by Lauren Runow
When the last button is undone, he skims his hands along my shoulders and runs them down my arms, under the sleeves of my shirt, slowly pushing it off and onto the floor.
My skin covers with goose bumps, and my nipples scrape against the roughness of his shirt. My breaths come out in shaky pants. I’ve never been so cold yet so hot in my life. Fire burns inside me as my skin tries to control the icy swirls circling over my body.
“I’ve never felt as helpless as I did tonight,” he whispers against my neck. “Austin was in an accident, and for a few hours, I thought he was going to die.”
My head jolts up as I run my fingers through his hair. “Bryce—”
“When I lost my mother, I stopped loving. It was easier to barge full steam ahead than stop and think of how much I missed her. Tonight, I thought I was going to face that loss again, and it was like piercing a dagger through my heart. Everything felt like it was crashing down around me, yet all I could think about was you. I don’t want to lose you, too. I want to love again, and that means you. Because, when I’m with you, that pain I carry with me every day … it disappears.”
My heart pounds, and my eyes squeeze tightly. These words … they’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and now, he’s here in front of me, wanting me, owning me.
“Promise me one thing, Tessa,” he says, dipping his hands beneath the waistline of my pants and gripping my hips.
I nod, unable to speak.
“Promise you’ll never leave me again. I know I’ll piss you off. Lord knows I will. But please promise you’ll stay by my side.”
I’m not one to make promises I can’t keep. I learned that early on as a young mother, but this promise … with this man … I know I will keep this one.
I wrap my arms around his neck. “I promise. With all my heart, I promise.”
That’s all he needs to hear. Within seconds, he swipes his hands down to my thighs, shedding me of my pajama bottoms, and he lifts me in the air and up into his arms.
I’m naked, and he’s fully dressed as he spins us around and sets me on the kitchen table. Our kisses turn feverish as his clothes are ripped off—first, his shoes as I tear off his T-shirt, which lands on my counter, and then his heavy, wet jeans that land with a thud on the floor. Our hands roam like neither of us can get enough, and I wrap a leg around his hips and pull his fine ass into me.
He lifts me off the table, the soaked ends of my hair dripping onto his shoulder as he sits on one of the chairs with me straddling him. Our movements turn rougher, harder, more desperate until the moment I sink down onto him. A moan so loud, so primal, escapes his mouth as he holds on to my hips and guides my movements.
Bryce is way too big of a man for this chair. My legs are spread wide around him, but that only makes for better friction as I lift my body and settle back down onto him. My clit brushes up against his body with every sway of my hips, and the way his thickness feels from inside has me panting with pleasure. I move faster, rolling my head back with each sensation. It’s exhilarating and exhausting.
He must sense my weakness because he grips my back, bringing me into him, while his other hand holds the back of my head as he takes over, lifting his hips and pounding into me in a wildly erotic way. Like a rag doll, I let him work me from the inside out as my orgasm builds higher and higher.
His eyes meet mine as he brushes a piece of hair away from my face. “I love you, Tessa.” He slowly slides out and then back in. “I love this.” He pumps back up again. “I love the way you feel.”
My head drops back as he thrusts as rough as humanly possible.
“I love watching you lose control.”
My eyes clench shut.
“I love bringing you to the edge.”
My body goes rigid.
“I love the way your nipples peak when I’m inside you.”
He lifts me up and carries me back over to the table where he lays me down, my legs still fiercely wrapped around his body. He lies over me and continues to slide in and out of me. My back arches off the table.
“But, most of all, I love you.”
His lips lean down to mine, and I’m done for, done for this man. When he picks up his pace, I lose all control until I’m screaming his name and clenching around the body I love the most.
Waking up in my apartment next to the man I love fills me with so much hope for the future. I had thoughts of a future with him while we were in Tahoe, but now, I know without a doubt we can make this work.
Today has been the best day I’ve had in a while, and the funny part is, we haven’t done anything. Well, nothing really fun. We’ve had a normal day, but that’s what has made it so special.
