by Rye Hart
I shrugged into my own shirt. “I’m leaving. I can’t do this. I can’t let myself get hurt again. I won’t.” I waved my hand around in the air. “I’ll help you with Tani. I know you can’t lose her.”
“Haven’t you been listening? I can’t lose you either.”
He looked like he really meant it. But then again, what the hell did I know about men?
“You say that now. But you’ll win custody back and then what? I haven’t even told my family about this. I’m living a lie and you want me to give up my home and my life.”
He shook his head but didn’t have anything else to say. I slipped off the ring and placed it on the table beside the bed and walked away.
For someone who wasn’t letting me go, he did nothing to stop me.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - HUNTER
I’d let her go. I’d kicked myself for it all night, too and I was on my fourth attempt at calling her this morning and stopping myself. Then, her car pulled up outside. I could see it through the window in the kitchen where I stood at the stove cooking breakfast. I cracked another egg and added it to the pan, but I didn’t go to the door. She’d left on her own without my help so she could come back the same way.
I heard her key in the lock and then the door opened slowly and she came in and put her handbag on the table. The room was quiet all but for the sound of eggs frying.
“I’ve been up all night.”
Me too, I wanted to say. I wanted to turn around and chew her up and spit her out and tell her to get out of my life. But I didn’t, because I wanted even more to pull her close and kiss her and never let her go.
“This is hard for me, Hunter. It’s hard to trust again.”
“I thought we got past that already.” Though I’d spoken, I was determined not to face her.
“It’s easy to declare things when we’re naked and horny, Hunter. But I’m scared that’s all this is to you. I’m scared when things settle down and you don’t need my help, I’ll be out the door.”
“So better you walk out now before it gets too rough for you, right?” I pulled the eggs from the pan and plated them but kept my back to her.
“Would you look at me? Hunter, I’m trying to work this out.”
I spun around so fast she flinched. “And then what? We’ll fuck and then you’ll take the rest of your shit and go?”
“That’s not fair.”
“Bullshit. What is not fair is me declaring my love to you and you freaking out like I’m trying trick you.” I closed the distance and backed her against the counter. “If you’re just here to fuck let’s get it done so you can be gone by the time Tani comes home. I don’t want to confuse her even more.” I pressed my hips into her and she glared at me her chest heaving. “It’s what you said right? Business with benefits?” I tugged at the front of her pants and she looked away as tears glistening in her eyes.
“That wasn’t you declaring your love. That was you posturing and putting me in my place.” She took a deep breath and wiped a tear that threatened to betray her.
“That was me trying to convince you that you feel the same damned way about me, Sarah. You’re so fucking hung up on getting hurt you’re hurting yourself. I’m not going anywhere. When I’m with you it’s not some perk from our agreement, it means something to me. But I guess that’s what I get. I fooled myself into thinking a woman who turned me down twice for a date would actually start to like me.”
“Are you done?” She pushed me away and then took a few steps around the kitchen to put some space between us. “As I was saying I was up all night. I did a lot of thinking and if you’re really serious about wanting more, then I want to try.” She glanced up at me with those big blue eyes filled with worry. “If you still want me.”
My head fell back and I let out a sigh. “Of course, I do. I’m falling in love with you, Sarah.”
She smiled and her lip quivered. “That’s how I feel too. I think I’m just terrified it won’t work out because I want it to so much.”
“No more worries. But I want you moved in. I need to know you’ve got nowhere to run. And I want you to promise you won’t leave like that again.”
“Promise if I try that you’ll stop me.”
I pulled her closer, kissing her soft lips and cupping her face with my hands. I wanted to make tender love to her and show her how much I missed her. I worked my way from her lips down to her breasts and she melted against me, pulling me close and slipping her hand along my hips to my ass.
“I’m sorry I didn’t.” I lifted her up on the counter and she raked her hands through my hair.
“If I hadn’t come back what would you have done?”
I looked away a moment as my cheeks burned. I felt like a pansy admitting how much I loved her. “I wouldn’t have made it another twenty minutes without calling you. I’ve fought it all night and morning taking it twenty minutes at a time. I gave you time at first, but I was running out of patience.”
I let my eyes linger on her as she sat perched up on that counter. I was reminded of something I’d wanted to try back in her own kitchen, so I slipped my hand down between her legs and rubbed her through her jeans.
“Mm, your eggs are getting cold.” She placed her hand on mine.
“I’ve got something better I’d like to warm up and eat.” I pushed harder against her and she bucked her hips forward grinding against my fingers.
She kissed me as I undid her jeans and tugged them down around her perfect ass until she was left in nothing but a pair of black lace panties. I licked my lips and went down on her, licking around the edge of her panties, slipping my finger inside to rub and tickle. As usual, she was ready for me and I lapped at her wet channel and closed my mouth full on her, darting my tongue and pressing against her swollen bud until she let out a soft moan.
I worked my fingers, pumping them in a steady rhythm. “Come for me,” I whispered against her mound, kissing it with my warm breath and then she quaked around my fingers, and squealed as she came apart.
