Phoenix Fallen (12 page)

Jule slowly lowered her, his expression unreadable, but he nodded.

“Sure, we go slow. I can do slow."

Rissa shook her head, but her lips curved.

“Now get in the goddamn car, woman, and start taking your clothes off. It will make it easier when we get to the house. We got some catching up to do.”

"Catching up?" She arched an eyebrow at him in amusement. "Jules, it's been exactly
one
night."

He shrugged and wrenched open the door. "It was one long-ass night, Rissa."

Somehow Jules found himself easing into a pattern over the next couple weeks. He caught Rissa’s late show each night. They went back to his place most of those nights. Sometimes they went to Crave. He didn’t feed from her again, except for the occasional nip during sex. Jules didn’t know when, or if, he’d ever be ready for that again. His conviction they were meant to be never wavered. Occasionally he caught Rissa watching him, her beautiful features serious and a little afraid. She always looked away at those times, but Jules just smiled.

He was getting to her.

The Ball was drawing close. Miles and Kelsey would be arriving at O’Hare in two nights. He and Rissa were at Fannie and Scott’s, giving them a much needed night out by watching the monsters. The twins were already in their pajamas. Though nowhere near sleepy, of course.

Jules had put on Winnie the Pooh, the old one from the 70's. Rissa had never seen it before, which pretty much blew Jules' mind.

They were at the part where little Roo tried to give Pooh some honeysuckle. The twins were sprawled on the floor and their curly heads turned in unison to Jules and Rissa who were curled next to each other on the couch.

"What's 'honeysuckle', Mister Julie?"

"It's a wildflower that smells like heaven." He grinned at Rissa. "It's the sweetest smell you can imagine, like sunshine and lemons and sugar.
And you."
He whispered the last in Rissa's ear, not meaning the kids to hear, but Tish sat up straight instantly. A huntress in purple Sofia the First pj's scenting prey. She studied the pair of them for a moment, her gaze disconcertingly sharp.

"You and Mister Julie are friends, aren't you, Miss Rissa?" She asked carefully. Too carefully.

Jules pressed his lips together and avoided looking at Rissa. The twins had been ridiculously easy on her so far. Toby had a huge crush on her and Tish was kind of in awe. But it appeared the gloves were about to come off.

Here we go.

Rissa blinked once. "Sure, we're friends." She answered, easily enough, but Jules felt her stiffen slightly next to him.

"Good
friends?" Tish had her little head cocked, her curls almost quivering.

"I suppose we are." Rissa was starting to blush, her pale skin making it impossible for her to hide anything.

Jules smothered a laugh, then ducked his chin when she punched him hard in the thigh, her little fist buried in the couch cushions so that the kids couldn't see.

"So you
like
him then?" Tish was nodding solemnly while Toby looked on, his mouth half-open, Tigger bouncing unnoticed behind him on the plasma screen.

Jules leaned back and waited for Rissa to answer. He had a feeling this was going to be fun.

“I don’t know. Sometimes your Mister Julie is a bit…difficult.” She gave him a sidelong look.

“I’m diff-i-cult, too.” Toby spoke up, puffing his chest out. “Teacher says so.”

He saw Rissa hide a smile as he frowned at Toby. “That’s not something to be proud of, Thing 2.”

“Daddy says it
is.
Says that means I got my own way of doing things.”

Jules slipped onto the floor and grabbed the boy. He threw him over one shoulder so Toby's feet hung down his back while the boy giggled. “And what does your
momma
say?”

Even upside down the boy’s grin dampened a little. “She says I best watch myself ‘cause I’m too little to do things my own way yet. Who’s right then, Mister Julie? Mama or Daddy?”

“Oh no, devil child, you won’t trap
me
like that. They’re
both
right, in their own way. As usual. And you are a stinker!”

Jules started tickling Toby, who screamed with laughter until his breath ran out and Jules flipped him right side up again on the carpet. They started to wrestle in earnest.

