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Content Warning:
⚠️ CW: discussion of past violence/death (non-graphic), references to domestic abuse (medical documentation, non-graphic), dark themes, morally grey characters. This chapter gets a little heavy — proceed with that in mind. 💔 Minors DNI.
A/N:
hi loves 🖤
okay so full transparency — this chapter hit different to write. we get some genuinely tender moments (Harper's laugh absolutely wrecking Maverick, "Just Jax," the kitchen scene that made ME emotional) but we also go to some dark places. this is a story about two men capable of real violence loving a woman who survived real violence, and chapter 2 doesn't flinch from either side of that. so heads up — it's heavy in spots.
also no, before anyone asks — this is NOT the kind of chapter where I'm gonna give you a rushed, disappointing scene and call it a day. cough unlike a certain HBO show that shall remain nameless cough — when we get there, it's gonna be earned and it's gonna be worth the wait. that's a promise.
as always, thank you for reading, reblogging, and being patient with me while I juggle roughly twenty different projects and a very demanding day job lmao. let me know what you think 🖤
Chapter 2
Later that evening…
There was only so much a girl could sleep and now she was bored.
Earlier, after Monica and the Moore brothers left, Jaxon had shown her to a spare bedroom in the apartment where she’d be staying for the next few days at least. He assured her he'd reach out to her boss and let him know she was injured and required a little time off. Harper wasn’t exactly sure why she was letting these two men just take control of her life like this, but honestly, it felt nice to just be taken care of for once. She’d spent the majority of the last few months just struggling to survive and make ends meet. It was kind of nice to just…exist. The part of her brain that sensed danger knew that there was some inherent danger in being near these two men. But not evil. Not cruelty. She didn’t feel like either of them would hurt her. In fact, she felt surprisingly safe in their home.
The room she’d been resting in was cozy for something she assumed was decorated by two thirty-something year old men. The sheets smelled fresh. The bed was incredibly comfortable. She crawled out of bed when her stomach growled loudly and she realized that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday before she’d left work. That’s how she'd ended up wandering through the oddly silent apartment, hoping she’d find the kitchen. It was a loft space with an open floor plan, except for a long hall where the bedrooms were. As she padded barefoot down the dimly lit hallway, the soft clicking of keyboard keys drew her attention and she walked that way. Blue white light spilled into the hallway from the open door on the left and she was pulled that direction. One of the twins sat in front of several monitors, fingers flying across the keys. As soon as her eyes landed on him, he froze, his head turning in profile as if he sensed her presence.
“Looking for something?”
“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to..”
He pressed a button and the screens all went dark, leaving them in just the soft ambient glow from the lamp on his desk. He stood, turning towards her completely.
Jaxon.
Harper instinctively took a small step back as Jaxon stepped closer to her, his large frame dwarfing hers. She looked up at him, her heart thundering in her chest.
"Are you ok? Is your head hurting?”
“No… I just.. I’m hungry.”
“Oh.”
Jaxon’s concerned face melted into something more like amusement.
“Ok. What would you like to eat?”
He turned and started to make his way towards the kitchen, glancing over his shoulder for her to follow. Harper took a deep breath and let herself follow him down the dark hallway. He led her into the kitchen, flipping on the lights before he made his way over to the refrigerator. She let her eyes drift over the broad planes of his back as he peered into the well stocked refrigerator. He was a large man, well over six feet and he dwarfed her smaller body. When he glanced at her over his shoulder, her heart jumped in response.
“Um… anything is fine really. I haven’t eaten since before work yesterday.”
“Before work?? That’s almost twenty hours ago.”
“It got busy. I didn’t really have time to sit and eat.”
The silence was loud as Jaxon began to bring things out of the fridge, sitting them neatly on the counter.
“Do you have any allergies?”
“No. I don’t like peanuts though.”
The corner of his mouth tilted up in a smirk as he quickly came up with a meal for their little houseguest.
“Do you like sweet potatoes?”
“I do…”
“How does a loaded sweet potato sound?”
“Sounds delicious…. You don’t have to go through all that trouble for me though. I can’t just grab a bowl of cereal or something.”
“You haven’t eaten in almost an entire day. You need something more than a bowl of cereal, doll.”
Harper leaned her hip against the counter, nibbling her full bottom lip. She couldn’t help the way her eyes drifted over him as he quickly washed and sliced some sweet potatoes and slid them into the oven. Both brothers were hard to read, but like earlier, she felt no actual fear. She was safe with them… maybe not from them though.
“Why don’t you get cleaned up and I’ll have dinner ready in a bit?”
Jaxon turned towards her, his eyes flicking to her face as he added ground beef to a skillet.
“I think Mav left you some clean clothes in your room. Should be about your size.”
Harper dropped her gaze a bit, something sad swirling in their depths before she could hide it from Jaxon. It made him wonder who hurt her and how quickly he could get his hands around their throat. He didn’t know where that feeling came from and wasn’t interested in figuring it out at the moment. The sound of her feet were soft as she headed down the hallway to the room they’d designated for her. Jaxon sighed, shaking his head as he stirred the ground beef, adding spices as it cooked. He still wasn't happy about her being in their home. But after calling in to her job to let them know she’d be out for a few days, he realized that Harper seemed to have no one. There hadn't been a single friend she'd asked them to notify and her boss hadn’t seemed overly too concerned. Jaxon could see why his twin was so intrigued by her.
Maverick had always loved broken little things.
His footsteps were silent, imperceptible to everyone except Jaxon. He felt his brother’s approach. When he turned away from the stove, Maverick was standing there, his face carefully blank of any expression.
“I know you’re upset with me.”
“I knew you weren’t going to leave her alone.”
“I tried.”
Jaxon crossed his arms across his broad chest, his eyes leveled on his brother.
“Lying to me never works, Mav.”
The muscles in Maverick’s jaw ticked.
“It’s not going to be like it was with Teresa. I wouldn't put us through something like that again.”
“You can’t possibly know that.”
“Harper isn’t like her. She’s good.”
The stubborn set of Maverick’s jaw told Jaxon all he needed to know. He sighed softly, shaking his head.
“Harper could be ours, Jaxon. You just have to give it a chance.”
Jaxon’s dark eyes flicked to the hallway, so quickly, Maverick almost missed it. Almost. The sudden stillness in Jaxon’s big body would have scared a normal person. But his brother knew, this was just him processing. Harper was a wrench thrown into their very structured lives and Maverick knew what he was asking his brother to risk. Not just his heart. But their safety. Their very way of living. Bringing a woman into their dynamic either made all the terrible shit they’d been through worth it… or it burned it all to the ground.
“How do you know she’d even be down to be shared? By brothers no less.”
For a brief moment, he let himself visualize it… Harper. Naked. Between the two of them. Owned by them both. Something inside him roared.
“I’ve seen how she looks at you.”
“How’s that make you feel?”
Maverick smirked, his eyes on his brother.
“Not jealous if that’s what you’re asking.”
Jaxon turned his attention back to dinner. Maverick didn’t push any further. Pushing never worked with Jaxon. It had to be his decision in order for it to work.
Her little footsteps were so light he almost missed them. Maverick stood, hands braced against the kitchen counter as Harper quietly padded back in, those dark eyes of hers searching the room. She was dressed in the clothes he’d picked out for her. Maverick almost smiled. His eyes drifted down to the hardened buds of her nipples, visible through the thin pajamas, and he found himself suddenly happy the counter between them blocked her view of the lower half of his body.
