Chapter 20
Everly
The next morning, I wake up to the feel of soft kisses and the tickle of stubble gliding along my shoulder.
I sigh, curling into Jake, my back against his warm, hard chest, my ass nestled right up against his hard cock. He feels so good; every bit of him touching every part of me. I don’t know how I will ever be able to go back to sleeping in this bed by myself when I know how good it feels to wake up in his arms.
I close my eyes again, savoring the way he feels as Jake’s arm snakes around my chest and his leg drapes over my thigh. His erection nudges my entrance, sending a bolt of lust between my legs. I roll my hips back against the outline of him, his hard cock trapped behind the soft fabric of his boxers.
“Mmmm… good morning. Sleep well?”
“The best,” I murmur. “I like having you in my bed with me.”
“I like being in your bed with you.” Jake kisses my neck. “I like being anywhere with you. You are all I ever think about.”
I smile against my pillow. “How are you real, Jake Matthews? You always say the sweetest things.”
“Oh, I’m real. Want me to prove it?” He pulls me closer into his chest and I giggle.
“Is Birdie up yet? What time is it?” I reach for Jake’s wrist, the one he wears his watch on, and I check the hour. We should have a little time. I wiggle my ass against Jake’s groin, teasing him, showing him I’m definitely down for morning sex.
He whispers into my hair as his fingers trail down to where my ass is rolling against the hard length of him, hooking his fingers into the waistband of my thong. He slides the lace over my hips to my knees and I help him take the fabric all the way off from there. “I want to be so deep inside of you.”
I swallow. “Then your boxers need to go,” I say, gasping when I feel his cock spring free, tapping at my ass. We’re both naked from the waist down now, and I’m desperate to feel him inside of me. I wiggle my ass against the head of his swollen cock.
He curses, nudging the tip of his erection against my wetness before pulling away and then nudging in just a little more once again. My hips greedily rock back against him, wanting him in the worst way possible.
“Ev, baby… condom.”
“It’s fine,” I murmur, rocking into him.
Jake pauses for a second before gripping my hip with his big hand and thrusting into me. I gasp as he begins to move, his bare cock sliding deep inside me, feeling better than it’s ever felt.
“Fuck, you feel so good like this,” he moans from behind me as he continues to push into me in a quickened pace. He’s entering me at the perfect angle, hitting me in just the right spot. I groan into my pillow to muffle the sound. The door to my bedroom is closed and locked, but I still don’t want to wake up Birdie. As it is, this is reckless, but we both know this needs to be quick.
Pulling out of me, he turns us so he’s lying on his back. “Sit on me.” Jake grips the base of his hard cock, proudly pointed towards the ceiling, eager to be inside me. He takes me by my waist, lifting me on top of him so I’m straddling his hips before he slips my T-shirt over my head. He lines me up and slowly lowers me down the length of him until I’m seated, balls deep, and I ride him. He seems to know this angle takes him deeper inside me, and I’m still getting used to how big he is, so he starts slow.
“Look at you, baby. That’s my girl. You look so good riding my cock,” he says, voice low and husky as he reaches for my breasts.
Soon, my hands are firmly on his pecs and I’m picking up the pace, unable to stop moving up and down his length. With Jake inside of me, raw, all I can think about is being filled with his come. He feels better than I could ever have imagined. I feel a desperate need to have him claim me in this way that brings me closer to my release. I moan, throwing my head back, grinding my pelvis against his. “Don’t stop, Jake. Please don’t stop.”
“Never baby. Not until you come first.”
“You feel so good,” I groan before biting my lip, realizing that was a little too loud. But then Jake is thrusting his hips up into me with a punishing force and that’s all it takes before I’m coming undone all over his cock.
Jake curses through clenched teeth. “Such a good girl coming for me. You look so beautiful when you come for my cock.”
I keep riding him as my orgasm fades, then I feel Jake’s dick twitch and pulse inside of me before he’s filling me with his warm release. He keeps fucking me through his orgasm, until his body goes limp and he’s pulling me down for a kiss. His lips linger on mine for a moment before his green eyes open, my face hovering over is.
He brushes my hair from my face. “You know how to make me lose all control. You are addicting.”
“I don’t know where I found the energy. I’m under your spell, Lover Boy,” I murmur, before kissing him chastely and slipping out of bed. I throw his T-shirt on over my head and walk to my dresser. I need to have a quick shower and get dressed for my shift before I get Birdie ready for school.
“About that,” he says, sitting up in bed, looking for his boxers and tugging them on. “You can’t keep up the pace you’re working at. I know how tired you are. You just won’t admit it. I want you to reconsider coming to work for me. I—”
“Jake…”
“No, Ev…hear me out,” he says, sliding out of bed and walking across the room to where I’m grabbing clean underwear and a bra. His warm hands gently find my shoulders. “I can’t keep watching you work yourself to the bone. And be honest with yourself… how much longer can you run at this pace? Besides, I need you. I need help at the office, and you would be perfect for the job. This could be great for both of us.”
