Single Dad Next Door

by Cathryn Fox

  “Oh, yesss…” I cry out and the grip on my hips tightens as I release.

  “Yeah, Rach. Come for me. Come all over my cock.” He rocks into me, drawing out each blissful clench. I grasp at the wall, breathe through the pleasure until I’m wrung out and sated. Jaxon leans over me, presses open-mouthed kisses to my back as he releases again. His hot cum spurts high inside me, warming me from the inside out.

  “So good,” he murmurs against my skin.

  He pulls me from the wall again, presses his mouth to my neck. “Stay with me tonight,” he whispers.

  I open my mouth to say no—any more time in his arms will be emotional suicide at best—but the only word to come out of my mouth is…yes.

  8

  Jaxon

  Jaxon

  The coolness in the air pulls me awake, and I open one eye to see Rachel snuggled next to me, hogging all the blankets. She’s wrapped up tighter than a burrito and it brings a smile to my face. I move closer, roll her a bit and tug on the blanket to slide under it with her. She shimmies backward toward me and as we spoon, I absorb her heat. She moans to let me know she’s awake.

  “I think the heat wave is over,” I say quietly.

  I get a one-word murmured reply of, “Good.”

  “Why good?” Body still chilled, I shiver and slide my hand down her thigh.

  “No way will I get any studying done with you hanging out in your pool in nothing but your boxers.”

  “I’m a distraction, am I?”

  “Big time.”

  I laugh. “So when you say big…?”

  She laughs with me, rolls over and whacks me with her pillow. “Ego much?

  I grab the pillow, toss it away and capture both her hands. Her eyes go wide as I pin her to the bed and climb over her. Her body softens beneath me, and my cock swells even more. Fuck, I can’t get enough of her. I growl, desperate to slide high inside her again.

  “Spread your legs,” I say. “I want to fuck you.”

  “Jaxon,” she murmurs, her eyes wide as a warm pink flush paints her cheek. “Didn’t you get enough last night?”

  I have no idea how many times we fucked last night. All I know is it was well into the wee hours of the morning when she fell asleep in my arms.

  “No, did you?”

  A smile curls the corners of her mouth. “No.”

  My insides soften, a tenderness overcoming me when I realize I’d been a bit rough with her. Fuck, there were times I went at her like a hormonal teen, a goddamn caveman. Insane really, considering I’m a grown-ass man who hasn’t thought about sex—well, okay maybe a little—since my ex split. But this sweet woman in my bed does something to me. I run my thumb over her plump, kiss-swollen bottom lip, my mouth eager to be on hers again.

  “Are you sore?”

  “A little.”

  “Can you take me again?”

  Her legs slide apart, and my heart hammers. I fucking love that she’s so ready and eager

  “You sure?” I ask, giving her once last chance out before I bury myself balls deep inside her.

  “One hundred percent.”

  With my cock hard and ready, I press my crown to her opening and my lips find hers. I slide into her, slowly, and she moans into my mouth.

  “You like that?” I ask quietly.

  “Yeah,” she murmurs and runs her hands over my body. I quiver as she touches me, palms my muscles like she’s reacquainting herself with my body.

  “I like the way you touch me,” I say. As she continues her exploration, I move inside her, slower this time, less hurried, but from the way her eyes are slipping shut, it’s clear she likes this every bit as much as she liked me taking her fast and furiously.

  “I could wake up like this every morning,” she murmurs, but then her eyes open. “I mean...”

  “I know what you mean,” I say. “I like fucking you too, Rach, and it got me thinking?”

  “About,” she says, her hips lifting slightly to meet each slow thrust.

  “Maybe we could keep doing this while I’m working on your car.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Sure. I should finish the job in a week or so. Why don’t we just keep enjoying each other until then.” I increased the pace a tiny bit, and press hot kisses to her neck—a ploy to shut down her mind until only ‘yes’ is on her lips. “When the car is done, and you’re no longer babysitting or cleaning for me, things go back to the way they were.”

