Love Is Forever Blue

by Donalyn Maurer

  Max comes forward, bends down and gives her a kiss on her cheek and when he pulls back she smiles up at him and does a slow blink. “Sweet dreams, Callie.” He and Nick leave the room.

  Abigail and I resume our earlier positions, each on one side of the bed. I pick up the book and open it as Callie leans over to me and rests her head in my lap so she can see the pictures on the pages. Aunt Paige turns off the ceiling light, leaving only the glow from her beside lamp, before she and Uncle Brock leave the room. As I begin to read, I notice even Abigail is listening to me and looking at the pages.

  “Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen whose fondest desire was to have a child...a year passed, then three yet they remained without child…” I look down because Callie’s weight has become heavier. She’s fallen asleep and has her little hands tucked under her cheek in a praying position. Abigail smiles as she looks down at Callie. I start to close the book and move Callie when my sister stops me.

  “No. Read it all.” she says.

  I sit back and reopen the book and continue reading. When I finish, I look up and find our dad is leaning against Callie’s door with the tender expression on his face.

  “Perfect. I love you both.”

  “Love you too, Dad.” We both say softly to his retreating back.

  “Big old sap.” My sister whispers.

  “Like a declawed grizzly bear.” I whisper back.

  We softly giggle as I switch a sleeping Callie back over so her head is on her pillow and pull her covers up around her shoulders and tuck them in. I lean down and give her a kiss on her cheek and a smile flickers across her lips. I smile back and then move so Abigail can say goodnight.

  “Sweet dreams, Callie.” She leans down and kisses her other cheek.

  I put the book back on the nightstand and reach over and turn off her little lamp before I stand up. Nick must have been watching for some signal that we were done because he walks into the room and picks Abigail up and cradles her.

  “You done, darlin’?” He asks.

  “Yes.” Abigail smiles and yawns.

  “Did that story make you sleepy, too, Abigail?”

  “Yes, honeysuckle. It always has.” Abigail says through another yawn and then drops her head on Nick’s shoulder.

  “Honeysuckle?” Nick repeats while smiling sweetly.

  “Yes. I just decided on your nickname. You’re sweet and bright and beautiful and your love surrounds and protects me like branches from honeysuckle. I love you, my Honeysuckle.”

  “Well, let’s get you home and in bed, fire.” Nick says and turns to the stairs.

  “Fire?” Abigail asks sleepily.

  “Yes, Abigail. You are my Fire. I didn’t know I was walking around cold until you came along and warmed me like fire. I love you, too,” Nick says in almost a whisper but I hear him and Max must also because he pulls me close to him and hugs me.

  Love? Wow, they are serious.

  “Goodnight, Abigail.” I call over to her. She raises her head and looks over at me.

  “Night, Jaycee.” she says before wrapping her hands tighter around Nick’s neck.

  “See y’all later.” Nick calls back to Max and I as he’s walking down the stairs.

  “Night, Nick.” I say.

  “Yeah, later.” Max calls out.

  Max pulls me into a hug. I lay my head against his chest and feel the warmth of his skin and the thump of his heartbeat. My eyes start to droop closed too.

  “You ready to head home?” Max asks me while rubbing his hands up and down my back.

  “Yes, I am.” I drop my chin against his chest and just stare at him. God, he’s beautiful. My eyes travel across his features, his dark hair and dark chocolate eyes, his dimples and full lips, white teeth against his olive skin. Yes, he’s beautiful and he’s mine.

  “What are you thinking, love?” He asks while brushing my hair back from my face. He gathers it all in a ponytail and then grips it tight with one hand and uses it to tilt my head back.

  A moan leaves my lips and I close my eyes as my hands drop to his sides and I grip his shirt in my hands pulling him forward.

  “I’m thinking that I hope our sons will look just like you.” I open my eyes and look up into his and keep going. “And our daughters,” I answer breathlessly.

  His grip in my hair tightens and he pulls it back farther, giving me a little sting.

  “You really thinking that?” he asks.

  “Yes, I want to have a million of your babies and I hope they all look just like you.” I answer gripping his shirt tighter.

