“I know, baby.” I pushed his hair out of his face. “You’re still grounded for a week.”
“Ugh.”
I held him close and as we both yawned, I tucked him in and headed back to my room.
I crashed as soon as my head hit the pillow. I felt like I hadn’t slept in a year.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jackson Latre Mitchell
I couldn’t sleep.
As soon as I arrived home, I caught up on some film work and wrote some notes for my receivers. After that, I went to bed and missed Carrington. That, combined with her body pressed up against me, lingering in my mind, made it hard to fall asleep. I gave up after an hour of tossing and turning. I picked up the phone to call her but put the phone back down. I needed to work this out myself.
I told Carrington I could do both; be an NFL quarterback and everything she and Jackson needed from me, but I had no clue how I was going to do it.
I pulled out my iPad and took a look at my schedule for the rest of the season. We had to find a balance. I had football, and she had a job. She needed her time with Jack, and we needed time to spend alone, too.
Something nagged at the back of my mind, and it came to the forefront when I looked at the calendar in February. We had all the time in the world together in the off-season, but Carrington said she didn’t want to live her life based on my seasons. Not to mention, preseason and post-season, too.
I rolled over and looked at the time on my phone. I called my dad.
“Jackson, what are you doing up so late?”
“I could ask you the same questions.”
“Well, I’m old, and when you’re old, you don’t need that much sleep.”
“Dad, you’re not old.”
“Tell my knees that.” I chuckled with him. He ran three miles a day, no matter what.
“Who are you talking to?” my mother asked. My mother’s voice filled my ears and calmed my anxiety.
“Your son.”
“What’s wrong, Jackson?” my mom asked.
“She has three sons. How did she know it was me?”
My mom must have heard me, because she laughed.
“Because Stephen and Patrick already called tonight.”
“What’s wrong, son?”
“Nothing, I just had a questions. How did you do it?” I paused trying to figure out how to word the question. “Be a husband and father and play professional football?”
“What do you mean, how did I do it? I just did it.”
“Yeah, but you taught me that whatever I do, I have to do it one hundred percent.” I cleared my throat. “So, how do you give one hundred percent to three things at the same time?”
“Well, son, you’re categorizing them wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“I never said I want to be the best football player, best husband, and the best father. I wanted to be the best man I could be. As long as I worked one hundred percent on that goal, the rest naturally fell in line.”
“Oh man, Dad.” Only fathers can come up with a lines like that.
“Son, as usual you’re overthinking it. Is this about Carrington and Jack?”
“Yeah.”
“You understand what you’re getting into?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you’re in love with a woman who has a child. I know how you feel about Jack, but it’s a lot different being his godfather and being his father.”
“I realize that.”
“Do you? Because, whether you’re there or not, you have to consider his feelings for you are going to change and he’s going to look at you in that manner because well, he doesn’t have any other father figures in his life.”
“I know.” My tone lost all of its confidence.
“Does he know about Josh?”
“Not really. I mean, he knows his name, and he knows he died, but he doesn’t know what happened.”
“Eventually, she is going to tell him the truth and there will be some things for you to deal with regarding that. Are you ready for that?”
“I have to be ready for it.” I ran my hands through my hair and leaned my head back. “I love her. I love them both. I’m not scared of being Jack’s father.”
“I know you love them, and you want to take care of them. Let me ask you something? Does your need to take care of them have anything to do with Josh?”
A good question, one I should be asking myself. I sighed and thought about it.
“I don’t think so. I mean, maybe back when Carrington came back to school it had a little bit to do with that, but I remember how I felt about Carrington the first time I saw her and you know what, I feel the exact same way about her now.”
“And is it the same for her.”
“I don’t know, but she does want to give us another try.” The thought warmed my heart. “She’s scared to give up control because that’s what Josh took from her.”
“She told you that?”
“Yeah, which is progress, because she’d never talked about it before.”
“Well, it sounds like you both want the same thing. Now you have to figure out how to get there.”
“We have to spend time together.”
“Yes, that’s important.”
“Ugh, so again, back to my question. How do I have time to do it all?"
“Son, that’s nothing but a scheduling issue.”
My dad laughed at his own joke, and I laughed at his laugh.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re welcome, son. Get some sleep.”
“You, too. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
A scheduling issue—that’s something I could fix.
I tossed and turned for a few more hours, but when the sun peered into my bedroom window, I got up, showered, shaved, and jumped in my car as I dialed Carrington’s number.
“Are you really calling me at six am?”
“I’ll be there in five. I’ve got something to show you. ”
“Email it to me,” she said.
“I can’t go to work this morning without kissing you.”
She giggled, and I knew that got her up.
I arrived a few minutes later, and Carrington opened the door as I skipped up the steps. She wore the cutest little boy shorts and her tank top rode up enough to show a flash of her light brown skin on her cute little abs. I scooped her up and kissed her until her body went limp. Nothing on me was limp.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Morning.” I carried her inside. “God, you feel good.”
