by Harmon, AJ
“That sounds nice,” Tim shrugged.
“Well it would be if she wanted to do it rather than just keeping up appearances. It’s all very, very nineteenth century.”
“So your family is wealthy?”
Beth looked up at Tim over her fork as she slid the salmon into her mouth. She nodded.
“A little rebellion then?” he asked.
“No,” she said thoughtfully. “Just trying to forge my own path. I don’t want to be known as ‘that Collins girl, of the Collins’s of Surrey’,” she said in her best impersonation of the Queen.
Somehow, Tim knew what she meant. He was a Lathem. Ah, a Lathem, people would say to him when meeting him for the first time. He knew exactly how she felt. So not only did he find her physically attractive, he understood her too.
“I don’t have any dessert,” she apologized, interrupting his thoughts.
“I appreciate you feeding me,” he grinned. “Dessert or no dessert.”
“Maybe we could do this again?”
“Definitely,” he replied a little too quickly. “That would be nice,” he smiled.
“Yes it would,” she whispered.
Beth stood and took their plates over to the sink. He followed suit and grabbed the salad bowl and walked the few steps behind her. As she spun around, she all but smacked into him.
“Oh!” she blushed.
Tim reached around her and put the bowl on the counter. Her lips were just inches from his and he took advantage of the situation. He leaned in and kissed her. Her lips were slightly pursed and at first she didn’t respond. He had obviously taken her by complete surprise.
He drew back and opened his eyes to see hers closed. He kissed her again and this time her response was quick. She ran her hands up his chest and around his neck and interlocked her fingers. Tim wrapped his arms around her waist and closed the gap between them.
Her lips were warm and she tasted of butter. His tongue coaxed her lips apart and darted inside and tasted her more. Her breath hitched in her throat and he felt her tense in his arms. He deepened the kiss and found her tongue. She danced with him and the heat grew quickly.
Her body relaxed into his and he tightened his hold on her. Her fingers played with his hair on his collar and when she moaned into his mouth he wanted her like no woman before. He pressed his erection into her pelvis and she moaned again.
His hands slid up past her waist and cupped the sides of her breasts. She moaned again and the sound just inspired and encouraged him more. He broke away and kissed her ear lobe and her neck and was slowly moving down when his cell phone rang in his pocket.
It was enough of a distraction that Beth jumped backwards, releasing her hold on him and pushed her hair behind her ears. She was flushed.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I have to get this.” He answered the phone with a curt “Yes?” But his expression quickly changed as his eyes grew big.
“Really? Now? Yes, I’m coming.” He put the phone back in his pocket.
Beth was staring at the floor and Tim lifted her chin with his fingers. “I have to go,” he whispered. “I really want to stay, but I can’t.”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. He could tell she thought she was getting the brush-off.
“My brother and sister-in-law are having a baby…right now!” he smiled.
“Right now?”
Tim nodded. “But I’d really, really like to do this again.”
She smiled. “Friday?”
He grinned. “Absolutely.” He kissed her cheek, grabbed his jacket and left.
“Friday,” she giggled.
6.
Nic had delivered a healthy baby boy. Both mother and son were doing well and Paul couldn’t keep still.
“She was amazing!” he told everyone as they gathered in her room to congratulate the new parents and gaze at the precious bundle of blue in Maureen’s arms.
Nic just chuckled. “The epidural was amazing.”
“Amen!” laughed Janie.
Paul handed his brothers a cigar. David and Lindsey were still on their honeymoon. They were due back in a couple of days, but Paul had already sent them dozens of pictures from his phone.
Gregory Paul Lathem was named after his maternal grandfather; the man Nic had never met; the man Nic’s mother had taught her to despise; the man Paul had discovered had died serving his country; the man Nic had come to love through the association with his parents, her grandparents, Larry and Irene Wilkins, whom she’d met for the first time just last year and had become a huge part of hers and Paul’s life.
The baby was passed around to all the women first. Maureen had been the first one at the hospital and was the first to hold Gregory, after his parents of course. And now Janie and Katy had their turn at snuggling with the perfect little bundle.
“Does it make you want one?” Nic asked Katy and she kissed his tiny forehead.
“Oh no!” she laughed. “I’m going to enjoy ALL of my nieces and nephews and wait for grandchildren.”
Tim was one of the last to hold the baby. He sat in the recliner and looked into Gregory’s eyes and watched him yawn and stretch. It was a strange emotion he felt. Just yesterday he’d attended a funeral and today he was sitting holding a baby that had been born less than an hour before. He looked up at Nic who was studying him.
“You look good with a baby,” she smiled. “You’re a natural.”
Most of the family’s attention had been taken by Ella who was telling them all about her day at pre-school. Tim looked over at them and then back at Nic and nodded. “I do want children,” he said. “But I’ll never find a woman like you to marry so I may just be out of luck.”
Nic chuckled. “She’s out there. You just have to find her.”
Have I already found her?
