Chapter Fourteen
T he rest of the weekend was exceptionally busy with him playing catchup with work obligations. Still, he’d tried to stop by Charlotte’s apartment as much as he could and she seemed to understand work was pulling at him. Which made her different than any of the other women who’d passed through his life.
He appreciated her good-natured acceptance of his job, though he’d assured her things would lighten up when Aiden came home and helped him out.
He came by on Monday morning, fixing up punch list type items in the apartment, then he decided to stop by his father’s house after work.
After seeing the twins’ room filled with stuffed animals and other items important to them, he had the idea of going home. The basement was full of things from all his siblings, labeled by kid and pressure-sealed in boxes. He wanted to see what was in his mementos from childhood and what he could pick up for his kid.
His kid .
The thought was still surreal.
Not for the first time, he wished his mom were here to meet her first grandchild. A lump swelled in his throat and he swallowed over it, pushing it down.
After he arrived, he spent some time with Lizzie who was cleaning up from dinner, then headed to his dad’s home office to visit before he hit up the basement.
He knocked once and walked inside. To find his father smoking with the window wide-open, puffing smoke out the screen.
“Goddammit, Dad!”
“Jared! What are you doing here?” Alex rose from his seat, the cigar dangling between two fingers.
“Never mind that. What are you doing with that thing in your mouth? Again? The doctors told you to cut that shit out for good. I’ve been working my ass off to keep you healthy and you’re still sneaking around behind my back?”
To Alex’s credit, he dipped his head in shame. “I quit. I swear. And then when we had that problem with Randalls and the scandal and plunging stock. I took one puff to relax… and I was hooked again. It’s hard.”
Jared snapped. “You know what’s hard? Me, working my ass off to take your place so you stay healthy. Me, giving up a life, dating, women, to dedicate myself to this business so I can take over from you one day and make you proud because I’ll never know if I could have made Mom proud.”
Now, where the fuck had that come from? He shook his head, attempting to dislodge the thought from his brain.
“Oh, son.” Alex stubbed out the cigar, rose from his seat, walked toward him, and slung an arm around his neck. “Your mother loved you. She loved all of you and you all make her proud.” He drew a breath. “But especially you,” he said in a gruff voice. “Because you’re taking care of me.”
He didn’t know how his father knew but… “I needed to hear that. And I need you to quit smoking and drinking. And coming to work too early and staying too late.” He paused, then admitted, “Because I can’t lose you, too.”
His father’s face crumbled, tears in the older man’s eyes. “I never thought of things that way, through my kids’ eyes.” He dipped his head. “Okay. I finally hear you.”
“I hope so dad, because I love you. We all do.”
Father and son hugged it out and Jared pulled himself back together emotionally. Clearing his throat, he said, “I came here to go to the basement. I wanted to look through my old boxes of stuff.”
His dad nodded. “Want me to join you?”
Jared shook his head. “I’ll be down there awhile.”
He left his father and walked the hall leading to the basement, then down the long flight of stairs. His father had the walkout finished when they moved here and he knew exactly where to go. In the large square closet with white shelving sat the labeled boxes.
He pulled down the one he remembered looking through as a kid and opened the sealed top. He sorted through comic books and baseball cards, baseball trophies, a mitt, and other various objects he remembered from his childhood. He could definitely give his boy… or girl a mitt and teach them to throw and catch.
He lifted a piece of cardboard and underneath was the one thing he never admitted to anyone that he’d kept. Only his mom knew his secret. A light green stuffed alligator with little white teeth.
“Chester!” he said aloud and let out a loud laugh.
He’d kept the stuffed animal hidden beneath the covers when he was little and never let his siblings see. If any of his brothers had known he couldn’t sleep without it, he’d never hear the end of it.
He didn’t know how old he was when he’d parted ways with Chester, but his mother had kept him. And boy or girl, Jared would be passing it on to his child.
After he gave the thing a good washing.
