So Long: Bad Boy Next Door

by Kelley Harvey

I won’t get sick in front of him. He might think he’s the reason. Asshat.

  “Here are the kid’s things. She left them at my parents’.” He shoves a plastic grocery bag toward me. “Mom insisted I bring the stuff myself.”

  I stifle the urge to throw it at his head. “You want to say hi to your daughter?”

  Matt pushes his fingers through his hair. “I’m paying the fucking child support. Why can’t you be happy with that? Looks like you’ve got your hooks in me for the next fourteen years or so.”

  My jaw drops and my stomach hollows, trembling with anger. “You are such a colossal asshole.”

  “You should talk nicer to me, bitch. I’ve earned everything you enjoy right now. If you have it, it’s because of me and my hard work.”

  All the years of him telling me how I should be more grateful, appreciate him doing what a husband and father should do, and be thankful he provided for his wife and child come to the forefront of my memory. It’s as if every time he ever said something to that effect has swollen into one huge ball of rage inside me.

  I suck in a great breath and let it out in a haughty laugh with a razor-sharp edge. “Really? Well, I hate to break it to you, jackass, but seven years of walking on eggshells, dancing to your tune, laughing at your bad jokes, and stroking your enormous ego says that I earned everything I’ve gotten.”

  Matt’s eyes widen as though he can’t believe what I’ve said.

  I raise my voice another notch. “And that doesn’t even include all the nights I spent alone, worried and wondering where you were when you were off fucking my best friend. You lied to me and used me to wash your fucking clothes, cook your stupid meals, and clean your god-damned house. So you can kiss my ass.”

  He gives me a greasy grin. “Kiss your ass? My lips will never touch your ass again.”

  “Oh, big loss there. Even when they did, it wasn’t all that great anyway.”

  Matt’s expression hardens and he comes at me, grabbing my shoulders and pushing me against the door. “Get this straight. She’s not my responsibility anymore. We’ve been through this.”

  I can’t let Matt win. He can never win.

  “She is your responsibility.”

  His grip tightens.

  I narrow my eyes and speak through clenched teeth. “You can’t walk out on her like you walked out on me.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  I grab his forearms and dig my nails into his flesh. If only I could rip his skin off and make him eat his words. “You have no idea how I wish—”

  Suddenly, a wall of muscle separates Matt from me.

  “You will never touch her again.” Adam’s voice is as hard as my anger. “Never.”

  Crap.

  Why would Adam do that?

  He walks straight at Matt, who backs away, looking at me as though I’ve done something wrong. “This guy again?”

  Adam pushes Matt. “Yeah. This guy.”

  Under my breath, I say, “Uh oh.”

  Matt stumbles backward off the porch, landing on his ass. He jumps to his feet, fists flying.

  Oh Lord, this is seriously bad.

  Adam ducks the first punch and lands a jab to Matt’s ribs.

  My lungs snatch at the air, trying to catch my breath, but somehow I can’t. So I clamp my arms over my ribs.

  With a grunt, Matt grabs his side and staggers backward. His mouth hardens and his eyes narrow. He lunges at Adam, who dodges to the left and leaves Matt stumbling across the walkway.

  Matt comes at him again.

  I close my eyes.

  Adam’s going to get hurt defending me.

  I peek through my lashes, unable to stop myself from looking to see what will happen next.

  I flinch as Adam lands a punch square in Matt’s face.

  He grabs his nose. Blood drips from under his hand.

  When Matt turns, zeroing in on me, Adam shakes his head and steps between us. “Don’t even—”

  “Who do you think you are?” Matt slings blood from his fingers, staining the grass and concrete with scarlet droplets.

  “I’m the man who loves this woman and that little girl in there.”

  I gasp as the world falls from beneath my feet. I steady myself with a hand on the front porch rail.

  Adam says, “You don’t want them? Fine. They don’t need you. So carry your ass on down the fucking road.”

  It’s one thing for Adam to say he loves me when he’s stinkin’ ass drunk—easy to brush off as nothing. It’s something completely different to hear him say it sober and in defense of me and my sweet girl.

