Persuading Perfection

by TC Matson

  I moan as his hiss turns into a groan. “All the coming you’ll be doing will only be on my dick,” he grits between his teeth and thrusts forward.

  Jerking my legs to his chest, he wraps his arms around them and slams into me. Drawing in and out with force, all his anger, all his tension is being buried in me. And it’s remarkable.

  His gaze is vehement, his jaw flexing as he thrusts profoundly. He’s lost in a merciless rapture.

  My body constricts and releases so abruptly I cry out, arching my back and thrashing beneath him. He braces my hips, digging his fingers hard into my skin, and loses his rhythm. He roots, jutting forward, cussing through his teeth and squeezing his eyes shut.

  The earth just exploded for both of us as we ride the waves of our tremors.

  “I…” He sucks in a breath. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” His chest rises and falls quickly as he pulls in air.

  I’m beautifully sated and can only roll my head side to side.

  The bedside lamp is on and he’s still gloriously naked lying on top of the covers. He lifts his head and rakes his gaze over my body. The corner of his lips stretch up. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  He’s told me this a million times, but for some reason tonight it causes butterflies and I tuck my chin feeling bashful. He swings his legs off the side of the bed and pulls me to him, placing soft and tender kisses across my belly—our baby bump.

  “I like this with you,” I whisper to the top of his head.

  He rolls his gaze up and kisses my stomach again. I close my eyes feeling the rush of emotions. Lost in his touch, in a sea of emotionally consuming intimacy, he makes me feel worshiped…loved and adored. “I wish I could keep this forever.” The words slip out.

  Gently, he twists me and lays me on the bed, settling between my legs. He rains soft kisses across my neck and skims over my lips. Ever so slowly, he inches his dick back into me and begins rocking languidly. Interlacing his fingers with mine, he holds my hand.

  There’s an intimacy to this, a bond between emotional and physical, a lure between two heartbeats. It’s too overwhelming and it forces me to close my eyes. His hips roll and sway, slow and easy.

  “Baby, look at me,” he whispers thickly.

  I haven’t been able to in years, scared he’ll see right through me. Petrified I’ll see my truth staring back at me. But tonight…

  I open my eyes, and instantly I’m drowned in the affection. Devotion pours from his gaze, captivated and adoring the woman beneath him. Butterflies scurry across my skin, love exploding in my heart, rushing into my veins, and dampening the all the anguish I have ever felt from him.

  “Jade…” he sighs. “I fall in love with you over and over and each time is deeper than the last. You push me away, but all I’ve ever wanted is you. All I’ve ever needed is you.”

  Tears make their way over the sills of my eyes.

  “I’d wait on you forever, but baby, I’m begging you. This is me on my knees. Let me love you…”

  The desperation in his plea… It’s as if I’m seeing him in a whole new light and suddenly every shattered piece is no longer crumbled to the floor. Piece by piece he’s been picking them up, bonding them back together with an insurmountable love right in front of me. I’ve spent years running away from him because he scares me. Except I’ve been running away from all my happiness and completeness while he’s been right here the entire time. It’s as if life has given me a new meaning, the sensual feeling so strange it stretches over my skin in a heat wave, spreading the length of my entire body.

  He ducks his head beside mine and continues his slow, beautiful and silent confession, pitching and swaying into me.

  Jade

  Zach is snoring lightly, more like a heavy breath with a baritone pitch. The sun hasn’t risen yet and is only casting the new morning blue between the peeks of blinds. I ease out of the bed and tiptoe out of the room. I need thinking space because last night scared the ever-living shit out of me. I’ve never felt that…ever. Regardless of how many times he and I have been together.

  I grab the navy-blue throw blanket from the couch and wrap it around me before quietly opening the back door. The air is cool and crispy as I sit, pulling my legs up to my chest and covering them. The sun is starting to creep up over the horizon, mellow blues and pinks blurring in with the vibrant orange and yellows. The trees hum as a stirring breeze rustles through their leaves. The morning birds call out, breaking the silence of the sleeping world.

  The door behind me creaks and Zach steps out in a pair of gray sweatpants and no shirt. His worry dissolves when I smile up to him.

  “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” he says as he pulls a chair beside mine.

