Deadly obsession, p.25
Deadly Obsession, page 25
“You’re not making sense, baby,” he grunted. Christ, she was licking his neck. He walked back toward the back door, but made a right down a small hallway that had stairs leading to their apartment above the kitchen.
“You smell good,” she added, nuzzling further into him.
“Ella,” Jake warned.
“I told you I’m fine, Jake. I just got a little excited and lightheaded. Put me down.”
He lowered her to her feet and fished the keys out of his pocket to open the door. “I’m giving you a back rub and a foot massage and you’re going straight to bed.”
Ella continued looking at him like he was a piece of juicy steak, and he wanted nothing more than to throw her on the bed and slide right inside her, but dammit she must be tired on her feet. Jake took off his tuxedo jacket and tossed it on a chair.
She sighed and plopped down on the bed, kicking her shoes off. “It’s your fault.”
What the fuck? Did she hit her head?
“You’re not making any sense, Ella. Why do you keep on saying it’s my fault?”
“Remember, six weeks ago we were arguing about you wanting me to train another baker and I told you it’s too soon?”
“Yes.”
“You threw out my birth control pills.”
Jake’s breathing hitched, his heart thudded painfully. “Yes?”
“You said, and I quote, ‘Let’s make a baby; maybe that’ll force you to hire more people.’”
He rushed to her side and crouched in front of her. It took all his self-control not to shout exultantly like a madman. “Are you telling me—?”
She beamed at him. “I’m pregnant.”
*****
Ella would never forget the most wondrous expression and joy that lit Jake’s countenance. She caught the suspicion of tears in his eyes before his mouth captured hers in a deep, searing kiss that stole her breath away. Without letting go of her lips, he slowly shifted to the bed, sitting beside her before altering their positions so he was lying down with her on top of him. His hands caressed the sides of her thighs straddling him.
Ella disengaged their lips and pushed up to gaze down on him. “I guess that means you’re pleased.”
“No words, Ella,” Jake murmured, his voice thick. He reached up and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “You just make me so happy.” He traced her jaw with the back of his fingers. Then he turned serious. “Did you go see a doctor today?”
“I took three kinds of over-the-counter tests.” She crawled off his body and flopped on her back. “I’ll make an appointment after the holiday rush. I don’t think—”
Jake was suddenly looming over her, brows drawn together. “Make an appointment tomorrow.”
“Jake, it’s less than six weeks.”
He leaned in closer, expression unbending. “Make. The. Appointment. Do it, or I’ll do it for you.”
Used to her husband’s caveman tactics by now, Ella teased. “Oh, I suppose you’re going to drag me kicking and screaming to the doctor, too? It’s my body, Jake.”
“That’s my kid in there,” Jake shot back. His eyes turned wicked. “And correction, that body belongs to me. You vowed remember? When we got married?”
Ella giggled. “I’m pretty sure that’s not what our vows said.”
Her eyes drank in her husband’s handsome face. She loved him so much. They were happiest when they enjoyed the simple pleasures in life—dining at a cafe, soaking in the sun at the park, or making love all afternoon on a rainy day. He spoiled her with material things, but it was his steadfast love and devotion she treasured the most.
“Pinch me, Jake,” she whispered.
His gaze softened. She said this enough, especially the times when she couldn’t believe this wonderful man belonged to her.
“I sometimes think you’re just a dream,” she added. “A handsome prince who’s rescued me from my dungeon of horrors.”
“Hmm … I’ve got better ideas than pinching you.” Jake’s fingers dug into the waistband of her very ugly chef pants, pulling them off her. He stood up, and unbuttoned his dress shirt. She couldn’t help but admire the shifting muscles of his arms as he took it off. Then he moved to unbuckle his belt, lowering the zipper, and doffing his trousers. While her husband slowly stripped before her, Ella worked the covered buttons of her chef jacket, continuing to enjoy the display of man candy before her.