  Her nails scratch at my back, and soft clenches squeeze my cock. “That sounds…oh, damn that’s good.”

  “Is that a yes?” I ask.

  “Yessss…” she cries out, but I’m pretty sure it has more to do with her orgasming around my cock than answering my question. Her hot cum singes my dick, and I grip her hair, drive into her once, twice, then go perfectly still as I fill her with my seed.

  I breathe hard against her neck, my body no longer cold from the chill in the morning air. She hugs me to her and I collapse on top of her.

  “How are you so good at this?” she asks, a bubble of laughter in her voice. “Honest to God, I’ve come more in the last twenty-four hours than I have in my entire life.”

  I lift my head to see her, and brush her hair from her face. I cup her cheeks and even though she hasn’t agreed to my proposition yet, I say, “That’s a goddamn shame and for the next two weeks, I’m going to be sure you come at least once a day.”

  She laughs. “I have school, work, and chores around here. How can you promise that?”

  “If I have to come to your work and drag you into the bathroom for an orgasm, I’ll do it.”

  Her eyes go wide as she sits up and rests against the backboard. “You wouldn’t.”

  I slide my hands across the mattress, stroke her nipple. “Yeah, I would.”

  She whacks me. “You’re just kidding. You would never do that?”

  “Would I kid about something like that?” I say, tossing her playful words back at her.

  “That would be a great way to get me fired,” she says, but I don’t miss the pleasure in her eyes.

  “You sound like you like my idea.”

  “Well…”

  “You need a new job.”

  “Yeah, no kidding?”

  “What do you know about cars?” I tease. “I could always use help in the shop.”

  She gives me a wry look. “Believe me, you don’t want me anywhere near your garage.”

  “You’re right, too much of a distraction,” I say, my stomach taking that moment to grumble.

  “On that note, you’d better get some food into you, and I need to get home and hit the books.”

  “Let me cook you breakfast before you go.” She glances at the clock, and crinkles her nose. “If you want, I can even teach you how to make pancakes from scratch.”

  She rolls her eyes at me. “I know how to cook. I was just in a hurry.”

  “I knew it.”

  “Knew what?”

  “That you were trying to sneak out of here.” She frowns, and plucks at the blankets. “Hey what?”

  A moment of silence and then, “I don’t want Cassie to get the wrong idea about us, Jaxon. I don’t want her to think I’m anything more than her sitter, or your client. I can’t be her mom figure.”

  I rake my fingers through my hair. “I know. I don’t want you to be.” She looks away for a moment, but I catch the conflicting emotions on her face before she turns. “Rach?”

  “Yeah?”

  “What?” I ask.

  She turns back to me. “Where is her…mom?”

  As anger and sadness move through me, I push from the bed, and walk to my closet. I grab a pair of jeans and tug them on.

  “I’m sorry. Never mind. It’s none of my business,” she says quickly.

  I turn, and Rachel’s back is to me as she searches the floor for something to wear. She grabs my t-shirt from last night, and pulls it on. My heart misses a beat as she stands there in my clothes.

  “She left u
s,” I say. “We weren’t enough for her.”

  Rachel stiffens and turns to me. “I’m sorry.”

  “She ran off with her dealer,” I tell her. I’m not sure why I’m opening up. I keep that part of my life pretty confidential, and don’t like to talk about it—with anyone. Not even the guys. When it comes right down to it, I’m private. That’s a trait Rachel and I have in common. She’s yet to tell me anything about herself, and I respect that. We’re having a brief affair. Nothing more, nothing less. Her demons are hers, and mine are mine. But I still can’t help but wonder…

  “Ohmigod, Jaxon. I had no idea.”

  She steps up to me, slides her hands around my body and lays her cheek near my heart.

  “Her parents don’t know the extent of her drug addiction, and they blame me for her leaving,” I say.

  She lifts her chin, looks into my eyes. “How is it your fault?”

