Takeoff

by Becca Jameson

  Chapter 22

  Raeann was pretty sure today had been the longest day of her life, and that was saying something. She’d been through a lot of shit, including crazy days with her mom. None of them started at the crack of dawn and included moving furniture, playing with babies, and changing diapers.

  The truth was Raeann had never changed a diaper in her life. She hadn’t had siblings, and Bex was her first friend to have a baby—which was due any day now.

  She hadn’t actually changed a diaper until just before putting Teddy to bed. And she’d done that with Deacon’s supervision, insisting she needed to know what the hell she was doing because it felt weird to pass Teddy off to him every time the kid wet himself.

  It hadn’t been too difficult, and she’d even learned to cover his privates to avoid getting sprayed in the face while changing him. Seriously, who’d have thought of that? All parents, she supposed.

  She took charge of getting Teddy down in his room while Deacon took care of Katia. Apparently, she got the easier job. A bottle, rocking, changing, and down. Marcy had said he was an easy baby who slept through the night. Raeann hoped that was the case. One day of pretending to parent and she was exhausted.

  She tiptoed past Katia’s room, stopping for a moment to watch Deacon who was lying in bed with her, reading her a story. It was beyond sweet and precious. Deacon was truly a good man.

  She grabbed a glass of wine from his kitchen, headed out back, and dropped onto an Adirondack chair, wondering if she would fall asleep and drop the glass.

  Ten minutes later, Deacon joined her, sitting sideways on the chair next to hers, facing her. He set his hands on his knees. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  She smiled at him. “It was fun.”

  “Fun?” He lifted a brow. “I feel like I’m going to pass out. That was a lot of work, and I’m still trying to imagine how anyone puts two kids down for the night alone.” He shuddered.

  She reached out and set a hand on his. “Well, I don’t know a damn thing about kids, but Katia and Teddy are sweet little cherubs. I enjoyed them more than I expected. It’s shocking how smart three-year-olds are. Who knew? That child has a plethora of knowledge. Where does she get it?”

  He shrugged. “Educational television. Reading to her. Daycare.”

  “Were they going to daycare while your parents had them?”

  “Yes. Not full-time, but three days a week so my mom could get a break.”

  Raeann chewed on her lower lip. For some reason, she couldn’t imagine dropping them off for someone else to watch all day. For the first time in her life, she had a strange maternal tug. Somehow she instinctively knew if she had a kid, it would kill her to leave him or her nine hours a day with someone else.

  She shook the odd thought from her mind. These weren’t her kids. She barely knew them. She wasn’t staying here forever. And obviously, it would be rude to say something like that. Deacon had to work of course. He couldn’t very well become a stay-at-home dad. He had to make money to pay the mortgage.

  “What are you thinking, Rae?”

  She jerked her gaze to his, realizing she’d been staring off into space. “Nothing.”

  He narrowed his brows, smiling. “Fine. Don’t tell me. But can we go to bed? I’m afraid I’m going to fall asleep sitting here.”

  She spun around to stand, tugging him with her. “Of course.”

  They headed inside, turned off the lights, and made their way to the bedroom, checking on the kids one last time. They were both out, but would they stay that way?

  Everything about this day and now their preparations for bed felt so domestic. Raeann kept glancing at Deacon as she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed into a tank top and shorts. They did all this side by side tonight as if it weren’t weird to share the bathroom with him.

  And somehow it wasn’t, but the thought only made her anxiety rise. She was enjoying playing in his world a bit too much. She had surprised herself today, loving his family more than she should have.

  For the first time since she’d come to stay with Deacon, they didn’t have sex the moment they climbed into bed. Deacon pulled her against his chest and kissed her gently, but his hands didn’t wander.

  She didn’t mind. She was beyond tired, and she knew he was too, but it made her chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?” He pulled her closer.

  “One day and already we’re like an old married couple, too tired to have sex.”

