by King, Imani
The boys wouldn’t be happy if they found out Jonathan and her were sleeping together. She’d spent the last few months earning their trust and bonding with them. She didn’t want all that work to go down the drain for nothing .
She really did care about Alexander and Declan, and she didn’t want to hurt them .
The psychology student in her told her that dating their father would definitely hurt them. They’d see her as a replacement for their mother. But, in their eyes, no one would ever be able to replace her. Hell, she doubted anyone would be able to replace her in Jonathan’s eyes .
18
Jonathan
F or the rest of the week, Jonathan practically floated on air. His meetings went well, though they barely even registered on his radar. All he could do was count down the minutes in the day until he was back at the villa with Trisha .
This trip had been important last week, but now, it seemed like it was trivial. Then again, everything that wasn’t Trisha seemed trivial. All the sights of Italy couldn’t compare to her. Even when they were out on the beach, he could barely take his eyes off her .
He spent the evening with the boys, then as soon as they were in bed, he was in bed with Trisha. A part of his felt guilty about screwing her right across the house from the boys, but he shrugged it off. He was a man with needs, needs that hadn’t been fulfilled in a while now .
And Trisha knew just how to fulfil those needs !
Besides, what would a little Italian hookup hurt anyone? It was just a bit of fun between two consenting adults. And it wasn’t like he planned on ever letting the boys know anything about this week .
That was how the rest of the trip went .
He spent the days and evenings with Trisha, enjoying all the perks of a vacation in Italy. The boys were practically glued to his side all day, excited about actually getting to spend a vacation with their father. Even though his attention was constantly being drawn back to Trisha, he made sure he spent plenty of time with the boys .
He made a mental note to go on trips with them more often. Even if it was just trips around Georgia, he needed to spend a bit more time with them. They were only kids for so long. He didn’t want them to grow up and feel like they were cheated out of a childhood with their father. It was bad enough they didn’t have a mother any more .
Work took up a lot of his time, especially with the hospital in full swing now. Money bought a lot of luxuries in life for him and the boys, but it didn’t buy time. Which was why he was glad he’d decided to bring the two of them on this trip .
But, each night after they went to bed, they were the furthest thing from his mind. He had to admit, out of all the sights he saw around Italy, Trisha was definitely his favorite. And he enjoyed that sight in as many different ways as he could – bent over the bed, up against the wall, even out on his balcony. If he wasn’t worried about the boys waking up, he’d have fucked her all over the villa .
By the time they boarded the plane for home, his balls were running on empty. He’d never felt so exhausted yet so content before in his life. That was one of the benefits of a woman a bit younger than he was. Boy could they fuck !
Unfortunately, their trip was over, which meant he was back to being Trisha’s boss, not her lover. It also meant he was back to running a company. While Trisha and the boys slept, he was on his laptop, once again diving head first into work .
Now that he’d secured more investors, he could move forward with his projects. The hospital was on schedule, so he shifted focus to the surrounding area. He’d gotten quotes on the land, now he just had to start making offers .
He thanked God for whoever decided to put WiFi access in planes .
By the time they were back on the ground in Atlanta, he’d made a good bit of progress, though his eyes were beginning to droop. Unfortunately, the boys were wide awake now and as energetic as ever .
“When can we go back?” Declan asked on the drive home .
Jonathan chuckled and shook his head. They hadn’t even gotten to the house and the kid already wanted another vacation. God, he wished he had that kind of energy again. “Maybe next summer .”
“Awww!” Declan pouted. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and did his best to look as sullen as possible .
Jonathan just rolled his eyes. It wasn’t like he could just drop everything and go on another trip across the world, just because Declan wanted to. Maybe he’d take the boys somewhere else before school started though. Perhaps just a trip down to Florida. Disney World maybe .
Despite it being the middle of the day when he got home, he excused himself to get some sleep. Unlike the boys, who’d slept on the plane and didn’t have anything to do tomorrow, he still had to get up and head into the office .
The joys of being an adult .
It felt strange to fall asleep without Trisha in his arms. In fact, it felt a bit lonely. But he pushed those thoughts out of his mind and forced himself to sleep. His fling with Trisha was fun, but it needed to come to an end .
He wasn’t looking for a girlfriend or anything like that. He’d sworn he’d never marry again, at least not until the boys were grown. The last thing he wanted to do was bring another woman into their lives. He’d never be able to find a replacement their mother, and he wasn’t going to try .
Not now, at least .
19
Trisha
“Y ou slept with him?” Sam’s voice rose and octave, her words echoing around the apartment .
“Shush!” Trisha said, glaring at her. “Do you want the whole world to hear you ?”
No one else was there, but she still didn’t want Sam shouting about her sex life. You never know who might be walking past the apartment at any time. She wasn’t ashamed of what had happened, but it still wasn’t something she wanted spread around town. She liked her privacy .
Sam blushed and frowned, though her eyes still screamed for more information. “What happened? How? When? I need details, damn it !”