  “When we met, we were both big into partying, but I slowed down and stopped her when she got pregnant. She couldn’t handle this life I guess. She got deeper into the drug scene, then eventually left.”

  I run my fingers through her hair and hold her to me.

  “Do you still love her?”

  “She gutted me, Rach, and I hate what she did to Cassie, but I can’t deny that I worry about her. She is, after all, the mother of my child.”

  Rachel presses her lips to my chest. “If she came back clean, you guys could be a family again,” she says, her voice softer, lower than a minute ago.

  “I really hope she gets herself clean, and gets her life back on track.” Not because I want her back, but because Cassie needs her mother. “How about those pancakes?” I say, not wanting to dredge up any more painful memories.

  She pushes from me and her smile is a bit wobbly. “Yeah, sure.” She injects a lightness in her voice that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

  I reach back into my closet and hand her a pair of my sweats. She climbs into them and masochistic bastard that I am, I watch her. My cock jumps in my jeans. Why the hell can’t I get enough of her? I’m not sure but I’m hoping that over the course of the next couple weeks, I’ll fuck her out of my system.

  “Are you going to put on a shirt?” she asks.

  “I wasn’t going to.” She plants her hands on her hips, the look so sexy my throat dries. “You want me to?”

  “Yes, Jaxon. You really have to stop walking around half naked all the time.”

  “And here I was thinking you should do it more often. Especially when you’re in your room and walking past your window.”

  She points to my dresser. “Get a shirt on. Now.”

  Laughing, I grab one and tug it on. “Better?”

  “Yes.”

  She leaves the room and I follow her out. She darts into the bathroom and I head to the kitchen to put the coffee on. But first I pick her clothes up from the floor, a grin on my face as I recall the way I’d removed them from her body last night. I set them on the chair, flicked on some tunes, and start the pancake batter. That’s when I realize I’m still smiling. Christ, I can’t remember the last time a woman made me walk around my place grinning like the village idiot.

  “I love that song,” Rachel says, coming around the corner. She sways to the song, and grabs two mugs from the cupboard, already familiar with my kitchen, and I kind of like how she feels so at home.

  “Chocolate chips or blueberries?” I ask as I dump flour into a bowl.

  “Ah, chocolate,” she says. “Like that should even be a question.”

  “You and Cassie. Am I going to have to try to sneak fruit into your meals, too?”

  She goes up on her toes, and taking me by surprise, places the softest kiss on my mouth. “You’re a good dad,” she says and my heart misses a beat as she pours us each a steaming mug of java.

  I dump a handful of chocolate chips into the batter, heat up the frying pan, and pour.

  “Mmm, smells good.”

  I make a couple of pancakes quickly and Rachel grabs utensils and sits at the table as I divvy them up. I settle in next to her. We dig into our pancakes and both go a bit quiet, lost in thought as we eat.

  “So you’re studying for the rest of the day?” I ask after emptying my plate.

  “Yeah, and I have a paper to write for my Humanities class. How about you?”

  “I need to make some calls for your radiator. I’ve got a few leads, and since I didn’t get to the grocery store yesterday, that means groceries, and getting lunches and meals planned for the week for Cassie.”

  She goes quiet, her eyes a bit solemn. “When was the last time you had fun?”

  I take a big drink of my coffee. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  She slides her fork into her mouth, takes a look at the clock on the wall, and says, “Oh, about thirty minutes ago.” We both laugh and I push back from the table. Rachel sets her fork down, and her eyes meet mine.

  “How about we get out of here, go have some fun before I study and you work?” she asks.

  “Yeah?”

  “Sure, we could hit the outdoor market. I can help you get your groceries, and we can grab an ice cream or something.”

  “Or something?”

  “Stop.” She finishes her last bite of pancake, and says, “What time do you pick Cassie up?”

  “Around dinner.”

  “Too bad. I’m sure she would have liked an ice cream, but then again, it’s best she not see us together and get the wrong idea, right?”

  “Right.”