Jake planted a knee on the bed, leaning over and gently hooking his hands under her arms to move her further up the bed. Ella took the opportunity to hook her fingers behind the waistband of his boxer briefs, but Jake stilled her intent.
“Nuh-uh. I’m going to massage your back.”
“But I want this more.” She brushed her fingers over his growing erection, satisfied when he sucked in a breath.
“No can do, baby. As much as I love to sink inside you, we’re not having sex until we get the all-clear from the doctor.”
“What?” Ella exclaimed. “It’s safe to have sex when pregnant.”
“Not until the doctor says so.” Jake’s grin turned smug. “So make that appointment.”
She pouted.
He chuckled as he turned her over and started kneading the tired muscles of her back. The first knot he worked over gave her so much pleasure it jolted straight to her core. Having a massage given by one Jake Hopper certainly had its health benefits; it also had sensual ones.
“Oh, God,” she moaned as he rubbed another sore spot on her back. His breathing serrated as she felt him brush his erection lightly over the small of her back. Ella smiled into the pillow. Served him right for denying her. Soon, she was lost in a plane between pleasure and eroticism. She didn’t realize she was moaning steadily in what could be construed as sexual sounds.
“Ella,” Jake groaned by her ear. “I need to touch you, baby.”
“I’m not stopping you.”
Warm fingers trailed down her back, over her butt to settle between her legs, which she spread readily. They nudged the crotch of her panties aside and stroked her tender folds lazily, before pinching her clit.
“Fuck,” Jake muttered. “You’re so wet.”
His fingers worked her harder, rubbing circles around her opening.
“Harder, Jake,” Ella mewled, starting to squirm underneath him. He suddenly turned her over, spread her legs and kneeled between them.
“Touch yourself,” he ordered as he pulled his boxer briefs under his ass to release his cock. “Eyes on me, baby.”
Her man started jerking off, his heated gaze never leaving her face. His jaw was tense, a sure sign of his rapidly diminishing control.
Ella smiled as she slowly reached between her thighs and massaged her clit in tight little circles. Jake had done most of the work. She was about to come, but she knew patience was the key. Watching Jake masturbate before her while she did the same was erotically hot. Her release built, her clit pulsed, her back started to arch. Time to bring it home. She pressed her sensitized nub and rubbed hard.
“Fuck, damn . . . are you close, baby?” Jake’s strangled tone matched the anguish look on his face as he pumped his cock faster.
“Right there . . . with you. Oh!” Ella gasped. She closed her eyes, losing focus of Jake’s face as her body claimed its release. Jake yelled just as warm spurts of cum landed on her belly. Still throbbing between her legs, she opened her eyes to see Jake over her, one hand braced on her left side while the other continued milking his cock. The look of ecstasy on his face was enough to make her have a mini-orgasm.
She languidly stretched under her husband’s muscled form. Her eyes drooped, consciousness leaving her slowly. He started wiping his cum off her, but Ella didn’t care about the mess because she was sated in every way. She barely registered being tucked under the covers. Jake pressed a kiss to her forehead and before she could sink into blissful oblivion, he told her how much he loved her.
*****
Three years later
It was the first time Ella was wearing the diamond loop earrings Jake had given her for their third wedding anniversary. She told him time and again to stop giving her expensive gifts, but he wouldn’t listen. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate them, but running a pastry shop and taking care of a two-year old just didn’t leave much time for dressing up in fifty-thousand dollars’ worth of diamonds. Jake told her to start a tradition and give them to their daughter . . . except they had a son, Ethan Thomas Hopper. Her heart warmed at the thought of her baby boy.
She took one last look at her hair, makeup, and black halter dress, turning her head to look at the earrings once more. She had to admit her husband had good taste.
