Page 17 of Love's Patient Journey
“Because you fuck up, I’m all that boy has. How are you going to be his father from here? You have never even seen Zac. I was there when he was born because you were too busy trying to kill my brother and Karlie.” Jake smiled at the memory of that day, and Ryan stopped. He realized he was feeding into what Jake wanted. But he knew that Jake wanted and needed more than just memories of his destruction.
“I also know that you are only going after Jenna and Zac because your daddy is paying your bills. Well, today is your lucky day, Jake, because I am willing to pay your bills now. You can cut your strings from Daddy’s wallet and be a free man.” Ryan snickered to himself, “Well, as free as a man in prison can be. You see, I love Jenna and Zac, and I am going to marry her and be Zac’s father, whether he has my last name or not.”
Jake fidgeted in his seat some more, and Ryan knew that he had the son-of-a-bitch just where he wanted him. “See, your parents have no rights to grandparents’ visitation in the state of Alabama. Unless they were seeing Zac before their court appearance, they have no leg to stand on. You are their only hope to get to Zac. They are using you, paying your bills, in hopes of getting to Zac. I guess they figure they can replace you with a younger, less screwed up version. But, if you give up rights to Zac, your father will never be able to fuck up his life like he did yours.” Ryan scooted closer to the edge of his seat. “I know thatyour father treated you unfairly, Jake. I should have helped you more, as your friend. I am going to help you now. Sign the papers today, and I will pay your attorney’s bills from here on. I will also give you $50,000 to make a fresh start when you get out of here.”
Jake smirked at Ryan, “And why would you just give me $50,000 to make a fresh start? What’s in it for you?”
Ryan sat back in his seat. “I want you to leave here. Move far away and never have any contact with Jenna or Zac. It’s written into the paternity agreement. If you come near either of them. You will violate our agreement and your parole. They will put you back into this place, and even Daddy won’t be able to save you then.”
Jake blew out a breath. “No contact at all? Damn, I’ll have to take them off my Christmas card list.” Now, Jake was just yanking his chain. Ryan stood, slapping the glass with the palms of his hands. Jake jumped back at Ryan’s unexpected display.
“No contact! And Jake, if you do ever try to contact or come after any of my family members again, you won’t have to worry about prison because they can’t arrest a dead man.” Ryan sat back down in his chair and tried to look relaxed. He wanted to let Jake take a few minutes to process it all. His heart was racing. Jenna’s and Zac’s futures depended on the next few seconds.
Jake seemed to be considering Ryan’s offer. He looked down at the chains connecting him to the cubicle, as if just now being reminded of where he was. Jake slowly shook his head, and Ryan’s heart sank. Was he going to deny his son a happier life than he had? Could Jake be that selfish? Jake seemed to reconcile with himself and exhaled another deep breath.
“I’ll sign it.” Jake stood, yelled for the guard behind him, and was gone. Ryan sat, speechless, not sure he had heard Jake at all. Had he just agreed to sign over full custody of Zac to Jenna? A guard walked into the visitors’ side and held out his hand, presumably for the papers that Jake agreed to sign. He told Ryan to wait up front for him. About ten minutes later, the same guard met him, returning the signed papers. They had them witnessed and notarized, something Ryan forgot to ask for. Ryan thanked the guard and walked slowly back to his pick-up truck. For the first time in a long time, he could feel himself breathe like a weight had been lifted from his chest.
The whole conversation with Jake seemed like a blur, like it was all a dream. He realized that before this moment, he didn’t believe that Jake would ever give Jenna full custody. It was almost too easy. Jake swore that he would take Zac away from her in his nasty, threatening letters. The Ashbrook’s’ letters weren’t much nicer. They promised to make Jenna’s life a living hell by helping their precious son get Zac away from her. They said that they would use all their resources available to them to make her pay for keeping their grandson from them.
Now, according to Tom, that would be impossible for them to do. They would never be able to get their hands on Zac. But the best part of this whole morning was that Jake would never be a part of his family’s lives again. He couldn’t imagine the relief that this news would be to them all, especially Jenna. Now he could ask her to marry him and tell her that he wanted to be Zac’s legal father. He already felt like he was Zac’s dad; now they could have a piece of paper to make it all legal.
But telling Jenna without her being furious at him for going behind her back was another story. His girl would be pissed that he made another decision for her and Zac, especially one sohuge. He would just need to sit her down and tell her that he did what was right for her and her son. He would convince her that he was right to protect them both, even if that meant going behind her back to talk to Jake. The result was that they were free, and that is all that mattered. Now, he just had to make Jenna see reason.
