AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good, I’m taking you out tomorrow night. I’ll ask your parents to watch Von, and when you go to work, I’ll go pick him up so he’s home at a reasonable time to unwind before school starts the following day.” Amazingly, a few sentences later, he has a plan, and I’m not the one making the decisions. I think that’s the hardest part in being a single parent—every single problem you have to solve, from what to have for dinner, to planning a sitter, to cleaning the house, disciplining your child, being the driver every single time, and even celebrating the victories. It’s all on your shoulders, tiring you out in an entirely different kind of way than any physical exertion ever could.
“Okay. You’re not working at all this weekend?” I reply. Von’s eyes clock on the hold Mace has around me. I see the happiness shining through with the slow smile overtaking his face.
“Nope, I’ve traded weekends, so it’s every other Saturday until we get the firm off the ground and running. So, my weekend is free. And we’re going to have to either do a better job at hiding our feelings towards one another or let Von in on our secret. My vote is for telling him. I hate like hell I can’t openly hug and kiss you, but I’m going to leave the decision up to you. Also, tell Celeste she’s right. If I weren’t in the middle of starting up a business, you and I would be going away for a few days, reconnecting in more ways than one, returning without a doubt in your mind that we belong together.” Mace hasn’t spoken this much since he stole me away from the blind date his mom set me up on.
“Okay, let’s see how this weekend goes, and if I feel like we’re still on solid footing, we can tell Von together.” The tips of his fingers graze my chin, lifting it up until he captures my eyes with his. “Okay?”
“More than okay. Thank you, Mace, for knowing exactly what I needed without me dragging it out.” Clearly, I need to work on some of my own faults, talking being one of them. You know, before the rage builds up inside and you breathe fire because you’re that pissed off. That’s exactly what happened the day I gave Mace the divorce papers. Not one of my finer moments, yet I had enough and couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’re welcome. I learned my lesson in the past. I’m not going to let history repeat itself.” I close my eyes, giving Mace more of my weight, not really needing to respond. The only thing I need more than ever is him. He’s taking care of me in a way that’s hard to explain to a stranger. It works for us, and that’s all that matters.
TWENTY-THREE
Mace
“We can’t go out tonight.”Confusion is written on her face. I took Von to her parents’ house before she got off work. We didn’t go to the pool this morning mostly because he was still waterlogged from last night after staying out there until the yawning got to be too much. Plus, Tyra had to be at work early this morning, so there was no way we were going to keep her out later than necessary even if I was enjoying her presence. I didn’t want her to feel like shit today by not getting enough sleep. Not that Von and I did too much till almost midday anyways. Von was worn slap out, didn’t even move an inch when I got out of bed, grabbed my laptop, made a pot of coffee, and since the house was quiet, I took care of a few emails that were piling up. When Von graced me with a “Good morning,” it was with bedhead, dragon breath, and morning hugs. Kids are resilient and forgiving, way too forgiving for all the shit I’ve put him through. I took the gift he freely gave me by sitting on my lap, head on my shoulder, the original Bear in his hand, and we watched television for a good hour until he was ready to eat. Von isn’t big on cartoons; he’s more into animal documentaries of any kind. Works better for me. I’ve heard stories about some parents getting stuck watching the same cartoon over and over again, ready to throw the television in the trash because of it. We ate breakfast of the sugary variety, went to the park, and then I dropped him off at Tyra’s parents’ seeing how mine had him the last time. Before the divorce, that’s what we did, to make things equal and to not depend on just one set of grandparents versus the other
“What? Why can’t we go out? Is it work?” Tyra’s wearing another one of her dresses, this one short, unlike last one, with another slit up to her Goddamn waist. My hand is already itching to feel her smooth skin, to see if the tips of my fingers will meet some form string-like fabric or if she’s bare beneath. I’m not so secretly hoping it’s the latter.
“Fuck no, it’s not work. Tonight is for you and me, nothing and nobody else. You asked for time with just the two of us.” The words come out harsher than I was aiming for, and the way she takes a step back lets me know I’ve fucked up. I soften my tone as I walk towards her, until her back meets the wall. My hand closes the door, locking the deadbolt, and then I’m on the prowl. “Christ, look at you, siren. If I take you out, there’s no way I’ll be able to keep my hands off you. Every man will be eye-fucking you.” I move one hand to the side of her neck, sweeping the hair away so I can hold her there, the other goes to her waist, moving the fabric out of my way. The need to feel as much of her body as I can is my only thought, and there is zero hesitation in her eyes now that I’ve explained my reasoning.
