After the Climb

by Kristen Ashley

  Genny laughed.

  Duncan chuckled.

  “Who’s Chloe?” Sully, sidling close, muttered to him.

  “Genny’s oldest daughter,” Duncan answered.

  “There’s another one of her?” Gage was also close and sounding strangled.

  Duncan chuckled again.

  “So you’ve now met both of them?” Sully asked.

  “Yup,” Duncan answered.

  “We have a brother too. Two of them, really, since we claim Hale.”

  Both his boys jumped because that was from Sasha and she was right there, holding her hair back and bending over the vat of sauce.

  She sniffed, closing her eyes and emitting a long, “Ah.”

  Duncan heard Gage groan.

  He looked to his boots.

  He looked back at her when she said, “You guys are in for a treat. Mom’s red sauce is everything.”

  And with a sweet smile directed at them, she drifted away.

  “Did I just hear a seagull call?” Gage asked.

  Duncan felt pain in his middle from trying not to bust a gut laughing.

  “And Mom, just a heads up, there’s going to be news coming from that direction. And not from Hale.”

  That made Duncan look hard at Sasha, who was now looking at her mother.

  So Duncan turned to Genny.

  She looked freaked.

  “What kind of news?” she asked.

  “I should let Matt tell you,” Sasha muttered.

  “Oh no, baby girl, you cannot drop that morsel and not carry it through. What?” Genny demanded.

  “Okay, so you can’t lose it,” Sasha started.

  “Uh-oh,” Sul mumbled.

  “Holy shit,” Gage said.

  “Just spill,” Genny ordered.

  “He’s dropping out of med school,” Sasha declared.

  “Uh-oh,” Sul mumbled.

  “Holy shit,” Gage said.

  Genny’s face was getting red. “He…”

  “Gen—” Duncan tried to get in there.

  “What?” she shouted.

  “Momma—” Sasha began.

  But Genny was on the move.

  To her purse.

  Which undoubtedly was where her phone was.

  “I really should have let him tell you,” Sasha said urgently.

  “Yes, you should have, but now it’s out so there’s no going back and…where’s my goddamn phone?” Gen was digging irately through her bag.

  “Is this it?” Gage asked helpfully, and glancing at him, Duncan saw he was holding up a phone.

  Shit.

  “Yes, darling, thank you.” Genny headed to his boy.

  When she got close, Duncan stepped in her way. “Babe, take a beat and get a lock on it.”

  “Yeah, Mom, chill,” Sasha encouraged.

  Gen didn’t take her eyes from Duncan.

  “My son is throwing away five years of education,” she retorted.

  “Right, this is why you need to get a lock on it.”

  “It’s no biggie anyway, Momma. He’s quitting so he can go to vet school.”

  Gen’s body twitched and then she turned to her daughter.

  “Sorry?”

  “He got in at Purdue,” Sasha shared.

  “No shit? Righteous,” Sully said.

  “I know,” Sasha replied. “I’m super proud of him. It’s a really good school.”

  “I know,” Sul told her. “I go there.”

  “Really?” she cried.

  “Yeah,” Sul confirmed.

  Sasha turned to her mother. “Momma! Awesome! He’ll know somebody!”

  “They actually haven’t met yet, Sash,” Gen, visibly calmer, noted.

  “So? We’re all gonna be family, right?” Sasha returned.

  The air in the great room went static.

  But Gen looked to Duncan with an expression of I’m worried this is too soon.

  And Duncan had to admit his expression was probably the same.

  “God, stop being dorks,” Gage broke it. “It’s not like we’re two and we don’t know what’s going on. She’s cooking in your kitchen, Dad. And when we showed, you didn’t hike our asses to the den to have ‘a talk’ about how we shouldn’t read anything into this and to be nice to her. Genny cooking dinner was just happening and you started making the salad. And I don’t know that cat,” he pointed at Cookie, “but I do know it isn’t ours and you didn’t get another cat because you were being hardass about getting another pet, so it’s obviously Genny’s. And so there’s the cat and you already know this Chloe chick and gave her the Bowie story so the mingling of families has happened. We’re with the program so you can relax. Yeesh.”

