Twins Under His Tree

by Karen Rose Smith

  He brushed his hand down her arm. “I think you need a towel.” She was wet from the rain and he was, too. The result of that seemed to be steam rising from both of them.

  “I need to change,” she murmured but didn’t move away.

  He fingered one of her combs. “I like these in your hair.”

  “They were my mother’s,” she replied softly. “I haven’t worn them very much. I was afraid something would happen to them. Suddenly today I realized she wouldn’t want me to just leave them in my jewelry box.”

  Lily’s skin was lightly tanned as if she’d taken the babies for walks many days in the sun. He clasped her shoulders and ran his thumbs up and down the straps of her dress. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you since I got here.”

  “I’ve wanted you to kiss me since you got here.”

  She tilted her head up and he lowered his. He told himself to go easy, not to scare her with too much need. He didn’t want to need her at all. But the moment his lips settled on hers, he couldn’t keep the hunger at bay. The feel of her in his arms was exquisite, the soft pressure of her lips was a temptation that urged him to claim her. When his tongue thrust into her mouth, her gasp was only a preliminary response. She followed it with a tightening of her arms around him. A return taste of him became a chase and retreat that had them pressing their bodies together.

  Outside, a bright flash of light against a darkening sky was soon followed by thunder that seemed to crawl up one side of the roof and down the other. The crackle and boom sounded very close.

  All at once the light in the foyer went out and the hum of the refrigerator ceased.

  Mitch held Lily tighter, ended the kiss and rubbed his jaw against her cheek. “The electricity.” Huskiness hazed his words. “The lightning must have hit a transformer.”

  After a few moments, she leaned away from him. “I’d better find the oil lamp in case we don’t have power for a while. I had a stir-fry planned for supper.”

  “We’ll have to make do with lunchmeat and cheese.”

  “I made a coconut cake. We don’t need power to eat that.”

  “You have flashlights and candles?”

  “I think they’re under the kitchen sink. The oil lamp’s upstairs. I’ll get it when I change.”

  “Go ahead. I’ll watch Grace and Sophie until you come back down. Then you can stay with them while I rummage.”

  After a last longing look at him, sending the message their kiss had ended much too soon, she ran upstairs.

  Mitch took a hefty breath.

  Sandwiches eaten, candles and oil lamp lit, Lily forgot about time and just lived in the moment. She and Mitch had talked as they’d sat on the sofa and exchanged fussy babies. They’d played patty-cake and peekaboo with Sophie and Grace in between talking about books they had read, movies they’d seen, first experiences swimming, diving, surfing, hiking. There seemed to be so much to talk about. Yet underneath it all, whenever their gazes met or their fingers brushed, memories of their kisses danced in her mind.

  After a few hours, Lily breast-fed Grace while Mitch bottle-fed Sophie. Sophie finished first, and he laid her in her crib, starting her mobile.

  They’d brought the oil lamp to the babies’ room while they fed them. A flameless candle Mitch had found in a cupboard glowed in place of a night-light. Shadows were heavy in the room and Lily could see Mitch caring for her daughter, gently making sure she was settled, watching her for a few moments, then touching his fingers to her forehead.

  He would make a wonderful father.

  Turning from the crib, he stooped to pick up the bottle he’d set on the floor. “I’ll wash this out.”

  Grace had stopped suckling and her eyes were closed. Lily raised her to her shoulder until she heard a little burp, and then she carried her to her crib, settling her in for the night, then she took the oil lamp to the bathroom where she set it on the vanity. A small candle burned next to the sink where Mitch was rinsing the bottle. He’d rolled up his shirtsleeves and for the first time, Lily saw the scars on his right forearm. She didn’t look somewhere else, but studied the lines that still looked raw…the gashes that had healed but would never fade away.

  Slowly she raised her eyes to his.

  He turned off the spigot and blew out the candle.

  He was about to roll down his sleeve when she stopped him, her hand clasping his. “You don’t have to hide them from me.”

  “They’re ugly.”

