by J. H. Croix
Sliding my eyes to Marie, I waited for her to nod before answering him. "I am. If that's okay with you?"
He brightened and started bouncing in his seat. "That's okay. Will you bring Arcadian?"
"Sure thing," I promised. My fierce watchdog had still been fast asleep when I'd left the pet friendly bed and breakfast I'd spent the night at early this morning. I knew he would love getting some attention from Austin again that night. "How about I bring a ball along and we can play with him outside for a while?"
I didn't know if I would have time to take him for a walk today, and this seemed like something they would both enjoy. Austin nodded so hard I was afraid he was going to give himself whiplash. "Yes. That’d be awesome!”
"Before we can play ball with Arcadian, you've got to get to daycare and I've got to get to work," Marie said, delicately taking the last bite of her pancake. I was relieved to see that she was eating again. I’d noticed she’d lost some weight after the move, and I'd been worried about her.
"Can't we play hooky today?" Austin pleaded. "We can go get Arcadian now and have a play ball day."
Marie arched a brow. "Play hooky? Since when?"
"Just once," Austin said, his shoulders already slumping in defeat as he carried his plate and glass to the sink.
"Sorry, bud," Marie said, not sounding sorry at all. "Not today."
We left the apartment after cleaning up breakfast. Marie headed out to drop off Austin at daycare and go to work, while I went off in search of a place to stay. I’d gotten ahead of the game with work and had time to take today to sort out what I hoped would be a short-term temporary living situation here in Savannah.
Sipping coffee at a place not far from Marie's apartment, I dialed Rex Hansen. Rex was a family friend who happened to be a realtor in Savannah. Sonny had texted me this morning, reminding me Rex might be able to help me find a place to stay.
"Hansen," a crisp voice barked over the phone.
"Rex. Jeremy Lovett speaking. How are you?"
Rex was quiet for a beat and then he laughed. “Well, I’ll be damned. Jeremy Lovett. How the hell are ya?”
It took me a few minutes to fill Rex in on what I needed, though I spared him the gory details of why I was here and looking for a short-term rental.
"I think I have a place you may be interested in. Meet me there in an hour, I'll text you the address."
"You got it. Thanks. I'll see you there," I told him.
The address he texted me was near Marie's apartment, so I had another cup of coffee and answered some emails while I waited. After checking in with the foremen on all of my construction crews, making sure they knew I wouldn't be in the office for the day and following up with some of my suppliers, it was time to go.
Driving down the wide, tranquil streets of Marie's neighborhood, I passed the park Austin liked and felt my lips twitch upward as I considered the fact that I'd now be able to spend Saturday mornings there with them. Hard to believe I was planning my weekends around what a five-year-old boy might like to do, but it was what it was, and I wouldn’t change it for a second. The GPS on my phone directed me to a nice looking, smaller house on a quiet street just a few blocks away from the park.
Close enough that we'd be able to walk Arcadian there if I took this place. Shaking my head at myself and how all my thoughts now seemed to center around the logistics of either a kid, or a dog, or both, I parked next to Rex’s car and got out to greet him.
"Jeremy, my man." He slapped my palm with his. "Long time no see."
"You got that right." Rex was one of Tyson's friends at school, but he'd moved to Savannah with his wife years ago. Since he and I had never been too close, I hadn't seen him since.
A thin scar ran from his temple to his cheekbone—a relic from one of the parties at the river when he and my brother had been seniors, if memory served. "That healed well."
I remembered the gash bleeding profusely when Tyson got Rex to our house that night. Apparently, he'd gotten into a fight with a kid from another school over whose football team was better. It was before I even made it to high school, but I was already playing and I'd appreciated his defense of my future team.
Rex laughed now, pressing his fingers absently to the old scar. "I'd hope so. It was nearly fifteen years ago."
"I keep forgetting how old you guys are," I joked.
He punched my shoulder and pulled a set of keys from his pocket. "I keep forgetting how annoying all of Ty's brothers are. Come on, let me show you this place before I change my mind and direct you to the nearest hovel instead."
