by A. m Madden
Need. Fuck, I needed her, too.
Like a man possessed, my hands framed her satin-covered breasts. I loved how they already felt fuller, heavier in my hands. I loved how her nipples felt under the pads of my thumbs. I loved getting lost in her lust-filled eyes.
While still holding a breast in each hand, I kissed one of my favorite spots below her ear—I had many—and then made my way to her mouth. As we devoured each other, she reached behind her back to undo her bra and in a saucy move dropped it to the floor.
Déjà vu of the night we first came together slammed into my libido. Every detail I remembered as if it were yesterday spurred the need to take her, and soon. But that wasn’t where I wanted to have her, not after weeks had gone by since the last time we had sex. With my decision made, I lifted her, barely breaking our kiss, and carried her into her bedroom.
Once she was on the bed, I pulled away to take off my T-shirt, shoes, and socks. I then removed the remaining clothes she still wore until she was left in only a pair of sweet white panties. She never looked away from me as I lowered myself beside her on the bed.
While my gaze roamed over her, my mouth didn’t know where to go to first. I started at the silky skin beneath her ear and took time to navigate her body with my lips, pausing at her breast to pull a nipple into my mouth. Jade moaned as I unashamedly sucked on her. The more I tasted, the more I wanted.
“You’re so beautiful,” I said, skimming my hand over her rounded stomach. The swell that had been there the last time I saw her naked was even more defined now, and I couldn’t wait to see her body change over the upcoming weeks.
I wanted to memorize every phase of pregnancy she would experience. Relishing in the way my hands explored her changing torso was something I wouldn’t ever forget. I planned to take my time, but my girl wouldn’t have it.
She wiggled out of her panties. Her eyes met mine before they raked over my bare chest, her hands then following the line of her sight. Tracing every inch of my abs, she didn’t stop until her fingertips reached the waistband of my jeans. Her touch caused my cock to painfully push against the zipper and my body to plead for more.
By cupping my denim-covered erection, she forced another carnal moan. That was how we got there to begin with, and being as horny as I was, I feared by just having her hand on my hard-on could cause me to come.
Maintaining eye contact the entire time, I moved away just enough to peel off my jeans and boxers. No more than three seconds had passed when I stretched beside her on the bed. I skimmed a path from her neck to her breast. I trailed my lips to follow while lifting her thigh and moving it a few inches to better expose her for what I had planned. After one quick glance at her face, I repositioned myself until my breath caressed her bare pussy.
Not wanting to wait another second, I took her clit into my mouth. Her fingers found my hair and tightened as she mewled. I indulged in her, nibbling, licking, sucking, and probing with my tongue and fingers. When I reached my free hand out, she linked her fingers with mine while twitching from my attentions. Her orgasm rolled on, consuming her from head to toe, and then she finally relaxed with a sated sigh.
“Are you tired?” I asked, wanting to be sure she was okay before I sunk into her warmth.
“Definitely not.” She tugged on my hand, prompting me to reposition until my cock rested on her pussy. With her free hand, she reached for me and placed my tip at her entrance. That was all I needed to slide in, groaning as she swallowed me up one inch at a time.
Her pussy gripped my steely shaft as if it was meant to be part of her. The ride we took toward our summit felt more like a journey than an act. We said nothing during each push and pull between our bodies, yet so many unspoken words somehow manifested themselves through our heated stares.
She came first, and I followed shortly after. With my cock buried deep inside her, I continued to stare into her eyes. It felt too good to move, to shift, to break this intense connection we had both physically and emotionally. Whenever we were together, things were fantastic. When apart, I couldn’t help but wonder how this thing between us would survive outside of our little bubble.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jade
With each workday that passed, each week that flew by, watching someone else become the front-runner for the junior partner position infuriated me. So did the fact that having a baby knocked me out of the race. Why women had to consciously plot and plan out a way to achieve balance, when men didn’t, made me bitter toward my career for the first time in my life. It sucked and shouldn’t be this way.
I’d been killing myself keeping up with my billable hours. I refused to give the partners any excuse that my performance suffered. In order to stay on top of it all, my days began at the crack of dawn and ended well after the building emptied out for the day. Not wanting to burn bridges, I did it all with a smile on my face while waiting for a new opportunity to present itself.
Max’s words—dreams change—pecked at my conscience. He was right. This was only a temporary setback.
Since our argument weeks ago, rarely has he mentioned work except to ask if I had a good day. Unless I brought it up, Max steered clear of the Betterman case I lost, as well as the promotion. Who could blame him?
Thankfully, despite that tension or the fact we rarely saw each other, things between us had been going fairly well. Of course, neither of us mentioned what would be once the baby came. That conversation would need to be had eventually, but Max had too many things on his plate right now. I didn’t want to add to his angst. So, instead, we took one day at a time, something he had suggested, but I needed to constantly remind myself it was the best plan of action.
