My Ex's Son

by M J Rutter

  “I don’t care.” I stated.

  “You don’t? You want your neighbours to know what’s going on with us?”

  “I don’t know my neighbours.” I replied. “I don’t care what anyone thinks, that includes your father. I know it will be awkward, but it’s something he will just have to get used to. I like you, I want to make a real go of this because I am falling for you, Cain. I don’t want lies and secrets, we’re doing nothing wrong, but if you are not comfortable with telling your grandfather, then don’t, just say you are staying with a friend.” I took his hand in mine and squeezed it. “You can tell whoever you want, whatever you want as long as you don’t tell anyone else that you love them.” I smiled slightly. “You save that for me.” He pulled me towards him and folded his arms around me as he pressed his lips to mine.

  I pulled at his tie, loosening it around his neck as we kissed, his fingers glided through the buttons on my blouse, popping open, then, while rubbing his palm over my breasts, his kiss deepened.

  “I want you.” I said against his mouth.

  “We have dishes to do.”

  “Screw the dishes, I want you now.” I stated climbing to my knees.

  I unzipped his fly, pushing my hand into his boxers, feeling him harden in my hand. He pushed my blouse over my shoulders and unfastened my bra. Pulling the straps off my arms, he tossed it over his shoulder. He pulled his shirt from his back and stood, I stood with him. Pushing his pants over his hips, he stepped out of them when they hit the floor. I unzipped my skirt and allowed it to drop to the floor. Cain took my hand and pulled me towards him. I glanced down as his feet.

  “Sorry, but the socks have to go first.”

  He smirked, “You don’t like my socks?”

  “No.” I frowned.

  “But my feet will get cold.”

  “Not for long.” I stated and pulled him towards my bedroom door. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him again. He lifted me from the floor, his lips, still locked with mine, he carried me to my bed.

  As I lay back on my pillow, he smiled while removing his socks and then climbed onto my bed. Crawling up my body, he trailed kisses over me, taking a nipple into his mouth, he sucked slightly, causing me to giggle. Lightly dragging his fingertips over my skin, he kissed my neck and ears, my body raged in goose bumps as his fingers gently stroked my knees and up the inside of my thigh. Leaving my lips, he continued kissing my body, my breasts, my shoulders, over my abdomen and pelvis, he kissed the lace of my panties and hooking his fingers under them, he pulled them down my legs and threw them on the floor.

  Nestled between my open legs, he gazed up at me, I began to throb for him, his cool breath over my skin tickled and added to my arousal. Kissing the inside of my leg, he moved slowly back up my body.

  “Turn over.” He muttered huskily. I did as he said. His warm hands moved over my back and shoulders, squeezing slightly, he massaged my neck and his warm thumbs pressed against my nape. I felt him moving over my backside, his soft and warm erection pressed against me, sliding along my backside and slipping just under me as his nose nestled into my hairline. While his insatiable hands worked their magic on my knotted muscles.

  I opened my legs so that he could enter me from behind, but he didn’t, he just continued to tease and caress my body. Bringing me to that delicate brink and then stopping just before I slipped over the edge. I turned onto my back again as he pulled on a condom. He then moved over me, nestling between my legs briefly as he dipped his head for a lingering kiss.

  Stroking my hands over his back, he slowly entered me, never taking his lips from mine, he moved, thrusting deep within. Touching parts of me that had been teetering on the edge of orgasm for what seem like forever. I began moving with him, lightly scraping my nails over his back.

  As my ache intensified, while he thrusted into me, kissing my neck and ears, he sent a rage of goose-bumps over my body. I felt his movement speed up and he squeezed at my shoulders. I moaned as my ache burst once more in an electrifying array of nerve tingling spasms throughout my entire body. It tingled from the tips of my toes, to the top of my head.

  “Oh, my God!” He exclaimed as he pushed deep into me, holding me against his body until he relaxed, loosening the grip he held on my shoulders. Gazing into my eyes, he smiled warmly, “You are so amazing, Jenna.”

