by J. L. Berg
I moved down her body and slid off the bed. I knelt beside it and tugged on her legs until her ass was resting on the edge. I reached for the silky panties around her waist and pulled until the last piece of clothing hit the floor, and she was bare. Like a desperate addict waiting for his next hit, my hands shook with need as I placed her legs around my shoulders and met her heated gaze.
“Never forget the way this feels, Liv, the way we feel together.”
Parting her thighs, I bent down and buried myself in her sweet, intoxicating body. She tasted like fine wine and honey delivered straight from Olympus, and I was the lucky bastard who got to enjoy it over and over again.
I’d told Liv never to forget us and how we felt together because I never would. This woman—her body, heart, and mind—had permanently altered me, and I never wanted to go back to the man I had been before.
With the swirl of my tongue, I brought her close to climax and backed off, feeling her body tighten, as her fingers dug into the sheets above.
“Jackson!” she whimpered in frustration, feeling the loss of my mouth from her core.
Without answering, I shoved my hands under her ass and hoisted her onto my shoulders. A yelp of surprise followed.
“What are you doing?” she said in a hushed voice.
I answered by pushing her against the far wall and picking up where I’d left off. My tongue rubbed her clit, and I held her high up above me on the wall. Muffled cries came soon after as her body pressed and writhed against me until she finally broke apart.
Sliding her body down, I pinned her between me and the wall with one hand. Not wasting a second, I undid the button of my jeans.
“Teach me to sin, Jackson,” she whispered, watching me with hooded eyes.
I grasped my hard length in my hands and slowly lowered her inch by glorious inch.
“Being with you could never be called a sin, sweetheart,” I answered.
“Then, make me, make me love you,” she cried out, ad-libbing the poem, as our bodies joined tightly together.
Her legs wrapped around my waist as my fingers dug into her backside. Every thrust was rough and merciless as I made good on my promise to shake and rattle the walls around us.
I would continue to make this woman love me until the last breath left my dying body. With my soul, my touch, and my heart, I would capture hers and hold on to it like the precious treasure it was.
My primal need to claim and make her mine raged on as I buried myself into my chosen mate, over and over, feeling like my soul was being branded by her just as strongly. As we both hurdled over the edge, my lips crashed into hers, and our muffled cries softened.
I knew only one thing.
Olivia Prescott owned me, body and soul.
I just hoped she understood what that meant.
~Liv~
“I’m going to beat you!” I nearly sang into my cell as I turned around the corner toward our houses.
Jackson and I had both scheduled short days, so we could be there when Noah arrived home from the bus on his first day. Every other following day, he’d come home by himself. Jackson had decided Noah was old enough to do a trial run.
But today was special, and we wanted to celebrate it—assuming Jackson ever made it through downtown traffic.
“Tell him I’ll be there in five minutes, ten tops,” he grumbled loudly.
“He’ll be fine. I’ll bring him over to my house and make him a snack. We’ll see you in a few.”
“Sounds good. And, Liv?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
The call ended before I could respond, but it didn’t stop the multitude of butterflies from coming to life in my stomach. That man did an amazing job of making me feel like a giggly schoolgirl just by uttering three tiny words.
Hell, one lopsided grin could turn me into mush.
Turning onto our street, I parked in front of my manicured green lawn, trying to stop myself from smiling when I noticed the way Jackson had taken extra time to mow diagonally rather than straight across because he knew I liked it.
Now, I was getting crazy over grass.
I had become one of those women, the kind who went weak in the knees when her man was around and sighed like a lovesick puppy when he wasn’t.
Love was weird.
Luckily, I didn’t have much more time to find anything else to send my heart a flutter. With a high-pitched squeal of the tires, the bus came to a stop in front of Jackson’s house, and I watched as the door was tossed opened.
Not wanting to ruin any cool points Noah might have earned during the day, I stayed back, and for a moment, I pretended to be highly interested in my flowers, all the while looking over my shoulder as he made his way off the giant yellow bus.
Head down, hands shoved in his pockets, he didn’t make eye contact as he headed straight for his own house.
Did he not see me?
“Hey!” I said cheerfully as the bus pulled away. “How was your first day?”
He didn’t answer. He pulled out the key from his backpack and began to unlock the door.
“Your dad is running a bit late. We’re supposed to go to my house and wait for him.”
With the key halfway home, he paused. Shifting slightly, he pulled the key back out of the lock, shoved it in his pocket, and turned back around toward my front door.
Still, there was no peep.
“So, what’s up with the silent treatment?” I asked. I’d been given it more than once in my career. It didn’t really faze me, but it hurt a great deal more coming from Noah.
We made our way through the front door, and he continued saying nothing. He dropped his backpack on the floor next to the couch and followed me into the kitchen.
“Want something to eat?”
He shrugged.
Well, that was something I guessed.
Riffling through the pantry, I pulled out a box of organic cookies he always seemed to love, and dumped a handful out on a napkin. I turned toward the fridge to grab the almond milk—something else he had grown to like since meeting me.
I’d thought I was on that list of likes as well, but now, I was starting to doubt myself.
