by Mia Ford
“Your house is so pretty. I can see everything.” She declared as I laughed. The way he was with her melted me on a daily basis. Alex took care of her like he did me and she looked at him like a father figure given that she’d never had one. He was filling every part of that role right now and I had to walk away to look outside.
Alex got her settled in front of the huge TV with some popcorn before he pulled me back to his room. ‘Are you okay?”
“This is happening fast.” I told him as he pulled me against him.
“It would be faster if you would have told me about this earlier. I’m scrambling now.” His tone lightly reprimanded me, and I pressed my face into his chest.
“It was nothing. Just some calls until the window. I am on the third floor and breaking it wouldn’t give them any entrance. It was probably just some kids messing around.” I told him as I breathed in his outdoor scent.
“Or it wasn’t.” He shot back as I sighed. “How bad was he, Soledad? I’ve seen the fear in your eyes sometimes. It’s this flash and I see your wheels turning to calm down.” His voice was gentle as he stroked my back. “You can talk to me.”
I pulled back and kissed him hard, needing his mouth. I was having issues transitioning from that to what we were becoming, as much as I loved watching him take care of us. Alex returned the kiss for a moment before pulling away. “He’s never met Lindsay. He doesn’t know her. This is about me for whatever reason.” I told him as Alex pressed his forehead against mine.
“I will do everything it takes to protect you. I am finding out everything I can about this guy.” Alex assured me before he brushed his lips against mine. We returned to Lindsay and made her spaghetti for dinner and made it like a sleepover. Once she was tucked into the large guest bedroom, I walked out into the living room to see him sipping a beer. It was Saturday and we could do this off the cuff tonight, but tomorrow was Sunday. Rosie watched Lindsay for me, so I could work. I wasn’t going to disappear on everyone months into my employment, particularly since I hadn’t told any of them too much about Keith.
Even Millie.
She knew that we didn’t see Lindsay’s dad. I told her what I told everyone about him abandoning us and left it at that.
“I am going to try to find you another place to live. That complex isn’t gated, and I need you secure.” He told me as I sat next to him. “Carly has several properties.”
“I like my apartment, Alex. It’s home to us. We’re on the highest floor and it would take some doing to get in without the key. You made sure of that.” I reminded him as I reached for his bottle.
“I didn’t know that there was this threat,” he murmured as I wondered if there even was. We were fine in Mendocino and I managed to avoid him. He knew that Michael hated him and didn’t come to our office. Michael knew everything about it and thinking about him made me sad. He was the one that told me Keith left after I did, heading for LA. He listened to everything in town.
“It might not be. I’ve avoided him in the past.” I said as he stared at me for a long moment. “I’m here because of him. Keith was settling in too well in Mendocino and I came here to start over. I didn’t want Lindsay to have to deal with it.”
“Did he hurt you then?” Alex asked as I shook my head. He didn’t. Keith just liked watching me scramble to avoid him and the stress it caused me.
“No. I just wanted my own life.” I was talking to Michael about helping him online if he branched out, but no plans were made yet. I was busy at work and loved my job. I was starting to love everything about my life right now and Keith was not going to ruin that for me. “Mendocino was small. I loved it, but it was small and somewhat remote. This is a city with people everywhere. I love it here.”
“You’re going to stay here, Soledad. I’ll see to that because I can’t imagine my life without the both of you now.” Alex stared into my eyes and I saw the feelings there. He didn’t tell me that he loved me, but the words spoken were the same thing for me. Alex was a part of my life and my daughter’s now and it broke my heart to picture leaving him. I watched as he leaned in to kiss me, first softly and then harder. I pressed into it, craving him as my nipples strained in my shirt.
His tongue danced with mine as he slipped a hand between my legs to find me hot and wet for him. I was wearing leggings and his finger grazed my clit as I held in a moan. His loft was large, but we still had a child here.