  “When do you want to start having my million babies, Jaycee?” he lowers his lips to mine. “Soon?” he asks before kissing me.

  Once we break from our kiss I answer. “Yesterday. I want to start yesterday.”

  “Let’s go, love.” He pulls back but keeps a tight grip on my hand as we both walk back towards Callie’s room and peek in.

  She's sound asleep with her little ballerina nightlight giving just enough light to see her hair spread over her pillow just like in the book. Our own little sleeping beauty.

  We make our way down the stairs and say our goodbyes to everyone. Max is holding me close with his arm draped over my shoulder as we walk to the car. After I sit and get my seatbelt on, Max closes my door and walks around the front of the car and gets in the driver’s side. One of the best songs ever to exist comes across the car’s speakers, Boz Scaggs’, Look What You’ve Done To Me. Max turns it up and takes my hand and rests it against the top of his thigh as he drives. He softly begins singing along with song, making my heartbeat race. God, this man. I love him so much.

  When we get home, we walk into our room and Max turns around and locks the door. I feel my breathing quicken as he stalks towards me like I'm his prey.

  “I know we were going to play tonight but I just need to make love to you." He lifts the hem of my shirt and pulls it up and over my head and then drops it to the floor. “Jaycee, I need to kiss every inch of you, taste every part of you.” He kisses my neck, his warm tongue is doing exactly what he said. Tasting me.

  His mouth keeps moving, down my neck, across my cheek and where he gently bites my chin before traveling down to my throat and then back up to the other side of my neck. My hands are gripping onto the sides of his t-shirt, holding on so I don’t fall. Max slides his hand around my waist and pulls me tight against him and I can feel him through his jeans, pushing against my stomach, he’s already hard. He keeps me there, against him, still, while caressing my neck and shoulder with his tongue. I can’t stay silent, I release small pants and cries. His warm hands move up my back and unclasp my bra. He steps back and brings it down my arms. Only then do I release his shirt to let my bra fall to the ground. His eyes and hands travel to my breast and my nipples harden. He lifts them with his palms and pinches my nipples with his fingers.

  My hands reach up as I run my fingers through his hair and pull his head down to them. He takes turns drawing each one in his mouth, sucking and biting gently. I’m already on the verge of coming. I whimper when Max pulls back and reaches down for the button on my jeans. When he gets them undone, he lowers the zipper. He runs his finger across the top of my purple lacy boy shorts but then lets his hand drop and he takes another step back.

  My breathing gets heavy as I kick off my flip flops, slip my thumbs into the sides of my jeans and push them down over my hips. He comes forward and surprises me when he drops to his knees and puts his hands to the waist of my jeans and continues lowering them. Once he gets them to my feet, I lift one at a time while holding on to his shoulders and he tosses them to the side. He runs his hands up the backs of my legs, pulling me to him. I fall into him as he brings his mouth down on my stomach. I put my hands on his head and hold him close and he places hot wet kisses across my skin. When he stops and looks up at me with such love, my eyes tear up but what he says next has them dropping from my eyes.

  “My babies are going to be in here.” He says, placing
more kisses on my belly.

  Not being able to take much more and wanting and needing to feel him on me, in me I begin to beg. “Please, Max. I need you.” I say through thick emotion.

  He puts his fingers into the sides of my boy shorts and pulls them down and off. He tosses them aside, not caring where they land. Before I can register anything else, his mouth is on me. I whimper and grab on to his head, holding him there, pulling him in, needing more.

  “Open.” he growls and I widen my stance.

  He continues to taste me and when I’m almost there I feel one, then two fingers start thrusting in and out of me and that’s it, I explode. I scream out his name and dig my nails into his scalp as I ride one of the strongest orgasms I’ve ever had.

  I don’t even notice that he’s carried me to the bed and laid me out for him. He pulls off his boots and then reaches behind his neck and pulls off his shirt. Only then does it register that he was still dressed and I was completely naked this entire time. I let out a low moan because that’s a big turn on. What gets me whimpering in need again is when he undoes his belt buckle all the while keeping his eyes trained on me. My breathing becomes erratic as he unsnaps his jeans and lowers his zipper and then his boxers. My mouth waters when I see him spring free.

