by Wendy Smith
“Just remember me when you’re famous. Or give me a production credit.”
“Production credit?”
He moves behind the camera and the little red light goes on. “Let’s get started, beautiful. What are you cooking today?”
The weird thing is, Reece’s presence calms me. He keeps me talking, asking me questions as I put the dish together. One by one, the ingredients go in, and he makes me laugh, which takes away the nerves—nerves which never made any sense in the first place. It’s not like anyone is ever going to watch my vlog.
But Josh is right about one thing. I enjoy it once I get going, and it’s not long before my dish is in the oven and Reece is pouring a wine for both of us.
“We just need to film the big food reveal. You need to prepare one earlier to speed things up.”
I nod. “And I guess I need to find out how to edit video.”
“Leave it with me. I’ll sort it out. I’ll do it tonight and have it back for you ready to upload tomorrow.”
“If I ever do.”
He cocks his head. “Delaney, you were amazing. Once you shook yourself out, everything just flowed. You’ve got to have faith in yourself. The camera loves you.”
“Bet it adds ten pounds.”
Reece laughs. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Trust me. It’ll all be fine.” He walks around the counter and pauses the camera. “Now, do I get to eat some of this when it’s ready?”
“I made a truck load. You have no choice.”
I breathe in the smell of melted cheese. My own stomach rumbles, and I have to remember to make a big deal of taking it out of the oven for the camera.
I spoon out two plates of food.
“This looks amazing. I love your cooking.”
I laugh. “You have enough of it.”
“Josh needs to be here for this.”
I suck in a painful breath. I’d tucked that thought away myself this morning.
“Delaney? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just … I’d love if he was here, but he’s got a lot on his plate.” I pause. “So do you, so why are you here?”
“I was hungry, and felt like some company other than your boyfriend.” He grins. “Honestly, I love the shit out of Josh. He’s like a brother to me. So having you and Amelia here is like having family. My family is half a country away.”
I swallow hard.
“Josh is working hard, but you know he’d spend more time at home if you needed him to.”
My eyes prick with tears, and I let out an anguished sigh. “I just don’t want to get in the way of his dream.”
Reece engulfs me in his embrace, kissing the top of my head. “Oh, honey. You’re his dream. Everything else is just periphery. “
I meet his gaze.
“Trust me on this. Josh would drop everything for you. He’d take you and Amelia and live a quiet life if he thought you were unhappy.”
I can’t help but smile. It’s not what I want him to do at all, but I appreciate the sentiment.
He laughs. “I love how much crap you give him. He needs it. It shows him that your love for him is real. It’s not the make-believe bullshit that’s out there. He knows you’ll be there for him no matter what, and none of this …” He waves his hand as if indicating the house. “… none of it matters.”
There are days in your life when you hear something you need to, even if you didn’t realise you needed it before you heard it.
Today is one of those days.
Amelia skips out of school toward me, a broad smile on her face. She loves this place. Sure, there’s still a lot of curiosity about the little girl with the different accent, but she’s making good friends and having fun.
“Is Daddy home?” she asks.
I shake my head. “Not yet. But I have mac and cheese for dinner, and I know that’s your favourite.”
“Can we have some ice cream too?”
I smile. “Of course we can. After dinner.”
I tap her on the nose and she giggles.
Her question stabs me in the chest. But when I think about it, Josh has been late home all week. Not crazy late, but enough that she’s asleep by the time he gets there.
Clearly, there are still things we need to work out. I love and support my boyfriend, but he needs to prioritise our daughter.
But I keep the mood light, and I drive her home playing that damned “Baby Shark” song in the car, which she very happily sings along to.
Despite the house being so big, our family area is cosy with the kitchen, dining room, and living room all open-plan.
Melly and I sit in front of the television to eat our mac and cheese. She chatters away about Josh joining us. She’s painfully aware of his absence, and it hurts.
The pieces of our life have stitched themselves together only to fray at the seams.
“When’s Daddy coming home?” she asks for the third time.
I stroke her hair. “I’m not sure, sweetheart. I’ll text him, but him and Reece are very busy right now.”
Reece, who skipped work to hang out with me.
I choose not to tell Melly that bit.
After dinner, ice cream, a bath, and teeth brushing, I read her a story.
I sit beside her on the bed until her shoulders slump. Her long eyelashes flutter as sleep claims her, and I smile as she snorts and rolls over.
“That’s my girl.” After a gentle kiss to her temple, I leave the room to get changed for bed.
I walk into our spacious bedroom, pick up the remote control, and flick on the TV.
Nothing keeps my interest, and I drift in and out of dozing, pushing myself to try and stay awake.
Hurry up and come home, Josh.
Forty-Eight
Josh
It’s dark when I finally walk in the door.
All day long, I promised myself I’d be home early but, as happens most days lately, one problem leads to another.
We’re in pre-production, but as Reece and I are running the show, we have a hand in everything right now. Although God knows where Reece disappeared to today.
The bedroom’s dark, but I make out the shape of Delaney under the covers.
