by Rye Hart
She walked over and peered into the front case and then turned to me. “You weren’t kidding. You do have all that stuff in here.”
I took her by the hand and led her around back to the kitchen where I had some fresh baked cupcakes that had cooled since my time with Hunter. “How would you like to decorate your very own cupcake?” Angie stood in the door and watched as I lifted Tani up on a stool and helped her wash her hands. “We have to get our hands clean and then I’ll help you decorate it how you want.”
“Awesome!”
I helped her down from the one stool and up onto another one near the icing table where I had bags of every color icing ready to use. I showed her how to hold the bag and she took the instruction well. “It’s all about the pressure you put on the bag as you move the tip. It takes some getting used to.”
She piped out an irregular shaped heart. “Can I make one for Daddy?”
“Yes. Any kind you think he’ll like, and when you’re done we’ll take them and have them after dinner.”
Angie pulled me aside to tell me goodbye but before she left, Tani insisted on giving her the first cupcake with the heart. From the sappy look on my sister’s face I wondered if she were in love with the child as much as I was. She was a neat kid, and I was sure it was all Hunter’s doing.
I watched Tani, standing close so she didn’t take a dive on the tall stool, as she decorated three more cupcakes. “This one is for Daddy, this one is for me, and this one is for you.” My cupcake had an H and her Daddy’s had an S. “You like Daddy don’t you. The H stands for Hunter.”
I was nearly startled by her intuitiveness. “I love it, thank you. And yes, and I do like your Daddy very much. He’s a special man.” She giggled and gave me a look like she wanted to ask me something. “What are you thinking of?” I was almost afraid to ask, but then she giggled and shook her head.
“Maybe you can get tattoos.” She held up her arms for me to lift her down.
“Tattoos of what?” I had always wanted a tattoo.
“You get ‘Hunter’ and Daddy gets ‘Sarah’. That means you love each other.” She wagged her brows at me and then hurried into the other room as soon as her Dad arrived. He came in the door with a big smile for his daughter.
“Are you two ready to go?” He had barely gotten the words out when Tani took him by the hand and lead him back to the kitchen.
“It’s a cupcake for you. It’s got Sarah’s letter on it.” She gave him a big grin. “These are our desserts.”
I grabbed a box to pack up the cupcakes and then we were off.
We went for a nice dinner and then finally to the mall where Tani wanted to go to a toy shop so she could make her own stuffed animal. Hunter explained that she collected them and so it sounded like fun to me. I waited as Tani chose a pretty brown bear which she stuffed all on her own. Then she whispered something to Hunter and he nodded. He took me by the hand and we walked across the store to look at some other things he said he wanted to get Tani for Christmas. Ten minutes later the saleslady called us over and Tani held something behind her back.
“Let’s see what you made,” Hunter said and Tani pulled not one, but two bears from behind her back.
“They’re beautiful.” She held out one brown bear and one pale gold bear that almost matched Tani’s hair.
“This is me and this is you. You can have my bear.” She handed me the pale gold bear and said I could dress it any way I wanted.
My heart melted at that moment. “Thank you.” She brought me to an area where we got to choose its clothes and then we sat dressing the bears. Tani’s had an apron and a tiny spatula and cap. I was head over heels for this child.
By the time we left, Tani’s eyes were getting heavy, so Hunter lifted her up and carried her out to his truck. We drove to his house and put her to bed and the two of us went to the living room to talk and put our feet up.
“She’s amazing. She’s so well-mannered and kind. It’s not every day you see that. You should see some of the kids that come into the bakery.”
“I agree, but then again, I’m totally biased.” He brushed a stray strand from my face and then placed his hand over mine, playing with the ring.
“I’ve been looking at it all day since you gave it to me. I keep playing with it.” I was surprised my sister hadn’t seen it.
“I want to go down and get our license Monday. Maybe we could take an early lunch if your sister’s going to be around?”
“I’ll see if she’ll come in a bit early. If she thinks we’re having a lunch date, she’ll be more than happy.” I laughed and then stretched my arms out over my head and yawned.
“Your car is at the bakery, so you have two options. You can sleep over or take my truck home.”
As much as I wanted to go to his bed, it didn’t feel right my first day after meeting Tani. “I better take your truck. I don’t want to impose on Tani too soon. But I’ll come back tomorrow and we can hang out a bit if you want?”
He leaned in and kissed me, pulling me close and rubbing my back. I melted against him. The backrub was as good as the kiss and I thought about staying the night anyway. “You come over bright and early and I’ll make us all breakfast.”
I yawned again and stood up. “I better get going while I’m still awake.”
He narrowed his eyes and pulled me back down to his lap. “I think it’s too late. You should stay.”
I shook my head and protested. “Tani will know I spent the night.”
“I have a guest room. My Mother uses it all the time so you’re welcome to it. I’ll tell Tani you got tired and she’ll not think anything of it.” His eyes softened and then he brushed my hair back again. His hands felt so good against me. He stirred my desires and I couldn’t help but want him. I hated how weak he made me. I’d been determined not to let myself give into him, but I was slipping.
“Fine. I’ll stay. But I want you to tuck me in.” I brought his hand back up to my face and leaned into it, resting against his palm.