We stood and moved to his room, closing the door before he carried me to the bed. I was comfortable doing this now, knowing how well Lindsay slept. We also both accepted that interruptions happened even though they were difficult. Tonight, he pressed me back against the bed to kiss me hard. I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me, needing him deep inside of me.
We stripped quickly before he slipped inside of me. We’d stopped using condoms since I was protected. He knew that he was clean and tested himself to prove it once we decided to be exclusive. I loved the feeling of his bare cock inside of me, knowing that Alex could feel everything. Alex slid deep, pausing to enjoy it before drawing back. He moved hard, and I sensed it helped with the tension inside of both of us as I rocked with him. I needed it as fast as he did, and we moved together, my hands sliding down his back.
Chapter Ten
Alexander
I jerked inside of Soledad, knowing how hard I was going to come. This feeling that came along with protecting her and Lindsay was settling deep inside of me as it moved into various emotions. I knew that it was coming out as I fucked her but the way she was moving with me told me that she needed it as well. I felt her tightening around me as she moaned my name, coming over my cock. I grabbed her feet and lifted them to my chest before I started fucking her hard and deep. She was tight and wet as I moved, feeling something deep inside of me.
I came, filling her with one rough jerk. I’d been sleeping with Soledad for a few months now and every time it got better. She was it for me as much as Brent teased me and I loved making her mine. I knew that I loved her, and it made this worse. I wanted to murder the mother fucker for messing with her, regardless of how much it was to stress her out.
I let her legs drop as I allowed the waves to take me over, my cock aching from the hard release. Soledad was breathing heavily underneath, and I took a moment to look at her in the moonlight. She was beautiful as her skin flushed from her own release and I pulled out of her and dropped to my side. I pulled her into my arms, considering my thoughts as I kissed her hair. “You feel so good,” Soledad murmured, sounding sated and tired.
“Move in with me,” I said as she froze.
“What? I thought I was just staying here for a while. What about Rosie?” My heart heated at the concern for her friend and second mother.
“I can get her into a place nearby. I’ll always take care of her since she helps so much with Lindsay.” I watched as she seemed to consider my offer.
“Will that affect work?”
“No more than it isn’t already. We’re keeping that separate well now and work comes first. I just want you close to me when we’re not working.” I couldn’t believe that I was saying this to a woman. I didn’t consider the idea seriously but now that she was here, I wanted them both to stay.
“I signed a lease at the apartment. What are we going to do about that?” She asked as I shrugged.
“She can rent it out to someone else at an astronomical rate. Carly will like that.” I said it sarcastically as Soledad took me in. I regretted sleeping with Carly the few times that I did but it was done. She knew how much I cared for Soledad from that first night and seemed to accept it. I heard her laugh and pulled her closer to me.
“Is this because of the situation? I can stay with other people for a while until things settle down.” She offered as I considered her words. It was based on the situation to a degree, but I wanted her here. Were the few close friends that she had here able to put her and Lindsay up comfortable and make it convenient for Rosie to watch her? Probably not
. “Millie lives close to the office.
“I don’t think your young, single friend have enough room for the both of you.” I reminded her as Soledad rolled her eyes. “This made me think of the idea but seeing you both here makes me know what I want. You both mean the world to me.”
“Alex,” she murmured, leaning over to kiss me. “I feel like I should transfer at the office or something. Dating is one thing but living together is different.” She let out a breath. “Living together. Wow.” I knew what she was saying because I’d never thought about this as anything else than an event in the far future. The loft seemed huge when I bought it but now I had to make a room for Lindsay and figure out the third. Would we have our own kids down the line?
“I know. Sleep on it and we’ll talk tomorrow.” I told her as I let my eyes drop closed. I was tired emotionally from everything going on and surprisingly didn’t want her again in lieu of sleep.
