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  “You don’t have anything to be nervous about, Dad. You’re going to be fine. You’re going to get well.” Jonah looked at the woman standing next to his father. “And it’s all because of Delaney. She’s responsible for fighting for you. You’re going to have a second chance in life because of Delaney.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  You’re going to have a second chance in life because of Delaney.

  She hastened to correct him. “Oh, no. I didn’t do anything. The doctor will be the one to cure you.”

  Jonah held the elevator door. “Stop being so modest. You’re like Superwoman. You came into our lives to save the day.”

  “Stop, Jonah.” She was smiling, but not on the inside. “I did what anyone would do.”

  “How many others would’ve known to even ask the questions you did? This was meant to be, I tell you.” Jonah knew he was talking too fast. He was saying things he meant but they were coming out of his mouth sounding like platitudes.

  “I don’t know about that,” she muttered, then let her voice trail off. Mentally snapping herself out of the mood she was in, Delaney let herself be happy. This was a joyous moment. She walked next to John as they headed to the car.

  Once they were settled into the Camry, Jonah headed out into the street. “We’ll get something to eat, then I think we should find a hotel room. Delaney, I know you’ll want to stay in Austin with Dad for a while and I don’t want you to have to sleep sitting up every night in his room.”

  “No, a hotel room is too expensive. I’ll be fine.”

  “You let me worry about the money,” Jonah told her.

  “Why am I going to be in the hospital?” John asked, still sounding a little apprehensive.

  “They’re going to give you antibiotics, so you’ll improve quickly. You’re going to get well, Dad.”

  …Over the next two hours, Delaney and Jonah celebrated the wonderful news about John. As planned, they dined at a steak restaurant before escorting John to the hospital. On the way, they passed a brightly colored billboard advertising a sports event.

  “Is that one of the billboards that belongs to Cletus?” she asked.

  Jonah narrowed his eyes. “If it is, it’ll say Cle-boards in the lower right-hand corner.”

  “Yep, that’s what it says.” Delaney read the words. “This is so neat. He’s such an enigma.”

  John pointed to the billboard. “He used his profits to buy that travel trailer. I sure did have a good time riding in it.”

  “He’ll take you for another trip. Just as soon as you’re better,” Delaney told him with assurance.

  “You think so?”

  “I know so,” she promised him.

  After checking John in, the nurse informed them that he would be busy with tests for the rest of the evening. She encouraged the couple to get a good night’s rest and come back for visiting hours in the morning.

  “Why don’t we drive home tonight, and I’ll come back in the morning. That way you won’t miss any more work,” Delaney suggested with concern.

  “No. It’s too late and I want to stay here with you.”

  “Okay. I’d like that.” There was no use arguing with something she wanted very much.

  Jonah found a room at the motel directly across from the hospital. “This way you can walk across the street. If you think you’ll need the Camry, I’ll get Cletus to ride down with me within the next few days and bring the car to you.” He handed Delaney one of the key cards.

  “I won’t need the car. You can just come after us when we’re ready to go home. I don’t intend to leave the hospital except to come over here to clean up and if I need to go anywhere else I’ll call for a Lyft.” She walked beside him down the hall to their room.

  “Well, if you change your mind. All you have to do is tell me. I’d do anything for you, you know.”

  “I know you would.” She squeezed his hand.

  “Here’s some money.” He handed her a wad of cash.

  She hesitated to take it. “You keep it, I’m fine.”

  “No, the money is yours. I want you to have it. And use the credit card to buy whatever you want. You’re going to need a change of clothes.”

  “I think I saw a store a few blocks away. I might go pick up something, I can’t keep wearing these clothes.”

  “No, you can’t. Get whatever you need.” He took another step or two, then stopped. “Do you have your medicine with you?”

  “Yes, I do. Stop worrying.” She squeezed his arm as they continued on their way. “You’re good to me. Thank you.”