  I pushed my fingers into his hair as my body calmed, “So are you.” I smiled.

  “We still have to clear the table.” He stated.

  “I am still throbbing in your arms after you literally screwed my brains out and you want to wash dishes?”

  “Well, I am glad you are still throbbing, but I can’t relax until I know the kitchen is clean.” He chuckled.

  “Okay, we’ll do it together.” At that moment, his cell phone pinged in the pocket of his pants, still strewn on the hall floor. “That is probably your grandfather again.” He left my body and knelt up above me.

  “Probably.” He said grimly and stood. I sat up and pulled my robe from the bottom of my bed and wrapped it around my body. When I opened my bedroom door, he was knelt on the floor staring at his phone.

  “Was it him?” I asked. He handed me his cell.

  ‘Cain, it’s your grandfather, again. Please call us, Grammy is in hospital, she’s had a stroke. I didn’t want to tell you like this, but you leave me no choice. I need to talk to you, please call.’

  “Cain,” I said. “You need to call him now.” I handed him his phone. “I’ll let you make your call.” I added and walked down the stairs. I heard him tell his grandfather it was him and felt a little relief that he had called.

  I cleared everything from the table including our half-eaten dinners and then began washing the plates off ready to stack in the dishwasher. As I wiped over the counters he came in to the kitchen, wearing only his boxers, he looked upset.

  “She’s pretty bad, I need to go and see her. They don’t think she will make it through the night.” He muttered. I looked at the clock, it was almost eight-thirty.

  “Take my car.” I told him.

  “I don’t want to go alone; do you mind coming with me?” he asked.

  “Uh…”

  “Jake won’t be back until tomorrow, you won’t run into him.” He added. “Besides, I thought you said you didn’t care what he thought.” He frowned.

  “You are right.” I stated firmly. “I’ll jump in the shower and we’ll go.” I added. As I walked passed him, he took me into his arms and held me.

  “Thank you.” He said into my hair. He let me go and I hurried up the stairs.

  He barely said a word during the drive to the hospital. I can’t lie, I was anxious at meeting his grandfather, but slightly relieved that I wouldn’t be facing Jake just yet. Though I was certain it would happen sooner rather than later.

  We arrived at St Bart’s, a small community hospital on the outskirts of town, just before nine fifteen. As we walked the long corridor to his grandmother’s room, he took my hand. As we approached a nurse’s station, a tall man with silver hair and Cain’s blue eyes stood from a seat.

  “Cain.” He smiled and held his arms open. Cain hugged him, while still holding my

  hand. “I am sorry I had to call and all, I just didn’t know what to do.”

  “It’s fine, been a hectic week, that’s all.” Cain explained as he moved from his grandfather’s hug. “This is Jenna, my uh…,” he began.

  “Jenna,” he smiled. “It is very nice to meet you.” He held out his hand and I shook it. In the five years I was with Jake, I never met his family, any of them.

  “It’s nice to meet you too.” I replied.

  “How is she?” Cain asked.

  “She’s weak, son.” He frowned.

  “I’m so sorry, I should have called you earlier.”

  “None of that now, eh?” His grandfather smiled slightly. “Shall we go in?” Cain looked at me.

  “I’ll wait here.” I said quietly.

  “Please come
in, Jenna.” He said squeezing my hand.

  “No, it’s family, it’s personal.” I let Cain’s hand go and he went reluctantly with his grandfather as I sat on the chair.

  I could just imagine Jake walking in and seeing me sat there. It would certainly open a can of worms I had sealed a long time ago. I was concerned though, concerned for Cain and his grandfather. After a good few minutes I decided to try and find somewhere to get a drink. I wasn’t particularly thirsty but sitting and staring at the door was making me anxious. I found a cold drink vending machine and got two bottles of water.

  Returning to the same seat, I sat there for almost another thirty minutes before the door opened and Cain came out of the room. He sat beside me and I handed him a bottle of water.

  “Thanks.” He said.