“That’s a good girl.” I lapped my tongue back into her folds to taste my reward.
She let out a soft giggle. “It’s much more fun in your kitchen.”
I turned my eyes up toward her still tending her through the quakes and then she nudged me to pause. I stood straight and she went right for my shorts, dropping them around my ass as she stroked my thick shaft. I nudged against her dripping core and she inched forward guiding me in. I eased slowly into her channel and she cried out with pleasure and closed her arms around my shoulders. I tugged up her shirt and she held her arms up so I could pull it off. I dropped it to our feet as I pumped my hips slow and steady working her through her next orgasm.
“I want to taste you,” she whispered in my ear and I pulled out of her and she fell to her knees and took my head into her mouth.
She teased around it and I moaned as she bobbed up and down on my cock and tongued my shaft. Then she relaxed her throat and forced her head down, and I readied my release.
“Here it comes, baby.” I felt her backing off, but she didn’t pull all the way and my release shot into her warm mouth, splashing her throat and coating her tongue. I felt her pulling against it as she swallowed, gulping down my seed as it fed her. She was fucking amazing. I brushed her hair away from her face as she gave a hard pull on my cock and tongued my sensitive slit to assure I was done.
I backed away and helped her to her feet. We shared a kiss each tasting the other as well as ourselves. I stroked her cheek and kissed down her neck and back.
“I always want this with you, Hunter.” Her hand touched my face.
“We’ll have everything you want. But first, I want to get you moved in before our daughter comes home.”
She sighed softly as if remembering something she’d forgotten. “I need to tell my family about us.”
“You still haven’t told your sister?”
“They left on a cruise Friday and I didn’t want her to worry about me. I’ll tell her wh
en they get back. But I was wondering if we could talk to the lawyer about Tani yet? I know you wanted to wait a minute before we did, but I don’t want her to go to her mother’s again. I’ve missed her.”
I pulled her close. I was never going to let her get away again.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - SARAH
Business had picked up over the past week and I was in the shop waiting for Angie to come in to help out. She’d only been back from her cruise for a day, but she was eager to tell me all about it. I had a feeling she’d be surprised to hear my plans for the place and I told her that I had big news. I needed her to be happy for me and as I waited for her to show I became more and more nervous.
Finally, the chimes rang on the door and I glanced up to see Angie sporting a tan and a new handbag. “Honey, I’m home.” She giggled as I hurried around the counter to see her.
“You look great, so revitalized and I love the bag.” I stepped back and got a good look at her but she had gone stark still and her eyes were as big as saucers.
“You’re engaged!” She grabbed my hand and eyeballed the ring and seemed happy enough that I nodded.
“Well, not exactly but yeah. No.” I took a deep breath to calm myself.
“Well you are or you aren’t, so which is it?” She gave me a nudge like I was silly and then a look of concern clouded her expression. “Girl, what have you been up to since I’ve been gone?”
The best way to tell her was to blurt it out, but I was worried she’d tell me how crazy it was or try and convince me I was making a huge mistake. Finally, I took a deep breath and let it out. “Hunter and I married.” I didn’t want to tell her that it was part of a deal and that it happened the day before she left. She didn’t need all the details. All she needed to know was that Hunter and Tani were my family too and how happy it had made me.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her face twisted into a pained expression.
“Because I knew if I did you’d cut your trip short or feel bad that you couldn’t. I didn’t want to put that pressure on you and it all happened kind of fast.”
“You didn’t want me to oppose the situation either, I’d guess.” That was a fair assessment, and I nodded not having anything else to say. She met my eyes directly. “Are you happy? Is this what you want?”
The smile that lit up my face made her smile as well and she hugged me. “I’m happy for you, Sarah. He seems like a great guy and that little one of his, she’s adorable!”
She put her hand over her heart and then her mouth. “My God, Sarah, you’re a mother!”
The words made me want to cry.
“Well, a stepmother yes, but I do love that little girl more than I ever thought I could. Loving Hunter was unexpected enough, but I can’t tell you how blessed I am.” She took my hand and squeezed it.
“And here I was ready to show off my new handbag.” She held her bag out and I admired it.
“Yeah, it’s a sweet bag.” My sister’s handbag collection was something to be rivaled.
“So when are you two taking a honeymoon?” She walked around the counter and put on her apron.
“I’m not sure we are. We haven’t really talked about that.” I remembered my wedding night and how scared I was. How I thought that I’d made the biggest mistake of my life and hoped that I wouldn’t get stung in the end by the arrangement.
So much had happened so fast but I was grateful. Angie had said things wouldn’t magically fall into place, but even though it wasn’t easy, they had in a way.
As I sat contemplating where I’d go on my honeymoon, if it ever happened, I looked up to see Hunter running across the lot and my heart stilled. His expression was riddled with disbelief. Something was wrong. Whatever he was coming to say was terribly important. I rushed outside to meet him and Angie followed.
I ran to him as Angie stayed back. “What’s wrong? Is it Tani?” My heart was about to beat out of my chest, but then his face lit up with a smile. My panic ebbed but I was still on pins and needles.
