Christmas With The Houstons (Acceptance #4)

by D. Kelly

  I’m speechless. Seriously, I don’t have any idea what to say to him. Jake has never shied away from letting me know how he feels, good or bad. Fortunately for me, I don’t have to say anything… yet.

  “I fucking love you, April. All of you. Your ass, your hips, your personality, your smile, the way you make love to me… the way you fuck me,” he growls with a wicked gleam in his eye. “I love every single part of you, but mostly I love your heart. The depth of your love is astounding. I chose you to be my forever. Let me be that, April, but you have to choose me, too.”

  “Oh, Jake, my heart chose you thirteen years ago, and I do choose you, every single day.”

  His answering kiss is everything I need to know we’re going to be okay. This was just a bad fight, one of our worst, but that’s all it was. We’ll get through this; we can get through anything. After he pulls away, I lay my head against his chest and listen to his heart beating steadily. I’m so sleepy all of a sudden and my yawning clues him into that.

  “Come on, let me put you to bed,” he says, pulling me up off the couch. My eyes flicker over to the kitchen and everything that still needs to be cleaned up.

  “But there’s still…”

  “I’ll come back and do it, but you need to sleep.”

  When we enter the bedroom, Jake immediately begins removing my clothes, all of my clothes. He then walks over and turns down the bed for me and pats his hand against it, motioning for me to lie down.

  I’m tired, but I’m also horny and when I move to take off his shirt, he backs up.

  What the hell?

  “Don’t pout. You need to rest and I need to go clean up the kitchen. If I let you take my shirt off, it won’t get done and I’m not leaving the mess for you to clean up. I’ll make it quick, I promise.”

  With a soft kiss against my lips, he leaves me in bed, naked and alone. The sounds of dishes being arranged lulls me to sleep.

  The sound of Jake getting ready for bed wakes me up. The bedside clock tells me it’s only been an hour since he left. When I feel him slide up against my backside, I sigh in contentment. This is the best feeling ever.

  “Are you awake?” he whispers softly.

  “Mmhmm,” I murmur as he traces my neck with his tongue. His hand trails gently down my arm, across my hip, and onto my thigh. He pulls my leg back over his and slides his finger inside of me.

  “You’re so fucking wet,” he groans.

  “Only for you,” I reply as a second finger circles my clit.

  “Always for you, Jake,” I whimper breathlessly as he removes his finger and slides inside me. The feeling of him inside of me—moving in and out so smoothly, so lovingly, so erotically—has me calling out in pleasure with my orgasm just a few short minutes later.

  “Fuck, April, so fucking good. God, I love you.” His words are drawn out as he continues making love to me. That amazing tongue of his trails across my shoulder, his teeth bite my neck gently, his lips kiss every inch he can reach, and I build up again.

  “Come with me this time, Jake… please… come with me now.” And as I cry out again with my release, so does he. This is my favorite part of sex with Jake—the two of us climaxing together, so absolutely in sync with each other, where only he and I exist as one.

  When he pulls out of me, he turns me toward him, capturing my lips with his. His tongue meets mine—softly, sweetly, in the most graceful of dances—and I’m lost. Jakes kisses spin my world on its axis and when he finally pulls away, we both quietly try to catch our breath.

  How could I ever doubt his love for me?

  As he pulls me into his embrace, I feel his heart racing against my skin. His fingers weave though my hair which relaxes me even further. He’s not relaxed, though. He’s worried about something; I can tell from the way his heart is still racing.

  It doesn’t take too long before I know what’s bothering him.

  “I’m going to ask you something and I want you to be honest with me. No spinning the negative into something positive. Just be straight with me, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Daniel said you hate our home. Do you?”

  With a sigh, I try to pause so I can figure out how to say this without hurting him.

  “Don’t think about it, April, just answer the question.”

  “I don’t hate our house… I hate where it is.”

  “I’m not sure I understand. We searched forever for a great house in a great neighborhood. What’s changed?”