He begrudgingly sat down at the counter and silently stuffed a cookie into his mouth.
“Okay, Noah. I can handle this with my patients, but this is driving me nuts. Please tell me what’s going on.”
His eyes met mine, and I was nearly slapped in the face by the sheer volume of his anger.
“You lied to me,” he said slowly.
“I’ve never lied to you.”
“You said I would have a great day. You said everything would be okay.” There were tears in his eyes that he quickly brushed away with the sleeve of his shirt.
I took a step forward, wanting to comfort him, but stopped as I watched him move away.
“No one was nice, Liv. No one was kind. They all laughed at me and called me Hillbilly Jack because of the way I speak.”
“Noah, I—”
“Don’t.”
He turned and walked away, collapsing into the couch in the living where he tried to make himself invisible by curling into a tiny ball.
I took a few hesitant steps forward before walking toward the living room. I chose a seat across from him, hoping the small amount of distance would give him some breathing room.
“You don’t need to baby me, Liv, or pretend like you care.”
“But I do care,” I fought back.
“Why? You’re not my mom!” he said, the hurt in his voice bleeding through.
“No, I’m not your mother,” I answered calmly. “But I am someone who loves you, Noah, and that’s all that matters right now.”
Nothing but silence was awaiting me, so I pressed on, “You’re right, Noah. I did lie to you.”
His head popped up, and I was met with more tears and red-rimmed eyes.
“When I said I found my niche, I led you to believe it was the first day. I guess I wanted
you to have the courage and belief that if I could do it, so could you. I see now, that was wrong.”
“So, you didn’t have a great first day like you said?” he asked.
With my head lowered, I answered, “No, it was the worst.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I ate my lunch in the restroom. All the girls were mean and catty, commenting on the way I wore my hair and how quiet I was. I was shy, but to them, shyness just meant stuck-up.”
“You’re not shy now,” he said.
“No, I learned to overcome it. Or rather, I learned senators’ daughters couldn’t be shy.”
“Did it ever get better?” he asked quietly.
“Yes, eventually. Being the new kid is never easy. It’s not like the movies. You can’t just stumble in and suddenly become the popular kid. Find one friend, Noah. That’s all you need for now.”
“There was this one kid who seemed nice,” he said, sitting up a bit straighter. “He had the same Redskins patch on his backpack as me.”
“See?”
He shrugged.
“It will get better, I promise. Just take it one day at a time. Your dad and I are here for you, no matter what.”
He nodded, and even though he thought he was all grown-up and tough-as-nails, that boy sprang off that couch and catapulted into my arms in less than a second.
Now, there were two people crying in the room. Even though I’d solved a million problems like this over the years, feeling his arms wrapped around me in gratitude and love felt a hundred times better.
“And don’t worry about your accent,” I added. “They’re just jealous because they don’t sound like a younger version of Matthew McConaughey.”
He looked up at me in confusion. “Who’s that?”
I giggled. “Never mind. Come on, let’s get some more cookies.”
We walked back over to the kitchen just as Jackson was stepping inside.
“Well, damn, I was hoping to surprise you by coming in this way!” he announced. He walked over to Noah and ruffled his sandy hair, looking completely surprised when small arms wrapped around his waist.
“Hey, buddy. Good day?” Jackson asked, his eyes meeting mine.
His expression softened for just a second, and it was then I realized that he’d heard everything.
I love you, he mouthed. Smiling, he shoved a cookie in his mouth.
I love you, too, I answered back.
“It was okay. Tomorrow will be better,” Noah replied.
“It always is,” Jackson said.
~Jackson~
“Noah?” I yelled from the bathroom. I quickly finished brushing my teeth.
“I’m right here, Dad. You don’t have to yell.”
A small chuckle escaped my lips, hearing him harp on me for yelling.
“Hey,” I said, walking into the room, “did you give our home number to any of your friends at camp?”
“Why would I have done that?” He tugged at his tie, made a face and then tugged at it again.
“We keep getting calls from numbers I don’t recognize, and when I answer, the person hangs up. Just thought it might be a girl trying to get a hold of you.”
He looked at me through the reflection of the mirror as he readjusted his tie one more time.
“No one does that anymore, Dad,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“Really? That’s a shame. I still remember calling Mindy Sims for the first time in sixth grade. My palms were sweaty, and my knees shook. I nearly pissed myself when her dad answered the phone.”
“Yeah, that sounds fun.”
“I know. You’re way too cool for that.”
It was now my turn to roll my eyes.
“Why do I have to wear a jacket when it’s still ninety degrees outside?” he whined, studying his appearance with a woeful expression, as he straightened out the lapels of his jacket.
I walked up behind him, admiring how grown-up he looked in his tweed blazer and khaki pants. Liv had taken him shopping, and with a bit of guidance, he’d managed to pick everything out himself. I was amazed by how a few pieces of clothing could age him so drastically. Even though he tried to act years beyond his age, when he dressed in bright-colored skater shoes and shorts, he still looked like an eleven-year-old boy. Today, in clothes fit for a young gentleman, he appeared years older.
