by E. H. Lyon
“Yeah, I just spoke with him this morning, but it depends on his meeting schedule. That will be okay, right? He wants to get a feel for the neighborhoods as he’s thinking of buying out here in a year.”
“That makes sense,” Abby comments. “Funny, right? Even as adults our parents still factor into our decisions.”
“Speak for yourself,” Avery says as she grabs some more French toast. “I keep parents at a solid three-digit mile radius.”
“Agreed,” Jess chimes in.
I brush their input away. “Anyways, hopefully I can wrap up the house search soon as I need to focus when the school year starts. Kindergarteners require a lot of patience and stamina.” And I will be in over my head with paint, cotton balls, and play dough.
“I can imagine,” Lucas says as he watches his son play in the living room, “Theo just finished kindergarten, and I have full respect for his teachers. They say he was a delight in class, but something tells me that thirty of those kids are not a delight.”
“I’ll let you in on a secret.” I put my hand around my mouth to fake whisper towards Lucas at an audible range. “We are required to tell all parents their child is a delight. Shh.” He smiles back at me.
“Okay, so a tour of houses with you and your dad. Lucky me.” Max doesn’t sound enthusiastic.
“Your lucky week is ahead, for sure,” I smirk, and that makes his face ease again into that sexy grin.
“So did Max share his yoga experience with everyone?” Jess asks as she bounces Sam in her arms. There is a look of mischief on her face.
“Max went to yoga?” Lucas looks like he struck gold.
“It’s nothing, man.” Max tries to brush it off, but Lucas puts a hand against Max’s shoulder to stop him.
“Hold up. You went to yoga? This is great. Tell me someone got a pic?” Lucas laughs.
“I may have snapped one from the back really quickly. Not a great pic, but you get the drift.” Jess smirks.
“Sorry, I was too busy watching he didn’t break his neck,” I add.
Lucas holds a hand up to stop us. “You were at the class, Harper?”
I nod yes.
Lucas looks between Max and me. “Now it makes sense,” he smiles to himself before turning to his son who ran to ask for something, meanwhile I wonder what he means. How does Max showing up at yoga make sense?
Abby nudges my arm and softly speaks so only I can hear as everyone else is now in separate conversations. “Something going on between you and Max? Because that guy would never set foot in a yoga class.”
“I mean, there could be a few sparks, yes. So he came to yoga, so what,” I shrug.
“I’ve known Max forever. He wouldn’t do that if he didn’t see something in you. Trust me, Max going to yoga is as rare as walking on water,” Abby tells me before starting to collect plates as everyone has finished eating.
“Let me help you,” I volunteer as I also gather the plates and take in her words.
Five minutes later, I have helped Abby clear the table and I head outside to the patio where everyone is sitting with the dog and watching Theo swim in the shallow end of the pool. I grab a patio chair and sit near Max.
My eyes can’t help but notice that Max is holding Sam and I thank the statistics of birth control success because looking at Max right now bouncing a baby on his lap and I’m suddenly a woman who wouldn’t mind getting knocked up by him. That ludicrous thought makes me question if I should switch to Bloody Marys or just internally slap myself back to reality.
“You aren’t going to go for a dive?” Max teases and gives me the side-eye with a half-grin.
I lick my lips. “No, when it’s planned it isn’t so fun,” I answer and look around to see that Avery and Abby are heading into the pool while Lucas and Jess are talking about daycare.
“Probably safer that you don’t get half-naked in front of me again.”
“Max, shh, not in front of the baby.” I nudge his arm and that surge of warmth goes through me. A strange tingling in my chest too.
“What’s the plan this afternoon, Harper?” he asks casually as he leans back in the chair.
“Plan?” I question, amused.
Max leans in my direction and his eyes hold mine. “Yes, Harper. The plan. After last night, I believe we have some unfinished business. By all means, if it’s my turn to try your handcuffs then I accept the challenge, but I already know that you will surprise me again.”
Sam coos, and I tickle his arm as I make noises to play with him.
