by Ashey, Katie
I leaned up to bring my mouth to hers. I plunged my tongue in her mouth like my dick plunged into her pussy. When I broke the kiss, I pulled out of her, causing her to whimper. I quickly flipped her over onto her stomach. Pulling her hips, I raised her up onto her hand and knees. When I reentered her, she threw her head back. “Mm, Jonathan.”
With each thrust, I went deeper and deeper. As I pumped and flexed my hips, I leaned over to lick a warm trail down her back, teasingly leaving love bites. When I finished there, I brought a hand between her thighs to tease her clit. At her cries of pleasure, I murmured, “Shh, baby. I want to hear you, but remember, we don’t want Mom and Dad.”
Reaching out her arm, she grabbed a pillow and brought it to her face. This way she could moan and shriek without the fear of my parents hearing her. It was a good thing she did because when I felt her walls starting to convulse, she screamed my name into the pillow.
With her pussy clenching my dick, I couldn’t hold out, and I came hard into her. When my hips finally finished pumping, I realized with pride she was going to need a shower before she could go downstairs. Grunting with satisfaction, I pulled out of her and then collapsed onto my stomach on the mattress. She eased down beside me—a satiated smile on her face.
We lay there for a few minutes, regulating our breathing and staring into each other’s eyes. “It was worth the wait, wasn’t it?” I asked.
“Totally.” Glancing over her shoulder at the door, she said, “We better get a shower and get downstairs.”
Even though it wasn’t the most opportune time, there was something I had to ask her. It had been weighing on me for the last few months. “I need to talk to you about something. Well, it’s more something that I need to ask you.”
Sheer panic flashed in her eyes. Instantly, I knew where her mind was going. “Okay, I don’t want to insult you, but I’m not about to propose.”
After a relieved breath wheezed out of her, she grinned. “I’m totally not insulted. It would be insanely fast since we had just professed the way we felt about each other and only made love for the first time.”
“Well, actually, it’s been twice.”
With a giggle, she replied, “That’s right.”
“But yeah, it would be way too soon.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same wave length.” She ran her hand through my hair. “What did you want to ask me?”
My heart broke into a wild gallop as I prepared to voice one of my greatest desires. “You know how much I love Evie, right?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Well, I don’t want to just be her father figure. I want her to see me as more.” With my gaze focused intently on hers, I said, “I want to be her father.”
Her brows creased in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Jake will always be Evie’s biological father, but he can’t be here to raise her. I want to adopt her. I want my name on her birth certificate.”
I prepared myself for Presley to throw her arms around my neck and tell me how happy I’d made her. But that didn’t happen. Instead, sadness came over her expression. “That’s a really beautiful thing you want to do, Jonathan, but I just don’t know if it’s the right thing.”
My head jerked back like I’d been slapped. “Excuse me?”
“I don’t know if it’s the right thing for Evie.”
“How could it possibly not be the best thing for her?”
“It just seems like it disrespects Jake.” A shudder ran through her. “It’s like it wipes his existence away.”
“How could giving his daughter a living, breathing father be disrespectful?”
Presley sat up to face me. “If it’s your name on Evie’s birth certificate, it’s like the one thing Jake can have in death is taken away.”
“What the fuck does it matter? It’s not like he’s here to see it.”
Presley gasped. “How can you say such a thing?”
Because I’m hurt and angry. “It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Sadly, yes, but I can’t believe you would say it.”
With a growl of frustration, I said, “Maybe because you fucking wounded me with the suggestion.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Maybe it was by telling me I wasn’t good enough to be Evie’s father?”
“No. That’s not it at all.”
I shook my head at her. “Do you know how fucking exhausting it is having to fight with Jake’s ghost for your love?”
“But you have my love. I admitted last night I’d never really loved him. Not the way I love you.”
“Then if you love me like you say you do, then you’d want me to be Evie’s father.”
“I do…and I don’t.” Rubbing her forehead, she replied, “I’m confused. This whole situation is an emotional clusterfuck.”
“Then maybe we don’t need to be a couple.”
Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean that.”
“If I’m not good enough to adopt Evie and be her father, why would you possibly want to be with me?”
“That isn’t it at all.”
Ignoring her, I grabbed a T-shirt out of my dresser. “It sure seems like it to me.”
She flung the covers back and hopped out of bed. “Can’t we talk about this?”
“I think you’ve said enough.”
“But it’s not how I really feel. I’m just confused. Maybe we could sit down with Dr. Z?”
I scowled at her. “I don’t need a shrink to tell me how screwed up what just happened is. But thanks for thinking I’m too emotionally fucked to be able to handle my own emotions.”
“That’s not what I meant. I just meant maybe he could help us—help me— sort through everything.”
“Yeah, no thanks.” After jerking a T-shirt over my head, I started stalking toward the door.
Presley reached out and grabbed my arm. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m leaving.”
She crossed her arms over her naked chest. “Is that how you’re going to respond to our first difficult situation as a couple? I thought you’d matured from going off on me and then running away.”
