by Wendy Smith
I love this kid with everything I’ve got.
I place him down on the couch so I can eat. My stomach grumbles. “I can’t wait to introduce you to this kind of thing, mate. Your mum’s not a fan of scallops, but she loves fish. And we can go fishing at the cove and catch them really fresh.”
I wolf down half the scallops as Eli looks around. He screws up his face.
“Oh, buddy. Are you getting hungry?”
He lets out a whimper, and I pick up another scallop.
The whimper turns into a wail.
“Okay. Let’s go get you sorted.”
I pick him up and carry him into the kitchen. There’s a bottle of milk in the fridge, and I boil some water to warm it up. It won’t take too long.
He lets out a lusty cry, and I rock him. “Hey, buddy. It’ll be ready soon. I’ll check your nappy.”
I grab a nappy, wipes, and the change mat, and settle him on the floor. He doesn’t smell, but I blow out a breath at the sight of a mini poo explosion.
“Dude. No wonder you’re pissed. At least the nappy covered the bit up your back.”
It takes a few wipes, but I clean him off and slip a clean nappy on.
I pop him in his bouncer, then I wash my hands and return. “Is that better, my little man?”
He screws up his face and lets out another cry. I hold my finger to my lips. “I’ll just check that milk. Don’t wake your mother.”
The milk has warmed, and I scoop him up in one arm. Sitting back on the couch, I offer him the bottle. He sucks on it with gusto, gulping it as fast as the bottle will let him.
“Dude. I know you do that feeding from Mum, but ease up.” I shake my head.
As if on cue, my stomach gurgles, and I look down at the food on the table. Soon.
Eli swallows the milk, and I lift him over my shoulder, gently rubbing his back. I laugh when he lets out an almighty burp.
“You’re worse than me, kid.”
With two smaller burps, he settles back into my arms and I rock him gently. He yawns, and I can’t take my eyes from him. My son.
It takes a few minutes, but his eyes close, and I smile. At least Constance won’t have to worry about him for a while once she wakes up. Although, she was so tired she could probably sleep longer than he does.
I sit with him a while longer, watching Eli sleep peacefully, and knowing that if he’s not sound asleep, he’ll be awake again as soon as I put him in the bassinet.
My heart is so full. How did I survive even three days away from him and from Constance?
When I place him in the bassinet, he lets out what sounds like a sigh. I hold my breath, fully expecting his eyes to open and for him to roar for his mother.
Instead, he surprises me with sleep, and I stroke his head.
Time to finish this feed and wait for Constance.
After demolishing more of the food and putting the leftovers in the fridge, I settle back onto the couch and flick on the TV. About half an hour later, Constance emerges from the bedroom.
She runs her fingers through her hair and yawns. “Where’s Eli?”
I reach for her hands. “Fast asleep. He had a bottle, and I changed his nappy, and with a bit of rocking, he was out like a light.”
She pouts. “Why won’t he do that for me?”
“You smell so good, he can’t resist.” I grin. “Seriously, I read that babies can smell their mother’s milk. You’re a source of food and distraction for him.”
She smiles, and it fills my heart. “I guess that makes sense.”
When she sits beside me, I wrap my arms around her and pull her in tight. “I understand it. You’re a huge distraction for me. And I’m not the breastfed baby.”
Constance laughs, burying her face in my chest.
“I love you. And if Gary wants me to go back anytime soon, I’ll say no.”
She shakes her head. “You still need to work.”
“I know. But you and Eli come first. And I don’t want you to get overwhelmed again.”
“I just have to learn to cope.”
“We’ll work things out. In the meantime, I’m going to heat up some food for you, and then I’m going to run a bath for us.”
She leans back. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. We can’t have sex yet.”
I run my finger along her jawline. “No, but I just want to be near you. If you’re okay with that.”
“I’m so okay with that. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too. I much prefer your body next to mine in bed than being alone in a sleeping bag on the hard ground.”
Constance smiles. “You’re so sweet, Corey Campbell.”
I shake my head. “It was just a matter of finding the right body to want to be with.”
She laughs softly, and for a moment longer, I sit with my eyes closed, my arms around the woman I love.
“You must be hungry,” I say.
Constance nods. “Starving. I’m always hungry now I’m breastfeeding.”
“Gotta keep up Eli’s food. He just gutsed that bottle. It was like he thought it was his last meal.”
She grins. “He feeds like that all the time.”
“And then he let out a huge burp.” I twist my lips. “He really is a lot like me, isn’t he?”
When she nods, I laugh and stand. “I’ll go and sort that food out.”
When I return with a plate laden with food, I watch her eat. She already looks so much more relaxed than she did when I got home, and a warm bath will help even more.
She’s been through so much. I tried to make life as relaxing as possible for her when she found out she was pregnant, and she let me after everything she’d been through. But being kidnapped by Ash, and his flagrant disregard for her life, scarred her more deeply than she ever lets on. She’s had nightmares for months.
Not that she tells me.
