Working Back

by BJ Harvey

  The entire table erupts in laughter at my brother’s trip down Memory Lane.

  “Cohen can’t concentrate for shit anyway,” Jamie says.

  April laughs and grins at her husband before pointing up at Jax. “Swear jar!”

  We all laugh. April’s son, Axel, has a swear jar that started as a joke when Jamie was living next door to them. Now, the kid’s swear jar college fund is growing larger every day.

  I look down at Faith just as she tilts her head up at me. “I can’t believe you guys still go to the same driving range. Is Gabe still there?”

  I grin. “Yep. Still as grumpy and as snarky as he always was.”

  “Gabe is a teddy bear.”

  “You only say that ’cause he let you whack balls after hours for free so you could try and beat us.”

  Her eyes are bright. She looks happy now. That flash of fear I saw earlier is nowhere to be seen. I drop my gaze to her lips as her pink tongue darts out to wet them. Fuck! If she only knew exactly what that does to me. I still remember just how hot it was to have her in my old bedroom, my body covering hers, my tongue in her mouth, my…

  My train of thought—as inappropriate as it might be, given our current location—is interrupted by the sweet sound of tinkling glass and my father standing on a makeshift dance floor in the middle of the backyard. My hand on Faith’s shoulder tenses. She drops her head back and looks up at me. “Ready for embarrassing stories?” she asks, her lips twitching.

  I chuckle, smoothing my hand down her arm and back up again, enjoying the ease between us now. “Well, since we’ve already lived through them, at least we won’t be surprised.”

  ‘Never say never,” she muses. “But whatever happens, I’ve got your back.”

  “And I’ll always have yours, babycakes.”

  Her features soften and her lips part. “I know that now,” she says quietly before she laces our fingers together and turns back to listen.

  Dad goes first. “So let me tell you about the time Faith and Bryant borrowed Jamie’s car to go to a rock concert.” Faith and I just look at each other and burst out laughing. Dad can tell whatever stories he wants in this moment, as long as my wife is smiling.

  Because as she said, we’ve already lived through these stories. The dads could never know that these are probably the exact memories we need to hear.

  Bryant

  When we finally get home, I can’t sense any nervousness from Faith. Maybe our talk earlier has put her at ease—I hope it has, anyway—and no longer is she worried that this is anything but real. I’ve always been playing the long game with Faith Baker—now Cook—and although she’s not ready to know about it, that doesn’t mean I can’t continue to show her that this is not temporary for me. I never start anything I don’t intend to finish and right now, walking toward her as she puts our leftover wedding cake into the refrigerator, there’s one tradition we didn’t get to do at the BBQ that I definitely want to rectify.

  She’s relaxed and happy—a lot more so than she was at the start of the night—and I’m remembering the sweet, sometimes cheeky, definitely sexy-as-hell girl who’s turned into a woman. From her smooth legs, her curvy hips and rounded ass, to her strong shoulders, and a sleek neck that has my mouth salivating at the thought of devouring it.

  When she turns around, her eyes widen before a soft smile transforms her expression.

  I slowly rake my gaze down her body before dragging them back to her face. “Hey.” One world has never been filled with so much meaning.

  “Hey,” she replies, blindly reaching out to grab hold of the refrigerator door.

  I shake my head, licking my lips. “There’s one wedding tradition I’ve always looked forward to,” I say, pushing off the counter and closing the distance between us. Her breathing quickens, her teeth digging in as her pupils dilate.

  “What’s… what’s that?” she stammers.

  I cover her hand on the door with mine. My other hand slides over her hip and gently presses her around, easing her sideways and back until our positions are reversed.

  I reach in and pull out the smallest covered plate, closing the refrigerator door behind me and turning toward her now puzzled expression.

  “Cake?” she asks, her voice a rough whisper.

  A slow-growing smile curves my mouth as I step closer, reaching over to place the plate on the counter. Leaning in, I brush my lips against her mouth, my smile widening when her hands shoot out to grab hold of my hips and slide around my back, pulling me in tight.

