She ran her hand over his boxer briefs, straining over his erection. She molded her hand to his hard length. He growled low and slipped his hand inside her panties and began to stroke her between her legs. She moaned at the way his touch was unravelling her self-control. “Hurry,” she ground out, yanking the covers aside, then settling against the mattress.
He pulled off her panties and began stroking her faster, harder.
And then the waves of sheer pleasure rocked her world and she basked in the feeling before she yanked off his boxer briefs. Seeing his cock stretched out to her, she was going to offer to roll on the brand new condom, and stroke him a bit. Jack quickly rolled it on and moved over her like a hungry, male cat, slowly pushing his erection between her legs. Entering her. Then thrusting and she couldn’t believe how good it was to feel him wrapped fully in her embrace. Excitement flared deep within her as she felt another orgasm building and begging for release.
God, Jack loved Dottie. He’d thought maybe he’d just fantasized about how good it was with her. He hadn’t felt this way with anyone but her in years. She had been in his every waking thought and in his dreams at night. Now, here in the flesh, they had the same riveting connection as before. He couldn’t let go of the need to pleasure her, to be with her, to share in the joys of life, and get through the difficult times too.
He speared her mouth with his tongue, slowing his thrusts, making them last, glad she was willing to make love with him her first night back.
He began to thrust again, unable to hold back and then he released. Warmth and satisfaction filled him, made him want to wake up to her and make love all over again.
He wanted to tell her he loved her. Still, he was afraid she wasn’t ready to hear that yet. He was afraid to push her away.
He rolled off her and left the bed to dispose of the condom. He wanted to spend the night with her like they used to do. Like the father of her children would do. He wasn’t sure Dottie was ready for that. He figured Aunt Emily would be though.
When he returned to the bed, Dottie pulled aside the sheets and comforter, her silent offer to him saying he could stay a while longer. He didn’t hesitate to join her in bed, pulling her into his arms, and holding her close before he wrapped them in the covers.
She kissed his chest. “I hope you don’t have plans to sleep the rest of the night.”
He smiled and hugged her closer. This is what he needed. “Not when I learned you were coming to see your Aunt Emily. I fully intended to give up all sleep, if I could be with you.”
“I suspect my aunt will be delighted you stayed the night. We can have breakfast and then go to the theme park in the morning.”
“I want to tell the kids I’m their father. Or you can tell them. Whichever way you feel is the best way to handle it.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Dottie?”
“I was thinking. I’ll tell them over breakfast. And you can tell them whatever you’d like to say.”
“Do you think we’ll confuse them when I don’t go home with you when you return to Yuma Town? Be disappointed?”
“You’ll tell them the truth. You have to be away in the army for another three months. And then hopefully you’ll come back to see them after that.”
“Or you can come and see me at Fort Hood. Unless I’m out of the country, which I shouldn’t be with so little time left, I’ll have time to spend with you and the kids in the evenings and on the weekends. You can stay at my house in Killeen. As long as I’m not scheduled to be in the field. There’s no reason for us to be apart the whole time.”
“I have to work. I can’t take off that much time away.”
“Okay, well, let’s just see. If we can, great. And if we can’t, know that I’ll be there as soon as I separate from the military.”
She sighed and snuggled against him. “All right.”
He thought she wasn’t sure he was being honest with her, not after all she’d been through, but he was. He couldn’t wait to find a job on the outside, and join her and the kids. He was ready to start a new career with a family. “The first time I met you, you were throwing darts at a dart board in an Irish pub with a girlfriend and you didn’t even hit the target once. Though you were trying awfully hard. You looked angry, and I just sipped my beer, watching you for a while, wondering if I should get involved.”
Dottie smiled at him. “Then you came over and showed me how to do it right. I still couldn’t hit the target. Too many Tom Collins. You didn’t tell me right away that you were going into the army within a few months.”
