Chapter 7 #2
Jake released her lips when she tightened her grip, stroking his hard cock. He joined the party, seeking his own warmth when he slipped his fingers inside her bikini bottoms, driving two inside her pussy. She gasped at the contrast of his cold fingers against the fire raging inside.
They played with each other, letting their hands, their fingers drive their arousal to fever pitch.
When it became too much, Jake withdrew, pulled her hand away from his dick and turned Josie away from him.
Pushing on her shoulders, he applied pressure until she was bent at the waist. She reached out, her hands using the smooth, icy rocks as support when Jake pulled her bikini bottoms to one side and shoved inside.
Josie’s nails dug into the stones as Jake thrust deep and hard.
She closed her eyes, letting every sense envelop her.
The cool water and air caressed her overheated skin, the roar of the waterfall drowned out her cries, encouraging her to call out louder than she normally would. She felt free, uninhibited and wild.
Reaching lower, she started to press her clit, seeking more stimulation. She was close. So close.
Jake was there to meet her. He grasped her hand, directing her finger along the swollen nub, using their combined motions to spur her on.
Josie started pushing back against Jake each time he reentered her body, their fucking growing more wanton and unrestrained.
Neither of them held back. Instead, they gave everything they had.
Josie stiffened, her pussy clenching mere seconds before Jake joined her.
Pulse after pulse of his hot come filled her, warming her even more.
Jake pulled Josie upright, wrapping his arms around her from behind, pressing her back to his chest so tightly, she could almost pretend they were one person.
For several moments, neither of them moved. Then Jake took her hand and led her back through the waterfall, away from Eden. They were returning to reality.
They were silent until they reached the water’s edge. Jake turned to look at her. “I didn’t use a condom.”
He knew she was on the pill. He’d watched her take them.
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
He smiled, then pressed his forehead to hers. “We’re coming back here again.”
She laughed. “Oh hell yeah. Maybe even today if we can escape the party.”
Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they started toward the beach, their walk back much slower than their trek here. “While I love your full moons, Josie, I have to admit there’s something to be said for sex and sunshine too.”
“Amen. I may have to revise my list when we get home.”
The party was a huge success. Even Kristen began to get into the spirit of things despite her depression over turning the big four-oh.
Zoey thanked them all for their support during her chemo treatments and Josie had to swipe away a few tears.
Zoey had been an absolute inspiration to all of them this year, tackling her disease, the pain associated with chemotherapy and the loss of her hair with grace and bravery.
On the ride home, Josie quietly reflected on how blessed she had been these past two years.
She’d been so blinded by fear of failing her son and devastation over Tony’s desertion that she failed to realize how incredible her friends were.
So many times she’d felt like she was flying blind and alone.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
Her wine girls’ support system had been there all along.
Somehow she’d have to find a way to thank them for all they’d done for her.
Jake broke the silence as he parked his car in front of her townhouse. “Who’s that?”
Josie looked up just as Tommy said, “Daddy!” from the backseat. Her son bounded out of the car before Josie could stop him.
Something about the way Tony was sitting, slouched over, on the top step of her porch, looked off. She called out her son’s name as she walked toward the house.
Tony looked up at her with bloodshot eyes. He was drunk. Completely wasted.
“Tony? What are you doing here?”
“I came t’see my son.” His words were slurred. Tommy had stopped a few feet away from Tony when he realized his father wasn’t quite in his right mind.
Jake came to stand behind Josie, his hand at her back, providing his silent support. It helped knowing he was here.
“And I guess this is Saint Jake. The man who’s trying t’steal my family.”
Tony stumbled as he started to stand. Jake stepped forward, under the guise of shaking her ex-husband’s hand, but Josie knew it was really an attempt to keep Tony from falling on his face in front of Tommy.
“Are you sick, Daddy?”
Josie’s temper flared. How dare Tony show up drunk and belligerent, looking for a fight. “Tommy. Why don’t you go inside? Jake and I will take care of your daddy.”
Tommy didn’t move. Instead he studied his father’s face. Tony was too busy glaring at Jake to realize he was frightening his son.
“Jus’ thought maybe I should remind you that my boy has a father. He doesn’t need you.”
Jake nodded slowly. “Tony. Why don’t you and I take a little walk? Talk about it.”
