Eveline
Still buried deep, Renley sat back on his heels and took her with him. Her nose nestled into the crook of his neck as she fought to catch her breath.
“Didn’t know I had a fucking praise kink,” he muttered.
“I didn’t know I liked being spanked,” she retorted with a laugh.
With a tight hug, he stood and carried her to the bathroom, making sure he didn’t slip out of her.
Before he moved to dispose of the condom, he handed her damp cloths to clean up with.
He didn’t allow her to move a muscle when he returned with their clothes, first helping her dress before attending to himself and carrying her back to the living room.
“You really want me to teach you?” she asked as he set her knitting box between them.
“Yes, please.”
Hoping that it would be less frustrating, they tried first with crochet. He did well, though he didn’t seem very pleased with his work. They had some sort of reality show playing in the background, both more focused on the work in their hands.
“This is so soothing,” he mumbled, twirling the yarn around his fingers.
“It helps me whined down.”
“I might steal this and take it home.”
“Give it a few weeks and you’ll end up with a whole blanket.”
Renley glanced over at her, his shy smile everything to her. “I’ll need to buy more yarn.”
“If you like, we can make a date out of it?”
Eagerly, he nodded. “Tell me when and where and I’ll be there. I could actually get used to this.”
“Us knitting together.”
“ Spending our time together.”
“It feels good, doesn’t it?”
Through his lashes he looked over at her with a sly smile on his lips. “Will you be my girlfriend, Eveline Harris?”
“I would be honoured.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “So official.”
“Can’t have another handsome man snag you away.”
“My sister asked to meet you and said if you—well if we —are ready, she would love for you to visit.”
“Aren’t you going soon?”
“Next week.”
“How long are you staying?”
“Two weeks. I usually take my work with me so I can stay longer without letting Jeronimo down.”
“Maybe if my boss gives me a few days off, I can join for a weekend. I’ll check with Jeronimo next week, don’t want anyone to think I’m seducing the boss for the perks.”
She laughed and slapped his bicep. “I am the perk.”
“Where was that confident talk earlier?”
“I have my phases,” she teased with a wink.
He playfully shook his head and pulled at the yarn again.
They spent the entire afternoon together, winding down cosily before Renley left after dinner.
The next day, Jeronimo stepped into her office to have lunch with her. “Are you finally dating Renley?”
“I am.”
“It’s serious?” he poked further.
“Mmhmm,” she agreed with her mouth full.
“So serious that he’s meeting your sister?”
“Yes, why? Did he already talk to you about taking a few days off?”
“He has, but didn’t say why .” He shrugged. “Not that he has to. Why didn’t you just approve it?”
“Because we don’t want anyone to think I’m showing favouritism.”
“Fair enough, but I trust your judgment, so if the circumstances fit, you don’t have to check with me.”
“I know. I’d just feel better if we keep our boundaries clear.”
With an understanding nod, he returned to his lunch. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
“But if he fucks this up, I’m not going to handle it professionally.”
“Bold of you to think I won’t be the one to screw up,” she laughed trying to hide how truly terrified she was of it.
“I’ll still have your back.”
“You’re a sweetheart.”
Winking, he focused on his lunch, and she took a moment to appreciate the big brother she’d never had.
Work was the usual business the rest of the week and, as with her normal routine, she took lunch to the jobsite that weekend. With everything in her lap, she made her way in, meeting Renley as he shook his head in disbelief.
“You could have texted.” He picked up the bags halfway, bending down and then freezing. “I would like to kiss you.”
“Why don’t you then?”
“Because we’re at work.”
“Are you going to call me kitten?”
“No.”
“Then come here,” she giggled, tugging him down by the hem of his shirt. “Are you still coming to my place tonight?”
“Of course, how could I not? Are you excited to see them all tomorrow?”
“Over the moon, but it feels wrong leaving you behind.”
“I’ll be there on Thursday evening.”
The other workers didn’t say a word as they took their food but if their snickers and gazes were anything to go by, Renley was in for one hell of an interrogation once she left.
They were too polite to do so around her.
After a while, she let Renley walk her to her car—so long as he kept doing that thing with her hair, he could do anything he damn well pleased.
“Can you buy dessert on your way to my place?” she asked.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Something with chocolate or raspberry.”
