by Ava May
“Yes.”
“Good. Now let’s get back to the business of breakfast. Everything else will work out, Melissa. I promise.”
Melissa couldn’t quite believe her life. Even though they’d only been dating for a month now, Glenn had changed her life. She’d done some scenes with him, both at his home and at the club, gently dipping her toes into the BDSM waters. He’d recommended they do this slowly, that the evaluate what her needs were as well as his. BDSM wasn’t one kink fits all. That had become his mantra and something she, too, lived by. If it wasn’t fun, they didn’t do it again, but if it was fun, they’d explore a kink at all different angles.
She found she loved to be blindfolded, but hated any other sort of sensory deprivation. He’d found that her hands bound by cloth were much more of a turn on than when she was cuffed. He liked her trimmed close and not shaved, and she liked him manscaped. She loved giving him blowjobs when in a scene and he didn’t like rimming.
It was an exploration that when above and beyond who they were to each other, or even their bond in or out of the office. Some days, it was just them, the kink fading deep into the background, and some days, she came into his house itchy and ready to be taken hard, in any way her Dom saw fit.
Melissa pressed the inside of her wrist, where a bruise was just healing up. The little throb when she pressed inward reminded her of how much her Dom cherished her, and that was something to be celebrated.
“What’s new, Chicken?” Cathy asked one afternoon when Glenn was off and it was just the two of them. They’d lost an office manager to an interstate move and the billing person, a nerdy college guy named Frank, wouldn’t be in until the weekend.
“Not much,” Melissa replied. “What about with you?”
“I’m seeing this guy. Ray, he plays rugby on the weekends. He’s English. You know how that is.”
Did she? How could she? Melissa had never dated anyone English.
“How is it?” she asked.
“Oh, he’s a little aggressive, a little too caveman for me. Every guy seems to think he needs to prove something because of the book and movie thing. You know the one I mean?”
Melissa nodded. So, this wasn’t a British thing, was it? Then how could Melissa know? She yanked her sleeve down, covering her wrist, and Cathy’s eyes knowingly tracked her movements. Shit. This wasn’t good at all.
“Who is he?” Cathy asked, looking concerned, motherly almost.
“Who?”
“The man who hurts you.”
“I’m not hurt. We just like it a little rough sometimes.” What else could she say? “It is totally consensual.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Melissa bit her lip. “It’s a guy I’ve been seeing. My friends and I ran into him at a club. He works downtown.”
“And yet he never picks you up or visits you here.”
“He’s busy,” Melissa replied, knowing how lame that sounded. “I promise, he’s okay. And hey, if it all works out, I’ll bring him to the Christmas party.”
“I’d like that,” Cathy replied.
“So what is it about Ray,” Melissa pressed. “Do you not like what he does, or is he going too far, or what exactly.”
“He’s just a little too rough. He thinks I like it harder than I do.” She gave Melissa a thin smile, and Melissa realized she’d have to proceed with caution. “I’m not being hurt, I’m just uncomfortable after sex because he goes so hard and fast.”
“You should tell him.”
“Maybe I will.” Cathy pulled in a deep breath and Melissa sensed that the conversation was done for now. “You know, I think Doctor Glenn is seeing someone pretty seriously.”
“You do?” Melissa asked, watching her friend’s face for any confirmation that she knew who he was seeing. “Why do you say that?”
“He looks happy,” Cathy explained, motioning toward the back of the building, where Glenn’s office was. “And he’s humming. I think he’s seeing someone and that person, whoever she is, is a pretty lucky lady. A doctor and a gorgeous one to boot. You know, in the movies and on TV there are always guys like McDreamy from Grey’s Anatomy, and not Doctor Neil with his thinning hair and very unfortunate nose.”
“Doctor Neil is a dentist.”
“Close cousin to a doctor,” Cathy said with a shrug and a laugh. “Look at this, we’re all seeing people. It’s like an office first, isn’t it?”
“Frank’s seeing someone?” Melissa asked.
“A little nerdy girl, just like him. See, there’s someone for everybody. What do you think Doc’s lady is like. And where did he meet her. Think maybe she’s one of our patients?” Cathy drummed her fingernails on the desk, and Melissa had the sense that if she could, she’d start running down the list of potential patient booty calls for Glenn. Which was not good. At all.
“That would be unethical, and Doctor Glenn is anything but.” God, did Melissa have to sound so uppity. She would have rolled her eyes at herself, but Cathy was doing the same.
“Some day, Doc is going to come off the pedestal you have him on,” Cathy said gently. “I hope it isn’t a hard or a painful fall from grace.”
“Me too.”
Glenn looked at the text message, and couldn’t stop the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. It was from Melissa and had come in two hours after he’d arrived home after a visit to his family. He’d wanted to bring her along, but they couldn’t let the office be understaffed.
He’d have to make some arrangements soon, because he and Melissa were here to stay, and he had no intention of changing that. She was a hell of a woman, tolerant of his moods, gentle with him when she needed to be and firm when she needed to be. They’d found a happy balance of leaving their lifestyle at the club, while being equals on their other off work hours. It was the best way for them to have a healthy relationship. Glenn wanted to take it to the next level, to bring her into the family scene, to see if she could manage to get along with his three kid brothers and their wives, to see how she treated his parents.
