The Return (A Decision of Love Book 1)

by Tzar, Anastasia

  “I need you inside,” I gasped, pulling on his hair.

  My chest heaved with strangled breaths until he lifted himself on top of me. He entered, thrusting deep into my core. Moving slowly at first, but quickening his pace when I wrapped my legs around his waist, pushing against him. Holding my buttocks with his hands, he breathed heavily, the intensity of his thrusts increasing. Sensations raged through my body. Groaning, he ground his hips against me, his essence driven deep into my being. My body exploded into a million pieces. To me, Dan was without a doubt the king of men when it came to satisfying a woman. Thank God he was my king.

  A glow of satisfied perspiration covering us, we fitted our bodies together like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle, clinging to each other as lovers do after glorious sex.

  My last thought before falling asleep was Josh. If he called again, I was going to tell him to stop that I’d moved on, our years together were nothing more than a memory. My leg slipped between Dan’s. His arm tightened around me, his hand holding my breast. I sighed, snuggling into his body.

  Sunlight filtered through the blinds. My eyes fluttered open when something tickled my face. Turning my head, my beautiful Vivie smiled at me, her small fingers reaching for my face. Pulling the comforter up to cover my naked body, I turned on my side, Dan following me, his hand still cradling my breast.

  “What are you doing out of bed, peanut?” Dan’s chin rested on my shoulder his face smiling at Vivie.

  “Hi Daddy. I woke up.”

  Dan sat up, pulling on his sweats. “I see that.” He scooped her up in his arms. “We’ll let mommy get some sleep. How about some pancakes?”

  “Yes please. Doesn’t mommy want some?”

  “You go ahead with Daddy, I’ll be down in a minute.”

  “Don’t forget to put your clothes on,” Vivie giggled.

  Dan smiled over Vivie’s head. I groaned, dragging the comforter over my face.

  “Let’s go peanut.”

  She squealed when he raced down the stairs with her flung over his shoulder. It was Saturday, I’d hoped to spend a leisurely few minutes ogling Dan’s body, but instead was trudging downstairs at seven-thirty. Having another baby wasn’t looking so hot right now.

  Dan was whisking batter when I entered the kitchen. Kissing his cheek, I took a second to run my hand across his ass. “Nice butt.”

  “It’s yours whenever you want it.”

  “I’ll remember that after Vivie goes down for her nap.”

  “I love you.” He leaned over to kiss me. “What do you want to do today?” The sun streamed through the window. “We don’t have many days like this left.”

  “I was going to go to the nursery for fall flowers. We’re the only house on the street that doesn’t have fall baskets hanging. I’m ashamed of our lack of pride. We’re terrible homeowners.”

  “We’d better go before Vivie’s nap time.” He tousled Vivie’s hair. “Do you want to help mommy pick out flowers.”

  Vivie clapped her hands. Dan lifted her out of her highchair, taking her upstairs to dress. It was always a treat to see what the two of them picked out. Usually, she’d return dressed in plaid shorts, a floral shirt and ballet slippers.

  The house phone rang. Without thinking, I picked it up.

  “Hello.”

  “It’s me. Did Adam tell you?”

  My eyes watched the stairway for any sign of Dan. “Yes. He told me last night. When are you moving?”

  “My agent found me a place in Winnetka. Isn’t that where you live?” He chuckled. He damn well knew where I lived. “Maybe we’ll be neighbors.”

  “Great. We can have coffee every morning.”

  “That would be nice. Morning sex before coffee was the best times for us.” His voice held a note of nostalgia.

  Tears filled my eyes. “Don’t, Josh.”

  “I’m sorry, baby. I won’t joke.”

  “This is not going to be easy for me. In case you didn’t know, you’re not one of my favorite people. Promise me, you won’t start showing up at the house with your woman-of-the-moment to pick up Adam.”

  “There is no woman. I’m going to make it up to you somehow. You are my only woman.”

  My voice cracked when I spoke. “Adam will be happy. It’s too late for me. Just don’t flaunt your sex life in front of us.”

  “Fuck, Lar. I would do anything in the world to change things, to take back the past. The sad thing is none of it meant anything to me. It was a game I got trapped in. I always loved you, always will.”

