A Fresh Start
Chapter Seventy Five
Jeffrey continues to play, fiddling with different tunes and lyrics. Finally putting the guitar down about an hour later, he gets up and goes upstairs. Getting a change of clothes, he checks on Sam and then goes into the bathroom for a shower. When he finishes, he checks on her again and then he walks over to his briefcase and takes out some files that he brought home from work, walking over to the table he sits down and begins to work. A couple hours later, he looks up at the clock and decides to finish the work when he goes to the office the next morning. Putting everything back in his briefcase, he walks back into the living room as Sam starts to wake up. "J" She says softly, looking around the living room.
"I'm right here." Jeffrey says, walking over to the couch.
"I fell asleep." She says, sitting up as he sits down beside her.
"Yes."
"How long was I asleep?"
"A few hours." Jeffrey replies, sitting back.
"I guess I was tired." She says, reaching up to brush her hair back from her face.
"Did you rest at all today?"
"Did I take a nap, no. But I wasn't that busy either."
"Maybe you should try to get a nap in the afternoon."
"Sleeping my life away…."
"Sam, you're…."
"…isn't something I want to do, even if I am pregnant. It's the hormones that are making me sleepy." She says, moving over beside him.
"Alright." He says, giving up. "Maybe we should go on upstairs." Jeffrey says, running his fingers up her arm.
"For sleep or something else." Sam asks, looking up at him.
"Whichever." Jeffrey replies, getting up and helping her up as she starts to laugh. "What?" He asks, reaching for her and sweeping her up into his arms.
"Nothin but the fact that you're insatiable and you know that I can walk."
"I realize that but I want to carry you." Jeffrey replies, lightly kissing the side of her neck. "I want to hold both of you."
"Umm, I don't mind being held." Sam replies, wrapping her arms around his neck as she turns her head, kissing him. After a couple of seconds, she leans back and asks. "When did you change?"
"I took a shower a couple of hours ago." Jeffrey replies, walking into their bedroom. Laying her down on the bed, he walks around the bed and lies down beside her. Propping his head up with one hand, he lays the other one her stomach. "Have you thought about what he'll look like?"
"He, do you want a boy?" Sam asks, looking at him.
"Well, I have a daughter. It'd be nice to have a boy, but I won't be upset if I had a little girl that looks like you."
"You know, we can find out what we're having."
"No, I don't think I want to know."
"Okay."
"Do you want to know what we're having?"
"I haven't thought about it."
"What about before?"
"I definitely didn't think about it then, we were so busy, with cases and operations and going to Europe, it never really crossed my mind."
"Would you have been upset if you had become pregnant then?"
"I don't think so. It certainly would have changed my priorities."
"It would have changed both of our priorities."
"You used to dream about me having your child after I left, what did you see us having?"
"A boy, you were always with my son. He would have my smile and your eyes. He was so small and tiny and I remember that I loved watching you with him and I think that when he or she comes I'll like the same things that I liked then.
"Like what?"
"Like watching you feed him, or rocking him to sleep. I would see you in a rocker with him in your arms, and the sun shining through the window. His hand wrapped around your finger, and you would be either talking to him or singing to him."
"What would I say to him?'
"I don't remember, but he would be completely focused on you and you would have the softest smile."
Leaning over to kiss him, Sam moves closer to him. Leaning back, she whispers. "I love you Jeffrey O'Neill."
"I love you too, both of you." Jeffrey replies, running his fingers through her hair.
Leaning in, he kisses her again. Laying his arm across her waist, he pulls her to him as she wraps her arms around his neck, burying her fingers his hair. His hair is cool as she runs her fingers through it, a complete contrast to fire, she feels building inside him. Leaning back after a few moments, he looks down, slowly moving his eyes over her face, watching the fire building in her eyes.
Moving to her neck, he lightly kisses her as she takes a deep breath, releasing it in slow whoosh. Slipping his hand under her shirt, he lays it against her stomach as she watches him. Slowly he pushes her t-shirt up as he lightly kisses the side of her neck, moving over to the other side.
The faint scent of her perfume is intoxicating as he kisses the pounding pulse at the base of her throat. He feels her breathing deepening with every kiss. Moving up the side of her neck, he nibbles on the heated skin beneath his lips. Reaching for the hem of her t-shirt, she begins to pull it up and after a few seconds, it's obvious that for them to continue she has to get up.