“My lawyer called. Nancy is in jail. She got picked up last night in town.” He paused to catch his breath and squeezed my hand.
“Picked up for what?”
“She’d been drinking. The cop saw her driving like a crazy person. They booked her on a DUI. It’s not the first time with her so she’s going to lose her license and have to serve some time plus community service. I was awarded full custody again.”
I got protective feeling in my gut that Tani had been placed in harm’s way. There’d been no telling how many times she’s driven around with Tani in the car while inebriated. At least we could be grateful it would never happen again.
“She’s all ours.” The sound of those words on his lips melted my heart and I fell into his arms.
“I love the sound of that.” He lifted me off my feet and spun me around then put me on my feet when he saw Angie.
I turned and my sister was standing there, with a sappy look on her face like she wanted to start singing Sarah’s got a boyfriend.
Hunter pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the time. “I’ve asked Monk to watch the shop and was thinking we should go get Tani from school together. I’ve called Mom and she knows what’s up.” He glanced up at Angie.
She had heard everything and followed his hint. “I’ll be fine here on my own. You two go get Tani. And tell her that her Auntie Angie says hello.” With a wink, she turned and went back inside as me and Hunter headed for his truck.
I glanced down and realized I still had my apron on but I didn’t care, my family was all that mattered now.
“I bet your Mother was happy.” The worry of seeing her child’s struggles had to be hard on her especially when she was so close to Tani too, and there was nothing she could do.
“She was. This has been rough on us all, especially Tani. She’d been crying about having to go back. I’m not going to tell her where her mother is, or what happened, but I am going to love seeing her face when I tell her she doesn’t ever have to go back there again.” Hunter looked so relieved and I realized that I had never seen him without the concern of losing his child weighing over him. He seemed in better spirits in general and the hardness around his eyes, what I thought was a natural heavy brow, was lifted.
We pulled up at Tani’s school as the children were filing out to the sidewalk to wait for their pick up. The teacher had Tani by the hand and she was at the front of the line with a big smile on her face as they talked back and forth. She no sooner got settled, sitting crossed-legged on the sidewalk when she turned her head and saw us in her father’s truck.
Her eyes lit and she nudged the boy behind her who craned his neck to see around her head. The little boy’s eyes widened and then he smiled. “It looks like Tani has a friend.”
“I wonder if that’s the kid she wanted me to beat up?”
I glanced over to see if he was serious.
“She wanted you to beat up a kid? Oh, that’s some terrible crush she’s got.” I looked back at Tani and sure enough she was still chatting it up with the little boy, who was quite a cutie himself.
“What?” He narrowed his eyes glancing out the window. “She told me she hated that kid. She threatened him and said I was in a gang. She even wanted Monk to come and put some fear into him.”
“Right, because she has a crush on him. You’ll see.” We moved forward and Tani stood up and waved at her friends. The little boy waved back and Tani’s face glowed as she approached the truck.
Hunter frowned. “You’re way off.”
Tani’s teacher opened the door and took her hand to help her inside, but Tani, who’d been all smiles and bright red cheeks, tugged the woman’s shirt. “Mrs. Ladd, this is Mama Sarah.”
The woman’s smile warmed. “Oh, she’s gone on and on about you. It’s nice to meet you. You have a good day.” She shut the door and Hunter kept the line moving, asking Tani about the boy, but I didn’t register any of it.
Tani had called me her mama and I was t
oo busy wiping tears to pay attention.
Hunter glanced over and noticed me tearing up, but I shook my head to let him not to worry. He offered a knowing smile as Tani told us all about her new boyfriend Danny.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - HUNTER
Sarah really dove into her role as wife and mother and she was amazing at it. We spent the days at work building our businesses and planning my expansion. Turns out, Sarah had way more space than she needed, so we were in talks to buy her building from the owner and remodel her entire kitchen.
She’d also hired employees; one for the day and one for her new extended hours.
In the afternoons, Sarah took turns with my mother picking up Tani from school and she’d been a big help with her homework and even had dinner waiting when I got home.
She admitted that she loved that most of all.
She’d done so good and worked so hard and even though we had plenty of time for sex, we’d gotten so wrapped up, that things were cooling off. I couldn’t let that happen.
“Where are you taking me?” She still hadn’t gotten the hang of talking in a normal tone with the helmet on, and I admit I got a laugh every time she spoke louder than necessary.
“You’ll see.” We sped across the dam on my bike out toward the lake and it was such a nice view I should have let her see it.
“Are you taking me to The Overlook?” She was a persistent one, but I shook my head.
“Stop trying to guess.”
“If you lay this thing over and kill us I won’t let you hear the last of it. Is the blindfold really necessary?”
I had a hell of a time getting her to agree with that and she’d spent the first five minutes on my bike wearing it screaming with excitement and fear until I finally told her to hold on tight.
“You’ll be dead, it won’t matter.” I felt her hands latch tighter around my waist as I turned down the road that would take me to the point.
“Don’t joke about that. We have a daughter to consider.”