I know Jake is right; I can’t keep this schedule up for much longer. I feel like I’m running on empty. And it’s not fair to Birdie that I’m half-asleep when I’m reading her bedtime story, and that I have to miss her dance recitals and after-school activities. I’ve been looking for a day job, but there isn’t anything that pays as well as what I’m making at the restaurant. I’ve also been regretting my decision not to fight Grant in court for child support. Stupid me, thinking he wouldn’t be a petty asshole, and would provide for his daughter, but I’d rather work myself to the bone than ask him for a cent.
And then there is Jake, who wants to do everything he can to help.
“It makes sense. Listen to me, baby. There’s paperwork, scheduling the team, orders, and planning that I don’t have time for. I am drowning right now. I need you just as much as you need me.”
I sigh. “Why haven’t you hired someone? There are plenty of people out there looking, I’m sure, you could find someone.”
“Because the position is yours. I’ve been waiting for you to realize that. I’m not filling the spot with anyone but you.”
“Jake…”
“Please, baby. Don’t make me beg. I’ve never begged for anything in my whole life, and I don’t want to start now.”
A small laugh escapes me, but then my expression turns serious. “But what if things don’t work out with us?”
Jake flinches. He looks like I’ve physically hurt him, and I instantly regret that I was so careless with my words.
“I’m sorry, that came out all wrong,” I say, sliding my hands over his chest. “It’s just, I worry about providing for Birdie.”
“I know you do, and I would never get in the way of that,” he says, scratching his fingers through the scruff on his jaw. “But if you’re not happy with the job, then you leave. I won’t stop you. At least you tried.”
I’m glad that Jake wants me to work for him, and I believe him that he needs the help, but I’m not sure it’s the best decision for us as a new couple. On the other hand, he spends a lot of time out on job sites so it’s not like we’d actually be working together all day long. Maybe I’m overthinking it. I have to admit that this could solve a lot of my problems.
“Okay. I’ll do it,” I say softly.
“Really?” Jake’s eyes widen, like he wasn’t expecting to win me over.
“Yes. I’ll give my notice at Catch 21 today,” I say, watching a thousand-watt smile takes over his face. “I’ll let you know what they say and when I can start.”
He presses a lingering kiss to my lips. “I’m so happy. Like, so happy, baby. I promise you it’s going to be great. And Ev, I’m not going anywhere. I’m in this with the two of you.”
I bite my lower lip, then smile and go up on my toes to kiss him. Jake might be seven years younger than me, but he’s so mature for his age that it’s easy to forget. On paper, we might not seem like a good fit, but I have more in common with him than I ever did with the 34-year-old man that I married. Jake is more of a man than Grant will ever be. He’s supportive, protective, loyal to his family, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been with anyone who has made me this much of a priority.
But I also have to think about Birdie. She will always come first. She needs stability in her life, so I hope I’m not making a giant mistake. Something in the back of my mind is telling me that everything is going to be okay. “Thank you. I hope I won’t disappoint.”
“You have nothing to worry there. You could never disappoint me. Unless you decide you are sick of me.”
A satisfied grin spreads across his face as his hands grip the apples of my ass, squeezing before I wiggle out of his arms and walk towards the ensuite bathroom.
“And Ev?”
“Yeah?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder at him as I slip into the bathroom.
“Can you wear that black skirt you wear at the restaurant when you work for me?”
I shake my head. “You are trouble,” I laugh as I’m shutting the door.
I shower with a smile on my face. I’m ecstatic that I will no longer have to work nights. I can’t wait to not be on my feet for hours. Best of all, I can work while Birdie is in school, which means I’ll be there for her at night. And I have Jake to thank for all of it.
I got dressedas quickly as I could so I could wake up Birdie while Jake made breakfast. When I told her Jake was in the kitchen, she shot out of bed like a rocket to see him. Luckily for me, she didn’t ask when he got here so I didn’t have to explain the fact that he slept over. Eventually, if Jake staying over becomes a reoccurring thing, I’m going to have to talk to her about it, for now I have another difficult discussion to tackle. I need to tell my manager at Catch 21 that I’m leaving. Even harder, though, will be telling Owen and Violet.
As I’m packing Birdie’s lunch for school, I watch her with Jake in the living room. The two of them are sitting side by side on the couch, playing a quick game of Mario Kart. Jake agreed to play one game if she got dressed and brushed her teeth after breakfast. I’ve never seen her move so fast. Now, they’re laughing and hollering at the TV. They’ve already become so cute together. Sometimes it feels like it’s me against the two of them.
I’m just slicing the last of a handful of strawberries when I overhear Birdie ask, “Are you my mommy’s boyfriend?”
My eyes shoot to Jake, just in time to see his expression change from playful to visibly anxious. He puts down his game controller.
“How would you feel about it if I was?” he asks thoughtfully.
Birdie smiles, turning on the couch to face him. “I would love it. Can I tell you a secret? And you promise not to tell Mommy.”
“Of course,” Jake says, holding his pinky finger out. “Pinky promise.”
