Jack and Kate walked toward Kasey's room slowly. The door was closed so Jack knocked lightly and pushed it open enough to look inside. Kasey saw him and greeted him with a big smile. Her smile faded however, when she saw Kate enter the room with him, his hand clutching hers tightly.
"How are you feeling Kasey?" Jack asked.
"Kind of irritated actually, I mean I did cut my wrists, which I agree was a stupid thing to do, but I'm not crazy and I don't understand why I have to stay and talk to some shrink." Kasey complained.
"It's kind of a standard rule Kasey. Doctors don't like to send patients back out into the world to harm themselves if they can prevent it." Jack offered his tone clinical.
"So are you going to introduce me to your friend Jack?" Kasey asked.
Jack could feel Kate's grip on his hand tighten and knew she was ticking. He squeezed back, his signal for her to chill out, which was returned by a cold hard stare that would've frightened him if he didn't know it was meant for Kasey and not him. He fought the urge to smile and cleared his throat.
"Kasey this Kate, she's my uh, is it okay to tell people?" He asked Kate.
"Tell people what? That you proposed to me? Sure baby, shout if from the rooftops if you want to." Kate laid it on thick, wrapping her arm around his waist and snuggling up to him and rubbing her hand over his chest.
He looked down at her, not sure whether to laugh at this sexy, clingy, obnoxious to show off her boyfriend version of Kate or whether to find it cruel. He decided he kind of liked having someone in his corner and let her carry on with her charade.
"You're engaged Jack?" Kasey asked, looking hurt.
"Yeah Kasey I am. Does that really matter to you? I mean there's nothing between us right?" Jack asked, his tone no longer clinical, just flat and unfeeling.
"But you said you were going to make sure I didn't go through the rest of this alone." Kasey argued.
"Yes I did and I meant I'd be your friend, make sure you had what you needed, make sure you had a roof over your head, make sure we get the proper legal representation to take care of putting him up for adoption." Jack explained.
"You don't want him?" Kasey asked.
"Kasey, it isn't about what I want, it's about what is best for the baby." Jack told her.
"But what if I decide I want to keep him?" Kasey asked.
"Then I guess I'll have to get an attorney and sue for custody or set up a lifetime of support payments that would be made through the courts. Either way Kasey, you and me doing anything together is never going to happen. I'm not going to come over and play daddy on the weekends if you decide to keep him and I can't win sole custody of him." Jack said coldly a hint of anger in his voice.
"But, I thought you wanted to try to make up for the way you treated me." Kasey said producing some tears for him.
"Just stop it Kasey. I know all about you and I know that wasn't your first time. Why would you lie about something like that?" Jack asked.
"I just wanted you to like me Jack. You're the kindest, sweetest man I've ever met." Kasey said her tone defeated, her pouting and sadness starting to get to Jack.
He started to speak and his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and sighed.
"I've got to take this, excuse me." Jack said and left the room.
Kate walked over and stood beside Kasey's bed, eyeing her up and down and then smiling a fake, concerned smile. Kasey rolled her eyes at her.
"Give me a break Kate, you could care less about me. So, if you really managed to snag the good doctor where's the ring?" Kasey asked her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"That's kind of personal Kasey. I probably shouldn't share it with you." Kate offered.
"Yeah right, you aren't engaged, he's just saying that so I'll leave him alone." Kasey accused.
"No actually, he was making love to me when he proposed and his hands were too busy to be bothered with a ring." Kate teased her.
"I've had sex with Jack. No big deal." Kasey bit back.
"Exactly sweetie, you've had sex with him, but you've never had him make love to you, sweet and tender, his kisses so hot and passionate you can feel the electricity down to your toes and you better believe it's a big deal. Trust me, once you've had Jack, you'll never go back, but you've never had Jack, not the real Jack so why not end this little charade and get on with your life." Kate suggested.
"Is it true you're a fugitive, that you murdered your father in cold blood?" Kasey asked her tone bitchy and cold.
"That's a mystery now isn't Kasey, but I have to ask you something sweetie." Kate said as she drew closer to the bed and tucked the blankets around Kasey's waist.
"What's that dear?" Kasey asked sarcastically.
"If I'm really capable of murder do you really want to keep fucking with the man I love?" Kate whispered in her ear.
"Did you just threaten me?" Kasey asked.
"Guess you can figure that one out. What do you want from him Kasey?" Kate asked.
