Page 79

Willow

Despite my insistence that a trip to hospital absolutely wasn’t necessary, I was taken in the back of an ambulance and felt like the biggest waste of energy on the NHS when I walked out of the vehicle with just a slice to my belly.

But Jack insisted that he’d heard my head crack off the solid floor and wanted me checked for concussion and stomach cleaned properly.

I’d rolled my eyes and smirked, only to find his watery, pleading eyes and instantly relented.

I was so aware of the toll the past two months had placed on Jack, on our new relationship, and I wasn’t sure how I’d ever make it right.

I was ready to lean into our relationship while figuring out who I was in a way I’d never been able to achieve previously.

There was enough freedom in our relationship for us to be individuals and a unit.

It was unfamiliar and unexpected in the best of ways.

His commitment to myself and Fran was unwavering as he bounced between hospital beds, filling plastic cups of water or helping us to the bathroom whether we needed the help or not.

He made sure our favourite snacks were collected from the hospital shop by Mike, and laughed when Fran declared she could get used to such treatment.

“It’s the least you deserve,” he’d replied with a kiss to her head.

After an overnight stay, both cleaned up and deemed safe for discharge, Jack insisted we were to be checked over again, eventually having to be hauled out the hospital by Mike with me and Fran following sheepishly.

With police now cleared from the house, a new set of locks on the back door and Fran flat out in bed upstairs, I found myself in my favourite place in all the world – snuggled under the duvet, Angus squished between my head and the pillow in one of Jack’s T-shirts.

We’d been in the same place merely forty-eight hours prior, but it felt like I’d been away for a lifetime.

Every sense squealed with joy at being back where they belonged.

The soft pad of feet had my eyes opening. Jack casually exited the wardrobe wearing only white boxer briefs, joggers and a T-shirt in hand ready to change .

I couldn’t help myself, sitting up and taking him in like he was a tall, icy glass of water like I was in the longest drought of my life. Watching every muscle ripple as he nonchalantly moved, my lids became heavy with lust and awe.

This perfect man had picked me. He’d persevered through all the drama and stress, he’d committed to me in the darkest of times.

He’d told me so many times, but Jack Lambert loved me, he loved me fully and unequivocally.

It’s not that I’d never believed him when he mumbled the words as we made love or simply coexisted, and it was there in bucket-loads in every touch and gesture.

But it was now, now everything could settle, that I realised just how much he meant it.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I refocused on him, concern in his eyes as he stood watching me.

Leaving Angus on my pillow, I shuffled on my knees until I knelt before him at the foot of the bed, our eyes level.

“Willow?” His fingers gently skated across my hip bone. I pushed my palms up his chest and around his neck, pulling him closer.

“You love me,” I whispered.

He broke into a grin and brushed my cheek, his gaze getting lost in mine. “I do. I think I always have.”

“I love you, Jack. I know it hasn’t been perfect, I know I haven’t been perfect, but I promise I’m going to show up for us.

I’m going to show you how perfect this can be now the clouds have gone.

I’m going to prove to you why taking a chance on us will never be a regret.

You deserve so much love, lamb, and I want to be the one to give it all to you.

” A shuddering breath escaped him, as he tugged me closer.

“And do you know what the best thing is?” He shook his head.

“When Nana Jean asks how I am, I don’t have to lie anymore.

You loved me until I could love myself, and now it’s time for us to love us together. ”

He gulped and when he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t say anything, just let me love you.”

I tugged his lips to mine and said everything else I wanted to with our crashing lips and tangled tongues. Moans escaped me whilst his hands roamed from my hips to my back, pulling me into his growing groin. When I rubbed against him, he released a strained groan and pulled back.

“We can’t. I don’t want to hurt you.” He grazed the bandaging on my stomach over the T-shirt. My lamb, always taking care of others.

“I know. Let me take care of you.” His eyes hooded and lips parted. I rubbed my hand over his hardened, clothed dick. His lids fluttered before he gripped my hand.

“You don’t have to, sweetheart.”

I nodded at him, confident. “I want to. ”

His hand shifted to my jaw, tugging me in for a punishing kiss.

Joined by our lips, I pressed my palms against him until he stepped back, and I could join him on the floor.

Kissing him rejuvenated me like nothing else, he pressed life into me with every touch, and I craved the chance to make him feel the same way.

I stepped away, holding eye contact with him and removing my tee, leaving me in seamless underwear to avoid my cut.

My hand in his, I bent my knees until they met the carpet.

I tugged him closer until my lips met with his thigh and my hands caressed up his toned, tanned legs.

Tugging gently at the waistband of his underwear, I pulled them slowly down his hips and thighs, down to the floor.

His impressive erection bobbed before me. I licked my lips and hummed appreciatively. There was nothing quite as delicious and knowing the effect I had on my guy . With a private smirk to myself, I gripped his shaft, offering a few soft pumps. His groans told me everything I needed to know.

I started gently. A loving kiss to the swollen head. A lick from the base to the tip, grazing my teeth along the length as I went. His shuddering breaths urged me on.

I took him in my mouth, pressing down until my nose met his pubic bone and his blunt head reached the back of my throat. Tears sprung as I breathed through my nose. Eventually I relented and slid my mouth up and down the soft skin of his cock, eliciting out of control grunts and moans.

“Oh, fuck. Wi—baby—fuck.”

His hand palmed the back of my head, not in pressure, only to touch me somehow , somewhere.

With one hand gripping his arse cheek – the right cheek with the Italian stamp – and the other delicately caressing his balls, I bobbed up and down his dick.

Every moan, every twitch of his finger tangled in my hair made me desperate for more. I sucked on the head, pumping his shaft quickly.

“Holy shit. You’re gonna make me come, baby.”

I groaned at the thought, shifting my hand from his arse to between my legs, rubbing my swollen clit in time with every pump of him.

“So beautiful.”

I opened my eyes to find Jack’s blissed out gaze on me. His praise had the powers to unravel me, and my fingers sped up against my clit as I pushed his cock down my throat, ignoring my screaming gag reflex.

We deserved this. He deserved this. My moans vibrated across his dick and his grip tightened in my hair.

“Baby, I’m gonna—fuck—”

With a final flick of my tongue over his head, I impaled myself on him.

I couldn’t control the fast orgasm that swept through me like a tsunami of love, promises and desire.

Jack’s body froze above me and with guttural groans he unleashed his release into the back of my throat with short thrusts until he was completely spent.

I swallowed every ounce, before popping off his cock and smiling up at him.

In seconds, he was at my level, crouching on the floor with me and kissing me whether I’d just had his cock against my lips or not.

“You’re so perfect. So, so fucking perfect.” He held my jaw, kissing every inch of my face. I smiled, closing my eyes and allowing myself to get lost in his love with a happy hum.

Eventually, Jack helped me up and into bed, tucking me up with Angus. We lay together in the darkness, touching each other everywhere we could, because we could. We could finally relax, and I had a feeling tonight would be the best sleep I’d ever had.

Just as sleep considered welcoming me in with open arms, Jack’s voice broke through the silence.

“Thank you for looking after our family.”

I hummed happily, stretching my arm over his middle and tugging his legs into mine.

“Family. I like the sound of that.”

He kissed my hairline, his hand brushing my shoulders.

“You’re our family now, baby. Whatever comes our way, I want it with you.”

I wanted to squeal at his promise.

His promises were never laced with failure, he gave as much as I needed. We were equal with our love, our hopes and wants with no hidden meanings or lies. It was a luxury I’d never take for granted.

Sleepily, I replied, “Mmmm, let’s get booking that sunny holiday then.”

He chuckled into my hair and grunted appreciatively.