Chapter Thirty-Six
Jase
We walked back to my place. Each step I took with her beside me was lighter than the last, her hand in mine anchoring me to this moment. I took in her every smile and laugh, her flush of arousal as she caught me staring at her with desire I’d long since stopped trying to hide.
Yet we didn’t rush. She’d savored every bite of the meal I cooked for her, and I’d savored watching her. Then I’d pulled her to her feet, wrapped her in my arms, and danced with her in the same spot I first kissed her. I kissed her again, and instead of a free fall into the unknown, this kiss was simply freeing. The start of a future instead of the fear of what came next.
Baxter greeted us when we reached my place, walking right up to Dani and rubbing against her legs. She picked him up, brought her forehead to his, and just like that, I was home.
I stepped behind her, running my hands around her waist as she sank against my chest. Her hips tilted ever so slightly back, pressing her ass against my stiffening cock. I grazed my lips up her neck.
“Baxter may love you,” I murmured against her ear, “but I love you more.”
I felt as much as saw the shiver run through her body. “Are you jealous of your cat?” she teased, tilting her head to the side.
I tugged on her earlobe with my teeth, then sucked on the skin where her neck met her jaw. “In more ways than one. But right now, I’m just greedy for you.”
She opened her arms to let Baxter leap down, and my hands were on her breasts before his feet hit the floor. I teased them through the silky material of her dress, drawing a groan from her throat that set my body on fire as I tweaked her nipples to stiff points.
“Get in the bedroom,” I whispered as I slipped my fingers under her low neckline, catching each nipple and tugging just hard enough to make her gasp. She took shaky steps as I followed close, my fingers never leaving her skin.
I kicked the door closed behind us to keep Baxter out, then slipped off the thin straps of her dress, letting it glide over her curves to the floor. Her lace panties were next. I wanted to see and feel all of her. Worship her body and make her tremble with pleasure. Fill her with everything I had to give.
The warmth of her skin radiated along my chest as I pressed against her, leaving open-mouthed kisses along her neck while my hands trailed in opposite directions. One found her breast and cupped it gently as the other swept between her legs.
She was soaked. A single brush of her clit had her back arching, her arms clasping behind my head as her ass ground into my aching erection.
“Get naked,” she pleaded on a breath. “I want to feel you.”
I sank a finger into her. “You will.” Her legs buckled as she clenched around me, grip tightening in my hair. “But I want to taste you first.”
I guided her to kneel on the edge of the bed and withdrew my finger, circling her clit once before clasping her wrists and lowering them to the mattress so she was on all fours. Then I kissed my way down her spine and sank to my knees on the floor.
Almost as soon as my mouth closed over her, she dropped to her elbows, head falling to clenched fists. Seeing her do it was all it took for my hands to reach for my belt.
Tongue on her clit, I tore open my pants and pushed down the waistband of my boxer briefs to fist my cock. Her breaths quickened, and I gave myself a firm stroke as I worked her with my mouth.
Her tart and musky flavor flooded my tongue, driving my hand to pump faster on my shaft.
I gripped her ass with my free hand, and she rocked back against my face, her body a wave lost in the rhythm of her pleasure, one I couldn’t tear my eyes from. She was so fucking beautiful it stole the air from my lungs. I closed my lips over her clit and sucked, just the way she liked.
“Yes.” Her gasp turned into a moan. “Jase, yes .”
I hooked two fingers inside her, crooking them toward her inner walls, and her breath hitched before everything in her spasmed. Her muscles contracted around my fingers, hips rocking in a frenzy, her chest pressing into the bed as she ground herself against my mouth.
Fuck.
My grip on my cock tightened to an almost painful degree as I held off my own orgasm. When I was sure I had everything under control, I brought both palms to her ass, cupping and squeezing it gently, trailing my fingers lightly over her skin, drawing shivers from her as she caught her breath.
“You better not still be dressed,” she said, breathless, before rolling onto her side.
I wiped my bottom lip with my thumb as I rose to my feet. “I’m getting there.”
Her gaze lowered to my open slacks, my cock standing at full attention, and a wicked gleam filled her eye. In one graceful move, she rose to sit on the edge of the mattress, her mouth directly in front of my swollen head.