"You were talking about me.”
Maverick leveled his gaze on her face, not saying a word. That stubborn little tilt of her chin did something for him.
“I don’t want to be in anyone’s way. I appreciate your help… but if this is too complicated, I can go.”
The subtle shift in Jaxon’s shoulders caught Harper’s attention. He turned to face her, those eyes of his once again seeing far too much.
“Sit down, Harper. Dinner is almost ready.”
With one more glance between the two, she sat at the counter. Her belly chose that exact moment to growl loudly and she groaned with embarrassment. The pink tinge in her cheeks went all the way down to her neck. Before Harper had too much time to wallow in her embarrassment, there was a steaming sweet potato in front of her, topped with savory ground beef and enough cheese to drown in. It smelled INCREDIBLE.
“Dig in.”
Each man sat next to her, effectively bracketing her in as they dug into their meals. Things were quiet for a bit as they just ate and the silence was surprisingly comfortable to Harper. She found her gaze going from brother to brother, still slightly unable to believe that men this beautiful existed. Not beautiful in the classically handsome way. But striking. Those cat like eyes. Stunning bone structure. Full lips. Absolutely beautiful. Harper was also tickled with herself because she could easily tell the brothers apart. The different haircuts helped, but even if they’d been perfectly identical down to their haircuts and facial hair, she’d be able to clock Jaxon’s careful watching and Maverick’s tender gaze. Although she suspected he wasn’t… quite right in the head, she knew deep down in her bones that Maverick would never let anyone hurt her. And she knew Jaxon would be right there in his brother’s corner. She didn’t have to be so afraid anymore.
It was Maverick who noticed the way Harper slowed down, seemingly savoring the last few bites. She was doing that thing people did when they were still hungry but were too scared to ask for more.
“You can have more.”
Startled, Harper looked over at Maverick, who slowly turned his gaze fully onto her. His tone was one she was learning was just the way he spoke. Flat. Certain. As if he wasn’t telling her, but clarifying. Before she could open her mouth to speak again, he did.
“Jax only cooks like this when he's trying to impress someone.”
Beside her, the quiet twin’s shoulders stiffened. Maverick continued eating, completely unbothered. Jaxon shot his brother a look that very much read as annoyed big brother and Maverick’s look was that of an equally unbothered baby brother. Her laugh bubbled up from out of nowhere, sudden and warm and genuinely surprised. The sound filled the kitchen before she slapped a hand over her mouth to stop it. It was muscle memory.
Be quiet. Make yourself smaller. Invisible if possible.
Maverick looked over at her, his body going still again. Not like before. Not his usual watchful stillness she'd catalogued in the hours that she’d known him, that constant low frequency scanning of his surroundings that he was always doing. His beautiful eyes landed on her face and for the first time, he smiled at her. A real smile. A beautiful one. And it did something to her. She let out another little giggle and it made Maverick’s smile a bit bigger. Jaxon glanced over at them, his eyes meeting Maverick’s over her head. Jaxon had NEVER seen Maverick smile like that. Not even when they were kids. Without another word, he got up, taking her plate to the stove. When he brought it back to the table, she looked up at him with a grateful smile, her cheeks a little rosy.
“Thank you, Jaxon.”
“Just Jax is fine…”
Harper took a small bite, humming softly.
“Ok ‘Just Jax’.”
And just like that, she started to worm her way in. He didn’t like it. Not even a little. The way she was making him feel didn’t scare him. It unnerved him. And for a man like Jaxon Toussaint, a man with nerves of steel, that was dangerous.
He let his eyes drift over her as she began to eat again and he knew he was in trouble already. Her beauty had never been the problem. The attraction had been there from the moment he saw her. It was the need for her to be able to love them both. She couldn’t love one and tolerate the other. If this was going to work the way it did in Maverick’s imagination, her love and loyalty for both brothers had to be beyond question. Only time would tell. He wouldn’t push her… but he wouldn’t run either.
A few minutes later, both brothers had finished their dinner and began their normal cleanup of the kitchen. Maverick was on dish duty this time and Jaxon packaged up the leftovers. Harper got up to help and Jaxon’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline when she silently stood by Maverick and began drying as he washed.
“You don’t have to…”
“I do,” she murmured softly. “I appreciate everything the both of you are doing for me…”
Once again, Maverick’s eyes met his brother’s and Jaxon swore he could feel the ice around his heart melting. Harper glanced around for a moment, holding the stack of plates in her hands.
“Top right cabinet,” Jaxon said softly as he began to put the leftovers in the fridge.
Maverick glanced over his shoulder at her as she made herself at home in their kitchen. Before she could catch him staring again, he turned back towards the sink, a little smile tugging at his lips. She returned to his side for the silverware and he found himself enjoying this small moment of domesticity. He’d never experienced something quite like this before. Jaxon found himself glancing over at her as she quietly sorted the forks, spoons and knives, silently noting how well she seemed to just... fit.
After sliding the silverware drawer shut, she turned to face them, leaning her hands against the counter.
“The man who attacked me…”
Each brother had an almost identical reaction to her soft voice filling their kitchen, asking the question they weren’t ready to answer. Harper could almost feel the exact moment both their eyes landed on her face.
“Is he going to be a problem?”
Jaxon’s eyes landed on Maverick’s face, letting him decide how much or how little to tell her. It hadn’t been his kill. But it was just as much his responsibility. The younger brother’s chin jutted out, his ocean eyes going from his brother’s face to Harper’s.
“I can promise you he won't be.”
Harper swallowed, raising her eyes to Maverick. He stared back at her unabashed, letting her see that he was unbothered by his declaration. He’d said it the way one rattled off a grocery list. Calm. Absolute. Harper held his gaze as her heart pounded in her chest.
He won't be…
Her mind was well aware that she should be horrified, but her heart was glad. For once, she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder in fear of a man. Maverick had handled it. She was safe. There was something in his eyes that clearly communicated to her that she'd never have to be afraid again as long as these two men existed. And that was a heady feeling. Maverick watched her face carefully. He needed to see how she'd react to knowing he'd killed a man for her because it wasn't a small thing to handle. For him, it was nothing. But for her, a woman with an empathetic heart, it could have been an impossible bridge to cross, to make peace with. She blinked once, slowly, before looking away. Jaxon watched the entire interaction, realizing right away that Harper's reaction signaled relief, not revulsion or fear. Perhaps... he'd been wrong about her after all. When her dark eyes flickered over to his, he found himself searching them for the disgust he'd been expecting and finding none. She certainly wasn't happy about knowing that a man was dead. But make no mistake, she wasn't sad about it.
Harper blinked slowly before her eyes fell away. This feeling was new. Hard to explain. Harder to understand. But she felt protected for the first time in forever. Safe. Someone cared enough to make sure he could never come for her again. To make sure she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life.
Jaxon had just torn his eyes away from her when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered without looking at the screen. Only one person would be calling him this late.
“How is she?”
“Evening, Monica… you can ask her yourself.”
Jaxon held his phone out to Harper.
“The good doctor wants to make sure we aren’t having our wicked way with you.”
Monica’s outraged sputtering had Jaxon chuckling quietly.
“I did NOT say that!”
Even Harper couldn’t resist a little smile as she took the phone and held it to her ear.
“Hello?”
