by S M Mala
‘Don’t say things you don’t mean,’ she said and he noticed her gulp. ‘Even if you’re being nice.’
‘I’m not being nice. I’m being honest.’
Esme smiled and pressed her forehead against his.
‘I love you,’ she whispered back. ‘I’m scared now.’
‘Why?’
‘Because when I love someone, something inevitably goes wrong.’
‘Silly.’ Then he kissed her very gently on the lips and realised she was breathing quite heavily. ‘Esme, nothing is going to go wrong.’
‘The world?’ she shrugged. ‘They might not approve of us. Even your mother.’
‘I don’t care. All I care about is you.’
He felt her hand grab the back of his head, as she pressed her lips against his, feeling her tongue travel into his mouth. The explosion, when they kissed, was electric and exciting.
Pulling away, Esme mumbled, ‘I want you now.’
Lifting her up by the waist, he carried her into her house and started pulling off her clothes in a heated rush. She was naked, and he was still dressed. Leon couldn’t hold on, as his hands grabbed and touched her skin.
He pushed her up against the wall as she tried to pull off his t-shirt.
‘I can’t wait,’ he groaned, undoing his fly and pulling his shorts down. ‘I keep thinking about us.’
His hand went between her legs, and he felt her lips, quickly grabbing his cock and pushing in.
She wasn’t ready, and it felt a little dry and tight. Esme gasped as he thrust a few times.
Holding his breath, he then moved quickly and felt himself enveloped in her heat, the juices staring to cover him. Grabbing her arse, he lifted her up and started banging her against the wall, covering his mouth over hers.
His knees felt like they were going to give way, and he didn’t want Esme to fall from his arms. Still he felt her heat inside and gently lowered her to the ground, wanting to slow it down.
As she lay underneath him, he looked at her, moving as slowly as he possibly could.
‘Esme,’ he said, and she smiled, kissing him gently on the lips. ‘I love you.’
‘I love you.’
Then he was consumed by her lips, kissing him passionately; feeling her fingers and palms stroke his back. He felt like a large erogenous zone.
Everywhere she touched turned him on.
He pushed her knees higher, wrapping them around his back and went in deeper, hearing her groan, feeling her body shudder. Overwhelmed by what he was feeling, Leon looked into her eyes, and as their mouths were joined, he came, delivering all his love inside her.
It was when he was with her, he felt at his happiest.
There wasn’t a moment he could recall when he experienced that before with another adult human being.
Only Esme.
‘Don’t look at me.’
Leon smiled, while pretending to sleep.
‘I can’t help it.’ Esme let out a massive sigh. ‘You’re so lovely.’
And she wasn’t lying.
It was in the middle of the evening, and he was in her bed, naked, trying to take a nap. She had wrapped herself in the sheet, admiring the view.
The sight was breath taking.
He looked so young when he was sleeping; she found it shocking a few times. Taking her hand and stroking his smooth skin, she watched how he smiled. Esme placed her mouth on his hip and kissed him gently, feeling how soft his skin was around the top of his thigh.
Oscar’s skin was never that soft. The only person who had been similar was Alfie when he was a baby. Even now, he had smooth baby cheeks… if only in her mind.
Then a shocking thought hurtled through her brain.
What if that old pervert Vincent had thought the same about her son? Loving the smooth, soft feel of young skin and wanting to eat him up. And she was very similar to that man because he was much older than Alfie.
Much, much older.
Esme realised she was now the Vincent in the relationship.
Her heart was pounding hard as her stomach slumped, knowing that Leon’s mother wouldn’t approve of them.
Of her.
‘Why are you huffing?’ he asked as she turned to see him quizzically glance. ‘You do that when you decorate, do you know that? Little huffs when things aren’t going to plan.’
‘Your mother is going to hate the fact we’re together,’ she said, not being able to stop another huff. ‘And after all I said about that old bastard Vincent dating my son, I’m now doing the same.’
‘That’s sweet,’ he smiled, stroking her arm.
‘It’s not sweet!’ she replied, hearing her voice going higher. ‘That shows I’m a hypocrite.’
