Watching Mine

by Grayson, Alex

  My lips quirk up as I watch embarrassment heat her cheeks. Her gaze clashes with mine, but she quickly looks away.

  “Mom, seriously?” she admonishes, sounding like a teenage girl being uncomfortably questioned in front of a boy by her parents. “Yes, it’s him.”

  “Seems pretty serious if he’s bringing gifts for Avery,” Martha states with raised brows and laughter in her eyes.

  I don’t even attempt to stop the chuckle from leaving my lips. Embarrassed Emberleigh is a cute Emberleigh, and I’m really fucking enjoying it.

  Instead of replying to her mother, she grabs my hand and pulls me toward the stairs. Martha’s snickering laugh can be heard as we ascend the staircase.

  “Moms can be such pains in the asses,” she mutters, leading me down a hallway.

  She shoots me a glare when I laugh.

  We stop at a partially closed door. I stop her with a hand at her waist before she pushes it open. She turns to me, but before she can say anything, I drop my lips to hers. The kiss isn’t filled with passion like it normally is between us. Now’s not the time or place for something like that. It’s just a soft melding of lips.

  I pull back seconds later and rest my forehead against hers.

  “What was that for?” Her eyes stay closed as she asks the question.

  “It was just something I needed to do,” I state honestly. It’s only been two days since I’ve seen her, but it feels like two weeks. I have no clue what this woman has done to me, but my need for her is growing to obsessive levels. When I’m not with her, my mind is constantly on her. When I am with her, I want to be closer to her. I feel like some damn schoolboy with his first crush. But fuck if I care.

  She smiles beautifully at my words and her gorgeous blue eyes slowly open, looking at me with something akin to… love? For some reason, that thought doesn’t turn my stomach like it would have weeks ago.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispers.

  “Em?”

  We break apart at Avery’s voice. Pushing open the door, we step inside, and the laugh Emberleigh and Martha shared earlier becomes clear. The room is filled with all kinds of stuffed animals. They’re on shelves mounted on the walls, on her dresser, a small table in the corner has a nicely arranged stack, nets hang in the corners filled to overflowing. She even has a pile of them at the end of a full-size bed. Obviously, the girl likes them. A lot.

  “Hey, Avery. Look who’s here.” Emberleigh moves to the bed and sits beside Avery.

  My eyes move to the little girl in the bed. She’s sitting up with the blankets over her lap, Kindle resting on her legs, and a stuffed panda clutched under her arm. She looks miserable, but she still has a smile on her face. I’ve only met Avery once, but for some reason, she seems happy to see me. That sends a warm feeling to my chest.

  “Hey.” I step closer to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “My throat hurts some, but I’m okay.”

  I nod and smile at her with sympathy. “I used to get it when I was a kid, and remember how it feels.”

  Her eyes move to the stuffed animal and flowers. I hold out the elephant. “I brought you a couple of get-well gifts.” Her smile grows even bigger as she reaches out for it. “I think he’ll fit right in,” I say with a chuckle. She and Emberleigh giggle.

  After she snuggles the elephant into her arms, burying her face in the soft fur, I hold the flowers out next. Emberleigh watches with a smile on her face as her daughter takes them and brings them to her nose, inhaling the sweet floral scent.

  “Thank you,” she whispers. “I love them.”

  “You’re welcome.” I point to the device in her lap. “What are you reading?”

  Emberleigh takes the flowers and sets them on the nightstand. Avery carefully puts the stuffed elephant down beside her against the pillows and picks up the kindle.

  “The Boxcar Children. Em says she used to read them when she was my age. Her and Mom bought me a bunch for my Kindle for my birthday.”

  “I read a couple of those when I was in school.”

  When Emberleigh looks at me with a shocked expression, I lift a brow. “What?”

  “I just can’t picture you reading something like that,” she snickers. “I see you more of a Tales From the Crypt or Goosebumps kind of guy.”

  “I read those too, but any kid who’s really been a kid has to have read at least one Boxcar Children book. It’s like a childhood rite of passage or something.”

