Chapter Forty-Five: Fitting in

Jon hoisted a football back at his eldest son and dusted his hands off. Pleased with the way the meeting had gone he’d had pretty good judgement that the kids wouldn’t have issues with Devon. They were well adjusted to Dorothea and Bruce being together so this shouldn’t have come as a shock. According to Stephanie it should have happened months ago. He’d had women but none that he’d considered to introduce to the kids as he knew that they were fleeting relationships. He kind of hoped that this time was going to be different. Hell, he knew already that it was.

He watched her as she stood on the grassy verge with her arms wrapped around herself, she was still nervous and he didn’t blame her. His kids were good but they could be overwhelming and in your face. It was a testament to Dorothea how well-mannered and behaved they really were.

“C’mon let’s see you throw!” Jon called to her as he slid his sunglasses on and pulled on a baseball cap out of his back pocket.

She stood with her hands on her hips indignantly. “You really expect me to throw the ball? Do you even know me?”

He chuckled and ran over to her. “Here, Jesse!” He held his hand up as the ball hurtled towards him and caught it. He handed it to her but she folded her arms and backed away as if it was a grenade he was holding.

“Uh uh, I’m going over there.” She pointed where Steph was with the younger boys down by the river-bank.

“Just one throw, then I’ll leave you alone.” He wasn’t a tall guy but he enjoyed hovering over her petite frame and the fun sexual intimidation never got old.

“I doubt you ever could leave me alone.” She said smugly. “You just want to laugh at me, don’t you?”

“Noooo, I’m shocked you would suggest something like that!” His eyebrows wiggled behind his glasses. She wasn’t an athletic girl but she was in fine shape.

“Gimme that!” She snatched the ball from her and the fire shot into her eyes. “Ready Jess?”

“Why does he have to be ready he’s yards away--you should be pulling him in, you’ll never throw that far.” Her small frame and delicate way she moved and did things was not built for football. And it didn’t have to be, he loved that about her. She had such a calm and lovely way about her - that was until she taunted him like the devil woman.

“Shut up Bon Jovi.”

“Ohh fightin’ words!” He slapped his hands together and watched her take two steps back and then charge releasing the ball. To his astonishment it flew it carried through the air to his son. It wasn’t the most powerful of throws but hell, she had the length.

“Awesome throw Devon!” Jesse called victoriously.

“Well aren’t you full of surprises.” Jon commented as he stretched his arm up for Jesse to return him the throw. He stepped back as the ball sailed towards him and caught it. He blinked and then lost his footing as the wind was knocked out under him by something, no someone as he tumbled to the ground with Devon in tow giggling.

He had hit the ground hard and stretched the kinks out of his back. “Holy crap-what was that?”

Devon sat up and dusted off her pants before standing above him. “Tackling, that’s how you play rugby.”

“Holy crap Devon.” He sat up and rubbed his neck. “You’ll owe me a massage tonight after that.” He dusted his own pants and got off the ground and turned to see Jesse and Steph barrelled over laughing.

“Oh c’mon...I was totally unprepared.” He defended but couldn’t help the grin spread on his face as he watched his kids laugh.

“Oh god. Dad-that was so funny!” Jesse snorted as he slapped his leg. “BOO-YAH!”

“Ok that’s enough! And you!” He pointed directly at Devon. “Where in the hell did you learn to tackle like that?”

It was her turn to wiggle her thin brows and wink. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Jesse joined them while Steph went back to the boys. “You are a legend; man can you do that again?” He tugged out his cell phone from his pocket. “I want to record it for my friends. One minute you were standing them and BOOM you were on the ground Dad. By a girl!” He snorted and Devon bit on her lip and tried to look as innocent as hell.

“You’re not my son anymore.” Jon grumbled.

Jesse slapped his shoulder. “What’s wrong pops? Can’t handle being slammed to the ground by a girl. She is my hero!” Jesse grinned as he threw his arm around Devon’s shoulders.

Jon stepped back and chuckled. If he was right, he’d guess his son had a little crush on Devon. He’d seen it when they were in the kitchen he was trying to impress her. His kid didn’t do that unless he thought she was pretty. Just like his old man he mused. Not so subtle on the flirting thing.