  Everything.

  “Well, there are a few things. I’m not a fan of our neighbors, and not just because of the stroller patrol. They’re all very self-centered people. It’s like we live on a cul-de-sac of Stepford families.”

  At least that gets a chuckle from him.

  “All the wives stay at home. They all have blonde hair, perfect manicures, two point five children, two pets, and housekeepers. They’re perfectly content to stalk my husband while they ignore theirs. It pisses me off, Jake… to no end.”

  “So you want to move because our neighbors find me sexy? Babe, that’s going to happen wherever we go. I can’t help that I’m hot and they all want me,” he replies with a sexy smirk.

  “Shut up, big head, that’s not the only reason. I love this house but when we bought it, I thought kids were a lot further off in our future. And while it’s the perfect house to raise a family, it’s missing something very important.”

  “What could it possibly be missing?” He’s genuinely confused and I completely understand since I’ve always been happy to be far away from our family.

  “Family, Jake, we’re missing family.”

  “I’m so lost.” And his tone definitely confirms it.

  “I know, babe. The further I get into this pregnancy, the more I realize I wish I’d had a better relationship with my siblings growing up. Haven, Zayden, Hope, Lucas, Grant, and Hailey will all have that. They live within a couple of blocks of each other. There will be bike rides, and sleepovers, and all sorts of fun stuff Jaxson will miss out on.”

  “So you want to move there? It’s so far… and it was so hard for Daniel and Kate to get their house. We’d have to get really lucky to find anything in that neighborhood. And it’s out of our budget, remember?”

  I’m going to have to swallow my pride big time on this but hopefully, it will be worth it.

  “I know,” my words come out really soft, “but it’s not out of your budget, Jake, and I really want this.”

  The way he bolts up in bed, you’d think I’d gone into labor, and when he hops out and pulls me with him—both of us completely naked—you’d think he was delirious.

  Deliriously happy.

  How in the world he manages to pick me up and spin me around, belly be damned, I’ll never know. But when he sets me back down gently on the bed and places a long, lingering kiss on my lips, his excitement bursts through.

  “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment!” he exclaims happily as he climbs back into bed with me.

  “So that’s a yes?”

  “No, babe, that’s a hell fucking yes!” His enthusiasm is contagious and I can’t stop myself from laughing.

  “What in the world could have possibly changed your mind? Aside from location? You’ve never willingly wanted to take anything from me even though everything I have and everything I am is yours and always has been.”

  All I’ve ever wanted is to give you the world.

  “Promise you won’t think I’m crazy?”

  “Never,” he answers, pulling my hand to his mouth and kissing it.

  “I’ve never really understood why you’d want to give me the world, until now.”

  He nods in understanding. “Because of Jaxson.”

  “No, well… yes, but no. You and I will be great parents. I’ve never doubted that, and I know Jaxson will have everything he could possibly want or need.”

  “Then what is it, April? What has you suddenly changing your stubborn-ass mind aft
er all this time?”

  “Mia, Jake. It’s Mia.”

  “The little girl from the mall?” he asks, perplexed.

  “Yes. I want to adopt her, Jake. I want to give her the world, but even more than that, I want to give her a home. Our home.”

  Jake

  She literally shocked me into silence. This is everything I’ve ever wanted but the timing couldn’t be worse—everything at work, things being so tense with us, and holy fuck, we’re about to have a baby. We already have a puppy but now she wants to throw the responsibilities of a foster kid in the mix?

  No, not just a foster kid, she wants to adopt.

  We don’t know a thing about this girl. What if she hurt Jaxson or Luvbug? What if she’s allergic? God, what if I’m allergic to her?

  No, wait. Back up, Jake. You can’t be allergic to people.

  “Jake, did you hear me?” April asks softly, barely making eye contact with me, afraid of my response.

  She never asks for anything and she picks right now to ask for this?

  Fuck me.

  “Yeah, babe, I heard you. I just… I’m not sure... I don’t know if this is the best time.”

