“Yeah, there’s no way we could do THAT with the boys here,” Deana panted, catching her breath. 

“I keep telling you, sexy as fuck…”

Deana rolled her eyes.  “Can we not do this again? I got your point, several times just now…”

 “I can’t help it when I’m with you,” he sighed. “Let’s get some rest, we’ll see how much of that we get tomorrow night, too…”

…

They got to Deana’s parents’ home, her mom answering the door. 

“Boys, auntie is here!” she called across the house.

“AUNTIE!!” they screamed, running as fast as they could to greet her. 

“Go get your bags, I’m glad you didn’t unpack yet…” her mom said to the boys. They rushed off to get their things. 

“Is Dad home?” Justin asked.

“No, he had a long shift at work, then trains ran late.  I’ll tell him you both say hi.”

Justin’s face shifted a bit, a nervous pit in his stomach tightening. “Maybe next time, then,” he said reluctantly. 

The boys came out with their bags, ready to go. They all said goodbye to her mom before heading to the car. Justin got an SUV to pick up the boys, getting everyone in before heading home. 

“Boys, while this is supposed to be fun, you need to follow rules. Not everything is a toy, you’re old enough to know that by now. If it looks like a toy, ask first. If either of us says no to something, that means no, not to go ask the other one.”

“Yes Auntie,” they replied. 

Their mouths dropped as they walked into the penthouse. “It’s huge,” they said. 

“JJ, Josiah, are you ready?” Deana asked. 

Justin ordered pizza, pepperoni for the boys, a chicken garlic for the grown ups. “You boys like soda? We can have that and chips while we wait for the pizza. Or… we can just play video games before the movie and pizza…” Justin offered.

“Video games!” the boys answered. 

“Do you have Minecraft? Or Mario Brothers stuff?”  JJ asked. 

“If not, I’ll get them. I think I have Minecraft, I don’t get as much time to play anymore now that I have your Auntie around.”

“Does she not let you?”

“No, I just have work or want to spend time with her.  You’ll understand when you’re older. How old are you again?”

“I’m 9, Josiah’s 6, almost 10 and 7.”

“Let’s go see what I have that you can play.”

“Do you have the Switch?” JJ asked. 

“No, should I get one?” 

“We brought ours, I can help you set it up.  It’s really fun.”

Justin smiled at Deana as they got things set up. The pizza arrived as they were getting ready to start. 

“Are you ok with warm pizza so we can play a bit first?” Justin asked. “We just set it up, I want you to be able to play before we do the movie.”

“Yeah, the pizza is too hot for me right now. We can play while it cools,” Josiah answered. 

“I’m a grownup, I can do both at the same time…” Justin bragged, grabbing a piece of pizza before picking up the controller. 

Deana sat back, letting him have time to bond with them. She knew this stuff was right up his alley, he hadn’t been able to play as much as he might have wanted to. 

They played for at least an hour before Justin decided they should stop. “I think Auntie is getting bored…”

“It’s fine, you boys have fun, we’re here all night. Do you want a pizza break, you can play some more, then we can do candy and ice cream during the movie?”

“Deal!” the boys answered. They put down their controllers and grabbed plates of pizza. They sat on the couch as they ate.

“You spoil them,” Justin said, sitting next to her. 

“Isn’t that my job? With our kids, definitely not. Well, not all the time. This is special.”

“I mean, you saw me with the girls. Left alone, I would spoil them rotten…”

“No bedtime, just see who crashes first. If it’s me, please be nice…” Deana pleaded. 

“I guess,” Justin laughed. 

“If we’re ready, I’ll grab my knitting and you can take them into the theater?” Deana said. 

“Wait, what?!” JJ asked excitedly. 

“Oh bud, you are gonna LOVE it!” Deana replied. 

She met them in the little movie theater room they had, bringing in ice cream and candy and toppings. “Ice cream first, so it doesn’t all melt,” Deana directed. The boys scooped up their bowls of ice cream, putting lots of toppings on. 

