Page 48 of SEAL's Doorstep Baby

I still don’t know what Jacob wants from me in particular, or where we are right now. All I know is that there is a tension that is being translated into everything I do. Every time I work up the courage to ask him, Maddie needs something, and just like that, my nerve deflates—popping like a balloon.

“Hey, you!” He calls out as he comes home. I am back from a brief foray to work, but this season and weather doesn’t lend itself to either the growth or demand for flower arrangements. This, in combination with my uncertainty about my status in his life, has soured my mood and I am in the worst temper I have been in for a long time.

I am not in the mood to speak to anyone, even him, and so I don’t respond to his greeting, and he comes closer.

“Are you good, Allie?”

“Good.”

Hopefully my monosyllabic replies will give him a clue as to my state of mind.

“What’s the attitude for?”

“I’m not giving you an attitude, Jake. I’m not the problem, here.”

His caveman actions are annoying and take the very last bit of my patience away. My voice is now raised in a half yell at him, and I am already looking for Maddie with my eyes before I remember that she is having a grand time over at Sherry’s.

“Where’s Maddie?” he asks.

“At Sherry’s. Do you need her to meet your ex right now, because she is sleeping and I won’t let you wake her for that.”

Maddie is not a show pony to be trotted out in front of whoever wants to meet her. It is none of my business, and there is no reason why I should be concerned about whatever he had with Naomi before we got intimate, but I can’t get the thought of her coming back out of my mind, and the fact that he still hasn’t given me any reassurances only makes it worse.

There has been no indication that he wants me in any way than just the physical in all the time since then. He has shown none of the usual signs of interest—flowers or dates—and then there is the fact that he has something planned with Naomi in just a couple days of meeting her again.

“Wait. Is that the reason why you’re acting this way?” he asks in surprise before bursting into chuckles, but none of what has made him amused is funny to me. “She is just going to see Maddie, and that’ll be it. Nothing else.”

“Why do you keep on reminding me that it’s just a visit and nothing more?”

“Because I don’t want your feelings hurt.”

“And why would my feelings be hurt, Jacob? We are just friends raising a child together. Right?”

“Stop that. You know you mean more to me than that. You are my….”

I see him hesitate and then the words die out on his tongue, infuriating me beyond reason. I try to keep a calm and level head but that’s beyond me right now.

“Your what?” When he doesn’t give me a reply it just makes me angrier. “What am I, Jacob?”

“You’re mine. That’s what you are.” His voice has dropped a couple of octaves and is deeper than before.

“And what does that mean?” I don’t even care that I’m basically begging. That Ineedhim to be honest with me right now. I feel like I could burst.

Jacob’s eyes search mine. He seems to realize what I’m asking for.

Tenderly, he holds my hand. I fight the waves of emotion.

“You’re… the person who makes me better,” he says gently. “You’re… the person who demands that I show up, that I do better, that I care more. I wouldn’t… You make me… feel safe. Feel like I can breathe. You’re my… everything.”

The words spill into me, heat blossoming everywhere they touch.He’s my everything, too.

Just as I think this, Jacob glides towards me with an effortlesslevel of fluidity, and once he is close enough to do it, he captures my lips in his, drowning out any retorts I might have with just one action.

He can try shutting me up this way if he wants, but he’s going to pay for it. I sink my teeth into his lips and he pulls back.

“You don’t get to shut me up. Not even with a kiss.” I warn him.

“Then how do I get a kiss from you, Allie?”

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