26. Jace
Jace
Pulling out of town on Friday afternoon is harder than anticipated.
It’s a three-hour drive to my folks’ place in Tacoma, Washington, and after calling and begging them to change dinner to lunch, my mom agreed if I came today so they could spend some extra time with me.
Really, it isn’t a chore, I love my family, and I miss them, but as pathetic and sappy as it sounds, I don’t like being this far from Harper and Lizzie.
I left Tink at her place to watch over them.
Harper had laughed, reminding me that she has stayed in her house for years without a protector, and that I could go to Washington for the weekend and not worry.
It’s been less than a week since our first date, and although we agreed to not stay over all night, she has texted me three nights this week, asking me to sneak in after Lizzie is in bed. Tonight, that won’t be an option, and my cock is not happy about it. My phone chimes with a text message.
Harper
Have a great weekend, I’ll miss you!
Followed by a picture of her lying in bed, in only one of my T-shirts. I’m instantly hard and seriously consider turning around and going straight to her house. Instead, I call her.
“Hi,” she answers too chipper, knowing what she just did to me. I can hear voices in the background.
“Harper, why do I hear people around you while you’re in nothing but my shirt?” It comes out as a growl.
“I’m helping Bree set up for the festival.”
“Wearing that?” I shout, not amused by her laughter.
“Really, Jace? Do you think I would walk around like that in public, in late October when it’s forty-five degrees out?”
“Are you telling me you took that picture earlier with the sole purpose of driving me crazy?”
“Think of it as something to look at when you’re alone in your bed tonight.” Her voice has dropped so only I can hear her. She has come out of her shell with me this week. Bolder, and not afraid to ask for what she wants. I love that she feels confident and trusts me enough to do that.
“I’ll be doing nothing but staring at that picture, babe.”
“Really, nothing else? Hmm, maybe I’ll just have to send a better picture when I’m in bed tonight.”
“God, yes. Or better yet, call me on a video chat?”
“And risk your parents hearing us? Nope, not happening, buster.”
“Fine,” I mutter, sounding like a petulant child. “Have fun tonight and be safe. Oh, and give Lizzie a hug from me.”
“I’ll see you Sunday around lunchtime, right?”
“Yeah, and it can’t come soon enough.”
“Bye, Jace.”
“Bye, baby.”
The line disconnects and I grin. I can’t wait to surprise her when I show up at the festival tomorrow night.
My folks are on their front porch when I pull up. “Where’s Tink?” my dad calls when he sees me alone.
“Good to see you too, Pops.” I laugh, shutting the truck door with my overnight bag in hand.
“Oh, dear, you know what he means. Is she okay?” My mom meets me halfway, pulling me into a big hug, like it’s been three years instead of three months since I’ve seen her.
As a teen, I used to love walking up and resting my arm on her head.
At five foot nothing, she’s over a foot shorter than me, but she more than makes up for it in stubbornness.
She pats my cheeks, checking me over in such a motherly way.
Her once brown hair is now more gray than anything else, and she decided to quit covering it last year, embracing her grandmother years, “If only someone would make her a grandmother,” she said.
At twenty-eight, she believes I’m doomed to be an eternal bachelor.
My brother and sister are both in their twenties now and just starting to get the little comments, too.
“If you must know, Tink is on guard duty, watching over some people who are very important to me.”
Mom whirls around, slapping my arm, the fine lines that trace the corners of her eyes and mouth deepening as she smiles; her eyes sparkle with excitement.
“Chris! Get over here! Jace has met someone.” She’s clutching my arm with enough force that I wince a little, laughing at her excitement.
“You have, right? That’s what that comment meant, right? ”
“Nita, let the boy talk, and maybe we will get more information.” My dad pulls me in for a hug.
“Let’s get inside and I’ll tell you all about them.”
“Them?” My mom is like a dog with a bone. My dad just smiles at her endearingly, and my heart twists, hoping this will be Harper and me in thirty years.
“You can put your things in your room later. I just pulled an apple pie out of the oven, so let's eat and catch up,” Mom calls as she heads into the kitchen. I follow to help carry plates.
I’m barely in a chair before my mom huffs loudly. “Well, now, are you going to talk or just enjoy tormenting your dear old mother?”
“As a matter of fact, I have met someone. Someone I care for a lot. Someone I hope to have a very long future with.”
“I knew it! That’s why you’ve skipped dinners and begged to change it tomorrow to lunch, isn’t it?”
My dad chuckles, not even trying to reign her in.
“It is. Her name is Harper, and her daughter’s name is Lizzie.
” Mom clasps her hands in front of her. Her mouth opens to say who knows what, but I hold my hand up to stop her.
“We met when I was visiting Juniper Falls this summer. She owns the spa in town, and a massage was the prize for the wood splitting contest. There was just this spark the second I met her, and it’s grown ever since.
As I said, she has a daughter, Lizzie, who is four, turning five in the spring.
She’s the sweetest kid, you’re going to love her, Mom.
She can’t talk yet, but she gets her point across, and I don’t think it’s possible to meet her and not fall in love. ”
Mom bats away a tear. “What’s this, hun?” My dad stares at her. “This is good news, why the tears?”
“Oh, you old fool,” she swats his arm playfully, “these are happy tears. Jace, you look so happy, and the tenderness in your voice when you talk about Harper and Lizzie, well, that is all I could ever hope for, for any of my kids.”
