by Lulu Pratt
Now, I felt everything was going to be turned upside down, regardless of how I felt. Ashley took a deep breath before taking the sheet of paper from the envelope. I held my breath as her eyes scanned the document.
When she looked up, with disappointment clear in her eyes, I knew the truth.
“I’m so sorry, Jake. Jasper isn’t your biological son.”
Her voice was sweet, but the words were torturous to hear. Ever since the test I’d tried to prepare myself for those words, but nothing seemed to get me ready for the blow it was. I’d spent months with Jasper, treating him as if he were my own, and now it was clear he was not.
I wished everything could continue as it had been, with Jasper living with me in a loving and safe environment. But like my lawyer advised me, there was no telling now that I knew the truth. Knowing that Anna-Louise could come and take him at any moment left me feeling helpless.
“Are you okay?” Ashley whispered, her hand back on mine.
Overwhelmed by emotion, I took her in my arms, sliding my tongue into her mouth as she moaned, surely shocked by my reaction. I needed to feel her, to feel in control. She was the only part of my life that felt the least bit normal, and I wanted to feel nothing but her.
I needed to drown in her and be born again to deal with all the change happening around me. Ashley’s hands gripped me tightly, her tongue sliding along mine. She was ready, like always, to give me just what I needed.
Chapter 35
ASHLEY
I COULD FEEL the needy passion in Jake’s embrace, taste his desperation. He was trying so hard to do things the right way, and he kept being bombarded with bad news. Just a few minutes earlier, he had agreed to pay for a lavish party for Jasper, but now he was faced with a problem money couldn’t fix.
No matter how much he loved and cared for Jasper, he would never be his biological son, and I knew that had to be devastating. With his hand cradling the nape of my neck, he tilted my head at his will, all so he could dominate my mouth. I knew he wanted to do the same to my body. He needed me for a release that only I could give him.
We would have to be discreet, since Jasper was awake, lost in his own world in the playroom. But there was no way I could deny Jake, not now when he needed me most.
“We have to be careful,” I panted, out of breath as I pulled away from our embrace.
“I need you.” He pulled me back to him. Our lips crashed together as he deepened the embrace again. Standing, he lifted me from my seat and I wrapped my legs around his torso.
With my eyes closed, I wasn’t sure where he was leading me, but he carefully carried me as his hands gripped my ass. I could feel his erection through the thin fabric of his slacks. I knew he was ready to explode when he finally stopped, just in front of the powder room.
“You have to be quiet,” I warned him before rushing into the bathroom, pulling him inside and locking the door behind us.
“I will.”
Tugging at his belt, I rushed to free his cock. Heavily, he fell into my hands, hot and rock hard. Before he could stop me, I dropped to my knees, needing to taste him.
Jake’s head fell back instantly as I dragged my tongue from the base along the shaft of his length. A low groan escaped him as I slid the tip of his cock to the back of my throat, swallowing slowly.
Carefully, I began to massage his base with both of my hands, moving in opposite directions as I squeezed. With my mouth suctioned, I sucked the tip of his manhood as my saliva coated his warm skin.
His hips rocked forward, begging me to take in more. I stretched my jaws to make room. He was too big, but I managed to get most of him down my throat before sliding my tongue back to the tip.
“Fuck,” he growled, before looking down at me.
With our eyes interlocked, I sucked him slow before moving my hands again. He rocked forward, gently thrusting in and out of my mouth. It was intimate and erotic, as I watched his jaw tense as he fought back his urge to explode.
I was needy and hungry to taste him, feel the thick hot cum against my throat. His cock grew as he readied himself, and I moaned in preparation for the explosion that never came. Instead, Jake pulled back and dragged me to my feet before kissing me roughly.
He turned me so that I was facing the mirror and bent me over. He pulled out a condom from one of his pockets and unrolled it along his cock. Then he reached beneath my white dress, tearing at the lace of my panties before slamming into me without warning. It was fast and rough, and my sex clenched tightly with approval.
His hands gripped my waist so tightly I knew they would leave bruises, but I didn’t care. I needed him, and watching the pleasure coat his face in the mirror, I knew it was all worth it. His eyes were closed as his teeth sank into his bottom lip.
With every surge forward, a soft groan seeped through his teeth. He was losing himself inside me, releasing all the built-up tension of the world. Being his escape, his solitude, felt incredible. Knowing I could bring him such euphoria left me feeling powerful, like a sexual goddess.
Jake slammed into me over and over, and I watched him closely, feeling myself begin to reach my breaking point. He lifted my hips, leaving my feet dangling in the air, as he hit a spot that left me weak.
It was only a matter of time, and I feared my ability to remain quiet as I went overboard with a wave of pleasure. Reaching aimlessly, I felt the softness of a hand towel and pulled it to my mouth just in time to stifle my cries.
“Yes! Jake!” My muffled cries died in the thick cloth as the wave of emotions poured out of me.
Just when I’d regained control, I opened my eyes to see Jake losing his. He was still fully dressed, which was so hot. We were too turned on to bother with undressing. His forehead was covered in beads of sweat as he pulled my hips to meet his aggressive thrusts. There was no rhythm or finesse, just desperation and passion.
