Taming Wells

by Storm, Zee Shine

  My eyes met Jasmine's in a worried look. "Doesn't that bother you? I've told her not to come here that often but she's not listening to me."

  Jasmine just shrugged. "Relax, Wells. She's just having a little fun. He won't do anything."

  I stared at her. "How do you know that?" I asked because I was genuinely curious. This girl didn't even trust her own shadow much less any other person.

  Her response was to present me with a wicked smile. "I know because I've got him wrapped around my finger," she told me with a twirl of her index finger. "Besides, sometimes it turns me on to know somebody's lusting after him. Makes me want to ravish him even more. Makes the sex hotter," she whispered that last part so that Jacob wouldn't hear.

  My best friend, ladies and gentlemen.

  "Like I said," I murmured, taking my son by the shoulders and walking off. "Twisted."

  ****

  Chapter 4

  Dinner that night was awkward as fuck. It was just the three of us. Catherine was in the game room watching a movie with Jacob who had eaten early and Ben was asleep so that left Skye, Cole and I at the table.

  One year. We had had peace and joy for one year. So much that we had made others envious when they saw the harmony and love we represented as a blended family. And it only took one misunderstanding from this morning to rip that motherfucking peace into shreds of darkness weighed down by past resentments.

  I got it. I really did. It's not like I hadn't expected this. That cheating stamp would forever be on my face and even if Skye and I had broken up, she would find any reminders of my infidelity triggering. So I understood her outburst. It was one of the reasons I had been so reluctant to make amends with her years ago. Some people could forgive but they couldn't forget. How could I even blame her after everything I'd put her through? But if only she would listen to me....

  Cole got a call from a client so he went in his office to talk. I decided to help Skye out with the dishes to appease her distraught state of mind somewhat. She was still looking at me like I was scum.

  "Go upstairs and rest. I'll take care of this," I said to her quietly because she looked tired again.

  The gallery in Milan was doing well but Skye's director, Leo, was now mostly in charge of its running whereas she went in a few times a week to check in and conduct lessons or see to meetings with any new artists. It couldn't be easy juggling all that while suffering from post-natal depression. It was a good thing she had Cole to take care of her.

  Ignoring my attempts to help, Skye continued to stack up plates in the dishwasher. Suddenly, I started to feel pissed off. Not only did she not want to hear an explanation but she was also determined to act as though I had done her some great wrong. This was my parents all over again. The same silent treatment, the outbursts, the lack of trust and insane amounts of suspicion. No meaningful communication whatsoever. Well, she wasn't the only one who could be triggered by reminders of the past. I didn't know how my father had borne it all for so long without giving up because fuck, I wanted to break something out of pure frustration at that moment.

  I eyed the plate in my hand. Skye snatched it from me and started the dishwasher.

  "You know, even if I did sleep with that girl out of my own free will which I didn't, I don't get what your problem is," I growled, unable to hold it in any longer. "That's between me and Cole."

  She rolled her eyes. "Sure it is. And my poor husband who just can't bring himself to say no to you will give in to whatever you need every time. A trait of his you take advantage of a little too often."

  I gritted my teeth. "He's my boyfriend too, Skye. I wouldn't ever hurt him like that again. And did you even hear what I said-?"

  She held up her hand, giving me a long-suffering look. "It's not going to work on me," she said gravely just as Cole appeared behind her. "Whatever tricks you resort to to get your precious Cole to agree to all your demands, I can see right through them all.”

  I widened my eyes at her while Cole just stood there and stared.

  "Madison-"

  "No, Jasper," she snapped. "I'm just glad I came to my senses and realised exactly what a huge mistake you were. I can't expect Cole to do the same because he's obviously too blinded by his love for you even if you hurt him-"

  "Shut up," I bit out, glaring at her.

  Skye stopped speaking to look at me warily. I glanced back at Cole who seemed rooted to the spot, his face pale. Finally, Skye followed my gaze and her jaw went a bit slack upon seeing her husband there.

