by Ali Parker
“Hi yourself,” I said, then stood aside to let him in.
The sound of sirens made him jump, but I patted him on the arm. “It’s just Bennie. He has a firetruck collection.”
“Cool,” Connor replied, following me into the kitchen. He held out a bottle of wine with a smile.
“Thanks,” I said. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a glass of wine with dinner. There was something about it that made me remember I was an adult. That was nice.
“Welcome to Chez Jones,” I said, spreading my arms wide. “Don’t forget to tip your waitress.”
“If she’s a pretty as you, I’ll sign over my entire paycheck.”
I laughed. “Flattery will get you everywhere,” I replied. “Or at least a hot meal.”
Suddenly Bennie flew around the corner and ran right into Connor who caught him with what looked like practiced ease. “And who is this guy? The waiter?”
“This rascal is my son Bennie. And I’ve already asked him to stop running in the kitchen.”
Connor squatted down to Bennie’s level. “Just practicing for the 400 meter dash, are you?”
Bennie eyed the newcomer warily. I rarely had guests over, mostly just Becca when we could carve out time to have our girls’ movie nights. Although Bennie wasn’t shy around strangers in general, he probably thought it odd to see one in his own house.
“I heard you have a fire truck collection,” Connor said in a near-whisper. “You think I could check it out?”
Bennie narrowed his eyes distrustfully at first.
“Aw, come on, guy. I’m a sucker for sirens. Do you have one that goes ‘Woooooooo’?”
Bennie nodded, the corner of his mouth tilting up.
“How about one that goes ‘Nee-ner-nee-ner-nee-ner’?”
Bennie bobbed his head. “Yeah, I got that one.”
“And the one that makes a real loud honk, loud enough to blast your mother’s ears off?”
“That’s my favorite one.”
“Well let’s go see them.” Connor stood and held out his hand. Bennie took it and led him off in the direction of his bedroom.
I leaned back against the kitchen counter in amazement. It had taken Connor less than a minute to get Bennie used to him. And now they were off looking at fire trucks, leaving me to finish dinner in peace.
I found a corkscrew and uncorked the wine, letting it breathe. Then I started in on the garlic bread. As I worked, I savored the calm in my kitchen.
Is this what it could be like, with Connor around? Another pair of hands to help with Bennie? Another adult to enjoy the evening with? To share stories about my day, to relax with in front of the TV?
If this was what it would be like, I hoped it never stopped. Not wanting to get too excited about something so new, I forced myself to concentrate on my task.
I called the boys in once the table was set and Connor marched into the kitchen, Bennie on his shoulders, laughing like a maniac. As we ate, Connor asked Bennie questions. The two were bonding right before my eyes, over baseball and trucks and superheroes.
The dinner that I’d been so worried about failing was instead a fantastic success, far beyond my imagination.
By the time we finished eating, it was getting late. I could see that Bennie was starting to fade. I told him it was time to get ready for bed, and he asked if Connor could read him a bedtime story.
“I’d be happy to, little man,” he said, sticking out his hand. Without hesitating, Bennie grabbed it and started pulling him in the direction of his bedroom. As he went, Connor looked back over his shoulder and fixed me with a wink.
I smiled, then started cleaning up. It was nice to be able to scrub the dishes while the food was still fresh. Usually I had to give Bennie a bath and get him to bed right after dinner, and by the time I got back to the dishes, the food was glued on. Just another perk of having an extra person around to lend a hand.
When the dishwasher was loaded, I wandered down the hall to Bennie’s bedroom. Connor was sitting there beside my son’s bed, reading him his favorite book. Bennie’s eyes were closed, his breathing deep and regular.
My eyes started to tear up as I watched the scene. Already it was clear to me that Connor would be a better father figure to Bennie than his own father had ever been. Connor finished up, closing the book, then leaning in to kiss the sleeping boy on the forehead.
When he turned to the door, he gave me his signature slow smile and my heart melted inside my chest.
“Hey,” he said after he stepped out into the hall and closed Bennie’s door. “What’s all this?” He wiped the tears from my cheeks.
I shrugged. “Just happy I guess.”
“Good,” he said gruffly, then bent down to kiss the tip of my nose. I grabbed his face before he could pull away and kissed him breathless.
“Wow,” he said when we had to come up for air.
“If you think that was good, just wait until you see what I have in store.”
“Lead the way,” he said.
I took his hand, much the same way he’d taken Bennie’s and led him down the hall and into my bedroom. I hadn’t intended to invite him to stay the night already, but there was no way I could resist the temptation of keeping him with me.
He’d been so good with Bennie, so sweet and attentive, that I couldn’t help myself. I was falling hard for Connor, and I wanted to show him how much tonight had meant to me. How much he meant to me.
I slipped the straps of my dress off my shoulders and let it fall to the floor. His eyes widened when he caught sight of me in my white lace panties and matching bra.
“Amazing,” he murmured. “It’s just like this dream I had.”
“Dream?” Connor had dreamt about me?
“Yeah,” he said, his voice dazed. “After I found out you would be receiving my Secret Santa gifts. I thought about using them with you and, well...”
