The Tycoon's Revenge(28)

“Really?” Jacob asked him skeptically. His face contorted into such a mirror image of his own he wanted to shout for joy. He was meeting his son. He wanted to jump from the bed and pull him into his arms but he was still completely naked underneath the protection of the bedding. He knew the only reason Jasmine was still in the bed was for the same reason.

“I really am,” Derek said, having to fight the emotions trying to break free.

“If you’re my dad, then what did you say to my mom every night before you had to leave?” the boy asked and Derek knew he was being tested. Derek hadn’t thought about those words in many years and yet he’d never forget them.

He took a deep breath and uttered the words he hadn’t said since the night before he was to meet Jasmine and run away, “Sweet dreams my princess, I will rescue you from the tower in the morning light,” he said, with a slight scratch to his throat.

He heard Jasmine gasp again and then felt her body shake slightly. He glanced over at her and saw the tears falling from her eyes. He then grunted as Jacob jumped on the bed and threw his arms around him. He felt stunned as he held his son in his arms for the first time. He was awed and amazed by the little man. He wrapped him up tightly and held his little body against his own.

“You’re my dad,” the boy said in awe. He lifted his hands up to touch Derek’s face, as if he was trying to figure out for sure, if he was real. “Mom said you had to go away for business but she told me one day you'd come back and you did, you really came back,” Jacob said, as a tear slipped from his eye. Derek felt like his heart had just burst in his chest. Jasmine was now sobbing next to them on the bed.

She watched as father and son embraced and her world felt like it was coming apart. She had been so wrong to not tell Derek about Jacob the minute she saw him. She could see the love practically flowing from him.

She’d told her son all about Derek and how he’d seemed like her prince in shining armor. She’d never told her son any of her heartbreak, like how she’d waited for him in futile at that little broken down church. She had wanted her son to think his father would move heaven and earth to be with him.

Jacob was talking a million miles a minute, as he asked a ton of questions and Derek patiently answered each one. They continued to cling to each other and Jasmine felt like an intruder. She would’ve gotten up, to give them some time together but was trapped underneath the covers. She scooted over but her bed wasn’t that big and Derek was a large guy. No matter how much she scooted, they were still touching.

“Are you going to come to my wrestling match?” Jacob asked, with hope shining in his eyes. “If you don’t want to, we can skip it,” he said, although he loved to wrestle and had never missed a meet. It broke her heart how much her young man wanted to please his father.

“Nothing would make me happier than to watch you wrestle,” Derek said and he meant it. He had missed nine years already and wouldn’t miss one more minute.

“It’s really fun. Just ask Mom. She never misses my games. She always yells too loud but coach says it’s okay cause she’s just really proud of me,” he said, as if he couldn’t understand women. “I kinda like it, though,” he whispered to Derek, thinking she wouldn’t be able to hear. She had to fight the smile back.

“Can you go to the kitchen for a minute so your mom and I can get ready to go?” Derek asked him. Jasmine was relieved. She needed to get out of the bed.

“You promise you won’t leave?” Jacob asked, looking on the verge of tears.

Derek grabbed him close again. “I promise you I will never leave again,” he said and then glared at Jasmine over Jacob’s shoulder. A shiver ran down her spine from the look. He wasn’t happy with her. She stiffened up her back and glared back. She wasn’t the one who walked out on him. How dare he look at her that way!

“Okay, I’ll be right out here,” Jacob said, almost like a threat, in case Derek decided to disappear on him.

He slowly left the room, closing the door behind him. As soon as he left, Jasmine grabbed the sheet and jumped from the bed. She ran into the bathroom and locked the door. She needed a few minutes to gather herself before she had to face him. She leaned against the sink and took some deep breaths. A few seconds later Derek was on the outside of the door.

“You can either open this door, or I will break it down, it’s your choice,” he said, in a deadly calm voice. She decided not to test him.

He was standing there in nothing but his pants and the man looked far too sexy after just climbing out of bed. She said nothing to him for a few moments, not knowing how to begin this conversation. She decided to go on the offensive.