Chapter Twenty-Eight

Her taste floods my tongue and I groan in delight. She tries to pull away from my mouth but I won’t relent on getting my fill. “Fuck.” She urges me. I slow the pace and soften the pressure but continue the ministrations.

She relaxes and rides the down crest, sated and happy. I drag my mouth up her body, licking her flesh, reveling in the salty taste I crave. From her. For her. I capture her red lips between my own and dip my tongue into her mouth, transferring her taste. Her fingers curl into my sides, nails digging into the skin and her pussy rubs against my cock. It has a mind of its own and wants to sink in— deep and hard but I have a promise to keep. Pressing up to my knees I roll to her side, take hold of her hips and flip her over. My hand skims the curve of her ass, tapping the underside of her cheek. “You sorry for the blindfold?”

“Nope. Not even kinda.” Smart-ass. I bring my hand down firm, watching her creamy flesh turn pink.

“You sure?” I run my hands over her smooth skin, soothing the sting I’m going to invoke.

“Yep.” Her ass lifts begging for more. Craving whatever I give her.

Swat. She moans. Thwap. She grinds her soaked core against my legs. I delve two fingers inside her as I bring my hand down for the last time and she convulses, sucking my fingers into her tight heat. “I’m not sorry, either. Fuck with me every damn day.” I half plead. If it ends this way— I’ll take whatever shit she pulls.

“I need to taste you.” She scurries off my lap and wraps those full lips around the head of my cock and sinks her head down. Her tongue flattens and traces the underside vein while her teeth nibble the ridged edge of the tip. “Mmmm.” She moans and I feel the vibrations in my cock.

Clenching my jaw and ass, I let her take her fill. She pulls me deep, swallows and repeats. I won’t come in her mouth, so I pull her off and spread her wide underneath me as I sink into her waiting pussy. “So good.” I still and let the feeling consume me.

My wife.

My Avery.

She pushes her hips up as I push mine down and a primal rhythm begins. Deep and hard is the only way I can give it to her but when I hear her scream in my ear, draw blood from my back, and milk me dry— I know it’s what she needed as well.

Our honeymoon flew by. The summer came to an end. Med school picks up. Our time becomes sparse and treasured.

“I can’t believe it’s Thanksgiving.” She sighs and rubs her forehead.

“Headache?” She nods and closes her eyes. “We helping Lee Lee and Brody settle in their house while we’re home?”

“Yeah.” She’s holding her stomach. “Lucky us.” Her words are halted as she bolts for the bathroom and empties her stomach. I chase after her, wet a cloth, soothe her until she’s done and carry her back to bed.

She stays in this condition for a few hours and her fever spikes. “I’m not pregnant,” she swears and I can’t chuckle because she’s so sick. Around three in the morning she’s shivering, I can’t break the fever regardless of what method I use, so I bundle her up and head to the hospital. I listen as they order tests, running any diagnosis in my mind and when her blood work returns— I know. Appendicitis and I know the surgery is low risk but I still freak as my wife is wheeled to the operating room. I make the phone call to her parents and get them to handle notifying the others. We won’t be catching our flight tomorrow, so Thanksgiving for us back at home isn’t on the agenda.

I sigh in relief when I’m led to the recovery room and she’s semi-alert. “What the fuck happened?” Her voice cracks with the dryness. I pick up the cup of ice chips and slip one in her mouth.

“Your appendix staged a revolt. They had to remove it.” I kiss her forehead and linger for a minute.

“Nice. Hey, I’m fine.” She grips my hand and closes her eyes. I sit at her bed for an hour watching her chest rise and fall, monitoring the machines and decompress.

She wakes when they’re moving her to a room and looks worried. “Did we miss our flight?” I laugh.

“Not yet, but your parents are flying in.” I don’t know how long her recuperation is gonna take and I have classes next week.

“Okay.” She falls back asleep. The next two days are much the same besides her parents here to keep me company. As she wakes up her color is better, she’s coherent longer periods and when day four appears, she’s released. And I head to classes the next morning.

Like a trooper, within a week she’s almost back to normal and we make plans to go home for Christmas— both of us bummed because it’s become our special holiday together with no interruptions.

