Текст книги "Music of the Heart"

Автор книги: Katie Ashley

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Regardless of how much I wanted to sleep in the following morning, I was dressed and downstairs at eight am sharp for the car to take Abby and me to the recording studio. As she hopped in the backseat, I didn’t miss the yawn that stretched across Abby’s face. “Sleepy?” I asked as I shut the door behind us.

“A little,” she replied with a grin. She then scooted across the leather seats to snuggle against me. “Last night was so amazing, Jake.”

I chuckled. “I’m glad you think so.”

Her brows shot up in surprise. “Don’t you agree?”

Bringing my lips to hers, I devoured her mouth in a hungry kiss. I thrust my tongue against hers, seeking her taste and her warmth. I snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her onto my lap. After several long, delicious minutes passed, she moaned into my mouth before pulling away. “I seem to remember there’s someone driving this car,” she whispered.

I grinned. “Are you embarrassed or are you afraid he’s gonna get off on me making out with my girl?”

She lowered her eyes and then bobbed her head. “A little of both.”

“Angel, you’re going to have to get used to me wanting my hands and lips on you. It’s hard for me to hold back, and frankly, I don’t give a shit who sees or what they think.”

A shy smile formed on her lips that were swollen from my earlier assault. “Can we at least take baby steps to the whole mauling me in public?”

I threw my head back and laughed. “Sure we can.” I rubbed my thumb along her cheekbone. “I never, ever want to do something that makes you uncomfortable. So, I’ll try toning it down.”

“Mmm, my hero,” she murmured before kissing me again. We were just about to get hot and heavy again when the car pulled to a stop in front of the studio.

“Ready to go make some music together?” I asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

I laughed. “You’ll be fine.”

After I helped Abby out of the car, we headed inside. Pinpoint Productions was a smaller studio than what the guys and I usually recorded in, but it was the intimacy about the place and the production team that I loved. Gio, the head producer, came out of his office and shook my hand. “Good to see you, Jake.”

“Good to see you too. This is Abby Renard. She’s the one singing the duet with me.”

“Nice meeting you,” Gio said.

Abby smiled. “Nice to meet you too.”

“We’re thrilled and honored that you wanted to cut you first duet with us. That was some amazing music you and the guys laid down yesterday for the track.”

“Thanks, man.”

Gio glanced between us. “So who wants to go first?”

I chuckled. “I would say for Abby to go ahead and get it out of the way since she’s so nervous, but I guess I better.”

Abby furiously nodded her head. “Yes, you first.”

I took her hand and gave a reassuring squeeze as Gio led the way back into the recording and sound booth. “You can sit right here.” I motioned to a chair at the soundboard.

“Thanks,” she murmured as she eased down. I could tell from her wide eyes she was taking in every aspect and detail around her. I went inside the recording booth and shut the door. After I put on my headset, I waved at Abby. She grinned and waved back. Although the lyric sheet was laid out before me, I didn’t need it. The lyrics were emblazoned on my mind.

Gio’s voice came through my headset. “Okay Jake, let’s try Take One.”

“Sounds good.”

The opening guitar melody played out in my ears, and I began singing. I closed my eyes and focused on the emotions of the lyrics. When I finished, I opened my eyes to see Abby wiping the tears from her eyes. “Good, huh?” I joked.

She nodded while Gio gave a thumbs up. His voice rang in my ear again. “That was kickass, Jake. You’re good, but you’re never one-take good. Let’s try it again.”

I laughed. “No problem, man.”

We did about ten more takes to me sure that we had it just like we wanted. When I was finished, I exited the booth and went to Abby’s waiting arms. “That was fantastic!” she exclaimed.

“Thanks, Angel. I’m sure yours will be too.”

“Ugh, I doubt that,” she moaned.

“Come on. Go in there and kick some ass, okay?” At her skeptical expression, I added, “I’ll be right out here, okay?”