Jake said the company hired a popular local Latino band for the evening’s entertainment so she was putting on her dancing shoes. After strapping on pearlized ebony rhinestone heels, she walked to the kitchen to check on her family. Jake was sitting in front of a toddler’s high chair, feeding Ethan before they left for the company’s holiday party. He had on tuxedo pants and an undershirt. His jet-black hair, still damp from the shower, curled sexily under his ear. Their boy could be a handful at times. Food frequently ended up on the walls or the floor, but it seemed he behaved better when Jake was in charge of feeding. Now why is that? Ella sighed. She’d rather spend the evening with him and Ethan, just snuggling in front of the television. But this was the first time she’d be able to finally accompany him to the Steele Construction Christmas party given this busy time of the year. She had finally gotten her business at a point where she had reliable employees on staff. Jake’s unwavering support made her dream possible. She could damn well be there for her husband the same way he’d always been for her.
He glanced up when she entered the kitchen. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “You look . . . fucking . . . amazing.”
“Jake!” Ella reprimanded. “Language.”
“Sorry, baby.” Her husband grinned sheepishly, looking at their son who imitated his father in toddler-speak, thankfully, not including the curse word.
Jake chuckled as he watched his son spoon the last of the chicken and rice dish Ella prepared earlier into his eager mouth.
“That’s my boy,” Jake said proudly as Ethan chomped down on his meal.
“They’re like sponges at that age,” Ella added. “You need to watch what you say.”
“Relax. You can’t blame me for reverting to norm.” Jake stood up and kissed her cheek, seeing that she averted her head so he wouldn’t smear her newly applied lipstick. His warm breath tickled her ear. “Can’t wait to take this dress off you.”
Heat pooled in her core as anticipation grew in the pit of her stomach. After more than four years together, their desire for each other never faltered. Though the intensity would ebb and flow, the craving, the consuming need, the connection was ever-present, leaving no room to doubt their commitment to each other.
“Daddy, frooot!” Ethan tapped on his tray table with his spoon and reached out to point at the bowl of cut-up apples.
“Ethan is still hungry,” Jake murmured, sneakily squeezing her ass before returning to sit in front of their son.
“Wait a few minutes before you give it to him,” Ella instructed. Apples tend to upset his stomach soon after a meal.
“Hear that, little man?” Jake spoke to Ethan. “Mommy thinks you’re eating too much, but you’re just a growing boy.”
“Growing too fast,” Ella muttered. Their son was a spitting image of his father, both dark-haired with slate blue eyes, and at the rate he was growing, he would probably be as big. She watched her two favorite people in the world interact as father and son. Ethan looked up at his father with innocent adoration. Ella knew Jake would instill in their son the importance of tenacity, hard work, and fighting for a love you believed in, learning to nurture that love and keeping it alive. Because even if their physical desires had highs and lows, their love didn’t. It was a constant flame in her heart because Jake made sure to give that love what it needed.
The doorbell rang.
“That’s our babysitter,” Jake smirked. “You better get that, baby. Ethan’s a sticky mess and between the two of us, I think I’m the better casualty.”
Her lips tipped up in a smile. She bent to kiss the top of Ethan’s head and stepped out the kitchen. Thankful for the easy movement of her flouncy skirt, she descended the steps.
The doorbell rang again.
“Hold on. Jeez!” Ella grumbled.
Reaching the foyer, she swung the door open to reveal her dear best friend.
“You look ravishing, Ella,” Aron grinned as he curled his arms around her in a tight hug.
“Thanks!” Ella murmured. “And thanks for coming by on a short notice. Our nanny came down with the flu.”
They mounted the steps together, Ella slightly ahead.
“You know I love spending time with my godson,” Aron said. “And since I live in San Francisco now, you can call me anytime. I have lots of free time nowadays.”
Jake had come to terms with her friendship with Aron, and her friend had learned to become less touchy-feely with her. Jake and Aron would never become best buddies, but her husband had accepted Aron’s part in her life.
Aron had come out of hiding two years ago after the core members of The Guild were apprehended by the FBI. The three-hundred-year old organization had finally been shut down; its members scattered to the wind. Aron still had his farm in Napa Valley that he visited often although, like Ella, he had reliable employees who ran the place now. He was still single, and he seemed to be dating less.
