A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Eight
Jeffrey walks into Company at lunch time. "Hey Buzz." He says, walking over to a table.
"Jeffrey." Buzz replies, bringing him a menu. "Do you want your usual?"
"Yeah, that's fine." Jeffrey says, giving the menu back.
Buzz turns to leave as Jeffrey pulls out his phone. He's checking his messages when William walks in. He walks over to Jeffrey's table. "Can I sit down?" William asks, as Jeffrey looks up.
"Sure." Jeffrey replies, as William pulls out one of the chairs.
"I've been looking for you." William says, as Buzz comes over with a menu.
"I'll just have what he's having." William says, as Buzz nods, turning away.
"Why were you looking for me?" Jeffrey asks.
"Because I wanted to be the first to tell you that I've found a job. I haven't even told Ava yet." William says, as Buzz brings their drinks.
"That was fast."
"I didn't want you to worry about whether I would be able to take care of Ava." William says, looking at Jeffrey.
"I wasn't worried about it." Jeffrey says, slightly surprised that William thought that he was.
"Whether you were or not, it doesn't matter because I have a job now."
"Where will you be working?"
"I've been hired at the Billings Corporation. I'll be managing their sales division."
"That's impressive."
"I've been around boats all my life. I think that will help. And I've learned a lot of negotiation skills being a Prince."
"I'm glad you found something that you want to do. I was concerned that you wouldn't and that maybe to be able to find work you and Ava would leave Springfield."
"I wouldn't even consider taking her away from Springfield. She and Emma have too many ties here." William says, as Buzz brings their lunch.
"So how is the planning for the wedding going?"
"It's going, we haven't really done anything because I was looking for work, but now that I've found a job, we can focus on that."
"I haven't talked to Ava in a few days. Have you set a date?"
"Yes." William says, looking up from his burger.
"Well." Jeffrey asks when he doesn't say more.
"New Years Eve."
"That quickly?"
"She's due in March. We thought it would be better if she was married before the baby came. And I think it would be a good way to start the New Year."
"Wow, I'll be a grandfather and father in the span of about a month." Jeffrey says, looking at him.
"I guess that does feel a little weird."
"I haven't thought that much about it." Jeffrey says, shaking his head. "When do you start work?" He asks, before taking a bite of his burger.
"Next week, Monday. Why?"
"Because Billy brought us the keys to our house and we'll be moving out of the loft this weekend. I was wondering if you would consider helping us."
"Sure, I'll talk to Ava, but I don't think that would be a problem."
"Great, I've got stop and get some boxes from the market before I go home tonight." Jeffrey says, putting his burger down and reaching for his phone. He adds a note to his calendar to remind him.
"Have you talked to Richard?" William asks.
"No, I haven't seen him. And I was going to see if Billy would want to help and the guys from the band."
"I can ask Richard for you, if you want me too."
"I'll see him at City Hall, I'll ask him. Are you okay, being here with Richard, Cassie and Will?" Jeffrey says, taking a drink.
"I'm fine. In a few months, I'm going to have my own child. Will's still a part of my life, being my nephew."
"He's a great kid, you know. You did a good job with him."
"Thank you."
There is a few moments of silence while they finish eating. Buzz brings their checks and Jeffrey takes his. "Tell Ava to call me." He says.
"I will, and I'll see you this weekend."
"Good, thank you and good luck."
"Thank you."
Jeffrey leaves after paying his bill, followed a few moments later by William.
Sam walks into the loft around five. Jeffrey is coming out of the bathroom when she walks in. "Hi." He says, walking over to as she puts her purse down.
She turns to him, giving him a quick kiss. "I'll be right back." She says, hurrying to the bathroom as he goes into the kitchen. When she comes out, he's in the living room with the TV on. She walks into the living room and sits down beside him. "What's with all the boxes?"
"I got them on the way home. I thought we could start packing up the loft. And I talked to Billy and William and they are both going to be here early Saturday morning to help us move. Richard will probably be there too, William's going to ask him.
"You talked to William?"
"Yes, he tracked me down at Company during lunch. He wanted to tell that he found work with the Billing's Corporation."
"That quickly?"
"That's what I said. Anyway he wanted me to know so that I wouldn't be worried about him not being able to take care of Ava."
