by Natalie Ann
So she did, changing her pace, the tilt of her hips, the arch of her body, at one point sending him so deep inside of her he thought he was going to combust. But just as quickly she changed it up again, driving him completely insane with want and need. A need that only Carly had ever brought him to.
She was torturing him. Whether she knew it or not, he had no clue, but he knew if he didn’t get her there soon, he’d be done.
His hands moved lower, touching and finding and rubbing every part of her until he found what she liked the most. What made her move the fastest and sing out the loudest, until all at once she threw her head back and called out. “Oh, please don’t stop, Sean. Just don’t stop.”
He didn’t. He couldn’t. Something about her calling his name at that moment sent him over the edge, both of them moving fast, hurried and out of sync. It didn’t matter; they both got there at the same time, with her collapsing on him moments later, her breath coming out rapidly. He felt like he was one of the superheroes in the movie they’d just watched, carrying the girl to safety.
Or in this case, bringing her to heaven. He’d take that analogy instead.
Turning his head now, he watched her sleeping. They’d finally made their way to his bed. When she stopped before climbing in, he noticed and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Do you mind if I don’t sleep against the wall? I might need to get up in the middle of the night and I don’t want to crawl over you and wake you up.”
“Sure. That’s not a problem.” He thought there was more to it than that, but didn’t push. He wasn’t positive and her explanation made sense. So he slid in first, and then she followed. He’d wrapped his arm around her, held her close, talked for a little while until she yawned, then let her fall asleep.
Lying next to her right now—wide awake, uncomfortable and exhausted, his back and shoulders still sore—felt oddly just right.
Dorothy
“Come on kids, let’s line up,” Carly instructed her students. “Hang on, Bella. Let me fix the strap on your guitar.”
Chuckling, Carly looked around the room at her students. Fourth grade was such a change from first grade in terms of costumes. Last year, and most of the years previous, her room had been filled with fantasy characters—princesses and superheroes. But fourth graders were more geared toward glamorous career costumes.
As the kids lined up, she counted six athletes, four rock stars, a few doctors, the oldie-but-goodie witch—but a scary one—several she wasn’t sure what they were, maybe video game characters, and the most imaginative to her this year: a lawyer. Not that dressing up like a lawyer was imaginative, but Hayden came in in a three-piece suit, dressed to the nines for a child, carrying a briefcase and walked over, handed her a printed business card and explained his legal services—most of which had to do with playground grievances and missing homework. She was so blown away by it all she couldn’t stop the laugh from escaping.
Hands down, Hayden won the award for creativity this year. She’d already explained to her students that she had prizes for different categories. Nothing big, just little one-dollar gift cards that she printed up for the kids to purchase items from the school store. The first graders always appreciated it, but it seemed that maybe the fourth graders needed something more.
Either way, no one complained when she handed over that prize to Hayden. She even had a prize for who had the best costume of the multiple ones. She let the kids vote on that. That they seemed to enjoy. Maybe letting them pick would be better for next year. Last minute, she decided to let the athletes stand up and defend their costume and try to convince everyone why theirs was the best. She would definitely think about having some type of project in the future where the kids could present and argue like they did today.
Halloween was her favorite holiday. It was funny really, for someone who grew up hiding in her closet and shutting out loud noises, jumping at every turn, and avoiding questions and looks as a child. Halloween was pure enjoyment for her now.
Maybe because she knew Halloween was fake. Make believe. There were no real monsters in her house—not anymore. The loud noises, she knew they were pretend on this day. No one was trying to really hurt or scare her. She went in with her eyes open and knew the noises, scares and monsters would all disappear.
“Okay, everyone, remember the rules. Hands to yourself, walk in a straight line, no yelling or screaming, and always do what?” she asked them.
“Say thank you if someone compliments our costume,” several children said at once.
“Very good. Now let’s make our way to the front of the building. Today is your lucky day; the weather is beautiful. Wave to your family and friends when you see them.”
Carly grabbed her camera off her desk. She’d already taken multiple pictures of the children while they got their costumes on between trying to help those who needed it. After the walk around the block, they’d be returning to the room for their party.
“All right, everyone, fall behind the class ahead of you and start your walk.”
She’d perfected the ability to keep an eye on her own students while turning and waving to her past students that called her name. She missed the little ones on days like this. The one year she’d taught sixth grade, very few kids dressed up. Back then they could have candy and treats in class too, so at least the party was fun and that was all they were interested in.
The younger ones were so much fun for holidays. She could see about half of her students now were still in the phase of wanting to enjoy it but being fearful of rejection. So she pushed harder to make it as fun as she could and hoped they all let loose and realized that deep down they were still kids. Real life and responsibilities would be upon them soon enough.
Her eyes took in the parents all laughing and pointing, snapping pictures and calling out their children’s names, until they landed on one particular person, making her steps falter, then her smile widened.
