by Shyla Colt
“You did that all on your own.”
I look up at him. “Yeah, I did.” I smile in wonder. “And I had a good time.”
“How do you feel?” He tucks a stay curl behind my ear.
“Like less of a walking disaster?”
He laughs. The deep boom makes my knees weaken, and I press my thighs together. “You couldn’t be that if you tried, beautiful girl.”
“Anders,” I caution him.
“You know what happens in fifteen?”
“We bake the cookies,” I whisper.
“You stop being my client.”
I swallow. “That wasn’t the problem between us, remember?”
“That was the only thing stopping me from doing what I’ve been dying to do every time I come over your house.” His sexy half-smile has me ready to climb him like a damn tree.
“What’s that?” I croak
“You sure you want to know?” He traces my lips with his thumb.
I nod.
“Remember, you asked for this.” He bends down and brushes his lips with mine.
I sigh, leaning into him. His hard body supports my abundance, giving me the sweet friction I crave. My nipples harden, and my core drips. His big hands glide down my back and move to cup my ass. He lifts me up, pressing me against the swell in his pants. I grip his hips with my thighs and rock against him. Our lips continue to duel. He sucks my bottom lip in his I shudder, digging my nails into his shoulders. Chest rumbling, he moves back, he spins us, and sets me on the counter, pulling away as I whimper in protests.
“Shhh.” He kisses my lips and down my throat to my collarbone. His tongue traces the bones, setting my skin on fire everywhere he tastes. “I’ve been dreaming of tasting your cookie.” He nips my nipple lightly through my shirt, and I arch against him. “Wondering how the sticky slick you make for me will taste.”
“Anders.” I pant.
“Can I do that, Tilly?” He pops the top button on my jeans, and I nod, helpless to resist when I want him to touch me where I need him most. “Lift up and help me.” I lift my hips, wiggling as he works down my jeans and underwear. The cool air caresses my core, and I shiver. He trails his fingers down my neatly trimmed pussy. “What a pretty kitty. I need to say hello.” He kneels and presses my legs apart, kissing the top of my quim before he licks the crease where my thigh meets my leg. He nods, nudges my pulsing clit, and I bite my bottom lip and clutch the edge of the counter.
“Nu-uh. I want to hear you,” he says huskily. “You don’t get to hide from me.” He flicks his tongue against my clit, and I gasp. “That’s better.” His long fingers trace down the wet seam of my cleft. Pleasure swirls through me. The muscles in my belly jump as I continue to drip.
“So wet for me. Put your legs over my shoulders.” He helps me into position and strokes his tongue up my slit, caressing my clit before he delves in deep. Teasing me with shallow swirls, he pushes a finger deep, and I clamp around him, crying out at the wanted invasion.
“So tight. Your little pussy grips me so well, baby.” He continues to tease me with swirls and sucks. I buck off the counter, desperate for what I’ve been denied over the years. Jackson was never a fan of female head. I watch, dazed and aroused as Anders treats me like his favorite flavor of ice cream. I push down as he pushes up, stretching me. “Can you take two for me?”
“Yes. Please. I need—” I pant.
“I’ll give you everything you need,” he promises, sliding two fingers deep.
I close my thighs around his head, toes curling. My pussy contracts, and he hits the spot inside of me that makes me cream as I cry out, shaking on the edge of exploding. He strokes the place again, twisting and plunging, filling me up and caressing the spot too deep for my fingers to reach. His fingers make a continuous come-hither gesture, and he sucks my clit into his mouth. My body explodes as an orgasm slams into me, and I’m seeing stars and grinding against his face. My fingers clutch his hair as I scream, riding out every bit of ecstasy that explodes through my body and behind my eyelids. He laps at my sopping slit as I come down, kissing me a few times before he works his way back up.
“Do you know how good you taste?”
“No.”
“Open.” He presses his fingers inside, and the salty-sweet flavor coats my tongue. I whimper. “So fucking perfect.” He pulls me into his arms, sinking onto the floor, cradling me like I’m special. I nuzzle his neck, warm and satiated as he strokes his fingers through my hair and down my back. I come back to myself and feel my cheeks heat.
