A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Eighty Five
William holds the door for Ava and then closes it behind them as she walks over to the couch in his suite. Sitting down, she sighs softly and then lays her head back as he sits down beside her. He watches her for a few moments before he reaches for her leg. "What are you doing?" She asks, turning to look at him.
"I'm going to rub your feet. Isn't that what perfect boyfriends do for their pregnant girlfriends."
"I don't expect you to be perfect. I'm certainly not."
"We're not thinking about Olivia and Emma, remember."
"I can't help but think about it. I basically attacked her for no reason."
"You had reason. She's done a lot to you and to your father. We're supposed to be relaxing and this would be easier if you were facing me." She turns to face him. He slips her shoe off and begins to rub her feet. After a while he asks. "Are you feeling relaxed?"
"No. It feels good don't get me wrong, but rubbing my feet will not stop me from thinking about Olivia and Emma."
William sighs and then reaches for her other foot, slipping the shoe off and rubbing that foot. After a while, he stops. Looking at her, he says. "Why don't we go for a swim?"
"You want to go for a swim, now?"
"Yes, if it will help you relax. The stress of worrying about Olivia and Emma isn't good for you or the baby."
"I don't want to go for a swim."
"Why not?"
"Honestly I don't feel like changing into a swimsuit and going downstairs."
"Then how about a hot bath?"
She looks at him for a couple seconds and realizes he's really worried about her. "There's something that we can do that will relax me."
"What's that?"
She sits up and moves over to him. "I've been here for almost two nights and you haven't once touched me."
"It didn't seem like it was the right time."
"Anytime we're together its right."
"This will get you to relax?"
"Short of giving in and letting Olivia have Emma, yes this will help me relax for a little bit, so lets go." She says, moving to get up.
He reaches out to stop her. "We don't have to go anywhere." He says, leaning in to kiss her.
"What do you mean?" She asks, before their lips touch.
Reaching for her, he pulls her closer, deepening the kiss. She wraps her arms around her neck. Slowly running his hand down her back, softly caressing her, slipping his hands under her shirt.
After a few seconds, she needs to feel her body against his. Moving while they are still kissing, she straddles him and then wraps her arms back around his neck, burying her fingers in his hair as he pulls her against him. He leans back, and looks up. "Ava." He whispers.
"I know." She says, reaching for the hem of her t-shirt.
Pulling it up and over her head, she tosses it to the floor as she leans over to kiss him again. His hands are resting on her thighs, and slowly he moves them up to her waist, holding her against him. She feels his erection pressing against her.
"William." She groans, deepening the kiss as he holds tightly to her hips.
After a couple of minutes, he breaks the kiss, gasping for breath as he looks up. "I can never stop wanting you." He whispers, slowly moving his hands up her stomach to her breast, cupping them.
"And I will never stop wanting you." Ava sighs, as he caresses her breasts through her bra.
After a few seconds, she needs to feel his skin, touching hers. Reaching behind her, she unclasps her bra and then shrugs her shoulders until her breasts are free. She pulls the bra off as he reaches for her.
Closing his hand around her breasts again, he caresses them. Feeling her nipples press against his hand, he leans forward, taking it into his mouth. He softly licks it. "Ah! William." She sighs, burying her finger in his hair and holding him against her.
After a couple minutes, he turns his attention to her other breast, giving it the same soft, sweet treatment, until they are pressing against his mouth, throbbing with desire.
Leaning back, he looks up at her. Reaching for his waist, she begins to pull on his shirt, working it up his chest as he leans forward to help her. Raising his arms when she reaches his upper chest, pulling the shirt over his head, she tosses it to the floor as she leans forward and slowly moves down his chest.
Laying gentle kisses across his chest as she kneels between his legs, shifting his hips, he lays his head back on the couch and closes his eyes, feeling himself being devoured by the desire burning through both of them. She stops when she reaches his nipples, softly licking them as he had done to hers until they are hard pebbles. Moving down his chest, she lays little kisses, nibbling on his abs before dipping her tongue into his navel.
"Ava, darlin, please." He gasps, when he feels hot sparks of passion burn through him. She starts to lean back, but he quickly reaches for her. Burying his fingers in her hair he holds her in place. She kisses him again, slipping her tongue inside his navel, gently caressing it while waves of desire flood him. "Oh god! Ava." He groans shifting his hips as the pressure building inside his jeans intensifies to the point that he's almost hurting.
