Extensive (A Single Dad Box Set)

by Claire Adams

  “This place is beautiful,” Jess said after the waiter took our drink orders.

  “It’s one of my favorites,” I said.

  “Mommy and Daddy had their first date here,” Gina said.

  I sucked in a breath and locked eyes with Jess.

  I didn’t know what to expect from Jess. Gina rarely spoke about Wendy.

  “That’s sweet you keep coming here,” Jess said, unaffected by the conversation about my deceased wife. I wondered if Gina and Jess spoke about Wendy when I wasn’t there. Not that Gina knew much about her mother, only what I told her.

  “Yeah,” I said, looking down at my menu, even though I memorized it a long time ago.

  “What is your favorite dish?” Jess asked Gina.

  “Um,” Gina said, holding her little chin in her hand. “I like the spaghetti with broccoli.”

  “Really?” Jess asked. “I thought you hated broccoli.”

  I smiled. “Broccoli rabe,” I corrected. “It’s the garlic that she loves.”

  Gina smacked her lips together for emphasis. “Gaaarlic!”

  Just then, the waiter placed a basket of bread on the table. “Are you ready to order?”

  Jess took Gina’s recommendation and ordered the pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage. It was a simple dish but prepared exquisitely.

  I ordered last. “I’ll have the fish special.”

  “Very well,” the waiter said, collecting our menus. “I’ll return with your drinks.”

  “Did you take your date here?” Gina asked me after the waiter left.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Is this where you took your date last week?” Gina asked.

  “No,” I said. I never took anyone but Gina here; it was special to me. At least until Jess came along. It was a grand gesture to take her out to dinner with us here. Though she didn’t know it yet.

  “Oh,” Gina said. “Maybe that’s why it didn’t work out.”

  I glanced at Jess. Her hand covered her mouth. But the corners of her eyes lifted with amusement. I was glad we were at the point of laughing at my tragic date with Kimberly.

  “You may be right,” I said.

  “You should go on another date soon,” Gina said.

  I stared at Gina, not wanting to see Jess’s expression. Would she want me to date again? Would that get her off the hook about what happened between us last week? “I don’t think so, honey. I think I’m done with dating for a little while.”

  “You’re wrong,” she said.

  “How so?”

  “You’re on a date now.”

  I locked eyes with Jess.

  “With me!” Gina said and giggled into her hands.

  I smirked. “That’s right. We are,” I said without taking my eyes away from Jess.

  Jess’s chest heaved as she took labored breaths. It made sense that I thought of Jess during my date with Kimberly. Being here with Gina and Jess solidified my need to have her in my life on a more permanent basis. She turned me on so much and had a genuine love for my daughter. What else did I need in a woman?

  We fell into a rhythm for the rest of the dinner. Being with Jess and Gina was so easy. I never thought anyone could seamlessly move into our lives as well as Jess did.

  And when it was time to get the check, I knew there was only one way to prolong our time together.

  When we reached the house, the three of us got out of the car. The beautiful weather from yesterday had continued through today. The sun was close to setting along the horizon, and a warm breeze moved through the trees on the edge of the property.

  Gina shuffled toward the house. We’d stayed at Eclisse later than I’d expected, but I didn’t want the night to end. Though Gina had been a trooper, I knew she was tired.

  “I want to talk to you about something,” I said to Jess. “Can you stay while I put Gina down?”

  “Sure,” she said.

  As if Gina knew that I was pressed for time, she didn’t fight me about getting ready for bed. I had her down in less than ten minutes.

  When I came back downstairs, Jess was sitting on one of the kitchen barstools waiting for me. She stood up when I entered the room.

  “We should talk outside,” I said, indicating the door. I knew Gina wouldn’t eavesdrop, but I didn’t want to risk it. Not until Jess and I figured all of this out.

  “What did you want to talk about?” Jess asked when we reached her car.

