Distracted: An Everyday Heroes Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Michelle Fernandez

  “Do you know your daddy’s name?” I’m going to hell for interrogating a five-year-old.

  Lily shakes her head. “No. Why do you want to know? Is it because you love my mommy and want to be my daddy?”

  My head jerks back at the sudden switch. “I . . . uh, well,” I stammer, scratching the top of my head.

  How do I answer her question? Sabrina said she wanted to take it slow. Do I tell this little girl how much I love her mom and that I have since we were kids? How would she take it? I don’t want to scare her, but I’d be telling her the truth. And the way Lily is, she wants the truth.

  My eyes move above Lily’s head and the vision before me would make any man drop to his knees. Sabrina takes my breath away as she catches every spotlight she walks under. Her hair is pulled up in a ponytail, exposing her neck.

  She’s breathtakingly beautiful.

  Sabrina angles her head and gives me a smile that makes me want to kiss those soft lips of hers. “Hey,” she says as she scoots in next to Lily and diagonal from me. “Sorry, every bathroom line was super long.”

  “I was beginning to worry. Glad you came back in time. I almost called for a search party,” I say, then wink at a giggling Lily.

  “I’m finished, Mommy.” Lily lifts the paper carton. “Now can I have ice cream?”

  Sabrina kisses Lily’s forehead and wipes mustard from the side of Lily’s mouth with a napkin. The exchange is intimate and my heart swells, watching them giggle as their wiggling noses touch.

  “How about you let me eat first, Lil?” Sabrina tells her. Sabrina takes a bite of her hotdog while Lily pays attention to the people tossing rings at the booth.

  “You have some relish on the side of your mouth,” I say, pointing to her lips.

  “Where? Here?” Sabrina wipes the wrong side.

  “Let me.” I reach across the table, slide my thumb across her lips, and lick my finger. “Delicious.”

  Our eyes lock and her fuck-me eyes look back at me. A soft moan escapes as she takes another bite. Jesus-fucking-Christ, she’s teasing me. How the hell am I going to get through the night without touching her?

  I need her. I want her.

  Maybe it’s too soon to think this way as my mind wanders to the future. Sabrina in my lap, my arms wrapped around her, hands caressing her eighth-month pregnant belly as we watch Lily play in front of us.

  What I must do is crystal clear as I look at Sabrina and Lily.

  I need to make this work with us. I need Sabrina in my life. I need Lily in my life. My stomach churns and my chest is tight, imagining them away from me.

  We belong together.

  “Who’s up for a game of ring toss?” I clap my hands and Lily’s eyes practically pop out.

  “Are you going to win me the giant unicorn,” Lily asks.

  “I’m going to do my best.” And I’m going to do my best to win both of your hearts.

  Sabrina

  “You don’t have to carry her in. I can do it, Spencer.”

  “You’ve got that monstrosity,” he whispers, referring to the giant stuffed unicorn I’m carrying. Spencer must have spent at least a hundred dollars at the ring toss to win this toy, not to mention the other three small unicorns in Lily’s arms. “Where is her room?”

  “Up the stairs, first door to the left,” I reply as I set the keys and my purse on the table near the front door.

  “That’s your old room,” he says with a smile.

  “You remember?”

  “How can I forget?” His eyes lock on mine for a beat, then Lily squirms in his arms.

  “Let’s get her to bed before she wakes up,” I say, and he follows me up the stairs.

  Spencer enters the room and gently places Lily on the bed while I grab her nightgown.

  Lily releases a snort as Spencer carefully removes the stuffed animals from her arms and puts them on the dresser next to the dimly lit lamp. “I can’t believe you still have this,” he whispers, picking up the strip of black and white pictures we took in a photo booth at the mall when we were kids.

  “Of course I still have that. It was the day we picked up your tux for your senior prom. You looked very handsome that night. Your date, Dawn, was it? She was very lucky to have you as her date.”

  “You should’ve been my prom date,” he says, placing the strip back on the frame.

  “Shoulda, coulda, woulda,” I say.