Shaking her head, Trisha filled Sam in on everything that had happened while they were in Italy. She spared some of the more intimate details of everything that had happened. She did have some modesty, even with her best friend .
Besides, she wouldn’t want to make Sam jealous, now would she? Trisha smirked at the thought .
“But ever since we got home, he’s gone right back to the way he was.” Trisha sighed and leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes, the smile fading away. “I’d started to think just maybe this was more than a hook-up to him. That maybe it meant something. I mean, I fell asleep in his arms almost every single night .”
Even now, she could remember how it felt to have his strong arms wrapped around her. She remembered how content she’d felt every single night when she’d fallen asleep next to him. She’d never wanted those nights to end, though she should’ve known they would .
“Have you talked to him about it ?”
Trisha shook her head. Every time she’d thought about talking to him during the trip, she’d gotten lost in his eyes and lost the willpower to broach the subject. She hadn’t wanted to ruin the fun they’d been having. The only time they were along during the trip had pretty much been when they were in bed together, and talk about a buzz kill that would’ve been .
And since they’d gotten home, they hadn’t been alone together for more than a handful of minutes. They’d gone right back to their normal routine, where their paths only crossed at dinner, if that. Once again, it seemed like he was avoiding her. She wasn’t sure what hurt more, being kicked out of his bed or him not even talking to her about it .
“I just… I feel like I’m being stupid. He’s a freaking billionaire for god’s sake. Why would he be interested in more than just a vacation fling with me?” Trisha sighed and fought back the tears welling up inside her. She’d been having these thoughts for a while now, but this was the first time she’d vocalized them. “I’m just the hired help .”
Sam pulled her int
o a hug. “Oh, honey. You’re more than just ‘hired help.’ You’re smart and gorgeous and stronger than any other woman I know. He’s lucky to have you there. And if he’s too stupid to realize that, then you deserve better. Don’t waste your time on a man who has his head too far up his ass to see how lucky he really is .”
Trisha snorted. Leave it to Sam to know just what to say to make her feel better .
She was right though. Just because he didn’t think she was worth more than a few nights in bed didn’t mean it was true. She was at the top of all of her classes. She was close to graduating with a degree from a prestigious university. Why should she have to settle for a man who barely noticed her, even if he was handsome and rich ?
Once Trisha regained her composure, the two of them went out for a girls’ night. It was late by the time she headed home, but she felt much better than before. She’d barely thought about Jonathan the entire night, letting the boys on the dance floor occupy her mind for a few hours .
But when she walked in the front door of Ashcourt Manor, all the progress she’d made disappeared. Jonathan was just come down the steps, wearing nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms, his toned torso bare .
Each and every contour of his muscles was ingrained in Trisha’s mind. She’d spent hours just letting her hands roam across his body, soaking it all in. He had a body most men could only dream of, a body she dreamt of frequently .
If she closed her eyes, she could see the droplets of water sliding down his torso as they showered. She could see him glistening with sweat in the moonlight. She could see up atop her as they made love to each other .
She could remember each and every moment they’d shared in Italy .
She froze and stared, all the wheels in her mind grinding to a halt. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him, couldn’t stop her heart from pounding as she recalled the last few times she’d seen him like that. Already a fire began to stir inside her, one she couldn’t quell no matter how hard she tried .
“Welcome back,” he said with a smile. His voice was rich and velvety smooth. Even after she’d dismissed her feelings for him, he still made her shiver with just a few words. “Did you have fun with your friends ?”
Trisha nodded, unable to speak. It was all she could do not to run and jump into his arms and press her lips to his. But this wasn’t a movie, and he wasn’t her Prince Charming. He was her boss, a man she’d allowed herself a little fun with, but that was over now. She needed to get her mind back on track, get used to just being his nanny once again .
That was, until Jonathan moved to stand only inches from her. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked up into his eyes. God… those eyes. Just a look from him had her throwing caution to the wind, ignoring everything she’d decided earlier .
She could smell the minty soap he always used. This close, she could almost taste him again. Her heart hammered faster and faster until she thought she might have a heart attack. It was all she could do to keep her wobbly knees from collapsing beneath her .
“I’ve missed you,” Jonathan said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling them tight together. When he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, she didn’t fight it. Instead, she kissed him right back. All those thoughts of things going back to normal had fled like they were never there. “Care to join me in my room tonight ?”
Trisha nodded. Her voice still refused to work. Her brain barely even functioned for that matter. But she couldn’t say no to him. No matter how much that tiny voice in the back of her head told her not to do this, she didn’t stop him when he led her back up the stairs .
She’d been dreaming of this since they’d gotten back from Italy. Hell, she’d been dreaming of this since the day she’d moved into Ashcourt Manor. She couldn’t count the number of times she’d thought about him sweeping her of her feet and taking her up to his room to have his way with her .
This wasn’t exactly being swept off her feet, but it was a close second !
The moment they were in his bedroom, her eyes went wide. It was as if she was visiting the house for the very first time again, stunned by its elegance and beauty .