  “No, they’re a badge of honor.” Without thinking, only feeling, she bent and kissed one of the welts.

  “Lily.” He said her name in a way he never had before. His words were thick with need, with desire that needed to be expressed.

  Her lips lingered on his skin for a few seconds, maybe because she wanted to anticipate what might happen next, maybe because she was afraid of what might happen next.

  When she straightened, he took her face in both of his hands. “Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked, his voice raspy.

  “I’m feeling,” she said without apology.

  “Damn,” he growled, wrapping his arms around her, possessing her lips with his.

  His kiss was long and hungry, wet and wild. Lily felt like someone else, like a woman who could throw caution to the side and be free from the chains of what she should and shouldn’t do. She kissed Mitch with a fervor that shocked her, yet gave her hope.

  Lily’s breasts pressed into Mitch’s chest. Instead of trying to touch her with his hands, he let their bodies communicate. His breathing was as hot and heavy as hers. They fit together with perfect temptation, perfect anticipation, perfect exhilaration. He seemed to wait for some sign from her that she wanted more and she gave it, pressing even closer. She felt his hardness, the desire he’d been controlling up until now. There would be no turning back from this.

  She didn’t want to turn back. She wanted tonight with Mitch. Did he want her as badly? Would he let his scars be an issue?

  She lowered her hand from his shoulder and insinuated it between their bodies, cupping him, leaving him with no doubt as to what she was ready to do.

  Still holding her securely, Mitch backed her out of the bathroom…across the hall…into her bedroom. The area was pitch-black, the glow from the oil lamp in the bathroom the only light, reaching just inside the door. But that didn’t stop them. The dark seemed to hold some comfort for them both. Once they were enveloped by it, their mouths sought each other, their arms embraced, their fingers touched. The dark held more excitement than anything else.

  Mindlessly, Lily reached for Mitch’s shirt buttons.

  He searched for the edges of her top and somehow managed to pull it up and over her head.

  After he’d tossed it, she asked, “Do you have a condom?”

  His hands went still on her waist. “Yes, I do.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out the foil packet and dropped it on the nightstand.

  They’d both known this night was coming, hadn’t they?

  “I’d hoped,” Mitch said honestly. “That’s why I brought it.”

  His hands slid to her bra and unhooked it. She shrugged off the straps quickly and leaned forward, kissing his chest. She couldn’t see but she could feel hot skin against her lips. Her hands became her eyes as she ran them down his flat abdomen and stopped at the waistband of his jeans. His belt was pliant but fought her hands as she tried to unfasten it. He helped her with it. A few moments later, he’d shed his sneakers, jeans and briefs. She’d flicked off her sandals. Now he slid his hands into the waistband of her shorts, sliding them down her hips along with her panties.

  She knew he couldn’t see much more than shadows, either, and she asked, “Should I light a candle?”

  “No time,” he muttered as he pushed her hair aside and kissed her neck, trailing his lips along her collarbone. His foray to her breast made her restless, flushed and needy.

  “Mitch,” she moaned, but he didn’t stop. He just kept kissing lower, down her belly to the mound between
her thighs. She couldn’t let him be that intimate. She just couldn’t. The reason why eluded her.

  She grasped his shoulders and said again, “Mitch.”

  This time she felt him shift, felt his head tilt up. He straightened, flung back the covers, and climbed into bed, holding his hand out to her.

  Thunder grumbled again outside and she thought fleetingly of Grace and Sophie and whether or not they’d awaken. She listened as the sky rolled but heard nothing from the babies’ bedroom.

  As if he read her mind, Mitch asked, “Do you want to check on them?”

  She knew she’d hear them if they awakened, even without the monitor. “They’ll let us know if they wake up,” she replied, crawling in beside him, moving closer to him.

  He wrapped his arm around her and stroked her back. “You’ll have to tell me what you like.”

  She suddenly couldn’t speak and didn’t know why. So she tilted her head against his and finally managed, “I want you, Mitch. Kiss me and everything else will be okay.”

