by C. Morgan
I took my anger out on the skillet and got to work cooking dinner. I had always been the one to cook most of our meals, given my schedule compared to Beth’s. And she had always liked my cooking, even though I mostly thought it could be better. She had once told me I was good with my hands, and I had showed her just how good I could be. That little compliment had gotten her fucked on the bar, and I closed my eyes to imagine her lying there, her hair splayed all around her, her legs wrapped around me.
I heard the door open. “Come on. Daddy’s home. You want to see Daddy?” She walked Jack into the kitchen and I turned from the stove to say hello.
“How’s my little man?” I kissed his hand and then glanced at Beth.
She looked away. “I’m going to lay Jack down and shower and change.”
“It will be ready before you turn on the faucet.”
“Fine, I’ll just get comfortable.” She walked away, her ass swaying with a little more effort than normally, but all I could see was that jerk crowding her at the desk. I knew the man wanted her. And Beth would probably give in just to test the waters.
My pulse quickened as I turned off the fire. I gave the salad a quick toss and made sure my son’s potato was ready. “Perfection,” I said, looking at it all. Then I turned around and saw Beth in her yoga pants and a tight camisole that showed off her shape. She had pulled her hair up, showing off her beautiful neck and shoulders. She was perfection, and I was too close to losing my chance for reconciliation to another man.
“It smells good.”
Yes, she did. “Thanks. Fix your plate. I’ll feed Jack.”
“It’s cool. I’ll do it.”
“Beth, let me feed him. Eat while it’s hot, okay?” I fixed my plate and put Jack’s potato on it.
She nodded and went to the table as I got Jack and brought him to sit in my lap. “I can’t believe you like these,” I said to him. “My grandmother used to make yams for me. She’d load them with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. They were so good. Like eating a dessert, they were so yummy.”
Beth took a bite and made that face I loved to see before looking at Jack. “Della was teasing him earlier. Watch.” She took the spoon and readied a bite. Then she swooped it in and moved her hand around so Jack would follow it with his open mouth. “He looks like a baby bird.”
We shared a laugh and I took the spoon as Jack grew fussy. “I don’t think he likes it as much as we do.”
“He just wants to eat,” she said. “He has your appetite.”
I had an appetite, all right, but it wasn’t any my son could understand yet. I wanted Beth so badly I could feel the ache in my chest.
We ate in silence and the tension grew between us even more. I could feel her eyes on me and I let it be known that I was still upset about Luke with my lack of smile.
“This is so good,” she said. “I miss your cooking sometimes.”
“Well, I miss cooking for you sometimes. So I guess we’re both screwed.” I took another bite, and when I finally finished, Jack was falling asleep in my arms.
“Here,” she said, having finished her food. “Let me take him.”
“I’ve got him.” I wiped my hands and got to my feet with him cradled against me. He was out like a light by the time I got him to his bed, where I laid him down nice and softly on his little star-patterned sheets. I remember the day we picked it all out. Beth had been so happy we’d made a choice.
Beth kissed her fingertips and touched his little head. She smiled down at him and tiptoed away.
I followed her out of the room and back to my plate, while she went to the sink. “I’ll clean up since you did the cooking.” She reached under the sink for an apron she kept there.
She tied it on and started the water. By the time I brought my plate, she had most of the dishes done, and while she was drying, I washed my plate and put it in the drying rack. She finished up and then went to take the apron off.
She struggled with the tie and made a face. “Shit. It’s in a knot.”
“How did you manage that?” I drew a circle with my fingers to tell her to turn around. Then I worked on the knot. “You’ve really got it stuck. I can cut it off or you can try to bring it up over your head.”
“It’s too tight. And I’m not cutting it off. Try again.” She turned to the counter and I stood behind her working on the knot.
“I think I’ve almost got it,” I said. She moved her hair to the opposite shoulder and peeked back at me.
I gave her a hard look, but only because she didn’t know how badly she was teasing me. Or maybe she did and didn’t care.
“You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?” she asked with a sigh.
“Does it matter?”
“If you think the worst, yes. If it’s going to make us hate each other, yes.”
“Do you like Luke?”
“Clay, I told you. I’m not seeing the guy. He’s my student’s father who thinks he’s into me.”
I grabbed hold of the knotted tie and pulled her body closer to me. “Would you see him? Because that’s what he wants. He just wants to get in your pants.” I could see goosepimples forming from my breath on her neck. I kept working the knot, and even when I got it undone, I wasn’t going to let her know.
“He’s asked me out a few times, and I’ve told him I’m not interested. Did you get it undone?” She tried to look back again.
“No,” I said, tugging at the string until she was up against me. I leaned in and kissed her neck and she shrugged away.
“Clay, we can’t.”
I blew in her ear, knowing it would drive her wild. I had never planned on ending the night any other way than being inside of her one more time. But I wouldn’t force her. I had to make her want it too, and I was going to pull out all the stops if I had to. “Why not? You’re still my wife, Beth. I miss being close to you.”