“And I know what you’re thinking,” Aron said as they reached the top of the stairs. “No. I don’t have a woman. I have not found anyone who’ll put up with my shit.”
“Leave the poor man alone, Ella,” Jake said, standing up and plucking their son out of the high chair.
“I haven’t said anything!” Ella exclaimed.
“You don’t have to,” Aron said. “People like you do it all the time.”
“People like me?” Ella’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“Deliriously happy ones; makes me wanna throw up,” Aron replied, deadpan. “They want their friends to find their same kind of happy.” His tone turned serious as he glanced briefly at Jake and Ethan, his eyes returning to hers. “Well, I couldn’t be happier for you. You deserve it, sweetie.”
“Damn you, Aron,” Ella said, her throat clogging up. “Do not make me ruin my makeup.” She pressed the heel of her palms on the edge of her eyes.
“Language, Mommy,” Jake mimicked her earlier reprimand, breaking into the emotional moment.
The three of them burst out laughing. Ethan clapped enthusiastically and reached out to Aron. “Unca Ron!”
“This boy slept too much this afternoon,” Jake glanced accusingly at Ella while turning over their son to her best friend.
“Hey there, little man,” Aron said. “Don’t worry, we’ll watch TV and eat lots of buttered popcorn.”
“Oh, Lord,” Ella said, laughing a bit nervously. “Now I’m having second thoughts about this evening.”
“You, baby, are going to be the belle of the ball,” Jake declared, hooking her around the shoulders and dragging her to his side. “Now I better get ready before I change my mind and decide we need to christen the third floor.”
“Guys, really?” Aron mumbled. Looking at Ethan, he said. “Looks like a baby sister or brother won’t be far behind.”
*****
The lively music of the Latino band pounded rhythmically throughout the dance floor, shifting the holiday affair into full throttle. Bodies writhed to the pulsating beat of a popular salsa number.
Jake had this all planned out. He didn’t dance, and he knew Rick loathed to dance as well. But their wives did, and Anne actually called Jake and told him to hire someone else besides the regular string quartet that always graced their affairs. What did he know about this shit? There was usually a committee for this anyway. He knew one of his lead architects, Francis Cruz, lived in the Mission District and was very active in the arts and cultural community there, and thought a Latino theme would be great to highlight the diversity of the company. He put Cruz in charge of the holiday party committee. The man was also gay. During one of their chats, Francis told him he was bringing his boyfriend to the party, so Jake casually dropped a hint if Francis wouldn’t mind dancing with Anne and Ella since Jake would probably end up crushing her feet with his two left ones.
Francis ended up dancing with Anne, and Francis’s boyfriend, whose name escaped Jake right now, was dancing with Ella. Problem solved. He was sitting back with Rick as they looked on—Jake smugly— kicking back Scotch as their wives enjoyed themselves on the dance floor.
“Thanks for doing this,” Rick muttered into his drink. “Anne’s been taking dancing lessons at the country club, and I’m crazy about my wife, but I’m not crazy about twirling around dancing.”
Jake chuckled. “No problem, buddy. Are you guys staying in San Francisco over the weekend? You haven’t stopped by to see Ethan yet.”
“How’s that boy of yours?”
“Growing like a weed,” Jake muttered.
“Any plans for another one?”
“Hell yeah. Just waiting for Ella to get on board.” If he had his way, he would like two more kids. They had enough room in the house and there was something utterly sexy about Ella pregnant with his kid. The thought alone was sending blood south to his groin.
What sent blood shooting back to his head was when the music changed into fast heavy rhythmic beats and the dancing turned sensual. Ella’s partner was a fairly huge guy, maybe three inches shorter than Jake, and not as soft-mannered as Francis, which had raised warning bells in his head earlier. Jake leaned forward in his seat. His eyes squinted and he was wondering why the hell the man was looking at Ella like she was someone he’d like to fuck. Ella’s partner swung her out and then reeled her in, and Jake almost choked on his Scotch when the guy pulled Ella close and lifted her right leg to wrap it around his hip and then started to sway with her like he was fucking her.
