Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
A NNIE
Thank God for Fridays and three-day weekends.
It’s eighty-seven degrees today and since Jack and Tommy are coming over, we invited my landlords, the DePauls, to have a cookout with us so the kids can all play.
Dan and Julie DePaul have set up one of those wacky sprinklers that spray in a crazy pattern, and the twins, Sarah and Sammy, are already playing in it. Children’s laughter floats in through my open windows and I can’t help but smile.
I finish prepping the burgers and topping off the pasta salad with pepperoni when Jack, Tommy, and Gracie arrive, right at four. Tommy is already in his swimsuit, so Jack helps me grab the small cooler of beverages and the plate of watermelon, and we make our way outside.
When we get down to the backyard, Tommy is a little shy and holds onto Jack’s leg, but the girls, who are very outgoing, immediately come to meet him and try to get him to play in the sprinkler. It helps that Bean is already trying to catch the water from the sprinkler in his mouth and Tommy loves playing with him.
The girls and Bean are very convincing and within minutes they’re all playing in the sprinkler. They get along so well that, if I didn’t know better, I’d think the three kids have known each other since they could crawl.
We sit for an hour or so and the air is filled with childlike squeals and giggling as the kids run through the sprinkler and laugh at Bean biting at the water. Gracie lies on the grass, just outside the reach of the spray, her head resting on the ground between her paws, looking dignified and unimpressed.
I take a sip of my cool peach hard cider and listen as Dan animatedly tells us a joke and Julie rolls her eyes at him like she’s heard it several times before. After a few more minutes, Dan grabs his beer and guzzles it down in one long gulp before crushing the empty can in his hands, standing up, and flexing both arms in front of his chest, roaring.
“What do you say us men go grill, Jack?” He grins widely.
Jack chuckles, then stands as well. “Sure thing, let’s do this.”
They both saunter toward the grill, leaving Julie and me to continue lounging in our chairs. I have no complaints about that at all. I don’t mind having another beverage and relaxing on the sidelines.
When the guys are out of hearing distance, Julie turns to me and says, “Oh my gosh, he’s wonderful! I knew he was easy on the eyes from when I’ve seen him in passing, but he’s also so nice and funny. Tell me everything!”
I laugh and smile at her. “He’s great, really. We’ve only officially been dating about three weeks, but it really started about six weeks ago. I just was in denial,” I say, smiling and looking over at Jack. “He’s kind, thoughtful, fun to be around, great with his nephew… ”
“And…” Julie leans forward, clearly hinting at wanting to know more.
“I’ll just say he’s great in all ways, nothing more.” I laugh.
“Ugh, you’re killing me! You realize I’m the permanently exhausted mother of five-year-old twins, right? Either we fall asleep before we can think about having sex or we get cockblocked by one of the kids having a nightmare, peeing the bed, or something else. Let me live vicariously through you.” She feigns begging.
Fortunately, I’m spared having to share more details when Dan announces the food is ready.
JACK
Using the edge of Annie’s bathtub as a seat, I help Tommy into his superhero pajamas while Annie’s in the kitchen making us popcorn for our movie. Once Tommy is dressed, we go to the living room to wait for her.
When she walks into the room, the aroma trailing behind her is not that of ordinary popcorn.
“Uh oh, what did you do to the popcorn?” I chuckle.
“Just fancied it up a little. You have to try it. It’s delicious.” She smiles.
Tommy peeks into the bowl and chimes in, excitedly, “Ooh, Uncle Jack, there are sprinkles on it!”
“Oh, brother… I’m not sure I want to try it. I like my popcorn the regular way.” I smile.
However, they gang up and pressure me until I try it. Annie smirks expectantly as I take a bite.
“Hmm, it’s actually pretty good.” I laugh. “You, woman, eat the weirdest concoctions,” I say, pulling her into a hug.
After the movie, Annie and Tommy decide we need a blanket fort to sleep in tonight and they convert her living room into the coolest blanket fort I’ve ever seen. The woman apparently does nothing half-ass.
I feel a little fluttering in my stomach watching her with my nephew. Did I just get fucking man butterflies in my stomach? What the hell is this woman doing to me?
Once they’re done with their construction, it’s time to settle Tommy down for sleep. “Hey, buddy, are you ready to read a chapter of our book before bed?”
Tommy looks up at me and tries, unsuccessfully, to stifle a yawn. “Will it hurt your feelings if Annie reads to me tonight, Uncle Jacky?”
He’s clearly enamored with this amazing woman… and he’s not the only one. She’s damn easy to fall for.
“No, bud, that’s okay. I’ll just go brush my teeth and get ready for bed myself.”
Tommy lies down in the crook of Annie’s arm, and she reads to him. He giggles every time she changes her voice to imitate a new character in the story. Bean snuggles up on his side opposite Annie, and Gracie lies with her head across his feet. I’m pretty sure Annie’s never looked more beautiful to me.
I watch them for a few minutes, wondering if she knows how amazing she is and wondering how that fool of an ex-fiancé of hers could ever have wanted anyone else.
ANNIE
After Tommy falls asleep, I crawl from our blanket fort and Jack heads outside to take the dogs for a quick walk around the block.
I decide to hop in the shower to wash away the sweat from the heat of the day. When I’m done, I nearly jump out of my skin as I step out of the shower and find Jack leaning against the vanity, waiting for me.
“Cripes, Jack! You scared me half to death!” I whisper-yell at him.
He smirks, making that dimple on the side of his mouth pop out as he walks toward me.
“No… no, no, no. I told you tonight was rated G,” I say. There’s no real conviction behind my words, especially since I’m laughing as I reach for a towel. I hurry to dry off and then hold the towel up between us as he continues his slow approach, mischief in his gaze.
