Turning the Page
The house felt quiet, the weight of the upcoming confrontation pressing down on me. Sean would be home at any time, and with each passing minute, my nerves tightened. I knew what I had to do. But that did nothing to ease the knot in my stomach.
The decision had been made at the cottage, sealed in the moments Jake and I shared, both emotionally and physically. I couldn’t keep living like this, sitting on the fence between two men. Being with Jake had changed how I saw my relationship with Sean and there was no pretending that would change. But even under this new reality, the guilt was hard to shake.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, Jake’s name lighting up the screen. I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Hey,” I said, my voice low.
“How are you holding up?” Jake’s voice was a calm anchor in my sea of nerves.
“I don’t know. He’ll be home soon.” I paused, feeling the heaviness of the words. “I’m ready to do this, but… it’s going to be messy.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Jake said softly. “Just tell him the truth. You’re not happy anymore. And if things get out of hand, call me. I’ll be there in a second.”
I wanted to invite Jake over now, but I shook my head to myself. “I’ll call you if I need backup.”
“Alright,” Jake said, his voice gentle but sure. “Just know I’m here. You’ve got this.”
I hung up, the tension in my chest easing slightly but still present. The clock ticked on, and finally, I heard the sound of Sean’s car pulling into the driveway. My heart clenched, and I took a deep breath.
Sean walked in, his face slightly flushed from the cool evening air. He kicked off his shoes by the door, glancing at me with a distracted smile. “Hey,” he said, his tone casual, as if everything were normal.
“Hey,” I replied, forcing the word out.
He barely looked up as he walked further into the house, dropping his keys on the kitchen counter. “How are things?” he asked, already flipping through the mail like nothing was amiss.
My throat felt tight, but I knew I had to push on. “Sean, we need to talk.”
The tone of my voice must have caught his attention because he paused, looking up at me with a slight frown. “What’s up?”
I gestured for him to sit down, and reluctantly, he did, his gaze still confused. “There’s no easy way to say this,” I started, my voice cracking slightly. “But I’ve been unhappy for a while, and I think we both know things haven’t been right between us recently.”
Sean’s expression tightened, but he didn’t interrupt. He just stared at me, his frown deepening as I continued.
“I don’t think we can fix this, Sean,” I said softly. “We’ve grown apart. I’ve felt lonely for a long time. And…” I hesitated, knowing the next part would hit harder. “I’ve met someone else.”
Sean’s face hardened at that, his eyes narrowing. “Someone else?” he repeated, his voice low and incredulous. “So that’s what this is? You’re throwing everything away for some fling?”
I winced at his words, but I held my ground. “It’s not just about him. I was feeling this way before I met him.”
Sean’s hands tightened into fists as he leaned forward, his voice rising. “So you’ve been lying to me this whole time? What, you’ve just been waiting for an excuse to leave?”
“No, Sean, that’s not it,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s just… we’ve both been pretending like everything’s fine when it’s not. We’ve grown distant from each other. You’ve been so focused on work, and we’ve just fallen into this routine. I don’t want to live like this anymore.”
Sean’s face flushed with anger, he clearly felt like I was blaming him. “What the fuck, Noah? I’ve provided for you. For Jimmy. I’ve given you everything, and now you’re telling me it wasn’t enough?”
“It’s not about that,” I said, my heart racing. “It’s about the connection we lost a long time ago. This is about us not being right for each other anymore.”
Sean stood up suddenly, his voice sharp with frustration. “Who the hell is this guy, huh? What kind of person gets between a family like this?”
The room felt charged, Sean’s anger filling the space. I needed a moment to breathe, to collect my thoughts, but Sean kept hammering me with questions and accusations, many of which were legitimate.
“You want to know who?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly. “It’s Jake. He’s… he’s what I need.”
Sean’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. “Jake?” he spat. “That gardener? You’re leaving me for the damn gardener?”
“He’s more than that,” I said, my voice firm, though the tension was making my hands shake and making me want to defend my actions. “He’s… he’s there for me in ways you haven’t been.”
Sean’s face reddened, but before he could get more upset, I stepped back, pulling out my phone. “I need a break from this conversation,” I muttered. Sean is of a similar build to me, but he’s taller and I don’t like dealing with conflict. Turning away and texting Jake: I need you here. Things are getting intense.
Within minutes, Jake was on his way, and I returned to the living room, my nerves frayed. Sean was pacing now, his anger simmering just below the surface. He kept challenging me, accusing me of being a bad boyfriend.
The sound of the doorbell jolted me from my thoughts, cutting through the air like a lifeline. My heart pounded as I moved to open the door, hoping I’d made the right call. When I opened it, Jake stood there, radiating calm, but with a quiet intensity that filled the space. He was wearing a fitted shirt that stretched over his broad chest, paired with jeans that emphasized his muscular legs. There was no mistaking the message: he wasn’t just here to be supportive; he was here to make sure things stayed in control—on his terms.
