by Cara North
"Hey there. That's Bethany.” Rafe pointed to her, and the woman turned the most dazzling blue eyes Bethany had ever seen her way.
"Hi.” The woman extended a hand. “I'm Layla. These are my two kids, Savanna and Brice."
The kids stopped running at the mention of their names and moved around the counter where she could see them. Bethany smiled, stepped forward to shake Layla's hand, then extended it to the well trained children.
"I'm Bethany, Jack's wife.” Bethany offered her hand to the little girl. She had strawberry blonde hair and eyes like her mother's.
"I'm Savanna. I'm in first grade.” She smiled revealing a space where two front teeth should have been. “I'm going to marry Heath when I grow up."
"Nice to meet you, Savanna.” Bethany smiled at the child who waved to Heath. The big ogre waved back and winked at the child. Rafe laughed. “And you are?"
"Brice. I'm in kin-er-gar-en,” he said breaking the word into syllables. He had brown hair and eyes but his mother's lips and nose.
"You must be very smart.” Bethany nodded.
She liked them. She had never been around kids much. It was weird how in the very instant she met them something kicked in her gut. A longing she never knew she had; a fever started inside. She knew right then that if she had a daughter she would not have to compete for Jack's attention. She knew she would be a good mother. She looked over to Jack and wondered what his kids would look like. More specifically, what their kids would look like.
"Come here, Cowboy!” Jack shouted, and Brice took off. The kid climbed him like a tree then hung on to his back.
"Me, Jack, my turn. Flip me!” Savanna squealed as Brice was flipped to the floor.
"Come on up, Cowgirl.” He handled Savanna more gently, but she climbed his back nonetheless. Once at the top, he secured her in his hands and flipped her, squealing all the way, letting her feet land first on the floor. Once she was standing and balanced, he let her go.
"Me me!” Brice chanted.
"No, no more. Jack, you always get them wound up.” Layla laughed.
"Yeah Jack, they have school tomorrow,” Rafe added with a sheepish grin.
"Bethany, it was great meeting you, and I hope to see you again soon. But these guys have school in the morning, and someone has already made them late getting home.” Layla cast a glance at Rafe who looked at Heath. “Don't look at him. You're in big trouble, mister."
"How'd I get so lucky?” Rafe winked, and Layla let out a sigh of exasperation. Bethany could sense the energy between them, but she knew Layla was holding back. She knew because she had been doing the same thing all week.
"It was great meeting you,” Bethany said as Layla gathered the kids by their hands.
"Rafe, you really don't have to follow us home,” Layla said. Heath said goodbye to Savanna and snorted at Rafe who made hand gestures behind Layla's back. He ignored the woman's comment and grabbed the backpacks, escorting the family out the door.
"See you in the morning,” Rafe called as he shut the door behind them.
"Heath, you don't have to go now.” She watched as the man headed for the hall and the upstairs bedrooms. He had let down his guard around the kids. She wanted to see more of that Heath, get to know Jack's brother.
"I have to be at work at five a.m. It's going on eight. I'd like to go to bed if that's all right with you.” Heath bristled.
"Well, I guess so.” She didn't let him get to her. The man apparently had a mood swing problem. One minute he was happy and sociable, the next he was crabby and irritable.
"Thanks.” He snorted again.
"Trying to avoid being alone with me?” Jack stepped up behind her and wrapped her in his arms.
At once the chemistry in the room changed. All thoughts of his brothers and their dilemmas went to the back burner. “No. I just didn't want to be rude."
"Come on. Let's go see what's in the bedroom.” Jack swatted her on the butt making her yelp.
* * * *
The short distance between the kitchen and his bedroom had never seemed longer than it did tonight. Bethany followed him. He could feel her eyes warming his back and then his ass. Why the woman was constantly staring at his backside was beyond him. It sure did not compete with hers.
Now, her ass was worth looking at.
Closing the door behind them, he locked it. When he turned around, Bethany had already started to undress, but this time he did not just want her sexually. He wanted her emotionally. She started to open up with him, no way would he let her shut down again.
