by Lyssa Layne
Grabbing my hips, he pulls me into his lap and his mouth goes to my neck, sucking gently and teasing me. My hand roams up his chest, pulling at his nipple ring and my ears are filled with his deep moan. I promised myself I wouldn’t let things get this far but in this moment, it feels too good to say no.
CHAPTER 16
Jace
It’s the second Sunday in a row I’ve been invited to dinner at the Greyson’s. I could spend the whole afternoon watching Laurel and her mother in the kitchen. The entire time they cook, the two women sing and dance along with the radio like nobody’s watching. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt like a part of a family. Growing up, both of my parents busted their asses to get me to college and for a brief time while I was making it in the big leagues, I finally gave back to them what they’d given me but it was too late. The bonds weren’t there and all I was to them was a paycheck, just like everyone else. When I got caught betting on my own team, I wish their disappointment had been over my lack of morals and not the loss of the money.
Coach’s hand clamps down on my shoulder. “Those two have got some moves, don’t they?” The old man is grinning from ear to ear while his wife twists her rumpshaker and Laurel hip bumps her as she walks past singing into a spoon.
I nod. “Yes, sir.” I’m careful to not give too much away since we are talking about his wife and daughter.
We watch them just another second longer before he pats my back. “Come on, I’ll start the steaks before we get caught staring.”
Smoke billows out of his bar-b-que pit as he takes the top off and neatly places the steaks across the grill. I take a sip of the water bottle in my hand and nod inside. “So, what’s Laurel’s story?” I’ve heard bits and pieces from her but I’d like to hear Coach’s version as well.
Closing the lid, he shakes his head. “I know she’s a little jaded but she’s really a sweetheart. Sometimes life just gets the best of ‘ya, you know?”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
“She got pregnant in high school and against our advice, she married Grey’s daddy. He’s a real son-of-a-gun I tell ‘ya, wasn’t even there for the birth of his own flesh and blood.”
I tear my eyes away from the kitchen window where I can hear Laurel belting out Aretha Franklin. “Seriously? What an ass…” Laurel had mentioned Adam won the state championship when Grey was born, I just didn’t comprehend it was actually when Grey was born.
Coach nods. “Yep, baseball was too important. Anyway, Adam always felt like Laurel and Grey held him back. Even from day one of their marriage, he didn’t treat her right, but that’s just a daddy’s opinion. Anyway, Laurel finally caught him in the act and stood up for herself. Adam fought her tooth and nail, we about lost everything, but in the end, he played nice and the two worked it out.”
I glance over at Grey and Sam who are working on new signals, they insist the other teams are picking up on them.
Coach looks up at me. “What were we going to do? There was no way Adam was getting full custody of our boy, at least not while I’m alive. After the divorce, Laurel went on a bit of a wild streak. I mean the poor girl had lost the innocence of her youth, missing out on prom and partying in college. Her mother and I helped out as much as possible, we all know Adam and his family wouldn’t lift a finger for that baby, but Laurel is a headstrong, independent woman who wanted to be a present mother since the father wasn’t, still isn’t.”
The wild streak which included getting her nipples pierced. My mind goes to places it shouldn’t, wondering what else she did. Movement in my boxer briefs reminds me that I’m with her father and should quickly get my mind away from those thoughts. Coach hasn’t mentioned Adam’s move to New York so I’m wondering if Laurel said anything. I don’t want to drop the bomb but from what I’ve heard, I have to know the answer to one question.
“Laurel couldn’t ever lose Grey, could she?”
Coach’s head pops up. “Why do you ask?”
I shrug, trying to look casual. “I just meant if Adam ever wanted to challenge her for custody again, he wouldn’t stand a chance, right?”
Coach shrugs and leans back in his lawn chair. “I hope not but with Adam, you never know. He has a way of twisting things to work in his favor so let’s just hope it never comes to that.”
