22. William
22
WILLIAM
“ W ill!” Zoey called out, catapulting herself through the open door and into my arms. She buried her face in the crook of my neck as I wrapped my arms around her and spun in a circle.
“There’s my girl!” I said, laughing. God, I loved that kid.
Zoey planted her hands on my shoulders and reared back, eyeing me suspiciously. “But Krissy’s your girl.”
“You’re both my girls,” I said. “So is Kylie.”
“Did you bring flowers?” she asked. Although it sounded more like did you bwing fwowers, thanks to the teeth she was missing.
“Not this time,” I said, swinging her around to my hip.
Zoey’s bottom lip stuck out in a grumpy pout as we stepped through the front door of Kristin’s place.
She crossed her arms with a little humph. It was friggin’ adorable.
I leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry. I brought something better.”
She squealed. “What is it?”
“It’s a surprise. ”
Kristin and Hunter worked on dinner in the kitchen. Kristin stood with her back turned to me as she stirred bubbling red sauce on the stovetop. The whole place smelled like garlic and basil, and my stomach growled in approval. Kristin was a great cook, but the food wasn’t the only reason I loved coming over for dinner.
I tried to slip Kristin a little cash here and there. It was no secret that things were tight for her, and another mouth to feed was only adding to the burden. But, like always, she refused all help.
So instead of helping with the grocery budget, I had started bringing a little something with me. Hence, the chocolate cake I had picked up on the way into Havelock.
With Zoey on my hip, I stood just inside the door and took a moment to ogle my woman as she finished cooking.
Kristin had her dark hair pulled up in a ponytail. A flowy, off-the-shoulder gray sweater exposed her tanned shoulders. With autumn setting in, she had switched from her daily shorts and tank tops to long sleeves and leggings.
I, for one, was thankful. Because that ass…
The newness of our relationship — and Kristin’s precarious home life — demanded that I be patient. But I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t ready to claim every inch of her body. The caveman in me wanted to rip those leggings off of her and use them to tie her down to my bed. I wanted to fuck her until she saw stars.
The civilized part of me dropped a kiss on top of Zoey’s head and set her back down on the floor. She ran down the hall, probably to tell Logan and Ky that I’d arrived.
I indulged in a few X-rated thoughts about Kristin before moving behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.
Kristin hummed happily. She pushed her ass back into my crotch, gently teasing my dick through the layers of spandex and denim. The back of her head dropped against my chest, and she closed her eyes as she tipped her chin up. “Hi.”
I kissed her forehead. “I missed you.”
She smiled and continued stirring the sauce.
I’d only been gone for a few days. I had to fulfill business commitments with a paramilitary contractor in Reston, Virginia—a suburb of Washington D.C. It only required a face-to-face once a year.
Usually, I didn’t mind heading out of state. I enjoyed the drive, and the projects were fun. This time was different.
I was distracted in every briefing. Meetings that ran long agitated me more than usual. I hated having to leave my phone in a holding box outside the secure meeting rooms. All I could think about was checking in with Kris and the kids.
The first time I met Logan and Kylie, I noticed that they both had phones. When it felt right, I gave them my number so they could reach out if they ever needed anything. They had plenty of safe adults they could call. Hell, Steve and Chase were cops and Mel was an E.R. nurse. But it was important for them to know that they could call me, too.
I wasn’t na?ve enough to think that I outranked people they had known and trusted for years. Part of me just hoped that one day, I’d be the one they would reach out to.
“Gross,” Hunter said, feigning disgust. He’d noticed me and Kristin loving on each other and ran down the hall pretending to wretch and dry heave.
I snickered while kissing down the side of her neck. “Who knew a hug is all it took to get a little alone time with you?”
Kristin laughed melodically. She turned the stovetop off and spun around, arms snaking around my neck.
Stumbling backward, I grabbed her ass with both hands and hauled her up against me. My cock pressed against her stomach, and I groaned. With one hand still on her ass cheek, I used the other to grab her ponytail, yanking down until her lips sought mine.
I twisted her ponytail around my hand and held her head in place. With her firmly in my grasp, I planted a searing kiss on her mouth. My tongue swept along the seam of her lips, demanding more from her.
