Chapter 24

ANNA

I’m jolted awake by the sound of nurse Sarah entering the room.

“Good morning! I hate to disturb you, but breakfast has arrived,” she announces, holding a tray. I glance at the clock and see it’s only 7 a.m.

“Weren’t you on the late shift last night?” I ask, surprised. I sit up, remembering that she was here until ten last night. And now she’s back?

She nods in confirmation.

“And now you’re on the early shift?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, just this once. I’m covering for a coworker.”

“Okay. Just make sure you get some sleep after this.”

“I will. Don’t worry about me.”

I roll my eyes slightly. “I’m a mom, worrying is my full-time job,” I joke.

She places the tray on the table next to Olivia’s bed and exits the room. I glance over and see that James is still asleep.

Last night, the hospital staff told us that only one of us could stay overnight, but James wouldn’t hear of it. He argued with every nurse and doctor until they finally gave in.

That’s James for you. He’s a professional debater. They didn’t stand a chance. He just wanted to be with his daughter. And who could blame him?

I nudge him gently.

“James.”

“Mmmm,” he grumbles.

“Breakfast,” I tell him, pushing the blanket off me.

Yes, we shared a bed last night. We needed each other. We needed comfort after the day we’d had.

He ignores me, as he usually does when he first wakes up.

~This feels familiar~… I think, smiling.

I get out of bed and check on Olivia. She’s still asleep, clutching her stuffed ladybug. She’s holding the antenna to her nose, just like I used to do when I was little.

I gather my things and head to the bathroom.

~Everyone’s still asleep. Perfect time for a long, hot shower.~

~

I shed my pajamas and step into the hot water.

I let the water cascade over me. The pressure is just right, easing the tension in my shoulders and body. I start to wash my hair, and the sensation of my fingers running through my hair is soothing.

Suddenly, I feel a body behind me. He takes my hands from my hair and pulls me against his naked body. His muscular form feels so familiar against mine.

~God, he’s still so sexy.~

~

He massages my scalp, making me moan in pleasure. His touch has always had this effect on me.

“Let’s rinse this out,” he murmurs.

I comply and step back under the water. He tilts my head back and rinses my hair.

“Turn around,” he instructs. I do as he says, standing close to his body. He wraps his arms around me, leaving no room for escape.

“We’ll fight, no matter what the results are. We’ll get through this. We have to get through this, A. I can’t live without you. I did it once. I’m not doing it again.

“You and Olivia are my world. Promise me you’ll talk to me. Don’t push me away, stay with me. Promise me,” he pleads.

I look up into his serious eyes. “I promise.”

I stand on my toes and kiss him.

~I need him~…

I wrap my arms around him, deepening the kiss.

~And he needs me~…

He lifts me up and I instinctively wrap my legs around him. He presses me against the wall as our kisses become more passionate. He kisses my neck, making me moan.

He positions himself at my entrance, but he doesn’t enter me.

I look at him. “I love you,” I tell him, knowing that’s what he needs to hear.

“I love you too, so fucking much.”

With that, he enters me. And it’s not rushed. It’s slow. That’s when I realize, ~he’s making love to me.~ I smile at him.

“Love me,” I whisper.

His strokes are slow and tender. I throw my head back as he kisses my neck and breasts. His strokes become rougher, more desperate.

“It’s okay,” I reassure him.

“Sorry,” he apologizes, his breath shaky.

I shake my head.

~I love it when he’s both—gentle and rough~…

He sets me down and turns me around, pulling my ass up in the air with my face against the wall.

He enters me again, this time from behind. His strokes are rougher, just the way we both like it. He wants to make love to me, but he needs this even more.

“Fuck!” I hiss as he thrusts into me. He grabs my breasts and continues his rhythm.

“Jesus,” he groans. “Anna…,” he moans.

“Harder, James.”

He complies, slapping my ass and adjusting his hips so that he hits my G-spot with every thrust.

“O-oh...” My eyes roll back as he keeps thrusting.

“I need more, James,” I tell him, feeling that he’s close.

“How—much...more.?”

“Harder. Rougher.”

And then I hear the familiar pop of his mouth. I know what’s coming and I can’t wait to feel it again.

I feel the sting of a finger entering my ass.

“Shit,” I hiss under my breath.

“Like this?” he asks as he moves his finger in and out.

“Yeah.” I nod to no one in particular. “Shit.”

He keeps thrusting into me and I feel my walls tightening.

“A. I...can’t hold—” he hisses.

“Apologies, but—”

~I want him to feel masculine, as he says, but I need this release as much as he does.~

~

“Go ahead,” he instructs me, and I place one hand on my clit, rubbing myself with fervor.

“A little more.”

He thrusts hard, so hard, gripping my hips, hitting every nerve.

“Yes!”

~Damn. I’m climaxing.~

~

“I—”

“I can feel it.” He thrusts even harder and before we know it, we climax together.

