by Mia Ford
“That one,” I heard Seth yell out loud.
“Okay,” Dex said, laughing. “Let’s pull it over here and then we’ll wait for your mom.”
I could hear Seth grunting as he helped pull whatever it was into the middle of the floor. I took a deep breath and wiped the rest of the tears from my face. I stood and walked out of the bedroom toward the living room where I saw Seth standing triumphantly next to the biggest box in the group. Of course, he would pick out the biggest one, he was four. The box itself was larger than Seth and it was wrapped in a beautiful metallic paper with a paisley print and large green bow. I leaned against the doorway and watched Dex pull the bow off and set it on top of Seth’s head. Seth laughed and giggled at his new velvet hat before reaching over and pulling the paper down.
The sound of ripping wrappings made me smile, thinking about Christmas morning when Seth wanders out in his new pajamas with crazy hair and sleepy eyes. I watched Dex help him pull the big pieces of paper off. They danced around the box like two crazy elves. Dex opened the top of the box and pulled the gift out, setting it on the floor. It was a drafting desk, obviously specially made, and came with a small chair and everything. It was absolutely gorgeous with its dark stain and exact likeness to one you would find in some luxury architect’s office. Seth pulled the chair up to it and sat down, putting his hands out in front of him and smiling.
“It’s for you to have a place to draw your buildings,” Dex explained, kneeling beside Seth. “And look, the table rises up on this end to make it easier for you.”
Dex took Seth’s hand and picked up the desk, walking it back to his room. My eyes filled with tears, understanding just how thoughtful of a gift this was. It wasn’t just something he had some secretary pick out, it was something he really put thought into. Seth loved to draw his buildings and that was something Dex made sure to remember. To say I was moved by the gesture was an understatement and I stood in the hallway shocked as Dex put the desk in Seth’s room and helped him pull out his paper and crayons. I was at a loss for words as Dex reappeared, smiling and shaking his head.
“He really loves it,” he said, pointing back to Seth’s room. “He’s already drawing.”
I stood motionless, watching as Dex went back over and picked up all the wrapping paper and tossed it into the empty box. He carried the box over to the door and set it down so he could take it to the dumpster on his way out. I walked forward and started moving the giant pile of gifts out of the middle of the floor. Mom and I wouldn’t be able to get all the stuff we bought for Christmas under the tree, which was a first for any Christmas we had in this family. Dex began helping me place the gifts under the tree, waving at my mom who had stayed to the side and watched with a smile on her face. When we were done, he turned to me and took my hand.
“Will you come over to my place so we can talk?”
I took a deep breath, feeling less emotional and nodded my head yes. We needed to talk, really talk, without all the emotion and anxiety that had been floating around this house. I made sure it was okay with my mom and told Seth I would be back in a little while. He was so enthralled by his new desk that he barely even noticed I was talking to him. He shook his head and scrunched his nose as I kissed him goodbye.
The ride to his penthouse was silent. I watched the twinkling Christmas lights that decorated the city pass by my window. Once we were there, I walked out of the elevator into the big open space and stood in the living room, holding my jacket and looking out at the New York City skyline. It was so beautiful and so peaceful. I absolutely loved being on the top floor of his place. I felt Dex walk up behind me and I turned to face him. He smiled and took in a deep breath.
“Casey,” he said quietly and deeply. “I know that the last five years have been hard on you. I’m sorry that I haven’t been there to help you, support you, and be a part of raising Seth. I wish I had known sooner so that you wouldn’t have been alone. It’s not your fault, it's mine. I never showed any sign that you could trust me to be part of this.”
He reached up and gently brushed a rolling tear from my cheek. I blushed and looked up at him with wide eyes. Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed my lips softly, resting his hand on my shoulder. I leaned forward, feeling the familiarity of his kiss and exhaling deeply at the finality of the moment. He pulled me in tightly to him, his tongue parting my lips and his heaviness reaching into my body. I dropped my coat on the floor and wrapped my arms around his neck, missing his taste and his scent. He reached down and picked me up, cradling me in his arms and walking back toward his bedroom.
Our lips stayed firmly pressed together with each step he took until finally, we were in his bedroom, standing before each other and gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. His touch was gentle and sensual, unlike our normal rush to the finish. He trickled his fingers down my breasts until he reached the bottom of my sweater and pulled it up over my head.
I could feel the heat of his body radiating toward me. It sent shock waves flowing through my limbs, from my fingers all the way to my toes. Just being in his arms was enough to diminish my resolve. He had a hold on me that was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. Our attraction was like gravity, pulling me to him with a forceful power. I knew right then, I would never be able to resist him again.
Chapter 19: Dex
My hands slid down her shoulders, pulling her lace bra straps with them. I reached back and unclasped her bra, allowing her breasts to spill out into my hands. I missed the touch of her skin and the way she bit her lip when I rubbed my fingers across her nipples. I trailed my fingers down the front of her stomach to the top of her pants and untied the string, letting them fall to the floor around her ankles. She stood in front of me, her curvy hips leading down into her amazing wetness. She walked forward and pulled my shirt over my head and kissed my chest. Her lips were pouty and warm. I could see the heat and want in her eyes. She unbuttoned my pants and pulled them down around my ankles, holding them as I stepped out. She pushed down on her knees and hooked her fingers in the band of my briefs, sliding them over my hard cock and off my body.