“I’m serious, Jack,” I continue, determined not to smile at him. I attempt to ignore the warm moisture I’m feeling between my legs from the way he’s watching me—like he can’t take his eyes off me.
I make the mistake of looking down and a soft groan escapes my mouth.
He’s already hard and everything in me longs to reach out and take him in my hand.
Before I realize I’m doing it, I bite at my lower lip.
He catches my gaze and then growls when he sees my lip between my teeth.
“Jack, we can’t… Tommy’s asleep in the other room,” I reason.
Shit, I realize I’ve already dropped the towel and started moving closer to him as well. My body clearly disagrees with my brain on this whole no sex thing right now.
“Sweetness, do you think people stop fucking when they have kids?” His voice is like a sexy caress over my body. “Or do you think they take advantage of stolen moments when the kids are asleep?”
Hmm, he has a good point.
“Um… I don’t know…”
“I’ll tell you what I think, then.” He’s so close to me that all the nerve endings in my body are on high alert, excited by his nearness.
He picks me up effortlessly and carries me back to the vanity, where he sets me down.
“I think they fuck when they can, and they get off when they can, and they make it count,” he says without breaking eye contact.
“Oh…” I say, feeling speechless. “That makes some sense…”
His mouth is right next to my ear as he says, “Now spread your legs for me, baby. Let me see that delicious pussy of yours.” He knows it drives me crazy when he whispers things into my ear like that.
Fuck, I love it when he talks dirty to me. Who would have known?
Something about having this hot, kind, strong, honorable man say filthy things to me gets me totally turned on. I’m a strong, proud woman, but I love when Jack takes control in this part of our relationship. I suspect it’s because I trust him to treat me with respect. I immediately listen to his directions.
I watch as he rolls two towels and puts them behind my back, always putting my comfort first, before gently pushing my upper body back to rest against the wall.
“That’s it. Now, let me look at that beautiful pussy.” He stares for several long seconds and groans before sliding his finger up and down my wet center.
I nearly come right then when he takes that same finger and licks it.
He smiles at me and never breaks eye contact. Kneeling before me, he places my heels over his shoulders, spreads me open and smiles, clearly liking what he sees. As he alternates between placing soft kisses over my inner thighs and pussy and blowing his warm breath over my clit, I shudder with anticipation.
“How do you want to come today, sugar?” he asks between his well-placed kisses.
I can’t stop watching him as I answer, “Whatever you want…”
“No, baby, this isn’t about what I want. This is about you. Tell me what you want. You deserve to get off how you want it.” He flicks his tongue over my clit a few times. “Do you want to come on my mouth?”
Just as I’m about to say yes because it feels so good, he sticks his finger in me and strokes my G-spot. God, I love that he finds it so easily… every time.
“Or do you want me to fuck you with my fingers and make you come on my hand?” he asks.
“Both. I want both,” I pant out. Feeling emboldened by his dirty talk, I decide honesty is the best policy. “I want you to lick my pussy first and then fill me with your fingers, two fingers, when I get close.”
“Oh shit, honey. You have no idea what hearing you say that just did to my dick. That’s a good girl giving me lots of details like that. I’m going to eat this pussy and fuck you with my fingers until you come on my hand and my face. Then I’m going to fuck you with my cock, okay?” His face is so close to my aching pussy that I nearly can’t stand the anticipation.
“Yes. Please, yes,” I practically beg, putting my hand behind his head and pulling him toward me until his mouth touches me.
He expertly works my pussy and my clit with his tongue, and, after a few minutes, I writhe against his face, spurred on by his moans of approval when I move against his mouth.
I’m nearly going crazy with desire and pleasure. Just when I think I can’t feel any better, he keeps his promise and puts two of his long fingers inside me, fucking me with his fingers and his mouth .
He somehow coordinates rubbing my G-spot with just the right amount of pressure on my clit and I lose it.
I come hard, covering my mouth with my forearm and lightly biting down so I don’t scream with pleasure and risk waking Tommy. He stays on me with his mouth and in me with his fingers until the tremors of sheer ecstasy stop.
I practically claw at him, filled with the need to have his dick sink into me. I need him inside me again, to have our bodies be as close as they can.
“In me, now, please. Put your dick in me, Jack,” I pant.
He chuckles. “Patience, baby, patience.” He slides a condom on his hard, beautiful fucking cock.
Jack picks me up and lies me on the floor before he stretches his body over me and gives me what I want, what I’ve begged him for. It feels so right when I’m filled with him that I sigh with satisfaction. He moves achingly slow in and out of my body, repeatedly joining us in the sweetest way.
He showers me with soft kisses over my cheeks, my forehead, and finally my lips.
“You’re so gorgeous when you come, Annie. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” he whispers. He truly sounds like he’s in awe.
He’s taken me from hot oral sex on my vanity, peppered with his filthy words, to whispering such sweet things.
It’s intensely intimate and I’m overcome with emotion. For the first time in my life, I actually know what it feels like to be made love to.
A single tear slips down my cheek and, since he’s watching me as he makes love to me, Jack sees it.
He hesitates in his movements immediately.
“What’s wrong, baby? Am I hurting you? Do you want me to stop?” Using the pad of his thumb, he gently wipes away the tear .
“No, don’t stop. It’s not a bad tear. I’m just so… happy,” I answer.
“Me too, Annie. Me too…” he answers.
His lips find mine, and we kiss as we continue making love. He’s at the perfect angle and within a few minutes, I’m coming apart again, our kisses drowning out my moans. Jack follows over the edge right after me.
Afterward, he gently rolls us so he is on the ground and I’m on top of him. We lie holding each other afterward for several minutes, my head on his chest and him stroking my hair.
I wonder how I ever lived without this feeling in my life.