by Izzy Cullen
Johnny left and Lexi and I sat in the living room and talked for hours. I had missed her. We rarely talked anymore, mainly just texted daily. She told me Todd was not a fan of mine and told her to stay away because I was a bad influence. I think it was his way of isolating her from her friends. I am just glad she was strong enough to pull away and end things. Who knows if the mental and emotional abuse would have escalated to physical?
We finally crawled into bed when my phone rang. It was Alex. With all the excitement of the day, I forgot to call him back. I left the room, talked to him, and filled him in on what I knew, mainly about Johnny kicking Todd’s ass. Alex filled me in on the fact Johnny was a fourth degree black belt. I was surprised, but my past encounters with him were with him stoned and drunk. Alex felt awful he wasn’t here to help with anything and promised he would be on the plane Saturday, if not Friday.
The week went by fast. Johnny was a squatter on the couch. He said he wasn’t letting us stay at the house alone with Todd out of jail. The girls loved it, since he was teaching them to play guitar and giving them attention like Alex always did.
Lexi remained my bedmate, but she still had no plans on what she was going to do in the upcoming weeks. I offered her Lily’s room and to move Lily into the twin’s room, but she wouldn’t have it. I even tried talking her into staying at Alex’s with Sam, but that was a no go, too. Lexi got the personal protection order, and Logan and I went to Lexi’s while Todd moved his things out. The good thing was Lexi had decided to fly out to her parents on Sunday for a week, and said she would have things straightened out by then. I was hoping the time away would do her some good.
After school on Friday, the girls and I headed home. When I got there, I saw Alex’s Jeep in the driveway, and the girls got excited to see Johnny. I barely had the car pulled in when they were out the door. I was gathering my bags and about to head in when I was pulled from behind. I was startled until I smelled the familiar and yummy smell of Alex. I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. I was surprised to see him here, and shocked the girls weren’t monopolizing his time from when they saw him.
“I’m so happy to see you. You have no idea how you have made my week a shit ton better.” Alex was coming in for another kiss.
“I’m surprised to see you. Happy, but surprised.” I moved my arms from his neck to his waist and rested my head on his chest. I was just breathing in his smell. “Where are Sam and Johnny?”
“Entertaining the girls. I wanted you to myself for a minute before I had to share you with everyone.” I hummed as I squeezed him even more. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “Let’s get inside so we can discuss the plans we already made for the night.” I was wondering who we was, but guessing it was him and Sam, maybe Johnny. He grabbed my bag and purse and carried them in the house for me.
When I walked in, I heard what sounded like guitar playing. I was guessing Lily was trying to show Sam what she had learned, and the twins were showing Johnny their Friday folders with all their work from the week. He was acting very interested. I had to give him credit. The house was so loud, but seeing all the craziness made me happy.
When everything seemed to settle down, Sam took the girls upstairs to their bedrooms. She said they all had something to do and I didn’t question it. I went into the kitchen to figure out what to make for dinner. Alex and Johnny followed me in, which made me a little suspicious.
“Okay, what the hell are you up to?” I felt like there was something shady going on.
“Give us a little credit,” Johnny said as he pulled out a bar stool from the island.
“Fine, then help me figure out what to make everyone for dinner.” I was looking in the cabinet.
“No, we aren’t eating here.” Alex was leaning back on the stove.
“Really? Where are we eating?” We still hadn’t fully adjusted to going out much because of all the staring and people gawking at us, and I hated exposing the girls to it. To them, he was just Alex.
“My house.” Alex had a smile on his face.
“Last time I checked there was no food there, and this one,” I pointed at Johnny, “has been eating most of his meals here, so I know there isn’t food there.”
“That is correct, which is why we will order pizza.” Alex walked over to me and put his arms around me from behind. “Now you get to share the rest.” He was talking to Johnny.
