His presence lingers in my mind, adding an extra layer of excitement to the evening. I find myself stealing glances around the room, hoping to catch another glimpse of him.
Continuing with my drink, I hum along to the music, reveling in the moment. It's been ages since I've had this much fun. Suddenly, I noticed the mysterious stranger again. He walks up to me, a warm smile playing on his lips.
I can't tear my eyes away from him. With wavy dark hair cascading smoothly across his brow and piercing eyes that seem to hold countless secrets, he exudes an undeniable charm. Our eyes lock for a brief, electrifying moment.
"Hi," he says, his voice so soothing it sends shivers down my spine. A warm blush rushes to my cheeks in response.
"Hi," I reply, my tone laced with a hint of flirtation, scolding myself inwardly for succumbing to his charm. My gaze is fixed on the captivating man before me. I notice he is staring at me lustfully.
A bond forms between us. With a knowing glance, he whispers, "It's getting hot in here, don't you think?" I shudder as my clit becomes wet with his smooth voice. I melt away in his arms.
He kisses me with a passion I've never felt before, and I moan into his mouth, lost in the moment until I sense him kicking open a door. I realize we're in a room. He continues the kiss as I wrap my leg around him, pulling him closer, his erection pressing into me. He pins my arms with one hand while his other hand traces my curves, his mouth never leaving mine.
I surrender to the moment, losing myself in the intensity of our connection. His hands explore my body with a hunger that matches my own, each touch sending me deeper into ecstasy. I feel my panties dripping wet from arousal. He releases me, resting his back on the headboard, and grabs my thigh, pulling me closer.
His hand goes to my hair, releasing it to let my curls fall freely. He guides his fingers from my scalp to the ends of the curls, muttering in a husky voice, "Fucking beautiful." Our bodies dance in unison, discovering our pleasures and desires. It's a whirlwind of passion. In his arms, I discover a freedom I've never known before. As the night takes shape, the world outside fades away, and I fall into the enticing spell of the stranger.
The ringing of my phone wakes me up. As I open my eyes and look around, I jolt up, realizing I'm in a room that isn't mine. Panic sets in as I try to make sense of my surroundings. I search for any familiar clues that could explain how I ended up here. The room is dimly lit, which adds to my confusion. Like a flash, the pieces of my thoughts come together, and I remember everything that happened the night before.
I look around, hoping the stranger is still nearby, but all I'm met with is silence. How could I let myself get lost in the moment and have sex with a stranger? I don't even know his name. With mixed emotions, I dress, gather my belongings, and leave. I'm angry with myself for everything that happened.
Ava is worried sick when I get home. She locks me in a loving embrace the moment she lays eyes on me. "I was afraid something had happened to you," she says, her voice filled with concern. "Ava, you wouldn't believe what happened," I added hurriedly.
"What? What happened?" Ava asks, her face troubled. "I met this guy at the club, and we... we... we ended up... you know." Ava's eyes widen as she reaches for my arm. "Wait, do you mean you... slept with him?" "I did. It was hasty, reckless, and totally out of character for me. I can't believe I let myself get so carried away.”
Ava sits me down on the couch. "All right, take a deep breath. It happened, and there's no point in lingering on it now. Please, tell me everything." I take a moment to gather my thoughts before describing meeting the stranger, the instant connection we shared, and the passionate encounter that followed. With each word, I feel a weight lift off my shoulders, knowing I can confide in Ava without judgment.
Ava's expression softens as she pulls me closer, her embrace offering comfort in my moment of vulnerability. "Hey, it's okay. We all make mistakes," she says soothingly. "But this is different, Ava. I feel... I feel like I've lost control of my life," I admit, my voice trembling with emotion.
Ava gently strokes my hair. "You haven't lost control, Jasmine. You're just going through a rough patch. And you don't have to do it alone. I'm here for you." Tears well up in my eyes as I lean into Ava's embrace, grateful for her unwavering support. "Thank you, Ava. I don't know what I'd do without you."
*****
My one-night encounter with the mystery man stays with me. I wonder why he left without a word, not even a note. I lay on the couch, phone in hand, scrolling through my I*******m feed and liking a series of photos that catch my eye when a thought flashes through my head.
Lately, I've been feeling tired, even after a decent night's sleep, longing for a nap. I notice my taste buds yearning for salty tangles with the sweet creaminess of ice cream. My breasts feel sore and somewhat fuller; I immediately touch them to confirm. Then there is my missed period, which sets off alarm bells in my head. I sat down on the couch hastily.
I dash out the door and go to the store. The thought of becoming pregnant, especially after my divorce, is overwhelming. This can't be happening. When I arrive at the store, I purchase four pregnancy test strips. I come back home, my mind swirling with worry. Ava has returned from work.
"What's up?" She questions, keeping her eyes buried in her system.
"Hello," I answered, my voice shaking.
"You seem uncomfortable," she says, her gaze lifting from the screen to meet mine. "Ava, I think I'm pregnant. The signs are there." She looks at me, shocked. I nod my head.
"Let's not rush to conclusions, let's be certain you are pregnant.” she said, shaking her head.
I waste no time in making my way to the bathroom, my hands trembling slightly as I unwrap one of the pregnancy test strips. Taking a deep breath, I follow the instructions carefully, waiting anxiously for the results. Each passing second feels like an eternity until finally, the timer beeps, signaling that it is time to check.