They got comfy with blankets and pillows, Justin getting the movie started. They sang along, the boys doing the fist bumps with Cloud Guy, laughing and having fun. Deana was knitting the poncho for Lynn, paying careful attention to certain rows for the pattern she was doing. 

As the movie ended, the boys were impatient with what to do next. 

“Have you guys watched Shrek? I was in the third one for a bit.” The boys shook their heads. “Well, I’m glad you’re here till tomorrow, we’ve got to start at the beginning.”

They watched the first one, certain jokes going over Josiah’s head, but JJ laughing. Josiah started to get grumpy when no one would explain them to him. 

“Just watch the movie,” JJ whined to his brother.

Halfway through the second Shrek movie, the laughing stopped. “They’re both asleep,” Justin whispered. 

Unfortunately for Deana and Justin, each of the boys has fallen asleep leaning against one of them. They gave in and fell asleep, all of them snuggled together. 

Justin made chocolate chip pancakes in the morning, and they finished watching the Shrek movies. The boys packed up their things, and they headed back to her parents’ to drop off the boys. 

They got back home, relishing in the quiet. “I don’t know about you,” Justin said, “but I did NOT sleep well, I’m gonna go crash in our bed.”  He kissed Deana on the cheek, heading down the hall. 

“I think I’ll join you,” she yawned.

…

The weeks flew by, spending time with Deana’s nephews here and there. 

It was just barely July, and Deana was frantically packing, making sure things were perfect. 

“It’s summer, just pack for hot. Between Montana and Tahoe, it’s gonna be warm. Bring something light for at night, but otherwise think summer,” Justin said. 

“What should I wear for Tahoe? Do I need to dress nice? It’s golf.”

“You’re not playing, so wear whatever you want, within reason.”

“Cuz I was really just gonna go in a bikini…” she laughed. 

“Bring a swimsuit or two for sure, but yeah, not on the golf course.”

“Should I even BOTHER bringing lingerie? It won’t stay on long anyway…”

“At last a robe, something comfy to lounge in…”

“My *NSYNC shirt it is…” she hummed happily. 

“Do you have to?” he whined. 

“Only because of the promise you made regarding that shirt…”

“Taking it off you every time you wear it?  I guess…” he laughed, giving her a look. 

…

They arrived in Montana, leaving the air field in an SUV. Justin pulled into the entrance to the gated community, checking in before going in. Deana was entranced by the natural beauty of the mountains, combined with the architecture of the homes. 

He pulled into a long driveway before stopping in front of a huge home. It had the rustic charm of the house in Memphis, with the size of the LA house. You could hardly see the main road from the edge of the driveway, giving them lots of privacy.

“I see what you mean, babe, this is INCREDIBLE.  I can only imagine all the snow in winter, we definitely need to do Christmas here.  A real tree, tons of lights, it’s gonna be magical.”

“I’m glad you’re on board with this.  I really do love it here. Away from everything, yet has the comforts of home; WiFi, cable, a pool. We just also have acres of land to explore, Yellowstone Park a short drive away. Lots of room for the boys to play in the summer, snowball fights in winter.  Just WAIT till you see the inside.”

They grabbed their bags, Justin letting Deana go in first. Her jaw dropped. “This. Is. BREATHTAKING… I love the high ceilings, it’s all so open. The windows make you feel like you’re outside, all the natural light.”

“It’s cooler than I thought it would be…” she said. “I might use the pool more for exercise than to cool off.”

“I can give you something to cool off from,” Justin growled in her ear. 

“Easy there, killer.”

“Imagine it, dinner just before sunset, watch the sunset in the pool, get romantic in the pool as it gets dark…”

“You’ll just have to show me, I guess…” she teased. 

“I do love a challenge…”

…

Justin suggested she swim laps while he started dinner. At first, that’s what she did, swimming laps for a good twenty minutes. She looked out at the scenery beyond her. The infinity pool made it look like she was surrounded by mountains, which she technically was, but like she was swimming in a lake rather than just a pool.  

