Perfect Morning Read online

  She was so deep in thought she didn’t notice Jason until he sat down next to her. She had just opened her mouth to apologize when he placed his finger on her lips.

  His “I’m sorry” was a mere whisper.

  “For what?” Now she was thoroughly baffled.

  “For walking away, for losing control, for ignoring you this morning.”

  “Why?”

  Sighing with frustration, he gazed into her eyes and told her the truth. “Because I can’t look at you and not want you. I thought it was bad for the last two weeks, wanting you and not having you. But after last night. I have to have more.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Can you forgive me?”

  “Forgive you! I thought you wanted eggs!”

  “Eggs?” Now it was Jason’s turn to be baffled.

  Glancing over toward the children still playing, she was eternally grateful to the inventor of the Big Wheel. “This morning I asked you what you wanted. You said eggs. Scrambled eggs with ketchup.” She shivered to emphasize the revulsion she felt toward ketchup on eggs.

  Jason looked at her incredulously. “And you believed that?”

  “Why wouldn’t I believe that? That’s what you said.” Trying to keep her voice low yet forceful was a lot harder than she had imagined. Hers came out squeaky and weak.

  Seeing Jason struggling not to laugh snapped all her control. “And to think I was going to apologize to you. You can go to - ” She glanced around to verify that the children were within hearing distance, even if they weren’t overly interested in their conversation. “ - to Satan himself before I apologize to you, you big insensitive baboon.” She leaped to her feet and started to march off, only to be grabbed from behind and swung up into the air.

  It was definitely an unfair tactic, she decided, to be cradled against a muscular chest. One of Jason’s hands supported her back while the other cupped her bare thigh, and his touch chased all thoughts of further arguments from her mind. As he lowered himself back down onto the step, he didn’t loosen his grip on her. Gently pushing a few wisps of hair from her face, he said, “Now I know where the red hair comes in.”

  Riki could feel herself losing ground. She couldn’t argue with Jason while sitting on his lap, so she gave a noncommittal answer of “Mmmm.”

  “I would like to apologize,” he continued, “for that little white lie this morning. If I had told you what I really wanted, I would have probably shocked you to death.”

  Mulling this over, Riki decided some more truth was in order. “I doubt it. You see, I was probably thinking the same thing.” Feeling Jason’s silent chuckle, she continued. “Now I would like to apologize.”

  “What for?”

  She hid her face in his neck when she felt the flush of embarrassment sweep up her cheeks. “Well,” she mumbled, “I kind of took offense at coming in second to scrambled eggs.”

  “With ketchup, no less.”

  “Really, it’s the ketchup that did it. I don’t mind losing fair and square to something white and round, but to lose to something red and runny was more than my pride could stand.”

  After a long pause. Jason said, “And?”

  “Well, I kind of set out to seduce you.”

  Feeling his finger under her chin she closed her eyes. His lips whispered soft kisses across her closed lids. “Erika, please open your eyes.”

  Peeking out from beneath thick dark lashes, she was reassured that at least he wasn’t angry. When a person sits on another person’s lap, she becomes aware of things that ordinarily are missed, like the tightening of his thighs, the hardness growing behind his zipper, and the rapid beating of his heart beneath her hand. Knowing she could rouse this reaction from him without so much as a kiss made desire race through her veins.

  “Is that why you are wearing the shortest pair of shorts I have ever seen?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  She felt his groan more than heard it, and smiled. “Does that mean I could seduce you?”

  Looking into twinkling green eyes Jason wondered what he was going to do with her. Keep her was the top choice, but making love until she never doubted her attraction again ran a very close second. Chuckling, he replied, “Riki darlin’, you could seduce a dead man.”

  “What would I want with a dead man?” Her husky voice left him in no doubt what she would do with a live one. Almost unbearably excited at the thought of being seduced, he was lowering his mouth to her eagerly awaiting one when someone attached himself to his back.

  “Hi, Jason, what are you doing?”

  He turned his head and encountered the curious stare of Andrew. “I’m going to kiss your mother.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I like to kiss your mother.”

  “Can I watch?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  Feeling Riki silently laughing in his arms, he turned his attention back to her. “You think this is funny?”

  “I did warn you about Andrew.” She tried to control the laughter, but without much success.

  Leaning down to steal a quick hard kiss before the opportunity was completely gone, Jason decided that would have to do until after the kids’ bedtime. He stood with Riki still in his arms, then gently lowered her feet to the ground. Stepping back, he motioned to the house. “Don’t we have a house to paint?”

  She saluted. “Yes, sir.”

  “Then get busy with those shutters.” He affectionately patted her sweet tush, then whistling softly, strolled around the side of the house.

  After homework, an early dinner, and T-ball practice, everyone was in dire need of soap and water. With seven children in the house, there was a definite method to the madness. First Billy-Jo and Andrew got a bath, then Charlie took a shower, then the boys took turns in order of first come, first served. One of these years, Riki thought as the twins raced past her, she’d get around to putting that other bath in upstairs.

  Snack time seemed to drag. The only highlight was the whipped cream the kids sprayed on their Jell-O. Seeing Jason eyeing the can. she asked. “Do you want some?”

