X-Treme Measure

by S. N. Garza

  I shoved my face into her silky blonde hair and just that easily, I fell asleep whispering, “I love you with everything inside me, Moriah.”

  Halloween! It was here! Danny had taken the night off, and he had informed me earlier that Reighlyn’s mother wanted to go trick or treating with her. Of course, for me it might be a little awkward, but I wasn’t going to let it mess with our fun.

  I just left the salon, the pink and purple highlights filtering throughout my blonde hair. I had already gotten Reighlyn a Twilight Sparkle wig and all the makeup needed to get ready. Danny would be last to see us because I wanted it to be a surprise when he saw me. And of course, there was Danny. I needed to put the white make-up on and paint Shining Armor’s cutie mark over his eye. Thankfully, I’ve practiced putting Halloween makeup on so I shouldn’t do a bad job.

  I made him a shirt with Shining Armor looking fierce, big and bold. Just like Daniel was in real life. He said no one was touching his hair though. So the dark blue and the light blue highlight were out of the question. But I persuaded him to let me paint his face and he of course just rolled his eyes and said, ‘If it makes you happy.’

  It did. And I knew Reighlyn would love it. I’m sure she’s never seen him so relaxed before. I’m glad I could do that for him; for both of them.

  I knew Reighlyn was going to love my hair. Danny didn’t know I had planned to do this and I hoped he didn’t mind. It was a surprise for both of them because if I would have told Reighlyn, she might have begged Danny to let her dye her hair purple. And with her dark hair, dying it a purple would just ruin her hair. She was too young for that anyway. Diana was watching her right now while Danny ran errands.

  I stopped at my apartment to grab all the makeup and outfits. I hadn’t counted on Ashley being home on Halloween. He was hardly ever here anymore.

  “Going trick or treating?”

  “Yup. We’re going as My Little Pony ponies.”

  He chuckled and looked up, his eyes shocked and surprised. “Wow. Going all out, I see. Love the hair.”

  “Thank you, Ashley. What are you doing tonight?”

  He shrugged, never giving me many details. It made me wonder if he thought I didn’t like him.

  “Ashley?”

  “Yeah, Moriah?”

  “You can talk to me. You know, if you want.”

  His lips lifted in a half smile and his grey blue eyes looked almost sad. “I know. Thank you for offering to lend an ear, but I’m alright. No worries. I’m happy to see my neighbor find someone who takes the edge off.”

  “The edge off, huh?”

  “Yeah, he is a little high strung.”

  I laughed and waved as I made my way to Danny’s. Calling him Danny felt so natural and right.

  When Reighlyn saw me, she squealed and ran up to me. “You look so totally amazing. I love it. Daddy’s going to love it. It’s like your already sparkling!”

  “That’ll be you. Ready to get ponied-up?

  “YEAH!”

  We walked towards her room, that also had a connecting bathroom, and we passed the living kitchen where Diana was cleaning.

  She looked up and her eyebrows lifted with happy surprise. “You look beautiful, Moriah. Danny’s going to love it.”

  I’m glad everyone thought so. I liked the color in my hair. It was all for fun and I’m glad Daniel didn’t think I acted like a small kid when I talked about MLP or playing dress-up with Reighlyn. Was I acting like one? For the most part, I didn’t think I was trying to be buddy-buddy with her, but we both liked the same things and well, I’ve never had any female companionship before besides my co-workers and I still wasn’t a close-knit group with them.

  Did I want to be a mother figure to Reighlyn? I don’t know. I know being with Daniel meant that they were a package deal and I know I loved them both very much. He became my best friend in such a short amount of time. I talked about everything with him. My hopes and dreams. I knew he didn’t want to pressure me into anything heavy. He hasn’t asked me to move in or marry him. That would probably freak me out too much. I mean. I was just getting my own shit together. How could I get my shit together while living with a man trying to get his own shit together? He had it all figured out and planned, but still. The one thing that I was sure of, was that I didn’t want to be with anyone else. No one even came close.

  I haven’t seen my parents since that day. No calls or texts. It was sad that my own parents cared nothing for me other than giving them money to support whatever messed up habits they had. No love lost there.