Her room paled in comparison to his. It was massive, with ornate furniture and woodwork everywhere. The curtains and carpet were a deep, velvety red. All the trim was done in gold. The bed in the center was larger than any she’d ever seen before .
The room looked like it housed royalty. She’d only every seen rooms like this in magazines or on the internet. And yet, somehow, it fit Jonathan .
There were personal touched all over. Picture frames adorned the dresser. Photographs hung on the wall, rather than artwork. Trisha wandered around the room, looking over each one. The ones hanging on the walls were all landscapes and cityscapes, taken by an expert photographer no doubt .
But the ones on the dresser and nightstands were more personal. There were pictures of the boys, pictures of Jonathan dressed in a tux with a gorgeous woman on his arm, and even pictures of Jonathan with an older couple she assumed were his parents .
She picked up the one of Jonathan and the woman, looking it over carefully. Jonathan slipped his arms around her waist, leaning his head on her shoulder, not speaking, just allowing her the freedom to examine everything .
She had a feeling not many people ever ventured into this room. As far as she knew, even Judith rarely came in her while she cleaned the house. For all she knew, she was the first woman to have set foot in this room in many years .
“Was this your wife?” she asked quietly. She knew the answer without asking, since Declan and Alexander both had her eyes. Still, she wanted to hear what Jonathan had to say about the mysterious woman .
Jonathan nodded. “Yes. That’s Jackie. It was taken at fundraising gala many years ago, before Declan was even born .”
“Do you miss her ?”
“Sometimes,” Jonathan admitted, his voice low. “It was really hard for the first few years, but I’ve come to terms with everything for the most part. Having the boys really helped, since I knew I still had a part of her with me. Every time I look into their eyes, I can still see her smiling back at me .”
Trisha fought back her inner psychologist. It wasn’t her place to barge into Jonathan’s personal thoughts. She’d already trudged into uncertain territory .
“How did the boys handle it ?”
Jonathan sighed. For a moment, she wasn’t sure he’d answer. She was sure he was about to send her back to her own bedroom. Then, he spoke. “Declan was only two when she died, so he barely remembers her now. It’d taken a little while for him to get used to things, but he adjusted. It was harder on Alexander, since he’d been six at the time .
“I took some time off work, to spend with the boys, so that helped. But it was hard for Alexander to understand why his mother wasn’t coming back. It’s hard to explain cancer and death to a kid that young. He insisted on sleeping with me every night for about a month. I think he was afraid I might leave him too .
“But he adjusted, eventually. Sometimes though, I’ll find him in his room, holding a picture of the two of them together. But having Grace and Gretta helped, since they’d been part of the family since before he was born. I think it hurt when Grace left to move to Florida, but I think he really likes having you here. I know I do .”
Trisha flushed at the compliment. At least now she knew why Alexander had been a bit distant to her, unlike Declan who’d latched onto her almost the moment she’d stepped in the door. But Alexander hadn’t pushed her away either and she hadn’t seen any resentment from him, just caution .
Her heart went out to both boys. Losing a parent was hard on anyone, but especially on a child. It was a wound that never healed completely. She was glad the boy hadn’t completely rejected her and instead seemed to enjoy her company when they spent the nights playing video games together or doing homework together .
Maybe it was because Trisha was so young, she thought. He probably sees her as more of an older sist
er type figure, rather than as a replacement for his mother. She’d never be able to replace their mother, not for Alexander and not for Declan or Jonathan .
After setting the picture back where it has been, she turned in Jonathan’s arms and wrapped her own arms around his waist. She could see sadness in his eyes, but he made no move to send her away. Instead, they just gazed at each other, neither sure what to do next .
Finally, Trisha spoke. “We don’t have to do this, if you don’t want to .”
In response, Jonathan leaned down and kissed her firmly. Just that quick kiss had her heartrate spiking again, her knees going weak .
“I want to. More than anything .”
When Jonathan pulled her toward the bed, Trisha didn’t fight. She crawled into bed next to him, his arms once against around her and pulling them tight. As they kissed, his hands slid beneath her shirt, gently caressing her back .
It didn’t take long before Trisha’s shirt and bra were in a pile on the floor. The fire that had been building up inside her sprung to life as their bare chests pressed together. All rational thoughts left her mind as Jonathan continued to run his fingers over her body. She couldn’t wait to feel him inside her again .
Trisha straddled Jonathan’s hips, his cock already hard and pressing against her. Even with both of them still wearing pants, she could feel his bulge as he lifted his hips off the bed and ground against her. When Trisha broke the kiss and grinned down at him, he grinned back .
Moments later, their pants and underwear were on the ground as well and they were back to kissing. Trisha was already wet, just from Jonathan touching and kissing her. He really did know how to push all of her buttons. And she knew, if she let him, he’d spend all day making her scream in pleasure .
But this time, she was going to be the one in control .
She took hold of his wrists and pinned them above his head, not breaking the kiss. Then she started grinding against his hard cock. He’d spent their week in Italy teasing her and making her beg for more. Now it was time for a little bit of revenge .
