The Key West Anthology (54 page)

Chapter Twelve

Jude

It had been three days since I let my guard down. Three days with a whole lot of kissing and even more cold showers. It turned out that Zoey decided against her original punishment for me if she caught me kissing Callie and found it worked better if she took Callie to her room to play. Katelynn was loving every minute of it too, and Callie just thought it was the cutest thing. I, however, was still waiting for her to see the evil behind it all.

Jett finally stopped fighting me about coming back to work, and today was my second day. Callie was off, and I was back to my usual cranky self in the kitchen. I found I liked it better when she was here too, even though I would have never admitted that until now.

I was just walking back from my fifteen-minute break when Quinn rounded the corner in a panic and collided with me. I reached out to steady her. “Hey, you okay?”

“No.” She took in a deep breath. “Jett and Easton just left. They took my car to get the tires changed, and I need to get to the hospital.” She pushed past me, and I followed. “Kade called. Avery’s in labor. He said they took her in for an emergency C-section because the baby’s heart rate was dropping. I’m freaking out, and Jett won’t answer his phone. I can’t find his car keys anywhere.”

“You’re not driving like this, Quinn,” I said, and it only earned me one hell of a glare. “I’ll take you. Just let me tell Marco.”

I didn’t give her a chance to argue as I jogged off toward the kitchen and let Marco know what was happening. Tuesdays were slow, so I knew things would be fine without me. They had been fine for weeks anyway, so one more day wouldn’t matter.

Quinn was a nervous wreck, and her hands shook in her lap as we drove to the hospital in silence.

“Hey, everything is gonna be okay,” I assured her.

“I hope so,” she whispered.

After I parked the car, we hurried through the front doors. The numbers on the elevator seemed to tick past in slow motion, and I found myself growing agitated with each second.

When the doors opened, Quinn practically ran toward the waiting area. I jogged behind her and stopped when I saw Kade exit through a set of big blue doors with a gown over his clothes and a mask covering his mouth. His eyes were red, and the tears on his cheeks made my stomach hit the fucking floor.

Quinn covered her mouth with her hand, and a sob escaped her. I stepped up behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders, offering support.

“She’s perfect,” Kade whispered, and a huge wave of relief washed over me.

Quinn walked forward and wrapped herself around Kade. “They’re both okay?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Kade responded. “Avery was amazing, and our daughter…fuck, Quinn, she looks just like her momma.”

I found myself choking up with the news and started when someone touched my back. I spun around and came face-to-face with Callie. Instantly, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her against me.

“Are they okay?” she asked, her voice muffled against my chest.

I let go just enough so she could look up at me and smiled at my beautiful girl. “They’re good, baby, both of them,” I told her before I kissed her, not giving a shit about who witnessed it.

“Well, I guess babies bring everyone together,” Jett said as he stepped up behind Callie. “It’s about damn time you realized just how good she is for you,” he leaned in and whispered just so Callie and I could hear before walking past us to join his wife.

In no time at all, the waiting area was full of family and friends. We were allowed to go back in groups of two to congratulate Avery and meet their daughter, Willow. Watching Kade and seeing the love he had for his two girls made me hope more than I ever had that someday I could be just as happy as he was today. He lit up as he watched Avery hold their daughter close, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room when Kade took her into his arms. I could hardly believe that a year ago, he was in a worse place than I was. He never would have allowed himself to be happy. It took Avery to get him to pull his head out of his ass, and now they were amazing together.

Avery’s exhausted state was a sure sign she was in desperate need of rest. So after a few good-byes, I took Callie’s hand and led her toward the elevator, and the rest of the group followed closely behind us, all wearing matching smiles. A tense afternoon had led to a magical evening.

***

“I feel like all we do is hang out at my place. I owe you a night out or something,” I confessed as I stood just outside my front door with my arms wrapped around Callie’s waist, holding her close.

“Being here makes me happy, Jude. I love spending time with Kate and the kids. It’s perfect to me, really,” Callie said as she ran her hand soothingly over my back. She tilted her head back as she looked up at me with a smile on her face. “You all make me so happy.”

