by Maren Lee
“Your Honor, permission to play the audio recording for Officer Campbell so that he can authenticate it and we can enter it into the record?”
“Granted.”
“Thank you.” Lane walked back to the defense table and grabbed a cassette player. They weren’t high tech in Bounty County. They were early 90s - tops. She placed it on the stand for both Wesson and the jury to hear.
After it finished playing, Lane dramatically hit the large red “stop” button.
“Officer Campbell, was that the recording of the night in question?”
“Yes.” Jake could hear defeat in Wesson’s voice.
“Your Honor, at this time I’d like to move to enter into the record the audio recording that’s been previously marked as Defendant’s Exhibit D.”
Judge Corcoran responded, “Any objections from the prosecution?”
“No, Your Honor,” Carter Jones responded.
“Very well. The audio recording will be admitted as Defense Exhibit D.”
The questioning continued for another half hour before Lane finished, concluding to the jury that her client had innocently taken medication that had made him drowsy, causing the poor driving, poor balance, failed breathalyzer, and the astigmatism caused the failed eye tests. A common argument. Not one that Jake ever agreed with. It took a lot of cough syrup to set off a breathalyzer due to the residual mouth alcohol and you would have to have just taken the cough syrup for it to register on the machine as above the legal limit. But it was a common argument. Carter tried to disprove Lane’s argument, but in Jake’s opinion, he didn’t do it well enough.
The jury deliberated for an hour before coming back with an 8-4 verdict of not guilty. Lane looked pleased with herself and happy for her client. Wesson looked more pissed off at her than ever before. Fucking great. Jake figured he’d have to referee that situation later.
Jake waited for Lane in the lobby of the courthouse while she finished up. They still hadn't talked about their argument from the night before, after Lane had been threatened. Fuck, he’d been so scared. He knew he'd fucked up by telling her she was done putting herself in dangerous situations. He didn't have any control over her outside of the bedroom and she'd reminded him of that when she told him to sleep on the couch. It didn't stop him from fucking her on the couch. Or the ottoman. Sure, they had some issues to work out, but that wouldn’t stop him from satisfying her in the meantime. He didn’t end up sleeping on the couch after all, so he figured that was a win for him.
Lane exited the courtroom, briefcase in hand. She'd started to wear looser fitting tops to try to cover up a tiny little baby bump she was convinced she already had. She didn’t have one. The only thing different about her was her glowing skin and her giant tits. Jake’s eyes dropped to her heaving cleavage. Yeah. This pregnancy was going to be awesome.
She greeted him with a cocky smile as she walked up to him. He wanted to spank her ass in that moment, but thought better of it. While it wasn’t quite a huge secret (Jake’s truck was in her driveway pretty much every night), they were still trying to keep things between them as quiet as possible. Neither of them needed public scrutiny over their relationship. At least not yet.
Jake leaned in to talk to her quietly, “You sure opened up a can of whoop ass in there, Red.”
Lane smiled from ear to ear, “Yeah, I did.”
“You ready to head home for the night, baby?” Jake winked.
“I need to go back by the office to and get some paperwork ready for the Clerk's office. If you don't want to wait for me, we can go get my car and I-”
“We can go. I have no problem waiting on you, baby. I don’t want you going back there by yourself anyways. It’ll make me feel better if I’m with you.” Jake gestured to the door.
“Thanks. Um. Good call,” Lane replied, obviously remembering the night before. “Can we get noodles on the way back to my place? Like Chicken Lo Mein?” Lane’s eyes turned into a combination of pouting and begging. “Please? It sounds soooooo good.”
Jake opened the door, “What baby wants, baby gets.” He meant that in two ways.
➰
Lane could hear Jake growling under his breath at her while she bent over her desk to arrange the folders for the hearings scheduled the week after Thanksgiving. Nothing was on the calendar for next week. Too many lawyers and courtroom personnel took off extra time near Thanksgiving, so it was decided nothing would be on the docket. Lane had a shit ton of work to do, but after her scare last night, she decided some time off would do her good. On the way over to her office, Jake again mentioned going home with him to Challis, Idaho to meet his family and spend Thanksgiving with them. She freaked out about the invitation, but calmed down after he promised her that they could wait until closer to Christmas to tell everyone about the baby. He also claimed it would help him put his mind at ease if they got out of town and away from whatever the potential danger might be.
“I don’t want to get too far into the weeds, baby, but I may have a lead on whatever is going down at the Mayor’s office. I have a meet the week after Thanksgiving and I’ll know more then, but I’m trying to put an end to this for all three of us,” he said as he touched her stomach. Fucking sweet bastard, Lane thought.
“Don’t leave me in the dark on this, Jake,” Lane countered.
“I promise, baby. As soon as I find shit out, I’m bringing you in.”
That satisfied Lane, so she agreed to a Thanksgiving road trip and they headed into the office.
Jake let out another growl as she moved another stack of papers, “Lane. I know you don't have to wiggle your ass like that when you move papers around. You best quit that unless you want to get bent over that desk and fucked ten ways to Sunday.”
