by Tasha Jones
He almost pleaded with her.
Chapter Thirteen – Jasmine
He was hurting and it showed. He meant every word he spoke and she knew she wouldn’t take it from him.
“Ok, Parker. I’ll go back with you.”
She saw him visibly relax with her word, she knew this would be the hardest thing she ever did but she would try, for him. He stood and walked over to her. He was even more handsome than she remembered.
He held his hat in his hand, all she thought about was the way he had touched her with those hands just a month ago. This would be hard for them both. They would have to set rules, to make sure things didn’t get out of hand. He didn’t want a family, he wanted a ranch and nothing else. She was painfully aware of that fact now. They made plans to fly back to Texas the next day and she walked him to the door. He turned as if he wanted to say something else but he didn’t and instead he moved down the stairs to his car.
She shut the door and leaned against it. She had thought loving someone would be hard. That falling in love could wreck your world, but the truth was, not loving someone was even harder. She loved him, loved this baby even now as it grew inside her.
She wanted a life with him, but it was out of the question and the sooner she accepted that the better off they would be. She explained things to her father that night and he smiled at her with some sort of understanding that even she didn’t know. She told him she would be back in about eight months. That would give her six weeks or so to recover and make her way back home. He never said a word and she just arched an eyebrow at him.
***
Parker finally came and she opened the door. His large frame filling up the room. She watched her father greet him warmly, shaking his hand and asking him questions about Texas. Even now she was surprised at her father’s laid back attitude. She was a little concerned that he didn’t seem bothered by the situation a little more. It was his grandchild after all. At least technically, on paper, it was Parkers baby and that was all.
Once again she gently touched her stomach. Even that she would have to try and separate herself from. She made her way outside and said her goodbyes. Her sister leaned in to hug her goodbye and whispered to her.
“He is hot.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes and smiled.
They found their gate and were methodically making their way to the entrance when the hostess asked if they would like a free upgrade since there had been a few cancellations. Parker glanced down at her and happily agreed.
“Have you ever flown first class?” He leaned down close enough to make her jump.
“No, I haven’t, I have never flown before I came to Texas the first time, I’m sure it will be something.”
She looked out the window of the plane.
They were given every luxury on board, the ladies walked around offering them everything from drinks to food to snacks. Jasmine's appetite had certainly picked up so she had no problem accepting all the treats they offered. She and Parker laughed about things that had happened at the ranch in her absence. They kept things light and friendly between them. As long as they continued that they would be ok. The flight was over too quickly, Jasmine had just fallen asleep when they landed. She shook herself awake and frowned. Maybe when they got back to the ranch she could rest. As if he read her mind Parker interjected.
“You seem tired. Are you ok?”
He looked her over, concerned. Jasmine felt more like a prized animal than a person and it left her feeling unsettled.
“I will, I’m still not feeling well,” Jasmine said.
She didn’t look his way she chose rather to focus on getting there and then she could start sorting out her feelings some more.
The ride was a smooth affair. She said her hellos to James, who smiled at her in welcome.
She fell asleep again in the car and she leaned more and more towards Parker, who must have enveloped her in his arms because when they came to a stop at the ranch that’s where she found herself. She glanced up at him, questioningly, before moving away from him. The next few months would be hard to take, but she knew it was for the best.
Chapter Fourteen – Parker
She had finally relaxed and fallen asleep on him. He knew he could steal this moment to touch her like this. Once they were home it would be all business, for all their sakes. He struggled with the emotion she stirred within him. Was this how his father had felt about his mother? The thought made him shiver, he wouldn’t put himself in that place, ever. He leaned down and breathed in the scent of her hair and as they pulled into the circle he gently kissed the top of her head.
He watched her wake up and find herself on him.
She scrambled to sit up and some part of him was hurt. There was a constant battle going on inside him. Part of him wanted to avoid what his feelings for her would create, the other part hurt when she pulled away, and when she was gone. How would he ever be able to really let her go? Hopefully they would find a way.
They made their way inside, he let Becca come walk Jasmine down, so that he wouldn’t intrude. He knew she wanted a nap and the idea of being back in her room was too much yet. If he was in there he knew he would kiss her and want even more. Instead, he strode out of the house and back to the out buildings. He needed an update about how things were progressing at the ranch while he was gone, he needed to work to help him stop thinking about her.
The days went by both of them filling their time with work and educating themselves about a baby, which was growing more every day. They shared dinnertime, but always left separately so that they could avoid any unnecessary contact.
Two weeks after she had been back they made their way to the doctor who welcomed them with open arms.
The ultrasound machine seemed a never-ending blur of color until finally the doctor put the handle on her stomach and they could see the baby inside. It was small still, almost hard to believe that would one day soon be big enough to hold. The doctor measured the baby’s size, timing her to be about two months now. She gulped and blushed as they both realized the baby was definitely not a product of the insemination. The doctor noticed too, and smiled as she glanced at them both. She printed out the picture of the little bean and Jasmine took it home to have it framed and it sat on her night table.
