Chapter 62

Richie sat in bed, his back against the headboard, a book in his lap, listening to his wife’s voice coming through the baby monitor and smiled. She was singing softly to Zachary while she fed him his bedtime snack. They’d already put Stevie and Lauren to bed.

He’d been home three days and was feeling pretty good, but the women in his life were determined to coddle him.....and he wasn’t stupid enough to argue with them – at least for a few more days. He expected it from Rosa and Tori, but even Ava had gotten in on it, insisting he let her do any fetching and carrying he needed done while he sat and rested his shoulder.

The song ended and was followed by a loud burp. Richie grinned. That’s my boy! A few minutes later the door closed and he glanced up to see his wife walk up to the bed and climb in.

“Zack asleep?”

“Mmmhmm.” She nodded, letting her gaze roam over his exposed chest. When she came to the bandage on his shoulder, she frowned.

Richie watched her, seeing the guilt and sadness in her face when she looked at his shoulder. He’d let her take the blame, but the truth was it was only partially her fault. He had to take a share of the responsibility. It was because of him that Jasmine came after their family in the first place. And Tori had been right when she said he could have waited outside and let Mike get her out.....if he wanted to be a coward and let someone else fight his battles. On second thought, maybe it was all her fault.

Sitting close to him, Tori leaned her head on his good shoulder. “How’s your shoulder feeling tonight?”

“The pain’s down to a dull ache. It’s bearable.”

“We should change your dressing. I’ll get the stuff.”  She crawled off the bed and headed for the bathroom for gauze and salve. Returning to the bedroom, she approached his side of the bed and climbed on, straddling his legs and sitting on his thighs as he set aside his book.

Very carefully, she removed the bandage and inspected the line of stitches closing his wound. The damaged flesh was still red, but not as bad as the day before. She smoothed salve over the tender skin with the lightest touch, afraid of causing him any more pain. The feel of his muscles tensing under her hand was like a stab to her heart.

Pressing gently on the last piece of tape securing the clean bandage, Tori sat back looked at him with shining, sad eyes. “I’m so sorry this happened Rich.”

“Hey.” He pulled her against his chest, kissing her head while his hands rubbed her back. “She’s gone and we’re all here, together and safe. That’s all that matters.”

She blew out a ragged breath and nodded her understanding of what he was trying to tell her.  It didn’t make her feel any less guilty though. Turning her head, she dotted a few kisses on his chest and let her fingers toy with a patch of hair and caress the smooth skin. She felt his body’s response under her. Sitting up, she glanced down at the tented sheet beneath her hips, then back up at her husband.

Richie’s lips twisted into a wry smile at her surprised look. “What did you expect? My body knows what those clever fingers can do....and it’s been deprived of that magic touch for a few days.”

“Are you really up to it?”

He snorted. “What’s it look like to you?”

Tori pulled the sheet back and wrapped her hand around his rapidly swelling shaft. “It looks like my favourite toy wants to play.”

Leaning forward slightly, she pressed her lips to his, her tongue slipping between to taste him. At the same time, her hand stroked his length, hardening him even more. His hands fisted in her nightgown and tugged.  She released him long enough to remove the offending garment, then went back for another taste.

For long minutes their tongues duelled and their hands roamed as their desire slowly built. The feel of his calloused fingertips scraping lightly down her back was a familiar thrill that never failed to set her skin on fire and raise goosebumps at the same time. A shiver ran the length of her spine and she arched against him, pressing her breasts closer.

“Mmmmm.” She deepened the kiss even more, her mouth hungrily demanding.

Richie’s groan was a rumble deep in his chest, the pain in his shoulder buried beneath the pleasure her touch incited. He reached down to cup her ass, moulding her hips to his. Long fingers lightly probed her feminine core.

Tori whimpered and rocked against the hard flesh beneath her, bathing him in the evidence of her arousal. Desire rapidly escalated to the hot burning passion that was, and always had been, an integral part of their relationship. Familiarity didn’t make it any less intense or exhilarating.

Tearing her mouth from his and sitting up, Tori shoved the blankets further behind her, baring him completely. “Now Richie,” she panted. “I need you inside me now!”

She had positioned herself over him and was starting to sink down and take him in when he remembered. “Wait!” He grabbed her hips to halt her.

“What? Why?” She shuddered and groaned. “You’re killing me!”

His chuckle was low and....dirty. “Hang on a minute. I got a new toy for us.” He waggled his brows. “You’ll like it, I promise.”

She sat back on his thighs, a slight frown wrinkling her brow. “You think we’ve reached the point where we need toys?”

“Need them? No.” Framing her face with his large hands, he leaned forward and kissed her. “God no! We’re so hot together it’s a wonder the house is still standing!” He paused. “But there’s nothing wrong with trying something new is there?  Not because we need to, but because we want to? For fun?”

