by T. L Smith
“She’s Charles’s mother, of course you’d want her to live.” She touches my face and cups my cheek. “I wasn’t lying before, I think I’m falling in love with you, Darby. And I’m not sure if I want to.” Her words knock me back. If I were standing, I would have taken a step away from her. But we’re lying down next to each other, and her hand is gently stroking me.
“I have a son to think about.”
She nods, her hand dropping away. “I would never hurt him.”
I shake my head. “It’s you I’m more worried about. How would you be with him?”
“What do you mean? Because I lost my own child, I want to replace her?”
My mouth opens and closes. She sits up and looks down at me on the bed, her legs crossed.
“I could never replace my daughter. Charles is yours, and I would hope it would be okay if one day I loved him as well. I will never be his mother, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t love him like one.”
“It’s not just me, though, Olympia. I come as a package.”
She throws her hands up. “You don’t think I know that? Of course, I know that.” She stands from the bed, and I don’t want to have another stupid fight with her. I’m over them.
“Let’s sort us out first is all I’m saying.” I reach my hand out for her. She glances at it then finally takes it. I pull her to me so she falls on top of me, and I grip her tight.
“I want you. So, let’s do this thing.”
“I quit work, so I won’t be there all the time now. You’ll have to come and see me. Fit me into your schedule,” she says.
Oh yes, Johnny’s back.
“Of course, I will.”
She laughs. “This should be interesting considering how much you work.”
I slap her ass, and she wiggles beneath me. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” She does it again. I’m not dressed so my cock hardens at her touch, and she keeps on doing it until I flip her over and pin her to the bed. “I did warn you.”
“I like living on the edge,” she whispers, lifting her hips up to meet mine. “Have your way with me, big man.”
I do, I so fucking do, and we both fall asleep exactly where we landed.
And her words of love ring through me all night.
I’ve never gotten love from another woman.
“Come and see him, I know you want to.”
Olympia’s leg bounces up and down in my car. We had to leave the house, or if we didn’t, we would have stayed there all day. We went out to eat when my father called saying he had plans, so here I am, in the car, out front of my apartment building trying to convince her to come in.
“I don’t want to intrude. I can call a cab.”
“You aren’t, I invited you. Come in, Olympia, I’m sure he’s missed your singing.”
She offers a shy smile at my words. “I’ve missed him.”
I get out and walk around, opening her door. She places her hand in mine as we make our way to the door. My father’s there holding a smiling Charles, who puts his hands out for Olympia when he sees her.
“See, he wants to see you.” I let go of her hand as she lifts it to take him. My father notices our hands are joined and smiles too. He gives Charles over easily to her.
“He likes you,” my father comments. It’s true. Charles screams in people’s arms, he doesn’t like many people. The only ones he likes to be holding him if I’m near is Ma or my father. But his little hand goes up and touches Olympia’s hair, pulling it. She watches him while walking inside.
“You like her.” I keep watching her, not because I don’t trust her but because I like seeing her like this. A smile I’ve never seen before is on her lips, and I want to keep it there.
“Yes, I do.”
“She’ll be good for you, I know it.”
I notice Dad isn’t dressed in his normal attire, he’s dressed up in slacks and a nice button-up shirt.
He looks… more like me.
He even smells like me.
“Where are you going?”
He shrugs, his cheeks reddening. “On a date.”
My eyes go wide. No way. He waves me off.
“With who?”
He hasn’t gone out much, so I don’t know how he had time to meet anyone.
“Ma, I’m taking her out.”
I smile. I like that. More than he knows.
“Spoil her, she’s a woman who needs it because she’s never gotten it.”
He nods and walks out, pauses as the door goes to shut. “This isn’t weird for you?”
It is, but I’m not going to tell him that. “No. Now have fun and don’t break her heart.”
He glances past me to where Olympia’s now singing to Charles who’s looking up at her as if she’s hung the stars for him. Maybe she did.
“I could say the same.” He leaves with that, and I walk up behind her. My hand lies on her shoulder squeezing it, and then I lean down to kiss her cheek. She stops singing and Charles pulls on her hair.
“I think he wants you to keep going.”
She chuckles softly and does just that.
It’s the way to end a perfect day.
29
Olympia
It’s been a week, and things have been going well. So well, in fact, that not once have we had another argument. I won’t go back to work. I was truthful when I told him I wasn’t returning. I’ve been working for my father which has made him extremely happy, though not as happy as he would be if I went back home. Which I don’t see happening, ever. That place holds good and bad memories, and I feel like me moving on is the best thing to happen to me.
Darby, well, he’s been finishing work early almost every day and sneaks into my apartment. His hands are always hot for me, and I can’t get enough of him, the way he looks at me and wants me is not something I’ve experienced with such intensity. I had want with Slate, but never an uncontrollable need as I have with Darby. Is this what it feels like when you can’t get enough of someone? Will it end, though? I can’t think of it that way. I shouldn’t think of it that way.
