by Mia Ford
“I like her. We should have them for dinner soon. I haven’t seen Ella play with a lot of other kids.” He smiled at the thought. “Set it up for next Friday. We’ll get the family stuff out of the way around the same time.”
“I will. Thanks.” I kissed him again, and it started to heat up just as we heard Ella calling for Nathan in her room. We laughed, and he got up to get dressed, going into her room to get her while I did the same. He asked to take us to dinner later, and I accepted with a kiss. When he was settled with Ella, I went to shower and get ready.
I picked a dress from my closet and hung it on the doorknob before I put on some makeup. It was all light, but it brought out my best features, in my opinion. I finished with a coat of mascara and a pink gloss before slipping the dress on with a denim jacket. I found some flats and walked into the living room to find Nathan and Ella came downstairs in fresh clothes. She looked adorable in a pink dress and white sweater and I hugged her.
Nathan took us in his car to the city, parking near a shopping area. I looked around as I got out and he went to collect Ella, thinking that this would be a great day trip to take with her. He led us across the street to an upper-class diner and opened the door as I held Ella’s hand and waked her inside. The hostess gave Nathan an appreciative look before leading us to a table near the window. He went to get her a booster seat, and she sat beside him while I sat across from them.
We looked at the menus and everything looked delicious. His foot brushing my calf made me hungrier, and I gave him a long look across the table. We ordered burgers and fries and some mac and cheese for Ella, sitting back, and sipping shakes while we waited.
We’d made a pact to go down to the gym together more often. There could be no sex until we worked out for at least an hour and then we could shower and get to it. I didn’t care if we did or not. Nathan was hot just after working out and I wanted to lick him clean.
Our food came, and we ate as we discussed what else to do tonight. There were some great shops down the block and I suggested a walk. Ella agreed, and I giggled at her enthusiasm.
When we were finished eating, he paid the bill, and we left the diner just as someone called his name. Nathan turned his head and smiled as he greeted the guy approaching us.
“Hey, Mark. What’s up?” They shook hands in a way that showed me they knew each other well and chatted for a second before the guy looked at me and Ella.
“She’s gotten big. I haven’t seen her for a while,” he said before his brown eyes took me in. Nathan was right. They were like teenage boys. “I’m Mark Miller. I work for Nathan.”
“This is Riley. She’s taking care of Ella during the day,” Nathan said curtly as I looked at him.
“Ah. The nanny.” He reached out his hand, and I shook it, watching his eyes rake me up and down. “If this guy ever gives you time off, I could show you around. You sound like you’re not from the area, Riley.
“I know the area. I have family here,” I told him quickly as he let my hand go to glance at Nathan. If this was one of the friends he was out with, I was worried. He looked like he wanted to eat me.
“Do you have her chained up at home?” He queried as my eyes narrowed. Nathan made an excuse as to us needing to leave and led us away from Mark. I followed, holding Ella’s hand until we were far enough away.
“Is that who you were with the other night?” I asked softly as he looked back at me.
“Riley, I told you how they were. They are just the guys that I hang out with.” I moved beside him as he picked Ella up to move through the crowds easier. “I don’t like the way that he was talking to you and I’ll tell him as much.”
“I suppose there won’t be any barbeques with the guys then?” I asked lightly as he groaned.
“Not until I tell them to treat you better.” He moved to a quieter part of the street. “They’re not even a real part of her life. They don’t have kids or girlfriends.”
“Oh.” I fell quiet, thinking about that. “None of your friends have kids, do they?”
“Not really.” He let Ella down, holding her hand as we walked to a brightly lit set of stores. “I haven’t moved onto that part of my life yet.”
Chapter 18: Nathan
Fucking Mark. He looked at Riley like he did to any other woman. She was different, but I wasn’t ready to tell him anything about her and our sex life. I had a tough time explaining him and the guys to Riley since we were all different now. I liked hanging out with them for a little while to catch up, but I didn’t want the long, drunken nights anymore. Friday was too much, and I left as soon as I couldn’t take it any longer.
I saw that Riley understood and wasn’t angry. I couldn’t control my friends too much apart from having a talk with him alone as soon as I could. I could also protect her, and I groaned at the idea of the work involved.
We had been quiet for a while, looking around a toy store for Ella.
“I only have my sister here. There were friends back home, but you know how that goes.”
“What are they like?” I asked as Ella wandered over to the doll section.
“Fun. Warm. Genuine.” Riley assured me as I nodded. I needed to be friends with a guy that had kids, had the kind of schedule that I did. I always thought it would happen naturally, but then Brenda got sick. That took enough time and her consequential death was even more to deal with. I didn’t have the time for friends and kept the same ones from work since it was easier.
“I am looking forward to meeting them.” I picked up the doll that Ella favored, paying for it at the register as Riley smiled at me.
“You’re a sucker,” she told me softly as I chuckled.