"Leave your clothes on for a bit.” He held out the sweater she had tossed.
"Sorta defeats the purpose, don't you think?” She frowned at him. She stared at the offered sweater.
"If my purpose was just to get you naked, yes, but I don't want you naked, yet.” Jack stepped close to her. Close enough to smell her hair and the sweet perfume she was wearing. Light, subtle, barely there and mixing deliciously with her own natural fragrance.
"What do you have in mind?” she asked, and he could sense she was getting nervous. The sweater remained in his hand, and she looked at it, not him.
"I thought we'd start slow for a change.” He placed the sweater around her shoulders. Reluctantly, she slipped her arms into it. “These things are so soft, like the one you were wearing when we met."
Her breath hitched as he slid his hands down her shoulders then back up. “Look at me."
She looked up, a mix of emotions danced across her features. He knew she wasn't expecting him to want more than sex, but he did want more. A lot more. He wanted everything, and he wanted it now.
"Trust me, okay?” he whispered against her soft skin before kissing her on the cheek. His lips lingered there as she nodded.
Her hands moved around his back. Gently, he swayed them to the song in his mind. If he had a voice, he would sing to her, but he didn't, and he was not about to embarrass himself or make her laugh when all he wanted was to hold her and make her feel cherished. Damn song!
"You know something, Jack. You're not at all what I expected.” She sighed and squeezed him tighter.
"No?” He kissed her temple then her ear. As he made his way to her neck, she rolled her hips against his, bringing them closer as they danced. He relished the feel of her body pressed against him. Her curls tickled his chin, the smell of her shampoo pleased his nose, and the beat of her heart against his chest as she squeezed him tighter soothed his own.
"No.” She let her head drop back. Her light green eyes sparkled. She looked beautiful, happy. “I thought all you wanted from me was sex and a three month marriage so you could get your money. It's something I was familiar with, being used for financial gain. But you, you want more."
Jack stopped, like a record needle scratching over the vinyl her words stopped the music in his head and stole his moment. “What are you talking about?"
"You want my soul, Jack Johnson. You're the devil himself. And I signed it over, lock stock and barrel, didn't I?” She was still somewhat lost in the dreamy romantic moment, but her words were like knives ripping him apart. Who had used her for money? He did not want her soul, well, not for money anyways. He wanted her heart. He wanted a fair chance at the vows they made.
"You didn't sign yourself over to me, sweetheart. If you don't want me, you can go. I mean it. Three months, three days, hell, three minutes from now.” Releasing her, he stepped back and ran his hands through his hair. Complicated, women were complicated creatures a man like him could not begin to understand.
"You want me to go?” And now she looked hurt. Shit!
"No, I don't want you to go at all, but I don't want to hold you against your will.” He scrubbed his face with his hands. He wasn't sure how to tell her what he meant. He didn't know himself. Maybe he did want her soul. Did that make him the devil, to want the object of his affection to be his alone?
"You weren't. Now, hold me again.” She moved close and hugged him. “I was trying to tell you how differe
nt you are from the men I have known in my life, not scare you away."
"I'm not scared.” He snorted. No, not scared, he was petrified. If he learned anything from his older brother Heath, it was that letting himself love a woman was a risk. If she left him, his life would go to shit in rapid order.
"Of course not.” She ran her hand down his back, soothing him. To get away from the conversation, he decided to speed things back up in a direction they were both more comfortable communicating with.
He slid his right hand over her left breast. The soft material made him want to pull it between his thumb and index finger and play with it. Her nipple pebbled as he teased it through the material. She was clinging to him again in no time. Her hand moved to the back of his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. The same explosion of sensation happened, the feel of her soft lips, the taste of her tongue.