***
Sean looked at the kids walking toward him all lined up in neat pairs like soldiers marching in the service. He watched the classrooms pass by him, one by one. First the youngest, then gradually each group seemed bigger and bigger in size.
He’d been looking for Carly for about twenty minutes and hadn’t spotted her yet. She had no idea he was even coming. He didn’t even know he was going to come. It ended up being a last-minute decision.
“I’ll be back in an hour or so,” he said to Mary, the office manager at Harper’s.
“Where are you off to? It’s a little late to be taking lunch, don’t you think?”
He shook his head. She never questioned anyone on their whereabouts in a serious manner. No, she was being nosy and he knew it, which was why he replied with, “Maybe I’m still hungry.”
“Tell Carly I said hi,” she shouted to him as the door was shutting.
Carly had been so excited about today. Personally, he never thought of Halloween as much more than a beggar’s holiday. Kids ringing doorbells for candy, trying to pretend they were scaring you. He never expressed those opinions though. After all, he had nine nieces and nephews, and he’d sent them all their care packages for this holiday last week. Just like he did for every holiday, big or small.
He shouldn’t have been surprised over Carly’s excitement of Halloween. She was a teacher, and he’d seen and listened to her talk about all the special projects she did for each holiday.
Either way, he found himself sitting at his desk all day fighting the battle to go see her all dressed up. Even though she never said she was going to be in costume, he fully believed she would be.
He remembered his shock when he showed up at her house almost two weeks ago and saw all the decorations on her front porch and windows. Cobwebs, spiders, electric candles in the window, and witches flying from the ceiling of the porch. Even the five pumpkins the two of them had carved.
She’d been so into the whole process of the pumpkin carving that night that he found himself drawn right in with her
. He couldn’t remember the last time he carved a pumpkin. Elementary school easily. Maybe junior high, but he doubted it. By then he was working at the pub. Once he was old enough to stop going trick or treating, he either handed candy out, or worked a few hours each day with his father.
Another few minutes had passed as the princesses, superheroes, cowboys and construction workers walked by and then suddenly there she was. A light blue overall dress, a white cardigan sweater underneath, her hair in two small braids lying across each side of her chest with the same material as the dress tied in ribbons around the ends. There was no doubt she made that costume; it just fit her way too well and had the handmade look to it.
His eyes traveled down and saw the little white socks on her ankles, but in place of glittery red shoes she had on a pair of red converse chucks. It was almost too hilarious that she chose those as her shoes, but then he realized they were probably for comfort.
She made eye contact with him, and he saw the blush start at her neck and slowly make its way up her face. She was just too adorable for words. If he didn’t know her personally, he might have missed her completely, since her size and costume had her blending right in with her students.
Lifting his hand, he sent her a little wave, his eyes squinting at her. He couldn’t help it. He wasn’t sure what he expected of her costume, but Dorothy wasn’t it. Though, to be honest, he shouldn’t have been surprised. Everything about her screamed the All-American girl next door. He probably would have been more shocked if she’d had a witch’s outfit on.
She returned his wave, wrinkled her nose at him, winked, then walked past. When she turned the corner and was out of sight, he walked back to his car, smiling the entire way.
***
“Where’s your costume?” Carly asked when she opened her front door to Sean after work. She’d been shocked to see him at the parade today, but thrilled all the same.
She’d never had a family member of her own show up during a Halloween parade. Even as a child no one came. Her mother always had to work, or was going through a period of time where she didn’t even leave the house, let alone her room.
Then into adulthood she never thought much of it. Though she’d seen a few of her other colleagues had significant others stop in over the years to help out, she was never one of them. Always wishing for it on the sidelines silently, waiting for her day to come. Someday.
And there it was. Sean was there, surprising her as she never could have imagined. She’d seen the laughter in his eyes over her costume, but she didn’t care. She hadn’t worn this outfit in years, and for some reason, she wanted to be the girl that was whisked way to a magical land.
For the last two months, she almost felt like she was living in a dream world. Her relationship with Sean seemed too good to be true. They were getting along great, they had so much in common, and she just adored being with him.
They didn’t even have to be doing anything; no special dates, no special activities, just sitting together watching TV. Being in his presence was enough for her.
Not that they spent every waking moment together, because they didn’t. Weekends and normally one to two nights during the week. And they only spent the night at each other’s houses on Friday or Saturday.
Just last weekend was the first that he’d stayed at her house both Friday and Saturday nights. She hadn’t been sure how it would work out being together in each other’s space that long, but it worked out just fine. More than fine. Almost like it was meant to be.
Sean looked down at his clothes, then back to her and grinned. “I am dressed up.”
“That’s what you had on when I saw you at the parade,” she reminded him.
“Yep. I’m dressed up as the CFO of Harper Construction.” He leaned forward, kissed her on the nose after her jaw dropped, and then walked past her.