All I wanted to focus on now was my trip with Max. Thanksgiving was a few days away, and we decided to fly down for the birth of his daughter and spend the holiday in Miami. His brothers and parents were also flying down to be there for him. I didn’t regret my decision to go and deserved the time with him. Unfortunately, not everyone in my life felt the same way.
The firm was upset with me.
My family was upset with me.
The only two people in my life who weren’t—Amy and Max.
Of course, Amy was a complete enabler, and when I told her a few weeks ago that I had agreed to go to Miami with Max, she’d practically packed my bag for me that very day.
And as for Max, he hadn’t been able to wipe the smile off his face…one I only saw through FaceTime calls.
Truth was, if he knew the partners at work weren’t happy that I took off without notice for an extended vacation, or that my family weren’t thrilled I’d be spending my Thanksgiving holiday in Miami instead of home with them, he would’ve been devastated.
I kept all that to myself. I really wanted to do this with him, be there for him. Tracey, being a week past her due date, was now scheduled to be induced.
Sure, guilt simmered just below my jovial surface for ditching my own family, especially with my dad being so distant lately. But as Amy said, this was his issue, and if Max was going to be in my life one way or another, then my father would have to come to terms with it all. There was a part of me that worried my relationship with him would forever be strained. I guess time would tell.
Landing in Miami managed to put all my concerns miles and miles away. Max had been so sweet since leaving New York. I loved being his travel companion and the way he introduced me as his girlfriend to the flight attendants who knew him because of his many travels to Florida.
I smiled and listened as he pointed out places, adorably telling me stories of his college days and the shenanigans he and his friends got into.
When the cab pulled up in front of a luxury high-rise on Ocean Boulevard, Max turned toward me with a small smile. “We’re here.”
I dipped my head to scan the glass tower that seemed to stretch right into the azure Miami sky. “Max, this is amazing.”<
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“It’s convenient. The gym is a few blocks away,” he said almost apologetically.
We exited the car into the humid air perfumed by the salty ocean before us. I continued to take in my surroundings as Max paid the fare and retrieved our bags from the trunk. The tops of the palm trees swayed in a slow, seductive dance. Joggers ran by on the busy coastal avenue. Everywhere I turned, happy people took advantage of the balmy gift being in southern Florida afforded. No one looked stressed. No wonder he loved it here.
By just standing there, Max seemed to fit in. I, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel like an intruder to this lifestyle, one I couldn’t clearly imagine in my future.
Thoughts of our child, visiting Max, spending a few weeks a year in Miami as part of a custody agreement slithered into my subconscious.
“Ready, beautiful?” Max asked, pulling me out of my reverie. On my nod, he grabbed our bags and led me into the building. While we rode the elevator to the twentieth floor, he remained quiet, and I wondered what he was thinking. Did he have the same thoughts I had?
How are the baby and I going to fit into this other world he lives in?
Once he unlocked his door, I stepped into a bright space with the most stunning view as its backdrop. “Oh my God, Max. This is breathtaking.”
“Yeah, I fell in love with it. I’m renting it for a year to keep me close to the gym. I’ll see how things go before I decide to buy or not.”
One big square held his kitchen, dining area, and living room. The open-spaced concept made it very inviting. Warm honey hardwood floors complimented the sand on the beach outside. The furniture was simple, sparse, mainly just the essentials needed…a round dining table, couch, television, a few decorative tables. That was basically it. The walls being void of any artwork only added to the beautiful ocean view. Nothing else was needed to dress up the place.
“Come. I’ll give you a quick tour and then we’ll head to the hospital.” The last text from Tristan came as we were leaving the airport. Tracey had been checked in and would be hooked up to a Pitocin drip to begin labor.
Hand in hand, Max led me through the apartment. At the end of a long hall, when Max opened a door, I literally gasped.
“Yeah,” he said knowingly. The room mimicked his in Manhattan with all the masculine grays and dark woods, but the difference was his king-sized bed faced another spectacular view of the ocean. And along with an amazing en-suite bathroom that looked like it belonged in a spa, I could live in his room forever. In fact, why would he ever want to leave himself?
A small laundry room, another bath, and a second bedroom filled the rest of the place.
He paused a bit before opening the second bedroom’s door. “Excuse the mess,” he said. “I haven’t had the chance to organize it yet, but this will be the babies’ room.” Except for a crib that had been assembled, everything else was still in its boxes.
My heartbeat sped up over the reminder he was going to be a father to two children. Although never far from my mind, seeing this room made it even more real. Would his child with Tracey be sharing the space with mine? Or would he schedule their visits so they weren’t here at the same time? My baby would have a half sister—didn’t I want them to know each other? Grow up together? I did. But would they be growing up together only while here with Max, separated from me—
“You okay?” Max said.
“Yeah. I love it, Max. It suits you.” When he tilted his head, searching my eyes with his, I closed the distance. His arms automatically opened to embrace me. “I’m so proud of all you accomplished and can’t wait to see the gym as well.”