  His husky reply left her in no doubt as to what he had in mind. “Can I have mine later?”

  Good lord, she thought, did people really do that? She’d heard of things like that, but person-

  ally never experienced them. Come on, old girl, this is supposed to be a lusty love affair. If Jason thinks whipped cream is lusty, go for it. Smiling slightly, she replied, “Sure, as long as you do the laundry.”

  Having coffee go down the wrong pipe is not considered socially graceful, but when Riki spoke Jason had a mouthful of coffee. Finally catching his breath he glared at her. She had her hand raised to whack him again on the back, when he managed to get out a choked. “Don’t.”

  “Are you okay?”

  He took a deep breath. “Fine.” After sending her a questioning glance, he asked, “Do you know what you just agreed to do?”

  Pausing to consider the question, she was pretty sure she had the general idea. How many different things could two people do with one can of whipped cream? Vivid images of Jason and herself exploring a couple of possibilities ran through her mind. While not the height of sexual excitement to her, they didn’t actually repulse her. If he had any other ideas on the subject, she might as well know now if he was kinky. She just hoped he wouldn’t bring out the whips and chains. Laughter bubbled in her throat at the thought of Jason being kinky. Looking him dead in the eyes she said tentatively, “I think so.”

  Jason decided it was a good thing he hadn’t drunk any more coffee, because he would have choked for the second time. Her honesty never failed to amaze him. Was she willing to follow his lead, or was she a secret whipped cream connoisseur? Now that could pose some delightful possibilities, although he had never tried it himself.

  Listening to the children’s chatter around the table, he decided a change in conversation was in order after one last statement. “I’ll keep that in mind for future reference.” She smiled
with relief, and he felt vaguely disappointed.

  For half an hour after tenderly tucking Charlie and the other children into bed. Jason paced nonstop. Riki filled the dishwasher, scrubbed a pan soaking since dinner, and set out lunch boxes for the morning. After she had wiped the kitchen table for the third time, he muttered, “Do you think they’re all asleep yet?”

  At his hopeful expression, she chuckled. “If they haven’t come down by now, there’s a good chance they’re all sleeping.”

  She barely had the last word out of her mouth when he swooped her up in his arms and marched out of the room. Taking time only to check the lock on the back door and switch off the lights, he headed for the stairs.

  “Not even a courtesy kiss,” she complained. “Is this what is known as a ‘wham, bam. thank you, ma’am’?”

  He stopped on the third step to look down at the precious bundle cradled in his arms. “I’ll have you know,” he said haughtily, “that I have never ‘wham, bammed’ in my life.” Then his voice dropped an octave. “If I had kissed you before, darlin’, we never would have made it to the bedroom.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, oh.” He proceeded up the stairs and down the hallway.

  They were two steps away from the door to heaven when a voice floated out of the dark hallway. “Hi, Jason, what are you doing?”

  Jason stopped dead. Clamping his jaw shut and staring at the closed door in front of him, he felt Riki stiffen in his arms. She peered over Jason’s rigid shoulder at her youngest son. “Andrew, what are you doing up?”

  “I was thirsty.”

  “Go to the bathroom and get yourself a cup of water.”

  “Okay.” He turned to go, then turned back. “Why is Jason carrying you?”

  Riki was positive she heard Jason mutter a curse as he slowly lowered her to her feet. “Because I have a splinter in my foot.”

  “Can I see?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  This time Jason answered. “I already took it out. I was just carrying your mother because it’s still tender.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Get ready for bed, and whatever you do, don’t shut your window.” At her questioning look he continued in a normal tone for Andrew’s sake, “Now you go get your drink of water. I’m leaving. Don’t worry. I’ll lock up behind me.” As she opened her mouth to protest, he added, “ ’Night, Andrew. I’ll see you around, Riki.” With a few quick strides he disappeared down the stairway.

  Riki was positive there was a code in there somewhere, but she couldn’t find it. She tucked Andrew back into bed after his drink, then slowly walked down the hall to her room.

  She was closing the door and switching on the light when she was startled to see Jason sitting in the wing chair. “Jason?”

  “It’s about time you got here,” he said as he rose from the chair. He reached her in three strides. Gathering her close he covered her mouth with a kiss so urgent, she responded instinctively.

  She pulled his polo shirt over his head as he undid the row of buttons down the front of her blouse. As she threw the shirt over his shoulder, she heard his sudden intake of breath.

  “My Lord.” he exclaimed, “you’re wearing it?”

  She was concentrating on unbuckling his belt. “What?”

  He removed her hands from the snap of his jeans and slid the blouse from her shoulders. As it fell to the floor he said in a hoarse voice, “The green teddy.”

  Both snaps on their jeans were undone together. Both zippers were lowered simultaneously. When he impatiently brushed her hands aside, she purred, “Do you like it?”

  He nimbly slid her jeans down her silken thighs. “Like is not the verb I would use to describe my feelings for your teddy.” He held her while she stepped out of the pants. By the time she was standing in front of him wearing nothing but the teddy and a smile, he was completely naked.