I opened my mouth to shout something back at her, but then I quickly closed it. Fuck me. She was right. I could practically hear Dr. Z’s voice in my head. After jerking a hand through my hair, I sighed. “You’re right.”
Her brows shot up in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I said you’re right. I’m not going to run away like a little bitch. As much as it pains me, we’re going to talk about this.”
“I’m glad you came to your senses.”
Motioning to her naked form, I said, “Would you please get some clothes on?”
“Fine,” she muttered before marching past me to rummage in my chest of drawers for a T-shirt and pair of pajama pants. Once she was dressed, she gave me an expectant look. “Okay, let’s talk about this.”
We both stood there glaring at each other. When it appeared neither one of us was going to speak, Presley rolled her eyes. “Fine. I guess I’ll have to go first.”
“You’re the one with the issue.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not going to apologize for what I’m feeling. You have to admit that nothing about our relationship so far has been normal or easy.”
She had me there. I couldn’t imagine in the future trying to explain to strangers how I’d met her. “Well, you see she got knocked up by my brother, but then he got blown up …” Jerking my chin at her, I replied, “I’ll give you that. But at the same time, I don’t know how that exactly relates to me wanting to adopt Evie.”
“Last night when I told you how I felt and we made love, it was fully closing the door on my past with Jake. All that was still fresh on my mind when you broached the subject of adopting Evie.” She shook her head. “I know I should be jumping for joy that you love Evie enough to want to be her father in both name and presence. But
somehow it feels like a betrayal to Jake.”
“Once again, I just want to be her father on her birth certificate. It’s not like that simple thing would wipe Jake’s entire existence away.”
“I know that now. I wish it hadn’t bothered me, but it did.” She gave me a pointed look. “That also doesn’t mean I don’t want you to be her father, or I don’t love you.”
I stared at her a moment before sighing. Fuck. Our first big conflict and I’d totally blown it. Hadn’t I learned anything in therapy? “I’m sorry, Pres. I should’ve heard you out and then talked rationally about your fears and feelings.”
She appeared shocked I’d manned up and not only said sorry first, but that I’d acknowledged her feelings. “Thank you. I’m sorry, too. I didn’t realize how hurtful it would be to you.” With a sigh, she said, “I think having Jake’s name on the birth certificate was an acknowledgment to myself that Evie was really his. You know, for all the doubters.”
Damn, I was such a bastard. I hadn’t stopped to think about what Presley had gone through to confirm to the world, and to me, that Jake had gotten her pregnant. “I get it.”
“You do?”
I nodded. “And I’m sorry. I should’ve realized what it meant to you.”
Tears sparkled in her eyes. “You know, just because you adopt Evie, it doesn’t mean we have to change her birth certificate.”
“Is this like us reaching some sort of compromise?” I mused.
Presley smiled as she swiped her eyes. “Look at us killing it at this relationship stuff.”
Laughing, I said, “We’re so adulting, too.” I stepped over to her to wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry for being a dick.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you came to your senses.” She stared up at me. “We can look into you adopting Evie as soon as you want.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
“I do.” She kissed me. “It makes me happy too,” she murmured against my lips.
A knock came at the bedroom door, sending Presley and I scrambling out of each other’s arms. When I opened the door, Mom stood in the hallway with Evie in her arms. “Oh, um, hey,” I said sheepishly.
Glancing between us, Mom asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Sure. Why?” Presley replied.
“I heard loud voices.”
“We were just having a disagreement,” I answered diplomatically.
Mom tilted her head. “Is that how Presley ended up in your clothes?”
Fuuuuuck. We were so busted. My gaze flew to Presley. Her face was blood red with embarrassment. “Mom, it’s not what you think.”
It was at that moment my mom had the nerve to smirk at me. “Honestly, Jonathan, I would think you would have a better excuse than that. After three sons and twenty-six years of marriage, I think it’s safe to say I don’t think—I know.”
Once again, I couldn’t help looking at Presley—my co-conspirator. She refused to meet my eyes and stared down at the floor. “We’re sorry, Evelyn,” she murmured.
“Why are you apologizing?” Mom asked.
Presley jerked her head up. “For disrespecting you and your home.”
A laugh bubbled from Mom’s lips. “Do you two think I’m angry?”
I furrowed my brows at her. “Aren’t you?”
“If I’m anything, I’m grateful it finally happened.”
Presley’s mouth gaped open. “You’re grateful Jonathan and I had sex?”
“Made love,” I corrected.
Presley’s expression told me now was not the time to argue that point. “Sorry,” I mumbled.
“While I would’ve preferred you not do it under my roof, I’m so very thankful the two of you finally realized you were in love with each other.”
“You knew?” Presley and I both demanded in unison.
“Of course, I did.”
“You never said anything,” Presley said.
Mom shook her head. “It wasn’t my place. The two of you had to figure things out yourself.”
“Does Dad know?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered.
“Jonathan,” Mom chided.
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Seriously? You get on me for that but not for having sex?”