  “There will be no more of that,” he claims.

  I remove Lily’s bottoms, then her top.

  “Mommy,” Lily says.

  “Yes, baby girl.” I kiss her head and slip her nightgown over her head.

  “I had the bestest time with Spencie.”

  I look over at Spencer leaning against the door frame, smiling back at me.

  “I had a blast, Lily-pop,” he says as I pull up the covers to her neck, tucking her in. “We will do it again soon.”

  “You promise?”

  “Yes,” he reassures her.

  “Good. Because Mommy had a good time too, she was smiling the whole time.”

  “It’s because you laughed the whole time. And I like it when you laugh.” I nuzzle my nose in the crook of her neck, tickling her, and she giggles. “Now go to sleep, sweet pea.” I pull up the blanket. “You have enough unicorns here to chase away the bad dreams,” I say, tucking Astra next to her.

  “And to make your dreams come true,” she finishes. “I love you to the moon.”

  “And I love you back.” I kiss her forehead and not a second passes before she’s snoring.

  I turn on the night light quietly, close the door behind us, and head down the stairs.

  What now? It’s just the two of us. It feels like forever since I’ve been on a date. Do I ask him to stay? Or thank him for a wonderful evening. God, I’m being stupid and overthinking this.

  He follows me to the kitchen, and I don’t bother flipping on the light since the night light dimly illuminates the space. I don’t want him to see how freaked out I am about all this and how I want him so badly. But, with Lily upstairs and not wanting to move too fast, I’m feeling conflicted.

  “Do you want a beer?” I ask nervously, forcing myself not to think about it too much.

  “Sure,” he answers. I quickly glance his way, telling myself it’s just one beer, we will have small talk about tonight, and he’ll leave after.

  I grab two beers from the fridge, and he takes them from me. He twists the caps off the bottles and hands me one.

  “You’re good at this,” he says off the cuff.

  I lean back on the counter and stifle a laugh. “At what? Being a mom? It’s not as easy as it looks, Spencer.”

  “But you do it so naturally.” He nudges me with his hip as he leans back on the counter next to me. We sip our beers as silence fills the dimly lit kitchen.

  “It’s funny . . . there are days I feel like a terrible mom, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Those days I would call Nonna and ask for her advice. But now, I have no idea. I’m just happy that little girl loves me with her whole heart after what I did to her.”

  Spencer turns to face me, swallowing down the beer. “What do you mean by that? What did you do to her?”

  I press my lips together and shut my eyes. Is this the right time to tell him? That Lily is his daughter? Or do I keep the secret and let him think otherwise?

  Lily is my entire world and if I come out with the truth, I’m afraid Lily will also hate me for lying all this time.

  My hands tremble at the thought and I take in a shaky breath. Not tonight. It’s too soon.

  Spencer rests the bottle on the counter and faces me. “Hey, you okay?”

  “It’s nothing,” I say through a chuckle, masking my emotions. “Thanks for tonight. You made her happy with all her new toys.”

  He takes the bottle from my hand and places it on the counter. “And you . . . Did I make you happy?” he asks as he hooks his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
/>   “When Lily is happy, I’m happy.”

  “That’s not what I asked, Sabrina.” He levels his gaze and I know exactly what he’s asking.

  “I’m afraid to answer that,” I whisper.

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Everything.”

  “You’re going to have to be more specific than that.” Spencer’s voice is low and full of desire.

  I can see a future with Spencer and how happy we can be together. But is it possible? It scares me how much I want a life with him. One of us will have to sacrifice, and I don’t know if I’m ready to give up my life in San Francisco.

  Maybe it’s ridiculous to think of these things because it’s too early, too soon. We had one night and that cannot determine if I’m going to be happy with Spencer. But he was so good with her. He made Lily laugh. And to see how comfortable they were with each other broke down the wall around my heart.

  “I’m afraid of failing as a mother. I’m afraid of what Lily will become, and most of all, I’m afraid of the future. And what you told me the other night, about making it work out, I’m afraid even to try. What if it doesn’t work out?”