Looking up, she sees the desperation building inside him. Pulling away with final kiss, she reaches for the button on his jeans, pulling it open she glances up as he sighs with some relief. Leaning up, she kisses him again, letting him take control of the kiss as she braces her hands on his inner thighs.
After several seconds, she leans back. Watching him for a couple seconds, watching him struggle to get control, watching the rhythm of his breathing, listening to the rawness of the desire burning through him, their gazes lock and his eyes are almost clear.
Reaching for the zipper, she pulls it down being careful not to hurt him. Spreading his jeans open, she glances up when she hears as another soft sigh of temporary relief flows out of him leaning forward; she kisses him softly through his boxers.
"Ava." He groans, when he feels her gentle kisses. The feel of the material and the pressure of her lips against his desire is almost his undoing. Arching his hips, reaches for his jeans as she reaches to stop him. "Please, I need..."
"I know." Ava whispers, pulling his hands away, and replacing them with her own.
Tugging on his jeans as he arches his hips, he reaches to help her. Sinking back into the sofa as his erection is released. Glancing up, she stares at him, slightly surprised at the intensity of his desire. She's never seen him that desperate this soon. Reaching for his feet, she quickly removes his boots and finishes pulling his jeans and boxers off. Sitting up, she braces her hands on either side of his hips. Looking up at him, through her lashes, she leans forwards and softly licks him.
"Ava, baby! Yes." He groans closing his eyes and letting his head fall backward as she takes him inside her mouth, as deeply as she can.
The feel of her tongue caressing him, the heat of her mouth and the tightness of her hold on him fills him with intense passion. He fears loosing control, which is exactly what Ava wants him to do.
"Ava… I gonna… loose… it. Baby." He gasps, reaching for her.
He tries to pull her up, but she refuses to let go. Looking up at him through her eyelashes, collapsing back, he surrenders to her. Letting her work him, pushing his desire higher, pulling back she slowly runs the tip of her tongue around him as she moves her hand up and down his erection until she feels him quiver. Taking him deep inside her mouth, she takes every wave of passion the course through him.
"Ava!" He groans, while waves of desire course through him as he arches his hips, pressing against the back of her throat.
After several seconds, he collapses back against the couch, his breathing ragged as residual waves of desire course through him. Looking down, he watches her for a few seconds until he reaches for her and she moves into his arms.
"I love you." He whispers, kissing her with little kisses. "I love the way you make me feel. I love that you know exactly what to do to make me want you, and I love that I have the rest of my life to show how much I love you."
Leaning up, he kisses her, as he reaches for the button on her jeans. Pulling it free, he tugs on the zipper. He begins to pull on them as she moves up. Kneeling over him, she reaches for him, closing her hand around him, she caresses him, feeling him responding to her again, feeling his erection hardening with every caress.
He continues to tug on her jeans pushing them down until they are at her knees. He reaches for her, slipping he hand between her thighs, caressing her.
"William." She gasps, leaning forward and kissing him hard.
Her body is hot and wet with desire as he slips a couple of fingers inside her, caressing her as he rubs his thumb against her desire, feeling it stiffen. "I need you." She gasps, closing her eyes, and feeling the need build in intensity. "I need you so..."
"I know baby." He sighs, pulling his hand free and wrapping his arms around her as he moves to lay her down on the couch.
Bending her legs, she feels his desire touch her. "William." She groans. "Take me, please!" she begs, arching her hips.
Slipping inside her, he reaches for her legs. Doubling them back he thrusts deep, pounding his hips against hers, and holding on to her legs tightly as he pushes them higher.
"Baby, you feel so good. Can you feel me?" He gasps, looking down
"Yes, love me, please." She gasps, reaching for his hips and pulling him against her, holding him tightly, so tightly that she leaves half moon indentation in his hips from her nails digging in.
Thrusting a few more times, he feels her body convulse around as the first wave of her release rushes over him, caressing him as waves of desire bursts free, flooding her body with heat and waves of ecstasy.
"William." She screams, arching her hips
"Ava." He groans, feeling her body surrender breaks his control
Surges of desire flood him, filling him and then her with heat and passion. As the last surge flows through him, he releases his hold on her legs, collapsing in her arms, they hold onto each other.