"I hope you told him you weren't worried about it."
"Of course I did."
"You weren't worried about it, were you?" She asks, looking at him
"No! I was more concerned that he would possibly have to move away with Ava to find work."
"Did you tell him that?"
"Yes, and he said that he would never take Emma and Ava away from Springfield because they have too many ties here. Anyway, we had a good lunch and he's going to come Saturday and help. I've got to call Beau and see if he can help?" He says, reaching for the phone. He dials Beau's number and then waits for him to pick up. After the fourth ring, his voicemail picks up. "Hey Beau, it's Jeffrey. I was calling to see if you could help me move this weekend. We're moving into the new house. Call me when you get this." He says before he hangs up. "So, what are we eating tonight?"
"I don't know. I can make us something, but if you want to start packing maybe we could order something form Company."
"Sure, I'll call Buzz." Jeffrey says, as Sam gets up. "Where are you going?"
"To get out of these scrubs." She says, turning away.
"Is there something you want?"
"No, whatever you order will be fine."
"Okay." She leaves as he calls company.
When she comes back, he's turned the TV off and put on some music. "Dinner should be here in a few minutes. I thought we could start here in the living room, since we won't immediately need any of the stuff in here."
"That's fine." She says, going over to the bookshelves. She starts packing away books while he's packing up his music stuff. "Do we have a marker?" She asks, turning to him.
"I don't know. There might be one over by the phone, why?" He asks, as someone rings their doorbell. He stops what he's doing to answer the door while she goes to look to see if there's a marker by the phone. He closes the door after paying for the food and turns to her. "Did you find one?"
"No, I'll need to get one tomorrow." She says.
"What do you need it for?"
"To mark the boxes, so it's easier to unpack." She says, going over to the table. A few minutes later, they sit down to eat.
Cassie, Richard and Will are sitting down to eat when the phone rings. "Hello." Richard says, picking it up.
"Richard, it's William."
"How did things go?"
"Great, I got the job starting next week."
"That's great, congratulations. Where will you be working?"
"Managing the sales department."
"Management already, that's really good."
"Hey, did Jeffrey talk to you this afternoon?"
"Umm no, why?"
"He and Sam are moving into their house this weekend and he wanted to know if we could help him move."
"That shouldn't be a problem. What time is he starting?"
"He didn't say. I'm assuming pretty early."
"Okay, I'll tell Cassie. I'm sure she'll want to come too."
"I think Sam would like that. I've got to go. We're about to eat. I just wanted to call and see if you could do that."
"Alright, we're sitting down to eat too. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay." They hang up. Richard turns to Cassie.
"Was that William?"
"Yes, he got the job at Billings Corporation."
"That's great, when does he start?"
"Monday, he's managing their sales division."
"That's really good. What was he saying about Sam and Jeffrey?"
"They're moving into their house. Jeffrey wanted to know if we would come help them."
"Their house is done."
"Yes."
"Of course, we'll go. I want to see what he bought her."
After packing for about three hours, they had the living room mostly packed up. Jeffrey looks over at Sam, watching her. Putting down the cords for one of his amps in a box, he walks over to Sam. "Let's stop for tonight."
"We still got some stuff to finish." Sam says, looking up.
"We can finish it up tomorrow." He says, putting the stuff in her hand in the box beside her. "You're tired."
"I'm…."
"You're tired, so go get a shower and we'll finish tomorrow." He says, helping her up from the floor, turning her towards the bathroom.
She turns back around and leans up to kiss him. "Thanks for taking care of me?" She whispers.
"It's my job." He says, returning her kiss. Releasing her, he turns her for the bathroom. "Go get a shower and I'll lock up." He says, as she walks away. Fifteen minutes later, she comes upstairs. "I'll be right back." He says, walking towards the door.
"Okay." She says, taking her clothes to the closet. "Remember to bring your clothes up, please." She calls. He nods but doesn't answer her as he continues down the stairs. Ten minutes later, he comes back upstairs with his clothes and wrapped in a towel. She's laying down when he comes in. He goes to the closet, putting his clothes in there before he returns to the bed. Pulling the covers back, he lays down beside her. She turns to him. "I think something is going on with Leah and Josh." Sam says, as he lifts his arm and she moves over to him.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because he came to the office today and asked to talk to her. She didn't look very pleased to see him. In fact, she tried to keep from talking to him, but he asked me if he could and I let him. She took him back to my office. I could hear them in the front office so I went to check and I think something major happened because my DVD player was on and it was really tense when I walked in."
