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

by Kahlen Aymes

  I turned on the baby monitor and switched off the lamp before making my way into the master bedroom to take a quick shower. I knew Julia would be puttering around and have a plate ready for me, so I hurried through it and quickly stumbled into some old grey sweats and a Harvard t-shirt I’d grabbed off the top of the clean laundry still waiting to be put away in the basket by the dresser. I hadn’t dried my hair well and already the water was running down my neck to soak into the collar of my shirt. I went back and grabbed a towel and quickly scrubbed at it as I made my way downstairs.

  I left the towel around my neck and walked leisurely down the stairs and into the kitchen. The baby monitor receiver was sitting on the counter next to my wife as she pulled a plate of food out of the microwave. She was dressed, as I was, in old sweats topped off by one of those sexy, fitted t-shirts the hugged every curve.

  “What’s for dinner?” I asked, sliding my hands forward across her hips, then wrapping my arms around her to pull her back against me. I bent and nuzzled the side of her neck and she arched it to give me access. I ran my nose up to just below her ear, inhaling the soft scent of her perfume. I couldn’t help it, I placed a hot, open mouth kiss along the skin and she sighed. My dick twitched and began to engorge.

  “Mmm… Lasagna.” She pushed her ass into my groin playfully, laughing softly. “Come on, babe.” She turned in my arms and pushed against my shoulders, knocking the towel to the floor. “I’ll take care of that in a bit, but first–you need to eat.”

  I stared down into Julia’s beautiful face as she gazed up at me, her hand sliding up to my chest and around the back of my head, fingers curling roughly in my hair. Her lids dropped and her mouth fell open. I knew that look, and I could feel the urgency in her grip on my head. She wanted me, and suddenly eating seemed less important than touching her. “Do I?” I whispered against her temple and pulled her against me, so she could feel my hardness against her. One of my hands slid up and into her hair at the side of her head just before my mouth crashed into hers, my tongue plundered her warmth and sweetness I was most hungry for, tangling with hers.

  Her left arm slid around my shoulders and she stood on tiptoes to that she could kiss me back with equal fervor, so I lifted her against me and off of the floor. In seconds her legs were around my waist and our arms were holding each other tight. The kisses were still hungry, the touches urgent; the need always out of bounds.

  I walked forward, my intention to set her on the counter, but the second I got close enough Julia pulled her mouth from mine. “Baby,” she panted against my mouth, as I tried to coax hers back into more kisses. “I don’t need an ass full of lasagna.”

  I laughed softly and pulled back just enough to lean my forehead on hers, but moved away from the counter and sighed heavily. “I can think of worse things.”

  Julia placed another soft kiss on my mouth and smiled up at me, her green eyes were soft and full of love. Her fingers kneaded the tight muscles where my shoulder and neck came together. “Come on, eat, and then we can play.” She was beautiful and adorable at the same time.

  “Okay.” I hugged her tight, before letting her legs slide down mine. Her hand brushed along my jaw. Shit! In my haste to get back downstairs, I’d forgotten to shave after my shower. “I want to talk to you about something, anyway.”

  Her brow furrowed as he brought my plate to the table and I sat down.

  “What is it?” Julia set an open beer next to my plate full of steaming pasta, then brought out a salad, dressing and fresh garlic bread before handing me a fork.

  I took a long pull on the beer and she took the chair to my left.

  I loaded my fork. “Most likely I have to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and I don’t think it’s fair to you and the baby to be stuck in Boston all alone.” She shook her head, her face telling me that she didn’t like where the conversation was going.

  “Ryan, no.”

  “I spoke to my dad earlier and they still want you to come to Chicago. Of course, they don’t want to miss Christmas with the Aidan.”

  “Ryan! You’re his daddy. It’s you who shouldn’t miss this time with him! Even if it’s only a few hours.”

  I took a bite and the cheesy tomato flavor filled my mouth. It was delicious as always.

  I had to be honest, it did make me sad at the possibility of being away from Aidan and Julia for Christmas, but I hated the idea of them being without the family and Julia deserved to experience his first Christmas with everyone doting on them both. My heart ached to say it, but I forced the words out. “He’s so little, babe. Next year will matter more to him.”

