by C. C. Snow
“Of course, Mom.”
My poor baby looked shell-shocked.
And knockout.
Match: Mom.
Chapter 17
Jake and Troy were joking and laughing with Marcus while I sat quietly in the back of the car. My brother was soaking up the male attention like a parched plant in a rainstorm. Troy, being Troy, had made Marcus feel immediately at ease.
We were on our way to their parents’ house for dinner and somehow Susan had convinced us we should stay overnight. I stared at the pecan pie I baked and wondered how I got to this point.
Lunch yesterday had been… the only other time I felt so discombobulated was when I went to an amusement park and sat in a spinning teacup that jostled my insides so hard, I came out walking crooked. That was how it felt after I came out of lunch with Susan and Jake.
Did I agree to let Jake pay for school, get me an apartment, and father my babies within the span of an hour? This was not how I imagined the course of our affair.
I looked at the two brothers bantering with each other in the front seat.
I definitely didn’t expect to meet his parents and be invited for a family dinner. And when did Jake talk to his mom about us? We’d only been dating for a week. What the hell was happening to my life?
I pressed a hand to my temple and tried to massage some of the cobwebs out of my head. In the rearview mirror, I caught Jake looking at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
“You okay, baby?” he asked, reaching back with his right hand to touch my knee.
I nodded and blushed when Troy smiled slyly at me.
Marcus wrinkled his nose in disgust, but he knew better than to complain out loud.
Troy on the other hand had no restraint and griped teasingly, “Ew… is this what I have to deal with all through dinner. You two calling each other ‘baby’ and ‘sweetheart’ and ‘honey?’ It’s bad enough with mom and dad doing that lovey-dovey stuff.”
“They also kiss each other all the time,” reported Marcus.
I scrubbed my little brother’s hair, making him laughingly lean away from me. It made me smile. Just a few weeks ago, we would not have felt so comfortable horsing around with each other.
Grinning, Troy turned around to give me a wink. “Oh, the things we have to put up with.”
Without taking his eyes off of the road, Jake smacked Troy.
“Ow!” Troy rubbed at his arm exaggeratedly.
I rolled my eyes at their childish antics. Away from the office, they did not resemble wealthy businessmen. They were like toddlers.
“You’re just jealous,” said Jake with a trace of smugness.
“I actually am. Cora, do you have any friends you could introduce me to? My brother stole you from under my nose. You threw yourself at me on the first day and then before I knew it, Jake had claimed you. So it’s only fair that you help me find someone to alleviate the loneliness.”
I snorted in laughter at his outrageous claim. “I didn’t throw myself at you. And the day you need me to help you with your love life is the day you need to look out for flying pigs.”
“Oink. Oink.”
“Your parents really are saints,” I declared laughingly.
“You’ve already won over Mom. Dad will topple like a row of dominoes, especially once he finds out you bake,” Troy said with satisfaction.
The reminder of their parents silenced me and I was back to being a nervous mess. Again, Jake shot me a sharp glance in the mirror, but I looked out the window to avoid giving away my agitation.
“The house is just around the bend.”
Jake’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I looked in the direction he pointed.
“That’s your parents’ house?” Marcus asked in awe.
The two-story house was lit up like a Christmas tree, the reflection in the pond doubling the wattage. It looked like a fairy-tale structure with arched windows and majestic columns flanking the front entrance.
“Yup. Dad had it custom built to Mom’s specifications. There are six bedrooms and four baths. I thought it was too big for the two of them, but Troy and I visit almost every week and we sometimes stay overnight. Besides, Mom said she wanted the extra bedrooms for when she would have grandkids to spoil.”
I choked on my own spit and went into a coughing fit. Being with Jake and his family was a health hazard. Marcus started thumping on my back a tad too enthusiastically, making me cough harder.
Troy took one look at my red face and laughed uproariously.
“What’s so funny?” Marcus asked, thankfully forgetting to whack my back.
“On nothing. Just thinking about being an uncle, is all.”
“I don’t think that’s funny,” Marcus argued.
