Altering Authority Read online

  Jager helped her onto his bed. He didn’t lie, the sheets were new and clean. The best part was that they smelled like him. He put a couple pillows up against the headboard and lifted her feet to help her slide in comfortably. He took the meds out of her bag and laid them next to her on the night stand. He stared at them for a second and then opened the drawer and put them in there instead. She raised her eyebrow at him. “In case the boys get curious,” he said and smiled.

  There were so many things that he thought of, being a parent, which never crossed her mind. Cooking with the inside burner, not leaving drinks on the floor next to the couch, and now this. She didn’t know why, but it made her proud that he was such a good father. As if to say, ‘ya, he’s hot and a great dad, and all mine!’

  He straightened the blankets on her then and looked around before leaving the room and returning with her mother. Connor was in his arms, his fingers in his mouth and Matthew trailing behind. He turned his TV onto cartoons and Matthew crawled up into the bed, ever so gently and sat next to Tatum, resting his head on her chest. She wrapped her arm around him.

  Donna watched the boys with concern as Jager laid Connor down on the other side of Tatum. He too moved carefully, and laid his head on Tatum’s legs, still sucking on his pointer and middle fingers. Donna was amazed. She knew the life these boys must have grown up in. She knew what they went through losing their mother, yet they were so well behaved. It made her regret keeping Tatum from Phil even more.

  She kissed her daughter on the head, assured that she was in good hands and made her way out to the kitchen. She wasn’t used to constantly being surrounded by people. Even with Bill, his guys kept to themselves. Here however, Sugar was sitting on the counter while Bobo was standing between his legs, despite the multitude of other places he could be standing, drinking a beer. Phil was at the table with Gary and a couple of other men were back and forth between there and the living room. Two other women walked in then. The oldest one she assumed was Jagers mother.

  She walked around and kissed everyone and then finally settled on Donna. “I’m Jeannie,” she said, looking Donna up and down, holding out her hand, “you must be the infamous Donna.”

  Donna returned her steely gaze. One thing she could do right was stare down a bitch. “That’s me,” was all she said.

  Jeannie turned to look at Phil and then back at her. She looked Donna up one last time and then said, “How is she?”

  “She’s in the room with the boys.”

  Jeannie didn’t waste another second trying to be cordial. She turned and gave Phil’s shoulder a squeeze on her way into the room. Ava followed her.

  Matthew saw them but didn’t lift his head from Tatum when he said, “Hi Grandma. Hi Ava”. Jeannie walked around and kissed all three of her boys on the head. Jager was lying on his stomach at the foot of the bed, watching cartoons. Tatum smiled at her. It made Jeannie a little jealous. This girl was black and blue and was still the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen.

  “How you doing sweetheart?” she asked.

  “I’m better now. These guys are helping,” she replied, rubbing Matthew on the head.

  Connor had dozed off, but Jeannie knew that Tatum was serious. Those boys, all three of them, had a way of brightening any room.

  “Want me to get him to bed?” Ava asked, pointing to Connor.

  Jager sat up then, noticing his sleeping baby. “Naw. Thanks though. I got it,” he smiled and lifted the boy off the bed. “You need anything while I’m out here Tate?” he asked. She smiled and shook her head.

  Jeannie came to sit next to her on the bed. Ava took Jagers spot. “If you need anything at all Tatum, just let me know.” Ava said.

  Tatum nodded again.

  “What’s on your mind darling’?” Jeannie asked, rubbing Tatums leg on top of the blankets.

  “It just must look weird to you guys hey? Me. Here. In this bed?”

  Jeannie and Ava looked at each other, confused.

  “I just mean, he was with April for so long. This was her house, her bed. Yet, here I am, snuggling with her kids and her husband taking care of me.”

  Jeannie smiled. It was the most sympathetic Tatum had seen her look since coming to San Francisco. “She’s dead hunny,” she said deadpan. “It’s not like you’re having an affair. You make him happy. He makes you happy. The kids love you. Stop over analyzing everything and just enjoy it.”