My stomach knots and a bad feeling creeps in my soul. I may not want kids but it would kill me to see Grey taken away from Laurel. Grey and Sam call for my attention and I’m reminded that Sam may soon be parentless too. Making my way to them, I vow that I’ll do everything I can to keep us all together.
Laurel
From the kitchen window, I watch Jace playing with the boys. This isn’t their typical pitching practice. No, they’re playing the age old game of Hot Box. One person has to make it from one side to the other without getting tagged by the two on the outside guarding their posts. Poor Jace keeps getting stuck in the middle, he’s no match for the much shorter boys.
My mother’s singing quiets and she bumps my hip with hers. “Watching that fine specimen of man in the backyard?”
I roll my eyes. “Ew, Mom! I prefer not to think of Daddy that way,” I tease back, trying to deflect what she’s really getting at.
She scoffs and shakes her head. “Don’t deny the attraction between that ball coach and yourself. I’ve never seen you look at a man that way.”
I don’t want to but I look away from Jace and turn to my mother. “What about Adam?” I cringe at the thought of being attracted to Adam but still, this isn’t the first time like she’s implying.
She lets out a loud, boisterous laugh, one that matches my father’s own deep chuckle. “Honey child, please! You may have loved Adam, you may still love him because he’s the father of your baby, but sweetheart, you never had that look in your eye that you do now, like you want to devour that man whole.”
My cheeks flush and she bumps my hip again. “Go tell your boys it’s time for dinner.”
I roll my eyes when she says “your boys” but as I walk outside, I let myself daydream of what life might be like one day with Jace and the boys in my house. I let myself laugh out loud because the idea is preposterous. Jace Richards is just someone to hang out with and share a few kisses every now and then…really, really good kisses at that.
Lost in my thoughts, I walk right in the middle of their game. Jace’s big hands grab me by the waist, spinning me in a circle as he tries to keep from bowling me over. Before my feet are back on the ground, the boys start their objections.
“No fair! Mom got in the way!”
“Do-over, do-over!”
“Are you alright?” Jace sets me down, his hands run down my arms, sending goosebumps over my skin. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
I shake my head, smoothing out my white and floral print dress to hide my shaky hands. “Yeah, I’m fine. Dinner’s ready.”
The boys quickly forget about the game and run to the house as I call after them to wash their hands. My father follows behind them carrying the plate of steaks. Jace watches until the door closes then leans down and kisses me softly.
“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” he whispers, moving his lips to my collarbone, his beard tickling my skin.
My fingers rub his hair and I tilt my head back, enjoying the sensations he sparks throughout my body. “Oh? Why’s that? You were up until midnight making out with me.”
For the past two weeks, since we started that table, we’ve spent every free moment together, whether the boys are with us or not. That fact alone is part of the reason I keep having the dream house and family fantasy. The other part is that the sexual tension between us is probably going to kill us both. When Grey and Sam aren’t home, we’ll spend hours upon hours making out like teenagers. Last night, we both lost our shirts and our mouths explored every inch of each other’s torso. Despite my bra, the man still teased my nipples like no one else ever has and my body still throbs from the ache he created between my legs. As much as we both
want to take the next step, I know I’m not ready for that. It’s already going to be hard enough to lose him when he decides to leave this town, I don’t think I can fully give him my body without knowing I’ll ever be able to recover when I can’t have him.
Jace lifts his head up. “That.” He points to my face. “Stop that.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Stop what?”
“You’re thinking about something that upsets you. Your eyes get melancholy and your shoulders drop like you’ve been defeated, and your whole mood changes. Honestly, I don’t fuckin’ like it.” He kisses my nose. “I don’t like to see you sad, Laur. I’d give anything to never see that.”