My pulse pounded everywhere, skin growing tight.
She held my gaze as her fingers found the bottom button of my shirt, breath grazing my tip as she spoke.
“I…” She undid one button. “Want.” Another button. “This.” Her lips brushed in the barest whisper against my cock, sending a tremor through my body. “Off.”
She reached the top button and dragged my shirt over my shoulders. Her hands traced my abs up to the hair on my chest, my muscles straining under her touch as her eyes roved my body with a hunger so intense I had to drop my head back to keep from coming.
Then her mouth wrapped around the head of my cock, and my restraint snapped.
I tossed her onto the bed, her laughter tightening my chest with an unfamiliar warmth. I tore my shirt the rest of the way off and kicked my pants and boxer briefs free, grabbing a condom from the bedside table before crawling on top of her and claiming her mouth with mine.
Our bodies connected, skin to skin, and nothing had ever felt so right.
“Now, Jase. Please,” she begged, rocking her wetness along my cock.
I kissed her again, stroking her tongue with mine, then rolled the condom on and hooked her legs over my arms, spreading her wide.
In one long stroke, I sank into her, filling her completely. She let out a gasp that had me clenching my muscles, her body so fucking tight around me. This position let me go deep, and I pumped into her with full, steady thrusts, dragging my pelvis against her clit with each rock forward.
Her eyes squeezed shut as her nails dug into my shoulders, making me grunt, my hips snapping faster. My name fell from her lips. “Jase… Oh God , Jase.”
“Look at me,” I said softly.
Her eyes opened and locked with mine, pupils dilated, the whole of her in her gaze. No masks in sight.
“I love you.”
I’d always imagined the words being painful to say, like ripping out a piece of me. Maybe because that was what it had always been with anyone else. Others taking pieces of me and trying to mold them into something different until all that was left was a picked-over carcass at the end of a meal.
Not with Dani. Saying it to her felt as good as showing her. Freeing in a way I hadn’t known opening myself to another person could be. She wasn’t taking anything from me; she was filling me. Lifting me up. Giving me as much of herself and trusting me to hold those pieces safely.
Her breath caught in her throat as her lids lowered, but she kept them open, her gaze never leaving mine as I thrust inside her and gave her every single piece of me there was.
She could have it all. I was safe in her hands.
Her legs tightened over my forearms, and her head tossed back as she tipped over, triggering my own release. I pounded into her, sparks shooting down my spine, spilling from me to her as my every muscle went taut and white heat scorched through my veins.
We stilled, our breaths coming in pants as we clung to each other, sweat beading on our foreheads. I released her legs, and they wrapped around my waist, keeping me inside her as I kissed between her breasts, her chest, her collarbone. I licked the base of her neck. Kissed beneath her jaw.
She trailed her hands up my spine, threading her fingers through my hair. Our eyes met, and a smile touched her lips.
“I love you too,” she said.
My chest expanded at the simple truth in her words. Even more so at how every part of me believed them.
We made our way through the hospital, Dani’s hand in mine. I gave it a squeeze of encouragement, and her death grip eased slightly as she tossed me a reassuring smile.
She was okay. That was what that smile meant.
And I wanted to wrap her in my arms and kiss her for it because she was here for me.
I’d checked with Alec three times that he and Stephanie were okay with Dani joining me to say goodbye before they headed back to New York. My parents had left late last night, so it would just be the two of them with the baby, and Alec had assured me they were both fine with it. When we’d spoken on the phone earlier this morning, he actually sounded excited.
Probably because I’d never voluntarily brought a girl around before. Gabby was the only one who’d ever met my family, and that was because she’d taken it upon herself to text my mom about my birthday gift one year, and the two of them had coordinated holiday plans after that. It wouldn’t have been hard for Alec to figure out I wasn’t thrilled about it.
Or maybe he was just happy I was showing up at all. To be honest, I was too. The same clarity that made me realize I no longer wanted to pursue a relationship with my parents made it clear how much I wanted one with Alec. And that I could still have one, regardless of where things stood with my parents. Alec was his own person, and who we were as people and as brothers didn’t have to be dictated by them. I could still be a part of his family, and he could be a part of mine.
