Learning to Heal (31 page)

“I know. But I can’t help it.”

“Well why don’t we find a car and then instead of sitting down for lunch we grab a pizza and go home instead?”

I see her smile and watch as she relaxes. After looking at several vehicles she settles on a silver Chevy Tahoe z71. She says she’s going to put black and pink stripes down the center, and I promise not to hold it against her. I purchase a used, blue Dodge Ram four-door pickup. It has the space in the back for Fin and the power I’ve always wanted in a truck. Having this money is going to change our lives, but I’m not going to blow it. I’ve gone ahead and talked to Mom about moving into a better apartment or possibly a house. She’s still hesitant and says that the money is mine and not to spend it on her, but she’s sacrificed to provide for Grace and me all these years I want to help. After talking to her a bit more and mentioning how she should move closer to Finlee I think I’ve been able to convince her.

After signing the papers and taking the keys, we order a pizza and head home. We don’t see anyone around when we walk through the door, but then we hear her in the back. She’s singing a song that’s vaguely familiar but I don’t know where I’ve heard it. The nursery door is open a crack and we see them cuddled in the rocking chair before walking in.

“Hey, Gigi. We brought pizza.”

She looks up with her soft, grey eyes surrounded with laugh lines. The auburn hair surrounding her aged face isn’t common for someone else in their seventies. “Pizza? That’s one of my favorites. But, honey, I thought you two were going out to eat.”

“I couldn’t wait to get home.” Jazz walks in and kisses Gigi on the cheek before she takes Finlee in her arms. I love watching them together. The love I see shining through her sky blue eyes is something every child should see when they look at their mother. Finlee’s eyes are luckily going to be the same color as Jazz’s and not like Professor fuckhead. “I didn’t want to miss anything. Like what if she rolled over or something like that and I wasn’t here?”

I laugh at my crazy fiancée. “She’s too little to roll over. The only thing new she’ll be doing is working on another disgusting poop diaper. And maybe a new facial expression.”

“See? I don’t want to miss it. The faces she makes are so stinkin’ cute. I just want to eat her up.” She starts to talk in baby gibberish to Finlee. “Say ‘Daddy, Mommy can’t miss my new faces. I’m just too pretty.’”

“What about the poop diapers? Are you saying you don’t want to miss that too?” I ask, walking to stand beside her while she plays with Fin. I reach out and touch one of her chubby baby cheeks, and I’m still amazed how soft her skin is, just like her mommy.

“Believe it or not yes. But it’s your facial expressions I like then. When you see the surprise in her diaper you make the funniest face. It looks like a duck with a scrunched nose and puckered lips.” She imitates the face and looks ridiculous. I still kiss her puckered lips.

“Oh, I have seen that face. Mason, it is hilarious. And when you add the sound effects of gagging, that really tops it.” Gigi is laughing right along with Jazz. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fin started too.

“Well those sound effects aren’t fake. I’m actually gagging just from the look of it. Thank God it doesn’t stink. Then I’d be in real trouble.”

All of us walk into the living room and eat pizza while watching some of Jazz’s favorite reality television shows. Fin lies in her bouncer seat and lets the vibrations soothe her to sleep. when I feel my phone vibrate, I look and see it’s Chanda. I haven’t heard from her since I confronted her about the pictures. I’m surprised she’s calling after our heated argument.

She had told me that I looked upset and that was why she went to Jazz’s apartment to confront her. She noticed the door open and the Professor leaving. Even though it sounded innocent, I told her to stay out of my business and to stop with all the sexual insinuations she’d been throwing at me.

I debate on answering it or not and decide to let her leave a voicemail instead. I end up deleting it because I don’t need any of her drama. She probably wants another ride because some loser she picked up in a bar left her again. When will she learn?

Jazz takes our plates and walks in the kitchen. Afterward she comes over and lies on the couch beside me, placing her head on my lap. I let my fingers run through the golden strands. I don’t know what were watching, so I just concentrate on her breathing. Soon it evens out and I know she’s fallen to sleep.

