Chapter 27

BECCA

I’m hot on Jack’s heels, still reeling from the fact that she—Anna—called me ~Mom~. Sure, I gave birth to her, but am I really worthy of that title yet?

~Don’t overthink it, Becca. Anna will adjust at her own pace. If she’s ready to call you Mom, then let her.~

~

I see Jack dart into the stairwell at the end of the pediatric wing.

“Perfect,” I mutter under my breath.

~Who in their right mind chooses stairs over an elevator?~

~

I make a sharp right and try to keep up.

“Jack!” I call out, trying to keep my breath steady as I bound up the stairs three at a time.

~Thank God for boot camp,~ I think, feeling the burn in my thighs.

I try to make it to an outdoor boot camp every other week. It’s a great way to stay in shape.

It’s a killer workout every time, but the reward of guilt-free pizza afterward makes it all worthwhile.

“Bec, not now,” he pleads, but I can’t let him wallow alone.

The moment I see his eyes, I know he’s hurting. I know what will happen if he keeps all this pain to himself. He needs me, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.

I’ve seen him like this before, and it’s not a pretty sight. It’s the same with Anna. They shut everyone out and retreat into a dark place where no one can reach them.

It’s heartbreaking to watch, and I’m determined to reach him before it’s too late.

“No,” I say firmly. I instantly regret my tone. He turns to me, his face a mask of misery. He doesn’t want me here, and I know what’s coming next.

~Anger.~

~

“I don’t want you here!” he yells, his voice echoing in the stairwell, hoping to scare me off.

Nice try, buddy. I know you too well.

I catch up to him, grab his arm, and pull him onto the hospital’s rooftop. Here, he can yell all he wants at me, but we won’t have an audience.

I may love drama, but I hate nosy onlookers.

“Go ahead,” I challenge him. “Yell at me, give me your worst,” I say, planting my feet and crossing my arms.

But he doesn’t yell. Instead, he surprises me by collapsing to the ground, burying his face in his hands, and crying. I don’t need to hear it to know.

I hang back, knowing he needs this moment. But I also know it won’t last long.

“My wife cheated on me with one of my best friends! Can you believe that shit?” he chokes out between sobs. I stand still, relieved he’s not lashing out at me.

~Just in time.~

~

“I’m so pissed at everyone. I can’t stand being in the same room with them. Do you have any idea how much they’ve hurt me? And I never said a word about it.

“I just filed for divorce, told her I couldn’t live with her lie about wanting kids,” he says, tears streaming down his face.

He’s rambling, but I’m relieved. Anything is better than his anger.

“I just can’t, Bec. I can’t. I won’t make it. They don’t even know that I know… Or maybe they wanted to hurt me even more. Do I really deserve this kind of pain?” he asks, looking me straight in the eye.

My heart shatters. He never deserved any of this. “No, of course not,” I tell him sincerely.

He looks at me, and I can’t hold back my tears. “You didn’t deserve any of this, Jack. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that pain.”

He looks at me, his sobs growing louder. I approach him slowly, hoping he’ll let me comfort him.

He doesn’t stop me. I kneel down and touch his knee, testing his reaction. When he doesn’t respond, I gently push his knees down so his legs are stretched out on the floor.

I straddle him, my legs on either side of his. I take his hands, which are covering his face, in mine. That’s when he finally realizes I’m there.

~We’re so close~…

I meet his gaze, and the intensity of our proximity hangs heavy in the air.

In that moment, all the pain from our past… It’s all forgotten.

“Bec,” he sobs, shaking his head.

I ignore his protest as I pull him into a hug. “Just let me hold you, Jack,” I whisper. I don’t want him to argue, so I hold him so tightly he can’t speak.

“Let me be there for you,” I say softly.

After a few seconds, his arms wrap around me and his sobs start to subside. I loosen my grip to check on him.

He looks up at me and smiles. The tension between us is palpable. I feel like we’ve resolved everything, but this sexual tension is going to be the death of me.

His deep brown eyes see right through me, and he smirks. I crave his lips on mine. I’ve missed those lips…

~Don’t give in, Rebecca. Don’t ruin this for Anna~…~”~ I tell myself, but his gaze is pulling me in, and I feel like I’m drowning.