As quietly as I can, I pull open my drawer and pluck out a pair of boxers. All I want now is to have a hot shower and crawl into bed with my girl.
The hot water soothes my aches and pains, but does nothing to alleviate the heaviness of my heart. This whole thing is a lot harder than I’d ever imagined. I’m proud of what we’re about to do, but it’s exhausting. We’ve already learned so much for next time around.
After my shower, I dry off and slip into my boxers before sliding into bed beside Delaney. I bury my face in her hair. She smells of sunshine, something I’ve barely seen any of today.
Delaney rolls over to face me, and in the dim light of the room, I can barely make out her features but her parted lips and hooded eyes are clear.
She palms my cock through my boxers, and then gives it a gentle squeeze.
“Delaney.” I love the sound of her name on my tongue.
She says nothing, stroking my length, her face an inch away from mine. But I’m barely holding on with the sudden deluge of touch.
“You smell so good.” I kiss her, trying to distract myself from her hand and failing when she pushes my boxers down.
She rolls me onto my back, her strokes becoming more forceful.
“Yes,” I hiss.
Dipping her head, she takes me deep in her mouth. It’s warm and wet, and I close my eyes, running my fingers through her hair.
She takes me to the brink before I push her off and onto her back.
“It’s been too long,” she says.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I’m sorry if I’ve been neglecting you. I don’t mean to.”
“Better make it up to me.” Her eyes flash with desire. “I need you to touch me. Please.”
“I never could say no to you.”
Her lips curl into a smi
le as I cup her breast and run my thumb across her hardened nipple.
“I miss you,” I say.
“I miss you, too.” Those are words she should never have to say again. She’s moved across the world to be with me. She deserves better.
Running my finger under the strap of her nightgown, I tug it down to expose her breast.
“Josh,” she whispers.
Any exhaustion I felt disappears when I’m with her. I take her nipple into my mouth, and her gasp urges me on.
Brushing my hand down her stomach, I let out a moan when I find she’s not wearing any underwear.
“I’ve been waiting.” Her gentle laughter warms my heart.
“I’m sorry to do that to you.” I raise my face to look at her, sliding a finger into her pussy. “I promise I’ll make up for it.”
Her breathy gasps spur me on as I stroke her clit. I can’t look anywhere else but at her face when she closes her eyes, her body rising and falling at my touch. And then there’s that moment when she comes, and a look of complete and utter bliss passes over her face. I fall all over again just watching her.
Her eyes spring open, and her lips curl into a devilish grin. She shoves me again onto my back. Her nightgown goes flying, and she straddles my hips, her heat engulfing me. She’s perfect, even if she can’t see it. Perfect for me.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
Her eyes flare with desire. “You’re pretty hot yourself.”
“Only pretty hot?”
“Okay. Amazingly hot. Will that do?”
I laugh. “It all sounds good to me.”
She rocks her hips. Being inside Delaney is the best feeling in the world. I cherish it every time because I was without her for so long. But now she’s home with me and I should be making the most of this—making the most of her.
I need Delaney more than ever.
Gripping her hips, I pull her down hard, and she leans over, her nipples right in front of my face. Her breathing grows heavy as I suck on them one by one.
“I love you,” she says, but her words are lost when I pull her down to kiss her hard. I don’t let her go, pushing my hips up to meet her. I’m so close, and when she drops her lips to my neck I lose all sense of myself.
My orgasm hits me hard, and I cry out as I come inside her.
Since she moved in, we haven’t been strict on contraception, and maybe it’ll catch us by surprise, but neither of us are too concerned.
She collapses onto the bed next to me.
“You’re not usually that aggressive.” I chuckle.
Delaney snuggles into my side. “You haven’t seen Amelia in nearly a week. We’ve been like two ships that pass in the night. Tonight, I’d just had enough. I need you.”
“I’m doing a terrible job of all this.”
She shakes her head. “This is new for all of us. We’re a long way from where we were at the start.”
I gaze at her. It’s not like the last time; this time she’s not using new for all of us to hide the way she feels. She means it.
“We are, but I need to do better.”
“It’ll balance out. Or you’ll burn out and I’ll end up nursing you back to health.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief, but she’s right.
“You’d make a sexy nurse. Maybe I’ll buy you a uniform.”
Delaney laughs. “I’ll be your nurse. Any time. But please don’t work yourself to that point. You don’t need to, and you know that.” She plants a kiss on my chest. “I’m going to go and clean up. Don’t you dare move or fall asleep.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I grin.
Forty-Nine
Delaney
His stomach gurgles.
I bury my face in his chest and laugh. “You said you weren’t hungry.”
“Only for you.”
“Does your need for me make your stomach grumble?”
“Maybe.”
I pat his stomach. “You need food. Actual food.”
He rubs the back of my neck. “I’d rather have you again.”
Raising my head, I meet his gaze. “Josh, you can’t do this to yourself. I’m completely behind you following your dream, but not at the expense of everything else.”
His eyes search mine, and he slowly nods.
“If Reece had shown today when he was supposed to, that would have helped.”
