Fighting Temptation

by S. M. Donaldson

  “I can understand that. Do you wanna go visit Gabby at the hospital? We can see if they’ve named the baby.”

  “Sounds good to me. Do you have to work today?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Good, we’ll go visit and then I can get my car back.” “Sounds good. I’m gonna go grab a quick shower and then I’ll be ready. Feel free to watch TV or whatever. I’m sure there is some sports station on there.”

  “Yeah, okay. Sure you don’t need some help in the shower? I’m a great back washer.”

  “Ha ha, I know you are. Just not today.”

  She starts to walk toward her room. “Hey, Cade? Thanks for helping me unpack today.”

  I flash her my signature smile. “No problem.” Today has been great. I can see I’m finally chipping away at those walls she has rebuilt around her heart over the past six months. After hearing what happened to her, I feel like such an asshole for the way I acted last year. I know I have my own insecurities about lying, or lying by omission, but now I feel like I understand better why she felt the need to leave some of the facts out.

  I was glad to see her sit down and eat breakfast this morning. She needs to put some weight back on. Don’t get me wrong; she could weigh 90lbs or 250lbs and I would still love her. But the raging hormone-driven man inside me misses those curves she had in all the right places. I still can’t believe I acted so damn stupid last night. It’s a miracle she’s still speaking to me. Shit… I told the entire bar that we’d had sex twice and it was magical. What the fuck was I thinking?

  I pick up my phone off the end table. There are video messages from Jason. I open them and hit play. Oh fuck, that was bad, really bad. Although the video of me telling Carrie to go away was awesome.

  “Hey, what are you watching?” Daria interrupts. “Jason felt the need to send me some video of last night. I’m pretty embarrassed by most of it. Except at the end of the night when I told Carrie off. That was pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself.”

  “Yeah, that was pretty funny. You just watch out, because you know that bitch will probably try to get even with you. You remember when she tried to set Ron up last year? It took him a long time to convince Jackie that he never did anything with her. ”

  “Hopefully she’s not that stupid. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yeah, just let me slip my shoes on.”

  ~*~*~ Thirty minutes later, we pull up to the hospital. I look over at her. “So do you think Gabby will like this stuff or do you think it’s stupid?”

  “Snacks and magazines? Trust me, she’ll love it because it keeps Linc occupied, and Linc will love it because he’s a guy. Plus, this is Gabby; she loves snacks, too.”

  “You’re right. I just know she’s hormonal and I don’t want to piss her off.”

  “You guys are funny.” “I’m serious; she scares me.” We find the room full when we arrive. Richard and my mom are here, along with Mary, Linc’s mom, and Russ’s parents, Russ, and Anna. When we come in, everyone looks at us. You know in movies when someone walks into a bar and the music stops and everyone stares? That was our reception. I know everyone is wondering what in the hell is going on with Daria and me, but I don’t care and I’m not pushing her.

  I break the tension. “So, where is my godson?”

  Russ looks up. “Who said you were the godfather?”

  “I did. I look better in a suit than you.”

  Gabby pipes up. “We haven’t picked godparents yet.” I sit down on the end of her bed. “Here, Daria and I picked this up for you on the way here. It’s some snacks and magazines for you and Linc.”

  Linc jumps up and grabs the bag. “Slim Jims and Reese’s Cups! Awesome; thanks, you guys.”

  Daria steps to the foot of the bed. “Have you guys decided on a name yet?”

  Gabby looks up at Linc and smiles. “We decided on Marshall Lewis Addison.” Gabby hands Marshall over to Daria. Daria looks like a mom. I can just see her holding our baby like that. He looks so safe and content in her arms.

  Wow, I’m losing my man card.

  “Sounds good. I still say you should have let us do it like a lottery.”

  My mom pops me on the arm. “Caden Michael Johnson, you seriously didn’t say that?”

  “It was a joke, Mom, jeez.”

  Russ looks up. “Hey, I’m gonna go grab some coffee for everyone. You wanna come with me?’

  “Yeah, I’ll help.”