"What do you want from him Kate?" Kasey turned the question back.
"I don't want anything from him Kasey." Kate shot back.
"Oh sure you don't. White trash girl from the Midwest is lucky enough to get stranded on the same island with hot, wealthy, single doctor." Kasey badgered.
"No Kasey, I was the lucky one. Kate was the only thing that kept me from going crazy through that ordeal, but that's not what we're here to discuss. What do you expect from me Kasey? I don't understand what it is exactly you're after. Is it money?" Jack added from the doorway.
"I just want you to acknowledge our son, to not write us off." Kasey said.
"Please don't refer to him as our son, like he's something we both wanted that was created during a tender loving moment because we both know it wasn't like that. God, would you just stop it!" Jack insisted.
"How can you be so cruel? Why can't you find some way to fit us into your life?" Kasey turned on the tears.
That's not going to happen Kasey and you need to accept that and then you need to do what is best for that baby. Why in the hell weren't you honest with me the night you came to my door? Why tell me all this bullshit about adoption and moving to New York with your mother? What exactly is the game we're playing Kasey because I need to make sure I understand the rules." Jack lectured his voice rising, the anger and betrayal he was feeling starting to surface.
"Why don't you like me Jack?" Kasey asked her eyes filled with tears.
Kate could tell the tears and the pleas were getting to him, it's who he was, he was a kind, gentle person who didn't like hurting anyone and Kasey was pushing all the right buttons.
"She's good Jack, knows exactly how to get to you." Kate reminded him.
"Kasey, I don't even know you, but what little bit you've shown me, how am I supposed to like that? All you've done is lie to me and manipulate me. Why can't you just be honest?" Jack asked.
"People don't want honest Jack. What? I was supposed to just walk up to you and introduce myself and say that I really found you attractive and would like to get to know you?" Kasey asked.
"Well, that would've been better than trying to seduce me every time we were alone." Jack told her.
"You didn't seem to mind." Kasey argued.
"Didn't seem to mind? I was being polite Kasey, trust me, peeling you off of me once a week wasn't my idea of a good time. You can't just force men to want to be with you." Jack offered.
"Why not? I eventually cracked even you Jack." Kasey said hatefully.
"No, no you didn't. I was already broken by the time you got to me." Jack argued.
"So that's it? You're offering nothing but financial support?" Kasey asked.
"That's it Kasey." Jack said.
"I don't believe you Jack. I think once you see him, you'll want to be part of his life. I don't think you've got it in you to turn your back on your own son." Kasey dared.
"I guess we'll find out then. Your brother says you can stay with him until the baby is born. Call me when that happens and I'll make sure you're given a fair amount in child support." Jack said fed up with her.
"What if I don't think it's a fair amount?" Kasey asked.
"Then I guess you can hire an attorney and try to get more. Do what you want Kasey, I'm done with this." Jack said as he took Kate's hand and turned to walk away.
"What do you think of the name Christian?" Kasey asked stopping Jack in his tracks.
He quickly descended upon the bed and bent over Kasey, the index finger of his right hand in her face.
"You listen to me you little bitch, I am not playing this game with you and you do NOT want to fuck with me Kasey. I will win. Do you got that!" Jack seethed as Kate pulled him away from her.
"Jack, come on, save this for another time." Kate insisted as she tugged on him.
Kasey just smiled at him, happy that she'd finally found the right button to push. He wanted to slap, no punch her in the face, but finally gave into Kate and backed away. They walked out into the hall together, him running his hands over his cropped hair in frustration.
"And you were worried that I wasn't going to behave?" Kate teased.
"This is funny? Which part? The part where she wants me to raise a baby with her or the part where she wants to name it after my father!" Jack yelled.
"Hey! Knock it off! This is exactly what she wants from you Jack so don't give in to it and don't yell at me, I didn't do anything to you." Kate warned him.
"I really screwed up this time and I don't know how to fix it." Jack stressed.
"I don't know either Jack, but I do know it can't be fixed today. You're going to have to ride this one out and take it as it comes and you'll know what to do. You're a smart man you'll find a workable solution to this problem." Kate tried to assure him, settle him down, not allow him to fall into a self-loathing mode over the fate of an unborn child.
"This is sick Kate. She isn't crazy, she's a manipulative little bitch. How am I supposed to live with knowing some innocent child is going to be used as a pawn in this bizarre chess game she's playing with me?" Jack asked already starting to blame himself for what hadn't yet happened.