  Matt swipes at the dust and debris sticking to him. “Fine. I will. You want ‘em? Be my guest.”

  Adam grabs Matt’s collar and shoves him toward his car. “Fuck you, douchebag. Get out of here before I shove my foot so far up your ass, you’ll taste boot leather for a month.”

  Matt clambers to his car, throwing himself into his seat and slamming the door.

  The built up pressure in my chest eases as I holler, “Fuck you and the whore you rode out on.”

  Matt’s arm shoots out the window as he flips us the bird. Tires screech as he takes off down the street.

  Adam turns toward me. “The only good thing about that fucker is that little girl in there.”

  “I did get the best part of him in her, didn’t I?” I head into the house.

  Adam follows with his hand on my lower back, warm and comforting.

  Inside, he catches my fingers and pulls me to him.

  My heart stutters.

  He traps me against the door. His arms cage me as his body presses close. “I meant what I said out there.”

  My tummy flutters, but not with nausea this time. I search his eyes for the truth of his words. His gaze doesn’t waver—not in the least.

  “That he’s a dickhead?” I let a small smile slip across my face.

  He lays a hand on my belly, his voice barely a whisper. “I love you and Clarissa. And I’ll love this baby too, if you’ll give me a chance. We aren’t going in different directions. I’m going wherever you are. That’s the only place I want to be. I’m so sorry it took so long for me to tell you that.”

  For a writer, I never seem to know what words to use when it’s important to say something—anything.

  I worry my lower lip, trying to think how to answer him.

  He cups my jaw. “I don’t have the tools to write the perfect romance, but I’d like to try. Help me find the right words—I still mean that.”

  My throat all but closes over with the emotions bottling up in my chest. His hazel eyes stare into mine.

  “Leave the romance writing to me.” I brush his mouth with my lips. “I only needed those three words. I love you too.”

  ADAM

  Ryan sits like a little king on his sun lounger by the pool, his cast covered with drawings and good wishes from friends and family. He’s got Tucker fetching and carrying drinks, snacks, and pretty much anything he can think of, taking full advantage of the situation. Little shit.

  Jen, Kelsey, and Gina gather around a tiny table under the umbrella, chatting about whatever it is women talk about when there aren’t any men there to hear them. Most likely, the topic is either Kelsey’s last book’s rocket trip to the top of the best sellers list, or maybe wedding plans. Those seem to be the subjects of choice lately. They’re almost one in the same, really. The book, as it turns out, is basically our story wrapped in fiction. She missed her deadline, but she did finish it, not long after I pulled my head out of my ass and told her I love her.

  I toss Maddie into the air, and she squeals in delight just before she splashes down.

  Clarissa holds out her arms, excited for her turn to fly. She throws her scrawny arms around my neck and hugs me, giving me a smacking kiss on my cheek, wrapping my heart around her little finger a bit tighter.

  I give her a quick squeeze and launch her over the shallow water. Somehow, in mid-air, her strap-on floaties go one direction wh
ile she flies the other. I dive across the pool, grabbing her suit before she has time to suck up any water.

  When we surface, Kelsey’s at the side of the pool. “Is she okay?”

  Clarissa wipes her face, a big, watery smile showing off her dimples. “I swim like a rock!”

  My thudding heart stutters almost to a stop.

  Kelsey’s jaw drops. The rest of the group goes stock still.

  I hike Clarissa a bit higher. “What did you say, Pip?”

  Her smile widens. “I swim like a rock.”

  My gaze meets Kelsey’s, and tears gather in her eyes as she clamps her hands over her mouth.

  “You do kinda swim like a rock.” I can’t contain my laugh.

  I swing the Pipsqueak up onto my shoulders as I wade across the pool toward her momma.

  Gina claps and stands. “I always knew she’d talk when she was ready.”

  Kelsey holds out her arms, and I pass Clarissa to her.

  She hugs her tight. “My big girl. You’ve been holding out on me, haven’t you?”

  Clarissa wriggles out of Kelsey’s hold and jumps into the water at the steps leading into the shallow end.