  “Fuck. Come here.” he groans, his voice hoarse.

  I make my way over to him as he kicks off his jeans. I sit on the edge of the bed as he comes and stands in front of me, all the while pumping himself up and down.

  “You want a taste of me, too?” he asks as he runs his fingers tenderly down my cheek.

  “Please.”

  “Then, open.”

  I obey as he places himself against my lips with one hand and then grabs a handful of my hair with the other. When I reach out with my tongue and taste him, he moans likes he’s in pain. I do it again and again, licking him up and down and giving kisses to his tip. His hand in my hair tightens, bringing me to a halt.

  “Enough. Open.” he growls.

  I open and he starts thrusting in and out as his hand holds my head exactly where he wants it. I reach around and dig my nails in his sides and his thrusts become deeper causing me to gag. For some reason, that seems to turn both of us on. He grabs my chin with one hand and adjusts my head where he wants it. Our gazes stay locked, our connection never wavering until he finally starts to slow.

  “Stop. Don’t want to come in your mouth.” He pulls back completely from my mouth.

  He grabs me around my waist with one hand as the other goes to the bed. He lifts us and scoots us back so we’re laying horizontal across the end of the bed. He wastes no time, when my legs fall apart for him, he comes down and enters me in one long hard thrust and immediately starts moving. He brings his mouth down on mine and his thrusts come almost frantic. The only sounds are our moans as he reaches down and pulls my knees up one at a time to wrap around him. I bring my hands to his back and start digging my nails in. He starts pumping faster. Finally, he breaks our kiss.

  “Get there, Jaycee.” he orders. “I’m there.”

  He raises up and sits back but keeps slamming into me. He looks down, watching our connection. I lower my hand down my stomach, across my belly button until I find the spot and start circling with my fingers. I can already feel the tightness and spasms start so I raise my hips up to meet his. He brings one of his hand to his mouth, licks his fingers and then pinches my nipple. That’s it. My world explodes. I can hear myself screaming at Max to give me more and to never stop but my own voice sounds faint. My body drops in exhaustion. My limbs slide from Max, as my legs fall back to the mattress and my arms drop to my sides. I think I actually fall asleep for a few seconds but then the feeling starts to come back as Max drops down on me and starts moving faster. I can’t believe it when another orgasm hits at the same time Max finds his. We both groan and just lay there, trying to breathe. Max moves from me so I reach up and pull him back down.

  “Don’t want to hurt you,” he explains, kissing the side of my head.

  Reluctantly, I let him up but lay in the exact same position and don’t even move when he comes back with a warm cloth and cleans me. Once he’s done, I turn on my side and snuggle into myself. Moments later, the lights go out in the room and the covers are tugged back. Strong arms lift and lay me on top of the cool sheets. Max climbs in behind me and pulls the covers over both of us.

  I have just energy to tell him, “I love you forever and a day, Max.”

  He turns into me and drapes his arm across my waist and pulls me back against him.

  “Love you too, Jaycee, forever and a day,” he says against my ear and then kisses it and settles back down behind me.

  The next morning, Max and I sit and enjoy a light breakfast and coffee with my Grandma before getting ready for the ride Max asked me to go on with him. My grandma is heading off to church and doesn’t even ask about us joining her like she usually does. We enjoy going to church with her but some Sundays we miss. I go to the Wednesday night service if Max is working and sometimes if he’s not, he’ll go with me. One thing, regardless of whether we attend weekly services, we say grace together before each meal we share and every night before bed. I guess Grandma just figures we have plans so she didn’t ask.

  Like most mornings, our routine is to shower together. Once we’re out, we start getting dressed. Max is standing in front of his chest of drawers wearing a pair of jeans still open with his black leather belt hanging loose, his motorcycle boots and a blue button down shirt that he hasn’t buttoned yet. I’m totally distracted from doing my makeup as I watch in the mirror as he rolls up the sleeves of his shirt and then puts his watch on. His phone chimes alerting him of a text and he picks it up to read it. Sweat breaks out on his forehead and he starts to pale as he stares at his phone.