I swallowed down her little moans like the greedy motherfucker I was. More. I want more.
Long, languid strokes of her tongue against mine had me two seconds away from stripping her down right then and there and?—
“Is supper ready yet?” Zoey asked, running down the hallway.
Startled, Kristin pushed me away, wiping her mouth with the back of her sleeve. Her whiskey eyes darted back and forth as if to regain her bearings; like my kiss had tilted the axis of her world.
I smirked, turning my back to discreetly adjust my erection.
Kristin’s eyes dropped to where my hand was. She shot me a playful grin and winked.
“In just a minute,” Kristin said to Zoey, her voice calm—as if I hadn’t just mauled her in the middle of her kitchen. “Go tell the others it’s time to eat.”
Zoey scampered off, shouting for her siblings to come to the table.
“Never a dull moment,” I said, chuckling as I washed my hands and dried them with the red gingham towel.
Kristin paused and let out a breath, pressing her fingers against the temples of her head. She rubbed slow circles, rocking her neck back and forth. “Only a few more hours until bedtime.”
I kissed her forehead. “Have you told them about the weekend yet?”
She shook her head.
We were planning to stay at my place for the weekend. Why hadn’t she mentioned it to the kids ?
Fear trilled down my spine. Was she having second thoughts? Was she uncomfortable with the idea of the kids sleeping under my roof?
During one of our many late-night conversations, Kristin told me that their family treated the North Carolina State Fair as their Christmas.
They saved up money all year for it. Public schools always put a teacher workday on the calendar for a Friday. So, on Thursday—Canned Food Day—Kristin would work a half day, pick the kids up early from school, and drive to Raleigh to go to the fair. She would take a day off work on Friday to recuperate and spend quality time with the kids while they were out of school.
I told Kristin that I wanted to go with them this year, and she agreed. At the time, it seemed like a safe group outing. Time with Kristin, time with the kids in a casual environment, and no pressure.
But things between Kristin and I had gotten serious—or at least I thought they were serious. There wasn’t a minute that passed during the day that I didn’t think about her.
We were in serious need of a little adult time, so I suggested that the five of them could stay at my house after the fair. I had more than enough rooms.
On Friday, the kids could walk the waterfront, play outside, or marathon through movies and video games. We’d grill outside for dinner if the weather held.
I thought she would be all over the idea. Especially given the fact that I had a bedroom. With a bed. And a door with a lock. The kids would even be on a different floor of the house.
Kristin didn’t like asking for help with the kids when it came to them staying overnight somewhere. Hell, the last time she accepted help was only because Maddie, Hannah Jane, and I had tricked her into it. But she deserved a break and the kids needed a change of scenery .
Logan’s icy demeanor had thawed a bit, but he was still wary of me.
Kylie appeared cool, but I knew it was just a front. Beneath her typical teenage girl issues brewed distrust and fear of everyone around her.
Hunter was the same way.
I didn’t blame any of them. They were victims of their parents’ horrible choices.
“I figured it would be better to wait and see how things go tonight,” she said amicably.
I didn’t buy that bullshit for a second. “Kris,” I said, fanning my hand across her stomach to stop her in her tracks. “If you’re getting cold feet?—”
“I’m not,” she said quickly. Doors opened and slammed shut as the kids filed into the kitchen. She lowered her voice. “Me spending the night is one thing, but are you actually ready for an insta-family to be all up in your space? I’m just worried that this is moving too fast for them.”
“Will!” Hunter shouted. “Sit here!”
The kids had taken their places at the table, leaving me a seat between Logan and Hunter.
“Did you really have a meeting at the Pentagon?” Kylie asked as soon as I looked over my shoulder at them.
“Dude!” Hunter exclaimed. “Did you, like, get to meet the President?”
I smirked, “Which one? I’ve met five. More if you count presidents outside of the United States.”
Their jaws hit the table.
I gave the kids a wink and left them to discuss whether I was really James Bond.
Turning to Kristin, I raised an eyebrow and lowered my voice. “Yeah, I don’t think they have a problem with me, sweetheart. ”
Kristin remained silent as we loaded the table with cooked spaghetti, pasta sauce, and a tossed salad.