  Kelsey sits at the edge of the pool, her feet dangling into the water. “I just—all this time. An entire sentence. Did you hear her? A full sentence.”

  I stand between Kelsey’s legs, holding her trembling form close, rubbing her back. “She’s smart like her momma. She’ll get it figured out before long.”

  * * *

  “Come to bed,” I say to Kelsey.

  She’s been standing in the hall for ten minutes, waiting for Clarissa to call out for her again.

  The child’s words must’ve been accumulating all this time, because since she started talking, she didn’t stop until she finally gave up the fight and fell asleep.

  I lean against the bedroom door frame. “She’s going to be fine.”

  “But, what if she wakes up and wants to tell me something?”

  “What if I want to tell you something?”

  Kelsey’s eyes meet mine. “You want to say something to me?”

  I hold out my hand. “I have a lot of things I’d like to say. Come to bed, and I’ll tell you some of them.”

  Her gaze flits to Clarissa’s door, but her fingers thread together with mine.

  We close the door, and the dark envelops us.

  I skim my hands up her thighs, pushing her night shirt up. Her stomach is still flat, but somewhere in there is the life we created together. It almost doesn’t seem real, yet I constantly find myself thinking of that little blip of white on the monitor we saw for the first time yesterday. Boy or girl, it won’t matter.

  I slip my palms across her hips and down over her ass. “Don’t you ever wear panties?”

  “Only when I have to.”

  My mouth finds the place where her pulse thrums. I kiss her neck, sucking and nipping the skin as I massage her ass and pull her tight against my erection.

  She hikes a leg to wrap it around me. I turn so I can back her to the bed. Our tongues tangle and my cock hardens all the more. I swear, I’ll never have enough of this woman.

  Her fingers dance up my chest and weave into the hair at my nape. When we hit the edge of the bed, I ease her down.

  But she pushes at my pecs and twists in my arms. “Stop. Wait.”

  I flip on the lamp, squinting in the light. “What?”

  Spike lifts his head from where he lies sprawled across the bed, tossing a look at us as if to say, “Trying to sleep here, peoples.”

  Chloe perches on his ribs, one eye cracked as if daring us to disturb her catnap.

  Kelsey grins. “At least she’s not still afraid he wants to have her as a snack.”

  “Yeah, well—I did have that talk with him. Made sure he knows I’m the only one eating pussy around here.” I shoo the critters from our space, ushering them out the door.

  Kelsey leans back on the bed, opening her legs and giving me a great view of her sugar glider. “Yes, please. Come ravish my glistening fruit petals. Take me captive in a rage of lust with your man-sword.”

  She never ceases to make me smile.

  “I am the pirate king—” I waggle my eyebrows, getting into the game. “I shall make you dance on my wooden plank, and then I’ll dive into the unfathomable depths of your lagoon of passion.”

  She reaches for me, giggling. “Come here and fuck me, you beast.”

  I grab her ankles and yank her to the foot of the bed, kneeling between her thighs. “I’m going to lick and suck that pussy until you come so fucking hard your cream runs down my chin and puddles on the floor.”

  She whips her shirt off over her head. “And then I’ll roll over so you can fuck me from behind until your cock explodes.”

  “Explodes? Ouch.”

  Her eyes go wide, and she slaps her hand over her mouth.

  “Well, maybe not explode. Maybe more like”—Kelsey throws her hands into the air—“Oh hell, I don’t know. I suck at dirty talk. Just make me scream.”

  I dip my head, running my tongue up her slit. Her juice is as sweet as ever. I kiss each of her thighs and tickle her clit.

  She flops back onto the bed. “Yes. Like that.”

  I run my fingertip along her folds and sink my finger deep inside her. “Like this?”

  She moans her approval.

  I push her legs over my shoulders and suckle her pussy until her cream flows hot for me. I lap it up.

  Her breath comes heavy, and her hips roll with each swipe of my tongue against her entrance. My hard-on tents my loose-fitting shorts, so I pull it out and stroke it as I continue loving her pussy with my mouth.

  There was a time I thought I’d never find satisfaction again, but with Kelsey, there is no greater satisfaction than living within her loving arms.

