The Heart Always Wants More (Completed)

Chapter 7

"Big Uuuuuce!" Jon excitedly greeted.

"Move, Big Head!" Joe heard Val yell.

A short struggle ensued, and then Val's face finally came onto the screen, amidst the lively banter between his family members.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" he asked, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

"Pick up ya hand, NooNoo! Trin tryna cheat!"

"I am not!"Trin retorted with a laugh.

"Hi, baby. How are you?" Val asked, finally collecting herself enough to greet him.

"Not as good as you are. What are you guys up to?"

"Spades, and Big Head and Trin are cheating, because Josh and I just set 'em."

"We ain't ​cheatin'," Jon protested.

"Sounds like y'all are having fun. I don't wanna interrupt, so I'll let you go."

"No, baby. I haven't talked to you all day. Just gimme a sec to get to my room, OK?"

"Nah, it's cool, Doll. I just wanted to tell you 'goodnight.' I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"

"OK, babe. I love you."

"Aww,"Trin started, "Y'all are so cute!"

Joe shook his head and rolled his eyes in embarrassment.

"I love you, too, Doll," he reciprocated with a laugh. "I'll see you tomorrow."

After another exchange of "goodnights," Joe ended his call.

"So much for playtime," he said, rolling out of bed and going into the bathroom.

He started the shower and undressed himself. Once he'd stripped off the last of his clothing, he removed the ponytail holder from his hair, allowing the tresses to fall down his back. He released a deep breath and looked at his reflection in the rapidly fogging mirror.

"I need a shave," he said, running his hand down each side of his face. "She likes the clean shave."

He turned away from the mirror and stepped into the shower, slightly flinching at the temperature of the water on his chest. He closed his eyes and lowered his head underneath the spray of the shower nozzle. Bracing his hand against the wall, he exhaled with relief as the water rolled over his head and down his back. Normally, Val would be standing behind him, her hands gracefully roaming over his broad shoulders. The thought of her brought his own hand to his semi-erect organ. Just a few strokes in, he gave up.

"Fuck this."

He quickly washed his hair and body and exited the shower. Still dripping with water, he FaceTimed Val for a second time that night. Unfortunately, for him, she didn't answer. He tried once more, coming up empty-handed.

"Shit," he cursed. "Nobody's hormones should be this outta control," he said, tossing the phone to the bed.

He finished drying his body, massaged a quarter-sized dollop of leave-in conditioner into his hair, and ended another lonely night without his wife.

***

"Ugh, I'm so full,"Val said, holding her stomach as she and Josh walked to her hotel room.

She and the twin had embarked on a late night forage for food to a nearby IHOP after their successful defense for the title of Spades champions in a couples tournament against Trin and Jon and Renee and JG.

"Man, me, too. You can build up a helluva appetite when you kick ass on the Spades table," Josh said, following her inside her room.

"I know, right? Thanks for walking me up here. All the freaks and geeks come out at night," Val said, setting her leftovers on the table and picking up her phone.