Until You

by Cristin Cooper

  “But it hurt to lose him,” she whispered closing her eyes to hold back the tears.

  “I know.” He wiped a stray tear with the pad of this thumb. “Please forgive me. I did this all wrong.” He leaned his forehead against hers and took in a deep breath. “I never imagined I’d feel this way until you.” He lifted his head and smiled. “You make me crazy, but I hate not being near you. I hate not hearing your laugh and waking up to you in my bed. I hate that I was mean to you and that I judged you, because it turns out you’re not only the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, but you’re the kindest person I know. I love that Benji gets as excited to see you as I do. Well, maybe not as excited, but you know what I mean.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I love you, Alexis. Please give me a chance to make it up to you.”

  “I drive you crazy?” she asked with a playful smile.

  Taking another step closer until they were chest to chest, he said, “Definitely.”

  “Good,” she said wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head down for a kiss. She nipped at his lower lip until he opened up to her. What started as a playful kiss turned heated when she moaned into his mouth. He ran his hands down her back but didn’t stop until he reached the cleft of her leg and butt. He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around him.

  “Let me make love to you.”

  “You promise not to stop when we get to the good part?” Her voice cracked thinking about how close they came last time and how rejected she felt.

  “I swear,” he said, his voice straining with desire as he walked them down the hall toward her bedroom.

  After kicking open her bedroom door, he dropped her on the bed with a slight bounce then crawled over her and leaned down to kiss her. Before he could, she put her hand to his chest to stop his movements. “We’re together now?” She needed it to be clear after all the back and forth. He said she was his girlfriend when he stormed into her condo, but they never talked about it.

  “We’re together as long as you’ll have me.” He bent down and kissed her lips.

  “It might be a really long time,” she warned.

  He gave her one of his rare smiles. “It better.”

  “Jason?” He looked into her eyes, his heart racing against hers as she ran her hands through his hair. “I love you.”

  His smile grew, and he gripped her hips as he rolled them over until she sat on top of him straddling his waist.

  “I’m glad.” He reached for her and pulled her down until their mouths met. “Because I love you and need you in my life. In Benji’s too.”

  Nothing felt so good or so right as lying naked in Jason’s arms. She had sex before, but not once did she feel as loved or as cherished as she did with Jason. “I have to pick up Benji from the babysitter’s,” he said reluctantly. After what they just did, she couldn’t bear the idea of him leaving, even if she knew it wasn’t his choice.

  Not wanting him to feel sorry for leaving, she put on a smile and sat up getting ready to get out of bed. “I understand.”

  He reached for her hand before she could roll away. “Will you come home with me? I’m not ready to say goodnight.”

  Her smile widened and this time a real one. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

  After picking up Benji, they brought him home and went through his bedtime routine. Alexis read two books before he fell asleep.

  Jason and Alexis reached for each other as they snuck out of his room. At the doorway, they both looked at his sleeping son. She felt an overwhelming sense that her heart belonged to the Menden boys.

  Epilogue

  July 2018

  Jason

  * * *

  Jason and Alexis stood in front of the Justice of the Peace saying their I do’s with five-year-old Benji standing between them. He looked to Alexis, who smiled down at Benji as he grinned up at her. If it were possible, Jason could’ve sworn that every time he saw the love between Alexis and Benji, his heart grew. He couldn’t have asked for a better mother for his son.

  He knew she worried about her place in Benji’s life especially after Jason allowed Sandy visitation with Benji, but Benji made it clear who he wanted as mother.

  A few short weeks after they had moved in together, they all sat on the couch watching a movie during family time. When a scene came on screen with a mother and child, Benji turned to Alexis and asked, “Can I call you mom now?” She looked at Benji with so much love, Jason felt overwhelmed by it, but she didn’t answer. Jason could see how much she wanted to say yes, but she wouldn’t without talking to Jason first, so he answered for her. “Yeah, buddy. You can.”

  Tears fell down her cheeks as she pulled Benji into a warm hug. After a few seconds, she gripped the front of Jason’s shirt pulling him in for a family hug.

  Soon after he brought up getting married, he also wanted to talk to her about adopting Benji but thought they should wait on that discussion. She agreed to get married but wanted to wait until after she graduated from college.

  A year later while lying in bed with a sick Benji sleeping between them, she asked him how he felt about her adopting him. This was after she stayed up all night cleaning puke–more than once, changing bedding and bathing Benji until he felt better. The fact she would ask after a hard night of parenting proved what a great mother she already was. He leaned over Benji and kissed her, repeating, “Please.” He wanted all three of them to be permanent. A forever family.

  It had been a year since that night and a month since she graduated from college with honors. He and Benji proposed to her that night surrounded by her family; he even flew in his mother to be there.