Julie pulls up to her mom's house outside Oakdale. As she's getting out of the car, her mom walks to the door. "I expected you over an hour ago."
"I went to lunch with Jacob."
"Is that wise?"
"He was called to testify for the hearing." Julie says, walking up the steps to the porch.
"He was called to testify, why?" Maggie asks as someone pulls up behind Julie. They both turn to see who's pulled up. Two men get out of the car and walk towards the house. When they are close enough, Maggie asks. "Can I help you?"
"We are looking for a Julie Winslow?"
"That would be me." Julie says.
"Mrs. Winslow, I'm Agent Richards and this is Agent Marshall. We need to speak to you about your late husband."
"Mattie, why. Everything was settled with the agents before they took him."
"No ma'am, this has nothing to do with the arrangement you made with agency after you accident." Agent Richards says.
"Well does in a way." Agent Marshall says.
"Let me handle this Saul."
"Handle what, everything was settled when I signed the papers."
"Yes ma'am, we know that. The arrangement you made with the agency is still intact. We need to speak to you about your late husband's brother." Agent Richards says.
"Richard, he's dead. He passed away shortly after Mattie's accident."
"Could we please go inside?" Agent Richards asks, looking at Maggie.
She steps back, letting the agents and Julie into the house. Julie walks into the kitchen, putting her purse down on the table and then turns to face the agents. "Why do you want to talk to me about Mattie's brother?"
"Let's have a seat and I'll explain why we're here."
Julie sits down at the table with the agents. "Your husband's brother is not dead as you thought."
"What do you mean he's not dead? They had a funeral for him. I took Mattie's mother to it. I saw him in the casket."
"There was a funeral and the person you saw in the casket was your husband, not Richard."
"If Matt is buried in Springfield, who is buried in my son-in-laws grave here in Oakdale."
"There are rocks in the casket that was used to bury your son-in-law." Agent Marshall says, looking at Maggie.
"Rocks, the agency insisted that we have a closed casket, this is why. Mattie's mother, we didn't get to see him because he wasn't really there."
"Yes."
"You came in and you played with all of our lives to protect a man that wanted nothing to do with his family."
"Mrs. Winslow, that's not true. Until your husbands brother woke up this past summer…."
"He woke up."
"Yes ma'am. He's been in a coma in agency hospital in DC and until he woke up this summer and he had no idea that he had a twin brother."
"How could he have no idea he had a twin. Mattie knew, his mother told him years ago."
"I don't know the reason as to why he didn't know about you're husband, but he does know now and he would like to meet you and your family."
"He wants to meet us."
"Yes, he's living in Springfield with his wife and two sons and he wants to meet his brother's family."
Julie stares at the two agents for several moments before she looks at her mother. "It's up to you."
"When does he want to see us?"
"He didn't say. He contacted another agent within the agency and asked that he find you and tell you that he would like to see you."
"Do you know what he wants?"
"I'm sure he only wants to know the family of the brother he didn't know existed until now. Richard Winslow is a fine and upstanding man. He was very popular with the common people when he ruled San Cristobel. He's well liked in Springfield too. He's current working within the city government of Springfield, working under the Mayor of Springfield, and promoting the town to perspective companies looking to expand their companies. His wife has been a member of…."
Julie holds her hand up. "That's enough. I'll see him by myself. I don't want upset my kids again, especially right now. We're just getting settled here again." She reaches into her purse and pulls out a small case. "You can give this to him. It has all of my contact information on the card." She says, handing Agent Richards her business card.
Nodding, he takes the card. "I'll be sure that he gets it." He says, as Julie nods. Standing up, he says. "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Winslow."
She nods as they turn to leave. Maggie walks towards the front door. Opening it, as Julie stands up. When they leave, Maggie comes back to the living room. "What are you going to do?" She asks, watching Julie.
"I've got to go. The kids will be…."
"They won't be home for another hour."
"I still need to go."
"Julie."
"You heard what I told them. I'll see him and I won't involve the children if I don't believe it's safe. Now I really need to go." Julie says, grabbing her purse. Maggie steps out of the way and then watches as she walks out of the kitchen. The closes behind a few seconds later and then she watches as she walks across the yard to her car. She watches as she gets in and leaves.