I stepped back to let him in, feeling the shift in energy the moment he crossed the threshold. Sean hadn’t seen him yet, but I knew his arrival would change things. As Jake moved past me, his hand brushed lightly against my lower back, a small gesture of reassurance that steadied me in the moment. I needed that.
Sean’s face twisted in disbelief when he saw Jake standing in the doorway to the living room. The simmering tension boiled over instantly. His voice was thick with anger and incredulity. “What the hell is this? You invite him over while we’re still talking?”
Jake didn’t flinch. His calm gaze swept over Sean before landing on me for a brief second, offering a wordless reassurance. Then, he stepped into the room, owning the space with every movement. Even without saying a word, his presence alone felt like a quiet challenge to Sean.
“It looks like the conversation isn’t going anywhere productive,” Jake said smoothly, his voice low and measured. “So, I’m here to make sure things don’t spiral out of control.”
Sean bristled, his fists clenched at his sides. He was sizing Jake up, his eyes darting between the two of us, his face flushed with a mix of anger and frustration. “This is my house,” he snapped, his voice rising. “You’ve got no right to be here.”
Jake met his gaze head-on, his posture relaxed but not passive. There was a subtle challenge in the way he stood there, one hand resting on his hip, his chest broad and powerful under his shirt. “Noah and Jimmy are leaving,” Jake said, his tone as calm as ever. “It’s over, Sean. We both know it.”
Sean’s jaw tightened, his body tense with barely-contained rage. For a split second, I thought he might lunge at Jake, might try to physically assert himself, but something about the way Jake stood there—so sure, so composed—kept Sean in check.
I could feel the shift happening. Jake hadn’t raised his voice, hadn’t made any threats, but the total confidence he projected, the way he seemed so at ease, was enough to make Sean back down—at least for the moment.
Sean glared at Jake, his fists still clenched at his sides. He knew he was cornered, and he hated it. “You think you’re so much better, huh?” he spat, his voice bitter and sharp. “What, because you’ve got some muscles and a cock that’s got him hooked? You think this is going to last?”
Jake didn’t respond immediately, letting Sean’s words hang in the air, his gaze steady and unbothered. But the tension in the room spiked, like a storm about to break. I saw the shift in Sean’s posture, the way his anger twisted into something more primal, more dangerous.
With no warning, Sean lunged forward, his fist swinging wildly at Jake, the humiliation and frustration boiling over. But Jake was faster—so much faster. With one fluid motion, he caught Sean’s fist mid-air, gripping it tightly in his powerful hand.
Sean’s eyes widened in shock as Jake held him there, his grip firm but controlled. The raw strength in Jake’s hand was undeniable, the bulging muscles in his arm tensed as if barely restrained. Sean tried to pull away, but Jake didn’t let go.
Jake leaned in slightly, his voice low and dangerous, his eyes narrowing as he sneered. “You really want to do this, Sean? Take a swing at me? I’m warning you—stand down now, or you’ll regret it.”
For a moment, Sean looked like he might try again, the rage still flickering in his eyes. But the sheer dominance in Jake’s stance, the way he held Sean’s fist so effortlessly, made him hesitate. Slowly, the fight drained from his expression, leaving only bitter resentment.
Jake released Sean’s fist with a shove, causing Sean to stumble backwards. “You’re done here,” Jake said calmly, his tone cold and final. “Get yourself a hotel room for a couple of nights while Noah and Jimmy pack their things. Let them leave in peace.”
Sean staggered slightly, rubbing his hand where Jake had gripped him. His face twisted with humiliation, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he glared at me, his eyes full of contempt, as if I were the one responsible for his defeat.
“Fine,” Sean spat, his voice dripping with venom. “But don’t think this is over.” He grabbed his coat, slinging it over his shoulder, and marched out the front door, slamming it behind him without another word.
The silence was soothing. I stood there, my heart pounding, trying to process what had just happened. Sean was gone, and I wasn’t sure how to feel. Relief? Maybe. But there was something else—a strange mixture of adrenaline and excitement. I turned to Jake, who was watching me with a calm intensity. “Thank you,” I said quietly, my voice shaky but sincere. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
Jake’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Watching him run off with his tail between his legs made it all worthwhile!”
I let out a soft laugh, the tension in my chest easing slightly, but there was something else building inside me—something primal. The way Jake had handled Sean, the sheer dominance he’d displayed, had ignited something deep within me. I felt it now, more intensely than before, desire, a need I could not ignore.
Without thinking, I reached out, my hand sliding over Jake’s chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath his shirt. The energy in the room shifted. My fingers traced the lines of his biceps and pecs, admiring the strength that had just put Sean in his place. Jake’s body tensed slightly at my touch, his eyes darkening with anticipation as he realized what I wanted.
