“Mama! Lookamee! I’m a princess and Daddy is a prince,” my daughter Maisy jumps up from the checkered blanket spread out on the hardwood floor in her fluffy, pink dress.
I can’t help but laugh at the blanket tied around Connor’s neck and the homemade crown on his head.
“Well, it looks like you two are having a nice afternoon, Princess Maisy,” I smile down at my beautiful daughter and can’t believe she’s soon going to be heading off to preschool. Where did the time go? It feels like only yesterday we were up doing night feedings and diaper duty with her. Now her brother has taken over in those areas and she’s my rambunctious, curious little beauty.
“We are!” She hops around enthusiastically, “Daddy and I are having a tea party, and I even poured the tea myself and guess what?” She claps excitedly.
“What?” I grin.
“I didn’t spill any on the floor this time! I did it like a big girl,” she puffs out her chest proudly.
“That’s great honey, good job,” I lean over and give her a hug while Christopher drools down the front of her dress.
“Ewww, yucky!” She scrunches her nose and scoots back over to her father.
I can’t help but take a second to soak the scene in, Connor is sitting cross-legged on the blanket holding up an empty, plastic tea cup and Maisy carefully grasps the teapot and shakily pours some water into his cup.
“Well, thank you Princess!” He holds his cup up to her and she lifts her tiny mug up, clinking it slightly against his.
“Cheers!” She cries out.
I carry Christopher into the kitchen and grab a bottle from the fridge and he sticks out his hands trying to take it from me. I place it on the counter out of his reach as I grab a pot and fill it with water so I can warm the milk, but he fusses a little not understanding that if I just handed it to him it would cramp his little tummy.
Balancing him on my hip, I sway back and forth gently and he is quickly distracted and back to the cooing, loving baby I’m getting to know. At three months, I feel like I’m just starting to get the very first glimpses into his personality. He’s quieter and more observant than his sister was at this age. Since she came into the world, she’s made sure everyone in her wake is aware of her presence. Quiet is a word no one would use to describe Maisy.
The only exception is when she goes to my brother’s church services. There she sits still with her hands folded in her lap on her favorite yellow dress and waits patiently until all the kids are called out for Sunday school. She loves watching Marcus get up from the pew and say his opening speech for the day. Almost as much as she loves going to the children’s classes run by Marcus’ wife. For a girl who can’t sit still for more than five minutes, it’s amazing to see her so attentive.
I pluck the warmed bottle from the pot and test it on the inside of my wrist to make sure I didn’t overheat it. Christopher is waving his arms wildly and opening his mouth like a fish out of water impatiently. It’s the perfect temperature. “There ya go buddy, you’re hungry aren’t ya?” I tap my finger lightly on Christopher’s nose and watch his eyes light up as he devours his bottle.
Walking back into the living room, I sit down and enjoy the baby snuggles as Christopher drinks his milk and smile hazily at the dream come true my life has become. With our first born on the floor playing with the sexiest Dad alive and our little boy cradled in my arms, it’s hard to imagine a time before now. It’s hard to remember the struggles we ever had or the insignificant dramas we faced.
I know our entire lives won’t always be this easy or wonderful. We’ll face problems just like every other family, but as I sit here, in this moment, this is as close to perfection as I can imagine anyone ever living.
I am truly blessed.
The End
About the Author
Eddie Cleveland was born and raised on the Canadian East Coast. He spent most of his twenties having reckless adventures before going back to school for pottery and graphic arts. With his travel itch still not fully scratched, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy, serving for 12 years with multiple deployments to South America and the Middle East. He recently released from the Canadian Armed Forces to pursue his passion of writing full-time. Virgin for the Woodsman is his fifth novel. You can check out his other works below.
Check out Eddie’s Bad Boy Series
Saved by the Woodsman
Copyright © 2017 by Eddie Cleveland
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
1
Ashley
“Can you believe my pic already has thirteen thousand likes? I only put it up, what, an hour ago?” I sweep my cell in front of Tom and Stacey’s faces. They don’t pay attention to the image of my ass perched on the edge of our hot tub in these killer Victoria’s Secret string bikini bottoms. They lived it, standing awkwardly to the side with their drinks while Ben helped me get the perfect shot.
I ignore their indifference, smiling down at the screen. I love how the light sparkles off my 18-carat diamond, like Ben stole a star from the sky and put it on my finger. I don’t care if everyone is bored or jealous or whatever, this shot is getting the love it deserves. It might have taken almost an hour to get the angle and the lighting just right, but amazing butt selfies don’t just happen.
I should know, it’s kinda my thing.
“I believe it,” Ben nuzzles up against me in the hot tub, “everyone wants a piece of that ass.” I lean back against him and close my eyes, feeling the world swirl a little as the jets from the tub whirl over my skin and the pricey champagne hits me.
“You guys are just too cute,” Kate intrudes on my moment from across the ten-seater tub.
I flicker my eyes open and the room spirals a tad, but as soon as her sour face comes into focus, I miss the drunken kaleidoscope of colors.
