Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 104: Maybe...

Chapter 104: Maybe...

The closer Jerica got, the more unsure she felt. What if he wasn’t there? What if she was intruding? But before she could overthink further, Jared’s head popped out of the tent flap, his face softening when he saw her.

Jerica let out a relieved sigh. "I need to pee," she said, her voice small, her lips forming a pout. She hoped Jared wouldn’t tease her or make her beg. She didn’t have it in her tonight.

Jared stepped out immediately, not wasting a second. "Come on," he said, his voice gentle. Without waiting for her to ask, he led her to the port-a-potties.

Before she could protest, he chose one, opened it, and meticulously cleaned it for her. He stepped out, looking at her with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you..." Jerica whispered, her voice soft but filled with gratitude as she stepped inside.

When she emerged, her eyes caught sight of the "Out of Order" sign Jared had hung on the door of the one she’d just used. She raised an eyebrow.

"You can use it whenever you want," Jared said with a grin. "No one else will touch it now."

Jerica’s lips curved into a wide smile. A sense of calm washed over her, a peace she hadn’t felt all evening. Without even thinking, she turned and walked directly toward Jared’s tent.

Her heart warmed as she stepped inside. The space had Jared’s signature all over it—just enough effort to make it livable but nothing extra. It was so him. Still, her instincts kicked in, and she started rearranging things to make it more comfortable, ensuring every detail was just right.

Jared followed her inside, watching her with quiet admiration. Her focus, the way her hands moved with purpose, even in the dim light—it amazed him. How had he not thought of the simple yet perfect arrangement she was creating?

When she finally curled up inside the blanket, she smiled as Jared’s scent enveloped her. It was comforting, familiar, and exactly what she needed.

Jared slipped into the tent after her, settling down beside her. Without a word, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

Jerica turned to face him, and he drew her fully into his embrace. Her head rested on his chest, and within moments, her breathing slowed, her body melting into his warmth as sleep claimed her.

Jared, however, didn’t sleep right away. His arms tightened around her, his fingers gently brushing against her back. He watched her peaceful face, the soft rise and fall of her breathing, the way her lips parted slightly as she slumbered.

And then, unbidden, a thought surfaced in his mind.

Maybe... Rather than enacting revenge, I should start a family.

The idea had crossed his mind before, but it always came with a pang of anxiety—a weighty fear he couldn’t quite place. But tonight was different. As he held Jerica in his arms, the thought didn’t feel heavy or overwhelming.

It felt... right.

Jared’s heart raced as he gazed at Jerica’s serene face, her lips slightly parted in the deep rhythm of sleep. The tranquility of the moment clashed with the pull of his desires. Ever since that night in her summer home, the memory of their closeness had ignited something in him—a yearning for a raw, unfiltered connection that felt both primal and sacred.

He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, whispering, "Sweet dreams," knowing full well she couldn’t hear him. But even as he tried to pull back, he found himself unable to stop there. His lips lingered, brushing gently down her cheek, planting kisses that deepened as he moved across the soft canvas of her face.

The warmth of her skin beneath his lips sent a surge of longing through him. His hand, as if acting on its own, slipped beneath her shirt, his fingers seeking the familiar curve of her chest. He cupped her gently, his thumb brushing over her, feeling the subtle rise and fall of her breath beneath his palm.

"Jerica..." he murmured, his voice low, the name slipping from his lips like a prayer. He kneaded her softness with reverence, his lips still trailing over her face. "Are you awake?"

He knew the answer, knew the heaviness of her slumber, but a part of him wanted her to stir, to join him in this intimate moment. Selfish as it was, the desire burned too strongly for him to quell.

Jerica shifted slightly under his touch, her brows furrowing as a soft sound escaped her lips. Encouraged, Jared continued, his hand exploring with a careful mix of boldness and restraint. He whispered her name again, this time with more insistence, his lips brushing against her ear.

A faint, sleepy moan broke the silence, and Jerica’s eyes fluttered open, hazy with the remnants of her dreams. "Jared...?" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep, her gaze struggling to focus.

He met her half-lidded eyes with a smile that was both tender and teasing. "Hey," he whispered, his hand still resting against her warmth. "Shall we..."

Jerica blinked at him, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile despite her grogginess. "You’re impossible," she murmured, her voice carrying the faintest hint of amusement.

"And you’re irresistible," he countered, his lips finding hers in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened, the stillness of the night wrapping around them like a cocoon.

The tent seemed to shrink, enclosing them in the shared warmth of their bodies and the intimate rhythm of whispered breaths. Jared’s hands moved with purpose, yet his touch was reverent, as if she were a fragile piece of art he couldn’t bear to harm. Every brush of his fingers against her skin carried unspoken emotion, a blend of need and tenderness that spoke louder than words ever could.

Jerica’s initial drowsiness dissolved under his touch, replaced by a flickering heat that began deep in her core. She felt herself surrendering, the weight of her usual thoughts and hesitations slipping away. His hands wandered, teasing and coaxing her, and as her back arched instinctively, he responded with a quiet groan, the sound vibrating against her lips.

With one smooth motion, Jared climbed over her, his movements deliberate yet filled with barely restrained hunger. His fingers deftly tugged her pants away, and before Jerica could fully register the shift, he kissed her deeply, his lips claiming hers. Then she felt him—a sudden, intimate connection that made her gasp.

"You’re going raw?" Jerica managed to whisper, her voice a mix of surprise and anticipation. She searched his eyes, her own wide and questioning. He had joked about it earlier, but now? Did he truly mean it? Her heartbeat quickened, not just from the physical closeness but from the weight of what this could mean. She needed to know, to be sure, before she let her body and her emotions fall completely into him.

Jared’s only answer was another kiss, deeper, more consuming, as he pushed forward, leaving no room for doubt.

Jerica’s hands flew to his shoulders, her fingers digging into his skin as the sensation overwhelmed her. Her body instinctively tightened around him, drawing him closer even as her lips trembled. "I’m not taking Plan B," she whispered, her voice low but firm, her words carrying a weight that matched the growing tension between them. She needed him to understand—this was her final boundary. If he didn’t stop now, she would hold him to this, fully and completely.

Jared paused for a heartbeat, his gaze locking with hers. His eyes softened, but there was no hesitation, no fear. Instead, there was something deeper—an unspoken promise that this moment wasn’t just about desire but about trust and connection. He kissed her again, and this time, it felt like a silent vow.

As he moved, the intensity built, and Jerica found herself lost in the sensations—the way his warmth enveloped her, the way his presence filled every inch of the space around them. It wasn’t just physical; it was a connection that went deeper, threading their hearts together in a way that words never could. Jared was hers, entirely and without reservation, and in that moment, she felt more cherished than ever.

For Jared, it was more than just pleasure—it was a revelation. Every soft sound she made, every way her body responded to his, deepened the bond he felt with her. It was better than he had ever imagined, the closeness so profound that it left him breathless.

When Jared finished, Jerica’s eyes brimmed with tears she hadn’t expected. They rolled silently down the corners of her cheeks, warm and unbidden. Her chest tightened, not from sadness, but from an overwhelming sense of possibility. This is it, she thought. I could get pregnant. I could have a child of my own.

She looked up at Jared, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Thank you..." Her words were simple, but they carried the weight of her yearning—a hope she had carried quietly for so long.

Jared stilled, his heart aching as he took in her tearful expression.