Chapter 8 #2
Ma’s eyes go glassy with tears, and she reaches out across the table, palm up, like she did when I was a kid. I take her hand without thinking because she’s my mom and I care about her.
She tells me quietly, “I’m proud of you for stepping up, Jasper. You’re not doing this alone. We’ll all help however we can. I just felt blindsided when Silver came to me with this news. I expected to hear it from you, that’s all.”
“I was getting to it, I didn’t tell Silver, I don’t even know how she found out,” I tell her, squeezing her hand.
That is something I’m gonna look into. It’s bad enough having a troublemaker for a club girl, but if she’s snooping around, then that’s gotta stop right here.
Right now. “It’s not what any of us expected, but I’m not gonna pretend like I didn’t jump at the chance. ”
My old man gives a small grunt, like he’s exhaling something hard. “Well, son,” he says, “if you think having kids isn’t hard, I’m gonna enjoy watchin’ you run in circles.”
Ma adds, “Welcome to the chaos of parenthood.”
I nod, the lump in my throat difficult to swallow. “Guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Gazing at my ma, I tell her, “This woman didn’t want to carry my baby, but once she found out she was pregnant, she fought to continue the pregnancy.
We’re still talking about what things will look like after the birth.
She might stick around, and she might not.
I don’t want us putting a bunch of pressure on her.
She’s kind of skittish, so let’s don’t scare her off. ”
“Heaven forbid,” she responds with a wink.
We both know that she can be a lot, especially when she gets really excited over something like her first grandkid.
“We’ve got plenty of time to worry about baby stuff.”
She nods. “Message received. Don’t scare her off.”
I shrug carelessly with one shoulder. “I’m gonna do some repairs on her house. I’ll see if I can get her to come to dinner sometime if you want?”
Her eyes light up. “I’d love that. I’m dying to meet her.”
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”
I pull out my phone and show her the photo Tessa sent me of her eating the pie.
She gives an approving nod, but instead of giving my phone back, she passes it around so everyone can see what the mother of my child looks like.
Slate, the turncoat that he is, speaks up. “Tell them the rest.”
I stretch my arms over my head and wiggle my torso until my back cracks. “I might or might not be interested in her,” I mutter, refusing to look at any of them.
They all know what that means. I’m gonna go after her like a dog with a fuckin’ bone because I have no finesse. Thankfully, they don’t break out in applause or anything over the top.
I come to my feet and make a clean getaway.
Heading up to my room, I get online and order a truckload of building supplies to be picked up in the morning. It takes me about an hour, but I can’t get to sleep afterward.
It’s late, but I can’t resist sending Tessa a text. I know she’s not my woman, and the prospects would have contacted me if anything popped off, but I have this overpowering need to see how she’s doing. I can’t help but feel protective of her.
Me: You awake?
Tessa: Yeah, I’m cleaning up my kitchen.
Me: Want me to come over there and help you clean up?
Tessa: What? No, of course not.
Me: Just checking you’re okay
Tessa: Why wouldn’t I be?
Me: Problems always happen when you least expect it.
Tessa: I’ve been taking care of myself for years.
Me: Yeah, I know, but you have me for that now.
Tessa: Is this you trying to be funny?
Me: Maybe…
Tessa: Goodnight, Jasper. Sleep tight.
Me: And don’t let the bed bugs bite, right?
When our boring little texting session was over, I put the phone on my chest and run through our conversation in my mind. Tessa was pleasant and easy-going. I appreciated those qualities in a woman.
Heading to my shower, I want to get clean and catch some sleep.
When I step inside, the shower’s running almost hot enough to scald.
And the room fills with steam, just the way I like it.
The hot cascade of water flowing over my body makes it easier for me to shut my brain off, to keep the Hyenas and club politics and broken bike parts from circling like vultures in my mind.
But tonight, none of that noise matters.
Not when all I can think about is the woman carrying my child.
I lean my palms against the tile and let the rain down from above.
I try to focus on the heat, the fiasco with my parents or how exhausted it all made me.
But her face keeps rising in my mind. That look she gave me the first time we met in person, how wary she was at first. She’s beautiful in a way that doesn’t try too hard.
She pulls her hair back, to show her face but wasn’t wearing makeup.
I love her curves, the soft tone of her voice.
She’s not delicate, just overwhelmed. She’s strong enough to carry my damn legacy in her belly.
I drag one hand down my stomach, water slicking over my skin, and exhale through gritted teeth. I didn’t go into this expecting to want her. This was supposed to be business. We didn’t need contracts because we were decent, honest people.
I get that she’s not mine to lust after, but that does nothing to make me want her less. Just knowing she’s carrying my child gets to me.
I wrap my hand around my cock, already half-hard, my balls heavy.
The thought of her belly growing rounded with my baby, her breasts swelling with milk makes me stroke harder and faster.
My eyes drift closed, and I let my imagination run wild with thoughts of her.
Tessa lying back on her bed, fingers pressed to her stomach as it rises beneath her shirt.
My baby in there. My mark. Her skin flushed, breath hitching as she touches herself and thinks about me.
Fuck. My grip tightens, stroking harder now, my hips rocking in time with the motion.
I imagine peeling her out of those jeans she wears, spreading her thighs and burying my face between them until she moans my name.
I’d take my time, not like I do with club girls, fast and forgettable.
No, with her, I’d go slow. Make her feel every goddamn second of it.
In my mind, she’s wet and wanting me. I want her slick and hot and desperate for it.
I picture her on all fours, ass up, my hand on her hip as I slide into her, thick and deep, making her stretch around me while she gasps.
She’ll want it, crave it. Her back arches, her mouth parts, and she begs me not to stop.
My rhythm stutters, breath ragged. “Fuck, Tessa…”
I brace myself harder against the wall, my thighs tensing and my balls drawn up tight. The pleasure builds sharp and fast. My release hits with thick spurts spilling over my hand, hot water washing it all away like it never happened.
I stand there, panting in the steam, jaw clenched. This was supposed to be simple, but it’s anything but. I don’t just want her body. I want her to want me back.