“Since nobody wants Lexi alone, and with Sam and Alex here, the couch and house here is crowded.” He paused a second. I wasn’t sure if it was because he wanted me to respond or add dramatic flair to the conversation. “We are all staying at Alex’s. The girls each have a room. I’ll still crash at the guesthouse, and there are two rooms left for Lexi and Sam.” It was actually a really good idea. “Think of it like summer camp.”
Alex interrupted. “The best part of it is that Sam and I picked up sweatpants and sweatshirts for tomorrow.” I turned and looked at him, confused. What was tomorrow? “We are hanging out and watching movies all day, and I mean all day.” I was actually loving this idea, but wasn’t sure if I should let them know or not.
“I suppose. Let me go pack a few things and get the girls ready.” I was turning to head up the stairs.
“No need. Sam is helping them pack a few things, but you all have stuff in the closet and drawers. If you would stay more, you would know this.” Alex was giving me an annoyed look. I knew I had stuff there from the past nights I had stayed, but the girls had never really stayed, and I wasn’t sure if they would have everything that they would need. I decided to trust him and roll with the punches.
“Fine, I’ll grab my purse and keys.” Alex shot me a wide smile.
“This will be fun.” Johnny got off the stool and headed for the stairs.
When the girls finally came downstairs, we divided up and split into the two vehicles. I called Lexi and told her the plan. She was going to head over after she stopped at my house to pick things up.
Once we got in the house, the girls ran to their rooms. The twins loved Alex’s house because they didn’t have to share a room like at my house. The house was big. There were six bedrooms in the main house and they all had their own bath off each room. Alex had everything updated when he bought the house. Even with the updates, he managed to keep the charm of the place.
I went up to Alex’s room and looked for something to change into. I wanted out of my work clothes. I opened the closet, and there had to be as many clothes in it as in mine at home. Almost all still had tags on them. He bought the clothes to try to lure me into staying and moving the girls in with him, but it was going to take more than clothes to convince me. I finally picked out yoga pants and a loose long sleeve shirt. I found the UGG slippers he bought and slid my feet into those to complete my loungewear attire.
We had a fun night. We ate pizza, played board games, and Alex and Johnny played the guitar and sang for us after they built a fire in the fireplace. The girls fell asleep on us and the guys carried them to their rooms. We didn’t stay up much longer.
When I entered the bedroom, Alex grabbed me from behind, spun me into him, and started kissing me. He shut the door as he devoured my mouth. I had missed him horribly while he was gone. I longed for him and his touch, and I started to tear at his clothes. When Alex broke away to help take his shirt off, I paused and started coming to my senses.
Whispering, I said, “We can’t do this, there is a house full of people, and the girls are down the hall.”
“Don’t worry, we can be quiet, plus Lexi and Sam said they would tend to the girls if they got up.” Alex leaned in to kiss me again. I placed my hand on his chest.
I said, in a louder whisper, “You planned this out, too?” I wasn’t pissed, but I was annoyed he was talking to Sam and Lexi about our sex life. Alex removed the hand on my chest.
“No. When we were in the kitchen, they offered. I only said it sounded like a good plan.” I could hear the cockiness in his voice, whic
h was sexy and irritating.
Before I could protest anymore, he had my mouth again and his hands were on my lower back, pulling me in tightly against his body. He walked me backwards to the bed and sat me down gently. When he pulled away, he yanked my top over my head and pushed me back to peel off my yoga pants. I sat back up, grabbing at him to pull him on top of me.
I unbuttoned Alex’s pants and shoved my hands along the waist to ease them off. Alex shimmied his hips to help in the removal. I plunged my hands inside his boxer briefs, wrapping my hand around him. Alex moved from my lips to my neck and down to my breasts. He shifted my bra to have access to my nipples. I wanted to moan in pleasure, but I forced myself to hold in all sounds so we wouldn’t be heard. Alex and I kissed and licked every inch of each other before he entered me. By the time he did, I was already on the verge of an orgasm and grinding my hips into him as he slammed into me from above. I was trying my best to be quiet, but I must have not have done a great job, because Alex’s hand came up to cover my mouth. This action sent me over the edge, and I climaxed, my body shaking. When it was over, I wrapped my leg around Alex, holding him close to me. He slowed his pumping action and was breathing hard. He must have come with me, but I was so involved in my own that I didn’t even notice he was with me.