  “Uh-uh, babycakes,” I murmur huskily, meeting her eyes. “We have a tradition to experience first.”

  There’s a flash of heat in her hooded stare.

  I kiss her again, starting as a barely-there touch and deepening as I plaster my body to hers.

  Sliding my tongue into her mouth, I reach over, pull the Saran Wrap off the plate, and run my finger over the top of the cake. I end our kiss and pull back just an inch to lock eyes with hers. Her gaze widens when I place the tip of my icing-covered thumb against the corner of her bottom lip and slide sideways, painting her mouth with delicious ganache icing.

  Her tongue darts out to lick it off but I growl, stopping her in her tracks. I pop my finger into my mouth and suck it clean, loving the way her eyes flash with unmissable heat and a whimper escapes her throat.

  “You missed tasting icing off my lips?” she asks with a wry smirk.

  I wrap one hand around the side of her head, and I reach out to the cake again. Her eyes are locked with mine, and our breath intermingles as I stand there and take in her flushed skin.

  Then my fingers are between us, and I’m gently smearing the red velvet cake and cream cheese icing over her chin, lips, and even the tip of her nose.

  I swallow her gasp and dive deep, my tongue laving hers, my grip on her head tensing as her hands grab hold of my back and tugs me in as close as I can get. Then the kiss turns feral in the best possible way. It’s all lips and tongues, nails biting into skin, hands clawing to get closer. The passionate wildcat I always knew is unleashed, and we can’t seem to get enough. I roll my hips against hers, earning a moan so deep and low I feel it like the throbbing pulse in my cock I thrust against her.

  She pulls back, tearing her mouth from mine and heaving in a heavy breath. A devilish grin appears, her eyes dancing with amusement as her hand moves between us. Now I’m the one with cake on my face, her entire palm covering my cheeks, nose, chin, and lips. We stand there, breathing heavily, our eyes locked, my whole body vibrating with a need so great I swear it’s going to consume me.

  Faith’s eyes drift down my face then slowly back up again. “I definitely like your way of eating cake, Mr. Cook.”

  I stare at her mouth, painted with red and cream. As messy and as mussed as she is, I’ve never seen her look more alive or more beautiful than in this moment. She looks like the woman I’ve dreamed about in the years we’ve been apart.

  When she quirks her brow and thrusts her hips against my cock, our truce is decimated. I tighten my grip on her hair, tug her head back, press my body hard into hers and flatten my tongue against her chin. I slowly lick a line up to her mouth. I’ve never tasted anything as sweet as Faith and our wedding cake. An unexpected surge of possessiveness courses through me and I smash my lips to hers, filled with the need to devour her whole. When she moans into my mouth, her hand pulls my hair as she meets me stroke for stroke.

  I tear my mouth away and nip her jaw before burying my face in her neck, my tongue tracing rousing circles all over her skin. Her whimpers and my groans fill the air, the roll of my hips against hers amping me up, the pressure inside of me building into a raging inferno that’s definitely going to need a cold shower and a whole lot of jerking off to douse.

  My phone rings on the counter beside us, but there’s no way I’m answering it.

  Faith’s hand moves to my ass, her nails digging into my jeans and holding me against her as she sucks my tongue between her lips.

 
; No fucking way I’m answering it.

  My phone stops and starts again. I tear my mouth from hers. We press our foreheads together and heave in deep breaths. I try to calm myself down, but all I can see is her. All I can feel is her. All I want right now is anything she’s willing to give me. Just her.

  Again, the phone rings, and with a frustrated groan, I reach over and pick it up. Jax’s name lit up on the screen. Keeping Faith pinned with my hips, her grip on my ass still holding us together, I answer the call.

  “This better be good,” I say by way of hello, my rough voice a dead giveaway. I glide my hand down Faith’s back, and she burrows her face into my chest, resting her cheek against my shoulder.

  Jax chuckles in my ear. “Did I interrupt? My bad.”

  “What do you need?” I ask, tampering my frustration.