  “Don’t say that. If you loved me, why would you fuck other women? Can you explain that to me? It might help my shattered psyche.”

  “Saying I’m sorry is not enough, I know, but I am truly sorry.” His voice broke. My head was dizzy wanting to scream at him, but worried Dan would come downstairs. I bent over the counter, my fingers curled through my hair, the phone nestled in the crook of my neck.

  “You’re right it isn’t.” Tears rolled down my cheeks. “I can’t deal with this now. I’m going to hang up.”

  “Please, let me see you. If you let me explain how fucked up I was, maybe it will help.”

  “Nothing you have to say will help. You don’t have much credibility with me. Goodbye Josh.”

  Turning away from the phone, my eyes met Dan’s. He stood in the middle of the kitchen staring at me, the vein in his temple throbbing. His hands opened and closed into fists. The look on his face made my heart twist with fear, stopping it from beating. Ice ran through my veins.

  “How long?” His voice was cold.

  I finished loading the dishwasher attempting to hide my trembling hands. “How long, what?”

  “You know what the fuck I’m talking about. Stop playing games with me. How long have you been talking to your fucking ex? Did he tell you he fucking loved you?”

  Dan ran his fingers through his hair. Dropping onto a stool at the counter, his eyes were full of anger and pain.

  Turning to look at him, my voice trembling, I whispered, “He just started calling.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? What the fuck does he want?”

  He pulled his hand away when I reached for it. My stomach churned. I’d never seen Dan this angry. He’d never pulled away from me before. “He called to say he was sorry.”

  “Four years later he decides to call you, to tell you he’s sorry. That’s bullshit. He’s going to be here in Chicago and wants another shot at you. He didn’t do enough damage the first go around?”

  The tears in my eyes blinded me. “I have no interest in seeing him. I love you.”

  “Stop talking to him, Laura. I’m not going to be okay with this, do you understand? I’m not sharing you with anyone, I don’t give a fuck if he is Adam’s father. Especially not Adam’s father.” Dan got up, storming back upstairs.

  Wiping away the tears with the back of my hand, I rushed after him. He lay on our bed, his mouth grim, his hands balled into fists.

  “I didn’t know what to do. The call came out of the blue.”

  “Tell him not to call you. Tell him you’re married to a hulking giant who’ll kick his ass if he calls again.”

  He opened his arms, and I dove into them. He held me in a vise grip, kissing my head.

  “You’re mine. He needs to get his own fucking wife. He had his chance. He blew it.”

  “I love you, Dan.”

  His mouth covered mine, sucking on my lower lip, his tongue searching the depths of my mouth, possessive and hungry. I melted in his arms.

  “Baby, I know you do. It’s just. I don’t know—I can’t stand the thought of him talking to you.”

  “He won’t call again. He was probably calling to let me know he was going to be in Chicago for the movie. It doesn’t mean anything.” I prayed this was true.

  “What are you doing?” Vivie stood next to my bed poking me with her little finger.

  We smiled at each other, our lips still touching.

  “Kissing your daddy.�
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  “It looks like he’s biting your mouth.”

  We started laughing. “Are you ready to get some flowers?” I rolled over to look at her. She was adorable in a tutu and sparkly T-shirt with neon striped knee socks and hiking boots. “Vivie, did you pick out your clothes?”

  “Daddy picked out the socks.”

  “You look beautiful.” The bed shifted when Dan got up. He grabbed jeans and a shirt disappearing into the bathroom. Watching him strip was a favorite pastime, but Vivie was waiting. “Let’s go peanut, we’ll wait for daddy downstairs.”

  An hour later, we pulled into the nursery parking lot. Dan lifted Vivie on his shoulders. Holding hands, we strolled down the aisles of flowers smiling at each other. It was easy to read his mind because I had the same thought. Making love in the afternoon while our daughter slept was another favorite pastime.

  Chapter 6

  Baskets and planters of colorful mums stowed in the back of my SUV, we headed home, stopping for take-out along the way. Vivie gobbled up her chicken then munched on her apples while holding her doll. I reached over, running my hand across Dan’s lap giving his bulge a squeeze. He moaned, turning his face to me, his lips curving into a sexy smile.