“You liked that, didn’t you?” Jake murmured, his voice low and teasing. The corner of his mouth lifted in a knowing smirk, but before he could say more, I leaned in, pressing my lips to his, the heat between us flaring.
Jake didn’t need any more encouragement. His hands came up to cup my face, his grip firm but tender as he deepened the kiss. I could feel the intensity in him, the way his body responded to mine. His tongue teased mine, and soon the kiss grew more urgent, more heated.
“I’m going to give you what you need,” Jake growled softly, his voice rough with desire. He pulled me closer, his hands already working at the hem of my shirt, yanking it off in one swift motion. As my shirt hit the floor, Jake pulled his own shirt off, revealing the sculpted muscles I couldn’t stop admiring. I reached out, my hands running down the hard ridges of his torso, the feel of his strength beneath my fingertips making my pulse race.
“I want you, Noah,” Jake murmured, his voice thick with need. He leaned down, his lips brushing my neck, trailing lower as his hands explored my body with deliberate slowness.
Without another word, Jake bent down and lifted me effortlessly, carrying me toward the bedroom as if I weighed nothing. His muscles flexed beneath my hands, and I lustfully grasped at the hard planes of his body.
“Jake…” I murmured, half breathless as I felt the anticipation coil tighter inside me. I could already feel the heat radiating off him. The passion we shared was always intense, but tonight… tonight it felt like something more. Like we were claiming something, taking it for ourselves.
He laid me down gently on the bed, his body hovering above mine. The sight of his sculpted chest and shoulders, the way the dim light caught the sharp ridges of his muscles, sent a rush of desire through me.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” Jake whispered, his voice rough with need as he leaned down, his lips brushing against mine. The kiss started slow, but it deepened quickly, his tongue teasing mine as his hands explored my body.
The weight of his body pressed against mine, and I arched into him, my hands running down his back, feeling the power in his muscles. The room filled with the sound of our breathing, the quiet urgency of our need for each other building with every passing second.
Jake’s hands slid lower, his fingers trailing over my skin with deliberate slowness. “I want to feel every inch of you tonight,” he murmured against my lips, his voice deep and husky. “No holding back.”
I let out a soft moan as his hands continued their journey, and soon our clothes were gone, the cool air of the room contrasting with the heat between us. Jake took his time, his hands and lips worshipping every part of me, his touch reverent yet possessive, as if he was claiming me all over again.
When he finally entered me, it was slow, deliberate, his movements steady and sure. The intensity of the moment washed over us both as our bodies found their rhythm, the connection between us so intense, so real, it felt like the world had fallen away.
Our eyes met, and the fire in his gaze was enough to send me over the edge, my body trembling as pleasure coursed through me. Jake’s hands tightened on my hips, and he thrust deeper, the raw power of his body overwhelming, yet tender at the same time.
“You feel so damn good,” Jake growled, his lips brushing my ear as he drove us both toward the inevitable climax. His grip on me was firm, his movements precise, each one pushing me closer to the brink.
And then, all at once, we reached it together. The intensity of our shared release left us breathless, our bodies tangled together, sweat-slicked and spent. Jake collapsed beside me, his arm pulling me into his chest, holding me tight as our breathing slowly returned to normal.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke, the quiet of the room filled only by the sound of our hearts beating in unison. The night was ours now, and everything that had come before—Sean, the confrontation, the uncertainty—felt like a distant memory.
As we lay there, Jake’s fingers trailed lazily up and down my back, and I couldn’t help but speak the thoughts that had been swirling in my mind. “You make me feel… like I’ve never felt before,” I admitted quietly, my voice filled with the truth of it.
Jake’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as he kissed the top of my head. “I know,” he said softly, teasing but confident. “Sounds like you’ve made your decision, then?”
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “I guess I have.”
“Good,” Jake murmured, pulling me closer, his body warm against mine. “Because I wasn’t planning on letting you go.”
As we lay there, tangled in each other’s arms, the weight of the night began to dissipate, and in its place, something lighter and more certain bloomed. Jake's chest rose and fell beneath my head, his heartbeat steady and reassuring. I glanced up at him, his eyes half-closed, a soft smile playing on his lips. The quiet between us felt peaceful, but I knew we were both thinking the same thing—what came next.
“You know,” Jake began, his fingers still lazily tracing patterns on my back, “there’s more than enough room at my place for the three of us. And, Jimmy will love the park across the road. Jake was doing what Jake does, he was making plans.
I smiled, warmth flooding my chest at the thought of giving Jimmy the family household he needed, and at starting something new with Jake. “I can’t wait!” I whispered.
Jake chuckled softly, pulling me closer, his lips pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Good. Tomorrow, we start packing—me, you, and Jimmy. It’s time for us to move forward together.”
And just like that, the future felt solid, something we could hold onto, something we could build, the three of us, together.