"That's a lot of emotion from a man who was beating himself up earlier for not being able to feel anything for his unborn child." Kate suggested.
"Just because I don't want to raise him, doesn't mean I don't care what happens to him." Jack snapped at her.
"You want to snap at me every time I try to offer some advice or comfort that's your choice Jack, but hell will freeze over before I'll just stand here and take it. Get over yourself! Everybody screws up, nobody is perfect! The difference between you and the loser who deserves the self-loathing you love to inflict on yourself is that you actually care when you screw up, you care about people and you do the best that you can to mend your mistakes so just stop it! You can't save the world Jack!" Kate yelled and walked away from him.
Jack watched her walk away, momentarily stunned by being put in his place by her……again. He snapped out of it and went after her, walking fast, almost jogging to catch her before she got on the elevator. Realizing he wasn't going to make it, he stopped and called out to her.
"Kate, please don't walk away from me." He pleaded his tone desperate and sad.
She let the doors close and turn around to face him. He approached her slowly, stopped in front of her and took hold of her hands.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I don't want to save the world Kate, I just want to do whatever I can to make my little corner of it better and so far, I've pretty much fucked that up." Jack admitted.
"I guess it probably seems that way to you Jack and I understand how difficult this must be for you, just try to remember that I'm on your side. Okay?" Kate said.
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her and kissed her.
"Okay." He said and smiled at her.
"So are we done here?" Kate asked.
"Yes, and unfortunately I have to go to work, that's what the phone call was." Jack answered.
"That's okay, I can go back to condo and wait on the new mattresses and hang out with Riley." Kate said and kissed him.
"You sure because Jennifer can keep her if you'd rather have some quiet time." Jack offered.
"No Jack, I think Riley has spent enough time with Jennifer and besides I happen to enjoy her, she's an amazing little kid." Kate said making him smile.
"She is pretty amazing and I really wanted to spend some time with her today." Jack said.
"You'll see her when you get home or are you planning on working all night?" Kate asked.
"I don't know how long I'll be. The kid with the titanium pins in his arm isn't doing as well as I'd like. Fever is high, the arm is infected. They called to let me know he's not responding to the antibiotics I prescribed this morning. I need to get down there and see what's going on, run some tests, see if there is anything more we can do to save his arm." Jack explained.
"I'm sorry Jack, I hope it works out." Kate told him as they stepped onto the elevator.
"Yeah, there's nothing like telling an 11 year old kid you're going to have to cut his arm off." Jack sighed heavily.
Jack drove Kate home and walked her to Jennifer's condo, introduced them and left. Kate spent about an hour talking with Jennifer waiting for Riley to wake up from her nap. She was a nice woman in her early 40s who had lost her husband very suddenly and was doing her best to raise her three children. That Jack had been so helpful to her since the loss of her husband didn't surprise Kate, it was typical Jack.
Kate finally gathered Riley and her things and they made the short walk to Jack's condo. Riley asked for her daddy pretty much non-stop from the moment she woke up from her nap, but Kate managed to keep her happy by telling her he was at work and would be home later. Kate played with her, read to her and watched a cartoon with her. She fed her some dinner and gave her a bath. They were sitting in the living room floor playing with some blocks when the phone rang. Kate picked up the phone and saw that it was Jack and held the phone up to Riley.
"Look Riley, daddy is calling to talk to you." Kate said as she answered the phone.
"Hey." Jack said.
"Hey, somebody wants to talk to you. Do you have time?" Kate asked.
"Yeah sure." Jack answered softly.
Kate put the phone up to Riley's ear.
"Say hi to Daddy." Kate coaxed.
"Daddy hi." Riley said into the phone and even though she couldn't see it, Jack grinned from ear to ear, the first time he'd had a reason to smile in hours.
"Hi baby, are you being a good girl?" Jack asked in his kindest voice.
"I good. Daddy home!" Riley demanded.
"Daddy wants to come home. Soon, okay." Jack said.
"Bye daddy." Riley said at Kate's coaxing knowing Jack was probably too busy to try to carry on for too long with her.
"Bye sweetie." Jack said and waited for Kate to return.
"How's it going?" Kate asked.
"Not so great. I'm waiting to talk to his parents and I need to leave some instructions in case he slips during the night. I should be home in about an hour. Should I bring some dinner?" He asked.
"I'm fine and Riley ate." Kate said.
"Did the mattresses come?" Jack asked.