She gave a brief nod of her head before she stepped into the booth and shut the door behind her. I watched as she reached for the headset next to the microphone. With shaky hands, she put it on. Through the glass, I gave her a reassuring smile and a thumbs up. She bobbed her head before lowering her gaze to the lyric sheet. “Okay, Abby, let’s go for Take One,” Gio instructed.

“All right,” she replied in a small voice.

When the music started in the booth, Abby looked like she might puke instead of sing. She started out evenly, but then when the notes climbed an octave, she missed the note. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

“No problem. Let’s try it again.”

The second and third takes were even worse. Even through the glass, I could see the tears shimmering in her eyes. I leaned forward and patted Gio on the shoulder. “Hold up. Lemme try something.”

I walked through the door and into the booth. Abby reached up to take off her headset. “I’m sorry, Jake. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I thought I could do it. I’m so sorry.”

“We’re not stopping.”

Her brows rose in surprise. “We aren’t?”

“Oh hell no. You’re going to sing your ass off right now like I know you can, and we’re going to record this song together.”

Her face crumpled. “But I can’t! You heard me earlier. I’m awful. You need to find someone else.”

I took her face in between my hands. “Where is the kick-ass-and-take-names, Abby that I know?” When she shrugged, I shook my head. “The Abby I know wouldn’t fall apart right now. She’d sing the hell out of this song just like I know she can.”

“You really believe in me that much?”

“Yeah, I do.”

She drew in a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

I grinned at her. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.” I took her hands in mine and squeezed them tight. “And I’m going to stay right here while you do it.”

A determined look spread across her face that was both cute and at the same time sexy. “Okay, let’s do this.”

I gave a thumbs up to Gio. As the music started, Abby’s gaze locked with mine. She didn’t even glance down at her lyric sheet. Instead, she sang her fucking heart out to me and only me. When she finished, I blinked a few times in disbelief.

“Holy shit, Angel. I think you nailed it.”

She grinned. “You think?”

We both looked to Gio who was making a perfect sign with fingers. He leaned in to the microphone. “That was fantastic, but let’s do a couple more just in case.”

Abby bobbed her head in agreement. “Think you can do even better?” I asked.

“I sure as hell can try,” she replied.

After five more takes, we stayed around the studio listening to them merge our two vocal tracks. “That’s a number one right there,” Gio said with a grin.

“I never had any doubts,” I replied.

Abby’s blue eyes widened. “To have my first ever song go to number one would be amazing!”

Gio grinned. “Just wait until this drops. People are going to go batshit, especially with Jake singing a duet. He’s never done that before. You couple that with the emotions, and bam, solid gold.”

With a squeal, Abby did her happy/victory dance around the studio before jumping into my arms and wrapping her legs around my waist. She then proceeded to lay a hot, lingering kiss on me right in front of Gio. It was in that moment I knew I fucking loved Abby Renard with all my heart.

After we finished at the studio, we headed back to the hotel to join the others for a late brunch. As we sat down, Brayden said, “We waited to order until you got here.”

“Aw, that was so sweet. Thank you,” Abby replied.

As soon as we had all ordered, everyone wanted to know how the recording session had gone. With animated gestures, Abby filled them in on every single detail—including her freak-out. My heart swelled with pride when she told them how it was me that helped her overcome her stage fright. Leaning over, I planted a kiss on her lips. “You were amazing all on your own. I didn’t do anything.”

“You did everything,” she argued.

AJ rolled his eyes. “God, you guys are positively sickening,” he groaned.

“You’re just jealous.”

“Whatever,” he grumbled as he raised Jude onto his lap.

Our food arrived, and after we ate, I caught Abby gazing with a wistful look at Brayden and Lily. While Melody slept soundly on one of Lily’s shoulders, Brayden nuzzled Lily’s neck and spoke softly to her. Lily’s eyes closed while a serene smile filled her face. I had a pretty good guess that Abby was envying what she saw of the perfect rock-star family.

