Andrew “I’m sorry.” She lethargically turned from the window. “’Kay.” “Really. I am. But ...” Raven slightly turned her face in my direction, still avoiding my eyes but showing she listened. “I like that we’re spending more time together,” I said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been doing that enough. I made a mistake there.” Raven’s stiff shoulders loosened. Noting some promise, I went on. “And as we’ve been spending more time together, I’ve noticed some things that I looked over before.” “Like what?” she warily asked. “Where are your friends, Raven? You used to have so many.” She shook her head, looking away again and getting busy twisting a lock of hair. “That school sucks.” “It’s a big school.” “Yeah, well, there isn’t anyone there like me. Okay?” I kept back a huff. “Not okay. It’s not healthy for you to not have friends. If there isn’t anyone at school that you get along with, let’s get you somewhere you can meet more people your age. Join a club or meetup.” The suggestion sh
Lanie “Okay, here are the options.” Putting the phone on speaker, I set it on the bed next to the different sets of lingerie I’d laid out. “Black lace with pink ribbons. Red. Just, like, plain red. White cotton. Pink lace, though the bra and panties are different shades of pink. Do you think that’s okay?” “Uh, why is white cotton an option?” Erica asked. “I’m sorry. Are you going on a date tonight, or is your grandma?” “I don’t want to look desperate.” She laughed. “There’s nothing desperate about hoping the chemistry is there.” Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I tossed the white bra and panties in the general direction of my wardrobe. “I’ve never slept with a guy on a first date.” “Yeah, I know. You used to be all like, Miss Three-Dates-No-Less. What happened?” I cringed. “I think maybe that was my mother talking through me.” “There’s nothing wrong with sleeping with a guy on a first date. You’re a grown-up. Do whatever the fuck you want.” “Yeah,” I nodded. “I know.” Loo
Lanie With his hand pressed lightly against my lower back, Andrew led me into the low-lit restaurant to a square table for two. As we settled in, my foot brushed his. I opened my mouth to apologize, but the smoldering expression on his face stopped me. “Footsie, already?” he asked. I laughed as the waiter handed me the menu. “Yeah, why waste time getting to know each other?” Though I was the one who’d said it, the ballsy statement still made me blush. Burying my face in the menu, I got busy reading. With our entrees ordered and a bottle of red wine on the table, Andrew raised his glass in cheers. “To tonight.” “To tonight,” I whispered, clinking my glass against his. I took a long sip, hoping the wine wouldn’t stain my teeth, and cleared my throat. “How is Raven?” “She’s good.” Andrew’s dark eyes sparkled in the complimentary lighting. “Thank you.” I nodded, and an unspoken agreement seemed to surface between us. There would be no more talk about work or his daughter that nigh
Lanie Andrew blinked in shock but then moved so swiftly he was a blur. His hand pressed into the back of my neck, and his lips covered mine. I gasped in surprise, but his kiss ate up the noise. Strong but gentle lips, ones so like his hand, moved against my mouth. I relaxed into it, my lips rising and falling against his, the kiss as natural as waves against a beach. Andrew’s tongue flicked against mine, and pleasure filled me up, hit after hit of it assaulting my senses. I could barely breathe, couldn’t think. Who in the world was this guy, and what had he done to me?Breaking off the kiss, Andrew gazed down at me. “That.”I hazily blinked, our dinner’s wine having nothing to do with the drunk feeling pulling me down. “Hm?”“You asked me what else I wanted to do, and there’s your answer. I wanted to do that.”“Oh.”I wanted him to kiss me again, but there were other people in the gallery. A few more seconds of the heart-pounding, breath-stealing kisses Andrew had just given me, and
Andrew I saw her before I even opened my eyes. Deep brown irises. Curved, pink lips. Long, butterfly lashes. Her delicate frame pushed against mine. Heat rolled through me, and, eyes still closed, I stretched my arm across the bed, reaching for Lanie and finding nothing but cold sheets under my palm. Cracking an eye, I took in the room. A shaft of light entered through the part in the curtains, hitting the end of my too-big bed. With a groan, I rubbed my eyes and stretched out further. What had I been thinking leaving her on the porch the night before? The way my hands ached for her was nothing compared to the way they did now. Pulsing need throbbed in my palms, finding its way down to my torso before going lower and entering the most painful place it could.My cock twitched, coming to life and pressing against the thin fabric of my boxers. Sighing, I flung an arm over my eyes. Getting up was pointless. What day was it? What was I supposed to do?Who knew? I couldn’t find a single
Andrew Dead silence filled the kitchen. “Well,” Karen briskly said. “It’s a good thing I dusted your office here last night. It’s all ready for you.”I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m working from home today, either.”Raven’s and Karen’s gazes slowly met before they both turned to me. “Okay,” Karen said.“Hm,” Raven offered.“The country club?” I repeated. “What do you say? I’ll make a reservation for lunch. And if they can’t make it, we’ll play some golf. You’ve never used those clubs I got you last year.”“Do it,” Karen encouraged, knocking her shoulder against Raven’s.Raven still acted like she didn’t want to go, but I could see her breaking. “Okay, fine. But I’m not staying if this Zach guy is lame.”“Oh, I forgot to tell you. This is an arranged marriage. The wedding is next week.”“Dad.” Raven rolled her eyes. “That’s disgusting.”“Karen is laughing,” I pointed out, nodding at the woman hiding giggles behind a palm. An hour later, we were ready to go with not only our club