I feel his cum inside me. I love that sensation.

He kisses my shoulder blades as he slowly withdraws from me.

“Now let’s get that shower,” he suggests with a smirk.

After our shower, I return to the room to find Olivia sitting up, gently rubbing her eyes.

“Mommy?”

“Hello, Lovebug. Did you sleep well?”

She nods. “Where’s Daddy?”

“In the bathroom. He’s brushing his teeth.”

“Oh!” I lower the rails of her bed so I can hug her. I lift her out of bed and carry her through the room.

I love how she clings to me, my little monkey.

~Her scent. God, I’m terrified of losing her.~

~

~Stop thinking like that!~ I scold myself.

“Daddy!” she squeals, raising her hands so he can take her from my arms.

“Princess!” he exclaims dramatically.

“Did you sleep well?” he asks her as he takes her from me.

“I’m hungry,” she declares.

I take this as my cue to prepare her a sandwich. They also left us some food for breakfast and a can of coffee.

“Milk?” I ask her, already knowing her answer.

“Yes, please.”

I pull a chair up beside her and give her my stern look.

“No playing.”

She nods, understanding exactly what I mean. She’d run around this entire room with her food in her hands if I didn’t say it. Which results in food everywhere. I hand her a sandwich as she sips her milk from the glass.

~I really need to get those supplies.~

~

We hear a knock on the door. We wonder who it could be—the nurses usually just knock and come right in.

“Yes?” James calls. Becca appears from behind the door.

“Bec?”

“Hi, honey. Some people are here, they say that you know them.”

“Oh. Okay…” She steps aside and I see Liz and Jim. I smile at them and look at Olivia who is still eating—well, making a mess with—her food.

“Pumpkin!” Jim exclaims dramatically as he always does, capturing Olivia’s attention and a big chocolatey smile. Olivia puts her food back on her plate and jumps from her chair.

“Uncle Jim!!” She runs toward him and leaps into his arms.

“Oh, I missed you,” he tells her. He picks her up and hugs her.

“So you do know each other,” Becca observes, taking a seat.

“Hey! I missed you too,” Liz says to Olivia in a disappointed tone.

“Lizzy,” she responds shyly.

“Come here, baby.” Liv hugs her before trying to wriggle to the ground.

She returns to the table and climbs into her chair. She picks up her sandwich and starts eating.

“I have your stuff in the car, sweetie,” Liz says.

“Everything?” I ask.

She nods. “And we closed up the house and asked the neighbors to keep a close eye on it.”

“Thank you.”

“Did you bring a sippy cup?” I ask her.

“Yeah, here. I brought her bag. I thought you could use it. We also brought her highchair and some of her stuff, like pajamas.”

“Thanks, you guys are lifesavers,” I tell them, pulling them into a hug.

“Anna?” Becca asks. “Jack is coming in an hour. He needed a run,” she says.

“What happened?” I ask.

She shakes her head and comes to me. “Nothing you need to worry about,” she says, kissing my head.

“So, who are they?” she eventually asks.

“Oh, right. Sorry,” I say.

“This is Uncle Jim and Aunt Liz. Jim is my professor and his wife Liz is my boss at the bakery. They’ve been there for me through the years. They’ve really helped me and Liv—they’re my family.”

Becca swallows and shakes their hands.

“And who are you?” Jim asks.

“I’m Anna’s birth mom,” she introduces herself.

“Wait. Birth mom?” he asks.

“Yeah, apparently I was adopted. This is Becca,” I say pointing at her.

“Oh God, how are you holding up?” Liz asks, shocked. She takes my head in her hands.

“Well, it was a dramatic day, but we got the answers. My parents sprung it on me like it was the most normal thing. Then I asked Becca who my dad is, and then I went there and met him.

“And after that, we had to come to the hospital. But all the drama aside, we did get the family history,” I say with a sigh.

“I got that from ‘I was adopted.’ But how are you holding up?” she asks me sternly.

“I’m fine. Jack and Becca haven’t left my side since. And James is here, so I’m good. We’re just waiting for some results now.”

“Okay, good. So who’s Jack?” she asks, trying to keep up.

“My real dad,” I tell her with a smile.

“A dad?”

I nod. “Yes! I’m actually happy about that part. I feel so accepted—I’m really happy. I’ve known Becca as my aunt my whole life, and we’ve made amends.

“I understand where she was coming from and I know now that she didn’t have a choice. As for my ‘parents,’ I hope I’ll never have to see them again.

“I’m telling you, we’ve got plenty on our plate already,” I say, my voice filled with a sense of pride.

“Honey, you won’t ever have to lay eyes on them,” Becca assures me, wrapping me in a comforting hug.

“Damn right, or we’ll blow a fuse,” Jack and James chime in simultaneously.

“Boys…”