  I know what’s coming as soon as we get out the door. “So? What happened last night?” “I got really drunk and made an ass out of myself. Embarrassed the fuck out of Daria at her job. Then I passed out in the car, so she put me on her couch. I woke up this morning with a splitting headache. We talked most of the day, got some confusion out of the way. We didn’t discuss a relationship. I think right now we are trying to figure ourselves out.”

  “How much did you guys discuss?” “Pretty much everything. I think. But I’m not going to push her anymore. I was stupid before and pushed too hard. By pulling out my asshole card and giving her the ultimatum of telling me or breaking up, I lost her. I’m working on my trust issues. She had good reasons for not sharing. I was just being selfish. I didn’t realize how much it would hurt her to tell me and relive what has happened to her.”

  “Are you going to tell me what happened? For that matter, is she ever going to tell any of us?” “I think eventually she will. In time. It’s just very hard for her. It’s very personal and I’m not pushing her to share it with anyone; it’s not my place.”

  He shrugs. “Okay, I guess I can understand that.” “Well, she feels a lot of self-guilt for everything that happened last year. I think she’s almost driven herself crazy with the ‘what if” scenarios. She had not even unpacked her things because they had Anna and Daria’s handwriting on the boxes. She feels like she doesn’t deserve to have such wonderful friends. The kind of friends who would pack up your room after they came home to a bloodbath because of you.”

  “That’s a lot of guilt for one person to carry around.”

  “Yeah, it is.”

  Chapter 15

  Daria

  As soon as Cade walks out of the room, everyone looks at me. Finally, Cade’s mom, Lydia, gives me a hug. “Daria, honey, it’s so good to see you again. I know it’s just been a few weeks, but after not seeing you for so long I’m happy to see you.”

  I hug her back. “It’s good to see you, too.” She looks down at the baby in my arms. “He’s just so precious.” She wipes a stray tear from her face. “I’m glad to see you hanging around. They all missed you and they all love you. I know one in particular that is very fond of you.”

  “Yes ma’am. I’m working on myself. Cade and I are working on some issues. But you will be very happy to know he made me eat a full breakfast this morning.”

  “Well, good. We can’t have you wasting away on us.”

  “I know. Trust me, I’m trying to put weight back on. I don’t want to have to buy a new wardrobe.” She smiles. “I just want you to know,” she pauses, trying to fight back tears it seems, “That to me, you are just like the rest of these kids. Now that you are in my life, I couldn’t imagine it without you. I mean that. If things work out between you and Cade, fine. If they don’t, please don’t ever disappear again.” She wipes her tears and pulls me into a hug, with the baby between us.

  I’m fighting back my own tears now. “I understand. I won’t.”

  “Okay. Now, baby hog, give me my little man back.”

  “Ha! Who are you calling baby hog? I just got him.” I pair of man’s hands swoops between us. “You are both baby hoggers and I’m taking my godson for a little while.”

  I laugh at Cade holding him. He smiles back at me, “What?”

  “Considering you just rolled your mother and I for a baby. You straight up baby napped him from me.” Russ steps over by Cade. “Cade and I decided on our coffee adventure that, being as he and I are both great influences, he and I will be co-godfathers. Mar
sh will have two godfathers and no godmothers. He’ll be so busy with Cade and me, he won’t have time for girls for a long time.”

  Gabby laughs. “You two idiots know that godparents are supposed to be good influences, morally and socially, right?”

  “Just what are you trying to say?” “That we aren’t sure who we are choosing for godparents just yet. Take it easy and share my baby with everyone.”

  We spend the rest of the day hanging out with everyone at the hospital. Then I take Cade to get his car. As he gets out of my car, he leans back in.

  “I had a great time today. Thanks. I’m glad you are trying to work on what I know we have.”

  I smile. “I really am trying. I just can’t promise anything.”

  “I know, sweetheart, I know.”

  I sit there for a second. “Hey, Cade?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you wanna grab a pizza or something and come watch movies with me?” “Sounds good. You head on home. I need to swing by my place. I want to change into some comfortable clothes. You wanna just have a pizza delivered when you get there?”