He motioned downward, where I could see his erection swelling through his pants. I giggled, drawing close and undoing his belt.
“What happened in this dream?” I asked, my voice throaty.
He swallowed hard. “I can’t tell you, but I can show you.”
I laughed. “Show me, then.”
Connor shoved his way out of his clothes so fast, I was surprised he didn’t rip them to shreds. He sat down on the bed and crooked his finger at me.
I walked over, putting a motion in my hips that kept his eyes glued to me. When I stood before him, he put his hands on my hips. “Straddle me.”
Putting my legs outside his, I pressed my inner thighs to his outer thighs. “Like this?”
He nodded, sliding his hands around to grip my ass. His cock was hard and throbbing between us. It was making me wet, and I started to undulate my hips forward.
Connor raised his face to me and I cupped it, kissing his lips softly. He groaned, a sound full of animal hunger, so I deepened the kiss and picked up the pace. My lacy panties were rubbing against his hard cock and I could hear his breathing become ragged.
“You little tease,” he growled, squeezing my ass tighter, making me moan.
“Isn’t this what you dreamed about?” I asked.
“This is better than any fucking dream could ever be.”
I smiled. Connor always made me feel like I was something more than the average single mother I knew myself to be. Seeing myself through his eyes was a major confidence boost, to say the least.
His hands left my ass and I mewled in disappointment. They crept up my back to unfasten my bra, and when he’d freed my breast he buried his face between them. He held me still so that he could have his way with them, licking and biting at my sensitive nipples.
My head fell back and I moaned with pleasure. “Oh God,” I said, unable to stop myself from grinding against him.
Connor let out another groan. “If you keep doing that, I’ll never even get inside you.”
“Then take me now,”
He looked at me, his gaze full of hunger
. “You have no patience.”
“You’re right,” I said. I rose up on my knees, pulling my panties to the side, then slid down on his hard cock.
I groaned in delight as I felt his length enter me. Connor was a large man, and he filled me up to a level that was just short of painful.
“Goddamn,” he said, gritting his teeth. “You have no problem taking what you want. Maybe I’m the one who will end up in handcuffs.”
I laughed, then began to ride him in earnest, pushing him back against the mattress. “You feel so good,” I moaned, unable to help myself.
“Slow down,” he said, grabbing my hips to steady them. “We have all night.”
I ignored him, racing towards a climax.
Suddenly he lifted me, pulling me off his cock and setting me down on the bed. I protested, but he covered my mouth. “Not tonight, sweetheart. You rushed me last time, but that’s not going to happen now.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I frowned. “No pouting,” he said, then moved towards the dresser across the bed.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He pointed to a familiar gift bag. “Making things interesting.”
A little thrill went through me as he pulled out the feather and the blindfold. Returning to the bed, he slipped the blindfold over my eyes. The soft fur blocked out the light.
“Connor,” I said plaintively. “I need you.”
“Shhh,” he said, and I felt the weight of him on the bed beside me. “You’ll get me, but when I say so.”
Then I felt something against my skin and jumped a little. I realized it was the feather as it circled my belly button. I started to writhe, and he lifted the feather away.
“Hold still,” he said, “or I’ll get the handcuffs.”
The thought of him using those on me made me wet, but I did as he said. The feather slipped over my breasts, teasing my nipples, making them ache. Then it traced its way down my stomach, lower, lower, until it hovered over my entrance.
“Spread your legs,” Connor said, his voice thick.
I obeyed, then felt the feather there, teasing my core, making my hips jump off the bed.
“Hold still,” he ordered before abandoning his teasing and getting a condom from his discarded clothes. I was grateful not to be the one to mention it - again. He moved back to me and ran the thick head of his cock over my need. “Hold still, baby. Now.”
“I can’t,” I cried out, my hips bucking again when he teased it along my slit.
Connor laughed, a ragged sound. Then I could feel him over me, sliding between my thighs. I wanted him so badly, I was shameless, pressing my pussy against his hard cock, begging him to take me.
The moment he pushed his length into me, I started to climax.
Chapter 19
Connor
She was coming already, and I’d barely pushed inside her. Goddamn, Madlyn was on fire, and she was burning me to a cinder.
The emotions I felt inside me were more powerful than a whirlwind. Tonight had been more wonderful than I’d thought possible. Spending time around the dinner table like a family, it had mirrored the other dream I’d had. That was two dreams come true, in one night.
But this, this was better than any dream could ever be. Being with Madlyn, being inside her, knowing she wasn’t going to leave afterwards, was the most amazing feeling in the universe.
I thrust inside, delving in deeply, like I knew she liked it. A few hard thrusts and she was coming again, but I wouldn’t go easy on her. Being here, in her house, in her bed, had pushed me over the edge.
I wanted this, wanted her, wanted into her life. And I wanted to fuck her like this, every night. Well, every second of every day, if I was being honest. I would go without food, without water, without air. Madlyn was all I needed.
Her inner muscles were squeezing me so good, I knew I wouldn’t last much longer. I licked her neck, whispered in her ear how amazing she felt, how beautiful she was.
Soon she was begging, telling me not to stop, and I picked up the pace. I would make sure she came again before I let go. I gently bit the place where her neck met her shoulder and she started to shake.
