by Hadley Quinn
“The paperwork is already done,” Jay continued. “All you need to do is sign since I put you on it with me. If you don’t, then I doubt they’ll let me take him since they want him to go to a family and…”
Melanie studied his face as she waited. She could feel it within every fiber of her being that this moment was going to change her entire life.
Jay leaned forward again, placing his hands on the car behind her. Without words, he brushed his lips across her mouth and then back again. Melanie’s heart was thundering in her chest, and even though the baby was back to kicking the hell out of her ribs, this moment was the best feeling in the entire world.
“I am…so in love with you, Melanie Jacobs,” he whispered against her lips, sending a cascade of shivers down her spine. “It has totally scared the shit out of me to say that, but now that I have, I will never stop saying it. I love you. I always have and I always will. Please don’t leave me. Stay. Move in with me, let me take care of you and the baby, and let’s be a family with that goddamn dog that I know is going to ruin my life…”
Melanie lightly laughed, but Jay’s sexy smile was too much to handle. He had her and he knew it, and if there was anything that she could say about this moment, it was that Jay McCallan was everything she knew he was.
“I’m not kidding,” he added. “He’s gonna chew shit up and otherwise be a total pain in my ass. We’re going to hate each other ninety percent of the time once he gets his confidence back, and to be honest, I’m definitely not in to sharing you with him. He’ll find his ass out in the backyard anytime he tries to take your attention away from me—”
“I love you too,” Melanie interrupted with a smile. “I’ve loved you since the day you helped Camryn and I move.”
He slowly smiled but tilted his head with confusion. “What dumbass thing did I do that day?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Nothing dumb, other than making fun of my bird constantly. But remember when Don my stupid neighbor came out? He creeped me out big time and I was pretty sure you could tell. You stepped in front of me to block him from looking me over even more, total alpha move. You stole my heart in that moment and I hardly knew you. And even though you really are difficult to handle, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love you, Jay, with every bit of my heart and soul.”
He brought his lips back to hers and finished what had been started. Just to kiss him again weakened her knees, and as he pressed deeper into her mouth with his tongue, his hands slid over her stomach and held on softly. It was such an endearing gesture—he made every part of her feel wanted—and as he kissed her so deep and so thoroughly, every single inch of her protective wall crumbled to pieces.
Without a doubt she belonged with this man.
When Jay kissed her softly one last time and pulled back to look in her eyes, he smiled and said, “Get in your car and head to my house. You’re moving in today.”
She raised an eyebrow and studied him carefully. “You think so, huh?”
“I know so.”
She crossed her arms over her chest to deliver a witty remark, but there was something that took over her thoughts subconsciously.
It had to do with a certain female…
“Answer me one question and then I’ll think about it,” she told him.
That obviously caught him by surprise. “What is it you still need to think about?” he asked carefully.
She took a slow breath of air to give herself time to choose the right words, but all she could say was, “Sophia Nixon.”
Jay’s appearance visibly changed and he turned very somber. Melanie didn’t even blink as she watched him thoroughly, waiting for a response.
“What exactly do you need to know?” he asked. “I’ve told you about her. I’ve told you about anyone I’ve been with.”
“You were with her recently and I want to know why,” she replied without missing a beat. “If you love me, Jay… I mean… How could you want to be with someone else? And no, you and I weren’t ‘together’, since I know you’re going to use that one, but if you’re going to stand here and tell me that you’ve always loved me, then I don’t really understand—”
“I did not hook up with her again,” Jay interrupted with a sigh. He looked her in the eye and added, “Yeah, I went with her that night to get you out of my head—I was sure I lost you for good—but all we did was talk. We talked about you. I swear to God, Melanie, nothing happened. Not even a touch, not even the desire for it. I would never lie to you, sweetheart, I promise you that.”
He took her hand in his and leaned against the car. She had never known him to lie to her, even though there were a few times he probably could have and it would have made her feel better. But she knew he was always honest with her and it truly was one of the things she loved so much about him.
“I sat there in her limo and just whined like a bitch for almost an hour about you,” he continued. “I wanted to be with you so bad but I just…couldn’t make it work in my head. She told me that the problem was that it didn’t need to make sense in my head. It just needed to feel right in my heart. So I thought about that for a few days and I knew she was right. And when everyone was over at my house last night, all I wanted was you there. I didn’t care about anything else in the world except for you being right there with me, no matter what I was doing or where I was at. I would have rather been anywhere except there without you.
“I got shitfaced, yeah, and Tyse pretty much tried to kick my ass into admitting that I was in love with you. It was just…a series of events that made me understand myself, I guess. It scares me, Mel. Being someone to you. You mean everything to me and I don’t want to disappoint you. I really don’t. And your baby… He’s a part of you and I will love him just the same, but what if I can’t do it? What if I totally fuck up his life because I’m such a complete douchebag and can’t even give him decent advice? Well fuck the advice, what if I can’t even change a goddamn diaper?”
At first Melanie stared at him with disbelief. But then she laughed with surprise and said, “Oh honey, you’ve been thinking about changing diapers?”
All he did was shrug.