  I got Reighlyn ready, painting her face in the bathroom when I heard her bedroom door open and heavy footsteps walking towards us.

  “I wanted to be all ready before he sees me!”

  “Hide in the shower! GO!” Reighlyn shoved me in the tub and closed the curtain.

  Then I heard Daniel’s deep drawl calling to us. “Evening, girls. Hey, Reighlyn, you look badass. Where’s Moriah?”

  “She’s not ready. She wants it to be a surprise. You’re going to love it!”

  Please don’t spill the beans, Reigh. I thought.

  “Surprise? Is she still painting my face?” there was hope in his voice so I quickly called out.

  “YES! You’re costume is on Reighlyn’s bed!”

  “Ah, I knew you were in here somewhere, babe. Alright, well, I’m not wearing anything girly, am I?

  I laughed and Reighlyn followed suit.

  “Oh, no.”

  “What, daddy?”

  “When the two of you laugh, that means someone’s up to something.”

  I rolled my eyes at that.

  “Don’t roll your eyes, Moriah.”

  “What are you? Psychic?”

  “No, but I knew that would get some sort of reaction out of you.”

  “It’s just a white t-shirt. Let me finish with Reighlyn, then give me thirty and I’ll get to work on you.”

  “You always do, Moriah.” His innuendo was lost on Reighlyn but his voice hinted at a darker, more sexual intent that made my insides quiver.

  “Danny!”

  His laugh faded as he walked away and then Reighlyn peeled back the curtain.

  “What did dad mean by that?”

  “Your dad’s weird, Reigh.”

  “He loves you, you know?”

  I went back to painting her face when I let a sigh out.

  “I know. Now keep still.”

  “He told you!” she sprung out of her chair and wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me tightly.

  I nodded and began on the cutie mark over her eye.

  “Moriah, would you like to be my mom?”

  That stopped me dead in my tracks. She sounded half sad, half hopeful and I didn’t know how to respond.

  “You know I’ll never be able to replace your birth mom.”

  “I know, but she…she’s never here. She never wants to see me and now, of all the times she could have come, she wants to see me on Halloween? Why now? I wanted it to be just me, you and daddy.”

  “One happy family, huh?”

  “Yes! And she’s ruined it!”

  I knew tears were close to the surface and I hurried to kneel between her legs.

  “Honey. Look at me.” Her eyes opened and there was red around her irises, and they began glistening. “We don’t get to choose our parents, baby.” Her head fell down and a tear slipped free. I put a finger under her chin and brought her eyes back to mine. “Look at me. If it hadn’t been for you wanting to talk to me, I wouldn’t be here right now. My parents are no prize and you have a daddy who loves you with everything in his body. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never want for anything. Best school in the city, a loving grandmother. I know making friends is hard when they all think you’re a baby for liking what you do. Hey! Prime example right here! I like dressing up and having fun. I like My Little Pony and that’s okay. Being an adult, doesn’t mean I’ll just abandon what made me happy as a child. MLP, even back then, got me t
hrough the hardships of living with my parents. That, and making sure I was smart enough to get out of the chain’s holding me there. Your mom…well. I don’t know her and I don’t know how she can live without you, but I promise one thing. I’ll never let anyone hurt you. I don’t have to be with your dad for that. It’s a sweet bonus to have him. I’m sure your dad wasn’t looking for love either when he met me. It would be a beautiful gift to be your mom. You are such a strong willed, independent, smart and talented girl who only deserves the best this world has to offer. Your dad and my relationship is still really new. Especially to me because I’ve never let anyone in. So let’s just play this by ear, Reigh. Maybe your mom will come around and actually want to be a mother.”

  “But I don’t want her to. I want you. I don’t want daddy to fall in love with her.”

  “Reighlyn, I can guarantee you, that’s not going to happen. She damaged that bridge a long time ago. So, let’s not think about anything sad. Tonight is our night. Let’s shine bright, yeah?”

  “Hear, hear!”

  We both looked up to see Diana leaning against the doorjamb. “I made a snack that shouldn’t mess up the makeup on y’alls face. And then when y’all get back we’ll have dinner.”

