If he threw up again during the night, at least it would land on something we could easily clean up.
“I don’t know about you, but I could use some alcohol after all this,” I said.
“Haven’t taken care of a sick kid before?” Emma asked.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Don’t worry. It happens to the best of us. But if you pour yourself a glass, I want one too.”
“It would be rude of me not to offer. Come on. I’ve got a bottle of wine already opened in the fridge.”
I poured the two of us a glass as we kept an ear out for Benjamin. Things were silent between us and I was having a hard time keeping my eyes off her. She had delicate shoulders that sloped into low-hanging breasts I wanted to wrap my lips around. Her nightgown fell perfectly along the curves of her waist and hips. I tore my gaze away from her as we sipped our wine in silence, but then I heard her move.
I looked over and she was staring at me with an empty glass of wine in her hands.
“That was quick,” I said.
“The wine was good,” Emma said.
“I’m glad to hear it. Would you like another? Or are you heading home?”
“I’m not sure. Do you want me to be here in case Benjamin has another episode?”
I’d take any reason for her to stay.
“That would be nice, if you could. I’m more concerned about the other kids getting sick.”
“Then you’d really be outnumbered,” she said with a grin.
“If you would like to stay, you’re more than welcome to stay in the guest bedroom. I’ll probably stay out there with Benjamin just in case he wakes up again.”
“Sounds like a caring Uncle doing what he knows he can.”
“Did you expect anything less?”
“I didn’t expect anything more, that’s for sure.”
“I have no idea how to take that, so I won’t comment on it,” I said.
I plucked the wine glass from her hand, but her eyes never left my face. Her body was calling to me. Her waist was begging for my hands. Maybe it was the nighttime sky filtering in through the windows or the excitement of needing her in a very unsexual way. Maybe it was watching how easily she adapted to her surroundings or how wonderful she looked at three thirty in the morning with sleep still clouding her vision.
But whatever it was that drew me to her, it forced my arm around her waist.
Then it forced her body against mine.
Then it forced our lips together before it forced her hands in my hair.
Whatever it was, however, I thanked my stars as I gripped her hips and rose her up onto the kitchen counter.
Because I was finally going to get a taste of the woman I kept going back for.
Ten
Emma
His hands slid up my bare skin as our lips undulated against one another. His touch was electric, sending sparks of lust jolting through my body. It had been years since I’d indulged this side of me. Years since I’d felt the touch of a man’s fingertips against my skin. His pushed my legs open at my knees and disconnected our lips, and I saw his eyes filled with a darkness that had overcome him.
He grabbed a bar stool from behind his back and sat down between my legs. My hands rushed to his hair as his lips fell to the tops of my knees. His hands shoved my nightgown up my body and his eyes glistened with desire when he saw my bare pussy between my legs.
“My, my. What a treasure this is,” Ryan said.
“I rushed out a little too… oh my gosh… fast.”
“I’ve never been a fan of lingerie anyway. Gets in the way of what I really want.”
His tongue slid up my thigh and I propped my heel up onto the edge of the counter. My body wasn’t even trying to conceal what I wanted. The grin on his face was devilish as I leaned back onto my forearms and I could feel his tongue getting closer to my warmth.
He scooted himself closer to the counter. Like he was bellying up to a buffet in a restaurant. I watched his face disappear between my legs as he held my gaze, but the second his tongue touched my pussy lips I was gone. My head fell back and my hips rose off the counter, and his tongue danced wildly along my clit.
I bit down on my lower lip to keep from making any sound. The kids were sleeping and Benjamin was only a hallway’s trek away from where we were. My toes curled as he sucked my pussy, flicking the tip of my clit at lightning speed. His fingers massaged my thighs and his nightly stubble ticked the sides of my pussy folds. My toes curled around the edge of the counter as his hands steadied my thighs, threatening to fold me in half and pin me down underneath his mouth.
And when my back fell to the counter, that was exactly what he did.
He bent my knees to my chest and pressed his tongue deep into my clit. I shivered and rocked, grinding against his lips as his tongue made quick work of my buttons. I felt my gut tightening. I felt my skin flushing. I saw stars bursting in the darkness of my vision as I bit down harder onto my lip. I was panting. Gasping. Stifling whimpers as his throat swallowed down the arousal I had to give him.
“Ryan. Oh my gosh. I… please…”
He moaned into my body and the vibrations ricocheted through my ribcage. I wrapped my thighs around his cheeks and clamped down onto his head. I rolled into his desperately as he planted his hands onto the counter. He growled and grunted, his tongue rocking side to side as I met my shivering end.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.”
The choked chants of pleasure fell from my lips as his hands palmed my ass. He held me off the counter and pulled me closer to his face, like half of a fruit he was devouring with his mouth. I shook and trembled and my toes curled into his back. It felt as if my orgasm was never going to end until my back finally dropped to the counter.
His hands slid up to my waist and hooked around me, peeling me from the cool surface. I felt him attempting to steady me on my wobbling legs, then he flipped me around and pressed my cheek to the kitchen island. His hand was twisted in my hair and my juices were dripping down the insides of my thighs.
