First of all let me start by thanking all of you who have read my story thus far and have followed favorited and especially reviewed it. It makes me so happy when I see a new review and I have received some very sweet ones. Secondly, I cant apologize enough for the time it took to get this chapter in. I can offer a variety of excuses but at the end of the day that's exactly what they are, just excuses. But I honestly did have a tough time with this one simply because I wanted to show their relationship growing and yet didn't want them to get close so fast that it would seem unrealistic. And when a month had passed since my last update and I was no closer to finishing this chapter, I decided to just go with my thoughts and put it out there and now you guys need to review and tell me what I am doing right and what I am not (but please be nice). Lastly I promise to not only finish this story but also that no future chapters will take such a long time to be updated. Once again please accept my apologies, I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review.
Jackie startled awake when she felt someone lightly shake her shoulder. With a groan she tried to turn to the other side and return to her dream but Steven was having none of that. He pulled her up gently till she was looking at him through one eye in annoyance. Steven smiled at what his wife called her energy conservation mode, why open both eyes when one can do the job. That's how she woke up every morning, looking around her with only one eye open, till she judged the day to be worthy enough to wake up.
"What is it Steven? Its early still, the sun hasn't even risen!" she exclaimed looking out the curtained windows, it was still dark outside.
It had been a fortnight since the wedding and things had changed quite a bit in that short span of time. Steven Hyde had been surprised to see a different side to Jackie emerge, even when they were doing their speed courtship she had always been distant, a little aloof if he had to be honest with himself. But apparently he was doing something right because the newly married Hyde's were getting along like a house on fire. He suspected it was because he was doing the honorable thing by giving her time to adjust to her new role and not forcing anything on her because intimacy was still a bit of an issue. And truth be told he was getting a bit desperate especially in the mornings when Jackie's sheet would be on the floor next to the bed and her skirt would be bunched up near her waist giving her husband a nice view of the goods he still hadn't been allowed to touch, or voluntarily see for that matter, covered in silk or lace or whatever they were called.
"Come on, gotta show you something" he told her, gently pulling on her hand.
Jackie reluctantly let Steven pull her up and tied her robe around herself while he stood by waiting impatiently. After she was done and had smoothed down her hair, ignoring Steven's eye roll, she took his hand and he led her down to the large kitchen and informal dining area. Jackie wondered why they were sneaking into their own kitchen at
"Steven! That watch says it's four in the morning, why are we sneaking…" the rest of her sentence was muffled by her husband's hand being placed on her mouth. He indicated with his other hand for her to keep quiet but Jackie didn't say anything and suddenly a predatory gleam came into her eyes. Before Steven could deduce what was happening he felt a stinging sensation on the palm that was covering Jackie's mouth and he yelped before quickly pulling his now red hand away from the palm biter. He looked at Jackie incredulously but couldn't be angry at her when she started giggling uncontrollably.
"I used to do this to Brooke when we were kids, she didn't appreciate it either."
"Ok, remind me never to cover your mouth again. Also remind me to send a medal of honor to Brooke for not throttling you in your sleep."
"Steeeven.." Steven was about to put his hand on her mouth again purely by reflex when he caught himself and signaled for her to keep quiet.
Glancing towards the kitchen he chuckled when he realized the subject he had come to bust was still oblivious about the burnout cum respectable businessmen (well mostly) and the palm biter out in the hall.
Angie Barnett was startled when the kitchen lights suddenly came on and she knew she was busted when she saw her brother and his new wife standing at the entrance looking at her. Her brother had one of those evil smirks on his face but she was not concerned about that. No, she was afraid of Jackie's reaction. She wondered if it was possible to pretend she had been sleep eating.
"Angie" she heard Jackie exclaim. The girl in question cowered near the kitchen island and tried unsuccessfully to hide her ice-cream. But Jackie was having none of it. She speed walked towards her sister in law and pulled away the bowl from her. She gave another angry squeal when she saw the bowl was not only almost empty but also had sprinkles and gummy bears and what not in it.
"Angie, how are you supposed to lose any weight if you sneak into our kitchen in the middle of the night and eat all the unhealthy stuff I confiscated from your fridge" she asked in annoyance. Angie and Jackie had been friends for a little longer than she had known Steven, but they had already formed a firm friendship. And Jackie had been unsuccessfully trying to get Angie to eat healthier almost since they met, she was now beginning to think it was a lost cause.
"I'm sorry Jackie, but this is my comfort food, you can't expect me to survive on those bland salads n soups you've been sending me. Steven, help me out here" she pleaded, looking at her brother.
But her brother just smirked and said "You were the one who told her to help you lose weight. You should have known better. She lets me eat all the ice-cream I want." Saying so he looked towards his wife and winked.
Jackie blushed, living with Steven was turning out to be not so bad. Memories of Michael still assaulted her and intimacy was still an issue but she had found comfort in Steven. He was not only willing to listen to her trash talk her mom, but he also joined in her outrage when she told him about Pam always putting her down and her obsessive need to be perfect stemming from that fact. He had told her then that she was perfect even with messy hair and in pyjamas. She had almost melted at the compliment.