  Reighlyn got up and smiled, then looked in the mirror. “Wow. Thank you, Riri. I look awesome!”

  “Dang right you do, honey. Now, let me get myself together so we both can knock the socks off Shining Armor.”

  I was adjusting my crown when there was a knock on the bedroom door.

  “Yes?”

  “You about done, babe?”

  I stepped back and looked at the pale pink dress I wore and the makeup on my pale pink painted face. Was I ready? Yes. Yes, I was. I grabbed the Halloween makeup and left the bathroom.

  I walked into the dimly lit bedroom, and I saw Danny’s eyes lift to mine. His hand shot out quickly and turned the knob to brighten the room. It was like a showcase with each step I took. When I was standing only feet away, the room was fully lit and his eyes widened.

  “Holy. Shit. You. Look. Pony-rific. Beautiful. I love your hair. Those colors match you so beautifully.” He blew out a heavy breathe and took my hand.

  He dragged me to his bedroom, shut the door and locked it before walking me to his bathroom. Shutting and locking that door as well, he brought me to his counter.

  “Everything okay, Danny?”

  “Could you fix your makeup, babe?”

  “Yes, why?”

  His lips came down hard on mine, and his hands reached down to grab the back of my thighs. He lifted me easily and my back hit against the door with a soft thud. My legs automatically wrapped around his waist, and I felt him jumbling me around, wobbling me a bit and then I felt his hand jerk my panties to the side as he impaled himself to the hilt. Holy moly. I hadn’t realized I was wet but he slid in easily and the erotic pain mixed with pleasure as he swiftly pulled out again and rammed hard inside me.

  I cried out against his lips and my hands found purchase on his biceps. His heady, strong strokes were sending lightning bolts all over my body with the rough manhandling. I loved Danny like this. All alpha-male, he-man, grrrrr. It was sexy as hell.

  Then he buried his head in the groove of my neck, biting the soft flesh and sucking it between his teeth.

  “Come for me, Moriah. Let me feel that pussy explode all over me. Looking so hot and fuckable. Like you always do. I always want to take you. You make my dick so damn hard I could cut glass if it didn’t hurt. Come on, baby. Let me feel your juices coat my dick. That’s it. I feel your muscles squeezing me and sucking my cock deeper. Damn that feels so fucking good. Give it to me, babe. Give it all to me. Now, Moriah.”

  I came hard and fast and I smashed my mouth against his to muffle my cries of pleasure.

  “That’s my girl. You’re my naughty girl, aren’t you Mo? Are you ready, babe?”

  I couldn’t speak, he was still pumping quick hard strokes inside of me, making my body flush with excitement and I nodded. There was no way I could convey to him that I was ready. He fucked me harder, my body sliding up and down the door. My head flew back in ecstasy. His grip on my hips and ass tightened. He grunted against my skin and with one, two, three drives more I felt the warm flush of his release. He continued to jerk inside me until he was spent.

  Thank God, his bathroom was cold because I wasn’t sweaty. The only thing messed up was the crown on top of my head. It was all askew and he huffed and puffed, catching his breath.

  “Damn, baby. I’m almost sorry about that, but I just had to have you. So not so sorry.”

  “That’s okay, Daniel. It was surprisingly spontaneous. So I’m good when you feel the need to have me.”

  “Damn, I love you and your wicked, little wild side you show me sometimes. You never say no to me. Any way I want it, you love giving it to me.”

  “Well, Danny, you always give it to me any way I want it, so I call us even.”

  “Always.”

  “Now, let me fix my face and then I’ll work on yours. It shouldn’t take me very long. Just a white mask with Shining Armor’s cutie mark over your eye. Okay?”

  He gave my bottom a small smack and helped me down.

  He nodded and said, “Let me wash my face first. And uh, you might want to change panties and clean up a little, babe. I’m pretty sure I shot a full load of jizz inside you and I sure as hell do not want cum dripping down those pretty little thighs of yours.”

  “Oh, dear God. You are too much sometimes, Daniel.”