After having some amazing morning sex, we took a shower together and then made breakfast, which was when we quickly noticed how my house was completely out of food. Figuring out what to eat with two pieces of frozen sausage, one frozen waffle with no syrup, yogurt, and crumbs from Charlie’s cereal was interesting, to say the least. We split everything bite for bite, laughing the entire time.
Going grocery shopping with Bryce was all the entertainment I needed. The man lives off of Amy’s frozen meals, which shocked the hell out of me. Seeing him buy things like Ben & Jerry’s Americone Dream and organic toaster pastries just showed how domestic he could be. I like domesticated Bryce.
No matter how much money the man has, he doesn’t need fancy meals or strange food. He actually cooks some dinners from his childhood.
As we make dinner together, a recipe from his mom’s collection, my phone dings with a message, saying Charlie is almost home. I’m excited for my son to come home, but the expression on Bryce’s face makes it even sweeter. It’s obvious he can’t wait to see the little man, too.
It’s almost six o’clock when the door swings open, and the red-haired boy I’ve missed so much comes running through the door.
“Mommy!” he yells, jumping into my arms.
Holding him tightly to me brings peace to my soul, and when Bryce wraps his arms around us both, I feel absolutely complete.
“How’s my big boy?” I ask. “I missed you so much.” I kiss his hair, hugging him tighter.
Charlie makes a fake choking noise. “Help me, help me, Bryce. I can’t breathe.”
“Bryce to the rescue,” he singsongs, prying my arms off of Charlie.
I act surprised and sad but then laugh out loud when Bryce brings Charlie to him and hugs him even tighter than I was.
The smile on Bryce’s face is beyond priceless. It’s perfect. So is Charlie’s. They both chuckle as he puts him down and ruffles his hair.
I turn to see Rob and Eleanor standing in the doorway, looking awkwardly at Bryce. I introduce him to them.
“Charlie spoke nonstop about Bryce the entire trip. We almost thought he was an imaginary friend,” Eleanor says.
Bryce sticks out a hand. “Not imaginary. I’m the boyfriend. Pleasure to meet you.”
Eleanor’s eyes widen at the reference of boyfriend. Mine do, too, a little. I mean, I haven’t had a boyfriend since I was a teenager. The title seems almost too juvenile for what we are. What we did last night on the table …
“We have a long trip ahead of us, so we’d better get going,” Rob says, clearing his throat.
They just drove all day to bring Charlie home, and now, they have another drive ahead of them. I might get annoyed with them a lot, but they’re kind people who look weary from a long day of traffic.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” I ask.
Charlie jumps at the idea. “Really, Mom?”
I look down at him and his hopeful expression and then over to Bryce, who gives me a shrug in agreement. I turn back to the Masons, who are staring at me like kids in a schoolyard, waiting to be picked to play dodgeball.
“Bryce made plenty of food, and I’m sure you’re sick of fast food.”
“Yes!” Eleanor beams.
“Um, yeah, that sounds great.” Rob is a little more hesitant to show his excitem
ent.
I’ve barely let the people past my threshold the last few years. Now, we’re going to be breaking bread together. Even I know this is kind of monumental.
Charlie has both grandparents’ hands in his as he pulls them into the apartment. He’s excited to show them where we live, dragging them into his bedroom. As I watch him play tour guide, Bryce snakes a hand around my shoulders and pulls me into him, kissing me on the side of the head.
“That was very big of you,” he says into my hair.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, well, someone told me family is everything.”
“Whoever said that is a genius.”
I hit him in the stomach. “Be a genius and put in two pounds of pasta. I’ll set the table.”
He swats me on the ass with his wooden spoon, and I let out a yelp before I set two more plates at the table.
Dinner turns out to be wonderful. Both the food and the company. Charlie is going on and on to me and Bryce about what he did this weekend. Rob and Eleanor chime in to explain some of Charlie’s stories, which get jumbled because he talks so fast.
