Ready For Him: A Single Dad Next Door Romance

by Alyson Hale

  She looks up at me and her eyes soften. I watch as the trust enters her eyes that they’ve always held for me. Cheyenne looked up to me for everything when we were younger. I was her protector, her coach, her superhero. She was my willing sidekick. Our relationship may not have made much sense to some people back then, but it makes perfect sense to me now. She was mine all along. She just wasn’t ready for me until now.

  “I want you, Cheyenne. I want all of you. And I don’t care if people think it’s ‘too soon’ or that I’m ‘robbing the cradle.’ This connection between us can’t be for nothing. Please say you’ll let me get to know the grown-up version of you better.”

  Cheyenne leans into me, but before things can progress any further, I hear a familiar female voice calling to us from out near the road.

  “Where’s my little grandson?”

  Hudson gasps from the pool stairs where he’s sitting and splashing in the shallow water. “Grr-Grr!” He stands and crawls out of the pool.

  Grr-Grr is what Hudson calls my mom. It was supposed to be Grammy, but we all prefer his shortened version. My mom loves it. Cheyenne and I pull away from each other as my mom opens the gate and enters the backyard. Hudson runs toward my mother until she has him scooped up in her embrace.

  “Oh, I missed you so much this week.” She presses kisses all over her grandson’s face. “Were you a good boy for your daddy and Cheyenne?”

  “Goo’ boy. P’ay pool.” He points to the pool.

  “Yes, I see that.” My mom chuckles. Then she holds Hudson on her right hip as she approaches Cheyenne, looking just as flabbergasted as I was when I first saw her transformation.

  “Cheyenne Jefferson, I never imagined you’d grow into such a stunningly gorgeous young lady.”

  Between my shameless pursuit of her and Mom’s compliment, Cheyenne’s face is now the shade of a chili pepper. “Thank you, Mrs. Sherwood.”

  “Oh, please, call me Diane.”

  My mom looks at us for a moment, and then a mischievous twinkle enters her eye.

  “Is there something going on between you two that I should know about?”

  I look directly into Cheyenne’s wide eyes. “I was just telling this sweet girl that she’s going to be with us for a very long time.”

  Cheyenne graces me with a shy smile. We both move toward the steps and climb out of the pool, grabbing our towels off of a table. Once we’re sufficiently dried off, Mom leads Hudson by the hand over to us.

  “Son, can I talk to you for just a minute? Cheyenne, would you mind watching Hudson?”

  “Not at all.” Cheyenne smiles and lures Hudson back into the house with the promise of a cookie.

  Mom takes me to the side near the pool house and immediately plunges into one of her lectures once the door has closed behind Cheyenne and Hudson.

  “Grant Sherwood, I hope you’re not getting involved with that girl. She is only eighteen years old. She has her whole life ahead of her. Cheyenne probably doesn’t even know who she is or what she wants out of life. Britney was in college when the two of you met, and look what happened with her—”

  “I’m gonna stop you right there.” I scowl, standing firm and asserting my autonomy. My mom has a tendency to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong. I love her, but I’m not going to let her stand in the way of Cheyenne and me, or worse, insinuate that she’s anything at all like my con-woman of an ex-wife. “Cheyenne is nothing at all like Britney. You don’t know the woman she has become, so before you start spouting accusations, you’d best take the time to get to know her. If you did, you would see that she is the kindest, most caring person you’d ever hope to meet.”

  Mom studies my face intently. A slow smile starts on her own. “You’re falling in love with the little girl next door.”

  My jaw tenses. “Mom, it’s too early to be talking about things like that—”

  “But it’s true.” She shakes her head in awe. “It’s plain as day. You have feelings for her.”

  “There’s an attraction between us, I’m not going to deny that, but we’ve only been reconnected for a week.”

  “That doesn’t matter,” Mom says with a chuckle. She places a hand on my towel-covered shoulder. “Don’t you remember the story of how your father and I met and fell in love? We were engaged within weeks of meeting each other. When it’s right, it’s right. You’ll just know. Besides, you two have known each other for years. You used to be inseparable. It makes perfect sense.”

