by Lacey Black
Though it’s difficult, I push that thought out of my mind before it can completely take over my thoughts, making me crazy. Maddox loves my brother too much to risk messing up his friendship with him by sleeping with his sister just to say he did. He probably could have done that anytime over the last several years. And he did agree that he wasn’t going to sleep with other women while we’re hanging out. So I just have to put a little faith and trust into him that he won’t screw me over, figuratively that is.
Mom always says that a watched pot doesn’t boil so I decide to flip through the channels and find a movie to watch to help pass the time until Maddox gets here. After my second run through the channels, I settle for a Duck Dynasty marathon. Nine o’clock rolls into nine-thirty which slowly becomes ten o’clock. The last thing I remember is Uncle Sy blowing up his pick-up truck and the whole family watching and cheering.
I’m startled awake by a knock at the door. I glance up at the clock and notice its ten forty-five. I look through the peek hole and see the very tired, yet devastatingly handsome face of Maddox. I crack open the door and gaze at him through heavily lidded eyes.
“Did I wake you?” he asks.
“I just dozed off on the couch. Do you want to come in?”
“Do you still want me to come in?” I step back and hold the door wide open for him. He steps inside and walks towards the couch while I shut and lock the door.
“Sorry I’m so late. We caught a case right at the end of shift and ended up working another hour and a half. I ran home quickly and showered, and then walked over. I didn’t know if I should still come or not.”
I walk over to him until I’m standing right in front of him and slide my hands up his muscular arms from his wrists to his shoulders. “I’m glad you came over,” I whisper as I gaze into his tired eyes. He bends down and kisses my lips lightly, like he’s savoring their taste. Then he slides one hand around my waist and pulls me tight against him. I feel him growing hard against me. His other hand wraps around my neck and we’re both lost in the kiss. It quickly turns needy and urgent until we’re both breathing hard and fighting for air.
“Lay back on the couch,” he tells me as he removes my shirt. I lay back on the couch and he’s on top of me before I know it. He covers my soft body with his much harder one. He’s all ripped muscles and hard plains to my soft curves and soft skin. His skin is so hot to the touch like his whole body has ignited from the inside out. I glide my hands up his sides, pushing his t-shirt up as I go. He helps pull it the rest of the way over his head. The feel of his hot chest against mine steals my breath and ability to think. He’s touching me everywhere. As he rolls to his side, he starts to push at my pants around my hips. I raise my hips slightly to help him as he removes them.
“Yoga pants are man’s greatest invention,” he mumbles against my lips. “The only thing better than yoga pants is yoga pants lying on the floor.”
His hands start to explore my legs, starting at my calves and roaming up to my thighs. Did someone turn up the heat? The room is stifling hot. My thighs are on fire, burned from his touch. He gets to the vee of my legs and starts to rub me through my panties.
“Your panties are so wet already,” he says as he breaks the kiss. “That is the sexiest damn thing ever.”
“I’ve been thinking about you all night,” I confess, my voice is now heavy and breathy.
“I’ve been thinking about you too. Let’s take these things off, shall we?” He slides his hands around my hips and starts a deliciously slow decent of my panties. He throws them over his shoulder onto the floor and immediately covers me again with his body. He’s all lips and tongue and mouth, and I can’t seem to get enough of him. He starts to kiss down my chin, down my neck, down my torso. He pays extra attention to my breasts, first one, and then the other. His hands and mouth continue their travel south coming to my belly button. He kisses all the way around it, dipping his tongue inside a few times. I never knew my belly button could be so sensual and arousing, but man if it didn’t turn me on something fierce. His hands return to my breasts, his mouth now tracing the lines of the vee of my legs. I’m squirming and wiggling under his expert touch. I push my pelvis up into his body, urging him on.
He slides his fingers over my center, rubbing the wetness around. “You’re so wet. I love it.”
I can’t even form words. The feel of his hands on me is exquisite. He takes one of his long fingers and gently slides it inside me. His other hand continues the assault on my breasts, my nipples. He bends down, his mouth exploring my wetness. I moan as he adds a second finger and pushes them both in.
