Chapter Thirty-Four
Reagan
My mood had changed dramatically over the course of the evening. I’d gone to the dinner glad for the opportunity to speak to Josh, but also nervous about what would happen. I had almost canceled the meeting a few times just so that I could avoid the look on his face when I told him the truth. The last thing that I had expected was for him to forgive me so easily and to invite me back to his place. I was so grateful that I hadn’t canceled on him. I would’ve been sitting at home alone and not about to go back to his place. A place that I hadn’t been sure I’d ever see again. The evening was wonderful, and the two of us seemed desperate to make up for the lost week by cramming in as much talking as possible. We spoke nonstop, and before we knew we had polished off our food as well as the wine. We were almost giddy with one another. When we left the restaurant, I had never felt happier. I got into the car and quickly called up Dana, who said she’d be waiting to hear from me. I hadn’t realized how late it was and I saw that I had two missed calls from her already.
“Everything okay? It’s so late. I’ve been so worried,” she said the moment she heard my voice.
“I’m so sorry, Dana. I didn’t realize how late it was and I didn’t hear my phone at all. Yes, everything is fine. In fact, it’s more than fine. I just got out of the restaurant now, and I’m on my way to spend the night at Josh’s house.”
“Reagan! I knew you’d sort things out. Oh, I’m so happy for you. And don’t worry about it. The fact that the time went by so quickly is a great sign. I’m just glad to hear that everything is fine. I was hoping that was going to be the reason. So he wasn’t angry?”
“No, he wasn’t angry at all with me. I was so surprised by his reaction. He said he would’ve done the same in my position. I can’t tell you how relieved I am. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I probably should’ve told him everything a long, long time ago. I remember you told me that I should and I didn’t listen. But you were right. All of this could’ve been avoided.”
“Yeah, but you had no idea how he would react. I understand you not telling him. I probably would’ve done the same in your position. It’s easier when you are not the one in the situation. Things always look different from the outside. I’m just glad that you finally got the chance to talk it through. At least he knows where you were coming from now.”
“That’s true. I definitely didn’t expect him to react so well. I didn’t give him nearly enough credit. And it was just so nice to sit and talk to him again. We had the best evening. I think he was just so glad that I wasn’t a spy.”
She laughed. “That’s true. In a way, you probably told him at the best time. He couldn’t be mad because this is just so much better than you being with the opposition.”
“Yeah. Anyway, I better go. He’s going to wonder why I’m just sitting in my car. I just wanted to let you know. That’s for pushing me to talk to him, and I’m sorry again for taking so long to phone you.”
“I’m just glad everything is fine. Have a great evening. Although, I’m sure you will,” she said and giggled. “I haven’t forgotten about your promise to tell me everything next week once everything has settled down.”
I chuckled. “Oh, trust me, Dana, I’m looking forward to it. And I promise to tell you everything.”
I put the phone down and made my way over to Josh’s house.
He frowned when he saw me and opened the door to let me in. “You took a while getting here. All okay? I hope you didn’t go home to get clothes. Because I really want to see you in my shirts again.”
I smiled. “No, I was just on the phone to Dana. She was worried about me. She’s the one that pushed me into talking with you, and she knew about the dinner tonight. I was supposed to call her as soon as I was done. After all, I did tell her that I was only going to be with you for an hour. I felt so bad. But I honestly forgot about it while I was with you.”
“She’s the one that convinced you? Well, I owe a lot to her then. That’s nice of her. She had every reason not to like me after I barged into her café like that.”
“Nah, she knows you’re a good egg. Don’t forget; she was also there to hear Frank try to convince me to join his team. She knows he’s the one that’s bad. And anyway, she says she has never seen me this happy before. Thanks for the lovely dinner, Josh. I feel so much better now that we’ve spoken.”
“It was the best. I don’t even know what I ate, though. I was too busy talking.”
I laughed. “Me too. Some sort of pasta I think. I think it was good, but I have no idea. But you know what was missing?”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Brownies. You don’t happen to have some, do you?”