Birdie wraps her pinky around Jake’s, and I smile, my heart expanding in my chest. She leans closer, thinking she’s whispering but in actuality I can hear the whole thing from across the room.
“Mommy likes you. She’s always smiling when she’s with you. She talks about you a lot.”
Jake grins at Birdie and then reaches over to lift her onto his lap. I melt. There is something about a big, broody-looking guy who is a softie for my daughter. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Birdie nods solemnly.
“I like your mom a lot too. She’s pretty special to me.”
“So, you are her boyfriend.”
“Yeah, Birdie-girl, she is my girlfriend.”
Birdie wiggles with a little squeal. “I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world. I love you, Jake!”
The knife in my hand slices the tip of my finger and I yelp, dropping it to the cutting board. “Ouch…” I say, breaking the sweet moment between them. Jake sets Birdie on the couch and then comes over to check on me.
“You okay?” he asks, gently taking my hand in his to get a look at the damage. My heart is beating like a drum in my chest, but it’s not from the cut. I can barely even feel that. Birdie just told Jake that she loves him. I take a deep breath and try to play it off like Birdie’s confession isn’t an absolutely huge fucking deal. Jake goes with it, but I can tell he’s shaken by it too.
“Where’s the first aid kit?” he asks.
“Under the bathroom sink.”
Jake returns to the kitchen and after applying Polysporin and a Band-Aid, I hurry to get dressed for work. I’m now behind schedule thanks to the unexpected injury, so I’m running around my bedroom trying to find my clothes when Jake walks into the room. He wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my neck. I tilt my neck to the side, silently encouraging him to keep going even though I don’t have time.
“You’re in a rush, Ev. I’m not. Why don’t you let me drop Birdie off at school for you?”
“It’s fine. It’s never a big deal if I’m a couple of minutes late. They know I need to get Birdie to school. Besides, I don’t want to add to your plate.”
Jake turns me around in his arms, shaking his head at me. “It’s not adding to my plate. I love being with Birdie and I’d like to take her. That is, if it’s okay with you?”
I don’t know what to say. This man never ceases to amaze me. He’s always looking for ways to make my life easier, to make me happy, and I know Birdie would love to have Jake drop her off.
“Okay,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck as his slip around my back. “But only if you’re sure you have time.”
“I have time, baby. And I want to,” he says, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before his lips brush against mine in a slow, panty-melting kiss. I can’t help the little groan that slips from my lips.
Jake rests his forehead against mine before letting me go. “Birdie!” he hollers as he walks towards the hallway. “Guess who’s taking you to school?” Then he winks before disappearing down the hall.
I hear the two of them high-fiving, and when I peek my head down the hall, I see that Jake has Birdie in his arms. She squeals as he twirls her around, and for a moment I allow myself to imagine that this is what it would feel like if Jake, Birdie, and I were a real family.
It feels right.
Birdie is falling for Jake just as hard as I am, which is equal parts wonderful and terrifying.
I say a silent prayer for more good days like this one.
JAKE
That was onlythe second time I’ve spent the night with Everly, and I already know I want to do it again. Soon.
I know she’s nervous about sleeping in the same bed as me with Birdie around, so I’m not going to push her. I know Birdie comes first with her, that’s part of why I think she’s so incredible. But that doesn’t stop me from hoping it can become a more frequent thing.
I drove Birdie to school this morning, and it was the wildest experience ever. Everly had called to let the teachers know I’d be the one dropping her off, so in that way, everything went great and there were no problems. What I wasn’t prepared for was the crowd of curious moms who introduced themselves, clearly wondering who I was. I was half-expecting Birdie to take off running to meet her friends as soon as we got there, but instead she took my hand and showed me the butterfly she drew that was displayed on the art wall. She eventually let me leave, but not before giving me a giant hug goodbye. I left the school with this fucked up feeling in my chest that I’m still trying to make sense of. How could such a simple, everyday thing like dropping Birdie off at school make me feel so happy? I’m not usually the type of guy who gets all charged up with emotions —especially not about dropping a 7-year-old off at school— but I liked the way it felt, and I find myself actually looking forward to doing it again.
The car ride to school was entertaining as hell too. Birdie wouldn’t stop talking, and it was cute as fuck when she asked if she could be the DJ and choose a song from my playlist. Constant conversation doesn’t come naturally to me, I tend to be pretty quiet—thankfully, Birdie seemed happy enough to do most of the talking.
After I dropped her off, I went home to shower and put on a change of clothes. In the car on the way to work, I thought about this morning, about having sex with Everly without a condom. It’s not something I ever do. It’s risky, even if she’s on the pill, but when Ev is naked and in my arms, I lose brain cells. Fuck. I can’t even say I regret it because I don’t. My cock buried in Ev, raw, was better than anything I’ve ever felt.
All in all, it was a pretty perfect morning. I haven’t even had a chance to process the fact that Birdie told me she loved me. I’m pretty sure it freaked Everly out, even though she didn’t admit it. It probably should have freaked me out too, but it didn’t. Not even for a second.
I love that little girl too.