by Jenna Reed
Her mouth popped open, but I knew what she was about to say and cut in.
“The school district near the east side office is considered one of the best in the city…and they have openings for teachers.”
Erica slumped in her chair. She blew out a held breath and wrapped her shaking arms around her body. “Both of us change jobs? Move? Move in together? Start a real relationship?” Her eyes widened even more with every addition. “Doesn’t that seem like too much all at once?”
“It is a lot,” I agreed, “but I think we can do it.”
Reaching across the table, I extended my hand to her. She stared at my hand, knowing it was more than just an offer of reassurance. It would be acceptance on some level, and she was still wary. I was determined, though. I held my hand there until she finally exhaled shakily and placed her hand in mine.
“I have no problem walking away from this promotion if you’re not ready for all of this,” I said seriously. “I actually turned it down the day Marie was born.”
Erica’s brows rose in surprise. “You did?”
Nodding, I said, “I’d just gotten the offer that morning, and I was planning to talk to you about it later that night, but after Marie was born, I knew I needed to focus on both of you more than anything else.”
“What changed?” Erica asked.
I shrugged. “Ms. Stein is pretty relentless, for one. She’s called me at least once a week since Marie was born to ask if I was ready to talk about the offer again. Aside from that, I think we’re doing really well together. I love being a father, and I want to be more than whatever I am to you right now. I want us to be a real family. It’s never something I thought I wanted, but I don’t want to go back to my apartment and I don’t want to be away from you or Marie.”
The corner of Erica’s mouth turned up just slightly. “I don’t want you to go home either…but I need to think about all of this.”
A huge rush of relief washed through me. “That’s all I can ask,” I said before drawing her hands to my lips and kissing it gently. I knew she was far from taking the leap I was asking her to, but knowing she was willing to entertain the idea already felt like a huge win.
28
Erica
I’d been thinking about Rhett’s offer nonstop for days. He hadn’t wanted to tell me when he had to make his decision by, when it came to the promotion, because he didn’t want me to feel pressured to make a decision. Eventually, I’d gotten it out of him. Then I’d regretted asking. He’d convinced his potential new boss to give him the weekend to talk it over with me. By Monday, he had to either accept it or walk away.
So, I’d called Rhett’s mom that morning and asked her for a favor. She’d been thrilled to babysit Marie overnight for us, which was a godsend. I would have called my own parents, but they were out of town, and Mrs. Banks nursing degree gave me added confidence that Marie would be in good hands. The idea of letting her out of my sight for that long was beyond stressful, but Rhett and I both needed some adult time to figure things out.
When Rhett got home that night, he wrapped me up in a hug and dropped a kiss on the top of my head. I pulled him closer, feeling as though I couldn’t get close enough to him. I rested my head against his chest. I no longer feared he would walk away from us. He’d more than proven his devotion to our little odd family. Was that enough, though? He’d hinted at loving me, but had stopped short of actually saying it. Probably because he was worried it would scare me away. I knew him well enough by now, that when he was worried about scaring me away he usually kept to himself. But still doubt lingered. Or maybe it was because he wasn’t sure of his feelings, either? That was what I needed to figure out before I could truly consider his offer.
“It’s strangely quiet,” Rhett said, pulling back slightly. “Is Marie asleep?”
Looking up at him, I shook my head. “She’s at your mom’s.”
Surprise lit his handsome features. “Really?”
I’d never let anyone else watch Marie before. There was a layer of anxiety hovering over me at all times, call it what you will, but I was protective over our little girl. This was important, and it would determine Marie’s future, our future.
“I thought we needed some time alone to talk.”
Rhett didn’t seem to be opposed to the idea, but a worry line appeared between his eyebrows. “What time do we need to pick her up?”
“In the morning.”
His worry line deepened. “She’s staying overnight? Is she ready for that? Are we?”
“She’ll be fine,” I said, “and so will we.” I wasn’t sure that last part was true, but I was determined to try. “We need this.”