“You’re right, Max, I may indeed surprise you again,” I confirm but keep my attention on the kid.
“Should I take him back, Max?” Jess holds her hands out as she stands in front of Max. “I already know he needs a new diaper by the look on his face.”
Max immediately holds Sam out. “Please. Take him if that’s the case,” he nearly begs. Jess takes her son then heads back inside. Leaving Max and I to look at each other.
“Let’s get out of here, Harper.”
I give him a coy look. “Where are we going?”
“You tell me.” His eyes sink low but peer up to me as he leans on the armrest of the chair. His forearms displaying some lean muscle.
“I don’t know, actually.” I smile and shake my head. “Honestly, I don’t. Look, Max, I like you a lot.” I stroke his firm forearm—okay, maybe give it a squeeze too. “And believe it or not, but you make me crazier than normal.”
“Oh good, you don’t lock men in handcuffs on a regular basis,” he deadpans.
I blush. “I don’t, actually. Nor do I leave them. But you’re different. I like you a lot.”
“You said.”
“And I love that you seem to have revised your rule. But now that I reflect on it, if I am just fun then you shouldn’t break your rule. I’m not interested in a fling, and I wouldn’t want you to regret it. If you really see me as something else, then well…”
“You are my fantasies, dreams, and spirit animal all rolled into one. So, what is the option if that is the case?” His eyes now look at me with eagerness and lust.
A smile begins to form on my face. “I guess then… maybe.” My fingers glide along the skin of his arm. He must also feel this energy heading between his legs too. A throbbing heart has me struggling to think of an answer. “Maybe you come to my place?”
A smug look grows on his face. “I’ll meet you there in ten?”
“Geez, Max. Fifteen. I don’t speed in this small town. I have a reputation to maintain,” I retort as I get up from sitting.
But then we’re both hightailing it through goodbyes and racing to our cars.
“This is definitely new for me,” Max admits as he glues some cotton balls to a stick and hands it to me so I can add glitter.
While throwing our clothes off the moment we got through the door was an option, I realized that I need to pace us. So I gave an option of a walk or finishing my unicorns for the kids. The man is magic as, no questions asked, he agreed to help, and now we are sitting on the floor in front of my coffee table.
“You are a natural at this stuff,” I comment as I focus on my glue bottle. “Thanks so much for helping. You really are into kids. This morning with Sam and now this. Something tells me you plan to have like ten kids.”
He almost chortles. “I hope not. Truthfully, kids are not even in my mind frame. Sure, one day, but I haven’t once thought about it in the present. You?”
“I like that I can return kids at 2:15pm plus weekends, holidays, summer vacation, and teacher days. So same wave as you.”
“Is that why you don’t date parents of your students? Because then you may potentially end up with a kid?” he teases me. I look up from my work at him with an unamused look.
“That’s a little harsh. No. I told you why. Plus, I feel like gossip in this town runs fast, it wouldn’t look good for me. I have been a well-behaved, respectable member of the community since I arrived at the end of the school year.”
He raises a brow at me. “Oh. So you haven’t been…” He drags it out.
“With someone since I moved here? No. You?” I refocus on my glue, slightly worried for his answer.
“It’s been a few months. And pets? What are your views?”
“Turtles, great. Dogs are cute and cats I swear curse me. You?”
“Was impartial to turtles up to five days ago when I met you. Dogs meh and cats are okay.”
Our eyes settle on each other as we sit there in a pause.
“Any other crucial vetting questions?” I ask softly as I feel our heads are moving towards the other.
“I’m good. You?” He continues to move, and I swear my heart may stop from the intensity of its beating.
“Good. Slightly scared,” I admit and immediately his hand comes to cup the side of my face with his thumb caressing my skin, and I suddenly feel like I am floating.
“Why scared?” he asks attentively.
“That you may pay me back for last night.” The corner of my mouth slants into a smile.
“Tempting, but stripping for you handcuffed then leaving is not how I want this day to end,” he assures me.
