I pushed in closer to him and he pushed up on his elbow to lean down over me. “Lanie…” He whispered, but said no more words, only dropped his head, rubbing his warm lips against my own. I moaned into his mouth when he deepened the kiss, running his hands up my sides to lay under my breasts. His lips left mine and moved to roam over my neck, giving small bites along the way, then soothing them with his tongue. His hands continued to move, going down over my stomach and pulling the hem of my tank top up so he could run his lips over my stomach and work his way back up to my breasts. He pulled my top off, his mouth closing over my hard nipple before even throwing the top to the floor. He took his time, savoring, licking and teasing until I was squirming beneath him. I reached down, wrapping my hand around his hard length through his boxers and his breath caught. He lifted his head from my breasts to rest his lips to mine, his breaths coming fast.
“Baby.” He whispered. “I need you Lanie.”
He sat back, his butt on his calves and pulled my pajama pants and panties down over my legs, throwing them to the floor. He came back up to lay over me, his mouth finding mine.
I reached into his briefs and pulled his hot, hard length out, stroking my hand slowly up and down until his breathing was erratic. I wrapped my leg tight around his hip and led his cock to my body, positioning him. He braced on his elbows, while together we pushed him inside of me, slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. I’d never in my life felt anything like this with him or anyone. It was different, just as good as always with Jake, but like we were connecting in more ways than just with our bodies.
He thrust in slowly before pulling out just as slowly, his speed never changing, but his gaze growing more intense with each thrust. My body clenched him tightly, my own arousal becoming stronger, my clit throbbing, begging for attention.
“Lanie.” He whispered, angling his hips. “I love you.”
“Jake.” I breathed out when he hit that spot, the one he knew would send me over the edge.
“Say it baby.” His pace was excruciatingly slow. “Please say it. I’ve been waiting for you, but I don’t want to wait anymore.”
I swallowed hard, my mind wanting to say the words he needed, but my heart holding back. “Jake, I…”
“No more excuses baby.” He thrust slowly, my body tingling. “No more fears. It’s you and me now. I want that and I know you want that too.”
My neck arched on its own, my body screaming for release. “Please Jake.”
He ran his lips up my neck, his thrusts gaining a small amount of speed. He buried his face deep into my neck thrusting hard before pulling back and thrusting hard again. I moaned and wrapped my legs tight around his waist, encouraging him to move faster. He moved his hand down my body, over my stomach, pausing right about where my clit throbbed for his attention.
I laid my hands against his ass and pushed, knowing he loved when I did that in the past and that hadn’t changed. His speed increased just as his fingers dropped to my clit, rubbing furiously. It only took seconds for me to arch my back and come long and hard. He slammed his hand down over my mouth when he felt my body tighten since I tended to be noisy.
He pumped his hips a few more times and then shoved in deep and stopped, burying his face in my neck and groaning. We laid there for a few minutes catching our breath before he pulled himself from the bed and walked to the bathroom. He came back with a warm washcloth, reaching between my legs and cleaning me up. He threw the washcloth back into the bathroom before crossing the room and climbing back into bed with me, pulling me close until we were lying chest to chest.
He rubbed the pad of his thumb along my neck. “I hate that she hurt you.”
I smiled softly. “She didn’t. I’m okay.”
“You’re so strong.” He said. “You saved our boy and Lexi.”
“Jake, you keep saying that, but he’s not mine, he’s yours.”
“He’s been yours since we met you.”
I jerked back, my eyes filling with tears.
“What?” Concern flashed through his eyes.
I shook my head. “Your dad said the same thing.”
He chuckled. “Honey, it’s not that hard to see. Bray loves you, I love you and we want you with us always. We’re just waiting for you to want us.”
“What?” I breathed.
He kissed my lips softly. “I love you Lanie. I’ve known that for quite some time now. I’ve been waiting for you to figure out what you want.”
“You.” I blurted out. Embarrassed I closed my eyes and rolled my lips together.
“Open your eyes baby.”
I shook my head. “No.”
He chuckled. “Lanie open your eyes. Why are you blushing?”
I opened my eyes and took a deep breath. “Because I’m awkward and sometimes I babble when I’m nervous. I almost always lose track of time when I’m working and usually act crazy around people I don’t know. That’s who I am and it can be really frustrating.”
He smiled. “You just listed all the things I love about you.” My jaw dropped open when he continued. “But I also love your messy morning hair, your glasses that constantly slide off your nose, and your ridiculous t-shirts.” He ran his finger along my ear, tucking my hair back. “But more than any of that, I love how you love and take care of Bray and me.”
I sighed. “I do love you Jake, and Braydon, so much.”
He smirked. “I know.” I slapped him in the shoulder but giggled. “Wanna get some sleep?”
“Yeah.” I whispered, finding the courage to say what I needed to. “I love you.”
“Love you too, baby. Now shut up and go to sleep. I’m tired.” He teased.
I snorted when I laughed, causing him to join in, the sound beautiful to me.
He was quiet only for a minute. “When we get this shit settled, I’m taking you somewhere so I don’t have to cover your mouth. I want to hear how loud you’ll scream.”