My heart pounds in my chest as I pick up the test strip, my hands shaking with nerves. As I glance at the result, my breath catches in my throat.
Thanks for reading!
Gabriel’s POVShe lets out a cold, mirthless laugh. "Sorry? You're sorry? But the deal has already been done." I sense a request coming. "But I'll ask for one thing," she adds.I look at her sharply, wondering what she wants. Is it related to keeping me away from Lexi? I'm not going to agree with that. My gut feeling is screaming that something is off about Lexi's paternity. "What is it?" I ask gruffly, my mind racing with possibilities. I'm ready to refuse her request if it means keeping me from Lexi. But I need to know what she wants first."Stay away from me and my daughter," she says, "I don't want anything to do with you. I'm trying to piece my life back together, and I don't want it revolving around you."Her words snap me out of my thoughts, and I realize there's no point arguing. If she wants me to stay away, fine. But I'm determined to uncover the truth behind Lexi's paternity."Is that what you want?" I ask, breaking the silence.She nods, her eyes still closed. "Yes, that'
I shake my head in denial. "No, Gabriel is not Lexi's father," I say, gathering the last of her bags as I prepare to move them out.She shrugs, stepping out of the way. "Okay, if you say so.""Can I call the helper in the house to assist with loading the bags into the rental car?" I ask.Meanwhile, Lexi is over the moon about being with me, and her excitement grows knowing that Gabriel will be there too. However, deep down, I'm unsure if I want to rekindle my relationship with Gabriel.As we finalize everything, she calls out, "I'm going to miss my babies!" and envelops us both in a warm hug."Grandma, I'll make sure to call every day. Thank you, ma'am, for taking good care of me," my heart swells hearing my baby girl say this."You are a princess, darling, and it's a pleasure to take care of you," my mom says, ruffling her hair.The drive to the airport is long. Lexi is busy watching fun things on her tablet while I am consumed with thoughts about Lexi and Gabriel. I can't deny the c
Lexi’s eyes are locked on Gabriel. I look at Gabriel and see the most beautiful smile on his face as he smiles back at Lexi. My mom walks in at that moment and is clearly in awe of the radiant smile in Gabriel’s eyes.“You’re awake, princess,” Gabriel says, his voice choking with emotion. The sight tugs at my heart, and the corners of my eyes well up with tears, which I manage to hold back.Lexi smiles back, and it seems like she wants to say something, but she can’t speak as she hasn’t talked in hours. I think she needs water, so I stand up, which seems to bring her attention back to me.“Mum,” she calls out, her voice hoarse.“Hold on just a second while I get you some water to drink,” I say.She nods in response and turns to my mom, pointing to Gabriel and trying to indicate something to her.I bring the water to Lexi’s mouth, and she slowly gulps it down. Once she seems okay and refrains from taking more, I understand that she has had enough.Her eyes return to Gabriel. “Oh, the pr
A doctor and a couple of nurses rush past me into Lexi's room. I follow them, my heart in my throat, but as I step inside, they stop me."Ma'am, you have to step aside so we can do our work.""No, that's my daughter in there," I protest, trying to push my way inside. But I see my mom coming out of the room, probably told the same thing."Jasmine, let the doctors do their job," she says, pulling me into a hug. Tears stream down my face as I sob, "I can't lose my girl.""You won't, Jas," she reassures me, her voice steady. "She means the world to you as much as she means to me. We won't lose her."The tears continue to flow as I think about the years I struggled to have a child to save my marriage with Maxwell, and now, when I finally have Lexi, she's at the mercy of the doctors.I pull away from my mom's embrace and start pacing back and forth in the hallway. It feels like an eternity waiting for the doctor to come out and give me the results about my daughter.Every second drags on as
Jasmine’s POV As the plane reaches cruising altitude, I focus on Ryder's kind gesture to distract myself from the gnawing anxiety. Despite our brief encounter and Gabriel's coldness, Ryder's concern feels genuine.Why was Gabriel at my house? What does he want? He made it clear that he doesn't want anything to do with me, so he should stay out of my life.I lean back in my seat, taking a deep breath. The hum of the plane is oddly comforting, and I allow myself to relax just a little. My thoughts drift back to Lexi. I grip the armrest tightly, feeling tears welling up. I say a silent prayer, determined that she's coming back with me to Chicago.Flight attendants come around with snacks and drinks. Absently, I take a cup of water and sip it, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I can't afford to break down now; I need to stay strong for Lexi.The plane lands smoothly. As soon as the seatbelt sign turns off, I grab my bag and head for the exit. The airport buzzes with people, but I barely
A puppy no more than a few weeks old, sits at my kitchen door, looking up at me with big round eyes. Its soft gray fur and tiny pink nose melt my heart. I bend down to pet the little creature, feeling its soft fur and tiny heartbeat. Where did it come from? And how did it get here? I wonder. Then, I feel a presence like a shadow hovering around me; someone is here, I guess. As I cautiously look up with the puppy in hand, the scorching sun pierces into my eyes. I look at a gorgeous man, shirtless and standing, looking at me with a smirk. I take my time to look at him; his body is dripping with sweat like he's been working in the soil. His hands are covered with mud.He's ruggedly handsome, with a strong jawline and piercing gray eyes. His smirk grows wider, His muscles are fully on display, and his abs are what every woman dreams of. He gives a small cough, and that seems to bring me back to the present. He might think I'm drooling over him, but in reality, I'm shocked to see someone