“She’s so damn cute and there is the single parent thing. I give in way too much.” I thanked the cashier as she gave me an interested look, taking the bag as I thanked her. We walked back out to the sidewalk and down towards some more stores. Riley wandered into a small art gallery and I picked Ella up to follow her. It seemed to have stuff displayed by local artists and Riley was focused on all of it. She must like art. I realized that I knew little about her in this moment.
“Are you an artist?” I asked her as she smiled at me.
“I tinker around sometimes. Nothing serious.” I glanced at the bowls that she was looking at, brightly colored and made of shells. I noted that she picked up the violet one with the most interest before putting it down with a low sigh. Riley moved on and I snatched up the bowl, seeing that it was only forty dollars.
By the time we left the store, I’d made my purchase and handed the bag to Riley. She stared at me for a moment before opening it and peeking inside. It was wrapped in tissue paper and she carefully pulled that away before shaking her head.
“Nathan. I don’t believe you did this.” She looked at me with big eyes, licking her lips as I felt my body react. “Thank you.”
We wandered to the railing and looked out over the view of the water a few feet away. Riley sighed happily.
“I love it here. I love Nashville so much and its home, but there is a sense of peace here. I guess it’s the ocean.” She smiled, and I felt Ella wriggling in my arms. I let her down and made sure she stayed near us before I gave Riley a soft kiss.
We headed home and just put Ella to bed. She was out. I walked into my room and opened the windows wide, letting the air in. Riley followed, slipping her arms around my waist. I memorized the feeling of it before turning around to kiss her softly. Riley wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to her to deepen it. I knew that something changed tonight with the dinner and walk. It felt more like a date and I wanted more like that. I walked us over to the bed, backing up to it so she fell over me. Riley laughed as she straddled me, bending over to keep kissing me.
It was intense, and I felt my cock thicken against the thin layer of underwear that she wore. Riley pulled away and slipped her jacket off, revealing the straps of her dress. It was in vibrant shades of pink and fit her curves perfectly. I couldn’t believe that
Mark was hitting on her.
I moved to sit up against my pillows, pulling her over me further. Riley came willingly, her tongue meeting mine eagerly. I kissed her deeply before I slipped my Henley off, tossing it aside. She scraped her nails down my chest, wrapping one arm around my neck to pull her in for another kiss.
Eventually, we undressed slowly and closed the door. I walked back over to her, hovering over her to kiss her as her nipples brushed against my chest. I nipped at her jaw, feeling her drop her head back as she moaned.
“I’m going to make love to you tonight,” I murmured before kissing her neck.
“You are?” She whispered.
“Yes.” I kissed her again, and she pulled me close. We were naked and our bodies so close together, making me want to slide inside of her right now. “Riley, I want you.”
“I’m on the pill. I take it like clockwork,” she told me as I moaned. I was scared to do this since Brenda claimed the same thing, but Riley wouldn’t lie. “I’m clean. It’s been a long time, and I was tested after that.”
“I haven’t been bare with anyone other than Brenda, for obvious reasons. I was tested after her and always use a condom.” I felt like we were negotiating, and she kissed me again. I slipped between her legs, edging closer to her sex as she murmured my name. She raised her hips to meet me and I inched in, gasping at her tight heat. “You are it for me, Riley. I want it like this every time.”
I bottomed out as she gasped, her hands clutching at me. Our bodies rocked together, and I felt the sweat between us as I buried my face in her neck. We moved together for a few more thrusts before she came, her heat setting me off as I hissed her name. I kissed her, so we’d stay quiet, stilling as she kept pulsing around me.
We rested together after still joined together. I knew I’d have to pull out soon, but I liked the idea of being trapped in her this way. Hell, a part of me wouldn’t mind if she was pregnant with my baby. I rolled away, and we both breathed in deeply, taking in the ocean air.
“Was there something different about tonight? All of it?” Her voice was soft in the room and I reached for her hand.
“It felt like a date. A date with my daughter who adores you. It felt perfect.” I smiled as she squeezed me.
“I felt like that, too. It wasn’t because of your friend, was it?” Riley asked as I stared thoughtfully at the ceiling.
“No. The anger that he made me feel was new, but it only made me realize that I do care for you.” I laughed. “I’ve never felt jealousy before. I have only been protective of family, but I knew tonight that I was going to keep you away from him.”
“He was just being a stupid guy. Don’t worry about it. I’d never fall for that approach to begin with.” Riley assured me as I looked over at her.
“What did it for me?”
“You took up the room when I walked in here. You were so confident and loved your daughter so much. That’s what started it for me. I meant to hide it as well, but something snapped in me.” There was a happy tone in her voice as I grinned.
“It was the gym, wasn’t it? You couldn’t resist this body.” She laughed and turned to face me, kissing me hard. We ended up making love again with her straddling me, rising me until I filled her for a second time.
I tucked the covers around us when we were done, securing the alarm from my room before I fell asleep beside her.
We spent the next day together at another local beach, getting lunch from a deli beforehand. I loved watching Ella and Riley frolic in the sand at the water’s edge, laughing together. I took a drink from my cup and smiled at how much I was enjoying this. I never had this with anyone before, particularly with Ella.