“I want to hear you come,” he says.
“I’m so close. God this feels so good.”
Just then he rubs that place deep inside me that makes me erupt faster than a bullet from a gun. I’m moaning his name over and over again as he continues to work me over with his fingers, his mouth, and his tongue. As I come down from the orgasm, he brings his lips back up to my mouth. I taste myself on his lips and tongue, turning me on all over again.
“You moaning my name is so fucking hot,” he breathes heavily against my mouth.
“Lie down and let me show you something else that’s hot.”
He gets up, allowing me to switch positions with him. As he lies back down and stretches out, he throws one arm casually over his head to rest on the top of the couch, other hand rests next to his leg. I reach up and unbutton his jeans, watching him as he takes in every one of my movements. I palm him through his jeans before I slowly slide the zipper down, giving them a little tug. He lifts his lower body up off the couch so I can pull his jeans the rest of the way down. He never takes his eyes off of my hands so I reach up and stroke him through his boxer briefs.
His eyes crash into mine. They’re all big and intense, and I can tell he’s close to slipping over the edge. I keep my eyes locked on his as I tug down his boxers, freeing him from the confines of his underwear. I reach forward and gently grab a hold of him. He’s so hot and hard. He closes his eyes and moans my name at my touch. I stroke him a few times and am rewarded by the glistening drops at the end of his shaft. I bend down and lick the wetness. Maddox about comes up off the couch, his entire body trembling.
“Holy shit! Babe, that feels so good,” he continues to moan.
I take him inside my mouth, using my lips and tongue to give him pleasure. I use my hand to gently pump up and down on his long, hard shaft. His hands weave into my hair, holding me, guiding me without being forceful. I glance up at him and his eyes are completely black, lost in the ecstasy of my mouth. I swallow him inch by inch, apply just enough suction with my mouth, and stroke him a little faster. He’s watching my actions, eyes blazing as I bring him close to orgasm. With a little more suction, Maddox reaches the peak and he comes forcefully in my mouth. He moans out my name, shaking as his orgasm starts to subside. I lap up all the wetness remaining on his shaft.
“Come here, babe.” He reaches down and grabs my arms, gently pulling me up onto his lap. “That was amazing. Thank you.”
I give him a shy smile and feel the blush heat up my cheeks. “You’re welcome.”
He stands up, still holding me in his arms and starts walking towards my bedroom. “Can I stay?” he asks.
“I’d like that.”
“What time does Brooklyn get up?”
“I usually wake her up by seven a.m.”
“I’ll be gone by then so I’m not here when she wakes up.”
He walks into my bedroom and sets me down on the bed. He follows me into bed, sliding us both under the covers. “Come here, you,” he says as he rolls me to my side, his front snug against my back. Maddox slides one arm under my neck and throws his other over my side, wrapping it around me. I relax instantly in his embrace as he kisses the side of my neck.
“Good night,” he whispers.
“Night, Maddox.”
*****
My alarm clock goes off at six-thirty which generally doesn’t bot
her me too much, but since Maddox woke me up at five this morning but didn’t leave until five forty-five, I’m dragging a little this morning. I run through a quick shower and set out to getting myself ready for work. When I head into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee before I wake up Brooklyn, I see the pot is already on, coffee already made. I smile at his thoughtfulness.
I step over to the counter where my cell phone sits and send off a quick message to Maddox thanking him for the coffee. Before I can even leave the kitchen to go wake Brooklyn, my phone pings signaling his response.
I figured that since you were short on sleep, a little coffee would help
Indeed it does help. Best way to be short on sleep
Have a good day, babe.
You too. Talk to you later.
I smile widely thinking about the terms of endearment he’s been using lately. Babe or Baby. I never liked them when Drake tried using them, but coming from Maddox, I think I could definitely get used to it. I wander back to Brooklyn’s room and begin the process of getting her ready for the day. Once she’s dressed, teeth are brushed, and hair is pulled up in a ponytail, I fix her up with her favorite Frosted Flakes for breakfast. As she’s eating, I fire off a text message to Jake to confirm that he’s ready for Brooklyn’s arrival.