Tears sprang to Josie’s eyes. Jake was attempting to move Tony away from the house, out of Tommy’s sight. He was protecting her son. If she hadn’t already fallen head over heels for the man, this moment would have cemented the emotion in her.
Unfortunately, Tommy didn’t only inherit stubbornness from her. He’d gotten more than his fair share of her temper too. “Why are you being mean to Jake?”
Tony glanced at Tommy, seeming a bit surprised to find his son still there. “Don’t you see, Tommy? He’s trying to take you away from me.”
Josie sucked in some much-needed air. She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach and she was struggling to recover as Tommy frowned.
“No, he’s not. Jake’s my friend.”
“That’s right,” Jake added. “Me and Tommy are friends. I’m not taking anything away from you, Tony. Josie, it’s been a long day. Maybe you and Tommy should head inside while I get Tony home.”
“He’s my son.” Tony seemed oblivious to the scene he was creating. Tears started rolling down his face. “My son. All I have left.”
Josie shivered. When had the night air had become so cold? Her mind whirled as she struggled for a way to turn this around. To make it all okay for Tommy. She knelt down in front of her son. “Please go inside,” she whispered.
“Daddy’s drunk, isn’t he?”
She nodded. “He wouldn’t be saying any of this if he weren’t. He loves you so much, Tommy. He’s just having a bad night.”
Tommy seemed to understand that. “I can unlock the door.”
Josie smiled and handed him the key. “Such a big boy.”
Tommy walked up to his father, tapping him on the arm. Tony looked down, staggering, and for a moment, Josie feared he’d topple over. “I’m sorry you’re sick, Daddy. I love you.”
For the first time since they’d arrived home, Tony finally heard something that was being said to him. “I love you too, T-man.”
Tommy gave his dad a quick hug, then let himself in the house. Tony took two awkward steps backward and started to tumble. Jake caught him and sort of guided his fall, so that Tony was sitting on the porch once more.
“I’m so stupid.” Tony’s face was utter misery, but Josie couldn’t produce an ounce of pity.
“You can say that again.” She took a step closer, but Jake placed his hand on her arm, holding her back.
“Take it easy, Josie.”
She couldn’t believe Jake was protecting Tony. “He can’t show up here drunk and try to pick a fight whenever he wants.”
Jake gave her a crooked grin. “Has he ever shown up drunk before?”
His question took her aback. Tony hadn’t. Not once. She shook her head.
Jake looked at her ex again. “Come on, Tony. I’ll give you a ride home.”
Tony shook his head. “No, thanks. I think I better walk this off. My apartment is only about half a mile from here.”
“You sure you’re okay?” Jake asked.
“Yeah. I’m not feeling so hot. I don’t think you want me in your car.
” He stumbled to his feet once more, but his eyes seemed a bit clearer.
“Every time I take Tommy out now, I have to hear about how Jake played this video game with him or took him to this cool place or was teaching him how to throw a football. It should be me doing that.”
Josie started to understand some of her ex’s depression.
She’d felt the same way when Tommy came home after a Saturday night with Tony talking about how Janice had made his favorite cookies or bought him some toy.
It had killed her to think there was another woman playing mother to her son.
“Tony. You spend time with him every week. You do those things too.”
Tony rubbed his eyes wearily. He was clearly beginning to sober up. “Shit. I shouldn’t have come over here like this. Tell the little rascal I’m sorry, will you?”
Josie nodded. “Sure.”
Tony started to walk away, then he stopped, his gaze narrowing in on Jake. “You’ll take care of them?”
Jake nodded, but he didn’t say more. Josie wanted to scream. They’d had an amazing day, only to come home to more drama. She wouldn’t blame Jake if he climbed into his car and drove away from the non-stop train wreck that was her life.
Tony left as Josie and Jake stood in silence.
When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she said, “God. I’m so sorry about that.”
Jake stepped over to her, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to plant a gentle kiss on her head. “Did you think this would be easy?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t know what the hell it would be. I haven’t dated anyone seriously since the divorce.”
“It’s going to take everybody some time to get used to the new normal. Tony included.”
She smiled, his words giving her hope that this latest disaster hadn’t pushed him away. “Is this the new normal?”
He tugged on her hair playfully. “I hope so. I have no intention of walking away just because your ex got drunk and obnoxious one night.”