Inseparable: A New Adult Erotic Romance Read online

  They stood for a long moment just breathing deeply and holding one another. Julie stepped back and took his hand. "I’ve got a bath ready, come on."

  She took him into the bedroom and began to undress him, kissing him all the while. When she had removed all his clothing, she pressed him to walk into the bathroom and guided him into the warm water. He slid down with a sigh, letting his head rest against the wall, his eyes shutting as the water covered him up to his chest.

  Julie knelt next to him, outside the tub. She took a wash cloth and soap, and cleaned him, letting him relax as the music played softly from the living room. She started with his hands and feet, massaging more than washing as he made soft, contented sounds. She moved on to his legs and arms, washing him with the cloth, careful not to excite him yet. He became less responsive as she started washing his chest and stomach, his head leaning slightly to the left as he slipped into a light doze. She smiled, leaving him to soak for a bit.

  She put his laptop next to the couch and took the duffel bag full of dirty clothes and quietly placed them in the dirty clothes hamper. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a plate of cut fruit, along with the cold glasses of water and placed them on the night stands next to the bed. Then she went back into the bathroom and began to wake him up with soft kisses.

  Jack roused with a hungry growl, kissing her with a growing passion as she pulled him to sit forward. She kissed his nose quickly, then got the wash cloth and soap to finish washing his back. "Stand up so I can get the last bit."

  He stood carefully, still sore and tired, so Julie washed his privates quickly, then pulled the drain to let the dirty water out. "Rinse off and I’ll dry you before bed."

  "You are amazing. This is perfect. I swear you’re the only thing in my life that isn’t complicated, stressful, or broken. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

  Julie kept smiling, but her secret gnawed at her heart. She wanted to preserve this peace for him as long as possible, but secrets are a heavy burden to carry alone. She got the towels down and waited while he showered off the soap and washed his hair, impatient to feel him inside her. The curtain opened at last and Julie began to gently dry him off.

  She took his hands and drew him back into the bedroom. The candles set the mood wonderfully, filling the room with the soft scent of gardenias. She pulled back the covers as Jack climbed into the bed and rested with his arms behind his head, taking in the sight of her standing there. He smiled, then held out one hand to invite her to join him.

  She came slowly, letting him enjoy the sight of his shirt falling open to expose her breasts. She climbed on top of him, her moist slit leaving a trail along his stomach as she rubbed against him. She reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a foil packet, slowly ripping the seal with her teeth. She slid backwards along his shaft until she sat on his thighs, lifting him and rolling down the condom as he watched with a smile, resting his arm behind his head again.

  She slid forward and tilted her hips to catch his tip with her opening, pushing downwards and adjusting herself until he slid all the way home. She bent down, dangling her hair in his face while she undulated her hips to stimulate them both. His eyes were shut and his mouth was barely open as she bent down further to rub her breasts against his chest and nibble at his chin. He tilted his head up and groaned a little as she began to place wet kisses on his neck, pushing harder to grind her mons against the soft hair around his shaft.

  He finally moved his hands from behind his head, running them inside her shirt to caress her breasts. She sat up to let his hands slide down to her stomach, allowing him to guide her hips as she continued to ride him slowly. His breathing deepened as she felt him grip harder, pushing instead of guiding as she brought him closer to the edge.

  The sensations of pressure, slick movements, and fullness were making her shiver until at last she began to moan herself, unable to stop her release from overwhelming her. She had to put her hands on his chest, moving faster she gasped his name, giving herself over to the passion he raised in her. His hands gripped tightly, pushing down and dragging her back and forth, not letting her stop. She made a keening sound as he raised his knees to push her further over the edge.

  Groaning and gasping in pleasure, he fought his release for control. The way he called her name made Julie moan louder in response, giving herself completely to him. As the wave broke over him, he arched his back and shouted her name while she continued to kiss down his neck and shoulders. As his head tilted back, she pushed against his thrusts until he was spent and they both collapsed.