‘I mean the fact you said we were dating.’
‘Leon, are you sure you’re not making a mistake?’
‘Are you?’
‘No.’
‘Then why should I be?’ He sat, propped up on his hands, grinning. ‘I think you’re amazing and incredibly sexy. I love your company, and I love you. My mum will have to learn to do the same thing. My dad thinks you’re hot, so we’re half way there.’
Esme started to laugh and stroked his hair.
Then Oscar came into her head, and knew she was frowning.
‘You’re thinking a lot, aren’t you?’ Leon let out a little sigh. ‘Do you want to tell me?’
‘Oscar is going to try and bribe Alfie into liking him. He wants to use my gay, dual heritage, child as some bait for his voters.’ It was a major bolt when she let it sink in. ‘Can you believe it? He wants to run for office. The presidency. Him? He’s got so many skeletons in his cupboards, mainly female, it’ll be like walking into a World War One graveyard. The amount of innocent lives that have been unsuspectedly taken, especially unbeknown to his wife.’
Leon sat up and looked straight into her eyes.
‘And do you think your ex is going to approve of me?’ he quietly asked, kissing her shoulder that made Esme smile. ‘Your younger lover with a five-year-old daughter, who happens to live next door. And then what if someone mentions you’ve been sleeping with him occasionally over the past decade? What do you do then?’
‘Oh.’ She let out a deep breath and looked at Leon, kissing him gently on the cheek. ‘I don’t care. I don’t want to lose you.’
He wrapped her in his arms and dragged her down to lie on the bed, making her go on top. Esme looked into the vibrant green eyes that seemed to be genuinely fond of her.
‘I know how I feel,’ Leon whispered. ‘It’s rare for me to fall in love and I have. You won’t hurt me, will you?’
‘I never want to hurt you. That’s the last thing I’d ever let happen.’ She knew her heart was beating fast. ‘You’re simply wonderful, you see.’
‘Let me see you.’
Leon reached out and gently pulled the sheet off from around her body. Esme tried not to flinch, feeling self-conscious, compared to his smooth, taut, young skin. The material fell to the mattress, and she looked at him, looking at her.
‘Why so shy, sometimes?’ he whispered, pushing her hair away. ‘You’re absolutely gorgeous.’
His mouth kissed her shoulder, then travelled all the way up her neck until it reached her lips. The kiss was soft before he got passionate. She felt his hand caress her breast and placed her arms around his neck.
Pulling away, he smiled.
‘You are much better than a wank, do you know that?’
‘Leon!’ Esme started to laugh. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘I’m so happy.’
And he genuinely looked it.
‘When do we tell people or do we keep it a secret?’ she asked, stroking his face. ‘The most important person is Mali.’
‘Yes, I don’t want to confuse her. She’s gone through enough.’ Then he sat back on his hands and looked at her. ‘I do have an idea.’
‘What?’ she asked, leaning closer to him, rubbing her hand over his chest.
‘We c
ould make out that she was the match maker.’
‘How?’
‘I’ll work on it and get back to you.’
Esme kissed him quickly before pushing him back on the bed. He decided to roll her onto her back.
‘And you don’t mind the fact that I’m a lowly gardener and electrician, do you?’ Leon grimaced. ‘I bet your ex won’t approve.’
‘I don’t care what he thinks! It’s what your family think that bothers me.’
‘Whose are these?’
Barbara was hanging out the washing and held a pair of Esme’s knickers up. Mali had come down the stairs and was looking quizzically at the sensible pair of black panties with a lace front.
‘They not mine,’ Mali said helpfully, walking closer to her Nana. ‘They must be daddy’s.’
‘Really? Your father’s into cross dressing?’ she mumbled.
Leon double blinked and realised Esme must have forgotten to take them.
‘Leon?’ his mother asked, frowning. ‘Who do these belong to?’
Now he was stuck on what to say and smiled, knowing he was going red. Barbara was shaking her head from side to side as Mali copied.
‘Can I have them? My big teddy can wear them to keep him warm.’ Mali grinned up at Barbara, but Leon realised his mother was not deflecting her stare. ‘Or I could wear them as a hat.’ The little girl grabbed them then put them on her head. ‘They fit.’