  She knew Jeannie was right. She didn’t even know what made her say it.

  Jager walked back in then. “I’m kicking everyone out now,” he said and the two other women stood up. Jeannie walked over and kissed Tatum, followed by Ava, and then the procession of everyone else in the kitchen. She was thankful that a couple of the guys just waved at her from the door.

  Donna and Phil stayed, washing dishes in the kitchen, while Tatum, Jager, and Matthew stayed in the bed. He passed her the pain meds and eventually she fell asleep.

  When she woke up a few hours later the room was dark and empty. She could hear the low voices in the living room, and the occasional squeal from Connor. She desperately wanted to brush her teeth. So slowly, she pushed her feet over the side of the bed. Having one broken rib is a lot different than having many. If she stepped too hard, her body would vibrate all the way up to her ribs and it hurt. So she scuffed slowly, it was better. Walking over to her bag in the corner, she attempted to bend down to open it but inhaling at the same time proved to be torturous. The ‘Ah!’ that came out of her mouth sounded more like a whisper. She straightened herself and leaned her forehead against the wall, next to the door frame, and tried to catch her bearings. It took longer than she was comfortable with for the pain to subside.

  There was no way anyone could have heard her however at that moment, Jager opened the door and walked in. “Jesus Christ Tate. What are you doing?” he said, flinching, expecting to find her in bed, but opening the door to find her right next to him.

  She was still in too much pain to answer him right away, choosing to leave her head where it was until she could breathe properly.

  “What is it? Are you ok?” he dipped his head and touched it to hers and began gently rubbing her back.

  “Mmm…” she said and slowly turned, pressing her back to the wall and facing him. Even in the shape she was in, he still managed to turn her on with the slightest touch. This time was different than before however. All that was stopping them from really being together was a couple of broken bones.

  She didn’t work out anything of their future yet. She lived on one side of the country and he on another. She had her business, he had his. It would be difficult but they both knew compromises would have to be made. They couldn’t live without each other.

  His hands slid from her back down to her hips and he put his forehead to hers. “You need to ask me for help Tate. I promise I don’t care what it is, I want to help you,” he said quietly, sincerely.

  She slid her good hand up his arm. “I wish I was better,” she said and opened her eyes to look up at him suggestively before remembering that her face looked ridiculous and buried it in his neck. The feel of his hands on her hips was doing wonders to alleviate the pain.

  Knowing what she was hinting at, he wrapped his arms around her tighter and kissed her temple. “I can make you feel better…” he whispered against her, closing the door and locking it.

  She shivered. “I want to. So bad. I just… can’t. Jager, I hurt so much.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, slowly, holding her bottom lip between his for a moment. A trail of goose bumps ran down her neck and into her back. “We’ve got forever to get to that Tate.” He moved his lips to her jaw and then down her neck. “I just want you to feel better.” He pulled up her sweater and slid his hands underneath, where he lightly traced his fingers up her spine. The other hand hooked in the waist band of her leggings. She stepped closer to him, just a little, so that her breasts were pressed against his chest. He began pulling her pants down and she inhaled slowly.


  He got down on his knees in front of her and helped her to step out of her clothes. He kissed her bruised knees, working his way up her left thigh until he reached her hip. He skirted his way around the one place she was dying to have him, kissing her side, her lower stomach. He started at her belly button then. So slowly and softly she almost didn’t even feel it, he began inching his way down. The anticipation of him reaching the spot had her on the verge. She wrung her fingers in his hair, using it to steady her, as she began shaking uncontrollably. Finally, his tongue slid in between her lips, landing in the exact right spot. She moaned quietly, forgetting about the dull throbbing in her ribs due to her standing for so long and instead focused on the other throbbing.

