I suck in a breath as his thumb plays with my clit and his cock just sits completely inside of me, stretching my slick center and making me feel exceptionally full.
Breathing through my nose, I watch him, his face in full concentration as he watches his thumb move. I feel my body climbing again, for the third time tonight.
“Cole, I’m close,” I whisper.
He grunts before he speaks. “Stay nice and still, baby. Come all around me,” he whispers.
My inner thighs start to shake without warning, and my hands fly to his chest as I try to keep myself upright. His thumb starts moving faster, and then he slaps my clit. I fall completely over the edge with a cry and a sob.
His hands move to my hips and his fingers grip me, biting into my skin as he holds my body still and thrusts into me from below, fucking me—hard. When I feel his cock twitch and fill me with his release again, I can no longer hold myself up at all. I completely collapse against him.
“Sweet baby,” he whispers as his hand gently combs through my hair.
We fall asleep just like that, him inside of me, and me on top of him. It’s the best sleep of my entire life.
COLE
MY EYES CUT to John, who is sitting next to me. He doesn’t know what I’m going to say, and I feel like a shit friend for not at least warning him of my decision. The board asks me if I’ve made my decision on their offer. I nod as I stand.
“I have,” I admit. The head of the board lifts his chin, and I clear my throat. “I have decided not to accept the position of head coach. I appreciate the offer very much, and it is a decision that I did not come to lightly.”
“Cole,” John growls next to me. I ignore him.
“You understand what a particularly delicate situation this is, don’t you?” the head of the board asks.
I nod. “I do; however, I have to do what’s right for me and my family.”
“So then, you’ll be leaving us completely?” he asks, lifting a brow.
Clearing my throat, I tell them that I won’t be returning, since this season was the end of my contract and I was up for renewal anyway. I add that I have no intention of leaving them with another hole in their coaching staff.
“Give us a few minutes to break and discuss?” he asks. I nod.
I watch as the entire board stands and exits, leaving me completely alone with John. “I can’t fucking believe you,” he hisses. I turn to him and wince when I see how incredibly angry he is with me. “I swung my fucking dick out for you, and this is how you repay me?”
“I couldn’t accept it, John. I told you why, and I’m done. I’m so fucking done with the politics and the bullshit,” I announce.
“What will you do? Go back to teaching high school?” he sneers.
It’s then that I decide not to tell John about my future plans. He’s angry and pissed off that I didn’t play the game that not only the school wanted, but he did, too.
“Doesn’t matter what I do, John. I’ll know that I earned it, whatever it is,” I state, standing firm on my belief.
“Yeah, fuck you, man. Mr. Star. The man that the media can’t get enough of; the ex-pro-ball player; the one who’s fucking some eighteen-year-old hot piece of snatch. Fuck you.”
My eyes cut to him, and I turn to face him. “You call my woman a hot piece of snatch again, and I’ll lay you out so fast your head will fucking spin,” I growl.
“Fuck off,” he mutters with a wave of his hand.
Shaking my head, I look up to see that the board is returning. “You cool the fuck down, you’ll understand that this play was the only one I had.”
John’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t respond. The head of the board informs me that my services are no longer needed. He hands me a contract that voids my original one and outlines the severance package they’re offering me for early termination.
Everything looks good, and then I get to the portion where they outlined that I cannot discuss the school, or what happened, to anyone in the media. It’s basically a gag order.
I chew on my bottom lip, thinking about that. I never intended to go to the media and hold an interview, or try to make any money off of what happened. It pisses me off that they’d even put this in here, but I know why they did it—to cover their asses.
I glance down at the number, the lump sum that they’ve outlined will be direct deposited immediately. With some quick math, I discover that it’s not only the rest of my salary until the end of my contract, but it’s also a substantial amount more.
It makes me feel dirty to accept it. Then I think about the fact that I have a new business venture, and a new house to buy. A woman to put through college, and a wedding to pay for some time in the near future.
I sign on the dotted line before slipping it back to them. John makes a gurgling sound in the back of his throat, and the head of the board turns to him. They offer him the same position he would have had with me as head coach—assistant to the head coach, and for the rest of the season acting head coach.
I don’t listen to anything else that’s said. I thank them and leave to empty out my office.
I FEEL HER arms slide around my middle as her cheek presses against my back.
“How’d you find me?” I ask, not looking away from the field, but placing my hand over hers at my gut.
“Honey, I know where you come to think, and you weren’t in your office. In fact, a campus security guard was there,” she whispers.
I chuckle as I lightly tap the box at my feet with my toe. “Got laid off,” I chuckle.
“You okay?” she murmurs.
I look out across the fifty-yard-line, and then I look down at her hands before I turn in her arms. Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I look into her eyes. “I’m good, baby. This part of my life is over, and I’m cool with that. Wanna know why?”
Her big light brown eyes look up at me and her mouth opens in a sweet little O shape as she gives me a small nod. “I’m okay with that because being here, all of this bullshit the past few months, it was all bearable because of you. Fuck me, sweet baby, I would have never met you if it weren’t for that fuckwit, Keller and his bullshit. Then where would I be?” I murmur.
