Chapter 10 #2
Instead of accepting her offer, I snarl, “He’s got me, and now his aunt. If he needs a fuckin’ party, I’m sure we can pull something together.” I make a mental note to ask Toni’s opinion over the weekend. She’ll probably jump at the chance to be involved.
Trixie tries to blank her expression, but I can see the disappointment in her eyes. Even though I know she was asking out of the goodness of her heart and a genuine desire to do something nice for my son, I don’t take anything back.
From now on, my life will hopefully include Toni, Ace’s blood relative. Even if we don’t end up together, she’ll be a part of his life. As such, she should be given precedence over some whore.
“It was just an idea,” she says dismissively, then walks stiffly away.
I don’t feel like an asshole. Instead, my mind’s racing ahead. Perhaps asking Toni for ideas on how to help him celebrate will make his aunt feel part of the family.
Family. Sixteen years ago, that was forced upon me.
I never wanted it, didn’t know how I would cope.
Fifteen years and five months ago, I’d smashed it to smithereens when Josie had died at my hand.
Since then, I’d run from the idea as though the Devil himself was after me.
Now I find myself contemplating the notion, and surprisingly, it’s settling quite comfortably.
I realise I’m standing like a loon in the clubhouse, with an uncharacteristic smile on my face.
I wipe that off before any of the brothers can see.
Though inside, my heart feels light. Me, a confirmed bachelor, am I really having ideas about settling down?
I’d wonder whether someone had slipped something into my drink were it not for how much the idea doesn’t upset me.
Perhaps I’d ended up with the wrong sister at first, and the universe aligned to correct the mistake. Whatever magic was responsible, I’m not going to complain.
Instead, I’ll focus my energy on ensuring she ends up on the same page. In my bed, in my life, and, possibly, as my old lady.
At last Friday comes. Leaving my bike at the clubhouse, I take my truck to collect Ace from school, having the fleeting thought while I’m driving that maybe Ace’s aversion to taking the wheel isn’t that he doesn’t want to, but as Trixie had pointed out, my vehicle’s too much of a beast for a kid to handle.
Hmm, while I hate where the idea’s come from, it’s worth some thought.
For now, I park the suggestion, and instead go over our preparations.
In the back seat, our bags are packed and ready, along with our jackets.
Flagstaff will be cooler than where we are, close to the Mexican border.
Is there anything else we need apart from the toiletries and spare clothes that I’ve gathered together already?
I don’t think so. Ace can go without his gaming console for a couple of days.
I don’t have long to wait. Ace is one of the first to burst out of school.
He’s buzzing with excitement at the thought of seeing his aunt again, and as we leave the town behind us, I have to keep turning my head as if I’m glancing at the side mirror to prevent him from seeing the grin on my face.
Fuck, her pussy and talented mouth have been all I’ve been able to think about since I last saw her.
As a mark of respect, I’ve kept away from the whores, but the showers I’ve taken while imagining her lips around my cock haven’t been totally satisfying, my hand nothing like the real thing.
In the end, the drive takes closer to six hours as we get held up by an accident on the interstate.
When we approach the city, I focus on following the GPS directions.
It takes another half hour until I’m driving up the road, which the robotic voice tells me will lead to our final destination.
Interested to see where she lives, I crane my head forward.
Ace, beside me, equally curious, reads out the numbers on the mailboxes.
We’re driving through a nice residential area, not overly expensive, but not run-down. When Ace yells and points, I draw the truck to the side of the road, check he’s right, then aim the truck across the sidewalk to park on her drive.
The door flies open, and Toni steps out.
Fuck, she’s a sight for sore eyes. Just one glance at her face makes the torturous time trapped in a cage worthwhile.
Ace is out of the truck before I’ve barely had time to put the transmission in park, and runs straight into the waiting woman’s arms. Is it wrong to be jealous of my son?
Although I want nothing more than to copy Ace’s example, I force myself to leisurely step down from the cab.
Then I stand back, arms folded, watching with a genuine smile as Ace gets loved on by his aunt.
After a moment, I busy myself by getting the bags out of the truck.
Then, having swung them both over my shoulder, I approach my woman at last.
“You going to give me a kiss and a hug?” I challenge her with an eyebrow raised.