  She laughs lightly, the sound quickly becoming one of my favorites.

  “I agree. Every child, no matter what generation, should read The Boxcar Children. There’s so many lessons kids can learn from them. Until I reached fourteen, I had every single one printed and I read them all. I just wish I had kept them to give to Avery.”

  I look back at the little girl in bed, who’s watching us with curious eyes. “Well, it looks like she carries your like of them.”

  I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth. Pain etches across Emberleigh’s face, and I know it’s because I inadvertently likened Avery to her in a way that reminds her of her parental situation. When her eyes drop to her lap, it’s all I can do to not pull her into my arms. That might seem weird to Avery though.

  A moment passes before Emberleigh recovers. Her head lifts and she’s plastered a smile on her face, but I know it’s not completely natural. It doesn’t reach her eyes like it normally does. My chest aches with the need to take away her pain.

  I take the seat that’s next to the bed, and for the next twenty minutes, Avery tells us about the current adventure the Alden children are on. After, she talks of a new Pixar movie that’s coming out she wants to go see. Emberleigh promises to take her, while I secretly plan to worm my way into going with them. Over the girly chatter, Emberleigh’s mood lightens.

  Jeffrey comes in carrying a tray holding the soup I brought and a glass of juice. He murmurs a few quite words to Avery, making her giggle, before bending to place a kiss on her forehead.

  “Your mom said she’ll bring up a popsicle in a bit if she needs something else to soothe her throat,” he tells Emberleigh.

  “Okay. Thanks, Dad. I’ll bring this down when she’s finished.”

  “You got it, honey. Want me to take those flowers down for your mom to put in a vase?”

  For the first time since I knocked on the front door, the look he gives me isn’t one of aversion. Uncertainty still furrows his brow, but there’s interest as well. I can work with that.

  “Sure.”

  “Can we put them on my nightstand?” Avery asks, sounding tired.

  Emberleigh smiles at her. “I’ll get them when I take your tray down.”

  Jeffrey leaves with the flowers, and while Avery eats her soup, Emberleigh talks about her classes and how excited she is for them to be over soon. She goes on to tell me she already has a job lined up once she graduates, working with the same doctor who delivered her. I’m mesmerized by the light in her eyes as she talks. Her face is so expressive.

  Instead of taking the tray down when Avery finishes her soup, she sets it on the end of the bed. I watch as mother and daughter converse. It’s amazing how much alike they are. They not only share the same facial features, but a lot of the same personality facets and mannerisms.

  It’s a shame for both of them that Avery doesn’t know Emberleigh is her mother. I’m not disillusioned to think that Avery wouldn’t be upset because she was lied to, but I have every confidence that it wouldn’t be as bad as Emberleigh fears. Avery loves her too much for that pain to last long. I think after the initial shock, she would be happy and excited. It’s not like she would be losing Martha and Jeffrey, they would just be moved to the grandparents’ roles.

  Avery yawns, and I push the sleeve of my thermal back to check the time on my watch. I’m surprised I’ve been here for over an hour.

  “It’s time for me to head out.” I don’t want to leave, if it were up to me, I’d stay with them all night, but I don�
�t want to monopolize Emberleigh’s time, and it looks like Avery is about to doze off.

  “Okay.” Disappointment flashes in Emberleigh’s eyes, and it makes me happy as hell that she doesn’t want me to leave either.

  “Will you come back and see me?” Avery asks sleepily, her eyes drooping more by the second.

  I tug the end of her braid that’s hanging over her shoulder, and smile. “If not here, then maybe when you visit Emberleigh.”

  “Okay,” she responds, and hugs the elephant with both arms. “Thank you for my flowers and elephant. I’ll make sure to have a name for him the next time I see you.”

  After Emberleigh tells Avery she’s going to walk me to my car and she’ll be back with her medicine and the vase of flowers, we leave the room and make our way downstairs. She carries the tray to the kitchen while I wait at the door. I smile to myself when I overhear her mother asking about me through the kitchen door. I can’t hear Emberleigh’s reply, but I notice her flushed face when she emerges a moment later.

