by J. L. Beck
“Oh baby, you know your father and I only wanted the best for you. We only said those things in hopes that you would come to your senses and leave that asshole. When you didn’t we had no choice but to let things be as they were.” I could practically feel the emotions in her words.
“I…” I stumbled over my words, but Jackson placed a kiss against my skin, reminding me that I could do this. “I want you to meet him, Momma. I want you and Daddy to meet the man I love. I want to make you proud.” I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, while sucking fresh oxygen. It gave me some clarity and the chance to clear my head a little bit.
“Whatever you want, sweetheart. I just want to see you again, but this time in person, so that I can make sure it’s really you, my daughter.” I had never been happier with the things that were taking place in my life. I exchanged information with my mother, giving her the address to the cabin.
We set up a date in the future to meet up, and she told me that she loved me. Three words I had waited years to hear. Granted the entire reason I had to wait to hear them was my fault, but still.
When I finally hung up the phone, Jackson was still holding onto me. Keeping the pieces of me that threatened to chip away together.
“I can tell you mean the world to her, Lola,” he rasped in my ear. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into his deep voice. The warmth of his body against mine made my pussy wet. It had been only a few hours since our last fuck, but I couldn’t get enough of the man.
“That’s why it hurts so badly, because when I left and did what I did I ripped her heart out.” I hated myself for hurting my family the way I did, not Roger or anyone else, but myself. I made the choice to leave, and in the end, that was what made them want to disown me.
“Forgiveness is never easy to give, but holding onto rage in its place is as bad as letting negative thoughts rent space in your mind. Don’t beat yourself up about things in the past, just forgive and move on. Learn from your mistakes, sweetheart, that’s all you can do.”
I didn’t deserve a man like Jackson, but I wasn’t going to give him up. Never. He fused the broken pieces of my heart together. He completed me when I felt that there was no matching piece to my puzzle.
We were the perfect blend of chaos and perfection mixed together, and because of Jackson, I realized that there would always be beauty in the simple things of life. Even if we didn’t have the huge house with the white picket fence, we had us, with our cabin and over a hundred-acre farm.
“When I look back on this day with you, and any day after, I want to know that I did all I could to make myself happy. I want to know that I did my best, and the only way to know that is to let you guide me to being a better person. When I’m with you, Jackson, I am a better person.” I turned in his arms, my entire body burning up as I brought his lips to mine.
I would climb him just like the tree he was if I had to, just to get to his lips. He smiled as he kissed me back, his hands roaming over my backside where he squeezed gently.
“I think we should consider practicing our baby making skills. Maybe by the time I meet your parents we’ll get to share the wonderful news that they’re going to be grandparents?” I pulled away a little bit, looking up at him and into those coffee brown eyes of his.
“I know where this is going, and I think I like it. I think I like it a lot,” I moaned into his mouth, my tongue mingling with his in a way that made my body shake with need. I had been through hell and back, but was rescued by a lumberjack himself.
“You better, because I’m about to give you some wood, baby…” he laughed, and we kissed until we both became breathless and our bodies, refusing to be separate entities, became one.
Epilogue
Jackson
“She looks just like you,” I whispered in Lola’s ear, as she held our sleeping daughter in her arms. Two years is how long it took to be blessed with that little bungle of joy.
I’ll never forget the day Lola peed on that little stick and it said positive, or the day she found out we were having a little girl. All those memories would stick with me for the rest of my days.
“You think so? I think she looks like you honestly…” We examined Alexandria’s face, looking to see who she looked more like. She had a cute little button nose, and huge chipmunk cheeks. The doctors said her cheeks were so big from the swelling that sometimes takes place during birth.
I wasn’t worried about it though. She looked cute as could be. She blinked her tiny eyes open, revealing the bluest eyes I had ever seen, aside from her mother’s. I couldn’t help but drop down to my knees right then and there and give myself up to that little girl who weighed no more than eight pounds.
This was my life now. These two beautiful women were my life now. I had more to protect, and even more to be proud of.
“I love you, sweet little Alex,” I cooed at her as she opened her mouth, sucking her fingers into it. Her eyes twinkled, and I swear she almost smiled.
“My parents will be here soon, Jackson. If you want to take her and hold her, you can.” Lola looked up at me, knowing I wanted to hold her, but also knowing that I was deathly afraid to do so.
“She’s still so tiny, and look at me, Lola. I’m a giant compared to her.” I was completely out of my element when it came to this little girl.
“Oh, shut up, sit down, and take the baby,” Lola ordered, and I did as I was told, taking the seat on the sofa right next to her. I made a cradle out of my arms and squeezed my eyes shut, as Lola settled Alexandria into my arms. She was so tiny that I was afraid my arm would swallow her up.
“It’s not so bad now is it?” Lola teased, getting up from the couch. She had been moving around a lot more since her C-section, but I still didn’t like her going into the other room alone.