  “Good? We’ve taken advantage of you. Per our agreement, I still owe you money.”

  “I haven’t needed much money. I have everything I need.” You, she wanted to say. All I need is you.

  “You’ve been stuck with us a lot longer than you planned.”

  “Plans change,” she said, then waited for him to tell her how he felt. When he didn’t, Delaney had to bite her lip to keep from shouting at him. What did he mean? What was he saying? Did he want her to stay or not? “I’m just glad things are working out for you both.” When he said no more, she pushed aside her worries. Now, wasn’t the time. Mr. John needed to be their main concern. “I feel funny that we have no luggage.”

  He edged close enough to nudge her shoulder with his. “You think they know why we’re here?”

  “You mean to be near your father in the hospital?” she asked as they came to the room matching the number on the key card.

  “No.” He waited to finish his thought until they were alone in the room together. “We’re here to make love.”

  “We are?” she asked, moving one step closer to him. All other thoughts fled her mind.

  “Don’t you want to?” He thought he could see desire in her eyes, but the events of the day had left him unsettled.

  “I do. I always want you.” More than ever tonight. Just the thought that their time together was drawing short made her feel desperate to be close to him. To love him. To store up memories for when she wasn’t around. More than anything, Delaney wanted to ask him how he felt about her. Did they have a chance at something more?

  As much as she wanted to know the answer to this all-important question, she knew she’d never have the courage to ask. It just wasn’t in her nature. She’d been rejected too many times in her life to take the risk.

  “I love that about you,” Jonah admitted. “I’ve told you all my darkest secrets and you still accept me. You want me.”

  “Unconditionally,” Delaney added as she began to undress. “I count the hours as they pass during the day, longing for night to come so I can be with you again.”

  Mesmerized, Jonah watched Delaney as she disrobed, revealing her beautiful body. His hands were busy too, removing his jeans and shirt to toss to one side. “Don’t you think I can tell? You don’t hide your desire from me. Sometimes I can’t work for thinking about you. About going home to you. About loving you.”

  “Do you?” The words just slipped out unbidden.

  “Do I what?” Jonah asked, his heart beating like a drum.

  Losing her nerve, she didn’t ask the question she longed to ask. Do you love me? Instead, she replied, “You think about me?” When he whispered the word yes, she confessed, “You’re never out of my thoughts.”

  “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?” He came to her, close enough they were touching from top to bottom. Being this near to her set his blood to singing. “From the night we met in the diner, two strangers who needed one another and didn’t even know it.”

  Delaney brushed her lips over his chest, dusting kisses from his collarbone to his cheek. “I noticed you right off. I thought you were so good-looking.”

  “Really?”

  His chuckle rumbled in his chest, causing her nipples to peak as the brushed against his hair-roughened skin. “Yea, I couldn’t help but watch you. It was like I recognized you on some level. I was dr
awn to you. And when I saw you kneel down to pick up Tommy, my heart melted.”

  He laid the palm of his hand over her left breast. “You’re one of a kind, Delaney. Your heart is so big I don’t know how it fits in your delicate frame.”

  Delaney met his gaze, so intense he seemed to be looking into her very soul. She lowered her eyes lest he see the extent of her love and the desperation of her longing. “You’re easy to love, Jonah.” She pressed his hand harder to her breast. “Make another memory with me.”

  When he felt her nipple bead on his palm, he needed no other coaxing. Lifting her in his arms, they stretched out on the bed, and Jonah loved her with every touch. Every kiss. Taking his time, he dusted butterfly kisses from head to toe.

  Delaney basked in his attention, reveling in the sweet torture until she could be still no longer. Pulling him to her she claimed his mouth, pouring all of her love into the kiss. She didn’t know how many more times they’d make love and she wanted to make every moment count. “Lie back for me, please.” He’d often performed this unselfish act on her. Usually, giving her ecstasy with his mouth turned him on so much that he couldn’t wait to bury himself deep inside of her. With their responsibilities time was always of the essence, and he needed his sleep. So, doing this for him was a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed nearly enough. “Let me show you what you mean to me.”