  “How is she?”

  “Stable, that’s all they will say. She has aged so much though.” He frowned. “Pop’s has taken it bad.”

  “I thought you said you don’t get on with him.”

  “No, I said that they interfere. I think because my old man sucked as a father, they thought they would try and take over. I see now that this was only for my good, but the last thing I want is any of them to try and tell me how to live my life now.” He sipped his water. “Are you alright out here?”

  “I am thinking I should go, actually.” I answered.

  “I’ll come with you. I mean, there is nothing I can really do here.”

  “What if something happens during the night?”

  “Jenna, I can’t sit here waiting for her to die,” he grumbled. “I have work tomorrow. Pop’s will understand, and I’ll promise to call first thing.” He stood and handed his water to me. “I’ll be about ten more minutes, okay?”

  “If you are sure?”

  “I am, my aunt is driving up from San Francisco, so she’ll be here soon.”

  “You really have an aunt?” I asked. I thought he was just using that to scare me when he said he was leaving before.

  “Yes. I have only met her a few times though, Susan. She’s actually nice and nothing like my old man.”

  He went back into the room and I sat there thinking about the implication of whatever was going on between us and the rest of his family. Forget the fact that I’d had a five-year relationship with Jake and never met any of his family. Take Jake out of the equation, it still left the undeniable fact that I was seven years older than Cain. Seven years is a long time when you think that when he started first grade, I started high school. When he played in little league, I had started my periods and had my first date.

  I never meant to fall for him, but I had, I never wanted to hurt him, but I knew if we continued as a couple, he would get hurt. He couldn’t have me and his father in his life. He would be forced to choose, and I didn’t want him to choose me and then resent me later in life. Let’s also not forget that I was already thirty-two, I hadn’t had children and no desire to yet. If Cain wanted to start a family, our time to do this was limited. I would be old and grey before him. I would always be older than him, I would always be a cougar. It shouldn’t have mattered to me, but it had begun to.

  When he returned we headed out to my car and although I felt terrible that I would have to talk to him about possibly ending things, before we got too serious, I still allowed him to take my hand. We rode the deserted roads in silence back to my house and then we went to bed. It took me a while to fall asleep and when I did, Cain’s phone rang.

  “Hello?” he muttered sleepily. “Hey… No… When?” I sat up as I quickly realized it was bad news. He sniffed. “Okay, um, I’ll call you tomorrow, Aunt Sue, thank you.” He ended the call and turned his head. “Grams passed away about twenty minutes ago.” He said, emotion tore at his throat.

  “I am so sorry, Cain.” I said and rubbed my hand over his back. He turned to me and took me into his arms, pulling me into his body where he sobbed. Not having family to lose, I guess I didn’t understand how bad this would hit him. How on earth could I break his heart now?

  Twelve

  I called work as soon as I got up, I spoke with Reg Dalton and explained what had happened. He was very understanding and told me to pass on his condolences to Cain. He advised that Cain wouldn’t lose pay or his job for not going to work and said to keep him informed.

  Cain cried for most of the night, I didn’t know that he’d had a close relationship with his grandmother since his mother died. He just didn’t get along with the men in his life for some reason. All I could do was comfort him, I felt helpless, but he kept thanking me and it made me feel worse with what had been swimming around in my head the night before. By dawn I had decided that I wouldn’t end things with Cain. That he had no one else and needed me as much as I needed him. I banished my insecure demons to the back of my mind and that’s where I planned to keep them.

  I made some fresh coffee while he took a shower up-stairs. His cell phone rang and as I looked at the face with the words ‘Asshole’ flashing up on the screen, I realized Jake was calling him. I almost answered it after the third attempt. Cain came into the kitchen and lifted his phone from the counter.

  “Hello?” he said and flashed his eyes at me. “I’m busy.” He frowned. “Well, tell Pop’s I’ll come by tomorrow after work to see him. No, I told you, we are done.” He ended the call and tossed his phone down on the counter.