“It’s eighty-five out today, and you have to wear the jacket because the invitation says so. Besides, you look good,” I said, smiling, as I adjusted my own tie behind him.
“Now, I do,” he grumbled. “But I will be pretty dumb looking when my clothes start to melt off, and you have to explain why a half-naked kid is running around the lawn.”
“Well, that was vivid. At least we know you haven’t lost your imagination with age.”
I saw his eyes roll in the reflection, and I laughed.
“When is Liv coming over?” he asked.
I moved across the room to gather my shoes. “She’s not. We’re picking her up.”
I sat down on my bed and began lacing up my shoes as silence blanketed the room. I looked up and saw Noah staring at me through the mirror, his expression blank as though he were in deep thought.
Finally, he cocked his head to one side and asked, “Dad, are you going to marry Liv?”
I sat up erect as he turned around to meet my surprised face.
“Yes, eventually—I mean, if she wants me—us,” I answered, stumbling over my words. My heart was suddenly racing, and my pulse quickened. The thought of marriage didn’t scare me. At least, the thought of marrying Liv didn’t scare me.
But the idea that she might not say yes frightened me beyond belief.
As far back as I could remember, I knew I’d be married one day. Two souls could never fully become one until vows were taken, and promises were made. That was how I had been raised and what I believed. It was probably why I’d so easily given my heart to Natalie when she told me about the pregnancy. It was only a natural progression for me.
Love equaled marriage, right?
But what if it didn’t for everyone?
Would a woman like Liv ever settle down? Did the idea of marriage seem old-fashioned and outdated to someone as free-spirited and modern as Liv?
“Dad, you look like you’re going to pass out. Are you sure you tied that thing right?” Noah asked, suddenly pulling me out of my mini panic attack.
“What? Oh, yeah, it’s fine.” I pulled at the fabric around my neck, which now felt like a vise.
I just needed to take things slow.
Slow and steady wins the race I tried to convince myself
I’d managed to do the impossible. The woman who had never believed she’d fall in love had fallen straight into my arms, and I wasn’t about to lose her.
I’d make Liv my wife—or I’d die trying—even if I had to use a cane to walk myself down that damn aisle.
~Liv~
“So, you’re going back to the mothership, huh?” Mia laughed into the phone.
“Cute. That’s really cute,” I said as half my body was nearly eaten by my closet.
“Why do you sound so muffled?”
“I can’t find my other beige high heel,” I grumbled.
“Well, I can’t imagine why. They’re your favorite pair,” she answered sarcastically.
I managed half an eye roll before I found the other one, hanging out near the back of the closet. It was coated in probably five years’ worth of dust.
“I know, but I didn’t know what else to wear. It’s not like I have a wardrobe for political fundraisers anymore. Just what my father needs, is for me to show up in a sundress and turquoise wedges.”
“At least you would be showing up as yourself,” she said.
“Hush, you.”
“Are you sure about this? I mean, after the dinner party and the newspaper article—”
“I’m sorry about that. I really am. I called Clare the morning after to apologize and I told her that I didn’t mean to ma
ke the evening awkward.”
“Liv, stop. You know I didn’t mean it like that, and you don’t have to explain family drama to me. We grew up together, remember? Drama is my middle name. I just meant, you’ve been stressed since the minute he called. Is it worth it?”
“Is having your dad back in your life worth it?” I knew the answer before she even uttered it.
“Point taken. Carry on. But please at least find a different pair of shoes. I don’t even need to see those things to know they are hideous.”
I was still laughing when we hung up. She was right. The beige pumps were awful.
Knowing how much Jackson loved purple, I’d selected a similar shade, going with a deep burgundy. The gauzy fabric was still light enough for the weather but provided the elegance needed for the occasion. Plus it had the added bonus of being incredibly comfortable. Searching around further into the recesses of my closet, I found a gold pair of high-heeled sandals that worked perfectly with my dress.
I added a delicate pair of earrings to finish the look when the doorbell rang. I spritzed a bit of perfume and grabbed a beaded handbag. Then, I made my way downstairs to greet my men.
Pulling the door open, I smiled at the two faces awaiting me.
“Feeling awfully formal today, aren’t we?” I said, commenting on the fact that they’d rung the door rather than just marching in as they usually did.
“Well, it is a special occasion…and damn, you look mighty fine.” Jackson stepped forward to kiss me sweetly.
“Did you know that whenever you get cheeky, your accent deepens?” I smiled.
“Or maybe you just bring it out of me.”
His thick Southern drawl melted me like butter.
“Does he sound like Michael McConaughey?” Noah asked.
My hand flew up to my mouth in an attempt to hide the giggles.
“It’s Matthew, and oh, yes, he does—better actually,” I answered smoothly after I recovered from my snickering.
Jackson’s eyebrow lifted as he gave me a cocky grin. “You ready to go fraternize with the rich people for an afternoon?”
“So excited,” I answered.
He held out an arm, and I took it. We headed for the car, and it felt like we were making our way to the other side of the world. I was going back to a place I hadn’t been to in years—my parents’ house.