Seeming to doubt my words, he stared into my eyes for a moment before kissing the top of my head sweetly. He looked down at me, tethering our gazes as a smile spread. “It means so much to me that you’re here, Jade.”
“I’m glad I’m here, too.”
Max skimmed his palm over my cheek. And while kissing me in his sensual way, all the what-ifs tangled within me like a neglected string of Christmas lights.
…
Max
I knew having Jade in Miami with me would cause my heart to swell. What I hadn’t planned on was the extent that it would.
Shit, I loved this woman. I knew it, without a doubt.
Over the past weeks, I had imagined her in my apartment in Miami as much as I did in New York. I could vividly picture her traveling back and forth with me, cohabitating two states, our child a seasoned traveler before the age of one.
Maybe her situation at work was the universe’s way to open that door for us. Maybe I could convince her to take some time for herself, for the baby, for us. If she decided to go back to work in a year or two, I’d support that decision wholeheartedly. Until then, being together would create a solid foundation that we could build from down the road.
There were a lot of unknowns I faced, but one thing I knew without a shadow of a doubt was that I wanted Jade in my life…more than just my baby mama, more than just a woman I casually dated.
Fact was, Jade drew me in since our first night together. I inexplicably looked forward to the next time I’d be seeing her even while she sat right beside me. Just as when I fucked her that first time, I already wondered when I could do it again.
I knew enough about romance to know that wasn’t normal…nor should it be ignored. That was some heady shit to realize.
Despite all that, I had no idea if she felt the same way.
We had yet to discuss the future, and I didn’t mean forever in the future. I meant less than four months away future. Life would definitely become more hectic in the next few months. So much was about to happen. And although all great things, they could send our relationship into a fatal tailspin.
Especially if Jade got caught up in her own head, like now. Her quietness worried me enough to ask, “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said quickly as we walked through the lobby of the hospital. “Being here hits home a bit, I guess.” Her free hand skimmed over her baby bump. “Makes me anxious.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. “Hey, Trace. How’s it going?” I asked, concerned she was calling me knowing I was on my way.
“Max, she’s here.”
Did she just say she’s here?
Stopping in my tracks, with Jade’s hand clutched in mine, I fumbled with words when Tracey rushed on. “I progressed so quickly. I literally went from a few centimeters to ten in like five minutes. I’m so sorry, it all happened so fast. Tristan did get it all on video.”
As she gave me a few more details, all I could focus on was that I had a daughter.
My daughter, Mia, was here…and I’d missed her moment of arrival.
“Max, you there?”
“Yes…yes. I’m here. Physically, too. We’re in the lobby. Are you okay? Is she okay?”
“She’s perfect.”
“Thank God. Trace, we’re getting in the elevator. See you in a few minutes.”
“Okay,” she said excitedly and hung up.
When I looked down at Jade in shock, she squeezed my hand. “I missed it.”
“I’m sorry.” She then turned her body into mine. “You missed her birth because you were with me.”
A scowl slipped over my face. “Stop it. It’s not your fault.” She nodded but didn’t look convinced. “Jade. I’m so glad you’re here with me. Please don’t think anything otherwise.”
“Okay.” She lifted to place a kiss on my cheek just as the elevator doors opened on the maternity ward.
Once I stopped at the desk to get Tracey’s room number, I dragged Jade down the hall before she tugged us into a jolting stop. “What’s wrong?”
“You go in, Max. I’ll be in the waiting room.”
Selfishly, I wanted her with me, but I understood her reluctance. “Okay, I’ll come get you soon.”
After washing my hands, I approached my daughter and gingerly placed my hand on her torso. Feeling her tiny body move with each breath she took caused a surge of love to thunder through me. It made me light-headed, dizzy with a new emotion I’d never experienced before. I thought I knew what it felt like to love. What I felt right then was on a completely different level.
“Hey,” Tracey said groggily. “I must have dozed off.”
“Hey,” I said, slicing my gaze her way before refocusing on my daughter. “She’s gorgeous, Tracey.” With a tiny button nose, perfect rosebud lips, and her mother’s warm skin tone, she was the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen.
“She is.”
I peeled my gaze away from Mia to focus on Tracey. “How are you feeling?”
“Just tired. My parents are calling everyone they know, and Tristan went downstairs to get some coffee.”
“Go back to sleep, Trace. I’m just going to watch our daughter sleep.”
“You can pick her up, Max.”
“I don’t want to wake her.”
“She’ll be fine. Go on.”
I hesitantly lifted Mia into my arms and watched stunned as her lashes fluttered before two dark gray eyes stared up at me.
“Hey, princess. I’m your daddy. It’s so nice to meet you, and I’m so glad you’re here.” There was so much more that I wanted to say, such as, Oh, hey, Mia. I’m your dad, and I’m so sorry I missed you coming into the world. I knew that Tristan recorded the entire birth on his phone for me, but that didn’t change the reality of my absence. But I pushed aside the guilt trying to take hold and instead thanked God for my beautiful little girl.