“I already gave you your gift,” I say with a laugh as he pushes me back into the bed and pulls my shirt off over my head.
“I love that gift, baby, but the one I really want is right here,” he says, shoving his hand down the front of my shorts, in between my legs, making me gasp.
“You can have that one too,” I moan into his mouth before giving him exactly what he wants, though I’m pretty sure I was the one who got the best gift of all.
Waking up, I roll over and see Jax is gone then lift my head and look at the clock. It’s after eight-thirty, and I don’t have to be at work until eleven today.
Hearing giggling coming from down the hall, I slip out of bed and make my way quietly to Hope’s door, where I find her wearing her pajamas, and Jax shirtless, wearing sweats, sitting at the small table his mom had gotten for her. Leaning against the door, I watch Jax take a drink of his coffee, while Hope places a piece of toast on a small plastic plate in front of him.
“Thank you, princess,” he tells her, picking up the piece of toast, taking a bite, and smiling when Hope giggles.
Lifting her glass of orange juice, she takes a sip then looks at her doll that is pulled up next to the table in her stroller. “Would you like some milk?” She asks placing a plastic bottle in the dolls lap, making Jax laugh.
Last night, after Jax made love to me, he told me he loved that Hope called him Daddy, and I know if my brother had a say in the kind of man Hope would consider her father, Jax would be that guy. Feeling tears burn the back of my eyes, I move quietly across the hall to the bathroom and get into the shower, letting the water wash away my happy tears.
*
“Kim, are you okay?” I ask, knocking on the bathroom door, when I hear her getting sick.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” she calls back, and I hear the toilet flush and the water turn on. I know exactly what is going on, because I heard the same thing when Bonnie was pregnant with Hope. And everyday I have worked with Kim in the last week, she has gotten sick.
“Kim,” I whisper when she walks out of the bathroom, holding a paper towel to her mouth. Handing her a bottle of water, I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “What’s going on?”
“It’s not what you think,” she says, shaking her head and turning to face me with tears in her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she says, pulling me into the bathroom and shutting the door behind us, and then she lowers her gaze to the floor, shaking her head.
“What’s going on?” I ask gently after a long moment.
“Two years ago, I started to get sick, and I found out my kidneys were in the beginning stages of shutting down.”
“Kim,” I whisper, grabbing onto her hand.
“That was also when I found out I was adopted and that I have a twin sister. My sister is obviously a match, but every time things get tough, she takes off.”
“Oh, my God,” I whisper, covering my mouth, not understanding how her twin could possibly leave Kim to face this alone, not when she needs her.
“I’m trying to get her to come back here. This is where my doctors are, but if she refuses, I may have to leave and follow her again.”
“I’m going to talk to Jax,” I tell her, knowing Jax will help track her sister down.
“No, I know Sage works with him, and I don’t want him to know what’s going on. I don’t want anyone to know. My parents were approached by my sister a few weeks back, and she told them if they gave her the money she’s asking for, she would come back and help me.”
“She wants money?” I hiss.
“She had a hard life. Her mom—my biological mom—is a mess” she defends.
“I had a hard life, Kim, but family is family. You don’t do that to family.”
“I need her,” she whispers in pain.
“I know she’s your sister, but seriously, she’s a bitch.”
“When I get better, it won’t matter anymore,” she says, and I hope she’s right. I hope her sister steps up before it’s too late.
“I’m here for you, whatever you need, even a kidney,” I tell her honestly, watching her give me a sad smile.
“Just don’t tell anyone. I’m working this out on my own.”
“You don’t have to be alone,” I tell her softly, pulling off a piece of paper towel and handing it to her when tears start falling from her eyes.
“I have my parents,” she whispers before opening the door and leaving me in the bathroom trying to think of a way to tell Jax without actually telling him, but come up with nothing.
Chapter 11
Jax
Watching Ellie as she moans and her head presses back into the pillow I lick, and circle her clit again.
“You’re so goddamn sweet, Ellie. I swear I want to eat you for every meal,” I growl against her core, feeling her tighten around my fingers.
“I…I don’t think that’s very nutritious. Not for every meal, anyways,” she mumbles, and I can tell by her tone she’s serious.
“Baby.” I chuckle, resting my forehead on her lower stomach then look up the length of her body at her beautiful face.
“Why are you laughing?” she asks, and I know she’s still drunk, judging by the glazed look of her eyes.
Climbing up the bed, I roll to my side and place my hand over her pussy, slipping my fingers into her.
“You’re cute when you’re drunk,” I tell her, nuzzling her ear.
“I’m not drunk,” she lies, circling her hips and forcing my fingers deeper. I know she’s drunk, ’cause I watched her and July both taking tequila shots, trying to outdrink Harlen who compared to them is a giant.
I have no idea why July thought it would be a good idea for her and Ellie to try and team up against the man, but she did, and the rules were for every drink they took, he took two. Both the girls were wasted before the bottle was empty, while Harlen got up and walked off, muttering, “Amateurs.”
“You know what tonight is?” she asks, looking up at me and biting her bottom lip.
“What’s that, baby?” I ask, tilting my head down and pulling her nipple into my mouth, making her back arch and my fingers slide deeper inside her.
“No more condoms,” she breathes, and my body stills.
“You went to the doctor?”
“Yeah, it’s right here,” she says, showing me the inside of her arm, where there’s a lump and a small bruise. “It lasts three years,” she adds, licking over her lips.
“So I have to wait three years to put my kid in you?” I frown studying her arm.
“We have two puppies and an almost four-year-old to keep you occupied.”
“I’m not waiting three years, Ellie.”
“Can we not talk about that right now?” She pouts, placing her hand over mine and pressing my fingers back inside her, which makes me smile.
“We’ll talk about it when you’re sober.”
“Less talk, more action,” she whimpers, riding my hand. Watching her, mesmerized as she gets herself off on my fingers, I wait until she’s finished coming then kick off my boxers, move myself between her legs, and pull them up around my hips.