From Ashes To Flames

by A. M. Hargrove

  “Interesting.”

  “My thoughts exactly. So, tell me your version.”

  “We sort of mended our fences after Aaron’s illness and … I don’t know, Mom. He’s been really nice.”

  “Nice? That’s all you have to say about him? You used to think he was a pompous ass.”

  “I never called him that.”

  “No, but you inferred it. You said he was an old man or something of that nature.” She would have to remind me of that.

  “Okay, Mom, he’s not old. He’s … mature.”

  “It’s nice to know my daughter is coming to her senses. Anyway, please let me in on these things. I am your mother after all. And honestly, Marin, Grey is a much better catch than Damien ever was.”

  “Mom! Please don’t compare the two. Besides, he’s my employer. I need to be careful here.”

  “Honey, you know I’m right about him.” If she only knew how right she was. My face was already on fire just thinking about it. I could almost feel his cock sliding into me. And those eyes of his … the way he looked at me. I had to swallow away the tangle of emotions … and desire.

  “Marin, are you still there?”

  “Oh, yeah, Mom. I’m here.”

  “I’ll call you if anything else comes up.”

  “Thanks. I’m up, so don’t worry about waking me.” I didn’t bother to tell her that Grey was texting me too. Now we had the moms gossiping about us. Great, just great. I could already see them conniving on how to get us together. Then a thought slammed into me. I wondered if they had this planned all along. No freakin’ way. My mom would never go that far. Or would she?

  At about five a.m., I finally gave up the ship and went to take a shower. As I washed between my legs, all sorts of wicked thoughts played through my mind. I had never been this sexually attracted to a man before. Grey ignited all my hormones to life, apparently. My hand worked its magic on me and I came to visions of Grey’s head between my thighs. He was unabashedly forward and knew exactly what turned me on. Was that the doctor in him or was he just that much more experienced than me? I’d never been a prude about sex, but I’d never had a guy to make me feel the way Grey did. I wasn’t afraid to use my own hand during sex, but it still wasn’t great like it was with him. I’d always thought I just wasn’t that sexual. I sure was wrong. I could have sex ten times a day with Grey.

  I had just gotten back downstairs and put the coffee on when Grey walked into the house.

  “Hey,” I said. “How is he?”

  “Good. Pacemaker is in and he’ll be fine. He’s going to have a complete work up though. I want to know what caused the heart block in the first place.”

  He came and hugged me tightly.

  “Is it unusual to have that?”

  “Yes, for someone like Dad, without any underlying causes. That’s what we’ll be looking for.”

  “It’s good you’re checking then. How’s Paige?”

  “She’s fine. My brothers showed up right before I left. It was good of you to call your mother. Mom had someone to wait it out with her.”

  “I didn’t know if either of your brothers would make it in.”

  “Hudson couldn’t leave Wiley and Pearson … I think he was with a woman because he didn’t return my calls.”

  “Glad it all worked out though. Are you hungry?” I handed him a cup of coffee.

  The pressure of his gaze made me blush. “Yeah, for you. Are the kids up yet?”

  I checked the clock to see it was almost six. “No, but they will be soon.”

  “We have time.” He grabbed my hand and dragged me into the laundry room.

  “Really? The laundry room?”

  His tongue sketched a pattern across my neck down to my shoulder. “It’s better than the bathroom.”

  “Not yours. You have that awesome shower.”

  He shut the door and shoved my chest against it. Then he pushed my yoga pants down to my ankles and I heard his hands fumbling against the scrubs he still wore from the hospital. Then his expert fingers brushed up and down my seam.

  “How can you be this wet already?” he asked.

  “I, uh, think about having sex with you a lot.”

  His breath fanned across my neck as he answered, “You do?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I’m glad I’m not the only one.” And he pushed the blunt head of his cock inside of me.

  “Ahh,” I moaned.

  “You like that?”

  “Yesss.”