"Ha ha," I replied dryly. "Don't lie. You've always loved us. And you wouldn't do that to me."
"Don't push me." He winked, leading me up the steps of the house to a wraparound porch painted white with a gray screen door going into the house. "Since you didn't want to tell me why you were here, I don't know how long you plan on staying, but this place is up for a month-to-month. It's a two-bedroom."
"Looks good." The small entrance from the porch gave way to a much larger living area, with a kitchen and dining room on one side and a wide, short hallway to the bathroom and bedrooms. The flooring was old, but tall windows let in plenty of light.
It wasn't hard to picture Marie and Austin there, and Arcadian would love the private garden out back. "I'll take it."
"It's the first place you've seen."
"You got something better?" I asked at Rex's protest, but he shook his head.
"It depends on what your definition of better is. Price, location and size wise, I'd say this was at the top of my list. Also depends where you need to get to every day."
"Commuting back and forth for the moment." I told him vaguely.
He scrubbed at the scruff on his jaw, eyeing me curiously. "Back and forth to Cypress Creek? Not impossible and this place gives you good access to the main roads, but good luck, man. Commuting is a bitch."
"I can handle it," I said confidently.
Rex nodded, shrugging. "Sure you can. If you're still sure about this place, I can bring the lease around tomorrow, but you can move in as soon as you want. I know you’re good for the rent, so I’m not worried about it."
The keys clanged together as Rex held them out to me. I palmed them and after saying my goodbyes, went to fetch Arcadian and my stuff from the bed and breakfast. As soon as we returned, Arcadian dashed around the garden twice and marked a tree in the corner.
I took it as a sign that he approved of our temporary home. Going to the truck to collect the last of my things and a bag of Arcadian's food, I noticed a car parked a few houses down. I glared at its occupant as I recognized the car but instead of going over and confronting him, I turned my back on Wesley and carried my stuff inside.
I was here to support Marie through this damn court case, not make things more difficult for her. Getting into an altercation with her ex and the very man suing her for custody definitely wouldn't make things easier.
No, I was planning on lying low and being there for her. Wesley wasn't going to derail my plans by pulling his bullshit.
Fuck him.
As promised, Arcadian and I went to dinner with Marie and Austin. I texted Marie to ask if we could come a bit earlier so Austin could play outside with Arcadian before it was time to eat. She agreed, so we met them there when Marie got back from work.
We sat side by side while Austin laughed and played with Arcadian. Arcadian seemed more lively and upbeat than I'd ever seen him. They were definitely good for one another.
I didn't mention to Marie that I'd seen Wesley. Relaxed as she was as the evening wore on, I knew I'd made the right decision. Austin went to sleep after his show, and Marie and I lay on the couch watching a movie once she'd put him to bed.
Her head was in my lap, my fingers stroking her soft hair while I idly watched the show, only half paying attention. At first, when Marie started running her hand up and down my thigh, I thought it was just an absent-minded touch. But then it became more insistent, her fingers
trailing closer and closer to my crotch on each pass. I looked down at her, expecting to find her looking at the TV. Instead, her expectant gaze was waiting for me—her eyes darkening with desire the moment mine met hers.
"Not enjoying the movie?" I asked. I could’ve cared less about what we were watching, but I hadn’t wanted to create the impression that all I wanted was sex. It definitely wasn’t all I wanted, but it was damn near impossible for me to be close to her and not want her.
A sexy, wicked grin played on Marie's lips as her hand trailed up my thigh, curling over my cock. My breath caught when she stroked up and down slowly, my cock swelling. "I can think of so many better things to do than watch a movie,” she murmured.
"With you there," I replied thickly.
Marie raised her hands and hooked them around my neck, lifting her head to pull me in for a long kiss.
Raw need crashed into me like a lightning bolt.
She shifted and dropped one of her hands, cupping me over my jeans again. Squeezing and stroking, she let out a low on moan when I thrust into her hand. The sound alone was nearly enough to get me off.