“You’d just broken up with a guy who was going into the navy and we really weren’t sharing that much, except I had broken up with the woman I was with too. Most of all, we had agreed it was just a one-night stand. We both just needed companionship for the night.”
“That lasted months. I just couldn’t resist you even back then.”
“Thank God for small miracles.” Jack pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “You’ve been in my thoughts ever since we parted ways.” Unfortunately, they would be again soon.
Early the next morning, Jack and Dottie got up before the kids did so they didn’t see Jack coming out of her bedroom. “Did you tell your family you weren’t coming home last night?” Dottie asked, as she started to make pancakes.
“I didn’t tell them exactly. When I said I was going back to your place to speak with you further, I’m sure they assumed I wasn’t returning, especially when I didn’t return. My sister texted me this morning. Dad has to work. Mom and my sister want to see you and the kids and your aunt and so they’ll meet us at the park.”
“Okay, sounds great.”
Aunt Emily came into the kitchen, all smiles. “Morning, you two.”
“Morning,” Jack said, getting her a cup of coffee.
“Okay, I’m going to tell the kids you’re their dad. I don’t know how this will go over with them, because they might think you’re going to start living with us. Like dads live with moms and their kids.”
Jack smiled. “I’m game.”
Dottie shook her head. “What if you don’t want to leave the service in three months? Or you only want to be with us just because you feel a family obligation to be with the kids.”
“I’ve always wanted to see you…way before I learned you had the kids.”
Emily was setting the table, quiet, trying not to be intrusive.
“All right, but it might not work out between us and then the kids will wonder why you don’t live with us.”
“So you don’t want to tell them I’m their father until I return from the service?”
Dottie flipped a couple of pancakes onto a platter. “No, they need to know. I’m just saying it might be hard for them to understand.”
“I understand. I’ll let you handle it as you see fit.” He hoped she would tell them and they wouldn’t be upset to learn he was their daddy, then be unable to see them for what, to them, might seem like forever. “I’d be more than willing to have you visit me at Fort Hood. I’ll pay for airfare too.”
“You won’t have any leave time so you can’t take off to see us.” Dottie scooped some more pancakes onto the platter.
“True. I want to save the rest of my leave so I can take them as terminal leave and be out in three months."
“Which means they could have you out in the field for some of the time that you have left.”
“You’re right.”
“Without much notice.”
“Uh, yeah.” Sometimes they called them for a drill in the middle of the night to see just how prepared the units were for mobilization.
“So it could work out, but it might not at all. I’d hate to waste your money flying us out there to spend time with you and then we can’t be together. It wouldn’t be much fun for any of us.”
“Okay, that’s true.” He could never predict what his work schedule would be like.
They heard the kids hurrying down the ha
ll, their slippers slapping at the wood floor as they ran for the kitchen. They were still wearing their PJ shorts and shirts and hurried to give Dottie a hug.
“Pancakes!” the kids both said, eyeing them with interest.
“Before we eat breakfast, I have something to tell you.” Dottie’s voice was serious sounding, and the kids both riveted their attention from the stack of pancakes on the platter to their mom.
“Aww, we’re not going to go to the park?” Jeff complained.
“We’re going after we eat breakfast. I need to tell you something about Jack. I haven’t really ever said who your real father is.” She motioned to Jack. “Jack is your real father.”
Jeff and Trish looked at Jack as if they couldn’t believe it. They acted almost as if they hadn’t seen him before.
“You can call him daddy or dad,” she said.
“Okay,” Jeff said. “Can we eat now? Aunt Emily said we can ride on the airplane ride.”
Jack chuckled. He had no idea what to expect, yet on the other hand, he should have guessed. He suspected that’s how he would have reacted if he’d been their age. Even if they’d fed them first, they were too excited to go to the park so he imagined telling them after they ate wouldn’t have made any difference either.
“We’re going to see your grandmother and your Aunt Roberta,” Dottie said. “Your granddad won’t be there because he has to work. We’ll see him later.”
“Cool,” Jeff said.