“Wow, that’s…” Melanie didn’t even finish the thought as she shook her head.
“What, you expect me to be a lazy dumbass and not help you with anything?” Jay asked with a smile. “I mean I’m trying to be realistic here. If we’re going to be living in the same house with a baby…”
“Jay, I never expected you to do anything like that. Honestly. In my mind, I’m committed to doing everything on my own so I’m not an imposition to anyone. It’s kinda funny that you’re worried about a canine ruining your life when I’m having a baby that’s going to affect it even more.”
“Hold up right there,” Jay shook his head. “You—or baby—are not an imposition. And the baby is a bonus that comes with you, sweetheart. He’s in the lineup automatically, babe, no doubt. Melanie, I love you,” he said softly, pulling her close. “I know I’m not going to be great at this, but I promise that I’ll try. I mean I’m still gonna be me and you know what that entails. That’s not an easy thing to deal with, but I never want you to feel like you’re in this alone. I want to protect you, and keep you safe, and make you happy, and just…fuck you like crazy now and then.”
She laughed out loud, especially at the salacious smile on his face. But that was the exact reason why she loved him so much. He was extremely protective and oh good lord was he amazing in bed! Just the thought of having him inside her again made for an awkward moment standing there outside a restaurant as a large family was just unloading from a minivan.
“You look like you’re in pain,” Jay stated. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay? What’s going on? Is something wrong?” He placed a hand on her belly and slid the other behind her neck, looking worried.
Melanie leaned forward and whispered, “Nothing is wrong, I’m just extremely horny right now.”
Jay cocked an eyebrow but seemed incredibl
y pleased. “Well there’s only one solution for that,” he winked. “Baby, please come home with me. Now. I will beg if I have to, but I know how bad you want me right now. You’re not going to San Diego when you have me and the rest of the family that wants you to stay.” He pressed his lips to her temple and murmured, “And there is nothing in San Diego that can make you wet like I do.”
She bit back a smile as she wrapped her arms around him. “That’s true,” she agreed.
“So you’re going to get in your car, drive to my house, and get naked in my bed. After that, depending on our level of exhaustion, we’ll move your things in. Sound like a plan?”
There was no need for more words. Melanie kissed him so thoroughly she loved the loopy and disheveled look on his face when she pulled away. As she got into her car, Jay pointed to the very obvious hard-on that she’d left him with, and she laughed as she drove out of the parking lot.
He was literally on her heels when she walked through the front door of his house. Thank God Tyse was not home because Jay had his tongue down her throat the second the door shut behind them, and even though she was probably more awkward to handle from pregnancy, he managed just fine.
More than just fine. He had her on his bed, kissing the living hell out of her while his hands roamed her body for every inch he could touch. He stripped her sundress off and kissed her neck, down her collarbone and to her stomach. He kissed her so tenderly there that it made her heart swell in her chest. And Jay made eye contact while doing it. She was allowed to see deep into his soul as he silently assured her that he loved and adored every inch of her.
She could feel it without a doubt.
As Jay slid his fingers into her panties to take them off, his sexy and facetious side returned. That smile of his… Oh my, it not only made her even wetter, but her heart would not stop pounding. The intensity of his eyes held the confidence and authority that made him effective in anything he chose to do, and right now he wanted to be here with her and she was willing to give him whatever he wanted.
“You’d better strip those clothes off for me,” she said, practically breathless because he was already kissing up her thigh.
“You just relax and let me take care of this, baby doll,” he answered with an amused smile. “I’ve got some making up to do.”
“Oh?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Well I would enjoy it better if— Oh God,” she moaned as his lips and tongue worked over her center. That pleasure point he knew how to hit shot a pulse through her instantly, and he continued to do it until she almost couldn’t stand it anymore, but she toughed it out until a release came and it was worth it…oh lord was it worth it!
“You’re so ticklish,” he teased with a smile.
He stood at the edge of the bed and pulled his shirt off. Melanie exhaled a deep breath to prepare herself as his pants dropped to the floor and the sexy smile returned. She sat up and slid to the end of the bed, causing him to lift an eyebrow to question her intentions.
“Just something I’ve wanted to do again for quite a while now,” she told him, grabbing his hips to pull him forward. She slid down his boxer briefs while eye contact remained, and when he ran his fingers through her hair with that look, she slid her lips over his cock and took him deep.
“Holy fucking shit,” he breathed out as she went to work for him. She loved making those sounds come out of him, and if it hadn’t been for him pulling her into the bathroom a minute later, she wouldn’t have stopped.
He turned on the shower and then sat on the lid of the toilet, pulling her toward him. He was certainly thinking ahead because it was not only easier to straddle him this way, it was incredibly sexy to kiss him as the bathroom filled with steam instantly.
“I love it when you ride me,” he said. He closed his eyes and leaned back, but opened them to watch her again. “God you are so beautiful. You’ve fucking wrecked me, sweetheart. I am so wrecked and if you ever trade me in for someone better…please kill me first.”
She couldn’t help but laugh, but even though he was giving her a completely drunk and pleasured smile, she knew he was being sincere. It was so different having him open up to her like this, but she was never going to take it for granted.