Harper took a few steps away from the brothers as she began to speak with Monica. Jaxon's eyes found his twin's, silently communicating. Maverick made his way over to his brother, his eye flickering to Harper as she chatted with Monica. She was sitting at the bar, her eyes bright as she talked. Both brothers found that they quite liked that look in her eyes. Happy. Peaceful.
Jaxon leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms across his chest. Like his brother, he couldn't help the way his gaze gravitated to her, like the moon called to the oceans. His eyes soaked up her delicate features, letting himself just.... imagine. She looked like she belonged in their kitchen right now, sitting with a smile on her face as she leaned against the bar and talked. Jaxon let himself pretend for just a moment, that Maverick's hope was an actual possibility. That she could love the two of them in a way they both needed. Even with his attention focused on Harper, he could feel Maverick's eyes staring into the side of his face.
"I know."
Jaxon enjoyed his view a moment longer before turning his gaze to his younger brother.
"I know. "
"I'm actually going to head to bed now. They're taking great care of me... Mmmhmm. Ok. Good night, Monica. Thanks again for checking on me."
Harper hung up the phone with a little smile on her face. She felt like she was making a new girlfriend and it had been so long since she'd had that little bit of normalcy. When she looked back at the brothers, she was shocked to find them both already staring at her. The pulse at her throat beat a tiny bit harder and she swallowed, feeling her cheeks heat up. It was like being... stalked by lions in the Serengeti. It felt like she was prey. Those eyes saw everything. But instead of being terrified, Harper was intrigued. And more than a little turned on.
Deeply aware that they were watching her, she pushed herself away from the bar and walked back over to them, holding Jaxon's phone out to him. When he reached out to take it, he deliberately let his fingers brush against hers. He didn't miss the quick intake of breath, the way her body responded to his touch. And neither did Maverick. Jaxon pocketed the phone before clearing his throat softly.
"Goodnight, Harper... Sleep well."
"Thank you.. Good night, Jaxon."
Harper stepped back, her eyes flickering to Maverick before turning towards the hallway before she did something she wouldn't regret. When she glanced to her right, Maverick was just there, walking silently beside her. Neither of them said anything as they padded down the darkened hallway. Harper noticed that Maverick's feet made almost no sound. They stopped just outside the guest room door, the dim light from inside spilling out into the hallway. Harper stepped over the threshold, glancing back to see Maverick, still in the doorway.
"Good night, Maverick..."
"Goodnight, Harper. "
His eyes held hers for a beat and he almost smiled before pulling the door shut. He stood there for a second, just allowing himself to imagine. That she belonged here. That she would stay forever. That she was theirs. Just for a moment. His eyes fluttered shut and for a second, he could see it so vividly. Her life with them. Happy. Peaceful. Safe. It could all be so simple.
--
Maverick lingered for a moment outside her door, hand pressed to the wood like he could feel her through it. Maverick didn't move just yet. He let himself have this moment. One more second of the fantasy that sat warm and soft in his chest — Harper's sweet laugh in the kitchen, the two of them drying dishes next to one another like it was the most normal thing in the world... the way she said his name like it belonged to her now. And it did. She didn't know it yet. But it absolutely did.
He was a man who'd done horrible, violent things... and felt nothing about them. He'd ended the lives of men who deserved death and gone home and slept like a baby. But this woman? In his home. In his kitchen. In his safest space. That was the thing that actually made him feel something. It should have scared the shit out of him.
It didn't.
He pulled his hand back from the door and let his feet carry him toward the light.
The apartment was quiet in the particular way it got after midnight — settled, still, nothing moving but the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the building breathing around them. Maverick had always liked this hour. The hour when the version of the world that pretended to be safe finally admitted it wasn't, and the only people left awake were the ones who understood that truth better than most.
He reached the office doorway and stopped.
The bright blue-white light from Jaxon's many monitors led Maverick straight to his brother. Where he always was... monitoring.... tracking. Jaxon didn't move when Maverick came to stand in the doorway. Not in any way that would have registered to someone who didn't know him down to the marrow - his shoulders were still square, his hands were still flying across the keyboard, his spine still held that same military posture it always did. But Maverick knew his brother's stillness the way most men knew their own reflections. He'd catalogued every version of that stillness since before either brother had words for what they were. There was the particular stillness of Jaxon thinking. The stillness of Jaxon waiting to strike. The stillness of Jaxon deciding whether a risk was worth the reward.
And then there was this one.
This stillness promised a death that would not be quick.
Maverick's stomach dropped before his eyes even found the screen.
He'd seen this particular quiet exactly three times in his life. Once when they were boys, and once overseas, and once after Teresa's name had stopped being safe to say out loud in this apartment. Every single time, it had ended with someone no longer breathing. Every single time, the suffering had been devastating.
"Jax."
His brother didn't look up, but his hands stopped typing. "Come here."
Maverick crossed the room slow, the way he might approach a wounded animal or an unexploded charge — not because he feared what Jaxon might do, but because some part of him already understood he was walking toward something that couldn't be unseen once it was seen. He stopped behind his brother's chair, his eyes finding one of the monitors in front of him.
The first thing he registered was a medical chart. Radiology images. A forearm, pale against the dark backdrop of an X-ray, the bone inside it broken in a way Maverick recognized immediately even without the clinical language beneath it confirming what his gut already knew.
Spiral fracture, left radius. Mechanism of injury inconsistent with patient's reported account of accidental fall. Pattern consistent with rotational force applied to a fixed limb.
Maverick read it twice. His jaw locked on the second pass, his molars grinding together hard enough to ache.
Rotational force applied to a fixed limb.
He knew exactly what that meant. He'd broken bones that way himself, more times than he could count, always on men who deserved every ounce of what he gave them. He knew the specific angle it required. The way you had to hold someone still first — grip their wrist or their forearm, pin it, make sure they couldn't move with the force instead of against it — before you twisted. It wasn't an accident. Couldn't be. It wasn't even really anger, not in the animal, instinctive way Maverick understood anger. It was calculated. Deliberate. Someone had held Harper's arm still and twisted it on purpose, and somewhere in the world that man was still walking around like it hadn't happened at all.
Something dark and ugly reared its head and Maverick felt his stomach roll. Whoever this man was, the countdown till his death day had just started.
He scrolled — Jaxon let him, saying nothing, his hand still resting near the mouse but not moving to stop him — and found the next one. A concussion, documented months earlier at a different facility. And beneath that, further back, more entries. A pattern stretching back over a year, each visit a little more damning than the last, each one accompanied by an explanation that grew thinner and less believable with every repetition.
And then the last one.
Dated four days before Harper had disappeared from Los Angeles entirely.
Someone had finally cared enough to say it. Written it down in black and white, refused to pretend anymore, and days later Harper had run for her life with nothing but whatever she could carry.
Maverick's hands had curled into fists sometime during all of this without his permission. He forced them open, forced air into his lungs, forced himself to keep looking because looking away now felt like a betrayal of everything she'd survived to get here. On the one hand, he absolutely detested that she'd ever had to suffer that way. But it had led her directly to him. To Jaxon. And there was something twisted about that to Maverick.
"There's more," Jaxon said quietly.
He clicked, and the screen shifted — old social media, mostly deactivated now, but Jaxon had found cached versions, archived posts from a life Harper used to have. A life she shouldn't have had to run from. Maverick's chest tightened at a photo from years back, Harper laughing at something out of frame, her whole face open in a way he hadn't seen from her yet. Not guarded. Not careful. Just happy. Perfect. There was a photo of her at an animal shelter, sitting on the floor while a few puppies crawled in her lap as a larger dog laid lazily next to her. She looked so fucking happy.