  I look back at the painting Mother Nature is working on. “I didn’t want to wake you at the ungodly hour I woke. So I snuck out here.”

  He rests back in the chair looking out to the beauty in the works. Moments pass as we sit in silence, comfortably listening to the concert of chirps while my mind races into chaos.

  “Did you mean it or were you just caught up in the moment?” I don’t look at him, scared for the answer. Either reply is terrifying.

  “Every word of it.”

  I pull the blanket tighter around me.

  “Is that what you’ve been doing out here?” There’s a slight twinge of hope braided into his question.

  “Yeah.” And losing my mind over it…over the feelings I felt, over the feeling you made me feel… “Even through all the pain and hate, I never stopped loving you.” The words pass over my lips.

  “I know.”

  “I want to forgive you and start over, but forgetting the pain you’ve caused is a battle of its own even though I don’t think you’d hurt me again. You have the power to save me and destroy me, and it’s terrifying. If you broke my heart again, I don’t think I’d recover from it this time. I wouldn’t have the strength. I’d be completely shattered. I’ve pushed you away for so long but kept you close because I can’t let you go. I don’t want to. I can’t see my life without you.” My voice quivers and he reaches out, resting his hand on top of my foot that’s sticking out from under the blanket. I sniffle, blinking back the emotionally vulnerable tears. “So what do I do?”

  “Stop being afraid and start calling me your boyfriend. We’ll work on the rest from there together,” he says.

  My chest feels lighter from his response.

  Tucking a finger under my chin, he pulls me face to face. “Let me love you, Jade. You’re in my soul. I’ve been yours, now just be mine.”

  “If you hurt me, I’ll castrate you.”

  A slow grin creeps across his lips. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

  His lips press to mine in a tender, ardent kiss. His tongue sweeps across mine in a slow dance as he cups the back of my head to deepen it. When he breaks it, he leans his forehead to mine, and I feel complete and entirely cherished. He cheeses like an idiot. “It’s about fucking time.”

  It makes me giggles. “Now what?”

  As if he can hear the lust in my voice, his eyes dance with…play. “I’m going to make breakfast. I’m starving.”

  He’s already pulled everything out, placed it on the counter, and is putting the bacon into the frying pan when he glances over his shoulder at me. “You still like that crunchy bacon shit?”

  “Yeah.”

  He chuckles, shaking his head, and gets back to cooking.

  I pull myself on the counter beside the stove, dangling my legs off the side. “I’m surprised. No celebratory sex? No releasing of balloons and confetti? I thought for sure you’d have a different reaction.”

  His head jerks forward as he suppresses his laugh. “I’m famished from our pre-celebratory party. Give me thirty minutes and I’ll make it up to you, but without the other things.” He pauses, ponders and flashes a sly smirk. “Unless you give me permission to come all over your face and call it confetti?”

  Scrunching my face,
I hide the giggle.

  He drops his head, hanging it and then grabs his hard-on over his pants. “See what the fuck you do to me?”

  I cast a coquettish gaze and then slowly slide off the counter and sink to my knees, freeing his dick out of the fabric cage. Wrapping my fingers around the base, I stroke him, sliding my tongue from his nuts up the smooth hardness along his shaft and to the tip.

  “Fuck,” he groans, grabbing a handful of my hair.

  In a power trip, I shove his hand away. “Keep cooking.” My demand comes as a seductive pant.

  With the tip of my tongue, I dip under the crown of his dick, dragging a line against the pulsing skin. His breath catches as I draw him into my mouth, sinking as far as I can go.

  “Fuuuccckkk…” His murmur is low and lengthy.

  I cup his balls, gently kneading them while I bob up and down, sucking him. I can taste myself from last night mixed with his excitement now and it’s enthralling. He flexes his hips, releasing a guttural growl forcing me to roll my eyes up. I’m swallowed by the pleasure etched on his face, his gaze dark and heavy with an avaricious need, his mouth parted.

  “So good…” he pants. “So fucking good…”

  I tighten my grip, pumping harder, sucking harder and moaning my gratification. His dick twitches. He slaps the stove off, hastily shoving everything, and then grips the front of the stove, thrusting deeper into my throat. Flicking my wrist and laving a flat tongue from the bottom of his nuts, I drag slowly back to his head, press my lips tightly together, and suck, drawing him back into my mouth.