  He growled and rolled her onto her back, coming over her, his face hovering as he searched her eyes. “You’re right. We can’t let this happen.”

  She giggled and shoved at him. “I was teasing. Neither of us has the energy to be the one on top anyway,” she joked.

  He chuckled. “Good point, but I’ll try anyway.”

  She rolled her eyes, though she wasn’t sure he could see her in the near darkness. They had left a night light on in the hallway though, just in case Katia woke up and got scared. “What if Katia wanders in?” she whispered.

  He groaned again. “You think I’m going to give up sex for the next eighteen years while they’re living here just in case they wander in?”

  She chewed on her lower lip, thinking. She didn’t actually have a good answer. How did regular parents manage to fit sex into their lives? She glanced at the door. “Seriously though.”

  He followed her gaze and dropped onto his side next to her. “I’ll lock the door.”

  She gasped and shook her head. “You can’t do that. Not so soon. She’ll get scared if she can’t find you.”

  Deacon groaned as he lowered his head to the pillow, wrapping his body around hers. “What have I signed up for?”

  She giggled. “Eighteen sexless years?”

  “Don’t say that.” He shuddered. “It makes me want to cry.”

  “I’m teasing.” She rolled to her side and faced him. She slid her hand up to his face and then around to the back of his neck. “It’s just one night. We’re exhausted. We’ll figure it out.”

  He sucked in a breath and held her gaze. “Will we?” His question was loaded. He was asking about the future. Not tomorrow or next week but next month.

  She stopped breathing when she realized what she’d implied. “I just mean… You’ll figure it out. I’m positive parents have sex, otherwise, there wouldn’t be siblings.”

  Raeann snuggled closer to him, happy to be in his embrace. She didn’t have to have sex every night of her life. This felt good too. Too good. Way too good.

  She closed her eyes, but it seemed like only moments passed before she felt a tug on the corner of her tank top. She rolled toward the edge of the bed to find Katia standing there, wide-eyed, tears running silently down her face.

  “Rain,” she murmured. “I wet my bed.”

  Raeann glanced at Deacon, who hadn’t budged and had no idea what was going on. So Raeann slid from the bed and grabbed Katia’s hand, leading her from the room. She pulled the door to the master bedroom almost closed and led the little girl back to her room. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  Raeann was the walking dead, but it tugged at her heart to see Katia shivering in tears. “I sawwy.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry, sweetie.” She bent down to wipe the tears away. “People have accidents. It happens. It’s probably my fault. I should have reminded you to use the potty before bed.” Raeann stood, grabbed clean jammies and undies from the drawer, and led Katia to the bathroom. She quickly stripped off her wet clothes and wiped her off with a warm washcloth before she put dry clothes on her.

  “Let’s get your sheets changed, shall we?”

  Katia nodded.

  Raeann grabbed another set of sheets from the hall closet and returned to the bedroom with Katia on her heels. She’d wondered why on earth Marcy had sent them home with six sets of sheets. Now it made more sense.

  After changing her bed, also taking note that the mattress pad was waterproof, she swung Katia up
in the air and settled her back in bed, pulling the covers over her. “Will you lie down with me, Rain?”

  “Sure, sweetie.” Raeann lowered onto the bed next to Katia and kissed her little cherub face.

  Katia grabbed her stuffed monkey and curled onto her side. In minutes she was back asleep.

  When Raeann eased from the bed, she nearly gasped. Deacon was leaning in the doorway, smiling. His hair was tousled from sleep. His chest was bare. His flannel pants hung low on his hips. He’d never looked sexier.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yep,” she whispered as she pulled him back down the hall. “She wet the bed.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked as he eased the door almost closed once again.

  “You were dead asleep. I had it.”

  He stopped walking, grabbed her hand, and tugged her so that she fell against his chest. In the dim light, she could see his expression. It was a mixture of awe and confusion. A partial smile, a furrowed brow, twinkling eyes.

