Chapter Twenty-Six
Taylor
This is heaven. I’m stretched out on a comfortable chaise lounge by the pool at Jack’s house. He brought out cold sparkling water and watermelon for me to snack on, and he lent me a baseball cap to prevent my face from burning. The rest of me is lathered in sunscreen.
Then, he disappeared inside to handle business. He talked to his father and called his college friend, Carter Wellington, a criminal defense attorney in South Carolina, to ask if he’ll take my case, and set up an appointment with the FEC.
Focusing on the present, I glance down. I’m wearing a bikini and for the first time, I can see a hint of my baby belly.
I place my hand on my stomach and a flutter of happiness flows through me.
Despite the problems, I have no regrets about the baby.
I’m self-sufficient, have a good job, and can take care of us with no problem.
I’m sure Jack will insist on helping, but I’m aware of how lucky I am that I can do this on my own, too.
I’m just glad he wants to be a part of the baby’s life.
“I’m back,” Jack says, walking out of the house in a pair of swim trunks and sitting down beside me.
He stretches out his legs and lays on his chair, one arm behind his head.
I let my gaze travel over the hard muscles in his arms and chest. He works out early mornings before his day begins and it shows.
His skin glistens from sunscreen he applied earlier, and he’s so handsome my heart speeds up just looking at him.
But there are more important things to think about now. “How did the calls go?” I ask, bending one leg at the knee. Nerves kick in at the question.
“My father’s going to talk to some people and see what he can do. But he reminded me that if we bring down Cross, we can request a second look on the permits, anyway.”
I let out a relieved breath. “Oh, good. I didn’t think of that either. Did you reach your lawyer friend?”
He nods. “Carter can’t wait to bury the bastard.” Reaching out, he rubs my shoulder with his hand. “He’s going to do everything he can to get you out of this mess. He’s wrapping up a case, so he needs a few days, but we’ll meet with him soon.”
I swallow hard. “Good. That’s good.” I haven’t let myself think about what Chandler’s threats could mean for my future. If I did, I’d never get out of bed in the morning.
“His hope is that Cross gaslit you and you aren’t in trouble at all.”
“And if I unknowingly did something wrong?” I ask, my voice trembling.
“If you did, you have enough proof of Cross’s corruption to offer evidence in exchange for immunity. But I really don’t think it’s going to come to that, sweetheart. It sounds like he cornered you, convinced you that you were in deep shit, and preyed on the weakness he created.”
My stomach churns at all the possibilities.
After that, we rest in silence, probably because we’re talked out and I’m overwhelmed with what’s coming.
First thing tomorrow, I’m going home. Even if I won’t see him, I admit it helps to know that Jack will be nearby.
The festival is two days after, and with luck, that’s the only time I’ll need to see Chandler for a while.
Other than David skulking around, Chandler has been too quiet during my vacation.
Maybe he realized he’s pushed me as far as I can handle and I needed the break.
“Do you want to find out whether we’re having a boy or a girl?” Jack asks, changing the subject to something much more pleasant.
I give it some thought. “I do. Not only will it let me buy what I need without guessing, I think I’ll bond with the baby more. Especially if we name him or her. My mom said when she was pregnant, she felt closer to her kids once she knew the sex and name.” I turn my face toward him.
He nods. “Makes sense. Have you thought about names?”
“Just based on what I like, I was considering Abigail for a girl, Abby for short, and James for a boy. Of course, you have a say, so we have to agree.”
He remains silent and I assume he’s giving my choices some thought.
“There’s no rush—”
“I like them both,” he tells me.
I’m surprised he agrees so quickly. “You don’t have names you’d want to toss out for consideration?” He’s made it clear he wants a role in the baby’s life, and I’m willing to give him whatever he asks for.
“Nope. You have good taste.”
I smile, happy we’re in agreement. He’s easy to get along with.
The past three weeks have given me good insight into Jack Dare.
He’s a stand-up guy, a caring brother and son, and he’s shown me nothing that screams of red flags.
Oh, hell. Why am I thinking about him in such distant terms when I already know I’ve fallen hard for the man?
Reaching out, I thread my fingers through his and accept the fact that I’m head over heels in love with him.
I’m just not free enough to give him the words.
I hope our upcoming separation will be temporary, but we haven’t talked about the future.
I think we both want our issues behind us first. Either that or we’re just going to co-parent and not be in a relationship.
I don’t know what he’s thinking, and I’m too overwhelmed to ask.
His gaze meets mine, a sexy smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod. Just emotional, I think to myself. “It’s hot. Can we go inside?” I ask.