“I know, right? Aren’t they adorbs, bae?” Stacey prods on her husband Tom. Tilting her cut jaw at him and flicking her eyes our way. God, even her chin looks like it has muscles. Stacey and her man are both fitness models, I swear, my left ass cheek probably has more fat than both of their entire bodies put together.
Tom wraps his thick arm over her shoulder and smiles. For a second, I wonder if his arm is crushing her with his ridiculously built bicep. “They’re perfect together,” he answers, “just like us.”
Tom’s hand breaks up through the surface of the bubbly water and cups his wife’s strong jaw, the two of them might be built like human armor, but they still kiss tenderly. I can tell that it won’t be long before they retire to their room in our ski cabin and go fuck each other’s brains out. The image of their bodies slapping together, like two planks of hardwood sweeps through my mind.
“You know, it’s getting late,” Stacey purrs, leaning over Tom like a kitty about to pounce. I can’t see either of her hands, but I can imagine where they are. I wonder if Tom’s dick looks really small when compared to his muscles on an even more muscular frame.
I smirk over at Ben, next to Tom he looks like a pipsqueak, not that I’d ever tell him that. Still, I would rather the more natural look, even if he is a little on the short side and a bit scrawnier than I’d prefer. I shake the thought from my head and get another rush from the booze messing with my vision. Who cares if he’s a little small? He’s filthy rich. Besides, ever since he proposed, my Instagram fame has propelled to new heights.
Just don’t wear heels around him that are over three inches. And don’t get fat. Then he won’t look like such a waif beside you. See? His stature is actually a good thing, it’s more motivation to stick to your diet. I smile at the famous bachelor who proposed to me after only four months together.
Ben smirks back at me, his green eyes locking on mine. The day he put a ring on it, a lot of hearts on the internet were bro
ken. Not only is he young and hot, but the fact that he earned his millions by outsmarting his opponents in poker games just adds to his appeal.
He’s a risk taker. Hard to read. Sexy as hell. And he’s mine.
2
Ashley
“Thanks for inviting us up here. Can you believe we’ve never been to the Telluride resort before? We’ve been meaning to come here for a little vacay, but just never found the time,” Stacey explains. I still can’t see her hands. I push the uncomfortable idea of her playing with her hubby’s little pecker out of my mind.
“Of course! What’s an engagement celebration without my best friends?” Ben answers chipperly.
“And my stepsister,” I chime in.
“Foster sister,” Kate corrects me.
Thanks for sucking the air out of the room, sis.
I roll my eyes at her and ignore her bitterness. She’s just jealous that my star is on the rise and she’s still trying to get her first fifty thousand followers on Instagram.
Like it’s my fault Ben saw me online and decided to ask me out? It’s my fault we hit it off and our fans absolutely loved us together? Seriously, she needs to get over herself.
I always asked Ben what photo on my profile made him decide to contact me. His answer has stayed consistent. The one where I’m in a field of flowers in a Taylor Swift hat and a little sundress, is the shot he insists stole his heart. I don’t believe it though. Not when eighty percent of my pics are of my big bubble butt. I know what really drew him in. And, I know how to keep him.
I snuggle back in the tub against my man, rubbing the ass that’s made me famous against him.
“We should probably hit the hay though,” Tom announces loudly, tossing back the last gulp of his Patron. I look over at Stacey and notice her shoulders are slightly trembling, her hands still mysteriously under the water.
Ewww.
“Ok, wait guys. Before you go do your thing, let’s take a group selfie!” I know I’m kinda cock blocking, but it’s only going to take a second. Besides, that’s what they get for jerking each other off in the hot tub while we’re all sitting in it.
“Another one?” Stacey whines.
“It will only take a second,” I turn around and take another swig of my Dom Perignon, scrunching up my nose as the bubbles tickle their way down my throat.
“You always say that,” Kate chimes in, “then it takes an hour!”
“Oh shush! We’re here to celebrate my engagement, remember?” I grab the selfie stick, with my phone already attached. “So, please indulge me if I want to take pictures to remember it by,” I chide them. I leave out the part that the photos I’ve been taking at the resort are my most popular.
Stacey and Kate quit being crybabies and everyone scooches together on one side of the tub. “Everyone ready?” I ask.
“No wait a sec, here Tom put your arm under my tits and push it up so I look like I actually have some,” Stacey instructs her husband.
“Are you sure you’re okay with your face being in this one? You don’t want to turn around and moon the phone?” Kate sneers.
Jealous bitch.
She probably wishes it was like the good ol’ days when she was the popular one and I was often confused for a boy with my short, anti-lice haircut and tattered clothes.
“No need to take another belfie,” I use the popular phrase that Kim Kardashian made famous with the selfie of her huge ass, “not when I’ve got the most desired man on the internet on my arm.” I force a smile at her that turns genuine as I watch her lips twist down with envy.
“Alright everyone, in three, two, one,” the flash on my cellphone strobes over us from where it’s perched on my selfie stick. It’s hovering at the perfect angle over our heads and, with the fireplace crackling soft light behind us, we might not even need a filter with how good we’ll all look. Who am I kidding? You always need a filter.
“Ellen DeGeneres has got nothing on us!” I squeal and flick my finger across the screen. “This looks even better than that Academy Awards pic she took with all the celebs.”