“Bryce, this sauce is fantastic,” Eleanor says between bites. “You’ll have to give me your recipe.”
“It was my mom’s. She got it from my great-grandmother, who came from Calabria, Italy,” he says.
“Well, she taught you well.” Eleanor raises her glass.
“She used to tell me that a man who can cook is a man worth marrying,” Bryce says.
My heart stops for a bit when he winks at me.
When the meal is done, Rob and Eleanor don’t overstay their welcome. They grab their coats and hug Charlie good night. Nothing more needs to be said or done. This dinner was our peace treaty. Maybe, someday, I’ll feel more comfortable with Ashton talking to Charlie. Until then, we’ll work in baby steps toward that moment.
“Mom, can Bryce cook us dinner every night?” Charlie says from the kitchen sink where he’s helping Bryce clean up by handing him dirty dishes.
“Are you saying my cooking isn’t as good as his?” I ask, putting my hand on my hip and giving him the stink eye.
“Well …” he teases, rubbing his chin and looking anywhere but at me.
I laugh out loud and run in to tickle him before picking him up for a big hug. I place him back on the floor beside Bryce and then grab a towel to start drying dishes. We’re like a mini assembly line of dishwashers.
“Maybe Bryce can cook for us again, but you need to remember that he has a big, important job that he has to work really hard at, so he can’t join us for dinner every night,” I say.
“Okay, so maybe, when he gets home from work, he can cook, and we can just eat the leftovers the next day,” Charlie suggests as he tries to solve the problem of Bryce’s work.
“Baby, he has to go to his home after work.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Charlie says.
“No, I don’t,” Bryce says at the same time.
I laugh, looking up at Bryce, questioning his motive. “I sleep on a pullout.” I nudge my head toward the living room. I can’t have Bryce sleeping over when my son could walk in at any moment.
“I don’t mind the sleeping arrangement, but I see the predicament,” Bryce says, putting down the spoon and wiping his hands. “You can move in with me.”
I nearly drop the plate I’m drying into the sink. “What?”
He turns around and leans against the sink, crossing his arms in front of his body. “It’s closer to my work, and I can sneak away, have dinner with you guys, and then go back to work,” he speaks matter-of-factly.
Charlie jumps up and down. “Oh, yeah, Mommy, can we?”
“Um …” I am rendered speechless for a moment. “No. We can’t. Charlie has school. I picked this location specifically for the schools.”
“I don’t know what school I’m zoned for, but if it’s not for the one Charlie goes to, we can continue to rent this place for the zip code. Brantley can bring Charlie to school in the morning. It’ll be great. He misses having kids around. He’ll have a blast with Charlie.”
I blink a few times. “You want your driver to bring Charlie to school?”
He lifts a shoulder. “He’ll bring you to work, too. Charlie’s too young to go to school without you.”
I want to laugh at his parenting advice.
Move in with Bryce? I don’t even know where he lives. Is it child friendly? Is it safe?
Bryce wraps his arms around my waist, bringing me to him. “We’re eventually going to move in together. Might as well do it now, so we’re always together.”
“I don’t know …”
He turns to Charlie, knowing that he’ll be on his side in a heartbeat. “Wouldn’t that be cool?” He picks him up. “You haven’t seen my place yet, but I have an elevator, and I live on the top floor.” He accentuates the word top. “And guess what?” His eyes go big.
“What?” Charlie asks in excitement.
“It has a pool. And a movie screening room we can watch all the superhero movies on.”
“Ahh!” Charlie screams. “Yes, Mom, please, can we? Please? Come on, Mom,” Charlie whines.
“Yeah, Mom, can we, please?” Bryce starts in the same tone.
“Bryce,” I eye him. “Let’s just … let’s give this time.” I turn to Charlie. “We’ll see, okay? Maybe later.”
Bryce high-fives Charlie. “So, she’s saying there’s a chance,” he singsongs.
