7. ~ Jake ~
We race into the house after I unlock the door to escape the angry storm outside.
We had just left Beartooth Ranch, having all piled into my car this morning to head there altogether, and there”s no way Mia and Emily will be able to go home again tonight.
The storm out there is a nasty one, and I”m surprised I was able to get us all here in one piece based on how much it”s raining cats and dogs.
Emily is terrified of thunder, and her little body jumps every time a loud crack of lightning is heard. Dylan isn”t scared of thunderstorms but appears worried for Emily as he bravely wraps an arm around her shoulders silently to show he”ll protect her.
I”m proud of my son, whom I”ve always raised to protect his friends. He begins yawning after finishing the dinner at the ranch, and I”m not even surprised. I”m always amazed at how he can polish off two servings of food at his age.
I always joke that he”s a young boy with a grown man”s appetite.
”Mom, I”m scared!” Emily buries her face into her mother”s leg as Mia appears worried.
”What can I do?” I”m ready to leap into action by doing anything to make Emily feel comfortable and distracted from the loud thunderstorm going on outside.
”Cartoons usually help to relax her, especially when calming her down enough to fall asleep.”
”Okay, then, let”s watch cartoons,” I suggest with a smile, as I lead us all into the living room after we”ve removed our dishes and put them into the dishwasher.
While Mia settles the children in the living room, I head to one of the closets to pull out blankets and pillows to help everyone get comfortable. Dylan has this thing where he likes to lay on his stomach to watch TV, so I know he might only use the pillows.
As he gets comfortable on the floor, I”m surprised to see Emily do the same, lying on her stomach beside him. They thanked me as I covered them with their blanket before I sat on the couch beside Mia.
I turn on the TV and find the channel that plays nonstop cartoons before relaxing on the couch. I steal glances at Mia throughout, and I”m pleased when I see that she”s also doing the same. Her body is so close to me, and I wish that I could pull her into me to share the couch cushion I”m sitting on.
I knew that we needed to chill out since the children were in the room, but my mind went to the most sinful places, with her staying yet another night here. Wanting my hands to roam all over her soft body like I had done last night once the kids were fast asleep.
I absentmindedly lick my lips and try to behave by pushing those thoughts aside and focusing on the silly cartoon on TV.
Dylan”s full-hearted and infectious laughter catches my attention, and I find myself smiling at the sight of him and Emily so engrossed in the cartoon antics on the screen. Emily”s giggles, lighter but just as joyful, blend perfectly with Dylan”s.
”Did you see that, dad?” Dylan turns to me, his eyes wide with amusement. ”The squirrel just... it just flew with a jetpack!”
”Yeah, I saw that, buddy,” I respond, chuckling at his excitement. ”Cartoons sure have everything these days, don”t they?”
Emily nods vigorously, her eyes never leaving the screen. ”But do you think squirrels could fly with jetpacks?” Her innocent question is laced with genuine curiosity, making me stifle a laugh.
”Not quite, Emily. But wouldn”t it be cool if they could?” I play along, enjoying their wonder and amazement.
Dylan”s imagination kicks into overdrive. ”If I had a jetpack, I”d fly to the moon! And then I could wave to you and Mia from space!” He stretches his arms out wide, mimicking flight, his blanket sliding off his shoulders.
Emily joins in, ”I”d fly to the candy store and bring back loads of candy for us!” Her declaration brings another round of laughter from Dylan, and I can”t help but join in. Their joy is infectious.
Watching them, I feel a warmth spread through me, a contentment from these simple moments. Their laughter, wild imaginations, and happiness fill the room, pushing aside tension or worry. These moments, I realize, are what truly matter.
With the kids tucked away in their beds upstairs, fast asleep, the storm of the night envelops the house. The sudden electricity outage a little while back was far from inconvenient and only added to the serene atmosphere.
I had just finished lighting a few candles scattered around the living room, their soft glow casting dancing shadows against the walls. Rain tapping against the windows created a symphony, adding to the tranquility.
As I settle back onto the couch, Mia by my side, the room”s ambiance is surreal. The flickering candles and the rhythmic rain outside erase the vibrant energy of the daytime, replacing it with a calm, almost otherworldly tranquility. Proper connections are forged in these moments, devoid of distraction.
Mia”s presence next to me is a balm to my soul. As our conversation meanders from light banter to more personal anecdotes, I find myself sharing parts of me I”ve kept hidden. The soft light of the candles seems to dissolve the barriers of self-preservation, creating a safe space for vulnerability.
”I”ve always carried this fear of not measuring up,” I admit, my eyes drawn to the gentle flicker of the candlelight. ”Not being enough for my son, my family, or myself. That”s why I”ve often resorted to a stern demeanor to keep people at bay. But I”m sure that this need for control can be overwhelming for others.”
Mia laughs as she nods, as if agreeing with what I just said.
”I will admit that you can be a bit bossy sometimes, and it upsets me.”
”I do apologize about that. I think I have it instilled in me that I have to be in control of things for things to get taken care of correctly. The fellas at the ranch say I have a cowboy”s version of OCD, but of course, they don”t know what they”re talking about.”
Mia”s response is equally heartfelt. She sighed deeply and began, ”There are so many regrets. Paths I never took, opportunities I missed. There were so many moments when I wish I had mustered more courage. Times when taking a risk could have changed everything, but fear has held me back. It”s these reflections, these ”what ifs,” that make you ponder the choices you”ve made.”
She looks embarrassed at confessing this to me as I lay my hand on her knee, urging her to continue, coaxing her into saying whatever is on her mind or in her heart. That she doesn”t have to hold back with me.