Beneath that, a search history. Ordinary. Devastatingly ordinary. Hiking trails outside LA. A recipe for lemon bars. A dozen different links to puppies for adoption, saved and revisited more than once. Small, soft, hopeful things a woman had reached for in the middle of surviving something that was slowly killing her.
Jaxon clicked again, and the screen shifted to an archived version of an old profile — deactivated now, but the internet never fully let anything disappear if you knew where to look. And Jaxon always knew where to look. A relationship status, buried in the metadata of a post from three years prior, tagged to a name Maverick had never heard before.
Grant Calloway.
"That's him," Jaxon said, quiet and flat. "Took some digging. She scrubbed everything recent, but she wasn't careful enough three years ago."
Maverick had to look away from that one. It did something to him the medical charts hadn't quite managed — some quieter, more aching thing beneath the rage.
He looked at his brother instead.
Jaxon still hadn't moved. His eyes were fixed on the screen, but Maverick understood, with sudden and total clarity, that his brother wasn't really seeing pixels anymore. He was somewhere else entirely — building something behind those pale eyes, brick by brick, patient and precise and utterly without mercy. Maverick had seen this exact stillness only three times before in his life, and every single time it had ended with a body that took considerably longer than a bullet or a blade to stop breathing.
This wasn't going to be quick. This wasn't going to be merciful. It was going to hurt, every single moment, from beginning to end.
Maverick understood that the moment he looked at his brother's face and recognized, finally and completely, that Jaxon Toussaint had already decided precisely how Grant Calloway was going to die — and that whoever this man was, wherever he was hiding right now, he had absolutely no idea what was coming for him.
Maverick's hand settled on his brother's shoulder. Just that. No words needed.
Jaxon's jaw tightened beneath the weight of it, but he didn't look away from the screen.
"He's going to know exactly what he cost her," Jaxon said finally, voice low and even, stripped of every ounce of the composure Maverick had spent his whole life relying on. "Before it's over. He's going to know."
Maverick didn't argue. Didn't try to soften it, didn't offer some quieter version of justice.
He just nodded once, and let his brother keep building.
Warnings: Minors DNI. Language. Explicit sexual content. Pregnancy.
Word count: ~7.5k
Rebuilding my tag list, so please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed. Comments, likes and reblogs are very much appreciated. It's how us writers know you like what we're putting out. I love hearing y'all's thoughts.
Previous chapters | Masterlist
December 9, 2024
From the moment his eyes landed on her, he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. Clad in a silver crystal top that lovingly cradled her full breasts and black pants cinched in at the waist, she was the most beautiful woman there that night. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. It wasn’t until much later at the afterparty that he was able to even get next to her.
Jade Laurent.
The way she’d murmured her name to him had stoked a fire in his belly. And as they laughed and talked over whiskey neats and tequila shots, he fell harder and harder. Up close, she was even more stunning. Her dark eyes were bright, fringed with the blackest lashes he’d ever seen and when she leaned in close, the sweet scent of her perfume lingered around them. The first time her lips brushed his, he'd been lost.
He remembered every moment of their first time together. From the shy way she’d undressed in front of him. To the sultry look on her face when he’d crawled between her spread legs, desperate to be inside of her. The way her eyes darkened as he’d thrust inside her, stretching her to fit him. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. It was something he thought about all the time, in quiet moments on set or mid lift at the gym. Her. Her body. The sounds she made. The way she eagerly took him. It drove him a little crazy the way she’d managed to dig her way into his psyche the way she had.
Now that they were together and he could have her all the time, it only seemed to get worse. He thought about her all the time. About their future. The baby. She consumed him in a way that he’d never experienced before. Even now, she sat curled up on the sofa in his home, her dog curled up at her feet, ever the protector.
“Here you go, baby,” he said softly, sitting her steaming honey ginger tea on the small table next to her.
Jade smiled up at him and it felt like his heart cracked open in that moment. She sat her book down and held her arms open to him and he went to her, a matching smile on his face as he pulled her into his arms. Kali huffed as she was shifted and he snickered.
“Thank you, Papa.”
The way she nuzzled her face against the pulse in his throat had his dick jumping in his shorts.
“You’re welcome, baby,” he murmured. “How are you feeling?”
“Less queasy. I’d hoped that I was past the morning sickness phase.”
“I’m glad it’s at least getting better than it was.”
“Me too…”
Jade lay against him, her thigh thrown across his as she snuggled close. Her hand had idly been stroking his chest but when she noticed this thighs, her attention was drawn there. Her man had some deliciously thick thighs.
“So, I’ve got an idea I’d like to run by you.”
“What’s that?”
“I’d like you to meet my parents. I know you’ve got work and I can’t schedule a trip to London right now, but I’d at least like a FaceTime call with them. I’ve mentioned you to my mum a few times and… she’d like to meet you.”
Jade felt her heartbeat pick up in her chest at the thought of meeting his parents, especially his mother. She’d gotten to know Aaron well enough to know that he held his mother in a very high regard. If she didn’t like her, she was a goner. Her hand involuntarily tightened on his shirt and Aaron tilted his head to get a look at her.
“They’re going to love you, Jade. How could they not?”
“They might until we tell them I’m knocked up…”
“I think my parents are going to be excited about the baby honestly.”
“Oh?”
“I’m the oldest and my mum’s been hinting at me to settle down,” he said with a little chuckle. “They’ve made no secret of the fact that they’d love some grandkids.”
“If they’re anything like mine, I’m sure they’d want you to be married first.”
“Yeah… you’re right about that. But I think that once they meet you, they’ll fall for you too. So… what do you think?”
“I’m down. When do you want to do it?”
“Now?”
“Aaron, I just spent half the morning puking in your bathroom… I look like hell.”
“You look beautiful, baby.”
“You’re a great liar.”
Aaron snickered, shaking his head.
“Ok, what about tomorrow? You can get dolled up if you want.”
“Tomorrow is good. Gives me time to mentally prepare.”
“What do you have to prepare for?”
“Meeting your parents is a huge deal. What if they don’t like me?”
“Baby, you’re smart. Kind. Funny as hell. Fine as hell. Why wouldn’t they like you?”
“Because they’ll think I trapped their famous son.”
“Jade…”
She glanced up at him, her dark eyebrows arched slightly. Aaron reached over, tugging her fully into his lap and tilting her chin up with a finger so she’d look at him.
“No one is going to think you trapped me. You and I are adults and we made that choice that night. It’s not like you got pregnant by yourself.”
“Yeah, but people don’t always remember that fact.”
“Do you not want to tell them yet?”
Jade nibbled her bottom lip as she thought about it for a moment.
“I mean, I’m already in my second trimester. We have to start telling people pretty soon.”
“Baby, we don’t have to tell anyone anything until you’re ready. We don’t owe anyone any explanations.”
She reached out, stroking his cheek softly.
“I do want your parents to know… And I definitely want my mom to know. I need her now more than ever. I’m just scared.”
“I know you’re scared, mama… I wish you weren’t but… I understand.”
Jade smiled softly as she stroked his cheek, her eyes drifting over his handsome face.