"Did they say anything?"
"No. Josh told her that they had more to talk about and then she left the office. He apologized and left too."
"Did she say anything?"
"No. She wouldn't talk about it when I asked her if everything was okay. Did anything else happen with William?"
"No, we had lunch. He left and then I left. Damn, I was supposed to talk to Richard about helping us move."
"You will see him tomorrow, ask him then."
"Yeah, I can do that." He says, shifting positions.
"I have a doctor's appointment Friday." She says, snuggling closer to him.
"What time?"
"Two."
"Okay, I'll make sure Stace has my schedule clear."
"Did William say anything about the wedding?"
"Umm, yes. I forgot that. They've set a date."
"They did, when?" She asks, leaning up to look at him. He watches her for a moment. "Come on, tell me." She says, looking at him.
"Why?"
"Jeffrey, tell me?" She demands, as he laughs.
"Their getting married on New Years Eve."
"New Years Eve, oh that's going to be beautiful. It's perfect. Have they made anymore plans? Does she have a dress? What about invitations and catering?"
"I don't know." He says, with a smile.
"What?"
"What is it about weddings that make women gooey and soft?"
"It's a girl thing."
"Are you missing your own wedding?"
"No, it's just born into us." She says, lying back down beside her.
"You know we could have another…."
"It's not about that." Sam says. "We all dream about our wedding day, at some point in our lives. We think about the dress and flowers and where we want to have it. It's just born into us."
"I like you gooey and soft." He says, kissing her forehead. "Are you sleepy?"
"No." She says, shaking her head no.
"Here." He says, reaching for his nightstand. He turns something on. The room feels with sounds from rainforest.
"Where did you find that?" She asks, closing her eyes.
"I ran across it when I was packing up tonight. Do you know what this is?"
"It's the rainforest."
"It's not just the rainforest. It's the forest outside our camp in Brazil."
"How did you get that?"
"I recorded it one night while you were sleeping."
"I didn't know that. You never told me."
"I was saving it for when we were married." He says. "I was going to give it to you as gift." She sighs and he smiles.
After a moment, he looks down and she's asleep. He lays there holding her, listening to the calls of the birds from the rainforest. Slowly he closes his eyes, falling asleep.
The boys are down. RJ's had his last dose of medicine for the night. Cassie walks into the bathroom while Richard's in the shower. She watches him for a moment before she gets undressed and goes over to the shower. As she opens the door, he turns around. "Something wrong?" He asks.
"No. The boys are down. RJ's had his last dose of medicine for the night. I thought we could spend some time just the two of us." She says, closing the door behind her.
"I love to spend time with you. You didn't really tell me how things are going at the Beacon."
"Oh, the Beacon's fine. Reva's doing a great job. Speaking of Reva, I think things might be getting better between her and Josh."
"Why do you think that?"
"They sort of came to an understanding last night."
"They came to an understanding, how?" He asks, as she looks at him. "Oh."
"But it was more than just that. Apparently Josh slept with another woman…."
"He what!" Richard says, looking at her in shock.
"It was a long time ago."
"And this has brought them closer together? How?"
"This happened right after Reva was presumed dead in Florida." She says, as Richard nods. "The night the officials in the Key's called of the search, Josh went to a bar and he got drunk and he met this woman at that bar and they slept together. The next morning, Josh left town."
"And Reva's okay with this?"
"She says she is. She said it hurts but she's happy knowing that Josh isn't quite as perfect as everyone thought he was."
"So, how did this end with them, you know?"
"Apparently, this was the first time in months that Josh really wanted to talk to her."
"So they talked about this, how does that translate into things getting back to where they were for them?"
"She mentioned Jeffrey during the conversation, nothing pushy but told him that he owes more than one apology to people in the family. She thinks the messages in beginning to set in." Cassie says, moving to stand under the water.