Thrusting deep, I looked into her eyes. She stared back at me, and at that moment I’d never felt more connected to another human being in my life. A perfect moment, two souls locked in erotic combat, their spirits intertwined.
“Come for me,” I whispered, and she did, her eyes sliding closed and her muscles contracting around me. I let out a moan that echoed her own and spilled inside her, feeling like I was giving everything I had, everything I was made of, to the woman I loved.
Afterwards we lay panting in each other’s arms. Another mind-blowing lovemaking session. I prayed it would always be like this. Then I was afraid that if it was, it would kill me.
I nestled her head onto my shoulder and kissed her cheek. Then I blurted out the words that had been on the tip of my tongue all night. “I love you.”
Madlyn turned to face me, her eyes wide. “What did you say?”
“I love you. I’m sorry if you think it’s too soon to say that, but I don’t want to keep it inside anymore. I’d already been half in love with you, before the office party. But getting to know you better, getting closer to you, just cemented my feelings.”
“Connor,” she said softly, and I knew she was going to try and talk me out of my feelings, but I wouldn’t let her.
“It’s true,” I said. “I know you want to take things slow, and I’m still with you on that. But I don’t see a point in hiding this from you. I love you, Madlyn Jones, and I’m always going to love you. Waiting to say the words won’t change their meaning.”
She stared at me, and I was suddenly frightened. What if I’d declared my affection too soon, and she bolted? Now that I’d had a taste of life with her, I was suddenly terrified of losing it.
But instead of bolting, she smiled. “I have feelings for you too, Connor. All of this has happened so fast, but I’m trying to put things in perspective. I want to see where this thing between us leads.”
She rested her head on my arm, looking deeply into my eyes. “I’ve always been afraid to let someone into my life, thinking they’re just going to leave me, so what’s the point? But you’re different, and I believe that now. I’m ready to take a chance on you.”
I thought my heart might explode in happiness. “I’m glad. I promise I will never hurt you or your son. My sole purpose in life now is to treasure you, to protect you, and your family.”
“Our family,” she whispered quietly.
“Our family,” I repeated, louder. I loved the sound of it.
I bent in, kissing her softly. “Our family.”
Epilogue
Madlyn
The lights on the Christmas tree were twinkling. Bennie liked them set to twinkle. The boy was dancing around the tree in a haze of Christmas bliss. “I can’t believe it!” he shouted, not for the first time. “How does Santa carry all this stuff?”
“He’s got elves to help him. And reindeer.” Connor was sitting on the couch in his robe, his smile a mile wide. I couldn’t help smiling two. My two boys, sharing Christmas morning with me. What could be more perfect?
“Can I open them now, Mom?”
I nodded, and Bennie dove into the pile of presents. He started opening them, and I moved to sit next to Connor. He pulled my hand into his and we watched as my little boy set about creating a tornado of wrapping paper and ribbons.
When he got to a certain box, I felt Connor tense beside me. I patted his hand, suddenly feeling a little weak myself. Bennie tore the wrapping paper off it and let out a loud shout of jubilation.
I could feel tears start to fill my eyes. Connor had brought the box over a few days ago and insisted that I accept it. He’d known I was planning to use my bonus to buy the system for my son, so he’d used his own bonus instead.
The gift had touched me deeply. To know that he’d do something like that for my son made me weak
in the knees. He hadn’t needed to, but he’d said that he wanted to. That gesture, more than any other, had proved to me that he was serious about becoming a part of our family.
He’d spent almost every night at my house since that first dinner, and he and Bennie were growing thick as thieves. They spent the evenings together, playing with Bennie’s toys or watching TV. Then there were the nights when he cooked dinner and I had the luxury of spending an hour or so with my son in relaxation mode.
I was so grateful for Connor, so blessed to have him in my life. He was right about everything he’d said. Having another set of hands did make life easier, and I was glad he’d fought to convince me of that truth.
“The Octopus game system!” Bennie yelled once he’d removed all the wrapping paper, hugging the box like it was alive.
Connor and I laughed. “Optimus,” he corrected gently.
“That’s what I said,” Bennie said, trying to pry the box open. “Let’s play it, Mom!”
I laughed. “Finish opening the rest of your presents first, sweetheart.”
Bennie looked at me like I was crazy, but he did as he was told. He unwrapped the next few gifts at warp speed, finally finding other things to distract him for the moment.
Connor, meanwhile, pulled a box of his own out of his robe pocket and handed it to me. It was small and square, and it had my heart beating a mile a minute.
Could this be what I think it is? I was terrified that it was a ring. We’d only been dating a few weeks, not enough time to take a step that momentous. Right?
A part of me told myself to stop worrying. I loved Connor, and he loved me. If he wanted to take the leap, maybe I should trust him enough to do it. Still, we’d promised to go slow, and this was the opposite of slow.
My hands shaking, I opened the box. Inside, instead of the ring I had expected, I found a solitary key. “What is this?”
Connor smiled. “It’s a key to my condo. I want Bennie and you to move in with me.”
I stared at him, my mouth open in amazement. “Are you serious?”