I heard a scream and looked over to see them both drenched. I stood and hurried over as they walked away from the waves. Ella was crying, and I stepped up to them as Riley gazed at me.
“What happened?” I asked as Ella reached for me, sobbing.
“A wave came out of nowhere. I managed to grab Ella and run away but it was so strong.” Riley looked scared, her skin pale. “I never think about that. What if I didn’t get her?”
“You did get her. Don’t think about that,” I told her, slipping my free arm around her to hug her. I led them to our towel, and we sat down as they dried off. Ella stopped crying when she was wrapped in a towel and in my arms as Riley stared at us.
When we drove home, Ella fell asleep. Riley was resting against the seat, her eyes closed. I reached for her hand at a stoplight and squeezed it, watching her smile weakly.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Riley. You picked her up and took her away from the water. If anything more had happened, I’d die saving either of you,” I assured her as a tear slid down her cheek. “It’s okay, baby. We’re all safe.”
Riley opened her eyes and looked at me. I had to drive, but I kept her hand in mine as I pulled into the intersection. The idea of anything happening to them left a knot in my stomach and I had to focus on my words. I told myself that it happened at a beach and someone would have been there to help. I would have helped. We got back to the house, and I carried Ella up to her bed while Riley collected the trash from the car.
When she was tucked in and her door closed, I hurried downstairs to the kitchen where Riley was. I needed her right now. I wanted to be inside of her and I pressed my body against hers at the sink where she was rinsing sippy cups. She froze, and I kissed her neck softly, gripping her hair with one hand. Riley let out a breath and turned towards me slowly, gazing into my eyes. I kissed her, tilting my head so I could taste her mouth as she parted her lips. I dragged her against me, my erection.
“I need to have you now.” I told her as she pulled away to look at me.
Riley looked behind us and I moved her to a part of the counter that she could sit on. We both ripped her shorts down and I slipped my own clothes off before lifting her to the counter. I didn’t give a fuck that the maid was just here. Riley kissed me as I slid inside, gasping her name. I fucked her in a way that I never had before, still holding her close. I just needed the physical proof that she was okay. She let me, holding on tight as I gave her all my stress from today. Riley came first, crying out my name hoarsely as I followed her.
“Fuck, I needed that,” I moaned as I stilled, holding her close to me. Eventually, we slipped back to the floor, and she went to the downstairs bathroom with her shorts to clean up. When she came out, I went in and got dressed before coming back out. Riley was drinking water, her hair messy from the sex and I took her in with a smile.
“Feel better?” She turned to look at me and I ran a hand through my hair. I opened my mouth to speak but stayed quiet, scared of the thoughts in my head.
“Much. That was stressful.” I reached for a beer in the fridge and popped it open, taking a long sip before she asked what I wanted to do for dinner. We decided to grill some chicken and veggies, staying home for the rest of the day.
Chapter 19: Riley
The week passed with days spent with Ella and nights spent in Nathan’s bed. I got attached quickly and had trouble thinking of sleeping without him. The day at the beach had frightened me, making me wonder if I was good enough to take care of Ella. He reassured me with words and actions, calming me down enough to get ready for dinner on Friday with my family. I went to buy steaks and chicken for the guys to cook outside and a bag of salad to mix together. Emery was bringing dessert, and I cleaned up lightly as Ella played in the living room.
They were arriving just after Nathan and I changed into a long, loose skirt and tank before getting Ella into a cotton dress. I knew the kids would play hard, but I wanted her to look cute as well.
I was getting bottles of wine from that fridge when Nathan walked in. He kissed me and then picked up Ella, telling her how beautiful she was. Nathan went upstairs to change into shorts and a t-shirt as I checked to make sure everything was ready to go. I heard the house phone ring and answered it, letting them in as warmth filled me. Ella was upstairs with her dad and I walked
to the door to open it, throwing my arms around James first. I walked with them to the kitchen, a niece in each arm before Emery put down the pie and I could hug her.
James and Emery both gushed about the house, walking around as Nathan came down the stairs with Ella in his arms. She screamed when she saw the girls and he let her down, watching her run towards them with a smile on his face.
“You must be James and Emery. I’m Nathan. It’s great to have you here.” His smile was warm, and he looked happy as I watched their exchange.
“This is a beautiful house. What a great place for her to grow up.” Emery smiled towards the girls as Nathan nodded and looked pointedly at me.
“We like it. Can I get you anything to drink? Wine or beer?”
“I’d like a beer. Wine for you, babe?” James asked Emery as he touched the small of her back gently. She gave him a loving smile and nodded as both Nathan and I walked into the kitchen to double each of the orders. The kids all got juice boxes and Nathan invited everyone to step outside to enjoy the beautiful evening.
The girls wanted to go down to the water and James and Nathan told me to take them while they cooked the meat. I could see the fear in Nathan’s eyes as he looked at me, making me smile at him. He stunned me by coming over to kiss me softly before we left. I saw the smile on Emery’s face as I stroked his cheek before grabbing Ella’s hand. We walked carefully down the stairs and let the girls run free as Emery looked around.