Mad Mad Love ~ The Remembrance Trilogy: Complete Box Set Holiday Edition (The Remembrance Trilogy #1-3)

by Kahlen Aymes

  “Are you all right, Ryan? You look exhausted.” Mom’s voice floated around me. I turned toward her slightly and covered her hand with my own, trying to reassure the worry out of her voice and her expression.

  “Sure, Mom. The hours are hellacious, but I’m fine. It’s nothing that a few hours of sleep won’t cure.” I lifted the corners of my mouth in the start of a lazy smile.

  “I remember when your father went through his residency. There were times when I barely saw him,” Mom continued.

  I groaned softly in protest. “Don’t remind me.” My eyes snapped back to the gorgeous picture of my own bride, giggling with her friends. Her voice sent little tingles through me and found me wishing that we’d have been smart enough to tell them that we couldn’t get in until the morning and snuck off to some small hotel where we could be alone all night.

  A good portion of porcelain skin on Julia’s shoulders and back was open to view by the neckline of the deep pinkish-purple sweater she had on. The sleeves were long, but the design was meant to be provocative and it was. She must have felt my stare because her soft gaze landed on mine, followed by a half smile lifting her soft lips. It was an innocent gesture and full of love, but damn if my body didn’t tighten immediately in response. Those pouty little lips, the lower one jutting out slightly before being captured by her top teeth, combined with those deep green pools would be my undoing. I was so fucking hungry for her; I could barely restrain myself from hauling her up to the room right then and there. My eyes narrowed and I smirked at her. Julia’s eyes danced with mischief. She was well aware of the effect she had on me. She knew it well, and milked it for every last drop. I loved that shit. I chuckled softly to myself and reached for my drink.

  “Julia looks beautiful. Married life agrees with her,” Mom observed, her hand still moving lightly over my shirt.

  “Mmmm. Uh, yes.” I pulled myself out of my daze to answer her precisely and turned my head in her direction. “With both of us. We’re very happy except we do wish we had more time together. Has Dad been very busy? Why don’t you guys take a trip or something? Shit, if it were up to me, I’d be whisking Julia off to some remote part of the world at least once a month.”

  “I thought this was a trip, and once a month is a bit excessive. Even for you, darling.”

  Harris came back from the bar with three more bottles of wine and handed one to me with a corkscrew, followed by a waiter carrying the ice bucket for the bottle of Chardonnay.

  “The money this place charges and I have to open the damn wine?” I grinned at him as I grabbed the bottle and sat up in my chair, causing my mom’s hand to fall from my back. The waiter glanced at me apologetically and stood patiently beside the table until he could take the bottle, wrap it in a white linen napkin and place it inside the chiller.

  “I didn’t want to wait,” Harris said shortly, his tone stilted as he threw a hard glance in the direction of the women. My eyes shot to Aaron’s, who’s widened. He shook his head just enough to communicate that I shouldn’t go there.

  The music coming from the band was a cover mixture of various artists; there were people dancing and the lights were low. The atmosphere was much the same as it’d been the night when I’d found that ass Moore here with my Julia. That night started out badly, but where it ended couldn’t have been better.

  I still thought about that night all the time. The kissing on the dance floor that finally connected Julia and I after months of denying the love and the lovemaking afterward had been so fucking profound the earth had moved. Jesus, the thought of it still rocked me to the core. Fuck, it had been hotter than hell. We didn’t even have sex in the traditional sense, but it had been one of the most intimate nights of our lives. Every time we touched, I was still amazed at the intensity.

  Harris poured another round of wine after I’d finished opening the bottles and then flopped back down on the other side of my mother. He seemed out of sorts so I took it as an opportunity to speak to Aaron.

  “Aaron. Why aren’t you on the dance floor with your bride? Get your ass out there and show me how it’s done.” I nodded my head in the direction of the girls. Jenna was talking to the group and using her hands in a flamboyant way to express her words. Julia threw her head back and let out a peal of laughter at whatever Jenna was saying. Aaron walked to Jenna and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him to the middle of the dance floor. Jenna was radiantly happy, her cheeks glowing and a brilliant smile dancing on her lips.