They seemed to stop when Eli was born, but I’m acutely aware that her experience will still be lurking in the back of her mind. It lurks in mine, too.
I thought she’d left me. Then I thought he’d killed her.
Those ideas haunt me, especially when I go away. Even though Ash is long since buried, I’ll never forget the sight of him with the gun against her head, his hand tight around her throat, choking her.
She’s talked to Victim Support through the police, but maybe now she needs more.
I need to get a real job. One where I can work days and come home to her at night. One where I can be here when she needs me. I’ve lived a fairly transient life up until now, and it’s suited me. I work every few weeks and it pays the bills, but maybe I need to get consistency.
The thought is alien to me.
But I’d do anything for her. For my family.
Dad worked a regular job. We had him there for us at nights and on weekends. I’ve just never thought about anyone other than myself because I didn’t have to.
Now I do.
The tub’s big and deep. It’s an old one I bought years ago that came out of a demolished old Victorian house.
It’s the best thing about the bathroom. But it takes an age to fill.
Constance is worth it.
I miss being intimate with her. I’d be fooling myself if I didn’t acknowledge how addicted I am to sex with my girl. Where I could take or leave physical intimacy before, I have this craving for her that’s unparalleled in my life.
The past few weeks have been frustrating, but I also want Constance to take the time to heal and be ready for me. However long that takes.
I flick off the taps when the tub’s full.
“Constance,” I call.
After tugging my shirt over my head, I throw it to the floor. My jeans and underwear follow, and I step into the tub.
The hot water soothes my muscles. I hadn’t realised how tired and sore I was until I got in.
Constance appears in the doorway. “You started without me.”
I don’t miss the appreciative gaze that she runs ove
r me. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other naked this way.
Although, she has yet to disrobe.
She takes some steps into the bathroom.
I grin as she stares down at me in the tub. “Come on.”
Constance grimaces. “I don’t know if …”
“What are you afraid of?”
She shrugs. “I don’t want to strip off in front of you.”
“I’ve seen you naked a million times. I like you naked.”
“Not since I had a baby.”
I swallow hard. I’ve never given her cause to think I wouldn’t find her body attractive. At least, I don’t think I have. I watched this powerhouse of a woman give birth to my son, and there’s nothing but pride and admiration in my heart for her. “Baby, you’re beautiful. Nothing’s going to change my mind. Get naked, and get in this tub.”
Uncertainty crosses her face, and she takes a deep breath. After raising her nightgown over her head, she throws it to the floor.
I drink in the sight of her.
Her breasts are bigger, but I already knew that from before Eli’s birth. Her skin still bears the signs of a baby having been inside her, silvery stretchmarks crossing her tummy which isn’t as flat as it once was.
She’s so beautiful.
“Corey?”
“You are fucking magnificent. Come here, mother of my child.”
With a small smile, she dips her toe in and screws up her nose. “You always make it too hot.”
I chuckle. “Give me a moment.” Leaning forward, I run the cold tap for a few seconds. “Try that.”
Constance nods. “That’s much better.”
“Get the hell in here.”
She laughs as she drops her panties to the floor and steps in, and I let out a low whistle as I get the full sight of her lowering her naked body into the bath from behind.
Her back is creamy and flawless. I know my way around each and every freckle on her back, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen them all.
She leans against me. I pick up the sponge, and soap it up.
“I’m glad you’re home.”
“Me too. I think we’ll sleep well after this.”
“Hopefully Eli does too.”
I drop my head to her neck, nuzzling her skin. “Night time baby delivery service is here to help now.”
Con laughs, and I raise the sponge, swiping it down between her breasts. “You’re such a good father, Corey.”
“And you’re an amazing mother.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“You are. Even if you don’t feel it right now.” I sigh. “You know, I don’t care if the house gets messy, or dinner’s not cooked. I can take care of that. Your priority is you and Eli. And my priority is both of you.”
She sighs. “I love you, Corey.”
“You and Eli are my whole heart. If you hurt, I hurt.”
Constance yawns.
I chuckle. “Am I keeping you awake?”
“I’m just so tired.”
Running the sponge across her stomach and over her legs, I press a kiss to her neck.
“There’ll be none of that yet, Corey Campbell.”
I laugh against her skin. “I know that, but I’m still allowed to kiss you.”
“My back is pressed against your …”
With another quick kiss, I lean back. I’m rock hard being pressed against her naked body. I can’t help it. I have a craving for her that nothing can replace. “I swear my cock has a mind of its own when it comes to you.”
She laughs.
“When we get out of the bath, I’ll make us both a hot chocolate, and we’ll go back to bed together. While I was away, all I could think of was sleeping beside you.” I nuzzle her neck again. “I’ve just gotten reacquainted with my hand again. That’s done just fine.”
“Reacquainted with your …” She gasps. “Corey.”
I shrug. “It’s not often I can shock you.”
She laughs again. It’s such a beautiful thing to hear, especially after the way I found her when I came home.
“I’m just so glad you’re here,” she says softly.
“Me too. I hate being away nowadays. It used to be easy. Now it’s anything but when I know you’re in my bed.”