"Yeah and they hauled the old ones off. We're fine Jack, so just come home as soon as you can." Kate said.
"Okay, and thanks Kate." Jack said.
"For what?" Kate asked.
"For being you, you're pretty amazing too you know and I probably haven't told you that enough." He said his voice tired, but calm.
"You're sweet Jack, maybe you just bring out my better qualities." She said.
"I don't know about that, but I do love you and I appreciate you so the next time I act like an ass will you remember that?" He asked.
"I never forgot Jack and since that little outburst today could technically qualify as a fight, we've got some making up to do so hurry home." Kate told him making him laugh lightly.
"I guess I better hang up and get busy with this doctor stuff so I can get home then." Jack agreed before saying a final goodbye and ending the conversation.
Kate tossed the phone onto the coffee table and directed her attention back to Riley who was snuggled up with her blanket and puppy, eyes drooping, trying to fall asleep. Kate thought about trying to keep her up until Jack got home so he could see her, but it was late for her so she picked her up and lay on the couch with her. Both were asleep within minutes.
Jack came through the door about an hour and a half after he'd finished talking to Kate. He closed the door, locked it and looked around the quiet room. He walked into the living room where Kate and Riley were sleeping soundly on the couch and smiled. He stood beside the couch and looked down at them. Riley was curled up next to Kate, her head resting on her bosom and Kate lay on her back with a protective arm around the small child. Both looked small, sweet and peaceful and served as a perfect reminder of all that was good in his life. He pulled his phone out and took a picture of them, realizing Kate would kill him for doing it, but deciding he needed a picture of it, something he could pull out and look at the next time he felt like everything he touched turned to shit.
He put the phone on the coffee table, reached down and picked Riley up. She stirred for a moment before resting her head on his shoulder, arms and legs curled up underneath her, trying to press as close to his chest as she could. He put his hand on her back for security and enjoyed the feeling of pure bliss that holding your sleeping, trusting two year old could bring. He carried her into her bedroom and put her in her bed, making sure her blanket and puppy were nearby before covering her up and kissing her goodnight.
"We'll spend some time together tomorrow. I promise." He whispered before turning and leaving the room.
He walked into his bedroom and turned the lights on. The new mattresses made the bed much higher than it used to be and the new sheets and comforter and throw pillows made it look tempting and inviting. He was tired, too tired for make up sex or any sex for that matter. The lack of sleep the night before, the long day and the unexpected shift at the hospital had left him with nothing left to give physically or emotionally. He turned away from the bedroom and walked back out to the living room. He shook Kate gently until she opened her eyes, finally focusing and smiling at him.
"Let's go to bed." He said softly as he grabbed the remote and turned the television off.
She sat up and finally stood, took his hand and walked into the bedroom with him. She watched him strip down to his boxers and then took her jeans off, deciding the t-shirt she had on could serve as her sleeping attire for the night. She looked at the bed uncertain and he looked at her, unsure of what the problem was.
"What's wrong? Do you still want the other side?" He asked.
"No, this side is fine, I was just wondering if I might need a step ladder to get into it." She commented making him laugh.
"It's definitely up there. A fall out of this bed could be life-threatening." He joked.
She crawled up into the bed and he met her in the middle, pulling her into his chest and abdomen and spooning his body around her, letting the blankets fall at their shoulders.
"You feel so good. Can I get a rain check on the make up sex?" He mumbled sleepily.
"Too pooped to pump huh?" Kate teased.
"Cute, but unfortunately true. If I tried it would be so bad you'd never want to make up with me again." He yawned.
"Goodnight Jack." Kate said as she wrapped her arms over his and went back to sleep.
Kate could hear a faint crying or whimpering. She thought she was dreaming at first and opened her eyes, listening and hearing it again. She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep, but was still wrapped up in Jack's arms and he was sleeping hard, so hard she hated to wake him, but Riley was crying and she sounded like she was close.
"Jack, wake up." She said loud enough to wake him.
"What's wrong?" He asked startled and confused, pulling away from her.
"I hear Riley crying, shh, listen." Kate said.
Jack sat up on his elbows and listened and he heard it too. He could tell she was in the room with them and glanced over his side of the bed, chuckling lightly at what he found. What he saw in the dim light of the nightlight they kept in the wall so Riley wouldn't break her neck while motoring around in the middle of the night was amusing to him. He put both his arms and hands over his side of the bed.