  “You’re taking a risk.”

  “Don’t blame me, it’s as large as a tree. Besides, it’s my favorite part of your body. Your tongue and your hands do run a close second, though.” I glanced into the back seat. Vivie’s eyes were drooping shut.

  “Yes, well, you didn’t help the tent situation. They screwed up when they designed man. It’s hard to hide an erection that waves a flag in front of my fucking body,” he said it softly so Vivie couldn’t hear.

  “I think it’s meant to warn women. Man is about to lose control and start thinking with his dick, not his brain.”

  “Well, my dick has a genius IQ right now.” He whispered huskily.

  “It’s always been my fantasy to make love to a hot genius. Will you wear your black horn-rimmed glasses?”

  “On my dick?”

  I burst out laughing, clamping my hand over my mouth not to wake Vivie. “No, ass, on your face.”

  He smiled at me. “You’ve got it, baby. I’ve always wanted to lick ice cream from your body. If I wear my glasses, can I do that?”

  “Holy shit. You’d better be a fast licker. Its eighty-one degrees.” My body was already tingling thinking about what was to come.

  “I’ll get every last lick in, don’t you worry. I’ll be Clark Kent with superman speed wearing my horn-rimmed glasses.”

  My nerves were on fire. The way he moved in his seat, adjusting himself told me his were as well.

  We pulled into the driveway. Dan unbuckled Vivie handing her to me. “You put her down for her nap. I’ll get my glasses and the ice cream.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “Look at me. No, not my eyes, Laura. Lower. Do I look like I’m kidding?”

  Looking at his arousal started a fire in my belly and a hunger raged in me. “What about the flowers?”

  “I’ll put them in the driveway. We’ll get them later. Right now, we have more urgent things to tend to.”

  I left him to unload the baskets from the truck while I carried a sleeping Vivie to her room. Closing the door softly, I walked to our room. He was waiting for me with a tub of ice cream in his hand. My heart somersaulted. Smiling sexily, he pushed his glasses over the bridge of his nose. Goose bumps erupted. Dan was a combination of sexy man and intellect. He was definitely hot in the black frames.

  He followed me into the room. Setting the tub on the night table, he drew me into his arms.

  “I love you. I don’t want any other fucking man in your life.”

  He gently pushed me onto the bed. He leaned over me his mouth devouring mine. Dear God, he’d only kissed me, and my body was already ablaze with sensations that reached my fingertips and toes. I was going to be a puddle by the time he was done.

  There was no slow strip this time. A horny Dan tore at my clothes throwing them over his shoulder. He kissed, nipped, licked, and rubbed all my parts. I’m not sure how we ended up on the floor, but after a few interesting positions, including ice cream, my mind was rather foggy. The man should write a manual, a how-to guide on making love to a woman. I’d buy a dozen of them to give as gifts. My women friends would be eternally grateful.

  Unable to move, the afterglow of amazing sex oozed from my body. “Am I iridescent?”

  Dan sat next to me, his back leaning against the bed, my legs draped over his lap while he stroked them.

  “Are you what?”

  “Shimmering. Is my body glowing?”

  “You always sparkle.”

  “You make me sparkle.”

  He pulled me onto his lap, nuzzling my neck. “We don’t have time,” I warned. “How can you be ready for round two?”

  “I’ll be quick.”

  “You’re never fast. Where do you get the stamina? Aren’t men supposed to rest between jobs?”

  He stirred beneath me. It was all it took to set me in motion. Damn, the man was my hero. Straddling his lap, I lowered myself onto his erection, for round two. His hands held my waist, sliding me up and down his length. I rolled my hips, squeezing my muscles around him. Forgetting this was the second time in less than an hour. We breathed heavily, our desire gripping us in its throes. Our rhythm quickened.

  My orgasm took hold and beads of sweat erupted on my forehead. His groan, as he pushed into me, pierced my soul. Clinging to each other, we reached the pinnacle of ecstasy, climaxing together. I fell against him, his chest heaving against mine.

