by Tia Wylder
“Well, good! It seems like you guys will have a lot to talk about,” Jeffrey said loudly. Kelly rolled her eyes a bit, but couldn’t seem to contain a smile. The four of them dug into their dinner, with Paul eating his chicken ravenously. He hadn’t had food that good in what must have been years, and he couldn’t deny that it warmed his heart that Kelly had gone to such lengths to prepare a meal he would enjoy. He was beginning to doubt that the after dinner conversation would be as awful as he envisioned, but he couldn’t quite place what could be discussed.
Kelly glanced from Paul, to her son, to her plate, before repeating the cycle again. She was clearly nervous, and as much as Paul wanted to ask for a second helping, he pushed his plate away as soon as he was finished. Kelly followed suit, though it seemed her food had gone pretty much untouched. The boys chattered amongst themselves and Paul cleared his throat, catching their attention. Jeffrey smiled at the man with sheer adoration that he hadn’t received from anyone besides his own son.
“How about you boys give us a bit of privacy. Adult matters to discuss, after all,” Paul suggested, looking towards Kelly for backup. She seemed relieved, nodding her head and rising to her feet. She began to clean up the food, and Jeffrey watched her with a rather pensive expression before rising from the table and trailing behind her.
“You’re going to tell him the truth, aren’t you?” He said in what was likely supposed to be hushed tones. Kelly flushed red, waving him off somewhat dismissively. “Mom, I’m serious,” he bleated, and she paused in her cleaning to turn and face him. Paul watched as she crouched to get on his level, taking his face into her hands.
“I’m going to tell the truth, Jeffrey. I can’t guarantee it will go as well as you hope, but I’ll tell Mr. Stalone everything that he deserves to know,” she muttered. Paul pretended not to overhear the conversation, refusing to acknowledge the strange look James was giving him. James rose from the table as well, shuffling towards his father and speaking quietly.
“You should tell her how you feel, too, Dad. I know you’ve been hesitant, but… you two owe this to each other,” James said, with all the wisdom of someone much older than himself. Paul nodded, and Jeffrey stepped up to the other males, taking James by the hand and offering him a warm smile.
“We can go play video games in my room. I’m sure they’ll call us down when things are… uhm, discussed or whatever,” he murmured. James nodded, allowing Jeffrey to tug him from the room. Not bothering to wait until he heard the boys ascend the stairs, Paul stood from his place at the table and stepped towards Kelly. She continued to busy herself with cleaning for several additional moments, as if oblivious to his presence. However, as he rested a hand on her shoulder, she turned to face him with fear in her eyes.
“Whatever it is you have to tell me, Kelly, if you’re worried I’ll be angry…,” he trailed off, averting his gaze for a moment. “No matter what happens, I’ll be here for you as long as you’ll have me. I have some confessions of my own, after all,” he smiled, meeting her gaze once more. Her expression was hesitant, and Paul moved to aid her as she finished cleaning the dining area. He frowned a bit as he watched the leftover chicken parmesan get tossed in the trash, his stomach making a soft sound of protest.
“I’ll make it again, soon,” Kelly chuckled, glancing towards the man once it seemed there was nothing else they could busy themselves with. No other distractions, only the two of them and the things that weighed heavily in the air, demanding to be told. “You should sit down. This is going to be a rather… difficult conversation,” she offered, and Paul felt his insides twist uncertainly. Maybe he was wrong, maybe this conversation would be as terrible as he expected. Maybe she would be telling him good riddance, for once and for all. All the same, he took a seat, remaining silent as she pulled her chair out to sit closer to him. She sat down, facing him with trepidation in her gaze. Her mouth worked silently for a moment, and it was obvious that she didn’t know quite what to say.
“Let me start,” Paul offered. She nodded, sitting back in her chair and folding her hands in her lap.
It was now or never.
