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Jenna wasn’t sure which one of them made the first move. It could’ve been her, although her mind seemed hazy. One moment, they sat apart and in the next instant, their lips were fused together.
He broke the kiss while his eyes blazed at her and he remained rooted to the spot.
Jenna tugged her dress up and off, then unhooked her bra and took off her panties. She intended to do this, before she chickened out.
Without speaking, Lance tugged her up against him.
Naked, she clung to him, her lips fused to his. His clothes came off in a hurry. Giggling and laughing, they moved to the kitchen table.
“I’ve never done it on a table before,” she admitted.
“There’s always a first time for everything.” His mouth nibbled its way down to her breast and while she spread before him on the cold surface, he fondled and caressed her nipples. Jenna gasped as his lips sucked on the delicate bud. He swirled his tongue over it and she shivered as a thousand needles of pleasure pinged through her nerves.
Jenna allowed herself to slide into that space where she became a bundle of needs and wants. Her fingers clasped around his strong, muscular shoulders and she inhaled the spicy scent of him, reveling in it.
His lips traced a path to her stomach until they centered on her belly button. His tongue dipped inside, awakening a rush of passion that crested and swept through her. Raising her legs, she wrapped them around his hips, and he eased inside her, slowly, gently.
The rhythm was smooth. They matched each other stroke for stroke, thrust for thrust, taking their time. Putting his hands on the table, he slid his pelvis against her and a rush of pleasure careened through her. The orgasm was quick and brutal. She shuddered as she bit back the scream that rose to her lips and he came a moment later.
For some time, they lay there, enjoying the feel of having their arms around each other...
“Are you okay, Jenna?”
His voice seemed to come from far away and she jumped, then felt the heat rising from her neck to the tips of her ears. “Ye—Yes I’m fine.” She realized she just fantasized an entire sexual encounter with the man who sat quietly next to her. Having hot sex with him right there in her kitchen! She never felt so embarrassed in her life. There she was, daydreaming about having sex with Lance and he was simply being a gentleman.
“Sure?” He studied her face.
She nodded. With effort, composed herself and attempted to stand on legs that felt wobbly.
“Hey, come here.” Lance dragged her down before she could escape. He played with the ends of her hair. “I love you.”
Her breath became trapped in her throat. What the hell was she supposed to say to that? How could he spring this on her? She wasn’t ready to hear those words. Jenna dumbly nodded a second time. Hastily, she stood and jogged upstairs.
Sure, she felt attracted to him, look at the fantasy she just had—but love? Jenna wasn’t sure if she was prepared for that. After finding out that Lisa was pregnant, she needed to be more cautious than ever. She dared not risk her heart, because if he hurt her for real, she didn’t know if she would be able to recover. What did he think of her refusal to utter the same words back? Did he feel disappointed, hurt? Surely, he did. She hated to make him feel that way, but she just wasn’t ready.
At least, not yet!
When she came downstairs, Lance was brewing coffee in the kitchen. “I hope you don’t mind but I sure could use a cup,” he explained.
“No, please go ahead.” She took out two cups. “I’ll get some cookies.” After putting the plate on the table, she took a seat. Jenna still felt nervous sitting there with him at the very table in her fantasy. With effort, she pushed the erotic images away.
He poured her a cup and handed it over. “When is Jayden coming back?”
She checked her watch. “He should be home in another ten minutes or so.”
“Did you tell him...?” He waved his hand. “...About Lisa and the baby.”
“No, I didn’t.”
His sigh of relief was audible. “Good. Do you think we need to tell him?”
Touched that he thought about her son, she offered him a cookie. “There isn’t any need to do so now. He wouldn’t find out and this would just confuse him.”
“I’m surprised that Lisa would go to such lengths to help me out.” He bit into the cookie and then closed his mouth. “This is heavenly. Absolutely delicious. You really need to market these babies in your own bakery.”
She smiled rather sadly and shook her head.
“I’m sorry that you got hurt because of my carelessness. Many times I thought about telling you, but then I got nervous.”
“It’s okay.” She could understand his instinct to protect Lisa. Even though what his wife did was despicable, she still deserved some respect and he gave it to her in spades. “What are you planning to do now?”