“Ohhh, let me see. Did you get my good side?” Kate plucks the iPhone from my fingers and scrutinizes it. Her big brown eyes squint down as she analyzes the picture to death.
“No you don’t, gimmie that,” I grab it back from her and quickly add my hashtags before she can find any problems. “It’s done. Everyone will love it. Annndddd, posted,” I smile up at her angry face and turn the phone screen back toward her. “See, it’s already getting tons of love,” I twist it back so I can watch the heart symbols collect numbers from my adoring Instagram followers.
I hold my breath anxiously willing the numbers to rise. My chest tightens as I wait for the first thousand likes to roll in. If my picture doesn’t get that many off the bat, I have to delete it. You don’t make a living from being a model on this site with pictures no one cares about.
More than that, I won’t be able to enjoy the rest of my night if my fans don’t care about what I’m doing. Every time the counter by the empty little heart jumps up in numbers, it fills my empty little heart with pride. The social media love soars past my magic thousand in less than twenty seconds and my nerves calm. I casually lay my phone on the hot tub ledge and protect it from the water with my big, fuzzy towel as the moment of anxiety rolls off my shoulders.
“Of course everyone will love it,” Ben sits between us, wrapping his arms around our shoulders and pulling us both in tight. “It’s got two of the most beautiful women on the internet in it, so quit worrying and let’s get back to our party,” he smiles. I feel myself relax in his half-hug, especially once Kate’s scowl begins to transform into a sly smile.
“Hey, and what am I? Huh? Chopped liver?” Stacey calls out. We all turn toward her. “You couldn’t say the three most beautiful women? Like, what am I? Some kind of ugly duckling then?” She pouts.
“Of course not, I meant three. My mistake,” Ben soothes her bruised ego with a slick smile. I don’t think there’s a woman on this earth that can resist his charm. The way he can make his green eyes twinkle when his sultry smile spreads over his boyish features, it makes every girl I know flush with excitement.
“Ok, I’ll let it slide this time,” she stands up and tugs on Tom’s hand, eager to get the rest of their night started.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in my book,” Tom stands up next to her and helps her out of the tub, wrapping a towel around her. I try not to notice that’s his ‘little Tom’ is standing at attention, pressed up against his dripping trunks, it’s hard to ignore.
Luckily Romeo on Roids takes his little, and I do mean little, distraction into their bedroom and Stacey follows, slamming the door behind them.
“I should get some more wood for the fire.” Kate announces, snapping my attention back to our party of three in the hot tub.
“I think we’re alright, aren’t we?” I squint, forcing my eyes to focus on the small pile of logs beside the roaring fireplace.
“Nah, I could use the fresh air anyway. Besides, you can never have too much wood, right?” She smirks and stands up. Running her fingers underneath her bikini bottoms, she frees them from where they were wedged between her ass cheeks, before getting out and grabbing a robe.
“Whatever you say,” I laugh. I find it’s best to ignore Kate. Letting her make a big deal out of anything gives her exactly the attention she’s desperate for.
I should know. I’m desperate for that same attention.
3
Ashley
I lean over the rim of the tub and laugh as one of the jets almost takes my top off. Giggling, I move over and grab the bottle of Dom. “Want a top up?” I ask Ben in the sultriest voice I can manage.
“Hmmm?” He looks over at me slowly, dragging his eyes off Kate’s grand exit into the snow. She’s heading out to the woodshed just behind our cabin. If I had to guess, it’s probably not so much for ‘fresh air’ as it is to smoke. No matter how many times I tell her it’s a
disgusting habit that’s going to give her wrinkles, she won’t quit.
“Oh, uh no,” he answers. “I’m going to give Kate a hand out there. I don’t want her to knock wood down on herself or freeze.” He quickly makes his way from the tub and dries off before throwing on his robe and walking out.
What a gentleman. I sigh, letting the contentment of this moment wash over me like one of the jets in this tub. I fill the champagne to the top of my crystal glass, watching the bubbles slink up the side and burst on the surface. Taking a huge mouthful, I slowly swallow, letting my mind wander.
It wasn’t that long ago that all of this would’ve been beyond my wildest dreams. It’s amazing how far I’ve come. Not to mention what I’ve overcome. My thoughts are shrouded with childhood memories I’d rather have erased from my brain forever.
No.
I won’t let my moment in the sun be clouded over by the dark storms of my past. I’m going to enjoy every second of this. I have a hot man, I’m popular, I have powerful friends, money. This is the life. Who cares where it all began?
I pick up my cell and check on my account one more time. Both my butt selfie and my group picture are burning up with online love. I can’t help but smile at the screen. It’s like I can feel the adoration those little emoji hearts represent, pouring out to me. It fills my soul to know there are so many people out there who care about me. Who love me.
After another sip of my champagne and I’m surprised that I’m already down to the last gulp in the glass. Wow. That went fast. Where the hell is Kate? What’s taking her and Ben so long?
Standing up on wobbly legs, I fall back down on my famously big ass, making a big splash in the hot water. Laughter bursts from my lips at my lack of grace. Good thing no one caught that in a photo.
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