While they were talking each were taking a shower. Richard turns the water off as Cassie opens the door. She hand him a towel before she dries off. Wrapping the towel around her, she leave the bathroom with Richard following her. They both go to the closet to get dressed. A few moments later, Richard follows her out of the closet, turning the light off behind them. "Are you coming to bed?" He asks, when she walks by the bed.
"I'm going to brush my teeth and hair."
"Good idea." He says, following behind her. When they're both finished, Cassie turns the light off as they leave the bathroom. They each go to their side of the bed, pulling the covers back they get in. Cassie shivers slightly at the coolness of the sheets. "Come here." He says, lifting his arm.
She moves over to him. "I guess I need to get the heated mattress pad out."
"Or you can wait for your husband to warm you up." He says, playing with her damp hair.
"I might need both." She says, snuggling closer to him.
"Do you want me to turn the heat up?"
"No, I'm warming up."
"I thought pregnant women were supposed to be hot."
"I wasn't hot the last time?" She says, as she smiles.
He looks down and smiles when he sees her smile. "You are always hot. I meant the hormones, don't they…?"
"I know what you meant." She says, kissing his shoulder. She's distracted by the taste of his clean skin beneath her lips.
She doesn't realize that he's waiting for her to say more until he asks. "So, do pregnant women not get hotter while their pregnant?"
"Umm, what?" She asks, looking up as he looks down.
Seeing the spark of desire in her eyes, he quickly realizes what she's thinking about and he leans towards her. "Did you have something particular in mind?" He asks softly before he lightly kisses her.
She reaches up, as he pulls her up on top of him. "No, I didn't have anything particular in mind. I was thinking how you taste clean." She says, leaning over to kiss his shoulder again. "You smell wonderful." She says, taking a deep breath.
"It's the soap."
"No, it's more than that. It's your natural scent mixed with the soap. It smells really good." She says, as he smiles.
"I like the way you smell too." He says, reaching up to run his fingers through her damp hair.
"What do I smell like?"
"Well." He takes a deep breath and pauses for a moment before he answers her. "I can smell the soap, but there's another scent there that's hard for me to explain. It's not flowery or musky. It just smells like you." He says, running his hand up her back.
She kisses the side of his neck before she leans up and kisses him. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulls her to him, deepening the kiss. Drowning in each other's taste, their hearts beating as one in double time. Their breathing is shallow and short. After a few more seconds they break apart. He moves down her neck as she buries her hands in his hair. "Richard."
Her hands are still buried in his hair as he lifts his head up. She nibbles on his ear. Her warm breathe washing over him. He closes his eyes tightly, trying desperately to control the feelings washing over him. He moves back up to her neck to her ear, stopping to nibble on it as his hand slips under her shirt, caressing her back for a moment before he slowly works his way up, pushing the up her body. While he is busy with her shirt, she's busy as well.
Reaching for his chest, her nails softly scratching as she works her way down his chest, stirring a raging fire of desire within him. Pulling back, he looks up, his hands on both sides of her face, keeping her from kissing him again while he watches her intently. She glances up through her lashes, watching.
He holds on tightly with his eyes are closed. His breathing is shallow as her hands once again slide down his chest to his waist, reaching for his waist. He opens his eyes, looking into hers. They are laded with passion and desire. Wrapping her in his arms. He searches for her mouth, seizing it, pulling her closer to him. As they kiss her hands glide around his waist. Her fingers softly brush against his hardening desire. He groans deeply as she gently glides her fingers over him. Slipping her hand inside, she holds him, wrapping her fingers around him firmly. Caressing him, as he works his hands up to her shoulders
He lift her away from him, returning her neck, gently nibbling as he works his way down, towards her breast. When he reaches them, he takes one into his mouth, nibbling and softly biting. Playing with her until he draws gasps of excruciating ecstasy from her. She buries her hands in his hair, pushing him to her, silently begging him to continue. He can feel her passion rising as she moves restlessly against him. Desperately trying to bring him to her. He can feel her desperation and glances up. He catches the glazed look of passion and desire in her eyes. Raising his head, she leans into him, kissing him. As he moves his hand down to her waist, slipping inside her underwear as she reaches inside his boxers. She softly caresses him, sending shocks of electricity up his spine.
