Growing with J.A.C.I.E. (All Time Low Fanfiction | Jack Barakat)

Chapter 31

"Is she asleep?" Jack whispered, attempting to look down at Eliza, but her head was too close to his.

We were laying side by side on our bed, Eliza on Jack's bare chest. He was supporting her little body with his hands, ensuring she wouldn't fall off. She had been having a hard time falling asleep around bedtime, so we did the only thing we could: give her extra love and attention. Once placed on Jack's chest, her fussiness quieted down, but then came the hard part of waiting for her to fall asleep without dozing off ourselves.

"Yeah," I quietly confirmed.

Eliza's mouth was open just the slightest bit and her hands were balled up in fists. If the lighting in the room hadn't been so bad, I would have pulled out my phone to snap a photo as a memento. But it was already dark outside and we only had our bedside lights on to make the environment as calming as possible.

"Do you think it's time?" Jack asked, the fingers on Eliza's back slightly twitching.

"We can try," I admitted, unsure if it would work. There was a high chance that if Jack put her down, she'd wake up and start crying for him again.

He very slowly and meticulously started sitting up, careful not to jolt Eliza awake. Every movement was calculated as he held his breath. Although adding to the movement probably wasn't desirable, I couldn't miss out on saying goodnight to her. So, I carefully got up as well and followed as Jack tiptoed to the bassinet at the foot end of my side of the bed.

He gently placed Eliza in her crib, her arms instinctively reaching out for him in her sleep. I watched with a smile as I stood right behind him, lovingly rubbing his back. Our eyes lingered on Eliza, making sure she wouldn't wake at the lack of contact. After observing for a few more beats, Jack turned around.

I lowered my touch as he kissed the top of my head. We exchanged an affectionate glance that should have led to us breaking apart and getting back into bed. Instead, it led to us sharing a kiss that turned deeper than any other we'd shared over the past few weeks. Jack cupped my cheek, guiding us through a smooth rhythm.

"Jacie," he whispered against my lips, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

I responded with a soft hum, and he moved his lips to my neck, kissing the skin delicately over and over again. My fingers gently traced the contours of his chest as I craned my neck to give him better access. A breath hitched in my throat when his free hand grabbed onto my thigh and brought my leg up to wrap around him.

I bit my lip at the contact, enjoying the way his lips lightly grazed my neck before he softly sucked. The familiarity of the touch ignited a dormant desire within me. The past three months had been focused on Eliza and her arrival, and the physical connection that had originally brought us together had taken a backseat.

Jack's voice vibrated against me as he briefly broke away. "Are you okay with this, Jace?"

I could barely find my voice, answering breathlessly as I nodded, "yeah... I– yeah."

He kissed my neck one more time before he pressed his lips back against mine. I circled my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, as if that was possible. While the kiss deepened even further, Jack's other hand went to my other thigh and gave it a squeeze. I knew what he meant and jumped up to wrap both legs around his waist. He caught me and held me up.

He stepped over to the bed and gently placed me on my back. My hands cupped both his cheeks as he hovered over me and our kiss continued. There was a sense of desire and anticipation. We were exploring each other again, finding familiar touches and sensations.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Jack checked again, looking down at me with a hint of concern.

"Yes," I confirmed again and reached for the hem of my tank top.

I pulled it over my head and threw it down on the bed beside me. Jack's hands gently moved along the contours of my body as he marvelled at the changes that had occurred since Eliza's birth. My body wasn't back to normal. It was a question if it ever would. The physical toll of childbirth and the sheer exhaustion that came along with caring for a newborn had left its mark. But Jack didn't seem to mind.

"Holy shit, you're beautiful," he grinned, leaning in to restart the kiss.

He continued to explore, his touch conveying a sense of familiarity. My body may have gone through changes, but he traced it all like he knew every inch. There was a closeness that we'd never be able to lose, no matter what we went through. This was more than an intimate moment, it was a rediscovery.

But then he suddenly broke away and froze, staring down at me with wide eyes. "Is this awkward?"

I looked over at the bassinet where Eliza was sleeping and shook my head. "No, not until she's a little older."

He seemed a little apprehensive, "I don't know."

"She's asleep, she won't even know what we're doing," I tried to reassure him, running my fingers through his hair. "It's either this or waiting until she can sleep in the nursery by herself."

He looked between me and the crib, the longing in his eyes showing that he really didn't want this to stop. But there was also a conflict with the role of being a parent.

"Can we do this in the shower?" he suggested instead.

My eyes went wide and I shook my head. "That barely worked out before Eliza. I don't think we should add water into the mix."

"It's just... I don't want her to wake up crying and find us in the middle of..." he gestured vaguely, his cheeks tinted with a blush.

I couldn't help but giggle at his awkwardness. "We'll just have to be quiet, like stealthy ninjas."

"Stealthy ninjas..." Once again, he looked back at the bassinet and considered his options before looking back at me. "I can do that."

"Good." I smiled and pulled him close again.

Our connection resumed, and the room once again became a sanctuary of shared intimacy. The worries and uncertainties faded into the background as we focused on the present, on each other. The moments that followed included whispers and hushed laughter. Our bodies moved together in harmony. Every touch, each shared breath, bound us together in a way we hadn't in a while.

In the afterglow of our intimacy, Jack pulled me into his arms, and we lay there together, basking in the warmth of our connection. Eliza continued to sleep peacefully in her bassinet, unaware of the intricate dance her parents had shared.

"I love you" I whispered as I snuggled into him.

"I love you too," he responded, nuzzling his nose into my hair. His hand trailed up and down my bare arm. "Do you want to put on some clothes?"

"No," I shook my head and inhaled deeply, "Eliza's going to want me in a few hours anyway."