"No." Iris did not want to waste good muscles on a frown. But she was furious. "The job will grant me the means to contribute, so I can stay relevant as a parent. I want to be in the life of the child." Jake pleaded his case. "If I wanted any of that drama, a contract would not exist," Iris said. "Don't get me wrong. If I'm going to help anyone bring a child into this wild, I must be responsible for them. I know what it feels like to grow up without a father- without parents. I can give them love and support." "Are you saying I'm incapable of loving what I create?" "That's not what I meant..." "They will need nothing!" Iris was this close to stabbing Jake with a table knife. But she kept her hands to herself, staying civilized. "The fact that you were cast aside like a vermin does not give you the right to insert yourself in the lives of any child I make with your sperm. That's not how the real world works." "..." Jake felt the irritation in her words. "I will hear nothing

When the door shut, Iris stopped. Her ears were attentive, listening for footsteps. 'He's not moving,' she figured. Soon she became convinced that Apollo had left. Maybe with this, he would take her more seriously. Enjoying the victory of knowing her hardened crush still felt something for her, Iris forgot herself. The little movements affected the man beneath her, and she turned when his thing poked high enough."Why are you hard?" She said with her brows furrowed. "..." Jake gaped like a fish out of water, stammering. "You came on to me," his mind finally found befitting words to defend himself. "I am not in the mood for your silly complaints," Iris said. "Ugh!" Jake grunted from the weight rubbing against him and the view in the front. Iris caught him ogling when she looked down. "Oh please," she put her robes back on, rolling her eyes as she got off him. Jake felt like a moron, lying in a woman's bed with his prick desperately pointing to the heavens. He couldn't leave in t

They raced through the dimly lit streets with the hazard lights on. Time seemed to blur into a hazy, surreal sequence of events. Jake's breathing was shallow and laboured, his body growing weaker with each passing moment.Iris held his hand tightly, engaging Jake with words, trying to keep him awake. Jake may be stubborn, but she couldn't help but blame herself. None of this would have happened if she stuck to her plan and got him home instead of giving in to his petty whims; she should have been stricter with him.Upon reaching the hospital, the medical staff immediately took over, whisking Jake away to the emergency room. Iris, barely holding it in, filled the doctors in on what had happened, desperately praying for a miracle. Hours later...Iris was confined to the waiting area, forced to wait on the doctors to work their magic. Dawn was fast approaching. The last time she saw Jake, he was cold and unresponsive. People in blue and white were performing chest compressions, administ

Iris let herself in, pulling at her fingertips to take off the cotton gloves. She had been here a couple of times and knew her way around. "Hello, Ma'am." Larry popped out of the kitchen to welcome her. "I trust that you do not lack anything in this house," Iris said. "No, we're good," Jake responded instead, bypassing the visitor he had been dying to see earlier. Larry did not comment on the sudden switch in attitude. "I'll be in my room," he said. "Were you not busy in the kitchen? Stay, we'll talk in my room," Jake insisted, his tone a little thick.Iris followed Jake and waited by the bed while he shut the door. Her hands fumbled with her buttons as Jake sorted out the noise in his head. Quickly concluding, he turned towards the lady. "I appreciate you taking time off your schedule to see me, but-" Jake's mind rebooted when his eyes fell on Iris. Her blouse glided down her waist.'Don't end up like the last guy.' Apollo's advice began to shrink in Jake's head. He could swear