Waiting Is The Hardest Part

Chapter 23

Jennifer came downstairs from putting the kids to bed. The last of the company had just left after a long day of joy and reminiscing. Everyone had come over when they'd called to let them know that Jennifer remembered everything. The celebration had lasted until late into the evening.

Jennifer glanced at the clock on the mantle as she descended the stairs. She was still worried about Faith, Fred and the kids driving all the way home to the City at this late hour. They had offered to let them stay here and start back in the morning, but they'd declined.

Now, Jennifer looked around her home as she walked into the family room, picking up little things the kids had left out as she went. She put the toys into the wooden toy box that was in the corner of the room and then turned and walked along the back of the couch that faced the fireplace – a nice, cozy fire burning that had been lit earlier in the evening by Maurice. He had put more logs on the fire while she was getting the kids off to bed.

She stopped behind him as he sat on the couch, his head against the back. She could tell by the peaceful look on his face and the rhythm of his breathing that he was sound asleep. She just looked at him for a moment, wondering how she could ever forget that she was married to a man as wonderful as he was. The love she felt made her chest ache and she walked around to the front side of the couch and gently sat down alongside him.

She stared at the fire for a moment and turned to him and studied his face, the memory of each feature – even the scar that ran from just at the edge of his left eyebrow into his brow familiar to her now. She thought back to her confusion when she'd first woken up in the hospital and found out that this person that she had no memory of was supposed to be her husband and the father and stepfather of her children.

He'd been so patient all this time; never pushing her, never showing frustration that he surely must have felt, never seeming the least bit bothered by having to sleep in the guest bedroom.... Her thoughts trailed off suddenly as she realized something.

She'd been watching him all day during their celebration and she came to realize something – even if she hadn't ever met him before, there was an attraction there – she'd felt it that first time in the rest area where they'd first met, and she'd felt it today while he mingled amongst their family and friends. He'd caught her watching him periodically and their gazes connected for what seemed like minutes but had, in reality, only been seconds.

And now, here she was, alone with him for the first time all day. She felt her pulse quicken, her breathing pick up slightly. She watched him sleep and felt the deepness of her love for him.

Slowly and gently, she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the mouth. He stirred slightly and she sat back and watched him. Slowly his eyes opened, sleep still showing in them.

He raised his head up off the back of the couch. "What's wrong, Jen? Are you okay?" he asked, coming fully awake now.

She put a finger to his lips to quiet him. In a whisper she said, "I'm fine. I've just realized how much I've missed you." He kissed her finger and she brought it back to her own lips. Lowering her hand to his chest for support, she leaned forward again and this time her kiss was more urgent, seeking him out. She found him. Slowly, he started to return her kiss.

She felt his heartbeat quicken beneath her hand on his chest. She started to pull back, but he moved with her – not wanting to give up the taste of her just yet. Their hands began to explore each other urgently – almost as if they were new to each other.

A few more moments of this and Jennifer had to pull away – he'd taken her breath away with his touch. "What?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing," she replied breathlessly. "Do you remember the first time we sat on this couch together?"

He nodded slowly and she noticed the look on his face change. She removed his shirt and splayed her hands across his muscular chest. He leaned into her, his kiss more urgent, searching. While he kissed her, his fingers worked at the buttons on the front of her shirt. Before she knew it, she had only her lace bra between them. She looked at him now and leaned over and placed a feather light kiss on the faint scar that remained from his gunshot wound and heard and felt him draw in a sharp breath.

"Jen," he said in a low growl, wanting to take her now.

Knowing what he wanted, she moved from the couch to the carpeted floor in front of the fireplace, pulling her down to the floor with him. "Make love to me, Maurice."


An hour later, he awoke first right there on the floor in front of the fireplace where they'd made love until they were both spent. The room was colder now that the fire had died out – only smoldering embers remained.

There, in the glow of the embers, he took in her features. She looked much more peaceful now. Not like the times he had looked in on her upstairs before she had remembered.

She must have felt his stare because her eyes slowly opened and she smiled at the sight of him looking at her.

"I'm sorry. Do I know you?" she asked, a teasing smile across her face.

"Would you like me to introduce myself again?" he asked, moving closer to her again and she felt his warmth.

"Yes, but not here. Let's take this upstairs to our room. It's too cold down here," she said.

He helped her to her feet and took in the sight of her naked body before him. He took her in his arms and held her close, their passions rising again. Jennifer reached over and grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch, wrapping it around Bosco's shoulders as he lifted her into his arms. He carried her up the stairs and into their room where they loved each other again before falling into a deep and peaceful sleep for the remainder of the night.


The End.