  “And this?” He pulled out long and slow and then shoved back in, only this time he ground himself against me. Both my arms were raised above my head as he thrust in and out, over and over.

  “Oh, I like that too.”

  “Good, cuz you’re really gonna like this.”

  And he proceeded to fuck me exactly the way I needed, long and slow at first, and then frantically hard as though we were seventeen and our parents would be walking through the door at any second.

  “Fuck, Marin. Tell me you’re going to come because I can’t hold back much longer.”

  One of his hands moved to my hip and the other wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him.

  “Yes, I’m close.”

  “Use your hand. Like now.”

  I dipped my fingers where I could rub my clit and I was there in seconds.

  “I love your ass. It’s so fucking sexy the way you hike it up when I fuck you from behind.”

  What? I hike my ass up?

  “And your pussy is so tight that when you come, it clenches the hell out of my cock.”

  “Ahh.”

  “Do you like it when I talk to you like that?”

  “Yeah.” I was panting from my orgasm, but no man had ever spoken to me like that.

  Then his hand slipped between my legs to where we were joined and he slid a finger backward. “One day, I’d like to try this.”

  “You mean … that?”

  “Yes, that.”

  He wanted my ass.

  “Oh.”

  His deep chuckle shook us both. “Is that all you have to say?”

  “Uh, okay?”

  “You’re not opposed to it?”

  “I’m not really sure.” While he was talking, his finger was touching me back there. It tickled. Of course he didn’t do anything but touch. I’m sure it wouldn’t tickle if he did that.

  “If you are, you can say so.” He pulled out then and I turned to look at him.

  “You know I speak my mind.”

  “I do.” One corner of his mouth lifted. Why did he have to be so sexy when we were trying to have an important conversation?

  “I’m actually not familiar with that, so I don’t quite know what to expect.”

  “We could explore.”

  “Is it safe?”

  He still wore his stupid green hospital shirt, so I lifted it and ran my hands underneath. His skin was warm to the touch and slightly damp.

  “Marin, I would never cheat on you. You should know that after what happened to me. And I would never do anything to you that wasn’t safe.”

  I lifted my chin and found myself staring into his flinty grey eyes. The dark striations had me sinking into their depths and I knew without a doubt that was one thing I’d never have to worry about.

  My palm caressed his cheek. “Yes, I do know that.”

  “But we don’t have to think about it yet. Now let’s go eat. I’m so glad today is Saturday and I don’t have to work.”

  “I wish I could say the same.” I pinched his ass.

  “Oh, by the way, Hudson is going to spend the night tonight here with Wiley. It’ll be easier with him visiting Dad in the hospital. And Kinsley will love it. But don’t worry. I have no plans to abandon you with the kids. I’ll be here.”

  We walked to the kitchen, hand-in-hand, and he suggested we make pancakes for breakfast.

  “What’s this we thing?” I asked.

  “I know how to make pancakes.”

&nb
sp; “You do?”

  He grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me up onto the counter. “Sit there and watch.” He pulled out the giant griddle, which I had never used, a mixing bowl, whisk, measuring cups, and a few other items.

  “I’m impressed,” I said.

  “Why?”

  “You actually know your way around here.”

  He poked the whisk he was holding at me and said, “Just wait. You haven’t tasted my pancakes yet. They’re the best.”

  While he was busy making the batter, I leaned over to the coffee pot and poured a cup for each of us.

  “What time is Hudson coming over?”

  “Yeah, about that. He has to go back to the city and get Wiley who’s with the au pair, and then return here.”

  “Oh, too bad he just didn’t bring him when he came this morning. I could’ve watched him.”

  “That’s what I told him, but he wasn’t sure and I wasn’t available to talk. It’s not that bad of a drive though … less than an hour.”

  “True. I could always go if he doesn’t want to.”

  “That’s a kind offer, but that would be a lot of trouble since you’d have the kids.”

  “It’s a suggestion if he changes his mind.”

  I watched Grey as he poured the pancake batter onto the hot skillet.