“Mace, I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about other guys looking at me.” When I find nothing beneath her dress, a low groan escapes me. The need to drop to my knees, hike her thigh on my shoulder, and taste her takes ahold of me.
“Siren, you have no idea how sexy you are or what other men are capable of thinking.” The backs of my fingers slide along the skin of her thigh. I’m going to find out what exactly she’s wearing underneath her dress.
“Mace.” Her eyes were on mine until she realized where my hand was moving. Her left hand circles my wrist, holding on to it like a lifeline. Seeing her ring finger bare without her wedding ring is a kick in the gut, and I promise myself that no matter how long it takes, one day soon, she’ll have a ring back on her finger. Something new, not one that will make her think of the past and the wrongs I’ve done to her.
“Make a choice, Tyra. We go out, or I’ll get on my knees and bury my head between your thighs.” I push two fingers inside her tight, wet heat after realizing there is no a scrap of fabric to stop me. Tyra’s eyes close, and her is chest heaving, practically offering me to rip the strings of her dress and suck on her pink nipples. “Eyes. I want your eyes on me as you come on my fingers.” I make the decision for her, at least for right now. There’s no way I’m going to leave her hanging after feeling her pussy spasm when I mentioned getting on my knees.
“It’s too much. I’m going to come.” I take in everything surrounding the beauty before me—her dark hair, her hooded eyes, her moistened lips, realizing I’ve yet to kiss her today.
“Come for me, siren,” I demand right before I take her mouth with mine. She tastes sultry and sweet, a fucking contradiction all wrapped in one dynamite package. Tyra’s pussy ripples around my fingers, and I know another sweep of my thumb on her clit will have her falling apart.
“Mace!” Her head tips back, lips pulling away from my own, I watch as she comes with total abandonment, not holding back, and I keep pumping my fingers in and out of her tightness, dragging her orgasm out until her legs can barely hold her up.
“Fuck, yeah, we’re staying in tonight. I want to watch you do that three more times,” I state. Our reservation is a distant thought. The cancellation fee is worth it to have Tyra like this all through the night.
“Please.” She wraps her legs around my waist while my fingers are still inside her, and I walk us towards her bedroom.
TWENTY-FOUR
Tyra
The moment Maceplaces me on my feet, I attack, my mouth latching on to his while I pull at his shirt. “Hurry, get this off,” I mutter against his lips, only backing off when he pulls it over his head, dropping it to the ground.
“Dress, siren.” He reminds me that I’m still dressed as well. I tug at the zipper on the side until it’s down, wiggling my arms to drop the straps. Gotta love a built-in bra, and because I was going out with Mace tonight, I didn’t worry about wearing panties either. The reward I’ve already reaped was well worth it. I gather the skirt of my dress in my hands, bunching the fabric so I can yank it over my head, the need to taste Mace on my tongue, making me all the more desperate.
My eyes don’t leave his, watching him take off his clothes, item by item, waiting for him to get to the undershirt he always wears when a long-sleeve dress shirt is involved. Tonight, said shirt slips over his head easily since the top two buttons are undone at his throat and he folded the sleeves back to show off the tattoos on his forearms. Mace isn’t what you’d call a gym rat, more inclined to run or swim on the days he can’t make it his usual three days a week. The benefits are that his strength allows him to pick me up and carry me anytime he pleases, which seems to happen more and more lately.
“Mace.” I hear the clink of his belt, the whoosh of his pants as they drop to the floor at the same time I rip my dress over my head, not wanting to lose sight of the striptease he’s giving me. New ink has been added on the inside of his left arm, a simple elegant script, and I’m just now noticing it. “What did you do?” It’s red around the edges.
“I have Von on me. Only fair that I have the other piece of my heart permanently etched onto my body, too.” Von’s name is on his left pec near his heart.
“It’s beautiful and an interesting place to get a tattoo. I’m sure it hurt as well,” I respond, fishing for why it’s in that spot instead of coming out and asking like any normal person would. I step forward. We’re both naked. His cock is hard, practically sitting at his navel with a slight curve that, believe me, feels fucking incredible when he’s using it deep inside me.
“I’ll do you one better and show you.” He raises his arm, hand going to his shoulder, and that’s when it clicks into place.
“Mace.” I’m stunned silent. He sleeps with an arm over his heart, always has, even from the very beginning.
