by Allie York
“Ollie’s fine. I’m okay. I just …” I didn’t know what to say. “Go back home. I overreacted. I’m fine, Jacob. I’m sorry I bothered you.” I whispered the words, not wanting him to see me that way. Not wanting to be so damn weak and not wanting to explain myself. I was ashamed enough without Jacob knowing that I had been screwing around with some asshole instead of just admitting that I belonged with him.
“You obviously aren’t okay. Where are you? Where is Oliver?” He had the tone, the one I knew not to argue with. I hated that tone.
“I’m pulled over on Glenwood. Really, it’s not a big deal. Go back to bed, Jacob. Please. Ollie is at Jude’s. I’m okay,” I gasped through my words, trying to sound convincing and failing miserably. I begged him to just go back home for a few more minutes, but he just kept shushing me, telling me he was on his way. “Jacob, really, I’m okay. I mean it, I’m just going to go home.” Before Jacob answered me, I heard the rumble of his giant truck and saw the gleam of his headlights in my mirror. Defeated, I tossed my phone in my bag and just waited with my head in my hands. Embarrassment eclipsed my fear and pain. Jacob, the man of my dreams, had told me he wanted me, and I went off to screw some other guy only to have Jacob rescue me. I deserved whatever anger he threw at me. His truck door slammed, making me jump, and Jacob appeared at my open window looking exhausted.
“Leave it here, we’ll get it tomorrow.” I started to argue, but he jerked my door open, pushing the buttons to roll up the windows before leaning over me and turning the car off and taking my keys. I sat completely still, unwilling to look at him. Jacob picked up my purse from my lap and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him pull me from the car and into him. His arms curled around my shoulders, engulfing me in his warmth, his smell, and I fell into his chest. He didn’t ask questions and that was a relief. I melted into him, letting him hold and sooth me. No one ever made me feel like Jacob could. I was completely safe right there.
“Come on.” Jacob pulled me toward the truck, opening the door for me to climb into the passenger seat, still clutching my shoes.
We drove in silence but he kept sneaking looks at me when he thought I wasn’t looking. The back of my head had a nice goose egg roughly the size of my fist and my throat was on fire. The three blocks to his house were the tensest minutes I had been through in a while, but I knew it would get worse. Jacob would ask me what happened, then demand I tell him. It would get ugly when I refused and uglier when I broke down and gave him the answer. We pulled into the garage and he got out, walking around to my side to open the door for me. I slid out, took my purse from his hand, and followed him in, not bothering to look around until we were inside.
His room was upstairs in what used to be an attic. The vaulted ceiling was honey colored wood and the only light was a black lamp next to the massive bed, “I can take the couch,” I mumbled in the silence as Jacob handed me a t-shirt and a pair of sweats. I knew the man wouldn’t let me sleep on the couch, but it was worth a try.
“Bathroom is through there.” Jacob nodded at the door in the corner, not acknowledging me, and I went to change. The shirt swallowed me so I skipped the pants, leaving them folded on the counter. A light purple bruise had blossomed across my jaw line and the distinct hand print on my neck made it even more charming. I looked like a beaten whore. Mascara was running down my face, smeared under my eyes, and my face was red from crying. I scrubbed the black streaks from my face and tried to look as composed as one could with choking bruises. I came back out, expecting an empty room, but Jacob was stretched out in flannel pants and an undershirt. I started for the door.
“Sit, Lyd.” Shit.
“Jacob, thank you, really, but I’m tired and just want to go to sleep.” His eyes narrowed and he jumped up to stalk toward me, brushing his fingers over my neck when he got to me. I stood staring at the wooden floor between us while letting him inspect my neck, then my face. Pale skin meant easy bruising and being half naked didn’t make me feel any better, either. His shirt was big, but it barely covered down to my thighs.