“You’re dirty.” He folded his arms and looked Devon up and down at the smears of dirty across her arms and pants.

She shrugged. “It was worth it.”

Devon and Jesse both grinned broadly before Jesse patted his father’s shoulder and jogged up to the other kids. “She is a keeper, Dad.”

Jon rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around the top of Devon’s shoulders, tucking her into him as they walked along the river.

“Are you really OK? I didn’t make you pull out back disc or something did I?”

He breathed in her sweet scent at the top of her head before laughing. “I’ll live. I’m not that old.” He closed his eyes as Devon’s hand around his back slid up his t-shirt and her fingers pressed gently into his back in a mini circular motion. “Mmm, yeah you need to give me one of those tonight.”

Jesse had stripped off his tee-shirt and was sitting on the grass with Romeo. It was no secret his son was lean and fit and he’d certainly gained a few muscles since he saw him last. “The Playboy over here thinks you’re hot.” He commented loosely.

“What?” Devon asked confused.

“Jesse. He thinks you’re cute.”

“What?” Jon laughed as her cheeks flushed.

“Relax it’s just a little crush I’m sure.”

“Did he say something?”

“He didn’t have to.” Jon stopped and turned her and leaned in. His nose bumped against hers and his lips hovered over hers. “He’s got good taste.”

“Stop it-god!” She slammed her eyes shut but he chuckled against her lips before silencing her with a kiss. “I told you they’d like you.”

“Well that's great and Romeo thinks I’m the new nanny.”

Jon laughed. “Well he’ll soon realize you aren’t. Don't worry about that." He’s just used to having a nanny when he lived in this house. You’re the first woman I’ve introduced them to officially. So he’s just a little confused.”

She relaxed in his embrace. “They are great kids.”

“Yeah they are. Are you OK with Dorothea wanting to invade your salon?”

“Of course. I have to admit I was a little scared of that whole situation but she is fine. Not that scary.”

“Dorothea is good. She does a lot of good things and it’s a compliment that she wanted to work with you. Believe me if she didn’t approve of you, which is none of her business anyway she’d have no issue telling you.”

“Well thanks. I’m looking forward to a new business opportunity even in addition to the one I created for your mother.”

“I’m just taking over your life huh?” He mused. He knew he was far from it but Devon was worth the effort he’d been able to give. He knew a good business when he saw it and more importantly a good business women and he had the connections to get her started.

“Yeah you are.” She sighed into another kiss. “But in the very best of ways.”

He rubbed the small of her back and they made their way across the lawn to the kids. He counted his blessings regularly and today was one of those days. He had the love of good woman and his kids around him, and it was just what he needed to regroup. He had some decisions to make with the band coming up and this was a nice temporary distraction.

~

By the time the youngest kids were in bed and then two hours later Jesse and Stephanie had headed up to bed, Devon was exhausted. They’d had a fun night with Jon ordering pizza and watching a couple of movies on what could only be described as a ridiculous movie screen that popped out of the floor the size of a wall in the family living space.

She sat on the corner of the couch with her legs tucked under her balancing a glass of wine on the arm of the couch. Jon strolled back into the room from disposing the empty cups and plates. “Are you coming up to bed?”

She covered her mouth as she yawned when he she tried to speak. “Yes.” She finally said.

“Everyone is asleep. A blessing that I now have older kids. It used to be a nightmare.”

“Carry me up the stairs?” She asked jokingly as she straightened the cushions.

“I would normally but you smashed my back today and you probably weigh a ton after the all the pizza and wine you just drank.”

“Hey!” She fired one of the cushions across at him. “That wasn’t nice.”

But he ducked the incoming missile. “I’m not a nice guy. Oh and I’ve already decided you need to give me a massage or a blow job for tackling me.”

“Oh really? And when did you make this decision?” She asked as they made their way up the stairs. He was a cheeky bugger sometimes. She still relished in the fact she took him down. Little did he know that her family was rugby mad back in New Zealand. The good times the family had were great before she grew up and had to make stupid decisions.

“I just did. I’m up for either. Oh there is a third option too.” He closed the door to the master suite behind them and kicked off his shoes.

“Oh yea? Gee I wonder what that could be.” She said sarcastically as he pushed her gently back towards the bed.