“It’s not bad. I just don’t want to break her. She’s so fragile.” I looked down at Alexandria, her features were resembling a dolls. She was beautiful, just like her momma. I placed a finger against her hand and watched as she wrapped her entire hand around it tightly.
“You’ll always be Daddy’s little girl… You know that, right?” I whispered to her, enjoying the feel of her in my arms. I was a Daddy, a husband, and a lumberman. My heart was filled with so much joy and love that it was almost drowning me.
“No she’ll always be Daddy’s little lumbergirl, you know, not lumberjack because she’s not a boy.” Lola walked into the kitchen and came back a second later with some freshly baked muffins, muffins that reminded me of my grandmother.
“You think she would be proud?” I asked Lola.
“I think she would be more than proud, Jackson. I think she would be thrilled, and so damn proud of all that you have done.” As we sat on the couch listening to the crickets chirp outside, I let the beauty of our simple life sink in.
I had the girl. I had the baby. I had the dream job.
What more could a man possibly ask for?
The End
Read on to read the bonus book Extra Credit …
Extra Credit
A Student/Teacher Romance
J.L. Beck
Cover Art by: Mary Ruth
Editing: Elizabeth Wright
Formatting: J.L. Beck
Copyright © 2016 by J.L. Beck
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Meet J.L. Beck
J.L. Beck is a stay at home to two little minions and happily married to her high school sweet heart. When she's not writing steamy hot as sin books, you can find her with a glass of wine, and book of choice in hand. She bel ieves all love stories should have a happy ever after, but knows that real life sometimes occurs so for her readers if she can give her books a H
EA then she's happy.
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Chapter One
Ava
All I wanted was a passing grade. Was that really too much to ask? The question bounced around inside my brain. If Professor Caldwell had not been so gorgeous, I already would’ve told him to get bent especially after he told me that I would need extra credit if I had any chance of passing his class.
“Ava…” Carrie, my best friend, whisper-yelled two seats over from me. She was half the reason I was failing this class; that and Caldwell was a major distraction.
“Shhh.” I ignored her, keeping my eyes on the board in front of me, but mostly on Caldwell. He was a gorgeous specimen of a man, one that made my body clench in all the right spots. He should’ve been on the cover of magazines instead of standing in front of a classroom of junior college students.
“Ava Marie! Do not ignore me for Mr. Sex-On-A-Stick.” I smirked, unable to hold back the smile that she forced onto my face. I licked my lips, my eyes drifting over his toned body. What would he look like underneath those dress pants and button down shirt? Veins protruded from his arms where he rolled the sleeves of his shirt up. Fuck. I needed to get laid. I shouldn’t be imagining myself licking my professor’s forearm.
“Ava. Did you see that?” Carrie questioned, her voice getting louder as I continued to ignore her. More students started to get annoyed and looks of displeasure formed on their faces.
Great, she was going to get us kicked out of class again. I shook my head, gritting my teeth. I was going to have to tell her it was time to buckle down, that I literally couldn’t afford to fuck around anymore. Yeah college was supposed to be fun, but you also were supposed to be learning and growing up.
“Carrie. Ava. Is there something that you would like to tell all of us since you both can’t seem to keep your mouths shut today?” Caldwell’s eyes pierced mine. It took everything in me not to lick my lips in anticipation.
“No. Professor Caldwell.” I muttered under my breath dropping my eyes to the notebook in front of me. I didn’t like it when he looked at me with disappointment and I knew he would lecture me shortly when I was forced to ask him about extra credit for the class.
“Good.” He sneered, going back to writing on the board. As soon as I lifted my eyes they went to his ass. What was wrong with me? I was attracted to my professor, who was probably married and had kids. I was a bitch but even I didn’t cross those kind of lines.
The ten-minutes that were left of class seemed to drag on.
“I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year.” Professor Caldwell announced, giving the cue that class was finally being let out. I sighed the air in the room growing hotter, as butterflies erupted in my stomach. The way the conversation went would determine my entire future.
Students scurried from the classroom and as I stood from my seat, Carrie did too. I could feel her nervous stare on me, why was she the one acting all nervous? She didn’t have to plead with a man that practically hated her, all for a decent grade.
“Miss Nickle’s you may wait out in the hall for Miss Marie if you would like.” My eyes caught on Caldwell’s, the heat in them causing goose bumps to erupt across my arms.
Suddenly my mind was drifting away from that grade I needed so badly and to the devilishly handsome man in front of me. Would he kiss me back if I kissed him? Would he fuck me if I begged and pleaded with him?
I shook my head, pulling myself from the imaginary land I just floated off to. My ears caught on his deep voice, “Ava, if you’re here for the extra credit, then you better get to talking. I have other things that I should be doing.”