  They kept their wedding small and intimate with just her parents, his mom, Katie, Tyler and Erica at City Hall. To everyone else, it might have seemed unromantic. But thirty minutes after they said ‘I do’, Jason, Benji, and Alexis stood in front of the family court judge making Alexis Benji’s legal mother.

  It was the best day of Jason’s life.

  As they exited the courtroom holding hands, they were greeted by the people who meant the most to them. Tracy stood next to Jeff holding balloons while he held a sleeping two-year-old Erica against his chest. She looked adorable with her chubby cheek pressed against his shoulder causing her glasses to be askew.

  Tyler stood behind Katie with his arms wrapped around her six-month pregnant belly. Smiling ear to ear, their eyes shimmered with tears. They had gone through the same thing six months ago when Tyler adopted Erica. If anyone understood the overwhelming emotions, it was them. Never in Jason’s life had he felt so much love and acceptance until Alexis brought him into her family.

  After spending the evening celebrating the best day of his life, he and Alexis ended their day next to Benji’s bed reading before bedtime. As usual, Benji managed to talk them into reading one more story.

  The moment Benji’s eyes closed, Jason and Alexis slipped out of his room and tiptoed down the hall toward their bedroom. Jason had plans for her tonight, but the real honeymoon wouldn’t take place for another month.

  Closing the door behind them, he pulled her into his arms, kissing her sweet lips and relishing in the fact that he was kissing his wife. Finally. “I love you,” she whispered against his mouth. “I never knew my life could be this good, until you.”

  She took the words right out of his mouth.

  THE END

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  Acknowledgments

  Love Machine: Thank you for letting me use Belakor’s name even though I didn’t let him be Tauren warrior. Nysterie and Belakor forever.

  My kidlets: I love you guys and though I complain about your noise and how you drive me crazy, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Carrie: I feel like a broken record by telling you how much you mean to me. I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for your support. Love you!

&n
bsp; Nichole Strauss: It’s been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for taking me on as a client!

  My online gaming friends: Even though I haven’t played WOW for a few years, I love that we’re still friends. You guys were a bigger part of my life than you ever realized. Love you, guys!

  About the Author

  When I’m not writing, I’m riding on the back of my husband’s motorcycle or hanging out with my four kids. I love my family, reading, writing, napping and sunshine. Not always in that order.

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  You can also find me here:

  https://cristincooperauthor.blogspot.com

  Or Email Me Here: cristincooperauthor@gmail.com

  I love to hear from readers.

  Books In Series

  Until Now- Until series book 1

  When a pregnant girl shows up at a diner alone with very little money, she changes her life and that of the owner.

  * * *

  Then: Sixteen‑year-old Bridget Larson was no stranger to heartbreak. When she found herself pregnant and alone, a flashing neon sign changed her fate. Bridget discovered the love and belonging she craved in strangers at a fifties‑style diner.

  Twenty-four-year-old Billy Hall struggled with his own grief. He was wandering Europe in search of his purpose in life when he received a call that would leave him saddled with his family’s diner. It was a noose around his neck until a pregnant teenager stumbled in hungry and scared. Inexplicably drawn to the girl, he had no idea the purpose he traveled the world to find was simply waiting for him to come home.

  Now: After spending years repressing their feelings for each other Bridget and Billy's life is about to change again. The baby who brought them together is leaving for college today. Is she taking their last reason to stay in each other’s lives or giving them a reason to finally admit their love?

  * * *

  Until Here- Until series novella book 1.5

  After getting their hearts broken, will this couple give love a second chance.

  * * *

  After a failed marriage Melanie Campbell quit a career she loved, friends she shared with her husband and her social life. She spent three years burying herself in her job avoiding living her life until one evening her boss told her to take a month off or she’s fired.

  Ready to find love again, Preston Reed was going home after spending the past two years working through the pain of a broken heart.

  What started as a chance meeting at a hotel bar began to feel like fate. Their connection was instant and nothing either expected.

  But with only thirty days will Melanie leave with another broken heart or will Preston convince her to stay?

  * * *

  Until Us- Until series book 2

  In one day, her life changes forever. He will always be the man she can lean on. Will these friends find true love in each other?

  * * *

  In the last year, Katie Larson's life changed dramatically. She left home for college, met the father she had never known and fell in love with Mr. Wonderful.

  What she didn’t know was that the hardest year of her life was just ahead. After terrible accident she’s forced to discover the inner strength she didn't know she had and will find out Mr. Wonderful wasn’t Mr. Right.

  Tyler Marshall had a close loving family, good friends and a job he loved. As much as he wanted to find love, he was content with his life. That was until she needed him.

  Will Katie let go of what she lost and give her heart to the man that would love nothing more than to make them an us?

  Preview

  Until Us

  Prologue

  August 2014

  Katie

  * * *

  Katie yawned into the back of her hand and leaned back on the bench seat between her new roommate Alexis and her roommate’s older brother Eric. The only sound came from Eric’s old pickup rumbling as it shook its way over the empty Portland streets.