A family that now included Dani.
More than anything, I wanted her to see there was a place for her in all of this. Not on the outskirts where it might seem less awkward or uncomfortable. Not for my sake.
When we got to Stephanie’s room, I rapped my knuckles on the open door. “Knock, knock.”
Alec’s face lit up as I stepped inside, his baby boy rocking in his arms. “Look, Oliver. It’s Uncle Jase!”
Stephanie tossed me a smile from beside the bed where she was packing a bag. “Hi, Jase,” she said with a laugh.
Dani stepped in behind me, her grip on my hand tight enough to cut off circulation.
Stephanie’s gaze softened, and she walked over to give Dani a hug. “I’m so glad you came. I wanted to thank you for driving Alec here.”
“Oh,” Dani said as Stephanie pulled away. Her wide eyes flashed to mine, and I fought my grin. “No problem.”
“Hon, you can’t just go up and hug people,” Alec said. “We’re trying not to scare her off, remember?”
“What? I’m happy she’s here. I just gave birth. Blame the hormones.”
“We, um, brought breakfast,” Dani said, holding up the paper bag filled with bagels we’d grabbed on our way over. We’d gotten ourselves coffees too, but those were long gone. I’d need another before I went into work later. Last night was amazing, but we did not get much sleep.
“ Now we’re talking. Here, Uncle Jase.” Alec walked over and placed Oliver in my arms, who stared up at me with wide blue eyes. “Thank you,” Alec said sincerely to Dani as he grabbed the food bag from her, then headed for the recliner by the window.
She smiled back, the two seeming mostly at ease with one another, and instead of pinching insecurity, all I felt was glad.
Dani peered over my arm to get a look at the baby. “He’s precious.” His face was both less red and less squished, and a whisp of nearly invisible hair curled off his forehead.
“You mean he’s quiet ,” Alec said as he unwrapped one of the bagels. “Don’t worry, it won’t last long. You want some of this, hon?”
“Heck, yeah.” Stephanie zipped up the last open pocket of her bag and made her way over to sit on Alec’s lap. He held up half the bagel for her to take a bite. Three months ago, the sight would have sent a pang of jealousy through me. I glanced at Dani, who was watching them too, and wondered if the same had been true for her.
She shifted her gaze to mine, and I pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
No doubt I still had plenty of jealousy toward my brother to work out, plenty of hidden wounds I’d only begun to heal. But I refused to let Dani be one of them. That was the real reason I’d wanted her here. So she could see I wouldn’t let her past hurt our future.
She leaned into the kiss before we both pulled away, a knowing glint in her eye as her mouth curved into a smile.
“You look good with a baby, man,” Alec said, mouth half full of bagel.
I shot him a glare. “I swear to God, if you turn into Mom, I will stop talking to you.”
He laughed, though there was a heaviness to it.
I didn’t plan on never talking to my parents again. I wasn’t cutting them out of my life entirely. But it was still an end of sorts, at least for now. One that would impact Alec more than I think either of us was willing to focus on just yet.
“I just meant maybe you should consider an official role,” he said.
My brows pulled together.
Stephanie smacked his arm. “That was his way of asking if you’d be Oliver’s godfather.”
My mouth fell open as I stared at Stephanie and Alec across the room. Alec’s brows were raised as if asking, So? Stephanie’s eyes shone with tears.
Dani’s hand landed just above my elbow and gave a gentle squeeze.
I looked down at the tiny human in my arms, traces of Alec already noticeable in his chubby features. I wondered how much he’d look like Alec when he was older. How much he’d be like Alec in other ways. If life would come easy for him or if he’d feel like an outsider. If he’d struggle to find his place, to know his worth.
Maybe. But Alec would love him regardless. And so would I. As someone he could turn to when the pressure became too much. Someone he could ask the questions that were too awkward to bring up with his parents. Someone to spoil him with presents and play all the reckless games with. Someone to listen. To offer advice.
I’d get to be a part of this little man’s life. Not from the outside looking in.
From right here, in the middle of it all.