Trish nodded.
An hour and half later when they finally arrived at the theme park, they met up with Jack’s sister and his mother and they made introductions. Tears in her eyes, his mom was the first to hug the kids and then Roberta did.
“Jeff looks just like you when you were that age, Jack,” his mother said.
“They never met my parents,” Dottie said. “So I’m glad they get to meet all of you.”
“We couldn’t be happier,” Lisa said. “And John can’t wait to see you and the kids later too. He was disappointed he couldn’t take off from work to see them today.”
“We’ll be sure to get together,” Emily said. “We’d love for you to come to the zoo and the Renaissance fair with us too.”
It wasn’t long after they had taken the kids on a couple of kiddie rides at Roberta’s urging, that she suddenly motioned to a blond-haired guy standing near an ice cream stand. “Oh, there’s Phillip.”
Jack wondered what the chances were that an old boyfriend would show up at the theme park with his own sister and her kids and Roberta would see him right off. “I thought you ditched him a couple of years ago.”
“I did. It doesn’t mean I can’t say hi.”
Jack smiled at her and just shook his head.
“Trish wants to go on the merry-go-round,” Dottie said. “Jeff wants to go on the kiddie airplane ride. It’s just around the corner.”
“I’ll take Jeff,” Jack said, “and I’ll meet you over here afterward.”
“I’ll stay with you, Dottie,” Aunt Emily said.
Jack’s mother was looking at a shop window filled with hand carvings.
Roberta had already headed off to see her old boyfriend. He was with his sister, her two kids, and their mother. Jack figured they were having a family get-together too. He couldn’t remember why she had dumped Phillip. As far as Jack recalled, he was a nice enough guy.
Jack was happy to take Jeff on the kiddy rides. He’d never imagined doing this with his own kids anytime soon.
“How’d you like the plane trip here?” Jack asked, as he and Jeff moved into line for the ride.
“It was fun. Mommy gave us coloring books and we colored, though we were up so early, we fell asleep first.” Jeff watched the airplanes slow to a standstill.
“I want to do all kinds of things with you and Trish and your mom, and Aunt Emily, before you return to Colorado.”
“Cool.”
“I’ll have to go back to Fort Hood to do more work. When I’m through, I want to see you and Trish and your mom so I can take you fishing and swimming, boating, camping, everything you’d love to do.”
“Riding the ponies?”
“Can you teach me how? I’ve never been on a horse before.”
“Yeah.”
Jack smiled. “I’d love that. While I’m gone, I’ll call you and Trish and your mom.”
“Okay.”
Jack hadn’t known what to expect from the kids. Sometimes they talked his ear off. Right now, Jeff was too excited about getting on the ride. Jack looked forward to the day when the kids were older, and he could actually ride with Jeff and Trish on some of the grownup rides. They’d take the train later though.
When the other kids left their miniature airplanes, Jack said, “I’m going to take pictures of you. So wave when you go by.”
Jeff nodded, then he and the other kids in line ran to their planes. Once Jeff was seated in a bright yellow one and was belted in, the ride took off and at a small child’s pace, it went up and down and around. Jeff waved at Jack when the plane went around each time, and Jack snapped as many shots as he could get. After a few minutes, the ride came to a stop and the kids got off.
Jeff ran straight to Jack, grabbed his hand, and tugged at him to go back in line. “Can we do it again?” Jeff asked so eagerly, Jack said he could.
Jeff hurried to get back in line, pulling Jack along with him. As soon as they were waiting to get on again, Jack texted Dottie: Jeff’s going on the airplane ride again and then we’ll join you.
Dottie texted back: Okay, we’ll go on the carousel again.
Jack was glad they could do it like this, separate and let the kids go to the different rides instead of having to go to one that the other didn’t care for. Though they would have to learn to take turns getting on rides they might not be as eager to try.