I chuckled. “Shut up Jake.”
He laughed and pulled me tighter against him, his steady breathing causing my eyes to drop closed in sleep.
I felt like I’d just drifted off to sleep when someone was shaking my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see it was already daylight and I blinked slowly, seeing Jake leaning over me. “Hey baby, can you come to the kitchen?”
“Umm…okay.” I shook off the sleep that was lingering. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips before moving to stand back up. “I’ll wait out there.”
I reached down over the bed, grabbing my clothes and put them on. I don’t know if I ever slept that deeply before, but I know I’d never slept nude. I’d also never told a man I loved him, so it was a big night for me I guess. I did my stuff in the bathroom and threw on a sweatshirt because it felt cool in the house before heading out to the kitchen.
I rounded the corner when I spotted Brody standing by the island with a cup of coffee in his hand, talking to Jake. Jake smiled when he saw me causing Brody to turn in my direction, setting his cup on the counter.
“Hi Brody.” I lifted my hand in a wave, the sleeves of my old sweatshirt hanging down over my hands.
He walked to me and before I could guess what he was going to do, he had his arms wrapped around me tightly. “Thank you Lanie. You have no idea what it means to us that you protected Lexi and Bray like that.”
I patted his back, having no words.
He pulled back and smiled. “You know this makes you a member of our family no matter if you kick this jackass to the curb, right?”
I laughed. “I can’t imagine doing that.”
He smirked and sent a look over his shoulder at Jake. “Give him twenty or thirty years, he’ll get on your nerves.”
Jake reached around Brody and handed me a cup of coffee. “Thanks.”
Brody looked between the two of us and grinned, looking down at his shoes before back at Jake. “We were hoping man. Just don’t screw it up.”
He gave one of
those manly chin lifts to Jake and leaned down kissing me on the cheek. “If you ever need anything Lanie, you call me okay? I mean that.”
He waited for me to nod before he moved around the island, heading for the door, when I called out. “Brody.”
He stopped and looked back. “Yeah?”
I chewed on the corner of my lip, but decided to go for it. “Will you tell Striker that I’d like to meet my dad?”
His eyes flicked over my shoulder to Jake before coming back to me. He smiled. “Yeah, Lanie, I can do that.”
I nodded, rubbing my hand along my coffee cup. “Thanks.”
I felt Jake’s arms wrap around me from behind while I watched Brody leave. “You sure?”
“Yeah. You were right. No matter what happens, I need that closure so I can be healthy enough to move forward with you and Bray.”
“I’m so proud of you baby.” He whispered.
I turned in his arms and smiled, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Besides,” He smirked. “No matter what happens you’ve just been officially adopted by the entire Dimarco family.”
I made a face. “That sounds a little scary.”
He pulled me in close, rubbing his hand up my back and chuckling. “You have no idea.”
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
LANIE
A week passed by and tensions were high among the Dimarco men. Jake told me they’d followed Julie to the Motorcycle Club she’d been hiding out in for the last couple of months, but they couldn’t get to her. The MC denies she’s there and even with a search warrant they weren’t able to find her when they went in, but he said they know the MC is hiding her.
Jake was working again, leaving me and Bray at home with Pike all day. I felt bad for him having to babysit us, but he seems fine with it, playing with Bray a lot while I work, and he’s also not without company, seeing as people stop in all the time.
Sydney came by and brought the little puppy, his leg casted, but other than that, he looked healthy. Bray was beyond excited to see him again and I have to admit, I think the puppy felt the same amount of love for him. Beasley was sleeping on the couch when Syd came and he didn’t move anything more than his eye to look at her. When Braydon carried the puppy in, however, Beasley’s head shot up and he stepped down from the couch, standing still, watching Bray walk over to him. Pike, Syd and I all stayed close, curious as to how Beasley was going to handle a puppy.
Bray put the puppy down on the floor and he wiggled his little body over to Beasley who shoved his nose into the puppy’s very small body, pushing him down. The puppy barked and Beasley wagged his tail. This type of play resumed for awhile until Beasley was bored and flopped down on the floor where he became a living jungle gym for both the puppy and Bray.
Jake decided he and Bray were going to name the new puppy and since Bray’s favorite show is ‘Bob the builder,’ the puppy is now Bob. We’d also found out that he was going to be a very small dog according to the vet, probably weighing no more than seven or eight pounds fully grown, so I suggested we call him Bobby, feeling like it fit better, and Bray agreed. Jake did not and still calls him Bob. It’s so ridiculous to watch him call for Bob, and to see a very large man, well over six feet tall holding a three-pound puppy named Bob. Bray and I laugh every time.
Striker stopped by and said he’d spoken with the man he’s positive is my father, and he’d like to meet me. He told him my birthday and the story around my childhood, including my mom leaving me with the neighbor and disappearing. He confirmed he’d dated my mom for about a year and a half, coinciding perfectly with my birthdate, but he said after they broke up he never saw her again and she never told him she was pregnant. I asked him if he seemed angry about the possibility of being my father and he said no that he actually thought he seemed sad. I didn’t know how to take that so I tried not to think about it too much.