I have help with Brooklyn four days a week from a neighbor who stays home with her grandkids. Between my mom, brothers or Holly, they all take turns watching her on Monday’s. Brooklyn has preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I always drop her off at school on my way to work and my neighbor, Rosemary, picks her up when she’s done.
Today is one of those days where everyone is working but Jake. He loves spending time with her and gladly does it when he can. With his work schedule though, it doesn’t happen all that often, so Brooklyn is extremely excited to go spend the day with Uncle Jake. I pack a bag of toys and all her necessities and head out the door.
When we pull up to Jake’s house, Brooklyn is already buzzing in the backseat. I help her out and she takes off towards the back door. Jake’s already walking through the door and down the stairs towards us.
“Uncle Jake!”
“Hi, Bean,” he exclaims as he kisses her face. “I’ve missed you!”
“Me too! Let’s go pway dollies!”
“Dollies?” he mumbles at me.
“Oh, you just wait, Uncle Jake. She has a whole bunch of Barbie’s in this bag. And no Ken dolls,” I say with a laugh as I see his face take on a look of pain.
“Barbie’s? I’m going to play Barbie dolls?”
“Yep! We pway Barbie’s! Dollies first, though. You can be a Mommy, too!” Brooklyn exclaims. They both take off inside the house, me bringing up the rear.
“Got any coffee?” I ask.
“Sure, help yourself. Late night last night?”
I almost miss the cup as I pour the coffee. I’m not sure what to tell him. I hate lying to him, but I can’t tell him that I was sleeping with his best friend last night. And this morning. “I was reading too late. You know how it is when I get engrossed in a good book.”
“No, actually I don’t know. I hate reading. Always bribed the pretty girls with dates in school to help me,” he says with a wolfish grin.
“I’m surprised you passed,” I reply dryly.
“Oh, I passed alright. Sex Ed was my favorite class. Straight A’s.”
“Anyway,” I say drawing out the word, “her blanket for naptime is in the bag, she’s already had breakfast, and don’t give her a Snickers bar this time. She was wound up for hours after the last time.”
“I deny her nothing. She wants a Snickers, she gets a Snickers.”
“Well, Uncle Jake, next time she’s wound for sound, YOU get to chase her around until the sugar rush wears off.”
“Deal,” he chuckles. “Wanna meet at the bakery for lunch? Bean and I will stop by a drive thru and grab some lunch and meet you there.”
“Sounds good,” I say as I rinse my coffee cup out in the sink. “I should get lunch at noon today. I don’t think Mr. Andrews has any luncheons on the calendar.”
“Still going okay with him?”
“Yep. I just wish I was doing something, oh I don’t know, less boring? He’s a wonderful ol’ man but I’m bored stiff by eleven o’clock and looking for stuff to do.”
“Do you still want to get into the bakery with Mom?”
“I think so. I love to bake. She just doesn’t have the hours to keep me full-time. And with Brooklyn, I have to have full-time with benefits.”
“She’s not gonna run the bakery forever. When she’s ready to give it up, I’m sure she’d love to have you step in and take her place.”
“I hope so. I don’t have anything saved for it, though. I need to start putting back a little more money each paycheck. I’ll never get to the point where I can buy the business if I don’t start saving now.”
“You know I’ll help you out, Ave. Whatever you need, I’ll give it to you or help you get it.”
“I know you will, and I appreciate it more than you could possibly know. But this is something I’m going to need to do myself. Save my own money. Get my own loans. Pay my own bills. I don’t need you running around cleaning up my messes anymore.”
“That’s what big brothers are for. We do the things we need to so we can make sure you are never without or hurting.”
“You, Nate, Will, and Trav are the best big brothers anyone could ever ask for. You guys all do anything you can for me, and I appreciate it so much. But sometimes, I just need you to hold my hand and let me make my own mistakes. I need you to trust me that I will be able to take care of myself and make my own decisions.”
“I can’t sit by and watch you hurt. Not happening. Don’t ask me to do it. I won’t do it, Avery.”