  "Cole," she whispered, turning towards him. "Baby-"

  "I need some air," he mumbled before turning around and exiting the kitchen.

  ~~~

  He came to me late at night, just crawling into bed and pressing his bare chest to my back. We didn't speak for a long time.

  "I trust you, Wells," he breathed into my neck and for some reason, it made my eyes tear up. "Please don't mind her words. She's...just going through a lot," he added.

  I clenched my jaw at the pain I detected in his tone despite his attempts to sound normal and brought up a hand to cover his which was draped over my chest.

  "I didn't pick up that girl, Cole. She drugged me. I tried to explain it to Skye."

  He lifted his head then. "Wait, she drugged you?" he rasped out in surprise. "Shit. Wells, that's...that isn't right. Do you want to report it?"

  I closed my eyes at the concern in his tone. For the first time since last night, I found myself smiling. Precious Cole, Skye had called him. Damn right he was.

  "I love you," I murmured and shifted to face him. "It's okay. I'm okay." His hands rubbed my chest absently and I felt myself grow hard at his touch and nearness.

  Our lips met and I gave him lingering kisses which grew more heated as the force of love and desire pushed down upon us in that darkened room. I was nibbling on his neck when he spoke into the silence and his words made me go still.

  "I think Skye's pregnant again.

  ****

  Chapter 5

  I was shaving in the bathroom the next morning when Cole walked in fully dressed and almost ready to head out. Taking the shaver from me, he turned me around and calmly got to work while I leaned against the sink regarding him with amusement.

  "You know, maybe I should go somewhere for a few weeks," I mumbled. "Take Jacob for a vacation."

  He paused, his brows coming together in a frown. "No."

  I swallowed a little. "I don't want to make things worse for her. Maybe if I give her some space-"

  "If you want to go, go for the right reasons, Wells," he muttered, resuming the shaving. "Not because you feel like you're not wanted."

  I remained silent then as he finished up the task and rinsed the shaver.

  "Would you have forgiven me if I'd had an affair with a guy?" I asked him after a moment.

  Cole glanced up at me with a solemn look and said, "Yes."

  He didn't elaborate but there was not a single grain of doubt or hesitation in his tone. My heart grew heavy as we stood there gazing at each other.

  "I'd have forgiven you too, you know...if you'd...well, if you had ever betrayed me," I choked out.

  His expression was so calm, so full of wisdom as he spoke. "You already did."

  There was a significant pause. I couldn't even bring myself to speak for a few seconds. Inhaling deeply, I brought my hand up and touched his shoulder.

  "Do you remember what you said to me the night we...first had sex?" I asked him in a low murmur.

  He appeared puzzled. "I said a lot of things, baby," he replied slowly.

  I shook my head. "You told me...that I knew all the right things to say," I reminded him, the memory so vivid because it had been our first time. I smiled at him. "Well now you know all the right things to say, don't you?"

  Cole grinned at me wickedly and I growled and pulled him closer. "Come here."

  "Wells," he laughed a little and pulled away, wiping his nose. I'd smeared some shaving foam on it.

  ****


  Chapter 6

  I was spending a lot of time at Jasmine's place. It had been two weeks since Cole had told me Skye was pregnant and I kept feeling like I was walking on eggshells in my own house. I'd gone to London and then down to the Amalfi coast for work purposes but every other spare moment I got here in Pavia, I came and hung out with Jasmine, bringing Jacob with me. Cole didn't mind. He was busy with work and he was doing his best to be there for Skye so I gave them space.

  It was a Friday night and I was in the living room with Jasmine watching Jacob play when Armaan's car pulled into the driveway. He'd gone to Amira for a week because his elder brother and his wife had met with a car accident and there were funeral rites and rituals to be performed. Alex had gone with him whereas Jasmine's friend Sophia had returned to her home.

  "I should probably go," I said, starting to get up. "Leave you guys to catch up."

  She shook her head at me frantically. "No, no, no. Please don't leave me alone with him right now. He might cry and I don't know how to handle people when they cry."

  I gave her an amused look. "You handled me just fine whenever I used to cry," I reminded her.