Olivia has just got out of the tub when James knocks on the bathroom door. "Liv, I'm going to my room for a moment. I need to get some papers."
"Okay, I'll be out in a moment." She says, wrapping her hair in a towel.
James leaves and Olivia finishes drying off. Wrapping a towel around her, she opens the bathroom door and walks out. Sitting down on the bed, she glances at the phone before she reaches for it. Picking up, she dials the main number for the palace in San Cristobel. After a couple rings, one of the operators picks up the call. "You have reaches the palace of San Cristobel, how may I help you?"
"Yes, this is Olivia Spencer. My daughter Ava is staying at the palace as the guest of Prince William. I would like to speak to her."
"Could you please hold while I track his highness down?"
"Of course, I'll hold."
She hears a click and then music begins to play. She's on hold for about a minute before the operator comes back on the line. "Ms. Spencer, I've located his Highness and he is willing to speak with you, please hold and I will transfer the call."
"Yes, thank you."
A couple clicks later, William comes on the line. "Hello Olivia." He says, glancing at Ava.
"Yes, William. Is Ava there? I would like to speak to her."
"She's sleeping right now. What did you need?"
"I wanted to speak to her about Emma."
"No, not tonight. She's been under a lot of stress and she needs a break. It's not good for her or the baby. She can call you tomorrow." Williams starts to hang up.
"William, wait. I don't want to upset her. I just wanted to tell her that I've come to a decision. I'm letting her keep Emma."
"You're going to let her keep Emma, why?"
"Because I decided that maybe she's right, maybe Emma does need to stay with her right now."
"You're giving up you're daughter, just like that."
"Maybe Ava and Jeffrey are right. Maybe I need to take some time for me. I certainly hope that one day I'll have Emma again, but for right now Ava can keep her. I've only got one request."
"What's that?"
"Tell Ava that one day I would like to know my grandchild."
"I'll pass on the message. You're sure about this Olivia. You're not going to change your mind in a few days and want Emma back."
"I gave custody to Ava when I thought I was leaving. I am still leaving and maybe it's right for Ava to have her for a while. I won't change my mind."
"You realize this call is recorded. If you try to get the law…."
"You don't have to threaten…."
"I'm not threatening you. I'm simply pointing out that I'm not going to have you come back and try to take Emma back and deny that you ever gave Ava permission to keep her."
"I'm not going to do that. Look, I know you don't exactly trust me, you've got that right considering what's happened, but I'm not going to change my mind. Tell Ava she can keep Emma and when she feels that it's right I hope she'll let me be a part of your life and my grandchild and I hope that she'll let me have Emma back after a while."
"I'll tell her." William says, glancing at Ava. She's still sleeping on the couch beside him.
"Thank you." Olivia says, as the door opens to the front room and James closes it behind him. "Thank you again, I've got to go."
"You're welcome."
Olivia hangs up. Laying the phone on the nightstand
Jeffrey and Sam are finishing a dance when he asks. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes." Sam replies, looking up.
"I had fun tonight." He says, leaning over to kiss her. "And this is one thing we have to make time to do after the baby comes?"
"Dancing, we have to make time for dancing after the baby comes."
"No, going on dates together, taking time for us as a couple." He says, leading her back to their table. He helps her with her chair and then signals their waiter to come to the table. As he's sitting down the waiter walks over to him.
"Yes, Mr. Mayor." The waiter says.
"We're ready to go, could you bring our ticket?"
"Of course, Sir." The waiter says, nodding as he turns to leave the table.
"So, you think we have to have a couple's night after the baby's born?"
"Yes, don't you. We can even take a weekend and go on a short trip."
"Couple's night I'm okay with, a weekend away from my baby I'm not too sure I'll be able to do that."
"So maybe not a whole weekend, but we can have an occasional overnight stay here at Towers, or at one of the cabins by the lake." Jeffrey says, as the waiter walks up to their table.
"We'll see." Sam says, smiling as Jeffrey looks at her.
A few minutes later, Jeffrey's paid that bill and they leave. Helping her with her chair again, he slips her hand through his arm, leading her through the crowd. Five minutes later, they pull up to the loft. He gets out and walks around to her side of the car. Opening the door, he helps her out before he closes the door and locks it. Putting their arms around each other, they walk up to the loft. Jeffrey goes to the bathroom as Sam goes up to their bedroom. Getting undressed, she lies down on the bed and waits for him to come upstairs.