Chapter Ten
Paul considered how to pose his confession, though it was clear that Kelly was beginning to grow impatient as he stammered out half confessions that made little sense. He brushed a hand nervously through his own hair, and though he expected her to get irritated at him, she simply reached out to take his hand in her own.
“Take your time, Paul,” she murmured, brushing her thumb to the back of his knuckles. He found himself rather comforted by the motions of her hand, and managed to relax long enough to think things through from an objective point of view. The worst she could do is what he already suspected, which was send him away and demand to never see him again. At least if that were the case, he would have his own confession off his chest. It would hurt to be turned away, but it would hurt even more to miss the opportunity to confess his feelings altogether. He couldn’t bear to think about going through the rest of his life, wondering ‘what if?’ It was something of a distraction, how unbearably gorgeous she looked that night. He wanted nothing more than to draw her into his arms and never let go. He knew that wasn’t an option at that point, but it didn’t soothe his pining.
“I, uhm… I just really need to get this off my chest. I know any day could be my last opportunity to tell you how I truly feel, so I suppose it’s best that I go ahead and get to it,” he muttered, feeling a comforting squeeze of his hand. He raised his eyes from the floor, meeting her gaze and holding it confidently. It was with a confidence that she clearly didn’t possess herself, but he couldn’t let himself be dissuaded from telling his side of the story.
“I’m all ears,” she said softly, drawing her lip nervously between her teeth. He nodded, bracing himself for whatever may come.
“I wanted to begin by telling you that… well, in the days since we met once more, it’s only grown increasingly evident how deeply I feel for you. As much as I might have wanted to dismiss the feelings, it’s simply not an option anymore. I’ve felt this way for a long time, and… hell. I’m just going to come out with it. I love you, Kelly Carpenter. I always have. I’m sure I always will,” he blurted. Her eyes widened, as if in disbelief, but he wouldn’t let himself be slowed down. “I know I’ve had a pretty bad way of showing it. When I left, I should have warned you ahead of time. I shouldn’t have just abandoned you and given up any chance of seeing you again. I thought you would be better off without me,” he murmured, cut short by a soft laugh.
“How could I ever be better off, Paul? You know how deeply I cared about you. You were my first,” she murmured, tightening her grip on his hand.
“I thought of no one but you the entire time I was on duty. I thought of the future I left behind. I especially thought of what a goddamn fool I was for giving you up. I never stopped loving you, never for a moment. I know I was a fool, and there’s no way I can take that back, but I intend to make it up to you, if you’ll give me the chance. I want nothing more than to be with you. I want nothing more than to be there for your son…,” he began, cut short by a weepy laugh.
“Our son,” she corrected, and Paul hesitated for a moment, smiling a bit at her attempt.
“Well, I’d like to call him as such someday, but right now,” he tried again, only for her to cut him off once more.
“Jeffrey is our son, Paul. I… I was afraid to tell you. I knew you might be angry that I had gone so long without trying to contact you again. I thought you made yourself pretty clear in never wanting to speak to me again. Then, we reunited, and you were so angry over the idea of another man touching me. Another man holding me, and calling me his own. For a while, I thought you might have known. I thought the entire ruse may have been an attempt to extract the information from me,” she paused, and Paul stared at her with disbelief in his gaze. Certainly, she couldn’t mean… but it seemed very much that she was implying…
“Jeffrey is my son? He’s… but, there�
�s no way,” Paul muttered, reaching out to touch her cheek gently. Tears spilled from her eyes, and a shuddering breath pulled itself from her lungs.
“You thought I was seeing someone else, right? Because of his conception date? I can assure you, I’m confident in your paternity. After all, you were so worried but you had nothing to fret over. I never let another man touch me, you were my first and my only,” she wept. Paul felt tears begin to prick his own eyes, and he lurched to his feet, drawing her into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder, clinging tightly to him as he rubbed her back. “I’m sorry I kept it from you. I told him last night, and he insisted upon me coming clean. He thought you deserved to know the truth, and… well, I know he was right. I understand if you’re angry with me, or if you hate me, but please… for the sake of our son…,” she trailed off meeting his gaze with watery eyes.
