Harper's Finale

by F. C. Clark

  Luke stands up and walks with Sage towards my side of the bed.

  ‘Are you sure you want the cribs next to you?’

  ‘Yes, I need them close.’

  ‘Sage, kiss Mummy goodnight.’

  ‘Night, my precious girl, I love you.’ I place my lips on hers.

  He lays her in the first crib.

  I kiss Thyme again. ‘Good night, my little bundle. I love you.’

  I pass her to Luke. ‘Come here, Thyme, let Daddy kiss you.’

  He places Thyme in the next crib.

  ‘You’re safe and sound, now I need to hold your mummy.’

  He slides in next to me and pulls me towards him.

  ‘I have my wife back! But I will miss your bump.’

  ‘Oh no, I am definitely not doing this again.’

  He laughs. ‘Maybe in a few years.’

  ‘I love you, Luke.’ Every second I feel the need to tell him.

  ‘I love you too, Kate – forever.’

  HARPER SUTTON

  FOUR YEARS LATER

  A cold burst of air washes over my skin. I open my eyes.

  ‘Morning,’ Luke says and continues teasing my nipples.

  ‘Morning. Are you bored?’

  He closes his mouth over mine, demanding my body to wake. It doesn’t matter when and where; he has me in the palm of his hands. Leaving my lips he begins to nip at my jaw and then move towards my neck.

  ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Time to play.’ He returns to my face. ‘We have…’ – he looks at his watch – ‘…maybe thirty minutes.’

  ‘I see Mr Demanding Sutton is with me this morning.’

  ‘Bet your arse I am.’

  I giggle at playful Luke. I love him like this.

  ‘I need to fuck you – hard.’

  My libido dances with delight. I hold his head firmly, commanding his mouth to take me. When we are together, time stands still. It has been this way from the very beginning.

  Luke moves and pulls me with him. ‘We need to remove this.’ He slides my short silk nightdress from my body. Now we are both naked and horny. As I lie down, his hands skim my body, caressing every inch of my flesh. Slowly he dips his fingers between my legs and slides them gently inside my sex. My eyes close and my breathing shallows as he continues to massage the perfect spot. I slowly begin to lose myself to him – but then he removes his fingers and lies between my legs, the tip of his erection nudging at me.

  ‘How much do you want me to fuck you?’ He’s on a power trip this morning. God, I love him and the games he plays.

  ‘You don’t have time to tease me.’

  ‘I always have time.’ Slowly, he begins to sink his hardness inside me. My hands slide down his back. ‘Let me enjoy you. Give me a minute before I fuck you hard.’

  Yes, please.

  Lazily he works his hips, allowing me to adjust to his thickness.

  Come on, Luke! I need more. I kiss him hard, flicking my tongue against his. He speeds up, thrusting hard and fast. Perfect.

  Just as my body succumbs to his touch he pulls out.

  ‘Sit on me.’ He kneels and helps me upright, while his free hand works on his erection, which instantly draws my attention.

  He laughs. ‘How much does this turn you on?’

  I purse my lips. Too much.

  ‘Do the same.’

  ‘We don’t have time.’ Why does he do this to me?

  ‘Touch your clit, then I’ll fuck you.’

  I close my eyes and my hand falls between my legs.

  ‘Open your eyes.’ His free hand lifts my chin. Dark and seductive meet dark and submissive. ‘Good. Do you need to come yet?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Look at my dick.’

  Not a problem. I gaze avidly at Luke giving himself a hand job.

  ‘Work harder. I want you to come.’

  ‘I will when you’re inside me.’

  ‘No, now. I want to watch you, and then I’ll fuck you.’

  Jesus Christ, what did he eat for dinner last night to make him this horny and demanding at six o’clock in the bloody morning?

  Moments later, a rippling sensation begins within me.

  ‘Luke.’

  ‘You need to come.’

  I nod.

  ‘Look at me. I want to watch you.’

  My eyes meet his as he lifts me slightly. The delicious feeling of him inside me is enough to make me come hard.

  ‘Oh God. Luke, I’m coming… Yes.’

  ‘Fuck, you’re so wet… Keep going.’