Everyone is flying here for my graduation. I did it. Graduating med school and heading home. I got a prime residency at Via Christi – St Joseph Hospital. Less than a fifteen minute commute and we closed on our house last week. Outside the gates of Eastborough but plenty of room to grow. Brecklynn is pregnant— due anytime with her second son, so she can’t fly but somehow Mason wrangled a day off to join us.

His contract was extended for three years and he has a year until negotiations start. I can tell he’s hiding something and I hold my breath when I confront him. “What’s up?”

“Come here.” He nods to the bedroom and I close the door. “My shoulder.”

I drop my head and when I lift it and meet his eyes, the fear flows from my body. He’s ready for whatever. “Take your shirt off.” I’m not an orthopedic, yet, but I know enough to guide him.

“I don’t swing that way.” He winks as he does a strip tease for me. I rotate his shoulder, dig my fingers into the muscles, and have him do some strength tests.

“What did the team doc say?”

“Said it was fine. Just to do more exercises to loosen it up.” That fucker lied.

“Mace— it’s time. You got five years. Five years longer than you thought. You can relief your last year of contract but you’ve gotta be careful. Get some tests when you get home to confirm.” He nods.

“Yeah. I figured. Looks like we’re all coming home.” He grins and I can see the relief in his eyes. “Nolan starts school next year and Breck can’t travel anymore. I’m missing a lot. Sure, I’ve made some money. Hell, I could put everyone’s kids through college but it was never about that.” He sighs. “I love the game and I wanna quit while I still love it. Maybe I’ll take Coach Gill’s job.”

“Brody will love that.”

Mason grabs his dick. “Yeah, he’ll be my bitch.” I shake my head. “But thanks. I’m ready.” And I can tell he is.

Avery cheers the loudest and I walk across the stage with pride. Humility. And determination. I want to be the best damn orthopedic I can and if I can save one person from dealing with a diagnosis like Mason did— I will have succeeded.

“You’re already bored?” I question her. “We’re barely an hour into an eleven hour trip, Picasso.”

“I’m hungry.” I stare at her. I don’t point out she spent thirty-two dollars at the convenience store on junk. And it’s gone.

“What are you in the mood for?”

“I don’t care. Whatever.” She shrugs. Abort. This is a false statement.

“You want breakfast?”

“Nah.”

“Beef?”

“Maybe.”

“Pizza?”

“Ew.”

“Chicken?”

“No.”

“Mexican.”

“We had tacos last night.”

“Italian.”

She sighs. “Just pick something.” Yeah, because I have a death wish.

“I’m not hungry so if you tell me what you want, I’ll find it.” I try for a soothing tone.

“Never mind. I’m going to sleep.” She huffs and grabs her pillow. Punching it a few times for full effect and twenty minutes later she’s asleep. That was close.

“What? We’re still four hours away.” Avery shrieks. “Okay. Tell her I love her.” She turns to glare at me. It seems it’s my fault Breck went into labor and we aren’t home to be there. “It’s the first one I’ve missed. The first kid. And he’ll be the one vote to throw me into some shitty old folks’ home where they serve mystery meat and mix up my laundry.” Nope. Not touching that tirade.

“I’m sorry.” I grab her hand and she doesn’t deny me. No matter how mad she gets she doesn’t stop me from touching her. And she isn’t angry. She just isn’t a road trip warrior.

“Whoever is next, I won’t miss it.” I tell everyone at the hospital. We’re all home, Breck didn’t want to have the baby in New York since she has no help and has been in Kansas the last month. Mason is gonna let them list him as injured and he’s having someone pack their shit. All that’s left for them to do is find a house.

“Meet Nash Lawson Adler.” Breck hands me the baby and I swear it’s Mason reincarnated. “And I’m not next. This is it.” She’s adamant the baby factory is closed.

“Bullshit.” Mason coughs into his hand.

“I’m done. Brody is neutered.” Emberlee exclaims.

“Honey, I’m not a dog. I had a vasectomy.” He calmly handles her. Dude needs a medal.

“We may be next. In a few years.” Saylor announces and Deacon grins.

“I hope it has twigs and berries. My boys have their hands full. They’re outnumbered.” Mason shoots us all a look and I’m shocked he could count so quick and accurate. But right now the score is girls – four and boys – three. So, it isn’t like they’re drowning in estrogen.

“What about y’all?” Deacon asks us. That’s the million-dollar question.

I glance to Aves and she shrugs. “Residency.” I wish I could fast-forward four years.