When she caught me looking at her, Abby smiled. Motioning her hand towards Brayden and Lily, she asked, “Are they always like that?”

I chuckled. “Pretty much. During the tour, they don’t get a lot of time together, least of all alone time. When they finally do see each other, they act like two horny teenagers.”

“But they’re so in love,” she murmured as she watched Brayden rub Lily’s cheek. A frown turned on Abby’s lips. “Poor things, I bet they don’t get much alone time with the kids though.”

Shrugging, I replied, “They seem to be doing just fine to me—nauseating as it is.”

When her hand came to graze my upper thigh, I almost jumped out of my chair. “Jake, if I asked you to do something for me, would you?”

My heart thudded to a stop before restarting. “Don’t tell me watching those two has turned you on, and you want to go upstairs with me?”

“Um no!” she cried.

I laughed at her outrage. “Okay, what is it?”

She glanced from me over to Brayden and Lily. “Would you help me take care of Jude and Melody today?”

“You’re joking, right?”

She gave a small shake of her head. “They could have the whole day together—just the two of them. I could even spend the night in their suite and give them mine. You know a whole day of romance.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I asked, “Okay, but why does all that have to involve me?”

Her blue eyes narrowed, and I knew I was in trouble. “I thought you might like to not be a self-centered jackass for once and want to help out both me and the guy who is like a brother to you.

I held up my hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’d love to spend the rest of the day babysitting Bray’s kids with you.”

The corners of Abby’s lips quirked up, and I could tell she was fighting not to smile. “Try not to sound too excited about it.”

I plastered a fake smile on my lips. “Oh, I’m fucking stoked. Can’t you tell?”

She grinned at me. “You’re such a tool.” Patting my thigh, she said, “Now come on and let’s tell Brayden and Lily the good news!”

***

Brayden and Lily were so touched by mine and Jake’s offer. It took about an hour for them to get everything we would need together for a day and night with the kids. Then taking Lily’s SUV, Jake and I headed first to the Atlanta Zoo and then we went to the Aquarium. With his dark sunglasses and baseball cap, Jake did his best to blend in and not call attention to himself. While I pushed Melody in her stroller, he carried Jude on his shoulders. Since we appeared to be the model picture of a young family, no one even stopped to look or question whether a famous rocker was in their midst.

After ogling all the wildlife, we then headed back to the hotel for Melody’s nap time. “Big boys don’t nap!” Jude complained when I suggested he lie down as well.

“Come on, Little Man. You and I will go for a swim while the girls relax,” Jake suggested.

Jude squealed with delight and raced into the bedroom. While I got him into his swim trunks and floaties, Jake borrowed a pair of Brayden’s swim trunks. When he came out of the bathroom, I drew in a sharp breath at the sight of his bare chest and all his hard, chiseled muscles on display.

Lowering his sunglasses, Jake grinned wickedly at me. “Impressed, Angel?”

I rolled my eyes. “Why do you always have to be so cocky?”

He pulled me into his arms. “And why do you always have to fight your feelings when it comes to me?”

“I’m not fighting anything right now when I say your arrogance manages to ruin more moments.”

Jake’s hands dipped lower to cup my butt. “Oh come on, baby, you drive me wild with desire every minute, so can’t you just at least admit that every once in a while, the sight of me gives you a lady boner?”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “A lady boner?”

He grinned. “Yep.”

“No, seeing you did not give me a lady boner, but it did get me hot, okay?”

Jake twirled me around. “Finally, you admit it.” His lips met mine in a hurried, frantic kiss since we both knew at any moment Jude would be coming out of the bathroom. After he licked a moist trail up to my ear, he whispered, “And as for that lady boner, guess I’ll just have to step up my game.”

I giggled. “Yeah, you do that.”

Jude emerged, and Jake and I reluctantly pried away from each other. After a bottle, Melody went down for a two-hour nap. While she slept, I texted with my brothers and my parents. Jake and Jude arrived back at the hotel suite just as Melody was waking up. Since they were both starved, dinner was our next order of business.

