Page 13 of Possessing Her

“I’m glad. How do you feel about letting Mom and Dad watch Sebastian, and we go back the apartment to finish our conversation?” I’m prepared for her to say no. Given that she’s been Seb’s sole provider, it’d be hard to let him out of her sight.

“I think that’s a better idea than doing it here. I love my nephew, but he does like to interrupt at the worst time possible.”

“Auntie Winn, me eat all the food.” Sebastian takes that time to do exactly what she said he would.

“See what I mean?” Winnie says. Instead of backing away from me, she lifts him up from the ground and settles Seb on her hip.

“Sure do. Alright, I’ll talk to Mom and go from there.” I look from my wife to her nephew. “Did you enjoy your food?” He’s wearing a decent amount of leftovers on his face.

“It’s da best. Auntie no cook. She stinks up the house.”

“Sebastian!” Winnie says in mock horror.

“I see cooking still isn’t your thing,” I reply. The extent of her kitchen abilities consists of sandwiches, salads, and soups. The latter is in the Crock-Pot, where she can dump it and forget it.

“Absolutely not. What can I say? I do try.” She kisses the crown of Sebastian’s head.

“Madre.” I grab her attention, still looking at the woman who is so damn amazing I can’t keep from staring at her beauty.

“Sí?” Mom replies from across the room.

“¿Puedes cuidar al bebé?” I ask her the question I went over with Winnie in case the answer is no.

“Of course, of course. Why doesn’t he spend the night here? I’ll bring him to you first thing in the morning.” She’s going above and beyond, which makes me think whatever else Winnie has to tell me can’t be that bad.

“Johnny, I’ve never been away from him for more than work.” Winnie looks like she’s about to cry and hyperventilate all at once.

“Alright, we’ll head home for a few hours. Then we’ll come back and pick him up, easy as that.” I’m good with whatever she wants to do.

“No, no. It’s okay. He really loves your parents, and I want him to have memories with them. He deserves that after everything he’s been through.”

“Mi Abuela. Mi Abuelo.” Sebastian likes the idea and puts his arms up in the air, kicks his feet, and I take him from Winnie to place him on the ground. His little body runs toward my parents, his head in front of his body, and he’s giggling the entire way.

“I guess that settles it. Do you mind if I leave my car here? That way, they have his car seat.” She’s lightyears ahead of me in this parent business.

“Of course. Come on. Let’s say our goodbyes and get going.” I wrap my arm around her lower back, pull her in as close as humanely possible, and hold the fuck on. I’ve lived without her long enough. I’m not going through another year, let alone another fucking night, without her.

9

WINNIE

“Johnny.” My nerves ratcheted up another notch on the way over here. He kept his hand in mine or would cup the inside of my thigh. This morning, when I got dressed for the park, I didn’t think the day would turn into going home with my husband. The two-sizes-too-big shirt and shorts are no match for the warmth of his touch, how he maneuvers his vehicle with smoothness and control I could never exude. It was almost too much, the skin-on-skin contact, the way his fingers pressed into my flesh. I had to look away in order to keep myself contained.

Now we’re in his penthouse apartment, well, technically, it’s still ours, and I’m taken aback. Everything is the same—the wall color, the furniture, the décor. The only thing that’s changed is that my clothes and toiletries aren’t here. Johnny’s spicy, woodsy scent permeates the air. It’s not just on his skin; it surrounds every sense I have.

“Made a lot of mistakes. When you took off, disconnected your phone, all I did was work. That happened for a year and a half straight. Between the club and Jagged Edge, I kept busy. By the time I pulled my head out of my ass after Mom handed itto me like she does so well, the last thing I wanted was to erase you. You’re my wife, mi esposa. Mia.” He’s standing ten feet away, hands in his pockets and waiting me out as I walk through our home. I land near the doors leading to the outdoor balcony. The flowers I planted have long since died. Now the planters are empty. We may not have had a house with a yard or flowerbeds, but I made the outside an oasis. Flowers spilling out of pots, other plants thick and lush, and when I went outdoors to do my thing, it was my happy place. Of course, Johnny would shake his head and tease me when I’d make him go to the nursery with me, but he’d lug everything from the car to the elevator and from there to the balcony without a single complaint.

“I want what we had back, but I’m scared I ruined us.” I turn around, no longer able to give him my back as I lay my vulnerability at his feet. I have no right to utter those words, not until after we’ve talked and I’ve laid myself bare, except when you have this much chemistry and this much love between you and another soul, it’s hard to keep your hopes and desires at bay.

“Standing right here, cariño.” Johnny might be standing only feet away, yet it feels like there’s an ocean between us. I do the least likely me thing there is to do: I run at full force, jump up, and land in his arms. He’s willing and ready for me. His mouth attaches to mine, and my ankles clasp around one another at the top of his ass, feeling him, all of him, in that delicious way. His cock is thick and hard, and my core weeps with wanting to feel more. My arm loops over his shoulder, holding on, and my other hand goes to the back of his head, fingers sliding through his dark waves.

Johnny has me, he has all of me, and while we’ve made mistakes in the past, this isn’t one of them. He laps at my lips, gaining entrance when I let out a moan, and his dominance takes over. His hands press into the flesh of my ass. Each small movement he makes has me riding the long ridge of his dick. Thepressure between us even in his jeans and my cotton shorts does nothing to hide our need.

“More.” I rip my lips away from his, needing a moment to get myself together. I’m already close, ridiculously close, and he’s barely touched me. Johnny takes a step, making it harder to focus on anything except falling apart. “I’m right there, baby.” My head that was tipping backwards is brought back to eye level. I may have lost his hand on my ass, except I gained more. He slides his palm beneath my shirt, skating it all the way up until his fingers are at the nape of my neck. Johnny brings my mouth back to his, and we’re once again kissing. He nibbles at my lower lip at first, and I know what he’s doing. He’s testing to see if I still like what I once did. I don’t just like it, I love it. When he lets go and deepens the kiss by sliding his tongue inside, he groans as I arch my body while he moves us further into the living room. My eyes go from open to closed, allowing the feeling of having my husband in my arms again to penetrate my senses.

“Damn, you taste good. Been too damn long, Winn.” His usual strong and steady voice comes out deep and growly. I’m affecting him as much as he is me. Then my back meets the couch.

“So long, Johnny.” My chest heaves. I’m riddled with desire, begging for more and praying he’ll deliver. He falls down with me. I’m lying parallel on the low profile of the armrest, making it the perfect height for Johnny to wedge himself between my spread legs.

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