“I don’t know… where would you be?” she breathes.
“Fucking alone, and goddamn miserable,” I state before I lower my head and press my mouth against hers.
I taste her, devour her, and own her. She’s mine, every bit of her, and now we’re going to start a beautiful life together—I can’t fucking wait.
“Let’s go home, baby,” I whisper against her lips.
She grins before she speaks. “Home? I’m already home, Cole.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m always home as long as I’m in your arms,” she states.
Lowering my chin, I brush my lips across hers. “Cheesy as it fucking is, Jessa, I feel the exact same way, baby.”
“Let’s go, leave this place behind us,” she whispers.
I lift my head and look around the empty stadium. Then I look back down into her big, light brown eyes, and I smile.
“Let’s get home, pack our shit, and head on to our next adventure.”
FOUR YEARS LATER
JESSA
THE DEAN HANDS me my diploma, and I shake her hand as a camera flashes in my face. Then I carefully walk back to my seat. The crowd is so boisterous that it’s almost startling.
I smile, unsure of where my group in the audience is. Then I sit down until every name is called. Once they’re finished, we all stand and cheer. Some people throw their hats in the air, but I don’t—mainly because it’s pinned to my head.
Stepping away from the crowd, I decide to stay where I am, in hopes that my party will find me. Then, as though I can actually feel his eyes on me, I lift my head and tip my face to the side. My smile widens as I take a step toward him, then another, and another, until I’m almost running. Then I throw myself in his arms.
“Baby,” he murmurs before his lips touch mine.
His hands wrap around my waist and he tugs me as close as he can. “I’m so fucking proud of you,” he rasps against my lips.
“I graduated,” I breathe.
“You graduated,” he agrees.
We embrace for another breath until I hear his family coming up from behind him. “Woman, the restaurant knows we’re coming from a fucking graduation, it will be fine,” Marshall’s voice booms as I watch him stomp up toward us.
He doesn’t say anything else as his hand wraps around my bicep gently, and he tugs me into his arms, embracing me warmly. “Congratulations, gorgeous,” he whispers in my ear, his beard scratching my cheek.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Loretta shoos him aside before she wraps me in her arms to do the same. “We’re so proud of you, sweetheart,” she whimpers. I step back to see her wipe tears from her eyes.
My own eyes well with tears, and Cole’s father grunts at the sight before he gives me a wink. Caitlyn is next, her arms pulling me as close as she can before she tells me her own congratulations.
“I’m hungry,” Marshall announces. “I waited all damn day because I knew we were going to The Famous. The New York strip steak is calling my name.”
“Well then, by all means, let’s make sure your day is perfect, forgo the graduate all together,” Loretta murmurs.
“Damn straight,” Marshall clucks. I can’t help myself. I start to giggle.
Cole wraps his arm around my shoulders and tugs me into his side. My arms automatically wrap around his waist, and I tip my head back to look into his pale green eyes. “I love you, honey,” I whisper.
“Love you more than you’ll ever know, Jessa,” he murmurs. “Let’s get dad fed before he has a heart attack,” he grunts.
Together, the five of us walk toward the parking lot. Cole helps me into his pickup, and his parents and Caitlyn climb in the backseat before we all head to the restaurant.
The ride is abuzz of conversation, mainly from Caitlyn and Loretta. Cole grabs my left hand and laces his fingers with mine. I look down at the rings on my third finger, and I grin.
Cole and I were married in an extremely small ceremony three years ago. I wore a white knee length bodycon dress. The front was a sweetheart neckline and came off of my shoulders. It was completely backless with a generous slit up the back.
I wore pale pastel blue high heels and my long hair down and curly, with some rhinestone clips in the back to pull it out of my face.
The day was simple and elegant, taking place in Cole’s parents backyard. Ines and Thomas even came. It took me a little while to get used to Thomas. He is quite a bit older than Ines, but they’re just as happy as Cole and me. In the end, his love for my friend won me over.
Cole and I left on a weeklong honeymoon to Hawaii, right after our short afternoon reception. It was everything I could have asked for and more.
When Cole’s truck pulls into The Famous parking lot, I unzip my graduation gown and unpin the hat, removing it from my head as everyone files out. I hear Cole tell everyone to go ahead inside and we’ll be right behind them.
Cole’s hand moves from mine, untangling before his hand rests on my belly, then his eyes lift to look deep into my own. “How are you feeling, mama?” he asks.
My cheeks heat with a blush—the way they always do when he asks me that question. I’m seven months pregnant, something we planned, but were surprised when it happened so quickly. One month after I quit birth control, that’s all it took.
“We’re good,” I whisper with a smile tipping my lips.
“Let’s get both of you some food,” he grunts before his lips brush mine.
A second later, he’s climbing out of the truck and jogging in front of it to help me out on my side.
Cole helps me down, and I teeter slightly on my dark suede wedge shoes before I smooth down my comfortable, cotton, short-sleeve, mint dress. It hits just at my knees and hugs my newly rounded body, showing off my bump with gathers on the sides that enhance the way it stretches over me. Reaching into the pickup, I grab the drapey, pink sheer, floral kimono that skims my calves and shins.