  Her expression turned kind as she remembered. "We're two of a kind, Jasper. When you cried, it felt like I was watching myself cry. And I've been handling myself crying for years," she told me.

  I didn't get a chance to reply before her lover walked in. He wasn't alone. There was a kid with him. Jasmine just stared at them, her mouth falling open in surprise.

  "Aaru-"

  "I'm adopting him," Armaan stated without preamble.

  There was silence all around except for Jacob playing with his Batman toys. The kid, who was a boy probably a little older than my own son, flicked a hesitant but curious glance at Jacob.

  "I know if I'd asked you, you would've said no," Armaan continued staidly. "Ammi said they would look after him but she's got too much on her plate right now with nobody being there to help Abbu with the business. You don't have to do anything. I'm taking full responsibility for Ziad."

  She didn't say anything as he led the little boy away towards the stairs, her expression looking sort of haunted. I stayed silent as well because I didn't know how to respond at first to such a bizarre situation. What do you do when the man you're in a live-in relationship with suddenly brings his dead brother's child home and announces he will adopt him without even discussing it with you?

  "Dad, can you fix this?" Jacob asked me suddenly, bringing me one of his Batman toy cars.

  I took it from him absently and then stilled, giving him a surprised look.

  "Jacob...did you just call me 'dad'?" I asked with a tiny grin. "Who taught you that?"

  Jacob just watched my hands, waiting for me to fix his toy and I lifted his chin gently and repeated my question. He frowned slightly as though it was no big deal, which it probably wasn't for him but for me...I don't know...it felt good. Really good.

  "Mummy. Mummy said you're my dad," he explained seriously and then made an impatient face when he realised I was making no attempt to do as he had asked.

  I was smiling the entire time I fixed the toy and handed it back to him. When I glanced up towards the other end of the living room, Jasmine was still sitting there, hugging a pillow to her chest.

  "You okay?" I asked her quietly.

  She shrugged. "Guess he doesn't know me that well, after all," she murmured before letting out a bitter laugh. "He's just a kid who lost his parents. Has he forgotten I know what that feels like?" She gave me a sad smile. "I wouldn't have said no."

  I felt bad for her. Relationships were never easy but when your partner misunderstood you or misjudged you, that shit hurt like a mother. Getting up, I walked over to her and gave her a hug. She looked like she could really use one in that moment.

  "I'm sure he didn't mean it like that," I reassured her, rubbing her arm. "Just go talk it over. This is a big deal. That's another human being he's adding to your relationship even if it's a tiny one. It's going to change a lot of things."

  Jasmine just blew out a breath. "I think I need a drink," she whispered.

  "Jasper."

  I looked up at the sound of Skye's voice and blinked when I saw her standing there at the entrance of the living room with an angry expression on her face.

  "Skye, what're you doing here?" I asked in concern, getting to my feet.

  She pointed to Jacob. "I came to take my son home," she said curtly. "It's way past his bedtime and I tried calling you first but your phone was switched off."

  I looked from her to Jacob and then back to her. "You didn't have to do that," I replied. "He's fine. I was just about to leave."

  Her lips thinned and she regarded me with narrowed eyes before shifting her gaze to Jasmine. I scowled at her, daring her to say what I knew she was dying to say. But she just shook her head and left, reminding me to get him home fast. Jesus. I really hated this. He was my son too. I knew how to look after him. He could fall asleep in my arms and I'd fucking carry him home in the dead of night if I had to and nobody would be able to touch a hair on his perfect little head.

  "Go," Jasmine waved me away, throwing her pillow aside and getting up determinedly. "I need to get drunk or high and then speak to Armaan. Thank you." She gave me a mock punch on the shoulder and a grateful smile before striding off.

  I envied her. At least she'd be able to drink off some of that tension. And maybe fuck it away.

  I doubted Cole was in the mood to have aggressive sex tonight what with his job, looking after Ben and then handling the changes in his marriage exhausting the hell out of him. I hated to ask anyway.

  "Hey, Jacob," I called out to my son. "Come on, buddy. Let's go home."