Bethany pulled at his T-shirt, but he was not having it. Removing his hand from her breast, he scooped her in his arms and carried her to the bed. Lying down was a lot harder than it seemed when the woman did not want to let go of him. He sat down on the bed, laid back, and then rolled them so he could be on top. She pulled at his shirt. She wrapped her legs around him. It was like fighting an octopus. “Sweetheart, stop trying to rip me to shreds and let me love on you."
She stopped with his shirt fisted in her hands halfway up his back. Her big green eyes blinked at him. “It's not time to..."
"No.” He smiled. She had a wicked look in her eye. One letting him know, he may want to cuddle, but Bethany wanted sex. “You haven't had a lot of experience..."
"I've had a few thanks to you.” She stroked his cheek. Damn it! She was luring him in.
"I meant in general. I want you to know how nice it is to be stroked, primed. You don't always have to get naked right away. A woman needs to be ready..."
"Hmmm.” She made a face of curiosity then did something he least expected.
Jack was taking too long to get this show on the road. Primed, she had been primed since the room emptied. Then, he wanted to dance, and then she was afraid he could see right through her. So, she called him the devil. Of course, he got all freaked out, so she couldn't tell if confessing her feelings, telling him she cared for him, in her own weird way, scared him, or just scared her. Either way, he started kissing her again. His lips on hers were enough. Instantly, she was primed as he called it.
But taking it slow? She had been taking it slow all her life! She never got what she wanted when she wanted it, and Jack had been the master at giving her everything in rapid order. She was not about to stop, so he could take her on a trip down memory lane and relive all the bumping and grinding she might have missed as a teen.
She reached under the band of her skirt, dipped her fingers between her legs, and brought up proof. She was ready whenever he was. “See, all wet."
His eyes closed. When they opened, his jaw began to make a little twitch.
"Taste for yourself.” She teased, but as he opened his mouth, she did something she had not planned to do. She stuck her fingers in her own mouth, tasting herself.
He went from sweet sixteen to raging bull in about a heartbeat. She was not even sure how the clothes got off, but he somehow managed to get them both naked in record time. “Jack?"
"Oh, you're gonna get it, missy, don't you worry,” he said as he parted her sex.
Then, he was there, sucking, licking, and teasing everywhere but the sweet spot. It was maddening. Her body arched, twisted, and ached to be satisfied. “More Jack."
He growled and pushed one finger inside. Easing his way up to a second, he tickled her clit long enough to make her legs jump and continued on his mission of tormenting her with pleasure. “More, please."
"You sure?” he asked, and for a moment she hesitated. He was not moving from where he was. She wanted him inside her, now!
"Yes.” She nodded. Her eyes rounded as she felt the pressure. Slight but true. “Jack?"
"Relax."
"Do you know where your finger is?"
"Where my dick will be soon?” he answered as he moved his finger farther inside her anus.
She could feel the pressure on the tight little hole. She remembered the way her first time felt in her vagina. Jack was bigger than the average vibrator, and she thought they were pretty big. No fucking way was he getting his big dick in there!
"I don't know about this.” She gasped as he moved a little farther inside. Despite herself, it started to feel good. “Jack?"
"Relax, sweetheart, just breathe deep. That's it. There you go. See.” He coached her as if she were playing miniature golf not getting sodomized by his finger. The image made her laugh. “What?"
"Nothing. Oh ... mmm.” The moment relaxed her enough apparently for him to slide the finger all the way in.
"Do you like it?” Jack asked.
Again, her body betrayed the right answer, clenching around him as a response. She nodded.
"Good.” He placed his face back between her legs and began suckling her clit. It was then she realized all that fuss was over a pinky. His other two fingers were still inside her vagina. She wanted to contemplate the size difference some more, but as he hit the spot, it really didn't matter what he put there. It just felt good.
"Oh Jack!” She cried out as the orgasm spread from her toes to her hairline and racked her body in between mercilessly. Her walls gripped his fingers, her anus gripped his pinky, and her hands fisted his sheets. As the sensations calmed, she lay twitching and exhausted. Every muscle in her body had tightened then released.