“But what if I’m tired of sharing you?” I pouted, and she giggled as she ran her hand around my side, over my abs, and up my chest. “Why are you laughing? I wasn’t joking.”

Every night she’d been at my place, she was so consumed by the kids I barely got time to share a few words with her. God love the two, but Zoey and Matthew were the ones hogging Callie, not me.

“What do you think we should do about that?” she asked. The humor in her voice from only seconds ago had disappeared.

“I say I sneak you in and you spend the night with me tonight,” I said as I slid my hand lower to cup her ass. “We can go in and visit for a while. But after they’re settled and ready for bed, you and I can have our own little sleepover.”

She bit her lower lip and gently nodded.

Bending my neck just enough so my lips met hers, I kissed her.

The sound of laughter just on the other side of the door caught our attention, and she smiled against my lips. “I guess we better get inside and relieve Mrs. Reames. I’m sure they’ve worn her out.”

Chapter Thirteen

Callie

“Will you braid my hair?” Zoey sat on the edge of Katelynn’s bed, looking up at her mom.

Kate looked exhausted and barely seemed able to keep her eyes open, yet she smiled down at her little girl and nodded.

Jude had taken Matthew to give him a bath, and I sat on the couch, watching the exchange between mother and daughter. A small lump formed in my stomach as I thought about the fact that a year from now, Zoey might not be able to have any more moments like this with her mother. None of us knew just how much time Katelynn had left. We just knew we had to treasure the days we had.

She was just finishing up Zoey’s braid when Matthew came running into the living room with a towel held to his front. Jude was close behind, trying to catch the little streaker. Matt had a devilish smirk on his face as Jude approached, holding his underwear. Watching Jude try to catch him and force him to get dressed was one of the funniest things I had ever seen. Zoey covered her eyes, and Katelynn laughed freely as Matthew darted left when Jude went right. I hid my own laughter behind my hand. Things that would normally get the kids in trouble didn’t mean much anymore. We all had much more important things to worry about now.

Matthew’s laughter filled the room as Jude scooped him up and threw him over his shoulder. His naked little butt wiggled around as he tried to break free. Jude walked back down the hallway, telling Matthew how important it was to keep his treasure hidden. The conversation left a big smile on my face.

“He is so good with him,” Katelynn said, and I turned back around to face her. Zoey was still sitting next to her as she focused on
Brave
, which was currently playing on television. “With both of them, actually. That thought alone has helped me with facing the inevitable. I know that with him, my kids will always be safe.”

I knew what she meant, but it still made my stomach ache with sadness. She would never get to see her children grow to be adults. There were so many things she would never witness. She had entrusted that Jude would make them into the caring, loving people she hoped they’d be. And Jude took that responsibility very seriously. This only made my feelings for him grow deeper. He was an amazing man, and now that he was allowing me in, he had wedged himself into my heart a little deeper.

“I’m so happy he finally faced his feelings for you,” Katelynn said with a smile. “You have no idea how many nights I sat in this very spot while he went on and on about the girl at work.”

Her words piqued my curiosity. “Oh really?”

“Yeah,” she continued. “He talked about you often, but whenever I would press him on how he felt about you, he would always act like you didn’t affect him, but I knew different. I could see the want in his eyes. His aggravation came from his need for control. I think he thought if he gave in to that temptation, he would only be taking away from us. He was so wrong about that. Being with you has only made him a better person here. I hated that he went without what he truly wanted for so long because of everything the kids and I brought to his plate.”

I knew what she meant. Over the last few weeks, I’d noticed Jude slowly relax. He smiled more lately, and every time I heard his laughter, I couldn’t help but get a warm feeling inside. His happiness was something we rarely got a glimpse of in the past, and it was long overdue.

Kate’s smile grew wider just before a strong hand gripped my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. I tilted my head back and looked up at Jude.

“What are you girls talking about in here?” he asked with a curious gleam in his eyes.