  She stopped him before he could lift her in his arms, gesturing toward the door. As his brow rose in question, she whispered, “I’ve got to lock the door. The boys are at a very impressionable age.”

  “So am I,” he said as the lock clicked. “I’m very impressed.” Then he swept her up in his strong arms and carried her to the bed.

  * * *

  Swatting at the alarm the next morning Riki had to marvel at that man’s stamina. She counted her lucky stars that she had met him when he was the ripe age of thirty-six and not twenty-one, when presumably men are at their peak. Flopping back against her pillow, she noticed her bedroom door was standing open and the mischievous mint teddy thrown haphazardly across the notorious brass bed’s footrail.

  She sank deeper into the warmth of the quilt and chuckled as she remembered Jason’s reaction after the first time they made love and he realized the teddy never made it the whole way off. Quickly disrobing her completely, he explained it wasn’t proper to make love to a partially clad woman. Then he preceded to make love to her properly. Any more proper and she would have been a dead woman.

  Giving herself a mental pep talk, she left the warmth of tangled sheets that smelled of her perfume, his after shave, and the essence of their lovemaking. As she stood under the warm water, she wondered what it would be like to shower with Jason. She glanced down to see the faded stretch marks and immediately canceled that fantasy. Jason had had plenty of opportunity to notice them, since he believed in making love with the lights on. He couldn’t have possibly gotten any closer to them, unless he were grafted to her.

  Either he didn’t care and they didn’t bother him, or he had seen other women with them and knew what they were. Well, hers were the only stretch marks he’d see from now on, because as of today Jason Nesbit was off the market. He was unequivocally spoken for. Now how does one tell a man that?

  Jason strolled into the kitchen and came to a standstill at the look of determination on Riki’s face. All seven children sat at the table neatly dressed and ready for school. The amazing thing was not a word was being spoken. The only sound was the “snap, crackle, pop” of their cereal. Many a man would have turned and run. Jason considered himself either very brave or extremely stupid.

  Purposely smiling his famous little-boy smile, he walked over to Riki. She watched him approach, her arms folded over her chest, one foot tapping. It was definitely not a good sign. When she opened her mouth and started, “You, Mr. Nesbit, have absolutely seen your last - ” he clamped his hand across her mouth before she could complete the sentence. Telling the children to continue with breakfast, he practically dragged her out the back door.

  Stopping when they were far enough away from the house that the children couldn’t overhear, he removed his hand. “Okay, darlin’, continue.”

  She took a deep breath and began at the beginning. “You, Mr. Nesbit. have absolutely seen your last stretch mark. I don’t share.” Having said her final say, she crossed her arms again and dared him to disagree.

  Thinking the whole thing through still made no sense to him. He had no idea what she was talking about. “I think I lost something somewhere.”

  “You, Mr. Nesbit, didn’t question my stretch marks.” Let him deny that, she thought, and she’d pop him in his chops.

  There was such a thing as social etiquette, Jason mused. A man did not question a lady’s stretch marks. Since she’d had four children, he might have questioned the lack of marks. “Was I supposed to?” Maybe there was something special about her stretch marks. Heaven knew he wasn’t an expert on the subject, but he had seen them once or twice before.

  “Of course not!”

  Totally bewildered now, he ran a hand through his hair. “Then what in the hell are you talking about?”

  “Commitment.”

  “I thought we were talking about stretch marks?” he snapped, clearly at the end of his patience.

  “That was only here or there.”

  “Riki darlin’, I haven’t had my morning cup of coffee yet, so please be aware that I am trying to follow this conversation.” At her nod o
f understanding, he asked, “You want a commitment?”

  “Yes.”

  Sheer joy flooded his body. She wanted a commitment. Here he’d been going slow and easy and she was asking for - no, demanding - a commitment. He took a deep breath and asked the critical question. “What sort of commitment?”

  She rubbed a throbbing temple as she thought of how to answer that. She couldn’t very well demand marriage. This might be the age of liberated women, but she wasn’t that liberated. “As long as you’re seeing me. you won’t be seeing other women.”

  “What other women?” he roared.

  “The ones with the stretch marks.”

  “Oh, lord, we’re back to them again.” He raked his hand through his hair again and was surprised to see it come out empty. He really felt like pulling all his hair out. “Okay, darlin’, very slowly, explain that comment.”

  For the first time Riki questioned her thinking. Right now Jason really didn’t seem like the sweet-tempered, loveable man she knew and loved. “Well, when you didn’t question my stretch marks I got to thinking either you didn’t care or that you were used to seeing them.” He nodded for her to continue. “Anyway, I thought how could you not care about them. So that left your seeing someone else with them.”

  Seeing confusion in her eyes, he gently cupped her shoulders. “Listen, Riki, I am only going to explain this once. I am a full-grown man of thirty-six. I know what stretch marks are. I am not seeing any women with stretch marks, or any other women for that matter, except you. Your marks don’t repulse me. In fact, I would have to say the opposite. I’m jealous that it wasn’t my babies that gave you them. Now for the commitment part, I have no intentions of seeing other women. You are my lady, end of statement. I happen to be very possessive of what is mine.” “Really?”