Zoey’s head swings in my direction and the first thing I see is her collapsed jaw.
I don’t speak and neither does she. She caught my fucking message. I can tell as my eyes descend to her engorged nipples. She follows my line of sight and when hers return to my face, mine stall before meeting them. I see her mask slip. I still affect her. All Zoey has to do is say the fucking word and I’ll be whatever she wants me to be...or do whatever she wants me to do. I don’t give a damn what she does with Bernard; he can’t fuck her the way that I can. I’ll make sure of it.
“Well...well...well, if it isn’t my favorite lady with...her son and...his dad.”
I glance up to find Bernard’s pseudo-cocky ass, standing in the doorframe, smirking smugly.
I say pseudo because his arrogance doesn’t drip naturally to me. It seems so contrived. I’ve always felt it’s what he feels he must offer to Stenton Rogers, the father of his girlfriend’s child. He’s one of billions that only see the ballplayer and not the man…a detrimental mistake for a man who’s proposing to govern the house my seed lives in.
Like that shit’ll ever happen.
Zoey jumps off the bed and nervously leaps over to him. His arrogant smile broadens as he takes her at the small of her back.
“Oh, what’s up, B,” Jordan murmurs noncommittally.
Bernard’s neck jerks back. I stifle my laugh. Zoey gasps.
“It’s Bernard,” Zoey lightly scolds. I notice her nipples are no longer taut under her man’s arm, under his touch.
“Yeah,” Jordan returns, his eyes still below on his toys.
A boy after my own heart. I’ve never kicked Bernard’s back in to JR. Real men never do. Let’s just say he can sense his Dad’s enemies.
“What’s wrong, young fellow?” Bernard perks up. “Your mom told you the news about us moving?”
“Moving?” Jordan and I croak out at the same time.
“Yeah. I can’t stay in another man’s place with my bride. We need our own space, to make room for our newly formed family,” Bernard proudly announces.
My chest tightens and I can feel my nose flare. Zoey’s eyes shoot to me. Her anxiousness is obvious.
“Well, that hasn’t been decided yet, Bernard. You just broached the topic last night.” Zoey runs her hand down his stomach onto his belly, causing my abs to flinch. I hope no one picked it up.
“I’m sure once you two come to an agreement, you’ll discuss it with me.” I look Zoey directly in the eye.
She nods emphatically. “Of course.”
“I’m tired, sweetheart,” Bernard prompts.
Zoey gasps nervously as she tosses a glance my way. “Well, it’s off to bed we go. It’s been a long day.” Her plastered smile is so contrived. Then her attention goes to Jordan. “You,” she calls out pointedly. “Make sure you brush your teeth thoroughly before turning in.”
“I know, Mommy,” Jordan whines.
“Goodnight, pumpkin,” she bids then waves to me before turning for the door.
Bernard gives a dramatic gaze after she leaves the room. Do you know that feeling of having the asshole who’s fucking the love of your life throw you a pompous glare? I do. I want to crack Bernard’s fucking face. But my hands are tied in more than one way.
“Goodnight, JR,” Bernard finally offers.
“Jordan,” my son calls out to him as his attention is still devoted to his wrestling men.
“P-Pardon?” Bernard stammers.
Jordan’s head rises from the bed and he looks directly at Bernard. “My name is Jordan. Only my family calls me JR.”
My unwilled smug grin appears. My fucking seed. Internally, I beg Bernard to try to check my son. I’d be two milliseconds on his ass.