“C’mon gorgeous,” he mutters as his hand presses against my lower back.
We eat, drink, and celebrate my bachelor’s degree in finance. It’s something I didn’t know I would enjoy, but I chose it because I thought I could help Cole with his business when we moved here. I discovered that numbers were my thing, and I excelled at them, graduating magna cum laude.
Cole’s now thriving business keeps me busy; and although I work from home and he’s at his training facility, I love that we work together. I love even more that I’ll be able to stay home with this baby once he arrives.
“I’m sorry my thing ruins your graduation,” Caitlyn slurs slightly.
She didn’t eat anything but a small salad for dinner, and her third hard alcoholic cocktail is getting to her head.
Cole wraps his hand around the back of my neck and squeezes gently, his thumb massaging me beneath my hair. “My graduation is tonight, your thing, as you call it, is in two days. This is going to be the most memorable weekend ever,” I grin.
Caitlyn frowns before she breaks out in a huge smile. “It is, isn’t it?” she asks as her body sways in her seat.
“Okay, we gotta get her home now. If we don’t and she pukes in Cole’s truck, I’m stuck with another goddamn bill, and I got those fuckers coming out of my ears,” Cole’s father announces as he throws some money down on the table.
Together, we walk out of the restaurant. Cole drives everybody home, promising Loretta three times that we will be at the church on time tomorrow evening for the rehearsal. “Proud of you, Jessa,” Marshall says, clapping my shoulder as he climbs out of the truck.
“Tired?” Cole asks as I sag against the passenger door. I grin over at him. “A little,” I admit.
We arrive at our two-story, yellow siding home, with a white pillared porch. It’s like a dream come true, and the nicest house I’ve ever lived in in my entire life.
I press my hand to my belly as he pulls into the drive and smile as I take in the green front yard. In just a few months, I’ll have a baby boy; and in a few years, this front yard is going to be littered with little boy’s toys. I can hardly wait.
Cole helps me out of the pickup and then jogs over to the mailbox to gather today’s mail before we make our way inside. I walk over to the fridge to grab a water, bottled water. Since my mother drugged our filtered pitcher all those years ago we’ve stuck to using only sealed bottles. I hear Cole grunt behind me. Turning around, I watch as his brow furrows at the envelope in his hand.
“Cole?”
“It’s from him,” he murmurs.
I hurry to his side to grab the white envelope with trembling fingers. Looking at the small slashed handwriting scrawled on the front of the envelope has my heart racing in my chest. I walk over to the barstool to sit down, my hands shaking as I take it in.
“You don’t have to open it right now, baby,” Cole murmurs from behind me, his breath hot against my temple.
It took me three and a half years to get up the nerve to write my biological father a letter. I didn’t know if he’d ever respond, and after waiting for over two months, I gave up on ever hearing back from him. Now, as I look at this letter, his handwriting, his return address at the police station, I’m nervous.
“I want to,” I whisper. I slip my finger beneath the sealed closure and gently slide it open.
Dearest Jessa,
When I received your letter, I wasn’t sure how to respond. When you’d left Grant, I had hoped that you would find yourself and build a good life. Then I watched on the news how Trent Keller had been arrested and feared that you were wrapped up in his situation. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to know that you had severed your relationship with him well before he was arrested.
I want to apologize for keeping my distance all of these years. I made a mistake by cheating on my wife, and yet when I looked at you, I
knew that it wasn’t really a mistake. I struggled with the lack of guilt for many years. It was all me, and had nothing to do with you. My hope is that one day we can have a friendship, the two of us.
Please never hesitate to contact me if you ever need me. I’m glad that you’ve found a good man to share your life with. I hope to meet him someday soon. I’ve had long conversations with my wife and children about you, and they would like to meet you as well. What happened was a very long time ago, and they’re understanding of the circumstances.
Unfortunately, I have to give bad news in this letter. Your mother was arrested and sent away to state prison for solicitation and possession and intent to sell. I can give you her information if you’d like to contact her.
Congratulations on your graduating college. Hope to talk soon.
-Charlie Watson
“Cole,” I whisper after I’ve finished reading the letter.
His hands wrap around me, his palms on my belly and his lips at my ear. “I’m here for you, Jessa,” he whispers.
“Am I a bad person if my mother being in prison is a relief?” I ask.
Cole chuckles as his lips skim my temple. “You couldn’t be a bad person if you tried, but I know what you mean. I’ve been waiting for her darkness to cloud our doorstep for four years. What about the rest?”
I lean back against his strong chest. “I want a friendship with him. Nothing more, though. He’s not my dad. I only have one of those.”
“Jim?” he asks, sounding confused.
“Your dad, honey,” I whisper.
His arms tighten around me, and he spins my body around in the chair before his lips touch mine. “Let’s go to bed,” he rasps against my lips.
I follow behind him, only stopping for a second once we’ve reached the top of the stairs. I look inside of the future bedroom to our baby boy. It’s only half decorated, but it makes me smile. Now that I’m not studying for finals, I can finish his room. Then in a few weeks, he’ll be here, completing our little family.
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