  A hiss bursts past his lips and his tempo picks up. He grasps my hair, driving faster as his dick twitches with anticipation. His eyes fall shut as pure satisfaction dons in his expression. His jaw flexes and suddenly he rips himself from me, jerking me up.

  He’s a carnal frenzy, twisting my body, and forcing me over the counter. He makes quick work of my panties, shoving them to my thighs, and slams in. He roots so deeply, it sucks the breath out of me. He retreats and plunges, his hips hard and demanding. He growls, pulling my chin toward the ceiling.

  I’m so worked up from pleasing him, my orgasm is already spooling up and sending heat waves through my limbs. His fingers dig into my hips.

  “Zach…” I plead my warning.

  “I’ve got you, baby,” he rasps, his thrusts urgent.

  A burning tremble crawls over my skin and I’m slammed into my orgasm. I cry out, begging and pleading, needing more, but too much.

  Zach bucks several hard thrusts before bearing down and burying deeply, stringing a long line of grunts and curses. Shock waves tremor his body and his grip loosens.

  “Holy shit,” he breathes. “I can’t feel my legs.”

  He moves, dropping his back to the floor, and throws his arms over his eyes. His breath is erratic, his chest rising and falling in short bursts. “Fuck…” he gulps a breath. “Fuck that was brilliant.”

  I laugh, standing on wobbly legs. The pan of eggs is on the back burner, the bacon teetering in the middle, and grease splatter is everywhere. Feeling fuck drunk and giddy, I pile the food in the middle, grab two forks, and plop my ass down on the floor beside him.

  “Breakfast is ready,” I chirp.

  “On the floor?” He lifts his head and looks down the length of his body. His view shifts to me. “I’m still naked.”

  “Naked is a good place to start new,” I lift my shoulder and cram a bite of eggs into my mouth, smiling like a freshly fucked idiot.

  Zach

  The doctor’s office is small, but cozy. We’ve been waiting for this day for what feels like an eternity. There’s no denying she’s pregnant anymore. At nineteen weeks, our baby has made a happy home for himself and made it a living hell for Jade to find clothes. She can’t wear her favorite things anymore, but trust me, the black plaid skirt she was in when I picked her up today is stunning.

  She’s lying on the table with her gown tucked around her stomach and the a look of worry on her face.

  I kiss her forehead. “What are you worried about?”

  She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “You saw those women out there. I’m huge. What if we’re having twins? I’m barely prepared to be a mother. No way I can do it with two babies.”

  Smoothing her hair, I smile. “We choose our favorite and eat the other. That’s how it’s done in the wild, right?”

  She gasps with laughter and slaps my arm.

  “I’m kidding,” I chuckle. “We’ll handle it. We’ve got this.”

  The knock on the door has Jade’s brown eyes wide with panic. The doctor walks in with her snazzy white coat with her wrist jingling from the many bracelets. “Jade. It’s good to see you again.” She flips a few pages on the chart. “You’re coming along perfectly.” As if she just realized I wasn’t a fixture to the room, she sticks her hand out. “I’m Dr. Shultz. You are?”

  “Zach Calloway.” I flash my charming smile that slips into a smirk. “The baby daddy.”

  She adjusts the monitor and looks to Jade. “Do you want to know the sex of the baby?”

  “Yes,” we answer in unison.

  The doc goes to work and squirts jelly on Jade’s stomach. Seconds after she places the wand to her skin, a black and white mess appears, but then clears up into a perfect shape of a baby.

  I swallow, pride slapping me across my face and swelling in my chest. My throat tightens. That’s my baby…curled up. I smile a little goofy, staring at the screen, fascinated and overwhelmed with joy. Dr. Shultz begins to show us where everything is—the head, pointing out the eyes nose, and mouth. She shows us the arms and fingers, back and spine.

  I’m in awe, mindlessly drawing circles on Jade’s shoulder with my thumb. I’m not sure if it’s to comfort her or keep me grounded. I want so badly to look at her and make sure she’s okay, but for the life of me, I can’t find the strength to pull my eyes away from my baby.