“Sit,” I said, swatting her rear end as I took a serrated knife out of her hand. “I’ve got it.”
I quickly sliced the garlic bread and tossed it on a floral plate that had seen better days. With my hands wiped clean, I tossed the knife in the sink, then carried the garlic bread over to the table. I snagged the pitcher of sweet tea and topped off Kristin’s glass. Finally, I plopped down in the chair between Logan and Hunter.
It was a tight fit, squeezing six people around the small table, but we managed.
I grabbed the tongs and piled salad on top of my plate. “So, what’s the game plan for the fair tomorrow?”
Logan looked across the table at Kristin, spaghetti still hanging out of his mouth. Slowly, he chewed and then cleared his throat. “You’re coming?”
“Yeah, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to tag along,” I said casually, trying not to take his suspicious expression as a bad sign. Maybe Kristin didn’t mention that part of the plan to them either...
Logan’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t say anything.
Kylie and Kristin shared a worried look. Zoey and Hunter were oblivious.
I contemplated whether Kristin had been right. Maybe I was holding on to false hope that the kids would come around.
I guess I could tell them later that I had a work thing come up and wouldn’t be able to go.
Logan cleared his throat again. “That’s cool.”
Under the table, Kristin’s foot bumped against mine. There was a slight smile on her lips as she looked down at her plate.
I gave Logan a nod. “Good deal.”
The rest of the meal was lively. Hunter entertained us with stories from school and the plots of all the books he was reading. The kid didn’t take a breath for a solid fifteen minutes .
When we finally finished, Kylie hopped up and cut the chocolate cake I’d picked up from the grocery store. She quickly dropped the slices on small white saucers, and I helped carry them to the table.
I’d almost called Revanche to see if Maddie had anything on hand, but decided against it. The time I got to spend with Kristin was precious to me, and I didn’t want to waste most of it driving to Beaufort and back.
Kristin’s eyes met mine and she gave me a subtle nod. “So, Will and I were thinking,” she said, as Kylie and I sat back down. “After the fair, how would y’all like to spend the night at his house in New Bern?”
Hunter froze. “Will you be there, Kris?”
I wasn’t sure which way he wanted that answer to go. On one hand, he sounded scared that maybe Kristin was dropping them off and leaving. On the other hand, he had the tone of a little brother who didn’t want his sister hanging around. Kids confused the shit out of me.
“Of course, I’ll be there,” Kristin said. “I wouldn’t just leave you guys. We’ll still have our day together after the fair, just at his place.” She looked at me as if handing off the conversation baton.
I picked it up and ran. “Yeah, man. Figured you’d like a look at my library.” I looked at Logan. “And I need someone who can game to come kick my ass.”
Kristin would yell at me later for saying ass in front of the kids. The look on Logan’s face was worth her wrath.
“Would we have to share rooms?” Kylie asked.
I shook my head. “Not unless you want to.”
Her eyes widened. “God, no. I could use a break from…” her voice trailed off, eyes cutting to her little sister.
Oblivious, Zoey sported a chocolate cake goatee as she scraped her plate clean. It had to be rough sharing a room with a six-year-old .
Kristin sent the kids off to finish homework, take showers, and pack overnight bags while she and I cleared the table.
“So, what about you?” I asked as I washed the dishes, then handed them off for her to dry.
“What about me?” she repeated the question, confused.
“You gonna sleep alone or share a room?”
She bit her lip, stifling a giggle as she clutched a plate like a shield. “I think you know my answer.” She craned around me to make sure the kids’ doors were shut before adding, “You know we’ll still have to be quiet, right? I don’t want them overhearing any adult activities.”
I leaned down, grazing my mouth against the shell of her ear. “Sunshine, if you get loud, I’ll just put my dick in your mouth.”
Kristin shuddered, her knuckles turning white against the plate.
I rinsed my hands and wiped them on my jeans. Using my arms to cage her in against the sink, I stared deep into her lust-filled eyes and grazed the back of my knuckles down her cheek.
“Would you like that, sweetheart?” I asked in a low growl.
Her chest pressed against mine.
I wanted nothing more than to grab her shirt and yank it hard down her body, tear her bra in two, and suck on her tits. I wanted to bite them. Mark them. Claim them. I wanted to see her spread out on my bed with the aftermath of my release striping her body.