Today I’m going to meet him. I was waiting for Jake to come back from dropping Braydon off at his parents because I hadn’t been ready to leave when he was, earlier, and Pike came over. I’d already considered all the possibilities, including David Cooper being the wrong man, and decided if it turns out he’s not my father, then I wasn’t going to look again. I have a family now, a big, beautiful family that loves me and shows me they love me all the time. I don’t need to find that with a stranger when I already have it. Parents and family aren’t made by blood, they’re made by commitment, love and loyalty. All things the Dimarco’s give me, and everyone in their lives, without fail and without stipulations.
They’ve taught me so much.
Paige comes by every day, especially after the last incident with Julie. I think if they don’t find her soon, Paige is going to find her, she’s so angry on my behalf. She’s my sister in every way that counts. She offered to come with me today, but I thought this was something I needed Jake for and she understood.
Jake’s so different than I expected when I met him, but so much better than I’d ever thought he could be.
“Lanie, you ready?”
His voice carried down the hallway and I stood from my seat on the edge of the bed. I ran my fingertips over the small silver bracelet on my wrist before heading out of the room and down the hallway. Jake and Pike stood by the door, wearing twin expressions of concern, but I smiled and took a deep breath.
“You good?” Jake asked.
“Yep.” I smiled.
Pike grinned and leaned in to give me a hug. “You got this sweetheart. No matter what happens, your family is waiting back here for you.”
I nodded against his chest and he pushed back. “Text me when you’re back.”
“Okay.” I agreed.
He moved to leave the house and I grabbed my jacket from the hook behind the door. I handed my purse to Jake to hold while I slipped it on, giggling when he frowned at the pink purse dangling from his fingers.
“I’m ready.” I announced.
“You sure?” He asked.
I leaned into him, resting my palms flat against his chest, rose up to my tip-toes and kissed him softly on the lips. “Are you going with me?”
He tilted his head, wrapping his hands around mine that still lay against his chest. “Of course I am.”
I smiled, kissed him again and lowered back down. “Then I’m ready.”
He grinned, grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door behind him. We were in the truck before I noticed Striker in his own truck parked on the street.
I looked out the side window when he pulled onto the road behind us. “Is Striker going with us?”
Jake nodded. “Yeah, he showed up and said he’d go along to introduce us.”
“Oh.” That made sense. “That’s nice of him.”
Jake laughed. “Don’t let Striker hear you call him nice.”
I smiled, assuming that was true. “Well, he’s been really nice to me.”
“Brody thinks he’s going along because he’s concerned about you.”
I thought about that and realized if that was true, that said a lot about him. He comes off as a very hard, emotionless man, but I’ve seen him differently, especially when he talked to me about my potential father. I think he was hurt a long time ago and I know from experience it takes a few special people in your life to help you step out of those shadows and into the light. I hope he finds that someday too.
I reached over and grabbed Jake’s hand. He squeezed mine and laid ours together on his thigh while he drove. We drove in silence for the hour it took to get to the town David Cooper lives in. All this time, and he only lived an hour away. It didn’t seem like it could be real.
At one point on the trip, Striker had taken the lead and we followed him to a small coffee shop. We parked in the lot, and walked together to the door that Striker reached first and pulled open for both me and Jake to walk through. I stood just inside the door, my eyes scanning the coffee shop when a man at one of the tables in the back, stood. I moved back and landed solidly against Jake’s chest, knowing immedi
ately I was looking at my father. Striker was right, he and I looked so much alike if we took a DNA test and it came back negative, I wouldn’t believe it.
“You ready?” Striker’s calm voice broke through my thoughts and I nodded, falling behind him with Jake’s hand in mine and walking towards the back of the room.
Our eyes were locked on each other and when I finally arrived at the table, he reached out and grabbed the back of the chair. He closed his eyes, but opened them again when Striker spoke.
“David.” Striker held out his hand that David shook, and then I watched him introduce Jake and they shook hands.
David’s attention turned back to me. “Lanie.”
I waved and then blushed when I realized what I’d done, but he smiled. “Your mom used to blush all the time.”
“She did?” I was surprised by that.
He nodded and gestured to the chair. “Would you like to sit down?”
I nodded and sat in the chair right in front of me before turning to Jake and Striker. “You’re going to sit with us too right?”
Jake smiled and slid into the chair beside me while I stared at Striker expectantly. He finally caved and sat in the chair beside David. A waitress came and took our coffee orders.
“So, Lanie what do you do?” David asked quietly.
“I’m a website designer.” I folded my hands together in my lap. “Striker said you’re a teacher, well I guess retired now, but you were a teacher and a professor, too right? High School and then College he said.” Ugh, I hated when I babble. I sent a nasty look at Striker when I caught him grinning and he just turned his head to look out the window.
“Striker is correct.” David’s voice brought my attention back to him. “I taught High School for about twenty-five years and then was a College Professor for about ten years, but your job sounds a lot more interesting.”
The waitress came back with our coffees and we all sat quietly for a moment. My nerves started to take hold and I unconsciously ran my fingers over the bracelet on the hand wrapped around my coffee cup.
Elaina Page 30
