Second Chances: Pleasant Grove Series Book 2 Read online

  Second Chances

  Pleasant Grove Series Book 2

  Tara Lee

  Copyright © 2018 by Tara Lee

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  FOR MY BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY

  You are the greatest gift I have ever received. I love you forever and always.

  Contents

  Note From the Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

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  SECOND CHANCES PLAYLIST

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  Acknowledgments

  SNEAK PEEK!

  Note From the Author

  This story contains discussion of child loss, be aware when reading.

  18+ adult content.

  Finishing Eli and Charli's story was a huge stepping stone for me. They took me in ways I never thought possible, the depth of this story was emotional and very hard to write. But in order for the characters to grow I wanted to take them in a direction that helped them to as well. I also wanted to bring light on a subject so many people go through and experience everyday, having known a few people who have gone through similar experiences I wanted to bring to life a very real topic.

  I do hope you enjoy their story, and these characters hold a special place in your heart like they do in mine. They will always hold a special place in my heart being my first.

  1

  Charli

  THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. The sound of the baby’s heartbeat fills the quiet room.

  I’m smiling like an idiot, but I can’t help it. Every time we hear this sound, it brings tears of joy to my eyes.

  I’m six months along with our baby boy. Eli jumped out of his seat the day the doctor told us we were having a boy.

  I’ll admit I love the idea of having a boy first. Having Jensen as my big brother may have been difficult at times growing up, but no matter what he always had my back.

  “Ok, you’re all set to go,” the doctor tells me as he hands me the photos. I stare down at the sonogram. A squishy face stares back at me.

  God could this moment be any more perfect?

  Gripping my hand with one of his and wrapping his other arm around my back, Eli helps me up and winks at me.

  “Let’s get you dressed, sweetheart.”

  Eli helps me dress. Not because I need the assistance, but more because he will take any excuse to put his hands on me. I clamp down on a giggle that almost escapes at his forwardness since he’s being sweet. Besides, with my giant belly, it is easier if he helps me.

  I won’t complain. I love having my fiancé touch me.

  The fire it creates inside my belly every time his hands are on me is pure ecstasy.

  I would’ve thought after all this time, it would’ve slowed down, but I swear it’s better now than it’s ever been.

  Our wedding is scheduled for next month. Being big and pregnant in my wedding photos isn't ideal. But when I look back on them when we’re old and grey, I'll know our baby boy was with us.

  Eli holds my hand in his as we stroll outside. The sun is shining so brightly it nearly blinds me. Holding my hand up, I block the sun from my eyes. Eli chuckles low and rich, but I don’t know why.

  The sun feels like it’s scorching my skin. Sweat drips in a wet streak down my back as I waddle next to Eli. My stomach is so big and heavy, I now waddle like a duck. I'm dreading when I'm further along. I’m not as fast as I once was, and Eli likes to tease me. I don’t find it as amusing as he does. And sometimes I really want to kick him in the balls. But then I remember what a short ass I am and how I’m heavily pregnant, so it would never work.

  By the time we reach Eli’s truck, I’m out of breath. He lifts me with ease, like I don’t weigh as much as a whale, and slides me onto the seat. My head flops back, and I close my eyes. Sighing in contentment, I decide to just rest them for a little bit. I’m so damn tired all the time. Who knew making babies was such hard, exhausting work?

  “Charli. Baby, wake up.” Eli’s thumb brushes my cheek. I open my eyes and sigh.

  “I don’t want to,” I say, pouting.

  Eli chuckles.

  “Come on, sweetheart. I’ll help you to bed. I’ll even rub your feet.”

  “You mean my cankles. I lost my feet about a month ago,” I tell him as he slides out his side and comes around to help me out of the cab of his truck.

  I glide down Eli’s body. Hard against soft. I can’t help but feel aroused. Long gone is the feeling of exhaustion. I need my man, and I need him now.

  “Baby, what are you thinking about?” Eli asks, smirking down at me. The cheeky grin he wears says he knows exactly what’s on my mind.

  “How much I want you,” I tell him before pulling his bottom lip between my teeth. I bite down hard making him groan. His erection jumps against my stomach.

  “Fuck baby. Are you looking to get fucked out here, where everyone can see what a naughty girl you are?”

  Eli growls as he yanks my hair back, dragging my earlobe between his teeth, sending a direct line of heat to my aching pussy. His hand cups one of my heavy breasts, letting his thumb graze my very tender, very sensitive nipple, making me squirm. Then he pushes his thigh between my legs as he rubs against me.

  I nearly explode right there. My body begins to shake as Eli grinds his thigh into my heated centre.

  A car horn beeps jerking us out of the moment.