Reassured, she smiled. “When you put it that way...no. Where is it?”

He reached into the drawer of his bedside table and pulled out a large ring. It was made of smooth, flexible plastic, and had a bulge on one side.  His eyes closed against the sensations as he slid the ring down his engorged shaft.

Tori’s eyes widened at the sight of the ring struggling to contain him. She ran her fingers lightly up and down his length. “Does it hurt?”

Richie shuddered, but shook his head. “No. There’s some pressure, but no pain.”

As she watched he appeared to swell even more. “Mmmm. Look at how big he’s getting!” Unable to restrain herself, she bent to run her tongue around the ridge, then sucked the throbbing tip into her mouth. “Mmmmmm.”

The pressure, suction and vibrations from her humming threatened to snap the last thread of his control. “Angel...” He had to pause and swallow hard before he could continue. “As much as I love what you’re doing, if you don’t get on with it, this will be all over and you’ll miss the best part.”

Intrigued, she released him with an audible pop and raised her head. “Better than this?”

“Shared pleasure is always better.” He gestured towards his rigid erection. “Have a seat and you’ll see what I mean.”

Tori moved forward, gripped his good shoulder with one hand and used the other to guide him to her entrance. A gasp was ripped from her as she sank down.  For a moment she didn’t think she could take him, but then her internal muscles eased and her body opened even more and let him in. When their bodies were completely joined, she sat motionless and focused on catching her breath. She’d never felt so full. She was almost afraid to move. “Jee.....sus!”

Richie would have laughed if he had the breath. If she thought it was overwhelming now she was really going to lose it when she got the full effect. “Okay?”

Tori took a deep breath and nodded.

Richie grinned, pushed her knees wider, gripped her hips and thrust upwards, causing the bulge in the ring to press into the sensitive nub of her clit. He rotated his hips and watched her face.

“Holy shit!” Tori gasped.

“See, I told you you’d like it.”

Tori was beyond speech. In fact, she was beyond thought. Her world was reduced to pure sensation....and she wanted more. Shifting her hips, she experimented until she found the movement that produced the most intense stimulation. The first climax took her by surprise. “Oh! Oh! Mmmmm.”

Richie gazed up a her, noting her heaving chest as she struggled to breathe. One brow quirked. “Had enough already?”  That would be unusual for her, but it was the first time with the new toy.

Tori’s eyes narrowed at the veiled challenge. Leaning back slightly, bracing her hands on his thighs relieved some of the friction of the plastic on her clit as she rocked against him.

Richie leaned back against the headboard and let his gaze roam over his wife. This was how he loved to see her best – lost in passion and desire...for him. Her eyes were deep cobalt, glowing as if lit from within. Her creamy skin was flushed a rosy pink as was covered with a sheen of sweat.

He skimmed his hands up her sides to cup her swollen breasts, attempting to ease the pain each bounce would no doubt be sending through her body as she writhed above him.  It was a sight he could look at all day. Unfortunately the demands of his body - and the pressure of the ring compressing his aching flesh - wouldn't allow for it. In fact, it was taking all of his considerable control to remain passive and let her take as much pleasure as she wanted or needed to sate her craving. But he was determined to hold out as long as he possibly could.

Sweat was running in rivulets down his spine by the time the next orgasm overtook her body. He gathered her against his chest and waited for her tremors to subside. The hot gusts of her panting breath were still tickling his ear when he felt her hips grind down against the ring, searching for more of the addicting sensation. His head dropped back as he struggled to maintain control. Feeling her nibble on his adam’s apple didn’t help.

“Mmmm. Oh God Richie!” Tori groaned and swivelled her hips faster, the abrasion of the bulge in the ring against her clit sending jolts of sensation through her body like an electrical current. It was both exciting and overwhelming, and quickly took her over the edge. “Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh God! Oh God! OH RICHIE!!!!”

“Angel!” The vice like clench of her feminine flesh around his embedded shaft took him right to the verge.  The ripples of her release took him over. “Fuck!”

When the trembling eased and enough strength returned to her limbs to allow her to move, Tori lifted off of her husband and settled beside him. She reached out with delicate fingers to ease the ring off his softening shaft. “This is definitely a keeper!”

Richie chuckled. “I told you you’d like it.”

“Mmmm. I do.” Setting it on the bed side table, she leaned up to kiss him. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Curling up against him, listening to his heart beat rhythmically under her ear, Tori felt herself completely relax for the first time in weeks. Her knight in shining armour had saved her life, the little princes and princesses were safe and the wicked witch had been vanquished once again. All was right in her world. Hopefully this time it would last forever.