“How about… we just do an introduction tomorrow. And we can do the same with your parents. And tell them you’re pregnant on our own time? Does that work for you, baby?”
“Yeah… I’d like that. My mama really wants to meet you.”
“Does she?"
“She does,” Jade said with a little smirk. “And I already know you’re gonna work that charm on her and have her in love with you too.”
His eyes met hers and Jade bit her full bottom lip.
“I'm sure I'll love her if she’s anything like her incredible daughter.”
Aaron rested his hands on the curve of her hips, a small smile on his face.
“I’ll call my mom… See if they’re free for dinner tomorrow.”
She leaned down and kissed him softly, her small hands still on his cheeks. When her hips rocked subconsciously against him, he tightened his hold on her.
“Mmmm… you trying to start something?”
“Always,” she murmured against his lips.
Aaron reached down with one hand, tugging her shirt over her head. She wasn’t wearing a bra under the shirt and his eyes lit up when he saw her bare breasts. They were a bit fuller now and the sight turned him on immensely.
“Damn…”
Jade’s soft chuckle turned into a moan when he leaned in and sucked her hard nipple into his mouth. Her hands came up to grip his ears, biting her bottom lip as he eagerly sucked at the hardened little buds. His hands returned to her ass, palming and gripping her cheeks as he urged her to rock her hips against the bulge at his crotch. She moaned softly as he popped his lips off of her nipple, those eyes on her face as he drove her crazy. The sounds she made as he touched her were going to be the death of him. Every moan from her sent a jolt straight to his dick. He could feel the heat from her through the thin fabric that separated them. Aaron tenderly nuzzled the side of her breast before focusing his gaze back on her face. Her rich skin was luminous and he found a curious tightening in his chest as his eyes drifted over her face — it had nothing to do with want and everything to do with her. This woman. this woman who carried his whole future inside of her.
“Tell me what you need, baby.”
“You.”
With a strength that startled her, Aaron rose from the sofa, holding her close in his arms. He couldn’t resist her full lips as he walked down the hall to his bedroom. With careful hands, he gently lowered her to his bed, taking a moment to rid her of the flimsy panties before straightening and just looking at her. Beautiful as always — of course. But he could see the changes in her body. Her small waist was a little thicker. Her lower belly had a round firmness that it didn’t have before. Not from pilates. From life. Her hips rounding out more. Something shifted low in his gut that had nothing to do with desire and everything to do with possession. The good kind — the kind that made a man want to build things. This was his woman. Carrying his child. A life that wasn’t supposed to exist but despite everything, flourished. Her dark eyes were soft as she stared back up at him, not at all uncomfortable under his scrutiny. His hands clenched at his sides as he stood over her. Aaron got rid of his thin tank, nostrils flaring slightly as he caught her scent. Slowly, with her eyes on him, she spread her legs, one hand coming out to reach for him. Aaron groaned softly as he crawled on top of her, his lips unerringly finding hers. Jade’s hands cradled his face, her moans muffled by his passionate kisses. The warmth of her bare pussy beckoned to him. With a hand, he shoved his shorts down, kicking them off without breaking their kiss. Twin groans left their lips when Aaron shifted and the broad head of his shaft brushed her slick lips. Jade’s hips rocked against him and the feeling had Aaron’s toes curling.
“Please, baby,” she whispered. That slightly wild look in her eyes turned him on, his breath catching in his throat as his eyes drank her in.
Aaron braced his big body above hers with one hand, his other sliding between them to position himself at her entrance. With just a shift of his hips, he slowly began to push inside, swallowing her moans as he forged his way deep inside of her. His eyes were on her face as he thrust deep, giving her all of him. It like felt her pussy was welcoming him home. Right where he belonged. Keeping his weight off of her, he began a gentle rhythm. In and out. Deep. Heavy. Jade’s breathy little moans in his ear.
“Harder baby…” Her small hands gripped his ass, trying to pull him harder against her. Aaron shifted, balancing his weight on his hands as he thrust a bit harder, his eyes drawn to her breasts as they bounced on her chest. His eyes found hers again and he could read the frustration there. He knew what she wanted. But he was also deeply aware of just how much bigger he was. That little pout on her lips was going to unravel every good intention he’d ever had.
“Aaron, you’re not gonna hurt me.”
Jade reached up with both hands, touching his tight jaw. She leaned up and kissed him softly before gently pushing at his shoulders, urging him to roll them over. Aaron wrapped an arm around her before shifting their bodies, leaning his back against the headboard as she straddled him. Jade shivered as she settled on top of him, taking him as deep as she could with the first roll of her hips.
“Fuuuuuck Jade…”
He growled low in his chest as he gripped her hips, rocking her against his thrusts. His eyes almost didn’t know where to look. Her cherished face. Those perfect tits. The belly that was just beginning to show the signs that his seed had taken root in her. Their joining — her perfect little pussy taking in every thick inch of her man. Fuck. She was really going to be the death of him. Her nails dug into his chest a bit as she ground herself down on him, little whimpers slipping from her mouth. Aaron reached one hand between him, pressing his thumb against her throbbing clit. He felt the answering response from deep inside of her, grunting when she clenched around him. Her head fell back as her orgasm built and built.
“That’s it, my baby… C’mon.”
“Aaron,” she moaned gutturally.
“Let me have it.”
Jade wrapped her arms around his neck, chasing her pleasure. Aaron kept up that pressure on her clit, angling his hips to hit that spot deep inside her — the one that drove her fine ass absolutely crazy. His grip on her hips tightened at the same time as he began to feel that familiar tightening in his sack. Jade felt absolutely incredible… fuck. Nothing felt better than she did. That little twist thing she did with her hips as she ground down on him? He could die a happy man if she did that little thing once a day, every day, for the rest of his life.
“Aaron… baby..”
Her head fell back and Aaron leaned in, licking a trail along the side of her throat before teasingly biting her. He cradled the back of her head in one large hand as he continued his motions, wanting, needing to feel her falling apart in his arms. When her hips stuttered, he thrust up hard and deep, groaning against her damp skin as he started to come. Her name was the only thing he could moan as he filled her full, that perfect little pussy clenching around him as her own orgasm pulsed through her body. Aaron held her body close, burying his face against her throat as both their heartbeats slowed down. Jade smiled lazily when she felt the soft and tender kisses Aaron was pressing to her throat. His hands on her body now felt reverent. He tilted his face up towards her, his eyes low as he leaned in for a sweet kiss.
“Magic, I tell you…”
Jade felt the heat in her cheeks when she heard his whispered words. He gently turned them, laying her back against the bed as his body left hers.
“Be right back,” he muttered.
Jade stretched out, yawning softly as the need for sleep descended rapidly on her. Aaron made his way back into the dimly lit bedroom and quickly and carefully cleaned her up before taking care of himself. After turning the lights off, he crawled into bed, pulling her slight body into the shelter of his much bigger one. Jade sighed softly as his arm came around her body, resting softly over her belly. She could feel his steady heartbeat and the warmth from his chest pressed against her back quickly had her falling off to sleep. He wasn't sure how long he lay there in the dark, listening to the rhythm of her breathing. Long enough for the room to cool. Long enough for the city outside to go quiet. His thumb moved in slow absent circles over the soft curve of her belly and he thought about what she'd said earlier. The way she'd kept right on smiling like she hadn't just handed him everything. That little slip told him everything. That this feeling wasn’t one sided. She was scared, but that was ok. This was new. But it felt good. Felt right. The hand on her belly stilled.
