Love Realized (The Real Love Series)

chapter TWENTY-ONE

The instant she woke up and felt the hard warmth of a male chest beneath her cheek, the flood of memories from the night before rushed in. Lying there quietly, she assessed whether he was awake or not. Steady deep breathing and a slight snore, along with the heavy weight of the arm that was holding her down against him confirmed that he was. Wow, I really slept with Jake Michaels…

Gently lifting her head, she peeked up at the strong lines of a distinctly masculine jaw slightly covered in beard stubble, the long eyelashes that lay on his cheek, covering up some of the most beautiful light brown eyes she had ever seen, the swoop of dark brown hair that laid across his forehead clearly tussled from their activities, and slightly parted lips that had been all over her body last night. She couldn’t stop the dreamy sigh that escaped her lips as she continued to gaze at him and recall what they had done together.

Needing to extricate herself from his hold since Mother Nature was calling, but not wanting to wake him yet, she reached back and grabbed his hand on her back to hold it in place. Once secured, she rolled over on top of his arm. Careful not to hurt his hand once she had his arm flush with the bed, she rolled one more time, which had on her stomach at the edge of the bed looking back at the sleeping form next to her. Yep, sure did, she thought.

Another sigh escaped as she continued to take him in. Damn, he was a gorgeous specimen. It’s no wonder she lost all semblance of control and practically climbed his body to get at him last night. She can’t even blame it on the alcohol, considering she’d only had two glasses of wine when she came home. Gently shifting to roll onto her back, she groaned inwardly as she laid her arm across her eyes trying to block out the reality of what she had done—how she had seriously complicated her already complicated life.

Glancing over at his profile once more before deciding that she needed to get up and shower, and try to gather her thoughts while not laying a foot away from a man she shouldn’t be trusted around. It was almost comical to think about how she couldn’t trust herself around him when he was one of the people she trusted most in this world. Carefully rolling out of bed, she silently padded over to the bathroom and gently shut the door behind her.

Okay, it was time to get her shit together. So she slept with Jake … big deal right? Well, yes, she knew it was a big deal; it’s just that things seemed a whole lot scarier the morning after. Then she groaned out loud at the thought of doing the ‘morning after thing’ with one of her best friends. That was so not a cool thought.

She took care of her business, cringing slightly when she thought the noise she made could have woken Jake up. Well, he was bound to wake up sooner or later, and she would have to deal with it then. She knew she couldn’t regret what happened last night; she just hoped that he didn’t regret it either. Even though she had only been with Logan before last night, she would have to say it was very satisfying. It was great. Okay, who was she kidding? It was freaking fantastic! Perfect.

She sighed again as she turned the shower on. Completely lost in her recollection of last night’s lovemaking, her body overheated at just the thought of what they did last night, she got in before it was warm enough and sucked in a breath at the shock of the cold water hitting her body. Standing back a bit to let it warm up, she took inventory of the aches and soreness her body was sporting this morning. Clearly Jake was a talented man and knew exactly what to do to a woman, which of course should serve as a reminder that Jake has had far more sexual partners than she did. Not that it was a stretch to have more partners than her, but it was slightly daunting to accept that she was probably not as satisfying for him as he was for her. The disappointment of that thought was more upsetting than she cared to admit.

Closing her eyes she let the soothing warmth of the water pound on her face and head, letting the pressure hit the tense muscles of her shoulders. Almost immediately, she felt some of her tension dissipate. That is, until she heard the distinct sound of someone relieving themselves in the toilet not three feet away from where she was. Instantly tensing, she kept her eyes closed as if she was the one intruding on someone when it was the other way around. It’s not like she hadn’t ever been in the bathroom when someone was using it; however, she was married to that man. This was Jake—someone she wasn’t on that level of comfort with yet. But apparently he was. She smiled to herself, but kept her eyes closed and stayed quiet. Almost like she was hiding from him … in the shower … with the water running. A small giggle escaped her at the ridiculousness of her thoughts. She was still smiling when she heard the shower door open and a strong, distinctly aroused male body pressed up against her from behind.