"Come here baby, it's okay." Jack said holding his arms out to the little girl.
Riley reached out to him and he picked her up and set her on the bed in-between himself and Kate.
"The bed's too tall she couldn't see us. She was just sitting on the floor crying." Jack said still chuckling lightly over it.
"Oh, that's so sad, stop laughing you big meanie." Kate said and slapped his arm.
"Can you imagine what it must've looked like to her?" Jack laughed.
"Jack, stop laughing, you're really warped sometimes." Kate said and kissed the little girl on the forehead trying to coax her to lie back down.
"Daddy gone." Riley whined her bottom lip still puffed out.
"Daddy's not gone, it's just a big bed. Can you say big bed?" Jack
"No! Daddy hug!" Riley demanded still a little freaked out over not being able to find him.
Jack felt bad for laughing, the child was obviously still traumatized over waking up to no mother and thought she'd awakened to no father. He kissed her on the cheek and hugged her and let her snuggle up next to him the way she did their first few nights together.
"Kate hug!" Riley demanded without moving from the security of her father's embrace.
Kate moved over Jack's outstretched arm and kissed Riley on the cheek and hugged her, snuggling in beside them, staying there until the child drifted off to sleep. Kate started to move over and give Jack and Riley room to breathe, when she felt his hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry Kate, she's usually not this clingy. I guess it freaked her out when she couldn't find me." Jack apologized.
"It's not a problem Jack. Togetherness is nice, but just so you know, she is the only woman I'm willing to share our bed with." Kate told him before leaning over her and kissing him and then settling back down for the night.
Kate awoke to the sound of water running in the bathroom. She looked over to find Jack was gone, but Riley was still asleep. She looked at the clock beside the bed. It was 7 AM. She wondered if he ever slept in. He came out of the bathroom showered and dressed for the hospital. She looked at him with questioning eyes.
"I've got to go to the hospital Kate, I'm sorry, I know it's early, but unfortunately this is my life some days." Jack apologized.
"Is it the kid, the one with the broken arm?" Kate asked.
"Yeah, he's probably going to lose his arm today." Jack said stoic, already in doctor mode.
"Call me later if you need to talk." Kate offered.
"I'll call regardless. Do you want me to take her to Jennifer?" Jack asked pointing to Riley.
"No, I think we'll hang out and do girl stuff, maybe go for a walk." Kate said.
"Want some money?" He asked.
"Nope, we're good." Kate answered.
He approached the bed, leaned in and kissed Riley gently and then kissed Kate, a kiss that went deeper and longer than the quick goodbye peck he'd intended. He finally pulled back.
"I gotta go Kate." He said in a breathy, rushed tone.
"I know." She said and kissed him one more time.
The day went along and of course Jack never called, she didn't expect him to, she'd seen how he was on the island, always working, never slowing down. That wasn't new behavior developed for their unique circumstances, it was part of who he was. He was easily the most driven individual she'd ever known. She spent the day with Riley, they went for a walk and they played with dolls and had lunch together and Kate lay down with her until she fell asleep when it was nap time. Kate never would've imagined herself in this role, but she kind of liked it. Having this sweet little girl hanging on her every word and wanting nothing more than to spend time with her and then having this sweet, charming hunk of a man come home wanting nothing more than to spend time her was a world she'd never known or ever believed she know.
Jack strolled through the front door around 6 PM ready to take the two women in his life out for dinner, but instead found dinner and the two women in his life waiting on him. He followed the aroma into the living room. Riley was sitting on the floor playing with her toys. He could see the dining room table was set and he wasn't sure what was cooking, he just knew the smell was making his mouth water.
"Hey squirt." Jack said getting Riley's attention.
She immediately stood up, walked over to him and put her arms out to be picked up.
"Daddy up!" Riley demanded.
"Say please Riley." He said.
"Peas." Riley said and grinned at him making him laugh.
He picked her up and hugged her, nuzzling at her neck, his 5 o'clock shadow scratchy and tickling her making her giggle happily. He settled her down and walked into the kitchen with her in his arms to find Kate busily preparing whatever it was that smelled so wonderful.
"If I wasn't in love before I am now." He teased.
"My grandma use to tell me the way to man's heart is through his stomach, must be true." She teased back.
"I forgot to eat today, so tonight that would be true." He said.
"Jack, how does a person forget to eat? That's just weird." Kate scoffed.
