Mind Blowing, page 16
Jace moved back behind his desk, sitting down and clicking around the keyboard. “I’m sending you a file I compiled once you told me you wanted to keep the kid.” He hit one more button with flourish. “It’s a list of daycares he’s on the list for, as well as profiles of some nannies in case you want to go that route. They’re old and married. I figured it would complicate things if you started fucking the chicks you pay to help with your son.”
“Uh, thanks, but you’ve gotta chill with that shit. Callie isn’t used to having you run her life.” His phone vibrated in his pocket, alerting him of the information his twin sent. “And why do you assume the baby is a boy? You guys know something I don’t?” He glanced from face to face, stopping on Riley. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“Congrats, bro, it’s a boy.” Riley held his hand out for a high five, then pulled Jasper in for a hug.
“Are you serious? How can you tell and I can’t? It’s my kid. I figured my supernatural shit would be in hyperdrive or something.” Jasper could hear the heartbeat and sense the baby growing. Out of everyone in the pack, Riley had always been the best at getting a feel for the details when it came to the early stages of pregnancy.
Riley let him go, a goofy grin on his face. “I don’t know how, but I can tell he’s a little shifter in the making. Can’t explain it, never can. It just is.”
Jasper had great examples of fathers around him all the time. He’d been lucky enough to spend his childhood with his mother and stepdad, Charlie.
When he got to St. Leasing, he’d had all his coaches as role models.
“Well, shit. I’m going to have a son.”
Chapter Thirty
Callahan
Their first doctor’s appointment went well. The baby was growing and was healthy. They heard the heartbeat, neither one of them cried like those overjoyed couples in the movies. True to his word, though, Jasper had been next to her every step of the way. He even insisted on staying in the room for the pelvic exam. They compromised and he stood up by her head. Sure, he’d seen her naked, but spread out with her feet in stirrups wasn’t the same thing.
He dropped her back off at the clinic afterward. Maddi held extended hours for working parents a few times a month and Callahan easily lost herself in the ebb and flow of their patient-filled evening. They were supposed to do only physicals, to clear players as eligible to play sports. It never failed though, either the kids or their parents would ask for medical advice, or for them to treat small scrapes and injuries. She loved that each appointment had the potential to bring something new.
Callahan hadn’t given much thought yet to what she wanted to major in, or which career path to take, but nursing or something in the medical field was looking like an exciting possibility.
“You’re home. Did you eat?” Blake and Axie were on the couch, a giant bowl of popcorn between them and an ominous-sounding movie on the TV. “The guys went out for a run.”
Callahan hung her bag on the hook in the hallway before joining them in the living room. “It’s not odd to you two that they always go out to run after the sun goes down?”
“It’s cooler outside that way.” Blake spoke around a mouthful of popcorn and butter.
“It’s Colorado.” Callahan glanced at the backyard, the high that day hadn’t even reached eighty degrees. “And they only run at night.” It was something she’d thought was strange at first, and now it was downright bothering her. Jasper always brushed off her concern and questions, and it seemed Axie and Blake were doing the same thing.
“Boys are weird.” Axie waved away her observations, shoving popcorn into her mouth as well. “We’re watching scary movies.” She patted the cushion next to her. “Does powdered cheese bother you, or just melted? Blake dumped a whole bottle of the powered crap over the top of this popcorn like a savage.”
“I can go make you your own bowl.” Blake hopped up, dusting her hands on her yoga pants and leaving an orange smear.
“No, you don’t need to do that.” Callahan sat down beside Axie. “I ate a really late lunch with Maddi. I’m not really hungry.”
“Yeah, but if Jasper finds out we didn’t try to feed his baby mama, he’ll get all pissy.” Blake made her way into the kitchen and then came back tossing a banana her way. She held up a jar of peanut butter with a wink. “I hear this is your fav.”
She settled in beside her new friends and peeled the banana, dunking it into the peanut butter and trying to figure out what their ridiculous movie was even about. There was a clown, but like cotton candy cocoons and a spaceship? As she was about to start asking questions, the patio doors opened and three sweaty men walked into the room.
Jasper’s chest was heaving, like he’d only stopped running once he reached the yard. His skin was glistening and she could smell his yummy scent from all the way across the room. “You’re home. Did you eat?”
She held up her banana as Blake snickered beside her. “Told you.”
“Told her what?” He came farther into the room, wiping his face with a towel. Jace picked up Axie and placed her in his lap while Riley came out of the kitchen draining a large bottle of water. He glanced down at the tub of popcorn and made a face of disapproval, which Blake promptly ignored.
“I told her we had to feed her or you’d get pissy.” Blake palmed more popcorn into her mouth, smiling at Riley while she chewed messily.
Callahan could feel Jasper’s gaze on her, smell his scent. She was afraid to look at him, half dressed and gorgeous. She was having a harder and harder time trying to control her hormones when it came to him.
She knew how good he could make her body feel. She knew how amazing it would be. She also knew with sex came consequences, and some of those consequences were too high a price to pay. He already slept in her bed every night, rubbing her hips until she fell asleep. She refused to blur those lines even more by giving in to her silly whims.