Alex rested his head between my shoulder and neck. We were both breathing hard and not saying anything. We laid curled up for a while talking and catching up about the week apart until I felt him growing again.
“Are you kidding, already?” I was shocked and surprised. I wasn’t even sure my body could take another powerful orgasm.
“I’m always ready when you are around.”
He started nipping at my neck. I released my legs and shoved at his chest. I climbed on top of him, slowly riding him and allowing him to massage my breasts. Whenever I made deep plunges and rode them up slowly, Alex would let out a small hiss.
“You are fucking killing me.”
At those words, I picked up a little speed. Alex’s hands moved from my breasts to my hips. He was plunging me deeper onto him and bucking me back up with his hips. The force he was using was enough to hit my spot every time. I caught myself a few times, letting out small yelps. The movements continued to pick up speed until I was bouncing hard and fast on him. When he was close, he begged me to join him, and the sound of his voice was enough to push me over the edge. Alex slowed me and pulled me down on him and pushed me up slower, our hips and bodies working in a rhythm.
When we were done, I collapsed next to him. I curled up into his side and he rolled to his side holding me close to him. I could have fallen asleep like this, but I knew I needed to get clothes on in case the girls knocked and needed me. I reluctantly broke away and climbed out of bed. I was rummaging through the drawers in the dark when Alex turned on the lamp. I immediately went to cover and he laughed.
“Seriously, you should invest in blinds. With the lights on, anyone can see into this room.” I threw on his shirt while I tried to find my pajamas. Alex got out of bed in his full glory.
“They would have to be in the lake if they want to see anything.” He was right. The cliff made it so that nobody on the beach could see into the house. Plus, realistically, nobody would be on the beach this time of year and this late at night.
Alex walked over and slid out a drawer that had different pajama sets for me. The pajamas ranged from semi-trashy to fully conservative. I went with fully conservative; a pink thermal long sleeve and flannel pants. Alex threw on a pair of lounge pants and walked back to the bed as he pulled a worn tee over his head. When he got to the bed, he pulled down the covers on my side so I could just crawl in.
~13~
When I woke the next morning, Josie was standing next to me, looking directly in my face. I was startled at first, but then I smiled. “Morning, beautiful, how did you sleep?”
“Good, but the sun is bright in my room right now.” I laughed, because I was pretty sure Alex didn’t think of curtains or blinds when he moved in and remodeled the house. I would normally throw back the covers and have her crawl in bed with me, but Alex and I now shared a bed, and I wasn’t sure if I, or even Alex, would be comfortable with her climbing in. It was a touchy situation. I didn’t have time really to even finish the battle in my mind, because Alex’s voice interrupted the one in my head.
“Climb in, baby girl.” Alex lifted the covers between us. Josie climbed over me and tucked herself in. I turned and wrapped my arm around her and Alex did the same, his middle finger rubbing my forearm. “Did you have any dreams?”
“I don’t think so, why? Do you dream every night?” Josie lay on her back, but rolled her head over to the side to look at Alex.
“Some nights, but the nights I don’t are the nights I know I slept really good.”
“I know I slept well, since I didn’t have to listen to Jazz talk to herself all night.” Jasmine was notorious for talking in her sleep, and some nights there was even yelling. She never woke up or even remembered it, but most of the time she woke the rest of the house up.
“You know, if you guys moved in here, you would have your own room.” I got up on my elbow and looked at him. I was slightly pissed. Actually, not slightly, just completely pissed. He didn’t need to bring the girls in on the decisions. This was something I was working out in my head. I knew Alex figured out I was pissed because he quickly changed the subject.