“I feel woefully underdressed.” I run my hand down his chest to cup the large cock beneath me. “But what about you?”
“This was for you.” He nips my bottom lip. “We’ll have more time to explore each other later. When I take you, it won’t be rushed.” He kisses me gently.
I’m not used to a man who gives without receiving. I nod my head as I try to force down the apprehension climbing its way into my chest.
ANDERS
How do you dress to meet the child of the woman you’re falling for? Despite our back-and-forth banter and opposing opinions on things, I’m sure she is the one for me. If she’d let us naturally evolve, I think she would see it, too. Tonight feels more like a job interview than a lesson. If Clem doesn’t like me, my hopes die. I pop the top button on my polo and shake my arms out to release the pent-up energy. It’s just making cookies. And it’s only the rest of your life and happiness. I knock on the door and smile at Tilly as she greets me with a mini-me on her right-hand side.
“Hi, Tilly. Hello, Ms. Clem.”
“Mommy, the Cookie King knows my name.” She covers her mouth, and I fall in love with her.
“You can call me Anders if that’s okay with your mom.”
“It’s okay, baby.” Tilly smiles at me. “Come on in. We’ve got everything ready.”
“Mommy let me taste one of the cookies she made, and it was tasty. No weird crunchies or black parts.”
Tilly laughs. “Nope. Your mom is on her way to being an excellent baker.”
“I couldn’t tell anyone what the surprise was.” Clem sighs.
“We want to surprise everyone at the bake sale next week, don’t we?” I ask.
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“I’m not even posting our last episode to keep it hush-hush.” I button my lip.
Clem looks from me to her mother. “You’re good friends now, right, Mom?”
I hold my breath. Worry fills her eyes. I understand her hesitation, but it hurts. “We are, baby.”
My heart soars. “Well, ladies, what do you say we wash our hands and get to baking?”
“Yeah.” Clem jumps up and down, cheering.
“She really wants to win the aquarium pass,” Tilly whispers.
“Who could blame her?” I ask. I bump her hip with mine. “I think we should let your Mommy lead this lesson. She’s worked really hard this month.”
Clem pokes out her lips in thought. “Okay.”
The joy that lights up Tilly’s eyes is blinding. I hang back, letting her take the lead as she flawlessly executes the recipe, using all the things I’ve taught her.
“You look like you could use a little more flower over there.” Tilly tosses a bit at me and Clem, who giggles. “We can’t stand for that, can we, Clem?” I ask.
“No!” We retaliate, and the kitchen turns into a winter wonderland. When the flour settles, we freeze the dough after cutting it into crowns.
“You know, I’m not opposed to a dessert before dinner, but maybe we could treat Anders to a meal since he helped us,” Tilly says.
“Pizza?” Cleo asks hopefully.
“Since this is a special occasion, I think that would be okay. But you have to go get cleaned up.” Clem takes off before she can say more, and I laugh.
“She’s a great kid.”
“Thanks. You were good with her.”
“I like kids. Plus, I’m the oldest of three brothers and a ton of cousins. I’ve done my share of ba
bysitting over the years.”
“Let me call the pizza in, and then you can help me clean up the kitchen since you tried to overthrow me.”
I move around the kitchen, starting the cleanup process. I’ve become relatively familiar with the house over the past few weeks.
She returns. “Wow, you cook and clean without being goaded.”
“Your expectations are pretty low.”
Her smile falters, and I find myself wondering about her life with her ex once more.
“They might be.”
“Your ex-husband was a real dick, wasn’t he?”
Her gaze sweeps the room quickly. “Yeah. He was, and what’s worst was how long it took me to figure that out.”
“I’m sorry.”
She smiles. “Better late than never, I suppose. In some ways, I guess he did me a favor.”
Clem returns dressed in a pair of button-up mermaid pajamas. Her hair has been pulled up into a bun.
“I’m ready, Mom.”