Paul couldn’t deny feeling taken aback, but he reached a hand out to brush the tears away from her eyes. She pressed desperately into his touch, and he fought the desire to smile. He knew what a serious situation it was, knew that he had no right to feel happy with the sheer misery that she felt, but he couldn’t help the delight that brewed from within him.
“I would never abandon you, or our son. Never again, Kelly. Do you hear me?” He asserted, pressing a kiss to her lips. He was aware of an excited chattering in the next room, and as he and Kelly drew away from each other, she glanced towards the living room where both young boys were watching them with delight in their gaze.
“We really are brothers from another mother,” James laughed, pulling Jeffrey in for a hug that quickly turned into a noogie. “I’ve always wanted a brother, and I felt from the moment our families met that I would never have a better one than you, Jeff. I guess I was right,” he grinned. Jeffrey looked nearly overwhelmed with happiness, until Paul cleared his throat and the two locked eyes. Jeffrey shifted uncomfortably under his father’s gaze, and Paul could only wonder what was racing through the boy’s mind.
“I… I hope it’s not a disappointment,” Jeffrey said nervously, and Paul’s eyes widened before he rushed forward to pull the boy into his arms. He spun the boy around, ruffling his hair with a smile.
“Oh, lord, Jeff. I only wish I had known sooner. I just want you to know, with every fiber of my being, I promise to be the best father that I can be to you,” he murmured. The boy buried his face against his father’s chest, mumbling against his shirt. Paul tilted his head, unable to discern what Jeffrey had said. “I can’t hear you, buddy. You’re going to have to talk where… where dad can hear you,” he said in wavering tones. Jeff pulled away, looking Paul in the eye with tears spilling from his own.
“I said you’ve already been the best dad I could ever ask for,” Jeffrey said, nervously. Paul’s eyes lit up with delight, and he pulled the boy in for another strong hug. Kelly stepped up beside the two of them, and Paul wrapped an arm around her as well, pulling her into the embrace. Unwilling to be left out, James rushed forward and placed himself in the middle of the two adults, wrapping his arms around both Kelly and Paul.
“S-so… does this mean we’re going to be a family? For real?” Jeffrey muttered, drawing away slightly to look between both of his parents. Kelly glanced towards Paul with uncertainty in her gaze, reaching out to caress his cheek. While the man was happy to know that she had waited for him, had waited so long, he couldn’t begin to expect her to actually want to be with him.
“It’ll take time. We have a lot to talk about, a lot to work through. But if your father and your brother are willing to give it a chance…,” Kelly paused, glancing towards the other males. “I’d love to be a family. I can’t think of anything I’d like more in the world,” she asserted. James nodded his head fervently, tugging on his dad’s pants.
“Of course. Of course!” Paul asserted, setting Jeffrey down for a moment. He turned to face Kelly, taking her cheeks in his hands and staring deep into her eyes. “I know this will change a lot. I know you’ve gone years without a man to help you, or provide for you. But I can swear to you that you will never go without, never again,” he promised, leaning in for a tender kiss. She pressed against him, wrapping her arms around his neck as their lips worked together in perfect synchrony. A soft whine pulled itself from her throat, and James cleared his throat loudly. Jeffrey had the decency to avert his eyes, but the older boy was staring at the adults with a serious expression.
“I only have one thing to say,” he began. Paul tilted his head, feeling Kelly grip his hand tightly. Wondering what on Earth his son could possibly want to say, Paul gestured for James to continue.
“I think it would be prudent for you to keep the mushiness to a minimum when there are young eyes present,” he smirked, dissolving into laughter as Kelly reddened and Paul felt his own cheeks growing warm as well.
“You’ll understand someday, when you’re in love,” Paul said dismissively, waving the boys off.