  “Yeah, you can relax, yeesh,” Sasha agreed and then, “Cookie!” and off she went to Cookie.

  “Okay, I don’t know about you all, but if I don’t eat this food soon, I’m gonna die,” Sul declared.

  “Totally, there’s, like, a hundred meatballs here and I feel like I could eat a hundred and five of them,” Gage said.

  Sully had the garlic bread out.

  He also was intent to get control of the situation.

  Which was what he did.

  “Gage, get that meat off the heat. And Sasha, when you’re done greeting Cookie, can you check the pasta?”

  “I’m all over it,” Sasha agreed.

  Gage was already yanking off paper towel to put on a plate to drain the meatballs.

  “Did I see stables?” Sasha asked, approaching the kitchen.

  “Yeah,” Sully answered, putting the bread in a basket Gen had ready.

  “You have horses?” Sasha sounded excited, or more excited than what was apparently her resting state.

  “Three of them,” Gage answered.

  “Rad!” Sasha cried.

  “You ride?” Sul asked.

  He felt a touch at his waist and looked down to see Genny closing in.

  She moved in farther, her arm around him.

  He slid his around her shoulders.

  She dropped her cheek to his chest.

  “Totes!” Sasha chirped.

  “Take you out tomorrow. You can ride Streak. He’s Dad’s. Great horse,” Sully told her.

  “Cool!” Sasha exclaimed, fishing out a thread of pasta to test.

  “Ready to eat?” Duncan murmured to Genny.

  She tipped her head back.

  He sucked in breath at the happy radiating from her face.

  “Yes, darling,” she replied.

  With that happy, he couldn’t stop himself

  He bent and touched his mouth to hers.

  When they made to get a move on, Sasha peeped, “You guys are so cute!”

  “Gag,” Gage muttered.

  Sully started chuckling.

  “Pasta’s done!” Sasha announced.

  And all was well in the world.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Interview

  Imogen

  The next morning, I was mostly awake, just snoozing, when I heard the mug hit the nightstand.

  So I opened my eyes and was thus able to see Duncan aiming his ass to the bed in the crook of my body.

  I lifted my gaze to him.

  “Hey,” I whispered.

  Something moved over his face, it was big, beautiful, profound.

  Being in his bed, with him bringing me coffee and sitting right there, there was no doubt, I felt that something too.

  “Hey,” he replied.

  I got up on an elbow.

  “Animals are fed. Kids are fed,” he stated. “They’re already out on the horses. You do your slow morning. I’m going to get a shower in and hit some work. When you’re sorted and the kids are back, we’ll decide what’s up for our day.”

  “Okay.”

  He bent and kissed my forehead.

  Then he got up, murmuring, “Coffee on the nightstand.”

  I looked to the coffee, then watched Duncan stroll through his magnificent room to his even more magnifi
cent bathroom.

  I then aimed my eyes out the window to his resplendent view.

  I was there, and not in the hotel, because of the kids.

  This happened last night. After dinner. After Sasha asked if they had any games. After Gage and Sully took off to the den and came back with at least ten board games.

  We’d started with Code Names. Moved on to Splendor. And then got serious with Ticket to Ride.

  This through beer, wine, and after Sasha told them I was the Cookie Monster, the boys “throwing together” some sugar cookie dough that they dumped mini M&Ms in, which we all took turns getting out of the oven, or putting more in, and obviously eating them.

  Warm.

  The best.

  In fact, the whole night was the best, with Duncan, his boys and my girl (and cookies)>

  What could only make it better was if we’d had Chloe, Matt and Hale.

  But when it started getting late, Duncan announced, “Takin’ your mom and Cookie back to the hotel, Sash. You can bunk there with her but want you to know you’re free to use Chloe’s room here.”

