CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE PAST
Four months had passed since that afternoon at the coffee shop, and Oliver had spent every one of them showing me parts of life I thought belonged to other people.
Whenever June could watch Rowe, he took me somewhere new: restaurants with white tablecloths and dishes I was afraid to pronounce, a small theater where he bought me a dress because I said I had nothing to wear, and a gallery where he asked what I thought and listened as though I couldn’t give a wrong answer.
He remembered everything.
That I hated raw onion. That I loved old bookstores.
That I checked the price before ordering and worried whenever he spent money on me.
He asked about Rowe on every date, remembered when he had a cold or a bad tantrum that made me late, and he never made me feel like being a mother was something he merely tolerated.
I had spent years arranging my life around work, school, bills, and my boy.
With Oliver, I was still a mother, but I was also a woman being taken somewhere beautiful.
By the time he asked to meet Rowe, I had stopped feeling like a visitor in his life. I wanted to believe I belonged there.
“You’re nervous,” Oliver said.
I wrung my hands together. “I’m excited.”
“Promise?”
I nodded. “I do. I promise.”
“Then why haven’t you said anything, Daisy?”
“Because it’s the first time I’ve ever brought a man over to meet Rowe, and I just want it to go perfectly.”
He nodded. “That’s a normal reaction.”
I watched him as he slid the suit off his body one layer at a time, neatly depositing them in the laundry hamper. “Come shower with me.”
I glanced at the window and at the falling snow. It was still morning. I’d barely been out of the classroom ten minutes when he picked me up. “I showered this morning.”
He approached me and wrapped his large arms around me, bringing me close.
I was very aware of how naked he was, and I felt a blush in my cheeks as I looked up at him and into his deep brown eyes.
He pressed a kiss against my mouth. “Sweetheart, it’s to calm your nerves.
You just wrote a big exam and now you’re about to take me around to meet your boy on his birthday. I want to hold you.”
I nodded, warmed by his attentiveness. “Alright.”
We showered together and made out under the hot water.
Even after four months, being here, with Oliver, was brand new to me.
I got to touch him and kiss him, and he was ever so responsive back.
He was always hard for me, and strong. Oliver was very built.
He worked very hard to stay that way, working out early in the mornings before I was even up.
He was absolutely mouthwatering to look at.
And he was mine.
For as long as he wanted me.
When we got out of the shower, we dried ourselves off.
He didn’t like leaving wet footsteps behind because we might slip over them.
Once I was dried off, he picked me up as if I weighed light as a feather and took me into his bedroom.
I laughed when he sucked at my neck, hard enough to leave a mark.
“What’s that for?” I asked, grinning as he plopped me down on the bed.
“I’m marking you,” he answered, smirking down at me. “To keep those little boys away from you.”
I laughed. “What boys?”
“The ones in your classes.” He climbed over me, and I stilled as he spread his knees apart, boxing my shoulders in. He brought his cock to my mouth and stared down at me, his wet black hair dripping down on me. “Suck me.”
My eyes widened. “Like this?”
His stare was intense. “Like this.”
He angled his cock, pressing it against my mouth.
Slowly, I spread my lips apart, taking him in.
I didn’t know if I was doing it right. I’d already given him plenty of blowjobs, but never in this angle.
Unprepared, I tried to accept him, but it was a little hard.
Oliver watched me carefully; his eyes laser focused on my face.
His lips parted and a shuddering breath left him.
“Get it wetter,” he ordered. “I want you to spit on it.”
As he eased out of my mouth, I darted out my tongue and ran it along his length. He let out a groan and gently stroked my head. My heart warmed at the doting touch. I was doing a good job. “Suck me harder,” he ordered next. “Make some noises for me.”
“Noises?”
“Moan for me.”
I hesitated, and when I saw the frown start to form on his face, I quickly worked my mouth around him again.
He moved in and out of me, and I let out a soft breathy sound, and then I moaned.