Chapter Fourteen
Marie
Jeremy ground against my hand, the raw need in his low growl nearly undoing me. I'd meant to tease him tonight, to draw things out and take it slow, but as it turned out, I couldn’t. The fierce look in his eyes when his gaze caught mine lashed at me, spurring me on. I couldn't bear to make him wait.
Tugging at the buttons of his fly, I broke our kiss. The feel of his hard length through his briefs tightened the need coiling inside of me. He lifted his hips as I shoved his jeans and briefs down, his cock springing free.
His erection was heavy in my hands, hot, hard, and pulsing. Curling my palm around the velvety soft skin, I savored his groan when I stroked lightly. Shimmying down, I leaned over, dragging my tongue along the underside of his shaft.
He shuddered as I took him into my mouth, his head falling back and eyes closing with a low moan. Breathing deeply, he threaded his fingers in my hair, gripping it gently as I settled in to drive him wild.
Drawing him into my mouth again and again, I stroked up and down with my wet grip. His legs quivered and his voice grew hoarse. I could feel the moisture soaking into my panties as my slick channel throbbed. Watching and feeling him lose control only served to stoke the need nearly burning me up inside.
I swirled my tongue around the tip, savoring the salty tang of pre-cum, before lifting my head and meeting his heavy gaze.
"Bedroom?" I asked, already getting to my feet and tugging him along with me.
I might’ve been close to out of my mind, but I was mindful that Austin could walk out any minute if his sleep was interrupted.
"Hell yeah," Jeremy agreed, holding his jeans up as we made our way to my room.
Closing the door behind us, I locked it with one hand as I leaned against the door to catch my breath. Need was spiraling through me, my pulse pounding, and my breath coming in short gasps. Jeremy released his pants, letting them drop to the floor. Inside of a few hot seconds, he kicked his shoes off and his shirt joined his jeans. He stood before me—every inch of him bare to my greedy gaze.
I doubted I’d ever get tired of looking at him. His broad shoulders tapered down to a strong chest with only the lightest smattering of hair on it. His abdomen was all rippling muscle, the V-indents forming perfect lines that pointed like an arrow to his hard cock.
"This is your show tonight," he told me, his voice rough and husky. "Where do you want me?"
My throat was too dry to say anything, so I stepped forward until we were chest to chest and then pushed down on his shoulders. Jeremy shifted under my touch, sitting down on the bed and positioning me between his knees as he looked up at me.
"I'm feeling a touch under dressed here," he murmured, his mouth curling up at one corner and sending my belly into a series of flips. His hands snaked around my waist as he tugged me closer to him. When I was snugly standing against him, he hooked his fingers over the edge of my leggings and panties and rolled them down.
"I thought this was my show," my voice came out as barely more than a whisper, but Jeremy heard me. Holding his hands up, he made a show of putting them behind his back and then motioned for me to continue.
This was so far out of character for me, but I wanted to do this for him. Pulling back my shoulders, I took a step away from his and dropped my hands to the hem of my shirt as I shimmied my leggings and panties down and kicked them free of my feet.
With a sway of my hips, I lifted my shirt halfway up my midriff before letting it drop again. Jeremy’s eyes were locked to me. His gaze darkened with a groan when I dropped my shirt back down. “Tease.”
Smiling, I shook my head. In a flash, I tugged my shirt over my head, letting it float to the floor.
Facing him, I kept one arm in front of my breasts, trying to be coy. It didn’t last, not when he reached for me, tugging me closer as he pulled my arms open. Leaning forward, he caught a nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue around and giving it a hard suck. At my sharp cry, he repeated them same with the other. Sensation spun through me as he pulled me back with him. My knees fell to either side of his hips as I straddled him.
Catching my lips with his, we kissed until I was slick and dizzy with need. His cock was hot and hard against my slick folds. I couldn’t resist sliding back and forth over his length, sparks of pleasure scattering as he flexed into me, his cock rubbing against my swollen clit. Rising up, I reached between us and positioned his cock at my entrance. I meant to take it slow, but I couldn’t.
