by Aubrey Cara
“Are you sure your dad's okay with you watching this? What's this rated?” she asked.
“Don't worry Del. I was raised on scary movies.”
She wasn't completely convinced, but his genuine excitement was infectious. She started to relax, getting into the spirit required for the gratuitous bloodshed and gore of the evening’s entertainment. The particularly suspenseful scenes she found herself clutched onto Steven's little arm as he grinned ear to ear, seeming to find delight in her horror.
When the horrible movie was finally over she started cleaning up. Steven proved what an awesome kid he truly was by helping her fold up the blankets and taking popcorn bowls and empty soda cans into the kitchen without having to be asked. She decided it was a good time as any to broach the subject of what he thought of her dating his dad. She knew he had been all for them dating in the beginning, but now maybe the reality was not as ideal as he had been thinking. Sitting down on the sofa Del asked “Steven can I ask you something?”
Coming to sit down next to her, he shrugged a shoulder. “Sure, what’s up?”
“Steven, I realize it’s been just you and your dad for as long as you could remember, and I’ve been around a lot lately.” She paused, struggling for words. This was a lot harder to talk about than she had anticipated. “I love being with your dad, and you. But if you feel like I’m around too much or that...”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t want you to feel like I’m taking your dad away from you,” she said. “Or trying to be your mother, or…”
He stopped her. “Del, it’s okay, I like you being around. And you make my dad happy. Not that he wasn’t happy before. It’s just a new kind of happy. A better kind. Besides, if it weren’t for my old man wanting ‘alone time’ with you, I would have never gotten an i Pad with state-of-the-art earphones. Not to mention a TV and X box for my room. Me’ maw had a kitten when she found out dad got me video games,” he said this with a twinkling grin.
She turned red comprehending he knew she and Jake had been intimate. She groaned, “Steven.”
He shrugged, “What? A man has needs.”
“Steven! Where on earth did you hear that?!”
“Uncle Caleb.”
“I think I need to have a talk with ‘Uncle Caleb’ about what he deems appropriate to tell an eleven-year-old.”
“I doubt it would do any good. Me’ maw's been having ‘talks’ with him for years, and she claims it hasn’t done a lick of good.”
There was a long pause when he seemed to be contemplating something, and she was trying to dispel the knowledge that he knew she and Jake had been having sex. Fervently hoping he thought that they were just kissing.
He started chewing on his lower lip looking like he was about to say something. He opened then closed his mouth, only to do it again. He concentrated hard on looking at his feet. Finally in a small voice that drew her head down a little closer to be able to hear him he said, “Del, if I could have anyone in the world for a mom, it’d be you.” With that he launched himself at her, wrapping her in a big hug before quickly pulling back. Before she had time to react he headed up the stairs.
Her throat was clogged with tears when she halted him by calling out. “Steven,” she said. He half turned, partially hiding his face. She detected a trace of moisture in his eyes. Barely suppressing her own tears, her voice thick, she said, “If I could have anyone in the world for my son, it’d be you.”
He just smiled as he rushed up the stairs. The limit for emotional talk for an eleven-year-old being exceeded for the evening. She had sat on the sofa crying silent, happy tears. How long she sat there she didn’t know. Eventually she made her way upstairs to Jake's room. She shrugged out of her clothes. Crawling under the covers of Jake's big bed, she felt wrapped tight in the glow of Steven’s words. They had been a balm to her soul. She had suffered for so long thinking she would never be a mother. She marveled in awareness that Steven had already become the child of her heart.
Jake eventually came in while she drifted half awake, half asleep. She heard the rustle of clothes before the bed dipped behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tight, his front to her back. He buried his face in the nape of her neck, his chest expanding as he breathed her in. He had done this many times over the past few weeks, each time seeming to give him comfort of some kind. He'd pull her tightly against him before relaxing, his breathing deep and even. She slipped back into restful slumber feeling the last of the empty places inside her heart fill to the brim in completeness. She was a loved one.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Del completed him and she completed their family. Steven’s adoration for her was just as sure, if not as potent, as his own. If she left, Steven would be just as devastated as himself, and it was his fault. He had practically moved her into their house, needing to have her there when he came home, or just to wake up next to. Jake was beyond being able to take things slow. Not when everything in him wanted to make things permanent.
He had never been this out of his head for a woman, and he kept waiting for this insanity inside him to lessen. He tried talking himself into believing she was just a regular woman, no different than any other woman he had ever been with. He had been a fool to try. Just seeing her made him run hot and cold. She made him feel completely irrational. He would walk into the kitchen and she would be making a snack, swaying her hips as she sang along with the radio in a horrible, off-key voice. And he would be punch drunk gaga for her, all over again.
Every day she eased a little more into the easy banter and camaraderie that was his and Steven’s family life. Her joy at being a part of a family was so clear on her face. Each time she pulled away, or hinted at being an outsider, they reeled her back in. Then she would glow at the realization her presence was welcomed. Much more than welcomed, her existence had quickly become the center of their world.