When I thought she was going to stand back up, she instead leaned forward and grabbed my erection in her hands. She lifted it up and licked from the base to the tip, swirling her tongue around the top, hitting the nerve endings. I groaned loudly at the feeling of her mouth moving over the shaft, her tongue swirling wildly like she was licking a lollipop. I reached my hand down and stroked the back of her head as she took my cock deep in her throat. She held it there for a few seconds before slowly pulling back up. She trickled her fingers over my balls, pushing lightly against them as she bobbed up and down, looking up at me with watering eyes. I began to move my hips like a gentle wave against her mouth and she opened up wider, allowing me to control the motion and the depth.
I grunted loudly as I grabbed the back of her hair. I held her there while I thrust in and out of her mouth, feeling the suction at the back of her throat pulling at my massive dick. I let go of her head and pulled my arms up in the air as she took back over, grabbing my hips and pulling them hard and fast toward her face. I watched as she put her hand between her legs and slid it underneath the edge her panties, rubbing her clit and moaning with a full mouth. The feeling of her voice against my shaft took me further toward my release. I reached down, not wanting to stop her but wanting to feel her at the same time. I stood her up and pushed her back onto the bed, stroking my shaft as she moved back against the headboard.
She put up her hand for me to sit still and bit her lip with a smirk as she spread her legs wide and moved her panties to the side. I could see her pussy dripping wet as she pushed her fingers through the folds and around in circles. She watched my hand sliding up and down my cock as I watched her fingers slip inside of her and then back out. It was the sexiest thing I had ever seen a woman do. She pushed her fingers back inside of her, moaning loudly at the feeling of her own pleasure.
“You want to taste me?” She cooed.
&
nbsp; I nodded my head feverishly as she moved her hands back and slipped her panties off. I reached across the bed and grabbed a condom, slipping it on quickly and looking back toward her. She motioned with her finger for me to get closer, so I laid down on my stomach and collapsed my face into her juicy wet pussy, groaning at how amazing she tasted. I swirled my tongue through her mound listening to her scream out in ecstasy with every swish across her clit. I could feel her body tensing so I pushed two of my fingers deep inside and moved them quickly, wanting to heighten the orgasm she was about to have. As my fingers slid in and out, she arched her back and tilted her head, letting go and feeling the waves of pleasure roll through her. I could feel the juices erupt over my hand and I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I crawled toward her writhing body and pushed my cock in deep and hard, making her clamp down on my shoulders and move her hips instantly against mine. I wanted to give her a back to back orgasm so I could feel her juices dripping down my cock. I leaned into her with my pelvis, swirling my hips in circles over her wetness. She opened her eyes wide, her mouth big as she wrapped her legs around me, feeling her orgasm building before the other one was even fully finished. I wrapped one arm under her back and pulled her close, not wanting her to wriggle away.
“I want to feel you come,” I said sternly. “I want to feel you all over my cock. I want to make you scream so loud, they can hear you on the streets.”
“Yes.” She moaned. “God, that feels so amazing. Don’t stop.”
I pushed my hips into her harder, rubbing them across her clit as my cock dove deep down inside of her. She reached down and grabbed my ass, pulling it in and grinding against me. She lifted her ass off the bed and pushed like she couldn’t get my cock deep enough inside of her. I grabbed onto the head board as she hung off my body, giving her everything I had. She let go of her legs and I laid down gently, pulling one leg over my arm and staring deep into her eyes. Slowly I pushed in and out as she breathed heavily and closed her eyes. That ravaging lust quickly turned back into sensual and romantic touch. My body slid over hers with ease and I could feel every inch of her taking me inside. Our eyes stayed locked and the emotion was stronger than anything I had felt before. Together we melted into one body, moving and twisting within the sheets of my New York City penthouse. As her breathing deepened and she reached her peak once I again, I couldn’t hold on any longer and I thrust deep inside of her, holding her arched body and groaning in harmony with her moans.
As her body relaxed and she fell back on the bed, sweat peppering her forehead, I pulled out slowly and laid down on my side next to her. I could barely get my breathing under control. I watched as she rubbed her hands over her face, smiling and laughing softly. As soon as I caught my breath, I leaned forward and kissed her beautiful face.
“Wow,” she said, turning her head toward me. “I mean WOW.”
“You’re telling me.” I laughed. “That was amazing.”
“Why did you want me to come here?” she asked, rolling toward me and propping her head on her hand. “Is this a seduction for you? Do you think this is the answer to getting into Seth’s life?”
“No.” I smiled. “I wanted to be with you. Ugh, it’s so complicated.” I rolled over on my back and stared at the ceiling.