“I’m going to head back to the hotel. I have a brunch date with your mom around ten and I don’t want to be late.” Gigi stands and starts to gather her things. She and Mom together tomorrow should be interesting. They haven’t seen each other since Dad left Mom. Gigi always thought we didn’t want anything to do with Dad or anyone in his family. I’m kind of worried for my mom because Gigi isn’t one to hold her tongue, but Mom made her own bed.

After she leaves I take Jazz in my arms and carry her to our room to lay her in our bed. Placing the covers over her small body, I kiss her lips. “I love you, baby.”

Me moving in just kind of happened. I never asked and she never asked, but I haven’t left. I guess I’ll get my things from the frat house and move them here later.

Staring at her relaxed features, I notice how innocent she looks. The lighting illuminates her long blonde hair as it’s strewn across the deep brown pillowcase. She mumbles something about pudding and rolls over, which ruins the angelic vision. Laughing, I walk back to Finlee who’s wide awake and making some really cute expressions while wiggling her tiny body.

“Hey, beautiful. You ready for a new diaper and some milk?” I pick her up and carry her on my shoulder back to her room.

After I’m done and heating some milk, my phone starts vibrating again. Looking down I see Chanda’s name pop up. Again. What the hell is her problem? I quickly deny the call and continue to get my girl ready for bed. A few minutes later I hear a knock on the door before yelling on the other side. “Shit!” I put Finlee in her crib and walk to the door, ready to blast whoever is on the other side. I pause at the sight of Chanda standing there with a busted lip and black eye.

“What the hell happened?”

She doesn’t look drunk or like she’s been out all night. In fact she’s in her work uniform. Her makeup is smeared and her hair is in disarray. Someone obviously beat the hell out of her.

“My dad. He was drunk and wanted all of the tips I made tonight.” I lead her inside and sit her at the dining room table before fixing her a bag of ice. She flinches when I put the ice pack on her eye. “Of course I didn’t make a lot tonight and he had a fit.” She crumbles before my eyes. “I’m sorry for bothering you so late, but I didn’t know where to go. Your mom is too close to him and I just wanted to get as far away from him as possible so I didn’t wake her.”

“You need to go to the police.” Looking up, Jazz walks in with rumpled hair and sleepy eyes. My heart stops for a second seeing her stand there. Is she going to be mad about Chanda being in here with me? Does she think something is going on between us? But her eyes reach mine and I know she doesn’t. She walks over and wraps her arms around my waist reassuringly. “You can’t let him get away with this. Nobody should have the right to treat anyone like that.”

“Oh what the hell do you know? You and your perfect fucking life with your perfect family.”

My back stiffens but Jazz steps forward before I can. “Listen here, Chanda. I’m sorry you got the shit beat out of you tonight, but this is my home and I won’t have you talk to me like that. I’m happy to help you in any way possible, but I will be shown respect and so will my family. And if I’m not, I’ll kick your ass myself.”

Chanda looks just as surprised as me with Jazz’s fierce words. I’ve heard some stories of her attitude when her feathers are ruffled, but I’ve never seen it with my own eyes.

Jazz ignores Chanda’s look of surprise and continues. “Now like I said before, you can get cleaned up and I’ll grab you some clothes, but I really think you should call the police and press charges. It’s your call.”

We wait in silence while Chanda battles with her decision. After a few minutes she decides to just forget the whole incident and go to bed. I know it’s her own flesh and blood, but getting beat like that isn’t right. I keep my mouth shut because I know it will only land on deaf ears.

The next morning I wake to Jazz feeding Finlee beside me. Looking at the clock I see it’s only five so I have a few hours to rest before class. “Mornin’, beautiful.” Stretching, I move closer to her warmth. “Sorry, I mean
beautifuls
.” Finlee looks to be asleep but every so often her sucking will start again.