As we gorged ourselves on chili dogs and hamburgers from Jake’s favorite Atlanta restaurant, The Varsity, Jude asked, “Are Mommy and Daddy playing somewhere else today?”

When Jake snickered, I shot him a look while wiping the ketchup stains off Jude’s face. “Yes, they needed some time alone to do some big people stuff.”

That caused another amused snort from Jake. “You’re impossible!” I hissed.

A little pout formed on Jude’s face. “I’m not a baby. I could do big people’s stuff.”

“Sorry Little Man, but you’re not quite ready for what Mommy and Daddy are up to,” Jake said.

Jude crossed his arms over his chest in a huff while I gave Jake a smile. “Now don’t worry. Uncle Jake isn’t a big enough boy to get to do what your parents are doing right now either.”

Stuffing a handful of fries in his mouth, Jake mumbled, “Oh please, I’ve done it plenty of times. It’s Aunt Abby who needs to loosen up.” When he winked at me, I tossed the dirty napkin at him, which caused him to almost choke on his fries.

After we arrived back at the hotel, it was after eight. Jake yawned as he collapsed on the couch. “Can you give Melody her bottle while I give Jude a bath?”

He nodded and took the almost sleeping baby from my arms. I then herded Jude into the bathroom. After a quick splash to get clean, I slipped him into his pajamas and read him a bedtime story.

When I finished the book, Jude’s eyes were heavy, but he still wasn’t asleep. “Sing to me, Aunt Abby.”

“Um, okay.” I searched my mind for a song and finally remembered the one my mother used to sing to me.

Finally, he nodded off, and I carefully eased myself off the bed. After I closed the bedroom door behind me, I was surprised to find the living room bathed in darkness. Only the flickering TV screen lit the way for me as I walked toward the couch. When I was almost there, I skidded to a stop at the sight before me. Shirtless, Jake lay on his back while Melody slept soundly on his chest. My hand fisted my shirt over my heart as the scene of Jake with a baby wrecked me emotionally.

I drew in a deep breath and continued over to the couch. Gently, I picked up Melody. Sensing the loss, Jake popped open his eyes. “I’ll put her down,” I whispered.

“Okay,” he replied, rising up into a sitting position on the couch.

After I laid Melody down in her Pack-N-Play, I covered her up. Grabbing a t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants out of my suitcase, I went into the bathroom to change. When I finished, I peeked at the kids again before leaving the bedroom. Jake reclined on the couch with the remote in his hand. When he saw me eyeing his naked chest, he grinned sheepishly. “Melody kinda spit up all over me.”

“Oh, I see,” I replied, as I eased down beside him.

“Jude asleep?”

“Yep.” I couldn’t fight the dreamy smile that curved on my lips. “I ended up singing him to sleep.”

Jake chuckled. “There’s not a chance in the world that kid isn’t gonna be a rocker just like his old man.”

“You’re right. He adores music.”

With a yawn, Jake turned to me. “I had no idea two kids would wipe my ass out so much.”

I laughed. “I know. But they’re really good kids.”

“Oh yeah, Bray’s a lucky man.”

At the serious way he was looking at me, I quickly turned my head. Wrinkling my nose at the TV screen, I asked, “Ugh, do we seriously have to watch Sports Center?”

Jake snorted. “If you think we’re watching some sappy chick flick, you got another thing coming.”

“Well, at least let me see what else is on,” I suggested, reaching for the remote.

“Oh no. I don’t think so.”

When I tried prying the remote out of his hands, it went flying across the living room and bounced onto the floor. Jake and I momentarily eyed each other before we both lunged off the couch for it. Pushing and shoving each other out of the way, I finally grabbed it. “Aha!”

It was a brief victory because Jake flipped me over on my back. After he straddled me, he pinned my arms above my head. “Not so fast.”

As he smirked down at me, I tried squirming out of his hold. “Let me go, asshole!”