  Sweat poured off of their bodies, soaking the sheets. They panted in exhaustion, hands still moving and lips still kissing as if to confirm that neither one of them was dreaming. Their passion left a soft ardor in its wake, causing them to hum together with the total satisfaction of lovers sated and safe, reunited again as if no time had passed at all.

  "Welcome home," Julie whispered between their slow kisses. "I know you are tired, sleep if you want to." She kissed his closed eyes, then his cheeks, rolling off to nestle into his side. Her head rested against his shoulder as they drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 12: Julie

  The week passed in a whirlwind as they both had things they needed to do. Jack had three interviews with industrial equipment companies, but while he felt they went well, he wouldn’t get an answer from them until he was already back on the rig. The uncertainty drained him as the week wore on, making him irritable and moody. He called Sophie to try and speak with the girls, but she never answered or returned his calls, making him even angrier.

  Julie met Polly for lunch on Thursday at their favorite Chinese place. When she sat down across from Polly after getting a plate of noodles and chicken, she could tell how the meal was going to go from the look on Polly’s face.

  "So have you found a doctor yet?" Polly said between sips of her hot and sour soup.

  "I haven’t had time yet, but I will." Julie forced herself to look her in the eye when she said it, but felt the heat rise in her face at the lie.

  "Well, I found one that my coworker recommended highly and she is just around the corner." Polly had a satisfied look on her face, as if she already knew what the answer was going to be to the question. Julie just sighed. "Aren’t you going to ask me her name?"

  "What’s her name?" Julie asked.

  "Doctor Holly Gills. She is board certified and graduated near the top of her class. She is even taking new patients."

  "That’s nice."

  "Would you like her number?"

  "Sure." Julie made no motion to take the slip of paper with the information.

  "I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t I just dial it and you can make the appointment now." Polly sounded annoyed, but still managed to smile at Julie’s discomfort.

  "I want to wait until after I tell Jack."

  "So you haven’t told him yet? For God’s sake, Julie, what are you waiting for?"

  Julie sighed. "It’s complicated."

  "Sweetie, do you really want to tell him before you know if its a viable pregnancy? Why don’t we just go and see what the doctor says. They wouldn’t let me set the appointment for you, but they can see you this afternoon if you will just call them."

  Julie wiped the tears from her eyes. "I’m scared," she whispered.

  Polly reached out and touched her hand. "I know, but I’m going to be with you the whole time. Let me dial the number and you tell them you’re coming." Polly hit send and slid the phone over and finished her soup while Julie set the appointment.

  ***

  Doctor Gills was a lovely young woman who seemed to sense Julie’s anxiety immediately. While Polly held Julie's hand, the doctor asked questions about her medical history and the likely conception date. Julie spent the whole appointment with her heart in her throat, even crying a little as she got on the examination table. The doctor spent a long time explaining all the various tests being performed, including a pelvic exam and pap smear. The final test
s comprised a sonogram and an ultrasound to help estimate the delivery date. Polly stood next to her while they watched on the tiny screen as the doctor pressed the gel-covered wand against her stomach.

  "There’s your little one. It looks like a good placement in the uterus, so no more worries about an ectopic pregnancy. We’re too early to determine the gender, but you’re spot on about the date of conception based on the size. Let me print you a copy to take with you." The doctor pressed some keys on the computer and left the room for a moment.

  Polly was right there for Julie, holding her hand immediately. "See, Julie, now you know so you don’t have to worry."

  "I wasn’t fucking worried until you brought it up," Julie said as she wiped her eyes. "I’m sorry, Polly. I know I needed to do this, but it feels wrong to be here without Jack. It’s his baby, too."

  "So why haven’t you told him yet? He’s been back for days."

  "He’s so depressed about the job search. Sophie won’t let him even speak to his girls. Every time I try to steer the conversation around, it just doesn’t feel like the right time."