I woke up to the sound of voices and looked around my room. Blinking, I tried to place who it was. Soledad? Yes, but there was someone else and I smiled as I remembered that Lindsay was here. I rose to use the bathroom and slipped on some clothes to head out to the kitchen where Soledad was sipping coffee with her hair pulled into a messy bun. “Good morning, beautiful.” I told her, kissing her hair as I reached down to rumple Lindsay’s long hair. “You guys hungry?”
“Pancakes?” Lindsay asked as I grinned. I poured some coffee and mixed banana pancakes in a bowl as Soledad watched, seemingly deep in thought about something. Was she thinking about my question?
I cooked the flapjacks and served them up on three plates as Soledad brought them to the table. She had gotten a glass of orange juice for Lindsay and watched her take a long drink. “Did you sleep well?” I asked the little girl as she smiled at me and nodded.
“Your bed is so big in there. I woke up and got to see the sun come up over the water. So pretty.” The idea of that made me groan but it was gorgeous. I’d gotten the chance to do the same after coming home just in time for the sunrise.
“You do have a good view of it from there,” I agreed as Soledad chuckled. I wondered if there was a nap in Lindsay’s future. We finished the meal and I asked what they wanted to do, seeing Soledad’s eyes darken.
“Let’s go to a park.” Lindsay piped up as I gazed at her mom. “How close are we to the park by our house?”
We were a few blocks away and I searched my mind for parks nearby. I grabbed my phone and went to google it, seeing a message from the investigator I had on Keith. I paused to open the message and read it twice before the words sank in.
Keith was a monster. He had a record of domestic violence and petty crime but a wealthy father in California. That got him out of most long sentences to where he served little time and was free to terrorize the people of his choice. I blinked and forced myself back to reality as I felt Soledad staring at me. “There’s a big park around the corner that has everything. Want to go there?” I looked at Lindsay smiling back at me and then Soledad, gripping her cup tightly. “We’re going to get ourselves together, Lind. We’ll leave soon. Want to watch something?”
Soledad got her settled in front of the TV before we went back to my room to grab clothes. “What happened in there?” Her voice was terse, and I looked at her as I got shorts and a t-shirt for the unseasonably warmer day.
“I got a text from my PI. Keith has a lengthy record of abuse and small crime. There’s even a stalking charge in there that was dropped at some point.” I watched as she closed her eyes and dropped to the bed.
“I knew he did it to others.” Her words were soft, but they told me how hard it had been for her. “I felt so selfish because I was free of him. I didn’t let myself think about them.”
“He has a wealthy daddy that bought him out of everything and I don’t think the punishment is enough to begin with. You did the best you could.” I pulled her against me as I listened for the sound of laughter from the living room. I’d do anything to keep that little girl happy and safe. “You’re only twenty-three. You were so fucking young.”
“I want to stay here. I want us to be happy.” She whispered as she trembled in my arms.
“You will.” I let her shower first and joined Lindsay in the living room, asking what she was going to wear. She’d brought a few different things and while looking out of the window, decided that a skirt and her favorite t-shirt would be perfect. I watched as Soledad walked out with damp hair. She was wearing jeans and a pale pink t-shirt, looking gorgeous. I moved into the hallway to shower and slipped into shorts and my own t-shirt. I languidly jerked off under the water, wanting Soledad again but knowing that I needed to wait.
I grabbed my keys and we walked down to the car, getting Lindsay inside before we took off. We were both in a good mood for her, but I could see the worry in Soledad’s eyes. She watched as Lindsay ran to the massive structure, hurrying behind her as her eyes canvased the area. I didn’t realize how big this place was in terms of safety with the text I’d received. I walked after her and my eyes dragged over everyone as I wrapped an arm around her. “We’re fine.” I assured Soledad as she watched her daughter carefully.
“It’s been years. Why now? He never approached me in Mendocino. He just watched and made me scared enough to leave. He got to me. Is that what this is about?” she asked as she stared at me. “What if he just goes away?”
“Did he call back then?” I asked as she shook her head.
