Love Divide

by Cary Hart

  Dropping the rag in the water, his hungry eyes drink me in. I up the ante and rise up to my knees, the bubbles no longer hiding my body from him.

  “Screw it,” he says, pulling me to my feet. Water sloshes everywhere as he helps me from the tub, wrapping me in his arms and placing the most tender yet erotic kisses on my mouth, face and neck.

  I reach around the back of his neck to pull him further down to me so I can claim his mouth. Desperately attacking it, I gently bite down on his bottom lip. He brushes his hands on the sides of my face.

  “Ouch, easy.” I wince and regret the words the minute they leave my mouth.

  “Shit. I’m sorry.” He pulls away abruptly. “Let me get you a towel.”

  And just like that, we’re back to kid gloves.

  I stand still, and he wraps a towel around me, his gaze never leaving mine. A simple yet intimate gesture.

  He lifts me into his arms, carrying me into his bedroom. “I’ve got legs you know.” I attempt to banter with him, but I feel like the carefree playfulness that is a huge part of our relationship is cast under the shadow of this evening’s events.

  “I’m aware.” His eyes hungrily roam down my long, bare legs as he sits me on the king size mattress. Turning toward the closet, he steps away, and I suddenly miss the warmth and safety of his embrace.

  He rummages around and comes back out, handing me a worn, grey T-shirt. I can’t help myself; bringing it to my nose, I inhale deeply and smell the scent that is uniquely Gavin. Fresh, masculine and a little woodsy.

  I set the T-shirt aside and drop the towel. “Niki, it’s been a long night. I shouldn’t have…I just want you so damn bad. And I’m trying to be the stand-up guy here. But fuck if you’re not making it hard, sitting there in bed looking at me, begging me with those fuck-me eyes.”

  He rids himself of his now wet clothes as he tries to explain what he’s feeling. But the more he wants to do the right thing, the more I need him inside me.

  “I’m afraid I’ll be rough. I’m trying to calm down. I don’t want our first time to be like this. I’m so angry. Not at you, at myself. And that fucker who put his hands on you.” He begins pacing.

  Climbing off the bed, I go to him and take his hands, drawing him back to the bed with me. I lie back and pull him on top of me. “I don’t need you to be a gentleman; I just need you to be you. I know you would never hurt me.”

  He lowers his forehead to mine, barely touching. Our breaths mingle, his eyes staring into mine to see if I’m really okay with this.

  I know he wants me to be okay with it. His hard length rests between us, pressed against my center with only his boxer briefs separating us. I rub myself against him and feel the involuntary flex of his hips.

  I place the gentlest of kisses on his mouth and caress his face, and his anger starts to fade. “It’s just me and you here. Be in this moment with me. Okay?”

  He nods.

  “I’m not made of glass, Gavin. I’m not gonna break.” But I was lying to us both because I’m pretty sure I already had. Still, I need him to put me back together.

  Baring my soul snaps something in him, and in a flash, he begins to move. He’s off of me and removing his boxers in a swift motion. Confused, I sit up.

  I see that he has lit a candle and is grabbing something from his nightstand. Even in the heat of the moment, he’s thinking about safety and trying to be romantic.

  I flop back onto the pile of pillows, my eyes never leaving him.

  His walk back to me is a slow and torturous one. Like a lion stalking his pray.

  The bed dips under his weight as he crawls his way up my body, kissing and licking as he goes.

  “My god, you are beautiful,” he murmurs as he reaches down to take a nipple into his mouth. Sucking, pulling.

  The sensation is too much. I need more.

  Pulling him closer, I arch into his touch. I lie back down, wrapping my legs around his waist, rocking, urging him on.

  “Gavin!” His name is a gasp, falling from my lips.

  He pulls away enough to begin kissing his way down my bare stomach, stopping just below my navel, then licking a wet trail down my skin to a place that needs some attention.

  “Whoa,” he says in awe.

  “What?” I prop myself up on my elbows and take in the sight of this gorgeous man, the man I love, his face framed between my open thighs. The sight alone increases my wetness.

  “You’re waxed.” He licks his lips in approval. “I — wow.” He clears his throat and lowers his head.

