I Just Can't Stop Loving You Read online

  “Mind if I join you?”

  Ichiro looked up. Satoshi leaned in the door with a cup of tea in his hand. “Sure.” He patted a spot on the floor. “The more the merrier.”

  Satoshi sat next to him. “You will be spending a lot of time in this room shortly. I’ve been told that babies need a lot of attention.”

  “I’ve been taking care of you guys for years,” Ichiro replied. “What are two more babies?”

  Satoshi chuckled. “You have a point, but you don’t have to get out of your bed at two in the morning to feed and change us.”

  “That’s because you guys are usually still out partying at two in the morning.” He sighed. “I was so happy when I found out that we were expecting, but I never got the feeling that Shaundra was happy about the news.”

  “She has four other kids, Ich, that she had to raise alone when her first husband died. Tricia told me it was real hard on her mother. She hardly ever slept and she struggled just to feed them and keep a roof over their heads. That had to be hard on her, so put yourself in her shoes. She knows you’re going to be on the road a lot so she faces raising these kids alone too.”

  “I know, but I won’t be on the road forever. And besides, I don’t want to part with them right now. You should see them. They are so cute and vulnerable. All I want to do is hold them and protect them from the world.”

  “Ah, the bonding thing. So, when are you going to see Shaundra?”

  “I don’t know,” Ichiro admitted. “She’s still very angry. I think I might wait until we return from Europe. You know, give her time to cool off.”

  “Are you sure?” Satoshi asked.

  Ichiro nodded. “Seeing me upsets her and sends her blood pressure soaring. She needs to stay calm so she can be released from the hospital. I would love to see her and see her with our sons. I should be taking pictures and videos to record these loving moments, but with my luck, she’d hit me with the camera.”

  Satoshi laughed. “Ich, she barely reaches your chest. What can such a tiny thing do to you but hurt your feelings?”

  Ichiro shrugged.

  “Okay, I’ll take the pictures. We need memories.” Satoshi paused. “Have you told your family yet?”

  Ichiro nodded. “My sisters were so excited. They’re supposed to be visiting with Shaundra today. This is good because I need to visit Daichi and check on the restaurants since we’ll be flying back to Europe in a couple of days.”

  “Yes, I have to check in with my family too. I suppose Tae is probably waiting to throw my latest arrest in my face.”

  “I don’t understand the rivalry between you two,” Ichiro said.

  “You’ll see. Watch what happens as your boys grow. Speaking of which, they were pretty big. I hope Shaundra didn’t suffer much.”

  “I was a big baby,” Ichiro said. “You never think about things like that when you’re expecting. I’ve spoken with her doctor and he assures me she’ll bounce back physically, but it will take some time. She’ll probably have to exercise and continue to watch what she eats.”

  “Are you worried that she won’t be able to lose the weight?” Satoshi asked.

  “No. I’d love her at any size, but it’s not good for her health. I’ll begin working on a healthy diet and an exercise routine for her when I return from Amsterdam.”

  “I hope she’s speaking to you by then. Little Satoshi and Takumijo need both their parents.”

  “Oh, that reminds me. There’s something I need to do in town.” While it was fresh on his mind, he needed to register his marriage to Shaundra.

  “Anything I can help you with?” Satoshi offered.

  Both men rose to their feet.

  “No. It’s something I should have done months ago. I’ll see you later.”

  Satoshi nodded and Ichiro dashed out of the nursery and out of the house.

  ****

  “Are you sure we’re alone?” Tricia asked Damien as they splashed in the warm pool.

  He swam over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Yes, why?”

  “I don’t know. I thought I heard a noise.” His silky skin rubbed against hers, inciting fireworks through her blood stream. She suspected if she could see inside her head, she’d see bottle rockets soaring and flaring colors like the Fourth of July.

  “That’s just your imagination,” Damien said as he rubbed his body against hers. “You are so soft and you feel so good in my arms.”

  Tricia tightened her arms around his neck. “Don’t go getting any ideas, my prince, unless you have a diamond engagement ring and a tiny Justice of the Peace in your pocket.”

