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Chapter 32: Portia
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Family Ties Chapter 33: Portia
Jude had avoided me last night, and this morning, he'd done exactly what I predicted the moment we got into the car to make the three-and-a-half-hour drive from Carondale to Cape Cod-he put on his headphones and opened a book. Ernie and Hensley talked amongst themselves, so I got out my iPad and played word scramble until my eyes crossed.The four of us checked in to the quaint bed and breakfast Hensley had arranged, and even though I knew it was coming, I was still shocked when Ernie handed me a key to the room Jude and I would share for the next week-alone. I'd hoped I would be paired off with Hensley and Ernie and Jude could do the boy thing. I knew better. They'd been clear that they intended for us to find a way through the issue at Christmas, and while I was willing to do what it took, Jude held fast to resistance. The guy was stubborn as a mule and always had been. God almighty couldn't make Jude Thomas do something he wasn't inclined to do. I groaned as I walked down the h
Family Ties Chapter 34: Portia
We hadn't seen much of Hensley and Ernie since we got to Cape Cod. They stopped by or sent one of us a text message to let us know where they were or what they were doing, but either they were having their own romantic holiday, or they believed shoving Jude and me together was the solution to our problems. I never would have thought it would work, yet it had-maybe too well. In the two days we'd been here, we'd eaten dinner with them and that was about it. And even then, there were stolen touches and secretive glances. My mom was clearly proud of herself and her plan for forced isolation, although she didn't realize what those secretive glances between Jude and me actually meant. She had no idea the two of us were playing tonsil hockey in the room, or holding hands on the beach, or kissing when no one was watching. Jude and I hadn't talked about what was going on between us. We just let it happen on its own accord, and it was better than anything I'd ever experienced. He was safe-
Family Ties Chapter 35: Jude
Waking the next morning, I wondered if the previous night had been a dream. The heat of a body curled into my side confessed the truth. Portia's dark hair flowed in a river of black covering the arm I had wrapped around her, and my fingers danced on her bare skin. Every second of our time together was crystal clear, yet I couldn't quite bring myself to believe it was real. With her soft breaths prancing across my chest, I carefully lifted the comforter, verifying the two of us remained unclothed. Portia stirred with the intrusive draft from the cool air in the room, and her hand slid along my side. I peered down my nose to see the smile begin to form, and even though she didn't open her eyes, the corners of her mouth lifted in happiness. "Good morning," she cooed in a husky voice that made my dick twitch. Her fingers continued to explore my bare flesh until she cupped my ass in her hand and squeezed. A sensual groan of satisfaction parted my lips and carried a word with it. "M
Family Ties Chapter 36: Jude
We met Ernie and Hensley downstairs in the living room, which served as a makeshift lobby for the bed and breakfast. They both had on jackets, indicating we were going out for brunch. Ernie grabbed my shoulder with a smile and then directed his affection toward Portia, scooping her into a hug. When they separated, he beamed. "Glad to see you two have worked things out and are on speaking terms again."Hensley stood from her seat and clapped her hands together and then held them in a prayer in front of her mouth. "I knew this would be the perfect thing for you to mend your relationship. Siblings should never squabble, much less for months." Her smile grew behind her fingers, and then she dropped her hands to her side. I cringed at her mention of the word siblings and wondered how Portia and I would ever break this to them or go public. Over the years, I'd made numerous comments about her not being my sister, just not enough to the two people who mattered. And as long as I'd love
Family Ties Chapter 37: Jude
"Do you think Hensley saw us?" Portia craned her neck, peering around my shoulder. "If she had, she wouldn't have kept walking." I could see the thrum of Portia's anxious heartbeat in the vein that ran along her neck. I'd be worried if she weren't grinning from ear to ear. Her fingers dug into my sides as she practically climbed my body to bring my face low enough for her to reclaim my lips. I'd learned quickly over the last four days that Portia was big into public displays of affection. There was no doubt the two of us were together, and to anyone we encountered it appeared we had been for ages. We'd held hands all over town, taken a couple of little day trips to see shit neither of us cared about as an excuse to have time away from Ernie and Hensley, and even if they were around, we found ways to sneak in stolen kisses and quick glances. Part of me worried if the thrill of hiding from them held the appeal for Portia.I pulled away from her kiss, distracted by my thoughts, as
Family Ties Chapter 38: Portia
It was what he said, how he said it, the way he kissed me before he admitted he'd already made plans for our future. It might have been naïve to believe that two foster kids who'd been to hell and back could end up with a happily ever after that included each other, but it was a dream I wanted to fall into head first. There was no resistance on his part when I linked my arm in his and redirected us back to our bed and breakfast. I'd rather hold his hand, but if we ran into Ernie and Hensley, us being arm in arm wouldn't rouse any suspicion. By the time we climbed the steps into the B&B, the quick pace back had left us winded. We hadn't seen or heard from my parents since lunch, and my best guess was they were off touring lighthouses or something equally as boring, which would allow us several hours before they would expect to have dinner. I planned to enjoy every minute.Jude closed the door to our room and engaged the lock. The moment he faced me, my fingers worked the zipper on
Family Ties Chapter 39: Portia
Neither of us took into consideration how hard the separation would be, much less how difficult keeping our relationship a secret would be. When I got back to school, Jet honed in on the difference in my attitude before I'd left compared to when I returned, and I couldn't give her anything other than Jude and I had worked through our differences. I had to sneak phone calls to him and change my tone when she walked in the room. But it was the physical loss of not having him near that was the hardest to deal with. She'd gone to class, leaving me in our room alone. I was biding my time until I could call Jude. As soon as I was certain he wasn't at school, I unlocked my phone and touched his name on my favorites list. "Hey, babe." Those two words uttered from his mouth in a deep, rich baritone released my frustration and warmed my heart. I never thought I'd crave hearing a common term of endearment, but something in his inflection, the casual way he said it, and how the words hit
Family Ties Chapter 40: Portia
At Jude's request, we celebrated his birthday at the diner where his mom had worked when he was growing up. And when the dishes had been cleared, one of the older waitresses, who'd known him since he was a child, brought out what appeared to be the entire staff to corral around our table. Together, they sang "Happy Birthday" behind a lemon pie with one lone candle burning brightly in the center of the whipped cream. When they were done, she set the pie in front of him, and he blew out the flame. His eyes glistened, but tears never formed. The lady leaned down and whispered something in his ear. He grinned when she patted his shoulder. I had worried that being here would set off emotions he wouldn't be able or ready to handle, but he soared through the night beautifully and appeared happy.As we left the diner, I snuggled against his side. The smell of cedar and citrus wafted around me in a hug as tight as his actual embrace. And when he held the door open for me to walk through, h
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