He’d met her mother several times, but Melissa didn’t like exposing him to that part of her life. And that was just the word she’d used. Exposed. As if he hadn’t been round heavy drinkers before. Her mother drank more than she did anything, including cleaning or being involved in her daughter’s life, and Glenn wanted more for Melissa. He wanted her to move in with him. He wanted them to take it to the next level.
Glenn read the text message again. Message when you get in. We have to talk.
“We have to talk” was never a good phrase, in his experience, but he thought that he and Melissa were rock solid. There had been a little bit of a whirlwind to begin with, but they’d settled in to what he thought was a great routine of dinner at his place a couple of times a week, followed by TV or reading, and a couple nights at the club every week. They’d explored each other in and out of bed, and Glenn couldn’t be happier with Melissa.
I’m home, he texted back. You coming over?
Give me ten.
She wasn’t at home then. Her place to his was twenty in no traffic. She’d known when he’d been returning home and though she didn’t have a key yet, she could have sat in the lobby of his building until he arrived home. He needed to work on getting her a key, as long as this wasn’t a goodbye moment.
A goodbye moment? What the hell was he thinking?
Glenn paced around his apartment, trying to settle his emotions, trying to make sense of what might be going on. He knew he hadn’t misread the situation; she cared about him as much as he did about her. He’d banished Melissa’s self image situation weeks ago, and she seemed not only more confident, but more comfortable in her skin. They had to figure out the work situation, but that would work itself out in time; he was sure of it.
By the time Melissa knocked on his door, Glenn had worked himself into a panic and when he saw the expression on his face, he had to work to keep himself calm. What was it? Her mother? The office? Cathy? Frank? W
hat had happened?
“Hi,” he said to her, pushing his panic aside. Shoving his feelings down was part of his dominance and it served him well here. When she hesitated, he led her into his condo, pulling her into a hug.
She wrapped her arms around him and sank into his embrace, her head settling on his shoulder. Okay, they were okay. He could breathe, even if it was in short, shallow breaths.
“Are you okay?” he asked, feeling foolish. It was pretty damn clear that she wasn’t.
“No,” she said, pulling back and cupping his cheek. “Glenn, honey we have to talk.”
“Okay…” He followed her into the kitchen.
She sat down, reaching into her purse and bringing something out, a tissue wrapped package that looked vaguely tongue depressor shaped. She took a paper towel from the rack in the center of the kitchen table and put the bundle on it.
“I haven’t been feeling well for the last couple of weeks. It was nothing I could put my finger on...Can you please sit down? You’re intimidating me.”
“Sorry.” He started to sit beside her and then thought the better of it, taking a seat in the chair across from hers.
“Thanks.” She gave him a smile and it was a glimpse of his beautiful Melissa again, though he had the distinct idea that whatever she had to say was going to be a game changer for them both.
“I took my temperature, and I was fine, and there have been no outbreaks of any strange diseases that we need to worry about. Turns out that the easiest solution is what it is.”
“What?” he asked, resisting every urge to grab the package and open it.
“Glenn, I’m—we’re—pregnant. It must have happened that first night when we didn’t use anything.” She unwrapped the bundle and he looked at the pink lines, strong and decisive. She was pregnant. They were expecting.
“Wow,” he finally managed, tears pricking his eyes.
“What does that mean?” she asked, her voice trembling, eyes glistening with tears that threatened to fall.
“Knees,” he said hoarsely and her eyes widened. They didn’t do scenes at home, and this would be the exception, but he had to be sure.
He had to be positive this was real.
“Hands behind your back,” he instructed his own tears flowing. “Eyes on me.”
“Yes, Sir.” The uncertainty in her voice underscored her confusion, but she did as he said. And that was the beauty between them, the bond he knew would take them far, in and out of the scene.
“The safe word is no, Melissa. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Melissa, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Sir!” She jumped up and into his arms and made Glenn the happiest man in creation.
THE END
Rebound with My Dad’s Best Friend
Rebound with My Dad’s Best Friend
Chapter 1
When I pulled up in the cul de sac and lugged my bags up the front steps, I expected Tawney to answer the door. But it wasn’t. In front of me stood Evan Travers. He was shirtless and wore loose fitting shorts. His chest was tan and sweaty and his light brown eyes shined.
“Well, well, if it isn’t little Zoe Moore.”
I tried to smile, but failed. “Hi Evan, long time no see. Is my dad around?”
“No darlin’, he’s out of town. I’m watching the mutts for him.”
I nodded, and he moved to let me through the doorway, grabbing my bags in the process.
“Are you home for good?”
“Yep,” I replied, not in the least bit interested in explaining why I was running home to my daddy when I had been living with my long-time boyfriend. We’d been dating since we were fifteen, and I had just moved in with him six months ago. Now I was home and not happy about it at all.
He followed behind me and settled my bags against the wall. Before I was able to sneak away, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. I sucked in a breath when my cheek met his sweaty chest as he ran his hand through my short hair. I’d cut it off trying to make a change—a drastic one.
