“Fuck. I thought we were quiet. Savannah's gonna lose her shit. Don't you dare tell her or I'll never get any ever again!”
I lift up my hands in defense and nod.
“Secret's safe with me.”
Gabriel laughs and slaps Jackson on the back
“Y'all are rookies.”
“How the hell do you and Charlie do it then?”
“Headphones man. Give them their iPads and headphones and you got an endless session right there. Take it back before bed, bam! There ya go. You're welcome.”
“That's actually not a half bad idea,” Jackson says raising his eyebrows.
“We had two teenagers in the house when they came back to visit between ball and school. We had to make it work somehow.”
“What you boys talkin’ about?” Charlotte says coming up to us and putting a hand on Gabriel's back.
“How beautiful you look today. Love you baby cakes.”
“Ahhhh, y'all were talkin’ about either me or Savannah. Now which one was it?” She says crossing her arms over her chest.
“Harrison heard them havin’ sex last night. Just givin’ him some pointers,” Gabe says laughing.
“You dick, I thought we were keepin’ it a secret,” Jackson says punching Gabe in his chest.
“Are you askin’ me to lie to my wife, Jackson?” Gabriel says in a shocked voice.
“Oh, fuck off you kiss ass,” Jackson grumbles.
Charlotte rolls her eyes.
“Jackson, you think for one second I believe his bullshit? Come on now, give me some credit.”
Jackson laughs at Gabe's shocked expression and I shake my head at the group.
“Y'all need a refill?” Savannah asks walking over to us with Alessandra.
“No, but Harrison needs some headphones,” Gabe laughs.
“Headphones? Why in the world would he… Oh my God,” she gasps putting her hands over her mouth. “He… what did he say?”
“He just thought y'all were fightin’,” I explain.
“Good Lord Jackson Turner. I told you not to do that thing with your hips!” she says slapping Jackson’s chest.
“Princess, come on. You know you loved it.”
A guilty smile spreads across Savannahs face and she rolls her eyes.
“Fine. Let's get the boy some headphones.”
The front door opens, and everyone starts piling in the house, the noise level at an all-time high.
“Buffet style this year y'all. Come and get it,” Savannah yells from the kitchen.
We all grab our food then pile in around the large farmhouse table. Savannah stands, raising her glass and everyone looks up, the room silent.
“I feel so blessed this Christmas to be surrounded by y'all and all these amazin’ kiddos. This family is growin’ bigger every day and I've never been happier than I've been surrounded by everyone here. Merry Christmas and thank you Lord for the food on our table and the love in our hearts.”
Everyone raises their glass and cheers and we dig into our feast, conversation loud and joyful around the table.
----
“I have somethin’ for you,” I whisper in Alessandra's ear as all the kids unwrap their presents on the floor.
“Oh yeah? What's that?” She asks smiling.
“You want it now? Or home?”
“We can save it for home.”
I nod and kiss her cheek as the floor slowly gets covered in mounds and mounds of wrapping paper.
Peter stands walking over to everyone giving them a hug and thanking them for his presents.
“It was so sweet of everyone to include him in all of this. I'll never get used to their kindness,” Alessandra says wiping a tear from her eyes.
I wrap her in my arms and kiss the top of her head as Peter makes his way back to us.
“Ready to go buddy? You've had a long day,” Alessandra asks.
He nods, yawning and climbing into my lap, wrapping his little arms around my neck.
“My dadda,” Peter whispers burrowing his little face in my neck.
I freeze at his words, my Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as I gulp down a ball of emotion threatening to break free. I look up at Alessandra and her eyes are wide, her mouth parted in a shocked expression.
“Miguel, I swear, I never said… I never referred to you as...I…”
“I know,” I say smiling running my thumb down her cheek. “He probably hears the other kids, it ain't a big deal. I… are we confusin’ him though? You're his mama, I don't wanna overstep if you think we should slow things down, Aless.”
“I'm not sure. I've never done this, and I don't know how to navigate it.”
Her eyes are boring into mine searching for an answer.
“If you need reassurance that I'm serious about us, I'm as serious as a heart attack. I would never enter yours and Peter's world if I wasn't.”
She smiles and nods putting her hand on my thigh.
“Thank you for saying that. I guess we just… keep doing what we're doing?”
“Whatever you want.”
She nods and we stand, saying goodbye to everyone as we walk out of the house and back down to the car. I drive home on autopilot, thinking about Peter's words and Alessandra's uncertainty. As quick as this has been, I can't imagine my life without her and Peter in it. I want this to be a forever thing, is that what she wants too? Was she hinting at it?
