I headed for the parking lot, both hands in my pockets, feeling defeated.
Then I saw her from behind, standing by the curb rubbing her shoulders for warmth. She wasn’t wearing anything but the sleeveless dress, and I wanted to scold her for being careless, but instead, I shrugged out of my jacket and cautiously walked toward her. My heart raced with each step, feeling completely blind on how this was going to go. I only hoped it wouldn’t end in tears or shouting, and I convinced myself to play nice, no matter how defensive I might become.When I set my jacket over her shoulders, she jumped from the contact. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”She held her hand to her chest, her beautiful emerald eyes taking me in as I stood by her. The skin around her eyes were puffy as if she’d been crying, and it tore at my heart. I wanted to hold her, to comfort her, but that would only agitate her more.“Headed homI scrunched my brows, searching the tree. It was covered in different types of USB drives. Some with vibrant colors, some as food items or cartoon characters. I grinned and shook my head.“Did you know, how a man treats his mother is how he’s expected to treat his future wife?” A small voice spoke.My eyes darted around the tree, and my heart pounded when Kelsey tiptoed from the back of it. She was standing in a long puffy coat, a hat covering her straightened blonde hair. Her cheeks were red from the cold, but her smile, although weary and apprehensive, was filled with warmth.My lip twitched upward, unable to stop itself from stretching into a full-blown smile. “Hi. What are you doing here?”She shrugged, taking a step so she was directly in front of me. Her citrus scent filled my nostrils from the proximity, and I took a long blink, inhaling the smell as if I would become intoxicated.“I didn’t want to go to
MACKOur fingers laced together while I guided Kelsey to the Christmas tree strung with lights and multi-colored USB Drives. Humor was her way of breaking the ice, and her arguments for using the dead technology always lightens the mood. Although, her standing behind the dressed tree on my mother’s rooftop was a wonderful and unexpected surprise.Kelsey was glowing brighter than all the Christmas lights in the city of Cleveland, for more reasons than because we’d just declared to devote ourselves to each other.She was carrying our baby.Actually… she was carrying our babies.After the initial shock of her confession, pride filled my chest knowing I’d impregnated her with twins when we weren’t even trying. My swimmers had been so strong, that they surpassed birth control.I was enthralled by our future, a vision I had never contemplated becoming a reality. Having kids wasn’t on my list of, things to do
My mother waved for us to join her in the dining room, and as always, Theresa Craft didn’t disappoint with her holiday ambiance. Her and Portia had spent the afternoon cooking and preparing the table with fresh holly and pine, candles and miniature poinsettia plants. The China was a dashing gold, the full course silverware laid out and ready to be used. Christmas Eve and Easter were the only holidays my mother brought out her fine China, and by Kelsey’s bright eyes, she was just as enthralled as both Portia and my mother when it came to presentation.“This turned out beautiful!” Kelsey said in awe, standing near the doorframe. “You did all of this while I was on the rooftop?”Portia followed us into the dining room holding a plate of hors d’oeuvres. “Decorating, yes. We’ve been slaving in the kitchen since yesterday,” she laughed, holding the plate out for us to grab a piece of smoked salmon pierced with a g
Just when I was about to kiss him again, he stepped backward and took my hand, leading me to his black Audi sport. I’d never seen him drive this one.“I didn’t know you owned an SUV.”“I reserve it for the snowy weather. My other cars can’t handle the salt or the ice.” He hit the unlock button and opened my door for me.My eyelashes touched the tops of my cheeks when I stopped at the curb, setting my hand on the interior of the door, I said, “more room for activities in bigger cars.”Mack cocked his head, his eyes studying me. “What are you implying?”I shrugged, then slid into the warm leather seat, removing my mittens. He chuckled and closed the door, finding his way to the driver’s seat. “As bad as I want to fool around with you in the car, I’d rather christen my new sheets for our first official fuck.”“Always a gentleman,” I smirked.He
A dim light slowly formed when he stepped into his bedroom, and although his movements had been hurried from the moment he picked me up in the elevator, his chest rose at an even pace as he set me back on my feet.He gazed at me, his hands gently pushing my coat off my shoulders. The intensity of his stare left me speechless, leaving me standing with my mouth gaping open like an idiot.He didn’t speak, only carefully pulled on my clothing, starting with my long sleeve shirt, removing it over my head and tossing it to the floor. The cool blue eyes found my breasts, his head cocking as he studied my cleavage in the laced bra. I’d bought it especially for tonight, hopefully for this very moment.“You like your lingerie, don’t you?” he breathed, tracing the dip between my chest with his finger.I nodded. “Don’t you?”He glanced at me, then brought his eyes back to my chest, his finger tracing around my rib and to t