Ten minutes later, he walks into the room and for a moment stops, watching her. She looks at him and smiles. He shakes his head and then goes to the closet. Putting his clothes and towel away, he checks his reflection before he walks into the other room. She looks up as he walks out. Smiling as he walks towards the bed. "I thought you would be too tired for this, that's why I took a shower before I came upstairs." Jeffrey says, slipping under the covers.
"Just because I don't have any clothes on, doesn't necessarily mean we're going to." Sam says, teasing him.
"Are you saying you don't want to?"
"I'm saying that your mind immediately goes there."
"My mind went there. You're lying in our bed with no clothes. Are you saying you don't want to make love with me?"
"Just shut up and kiss me." She says, moving closer to him.
He chuckles softly as he leans in and kisses her. Putting his arm across her back, he pulls her to him. They lay there arms around each other, kissing for several minutes before she leans back and looks up. He looks down into her eyes and smiles. Reaching up, he brushes back her hair before he asks. "Do you know how beautiful you are to me?" She shakes her head no while she watches him. "Your beauty is entirely amazing. I can't find the words to describe what I feel when I see you. It's more than your physical appearance. It's the way you move. The simple jesters you make that you don't even realize you're doing them. You understand people. You want to help them. You're tough, but you have so much heart. You forgive the smallest things and the bigger things. You have so much inner beauty you don't even realize when it's coming through."
"You make me sound like a saint."
"I know you're not a saint and I love that too." He says, leaning up to kiss her. Pulling away, he says. "I can't wait to see what our child will be like, because I hope he or she is exactly like you." He says, as she laughs. "What?"
"You want another me running around here."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want my kids to make the same mistakes that I've made in my life."
"That can't be avoided and were we not focused on something else."
"Yes, we were." He replies, running a finger down her spine and feeling her shiver.
She kisses him. Wrapping his arms around her, he kisses her as he rolls to his back. Sitting up, the sheet falls to her waist. Bracing her hands on his chest, she watches him for a moment before reaching for her hair, lifting it for a moment. She slowly lets it fall through her fingers. She moves her hands down from her neck, between her breasts. He watches them, staring intently. Stopping, she cups them, lifting them. He leans forward. Bracing his body with one hand he licks her nipple. Playing with her for a moment before she pushes against him, he releases her and looks up. Lying down, she reaches for her breasts again, caressing them.
When it feels like she can't stand more. She moves on, running her hands down her stomach, stopping a moment to lay them gently over the baby growing inside her. Jeffrey feels a fissure of desire surge through him, watching her. He closes his eyes for a moment and she leans over and takes his nipple into her mouth, gently biting it before she sits up. Opening his eyes, he stares at her. Dipping finger inside her belly button, she moves her finger over her navel, feeling short surges of desire burst inside her.
He knows when each surge rushes through her by the change in her breathing. Laying his hand on her thighs, he moves them up as she looks him in the eyes and then down at his hands, silently telling him not to touch her. "Sam." He whispers.
She moves one hand, reaching between her thighs. She lays it over her desire. He gazes drops to that hand. She settles over his stomach, letting him feel her fingers as she moves them over her desire. He watches her hands move, each movement brings an answering wave of desire inside him. After a few seconds, he feels the slick warmth rushing for deep inside her.
Licking his lips, he looks up. Catching her gaze, he begs her to let him touch her. She shakes her head no and continues, moving her fingers over her desire. She reaches up and squeezes her nipple. A staggering surge of desire rolls through her. She moves her fingers faster until her breath catches. He reaches for her hand, forgetting her silent order. Pulling it free, he brings it to his mouth. Taking her fingers, he licks them clean before he pulls her into a kiss. Sweet passion rushes over her, bringing another surge of release as she tastes her desire on his lips. She nibbles softly on them. Pulling back, he looks up. "Turn around for me."
"What?"
"Turn around for me, please." She looks at him for a moment. "Trust me." She does what he says. "Kneel over me." He whispers. She does what he wants. He looks up and sees her desire, glistening in the soft moonlight. He sinks lower in the bed and then reaches up and pulls her back to him.