As if she can sense my turmoil her hand finds mine on the arm rest and she links our fingers together, as I pull into the garage of our apartment. Our apartment.
“I hear you thinking from all the way over here. Why are you stressing?” She asks softly, tracing circles against the palm of my hand.
“I'm not, I swear. I just wanna make sure we're on the same page. Are we?” I ask taking a quick peek over at her.
“I… I think we are?” She says curiously.
“Good. Then I'm not stressing,” I say kissing her knuckles.
“Good. Then neither am I.”
We walk into the apartment, Alessandra bringing Peter to bed as I pace around the living room with the jewelry box in my hand.
“Trying to get your steps in?” I hear Alessandra laugh from behind me.
I turn around and smile, walking over to her.
“Merry Christmas, Alessandra.”
I pass her the jewelry box and she takes it, her mouth parted as she opens the top.
“Miguel, this is beautiful,” she gasps.
“I… I wanted you to have a reminder every day that I'm by your side. On days you feel weak, I want you to know I can be your strength.”
She takes the bracelet out of the box and reads the message on the charm.
“When you are doubting how far you can go, remember how far you have come. You are my light, you're never alone.” She wipes at her eyes and looks up at me. “You don't… you don't know how special this is to me, Miguel. Thank you so much.”
She lunges at me and hugs me tight, like a rubber band around my heart, squeezing all the love I have out, seeping into my veins as it circulates through my body. I feel myself falling so goddamn hard. I'm falling in love with Alessandra Thompson.
Chapter 17
Alessandra
“Happy New Year buddy,” I whisper kissing Peter on his head.
Miguel does the same as I walk out of the room, watching Miguel close Peter’s door and he puts his hand out for me to take.
“Come.”
I oblige, linking our hands together as we walk down the hall to Miguel's room.
“I like being surrounded by everyone, but this was a nice night. Sometimes the quiet is needed,” I whisper.
“I like not havin’ to share you sometimes,” Miguel smiles as we walk into his room.
He shuts the door behind us, locking it, and I jump at the sound. His hand is on my back, rubbing circles across the bare skin of my shoulder and his lips come up to my ear.
“Can I ask you something?” Miguel says from behind me.
“Anything,” I whisper back.
“Do you finally want this, Alessandra?”
I close my eyes, knowing full well it's been a long time coming.
“So badly,” I moan.
“Good, so do I.”
He kisses down the back of my neck and up the side as I drop my head back to his shoulder, giving him more access, allowing him to feast on me.
“Have you ever taken what you wanted, Alessandra?” His finger trails down my back and I shiver.
“I…”
“Have you ever told a man to get on his knees and lick you until you came all over his face?”
I audibly gulp at his words and shake my head silently, opening my eyes to look at him as he stands in front of me, his thumb caressing the pulse point on my neck
“Have you ever taken control? Claimed power over a man and demanded he put your pleasure above his own?”
“No,” I whisper.
I feel Miguel's rough finger on the skin under my chin and he lifts my face forcing me to open my eyes that I didn't even realize closed.
I meet the dark green gaze of this dominating man but this time, I'm not afraid or disgusted by a man’s words. The way Miguel talks to me, the way he transfixes my body, captivates it and holds it hostage, has me pining for more.
My breathing is unnatural, quick and heavy, uneven.
“Do you want to do those things? Do you want to have that dominance over me?”
“I… I don't…”
“Tell me, Aless. What do you want?”
He cups my cheek and his voice is soothing. This is the first time, in a very long time that I actually want a man. I’ve wanted Miguel of course, so many times, but right now, in this moment, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted him more.
I want to know what his strong body will feel like holding mine up against a wall as he drives into me. What his eyes look like when they're fixed on mine as our bodies connect. The way his lips move as he moans when he comes inside me.
“I want you. All of it. Everything you said,” I blurt out.
“Say it. I want to hear each desire roll of your lips.”
His voice is so sexy. The strong, confident voice of a man who will deliver every wish I confess.
“I… I want you to get on your knees and lick me until I come.“
“What else?” he groans.
“I… I want to be on top and ride you.”
He closes his eyes and swallows.
“Keep goin’.”
“I want you to kiss me,” I admit, my cheeks turning pink.
“Kiss you?” he asks with confusion opening his eyes.
“The… at the club we don't… I haven't… I… I want you to kiss me when we make love. I want our tongues to slide together. I want you to cup my cheek and run your fingers through my hai-”
He cuts me off with his lips and I stumble back in shock, my back hitting the bedroom door. My eyes are wide as he breaks our connection and stares at me.
