Pretend Daddy

by Lulu Pratt

  Before I could find an excuse, she was dragging me outside following her new friend. I hadn’t noticed how hot and stuffy the bar was until the cool air hit my face. Inhaling deeply, I felt ten times better away from the blaring music, lustful eyes and crowded dance floor.

  “Did you drive?” the older man asked Catharine.

  “Yeah, but I can’t drive right now,” she admitted.

  “You can ride with me.”

  “Can I talk to you?” I interrupted, tugging at her elbow.

  Catharine turned to me with wide eyes, as though she’d completely forgotten I was there. I could see her new companion was embarrassed by my delaying his plan.

  “Can you believe we’re finally getting in The Cove?” she tried to whisper, but after half an hour in the bar, her tone was stuck on yelling mode.

  “I don’t think I’m gonna go,” I blurted.

  “What? Why? Don’t tell me you’re tired already. We just got here!”

  “I know, but you can go ahead,” I explained, watching the relief wash over her. She was worried about having to take me home.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I promise you. Just, please, text me to let me know you get home safely,” I urged. Her new friend looked harmless, but he was still a stranger.

  “I will,” she smiled, wrapping her arms around me.

  “And Cath?” I whispered in her ear. “You better not drive.”

  “You know I won’t.” She frowned as she pulled away. It was one of her rules to never drink and drive. One I was grateful for, because she could throw them back.

  Without hesitation, Catharine’s new friend led her to his waiting red Ford Mustang and I watched them drive off for what I hoped would be a fun night. Reaching into my small clutch purse, I hoped to revive what I could of my evening.

  After three rings, I grew nervous, thinking my escape plan might backfire on me. But then I heard a soft rumbling over the phone as he fumbled the phone.

  “Hello?” Jake finally answered, his groggy voice evidence that I’d woken him.

  “Hey,” I smiled, elated to hear his calming voice. He had become my safe space. My solace.

  The people around me felt invisible now that Jake was on the phone. Everything melted around me until all I could hear was his voice, focusing on remembering his handsome face as my alcoholic buzz escalated.

  “I miss you,” I admitted, desperate to feel his touch.

  “Where are you?” he asked, suddenly sounding wide awake.

  My heart bloomed at the care in his voice. Jake was my own personal superhero, always ready and willing to rescue me. When I’d sent Catharine away, it was with the confidence that Jake would be there for me, and now that he had proven me right, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

  Chapter 42

  JAKE

  I RACED ACROSS town, grateful my mom had Jasper for the night. It was difficult going to bed without Ashley after spending so many nights together. She’d told me she was going out with her friends, but hearing her voice made me think differently.

  She sounded a bit concerned, and I rushed to come to her side, hoping nothing had gone wrong. Because her phone battery was low, we decided not to talk during my drive, but I could see she was still at the bar through the app that tracked her location. While I no longer needed it for safety concerns during her time with Jasper, we had never discontinued the service, and it occasionally proved to be useful.

  When I arrived at the bar, Ashley was sitting on a bench out front. She smiled on her way to the truck, sending a rush of relief down my spine. I’d never seen her in anything so seductive. The black dress hugged her curves in ways that spoke directly to my manhood.

  “Thank you so much!” She leaned across the center console to hug me, her warm scent invading my nostrils.

  “Of course,” I said. There was never a question for me. If Ashley was in need, I was going to be there. We could discuss the particulars later. But I never wanted to let her down or leave her without support. She would always have me, and as I wrapped her in my arms, I hoped she knew that.

  “You look nice,” I remarked as she pulled away. She blushed as she flashed a nervous smile before tugging at the hem of her mini dress.

  “Sorry to wake you up. Jasper is with your mom?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder to see the empty car seat.

  “Yeah, she’s keeping him for the weekend.”

  “Oh? You didn’t tell me that,” she said, turning to me with a mischievous grin.

  “Well, you said your friend wanted you to go out with her. I didn’t want you to miss that.”

  Honestly, I’d been looking forward to spending the weekend together after making the plans with my mom. But the last thing I wanted was to impede on Ashley’s arrangements. So, when her friend asked her to go out together, I decided to keep my desires to myself.

  “I would have never gone if I knew that,” she said.

  “You don’t have to feel guilty for going out, Ashley,” I said as I turned onto the highway. She was watching me closely with a seductive look in her eyes. I could tell she had been drinking more than usual, showing me a side of her I’d never seen.

  “I know you’re young and still have a life outside of me and Jasper. I don’t want to take away from that. You should go out with your friends and have fun,” I continued.

  It was the same speech I had given myself a few hours earlier when I was missing her in my bed, finding it nearly impossible to fall asleep. She had come into my life and changed everything. She was the linchpin of my world, but I had to accept that she had a life of her own. I didn’t want to scare her off with obligations and responsibilities. She was a wonderful girlfriend and nanny, but she was still entitled to letting loose from time to time.

  “I’ve never really liked that scene much,” she said. She was facing forward as she lifted her leg, crossing her knee. The mini dress rose higher, showing even more of her thigh. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to focus, afraid I’d run off the road staring at her. “I just felt like it was a waste. All I was doing was thinking about you, so when Catharine decided she wanted to go somewhere else, I just told her to leave me there.”