“We’ll never tell,” I said as he lowered his head and kissed the tip of my nose. The move was so unlike him, yet it gave me a sense of peace.

“Callie, will you read to us?” Zoey asked, and I shifted on the couch to face her. She held out a book as Matthew stepped up to her side, both of them looking back at me with hopeful anxiousness.

I took the book from her and tilted it so I could see the title. “
The Lorax
,” I said as I looked back up to take in their cute little faces. “I’ve never read this. Is it good?”

Matthew nodded before his mouth stretched in a big yawn.

“It’s one of our favorites. Uncle Jude reads it to us,” Zoey said proudly as she looked up over my shoulder at the man that still stood behind me.

“Do you two want to tell your mommy good night and I’ll take you to your room? Once we get you tucked in, I’ll start the story.”

They wasted no time. I sat on the couch watching the exchange of hugs and kisses they shared with their mother. It brought tears to my eyes immediately. Why did life have to be this unfair sometimes? And why would it choose to take such an amazing woman from her beautiful children? I could feel a lump forming deep in my throat, and I did my best to hide the effect their exchange was having on me. When they turned to face me, I forced a smile. “You ready?” I asked, and my voice cracked with emotion. The both nodded enthusiastically, and I stood up and walked around the couch. The two of them ran off ahead of me, and Jude hooked my waist with his arm as I attempted to pass him.

“You okay?” he asked as he observed me closely. I nodded, because frankly I was scared to speak. I was doing everything I could to tame the heartache that sat heavy on my chest. “You still plan on staying?”

I closed my eyes tightly and willed myself to gain some control. When I opened them once more, he was still watching me intensely. “Yes,” I whispered. “We have a sleepover planned.”

The side of his mouth tilted upward, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling in return. “I’m gonna get Kate settled, and then I’ll head your way.” He didn’t wait for me to speak or even to agree before he lowered his lips to mine in a gentle kiss, not caring that Katelynn was taking in our entire exchange.

I stepped back and walked down the narrow hallway toward the kids’ room. This night had turned into a whirlwind of emotions, and those feelings had yet to settle for me. Jude was making it hard for me not to burst. Yes, his sweetness gave me butterflies, but I was already raw from Katelynn’s exchange with the kids. I was teetering on the edge of emotional overload.

Chapter Fourteen

Jude

Kate fell asleep almost immediately after I got her settled in bed. She was exhausted and was already up past her normal bedtime. I’d noticed she was beginning to look more frail each day. I also knew I would have to hire someone to come in and help with her needs, because what I could offer was no longer enough.

Walking toward the kids’ room, I could hear the sweetness of Callie’s voice. I paused just outside the door, listening to her read and change her voice for each character. The kids would giggle when she did, and watching the three of them share this moment did something to me. Instantly, the reality of my life hit me hard, and my chest filled with intense love.

As I stepped into the doorway, Callie lifted her head and smiled at me before motioning for me to enter. Matthew’s eyes were sagging as he fought to stay awake, and Zoey was solely focused on the book Callie held.

As I sat in the empty spot at Zoey’s side, I reached out and curled my arm around her waist. It felt good having her in my arms. I had fought against my urge to have her for longer than I should, and now that I had given in, I had no intentions of holding back any longer. Life was too short to waste any more time.

I sat at her side as she continued to read the story, smiling as her face contorted with each sentence to mirror what each character felt. Callie wrinkling her nose and squinting as she shook her head was one of the cutest things to see.

When the story was done, she looked over her shoulder, and I followed her gaze. Just behind her, tucked securely within her big purple comforter was Zoey, lightly snoring. In the bed just opposite hers was a little arm sticking out from beneath a blue blanket, indicating that Matthew was in there somewhere.

“They’re both out,” I said as I leaned in closer to her ear. Pulling back just enough to look at me, she bit her lip and nodded in agreement. I freed her lip with my thumb before placing my lips against hers. A soft moan escaped her as I trailed my tongue over the seam. That moan alone had my cock twitching in anticipation.