“Troy has a very twisted sense of humor, Marcus,” I said, glaring at the younger Weston brother.
Thankfully, before Troy could say anything else, we pulled up to the front drive. Jake opened the door for me and helped me out of the car. He and Troy grabbed the overnight bags from the trunk and we walked to the front door.
Susan was already at the doorway, exclaiming joyfully at the sight of her boys. She gave each of them hugs and kisses and then she warmly embraced my brother and me.
“I’m so glad you could make it. It’s wonderful to meet you, Marcus.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said shyly.
“Call me Susan, dear.”
I murmured my thanks for her invitation and handed her the pie.
“Ooh…this looks scrumptious. It’s Geoffrey’s favorite. Thank you, Cora. You’re a sweetheart.”
A tall man who could only be Jacob Geoffrey Weston II was standing in the entryway, talking to his sons. Jake looked like a younger version of his dad, except for his eyes, which were clearly from his mom. Geoffrey Weston’s hair had more black than gray in it and he had the muscular build of someone who worked with his hands.
I felt a crease form between my brows. I could have sworn Susan said something about her husband’s health being poor, but he looked like he was in the prime of his life.
“You must be Cora!” He turned to me with a bright smile.
“Hi, Mr. Weston. Thank you for–” Before I could finish my sentence, he hauled me into a bone-crushing hug. Nope, definitely nothing wrong with his health. I was coming to realize I’d been had, although I had yet to figure out how. Come to think of it, Susan never mentioned anything about her husband being sick.
“Nonsense. What is this Mr. Weston crap? You can call me Geoffrey or Geoff.”
“Darling, your language,” admonished Susan in a mild voice. She held up the pie, “Cora made your favorite pie.”
Keeping his hands on my shoulder, he turned toward Jake and said, “Son, if you don’t keep this one happy, I’m gonna take my shotgun to your backside.”
I blushed.
Unperturbed by the threat, Jake dragged me out of his dad’s arms and tucked me into his side. “I’m doing my best, sir.”
“Of course you are. We didn’t raise a dummy.” Geoffrey turned to my brother and gave him a man hug. “Welcome, Marcus. Jake tells me you have an interest in science. One of these days, we need to make a trip down to NASA for a tour. I know the chief scientist…” He started to walk off with Marcus, who was hanging on to his every word.
Jake took me on a tour of the house. The décor was simple, but beautiful. The color scheme was mostly cream and silver, which was tasteful and calming. I especially admired the wooden furniture and Jake told me his parents only bought from local craftsman.
During dinner, I sat back and observed the way the Westons interacted as a family. They were warm and gracious and you could feel their unconditional love for each other.
I was too overwhelmed to contribute much to the conversation. Every now and then Jake would send me a searching look and squeezed my thigh in inquiry, but I smiled at him to let him know I was fine. Although Marcus was initially quiet, Geoffrey’s stories about his connections with some of the most
famous scientists and engineers soon had my brother opening up as if he’d known the Westons for years.
I liked Jake’s parents immensely.
Susan was a deft conversationalist while Geoffrey exhibited a raw honesty that was disarming. I could tell Susan and Geoffrey had a strong marriage. They clearly loved each other and seemed to read each other’s thoughts. I looked at them with envy. In thirty years, I hoped Jake and I–
No! Not going to go there.
I was a tad self-conscious when Susan brought out my pie to serve as dessert.
Troy, the ham, took one bite and slapped his hand over his heart. “Marry me, Cora. They say the way to a man’s stomach is through his heart. And I can tell you, you’ve won mine.”
Jake snapped his napkin at Troy. The linen hit Troy’s hand with a loud twap. Jake didn’t even look up from his pie.
“Ow!”
“Boys! Manners!” Susan scolded, but she couldn’t hide her amusement.
While Troy was acting like a clown, Geoffrey swiped Troy’s piece of pie from under his nose.
Troy picked up his fork and looked down at the empty spot in front of him in dismay. He looked at his dad, who had wolfed down his own slice and was now digging into his son’s. “Hey! Pie stealer.”
