I want to scoop her up and hold her. I can see the pain in her eyes as though it had just happened. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think there is anything I could say that would ease her suffering, so I stay quiet.
She looks at me and says, “I’m sorry about your truck. I’d like to pay the cleaning bill.” What the fuck, is she for real?
I shake my head, laughing that she would even go there right now. “It’s okay, Kate. It wasn’t that bad.” I lie.
“I’m so embarrassed. I acted like such a tramp. That’s not me, Jack, I don’t do that.”
“You don’t hear me complaining, do ya? I enjoyed ‘Katelyn Cooper.’ In fact, she should come around more often.”
“Very funny. You’ll see plenty of me now. What are you, twenty-five?”
“Twenty-six. I’ll be twenty-seven in a couple of months.”
“Ohmygod,” she cries. “I feel like a sexual predator.”
I bust out laughing. I can’t hold it in.
“It’s not funny. Jack. My life would be ruined.”
“First of all, I’m over eighteen, a consenting adult, Kate. You were kind of a predator that night, but I’m not complaining.” I wink to let her know I’m kidding. But judging by her face, she’s mortified by this conversation.
“You know my age…time to ‘fess up,” I urge. At most, she’s what, four years older? I’m not worried.
She chews her cheek. “I’m thirty-four.”
13
Kate
I watch as he processes my words. He bobs his head but doesn’t say a word.
“Say something,” I beg.
He smiles. “Cradle robber.”
I gasp. “Jack! That’s an awful thing to say.” The words start off stern but end in laughter as I take in his amused expression. He’s getting a kick out of this.
“What? Age is irrelevant at this point in our lives, don’t you think?” He shrugs, flashing me a devil-may-care grin.
“What will your parents think when they find out you’ve impregnated a woman almost a decade older than you?”
“They’ll adore you. Besides, there are two very big bonus points in your favor.” I raise my eyebrows questioningly. “One…we met at the same bar they did back in the day.”
“Jumpin’ Jacks?”
“Yep. The one and only.” He smiles brightly. “Two…my mother got pregnant with my twin sister Julia and me on their first night together.”
My eyes go wide. “You were an oops?” I pucker my lips.
“My sister and I were loved from the first moment,” he quips. “They are under the belief that fate is a real thing and you can’t run from it. My father loves my mother so deeply and it came from what was supposed to be a one-night thing. Wyatt and Bailey Kincaid will love you.”
I smile, despite my uncertainty. “We know nothing about each other.”
“Sure we do. I know that you have two very close friends. One is a little uptight and the other is kinda loud.” I laugh at his depiction of Andy and Jamie.
“Andy will murder you for that.”
“I have no doubt, baby.” The term baby has my insides warming. There is something so masculine and assertive about that endearment. I love it.
“Go on. What else do you know about me?”
“You’re thirty-four, have two children, one of whom is Ash.”
How does he know that?
I’m curious, but I don’t ask. I want to know what else he’s gleaned from our limited exchanges.
“You were fortunate to get away from Travis Stone.” I wince at that. “You’re beautiful and hardworking.” I smile.
“I know nothing about you,” I nearly whisper.
“We have all the time in the world, Kate. I plan to get to know everything about you.”
“I don’t expect you to come in like a knight in shining armor and sweep me off my feet,” I tell him. “This is all being sprung on you.”
He scowls. “I sure as hell am going to sweep you off your feet.” He moves closer to me. “I take care of my own. That child.” He gestures to my expanding belly. “It’s mine and I’ll be there every step of the way.”
Everything in me relaxes at his promise. The thought of going through this alone terrifies me. Looking at Jack, I know he will be with me through it all. However, a pang of worry creeps in. He’ll be there for the baby…but where does that leave us?
“I don’t expect you to be with me,” I say quietly, not wanting any bystanders to hear my insecurity.
At that, he jerks back. “Are you out of your mind? Of course we’re together.”
“We haven’t even been on a date. You don’t even know if you’ll actually like me as a person, Jack.”
He laughs.
“If I liked you enough to not run at the mention of a baby, I’d say it’s safe that I want to get to know you.” He grins. “Besides, I need more of you. Twice will never be enough.” He pulls me into a deep kiss, right there in the middle of the park. Typically, this type of PDA would be enough to send me packing, but not with him. I couldn’t care less who’s around to see. I’m so into this moment, into him, I don’t want to come up for air. After several minutes of heated kisses he pulls away.
“Let’s get out of here and get to know each other better.”
I smirk. “Where are you taking me, Mr. Kincaid?”
“Home.”
14
Jack
We’re barely inside the door to my place before I pounce. My hands grab at her waist, twist her around, and then I capture her mouth. Fuck, she tastes good. I could spend the rest of my life only kissing her mouth, devouring her every day, for the rest of my life.
With both hands I rip open the buttons of her blouse so her breasts are free and yank her bra down. Her breasts are large and full in my hands. I pull at each nipple, my fingers kneading on the sensitive skin. Her chest is heaving with desire and I hear a sharp intake of breath as I bend down and place the tip in my mouth and begin to suck, latching hard onto her nipple. A moan escapes her and I continue to nip and bite as my other hand creeps down her torso, landing on her abdomen.