He packed up the box again, knowing he’d be back as the baby grew, grabbed the alligator, and left the basement, suddenly needing to see Charlotte. She’d understand the emotional turmoil his father put him through and he needed her.
He texted, letting her know he wanted to stop by and she gave him the okay. She was starting to feel less tired, she’d told him, and felt able to stay awake a little later.
So, he headed over to see his girl. Even if she wasn’t ready to accept the proprietary feelings he had for her, he felt them nonetheless.
***
Charlie set her phone on the counter, surprised Jared had asked if he could come over to talk. He stopped by often but something about his request tipped her off to his distress.
She took a quick shower and dried her hair. Since she’d had the girls last week, Noah had them this week and she’d been in bed reading. Or trying to read. She’d had the interview at the museum today and it had gone exceptionally well. So well, that the woman in charge had offered her the position immediately, saying she was afraid of losing Charlie if they waited to talk to other candidates. Charlie didn’t tell her there was no one else banging down her door.
She did, however, mention her pregnancy. To her relief, it hadn’t been an issue and she’d accepted on the spot. She had a job and no one to tell. Leo was out of town for work. Her instinct had been to call Jared, but she knew how busy he was at the office and didn’t want to bother him. Or come to think of him as someone she could call to share news. It scared her, how much she wanted to rely on him.
By the time she’d finished getting ready, it was time for Jared to arrive. She put on a long, silk robe and waited. Despite knowing he was coming over, when the knock sounded on her door, she jumped, startled.
She pulled in a deep breath and walked over to let him in. She opened the door to find him looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him. His eyes were sad, she thought, and those lines furrowed between his brows.
“Hi,” she said softly. “Come on in.”
He stepped inside. “Hey.” His gaze dragged over her, lingering on her chest.
She glanced down at the low V she hadn’t realized had formed at the lapels of her robe, and knew she was blushing. “I took a shower before you got here. No makeup…” No clothes. What had she been thinking?
That she was comfortable around him, that’s what.
He chuckled. “You look beautiful with or without makeup.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. “Are you okay?” Not only did she want the focus off herself, she desperately wanted to know what was bothering him.
“Not really.” He ran a hand through his hair, then walked through the apartment and sat down on the sofa.
Instead of settling beside him, she plopped down on the stone cocktail table, their knees touching, and waited for him to explain.
“I went to see my father tonight and caught him smoking. I let him have it.”
She rubbed her hands on the soft material of her robe. “I’m sure he understood.”
He nodded. “He did once I explained I just wanted him to be proud of me because I didn’t know if my mother was.”
Her mouth parted in a silent O. “Jared,” she whispered. “You’re such a good, kind man. A solid one. You work hard and make sure your father doesn’t have to. You take care of the people in your life.” And she realized how lucky she was to be one of those people.
Not breaking eye contact, she continued. “You’ve stood up for me since the minute I told you I was pregnant. I couldn’t ask for a better father for my baby.” She took his hands and squeezed. “And if I know one thing for sure, it’s that your mother is so proud of you,” she assured him.
“That’s what my father said.”
“He’s right.” She was so touched he was sharing this hard truth with her, exposing his vulnerability. He was so strong and he didn’t even realize it.
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out something green.
“What is that?” she asked.
He set what she realized was a stuffed animal on her lap. An adorable alligator with little hands and flat white teeth. “Oh my gosh. Where did you get it?”
He chuckled. “Not it. Chester. That’s his name.” He went on to explain he’d picked him up from his box of childhood things at home. How he’d hid him from his brothers, and the only one he’d trusted was his mother.
“I brought him home for our baby’s room. When we get it set up, I mean.”
She glanced at his matted fur and kept silent on the condition. “That’s so sweet.” She picked up Chester and held him to her chest. “I love that you thought to bring something that meant so much to you.”
Keeping his gaze on hers, he took the alligator from her hands and put him on the table, then leaned forward and sealed his lips over hers. He slid his tongue into her mouth and rubbed against hers, arousing her until her nipples poked against the silk of her robe.