“I—I’ve never—” Kristin clammed up.
I slid my hand down the front of her leggings, cupping her pussy through a layer of spandex. “Has anyone ever gone down on you? Eaten you out?”
She whimpered, closing her eyes and sucking in a breath to steady herself.
I drilled my knuckles into her pussy, even though she still had clothes on. It communicated my point loud and clear .
“I asked you a question,” I growled into her ear. “Has anyone ever licked this pussy until you came?”
Kristin shook her head.
I smiled. “Good girl. I’m going to be the first to taste you.”
And the last.
The kids were in their rooms, goodnights were said, and kisses had been doled out. Zoey begged me to read The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear four times. According to Kristin, it had been her favorite book since Zoey was barely old enough to hold her head up.
I sat in her skinny twin bed and read it—repeatedly—until her little eyes closed and she fell sound asleep.
With a yawn, I sauntered to the living room and removed the couch cushions.
“Don’t worry about pulling it out tonight,” Kristin said as she flipped the hallway light off.
“I’m pulling the bed out for you,” I argued, sliding the trunk she used as a coffee table out of the way.
She padded down the hall in a pair of light blue sleep shorts and a tank tight white top. Her belly ring peeked out from under the hem. “I’ll just sleep on top. I don’t want to bother putting it all up in the morning.”
I flipped the metal bar down and secured the sofa bed. “You need a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow’s gonna be a long day for you.”
Kristin grabbed her pillows and blankets and tossed them on top of the mattress.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and opened my arms.
Like a magnet, she drew to me at once. She laid her head on my shoulder, in the crook of my neck. I buried my nose in her hair and inhaled the fresh scent of her shampoo.
“Say the word and I’ll stay,” I said softly. “Sleep with you. Fix your coffee in the morning.”
“That would be divine.” Her answer was muffled, but the point was made.
“Then tell me to stay.”
Kristin sighed and pulled away so she could lay down. “I want you to, but this is their house, too.”
I respected that, but part of me was worried that she used the kids as a reason to keep me at arm’s length. I toed my shoes off and slid under the covers, fully dressed.
“Will—”
“Just a few minutes,” I said, pulling her into my arms. “The kids are asleep. I won’t stay the night, just give me a few minutes with you like this.”
Kristin curled into my arms, resting her head on my chest. It didn’t take long for her to untuck my shirt and slide her hand up my chest, skin on skin.
“I can hear you thinking,” I murmured. “Wanna loop me in?”
Her throat bobbed against my skin as she swallowed. “What if I’m not ready for this,” she whispered. “It’s a lot and it’s all happening so fast.”
Tucking her hair behind her ear, I said, “Are you not ready, or are you just afraid of what could happen if you are ready?”
“Maybe a little of both.”
Not exactly the thing I wanted to hear, but I dismissed the fear and doubled down instead. “Why are you afraid?”
I listened to the crickets outside, trying not to overthink things.
She sighed. “At some point, you’re going to wake up and realize you deserve someone better. Someone who you can show off and be proud to have on your arm. Someone without an airplane’s worth of baggage. I feel like I’m just biding my time until you figure out that I’m not worth it.”
“Kristin, I love you.” The words came out so easily.
“I don’t know why,” she said, voice trembling.
“Love isn’t about what you have to offer; it’s about who you are.” I pulled her closer, tipping her chin up until she locked eyes with me in the dim light. “You’re worthy of love.” I leaned down and kissed her. Kristin’s lips were soft and supple. “All five of you. And before you say it’s too soon, let me tell you something, Sunshine. People are too stingy with saying I love you . There’s nothing mature or enlightened about withholding love and not telling someone how you feel. The only person who loses out is you because you don’t get their love in return.”
Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she rested her forehead on my mouth. “I think I love you too.”
Smiling against her warm skin, I chuckled. “Why do you say it like that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never been in love before, but I think this is what love feels like.”
“How does it make you feel?”
“Safe. Wanted. Like I have a place to run to.” She leaned up and kissed me gently. Her lips were soft, ghosting over mine. She tangled her fingers in my hair and whispered, “You feel like home.”