“You snooze, you lose.” Geoffrey popped the last bite into his mouth and winked at me. “That’s the best pie I’ve ever eaten. My son is a lucky fella.”
“Mom! Dad stole my piece of pie.” Troy sounded all of five years old.
“Well, there’s still some left in the kitchen.”
Chairs scraped as both Troy and Geoffrey made for the kitchen in a dead run.
Marcus was giggling and I barely kept a straight face.
Susan waved her fork. “Oh, don’t mind them. It’s always like that around here when it comes to dessert.” She closed her eyes. “Hmm… that really is the best pie I’ve ever had. You simply have to give me the recipe or my husband will be impossible to live with.”
“Um… sure. I’ll write it down before I leave.”
Troy and Geoffrey emerged from the kitchen, each with a slice on their plates.
“Is there any more left?” asked Jake.
“You snooze, you lose,” Troy said triumphantly as he ate a forkful.
“That’s my girlfriend’s pie!”
Jake calling me his girlfriend in front of his family sent little butterfly wings fluttering in my stomach.
“I’m sorry son. Your brother is a glutton.”
“That’s your third piece, old man! Who’s the glutton?”
Geoffrey smiled. “Son, that just means I’m the smart one. You both only got one slice and I got three!”
Troy and Jake both groaned at his infallible logic.
“I’ll bake two pies next time,” I offered, smiling at their dynamics. I was tickled by their obsession with dessert.
Three sets of hopeful male eyes turned to me.
“Son, remember, shotgun to your backside.”
“Yes, sir.” Jake was smiling at me like I’d done something miraculous.
“Okay, boys. You know the drill. Dishes.” Susan looked at my brother. “Marcus do you want to help with the dishes or would you like to join us women for a walk?”
“I’ll stay with the guys.”
I smiled mistily at his choice, not surprised my brother wanted to spend more time with the men. It would be good for him to see how males bonded, although hopefully he wouldn’t pick up their habit of fighting over food.
Standing, Susan gestured for me to go with her. “Come on, darling. Let me show you the garden.”
Feeling a bit apprehensive about being alone with Jake’s mom, I looked at Jake, but he was already tying an apron around his waist. He looked so domestic and cute that I stared for a moment.
With a secretive smile on her lips, Susan hooked her arm through mine and led me to the living room. After she flipped on the garden lights, she slid open the French doors leading outside.
I walked out and gasped at the beautifully landscaped yard. Flood lighting showcased the countless flowerbeds full of hydrangeas, poppies, asters, and many more. The air was perfumed with the most wonderful floral scents.
“Oh my! This is gorgeous. You must be an avid gardener.”
“Yes. Geoffrey has his golf and I have my flowers. There’s a little path we can take.” She led me down a cobblestoned walkway and I was glad I wore my comfortable flats.
“I’m so glad Jake met you, Cora. He’s been so much happier.”
“Um… I’m not sure that has anything to do with me,” I mumbled.
She slanted me a look and started laughing. “You keep thinking that, dear.” Wiping a tear out of the corner of her eye, she added, “We all have our delusions.”
I stopped and turned to her, “Mrs. Weston… I mean Susan, I think you have the wrong idea about me and Jake. We just started dating and we’re not nearly as serious as you think we are.” I breathed a sigh of relief at finally clarifying the situation.
She patted my arm. “I’m not blind. I see what I see. Besides, my son has never brought anyone to meet us before. And it’s obvious you’re crazy about him.” She leaned closer. “I’m so glad he found someone like you.”
“I…um…” I didn’t know what to say. Susan’s revelation that Jake had never brought another woman home had thrown me for a loop. And I couldn’t refute her statement that I was crazy about Jake. Deep down I knew it was true. The fuzziness I seemed to develop in Jake’s mom’s company was back.
“Don’t worry dear. I know my son. Everything will turn out fine.”
Somehow I didn’t find that reassuring.
Chapter 18
I lunged awake when a large hand covered my mouth.