“I love you, Jade.”
Whispered. Barely loud enough for him to hear. But true. The tiny hand that covered his pressed softly against him. Not answering. But saying everything. I love you too.
—
The next day
8 AM
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Jade slowly opened her eyes, deeply aware of the man at her back, holding her close, like she was the most precious thing in the world to him. She took another deep breath before carefully wiggling out from under his heavy arm. Her feet touched the hard wood floor of his bedroom and she braced herself. His crumpled t-shirt from last night was on the floor and she reached for it, a small smile on her face as she tugged it over her head. The shirt smelled like him, a mix of sandalwood and oud. Jade brought the sleeve to her nose and took a deep breath, feeling her heartbeat slowing down. She heard the familiar click-clack of Kali’s nails before the big Shepard nosed her way into the bedroom, beelining it over to her mama. Those big brown eyes looked up at her before a friendly flick of the tongue against her nose. Jade giggled softly as she gently scratched between Kali’s ears, sighing softly when her dog laid her head in her lap.
I love you, Jade.
The words whispered in the dark now echoed loudly in her mind. Had he meant for her to hear him? Was he just testing the words out or did he mean it? Kali’s cool nose nudged against her belly, drawing her from her reverie. Behind her, the big man stirred and she glanced over her shoulder as he rolled onto his back, those devastating eyes of his finding her face. Even sleepy and half awake, he was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
“Good morning, mama,” he murmured softly.
He shifted his big body, throwing his legs over the side of the bed, mirroring her posture. She was wearing his shirt, cloaked in his scent, and the sight turned him on all over again. Jade didn’t miss the way his body responded as his eyes drifted over her.
“You sleep ok?”
“Mmhmm….”
Aaron leaned in, his eyes fluttering closed as he pressed his lips to her forehead. Jade sighed softly, her body melting against his. A warm paw on his thigh had Aaron glancing down, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth when he saw Kali looking up at him, those big brown eyes of hers pleading for a walk.
“I’ll take her.”
Almost as if she understood the words that had just come out of his mouth, Kali’s tail began to wag and she let out a soft bark.
“Traitor,” Jade murmured dryly, her eyes on the dog who’d decided that Jade's boyfriend was now hers. Kali tossed her head, trotting back towards the bedroom door. She spared Jade one last glance before disappearing with a huff. The sound of Aaron’s soft laughter filled the room and Jade couldn’t hide her smile as she turned her gaze back to him. Her eyes drifted unabashedly over his naked body as he stood and walked over to his dresser.
“Be good,” he murmured with a chuckle as he pulled on sweats and a tank.
Jade stood, letting out a little yawn as she walked towards his bathroom.
“I am being good. You’re the one who was naked.”
His arm reached out, snagging her waist and pulling her in close. Jade braced her hands against his chest, her black lashed framed eyes meeting his. He didn’t say anything. Just drank in her face. Fuck… she was so beautiful.
“If we have a girl, I hope she looks just like you,” he murmured quietly, dropping a sweet kiss on her forehead. “Those pretty eyes… cute little nose. She’s gonna be beautiful.”
“Baby…”
Jade leaned up on her toes, her small hands cradling his face as she pressed her lips to his. Gentle. Sweet. Surrender. His hands tightened imperceptibly on her waist, pulling her body against his. He deepened the kiss, groaning softly against her skin. From somewhere down the hall, a loud bark had them breaking apart, a light in Jade’s eyes as she giggled softly.
“Let me take her out before she changes her mind about me.” He slapped her ass before heading towards the bedroom door where Kali waiting, her leash in her mouth. Jade glanced over her shoulder at him, feeling the heat in her cheeks when he was already looking back at her with that look in his eyes. The look she wasn’t quite ready to analyze too deeply.
I love you too.
“I’ll be back in a few, mama.”
“Ok… be careful.”
Kali pawed at his thigh again and Jade chuckled as she stepped into the bathroom, leaving the door open.
“Make sure you don’t let her drag you. She’ll try to this first walk.”
“I wont…”
Aaron glanced up from attaching Kali’s leash to see the silhouette of Jade’s nude body as she leaned into his shower to turn it on.
“Damn…” he muttered softly. “Don’t be in a rush to get dressed after that shower, mama.”
Jade tossed him a saucy look at as she pinned her hair up in a topknot before playfully blowing him a kiss. Aaron waited until she stepped in the shower before heading out, his thoughts filled with the vision of her in his shower.
5:30 PM London time - 9:30 AM Los Angeles time
The butterflies in her belly were in overdrive as Jade touched up her perfect lipgloss for the third time in the last few minutes. Aaron sat at his small kitchen table, his eyes kind as he patiently waited for her to be ready. His laptop was open in front of him, ready to connect to his parents as soon as his girl gave the ok.
“You look beautiful, mama. Trust me.”
Jade took a deep breath before focusing her gaze on him. He reached out to her and she glanced down at his massive paw.
“C’mere.”
The moment her fingers slid against his, he gently pulled her into his lap, wrapping her in his arms. He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers.
“Everything is gonna be fine. I already know they'll love you. Do you trust me?”
Brown met blue and the certainty she saw in those cerulean depths brought her immeasurable comfort.
“I do.”
Aaron pressed a soft kiss to her temple before connecting the call, keeping his free arm around her waist. He could feel the tension in her body and rubbed the small of her back softly. His father answered, his face filling the screen and Jade couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips when she saw how much her man looked like his daddy.
“You look just like Aaron…”
Mr. Pierre smiled broadly into the screen before chuckling softly.
“Actually, he looks like me. You must be the lovely Jade my son can’t seem to stop talking about…”
“It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” he said, glancing off screen. “My wife has been talking about this all day.”
The aforementioned wife appeared, coming to sit next to her husband with a steaming cup of tea cradled in her hands. Aaron may have gotten his facial structure from his father, but those eyes, that lovely shape…. Those eyes were all mama. She had the same kind eyes as her son and Jade could feel the warmth in her smile, even through the computer screen.
“So this is the woman who has stolen my son’s heart…”
Her heart thumped in her chest as she glanced over at Aaron, who was positively blushing. She leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek before nuzzling him softly.
“He talks about you all the time,” his mom said with a smile. “We’re glad to finally meet you, Jade.”
“Likewise. Aaron always speaks so highly of you both.”
“What plans do the two of you have for the day?,” his mom asked.
“Jade’s managed to convince me to go to the farmer’s market with her. “She’s promised me homemade chocolate chip cookies if I make my lasagna.”
Mrs. Pierre chuckled softly.
“Sounds like a fair trade to me.”
“Right? I said that, but Aaron disagrees. My cookie recipe is worth it.”
“Do you refrigerate your dough overnight?”
“I do!”
Aaron chuckled softly, shaking his head.
“So I don't even get the cookies the same day? I have to wait 24 hours?"
“It's worth the wait, Aaron,” his dad said with a little laugh.
“See?”
She twisted her lithe little body in his lap, looking down at him with a smirk, her dark eyebrow arched. He smiled over at her, tightening his hands on her hips.
“Fine… I’ll be patient.”
Mrs. Pierre chuckled softly before taking another sip of her tea. Her son was smitten alright.
“So, Jade, what do you do?”
“I work in advertising. My firm works to pair global companies with celebrities for different endorsement deals. This last few months, one of our biggest clients has become DC Comics.”