  Oh hell, she looks like she’s going to cry. April isn’t really a crier. Being pregnant has changed that a little bit but on any given day, she’s a badass who makes crying her bitch.

  “Don’t cry, April. I want to give you everything but the timing is so bad right now.”

  She sniffles and I know the tears are coming. I don’t want to be the asshole who makes his wife cry two days in a row. Being the cause of April’s tears is never something I strive for. I’ve beat fuckers before for making her cry.

  Damnit!

  “I know it is, but I think we can make it work. After tonight, I feel like I understand where you’re coming from a little bit more and that’s because of Mia, Jake. She needs us. She needs a family, there’s no one there for her.”

  “Is that where you were today?”

  How much bonding has she already done with this girl?

  “For a little while. I was supposed to meet Kate for breakfast but Haven is sick and kept her up all night, so we postponed until tomorrow. Instead, I spent the afternoon with my parents and when Marie called and asked me to check on Mia, I couldn’t say no. I promised her I would come in a few days… I just went a little bit early.”

  The last thing I want her to think is that I’m completely shutting her down. Even though that is my exact intention. Pulling her closer, I lean my forehead against hers.

  “How long did you spend with her?”

  “About two hours, and I spent some time talking to Denise Robinson, too.”

  Two hours?

  She spent two hours with her and wants to adopt her?

  With a sigh, I hesitate and try to figure out a way to respond. This is what I’ve always wanted and now she’s finally on the same page.

  “I know what you’re thinking, Jake, but sometimes two hours is enough. Sometimes just two minutes is enough. I’ve been doing this job for years and I’ve never felt like this before. I’m telling you, I can feel it, Jake… Mia is meant to be ours. She’s meant to be Jaxson’s sister.”

  I’ve never been more reluctant to give an answer in my life. Once this door opens, it can’t be closed. April is good at getting what she wants, and I’m good at giving it to her. This affects so much more than us; it affects our entire family dynamic.

  “I’m not saying yes because I really think it’s a bad idea right now, but how would it work if it’s something we wanted to pursue?”

  The light shining in her eyes is priceless.

  This little girl could be our saving grace.

  Or…

  She could bring down our entire house.

  I’m so fucked.

  “First, we set up an interest appointment so you can meet Mia and see if this is even a viable idea. You have to be comfortable with this, too, Jake.”

  “Alright, what else?”

  “Well, I’m cleared because I’m a state employee, but you’d have to go through a background check. We’d have to apply, take a few classes, and go through a home check and some interviews.”

  Damn, that’s a lot.

  “All that to adopt her?”

  She shakes her head. “No, all of that to be approved to be her foster parents. Once she’s placed with us, a worker will monitor her for six to twelve months as we progress toward adoption. Their responsibility is to assess Mia’s progress, or lack of it, depending on how things go. Once they feel comfortable making a decision, we get referred to the court for adoption. It’s a process, Jake. A long and tedious one.”

  Of course I knew adopting wasn’t easy, but I don’t think I ever realized how many entities were actually involved.

  “What if I screw up the interview?”

  She runs her fingers through my hair, pulling my lips close to hers. After a soft whisper of a kiss against my lips, she replies.

  “There’s no way you can screw it up, Jake. All you have to do is be your charismatic self and maybe curb the profanities a bit. They’ll love you.”

  “I’m not making any promises, April. I still think the timing is all wrong but go ahead and set up the appointment. Let’s figure out one way or another if this is a road we really want to travel.”

  “Jake Houston, you are the most amazing man and I’m so proud to call you my husband.”

  “You weren’t so proud of me a little while ago,” I answer, laughing.

  “Of course I was. I’m always proud of you, I just don’t like you very much when you act like a righteous asshole.”

  “Who needs to curb the profanities?” I tease.

  “Maybe we both do. We could start one of those jars…”

  “Oh, hell no. No jar. If our children have a colorful vocabulary it will make them all the more interesting.”