As if he knew, he reached down and squeezed her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, making her writhe on the table. She hoped she wasn’t leaving a wet spot.
Again, he read her mind and broke the kiss, then rose to his feet. He scooped her up so she was clinging to him like a spider monkey, her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck. Resting her face against his cheek, she inhaled his masculine, sexy scent, wriggling against him so her clit got friction from his hard erection pushing against the fly of his pants.
“Mmm. Jared, I really need to come.”
He let out a gruff chuckle. “Oh, I intend to make you come, beautiful. Again and again.”
“Promise?”
He lay her down on the bed, untied her robe, and parted the sides. “You’re naked.”
“No, I have a thong on. It’s nude.”
A tug on one side and he ripped the panties off her body.
Once she truly was naked, he came down over her sex and dragged his tongue through her pussy. Her hips jerked and she pushed herself against his mouth. Taking the hint, he licked up one side and down the other, sucking her flesh into his mouth and nibbling with his teeth.
She squirmed against him, seeking pressure on her clit, but he focused everywhere but where she needed the friction most. She pulsed with desire and emptiness until he slid his tongue inside her and pressed hard on her clit with his fingertip, rubbing persistently. Waves of bliss wafted through her and she arched her hips, riding the surge until she came apart, kneading her sex against his mouth until her climax ended and she dropped, sated, onto the bed.
“Are you ready for me? Or do you need a minute?” he asked, as he rose to his feet and stripped off his clothes.
She might be tired but her pussy still throbbed with desire. “I need you to fill me.”
“And I want to see you come again.”
She giggled and said, “Not sure you saw me the first time.”
“I beg to differ.” He raised an eyebrow. “I think I had the best view.”
Her face heated with embarrassment. Before she could focus on that comment, he placed one knee on the bed and climbed over her, his cock poised at her entrance. Without warning, he pressed in all the way. Not fast and hard, but gentle, his gaze never leaving hers.
Every shift and glide in and out was filled with emotion, scaring her as much as it pulled her in like a rapid current. She was falling for him in a way she’d never experienced before. The emotions swirling through her were new and frightening, but she couldn’t stop them from working their way through her and settling, a heavy feeling in her chest. One she recognized as a deep connection.
He shifted his hips and the sensations grew more intense, her body soaring higher and searching for something just out of reach.
“Jared!” she cried as she dug her nails into his back.
He picked up the rhythm, thrusting harder, his long, thick cock hitting her in just the right spot, over and over, and her orgasm slammed into her. She let herself go and soared until the waves receded and she wrapped her arms around him, holding on while he found his release.
A little while later, she lay cuddled in his arms, thinking about how close they’d become in such a short time. Tonight, he’d confided in her about his childhood and close bond with his mother. She’d already let him in with so much about hers. She couldn’t deny or fight the truth but she could try to hold on to that sense of self-reliance she had.
Being hurt by her father or her brother was bad enough, but if Jared did anything to sever the fragile bond they’d built she didn’t want to be in an emotional place where she’d crumble. She could be stronger than that. Still, she felt safe, happy, and content in his arms.
“How did your interview go today?” he asked. “I wanted to call but every time I picked up the phone, someone needed me for something.”
At the reminder, she experienced a lurch of excitement. “I got the job!” She told him how well she’d meshed with the interviewer and how impressed they’d been with her employment history.
“Congratulations! Not that I had any doubt.” He squeezed her tight and she leaned back into his embrace.
“Thank you. I’m excited.”
“I am sure you’ll do a phenomenal job.”
His faith in her wrapped around her like a warm blanket and she cherished the new sensation and allowed herself to revel in the amazing feeling of Jared being proud of her.
She was well aware she wasn’t the only one affected by tonight’s lovemaking. She couldn’t call it anything else. She’d seen the warmth and feeling in his eyes when he was deep inside her and decided to immerse herself in it.
For now.