“I've thought about nothin’ except kissin’ these beautiful lips while I'm inside your body, Alessandra. Kissin’ you has been drivin’ me wild. A simple fuckin’ kiss has me hooked on you. A woman as breathtakin’ as you are should be kissed as much as humanly possible and then some. Every mornin’,” he whispers trailing a finger down my cheek. “When your man gets home from work. Before dinner, durin’ dinner, after dinner. While cleanin’ up the kitchen, while sittin’ and watchin’ television.”
He moves his lips next to my ear and his breath against my sensitive neck causes me to close my eyes and lean my head back against the door. The gesture exposes my neck and he kisses it before moving back to my ear.
“Every night, all night as your body succumbs to spine tinglin’ orgasms from my finger, my tongue, my cock. One after the other until you fall into the best sleep of your life. Every. Fuckin’. Night.”
I let out a slow breath I didn't even realize I was holding which turns into a soft moan at his words. Delicious words that I want to make true, with Miguel.
“Yes. All of that. I want that, tonight, with you. Please.”
My plead is frantic and needy but the want overpowers the embarrassment I should feel.
“What else? I wanna make every wish of yours come true tonight. What do you want, Aless?”
“I want you to erase every single man before you from my mind, Miguel. I just want to remember you.”
“Are you sure that's what you want? Because when I'm done with you, you won't be able to take a step without rememberin’ all the places I've been.”
“Yes,” I whisper. “That's what I want.”
I'm used to this. I've done it so many times, it's sadly hard to remember how many. But it's different this time. This time I actually want it, I want it so fucking badly.
“Come, then. Let me worship you tonight. Let me show you how a man should treat a woman. I will hang on your every touch, every gasp, every moan. Anything you want, Alessandra, it's yours.”
He kisses the top of my hand slowly as I watch his full lips touch the soft skin. I’ve never noticed lips on a man, but Miguel’s are full and thinking about them wrapped around my nipple, brushing against my clit again has my pussy clenching around nothing.
“You… you’re so breathtaking, Miguel. Do you know that?” I say cupping his cheek.
He moves his face into my palm and breaths out through his nose.
“My girl, you're a gift. I’m nothin’ but the poor man starvin’ for your touch. A man that's not even close to bein’ worthy of it. I’m a selfish man, Aless. I’m gonna take it anyway.”
His thumb trails down my neck to the top of my dress and I watch as he unzips the front, exposing my breasts until the zipper stops at my belly button.
“This body is the work of the Gods. I'm gonna explore every single inch of you. No skin will be left untouched.”
“Miguel… you need to stop talking. Please stop,” I pant.
My body is ignited just from his promises, the need dripping off his lips at how much he wants me. The gentleness, the seduction of his words. It’s hitting me all at once and I put my hand on his shoulder to steady my shaky legs.
He moves the straps of my dress off my shoulders and it drops to the floor as he grabs my hand, helping me to step out of it.
He drops to his knees, placing soft kisses up my stomach as he looks up at me. Our eyes stay connected and I feel so exposed, so vulnerable as he moves my thong to the side, licking up my slit.
I struggle to keep my eyes open, my head dropping back with a content sigh falling from my lips. My hand goes to his head, running my fingers through his hair, my nails scratching his scalp as he works his tongue faster, stronger.
“Open your eyes, Alessandra. I'm at your mercy, beggin’ you for your pleasure.”
“Miguel, I…”
My words get caught in my throat and my legs start to shake as he stands, putting his hand out.
“I want you to do nothin’ except concentrate on my mouth, what it's doin’ to you. Lie down and relax,” he instructs.
I nod silently, walking to the bed, my legs still wobbly. I remember being in this position not too long ago, but it’s different this time. I lie back knowing that soon, Miguel will be inside me, not only my body but also my heart. As if he wasn’t there already, I know the connection between us is only going to get stronger. I already feel the pull, the happiness he gives to me, the… love. I love Miguel Jameson.
I look down, making sure I didn’t say that part out loud and his eyes connect with mine as he kisses my ankle. I close my eyes and sigh, as his lips move slowly up the inside of my calf and up my inner thigh. He drags my thong down my legs and then they open for him of their own volition. When I brace myself for his lips on my pussy, he moves back down to my other ankle. I grit my teeth as he continues the torture up that calf and inner thigh, breathing against my center.
He kisses my clit, then down one lip and over to the other, and I gulp, strug
gling to get enough oxygen to my lungs.
Last Round (Double Play Series Book 6) Page 15