“Do you want something else other than that or are you ready for bed?” He glanced down at his watch, the movement making her gaze jump to his dumb biceps. “I want to shower, but then I can come rub your back.”
“I’m fine.” She got to her feet, feeling out of sorts in a way she wasn’t used to. “I’m full, and yeah, I am really beat. It was a long day. I’m going to go ahead and get to bed.” He took a step, like he was going to follow her, so she held a hand out to stop him. “No. You take your time or shower, or uh, I don’t need…I’m fine. My back is great. Thanks.”
She left the room while not making eye contact with a single one of them on her way up the stairs. She was acting insane. She sounded insane. She knew that. She couldn’t stay downstairs and play the fifth wheel, or worse have Jasper come sit next to her and start rubbing her hips or trying to make her smile.
Even him caring whether she’d eaten, it was too much. She couldn’t start to fall in lust or love with the father of her child. They agreed to co-parents and shit, she thought as she rolled her eyes.
That was the agreed-upon plan and she refused to be the one to mess it all up. Life was already too complicated.
“Hey, what was that? Are you okay?” Jasper was in her doorway, having followed her whether she wanted him to or not.
Childishly, she put her hand over her eyes, holding out a hand again to try to stop him from getting any closer to her or her hormones. “I’m fine.”
“Callie, you’re curled up on the bed with one had over your eyes and a peanut butter banana in the other.” She felt the bed dip, damn him. “You don’t seem fine.” He pulled her palm from her face, a playful smirk on his face. “What’s going on?”
She looked at him, really looked at him.
It was an indulgence, and one she should’ve continued to avoid if she knew what was good for her.
His shirt was still off, his hair a disheveled mess. He was tan and put together in the most perfect way. Gorgeous. No doubt about it. He knew what to do with everything he had going on too.
More and more often, she was recalling their night together. She’d feel her temperature start to rise. She now knew what desire felt like and it was hard to ignore. Harder still with him in front of her being sweet and offering to rub her down as she fell asleep.
She was hormonal and constantly unsure of her next move, which was proving to be an intoxicating mix.
Chapter Thirty-One
Jasper
Jasper had come back from his run happy to see Callie was home safe and sound, and eating. His wolf had a thing about making sure she fed the baby. His wolf had increasing demands when it came to their offspring. Then she seemed to lose her cool a bit and she all but sprinted up the stairs to her room. He’d followed her to make sure she was okay, and also to make sure she didn’t end up tripping on the stairs in her rush.
He tried not to laugh as she put both palms over her eyes once again. “Can you not, um, can you put a shirt on?” Her heart was pounding, he could hear it. She was sweating too, but she did that sometimes. He figured it was the pregnancy. The hormones and the changes in her body. This though, what was going on tonight, this was different. She was flushed and her pulse was racing, her breathing shallow. Now she was asking him to put a shirt on? If he didn’t know any better….
“Are you turned on right now?” He couldn’t help the smirk on his face. She was stunning, and he’d wanted her again two beats after she’d climbed out of his bed all those weeks ago.
He’d jacked off over and over to the memory of them and their one night together. He hadn’t hit on her, and he hadn’t tried anything.
She was pregnant. They were going through so much while trying to figure out their future. For once in his life, he’d wanted to do right by someone. He wanted to be who she needed.
But if what she needed was a good fucking, he’d sure as hell deliver. “Callie?”
“I, uh, no. It’s not that. I don’t, um, that doesn’t happen.”
“Horny and shuddering?” He licked his lips. “Damn, baby.”
She swallowed thickly, letting her hands fall to her lap as she kept her pretty deep green eyes closed. “I am not horny,” she whispered that last word like she embarrassed to say it, let alone feel it. “These pregnancy hormones are wrecking my mind and my body, and sometimes when I look at you, I appreciate that, well, you’re attractive. Okay? You’re gorgeous and I don’t have control over my body at the moment, and it would help if you wouldn’t come in here half naked and smirking.”
“Callie.” He found her rambling both flattering and adorable. He scooted closer, placing his palms on her cheeks. “We’re a team, yeah?” She nodded. “When someone brings melted cheese into the house, I take care of it, right?” She nodded again. “The way you’re feeling right now, the things you want, I can take care of that too.”
“We shouldn’t cross that line again.” She shook her hair, the red locks moving across her chest. “Blurring the boundaries of what this is, of what we are, it’s not smart.”
It wasn’t smart; in fact, he knew it was utterly stupid. However, he’d be damned if he left her alone feeling empty and unfulfilled. It’s not like he’d let her go into town and find some random shithead to hook up with. That was his kid in there.
“You’ve got months of pregnancy hormones ahead of you. Let me help.”
She winced. “You’re making it sound like a chore.”
Jasper threw his head back, laughing loudly. “A chore? Oh hell no.” He also found it entertaining she couldn’t say sex, or fucking. It. That was how she was referring to their situation. “It would be my pleasure. I swear to you.” He moved his hand to the column of her slender throat. “I don’t just want you. I crave you. I touch myself all the damn time to the memory of your body moving underneath mine. The way I filled you up, the sweet little sounds you made. Fuck, Callie. Let me do this for you, for both of us.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded, her chest heaving.
