Reunited Read online

  “Eyes on me Lauren.”

  It was so hard to focus as my body experienced pleasure on a higher plane.

  “Look at me!”

  I had to force myself to focus on Jake’s words and fixed my lust-filled gaze on him.

  “It’s you and me. You and me. Don’t forget it!” His thumb rubbed harder and faster as he continued his merciless pounding into me, and I gripped the bars on the headboard so tight I thought they would break. My body rocketed to orgasm as everything inside me exploded. I had no more strength as Jake hammered me into the bed, his body tensing up as he came inside me. He collapsed beside me on the bed, panting heavily. We both lay there as we caught our breath, pulses still rocking my body, and then he told me I could take my hands off the bars.

  My arms were deliciously numb as I thought about what just happened. Best. Sex. Ever. After a few minutes, he turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow and looked at me, the longing so evident in his gorgeous dark eyes.

  “That was just the beginning Lauren. We’re just getting started.” His sexy smirk made my stomach do flips.

  “Tonight? We’re just getting started tonight?” I was exhausted! There is no way I have the energy to have another hot sex session tonight!

  Jake laughed out loud. “As much as I’d like to have you again,” he lifted a raised eyebrow at me. Dammit he was sexy! “I am totally spent. But there is much more ahead for you, for us. There are so many things I want to do to you Lauren Harper. And when the time is right, they will happen.”

  I was lying there processing what he said, trying to imagine how the sex could possibly be any hotter when I noticed the serious look on his face.

  “Is something wrong, Jake?”

  “No, no. I just hope that you are okay with this, with what happened tonight.”

  “Of course I am. If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be here. But here is the only place I want to be.”

  He glanced down at the bed.

  “Jake, look at me. Please.” I reached out and grabbed his hand. My eyes caught his and stayed. “I have wanted to be with you since the day I met you. I mean that with everything that I am.”

  He reached out to smooth the hair out of my eyes. “This is so crazy. I have dreamt of the day when I would get to see you again. I know this reunion trip started off rocky with us, but I want you to know that I am here. No games, no indecision. You are my priority and I want to make you happy.” He hesitated before he held my gaze and said the next words. “I love you Lauren. I never stopped loving you.”

  As the tears filled my eyes, I had never felt happier. “I love you too Jake.”

  He leaned in to kiss me, one hand cupping my face, and then he pulled me to him in a big hug. We lay together, wrapped in each other’s arms, not speaking as we heard the faint sound of the waves lightly splashing against the side of the boat. He kissed the top of my head and lightly stroked my arm.

  “We’re going to have to figure out the distance issue, sweetie. Have you ever considered taking the New York bar exam?”

  I let out a deep sigh. “That is one of the most difficult bar exams in existence. Wait.” I looked at him and he had a big smile on his face. “You’re thinking about me moving to New York aren’t you?” I playfully tapped him on the arm. “That thing is a BEAR Jake!” I settled back into his arms.

  “I don’t see any other way for this to work. I mean how are you going to spend your life loving me and raising our five children if you’re in a different city?”

  I quickly looked up at him, feigning shock. “How many children?”

  We laughed and then he got serious.

  “We really do need to figure out the distance issue.”

  “I agree with you Jake, but I think maybe we should spend some time together in our real lives, not secluded on a beautiful ship. We need to get to know each other as adults, don’t you think?”

  “You were always the reasonable one of the two of us, weren’t you? I knew there was a reason I loved you. Okay, so we’ll date and spend time together and get to know each other all over again. I’m looking forward to it. What are you doing a week from Saturday?”

  “You mean a week after we get home from this reunion trip?”

  “Yes, are you free?”

  His lighthearted tone, made me giggle.

  “I probably could arrange to be free Mr. Hunter.”

  “Good. I will fly in on the jet to visit you in Chicago for the weekend.”

  “Um, you just asked about Saturday. I didn’t say I was free Sunday.” I was having such fun teasing him.

  He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Saturday will run into Sunday for us.”

  There was no mistaking his sexy growl and what it implied. I felt the heat rise between my legs at the thought of what was to come with us.

  “Sounds perfect.” I snuggled into his arms and yawned.

  “Let’s get ready for bed. I have a t-shirt you can sleep in.”

  We got ready for bed and we brushed our teeth. Jake always carried spare toothbrushes with him when he traveled. He didn’t like the thought of using the same toothbrush for weeks on end if he ended up having to stay longer than anticipated on a business trip. Thank goodness, because I didn’t feel like going back to my room to get mine.

  As we crawled into bed we talked about the plans for the following day. We were going to Cozumel and planned to spend the day with Amy and Paul. We had plans to go to Dolphinaris where we could swim with the dolphins and we were going to go zip lining. I couldn’t wait. I was so excited for the next day and was so happy the way everything had turned out. As I curled up into the nook of Jake’s arm, I dozed off feeling happier and more at peace than I had ever felt in my life.

  CHAPTER 7

  The next morning I woke up pretty early and felt out of sorts as I glanced around the room not knowing where I was at first. Then reality set in and I stretched as butterflies fluttered in my belly and I remembered where I was. I heard the shower and realized that Jake had let me sleep a little longer while he got ready. So this wasn’t a dream! I bounded out of bed and noticed a note next to my clothes.