*****
Right before he left after his shift on Thursday, Tim put a big orange sticky note on the bulletin board that said if a German Shepherd showed up at the firehouse, to hold on to her and call him immediately. Then he grabbed his jacket and left.
Nic was scheduled to come home the next morning and Paul asked Tim to come over after work and help him scrub down the apartment. He wanted to make sure there wasn’t a germ anywhere before Gregory arrived. Tim had silently laughed at his brother but had agreed to help him, even if he did think he was going overboard.
They scrubbed every surface, washed all the linens and ate pizza for dinner and then Paul scrubbed again while Tim watched.
“Healthy environment equals healthy baby,” Paul had repeated.
Tim smiled at his brother. “You’re going to be a great dad.”
“That’s the plan.”
As Tim rode the subway back down to the West Village, he thought about Nic who grew up without a father and Paul who’d grown up with the best father. And then he thought of Daniel’s children and how they probably wouldn’t remember their father but how they would know that he died a hero.
His mind wandered to Beth and how she was three thousand miles from her father and she didn’t care. He realized just how lucky he was and he hoped that one day, a long time in the future, that his son would think he was lucky to have Tim as a father.
*****
Friday went by so slowly Tim could hardly stand it. He was anxious for his date with Beth and when the clock finally turned six, he left his apartment for the twenty minute walk to her building.
She was dressed in a simple navy blue dress. It was sleeveless and cinched at her waist with a thin gold belt. She wore gold hoops in her ears and a gold bangle on her wrist. Her hair was down looking like spun silk and her eyes sparkled. She smiled at him when she opened the door.
“I felt silly,” she admitted, “as we didn’t set a time. I’m glad you came early.”
“I thought about that too,” he grinned. “You look beautiful by the way.”
Beth blushed. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Cleo leapt from her bed and bounded over to Tim who paid her the a
ttention she required. “I haven’t seen her at the station,” he chuckled.
“No,” Beth replied. “I haven’t let Jerry and Vince take her out. They’re kind of upset with me.”
“She’s a strong girl, aren’t you Cleo,” he laughed as she rolled onto her back so Tim could rub her tummy.
“She’s never done it before. I guess she really wanted to see you.”
“Guess so,” Tim agreed.
“Dinner’s ready.”
Tim threw Cleo’s bone onto her bed and the dog jumped up and ran over to it, settling down to chew on the rawhide. He took off his jacket and threw it on the back of the sofa and walked into the kitchen.
“Mind if I wash up?”
“Of course not,” she smiled.
He sat down at the table a minute later and admired the spread in front of him.
“Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings,” she pointed. “Roasted potatoes and peas.”
“Looks and smells delicious,” he smiled and took the platter of beef as she offered it to him.
As they ate they talked about Tim’s job and how 9/11 had influenced his decision to become a firefighter. Beth told him all about her job as a book editor and how much she loved it. She told him about her adoption of Cleo and all the animals she’d had growing up.
The conversation was easy and there weren’t any awkward silences; one subject just flowed into another and before long they’d been sitting at the table for nearly three hours, talking and picking at the food with their forks that was left on the serving platters.
“I made trifle,” she sighed as she stood to clear the dishes.
“Maybe that can wait a little longer?” Tim asked.
“That would be good,” Beth nodded. “I don’t think I could eat it right now.”
Tim helped to load the dishwasher and tidy the kitchen then followed Beth through to the living room and sat on the sofa.
“How’s the new baby?” she asked.
“Gregory is adorable and he will be spoilt rotten, of that I have no doubt.”
Beth smiled. “Isn’t that why you have children? To spoil them?”
“I thought it was the free labor,” he chuckled. “Although, I actually don’t remember having to do much around the house.”
“We had staff,” Beth frowned. “I don’t remember my mother making one meal when I was a child. Gertie was our cook. She’s the one who taught me how to cook. She retired a few years ago. I don’t know who the cook is now.”
“You haven’t been back?”
“No. Not since Ed…not in several years.”
“Ed?” Tim asked.
“Edward. My fiancé. Ex-fiancé, that is. ”
“Oh?”
“I broke off the engagement after I caught him…well…after I discovered he was…was sharing his affections.”
“Ouch.”
“It was all for the best. We weren’t right for each other, and I’m much happier without him.”
“Stiff upper lip and all that?” Tim grinned.
“Exactly,” she laughed. “Can I get you a drink?”
“I should probably get going,” he sighed. “I have to work in the morning.”
“Oh, okay,” disappointment apparent in her voice.
“Thank you for cooking for me,” he smiled. “Next time I’ll take you out.”
“Next time?” she asked.
“Would you have dinner with me on Monday?”
“I’d like that,” she smiled.
Tim scooted closer to her on the sofa and ran his fingers through her hair. “I’ve wanted to do that all night,” he whispered as he lightly kissed her lips.
Beth sighed. Her perfect posture collapsed as she leaned into him. His chest was solid and strong and she closed her eyes and breathed in his cologne. It was musky and masculine and fit him perfectly. His lips formed a smile and he kissed her again. He held the silky strands of her hair in his hands and cupped her face while eagerly deepening his kiss, searching her mouth for her tongue and feeling her shudder when he found it.
