We sit huddled together for a few more minutes until the chill in the air deepens, prompting us to head back inside.
Once out of the spa, I wrap a towel around Mila’s shivering frame, then drape one over myself. I gather our scattered clothes and hand them to her, which she gladly accepts with a smile. Then without warning, I scoop her up in my arms, carrying her bridal style as we head back inside.
Everything about tonight has been more incredible than anything I’ve ever experienced with a woman. It was as if the universe had orchestrated it all just for us. And with the night still young, I intend to spend every remaining moment in bed with her, exploring and worshipping every inch of her beautiful body, losing myself in the warmth and softness of her skin until neither of us can remember where one ends and the other begins.
CHAPTER 30
Jason
My ex-wife’s name flashes across my phone screen for the fifth time today, and just like the last four calls, I hit decline without a single care in the world. I don’t need to answer to know why she’s calling. Ever since I told her that Mila and I were seeing each other, she’s felt this sudden need to voice her unsolicited opinions every chance she gets. Which is exactly why I’m doing everything I can to avoid speaking to her. If it doesn’t concern our son, I don’t want to hear it.
After dropping Jake off to her place yesterday, I sat her down in her living room and confessed to her about my situation with Mila, which I suspect she already knew was coming. She didn’t interrupt, just sat there with a sour expression the whole time, while she allowed me to get everything out in the open. But as soon as I was done, she didn’t hold back. Elena launched into a full-blown tirade about how inappropriate my relationship with the babysitter was, especially with Jake being around most of the time.
It took a draining forty minutes just to get her to stop yelling. No matter how clearly or calmly I tried to explain that my relationship with Mila wouldn’t affect Jake at all, she refused to listen. Even after I tried reassuring her that our son adores Mila and would be thrilled to have her in our lives, it only infuriated her even more.
That’s when I realised, she wasn’t upset because of our son. She was jealous. Maybe even a little hurt. She never imagined I’ddevelop real feelings for someone else, let alone fall in love again. In her mind, she thought she’d broken me, convinced herself I’d be too mistrustful, too scarred to want to be in another relationship. But she was wrong. My heart still had so much more to give. I was just waiting for the right person to come along.
I knew there was no getting her to see things from my perspective, and to be honest, I’ve stopped caring about what she thought. A part of me hated how tense things have become, especially with Jake caught in the middle. But I couldn’t keep living my life to appease her. I’m not putting my life on hold anymore.
So I told her plainly: she could either accept my relationship with Mila or continue being bitter and miserable, because no matter what, my girl wasn’t going anywhere. Then I walked out, leaving her stewing on the couch.
Since then, she’s been blowing up my phone with calls and texts, and like always, I’ve been ignoring her. It’s exhausting, but I’m done letting the guilt or her jealousy dictate my choices. I finally have something good, something real. And there’s nothing that’s going to get in the way of that; least of all a controlling, manipulative ex-wife.
It’s been three weeks since that steamy night in my spa, and I still can’t get it out of my head. I mean, how could I? Everything about that night felt so raw, so electric. The way she looked at me, how her body moved against mine, the sounds she made, the taste of her on my lips. I’ve replayed it all a hundred times. She’s seared into me in a way no one else ever has. Unforgettable doesn’t even begin to describe her.
We haven’t been intimate again since, but somehow, we’ve grown even closer. I’ve taken her out on a few dates, each one better than the last, and they always end the same way:me walking her to her door, kissing her goodnight, and quietly wishing I could stay just a little longer.
As much as my body craves to feel hers again, I know she needs a bit more to time to adjust to the idea of us, especially after she just got out of a relationship, and I respect that completely. The truth is, I’m not in any rush. Not when it comes to Mila. Not when every part of me wants to get this right. She’s not just someone I’m falling for—she’s it for me. The one I never thought I’d find. And yet, somehow, I did. That alone is enough to make the wait worth it.
My phone buzzes again on the desk, alerting me of another text. I groan, dragging a hand down my face, feeling equal parts exhausted and irritated. When is Elena ever going to quit? Doesn’t she realise that these constant, pointless attempts to meddle in my personal life only make her look desperate, and honestly, a little pathetic? But when I glance down and see Mila’s name pop up on the screen, I swipe my phone off the desk like it’s a winning lottery ticket and quickly open her message. She’s sent me a photo of her, Jake, and Sofia in matching cow onesies, and I completely lose it. I burst out laughing, shaking my head at how chaotic and ridiculous they all look. Mila and Sofia are side by side on all fours, while Jake’s perched on top of them, like he’s the king of the herd, and its hands down the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
“Why are you grinning like an idiot?” Chris’s voice interrupts my little moment. I look up to find him leaning against the doorframe, arms folded, an amused smirk spreading across his face. How the hell did I not hear him arrive?
I turn my phone towards him, wordlessly showing him what had me smiling. He strolls over, takes one look at the photo and barks out a laugh. “That’s fucking gold!” he manages between chuckles.
“It’s cute, huh?”
He drops into the chair across from me, leaning back with one arm slung lazily over the backrest. “Let’s ditch this place and head to yours,” he says with a teasing grin. “Looks like that’s where all the fun is.”
I chuckle softly. “You have no idea how tempting that sounds. Unfortunately, I have too much work to do and you have a bar to manage. Which leads to my next question—what are you doing here?”
He waves a hand at me dismissively. “Gemma and the new kid, Travis, have everything under control. It’s pretty quiet out there tonight anyway. I just wanted to catch up, since, you know, you’ve suddenly ditched me for a young, hot brunette who seems to be keeping you nice and warm these days.”
I sigh and shoot him a glare. “I regret telling you all about the spa.”
I hadn’t planned on ever telling Chris what happened that night between Mila and me, but after a few too many beers at his place, the truth just slipped out. I’m not the type to brag about my sex life, not even to my closest mates. So the second the words left my mouth, I instantly regretted it.
“Oh, come on. None of that shit. You and I both know how insanely hot that was and I wasn’t even there to witness any of it.”
“And you never will,” I quip.
“Honestly, I envy you bro. She’s a fucking stunner.”
“She’s so much more than that.”
“I bet she is,” he says, waggling his eyebrows.
“Want your nutsack stapled to my desk?”
