by TC Matson
But today, the universe let up, loosening the tight grip of wicked humor it has around my neck. Today, work went smoothly. Customers weren’t rude, except for Miss Linda. Oh, she’s a handful. You’d swear the grumpy old woman with the pretty white curly hair who is always sporting a scowl has had the shittiest life in the history of shittiest lives.
I push into my apartment on a mission for an ice cold root beer when Zach stops me dead in my tracks so suddenly, I stumble forward. He’s perched against the kitchen island holding the can of my desire.
“I think we need to talk,” he says, his tone calm.
My emotions are in chaos. I want to hug his neck because he came back. I want to cuss and hit him because he walked away. I want to cry because…I just do. It’s like a fucking tornado causing havoc on my system.
I level my glower, tipping my chin. “You giving up that root beer first?”
His expression softens and he chuckles as he cracks it open. “Freya said I had a better chance of being on your good side if I had one of these.”
I toss my purse onto the recliner and kick off my flats. “You better be glad she’s thinking of your life.”
Stretching out the drink, he says, “I owe you an apology.”
I snatch it and take a swig of my cold heaven before answering. “Is that why you’re here? To clear your conscience?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
“Why did you storm off then?” I lash out. “You made me leave.”
“That wasn’t an invitation to leave. I just needed a moment to absorb the news.”
Angry, I scowl. “And when you didn’t call?”
The corners of his mouth sag. “I was still absorbing.”
One thing about pregnancy, it promises to produce tears. More tears than you’ve ever experienced in your entire life crammed into nine months of raging hormones. It also promises to discombobulate all your senses, screwing them over so you don’t know which way you’re supposed to feel. My throat tightens, burning at the base. “I’ll understand if you want nothing to do with me.”
His frown deepens. “You think I’m just going to walk away? Think again, Jade. I’m here every step of the way.”
“Except when the news gets dropped on you and you have to absorb it.” My tone is heavy with bitterness. “I wish I could’ve run away from the truth.”
He removes the distance between us, taking several steps to me. Anger intertwines with concern as he peers down at me. “I deserve that. I handled it like a fucking asshole and I’m sorry. It was a hell of a shock. So many emotions flooded in and it overwhelmed me. You being pregnant was the last thing I expected to ever come from your mouth. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I fucked up. But I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
I want to be angry. I want to slam my fist into his chest, call him names, and scream hurtful things. Except, it’s not really what I want. I drop my view to his shoes.
“How far along are you?”
“About nine weeks.” My voice sounds so small.
A low chuckle rumbles from his throat. “Pool house fuckery.”
“Definitely a fuck to remember,” I titter quietly.
Running a large, warm hand over my shoulder and down my arms, he clutches my hand. “Like you’d ever forget any of our fucks.”
I roll my eyes and puff a breath. And then I remember he’s not seen the picture from the first ultrasound. “I’ve got something to show you. Come here.” I guide us to my room and then pull the picture from the corner of my mirror. “Meet our pumpkin seed.” I’m shaking when I hand it to him. “Dr. Shultz said it was a peanut. I hate peanuts. Besides, pumpkin seed sounds cuter.” I’m rambling through my nerves.
His lips stretch up into a big toothy grin. His eyes bear the same happiness as he holds the picture between his fingers. “You should’ve started with this…”
He continues to beam at his baby and it causes my chest to swell. Annndd then these damn unpredictable tears make their presence known. I’m blinking them back when I sniffle, catching his attention and ripping his gaze away from the picture. Both his brows furrow.
I breathe out a giggle, past these stupid tears. “I can’t stop them. They come and go when they want. Pregnancy hormones and all.” I roll my eyes to the ceiling.
He chuckles. “I can count the times I’ve seen you cry in my life on one hand. The last time was when you tried walking off a broken ankle.”
It’s as if his words carry the power and suddenly, I fall apart. I drop my head into my hands and weep. “I’m not trying to trap you. I didn’t do this on purpose,” I sob.
