“Don’t you dare get in that truck, Abigail,” Marge screamed as Jesse opened the door for her. “I forbid it!”
Jesse stopped in front of the hateful woman. “Too late, Mrs. James. Someday I hope you realize what you lost. Abby is so unlike you that it’s hard to believe you’re her mother. Thank God she didn’t let you crush her spirit and turn her into a cold-hearted miserable bitch like you.” With that, he got in and drove them away from the place and the woman who had caused Abby so much pain.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jesse carried the last of Abby’s boxes into his spare room. They were going to store everything in his apartment until they took possession of the house they had decided to buy earlier in the week. He returned to the living room and sat next to her on the sofa where she had slumped as soon as he led her inside. Trevor was leaning against her legs, his head resting on her knees.
“Abby.” Jesse was afraid to touch her. When he drove them away from Earl’s house, she had withdrawn completely. She was hiding from the hateful statements her mother had screeched. Jesse was shocked a mother could say such things to her own child, deliberately hurting her. He knew nothing he said would erase the damage her mother inflicted but it didn’t prevent him from wanting to try.
Abby’s voice was distant when she finally spoke. “I guess I always knew she didn’t like me very much but I never considered that she really hated me. Even when she sent me to stay with her friend the summer after Dad left and she didn’t hug me when I left or came back, I figured she was just one of those people who didn’t like touching. I guess all the times she said Dad had never wanted me she really meant she was the one who wished I hadn’t been born.”
Jesse stroked Trevor’s head before resting his hand on her thigh. “I’m sorry you went through that.”
“I’m sorry you were there. I wonder if any of Earl’s neighbors were home today. I guess she didn’t care that we were standing in the street.”
“You won’t see any of them again so it doesn’t matter what they overheard.”
“But you were there.”
“Yes, I was. I’m glad you weren’t alone with her. Even though I had to stay out of it and let her say those horrible things, you still had me nearby for moral support.”
“But you heard her.”
“Yes. I heard every hateful, misguided bit of bullshit she tried to poison you with. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how she could treat you like that or why she wanted to hurt you. She is so wrong. About so many things.”
“But…”
“No buts. Your mother needs professional help. She is living in a different reality. One where she has twisted everything around to suit herself and has nothing to do with the way things really are. I hate to say it, but I think she’s been there for a long time, possibly since before your dad left her.”
“Why didn’t she just let him have me? That lawyer said he tried to get me.”
“I don’t know. Maybe she was afraid of how it would look if she gave the child she’d martyred herself for to the man who she claimed deserted her.”
“I guess that’s why she destroyed his letters too.”
“Probably. I’m sure that’s why you never knew about the money he sent.”
“Yeah, can’t very well say I’m the reason that she’s penniless if she admitted he sent hundreds of dollars a month for my expenses. I’m not going to fight for the money he left me when he died. I’d have to see her again and I can’t do that.”
When Wyatt had emailed the information on Abby’s father, it included the name and address of a lawyer they could contact for additional details. He told them her father had an insurance policy that would have provided Abby with enough to relocate but her mother had managed to hoard it for herself since Abby was still a minor when he passed. Jesse mentioned the possibility of Dwayne reclaiming it for her if she wanted him to.
“That’s entirely your decision. It was your money from your father. I would never force you to confront your mother over it.”
“Am I stupid for letting her take it?”
“No. You’re a sensitive, caring woman who doesn’t want to expose herself to the bitterness your mother is capable of.”
Abby shifted so she was lying with her head on his lap. Trevor curled up on his feet. “Do you think Mom and Earl were sleeping together before I met him?”
“Yes.” Jesse knew being less than honest wouldn’t spare her feelings.
“I’m such a fool. I didn’t even suspect that until today.”
“You’re not a fool. You trusted them. You should have been able to.”
“I was a fool. I shouldn’t have trusted either of them. I should have questioned the way she talked him up at the beginning."
“Maybe, maybe not. Second-guessing this now isn’t going to accomplish anything other than making yourself feel worse. It’s in the past. It’s over. You don’t have to deal with your mom again if you choose not to. There’s really no reason to see Earl again either.”
“You think what Wyatt found out is really enough to keep him from coming after me?”
“If you use it to file a complaint. Earl checked your account balance several times a day. He abused his position by repeatedly running those credit checks on you. That demonstrates that he’s obsessed. Even without the pictures Alyssa took, you could get a restraining order against him.”
“He’ll say I’m doing it for attention.”
“He can say anything he wants but it won’t matter to a judge. I bet his boss would be very interested in his activities at work too.”
“Will you be mad if I don’t do it?”
“No. I love you. If you don’t want to expose him and through it, yourself I won’t feel any differently about you. You’re out of there and that’s all that really matters. Earl lost the best thing he ever had. He’s the fool, Abby. Not you.”
“I feel so empty. I can’t even cry. Shouldn’t I cry?”