Moaning softly he devours her mouth, sucking the air from her lungs. He wraps his arms tightly around her. Releasing him, she glides her hand up, her nails softly scratching him as she goes. Taking her hand away, he feels the absence of her caresses and he arches his back, needing her. Reaching for his waist, she tugs on both his pajamas and boxers. He moves his hands back down her heated body. Reaching for her panties, he tucks the tips of his fingers inside, caressing her lower stomach, drawing her underwear down as he moves with her as she sweeps his pajamas and boxers off his heated body. He briefly reaches in caressing her, bringing a moan of intense pleasure. "Ahhh… Richard!" She cries, with her eyes closed.
Once they are completely undressed he lies back and tucks his hand behind his head. He watches her waiting for her to react. Finally he asks. "Do you know how much I love you?" She looks at him. "I love you so much that I can't begin to tell you how much. I can't put into words the feelings I have every time I look at you, every time I touch you, every time I talk to you, every time I hold you. We don't even have to do anything. The feelings just seem to boil up inside, almost overwhelming and overpowering me. I have to fight so hard sometimes to control what I am feeling when I'm with you. And as vulnerable as those feelings make me, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"I love you too. The feelings you invoke in me overwhelm me as well. The connections I feel to you even when you not around amazes me. I can be alone working and I feel you there beside me. I know what you are thinking sometimes. When I'm alone in a room or with a group of people I know the minute you step into it. I know when you are watching me. I can feel you holding me when you're away from me. And as scary those feeling first made me. I wouldn't change them."
He leans in, searching for her mouth. Softly nibbling on her lower lip until he slips his tongue inside to duel with hers while he moves his hands down her body, caressing her upper chest, working his way down to her breast, rolling her nipples between his fingers. He breaks the kiss to watch them swell and harden. He leans up, catching one in his mouth, his tongue softly flicking at it.
His warm breath washes over her, heating her already heated flesh. He moves his hands down her body, softly caressing her stomach as she leans into him and he stops and looks up, catching her gaze. Her eyes are translucent with love, passion and desire. He can read all that he is feeling in her gaze. He gently brushing his lips against hers, as his hand slips between her thighs lightly caresses her. She moves against him restlessly, arching her hips, moving her legs apart silently inviting him. "Richard please, I need you to…"
"You need what?"
"Oh, I need you to…" She swallows hard. "Touch… me… please… ah please." She begs as she reached for his hand, pressing it against her.
He plays her softly, caressing her hidden pleasures. His fingers thrusting inside her, bringing her higher and higher almost to the point of no return, sensing that she is close to loosing control he quickly withdraws, leaning in his mouth catching her cries of shock and disappointment. Wrapping his arms around her, he rolls her over to her back.
He moves down her, slowly lying kisses against her heated body, across her stomach, down her outer thighs, working his way up her inner thighs. His tongue thrust inside, promising her that it is not finished. She welcomes it and him. He moves against her, gliding along her outer body, caressing her lightly while she moves her hands through his hair before holding him against her welcoming body. She scratches his head desperately almost brutally begging for release, arching her neck as he caresses her.
He tries to pull away, but she won't let him, tightening her hold on his hair, pulling him desperately against her, begging him to continue. Reaching up, he pulls her hands free. Kneeling between her legs, he looks down. Smoldering embers of desire heat her eyes to a dark blue. It's the sexiest look he's ever seen in her eyes, and he smiles with enormous male confidence. He leans over her, kissing her as he leans in. She reaches for him, refusing to release him, desperate to have some form of contact with him. After a moment, he settles against her.
He can feel the sweltering waves of heat radiating from her. He moves his hips, sliding against her. She reaches up, locking her arms around him. She holds him for a moment before she lets go, moving her hands up and down his back, keeping rhythm with the movement of his hips. He continues to glide his body against hers, drawing moans of pleasure for both of them
Deliberately reaching for her passion. She moans softly, arching her hips against him. The more she responds the more he tries to please her, driving her once again towards the peak. "Oh… Ah… Richard." She moans. He continues until the pressure from her hands becomes too much and he glances up, catching her begging eyes. "I need you, now! Richard, please!" She begs.
"You have me." He whispers back
He moves up, catching her mouth with his as he moves in, slipping inside her barely able to keep from thrusting. He begins to slowly. Slipping out of her body, and then sinking back in, only to slide back out again. Working to prolong the pleasure as long as possible, but to soon they realize they must increase the tempo.