"You take a breather. I'll be right back.” He patted her on the thigh and disappeared into the bathroom.
Chapter 12
Like a kid on Christmas, Jack re-entered the bedroom with a bottle of lube. He practically glowed from head to toe. Limp and lifeless, she rolled to her stomach in submission. He had not hurt her yet. Not physically or emotionally, so why the hell not? She would be able to say there wasn't anything she hadn't done.
"Roll back over,” he said as he slipped into the bed next to her. “I got a condom and this."
"I see.” She tried to brazen it out, but she could feel the blush creeping over her. Not the warmth from the orgasm, a whole new blush of embarrassment and uncertainty.
"It's supposed to be easier if you face me.” He nodded with confidence.
"Don't you know?” She teased, trying to regain some air of confidence. Her finger stroked along his spine, and he let out a rumble of approval.
"No. I've never done it before."
Thankfully, he was facing away from her focused on the condom and lube rather than watching her expression of horror. He had no idea what he was about to do to her. It was one thing to think Jack was the sage, the know it all, done it all, stallion. It was quite another to think he had no idea what he was going to do to her. What if he ripped her in half?
"Jack.” Nervously, she cleared her throat. “Exactly how do you know what to do here, I mean if you haven't done it before..."
"I know what I'm doing, sweetheart. I've looked it up.” He smiled, his chest heaved, and his fingers trembled. How could she deny him something he seemed so excited about doing? “I've just never wanted to do it to anyone else before, but this is something we can do together. New ground for both of us."
"Somehow I think you're getting the better end of this bargain.” She sat up, watched him roll on the condom. As he lubed the tip of his latex covered penis, she began to feel the renewed energy in her sex. She wondered what it would be like to watch him jack-off. His hands were so much bigger than hers, rougher.
"Just relax like before. If it hurts, tell me. I'll stop.” He nuzzled her nose with his, placed a sweet kiss on her lips. She believed him. He wouldn't hurt her.
She nodded slowly and laid back. He didn't go right for her ass like she expected. Instead, he started kissing her in his sweet, slow manner, which made her melt. Slowly, as she began to feel the pull of renewed desire inside, he move
d his hand lower and caressed the wet lips of her pussy. How he seemed to know the moment she was ready was a mystery. Maybe because she always moaned, but the man would not let her get air until she did.
His finger moved back to her most sensitive spot. When she began arching into him, rolling her hips, he stopped. Cool lubricant trickled between her butt cheeks, followed by a slight probing finger. It was easier this way, she had to admit. The finger pressed past the tight band and then teased her inside. He continued to kiss her as his erection still pressed into the inside of her thigh. His hands did all the work for now.
"Are you okay?” he asked sincerely.
"Yes.” It was such a strange feeling to be this intimate. To have a man invading her most private of the private parts.
"Are you ready for more?” he whispered as a second finger pressed in, stretching her.
"I think so.” She gulped. He let her adjust to two large fingers. As she relaxed, enjoying his rhythm, he kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts. He sucked her nipples and drove her wild. She wanted more. She wanted to let him do this.
His weight shifted, and he lifted up off of her. Her legs fell over each of his thighs and exposed her completely. His fingers pulled out, and the lubricated head pressed slightly against the opening.
"Whoa. He's big, Jack.” She didn't mean it to be amusing, but he breathed a laugh just the same.
"Thank you.” He smiled, and she couldn't resist smiling, too. The moment was so tense with the seriousness of what he was about to do. It helped her relax. “I'll push a little bit, but you have to let me in."
She nodded as the tip of his penis pushed against the opening. She breathed slowly, long exhales, deep inhales. She felt the stretch, the burn. It was not terrible, it was just uncomfortable. She concentrated on relaxing though her body wanted to tense. Jack's face contorted, the veins on his neck stood out, and she could only imagine how badly he must want to plow right inside, but he didn't. He was not even past the part, which felt like a little barrier, a circle of muscle seeming determined to keep him out. Jack pushed just a little harder and slipped right in.
