by Claire Adams
“I love you, too, Kadie,” I said.
So simple, and it was already over. All the pain of the past few years suddenly felt distant, as if it was some strange dream I was finally waking from. My real life was the girl and the woman before me, the two people filling the hole in my soul.
I glanced over at Aspyn.
A single tear leaked down her face, but she wiped it off the second I looked at her. She shot me a smile and then turned to Kadie.
“Why don’t you finish up, sweetie,” Aspyn said, “so we can get to your bath?”
* * *
After Kadie’s bath and the rest of her bedtime routine, including a few stories, she was lying in her crib. She was too big for it, I thought. I was glad that I ordered her a toddler bed for my place in addition to a crib.
No. Our place. I needed to think of it that way so Aspyn would start to think that way.
Aspyn and I headed to the couch to watch some TV, flipping through the channels. It wasn’t like we really cared all that much what was on. I think we both just wanted to enjoy sitting together, holding one another. After that, we headed to bed.
She hadn’t asked me to stay, but she didn’t seem to mind I’d invited myself over for the night. Whether there was an unspoken invitation, or I was assuming too much wasn’t clear. I didn’t really care either way.
As we lay together in her tiny bed, snuggled up, the warmth of our bodies mingling, we didn’t talk. We didn’t need to. Everything felt comfortable and familiar, like we’d been together this way for years.
I closed my eyes, and my thoughts drifted back to dinner.
“Is Kadie smart?” I asked, breaking the silence and opening my eyes. “You know, like super smart?”
Aspyn’s face twisted into confusion. “What? Why are you asking about that now?”
I shifted slightly, pulling her tighter again me. “I’m not around a lot of little kids, but she’s around two and a half, right?”
“Yeah.”
“But she talks so much. Most kids her age don’t talk that much.”
“How would you know? You just said you’re not around a lot of little kids.”
“But I’ve seen those other kids your mom watches. Most of them are like, ‘Give milk,’ or ‘I pee.’” I snickered.
Aspyn laughed. “You making fun of toddlers now, Alex?”
“No. I’m just saying our daughter’s smarter than them.”
“Listen to you, Mr. Proud Daddy.” She shrugged. “I talked in full sentences when I was her age too.”
“My dad said I barely talked until I was 4.”
She winked. “I guess we know who she takes after.”
“Yeah, I guess we do.” I laughed and nuzzled her neck. “Okay, just wanted to know. Goodnight, Aspyn.”
“Goodnight, Alex.”
I closed my eyes again, and Aspyn rubbed my back until sleep took me. When my dreams came, they were of family and happiness, not fire and blood.
My soul knew what I needed to be happy.
Chapter 31
Aspyn
My eyelids fluttered open, and a tattooed and heavily muscled torso greeted me. I inhaled deeply, enjoying Alex’s male scent. I could get used to waking up to this every day. Addictive, very addictive.
I pulled away from his arms to peer up at his sleeping face, a grin coming to my own. The weird thing was that we’d not even had sex the night before. That was a good thing, I thought, because it proved that whatever Alex and I had together, it went beyond some lust in the sheets.
As much as the idea scared me, I knew it was that way for me, but it’d been hard for me to be sure about Alex. Men were men, and you never knew which head they were thinking with.
I wasn’t sure why we hadn’t screwed. Maybe it was because I was spent emotionally from what had happened at dinner. Kadie didn’t seem fazed at all. It was like she’d always known. Maybe a kid could sense their parents in some way.
I wasn’t sure whether she just realized it or just accepted that this man who had shown up and was spending so much time with her must naturally be her daddy. The why didn’t much matter, I figured, only that she seemed happy. That’s all I really cared about.
That meant one big problem was handled. Alex and I still had a lot of things to figure out, but if Kadie could accept him, that meant we at least had a chance together.
I accepted now that I did want to at least try, or at least I owed it to my daughter to try. Not saying I was ready to ask Alex for a ring or something, but I could see us together as something other than only as Kadie’s parents. I still wanted to be careful about this because I couldn’t help but wonder if he was using me in a way.
I thought that over as I watched the rise and fall of that wonderfully sculpted chest of his. So nice. So damn lickable. But having a nice body and being great in bed wasn’t enough. He had to really want me for me.
Alex hadn’t returned to Livingston for me. He’d returned to help heal, and he’d started to do that. What would happen after he finished healing?
I took him at his word that he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d bought a house and land, after all. I also believed he did want to be there for Kadie.
None of that was the same as saying he’d be satisfied with me once he decided his head was on straight. It wasn’t like there weren’t other pretty girls in town.
I smirked. Maybe I’d need to show Alex what I had to offer.
I lowered my mouth to his chest and ran my tongue over one of his firm pecs. He didn’t stir. Either he was pretending, or I needed to up my game.
My tongue slowly trailed down his chest and then his flat stomach, before reaching the hint of hair peeking out of his underwear.
Our blanket went sailing to the ground with one quick toss. His underwear, though, I inched down slowly. At this point, I wanted him to enjoy his morning surprise.
Grasping the base of his cock, I took his head into my mouth, running my tongue along the slit. Alex let out a quiet groan, and I grinned to myself. Apparently, I’d already woken him up. It was time to really go to work then.