Why does he say all the right things? When he does, it makes me open my heart to him when I should really be protecting it even more. I push on my tippy toes and press my lips to his. He parts his mouth and invites my tongue inside. With each movement, our kiss deepens, and I want him even more than I did on my couch last night. My hand slips under his t-shirt while his slide up my thigh, venturing under my dress. Feeling weak in the knees, I tighten my grip around his neck to hold me up and his finger runs along the seam of my thong, which is totally damp by now. I grind myself against his engorged manhood that’s pressing against my stomach and I realize that I want to give myself, my whole self to Jace Richards, even if it means a lifetime of heartache.
“Laurel, dinner!” My mother calls to us with a chuckle.
Dropping back to my flat feet, the kiss ends and I burrow my head in Jace’s chest, who stands above me laughing.
“I don’t know about you but you’ve definitely worked up my appetite,” he says and playfully pats my bare butt cheek before moving his hand.
I roll my eyes, pushing him away but not letting go of his shirt so he doesn’t get too far. “Very funny, Richards.” He takes my hand and we walk up the porch. Looking back at him, I nod. “If we get questioned, I’m totally blaming this on you.”
He chuckles and nods, muttering, “Fair enough” before he leans down and kisses me again. Good god, this man is going to be the death of me, either by spontaneous combustion due to sexual excitement or embarrassment as my family watches a much tamer version of the kiss we just shared.
CHAPTER 17
Jace
In a rush, I gather up all the equipment after practice. Grey’s going to his dad’s tonight and Sam is staying over at Ashley’s which means I get Laurel all to myself. After the way things have been going between us lately, I think tonight might be the night we get to the bedroom. I’ve already stocked up on condoms, even with having a vasectomy, I learned from Colie that good girls still want to use extra protection and now that I’ve stepped back from the wild life I was leading, I completely understand.
I hate that Grey has to spend time with that jerk of a father as he likes to call himself. The kid’s confided in me that he hates spending time over there because Adam just ignores him and Grey plays video games the whole weekend. I suggested to Laurel that if Adam’s busy on the days he has Grey that she should offer to take him and I could help out if she had other stuff going on. She said she’s told Adam that multiple times but he won’t give her any extra time with Grey. It only makes me hate him even more.
Grey hands me a few helmets. “You hanging out with my mom tonight?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool, although the kid is smart and I know he’s noticing all the extra time I’ve been hanging around. “Yeah, we need to finish that table we started a few weeks ago. You alright with that?” I don’t want to piss the kid off, his blessing is just as important as Coach’s, although I’m getting a little ahead of myself.
Grey nods, trying to hide a smile. Before he can answer, a male voice calls to him and we both look up. I’ve never met his father before but I know the tall, dark haired man in a full on suit in the ninety degree weather has to be the asshole.
I glance down at Grey. “He picking you up tonight instead of Ash?” Usually Ashley picks up all the boys on the days Grey goes with Adam, but no one told me any different about today.
“Yeah, we’re having dinner with my future stepmonster’s parents tonight.”
I laugh, although I know as an adult, I shouldn’t encourage the name calling. “Sounds thrilling,” I tease and roll my eyes.
“I wish I could hang out with you and mom,” Grey says, his eyes pleading for me to make it happen. Kid, I wish I could.
“Greyson, come on. You’re going to make us late!” Adam yells, not even looking up from his phone.
I clench my jaw to keep from screaming at him. “Go on, Grey, don’t want to piss off the beast.”
Grey giggles and runs over to his father. Adam finally breaks his attention to send Grey to his car on his own. I shake my head and pick up the last couple bats. When I throw the bag over my shoulder and walk out of the dugout, Adam Darbis stands before me.
“Jace Richards, right?”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Everyone in town fuckin’ knows me whether I want them to or not. “Yeah, that’s me.”
He nods, a wicked grin on his face. “So you’re the one screwing my ex-wife?”
His words stir up anger and I clench my fists, trying to keep control of my temper. “I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
“Well sure it is. I mean a guy like you has slept with what? Hundreds? Thousands of women? I may not still be married to her, but I care enough about Laurel to make sure she doesn’t catch anything from a manwhore like you.”