“He’s called work and the cell. I think he wants to hurt me this time.” Her voice was a whisper as she watched Lindsay with a manic expression.
Fuck me. He knew the cell number. I made a note to call the company and get her another number that couldn’t be found. We’d only give it to certain people at the office that knew her and swear them to secrecy. I stared at her as I realized this must have been her life for the last few years. I knew why she hadn’t been with anybody. She was trying to be a mom and take care of her daughter as she slowly fled from place to place. She’d never had a happy experience raising Lindsay, not like a normal mother.
I needed to end this. I reached for my phone and sent a cryptic message to get details about Keith. I needed other options. We took Lindsay to a local museum and wandered around slowly, taking in her enthusiasm, and trying to decompress. “I need to tell Rosie what to do.” Soledad told me as I looked down at our joined hands.
“I’ll put her into the nice hotel around the corner for now. She can come to my place to watch Lindsay. It’s a secure building and they’ll be safe.” I told her as I heard my voice called out. I turned my head to see Kathy, an assistant to one of the other managers. She was with two kids and I noticed that she took in Soledad beside me, who was staring intently at Lindsay.
“Hello, Alexander. How are you?” Kathy asked with a bright smile on her face.
“Great, Kathy. This is my girlfriend, Soledad and her daughter is the one trying to climb on the tree over there.” I chuckled as I watched her, sliding down for who knows how many times.
“I’ve seen you at work. It’s a pleasure to meet you. These are my twins, Zack and Logan.” She beamed at the small boys proudly and I searched my memory to try and remember their birth. I really did keep away from my staff since I was drawing a blank. We made small talk for a few minutes before she went running after the kids. I knew that Soledad wasn’t into it and she pulled me over to where Lindsay was drawing.
“I guess the whole office will know now.” Her voice was low as I searched her face for her reaction.
“We’re out in public and have been for a while. They’re going to know, and I don’t give a fuck.” I knew that I was getting tense and she stared at me. ‘Sorry. This is getting to me.”
“I want you to ask what you asked me last night because you want it completely. Not because you feel like you must protect us. I hate this timing when I’m so crazy about you,” Soledad said softly as I stared at her.
“You are?” I asked as she glanced at me before w
atching Lindsay.
“I haven’t so much as gone on a date since she was born. I knew the moment I looked into your eyes that I was a goner even as scared as I was.” She smiled slightly and shook her head. “I wanted it to be perfect and completely separate of my old life. I wanted Lindsay to have everything.”
“She does, and she’ll continue to do so. She has both of us wrapped around her little finger.” I assured her as I smiled at her. “I love you both, Sol.”
“I love you so much. I’m sorry I’m so much trouble.” She told me before I kissed her hair.
We returned home to have some lunch and watched Lindsay doze off on the couch. I called to set Rosie up in the suite of the hotel around the corner after Soledad called her. She was watching me in bed as I dropped my phone on the mattress. “It’s room 1235.” I told her as she raised an eyebrow. “Should I start looking for an apartment for her as well?”
“You still want that?” Soledad asked as I smirked. I crawled over to her, reaching under the sheet to tug her pants down. I carried Lindsay to her room after she passed out on the couch, so her door was shut.
So was ours.
I tossed the pants to the floor and maneuvered my body under the thin cover and between her legs. Soledad moaned as I stroked my tongue over her, finding her deliciously wet. She always was. “I love the way you taste.” I murmured before going in for another firm lick.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about the other night.” She told me as her hands gripped my hair. “The way you fucked me so hard made me feel alive at a time when I was struggling. Meeting you made me feel like I was breathing again.” I pressed my mouth over her and sucked her nub into my mouth as she groaned softly. “Oh, God.”
I made her come that way before she stripped and climbed over me to ride my cock. We had to be quiet to a degree, but I felt the way she rocked slow above me. I was buried inside of her and gripped her hips as I came. She whimpered as our release joined together and dropped onto me, her skin pressed against mine.