  “I blame it on your wild, colorful hair. Made me crazy horny for you.”

  I shoved his shoulder and walked out of the bathroom to where I kept a small overnight bag of clothes. I changed real quick and went back to fix my makeup.

  It didn’t take but twenty minutes to put the makeup on his face and the whole while, I was between his open legs and his hands were on the back on my thighs, rubbing up and down, occasionally cupping my ass. He never let me be untouched. It was comforting. Kneading and massaging up and down my thighs, making me all too aware of what had just transpired moments earlier.

  “Damn, I smell my sex all over you, baby.”

  “Well, I’m not about to kneel and smell your sex because I’m pretty sure I’d smell the same thing.”

  He laughed and shook his head.

  “You’re so fucking perfect.”

  “Shh. Stay still and let me finish, Daniel.”

  “Yeah, well, apparently I’m a pushover where you’re concerned. Unbelievable. I actually don’t mind giving in to you with all this…silliness. I love this innocence you radiate all around you. It’s powerful and demanding. I never want you to change, Moriah. You are perfect just the way you are.”

  “Good. Because so are you. Everything about you is just as powerful and demanding. And I really like you…a lot. Maybe a bit more than like.”

  Tears hazed over my vision. Why was it so hard for me to tell him that I loved him? It felt right to feel this way, but the words were caught in my throat.

  “Baby? Oh, Moriah, don’t cry. If that’s the only way you can get it out, I’ll take it. I know your heart, honey. I know what they did to you stripped away your trust in people. That feeling of love, the deepest, purest kind of love? Like the way I love you? Well, it’ll take time. I’ve never loved anyone except mom and Reighlyn. I knew you’d blow every expectation I had. That’s why I ignored you and avoided you. I was afraid of listening to my heart. But your beauty, brains, your strength to go for your goals and your determination to not give up? The sweet innocence you permeate the air with? Babe, you’ve had some hard knocks, and you’ve come a long way, Mo. I’m just blessed and happy to be in your life.”

  “Me too, Danny.”

  He winked and hugged me the best he could before standing up and looking at my handy work.

  “Not bad. I look…”

  “Like Shining Armor. I want pictures!”

  He chuckled and turned me, leading me out of the ba
throom muttering, “Let’s hope not.”

  I did though, much to his surprise. His mother took several. The first few, Danny glared at his mother until she gave him that same stern glare right back. It did the trick and she snapped photo after photo.

  First of Reighlyn, then of Reighlyn and me. Then Reighlyn and Danny. Then Danny and I. A few of the three of us. Even though Shining Armor was Twilight Sparkles big brother, it was family.

  Now we were on our way to pick up Magen, Reighlyn’s mother. I never met her and with everything Danny has told me about her, she was a horrible woman. She was a druggie, never reliable. Of course, my parents were just like her so I couldn’t say anything.

  Danny has done such an amazing job with Reighlyn. Diana was a great grandmother. Danny was so grounded to earth. A caveman, wild and roguish, but he was sweet and at times tender and caring in a way I’ve never seen before. He loved Reighlyn so much.

  I envied her for that. That close relationship with her dad. Mine would never be a part of my life. Which was sad but it was the way the world worked sometimes.

  We pulled up to an apartment complex about twenty minutes away from where we lived. So close to Reighlyn and she couldn’t even bother seeing her daughter; her own flesh and blood?

  Gag me. That was so horrible. She didn’t deserve Reighlyn. Danny said she had begged to spend some ‘time’ with her daughter. That she was ready to know her. And because he didn’t want to deprive her of Reighlyn, he agreed. Of course, he wouldn’t leave her alone with Magen. With everything Reighlyn told me, she didn’t even want to be around Magen. Well, if she became trouble, I wouldn’t interfere unless I had to. Danny knew how to handle Magen apparently.

  “Daddy?”

  “Yeah, babygirl?”

  “I really don’t want her coming with us.”

  Daniel’s eyes closed and he let out a heartfelt sigh. He felt for her. He didn’t like it any better than she did. He did have sole custody with visitation rights, but Magen never used those rights. It was like she didn’t care. Why she’d care now, I don’t know.