  The music pulsed and my eyes moved from the couple on the dance floor to the woman walking toward our table. When Julia reached us, she leaned down and kissed my father on his cheek and moved around me to lean down to hug my mother. “I’ve missed you two.”

  “You look beautiful, sweetheart. How are you?” Dad asked.

  “I’m fine, but Ryan is exhausted.” Her hand found its way to the top of my head and her fingers threaded through the hair at my forehead, pushing it back. The sensation of her touch felt wonderful and my lids dropped over my eyes right before she leaned in to kiss my temple. Her perfume only added to the miracle of Julia and I reached for her free hand.

  “Yes. He’s been putting up a good front, but a mother knows these things.”

  “You’re having a good time, so I can go up and you can stay with the girls, babe.”

  Her face twisted sardonically, clearly showing me the absurdity of my idea. “Don’t be crazy. Of course I’ll come up with you. It’s late.” Julia’s eyes lifted from mine to glance between my parents and then to Harris; still brooding and staring in Ellie’s direction without saying anything. “Do you mind if I steal my boy away?” she asked gently.

  I rubbed her hand lightly with my thumb and leaned in toward Harris while Julia said goodnight to my parents. “Hey, man, what’s up? You okay?”

  “Huh?” He looked up at me while I stood from my chair, still holding my wife’s hand.

  “Oh, sure. I’m a little preoccupied, that’s all. How have you been, Ryan?”

  “Really good. Every second is occupied so it feels like the time since Julia and I have been in New York City has literally flown. How’s the band doing? Julia mentioned you got a record deal a few months back, right?”

  “Yes. We’ve just started promoting it and hopefully we’ll have a tour in a couple of months.”

  “That’s great, man. I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.”

  “Sounds good. We’ll talk more tomorrow. Have a good night, dude.”

  Julia pulled her hand from mine and turned to hug Harris goodbye. “Bye, Harris. See you tomorrow.” Her arms tightened around his neck and he hugged her back lightly. “Love you.”

  My hand slid automatically around her back and pulled her close to my side as we walked through the hotel and up in the elevators. I drew in a deep breath.

  “What’s going on with Ellie and Harris?” Ellie would have told her everything, and if I knew my wife, it was bugging her.

  “They’re struggling a little. He’s asked her to marry him multiple times and she won’t agree,” she said softly. Her hand reached around my waist and she leaned her head on my shoulder.

  “What? That’s crazy. Isn’t it? I thought she loved the guy.” I felt her head nod against me and I turned mine to place a lingering kiss on her forehead as we walked together.

  “She does. But they’ve distanced some due to his traveling with the band and the demands of her job. They’ll work it out. You have enough to worry about,” she said softly as we made our way though the hotel room door.

  Finally alone. I reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly back into my arms while my eager mouth sought hers. “Julia, come here.”

  I gathered her close to my chest and her arms slid up over my chest and around my neck as we kissed hungrily and I turned her toward the bed. It hadn’t escaped my notice that this was the same suite we stayed in on the night we were married. I was aware of it earlier as we showered and rushed out, but now I let my mind wrap
around it. My perfect girl must have conspired with Jenna.

  We kissed for a few minutes, each of us caressing and grasping, feasting on the other’s mouth like we were starving. “God, you taste so good,” I murmured as Julia turned her mouth away from mine to gasp for breath. I slid my hand up her back to twine in the hair at her nape. “This suite…” I murmured as my arm tightened around her waist to lift her onto the bed and follow her down, never letting go of her.

  Julia nodded against my neck, her mouth kissing along the skin. “Yes,” she answered breathlessly. “We have it all weekend.”

  I settled down on top of her, and she welcomed me into the cradle of her body, arching up to meet me. I pressed my erection into her softness and pushed my hips against hers in a slow rhythm. “Mmmm… Julia.” I pushed up her sweater with eager hands and started to kiss her again but she pulled back slightly, her hands threading through the hair at both of my temples.

  “Ryan, you need to rest, my love. I’ll give you a back rub to relax you so you can sleep.”

  I growled in protest. “I need you. I want you. Right now.”