I’d never had a serious enough relationship, or enough empathy to care, when a woman cried at my feet.All I wanted was to take away whatever was causing her stress, even if I were the problem. All I could do was run my hands along her shivering body, trying to offer her comfort the best I could until she was able to speak. She wasn’t swatting around my touch, at least that gave me some comfort that she wasn’t upset with me.“Here,” Keeping her in my lap, I reached to the side of my bed, grabbing a blanket from underneath the end table. I opened it around her, cocooning the soft fabric tightly around her bare body.“I’m, I’m…” she let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” she hiccupped.Cupping her cheek, I tried to make eye contact.“What exactly are you sorry for?”She took another deep breath, tears streaming down her cheeks and onto my fingers. “Fo
Breath through your nose, I chanted in my head. Don’t get sick, not here, not in front of Mack. But giving myself a pep talk was no use.Picking up Mack’s heavy arm by his wrist, I moved his arm and swung my legs out from under the covers, pausing for a moment when I sat up to catch my balance. I squeezed my eyes closed, but when I opened them, the room was spinning, and my stomach flipped, the uncomfortable bubble in my stomach shoving its way up my throat.I covered my mouth and found my feet, rounding the end of his bed and paced toward his bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before heaving out the mucus content that coated stomach. My body clenched and jolted, the dreadful noise of puking unable to control.Please, please, please keep sleeping… I begged in my head.Another heave came, my throat burning from the lack of contents coming out. This was the worst.“Kelsey?” To my horror, the raspy voice called out fro
I giggled while he nipped at each cheek, then my laughed came to a halt, my breath leaving me when his hand slipped between my legs, his fingers pressing eagerly to open me.“Lean forward,” he commanded. “Put your hands on the glass.”I gulped, then obeyed, the coolness of the glass door drastic from the heat of the steamy water.His fingers ran from rubbing the sensitive nub, along the rim of my entrance and further back. My toes curled from his slow movements, my hips tilting backward in anticipation.“You want it, don’t you,” he breathed, trailing his finger over my anus. I shivered from the slight touch, then gasped when he squeezed each cheek, spreading me open. I was completely exposed to him, and in a normal state of mind, I’d be mortified from the position, but my heart was racing with anticipation, a need rushing through me like a crazed animal.Warmth graced my skin, and a smooth, inviting
The telltale sound of his zipper sent a shiver down my back. He blew air through his nose, and I knew he was stroking himself. I wanted to spin around and help him, but he kept a firm hand on my hip, then skidded it to the front of my thigh, urging me to sit back on him. Both his arms stabilized me now, steadying me while I hovered over his shaft.The tip of his cock brushed against my clit and I shifted backward, engulfing his length between my folds. I found a rhythm that rubbed the sensitive bud perfectly.“That’s it baby, move how you like,” he murmured, keeping himself from driving into me, but encouraged the gyration of my hips with his palms.My hands were set on his desk, leaning as far forward as I could, giving me the leverage I needed to keep a steady pace.He groaned, palming my belly. I covered his hand, feeling a bond between the four of us. If I were out of the moment or trying to explain it to someone, they wouldn’t get it,
Seven Months LaterKelsey“Mrs. Craft, you’re glowing today!” Ms. Carmichael greeted, standing from her seat. She paced around her desk, taking me in from head to toe.I hadn’t been in the office in over a month due to the doctor’s orders. After our dash of a wedding with only a handful of people in attendance, bedrest was requested, and sitting around the apartment was causing me to go stir crazy.Ms. Carmichael crinkled her nose. “Does Mr. Craft know you’re coming to visit?”Holding up a container, I said, “No, I thought I’d bring him some lunch.” She chewed on her bottom lip, and I laughed. “Don’t worry, if he’s grumpy it’ll be geared towards me, not you.”She laughed, but the tension around her eyes proved she was timid toward calling him. I’d help with that. His eight months pregnant wife could interrupt his work.When I came in, the
MackThe day I had been planning for the past month was finally here, and although it didn’t go into motion until a month ago, I had imagined it happening since November. I’d dropped a pretty penny to make my vision become a reality, and with the help of Portia and my mother, Kelsey would be in awe and left speechless, and hopefully even more full of joy than she already was.I buttoned my light blue dress shirt while I stared at my sun kissed face in the mirror, still wondering if the past year had been a dream. It was on this day a year ago that I took the chance and closed the space between us in my office, opening a whole new world that neither of us expected to unravel. I was still just as hungry for her now as I was then, but now, I couldn’t live without her, and I was ready to take the final step to becoming fully committed.Kelsey came behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting his head between my shoulder blades. &ldquo