  “Coffee?” I asked.

  “Thanks.” He nodded. “That was uh…”

  “I know.” I shrugged.

  “He asked to see me.” He added. “I told him no though.”

  “He is still your dad, Cain, if you want to see him, don’t think that I would stand in the way of that.”

  “He’s not my dad, he’s just the man who helped make me and has never hid the fact of how much of an inconvenience I am to him. So, I have nothing to say to him.” He walked towards me and folded his arms around my body. “I can’t thank you enough for being here for me right now.”

  “You don’t need to thank me, Cain. It’s the least I can do for you.” He leaned back and gazed into my eyes.

  “I love you, Jenna, so much.” His eyes filled with tears and all I could do was kiss him. He’d been in my life a week, it was way too soon to throw out words that held such meaning. Still, I liked to hear it though. I tasted the salt of his tears as we kissed and when he pulled back from my lips, his face was streamed in them.

  “Don’t cry, sweetheart.” I told him. He smiled bravely as I used my thumb to wipe away his tears. His phone rang again. “I almost forgot, I spoke with Reg Dalton, he is fine, he said to pass on his condolences and that he’ll see you when you are able to go back to work.” I explained briefly as he let go of my body and lifted his phone to his ear.

  “Hey, Aunt Sue…” he said. I continued making coffee and left him in the kitchen talking while I sat on the couch with my cup.

  After a long while he joined me with his coffee and sat beside me, resting his hand on my knee.

  “The funeral is going to be Friday. Do you think Mr Dalton will let me have the time off?” he asked.

  “Family is everything to Mr Dalton, he will always allow for funerals.” I stated adamantly.

  “Well, us.”

  “What?” I frowned.

  “You are coming with me, aren’t you?” I sat forward and placed my cup on the coffee table. “Jenna?”

  “I can’t, Cain. Your father will be there and it’s going to get real awkward very quickly now.”

  “You said he would have to get used to it, plus I told you that I don’t care what…”

  “I know,” I turned to face him. “Look at it this way. Hypothetically, my ex’s mother dies, although I am not that close to her, I still go to her funeral with my new boyfriend.” I explained. “Don’t you see what’s wrong?”

  He smiled, “You said boyfriend.”

  “I know I did.”

  “So, am I your new boyfriend?”

  “Again, with the labels.” I sighed. “I just don’
t want there to be problems, and cause more upset for your family. It’s bad enough that we’re… I am sorry, Cain, but I can’t.”

  “My aunt and grandfather already know you used to date my dad a million years ago, so there will be no shocks there and knowing Sue, she’s probably told him already anyway. He’ll be there with his whatever she is, so no, I don’t see the problem.”

  “I cannot go to that funeral with Jake there.” I stated adamantly.

  “Will you please just consider it?” he asked. I wanted to tell him straight, no, but I gazed into his eyes and I couldn’t refuse. I wasn’t promising anything but to consider it.

  We returned to work the following day. The day before the funeral. Cain was concerned that as he had only been at the company for a few days, they would frown on him for not even starting in his new position. He’d hardly slept again, I felt him moving beside me and getting up several times during the night. When he tried to wake me with gentle kisses an hour before my alarm, I complained how he had kept me awake most of the night and he left the room. I felt bad instantly and got up so that he wasn’t alone.

  We arrived at work early and he headed up to the top floor. I kissed him goodbye in the elevator and watched him as the doors closed. I think he was nervous, but more relieved that he didn’t have to face Lander. Mr Dalton, as always was very understanding and when Cain called me just after eleven that morning, he said Mr Dalton was surprised to see him back.

  Cain was so keen to impress his new boss, he worked through lunch to catch up on the corporate training modules he had been given. Mr Dalton’s secretary called me at two and asked me to try and get Cain to at least take a break. I ended the call and dialled Cain’s new number.

  “Cain Macalister.” He said.

  “Mr Macalister, this is Ms Lindon, I need to go over a few things with you, do you think you could come to my office please?” I asked with a smile.