I nodded and watched as he disappeared into a hallway. The house had gotten quiet fast. The window in the living room was still open. As I made my way around the couch to sit, I could hear the roar of Kade’s motorcycle as it dissipated.
I slipped out of my sandals and curled my legs beside me as I listened to the low rumble of Jed’s voice. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but it wasn’t my intent to eavesdrop—I merely liked hearing the sounds of a dad being a good dad, getting his kids to bed.
When he reemerged, he headed straight for the couch. He shrugged out of his kutte, folding it over a cushion before he sat as close to me as possible. I smiled at him, and he wrapped his arm around me, resting his hand on my hip.
“Hi,” I murmured, hardly above a whisper.
“Hey, gorgeous. You have fun tonight?”
My insides floated in elation at his moniker. I was convinced, hearing it would never get old.
“Yes. Thanks for having me over.”
“Won’t be the last time.”
It made me happy to hear him say it.
“Your house is amazing. And your kids are beautiful. Honestly. I understand what you mean now when you say,that’s just Axel being Ax,” I said through a smile, thinking of his little dare devil. “And Marlowe—she seems pretty intuitive.”
Jed hummed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. That’s my girl. Watchful, like a hawk, and very protective of me.”
“That’s adorable,” I replied. It was truly endearing to think his little girl loved him so much, she thought it her place to protect him—the massive man that he was—and not the other way around. “Do you think either of them might suspect you and I are more than friends?”
“Darlin’, I have no doubt. You’re too pretty and they’re not dumb.”
I grinned up at him, laughing softly, and he watched me all the while.
Jed moved his hand until it was cupped around my backside, then nudged me as he muttered, “Come ‘ere.”
My insides did that thing as I followed his lead, straddling his lap. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close, and my breath caught in excitement as I rested my hands atop his shoulders. Then, at the same time without a word spoken between us, we both leaned in for the kiss we’d been waiting for all night.
We started slow, savoring each other like a treat. But it wasn’t long before we were practically insatiable. I could feel him beneath me, hard and wanting, and my own desire was drenching my bodysuit. When he took hold of my hips and dragged me across his bulge, my breath caught as I buried my fingers in his hair.
“Jed,” I whispered.
“Can’t fuck you tonight,” he muttered against my lips.
“I know,” I breathed with a nod.
“Gotta take it slow with the kids.”
He pulled me across his length again, and my whole body shivered in response.
“I—I—I know,” I stammered, growing short of breath.
“Still wanna feel you.”
He didn’t have to guide me the third time.
I couldn’t have stopped my hips even if I tried.
“Papi?” I whispered, pressing my forehead against his.
My shorts were thin. His jeans were rough. And his bulge was not insignificant.
“Darlin’?”
“I’m—papi, I’m gonna come.”