“Get in bed, Lydia,” Jacob spoke softly, putting his hand on the small of my back to urge me toward the bed. When I didn’t budge, he huffed, “I’ll keep my hands to myself, just get in bed.” I crawled into the king bed, nuzzling into the down pillows and being completely overwhelmed by his smell. The light clicked off and the bed dipped when Jacob laid down behind me. My own special brand of stupid got even worse and I scooted toward him, stopping when he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, rolling me over into his broad chest, and letting me fall apart. Jacob shushed my cries, stroking my hair, and holding me close until I fell asleep.
Chapter Nine
JACOB
When I found out what happened, who touched her, I was going to kill the motherfucker. She was too upset, too tired to tell me right then, so I just let her cry until she fell asleep on my chest. It was like coming home, the feeling was so familiar, so perfect. Lydia fit there perfectly, snuggled against me in my bed. She belonged there. There were other people for her to call. Oliver made it clear how close she was with her family, especially her sisters, but she called me. Oliver’s party was the next day, so Dad and I would be meeting my big happy family. What a fucking mess. She looked like he had done a number on her, but not knowing the who was going to drive me crazy. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like her answer. The bruise on her neck was a handprint. Someone had fucking choked her.
The grip she had on my shirt loosened as she relaxed and drifted off. Her coming out of my bathroom in my shirt with her long legs bare made me hard as hell, and it got worse when she moved to lay against me. Fuck she was gorgeous. So soft and smooth. Not to mention half naked in my bed. I didn’t dare make a move. Lydia had obviously been through some shit and didn’t need me humping her leg in the process.
“I missed this so much, Lyd,” I whispered in her hair and fell asleep next to her for the first time over thirteen years.
Lydia tossed a lot in her sleep, groaning occasionally, but would calm if I wrapped my arms around her. I finally curled myself around her, keeping her against me, and stayed there. After that, there were no more nightmares. Death would look like a blessing when I got my hands on the bastard who hurt her. I would crush him with my bare hands.
I jerked alert the next morning when the toilet flushed and the bathroom door closed. I hadn’t slept that hard in years. Lydia froze mid-step toward the bed, locking eyes with mine. I patted the bed, noting the beginnings of sunrise through the circle window. It was too early. She climbed over me and settled into the pillows facing away from me. I was done backing off. My Lydia had a handprint on her neck, a bruise on her face, and was in my bed. Shecalled me to find comfort or protection, not any of the other people she had access to. I had given her enough space, enough time. I grabbed her waist, pulling her into me, and rubbed my nose into her hair, taking in her scent. Lydia gasped, but quickly relaxed into me. Her fingers traced the muscle in my forearm where it circled her waist. It was a better reaction than I anticipated so I took it as a green light.
“What happened?” I closed my eyes, reveling in how familiar she felt against me. Time didn’t matter. That was where we were meant to be.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Her fingers kept to their path up and down my arm making my cock harder with each stroke. Keeping my distance was hard; having her there in my arms was worse. I grumbled at her, making her huff, “You aren’t going to like it, Jacob.” I nodded for her to go on, “I’ve been with this guy for a few months.” I stiffened. She was seeing someone and didn’t tell me. Not that I had any right to be jealous, but I was fucking livid. I laid everything out there for her, but some guy that thought it was acceptable to put his hands on her was a better choice? “Not like that, Jacob. We were sleeping together, nothing else.”
“Yeah, that sounds way better.” I pulled away from her, ready to blow the fuck up on her.
“This reaction was why I didn’t tell you. I don�
�t owe you anything, I don’t owe you a damn thing. I don’t belong to you.” The words were comical to say the least. Lydia did owe me an explanation, and the woman was mine beyond a shadow of a doubt, but I would let her have that one. She rolled to face me and the light hit the bruise on her cheek. The sight made my stomach clench.
“I don’t own you, you’re right, but I was the one you called last night because the guy you’re fucking is so upstanding.” Lydia glared at me, making me realize my mistake. If I wanted the story, I needed to shut up and just ride it out, “Sorry, keep going,” It didn’t matter. What Lydia had done, who she was with didn’t matter or I told myself it didn’t. Other than me killing the bastard for hurting her, I would have to let it go if I wanted her.