Breaking the kiss, he moves back. Letting her up, he watches as she pulls the t-shirt up and over her head. Reaching for her, he kisses her again as he lays one hand against her breast, cupping her while pulling her to him as she moans softly. Reaching for him, she slowly moves her hands up his chest, caressing him. His skin feels warm and smooth beneath her fingers. Caressing his chest and slowly running her nails across his nipples, she feels him suck in a deep breath before he deepens the kiss while laying her back.
Leaning over her, he reaches for her hands. Lifting them over her head, he holds them loosely as he again moves across her jaw to her ear. Slowly running his tongue around the rim, he feels her shiver. She tries to tug her hands from his grasp but he tightens his hold as he whispers in her ear. "Let me love you Beca." His breath feels warms against her neck.
He nibbles on her ear as she sucks in a deep breath, moaning as she moves her head to the side. He remains there for a few moments, nibbling on her ear and lightly kissing the side of her neck.
Releasing her hands and bracing himself on either side, he moves down her neck, lightly kissing her. He feels her pulse and heart pounding against her breast as he caresses her, lightly massaging it through her bra. "J, baby I want to…." She says, arching her back.
Reaching around her he quickly unfastens her bra, tossing it to the side he leans back for a few moments, watching her respond to the need burning inside her. Moving down from her jaw to her upper chest as she reaches for his waist and resting her hand against him. She begins to push his sweat pants down as he slowly runs his tongue over her nipple.
"Ah, J!" she moans, closing her eyes while he reaches for her other breast, gently caressing her.
Closing her eyes, she lets her body drift deeper into the desire swelling inside her. After a few moments he moves to her other breast. "J" She moans as a warm wave rushes through her and he feels her start to shiver.
Looking up, he watches her through his lashes, watching the expression on her face as she is swept away. When she recovers, he leans back and looks down at her. She looks up at him with a soft satisfied smile playing at her lips and he leans over and kisses her, lightly nibbling on her lower lip as she deepens the kiss. After a few moments, she remembers what she was doing before the desire took control and moving to sit up as he moves back, he continues to watch her.
Reaching for his waist again, she begins to push on his sweats. Kneeling above her, he watches as she pulls them down. As she's pushing them down his legs, she takes a deep breath when she realizes how desperately he needs her. Holding the breath for a few seconds, she releases it in soft hiss. Shivering slightly, he looks down as she looks up but he makes no move to help her. After a couple seconds, she leans forward.
Kissing the side of his neck, she slowly moves down his chest, softly kissing him and nibbling on his heated skin. She moves down his chest, stopping for a few moments and softly dipping her tongue into his navel.
"Beca." He groans, reaching for the back of her head, and holding her against him.
Looking up at him, she watches him as she continues running her tongue around the rim of his belly button. After a few moments, she moves on. Nibbling across his lower abdomen, she lays a gentle kiss against him through his boxers and he can't wait any longer. Moving away from her, he reaches for his boxers, pushing them down as she look up and reads the expression burning in his eyes. Reaching to help him, together they rid each other of their last articles of clothing before she lays back and holds her arms out to him.
Moving over her, he nearly collapses when their bodies touch and he feels her closing around him, clinging to him as he slips inside her "Beca." He breaths, taking a deep breath, holding it and throwing his head back.
She begins to caress him from inside, clinching and relaxing the muscles deep inside her body. He begins to thrust. Slowly at first and then as the fire becomes strong he thrusts deeper as she begins to move with him, moving her hands down his back, pulling him against her, holding him tightly.
"Beca, baby." He gasps, looking into her eyes as they feel her body begin to quiver.
He hangs on just long enough for the final swells of release to rush over her before he thrust for the final time. Taking a deep breath, he holds it as he feels warm waves of desire surge through him. When the final wave surges through him, filling them both with hot release, he collapses against her. Wrapping her arms around him, they try to catch their breath.
The apartment was quiet when Marciano walked in. "Julie." He calls, walking though the front room, but there is no answer. He walks through the apartment but quickly realizes that she and the kids aren't home.
Sitting down in the living room, he pulls out his cell phone and dials a number. After a few rings her voicemail picks up. "This is Julie. I'm out with the kids, give me a call back or leave me a message."
When he hears the tone he says, "Where are you?" and then he hangs up. Laying the phone on the table, he reaches for the remote and turns the TV on before he gets up and goes into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator he notices that she hadn't gone to the liquor store like he had asked before he left that morning for Springfield.
Reaching for a beer, he pops the top as he loosens his tie. Walking back into the living room he reaches for the remote and starts flipping through the channels.