“Why don’t we go downstairs and surprise everybody with breakfast? Uncle Johnny and I bought bacon and eggs for today.” I wasn’t one hundred percent okay with the whole referring to Johnny as uncle either. I was going to choose my battles at this point.
“Awesome. Can you make chocolate chip pancakes too?” Josie was kicking the covers off her and everyone else in bed.
“Of course.” Alex got out of bed and, of course, even in his flannel pants and t-shirt he looked amazing in the morning. “Give your mommy a kiss and tell her to stay in bed so we can surprise her, and if she is lucky I’ll bring her up some coffee.” Josie walked over to me and gave me a kiss. It was quick and she repeated most of what Alex said on her way out the door.
I was frustrated with him. Normally I would keep it inside and have a mental battle with myself, but I had been working on talking with him and that was what I was going to do. Moving the girls in with him was a huge step. Having them leave the house that they grew up in, took their first steps in, was something not to take lightly. And what if months down the road the relationship changed? Moving them out would only cause more stress on them. This wasn’t just about me and making a small decision, and Alex needed to realize that before speaking to them about issues.
I was just about done fuming in my head when I could smell the coffee entering the room. Alex didn’t say anything until he was sitting on the bed next to me and the coffee was placed on the coffee table.
“I fucked up, but honestly, I bought this house to fill with you and the girls, and it sits empty most nights.” He had his right hand rubbing the left side of my face.
“Alex, we met five months ago, and the first few weren’t exactly drama free. This is happening fast, really fast, and I don’t want us being swept up in this moment only to regret it later on down the road.” I was proud of myself for being able to put it all together verbally.
“My feelings won’t change. Are you planning on changing yours, or are you not there?” He looked a little hurt and I knew I was part of the problem. Alex was so good at expressing his feelings verbally, but I still held back a lot. I couldn’t reveal my hand just yet in case he was bluffing.
I sat up before talking and Alex’s hand moved next to my hip. “God, no, I’m there, but look at how fast we both got there. Doesn’t it scare you? If it were just me, I’d have moved in the minute I saw you walk down the beach, but it isn’t just me. Let’s say I move them and something…” Alex tried to interrupt and I put my finger over his mouth. “…something changes here.” I moved my finger and was moving it between us, poin
ting back and forth. “I move them back and they get confused, unsure, lots of things could go through their minds.”
“But I’m already staying with you.” He had a point, but it was different.
“Right, but how much did the girls have to move and change for that to happen?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Not a lot, their world has stayed intact. We didn’t have to box their things and move them.” We both remained quiet for a moment.
“I get it. I wish you had more faith in us.” He was still hurt. He was getting up to leave and I grabbed his arm and pulled him back towards me.
“I’m learning how to trust again, and I’m so glad it is you teaching me. I just need time. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you.” I pulled him down enough to get both of my arms around his neck. “I have never loved another man like I love you. Every ounce of me loves you.” I felt the stiffness in him relax.
Alex leaned back a little so he could look at my face. “Every ounce of you does?” He started poking at me and ended up tickling me until I was laughing and screaming for mercy. Alex finally stopped when I said I was going to pee my pants. He leaned in and gave me a kiss. “If you need more time, I’ll back off. Just keep telling me every day how much you love me.”
“Promise.” Before he got up, I said it again. “I love you.”
I heard everyone else start to rise, but I stayed in bed. I loved watching the water, and today it was turbulent. The weather was changing, and I was surprised it hadn’t already snowed.
Lexi and Sam came in and joined me in bed. They said the guys and girls kicked them out of the kitchen. We sat there overlooking the water and talking. Sam seemed relaxed and happy to be with family. I was hoping I could talk her into staying longer, but I wasn’t getting my hopes up. She is a west coast girl and would probably die in the ice-cold winters of Northern Michigan.