“That doesn’t count,” she argued. “You can’t hand candy out tonight then.”
“Why not?”
“Only people dressed in a costume are allowed to hand out candy on Halloween.” When he raised his eyebrow at her, she amended, “At my house.”
“Then I guess I’ll just be your bodyguard today in case any of those little goblins come to the door and scare you too much.”
She giggled. It was just too sweet of a comment. And as much as she tried to fight it, the thought of him being her bodyguard filled her with warmth. What a nice feeling to know someone was there looking out for her, protecting her, and wanting to do it.
“Let’s eat dinner fast. I’ve got the grill on, and I’ll just go throw the burgers on. Or you can grill while I go try to throw together a costume for you,” she said slyly.
“Sure, why not?”
Easily
Sean woke up first, saw Carly was still fast asleep, and made his way to the shower. Though he was used to and liked having a master bath, going down the hall to the bathroom at Carly’s wasn’t a hardship either. This way he didn’t have to worry about making too much noise and waking her.
Of course, he shouldn’t be complaining. Growing up, he’d had to share the bath with everyone. There was one full bath in the house that had been handed down through generations, just like the pub. The half bath downstairs didn’t really serve much purpose.
He probably should have considered himself lucky that his sisters were all pretty much out of the house by the time he got to junior high. By then it was just his parents and him vying for bathroom time in the morning. Well, his mother and him, as his father was normally just waking up when he was getting ready to leave, having worked late most of the nights.
Finished with his shower, Sean headed for the kitchen and turned on the coffee pot and then filled the kettle with water. By now he knew she’d rather drink tea. He’d seen her with coffee a few times, but it wasn’t what she drank first thing in the morning. Or often at all.
Rummaging around in the refrigerator, he pulled out eggs, mushrooms and peppers, and some cheese with omelets on his mind. Even though he was often quiet when he woke up, Carly always seemed to appear within thirty minutes of him. Almost like she knew he got up but just waited until he was done in order to stay out of his way.
He wasn’t sure why she did that. He’d asked once and explained they could get ready together, but she said it was fine. It was like she was hesitant to annoy him in the morning for some reason.
He knew he wasn’t always the most chipper of people before his shower, mainly because his family had told him that often, but he didn’t think he was moody either. He just tended to grunt a bit before he woke up fully, but then he was fine.
Except for the one morning he woke up and found her draped over his chest. That morning he wasn’t grumpy, and he was sure she agreed because her hand roaming over his chest wiped out any thoughts of tiredness. More so when her hand slid down his waist and into his boxers. That morning was probably the first time he could remember not waking grumpy or wishing for his first cup of coffee.
Maybe he should remind her of that the next time she said she would stay out of his way. He’d bet he could convince her to hop in the shower with him.
Just as he expected, Carly walked into the kitchen, showered and dressed, as he was sliding the omelets onto plates. “The water is ready; what kind of tea do you want this morning?” She had a drawer full of multiple flavors and he never knew what she was going to drink.
“Anything is good. This smells wonderful. I could get used to this,” she said, taking the mug from him with a tea bag hanging out.
“What’s that?” he asked, his eyes watching her, the gentle smile on her face, the joy evident over a simple breakfast.
“You waiting on me.” She giggled and then blushed, giving him the impression she wished she’d never said it.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her forward and placed a kiss on her lips. “You know what?”
“What?” she asked softly, hesitantly, looking anxious.
“I could too.”
***
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Hours later, Carly was folding laundry, including the white sheet she’d found and tied around Sean as his toga. She remembered how he laughed hysterically two days ago when she brought it down and told him he had to put it on if he wanted to hand out candy to the kids.
She’d seen him eye her warily until he realized she was serious. She knew he wanted to hand the candy out. He’d been talking about it for weeks since they’d carved the pumpkins together. In her mind, it was the toga or nothing. Her house, her rules. After all, it was one of her favorite holidays.
Never would she have thought she’d have so much fun doing something so simple with a man. But he just made her laugh, he made her feel good, and he made her want everything she’d fought so hard to hold back in the last few months.
That prize in the window she’d been dreaming about for years. The man that would hold her and tell her she was the one. The person she could see herself with; someone to come home to at night, hold her during a bad day and have children with.
She wanted children so badly, and she was more than thrilled he liked kids. They hadn’t had any discussions about the future. She really didn’t know where he stood in terms of marriage and fatherhood, but she was pretty positive he was good with it all.
Seriously, anyone who sent nice little bags of candy with small gift cards in them for all his nieces and nephews had to want to have his own children, right?
She just needed to get past some doubts about her heritage first. The genetics of her parents, those bad seeds she often wondered if she carried inside of her that were just repressed.
She knew beyond a doubt she was falling in love with Sean Callahan, but she wasn’t sure what to say and where to go with it. Always one for holding her cards close to her chest, she was starting to wonder if maybe she should show them a little.
