6+ Us Makes Eight_Baby Makes Three Read online

  Night after night, she had been on my mind. Benjamin got better and the kids and I had settled into a decent routine. I had to shift some things around at work and set an alarm to make sure I didn’t keep any late nights, but I was getting the hang of things. My late-night partying sessions turned into pizza and movie nights with the kids, and I found myself less drained come Monday morning.

  It was actually kind of nice.

  However, my cell phone ringing out ripped me from my thoughts.

  “This is Ryan.”

  “You really need to look at your caller I.D. more,” Paul said.

  “And miss out on your witty insults? That’s the best part of my day.”

  “How’s Benjamin doing?”

  “Much better. Been sick-free in our house for almost a week.”

  “Good. Because Cassidy wanted me to call you,” he said.

  “Ah, and how is your favorite daughter?”

  “You know she’s my only daughter, Ryan.”

  “Doesn’t mean she’s not your favorite,” I said. “What does little Cassidy want?”

  “A sleepover for her damn birthday.”

  I threw my head back in my office chair and laughed.

  “Oh man. That’s going to be rough. You going to let the girls put glitter in your hair?”

  “It’s a tea party theme. I’m just hoping to make it out alive,” Paul said.

  “Better you than me. Put some towels down. The kids will be okay.”

  “Easy for you to say. You've never seen Cassidy’s tea parties. They’re more like hostage situations.”

  I chuckled into the phone as I kicked my feet up onto my desk.

  “I take it you’re calling to invite Zoey?”

  “Of course. Cassidy wants her best friend there. Benjamin and Hunter are welcome to come, too,” Paul said.

  “You want the boys to come to a tea party?” I asked.

  “Actually, I was thinking the boys and I could hide from the girls and eat pizza while watching the football game that night. But that’s just me.”

  “Hunter and Benjamin have no idea how football works.”

  “Neither do you. Doesn’t stop you from coming over and eating all my chicken wings.”

  “Right you are. When is it?” I asked.

  “This Saturday night.”

  “Well, assuming none of the kids come home with anything, count them all in. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to spend time with Cassidy and the boys will be happy to eat all your pizza.”

  “And drink tea.”

  “You’re really not giving those kids tea are you?” I asked.

  “Nope. Apple juice. And sugar-free treats.”

  “Wow. You really hate tea parties. That sounds like an awful idea.”

  “You want to come babysit ten small girls buzzed on their sugar highs?”

  “Sounds like a ring of Hell I don’t want to experience,” I said.

  “Then sugar-free it is. I’ll come by and get the kids Saturday around lunch time. How does that sound?”

  “Sounds like I need to pay you for all the work you’re going to do that night.”

  “Everyone needs a break once in a while,” he said.

  “I’ve been with the kids for a month. I hardly need a break.”

  “Just let me take the damn kids, Ryan. Cassidy’s barking up my leg about seeing everyone again.”

  “Sounds like she’ll make a fine wife so a tired man someday,” I said with a grin.

  We shot the shit for a little while longer before making official plans with the kids. Which was exciting, because this would be the perfect time for me to schedule another date with Emma. Kid-free. A nice apartment. A massive bed we could muss up without kids being across the hallway. I could wine her and dine her, then bring her back here and fuck her senseless.

  Maybe that would get her out of my system.

  I called her up from my office and we planned a date for Saturday night, but she was insistent on planning it this time. A Chinese restaurant downtown with what was supposed to be the best sushi around. I wasn’t sure about it, given how secluded it was. We literally had to walk down the alleyway in order to get to the entrance of the damn place.

  But when we walked inside, the atmosphere was incredible.

  “How the hell did you find this place?” I asked.

  “A friend of mine brought me here and I was hooked from the moment I walked in,” Emma said.

  “And by friend, you mean…?”

  “Catherine. A woman I work with,” she said flatly.

  “Uh huh. Just making sure.”

  “Of what?” she asked.

  “That there isn’t some ex out there somewhere that I need to out-do.”

  “Trust me. Even if there was, you wouldn't be doing a good job,” she said with a grin.

  “Oh. I’m hurt. It stings. It bleeds. You might need to kiss it and make it better.”

  “At least I know where the night’s headed,” she said, giggling.

  The two of us sat down and menus were placed in front of us. We marked them up and ordered or drinks, then went our orders off with the waitress. Emma looked phenomenal. A far cry from how she’d looked on our first date. She was wearing a navy blue and cream-colored dress that hugged her waist, fell all the way to her ankles, and dipped lowly into her bosom. The sparkling necklace she had hanging between the flowing curves of her breasts called to me, and I found it hard to concentrate on her stories.

  Fuck. She looked incredible.

  “... but that’s how the week ended. With Zoey flinging herself off a table into a crowd full of boys.”

  “Wait, what?” I asked.

  “I figured that would catch your attention. You’re not listening at all, are you?” Emma asked.

  My eyes whipped up to hers as our drinks were set in front of us.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “But you have no idea how beautiful you look right now, do you?”

  I watched her cheeks flush as she rested up against the cushion of the booth.

  “It’s a change from the first time we went out, yes.”