  Clenching my jaw tightly, I fought the smile ruthlessly. A proud grin tugged at my lips, but I forbid it. I loved to hear that she was thinking about me, especially when she’d dominated my thoughts the entire night.

  “Well, I’m glad you called,” I said as I pulled into my driveway, pressing the remote control to open the garage.

  I’d just locked the front door, turning to see her staring intently. She was on her knees before I could process what was happening. Her hands pulled at my belt aggressively, quickly freeing my growing cock.

  “What are you doing? We can go to the room,” I tried to slow her down, but my feet were frozen in place, trapped under her spell.

  “Can I taste you or not?”

  Her question alone was enough to overwhelm me. I’d never seen her so seductive, like she knew how much power she had over me. My nod was imperceptible, but she must have seen it. Slowly, she ran her tongue across my length, coating me with her warm saliva.

  “God,” I sighed, wanting to look away, but her eyes were locked with mine. I didn’t dare break the gaze, watching instead as her cheeks suctioned to suck me slowly. Beyond seductive, she was sexy and erotic now.

  Ashley’s dress rose to her hips as she spread her knees further, bobbing her head back and forth. My cock swelled with intensity, desperate to release. My hips began to rock involuntarily, eager to feel more of her warmth.

  Finally, I leaned back, looking up to the ceiling to fight the urge to explode, unable to contain myself any longer. I wanted to wait, I needed to hold off. Releasing inside her was the summit of my pleasure. It was the deepest connection, claiming what was mine in the natural way. With my hand resting on the back of her head, I felt her every movement, owning me with her tongue. Suddenly, she stopped.

  “I want you watching m
e,” she whispered.

  God, she was so sexy. My lips curved into an obedient smirk as she returned to her pleasurable teasing, taking me deep into her throat before rocking back slowly. Then she started using her hands, gripping my cock while she sucked the head.

  I groaned, staring deep into her eyes.

  It was so good, I felt myself losing control. Widening my stance, I gave up the fight, submitting to her will as she increased her pace. My hips rocked harder as I gripped a handful of her hair in my hand, leading her.

  She sucked me quickly, bobbing so quickly her breasts bounced up and down. My abs clenched as they always did when I could fight no longer. She’d won this battle. Closing my eyes in defeat, I loosened my grip on her hair as my body went weak with intense pleasure.

  “Ohh,” I moaned, releasing a hot and heavy load into the back of her mouth.

  My hips continued to rock, slower and slower, until every drop was gone. Ashley slowed her rhythm but refused to stop, milking me for everything. I finally opened my eyes to see her licking me from the head to the base, her eyes still trained on me. Her mascara had run a little, leaving her eyes surrounded by black that made her somehow even sexier.

  “Come here.” I reached for Ashley’s elbow, lifting her to her feet with ease.

  “What?” She played coy, tugging at the hem of her dress.

  “You’re going to pay for that,” I explained as I led her to the bedroom, my manhood still fully erect. I needed her, more than I ever needed anything. I could never get enough, or express how important she was to me. But I would spend the rest of my life trying, if she would have me.

  Chapter 43

  ASHLEY

  “SO, YOU WANT to continue with the birth control?” Dr. Spencer asked. She had been my gynecologist since I was a teenager.

  “Yeah, and my prescription only has one more refill,” I explained.

  It was such a hassle to have to come in for a checkup just to get my refill, but Dr. Spencer had required it after receiving my request. Unlike most doctors, she treated me more like family than a patient. Knowing I didn’t have a relationship with my mother, Dr. Spencer took it upon herself to have the conversations with me usually reserved for mothers and daughters.

  “You know these medications don’t come without side effects, Ashley,” she began, swirling on her black leather stool to reach her notepad. “You’ve been taking these for almost three years.”

  “What kind of setbacks?” I asked.

  “Some women find it difficult to conceive after taking this type of birth control for so long. Of course, for many it’s no issue at all, but I think it’s something you may want to consider. I know you didn’t want to have children with your ex, and I completely understand that. It was a necessary and responsible decision at the time.”

  Dr. Spencer was one of the few people who knew about my tumultuous relationship with Nathan. At times, I felt there was no one else I could talk to, and she had lent me her ear, advising me to do what was best for me regardless of how it would look to those around me.

  With a knowing smile, she continued. “But this new man you’re seeing, is it serious?”

  “Yeah, we’re probably going to move in together soon,” I admitted.

  “So, it’s safe to assume you’re having sex regularly?”

  “Uh, yes.” I could feel myself blush. My thighs pressed together at just the thought of the passion.

  “Do you see you two being together for a while? Is this someone you would want to start a family with?”

  “Yes.” I shocked myself with my lack of hesitation. I knew Jake was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. He was everything I wanted in a man, kind and respectful. He loved me and had no problem showing it, whether we were alone or in public. Even more important, he was a great father and wanted a family as much as me.

  Dr. Spencer smiled as she scribbled away before returning her attention to me. “Well, it sounds like you have some big discussions to have. Maybe talk with him and see what type of future he wants. If having children soon is in your plans, we may want to discuss other preventive measures.”

