Chapter 27 #2
As mad as I am, I’m listening, and the one thing that keeps looping is that he called me his girlfriend at the start of this discussion. He meant it. In his mind, nothing has changed. “Why does she have to live with you?”
He shakes his head, and suddenly I notice the fine lines at the corners of his eyes. Dark circles mark the tender flesh below them. “She says she has nowhere to go. If this little girl is mine, I can’t do it, Cali. I can’t turn my back on them. That includes Kate.”
I squirm and shove him with all my strength. “Get off me, Jaeger.”
He rolls to the side. “Will you please listen?”
I sit up. “You’re living with your ex-girlfriend, you jerk!”
“It’s not like that! You know I’m not like that.
I told you. I’m with you now. I want to be with you.
I love you, Cali. Being away from you kills me.
The only thing that has kept me sane throughout all this is thinking about getting back to you.
About making all this right so that we can move on together. ”
He loves me…?
“If that’s true, why did you wait so long to call me?”
“I’ve called and texted you numerous times.
” I send him a pointed glare. “I should have called the day after our date. It wasn’t intentional,” he grumbles.
“Have you any idea what a massive pain in the ass my ex is? Trust me when I say I’m ready to move out.
I’ve been sleeping on the couch in the shop.
I stay away from the house as much as possible. ”
He sits up beside me. “As soon as I figure out the girl’s paternity, Kate’s gone. I’ll pay child support, whatever I need to, if the little girl’s mine. But Cali”—his eyes are pleading—“if she is mine, I can’t abandon her. She didn’t have a choice, you know?”
I let out a deep breath. Why does he have to be such a good guy?
He leans over and rubs his nose along my jaw and kisses me below my ear.
“Please don’t be mad. I mean, you have every right to be upset, but please don’t leave me over this.
I haven’t meant to be an absent boyfriend.
I’ve just had a lot of crazy going on that I’ve never had to deal with before.
I love you, Cali. I love you.” He kisses and nuzzles me some more.
Oh, Jesus Christ. I want to be mad at him, but I can’t! I believe him. “I love you too, but I’m angry with you.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me to him. “Everything’s not okay, Jaeger. You waited too long to get in touch.”
He sighs. “I did. Not intentionally. My phone ran out of juice on the trip to North Shore. I was in a hurry to get answers and forgot my charger. I didn’t bother buying another, just wanted to get back.
My parents and sister were ready to wring my neck.
I’m sorry, babe.” He brushes my lips with his and my mouth softens.
I can’t stay mad at him. Not when everything he says makes sense. Jaeger doesn’t give me uneasy feelings. He’s all heart.
“I missed you.” My words come out angry. “And I love you.” This time my tone is softer.
He looks in my eyes, searching, and then his mouth is on me before I can get another word out.
I’m drowning and burning, a hot-cold fire spreading from my chest to my toes.
I clutch him with all my strength and kiss him until we’re both gasping.
Jaeger wraps my legs around his back and I arch into him.
He moans and kisses me harder. “Love you. Missed you,” he says between kisses peppered along my neck and the tops of my breasts.
He leans back and stares at my chest.
I prop up on my elbows, dazed. “What?”
“Are you wearing—a Wonderbra? Your boobs…”
My face heats. “I might have gained a few pounds. Like five,” I admit, chagrined. “I sort of ate a pint of ice cream every night this last week.”
He lifts his brow.
“Can you really tell my boobs are bigger?”
He gives me a look that says, Come on, give me some credit.
“Guys can tell these things?”
He lowers his head, pushes my top and bra down, and mumbles, “Yes,” while kissing and licking my breast.
And, wow, that feels amazing… but I’m kind of hung up on this boob thing. If they look bigger… “Do I look fat?”
Jaeger groans. “I hate that question.” He reaches around and cups my bottom, pulling me against his erection.
I slip off my elbows and land on my back.
“You feel incredible,” he breathes into my neck.
“You smell unbelievable, and you’re beautiful and feisty.
Have I convinced you how much I want you? ”
I circle my hips. “Um, yes. As you were,” I say, and place his hand back on my breast.
He grins eagerly and unbuttons my shorts with his other hand.
We make good use of Gen and Tyler’s absence. After an hour of nakedness, I decide I’d better not press my luck. “We should get dressed.”
Jaeger looks up from his position at my side, one of his legs with a light dusting of brown hair thrown over both of mine. He groans. “I don’t want to go home.”
“Then stay here.”
“Really?” He props up, head in his hand, looking down at me.
God, did I just ask my boyfriend to move in? I sort of meant for him to stay for the next few hours, but I don’t think that’s how he took it. I could never let him live here without talking to Gen first. Besides, where would we sleep?
“Maybe not permanently. I have a roommate, and there’s not much space with my brother around. But you could crash on the couch for a couple of days if you really don’t want to live with Kate.”
The offer is purely selfish. The last thing I want is my boyfriend living with his ex.
“Are you sure? Because if you are, I’ll take you up on it. I was already thinking of moving back in with my parents until I work things out, but this is much better.” He kisses my nipple.
“Jaeger! We can’t do this with my brother and Gen around.”
“I know, feisty.” He grins. “But while they’re gone, naked time is in full effect.”