  His arms held me. “I don’t know what I’d do if another man touched you.”

  My eyes searched his. “That’s not going to happen.”

  He smiled sheepishly, burying his head in my neck. “I love you. You own my heart.”

  “I love you too.” I kissed his head nestled in my neck. “You don’t need to worry.”

  “I’m going to take a shower before Vivie wakes up. Don’t even think about following me. I don’t have any strength left.”

  Dan laughed. “I’ll arrange the planters then hang baskets before the neighbors start a petition.”

  By the time I was out of the shower, Vivie was moving around in her room.

  Scooping her up, we joined Dan, standing on the lawn.

  He took Vivie from my arms. “What do you think, Vivie, did I get it right?” He glanced over at me, smiling.

  “I think daddy did a perfect job, don’t you?” I held her small hand, winking at Dan.

  They added cheer and color. Dan had positioned the planters on each side of the front door. The others were scattered around our patio. Hopefully, this would put us back in the neighbor’s good graces.

  My cell phone rang. I fished it out of my pocket. It was my friend, Mary. “Hey.” Her greeting was muffled by a gut-wrenching wail, followed by sobbing.

  “Can you come over?”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Dan questioned me with his eyes.

  “Will you watch Vivie? There’s something wrong with Mary. I’ll call you.”

  He nodded, scooping Vivie into his arms. I hurried to my car.

  Mary lived five minutes away. Pulling into her driveway, I rushed to the wide open front door but slowed my approach. It dawned on me that there might be an intruder. What if he was still inside? My heart raced.

  “Mary?” I tip-toed into the foyer, stopping, listening for any struggle. “Mary?”

  “Back here.” Her voice was barely recognizable.

  My imagination went wild thinking the worst. I ran my tongue across my lips trying to replace the saliva in my dry mouth. Oh God, was I going to find her beaten, clinging to life, her house ransacked, the baby holding on to her bruised body?

  No. Instead, she was curled on the sofa, tissues scattered around her. Timothy sat in front of the television with the contents of a bowl of cereal scattered around him, munching on fruit loops, wat
ching Jake the Pirate. The scene was a familiar one to me, one I’d lived many times.

  “Hang on, I’m going to put Timothy down for his nap.” I picked him up taking him to his bedroom. He settled with his bear, his eyes closing. I rushed back to Mary. “What’s wrong?” I kneeled beside her.

  Obviously, she’d been crying—a lot. Her eyes were as red as cherries surrounded by puffy flesh. Streaks of mascara ran down her face.

  “Is it Charley? Is he ill?” That seemed to be my go-to explanation for anything involving tears and men.

  Her lip trembled, tears rolled down her cheeks. “He’s gone. He left me.”

  A loud gasp exploded from my mouth. Mary had to be joking. She didn’t look like she was joking. Her legs sidled over, giving me room to sit next to her on the sofa. My eyes stared at her, waiting for an explanation. Shock made me shiver.

  “What do you mean he left you? Were you guys having problems?” Charlie and Mary? No way.

  Grief gurgled in her throat.

  “Not that I was aware of. He came home late last night to tell me he was leaving. Oh, he was all fucking distraught about it, as if that would matter. Fucking bastard, dick head, jerk, and asshole.”

  She raged, beating her thighs with a fisted hand. Damn, I wanted to offer some words of my own.

  “He confessed he was having an affair with one of the nurses in the ER. The asshole says he needs time and space to sort through his feelings.”

  My forehead furrowed. “Are we talking about Charlie? Quiet, nerdy, Charlie.”

  “Goes to show, they’re all alike. Every one of them is controlled by their dick, not just the hot ones.” Tears cascaded down her cheeks. “I had no clue. I thought we were happy.”

  My mind was blank, unable to think of anything to say. Nothing. So, I tucked her hand in mine. It was like reliving Josh’s betrayal all over again. Why did we never know until the end?

  “Fucking moron.” I hissed, my empty hand balling into a fist. How could Charlie treat my best friend this way?

  “Will you help me?”

  Her eyes were saucers in her head. When she asked me to help, an inner bell sounded a warning. Whatever we did was going to land us in jail. My eyes bulged to match hers.