Part 12 (2/2)

My heart nearly pounded through my chest when Nina stood up from the bed and walked slowly toward where I was standing. She smelled like sweet vanilla as she stopped just inches away from me. I wanted to devour her but instead held back and took in a long, deep breath, closing my eyes. My lips trembled because it was almost as if I could taste her as I inhaled. She was so close. So close, and there was nothing I could do about it.

Not until she knew the truth.

Her gla.s.sy eyes were staring up at me when I opened mine, and my chest tightened. She was so pretty. Her blonde hair was in a messy side ponytail that I wanted to roughly pull toward me. My eyes trailed down the length of her body slowly, stopping at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s again then down to her taut stomach and up again. The soft skin at the top of her chest glowed in the moonlight, and I yearned to touch it just for a second, to feel the warmth there.

Without thinking, I reached out and gripped her waist. All the control I had built up was immediately destroyed with the sharp intake of breath she let out the second my hand landed on her. It was a torturous indication of what it would be like to be with her. Her body was so responsive to me, even in those moments when we were just sitting next to each other. I knew without a doubt if given the opportunity, not only would I make her come, but I would make her lose all control. Oh, how I wanted to see Nina lose her mind when she came for me.

The thoughts in my head were driving me wild, and my fingers began to gently caress her waist. The longer my hand lingered, the more I lost focus on reality and when I realized my nails were digging into her, I pulled back and growled through my teeth, ”f.u.c.k.”

What was I thinking touching her? One more second, and I knew I wasn't going to be able to stop myself from taking what I had no right to.

She was breathing heavily and almost looked scared, like she wanted to say something but was holding back. I couldn't blame her. She was the Little Red Riding Hood in this situation and I was the Big Bad Wolf with a big bad b.o.n.e.r.

For f.u.c.k's sake, say something, Jake.

Before I had a chance to, Nina blurted out, ”I want to know what you do when you go to Boston every weekend.”

s.h.i.+t.

s.h.i.+t.

s.h.i.+t.

Should I just tell her the truth?

Think!

I blinked repeatedly to buy myself some time. The truth. Yeah, right. Could you imagine? ”Nina, I'm actually married, but it's okay. There's a good explanation. I'm telling you this right now with a stiff w.i.l.l.y because...”

f.u.c.k no! I couldn't tell her now. Not like this.

So, instead, I just blurted out, ”It's complicated, Nina.”

I felt like an absolute p.r.i.c.k. Imagine what she was thinking about my leading her on, trying to kick her out, touching her and now feeding her this bull.

Nina just stood there and looked at me then glanced out the window, looking lost and defeated. She was going to give up on me, and I couldn't blame her.

Looking utterly disappointed, she shook her head and let out a frustrated sigh. ”Good night, Jake.”

Game over. Well played, d.i.c.khead.

I swallowed as she backed away. Feeling helpless, I let her go, knowing I wouldn't get any sleep tonight. My mind screamed, ”I think I might be falling in love with you.” But I said nothing as she walked away and slammed the door.

No paper bat could fix this s.h.i.+t.

CHAPTER 11.

Present Skylar stood up from the couch to stretch. ”I need a break. This story is giving me lady blue b.a.l.l.s.”

”Seriously! Even I'm getting lady blue b.a.l.l.s,” Mitch joked as he got up and rubbed her shoulders. ”You want to watch the baby, Jake, so Skylar and I can have a few minutes alone to take care of this?”

”Imagine how it was for me, man...living through it.”

A loud knock prompted me to jump out of my seat. I flew to the door only to be crushed to find it was my sister and brother-in-law standing there with a bunch of bags.

”c.r.a.p. I thought you were Nina. You didn't get my text?”

The smell of marinara sauce wafted in the air as they both pushed past me.

”What message?”

”I texted you that the party's off.”

”What? Allison looked down at her phone. ”I never got it.”

Cedric rolled his eyes. ”I'll put the food in the kitchen.”

Checking my messages, I scrolled down and noticed I'd mistakenly texted Albert from work instead of Allison. Showing her the screen, I said, ”Well, that explains why you never responded.”

Allison took off her coat and hung it up. She walked over to hug Skylar and Mitch who were standing to greet her. My sister took the baby in her arms and conversed with them for a bit before walking back over to me.

She pulled me aside. ”What the h.e.l.l is going on?”

Over the next few minutes, I rehashed everything that happened last night from the Ivy visit to Nina walking out this morning.

”Geez...I'm sorry. That really sucks. I hope she comes home soon...for your sanity.” She rubbed my arm. ”Let me fill Cedric in on what's going on. Be right back.”

Allison went into the kitchen then returned and sat next to Skylar who was nursing the baby again on the couch.

Cedric was carrying a bottle of Cabernet and two gla.s.ses when he reentered the living room. He grabbed one of the dining room chairs to join us. ”All the food's put away. We have enough to feed an army, so if anyone's hungry, it'll just need to be reheated.”

He opened the wine, poured two gla.s.ses and handed one to my sister. ”Can I get anyone else a gla.s.s?”

Mitch lifted his Heineken. ”I'm good with beer.”

Cedric took a sip and looked over at Allison. ”Seeing Skylar feeding the baby reminds me of the good old days.”

Skylar turned to Allison. ”This little guy is attached to my b.o.o.bs.”

Mitch winked. ”Now, she's got two Mitch's she has to pry off her t.i.ts.”

Everyone laughed, and Skylar looked over at my sister. ”I don't know how you did it with twins. You nursed them both at once?”

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