Never Expected Love

by S. M. Stryker

  "You would consider taking this to the next level?" I ask. I feel like a prepubescent teenager because my voice cracks as I say it.

  Nicole starts to laugh. I tilt my head to the side and furrow my brow, not knowing what she's laughing at. She runs her hand down my cheek. "Richard, baby, I think we already have." I look at her as she's sitting cross-legged facing me in bed naked, and I start to chuckle. "Richard, what about children? I know you wanted a family."

  "Nicole, I want you more than anything, we would be a family." I emphasize 'would' because that's what we would be. “If it is a decision to be in a relationship with someone that could have a child or you, then you would win hands down, Nicole, there isn't even a doubt in my mind about that. Nicole, you have shown me what I've been missing all these years, and I want to see where this goes." I motion between the two of us.

  Nicole cuddles into me, her head on my chest and her arm draped over my abdomen. I tip my head to hers and inhale her scent, she smells like a spring garden.

  "Richard."

  "Um hum,” I mumble out as I drink in the sensation of the feelings that have been filtering through my head.

  "Can I ask you a question?"

  "Of course, you can ask me anything."

  "We haven't known each other long, and I'm lying in bed with you. Does that make me a slut? Or do you feel that I'm easy?"

  I jolt upright startling her. "What the hell, Nicole." She sits up quickly, her face full of surprise.

  "I mean, it was me pulling you in here. I just don't want you to think of me differently." She looks down at her hands as they knot in her lap.

  I take her hands in one of mine and run my knuckles down the side of her face, then lifting her chin so I can look her in those beautiful pools of blue. "Nicole, honey, we're adults, I think we know by now what we want. You're not the only one that wanted this, I wanted it just as badly as you did. Does that make me a manwhore?" She shakes her head no. "Why would you think I would think you were a slut then?"

  "You know what they say about respecting you in the morning."

  "And I will, didn't we just say we want to take it to the next level?" She nods her head. "Then we are in a relationship, and if I thought that of you, what kind of a man would that make me. Okay?"

  "Okay."

  I kiss the top of her head as I slide back down into the sheets, and she follows with her head on my chest again and her hand on my stomach.

  "Richard?"

  "Um hum?"

  Her hand slowly slides a little farther down. Her index and middle fingers are on their tips slowly trailing their way down to my dick. It starts to stir, instantly getting hard. I lean over her and frame her face with my hand, and I drop my mouth on hers as I lose myself in her again.

  I awake to Nicole's head still on my chest. I lean down to take one last breath of her hair, kiss the top of her head, and slowly and quietly, I slide out of bed. Getting ready for the day, I sit at the breakfast bar drinking my coffee and leave Nicole a note and the key to the range rover before I head off to the office. Raven, our new receptionist, starts today.

  I arrive at work, and Raven walks in just a few minutes after me. I show her around and how to use the phone system. I know she'll probably forget a lot, but she can always ask if she forgets, although, she seems to be very intelligent.

  When Beckett arrives, he walks back into my office and sits down in one of the black leather chairs sitting across from my desk. He gives me a smirk as the corners of his mouth quirk up. I raise my eyebrow and waggle it as my mouth twitches. I can't help the smile that breaks across my face. I feel so good, and from where I'm sitting so does Beckett.

  "Jesus Christ! It's about time," Beckett says.

  "Me? What about you? This wasn't my first rodeo."

  "God, Richard, I am so glad I waited. It was so much more than what I had expected. I feel so different, is that how you felt?"

  "Yes and no. Yes, I felt different, but I was a teenager. I was horny as hell, and at the time I didn't care as long as I got laid. There was no meaning behind it. At that point in my life, I was partying and there were endless numbers of girls all around. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am, is all I cared about. However, this is very different. I care more that she's satisfied over myself. I think we will both be walking on a cloud for a while. “By the way, did Mitchell tell you what happened at the house?"

  "Yes, he brought over the new deadbolt key to Harlow Thank you for getting that done. I would hate for something to happen to either of them."

  "I know, when Nicole said she felt like she was being watched, I knew it wasn't good. Also, she might have some houseguests soon, and I don't want anything happening to them either."

  "Them?"

  I proceed to tell him about Sophia’s family and our idea of getting them to move in with Nicole and Harlow.

  "How horrible, I can't imagine what she must be going through, especially alone like that."

  "Now for business, we are scheduled the whole day with interviews." Beckett and I decided it was about time to hire a couple computer techs. "I think it would be advantageous to us to hire at least two techs so we can have them trained and ready as our business is growing. Then, we can pass down some of our responsibilities to the techs and take care of the more critical aspects of the business."

  "The whole day?"

  "I would rather get them out of the way now then spreading it out over several days," I say.

  "True, I guess when you look at it that way it works out to be more efficient."

  By the end of the day, we've picked out a couple of people for our tech position. We'll have to check references, and if they check out, then I think we will be done with hiring for a little while.

  It's been such a busy day that I haven't even checked in with Nicole to see how the lawyer's appointment went. I call her to see if she would like to go out. Her phone rings several times and I’m sure I’m going to get her voicemail when she finally answers. Instantly I notice the fear in her voice.