I ran my tongue up and down the length of his now-hardened cock, swirling at the top like I was tasting the world’s best lollipop. After another groan from Alex, I wrapped my hand around the now slick shaft and then started moving it up and down in time with my mouth, taking the huge cock deep into my throat, almost gagging at his huge manhood.
With my free hand, I reached down to tease my clit, my own pleasure building as I worked on him.
Glancing up, I spotted Alex’s eyes fully open as he let out another quiet groan. I sped up. Sucking and popping sounds filled the air as my mouth and tongue continued to work on Alex’s stiff rod.
He sat up and grabbed my head. I blinked and looked up at him, stopping mid-suck. I savored the saltiness in my mouth for a moment before he gently pulled me off his dick.
“What’s wrong?” I said, keeping my voice low. I thought I’d been doing a great job. Maybe he disagreed.
“What’s wrong is that I want to be inside you when I come,” Alex said, his eyes hooded with lust.
I swallowed as he suddenly darted down the bed on all fours. He grabbed me and flipped me onto my back.
“Oof,” I said. “You’re damn eager.”
“You got me nice and ready,” he murmured. “Nice way to wake up for sure, but now I want to fuck you until you scream.”
I bit my lip, his words making my center burn. “Condom,” I managed to get out.
I’d originally planned to pay him back with my mouth for what he did with his on Monday. Of course, had I been thinking more, I should have realized it would go further. Not like I had a problem with that.
Alex grunted and rolled to his side to rifle through the nightstand. I wasn’t even sure if I still any condoms left, but it was our lucky morning and he found a couple.
He ripped the foil and lifted a condom. I watched, still on my back, my head to the side, as he rolled the latex sheath over hi
s throbbing cock, the same cock that had been in my mouth and throat moments before.
I rolled onto my side, staring at Alex, drinking in the corded muscles covering his body. I could appreciate his tattoos, but I almost wished he had no ink distracting from those fine muscles honed over a lifetime of hard work, first as a swimmer, then a construction worker, and now as a rancher.
I circled my clit with my hand, the heat continuing to build up, my nipples hard. I ached to have him filling me, ached to have him fucking me.
His cock now secured in the condom, Alex crawled down the bed until he hovered over me, his arms on either side of my head. His hot and eager breath caressed my face.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Aspyn,” Alex said. “Every time I see you, I want to just bend you over and pound you till you scream.”
I couldn’t find any words. All I could do was stare into those hungry gray eyes and lick my lips in anticipation.
He spread my thighs and scooted forward until his cock hovered right in front of my hot center. He lifted one of my legs over his shoulder and then rubbed his head against my already soaked pussy. All my clit attention and my own excitement at giving him head had prepared me.
I still gasped as his tip parted my folds.
Alex inched in slowly, not shoving in, all but crawling forward with his strong arms, slowly sliding his stiff cock into me. All the while, he grinned down at me.
The anticipation almost excited me more than the sensation of my insides slowly spreading. Even slick and ready, Alex was still almost too much for me. Pleasure mixed with pain as he pushed even deeper inside me, stretching and filling me to my limit.
I let out a quiet moan as he finished seating himself in me. My insides quivered around him as his cock throbbed. My toes curled.
A small part of me regretted the condom. I would have loved the feel of him inside free and rubbing against me, but we’d already proven we could make babies all too easily, even when we weren’t trying. I probably should have only risked sex with Alex when I was using both the pill and a condom, but I couldn’t help it now. My center and heart both ached for him.
Alex slid his hips back, pulling another moan from me, and then pushed forward. The next thrust wasn’t slow. Instead, he yanked back and slammed into me. There was no pain at this point. I was more than wet and stretched enough.
Each invasion of his manhood shot a jolt of pleasure into me and fed the growing fire inside my center. Somehow, he managed to shove into me even faster. I reached down to tease my clit in time with his coarse hairs rubbing against it.
My eyes closed, and the pleasure blasted the few real thoughts left in my head. My breathing turned ragged. Pants more than breaths, really.
I wrapped my arms around his neck as his cock shoved into my tight channel again and again. The hard planes of his chest brushed against my hardened peaks. The sounds of our flesh slapping together filled the room along with moans. His? Mine? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t care. The pleasure consumed my mind.
Alex changed angles and jackhammered into me. My insides twitched, and the delicious warmth spread through my entire body. The sensation threatened to explode inside me.
“I don’t want to come until you do,” Alex grunted between breaths.
“Almost,” I moaned out.
I don’t know how he managed to somehow find even more speed. He changed angles again, and each thrust now sent lightning from my center to the rest of my body.
Lost in the feeling, I wasn’t sure how much time passed before my climax ripped through me, a glorious wave of pleasure shooting to the very tips of my toes and fingers. My muscles tightened around the cock pounding into me. I bit down on my hand to avoid screaming.
Alex’s face reddened, and his cock swelled. He cried out his release. He dropped to my side, draping an arm over me, and slowly pulled out.
Sweat covered my body. My insides still twitching, the warmth of my orgasm still lingered and cascaded through my body in weakening waves.