I sigh as I realize we’re just having the same argument we’ve had since I was in junior high. Jake loves so fiercely and will do anything in his power to protect those he loves, even at his own expense. I lean forward on my tiptoes and pull him down by his shoulders to kiss his cheek. “I love you, Jake.”
He throws his arms around me and squeezes the air out of me in a tight bear hug. “I love you, too, Ave. I will kill anyone who hurts you,” he says with a straight face though I can see the twinkle in his eyes. I laugh and swat at his chest.
When he releases me from his tight embrace, I head into the living room to say good-bye to Brooklyn. She is organizing all her dollies on the couch, lining them all up by size.
“Uncle Jake, the dollies are weady!” I give her a big hug and kiss and tell them I’ll see them at lunch. On my way out the door, I glance back to see Jake sitting on the floor in front of the couch, holding three different dolls in the crook of his arm. Though he’s trying to act like a big tough guy, I see the big smile spread across his face. If the guys at work could see him now…
*****
It’s a surprisingly busy morning at the Law Office of Andrews & Levine. Mr. Andrews had two phone calls from previous clients that he didn’t want to turn over to his son-in-law so both of those appointments were made for the afternoon. The phones were pretty busy and the mail was on the heavy side today. So when I looked up and saw it was already almost noon, I was ready for a brief reprieve.
I grab my purse out of my desk drawer and head to Mr. Andrews’ office. “I’m heading to lunch. Want me to bring you something back?”
“Oh, no thank you. I’m going to meet my wife and daughter next door at the restaurant. If I can get my son-in-law off the phone long enough to join us, then he’ll be there too.”
“Well, I’ll be back at one then,” I say as I turn to head out the door.
Since I don’t have to pick up food, I walk the two blocks from the law office to the bakery. When I walk in, there’s a pretty big line at the counter. I wave at my mom and her part-timer, Sandra, and head towards the back table which we dubbed “Reserved for Family”. My head is down, checking my text messages on my phone when I hear, “Mommy! We picked Ma
ddox up!” I stop walking and look up from my phone. Sure enough, Jake, Brooklyn, and Maddox are all sitting around the table.
“Hurry up. These sandwiches are awesome but only when they’re still hot. I got you cheese fries, too,” Jake says as he starts dishing out the food in the bag.
“Hi,” I say as I approach the table, looking at Maddox.
“Hey. Jake couldn’t handle Brooklyn by himself so he bribed me with cheeseburgers to come by and help him.”
“I can handle her. I just needed someone else to sit in for me this afternoon and play Barbie’s.”
“Wait. You never said anything about Barbie’s,” Maddox states matter-of-factly.
“Of course I didn’t. I’m feeding you first, and then I break out the fact that you’re going to be playing Barbie’s all damn afternoon.”
“Mommy, Uncle Jake said a bad word.”
“Jake, watch your mouth,” I tell him with a big smile on my face. I bend down and kiss my daughter on the top of the head and then scoot around the table to sit between Brooklyn and Maddox.
After I get Brooklyn settled with her food, I dive into my cheese fries like I haven’t eaten in days. “Hungry?” Maddox asks with a smirk.
“Their cheese fries are my all-time favorite food. I just wish I wouldn’t have to go run five miles just to work off the calories I’m consuming.”
“You don’t need to run. You’re fine,” Jake says with a pointed, big brother look.
I look over at Maddox as he gives me a once over with his eyes. I can almost feel his eyes remembering what I look like naked. “Agreed,” he mumbles and quickly looks away before Jake catches him.
“Well, thank you. I do get plenty of exercise chasing a three year old around all the time.”
We enjoy a quick, semi-quiet lunch at the bakery. Mom was able to come over for the last fifteen minutes of my lunch break and relax with us after the lunch sweet-tooth rush died off, chatting with us all about our afternoon plans. I help Maddox clean up the lunch, get Brooklyn ready to head back to Jake’s, and gather my stuff to head back to work. I kiss Brooklyn and hug Jake and my Mom before I head out the door. Though it’s the most difficult task, I don’t make eye contact with Maddox for fear that everyone in the room will see my eyes linger too long.