Rhett nodded, agreeing, but it was clear he felt a little lost without Marie here. Warmth blossomed in my chest. It always got to me when I saw how amazing he was with her. He adored her. She was his little princess. We had both doubted his capabilities. I couldn’t have been happier to have been proven wrong though. He was the best father Marie could have ever asked for. Would he be as good of a boyfriend? Or husband?
It was time to find out.
“I made reservations for dinner in two hours,” I said as I stepped out of his embrace. “I’m going to go shower and change.”
His distraction fell away. “Reservations?” A hint of excitement sparked in his expression. “Are you asking me on a date?”
I smirked at him. “Maybe.”
A grin spread across his lips. “We sure like to do everything out of order, don’t we? Our first real date comes only after sex, having a child together, and practically living with each other for two months.”
“Well, it seemed like a good idea to have an actual date before discussing buying an apartment together,” I teased.
The light in his eyes brightened. “A first date where we get to skip all the awkward getting to know you shit. That’s my kind of first date.”
Scoffing at him, I said, “When was the last time you actually took a woman on a real date, let alone an awkward first date?”
Rhett pretended to consider my question very seriously. “Hmm, high school?”
I laughed. “I doubt you ever had an awkward first date.”
He shook his head. “I had too many of them. Why do you think I stopped trying and decided one night stands were better?”
“Because you were a player?”
Rhett pulled me back against his chest. “Were being the operative word. You’re the only woman I’ve been with, or wanted to be with, since you told me you were pregnant.”
His serious tone stilled me. I gazed up at him and was shocked when I realized he was serious. I knew, after a point, that he wasn’t sleeping with other women. I’d just assumed that before that, he was living his life as he always had. There hadn’t been any reason for him not to. I’d made it abundantly clear that I hadn’t wanted a relationship with him. He was free to do as he pleased in his personal life.
“Is that really true?” I asked, even though I knew it was.
He nodded slowly. “You’re the only woman in my life, Erica.”
“Why?” I asked.
“At first…” He shook his head. “I can’t really explain it, I guess. When I found out about the baby, even though you seemed to hate me at the time, you were my focus. It was about making sure Marie would be in my life, at first. I wanted to prove to you that I was a decent guy and could be a good father. Sleeping with every woman I met certainly didn’t fit the bill. The more time we spent together, though, the less I wanted my old life. At some point, it changed to me trying to prove I was worthy of you. Then, I fell in love with you and couldn’t imagine my life without you.”
Tears pooled in my eyes. “You love me?”
“Of course I do. How could I not?” Rhett said softly. “You’re not only the mother of my child, you’re one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. You’re kind and compassionate. You’re strong and soft at the same time. You’re sexy as hell, too, and you make every day we’re together something special
. I want to come home to you and Marie every night, even if that means staying in this tiny apartment until you’re ready for something different.”
The last of my worries and fears melted away. A tear slipped down my cheek as I stared up at him. “This apartment is terrible.”
A slow, sexy smile curved Rhett’s lips. “It really is.”
Making so many changes all at once was terrifying. Knowing we were going to do it together made it worth the risk. Lifting onto my toes, I kissed his lips, a hesitant touch at first. Then his hands slid onto my hips and pulled me tight against him. He leaned down and captured my mouth with his. Heat rushed through me. My arms looped around his neck and drew body more tightly against mine. His growing erection pressed against my belly and I gasped.
“I want you so badly,” Rhett murmured against my lips. He broke away and began trailing kisses down the curve of my neck, sucking lightly at pressure points and making heat and wetness pool between my legs.
“I want you, too,” I whispered, barely able to catch my breath now. “I need you.”
Rhett growled and cupped my ass, pulling me tight against his hard cock. “There’s a good chance we won’t make our reservations if we don’t stop now,” he mumbled.
“I don’t care,” I moaned.