She laughed. “I have my reasons.”
“And what would those be?”
Mom adjusted Evie on her hip. “This little girl most of all.”
“But I was afraid you and Martin would be mad if we tried to pursue anything,” Presley argued.
“We did worry about what might happen if things didn’t work out, but at the end of the day, we knew you were both devoted to Evie and would do what was best for her.”
At the mention of her name, Evie grinned and waved her hand with a half-eaten graham cracker in it. I held out my hands to her, and she quickly came to me. “There’s no question we would. She’s the most important thing in the world.”
“Yes, she is,” Presley said.
Mom bobbed her head. “I can’t imagine a greater happiness than to love her and to love each other.”
“We will.” I glanced over Evie’s head at Presley. “We do.”
She smiled. “Yes, we do.”
Mom fanned her eyes with her free hand. “Now I’m going to leave you three to have some family time.”
“Thanks, Evelyn,” Presley said.
“Yeah, thanks, Mom.”
She turned to go downstairs and then stopped. “For the record, I would prefer the two of you not be intimate here.”
While Presley squeaked with mortification, I groaned. “Way to kill a moment.”
She held up her hands. “I’m just saying my peace.”
“Fine.”
After she started to the stairs, Presley covered her eyes with her hands. “Holy fucking shit! I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed in my life.”
“At least she was cool about it.”
She peeked at me through her fingers. “It’s still horrifying.”
I laughed. “We’ll just limit our time to my apartment.”
“We still have an audience there,” she protested.
“Cade and Brandon aren’t the same as having Mom and Dad.”
“Da da!” Evie cried before smacking her palm against my chest. Her tiny brows were creased, and her expression was one of fury.
“What’s the matter, baby girl? Am I not giving you enough attention?”
At my words, she giggled. “Why don’t Mommy and I get dressed and take you to the city for the day?” I cut my gaze over to Presley. “I feel like I need to spend some time with Cade.”
“I agree. Are you sure you don’t want to do it alone?”
“No. I think he could use a distraction.”
“Okay. I’m in.” Presley leaned in to kiss Evie’s cheek. “Are you in, sweet girl?”
Evie kicked her legs against me and grinned at her mom. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Presley mused.
“Why don’t you take a shower first, and Evie and I will chill with a little Baby Einstein?”
Presley nodded. “Thank you. I’ll take you up on that.” She leaned in to kiss me. When she pulled away, she smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
At Evie’s little shriek of displeasure, Presley said, “I love you, Miss Boo.”
Standing there with my two girls, I couldn’t imagine a time when my heart had felt so full. I was one lucky bastard.
Epilogue: Presley
Two Years Later
As the rising sun streaked across the bedroom, a hand snaked over my hip before sliding up my ribcage to cup my breast. Apparently, my boob didn’t get the message about me being exhausted because my nipple peaked under Jonathan’s fingers.
His husky voice tickled my earlobe. “I need you, Pres.”
“I need sleep,” I grumbled into the pillow.
It was rare for me to ever not instantly warm to Jonathan’s
touch. Even after the last two years together, we still could barely keep our hands off of each other. Of course, when you had a two-and-a-half-year-old, you had to get creative with when and where you got busy.
This morning’s aversion came from the fact we’d been out until one in the morning at the rehearsal dinner for Noah and Maddie. Although the actual dinner had ended around nine, the bridal party headed to Atlanta for a bar crawl. Noah and Maddie had turned down requests for Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. Instead, they wanted to do something with their bridal party. Since Maddie’s dad was a minister and the rehearsal had been dry, we were all ready for a little refreshment with kick.
Since Maddie nor I drank much anymore, we had gotten exceptionally plastered after just a few drinks. I think we might’ve danced on one of the bars. Or at least we tried to. I’m pretty sure the guys had to retrieve us before we fell and broke something.
We weren’t supposed to be at the church until eleven, and I desperately wanted to sleep as long as I possibly could so I didn’t fall over at the altar. But Jonathan had other plans. The hand that had been kneading my breast dipped between my legs, causing me to gasp.
Jonathan pressed his hardness against my ass. “Please, babe.”
“Go take a cold shower,” I teasingly murmured into the pillow.
“I think I can change your tune.”
Snorting, I replied, “I seriously doubt that.” The words had barely left my lips when I was unceremoniously pulled from my side onto my back. Jonathan climbed over me to kneel between my thighs. With a wicked gleam in his eyes, Jonathan jerked my lacy thong down my legs before tossing it over his shoulders. He widened my knees until I was completely exposed to him. A shudder went through me when he licked his lips.
He dipped his head and brought his mouth to my pussy. Immediately, I cried out. “Shh, you’ll wake Evie,” he warned, his voice vibrating against my center.
With one hand, I gripped the sheet, and with the other, I grasped at the strands of his blonde hair. He licked my outer lips and flicked his tongue against my clit before burying his tongue deep inside me. “Fuck yes,” I muttered as I started lifting my hips to meet the thrust of his tongue.