I blinked, swallowing past the lump in my throat, as I descended the auditorium steps. Each step vibrating through me, as I kept my eyes trained on the floor, far to nervous to look him straight in the eyes.
I stopped a few feet from his desk, “I…” I swallowed again. “I need to take you up on that extra credit that you offered me a few weeks ago.” I hated feeling inferior to the opposite sex and this man made me feel that way. He looked down on me. Even if he was sexy as fuck while doing it, I still hated it, and wanted to slap the smirk right off his face.
He tapped his fingers against his desk, as he leaned on it. My eyes went to his hands. Long fingers, with a large palm, a palm that I could see landing on my ass over and over again as he slid deeply into my pussy.
Caldwell inhaled a deep breath, and as I lifted my eyes to his green ones I could see some type of internal struggle taking place.
His pink tongue darted out, slipping over his bottom lip. “While I would love to help you, Ava, I just can’t.” His words caused my heart to sink into my stomach.
Without thought, I separated the distance between us, my hands landing on the desk, praying they would keep my body upright.
“Professor Caldwell, I swear to you that I’ll try harder. I cannot fail this class…” My voice was panicky. What the hell would I do if I couldn’t get this figured out? If my parents found out about my failing grade, I would be screwed.
An amused expression developed on his face, which only seemed to worry me more. Was he not taking this seriously?
“I will do whatever you want. Whatever. You. Want. But I need to pass this class.” I was on the verge of tears. I couldn’t return home, not without a degree, not when my family was expecting me to be this straight A student, not when I was barely holding it together as it was.
“Sweet Ava….” The words he spoke were almost inaudible. He leaned into my face, our lips were so close that if I moved even an inch I would be kissing him.
“I gave you a chance to make things right. I reminded you that grades would be posted soon. I sent you an email. I did everything that I needed to do. Hell, I didn’t even have to offer you extra credit. Yet here you are begging me to give you something to do so you can earn that grade you so desperately need…”
I clenched my fists, the smug look on his face begging for me to smack it off.
“I will do anything.” I pleaded, not afraid to grovel at his feet if need be. He blinked at me with astonishment for second, his disheleved hair and sexy as sin face making it harder to concentrate on the task at hand.
“Anything?” Caldwell tipped his head at me, as if looking at me from a different angle would help him discover the answer to this problem.
I should’ve asked him then what it was he wanted me to do, but I didn’t. Instead I nodded my head yes, agreeing without thought to anything he wanted.
He smiled, and it wasn’t the simple ‘I’m happy’ kind. It was the kind that said you just made a deal with the devil, sweetheart.
He licked his lips and crooked his finger at me, beckoning me to come behind his desk. Fire filled my belly, burning into my veins. I took a step and then another until I was behind the desk.
“What… What do you want me to do?” I had to ask. I wanted to know, the question was burning a whole in my head.
“Take off your panties off.” It wasn’t a question, but a demand, and I couldn’t wash the look of shock that developed on my face away fast enough. I was speechless, and he
didn’t seem a bit surprised by it.
“I don’t…” If all he wanted was my panties then I would give them to him, but what if he wanted more?
“If you want that A+ you’re going to have to do a whole lot more than give me dirty looks, and take off your panties.” His voice changed, a deep growl, erupting from within his chest. There was a possessiveness in his stare, one that all but said he was ready to devour me.
I looked over my shoulder at the door where Carrie was supposed to be waiting for me. What if she saw? Hell, what if someone else saw? My eyes darted back to Caldwell, his features were calm, and of course handsome as fuck. Morally, I didn’t think he saw anything wrong with this, why should I?
“Tick tock, Ava. Those panties aren’t going to remove themselves, are they?” I inhaled a deep breath, knowing the answer to all my problems was right in front of me. Professor Caldwell wanted me, and he didn’t just want me on a student/teacher level. He wanted my pussy, all while I was screaming his name.
“Yes, Mr. Caldwell.” I kept my voice neutral, even though excitement filled my veins. Slipping my hands under my black skirt, the hem of it rising as I gripped the sides of lace panties with both hands, I pulled them down my legs, slowly. I could feel the heat of his stare on my legs, and the anticipation building in my belly. What would happen between next?
My panties hit the floor, making hardly a sound, but the choice I had made resonated through me.
He plucked the panties up off the floor, bringing them to his nose. I could hear him inhale my scent. The entire thing was erotic as hell, and my pussy started growing wet just from watching him.
“I’ll give you a passing grade. Under one condition, Ava.” His eyes moved up and down my body. “You let me fuck that sweet pussy of yours.” I licked my lips. I was stupid, so fucking stupid for making a deal like this. Yet, against my morals, and better-judgement I said yes. The words wasn’t even completely out of my mouth and he was on me, owning me, possessing me, marking me as his own. His kiss had a bite to it, and his spicy scent was intoxicating. When we finally pulled away from each other, both of us out of breath, it dawned on me what I had just done.