  As if he knew that she couldn’t stand any longer, he stood and lifted her gently to the bed. She braced for it to hurt, the movement of him picking her up, but it didn’t. She sat for a moment and he lifted her top off over her head. She didn’t remember the last time she wore a bra, because of the way the wire dug into her ribs. He took off his sweater and pants before climbing over top of her. He kissed her gently on the mouth and trailed down her neck to her breasts where he sucked them both. She moaned as quietly as she could, not wanting anyone to hear them. She couldn’t believe they were here. That he was doing this to her. It was almost enough to send her over the edge alone.

  When he reached her ribs, he brushed his lips over them gently, flinching when he saw the bruises. They covered her entire stomach, more so on the left than the right. Even in the darkened room, the light that shone from between the blinds illuminated the purple, blue, and yellow blotches. She noticed his scrutiny and attempted to cover herself with the sheets but he brushed her away. He moved back up to her mouth and began kissing her with a renewed sense of purpose. His hand slid down her stomach and he wasted no time now getting between her legs. Typically, he’d make her beg. Make her ache for his touch. But this was different. He just wanted her to feel good. She was the boss this time. He’d give her anything she wanted.

  She bent her knees as he slid one finger into her, then two while he rubbed his thumb over her most sensitive spot. Her breathing deepened, the knot in her stomach tightened as his fingers started going faster. She broke off their kiss and tilted her head back, just when he knew she was about to come, he pulled his fingers out and slid down her body. Maybe just a little bit of teasing he thought with a devilish grin.

  His right hand slid under her, where he cupped her ass before spreading her leg open wider. His left hand traced the inside of her thigh and she clenched the blankets tighter in anticipation as he trailed his fingers up and slipped two back inside her again. He kissed the inside of her other thigh, following the same path his hand just took, with his lips. Keeping his fingers inside of her, he explored her with his tongue. The warmth and wetness of it had Tatum biting the pillow to keep from moaning out loud for everyone in the living room to hear. He sucked and kissed his way up to the top and began working her where she wanted him most. He knew she was on the verge so he moved slowly, pushing his tongue hard onto her. While one hand squeezed the inside of her thigh and the other picked up the pace again, his fingers sliding in and out so easily he gave himself a mental pat on the back.

  “Fuck, Jager…” she said as her body tensed and she felt like everything inside of her would shatter. She came and couldn’t help the moan that escaped her mouth. Her grip in his hair tightened and when she was done, he knew that he would have to go and take care of himself in the bathroom. Everything about what had just happened had him ready to go. Fuck, he could have gone just by her calling his name. He licked his lips and moved up to kiss her neck. She turned her head so that she could kiss him back. What started out as a lazy, post-orgasmic-make-out session quickly turned into more.

  Breathing deeply, Tatum pulled back and looked at him. “I want you, inside,” she whispered, her eyes pleading. “Please,” she began when she saw that he was about to protest. “Just go slow.”

  He wanted nothing more in that moment but wasn’t sure it would be ok for her. She could barely walk, let alone get fucked. “Believe me Tate, right now, it wouldn’t even be worth it. I’ll do anything else. I’ll make you come consecutively for the rest of the night if you want. I just don’t want to hurt you. I want to make you feel better.”

  She smiled at him, “that made me feel better.”

  He kissed her neck and across her collarbone.

  “You coming with me would make me feel better…” she whispered.

  He looked up at her, debating taking her up on her offer. He was so hard and wanted release so bad. “No Tate. We’re not…”

  “We don’t have to do that. Just take these off,” she rubbed her hand over his ass that was still covered by his boxer briefs.

  He shook his head, licked his lips to cover his smile, but conceded and slid them off. He lid next to her but shifted her body gently so that her back was facing his front. He pushed himself up against her ass and she moaned. She knew he was big from the night at the beach but this… she was glad he was making her wait. Taking all of him would cause her more pain.