  ~~~~

  I came home to find Cole and Skye fighting. Actual, raised-voices and throwing insults kind of fighting. For a moment, I was so shocked that I could only stand there and gawk at them. Jacob, who actually had fallen asleep on the way home, mumbled something against my shoulder and I made myself move, taking him as far away as possible from the commotion.

  I tucked him in my own bed this time, smoothing back his hair and frowning as I overheard my name in the fight going on downstairs. Skye was accusing me of disrupting Jacob's routine and Cole was defending me. This was all about me. I sucked my bottom lip through my teeth, ignoring the pang in my heart and the tears in my eyes as well.

  I'd promised I wouldn't make them miserable anymore but here I was doing that very thing. Also...I would never accuse her of it now because she was already so upset and her mental health was precarious but...she kept him from me for two years. And now she was getting mad because I loved to keep him around trying to make up for all that lost time. I would never let anything bad happen to him.

  Cole had told me last night that he'd explained the date-rape thing to Skye and she'd just replied that I was probably making it up because nobody would be able to take advantage of a man as strong and smart as me. I'd also overheard her saying that sex for me was like oxygen and it didn't matter where I got it from as long as it helped me breathe.

  I let out a sigh and held Jacob's hand for a long time as he slept.

  ~~~

  The next morning, I took Cole aside and informed him that I was going to London for a few weeks. I wanted to take Jacob with me but seeing Skye's situation, it felt like I'd just be adding fuel to fire. My decision made my boyfriend anxious because it felt like history was repeating itself but I assured him that wasn't the case. We were both hot-headed, Skye and I, and Cole was getting dragged in the middle of our disagreements. She wasn't even willing to believe a word I said and I knew I didn't want to waste my time trying to convince her.

  We needed space.

  I left that morning with a heavy heart, trying not to break down and cry when I hugged my boy and explained that I couldn't take him with me. That he needed to take care of his Mummy while I was away or she would be very sad.

  It seemed to appease him somewhat. Cole couldn't say goodbye t
o me so he locked himself in his office and Skye didn't even look up from her painting when I told her I was going to be away for some time.

  ****

  Chapter 7

  I had so much sex that weekend, I lost count of the number of times I did it. Two different women I'd picked up at a bar where I had gotten drunk this time. Fucked them as much as I wanted and in every position until I could barely move a muscle after my marathon was over. But it felt good.

  Cole knew all about it. I marvelled at his understanding of my nature. At his confidence in me. He really didn't care where or in whom I put my dick as long as I did it with his consent and came home to him without having lost any part of myself.

  I went home to my parents’ place after I was done indulging in my vices, feeling deeply satisfied in a purely physical sense. Then I accepted a few assignments for the same company that had hired me way back and catapulted me to global fame as a photographer. I focused on my job for the remainder of my stay there and when I reached home in the evenings and got to see Cole and Jacob on video call, I went to bed with a smile on my face knowing that there were people in this world who loved me and were waiting for me to come home.

  Me, the Jasper Wells that I really was, ugly parts and all. I knew what I had to do then once I returned to Pavia. Get my goddamnned self-respect back and grow a fucking backbone.

  This, trying to make my family life beautiful and having such a strong weakness for my son, had rendered me speechless or hopeless in a lot of areas where I previously would've set my foot down. Things were going to have to change before whatever good feelings that were left in our home just faded into nothing.

  My son was not going to grow up listening to the same shit I had. No fucking way. I could either be selfish and subject him to that by staying under the same roof as Cole and Skye or I could put him first and remove myself from the situation while gearing myself up to settle for sharing custody with his mother. It was the only way this would work now.