  “Thank you, but he’s probably already headed back into Manhattan. He was there when I came out and said he would only stay a short while. I’m expecting him later this morning.”

  “Sounds good. You look like a pro with that, by the way.”

  “Told you I was an expert at pancakes,” he said, wielding the flipper.

  “Hey, are you going to make extra for the kids?”

  He placed a finished stack on a plate that was sitting on the counter. “Sure. I’ll keep them in the warming drawer for them.”

  Hopping off the counter, I went to the refrigerator and pulled out the butter and syrup. Then I put the syrup in a cup and stuck it in the microwave to heat it up. I tore off some foil to cover the plate of pancakes. Grey finished cooking, loaded up our plates, and I put the extras in the warming drawer.

  My teeth sank into the first bite and they melted on my tongue. I hummed with delight. “These are fantastic.”

  He grinned. “Told ya I was the pancake master.”

  “You’ve been holding out on me.”

  “Only on the pancakes. I did give you a little breakfast sausage earlier.”

  After nearly choking on the bite I was swallowing, I recovered and said, “I believe it was a large breakfast sausage. You should never sell yourself short.”

  He snorted. “I’m glad you appreciated the sizable portion.”

  “I certainly did. Not only that, I enjoyed how the portion seemed to be so lively.”

  “It did have a mind of its own, didn’t it?” He waggled his brows.

  “Now that you mention it, it did.”

  “That devil can be like that sometimes.”

  “Well, don’t let me stop it. I kind of like the little devil.”

  “I thought you said it wasn’t little.”

  “I did, didn’t I?”

  He put his fork down, pushed our empty plates aside, and pulled me over to his lap. “If you don’t stop all this sexual innuendo, I’m going to end up fucking you on the counter and how will that look if Kinsley walks in?”

  “Not very good, I’m afraid.”

  And speak of the devil, a small voice interrupted us saying, “Marnie, is Daddy kissing you again?”

  Chapter Thirty

  Greydon

  * * *

  Shit. Maybe I should be a little less obvious.

  “Good morning, polka dot. Maybe I was kissing her again.” I shifted Marin and she moved off my lap to sit back in her chair. “Does Marnie like sitting in your lap?”

  “Well …” I stuttered.

  “I was there because I thought I had something in my eye,” Marin said, coming to my rescue. Nice save, I mouthed, while Kinsley was looking at Marin.

  “Did Daddy get it out?”

  “He sure did.”

  Then Kinsley turned toward me and asked, “Did you kiss it and make it better for Marnie?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Good cuz I don’t want Marnie’s eye to hurt.”

  Marin tapped Kinsley’s arm and said, “Oh, sweetie, you don’t have to worry. My eye is perfectly fine.” Then she asked, “Hey short stuff, are you hungry?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Your daddy made some of his famous pancakes for breakfast. Do you want some?”

  Kinsley’s eyes sparkled. She loved my homemade pancakes. “Yes, please. With lots of syrup.”

  “How about having a seat right there and I’ll fix you up a plate?” Marin said.

  Marin started to get up, but I said, “I have a better idea. You stay put and I’ll fix polka dot’s plate. But first, I want a morning hug and kiss from my favorite girl.” Kinsley flew into my arms and I felt hers circle my neck. I loved the way she felt and it made me think how much I missed holding her and of the days when she was Aaron’s age.

  Then she asked, “Do you know how, Daddy? To fix up my plate?”

  “Of course I do. I used to fix your plate all the time. Don’t you remember?”

  “Maybe. Can I have the Dory plate?”

  Marin stood and said, “I see Aaron’s awake. Let me go change him and bring him down while you handle the pancakes.”

  She went up the steps while I took care of Kinsley.

  “Daddy, is Marnie gonna be my new mommy?”

  “Why do you ask that, sweetie.”

  “Cuz you kiss her. You didn’t use to kiss Mommy like that. Do daddy’s kiss mommies?”