  He pushed her hair over her left shoulder, between the blankets and her face, moving it away from her back and neck so that he could kiss it. He trailed his lips up her shoulder, as he pushed himself harder onto her. She moaned. She’d never been an ‘All night long’ kind of girl, however now that she had him, she couldn’t get enough. His hand slid from her shoulder, over the side of her breast, her ribs, and down the center of her stomach where he slowed and worked his way to her center. She opened her legs, giving him full access and he rubbed his fingers over her again, reveling in how wet she was. His fingers found there place inside of her once more and he imagined how good it would feel to have that wrapped around him. The thought nearly finished him.

  She felt him shiver and pulled his hand away from her, drawing him up and over her. “Turn around,” she said, “I want it in my mouth”.

  He raised his eyebrows and tilted his chin, grinning at her. He wasn’t used to having a woman tell him what to do in bed. This was the first.

  She could tell he was amused.

  He kneeled on the bed and just when she thought he was about to draw closer to her face, he took her right leg and bent it, placing her foot on the bed. Still smiling, he laid down, facing her open legs, presenting himself to her in the process.

  Do adults still do this? She thought. Isn’t this something frisky teenagers do? She didn’t care. She was quickening with the thought of having him in her mouth, of him having her again. He buried his face between her legs. Being upside down, this new angle felt different from before. She inhaled deeply and moaned. God, he knows what he’s doing.

  She remembered him then, through the haze of pure pleasure that was building in her mind. Running her hand over his hip, the way he did, she watched the trail of goosebumps her fingers left as she worked her way down to his shaft. She grabbed it in her hand and the contact sent him reeling. He gripped her ass with his hand and pushed hard onto her with his tongue. The sensation had her tipping her head up in ecstasy. Her hips began moving of their own accord, craving him more. Rocking herself onto him. She stroked him, licked the moisture that accumulated on the tip. He moaned and lost concentration. That in itself turned her on even more. The affect she had over him was impressive by any standard. She slid closer, and ran her tongue down his length. His grip on her ass tightened as she finally took him into her mouth.

  Slipping her lips up and down him, sucking hard, enveloping him with her tongue, she knew he was just as frenzied as she was. He loosened his hold on her behind and ran his fingers over and in between her. He inserted his two fingers back into their place, pushing them in and out in time with the movement of her hips and when he felt her begin to quicken, he did too.

  “Come with me,” she said as the heat started to pool low in her belly. The knot was back and she felt herself teetering on the edge. A moment later they both erupted aroun
d each other.

  CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

  They lay together for a while before either of them said anything. He turned his head to look at her. She had her arm over her eyes. “You ok Tate? I didn’t…”

  She turned then and smiled, “I’ve never been better,” she said and then laughed. It was a real, true laugh, one that was full with happiness. He couldn’t help it. He did too.

  Turning to look at her, he slid a strand of her hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. “You smell like cinnamon,” he said, his smile growing wider as he nodded in the direction of her thighs.

  “Cinnamon?” she asked, confused. Her perfume wasn’t cinnamon…?

  “Ya, like those spicy, heart candy you get for Valentines. Or Hot Tamales…? You know?”

  Tatum shook her head, laughing again. “Ya, I know. I don’t know why I …smell like them...”

  He laughed back and then stared at her a moment more, soaking up the good mood, her happiness, before standing and grabbing his pants. He couldn’t stop smiling. He looked at her as she lay sprawled on the bed, disappointed that she’d hauled the comforter over her again. “I need to check on my boys,” he said reluctantly.

  Tatum had completely forgotten that they were even there. “Shit, did you leave them with my mom?”

  Jager smiled then as he stood and began putting his pants on. “Phil loves my boys. He doesn’t mind.”

  “Ugh… he probably would if he knew what you were doing to his daughter,” Tatum said, realization dawning on her. Her mother obviously had to know what had just happened. She prayed that they didn’t hear them.

  Jager laughed at her expression. “Do you feel like getting up and moving around a bit? I can send one of the guys out for burgers? Get you that pickle you love…” he laughed.