  “I can’t leave you here alone on Christmas,” she said adamantly, sitting back in her chair and folding her arms in protest. “Besides, we can’t really afford it. We’re going to make that extra house payment. Right?”

  That had been our original plan; to skip a lot of presents for each other and pay down on the house. Julia only worked part-time and my salary wasn’t what I would make when I was finished with my residency, and material gifts didn’t mean that much between the two of us. Other than the bracelet and her wedding ring, Julia didn’t place much value on such things, even though I longed to lavish her with more.

  I reached out and pulled one of her reluctant hands into mine. I could tell by the way she resisted, she was upset by the mere suggestion.

  “Honey, it will be okay.” I shrugged slightly. “It’s only money. So, we don’t make the extra payment; it’s not the end of the world and I’d feel better if you’d go. I’d be an asshole to leave you sitting here, when you could be with people who love you. Paul and Marin have been invited, too, and Dad said they’ve agreed to make the trip if you’ll be there with Aidan. It’s the best solution for everyone.”

  I pulled her hand toward me and placed a gentle kiss on her wrist, my eyes imploring her.

  “What about you being with people who love you?” The little crinkle appeared above her nose. “You can’t help that you have to work.”

  “Neither can you. Why should we both suffer?”

  She swallowed and her eyes glassed over before she looked away for a beat before they shot back to meet mine again. “Last year was so miserable. I don’t want to be away from you this year.”

  “I don’t want to be away from you, either, but we won’t be together, anyway. Not like we both want. We can celebrate a few days afterward, when I’m off the Monday and Tuesday following. We’ll just pretend that it’s really Christmas, then. You remember how whole hog my mother goes at Christmas. Come on, sweets. I want you to go.” I leaned back and took another bite. “I’ll feel better working, knowing you’re not home alone.”

  “I’m not alone,” Julia huffed indignantly. “I’ll be with our son. And maybe Aaron and Jenna.”

  “Aaron has to work, too, I checked. We both think you and Jen should go to Chicago. We’ve already booked your flights.”

  “I’m glad you and your brother have it all planned out for us, but I hope the tickets are refundable.” She was angry and it showed in the way she pushed away from the table and started to clean up the kitchen, leaving me there to finish eating. My heart thrummed, despite Julia’s attitude, and I bowed my head so she wouldn’t see me smirking. How could I fault her for being pissed that I wanted to send her and Aidan a thousand miles away from me? I was one lucky bastard.

  I took another swig of my beer. I wasn’t stupid and so yes, I did take the insurance. I knew my wife well enough to realize I needed her buy-in before making definitive plans.

  “Aaron and I were only trying to do something nice. You can bring back some of that god-awful fruit cake, my great-aunt Mable sends.” I tried to tease her, reminded of the first time I told her about how awful it was, that first Christmas after we met when I flew her to Chicago from California. I glanced over my shoulder to see her stiff back and furious way she was loading the dishwasher and putting the leftovers away. I needn’t have bothered, though, because she slammed the refrigerator
door hard enough for all of the glass bottles in the door to clang together. Clearly, my attempt to lighten the mood wasn’t working. “Look, if you don’t want to go, don’t go. I just wanted you to be somewhere nice and where you could really enjoy the holiday. And, our folks will be disappointed if they can’t see the baby.”

  She stopped and turned around, her face softer now. “I know, you were only thinking of me and everyone else. As usual.”

  I pushed my plate away and got up to walk into the kitchen. She swallowed as I slowly approached her, her eyes glistening. There definitely were worse things than having a beautiful woman crying over the prospect of leaving me. Especially a woman I loved more than anything else in the world. My heart tightened and I sighed deeply, looking down into her sad expression. She turned her face away as one tear tumbled down her face and I reached for her shoulders to pull her toward me, sliding my hands down her back and toward her ass so I could squeeze it playfully. Her forehead fell to my chest but her arms didn’t come around me like I wanted them to. I rested my chin on the top of her head and rubbed both of her arms.

  “I’m sorry,” she said softly, barely keeping the crack out of her voice.