“Is that how you and Aaron met?”
“No… actually we met late last year at the Mufasa premiere. One of my childhood friends is his stunt double.”
“I couldn't take my eyes off of her from the moment I saw her.”
Jade blushed, ducking her head slightly.
“We can see why.”
Aaron chuckled as her blush intensified and pressed a kiss to her temple when she smiled at his parents.
“You’re too sweet.”
“Oh the way Aaron talks about you… we knew you were something special.”
“He’s definitely something pretty special,” Jade murmured softly as she stroked his cheek softly.
Aaron’s father smiled when he noticed the way his son relaxed into Jade’s touch. His son could be very guarded at times and it was a beautiful thing to see him so open.
“That he is,” Mrs. Pierre said. “We don’t want to take up too much of your free time. I know it's limited these days. But Jade — it was so lovely to meet you. I hope we can chat again soon.”
“Absolutely. I would love that,” Jade murmured softly, meaning it
“We’ll definitely talk soon,” Aaron said, his eyes back on the computer screen even as his hand took up residence on her lower belly. “Love you both.”
His father gave him a smile — one that let him know he absolutely liked Jade — and the screen went dark. The kitchen was silent for a moment and Jade was very aware of the heat of his palm against her belly. She’d felt it the moment he touched her.
“Your parents are wonderful..."
Her dark eyes met his as she twisted around to see his face.
"I told you they'd love you,” Aaron said before leaning in to kiss her temple.
“Your mom has your eyes."
The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled at her, his fingers moving in small circles over the place where their child grew.
“She's gonna be so excited when we tell her about the baby…"
Jade felt her breath catch in her throat as she thought about it. Now that she had a face and a voice to put with the idea she had of his mom, Jade just knew this woman would love her baby the way she loved her son — deeply, without question. That realization settled over her like a warm hug. Mrs. Pierre very much reminded Jade of her own mother, that warmth, that natural ability to comfort with just a look.
This was real. All of it. The baby that grew inside her. This relationship that still scared her. This little family that they were cobbling together. This was all happening whether she was ready for it or not. Aaron leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek, his hand dropping to her thigh.
“You feel a little better now, mama?”
“I do… I’m sorry I was freaking out about it.”
“Don’t apologize, baby. You feel how you feel… and that’s ok. I don’t want you to apologize because you’re scared. As long as you remember that every time you get scared, I’m gonna be right there. OK?”
Aaron stroked her cheek softly, smiling when she nuzzled against his hand.
“Now… how about those cookies?”
Jade giggled as she leaned in to give him a quick kiss.
“C’mon… let’s go. I’m hungry again anyway.”
She stood up from his lap and Aaron didn’t miss the opportunity to pat her ass. He stood, smirking when Kali came trotting up with her leash in her mouth.
“Your dog is hilarious.”
“The little traitor is a regular comedienne.”
Aaron snickered as he tucked his wallet into his back pocket and grabbed his car keys. Five minutes later, they were on Ventura heading towards the farmer’s market. Parking was a little tricky, but Aaron was getting those cookies. He finagled a spot close enough to walk to the market and pulled in, a satisfied smirk on his face.
“You know we could have parked in the lot right?”
“Yeah, but this is free,” he said with a satisfied smile. “You can shop to your heart’s content and we don’t have to worry about a meter.”
Jade chuckled as she reached for her tote bag.
“Never tell a woman she can shop to her heart’s content, baby.”
In the time it took for her to grab Kali’s leash, Aaron had made his way to her side, opening the SUV’s door for her. She thanked him with a sweet little kiss before getting her dog from the back. She smirked when Kali took up a position in front of them, her ears perked up and eyes bright.
“I hope she behaves,” Jade said softly. “She’s been super protective of me the last few weeks.”
“You think she knows you’re pregnant?”
Kali tilted her head to look at Aaron, those intelligent eyes of hers meeting his.
“I absolutely think she knows…”
Aaron slipped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her small body into the shelter of his.
“Good… she’ll look after you when I’m not around.”
He dropped a soft kiss on her forehead before glancing towards the market.
“Where to first, mama?”
“I have to find the chocolate chip lady.”
“There’s a chocolate chip lady?”
“Mmhmm. Miss Jessie. She’s the cutest.”
“What if Miss Jessie isn’t here today?”
Jade shot him a look that would have had him laughing if it didn’t mean he wouldn’t get his cookies.
“Baby… what if she’s not here?”
“Aaron, I only use her chocolate chips in my cookie batter.”
Those eyes drifted over her face and he fought back a laugh. His lady was dead fucking serious about these damn chocolate chips.
“Understood.”
Kali glanced back at them as she made her way through the people, clearing a path for her mama. Her tail began to wag softly as she picked up the pace, her bright brown eyes on her favorite booth. As soon as they rounded a corner, Aaron knew they’d found Miss Jessie. The way her eyes lit up when she laid her eyes on Jade absolutely warmed his heart. He hung back a moment, a smile on his face as he watched the way the older women stood and pulled Jade into her arms, hugging her like a long lost granddaughter.
“It’s so good to see you, baby…”
The joy in Jade’s eyes was genuine and there was nothing Aaron wanted more in that moment than to make her happy like that for the rest of his life.
“It’s good to see you too, auntie! I was going to come last weekend but I wasn’t feeling well.”
Aaron didn’t miss the way Miss Jessie’s keen eyes flicked to Jade’s midsection before fixing on him.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better. Now… who is this handsome young man?? They don’t make’em like this anymore.”
Jade glanced up at Aaron, giggling softly when she saw the way he was blushing.
“This is my boyfriend, Aaron. Aaron, this is Miss Jessie. She’s basically an auntie to me.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” he said with a smile, leaning down to give the smaller woman a hug when she raised her arms to him.
“I knew my baby had excellent taste in men…”
The twinkle in her eye almost had Jade laughing out loud. Miss Jessie glanced down at Kali. The dog sat patiently between Aaron and Jade, her tail wagging as she looked up at her.
“I picked well, huh?”
“A stallion. Just look at those eyes. I bet you’ve been trouble your whole life.”
This time, Jade could’t help the laugh that slipped from her lips, one hand coming up to cover her mouth.
“You make sure you take good care of my Jade, young man. I’m old, but I’m a straight shot. I like to start at the kneecaps.”
“Oh my God… Don’t scare him away.”
“I don’t scare easy,” Aaron said, his smile easy as he met Miss Jessie’s stare. “And don’t you worry. I’m gonna be taking really good care of Jade. I promise you that.”
She leveled a stare at Aaron, one that made him feel like she was looking into his soul. He didn’t blink. Couldn’t at this point. Miss Jessie smiled, slow and sure before turning to pack up Jade’s chocolate chips.
“Your usual, baby?”
“Add some caramel bits too, please. I promised this man some incredible cookies.”
Miss Jessie let out a little laugh.
“Must be a hell of a man.”
Aaron met Jade’s smiling gaze, his own smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“He is.”
Miss Jessie just smiled as she packed up Jade’s order. She gave Kali a treat for being such a good girl, petting the dog’s head when she nuzzled her leg. As Aaron tucked the prized chocolate chips and caramel bits into Jade’s bag, Miss Jessie fussed as Jade insisted on paying her, sliding a fifty dollar bill into her apron.
“I’ll be back next time with some banana bread for you, auntie. I love you. We’ll talk soon.”
