“Like what?’ I ask curiously.
“Well, for example, posts about our cute foster puppy are completely acceptable.” Jim’s smile turns from amiable to wolfish. He brings a hand to my hip, then glides it up the curve of my body. “But photos of my wife naked in bed… not acceptable.”
I snort-laugh because it’s a running joke with Jim and me. We’ve used the camera on our phones many times in bed, taking sexy photos of each other. Well, some are quite explicit and dirty. He took a great one of me taking his entire cock into my mouth.
I took one of his head between my legs, then turned it to video, letting it roll the entire time, even catching that moment where my orgasm caused me to buck against him hard. He lifted his head, lips wet, and grinned at the camera and it was the hottest and sweetest thing ever.
Of course, we look at them after, provide sometimes humorous commentary and delete them right away. We’re not stupid, after all.
There were times when Jim and I were separated that I’d use my vibrator for release. In those times, I’d conjure up memories of all the hundreds and hundreds of ways we’d pleasured each other over the years, and I had wished sometimes I had some of those photos to look at. To remind me of how tight our bonds of intimacy ran.
In truth, it’s been the underlying foundation of why it’s been easy to let Jim back into my life. Because in this bed, when he’s inside of me and I’m feeling completely possessed and cherished, it’s exactly the type of way I need to be needed by him. The fact he was able to give me that same feeling on higher levels is why I think it’s time to make my decision on whether to give this marriage another real shot.CHAPTER 16EllaNervously, I smooth down the white linen dress I’d chosen to wear to brunch today. I paired it with a super lightweight pale blue cardigan and a matching pair of blue heels.
The restaurant is in Scottsdale and I’d looked it up before I went to sleep last night so I could see just how fancy it was. I probably could have gotten away with jeans and a nice top, but I felt like dressing up. The downside to working from home is that your wardrobe starts consisting of t-shirts and yoga pants, and while I know I have no reason to be nervous, I don’t want to make a bad impression on these women who are inviting me into their circle.
When I arrive, I’m led to a back room in the restaurant where a large round table is set. The women are all milling around, talking. I see that a few hold coffee mugs in their hand while others have mimosas. A waiter appears and asks me my preference, and I choose the fortification of alcohol.
“Ella,” I hear from my right and turn to find Brooke beaming.
She moves my way, and carefully holding her mimosa out from us, she gives me a one-handed hug. “I’m so glad you came.”
“Me too,” I reply in an automatic assurance I was looking forward to this. Truthfully, I was scared. Many of these women are just acquaintances, and I don’t know them all that well.
Brooke takes it upon herself to walk me around the room—not to make introductions, but more to let each woman offer her welcome. I relax as the moments tick by, each woman warmly hugging me and extending enthusiasm that I’m joining them.
I know most of their stories from Jim. Tales he’d share with me sometimes on late-night phone calls when he was on the road, or early mornings over coffee while Lucy would still be asleep.
Each tale is as unique as the women themselves. Brooke had a fake engagement with the captain, Bishop, but they ended up falling in love. Blue, who is seven months pregnant and looking amazing in a form-fitting dress that shows off her baby basketball, is one of the team’s flight attendants. She tells me she’s been grounded for a while per Erik’s demands. Pepper, who I had the pleasure of talking to at the Halloween party, started as a contentious neighbor to our team’s goalie, Legend Bay, and ended up becoming a stepmom to Legend’s little girl Charlie after she was left on his porch step by an errant birth mother.
I mix and mingle, none of the ladies in a rush to sit down and order. I gather their get-togethers are long events because they all so clearly get along and genuinely care about each other.
Willow, now the matriarch of the team by her marriage to its owner Dominik, renews my acquaintance with her sister-in-law, Regan. She married Willow’s brother, Dax, who is our team’s star left-winger. Jim had told me Regan has a serious blood disease and Dax had married her so she could have health insurance, but they fell hopelessly in love.