  I didn’t want to wake you, sweetheart. If you’re still sleeping when I get out of the shower, I’ll nudge you. J-

  I didn’t realize that I had a big goofy grin on my face until I saw my reflection in the mirror. You are love struck, missy! Yes I am!

  Just then I heard a knock at the door. Amy must be coming to check on me since I didn’t make it back to our room last night. I opened the door ready to tease her for being a mother hen, when I was greeted with the shocked face of Arianna Covington. A smirk spread across my face as she struggled to get her words out.

  “I, I, uh, I…was looking for Jake.” Her eyes narrowed as they surveyed my tousled hair and what was clearly his oversized t-shirt.

  “He’s in the shower. Did you want to leave him a message?” I couldn’t help but lace my words with sticky sweetness.

  “I, um, I…didn’t see him yesterday so I was wondering what he was doing today.”

  This girl was such a snotty witch and it gave me such pleasure to be able to throw “us” in her face. I answered her in my most condescending tone as I stood leaning with one hand on the door, the other on my hip.

  “Well, Arianna, Jake was with me yesterday and Jake will be with me today. Is there anything else?” I gave her a pointed smirk, silently daring her to ask more questions.

  She looked sheepish and embarrassed as it finally registered that Jake and I were back together. “No. Sorry to have bothered you.”

  As I closed the door, I burst out laughing. It felt good to have the upper hand with Arianna.

  “What’s so funny there, lady?”

  I turned to see Jake standing in just a towel, a few droplets of water still glistening on his skin, and I was stunned into silence. His dark hair was wet and pushed out of his face, his chiseled chest and stomach looked delicious, and he was simply beautiful. He was waiting for my answe
r and I had to force myself to put two words together. Before I could speak, he swiftly came over to me and leaned down to kiss me.

  “Good morning.” His smile made my toes curl.

  I smiled back at him, flirtatiously batting my lashes. “Good morning.”

  “Now, what was so funny?”

  “Arianna stopped by and I don’t think she was expecting to see me.”

  He grabbed me and pulled me close to him, fresh soap flooding my nostrils. “Everyone better get used to seeing you with me.”

  “And vice versa.”

  He playfully swatted me on the butt. “You better get ready. We have a big day ahead of us.”

  ***

  After breakfast, I had to run back to my room to grab my purse which I had forgotten to bring with me to the dining room. As I was walking back to meet Jake, Amy, and Paul, I ran into Adam.

  “Hey there. I was looking all over for you yesterday. I was hoping we could hang out a bit today in Cozumel.” He really was sweet and was so good-looking, but my heart belonged to someone else.

  “I’m sorry Adam. I already have plans for the day.”

  “Jake, huh?”

  “Yes, I’m sorry.” I genuinely was sorry because Adam had liked me for so long and the timing was never right for him.

  “He’s a lucky guy.”

  “Thanks. I better get going.”

  “Have fun today.”

  I smiled at him and started to walk away.

  “Lauren?”

  I stopped to turn and look at those gorgeous blue eyes.

  “If it doesn’t work out, you know where to find me.”

  What’s that? Was I feeling a twinge of butterflies? I pushed the thought out of my head and told Adam to have a fun day.

  Just as I joined Jake, Amy and Paul, people were exiting the ship.

  “There you are! Did you get lost?” Jake grabbed my hand and his smile washed away any pangs I may have felt about turning Adam down for the millionth time.

  We were all walking toward the end of the dock when I noticed a stunningly beautiful woman standing down there looking as if she was searching for someone. As we got closer Jake was squeezing my hand. I looked up at him wondering what was wrong and saw a clear look of anger on his face.

  “Do you know her?”

  “That’s Vivienne. What the hell is she doing here?” He was clearly pissed.

  I suddenly felt a big knot in my stomach. This cannot be good. Amy glanced over at me and raised her eyebrows. I shrugged back at her having no idea why this girl was in Cozumel.

  “I’m sorry Lauren. I better go talk to her, I’ll be right back.” When he let my hand drop from his, I felt a huge sense of loss. My instincts had always been pretty strong and I could tell something was wrong.

  “Who is that?” Amy sounded as annoyed as I felt.

  “His ex-girlfriend.”

  “No! Why is she here?”

  “I have no clue.”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing.” Paul was trying to pacify the situation, which I appreciated, but he was clueless. This girl wanted something from Jake and I was worried that what she wanted was his heart.

  We stood chatting for nearly 30 minutes and we were anxious to get on with our day. After a few more minutes he was finally walking back toward us and Amy and Paul told me they would wait for us at the souvenir shop that was close to the dock.

  As Jake walked toward me, I glanced over his shoulder to see Vivienne still standing there. As he got closer I could see that his face was as white as a ghost and he was trembling.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?! Why is she here?” I was scared and worried at the same time.

  “I gave her the itinerary for this trip before we broke up so she flew here to meet me.” He sounded like a zombie and showed zero emotion as he spoke.

  “Well, can’t you tell her to go home? To get on with her life?” I was getting irritated now. Who does this woman think she is?

  Jake turned sad eyes toward me and struggled to get his words out.

  “Whatever it is Jake, we’ll be okay. We can deal with anything. It’s you and me, remember? Tell me what’s wrong.” I held onto his hands so he could feel that I was there for him.

  “Vivienne is pregnant.”

  ***

  Part two of Jake and Lauren’s story coming soon!