is the most sentimental and yet monumental thing I’ve ever heard.

  He’ll never truly be able to understand how much of a dream that was to me, or how I’ve come to learn that I can never achieve such an accomplishment.

  “Well, I don’t really fit in with your family, Sam, but I do appreciate the offer,” I giggle.

  “What do you mean? You’re with me, you’ll always fit,” he assures me with a frown of confusion.

  “Okay
, baby,” I kiss his lips softly.

  Maybe Sam just can’t see the glaring differences in our lives because he’s so used to his reality. I can’t be sure, but I do know today made them more than clear for me. Despite how different I am from the women he’s used to, and most likely the women he’s expected to date, Sam still loves me. He wants me above everyone else, and he’s even brought me here to prove it to me.

  My emotions are running wild, as I look to him with a deep hunger, desperate to show him how much I love him.

  “How long do we need to stay here?” I ask seductively.

  “Are you ready to go?” He raises an eyebrow, and I bite my lip in response. I can see the breath fall from his lips as he looks around, plotting to make our escape.

  Chapter Ten

  SAM

  “You should stay the night. I haven’t seen you in over a week,” I suggest on the ride back to my place.

  “Okay, but I have to leave tomorrow, me and Lisa are going out for brunch,” Jamie smiles.

  I know she loves staying over at my place, but she never says it. Sometimes, I want to know how much she enjoys being with me, but she hides her feelings so well. After learning about her horrific childhood, I can see why she would be so protective of her feelings, building a tall wall of defense.

  Before I know it, we’ve arrived at my house on the bay. The driver pulls around back, letting us off on the sandy beach leading to my back porch. Taking a glance to my dock, I check on my baby Marta, my cruiser boat.

  Sliding the back door, I make room to let Jamie in first and follow quickly behind her. As I’m turning to shut the door, I feel her hands gripping my body, pulling me back to her. Chuckling, I lean down, and she kisses me with a new sense of urgency I’ve yet to feel from her. She’s passionate and needy, and desperation I’ve wanted to feel from her for a long time.

  I don’t want Jamie to need me all the time, but it is a good feeling when she can’t control her desire, and my manhood is at attention instantly. Clawing at her dress, I undress her as we move towards my bedroom. With one hand, I pull my shirt over my head as Jamie yanks at my belt, unbuttoning my shorts, which drop to the floor, leaving me in nothing but my boxers.

  “I want you so bad,” Jamie moans as I kiss her neck. Her sultry voice makes me grow even harder, and I lift her to get her to the bed quicker.

  Lying her down on my King size bed, I take a second to admire her beautiful body. She’s slim with subtle curves, and her breasts are the perfect size for my hands. Leaning down, I run my tongue from her neck to her collarbone, tugging at her soft skin with my front teeth, while tickling her thighs with my fingertips as her legs fall apart to welcome me.

  “You’re already wet for me,” I whisper on her chest before taking her nipple in my mouth as I slide one finger into her slippery sex.

  “Oh!” She moans, her back arching in delight as I slide in and out, curling my finger to hit her g-spot just like she likes.

  Leaving a trail of kisses down her belly, I slide my finger out to taste her sweetness, circling her clit with my tongue. Her body is electric, entirely in sync with my every move. She’s shameless in her pursuit to climax, shoving her pussy into my mouth before I suck on her clit until she erupts around me.

  Sliding my boxers off, I climb on top of her, sliding my cock into her pulsing pussy as she rides out the waves of her first orgasm.

  “Ahhh!” She yelps at the fullness of my length, turning me on even further.

  “You feel amazing,” I groan, balancing my weight on both of my elbows as I slide in and out of her slowly.

  “Oh God! Please, baby,” she begs me to speed up, but she’s clenching down on my cock, her greedy sex wanting more even though it’s still shattered from her last climax.

  “You’re so tight, babe. You’re fucking milking me,” I growl, shoving my manhood into her hard and fast.

  “Yes! Oh God! Yes!” She cries out.

  Our bodies move together as she pushes her pelvis into my every thrust, coating me with her cream as she calls out my name over and over. Jamie is never a dull lay, but tonight, she’s ferocious. Her nails are gripping into my skin as she pumps herself full of me, faster than I can slide in and out.

  “Ahh! Fuck!” I bite out, the pain from her nails feels too good while her warm, velvety pussy slushes around my cock. Vibrations are building in my chest as my own release approaches, ready to let go of so much pent-up stress after not feeling her for over a week.

  “Baby! Yes! Right there! Yes!” She calls out as I grip her hips, holding her in the perfect position to hit the frontal wall of her sex, which always makes her lose control.