“If we weren’t going to meet your brother and father, I would strip that fucking dress from your body and throw you on the bed and ravish you.” My stomach clenches, because I want that.
“Will we ever get sick of each other?” I ask him while staring into the mirror at his reflection behind me—he’s watching me, he’s always watching me. It makes the hairs all over my body stand tall.
“No.” He steps closer, and his hands wind around my waist, gripping me to him. He kisses my shoulder ever so softly. “Because I know I’ll never be tired of you, never not want you. Even when we argue I still want you. Actually, it makes me want you more. So don’t think that way.”
I nod my head at him. “It scares me. I’ve been in a relationship before and not once have I felt this way.”
“Good, so we can ride this wave together.” His phone starts ringing, but one hand stays on me as he answers it. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” He slides the phone back into his pocket. “We have to go get Charles. Do you think your father and brother will mind me bringing him?”
“No, not at all.” I don’t think they will, but I don’t care if they do. I love that little kid, and I’ve only seen him twice this week, it will be good to see him again.
“He had an emergency to deal with at the farm, I’m sorry.” He kisses my neck.
I turn around so I am in his arms. “Please, never apologize for having to get your son. I want him to come tonight, you said you didn’t want to bring him.”
He nods, his hand slipping down to my ass. “It’s because I want to make a good impression on your father.”
I laugh at the nervousness in his voice. “You don’t have to worry, they’ll love you because you make me happy. That’s all they care about.”
“I’ve never done this before.”
I giggle, dropping my hands on him the same way he’s doing to me, then squeeze his ass. “Let’s go get that li
ttle man so we can go to dinner.”
He kisses me one more time while his hands squeeze my ass.
They’re quiet, all of them. Charles is sleeping, and the only sounds are from the normal restaurant noise around us. My father greeted us, spotted Charles, then sat down and ordered two bottles of wine and hasn’t said another word since. My brother, well, he’s been paying more attention to his phone than us, and he’s only looked up once since we arrived.
Darby has this look on his face like this is the last place he wants to be.
I slam my fist on the table as we all finish eating our main meals. They all glance up to me. My father instantly wants to say something about my behavior, but when I give him a stern glare, he shuts up.
“This is ridiculous, why aren’t you speaking?” I glance between my father and brother.
“Are you sure you want to have this conversation here and not wait until we are alone?” My father’s business voice is on, the one where he brings reason and stern with no room for argument. He tried to do it with me growing up, but it hardly ever worked. So, it won’t work now, not even when he folds his fingers together and places his joined fists on the table and stares at me.
“Oh no, you can speak now. I’m ready and listening to why you’re being rude and ruining a perfectly good meal and evening.”
My father’s eyes flick to Darby then Charles sleeping in his pram before they land on me. Barren puts his phone down and glances at me, knowing Dad’s about to speak his truth. My father doesn’t mince words.
“You’re with a man who was your boss.”
“Yes,” I answer.
Dad shakes his head. “You’re with a man who has a child. Do you not see this is a problem after what you’ve been through?”
Darby’s hand lands on my thigh, and he squeezes. I think he knew this was coming, but I didn’t. I don’t see Charles as an issue, and I don’t see how he could ever be. “How do you think you will deal with not just the baby, but being the mother as well? Parenting is not easy, Olympia.”
“I’m going to step in here,” Darby says in a clear voice.
We all look to him as he straightens his back, and I can see why he’s the boss right in that moment, it’s because he can easily rival my father.
“I would like to hear the answer from Olympia, if you don’t mind.”
I place my hand on Darby’s thigh. “No, Papa, this is Darby’s part, not mine.”
We all turn to Darby. “Your daughter won’t have to deal with Charles’s mother. And as for her parenting, she doesn’t need help. If you’ve seen her with Charles you’ll know she’s a natural.”
Before he can continue, my father steps in again. “That’s not true, now, is it? The other parent has rights, so she will have to deal with her.”
Darby’s hand leaves my thigh, and his elbows touch the table. “It is, the mother is dead.” He drops the words like a bombshell, and everyone stays quiet.
Darby picks up his fork and continues to eat as if he didn’t just say those words, and everyone is so very quiet. After a short time, Darby wipes his mouth with his napkin and looks back up to my brother and father. “And as for your daughter, she is remarkable. I’d be a fool to mess up what we have, and I plan to keep her in my life and my son’s life for a very long time.”
I swoon at his words, lean into him, and without a care in the world, I turn his face so I can kiss his lips. He kisses me back and the only reason we pull apart is because Charles wakes up, letting out a soft cry. Darby goes to reach for him, but I want my cuddles as I’m missing them. I pick him up easily, and his cries stop straight away as I sit back down with him on my lap. When I look back up, my father is watching me along with Barren. Darby’s used to me hogging all the time with Charles because every time I’m near Charles I want him.
