Chapter 6
6
J.J. POST
"Honey… I'm home!"
J.J. was in the kitchen trimming some chicken breasts to put in the oven for them to have for dinner when Chloe came bursting in the front door. He loved that woman's enthusiasm and playfulness – even if she wasn't living here yet. They both agreed not to make any moves or changes until everyone knew what their intentions were.
"'Bout time," he chuckled, looking over his shoulder at her. "Kick off your shoes and get comfy. I picked up a movie for us to watch."
"You're treading on dangerous territory, honey. A girl could get used to this," Chloe teased, yanking off her sneakers and hopping on one foot before changing to the other one. Not a second later, she was walking in his direction, still sassing him – and he loved it. "Come home from work, sexy man in the kitchen, dinner on the table soon…"
"Where's this sexy man at?" he chuckled as she slid up to his side, kissing him on the cheek. "Should I call the police for someone breaking and entering?"
"Ha!" she retorted, swatting him playfully on the backside. "I think we both know where he is. Lemme wash my hands, and I'll help with dinner."
"If you want to butter the rolls, I was going to pop them in the oven."
"I'll butter your bread, honey…"
"Chloe," he chuckled, feeling his cheeks heat up slightly. She was awfully forward sometimes, and he knew she did it to get a reaction out of him. "If your parents heard you, your father would have me in a headlock before I knew what was happening… you know he would think that we've crossed a line seeing how easy we are together."
"Wouldn't he get a kick out of hearing that you're the prude in the relationship?"
"I'm not a prude."
"Dude, you are absolutely a prude."
"I'm just not going to ruin our relationship or do any damage that cannot be undone before we get married."
"Well, you'd have to ask me to marry you first."
"Chloe, we've talked about that too," J.J. sighed, looking at her impish smile. "You know I want to ask for your father's permission first – and they are flying up to see you in two weeks."
"Have I mentioned that I was an impatient child?"
"Have I mentioned that I already knew that?" he retorted, meeting her smile as he slid the pan of chicken breasts into the oven. "Who do you think ratted you out years ago at Christmas for peeking in the stockings?"
"You didn't!"
"I sure did – because you beat me to it."
"That's it. We're done. "
"Whatever – and, no we're not," he laughed at her false bravado that was so easy to see through. His beloved Chloe talked a big game sometimes and as he looked over his shoulder from where he was standing at the sink washing his hands, he saw the challenge in her face as she puffed up her chest and threw back her shoulders.
Yup.
"No, but don't you toss me under the bus because you were too slow to make your move, Buster. You just need to speed up your mojo or get a little more devious when you are around me."
That was his girl… running her mouth to look tough.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, ‘ really' …"
"You want more devious and quicker?"
"J.J. Post – the quicker, slicker, never-picker-upper Post-man that you can always count on to deliver at a certain time, just like clockwork… no excitement, no challenges, and nooo rush – ever."
"Are you calling me predictable ? Chloe, you just wait," he chuckled, quickly drying his hands and tossing the towel on the counter before grabbing her by the waist. "You want devious and quicker, then you better brace yourself for what is coming."
"For what? Huh? What are you gonna do?" she pushed, her voice breathless and full of emotion as she waited expectantly. He could see it in her eyes and felt her soften in his arms as he pulled her close. Her beautiful eyes held his as she whispered once more, almost taunting him. "Why should I brace myself?"
"For this," he whispered, kissing her tenderly.
An hour later, they were sitting on the couch watching the movie together and snuggling – and it was always in the same way. His Chloe was the predictable one, he mused, pulling up her favorite blanket to cover her shoulder tenderly. He always sat on the left corner of the couch with one leg out of the way so she could sit down and lean against his chest. She had grabbed a favorite throw out of the closet that he'd bought for her to keep her warm… a pink, fuzzy chenille throw that was decidedly feminine.
"I love you," she mumbled as he kissed the top of her head.
"I love you too, my queen," he breathed, treasuring how good life was between them as his mind raced silently. He would let nothing ruin what they had growing between them.
"This is the best," she sighed, snuggling down against him as her elbow dug into his stomach slightly – and he wouldn't utter a word. No, this really was the best moment ever, and he never wanted them to end. It was times like this that he wished he could scoop up her sleepy form and carry her to bed.
He would love to cuddle with her all evening long, just holding her close. It wasn't about sex, passion, or anything dramatic between them. They were everything good, beautiful, and tender. She was his best friend, his soulmate, his very rock, and he was hers.
Anytime Chloe needed something, it was his ultimate joy to provide – which was why he waited for her. She needed time to be able to train, fly, and fulfill her dreams, and he gave her all of the time she needed because he loved her. He would forever be humbled that she adopted the endearment he used as her call sign – Queen.
It was her nod to him, a way to show her love.
It was his nod to her surname because he intended to change it.
"I agree," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her as the television lights flickered in the distance. He wasn't even watching the screen, but rather it was a distraction to keep her here, in his world, a little longer. Holding her close would never get old, and she made him feel whole— complete. "I love our time together, and our relationship is the best."
Chloe angled her chin upward, stretching to kiss his chin as her little elbow dug into him, making him chuckle. Yeah, these moments were the ones that people wouldn't understand. They could be doing nothing, just hanging out, or they could be in the same room together, and it was like paradise. Just her existence made him feel whole – and he would be lost without her.
"My beloved queen," he whispered again, squeezing her slightly in a hug as she settled back against him with a happy sigh. They would figure this out somehow, he thought silently.