Chapter Thirty-One

Lance

I can't believe Jordan came after me. And just when I thought I'd lost her...

I stare at her as she soaks in the hot tub in my apartment. Beads of water cling to her hair, which cascades past her shoulders and over the edge of the tub that she's leaning on. The soft curves of her breasts rise just above the water's surface. Her eyes are closed, her lips slightly parted.

A smile forms on my lips.

To think I almost thought I'd never see her again after leaving her behind. To think I almost did leave her behind.

But how could I? I should have known she didn't mean the things she said at the hospital.

Suddenly, Jordan's eyes open wide. They stare right into mine.

"What are you doing?" she asks me as she sits up straight in the tub.

"Nothing."

"Watching me with a smile isn't nothing. It's creepy."

I chuckle as I approach the tub.

"I was just thinking what a lucky man I am."

I take my robe off and hang it on the peg next to hers. I feel Jordan's gaze on my skin as I step into the tub. It lingers ever so slightly between my legs.

I grin.

She looks away as I sink into the water, sitting across from her. "Who's watching Claus? Kevin?"

"As you know, Kevin is sound asleep," I tell her. "And snoring loudly, I might add."

"Well, he did drive me all the way here."

I make a mental note to thank him later.

"Frankly, it surprised me," Jordan adds. "I thought he'd be afraid to drive after what happened."

"You know what they say. The best thing to do after falling off your bike is to get right back on it."

"Not if you hit your head."

"Why did Kevin drive you?" I ask. "He could have stayed behind."

"Well, it was Kevin's idea that we come after you."

I frown.

"What?" she asks.

"I was completely fooled into thinking it was yours." I scratch my chin. "Maybe I'm not so lucky, after all."

"Shut up." Jordan splashes some water on me. "You didn't answer my question about Claus. Who's watching him?"

"Don't worry," I tell her. "The maids are. He has them completely charmed. I can already see how he'll be when he grows up."

"You mean like his father?" She shakes her head. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen."

"What? That he won't get surrounded by women? Are you planning on locking him away?"

"No. I mean that he won't play around with women, not their bodies or their feelings."

"But doesn't he already have you wrapped around his finger?" I point out.

"That's different. I'm his mother. Of course I'm wrapped around his finger."

"So you just don't want him stolen from you."

"Shut up." Jordan sends another splash of water my way. "I'm just saying I'll make sure he grows up to be a good man."

"So will I," I promise her with a smile. "I'll be a good father from now on."

She smiles back. "Just don't give up on him no matter what and you'll be good."

I nod.

"And of course, keep a better eye on him."

This time, I sprinkle some water on her.

She covers her face with her arms. "Just kidding."

"For your information, I only took my eye off him for a second because I was tying a little girl's shoelace."

Jordan lifts her hands. "I believe you. No harm was done. In fact, it even did some good. So... let's not talk about it ever again?"

"Deal," I agree.

She closes her eyes and lets out a sigh of satisfaction as she sinks further into the tub. "I should get me one of these." She places a hand on her shoulder. "It's so good for sore muscles."

"You can have this one," I tell her.

She opens her eyes to look at me. "I guess Claus and I will be living here starting next year."

"You sound disappointed."

"A little," she admits. "I'll miss that town."

"So will I," I find myself saying.

"But Claus and I will be fine," Jordan adds. "After all, we'll be with you. We'll be living together as a family."

The corners of my mouth turn up into a smile.

"I like the sound of that."

I scoot over to her side so that my leg is brushing against hers. I grasp her chin and press my lips to hers tenderly.

"Are you sure no one is going to come here?" she asks me.

"No," I answer.

She climbs on my lap. "Then I can get a little naughty."

She reaches for my cock, which is already half hard. She strokes it and it stiffens completely.

I narrow my eyes at her. "Naughty."

"But I am a bit tired."

She slumps forward. Her breasts press against my chest as she rests her cheek on my shoulder.

"I did chase after you."

"You said it was Kevin's idea," I remind her.

"But I went with it," she says.

I grab her shoulders and push her away from me. "Don't worry. I'll do all the work."

I kiss her again. This time, I push my tongue inside her mouth as I place my hands behind her head. My fingers tangle with her hair.

She moans.

Then I turn her around so that she's sitting on my lap. Her head rests on my shoulder.

I lick her ear as I cup her breasts. She gasps. My fingers trace her curves towards the middle where they meet, then find her nipples and take them prisoner.

I suck on her neck as I rub and tug on the stiff peaks. Jordan throws her head back further. The sounds that escape her lips fill the small room. Her fingertips make a squeaking sound as they rub against the sides of the tub.

I reach between her legs and she parts them for me.

Too bad I can't tell if she's just wet from soaking in the tub or because she's aroused, but judging from the state of her breasts and the sounds she's making, I guess it's the latter.

I bite lightly into her shoulder as I stroke her sensitive nub.