  For some reason my orgasm lasts longer than usual. Luke continues to grip my hips.

  ‘Touch your clit again – give me another one.’

  The area is sensitive, so I slowly begin to massage. Much quicker than before, the rush begins. Luke is my guilty pleasure, a sexual drug that I will never have enough of.

  ‘Luke.’ I ride him fast and enjoy the second rush of sensations.

  ‘Has it passed?’ he asks.

  I nod.

  ‘Good. I need more of you.’

  He flips me onto my back and begins to take what he wants, making no apology for his demands. After all, I am his. His hips work hard. He drives himself deep inside my body, pushing me further into the mattress. I watch his face alter and his pectoral muscles tighten as he comes. I have all of him – and what a pleasure it has been.

  ‘Every time, Kate – I need you harder every time.’

  I giggle and link my hands around his neck, pulling him towards my lips and delivering a cheeky kiss. He lies next to me, his breathing slowing. I can’t help noticing his semi-hardness.

  ‘I think we need a night away,’ I say and roll to my side, running my fingers up and down his bare chest.

  ‘Are you still horny?’

  ‘Maybe.’ I laugh, although he is spot on. Round two would not take any great persuasion. ‘I want to have you all to myself – no children or work, just us and a bed.’

  ‘I like your plan, leave it with me.’

  Suddenly the door bursts open. Luke speedily pulls the cover over us both.

  ‘Daddy, Sage is getting Harper.’

  I roll my eyes and look at Luke.

  ‘OK.’ He discreetly slides out of bed and slips on his grey joggers and T-shirt. ‘Thyme, come with me. Let Mummy get out of bed.’ He grabs our baby girl, who’s not really a baby any longer. The twins are now four. He leaves to rescue his pride and joy, our beautiful son, who is one today.

  I sit up and grab my nightdress, then my matching full-length robe.

  ‘Sage, I’ve told you not to pick up Harper – you could drop him.’ Luke’s voice echoes through the baby monitor in our bedroom.

  I laugh, listening to him deal with his precocious daughter who has her father’s intelligence and, most amusingly, his stubbornness.

  The girls may be identical, with long blonde hair and dark eyes, but their personalities are very different. Sage has her father’s curiosity about life and Thyme is calm and forgiving, just like me.

  ‘Mummy!’ Sage comes bounding towards me.

  ‘Morning, baby girl.’

  ‘I’m a big girl. Daddy shouted at me.’

  ‘He didn’t shout and I think you know why he is cross.’ I swoop her up and twirl her round. She giggles. ‘You mustn’t pick up Harper, Daddy has told you.’ The corners of her mouth drop. ‘Are you ready to give Harper his birthday presents, and the card you made yesterday?’

  She wriggles to get free, her sadness forgotten. If only Luke was this easy to side-track!

  I hear the noise from the kitchen when I am halfway down the stairs. I walk into a scene of madness. The girls are throwing blue balloons in the air. Luke tries to catch them, Harper in his arms, giggling. He has no
idea that he’s one today.

  ‘Mummy’s here. It’s present time.’

  I walk towards my two favourite boys in the entire world. Harper stretches out his arms to me. I admit he’s a mummy’s boy and I love him for it.

  ‘Happy birthday.’ I nuzzle in to his neck. He loves my affection, which he laps up just like his father.

  Luke disappears to the office, to return armed with presents. He carries one ridiculously large present that I am sure is more for him than for our son.

  ‘The big one, Daddy,’ Sage commands.

  ‘Shall we?’ He takes Harper from my arms. Luke holds him close to the large present. He only started walking last week, and he’s very wobbly on his feet. The girls frantically tear the paper off the parcel as Harper watches.

  ‘Mummy, it’s a black car.’ Thyme looks at me.

  ‘Yes, it is.’

  Luke picks up Harper and sits him behind the wheel.

  ‘Girls, this is not just a car! This is an Aston Martin, founded in 1913.’ They look at their father as though he is talking another language – honestly, I agree with them. ‘The best car in the world.’

  ‘Thyme.’ Sage yanks her sister’s arm. ‘Catch.’ They begin to throw the balloons again, uninspired by their father’s automotive history lesson.