“Mornin’ to you too, but I swear after she eats my ass is going back to sleep. This child has been stuck to my boobs all night.” She looks down at Finlee while I feel my dick stiffen from the sight and her words. “Thank God. She’s out.”

“She’s one lucky girl,” I whisper with envy as I watch Jazz walk out to put Fin back in her crib. I rub my palm over my length and hiss from how sensitive it is. Man, I hate jerking off, but until Jazz is fully healed, I’m riding solo. In a huff I lie down and cover my eyes with my arm. I hear the door shut and then feel the bed dip.

“Well, one of my babies is taken care of. Now it’s time for the other.” Her voice is husky and breathless. I see her looking at my tented boxers. Sitting up, I cover it. I don’t want her to think she has to do anything early. “Sorry.”

Her hands land on mine. “Don’t.” She brings her eyes to mine and scoots only and inch away from me. Her warmth mixed in with her scent has my dick getting harder. Add her lust filled eyes …  well then you’ve got me about to explode in my shorts.

“I’m going to go get—” I don’t finish because her mouth is on mine and I fall back into the pillows. A growl erupts when she sucks my tongue in her mouth. Before I can return the favor her lips are on my chin, my neck, and then she’s scraping my nipple.

“Geez, I have missed this.” She straddles my lap and I let out a noise I can’t describe. I think I purred or something.

“Fuck!” She thrusts her hips against my length and I feel every millimeter of movement. Even through her panties and my boxers I feel the shock waves grabbing my balls and running down my legs. “Dammit, baby. We got to stop!” God knows I don’t want to, but I don’t want to hurt her. I know the first time we actually have sex again it’s going to be rough and fast. I’ll do slow, maybe by the third or fourth round.

“Yes we can.” Her voice is muffled because she has yet to bring her face from my chest. “Be still. Let me do this for you.”

“Do what?”

She doesn’t answer. She looks at me through fallen strands of gold as she works her way down to my belly button. When she gets farther down to where my boxers meet my skin, her pink tongue licks from side to side. My breathing comes out in fast pants because I know her intentions.

She sits up and pushes her hair out of her face. “Lift your hips.” Like a robot, I do and her finger grabs the edge of my boxers gently before she forcefully moves in and rips my boxers down. My dick springs out like a flag waving in the air saying “I surrender.” And I do. I surrender to this beautiful girl that captured my heart with one look and threw the key away when she kissed me.

“You’re gorgeous.” Her eyes leave my length and stare into mine. Her words catch me off guard. No one has ever considered me anything other than cute, nobody but her.

Holding my stare, her hand comes up. She then sticks her index finger in her sweet, warm mouth and sucks it while showing me her pink tongue swirling around. The image of her doing that to me has my hips thrusting with need. “You like that?”

“Yes,” I say, growling. She smiles and instead of giving me what I want, she sucks each finger slowly and with care. Little minx. After a few minutes the torture is finally over. Or so I think. Just then she licks her palm up and down several times while my breathing causes our own personal concert. If I could fuck her I would, but since it’s still off limits, I ball my fist in the sheets before I grab her and impale her fragile body.

After her palm is wet, she lets is slowly wrap around my dick and again I thrust up. I’m desperate to ease this need. I watch as her head lowers, and then I feel her mouth encase my tip and slowly moves down. I’m so sensitive I know I won’t last long. When her tongue rubs my spot with just enough pressure, my body loses control. Reaching up, I grab two fistfuls of her hair while my dick fucks her mouth. Hell, maybe it’s her mouth fucking my dick. I can’t tell and she doesn’t let up, and the noises she’s making sound like she’s really enjoying it. In fact, she even sucks harder. When I’m close, but not ready for it to end, I feel her free hand join in and caresses my balls. After that I lose the battle.

“Holy shit.” The words leave my mouth right before I let go.

Breathless, I lie there stunned. Then I feel her body crawl up mine again and she lays her head on my chest. “I love you.” She kisses above my heart.

When I can finally speak, I tell her I love her too, but her breathing has evened out and she’s already asleep.