  Damien chuckled. “I don’t have pockets at the moment.” He kissed her on the forehead.

  True, they were skinning dipping in his father’s pool and his cock was having its way with her navel.

  “But I’m not opposed to finding a Justice of the Peace and making an honest woman of you if it means I can finally get between those chocolate thighs.”

  “Ooh, stop it. You romantic words are driving me wild,” she teased.

  Damien chuckled. “I love your sense of humor.” He swept her up his body for a kiss.

  Tricia had to wrap her legs around his waist to keep from falling.

  Damien’s hand lost its mind and traveled down her buttocks to gently squeeze one of the cheeks.

  Normally, she would have been offended and probably slapped the shit out of him, but she had chosen to be naked and her booty to him was free game.

  He moved her around until she had no choice but to hold on for dear life. Her pussy pressed into his stomach and his cock touched dangerously close to her asshole. “I’d like to see this ass showcased a thong,” Damien told her.

  “I don’t own a thong,” Tricia told him. “I’m an old-fashioned girl.”

  “Nonsense,” Damien replied. “I’m going to go shopping and buy you all the sexiest lingerie your heart desires.”

  Hall and Oats’ ‘Out of Touch’ played on the stereo. Tricia couldn’t help herself so she bounced to the music.

  “Oh, don’t do that,” Damien said, trying to move her around his waist to a comfortable position.

  Tricia continued to dance on him, ignoring his plea.

  “I’m not playing,” he warned. “I’m having enough trouble balancing you this way.”

  Tricia danced and rubbed her butt against his swollen erection.

  “Ooh,” he groaned. “You’re killing me.”

  Tricia sang the chorus to the song. “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.”

  “Too much,” Damien groaned.

  The next thing she knew, she was airborne. Her arms left his neck and her body sailed into the water. Tricia made a big splash and then came up for air drenched from head to toe. “Are you crazy? I could have drowned.” She looked up at him just as he tried to hide his engorged cock from her with both his hands. “Oh,” she said. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” he said, walking over to a deeper part of the pool. “It will go down.”

  Tricia smirked. “Maybe you should get out of the warm water and try a cold shower.”

  “Very funny,” he muttered. “You have no idea what this feels like.”

  True, she didn’t. And she really wanted to help him out, but she’d promised herself to stay out of his bed until they graduated from college. And if she didn’t get her ass home and continue to study for tomorrow’s exams, she wasn’t going to graduate any time soon. “You were the one playing with my butt,” she said as she swam toward him.

  Damien was just about to respond when the patio door slid open.

  Tricia looked up. Two middle-aged police officers stepped out with their guns aimed at them.

  “Is there something I can help you officers with?” Damien asked.

  The officers lowered and re-holstered their guns. “The silent alarm went off, Master Kehoe,” one of the officers said.

  “Sorry,” Damien replied. “I forgot to call you, Max, and let you know I’d be stopping by.”
r />   The officer gazed at her. Luckily, the water covered most of her body.

  “Is your father back in town?” Max asked disapprovingly.

  “No,” Damien said. “He’s due back in a couple of weeks and I hope you won’t mention this to him.”

  The one named Max looked at her. “She’s cute.”

  Damien nodded. “Yeah, but she’s a big tease. She wants to save herself for marriage.”

  Max laughed. “You’re a smart young lady, but your argument would be more effective if you weren’t naked.”

  Tricia sneered at him.

  “I thought you guys were my friends,” Damien said. “Hand me a towel.”

  The other officer walked over and got Damien a towel.

  Tricia watched it all in mock interest and got another glimpse of Damien’s sensational butt as he climbed out of the pool. He wrapped the towel around his waist.

  Max saw her and smirked. “We are on your side, but if the young lady wants to wait, what can you do?”

  “I suppose I’ll have to marry her,” Damien said. “I have been in love with her since we were kids.”