His body crashed into mine, and I pushed against the counter to meet him, take every inch of him deep into my being. I wanted to give him the peace and comfort he so desperately needed. I needed to be that for him, to assure him he could always find that within me.
“Argh,” he groaned as he slammed into me.
Our eyes locked in the mirror, a second of a connection that was so deep it needed no words. Our bodies were connected physically, but what I felt was deeper. It was an emotional connection, almost spiritual, the way we gave each other just what we needed.
I filled a void for him, and I could feel his gratitude and the love between us. I wanted him forever, to have and to hold. He was my world, and the most important part of my life. He was pounding me feverishly, and I wanted every drop of his climax.
“Give me your baby,” I moaned, unsure if the words even made sense.
For a split second, Jake paused. I could see the understanding in his eyes, feel it in the urgency of his thrusts. He pumped harder and faster, gripping my hips harder until an animalistic growl roared from his chest as his body stiffened.
His release was long and powerful, and he pulled me close to take every bit of it. My body was instantly sore as he slowly pulled away, panting loudly.
Jake stumbled back wiping his forehead with the back of his hand as he reached out to the wall for support. I was winded and discombobulated. Everything had happened so fast. My panties were in a mess of fabric on the floor, and I knelt to retrieve them before tossing them into the trash bin.
Turning to face the mirror, I noticed my hair was a mess, my mascara running from the orgasmic tears. My chest rose and fell heavily, with dark red patches on my cheeks.
I turned to face Jake and he grabbed me, quickly pulling my body flush against his before kissing me deeply. I melted into him instantly, feeling the deep connection that flowed between us. It was stronger than normal, like we had reached a new level in our relationship.
I couldn’t believe the words I’d spoken, or how much I meant them. I’d never even allowed myself to admit wanting that with him. It was true, though. I wanted to
have his children, and be his wife, and start a family together.
It was a strange notion to love someone that much that fast, but I had no fear. Jake was my safety and protector. Whenever he was around, I feared nothing. And I never wanted to live without that layer of protection again.
When he pulled away from the embrace, I lifted on my toes to continue it, already, missing his taste. He kissed me for a few extra moments, tilting my head as he gripped a handful of my hair. Then he pulled away again. Pausing, he stared at me for a long moment before he spoke.
“I love you, Ashley.”
The words were a melody. Everything I had been dreaming of hearing for weeks. I knew I loved him, long before I was ready to speak the words. Now, hearing him proclaim his love, I found my courage, leaning up on my toes so that we were close to eye level.
“I love you too.”
Chapter 36
JAKE
THE LARGEST CAR show in North Carolina was held in the same convention center every year. As a kid, my father had brought me to walk around the showroom, admiring the shiny vehicles and taking part in the festivities. Some were privately owned, while others were for sale by dealerships. Car enthusiasts and families simply looking for a way to entertain their children paraded through the enormous hall.
Today, it was work. I’d been assigned to the west end of the car show with Rick.
Things with Ashley had been going better than ever. She stayed over nearly every night, and I loved waking up to her beautiful face. Ever since we’d shared our feelings, it was like I couldn’t say it enough.
I’d never loved another woman before, so everything was new. It was a range of emotions I’d never felt, a vulnerability that often felt ill-fitted. At times, it was like walking around with my heart on my sleeve. For the first time, I felt like there was so much to lose, after living for myself for so long.
In the military, I was known for being fearless. When you don’t fear losing anything, nothing can temper you. I was ruthless, making impulsive decisions as though I had a death wish.
Now, with the addition of Jasper and Ashley, I felt cautious. I thought of them before I made even the smallest decisions, making sure I didn’t affect them negatively. Everything I did was to make them smile. Just seeing both of them light up with excitement as the construction began in the back yard was more than enough motivation than I needed to go in for an extra weekend shift, today or any day.
“Hello! Jake? Anybody home?” Rick’s voice jolted me back to reality.
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
“What’s going on? You look like something is troubling you,” he asked. I could see the concern on his face, which brought a mischievous smirk to my own. He really was like a father figure, always worried about what was going on in my life.
“Oh, God,” he groaned, his eyes growing large. “Don’t tell me it’s what I think it is.”
“What do you think it is?”
“Have you gotten Ashley pregnant?” His question caught me off guard. It wasn’t at all what I’d expected him to say.
“I wish,” I said, shocking myself.
It wasn’t that I wanted Ashley to be pregnant before we could go about doing things the right way, but I did want more security in our relationship. I wanted to be in it together for the long haul, and I knew that if she was pregnant I’d be overjoyed.
“Are you kidding me?” Rick barked.
“Calm down,” I urged him, feeling the laughter bubble in my chest. “I don’t actually want her to be pregnant. But if she was, I’d be ecstatic. I fucking love her,” I sighed, feeling overwhelmed.
“Then you marry her. You don’t go around getting women pregnant to prove your love,” he said disappointedly.
