24. Elliot
Elliot
I pull my pants up while Julian cleans between Lee’s legs. Drags her shirt over her head and sets her on the couch.
“Need a little nap,” she whispers and curls up on her side.
She’s so cute.
“I’m going to work out,” he says and walks out the door.
I press a kiss to the top of Lee’s head and pull a blanket over her shoulders. She doesn’t stir. Her breathing stays slow and even, one hand curled loosely against her stomach. The thought of her being pregnant makes me want to beat on my chest and rut into her like an animal.
I find some composure and walk away so she can sleep.
A streak of black and white runs through the kitchen and skids to a halt in front of the torn curtain.
Jasper freezes, tail puffed, staring up at the shredded fabric like it just challenged him to a fight.
He takes two slow steps backward, then another, but there is mischief in his little kitten eyes.
I scoop him up before he can launch another attack on the beastly curtains. He goes limp the second he’s against my chest, rumbling out a loud purr that vibrates straight through my shirt.
“You bored, little buddy?” I mutter, scratching behind one ear. “I brought you some stuff. But keep it down. Your mom’s finally sleeping.”
He tips his head back to look at me with those wide, unblinking eyes.
I shake my head. “No. I’m not telling you why she’s tired. You’re too young for that conversation.”
I carry him into the kitchen with one arm and drag the big canvas bag of toys out from beside the pantry with the other.
“This place is tiny,” I tell him, setting him down on one of the kitchen chairs. “So we’re gonna keep the insanity and scratching to a minimum, got it?”
He watches me with his head tilted, one paw dangling over the edge of the seat like he’s supervising.
I start with his cat tower. It’s a small one, and I only have to screw on one ledge. A ball hangs below it, and he immediately starts swinging at it.
When that gets old, he throws himself on another toy, chasing the ball around and around until his little legs give out, and he flops right in the middle of it, panting.
I lift him up and put him on the hammock level of his cat tower. He curls into a little fluff ball and tucks in his paws.
When I turn around, Lee is sitting up on the couch.
She’s got the blanket pooled around her waist, and her hair’s a mess from sleep. She’s watching me with this soft, unreadable look on her face. Her eyes flick from me to the tower and back again.
I wipe my hands on my pants and meet her gaze.
She doesn’t say anything right away. Just keeps looking at me with a sweet smile.
“Oh my God,” she says, hand moving off the back of the couch to get a closer look. “He is so cute. I’m going to die from the actual cuteness,” she whispers to me.
I walk around the couch and sit next to her.
With her sweet smile, she crawls over to me on her hands and knees. Then she climbs straight into my lap, straddling me. Her arms loop around my neck. I steady her with my hands on her waist.
She kisses me before I can say anything. It’s so slow. Her mouth moves against mine, and I let her take what she wants. Her hands run across my bare chest, and her finger traces the lines of muscle.
I kiss her back the same way, one hand sliding up her back under her shirt, the other cupping the back of her head.
We make out like teenagers, and I’m rock-hard while she grinds against my thigh.
“I’m not mad at you anymore,” she whispers against my mouth. “But only because you are a really good cat dad. And you brought him toys… and thought of everything we needed here.”
My cheeks ache from the smile against her mouth.
Shifting her hips, she reaches between us. She slips both hands into the waistband of my pants.
I lift my hips just enough to help as she pulls me free.
Her fingers wrap around my cock, and she strokes me slowly, base to tip, like she’s savoring the feel of me in her hand.
I groan into her lips and keep kissing her, wanting her to have control this time. She has to know she controls all of me by now.
Inch by inch, she slides me deep inside her, the heat making my jaw clench. She’s so warm and wet around me that it takes everything I have not to thrust up into her. But I don’t. I stay still, hands trailing along her back, letting her take what she needs.
Lee braces her hands on my shoulders and starts to move.
It’s not fast. She rolls her hips in slow, deep circles, taking me all the way inside before rising up again.
Every time she sinks back down, a soft sound escapes her. I watch her face and the way her lips part, the way her lashes flutter when she’s all the way seated on me. My hands slide across her soft skin to the undersides of her breasts as she rides me.
“You feel so good,” she breathes, forehead dropping to mine.
Her body clamps down around my length, and she buries her face in my neck. She comes with a quiet sound and grips me so tightly my breath catches. I hold her through it, pressing kisses to her shoulder and the side of her neck while she shakes in my arms.
Only when she’s trembling and spent do I let myself move. I thrust up into her a few more times, chasing my own release, and come deep inside her with her name on my lips. She stays right there, wrapped around me, breathing hard against my skin as I pulse inside her.