‘Mali, can I have those back please?’ he asked, seeing her skip around. ‘They’re not really headwear.’
‘Whoever they belong to, they must be getting a draft without their knickers!’ his mother huffed.
Since the announcement of Mali seeing Bennylita, his mother had been on edge. She seemed quite stressed out, even tearful at times, always looking protectively at the little girl.
‘Let me show Esme!’ Mali shouted before running out of the house and into the garden.
‘Mali!’ Leon said, chasing her as she sped off.
‘Oh my!’ he heard Esme say before laughing. ‘What have you got on your head?’
He walked through the gate and saw her sitting down at the table, looking at Mali before glancing at Leon. Her smile made him gasp.
‘She found some underwear,’ he said casually. ‘I’m not sure how it got there.’
Taking the knickers off her head, Mali held them out and examined them closely. He noticed his mother was walking into the garden.
‘Hello Esme. We found some undergarments in my son’s washing,’ Barbara casually said. He noticed Esme’s fixed smile. ‘I don’t know where he picks them up from.’
‘Esme, they look like the knickers you wore in the bath when that woman beat me,’ Mali casually said, twirling the knickers on her fingers. ‘Are these yours?’
‘Don’t be silly!’ Barbara said, taking them out of Mali’s hand and quickly folding them up. ‘You’re embarrassing Esme.’
‘They not mine,’ continued Mali and Leon could see his child was mulling something over. ‘But they do look like the ones you wear when I see you in your underwear.’
‘When?’ Leon asked, doing a double take.
‘When Esme runs out in the garden to get her washing.’
‘You go in the garden in your underwear?’ he asked, trying not to smile.
‘Sometimes,’ she shrugged. ‘When I’m in a rush.’
‘I see.’ Leon looked away, noticing his mother was frowning.
‘Did you have a sleepover with daddy?’ Mali innocently asked.
‘Jesus!’ Leon said under his breath, turning away but noticed Esme starting to laugh.
‘Oh my goodness, Mali. Don’t be so silly!’ Barbara said, grabbing her hand. ‘I’m taking you to the shops before we go and meet Grandpa for lunch.’
Leon could see Mali was grinning at Esme, and she then looked at her dad.
‘You not tell me that you had a sleep over, but I know,’ the little girl said, smiling brightly. ‘Why you not let me come?’
‘Oh Mali!’ sighed Barbara and took her back next door. ‘You’re a funny child; you really are.’
Waiting for a moment, Leon then walked towards Esme, giving a sneaky kiss.
‘The reason I wouldn’t let her come is because I was making you come,’ he said, with a sly grin, as Esme shook her head from side to side. ‘Do you want me to get your knickers back? Alternatively, I can take your current ones off when they pop out.’
‘Be a good boy.’
She looked exceptionally pretty that morning, and he had been watching her walking about in her garden.
‘Did you see your mum’s expression when Mali said they were my knickers? She didn’t believe it. Is it because she thinks I’m too old and off the radar?’
He let out a sigh and sat down, stroking her thigh.
‘Listen, I want to tell everyone, but the first person should be Mali. I don’t care what anyone thinks, okay. All I care about is you.’
‘Leon! Where are you?’ his mother shouted out. ‘There’s someone at the door.’
‘Your mother hangs out your washing?’ Esme said, discreetly squeezing his thigh. ‘You spoilt little child.’
‘She also does my washing just to check out other people’s underwear.’ Leon got up and walked towards the gate, glancing over at her. ‘I’ll be back, so take your knickers off.’ He laughed and walked into his garden then realised his mother was speaking to Ralph. ‘Hello there!’
Wondering what the man wanted, he kicked off his flip flops and walked bare foot into his house, putting out a hand to greet him. Mali was jumping up and down on the sofa, giving the posh man dirty looks.
‘You shout,’ she said, staring at him as her cheeks started to go red. ‘I not like people who shout.’
