Page 30

Chapter 30

Jacob

T wo weeks later

Nothing like a team dinner to get two spit-up-covered, sleep-deprived parents out of the house on a Friday night.

The Chicago June weather is surprisingly cool as I wait for Gabi to emerge from our apartment building's lobby. I lean against the brick exterior, gazing up at the sky filled with stars and feeling a sense of peace wash over me.

I never thought I would be a father so soon, but now that Chiara is here, I can't imagine my life without her. Not to mention the woman who made all of this possible.

Gabi.

She's been nothing short of amazing as a mother.

As expected, we've had our moments of wanting to cry as much as Little Chiara has. But seeing the mother of my child hold our daughter in her arms and watching their bond grow stronger every day fills me with joy.

It’s a joy I'd never known was possible. It’s a family I never imagined having.

I turn as I hear the click of heels on the pavement, my eyes automatically finding Gabi's familiar figure. In a black dress that fits her womanly and now-fuller frame, she looks like a goddamned dream.

Her dark hair hanging in loose waves around her shoulders, she smiles at me, her emerald eyes lighting up in the dim streetlight. I let my gaze linger on her, feeling my heart swell with love and my pants swell with something else. Something that's been happening a lot lately.

Especially when Gabi reaches for me, her manicured hand resting across my slightly open dinner jacket as her green eyes lift to meet mine.

"Hey there, daddy," she purrs, in that low, husky voice that always sets me on fire. "Chiara's asleep. The baby nurse said she'll be down for the night."

I nod, feeling a sense of relief knowing that we can actually have some time to ourselves. As much as I love our daughter, it's been a whirlwind adjusting to parenthood and I miss having alone time with Gabi.

In the two weeks since we've been parents and I've been on leave from work, we've barely had a moment to ourselves. But for now, it's just us.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her close, breathing in the familiar scent of jasmine and vanilla. I can feel her smile against my chest as we stand there for a moment, just holding each other.

"You look beautiful," I murmur into her hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Thank you," she says softly, pulling back to look up at me with those mesmerizing eyes. "I feel like a cow most days, so I appreciate that."

"Huh. I've never seen a cow that made me think the things I am right now."

"And what kind of things would those be?"

"Things our doctor wouldn't approve of before your six-week check-up."

Gabi rolls her eyes but laughs, a sound that's like music to my ears. "You say that to me right before our fancy dinner with the team?"

"Hey, I can't help it if you look too damn good. Plus," I squeeze her closer to me, "we can always celebrate with the team some other time."

She smirks and leans in, whispering. "Um, I think your team coming back from a three-and-oh deficit to beat Seattle in the Western Conference finals is worth celebrating tonight."

I grin, feeling proud of my team and grateful for Gabi's endless support. "You're right. It definitely deserves a celebration. If one more teammate calls me, checking in to see if we're coming tonight, I'm going to use this dinner jacket to choke myself.”

"Well, let's go, then. I'm looking forward to showing you off and hopefully getting some alone time after the dinner."

"Really? You're not too tired or sore?"

"It's been two weeks. I think we can handle it."

We stand there for another moment, just gazing into each other's eyes before we both realize we should probably get going.

Wrapping an arm around Gabi's waist, I lead her toward the car that's waiting for us. As we settle into the backseat, I pull her close again. The warmth of her body against mine makes everything outside fade away, and the urge to tease her just a bit more takes over, anticipation building as I think about what's waiting for us inside the small space.

“I have a surprise for you,” I say, my voice low, letting the words hang in the air between us. Her eyes widen, and she bites her lip, clearly intrigued.

“What is it?”

“Something that would be a good time to play with...now that I know you're not too tired or sore." I pause, reaching for the bag that was tucked away. "Remember that little pink toy I found in your hotel room in New York?”

Her cheeks flush a delightful shade of pink as she covers her mouth with her hand. “You didn't..."

"I did. I thought it was fitting for our celebration tonight.”

As the car glides smoothly through the streets, I catch Gabi's curious glance in the dim light of the backseat. My heart beats a little faster as I reach for the control panel and press the button to raise the sound-proof divider, sealing us off from the world outside.

The muffled hum of the city fades away, leaving just the two of us cocooned in our own little bubble.

With a playful grin, I reach into the bag and pull out the pink toy, holding it up so she can see.

“Surprise,” I whisper.

Her eyes widen in shock, an adorable mix of surprise and excitement dancing in her gaze.

"Are you serious?" she breathes out, and I can't help but chuckle, watching as her cheeks grow even rosier.

“Absolutely. I figured tonight was the perfect occasion to enjoy a little…stroll down memory lane.”

The anticipation hangs thick in the air, igniting a spark between us as I lean in closer, the thrill of our private moment setting my pulse racing.

My heart is racing, a wild drumbeat that matches the electricity in the air around us.

I lean in closer, capturing Gabi's gaze with my own.

Bridging the gap between us with a fierce kiss, I can feel her trembling against me as she surrenders to the moment.

With a sly grin, I pull back slightly, holding up the toy once again.

"Ready to play?"

Gabi nods, leaning in, and suddenly, we collapse onto one another in a collision of lips.

Our kiss is hungry and urgent, igniting a fire that’s been simmering beneath the surface for far too goddamned long.

As our mouths move together, I feel the warmth radiating from her body, the softness of her skin beneath my fingertips.

In a moment of boldness, my fingers graze against her sensitive nipples, the light touch eliciting a soft gasp from her that makes my cock harden, turning to the texture of stone.

Every part of me loves how responsive Gabi is, how every slight brush ignites something deeper inside both of us.