She stared at the mountain vistas for what felt like ages, feeling a sense of calm that she knew was why Justin had bought the property. It was like Yosemite, but different. This land was all theirs to do as they pleased. They would only be there a few days, but she was already imagining spending longer stretches, being here for weeks at a time. 

She imagined things they’d buy for their kids, a giant play structure that matched the house, a rustic wooden design with a treehouse on one end, a slide and climbing wall on the other. Maybe a giant trampoline to feel like they’re bouncing along the stars. 

She turned to look at the patio on the other edge of the pool. She could see lights around the posts of the canopy, the wooden design like an extension of the house. She knew once night fell, it would be a breathtaking view, almost like being surrounded by stars. 

“Dinner’s just about ready if you want to dry off,” Justin said softly. “We can eat out here, then watch the last bits of sunset fade sitting in the hot tub.”

She smiled at him, giving him a soft nod. She made her way to the steps to exit the pool, Justin watching her come out of the water. He grabbed his phone, taking a slow motion video. Yup, dead fucking sexy… he thought as he watched the playback. 

Deana sees the look on his face. “What’s that look for?” she asks. 

He quickly puts his phone in his jeans pocket. “Nothing…”

She rolled her eyes, drying herself off. She grabbed her robe from the chair at the patio table.  The light breeze making the cool day colder.  She smiled as he brought everything out.  Ravioli with red sauce and meat, garlic bread, spinach salad, her favorites.  He poured a little wine, pulled out her chair, and tucked her up to the table.  He kissed her cheek, she turned to catch his lips before he sat down across from her.

“This view, how do you ever LEAVE?” Deana asked.

“It’s hard sometimes, but life calls.”

“You’d never have met me if you stayed here forever.”

“And THAT would be the biggest mistake of my life.”

“Really?  Can’t think of bigger?”

“I mean…

“Not meeting me is a bigger mistake than the cornrows?” she laughed.

“It’s cute you think THAT was one of my biggest mistakes…”

“Well, I thought we weren’t going to bring up exes anymore.  Besides, they led you to me, so it can’t be all that bad…”

She took a bite of the ravioli.  “What kind of meat is this?  It tastes different.”

“GOOD different?”

“Yeah.  Is it the spice mix you used?”

“It’s venison.”

“Like, deer?” she asked.  He nodded.

“Alright, I like deer meat now.  See, things I didn't know until I met you…  But nothing more… exotic, ok?  No Rocky Mountain oysters…”

“Yeah, god no.  But it’s good, you really like it?”

“Yeah.  I like ALL of this.  The food, the wine, the company, the view.  All of it.”

As the daylight waned, the twinkle lights came on, and it was as magical as she imagined, possibly even more so with Justin across from her.  They finished dinner, Justin putting away the leftover food, Deana grabbing the plates.  “No, don’t do… anything,” he said softly.  “Stay right there.  The dishes can wait.  I’ll be right back.”

She stood on the patio, waiting for him to come back outside.  He jogged to the back door, slowing his strides towards her.  He took her in his arms, dancing to the music inside his head, sweet and slow.  He kissed her lips, his kiss matching their dancing.  One hand on the small of her back, the other curled up in the hair at the base of her neck.  “You, in the sunset… you’re beautiful.  The lighting is perfect, you’ll see.”  He grabbed his phone, taking a picture of her, the mountains and the sunset sky behind her.  Deana only in a black satin robe and her bikini underneath.  The water from the pool had made her hair curl just right.  “See, breathtaking.  Absolutely… breathtaking.”

He kissed her again, more urgent than before.  He hummed against her lips.  “Shall we?” he asked.

“You’re going to change, right?” she asked, seeing him in jeans and a t-shirt.

“No.  It’s my house, I’ll wear what I want.  I don’t think you’ll mind.”  He pulled his shirt off, unzipping his jeans, leaving him in his boxer briefs, partially erect.