I throw down the equipment bag, pissed at his insinuations although there might be truth to some of it. “If we’re using rumors as fact here then I think she should be just as worried about you.”
He laughs and points his finger at me. “So you know where I’m coming from then? I like you, Richards.” He claps his hand on my back and I stare at it, wanting to break his fingers. “I just wanted you to know that I’m the only other man she’s been with so you have a lot to live up to.”
Adam saunters off, still laughing as he walks away. His words claw at my brain. There’s no way a woman like Laurel would want to be with a sex-crazed man like myself. I may have tested clean but somehow, my brain has become delusional because I actually thought I might have a chance to be Laurel Darbis’ lover.
Laurel
I check the clock one more time only to confirm that Jace is almost an hour late. He said he didn’t have anything going on after practice and would come over right away. I told him not to bother with taking a shower first, letting him know he could shower here. My stomach’s been in knots ever since the words escaped, hoping he didn’t think I was trying to imply anything more than our regular makeout sessions. My body is screaming at me to get laid but I’m completely self-conscious because of his smooth skin comment.
From what I’ve seen, the man is completely hairless on every part of his body. Granted, I haven’t seen ‘down below’ but I can imagine it matches the rest. While I keep things neatly trimmed down there, I can’t bring myself to go to the spa and bare my nether regions to a total stranger while they rip the hair off my most sensitive skin.
Standing in front of the mirror, I pull my white blouse off my shoulders, trying to get the perfect off the shoulder look. I glance at my phone one more time then grab my keys and make the drive to the Purser house. When I pull up the long road, I’m shocked to see the house freshly painted, the broken boards replaced, and the roof halfway restored. It actually looks like someone lives here and it’s not the eyesore that it used to be. I stop my car beside the SUV Jace has been driving. Stepping out of the car in my denim shorts and cowboy boots, I frown that he’s here and didn’t call. I glance at the house and see a few lights on inside. My stomach sinks as the thought that maybe he brought home a woman hits me.
I have no claim on Jace Richards, he’s not mine. I should get in my car and go home to save face… and heartache. Tears threaten and as I pull my door open, I hear a loud thud in the back of the house. Standing still, I hear another then a
nother, each one sounding louder and less time between each one. Curiosity getting the best of me, I walk around back and see Jace pitching to a mattress leaned up against a tree. He’s muttering under his breath and from the looks of things, he’s not happy.
I slowly walk up behind him and place my hand gently on his back. He startles as I do and spins around. “What the hell are you doing here?” Anger seethes in his words.
I pull my hand back, placing one on each hip. “I thought we had a date.”
Jace laughs and walks toward the mattress to retrieve the balls he threw. “Who are we kidding, Laurel? You’re way out of my league so just stop playing nice. I’m a grown man, I can handle the rejection.”
I pick up a ball and hurl it in his direction, barely missing his head. He spins around and shouts, “What the fuck was that?”
I walk toward him, my chest heaving as anger takes over my body. “You tell me! Where did this self-loathing come from? I thought I told you I make up my own mind so don’t try to do it for me.”
Jace hangs his head in shame and rolls a ball between his fingers. “Your ex picked Grey up from practice.”
“What’d he say?” My heart pounds in my chest because there’s no telling what Adam would lie about to ruin something good I’ve got going on.
“That he cared enough about you to make sure you didn’t catch anything from me. I told him from the sounds of things that you should be worried about the same thing from being with him. Then he told me he’s the only man you’ve ever been with.”
I let out a nervous laugh for too many reasons to list and Jace continues. “I don’t know, Laurel, it just made me start thinking. Why would a good woman like you want to be with a guy who’s slept with more women than I can count? You deserve so much better.”
I relax as Jace admits to his own fears. I walk until I can put my hands on his cheeks. “Are you with anyone else right now?”
He wrinkles his forehead. “What? Hell no! I haven’t been with anyone in the last ten months.”