He pulls me to him and then raises my face to his, using his thumb to interrupt the stream running down my cheek. “I know you better than that, Jade. We’ve been playing with fire on dangerous ground for years. We got burned.”
“I just…I’m…” My voice is gone, drowning under my cries.
Wrapping his arms around my shoulders, he pulls me into his chest, resting his chin on the top of my head. “It’s going to be okay. I promise,” he whispers.
Zach’s my safe. Always has been. With him beside me, nothing in this world can hurt me—except him. I know if he’s beside me, he’ll push and support me helping me conquer anything. Zach may be inept in love, but he’s the most passionate man I know.
He releases me when my sobs quiet down and my tears slow. I tuck my head, embarrassed to have broken down in front of him, and wipe my tears. He falls back onto my bed, folding his arms behind his head, and crossing his ankles, looking all types of cozy when he doesn’t need to be.
My brows furrow. “What are you doing?”
A coy smile quirks up his lips. “You know,” he trails off, looking around my room. “I’ve never once been in your bed. You have mine. Not too fair. You have the home advantage.”
I’ve never allowed him in my bed. Not because I don’t want him in it, but because I knew I wouldn’t ever want him to leave it. My bed is my safe place, my bubbled happy place where I’m able to close my eyes and sleep without any hurt. With him here, it spoils my bed with his memories.
He rubs his hand over his jean-clad dick and winks. That damn charming and seductive wink…with those catastrophic brown eyes. He’s mastered it. And it has powers…
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and kick the door shut. The bed dips as I crawl up his legs, seduction in my gaze. His eyes are hungry, dark…carnal. Placing a knee on either side, I straddle him and press my hands to his chest, spreading them across his pecs, dragging them over his shoulders and into his hair.
“What’s on your dirty mind, Jade?” His voice is gravelly and it ignites me more.
Taking to his bottom lip, I bite and tug the shit out of it. He groans in pleasure.
“You,” I purr.
He licks his lips. “Are you going to keep talking shit or are you going to show me?”
I’m always confident in bed with him. Even though I’m not a filthy talker like he is, the one thing I know for certain—Zachary Calloway loves my body and everything I can do with it.
Reaching between my legs, I unbutton his pants and lower his zipper. While his titillated gaze stays fixated on me, I move, shimmying them down. He lifts his hips to help as I strip him of everything from the waist down, freeing his hard dick. I slide off the bed and tuck my thumbs in my waist band, swaying side to side to give him a sexy strip tease. Slowly, I pull my shirt over my head and reach behind to unsnap my bra. I drag my hands up my ribs and caress my sore breast, letting out a soft moan.
He watches, rapt, and it makes me hungrier to feel him. I creep my way back up, running my hands up his legs and digging my nails into his skin. I purposely miss touching his dick altogether until I sit and rock across it.
He smirks like the horny devil he is and drifts his hand to my clit. The pad of his thumb caresses it, forcing my hips to gyrate. I’m horny as hell and impatient as ever. I lift and sink down on to him whimpering as the tension releases to the gratification. Lea
ning back, I place my hands on his legs and begin a perfect rhythm right in line to send me over the edge. A release I need…
His thumb continues to work my clit with steady pressure and speed. Waves of pleasure begin to crash into me, heat spreading across my skin. I quicken my pace, bouncing with more force. He grips my hip, driving upward, his thrusts picking up in speed.
“The sight of my dick sliding in and out of you…” A guttural growl takes his words.
His fingers bite into my skin, urging deeper, inciting my orgasm.
And it works…
“Zach…” I sigh and then beg as my body winds up to explode.
He delivers and pumps furiously into me.
I succumb. Electricity zips across my skin. The earth quakes. I writhe as a searing need twists through my body, and cry out as I’m overcome.
“Dammit, Jade,” he curses and barrels into his own orgasm.