~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~

Jake curled his arms around her waist and gently pulled her tighter against him as he leaned down to kiss her wet shoulder. “What’s so funny in here?” he asked. She giggled more, which of course only made him harder for her. He continued to kiss and nibble on her shoulder as he moved up her neck while he waited for her to answer.

“Did you just pee in the same bathroom I was showering in?” she asked as her giggle turned into a small sigh while she tilted her head to the side, giving him more access to her neck.

God how hot was that, he thought. He couldn’t help the slight growl that escaped him as he moved one of his hands up the front of her body to cup her breasts. The pure predatory feeling that overcame him with her was slightly overwhelming. He had never felt like that with any other woman. But then again, he knew that was because this was the one woman he had always wanted.

“Yes, I did. Does that bother you or something? I would’ve thought that after what we did to each other last night, something as simple as taking a leak would be nothing. Be thankful I remembered to do it out there. I was in such a hurry to get in here and touch your wet, naked body that I almost forgot.”

“You’re right, I am glad you remembered, because I draw the line at you peeing on me, Jake Michaels! That would be crossing a line … every line.” She laughed a breathy laugh as she gave into what he was doing to her. He couldn’t get enough of her—he had to touch her. When he rolled over this morning and reached for her, a moment of panic and disappointment hit him before he realized that she was in the shower. But then he couldn’t get out of bed fast enough to get to her. Even though he had wanted to wake up with her in his arms, he would settle for an early morning shower with her.

“Exactly how I thought you would feel, my dear. Besides, I don’t need to pee on you … I’ve already left my mark on you … in you. My essence was left deep inside your body last night. Several times I might add. You are mine, Gillian.”

He felt her body tense slightly, and he knew that something was bothering her. He wasn’t going to let anything ruin this, so he was going to address it now. He turned her around in his arms, but kept her tight against his body so she couldn’t get away from him. Her head was down, and she wouldn’t look at him. “Hey, what’s wrong, baby?”

She took in a visibly deep breath before saying, “Nothing.” He knew was a lie. Maybe she was upset that they didn’t use protection. Shit, did he ruin this because he couldn’t be patient enough to get inside her body? But she said he didn’t need to use protection. Did she not feel as deeply for him as he did for her? Was she upset because he called her his? Before he could let panic engulf him, he took her chin in his hands and tilted her face up to look at his. “Tell me … please. I need to know what you’re thinking because I could go crazy just fearing what you might be thinking. Do you regret what happened between us last night?”

“No! Oh god, Jake, no! Not in any way do I regret being with you. It was … wonderful.” He relaxed slightly—that was good to know. Wonderful was a great description, he thought, as he mentally patted himself on the back for his performance. He could tell she was still tense, though, so he prodded further. “Then what is it? Is it because we didn’t use protection … because I promise you I am clean, and I know that you are, too.”

She softened a little bit and gave him a slight smile. “No, Jake, I know you would never put me at risk. I know you’re clean, and yes I am, too. And since I had my tubes tied when I had Dylan, there is no risk there for pregnancy.” He couldn’t help the slight bit of disappointment he felt at the thought of Gillian never being able to carry his child, but it was how things were. “It’s just that … I was worried about whether it was wonderful for you, too.” The last part of her statement came out very low as she lowered her face to his chest to hide it in obvious embarrassment. She didn’t think she pleased him? Did she really think he didn’t enjoy himself? Was she there? Well he would squash that asinine thought out for sure.

Once again tilting her face back up to look him in the eye, he made sure she made eye contact with him before he spoke to her, “Do you really have to wonder that, baby? Did you really not know how I felt last night?”

“Well, obviously you were satisfied … it’s just that, I know I lack in the sexual experience department—as far as partners go. And I was worried that maybe it wasn’t as good as it could’ve been for you because I know you have been with more people than me. And I don’t want …” He cut off her rambling statement when he slanted his mouth over hers. She didn’t think he enjoyed it … well, he would show her how fantastic it was between them.