  Max gazed at her. “She does look familiar.” He chuckled. “She almost looks like the woman whose picture is in your father’s bedroom.”

  Tricia frowned. How many people had seen that picture?

  “That’s her mother,” Damien told the two officers.

  “Ah, keeping it in the family, I see,” Max replied.

  “Yeah,” Damien said. “Who has better taste than my father?”

  “Well, I think we better go so she can come out of the pool,” Max replied. “Nice meeting you, Miss Morrison.”

  “You too, Max,” Tricia said as she watched the three of them disappear from the pool area. She quickly got out of the pool, dried off, and dressed.

  Damien returned a few minutes later carrying two sodas, still wearing his towel.

  “Who are those guys?” Tricia asked.

  “Hired security,” Damien told her. “They’re friends of my father and keep an eye on his properties when he’s out of town.”

  “No wonder you didn’t seem surprised to see them. How often do you come here skinning dipping?”

  “No comment,” Damien said, handing her the soda.

  Tricia accepted the can and sat down to dry her hair. “I swear you’re living up to your name, demon seed. My hair is ruined. This weave costs a fortune.”

  Damien put down his soda and began to dress. “I’ll pay for your next trip to the hairdresser,” he replied. “I’ll even get your feet done.”

  Tricia tossed the wet towel at him. “Nails too,” she said. “I’m a high-maintenance tease.”

  Damien pulled his shirt over his head, covering that chest and his six-pack abs. “So I’m beginning to realize.”

  “We better get back to school,” Tricia told him. “I need to get some more studying done.”

  “And I need to masturbate,” Damien replied.

  “Yuck, gross,” Tricia said, stepping into the patio door.

  Damien followed her in and locked the door. “I don’t know why you’re complaining. It’s your fault I’m like this.”

  “Poor baby,” Tricia teased. “Just think how much fun it’s going to be when you finally get some.”

  “Can you give me an exact date?” Damien asked as he set the alarm and walked out of the front door behind her.

  Tricia just chuckled.

  ****

  “Where are you off to so early in the morning?” Satoshi asked Cristal as he and Takumijo waited for Ichiro to bring their breakfast out of the kitchen.

  “I have a meeting and then I have to go over to KiNii to check on things,” Cristal replied, sitting down at the table.

  “A meeting?” Takumijo asked. “Who knows you’re back in town?”

  These guys were truly nosey. “Mr. Niigata and everyone in at the publishing company. But I’m meeting a realtor first.”

  Satoshi gazed over at her. “A realtor? Why?”

  “I’m thinking about moving into an apartment. It’s going to get crowded here soon.”

  “Oh, you mean the babies. They’re tiny,” Satoshi said, eyeing her up curiously. “How much room are they going to take up? And besides, Masaaki has already moved out. What are we going to do without you here to look after us?”

  If he didn’t stop looking at her with those puppy dogs eyes, she wouldn’t be able to do it. “You’ll get by just fine,” she finally said. “Ichiro won’t let you guys starve and you can help Shaundra with the babies.”

  “But that woman’s work, woman,” Takumijo said. “You should be here to help her.”

  Cristal rolled her eyes at him. “I’m sure that would be nice, but I’ll leave the mothering to Shaundra. I need my space.” She gazed over at Satoshi again. His expression was hard to read.

  “What area are you looking at?” Takumijo asked.

  “This area or something close to the office. It doesn’t have to be very big, but I need at least two bedrooms.”

  “Expecting guests?” Satoshi asked.

  Ichiro entered the dining room pushing a cart of food.

  “No, I will need an office.”

  “You sound as though you’ve thought this out pretty thoroughly,” Satoshi said.

  Cristal nodded. “It’s been on my mind for some time now. And Ichiro and Shaundra need their space too.”

  Neither man argued with her.

  “What’s going on?” Ichiro asked as he placed bowls in front of them.

  “Cristal is thinking of moving out,” Takumijo answered.

  Ichiro stopped. “Have you spoken to Mr. Niigata about this?” Ichiro asked as he placed a bowl of porridge in front of her.