“You hair is short.”
“Yep.”
“What’s going on, Zoe?”
I shook my head and hugged him closer, breaking down for the first time since I’d walked in on Wes and Alicia. I’d thought something was going on, but I shrugged it off. It wasn’t until I went home early from work a few nights ago that I found out I shouldn’t have just ignored the signs.
“What did the little punk do?”
I pulled away and stared at him with tears in my eyes. “What does every man do?”
His brows drew in and he frowned. “Not all men are cheaters, darlin’.”
I shrugged. “Well, he was. But it’s no big deal. Just five years of my life. I’m back to start over. I haven’t talked to my dad so he doesn’t know.”
“I won’t tell him. He usually calls every night to check on the dogs.”
Shaking my head, I sighed. “I’m just gonna go lay down. It’s been a long night.”
“Go ahead. I’ll bring you something to eat, darlin’,” he replied, smiling.
I wasn’t sure what it was, but he seemed different. I’d grown up around Evan. I don’t know how many nights he was the one I’d gone to because my dad was out of town and Evan had taken it upon himself to stay here to take care of me. Not that he had to because I’d learned early how to take care of myself. It was like he was here to watch over me. He was my guardian angel.
“Thank you.” Then I trudged up the stairs. I hadn’t stuck around long after Wes made Alicia leave. He tried to apologize, but really, how stupid would I have had to been? I walked to the left and pushed the first door open. Dad had left it exactly how it was since I was probably fourteen. I kicked my shoes off and curled up on my bed and sobbed. I hadn’t had a chance before. There was too much rage.
It wasn’t long before I felt the dip of the mattress and Evan’s large body wrapped around mine. “Shh. It’s okay, darlin’, you can do better than a boy who obviously doesn’t know what’s right in front of him.”
“It was with Alicia.”
Evan’s intake of breath didn’t surprise me. Alicia, Wes, and I had all pretty much grown up together. She was my best friend since we were in kindergarten.
“Then screw ‘em both.”
“Yeah, that’s what they were doing, all right.”
He chuckled and then I felt his lips on my bare shoulder. “It’s not funny, really, and I’m sorry you’re hurt. But he didn’t deserve you.”
“She’s everything I’m not. Thin, pretty, and apparently more experienced than me.”
“Hey now, Zoe. You’ve got a lot of that wrong. You’re beautiful and your curves are sexy as hell. Boys like Wes just don’t know how to appreciate the curves of a real woman. As for experience, a real man would understand why that was such a good quality.”
I turned and faced Evan. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“Oh hell, darlin’, I always have, but it’s hard to ignore now. You’re a beautiful young woman. Any man would be lucky to have you.” He kept his eyes on mine until I licked my lips. Maybe coming home was a good idea after all. I’d always had a crush on Evan. He was tall and built. No one would have been able to guess he was nearly forty.
“Does that include you?”
His eyes widened. “Especially me. But Zoe you’re hurtin’. I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not fair to either of us.”
I nodded, understanding. I hadn’t known he thought of me as anything other than a kid. Instead, I brushed my lips on his and smiled when his eyes fluttered shut. “Thank you,” I whispered. Any other man would have taken advantage of the situation. Instead, Evan held me close until I fell asleep, and when I woke up the next morning he was gone from my bed.
I took my time in the shower, washing away all of the hurt. I needed to bounce back. There were so many things I had to do to get my life back. I dried my body and sl
id on my cutest panties. I wanted to feel sexy, because I certainly hadn’t felt that way in recent days. Wes hadn’t touched me much for the last few weeks, and now I understood why. He wanted thin, and that wasn’t something I was. I had always been a bigger girl, and that never seemed to bother him. I thought he loved me. It turned out I was very wrong.
Chapter 2
When I went into the kitchen, Evan was making breakfast. The scent of eggs, maple, and sausage filled the air and my stomach rumbled. I loved food and I especially loved Evan’s cooking. “That smells good.”
He turned around and his eyes widened slightly. I was wearing a halter dress and between my breasts was a ring for the keyhole look. The dress was striped and airy. It was one of my favorites that I hadn’t worn in a long time.
“Morning, Evan,” I said and smiled. I felt much lighter. In the shower, I sobbed and cried my last tear for Wes. I knew it would be a while before I actually felt better, but it was a good start. The look on Evan’s face was enough to give me a little boost in my self-esteem.
“You look beautiful, darlin’.”
“Thanks.”
“Hungry?”
I nodded and sat down. He placed a plate in front of me and I licked my lips. It had been too long since I’d had his cooking. Wes never cooked and he didn’t like the kinds of foods I did. I wasted no time digging in and blushed with a mouth full when Evan chuckled. “Sorry,” I mumbled.
“Don’t worry about me. I love how much you enjoy my food.”
I nodded, smiling. “You’re the best cook ever.”
“Your dad called this morning.”
“Oh?”
“I didn’t tell him you were home, and he extended his trip, so it looks like it’s just you and me for a while, darlin.”
I licked my lips and smiled. “That could be fun. Dad will only tell me to get over it. I know I need to, but I’m not him. He’s more emotionless than I am.”