  Jonah groaned in anticipation as Delaney lightly nipped his shoulder. She spread a light trail of hot kisses over his pecs, then down the sculpted washboard of his abs which were trembling and jerking with the knowledge of what was to comes. When she attempted to push his underwear down, he lifted his hips to assist her. As she uncovered him, her heartbeat went crazy. He was so beautiful, his erection standing tall and thick, straight as an arrow and vibrating with need. “I’m so addicted to you.”

  Holding his breath, he waited while she wrapped one small, warm hand around his throbbing shaft as far as she could reach. Her touch felt so good. Jonah thought he would explode before she even began. Steeling himself he refused to rush her, but the wait for her lips was driving him mad. When her hair brushed his thigh and her breath warmed his skin, every cell in his body screamed for release. As she lowered her head and parted her lips, his hips rose to meet her. Jonah almost levitated off the bed with the pure pleasure of her mouth on his body.

  At first, she pressed soft kisses all around the sensitive tip. Needing to touch her, he wove his fingers through the long strands of her hair, keeping her right where he needed her the most. Then she began to move her hand firmly up and down the length of him as her other hand slipped down to caress his sac. He arched his back as she pleasured him, clawing the sheet as she took the whole head of his dick deeply into her mouth.

  Needing to give him more, she moved even closer to accept as much of his length down her throat as she could. His reaction was instantaneous and sexy as hell. He cried out her name and bucked his hips as she sucked him tenderly, swirling her tongue around the head, nibbling up and down his shaft. As she worshiped every inch of his cock he gripped her hair, stiffening his long muscular legs as he groaned in euphoria.

  Delaney wasn’t surprised how aroused she was becoming. She loved making him feel good and she received great pleasure from this extremely personal act. As she continued to work to bring him to completion, her hips began moving involuntary as she ached to feel him deep within her.

  “Sweetheart, I can’t hold back.” He touched her shoulder, giving her the choice of what she’d do next. Delaney chose to keep going quickening her strokes and tightening her lips, pushing him into delirium. As his hot seed spilled out, she didn’t hesitate to accept this part of him. When he’d spent himself, she let him go, leaving him with a tender kiss. With everything happening, Delaney felt tears come to her eyes. Never had she felt so close to anyone in her life. She kissed her way back up his mid-section to lay her head on his still heaving chest.

  “Thank you,” he breathed. “That was incredible, love.” After just a few moments to catch his breath, he pulled her up and over him, his lips finding a grateful nipple. “Now, it’s my turn.”

  Delaney didn’t argue, she was shivering with need. She let him arrange her the way he wanted, her breasts dangling in his face like lush fruit. He used both hands to push the quivering globes together, his tongue darting from nipple to nipple. “Jonah, please.” She didn’t know how long she could take the excitement – it just kept building and building.

  “Raise up a bit, there’s another part of you that needs attention.”

  She complied with his wishes, both breasts damp and reddened with the attention they’d enjoyed from his lips and teeth. His hand found her swollen mound, and he parted her legs as he cupped her femininity making her wiggle with delight.

  “You’re so hot. So wet.”

  Delaney raised her hips in answer to his caress, encouraging him to press his fingers deep, massaging the tender opening. He moved them in and out in a pleasure building rhythm that caused her stomach to tighten and the muscles of her sex to close tightly around his fingers.

  “That’s right. You’re so responsive to me, love. I can’t wait to be inside of you.”

  “Don’t wait,” she whispered. “I need you now.”

  “Not yet,” he spoke softly, moving her up even farther until her knees were on either side of his face. She gasped at his intent, but when he pulled her down and thrust his tongue deep within her, she didn’t have the strength nor the will to protest.

