Second Chance Baby (Crescent Cove #18)

Chapter 8

EIGHT

I had to be dreaming. This whole day had been a dream from the start and then to find out that we hadn’t ended up on the same shoot due to kismet or fate.

Instead, Bridget had orchestrated the whole damn thing.

And she hadn’t tried to fix my little on-purpose mistake. I hadn’t done the no condom thing with forethought.

Sex wasn’t at the front of my thoughts—or even in the background. I had probably made myself seem more saintly than I was, unintentionally.

I wasn’t going to be fitted for a halo anytime soon.

But it had been a damn long time since I’d been with someone. I didn’t even know when the last time was. Just that it had been a while. I definitely had used condoms with every woman I’d ever been with after our Carrington accident, but I didn’t carry them with me, hoping to get lucky.

Truth be told, I didn’t usually have penetrative sex. Usually, reciprocal oral was good enough for me.

No harm, no foul, no taking those sort of chances.

But with Bridget, it wasn’t a chance I didn’t want to risk. Maybe that made me a fool, but even if I’d had a condom, I might not have used it.

It was Bridget. Somehow.

But that also meant I had to lay every one of my cards on the table. “I don’t have protection in the house,” I told her. “I don’t need it.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I have been with women a few times over the years, but only once or twice was a condom involved and the woman brought it, not me.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Meaning there might be more little Travises around?”

“Definitely not. I usually suffice with oral, and good enough. I mean, I don’t just get BJs. Jesus, this is the most horrible conversation ever. If we don’t work this time, I’m gonna be a monk. For real. Habit or dress or whatever the uniform is called and all.”

“Think you swear too much to ever pull it off, but nice idea though.”

I gripped her chin. “Then I guess we gotta make this work, huh? You don’t want me to end up getting fired from working in a monastery, do you?”

Her lips twitched. “Hmm, now that you’ve got the image in my head, not so sure. I may have to take pictures for future bribery purposes.”

“You have a little evil in you.”

She shrugged, laughing. “Hey, think I’m overdue since there’s been no kind of oral in my life, mutual or otherwise.”

“I know I’m supposed to be an evolved male and maybe shed a few tears for your anemic sex life, but instead of that, I will commit to making up for lost time as much as you’d like.”

“Such a chivalrous man you are.” She tipped her forehead against mine, her eyes level with my own. “But I’m going to say we can skip the oral for a while unless you get tired of thrusting.”

My heart sped up, thinking she was saying more than the actual words.

“Yes, I am saying that.” Slowly, her lips curved. “But never know, might have already done it. If not, you’re welcome to keep trying. I am older now, so it might take more practice.”

“I’m older now too. So, yeah, more practice all around.” I glanced at the ceiling. “She’s asleep.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll go doublecheck?—”

“No, I can.” She reached out to interlock our fingers for a moment before she rose to go upstairs. “I think I’m overdue.”

My throat tightened. Those three words I’d once said so easily burned on my tongue. I didn’t want to wait. Hell, I would’ve proposed before we went to bed if I hadn’t wanted to give her the fairy tale. I hadn’t the first time around because I hadn’t known it was important.

Now I knew we both needed it.

Not because it only counted if there was bling and music and some over-the-top gesture, but because we were only going to do it once, and I didn’t want her to doubt for a second, she was my everything in every possible way. Just the way she was. I wanted her, not some mythical perfect woman who didn’t even exist.

For me, she was perfect, just as she’d been since we were teens. No one else existed as far as I was concerned.

So, she’d made some mistakes. Some big ones. So had I, starting with not making her understand that she couldn’t drive me away, no matter what. I’d stuck when it came to our daughter, and I’d stuck when it came to Bridget. What she clearly didn’t grasp was that she’d stuck with me too. She hadn’t wanted someone else, either. We were it for each other, and this time, we were going to make sure everyone else knew that too.

Sometimes, when you were lucky, you got second chances. And we were going to make the fucking most of ours.

I glanced around me at the half-eaten snacks and the tossed aside throws and cushions hanging off the couch.

Nope, this scene would not do at all. Not for our reunion.

I jogged upstairs and rushed into my bedroom, seeing it through new eyes. How long had it been since I’d changed those sheets? Too long, obviously. Luckily, I had clean ones in the laundry basket, but I hadn’t bothered to put them on the bed yet.

So, I’d do that now.

But before I’d do that, I’d sneak up to see my two girls together.