  Luke picks up Harper and lowers him onto the floor. Immediately he heads for his sisters.

  ‘He loves it.’ Luke smiles. We both know I have won the debate on who would love this present more – and it’s not our son.

  I link my arms around his neck. ‘Nearly as much as I love you.’

  Luke presses his lips to mine and dips me.

  A morning of chasing balloons and prepping food has left me no time to get ready. I slip into a simple black dress, which is fitted and clings to my curves in all the right places.

  I hear a wolf whistle.

  ‘Do you have to wear that?’ Luke stands behind me. I watch his face in the mirror.

  ‘You’re trouble, Sutton.’

  ‘My wife looks fuckable.’

  He turns me to face him, allowing his lips to do the talking. Within seconds he fires up and presses hard against me.

  I pull away. ‘It’ll be a long hard afternoon for you.’

  ‘Don’t tease my dick. I’ll take you right now.’

  I reach up and kiss his nose. ‘I know, and I would let you.’

  ‘Until tonight.’

  ‘Deal. Now go and make sure your son is ready.’

  By the time I return to the kitchen our guests have already started to arrive. We have invited all our parents. Four years on, we can now play happy families.

  ‘Kate?’ Ivor calls me.

  ‘Hi, Papa.’

  ‘Mama.’

  ‘Darling,’ Katenka says. ‘I cannot believe Harper is one.’

  I shake my head. ‘Me neither.’

  Katenka pulls me to her in a warm embrace. I can’t deny that we had an immediate connection, an intrinsic bond that I can’t explain. Sadly, Harry has not had the same feeling. Yes, they meet up regularly and they have grown closer since the arrival of Nico, Harry’s little boy, who is now two, but there is a distance between them, primarily due to Harry.

  ‘Can I help?’

  ‘No, just enjoy yourself. I’d better go and say hello to everyone.’

  ‘Of course, my darling.’

  I walk away from my birth parents. I still feel the need to put Mum and Dad before them – for obvious reasons.

  ‘Hi, Mum.’

  ‘Kate, have you seen Harper with the dog I got him? He loves it.’

  I place my arm around her shoulder. ‘I knew he would – he loves Nico’s dog. Where’s Dad?’

  ‘He’s in the garden chatting to Jerry.’

  ‘OK.’ I move away.

  ‘Hi, everyone.’

  ‘Kate.’ Livy kisses my cheek. ‘Did you know Sage has got changed? I did manage to get some pictures of her.’

  ‘That child will be the death of me. She is so defiant! Without doubt she is her father’s daughter.’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Livy laughs.

  I watch her from a distance playing with Thyme and Nico. She may have changed out of the dress I put her in, but the child has an inherent ability to style herself. Mr Jones would be proud.

  ‘Hi, Edward.’

  He pulls me in for his usual hug. I can just about breathe.

  ‘Have you lost weight? You feel thin – smaller.’

  I laugh. ‘No!’

  ‘You may laugh, young lady, but I would worry if you wanted to get pregnant again…’ Edward says.

  ‘Pregnant, who’s pregnant?’ Luke snakes his arm around my waist.

  ‘Not me!’ I blurt.

  ‘Edward!’ Livy scolds him. ‘Kate, ignore him… He’s convinced you will have another baby.’

  ‘Definitely not! My ovaries are on a permanent hiatus,’ I bluntly respond.

  ‘They are?’ Luke says.

  ‘Yes! Besides, you have your pride and joy. I think we can call it a day now.’

  ‘I thought we’d have one more. I love you when you’re pregnant.’ He leans to my ear. ‘You’re always horny.’

  ‘Luke!’ I tap his arm. Little shit! ‘Er, Harper is only one. I am far from ready for any more children. Anyway, we might have another set of girls.’

  ‘Perfect – they adore me.’

  ‘At the moment,’ Livy says. We both know how that scenario will play out in the future.

  I look over Luke’s shoulder and notice new arrivals. Quite frankly, I have had enough of pregnancy talk!

  ‘I need to mingle. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.’

  As I begin to walk away, Luke takes my arm. ‘When was your last period?’