  His lips were searingly hot, his tongue an instrument of pleasure that urged her to caress his back, his sides, his manhood.

  “Lily,” he gasped. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes, Mitch. I am.”

  Reaching to the nightstand, he grabbed the packet and ripped open the foil. After he slid the condom on, he stretched out on top of her, letting her feel his weight. He spread her legs and lay between them. As he braced himself on his elbows, she tensed a little. He must have felt it because he kissed her again until all she wanted was him filling her, giving her pleasure, helping her to forget.

  Forget what? a little voice inside her head whispered, but she ignored it, not bothering to find the answer.

  When Mitch entered her, she was ready. Each of his thrusts made her call his name, asking for more. Mitch’s body was as slick as hers with their passion. His chest slid against her breasts as they rocked, tempting each other, provoking each other to the next level of pleasure. Lily held on tightly as a strong orgasm overtook her, shaking her world until it was upside down. Mitch’s shuddering release came moments later.

  She felt as if the storm had somehow come inside. Stunned by the pleasure still tingling through her, she also felt overwhelmed by the intimacy she’d experienced with Mitch. She wobbled on the verge of feelings that terrified her and she didn’t know whether to run or to hold on to Mitch for dear life.

  After Mitch collapsed on top of her, he whispered in her ear, “Are you okay?”

  She didn’t know how to answer him, but gave him the response that would be easiest. “Yes, I’m good.”

  He kissed her cheek then rolled onto his side, taking her with him, their bodies still joined. “Do you want me to check on Sophie and Grace?”

  “In a minute.” She was still catching her breath, still trying to absorb what they had done, what she had done.

  “Talk to me, Lily.”

  “Just hold me, Mitch. Just hold me.”

  “I shouldn’t fall asleep with you. I could have a nightmare.”

  “It doesn’t matter, I don’t want you to leave.”

  So Mitch stayed and she held on, unsure what morning would bring.

  Lily snuck glances at Mitch as they made breakfast the next morning. The night before, the first time the twins had awakened, Mitch had climbed out of bed quickly. Lily wondered if he’d slept at all because he’d seemed so wide awake as they fed Sophie and Grace and settled them once more. Afterward, Mitch had kissed her and she thought they might make love again. Instead he’d said, “Get some sleep. I’m going to bunk on the couch. When the electricity clicks back on, I’ll make sure everything’s working okay.”

  “Mitch, you could sleep with me.”

  But he’d shaken his head and she’d known better than to argue.

  The twins had slept later than usual this morning, so it was almost ten o’clock as she scrambled eggs and Mitch fried bacon. Sophie and Grace faced each other and babbled in their swings.

  She hadn’t talked to Mitch about last night. They’d been too busy changing, dressing, diapering and now making breakfast. What she wanted to ask most was, What did last night mean to you?

  However, as she was about to begin the discussion, the front door swung open and Angie and Ellie charged in, overnight cases in hand. They gave some attention to the babies and then stopped short when they saw Mitch.

  Cheerfully, Angie tried to set the tone. “Good morning.”

  “I didn’t expect you back so soon,” Lily remarked. “How was the concert?”

  “It was wonderful,” Angie replied. “I felt like a teenager again. Brad Paisley is one hot dude.”

  Lily forced a laugh because Ellie was being so quiet.

  Angie slipped a CD from her purse. “I got his new one.”

  “Did you have a good time?” she asked Ellie. Mitch silently listened, forking the slices of bacon.

  “Yeah, it was great. But we heard you had storms last night and a lot of the electricity was out. We were worried. That’s why we got up early and drove back. I tried to call but the phone must not be working. It just kept ringing and you didn’t answer your cell, either.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry you worried,” Lily apologized. “My cell was out of power when the electricity went down and I unplugged the charger so it wouldn’t get damaged if there was a surge.” She felt as if she were overexplaining and Ellie was eyeing her and then Mitch. Lily felt uncomfortable.

  “Did you have any trouble getting back?” Mitch asked. “Trees down? That kind of thing?”