Lanie Dirty Pirate Guy was no more. “I don’t get where he could have gone,” Erica sullenly said, stirring the cocktail she’d gotten in place of her usual wine. “You want me to justify that question with an answer?”Even in the softly lit bar, her eye roll couldn’t be missed. “Look at it this way. Now you can focus more attention on doing yoga.”“Hm.” She pretended to mull over that. “Why, I never thought of such a thing.”“Why, do give it a try.” I laughed, mimicking whatever proper accent it was she’d tried on. “Tell me about Andrew again.” Erica fished the cherry out of her martini glass and bit it in half, her eyes wide and eager.“I did tell you.”“I know, but it’s so romantic. I can’t believe you have to wait another week to see him again.”“Yeah.” The mention of going that long without his touch made a heavy rock form in my stomach.“I mean, wow, he’s so, what’s the word? Chivalrous?”“You had to search for that word?”“Yeah, I had to dig it out of its grave.” She winked. “B
Andrew Monday afternoon, I scanned the front of the school, hoping I didn’t come across as creepy as I felt. It wasn’t like I was performing a general sweep. There was only one person I looked for. A short glance at her, and I would be happy. One smile from those lips and I could make it the next three hours. The passenger’s side door of the Maserati opened, startling me. Raven dropped her backpack on the floor and scooted into her seat. “How was school?” I asked. The parking attendant waved, signaling that I should pull out of the lot. No Lanie fix for me, after all. I would have to wait a few hours more.“Are you picking me up every day now?” Raven asked.I gave her a long look as we stopped at the exit of the parking lot. She had her hair piled on her head, and there was a splash of blue paint on her neck. I thought about pointing that out but decided against it. She looked cute.“You had art today?”“You can’t answer a question with another question.”“You just did,” I pointed
Andrew“How are you doing?” I rubbed Lanie’s shoulder, feeling silly for asking the question.She huffed out a breath, looking out the window instead of at me.I nodded. Right, then.What was it I learned in that maternity class we took? For the life of me, I couldn’t remember one thing. My pulse was racing a million miles an hour, and all my nerves were bunching up in my stomach.Lanie exhaled again, long and low, as she had another contraction.The door opened, and the doctor strode into the room with a big smile. “Let’s check you out,” she said.Lanie just pressed her lips tight together and nodded, her face growing red.“You’re doing great, honey,” I told her.She smiled up at me, but I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. She was ready for this to be over with.Taking her hand, I held it tight as the doctor checked her dilation.“Ten centimeters,” she announced. “We’re ready to push.”“Thank god,” Lanie gasped. She gritted her teeth and squeezed my hand so tight, I thought it wa
LanieI whisked the curtains open, taking in the white beach and the sparkling blue water. Palm trees and other foliage covered the far side of the bay. A few people surfed, but other than that, the area was empty.“Oh my god,” I breathed. “It’s beautiful.”Andrew’s strong arms wrapped around me from behind. “Yeah?” he murmured, laying a kiss on the side of my neck.We’d gotten to the resort after dark the night before, and all I’d really gotten to see were the patios and the lobby. I’d pored over the brochure, though, listing all the things I wanted to do.“I can’t believe we’re here for a whole week.” I rested my arms against Andrew’s.“What do you want to do today?”“Mm.” I leaned against him, thinking about it some. “Sunbathe? Take a surfing lesson? I dunno. What do you want to do?”“Spend time with you.”I spun around to face him. “I like that answer.”A knock on the door made me look over his shoulder. “It’s so early. Who is that?”Andrew shrugged but couldn’t hide the knowing l
AndrewThe door of the old house opened, and Erica came out first. She smiled at everyone over her bouquet, and a low whistle came from somewhere in the crowd.“Inappropriate,” Saxton dramatically gasped under his breath. For a moment, my nerves loosened, and I almost laughed—but Raven was coming out the door then.She wore a blue dress like Erica, just cut in a different way, with the skirt longer and no sleeves. Smiling wide, she made her way down the aisle. She walked with the slightest limp, one that might have been unnoticeable if you weren’t paying attention. It was the one leftover symptom from the car wreck, something that would likely be with her for the rest of her life, as she’d broken her leg so badly.The limp didn’t get her down, though. Overall, she’d been positive about the whole thing. Now, as she reached the end of the aisle, she looked my way and absolutely glowed.Love and pride filled my heart. Our relationship had gone through some tough times, but the last six m