  ‘Right this second, I couldn’t tell you. Why?’ I frown. ‘Fuck… Do you think I’m—? No. Jesus, what is wrong with us?’

  His hand skims the edge of my breast, as though by accident. ‘These look a little bigger, and my father is right – you look like you have lost weight.’

  ‘Are you shitting me?’ I have lost my appetite and my boobs are little more sensitive.

  ‘No. We’ll talk about this later. Go and mingle.’

  Mingle – holy fuck! I go over to Harry.

  ‘You look lost. What’s up?’

  ‘Luke thinks I’m pregnant.’

  ‘What?’ She takes my hand. ‘Have you done a test?’

  ‘No.’ He thinks my boobs look bigger – but maybe it’s the dress. I can’t remember when my last period was! I’m sure it was only a few weeks ago.’

  ‘Sandbanks.’

  I look confused.

  ‘We took the kids there for a few days… We felt crappy because we both started our period.’

  ‘Thank God. Yes.’

  ‘Has your brain gone to mush, Kate? I’ve just had another period since then. So you must be late.’

  ‘Oh fuck, I don’t believe this. Christ, I don’t have time for another baby… Harper Jones is so busy, how the hell am I going to fit another baby in?’

  ‘You’re crap at taking the pill.’ Harry laughs.

  ‘It’s not funny! God, what is wrong with me, Harry?’

  ‘How about you do a test and then panic?’

  ‘Yeah, you’re right.’ All of a sudden I feel nauseous. I’m sure it’s due to fear. ‘Where are Raymond and Nico?’

  She points to the garden. Even though it’s only May, the sun is out and the weather is warm.

  ‘I spoke to Alexis. She’s coming, but she’s split with her new boyfriend so she’s bringing Charles.’

  ‘Oh no! Is she heartbroken?’

  ‘She said he’s still hooked on his ex. I think she’s better off without him,’ Harry says.

  ‘Hey, girls.
’

  I turn around. ‘Hi, Molly.’

  ‘I’ve just seen the birthday boy. I think he’s making me broody. Actually, Danny and I were thinking we should give Grayson a sibling. What do you think?’

  I laugh. ‘I think my body agrees with you.’

  Molly frowns. ‘Are you— Again? Christ, Kate.’

  ‘Shh! Well, I don’t know, but I think my period is late.’

  We all laugh and automatically link for a group hug.

  ‘Oi, oi, oi, what’s this? A group hug without the best ingredient? Make way, girls, is there room for a rose among the thorns? Let me in.’ Barney glides to the centre.

  ‘Where’s Adam?’ I ask.

  ‘Over there with the birthday boy.’ I turn to see Adam spinning Harper around, with Jerry’s help. ‘Where’s Kiki?’

  ‘She’s here somewhere, and I warn you she’s hormonal and moody.’

  ‘Nothing new there, babe. I’ll hunt her down and cheer her up.’

  We part as I continue to meet and greet: our house is now bursting with all our favourite people.

  ‘Hi Ollie, Scarlett.’ I greet Luke’s younger brother and his new fiancée.

  ‘I love the car, Kate. If Luke could get in it, he would,’ Ollie says.

  ‘I told him that Harper was too small for it!’

  ‘Ollie, come here,’ Livy calls him.

  ‘Go on – I’ll catch up with you both in a while.’

  I continue to search for people I have not spoken to yet.

  ‘Nanny Stella and Nana Rosie, are you stealing cupcakes?’ I hug two of the most important people in my life.

  ‘We thought no one would notice.’

  I laugh. ‘Stella, I could bribe you to do anything for cake.’

  ‘Yes, my darling, you could… Tell me has the birthday boy been behaving himself this morning?’

  ‘He’s such a good boy – give me boys any day of the week!’ I say.

  ‘Yes, well, the girls are here to test Luke, not you.’

  ‘I think you’re right. I need to check the oven. Can I trust you both to guard the cakes?’

  ‘Kiki, look at me. Cheer up,’ I say.

  ‘Sorry. I’m just so uncomfortable, and have you seen my ankles?’

  ‘You’re glowing!’

  ‘Glowing, my arse! I’m fat and ready to burst.’