With his mouth over hers, he felt her open to him, and his tongue plunged inside. She was his, and he was going to satisfy her and show her exactly how satisfied he was with her. He turned their bodies and pressed her up against the tiled wall. He felt her quick intake of breath as her heated body made contact with the cooler tiles. But it didn’t give him pause. The caveman in him had one mission and one mission only: take his woman, and make sure she knew he didn’t care how experienced she was because she was all he wanted. Almost breathless with his onslaught on her mouth, he moved to her cheek and jawline as he made his way down her neck. Her hands were on his neck, in his hair, almost guiding him where she wanted him.

Sliding his hands to her waist, he grabbed on and lifted her up the wall. On pure reflex, she held onto his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist as he lowered her body onto his. They both sighed at the feeling of her body wrapped tightly around his sex as he settled himself deep … deep inside her body. He tore his mouth away from her neck and looked at her. Her beautiful skin was flush, whether it was from the heat of the shower or the arousal he knew she was feeling, he didn’t know. He allowed his body to withdraw part way and then slowly thrust back in. The sigh she made, coupled with her half lidded stare and the simultaneous clench her sex made around his, was one of the most erotic things he had ever witnessed.

Now that he had her total undivided attention, he would put her mind at ease. “I think last night with you was more than wonderful, baby.” Pausing to kiss her softly on the lips, before he continued, “There is no word good enough to describe how it felt for me.” This time he kissed her on the tip of her nose, maintaining eye contact as he slowly withdrew and thrust again. “I’ve waited for well over a decade to feel the passion that I knew we could have together …” His kiss was on her forehead this time as he once again pulled himself from her body before slowly thrusting back in. He made sure she could feel every inch of his body entering hers. “It was more than I could have ever hoped for … and it is all I will ever need in this lifetime.” He punctuated his statement by claiming her mouth again and sliding his tongue against hers.

He felt her body respond once again when it tightened around him as her tongue dueled with his. The pure arousal he felt and the passion that ignited between them set him on the edge of losing all control. Again. She didn’t say anything in response to his words. She didn’t have to. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in her body’s response to him. She knew enough about him to realize that this was it for him, there was no turning back … she was his now. His always.

He pressed her hard into the wall and took up a steady pace of thrust and retreat that had them both climbing to the crescendo of bliss they wanted to reach. It just couldn’t get any better than this, he thought, as he felt the signs of her body going over the edge. Gillian’s head fell back against the wall and her body tightened around him as her orgasm began to take over. “Oh, God … Jake … Oh …”

Jake bent forward and pressed his mouth to space on her neck, just below her ear, and gently suckled her skin as he kept up his rhythm. He felt the grip of her hands in his hair as she held his head to her neck. He growled as she spurred him on with her response to him. God, he loved the feel of her hands on him. And the moment he sank his teeth into the skin of her neck, he felt her come undone. Gillian gasped and cried out as her body once again came apart in his arms. The sheer ecstasy of the moment pulled Jake under, too, as he listened to her cry out his name in release. That was when he realized that it could get better, because there was nothing more satisfying than hearing Gillian call out his name while he was pulsing deep inside of her body … absolutely nothing.

~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~

Gillian couldn’t get over how easy it was to be with Jake. Once she got past her concern that things would be too complicated, she was able to relax. They had known each other for so long and had always spent time together, that just being with him now felt like second nature to her. Only now, she was able to enjoy the benefits of his touch, and damn, that touch was fantastic. After Jake had her panting his name in the shower, they managed to untangle themselves and actually do what was necessary to get clean. He helped her wash her hair, which felt so great; she thought she could’ve fallen asleep on her feet. The way he caressed her body and tended to her was a little surreal, almost like she was being cherished … worshipped. The way he made her feel, and how comfortable she was with touching him, she realized how right all this felt. She knew this was definitely where she was supposed to be.