I drop my head beside his trying to catch my breath. My heart pounds. His dick pulses. Mindlessly, he glides his fingers up and down my back. It’s a sensual feeling. Intimate.
And I don’t like it. Quickly, I move off him and into the bathroom to clean up. Only a few more minutes and he’ll be gone. I’ve never been more grateful for our routine than I am now. I need him out of my bed. Fuck and get out. No one does the walk of shame. We do the strut of a proud fuck.
As I open the door, he’s zipping up his pants. He smiles to me. “You hungry?”
This is new…
“A little. But I’ll make something after you leave.”
He folds me into his arms and kisses the top of my head. “I was hoping to feed you.”
My body limbers with defeat. “What are you doing?”
“Finally being allowed to take care of you.”
I shake my head and step away. “Zach—”
“Don’t argue with me, Jade. You’ll make an ugly spectacle of yourself and I’ll still get my way.” He stills me with a pointed look.
I don’t argue. He’s right. He always gets his way and right now, food is my weakness. I slide back into my pants. “I’m craving mashed potatoes.” My words make me laugh.
With a knowing smirk, he nods his head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s see what I can make up.”
I bite the side of my lip to conceal my happiness. Yes, ladies. He can cook and it is delicious.
His eyes darken. “Don’t do that. You know what it does to me.”
As he heads toward the kitchen I roll my eyes to the ceiling. “I need willpower,” I whisper my prayer before exiting.
He’s bent over looking in the fridge. “How the hell do you two survive? You have shit for food.”
“We eat out a lot.” I lean my elbows on the counter. “She’ll burn the house down and I hate cooking.”
“Caney Grille still open downtown?”
I nod. “But I’m driving.”
Amused, he shakes his head. “In that case, I’m walking. Your driving is horrible.”
I fake a gasp. “Is not!”
He laughs. “I don’t ride bitch often.”
“You ride bitches a lot.” I meant to say it sarcastically, but it doesn’t come out that way. Instead, I sound like a jealous bitch myself. I drop my view. “I’m sorry.”
He kisses my cheek. “Let’s go have dinner.”
“Wait. You’re not calling it in?”
He tightens his lips and shakes his head.
“We’re eating in public?” I squeak.
“Jade…” He exhales annoyance. “Can we please just get something to eat without an argument?”
My stare lingers before pulling open the door and heading out.
Jade
Dinner was…quiet. We didn’t say too much, other than traveling down memory lane about the time he and Max came to help us move into the new apartment—the one I’m in now—and how he thought this city was boring. There was no mention of the baby, the pregnancy, or what the hell we’re going to do. It was peaceful.
Which is the polar opposite of what I’m feeling now as Zach follows me down the hallway back to my apartment. We don’t do this…ever. This is the first time he’s been at my place outside of moving me in, and I like it that way. No memories to have to deal with him. A clean slate without him in it.
The lights are off when we push through the door. He snakes his hand around my waist. “Is Freya here?” he whispers behind me.
“No. She’s still out with Jane.”
He tugs my back to his chest, removing the distance between us, and grips my hair, tugging it to the side. He nibbles on my neck, slowly savoring it, and it causes me to sigh, melting into him. He guides us down the hallway and into my bedroom, continuing his amazing assault on my neck while gently kneading my breasts. He pushes the door shut behind us and spins me toward him.
My blinds are closed, curtains pulled. The room is dark with very minimal light. Practically pitch black, the reason why I love it. The darkness swallows me whole, but always in the most perfect ways.
Using his fingers as a guide, he dips his thumbs under my waistband and pulls my pants down, squatting as he does. My breath catches when he yanks me toward him and buries his face between my legs. As his tongue circles my clit, I grip his hair and tug gently—something I know he loves. He sucks me into his mouth, his expert tongue giving me a fabulous ride. My legs tense as heat trickles down them.
Zach knows what I love, what drives me to climb up the walls. He’s a master of my body, always in control, never in a rush unless the timing calls for it. He leaves me delirious…and I love it.
