Jessa was an amazing mother, and that went without saying. However, unless Jackson needed to be spoken to as if he were a two-year-old, I would have to help break her from this. She might’ve been uncomfortable having this happen in a strange place, especially after she made a point to refer to Jackson’s sports accomplishments in the past tense.“You cool with resting on my couch, kid?” I asked, trying to feel the boy out. I wanted him comfortable, and comfort for a patient with epilepsy was also being aware that their seizure didn’t inconvenience anyone or serve to embarrass themselves in one way or another.“I’m cool with that,” Jackson said, his speech a bit slow but steady enough not to raise alarms with me.“What about you, Mom?” I said, looking back at Jessa, her eyes glossy. I could tell she was holding back tears.“We may need a ride home later,” she said with a smile at Jackson, “he’s usually pretty weak after one of these things.”“That’s why we’re going to put an end to them
The cool breeze flowed nicely from the shore over the patio lining each side of this square home. The house wasn’t too cold, given the wall that didn’t have the ocean views, and it had a long custom gas fireplace that had warmed the room just enough to knock any extra chill out of the air.I walked over to where Jackson sat on the chaise part of Cam’s soft cream-colored sofa. Everything was so relaxed in this home. But of course, it was Cam’s, and I would expect nothing less than a Cape-Cod style beach home décor. It was airy, spacious, and spotless with zero clutter.“Damn, looks like you’re still Clean-Cam, eh?” I teased.I was met with a dark stare from Jackson when my motherly instincts took over, and I grabbed a throw from the other side of the sofa and placed it over Jacks as if he were three.“Seriously, Mom?” Jacks said as if I’d embarrassed him in front of a girlfriend.I heard Cameron stifle a laugh, prompting me to turn back and look at him, watching me piss off my poor kid
“Right,” he said as if his point was being made, “and who said you hurt my feelings? Who gives a fuck if you hurt them or not? I’m a grown-ass man, and I can take it if someone doesn’t like something I do or don’t do.”“Fine, then,” I rose to meet his challenging banter. “If you can handle it, then maybe you’ll be fine with me saying that I didn’t appreciate having to learn the hard way that Jacks will most likely be paralyzed for God knows how long after this miracle cure of a surgery.”Cameron had eaten one and a half tacos in the time it took me to get all that out, all while putting a healthy dent into the guacamole.“Now we’re getting to a place where we can actually have a conversation.” He placed a whole, guacamole-loaded chip in his mouth, and his dark blue eyes widened in humor as he chewed it up.“Damn, when’s the last time you ate, a year ago?” I laughed, sat back, and proceeded to nurse my beer.“I ate this afternoon, but lunch sure as hell didn’t taste as good as this doe
“Be honest, Cameron. I need to know what we’re up against.”“All right, then,” he said, and then I wished I hadn’t asked for his candor. “Given his age and how mature his brain is at this age, honestly, he may never speak again. He may never regain function on the right side of his body. This is all dependent on the right hemisphere of his brain being able to pick up the functions that the left hemisphere normally is responsible for.” My hand instinctively covered the tiny gasp that escaped from my mouth as tears formed in my eyes.“Jessa, I want to spend more time with him,” he said.I brushed away the rogue tears and nodded.“I need to see how strong he is,” he continued. “It’s not like there are any other options with this medical condition, as this hemisphere of his brain is storming and actively dying. But if you want reassurance, I need more time with him.”“Yeah, okay,” I said.“In the next couple of days, my friends and I are taking a trip to Monterey Bay to see the aquarium o
His lips tightened. “Because I knew I was making the biggest mistake of my life by leaving you. What we had was a very big deal to me, Jessa. After reading what you wrote, I cried for the first time since my sister died. I didn’t want to leave you, but I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” He cocked his head to the side, staring at me, then looking back to the house, “I can’t say that I regret my decision because I don’t believe in regrets. We all make decisions that lead us where we need to be. If I hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t have the career I have now, and I wouldn’t have been able to help all the children I’ve been privileged to help.“Jessa, I have to believe that there are bigger forces in the universe at work. Maybe I left while you were pregnant with our son so I’d be able to save him one day. It’s a thought, and I’ve seen too many miracles in my day-to-day work to dismiss it.”Cameron’s excuse was something that I’d ordinarily counter with a snide remark, but it resonated d
“Yeah, routine. They check everything out and ensure things are sound on the plane. Now,” he said, moving on and not letting my irritated mood derail him. “I know you fear private planes, and I’ll give you that; however, we’re not traveling that way.”“Oh, even better,” I said, not knowing what Cameron was up to.“No freaking way,” Jackson said excitedly.“Hell, yeah,” Cameron said, wiggling his eyebrows. “We’re going in this chopper.”“Are you out of your damn mind?” I said, pulling the strap of my purse tighter against my neck on my shoulder. “Cameron, what the actual fuck?”“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of helicopters too? Shit. This thing has a jet engine, a—”“I just don’t understand why we’re not flyingcommercially. I swear, sometimes I can see that spoiled rich boy that I remember oozing out of you.”“Remember? What the hell, Mom?”“Yeah, Mom. What the hell?”“Mom?” Jackson pressed, but this wasn’t the time to get into all the details of why I was seemingly so knowledgeable abo