  Today had been the longest day of her life, and yet, when she looked over at Eric, she wasn’t sure if she were ready for it to end.

  “If you’re tired, you can lean against my shoulder,” he offered, quickly glancing at her with a small smile. She returned it with a blush as the butterflies in her stomach took flight.

  They were returning home after having a late night dinner with his and Alexis’s friends. The party started out as a welcome for Katie, which turned into an intimate evening between her and Eric. They’d sat at one end of a long table, unintentionally ignoring everyone else, while they spent hours getting to know one another.

  From the moment she met him there was a connection. He was good-looking for sure, in a sexy lumberjack sort of way, but it was more than that. He had a friendly smile and an easy laugh. He chuckled along with his friends when they teased him about his scruffy beard and hermit lifestyle. He was unapologetic about who he was, and nothing was sexier than that.

  She was tempted to accept the offer of his shoulder, and not just because her eyes were growing heavy. She wanted nothing more than to be close to him, but the little voice inside her head was loud. You just met him, and he’ll only be here a few weeks.

  Instead of scooting closer, she leaned her head against the back window and closed her eyes.

  When she first met the brother and sister, Alexis had mentioned Eric was just visiting, and Katie hadn’t thought much of it until a few hours later. It had been nearing midnight when they shared a plate of waffles, and she listened to him talk about his job as a biologist in Alaska. His face lit up, and he spoke with his whole body.

  Disappointment lodged in the pit of her stomach when she realized nothing could come from whatever was happening between them. But she also wasn’t about to let it stop her from spending as much time with him as she could before he returned to his life.

  Her eyes grew heavy and her head lolled to the side until she felt a hard surface. The smell of old vinyl and engine oil along with the vibrations of the old pickup reminded her of long drives with her Billy. Wondering when she would get a chance to do that again her chest tightened.

  The past twenty-four hours had passed in a haze of goodbyes, hugs, tears, airplanes, cabs, and hellos. It was hard to believe it was just last night she was partying with her girlfriends excited about her future and now… It wasn’t until the cab driver dropped her off in front of her new home in Portland, Oregon that the tears came back around. She hadn’t thought about how much she would miss everyone.

  Standing on the curb looking up at the condo Katie would share with her new roommate, she realized the small apartment she had shared with her mother in Flagstaff, Arizona would only be a place she would visit.

  Raised by her single mother, Bridget, Katie had never known her father. But they made a family with Billy, the diner owner who’d taken her mother in when Bridget was a pregnant teenager with no place to go and helped her raise Katie.

  Chuck and Diane worked in the diner and rounded out their family. She thought the overwhelming homesickness would swallow her whole, but after only a few minutes with Alexis and Eric, the sadness eased and she knew everything would be okay.

  Katie drew in a deep, ragged breath as she felt the wave of sadness hit her again.

  A large warm hand landed on her knee and squeezed. She sighed and smiled as the warm tingle from his touch spread through her whole body. Suddenly she realized the hard surface she was leaning against was Eric’s shoulder. Shocked awake, she lifted her head and rubbed her tired eyes.

  His brows pulled in when he glanced at her before turning back to the road and asking in a quiet voice, “You okay?”

  Verifying Alexis was still asleep against the passenger door before answering, she whispered, “Yeah.” But Katie really wasn’t. She missed her mom and Billy, even though she’d talked to her mother after arriving, but nothing compared to them lying on her bed at the end
of the day talking about anything and everything.

  He rubbed his hand up and down her thigh until he had to move his hand back to the gearshift between her thighs. It was the negative part of riding center in an old pickup and yet…the positive. His touch did nothing to ease her rambling thoughts; he just added to them.

  Katie pulled out her phone to check the time. It felt like only minutes instead of hours since she said goodbye to her mother at the airport.

  Eric made a right-hand turn that seemed slightly exaggerated. She slid on the vinyl seat until her body pressed against his. He smiled and his deep chuckle caused a warm blush to cover her cheeks. Again. She was pretty sure he did it on purpose. Instead of moving back to her spot, her bare leg remained against his denim thigh. His touch, along with his kind smile, made her belly do funny things.

  When he parked in front of hers and Alexis’s condo, he leaned past her and nudged Alexis awake. It took Alexis a moment to realize they had stopped and another few seconds to realize that neither Katie nor Eric, were exiting the truck.

  Alexis gave them a knowing smile. “I’ll see you in the morning, Katie.” She jumped out of the pickup and slammed the door before running up the stairs to the condo.

  Eric and Katie sat in silence, neither moving. The air between them grew thick with nervous energy. With the engine no longer running, the silence became awkward, and she began to wonder if Eric was waiting for her to let herself out.