  “Oh, nothing much. Just thought you’d wanna know Abi’s waters broke, and she’s going to the hospital.”

  “Shit. Okay. Are you heading in?”

  “Yeah. But Cade says it may still be a little while so he’ll activate the phone tree once the girls are on their way.”

  “Okay.”

  “Want to come with us?”

  I dip my chin and rest it on the top of Faith’s head. “Yeah. Faith’s got work tomorrow so it would be easier just to go with you. Let me know when it’s time to go.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll let you get back to… whatever it is you were doing.”

  Faith lifts her head, her swollen, cake-stained lips quirking up. Yeah, Faith and red velvet is a really good look.

  “We’re just enjoying the wedding cake,” I say into the phone, smirking down at the woman in my arms.

  “Riiiight. And you forget we’re two halves of the same egg. So you eat that cake like a starving man, brother. God knows we all need more cake in our lives.”

  I chuckle, shaking my head. “Goodbye, Jax.”

  “I might eat some cake of my own.”

  “That’s too much information, even for you. Talk soon, brother.”

  “Bye, Bry. Go get ’em, Faith,” he calls out before ending the call.

  She smiles up at me, her eyes now soft and lax. The moment has passed, and although we’re still touching, it’s more familiar and gentle.

  “Well that was fun,” she says.

  I study her face with a grin. “And messy.”

  “Abi’s having her babies? She did say at the party she was feeling really out of sorts.”

  “It seems the Carsen girls were getting ready to make their appearance.” I lift my hand and sweep a loose piece of hair behind Faith’s ear. “Jax is gonna call me when we hear from Cade, and he’ll take me to hospital.”

  “Okay. Well, I might just clean all of this up.” She waves her hand around to the annihilated cake on the counter and the remnants of said baked goods spread over us.

  I chuckle. “How about I take care of this, and you go get tidied up?” I look down to her mouth and fight the urge to start up where we left off again. Damn resistance. I lean down and brush my lips against hers. “Go get cleaned up before I do it myself.”

  A gratifying shudder runs through her body as she nods and straightens.

  Watching her leave the kitchen, I can’t wipe the smile off my face. This evening started with a surprise reception and Faith’s panic attack. Having wedding cake smeared all over my face and making out with my wife against the counter is definitely a good way to end the night.

  I set out to clean the mess, ignoring the imagery of Faith naked in the shower, and the knowledge that we’ll be sharing a bed tonight for the first time in twelve years.

  Now I just need her to hurry up because all of that thinking has my dick imagining things neither Faith or I am ready for.

  Somehow I think there are going to be a lot of long showers in my immediate future.

  I’ve waited this long. What’s a little bit longer?

  It has to be right—for her and for us.

  But making out—with or without foodstuffs involved—that’s definitely going to be happening again.

  And soon.

  Blue balls be damned.

  It’s not until the next night that Faith and I enter the maternity wing of Northwestern Hospital and walk into Abi’s room to meet my two new nieces.

  “Hey,” I say, letting Faith go and crossing the room and kiss my sister’s cheek. I shift back and meet Abi’s eyes. “How are you doing, mama?”

  She smiles and looks over at Cade and his twin brother, Cameron, who are both cradling our new family members in their arms. “They’re the perfect end to our family.”

  “So no more?” I ask with a smirk.

  Her eyes widen. “Oh hell no. No more. My vagina is shutting up shop. No way, no how,” she announces, pointing her finger at her husband who walks over toward us. I sneak a quick glance at Faith holding the baby close to her chest and looking down with amazed wonder. Fuck, she looks good with a baby.

  Damn. Where did that thought come from? Years ago, we would lie in bed with tangled limbs, imagining our future out loud to each other. The plan was always to settle back in Chicago, buy a house, make it our own, and when the time was right, start a family.

  Obviously, that plan went out the window with a rejected marriage proposal and a plane ticket for her, and a broken heart for me.

  But now, seeing Faith so enamored with one of Abi and Cade’s new daughters, I’m wondering whether she remembers our plans. Has she been thinking about the what-ifs when she’s been living her life in Australia, as far away as possible from the us we were meant to be?