“I’ll do you one better.” He stood and before I knew what was happening he scooped me up into his arms and carried me upstairs to bed. It was the first time I’d given in when my inner voice was telling me ‘no’, and it wouldn’t be the last.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN- HUNTER
It was hard to imagine that my new wife had only known my daughter a week. Sarah and Tani were amazing together and it was as if we were a real family for the first few days, even though Sarah still hadn’t moved in. She’d brought a few things, just enough for show, but she’d spent a night away and I wasn’t thrilled about it. At least she’d been around to see Tani off to her mother’s and she’d given Tani a much-needed pep talk about the situation.
We’d shared a quiet dinner together and a few hours of loud sex, without Tani home to disturb, and then she’d fallen asleep in my arms.
I brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her cheek. “We better not sleep the day away.” I brushed my stubble against her ear and she squirmed away from me. “We need to move you in.”
She rolled over and her eyes fluttered open. “I’m all moved in.” She shielded her eyes with her arm. “What else is there to do?”
“You brought a bag, Sarah. We agreed that you’d move in. It has to be convincing, and so far things have been great, but if the judge finds out my wife has her own place, which she feels the need to go visit during the week, it’s going to be a bit obvious that the marriage is a fraud.”
She sat up and tossed back the covers wearing nothing but one of my t-shirts, which was more than me. “I don’t see why I have to give up my life and my home for this. Lots of people have two houses. Who is going to know?”
“Don’t be dim. They investigate this type of thing, Sarah.” She turned to me with her hand on her hip.
“Dim? I’m not being dim, I’m being practical. What happens to me when you’re all done playing husband and I’ve got to go back to my own life? I’ll need a place to live and I’m not g
iving up my home.”
“So keep it, but at least let’s start emptying it out a little bit. We’ll hide some things in storage if we can’t bring them here. But you can’t just go home when you feel like it.” I was talking loud enough that she walked into the bathroom and closed the door, but I was sure she could still hear me.
She called from the other side. “That’s your problem?” She paused and I heard the toilet flush and the sink come on. I threw the covers back and went to the door only to have her open it as she brushed her teeth. “You’re pissed off that I went home for a night?”
“This is your home now. You’re going to confuse Tani if you keep it up. She doesn’t know why you’re leaving and staying out all night. She even asked me if mom’s do that. I told her you had to help your sister.”
She pointed her toothbrush at me, her mouth still filled with foam. “Fine, I won’t spend the night there, but I need my space. No offense, I love Tani, but you’re asking me to be mother and wife overnight.” She spat in my sink and then rinsed her mouth. “But no, this isn’t my home. It’s a temporary arrangement. I told myself when we got into this that I would stand my ground and keep it business with benefits so I could get my life in order and have a little fun while I was at it.”
“Yeah, you’re really good at the benefits.”
“Oh, so now you’re upset about the sex? We don’t have to have sex, Hunter. I only thought it would make it better. And if you mean the money, then I should remind you that this was all your idea to begin with. And, by the way, you seduced me.” She pushed past me and headed for the door, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
She jerked away from me, but I held her with my stare. “Do you want out of this?”
She sighed and raked her hand through her hair. “I never said that. I just don’t want to lose myself or my life while trying to save yours and Tani’s. Is that so hard to understand?”
It was harder than she thought. As I gazed down into her eyes all I could remember was how lonely I’d been the night she’d gone home. We’d gotten our marriage license on Monday and been as happy as any other couple until Thursday when we married. I’d spent our honeymoon alone.
“Did you have to leave me alone on our wedding night?” Admitting that was the nail in my coffin, but by doing so I hoped she’d see that it meant more for me now. I was falling for her and I didn’t want the arrangement to be just an arrangement anymore.
I’d seen her with Tani. The two were perfect together and without even trying she’d taken on the mothering role like a natural. I didn’t want it to end.
She stared up at me shaking her head. “I can’t do this right now. I’m not going to spend whatever time we’re in this arguing. I’ll go crazy.” She turned and went down the stairs as I went for the shower.
I stood under the hot stream letting the water fall on my face as I thought about my situation. I couldn’t help but let myself get too deep. We had been spending so much time together and having the hottest sex, not to mention I’d opened up and shared my life with her. I wasn’t used to being vulnerable to anyone, but it felt right with her. Dammit. Was I falling in love?
When I was younger, I never suspected I’d marry, and though I imagined having a kid someday, I’d never expected to be a full time parent. I wanted to live the wild and free life on the road just me and my bike, and maybe a different woman every week. When Nancy got pregnant with Tani, I knew I didn’t want to marry her. She’d begged me, but I didn’t see marriage as that important for raising a child. I didn’t mind cohabitating if necessary, but I didn’t think I’d be in it alone. Tani changed all of that thinking. Seeing her little and helpless, with a mother who didn’t give two shits about herself, much less our child, I knew if I didn’t step up I’d regret it. She left Tani with me when she was two months old, and had only come around once in a while wanting a handout for her next fix until she’d decided to clean up and steal her from me.
I’d asked Sarah to marry me out of desperation, but the truth was, even if I didn’t need her in my life, I wanted her in it. Fuck.