“You ready for bed, sweet girl?” I asked, my lips only inches from hers.

“Yes,” she confessed, and I wasted no further time. Standing up from the floor, I held my hand out to her.

***

Callie was beautiful. I knew that already. But the sight of her lying in my bed, wearing only a pair of white, satin panties, was confirmation. She looked up at me with her lips barely parted, and I continued to take in her beauty. She was fucking perfect, and after tonight, there would be no doubt that she was mine. And I take care of what is mine.

“Why aren’t you over here?” she asked with a little pout.

Placing one knee on the bed, I began crawling toward her. “I was just taking you all in,” I told her as I parted her legs with my own and settled between them. “You’re beautiful, baby,” I whispered just before lowering my lips to hers.

She wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled me tighter against her. The heat of her body radiating straight through my boxers drove me wild. Thrusting my hips, I pressed my hardness against her, and she whimpered.

Callie wove her hand through my hair and fisted it aggressively. The pain was enticing, and it drove my undeniable need for her.

“I’ve wanted you for so long, it’s like I can’t control it,” she confessed, and I knew exactly what she meant, because I felt the same.

“I got you,” I assured her. “I’m gonna take care of you.”

As I began kissing down her neck, she arched upward and pressed her tits against me. The moment I wrapped my lips around her nipple and sucked, she moaned loudly. Lifting my head, I looked up at her as she panted. “You gotta keep quiet, Cal,” I told her, and she nodded. Testing her, I flipped my tongue over the hardened peak, and she gasped. I chuckled at her reaction and quickly continued my path down her stomach.

She was needy and showed her excitement as she lifted her hips. “You in a hurry?” I asked, and she nodded again.

“I want you so much,” she whispered.

I slid my fingers along her hips, hooked them beneath her panties, and began lowering them. The white material slid along her thighs and over her knees. As she lifted her legs to kick them the rest of the way off, I fought my laughter. She was serious about wanting this badly.

When she settled her hands at my waist, she hurriedly pushed my boxers lower. When they were on the floor along with her panties, she grabbed at me and tried to pull me closer. My cock slid against her arousal, sending chills over me as I fought the urge to fill her.

“I need to get a condom,” I said, but she shook her head.

“I’m clean, and I take the pill religiously, the same time every day. Please,” she begged.

“You trust me?” I asked.

She already knew I was clean. Hell, it had been a long time since I’d been with a woman. I barely had time for my responsibilities as it was.

“Yes, I do,” she replied and reached her hand between us. As she wrapped her fingers around my dick and stroked gently, I closed my eyes, taking in her touch.

When I felt her part herself with my cock, I wasted no further time. Her hand fell away and a loud moan ripped through her as I drove deep within her. I covered her mouth with mine to muffle her pleasure as she lifted her hips to take me in just a little deeper. I rotated my hips, rubbing against her sweet spot. Callie bit my lower lip, and I groaned in return, pulling back just enough to look down at her. She was fucking insane with need and felt incredible, but if we didn’t want to get interrupted by one of the kids, we had to keep this under control.

“Sh, baby. We gotta keep it down,” I told her. “Can you do that for me?”

She nodded and bit her lip, taking in slow, deep breaths through her nose.

I watched her eyes as I pulled back and then slid inside her heat again with ease. Her big, green eyes rolled back in pleasure, and in that moment I almost lost my shit. Fuck, she felt amazing as her pussy began to tense around me. “You feel so good, Callie. Fucking unbelievable.”

She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pulled me down closer. “I’ll be quiet, I promise,” she whispered. “Just move, Jude. Please, I need you so bad.” Biting her lips once more, she locked her eyes with mine. My heart swelled in my chest as I began to move at a steady pace. Her body accepted me, feeding off what I was giving her. And I knew in that moment that I would never be the same.

Callie was changing something inside me. She was giving me something I needed, yet had no idea just how much until then. She gave me hope that even in all the impending darkness of my life, there was still good. Callie was my light.