  She groans. “You’re going to deal with all the parent and school calls on that topic. I’m delegating that position to you right now.”

  “You’re not going to tell me our kids aren’t allowed to have a colorful vocabulary?” I ask, surprised, considering I was really just joking.

  “Jake,” she says with a smile, “your kids were always going to have a colorful vocabulary. Yours and Mike’s. Did you hear Hailey said the ‘f’ word the other day? Well, actually, she said the ‘f’ and ‘s’ words, to be exact.”

  “No, I didn’t. What happened?”

  “It’s actually kind of funny. I can see why they were torn about what to do. Mike was trying to put together Misty’s new desk. The instructions weren’t in English and they later found out it was missing a whole pack of screws and stuff. When he gave up, he was beyond frustrated and yelled ‘fuck this shit.’”

  Sounds like Mike.

  Hell, sounds like me.

  “So the next morning, Lucas was over and they were watching cartoons but Grant was screaming his head off. Hailey turned up the TV really loud and Misty turned it down. Poor Hailey couldn’t take anymore and yelled ‘fuck this shit’ and grabbed Luke and pulled him into her room. Mike and Misty both had no idea if they should yell or laugh.”

  “That’s funny. I would have paid good money to see that.”

  “I know. Me, too,” she confesses with a giggle.

  “So what did they do?”

  “They laughed for a minute while she was out of sight and then Mike went and told her those words weren’t okay for kids to use and not to use them again.”

  “And that worked?”

  “Not exactly… Hailey said she didn’t think daddies and mommies should use those words if kids can’t, so…”

  “Let me guess… Now they have a swear jar?”

  “Yup.”

  “Remind me to take lots of quarters next time I go over there.”

  “Make that dollars.”

  “Dollars? Who puts dollars in a swear jar?”

  “Well… Hailey is pretty smart and because Mike and Misty have been drilli
ng her for months about choking hazards with all the little ones around, she pointed out change is a choking hazard and it would be safer to put dollars in it.”

  This is the best thing I’ve heard. Mike’s kid is going to take everyone for their cold, hard cash and she doesn’t even realize it.

  “Oh my god, this is hilarious.”

  “Want to know what the best part is?” The gleam in her eye is wicked,

  “It gets better?”

  She nods emphatically. “Oh yeah. Guess who had to pay the piper first?”

  Mike would be the obvious answer but it wouldn’t be funny if it was him. Just obvious.

  “Misty?”

  “Nope. Good ol’ Uncle Connor.”

  I bust out laughing and she laughs with me.

  This feels good.

  I needed this.

  We needed this.

  “I’m sure he was pissed,” I say once I finally catch my breath.

  She nods. “I know. Can you imagine the look on his face?”

  We both laugh again. I’m sure Connor tried to pout but I can just picture Hailey holding out her hand waiting for him to pay up.

  “Could you have imagined two years ago the things life had in store for all of us? We’re married, Jake, and having a baby. Connor is married and has two babies, Daniel and Kate have two kids, and Mike... Who would have ever thought Mike would settle down with anyone? Let alone happily and with kids?”

  “We’re not kids anymore, that’s for sure. Pretty soon it will be Little League, dance recitals, and Bengay.”

  “You’re such a dork! We’re years away from Bengay, but I can’t wait for the rest. Holidays filled with family and love. Easter bunnies, Santa, the tooth fairy… What if we forget the tooth fairy money?”

  “We’ll get creative. I’m sure we won’t be the first parents in the history of parents to forget about the tooth fairy.”

  “I don’t know how my parents did it with seven of us. Could you imagine?”

  “I could, actually, but I don’t let myself because I know it’s not what you want.” I answer truthfully.

  “You’re so full of it,” she says as she scoots closer, tucking herself into me as I pull the blanket over us.

  “Nope, not at all. I’ve told you I’m in this for all we can give it. You want three kids so that’s what we’ll have, but I’d absolutely have seven kids with you. As much as I want a big family, seven might be my limit.”