  “And what if it does?” He gently kisses my cheek. “I don’t want you to be afraid anymore.”

  Our eyes lock and silence fills the room.

  “Easier said than done.”

  I stare into his blue eyes, hating how fucked I am to keep his daughter a secret and a terrible Mom lying to Lily that her father died in a car accident.

  “It can be easy. You just need to trust me.” His mouth touches my neck, sending tingles down my spine. He nips and licks down the column of my neck. “Do you trust me, Sabrina?”

  The flick of his mouth and the wetness from his tongue is making every coherent thought and doubt melt away as I let out a soft moan.

  “Spencer,” I whisper as my hands wrap around his neck. “I’m afraid . . .”

  “Let me take all your fears away,” he says between kisses. “Let me in again, Sabrina. Tell me you aren’t afraid of us because you believe I will do everything in my power never to break your heart. Tell me you believe me.”

  “I-I believe you.” How can I not if he kisses me like that? “But I’m still afraid.”

  “Then tell me what else you are afraid of,” he demands.

  “I’m afraid I’ll break your heart this time.”

  “Sabrina,” his thumb glides across my bottom lip, “let me worry about my heart while I take care of yours. Let me worship you, adore you, and love you.”

  Spencer cups my neck with his hands, leans down, and our lips meet.

  Those words were all it took for me. I kiss him back as if it could be our last kiss ever. I open my mouth slightly, and he takes the invitation. Each time his tongue touches mine, an uncontrollable sigh escapes my throat.

  “Oh my god, Spencer. I want you,” I pant.

  “I want you, too. I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you last week.”

  His hands move down the sides of my body. He cups his hands under my legs and lifts me, setting me on the counter. His fingers make their way to the hem of my shirt tucked into my jeans and he pulls the fabric over my head, tossing it to the side.

  My body tingles from head to toe. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way. He’s all I’ve ever wanted; all I will ever need.

  My heart speeds up as he pulls down the strap of my bra, leaving kisses on its trail. He cups my breasts, his thumbs graze over my taut nipples through the lace, and I’m completely done. I could orgasm just from his touches alone.

  My hands are on his chest and I push him back. “We have to stop this—”

  “Sabrina, I’m so fucking hard for you right now. Please don’t deny what we both want. I need you, baby, please let me make you feel—”

  I press my hand over his mouth to stop him from talking. “I was going to say, take me to bed, Spencer.”

  Without warning or any effort, Spencer scoops me up from the counter and races out of the kitchen. “Which room is yours?”

  “Go to the guest room down here,” I say, holding onto this neck. “Lily will hear us if we go upstairs.” He picks up his pace and heads down the hall to the room. He kicks the door open with his foot and kicks it closed behind us.

  “What if she wakes up and goes looking for you tonight?” Spencer asks as he sets me down on my feet and locks the door behind us.

  “I think you tired her out with all the fun and games,” I say.

  “Well, now it’s my turn to tire you out with my fun and games.” He pulls his shirt over his head, and holy shit, his body is even more perfect than I remember, if that’s even possible. The ridges of his muscles, the firmness of his chest, and that damn V is making me horny as hell.

  My mind is reeling, my heart is about to explode, and my thighs are throbbing for what’s coming. And if I remember correctly, he made me come more than once.

  As much as I want to tell him the outcome of that unforgettable evening, I don’t. I want this night to be about us, rekindling and redefining.

  “What game do you want to play first?” I ask playfully, taking two steps back and he takes one step toward me.

  “First thing, you need to remove your shoes and jeans,” he says, pointing at my legs and feet.

  “And if I do, what prize do I get?” I slowly toe off my shoes and unzip my jeans, leaving on only my panties and bra. Thank god, my undergarments match and I wore my lacy nude.

  “You are so damn beautiful,” he says, his voice full of silk and seductiveness.

  “That’s it? I get a compliment as a prize?” I question with so much bravado and the raise of a brow. “I was hoping I get to win a giant unicorn.”

