Chapter 48
Jack
Ten Months
The overnight shifts are the worst–I didn’t know it was possible to miss someone (or someones) so bad that it physically hurts.
I want so badly to tell her how desperately in love with her I am.
She must somehow sense my presence, because Abby stirs, blinking her eyes blearily before she focuses on me.
“Hi Jack Robbit,” she whispers, untwining Erin’s hand from her finger and rising quietly from the rocking chair.
“Don’t call me that,” I murmur, pulling her into a hug when we step into the hallway. “How was she tonight?”
“You’ve told me that a thousand times, when are you going to learn that I’m never going to stop?” she teases, feigning a punch to my shoulder.
“I learned that the first time you ever called me that,” I say with a grin. “I’m still going to say it every time, though.”
“She was a perfect angel, obviously,” she yawns, answering my previous question. “There was a mild meltdown over some carrots, but that’s my fault for trying to introduce a new food.”
“Obviously,” I agree with a solemn nod. “She’s never done anything wrong, ever.”
“You get it,” she says, leaning against my shoulder, her eyes fluttering shut.
“You should go to bed,” I whisper against her hair, kissing the top of her head. “I’ll be on duty in case she wakes up.”
“What would we do without you?” she murmurs.
“You’d be doing just fine,” I say. “How many times do I have to tell you that? You’re incredible. But I’m glad I’m here so you don’t have to.”
Pressing another kiss to her head, I walk her down the hallway and tuck her into bed.
“Goodnight, pretty girl,” I say, turning off the lamp on her bedside table.
“Jack, wait,” she says, sitting up and turning the lamp back on, looking determined. “Can we talk?”
“Of course, what do you want to talk about?”
"No, Jack, I want to talk."
My stomach flips–I hope this is what I think it is.
Please let it be that.
“When Aaron died, I felt completely and utterly alone.”
I nod silently.
I know what you mean.
“And then there was Little One, and my world turned upside down,” she smiles, lighting up the way she always does when she talks about Erin. “And everything changed. We were gonna be a team, her and I. And we are.”
She motions for me to sit back on the bed, and grabs my hand, her emerald eyes somehow blazing and swimming with tears at the same time.
“And then…” she whispers. “And then there was you.”
It’s as if the world stops spinning–my breath catches in my throat, everything fading away except for the perfect, beautiful, incredible woman in front of me.
“And you,” she says, voice wavering. “You were everything I never knew I needed. Everything I never thought I’d ever find again.”
Still unable to speak, I squeeze her hand.
“Aaron was more than a husband.” Her voice cracks, and I reach up to cup her cheek. She leans into my touch, then continues, “He was a best friend, a partner, an extension of myself. And I thought that was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of man.”
“He was the best,” I whisper, my own voice strained.
“And then there was you,” she emphasizes, repeating the sentiment from a few moments ago. “And before I knew it, I realized I had found all those things again. And I didn’t know what to do with it, so I pushed you away.”
She shifts to sit on her knees, grabbing my other hand and holding them both in her lap.
“But you didn’t go anywhere. You stayed. And stayed. And stayed.”
My heart thunders so rapidly I’m sure they can hear it three counties over.
“I told you I would,” I say hoarsely. “For as long as you want me here.”
She releases one of my hands, and it’s her turn to stroke my cheek.
“I think I want you to stay forever, Jack Robb.”
Forever.
This is everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Forever doesn’t even feel like long enough, but I’ll fucking take it.
I cover her shaky hand with my own, pressing a kiss to her palm.
“It’s just Robb now? No Robbit?”
“Don’t make me take it back,” she mutters.
“I’m sorry,” I say, grinning. “Please continue.”
“I mean it, Jack,” she says emphatically. “I don’t ever want you to leave. ‘For as long as I want?’ I want forever. Because I love you.”
A sob chokes in my throat as I lean forward, pressing my forehead to hers.
“I love you, pretty girl. Both of you. More than I can say.”
We stay like this for what could be an eternity, or maybe it’s only been sixty seconds. Time has stopped entirely, and there’s only this moment–me, my pretty girl, and our mingling breaths.
Her nose brushes against mine, and I tilt my chin until our lips just barely brush.
“So help me Jack Robbit, you better kiss me right now,” she breathes, barely audible.
“Yes ma’am,” I say, grinning against her lips as I close the remaining gap between us.
I climb the rest of the way onto the bed, my hands sliding up her arms to cup her cheeks, kissing her fiercely.