  “What?”

  He shrugged. “You’re amazing.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “You did everything.” His hands slid into her hair and he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her deeply like he hadn’t done before they went to sleep.

  She melted against him, loving the feel of his hands in her hair. After wrapping her arms around his middle, she stepped closer. His cock was hard, pressing against her belly, and when she slid her hand down to cup him, he moaned.

  “How are we going to manage this?” he murmured, breaking the kiss to glance at the door.

  “Maybe you were right,” she whispered. “Better lock it. Just for a while. If she needs us, she’ll knock. We’ll hear her.”

  He gave a quick nod and released Raeann to cross the room in two strides. He quietly shut and locked the door before returning. “Why are you still dressed?” he joked.

  She giggled and tugged her shirt off before lowering her shorts and panties.

  Deacon watched.

  “Now who’s dressed?”

  He shrugged out of his sleep pants, grabbed her by the waist, and tossed her onto the bed. He pulled a condom out of the bedside table next and rolled it on.

  Raeann scooted back to give him room, trying not to laugh. “I don’t think you need to be in such a rush. She’ll surely sleep for a while.”

  He climbed over her. “That’s not why I’m rushing, baby. It’s because I feel a sense of urgency when I see you naked.” He held himself aloft over her, reaching for her breast with one hand to stroke her nipple.

  She moaned and arched into his touch, surprised by how fast she’d gotten aroused. Apparently seeing him naked also nudged her with a sense of urgency. His firm body was so fucking sexy above her. She trailed a finger along the edge of the tattoo on his biceps and then lowered that hand to stroke his cock.

  He groaned as his hand slid from her breast to her pussy. After gathering her wetness through her folds, he flicked her clit several times.

  She pursed her lips to keep from crying out.

  He surprised her when he rose up onto his knees and patted her hip. “Flip over for me.”

  She hesitated a moment before rolling onto her belly.

  Deacon lifted her hips so that she was on her elbows and knees. He nudged her thighs apart and settled between them, making her feel vulnerable and shockingly needier.

  He gripped her hips and slid his hands down to cup her ass, kneading the flesh until she started pushing back against him. She hadn’t had sex in this position before, and it suddenly seemed very titillating and naughty.

  Deacon eventually gripped her hip again and reached between her legs with his other hand, finding her wet center and easing a finger into her.

  She moaned.

  He chuckled. “You’re going to have to learn to be quieter when I fuck you.”

  She bit her lip and nodded against the mattress, holding her breath when he found her clit again. He rubbed it while thrusting two fingers into her.

  “Damn, you are so fucking sexy, Rae,” he murmured. He continued touching her, rubbing faster and thrusting harder until she was on the edge, so close to orgasm.

  When he removed his hand, she gasped. “Deacon…”

  “I want to be inside you when you come, baby.” He held her hip again, lined his cock up, and thrust into her.

  She couldn’t keep from crying out, quickly twisting her face into the blankets to stifle the sound.

  “Jesus, that’s even sexier.” He gripped her hips and thrust again.

  It was so much deeper in this position. Why hadn’t they done this before? She curled her toes and squeezed her eyes closed, unable to focus on anything but the feel of his cock hitting her just right with every pass.

  She was close to the edge again in moments, and nearly screamed when he reached around her front to find her clit. She came instantly, her pussy pulsing around his erection. “That’s it, baby. God… Rae…”

  She shuddered violently as the waves of pleasure subsided, but she still wanted more, so she rose onto her palms and found a new rhythm, moving with him, thrusting back into him with every stroke of his dick.

  He moaned low in his throat, and she knew he was close when his fingers dug into her hips. Finally, he held her still, keeping himself deep, and gasped around his orgasm. He held back his usual noisy reaction this time, which made her grin.

  This was his new reality. It was different, but it would work.

  Wait. This was his reality. Not hers, she reminded herself.