He hardened quickly and he could feel her excitement too. As his fingers slid down her to her breasts, he could feel her nipples pushing into the palms of his hands as she arched her back into him.
There was no thought, just physical need directing their every movement and action. Tim tugged on the zipper at the back of her dress but it was stopped by her belt. Beth unbuttoned his shirt as he fiddled with the gold buckle around her waist and within a few moments he was pulling her dress over her head and she was pushing his shirt off his broad shoulders, exposing the small axe tattoo at the top of his arm. Beth found it extremely sexy and kissed it while her hands kneaded the muscles of his back.
There was no talking, just desire that raged through them. Tim hoisted her onto his lap, her knees straddling him, his erection was pushing against her. He could feel her heat through his clothes. With a flick of his wrist, her bra popped open and he ogled her round plump breasts in front of him. He took one distended nipple into his mouth and rolled his tongue over it as he gently sucked. Beth’s head dropped back and he could hear her gasps for air. He held her hips firmly over his and jerked upwards as she rubbed her sex along his hardness.
He’d been in her apartment before. He knew where her bedroom was. In one swift move he stood and carried her to the bed, gently laying her head on the pillow. Extricating himself from his shoes, socks, pants and briefs, he kneeled in between her legs as she writhed with need. He took a nipple in each hand and twisted and pulled as she arched her back up to him, her fingers in his hair. He placed feather kisses down her breast bone to her belly button and then down lower to the satin trim of her panties. Beth gasped and arched her back. He nibbled on her hip bone that peaked out from behind the satin and then with his teeth, pulled on the fabric ‘til she lifted her hips and allowed him to remove them from her body.
The blonde curls that covered her sex beckoned him and he lowered himself to taste her. She flinched and pushed at his head. He looked up at her to see the panicked expression on her face.
“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered gently. He held her hands in his and kissed each one before placing them on the bed at her side.
Tim instinctively knew that no one had ever tasted her like this. No one had ever loved her like this and the knowledge pleased him immensely. He dipped his head once more and kissed her curls and pushed her thighs further apart. He used his thumbs and parted her so he could see her and then tasted her dew. Her hips jerked up and she moaned aloud and Tim had to stop himself from coming early.
She was absolutely beautiful, every inch of her, inside and out, and she tasted divine. He was addicted to her smell, her voice, everything about her. He lowered his head again and licked her, this time circling his tongue around her clitoris over and over, around and around. Without warning she gulped and cried out as he felt her body quiver violently and then stiffen as she came. He lifted his eyes and watched her face contort into an expression of almost pain and then relax as a smile appeared across her lips. Tim exhaled the breath he’d been holding and grinned. It was her first time. The thought was exhilarating.
*****
As Beth’s wits returned to her, her first coherent thought was that this may very well have been the best moment of her life. But then, as her muscles relaxed and her eyes opened, the thought that came next was not a nice one.
If this is what it feels like every time a man has an orgasm, how the hell have they let me go without? To be fair, she’d only been with three men…now four. But that meant that three men had used her body to achieve that kind of euphoria and had knowingly ignored her needs.
“Are you okay?” he asked, returning her to the present.
“Oh yeah,” she said. “I’m excellent.”
“Yes you are,” he chuckled. He crawled up beside her and she rolled into his arms. “You’ve got about two minutes.”
“For what?”
“To recover and
then you’re going again.”
“Oh,” she grinned. “Okay.”
He kissed her temple and her eyelid and her cheek, his hands all the while caressing her soft skin. He kissed her mouth and danced with her tongue and then he kissed down her neck and sucked on her shoulder.
When he could hear her breathing getting shallow, he grinned to himself and pushed her onto her back. He rolled over to find a condom in his wallet and expertly sheathed himself. Beth watched him intently and her mouth formed an ‘O’, as the sight of his length excited her more. He was a magnificent specimen. His limbs long and solid; his muscles were hard and strong. Climbing in between her legs, he pushed her thighs apart with his knees and hovered over her, holding up his weight with his hands planted on each side of her. Beth lifted her feet and placed them on the bed at his knees, a sign she was ready.
He lowered his hips to hers and instinctively the head of his penis found her opening. He could feel her warmth as he pressed inside her. She was wet and tight and sucked his length deep inside her. Tim gritted his teeth and pleaded with his body for some kind of control. This had not happened to him in many years. He’d always been able to control his physical response to women, but Beth had him pleading with his dick to obey him. He would not come before she did.
He slid out and then pushed back in. Beth opened her hips wider, creating more contact between them with each new thrust and causing Tim to hold his breath. Within just a few seconds she was matching his rhythm, lifting her hips to him as he pushed in and rolling them downwards as he slid out. This went on for an eternity in Tim’s mind before he felt her need building and building. She grabbed his ass and was holding him inside her as she ground into him; her eyes squeezed shut and her mouth open gasping for air. He closed his eyes and prayed she was close as he didn’t know how much longer he could prolong his climax.
