Page 13

Chapter Twelve

Jared

“Fuck me,” Savannah curses under her breath, a half-smile tugging at her lips as she stares down at the mess on her shirt. “Great. I’ll need to clean him up—and myself.”

She starts for the hallway, the baby still cradled in her arms, and I follow her without thinking. It’s not until she pushes open the door to a guest bedroom that I realize I’ve followed her…here.

She glances back, one brow raised, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she lays Noah gently on the bed and walks over to the bathroom.

A moment later, she comes back, a wet shirt in hand. Watching her bend over, dabbing carefully at Noah’s tiny face, her neckline dips a little too low, and…damn. It takes every ounce of self-control I’ve got to keep my focus on the kid and not where my eyes want to go.

The memory of her rosy nipples assaults me, and I have to shake my head to push the thought away.

She had smelled like Christmas cookies. She had shown me her Pinterest board with all her seasonal ideas on it.

She had made me feel things I hadn’t felt in…well…ever, actually.

“There we go. All clean.” She smiles at the baby, her face soft. “Think you can grab his onesie? It’s in the laundry room—I tossed it in the dryer earlier.”

“Yeah, sure.” I nod, not trusting my voice to stay steady as I turn to head out of the room. I’m back in record time with the onesie, watching her as she changes Noah with quick, gentle movements.

After wiping herself off, she lifts Noah, rocking him a little in her arms. Then she looks up, catching my gaze with a steady look. “Can I…ask you something?”

Her voice is soft, almost hesitant, but she’s giving me that curious look she always does. “Feel free not to answer if it’s…too personal.”

“Ask away.” I shrug. “I’m an open book.”

She shifts Noah in her arms, looking back at me with a small smile. “What’s the deal with Jamie and Troy? I mean, why would a baby be left for…two guys?”

My mouth goes dry. I try to keep my expression blank, but the heat creeping up my neck probably gives me away. “Uh…not sure if I’m really the guy to be answering this one.”

She lets out a short laugh. “C’mon, Jared. You’ve seen me naked. Besides, Troy’s my boss. I’m not about to ask him that.” She gives me a pointed look. “Just tell me.”

I laugh, scratching the back of my head. “All right, all right, you got me there.” I sigh, then glance back at her. “They’re…non-monogamous, I guess you could say. They share their women.”

She blinks at me, surprised, before whispering, “Like Millie?”

I nod. “Yep. Like Millie.” I pause, glancing away. “My sister too, actually.”

She lets out a low whistle, taking that in. “Wow.”

There’s a pause, but then she looks at me again, more curious than before. “And is that something you’d…be interested in?”

I grin, trying to keep it casual. “Me? I mean, I like to think I’m open-minded, but I haven’t gone down that road yet.”

“Would you?” Her cheeks turn pink as soon as the words are out.

I give her a shrug and a slow smile. “Maybe. Right person comes along, never know.”

She bites her lip, glancing down at Noah as if she hadn’t just asked me if I’d be open to…that. But she nods, her face turning a deeper shade of pink, like she’s actually imagining it, too.

I chuckle, amused. “What about you?”

She looks back up, giving me a shy smile. “I don’t know. Maybe. Probably.” She laughs, trying to play it off, and I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips.

“Fair enough.”

Noah’s settled down by now, his tiny eyes closed and his face calm. Savannah glances between him and me, like she’s debating something. Then she speaks up, almost sheepish. “Would you…mind watching him for a minute? I should probably clean myself up after the whole…” she gestures to the spit-up stain on her shirt “Incident.”

“Yeah, no problem.” I reach out as she hands him over, feeling his little body nestle into my arms.

She gives me a quick nod, reaching for the waistband of her shorts. I turn, trying not to stare, but I catch a glimpse as she shimmies them down, revealing nothing but a black thong underneath.

My mouth goes dry, and I force myself to look at the wall. But when I turn back, she’s already wrapped herself in a towel, giving me a smirk over her shoulder.

“Be right back. Just…two minutes,” she says, disappearing into the bathroom, leaving me standing there with a fast-asleep baby and a heartbeat loud enough for her to hear through the door.