‘Mali, what are you talking about now?’ Barbara asked, putting her reading glasses in her bag. Leon noticed the knickers were on the dining table. ‘We must go or grandpa will get upset if he doesn’t have his lunch on time.’ She turned to Leon. ‘Are you coming to pick her up or do you want me to drop her back home?’
‘I’ll come and get her then we can go for pizza or burgers.’ He noticed Mali was scowling at Ralph, who seemed put off by the child. ‘Is that a good idea?’
‘You shout at the man and his puppy.’ Mali jumped off the sofa and walked up to Ralph, who genuinely seemed put off by her. ‘And that not nice!’
‘He was trying to foul my garden,’ Ralph replied, peering down at the child.
‘It only a puppy.’
‘Come along. Kiss your father and ask him to dispose of the underwear,’ Barbara said, shaking her head. ‘Esme’s indeed!’
‘What about Esme’s underwear?’ Ralph asked, going a little pink.
‘Bye daddy,’ Mali said as he leaned down to hug and kiss her. ‘I be good.’
‘You be good,’ he replied, giving her a quick kiss.
‘Are you going to give Esme her knickers?’
‘Mali,’ Leon whispered before seeing her innocent face.
‘Then can I have them?’
Barbara grabbed Mali’s hand and walked her out as she waved at her dad then poked her tongue out at Ralph.
‘Sorry about that,’ Leon said, walking towards the table to discreetly stroke the panties. ‘How can I help?’
‘I wanted to speak to you about something, and it might be a little uncomfortable,’ he began, looking shiftily around. ‘I’m not quite sure how you’re going to take it.’
‘Okay?’ he said, nodding for no reason. ‘Then just say it.’
‘I’ve been seeing Melanie.’ Leon looked at Ralph, who seemed extremely uncomfortable. ‘It started after you split, not when you were with her.’
‘Melanie?’ He didn’t know what to think as he took the knickers off the table and held on to them. ‘Melanie?’
‘Yes Melanie. We get on. I wanted to tell you just in case you see her coming to my home. I don’t want there to be any animosity between us. You don’t mind, do you?’
Not kno
wing what he should say, Leon shrugged and squeezed the material between his fingers.
‘Do you mind Ralph that I used to see her?’ he asked quietly. ‘You shouldn’t feel awkward about it. People have to move on.’
‘Yes, they certainly do!’ he said with a sigh of relief.
Putting out his hand towards Ralph, Leon waited for him to shake it, which he gladly did. This time the grip felt a little tighter than before.
‘Better go. I’m picking her up for lunch,’ he said turning around to walk out.
‘Can I have my knickers back, please?’ Esme laughed out loudly, running into the garden then stopping dead in her tracks.
Ralph slowly turned around, and Leon watched how his recent radiant smile had turned to stone.
‘Oh, I didn’t know you were here,’ she said and Leon could see Esme hesitate on what to do next.
‘Your knickers?’ Ralph asked, stepping back into the living room.
‘Yes, my knickers. They were blown across the fence, and he put them in the wash for me,’ she brazenly lied, putting her hands on her hips. ‘Is that a problem?’
‘Ralph was just telling me that he’s seeing Melanie,’ Leon said, putting her underwear in his pocket. ‘They got together after we split.’
‘Really?’ she said, shrugging the same way Leon had done on hearing the news. ‘You make a lovely couple.’
‘Thank you for that,’ Ralph replied and started to laugh, walking towards the door. ‘As if Leon would want to get into your knickers. Perish the thought.’
‘I thought that’s what you wanted to do, not so long ago,’ Leon said and could see Esme put a finger to her lips, to instruct him not to say anything. ‘I’d love to get into her knickers if she’d let me.’
Ralph’s back now stiffened, and Esme shook her head frantically.
‘I’m sure you could do much better than that,’ he said, glancing at Leon. ‘Unless you’re looking for a substitute grandmother, but your mother seems to meet your child’s requirement on that front. Goodbye.’
As Leon was about to retaliate, Esme rushed inside and put her hand over his mouth, watching the door close.
‘He’s still upset about the Pavlova incident,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t care what he says. Melanie will probably force feed him baked beans, and he’ll choke on common man’s food. Plus he’s old enough to be her father.’