  “You still with us, Bry?” Cade asks. “You spaced out there. I thought you might want to say hello to Annalise here.”

  I turn to face him, then glance down at the cherubic face of one of his daughters. He carefully shifts her into my arms, and when Abi moves over in the bed, I rest a hip on the mattress and marvel at the beauty I’m holding.

  Abi leans into my side, reaching out to stroke the soft, downy skin of her new daughter’s cheek. I tilt my head. “She’s perfect, Abs. Job well done,” I say quietly.

  “And I made two of them,” she says, a smile playing on her lips. “How good is that?”

  Cade chuckles and leaves us to join Cam, Cam’s wife, Sarah, and Faith over near the window.

  “How’s it going?” Abi whispers, looking over to Faith then back to me.

  “This could’ve been us,” I reply and she nods.

  “Yeah, but something tells me life had a plan for the two of you, and maybe that plan was not to have any of this until now.” She rubs my arm. “Maybe she needed to go away in order to come back to you as the person she always wanted to be.”

  My breath catches because I never thought of it like that. In my crushed, rejected state years ago, all I could focus on was the loss of the love of my life and the confusion as to why she felt the need to leave.

  Over the years, I would run through our last night together, the last week, month… hell, I even went all the way back to the four years we’d been at college. There was no sign whatsoever that Faith felt trapped, suffocated, or—most importantly—that she wasn’t happy.

  It was perfect, until it wasn’t.

  And now, she’s back in my life and back in my bed—albeit, we only slept last night, and on separate sides of the mattress like there was an exclusion zone right down the middle of the mattress—and those plans we had for the future are at the forefront of my mind.

  A stirring in my arms gets me looking down to meet the big blue eyes of Annalise Carsen. “She’s probably hungry,” Abi murmurs from beside me.

  “Oh, I guess you better feed her then,” I say with a grin, handing the baby back to her mother. “You know how us Cooks are with our food.”

  “Hangry for days,” she says with a laugh, leaning back into the bed and placing her new daughter in her lap. “Do you know what life was like as the only girl in a family of boys? I’m lucky Mom used to squirrel food away for me to eat in case
I missed out at dinner.”

  I chuckle, shaking my head as I stand, not wanting to see my sister’s bare chest as she prepares to feed the baby. “Were we really that bad?” I ask with a smile.

  “Yep.”

  “Damn, well lucky you’ve got a few more girls now to have your back.”

  Abi’s gentle eyes look up at me. “And they’ll have a big brother to look out for them just like you always looked after me.”

  “You mean, warning all the high school boys away from you and Delilah?”

  “That too,” she says with a wink and a giggle. She nods over to the rest of the visitors. “Go meet Anya. She’s got the Cook nose and the Carsen dimple.”

  “So she’s beautiful like her mama,” I add, watching Abi’s eyes mist over.

  She waves her arm in the air. “Go. You’re making me cry. Damn hormones,” she mutters. I hold my hands up in surrender but my smile is filled with pride. “Love you, Abi Jane.”

  “Love you too, big brother. Now go save your wife from getting clucky,” she whispers.

  “Maybe I want her clucky,” I reply, for my sister’s ears only.

  “All in good time, Bry. All in good time.”

  It’s late by the time we get home, having stopped at a Thai restaurant down the road for a quick dinner. I’m amped up though because tonight, that invisible barrier between us is getting knocked down.

  Faith tells me she’s going to take a shower and hop into bed, and I make myself busy until I hear her rummaging around in the bedroom. I give her ten minutes leeway to get dressed and under the covers, watching a baseball game replay on my tablet to pass the time. As much as I want to see her body and memorize every single part of it all over again, I’m playing the long game.

  I knock on the door and slowly open it, finding a soft smile on the face of the most beautiful girl in the world as she lies in bed with a book in her hand. I swear, Faith screws with my head and turns me into a sap.

  “I’ve locked up, so I’m just going to grab a quick shower, then we can turn in for the night.”