  The minute his mouth is on me, my legs fall open wider, and I’m crashing back onto the bed, my hands everywhere. The sheets, a pillow and finally grabbing hold of his hair.

  He blows and nips, sucks and licks. And he eats me like a starving man. My thighs instinctively squeeze, and he slides his hands under my ass and lifts me up to him.

  Holy hell. That’s hot.

  My back is bowed off the bed, my arms releasing his head to fall above mine and grip the headboard as my first orgasm crashes though me. A tsunami of desire.

  “I need you now,” he rasps as I come down. His eyes find mine as he lowers me to the bed and licks his lips, looking like the cat who ate the canary. But it sure as hell wasn’t a bird he was just eating. I pull him to me, our mouths tangling in passionate kisses. Tasting myself on him is hot.

  I reach between us to return the favor, but he stops my hand.

  “Kid, as much as I want your hands on me, you touch me right now, and I’ll embarrass us both by blowing like a sixteen-year-old on prom night.”

  A giggle escapes my throat.

  Holding up a condom, he says, “Latex free.” Rolling it on, he lines himself up at my entrance. “I need to be inside you.” And the laughter is replaced by pure desire.

  I wrap myself around him and open up. His kisses are gentle. I can tell he’s holding back, so I rock against him. “Please! Gavin!”

  Urgency overcomes us as our bodies intertwine, and as he thrusts inside me, I see stars. The pressure builds again, so quickly.

  He rests his forearms on either side, and his eyes never leave mine as he rocks himself into me.

  My hands snake their way under his arms, pulling him closer, needing to be one with him. The pace is slow and steady. Deep and intense. He’s claiming me from the inside out. Putting the pieces back together.

  It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

  “Me too…me too.” His voice is a breathless whisper. And I realize I’ve said that last part aloud.

  This moment is so powerful and passionate it brings me to my release, and he follows.

  Gavin

  I’ve slept with Niki plenty of times. Her waking up in my arms, body melting into mine, but this morning it’s different.

  “Time to wake up sleepyhead.” I run my nose along her jaw, breathing her in. “I got something for you.”

  Popping one eye open, she says, “It better be coffee if you are going to try to talk to me this early.” She tries to open the other eye, but closes both instead.

  “Even better.” I roll over, reaching for the bag on the nightstand.

  She pops one eye back open at the crinkling of the bag. “Is that what I think it is?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” I open the bag, tearing off a piece of her favorite toasted hazelnut glazed croissant. “Open.” She does as I ask, rewarding her with a bite and me with a moan.

  “You’re killing me, kid.” I start to lick the glaze off my fingers, but my sleepy girl reaches up, grabs my wrist, and licks each finger, one by one. “Damn, that was so hot.” I reach over, taking her mouth with mine. Licking, sucking, tasting her lips.

  “I love our new mornings.” She rolls over on top of me, making grabby hands.

  Palming her ass, I agree, “Me too, babe…me too.” I grind my hips up.

  “Gavin Shaw, I’m all for sexy times, but if I grab this coffee right now and I spill it, I will cut off your cock and stuff it down your throat. You got it?�
��

  “You sure about that?” I wink.

  She blushes, which is becoming a new thing for her.

  “Well, that would be a waste. I’ll cut it off and stuff it.” She winks back. “I’m sure I could get some good use out of it.”

  I hold my hands up in surrender. “Have at it. I’ll be damned if I’m the one who stands between you and your lifeline.”

  Holding up a finger, she downs the rest of her scalding hot coffee.

  “Why do I have the sudden urge to chant, ‘Chug! Chug! Chug!’?”

  Slamming her cup down on the nightstand, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Dunno.” She shrugs her shoulders, her laugh vibrating me in all the right places.

  “Oh my!” She raises her eyebrows. “Best morning ever!”

  “Yes it is.” I reach up, gently touching her bruise. I silently promise to never let anything like this happen ever again.

  She nuzzles my palm. “I need you, Gavin.”

  “From the moment you walked into my life, I’ve needed you. You’re the air to my breath. The—”

  “That’s nice and all, but I mean I want to ride your cock.”