With a teasing tug, I slip my hands under her black dress, finding the delicate fabric of her underwear. My heart skips a beat as I gently remove them, exposing her pretty pussy.

A flutter of excitement courses through me as I switch on the pink vibrator, its gentle hum sending a thrilling vibration through my fingers. Just as I'm about to bring it closer, my phone buzzes insistently on the seat, cutting through the electric tension between us.

I glance at the screen.

It’s just another one of my teammates checking in, probably wanting to know if we’re on our way to the dinner.

“Ignore it,” I whisper to Gabi, my gaze locked onto hers.

Gabi's breath hitches as I bring the pink vibrator closer, the soft hum teasing both of us with its promise. As I press it gently against her clit, I can feel her back arching, her body instinctively craving more.

“You like that, don’t you? That pretty pussy likes it, too, baby,” I murmur, my voice low and husky with desire. “Just a little taste of what I can do to you.”

I move it slowly, exploring her pussy’s slick, silky folds, each caress igniting a fire within her. “You’re so beautiful when you’re lost in pleasure,” I whisper, watching her face.

Every flutter of her lashes. Every soft moan escaping her lips.

“Fuck. You look gorgeous. You and that gorgeous pussy have ruined me, sweetheart.”

With the rhythm of the vibrator weaving a spell between us, I lose myself in the sight of Gabi’s pleasure, every shiver and gasp drawing me deeper into this intimate moment.

The way her body responds to each gentle pulse sends a thrill coursing through me, igniting a hunger I can't ignore. Just as I start to draw her closer to the edge, my phone rings again, its shrill sound cutting through the air.

“Ignore it, babe,” I remind her softly, my eyes never leaving her face, where pleasure is etched in every line.

But she glances at the phone, a slight stammer escaping. “D-d-do you want to answer it?”

Even amidst her desire, there’s a glimmer of concern for me, a mix of curiosity and commitment that only makes me crave her more.

“No,” I say, my voice low and steady, “I want nothing more than to keep fucking you.”

I press the vibrator firmly against her clit, and with that, I can feel her melt further into the sensation, a small smile breaking through her bliss as she nods, surrendering completely to the moment.

I focus entirely on Gabi, letting the world outside slip away as that relentless phone rings on.

“That’s right, baby. Focus on me. Focus on this.” I increase the intensity, driving the vibrator against her sweet spot with a deliberate pressure that makes her back arch even more. “Feel that? You’re so wet. So fucking gushy. You deserve to come. I want you to lose yourself in it.”

With every pulse, I watch her face transform, the way her bite slips away from her bottom lip reveals just how close she is.

“Can you taste it? That edge?”

I feel her heat rising, the way her breath quickens as her pussy grows wetter.

“Let go, baby. Just give in to it. Show me how much you want this.”

Her whimpers echo in my ears, mingling with the noise of the phone—a reminder of the outside world that I want to ignore.

“I don’t care about anything else," I breathe. "Just making you come.”

I see her eyes fluttering closed, caught in the crescendo of sensation, and I push her further.

“Come for me, Gabi. Let me take you so fucking high you forget everything.”

She lets go, each tremor sending shockwaves of ecstasy through her body. The ringing phone falls silent to me as I hold her close, immersed in the magic of her climax, and I feel my own desire peaking with hers.

I nearly come in my own pants. My dick is so damn hard it's almost numb.

I smile at the way her skin glows, the flush on her face, the slight flutter of her eyelids.

Gently pulling her dress back into place, my fingers brush against her soft skin.

It's a tender, intimate act that's both playful and protective, that reminds that the woman in front of me is holding my whole heart in her hand, even as her post-orgasmic breathing finally slows.

“You know, I think I'm owed another round of drinks after tonight’s performance,” I tease.

My heart races as I tuck her damp panties into my pocket. Gabi's green eyes widen, and I wink.

“Just a little souvenir for later.”

I kiss her swollen lips.

Just as I finish, the restaurant comes into view.

I glance at Gabi, still catching her breath, and lean in, whispering with a wink. “This was just the warm-up. Wait until after dinner tonight.” My grin widens, anticipation thrumming between us as we step out of the car and into the world.

As we step into the warm glow of the restaurant, a soft chatter drifts around us, a stark contrast to the intensity we just shared.

I can still feel the heat of Gabi's skin beneath my fingertips, the smell of her wetness on my skin.

Just as I start to revel in the anticipation of our dinner, I approach the hostess with a confident smile, ready to fulfill our promised night.

“Jacob Walker. And Gabriella De Luca for the Blades reservation,” I say.

But the moment her eyes scan the list, a frown etches itself onto her brow.

“I'm so sorry, Mr. Walker. I really am. But the Chicago Blades reservation was canceled tonight."

My bottom jaw drops. "Canceled? Tonight?"

"Yes. From what we can tell, the team relocated to another venue.”

Shit.

That explains all those calls flooding in earlier.

Glancing at Gabi's still-flushed beautiful l face, I lift my chin, taking her hand.

“Well, how about we find them, then? After all, the night is still young, and I wouldn’t want us to miss out on the fun.”

"Fun?" she chuckles. "We just had plenty of fun on our own." She steps closer, her lips brushing against my ear, sending heat shooting to my already-strained groin. "In fact, I'm sure we can have even more. How's about taking this party to a more private venue?"

I blow out a long breath. "Honestly? This is the first time I've had you all to myself these last few weeks. I thought you'd never ask."

With a seductive smile, she takes my hand and leads me out of the restaurant. Celebrating the Blades' entry into the championship series can wait.

Right now, with Gabi in my arms and our baby at home, I have all the trophies I'll ever need.