  “Inside now, angel,” Eli hisses through his teeth.

  He’s right behind me, his full length pushing into my crack.

  The door slams behind us, and Eli has me bent over the table within seconds. With desperate fingers, he pulls my dress up, bunching it over my back. Then he slides my panties down.

  I am so wet. What this man does to my body.

  I groan as he slips a finger inside me, my wetness slurps around him.

  “Fuck sweetheart. You’re dripping for me,” Eli rumbles in my ear as he takes my earlobe between his teeth once more. He knows what that does to me.

  His hand grips my cheek as he plunges his finger in and out. He’s rough, desperate, but it’s not painful.

  “Eli, please,” I moan as he slips two more fingers inside me.

  “Fuck. Your pussy is so tight, baby.” His front is draped across my back as he finger-fucks me from behind.

  My orgasm tears through me, sending my body into convulsions. Before the spasms stop, Eli bends down and kisses my pussy, tasting me, prolonging my orgasm until I’m squirming. His tongue glides over my lips, forcing me to grip the table to stay upright.

  Then he thrusts it inside me as his lips suck and pull my folds, making me writhe with pleasure. Strong fingers clutch
my hips, holding me down as he devours me. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as his tongue does magical things. A tremor courses through me. But Eli doesn’t let up. He keeps going, sliding his tongue in even further. This man eats pussy like there’s no tomorrow. He’s forcing his tongue in deeper. His lips suck while his teeth gently graze me. I have no idea how he’s doing what he’s doing. All I know is my body’s screaming for me to let go.

  So, I do. An earth-shattering orgasm rips through me, making me scream so loudly I’m sure all of Pleasant Grove can hear me.

  Eli kisses his way up my body but leaves my dress over my hips. I know I’m about to get fucked really good. This man and what he can do with his body, it’s like a damn superpower.

  The familiar swish of his zipper is the only sound over my heaving pants. Then his head is at my entrance, begging to be let in. I open my legs wider for him, spreading them as far as I can. He slides in slowly, forcing me to appreciate every delicious inch of him.

  He grunts as he pushes the last bit in. When my bottom is resting against his front, I feel so full. It still amazes me how he can actually fit inside me. Slowly, he starts to move. His balls brush against me as he does.

  I moan taking him—all of him.

  His hands hang on to my hips as he picks up the pace. Another orgasm builds in my traitorous body. I won’t be able to control it.

  Eli slams into me over and over. As he fills me, his moans are inaudible. His body presses tightly against me while he gives me everything. I lose control as my third orgasm crashes down over me, eliciting a loud moan from my throat.

  My cheek presses against the cool surface of the table while I catch my breath. I’m only halfway on it because the huge belly kind of gets in the way.

  My knees are weak, and I could sleep for days. Eli helps me up and ushers me to the couch. I’m now more tired than ever, but three amazing orgasms will do that to a girl.

  Eli covers me with a blanket. My eyelids drift closed, sending me to a blissful dreamland of earth-shattering sex with the man who was always mine.

  2

  Eli

  WATCHING CHARLI SLEEP IS the cutest thing ever. She makes these little noises, and her hand firmly cradles her belly, our son. The smile on my face burns brighter.

  Her growing belly is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. Fear that I’m going to suck at this dad thing still runs around in my mind. Honestly, I never thought about it before because my childhood wasn’t filled with the best role models, apart from Mr. Parker, Charli’s father.

  One thing is certain, I’ll never leave our son. I’ll never do to him what my father did to me. But I want to be the best dad I can be, not just for our son but for Charli as well.

  Charli stirs. My eyesight stays on her, watching as she slowly blinks her eyes open. Her gaze catches mine from across the room, and she smirks.

  “Were you watching me sleep?” she asks, her voice quiet.

  “Sure was, baby. You're so adorable when you sleep.” I grin back at her.

  “It’s kinda creepy to watch someone sleep.” She rolls over and tries to sit up from her position. She struggles a little, so I go help. I chuckle a little as I help her up.

  She glares at me, so I hide my smile.

  “Thanks. Why is it so hard to sit up?” she grumbles.

  My teeth clamp down on my lip, trapping the smile that’s desperate to break free.

  “Baby, you have a watermelon sitting in front of you constantly. I mean I’ve never been pregnant…”

  She stares at me deadpan like I’m an idiot.

  “But…” I say, smiling. “You need to give yourself a break. Making a baby is hard work.”

  “I don’t recall the making part being as hard as this part,” she sasses, raising an eyebrow at me.

  “If I recall,” I say, reaching for her, “it was pretty fun. And something was hard.”

  “You’re a sex maniac, Mr. King.”

  I kiss her softly loving the feel of her lips on mine. “Only for you, baby. Always.”