I frown. “He was supposed to be at work?
“This is our project. He picks and chooses his moments to show up.”
I drop my gaze, smiling to myself.
“What’s that smile about?” Josh’s eyes are narrowed, as if he suspects I’ve been up to something.
“Reece was here today.”
His mouth falls open. “He what … when?”
“Around midday. For about two hours.”
He runs his fingers through his hair. “What was he doing here for two hours?”
I pat his chest. “Well, we filmed ourselves having sex on the kitchen bench, and then in the walk-in pantry. And then there was—”
“Delaney,” he growls.
I laugh. “He came to say hello, and noticed the camera setup. I was about to try this vlogging stuff. So, we made a movie, but it was food porn only.”
Josh’s expression is still tight. “Uh-huh.”
“You don’t believe me?”
He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Of course I do. Where’s this video?”
“Actually, Reece is editing it tonight and bringing me back the finished product tomorrow.” I don’t miss him rolling his eyes. “But it was fun. He made it fun. I wish I’d done it with you.”
His expression turns pained. I’ve hurt him.
“Josh,” I whisper. “I want to do everything with you.”
Leaning in, I kiss him, and he closes his eyes for a moment.
“I’ll heat up some mac and cheese. There are leftovers.”
His smile is so tired, but it lights up my heart. “I could eat.”
“I’ll sort it out.” I peck him on the lips again and climb out of bed, grabbing my bathrobe.
I’m glad I woke. If I’d missed talking to him tonight, his absence would have festered and who knows what the end result would have been.
After scooping a plate full of mac and cheese, I slide it into the microwave and start it up.
“Hey.” I close my eyes and lean back on his shoulder while he nuzzles my neck. “I thought I’d bring this to the bedroom for you.”
“I missed you.” His hands cup my breasts.
“I’ve been gone for thirty seconds.”
Josh turns me around. His face is so full of love, I’m glad I groped him in the dark and didn’t just let him fall asleep.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
I shrug. “For what?”
“For getting carried away. It’s why I need you. You keep me grounded, and you remind me of what’s important.”
I wrap my arms around his waist. Behind us, the microwave beeps, but neither of us move.
“Don’t ever stop,” he whispers.
“Never.” I clasp my hands behind his back and give him a tender kiss. “I’m sure you’ll feel better once you have some actual food.”
“Your cooking is the best. Can’t wait to see whatever craziness you made with Reece.”
I laugh. “If he turns up here tomorrow, I’ll send him to see you.”
Josh smiles. “Thanks. Now, where’s this food?”
Letting him go, I turn toward the microwave, and pull out the steaming plate. I place it on the counter as he retrieves a fork from the drawer.
He stirs the macaroni up, leaning against the counter as it cools.
“I’m sure learning a lot more about movie-making than I ever knew before. There’s so much to it, but as we learn and work out where we can hire the right people, things will get better.”
“I know it will. Just make sure we don’t get left behind. Amelia asked for you today. She misses her dad.”
He sighs. “I m
iss her, too. I’ll make sure I come home earlier the rest of the week. Maybe I can pick her up from school some days.”
“That’d be great. She’s okay, but she notices.”
Pausing for a moment, he fixes his gaze on me. “We cast my wife for the movie today. I’m hoping you approve of the choice.”
I shrug. “As long as it’s not Jessie Lane, I don’t care.”
Josh chuckles. “I wouldn’t do that to you. We got Gabby. I know I’ve just made another film with her, but she’s such a good actress, we have chemistry, and you like her.”
I clap with excitement. “And I get to go shopping with Antonio while you guys are working.”
Josh grimaces. “I hadn’t thought of that. Better sort you out a credit card.”
Sliding my hand over his, I shake my head. “I don’t want your money.”
“It’s ours, Delaney. You have to get used to it.” He scoops up a mouthful of the mac and cheese. “Oh my God. This is amazing. Exactly what I needed.” He wolfs it down. I don’t interrupt him because he must need it, despite saying he was happy to go to bed on an empty stomach.
“Don’t make yourself sick.”
He shrugs. “The more of this, the better.”
“No. I mean, make sure you’re eating properly. When was the last time you ate today?”
Josh pauses. “I’m not sure. Maybe around lunchtime I got something?”
“You’re exhausted. You have to eat.”
The corners of his mouth curl. “I know I do. Sometimes I just need a reminder.”
“There’s still plenty left. I’ll pack you some of this for the morning. Make sure you eat it.”
His smile widens. “Have I told you how much I love your bossiness?”
“Not lately.”
He leans over and pecks me on the lips. “That’s one of the things I always loved about you.”
“Whatever.”
“It’s true. I was hooked the day you told me to do better.”
My cheeks heat up. “You do better now.”
“I try.” He drops to one knee and takes my hands in his.
“What on earth are you doing?” I laugh.
“Something I should have done a long time ago. I love you. You could have rolled over and gone back to sleep, but your only concern is for me—for us. Since the day we got back together, you’ve just let me be me. I’m the luckiest guy alive, and I want to grow old with you.”