“I can’t wait to watch my baby grow in your womb,” I mumble out as I lap at her. The idea of my baby growing inside her has me going all alpha male and needing to mark and claim her. I can’t wait to see her swell with my child and know a part of me is growing inside her.
I pop her breast out of my mouth and pull away.
“Come on, as much as I want to fuck you against the wall, I want to feast on you first, and that requires a bed.”
“Who says?” she says, laughing out loud.
“Me.” Like the caveman that I am, I grab her and throw her over my shoulder, heading straight into my bedroom. Once there, I work on removing her clothes. When she’s fully naked in front of me, I sweep my gaze over her lush body.
“Lie down,” I huff. I’m too turned on to speak. My cock is rock hard and my balls are tight. When she lays down, I spread her legs. Her perfect pink pussy is in front of me. She’s soaked and, on its own volition, my tongue darts out and licks my lips. Fuck, I need to get my cock inside her. But first, a taste.
Not able to wait another minute, I lean forward and swipe my tongue along her slit from bottom to top until I finally find what I’m looking for and latch onto her clit. Her sweet cream coats my tongue and it goads me to suck harder, her whole pussy throbbing under my careful ministrations.
“You taste delicious.” And God, does she ever. She’s my own perfect feast, laid out for me. She’s the sweetest dessert I have ever had and if I could do this forever I would, but the throbbing in my cock screams otherwise and the pulse of her pussy beneath me tells me she’s close and I refuse to let her come without me. I need to feel her cunt strangling my cock when she does.
Shoving my pants down, I fist my dick and start pulling it from root to tip until I am primed. With my other hand I spread her legs even farther, take one last lick, and crawl up her body, placing mysel
f at her entrance. Her juice coats the tip of my cock and I circle my hips to tease myself. She bites her lip in anticipation and then, with one quick thrust of my hips, I’m fully seated.
Pulling out, I slam back in and keep up the pace, my dick in and out of her tight pussy. I stretch her walls. I fill her to the brim with my cock. The smacking sound of our bodies fuels me to fuck her harder, to tease her more. So I pull out, leaving her vacant for long seconds until she moans with need, her pussy contracting around the tip of my cock. When I think we can’t take anymore, I start all over again and again.
Rocking in and out.
Her pussy starts to squeeze me tighter than I think possible as she moans out her release. The sound has me chasing my own release, fucking her harder and faster than I ever thought possible until I’m emptying all my cum inside her.
“God, that was incredible,” Kate exclaims through labored breaths.
“Yeah, it was.”
Sated and exhausted, I lay on my back, looking at the ceiling. Never has my place felt more like home than with her in it. It’s fucking scary as shit. I hardly know her, yet I never want her to leave.
It’s not normal.
“Tell me more about you,” Kate says, rolling onto her side to look at me. I take her in. Despite being about eight years older, she doesn’t look it. There isn’t a wrinkle on her face. The only signs of age are the tiny crow’s-feet at the corner of her eyes. But they are drowned out by the brilliant hue of her irises.
Stunning.
And absolutely mine.
“What do you want to know?” I ask, not knowing where to begin.
“Everything.” She beams at me before stretching out on her back to stare at the ceiling. “Tell me about your family.”
“I’ve told you a little about them. I have two sisters. Julia is my twin. She’s a nurse, but she’s currently on leave to care for my grandparents.”
“What’s wrong with your grandparents?”
I sigh.
“Age. My grandpa Milo has respiratory issues, so there is a lot of driving back and forth to appointments. My grandma Sharon is actually my step-grandma, but we grew up with her. She’s spunky. You’ll love her.” Kate smiles. “She’s having issues with diabetes. Julia is helping her to get it under control. She doesn’t have to, but she dotes on them.”
“You have another sister?”
“Yeah, Hayley is the baby. She’s off in LA working for an advertising firm. She loves the city. We usually only see her on holidays.” I frown. I hate not having her around.
“So here’s the million-dollar question.” She stalls for effect. “How did you end up working for Travis?”
I groan at the mention of her fucking ex.
I hated Travis Stone before, but now that I’m with Kate and she’s having my child, I despise the fucker. How could he treat her like he did? I’m not a fucking moron. I know what he’s been up to with Carly. His loss. I am definitely the winner in this equation.
“My father owned a building company and is a well-known architect, and Kincaid and Son was his company. Are you familiar with it?” I await her answer.
She chews on her cheek, pondering until I see the light bulb flash on.
“Oh God. That’s your father?”
“I take it you know the story.”
She shakes her head, but I give her time to continue.
“Not really. Travis rarely shared information about his dealings. I do know that Kincaid was a company he was working for, and an opportunity presented itself where he was concerned.” She grimaces. “He came home really happy one night, saying the boss was in over his head and getting tired. He said he was looking forward to wearing him down and taking the company while his idiot son was away.”
At that, I see red.
Fuck. Him.
“Yeah, the idiot son was off getting a college education. Fucking prick,” I mutter.
“I’m so sorry.” She looks upset, which works to calm me down.
