“Jayden,” I cried, feeling everything from elation to fear to hope to love. He locked eyes with me and whispered, “I’m right here, baby, let go.”
I looked him right in the eyes and countered, “I will if you will.” He saw my vulnerability then and made a promise. “I already have.” I nodded as he took my mouth again and I fell freely into a feeling of complete and total bliss, giving him everything. He took it and with one last thrust he moaned and grunted out his release, gripping my head and catching my eyes to make sure I saw his were vulnerable as well.
After we’d cleaned up with a quick shower, we lay silent, side by side, wordless, and stroking each other. I explored his chest as he plucked my damp hair away from my face, moving it away in a tender gesture. I was close to drifting off when he finally spoke.
“I want this to work, so I need to be honest with you.”
I froze my wandering hand and tucked it underneath my chin in silent urging for him to go on.
“I’ve always been the reason my relationships never worked. When I told you I have a tendency to be an asshole, it’s more than that, really.”
“How so?”
“Fuck, I hate this,” he groaned, anxiety clear in his features. I leaned in and kissed his lips until I felt him relax a little. He let out a long breath. “I have ADHD.”
“Okay,” I said, expecting more. “And that’s why you’re an asshole?” I was utterly confused. I knew plenty of people with ADHD. I didn’t understand the big deal.
He shook his head as if I hadn’t heard him. “It can be really hard on the women I date.”
And that was the moment I should have really listened to Jayden. Instead, I became distracted by his naked body.
“I can take you,” I said with a smile. He smiled back with a dazzling grin. “I hope so.”
“Jayden, tons of people have ADHD,” I said, leaning in to kiss the chest I had been coveting. I felt his breath come out into my hair as my lips drifted over his pecs, down his torso to the rapidly growing muscle between his legs.
“I just don’t want to screw this up,” he whispered as I stroked him beneath the sheet and he cupped my face, forcing me to look up at him. “I feel for you.” I let his words hit me and basked in them as I slid my body further down the bed.
“I’m about to make you feel a whole lot more.” I smiled before swallowing his thick length and hearing his appreciative moan. I relished in the feel of him, in his gentle hands as they massaged my back while I took him into my mouth, savoring his every whisper of appreciation as his touch spurred me on. When he lifted me from my happy chore, I stared up at him in question.
“I love what you are doing, but I need to feel you again,” he said, pulling me to his chest so I was lying on top of him. He kissed me deeply as his thick tip nudged my entrance. I attempted to lift my body but he protested, shifting me so I was half on, half off him. He looked down at me as he pushed inside. My eyes fluttered shut and I whispered his name like a prayer as he slowly pumped himself into me. The delicious friction had me on edge within minutes as he stared down at me.
“Feels so good,” I said as our heated gaze remained locked and the electric connection buzzed between us. It was undeniable and I wanted so much to express more about the way he made me feel, but knew it was way too soon. Jayden stilled me as I tried to move my hips to meet his thrusts and pulled my hair in his fist so my neck was exposed. He latched onto my throat, still filling me to the brink. I fought my release, intent on coming with him. He pulled away and began to push harder, deeper, as my moans matched his efforts.
“Let me hear you,” he said, sliding his hands underneath my arms and gripping my shoulders tightly so he was grinding into me. No longer able to hold back, I came with his name on my lips. I saw the effect of my orgasm as his hooded eyes slid shut before he turned me on my back, pushing my thighs farther apart and burying himself to the hilt. I gasped at the feeling as he lifted my leg, forcing himself in deeper as I struggled with my breathing, emotion rocking through me.
“Jayden,” I praised through trembling lips as he threw his head back and let go.
I picked up my phone with a “Hey, woman!”
“I miss you.” I smiled. It was Gerri. We had barely seen each other in the last month. I had been completely wrapped up in Jayden, and now that Gerri and I no longer worked together—not to mention Gerri and Mike had a budding relationship of their own—we barely saw each other. On days where Jayden wasn’t keeping me prisoner at his house with his amazing food, endless conversation, and immaculate body, I was helping my mother finally pack up my father’s belongings. She had taken great strides to start clearing out some of the clutter of thirty-six years of marriage. Some days she would pack up an entire room only to break down and unpack half of it, claiming she couldn’t part with it. I understood, remained patient, and even with the setbacks, we were making progress. This was hard for my mother, but it was healing for her, so I would do whatever it took to help her. I told her of Jayden and how I had hopelessly fallen for him in less than two short months of dating. She thought the news wonderful and was only short of demanding to meet him. We were still new and I wanted to wait a little longer, so I assured her I would bring him eventually.
Today I was in my father’s office packing the rest of his sports gear while my mother prepared Sunday brunch. I was thinking about the last few months and smiling to myself when Alexis walked in.
“Hey!” she said as she assessed the situation and immediately started helping.
“Hey back, sis. When did you get here?”
“About half an hour ago. I wanted to make sure you were close to finished before I came up and half-assed helped.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said, rolling my eyes as I packed some golf balls in bubble wrap. “Why even bother?”
“I want you to love me more than you love the others,” she spewed as I turned to look at her.
“You give me no choice,” I said with a smile. “How are you, Lex?”
“Good. Tired all the time. I’m getting burnt out.”
I looked at my sister. She was thirty-three, beautiful, rich, and one of the most successful lawyers in Columbia. She had started her own firm at the age of twenty-four, and on a wing and prayer in a world where you could throw a stone and hit a law firm, hers had grown large to her surprise. But it was no surprise to any of us. She had always been the queen of debating in our household.
“Aren’t you the boss? Can’t you take some time off when you need to?”
“Never,” she sighed heavily as she picked at her manicured nails. “But I’m thinking of cutting down on my case load and letting the younger hungrier lawyers work the ninety hour weeks. I’m over it.”
“You have nothing left to prove,” I pointed out as she held up a picture of Dad’s bowling team from the night they had won league. She stared at the picture and held it up for me. “Remember this night? He was so proud.”
“It feels wrong to get rid of that. We’d better ask Mom.” Alexis hesitated and then nodded in agreement as she put it down.
“I miss him so much,” she said on a whisper. “I even miss him bitching at me that I was going to be an old maid.”
“Well, his prediction came true,” I replied, poking at her.
Waving her hand in the air in a Z formation, she glared at me. “I get laid plenty, if I need someone to make me miserable I’ll get committed.”
“Is that how you see it?”
“Lots of years of practice,” she admonished. “I’m good, sis, really. You have the kids, I’ll take the vacations.”