After a few minutes, he picks up the phone and dials Julie's number again, and after a few rings, he again gets her voicemail. "Where are you? You forgot to get my beer."
He hangs up and changes the channel, taking a sip of beer, he flips through the channels. Reaching for phone again, he dials her number again and again he gets the voicemail. He hangs up without leaving a message and dials another number and after a few rings, his mother picks up. "Hello."
"Hey Ma, have you see Julie?"
"No, she's not at home."
"No, her or the kids."
"See, I told you not to marry that woman. She isn't..."
"Ma, I don't want to hear it. Have you seen her?"
"I told you no. I haven't seen them. She isn't going to come over here, even for me to see my grandkids."
"Alright, I'll call her at work."
"I don't know why she's got to work anyway, a woman..."
"Ma, I got to go. I'll talk to you later." He hangs up and then dials another number and after a couple rings a woman answers. "Wilcox Inc."
"Yes, I need to speak to Julie Bertilla."
"I'm sorry but she's not here. Can I take a message?"
"This is her husband."
"Yes, Mr. Bertilla. She was called unexpectedly out of the office."
"When did she leave?"
"Earlier this afternoon, it was an emergency call."
"Where are the kids?"
"She didn't say."
"Thank you, I worry about her when she's not home."
"I'm sure she'll contact you soon. If she does call I'll be sure to tell her to call you."
"Thank you." Marciano says, hanging up.
When the call disconnects, the woman pushes the button for line one and then dials Julie's cell phone. After a couple rings, she picks up. "Hello."
"Julie, its Lana."
"Hi, I'm on my way home."
"He called looking for you."
"I know. He's left about three messages on my phone."
"He wanted to know where the kids are at."
"Thank you. I'll call him."
"What's going on?"
"My sister went into emergency labor."
"Is she alright?"
"She's fine, they were able to stop the labor but she's going to have to be on bed rest for the next few weeks at least."
"Alright. We can discuss it when you come into the office tomorrow."
"Actually, I'm not sure if I'm going to make it in. She needs someone to sit with her tomorrow and her husband is busy and so is Mom."
"You know, I'll help anyway I can."
"Alright, I'm about halfway home. I'll call you after I get him settled." Julie says, as her phone beeps. "I'm getting another call."
"Alright. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay." She replies, before Lana hangs up and she clicks over to the other line. "Hello."
"Where the hell are you?" Marciano demands.
"I had to go home. Missy went into early labor and she needed me."
"What about me?"
"You were in Springfield."
"You forgot to get the beer."
"No, I didn't. It's here in the car with me."
"I suppose you have the kids with you too?"
"No, they were with me."
"Were with you, where are they?"
"At my mother's, they wanted to stay so I told them they could."
"When are you going to be home?"
"I'm a little more than halfway there."
"So, what am I supposed to eat?"
"Marciano, there's food in the refrigerator, or order a pizza."
"We don't have the money for ordering pizza. You're supposed to be here to fix me something to eat. Ma never left the house for thirty years and she always had dinner on the table at precisely five o'clock."
"You mean Elisa had dinner on the table at precisely five o'clock." Julie says, feeling frustration filling her. "Matthew, why did you have to die?" She thinks to herself, sighing softly.
"Where are the kids?" For a few moments she doesn't answers so he asks again, his voice a little louder. "Where are the kids Julie?"
Shaking her head, she replies. "I just told you they are at my mother's."
"You left my kids at your mother's."
"Yes, they wanted to stay and I'm going to be out there this weekend…."
"Why are you going to be out there this weekend?"
"Missy needs me."
"So, you left the kids with your mother, but you won't take them over to my mothers. And where is Missy's husband?"
"Yes, I left our kids at my mothers. I would leave the kids at your mothers but she doesn't want to be bothered with them, and Michael is out of town. Listen, we can discuss this when I get home."
"Fine, stop at the liquor…."
"I'm coming into some traffic, I've got to go." Julie says, hanging up. "I'll pay for that later." She says out loud, turning her attention back to the road."
Rolling to his side, Richard watches as Cassie sleeps. The early morning sunlight plays softly on her face and hair. He is still slightly amazed at everything they have been through together, not just before the accident in San Cristobel, but here in Springfield.
Holly had dropped by the night before and they had spoken with her at length about the accident and Will. It was hard to imagine, that their life had changed so much in the time since he rode up behind her on the beach in San Cristobel. "Are you okay?" He hears her ask softly and he glances over and smiles at her. "I'm fine." He replies, moving over onto his back as she moves over beside him, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Did Holly's interview upset you?"