I forced myself to finish the shower and finally turned off the water and stepped out into the steamy room and wrapped myself in a towel. I expected Sarah to be downstairs, but when I opened the door, she was laid across the bed wearing my shirt.
“Is there any hot water left?” Her legs were covered hiding the fact that she was bare-bottomed. My cock twitched and stood at attention, but I left my towel in place.
“It’s all yours.” I waved my hand toward the door and she narrowed her eyes at me. Even though I had revealed my feelings to her, she was still angry and I was tired of arguing.
“Fine.” She stood and stripped the shirt. My cock punched against the towel and my balls ached as my gaze slid down across her body, from the swell of her breasts, across her flat stomach to the little cleft between her thighs. She strutted forward heading past me to the door, but I caught her by the arm and pulled her close.
“Don’t taunt me unless you’re prepared to face the consequences.”
Her hard stare was steady as she lifted her chin as a show of defiance. “What are you going to do about it?” She glanced down at the bulge behind my towel and then lifted her chin again, this time as if daring me.
“I’m going to show you how I take what I want. And just so we’re clear, I’m not letting you go.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - SARAH
Falling into Hunter’s arms had been easy, but getting out of that trap was hard. When he was telling me all the things I wanted to hear, and making me come like never before, I didn’t want to be set free.
But being set free was inevitable.
The steam from his shower still lingered, billowing out of the room as we stood in the doorway with nothing but a towel and his thick erection between us. Hunger coiled in my belly and my knees knocked together betraying me.
I was fighting a losing battle.
Hunter’s hold on me loosened but only so his hand could rest on my ass as he kissed me. I put a hand on his chest in a weak attempt to hold him back, but I didn’t really want to. And as if he knew, his hands locked on my wrists and he walked me to the shower like a prisoner. But prisoners wanted to escape and I was more than willing as he led me into the shower and brought his lips down on mine and let go of me long enough to turn on the water. He turned and put me under the spray, so the water fell across my breasts and then his hand brushed against my sex, rubbing and parting my folds.
“You’re always so wet and ready for me, Sarah. I know you want it as much as I do. So tell me.”
“I do and you hardly need reminders.” I let my hand fall from his chest to his thick length that jutted out proudly as if it knew he had me where he wanted me. I gripped his balls, kneading them in my palm, and they were heavy in my hand.
Two fingers slipped inside me and Hunter hissed as I gripped his base and tugged upward, milking his cock for a tiny show of his desire. A small tear wept at his tip and I spread it around as the shower washed it away.
“Seems like such a waste.” He whispered the words in my ear and pumped his fingers deeper, spreading them and retreating before he added a third to prepare me for his broad shaft. He stepped back, pulling his fingers from me, and pushing them into my mouth. There was a hunger in his eyes as if something dark and dangerous was inside. It was his bad boy side coming out to play and I realized I’d let him out, as he brought his arm up behind my head and urged me down to my knees.
His cock was ready and he knew right where he wanted me, on my knees under the warm spray of the shower. I pumped his cock and then looked up at him as he stroked my wet hair, his other hand caressing my cheek as I took him into my mouth. He let me suck and play at first, but then his need grew and he held my head firm and still and pumped his cock in and out my mouth. I worked his base, and all of a sudden, he pulled away and brought me to my feet.
“Turn around.”
I spun and he nudged me against the w
all, his firm hands land atop my ass and spreading my cheeks. His broad tip nudged against me and I flattened one hand against the shower tiles and the other reached back to pull him closer. With a sharp thrust he buried himself deep, and I cried out in as a wave pleasure rolled through me. Hunter didn’t stop, he thrust harder, until our wet flesh slapped and splashed the spray wildly between us. His hand kneaded and gripped my flesh, as if he let go I’d disappear. He rose up and angled his cock down against my tender spot. I gripped his cock inside me, milking him with my walls until I fell apart, my orgasm ripping through me like a wave crashing against a rock. My knees weakened and buckled. Hunter held me in place and kept going as I sagged against the shower wall.
Just when I thought he’d finish he pulled away and turned off the spray. I turned and collapsed against him. “Can you walk?”
“No.” I lay my head against his chest.
“Still want to taunt me?” I glanced up and my eyes narrowed, but then he scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the bed still soaking wet. He placed me on my back and I scooted away to the middle of the bed, leaving me legs spread wide for what he had waiting for me.
He stood by the bed stroking his cock and then he climbed up on his knees and positioned himself against my entrance. He met my eyes with a defiant glare and pumped his hips, thrusting his cock deep. He worked me to the brink of my next orgasm and then edged it until I begged him. His satisfactory smile gleamed as he finally gave it to me, and I knew this was a punishment for spending the night away and taunting him.
I raked my nails across his back and nipped his ear. “I love the way you hold a grudge.”
He gave a slight chuckle and then met my eyes. “I was serious, Sarah. I’m not going to let you go.”
“We have an agreement.” I tried to push away but he hitched me up against him, bringing my hips up and my legs over his shoulders.
“Fuck the agreement.” He thrust harder and practically growled as his cock twitched and pulsed through his orgasm.