  She places her hands on the table and stands. “Okay, let’s get the dishes done, then I’ll get changed and meet you outside.”

  “I’ll do the dishes.” I nod toward the door. “You go on and get ready.”

  “Give me twenty,” she says, and gathers her clothes up from the chair. She removes my sweats, and pulls on her work pants and darts outside.

  I make quick work of the dishes, take a two-minute shower, and tug on a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

  The rising sun pushes back the chill of the night, and it’s warm when I step outside. My gaze goes to Rachel’s car. For the next two weeks while it’s out of commission, I plan to drive her back and forth to campus. I have to take Cassie to school and it’s not really out of my way.

  My pulse jumps, so does one other body part, when she exits her house, looking so girl-next-door-fresh, it’s all I can do not to drag her back to my bed. She darts a nervous glance up and down the street, her eyes searching—for what or who I don’t know. All I do know is that someone has hurt her, left her frightened and damaged, and if I knew what’s good for me, I’d stay out of her life.

  I can’t offer her more than a roll in the sack, and a few good memories. Not that she’s asking for more. She’s not. But I need to maintain stability in my life, and stay out of trouble for Cassie’s sake. I can’t lose her.

  “All set?” I ask as she comes toward me, her ponytail bouncing on her shoulders.

  A chorus of giggles come from her front door, and I glance up to see her roommates, still dressed in their pajamas and looking like death warmed over. I remember those hangover days. I’m glad they’re behind me.

  “Morning,” I say and give them a wave.

  “Morning,” they all say. “Are you two coming or going?” the dark-haired girl asks. She was the one I’d caught gawking at me the other morning.

  “Going,” I say, and more giggles sound.

  “Oh, too bad,” the blonde answers.

  I open my mouth to respond, but the whack to the gut stops me.

  “Don’t encourage them, Jaxon,” I say. “Dim-witted moths, remember.”

  “Right.” She starts to walk, and I say, “I can take the car. I might have a lot to carry back.”

  “Okay.” I pull the fob from my back pocket and open the doors. She slides in next to me and that’s when I catch her scent. Goddammit, it makes me want to eat her up again. I drive the short distance to the market, park, and meet Rachel at the fron
t of the car.

  We make our way to the outdoor market, where we can buy anything from fresh produce and meat to breads, wine, and gifts. I purchase a bottle of wine, and turn to see Rachel looking over the knitted hats and mitts. There is a little girl lost look on her face that tugs at me. I step up behind her, put my mouth near her ear. “Are you getting a new hat?”

  She stiffens, and says, “No, it’s not that.”

  I point to the blue hat with the pom poms on the top. “I think that one would look cute on you.” I reach for it but her soft voice stops me.

  “Mom used to make hats like these for me.”

  She’s not talked about her mom, or her past, so I go still, and wait for her to expand. “She taught me how to knit when I was little,” she adds, and I remain quiet, fully aware that she’s telling me something important. “I miss it, actually. I just don’t have time for it anymore.” I put my hand around her, hold her to me, and she leans into me. Her body softens, and she adds, “I miss my mom, too.”

  I turn her to face me, wanting to ask about her mom, her dad, if she has any siblings, even though I should keep things a little more impersonal. “I’m sorry.”

  She forces a smile. “It was a long time ago.”

  “Your dad?” I dare ask.

  “He’s not…in my life anymore.”

  My heart pinches. She’s as alone in this world as I am. But I have Cassie, and my in-laws. “I don’t have any family either,” I say. “I was raised in the system. Tossed around and kicked around.”

  Why the hell am I telling her this?

  Her eyes widen. “I’m sorry, Jaxon.”

  “It’s okay. It toughened me up. I was never in prison like your friends said, but I did do a stint in juvie when I was younger.” I laugh and add, “I was a fucked up little bastard.”

  “I think you grew up to be a pretty good guy.”

  “Oh, yeah. What else do you think?”

  “Fishing much?” she says, and we both laugh, as she lightened things up.