  "Well, the good news is that if you wait until he comes back again, you won’t have to tell him. As soon as you’re naked he’ll see it himself!" Julie groaned and covered her face. "Look, I know you’re scared. I can see how hard this is for you, but you aren’t doing either one of you any favors by keeping this a secret. He deserves to know, no matter what he does. If you don’t tell him soon, he may worry about why you waited so long. You are strong, you can do this."

  The doctor returned with the small photo of her baby. "Here you go, Mom," she said with a smile. "I want to see you in three weeks for a checkup. Your friend was right to suggest the children’s vitamins for now. After about the twelfth week the nausea should go away, so you can begin to take the regular prenatal vitamins without getting sick. You can do anything you ordinarily do, but call me immediately if you begin spotting or having pain along with the nausea."

  "Thank you, Doctor Gills."

  Julie tucked her shirt back into her jeans, realizing she could feel the baby bump already, even if it wasn’t noticeable to anyone else. She picked up the picture, staring at the swirling black and white pattern. The baby just looked like a dark spot in the static. She allowed Polly to guide her out, unable to look away from him. "Our baby..." she whispered.

  Polly answered the nurse’s questions about the next appointment as Julie stood nearby. As she confirmed it for the Tuesday three weeks away, Julie realized that it would be Jack’s first full day back after his next work period. She had to tell him soon because she really wanted him to come with her.

  By Friday, Jack gave up trying to reach Sophie and called his lawyer. When Julie was on her way out to work, Jack was almost shouting in frustration as his lawyer refused to do anything to help until Jack paid him more money. She closed the door to leave while her stomach flipped and rolled.

  When she came home Jack was stalking around the apartment like a caged animal. While she fixed dinner for the both of them, he disappeared into the girls’ room. After she set the table, she went down to get him and found him crying. He was sitting on the floor with his back against one of the twin beds.

  "Jack? I can just put the food away if you don’t want it right now."

  He wiped his face and looked up at her, his eyes red and swollen. "Why does she want to hurt me like this? All I ever did was love her and the girls. I never cheated on her, never hit her. I worked hard to provide what she wanted, but it was never enough. And now she won’t even let me talk to my girls. The court scheduled me to have the girls next weekend, but I’ve got to work to pay the child support or she’ll even take that away. I just can’t figure out why."

  Julie went in and sat on the floor near him. "I don’t know, Jack, I wish I knew what to tell you. We can try driving over to the house where I painted the murals. Bonnie said they were on vacation, but I got the feeling they should have been back by now. Why don’t we just take a drive and see?"

  Jack took a deep breath and nodded. "I promise I won’t cause any trouble. I just want to know my girls are safe."

  The drive over was quiet as they were both lost in thought. Julie wanted to help somehow, but all she could offer him was more stress and worry. Jack drove safely, without the manic energy he’d had earlier, but he kept sighing every few minutes. Julie wanted to hold his hand or comfort him somehow, but felt uncomfortable intruding on his solitude.

  They arrived at the mansion and parked across the street. The exterior lights were on, but they were probably turned on by a timer. The house was shadowed in the trees, but none of the windows that faced the street had lights showing.

  "The girls’ rooms and playroom was in the back on the second floor. Even if they were home, you might not see the lights from here."

  Jack began to whisper after a long moment of silence. "This house belongs to the owner of my old company. Sophie and I came here once for a holiday party, back when we got along. I didn’t recognize the address, but I knew as soon as we got close where we would end up."

  Julie sat quietly, letting him talk. Jack laughed, then continued. "She went on and on about how much she liked the place. I thought it looked hideous. The boss spoke to everyone as he made the rounds, but I can’t remember him paying any special attention to her. I wonder if it was going on then, or if it started later."

  "Oh, Jack, I’m so sorry." She said, unable to hold back the hurt in her voice.