I could hear his pajama pants drop to the floor before he poised himself at my entrance.
I leaned heavily against the cold surface, unable to stand as he pushed into my body. His massive cock pushed against my swollen walls and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. I reached back and wrapped my hand around his wrist, looking for anything I could grab onto in order to brace myself against his assault.
And holy hell, did he set a beautiful pace.
He slammed into me, his balls smacking against my clit. I stood onto my tiptoes and ground my hips into him, trying to feel more of him at once. He filled me deeply. Completely. In ways I’d never experienced before. I could feel his cock already twitching against my walls and I pressed my hands into the edge of the counter.
He had me pinned, but it wasn’t as if I couldn't move.
I pushed into him, meeting him thrust for thrust. His breathless grunts and stifled groans sent shivers down my spine. His hand was furiously tangled in my hair and his cock kept growing in my pussy. The sounds of wet skin smacking together filled the air around us and the heat in my body began to build again. My body jerked and my ass jiggled, and his cock grew thicker and thicker as my pussy wettened for him.
And with each smack of his balls against my clit, I was thrown closer and closer to that edge.
“Emma. I’m so close.”
“Keep going. Just… a little more. Right there. Ryan. Don’t move. Keep going. Shit. Yes. Oh… fu-”
I pushed back into him one last time and his hips stilled against my ass. My pussy clamped down around his cock, holding him in a vice grip and rendering him motionless. I felt him twitching. Pouring his hot cum into me as my pussy milked him dry. My legs jumped and my arms tensed, and I felt myself slipping from the kitchen table.
“I got you. Hold on.”
Ryan’s arms caught me mid-fall and picked me up into his body. My back was pressed into his chiseled chest and I closed my
eyes to take in the heat of his body. His cock slid from between my legs and I could feel our juices dripping to the floor. Coating the insides of my thighs. Filling his kitchen with smells of us.
My head fell back into his shoulder as he picked me up in his arms.
I could feel his legs were unsteady as well, but he made a good show of not allowing it to hinder him. My eyes were already drooping as he led me into a darkened room. I felt my body descend onto something soft. Cool. Silk covers were being slid over my bare legs and something warm descended onto my cheek.
“Goodnight, Emma. I’ll wake you up in time to get home and dressed for work.”
And instead of fighting for my right to return him, I succumbed to the cool sheets of the bed beneath me and slipped into a dark, endless slumber.
In the guest bedroom of Ryan’s penthouse apartment.
Eleven
Emma
“This is Miss Gentry speaking.”
“Miss Gentry. This is Maria Espinoza. The CPS agent?”
“Hello there. How can I help you?” I asked.
“I was wondering if you could meet myself and Mr. Atkins after school today. In his office?”
“That won’t be an issue. Is something wrong?”
“There are just some things that need to be discussed. Don’t worry. We’ll get into all of it this afternoon. Thank you for your time.”
The phone call was short and sweet but had me on my toes all day. Why in the world was the CPS agent and the school administrator wanting to have a meeting with me? I tried to stomach my worry until I could get the kids off to their school buses to go home, and I made sure Zoey, Hunter, and Benjamin were picked up in a timely manner. Their buses had been changed to have them dropped off at Ryan’s place, and they were having a hard time remembering which buses to get on.
So I made sure to double-check before sending them off.
I drew in a deep breath before I went back inside. I headed for the school administrator’s office and I saw both of them waiting for me. And neither of them looked happy. I was very concerned. Multiple things were running around in my head.
But it didn’t take long for them to get to the point.
“Miss Gentry, have there been any changes in Zoey Aaron’s behavior at school?” Mr. Atkins asked.
“No, sir. She had a few days there where she didn’t feel well, but she isn’t acting out if that’s what you’re asking,” I said.
“No back-talking? Or temper flare ups?”
“Nothing that isn’t common for a girl Zoey’s age,” I said. “Now can I ask what this is about?”
Maria and Mr. Atkins looked at one another before I was ushered into the administrator’s office.
“Miss Gentry, how familiar are you with Mr. Aaron?” Maria asked.
“Who?”
“Ryan Aaron. The hotel mogul?” she asked.
“You mean the kid’s uncle? I’ve met him a few times. Why?” I asked.
“Zoey’s been bragging to the other students about living with her uncle. Her and the boys.”
“Yes?” I asked. “He was the one given temporary custody of his sister’s children.”
“We’re aware of that. But there’s a decision coming our way and we have to make sure it’s being made in the best interest of the children.”
Which was code for ‘Valentina wasn’t getting her children back’. My stomach sank to the floor. Those children would be heartbroken. Their lives would be completely upended.
It made me sick to think about.
“Miss Espinoza, I’m sorry… but you know the kids are with their uncle. So why are you here asking me questions about Zoey’s behavior?” I asked.
“I had a concerned parent call on a couple of occasions,” Mr. Atkins said. “A child in Benjamin’s class is saying that the three of them share a room?”
“Is that uncommon?” I asked. “Or even an issue?”
“What we’re trying to figure out is if Mr. Aaron’s personal accommodations and lifestyle can handle three children,” Mrs. Espinoza said.