She shudders.

Then I get an idea. I form an O with my lips and suck on her skin. Hard.

She yelps.

I do that for about twenty seconds. Afterwards, I let go and look at the mark I've left behind. I kiss it reverently.

Jordan looks at it as well, but she frowns.

"What did you do?"

"It's just a kiss mark," I tell her.

She narrows her eyes at me. "Are you branding me, Lance?"

"Branding?" I kiss her cheek. "No. You're not an animal. And you're already mine."

I grab her hand and kiss the ring on her finger to prove my point.

"It's just... I always wanted to do that."

Her eyebrows crease. "So you're saying you've never done that before."

"No."

Jordan smiles. "Then I'm glad."

I capture her lips and kiss her again as I continue stroking her. Our tongues dance.

Then she pulls away and looks into my eyes.

"What else have you never done before?" she asks.

I pause and then shrug. "I can't think of anything else."

Jordan frowns.

"You asked," I remind her.

I squeeze her breasts gently.

"Tell me," I say against her neck. "Is there anything you'd like me to do to you?"

Jordan shakes her head. "I don't know. I've never been with any guy other than you."

My eyebrows arch. "What about Perry?"

She shakes her head again.

Warmth explodes in my chest. I can't believe it. She's always been mine. Only mine.

"Then I'll just make you feel really good," I tell her.

"Don't you always?"

I push her away from me and lift her out of the tub so that she's sitting on the edge. Then I place her legs over my shoulders, spread her thighs and bury my head between them. I open my mouth and dig into my treat.

"Lance!" My name comes out of her lips as a hiss as Jordan grabs my hair.

I keep licking the outer folds of her skin, then move on to the inner ones. The sweet taste of her oozes out onto my tongue and I delve in deeper to get more.

Then I go back to her nub. I rub the tip of my tongue against it and she shudders. Her hands leave my hair as she leans back.

I do that over and over until her body starts shaking and her moans are spilling out one after the other. Then I move my hands between her quivering thighs, lift the hood over the swollen bud of flesh, and lick some more.

Within moments, Jordan lets out a cry. I feel her hips rise and her body break out into spasms. Then she stops. I hear her gasps for air and then her laughter as she pushes my head away.

"That's enough," she says. "It tickles."

"Oh. It tickles, does it?"

I start a trail of kisses on the insides of her thighs. Again, she laughs.

"Stop!"

I stop. She sinks back into the water with a frown. Her arms cross over her chest.

"It's not fair," she says. "You've tickled me so much and I've never tried it."

Jordan touches her chin. "Aha! I guess that's something I want to try."

"Go ahead then," I tell her as I sit back. "Try finding my ticklish spot."

She lifts one of my arms and moves her fingertips against my armpit.

I shake my head. "Nope."

Jordan tickles my ribs and my sides. Nothing happens.

She tickles the insides of my thighs next. Her hand brushes against my swollen cock and I suck in a breath.

She moves on. She lifts my leg up and runs her fingers over my knee.

I feel a tingle but it passes.

Jordan tries tickling the back of my knee next. I purse my lips to hold back a laugh.

She notices.

"Aha!" she says triumphantly as she tries again.

This time, I burst out laughing.

"Found it!"

She continues tickling me as I grip my belly and laugh. And try not to kick her. And when I've had enough, I grab her wrists.

"I think you've had your fun," I tell her as I catch my breath.

Jordan grins. "It was fun."

"And it's about to get even more fun."

I pull her onto my lap again as I kiss her. My cock curves against her belly. Then I lift her hips slightly and guide myself inside her slowly.

Jordan's hands grip my shoulders. Her mouth gapes as it leaves mine. Her eyes squeeze shut.

Once I'm completely inside her, I pause. I plant another kiss on the side of her neck. Then I begin to move her hips up and down as I move mine.

She throws her head back. I take one of her breasts inside my mouth as I move my hands to her ass. I clutch the mounds of flesh as I move even faster.

I can feel her silky walls gripping me, keeping me prisoner. They threaten to wrench my orgasm out of me.

I try to get up, and Jordan gasps in surprise and wraps her arms and legs around me to keep herself from falling.

I set her down on the edge of the tub and then continue with my thrusts as I gaze down on her. Her eyes are shut tight again, her cheeks flushed and her mouth still gaping to let moans out.

I can move faster now, so I do. Just a few quick thrusts and the pleasure gets me. My cock quivers inside her.

Jordan wraps her arms around me as I spill myself deep inside her. She tightens around me and shudders. Then we both go still.

I pull her back inside the tub and into my arms so she won't get cold. She slumps against me.

I rub her back.

For a while, I stay silent. Then a question occurs to me.

"What will you do if you get pregnant again?"

Jordan shrugs. "What can I do?"

"Will you be happy this time?"