Taking her hand, I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m very happy, Mom.” We spend the next hour talking, mostly me telling them more about my girls. My brother Caleb calls just past nine. He’s deployed in the middle east, it’s his first deployment, so it has been an adjustment for us all.
“Caleb, honey!” Mom exclaims over my shoulder, making Caleb roll his eyes, and I can hear muffled laughter in the background. He’s going to be getting honeyed tonight, I bet. “Did you hear the news yet? Jace has a girlfriend.”
“Mom!” I laugh at the way she jumped at the chance to share my news.
“Oh, really? You found some woman willing to put up with that face, huh?” my brother jokes, and I shoo Mom off before she says something even more embarrassing. She’s the epitome of rose-tinted glasses when it comes to her kids.
“Yeah, she’s pretty great, actually. Hopefully you can meet her when you get back.” We don’t get much more time to talk before he has to head out on patrol.
“Stay safe, brother.” I breathe deeply as I hang up. Not sure I will ever get used to the idea of my kid brother possibly in harm’s way.
Dad and I share a whiskey and talk more after Mom heads to bed.
The instant sense of belonging with them, something I used to take for granted, feels so much more special now.
After hearing about Harper’s family, upbringing, and the way they turned her out, I realized how lucky I am.
By the time I head to my room for the night, it’s almost eleven.
I check my phone and see a text from Harper.
Harper
Good night Jace XOXO
There’s also a video. Settling on my bed, I hit play, and Harper's face fills the screen with a devious smile on her face. “Missing you so much tonight.” She props her phone on her nightstand and moves one hand under her shirt, working her nipple, and the other reaches out of the frame for a second before a pale pink toy comes onto the screen. “Guess I’ll just have to make do with this.” A soft buzzing sound starts before she spreads her thighs, running it between her legs.
As she moves, the shirt rides up, bearing her legs, inching closer to her pussy.
The toy disappears between her thighs, and just as her perfect pussy is about to be visible, the video cuts off.
“Fuck!” I breathe, dropping my head back onto the pillow.
It’s gonna be a long night. Removing my pants and getting ready to hit play again, an idea pops into my head.
Instead, I turn on the camera, starting a video of my own.
My rigid cock is obvious under my boxer briefs.
I flex so my abs stick out and my Adonis belt is more visible.
She has mentioned how badly she wanted to lick that V the first time she saw it.
Fair is fair, she toys with me, leaving me hot and bothered, so I’ll reciprocate.
I slide my hand under the band of my underwear, fisting my cock a few times before slowly peeling them down.
Just before my cock is freed, I stop the video and hit send.
Precum leaks from my head, so turned on, so needy for her. I nearly drop my phone when it starts to ring, and when I see the FaceTime request, the smile tugging at my lips is one of pure satisfaction.
“That was mean!” she whines, not even bothering to say hi.
“Payback’s a bitch, huh, babe? Now, I’m not an unreasonable man. How about this, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours?”
She works her lip, and it’s so sexy I want to suck it into my mouth and bite it myself.
“Do you have headphones?” she says quietly, like she’s afraid of being overheard. My smile widens—got her! Pulling out my headphones and sinking back onto the pillows, I can’t help but feel like the luckiest son of a bitch that she’s mine.
I headed out the door as soon as lunch was finished and dishes were washed.
Mom actually shooed me out the door, saying I looked like a caged animal.
Really, she’s just over the moon that I met someone, and that she might become a grandma before she dies.
Not dramatic at all. Harper and I stayed up for over an hour together on our video chat.
My cock twitches and hardens remembering the way she came apart in front of me, and I fully intend to begin researching toys this weekend, because I need a live replay, stat.
The festival is in full swing as I pull into town.
Cars are parked in the field, nearly filling the huge space.
Parking toward the back by the line of trees, I get out, pulling on a jacket.
It’s just after six, and the sun has set, bringing the temperature down with it.
The air smells of cinnamon, baked apples, and bonfire.
Harper told me there is a huge bonfire on the far end of the fairgrounds; people make smores, and warm up with hot chocolate or spiced cider.
Eating up the distance with long purposeful strides, ready to see Harper and Lizzie, I spot Bree's booth quickly, scanning the area for Harper. I’m disappointed when I don’t see her.
“Why am I not surprised?” Bree beams at me.
“Hey, Bree, looks like you’re busy today. Harper around?”
“Good job, you lasted five whole seconds before asking for Harper.” Her smile is infectious, and I know I look like a lovesick puppy, but I just don’t care.
“You know, I try.”
“She just ran some stuff back to the cafe for me. If you head that way now you can probably catch her before anyone else spots her.” I turn, arching a brow her way. “In case you want a less public reunion. And I’ll keep Lizzie entertained until y’all get back, no interruptions.”
Smiling back at her conspiratorial look, I turn on my heel and head back to the field.
Just as I’m about to pass through the back entrance to the lot, I spot movement to my left.
Like my thoughts had conjured her, Harper appears.
She hasn’t noticed me and is about to pass right by me.
Quickening my steps, I reach out, grabbing her arm.
She whirls, fists raised and ready to fight.
That’s my girl. But as soon as she realizes it’s me, she’s in my arms. Our mouths find each other like magnets.
Damn, it feels so good having her in my arms.
She breaks away, breath coming in soft pants. “What are you doing here?”
“A certain someone was plaguing my thoughts, and I needed to get back to her.” Her cheeks pinken as she smiles. “Come here,” I whisper, taking her mouth again.