“Yes, where are we staying? I packed clothes for warm and cooler weather, like you said,” Jessa informed me.“Well, this marine layer will burn off soon, and it’ll warm up once the sun breaks through. That’s pretty much why you have to pack for all four seasons on this peninsula. It will reach about seventy-eight degrees today after the sun breaks through, and it’ll be a perfect day. Until then, gotta cover up.”“It’s so beautiful here,” Jessa said as I kept on Highway One toward Carmel-by-the-Sea. “The cypress trees are incredible.”“If you look down at the shit-stained rocks,” I said, pointing to where the gray ocean surrounded numerous rocks covered in sea lion, seal, and seagull shit, “those black mounds are sea lions and seals.”Jackson laughed while Jessa rolled her eyes, “Shitstained rocks? You should be a tour guide up here,” Jackson said with another laugh. “Oh, shit. I see one, maybe two!”“Shit-stained rocks or sea lions?” Jessa asked Jackson before looking at me. “Thanks f
“All I know is that they seem to have pulled some shit on Collin, and that’s always a good time. We should get in there,” Collin’s wife, Elena, said with a mischievous laugh.Collin was just as gorgeous as the Mitchell brothers, but with blond hair instead of black. Collin introduced his wife as his Cuban goddess, and from where I sat, she looked like one. I don’t think I’d ever been so envious of someone’s skin tone and natural beauty. They were all just as lovely on the inside as they were on the outside, which was the most important part, in my opinion.“I have to know,” Elena said, walking into the room and sitting on the arm of the couch next to her husband, “what has Dr. Brooks so blown away?”“No joke, Jacks here says that some kid flew a Cessna after the pilot blacked out. He landed that son of a bitch and everything,” Collin answered her.I smiled, knowing what game my son was playing. That kid would do anything to prove video games were good for you. My eyes drifted to where
“So, I texted her,” Cam said, shrugging at Collin and Elena. “I should’ve been pissed, I know.” He shook his head, “But I wasn’t. She was just so beautiful, laying there, naked polished body—”“Skip the details that would make us sinners blush,” Collin said. “You texted?”“Anyway, with profound love, I texted her, Marry me?” Cam said, acting emotional.All eyes were on me for my portion of the proposal lie.“Well, I was about to locate Jacks on the GPS tracker, but I saw Cam’s text come through, and I checked it first.”“Good damn thing because he might have smacked your bare ass while lying by you on the bed,” Elena said.“Right,” I smiled, “I read the text and knew in my heart the answer was yes, but I wanted to verify Jacks was with you guys and didn’t drive off looking for a party like teens do. So, I just hit the thumbs-up emoji, and that was it. We’re engaged.”“Oh, for the love of all fucks, hot and sweet. That is the biggest load of shit I’ve ever allowed anyone to go on about
He shook his head. “You finally had me serious in conversation, and now, we’re going to make fake laws about a damn emoji,” he said with a laugh, pulling up to Elena and Collin’s estate in the Hollywood Hills.“Okay,” I chuckled and laughed, “let’s let Collin, Elena, and Jacks decide whether we keep or ditch that emoji.”“What are you planning? God, do not tell Collin that that is how I ended things with you.”I smiled at him as we pulled up to the side of the house next to a bright orange Lamborghini. “Relax,” I said, getting out of the Bronco.“Relax,” he huffed, opening his door and walking over to me.“Damn,” Collin said, walking out of the front door as soon as we approached. “I trust everything is kosher between you two? I’m presumably looking at two flames reunited in the fiery combustion of love?”“Yeah, Dad,” Cameron mocked. “All is fair in love and war.”“I see it is,” he said.“Where’s Elena and Jacks?” Cam asked.“In the kitchen making pizza,” Collin said, turning to walk
Chapter Fifty-OneJessaCameron and I spent that weekend wrapped in each other’s arms until we couldn’t resist picking up Jacks and telling him that his parents would be getting married and we were going to become a family.“How do you think Jacks will take the news? I’m thinking he’ll at least dig settling down out here—you know, to finally pull off from this online schooling bullshit and start gaining friends at a new school,” Cam said.“Yes,” I answered with a smile, “I know he’ll be happy to learn he’s no longer going to need to do school remotely, now that his mom has made a decision to live in Southern California.”I was thankful that the school issue could at least be resolved. Since Jackson’s surgery, I wouldn’t settle down and force Jacks into a new school—especially with him going through rehab, and with me not too certain where I truly wanted to live.Even though the school system in New York worked well with us for him attending remotely like he’d been, I knew it was somet
