Music of the Heart (Runaway Train, #1)(64)

“Um, okay.” I searched my mind for a song and finally remembered the one my mother used to sing to me.

Finally, he nodded off, and I carefully eased myself off the bed. After I closed the bedroom door behind me, I was surprised to find the living room bathed in darkness. Only the flickering TV screen lit the way for me as I walked toward the couch. When I was almost there, I skidded to a stop at the sight before me. Shirtless, Jake lay on his back while Melody slept soundly on his chest. My hand fisted my shirt over my heart as the scene of Jake with a baby wrecked me emotionally.

I drew in a deep breath and continued over to the couch. Gently, I picked up Melody. Sensing the loss, Jake popped open his eyes. “I’ll put her down,” I whispered.

“Okay,” he replied, rising up into a sitting position on the couch.

After I laid Melody down in her Pack-N-Play, I covered her up. Grabbing a t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants out of my suitcase, I went into the bathroom to change. When I finished, I peeked at the kids again before leaving the bedroom. Jake reclined on the couch with the remote in his hand. When he saw me eyeing his naked chest, he grinned sheepishly. “Melody kinda spit up all over me.”

“Oh, I see,” I replied, as I eased down beside him.

“Jude asleep?”

“Yep.” I couldn’t fight the dreamy smile that curved on my lips. “I ended up singing him to sleep.”

Jake chuckled. “There’s not a chance in the world that kid isn’t gonna be a rocker just like his old man.”

“You’re right. He adores music.”

With a yawn, Jake turned to me. “I had no idea two kids would wipe my ass out so much.”

I laughed. “I know. But they’re really good kids.”

“Oh yeah, Bray’s a lucky man.”

At the serious way he was looking at me, I quickly turned my head. Wrinkling my nose at the TV screen, I asked, “Ugh, do we seriously have to watch Sports Center?”

Jake snorted. “If you think we’re watching some sappy chick flick, you got another thing coming.”

“Well, at least let me see what else is on,” I suggested, reaching for the remote.

“Oh no. I don’t think so.”

When I tried prying the remote out of his hands, it went flying across the living room and bounced onto the floor. Jake and I momentarily eyed each other before we both lunged off the couch for it. Pushing and shoving each other out of the way, I finally grabbed it. “Aha!”

It was a brief victory because Jake flipped me over on my back. After he straddled me, he pinned my arms above my head. “Not so fast.”

As he smirked down at me, I tried squirming out of his hold. “Let me go, *!”

“Ooh, you get so feisty when you’re angry.”

“Don’t make me knee you again,” I threatened.

At the mention of our first encounter, our eyes locked, and in that brief instant, the remote was forgotten. Leaning down, Jake brushed his mouth against mine, caressing my lips with his. I craned my head up, so I could reach him better. The tighter we fit against each other the more feverishly Jake’s lips moved against mine. I darted my tongue into his mouth and teased mine against his. His hand abandoned mine and moved to cup my breast. Over my t-shirt, he kneaded my flesh, causing me to moan with pleasure.

Tearing his mouth from mine, Jake panted, “Abby…”

“What?” I murmured as I ran my hands through his hair.

His brows creased in worry. “Are you sure about this?”

“Because of Brayden’s kids being in the next room?”

Jake chuckled. “Well, yeah, that’s a buzz kill in itself, but I was thinking more about you.” He stared down at me with such a mixture of lust and desire in his eyes that I shivered. “I just can’t help myself around you. I want you so bad that I can’t help but devour you any chance I get. I’m just afraid this is too fast and too soon for you.”

My chest constricted at his concern for me. He really was willing to give me the time and space I needed, and that made me love him all the more. When he started to pull himself off me, I knew right then and there that I didn’t want him to stop. I was almost twenty-two years old, and I wanted to keep enjoying a frolic on the hotel room floor with the guy I loved. “No!” I cried, grabbing his shoulders.

His eyes widened in surprise. “I want this, and I want you.” I tore my gaze from his before adding, “Just not all the way.”

“You mean it?” he asked, tipping my chin to make me look at him again.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Thank God,” he groaned before he brought his lips back to mine. Kissing me feverishly, he eased my t-shirt up and over my head. Then he snaked his arm around my back. With just a flick of his wrist, Jake unhooked my bra deftly with just one hand and then slipped it off. “Nice work,” I panted.

He grinned down at me. “It’s tricky, but I’ve had a lot of practice.”

I smacked his chest. “Don’t be bragging about your former conquests with me.”

“Sorry.” As his hand cupped my bare breast for the first time, I gasped. “Would it sweeten the pot if I said you’re the only girl in the entire world I dream about conquering?”

“Maybe,” I whispered as his thumb brushed across my nipple. It hardened under his simple touch while an ache burned between my legs.