Chapter 11
MAGGIE
A knock at the door startles Hank and me, and we reluctantly pull apart. When he opens the door, a tall man with a friendly smile stands there with two women and a young girl.
“Merry Christmas, Hank!” His booming voice fills the doorway.
“Merry Christmas, Jax. Come on in,” Hank says. “Maggie, this is my boss and friend, Jax, and his sisters. Everyone, this is Maggie.”
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you.” Jax smiles. “Hank’s told me so much about you. It’s about time we met.” He gestures to the women beside him. “These are my sisters, Olivia and Andrea, and this is Olivia’s daughter, June.”
My cheeks warm, wondering exactly what Hank has said about me. “It’s wonderful to meet you all,” I say, suddenly nervous.
“Hope we’re not interrupting anything,” Jax says with a smile, glancing between us. “We’re heading down to the ice rink in Jefferson,” Jax announces, mercifully changing the subject. “Thought the girls might like to join us? June’s been asking about Vivian all morning.”
My eyes meet Hank’s, and in that moment of perfect synchronicity, we both speak:
“That would be great for the girls—”
“—we’ll stay here, though.”
Jax nods in understanding. Our daughters get ready to go out, and in a whirlwind, Hank and I are on the verge of having some proper time alone. There is so much to say and so many things I want to do with him that anticipation overwhelms me.
“You two be good,” Hank says. “I trust you’ll respect Uncle Jax and follow his instructions.”
“Of course, Dad,” Vivian says.
The cabin is suddenly, wonderfully still. Hank turns to me, his eyes dark with desire. “Finally,” he murmurs, “we’re alone.”
This time, when we kiss, there’s no hesitation, no holding back. I melt into him, relishing the solid warmth of his chest against mine, his hands spanning my back and drawing me closer. When we finally break apart, both breathing heavily, I’m dizzy with want.
“We should talk,” Hank says softly, though his hands don’t leave my waist. His thumbs trace small circles on my hips, each touch sending sparks through my body. For the first time with a man, I don’t feel like I have to suck in my stomach or hide my body. Hank has shown he loves me as I am and my body as it is.
“We should,” I agree, even as I press closer, aching to kiss him more and make love to him.
We move to the couch, and Hank takes my hands in his. “Maggie,” he begins, his voice husky. “This past week...” He pauses, struggling to find the right words. “You’ve taken me completely by surprise.”
My heart skips. “I know what you mean,” I say softly.
“To tell the truth, I’ve had feelings for you since we first met. But you were with your ex then.”
This is news to me. All this time? Has my perfect man been right in front of me, even when I was with the wrong man? “Really?”
“Of course? Why wouldn’t I be attracted to you? You’re amazing with your daughter, you’re gorgeous, and now I know you’re as exceptional a woman as I thought you were. In fact, you’re more amazing than I thought you were.”
“Thank you,” I say, beaming with love at this wonderful man.
He hesitates, looking into the fire. “Vivian’s mom, Karen, left when Vivian was a toddler,” he says, his voice strained and sad. “One day, after I was home from my final deployment, she decided she didn’t want that life anymore. She walked out on us, and I had to figure out how to be enough for Vivian alone.”
I reach out, my hand finding his, relishing the warmth of his skin under my palm. “Hank, I’m so sorry. That must have been incredibly hard.”
He nods, his gaze steady on mine. “It was,” he admits, his fingers shifting slightly to hold on to mine. “For a long time, I thought I’d never…never have anything left to give anyone. It felt like Karen took everything I had to give.”
I take a deep breath. “My ex left, too, though not for the same reasons. I’m not sure how much Wendy has told Vivian and what you’ve heard.” I pause, experiencing a familiar pang of insecurity. “He…well, he’s in the Bahamas now. With someone a lot younger. I’m not even sure he’ll remember to call Wendy today.”
Hank’s jaw tightens as he listens. “I’m sorry to hear that, Maggie. Regardless of what happened with the two of you, he should be here for Wendy.” His voice is filled with restrained anger, and somehow, I don’t hate it.
“It’s…He left because after I had Wendy, my body changed,” I say, the words tumbling out. I'm surprised that I don’t feel the need to hide this from Hank. “He couldn’t handle that I didn’t look the same as before.” The words are heavy and raw. I look down, feeling like I’ve said too much. “He told me he didn’t find me attractive anymore.”
Hank’s fingers tighten around mine, his eyes darkening. “What the fuck is wrong with that man?”
I look up in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“There’s nothing wrong with your body, Maggie.” He brings my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my palm. “I want everything with you. A relationship, a future. I want to wake up to your smile and fall asleep holding you. I want our girls to be sisters.”
My heart swells at his words, but old insecurities flutter in my stomach like trapped butterflies. “Hank, I’m not...” I swallow hard, forcing myself to voice my fears. “I mean, my body isn’t what it used to be. After Wendy... I have stretch marks. I’m softer now, and—”
“Stop,” he says firmly, cupping my face. His eyes bore into mine with a fierce intensity. “You’re perfect exactly as you are. Every inch of you is beautiful to me. Those marks? They tell the story of how you brought our incredible daughter into the world. They’re part of who you are, and I love who you are, Maggie. All of you.”