  My gaze fell to her lips. She’d reapplied her red lipstick that accentuated her thick lower lip. I remembered sucking on that when we kissed over a week ago.

  I blinked a few times and cleared my throat, attempting to concentrate. “I wanted to talk about last week.”

  She nodded. “It’s the elephant in the room, huh?”

  “Yes,” I said. “I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  She tilted her head to the side.

  I took a step closer to her, and she didn’t move. That was a good sign. At least she wasn’t repulsed by me. But I wasn’t sure how much time I had to convince her. “That night. I keep replaying it in my head over and over again. Every time I see you, I see you like you were that night.”

  “But, Gina—”

  “Gina loves you. There’s no reason we can’t try this.”

  “I don’t want to lose her if this goes wrong,” she said. Her eyes were glossy with tears. “You either.”

  “You won’t,” I said, pressing my body against hers. I reached out to touch her hair, squeezing it between my fingers.

  Her breathing intensified, and we stood there, mere inches from each other. She knew how I felt. If she didn’t want it, then she needed to tell me. I counted down from five in my head before I made my move.

  I grabbed her waist and lifted her up.

  A surprised gasp burst from her lips. I pressed her against the car and silenced her with my mouth.

  Her legs wrapped around me and she ground her hips against me. The heat between her thighs warmed my stomach. Her hands cupped my face as she deepened the kiss.

  “Oh, Noah,” she said with a moan.

  We kissed for a few moments before I reluctantly put her down. My fences were eight feet high, but I wasn’t going to do this with Jess on my front lawn.

  “Open your car,” I growled.

  She smiled and opened the back door.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jess

  Noah wasted no time getting me on my back. I laid across the back seat of my car and opened my legs to him. I should have worn a dress. It would have made all of this easier. But he quickly popped open the button of my pants and shoved them down. He knelt outside of the car and his mouth covered me. I gasped as his stubbly cheeks rubbed against my inner thighs and his tongue rolled around in circles, flicking and licking my clit.

  “Holy shit,” I breathed.

  I felt his smile against me, but he kept going. He hooked a finger under the fabric of my panties and moved them aside.

  I gripped a chunk of his hair and ground him deeper against me. He barely moved as he slipped a finger inside of me. The sensation made my stomach flutter, and I bucked my hips against him.

  His pulsing and licking intensified until I was on the brink.

  “Stop,” I said. I didn’t want this to be over that soon.

  “No,” he growled against me. “I want to taste your orgasm.”

  He didn’t have to tell me twice. Within a few moments, I came for him. Hard. My legs tingled with pins-and-needles from the position I was in as I slowly came down from my high. I never came that quickly in my life. I blamed the tension between us over the past week. Every time I saw him my nerve endings quivered. He caught me off guard, and I wanted nothing more than to feel him inside of me again.

  I propped myself up on my elbows, expecting a rational thought to come into my head about this whole situation. But it didn’t. Noah and I wanted this. And by the bulge in his pants, I knew he wanted it too.

 
; “I’m not done with you yet.” He grabbed the fabric around my ankles and pulled my pants off. They crumpled on the ground next to the car. I sat up and tugged down the zipper of his pants. I reached inside and pulled him out. I wrapped my hand around him and stroked.

  “That’s good because neither am I.”

  Noah’s body sagged against the car, but he held himself up as I smoothed my hand over his silky cock. It was at the perfect level for me. So I returned the favor. I drew him inside of my mouth. One of his hands fell against my head, and he guided my movements as I sucked on him.

  “Jess,” he said over and over. Even though I couldn’t see his face from where I sat, I remembered the blissful look that crossed his face when we got together the first time.

  I picked up my pace and moved quicker, paying particular attention to his head. I flicked the tip like he did to my clit and sucked, gently at first and then faster, bringing him to the brink.

  As his moans grew louder, I knew he was almost there.

  But before I could finish, he moved away from me.

  I looked up at him. “Is everything okay?”