  “Hey. Look at me.”

  “No,” Julia mumbled but her hands moved up to fist in the front of my shirt.

  “Julia, look at me,” I persisted and finally she lifted her liquid green eyes to mine. I cupped her face and wiped at the tear tracks with both thumbs, bending to kiss her mouth at the same time. “Think of it as my Christmas present. From you.”

  “Uh…,” she huffed and closed her eyes. “I don’t want another sucky Christmas.”

  “It won’t be.” I bent my head and sucked lightly on the sensitive skin of her neck, then softly drew circles on it with my tongue. I knew it was a particularly erotic gesture, one the usually sent her into trembles, which was my goal at the moment. I’d worry about convincing her to go to Chicago another day, after I’d enlisted the help of Jenna, and both of our mothers. “Let’s stop whining about time we don’t have together and take advantage of now, okay?” I whispered against her flesh and dragging my mouth up over her jaw to take hers in a passionately punishing kiss.

  When I lifted my head, Julia spoke. “But—” I pressed my lips to hers harder to shut off her words.

  “Uh uh,” I mumbled against her mouth. “No more tears. No more worries. Only love.”

  I kissed her again deeply, and when I was sure her objections would not return, I hauled her into my arms, intent on taking her straight to our bed. My arms were holding her weight under her butt and she was wrapped around me, her arms and legs tightly caged me in. Julia’s mouth opened hotly against the skin of my neck, nibbling and sucking seductively as I turned to walk from the kitchen.

  “Monitor,” she murmured softly, still kissing my neck and jaw. Her voice was low and sultry and my cock instantly sprang to life. I quickly returned to the kitchen, carrying her and she picked up the monitor without missing a kiss. I made it to the carpeted staircase, but my eyes were closed and I wanted to lose myself. Julia was grasping at my hair with her free hand and I pulled her pelvis closer at the same time as I deepened the kiss. She was hot. So hot, I could feel her heat burning against my groin. Between that, her mouth and tongue making love to mine, I was distracted and my foot slipped on the stairs, causing me to fall forward slam with Julia into the stairs with a thud. The baby monitor fell from her hand and toppled down to the foot of the stairs, and our mouths ripped apart.

  My eyes shot up to Julia’s, both of us panting. I wasn’t sure if my lack of breath was due to anticipation or the fall we’d both just taken, but I didn’t care. Julia arched her pelvis into mine; both of her hands sliding down my back over my ass to pull me tighter against her. I couldn’t help it, my hips ground into hers and I groaned, my breath leaving in another huff.

  “God, Julia. Mmmm… Are you okay?”

  Her eyes opened slowly, but remained half-lidded, her gaze languid, and she bit her lip.

  “Mmmm… Make love to me. Here. Now. I don’t want to wait,” she whispered, her mouth reaching, once again, for mine. “You feel so good, Ryan.”

  We kissed, over and over, vacillating between rushed and frantic and then slow and deep, my hands explored every curve, pushing up her t-shirt and pulling down her bra to give access to the luscious curves and dusky pink nipples, and all the while my hips moving in slow rhythm against her, grinding through our clothes. I didn’t want to rush… but I couldn’t seem to help it. Julia’s hands were demanding as she pulled on my clothes to get to the flesh beneath them, yet when her fingers found my skin, they turned reverent.

  I could still feel it in every touch, see it in every glance and I still wanted to give everything I had to give. I loved her… I missed her, and I wanted her with the same urgency that I experienced the first time we made love all those years ago. It still felt new; time lessened nothing. The fire between us still raged as hot as it ever did, the love still so intense, I felt like it could kill me or offer salvation, and I was still overwhelmed by the love between us. It physically hurt.

  My heart felt as if it would burst inside my chest. I closed my eyes as the feelings of pleasure and pain engulfed me simultaneously. It still left me breathless and hungry.

  “Oh, God… ” I ground out, pushing her sweats down her hips, my fingers slipping inside her panties. Her breath hitched and then rushed out.

