30. Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Clara

Everything that could have gone wrong had. Once we touched down at the private airport outside Denver and I finally got in my car, traffic was an utter nightmare. Detours from downed trees caused by the earlier storm sent me well out of my way, so by the time I pulled up to Jake's house, it was eight o'clock, past Nellie's bedtime. I crossed my fingers she wasn't being a grumpy beast for him. He'd sent me updates and pictures from the time he picked her up to about an hour ago, but I was nervous about what I was going to walk into.

I walked up the steps to his porch and peered through the picture window beside it. From my vantage, I could see the back of Jake's head and Sage sitting catty-corner from him on their sectional sofa. I tapped lightly on the door, and Sage hopped up, waving at me through the window.

She swung the door open, allowing me in, and pressed her finger to her lips.

"They're sleeping," she whispered.

"Nellie?"

She nodded. "And Daddy. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen."

She led me into the living room, and my heart skipped several beats. Jake was kicked back on the sofa, his feet up on the ottoman. Nellie was sprawled on his chest, her arms and legs hanging limp on either side of him. Her little lips were pursed, cheeks rosy, hair a fuzzy mess. She was sacked out. When I tore my eyes from her, I grinned at the sight of Jake, his head back, mouth slightly agape, just as asleep as my daughter. Even in sleep, though, he had a hand on Nellie's back, keeping her safe.

Affection flooded me, washing away the day's worries, and a thick knot formed in my throat. I didn't know what to do with this feeling.

Sage tugged on my hand, taking me into the kitchen. "Aren't they cute?" she asked, a little louder now that we were away from the sleeping beauties.

I nodded, getting ahold of myself so I could answer her. "I was worried Nellie would be a grump when I got here."

"Nope." She hopped up on the counter. "My dad and I took care of her all afternoon. She likes our yard, so I showed her how to play soccer out there. Then we had dinner and watched Finding Nemo . Right in the middle, Nellie climbed on my dad and fell asleep. He was a goner a few minutes later. I stayed up because I knew you were coming soon and wanted to see your reaction."

I smoothed a hand over her silky hair. She really was the sweetest girl. "Thank you, sweetheart. I appreciate you and your dad taking care of Nellie tonight. I don't know what I would have done without you guys."

She shrugged. "We liked it. My dad is good with kids. Sometimes he watches Dex and Cleo for my mom and Mike, so he has a lot of experience. We can babysit Nellie again if you want."

I smiled at her offer. "We'll see."

"Are you hungry? We made extra spaghetti for you."

My stomach heard food and decided to growl for attention. Sage and I laughed, and I placed a hand on my middle. "I guess that answered that question. I am hungry, but I should probably get Nell-Belle home and into her bed."

"I'd rather you stay."

I jumped at Jake's low rumble coming from the doorway. I turned, finding him leaning his shoulder against the wall, his arm crossed, hair disheveled.

"Hey. You're awake."

He nodded. "Your girl knocked me out. She's like a little heated blanket."

That made me smile. "And maybe she ran you just a little bit ragged."

"Maybe."

His eyes crinkled, and he reached for me, pulling me close to kiss the top of my head. He'd kissed me like that in Nellie's presence. It hadn't fazed her, but I was surprised he wasn't being more circumspect around his daughter since she was very much aware of what was going on. If he was fine with it, though, then I wasn't complaining. I needed a hug after the day I had.

I peered beyond him to the living room. "Where is she?"

He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. "Passed out on the couch. She didn't even stir when I moved her. I think she's down for the count."

Beeps from the microwave pulled our attention to Sage. "I'm heating up spaghetti for Clara. She's starving."

Jake raised his brows at me. "You're starving, huh? No one took care of you today?"

"No. I worked through lunch, but I hadn't expected I wouldn't be home for dinner. All I've had is chocolate and an obscene amount of coffee." I glanced back at the living room. "I really should get us home. It's getting late, so—"

"It's getting late, so you should stay here. Tomorrow's Saturday. You don't have to go to work. No reason you can't stay over," he said lowly, even though Sage was very much attuned to what her father was offering.

"Are you sure?" My eyes darted between his, trying to get a read on him. "I know this isn't what we agreed on."

He kissed my forehead. "You look beat. I don't want you out on the road like this. You're staying the night."

His tone was firm and final. Obviously, I could have taken my child and run, but I didn't want to. I liked being in the kitchen with Sage and Jake, his arm around me, her fussing over my dinner. After hours of panic, they were my warm blanket.

We tucked Nellie in on a twin air mattress at the foot of Jake's bed. Sage had wanted her to sleep in her room, but I worried Nellie would wake up scared in the middle of the night. I promised Sage she could have a sleepover with her in the future, but the words felt like dust on my tongue since I didn't know if they were true.

Jake stepped into his en suite bathroom and stood behind me while I brushed my teeth. His hands slid over my hips and around to my stomach, holding me as he watched me in the mirror. I leaned forward to spit out my toothpaste and rinse my mouth, incredibly aware of his body aligned with mine. Even though he wasn't hard, I felt him through the flimsy fabric of his pajama pants, and my core tightened.

Straightening, I leaned back, and his arms wrapped around me fully. We looked at each other in the mirror. I was wearing one of his old T-shirts, which was tight around my chest and hips while barely covering my butt.

"I don't have pants," I whispered.

"You don't need pants."

I eyed his bare chest, saliva pooling in my mouth. "Together, we make a full outfit."

He breathed a soft laugh. "Seems like we make a good pair then."

"Seems like it." Sighing, I turned my head to nuzzle the underside of his chin. "I don't know how to thank you for today."