“Sh…it’s me, baby.”
My body relaxed and I pushed away his hand. “Jake, what are you doing here?”
“I missed you. I haven’t been able to touch you all week.”
It was a good thing I was already lying down because all of a sudden my limbs turned boneless.
In the moonlight streaming through the window, I saw Jake tug his t-shirt over his head.
“Jake! You need to go back to your room,” I hissed.
Ignoring me, he dropped his pajamas or sweats or whatever he was wearing and crawled into the bed, nudging me over. He was naked and radiated an incredible heat. His hands reached for the hem of my t-shirt. My hands locked onto his wrists.
“Jake, your parents are going to hear us.” Even as I protested, my body was reacting to his proximity. My blood was racing and the place between my thighs was already slick with arousal.
God, he was turning me into a nympho.
“Then you’re going to have to be quiet, but I need you.” He kissed me, his tongue aggressively entering my mouth. He took my hand and placed it on his cock. It was already fully erect. Without conscious thought I fisted my hand around him and stroked.
He moaned and then removed my hand. When he reached for my oversized nightshirt, I didn’t stop him. It flew over his shoulder. He slipped his thumbs into the sides of my plain cotton panties and yanked them down my legs. That too was thrown behind him.
I moaned into his mouth as he nibbled on my lips. His hands caressed my shoulders and lowered to cup my breasts. His thumbs abraded my nipples, making them into hard points.
“I promised to make love to you in bed,” he whispered.
My breath caught in my throat at the way he said “make love,” not fuck.
Jake rolled on top of me and I shivered at feeling his naked length touching me everywhere. He slotted his hips between my thighs, his thick shaft lying between my folds. He lay on top of me, his head buried in my hair for a while.
I raised my hips. “Jake.”
His hand pressed on my pelvis to keep me still. “Sh…” He grazed the tip of his nose against my ears and along my jaw. “You feel so good under me, Cora.” His hot breath tickled my skin as he moved along my neck. His lips glided down my
throat and his tongue dipped into the hollows of my clavicles. He rested his forehead against my sternum and licked between my breasts.
“Hmm…I didn’t pay sufficient homage to your pretty tits last time.” His hands squeezed my flesh. “They’re a perfect fit for my hands. Every time I see you at work in one of your prim little blouses, I want to rip off the buttons and suck on these beauties.”
His words were making me hot and I pulled his head closer to me.
His hot mouth engulfed one nipple while he rolled my other between his fingers. The dual stimulation called forth a throaty moan from me. My hand stabbed into the fine hairs at the nape to hold him in place. He suckled gently for a few seconds and then hard once. The varying pressure was incredible and I felt it all the way in my core. He repeated the pattern until I felt my sheath clench in hunger.
“Jake, please!” I shimmied my hips, trying to get him to move, but he held me immobile, intent on torturing me.
I could feel my moisture dampening the ridge of his cock, but I was learning not to be embarrassed by my body’s response to him. It was pointless since it happened every damn time I was around him. Instead, I used my own wetness to ride his hard column. I smiled in the darkness when he groaned and broke away, his breath raspy.
“Behave, baby.” He bent down and took my other nipple in his mouth, this time testing the hard tip with his teeth. All thoughts about arguing with him winged out of my head. He took as much of my breast as he could into his mouth and sucked and my back arched in reflex.
All gentleness was gone. He switched sides every now and then, suckling one nipple into a tight peak while his hand tweaked the other. My breasts felt so sensitive that it was almost painful, but I didn’t want him to stop. My hands clawed his shoulders when he bit into my flesh.
“Jake, I think I’m… I’m so close.” My body was tingling, like I had champagne running in my veins.
He answered by sucking my nipple so hard, it stretched painfully.
“Ah–”
His hand cut off my cry as I came. My eyes crossed as the orgasm swallowed me whole. Shaking uncontrollably, I clung onto him, my moans muffled by his palm. As I quieted, he took his hand away. He released my nipple and dotted kisses across the top of my breasts.
