Big Man Next Door

by Penny Wylder

  “That's great!” She swings our arms back and forth excitedly. “I'm happy you guys might take this step, a new direction for your business. You already know the business, now it's just making it a reality.”

  “Yeah, me too. Come on, you got to see the inside. There's so much potential, and we'll need your input for staging.”

  She's got no idea.

  I'm doing everything I can to keep my smile under control and excitement level low. This is a big deal for both of us, and she doesn't have a clue.

  “Is the agent here?”

  “No, they couldn't make it, but I was able to stop and grab the key from the office. The agent said the previous owners moved out already, and we were good to go in.”

  “Nice, that works.” Heather doesn't question me at all. She trusts me completely, and that's an amazing feeling.

  Opening the front door, I let her go in first. Her eyes grow wide as she spins in a circle, taking the place in.

  “You're kidding me, right?” Her eyes fall to mine. “I imagined the inside would be a mess. This looks like a brand-new house, Ian. What renovations could you possibly do?”

  “Let me show you,” I say, nodding my head for her to follow. We walk down the hall to a set of stairs that lead to the lower level. “Down here.”

  “Ian, I can't imagine anything in this place needing more than a new light bulb. The kitchen has beautiful white granite, and those gray cupboards with the crackle look are stunning. This isn't what I expected. I expected a crooked foundation and walls with giant holes. Maybe mold and seventies tiles. How are you going to convince Grey?”

  “Don't worry about him, I just want to see what you think first.” Reaching the bottom, I stop at a door on my left. “This is what I want you to see.”

  Pushing the door open, I flip the light on. Heather takes a step in, her eyes sparkling as she sees the glass window.

  “Is this. . . Was this a. . .” Pausing, she turns back to look at me.

  Shaking my head yes, I say, “A recording studio. Well, it was a recording studio. The bones are here, it just needs the equipment. But it has the singing booth, and speakers that are already hardwired in.”

  “Wow, if you guys decide to flip this house, whoever gets it will be so lucky. It can be a major selling point, especially in this area.”

  “I'm happy you like it. That's the reaction I was hoping for.”

  “Like it? I wish I had this setup for myself. I could do so much with it.”

  “Done.”

  “What's done?”

  “This. It's yours. Well, the house is ours, but this space is for you. With how well your music career has been going, and all the doors that have been opening up for you, I really wanted to give you a place, a home, something that was just for you.”

  Holding up her hand, she bounces it in the air as she shakes her head in disbelief. “Wait a second, hold on. What are you talking about?” Tilting her head into her shoulder, her eyes hood. “What do you mean exactly?”

  “Baby, this isn't a house for Grey and me to flip or rent out, it's for us to build a life in. It's for you to create music whenever you want, it doesn't matter what time of day it is.”

  “So you're saying you bought this house for us?” Thick lines crease her forehead.

  Did I make the right decision?

  There's hesitation in her voice, and I'm not sure if that's from shock or the fact I did this without her.

  Nodding, I bite my bottom lip. “Yeah, I closed on it yesterday.” Squinting slightly, I wait nervously to find out if this truly is a good idea or not. “I wanted to tell you, but I really wanted to surprise you too.”

  Her eyes glaze over as she covers her mouth with her hands. “You bought us a house?” Tears roll one by one down her cheeks as her eyes stay set on mine and she starts to jump up and down in place. “You bought us this house?”

  “I did, I bought this house.” Reaching out, I grab her by the waist and pull her in. “Are you happy? Do you like it?”

  Sniffling, she runs her fingers under her eyes, wiping away the black mascara. “I am,” she says, setting her hand on my chest and smiling up at me. “This is amazing, I love you so much.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I'm in shock, I can't believe you did this, and I can't believe you hid it from me. But I do hope one thing. . .”

  “What's that?” Running the tips of my fingers around the line of her face, I gently cup her cheek as I reach her chin.