∞
Jenna could hear Ryan’s truck pull into her driveway, and her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest. She knew that she was being a bit bold, but she hoped that Ryan liked her idea. He liked to control her in the bedroom, but by meeting him this way, she was taking a bit of his control. Meeting him naked in the family room, blindfolded, really took her out of her comfort zone, but she knew that this would get his attention. She needed to finally tell him, really tell him, that she loved him. The first time she let those words slip out, she ended up asking him to leave. She hadn’t meant to accidentally tell him that she was in love with him. She needed him to know how he had not only become a part of her, and Zac’s lives but also a part of her soul. She was his, completely. She just needed to put away all of life’s little distractions that kept popping up, like the Ashbrook’s threatening letters and the lawyer’s demands, and show Ryan how much he meant to her.
Ryan’s key in the lock made her nipples hard with anticipation. The blindfold seemed to heighten her senses and reactions. She could feel her breathing intensify and her gasp when Ryan’s keys hit her hardwood floor. Jenna could hear his ragged breath and the door slam behind him. Was he mad?
“Um,” she squeaked.
“Don’t fucking say a word,” he rasped.
His voice sounded gruff and aroused—possibly even angry. She couldn’t tell which, and her plan suddenly seemed like a bad one. Too late to run away, she arched her back, thrusting her breasts towards where she heard him breathing.
He ran his index finger around her erect nipple, and she moaned. “What’s going on, Jenna?” He sounded amused.
“Well, I just thought—” He sucked her nipple into his hot, wet mouth, and her train of thought derailed, leaving her unable to finish her sentence.
“I like the way you think, honey. I love the way you were waiting for me. The blindfold is a nice touch.” He palmed her wet nipple and sucked the other into his mouth, giving it some needed attention.
“Where is Zac?” He asked, releasing her nipple for just a moment.
“Mom’s.” was all she could manage when he sucked her back into his sinful mouth.
Ryan rolled her back to lie on the sofa and spread her legs. “Hold still or I’ll tie you down, baby.” Jenna nodded, knowing that her words wouldn’t work right now. She heard some rustling and some cool air on her body. But mostly, she could feel his stare. It seemed to set her on fire, just knowing that he was standing over her, undressing while looking at her naked body.
“Touch your pussy, baby.” Jenna was hesitant at first to touch herself in front of Ryan. Usually, she fantasized about Ryan while touching herself, but never in front of him.
“Baby, I need to see you touch your pussy. Do it for me.” Ryan didn’t give her much of a choice. Jenna reached down and started to stroke her aching clit and moaned, squeezing her legs shut around her hand.
“No, baby, keep your legs spread. I want to see my pussy while you touch yourself. God, it’s so fucking wet. I can’t wait to put my mouth on you.” Jenna moaned at Ryan’s promise and dipped her fingers into her opening. She was wet. This little game was driving her crazy, in a very good way. This time, Ryan moaned as he spread her legs further apart. She could feel his breath on her wet folds, and she wanted his mouth on her. He pulled her wet finger from her drenched pussy and licked and sucked her juices off them.
“So, fucking good, baby. You taste so good.” He growled and sniffed her folds, licking her clit, and sliding two fingers into her greedy pussy. She moaned and rolled her hips, trying to take more of him. He laughed and held her down with his other hand. “Be still, baby, or I’ll keep you still.” Her moan turned into a frustrated groan, and he laughed again, sending vibrations through her folds. She was so close to release, she bucked again into his mouth. He growled against her aroused pussy and grabbed handfuls of her ass, hauling her up to his face, holding her still. He feasted on her until she couldn’t take any more. She came, shouting out his name.
∞
Ryan couldn’t believe his eyes when he returned home to find Jenna naked and blindfolded on the family room sofa. She was his dream woman, perfect for him in every way. When he got home, he had every intention of explaining to Jenna whathe’d done, his visit with Jake, and the good news that her legal battles were finally over. He was going to ask her to marry him and tell her that he wanted to adopt Zac. He bought her a ring after their first night together and knew that she was the one for him, but he also knew that proposing to her after one night of great sex would only scare her off. She needed time to see that he wasn’t going anywhere. She needed to start believing that he loved her and Zac and was in this relationship for the long haul. He wanted forever with Jenna and Zac. He wanted a big house with lots of kids running around. He needed to show her that he could take care of them and that they could be happy as a family. But seeing her on the sofa only made him want to strip and make her scream his name. Yeah, this woman was his. She seemed to be made for him.