  He leaned over and kissed me, hard. “Everything is very okay. I want to fuck you now.”

  Noah was normally the reserved type, but for the most part, he was around Gina. His parental filter was off, and I was finally seeing the real him. The one that made me wet just looking at him.

  He laid me down on the seat again, and I lifted my legs up, spreading myself open for him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, retrieving a condom.

  “How long has that been in there?” I asked.

  “Since ten minutes ago,” he said.

  “You’re a cheeky one,” I said.

  “I like to be prepared.”

  I reached up and pulled him to me, kissing him. His kisses were as frantic as mine. It wasn’t our first time, but we’d waited long enough for the second. I could barely contain myself. I wanted him inside of me more than anything. The memory of him didn’t compare to the feel of his tongue on me. He’d given me a taste, and I wanted more.

  Once he was ready, he propped himself on top of me and entered me. I was so wet that he slid right in, filling me to the brim.

  “You feel so good, Jess,” he said.

  He pumped against me. My leg kept slipping off the seat. Damn, why did I have such a tiny car? Though I never expected to have sex with anyone inside of it.

  He lifted my leg, holding it against me. I felt the stretch in my muscles, and while it didn’t hurt, it wasn’t comfortable. It opened me up to more of Noah inside of me. Which was fine by me.

  I breathed through the ache in my pelvis, focusing on the pleasure between my legs.

  He slowed his pace. Then leaned over and kissed me. While I usually closed my eyes while kissing, I kept them open. I tugged my fingers through his thick hair and stared into his eyes. Something inside of me bloomed. Was this what I had been searching for? Had I finally found someone I could be with? Granted, we’d come together in strange circumstances, but we were clearly into each other. When we were together, the chemistry crackled between us, only to be momentarily satiated with intense sexual encounters.

  “Turn around,” Noah said.

  I kissed him and then flipped over. Being on my knees was much easier. I backed up so he could stand right outside of the car. He still had his pants on with his cock sticking out. He entered me again, and a breath whooshed out. He shoved his hands up my shirt and under my bra, cupping and rolling the sensitive peaks around with his fingers.

  My head dropped, and I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to hold on to how this felt.

  He moved one hand lower until it covered my clit. He started rubbing the slick bud, intensifying the feeling that built deep inside of me.

  From my position, all I could do was let him fuck me. And he was doing an amazing job of it. It felt as if he had four hands instead of two, touching and rubbing me until my entire body went numb.

  His thrusting increased and with each push inside of me, the pleasure in my core built up quickly.

  “Oh, God,” I said, trying to keep my arms from giving out completely. This sensation was on a whole other level than the first time we had sex.

  Air moved through my teeth in quick spurts as Noah continued. He panted too, and I knew he was close.

  When I couldn’t hold back any longer, I squeezed myself around him, and my entire body shuddered with my orgasm.

  Noah’s hands gripped my bum tighter until I could feel his warmth inside of me. He slowed, and I matched his movement, allowing him to let out every last drop.

  When he pulled out, the air from outside clung to my sensitive areas, and I shivered. I groaned as I sat down on the seat. My back muscles had seized, and my legs and arms didn’t feel like my own.

  Noah slid into the seat next to me and handed me my pants. I placed them across my lap, and he closed the door.

  We sat together, side by side, dressed in random pieces of clothing. I covered my exposed chest with my shirt, adjusting my bra over my chest. I shivered. It was cold enough outside to feel a chill across my heated skin.

  I glanced at him, and he had the biggest grin on his face, looking like Gina when she got her way about something. It was adorable.

  “You should stay the night,” he suggested.

  “I don’t know,” I said. This wasn’t going to be like before. I was genuinely happy we came together again. But waking up at his home tomorrow morning at his house would be awkward, especially if I met up with Gina in the hallway wearing the same clothes I had on tonight.

  Noah took my hand in his and kissed the top of mine. “Jess, I’m not just being polite. I want you to sleep with me.”

  I pulled a face.