“Anyway he got pissed last night because I wanted to leave and told him I was done. I told him I wouldn’t be back. Torin … he asked if I was sleeping with you too.” Lydia closed her eyes. “I made it clear from the start that it was just sex, nothing more, and I didn’t want a relationship, but he accused me of wanting you and got kind of rough. Instead of leaving when I had the chance, I had to have the last word. I ran my stupid mouth instead of just leaving. I’m sorry I called and dragged you into this.” I pulled her close again. The asshole didn’t matter. I could get past her sleeping with someone else, but the bastard put his fucking hands on her, and I was going to kill him for it. We stayed like that, tangled up in my bed for a while longer, the sun flooding into the room and glinting off on her hair.
“Do you?” I shouldn’t have asked, but I had waited three long weeks for her to talk to me, come and tell me she still felt the spark between us. Lydia didn’t move. “Do you want me? Because I’m here, laying it out for you.” I was being too pushy, but what else was I supposed to do? After being still for far too long, she nodded once against my chest and I kissed the top of her head.
“I don’t trust you for shit. I don’t believe you aren’t going to find something better and leave. I don’t feel like I can say I want you because I don’t know you anymore. You were someone I wanted to spend forever with, but now I don’t know you.” That was good enough for me. I slid down, grabbed her face in my hands, and kissed her hard. Lydia went still with shock for a second before grabbing the back of my neck and relenting to the kiss. I plunged my tongue into her mouth and was rewarded with a sexy whimper. She tasted amazing, smelled amazing. I cupped her ass, pulling her into me, pressing my cock into her while I nibbled her bottom lip. She met my thrusts, grinding herself against me, and draping her leg over my hips. Fucking finally. I growled in my chest, and ran my hands under my shirt she was wearing, gripping her soft hip. I could feel how hot and wet she was through my sweats, and it was driving me fucking crazy.
I slid her panties to the side, and grazed my fingers against her clit, not wasting any time. Her head fell back, exposing her bruised neck that I promptly licked. Lydia moaned, biting her full bottom lip, and I just stared for a moment, taking in how fucking lucky I was.
“I need to taste you.” I didn’t let her respond. I shoved my shirt up around her hips and moved to bury my face between her milky thighs.
“No,” she gasped out the word, wiggling away from me, and covered herself, “I was …” Her face went red. “I was with Torin last night. I-It’s not right.” I cursed under my breath, but calmed myself. I didn’t give a shit, she was mine from that moment forward, the past didn’t matter, but I got where she was coming from. I grumbled, backing off, and she relaxed. “I’m sorry, Jacob. I feel like such a whore.”
I shook my head. “No, you are not a whore.” I grabbed her ankle, pulling her back down the bed and laughing when she squealed. “But I’ve waited this long, so I can keep waiting.” Lydia smiled, shaking her head, and I kissed her lightly on the lips. “Let’s go get your car and then head to file a report.” Her face blanched. “Don’t try to argue with me, either. I’ll drive you and we’ll deal with all of it before Oliver’s party. Got it?” It was the best I was going to get from her. Lyd would never okay me going and beating his ass, so it was police or nothing.
Three hours later, we had picked up her car, spent far too long discussing detail with a dickhead cop, and made it back to her place. I sat next to her, hands in my lap while she went over the details of Torin Phillips roughing her up. I dug my blunt nails into my palms, struggling to keep from losing my shit. Lyd looked completely humiliated going through the story with the stupid cop, but it had to be done. Officer Parson had her explain it at least a dozen times, writing as she spoke and clarifying repeatedly that she had in fact had sex with him but the injuries were not part of some deviant sex act. Then there were the pictures. They took pictures from a million different angles, humiliating her further. I regretted dragging her down to file the report in the first thirty seconds. We didn’t talk on the way back home—there was nothing I could say to make either of us feel any better—so I kept my mouth shut. I had nearly convinced myself it didn’t matter that she was screwing some other man instead of being with me, but the jealousy raged through me. My brain knew it was unfair of me, hell I had been married not long before, but picturing her with anyone but me made me crazy.