I kissed her neck closer to her ear and felt her lean back against me.
When I knew she was enjoying it by her panting sounds of pleasure, I took her hand and she turned around to face me. “Clay. This won’t change anything.”
Before I could respond, she surprised me by making the first move. She kissed me full on the lips, her tongue diving in beside mine as she reached to undo my pants. Her fingers worked the buttons of my jeans down and then the zipper. I knew I had to seal the deal before she changed her mind. “No stopping me now,” I said as she took my cock in her hand and stroked it. She had instigated it this far.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She winced as I reached and cupped her sex through her yoga pants. “I want it, Clay. I want you.”
That was all I needed to hear.
Chapter 20
Beth
I didn’t even have time to think about what was going on with Clay kissing my neck. It was like the tension between us had been building up and that was the moment the gun had gone off to start the race. Before I knew it, I had his cock out.
I stroked his hard-as-nails erection as he rubbed me through my pants. I kissed him deep, meeting his eyes after. “Do you want to go to the bedroom?”
He nodded. “I miss that bed too,” he said, picking me up off of my feet, his cock dangling as he carried me to the bed and placed me on my back.
Clay reached for my waistband and pulled my yoga pants down to my knees as I stripped off my top.
And as he took off his own shirt, I watched his muscles flex, thinking about how long it had been since I’d put my hands on him like this. Too long.
The look on his face held such passion and longing it was like it was painful for him. The ache in me was only amplified by the pleasure and I was ready to give myself to him all over again, if only for a few hours.
As he stepped between my knees, I pumped his cock a few more times and then took him into my mouth.
Clay moaned, wincing at the pleasure. “Fuck. I can still remember the first time you did that to me. I fucking miss you.”
I didn’t let the compliments slow me dow
n as I relaxed my throat and took him deeper. Just when I was about to pull away, he splashed my tongue, giving me a taste, even if he didn’t finish completely.
“Shit, take it slow,” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t want to stop now.” He met my eyes and put his hands on my hips. “Lay back.”
I did what he asked as he hitched my legs up around him and inserted two fingers inside my aching channel. I needed his penetration just as much as he wanted it, and he worked me over, going down to his knees to tend to my clit with his tongue as he finger-fucked me through my first release.
“Damn, you’re so wet. It’s good to know I can still make you come, Beth.” He put his fingers in his mouth and tasted me. Then he positioned his cock at my entrance and nudged his way inside. “You taste amazing too.”
It was a resistant task at first, but I finally relaxed and accommodated his thick cock, which still hit all the good spots on the way to my depths.
After a while, he rolled me to the side and his cock tapped my sensual spot, caressing it with precision that had my toes curling with anticipation of my release.
“You feel so good.” He stroked my cheek with his thumb and I pulled it into my mouth and sucked it. He closed his eyes and continued to thrust, pulling back far enough so that the rim of his head popped in and out. But each time, it only made me want more.
When we changed positions again, he brought my back up against his front and slipped inside of me. He reached around and played with my nipples and then he let his other hand reach down lower to tickle my clit. I cried out with pleasure as the intensity grew, and I rode the waves as it ebbed and flowed like the tides.
But there was something else I had to do just one more time. If this was the last time that I had the pleasure of being with him, I wanted to make it count. I made a move to turn around and he stood up, stroking his cock.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m good. But I want to be on top.” I had always loved riding and grinding on him and I wanted it one more time with Clay, knowing I may never have it again.
He smiled. “I think I can handle that.” He lay back on the bed and reached for my waist, and I moved forward and mounted him. I inched my way down on him slowly and ground against him before I found a steady bounce.
Clay cupped my ass, holding me on him. “Are you still on your pill?”
I met his eyes. “Pull out. Just in case.”
“What? Why?” He shook his head. He’d not pulled out in a long time, and I could see the disappointment in his eyes.
“Please, Clay.” I didn’t need a surprise pregnancy keeping him around and I damned sure didn’t want another baby to raise alone. I loved Jack, but he was enough.
“Fine, if that’s what you want.”
He thrust in and out with a steady pace and bit his lip as he watched me enjoy it. Then he leaned down and kissed me, slowing things down to where our fucking had turned into lovemaking.
It felt too good to tell him to stop. I liked it too, more than I was willing to admit, but my body betrayed me as I moaned out his name. “Clay.”
“I’m right here, baby,” he whispered against my neck.
The feeling was building even more, and I cried out before I could stop myself. “Don’t stop. I’m so close.” I closed my eyes and focused on the pleasure that had overtaken me. It was all consuming like a fire, and I never wanted it to be extinguished.
Clay worked me over through another orgasm, and by the time he came, he shot off like a rocket, spilling across my front from my neck to navel.
“Sorry,” he said with a laugh. “Even my hand is neglecting me these days, so it was a bit more than I thought.”