  “Give it to me, Jamie,” I growl, pumping her faster.

  I can always tell when she’s close to the edge because her face starts to contort like she’s in immense pain, while her insides tighten, gripping my cock. She bites her lip and I know she’s seconds from exploding, but I don’t know if I can hold off any longer.

  “Yes! Sam! Baby! Yes! I’m coming for you!” She cries.

  All of my control immediately vanishes once I know she’s reached her climax, and my hips begin to buck like an animal chasing my own orgasm. My body is raging, desperate to let loose as Jamie grips around me, purring in my ear as my thrusts extend her own pleasure.

  “Tell me you want it,” I grunt, holding her body off of the bed. I love to hear her tell me she wants me while I’m inside of her. Something about her begging just sends me over the edge.

  “I want it, baby!” She moans in my ear, and her soft breath feels so seductive, I can barely take it.

  “I’m gonna give it to you,” I grunt, my body dripping with sweat as I slam into her, again and again.

  “Oh God! Please, baby! I want it!” She yells, and the pleading in her tone sends me into a spiral.

  My release is all-encompassing as my abdomen tenses, just as my balls draw up. My body crashes into her three more times with an urgent need to feel her, my face buried in her neck as she grips her nails deep into my skin.

  “Ahhh! Jamie! Fuck!” I yell before stilling inside of her, semen shooting from my cock as my hips rock slowly, my orgasm pouring out of me.

  There’s a silence between us as I finish and her nails seep out of my skin. Her hand begins to rub along my back as her ankles lock around my waist while she squeezes every drop out of me, tightening her muscles.

  There’s nothing awkward about the lack of words when I finally pull out of her and curl beside her before pulling her body flush against mine.

  “I love you, Sam,” she whispers on my lips, and I feel the grin spread across my face as I kiss her softly.

  “I love you too, baby,” I whisper.

  Together we lie together, our limbs tangled together, as I run my fingers through her hair, brushing stray strands away from her beautiful face. The difference between what I have with Jamie and anything I’ve shared with other women is the intimacy. The way we lay together after sex feels almost as good as the sex itself. Almost.

  She’s gotten to see another side of me today, and from that performance, I would have to believe she liked what she saw. After weeks of trying to find a way to prove my commitment to growing with her, and making her priority, I would have to say I succeeded, because I’ve never felt surer of how deeply in love with me she is.

  From the look on her face to the touch of her fingertips along my torso, she’s completely smitten, which isn’t a new thing for me with women. Plenty of women have been head over heels for me, but Jamie is the first time I’ve felt the same. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to stay in this moment forever, feeling her hands roam my body as her breasts, coated in my sweat, press against me.

  Love is a new feeling for me, but I’m sure that’s what this is. It’s something I’ve never felt, and it’s difficult for me to even describe what it feels like. Jamie means the world to me, and I just wish I could find the words to say that, to her, and to everyone else.
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  I don’t care what anyone thinks, I want her, and I want her forever. She makes my life feel complete and purposeful. It’s easier sacrificing my time for a company when I know I can shower her with the fruits of my labor. My legacy has always been a mystery to me because I could never imagine passing it on to anyone else, but with Jamie, I see my future, and whatever else that may lead to.

  Chapter Eleven

  JAMIE

  Sam’s effort to show me how much he is committed to working on our relationship really made me feel special. Meeting his family is such a huge step, especially considering how different everything is being from Sutton Hills.

  It was different to be around so many of the elite as a guest instead of a performer. Typically, I’m an outsider due to being there as an entertainer with the band, but today it was merely because I wasn’t from the same neighborhood. I felt different like I was in a foreign language. Everything was intimidating because I didn’t speak the language.

  My eyes drift over to Sam, as I wonder if he could tell how difficult of a time I was having. Some people were welcoming, like Alyssa, but he had to realize that I was alone for most of the party. It’s still shocking how much I revealed to him about my past, and even more surprising how well he took it.

  Sam has had a dream upbringing, so I feared he wouldn’t be able to empathize with my hell of a childhood. In some ways, I think it could have brought us closer together. Lowering my guard is a good thing because he gets to see more of me, and that’s necessary for a healthy relationship.

  I want to build with Sam, so I’m willing to go out of my comfort zone, like sharing details about myself and even going to parties with his family and friends, despite their exclusive nature. Time will probably force them to accept me, especially if Sam makes a point to help bridge the gap.

  Alyssa will be a good ally because she is close with Sam and seems to like me. Although I don’t know her husband, I could tell he isn’t from Sutton Hills either, so I’m sure she can understand the difficulty of trying to blend in a tight-knit community like that one. She was sweet and made me feel like I had a friend, which was all I really wanted.