  “Mom and Dad wanted to come say goodbye, but they’re eating dinner,” she says when she stops by the front door.

  I smirk because she’s full of shit. I may not have heard most of her conversation with them, but I did catch snippets of her telling her mom to not come out here.

  Opening the door, she walks out first, and I follow. Once we’re at my truck, I push her body against it with my own, and swallow her gasp of surprise with my mouth, swirling my tongue against her lips. She opens, and I dive inside. She tastes like cinnamon. I want more, so much fucking more, but I refrain, keeping it mildly innocent.

  I do rest my body against hers though, letting her feel my hard cock against her lower stomach. Her hands clutch the material of my shirt and she moans softly against my mouth, letting me know just what I’m doing to her.

  With a groan, I pull back. Her eyes flutter open, slightly dazed.

  I push back some hair that’s fallen in her face. “Let me know when she’s better and you’re free.”

  She nods, but then verbalizes, “I will. Sorry I had to cancel tonight.”

  “No need to apologize. Kids always come first.”

  She swallows, then nods again. “Thank you for stopping by.” She frowns. “How did you know where my parents live?”

  “I saw a piece of mail on your counter several days ago with your name and this address. I took a chance that this was their house.”

  “Snooping around, huh?” she inquires mischievously.

  I chuckle and tap my temple. “Just a really good memory. I briefly noticed it, but the address stayed in my head because I used to have a friend who lived on the next street over.”

  “Oh wow, small world.”

  I press my lips against hers once more, then pull back. “Go,” I order. “Before I’m tempted to kidnap and have my way with you.”

  Giggling, she takes a step back, then another. “It wouldn’t be kidnapping if I went willingly.”

  “Don’t tempt me, woman,” I growl playfully.

  Her giggle turns to a laugh, and fuck if that doesn’t make me want to steal her away even more. She turns and flounces up the walkway, her ass looking entirely way too good in her tight jeans. When she reaches the door, she turns back and blows me a kiss before waving and walking inside.

  I get in my truck, start it, and pull away, really damn glad of the sudden impulse that hit me to go see her. Let’s just hope it’ll tide me over until I can see her again.

  ChapterEighteen

  Nathan

  IT’S TUESDAY, AND I’M AT MY window again looking through my binoculars. I haven’t had to do this for a few weeks now. The last couple of Tuesdays I’ve been with Emberleigh, and the one before that we were on the phone when we both talked each other into orgasms. We were supposed to be together tonight, but Emberleigh called this morning, saying she had something she had to take care of and may not be home until late. It’s 11:00 p.m., and she just walked in the door. I’ve seen her once since the evening I stopped by her parents’ house, which was three days ago.

  As usual, my dick perks up at the sight of her. She drops her purse on the table by the couch and enters the mouth of the hallway. A moment later, she appears in her bedroom, the sweater she was wearing already off. It gets dropped on the bed.

  I’m curious to see how tonight goes. We haven’t had a normal Tuesday in a while, and I’m not sure if I want one or not. I love watching Emberleigh touch herself—it not only stimulates my body, but my mind as well—but having my hands on her myself… fuck if that isn’t so much better.

  She pulls off the tank top and throws it in the bin beside the bathroom door, leaving her in a pair of jeans and a light pink bra. Walking into the bathroom, she closes the door behind her. Ten minutes later, she emerges, freshly washed with her hair pulled up into a messy bun and a white towel wrapped around her, leaving her slim legs and sexy shoulders and arms bare. I can’t see them, but I know there are water droplets on her skin. I want to lick them off, and once I capture them all with my tongue, I want to feast on the rest of her. I bet her pussy’s wet right now and would taste so fucking delicious.

  I debate on walking over and seeing for myself, but decide against it. It’s late, and I know she has to get up early for class. I’m ravenous for her, so if I go over there, it’ll be hours before she finds sleep. However, a phone call would appease part of my appetite. It’s not as satisfying as having my hands on her, but hearing her moans through a speaker is better than just watching her pleasure herself.