They were only required to come in once every two months right now. She scheduled it and they made their way back to the ranch. Parker was more excited than she had ever seen him, He kept telling her how wonderful she was and his excitement was contagious. They soon found themselves at a burger joint in Austin.
“I never eat this stuff, but it is sooo good right now.” She rolled her eyes back as she said it and noticed his amused look.
“This baby likes greasy food and chocolate. There is no telling who he will become.” Parker laughed with her. He reached across the table and touched her hand with his. She was practically glowing and he knew he had never been happier than at this moment.
He let his hand linger there, and felt her heart beat faster.
He was so lonely for her, and she felt it too. It was almost too much to look at her like that. She pulled her hand away and he frowned. He couldn’t have it both ways. He may have to be more careful about the time they spend together. She finished off her food, Parker cheering her on as she went. She managed to eat all of it and even she seemed surprised.
“I am such a pig.” She exclaimed as they made their way into the house.
“No, you are beautiful.” He smiled down at her and he knew the tension in the air wasn’t just noticeable to him.
***
They made it to her door and she stopped to say goodnight but instead he crushed his lips to hers once again. It was an achingly sweet kiss. He was fighting his own demons. She seemed to hesitate as though she was fighting some of her own as well. Both of them needing each other but refusing to take the chance. She pulled away from him and looked into his eyes.
“I want you Jasmine. I know I have no right, I know you
may not feel anything for me, but damn if I don’t want you more than I did before.” He was frozen to the spot.
“Parker,” she whispered. “I want you, too. I’ve always wanted you.”
He wrapped his arms around her then, pulling at her clothing until she was naked standing in front of him. He quickly shed his clothing as they kissed.
Parker suddenly scooped her up and carried her to the bed, gently laying her down into the pink fluffy comforter. He moved back some, the contrast of her caramel skin and the pale pink made her skin glow even more than usual.
Her breasts were heaving with every breath she took and the crested peaks were hard and waiting. He needed no further encouragement and covered one with his lips, suckling hard and nipping at her. She ran her hands in his hair and pulled him to the other one, needing him to service both of the luscious globes.
He cupped one in his hand her dark nipple seeming to beckon him for more while his other hand moved down the length of her body. He hissed in air as he felt the warm heat of her. He ran his thumb over the tiny nub of excitement and she moved against his hand. Tonight he wanted it to be about her. He moved slowly kissing and nipping his way down her body until his mouth was mere inches away from the heat of her. He used his hands to spread her legs wide and heard her moans as he attacked her with his tongue.
He wanted this, wanted her. He loved the taste of her as he worked her with his mouth. He felt the tremble in her legs begin as she put her hand in his hair grinding into his face. She wanted it… needed it and he was the only one to give it to her. Before she found release, he moved up and moved to push into her deeply with one thrust. She encased his length and she shuddered at the tight feel of her. She was made for him, for his loving.
He moved slowly, laying the length of his body along hers grinding himself into her. He kissed her as he moved, covering her face with little kisses and as the pace picked up and he knew the end was near he reached down to use his hands to help her meet him there. She started the climb and he used that to fuel himself, he felt her contract around him and he spilled himself into her.
Chapter Fifteen - Jasmine
She felt the heat of his chest under her fingertips and snuggled in closer. No good could come of what they had done, but she wanted it, needed it. She loved him so much it was a physical pain when she had to tell herself he wasn’t capable of loving her back. He was stubborn she could only wonder if he got that trait from his father. Maybe he didn’t know he could love, whatever it was she would try, try to show him how good it could be. She looked up at his face, he wasn’t sleeping, but he was recovering from what they had experienced together.
“At least you don’t have to worry about me getting pregnant.” She smiled at him when he opened his eyes and he smiled back.
“I suppose that is something, isn’t it?” He leaned towards her and kissed her stomach before laying back once more and gently laying his hand on her where he had kissed.
“It’s hard to believe there is a baby in there, our baby.” She gave him a wide smile. “As well as a huge cheeseburger and fries.” She giggled.
“You’re so beautiful when you smile Jasmine, I’m glad you’re happy.” He reached up and moved her hair back, running his thumb along her jaw line.
“I am working on it Parker, you deserve to be happy too you know that Parker, don’t you?”
“I don’t know Jasmine, I don’t know what I deserve, or want…” he paused looking at her. “Or need anymore. Everything is a mess in my head. I just know the only time it makes sense is when I am with you. That has to be a good thing.”
She stretched and ran her hands over his chest. She could seduce him, show him that he wanted her for more than just a baby. She felt his intake of breath as she let her hand travel lower still until she ran circles in the hair below his stomach. She raised up and dropped little kisses on his chest and she soon felt his hand running along her hip. She traveled lower until she moved the sheet covering him and was faced with the magnitude of his arousal. She glanced up at him before loving him with her mouth the way he had done to her earlier. He never told her to stop, but he gripped the sheets until his knuckles were white.