Whoa. Oh, hell yeah she did.
Lane kept her back to him as she spoke, “I don't know what you're talking about, Jake. I am not doing any such thing.” She slid a pencil off the end of the desk, “Oh shoot,” she said, melodramatically. Lane bent over, her ass high in the air for Jake to see. Completely exaggerated.
“That's it.” Jake slid the chair out from underneath her conference table and kicked it to the side. He stomped over to the office door, kicked it shut, locked it, and marched toward Lane. Her plan to tempt him into pleasuring her apparently only took 2.6 seconds to work.
She spun around to see his face, but she wasn't quick enough. He caught her mid spin and twisted her body so that she was facing her desk. He pulled her back tight to his chest -- her back to his front -- and he moved his hands to her hips. He rubbed up and down her torso, teasing the ticklish spots on her hips before moving his right hand to her back as he braced the left on her hip. Jake moved his right hand in between her shoulders and pressed her upper body slowly to meet the top of her desk.
Oh God, yes.
Jake grabbed the hem of her skirt and pulled it up over her bottom.
“Mmmmm. My naughty girl. No panties?”
Jake rubbed her ass cheek with his hand and spanked her once. She felt instant pleasure when he spanked her now. She wiggled her ass for one more, he gave it to her and followed it up with a quick pinch to her exposed clit. Lane gasped. Oh fuck.
Jake took his fingers and slid them from the top of her ass cheeks down to her warm opening.
“You're already wet for me, baby. So fucking hot.”
She felt Jake's hard cock grow as it pressed into her thigh through his slacks. He swirled his fingers in her pussy as he unbuttoned his pants. Damn, that felt good.
“You want this cock, Red?”
Oh, hell yeah. “So bad.” She shook her ass again.
“Yeah you do.” Jake put the tip of his hardness against her wet pussy spreading the lips as he pushed his bare cock inside of her.
He placed his left hand back on her hip and grabbed a handful of her hair with his right. He tugged at the same moment he thrust inside of her.
Holy fucking shit. The pleasure was the perfect contrast to the pain of having her hair pu
lled. He continued his relentless process of pulling and thrusting. Lane could feel herself getting close as he continued to build her orgasm.
“God damn, this pussy of mine is so greedy,” Jake groaned out.
She could feel his length hardening inside of her. Jake leaned down farther, stretching over the top of her letting go of her hair but still slamming his cock deep.
“Who does this pussy belong to?” Jake asked. Lane moaned out something completely indecipherable in response. “Say it, Lane.”
“You, Jake.”
“Me, what?”
“My pussy belongs to you.”
“You’re goddamn right it does. Feels so good, honey. Want to bottom out inside of you for the rest of my fuckin’ life.”
He reached around and lightly rubbed her clit. It was like a rocket went off inside of her. Her pussy contracted as she came, milking Jake’s hard cock along with her. Their bodies were so in sync with one another. Lane moaned out her pleasure as Jake grunted his.
“Red, you are irresistible, you know that?” He exhaled.
“I think you've told me that before. But the feeling is mutual.”
“You did that shit on purpose didn't you? Wiggling your ass at me like that?”
“Well, I had panties on this morning, but they conveniently ended up in my purse before we came into my office.” She gave him a wicked smile.
“You’re my dream woman,” he spun her around and planted a sweet kiss on her lips.
When they finally broke apart she looked up at him, “Oh, Jake,” she sighed. “You're my dream man. I've been thinking about you taking me in my office for weeks. Ever since you first came to visit me.”
“Truth? I've thought about it every time that I've come by your office since then, too.”
“It's like one mind.” She giggled sweetly and then kissed his lips again.
“Next time we do this in your office, it’s gonna be right before court. And you’re gonna be up there reading someone the fuckin’ riot act with my come dripping down your leg.”
“Jesus Christ, Jake.” Lane felt another gush between her legs.
“You fucking love my filthy, mouth.” Lane didn’t argue. But she did reach for a tissue on her desk to clean herself. She didn’t need any more gushing in this skirt with no panties. She righted her outfit. Change the subject, Lane.
“Do you think your family will like me?” She looked up into his eyes, genuinely worried.
He shook his head and then kissed her again. Slower, sweeter. “No. They won't like you. They'll love you.”
“I’m not the best with families. I haven’t always made good impressions. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but I have one of the most serious cases of RBF ever been seen.”
“RBF?” Jake sounded worried.
Lane laughed. “Resting bitch face. I seriously look pissed all the time and everyone interprets that to mean I’m not having a good time or I’m a bitch or I resent where I am at any given moment.”
Jake doubled over with laughter. “Baby, you only have ‘resting beautiful face’ in my eyes.”
Lane fake gagged. “Now that was lame, even for you, Hamilton.”