  Mom glances at the kitchen window, where Cheyenne is standing on the inside with Hudson on her hip. He’s munching on a Chips Ahoy cookie and giggling as Cheyenne “boops” his nose. You would think she was his mother from the way they interact with each other. A part of me wishes she was. I wish I had waited for her…

  Goddammit. My mom might have a point.

  “Listen, son.” Mom levels her gaze with mine again. “Whatever happens between you two, make sure you’re not getting into something your heart can’t handle. If you hurt that sweet little girl, I’m gonna have to put the hurt on you. Do you hear me?”

  One corner of my mouth quirks upward. “Yes, Momma.” She gives me a quick hug, and then she heads toward the house.

  “I’m kidnapping my grandson tonight. There’s nothing you can say or do to stop me.”

  My stomach vibrates with laughter. She’s always “kidnapping” her grandson overnight, even when we’re on family vacations together. I can’t say I mind it one bit, especially tonight. I’ve got plans for the girl next door that I don’t want anyone overhearing.

  Chapter Seven

  Grant takes me over to his house after his mother leaves with Hudson. He’s insisting on paying me despite my multitudinous protests. I really don’t want to take payment, because in a way watching Hudson feels like taking care of a family member. I’ve been able to get my coursework done during his naptimes and Grant is already paying me back by taking care of the outside of the house. This week has gone so smoothly and being over there really isn’t any trouble at all. It feels wrong for me to get money when we can’t afford to pay him back.

  Grant leads me inside the house and locks the door behind us. He turns back around and looks at me. I’m still in my bikini top, although I did pull on a pair of athletic shorts before we left my house. His eyes rake over my body, and I watch him as electricity rises in the room. I can feel the heat in the air, and it’s more than just the summer humidity leaking in. Our chemistry is pulsing in the air between us. It’s something we can no longer ignore.

  Before I can blink, Grant’s arms are around me and he’s pulling me into a kiss. As soon as his lips touch down on mine, I’m a goner. I know this is wrong, we shouldn’t be feeling this way for each other, especially given our past where he knew me as a child, but somehow that makes it even more delicious. We’ve grown into each other, and nothing in my life has ever felt more perfect and right. His lips are soft and warm, but his rough stubble cuts through the softness to remind me I’m kissing a man. My first ever grown-up kiss, and I never imagined it could taste this good.

  My arms go around his neck as he scoops me up into his strong arms and carries me up the stairs. I immediately feel my stomach coil with nerves. Something’s about to happen, and it might be the thing I’ve been fantasizing about ever since I was old enough to know what sex was. Back then, I dreamed about a lanky teenager with adorable dimples and eyes that could make me weak at the knees. Now I dream about this mountain of a man making my body his slave.

  Grant carries me into his bedroom and lays me down on his king-sized bed. I look up at his giant body as it looms over mine. His stormy eyes glance down at my breasts, which have risen even higher up my chest with the absence of gravity pulling them down. A deep, guttural groan escapes his throat, and he pulls my chin up so I can’t look away.

  “Do you want this?” His gaze is intense as he awaits my answer.

  A shudder passes through me as I sigh and nod. “I’ve always wanted this. Please, Grant.”<
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  He lunges for my neck, devouring my tender skin, and I involuntarily arch my back up from the bed. Grant reaches behind me and unties my bikini strings, then he pulls the thin fabric off my body and pulls back to look at my naked breasts.

  “So perfect…so lovely…” His hand caresses the curve of my right breast, and then he leans down to make contact with his mouth. As his tongue circles my areola, a whimper slips past my lips. I don’t want to sound desperate, but this feels so good. I’ve been waiting to be touched like this by him for so long. I can’t help it.

  “Oh, Grant…please…”

  “God, I love hearing you beg me,” he growls. Grant takes my lips with his again and thrusts his tongue into my mouth. My tongue dances the tango with his as his hand moves down toward my shorts. He pulls them down off my legs with ease, and then he starts to tease me by dipping his fingers inside my bikini bottom and running them up and down the ridges between my legs. Intense desire burns me up, and my hips start to shake.