“Love you too, baby. You take care…”
Aaron waved as they began to head out, on to the next booth.
“Kneecaps, huh?”
That sent Jade into another fit of giggles and all Aaron could do was shake his head as he slipped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into the shelter of his body.
“I swear, she means well.”
“I know. I can tell she adores you.”
The answering smile on her face told him that the feeling was mutual. Next on the list was butter. Expensive French butter. Something about a higher fat content. That translated to Aaron just meant a more decadent cookie. Brown sugar. Vanilla. His eyes began to glaze over just the tiniest bit when Jade raved about the vendor she was looking for.... the one with the fancy vanilla beans that were soaked in expensive bourbon. As Jade perused for the one she wanted, he picked up a small bottle, curiously reading the label. The large jar was $22 and the smaller one was $14. For vanilla? Wisely, he kept his mouth zipped until she’d picked out what she wanted before dutifully paying for it. His reward was a kiss, worth a hundred times the cost of that large jar.
“I think that’s everything I need… I have flour at home. What are you in the market for?”
“Nothing crazy… veggies. Maybe we can see if someone here has fresh pasta.”
Jade glanced up at him with a little smile, just drinking him in. He was so goddamn fine. Unable to resist, she leaned up on her toes and kissed him again, smiling against his full lips.
“Mmm.. what was that for?” He murmured softly, one hand on her waist.
“Just for looking so damn good right now…”
He grinned, one hand cradling her cheek as he leaned down for another sweet kiss.
“Says the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Such a charmer, Mr. Pierre.”
He winked at her before taking her hand in his, sliding his sunglasses back into place as he scanned the market for a vegetable stall. He’d read in one of the baby books that there were certain vegetables that were great for expecting mothers and he planned on adding as many as possible to everything he cooked for her over the next five months. ‘Grown locally in California’. As he looked over the crates filled with fresh organic vegetables, he took his time picking the best ones. The greenest spinach. The biggest carrots. The brightest red and yellow bell peppers. Jade watched him, a little smirk on her lips as she watched him peruse everything.
“You're really serious about this lasagna…"
“You’re making cookie dough that takes twenty four hours. How can I compete with that?”
“You don't have to, baby. I’ll make them whenever you want.”
“I’m a very lucky man.”
Jade winked at him as he made his purchases. Not long after, with fresh made artisan pasta tucked into their bags, they made their way back towards his car. It was Kali who spotted the woman first, her tail wagging slowly as she maneuvered into a position in front of Jade.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, but I just loved you in Genius. Oh my goodness… I can’t believe it’s you!”
Jade’s eyes flickered to Aaron’s face as she took a small step back — stopped only by his hand settling at the small of her back.
“Thank you so much. That project really meant a lot to me.”
“It meant a lot to me as well. I watched it with my grandfather. He actually marched with Martin back in the day.”
“Oh wow. Well, I hope we lived up to his high expectations.”
“You absolutely did. Plus, you and Kelvin were so cute during the press tour. Great chemistry there."
"Yeah, that's my boy. I'll make sure to pass along the high praise."
“Would it be too much to ask for a photo?”
“Of course not,” Aaron said, a wide grin on his face.
“I’ll take it,” Jade said softly.
The woman smiled gratefully at her as she handed over her cell phone. Jade had a small smile on her face as she snapped a few photos, making sure to get a close up and a full body shot. The grateful woman smiled as she took her phone back, thanking her before waving and walking away. Aaron glanced down at Jade.
"Sorry about that, baby."
"Why are you apologizing? That comes with the territory."
"I know. I just... I value your privacy and I don't want you to feel like our time together is interrupted."
"I'm not ashamed to be seen with you, Aaron. Have you seen a mirror?" she said jokingly. "Now, I'll admit, I don't want my private life being blasted across the blogs, but believe it or not, I did think about what all came with dating you before I became your girlfriend."
Aaron glanced down at her, his eyes searching her face for a moment.
"I want to respect your privacy, Jade... If we're ever out and it becomes too much, let me know. Ok?"
Jade looked up at him through her thick lashes, nibbling on her bottom lip.
"Ok..."
Aaron pressed a tender kiss to her forehead and Jade sighed softly, leaning her body in to his much stronger one. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close for a moment. Kali sat at their feet, her fluffy tail wagging softly as she watched the people at the farmer's market.
"You ready to go home, mama?"
"Mmhmm... I could use a nap."
Aaron chuckled softly, patting her ass before taking her hand and heading towards where he'd parked. His phone buzzed in his pocket once they'd reached his SUV. With one hand on the passenger door handle and the other was tapping in his passcode. His body stilled for a moment and Jade's dark eyes searched his face. Before she could say anything, he pulled open the passenger door for her, sliding the phone back in his pocket.
"Hey... I need to talk to you about something. When we get home."
"Ok...."
"It's nothing bad, baby. I just need to run a work thing by you."
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Patrice seems like the type to find a stray kitty in her garden and beg terry for them to keep it. And terry seems like the type to be hesitant about the kitty but time goes on and they besties lol
Yes and yes lmao. Patrice has talked about the stray cat her parents let her feed. Terry wouldn’t like it, but the cat would grow him because Patrice wouldn’t make them get along. He’d still say things like “Get out of here, cat.” or push it around to get the attention back on him, but he’d fall in love with it no doubt.
Hey! I’m not sure if I missed it, but do Terry and Patrice have any pets? Idk why, but I can just imagine them getting a cat, most likely against Terry’s wishes lol, but he becomes obsessed and the ultimate cat dad 😭😭
Hey! They don’t have any pets BUT, what you suspect does line up with Patrice feeding strays. Terry is not a fan. Terry also makes sure the strays have something to eat because he loves his wife and whatever she loves. He also loves the cute kittens but he’d never admit that to anyone.
I’ve heard people bring up John’s practical nature when using the ring and how he has trouble conjuring things from his imagination. To that I would say, maybe John doesn’t have much of an imagination. As a child getting apples shot off their heads, there may not have been much time for whimsy. That’s something to explore for all the writers out there 🌚
Which is kinda wild to say that he has trouble with it. Bc sure he may not be the most creative with it (that honor goes to Kyle), but he pushes its boundaries more than Hal or Guy ever do. Let’s not forget people, he’s an architect. Whatever he creates is strictly analytical in nature and has an intended purpose. Also, Hal’s constructs are fluid bc they’re all hollow. It is stated in the 2005 run by the man himself that all of John’s constructs are solid from the inside out. So he doesn’t just create illusions, he creates solutions out of hard light.
That’s interesting. I wonder if this is just an early observation and by the end of this season, we’ll get to see and appreciate more of what you’re laying out. I’m pretty new to a lot of GL/Hal/John, so it’s cool to see the show version + what you mention.
I’ve heard people bring up John’s practical nature when using the ring and how he has trouble conjuring things from his imagination. To that I would say, maybe John doesn’t have much of an imagination. As a child getting apples shot off their heads, there may not have been much time for whimsy. That’s something to explore for all the writers out there 🌚
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John needs to be overly going for a younger Black woman and not grandma puss (sorry to the grandmas)
He was HOT for Nana, okay 😂. That Coke had him feeling a little loose lmao
I have a theory she was sent to manipulate him. By who, I can go a couple ways. But idk if I’m ready to share just yet. Nana working for somebody though. And the only black man in Nebraska is an easy target.
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