“I may have been too harsh.” My father rubs his temples.
“You think?” I say stating the obvious while glancing down at Charles who’s all smiles now. My father faces Charles, and I hand him over. Father doesn’t hesitate to take him, cradles him straight in his arms and rocks him as if he’s holding a baby of his own. I look to Darby, hoping he isn’t mad that I’m overstepping my boundaries, but his face is blank as he watches.
My father glances up at him. “He’s beautiful, you did well.”
Darby nods, and his face relaxes.
“I’m sorry… to both of you. As you will soon discover, all you want is what’s best for your children.” My father gazes across to me. “And you are my baby, Olympia, no matter what, you will always be my baby.”
I reach out, covering his hand with mine. “Thanks, Papa.”
“So, you’re fine with this?” Barren asks our father as he looks between us all. “With her moving into a ready-made family.”
“Barren, control yourself.” Father shakes his head, picking up his drink.
“Don’t deflect your problems onto my situation, Barren. I gave you what you two wanted, I’m working for you now.”
Barren faces Darby. “I’m sure you’re a nice man, but you’ll never be good enough for her.” Barren looks back at me.
“Take that back, Barren.” He shakes his head. “I love him, Barren.” His mouth falls open, and Darby’s hand falls back to where it was, on my thigh. My father who’s holding Charles, who is playing with his face, looks up to me as well.
I reach out for Charles and start humming as I position him on my shoulder.
“You love him?” my father asks in a small voice.
I nod. “I do.”
“How can you love someone you barely know?” Barren asks.
“Oh, I know him. I especially know his moods.” I giggle. Darby squeezes my thigh. “People fall in love in an instant. But we weren’t an instant, it’s something that has built up over time. It was fast when it happened, but it was worth it.”
“So, you don’t love Slate?” Barren pushes.
Darby reaches for Charles and starts to feed him his bottle as my father and brother wait for an answer.
“I love Slate, I will always love Slate. Make no mistake about that, but he isn’t my forever. I am not in love with Slate.”
“If this is what you want—”
I don’t hesitate to interrupt my father’s question, “It is.”
They go quiet again. We order dessert, and my father starts speaking about business to Darby who politely joins in, and they seem to get along quite well. Better than I thought they would. Barren even jumps into the conversation, and I sit back, enjoying the better ambiance in the room until it’s time to leave.
My father walks around and wraps his arms around me. “I would like to see you again before I go.”
“Of course, Papa.”
He kisses my forehead and walks over to Darby, shaking his hand. “Take care of her.” Father’s eyes fall to Charles. “And him. Though, I think you picked a good woman to help you with that.”
Darby nods his head in agreement.
“I’ll like him because you do,” Barren says pulling me in for a hug.
“Thank you.”
Barren walks over and shakes Darby’s hand before they leave.
When they’re out, we pick up Charles and walk to the car.
“Did that scare you?” I ask Darby, because he’s quiet.
Darby doesn’t answer, just places Charles in the car then shuts the door, turning around to me. He stalks to me in two steps, wraps his arms around my waist, turns me so my ass hits the car, and leans down, pressing his lips to mine. It takes a moment for us to catch our breath, and my lips are bruised.
“I like them, but I love you.”
The air leaves me, and before I can say anything, his lips are back on mine, punishing me for loving him.
30
Darby
She lies down on the bed next to me, naked and asleep. It’s beautiful watching her. I could watch her all day and never tire of it. My hands skim her naked hips, making her flinch in her sleep. She makes a sound
and rolls into me but doesn’t open her eyes. Pushing her hair back from her face, my fingers run down to her neck until they reach the peak of her tits. She makes a soft sound in her sleep, and when I check her eyes, she’s awake and smiling at me.
“Aren’t you meant to be at work?”
I nod, I’m dressed and ready to go. But once I showered and walked back out, seeing her lying there so peacefully, I couldn’t help myself. I had to get back in and touch her. The need I have for her sometimes overwhelms me. Olympia wants those words but never asks me to say them. It’s been a few days, and I haven’t uttered them again. I have to get used to them in my own time, but I know she needs to know I’m on the same wavelength as she is. That I am as committed to this as she is.
“Move in with me.”
Olympia’s mouth falls open, and she makes a move to sit up, not even bothering to cover her breasts.
“Are you sure that’s what you want? I mean, are we even official? And how long have we been official?” She asks multiple questions fast.
“Slow down, Olympia, we are official. Because the way I see it, I’ll kill anyone who touches you. No one touches what’s mine.” She leans into me. Little does she know I speak the truth. I would kill for her, in a damn heartbeat if I had to. “And time doesn’t matter. We know the most intimate secrets about each other that no other knows. I don’t share my life with anyone, Olympia, but I will share it with you if you want me.”
“That almost sounded like a proposal,” she swoons, then quickly shakes her head. “Please don’t propose, though, unless you ask for my father’s permission.”