As silently as possible, I crept down the hall to peek into the open door of Carrington’s room. My fingers clamped around the doorjamb as I saw Bridget sitting on the edge of our daughter’s bed, gently feathering her fingers over Care Bear’s hair as she slept, barely touching her as if she almost didn’t believe she was real.

I got that feeling. I kept opening and closing my eyes as if I expected this vision in front of me to vanish if I didn’t keep checking. But no matter how many times I shut my eyes, when I opened them, they were still there.

When I couldn’t stay back any longer, I walked forward and joined Bridget, standing behind her and resting my hands on her shoulders. She leaned back against me, breathing hard as if she was on the verge of tears. And that wouldn’t do.

“No more crying,” I murmured, bending down to kiss the top of Bridget’s head. “Got it?”

“Yeah.” She sniffled and rose, nudging me toward the door. She grabbed my hand and tugged me down the hall, diverting her destination when she saw the light on in the master bedroom and the stripped bed with a pile of sheets stacked on the mattress. “What’s going on in here?”

“I haven’t changed my sheets in forever.”

“So?”

“That’s not going to do. Sorry.”

“Considering I was good with the sofa, I’d say it could do just fine. But since you got this far, easy enough to put the sheets on the mattress.” Before I could snatch them out of her hands, she started putting them on the bed, moving fast and efficiently. But then she stopped and put her hands on her hips in a perfect mimic of our daughter. “Actually, why don’t you get some music going? Something…subtle.”

Apparently, she could read what was on my mind. Not that I’d intended to put on something like Barry White.

Then I decided it would make her laugh, so it was actually the very best choice.

I went to my sound system and shuffled through different songs, starting with “Let’s Get It On,” by Marvin Gaye and ending with Barry’s “You’re the First, My Last, My Everything.”

When I turned, she was doubled over, laughing. And I joined in, laughing so hard that I tossed myself on the bed, wrinkling the fitted sheet she’d just pulled into place. She tossed the flat sheet over my head before she jumped on top of me, making me laugh so hard that there was probably no way we didn’t wake up Carrington.

“You are so Captain Obvious.”

“Like she knows that song?”

“Even if she doesn’t, it’s obviously meant for a specific purpose.”

“Oh, really? What purpose is that, exactly?”

“I’m not saying it. She’s a smart kid. You don’t think she can put 1 and 1 together?”

“I hope she can because I want the whole world to know, especially her.”

Bridget’s face softened before she tore open the first few buttons of my shirt and pressed her wet eyes against my skin. Then “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” started playing and her laughter was back. “Barry special?”

“Blame the system. I didn’t pick this one.” I shrugged, rising to lock the door, since I’d forgotten to do that. “Sorry, forgot to lock. I’m out of practice hiding sexual hijinks from my kid.”

“That’s okay.” I returned to the bed, and she cupped my cheek. “We can figure all of this out together, Trav.”

“We sure can, even if we end up at therapy.”

Her eyebrows lifted and briefly, I recounted how I’d confided in my mom when I was drunk and feeling stupid.

“Your parents are in therapy? But they’re basically perfect. If they need therapy, there is no hope for the rest of us.”

“Oh, yes, there is. There is so much hope for us, baby.” I lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips, one by one. “But this music definitely seems to fit.” I wrapped her in my arms before I rolled her beneath me, taking full advantage of my position to slant my mouth over hers.

She leaned up to shove her hand under my loosened shirt, scraping her nails down my back viciously enough to draw blood.

And to get the party started fast, since she knew exactly how I reacted to a little bite of pain.

The groan I released made her eyes flare wide as it was way louder than Barry’s current declarations. I’d put that music on loud too.

Her giggle made my cock jerk in my jeans and that only made her laugh harder. “Not sure we can do this,” she said in an undertone.

“Oh, believe me, we can. If you’ve already forgotten from earlier, allow me to demonstrate.” I reached down to untie her sneakers so she could kick them off and then I removed her socks, following up with her jeans. Then I swallowed hard as I drew the denim down her legs, my gaze zeroing in on the wet spot on her tiny yellow panties.

“Can I add those to my collection too?” I tugged the torn material from earlier out of my pocket and dropped it on her bare thigh.

“What, so I end up having to run around underwear-less?”

“Around me, that’s fine. Only problem is you’ll just have to stay here forever because I don’t like the idea of you cavorting about with a bare ass that anyone could see.”

“Then stop destroying my damn panties.”

“Stop being so fucking hot I turn into a damn horny animal.”