"Okay, so not so much forgot, but otherwise occupied when the hunger pains would hit. I never would've pegged you as a domestic goddess. What did you make?" He asked.
"Domestic goddess would be a stretch, but I can cook Jack. Do you like pot roast?" She asked.
"Of course, but where'd you get the pot roast?" He asked.
"Jennifer and I went grocery shopping. You owe her $142.36 by the way." Kate told him and handed him the grocery receipt.
"What'd you do, buy the whole cow?" He laughed.
"No just the things necessary to make the kitchen functional and appropriate for a house with a toddler in it. Honestly Jack, did you expect her to live on cereal and ice cream?" Kate teased stopped on her way to the stove by his putting his arm around her waist and pulling her toward him, kissing her until Riley began pushing them apart.
"My Kate!" Riley told him.
"My Kate!" Jack mocked the child making Kate laugh.
"No, mine!" Riley squealed and giggled as he tickled her.
"Enough, there's enough of me to go around. Now go put your daughter in her chair so we can eat." Kate told him.
"Okay, but just so we're clear, you are MINE tonight." He told her mimicking Riley and kissing her one more time.
"Really, hmm, I was planning on soaking in a hot bubble bath tonight. Does this mean I won't be soaking alone?" Kate asked him in a seductive tone, making him swallow hard.
"Oh sure, put that image in my head and expect me to sit still through dinner." Jack commented and left the kitchen to put Riley in her chair.
They enjoyed their first dinner as a family talking about their day, Jack explaining how brave his young patient had been about losing his arm, telling Jack that he was glad it wasn't his pitching arm. Kate was amazed at how Jack could flip a switch and go from the all business surgeon that walked out the door that morning to this seemingly normal, somewhat happy guy that came back through the door in the evening. How he could talk about cutting off a kid's arm and take a bite of meat at the same time would always remain a mystery to her though, she was sure of that.
He volunteered to do the dishes, but Kate insisted he spend some time with Riley while she did it, not solely for the purpose of them having some bonding time, but because she'd been with Riley all day and was in serious need of a break from her. Jack sensed that and volunteered to bathe her and get her ready for bed if Kate wanted to go take a walk or something after she finished cleaning up the kitchen. Kate was being a real trooper, but he knew she wasn't used to being around kids anymore than he was.
Later that evening Kate walked into Riley's bedroom to tell her goodnight. Jack was lying down with her until she fell asleep. Kate leaned in and kissed her and hugged her.
"Nite cutie, I'll see you in the morning." Kate told her.
She then leaned in and kissed Jack.
"I'm going to go run that tub of water, see you in a few minutes cutie." Kate said making him grin.
With Riley sleeping soundly, Jack eased himself away from her and left the room. He walked into the bathroom to find the mirrors fogged up and Kate completely relaxed in the Jacuzzi tub in the far end of the bathroom. He walked over to the tub and sat down on his knees beside it, grabbing the sponge, dunking it in the water and gliding it slowly over her upper chest. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"Planning on joining me?" She asked.
"You look so peaceful and relaxed. I'd rather just pamper you with this sponge." He said sweetly.
"So join me and you can be peaceful and relaxed too." She coaxed.
"Tonight was great Kate, thanks. I don't expect you to turn into Suzie Homemaker, but I will be honest and tell you that I liked it, liked it a lot and appreciated it." He said.
"I liked it a lot too Jack, but I don't expect I'll ever turn into your mother." Kate offered making him chuckle.
"God I hope not. I don't want you to be anything but what you want to be, promise me you won't ever pretend for my sake." He said.
"I promise, now are you going to kiss me or what?" She asked.
He stood and leaned over the side of the tub to kiss her, she grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him closer, taking the kiss deeper, sucking him in completely before finally tugging hard enough to pull him off balance and into the tub with her. He went in awkwardly, trying not to hurt her by allowing too much of his weight to land on her at once. He came up, his face covered with bubbles and her laughing as she wiped them away.
"Are you okay?" She giggled.
"You're going to pay for that." He told her.
"Yeah, what are you going to do? Spank me?" She teased.
"That would be fun and I might do that anyway, but I'll make you pay by making you beg." He said in a husky voice as his hand slipped between her legs, making her whimper.
She helped him peel his wet clothes off and toss them onto the bathroom floor. He hovered over her in the water and brought his mouth to hers, their faces wet from the bath water, their mouths open, tongues dancing together, his excitement pressing against her thigh making her want him. He flipped her over onto his lap and sat up in the water, her arms around the back of his neck, his mouth moving from her mouth, down her neck to her chest and breasts, her arching her back so he can have better access to them, his fingers and his tongue teasing her nipples, her ready to mount him, but stopped by him turning her over again.