  “Just a tree down on Alamo,” Angie answered when Ellie didn’t. “Branches here and there. We heard a tornado went through Odessa. That’s why we were worried. How did Sophie and Grace do with the storm?”

  “They didn’t seem to mind,” Mitch said with a smile.

  “How long have you been here?” Ellie inquired.

  Mitch looked to Lily, obviously deciding to let her answer. She felt suddenly unsettled, as if what had happened with Mitch last night was definitely all wrong. She was the mother of three-month-old twins. What was she doing having an affair? What was she doing making love with a man when Troy hadn’t been gone a year? What was she doing trying to find a life when her old one still seemed so real?

  Suddenly plagued by doubts, she answered, “Mitch came over last evening to visit. While he was here, the electricity went off. He stayed to make sure we were all safe. He slept on the couch and when the power came back on, he made sure everything was working right again.”

  She sensed Mitch’s body tense. With a sideways glance at him, she saw his jaw set and his mouth tighten. She didn’t dare look into his eyes.

  “I see,” Ellie responded.

  Silence shrouded the kitchen until Angie broke it. “We bought donuts at the convenience store. I left them in the car with the souvenirs. I’ll go get them.”

  “I can throw more eggs into the pan,” Lily offered. “We have plenty of bacon and toast.”

  Mitch switched off the burner, fished the bacon from the pan and let it drain on a paper towel on a dish. But then he said, “I think I’ll be going. Everything’s back to normal here and the three of you can catch up.”

  Lily reached out a hand to him. “Mitch, you don’t have to go.”

  His gaze locked to hers. “Yes, I think I do.”

  Lily felt her heart drop to her stomach. The look on Mitch’s face told her that her explanation to Ellie hadn’t been what he’d expected her to say. She slid the eggs from the pan onto a serving dish and set it on the table.

  “I’ll be right back,” she told Ellie. “I’m going to walk Mitch out.”

  Mitch stopped by Sophie and Grace, jiggled their feet, gave them a last long look, then went to the living room. Making sure the timer on the swings would keep the babies content for a little while longer, Lily bent down and kissed them both. She passed Angie in the living room and saw that Mitch had already gone out the door.

  “What’s up?” A
ngie whispered to her.

  “We’ll talk later,” she told her friend, not knowing what to expect when she went outside.

  Lily had never seen Mitch angry. A sense of calm always seemed to surround him. But now, even though he was still, he wasn’t calm. His brown eyes simmered with an emotion she didn’t understand. She thought he was accusing her of something and she went on the defensive.

  “You could stay for breakfast.”

  “If I stayed and Ellie asked what happened last night, what should I tell her?”

  Maybe the emotion she was witnessing in Mitch’s eyes wasn’t anger. It was something worse. It was betrayal.

  Her hands suddenly felt clammy. “I couldn’t tell her what happened.”

  “I understand you want to keep your life private. I understand you’re afraid you’ll hurt her feelings. I understand that you feel she’d be upset if she thinks you’re moving on. What I don’t understand, especially after last night, is that you gave her the impression I was like a security guard seeing to your safety. Why are you afraid to admit to yourself what happened last night. We were intimate, Lily, as intimate as two people can be. Do you want to erase that from your memory?”

  The breeze tossed her hair across her cheek as she self-consciously looked around to make sure no one was walking anywhere nearby. Glancing over her shoulder, she needed to be certain neither Angie nor Ellie were in the foyer, listening.

  “I don’t know what to think about last night,” she admitted. “I’m not like that, Mitch. I don’t seek pleasure to wipe out—”

  “Loss and grief and memories?”

  “Why are you so angry?”

  He ran his hand over his face and considered her words carefully. “I don’t think I’m as angry with you as I am with myself. I should have known better. I should have known you weren’t ready.”

  She remembered him asking her last night, “Are you ready?” He’d meant so much more than the physical. Deep down, she’d known that.

  “The dark made it easy,” he decided. “The dark let you think, subconsciously at least, that you were with your husband again.”