~I need to get out of here~…~ Yeah, get out. That’s what I should do~…~

I try to stand, but he pulls me back down, drawing me against him. I curse myself as I give in.

I ease back down onto him, feeling the firmness of his arousal pressing against me. It’s been a while since I’ve been intimate with anyone, and this isn’t making it any easier.

I attempt to rise, but he holds me in place, right where his hardness is most noticeable.

A moan slips from my lips as he presses against me. Just that slight movement is enough to make me vocalize my pleasure.

His eyes widen in surprise as I let out another moan when he shifts. He doesn’t say anything, but I know I need to get up. I need to distance myself before things escalate.

I try to push myself off him, but he pulls me back down, eliciting the same response.

“We can’t,” I manage to say, my voice shaky.

“We can, Becca,” he insists. He tries to pull me back down, but I resist.

“I can’t do that to Anna,” I protest.

He dismisses my concern with a shake of his head and leans in to kiss me. My eyes go wide. He’s actually kissing me. His tongue invades my mouth and I’m lost. His kisses are my downfall, those passionate, ass-grabbing kisses.

“Jack,” I moan into his mouth.

I move against him as he continues to kiss me fervently. His hands roam my body, moving up to my breasts, squeezing, sending shivers of pleasure through me.

His tongue against mine, stirring a pool of desire within me.

“Jack!” I cry out as he adjusts his position, pressing his arousal against me even more.

“Sshh,” he hushes, grinding against me even harder.

I don’t care about the consequences. Right now, all I need is him and he needs me.

“Fuck, Bec,” he groans against my neck, kissing me with even more intensity.

I tug at his shirt, pulling it off to reveal the chiseled abs he usually keeps hidden. He’s incredibly attractive.

I tease his nipples with my mouth and he throws his head back in pleasure. I can’t help but smile against his chest.

He pushes me back and unfastens my belt. He unbuttons my jeans and slips a hand into my underwear. For a moment, I feel self-conscious—I hadn’t prepared for this. But then again, who would have?

I’ve been living like a celibate for so long.

He moves his hand lower, tracing circles around my clit with his finger.

“Shit,” I gasp.

He continues to stimulate me, his movements becoming faster and more intense. I can feel my climax building.

“O-oh… Shit!” I gasp.

I close my eyes, lost in the sensation.

“Fuck, I’m so close,” I cry out, my back arching.

Suddenly, he withdraws his hand from my panties and I whimper at the loss of contact.

“But…,” I start to protest, but he cuts me off.

“I’m not finished with you yet,” he says, a smirk playing on his lips.

He stands, pulling me up with him. He kneels down and removes my pants and underwear.

I feel a bit embarrassed standing half-naked in front of him. I avert my gaze.

“Don’t be shy. I wasn’t expecting this either,” he reassures me.

Now it’s my turn to undress him. I’m eager to see his arousal again. I kneel down and take him in my mouth, sucking hard.

“Shit!” he exclaims in pleasure. I taste his pre-cum, and I don’t hold back. I take him in as deeply as I can, setting a rhythm that seems to satisfy him.

Suddenly, he pulls me off him and lifts me up against the wall next to the exit door. I wrap my legs around him as he showers my neck with kisses, worshipping my body.

I feel him positioning himself at my entrance. As he finds the source of my wetness, he thrusts in, not giving me a chance to adjust to his size. He moves inside me, hard.

“Fuck!” I cry out—it’s almost painful. It’s been a while for me, and this isn’t gentle, loving sex…

He disregards my initial discomfort, which soon turns into moans of pleasure.

“Shit,” he hisses.

I can feel him throbbing inside me, signaling that he’s close.

“Go for it,” I encourage him. I can tell he’s been holding back, trying to make sure I climax before—or with—him, but I’m already on the edge.

My walls tighten around him.

“G-od! Jack!” I scream as I climax around him. As I do, I feel him release inside me, which almost triggers another orgasm.

I look at him as I catch my breath, and I can’t help but smile.

“All better now?”