  This got a trio of, “Chloe’s room?”

  Sullivan’s and Gage’s were surprised. Sasha’s was pouty.

  “Sasha’s room now, if she chooses to take it,” Duncan corrected.

  “I’m staying in my room. And Mom,” she aimed at me, “you shouldn’t be carting Cookie around like that. She’s going to get stressed.”

  “She’s fine,” I said.

  “She’s going to get stressed,” she repeated.

  “Does she look stressed?” I asked.

  Curled up in Gage’s lap, purring, she did not look at all stressed.

  “Well then, breaking the code you seem not to be able to decipher, we’re all adults so don’t be goofs. We won’t get complexes because you two are sleeping together,” she returned.

  “Totally,” Gage stated.

  “Yeah, it’s actually kind of weird you’re taking Genny back to the hotel. Especially since her daughters stay here,” Sully put in.

  Duncan looked to me.

  I was completely on board with staying in his beautiful room.

  With him.

  Tom and I had had a very active and fulfilling sex life, until I descended into my head. It wasn’t like I hadn’t carried on the intimacy with my partner with my children under the same roof.

  Of course, the first time I connected like that with Duncan after our long absence from each other, I would prefer our children not to be in the house, even if they were all on the far side, which in this house, was far.

  But we could sleep beside each other and wait on that (for the moment).

  Most importantly, I didn’t want to leave him.

  I didn’t want to leave my daughter.

  I didn’t want him to have to leave his sons.

  And I actually did worry that Cookie would get stressed.

  So I shrugged.

  Duncan grinned.

  That was his choice too.

  We retired before the kids did and we did not reconnect in that way.

  I’d brought a bag with a nightgown, a change of clothes and my toiletries.

  So we both got ready for bed, taking turns in the bathroom.

  And then we climbed under the covers, Duncan gathered me in his arms, and we whispered to each other with zero humility about how great our kids were.

  Until we fell asleep.

  Or at least I did.

  And I’d slept great.

  In bed in Duncan’s arms, something peaceful and right and beautiful that I never thought I’d have again?

  Oh yes, I’d slept like a baby.

  Now was now.

  The kids were riding.

  We still hadn’t talked about what to do about Samantha.

  I needed to call my son to inform him that I was seeing a man, and it was serious, not to mention discuss other things with him.

  And I needed to sort things out with Tom.

  The shower went on.

  I reached out, took a sip of coffee, and grabbed my phone, which Duncan had plugged in my charger so it could charge while we slept.

  I texted Tom, Just so you know, Sasha is here. And I understand why you’re angry. You have a right. Now we need to talk it out. I’m here whenever you’re ready.

  After I sent that, I set my phone aside, took another sip of coffee, tossed the covers from me and got out of bed.

  It wasn’t the time and it wasn’t right.

  Yet it was always the time and it was always right.

  But bottom line, Duncan was naked in the shower and there was no way in hell I could lie in his bed, knowing that, picturing him there, without touching myself.

  And I vastly preferred him touching me.

  He’d closed the smoky-glassed double doors that led to the bathroom.

  I opened one and went through, shutting it behind me.

  The shower was pride of place.

  Now it had droplets on the glass walls, and it was steamed a bit.

  But there he was.

  My Duncan.

  I’d been right when I first saw him again, and I’d felt it in our makeout sessions (but not seen it), he carried a little weight around his belly.

  But I liked it.

  And God.

  Those thighs? Those shoulders? That chest?

  That cock?

  He saw me just as I started pulling my nightgown up.

  “Baby,” he said.

  I yanked it off, walked to the door of the shower and shoved down my panties.

  “Babe,” he growled.

  I liked his cock a lot better like that.

  I opened the door and stepped out of my panties when I slipped in.

  He took hold of me, grasping my hips and pulling me to him, his back taking the spray, even as he said, “I wanted you first in my bed.”