“Good job, kidlet.” Tilly raises her hand, and Clem gives her a high five.
“The pizza will be here in twenty minutes or so. Enough time to help Anders finish cleaning up this mess.” As we wipe down the counters, I can’t help but think about another event that happened here days earlier. She catches my eyes, and her cheeks pinken. Smiling, I return to the counter. I don’t mind taking things slow. I’m more concerned with building what’s between us to last.
Pizza is eaten at the table before we retire to the living room to watch Lilo and Stitch. Clem falls asleep, cuddled up beside her mom under a pastel unicorn blanket.
“She’s out like a light. Let me carry her to bed.” Carefully freeing herself, she slips her arms under Clem and lifts her up into her arms.
I watch them disappear down the hallway. “I’ll be here.”
I smile when she comes back dressed in a pair of pink, leopard print, fuzzy pajamas and a fuzzy pink sweater top. “I have a confession ... it’s nearing my bedtime, too.”
“I can see where Clem gets her cuteness.”
“Now I’m starting to see that charm Win talked about.”
“Funny. Tell me about him.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, and she snuggles into me.
“For a long time, he was my everything. We started dating at the end of freshman year, and it went from there. He could do no wrong in my eyes. He was my first everything from dating to sex. I never saw the need to look elsewhere. When we were younger, he felt protective. I didn’t realize his actions were more about control and snobbery. He wasn’t trying to keep me safe. He was trying to keep me the way he wanted. By the time I saw it, we were already years deep into our marriage and starting a family. I thought I could live with it. No,” she sighs, “I would’ve.”
“Why?” I whisper, kissing her temple.
“Because I didn’t know anything else, and I wanted Clem to have both parents.” She inhales shakily. “And then I caught him with her, in our own house.” Her voice trembles. “I knew we weren’t happy like we should’ve been, but I trusted him.”
“I’m sorry he hurt you. I know I can tell you I’d never hurt you that way, but words without proof are pointless. We can go as slowly as you need, but I’m serious about you.”
“Your life isn’t what I want.” She moves away.
I tighten my hold, pressing her against me as I cup her chin. “Just because I’m in front of the camera doesn’t mean you have to be.”
“What?” The genuine look of confusion on her face makes me want to laugh.
“This is my dream. I don’t expect it to be yours. You can support me without being directly involved. I won’t lie about dating you, because you deserve better than that, but I can respect your privacy.” She blinks. My heart stutters in my chest. “Did I assume too much?”
“Are you real?” She cups my face.
“Flaws and all.” I lean down and kiss her gently, tasting the pepperoni’s spice and the sweetness from the cola. She yawns. We break apart laugh. “That’s my cue. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
She clutches my shirt. “Text me, so I know you made it home.”
“Yeah.” Standing from the couch, I feel my world shift. My show is on the rise, and so is my love life. I run my thumb over her cheekbone. “Sleep well.” Bending, I kiss her forehead. “I’ll lock up behind myself. Make sure you set the alarm before you go to sleep.”
“I will. Night, Anders.”
For the first time, I feel one-hundred percent sure that leaving R.A.A. was the right choice at the right time.
THE CEASELESS RINGING of the phone drags me from the bed. I slap at the nightstand, searching for the offending electronic. Pulling it into my bundle of comforter and sheets, I press it to my ears.
“Hello?” I croak.
“I can’t believe you did this. I trusted you.”
“Tilly?” I grumble.
“Don’t you dare call me that! You knew what I went through, and you screwed me over, just like he did. God. Did he put you up to this?”
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about, sweetheart. You have to calm down.”
“Oh, fuck you. It’s all over the internet. You promised me you wouldn’t—” Her voice breaks.
“I’m coming over.”
“Don’t bother.” The silence that comes from dead air when someone hangs up blares in my ear. Sitting up in bed, I shove the covers off my lap and rub my face. It’s like I woke up in the Twilight Zone. Everything had been perfect for the past week. Today we were supposed to go to the bake sale together. I grab my wireframe glasses and turn on the lamp. Seeing her texts, I click on the link, and my stomach drops.