  He smirked. “Actual sleep. It’s a nice feeling, and I want to do it with you.”

  It was a nice feeling. And I hadn’t done it in a while either. Waking up next to Noah would be great. I hadn’t snuggled with anyone in a long time. “I’ll come up. If you agree to set the alarm for early so I can go home and shower before coming to work.”

  Noah grinned wickedly and pulled me closer to him. “That won’t be a problem.”

  Then he kissed me, slowly and passionately, before he led me to his house and back into his bed.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Noah

  I was at work, digging through one of our sales spreadsheets when my phone intercom went off.

  “Yes, Allison?”

  “Brandon is here to see you,” she said.

  I stood up and pressed the intercom. “Send him in.”

  I hadn’t seen Brandon in almost a week, not since he came to the park with Gina and me.

  He entered my office holding a bag of food.

  “I’m starving,” I said. Brandon had called earlier that morning to suggest having a working lunch with me. He had Wednesdays off and offered to catch up. Since his return home, his schedule at work was all over the place, trying to catch up with what he missed. That was one part of a vacation I didn’t like. There was more chance of stress thinking about the piles of work to come back to.

  I moved the magazines and Gina’s coloring books off of the coffee table in front of the couch. I sat down, and Brandon emptied the bag. We both tried to be healthy when we could, and I knew Brandon wanted to drop a few pounds. So, instead of burgers and fries, which we both loved, he went with two wraps and some coleslaw.

  “Is this from Trip’s Deli?” I asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” Brandon said, unwrapping the paper of his sandwich. “I splurged on you today. You should thank me.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “Sorry I couldn’t meet you out. We’ve been so busy lately.”

  “I hoped not too busy…” he said, biting into his wrap.

  I gave him a look. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He opened the top of the container with the slaw and handed me a fork. I placed it down on the table. “Are things still going on with
you and Jess?”

  I smiled at my sandwich. “Yes.”

  He shrugged. “That’s all I meant. I wanted to make sure you were putting time into her as much as you are work.”

  Brandon had changed his mind about Jess and me after I informed him that Jess and I were serious and he and Amelia did not need to set me up anymore.

  “She’s spent a few nights at my place,” I said.

  “Nice,” Brandon said. “So, it’s serious?”

  “As serious as I can give right now.”

  “Have you talked to her about Wendy?” he asked.

  “Only the surface details; why?”

  He scoffed. “Then you’re not as serious as you think you are. Talking about Wendy would open up your past.”

  I thought about that. There hadn’t been a moment to segue into that talk with her. And if I was honest with myself, I wasn’t sure I wanted to open that can of worms yet.

  “I’m not saying you have to. I know this is all new for you. And a delicate situation to boot.”

  “I’m not sure she wants to talk about it,” I said, thinking of last week when Gina brought Wendy up in front of Jess. “But you’re right. This is very new.”

  Brandon had already finished more than half his wrap by that time, and I’d only had a bite. This diet would not last very long for him. “So, Amelia and I decided on an Alaskan cruise next year. There would be childcare on the boat if you and Gina wanted to come along.”

  Next year Gina would be four, old enough to handle being on a boat and have the ability to have fun. Though I wasn’t sure where my business would be at that point. I always felt guilty when I thought of taking time off. Which was probably why I never did.

  “I’ll consider it,” I said.

  Brandon rolled his eyes. “I will get you to come with us someday.”

  “You should keep asking me,” I said. “I need someone like you to push me.”

  “Even though you consistently turn me down?” Brandon said. His tone was light, but it had an edge to it. Over the years, he had taken a backseat in my life, yet had stuck with me through everything. It wasn’t fair to him, even though he didn’t understand what my life was like. Gina was the most important person to me. He wouldn’t get that until he had kids for himself. Which I doubted would ever happen on purpose. Everyone had their own view of how their life should go, and this was mine. Working hard gave me the means to give Gina anything she wanted. And that was my priority.