  * * *

  I order us pizza, and we sit and watch The Walking Dead, Charli’s new favorite show. Jensen put us onto it, and Charli has binged watched every season. I, on the other hand, can take it or leave it.

  We cuddle on the couch wrapped in a blanket. A few hours later, Charli is asleep on me with her head in my lap. I don’t have the heart to move her. The only thing is, I know if I don’t wake her, she’ll be in pain tomorrow from sleeping on the couch.

  I brush her cheek softly with my fingers. She stirs, rubbing her head into my groin.

  My cock stiffens.

  Geez, bud, calm the fuck down.

  I lift her, cradling her in my arms as I make my way to our room. I set her down in the middle because she likes to spread out. I’d rather sleep on the couch than have her more uncomfortable than she already is.

  I stare at her in the dark. I can’t see her, but I know she’s there.

  My smile is back. I swear it’s constant now. Ever since Charli came into my life for good, she’s opened up new feelings inside me I never knew I had. I like who I am around her. I love that I've become this big, soppy idiot who wants to spend all my time with her.

  My arms itch to hold her. I need to show her she still means the world to me. Charli hasn’t felt much like herself lately. And she complains to me all the time that she feels as big as a whale. But she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Her carrying our son is the most incredible thing she could ever do.

  I can’t wait for her to have my ring on her finger and my last name. The fear that one day she’ll realize she’s too good for me is always at the forefront of my mind. I know she loves me. But I want to be perfect for her.

  Settling on the mattress, I pull my woman to me. With her back to my chest, she fits perfectly. She cuddles even deeper into me. Knowing she’s drawn to me even in her sleep is comforting.

  My arm wraps around her, and I slip into a peaceful sleep, holding my woman and our son.

  A noise downstairs wakes me from my sleep. I sit up, looking around. Charli is still asleep next to me.

  I jump out of the bed and make my way downstairs quietly. Someone is going through the cupboards. What the hell?

  When I’m almost to the kitchen, a crash sounds as something drops to the floor, followed by a mumbled, “Shit.”

  I grab the baseball bat from the closet, just in case.

  I hold the bat up and jump around the corner.

  “Jesus Christ, Eli. Put the damn bat down,” my soon-to-be brother-in-law and best friend tells me.

  “Sorry, man. Thought you were an intruder,” I say, placing the bat down.

  He chuckles softly which makes me chuckle as well.

  “Wait. What are you doing here?" I look up at the clock on the wall. "It’s six in the morning.”

  “Ran out of coffee, and I need to start work at seven. I knew you guys would have some.”

  I stare at him deadpan.

  “Couldn’t you have just got a coffee at work, instead of breaking and entering?”

  He laughs a little louder this time. I could’ve cracked his skull, and he’s laughing.

  “The coffee at the hospital is crap. Besides it’s not breaking and entering when I have these,” he says, jiggling a pair of keys in the air.

  I’d forgotten we gave him a spare set.

  “You know, that key is for emergencies only,” I say, making my way to the coffee pot. I’m up so I may as well start my day.

  “It was an emergency dude. A big one.”

  “I don’t think coffee counts as an emergency,” I say, taking a sip from my mug.

  “Maybe not for you, but for me it is. If I don’t have a decent mug before work, I’m not in the right frame of mind. And I need to be in order to save lives.”

  Jensen had become a resident doctor earlier this month. He’d been looking forward to it for a long time. The hours were a killer, so he has no time for a social life.


  “So, have you thought about what field you want to go into?” I ask out of interest. When their parents died, Jensen took it the hardest. With him being the oldest and feeling like he had to look after Charli, he kind of went wild for a bit when we were teens. But after their Nana passed away, he did everything he could to make things right. He stopped fooling around and made it his goal to make something of himself. I was proud of him.

  “So, how’s my nephew doing?” he asks, avoiding my question. I wasn’t sure why.

  “Yeah, he’s good. Charli’s exhausted all the time, but she’s dealing with it.”

  “She’s tough. She can handle anything. I mean after dealing with Hannah pregnancy should be a breeze,” he grins as he says this.

  I frown at him. He knows how much I hate that name being spoken in our home.

  “Ok, dude, I’m out. Thanks for the coffee.”

  I shake my head at him as he waves over his shoulder.

  “Eli.” I turn and see Charli standing there rubbing her eyes.

  She makes her way towards me. I run my finger down her cheek and kiss her lips. They’re soft from sleep.

  “Baby, you should be in bed. You need your rest.”

  “I woke up, and you weren’t there. Who were you talking to?”

  “Jensen was here getting coffee.”

  She looks at me with a frown on her face like she doesn’t understand.