  When Deacon eased out of her and padded toward the bathroom, she bit into her lower lip and dropped to her side, pulling the covers up around her. She was shaking as if she were cold. That was far from the truth. She was sad and scared and nervous and a little freaked out.

  Playing house with Deacon had taken a sharp turn. A very stressful one. If she stayed here much longer, she would grow attached to his niece and nephew. His kids. Maybe she already was attached.

  None of them deserved to have her baggage in the house. What the hell was she going to do?

  Deacon returned from the bathroom, unlocked the door, and opened it a few inches. He leaned his head against the slit, listening for a moment before climbing into bed with her. His sleep pants were back on. He must have grabbed them on the way to the bathroom.

  She was naked. She needed to put her clothes back on, but she didn’t want to move. She was afraid to. If she got out of her warm cocoon, she might break the spell, head straight out the door, and drive away. That’s how scared she was. So she didn’t move a muscle, knowing she was overreacting in the dark after an amazing orgasm, endorphins running through her body.

  Deacon wrapped his arms around her and spooned her from behind. He kissed her neck. “You’re so warm.”

  “Mmm. I should get dressed.”

  “No. Stay like this. If Katia comes in, I’ll get up the next time. Please. Let me hold you. I like the feel of your skin against me.”

  She drew in a deep breath and let it out. There was no way she could argue with him because she didn’t want to move. She wanted to stay right here. Forever. Pretending to be normal. Playing house. Being a mom. A partner. A regular human.

  Why couldn’t she have those things?

  Chapter 23

  Deacon awoke with a start, his eyes darting open. There were voices in the house and he bolted to sitting as he glanced at the spot next to him. Raeann wasn’t there, which meant she was up, and so were the kids, and he’d slept through it.

  Holy shit. What kind of uncle slash dad was he if he overslept the first morning he had the kids? He slid from the bed, made quick use of the bathroom, and grabbed a T-shirt on the way out the bedroom door.

  He rushed toward the direction of voices and found all three of them in the kitchen. For a moment, he stopped dead at the entryway. Teddy was in his highchair, cut up pancakes all over the tray. Katia was on her booster seat at the kitchen t
able, trying to manage a fork, syrup running down her hands.

  For a heartbeat, Raeann was facing the sink. She was washing something, but when she turned to glance at the kids, she caught him out of the corner of her eye. A slow smile spread across her face. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

  His heart was racing as he eased into the room. He stopped to kiss Katia on the top of the head and then Teddy before making his way to Raeann at the sink. His chest was rising and falling rapidly from the adrenaline rush but also from the emotional reaction slamming into him at seeing Raeann in his kitchen taking care of his responsibilities.

  He cupped her face and tipped it back. Probably it would be wrong to kiss her in front of the kids, but he did it anyway, a brief meeting of lips that no one noticed. “Why didn’t you wake me?” he murmured.

  “You looked so peaceful. I managed.” She swept a hand out to indicate everything was under control.

  She had managed. She’d done more than manage. Everyone was fed and happy. And she looked damn good in the middle of it.

  “Unca Dea, I colored you a picture. Wanna see?”

  Deacon released Raeann, spun around, and shuffled toward his niece. “I do.”

  She pointed at the fridge. “Rain hung it on the fidgatator.”

  He chuckled as Katia once again called Raeann Rain. He considered correcting her, but decided it was still cute. “That’s so pretty, munchkin. I love it.” It was more like purple scribbles all over a picture as if the lines hadn’t even been there. And how the hell had Raeann managed to have time to have a coloring session already this morning too? He spun to look at her. “How long have you been up?”

  She chuckled. “A while, big guy.” She patted him on the chest as she walked by him. “I’m going to shower. Your turn.”

  He wanted to grab her around the waist and kiss the life out of her, but instead, he watched her ass as she retreated. Jesus, he needed her in his life. Hell, like he’d told his mom, he loved her. He wished he could tell her without freaking her out.