She tilted her pelvis to move against me, and I held her tighter and ran my hand over her ass.
“Whoa, before you get too excited and go too far, Jack will be down in a few minutes.”
“Great, that gives me just enough time.”
She squinted and glared at me. “Enough time for what?”
I sat her down and patted her on the butt with the folder.
“What’s that?”
“I’ll show you.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen.
“You want coffee?”
“Please.”
She prepared the coffee as I pulled the print out of my schedule and laid it on the counter.
She handed me the cup and jumped up on the counter. She leaned over and kissed my neck. I forgot about the schedule, pulling her face around and kissing her again.
Did I mention how much I love her lips?
“Okay. What is all this?”
“So, I figured it out last night. This is my schedule and I have all these pockets of time that we can spend together.”
“Okay,” she said extending the word out as if she didn’t quite understand.
“Okay, so like today is Thursday, I don’t have to be at the facility until ten am, so I can stop by at six am for breakfast.”
I looked up at her and she shook her head.
“On Friday, I go in early, but I am free after the wal
k through. And, look here, I take Tuesday afternoon off, so I could pick Jack up and do something, just the two of us and I’ll have him back for dinner or we can all go out together. Of course, I realize you have a job, too. If we need to make some adjustments based on your schedule, let me know.”
She started giggling, which turned into a full on cracking up laugh when I looked at her.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“No.” She tried to control herself, but it took her a few minutes to regain control. “I’m not really, and this is great. Really, it is, but it’s kind of hard to stick to a schedule with an eight-year-old.”
“Well, look at it as more of a guideline and not so much a schedule. I want you to see that I do have time for you and Jack in my life.”
“I know and I love you for it, but it’s not necessary. You don’t have to prove anything to us. It’s enough to know you want to be with us and when you can, you will. I’m not worried about that.”
“When did you become so easygoing?”
“I don’t know. I guess being in love changes a person’s perspective.”
She smiled and her eyes sparkled. I didn’t notice Jack walk in until he spoke.
“Good morning, Jackson.”
“Hey, buddy.”
“Hi, Mama.” She leaned over and kissed Jack on the forehead. All the drama from yesterday forgiven.
We watched Jack as he poured himself some cereal and milk and took it to the table.
“I do like this idea,” Carrington said and pointed to Tuesday on the schedule.
“What idea?” Jack said with a mouth full of cereal.
“Yeah, too bad you pulled that stunt yesterday, you’ll still be on punishment next Tuesday.”
“What’s happening on Tuesday?”
“Nope, you’ll have to wait until the following week.”
“Yeah, and I guess he got lucky that you have an away game this weekend. I would have to go to the game all by myself.”
“Uh-uh, no way you’re leaving me. That’s not fair.”
“Jack,” I said, and he snapped to attention. “We’re joking, but please stop saying that. No one owes you a life that’s fair. You are blessed with what you have and you need to start appreciating it.”
Jack looked at Carrington, and she lowered her eyes and took a sip of coffee. He turned back to me.
“Yes, sir.” Jack lowered his eyes and finished his cereal.
“Okay, baby, Ms. Ella will be ready in five minutes. Run up and get your bag.” I watched their morning ritual and admired the synchronized rhythm of it all. He came back down with his backpack on. He turned while Carrington reached into the refrigerator, pulled out a brown sack and placed it in his pack.
“Have a good day," she said.
“I will,” he said as he turned and kissed her on the cheek.
Jack turned to me, his eyes wide. He took one step, and I pulled him into my arms.
“Ugh.” He groaned and giggled.
“Have a good day at school,” I whispered to him. “Stay out of trouble.”
“Right home after school,” Carrington said.
I waited in the kitchen while Carrington walked Jack out to the neighbor’s car. I wondered if the two boys from across the street had confessed to their parents. I sat at the kitchen table and looked over the schedule.
She walked back in a few minutes later. Carrington placed her hands over my shoulder and on my chest, her chest pressing into the back of my neck. I took one hand and kissed it. Her hand continued down my chest, grabbed the bottom of my shirt, and lifted it. I took hold of it and helped her by pulling it over my head and discarding it on the floor. I grabbed her arm and led her around the chair, and she straddled my lap. I wore sweat pants, and I couldn’t hide my excitement from her. She snuggled on my erection, moving her hips over it. She discarded the robe, and I worked on her tank top, moving my hands up her torso.
“See, I told you the schedule needed to be flexible.”
“Oh, when I said breakfast, I meant sex.”
I ran my palm over her breast and she took in a shallow breath. I squeezed her nipple and she arched her back, which angled her hip to push further into my groan. I grunted and she smiled and I groaned. She had a sexy smile.
My other hand found its way inside the waistband of her shorts in the back. I slid it over her curves, around her waist, and rubbed the back of my hand down her abs. My hand slid further down and settled between her legs, and she gasped when I touched that perfect spot.
