“Just Eric in fancy lettering. And maybe a music staff and music notes on either end to bracket it, and tiny, multicolored butterflies above it to make it look feminine.”Butch nodded, obviously picturing what she wanted in his mind. “I’ll draw up a stencil real quick. See if I can capture what you want. Then we can make adjustments before we make it permanent.”Rebekah’s tummy fluttered as if she’d swallowed a few of those feminine little butterflies. “Okay,” she croaked.“I’m going to help him,” Eric said. He handed her a book that had photos of the tattoos Butch had done. “Keep yourself occupied.”Nervous, she looked through the pages. Butch really was a talented artist. She could tell she was in good hands. Some portraits he’d inked on people looked so real it was as if she were looking at a photograph taped to their skin. Ten minutes later, Butch and Eric returned.The stenciled drawing he showed her stole her breath. It was perfect! She imagined brides must feel that way when th
She squeezed her eyes shut. Her mouth dropped open. Her body arched back in abandon.He followed her this time, spasms of pleasure gripping him so hard, so deep, that his vision blurred and he had to cling to the comforter with both hands to keep himself grounded.She collapsed on top of him, breathing hard. He eventually found the strength to lift his hand and cradle her head against his chest.“Wow,” she gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me getting a tattoo was so f**king sexy?”“It usually isn’t.” And now that her full weight was on him, the only thing registering in his new tattoo was stinging pain, like that of a bad sunburn. He carefully shifted her onto the bed beside him and then cuddled against her back. Their names were pressed against each other. Even though it was mildly uncomfortable, he liked the reminder that no matter where she happened to be, her name would always be a part of him, and his would be a part of her.The next morning Rebekah woke alone. Her clothes were in a p
“Rebekah?”She needed a minute to collect herself. Putting her head between her knees would probably be her best bet. She flipped forward and banged her head on the keyboard with a discordant blam!She was going to get married! A dream she had all but given up on. She hadn’t thought any man in the world would want to marry a woman who could never give him a family, and here she was engaged not to any man, but the most wonderful man she’d ever known. The man she loved so much she couldn’t imagine a single day without him. The man who probably thought she’d lost her mind.“Reb?” he whispered as he tried to pry her forehead from the keyboard.She gulped air.“Look, if you changed your mind about getting married—”No! She sat up abruptly and lifted her hand to cover his mouth, but managed to accidentally hit him in the nose. Her hand was shaking so hard, she was surprised it found his face at all.She shook her head vigorously. “Of course I d-didn’t change m-my mind. I’m j-just so… so… h-
“That son of yours…” Dr. Mills muttered under his breath.“Oh sure, he’s my son when he’s chasing skirts,” Mrs. Mills said, “but yours when you need to impress your shallow clients. Your son, the famous electric guitarist.”“My sons, the famous electric guitarists,” Dr. Mills corrected. “Your sons, the notorious skirt chasers.”“They don’t get it from me.”Dr. Mills chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “I stopped chasing skirts after I found the right one.”Rebekah smiled, hoping she and Eric still shared that kind of affection after thirty years of marriage, and looked over to see how Isaac was taking Trey’s continual indiscretions.Isaac had vanished. The floor-to-ceiling window behind his favorite drape was opened. Had he honestly snuck outside through the open window? Rebekah sighed and rubbed her forehead to stave off a threatening headache. She really didn’t need this right now. She already wanted to go home. She had enough drama to deal with in her own life, thank you very
He smiled. He’d never been greeted with a birthday present on his pillow. The guys had once woken him by smashing a birthday cake into his face. It had been one rude, but rather delicious, wake-up call.He untied the ribbon and lifted the lid, expecting to find something sexy nestled in the tissue paper. Instead, he found a baby monitor.“A baby monitor?”He lifted the device from the box and found a second note tied to its short antenna. I’m at your beck and call, birthday boy. Press the button, and let me know when you’re ready for me.His heart thundered with anticipation. He pressed the button. “Rebekah?”“I’ll be right up,” her voice came from the little speaker.He was already up. When it came to his woman, he was always up. He covered his excitement by dropping a pillow on his lap.A moment later the bedroom door opened and Rebekah entered carrying a tray of food. She wore a frilly little apron. Just a frilly little apron. Damn, she looked good enough to eat. If he hadn’t alrea
She looked up, her bottom lip trembling. “I do not please you?”He knew she wanted him to play a role, but he simply could not stand the devastated look, even if it was an act. He tucked a finger under her chin and moved in for a tender kiss. “You always please me. You are incapable of displeasing me.”She chuckled, dropping her act. “I think you’ll need tutoring on this scenario.”“Now?”“Unless… Do you want to open more presents?”He hesitated, then grinned and nodded eagerly.“Anything you want to save for another day, you can. You have a lot of presents. Probably too many to enjoy in one day.”He couldn’t pretend to be anything but excited. He grabbed her in an exuberant hug. “What’s next?”“Your next present is in the kitchen. Go put on some shorts and meet me downstairs. No peeking until I join you.”He grinned. “So you don’t want me naked for this one?”“Not all your gifts are sexual in nature.”“Bummer.”“The racetrack gift certificate, for example.”He squeezed her and rooted
At the same instant, Sed and Jessica noticed Eric standing on the steps waiting. “Hey,” Sed said. “Happy birthday.”When the couple climbed onto the wraparound porch, Jessica lifted a hand and patted Eric’s cheek. She read his shirt and laughed. “Dirty old man? Perfect.”Jace and Aggie arrived a few minutes later. They had presents and food too. Jace offered Eric a playful punch in the ribs. “Sorry we’re late,” he said. “Aggie was finishing your present.”Eric felt the blood drain from his face. “Please don’t tell me it’s a whip.”Jace laughed. “You’ll have to wait and see.”“You look happy,” Aggie commented, tucking her long, silky black hair behind both ears and kissing his cheek.“I am happy. Old, but happy.”A van pulled into the drive. It took Eric a moment to recognize it as belonging to Rebekah’s parents. Great. Eric’s smile faded. No doubt they’d brought Isaac along for kicks and giggles. He’d like to kick him, that’s for sure. And it would make him giggle. Trey climbed out of
Jon climbed to his feet. “I’ll give you a call once I’m sure this therapy is going to stick. I really want to succeed this time. I’m finished with that shit.”“You better. I have some songs written that are amazing, but not Sinners’ style. I’d love to get them in front of an audience. I’m counting on you to make that happen.”Jon rolled his eyes. “You don’t need me, Eric. You could put your own band together in ten seconds. Any musician in his right mind would give his left nut to perform with you.”“But I’m counting on you.” Eric shoved Jon toward the porch steps. “Get now. I need to chase off the rest of my guests so I can have time alone with my woman.”“She’s good for you.”Eric smiled. “You don’t have to state the obvious.”Jon trotted down the steps and then turned to look at him. “Thanks.” He didn’t need to say more. Eric understood. “Happy birthday.”When Eric let himself back in the house, Rebekah was waiting in the foyer. “How did it go?”Eric nodded. “I think he’s actually