It felt strange to make that sound on purpose, but then his cock went impossibly harder and I realized it excited him.
So, I moaned a little louder, and then he moved a little faster, his cock driving into my mouth deeper than before.
“Work your pussy for me,” he said next, panting.
Though I was boxed in around my shoulders, I could still move my hands. I let one drift to my core, and I traced little circles there. He turned his head to see that I was touching myself, and then he looked back down at me and grinned. “You are perfect, Daisy.”
I smiled back, but only for a moment, because he brought his cock back into my mouth and fucked it harder.
I felt my throat close around his length, and I gagged.
He withdrew, and I sucked in a breath of air, and then he moved back in, pushing deeper.
“It’s alright,” he assured me when my eyes watered.
“Just a little more, sweetheart. I’m so close. You want me to come?”
I nodded eagerly.
“Then take it.”
For him, I did. He fucked my mouth quickly, and I managed breaths in between the strokes.
And then his hand balled into my hair as he drove into my mouth so deep, I felt his cock down my throat.
He stilled, his dark eyes boring into mine as I tried my best to hold my breath.
My body jolted, desperate for air. “Shh,” he whispered and then he groaned deep in his chest as he came down my throat.
My chest convulsed, my throat gagging as the warm liquid rushed down it.
Oliver immediately withdrew and got off me.
I moved to my side, coughing and sputtering as he ran his hand down my back, comfortingly.
“Good girl,” he whispered. “And perfect. So perfect, Daisy.”
I tried not to think about what happened in the bedroom as he drove us to my sister’s apartment.
I wasn’t sure how to process it. He’d never done something like that.
I liked that it gave him pleasure, but it felt so unexpected.
I only wished he’d told me that he wanted to do that before he just did it.
Then again, it was sex. It would be weird to lay down the play by play, right?
I wasn’t experienced enough to know, and June never talked about things like that with me.
But I read a lot to know that spontaneity was a big thing in relationships.
I decided I wanted to be spontaneous. I wanted him to get hard like that for me.
Oliver was in a great mood, and he was incredibly affectionate.
He brought my hand to his mouth half a dozen times to kiss it.
It was how I knew what we did must have been normal and perfectly alright.
The more tender he became afterward, the more foolish I felt for having been unsettled at all.
At one point, he settled my hand over his jeans where his cock was and chuckled when my eyes bulged at his hardness.
“Something about you, Daisy, makes me lose my mind. You’re so special. ”
I smiled, melting. “You really believe that?”
“You’re unlike any girl I’ve ever met.” He said that with so much conviction, it made me emotional. I’d felt so damn invisible before he came along, but now I was seen, and he was wonderful, and June was going to love him. Rowe, on the other hand…
I didn’t have time to rethink this when Oliver parked the car in front of the apartment building.
He got out, and he looked so damn good in his black wool jacket with the falling snow dotting his hair.
He opened the trunk and went to it as I stepped out.
I turned to look at him, wondering what he was doing.
When he closed the trunk back, there was something in his hand.
My mouth fell open when I saw it was a birthday bag.
He grinned at my expression. “Oh, come on, you think I wouldn’t have gotten him anything? ”
“Oliver, you didn’t have to.”
He silenced me with a kiss. “I wanted to. Besides, it might help my chances at winning him over. A good first impression to start things off on a high note.”
As we walked to the entrance, I asked, “What is it?”
His eyes brightened. “Nothing big, don’t you worry.”
I was skeptical. It was a big bag. I had a feeling it was a big present.
“Thank you, Oliver.”
His brows shot up. “What did I say about the thank-yous?”
I opened the door and paused to look at him. “But this is one of those big things, Professor.”
His gaze heated as he stared down at me. “I like when you call me that.”
I laughed and entered. “Everyone calls you that.”
“But they’re not you.”
The apartment was on the ground floor, so we didn’t need to take an elevator.
He followed me down the long hallway and to the last door on the left.
