by Alice Ward
There was a second of hesitation. “What? Why?” I heard her footsteps on the wood floor.
“I’m serious, Skye. Do not open the door.”
“I’m not. I’m going to peek out of the curtains and… holy shit.”
My sentiments exactly.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. I’ve driven around to the back of your building and don’t see anyone back here. You and Jagg come out the back door, run to the trees to the right, and I’ll pick you up there.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“You’re absolutely correct.” Then I asked the question I didn’t want to ask. “Want to cancel?”
Another hesitation, then, “No. Jagg would be devastated. We’ll meet you at the trees.”
I found myself grinning. “I think I might have heard you say that before.”
“Oh shut up.”
I laughed. “Do I get that ass tonight?” I was beginning to like this little joke because I never expected her to say yes and really mean it. This was how it was before. We’d tease each other over something stupid, run the joke into the ground, then joke about something else.
She huffed, but I could almost hear her smile. “I thought you were going to get it last night.”
Damn paparazzi. We all had been upset and tired, and Jagger had turned into an evil monster before we’d gotten halfway through the pizza. So I hadn’t stayed, and what I wanted to do to her took time.
“So tonight is good?” I pressed, just for the fun of it.
“Why, exactly, is this important to you again?”
Why indeed. To watch her face between pleasure and pain. See how far I could push her. How much she trusted me.
“Like I said before, I want everything about you.”
“You gonna pee on me and mark your territory afterwards?” Was her voice a little stiff? I wasn’t sure but the playfulness of a moment ago seemed to dim.
I laughed. “Should I? Has that Brad dude been sniffing around again?”
She blew out a breath that caused static to come across the line. “No. I told him about you and that I needed to focus on our new, um, dynamic.”
I frowned. “Is that what you told him? We have a dynamic?”
“Well, yes.”
“Then I’m absolutely going to pee on you.”
She giggled, a beautiful, soft tinkling sound, and my balls tightened. “So you don’t think that put him off?”
“Hell, no. That just set him up for a challenge. Dynamic, my ass.”
The adorable giggles continued. “Then what would you call it, Mr. Billionaire Playboy?”
Well, damn. I had zero ideas.
Jagger saved me with a, “When are we leaving?” whine. I hoped the mood was temporary because I didn’t know if it was good parenting to cajole him out of his bad tempers or not. Maybe I should contact the perfect mom from the blog comments. Or read a book. Or a hundred.
I listened to her tell him to collect his things, then heard footsteps stomp through the apartment at a run. I smiled. Imagining him punch the air. His toothless grin. And Skye smiling at him with so much love, a little irritation under the surface.
Last night, we’d both sat him down and gave him a stern talking to about running away and how he must never do that again.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his head hanging down. “I got distracted by the ice cream. I have an addiction, you know.”
How could anyone stay mad at that? Not me.
So I got to give him another bath, read him another book, then I kissed Skye softly and left like I was supposed to. I didn’t want her to think I was using her or expected sex every time we were together.
With that said, I hoped we could have sex tonight.
“We’re coming out in one minute,” she said into the phone, “stand by, mission control.” I laughed then adjusted my cock in my shorts. Just listening to her voice made me horny, almost like I was that teenage boy again.
Then I saw them, both in super stealth mode, making exaggerated tiptoe steps across the lawn. When they got to the SUV, Jagger was practically jumping up and down.
“Did you see me, Daddy? Did ya? I was sneaky like a cat.”
I offered him my fist and he bumped, doing the little explodey noise again. “I sure did, buddy. You were so sneaky, I almost didn’t see you.”
His eyes grew big. “Really?”
“Yep, you’re a natural. It was impressive.”
I opened the car door. “This car is awesome. Is it yours too? Do you like it better or worster than the convertible one because I think I like it better. What’s it called?”
“It’s a Bentley Bentayga, and one thing you’ll learn about me is that I love cars.”
Skye rolled her eyes. “The faster the better.”
“Hey, I’ve calmed down a lot.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “And you call this Bentley calming down? It cost, what, two hundred grand?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Give or take.”
It was actually two-forty, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. This baby was worth every cent.
“Does it go fast? How fast does it go?”
And we were off with the millions of questions that lasted until we pulled into Battery Park. On the ferry, I kept one hand on Jagger all the time, mental pictures of him falling into the harbor creating layers and layers of anxiety.
“I. Can’t. Breathe.”
I released my tight grip around his waist. “Sorry, buddy. Just didn’t want you to fall off.”
“I can swim, remember.”
“Yeah, you were great at the beach. We’ll have to hit the pool someday soon. I’ll show you some SEAL tricks.”
“Like what?”
“Well, how to hold your breath for a long time. How to create a flotation device from your clothes.”
“How to fight off sharks and octopuses?”
I laughed. “Sure, we can talk about that too.”
“Have you ever seen a shark, like, up close?”
“Yep. Had to fight one off one time.”
His jaw sagged. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope. SEALs are in the water a lot, so the chances are good that we’ll run into one or two in our careers.”