Her arms wrap around my neck and she presses her body into mine until I can’t tell where I end and she begins.
I let one hand drop to her back, the other bracing on the bed as I lay us both down gently. The smallest whimper escapes her as I claim her mouth again like a man starving.
I will never get enough of this. I’ll never get enough of her.
Our breathing grows heavy as she reaches for the hem of my shirt, and I lean back on my heels, yanking it off in one swift motion.
She follows close behind, sitting up and pulling her tank top over her head before tossing it on the floor and revealing the most perfect pair of breasts I’ve ever seen.
Jesus Christ.
“Goddamn,” I huff. “You are so fucking pretty, you know that?”
“I sure do,” she says, running a hand through my hair when I lean down to kiss the spot in the center of her chest. “And don’t you forget it.”
With a dark chuckle, I settle one knee between her thighs, pressing into her center until she lets out a moan.
“Oh my God,” she whimpers. “That feels amazing.”
“Just you wait, pretty girl,” I murmur against her lips.
“I’m just getting started.” Jumping to my feet, I quickly undo my belt and step out of my pants.
I hook my fingers into her pajama shorts and slowly, painstakingly slide them down her legs, revealing the bare spot between her legs, already glistening with her arousal.
“No bra, and no panties?” I growl. “Is this how you walk around the house all the time?”
“Maybe,” she smiles mischievously. “You’ll have to find out for yourself.”
“Oh I plan on it,” I say, parting her thighs and drinking in every curve of her body, every inch of her soft, pale skin. “Did you know you have a freckle on your hip?” I lean down to kiss it, and I feel a shudder run through her body. “You like having my mouth down here, Abby?”
“Yes,” she whines, furiously nodding her head. “Please keep going.”
“With pleasure,” I purr, kissing the freckle again, then making my way down one thigh, biting it gently before moving to the other one.
“Jack, you’re torturing me,” she pants.
“Just building the anticipation,” I mumble, my words muffled by the kisses I’m lavishing on her lower stomach. “I want to take my time with you.”
She grabs my hair, trying to guide me to the needy spot she so desperately wants my mouth on.
Yes ma’am.
I gently swipe my tongue along her slit, kissing her clit when I reach the top. Her back instantly arches off the bed, and I grow impossibly hard in my briefs.
I need to see that again.
I seal my mouth to her, sucking the bundle of nerves into my mouth, then flicking my tongue rapidly until she’s moaning my name.
“Jack,” she says breathlessly. “Holy shit. Don’t stop.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I say, looking up at her with a wicked grin before diving back in. I work my tongue against her, alternating between quick little flicks and slow, deliberate licks, making sure no part of her goes untouched.
I hook one arm under her hip, pulling her in even closer. With the other, I ghost my fingers up her inner thigh, feeling her shudder again when I reach her entrance.
“More,” she moans. “Give me more. Give me everything.”
“Shit baby, you might make me come in my boxers if you keep bossing me around like that.”
“Don’t you dare,” she says, propping up on her elbows and looking at me sternly. “I have plans for you, Jacky boy.”
“You better put those plans on hold," I growl, growing even harder at the way her eyes widen at the shift in my tone. "Hate to break it to you,” I say before turning my attention back to her pussy. “But you're not the boss in here."
She whines impatiently when I still don't give her what she wants.
"You want my tongue and my fingers at the same time, pretty girl?”
“God, yes. Yes yes yes.”
"Say please."
"Please, Jack," she whimpers.
I slip one finger inside and feel her immediately clench around me.
“So desperate to be filled,” I moan. “So fucking ready for me.”
I add a second finger, pumping in a steady rhythm and sealing my mouth on her clit again.
Before long, her moans begin to pitch upward until her thighs are shaking around me, her hands gripping my hair like I’m the only thing grounding her.
“That’s my girl,” I encourage. “Come for me. Fall apart on my fingers. That’s it, you’re doing so good for me, baby.”
My praise sends her over the edge, her back arching off the bed as her inner walls pulse around my fingers over and over. I don’t stop until she’s given me everything, only removing my fingers when the last waves of her orgasm subside.
I rise to my knees, staring her dead in the eye as I bring my fingers to my mouth and suck them clean.
Her pupils dilate even wider, and she presses her hands to my chest, flipping me over until she’s the one kneeling between my legs.
“My turn,” she coos, smiling sweetly–but the wild look in her eyes is anything but.