  “Oh, God…” My chest heaves, and Grant takes my other breast in his hand and pinches my nipple until it stands erect. Then he sucks on my nipple as he rolls his thumb around my clit. The bundle of nerves, untouched by a man until this very moment, responds with a painful jolt that recedes into pleasure.

  Still pleasuring me with his thumb, Grant lets his fingers wander down to my sanctum and inches one inside, cautiously exploring the innermost part of me. As he plunges deeper and deeper inside me, my pulse accelerates. He’s about to discover something that will either make this night magical or painful and embarrassing.

  The tip of his finger reaches my membrane, and he stops everything, looking up into my eyes. A slow smile takes over his face, and my heart does a silly dance in my chest. “You’ve never done this before, have you?”

  “N-no. I…I want you to be my first.”

  The way his eyes widen at that confession makes me burn up on the inside with shame. I can’t believe I just admitted that to him. My deepest, darkest secret all this time has been my crush on him and how it evolved over the years. Now it’s out in the open. I’m naked, bare, in more than just a physical way.

  Grant leans down and takes my lips, running his hands up and down the length of my body.

  “You were waiting for me, my little playmate? You waited for the big boy next door to come home so he could pop your cherry?”

  My body shivers at his dirty words. I can only nod. He covers my lips with his again and then kisses his way down my body until he settles between my legs. I watch his handsome face go to town on me as his tongue licks and flicks against my sensitive lower lips.

  I try to keep from squirming, but the sensation of his mouth on me in such a private place is so new and wonderful that I can’t help but move in rhythm with his tongue. Grant looks up into my eyes and thrusts even deeper inside me, sexing me with his mouth. It isn’t long before an orgasm to end all orgasms is building up in my lower body and I can’t take the pleasure anymore.

  “I’m gonna come…”

  “Say my name when you come,” he commands me. His deep voice vibrates against my over-sensitive flesh and sends me over the edge.

  “Grant!” My juices soak his perfect face, and he drinks up every drop. His sexy moans as he enjoys my taste turn me on even more and intensify the pulsing of my muscles. My walls clench so tightly around his tongue that it almost feels like I’m really getting fucked. If his tongue fits in this tightly, I can only imagine how his cock will feel. It excites and terrifies me at the same time.

  Chapter Eight

  Massaging her ass cheeks, I bring her down slowly from what seems to be her very first orgasm with a man. This perfect, pink pussy just came all over my face, drenching me in the sweetest nectar I’ve ever tasted. I couldn’t get enough. My hands move down to rub her legs, and I kiss her soft belly, choosing not to move any further at the moment. She’s so tight down there, and I need to stretch and prime her a bit before we take the final plunge.

  I lie down next to my sweet little virgin, and she moves a hand down to my rigid cock, which is pitching a huge tent in my swim trunks. Groaning, I give in to the intense pleasure of her small hand gripping my cock for only a second, needing release so badly but not wanting to put that on her. I gently remove her hand from me and smile.

  “Not yet, sweetheart.”

  Uncertainty flickers in her eyes. “Why not? You made me feel so good just now. I want to make you feel good too.”

  I scoop her up into a kiss, letting her taste her own delicious flavor on my mouth. She moans and leans in closer to me, making it even harder to resist her.

  “Sweet girl, the first time I come with you, I want it to be inside your tight little pussy. You’re not quite ready for me yet.”

  She pouts, testing my resolve by offering her delicious lower lip for my pleasure. I give it a quick nip and brush my forefinger over the tip of her nose.

  “We’ve got plenty of time.” I run my fingers over her hair and realize it’s still a little matted from the pool water. A sly grin plays at my lips. “Would you like to join me in the shower?”

  A smile spreads over her beautiful face, and she nods. I take her by the hand and lead her into my master bathroom.

  Cheyenne seems shocked when she walks into the large, open space. The floor is tile and leads down to a drain in the center of the room. The shower isn’t encased.

  “You have a waterfall shower?”