Jagg’s arms grew tighter around my neck as he peered down into the water. “How did you fight him off?”
“Fingers in the gills.” I made a claw with my hand, then jammed it into his belly and started tickling him, making him squeal in delight.
He was still panting when he asked, “Did you tickle him to death?”
Skye slipped her arms around me, and I leaned down to kiss the top of her head. I was beginning to like this whole family thing… a lot.
“It’s amazing all the places you’ve been and things you’ve seen,” she said, then blushed. “I mean… the good stuff. There had to have been some good places too, right?”
Still holding tight to my son, I wrapped an arm around his mother. “Yeah, good places.” Then I remembered. “Have you been to France yet? I know it was on that dream board thing you had.”
She looked out onto the water and simply shook her head. Shit. I’m an idiot. She had a kid to raise. My kid to raise. Of course she probably didn’t go to France. I wracked my brain to remember the other things on that board.
“What about scuba diving?”
Another negative shake.
“Sky diving?”
Nope.
She finally looked over at me. “I got to feed elephants and hold a sloth and koala bear. They were on my board.”
I smiled down on her, but a well of sadness tried to force it down. I hugged her against me tighter, and vowed that someday, I’d make sure she did everything on that damn board.
But that was for another day. Today, we had a statue to see. A picnic to eat. Jokes to tell and temper tantrums to throw.
We did it all. In spades.
The sky was going dim by the time we made our way back to Skye’s apartment with a v
ery grumpy Jagger in the back seat. I drove by the front to see if the paps were still there. They were, so I pulled around back. I’d need to start looking for them a new place with better security. Maybe a drive-in parking garage.
If Skye would let me.
She’d already turned down the offer of a car. Money. A credit card. She did relent and told me I could start researching gymnastics and karate classes for Jagg. When I told my son about it, he did a flip on the floor, then bounced up and karate chopped me in the neck.
“I don’t need no stinkin’ classes.” Then he kicked me in the shin and hurt his toe. “Okay, maybe just one,” he relented as he jumped around on one foot, making a complete spectacle of himself.
He was a mess. And I loved it.
Loved him.
Loved Skye.
Loved her more than I did back when we were kids.
Which made it even more heartbreaking when I kissed her and left that night. She asked me to stay. She held onto me so tight. But I couldn’t, and there weren’t enough words for me to explain why.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Skye
Present Day…
“Hello?”
My voice was more like a croak as I answered the phone the next morning. I squinted at the bedside clock. What fool called at six a.m. on the weekend?
“Hi, gorgeous.”
I rolled over and smiled, my stomach doing little twisty things as his deep voice caressed my ear. “Hi, Jake. Do you know what time it is?”
“Yes, it is exactly six-oh-four in the morning. I forgot to ask you yesterday if you are working tonight.”
“You called me at the ass crack of morning to ask me about my work schedule?”
He laughed, causing me to smile. “That was my first question, but you said ass crack so now I’m distracted.”
I curled onto my side, hugging a pillow to my chest. “You and your fascination with asses is legend. Now focus. What’s your second question?”
“Can I have your ass tonight?”
I laughed. “Focus please.”
He sighed. “Alright. But first, do you have to work today?”
“Not until this evening. I have a catering gig at six, so I have to be there at five-thirty.”
“Perfect. And is Cadence keeping Jagg?”
“Yes, why are you asking?”
“It’s more of a confirmation. I have a confession… I already knew your schedule.”
I snorted. “Did you get it from a source?” I still couldn’t believe Jagg and I were in the tabloids.
“If by source you mean Cadence, then yes. I called her last night.”
I pushed up to an elbow, the phone cradled between my shoulder and ear. “How did you get her number?”
He chuckled, the deep timbre vibration somehow landing in the middle of my legs. “A source.”
“Okay, I see how it is. So, what did Cadence say in this ultra-private conversation?”
“It was actually pretty interesting.”
“I’m on the edge of my seat. Please enlighten me, if you please.”
“I learned that Cadence would be happy to do a switch with me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Switch with what?”
“I offered to watch Jagg tonight while you worked if she would watch him today while I whisked you away.”
“And she agreed?”
“Yep. She actually seemed excited. Seems there’s some guy she met or something.”
“Mark?”
“Um, that doesn’t sound right. It was more like Ian or Erik or something like that.”
Guilt made me sit all the way up. With everything going on in my life, I’d been a poor friend to Cadence. I needed to focus on her more, give her some time. And if she was excited to have a night off from babysitting… crap. I was leaning on her too much.
“So where do you plan on whisking me to?”
“Is that a yes?” I could hear the pleasure in his tone, and it warmed me.
“It depends.”
“That’s a surprise.”
Chewing my bottom lip, I thought it over. Why am I thinking it over? I’m going to say yes anyway.
“What should I wear?”
“Nothing.”
I giggled, then snapped my mouth shut on the sound.
Why was I giggling so much lately? I’d sworn off giggling after having Jagg. Giggling belonged to schoolgirls, not mothers struggling to be a good parent.
I cleared my throat. “Excuse me?”