  “Your dress is stunning,” I said.

  “Ten dollars at a thrift shop.”

  “Then you should thrift shop more often.”

  “You’re still staring at my breasts.”

  “You shouldn’t have them hanging out the way you do if you don’t want someone staring.”

  She snickered and shook her head as she took a sip of her drink.

  “What?” I asked.

  “See, this is why I don’t get dressed up or go out places with guys. I put on a nice dress and pick out some decent jewelry to put on, and the guy can’t even listen to what I’m saying because he’s too preoccupied with trying to see further down my top.”

  “That wasn’t what I-”

  “I’m sitting here rambling on about my boring week in school thinking you would actually give a damn about it.”

  “Emma, I’m sorry if-”

  “This was a mistake.”

  I watched her set her drink down as she gathered her things.

  “Excuse me?” I asked.

  “I shouldn't have agreed to this,” Emma said.

  “Wait a second. Emma, come-”

  She slid out of the booth just as our food was set on the table and she was moving quicker than I could get to her. I could see tears in her eyes as she whipped around the corner of the booth, traveling at lightning speed for the front door. What the fuck had just happened? How the hell had this careened so quickly out of control? I grabbed my coat and slung it around my shoulders, then told the waitress to hold on.

  I stormed after Emma and caught her arm just as we dumped out into the night.

  “Emma, hold on a second.”

  “What?” she asked heatedly.

  She whipped around and her eyes were filled with tears. Her arms were held tightly across her chest, like she somehow felt exposed. I gently cupped her elbows and drew her into me, and the mom
ent our bodies connected she fell. Her knees collapsed underneath her and I threw my arms around her, catching her before she hit the pavement.

  I’d missed something.

  Something important.

  She was shaking and I didn’t know why. It wasn’t cold. She wasn’t crying. But something was very wrong. I unthreaded her arms from around her body and wrapped them around my neck, then slipped my arms around her waist. Holy shit, her body felt amazing. Warm to the touch. Soft against the edges of my body. I stroked my fingers through her hair and swayed us lightly underneath the moonlight of the alleyway as confused people passed us by.

  But I didn’t care.

  Something was wrong with Emma, and that was the only thing I cared about.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  I felt her sigh against my neck and the heat wafted down my spine.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “I don’t know,” Emma said plainly.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Do you want to go back inside and eat?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, what do you know?” I asked.

  I felt her pull away from me as her eyes panned up to mine. There was confusion behind her eyes, and lots of it. I couldn’t help but take her in again. Her supple curves as the silken fabric fluttered across her skin. The moonlight made her skin shimmer and her pouty lips called to mine. I wanted to slam her against the brick wall and pull my cock out for her to sit on.

  I also wanted to gather her back in my arms and comfort her.

  Which was something I’d never experienced before.

  “Why don’t we do this,” I said. “We go back inside and eat. Our food’s here and I know you like this place. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, then I’ll take you back to your place. Or my place. Or a hotel. Or anywhere you want to go. You planned this date, so you have the reins. Full control over what happens from here. And I promise to keep my eyes on your face at all time. How does that sound?”

  I watched her nod, but her face was still unsure.

  “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. All I wanted to do was express how beautiful you look tonight,” I said.

  “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did.”

  “Don’t apologize for how you feel.”

  “It’s just… it’s been such a long week,” Emma said. “And the kids were awful. Screaming and crying. And sit-ins were this week and of course the principal had to sit in on my class during the absolute worst day and I just-”

  I watched her heave a heavy sigh as I walked closer to her. I could see the toll the week had taken on her and I wanted her to be able to forget all about it. I wanted her to feel comfortable talking with me about it, but I also wanted to be able to remove some of this stress from her. She managed a shit-ton of spoiled brats five days a week and tried, little by little, to turn them into decent people.

  Emma didn’t have an easy job, and I was determined to make this night special for her.

  I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close to me. Her hands fell to my chest, but she didn’t attempt to push me away. Instead, her eyes fluttered up to mine and closed the moment I started massaging her lower back. Kneading my fingers into her aching muscles and watched as her head fell to my chest.

  “Ugh,” she said.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “I’m not used to talking with people about my stressful weeks.”

  “I can tell,” I said.

  “That feels really good.”

  “Then we should probably go inside and eat,” I said.

  “Why? Could we just stand out here and do this all night?”

  I grinned as my hand slipped underneath her chin. I crooked my fingers and tilted her gaze towards mine, then captured her lips in a sweet kiss. No tongue. No lust. No desperate passions. Just a want to taste her lips against mine.

  “If we eat, I know this great place we could head back to with a king-sized bed you could sprawl out on.”

  “Mmm, that place sounds nice. Where is it?” Emma asked coyly.

  “I think you might be familiar with it. And if you play your cards right, there might be a full-body massage in it for you,” I said.

  “Full body, huh? You gonna cover my body in towels and smooth oil over my skin?”

  I watched the stress melt from her eyes as that playful Emma came out to visit. She grinned up at me and I kissed her cheek, slowly working my way down her neck. She opened herself up to me. Exposed her neck so I could nuzzle my nose along it. I licked my tongue up to the shell of her ear before I blew a shallow breath against it, and I watched as goosebumps cascaded down her skin.