  “Ryan—”

  I kissed her hard, hungrily plundering the warm recesses of her mouth with my tongue and she sucked it in deeper. It was beyond hot and I grew harder and bigger. Julia’s heels dug into the calves of my legs as her pelvis rocked up and toward mine, her hands working to get my sweats down enough to free my erection. Her fingers were warm as they closed around it, hard, and she began to work me up and down, her thumb circling the engorged head. It felt amazing and Julia made me desperate to bury myself inside her. Maybe I’d be able to slow down once that happened, but not now.

  I ripped my mouth from hers. “Jesus,” I panted against her collarbone, my chest heaving against hers. It was impossible to get her free enough of her pants to enter her, so I wrapped on arm around her waist and hoisted her up with me and used my free hand to push the material down her thighs enough to lift one foot and finish the job.

  I didn’t take the time to shed my own. She was still squeezing and pulling, and it wouldn’t be long until I lost complete control. I lifted her against me and made it the three steps, then turned and sat on the top step and in one motion bringing Julia to straddle my lap, her knees resting against the stair I was sitting on. She didn’t wait, and positioned my cock at her entrance. She was hot and slick and I couldn’t wait another second. An arm circled her hips and pulled her pelvis flush with mine, sheathing me completely. Her flesh burned mine as I filled her and finally I felt like I could breathe.

  “Oh, baby. Yes.”

  Julia’s elbows were resting on my shoulders, both hands holding my head and fisting in my hair. “Uhhh…” her breath left in a rush, as our hips moved in slow, deep thrusts. “Oh my God. You feel so good,” she breathed, resting her forehead on mine. Our eyes locked as our bodies merged. The position allowed for deeper penetration and I loved how I could bring us so close together and still see the love and desire on her face.

  It overwhelmed us both. Julia bit her lip and her head fell back, one tear squeezing from her left eye, she arched her neck as her head fell to one side. My tongue traced the salt trail up her cheek, my intent to find her mouth with mine. I knew the reason behind her tears and I just had to say it out loud.

  “I still love you so fucking much,” I whispered against her lips. “So—fucking much!”

  Julia~

  I ended the call just as Ryan came down the stairs, carrying little Aidan and hoping he didn’t overhear my conversation with his mother. I loved how Ryan doted on our son and I loved watching the two of them interact. I knew he’d be amazing, and he only exceeded my expectations.
I smiled to myself as I shoved my phone into my purse. As usual. Those two were my whole world. I didn’t think loving Ryan more was possible, but seeing how much he adored Aidan; my heart exploded. And, my little man… he was his daddy all over again.

  My bags sat next to the door, waiting. Ryan was dressed in his scrubs, ready to leave for another 12 or 13-hour day. It was Christmas Eve and though I’d lost the argument about taking Aidan to Chicago, I’d managed to stall leaving until today.

  I sighed heavily. I could see his underlying sadness at the prospect of missing Christmas with Aidan and myself. Even though he was putting on a pretty good act, and the whole thing was his idea, I knew he wasn’t at all happy about it. Despite his act, I knew him better than I knew myself and I could clearly see his conflict

  Aidan was squirming slightly in his father’s arms, and I stood on tiptoe to kiss Ryan even as my hands reached for the baby. Ryan’s mouth sucked on mine just enough for me to want to prolong the kiss. I sighed against his mouth when a cry broke from the baby.

  “He’s hungry.”

  “Yes. I was dead last night. Did he wake up at all?”

  “Just once around three.”

  “Sorry, baby. Something smells good. Muffins?” Ryan smiled happily when I nodded, and walked around me to go further into the kitchen to lift the towel over the bowl of them on the counter.

  I planted a kiss on the top of Aidan’s head once he was fully ensconced in my arms, and he promptly stopped fussing when I laid him back in my arms and popped the bottle into his mouth. His little fist rested securely against my hand that held the bottle and he started suckling with gusto. He was growing well, and was already close to fifteen pounds, chubby as a cherub and adorable. I smiled into his little face, and was captivated, his blue eyes looking up at me as he worked on his meal. I was sitting at the kitchen table, watching Ryan go about getting cereal, fruit and black coffee, placing two of the warm muffins on a small plate. He brought everything to the table in two trips.