Josh grinned. “As a matter of fact, I do. But, the last time you promised me a few things in return for that brownie. I’m afraid the same thing is going to have to happen tonight.”
“Are you really suggesting that I will only get brownies if I have sex with you?” I said in pretend shock.
He laughed. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”
I unbuttoned my shirt and slowly unzipped my skirt. He stood there watching as I took off my bra and then my panties. I threw all my clothes in a heap on the floor and smiled at him. “Well, you’re just lucky that I want those brownies so badly.”
Josh walked up to me, picked me up and lowered me onto the sofa.
“The sofa again?” I said.
“Oh, Reagan, I’ve missed you so damn much. There’s absolutely no way I’ll even make it to the bedroom.”
I lay on the sofa, watching him undress, my body responding to just the sight of him. He knelt down and pushed his tongue inside me, licking me and teasing me as I gasped and writhed at his touch. I had this. I had wanted this all week and had refused to think of what it felt like to be with him just because I knew it would be too hard to think about. I ran my hands through his hair and smiled at the sight of him in between my legs. I closed my eyes and moaned, biting my lip as I felt my body responding to the fervent touch of his tongue and lips.
“I’m going to come soon,” I said urgently. If he didn’t pull away, I was not going to be able to keep my control.
He stopped for a brief moment, looked up at me, and grinned. “Good,” he said and bent down again.
The moment his tongue touched me, I felt the control slipping away from me. I thought about pulling away so that I didn’t come so soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop him. I wanted him more and more and more. He stuck his tongue in a little deeper, and I let go, my entire body convulsing with delight.
When he was done, he moved on top of me and kissed me gently on the mouth.
“Come inside me,” I said.
“Really?” he seemed surprised that I’d want more after what he’d just done.
I nodded. “I need to feel you inside me.”
He smiled, kissed me, and gently moved over me. I gasped with happiness the moment he was inside me, and wrapped my legs around him to bring him in even deeper. He thrust inside me and cried out with pleasure, and I liked that I was able to do this to him. I liked that I could make him so happy. I found myself getting aroused all over again just at the feeling of him in me. He pushed and groaned, taking his time at first, the strokes slowly building in speed and intensity until neither of us could hold back any longer. With one final thrust, we came together.
“Thank you,” he said breathlessly, planting a kiss on my nose.
“Are you kidding me? I should be thanking you. I came twice, you know.”
“You did?”
“Oh yeah. Obviously it had nothing to do with you, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“I came twice so I could have two brownies. I thought it was obvious.”
He chuckled. “What if I told you that I didn’t actually have any brownies?”
“What? You tricked me!”
“Just kidding.”
“I wouldn’t have cared.”
“Oh yeah? So the sex was better than the brownies?”
“How about you give me two and I tell you?”
He laughed. “Reagan, I’ll give you brownies every day of your life if we can continue to do that together.”
After brownies and coffee, and a hot shower together, we climbed into bed, and I sidled up to him. I put my head on his chest and felt his heart beating. My own bed had felt so lonely without him this week.
“I’ve missed this,” I said. “The whole week I wanted to call you, or see you, or just to hear your voice. It was so hard without you.”
“Tell me about it. I had to look at your empty desk all week. It was a constant reminder to me. Not to mention my office, where we made love, as well as the sofa and the bed. You were everywhere.”
“And now I’m here,” I said.
“And now you’re here. I couldn’t have gotten through the election without you. I’m sorry for firing you. You’re re-hired by the way,” he said.
I laughed. “It’s good to be back on the team.”
And as I closed my eyes I thought about how good it felt to be with Josh again. I hadn’t felt this way about anyone in a very long time. Actually, I was sure that I had never felt this way before. Now I knew what Dana felt. She’d always told me that I would know when I found true love, and I hadn’t believed her. I thought it was just something that people made up to make themselves feel better. But lying in bed, with the warmth of Josh’s naked body beside me and the feeling of his breath on my neck, I knew it was true.