I was too rushed to care to slow anything down.
As he arched up, I sank onto him, taking him fully inside of me, crying out at the delicious stretch of him filling me.
Our bodies moved in sync, his hips thrusting up as mine came down. He let me ride him, driving us towards the edge of the abyss and following me over once I fell. Waves of exquisite pleasure rolled from my core and spiraled through my entire body. Biting my lips to keep from crying out too loudly, my climax shuddered through me until I collapsed against him.
He held me, keeping me close to him as he bucked underneath me and murmured hot, dirty words until his own release came with a muffled groan when he bit into my shoulder.
We lay still, tangled up and sweaty as our breath slowed in unison. Jeremy slowly shifted until I was tucked against his side. It was only then I realized we hadn’t used a condom. As if he realized the same thing, I felt him tense slightly. “Forgot a condom,” he muttered.
Lifting my head, I caught his concerned gaze. “Suppose so. It should be okay. I’m on the pill.” After another few moments, he rose up, reaching for his jeans and tugging his phone out.
"Just setting my alarm so I am gone before it's time for Austin to wake up. I don't think this counts as having a sleepover because I've come to visit from out of town."
His words and the very fact that he'd thought about Austin at all nearly melted my heart. I couldn’t even express how much it meant that he was reflexively thoughtful about Austin like that.
I wanted to freeze frame every moment that I had with Jeremy, especially the ones like this when we were peaceful, satisfied, and simply holding each other in bed. But it was not to be.
We were both exhausted from weeks of poor sleep. Curled up together, we both drifted off to sleep within minutes.
* * *
Jeremy's alarm went off before dawn the next morning, and I'd barely opened my eyes before he was whispering in my ear. "I'll be back for breakfast."
When my own alarm went off a few hours later, his promise to be back felt almost like a dream. I took a shower and got ready for the day, wondering if he really was going to come have breakfast with us.
Chances were good that he would keep his promise. He hadn't given me any reason to doubt him. I paired a cute blue dress with ankle boots and some bohemian looking jewelry, wanting to look and actually feel like I'd made some effort for once. Th
ese last few weeks hadn't seen me at my best, but today I wanted to try.
I stepped out of my bedroom, feeling more positive and optimistic than I had in a long time and looking forward to having Jeremy over for breakfast. As if on cue, he knocked at the door and held up a brown paper bag with a logo from a bakery nearby on the front.
"I brought bagels,” he said with a grin, brushing a kiss to my cheek as he stepped inside.
Austin popped out of the hallway, undoubtedly smelling the freshly baked goods. "Bagels?"
"Have you had bagels before?" Jeremy asked, his grin widening when Austin said no.
Jeremy helped Austin slice a bagel and toast it before letting him choose what kind of cream cheese he wanted.
"Those were so yummy," Austin raved when breakfast was done. "We should have them everyday."
Jeremy and I laughed as Austin shot off his chair and ran to his room to wash up before I took him to daycare. I smiled at Jeremy, loving how natural having him around for meals was starting to feel. "You've created a monster."
"I'll just have to keep feeding it then." His simple acceptance made my heart clench.
I didn't want to ruin the morning, but there was also something else I had to tell him, and I wanted to get it out of the way. The longer I kept it to myself, the more it was starting to feel like a lie.
"I have a status hearing on the custody case tomorrow," I said, keeping my voice low since I didn't know how long Austin would be in his room.
All traces of humor and laughter disappeared from Jeremy's expression instantly. "I'll be there. I told you I would support you through all this, so let me work something out with my teams, but I will be there."
"You don't need to do that. You've done so much already." I didn't want to be more of a burden on him than I already was. I didn't need him holding my hand at court, but I also doubted that was why he wanted to be there.
My other consideration—one I didn't voice because he would tell me everything would be okay and he could take care of himself—was I was worried Jeremy's presence would make Wesley angry. Maybe it would make him so angry that he would even threaten Jeremy again.