Tish wouldn’t be distracted by the ‘men’s’ shenanigans. She scooted closer, putting her tiny hand on Rissa’s arm to get her attention back.

“But when Mister Julie’s being good? How do you feel about him then?” She persisted.

Sudden quiet from the living room floor. Rissa sighed and cleared her throat, glaring again at Jules, who was listening shamelessly, his head cocked.

“I care about him very much,” she said finally.

“Caring is a lot like love.” Tish's bow mouth was set firmly. She looked uncannily like her mother.

Jules sniggered and Rissa choked, but managed to get out, “I suppose it is at that.”

“People that love each other are supposed to get married.” Tish folded her arms, her little chin came down and her big brown eyes bored into Rissa’s. “Like Mama and Daddy. And Miss Kelsey and Mister Miles.”

“Sometimes not.” Still a bit breathless, Toby shook his head, his curls standing on end from the recent roughhousing. “Daddy says love comes in all forms, and people got to go their own way about it.”

“Your daddy is a smart man." Rissa said.

Toby beamed at her. “Daddy also says if Mister Julie lets you get away he’s more useless than tits on a bull. What’s that mean, anyway?”

Rissa had to duck her head at that, shaking with silent giggles when Jules answered for her, very seriously, a vengeful gleam in his eye.

“You should ask your Momma. And make sure to tell her you heard that from your Daddy.”

Later after they had tucked the kids in, and were curled up on the couch, Rissa said, “Not very sportsmanlike there, Mister Julie.” Her fingers were walking up his chest, teasing the open button at his collar.

He rolled his eyes.

“Quit it with the damn nickname. And sure it was. Scott'll get his ass chewed and he'll think twice before slapping mine again."

"You're a vengeful man, Jules Gentry."

"No." His voice was quiet. "But I am a fucking patient one. Remember that, Rissa."

She sighed, as if she didn't already know that. "I think your destiny crap has rubbed off on Tish. First, we are meant to be, now
marriage
, for God's sake?" She wrinkled her nose at him.

He laughed. "Hey now, I didn't have nothing to do with
that
. When I propose, you'll know it."

Propose? When?
Not if.

When.

She squirmed. "What happened to slow, Jules?"

He ran a finger over his lips as if primly zipping them shut, but his eyes were dancing at her discomfort. He pulled her fully onto his lap, but she planted both hands on his chest.

"Behave." She hissed at him. "The kids—"

"Are asleep." His hands slid from her hips up, cupping her breasts through the thin silk halter top. Her nipples immediately hardened. Jules traced one with his thumb. Her lips parted at the burst of pleasure that streaked straight from his touch to between her legs.

"Stop. Goddamnit.
Jules.
"

He pulled her down to his mouth. "I don't wanna."

The kiss was scorching and Rissa was just beginning to consider letting him go further, when a voice whined from down the hallway.

"Mister Julie, I want a drink of water."

Jules cursed and she smiled against his mouth.

"How do Scott and Fannie get away with anything in this house?" Jules asked her in disgust as he picked her up and set her off his lap. She saw him wince as he got to his feet and giggled.

He looked down at her, the picture of male frustration. She had to put her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing outright.

"Funny, is it? Wait until later, and we'll see who is laughing." He warned her before heading into the kitchen to get Toby's water, listing slightly to one side.

Helplessly, Rissa buried her face in the cushions and laughed until her sides ached.

Scott and Fannie got home just after midnight, giggling like teenagers. They tiptoed through the front door and stumbled into the kitchen where Jules and Rissa were sharing a cup of coffee.

Fannie was gorgeous in a bright yellow dress with a full skirt and Scott was in killer black suit with suspenders that matched the sunny color of her dress. They were into competitive swing dancing, and from what Jules had said, they were damn good at it.