  I use one thumb to wet her tight little backside hole, rubbing it softly as I bat my tongue against Kelsey’s nub.

  She goes wild under my mouth, but I suck her bud and don’t let go.

  The silky bead of pre-cum smooths over the head of my dick under my palm.

  This need I have for her is as strong as ever and won’t ever end.

  I pull away from Kelsey long enough to flip her onto her belly and push her up on the bed. “All right, Beautiful Girl. It’s time.”

  She looks over her shoulder, her eyes half-lidded. “Time?”

  I yank my shorts off and climb up behind her on my knees, my cock hard and long, ready to plunge deep within her. “Pull your feet together.”

  “Together?”

  “Yeah. Spread those knees, pull your feet together, make a diamond with your legs. Then put your chest on the bed so your ass is up. I’m going to pound that pussy and give you a little twist.”

  She grins and licks her lips as she moves into position. “Twist? Yeah?”

  Her ass is in the air, her sweetest spots wide open to me. I run my fingers up from her clit, dipping into her entrance to gather some cream, then to her asshole, where I slip my wet finger along its tight edges. It pulses in response, and my cock answers with a twitch.

  I grab my hard-on and guide it to her dripping slit, rubbing the head in a circle before slowly pushing inside her. Kelsey gives a little mew as I bump her back wall and shove in another inch deeper.

  Her slick heat around my dick is amazing, and when I pull out to the tip and ram it in again, my erection hardens to granite. “Fuck yes.”

  I set up a rhythm, and Kelsey braces her hands on the headboard. With each stroke, I pump harder and faster. Her smooth ass cushions the blows of my hips against her. Her pussy clenches tight around my cock.

  I’m in heaven. Kelsey is my healing angel.

  I leverage myself against the head of the bed, one hand gripping the edge of the mattress as Adam fucks me from behind, exactly like I want it. He slides his hand up my spine and down to my ass.

  “Your back is sexy as fuck.”

  Never has anyone made me feel so beautiful or so wa
nted.

  I pant as I push against his every thrust. His cock is so long and so hard, he hits the deepest parts of me, and they beg for more.

  The pressure builds in my core, and I move with him, my hips rolling against his erection.

  He moves faster as his thumb finds my tight little hole in the back. Tingles spread through me.

  “Yes.” I whisper. “Please.”

  He grabs a handful of my hair and tugs just enough to pull my head back. His thumb sinks into my backside, pumping in time with his cock as it plunges as deep as my body will let it. The fullness created there cranks up the heat.

  Soon, the pressure is too great to bear.

  “God, yes! Adam. Just. Like. That.” I cry out as a hot flood of liquid unwinds in my core. My muscles spasm around him, pulsing each time his thumb and his hard-on ram inside of me.

  He pummels me from behind, thumb and cock taking me higher and higher. As I climax for the second time, I bear down on him, slapping the mattress with one hand. My orgasm comes on so hard that I struggle to get even a gasp of air.

  “Kelsey. Fuck. This is—damn.” He yanks my hair as he thrusts deep, his dick convulsing inside me, his cum heating the depths of my pussy.

  I collapse onto the bed, my ass up, feet together, his erection still pulsating within me.

  Adam leans over my back and kisses my neck. “You are fucking amazing, Beautiful Girl.”

  He slips out and lies down, pulling me against him, entwining his arms and legs through mine, kissing my shoulder. “I’m so in love with you. Do you know that?”

  I roll to face him. “Yeah? Even though I still suck at dirty talk?”

  “That mouth was made for more than just words.” He slips his tongue along my lip. “Even when we grow old and can’t make love any more, I’ll still always want to kiss you. Always.”

  EPILOGUE

  Clarissa’s red hair and smile could outshine the afternoon sun. “And I’m going to teach you how to swim like a rock. And when you get big like me, Daddy will help us make rainbow pancakes. They’re not the right color, but we won’t tell him. He sure does try…”

  My heart swells to hear that word—Daddy. Life is uncertain, but one thing is rock solid—my love for my wife and children. That will never end, even after I leave this Earth, that will remain.