With a touch of her hand, his rhythm changes. Each thrust comes quicker, each withdrawal shorter. Sweat and heated passion speeds them closer to the top of their world. Their bodies are in sync with each caress. Each thrust draws moans of fierce, almost painful pleasure from them both. As they begin the final climb Cassie slips her hand between them, running her nails down his chest, caressing him, as he continues to push his body into hers joining them both as one. She reaches down a little farther cupping him, scratching softly. A groan escapes from deep inside him as she arches her back and he sinks deeper.
The first waves of climax grips her body. And he can feel her tightening around him. Driving him over the edge a loud groan escapes from deep inside. He enters her quaking body one last time, arching his back, pressing his lower body against her, holding himself inside her. He can feel her body tightens even more around him. Throbbing waves of ecstasy sweep over them both until he collapses against her his head buried in her neck. She wraps her arms around him, holding him tightly; both of them are exhausted and completely satisfied.
A couple hours later, the sounds of the rainforest have ended. Slowly Sam wakes up, aware that something was different in the room. It's not till she's fully awake that she remembers the recording that Jeffrey played to help her fall asleep. Glancing over at his nightstand, she can barely make out the iPod lying on the table.
Sitting up, she reaches across him to start the recording again. Sighing, he turns to her. She glances down and in the soft moonlight, sees the expression on his face. She moves closer and sucks in a deep breath, closing her eyes. He moves his hips restlessly. His erection is pressed against her thigh. A throbbing pulse of desire swells over her. She forgets about the iPod.
Reaching for his boxers, she pulls on them and he lifts his hips. She glances up, expecting to see him watching her, but he's still asleep. She tugs on his boxer until they are at his ankles. He kicks them off as she moves over him. Settling against him, she moves her hips against his throbbing erection. Each pulsing wave of desire brings another surge of heat from deep inside her. Leaning over him, she whispers softly in his ear. "J, wake up."
Slowly, he opens his eyes. "Sam!" He groans when he fully awake and aware of what she's doing.
"What were you dreaming about?" She asks, still moving against him.
After a moment, he replies. "I don't remember. I know it was about you and I, but right now I can't remember the details." She smiles, as he slips his hands under the t-shirts she's wearing. It's one of his. "I want to see all of you." He whispers, closing his eyes. She doesn't hear him. She's so wrapped up in the feel of her body moving over his and against hers. "Sam, please!" He pleads. That finally gets her attention.
Reaching for the shirt, she pulls it over her head, tossing it to the floor as she kneels over him. Reaching down, she guide him inside. "J!" She moans
He reaches for her, holding her hips as she instantly starts moving again. He lets her have her moment before he wraps his arms around her, and rolling her to her back. He leans up and thrusts deeply into her. "Beca!" He groans.
They fall into a steady rhythm. He thrusts deep and she tries to hold him against her, buried deep inside. Arching her back, he sinks deeper. He thrusts again and again. Throbbing waves of desire pulses through each of them. A swelling rush rolls over her as he thrusts deep. She feels the surge roll through her, starting at her toes until it grabs him, squeezing tightly. Each throbbing wave surges through her and over him until he feels the surge of his own release, flooding through him and filling her until he sags against her.
Finally after several moments, he moves off her. He sucks in a deep breath before he looks at her. "Whatever you were dreaming, that was amazing." Sam says, smiling softly.
"I think I was dreaming about the week I spent in Bangladesh before we were sent to East Germany."
"We weren't even involved then."
"I know, but I was becoming very much aware of you by then. I would lay awake at night thinking about you."
"Did I bring that reaction every time?"
"Usually." He says, looking at her.
She moves over to him. Kissing him as he pulls her to him. "I wanted to hold you forever, but I was too stubborn to let myself do it." He says, softly kissing her head.
"I wanted you too, even though I was dating Melvin."
"Oh my god, I had forgotten about him. I truly hated that man. Some of my thoughts at night were about ways to get him out of your life." He says, as Sam laughs.
"I would have welcomed anything you came up with, short of killing him of course." Sam says, yawning.
"Let's go to sleep."
"Will you play my recording?" She mumbles as he reaches for the iPod and turns it on. They're both asleep within minutes.