As soon as Jeff returned from the ride the second time, they headed back to the carousel. Jack met up with Dottie. There was no sign of his mom or Aunt Emily. Roberta was still talking to her old boyfriend while the rest of Phillip’s family had taken off.
“Where’s my mom?” Jack asked, thinking she might have gone into the store filled with wood carvings.
“I thought she’d gone with you.” Dottie glanced back at the store.
“I’ll check inside.” He called his mom on her cell phone while he headed for the store. She didn’t pick up. Maybe she didn’t hear the phone because of all the noise at the theme park between people screaming on the rides, the rackety-rack noise of the rides, and the country and western music playing at the different buildings that were serving food or offering entertainment. The cougars’ hearing was better. That also meant they heard more noise.
He walked into the store and moved around high racks of wood carvings. His mom wasn’t there. Maybe she went to the restroom. He texted her. No response to that either.
He returned to Dottie and the kids and her aunt. “Not in there and I can’t reach her on her phone. Maybe she went into the restroom near here?”
“I’ll go check.” Aunt Emily headed for the closest one while they waited.
“You’re not worried about her, are you?” Dottie sounded a little concerned herself.
“No. If she can’t find us, she’ll go to the Lost and Found.”
Dottie smiled. “Do you have experience with this?”
“Only once. But we lost Roberta that time when she was thirteen. Someone on the staff had taken her to the Lost and Found. Mom knows where that is.”
Before Aunt Emily reached them, she was shaking her head. “She’s not in the ladies’ room.”
“Everybody has a phone, right?” Jack asked. “I’ll grab my sister and we can search for her if you want to go to a ride and just keep us informed of where you’ll be.”
“We’ll help you search for her,” Dottie said. “I’ll take the kids to the Lost and Found while you check with your sister.”
“I’ll stay with Dottie. I don’t want us all to get separated,” Emily sai
d.
“Okay. We’ll search around the area close to where we were when we were all together.” Jack headed off to see Roberta and said hello to Phillip, explaining their Mom was lost.
Roberta rolled her eyes.
Jack frowned at her. “Hey, you were lost here once before.”
Roberta’s jaw dropped, and Jack suspected she hadn’t wanted him to tell on her like that. He didn’t think it was any big deal. Scary for everyone. Nothing to be ashamed of.
“Isn’t she answering her phone?” Roberta asked. “Oh, don’t tell me. She forgot it at home again.”
“Great. Well, I looked in the shop with the wood-carved figures, the last place I saw her. She wasn’t inside, and Aunt Emily looked in the restroom. Dottie and the kids and her aunt are going to the Lost and Found to see if Mom’s there.”
“I’ll help you look for her.” Phillip sounded like he wanted to spend some more time with Roberta. Unless he planned to look for Mom on his own, and he was trying to come up with an excuse to get away from Roberta. To Jack’s surprise, Phillip wrapped his arm around her shoulders as if to say they were doing this together. Then again, he thought about how Dottie and he had gone their separate ways and were trying to make something of their relationship again.
“Thanks. I’m going to head this way.” Jack motioned to the path that led west.
“We’ll go away from the path that would lead to the Lost and Found,” his sister said, and then they took off.
About twenty minutes later, Dottie texted him: She’s not at the Lost and Found and she hasn’t been here.
Jack called Dottie. “Roberta and her old boyfriend Phillip are headed south. I’m going west. Wait, I see her. I think.” And it was bad news. His ex-fiancée was talking to his mother, Gigi’s hands on her hips, her blond hair swept back in a ponytail, while his mom had her arms folded across her waist, frowning, her mouth pursed.
He stalked forward to rescue his mother from Gigi’s apparent tirade.
“Your rotten son put my brother in jail!”
“Your rotten brother put himself in jail, right where he belongs. What do you think would have happened to your brother if he had shot and killed my son that day? Huh? He’s just lucky Jack had enough hand-to-hand combat training that he disarmed your brother and kept him from hurting him and he didn’t hurt Hellion either. As for you, you’re nothing but--”