Chapter 16
Woody looked over at Jordan, still sound asleep, slumped over on his chest. Tenderly, he brushed her long, brunette hair from her face, stroking her cheek in the process. She didn't budge. He smiled to himself. He couldn't blame her… after last night, he was still tired. He snuggled her closer, closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift back to the evening before.
It had started with the kiss. Intensely aware of how sensitive she was now, he was prepared to take as long as she needed, go as slowly as he had to, in order to make her comfortable with him. Comfortable making love again. Her response to his kisses was one thing. Her response to anything else may be different. He tightened his hold on her waist and waited for her reaction. She pulled closer. He had ran a trail of kisses down her neck to the hollow in the base of her throat, and heard her sharp intake of breath. He had pulled away then, looking into her eyes. "Jordan,' he whispered, "are you okay?"
She had only nodded.
"Look, if you want me to stop…"
"I don't want you to stop."
"But if you do…tell me."
"I will…just….just kiss me again. Please?"
He smiled at her and found her lips again, kissing her until she was nearly senseless. This time when his lips found their way along her collarbone to the base of her throat, she didn't flinch. And when his hands slid up her sides to just under her breasts, she didn't flinch then, either. "Are you okay?" he softly asked again, almost asking permission before he continued.
"Yes…."
"Are you sure?"
Her response was to move one of his hands to her breast and reach up and kiss him, turning up the passion of her kisses just a notch. Woody felt her pebble against his palm, and decided before they went any further, they needed to be more comfortable. Picking her up, he walked back across the room and put her down on the bed. She sighed with relief. Standing had been getting more difficult by the minute. But she caught her breath when he reached down to undo the tie of her robe. Instinctively, she covered his hand to stop him. He looked into her eyes. "Need to stop?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No. Just give me a minute." He backed off then and continued to lightly kiss her until he felt her relax. When he reached down to untie her robe again, she didn't stop him. He pushed away the sides of the robe and settled to one side of her, still caressing her, but letting her set the pace now. Jordan looked up at him…gazing into his eyes. In the past, years ago, when they had first been lovers, his eyes would turn as blue as the ocean at midnight in the heat of passion. They were that color now. Slowly she ran her hands down his chest and began to unbutton his shirt. He shrugged out of it and took his t-shirt off in the process. She began her own exploration then, causing his muscles to bunch in response. Reaching up to kiss him, she began to fumble with his belt.
"Jordan…wait…are you sure you're ready…for everything?"
"Yes…aren't you?"
Woody chuckled under his breath. "Yeah, but I can wait for as long as it takes for you to be comfortable."
"I am…I'm ready, Woody."
"Jordan…." He was breathing harder now as her fingers had unbuckled his belt and were now working on his pants, grazing the length of him as she did so. "Are you sure, sweetheart?"
"Never been so sure of anything in a long time."
He pulled away and looked deep into her eyes for a long moment. He didn't voice his question, but she knew what he was asking without saying it.
"Woody…as long as this is with you, I'm not afraid."
He let out a breath he felt like he had been holding for a long time, and slid his pants and boxers the rest of the way off, catching his socks in the process. Still intent on taking their love making as slow as possible, he ran his hand up her inner thigh until he gently touched her. She didn't flinch, but arched against his hand in response and smiled against his lips. "What you waiting for?" she asked. He groaned and kissed her again.
He caressed and kissed her until he heard her voice catch in the back of her throat…a sure sign from her past that she was ready….and he continued touch her until she went over the first edge. She sighed and relaxed against him afterwards, the he kissed her until she was acutely aware of him…but still in the tranquil place…before he had slid into her and heard her voice hitch again. "Jordan…look at me," he said.
She had opened her eyes and looked into his. "Are you with me, sweetheart?" She nodded. There was no fear in her eyes…
And that was the way it had gone…until some hours later, when they both sank deep into sleep. But now he was anxious to see how she was feeling…if things were still okay between them…if she was still sure of herself. "Jo…wake up," he said, gently shaking her.
Her eyes slowly cracked open and then shut again at the bright morning light. "Too early," she said, closing them again and snuggling against him. "I have two more days in this city before I fly home…please tell me I can sleep late."
"Are you okay? I mean….last night…."
She raised up one elbow and gently trailed a finger down his face, over his nose, and traced his lips. "Never better," she replied, kissing him again.
"Wait a minute, boys….hang on…you're going to hurt someone," Woody commanded, trying to slow down Brad and Bryan before they toppled over everything. "And you're going to wake Jordan. Let her rest."
"Da-a-a-a-ad," Brad began. "Jordan wants us here. She told us so."
"Yeah," Bryan echoed. "She did. Honest."
"I know….but wait just a minute. She's tired," Woody told his sons, watching them scramble to get in Jordan's room. It had been a fast two years…he thought, reflecting on their time together. As soon as they had returned from DC, Woody had talked to his sons, promising while he would never forget their mother, the time had come for them – the whole family – to move on. He asked Bryan and Brad if he could marry Jordan.
In return, the boys had given each other high fives. That was what they had wanted all along.
So three months later, shortly before Valentines Day, the boys and Woody had proposed. "We're a package deal," Woody had told her. "So….I thought it was only fitting that the boys be here."
Jordan had cried. Then smiled. Then said yes. Woody's diamond ring soon adorned her left hand. They were married in May, a small ceremony with close friends and the boys. Brad and Bryan had stood beside their father as his best men. In her vows, Jordan promised to love Woody and the boys … Soon after, they had moved into Jordan's house on Beacon Hill.
And it was those events that brought Woody and his boys here today. Woody found out that there was something he could give Jordan besides his love.
A baby.
A baby girl to be exact.
And that was why the boys were rushing to nearly tear the door off her hospital room. Their sister, Rebecca Emily Hoyt, was with her mother inside. Woody pushed open the door, and the boys went in. "Shh….she may be sleeping," Woody warned.
"Who? Mom or Becca?" asked Brad. Jordan startled. It was the first time either of the boys had called her mom.
"Both," whispered Jordan. "But come here anyway. All of you. I feel like I haven't seen you in days." The boys sat on the side of her bed and Woody leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"How are you doing?" he asked. It had been a long labor…over twenty hours.
"Tired….sore….but great."
"Can I see my daughter?"
"I think she's still awake. She just got through having lunch."
Woody went to the bassinet and picked Becca up. She opened her eyes and looked at her dad and brothers. Her eyes were blue, like the ocean…like Woody's, Brad's and Bryan's….but her hair was the color of her mother's…dark chestnut.
"Gosh, she's so tiny," Brad said, stroking her fist.
"Were we ever that little?" Bryan asked.
"Not quite so little. Becca weighs a hair over six pounds. You boys were over seven pounds each," Woody replied, sitting on the side of Jordan's bed, snuggling the sweet-smelling bundle close to him. A daughter. He had never pictured himself with a girl…but here she was. A thought ran through his mind that made him suddenly chuckle.
"What?" asked Jordan.
"Remember what Jon told you about angels? That sometimes they fall?"
She nodded.
"I think this one fell into us…and we caught her," he leaned over and kissed her quickly, "just like we caught you."