Andrew3 Months Later – The Wedding“Your tie looks fine,” Bob told me.“Huh?” I dragged my gaze away from the line of trees ringing the field. “What’s that?”“You were messing with your tie again.” Bob grinned. “You ever wore one of those before?”I frowned. “Almost every day.”Bob clapped me on the back. “I was kidding, Andrew. Relax.”I took in a long breath. “Sorry.”All around us, wedding guests chatted and catering staff hurried to and from. The day was amazing, a balmy June morning. The venue Raven and Lanie had discovered couldn’t be more perfect. What was once a mansion on the outskirts of the city had been turned into a preserve complete with hiking trails and a covered area for events.“Were you this nervous?” I asked, looking Bob over.I expected him to answer in the negative—Bob was just that confident about everything. I’d only asked because I needed to keep myself busy somehow. If I didn’t spend the last fifteen minutes before my wedding talking, I’d probably die of anx
LanieLast night, he’d pulled out every time and played it safe. I knew we were taking baby steps. Going from using a condom every time to suddenly doing away with them was a leap. But I was on birth control, which I’d told him, and immediate pregnancy was extremely unlikely. I just wanted to know what it felt like to have his come fill me up.“Please baby,” I moaned. “I want to feel you.”Andrew groaned above me, and his hands tightened on my ass. I was doing him over with this talk, and I knew it. He loved it. And he probably wanted the same thing I did. So I encouraged him again by looking over my shoulder and looking him in the eye as he fucked me.“Andrew,” I purred. “Fuck me until you come inside me. Please.”And he did. He bucked wildly against me, and I came as he shot his warm silky load inside me. It was what I had needed. A closeness that we’d never experienced before. He was bent over me and kissing my spine and my shoulder blades as his orgasm ebbed away and my body thrum
LanieI woke up in the morning with Andrew’s hand on my hip. I was lying on my side, and he was behind me. I could feel his cock pressed against the small of my back. His breath was on my neck, and his closeness turned me on immediately.I was always horny in the morning, and waking up next to him was intoxicating.It was early. The room wasn’t as bright as it would be at say, seven or so in the morning. It must have been earlier, maybe six, possibly just after five. But we were both awake, and I wanted to take advantage of it before I had to leave for work at eight thirty.My life had somehow mended itself. Erica’s weekend getaway had helped, and so had Andrew’s willingness to take a good hard look at himself in the mirror and figure out what he wanted and whether or not he was willing to do what it took to get it. He shifted against me and yawned deeply.“Morning,” I whispered.His hand moved around my hip to my belly, and he pulled me in closer to him. His cock shifted between my a
AndrewHow had it taken me so long to figure out that this was what I needed? I hadn’t felt this good in years, or maybe even a decade, to be honest. Hell, maybe longer. My career had consumed my life. I’d nearly let it destroy my relationship with my daughter. Had it not been for Lanie, my life would have already imploded. Not only did she rescue the crumbling relationship with the person I loved most in this world, but she also showed me support and kindness and softness.“You’re a lucky bastard.” I smiled to myself as I rolled out of my chair and made for the kitchen.I chopped up some strawberries and tossed them on a bed of whipped cream. I added a sprinkle of icing sugar and some chocolate drizzle and left it in the fridge so that the whipped cream wouldn’t melt by the time Lanie came back down.I waited, much too nervous to do anything but pace the kitchen floor for a whole thirty-five minutes before Lanie appeared in the kitchen doorway. She was wearing a smile that eased my n
AndrewWhen I told Lanie that Raven was home, it took a lot of effort for us to cool down. We were all giggles and flirting as we went to the kitchen and each got a glass of water. Then we went out back to the patio and sat in the sun. Lanie kicked off her sandals, rested her feet in my lap, and let the sun kiss her bare legs. I ran my hands up and down them as she told me all about her weekend with Erica.“It really was beautiful there,” Lanie said. “We should go some time. You’d love the hot springs. I can only imagine how stunning it would be in the winter. And cold.”“I’ll take you whenever you want to go.”“I’ll tell you when I start to get the itch again.”“Good. What else is new? Tell me.”Lanie shrugged and sipped her water. “Besides getting totally pampered all weekend? Not much. I had some good chats with Erica, though, and I was able to sort through some things that were taking up too much space in my mind. Things about us.”“Oh?”“We need to be better at communicating,” sh
Lanie“Lunch on the corner. I saw you guys walk by and had to come after you.” He ran his hand up my hip to rest it on my waist. “Lanie, I have to apologize. I’m sorry for all this shit the last few weeks. I’ve been an ass. I want to make this work. Really. I want to be with you.”I thought I might start crying. Again. But I held on to my emotions and smiled instead. “I want that too. So badly.”He kissed me again. My heart raced and tried to fly out of my chest.He broke away and threw his arm out to flag down a passing cab. We both piled into the back seat, and he told the driver his address. Then he pulled me into his lap, pushed my skirt up so he could rest his hands on my bare thighs, and crushed his mouth against mine.“What about your car?” I asked him and pressed against him tightly.“Fuck it. I’ll get it later.” He slipped his hands into my hair and pulled me down for another long round of kisses.I clung to him and didn’t care that there was someone in the car with us. He wa