“How do you want it to end?” Our eyes meet and his eyes intensify with a hazy want.
“Something along the lines of this,” he warns me before his mouth moves in and catches my bottom lip.
The moment our lips meet, I know these are the only lips that I will ever kiss again.
His mouth presses into mine in a magical kiss that sends a pool of want between my legs. My mouth tries to get more of his as our tongues meet for a feel. Running along each other’s tongue to feel the firmness of the flesh. Our lips moving to find new angles. His soft lips lead mine as both his hands cradle my face.
He is dominating my mouth in an impeccable manner. In my head, there’s a rainbow burst that is making me see colors and nothing else. He is knocking me into dizziness. I lean forward to loop my arms around his neck and let my fingers twirl the hair at the back his neck. I move my body to angle more towards him as his mouth takes another dive into mine and hitting another nerve ending I didn’t know I had in the process.
Reluctantly, we pull slightly apart. Just enough for our foreheads to touch and our heavy breaths to mingle.
“Follow me,” I whisper and grab his hand.
Chapter Eight
Max
Of course, Harper still surprises me when we reach her room. But the last five days of my life have been a continuous adventure with her around. Then when we arrived this afternoon, I could tell she was innocently anxious. She wants this to be right and I want that too. But I also want her to be comfortable, hence why I added unicorn-making to my list of weekend activities of yoga and handcuffs. It felt easy to agree.
Quickly, I take in my surroundings, and to my surprise her bedroom is simple and white. Her dark hair and nails will be a great contrast to the white sheets.
Before I can contemplate if I should lay her in the middle of the bed or near the edge of the bed, she is guiding me to the adjoining bathroom. Once in the modern mid-sized bathroom with walk-in shower, she turns to me with her palms against my chest and her shimmering blue eyes looking up at me.
“I didn’t plan this right. You may have glue in your hair, and I have glitter on my skin. Let’s shower… together.” She nibbles her bottom lip as her hands begin to work my t-shirt off.
“Logical,” I agree as I help her pull my shirt up and off my body.
She gawks at me. “Okay, Max. So far, I am liking what I’m seeing.”
I chuckle slightly before I grab the edges of her shirt, and in a swift movement, pull it up and off her. “Well, you already know I like what I see,” I remind her as she works her shorts off and stands in a black cotton bra with matching panties.
Her eyes trail down to my hard bulge and her eyes look at me with a hint of naughtiness as her fingers find the zipper, which immediately makes me feel like I could burst. Her delicate fingers have so much power, and I am yearning for them to touch me. The sound of the zipper slowly coming undone fills the air. Anticipation seeping through my veins.
My jeans come off and I’m left in my boxer briefs. She quickly turns the running water on before returning to stand in front of me.
“Moment of truth.” She arches a brow as her hands reach behind her to unclasp her bra.
“Allow me,” I offer as my hands meet hers behind her back. It makes her draw in a breath and I feel a soft shudder of her body under my touch. I give her a soft smile as we unclasp her bra together.
For taking clothes off to head into the shower, this is turning into a sensual experience.
She gives me a seductive look as her fingers come to slide her bra straps down off her shoulders until her bra falls to the floor.
Now I am the one gawking. She has two perfect globes of smooth goodness with taut nubs. My hands will fit perfectly around them, and my hands are not small.
“Still liking what I am seeing,” I whisper as my hands find her face again to kiss her.
“Your turn.”
No hesitation, I drop my briefs down.
“Definitely not complaining,” she barely manages to say as she stares at my dick at attention.
My fingers hook under the rim of her panties and give them a tug down before she steps out of them. Her little landing strip is going to get me in trouble. “So sexy,” I mutter into the back of her neck as I follow her into the shower.
Once under the spray, we face each other, and we let the water run over us. My arms wrap around her shoulders to pull her close and her slippery wet body presses against mine. I begin to kiss her hair then her forehead, cheek, then stop at her mouth. We kiss and kiss some more. I kiss her nose and then her cheek then back at her mouth again. She moans into my mouth and her body arches into mine, getting me hard and ready in the process.