  “Well, I don’t want to have children before we’re married,” I explained. I couldn’t help but notice how I spoke of us marrying as though it were a certainty. Again I blushed, looking down to my hands as I fidgeted with my nails.

  “Sounds like you have a few conversations to have, then.” Dr. Spencer grinned as she handed me a small sheet of white paper. “This will get you another six months, which should be long enough to speak with your partner about your future. However, you can fill the prescription for one, three or even six months. After that, we’ll decide the best way to move forward.”

  Taking the prescription, I nodded nervously. I hadn’t considered what Jake and my future could look like together, but as always Dr. Spencer had helped me put things in perspective. I knew we both wanted to have children eventually, but it would be nice to know how he felt about things.

  Walking through the office, I began to wonder what it was I wanted. The thought of having children with Jake was ideal, but I wasn’t sure if we were ready to take things further. We were just moving in together, and I thought it best to first give that time before making plans for anything else.

  Just as I was buckling my seatbelt, my phone vibrated, jolting my thoughts. Catharine’s name popped up, and I let it ring to voicemail, figuring I would call her back when I got home. But she immediately called back, something out of the norm for her.

  “Hello?” I answered the phone on hands-free mode as I backed out of the parking lot.

  “Ashley!” Her voice came through the speaker blaring with panic.

  “Catharine, what’s wrong?” I asked, glancing down at the phone as I turned onto the main street.

  “Come to Master Mechanic Marty now!” she screamed.

  “What?” I asked, but she didn’t answer. “Catharine, what’s going on?”

  “Just come! Now!”

  Two beeping sounds indicated the end of the call. My heart raced as I glanced at the phone, seeing the black screen. She sounded so worried, but I couldn’t be sure why. As I raced through traffic, thankful I was only a few miles away, I began to consider what could have gone wrong.

  When I pulled into the parking lot to Master Mechanic Marty, I was a bit shocked to see no disturbance. The other shops in the small strip mall appeared to be going about business as usual. Rushing to the front door, I braced myself for a distraught Catharine, but my phone again vibrated. This time it was Jake. While it was unlike me to ignore his call, I didn’t know what was on the other side of the dusty glass door. I clicked the ignore button and shoved the phone into my back pocket.

  Though I’d anticipated multiple scenarios, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw as I walked into the dusty area that used to be the lobby. Catharine looked as afraid as she sounded on the phone. Her face was blanched as she looked across the room with tear-stained cheeks.

  I could see the fear in her eyes, but my feet were frozen, unable to come to her rescue. I couldn’t believe my eyes, blinking quickly to make sure this wasn’t all a nightmare. It had been months since I’d seen him, but there was no change in the way he made me feel – powerless and helpless.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are?” Nathan barked, his voice almost as menacing as the look in his eyes.

  He stormed to me with an intensity that turned my stomach. In all our arguments during our relationship, Nathan had never been violent. But now, as he charged up to me, I knew there was a rage in him I had yet to experience.

  “No! Please!” I yelled, just as I found the courage to bolt, running to the back of the shop.

  Without missing a beat, Nathan chased after me, yelling obnoxiously. “You stupid bitch! You think I wouldn’t know you were behind this?”

  My legs felt like cinder blocks as I made my way over the dusty debris on the shop floor. Catharine was mute, still in shock as she stood on the other si
de of the room. I was terrified, trying to avoid his grasp, unsure of what had happened before I arrived.

  I’d forgotten all about Catharine’s stupid plot to get him back, but she obviously had not. It was clear that the two of them were meeting here without me. I’d always wondered how she planned to get him to turn over the money without figuring out it was her the whole time catfishing him.

  It seemed she had yet to figure it out herself. And now I was left to deal with her mess just like old times. Catharine was known for starting fights she couldn’t finish, but this one was worse than anything she had gotten me involved in in the past.

  A loud thump behind me caught my attention. Nathan had tripped over a rusty tailpipe. I took the opportunity to rush back to Catharine, demanding answers.

  “What the hell is going on!?” I yelled, out of breath from completing the obstacle course that was the shop.

  “I’m so sorry, Ashley. I’m so sorry,” she said. Her words were faint and barely audible. She remained frozen with fear. I wasn’t sure what Nathan had said or done to her, but it was clear she was scared.

  “Get back here!” Nathan’s voice boomed as he struggled to his feet. He looked taller than I remembered, his shoulder muscles bulky as he snarled with animosity.

  With my back against the wall, I felt trapped. There was nowhere to run, and Catharine didn’t seem to be of any assistance. Closing my eyes, I accepted my fate, whatever it may be. My past had finally caught up to me and I would have to face the consequences, which appeared to be quite severe.

  Chapter 44

  JAKE

  IT HAD ALL happened so fast. I’d called Ashley as I left Jasper with Anna-Louise. It was time for her weekly visit, and for the first time, I wasn’t afraid to leave my son with her. She looked to be in better health, and I was excited to tell Ashley about her progress after I left. But when I called her, there was a weird commotion on the other end. Then, I heard her scream, followed by a male’s voice. My heart sank at the idea of her being in danger, but I felt helpless on the other end of the phone.