“I’m horny.” He whispered as his lips scraped up her jaw and the fell back onto the bed.

“You’re always horny and I thought I already said no about this.” He was all over her in seconds. His hands had swallowed hers pinning them on each side of her and her legs were tangled around his like pretzels.

“They’re asleep. And we’ll be quiet. Which I know is a stretch for you.”

She blushed. “I hate you right now.”

The jokes stopped and his face softened and his eyes dilated. “Devon. I need you. Today is the first day I’ve felt complete in a long time.”

Oh god. He knew how to lay it on and she was buying it too. “Don’t say things like that, you know I’m a sentimental girl.”

“I’m serious. I had my family with me today, my new family.”

Her heart swelled. “God, Jon...I’m glad you feel that way I liked them a lot. And I’m glad to now know what makes you, well you. And I can see that they do.”

“My kids ground me Dev. You ground me.”

“If you make me cry I’ll be so mad.” She giggled too offset the tears that pricked in the corner of her eyes.

The kiss was long and slow, his tongue teased the top of her lip as it burned right through her. His fingers moved to her jaw and held her to assure her. He tangled his fingers in a fist full of hair and his mouth was barely a breath from hers. He was warm like sunshine, sunshine into the shady places of her life.

What was she doing? She asked herself. His kids were in the house and she was lying at the mercy of their father on their parent’s bed? It should have been weird and she wanted to push him back and go enforce her earlier statement about this but she couldn’t. How could she with a declaration like that one? Jon didn’t know it but family and belonging somewhere was something she’d missed in all this time abroad. Honestly, she had never expected to get it from Jon. She’d fell for his charm and good looks and the rest had all just followed.

Had it been fate he’d walked into her salon that day? Who would ever know but one thing was sure the more he gave her, the more she wanted to wrap herself around him and never let go.

She felt her bones melting and she sank deep into the bed as if she was on clouds. There was no turning back from falling in love with him. She’d already come to terms with this. She buried her head into his shoulder as his hands made light work of her clothes, his skin on her skin. His hands cupped her breasts and his thumb rolled her over her aching nipples.

She growled and wriggled under him. He always knew how to get her.

“Shhhh.” He whispered to her ear. “Can you do quiet Devon? While I rip you apart?”

She was instantly wet. “Yes.” She said in no more than a whisper.

He chuckled and his hand slid into her panties. His mouth was hot on her neck, his teeth gently scraping skin as his finger slid inside her.
“So wet.” He groaned against her ear and she quivered. She was falling and fast. Lightning spears of pleasure shot through her leaving her trembling under him.

“Devon.” He said it again as he kissed her and swallowed her gasping breaths. Rocked to the core she brushed his hair back and framed his face in her hands. She was taut as a wire but she needed more from him. “More.”

“I had no intentions of stopping.” He tugged off his jeans and slipped inside her. The urge to cry out his name was there but she covered his mouth with hers as she groaned. Her nails found his ass as he slid deeper rocking her to one more crest.

“Shhh.” He whispered again reminding her that what they were doing was a little naughty. It didn’t nothing to curb her desire for him right then and there.

She gasped and tipped her head back, biting her lip as his mouth was like a brand as it kissed down the centre of her breast. She arched back and threaded her fingers into his hair. The pressure tipped over inside her body as she held the assault on her body.

“Jon-oh god...” She panted before the shudder and his hand slapped across her mouth as she screamed uncontrolled against his palm. Her heart hammered as he buried his face in her hair and let himself follow. Stunned silence held in the room with only the sound of their hearts beating between them.

“Oh shit.” She panted as she lay back trembling and wiped a brow full of sweat away. She wanted to curl into him and float away.

He kissed her shoulder, the bottom of her neck and then her lips. “See. I knew you couldn’t keep quiet.”

“And I knew you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands to yourself.” She whispered hoarsely as they shared a kiss before he pulled her up from the bed. They changed and climbed into bed snuggling down. She relaxed into the side of his chest and draped her arm across the band of his chest.

“So, is my debt paid for tackling you?”

“Hmmmm.” His grip around her tightened as she closed her eyes. “I’ll have to think about that.”

“Of course you will.” She snorted lightly as they both fell into sleep.