  She shivered against me and I felt my cock pulse with life.

  “Yes to the oil, but no to the towels,” I said darkly.

  Thirteen

  Emma

  I led him into my apartment despite his protests to go back to his place. It was the first time I was bringing anyone into my apartment, and I wanted it to be him. It was small and there wasn’t much to boast of, but it was mine and I was proud of it. I led him into the corner where my bed sat, his hands running up and down my waist.

  “I think I promised you something,” Ryan said.

  “I really think you did,” I said with a grin.

  His hands unzipped my dress as his lips ghosted my forehead. The fabric fell to the floor and I stepped out of it, toeing off my shoes as I did. His hands meandered over my shoulders. Over my breasts. Around my back to unhook my bra. It fell to the floor and I felt his eyes on me, drinking in the nakedness of my form. His hands slid down to my waist and his fingers hooked into the band of my panties. He knelt in front of me, kissing my skin as he slid my underwear down my legs.

  He took my feet in his hands and helped me to step out of them before he kissed all the way back up my body.

  I was shivering. My hands were already begging to be twisted into his hair. He picked me up into his arms and laid me down on the bed, chest down and my face pressed into my pillow. I heard a few of his articles of clothing drop away before he backtracked into my bathroom, and I heard him opening drawers and cabinets.

  I knew what he was looking for.

  And I was ready for him to find it.

  The bed dipped at my feet and I heard a cap pop. Hands were rubbing together and I was physically trembling as I awaited his touch. Ryan’s hands picked up my foot and began to massage it, and I was instantly transported into another dimension.

  I groaned into the pillow as his hands worked my muscles.

  He paid wonderful attention to my body. His hands massaged my feet before working up my calves, slathering my body in the oil he had found. The entire room smelled of peppermint and lavender, my two favorite scents combined. His thumb traced the lines of my muscles and smoothed out their aches and pains. Moans dripped from my lips as goosebumps rose upon my skin, and as his hands slid up to my ass I rose my hips to him.

  I was leaking. Throbbing with heat. And I wanted his hands between my legs.

  He paid special attention to my ass cheeks. Massaging them and pulling them apart. He allowed a bit of the oil to slide against my puckered hole and I sighed at the sensation. He slid up my back and cracked it as he slid up my spine, covering me in the decadent oil I’d had concealed away in my bathroom.

  I was putty in his hands, and whatever he wanted to do with my body was fine by me.

  His hands worked my neck and even into the tendrils of my hair. He worked down my arms, massaging even my fingers. I couldn't get enough of his hands on me. I felt as if I was being transported to another dimension.

  Then, I felt his lips grace the shell of my ear.

  “There’s a fun little box underneath your bed I saw earlier.”

  I froze as my body locked up.

  “I wonder what could be in it?”

  My eyes opened and I saw a devilish glint race across h
is features. He reached down and removed the small shoebox from underneath my bed and I felt my skin heat. I knew what he was about to find. There was only one reason a woman my age kept a box like that underneath her bed.

  And the toys he began to pull out made me quiver with delight.

  “Close your eyes,” Ryan said. “I believe we’re going to have a little bit of fun.”

  “Ryan, I… we don’t-”

  But he pressed his lips to my exposed neck and it silenced my words.

  “Such a naughty girl, hiding these toys from me. You really should’ve been more forthcoming with your intentions for our evening.”

  “What?” I asked breathlessly.

  I heard the sound of vibrations filling the air before he knelt between my legs.

  “The planted oil. Coming back to your place. The well-placed box of wonderful toys underneath your bed. I almost feel used.”

  He teased my oiled asshole with the small vibrating toy before he pierced my hole.

  “Oh shit,” I said breathlessly.

  “I’d feel insulted if I didn’t enjoy how much you wanted this,” Ryan said hotly.

  I shook uncontrollably and raised my hips as he slid the beautiful toy deeper into my asshole. His hand came around and began rubbing my pussy, stroking languidly along my throbbing clit. I moaned into the pillow, my hands twisting into my sheets before he pulled away.

  I whimpered at the loss of his touch until I felt something press against my pussy.

  “Have you ever been this full before?” Ryan asked.

  He turned on the vibrator and I felt it shaking against my entrance.

  “No. No, I-I-I… I haven’t,” I choked out.

  “Such a pity. You really should see yourself. Ass in the air. Body glistening with oil. A healthy red glow tinting your skin. And this clit. Mmm. You should see how it yearns for me.”

  He guided the vibrator down to my clit and I cried out into the room.

  “Ryan,” I said. “Please.”

  “Please what?” he asked.

  “Please fill me up. Don’t… I… it’s… yes? Please?”

  He chuckled and my toes curled as he slid the vibrator into my pussy. Fuck. The sensation was magical. My entire body locked up as my knees began to shake. I felt Ryan wiggled himself underneath my hips and brought my hips down to his lips, and soon my clit was sucked into his mouth as his tongue worked its magic.