“You always know the right thing to say.”
“I hope so. I hope I always do. You’re the one person in my life I never want to let down.” I chuckle. “Except for Eli. I want to always be here for him, Con.”
She raises her hand behind her, running her fingers through my beard. “You will be. You are.”
“I haven’t been these past few nights.”
“You were working. And now you can spend lots of time with him until the next job.”
When we’re out of the bath and dried off, I climb into bed beside her. I’m not sure how long it’ll be before Eli wakes, but I’m not letting Constance out of this bed unless I have to. She needs her rest.
I wrap myself around my girl in my arms, and close my eyes.
It’s early days. We’ll find our feet.
24
Corey
Buzz.
I’m vaguely aware of my phone vibrating on the bedside cabinet.
Buzz.
Maybe I’m dreaming it.
“Corey.”
Constance’s voice makes me smile. Lord, how I want that woman.
When I force my eyes open, the soft light of the bedroom lamp fills the room. It’s sometime in the middle of the night, and her breasts are in my face.
Well, her nightgown with the insanely distracting neckline is in my face.
“Sweetness,” I murmur.
She laughs softly as I release a breast from its imprisonment.
“You smell like milk.”
“I just fed Eli.” She laughs.
“He woke up? I never heard him.”
She sighs. “As much as I love your offer to get him in the night, you’re impossible to wake sometimes.”
I chuckle. “Well, I’m awake now. Kind of.”
“Corey, you’re—”
I graze her nipple with my lips. A gasp catches in her throat.
After licking up her breast and back down again, I settle on her nipple. Her skin’s so sweet from feeding Eli, and I tongue it, leaving her moaning.
“God, Con, I want to eat your pussy so badly. I’ve missed it so fucking much.”
“I’m not going to stop you,” she whispers. “I wasn’t sure before, but I’m ready.”
“Seriously?” Now I’m awake.
“I’ve missed it too.” Her eyes are so full of love. “I’ve missed you.”
She laughs as I roll us over so I’m on top, and runs her fingers through my hair. I reach for the hem of her nightgown and slide it up and over her head. She sighs contentedly when I hook my fingers in the waist of her panties and slide them down.
Mine.
She was mine from the moment I met her, and she always will be. Constance makes me whole. She completes me in a way no one else ever did. My heart, soul, and my body belong to her.
I start slowly. The scent of her is tantalising, and I want to devour her, but she gave birth just over a month ago and the last thing I want to do is to rush her.
But damn it, she tastes like heaven.
I plant kisses on her thighs. She bucks her hips, and I chuckle against her skin. “Patience, sweetness.”
“I’m all out of that right now.” She reaches down to stroke my hair as I grow closer to my target. All it does is spur me on. I need her touch as much as she needs mine.
I lick up each side of her pussy before running my tongue over her clit. It swells at my attention, and I suck it gently into my mouth.
“Corey.”
I look up to see the love in her eyes.
It’s all I need.
I tongue her clit while she squirms underneath me. The tension’s building in her body, and all I can think about is pleasing her. It’s all for her.
/>
“Corey.” She cries my name as she comes, bucking her hips. I lick her clean before moving up to kiss her.
She’s so soft and warm beneath me.
I love kissing her. We’ve shared kisses since Eli’s birth, but not like this one. It’s deep and hot, and only makes me ache even more for her. “Fuck I love you, Con. You’re so fucking perfect.”
Her eyes search mine. There’s so much emotion on her face, she doesn’t even need to reply.
“Are you sure?”
She nods.
I let out a moan when I slide into her. Nothing in my whole life has ever felt this good.
She laughs, her pussy pulling me in.
“You should laugh more.” I kiss her again.
“Why?”
“Because it feels so fucking good.”
I love seeing that warmth and affection in her eyes. It’s not that it’s been missing, but it’s been distant recently.
“I love you.” She reaches up and strokes my beard.
I turn my head, kissing her hand. Her body responds to my thrusts, and I close my eyes to enjoy the sensation of her heat surrounding me.
Constance and me, we were always meant to be. I was never a big believer in destiny, but being with her has changed my mind.
This is right.
This is perfect.
This is love.
“Corey.” Her voice wavers, and I shift to put pressure on her clit. I want her to come when I do.
Her breathing quickens.
“You undo me, sweetness.”
She bucks underneath me, and I soar as my release hits. Everything’s right in our world.
I pant when I pull out and roll to her side. “What time is it? It’s not like you to wake me in the night for sex.”
She laughs. “It’s around four-thirty in the morning, and I didn’t.”
“What did you wake me up for?”
“Your phone kept going off. It was Owen to say Ginny had the baby.”
I grin. “Really?”
“A little girl named Violet. They’re all well.” She nuzzles her nose against mine. “I was leaning over to check your phone when you accosted me.”
“Are you sorry I did?”
“Not at all.” She smiles, and I take in the sight of her. Her hair’s messy, and she’s got that ‘just fucked’ look about her. All it does is make her even hotter.