She looked at him.  “Already?”

“Always…” he smiled, pulling her back into his arms.  He untied her robe, gently pulling the sleeves down her arms.  He laid the robe on the back of the chair, leading her to the hot tub.

“This is everything I need right now.  Maybe a beer.  But I am sure as hell not letting you go for a good, long while,” he said, getting into the hot tub.  Deana got in, settling in next to him.

The twinkle lights were far enough from them that it didn’t stop them from seeing the first stars of the night appear in the sky.  “Make a wish,” he whispered in her ear.

“I don’t have to wish, I have everything I’ve ever wanted, right here.”  They kissed, heavy but slow.  Her hand framed his face, rubbing a thumb against his beard as her other fingers reached the back of his neck.

“I love you,” he said softly between kisses.

“I love you too,” she replied.

He pulled her closer, having her straddle his legs.  She could feel him harden against her.  “Only for you, baby,” he sighed.  He kissed her neck, craning his neck down towards her breasts, Deana sitting up a bit to give him better access.  He nipped at the visible flesh, sucking on her nipples through the material of her bikini top.  She grabbed his back, holding him tight.

His hands went to her waist, pulling at the ties of her bikini bottoms.  He pulled them off her body, resting them on the edge of the hot tub.  He pushed a button, the jets turning on.  

“It won’t hide every noise, but it might help a little.  The neighbors are a bit away, but sound carries out here,” he whispered.

She bit her lip as he slid two fingers inside her, trying not to moan too loudly.  She threw her head back as he changed to rubbing her clit, going back and forth between how he originally had done it, compared to what he’d been doing more recently.  The change in sensations drove her crazy, causing her waves to crash sooner, over and over again.  She bit her lip, burying her face in his shoulder.

“You can bite down if you need to, once things really get going,” Justin said softly.  “Leave your mark on me, let the world know I’m yours.”

She froze, pushing herself back a bit.

“What’s wrong?” Justin asked.

“Those words, those EXACT words…”

“Paul,” Justin sighed heavily. 

 Deana nodded.  “He was seeing someone else, but told me to mark him as mine.  I think he liked that it led to fights with the other woman, their make up sex.  He made me feel like I was his number one, everyone else was just on the side, but that I was the one he wanted most.  I was such an idiot…”

Justin gently grabbed her arms, pulling her close, rubbing her back.  “Hey, he’s gone.  That’s all behind you now, you’re in a much better place in your life.  I get that things can trigger, and I’m sorry.  I had no idea.”

“You couldn’t possibly have known.  I’m sorry, I ruined things.”

“You didn't ruin ANYTHING.  If you want to keep going, we can.  If not, then we won’t.  I won’t be upset, I’d be a dick if I got mad because I brought up a repressed memory of yours.  And what I said, I just…”

“I know.  If things get intense, you want me to have some way to channel that.  I get it.  Just say pineapple if it’s too much.”

He kissed her, softly.  She deepened the kiss, her tongue dancing with his before sucking on it.  His hand gripped her ass, guiding himself inside. She moaned feeling him stretch her.  He touched all over her body as she rocked against him, taking him a little deeper each time.  Her speed starting slow, gradually speeding up, Justin trying to not match her movements.  Soon she was a woman possessed, grinding against him hard and fast.  He slipped his fingers between them, rubbing her clit as she rode him.

“Cum for me baby, I’m so close,” he said.  She dug her fingers into his back, gently biting his neck and shoulder as everything clenched before release.  He shuddered as he released within her, burying his face in the hollow of her neck.

“I’m gonna need to clean the pool tomorrow,” Justin laughed, catching his breath.  “You were really ok just now?” he asked, nervous.

“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn't want to.  You are so great about that, always have been, since day 1.”  She kissed him deeply before moving next to him, looking up at the stars.  A random shooting star streaked through the sky.  “Make a wish,” she whispered.

“I have everything I need, right here…”