We lay there together for a few minutes, entangled in each other’s arms, spent from our sex, only listening to each other breathe.
“I could get used to waking up like that,” Alex said.
I laughed quietly. “I think it’s a good thing it’s the weekend, or I’d end up late for work.”
“It’d be fun.” He kissed me lightly on the forehead. He nuzzled my neck. “But it’s Saturday. We could go again.”
I tilted my head to give him better access to my neck. “Kadie’s gonna wake up soon, and she’ll need breakfast.”
Alex pulled away with a smile. “Okay. You want to come and help me with the new house after that?”
“You want me to spend my Saturday painting?” I made a face.
He laughed. “Nah. Yesterday morning, the stuff for Kadie’s room came in. I was gonna work on that. Figured you might want to help with that.”
The idea of going to another house to set things up for Kadie felt strange, but at the same time, the idea of doing it together with Alex felt so right. I didn’t trust my judgment after morning sex, but I couldn’t deny the fire in my heart.
“Okay,” I said.
He gave me a gentle kiss, and his face lit up like Christmas lights.
Chapter 32
Alex
The next couple of hours passed in a blur. Aspyn got Kadie up and dressed before cooking some breakfast for all us.
It was a nice enough morning, nothing special. No revelations about parentage, no more steamy sex, just a man, woman, and their daughter having a meal and laughing together.
By the time we all piled into my truck to head to my place, I was feeling more than a little satisfied. I’d worried about so many things in the last couple of weeks, but everything was turning out for the best. Happiness wouldn’t be snatched from me as long as I manned up and lived up to my responsibilities.
I could see myself spending every morning like I’d spent that Saturday morning, but I didn’t see it happening at Aspyn’s cramped little space but at my new house instead.
We didn’t talk much on the way there, content to be near each other for the moment. Even little Kadie was quiet but wore a smile on her face.
“We’re here,” I said, pulling in front of my house.
Kadie clapped, her face lighting up with excitement. “Yay. I want to play with Daddy’s blocks.” She held up a doll she’d brought along. “She wants to play.”
I laughed. “Sure thing, sweetie.”
“I hope you washed those things,” Aspyn said, a hint of disdain in her voice. “Those blocks have probably been sitting in a closet since the World War II.”
I laughed. “The McMillians aren’t that old.”
“Just saying.” She shrugged.
“She played with them before and didn’t get sick,” I said with a grin as I stepped out of the truck. “I hate to think Tennessee kids are so soft these days, they can’t handle a few wooden blocks.”
“I like blocks!” Kadie shouted.
Aspyn rolled her eyes and pushed back her seat to help our daughter out of her car seat.
I still planned to do what she wanted. I didn’t care much about washing some old, dusty blocks. But I hoped this didn’t mean the start of too much prissiness.
Even if she didn’t end up moving in with me anytime soon, she was still going to be staying with me, and I was a rancher. I was going to be the kind of man who came home sweaty and dirty, not in a nice suit.
As we walked to the front door, my gaze cut to Aspyn. Did she want the guy in the nice suit instead? I furrowed my brow at the thought.
After all, even though she’d never left Livingston, she wasn’t exactly working at a ranch either. She worked in city hall on a computer.
Even in high school, she’d been more of a girly-girl sort. As far as I could remember, she’d ridden a horse a couple of times her entire life, and she didn’t like it.
It didn’t matter. Kadie would learn to love the outdoors, and she
could make her own choices.
I almost laughed at the thought. I’d gone from not even knowing I had a kid to worrying about her choices 20 years in the future.
Soon, we were all inside. I grabbed the box of blocks from the other room and then led mother and daughter upstairs to Kadie’s bedroom.
I carried the box into the empty playroom next to it and placed them in the center. I figured she couldn’t hurt herself too much considering all the furniture was still boxed up.
Kadie happily tore into the blocks, her doll at her side.
I stepped back into the bedroom, where Aspyn was looking around with a slight frown on her face.
“This is a lot of stuff,” she said.
I laughed. “What? Regretting agreeing to help? It’s not so much. We just got a toddler bed, a crib, a dresser, and some shelves. I have some chairs and a desk coming, but that’ll still be a few days.”
I would have loved to take Aspyn into the master bedroom for a little fun, but not much we could do with Kadie awake. As much as I loved my daughter, I was quickly learning how kids could be a major cockblock.
“A toddler bed and a crib?” Aspyn said.
I shrugged. “She’s still sleeping in the crib at home, but I figured she’s gonna be out of it soon.”
Aspyn’s lips pursed for a second, and she nodded. “What about the other room?”
“Oh, just some shelves and such. I still need to order a little couch for her. I wanted her to pick it out.”
Aspyn crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. “That’s a lot of money.”
“Not gonna be cheap when it comes to my little girl,” I said. My gaze wandered the room until I spotted my toolbox.
She looked like she wanted to say something else, but her mouth remained closed. I wondered if she thought I was running myself dry. I could understand. It’s not like people usually got rich working construction, but I also didn’t want to explain to her how much money I had and risk her accusing me of trying to buy my way into Kadie’s life again. My jaw tightened at the thought.