by M K Dwyer
They were clearing their plates when his phone started vibrating in his back pocket. He took it out and smiled at what he saw, then grimaced.
“I probably need to take this.”
“Go ahead. You cooked. I’ll clean up.”
“No. You let me do that. I’ll be right back. Don’t start without me.” He winked and walked out to her patio. Apparently, he wanted privacy to talk to whoever was calling.
Chapter Twenty-one
Will
“What’s up, buddy?”
“Dad. You have to get me out of here.”
“What do you mean? Get you out of where? Are you in trouble?”
“Mom’s house. I can’t take it here anymore. I want to be with you.”
“Oh.” His heart broke for his son. “I’m sorry, son. I can’t just come get you without your mom’s permission when it’s her turn to spend time with you. You know that.”
“Yeah, but I’d still rather be with you.”
“As glad as I am to hear that, and as much as I would love to come get you right now, you know I can’t. Is it Mark again?”
“Yes.”
“Just try to enjoy your time with your mom. I know you miss me when you’re over there, but remember, you also miss your mom when you’re with me.”
“I’ll never miss Mark though.”
“I know, buddy. I wish things where better there, but just one more week and I’ll pick you up from school on Friday.”
“That’s forever from now.”
Will chuckled. “It’ll be here sooner than you think.”
“Okay, Dad. I’ll try and make it.”
“That’s the spirit. But call me any time, day or night. I’m always here when you need me.”
“Thanks, Dad. I will.”
“All right, sport. Do you feel better?”
“Yeah. I guess. Sort of.”
Will smiled to himself. Joe would be fine. Even if he didn’t think so.
“It’s getting late, buddy. Get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day. I love you.”
“Okay, Dad. I love you, too. Night.”
“Night.”
He hung up the phone but didn’t go immediately back inside. He needed a minute to collect his thoughts. He contemplated calling Theresa but knew it ultimately wouldn’t solve anything.
He knew Joe would be okay, but parents will always wish they could shield their children from tough situations. He wanted nothing more than to rush to Joe’s side, pick him up and kiss his boo-boo’s. Well, Joe was a little old for that now, but the instincts were still there. He also wanted to share his feelings about Joe’s situation with Nikki. She was quickly becoming his closest confidant. He hoped when he finally got the nerve to tell her about Joe that she took the news well. His fear of instant rejection diminished more and more the closer they became, but he still feared she wouldn’t be able to overcome her preconceived feelings on the subject.
He found her still in the kitchen cleaning the skillet he’d used to make dinner. The plates were already drying in the rack. Of course, she didn’t listen to him and leave the dishes alone. If the meal had been more intricate, he would feel worse that she took care of everything on her own.
“Everything all right with whoever that was?” She asked without even turning around from the sink.
“Yeah. It will be. He just needed to vent, I think.” He flinched waiting for her to ask who “he” was, but she didn’t.
“That’s good.” She turned around wiping her hands on a towel. “Want a drink?” She gestured to their glasses still on the table. She’d topped both off with more white wine while he was talking to Joe. He wasn’t normally a wine drinker, but it paired well with the meal and was certainly more romantic than beer.
He grabbed both their glasses and took them to the couch. She followed him and sat down next to him. He handed her drink to her and set his on the coffee table. He put his hand on her thigh, and then trailed it down her leg to her foot. Then, slipped off her shoe and brought her foot to his lap. She turned a bit to allow for the movement and settled in against the arm of the couch. To thank her for clearing the dishes after dinner, he wanted to rub her feet. Starting with her arch, he kneaded it until she let out a little moan, and then moved up to her toes. He paid special attention to each digit, then moved back down her foot to her heel. Picking up her other foot, he gave it the same loving attention as the first.
“You’re amazing at that. Were you a masseur in a past life?”
He chuckled. “No. Just practiced.” He wasn’t going to tell her that he’d become good over the years because it was basically the only way to keep Theresa happy. Whenever she picked a nonsensical fight with him he would rub her feet until she forgot what she was mad about.
They sat in amicable silence with her feet in his lap for a few minutes just drinking their wine. As much as he longed to kiss her, he also loved how comfortable they were to just sit and be in each other’s presence.
She leaned forward and placed her empty glass on the coffee table. Then she took his glass, drank the last sip, and placed his glass next to hers. She smiled at him as she straddled his lap and sat on his legs.
“I know you’ve been treating me with kid gloves because I wasn’t so sure about this the other night, but I’m ready.” She kissed his lips. “I want this.” She kissed him again. “I want you.”
He groaned. He liked a woman who knew what she wanted. But her nervousness the other night wasn’t the only reason he was holding back. He’d planned to tell her about Joe before taking her to bed again. It just seemed like the right thing to do, but he had a split-second decision to make. Throw caution to the wind and have a night neither of them would forget but she might regret when everything comes to light. Man up, sit her back on the couch and tell her. Or tuck tail and run from the entire situation. He was a chicken-shit because he dismissed the option to tell her about Joe as soon as he thought it. That left staying or going and leaving felt more wrong than anything.