  She sits on the side of the bed that’s facing the window. I take my phone from my pocket and look away from her to pull up her number. I’m just about to push the little phone icon by her name when the device vibrates, then a second later her name appears on my screen. Both surprised and pleased, I glance up and look through the window. Not through the binoculars this time. Even without them I can see her, just not as well. I can barely make out her lowered head. I bring the binoculars back to my eyes to see her better. She’s staring at her lap, and her free hand fiddles with the edge of the towel.

  Without looking at the screen, I accept the call and bring it to my ear. “Hey, beautiful,” I greet.

  “Hey.”

  I frown when her voice comes out hesitant and not the cheery tone it usually is.

  “Everything okay?”

  Through the binoculars, I watch her lift her head and look out the window in front of her. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

  I don’t believe her. Not only because of the uncertainty in her tone, but from the worry lines appearing between her eyes.

  She gets up from the bed, walks to the window, and places her palm against the glass. She looks lost in thought as she gazes out into the night, but no less beautiful standing there with the outside darkness surrounding her. The light in the room behind her sort of gives her a glow.

  She starts tracing invisible lines on the glass. “What are you doing right now?” she asks quietly.

  “Standing at my window.” I decide the truth is best.

  Her finger stops and a small smile forms on her face. I stay quiet, letting her lead the conversation. There’s obviously something on her mind, so I give her time to decide if she wants to talk about it. The tracing resumes.

  “I have a secret,” she says after a moment of silence.

  Intrigued by her revelation, I grin and ask, “What kind of secret?”

  She doesn’t answer right away, but what she does do has me gritting my teeth to keep back a groan. She reaches up, grips the towel tucked between her breasts, and tugs it free. The cotton material falls from her hand and lands at her feet, leaving her bare-ass-fucking naked. My legs lock tight as my dick grows impossibly hard in my jeans at the sight of her gorgeous body.

  “Something that might make you mad at me,” she says in a low voice.

  It takes me a minute to remember what my question was. She has a secret. One that will possibly make me mad at her. I wrack my brain tryin
g to think of what it could be, and come up empty. Of course, if could be because half the blood in my body has rushed to my dick so my brain isn’t functioning at a hundred percent.

  “I’m sure it’s not as bad as you’re thinking,” I try to reassure her, really wanting to know this secret of hers.

  She drops her head again, but her hand goes back to the window. She stays that way for several moments. I’m trying really damn hard to control my body in light of her worried state, but when her chest rises and falls and her nipples damn near touch the glass, it become very fucking difficult.

  When she lifts her head again, her eyes go straight to my apartment and I freeze in place. With the lights off behind me, shrouding me in darkness, I know she can’t see my form, but she’s looking in the general direction of where I am. She may not be looking directly at me, but her eyes look as if she knows I’m here and she’s searching for me.

  I hold my breath, wondering where in the hell this is going, and fearing I already know. Her quiet voice sounds over the phone.

  “I know you watch me, Nathan. I’ve known for over a year.”

  Fuck.

  Me.

  The hand holding the binoculars starts to shake, and I will it to stop. Gritting my teeth, I try my best to gather my shit and keep it under control.

  What surprises the hell out of me the most isn’t that she knows, but the lack of anger in her tone. No, if anything, she sounds timid, like she expects me to be angry, which confuses the fuck out of me.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before,” she continues softly. “I liked that you watched me. I liked… touching myself for you, hoping you got off too. It was exciting and naughty because you’re over there and I’m here, and you thought I didn’t know. I didn’t want it to stop, even though I love it even more when you’re with me.”

  She stops talking and curls her fist against the window, her gaze still directed at my apartment. I go from strung tight with worry to having a dick as hard as stone in ten seconds flat. All I can do is stare at her, fucking amazed at what she said, and so goddamn relieved she’s not threatening to kick my ass.