  "Nicole, are you okay? What's wrong?"

  "Hi, Richard, I'm fine, or I will be. I just got off the phone with Mr. Hobart, and he's being an ass."

  "What happened? Are you home, do you want to grab some dinner?"

  "I would love that, yes I'm at home, I'll tell you everything at dinner if that's alright. I just need to calm down."

  "Of course, I'm on the way there now."

  I pick up Nicole at her house so she can use the rover, just in case Sophia needs something. "Is there anything in particular that you are hungry for?"

  She gives me a big smile and licks her lips.

  "Holy hell! I've created a vixen. How were you feeling this morning?" I ask reluctantly, knowing she has to be sore.

  "Actually, I feel wonderful. For the first time since...well...I welcome the feelings you left me with. It means I'm finally alive, finally living, maybe exorcising the demons of my past." She looks at me with an optimistic look on her face.

  "It will take time, but now that you've opened the wound again it should start to heal better now, and I'll always be here for you." I take her hand in mine bringing it to my mouth kissing it.

  "Thank you, Richard, I know I wouldn't be where I am without your support."

  We pull into the restaurant's parking lot. We're seated within a few minutes, and our server is very attentive to us, getting us our drinks quickly. "So how were Sophia and the children? Any problems?"

  "No, things went well, she's so organized. She had snacks and juices for the kids packed, along with extra clothes just in case. We parked downtown, and while she was in her appointment, I took the kids on an adventure. First, I stopped by a sandwich shop and grabbed a few boxed lunches, then we went to the park for a picnic. I showed them how to break the bread crust off and toss it at the squirrels. You should have heard them when the squirrel crawled on the table and ate the bread out of their hands. They had a blast. Sophia was gone for quite a while, but I grabbed her something to eat as
well. She didn't really talk about her appointment, other than to say she had a lot of thinking to do. She’s considering going to talk to her parents to let them know about her condition. I think meeting with the lawyer put things into perspective as to what her future holds and what she needs to be prepared for."

  "It sounds like you had a great day, and I'm sure she must have been very somber after the appointment. I would think it would be a real wake-up call to how fast things might go, and she's going to have to be organized to make sure things are done quickly."

  "Yes, she tried to hide it, but it was all over her face. She's so good with the babies. This is such a horrible situation."

  "So what happened with your boss? You sounded really upset when I called you."

  "He was being a dick. I told him that I had an ill family member that would need my help, and I wouldn't be able to work as many hours as I have in the past; at least for a little while. He blew a gasket. He started in on the importance of my job and putting my priorities in perspective and my position in the company. I told him that at this point I would be working forty hours a week, but the family will have priority over that and if he didn't like it, he could fire me."

  "Did you really?" My brows raise in surprise.

  "Yes, damn right!" She looked at me her brows furrowed. "He pissed me off, I've given that company fifteen years of my life, and it's time for me for once.

  "I'm so proud of you. What did he do when you said that?"

  "I think he was shocked that I talked back to him. I've never done that before. He just turned and walked off grumbling." Her eyes smile as her lip turn up.

  "Well good for you for finding your voice."

  "It's because of you." She looks at me, her eyes soft with meaning behind them.

  "Why is that?"

  “Before you I didn't know I wanted more, and now that's all I can think of."

  I take her hands in mine. "The feeling is mutual. I just want the evenings and weekends to go on forever so I can spend more time with you."

  After dinner, we walk along the waterfront, buying coffee from a local coffee shop and talking about the rest of the day. It's a beautiful evening, there is a light cool breeze coming off the river, and the smells of the summer flowers dance around us. I take my jacket off, place it on Nicole's shoulders, and draw her close to me to keep her warm. The Navy ships are preparing to leave the sea wall in the morning since the Rose Festival is winding down. A feeling of utter tranquility flows through me. This is so nice, what an amazing feeling having her in my arms like this.

  "A penny for your thoughts." I place a kiss on the top on her head.

  "Just life in general, I think of how I've just gone through life not making an impact, not even remembering one day from the next because all I do is work. I've been off in my own world that is until we came upon Sophia. She has so much to live for, and there's nothing she can do to save herself. I'm so concerned about her and the children. I know your lawyer will make sure the children are taken care of, but what about her." She looks up at me as she fights back the tears that rim her eyes. "I don't mean to bring down our time together, I'm just..."

  "I get it, and I am too. Maybe next week once your sister leaves we can get together with her and show her the house. Maybe then she will see that this is what she needs, that way she doesn't have to worry about anything."

  The rest of the week goes by in a blur. Nicole is using my rover. She has been taking Sophia to the doctors' office and the lawyers for some final papers that she needs to sign.

  Beckett invited Harlow's family over for a barbecue on Saturday, which now includes me. He's never had anyone at his home except Harlow and me. I wonder how he's handling the idea of seeing her parents for the first time after the long gap in communication.

  I arrive at Beckett's house early, and I can't believe how apprehensive I am. You would think that I'm meeting a girl's parents for the first time. Well, I guess it is her sister and brother-in-law, but if they are anything like Harlow and Nicole, we should have a good time. I just need to get over these jitters.