“I’m actually okay with that part of the plan.” She sat up and whipped her fuzzy sweater over her head, following up by undoing the clasp of the lacy bra barely keeping her perfect breasts contained.

Then that was gone too, tossed over her head to parts unknown while I stopped looking and started kissing the hell out of her from her lips down the long curve of her neck and onward to suck on one of her already hard, rosy pink nipples. She drove her hands into my hair, massaging my head and the back of my neck down to my shoulders as I kept right on going. I slipped my tongue into her bellybutton to tease her then continued to the gleaming spot on her panties that beckoned my mouth.

An instant later, the panties followed the rest of her clothes.

“Fuck, woman.” With just one heady inhale, I was lost to her once again, hungry to taste her directly from the source.

“I’ll be quick,” I promised. “Trust me, I can go all night.”

Her throaty laughter erupted as I tasted her, taking my time to explore every inch of her.

Quick was relative, right?

And I had a lot of time to make up for.

I sealed my lips around her swollen clit as my fingers learned her once again, sliding in and out to the rhythm her rocking hips set from the first exploratory stroke of my tongue. “I’ve missed this,” I murmured against her, imprinting my words on her soaked flesh. “I may never let you leave. I have handcuffs.”

“You do? For what?”

I had to laugh. “No, but that interest in your tone means I’ll be getting some. Maybe a couple pairs.” I gave her a wolfish smile. “I know a guy.”

“Only if you get a deadbolt for that door.” Her head whipped toward the left until I got busy flexing my fingers and creating what I hoped was just the right amount of friction inside her. She let out a muffled whimper, shoving her fist into her mouth as she grabbed a handful of my hair with her other hand, dragging my face against her now drenched pussy.

Fuck, she tasted too good. The past and present love and lust that never seemed to wane when it came to this woman slammed into me. I had to close my eyes as tightly as possible as I fisted my cock with my free hand.

Otherwise, this party would be over far faster than I intended.

Then I sidled up her body, shoving off my jeans without lifting up from her because I couldn’t wait. I needed more. Good thing she already loved me because this display wouldn’t impress her, that was for damn sure. I was far too urgent to keep a hold of myself. Far too consumed by her flavor in my throat.

Without asking her if she minded, I captured her mouth, sweeping my tongue against the seam of her lips until they parted for me. She made a low, desperate sound, lining herself up with me and then rolling so we switched positions, and she was on top.

Shamelessly, she lifted her hips, cupping her own breasts before stretching her arms behind her head and rolling her hips so smoothly to take me inside her.

Bare. As if we’d never been apart.

Watching her body undulate so naturally had me groaning. I couldn’t stop myself. Couldn’t even suppress the sounds I was making, knowing full well Barry and company weren’t going to completely hide them from my daughter’s ears.

Hopefully, she was sleeping so soundly to her white noise campfire sounds that nothing would reach her.

Please God.

Bridget was riding me so quickly that her sexy curves were just a pale blur over me. I wanted to memorize every detail, but I knew at this speed, she’d soon enough reach her second peak. So, I reached down between us, grunting at the slippery wetness between us that meant she was almost there.

And me fucking too.

I raised my legs so she could lean back against my knees as she rode me, circling her hips in a way that was so erotic I couldn’t watch her and not come. Fuck, even with my eyes closed, hearing the sounds of our bodies moving together had me fumbling for her clit. “Need to make it good for you. Can’t hold on.”

“It’s good. So good. Fuck, Travis.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

I had to watch her as she braced her hands on my belly so she could lift herself and slam herself back down, her pussy enveloping my cock with such suction that I swore my eyes were rolling back in my head.

Then she let out an aborted scream before she fumbled to kiss me while she came, letting her cries spill into my mouth as she squeezed me so fucking tightly that she dragged me along with her.

After, she sprawled on top of me, pressing her face against my throat. Her wild heartbeat was in perfect symphony with my own.

Though it took every ounce of my strength, I fisted my hand in her hair to lift her head for one dizzy second. “Never going without this again, you hear me? Not. Fucking. Ever.”

“Not. Fucking. Ever,” she whispered in agreement.

Through the tangled, damp ropes of her hair, I glimpsed her sleepy, satisfied blue eyes and sent up a thank you to whomever had made this happen again.

Whether it was the universe or a benevolent deity or my mom or hell, some unreal combination of all the above, I would never stop being eternally fucking grateful.

And then I breathed, “I love you,” even knowing from her soft noises that she’d fallen asleep.

I would say it again when she was awake. We would have all the time in the world to say it to each other this time.

I’d make sure of it.