“You might eventually. I don’t think it’s hit you yet. You’ve been so strong for so long. It has to be hard to let go of how tightly you’ve been holding yourself together all that time.”
Abby rolled to face him and slid farther onto his lap. “Will you hold me?”
Jesse cuddled her to his chest. “Forever and you don’t need to ask.”
“Trevor likes you,” she said after a few minutes.
“That’s because he can tell I love you just like he does. He knows that I’ll help him take care of you now. You’re not alone anymore.”
“He’s a good dog.”
“I’m glad we got him today.”
“Sorry I wasn’t much help carrying stuff.”
“No problem. You really didn’t take much.”
“Only what was mine. I told you we didn’t need Shane’s truck.”
“I know but I borrowed it anyway in case you changed you mind about something.”
“I don’t want anything to remind me of that. Those five years are gone.”
“Okay.” Jesse tilted her chin so she looked at him. “Don’t try to hold it in if you need to cry or yell about this sometime. I’m not going to run away.”
“How could you tell I was thinking that?”
“By the way you kept saying you wish I hadn’t heard your mother. I want all of you. Not just the pleasant parts. You’re human, just like I am. I’m not going to hide anything from you and I won’t appreciate it if you keep things from me. Marriage, to me, is a partnership. That means being together for whatever life tosses our way. The more we rely on each other, the stronger we’ll both be. I think we both need to learn what it means to have someone who accepts us unconditionally.”
“I know I do but I think you’re getting the short end of the stick.”
“Hardly. You seem to be forgetting how you didn’t reject me when I told you about what I’d done. And the way you listened when I talked about that meeting I have to go to. Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve given me plenty of moral sup
port.”
“Oh. Yeah. I wasn’t thinking of it that way.”
“How did you think of it?”
“I was just being interested. I like the way you talk to me. You make it seem like what I think matters to you.”
“What you think does matter to me. You are very insightful. I agree with Wyatt. You do make us look at things in different ways.”
Abby considered his words and shrugged. “I guess we should go.”
“We don’t have to. Shane won’t mind if we keep his truck overnight.”
“Don’t take this wrong because I do know I’m perfectly safe here with you but it feels like we’re too close to Earl even though he lives on the other side of the city. I’m being unreasonable but I’d rather not stay here tonight.”
“Then we won’t.”
“I’m sorry. That sounded like I don’t like your apartment.”
“No it doesn’t. It sounds like there’s one place where you already feel safe and after what you just went through, you’d prefer to be there. I don’t mind. You heard Jordan say we were welcome to stay until we can move into the house. We don’t need to spend any time here.”
“But it’s your home.”
“My home is with you. This is where I lived after I graduated from college while I was waiting for you. It served its purpose but I don’t mind leaving it behind.”
“You’re a sweet man.”
“Not really. I’m just a man who loves his wife. Let’s go. Time to take Trevor home.”
“Thank you. I know I don’t have to say it, but I need to. Not everyone would take in a nutcase and her dog like you did.”
“I didn’t take in a nutcase and her dog. I married a beautiful woman who happens to have a great furry companion. And I’d appreciate it if you stopped talking about my wife like that. Come on, Trevor. Let’s get this girl out of here before she comes up with something even worse to call herself.”
When Trevor barked in response, Abby giggled and finally began to relax. She seemed happy that her men were getting along just fine.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Abby stood at the window and laughed as Flynn and Joey took off down the street with Trevor and Bear. The boys had just helped Jesse polish off the triple batch of chocolate chip pancakes she made for breakfast. Jesse slid his arms around her waist as he stood behind her.
“You’re in danger of starting a weekly ritual. Those guys will turn up every Saturday morning if they know you’re going to cook for them like that.”
“I like having them around. They have so much energy and they talk about so many different things.” She stiffened slightly. “I’m sorry. I won’t encourage them if you don’t want them here.”
“I didn’t say that. I don’t mind them hanging around at all, especially since you seem comfortable with them. I only mentioned it because I wasn’t sure if you wanted a standing breakfast date with three hungry men. Once Flynn tells Alyssa, she’s likely to show up with them next week.”
“Really? She’d get up early for us?”
“She will if you’re making things as good as those pancakes were. Alyssa may like to sleep in but the promise of delicious food will lure her out of bed.”
“Think Charlie and Shane will come too?”
“Sure. Sounds like you aren’t going to mind if they all end up here.”
“I had fun this morning. I can’t believe they honestly wanted to come see me. Do you think Alyssa made this as part of their punishment?”
“No. You heard about the discussion they had with Shane’s parents. That was their entire punishment and I think it will have continued effects for many years. They came because they like us and wanted to say hi. They didn’t even know you were going to feed them. Consider us from their point of view. We’re adults who aren’t relatives. They can open up with us differently than they do their parents. Even though we would never let them do anything potentially harmful, we don’t have the same responsibilities as their parents do. They know they can trust us with things they might not want to discuss with their parents and we answer their questions from a different perspective.”