Her legs twitched, and she scooted away from me. I snaked my arm around her back and pulled her close.
“Jackson.” She breathed my name.
“Look at me, baby.” We locked eyes and my fingers rubbed harder, and I held on firm. Her breath quickened, and she bit her lip. I leaned in to kiss and nibble on the same lip. She sought out my tongue and massaged it as her body shivered and she pushed my hands deeper between her legs.
When she relaxed the grip on my hands, she stood up and pushed her shorts off as I pushed my shorts down. She climbed back on my lap and wrapped her hands around me. Her wetness coated my fingers and I laced my fingers through hers as they wrapped around my dick.
Her hands felt amazing, but I wanted inside of her. I lifted her with my other arm and she guided me as I slid into her.
“Oh, my God,” she gasped.
She settled on my lap, and we didn’t move right away. We both enjoyed the sensation of being like this with each other. She studied my face, tracing the lines of my jaw and my nose with her fingertips. I memorized every inch of hers with my lips. I kissed her forehead and her nose. I found her lips and kissed her deep. I pulled away to watch her as she moved. Her lips opened and her tongue snaked out and licked her lips as if she needed to taste where my lips had been, and it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen. I looked in her eyes and felt like I could see into her soul.
She moved with me inside of her, slow at first, and with every move I took in a sharp intake of breath and exhaled when she slowed down.
“Jackson,” she said. My name never sounded so good rolling off anyone’s lips … ever. I placed my hands on her hips to assist her in moving against me. Speeding up as we continued.
Her breath sped up and I tried to match it. With every exhale, she let go. With every breath, her anxiety issues went away. With every thrust, her control issues disappeared. She let me in and I was ready to step up to the plate because I realized why I wanted this woman so bad. Nothing and no one on Earth compared to my Carrington.
***
Carrington Olivia Butler
My thighs ached from straddling Jackson. We had sex in the kitchen, again, but this time, it was different, beautiful, passionate, and resulted in a mind-blowing orgasm. The kind of orgasm that made you believe in the best of …everything.
I leaned my head on Jackson’s shoulder and slowed my breathing. He remained inside of me, and I felt him getting hard.
“You haven’t had enough.” I squeezed my pelvic muscles and he grunted.
“I’ll never have enough.”
I leaned back and every move created an aftershock that threatened to push me over the edge. I regained feeling in my legs and pushed off Jackson’s lap. I pulled him up with me and led him into my bedroom. I climbed back into bed under the covers, and Jackson joined me. We lay on our sides, our hands roaming everywhere and looking into each other’s eyes. Jackson held a curious expression and I tried to speak to him with my eyes. Trying to find that connection we once had. The connection I looked for with others and never found. The connection I didn’t bother looking for the few times we had been together since he came back into my life. What if I looked and couldn’t find it?
This time, it started as a flicker, something small and familiar. I felt it in my gut. I didn’t push it down but encouraged it to seep into my body, in every place that Jackson touched and caressed. He ran his hand down my hip, and it felt like a trail of stars sweeping over my body and m
y body hummed. His fingered crawled up my spine and my confidence built as I arched my back and pressed into him. He rewarded me by flicking my nipple with his tongue as he massaged my other breast. He placed a hand over my heart, and it felt like an electric jolt to my system. I sought out his lips and plunged my tongue into his mouth. I rolled back and Jackson rolled over on top of me. I held his hand over my heart with one hand as I guided him into me with the other hand.
Jackson tried to move his hand, and I increased my grip.
“Stay here with me.”
He stopped and searched my face and caressed my cheek. I opened myself up and made myself available to him. What I felt when he touched me, I wanted him to feel it, too.
I wanted to apologize to him for using his body the last couple times we were together. I was going through the motions, and while Jackson’s sexual prowess made me cum both times, it was nothing more than sex.
Staring into his eyes now and feeling all the emotions of what being with him meant, Jackson offered me everything, and I accepted every single bit of it.
Jackson stopped to adjust; he pulled his knees up under him and pounded in me deeper. At the same time, he kissed me anywhere his lips could reach. He moved his head down to my ear and whispered, “I have my Carrington back.”
That pushed me over the edge and I screamed out his name, and a few second later, he released, too. His hand remained on my chest but more of a measure to make sure after being in a hyper state, we would come back down to earth together.
“Wow,” I said. I couldn’t think of another adequate adjective to describe how amazing I felt.
“Wow,” Jackson said. “That was incredible.”
“Wow.”
Jackson rolled onto his side but left his left leg draped over me. The feel of being wanted and feeling secure, beautiful, and sexually satisfying, overwhelmed my senses. I closed my eyes and counted to three. When I opened them, he pulled me to him and squeezed me tight. My feelings were overwhelming with all the love and adoration and pride in the man who I got to call mine, all mine.
He was all mine. I laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
I cuddled up closer to him, loving the way my toned curves fit next to his muscular body. He cradled my chin in his hand and turned my face so he could kiss me. He brushed his nose against mine.
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