  “Needs must,” I replied, sliding my hands up his slick chest, the hair there damp, but still rough.

  So nice.

  “Genny—”

  I lifted my hands and gripped his beard on either side.

  “Kiss me, Bowie, and then fuck me,” I ordered.

  His hazel eyes flashed.

  Then he did as told.

  We were naked.

  He was hard.

  We were us.

  And it had been a long, long time.

  So this was never going to be sedate and lengthy.

  Not even in a bed.

  There was kissing and stroking and licking, he got my nipple in his mouth and tugged for about two seconds.

  And I was ready.

  “Bowie,” I whimpered.

  He knew.

  He always knew.

  And so I was up, slammed against the glass.

  Oh yes.

  I rounded him with my legs, he shoved a hand between us, then he yanked me down and I had him.

  I had him.

  I had him back.

  My Bowie.

  I fisted my hands in his wet hair and he pounded into me, both of our gazes locked.

  “Harder,” I begged.

  “Genny.”

  “Fuck me harder, Bowie.”

  He fucked me harder.

  I kissed him.

  He held me with one hand on my ass, the other he trailed around my hip to go in at the front.

  I broke the kiss. “No, just you.”

  “I want it to be big.”

  “No, just—”

  He drove deep and there it was.

  My head jerked back, hit glass, then fell forward and landed on his shoulder as I gasped at the beginning of my orgasm, then whimpered through the rest of it.

  And those whimpers went on forever.

  In other words, Duncan got what he wanted.

  It was big.

  As it floated away, I rounded him with my arms, trailing my nose, lips, tongue on the skin of his neck, his bearded jaw, his ear, tracing the hairline at his neck with my fingers, stroking his nape as I clenched an
d released with his thrusts.

  I thrilled at his grunts and thrilled more when his control snapped, and he fucked me into the glass near to violently.

  God, yes, I’d loved this with Duncan.

  I still loved this with Duncan.

  And I’d missed it so…fucking…much.

  His release came on a deep groan that sounded so delicious, it caused my entire body to quiver, and he slammed inside me through it.

  I took his harsh breaths on my skin that were better than winning an Oscar.

  I hadn’t won an Oscar.

  But I knew that to be true down to my soul.

  When he got a handle on it, he lifted his head.

  And I whispered, “God, I’ve missed you.”

  Warmth and happiness and million other good things chased through his face before he settled on playful.

  “You always did like a solid fucking.”

  I smiled at him, because I loved playful Duncan.

  And then I said, “Yes. And that you knew my mom and dad when they were still young and vital, and you remember them that way. That you have stories to tell about Mom that dive deep in my history that no one else knows. That we had those times where Corey hung back, bitching and telling us to hurry up, when you took me off trail to show me some flower or a game trail you’d discovered. That I was there for you in those years you were beginning to understand the power your father had over you, and the time would come soon you’d have to decide to be him, or be you. And you could look at me, and I could ground you. I love how we connect, Bowie,” I squeezed him in a variety of ways, and enjoyed watching and feeling the tremble of his body in reaction, “all the ways we connect. I missed it, and I’m ecstatically happy to have it back.”

  He did not reply.

  Verbally.

  He kissed me against the glass until I lost his cock and then he kissed me some more, until we had to come up for air.

  Message received.

  But he spoke anyway.

  “You were right, honey, and I was wrong,” he said, his voice hoarse and beautiful. “Havin’ you right here was perfect. That’s us. No holding back. And we should be us. Always.”

  I so totally agreed.

  I gave him a quick kiss to communicate that.

  And then I said, “Now I’ve had an orgasm, I need coffee and breakfast.”

  He set me to my feet but did it laughing.

  That was us too, back then.

  And what I was finding…now.

  We laughed a lot.

  He was funny. He thought I was cute.

  If his dad didn’t do something to mess with his head, we laughed and joked and teased all the time.