I can’t help but laugh at the two of them smiling at the chance of living together in the future.
23
BRYCE
The last few weeks have been the happiest in my life.
It’s hard. Not my relationship. That’s easy. So is spending time with Tessa and having a five-year-old around. The only problem is that my girlfriend sleeps on the couch in her living room, so it’s difficult, getting the girl naked. Not that I’ve been unsuccessful. Her friend Abby offered to watch Charlie while we went out on a few dates.
The hard part has been juggling my career without neglecting Tessa and Charlie.
Ever since we got back from Tahoe, I’ve been sneaking away from the office by seven every night, so I can have dinner with them before heading back to my office or to my apartment to finish work. I’ve played more board games and put together more Lego sets in two weeks than I have in the last twenty years.
Truth? I love it.
Tessa thought I was insane when I came home with a three thousand four hundred and forty-four piece Lego set, but it looked like the perfect weekend project. The Joker Manor is almost complete, minus a few turrets.
Tessa doesn’t think I see her spying on us from the kitchen, watching as Charlie and I bond. I just hope I’m doing a good enough job with him. It’s all still so new to me.
“Is the little man ready?” I say as I walk into Lumiére Salon and Spa.
Today is the sleepover at the Academy of Sciences. Charlie has been packed and ready for a week, so I know he’s excited to go. To be honest, I’m a little nervous. It’s the first time I’ll be solely responsible for him. It feels like a test run to fatherhood.
Tessa’s eyes meet mine, and they’re filled with worry. She couldn’t get the night off due to a high-end wedding that was planned months ago where she has to follow the bride around all night to make sure she looks like perfection until after the first dance when she can take off. So, I get to take Charlie all by myself.
“It’s okay, Mom. We’ll be just fine,” I say, leaning over to kiss Tessa on the forehead.
She glances up at me, biting her bottom lip before sighing. “I know.” She leans down to Charlie. “You be good, okay? Listen to Bryce and do everything he says. And no running off on your own.”
“You already told me that a hundred times.” He grabs my hand and starts to pull me toward the exit. “Come on, Bryce. Let’s go!”
I laugh as I steal a kiss before running after Charlie.
I had Brantley pick up a booster seat for Charlie today, and when
I open the door to the Tesla, pulling the seat back, his eyes are as big as saucers at the sight of the race car–inspired booster seat waiting for him. I might have had an Austin moment when buying it.
“Wow! How cool!” Charlie yells, sitting in the seat and pretending to be a NASCAR driver.
I make sure he’s buckled and close the door before heading to my side of the car. Of course, my phone rings with the Sexton Media extension showing as the caller.
Not knowing who it could be, I answer, “This is Bryce.”
“You’ve been sneaking out early a lot lately.” Missy’s voice antagonizes me from the other end of the line. Ever since Austin’s accident, she and my father have been eerily quiet.
“What can I do for you?” My voice is laced with disdain.
“I have an urgent matter waiting for you in the conference room.”
“I have a meeting.” I look in the rearview at Charlie, who is pretending to be Mario Andretti. “With a very famous race car driver.”
She doesn’t seem to care. “You need to come back immediately. This is a matter of life and death.”
Well, that’s a first …
“Who’s dying?”
“You will be if you’re not back here in twenty minutes.” She hangs up the phone.
“Fu … dge.” I hold myself back. I turn to Charlie as I put my seat belt on. “I have to make one stop back at my office, and then we’re off.”
“Do I get to sit in your big office chair?” he asks, like that would be the coolest thing in the world.
I laugh. “What makes you think I have a big office chair?”
“You’re huge. You almost broke Mom’s kitchen chair at dinner last week,” he deadpans.
Kid’s got a point. I don’t add that the reason it’s creaky is because it was one of the many places his mom and I made love the night I told her I loved her. The best day of my life, I might add.
After making our way through the city and to my private parking spot, we enter the building, and I guide Charlie through the lobby. When I left an hour ago, I wasn’t planning on coming back.