He laughed. “I meant to say, nothing special.”
“Oh, so that’s what you meant to say.”
“That’s my story, but seriously, I’ve got it all covered. Do you still wear a size six clothes and size seven shoe?”
How did he even know that?
“Um, yes. Should I call the police? You’re feeling rather creepy right now.”
He laughed. “You could do that, or you could come with me.”
I sighed, pleased all the way to my toes. “When?”
“Now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, with now being in like fifteen minutes. Can you be ready that fast?”
I jumped from the bed and checked the mirror. My hair would have to go up, and I took a long bath last night. Five minutes for makeup. Five to get dressed. Swipe on some deodorant and body lotion. I ran a hand over my legs. Crap. Stubble. Can’t have that.
“I may currently be living my fifteen minutes of fame by my association with a billionaire playboy, but I’m not a diva, so yes, I can be ready that fast,” I said as I headed to the bathroom.
He exhaled. Had he been holding his breath? The thought pleased me even further as I slathered coconut oil on my legs and grabbed a razor.
“But I must be back by five so I can be at my job by five-thirty.”
“Okay, Cinderella, midnight is officially changed to five o’clock. Now get your sweet ass ready.”
I smiled, switching legs. “You said ass again.”
He made a growling noise. “And yours sure is sweet. Now hurry before I have to spank it.”
Why did that sound sexy?
“Maybe I want you to spank it,” I teased but pressed my thighs together as the thought of being that vulnerable with Jake turned me on. And on that note, I inspected my bikini area. I’d need to wax again soon, but the old girl was holding up okay for now. I made a mental note to buy another wax kit. I didn’t have the extra cash for the spa.
“Your wish is my command. Want me to spank that pussy too?”
Oh. My.
If my vagina had a vote, it was emphatically screaming, Yes!
“Can I spank your dick?” I teased, running a towel down both legs to get off all the extra oil. I cringed at my chipped toenail polish and vowed to take better care of my personal needs after this.
There was a sharp inhale, and I laughed, waiting for his reply. “Can I spank your pussy with my dick?”
“Well, I’m sure my pu…” crap, I couldn’t say the word, “vagina could take it better than your dick.”
“Vagina, huh?”
I lifted my chin. “Yes, that’s what it is, mister. And remember my va-jay has been through the war of birthing a child so you might not want to take that battle on.” I had a mental image of a vagina with tendrils like an octopus sucking a penis into its gaping maw.
Jake grew quiet, and I realized my mistake. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you, Skye, during that war.”
All playfulness was gone, and I mourned the loss. I sighed. “You’re here now, and it’s been good for Jagger.” I swallowed hard. “It’s been good for me too.”
“And for me too,” he said softly. “You’ve made it good, Skye. I don’t know many women who would have been so understanding. So welcoming. So loving.”
“I don’t know many people with our history, Jake. We were best friends for so long. We know each other inside and out. I mourned your loss, then held your son in my arms. Every day, I looked into gorgeous brown eyes rim
med with your exact same long lashes. How could I not welcome you back?”
Even with all the ways you’ve changed, I wanted to add, but didn’t. He was slowly returning to the old Jake. Still with scars, but his laughter came quicker. Still with pain, but with life in his eyes. If we were both very patient, maybe what was between us now would continue to grow.
“I’ll be waiting at the trees.”
I smiled. “I think I’ve heard that before.” The silence stretched, and I added, “See you soon.”
“Fifteen still work?”
“Yep. Casual?”
“Yep.”
“See you then.”
Tapping the button to end the call, I didn’t allow myself time to think about anything but getting ready. Deodorant. My favorite lotion. Teeth brushed. Listerine burning my mouth off. Hair on top of my head. Swipe of powder and mascara. A little color to my cheeks. Gloss on lips. Wipe excess off teeth. I looked in the mirror. Not bad. Not glamourous, but not cringeworthy either.
Running to my closet, I pulled on khaki shorts and a tank top, then shrugged into a light blue waterfall cardigan of the thinnest cotton. Stuffing my feet into my favorite sandals, I was done with a whole two minutes to spare.
I remembered a time when it took me hours to get ready. I’d wake up at six in order to make it to school by eight. Becoming a mother changed that. There had been days when I didn’t shower at all, and I couldn’t remember the last time I pooped with an element of privacy. And that was with just one kid. I didn’t know how mothers with more than one child managed it all.
Grabbing my purse, I made sure I had my phone and then tiptoed down the hall to write Cadence a note. But there was one waiting for me.
Have fun today. Love you!
I picked up the pen and scribbled: Thank you. I love you too. See you at five. And we must talk about this new guy soon!
Sliding out of my back door like a thief creeping out of a home, I dashed to the tree line and to the sound of a running vehicle. It was the Bentley again. Jake had more money than sense.
But it was gorgeous. And powerful. Just like the man behind the wheel.
I hopped in, breathing hard after my short run. I really needed to work out more often.
“Hey,” I said as I buckled up.
He leaned over and kissed me. “Mmm… minty fresh.”
I kissed him. “You don’t smell too bad yourself.”