Ace steps aside as she closes the distance between us.
She reaches up on tiptoe and gives a sedate and appropriate-in-front-of-my-son kiss to my cheek, which I accept, although I itch to turn my head so my lips meet hers.
Her arms go tentatively around me, and she gives me a quick squeeze before stepping back.
Her movement is so fast, for a moment, my hands hang in midair as she hasn’t given me a chance to hug her back.
I remind myself she’s trying to be respectful in front of my son, while I’m pretty certain Ace would be quite happy to know we’ve already hooked up.
I make a mental note to tell her later so we can demonstrate the closeness between us.
Her eyes land on the bags I’m carrying, and she gives an attractive tinkling laugh. “You moving in, Ace? You sure brought enough stuff.”
Frowning, I correct her. “One bag’s mine.”
“Oh?” Her eyes widen. “Are you staying as well?” Then she hits her forehead lightly with the ball of her hand. “Well, of course you’re staying the night. It’s a long drive back.”
“Staying the weekend,” I stress, perplexed that she thought I was leaving Ace alone in a strange city and house.
I knew she wanted a chance to get to know him on her own territory, but hadn’t considered I might not be welcome.
Seeing the confusion on her face, I soften my stance, ruffle Ace’s hair, and chuckle.
“Can’t let Ace have all the fun to himself.
I’m looking forward to seeing Flagstaff through a resident’s eyes. ”
She laughs again, but it’s not the one I’ve gotten used to. Instead, it sounds forced. She stands back and gestures inside. I’ve just taken her unawares, I explain to myself.
“What am I thinking? Come on in. You’re bound to be thirsty and hungry after travelling all that way.”
Ace steps through into an airy hallway, with me following. Then we wait to see where she directs us next. She points to what turns out to be a pleasant, comfortably furnished family room.
“Ace, why don’t you take your bag upstairs? Your room is first on the left at the top.”
“Sure.” Obeying her suggestion, Ace takes his bag from me and disappears to the second floor.
Once he’s out of sight, she swings around to me. “Sorry, Freak, I wasn’t expecting you to stay. I’ve only two bedrooms, and Ace’s is only a single…”
“I can sleep on the couch.” I’ve already noted the item of furniture, which, though it’s a three-seater, still looks far too short for my six-foot-two frame.
Of course, I’d expected to be sharing her bed, where lack of space wouldn’t matter a damn.
There’s something about her attitude that worries me.
Could our fledgling romance have been all in my mind?
Could that night of amazing sex we enjoyed have only been a one-night stand in her head?
I remember that’s all I promised. For fuck’s sake, I’m the one who always throws women out of my bed after I’ve gotten what I wanted from them.
Is this the time the tables have turned?
The thought drives me to ask, “You gone cool on me, darlin’?”
“What?” She shakes her head rapidly. “No, Freak. It’s just Ace is here, and you and I getting over-friendly in front of him doesn’t seem right.”
Placing my bag down on said couch, I stalk her. She holds her ground. When I’m close enough, I place my hands on her shoulders, and when she doesn’t resist, I pull her into my arms. But when my mouth descends, she pushes me back.
“Ace will be down any moment,” she hisses.
I chuckle. “Ace will be delighted if he sees us together. You know he’s been encouraging me to make you his new mom.”
Her gasp tells me perhaps I shouldn’t have let loose that little tidbit so soon.
“Freak, I like you, like what we did together, and I love being Ace’s aunt.
But I barely know you.” As I go to speak, she holds up a finger.
“I know Ace has got some idea in his head about us getting together. I’m not dismissing the possibility, but it’s far too soon.
And I don’t want to lead Ace on. It would be cruel for him to think the two of us are a couple, when either of us could discover something we hated about the other, and couldn’t live with. ”
“Fuck, Toni. You saying I won’t be sharing your bed tonight?”
“Not when Ace is in the room opposite,” she replies haughtily.
Then she softens. “You got to understand, Freak. I do have feelings for you, but the speed of this is worrying, and I’ve got to be cautious.
If we do get together, there’d be a heap of things to sort out.
I’ve got a job here, friends, a life. I’d have to seriously consider whether I want to uproot and change that.
And you’d want me to make the sacrifice, wouldn’t you?
There’s no way you would leave your club. ”