“I’m so fucking in love with you, Elliot Ryker,” she breathes against my skin and lays her head on my shoulder.
“I love you too.” It’s more than that. I’ve never needed anything more than I do her love. She makes me want to burn everything down for her, as cliché as that sounds. And I’m going to.
Julian walks in from the gym. Sweat darkens the collar of his shirt, and his hair is damp at the temples. He doesn’t say anything at first. He just catches sight of us wrapped around each other and gives Lee a small, knowing wink before heading into the kitchen.
“Hope you two worked up an appetite,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’m making dinner after I shower. Clothes optional, babydoll.”
Lee lets out a quiet laugh. I smile against her hair, my arms tightening around her for a moment.
Eventually, she sits up, still a little flushed, and reaches for my hand. I let her pull me to my feet. Without a word, the three of us go get cleaned up.
The shower turns the bathroom hazy, steam curling around us until the rest of the cabin disappears.
Lee stands between us, her head tips back, and water runs down her back.
Julian works shampoo through her hair, slow and careful, his fingers gentle against her scalp. I press my mouth to her shoulder and let my hands follow the water down her ribs, over her hips, along every inch of her skin.
Then she looks up at us through wet lashes, and I forget about getting clean. With a smirk, she drops to her knees and takes turns with both of us, her mouth warm and eager, until we’re both breathing harder and gripping her shoulders.
When the water runs cold, we stumble out. My pulse is wrecked, but Lee looks satisfied.
By the time we reach the main room, garlic and onions are already sizzling in the kitchen. Julian works silently.
“I’m starving,” I tell him. The fridge squeaks when I open it and grab some water bottles. I twist off the lid then hand it to Julian and leave one on the counter for Lee.
Jasper is still passed out in the top box of his new tower.
Lee’s wearing one of my shirts again. The hem hits her mid-thigh. The way she looks in my clothes is fucking sinful. She heads straight for the kitchen island and snatches a cookie off the baking sheet before Julian can stop her.
He swats at her hand without even turning around.
“Dinner first, Ettie,” he says, a smile in his voice. “You burned a lot of calories today. You need protein.”
“You aren’t the boss of me, Julian Jameson,” she fires back, already reaching for another cookie.
Julian finally glances over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised.
“I know,” he says smoothly. “I’m your daddy.”
Before she can grab the second cookie, I speak up from where I’m leaning against the counter.
“He’s right, baby. Do as he says, or your other daddy will have to punish you.”
She freezes with her fingers hovering over the cookie. Slowly, she drops it back onto the tray and fans her face with both hands.
“Fucking hell, that’s hot,” she says, voice raspy. “I probably need to talk to someone about it though. You’ve given me a serious kink and turned me into a cum fiend.”
Julian grabs her by the waist and leans in close, his mouth brushing her ear.
“No, you’re just a good girl,” he whispers.
The space is small enough that I hear every word. Lee’s breath catches, and a visible shiver runs through her. She fans her face again, cheeks flushed.
“Jesus,” she mutters. “Your dirty talk is going to actually make me combust one of these days.”
Julian just shakes his head, smiling, and she leans in to press a quick kiss to his cheek before slipping away from him. She comes around the table and drops into the chair beside me.
I don’t give her the chance to get comfortable. I hook an arm around her waist and haul her straight into my lap. She lets out a soft laugh but doesn’t fight it, settling against my chest with her legs draped over mine.
Dinner is fun.
Julian tells some ridiculous story about pulling a bottle out of a man’s ass when he was a resident and new on rotation. He has us all laughing until Lee’s eyes are watering.
She eventually slides off my lap and back into her own chair, but she leaves her feet in my lap under the table.
Julian keeps reaching over every few minutes to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, like he can’t stop touching her.
Every now and then, her toes press lightly against my thigh, and I rest my hand there.
For a little while, it almost feels normal. Like maybe we could actually have this.
But when Lee eventually stands and heads to the bathroom, the easy warmth in my chest turns to lead. I wait until I hear the bathroom door click shut before I look at Julian.
What I’m about to tell Julian is going to break our little bubble.
“I lied about when Fuller would be back.”
Julian’s brows pull together. He sets his fork down slowly.
“I’m leaving tonight,” I continue, keeping my voice low. “I need to get to him before Lee tries anything.”
“Elliot, no.” He shakes his head, voice tight. “We can figure something out. We don’t have to do it like this.”
I meet his eyes and hold them. We both know that’s not true. This is our only option.
“Be safe, El. Call me when it’s done.”
I nod at him and make a silent promise to end this for our girl. Then I turn and go to the bedroom. I’ll wait until she’s asleep to leave.
Julian will take care of her. At least I can take comfort in that.