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I took a deep breath in an attempt to soothe my quaking nerves, but had no luck controlling the shaking. Leah squirmed one of her hands out to place it on my heart, thumb slowly stroking my chest in little circles. I matched my breathing to the motion, one circle in, one circle out, until I was balanced again.

“You’re working through baggage, it’s only fair that I work on mine too. And I think you’ll have an easier time with your fears if I can prove I can let some of my work go and not be as … absent as you might think. So … um, what were some—” I started to say, entering planning mode on how I could prove I wouldn’t miss out on the important things in our child’s life. But Leah put a hand to my lips and everything halted—the thoughts, the buzzing anxiety, my breath.

“I know your plans, the actions, the follow through are gonna mean a lot, honey. But for right now, can I just have you?” Her hand slid up to the collar of my shirt, fiddling with the hem as she pushed up and brought our lips together.

The kiss was hungry, there was need and urgency behind it, but it was also tender. While she had a need to fulfill, she was taking her time exploring my mouth. Her other hand went to my neck, angling me just so, deepening the kiss before trailing her lips down to my neck.

“You said before that I’m honey and you’re cinnamon. Why?” I asked, even though my cock was already straining against my jeans.

“Because you’re sweet, bright, friendly,” she said, kissing a new spot on my neck with each descriptor. I tried to straighten up so I could get her off her knees and more comfortable. But she flicked her tongue against my ear and I sank back down. She chuckled and said, “And you melt at my touch.”

“I’m pretty sure I can do the same to you.” I reached between us and cupped her cunt, dragging my fingers up and over her clit, the thin romper doing nothing to hide her heat. “And are you cinnamon just because of your hair?”

I fisted a hand in her hair, tugging so that I could have my turn at her neck, starting at her collarbone then working my way up. When she started shuddering, I prompted, “Tell me, cinn.”

“Mmm, because I can be too much, with the dead parents thing and all, like the cinnamon challenge,” she said, voice breathy.

“You aren’t too much.” I successfully sat us up this time, situating Leah across my lap sideways. “You’re the perfect spice, a different kind of sweetness. And I think you’re exactly what I needed, when I needed.”

“Mmm, that’s a nice sentiment but I think I’m done with this metaphor. It’s getting a little corny.”

“You sure? Because I think I like calling you cinn.”

“I guess you can have that nickname. But just you, yeah? I think it’d be cringey if the guys used it.”

“I’d make them run drills if they did,” I huffed.

“Don’t get jealous, honey,” she teased before trying to climb off my lap.

“No, you’re not going anywhere.” I wrapped her up in a bear hug, grinding my hips up so she could feel how hard I was getting.

“Niall,” she half laughed, half grumbled. “I need to stand up to take this off.”

She pushed up and this time I let her go. After a few seconds of rustling and my hand being slapped away when I tried to help, she was naked in front of me. And fuck, it’d been so long since I’d seen her like this. So much had changed, with her body especially.

And it was stunning. Her curves had slightly more weight to them, there were the very beginning of stretch marks, the lighter shade of skin shaped like lighting.

“You remind me of that Venus painting,” I murmured, letting my hands run over her hips then up her back.

“Are you comparing me to the goddess of beauty?” She laughed.

“Yes,” I said without a second’s hesitation. Then I pulled her closer, kissing her stomach, then up to her breasts. “You’re amazing, absolutely stunning.”

“Mmm, think you can be a good boy and get me to the bed this time?”

I stood, scooping her by the ass as I went and wrapping her legs around my waist.

“Since you asked so nicely.” I chuckled and carried her into the bedroom.

Today was the first time I’d been to Leah’s home. Each room I entered, I took a second to look around, taking in every detail so I could learn more about her. But as I crossed into her room, I didn’t stop, I didn’t catalogue items. Because unlike this morning, I knew I’d have time to observe later, to ask what her favorite part of this room was, if she liked everything, if she wanted any upgrades.

Instead of doing any of that, I gently rested her on the bed and got to work on step one of making Leah feel secure, listening to and following every single instruction.

The Liminal Relationship

Leah

Iwoke up to the sound of drilling and stormed out of bed, stomping all the way to the sound, only for my anger to fizzle out when I turned into the craft room to see Niall putting together our new crib. He must have been working on it for a while without the drill; the main part was already built and now he was working on the changing table that was built into the headboard side. He'd done well, though I’m pretty sure at least one of the feet was on backward.