"No, I was just thinking about how much our lives have changed since we met on the beach in San Cristobel."
"You miss being Prince."
"No, I love my life and I'm happy. I was just thinking about how we think our lives are going to be one way and then it doesn't."
"But we have a pretty good life."
"We have a great life. We have two wonderful boys and we had a…."
"It's hard now that Tammy's not here. She would be so excited to have you back."
"Would she, I promised to always be there for her."
"And you were there, in her heart, and with Jonathan. She had a piece of you with him. I'm not saying that's the only reason she loved him…."
"She loved him because she's just like her mother, open, honest and willing to love." Richard says, leaning over to kiss her.
"She's like you too, even if you're not her father. She was like you in a lot of ways." Cassie replies, when he leans back.
"I'm not sure how much of an influence I had on her life."
"Richard, you meant everything to her, you know that. You were her father." Cassie says, moving away from him and rolling to her side.
"I know." He says, reaching out to caress her cheek. "But I wanted to be here for everything, all the things that Father's and daughter's do. I wanted to teach her how to waltz like I taught you and I wanted to frown at the boy that asked her to her first dance. And I wanted to fight with her about her room and curfew."
"I know you did, but you can still be that same thing with Will and RJ."
"It's different with boys. She was my little girl, even if I wasn't her father."
Cassie watches him for a few moments and then she asks. "Would you want to have another child?"
"You can't have…"
"I can't get pregnant the normal way, that doesn't mean that I can't get pregnant."
"You mean IVF."
"Yes, I've tried it before."
"With Edmund."
"Yes, and it didn't take but maybe it would this time."
"And if it doesn't, can you handle that?"
"I can handle anything as long as you're here with me. But it might work and if it does, we'll have another child."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then we have our boys and we have the memory of Tammy."
"A new baby will not replace her."
"I know that, but if you want to try, we can. And if it doesn't work, we can look at adoption again."
"I love you." Richard says, leaning over to kiss her.
"I love you too." Cassie whispers, returning the kiss.
After a few moments, he leans back and asks. "When are the boys coming home?"
"Later this afternoon, they are spending the day with Reva, why?"
"Because I want to spend the day with you, do you have to go in today?"
"No, Olivia can handle everything at the Beacon."
"Good." He says, reaching for her and pulling her to him as he kisses her again.
She puts one arm around his neck, laying the other across his waist as he pulls her to him, sighing softly. Deepening the kiss, he rolls onto his back and brings her with him. After a few more seconds, she breaks the kiss. Leaning back, she looks down at him, watching his eyes fade to a pale green. She can read the desire in his gaze and she feels her body respond to him.
Sitting up, she watches him for a few seconds before she crosses her arms and pulls the gown she is wearing over her head. She feels him tense as her body is revealed. Tossing the gown over her shoulder, she looks back at him and shivers at the heat she sees in his eyes.
Reaching for her, he slowly moves his hands up her body, lightly caressing her. When he reaches her shoulders, he pauses for a couple seconds, laying his thumbs against her neck and feeling her pulse pounding against them. She watches him, as he moves on, down her body to her upper chest. Laying her hands on his arms, she holds onto him tightly as their gazes lock.
Moving on, he reaches for her breasts, cupping them gently. He looks up as her breath catches and then she moans softly. Gently caressing her nipples, he plays with her until lays her hands on his chest. Bending her fingers, she lightly scratches him. After a few seconds she feels him begin to shiver. Laying her hands flat against his chest, she repeats everything he is doing to her until he leans forward and taking her nipple in his mouth, he begins to play with it.
"Ah Richard!" she moans, closing her eyes as he takes her deeper.
Hot sparks of passion rush through her, feeling her with heat and desire. Moving away from him, he refuses to release her until he feels her body pressed against his. "Cassie." He groans.
The vibration of his cry feels her with desperate passion and his hands fall to her hips, holding her against him as he moves to her other breast, repeating everything he has just been doing until she moans softly.
The feel of his body pressing against her, makes her want him so much that she moves away, but he reaches out to stop her. Leaning over to kiss him, she whispers. "Let me love you."
Reaching for his pajama bottom as he arches his hips to help, slowly she pushes them down, along with his boxers until he can kick them off. Leaning over him, she gently kisses the side of his neck as he buries one hand in her hair, holding her against him while the other hand reaches for the sheet beneath them. Grasping it, he holds on tightly as she moves down his body, feeling the rhythm of his breathing become shallower with every kiss.