I couldn’t resist this perfect woman any longer, so I leaned up and captured her breast in my mouth. She moaned as my teeth nipped at her nipple, hardening it even more. I licked underneath her breast, closing my lips around it. I rolled my tongue in circles, pressing against her nipple as Jessa’s hand came up into my hair, gripping and pulling it while her hips moved faster and faster, giving my cock precisely what it wanted.I moaned loudly against her hot flesh, knowing that this woman’s movements would make me come, and there was nothing I could do about that now. I wanted it. I wanted pleasure from my woman riding me hard and fast. Jessa gripped my shoulders, pushing me back so our eyes could meet.“Come,” she ordered, “I want your cum inside me.” She smiled seductively.My balls were tighter than fuck, ready to send my cum directly into her, but I didn’t want this sensation to end. The rippling pleasure from her moving made me numb to everything but her tight pussy and the boili
I needed more.His fingers dipped inside of me and searched greedily for my G-spot. My eyes rolled back in my head while my breath was stolen by gripping and fiery pleasure. I would have fallen to the floor, writhing in desire while the spasm continued to swarm and erupt through my body, but Cam had a steady grip on me.While my lips grew parched from panting through the intense orgasm, Cam turned me to face him. His moist lips captured mine, and his deep kiss swallowed me up effusively.I couldn’t gain my bearings. I couldn’t do anything but relish the sweet flavor of the lips and kiss I’d missed desperately for all these long months.“It’s been too fucking long, baby,” he said, cradling my naked body and returning his lips to mine.My head was spinning from when we walked into this house to when Cam slipped my dress off me and began working me over in ways I’d needed since the last time we were together.I couldn’t even focus on what he was doing to my body because I was so envelope
“So, you’re giving me a third chance?” I said, standing up and walking over to her. “For the first time in my life, I honestly don’t know what to do.”“Tell you what,” she said, pulling the napkin from her lap and placing it on the table, “take me home, and we can figure it out from there.”I helped her from her chair and paid for what we’d hardly nibbled on and drank at this dinner. I couldn’t get her out of here fast enough.I had no intention of ever losing her again, and I planned to prove that the second we walked through the door once we got to my place in Malibu.OceanofPDF.comChapter FiftyJessaWe couldn’t get to Cam’s place fast enough. After coming to the conclusion that he wanted me back through more vampire talk than I expected, I couldn’t wait for us to get out of there. I didn’t care about dinner at that point. I was damn hungry, but not for food.“Jacks is spending the night with Collin and Elena tonight,” I informed Cam as we walked up the steps to his beach house.M
Chapter F ty-NineCamWe walked into Darcy’s, and I was quickly reminded why I’d never taken a woman I was serious about to this place— the ghosts of one-night stands and ex-girlfriends seemed to lurk in every shadow.“Right this way, Dr. Brandt. It’s good to see you again.” The hostess smiled at me, her bronze eyes peering into my soul. She probably remembered me from the last time I was dumb enough to take a woman home from this place.I snatched Jessa’s hand protectively into mine and kept her close. I don’t know why I was feeling nervous. Who gave a shit if an ex showed up? It would suck, but not enough to park that concern in my head when I had this beautiful woman walking by my side.We were seated, and I ordered us a bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet, one of the finest wines from Napa Valley. Of course, I had to keep my game smooth, and my woman impressed, so what came out of my mouth after I ordered the wine I never expected.“So, when will you stop acting like Bella from Twi
“You’re letting Laney fuck you with a dildo in my house?” Jim said.“Hell, it seems like marriage can be quite adventurous,” Spence stood, “but not enough to tempt me.” He walked over and patted me on my shoulder. “Hang in there. She’ll come back. They always do,” he chuckled. “I’m out, guys. My driver is here, and I have the Bartholomew project to tidy up first thing tomorrow.”“When do you fly out to London?” Jim asked. “Those bastards at Green Gate are trying to come in hard on that deal, and I want them leveled. You’re the fucker who can get it done.”“I’m not drunk enough to listen to you boss my ass around while I’m not on the clock,” Spence said, and then he looked over at me. “Seriously, let her go for now and focus on your boy. This will work out. It’s refreshing to hear that someone wants to fix themselves for a change. Sex will probably be even better for it, too.”“Sex is always your end game and final thought,” I said. “Yep,” Spence said, disappearing through the side doo
Chapter F ty-SevenCamI walked Jessa out to her car, feeling that all hope for us getting back together was slipping farther away with each step I took. I wasn’t happy with the arrangement, but I had no say in it. I told her I would give her time to get things right for herself, and I truly meant that. Hell, I loved the woman; if I didn’t know that before, I knew that now.Before, I might’ve taken this rejection as a fuck you and walked out of her life forever. But something told me to give her the time and space and allow her to heal. I honestly had no idea what she needed to heal from, but it wasn’t my place to question her feelings.Jessa had always had a good head on her shoulders, so if something didn’t seem right to her, I trusted her instincts.It’s not that I didn’t have the fight in me to win her heart back; it was that I loved the woman so much that I was willing to honor her request and let her go.I just had to hope that whatever journey she was on would lead her back to