She turned towards Angie again and said "Look Angie, you were the one who told me you were dedicated to my plan. I don't understand how you can give up so easily. I once gave up chocolate for a whole year because my mom told me it causes acne."
"But Jackie, I thought would be allowed at least a few indulgences once in a while. I don't think even prisoners would survive only on salads and soups."
Jackie was about to reply when she stopped by the look on Angie's face. The poor girl did look distraught. And after all, she wasn't fat or anything though she could stand to lose a few extra pounds.
She told Angie "Tell you what, tomorrow I will draw up another diet plan for you. And make sure to add a few indulgences now and then. But you have to stick to it otherwise I am not going to help anymore. And then that designer dress you bought will never fit. "
Angie vigorously nodded her head. She looked sadly at her half full bowl still in Jackie's hand before shutting the kitchen door behind her and heading to her own house next door.
Steven laughed as soon as the door was closed. Encircling Jackie in his arms he whispered in her ear "I love it when you're bossy. It's such a turn on."
Jackie blushed furiously but didn't say anything. They remained like that till Steven let her go and headed towards the freezer himself. He half turned towards his wife and asked "You want some babe?"
Jackie shook her head "No thanks, I'm still trying to get rid of this extra weight I've put on" saying so she patted at some non-existent fat on her stomach. Steven would've liked to pat her down to feel for non-existent fat himself but figuring he wouldn't have much of a chance of that he turned back to his sundae in the works.
He knew he was playing dirty but Jackie seriously needed to get rid of her inferiority complex so he made it exactly how he knew his wife would love it, with chocolate sauce, caramel and salted nuts on top of the ice-cream.
He then sat on the kitchen island and spooned some into his mouth, all the while pretending not to notice how Jackie's eyes followed his movements.
Jackie knew what Steven was doing but couldn't help but be very tempted. After all what were a few extra pounds, Steven didn't seem to find her fat after all. So when he turned towards her and held out a spoonful of ice-cream she nodded and opened up her mouth. And boy, was the ice-cream really good.
Steven grinned at her and spent the next few minutes taking turns to alternatively eat the ice-cream himself and feed it to Jackie. Neither thought of getting another spoon so Jackie could feed herself.
When they got to bed again, Jackie surprised both Steven and herself when she planted her lips on her husbands. She had rarely been the one to initiate any kind of intimacy. Before Steven could misunderstand though she spoke up "Steven, I am still not ready to go all the way, but I do think we've come far enough to … you know to….. Jackie looked around, lost for words for once till Steven drew her face back to himself and said "I know, just relax babe, we'll go only as far as you want to, nothing more."
Steven kissed her deeply as he guided her to lay down on the bed. His fingers ran through her silky curls and moved his lips from her own to her collarbone, pleased when Jackie made a soft mewing noise to signal her pleasure. He wanted to push his arousal into her to show her the effect she was having on him but he decided against it. After all she had made it clear they weren't going all the way.
He continued nipping lightly at her neck and collarbone before slowly opening up the first few buttons of her pyjama top, reluctantly ready to stop if she stiffened. But he was surprised when she didn't stop him but instead put her lips on his again and tongued him deeply. Emboldened by Jackie's actions he gently opened the last few buttons of her top before parting the flaps to reveal her chest to him. Jackie stopped kissing him and looked at him then and he knew at once she was embarrassed by her chest size, but he didn't know why. She may have been smaller than most girls he had been with but she was perfect. To reassure her he covered one of her breasts with his warm palm and gently squeezed, smiling down upon her when she gasped and saying "So beautiful."
Afterwards, Steven Hyde lay on his bed with a satisfied smile on his face and a sleeping Jackie on his chest. He didn't know why he was grinning like an idiot, after all he had only gotten to second base with Jackie. But something about being with her was different from all the others. Never had second base felt so good with anyone else. She had looked so innocent looking up at him with eyes so full of trust and arousal. And the way she touched him sent electric signals shooting straight down to his groin. He certainly wanted more of that. He looked down upon his sleeping wife and smiled again, she had never slept so close to him before and now she was practically lying on top of him, shirtless. His arousal had not died down yet and he briefly contemplated relieving himself in the ensuite bathroom but Jackie's weight felt so good in his arms that he didn't want to move. So he pulled the comforter over Jackie and himself and settled down to sleep, still holding on to his wife tightly.
Jackie opened her eyes as soon as she heard Steven's breathing slow down and she was sure he was asleep. She didn't try to move because the death grip her husband had on her meant she would definitely awake him in the process. Instead she used her free hand to wipe at the tears that were threatening to spill. She was so confused. Getting to second base with Steven had felt so good and she had almost given in, she certainly wanted to, when he had tried to slide his hand inside her pants. A sudden image of Michael had come to her though and she had stopped him immediately, but she couldn't ignore the fact that her body wanted more. She was beginning to realize how sexy her husband really was. But her heart and mind were on another wavelength and she just didn't know what to do anymore.
She spent the next few hours till dawn just staring at Steven and trying to calm the storm raging within her before he finally woke up. Looking into his clear blue eyes she couldn't help but register the warm feeling building up in her chest as her lips involuntarily turned upwards. As for what it meant, she would think about that later.