Chapter Nineteen

        The next morning they woke to a fresh six inches of pure white snow on the ground. They’d gotten dumped on the week before, but it had been starting to melt. The pristine white powder was giving way to dirty slush in areas and detracting from the picturesque views around town.

        Emma Jean stood in front of the window that faced the street below, sipping on a mug of hot cocoa. Sunday mornings had been her favorite growing up. She and her parents might or might not have gone to church. They were people of faith, but not strictly religious, so whether or not they found themselves occupying a pew at the United Methodist church on any given Sunday was a crapshoot. Regardless of church attendance, Sundays always included a varied brunch spread. Melissa Barker went hog wild at Sunday brunch- eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, pancakes, and fruit were staples, but she also took the opportunity to try out new recipes on Sundays, so there was always something new to tempt the palate.

        The rest of the day was lazy. They’d putter around in their pajamas most of the day, sipping on hot cocoa in the winter or lounging under the sun in the summer. In the fall, Emma Jean’s dad, Brian, would make a special trip to the cider mill in Pine Creek, the next town over, for apple cider and donuts. Spring saw Emma Jean at Tally’s more often than not. The girls would ride, letting the horses stretch their legs over the Hawkins land after having spent the majority of the winter in the stables or the indoor riding ring, which didn’t offer them or anyone the same kind of freedom that flying over the back pasture did.

        But, when she’d married Cody, those Sunday rituals disappeared. She no longer had Sunday brunch with her parents because Cody didn’t like spending time with them. In retrospect, Emma Jean thought her parents hadn’t much liked Cody either, and that likely contributed to Cody’s aversion to her family. Cody preferred to spend Sunday mornings hungover, which she didn’t mind because while he was sleeping it off, she was enjoying the peace the solitude afforded her. On the rare occasion Cody wasn’t hung over, he forced her to go to church, which was purely for the sake of appearances. The Sampsons were a prominent family in Medicine Wheel, mainly because they had money, not because they were admired or well respected.

        Now, standing in Noah’s living room, looking down over Perry Street, Emma Jean thought she might have found her new favorite Sunday ritual. She realized she’d been mistaken when Noah’s arms closed around her from behind and he buried his nose in her hair.

        “Mornin’, sunshine,” he murmured.

        Closing her eyes, she smiled a secret smile to herself. “Good morning, Noah.”

        “Mm, you’re so warm,” he moaned, tightening his hold and nuzzling her neck.

        Emma Jean’s girly giggle even surprised herself. “So are you.”

        “What do you say we go back to bed and capitalize on this?”

        Emma Jean’s smile grew. “I have a better idea,” she whispered. Turning around in his embrace, she wrapped the fingers of one hand around the back of his neck and pulled his lips to hers.

        It only took a moment for Noah to take over, back them up until the back of his legs hit the couch. Sitting, he pulled her down to straddle him. He broke the kiss only to divest her of her cocoa, setting it on the coffee table with a clatter. His hands settled on her waist, just under the fabric of her thermal top, as he looked up at her sparkling blue eyes.

        “What do you want to do, baby?”

        “Play with fire.”

        He groaned when she rocked her hips against him.

        “You certainly are doing that,” he rasped, tightening his hold on her flesh, but otherwise not moving.

        Emma Jean could feel Noah’s erection as she began to glide her hips back and forth. His heat seared through his cotton pajama pants and the fabric of her sleep shorts straight to her pussy. She wove her fingers through his thick brown hair and tugged until she had his face in the perfect position for her kiss. With their tongues tangling and their lower halves grinding, Emma Jean felt powerful. She’d never had a man at her mercy before. She never understood the concept of feminine wiles, never having the ability to use them to her advantage. Taking what she wanted from Noah, she suddenly got it.

        And it felt incredible.

        Applying more pressure with both her mouth and her hips, her body drank from Noah’s like it was parched and Noah was life-giving elixir.

        Noah lifted his hands from her waist to her hair so he could pull her lips away and murmur, “Let me watch.”

        Emma Jean anchored herself by planting her hands on his shoulders and undulating her hips with purpose.

        “That’s it, sunshine. Take what you need,” Noah grunted. “ Fuck . You’re so fuckin’ beautiful.”

        Emma Jean whimpered as she continued to dry hump Noah, letting her eyes fall closed as she neared her climax.

        “Open your eyes, baby. Look at me. You see me when you come,” he ordered.

        She opened her eyes, looking down at him. She swiveled her hips, making sure that he was as close to orgasm as she was before letting go. “I’m coming,” she gasped before letting out a cry that ended on a low moan.

        Minutes later, with Noah running his hands soothingly up and down her back, Emma Jean whispered, “I’ve never done that before.”

        “What? Dry humped?”

        She nodded, her head resting on his chest. Yeah, this was definitely going to be her new favorite Sunday ritual.

        When he didn’t say anything else she added, “Have you?”

        He chuckled. “I was a teenage boy once upon a time.”

        She bit her lip as she smiled. “I guess that means yes.”

        He grunted. “C’mon, sunshine, let’s go clean up.”

        

***

        By the time they were both showered and dressed, Emma Jean had come to a decision.

        “You’re sure you’re ready for this?”