Suddenly, he scooped me into his arms. I gasped and clung to him. His heart was pounding. Mine was no different. It wasn’t just that I hadn’t had sex since our one encounter while I was pregnant. It wasn’t that my hormones were still all over the place. I’d gone from fear of having to raise my child alone to suddenly having everything I could have ever wished for. Reaching up, I tipped Rhett’s head down and kissed him hard.
He groaned as he held me and moved more quickly, reaching my cramped bedroom. He kissed me again, his tongue tangling with mine and drawing out my passion until I was moaning against his mouth and soaking my panties. Then, he set me back down on shaky legs and took a step back to simply look at me.
I was wearing yoga pants and a thin t-shirt, not the sexy gray dress I’d bought especially for tonight. The burning desire in his eyes seared me. His hands reached forward and cupped my breasts, skimming his fingers over my beaded nipples. I bit my lip and held back a moan at the sensation that raced through me. He leaned down and sucked my covered nipple into his mouth. His teeth nipped gently as his fingers pinched. I speared my fingers through his hair and pulled him closer, no longer able to hold back a moan.
Rhett’s free hand ran down my abdomen. His fingers slipped under the waistband of my yoga pants until they reach my clit. I threw my head back and pushed against his hand. His fingers dipped lower, slipping between the folds and into the wetness waiting for him.
“Fuck,” Rhett breathed. His fingers slid back over my clit, now slick and warm.
My breath caught and I twisted my fingers in his hair.
“Do you like that?” he whispered.
I nodded frantically.
“How about this?”
He moved his fingers back down and slipped one into me, brushing over my g-spot and making me cry out. Rhett’s mouth came back up to mine. His tongue speared into my mouth as he added a second finger and slid in further. My body clenched around him. I whimpered, desperate for more but already too close to coming to take much more.
“Somebody isn’t going to last very long,” Rhett rasped before kissing me again and drawing it out until I was absolutely breathless.
Grabbing his wrist, I slowly dragged his hand away. No way was I letting this end so quickly. I’d been fantasizing about this for months. Slowly, my hands moved to his belt. My fingers brushed over his length as I unfastened the buckle, making his eyes close and his hips press toward my touch. I took my time undoing the button and lowering the zipper, making sure to run my fingertips over his cock with every small movement. He was struggling for breath and gripping my shoulders by the time I finally wrapped my hand around his hard cock.
“Fuck, Erica,” he exclaimed. “God, I’ve wanted this. Sleeping next to you every night and not being able to touch you has been torture.”
I slid my hand down his cock, gripping him at the base. “I know exactly what you mean,” I said breathlessly.
His gaze snapped down to mine, eyes wide. “Seriously?”
“How could I not want to have you inside me every night, kiss you and have your lips all over my body?” I said, finally allowing myself to unleash my desire. I brushed my fingers over his head and slid back down his length, making him jerk against me and groan with pleasure. “Physically, you’re perfection. You’re also an amazing father and partner. I’ve wanted you to fuck me for months.”
Rhett reached for me, no doubt ready to toss me onto the bed and do exactly what I’d just asked. I dropped to my knees first and slid my mouth over the tip of his cock. He was so hard and thick, I could barely take him. A stream of appreciative curses burst out of him as I began sucking and working my way down his length. His fingers slid through my hair, gently holding my head and showing me the pace and pressure that would undo him. I took him as deep as I could, my fingers digging into his thighs as I tried to control my own need. Every sound he made, every desperate thrust of his hips, made me wetter until I was dripping down the insides of my thighs.
“Shit,” Rhett suddenly exclaimed as he pulled back and dragged me up to standing.
Breathless, I stared at him, eyes wide with excitement and need. He looked ready to take me right that second, but his hands slid onto my waist, hooking my t-shirt with his thumbs and slowly dragged the fabric up over my head. Once he’d tossed it aside, his hands came back to my hips and he kissed his way down my breasts and stomach as he stripped away my pants and panties. It seemed to pain him to let his hands fall away, but he could see in my eyes that I wasn’t about to be left out.