"You already said it. You don't owe me anything else. What you asked of me wasn't a burden at all. Sage was in heaven having her here, and I can't say I wasn't too."

My throat swelled, and I hid my face deeper in his neck so he didn't see the emotion on my face. "You like my daughter," I murmured against his warm skin.

"I do. She's a part of you, and there's no part of you I don't like."

Oh, how my chest ached, heavy with emotion and the scars of past heartbreaks. There were many parts of myself I wasn't fond of, but I found myself believing Jake meant what he said. After all, he took one look at the parts of me I considered flaws and got on his knees to worship them.

"You can't say such beautiful things to me. I don't know how to take them."

"Take what I say as me telling you the truth. That's what it is." He gathered the hem of my T-shirt and slipped his hands beneath to cup my breasts. "I like every little and big thing about you, Clara. Inside and out."

"Jake…" He weakened my knees. I braced my hands on the counter in front of me. "What are you doing?"

"Touching my pretty girl." He nudged my face with his, turning my head toward the mirror. "Look at you."

He pulled my shirt above my breasts and held them in his rough, wide palms. His arms and hands were tan from the sun. Calluses lined his fingers, and a little motor oil darkened his nails. We were a study in contrasts, but his skin on my paler, softer flesh looked right.

"Look at us," I said. "How do we fit so well?"

He shook his head. "I'm not one to question the good things in my life. We just do, mama." He dipped to drag his lips along the side of my neck. "We just do."

Releasing my breasts, he put pressure on the center of my back until I folded at the waist. Then he slid my panties down and nudged my legs apart. From behind, he delved between my legs, rubbing those rough fingers through my folds until he got to my swollen clit. I was already wet, so he glided over me, making circles around my most sensitive part. He had me panting in a minute, and I had to bite down on my lip so I wouldn't cry out.

"So wet," he murmured. "I need to be inside you."

"I'm ready. We just have to be quiet."

He bent over me, his mouth latching on to my shoulder. "I can do quiet, so long as I get to have you."

"Please," I whimpered. "I want you."

He slid into me slowly, stretching me open as he took the place he'd claimed as his in my body. I forgot to breathe, too caught up in watching him in the mirror. The tendons in his neck strained, and his biceps flexed, his complete focus on where we were joined.

He held his control like the edge of a cliff. One slip would send him plummeting. But knowing Jake how I did, he wouldn't let go until he was ready.

It made it easy for me to completely unwind, letting my troubles slip away as I sank into his possession.

He looked up, meeting my gaze in our reflection. "You're so fucking beautiful. You know that?"

I couldn't look at myself—only him. Looking at my tits swinging, my stomach rolls and scars, the lines in my face…would take me out of the moment.

"You're the beautiful one," I uttered.

"No." He wrapped his arm around me to hold my chin. "Look at yourself. Don't you see what I do? You're made of silk and flower petals, sweetness. You're soft and lovely all over."

He trailed his knuckles along my cheek and down my chest to cup my breast. "I dream about these. Your rosy nipples in my mouth, pressed against my chest, the cream of your pretty skin bouncing in my face. Silk and flower petals. Cream and sugar."

Sliding my hand over his, I held my breast with him, trying to see what he did. My silk and flower petals.

It didn't work. I couldn't think of myself that way. Knowing Jake saw my body as something like poetry was enough for me to appreciate it and understand why he liked it.

And I…I liked him. If he wanted me—to look at me and touch me—I would willingly hand myself over.

I watched him watch me with pure desire in his gaze as he thrust into me, deep and smooth. Colliding and parting, again and again, until my belly ached and filled, until I had to cover my mouth with my hand and bite down on my palm to stifle my cries. Warm lips on my shoulders and back and hot licks along my spine dragged me past the point of no return. I came around him, shuddering and shaking, falling limp on the counter.

Jake held on to my hips, plunging into me through my orgasm, and after, when I was sated and barely standing. He kept going, his deep strokes over my tender, sensitive flesh sending aftershocks through my limbs.

"Oh, fuck, Clara," he groaned. "Look at me. I need those eyes on me right now."

My eyelids sprang open like they were on a string and he was my puppet master. Our gazes locked. His bottom lip was clamped between his teeth, and he watched me like he was afraid I'd disappear if he blinked.

"Come on, Jake," I whispered. "Fill me up, baby."

My words were the tipping point. He drove in to the hilt and fell over me, groaning through his release. Then he gathered me in his arms and walked us to the tub, sitting on the edge with me in his lap. I rested my head on his shoulder, and he buried his nose in my hair. We sat like that for long minutes, our breathing steadying, my eyes growing heavy.

"I had a wreck of a day," I murmured. "You turned it around."

"Happy to," he gruffed.

I touched my lips to his throat. "Are you sure this is okay? Us being here with you and Sage?"

He hummed, his fingers slipping through my hair. "I wouldn't have told you to stay if it wasn't."

"We can talk about it more tomorrow," I reasoned.

"There's nothing to talk about." He tilted my chin up with his knuckle. "Are you ready for bed?"

"Yeah. I should probably put some clothes on, though."

His smile was soft, tender. "Probably."

We got redressed and tiptoed into the bedroom. Nellie was sound asleep on the air mattress, unaware of anything outside her dreams. Down the hall, Sage was sound asleep too. I curled up in Jake's bed, my head on his shoulder, his arm around me, holding me close.

He turned so his mouth grazed my temple. "Got all my people under my roof tonight. I'm going to sleep soundly."

My heart thumped, and I snuggled closer.

"Me too."