She feels his mouth close over her desire. She feels his tongue playing with her. Reaching for the sheet, she clinches it in her fists. He continues to play with her, moving his tongue over her desire, nibbling softly on the smooth skin between her legs as he lifts his hips. She looks up and sees his erection, lying against his stomach. Reaching for it, she wraps her fist around it, gradually moving her hand over him. A sharp pain sweeps through her and she pulls away from him. Instantly he's aware of what he's done. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." He says, sucking in a deep breath as he sits up, wrapping his arms around her.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. I hurt you. I wasn't expecting the intensity of my reaction when you touched me. I'm sorry." He says, holding her. After a few moments, he kisses the side of her neck. "Can I kiss it and make it feel better." He asks, as she laughs softly.
"You think you can handle it?"
"I know I can." He whispers, softly kissing the side of her neck as his hand slips between her legs.
He touches her gently, caressing the spot where he bit her before he reaches for her desire, moving his fingers over it again. "J!" She moans, closing her eyes.
He continues until he's sure she's caught up again in the desire rushing through her body. He pushes her forward until she's kneeling over him again and then he lays back. For a moment he pauses looking up at her before he leans forward. Slowly running his tongue over the spot where he bit her. The rasp of his tongue turns the pain to pleasure and within seconds they are both wrapped up in the desire again.
She leans forward, reaching for and holding his erection, she lets him feel the heat of her breath mixed with the coolness of the room. He moves his hips, reaching for her. She sighs softly, continuing to tease him. He pulls away. "Sam, please, baby. I need…." He sucks in a deep breath as she takes him into her mouth, loving him. "Sweet…." He groans softly.
For a moment he forgets what he was doing for her. Lifting his head, he returns to her desire, and intensifying his assault. His caresses become deeper. She takes him as deeply as she can, swirling her tongue over his desire, nibbling on the tip of his erection. He groans as she moves her tongue over the nerves at the tip of his erection. Surges of desire rush through each of them until he finally pulls away. Reaching for her, she turns to look at him. "Now." He whispers. "I need you now."
She turns around, kissing him as she moves over him, sinking lower, feeling his erection slips inside her. Leisurely she sinks lower until he lifts his hips, thrusting into her and bringing them together. They groan each others name at the same moment. Sitting up, she looks down into his eyes, seeing sparks of desire sweep through them. She moves and he sucks in a deep breath. He tightens the hold he has on her hips. She continues to slide back and forth.
Bracing her hands on his chest after a while, she looks up and catches the desire in his eyes. Lifting her hips, she slides back down his desire, mimicking the moment they come together over and over again until he's gasping for breath and they are both fighting for control. Reaching for her, he slips his hand between her thighs and gently moves them over her, slightly pinching her desire before he rubs his fingers over her. He feels her body react from deep inside. Her muscles clinch, squeezing him as she goes back to rolling her hips over his.
They both suck in a deep breath as she let's go, throbbing waves of desire course through her, clinching the muscles surrounding him, squeezing him as he lifts his hips, sinking deeper inside her body. She feels a throbbing surge of desire burst from her body, rushing over him. He sucks in a deep breath, realizing what she's just done. He thrusts again and another sweeping surge rolls through her and another burst of desire erupts over him. "Jeffrey!" She cries, clinching her fists as she feels her body quiver.
He's barely holding on. Lifting his hips for the final time, he feels a rolling surge of desire break free. He feels it moving through his body until it bursts free, flooding her with his release. Surge after surge rushes through him, until he groans loudly, closing his eyes. His release brings another answering surge from inside her. Lying down across his chest, she sucks in deep breath as he slips free from inside her. He wraps his arms around her, holding her to him while they both struggle to catch their breath.
After a moment, she leans up and looks down into his eyes. "I love you, Mr. O'Neill."
"And I love you Mrs. O'Neill, both of you." He whispers, leaning up to kiss her softly.
She lies back down, lying across his chest. When he feels her shiver, he says. "Let's go to bed."
She moves away from him. Lying down beside him, he lifts his arm and she moves over to him, laying her head on his chest as he reaches for the covers and pulls them up over them. He settles his arm over her shoulders and she lays hers across his waist. Sighing softly, she closes her eyes and within moments she's asleep, follow shortly thereafter by Jeffrey.