“I should shower.” I closed my eyes, and suddenly, I was afraid to open them and see what I’d done. But I did anyway.
Clay’s face was flushed, and he was still trying to catch his breath, although he had a big smile for me.
“Can I join you?” he asked with hopeful eyes that still had a lot of lust in them. “It would be like old times.” We had always shared the shower and walked in and out of it on the other until it had become something less special and more practical.
I considered how things had been and how he hadn’t signed the papers for me. I was afraid if I let him stay, he wouldn’t ever sign them, and I didn’t really want things to be like old times or even the most recent. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m sorry. You should go.”
The hurt in his eyes pinched my heart. “Beth, come on. Just let me wash your hair like I used to and tuck you in.” He gave me such a sexy look that I, at first, agreed.
“Okay, for a minute. Help me clean up but that’s it.”
His smug look that he gave me was because I had given in, and I wasn’t sure I liked his celebrating.
He scooped me up and carried me to the bathroom. “You won’t regret it,” he said, turning on the water. He put me on my feet and grabbed a couple of towels for us from the closet. For a moment, it felt as if we both still lived there again.
He got in, and I followed, but when I stepped in, the weight of his hands on my shoulders was a bit much. He had only meant to massage me, but having his hands on me was suddenly uncomfortable. I’d really screwed up and shown him how weak for him I could be.
I stepped away. “Just clean yourself up,” I said, taking the cloth. In the stark white reality of my bathroom, the running water was enough to bring my head around.
What the hell had I done? I was trying to push him away, not pull him closer. I grew cold as I stood my distance, watching as he made quick work of lathering and rinsing.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay, Beth?” I looked down to see his cock was still hard and ready for me. “This has been so good, and I don’t want to go.” I wanted him so badly, but the closer I let myself get to him, the harder it was going to be to leave. “Come on, Beth. I want to stay the night and wake up with you in my arms. Just one more time?”
I wrapped my own arms around me. “No, Clay. You really should just finish up and leave.” He began to protest again, but I held up my hand. “Please. Don’t make this harder than it is.”
His expression faded and his tone changed. “Is it really hard, Beth? Because you seem to be getting really good at sending me away.” He got out of the shower and jerked a towel off the counter to wrap up in before going back in the room.
I leaned against the tile and balled my fist, I was so angry with myself. I had let him get too close again, and it was all my fault. I should have told him no from the start, and the pleasure I’d felt wasn’t anything compared to the pain I would suffer the rest of the night. I had never second-guessed my decision until now. But I pushed away the thoughts and stood my ground.
I stayed there until I heard his car leave, and then I shut the water off and went to lie in bed. I was so upset. What the hell had happened? He was jealous about Luke and I guessed I was a little turned on at how he had defended me.
As I lay in the bed, I heard my phone ping in the next room. I got up to get my handbag and found the phone there.
I checked the messages and discovered the most recent was from Clay. Thank you. Tonight was fun. I’m sorry you regret it.
Seeing that had me rolling my eyes. How could I not? But when the next text came through, I felt a tug in my heart. Because I don’t. I never will.
“Why can’t you just let me go?” I asked the ceiling.
I took a few deep breaths and tried to calm myself. I didn’t want to be too hard, but I couldn’t let this happen again. It was one little mistake that wouldn’t be repeated. I’d made the best decision, and I couldn’t let one moment of weakness turn it all around.
Chapter 21
Clay
Now that I had been out of work a while, I was beginning to have a much better sleep pattern, and I had actually remained sober for a record number of days.
With the earlier mornings, I was able to have breakfast with the rest of the town, and
as my stomach growled from hunger, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to fill it with. The menu for room service was growing all too familiar, and despite its big selection, nothing looked good.
Thankfully, as I grabbed my keys to leave my room, the phone rang, bringing hope for my day.
“Hey, Nick. What’s going on, man?”
“I just thought I’d call and see if you were up for a bite. I honestly didn’t think you’d answer the phone, but I have to say, I’m impressed you’re awake.”
“You and me both.” I laughed, knowing he wouldn’t be the only one surprised by the turnaround. “I guess this is what people call adulting. It’s not too bad.”
“It gets easier. Trust me. So, where did you want to go? You know all of the hot spots, and I want something good.”
“How about Waffle House? Remember all of the nights we spent in that place back in college?”
“Yeah, it was my favorite.”
“You made us go there because you liked that one waitress. She ended up being married.” Nick had been such a romantic back in his day.
“Yeah, well, it wouldn’t have mattered. I believe it was you and Grady who got us thrown out because you were having a pickle race on their front window.”
“I was the champ at that. And if we go, I’ll give you a head start.”
“No, but how about you come outside and we’ll talk about it? I’m approaching your hotel now.”
“Cool, I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone and went down to meet him.
It was good that I could still connect with Nick. Now that Zane was doing the family thing, I didn’t really feel like I had anyone I could confide in about the important things. His visit was well timed and I couldn’t be more grateful he wanted to see me.