  She smiled and continued to stroke my hair. “Baby, we have all weekend.” Her luscious mouth reached up for mine and she sucked the top lip between both of hers. “All weekend…”

  My hand continued its quest upward underneath the soft cashmere toward the swelling flesh I wanted. My hand cupped around it gently and the pebbled nipple brushed my palm. Her breath rushed out causing even more blood to rush into my dick.

  “I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Make love with me, Julia. I’m so hard it hurts. Please.” My free hand found her hip and I held her in place as I ground my hips into hers. “God, I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ll take care of you, but I want you to relax. Lie back.”

  I sighed against the skin of her throat as I pulled the neckline of her sweater down. “Take this damn thing off,” I commanded.

  She lifted her arms for me and I pushed it up and over her head, exposing the delicate, black lace bra she wore underneath. I let my gaze roam over her, the sheer lace leaving her nipples visible underneath and the swells of creamy flesh gently spilling from the top edge.

  “You’re so beautiful. Julia…”

  I kissed her hungrily again, my tongue thrusting into her mouth, demanding a response. Her mouth opened and her hands in my hair pulled me closer as she gave in, moaning softly into my mouth. Those sweet little sounds she made as I loved her drove me fucking insane.

  We rolled around on the bed dry-humping and kissing until we were both panting. When she finally reached down between us and rubbed me through my slacks, I thought I’d explode. “Ryan, please lie back, baby.”

  I slowed my frantic movements and rolled over onto my back, pulling her with me. I couldn’t bear to lose contact. “Okay, I’m on my back,” I said against her mouth, licking her top lip and then kissing her softly beneath the curtain of her hair.

  The room was dark and Julia moved up to turn on the lamp by the bed. “What the hell? Julia, are you stopping?” I groaned and used my hands around the back of her waist to pull her back.

  She laughed softly. “No. I’m not stopping. You’ll have your way, but I want mine, too.”

  “Don’t you want to fuck your husband, Mrs. Matthews?” I smiled between kisses.

  “Mmm… constantly. He’s sooo hot.”

  “Is he?” I teased.

  “Yes, irresistible.”

  She sat up, straddling my hips and went to work on the buttons of my shirt. She was smiling down at me, a devilish look on her beautiful features. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, roaming over the graceful curve of her neck and her collarbones, down her full breasts covered in the provocative black lace and down over her taut bare stomach.

  Soon she was loosening my belt buckle and I was working on the button and zipper of her black pants. Before I could get the job done she was pulling my pants and boxer briefs down my legs, bending to kiss my stomach and run her tongue up my length as she moved down my body. I sucked in my breath.

  She pulled off my socks and then moved off the bed to shed her pants, revealing a matching black lace string bikini. “Wow. Julia… that’s amazing.”

  “I wanted to give you a massage tonight, but since you are determined to make love, who am I to deny you?”

  She settled back on my lap and my hands roamed over her slender form as we started to kiss and move against each other. I could feel her heat against my groin and her hands on my body. It was too much to withstand. Soon I was pushing aside the lace and finding her entrance with my fingers.

  “Oh, honey…” The breath rushed from my lungs as I parted the moist flesh and began a slow pulse against the swollen nub. I knew just how to touch her and I was anxious to see her fall apart. Her mouth hovered over mine until finally she bit down on my lower lip. Oh, God.

  “Uh… Uh…” she was panting, pulling at my shoulders and pressing her pelvis into my hand and lap.

  “Ryan, baby… Don’t wait.” Her knees curled around my hips. The want in her voice was my undoing. I pushed myself inside her, moaning as she sheathed me in her delicious heat.

  “I love you. Uh, babe. Christ, I missed you.”

  After that, words were lost; as together we drowned in our love. We were frantic. Our hands moved over each other’s bodies in the desperate need to get closer to each other, our mouths slanting over each other and tongues hungrily warring together. I felt my body tighten too soon and tried to slow down but she was insistent, her hips rocking into mine in a relentless rhythm. She knew she’d have me coming very soon.

  I pulled my mouth away and slid my hands on both sides of her face, my thumbs running along her jaw as I looked into her eyes. She was beautiful. Breathtaking. That luscious mouth was wet and open and her heavy breathing was like music… a savage beat, exquisite evidence of the effect I had on her. Her jade eyes languid; the lids dropped and her head fell back.