Cookie family? They’ve blurred Clem’s face, but there’s no mistaking it’s her in my arms. Who could’ve taken this? We’d been careful about being seen together before we were ready. This had been me carrying her from the car into the house. Who the fuck was sitting outside of her house? Does she really think I set this up? My stomach churns. I rub my eyes with the heels of my palms as I try to jump-start my brain. I’m not big enough to warrant paparazzi or reporters, so this has to be someone from her end. I picture her husband and his mantrum in the driveway. What would he gain from this, though?
I roll out of bed, pull on a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt, quickly brush my teeth, and head over to her house. I knock, spearing my fingers through my hair.
“Go away.” Her voice is thick with tears, and it makes my heart hurt.
“You can’t think this was me, Tilly. I have nothing to gain from this.”
“Right. Your site views and subscribers are through the roof. Have you looked at your social media?”
“I don’t care about any of that. I just want you to be okay.”
“Don’t do this. You don’t have to pretend anymore. You got what you wanted.”
“Not if I don’t have you.”
“I wish I could believe you.”
“Whoever did this wants us to be separated. Don’t allow them to win.”
A car pulls into the driveway, and I watch as Jackson Lawson steps out of his black BMW with a knowing smile. “Like I said before, Anders, I’ll always be around.”
“Did you really do all of this to prove a point?” I shove him backward.
“Why the hell would I put my child through this, you fame hungry bastard?” He shoves me back.
“I did not do this,” I growl, balling my fists.
“You’re the only one who gained anything from it.”
“It wouldn’t be worth it if I lost her.” I gesture toward the door.
Jackson blinks and rocks back on his heels.
The door opens. “What are you doing here?” Matilda’s face is puffy, and her eyes are red-rimmed. Her voice is thick, and I can feel her hurt in my soul.
“I came to see if you were okay,” we both say at the same time.
My blood boils. “You lost that right.”
“You shouldn’t be alone right now, Tild
a,” Jackson says softly. “Misplaced trust in someone you care for is difficult.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I explode.
“Just go. Both of you,” she whispers brokenly. “I have to pull myself together for Clem today. And you need to go back to your fiancée.”
His phone rings, and the song “Girlfriend” by Charlie Puth blasts out of the speaker.
“Better hurry, Brittany’s calling,” I say.
He answers his phone. “What? ... I’m at Tilda’s. ... Because of what happened. ... No, Clem is in school. ... Fine.” He hangs up and turns back to Matilda. “You know where I am if you need me. I’ll see you at the bake sale.” He moves to the end of the porch and stops. “You coming?” he asks.
“After I’ve said my piece.”
“Leave, Jackson,” Tilly snaps.
“I’m watching you, Anders.” He gestures from his eyes to me with two fingers as he returns to his car.
Ignoring him, I focus on the woman in front of me.
“I didn’t do this, Tilly. I never would. Not to you or Clem. I don’t know what it’ll take to convince you of that.”
“I don’t either,” she whispers.
“I know you need some time. I’ll give you that now. Just know, I’ll be back. Because what we have is worth fighting for. I hope you come to the same conclusion.” I want to handcuff myself to her front door like a passionate activist trying to save an endangered plant species. Everything in me protests as I walk away, but my mind is already forming a strategy. She thinks my work is the most important to me. If I want to keep her, I need to prove her wrong. The words forming in my mind bring me peace and hope. My fingers are itching for the keys as I drive.
Twenty minutes later, I’ve recorded, edited, and issued statements on all my social media platforms in record time. Now I’m covered in flour and baking sugar cookies while I make red and pink, and white royal icing. What I can’t say in words, I’ve always been able to communicate with food. I hope the skill doesn’t fail me now.
Chapter Five
Matilda
I can feel eyes on me as I keep a smile fixed to my lips behind the table covered with red and white gingham tablecloths. There’s a line formed in front of me, but what people are looking for is gossip, not cookies for seventy-five cents a pop.