Jake shrugged. “It’s true, whether you believe it or not. But honey, my family is going to love you because you make me happy. And they’re really gonna love you because they’re sick and tired of me being single at 37 years old. Not that you couldn’t pole vault over a high bar, but there’s a very low bar here. Don’t worry. They’re going to love you.” He kissed her nose. “Now get your shit arranged and put your work away so we can spend the weekend together here and then get packed for next week. I fucking love Thanksgiving.”
“Really? I mean, Thanksgiving is okay, I guess.”
“Um. No. Thanksgiving is not ‘okay, I guess.’ It’s the fucking best and there is nothing better than turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing and gravy and my dad’s pumpkin pie.”
“Your dad’s?”
“Oh don’t get judgy, Ms. Feminist who can’t cook for shit. The Hamilton men are wizards in the kitchen.”
Lane laughed. “That is true. You’re a wizard in multiple rooms in my house - and my office - but I certainly appreciate your culinary prowess.”
“You’re gonna learn a lot more about me on our first family road trip. I hope to learn more about you too, babe.”
He smiled at her and she got more than a few seconds of his sexy dimples. Her heart melted hearing him call this a “family road trip.” She knew in that moment she was in love with him. Every smart, sexy, funny, stubborn thing about him. Lane wanted to tell him, but it felt too soon. She wasn't quite sure when she'd have the guts to do it.
Just get through the holiday first. Lane knew her subconscious was right. Game face on. This baby was coming whether she was ready for it or not. And she was in love with her baby daddy. It was time to meet his family.
Chapter 13
Jake couldn’t believe the amount of shit filling the back seat of his truck. Lane was so indecisive when she was choosing her clothes for the long weekend. When he’d suggested she bring extra, just in case she’d changed her mind, he didn’t realize she was going to bring half of her wardrobe. He smiled as he glanced in the rearview mirror and over to her. She was looking out the window and nervously fidgeting with the zipper on her coat.
Fuck, I love this woman.
“So how far are we going?” Lane asked.
“About 500 miles. Should take us around eight hours to get to Challis. You ever been to Idaho, city slicker?” Jake reached for her hand over the center console and held it, caressing her knuckles with his thumb.
“No.” Lane answered softly.
She was definitely nervous. He could tell. “Well, if you like Imminence, you’ll love Challis. If you want to leave a bar and go home, they’ll give you a to-go cup as long as you promise not to drive with it. It’s fucking awesome.”
Lane snorted. “Awesome if you’re not pregnant, I guess! But are you fucking serious? My lawyer brain just keeps screaming ‘liability! liability!’”
“I didn’t say it was safe. Or legal. It’s just awesome. So. You wanna listen to music? Watch a DVD? Audio book? Talk? Silence? Should I just shut up now?”
Lane laughed. “I usually listen to music and drink a ton of coffee on my road trips. But I can’t drink coffee now and I think music will just make me anxious. Let’s talk. Get me ready. Tell me what your family is like.” She shifted in her seat to face him better.
“Let’s see, where should I start... I have two sisters, Danielle, or Dani, as we call her. She’s 28. Married to Greg. He’s pretty cool. They have two daughters. Mia is three and Ally is one. Love those girls. My baby sister Katie is 22, she goes to school at Idaho State. She’s about to graduate this Spring with her bachelor's degree in nursing.”
“Wow, I didn’t realize your sisters were so much younger than you,” Lane paused. “Shit. I’m sorry that probably sounded rude. I didn’t mean it like you’re old-”
Jake interrupted her with laughter, “Don’t beat yourself up about it. My mom and dad had me when they were young. She was 17 and just about to graduate high school. I guess she and my dad weren’t the best with birth control back then, so I was a surprise. Dani and Katie were both planned babies. A fact they still both give me shit about.”
“And your mom and dad are still together?” Lane asked.
“Yep. They’ve been together 39 years. Married for 37.”
“Wow. That’s got to be a record for this day and age. Names? I don’t want to fuck anything up.”
“Sweetie, how many times do I have to tell you? You don’t have to worry. My family is totally laid back. You won’t fuck anything up. But my parents are Joe and Sarah. My dad is a logger. Mom’s an accountant. They started their own logging business after she graduated from college when I was little. She handles the finances, he runs the crews.”
“Did you ever see yourself becoming a logger?”
Not if
I could help it.
“That was always plan B. If I didn’t find anything else, I could always go home and fall timber for my pop. Thankfully, I found something else. But he’s always asking me to move back home.”
“Do you want to do that?” Jake heard concern in her voice, which made him curious. Was his baby mama worried he was going to skip town? Jake wanted to nip that idea in the bud. You better do it real fast, Jake.
“Hell no!” Jake exclaimed. “I like Challis, and I love my family, but I love Imminence and I would never leave my Bounty County brothers. Imminence is my home now, not Challis. Plus, I hate the Braun Brothers Reunion. Too many drunk assholes to deal with year after year at BBR. I couldn’t imagine being a cop in Custer County. Fuck that.” Jake shook his head like a baby saying no to vegetables.