My mouth works its way down her neck and then farther, dragging my mouth.
“Max,” she purrs and warns, but I hear the smile.
“You are too delicious and tempting. Let me show you,” I request as I go to my knees.
She giggles as her hands land on my shoulders, but then she pulls me back up. “Uh uh, Max, there is something else I want.”
“Oh yeah?” I kiss her neck with a bit of teeth, getting a nibble.
“Yes.” Now she is the one dropping to her knees.
“Not fair, Harper. Let’s finish the shower and we can take this to the bedroom. Sixty-nine is in the cards.” I throw in that idea. It’s a bit ambitious for our first round, but she seems like someone up for the challenge.
“I love your dirty mind.” She looks up at me.
But already her hands are holding the base of my cock and making long strokes along my length, and I am trying to find my breath. Blood rushes down to my groin. I groan the moment her mouth finds my tip and she takes me into her mouth.
Her appetite for me is displayed through her mouth getting wetter as she takes me deeper.
“Fuck, Harper. You’re trying to kill me. Not even giving me a chance.” I moan as her magical mouth is spellbinding and her movements and steady strokes with her tongue are sliding just right.
My hands entangle in her wet hair as the water rains down on us. Her eyes looking up at me for approval as her mouth continues to work my cock.
“So good. So good,” I nearly gasp.
She moans, all needy, and sucks me harder.
“Harper, I’ll come if you don’t stop,” I warn her, but it only makes her take me deeper, up to the hilt. Her nails digging into my ass.
A few more strokes combined with the image in front of me of Harper on her knees with me in her mouth and I am there.
“Harper, yes, Harper yes yes yes…” I stiffen and still as I feel my body unleashing in her mouth.
And she swallows. No hesitation. She swallows.
She pulls away with a satisfied grin and looks up at me.
“Holy fuck, Harper,” I tell her as I try to
catch my breath and help her to standing at the same time.
She pretends to wipe her mouth, but she swallowed every last drop. I press her against my body, and she kisses my chest before she grabs a scrub sponge from the side and puts liquid soap on it.
“Rub my back?” She holds the scrub out to me.
“I will do whatever you want,” I say as my breathing is still heavy. I get to work on her back and rub her.
After a minute more, I finally refocus on the situation.
I pull her back to my front and wrap my arms around her again as I kiss her cheek. She smells now of peaches and her skin is slippery wet. My hands easily slide down her skin to cup her breasts and my fingers pinch her nipples. They fit into my hands perfectly.
“Mmm, Max.” She molds into my body.
“You like that?”
“Yes, don’t stop,” she encourages.
“I’m going to have to, otherwise I will take you right here. I can’t help myself,” I admit and warn her at the same time.
“Would that be such a bad thing?” she nearly mumbles.
“Yes. Because I want to lay you on the bed and take my time with you.”
She stills before she turns to me with a gentle smile. “Sounds good.”
The next minute, she scrubs me as I put shampoo through my hair. We finally finish our shower and step out, grabbing a towel each and quickly drying off.
Re-entering her room, we walk straight to her bed. “Lie down,” I order as I fish out a condom from my jeans pocket.
Turning my head, I see Harper is in the middle of the bed on her back with her hair splayed out and her knees knocking side to side. Her hands covering her breasts.
“You are so beautiful,” I tell her as I come to all fours on the bed. I give her a quick peck on the lips before I return to the end of the bed.
Pulling her hips to the edge of the bed, I push her inner knees so they fall open. Her pussy is on full display and I can see she’s eager for me. My mouth slides up her inner thigh as my fingers open her folds and my tongue slams into her clit. She moans on the contact.
Her hands play with her tits as her hips tilt up to my mouth. I lick her in long firm strokes before plunging inside her. My mouth getting completely drenched in her sweet taste that smells of arousal, a potion to me.