Tears prick at my eyes. “I love you, too.” So many emotions overwhelm me that I don’t know if my heart can hold them all.
“Let me show you how much,” he murmurs.
He moves so that he’s kneeling in front of me, and I take off my blouse. Hank inhales sharply, his eyes flaring as he looks at me with such deep lust that I ache with anticipation. In moments, he’s kissing my breasts, tracing his tongue over my stretch marks—which I swear has to be the fucking hottest thing a man has ever done with me. My body shivers as he licks and kisses his way down my stomach and making me squirm.
“I need more,” I moan, lifting my hips and rushing to get out of my pants.
“Let me help you,” Hank grins, and suddenly I’m naked in front of him. For the first time since I had Wendy, I don’t feel ashamed about my body. Hank is looking at me with such fierce desire and love, it’s overwhelming me in the best possible way.
Hank returns to his place kneeling before me, and slowly kisses my stomach, while gripping my hips and moving me closer to the edge of the couch.
“Fuck, I’ve waited so long to taste you,” he moans, then kisses the insides of my thighs, teasing me with his hot tongue. I squirm, trying to lift my hips up for him, but he firmly holds me in the position he wants. He looks up at me, smiling and with a wicked glint in his eyes.
And then all at once, he lowers his head to my core, his tongue hot and probing. He licks my length, then focuses his tongue on my swollen clit, teasing me over and over.
“Oh my God,” I moan, my body shuddering with each tease of his tongue. An orgasm is already building in me. When Hank begins sucking my clit, I cry out, my back arching off the couch. He plunges his fingers deep into my hot, slick core and I grind down, my body demanding release.
Hank keeps sucking and lights start exploding behind my eyes as my orgasm builds hot and fast. When Hank plunges his fingers deeper and finds my g-spot, my body explodes with release.
“Oh my God,” I keep repeating, my body quaking as Hank keeps licking, only gentler now.
Hank smiles up at me, my juices glistening on his lips, then slowly licks his lips. Fuck. Hank is looking at like I’m a goddess, and he’s making me feel like one, too.
“Baby,” he says, standing and quickly undressing. “That was only the beginning.”
My eyes widen when I see his thick cock spring up, and then I’m reaching for him, eager to feel him and learn how he loves to be touched.
“Come here,” Hank says, gesturing for me to join him in front of the fireplace. The fire warms our skin, and we stretch out next to each other.
Hank kisses me deeply as we lay in front of the fire, his fingers teasing at my core as I reach down and stroke his thick, hard length.
“Baby,” he moans, pressing into my hands and against my body. “There are so many things I want to do with you, but I need to bury my cock in your sweet pussy. Now.”
Hank moves so that his body is over mine, and I stroke the muscles in his chest and arms. I lift my hips in invitation, and Hank reaches down and guides himself into my slick core.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” he moans, pushing deeper inside me.
I lift my hips and wiggle, hungry to feel all of him deeply inside me. Wrapping my arms around him, I urge Hank to move faster and deeper.
Hank lifts one of my legs and I groan as he increases his pace, each stroke of his cock making my body light up with pleasure and a new surge of ecstasy.
“I’m never letting you go,” Hank gasps, lowering his mouth to kiss me thoroughly and deeply.
My body writhes with Hank’s and our movements become more urgent. I lock my ankles around Hank’s back and lower my hands to his ass, urging him to move faster and deeper, to fill me up and make me scream with joy.
“I can’t last much longer,” Hank pants, his dark eyes wild with raw sexuality.
“Me, neither,” I moan, grinding up against him, my own orgasm so close and demanding to be released.
Hank thrusts faster and deeper, moaning my name as the fireplace burn brightly next to us. Each time Hank plunges into me, the ecstasy in my core intensifies and explodes, my core gripping at his cock.
“Fuck!” Hank’s moan echoes through his cabin, and he thrusts faster and deeper, and then his body jolts as he comes.
Hank collapses next to me, in front of the fire, wrapping his arms around me and peppering my face and lips with countless kisses.
“You are the best Christmas present,” he says, kissing me slowly.
“As are you,” I smile up at Hank. Never have I felt loved so thoroughly and purely. It’s a much different kind of love story, but in Hank, I’ve found my own perfect Christmastime love story. “I love you so much.”
“I’ll love you forever, my sweet Maggie.”
We lay there, basking in our love and the firelight, until it is broken by the buzzing of his phone. Hank groans, then gets up for his phone. “That’s probably Jax. Yeah, it is. He’s asking if it’s clear to bring the girls back.”
We both chuckle and laugh, and I get up and wrap my arms around him. “Yeah. I suppose it’s inevitable.”
“We have all the time in the world, Maggie. Imagine what the girls are going to say when they find out they’re going to be sisters.”
I laugh and swat at his arm. “A little presumptuous, are we?”
“There’s no other way this is going to go,” Hank says, his voice more serious. “Maggie… I’ve admired you and wanted you for years now. I always knew you were my perfect woman. Now that I have you in my arms and truly in my life, ain’t no man going to take you away from me. I’ve always been yours, and now you are mine. Forever.”
Thank you so much for reading “Dad Bod Secret Santa” !