The sound of his zipper, the teeth pulling apart one by one, causes anticipation to course through me. He cups my face in his hand and then claims my mouth. It’s a hot, messy, intoxicating kiss. Our tongues chase each other’s, our breaths ragged. He kisses me like he’s been dying to all his life.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he rasps thickly and I obey.
He presses me against the wall and then hauls me down onto him. I suck in a breath and release a cry, digging my nails into his nape. He slams a kiss back to me, wildly passionate, desperate…igniting. He pumps into me, driving me up the wall with each thrust. My body constricts, my orgasm spiraling out of control as his name drops from my mouth. He becomes savage, giving me what I need, hissing and grunting as he spills into me, rocking deeply.
After cleaning up and changing into my pajamas, I open the bathroom door to find him lying in my bed, shirtless, with the covers pulled up to his hips and the bedside lamp on. It’s late. I’m tired. And I need him to leave.
“What the hell are you doing?” I fire off.
He regards me with a dense glance and then snatches my wrist, tugging me over him and into his side.
“I’m spending the night,” he says as he pulls the covers over me.
Panic fires across my nerves. “No. No you’re not.”
He tightens his grip as I try twisting out of the bed and chuckles. “You’re pregnant with our baby. Please.”
“We don’t do this. I don’t want to do this,” I babble out, knowing I’m not necessarily telling the truth.
“We’re doing it now,” he says calmly into my hair. “Besides, what’s the worst that’s gonna happen?”
I don’t have to see him to know he’s wearing a triumphant smirk behind me. But unbeknownst to him, I’m inundated with anxiety. I’ve never slept in his arms outside a quick sated nap. We’ve never spent the night together, even when we have our long romps at his place.
“My sheets will smell like you. They have never and I like it that way,” I protest.
I hear his lips part. “Now you’ll endure the same torture you leave me with every time you come to my house and fuck me senseless.”
Lacing his fingers with mine, he rests his hand on my stomach. “Cave, Jade. You know you want to.”
I hate when he’s right. I hate that he fricking knows me so well. “Fine,” I say like it’s the last thing on earth that I want.
> He shifts, turning off the light before squeezing back into me. It’s quiet other than my pounding heart for several long moments. “You know we have to tell Max.”
I sigh. “Yeah. And I’m petrified to. Max is going to murder you.”
“You’re scared to lose me now?” he teases.
I roll my eyes into the darkness. “I don’t have you to lose. Besides, you can be replaced with a dildo.”
“A dildo? You need to let it in on our fun. I’d love to see you fuck yourself with it.”
“Oh my god. Is that all you think about?”
“No. But it’s all you allow me to talk about.” He chuckles. “I’ll figure out a way to handle Max. No doubt he’ll be pissed.” He runs his thumb over my knuckles.
“I don’t think you should be alone when you tell him.”
“I won’t be. You’ll be with me.”
I flinch. “So he can kill us both? I have a child to raise.”
“As do I.” I can hear the amusement in his voice. “You know he can’t stay mad at you for long. You’re his baby sister. The baby. The weird sparkly light in the big sky that offers him an even weirder happy place.”
It makes me laugh. “You’re jealous?”
He squeezes me. “You’ve always been my bright star.”
“Don’t talk to me like that,” I retort. The last thing I need is to fall further in love with womanizer Zachary Calloway, regardless if I’m already there or not.
He nuzzles into my neck. “You realize if we have a girl, I’m locking her up with a chastity belt. They still make them, right? Probably not, but I’ll design one then,” he prattles on. “And if it’s a boy, oh the hearts he’s going to break.”
“Yeah. Just like his daddy.” My heart included.
“Let’s hope the baby will have Momma’s looks and Daddy’s brains. Lord save us if it’s the other way around,” he finishes with a cackle.
“Hey!” I crack up, elbowing him.
He tightens his grip, resting his forehead on the back of my head. “Goodnight, Jade.”
Dammit, he smells good…