  “This is a butt cheek.” She uses the pointer to show us. “And this is the other butt cheek.” Oh, the fucking suspense. “Here’s the butt crack.” She moves the arrow again. “And it goes without saying, congratulations. You’ve got a boy.”

  Warmth rushes my body as my pride surges. I’m about to burst out my damn seams with happiness. I kiss Jade’s forehead, grinning like a goofy ass buffoon.

  The doc chuckles. “I take it you wanted a boy?”

  “First,” I nod quickly. “I wanted a boy first. A man of the house to take care of Mom when I’m not there.” And to be the protector of the following siblings. A man. My boy…

  “Are you saying I can’t take care of myself?” Jade asks.

  I peer down. “Not like a Calloway man.” I wink.

  After finishing and cleaning up, I drive Jade back to work. I’m floating, my feet barely able to touch the ground when I pop open the car door. “I’m telling Max.” I squeeze her hand leading her to the entrance.

  “Ohh-kay.” The word is drawn out with apprehension.

  The dinner crowd has begun to arrive and brings with it a low hum, but not enough to drown out the harmony of the music playing from above. I walk her down the hall, and stop at her office door. “Give me a minute.”

  Max’s door is open, as it usually is, and although he’s still pissed at me, I’m excited to tell him. He’s flipping through papers when I enter.

  When he notices me, he scowls. “May I help you?”

  “I hope so. I wanted to tell you what we’re having,” I state.

  There’s conflict boring in his glare. The battle…

  I pull out the extra ultrasound picture and hand it to him. “We’re having a boy.” I can’t fight the grin. “And thank fuck for that. A girl would have us all on our knees.”

  He’s glancing at the picture, smiling. “Congratulations.”

  “He’s healthy. Ten fingers and toes. A strong spine,” I add. “Won’t be long and I’ll have him kicking your ass in foosball.” My words get no response. “Max, I want—”

&
nbsp; He rises to his feet. “Thank you for telling me. Have a good day.” His voice shakes trying to keep his temper in check. I open my mouth to say something, but quickly he interrupts. “Have a good day, Zach.” This time his words come out as a threat.

  I nod and disappear. Jade springs to her feet, rushing around her desk. “He cracked a smile and then kicked me out of his office. I’d say I’m gaining ground.”

  She exhales, pinching the bridge of her nose. “He’s so damn stubborn.”

  “It runs in the Lauder blood.” I hook an arm around her waist and pull her against me. “Stay with me tonight. I’ll cook dinner and we can celebrate our boy.”

  She bobs her head from shoulder to shoulder. “Can I take a rain check for Saturday? I have to work and you enjoy keeping me up late.”

  Discontent, I sigh. “Just move in with me so we don’t have to worry about this shit.”

  She kisses my jaw, patting the middle of my chest. “Baby steps, Zach.”

  I hum a growl. “I took baby steps to get you to agree to be my girlfriend. Now I’m going to be relentless to get you to move in with me.”

  The sweetest gaze peers up to me and silences my brood. “Although you’re adorable when you beg, give it time. Let’s get adjusted first.”

  I smirk. “Need me to hit my knees?”

  “The answer will still be no, not right now. I’m not saying it won’t ever happen. I’m saying we’ve just begun traveling outside of our boundaries. Let’s make sure it’s stable first.”

  My jaw flexes. “You’re impossibly difficult.”

  “And you’re incredibly impatient.”

  “I’m so damn close, yet so far away,” I grumble and then flash a charming smirk. “Maybe you should hit your knees for a reminder of why you shouldn’t be away from me every night.”

  It makes her laugh.

  “What? I’m trying every angle to see what works.” I kiss her. “Call me later.”

  Jade

  I’m miserably happy, fat with a baby, and madly in love with my boyfriend, who has shown me what the hell I’ve missed running away from him—my life. Unfortunately, that incredible boyfriend of mine had to fly to California yesterday for work and will be back late tomorrow. He’s got a big meeting, colossal, one that could land him many years of guaranteed work off one project. I’m antsy as hell waiting to hear from him and find out how it went. It’s funny to feel this way. For so many years, I forced myself not to care, and now I’m forcing myself to calm the hell down.