She took inventory of their favorite things, overcome with joy if they liked something she cooked or did for them. His heart filled with love just thinking about it. Steven had crashed on his bike, tearing up his knee and arm. When Jake had insisted Steven was fine, and had worse crashes, Del had looked like she wanted to bust his head open for such a careless statement. She had insisted on cleaning Steven’s injuries before patching him up, crying the whole time. She had insisted she hadn’t been crying as she had swiped her tears off her cheeks, again and again. She then made Steven sit propped up on the couch the rest of the day while she made cookies and fussed over him. It had been enough to make Jake a little jealous, wanting to come home injured himself.
Although Steven had chafed at being treated like a little kid and was horrified when Del started crying, Jake could tell the snot was basking in the motherly fussing. She plumped pillows behind his back and brought him treats. She waited on the kid like he had lost a leg instead of getting scraped up. Jake had let her, knowing it made her feel like part of the whole. And he wanted her to feel like they needed her, like they couldn’t live without her.
After learning her life had been very limited he constantly planned things he wanted her to experience. She grew so excited at the little things they would do and the little day trips they would take. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction to Texas. She had never been on an airplane or out west. She had never been on a ranch or ridden a horse. When talking about his desire to take her there, her eyes had grown large. He thought she would say something about fear of airplanes or meeting his parents, but Del being Del threw him off by saying, “You know, I’ve never really seen a cow up close. Our county only had pigs. Can I pet one? Can I milk one?”
He laughed. “You can definitely pet one. They're not that soft and stink, but you can pet them. You gotta be careful around them cause they're huge, lumbering things that piss in rivers that splatter everywhere, but you can pet them. They're not dairy cows though. They're meat cows, so no milking.”
“What? What do you mean meat cows? I thought after a cow couldn’t milk anymore i
t would become meat.”
He had to pinch himself to hold back his laughter, which he knew she wouldn't appreciate. She was already blushing in embarrassment. “Okay, I guess that was a stupid thought process,” she said. “But I never wanted to think too deeply on where my burgers were coming from.”
Her eyes had filled with tears when he had explained that a steer’s life purpose was to become T-bones, New York strip steak, and hamburger. Their hides were used for purses, coats, and shoes. She took this in, sniffing back her horror, her face puckered up in a frown. She was quiet for a minute, and he could tell she was trying to come to terms with that in which was his family’s livelihood.
Finally with regret she said, “I don’t know if I wanna meet the offspring of my shoes, Jake.” They both looked down at her cute little leather sandals, with her pearl pink toe nails sticking out the tops, for a beat.
“Well,” he said. “It could be a reunion of sorts. You’d be bringing part of a family back together.”
She gasped before a giggle popped out, turning into full gales of laughter. “That is awful, Jake!” But she was wrapping her arms around his waist, smiling up at him when she said it. Tears still played in her eyes, but delight was clear on her face. His desire had kicked in, always just below the surface. Never leaving him completely. Not with Del in his life. He found himself seeking private moments with her more and more.
They were taking Steven and his friends camping for Steven’s birthday. Both the guys thought this a brilliant idea upon discovering Del had never camped out. She seemed to like the outdoors, and if all went as planned he would have her all to himself in a secluded spot under the stars. He was ready to ask her to marry him. He loved her more every day, and the thought of her being his forever was like a balm to his soul.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Delia had lived under some pretty rough conditions. She figured camping would be a piece of cake. Obviously she had grown softer than she realized over the years. Not that it had been horrible. It had its high points. She just wasn't sure she would be quick to do it again anytime soon. It definitely would have helped had she not felt so run down. Lately she was tired all the time.
They drove up in an SUV Jake had borrowed from a co-worker/friend. He only had the single cab truck, and it wouldn't make much sense to take a squad car camping. The drive in had been beautiful. The lush green peaks and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains were one of the most majestic sights she had ever seen. They arrived without incident and set up camp by midday.
They were pretty secluded in what Jake called a primitive campsite. Meaning no electricity, no running water, and to her horror, no bathrooms. At least the site was off a rough driving trail, so they were able to park near it. They had found an outhouse half a mile from their camp. The rough planked shanty housing the toilet had plenty of daddy long legs, but no door or toilet seat. Jake assured her that he had brought plenty of toilet paper. He said he would have the boys dig a hole near their campsite, to make going to the bathroom easier for her. She had dumbly smiled and nodded, not reassured in the least.
That's when she began to think she had made a mistake coming along on this trip. But the guys were so excited to take her on her first camping trip. She couldn't be too sad she came. She figured she might as well get the most out of the experience as she possibly could. Pasting on a big smile, she pulled out some treats the ladies had made them for the trip. She hoped a little sugar would perk her up. That's when she noticed the ants had gotten into the box of goodies. Jake said next time they'd be more careful to stick that sort of thing in a cooler or a sealed container.