  Jesus, this kid was observant. And come to think of it, Susannah and I were never affectionate with each other. I hadn’t thought much of it, but I never had much of an urge to touch her like I did with Marin. Even when we initially started dating.

  “Sometimes daddies kiss mommies and sometimes they don’t. I guess it depends on the mommies and daddies.”

  “Okay. If Marnie is my mommy, will you kiss her all the time?”

  “Would you want her to be your mommy?”

  “What would happen to Mommy if Marnie is my mommy?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Will Mommy still be with the angels?”

  I dropped down next to Kinsley and looked her straight in the eyes as I took her petite hands in mine. “Honey, your mommy will always be with the angels. Forever and ever. And she’ll always watch over you. Forever and ever. You don’t ever have to worry about that.”

  “So, if Marnie is my mommy my real mommy will be there too?”

  “Always. But polka dot, are you worried about this?

  Her expression was solemn as she gazed at me with eyes exactly like Susannah’s. “No, I just don’t want Mommy not to be an angel no more.”

  Hugging her to my chest, I swallowed the tight lump that had lodged there. “Oh, my sweet girl. Your mommy will be an angel for the rest of time, so you don’t ever have to worry about that. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “And you know something else? Your mommy only wants you to be happy just like I want you to be happy because we both love you more than the moon and the stars, okay?”

  “Okay. I love you too, Daddy.” My heart filled with so much joy to hear those words from my precious little girl.

  I smoothed back her silken hair. “Sweetheart, are you happy with Marin here?”

  “Yep. I love her a lot. She’s fun and likes to sing and stuff. Sometimes she draws pictures with me too. And she hugs me and Aaron all the time.”

  “Good. Then that’s all you need to worry about. That and eating those pancakes I’m about to fix for you. And guess what?”

  “What?”

  “Guess who’s coming to play with you today?”

  “Who?”

  “Wiley.”

  She clapped her hands. “Yay.
I like Wiley. Do you think I can teach him how to kick and Irish dance?”

  Oh, boy. “You can try. But maybe he’d rather play with toys.”

  “Maybe Marnie can teach us some new songs. Or we can draw princess pictures. I like princesses.”

  Maybe this was going to be torture Wiley Saturday. Between Kinsley and Aaron, the kid was never going to want to come back. When Marin brought Aaron down, the first thing out of Kinsley’s mouth was how she was going to teach Wiley how to dance and draw princesses.

  Marin buried her face in Aaron’s neck, laughing, and he giggled because most likely it tickled.

  “See, Aaron wants to do it too,” Kinsley yelled in excitement. Aaron’s legs kicked like crazy and Kinsley pointed at him. “Look. He wants to dance with me.”

  That poor kid. He didn’t stand a chance in life.

  “Polka dot, I just don’t want you to get your hopes up in case Aaron wants to play sports.”

  “Why would he want to do that? Sports are boring. He could dance and have way more fun. And wear sparkly costumes and look cool, right Marnie?”

  “Uh huh.” Marin abandoned me for the laundry room. I knew she was cracking up in there, leaving me alone to handle my daughter.

  “Hey, kiddo, are you gonna talk us to death or are you gonna eat?”

  “I’m eating, see?” She took a bite of pancakes.

  I let Aaron burn off some energy while I got his breakfast of mushy stuff ready. Marin still hadn’t reappeared. When she did, she made an excuse of washing towels. I was already feeding Aaron.

  “I thought you were napping in there.”

  “Marnie doesn’t never nap, Daddy. Only us kids.”

  “I see,” I said to my omniscient daughter.

  Then I told her how Bebop was in the hospital because his heart had gotten sick.

  Her brows furrowed. “Did you fix it up, Daddy? Should I make him a picture to make him happy?”

  “I did, but he’ll be there for another day or two, so we can make sure it’s okay. I want you to come with me later this morning to visit him. And I’m sure he’d love a picture.”

  “Okay. I can kiss his heart and make it better.”

  “I think you can.”

  “Will Aaron come too?”