  “Julia. Slow down, baby. I’ll come. I don’t want to come yet. Stop. Stop!”

  “No. I want you to let go,” she whispered breathlessly. “Give it to me. I want it all.” Her head lifted and she bent toward me to take my mouth with hers and her body kept moving in relentless pursuit. I could feel every curve of my erection rubbing in and out, back and forth and the pressure brought me to the point where I didn’t want to stop it anymore. She felt so good and it had been too long.

  I pulled the lace of her bra aside and gently squeezed, rolling her nipple between my fingers as my tongue plunged into her mouth. Julia started sucking on it at the same moment her body clenched in cadence around my body. She was coming and I could feel every tremor of it. It sent me over the edge and I exploded inside her with a groan, my body quaking and jerking against hers as my arms tightened around her and I filled her.

  As our bodies came down we kept kissing, unwilling to lose the precious connection. Her fingers curled into the muscles on my shoulders and she moved her mouth along the side of my face in a series of soft caresses from my temple to my jaw. She pulled back slightly, still straddling my lap and I pulled her hips into mine tightly, still deeply imbedded inside her body.

  I struggled to get control of my breathing and rested my forehead against hers, running my hands up and down her back in a light touch. I finally unclasped the bra and slid it from her body. I wanted to keep touching her. To never stop. I buried my face in her neck, kissing the slight sheen of saltiness from her skin and running my tongue along her collarbone to end with an open mouth kiss on the sweet skin below her ear. “My God. I love you, Julia.”

  Her fingers fisted into my hair and she pulled back to look into my face. She smiled softly, devilishly. “I know.”

  I would never get used to the effect she had on me. My throat tightened and I brushed her hair off her face.

  “Thank you for getting this suite. I’m so lucky you’re mine.”

  The smile went away and she shrugged softly. “You’re all I want.”

/>   I swallowed and lifted the corner of my mouth. It was my turn to smile in the wonder of it. “Sweetheart, your pill cycle is up at the end of the week, isn’t it?”

  She nuzzled into the side of my face with her nose. “Yes. Don’t worry. No period this weekend.”

  I chuckled softly. “That’s good. I mean… wouldn’t stop me. I miss you too much.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Julia. Look at me.” I pulled her hand to my mouth and kissed the inside of her wrist as her eyes met mine. I could see the love behind the green depths and it never ceased to amaze me. “I think it’s time, don’t you?”

  She didn’t ask for me to elaborate. She knew. “Are you sure? You’re working so much and I’m not sure if I want to go through that without you around.”

  “You always could read my mind.”

  “No.” She shook her head with a smile. “I can read your heart.”

  Julia’s eyes softened with tears and I kissed her cheekbones and then her eyelids, moving in a series of butterfly touches toward her mouth. I kissed her softly, tasting and ghosting my mouth over hers in a tender caress, tasting her like the finest wine.

  “Mmm…yes. I’m sure. I’ll have residency for another three years. I don’t want to wait that long. Let’s make our baby.”

  I rolled to my side and slid out of her, rising up on my elbow and letting my fingers splay out over her flat stomach. My eyes burned into hers and watched every emotion that crossed her face. She got a little crinkle between her eyebrows and her chin trembled slightly.

  “But I don’t want to lose this. I love this time with you.” Two fat tears tumbled from her eyes. I bent to kiss them away. “It’s never enough.”

  “Nothing will change between us.”

  “Uh huh! I’ll get fat and ugly. Like a whale and you won’t want me.” Her face crumpled slightly as she tried not to cry.

  Happiness burst up inside my chest and I chuckled softly. “No, you won’t! You’ll be carrying my baby. You’ll be the most beautiful thing in the world to me. Don’t you know that? You’ll always be beautiful to me, and seeing you swell with the tangible evidence of our love,” I had to stop as the words lodged in my throat. “There’s nothing I want more.” We looked at each other in awed silence for a few seconds and my chest tightened at the emotions flashing across her features. When she closed her eyes and more tears fell, I finally found my voice. “But if you don’t want to have a baby now…” I began and my heart fell slightly.