“I’m flattered. I know you and Flynn have been close but I didn’t expect him to include me.”
“Why not? You two have a shared experience that none of the rest of us do. You accepted them as guys not boys the first day you met. You sang and danced with them even though you put them to work. You’re an experienced female who didn’t make fun of the questions they asked as a result of their lecture. And you let them borrow your adorable dog who will undoubtedly serve his intended purpose of attracting females in the park all day. Why wouldn’t they want to spend time with you?”
“Gee, I don’t sound half bad the way you describe me.”
“You want to hear the extended version?”
“Hmm, not right now.” Abby twirled in his arms and braced her hands on his chest.
Jesse held her loosely. “You seem like there might be something else on your mind.”
“Mm hmm.” She pushed his open shirt from his shoulders, wanting to look at him in his tight T-shirt.
“Care to tell me what it is?”
“I’d rather show you,” Abby purred, stroking his chest. “Unless you have other plans.”
“Nope.” His eyes were full of desire.
“Good.” She leaned forward and bit his nipple through the fabric. “You sure do fill out this shirt nicely.” She bit the other side. “But I think you should take it off.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to touch you and it’s in the way.” She tugged his shirt from his jeans and pushed it up to reveal his chest. “Off. Now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed eagerly, yanking it over his head. “Anything else in your way?”
“You know damn well there is.” Abby stood back and raised an eyebrow. “Well?” she asked when he hesitated.
“Okay.” He chuckled, slowly stepping out of his jeans. “Now what?”
Abby’s gaze traveled down Jesse’s body before returning to his face. “Now we’re going to see if I can push you into losing control,” she stated as she removed her clothes.
“What do you want, Abby?”
She didn’t answer as she crossed the room and walked up a few steps. Instead of going all the way up, she sat so she was at Jesse’s eye level. “I noticed something.” She fondled her breasts, tugging at her nipples before pushing them toward her mouth, flicking her tongue over both.
Jesse swallowed visibly before he asked, “What was that?”
Abby used her arms to hold her breasts together while her hands moved lower. She slid them over her mound, keeping her legs together at first. “Well,” she said, keeping her eyes on his face, “I noticed that you are incredibly gentle every time we make love.” She splayed her thighs and showed Jesse what her fingers were doing. “Not that I haven’t loved every second of it. Please don’t think I’m complaining.”
“Okay.” He seemed to be having trouble paying attention to her words. His body showed how her teasing affected him.
“I thought…” She arched her hips and she slid her fingers into her opening. “I might be able to distract you enough that you forget about being so sweet and get a little wild with me.”
“Wild?”
“I won’t break, Jesse.” Abby withdrew her fingers and used her moisture to stimulate her bud. “My bruises are all gone. You won’t hurt me if you want to forget about being so careful all the time.” Her other hand returned to her breasts as she continued her caresses between her legs.
“Let me see if I understand,” Jesse stated, taking a step toward her. “You thoroughly enjoy how we’ve made love so far.” She nodded. “But you aren’t going to reject me over wanting some raw sex too?”
“That’s it.”
“And you’re seducing me into it by turning me on to the point that I forget about anything except how much I want to drive my hard cock into your wet pussy right here on the steps?”
“That’s the idea.” Abby used her wet fingers to circle first one, then the other nipple. “I’m ready for you. Just thinking about you taking me hard and fast has me so wet. I need to feel that rock-hard cock of yours hammering into me.”
Jesse approached with a predatory scowl on his face. “You sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, stroking his shaft.
“Definitely.” She splayed her thighs and tilted her hips.
“Then turn over and I’ll give it to you. We’ll hurt your back if you don’t.”
Abby did as he requested, parting her legs, watching him over her shoulder. “Like this?”
“Perfect,” Jesse declared as he plunged his cock balls-deep with one stroke. His hands captured her hips as he began to thrust, pulling her firmly against him before withdrawing completely, only to return immediately. “Harder?”
“Yes.” Abby panted beneath him.
“Faster?” He increased the pace before she answered.
“Yes! Oh God, Jesse, yes!” She let him take control as his thrusts became more forceful. “Jesse!” she screamed when his powerful body pushed her into an orgasm.
Jesse withdrew and yanked her to her feet. “Don’t think we’re done here,” he growled. “Get your sweet ass on that bed now. I want to see your face while your pussy is devouring me.”
She flopped on her back and tugged him on top of her. “More,” she demanded as he hooked her legs over his shoulders.
“Much more,” he agreed, spearing her. Soon the sound of their ragged breathing was accompanied by their flesh slapping together. When her legs started to tremble, he pumped even harder. His primal cry echoed hers as her convulsing muscles triggered his explosion, deep within her. Jesse dropped his body onto hers and crushed his mouth to hers.
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