  What in the heck? I start to ask him what’s wrong, but he cuts me before I can.

  “I’ll be right back,” he says and fastens his jeans and buckles his belt in a rush; buttoning his shirt as he walks towards the door. “You’re almost ready, right?”

  “Sugar bear, are you okay?” I start towards him.

  “I’m fine.” he snaps. “Why?” His phone chimes again and after looking at the screen mutters, “Asshole.”

  “Max, really, are you okay?” I ask, beginning to worry. “We don’t have to go on the ride if you don’t feel well. Is something is going on?”

  His phone chimes again and again and again, he fumbles with it but then it begins to vibrate.

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” he barks. “No, just stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  As he reaches for the door, his phone in his hands sets off with another string of buzzes. He fumbles with it again, only to finally stick the phone in his back pocket, and walk out of our room. I can still hear it buzzing even after he closes the door. Between hearing his boot stomps through the house, I can hear buzzing and him cussing.

  What the hell? Stay here, my ass. I open the door and follow him just in time to hear the front screen door open and him shout out.

  “Really, assholes!”

  As I rush through the kitchen and into the living room towards the front screen door, I can hear men laughing. Not just any men, my brothers. I should have known they were the behind this. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I push open the screen door and walk out on the front porch with my hands on my hips ready to give them hell. I stop when I see them all freeze. Max’s back is to me and it straightens up but he doesn’t turn around.

  “Hey brat,” Jesse calls out along with other greetings from my brothers.

  “Hey, sissy,” Jake says to me and starts over to me. I narrow my eyes on him as he gets closer and closer until he’s only a couple of feet in front of me.

  What the hell are these bull asses up to now?

  “Max!” I yell in Jake’s face which causes him to grin and chuckle.

  “Yeah, love?” He steps around Jake and puts his arm around my shoulder.

  I can feel him shaking.
>
  What the hell did they do to him? Nash and Chase step away from his bike. Max takes a deep breath and nods at Jake. With that, Jake leans down and gives me kiss on the cheek. Almost all my anger leaves as I smile up at the biggest of my big brothers. He shakes Max’s hand and walks off not saying another word as he jumps in the driver’s seat of his truck and waits for the others. Jesse walks up next and does the same. Then Nash, then Chase. They close their doors and the truck starts up and makes it way down the driveway. I turn to Max to ask what the hell is going on but before the words are out of my mouth he stops me.

  “You ready?” Max asks, eyes still on the driveway.

  “Max, what in the world was all that?” I ask his profile.

  “What? What was what?” he asks, still not making eye contact.

  “We really pretending that never happened?” I ask as I point to the truck that’s almost out of view.

  “It’s probably best.” He grabs my hand and leads me back to our bedroom.

  He doesn’t say anything else as he walks to the closet and grabs our jackets. He lays mine on the bed and puts his on. He pulls his gloves from his pocket and starts for the door. Still not making eye contact, he gives me a peck on the lips and walks out of the room.

  Well, shit. He’s serious. We’re going to pretend that never happened.

  In the bathroom, I make quick work of finishing my makeup. I throw on some jewelry and then sit on the bed and pull on my boots. I grab my jacket and slip it on and then tuck my driver’s license and debit card in my back pocket along with my favorite MAC lip gloss, Mimmy. I won’t need anything else today. I make my way through the house and when I get to the front door and look out, Max is throwing his leg over his bike, straddling it. He starts it up and then slips on his helmet, and gloves. When I get to his side, he pulls me forward by my hips and then grabs my helmet and secures it on my head. After he get it secured, our eyes catch each other briefly and he gives me soft smile as he guides me to hop on the back. Once on, I scoot forward and wrap my arms around him. We start making our way out of the drive and I glance back at the house to see my grandma standing by the screen door, smiling sweetly. As we pull out, she gives me a little wave. I smile, wave back and then wrap my arms around Max.