“Of course.” While she settled into the driver’s seat, he dismantled her chair and handed her the pieces. “You promise to wait and let me help cook, right?”
“I will, I feel kinda lazy.”
“Good.”
“Will you bring your blanket?”
“Yes. I think I messed up. It all looks crooked and I need professional help.”
She laughed and he leaned down, stealing a kiss. “If you come straight away, maybe I’ll spoil you in the shower.”
“Such a dirty talker,” he purred, but stamped his lips to her forehead and stepped back. “Lucky for you I’ve already packed.”
He saw her off. In the rearview mirror, she saw him combing his fingers through his hair and straightening the cap on his head. A few hours later he was finally in her arms, his lips on hers the second he’d dropped his bag.
“How was work?”
“A nightmare,” he laughed. “They jumped on me the second you were out of sight.”
“I’m sorry. I thought they’d do as much.”
“You know I don’t mind.” Flake purred and wove between his ankles, and Renley bent down to scoop him up. “Hi, little one. Miss me?”
“They do seem to be warming up to you. They don’t usually greet people like this.”
“They’d better. I’m here to stay and when I do, I always sneak some treats to them too.” With Flake in one hand, Renley grabbed his bag with the other. “So, kitten, you don’t happen to have a bathtub around here, do you?”
“I do. Are you suggesting I finally use it?”
“You bet I am.”
A little while later, they sat in the steaming bathtub with a glass of wine each and raspberry popsicles. It was a tighter fit than the hotel bath, with Renley’s knees poking above the surface, but it was just as perfect.
“Would you be open to talking about what you see in our future?” he asked once his ice cream had disappeared.
“What do you have in mind?”
“This might sound silly, but what do you see as the goals you have for us?”
“Long term?”
“Yes, maybe five or ten years down the line?”
“I love how you don’t hesitate to see us together so far ahead.”
“Why else would I be dating you if not for that?”
“That is very true.” Then taking a sip of the wine and biting down the last of her treat, she said, “I always saw myself getting married and having kids.”
“How many do you want?”
“Two? I’m honestly not sure anymore, because being a wheelchair mom seems so daunting.”
“May I ask why?”
“Labour scares me anyway, but there’s the whole idea of taking care of someone who depends on me. Because how can I take care of such a tiny human when I often struggle myself?”
Renley ghosted a kiss across the nape of her neck. “You wouldn’t be alone. And let’s be honest, unless something drastically changes in my life, you’d be the breadwinner and I’d be the stay-at-home dad.”
Her only response was reaching back to thread her fingers through Renley’s hair.
“I’ll be there, I’ve always thought of myself as a hands-on dad—for anything that comes up. I’m sure there are tons of information out there for interabled parents.” With another kiss he let his palms run over her thighs. “So, marriage and kids are goals.”
“Stepping stones,” she whispered.
“Stepping stones?”
“Yes. If you see those as goals they seem like an end, rather than being achievements along the way.”
“Oh—I never thought of that.”
“Marriage just shows the commitment you have to the other, but it shouldn’t be the end goal, that would be the overall happy life together.”
“And that’s why you’re the brains and I’m the muscle.”
“What are you seeing in your future?”
“You. I mean, it sounds so simple, but when I try to picture myself in a year or five, the only thing I can see clearly is that you’re by my side. Hopefully by then I’ll have worked up the guts to ask for your hand.”
“And moved in?”
“Yes, and if you’re extra nice I’ll even gift you a third kitten.”
“Aw, the way to my heart.” She turned her head and kissed his jaw. “Do you see yourself living here?”
“I do, though I have to admit I’m still struggling with the whole financial side of things.”
“Because I make more money?”
“I know it’s stupid because I’m proud of what you have achieved. It’s just my manly pride. And no, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem and I will work on it.”
“I want you to know that it’s okay to address this at any time. Age gap aside, I know our constellation is unusual.”
“Thank you.” Then his chest vibrated with a light laugh. “I never had anyone I could talk this openly with.”
“That’s what maturing does to you, you learn to express yourself and with the right partner it feels natural.”
The vibrations only intensified. “I’m finally growing up, becoming a real man.”
Renley held her until the water turned cold before they pulled themselves from the bath to spend the rest of their evening together.