  “Yeah, sounds like a plan. Um, when you pull into the parking area, my code is 5211. Same for the door.”

  He smiles. “Okay, see you soon.” I pull out of the parking lot smiling. I am actually smiling. I can’t let my emotions get the best of me, though. I have to take this slow with Cade. Even though my heart is screaming have babies and grow old with him, my brain says I’ll never have that with someone. As long as my father is who he is, my life will never be normal.

  On my way home, my cell rings. It’s an unknown number. “Hello?”

  “Daria, its Dad.”

  “Hey, when did you get a new phone?” “Oh my phone was damaged and I’m waiting on my new one to come in. So I’m using one of my business phones.”

  “Don’t you mean a burn phone, Dad?” “I am not going to call it that. What I’m calling about is that I will be in town for a few days on business and I would like to have dinner.”

  “Okay, that sounds fine.”

  “How about you bring some of your friends? I would love to meet them.”

  “No, Dad. You know them even being associated with me is risky enough.”

  “Okay. Well, what about the young man I met before?”

  “How do you even know that I’m speaking to him?”

  “I check everything all the time. Remember?”

  I sigh. “Yes. I do. I’ll ask him. I’m not promising anything.”

  “Fair enough. I’ll be in touch.”

  ~*~*~ It’s a lways weird walking into my apartment. I mean, I know it’s my place, but it never feels like home. I order some pizza so it will be here soon. Then, I decide to go ahead and grab a shower and get into some pajamas before Cade gets here.

  Standing in the shower with the warm spray hitting my face, I start to think about my life. How can so many things happen to one person? I feel like I’m like an unlucky penny or something. Then my thoughts drift to Cade and, as much as I want to see how badly this could be, I love being with him. I love the way he touches me, the way he puts his hand in the small of my back when we walk, the way he talks dirty to me when we are having sex. His smell turns me on instantly.

  I realize that, while I’ve been thinking about Cade , I’ve started making slow circles around my clit. As I start to move a little faster, someone clears his throat behind me.

  I scream and spin around. “What the hell?”

  “Would you like some help?” I sigh as I watch Cade slip out of his lounge clothes and step in my shower. Once he’s in, his mouth goes directly to my nipple and his fingers delve between my legs. His lips start down my stomach until he reaches the apex between my legs. He sits me back on the shower bench and begins slowly licking and sucking the juices from my folds.

  I lay my head back against the tile wall. “Oh shit, Cade!”

  “Mmm, baby, you are so sweet.”

  The vibration of his lips almost sends me over the edge. “Fuck, Cade.” When he starts using his fingers, too, I’m gone. I explode all over him. We get wrapped up in each other’s mouths. I stand up and push him down on the bench, dropping to my knees to take him in my mouth.

  “Shit, Daria. Oh God, baby, I missed this. Shit. That feels so good.” He tries to push my face back. I know he’s about to come, so I just keep right on doing what I’m doing. “Fuck, baby, I’m about to come.”

  With my mouth still on his cock, I look up. “Mmm hmm.” After that little vibration, he’s a goner. He pulls me to my feet and sits me in his lap. I lean my head in to his chest and sit there in the afterglow.

  Chapter 16

  Cade

  Pulling into to Daria’s parking area, I notice all of the security cameras and a few security guards. I’m glad her dad at least took that into consideration. Considering that, if it wasn’t for his ass, she wouldn’t need all of this. Her life wouldn’t be nearly as complicated as it is.

  I knock on her front door, but she doesn’t answer. Maybe she’s in the bathroom or something. I use her code after I open the door.

  “Daria?”

  No answer. I hear the shower running. I should wait out here, but I can’t. I think about her naked body all soapy. I slip into her bathroom and quietly pull open the shower door. I get the biggest turn on of my life. She’s standing there with her leg on the bench, rubbing her clit. I can’t help myself

  “Ahem.”

  She spins around. “What the hell?”

  “Would you like some help?”

  ~*~*~

  After we’ve both gotten off in the shower, we take our time drying each other off.

  I hear a buzzer. “Daria, do you hear that?”

  “Oh shit! The pizza. I forgot. It must be my security guy.”