“Sure.” He pushes himself to a standing position.
I follow and together we bring the food and drinks into the kitchen. He places the fruit in the Sub-Zero refrigerator, and I set the plastic pool glasses in the sink.
I love his house. It’s very Florida-looking with an adobe clay roof and white stucco on the outside.
Located in a gated community, it’s large, with four bedrooms on one level and plenty of space for a family.
The neutral design leaves a lot of options for making it homey, which he’s done.
I wonder if his mother or sister helped with the décor.
He walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, his hands cupping my belly as he settles his lips on my cheek. “You smell good. Like coconut.”
More like sweat, I think, but apparently he’s not noticing, just like I don’t with him. I draw in a deep breath, taking in his musky scent. Mmm. Leaning back, I trust him to keep me upright. I love the feel of his strong arms holding me in place.
He kisses my cheek, trailing his lips down past my jaw, then my neck, nuzzling his nose near my collarbone.
My skin tingles with every move he makes.
The last time we were together in the Bahamas rocked me to the center of my being.
There’s sex and there’s making love. And though it was the first time I’d felt the difference, what Jack and I shared wasn’t just physical.
I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since.
From the soft nips he places on my skin, I have a feeling I’m in for a repeat performance and I can’t say I mind.
Turning in his arms, I seal my lips over his, wrapping my arms around his neck as I do.
He kisses me back with long, luxurious sweeps of his tongue and he nibbles on my lower lip, causing sensations that I feel deep in my core.
Suddenly, he pulls back, bends at the knee, and picks me up and into his arms. The walk to his bedroom is brief and I spend the time snuggling into his broad chest, grateful we have this one last time together before I return to the real world I left behind.
Once in his bedroom, he lowers me to my feet, turns me around, and pulls on the string of my bikini by my neck, then the one around my back, releasing me from the material.
I toss the top onto the floor, sucking in a breath as he wraps his arms around me and cups my breasts in his hands.
He holds their weight, then tweaks and pulls on my nipples, the sensation shooting straight to my core.
Thanks to the pregnancy, my breasts are ultrasensitive and I turn in his arms, unable to take the pressure any longer.
I wind my arms around his nape and press kisses to his neck and collarbone, then move downward, licking his skin as I lower myself to my knees.
Using both hands, I pull his shorts down his legs, then wrap my hands around his thick erection.
He groans and places his palm on the top of my head and I suck him into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the tip while gliding my hand up and down his shaft.
He arches and his cock hits the back of my throat, but I don’t care.
I double down on my efforts, moving my hand faster, licking and sucking as I get him closer and closer to coming.
“Fuck, Tay. No more. I want to come inside you.”
I laugh and continue my ministrations, so he hooks his hands beneath my arms and I release him with a pop. “Hey! I was enjoying that.”
He grins. “So was I, but like I said, I’d rather be inside you when I come.”
“I got the message.” I slide my thumbs into the sides of my bikini and wriggle out of the bottoms, adding them to the small pile of bathing suits on the floor.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he says, taking me in, his hot gaze roaming over my naked body.
I feel a flush rise to my cheeks. I’m definitely not used to compliments while I’m naked.
Next thing I know, he’s lifting me again and placing me on the bed. Instead of joining me, he pulls me to the edge of the mattress and parts my legs. Eyes dark with desire, he steps between them and sets his cock at my entrance. My pussy clasps around nothing, need slicing through me.
“Please,” I say, bending my knees so I’m open even more.
He slides in the barest amount, teasing me until I’m writhing and arching my back in an attempt to take more of him.
He chuckles and inches in farther, slowly filling me. I meet his hot gaze. His jaw is clenched with the effort he’s using to hold back. But I have power too, and I squeeze my inner walls around his cock, teasing him just as he’s doing to me.
“You win,” he says through gritted teeth and thrusts all the way.
Yes, I think, as he fills me completely. “Perfect,” I utter as he begins a steady glide in and out, my body flying higher with each pass.
It’s always like this with Jack. He enters me and it’s bliss. In and out, grinding into me, sliding one finger over my clit, gently rubbing either side, and my eyes roll back in my head. My climax, when it hits, is sublime, and I’m lost in waves of sensation and pleasure.
My orgasm frees him and he lets go, driving into me until he somehow manages to wring another climax from me as he comes with a forceful groan.
“Jesus,” he mutters, pulling out so he can position me in the center of the bed where he joins me, curling me against him. “Fucking incredible.”
I grin. “I agree.”
We lay in silence, and I feel his heartbeat against me. My eyelids are heavy and want to drift closed. With Jack, I feel safe, so I let myself go.