Page 87 of Twenty Years Later

Chapter Thirty-Two

Alex

Picking up Audrey from preschool was a blast, and I loved holding hands with Jayda the whole walk there as she talked about the neighborhood. I had visions of our future, doing everyday things like this together.

She pointed out the nearby elementary school where Audrey would be going to kindergarten. And I almost had to pinch myself at how lucky I was, how excited I was to start this new life with Jayda here.

Audrey had been thrilled to see me, and as I swung her around in my arms, she laughed so much that everyone stared at us. But there were a lot of smiling faces, and I knew that all the surrounding parents and teachers here loved Jayda just as much as I did. Well, maybe not quite as much as I did. I wasn't sure anyone could.

And tonight, I was determined to tell her.

Thank God the evening flew by with a quick dinner, a lasagna that Jayda had already "thrown together" last night, and a movie with Audrey—Tangled once again.

But this time, I found out that Jayda was obsessed with one scene in the movie, the one where they released the lanterns, lighting up the night sky. And sure enough, mother and daughter sat there together, captivated by the glowing lanterns on screen, both smiling and singing along.

It was a moment I knew would live forever in my mind. And I couldn't wait to add Gabby back to the mix and meet this new little being that would be part of the family soon.

My God, the family,myfamily,ourfamily. I was so close to getting everything I'd dreamed of having, something that had always been frustratingly out of reach for me. But with Jayda, it was so easy. She was so easy to love, so easy to be with.

How had my life turned out this way? I could hardly believe it.

As I waited for Jayda to help Audrey get to sleep upstairs, I paced in the living room, wondering how I'd tell her I loved her. I wished I had some grand gesture—candles, flowers, something. But I felt so unprepared even though I'd thought about this moment for so long.

I hoped just the words would be enough for her.

It was unbelievable how nervous I was. I'd only said I love you to one other person in my life, and that hadn't worked out so well. And now, the stakes were so incredibly high. I didn't remember the last time my heart had raced this much.

When she came back downstairs, those stunning eyes locked with mine, and I couldn't even breathe for a long moment.

This was it. Now was the time.

Jayda's face transformed with her soft, sexy smile as she reached out her hand. "Follow me," she said.

And I did, my heart pounding in my chest as we quietly climbed the steps, our hands clasped together. We walked slowly down the dark, creaky hallway toward her room, what I hoped to makeourroom soon.

I was surprised to find a single candle lit on her dresser, illuminating the space in a soft glow. I managed to shut the door behind us, and she turned to face me, the flickering light somehow making her even more stunning.

"I was hoping we could just pick up where we left off this afternoon?" she said, turning it into a question as her smile grew. "If that's okay with you."

"What do you think?" I teased.

I was already more than ready for her if she was looking, and I found her eyes grow wide as she took in my entire body. Needing to feel her softness against me, I reached for her, but she stepped back, a seductive look on her face as she started to take off her clothes in front of me.

Damn, who exactly was this woman?

All thoughts left my head while I watched her slowly remove everything, one piece at a time, her eyes searching mine, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of pink as she came closer and closer to being naked.

As she stood before me in nothing but her bra and panties, I held my breath while remembering a similar moment not too long ago, the night of the reunion. She had been so nervous then. But now, my Jayda had become bolder with me, and I absolutely loved it.

She reached back to take off her bra, and as she revealed herself to me, a jolt shot through my whole body. It took everything I had inside me not to reach out and touch her. But something told me she just wanted me to watch. And watch I did as she took off her panties next, revealing all to me.

Stepping back toward me, she reached for my clothing now and repeated her unhurried movements, leisurely undressing me, making me feel like I was going to jump out of my skin. But I was still determined to take it slow this time.

Taking off my shirt, her hands traced my chest then my arms, and I could smell the vanilla-scented lotion from earlier as the room seemed to heat up. Her eyes explored me along with her hands, and it made me so hot to see her looking at me like that. She held her naked body just away from my heated skin, making the anticipation rise to an almost unbearable level.

I desperately wanted to feel her against me. "What are you doing to me, sweetheart?" I said.

Jayda flashed me a smile as she reached for the button on my jeans next, and I closed my eyes at the sensation of sweet torment as her fingers barely brushed over me in her quest to completely undress me.

---