“It’s not complicated,” she said. “You just have to speak what’s in your heart.”
I looked up, not knowing whether to spill my guts or hold onto it like I had been doing for years. I figured there was no way I was getting out of it and in reality, I couldn’t stand another day without Casey knowing just how much I loved her. She needed to be by my side and not just because of Seth. I wanted her with me because she was an amazing woman who I couldn’t help but fall madly in love with. That being said, I was absolutely terrified to tell her the truth. What if she rejected me? What if I had to go the rest of my life, being in Seth’s life, but wishing I was in his mother’s as well? It would be absolute torture and not at all how I had pictured our little family.
“You are the most amazing woman I have ever met,” I began. “I love you, Casey. Plain and simple, I have fallen madly and deeply in love with you. I don’t just want to be in Seth’s life, I want to be in yours too. I want us to be a family and I want to make every dream that you and Seth have come to life. I can’t imagine myself in any other scenario. This is it, you are it.”
“I want to believe you,” she whispered. “I want so much to believe that’s true but I’m terrified that as soon as I do, you will be gone again.”
I leaned forward, not wanting her to keep talking, not wanting her to feel even an ounce of doubt about my feelings for her. I kissed her lips softly and pulled back, looking deep in her eyes. She was conflicted, I could tell, and that broke my heart. I didn’t realize until that moment just how much damage I had really done to her with my selfish antics.
“I promise that I will never ever leave you again,” I said with my eyes locked on hers. “You and Seth are my world now. You will be for the rest of my life.”
She kissed me quickly and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“I love you too,” she cried happily. “I’ve loved you since the first night we were ever together. There hasn’t been anyone since you and I don’t want anyone else in my life.”
“Casey,” I said, sighing. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Thank you for giving me the gift of you. Thank you for giving me your virginity. Thank you for creating the most amazing little life and nourishing and nurturing him when I wasn’t here. Thank you for loving me so much that you never gave up on me, and thank you for being the most amazing light in my life,” I said, wiping her tears away. “You have brought me through more than you know and I owe you a lifetime of gratitude for that. I can’t make you believe me but I can tell you. I promise to never leave again without telling you what is going on. I promise to treat Seth and you with the love and care that you guys both deserve so very much. I promise to spend my days creating a life and family for us that you always dreamed of. Seth is the most important person in my life now and I want him to have the best opportunities that are out there. I promise to teach him, guide him, and be the man my father was to me. At the same time, I promise to support you, push you, protect you, and treat you like the amazing woman you are.”
“I’ve waited a really long time to hear you say that,” she said, leaning forward and kissing my lips.
I finally could feel the weight of life lifting from my shoulders and evaporating above us. I stared at this beautiful woman in my bed and I swore to myself that I would never let her down again. Seth and Casey were my world now and I couldn’t wait to build our life together. Everything was so completely different but at the same time, it was so completely perfect. More perfect than I ever thought it could be.
Chapter 20: Casey
It felt good to be back at my mother’s house for the holidays. It had been a year since Dex came back into our lives and I couldn’t imagine anything turning out more perfect. Seth and I had moved into the penthouse shortly after Dex and I decided to be a family, and though it was beautiful and huge, we decided to keep with tradition and come stay at my mother’s house for Christmas Eve. Natalie and Brandon were going to come over too, so we could celebrate the holidays together. I had actually just seen Natalie a few weeks before when she came to the penthouse to help me pull all their old decorations down. I knew how much Dex loved it when his parents would decorate the house so Natalie and I surprised him by doing the same. I’ll never forget his face when he walked in the door to see the place looking like a winter wonderland. He even decided to throw a cocktail party for all our friends and his colleagues like his parents used to do. We sat around drinking wine, enjoying everyone’s company, and watching the kids run around the house with the new toys Dex bought for them. Seth was definitely having a ball and with so many people around, it forced him away from his usually shy behavior.
I pushed the last present underneath the
already packed Christmas tree and stood back laughing at how crazy this Christmas was going to be. Last year was great because of all the thoughtful gifts Dex got Seth but this year I was actually able to get my mom some things I knew she would really love. She deserved it after spending years helping me take care of Seth. When we moved out, I really got the feeling that she missed taking care of him, so instead of hiring a nanny like Dex suggested, I would take Seth to my mom’s before work every day. She was thrilled to have the time with him. Dex didn’t want me to worry about working but I felt better knowing I was doing something. Dex’s fortune was his, not mine to use as I pleased and he was already doing so much to take care of this family. Besides, now that I wasn’t so worried and stressed, I actually found a way to enjoy my job.
When I was done straightening the tree, I took a sip of the eggnog my mom made for us and tiptoed down the hall. I could hear Dex’s voice coming from Seth’s room, which was twinkling with Christmas lights. I peeked around the corner and leaned against the wall, watching as Dex tucked Seth into bed and then sat down next to him to read The Night Before Christmas. Seth pulled the covers up to his chin and laid his hand on Dex’s leg as he read to him.
“‘This was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there,” he read.