Moving close enough that his cock just barely brushed against my sex, I started undoing the buttons of his dress shirt. Every subtle movement I made brought us together again. Rhett gasped and clenched his fists in an effort to control himself every time his cock touched my slick center. By the time I slid his shirt from his arms, he had reached his limit. Stripping his slacks and boxers away in record time, he grabbed me around the waist and nearly threw me onto the bed.
His hard, muscled body was hovering over me a moment later. The fire in his gaze stole my breath. A million thoughts and emotions seemed to pass between us, answering any lingering worries or fears. There was no holding back between us anymore. Rhett’s mouth met mine, capturing me in a kiss that sent every other thought scattering.
I moaned as his cock pressed against my opening. His arms tensed, and I knew he was trying to keep his need in check. He didn’t need to. Gripping his hips, I pulled him further into me, urging him to unleash everything he’d wanted for months, satisfying every fantasy I’d had of this very moment. He didn’t need any further encouragement.
Rhett rocked into me, filling me completely and stealing my breath. He pressed in a little more, making me gasp and dig my fingers into his hips. Then his desire broke free and he began thrusting into me, fast and hard. Our bodies tightened, neither of us capable of any sort of control at that point. Need overpowered everything else. I was absolutely breathless as my walls tightened around his cock. Rhett called out my name and pounded into me even harder. My climax crashed over me with such intensity, it seemed impossible to ever come down from the high. Rhett came right after, his body trembling as he all but collapsed on top of me.
“That was fucking incredible,” he whispered against my damp skin.
I nodded, incapable or speaking in that moment.
Rhett rolled to my side and immediately cinched me against his side. We lay there, trying to catch our breath and basking in the feeling of being completely and deliriously happy.
When I could finally speak again, I tilted my head up to see his face and whispered, “I love you, and I want to build a life with you.”
Rhett stared down at me with glassy eyes. A wide grin spl
it his mouth. “Then let’s take this leap together, as a family.”
I nodded, filled to bursting with happiness, and amazed that one somewhat reckless decision had led to such a perfect ending.
Epilogue
Rhett
One year later
“OH MY GOD! Rhett! Quick!” Erica screamed her voice carrying through the house. I dropped my razor in the sink, panic gripping onto me and ran down the stairs as fast as I could. My mind conjuring up the worst things possible.
Did Marie fall? Hit her head? Is she choking? What the hell is going on?”
“Rhett!” She screamed again and now that I’m on the stairs I could tell that she was in the living room. I almost fell missing the last step, but caught myself at the last second. I ran into the room preparing myself for nothing short of mass murder. I entered the room and suck in a breath of relief. I was expecting the worst, what I found instead me grin from ear to ear.
Erica was kneeling on one side of the room her arms held out, extended towards Marie, who was standing in the middle of the room. No, not standing…walking, she was walking. She moved one foot in front of the other, taking tiny unsteady steps forward. Her small, still chunky arms extended outward, her hands opening and closing, as she stretches towards Erica.
Oh my god. Marie was walking. She was taking her first steps, and I’m right here witnessing it.
“Come here baby girl,” Erica coaxed her to come closer. Marie’s high pitched giggles filled the room as she takes another step forward, seemingly proud of herself. She took one more step before she fell forward and right into Erica’s waiting arms.
“Can you believe it? She is walking!” Erica told me, her eyes wild as if I were not here to see it myself.
“No, I really can’t,” I chuckled. “She’s just a baby, she shouldn’t be walking yet.”
“She’ll be one tomorrow, that’s the age they usually start walking,” Erica rolled her eyes. I realize then that I only shaved half my face and the other side is still covered with shaving cream. All I wanted to do was get out the video camera and tape everything. Every little first. I wanted to keep these moments forever.