Hiking had been fun. Or maybe it was the endorphins from running blindly down a trail giving her a false sense of happiness. Steven and his two friends Will and Evan had spotted a snake, and she embarrassingly had taken off through the woods. Jake had to track her down and then he warned her about bears. She hoped he had been kidding, but she wasn't brave enough to ask. She should have looked up bears in Blue Ridge Mountains before they went camping. Now that she thought about it, there were many things she should have looked up before their camping trip, like 'what to expect when camping in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains'.
Jake was lowering the food from its hanging place, hung high up in a tree by rope. She kept scanning the area. The boys were nearby making enough noise to hopefully scare off any type of wildlife that may want to visit their campsite. That's when she felt the first drop of rain. The guys seemed undaunted by the weather, keeping her from being too concerned. She certainly wouldn't melt.
They kept the fire going as best they could as they roasted hot dogs. They had forgotten ketchup and mustard but were all hungry enough not to care. The rain let up a bit and they broke out the marshmallows and chocolate for s'mores. Thankfully all those ingredients had been tucked safely away with their main food.
Everything was made better with s'mores. The boys told bad ghost stories and it wasn't long after full night had set in before she found herself yawning, ready to doze off by the fire. Jake stayed up with the boys in order to watch the fire and make sure they didn't get any ideas of wandering off. Exhausted, she passed out just as soon as she stripped down and got in the sleeping bag. She wore only a tank top and panties to bed, figuring she could put on her shorts and bra before leaving the tent. She slept until Jake got into the tent.
They had their own, and she was extra thankful she wasn't packed into a tent with four stinky guys with wet socks. Their outerwear was already musty from running around the woods and being by the fire. The rain made them even more so.
Jake had the lantern on while he got himself situated, and she watched as he stripped out of his damp clothes. “I hope the boys are smart enough to at least take off their nasty socks before getting into their sleeping bags,” she said. “Do you think the boys changed their socks?”
“I'm sure they'll be fine.” There was a deep quality to his voice he only used when he was feeling frisky. She looked up to see he was giving her what she thought of as his amorous stare. It was a half impish, half drop dead sexy look only he could pull off. It was a look that said he was feeling playful and was about to do naughty things to her body. It was causing her to have mixed feelings while out in the woods, right across a fire pit from three twelve year-old boys.
“Oh no,” she whispered. She was suddenly very aware and concerned they may be overheard. Even as she said it, her nipples were beading in reaction to him.
“You want to play the reluctant maiden, star shine?” Jake said, opening up their double sleeping bag she was already in. She shook her head in the negative, but he only smiled. “Where's your sense of adventure?” He said this cupping her bottom to pull her close to him. He gave her ass a playful slap. That never failed to turn her on. Then another. The sound was thankfully muffled by their sleeping bag.
His touch and scent, now so familiar to her, wove through her senses. She could feel his presence when he was in the same room with her. It was as disconcerting as it was comforting. She couldn't be around him without feeling at least a low level of arousal. Her body always ready and craving his touch.
“The boys are going to hear us,” she whispered. Scolding him even as she cuddled further into his body. He just felt so good. He buried his face in her neck, nibbling away. His stubble caused an inadvertent giggle to escape her mouth. She could feel her body flush, on the fast track to heating up. She was forgetting why she wanted to cool things down.
He pushed a hand down the front of her panties, his nimble fingers quickly finding her wet center. She moaned. He shushed her. “You need to be quiet, remember star shine?”
Dammit. She did remember, and why was that turning her on even more? Ever since their little episode in Jake's office where he spanked her and she had brazenly gone down on him, he had been pushing her boundaries. Just thinking about all the things he'd done and made her do over the past two months, was turning her on.
Jake pulled her tank top up and
over her head. Tossing it aside, he lowered his head to love on her breasts. She usually loved the feel of his stubble abrading her delicate chest but it was almost too much. Her breasts had been so tender lately. Her overly sensitive nubs throbbed at the extra attention, shooting sparks straight to her core.
His hands moved to drag her panties down her thighs as he sucked hard on a nipple. She nearly cried out. She kicked off her panties, biting back a moan. He moved over her, settling between her legs, pinning her down with his weight. His mouth covered hers in a drugging, seductive kiss. His kiss made her lose all conscious thought. She thrust her hips, wanting to rub up against his hard length pressing against her core. Teasing her with its presence alone.
His hands worked over her body, finding all the places he knew excited her most. She could feel herself growing even more wet and ready. Reaching down, she pushed at his boxer briefs, wanting to feel him inside her.
He shimmied his underwear down to mid thigh, and she groaned the second his hot, naked, hard flesh came in contact with her intimate flesh. He rolled her to her belly, then pushed her thighs impossibly wide across the width of their double sleeping bag, before covering her with his body once again. Whispering low in her ear he said, “I want you to be a good girl for me Del, and keep these pretty thighs spread wide, just like this.” Then he moved her hands up on either side of her head. One at a time, he wrapped her fingers around the outside the sleeping bag. His erection intimately pressing up against her slippery core the entire time. “And you're going to keep your hands right there. No letting go or you're going to get punished.” He whispered this, followed by, “And don't forget to keep real quiet.”