Chasing Serenity (River Rain 1)

It ended with us wound together on our sides, my leg over Judge’s hip, our arms around each other, his cock stroking inside me as we kissed softly, spoke no words, and held gazes.

So it came as a surprise when my orgasm built and exploded without any warning.

And it felt beautiful as Judge took my mouth as I was gasping through it and absorbed my climax.

Then he rolled me to my back, and I held him with everything I had as he rode me to his.

We were in love, I knew this. The words hadn’t been spoken because they didn’t need to be.

It was not just me, or more him.

We loved each other.

I knew that the night he carried me to my bathroom.

And what we just shared was delayed, but it was about that.

It was about looking after each other now.

And looking forward to doing it forever.

Judge carried me to the bathroom again that night. We took care of each other there. But the difference was, I didn’t dress myself. When he carried me back to set me on my feet at the side of the bed, he slipped my nightie over my head and knelt before me so I could step into my panties.

I did that, studying his broad shoulders, the muscles across his lats, the depth of the indent of his spine, and I was not a crier, I detested doing it, it was only that recent circumstances had warranted my emotional displays.

But the tears again welled in me.

I held them back as he looked up at me and then righted his head, kissed my belly and rose, reaching for his pajama pants.

All right, so…

Maybe it was more me in the love department.

“Good?” he asked when I didn’t move after he’d pulled on his pajamas.

“Good, honey,” I answered.

A soft smile from my Judge.

A soft kiss.

Then we slid into bed together, wound ourselves around each other, and we put another day behind us, knowing we would face what was ahead of us the same way.

That way was our way, and always would be.

Together.

Chapter 28

The Magic and The Miracle

Chloe

The next afternoon…

Before everyone moved off the evening before, we’d made our plans as a family for the next day.

It was Mom and Dad who did it, with Bowie encouraging it, Jamie leaning into it, and the rest championing it.

And the plan was genius.

We’d breakfast together in Judge, Rix and my room, however and whenever people drifted in, no pressure for a time for all to meet (Jamie had called one of his assistants to contact the hotel to set up a buffet in the bar area).

One of Jamie’s assistants had also secured two tennis courts at a local club.

Therefore, mid-morning, Dad, Bowie, Matt, Judge, Jamie, Gage and Sully were going to go play tennis (Rix had opted out, he was going to work out instead, however, he ended up in someone else’s room last night for a pre-workout workout and texted Judge that he’d meet up with the rest of us as agreed, later in the afternoon).

In the meantime, Dru had gotten on the phone and arranged spa appointments for her, Mom, Sasha and me. Facials. Body wraps. Massages. Several hours of bliss and pampering.

After the tennis tournament was over, we’d reconnect for a late light lunch and then we had time to visit and get ready because, even later, we had a private room in a fancy restaurant Jamie favored for dinner.

The plan offered opportunities to do what we enjoyed, with plenty of together time before what was to happen tomorrow.

See?

Genius.

It was also private.

Various patrons couldn’t miss Mom, Bowie, Dad or Jamie walking through the lobby or halls. But we weren’t out there and visible.

Mom had taken me aside the night before and shared what I hadn’t thought to investigate.

Belinda’s death had been picked up by the media.

“It isn’t a big story,” she said. “But it’s a story.”

Her point was made.

The candle was burning, and as ever, we needed to do what we could not to throw gasoline on that flame.

As I checked my phone between my massage and body wrap, I realized the Family Plan was even more perfect than I expected.

Judge followed sports, though he wasn’t that huge of a fan, except of tennis. So his texts reporting the goings-on at the club shared that, even if the match he’d played with Dad in their tourney was a match he’d also lost to Dad, he’d loved playing him.

And I loved that.

As well as the fact that Gage had started a full-family text string, with Dru, Jamie and Rix included. This was where he shared pictures and short video clips of Dad and Judge’s match, hilariously declaring it the “Rematch of the Century.”

My baby brother was amusing in the way I almost hoped he wouldn’t finish growing up.

Though I knew, when he did, he’d just be even more fantastic.