One Month LaterKelseyI inhaled the fresh salty air, basking in the warm sun I’d desperately longed for. Winter in Ohio was rough, and when Mack surprised me with tickets to a resort in the Florida Keys, I was ecstatic.My skin was smooth and hungry for the rays while I laid on the cozy outdoor lounger next to our private pool that overlooked the beach. Mack had jumped in the pool to cool off, and I was enjoying the view of his defined shoulder blades and biceps while he swam.I’d been exhausted the past three months, and found a new bundle of energy when he’d given me the airline ticket. I was going to take advantage of our alone time, and the pulse that awakened between my legs was going to make up for all the nights I’d fallen asleep before getting lost in him.Mack never complained, if anything, he was coddling me, and I was eager to take care of him, and soon. He climbed out of the pool, his forearms flexing alon
Small sized single showers weren’t intimidating to Mack Craft when he wanted sexy time together. You’d think I’d be gun shy when it came to shower sex considering I slipped and gauged my head the last time we messed around, but I was more than ready to have his hands on me. The close proximity made our time together all the more better.We crawled into bed after our thorough shower, Mack in sweats and me in one of his t-shirts, the heavy, Aztek designed quilt covering us both. Mack pulled me to his chest and tangled our legs together.He ran his fingers through my damn hair, taking turns between stroking and massaging. A softness was laced with his gaze, his brows relaxed as his eyes took me in. “Tell me about your day with my dad,” I asked him, wondering if the time he spent with him was partly why his temperament was easy.“It was eye-opening and much needed. I didn’t realize the reservations were so poverty stricken.&
She met my grin, and did as I asked, rolling to her side as I climbed off her, then continued unpacking.Kelsey must have been tired because her breathing had changed within minutes of closing her eyes. I loved watching her sleep. Something about her relaxed state was soothing and brought me comfort knowing she felt safe and cared for to sleep soundly.***Lunch with my mother came in what felt like the snap of my fingers, and I found myself sitting in my car giving myself a pep talk before joining her at her favorite restaurant. Normally we’d sit outside, but the weather was bitter cold and snow was still on the ground.“Don’t overthink this,” I murmured to myself, my hands sliding around the steering wheel. Taking another deep breath, I shut off the car and headed into the café.She was sitting at a table when I arrived, her back to me. Her dark hair was tied back into it’s perfect bun, her j
“Has Kelsey been hunting with you?” I asked as we sat on logs near the lake. Amos had started a fire and had butchered parts of the elk. I wasn’t expecting him to pull out cooking utensils and seasons from his backpack, prepared to roast whatever animal we’d come across for dinner.He took a long drag of his cigarette before answer. “No, she hasn’t. I wish I had taught her, but it’s not my people’s way. Hunting is meant for the man, not the woman. I know that’s a stereotype the world doesn’t like to hear, but it’s our culture, and if our people don’t like it, they don’t have to do it. We don’t hold our own kind hostage.”I rested my elbows on my knees. “You don’t like that she has a career and lives in the city, do you?”Amos kept his eyes on the flames, watching the piece of meat cook. “I wish she were closer to home. I’m glad she’s foun
I found myself getting into Talon’s basketball game. He was pretty athletic, and ran the court with assertiveness. I wasn’t surprised, the kid had a strong disposition, and leadership would be in his future if he kept it up.Carsyn sat on Kelsey’s lap for most of the game, talking her ear off until she gave him her phone to play with. I didn’t mind that he was chatty, he didn’t require answers from me or Amos, so we were able to focus on the game. Amos was more interested than I would have predicted, and even cheered for his boy. Simon was on the end of the bench as one of the assistant coaches, the one who made sure they were all hydrated and encouraged.“You’ll have fun,” Kelsey said while Simon mingled with some of the other parents just outside of the gym in the parking lot, and Amos gave Talon his fatherly recap of the basketball game. “My dad is a big teddy bear.”I touched her cheek. “I&rsq
“Sorry I passed out last night,” Kelsey said when I emerged from the bathroom. I’d woken up a few hours earlier, unable to fall back asleep, so I plugged in my computer and ran through some emails while she continued to sleep. As badly as I wanted to wake her for a shower, she needed her rest.“I was tired too,” I admitted. My eyes closed nearly as fast as hers did.I’d woken up when she had her first round of morning sickness, but didn’t want her to realize I’d heard her. I knew she felt awkward when I’d try to comfort her, and I also knew if I started to move around, she wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep. She needed to rest more now that she was growing two babies.She stood from the bed and stretched, her hips showing when her arms rose into the air. She’d thrown on one of my white undershirts, and like normal, her nipples were poking against the thin fabric to say good morning. Reaching out