  “You want my unicorn, baby?” He takes another step forward and before I can step back, his arm swoops around my waist, pulling me flush to his warm chest. “I’m going to give you my giant unicorn and make all your dreams come true.”

  It feels like forever that I’ve felt desired. Being a single mom, working full time, and focusing on Lily to make sure she has the best. I love my daughter with all my heart. But I also miss this adoration and feeling precious.

  As I look into Spencer’s blue eyes, there is no doubt he wants to make my dreams come true, at least for tonight.

  “Spencer Hayes,” I say as I run my fingernail over his Adam’s apple and down his chest, “that’s a hefty proposition you’re offering. You sure you can hold up your end of the bargain?”

  Spencer gives me a cocky smile that boosts the throbbing between my thighs. I want him so bad I almost can’t contain myself when the feel of his hard cock in his jeans presses against my stomach.

  “Oh, I’ve got something hefty for you,” he says, guiding me slowly toward the bed. The backs of my knees hit the bed, and as soon as I sit, my hands unbuckle his belt. He wraps his fingers around my wrist. “No. I told you I am going to adore and worship you tonight. Lie down, now,” he demands.

  I do as I’m told, letting him have control because I am so tired and weak from holding up my walls. A few beats go by and his stare goes hard as he grazes my body.

  “Spencer.” My voice is a plea, wondering why he’s standing next to the bed while my body yearns for him.

  “You’re so fucking perfect.” He slowly crawls over, shifting his weight, his denim-covered legs between my bare ones, spreading them apart.

  He pulls down the lace, my breast exposed, and his finger circles my nipple, teasing and taunting it. Then he repeats the same with the other breast, making me moan. I close my eyes and my back bows from the sensitivity. His touch is intimate, as if he’s cherishing this moment.

  He takes my nipple into his warm mouth, his tongue rolling over the bud, and my fingers comb through his hair. My god, this feels so good, his tongue tasting and sucking me. When he releases, he blows on my wet nipple, sending sensational chills throughout my body. Then moves to my other breast, and repeats the same motion.

  He reaches behind my back
and unsnaps my bra, pulling it off and tossing it to the side. He’s on his knees and he removes my panties, slowly and seductively, as his fingers leave goosebumps down my legs.

  I’m naked and vulnerable, yet I feel free and confident. Even in the moonlit room, I see his gaze, full of arousal, move from my head to my toes and back to my eyes again.

  With my legs spread, his mouth starts at the top of my foot, moves up my leg, and between my thighs. My anxiety spikes when I feel his lips at my center.

  He stops as his fingers float over the tattoo, our S tattoo. “I remember this day,” he says and presses his mouth on my skin. “Do you regret it?”

  My fingers run through his hair and I suck in my bottom lip as I look down at him. “No. This tattoo symbolizes who we are. The dares, our youth, our history. Hot and cold. Near and far. Love and hate . . .”

  “No more cold.” He presses his mouth on the ink. “No more far.” Another kiss. “And no more hate between us,” he finishes with another.

  “Promise?”

  “I promise.” He lifts my legs over his shoulders. “And I promise I’m going to make you feel so good. I’m going to fuck you with my mouth, and you’re going to be begging me to stop and begging for more.”

  Without preamble, his ravenous mouth meets my center and I immediately moan out his name. Spencer licks, nips, and sucks every sensitive part of my pussy.

  I can’t speak. All I can do is release a gratifying whimper from the sinuous strokes of his tongue on my throbbing clit.

  I’m biting my bottom lip, so I don’t scream and wake up Lily, when he inserts a finger inside me, then another.

  My fingers tangle in his hair. Long strokes lick my clit.

  Teasing and begging.

  Gentle and assaulting.

  My orgasm climbs as his mouth tastes my wetness and he finger-fucks me to the point of no return.

  A moan escapes my lips and my head falls back. He lifts my legs and throws them over his shoulders. His tongue pushes inside me this time, making me want to hold him there.

  Pleasure ripples through my body and I don’t know how much more I can take, yet I don’t want him to stop.