  "I was a fool. When I met her, she made sure I knew she was out of my league. She never missed a single opportunity to remind me of how lucky I was to have her. I guess she realized I was happy doing sales and wasn’t going to move on up the ladder as fast as she wanted. So she found someone else who would."

  Jack just stared at the dark house, his hands on the wheel. Julie wept quietly for him, wishing she could comfort him. Headlights splashed on the road behind them. A black Suburban turned into the driveway of the house and drove around to the detached garage. Jack watched out of his open window as the girls appeared, jumping and spinning with princess dresses and tall pointed hats. Two other people walked together behind them dragging large rolling suitcases towards the front door. After they went inside, Jack started the truck and drove away.

  ***

  They lay in bed later, both staring at the ceiling, each in their own separate hell. Julie held his hand under the covers, brushing her thumb along the back of his hand. Jack didn’t speak, didn’t move. Julie slept eventually.

  The next day, Jack was more like his old self again. He had risen early and made them both breakfast. Julie came in tousled from sleep and sat as he brought her coffee.

  "Let’s go out tonight. This is my last night and I don’t want to spend it brooding about things I can’t change. After the lawyer cashes the check, I’ll have about $20 left. Where can we go for $20?"

  "Maybe a matinée or a round of mini golf."

  "Didn’t you say your mom goes to a bar near where she works? Since I can’t take you to meet my mom, maybe I could meet yours."

  Julie was uncomfortable with the idea, but didn’t want to explain why. "Sure, if you want to. We could call Polly, too, and see if she is free. I know you met over the video chat, but she still wants to see you in person."

  Jack smiled, but it had no energy. "Aren’t you afraid she’ll tell me all your secrets?"

  Julie’s stomach turned over suddenly and she ran for the sink to throw up the coffee she just drank.

  "Hey, are you alright?" Jack came to her side, suddenly alarmed. She turned on the water and rinsed her mouth.

  "I’m fine," she said as she ran the water and washed it down the drain. "I must have picked up a bug or something." She hated lying, but couldn’t find the strength to tell him the truth.

  Jack felt her forehead. "You don’t have a fever. Do you want me to call you in sick for the day?"

  "I can’t afford to be sick, Jack. I am getting low on cash, plus I owe Polly some money
as well. That stupid power steering pump turned into a whole fiasco and took most of the money I earned last week. Bonnie sent me a list of potential jobs, but none of them are going to start until at least next week. Plus rent is coming due at Mom’s place and I have to save from two paychecks to have enough." Julie found herself getting angry and took a deep breath. "I’m sorry. None of this is your fault. I just need to shower and drink some water. I’ll feel better after a shower."

  Jack had an odd look on his face as she walked to the bedroom. "OK, just let me know if I can do anything to help you. You do so much for me."

  Julie took a deep breath and put her hand on the door frame. "And I love doing things for you. Let’s go out tonight. It’ll be fun."

  ***

  Julie kept busy at work to make the time pass more quickly. She kept finding herself staring at the little boys, her hand resting on her stomach. Her friend Cathy came up during a lull in the late afternoon with a concerned look on her face.

  "Are you OK?"

  Julie realized she’d been staring again. "Yeah, why?"

  "You seem off somehow. I figured you’d be walking on air with Jack back in town this week, but you’ve been too quiet. Something’s up, tell me."

  "Cathy, I’m fine, really. It’s just been a little rougher than usual. Jack’s ex is still making trouble for him and he’s struggling to find a job here in town."

  "That’s Jack, not you. There’s something up with you. You keep staring at the kids with this look... I can’t even describe it."

  Julie had to clench her jaw to keep from crying. "I’m fine. I just can’t talk about it right now, OK?" She walked away quickly, before Cathy could see the tears that had started forming in her eyes.

  When she got closer to the office, she saw a familiar black Suburban drive past slowly with its driver’s side window down. Sophie seemed to look right at her with a smug grin, and nodded once as if marking her score. It was impossible to see inside through the windows from the outside, but Julie couldn’t help shivering as her gaze passed over.