”I”ve always worried that I”d look back and regret not living more boldly,” she admits. It’s just Mia and me, her voice barely above a whisper amidst the sound of the rain. ”That”s why I love going to the ranch. I can do anything I put my mind to there, especially trying out riding lessons or feeding the horses.”
Our exchange, nestled in the intimacy of the dimly lit room, feels like a balm to the soul. Here we are, unveiling our deepest fears and regrets, not with trepidation but with a sense of understanding and acceptance.
The external world, with its demands and expectations, feels miles away. At this moment, Mia and I are connecting on a profoundly elemental level.
The night deepens, and our conversation takes another turn, this time towards the future. ”You know,” I say, ”I”ve always dreamed of writing a book. Something that captures the essence of our times. Maybe even an autobiography if I can accomplish more.” She nods, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and encouragement. ”And you? What do you dream of?”
She hesitates momentarily, then reveals, ”I dream of traveling. Seeing the world. Experiencing cultures far from our own.”
I can”t help but feel a connection, a shared longing for something more. ”It”s amazing,” I continue, ”how talking about dreams can make you feel so...connected. Isn’t it?”
”Yeah,” she agrees, ”it”s like our hopes and fears, they”re not just ours anymore. They”re shared; intertwined.”
A bond forms in the quiet of the night amidst our dreams and hopes; our vulnerabilities laid bare. It”s delicate yet strong enough to withstand the storms of vulnerability we”ve just weathered together. ”This...this connection,” I finally say. ”It”s something special, isn”t it?”
She smiles a soft, knowing smile. ”Yes, Jake, it is.”
The flickering candlelight casts shadows that dance across Mia”s face, underlining the gravity and beauty of the moment between us. It”s as if the firelight is weaving us closer, its warm glow a testament to the breathtaking intimacy blooming in the confined space of the room.
”These dreams of ours,” I whisper, feeling the weight of our shared confidences, ”are like beacons, guiding us through the darkness.”
Mia”s gaze is fixed on the candle, but her mind is miles away, perhaps traversing the globe she longs to explore. ”It”s funny,” she muses, her voice barely above the crackle of the candle, ”how storms both inside and out can rattle us, yet here we are, finding peace amid chaos.”
Her words strike a chord deep within me. Looking outside, I notice the storm has picked up—the relentless rain taps against the window, mirroring the storm of emotions swirling within us.
The space between us feels infused with a rare serenity despite the turmoil outside. Perhaps because of it.
”I think,” Mia continues, turning her gaze back to me, her eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions, ”that sharing our deepest fears and desires amidst the world”s clamor... it”s brave. It”s what makes moments like this unforgettable.”
The air between us becomes charged, our shared vulnerabilities acting as a magnet, drawing us inevitably closer. I can”t resist the pull, nor do I want to. Leaning in, I close the distance between us, our lips meeting in a kiss that feels as inevitable as the sunrise.
It”s gentle at first, like the brush of a feather, then deepens with the intensity of the storm raging outside. In this kiss, all our dreams and fears converge, binding us together in a way that words never could. The kissing intensifies as our hands tear at each other’s clothes. We give into the raw, unbridled passion and desire we share without question.
It’s risky because one of the children could wake up at any time, but luckily, the creaking floorboards of the hallway upstairs would alert us of any footsteps we could hear from the living room.
“I can’t get enough of you,” Mia confesses against my lips, while we move in a rush to undress each other.
“I feel the same. It’s like you’re my addiction. I crave you. I need you. You give me the kind of feeling that’s rare to feel.”
I’m about to sweet talk her some more when her lips press hard against mine from the excitement coursing through our bodies as we roll around on the carpet naked. She straddles me while looking down at me with bright eyes of passion as she grabs my hardness and does the honors of directing me inside of her body.
We both sigh in pleasure in unison as I keep my hands gripping her hands. She rides me better than any horse she’s jumped on at the ranch. I bite my lip in want at her as she controls my body with each sway of her hips.
My eyes roll to the back of my head as our moans reach the ceiling before we quiet down, remembering the children upstairs. The flickering of the candles and the dim glow of the living room give it a more romantic setting.
I begin rolling my hips into her, becoming a bumpy ride for her as I have her bouncing up and down on me because I can’t help but want to be in control.
But she doesn’t mind.
Not with the pleasure written across her face that’s better than any love poem.
“Oh, Jake,” she moans, in the sweetest tone. I wish I could have it on repeat to listen to whenever I wanted. It”s like a vinyl record I’d play every night just for the sweet sound.
I love it too, each time she calls out my name when we’re like this. Trapped in the throes of fiery passion as we allow ourselves to give in to the moment continually.
To continually give in to each other.
I hope it can stay like this and that nothing deters the blossoming romance between us. I respect her being afraid and wanting to focus on being a parent, but I want to show her that I’m here to help with her journey in life, not add obstacles to it.
I close my eyes when I feel the familiar feeling build up in me after we’ve been at this for some time. I think the adrenaline rushes through us from having to sneak to make love. It helps to bring about our climaxes a lot faster.
“You’re so damn perfect, Mia,” I find myself cursing in ecstasy, as my hips thrust even harder upwards, hitting her spot, and that’s all she wrote as she tightened on me. Her eyes gleamed in euphoric bliss as her pleasurable end wet my lap, while I shot inside her like Independence Day.
Our final moans melt together as we catch our breath, wanting to stay in the moment but remembering where we were as we quickly scrambled for our clothes.
Smiles stretch across our faces as we get dressed before we share a goodnight kiss and head upstairs. As she heads for the guest room, I enter my bedroom.