Melanie leaned forward to kiss him and said, “Well that makes two of us, babe. Because you own my heart and I can’t even imagine my life without you.”
She pressed her hands against his chest and over his shoulders. He was moist from the shower steam, and when Jay moved her to the counter, the mirror was completely fogged up as well. As she leaned back and wrapped her legs around him, he moved her damp hair from her face and neck and kissed her as he slid inside another time.
“Remind me to remodel this bathroom so it’s bigger,” he said against her wet skin. “ ‘Cause there are a lot more things I want to do to you in here.”
He sucked her lips and tongue before she could respond, and it made her moan when he adjusted his angle to go deeper. Being in a hot steamy bathroom with Jay was so incredibly hot that it put her into such a blissful state and she barely realized he was moving her to the shower a minute later.
He put her hands against the wall and stood behind her, whispering in her ear, “I will love this body of yours every day I can.”
His lips nibbled on her neck as his hands traveled down her waist and thighs. He reached his hand around the front of her and slid his fingers over her clit, sending a jolt of pleasure through her core. She could feel his erection pressing into her backside, and when she angled her face so she could kiss him, he slid gently inside of her again.
“You…are…so…fucking amazing,” he told her in between deep kisses. With his lips on her mouth, one hand caressing her breasts and the other massaging her very sensitive nub with his fingers, she was over the edge only seconds later and Jay was right there with her. She had such a powerful release with him Melanie thought she might pass out. Whether it was the steamy shower, pregnancy, or just Jay’s fine motor skills, the experience was one she would never forget.
He turned her around to face him and she leaned against the wall. Jay’s expression seemed to match how she felt, so maybe it was just the intensity of their union.
“Holy shit,” he exhaled, leaning his head against the wall next to her.
Melanie wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close against him, hoping he had his bearings better than she did since she was now using him for support.
“I’m kinda dizzy,” she admitted, kissing his shoulder.
He pulled away from the wall and kissed her mouth sweetly. “Me too, but let’s get you in bed just in case.”
She wasn’t going to argue, and once she was cozy in his bed cuddled up against him, the day not only felt complete, but Melanie’s heart seemed to feel whole for once. There was a tiny inkling of fear that Jay would have second thoughts and rethink all of this he had committed to, but it almost killed her to even let that itty bit of doubt creep in. Even though it was a realistic concern, she didn’t want to think about it right now.
“What are you thinking, beautiful?” his soft, deep voice asked in the dark. He tilted his head to kiss her face and she loved that he gathered her tighter in his arms.
“Nothing except how much I love being here with you,” she answered, running her fingers over his bare stomach.
He kissed her again and said so quietly she barely heard him, “Yeah, me too.” Then he stretched just slightly and added, “Looks like you tamed this wild dog, gorgeous. Only you, Mel. Only you. And don’t fucking tell anyone.”
She released a light laugh and shook her head as she propped herself up on an elbow beside him. “Jay, let me set your smartass straight…”
She kissed his shoulder and across his chest. When he softly slid his hand behind her neck, she leaned forward and kissed his mouth. His fingers in her hair gave her tingles all over her skin, but her heart was so full it seemed almost unreal.
“I don’t want to tame you,” she said softl
y against his lips. “I just want to love you with all my heart.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“So who does this belong to?” Gage asked, looking over the lyrics in his hand.
“My girlfriend,” Jay replied.
Gage laughed and shook his head. “Try again, McCallan. You don’t have girlfriends.”
“Yeah, she’s my girl,” Jay answered with a smile. “And if you want to give me shit about that, then you can find someone else to work on your Challenger.”
“Hey, no shit here,” Gage held up his hands. “I’m just trying to wrap my mind around it is all. So anyways, she writes stuff like this all the time?”
“Well she’s got papers and shit all over the place, so yeah, she writes all the time.” He paused and offered a shrug. “So? What do you think?”
“It’s awesome,” Gage nodded. “I mean…it really emits a feeling, you know? It’s true poetry. Does she play, too?”
“Nah, she just likes to write. And she would kill me if she knew I was showing someone,” he added, yanking the page out of Gage’s hand.
He tucked it back in his pocket where it should have stayed. He’d known Gage Thomas most of his life, and now that Gage was about to help Jay’s grandfather open a recording studio, the discussion of music had easily ensued. Melanie had left the page of lyrics next to the bed and it caught Jay’s attention. He’d accidently walked out of the house with it because he was totally immersed in reading it.
Gage pursed his lips and nodded again. “Can she sing?”
“She’s got a great voice. But she keeps it to herself.”
“She won’t sing for people? Another closet musician?” he smirked knowingly.
Jay ignored the accusation. “I’ve never heard her sing except when she doesn’t think anyone’s around. Sometimes in the car with me, but no, she’s never mentioned performing any of it.”
“Hmmm. I think you should bring her to me anyways.”
“Bring her to you for what?” Jay chuckled. “All I did was mention she writes music because you mentioned you wanted new songwriters. I wasn’t trying for an angle.”