Lydia vanished to take a shower before the party, and I paced her house, waiting. I had dressed up to meet her family. Beyond being Oliver’s dad, I planned on giving my relationship with her a real shot, so impressing the parents was high on my list. I was nearing fucking forty and trying to impress her parents. Lydia finally came out, wearing denim shorts and a blue shirt. She was also on the phone giving someone a bullshit story about what had happened. Apparently, the new story was her pumping gas and getting attacked. I couldn’t blame her, though; the truth was humiliating. Then she made another phone call, telling the truth to her sister. I could hear Jovie screeching through the phone, making very violent threats against the Torin guy’s manhood. Jovie was fourteen when she was in my class, but I remembered how hot-headed she was then too. When she was done debriefing her family, Lyd smiled at me. I would never get tired of her smile.
I snatched her up for a kiss, plunging my tongue in her mouth. She gave it back, teasing me with a flick of her tongue against my lip. We came apart with one more pop on the lips.
“Ready?”
She nodded, taking my hand and giving me directions to some kid named Jude’s house. I drove with my hand on her thigh, trying to convince myself that she wasn’t going to vanish. I was completely ready for it, but after the shitty night she had, I knew she was more hesitant. She probably wanted time between her asshole fuck buddy and jumping in with me, but I really didn’t care. We pulled up to Jude’s house and she leaned over to honk my horn. We both waved at the woman who followed the boys out. Oliver and Jude climbed in the back seat and we headed to her parent’s house.
“That was Mara.” Lydia nudged me, and I inspected the two boys behind us. Jude was Oliver’s age, so they would have been pregnant together. “Crazy, huh?” I nodded, not wanting to ask questions in front of the boys. We drove on in silence and my anxiety started getting the best of me.
I didn’t remember the last time I had met a woman’s parents. But with Oliver being in the equation, it put us in a good spot. It didn’t matter if they liked me or not, or thought I was good enough for their daughter. I was their grandson’s father and they couldn’t get rid of me, ever.
“Why are you riding with Dad and what happened to your neck?” I nearly ran off the fucking road at my son’s words. Oliver had never called me Dad; I had never pushed him to, either. I couldn’t blame him for calling me Jacob considering he had known me all of a month. But he said it, and it was amazing. One three-letter word was like music coming from him.
“Uh, we just decided to ride together and I-I got attacked last night. I’m fine and the police are taking care of it, okay? So, it’s all fine.” Her eyes darted from him to me and back. Our son asked more questions about the attack and she lied her ass off, but I was more focused on being called dad. All I had to do was g
et Lydia on board whole-heartedly and I would have it all.
LYDIA
Jacob sent Ollie and Jude in but pulled me to a stop next to his truck. “Do they all know?” His dark eyes went from the bruise on my face to the one on my neck. I nodded. “Are you all right?” I felt like there was more than one question being asked there, but I nodded anyway and pulled him toward the house. I didn’t want anything too heavy before the party. His dad followed us in, all smiles. William had taken to Ollie like any grandfather would. He doted and complained about his long hair. It was really heartwarming to see Ollie bond with another grandfather. Jovie had already texted me to warn me that the party scene was in full force, and she was right. Jacob and I got accosted as soon as we breeched the doorway. Squeals and laughter bounced off of every surface. Amelia was already chasing Oliver and Jude with a nerf gun, Ewan was in a heated discussion with Dad about some sports team, and my nieces were being passed around by everyone. Jacob gave me a worried look, but I just rolled my eyes. The man wanted to be involved, and my family was a full immersion experience. His hand rested on my lower back possessively as we walked up the stairs where mom was waiting with her hands on her hips. Then she zeroed in on my neck.
“Oh, Lydia.” Her eyes widened at the bruises on my neck. “You didn’t say it was so bad. That looks awful. Did they get any money or anything?” Only Jove and Jacob knew the truth. There was no way I could tell Mom it was my fuck buddy who assaulted me, and not in a good way. I shook my head, unwilling to deepen the lie. How do you tell your family that the guy you were fucking tried to choke you and you kind of deserved it? “So, you’re the baby daddy?” Mom pulled Jacob into a hug, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on his face.