I shift Noah a little, trying to distract myself from the image burned into my brain, but I’m too wired to do anything but nod.

The door shuts, and I hear her humming softly in the bathroom, and, Jesus. My mind goes straight to her in there, imagining her hands, all soapy and slick, running over her skin. Over her breasts, her stomach…lower. That tight pink cunt.

I suck in a breath, fighting the tension building as I shift Noah in my arms. He’s starting to blow spit bubbles, his eyelids fluttering. His breathing’s soft, steady, and in a minute, he’ll be out cold. I lean over, placing him carefully on the bed, jangling my car keys to keep his attention on me until he’s fully asleep.

Just as his eyes close, I hear the bathroom door click open. There’s a waft of steam, and when I look up—there she is, wrapped in a towel, water dripping down her neck, tendrils of wet hair curling around her face.

“Hey,” she says, her voice low and quiet, almost a whisper.

“He’s asleep,” I murmur back, feeling my own voice drop.

“Good.” She shifts her weight, looking a little nervous, her fingers toying with the towel’s edge.

I loosen my tie, trying to release some of the heat coiling in my chest. “You okay?”

She nods but wipes at her face, pushing the towel higher over her chest. I watch her, barely moving.

“What…what are you doing?” Her voice is breathy, a little uncertain, but she doesn’t take her eyes off me.

I grab a clean towel from the dresser, holding it up. “Can I dry you off?”

Her gaze holds steady, but I can see the blush rising in her cheeks. “We…shouldn’t.” Her words say one thing, but the way she’s breathing says something else entirely.

“The baby’s asleep,” I tell her, taking a step closer, keeping my voice low. “Besides, I’ve already seen you naked, remember?”

She doesn’t say a word, just nods as I step closer. I lift the towel to her shoulder, letting it brush against her skin as I pat her dry, slow and steady. She sucks in a breath, her lips parting as she tilts her head back, giving me a better view of her neck.

I lean in, pressing a kiss just above her collarbone, and she lets out the softest moan. I pull back just a little, smirking. “Shh, don’t wanna wake Noah.”

She nods, biting her lip, her breathing going shallow as I continue, moving the towel down her arm, trailing it along her skin. I keep one hand on her jaw, lifting her face up as I lean closer until our lips are almost brushing.

She stares at me, her cheeks flushed. “I…didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“Same,” I mutter, and then I’m kissing her, one hand cupping her jaw as my other keeps working, patting her down, feeling her soft skin warm under my touch. Her hands find my shoulders, gripping tight as she presses up against me.

“Open your legs for me,” I whisper against her ear. “Gotta make sure you’re all dry. Don’t want you catching a cold.”

She lets out a shaky breath, nodding, and I slide the towel between her thighs, carefully, slowly. She whimpers, her eyes closing as I take my time, and I can feel her starting to tremble.

“Jared…” Her voice is a soft plea, and I can barely stand it.

I let the towel drop, my hand slipping between her legs, replacing it with my fingers. I brush over her, and she’s warm, so warm, and the small noises she makes—damn, it’s enough to drive me insane.

“I missed this,” I murmur, watching her as she leans into my hand, her fingers tangling in my hair.

She nods, her mouth slightly open, her breaths coming faster. “Me too…”

Just as she whispers my name again, a low groan cuts through the air, and we both freeze, whipping our heads toward the door.

There, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, is Jamie, grinning like he just hit the jackpot. “Fuck, that’s hot.”

“Oh my God…” Savannah squeaks, her hands darting up to grab the towel and cover herself. She scrambles to wrap it around her, turning beet red.

I clear my throat, keeping my voice as steady as I can. “Didn’t hear you come in, man.”

Jamie laughs, shaking his head. “Clearly.” His gaze flicks from Savannah to me, then down to the bed where Noah is lying fast asleep. He smirks. “Wait a second. Whose baby is that? I know you’re a fast worker, Jared, but…”

I shake my head, smirking back. “Actually, that’s your kid.”

Jamie’s face drops, his smirk disappearing as he glances between us, suddenly looking as pale as a ghost. “What…what the hell are you talking about?”