  “Well, that works.” I roll her over. “Best. Morning. Ever.”

  “I love you.”

  “Back at ya, kid.”

  Niki

  It’s been a couple months, and I can honestly say that not much has changed. Being with Gavin isn’t any different now, than it was before, except now we can do something about morning wood. Which is fucking fantastic. I guess you could say we have always belonged together.

  “Hey, Nik, you know what I’m thankful for?” Gavin shouts from the bathroom.

  Knowing where he is going with this, I hurry and strip down and fling the door open. “Walk in showers?”

  “I swear it’s like you’re in my head.” He pulls my body to his.

  “Maybe not in it, but I would like to be on it.” I wrap my arms around his neck and a leg around his waist, begging him to take care of me.

  “You know what else I’m thankful for…showerheads.” With one hand, he reaches up and pulls the nozzle down, switching it to pulsate. He brings it between us, paying special attention to the area between my legs.

  “O-o-ooooh! Best Thanksgiving ever!”

  “Hey, my little rugrats! Guess what I have?”

  “Niki!” Reece comes barreling toward me. “Did you bring it?”

  “What did she bring?” Andie is on her heels, wanting in on the fun.

  “Remember, Andie? You know the thing Mommy said we can’t have?”

  “Ohhhhh! Daddy says those things are unsanitary,” Andie chimes in.

  “Well, let’s get Herbie settled in.” I gather the hamster, my classroom pet, and his things and follow Andie and Reece to their room. The girls think that it’s our secret, but Aubrey and Drew okayed it last week.

  After spending a little too much time making sure Herbie has a secure living environment — meaning safe from Putter. That dog is crazy — I wash my hands and type out a quick message to Gavin.

  Me: I miss you.

  Gavin: Me or my body?

  Me: thinking face

  Gavin: eggplant emoji

  Me: Hells ya!

  Gavin: What time do you think you’ll be heading home?

  Me: After the drama but before the chaos.

  Gavin: OK. See you soon then. winky face

  God, I love that man.

  I hate that I have to spend Thanksgiving away from Gavin, but this year, he decided to throw a dinner at the club. He invited anyone who was in need of a meal, or just needed a place to go, to come there, and the meal is on Spotlight.

  I tried to get Aubrey to change her plans and invite everyone there to work the line, but since they have this new blended family thing going on, it was kind of hard to work out. Plus, she said they have a surprise.

  “Hey, skank!” I walk into the kitchen and see an overly energized Aubrey in the kitchen, trying to get everything ready by herself. “Did everyone abandon you?”

  “Drew helped this morning and has been trying to help all day, but I kicked him out of the kitchen. I really want to do this, you know? Make everything perfect.”

  “You know, not everything has to go according to plan.” I reach for the extra apron, tying it around my waist. “Sometimes, just being together is enough, and what you have going on out there is pretty freakin’ cool. I’m still shocked at how well everything is blending.”

  “It’s a group effort; that is for sure.” Aubrey hands me her wooden spoon to stir the stuffing.

  “How’s the counseling going?” Tasting the stuffing, I add a little more broth before sticking it back in the oven.

  “Actually, it’s going pretty well.” Aubrey turns and leans up against the island. “I think it helped that us adults went to a few group sessions before the girls went.”

  “Honestly, I still can’t believe how that went down.” I peek my head around the corner, to make sure C-U-Next Tuesday a.k.a. Sarah Jones is nowhere in sight, and whisper, “How you dealing with super bitch?”

  Aubrey turns her head to shush me.

  “It’s okay; the coast is clear. So? Is she giving you any trouble?”

  “Not really. Her and Doug are seeing a couples therapist and trying to work through everything that has happened.”

  “So basically, she’s cool because she is getting her way, temporarily shutting down her bitchy side.” I grab two stalks of celery, sticking them up like horns.

  “Stop it. That totally isn’t funny.”

  “You know it is.” I do it again, doing my best Sarah impersonation. “What about you and Drew? I keep waiting for you to ask me to go wedding shopping.”

  “Well, I need to talk to you about that.” Aubrey smiles.

  I knew it! What till I tell Gavin that I was right.