Standing in front of the mirror, in only a tank top and comfy shorts, she was brushing her teeth when Jake strolled in, looking delicious in only a pair of jeans. The mirror afforded her the ability to watch him as he pressed up against her, and his hands found her waist. She watched as he leaned down and reverently placed a kiss on the exposed skin of her shoulder and his hands snaked around her waist and just held her. He stayed like that for a few moments, inhaled deeply, and then lifted his head to meet her gaze in the mirror. Once again, she was surprised with how normal it felt to have him do that. None of it seemed awkward like she feared it would. It was as if the pieces just … fit.

He smiled at her and said, “You smell so good.” He buried his face in her hair that had just been dried and inhaled deeply again. “I just can’t take in enough of you.” She smiled at him as he looked back at her reflection, then she remembered she was brushing her teeth. She bent to spit in the sink and it pushed her bottom right into him, allowing her to feel his erection. After quickly rinsing and spitting again, she stood up and turned within the circle of his arms.

“You can’t possibly want more,” she said as her hands cupped his cheeks, and her hips pressed forward into his.

“Baby, I just told you, I can’t get enough of you. Your smell.” She felt his nose against her neck as he smelled her before he said, “Your taste.” And then his tongue warmed the skin there, which tickled, making her laugh a little then squirm in his arms. He pulled back and smiled at her, “Your laugh.”

“That’s very sweet, Jake.”

“It’s true, Gillian. Yes, I want more, I need more. I can’t get enough of your body, of your touch … I want it all.” He placed a kiss to her lips and slowly retreated, watching her as he did. He was waiting for her response.

There was only one thing to say to all of that, “I'm already yours, Jake.”

His smile was electrifying as he proceeded to pick her up so she had no choice but to wrap her legs around his waist. She had to giggle again as he began to carry her out of the bathroom. “I can walk, you know.”

“I like you better like this. I’ve decided this is my favorite position to have you in. Make sure you understand that means you will be in this position whenever I feel it appropriate or necessary,” he declared as he carried her out of her bedroom toward the front of the house.

“Um, Jake, you missed the bed,” she said in a playful tone that only had him grunting like a caveman in response.

“Must feed woman. Need food for energy. Jake have you again after.”

Her laughter at his antics couldn’t be contained at that point, and she leaned down to kiss him. As he placed her bottom on the cold kitchen counter, she squealed at the contact. “Oh my God, warn a girl before you do that.”

“I'm sorry, baby. Should we do something to create some friction that will allow your ass to warm up the counter top. I’ve got an idea of what might work.”

“I bet you do. But you’re the one who said ‘must feed woman,’ and now I'm hungry.”

Jake huffed a laugh then leaned in and kissed her again. “And what does my woman want?”

“What are you offering?” she asked.

He pressed up against her more firmly so she could feel his hardness again, “Oh you know what I'm offering babe.”

She was really enjoying the sexual banter they had going on, since they had never done that before, so she played along. Reaching down, she cupped him through his jeans, gave him a sultry look and replied, “Oh, I know what you’re offering.”

“F*ck. It feels so good to have you touching me.” He closed his eyes and groaned as he pressed into her hand more. “But if you keep doing that, I’m going to have you naked and bent over this counter in two seconds flat.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She had barely finished her sentence before she was flung over the top of Jake’s shoulder and presented with a perfect view of one very fine ass. Jake’s stride as he hurried back toward the bedroom while carrying her wasn’t slowed down a bit.

His hand gave her ass a smack, and she squeaked as he said, “You’re damn right it’s a bad thing, Gillian. People have a terrible habit of just showing up here and barging in. I’m not risking this sweet ass being seen by anybody else ever again. It’s mine.” Gillian wasn’t giggling anymore as she once again found her system flooding with arousal when Jake tossed her down on the bed. And breakfast was all but forgotten as Jake proceeded to show her exactly how much he wanted and needed her.