That was all the permission he needed.
He used his grip to pull her closer, fusing his lips to hers. He hummed in satisfaction, rising on his knees to change the angle of their kiss.
She opened for him, lying back down on the pillows, her thighs parting to welcome him. He pressed his body against hers, groaning the second his cock touched her core, even with all the clothes between them.
She was writhing underneath him, pulling at the drawstring of his shorts. All her hesitation had vanished; she was nothing but a whimpering mess and he fucking loved it.
He pushed back, using one hand to pull her panties down her legs, only bothering to get one leg free. He wanted inside her, he wanted to take his time, to savor her.
But it was impossible, his need was too consuming. He trailed his palm up to her thigh, pushing it to the mattress as she freed his length. They were moving fast, both overcome with a want they didn’t know they’d been keeping at bay.
He slid inside her heat, groaning at how perfect she felt. “Fuck, Callie.” He buried his face in her neck, nipping and lapping at her skin. He’d never been with anyone like this, with no barrier.
He’d waited his whole life, thinking he’d save this part of himself for his mate. His forever. “I’ve never.” He didn’t need to finish his thought. He knew she understood.
Her nails were digging into his biceps, her hips rising to meet his. She was panting, her heart pounding at a rhythm that matched his own. He stared down at her, watching as her eyes closed and her lips parted. “More.”
He rose, one hand going to her thigh and one tightening on her throat. He surged inside her, pushing as far as he could go. He felt like he couldn’t possibly get deep enough. He wanted to fuck her soul.
Something fractured in his chest. A shiver traveled down his spine as his heart splintered wide open. The animal inside him came to life, fighting him for control. Mine.
He tensed, trying like hell to push his shifter back down into the depths where he’d been so content moments before.
It was no use.
His wolf took over, thrusting into her over and over, hard and intense. Jasper started to panic, but it was too late; he wasn’t in control anymore. His vision blurred, his spine tingling, his body vibrating, the magic building.
“Baby, look at me.” The command in his tone shocked him.
Callie opened her eyes, connecting with his. He was screaming in his mind, at war with himself in a way he’d never experienced. He wanted to save her, to stop this before it was too late.
“Stop me, Callie. Make this stop.”
She didn’t get it. She gripped him tighter, not allowing him to leave her body, not an inch. “No, don’t stop, please don’t stop.” He was powerless to the animal he shared his body with and the girl he didn’t know was his. “More.”
He’d never felt pleasure like this. Every drag of his cock inside Callie was utter ecstasy. “Fuck, baby, this…” He wanted to tell her this wasn’t right. This wasn’t what she wanted or deserved. She didn’t know what she was asking of him.
Mine. Ours.
He lost.
He held her gaze, enthralled with the way she shattered around him as he spilled everything he was inside her perfect body.
The air shimmered around them, the universe binding them to each other in an unbreakable bond.
She belonged to him, now and forever.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jasper
Jasper lay there, holding her in his arms until her breathing had evened out and her body went fully limp. It didn’t take long. He’d given her the really good dick. Unfortunately, he’d also given her his fucking soul. He left her sleeping peacefully in bed.
Holy shit.
He didn’t know the bonding would happen. He screamed at the stupid wolf inside him, strutting around like a happy fucker. What was that? A little heads-up would’ve been nice.
He’d had zero inclination that she was his, that Callie was his forever. When he came with nothing between them, he’d felt it. His entire world shifted, shimmering and blurring around the edges. His heart expanded, and his soul seemed to have left his body for actual moments.
He’d never come so fucking hard in his life. His balls ached.
He slipped out of bed, pulling his cell from his pocket, his hands shaking as he tried to type out a text to his group chat with Riley and Jace.
J: I need help. Meet me downstairs. Uh, 911 or SOS or whatever gets you fuckers to put your dicks away.
He pressed a kiss to Callie’s temple, pulling the covers tighter around her. Without his body heat, she’d get cold. He kicked off the blankets every night and it always made her spoon deeper into his warmth.
He sighed, tiptoeing out of the room and shutting the door quietly behind him.
He made his way quietly down to the living room, thankful for Jace’s pretentious yet always stocked bar cart. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, drinking it in one swallow and then pouring another.
“This better be an actual emergency.” Riley scrubbed his hands down his face. “I did, in fact, have my dick out.”
“Fuck. Fuck. Shit.” Jasper pulled at his hair frantically, finally allowing his freak-out to fully set in now that Riley was present. He could hear Jace making his way into the room. “I fucked up. I fucked up bad.”
“For the love of everything holy, spit out what the hell you did.” Jace sat down heavy on his couch, rolling his eyes at Jasper’s antics. “This is why I hate houseguests by the way.”
“I had sex with Callie.”
Riley snorted out a quick laugh. “Yeah, no shit.”
“No.” Jasper stood still, his heart pounding. “Like again, and without a condom this time.”
Jace rested his head on his fist. “Well, she’s already pregnant, what would a condom help at this point?”