“Ooh, you get so feisty when you’re angry.”

“Don’t make me knee you again,” I threatened.

At the mention of our first encounter, our eyes locked, and in that brief instant, the remote was forgotten. Leaning down, Jake brushed his mouth against mine, caressing my lips with his. I craned my head up, so I could reach him better. The tighter we fit against each other the more feverishly Jake’s lips moved against mine. I darted my tongue into his mouth and teased mine against his. His hand abandoned mine and moved to cup my breast. Over my t-shirt, he kneaded my flesh, causing me to moan with pleasure.

Tearing his mouth from mine, Jake panted, “Abby…”

“What?” I murmured as I ran my hands through his hair.

His brows creased in worry. “Are you sure about this?”

“Because of Brayden’s kids being in the next room?”

Jake chuckled. “Well, yeah, that’s a buzz kill in itself, but I was thinking more about you.” He stared down at me with such a mixture of lust and desire in his eyes that I shivered. “I just can’t help myself around you. I want you so bad that I can’t help but devour you any chance I get. I’m just afraid this is too fast and too soon for you.”

My chest constricted at his concern for me. He really was willing to give me the time and space I needed, and that made me love him all the more. When he started to pull himself off me, I knew right then and there that I didn’t want him to stop. I was almost twenty-two years old, and I wanted to keep enjoying a frolic on the hotel room floor with the guy I loved. “No!” I cried, grabbing his shoulders.

His eyes widened in surprise. “I want this, and I want you.” I tore my gaze from his before adding, “Just not all the way.”

“You mean it?” he asked, tipping my chin to make me look at him again.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Thank God,” he groaned before he brought his lips back to mine. Kissing me feverishly, he eased my t-shirt up and over my head. Then he snaked his arm around my back. With just a flick of his wrist, Jake unhooked my bra deftly with just one hand and then slipped it off. “Nice work,” I panted.

He grinned down at me. “It’s tricky, but I’ve had a lot of practice.”

I smacked his chest. “Don’t be bragging about your former conquests with me.”

“Sorry.” As his hand cupped my bare breast for the first time, I gasped. “Would it sweeten the pot if I said you’re the only girl in the entire world I dream about conquering?”

“Maybe,” I whispered as his thumb brushed across my nipple. It hardened under his simple touch while an ache burned between my legs.

Jake’s gaze roamed over my breasts. “God, these are amazing…and real.”

I couldn’t help giggling at his statement. “Um, should I say thank you?”

He chuckled. “Sorry for the caveman comment. It’s just you’re so damn perfect everywhere. Including your tits.”

His mouth hovered over my nipple. As his breath warmed my breast, I arched my back, encouraging him to stop tormenting me. Happily, he obliged and sucked my nipple into his mouth. “Oh Jake,” I murmured. The sensation was like nothing I could have imagined. While his tongue assaulted my nipple, his other hand continued massaging my other breast. I couldn’t help the moans and whimpers escaping me. It felt too good to be quiet.

While he continued giving my breasts attention, I opened my legs wider, allowing him to sink closer between my thighs. My hips bucked up involuntarily to his, and I felt the bulge growing beneath his jeans. He pushed back against me, and I cried out. Grazing my nipple with his teeth, he then began to rock his erection against me.

“Mmm,” I murmured, turning my head from side to side. I matched his rhythm lifting my hips to meet his thrusts. Pressure continued to build between my legs as Jake rubbed against me. I bit down on my lip to stifle my cries. If it felt this good now, what would it be like when he actually touched me there or put his mouth there?

The friction was driving me wild, but it wasn’t enough. “Jake,” I whispered.

He raised his head from my breast. “What do you want, Angel?” he rasped.

“Touch me.”

“You sure?”

I bobbed my head. “Yes, please.”