  “Yeah. I had it installed when I moved back here.” Pressing buttons on the menu on the wall, I set the water to the perfect temperature and watch her face as the shower powers on. Her incredulous smile is worth the thousands of dollars I spent putting this thing in and redoing the bathroom.

  “This is so cool.” Cheyenne giggles and stands underneath the water, opening her lips and letting it cascade down into her mouth. The sight of her, naked, in my shower, letting the water caress her soft curves is almost too much for me. I pull down my swim trunks so my cock can breathe.

  Cheyenne’s attention is immediately drawn to me. She looks my naked body over from head to toe and gives me a shy smile. Slowly, I join her under the water, drowning in her scent and the feeling of her slick, wet skin as I pull her into a hungry kiss. Her small hands wander over my sides and back, and she moans, her touch becoming more sensual and less hesitant. I take one of her luscious breasts and roll her nipple between my thumb and forefinger. Cheyenne hisses with pain and pleasure from the tender bud being pinched.

  “Take me, Grant. Please.” She looks up into my eyes through her wet, dark lashes. Her pleading tortures a groan out of me. I’m trying so hard to resist her, but I’m only human, and I’m being seduced by a beautiful young angel.

  I lift her up into my arms and position the tip of my cock at her entrance. Rubbing her swollen lips, I tease her with the tip. I dip it into her warm wetness and swirl it around her clit. She whimpers with need.

  I hold her up with one arm while I dip my thumb into her pussy. She reaches down and takes my cock in her small hand. The two of us work each other to a climax as our tongues wrestle up above. I’m amazed at how good this little virgin is at pulling on a cock. She’s moving at just the right speed and rhythm. It isn’t long before my orgasm is rushing up on me.

  “Move my cock into your pussy,” I tell her, and like a good girl, she obeys. I press against her virgin barrier as my volcano erupts, filling her with my cream. I roll my finger around her clit, and she follows me into paradise. We grip each other tightly, holding on to the moment for as long as we can.

  As her lips press into mine with a soft, satisfied giggle, I’m forced to recognize something I didn’t want to think about before.

  I want to claim this woman. I want to claim her virginity, her body, and her heart. I’ll take everything from her if she’ll let me; her future, her dreams, her days and nights.

  But this isn’t fair to her. She deserves to start her adult life fresh without complications, and I’m a complication sh
e can’t even begin to comprehend.

  Chapter Nine

  The morning light enters my vision as I stir from a night of deep sleep, and with the light comes something even more beautiful. Instead of waking up in a bed alone, like I have every day of my life, the man I love is lying right in front of me, staring up at the ceiling with a pensive expression. When he turns to me, his tense expression melts into a smile.

  “Hey, sleepyhead.” He ruffles my hair.

  “Hey.” I slide into his arms and let him pull me into his kiss, feeling like I’ve died and gone to heaven.

  “You slept like a damn rock,” Grant tells me with a chuckle. “I tried to wake you, but it was useless. I waited to get up so you wouldn’t be freaked out by waking up in a strange room by yourself.”

  “Aw…” I brush my forefinger over the dimple in his right cheek. “You’re the best, baby.”

  Our lips meet again. I lose myself as he sneaks his tongue into my mouth and swirls it around mine. Feeling his tongue penetrating me reminds me of the feeling of our intimate parts touching last night. I wanted him to go so much further than he did, to claim me, but he stayed on the outside and only gave me a taste of what I wanted. I don’t know what it will take for me to convince him I want the whole Grant Sherwood experience. I begged and pleaded for him yesterday, and still he teases me, torturing me until my body is screaming for him.

  Then I remember something I’ve heard from other girls my age. Men always wake up with this thing called “morning wood.” They get a boner automatically and want to screw the first thing they see when they wake up. Grinning, I move my hand down toward his shaft, feeling more comfortable with the hunt than I did yesterday.

  I breach the elastic at the top of his boxers and slide my fingers all the way up his hard length to the wet tip. I was surprised yesterday at how wet a man’s dick can get when he’s extremely aroused, and right now it feels like he’s been aroused for hours.