Chapter Eight
I wake with a jolt and gaze around my empty room. “Bria.” I jump out of bed and run into her room, finding it empty. The panic starts to choke me. Baby giggles filter in from the kitchen, and I blow out a breath as I make my way there. Finding Jake shirtless in a pair of scrub bottoms looking like a god, standing in my kitchen holding a smiling Bria, I almost trip over my own feet.
“Look who’s awake. Morning, Mommy.” Jake bounces her in his arms, creating another flutter of giggles.
“What time is it?”
“A little after ten—”
“Ten? Jesus, why did you let me sleep that late—shit! I’m sooo late for work. I’m going to get fired. Where’s Carrie? Did she come—”
“Hey, relax. I took care of it.”
“How? Shit. I gotta get ready—”
I turn to dart back into my room, but he calls out for me. “Willa, it’s fine.”
I pause and twist around. “It’s not. I’m going to get fired, and I need this—”
“I know, and I took care of it.” He buckles Bria into her highchair and slides his hands into his front pockets. “Your phone was going off. I didn’t mean to be nosy, but I saw it was your friend. She was worried about you because you never went back to work yesterday. I didn’t want to wake you, so I texted her back. Told her you were sick and would be out a few days. She took care of your boss. I hope I didn’t overstep. I also sent Carrie home and paid her for the day.”
I turn around. “You didn’t have to pay her. I have money.”
“I know. I didn’t mean to step on any toes. But what you needed was sleep, and I needed to spoil this little girl.”
I stand there and stare at him. “What about you? Aren’t you needed at the hospital?”
“I’m taking some time off.”
“You can’t just take time off.”
“When you’re the best resident they have, you can. And I did. Nothing matters right now more than spending time with you two. Now, are you hungry? I made some breakfast.”
I glance behind him at my small table filled with food. The scent of bacon and coffee teases my nostrils. My stomach growls, and I cover it, embarrassed. “How did you find bacon?”
“I had some groceries delivered. Don’t give me that look. I know you don’t want anyone taking care of you, but that’s where things change. I would have done this from the beginning. Since I wasn’t given the option, let me do it now.”
“I don’t need handouts.”
“No, you need to find some peace, to breath lighter, and to know I’ve got you.” We have a stare-off until it becomes too much, and I wave my white flag. His smile is damn infectious. I can’t fight the laugh as I shake my head and situate myself at the table.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve eaten so much. My stomach is full, and my cheeks are flushed as I take in the cleared table. It’s been a while since we’ve had enough ingredients to make a full meal in my kitchen. We make small talk, avoiding the heavy topics. Jake can’t get enough of Bria, playing airplane with each bite he tries to feed her. When it’s time for her nap, he puts her down and is gently shutting her door when I walk out of the shower.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I reply, feeling shy in my towel, even though he’s seen, licked, and bitten every single part of me.
“She’s zonked out.” He comes up to me, pulling me into his arms. “I want to stand over her and watch her sleep until she wakes up. I can’t get enough of her.”
I chuckle. “Well, prepare to stand for a while. She normally takes a three-hour nap at this time.”
His hand threads into my wet hair. “Then maybe I’ll spend my time showing you how much I can’t get enough of you.” His head dips, and I take the kiss he’s offering. I’m light on my feet when he finally pulls away, not realizing I released the grip on my towel, and it now lays at my feet. I go to pick it up, but he stops me. “No more hiding from me. No more barriers. No more games.”
“I’m pretty sure there was no hiding or barriers last night,” I joke, my cheeks flaming.
“Looks like I have three hours to make sure I didn’t miss anything.” Pulling me into his arms, he carries me back to my bedroom and leaves no inch of flesh untouched.
Two days later
“No more…” I breathe, unable to move my legs.
“I can’t stop. I’m obsessed with these legs…this ass…these tits…” I moan as his mouth covers my breast. My eyes flutter closed, and I give in. Again.
“The baby’s gonna be up soon.”
“I can be quick.” His teeth graze my nipple just as subtle cries come from the other room. “Or not. Saved by my little princess. You’re lucky. I had plans for you.”
I chuckle and shake my head as we both climb out of bed and dress. The past two days have been like this: Jake fawning over Bria, and when she goes down, he takes me into the bedroom and fawns over me. We haven’t left my apartment. Jake ordered in groceries and had clothes sent over from his place.
“What do my girls want to do today?” Jake kisses the top of Bria’s head. I’m feeling a bit restless. Some fresh air sounds wonderful, but there’s this nagging feeling inside that says the second we leave my apartment, this little bubble of perfect is going to pop. “Uh oh, why the face?”
“What face?”
“The I have something on my mind face.”
“I don’t—”
“You’ve made the same face since you were seven.” He walks up to me, giving me the same sweet treatment as Bria, and lays a gentle kiss on my forehead. “What’s on your mind? No more secrets, right?”
I sigh heavily. “I just…I’m worried about what happens once we leave my apartment. But I also know we can’t hide in here forever.”
“Can’t we?” He waggles his brows.
“Jake, I’m serious. You need to go back to work. So do I. The last couple of days have been amazing, but what happens when we go back to reality? When you have to tell your parents about us? When they threaten to cut you off too if you continue seeing me?”
He can’t hide the stress in his eyes.
“You know they won’t approve. They’ll give you the same ultimatum my parents did, and there is no way you’ll give up—”
“Don’t tell me what I won’t do.”
“I’m not. I’m just speaking the truth. I can’t see you giving up everything you’ve worked so hard for—”
“For them. I’ve worked so hard for them. Because it’s what they’ve wanted. Not me.”
“And are you going to tell me you don’t love it? You don’t love making a difference? They may have forced you into the profession, but you can’t stand here and tell me you don’t love helping people. You’ve always wanted that.”
“That may be true, but there’s more to life than status. We’ve both always agreed on that.”