Rolling off of me, one of Jake’s hands abandoned my breast to trail down my abdomen. When he got to the band of my yoga pants, I sucked in a breath. The back of his hand feathered tantalizingly across my stomach, and I couldn’t help but buck my hips up to him. Chewing his lip for a minute, he gazed down at me. “Has anyone ever…”

Warmth flooded my cheeks at his question. “No.”

The cocky little smirk that filled his face caused me to smack him. “What?”

“The victorious caveman look you just made at being my first third-base action.”

He grinned. “Sorry, but it’s new for me too. You know, to be someone’s first.” As his fingers tickled along my abdomen, he asked, “Have you ever touched yourself?”

“What’s with the inquisition? Just do it already!” I shouted.

Jake’s eyes widened. “Shh, you’ll wake Jude and Melody.”

Mortification rocketed through me, and I covered my head with my hands.

“So is that a yes or a no?” Jake prompted.

I peeked at him through my fingers. “Yes, I have,” I whispered

At my admission, he groaned. “Oh Angel,” he murmured before his hand delved beneath my pants. When his fingers brushed against me, I gasped with pleasure. Jake drew in a ragged breath and asked, “When you touched yourself like this, did you come?”

Even though I was embarrassed, frustrated, and even a little angry at his question, I found myself replying, “Mmm, hmm.”

He pinched his eyes shut. “You’re driving me crazy.”

“I could say the same thing about what you’re doing to me.”

He chuckled as his eyelids fluttered open. “I know.” When he gazed into my eyes, desire burned bright in his. “Maybe I should stop asking questions and just kiss you, huh?

“Yes.”

As his tongue thrust in and out of my mouth, his fingers delved between my legs. When he finally stroked my sensitive folds, I moaned into his mouth. The pressure continued to build as I rocked my hips against his hand. Beads of sweat broke out across my forehead. I couldn’t imagine anything could feel this good.

Jake tentatively slid his finger inside me, and when he started moving it in and out, I went over the edge. “Jake! Oh yes! Jake!” I cried as my walls clenched around his finger. When I finally came back to myself, Jake was staring down at me. “You’re sexy as hell when you come.”

I quirked my brows at him as I fought to catch my breath. “That’s good to know.”

He shot me a wicked grin. “I love the way you called out my name. It was so fucking hot.” He rose up on his knees while his hands went to the waistband of my yoga pants. “You want me to make you come again?”

“Do you always do this sweet talking with the girls?”

He paused in pulling down my pants. “You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s just….”

He grimaced. “It’s not very romantic, right?”

I shook my head. “No, not really.”

Jake sighed. “This is all new for me, Angel. I’m not used to doing the whole emotions with sex stuff. I’m used to fucking and calling it a day.”

I winced at his words. “I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m complaining. I did enjoy it—obviously, I mean, I…It’s just that…”

“No, I get it. You deserve better, Angel. You’re giving me—the most undeserving guy in the world—the most sacred and amazing firsts.”

I shook my head. “They’re mine to give, and I wouldn’t want anyone but you to have them.”

He cocked his brows at me. “Even on the floor of a hotel room?”

“If it means being with you, then yes. And even with your dirty talking mouth.”

He groaned. Once he pulled off my pants, he kissed a moist trail from my bent knee down across my thigh. His mouth momentarily brushed against my center over my panties before he kissed a trail up the opposite thigh. “Jake,” I pleaded.

“Shh,” he murmured. His fingertips lazily traced the waistband of my panties. I chewed on my bottom lip until he finally gripped the fabric and slid them off. As he gazed down at me, I suddenly felt very exposed, so I clamped my knees together.