  “I hope this room really is soundproof, because babies need their sleep. They don't like waking up at all hours, especially by loud music.”

  “Babies?” I ask, arching a brow confused. My eyes move back and forth between hers, trying to figure out why that matters at all.

  What does that have to do with anything?

  Babies. . . There are no bab— My eyes pop open wide as the wheels in my head turn.

  Heather smiles, taking my hand and pulling it around, pressing it against her belly. She rubs the back of my palm, pushing my hand harder against her stomach.

  “Are you telling me you're—” Swallowing hard, I inhale a shallow breath. “Are you saying. . .” I can't even ask her. The question is there, but it won't come out.

  “Yes, Ian, I'm pregnant. We're having a baby.”

  Cupping her belly, I gently squeeze as her words take a second to resonate. My heart begins to beat, and a chill runs down my spine. She's having a baby, my baby. We created a life, and now that life is growing inside her.

  I'm going to be a dad.

  The thought floats in my head, causing all kinds of questions. Will I be a good dad? Will our child like me? Will I be the man our child needs me to be?

  There's so much doubt, so much worry, and she sees it on my face.

  “Don't worry, Ian, you won't be like him. You're going to be an amazing father. This baby is very lucky to have you as its father.”

  She's right. I'm not my father. And I suppose, I can actually thank him. He did me a service. He taught me exactly what it means to be a horrible father. I won't do that to this baby.

  Scooping my hands around her face, I kiss her with everything I have. I can feel her in my stomach, in my chest, in every strand of muscle that's trembling in my body.

  Growling, I exhale as I drive my tongue into her mouth and pull her so tight against my chest, I can feel her heart beating against mine. I can feel her lungs fill as she inhales, her hands curling into my hair.

  Grabbing her by her ass, I lift her off her feet. Our tongues are dancing, our breathing ragged as the room heats and the air thickens around us. We're all hands and lips as her pussy grinds against me, and she digs her heels into the back of my legs.

  With long strides, I slam her back against the wall, my hands securely holding her up. I feel an intense need to just take her. I have to have her. Right now. Right here.

  Slipping my hand up her shirt, I pinch her nipple and twist. She breaks our kiss groaning, and leans her head back against the wall. Running my tongue up her throat, I feather kisses across her jaw.

  “I love you,” I say, whispering into her ear.

  “I love you too.” Her hands slip down over my scalp, and clasp behind my head.

  Lowering her to the floor, I tear her shirt over her head, and work her pants down her thighs. Flipping her around to face the wall, I press down on the center of her back gently, forcing her shoulders forward and her ass higher. My fingers glide down the center of her back, tracing her spine. I move slow, so tortuously slow that she glares at me over her shoulder.

  I know what she wants. She wants me to stop and just fuck her. I can smell the delectable scent of her pussy as she rocks back against me. Her pussy is warm and wet, leaving a damp spot on my shirt.

  Pulling my cock free, I press my swollen tip against her entrance. She's so fucking wet, dripping with arousal. Slapping her ass, I spread her juice with my tip, tracing her lips and slipping up between her ass cheeks.

  I'
m hard as stone, my tip red and glistening as I press her ass together and fuck her slit. Heather is grinding against me, bouncing her ass up and down. Reaching around, I rub her clit with the pad of my finger, rapidly flicking back and forth.

  Her legs almost buckle, but she catches herself on the wall. Spreading her legs wider, I smear her pussy juice on my shaft and slam my cock deep into her heat.

  Heather moans, digging her nails into the wall as her body trembles. I love this, I love the way her body ignites, and her moans are uncontrollable.

  Wrapping my arm around her belly, I hold her up so she doesn't drop to the floor. Massaging her stomach, the thought of my child being in there makes me go wild.

  It's feral, primal, and I can't help it. She's mine, this baby is mine, and I'm going to always do anything and everything I can to give them both what they deserve.

  This is the start of something new.

  Change is a good thing.

  And love is worth the risk.

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