She pulls back and looks into my eyes. "I was happy the first time. Well, maybe not right away, but I was really glad that I was having a baby. I never thought I'd be a mother. I never stopped to think about what kind of mother I'd be. But I loved Claus long before I met him."

I stroke her cheek. "Then you were meant to be a mother."

"And we were meant to be together," she says. "I mean, look at how fate has brought us together again and again."

"That last one was more of Erin's doing," I remind her.

She chuckles.

"I should have known you'd become friends," I add.

"Didn't I tell you I like her? Plus I knew she'd come in handy."

"Poor Erin." I shake my head. "You're just using her."

"She's your secretary. I'm more like hitching a ride and asking her to help me out, too."

I brush wet strands of hair away from her face. "I can get you your own personal assistant if you like."

"Nah." She falls back against me.

"Maybe a baking assistant, then."

She shrugs. Then I hear her yawn.

"Maybe we should get out of the tub," she says. "I'm getting sleepy. Plus I don't want to catch a cold when it's almost Christmas Eve."

"And I don't want you to," I tell her as I help her stand. "God knows what Kevin would do to me if I let you get sick."

"Punch you?" Jordan suggests. "Don't worry. He's past wanting to kill you now."

"Great."

She puts on her robe. "Why don't you talk to him later? Who knows? The two of you might start getting along."

I put on mine. "If he's the old Kevin, I doubt it."

Jordan touches my cheek. "Well, like you said, it's almost Christmas Eve and someone once told me that if there's a time miracles can happen, it's this time."

~

A miracle, huh?

Hours later, I stare at Kevin as he sits on my workout bench in the gym, a pack of cigarettes in his hand.

It already seems like a miracle that he's here.

I clear my throat. "If you want to smoke, I'm afraid you can't do it here. Try the kitchen or the bathroom."

Kevin turns to me. "I did notice the absence of cigarette smoke in the air. You quit?"

I nod. "A few years back."

He looks at the pack in his hand. "Maybe I should, too."

I tuck my hands in my pockets and walk towards him.

"Listen, Kevin. I honestly didn't know Jordan was your sister."

"So she told me."

"In spite of what you think of me, I wouldn't have laid a finger on her if I had known."

He says nothing.

I draw a deep breath. "I'm sorry about everything."

Kevin's eyebrows arch. "Are you?"

"Well, I don't mean I regret anything that's happened, but I'm sorry that you got hurt."

He shakes his head. "If you're talking about the accident, that was my fault."

"I'm not just talking about the accident."

He looks at me. Then he grins.

"Jordan's right. You have changed."

"I'm not an ass anymore?"

"Nah. That guy's in there somewhere, but maybe there's someone else now, too."

"Someone your sister created."

Kevin smiles. "She really is something."

"On that we agree."

I sit beside him. For a moment, silence reigns between us. Then I break it.

"I've told you this before, but just in case you've forgotten about it..."

He grins.

"...I promise I'll take care of Jordan and Claus. I'll do everything to make them happy."

Kevin nods. "Thank you. And I hate to admit it, but they're yours. That's why I decided to bring them here to you."

"Thanks for that. I owe you one."

He gives me a puzzled look. "Really? I never thought the day would come when you'd say that."

"Oh, shut up."

Kevin touches his chin. "I'll have to think of a good way I can collect on that favor."

"What about I give you a job at my company?" I suggest.

"Work for you?" He frowns. "That doesn't sound like a reward to me."

He's right. "Yeah. I wouldn't want to be your boss, either."

He chuckles.

"Why don't I help you rebuild your company, then? I'm sure I can do that."

Kevin's eyebrows crease. "You're quite confident, aren't you?"

I just nod.

"I'll think about it. Maybe after the holidays."

"Okay."

He stretches his arms. "I can't believe it's almost Christmas Eve already."

"Jordan and Claus are looking forward to it," I say. "And for the first time, so am I."

"What did you get Claus?" Kevin asks.

"It's a secret."

"Oh, come on." He pats my back. "We're family now, remember?"

It's hard to believe, but he's right.

"A dog," I tell him. "It's what he asked Santa for."

"Right." Kevin nods. "What kind?"

"A German Shepherd."

He whistles. "Nice. But are you sure you want that big of a dog in here? It'll get all your furniture dirty and get fur everywhere, you know."

"I know."

"Don't tell me you'll leave him there at Jordan's house?"

I touch my chin. Not a bad idea, but I'm pretty sure Claus will want his dog with him all the time.

He wants his dog. The dog needs a big house and a big yard to run around in. Jordan doesn't like the idea of raising her son in a big city.

Suddenly, an idea occurs to me. A really bright idea.

I stand up as excitement courses through my veins.

"Lance?" Kevin looks up at me.

I touch my chin. "Do you think you can do something for me?"

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," I answer. "Just help me surprise Jordan and Claus with the best Christmas present ever. Since you said we're family and all."

Kevin grins and lifts his hand for a high five. "I'm in."