“I do want to marry her,” I replied. “But you didn’t ask me about marrying her, you asked about her being pregnant.”
“You’re just trying to give an old man a heart attack,” Rick joked, gripping his chest for effect.
“Seriously, though, I would like to have children with Ashley. She’s a wonderful mother to Jasper, and I know she’ll be the same with our children. She’s all but living in my house now. It’s like we have our own little family. I like it.” I nodded as though I hadn’t considered it before, but the truth was it was all I could think about lately.
“That’s something worth celebrating. But you don’t have to rush it. Adding another baby to the mix is no joke. It’s more than double the work. Are you ready for that?”
“With Ashley, I’d get ready,” I assured him, feeling no sense of apprehension.
“You’re just head over heels is all,” he chuckled.
I thought of the possibility as his laughter faded, wondering what it would be like to have a child with Ashley. I wanted her to live with me, so things could really be permanent. She would make an incredible mom, that much I already knew. I began wishing she would have a girl, one who looked just like her, when Rick again disrupted my fantasy.
“I don’t mean to dampen the mood, but have you heard back about the test?”
I hadn’t told anyone, excluding Ashley and my mother, about the results from the DNA test. It was too personal, and I didn’t find it to be anyone’s business. But Rick was my friend and I’d already told him that we were getting the test done in the first place. He had been there for me when I was concerned about whether Jasper was my biological son or not.
I sighed, glancing down at my feet before forcing myself to look him in the eye. I’d told myself over and over there was no reason to feel any shame for learning the truth about Jasper. It didn’t make him any less my son, and our connection could never be broken.
“He’s not my biological son.”
Rick looked like he’d been punched in the gut as he winced with discomfort.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I know how much the boy means to you.”
“It doesn’t change anything. I’m still going to love him and raise him as my son.”
“Have you talked to the lawyer? I know he said there were alternate ways for you to gain custody,” he said as he recalled one of our previous conversations.
“Right. Now, I just need to provide enough evidence that Anna-Louise is an unfit mother. That shouldn’t be difficult, because although she’s trying to get herself better, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to do that with Jasper.”
“I really hope she can turn things around,” Rick said.
“Me too,” I added. “Jasper needs me and his mother. I’ve never wanted to take him away from her. I just want him to be safe and happy, and right now she can’t provide an environment for him to do that.”
“What you’re doing is exceptional, Jake,” he started, and I laughed him off. “I mean it! Some might say it’s kind or a good deed, but I’m here to tell you it’s more than that. What you’re doing is exceptional! That boy would be in danger if it wasn’t for you. You’ve managed to give him a new lease on life. I know that your friend Justin and your own father would be proud of you.”
I’d told Rick about my promise to Justin. It meant a lot to me that Rick thought he would be proud I was keeping my promise. And even more that he thought my own father would be proud of what I was doing.
All I ever wanted was to make them proud. As difficult as it could be sometimes, I was grateful to know I had found a way to live up to the expectations of me.
A call over the walkie talkie sent Rick in another direction while I began walking around my designated area of the car show. A bright red Ferrari had drawn a crowd of onlookers, so I positioned myself in the back, keeping an eye on things.
There was a time when I thought a car, or a house, could be the answer to the dream life I wanted so bad. It was amazing to think that I now had everything I ever wanted. And the key to my happiness couldn’t be bought – it was held by two people, Jasper and Ashley, the loves of my life.
Chapter 37
ASHLEY
“I’M GONNA GET you!” I yelled before taking
off after Jasper. He was circling the kitchen island, squealing at the top of his lungs as he ran from me.
We’d been playing the game for close to half an hour now, but he never seemed to tire. It was all in prep for his afternoon nap. We’d spent an hour outside earlier, watching the construction crew’s progress in the back yard.
According to Sandy everything would be completed this week. I could barely contain myself, as though the jungle gym was for me. In a way, I guess it was.
Taking Jasper to the park was a big part of my day. And if I ever decided to skip out on the park, I ended up chasing him around the kitchen island to tire him out. He was winding down, his steps slower and his screams fading. I knew he was ready for bed before I took him into my arms.
“Seepy,” he whispered, and I kissed his cheek before resting his head on my shoulder.
It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep as I walked him through the kitchen, picking up my ingredients and returning them to the cabinets and the refrigerator. It was all a part of our daily routine, which had become so normal there was little convincing anymore.
Jasper was asleep before I finished my clean up, but I continued to carry him. I loved spoiling him, holding his small body when he was fast asleep. It wouldn’t be long before I could no longer hold him, and then he wouldn’t want me cradling him anymore.
In the short time since I’d taken the job, so much had changed. I often felt like a new woman, equipped with a new life to match. Jake was the best boyfriend I’d ever had. In reality, I liked to think he was the only boyfriend I’d ever had. Everything before him was puppy love compared to the connection we shared. There wasn’t enough time in the day – or night – for us. I wanted to do everything with him.
Jasper was the icing on the cake. I liked to tease Jake that Jasper had in the end been the ultimate wingman for him, because it was his little laughter and monstrous hugs that made me fall so in love with Jake.