She leaned into him, resting against his strong body. She felt safe and in danger at the same time. Her breasts were heavy and she threw back her shoulders, rubbing their tips against him. He moaned deep in his throat, the sound feral and arousing.
Sliding his hands down her neck and then around to her back, his hold on her changed. He traced the line of her spine with his fingertips and she shuddered. She felt him tremble, too.
Jake pulled her more firmly against his body. His groin nestled into the notch at her thighs, her legs turned to jelly. She sank against him, totally caught up in his embrace. Jake supported her completely with one hand on her backside and the other behind her neck.
She moaned deep in her throat, tunneling her fingers through his hair to try to control their embrace. Or to at least be an active participant in it. He rubbed his tongue over hers and then pulled back.
Watching her intently, she couldn't help but wonder why she'd stayed away so long. But she knew the answer—because sanity was hard to come by and Jake threatened hers. She pulled away, tripping over her own feet in her hurry to put some distance between them.
Jake steadied her with one hand. His touch was warm but not soothing against her arm. She wanted to say the heck with her reservations and just indulge herself in a red-hot affair with this man. But there were too many barriers between them. Not the least of which was a little boy who deserved a happier childhood than Larissa had experienced.
She'd promised herself to protect Peter. No matter what the cost to her. Peter hadn't asked to be born and it was up to her make sure he had the best life had to offer. And Jake, for all his playboy ways, seemed genuinely interested in being a father to his son.
She knew she couldn't keep Jake and Peter apart. She'd have to make sure that Peter never knew the circumstances that had brought Jake and her together. If things didn't work out between her and Jake, she didn't want Peter to feel it was his fault.
"Are you sure about the platonic part of this relationship?" Jake asked.
"You're the one who suggested it," she said. More than ever, she thought. Her blood was racing through her body. Her nipples were beaded and aching for his touch. And her center was wet with desire for him. She wanted to take his hand and lead him into the house where they could be alone. Only the knowledge that her son was a few feet away kept her from taking such an ill-advised action.
"Rissa?" he asked, running his finger down the side of her face.
"Yes," she said. She had to get out of this place. Figure out what was going on in her life and make a plan to protect herself from the vulnerability that Jake brought out in her.
He smirked. "Whatever you say."
She knew he could make her eat her words, just prayed that he wouldn't.
"Mama, can I have some juice?" Peter asked, racing over to them.
"It's may I, sweetie," Larissa said.
"May I have some juice?"
"Sure," she said, going into the kitchen to her oversize bag and pulling out a juice box. She paused in the doorway before returning to the patio. Jake and Peter were in front of the goal net again and this time Jake was setting himself up as goalie. She watched the two of them together and realized she wasn't the only one who'd been missing a man in her life. No matter the cost to herself, she had to make this new arrangement with Jake work out. For Peter's sake.
* * *
"Here's your juice, Peter," Larissa said from the patio.
Jake ruffled Peter's hair, lifting up the boy to carry him back to the patio. It was the first time he'd held his son's small body. A surge of protectiveness roared through him.
This was his son. Peter rested his head on his shoulder and Jake met Larissa's gaze. Something passed between them and he knew she knew what he felt.
"We should get going. Peter needs a nap."
"I'll carry him out to your car. When will you be back?"
"I have to work this afternoon. I won't have time to get our stuff together until after I pick Peter up at the sitter's."
"Can he stay with me?" Jake asked.
"I … I don't know if he would. He doesn't really know you."
"I'm the boy's father. Isn't it time he got to know me?"
"Yes, it is. But watching him takes a lot of patience and attention."
"What do you say, sport?" Jake asked Peter. "Want to stay with me while your mom's at work."
"Are you my dad?" Peter asked.
"I am."
Peter looked at his mom and Larissa took a deep breath and nodded. "It's okay with me, sweetie."
"Can we play soccer some more?"
"After you take a nap," Larissa said.
"Okay, I'll stay with you."
Larissa gathered her things and Jake carried Peter out to her car. She buckled him in the car seat and put Mr. Bear and his blanket around his face.