Fannie did a swirl when she saw them, her hair a wild flag about her head. Scott's arm swooped around her waist, holding her steady, then expertly letting her fall back into a little dip. She looked up at him with a dazzling smile that made Rissa's heart clench. How could you love like that, so wild and free? So goddamn fearlessly? It scared her to death, even as it made something inside of her ache.

"I do love you, Magic Man."

"Back at you, Sarsaparilla." Scott planted a hard kiss on Fannie's lips.

Rissa looked up at Jules, her eyebrows raised. He just shook his head, looking exasperated.

"Good lord, you two are nuts."

Scott shook his head as he pulled back from the kiss, helping Fannie to her feet. "No, kemosabe,
she's
nuts. I'm just high on life. Or maybe that's high on my wife."

Jules snorted as Fannie started laughing until she got hiccups. Rissa looked on in silent amusement, one hip against the counter, Jules solid and warm behind her. 

"So I take it you enjoyed the dancing?" Jules said dryly.

"Hells yeah. Show him, baby."

Fannie pulled a bright red ribbon from her purse at Scott's words.

"Second? Is that all?" Despite Jules' teasing, Rissa could hear the admiration. "How many couples did you have to crush for that trinket?"

"
Twenty,
you asshole." Fannie leaned forward and very deliberately pressed the rosette into Jules' forehead where it stuck.

Rissa looked up and started laughing with Fannie and Scott when Jules blew out an exasperated breath, making the long, trailing ribbons flutter against his lips. Jules rolled his eyes and pulled the ribbon off with a jerk, laying it on the counter.

"We're off then. Your monsters are in bed, don't wake them up with any…shenanigans, got it? I'm not coming over to put them back to bed for you."

"I think he means we shouldn't have sex tonight, honey." Fannie giggled again.

Scott grinned. "Shows what he knows."

"Oh, shut it. You do realize if you all don't quit that shit you'll have more kids than you can handle, even
with
my help."

Fannie kicked off her shoes. "I'm already knocked up, so not much more trouble I can get into, is there? Though he can try, all he wants." She crooked a finger at her husband. Scott gave Jules a meaningful look, rippling his fingers in a 'goodbye' gesture.

"Yes, leaving….
leaving
now." Jules grabbed Rissa's arm.

Laughter followed them out the door. Dew-beaded grass sparkled in the moonlight.

"Scott needs to mow." Jules muttered under his breath.

"I think he's got other things on his mind just now." Rissa said, then started to giggle when he glared at her.

"I don't need that image in my head, woman."

"Well," she caught up with him on the sidewalk, putting her hand on his arm. "In that case, perhaps there are some other images I can put in that head of yours."

"Please do." He kissed her before he opened the car door, long and soft and slow. When he was done, she just leaned against him, breathless and happy.

Happier than she'd been since…ever, maybe. Before Daimen, certainly. She shivered and his arms came up, squeezing her tight before he pushed her firmly into the car. "Let's go back to my place and get you warmed up."

"What do you say we go back to
my
place this time?" She said once he got in the car. "Its rehearsal tomorrow and I hate those damn early days enough already without an extra half hour drive."

"Sure." He winked at her as he started the XLS. "Hotel room sex. I'm down."

Rissa returned his wink with a smile.

"I like it when you go down, Jules.
So
much."

As the Caddy made its way down the street, neither Jules nor Rissa noticed the shadow that emerged from between the sleeping suburban houses. There was a glint of the moon on pale blonde hair and the harsh thump of boots on cement as Daimen watched the car slide around the corner, his hands in his pockets.

He cocked his head, then executed a military turn on his heel, contemplating the house Jules and Rissa had just vacated. His eyes flicked from the toys on the lawn to the half-open window where golden light and whispered laughter spilled out into the night.

He moved toward the sounds. His lips pursed as he began a jaunty tune, soft and low, so as not to disturb the happy couple. It was the same one he'd deliberately let Rissa hear the other night.

Like friends and like brethren, kind were we…