Jake shook his head. “Let me see you, beautiful,” he urged, nudging my knees apart. This time he didn’t do any more teasing kisses along my thighs. Instead, his mouth sought out my center as he placed a tender kiss on me. I sucked in a breath while Jake blew warm air across my already inflamed core. Closing my eyes, I murmured, “Jake…”

When his tongue flicked across my folds, I cried out. Jake then began alternating between sucking and licking me. Warmth flooded my cheeks and seemed to ricochet over my entire body. It felt like I was consumed by fire. A sheen of sweat broke out along my skin as I rocked my hips against Jake’s mouth. I gripped his hair as he slipped two fingers inside me and swirled them around. Then he began to move them in and out of me while still licking and sucking my clit with his tongue. My whimpers and harsh pants filled the room before I finally tensed and went over the edge again. “Jake!” I cried as I thrust my hips up one final time.

From between my thighs, he grinned up at me. I threw my head back and closed my eyes. “Wow…”

He chuckled as he moved his body to cover mine. “That’s all you can say is wow?”

I cupped his face in my hands. “It was that good that you rendered me speechless, okay?”

“Mmm, I like the sound of that.”

As he lay across me, I felt the hardened bulge in his jeans. While he’d gotten me off twice, he was still in need of attention. My eyes met his as I cupped him over his jeans. When he raised his brows questioningly at me, I bobbed my head. “Show me what to do.”

Without protesting, Jake unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. He lifted his hips and eased his jeans down to knees. My eyes immediately honed in on his erection. Taking my hand in his, he wrapped my fingers around his considerable length. Then he covered my hand with his. Slowly, he worked our hands up and down.

“Like that?”

“Yeah…but you speed it up too,” he murmured in a shaky breath.

When I started working my hand over him faster, he gasped. “Oh God, Angel. That’s good.” My lips met his in a frenzied, hungry kiss. I liked that what I was doing caused him to groan. He raised his hips in time with my long strokes. “Fuck yes,” he murmured before his body started to shudder as he came. Hot, sticky liquid spurted into my hand and onto Jake’s stomach.

“Um, what do I—?”

With a chuckle, Jake pulled himself to his feet and went over to grab some napkins in the kitchen. He then wiped my hands clean and his stomach. He then kissed both of my cheeks and my forehead before returning to my lips. “Hmm, Angel, that was good,” he murmured against them.

To my disappointment, Jake tore his lips from mine to grope in the pile of clothes beside us. He grinned up at me as he slid my panties back on and then he did my yoga pants. “Thanks.”

His expression grew serious. “I should be the one thanking you for letting me be the first to make you come.”

I exhaled a ragged breath. “I think if we keep going like this, I’m going to want you to be the first in a lot more ways.”

When he got my meaning, he groaned before bringing his lips back to mine. Our mouths were waging war on each other when a tiny voice called, “Aunt Abby?”

I jerked my mouth from Jake’s and scrambled away from him. Whirling around, I took in Jude’s tiny form in the bedroom door. “Y-Yeah, sweetheart?”

He sniffled. “I had a scary dream. Will you come to bed with me?”

“Of course I will. Just give me one second.” Smoothing down my ruffled hair, I hopped up, leaving Jake alone on the floor.

Jude held his arms up, and I hoisted him up onto my hip. He buried his head in my neck before he started crying. “Shh, it’s okay. It was just a bad dream. It’s over now, and I’m here with you.”

I laid him down on the bed and then curled in beside him. He snuggled up to me, still snubbing back his tears. “Want me to sing again?”

“Pwease,” he whimpered.

After I sang several verses, Jude was fast asleep again. Pulling away from him, I checked on Melody before heading to the door. When I opened it, I froze. Jake was nowhere to be seen. I flipped on the light and peered around the room.

He had left.

I hurried over to the table where my phone was. Sliding my thumb across the screen, I checked for any missed texts or calls.

There were none.

My throat constricted as I fought back the tears. Why would he just leave me? Had he gotten what he wanted and bailed? I shuddered as the used feeling washed over me.

Against my better judgment, I texted a quick Where r u?

After a couple of minutes, I typed Jake?

Pacing around the suite I waited for his response, but it didn’t come. Defeated, I slunk back into the bedroom and crawled into the bed. This time it was me snuggling against Jude for comfort as the tears streamed silently down my cheeks.

***