When she reaches his navel, she looks up. Watching him as she slowly runs her tongue around his navel. She feels his body tense before his breathing becomes even more shallow. After a few seconds, she moves on, lightly nibbling across his lower abdomen until she reaches the end of the hair covering his lower stomach.
Sitting back, she watches him for few seconds before he shifts position, trying to entice her to finish what she started. "What do you want?" She asks, softly, knowing the answer, but wanting to heighten his desire even more.
"Cassie." He groans, reading the heat in her gaze and knowing exactly what that meant for him.
"Tell me." She demands, refusing to do as he eyes were pleading with her to do.
"Take me." He groans, his tone begging her to continue.
Leaning over him, she picks up where she stopped, lightly kissing his lower abdomen as she moves back. He can feel her warm breath washing over him for a few seconds before he feels her lightly kiss the tip of him.
"Darling." He groans, as she takes him in completely.
Lightly caressing him with her mouth, as he buries his fingers in her hair, holding her against him, forcing her to take as much of him as she can. Wrapping her hand around him, she begins to caress him, forcing wave upon wave of hot desire to rush through his body, filling him with desperate heat. After a few more seconds, he reaches for her. Pulling her against him, he tries to maneuver her around so that he can do to her exactly what she's doing him.
Glancing up, she catches the desire in his eyes, and she realizes what he wants. A slight shiver rolls down her spine as she moves around to where her back is to him. Kneeling over him, he feels her gasp at his first caress.
Slipping his tongue inside her, he begins to play with her and distracting her from what she had been doing to him, until he moves his hips, reminding her. When he begins to tap his tongue against her, she can't take it anymore. Moaning softly, she releases him as she moves her hips against his mouth.
She feels her release building and when she feels her body begin to spin out of control she sits up, moving away from him as he tries to hold her still. Turning again, she kisses him softly as she reaches for him, guiding him inside as she kisses him.
Bracing her hands against his chest, she slowly moves her hips as he reaches for her, holding her tightly. After a few moments, the need to take control takes a hold of him and wrapping his arms around her he leans up and rolls to his side. Lifting her leg, she lays it across his hip as he thrusts. "Richard." She gasps, feeling the first caress. "Oh!" She gasps, closing her eyes and savoring the feel of him moving inside her.
"You… feel… so… good." He gasps, closing his eyes as he tries to sink deeper inside her.
"Love me." She moans softly, closing her eyes and feeling her body begin to quiver inside.
"Cassie." He groans, kissing her as he increases his caress, moving still deeper.
"Richard." She gasps, as her body tightens around his.
"It's...okay… go on… Darling." He whispers, kissing her softly as he feels the first waves of release rush through her.
He holds onto her tightly until he feels the last wave of release wash over her and then he thrusts for the final time. Hot sparks of release flash before his eyes, as intense waves of release rush through his body, filling her with every ounce of desire rushing through him. His final caress brings an answering wave of release from within her.
For several moments they cling to each other, until he kisses the side of her neck and whispers. "I love you so much."
"I love you so much, too."
They lay there in the silence, savoring each other and the connection they have just created. "Every time we're together, it's better." Richard whispers, lightly kissing the top of her forehead.
"I know." Cassie whispers. He can feel the heat of her breath washing over him, caressing him. She feels him begin to grow inside her again. "Richard." She sighs, closing her eyes.
Reaching for her, he pulls her against him, holding her tightly as he closes his eyes and she looks up.
"Shhh, it's okay." She whispers as he starts to say something.
Pushing against his chest until he rolls to his back, she leans over him. Kissing him as his hands fall to her hips, holding her against him, while they are kissing, she begins to rock against him.
Breaking the kiss, he groans "Cassie." Closing his eyes, he tries to move with her, thrusting against her sliding hips. Laying one hand on her chest, he slowly moves down her body, caressing her until she shivers and looks down.
Moving down her body, he softly caresses her until he reaches her sliding hips. Slipping his hand between them, he begins to caress her.
"Richard." She cries, when she feels him touching her "OH!" she cries, as she feels her body spin out of control.
"Darling." He whispers, looking up and watching her "Its okay."
"No… it's not." Cassie whispers, leaning over and kissing him.
"I'm almost there." He whispers, lifting his hips and pressing against her
Clinching the muscle inside her, she holds him tightly as they both feel him quiver. Thrusting a few more times, she feels her body begin to quiver as he reaches for her, holding her against him as a second wave of release rushes through them. Collapsing against him, he holds her to him as residual waves of release washes over each of them.