“Does that mean we should go play video games now?” Jeffrey said carefully, and before Paul could say no, Kelly quickly nodded her head.
“Mr. Stalone and I just need a bit more privacy,” she said, keeping her voice leveled in spite of the flames that seemed to be keeping her cheeks alight. Paul considered her with a raised brow, and she smiled nervously as James dragged Jeffrey away. Paul could hear the boys muttering about sappy adults, and before he could think to say anything on his own, Kelly drew him back into her arms. Their lips met in a furious kiss, one filled with passion that Paul hadn’t felt in what seemed an eternity. He tangled his hands in Kelly’s hair, groaning against her lips now that they were truly alone.
“Bedroom…?” He implored weakly, trying to ignore the strain of his manhood against his pants. He hoped his erection wasn’t the most obvious thing in the world, but Kelly lewdly gripped it through his pants as she led him out of the dining room and upstairs towards her room. He prayed that the boys would stay in Jeffrey’s room, prayed even harder that what he thought was happening would actually happen.
When Kelly pushed open the door to her bedroom, he all but stumbled inside, pushed none too kindly by the woman that he adored. He turned to face her, and she was back on him in an instant, sinking her teeth into the flesh of his neck. He moaned under his breath, kicking the door shut before guiding her to the bed.
“We have a lot of lost time to make up for,” she explained, shimmying out of her cocktail dress and revealing the lacy lingerie that she wore underneath. Paul’s eyes widened, and he realized with a start that she had been anticipating this moment as much as he had. He rushed towards her, pinning her against the bed and kissing a trail down her neck. She moaned openly, rocking against him as his clothed erection settled against her stomach.
“They won’t hear, will they?” Paul asked uncertainly, moving to unbutton his shirt. Kelly shook her head, moving her body sensually against his as he shed his button up shirt. She splayed her hands across his pecs, thoroughly enjoying the expanse of his broad chest.
“No. Jeffrey knows to turn his games on blast when Mr. Stalone comes by,” Kelly said, with a sly smile. Paul blushed a deep shade of red, reaching behind her to unclasp her bra. As it fell away, her perfect breasts heaved temptingly. He couldn’t get past the thought that this woman was his, and his alone. These breasts had not been touched by hands other than his own. Moreover, he thought as he lowered his head to her chest, they hadn’t been touched by lips but his own, either. He flicked his tongue out against a nipple, and she swallowed a sharp cry. She tensed a hand in his short hair, pressing him closer to her breast. He seemed all too eager to oblige, shamelessly rutting against her clothed womanhood as he lavished her breasts with attention.
In one swift move, she shoved his pants and boxers down on his hips, exposing his stiff and throbbing member. She wrapped her hand around it again, and Paul groaned, happy to have the skin on skin contact. She slowly moved her hand up and down his shaft, brushing her thumb to the head of his manhood. He was already trickling pre e
jaculate, and she smirked as she edged back on top of her mattress, raising her hips to allow him to pull off her panties. His member twitched at the sight of her, and she pulled him on top of her with little preamble.
“I take it you’re not feeling particularly patient right now,” he mused, positioning himself at her entrance. She quaked in his grip, pressing their lips together in yet another passionate embrace.
“Lost time, and all,” she breathed, lips quirked in a sly smile. He grinned, pushing her back against the bed and slowly pushing into her. She sighed breathily, sinking into the mattress and throwing her arm over her eyes. “Ugh, so good,” she gasped, tensing as Paul leaned down to ghost his lips to her ear.
“I can imagine so. Tell me, love, did you miss me terribly?” He murmured, causing a shiver to run through her body.
“Of course. What kind of question is that?” She giggled nervously, sinking her nails into the flesh of his back.
“I just wondered… did you touch yourself often? Thinking of me, and me alone? Have I been the only one on your mind for all these years?” Paul continued, slowly beginning to push the entirety of his length inside of her. She gasped, body quaking as she desperately nodded her head.