  “Yes, and he agrees that a move would be the best thing for me at this time.”

  “I just think you want your own place so you can have wild, passionate sex with some guy,” Takumijo said. “Because in your own place, you can get as loud and as freaky as you want to.”

  “Do you need some help moving out?” Satoshi asked.

  Cristal sneered at him. “You two can help, but nothing freaky is going to occur unless the two of you want to get naked and have fun with each other,” Cristal told him.

  Takumijo looked Satoshi over and shrugged.

  Satoshi just smirked and shook his head.

  “You guys should think about moving out too,” Cristal told them. “Shaundra and Ichiro need time alone.”

  “Listen to the woman,” Ichiro said. “Maybe my wife and I might want to get freaky after she’s discharged from the hospital.” He sat down at the table.

  “Slim chance of that happening, Ich,” Cristal told him. “Shaundra is going to be out of commission for a few weeks until her body recuperates from the Cesarean.”

  “And she’s still angry at you,” Satoshi added.

  “I know both of those things,” Ichiro said. “But I have a feeling that she will eventually come around. And she’s gone without sex all this time too. I bet she’s been counting the weeks until she can get her hands on me.”

  Both Cristal and Satoshi chuckled.

  “You better be trying to find a way to convince her you didn’t cheat on her,” Satoshi told him. “Or else you’ll be using the palm of your hand for a very long time.”

  Ichiro blushed and lowered his head. “You’re so gross, Satoshi. And in front of Cristal.”

  “Don’t mind me,” Cristal said, smiling at him. “I’m liking the visual.” She went back to eating her food.

  Ichiro groaned. “Maybe your moving out is a good thing. You’ve been around these two guys so long you’re getting as bad as they are.”

  “Regardless of what everyone thinks, Ich, I believe you didn’t cheat on Shaundra,” Cristal told him. “Just like she didn’t cheat on you. But I must admit, I didn’t believe you at the beginning either. Shaundra’s real hurt and it may take some time for her to forgive you. My advice to you is to just hang in there and prove to her that
you still love her.”

  “I do love her,” Ichiro said. “More now that she is the mother of my sons. I know things are going to be strained around here when they come home, but I’m going to try my best to win her back when we finally finish the tour.”

  “I’m rooting for the two of you,” Cristal said, rising. “But I better get going.” She waved to them and left the farmhouse. Less than an hour later, she stepped into the perfect apartment between the farmhouse and her Osaka office. One hour later, she signed the lease. The next day, Takumijo and Satoshi helped her move out.

  ****

  “It’s nice to see you,” Daichi said to Ichiro when he stopped by to check on the restaurant and to make sure they didn’t need anything. The two brothers hugged.

  “And congratulations on becoming a papa.”

  “Thanks,” Ichiro said. The idea of being a father sounded good now that he knew that the twins were actually his.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t gotten over to the hospital to see them, but Hana tells me that they are very handsome boys.” Daichi sat down at the table and Ichiro slid into a chair across from him. It was still early in the morning and the doors wouldn’t be opening for business for another hour.

  “Have you named them yet?” Daichi asked.

  Ichiro shook his head. “Not yet. We’re supposed to do that this afternoon. Shaundra and the babies are being discharged tomorrow.”

  “Then you better get a good night’s sleep tonight,” Daichi chided. “All the plans for the christening have been finalized and by Christmas, the twins will be officially a part of the Yoshida family.”

  Stupid traditions, Ichiro thought. The boys were already a part of his family the moment they had been born.

  “Have you taken care of that other little matter?”

  “Yes,” Ichiro answered. “I registered the marriage a couple of days ago. Shaundra is now Mrs. Ichiro Yoshida in the eyes of Japan.”

  “Good,” Daichi said, breathing a sigh of relief. “It you weren’t taller than me now, I’d knock you on your ass.”

  “Huh?” Ichiro looked up surprised by his brother’s statement. “Why?” He and Daichi were close and Daichi had been the only father figure in his life since their father and grandfather passed away.