  I can tell Beckett is nervous too. When he sees me, he starts to laugh. "What the hell are you laughing at? I ask.

  "I was just thinking how funny it is to see a forty-year-old man as anxious and nervous as you are right now."

  "From the looks of it, you're not in any better condition than I am," I throw back at him.

  "I have a way to loosen us both up."

  "Oh?"

  Beckett quickly pulls a lime out of a bowl of fruit sitting on the breakfast bar, two shot glasses out of the cabinet and a bottle of Patron Silver. He cuts the lime and pours the tequila then we both take a shot. He washes the shot glasses and puts them into the cabinet when the doorbell chimes. "Perfect timing," he says, as he closes the cabinet doors. Beckett walks to the door and I follow, he checks the peephole just to make sure it's Harlow and her family. He opens the door inviting them in. Harlow's parents look at Beckett in awe, I'm sure they're shocked at how tall he is, they haven't seen him for so long. It's funny what ten years does. "Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, it's so good to see you again." He holds his hand out to Harlow's dad, who looks down at Beckett's hand then back up to his face. Shit, I can't read this guy, I hope he doesn't resent Beckett for what happened to Harlow.

  He knocks his hand out of the way and takes a step toward him, and just as I think this might not be pretty I see his expression change as he put his arms around Beckett saying, "What's with all this formal shit, kid? I thought we were closer than that, and it's Michael." Beckett's whole body relaxes as he lets out the breath and finally smiles.

  Then Mrs. Bennett steps over, her eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, Beckett, honey, it's so good to see you. I'm so sorry about what you've been through." Her tears are now rolling down her cheeks.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Bennett, but it's been a long time, and I'm fine now."

  "Please, Beckett, call me Rachael." He pulls her into a big hug. "I can't believe how tall you have gotten. I don't think I would have recognized you if I passed you on the street."

  "I just want to tell you and Michael thank you and how much I appreciate everything you did for me. Michael, what you taught me not only showed me what I wanted to do with my life, but you showed me who I wanted to be too. I don't know what I would be like if I didn't have you two to hold me accountable. I looked at you as my parents since I didn't have one." Now Rachael is outright sobbing, Harlow leaves and comes back with tissue for her mother.

  "Oh, Beckett, I wish I would have known just how bad it was, I would have done something. I remember when Harlow came home from your house that first day of school, and she said you were home alone. My God, I thought she had just gone to the store for milk or something. I didn't realize she was out all night long. I thought...I just don't know what I thought, who leaves a young child at home alone?"

  "Really, Rachael, I'm fine. I didn't know any different so it doesn't bother me, and as I got older, you were there for me. I want you both to know how much I appreciate it and you. I also want you to meet Richard."

  Nicole walks over to me looking absolutely gorgeous. She has on a little salmon colored sleeveless dress that shows off half her back and my dick jolts. Shit. She places a chaste kiss on my lips, but I want to take her into the back room and fuck her senseless.

  Beckett invites everyone in and back to the deck for drinks, but I hold Nicole back to get a little more of her.

  "You taste of limes and tequila."

  "Hell, Beckett and I were so nervous we had a shot to calm us down."

  "It's only my sister and her husband, why are you so nervous?"

  "I've never done anything like this before, and here I am corrupting the little sister."

  Nicole lets out a big laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm forty years old, what did you think they would do, forbid you from seeing me?"

  "Now that you say it like that, I guess it does sound kind of funny," I chuckle. I pull Nicole hard ag
ainst me, and I'm sure she can feel my erection through my khakis, but I don't give a shit. I haven't seen her for a couple days, and I need her touch. She calms me. I never knew anyone could make me feel like this. I take her mouth in mine wanting to taste. Our tongues tangle together in a seductive dance that's as intimate as making love. She feels so goddamn good in my arms, I just want to stay like this for a while. We jolt apart when I hear someone clear their throat behind me...busted...again.

  "Sorry to interrupt, but drinks are on the deck," Harlow says quietly.

  "Thank you, Harlow, we'll be right out," I say as I slowly glide my hand down Nicole's cheek, and I pull her into a gentle kiss.

  We go out back to the deck to join Nicole’s family and Beckett. There are platters of hors d'oeuvres filling the table. Beckett has outdone himself today. I am so proud of him.

  As we're all seated at the table, I take Nicole's hand in mine as Harlow's parents talk with Beckett about his life after leaving Seattle. He tells them all the dirty little secrets that no one knew. The looks on their faces fall with the detail of his childhood. He tries to turn their attention to Nicole and my dating, but they were more concerned with him.

  Beckett starts the grill for the steaks and then brings out the salads and side dishes while I freshen everyone's drinks. For dessert, he made a fresh berry cobbler that is fresh out of the oven. The man can cook.

  The weather is warm with just a slight breeze, and we're all laughing at old childhood stories when the doorbell rings. Beckett looks at Harlow with a look of dread and his face is ashen as the smile he once had on his face fades. I know they aren't expecting anyone else. Beckett told me that his mom found him last week and barged into the house leaving him no other option but to call the police and file a restraining order.