        “Yes,” she said firmly. “I want my life back. The one I should have had.”

        “You want me to come with you?”

        Emma Jean chewed her lip in indecision. She’d just told Noah that she wanted to visit her parents. Since it was Sunday, and they were most likely having brunch, it was the perfect time in Emma Jean’s mind to bridge the gap that still lay between her and her parents. But, she wasn’t sure if she wanted Noah to be there with her. She hadn’t exactly told them she and Noah were together. She didn’t want them to think she was jumping into anything so soon after Cody, even though that was exactly what she’d done.

        “Um,” she mumbled. “Maybe not this time?”

        Noah did not look pleased with her answer, but he didn’t say anything other than, “Okay.”

        Once again, he was giving her what she needed.

        Noah drove her to her childhood home and insisted on walking her to the door.

        “This wasn’t necessary,” she griped as they stood on the front porch just as the front door swung open.

        “Emma Jean?” Brian Barker’s eyes were wide with surprise.

        “Hey, Daddy,” Emma Jean smiled. “Am I too late for brunch?”

        Her father’s shoulders slumped with relief at his daughter’s question, realizing that nothing was wrong and she was there to visit. Finally.

        “Brian? Who’s at the door?” Melissa called from somewhere in the back of the house, likely the kitchen.

        “Come in, girl,” Brian ordered, stepping back and holding the door open wide. “You too,” he said, indicating Noah who had taken a step back.

        “Oh, Noah’s not staying-” Emma Jean started before her mother cut her off.

        “Emma Jean! Nonsense. Of course, he’s staying.” Melissa waved Noah forward. “Noah, please come in. You’re just in time for brunch.”

        Noah shot Emma Jean a sly smile causing her to frown. It wasn’t what she wanted, but she couldn’t be rude, so she went along with it.

        Melissa ushered them all into the kitchen where she had a veritable smorgasbord laid out. Considering they hadn’t been expecting company, Noah was impressed with the spread.

        “Good thing we came when we did. You’ll need help eating all this,” he said.

        “Sunday brunch is kind of a big deal in the Barker household, regardless of who’s present,” Emma Jean murmured.

        With a hand at the small of her back, Noah guided her to a chair and took his seat in front of the place setting Melissa set down for him.

        As the four of them dug into Belgian waffles, Canadian bacon, and a quiche that Melissa said was made with zucchini and three different kinds of cheese, Emma Jean talked to her parents about her job and her plans for school.

        Max, the puppy, had clearly taken an instant liking to Emma Jean since he laid curled up at her feet under the table.

        “So,” Brian barked during a lull in the conversation. “You two a thing now?” he asked, waving his fork between Emma Jean and Noah.

        “Not really,” Emma Jean answered at the same time Noah said, “Yes.”

        “Excuse me?” Noah’s tone was low, but his meaning was clear.

        Emma Jean had just fucked up.

        “Well, what I mean is...we’re taking it slow.” Her voice raised at the end as if in question, and she peeked at Noah out of the corner of her eye.

        Noah set his fork down, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest.

         Uh oh.

         Brian and Melissa’s gazes darted between the two of them. Brian’s narrowed gaze eventually landed on Noah.

        “You forcing my little girl into somethin’ she don’t want?”

        “Daddy!” Emma Jean scolded her father.

        “Brian!” Melissa gasped. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is Noah. We like  him, remember?”

        Noah relaxed a tad at Melissa’s words but kept his eyes steady on Brian.

        “No, sir. Emma Jean is her own woman. If she doesn’t want to be with me, then that’s her choice.”

        Emma Jean wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Noah, and now he thought she didn’t want to be with him.

        “Noah is  not  Cody. I should have listened to you, mama, when you told me I was too young. You were right. Cody wasn’t the one for me. Obviously.” She hung her head at the reminder that she had made a terrible choice is marrying Cody and paid a high price for her stupidity. “But Noah is nothing like Cody. He’s a good man. A truly good  man. And you’ve known him as long as I have, so you know that too.”

        Emma Jean swung her gaze to the man in question. “I’m sorry for what I said. I do want to be with you. I just didn’t want my parents to question whether or not I was jumping into something so soon, so I thought it would be easier if they just didn’t know.” She said the last bit quietly, ashamed that she was admitting to her parents that she was trying to hide something from them, but she also didn’t want Noah to think it was because she was somehow ashamed of him or that she didn’t want him.

        “Sweetheart, we’re thrilled for you,” Melissa assured her.

        “We are?” her father grumbled.

        “Yes. Emma Jean’s right. We’ve known Noah a long time.” Melissa turned her attention to Noah. “We approve. Wholeheartedly.”

        “Thank you, ma’am.”

        “Oh, don’t you ma’am me, mister,” Melissa scoffed. “Call me mom,” she smiled.

        “Mom,” Emma Jean groaned.

        Noah tried to hide his grin but failed.

        “And, you, young lady,” Melissa addressed her daughter. “Your father and I have always let you make your own decisions, whether we agreed with them or not.”

        “I know,” Emma Jean muttered.

        “So, why you would feel the need to hide anything from us is beyond me.”

        Sufficiently chastened, Emma Jean hunched over her plate and forced an entire piece of Canadian bacon in her mouth.