Before he could sort through his thoughts, she kissed him again and deepened the kiss, opening her mouth to his. He growled out his frustration and slipped his tongue into her open mouth. Fuck it. He’d deal with the fallout later. Her talented tongue gave back as good as it got, and his hands moved up her thighs, slipping inside her purple wrap dress.
He reached her perfect ass, but something was missing. At first, he thought she was wearing a thong, but nope, wrong again. He pulled away from her lips and looked into her eyes. The way she was smiling at him and biting her lip told him she was pretty proud of herself.
“No underwear?”
She shook her head.
“Naughty girl. I’m going to have to punish you for that.”
Her smile got bigger, and she blushed.
“I think you like the thought of that too much.”
Her smile dropped some, but she was still biting that damn lip.
Hands still planted firmly on her ass, he picked her up and she wrapped her legs around him. He carried her to the bedroom. If they were doing this, he was going to worship her body in comfort like she deserved. He walked in to find candles already burning all over the room casting a soft glow over the bed. He smiled. She also had a corny side. He wasn’t normally a fan of scented candles, but these gave a subtle floral aroma. Not too strong. Not too sweet smelling. The perfect amount of some scent he couldn’t identify that set the mood perfectly.
“Someone had an agenda tonight.” He kissed her before she could protest. “I love it. Never be afraid to tell me what you want.” He kissed her again. “What you need.”
He kissed her and laid her down on the bed without breaking contact with her lips. He untied the sash holding her dress closed and unwrapped the two sides like a present.
No bra either. How did I miss that all night? He took one breast in each hand and softly palmed them while he caressed her lips with his. Her skin was soft under his rough hands, and her familiar sweet scent was affecting him a
s much as the sight and feel of her body beneath his. He tweaked both her nipples at the same time. She threw her head back and her moan broke their kiss. He took the opportunity to kiss her exposed neck. She moaned again when he sucked on her jugular vein. Her pulse was racing. She was either very excited or running a marathon he was unaware of. He kissed down her chest and replaced his fingers with his lips on her nipple. He lightly bit the nipple in his mouth at the same time he pinched her other nipple, and she moaned louder.
“Cheese and rice! I love when you do that.”
He smirked with her nipple still near his mouth and watched it harden with arousal. “The pleasure is all mine.”
He switched nipples, pinching and biting a little harder than last time. Her moan turned into a groan. He moved down further, pushed her legs up higher and settled in between her legs. He looked up at her and she had the same shy smile on her face as last time. He longed for the day when she was no longer shy when he feasted on her. The first swipe of his tongue along her slit elicited a cry from her lips. Okay, maybe not as shy as last time. He circled her clit with his tongue and inserted one finger inside her. As he inserted another finger to join the first, his tongue went faster and faster against and around her clit. He curled his fingers up, and she cried out as her walls began to clinch around his fingers. He continued to stroke her with his fingers and tongue through her orgasm.
“The things you do to me.”
He chuckled as he climbed back up the bed until they were face to face again.
“That? That’s just the preview, baby.” He punctuated his statement by kissing her until they were both breathless.
She started trying to pull his shirt up.
“Why do you always end up with more clothes on than me?”
“Well you did have a head start, Miss No Underwear.” He winked, and she laughed.
He stood up and began slowly unbuttoning his shirt. He draped it over a chair by the bed and moved to his shoes and socks, removing them just as slow. At first, she lay there watching him, but then sat up and removed her dress. He’d opened it, but her arms were still through the sleeves and she was still laying on it. He unbuckled his belt and pulled it through the loops. Then, unbuttoned and unzipped his pants and pushed both his pants and underwear to the floor. He came back to the bed and laid over her.
“Finally,” she said with a smirk on her face. “I thought you’d never get naked.”
He laughed. “I was trying to go slow. Savor the moment of you lying naked on the bed. But then you started wiggling around to take off your dress, and I couldn’t take it anymore.”
They kissed while their hands roamed each other’s bodies. In a hundred years, he didn’t think he’d ever get his fill of her. Not just her body, but everything that made her who she was. Her wit, her sarcasm, her strength to stand up to her ex, and her caring heart to teach kids. She was light hearted and fun-loving. How could he not fall in love with her? It was too early to say that to her, but if the military taught him one thing, it was that we are not promised tomorrow. When you love someone, you tell them as soon you can. For him, that would be as soon as he had the courage.
“Condoms?” Simple words because they were past the point of useless words.
“Top drawer,” she answered just as simply.
He opened the drawer of her night stand and located her stash of condoms, right next to some lube and what must the infamous “Magic Pickle”. Noted. He smiled as he thought of all the fun they could have with the vibrator. Later.
He rolled the condom down his shaft and kissed her again as he positioned himself at her entrance.
He felt her tense up, so he pulled back just a fraction of an inch, but it felt like a mile.
“What’s wrong? Are you having second thoughts?”
Her tense look softened. “No. It’s just…” She bit her lip. “It’s just been a while.”