  She steps out into the hall where there is an intercom. “Yes?”

  “Ms. Jones, there is a delivery from Jo Jo’s Pizza. Did you want us to send him to your door?”

  “Yes. That will be fine. Thank you.” I pull on my boxers and lounge pants. Looking over at her, I tell her, “I’ll get the door.” She smiles, towel drying her hair. “Okay, I laid some money with a coupon thing on the counter in there. They owe me a free pizza since mine was cold and turned bottom side up the last time they delivered.”

  I shake my head and leave the bathroom, pulling my shirt on at the same time. I answer the door, put the pizza on the counter in the kitchen, and search for plates and cups. I look around her kitchen, I know Daria; those things are normally in close proximity to the microwave. Jackpot.

  I check the fridge to see what she has to drink. Yep just as I suspected a fridge full of Dr. Pepper. I grab a couple and set them on the table. She walks in the kitchen wearing a pair of Betty Boop pajamas. Damn, I want to rip her clothes off again.

  “So I see you found everything okay.” I chuckle. “Yeah. You’re pretty predictable as to where your things are located in a kitchen. Also, what beverage there will be plenty of.”

  She steps close to me. “Oh, so you think you’ve got me all figured out.” I nod. “Yep. I bet, if I open that cabinet above the fridge, I’ll find three boxes of cereal.” Holding my fingers up as I count, “1, Honey Nut Cheerios; 2, Frosted Mini Wheats; and 3, Crunch Berries.”

  “I guess you got me,” she says, laughing. “Come on. Let’s go start the movie.”

  ~*~*~ After trying to decide for ten minutes what to watch, we pick the movie Step-Brothers. I settle into the couch. She sits on the other end with her feet in my lap. When we’ve both finished our pizza, I look over at her. She smiles. “What?”

  I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m glad to see you are getting your appetite back. Don’t get me wrong. You’re always sexy, but I miss your curves.”

  “You’re a perv.”

  “No, I’m just honest.” “Yeah, well, if I’m being honest, I miss my curves, too. None of my clothes fit. I feel like a slob in my jeans. I am trying to put some weight back on.”


  “Good. Now come down here with me.”

  She moves, leaning back against me and pulling her couch throw over her legs. “Cade?”

  “Hmm.”

  “Are you sure you really want to try to do this again? This thing with me and you.” “Yes. Daria, I love you and I let my insecurities get in my way before, but I can’t do that again. I can’t live without you again.”

  “Okay. Well, my dad called today. He’s going to be in town this week and he wants to have dinner with us.”

  “Us? As in both of us?”

  “Yes. If you don’t feel comfortable with it, I understand.” “No, I want to go. I’m just... I just... I don’t know if I can be nice to him. With everything that he put you through.”

  “I understand and I love you for feeling that way, but he’s my father. Please just try for me. Okay?” I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll try. Glad to see that you haven’t retired Betty.”

  She giggles. “I know you have a thing for cartoon strippers.”

  ~*~*~ I walk into the restaurant, prepared to meet Sam Broxton officially for the first time. I was in such shock the first time I met him that I just shook his hand and went into Daria’s bedroom. I was so angry. I’m still angry, but this time it’s at him for what he’s done.

  This place is straight out of an old gangster movie. It’s called Tony’s. The inside has red high back semi-circle booths. I’m waiting to see some old guy with a mustache trying to make me an offer I can’t refuse. I am definitely not surprised when we are taken to a table in a quiet part of the restaurant, all to itself.

  As Daria’s dad stands up to hug her, he doesn’t look like a gangster. He’s in his mid-fifties with a pot belly. I’m pretty sure he’s wearing an Eli western shirt and Wrangler jeans. But he’s a desk cowboy, you can tell. His hands don’t look like they’ve worked outside.

  He breaks me from my thoughts when he sticks his hand out. “Sam Broxton, nice to officially meet you, son.”

  I shake his hand. “Cade Johnson.” We sit down and the waitress comes to get our drink orders. Normally, I would just order a beer or a sweet tea, but tonight is going to call for something stronger. “I’ll have a Jack and Coke.”