“You mean does Ryan’s partying lifestyle allow him to be the sole caretaker of his niece and nephews.”
“Hypothetically speaking, of course,” Mr. Atkins said.
“I know how this works. And I know there’s no hypothetical about it. Mr. Aaron is a very caring uncle. He’s got a support network around him that consists of a single father who understands him as well as the teachers in this school who rally around those kids. They’ve been through enough. And if you think that ripping them away from the only other family they know is going to be any better for them, then you’re sorely mistaken.”
“With all due respect, Miss Gentry, that isn’t your decision to make,” Maria said.
“And with all due respect, Mrs. Espinoza, I’ve seen Ryan with those children,” I said.
“That’s another situation I want to address with you,” Mr. Atkins said. “You seem very confident in Mr. Aaron’s parental capabilities.”
“I’ve seen him with those children. Benjamin just got over being sick, and he handed it like any man taking care of a sick child would. He needed some help, he had no issues reaching out for that help, and all three of the children are fine. They’re fed. Clothed. Sleeping in separate and comfortable bedrooms. Ryan’s rearranged his entire schedule around their schooldays. Just because you have one reputation of him doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of more, or better.”
“I would like to know how you’re so confident in this,” Mrs. Espinoza said. “It would go a long way in keeping them with family, after all.”
I drew in a deep breath as my eyes fell to my lap. I knew this was going to get me in trouble, but I had no choice. I wasn’t going to allow the one organization who put them in Ryan’s care to then rip those children away from him because of his reputation. I’d already judged him harshly on it and I was already eating my words.
These children weren’t going to pay for the same mistake.
“I know about their home conditions because I’ve been by to check on the children myself,” I said.
“So it’s true. You did go home with them that first day Mr. Aaron picked them up from school,” Mr. Atkins said.
“I had no choice. CPS wasn’t getting back to me on why Mr. Aaron was suddenly picking the children up and I wasn’t relinquishing them until I knew they were okay. I couldn't get anyone on the phone, the kids were hungry, so I went to Mr. Aaron’s place and stayed with them until CPS got back with me. And I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, that those kids are loved, protected, and cared for in his home.”
“You stepped out of line, Miss Gentry. We have strict policies here at Lawrence Day.”
“Which also include not sending children home with people who aren’t on their release list,” I said. “What did you want me to do? Hold everyone at the school hostage until nine o’clock at night? Because that was when Mrs. Espinoza here finally got back to me. Nine o’clock.”
Mr. Atkins looked over at Maria with a very stern look before he sat back in his chair.
“Procedure here is followed to the letter, Miss Gentry. And if you ever have the inkling to press past procedure, then you have my number. If you were doubting our regulations that much, you should’ve called.”
“And if it happens again, Mr. Atkins, I will. I’m sorry. But in my defense, I was acting in the best interest of Zoey and her brothers. And need I remind you that those two boys were left in my car. Despite them not having rides, their two teachers left this school. Will that be addressed as well?”
“I will speak with their teachers immediately,” he said.
“Mrs. Espinoza, taking those kids away from Ryan is going to be a massive mistake. I don’t know what’s going on, but here’s what I do know. If you take them from family and put them into the system, they’ll be scattered. No one will adopt three Aaron children into their home at once. You’ll break apart a family even more than they’ve already been broken. Yes, Mr. Aa
ron has partying ways about him, but let me ask you something. Have you seen him in the news at all the past three weeks? Since he’s had those children?”
Maria looked over towards Mr. Atkins and I watched him shrug his shoulders.
“Exactly. He partied until he couldn’t. And then? It stopped. Completely. And that should be taken into consideration as well.”
The three of us sat in silence for a long time before Maria cleared her throat.
“Your voice has been heard and I will make sure your testimony makes it into my notes.”
“I would appreciate that,” I said. “Mr. Atkins?”
“Hmm?”
“If there’s nothing further?”
“Oh no, Miss Gentry. You’re free to go.”
Then I got up and hauled ass out of that room to go get my things. I wanted to get out of that school, get back to my apartment, and settle in for the night. I wasn’t sure if it was my place to tell Ryan what was going on or if that would somehow jeopardize things, but I knew I needed to do something.
CPS couldn't take those kids away from him.
I wouldn’t let them.
Twelve
Ryan
I needed to see Emma again. I couldn’t wait any longer. I thought I could shake her from my system. One good fuck and it would be all over. But all it left me was wanton for more. I could still taste her on my tongue. I could still hear her breathless remarks. I could still feel her skin underneath my fingers and her hips rocking against my mouth. Fuck. She had been beautiful. Far too distracting for a man who was acting guardian over three kids. But it wasn’t just her body that had me entranced.
It was her kindness.
Her willingness to get up at two in the morning and come help me with a sick child. Her willingness to check in on the kids despite my knowing what she really wanted. She could deny it to herself all day and night, but I saw it when she looked at me. That wandering eye that raked down my suit a little too slow. She wasn’t impervious to it. Most women weren’t.
6+ Us Makes Eight: A Teacher and Single Dad Romance (Baby Makes Three) Page 7