  “We may be moving it up. Like to say…New Year’s Eve.”

  “What? How come?” I mentally check off the reasons why they would move it up. “Noooo?”

  “Yes.” Aubrey nods, rubbing her belly. “Oh, Niki, I never imagined it could feel like this…that I could ever be this happy.”

  “Come here.” I hold out my arms. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s this girl right here. “May this baby bring you all the joy and blessings.”

  “Aw, you’re going to make me cry.”

  “Oh, hells no! Don’t you dare go all hormonal on me.” I poke at her belly. “I can’t believe the future Mrs. Drew Williams has a bun in the oven.” I dance around the room, tickling Aubrey’s side, trying to make her join in the party.

  “Stop it. Someone is going to hear you.”

  “Mommy?” Reece comes in, and we both stop. Dead. In. Our. Tracks. “Drew and Daddy are hungry and want to know when the food will be ready.”

  “Well, you tell them…” Aubrey shouts loud enough for them to hear…maybe pick up on the hint.

  “What did I say?” Drew pokes his head in.

  “Are you sending little girls in here to hound us?” I put my hands on my hips, ready to put them all in their place.

  “Why ma’am, I wouldn’t dare think of it.” He chokes back the laughter, not quite sure what I’m capable of.

  “Reece, why don’t you get Andie and help your mom and Niki set the table?” Drew sweetly asks her.

  “What about Sarah? Want me to ask her, too?”

  “Sure.”

  “Yay! Andie, Sarah…Drew said you needed to set the table.” She runs out of the kitchen yelling for everyone.

  “Oh, boy.” Aubrey shakes her head, and Drew leaves the kitchen, but not before grabbing a few dishes to carry them out. “God I love that man.” She admires his goods as he walks away.

  “You better.” I puff out my belly and rub it.

  Aubrey and I share a laugh.

  Drew stands up and taps his glass. “I just want to say a few words.” He clears his throat. “A few months ago, I thought I was about to lose my whole world, but
today I stand here with more than I could ever possibly want. Aubrey, thank you. Thank you for giving me your love and showing me what it’s like to be a family.” He begins to choke up. “So right now, I want us to go around the table and say what we are thankful for.”

  Aubrey stands up next, squeezing Drew’s hand. “I’m thankful for Sunday Fundays at the park.”

  “And I’m thankful for Reeses really being my sister twin.” Andie turns to give her new sister a high five. “Besties for life.”

  “Okay, Daddy, your turn.” Reece gets excited, wanting them to hurry along so she can have her turn.

  “I’m thankful for new beginnings.” Doug leans over and places a gentle kiss on Sarah’s cheek.

  “I guess it’s my turn.” Sarah stands up, doing her best to be nice, but let’s get real. It’s Sarah, and she’s a cunt. “I’m thankful for second chances and forgiveness. Without them, I wouldn’t finally have this man right here.” She looks down to Doug.

  I think I threw up a little in my mouth. Aubrey may have to play nice, but I don’t. She should be thankful that there are only butter knives at the table.

  Closing my eyes I lay my head back and pretend to snore. “Oh, excuse me. I must have fallen asleep.” I wink at Aubrey. “Let’s see…hmm…I’m thankful for wine, first class flights and kids. They’re great. Well, most of them.” I chuckle at my outburst. “Next.”

  “And I,” Reece stands up, “am thankful for Mom’s bun in the oven.” She smiles, not realizing what she just said.

  Drew spits out his tea.

  Doug chokes.

  Sarah gasps.

  The girls laugh at the saying.

  Drew and Aubrey just look at each other and smile. He nods, kissing her forehead.

  And I dig for my phone to video this madness. This will make for great cuddle couch time. Who needs Netflix?

  “Well, since Reece let the cat out of the bag without understanding, and we are all one big happy family, we would like to announce that we are going to have a baby,” Aubrey says.

  Drew calls Reece and Andie over. “Girls, you are going to be big sisters.”

  “WE ARE?” they say in unison.

  “What do you guys think about that?” Aubrey bends down, checking to see if they are okay and as excited as the adults are.

  “I think we should name him Snickers.” Reece looks over to Andie.