  Jonah held her still while he made love to her with his mouth. His tongue plundered her repeatedly, then kissed her into oblivion as his lips and tongue laved her clitoris. She clung to the headboard for support as he gave her almost unbearable pleasure. He was as determined as she’d been to feast on her until she collapsed limp with satisfaction. Her cries rose with each passing moment until she screamed loud and long. “That’s it, baby. That’s it.” He held her upright as she quaked with the strong orgasm.

  Even after countless contractions, her hips continued to undulate. “Jonah, Jonah, Jonah,” she chanted his name over and over like a prayer.

  “Come here.” He brought her down to lie in his arms, kissing her cheeks and lips repeatedly. “You are so wonderful.”

  “No, you.”

  He laughed at her brief argument. She didn’t have the strength to say more. “Rest a little bit, love.” He kissed her eyelids. “I’ll need you again before morning.”

  …When she awoke at daybreak, Jonah was still asleep. Knowing their time together was growing short, she decided to shut off the alarm and awaken him another way. Slipping the cover down his beautiful body, her breath caught. He was sprawled out on his stomach, his broad back so tanned and muscular her fingers itched to touch him. Still naked as the day he was born, she licked her lips at the sight of his firm backside, catching herself just before her hand brushed his hip. “Let’s do this right. First things first.”

  Rising to her knees, she eased herself across his thighs, stopping to see if she’d roused him from slumber. When he didn’t move she took a deep breath, and began working the strong muscles, rubbing out the knots and kneading the hard, warm flesh. She moved her palm up and down, paying special attention to his spine. She drew her hands down both sides and settled on his lower back, intensifying the pressure she put on his muscles. Lastly, she couldn’t resist massaging his sexy buttocks. Finally, she heard him groan at her fevered touch.

  “Well, I thought you were going to sleep right through this seduction.”

  “I’ve been awake, enjoying your touch. I’m not made of stone you know. Although…there is one part of me as hard as a rock.”

  Delaney moved off of him so he could roll over. When he did, she gasped at the sight of him full and heavy with need. “You do want me, don’t you?”

  “More than anything.” He drew her down onto the bed and covered her with his body.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his eyes and
face. “I want you too. I ache with wanting you.” Her lips moved across his jaw and down his neck, her tongue darting out to taste his skin.

  Jonah enjoyed her attention until he couldn’t stand the wait. “Enough, baby. I’m dying.” He pulled her arms from around his neck and pushed them over her head, preventing Delaney from moving an inch. “Now, you’re at my mercy.”

  “I can’t think of a place I’d rather be.”

  And so the loving began. Jonah kissed her lips, her face, her neck – warm, gentle kisses that spoke words to her heart his lips had not uttered. He lowered himself on the bed until his face was even with her full, round breasts. Framing them, he rubbed his face over the soft mounds of flesh, then began feasting on them hungrily. He paid special attention to her nipples, knowing how much she loved it when he sucked on them. As he paid homage to her breasts, taking as much of them into his mouth as possible, she began to moan.

  Despite her best efforts to be still, she couldn’t. Her hips began to move in small, tight circles. “This feels so good,” Delaney keened with delight. Still he licked, nibbled, kissed, and massaged her breasts with his tongue and lips until her nipples were hard as diamonds. At his attention, the soft peaks swelled and grew proud with the love being lavished on them. Finally, he moved lower, kissing down her narrow waist and over her flaring hips. He pressed his lips on the very edge of her womanhood. Aroused beyond words, she grasped his shoulder. “I need you inside of me, Jonah.”

  “I need that too. Desperately.” He lay down and pulled himself back on the pillows so his head would be elevated.

  Delaney waited, so excited she was touching her own breasts, pulling at the nipples.

  Jonah couldn’t take his eyes off her. “You turn me on. You turn me inside out. Straddle, me, sweetheart.” She did as he asked. “Now, raise up on your knees.” Delaney did so and he cupped her vagina, massaging the labia, and inserting his fingers deep with her. “You’re ready for me.”