25 Dont talk with my mouth full (1/2)

Russ leaned back against the seat of the car as the low gentle tune on the radio drown out the light steady breath coming from the seat across from him.He glanced down at the display, it was already 3:30am. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his tired face as he thought about the past several hours. He turned toward her as he let his mind bask in the afterglow of the night. {I had been too afraid to put much thought into how things would be once she accepted my feelings, always afraid I would jinx it if I put too much thought into it... But never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that just within the course of 24 hours we would be openly dating, hanging out with friends as a couple, making love... Sharing life together like this.She's been the most important person to me for so long and now with this new growth to our relationship, I should be ecstatic.But I still want more. I can't be truly happy until she is all mine for the rest of our lives.} His lips curved up more into a toothy smile as he thought about a future with the woman beside him. { I can only imagine how cute she would be, her slender waist swelled with my child growing inside her... How beautiful a daughter would be with her aqua eyes and pale hair... How strong a son would be...} A light moan from the passenger seat pulled him from the dream of the family he had desired for so long.He shut the car off and turned toward the sleeping beauty beside him.

”Hey babe, wake up…” Russ lightly caressed Joslyn's cheek, ”We're home.” He smiled down at his sleepy-eyed passenger, ”Come on sleepy head, we can take a bath together in my room then lay down. I promise I'll actually let you get…. Some… sleep tonight.” He chuckled when her eyes popped open in surprise.He got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. Joslyn had already opened the door but was fumbling around in the floorboard by the time he made it around the car. ”What are you doing?”

Joslyn's voice came out muffled, ”I think I dropped my phone while I was sleeping.”She bumped her head on the dash before announcing, ”Ah, found it.” She tucked the phone into her back pocket then pushed herself up using the door.

He closed the door behind her and hit the lock button on his key, before snagging her hand as she attempted a hasty retreat toward the garage door. He pulled her back against him and laughed, ”What's wrong? Afraid I'll attach you in here again?”

Joslyn looked over her shoulder at him, eyes large as she replied, ”Well actually… A little.” She looked longingly toward the garage door, ”I'm pretty tired, old age ya know...”

Russ laughed, ”Alright, you win, but we are still taking a bath before we go to bed.” When she turned her head to look at him he smiled, ”I would promise to behave myself…. But I really can't make any promises. Definitely when it involves you in the tub with me.” He guided her out the door as she still stared in shock at him.

”Jeez, I'm not quite sure my old ass will be able to keep up with your stamina.” Joslyn mumbled as they made their way across the parking lot.

Russ couldn't hold back his laughter, ”Your old ass? Really?!” He continued holding her hand with one hand and grabbed his stomach with the other as he nearly doubled over with laughter.

Joslyn shoved him playfully as she argued, ”Yes, my old ass. Compared to you anyhow. You're all (deepens her voice) 'Hey babe...' (deepens her voice to imitate his more) 'Hey babe, let's do it… Let's do it again and again over here.' And all I want to do is curl up on the sofa with a fluffy blanket and knit or something.”

Russ arched both brows as another round of laughter overtook him, ”Knit?! Is that before or after you feed your 60 cats?”

Joslyn rolled her eyes as she continued walking toward the stairs, ”Laugh all you want, but even you have to admit I'm far from being a teenager, and besides I couldn't have a cat... You eat it...”

Russ burst out laughing again before he finally cleared his throat and stood up straight, seriously addressing her words, ”True, you are no teenage, but you have also kept yourself pretty cut off and sheltered over the years.”

Joslyn stepped up onto the first 3 steps of the staircase to their apartment then stopped and turned around to face Russ. She looked over his features quietly for a moment before responding. ”You're right, I have kept myself cut off from people for as long as I can remember.” She placed the palm of her hand against his cheek, ”But you have to understand, for the past 15 years… You and Shelly have always come first to me… to Raven as well.” She smiled down into his bright blue eyes tenderly, ”If that is such a bad thing then so be it, but I don't regret a minute of it or feel that I've missed out on anything over those years.” She kissed him lightly on the forehead before turning to continue up the stairs and adding, ”Besides what was I supposed to do 'Yes, I'm helping raise these young children. Can we please watch a PG13 movie, so I can bring them on the date with us?' I really don't think that would have gone over well while trying to date.” She glanced back at him and smiled playfully.

Russ just shrugged his shoulders as he followed her up. the stairs, ”Alright I'll give you that one I would have cockblocked the hell out of any guy trying to make a move on you anyways... but I'm sure you could have worked around it if you really wanted too.”

Joslyn smiled down at him again as she continued to climb, ”I'm sure you would have and I'm also sure I could have too, but I never wanted to.” She made it to the top then stepped aside so that Russ could unlock the door.Joslyn grabbed hold of the back of Russ's shirt, ”Wait… Do you think Shelly is back yet?”

Russ looked down into Joslyn's wide eyes, ”The doors still locked, if she was back it wouldn't be.” He stroked her cheek with his finger. ”Come on, don't worry. She'll have to get used to seeing us together sooner or later anyway.” He smiled down at her, then scooped her up into his arms bridal style and continued through the door. He kicked the door closed with his foot before making his way down the hallway with Joslyn in his arms as

Joslyn wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.She seriously doubted he would drop her, but she couldn't stifle the urge to hold on tighter.

Russ stopped in front of his bedroom door, ”Get the door, Babe.” She looked up at him questioningly. ”The doorknob, I would but then I'd have to put you down.” The corner of his lip turned up into a crooked smile.