He shrugged. “Her boyfriend has basically abandoned her and their baby.”
“She shouldn’t be alone. You’re doing the right thing. I know that it must be hard to live in the same house, but you need to be there until after the baby is born and she settles into a new routine.”
“Lisa has never worked in her life. Naturally, she would get some alimony from me, but I doubt Bryn would step up for child support. And she would need to get a job unless her parents decide to support her.” He took a sip. “But I’m not sure if she’s managed to gather the courage to tell them the truth. They have a very high opinion of her and this would spoil it. I’m sure she’s afraid of that.”
“When she has the baby, she’ll do what is best for her little girl. Motherhood changes women,” she said. “I remember when I had Jayden. It was an eye-opening experience. It was difficult at times, especially because Seth was never around...” She stopped.
Much to her surprise, he reached forward to caress her hand. “You can talk about Seth any time you want. He’ll always be a part of our lives, especially Jayden’s. I want him to know his father as well as I knew him. He should have good memories of his dad.”
She glanced at their linked hands. She was lucky to get a guy like him. Sweet, caring and sensitive. As well as independent, strong and dependable. A rare combination, indeed. “Thanks.”
He let go and took another sip of his coffee.
The doorbell rang and she went to answer. It was Jayden. “Thanks, Angie, for bringing him home,” she called out to his friend’s mom who was sitting in the car.
“My pleasure.” She drove away.
Jayden’s face was mired in misery, a sure sign practice didn’t go well. When he did well on the basketball court, his eyes glowed with happiness but now, his shoulders were slumped.
“How was your practice?”
“It was terrible,” he announced. “Is Lance here? I saw his car outside.”
“Yeah, he’s in the kitchen. Do you want a cup of milk with cookies?”
He nodded and followed. “Hi.” He washed his hands in the sink and joined Lance. “I should take a bath.” But rather than go up, he dragged the plate of cookies towards him. “What are you doing here?”
“Jayden!”
“Sorry. Just wondered.” He bit into his cookie. “Ryan’s mother has a new boyfriend. He came to the practice session today. Messed up everyone’s game by shouting instructions.”
“I promise not to come to your practice sessions and embarrass you like that,” Lance said easily.
Jayden snorted. “You’re not mom’s boyfriend...yet.”
Jenna glanced at Lance, and then looked away.
Jayden caught the look. “Are you guys dating now?”
She sure would have liked a different time for this revelation, but now since he asked, it was time to tell all. “If Lance and I decided to date, how would you feel?”
The struggle was evident on his face. He liked Lance. But he probably wasn’t sure what he thought about his constant presence in their lives. “I don’t know.”
She gulped. “Well, Lance and I have been talking about it and we would like to give this—us a chance, but we want you to be happy with our decision.”
Jayden stood. “Whatever! I don’t care!” He marched his way upstairs and they heard his door slam.
Feeling terrible, she ran her fingers through hair. “I’m sorry. This is a big deal for him. And that’s why he keeps having these conflicting reactions. Last I talked to him, he acted positive about you. I don’t know what happened suddenly.”
“It has something to do with his friend’s mom. You’ll need to ask him,” he offered. “Children at this age can be very susceptible to the opinions of their peers. If his friend said something negative about his mother’s boyfriend, then maybe that rattled him. And of course, he wouldn’t want to share you. He has had you to himself for a long time.”
“Yeah, I know. Thank you for being so understanding.”
He drained his cup and took it over to the sink to rinse it. “It’s all right, Jenna. We’ll figure it out together. I’m here for good and I prefer to ease into his life rather than bulldoze my way into it. If we’re going to be a family, we need to work on this slowly and carefully. I don’t want Jayden to be hurt.”
For good? Family?
Her heartbeat accelerated. Did he mean all that? Then of course, she had to work things out with Jayden. There was no way she would go ahead with this relationship if he wasn’t ready for it.
After she walked Lance out and snatched a quick kiss outside, Jenna came back inside. Being with him made her happy, but it was too soon to tell what direction her life would take. Jayden didn’t seem to be as prepared to deal with this as she’d thought he was.
Only time would tell about the future.