He brought his mouth back down to her neck and upper chest while his hand worked its way between her legs, penetrating her and slowly moving in and out and then stopping, sliding his hands slowly up her sides and turning them over again, her lying on top of him, swirling her tongue over his nipples and his hand finding its way back down and penetrating her again, from behind, making her rock back and forth, wanting him inside of her, but him refusing to allow her to connect them.
She finally brought her head up to look at him, the grin on his face making her let out a big sigh and a small laugh before giving in to him.
"Okay Jack, I'm begging. Please make love to me." She said.
"That's not begging Kate." He said and added a third finger in an attempt to simulate the thickness she wanted so desperately. Pushing them in deep and slow, stretching her, making her grind hard into his pelvis.
"Oh Jesus Jack, please, I need you now." She panted into his ear as his hand pounded a little harder into her.
He moved her down until she was straddling his thigh, going back to two fingers afraid he might hurt her. She rocked against his thigh as his fingers moved in and out, not able to get the right contact to find relief and starting to get a little crazy.
"Jack now!" She demanded making him laugh.
He lifted her out of the water and took his time drying both of them with a towel. He led her into the bedroom, pulled the bed coverings all the way back and crawled onto the bed with her. They lay side by side looking into one another's eyes, him gently caressing the side of her face. He pulled her close to him, wrapping his arm around her back, kissing her longingly as he lifted her leg and penetrated her again, using just one finger this time, sliding it in and out and up and over her crease, slowing their kissing down to deep, sensual, tongue-probing butterflies in the stomach masterpieces.
He finally rolled her onto her back, moving over her, legs opening up for him, allowing her to put him into position and then pushing into her quick, the warm, soft slippery vice around him making him groan, holding his position, waiting for her to adjust before he began making love to her. Holding himself up on outstretched arms he moved in and out of her slowly, maintaining eye contact with her, watching her face as her orgasm built and then finally released, clamping around him, legs holding him still so he couldn't move again until she was finished.
Putting her arms around his neck she pulled him closer to her until their bodies were touching. He turned them over and sat them up. She kept her arms around him, kissing him, riding him slowly up and down, watching his face as his release got closer and closer, his eyes finally closing tight, his seed filling her while she climaxed around him, both of them shaking, bodies sweating and then finally settling, the only noise their labored breathing.
He finally rolled her over and pulled out of her, relaxing onto the bed, allowing his body to cool down while she gently ran her fingers over the hair on his chest. She finally moved next to him and lay her head on his chest, listening to him breathe, wondering which one of them would move first.
"I talked to your attorney today." Jack said making her look up at him.
"No, not about that, he gave the name and number of a guy that specializes in family law. Says I need to be ready for a battle and not to wait until the baby is born." He finished.
"Are you okay Jack? I mean, you've really been through a lot of shit. Are you seriously okay?" Kate asked, laying her head back down on his chest.
"I'm okay Kate, as long I've got you I'm okay." He said.
"That's flattering Jack, but I hope you'll trust me enough to talk to me when this all gets too crazy for you." Kate said.
"I'm talking to you now. I didn't eat today because I was busy shopping when I had a break." He confessed.
"Yeah, what did you buy?" She asked.
He slipped his hand under his pillow and pulled out a small, black box.
"This, so we can make it official." He said and put the box down on his chest in front of her face.
She lifted her head and looked at the box and then looked at him.
"What is it?" She asked, feeling stupid because she knew what it was.
"Kate, you said you wanted to get married. Have you changed your mind?" He asked picking up on her uneasiness.
"No, I'm just not used to people buying me things and you seem to be doing a lot of that lately." She said.
"Well open it then." He pushed.
She picked up the box and opened it. Inside was a diamond solitaire engagement ring, simple, but beautiful.
"It's beautiful." She said as the tears began streaming down her face.
"Hey, don't cry, it's supposed to be a happy thing." He tried to comfort her.
"It's just that it's real now." She cried.
"Is that bad?" He asked with a light laugh.
"No, I guess I just never thought………..I love you Jack." She said and hugged him and kissed him and let him slip the ring on her finger and eventually make love to her again the obstacles they faced over the next few weeks not putting a damper on their private celebration.