Finally, he stopped her, he pulled her up and guided her above him until he was completely encased in her. He set the pace and she rode him, grinding down hard when she wanted to.
He grabbed her hips with one hand while at the same time using the other to pull her down so that she lay against him. He then used his hands to work her hips over him again and again until he whispered her name and exploded inside her.
She kept going, finding her own release a few strokes later. She collapsed on top of him and she felt his hands against her back slowly stroking along her spine. He raised up lifting her with him until he spun her around and laid her gently on her back. He laid there with her like that, both lost in this world, until sleep came. She waited until she thought he was asleep before she said the words.
“I love you, Parker.” She drifted off to sleep herself, with a smile on her face.
Chapter Sixteen - Parker
He was happy.
He wasn’t sure how to feel about anything but for the moment he was happy. In the last few weeks things at home had been good, very good.
He was still gone a lot getting ready for the next ride. He had a match in a week in Dallas, and he was going to go. Jasmine was more than capable of handling things there, and they had spent almost every night discussing life on the ranch. He knew this new found happiness was temporary for them, but instead of fighting it, he embraced it. When she was gone it would likely kill him, but for now he would just make sure she was safe.
He had slipped into her room to make love the night before he was leaving. It was almost silly the way they snuck around. They were both adults and this was his home, but in some ways he still felt like a child, as if his father would catch him sneaking in a girl the way he had Cathy Mathews when he was 16. She was standing in front of the mirror in her room naked feeling her stomach for changes, a slight puffiness was there, but not much else yet.
Just standing there she was beautiful. She had no idea she was, which made her even more endearing to him. He spun the wedding band on his finger lost in the moment. It was a habit he had developed and one that reminded him of her. He noticed she made a face before she rushed into the bathroom again. She had been sick early on and then nothing, now she was getting sick pretty regularly. He held back her hair until she was done. He wished that he could somehow help her.
“Thanks,” she stood on shaky legs and he noticed how pale she was.
“Maybe we need to stop all of this, Jasmine. I’m worried about you.” He looked at her.
“Well, you’re leaving tomorrow after the appointment with the doctor, so we don’t need to worry about it for a week.”
She smiled up at him as he gave her a quick peck on the nose. They climbed into bed and he wrapped his arms around her protectively.
The next morning came and Parker felt the familiar thrill of a prospective ride. He loved riding a bull, it made him feel alive. Nothing had come close to it until Jasmine of course. Life was good, his ranch was secure the baby would be here two months before the deadline and he had a wife. He gulped as the thought crossed his mind. In every way, she was truly his wife. The thought caused a sense of panic to well up in him and he tried to put it out of his mind as he drove them to the doctor.
The screen came to life as they looked at the baby once more. It was bigger now, but still a non-formed little bean. She said things looked good and they heard the heartbeat for the first time. Parker felt the overwhelming sense of pride at the sound. He had helped create that. The heartbeat somehow made it more real to him and he took the printed picture and put it in his things to take with him on the road. They made their way home both thinking about his trip. Jasmine was overly concerned about this bull riding thing. Her fears were unfounded, he was a professional, but still she told him it sounded terribly dange
rous. She told him she would try to watch it since it was a televised event, but he doubted it would happen. The time came for him to leave and she walked him to the door. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, but none of them came to the surface. His heart and his mind were struggling to connect and he stared at her, and then leaned down to kiss her goodbye.
“Be careful. If you need anything James and Becca are both here all week, ok?”
“I know, Parker, go be famous.” She smiled at him and he gave her once last look before he headed down the stairs.
Chapter Seventeen - Jasmine
“He loves you too, you know.”
Jasmine spun around to a familiar voice. Becca was standing there with her watching Parker pull out of the drive.
“I don’t know, Becca, I am trying to show him it's ok, but…” she trailed off.
“He is as stubborn as his father was.” She patted Jasmine on the shoulder and made her way back to the kitchen.
Two days later, Jasmine was bedridden. She had never been so sick in her life and nothing she did made it better. After much prodding from Becca, she agreed to go to the hospital.
“Promise me Becca, promise you won’t call Parker?” Her lips were dry and her face pale as she whispered the words to her.
“I know Jasmine, I know what you said. I won’t call him unless there is an emergency.” Becca was looking at her, her face filled with concern.
They admitted her for dehydration and to help get the vomiting under control. She finally was able to get some sleep the first night, but by morning she was in worse condition. She had spiked a fever, and it was increasingly difficult to control. The doctors bathed her down and pumped her full of antibiotics. It was that afternoon when the labor pains started. At first she frantically denied it was happening. When Dr. McCann came, she was forced to listen.