“I’ll go slow.” He kissed her deep and slow as he slowly entered her. He pulled back and then entered her further, keeping the rhythm until he was fully seated inside her. He paused for a moment to let her adjust, but she started to squirm underneath him.
“Gosh darn it. Would you move already? I’m dying here.”
He chuckled at her adorable swear words. “I assure you, you are not going to die. You might see God here in a minute, but I promise to bring you back.”
“Someone thinks highly of himself.” About that time, he started to move, and her last word ended on a moan.
He just smiled at her as he picked up the pace.
She wrapped her legs around him, digging her heels in his ass, and matching him thrust for thrust. This woman was incredible, and she didn’t even realize it. He could be a cocky asshole sometimes, but she knew how to knock him down a peg or two. He even enjoyed it.
Soon he felt the familiar tingle and knew he was close. He licked his fingers and started playing with her clit. If he was coming, she was coming with him. Seconds later he felt the first flutters of her orgasm, and he couldn’t hold back anymore. He came with a roar just as she did, and their rhythm faltered as they rode the waves of ecstasy until they were both spent.
As he pulled out and laid on the bed next to her, he removed the condom, tied a knot at the end and threw it on the hardwood floor. He’d dispose of it later when he could feel his legs again. He put his arm around her and she snuggled close to him. He closed his eyes to enjoy the bliss for a moment.
“So, was it good for you?” She dropped her voice an octave into a faux deep tone.
He belted out a loud deep laugh. This girl could always surprise him.
“Yeah, babe. The best.” He kissed her head, still chuckling, and squeezed her closer to his side as he pulled the sheet over them. Perfectly content, they drifted off to sleep.
∞∞∞
He woke sometime before dawn the next morning to her hand on his dick.
“Naughty girl. What have I told you about that?”
“Tease.”
“I’ll show you a tease.” He removed her hand from his appendage, jumped out of bed, and brought the sheet with him revealing her deliciously naked body ass up. Grabbing her by the ankles, he pulled her to the end of the bed until her feet hit the floor. Before she could twist around, he held both of her hands behind her back and planted her feet shoulder-width apart. With her cheek and breasts pressed against the mattress and her ass in the air, he had her exactly where he wanted her. Still holding her hands, he stood behind her and pressed his hard cock against her heat while he leaned over to whisper in her ear. She pressed back against him in silent invitation.
“Not yet, baby. First, you’re going to be punished for being so naughty.” She tensed. Shit. Too far. He wasn’t trying to freak her out. “You’ll enjoy it, baby. I promise.”
“Do I get a safe word?”
“A safe word? Does this look like a dungeon to you? I’m not whipping you with anything, but if that is what you want, your wish is my command. Any suggestions?”
“How about ‘red’?”
“‘Red’? Where’d you pick that up?”
“In a book.”
“A book, huh?” He chuckled. “Baby, you surprise me every minute. ‘Red’ it is. If I let go of your hands so you can brace yourself, do you promise to leave them on the bed?”
She nodded her head.
“I need words, Nikki.”
“Yes. I promise.”
“Good girl.”
He let go of her hands and she placed her elbows on the bed, so she could lift her head off the mattress.
Without warning he pulled his hand back and smacked her across her right butt cheek, and then rubbed it to soothe the pain away.
She hollered her discontent. “How about a heads-up next time?”
“You’ll tense up if you know it’s coming and it’ll hurt worse. That was the first of ten. Keep sassing and it will be more. Do you want that.”
“No.” She looked at him with defiance in her eyes, but her
body betrayed her. The way her hips moved as he rubbed her rosy ass told him she would enjoy this as much as, if not more, than he would.
“Eyes on the headboard.”
The second her eyes left him, she tensed up again, but once she relaxed, he reared back and smacked her on her left butt cheek. This time her reaction was just a whimper as he rubbed the sting away.
“Those were for the naughty school teacher glasses you enticed me with when we first met.”
She looked back at him in shock.
“Eyes on the headboard.”
She reluctantly turned back around, and he gave her two quick smacks, one on each cheek and rubbed the pain away again. She moaned. He moved his hand between her thighs, dipped two fingers into her slit and bit back a moan of his own when he felt how wet she was.
“You like that. Don’t you, baby? Those smacks were for trying to give me head the other night after I told you I was already on the edge of embarrassing myself. Do you remember that?”
“Mm-hmm. Yessss.” She nodded.
He gave her two more quick smacks just a little harder than last time, and she moaned louder.
“Those were for goading me over coffee the morning after.”
“You have a good memory,” she said in one breath through a moan.
“You bet your ass I do.” He punctuated “ass” by smacking her right butt cheek, and then smacked her left butt cheek.
“Those were for not wearing a bra last night.” He paused she didn’t say anything. “You still good, baby? Do you need to use your word?”
She shook her head.
“I need your words, Nikki.”
“No. I’m good.” Her words were whispered, and her body agreed as she pushed her ass back searching for his hand. The wanton act made him smile.
He smacked both cheeks again harder than any time before.