“Come here,” I say, pulling her into my side. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Travis is an asshole. He did exactly what he said he was going to. He loaded the jobs on to the point where my dad was in over his head. Travis swooped in as planned and offered a crew that he pulled out of thin air supposedly.” I snorted. “He made my dad feel like he was drowning and only Travis Stone could save everything. Next thing you know, my part of the company was handed over to him.”
“I’m really sorry. I know you say I shouldn’t be, but I am. He was my husband during all of this.” She exhales. “I wish there was something I could do.”
“There isn’t anything that can be done. He bought it and though it was specified in the agreement that once I was ready to buy the architecture part of the company, he’d sell it back.” I shake my head. “I’ve offered to take out a loan and buy it back, but he’s claiming that’s not an option right now. Apparently, he didn’t buy the company alone and the other partner in the deal owns Kincaid and Son outright.”
Kate gasps.
Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like what’s coming next?
“I can help!” she exclaims, jumping to her knees to face me. If she even suggests talking to her bastard of an ex for me, I might lose it. The last thing I’m going to do is beg Travis Stone for anything. I’ll get my company back fair and square.
“Kate—listen. I appreciate it, but I don’t want you anywhere near him. Especially if it has anything to do with me. I don’t want there to be any doubt to anybody why we are together. You’re mine because I chose you. Not because of some twisted vendetta I have against your ex.”
She laughs. She straight up belly laughs.
What the fuck am I missing?
“I’m not going to go to Travis for you. He has no control anyway.” She chuckles again. “My dad is the silent partner.” She grins.
I stare at her. “Your father?” I don’t know whether to be mad or relieved.
“Don’t make that face, Jack.” She takes my chin in her hand, angling my face to meet her gaze. “I only just found out about it. He’s nothing like Travis. He only got into this to save me and the girls. Travis was mismanaging money and we were going bankrupt, although he wouldn’t tell me anything about that. My dad invested to get us out of the hole.” She leans in and sears me with a kiss. “He would hand the company back over to you.”
I bristle. I am going to take care of this without somebody’s dad getting involved.
“I’m not looking for a handout. I’ll buy it back on my own.”
She frowns.
“Jack, look at me,” she pleads. “I’d never suggest you aren’t capable of buying it back. I only meant he’d be happy to deal with you.”
I nod, that I’m following what she’s saying. “He’d do it even if I weren’t pregnant with your child,” she finishes.
“I don’t want him to ever think I’m using you to get to Stone.” My voice is stern, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
She smiles widely. “I know. We may be getting to know each other, but I already know that about you.”
As I run my hands over her soft hair, she sighs in contentment. The sound alone has me relaxing. I never bought into my parents’ idea of fate, but looking at Kate Cooper, I have no other choice but to believe. A month ago we were strangers living six degrees of separation, and today, our lives are forever entwined. I may not know much at this point, but for sure, I know Kate and our child is my forever. There is no reason to wait another second.
“Marry me.”
She snorts.
“Sorry Jack, insta-lust is one thing, but I’m under no false assumptions that you’re in love with me.”
I scoff.
“Woman, don’t tell me what I am and what I’m not. I’m a grown-ass man capable of making up my own mind, and what I want is you. Forever.”
15
Kate
He’s lost his damn mind. Having a child is one thing, but having been married, I can as
sure you that rushing into another marriage is not happening here.
“Kate. Talk to me.” Jack pulls me out of my thoughts.
“It’s not happening, Jack. I’m sorry, but I can’t. It’s too much too fast.”
He blows out a harsh breath. “What’s it going to take to convince you?”
“Time.” I shrug. “I need you to be patient and realize that I’ve already done the marriage rodeo and to say I got slammed down hard is an understatement. I need time to get to know you.” I throw my head back and close my eyes. After a beat I open them again to look at him. “You need to meet my girls. Nothing happens without their approval and I can assure you, you won’t get that overnight.” His eyes go wide. “Welcome to the teenage years. Did you forget I don’t come with just a bun in the oven? I have two more that go where I go.”
“I’m not scared.” He looks petrified. I try to lighten the mood.
“Let’s plan a date tonight with the girls. We’ll take them to dinner and let them get to know you for a few weeks. Once we see things are going well, we’ll tell them about the baby and go from there.” I bite my lip, waiting for his reply.
“Deal.”
“But first, let’s go get your company back.” His grin is unmistakable. He’s all in.
Epilogue
One year later
“Julia, will you take our picture, please?” She looks so much like her brother it makes me smile. I’ve grown so fond of Julia over the past year. She’s been a great friend and an even better step-aunt to Ashlyn and Mandy, taking them on spa days and shopping trips, giving Jack and me time to settle into a groove. We’ve even enjoyed many a family movie night with her in attendance.
“Sure thing. Everyone scrunch in.” The girls jump in, Mandy throwing her arms around Jack’s waist. I smile in contentment. Julia aims the lens right at us and counts down to one. We all smile and yell out the requisite “Cheese!”
“Great picture. You guys are so cute.” Julia beams as I pull her into a tight hug.
Sex, Vows & Babies: Claim Me, Baby (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 7