Number 57. I unlocked the door and opened it.
Two steps in, I could already hear a kids' show playing on the television.
I kicked off my shoes and said quietly, “June?”
Oliver came in behind me, and I felt him at my back. My nerves shot up. I was terrified of this moment. I didn’t want it to go wrong. If Rowe didn’t accept Oliver, I couldn’t see a way forward with the professor, and that put an ache in me that ran deep in my soul.
June was in the kitchen, which was directly next to the entrance. She twisted around to look at me, smiling. “Hey, sis.” Her eyes immediately darted to Oliver. “Wow, this is actually happening, huh?”
I put a finger to my mouth and whispered, “It’ll be quick.”
June approached us, her attention still on Oliver. “I’m June.”
“Oliver.” Oliver extended his hand out to her and she took it. She looked flustered, like me. Her eyes now darted in the direction of the living room.
“It’s nice to meet you, but…Rowe’s only just calmed down. I don’t know…” Her words trailed off as she looked at me, that warning present in her voice. “He might flip out. This might be a big deal.”
“I won’t be here long,” Oliver assured her. He lifted the birthday bag. “I got him a little something.”
June didn’t look convinced. “What are we introducing you as?”
I hesitated. “He’s…”
“I’m just a friend to his mother,” Oliver stated calmly. “Nothing more as of yet.”
June frowned and continued to look at me, waiting for my response. I agreed with Oliver. “Just a friend for now.”
June sighed defeatedly. “Alright, fine, let’s do this then.”
As she strode to the living room, Oliver kicked off his shoes. He took me by the hand, tugged me gently to him and whispered, “Why does she act like she’s responsible for your son, Daisy? You’re making the rules for him, aren’t you?”
I nodded quickly. “Of course.”
His eyes held mine for a moment. “Then find your voice, sweetheart.”
With that, we moved to the living room, my heart in my throat, his words heavy on my mind. Oliver let go of my hand right as we entered. Rowe was on the floor, his fire truck in his lap, his eyes pinned to the television screen, watching his favorite show.
“Hey, buddy,” I said.
Upon hearing my voice, he whipped his head to me and broke into the biggest smile. “Mommy!” He jumped up and raced to me. My heart jumped as I bent down and scooped him into my arms. “Happy Birthday, Rowe! Has your morning been good?”
“June made me pancakes and she added chocolate chips! Then she gave me a present!” He spoke in a frenzy, letting me know that June had given him a special morning.
The fire truck he had been playing with was full of lights and music.
June really went all out. My chest constricted at that thought.
I glanced at June, at her gentle smile as she looked proudly at Rowe.
I felt a little envious that she got to spend the morning of his fifth birthday with him while I was stuck writing a three-hour exam.
“That’s amazing!” I bottled up my feelings and plastered on a bright smile. “Now, I have someone I’d like you to meet. He’s a friend of mine from school.”
I set him down on his feet and turned us toward Oliver. My heart beat faster as Oliver approached Rowe and dropped down to his level. I looked down at Rowe, watching as his curious eyes ran over Oliver and then settled on the giant gift bag with the race car patterns.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Rowe,” Oliver said softly. “Your mom’s told me so much about you. In fact, she told me it’s your birthday today.” He moved in closer, whispering, “I’m somewhat of a big deal when it comes to birthdays. I get the best presents.”
Rowe’s eyes lit up, and a fast smile spread across his face. “Really?”
“Really, really.”
Oliver slid the bag closer across the carpet.
Rowe reached for it, then stopped and looked up at me.
I smiled and nodded.
Only then did he pull the bag into his lap.
I glanced at Oliver, but he was watching Rowe with such warmth that I felt foolish for noticing the pause at all.
Oliver continued to speak in soft quiet tones.
My lips twitched as Rowe grew more excited, his body shaking with anticipation as Oliver told him how amazing his present was going to be.
I looked up at June, a smile spreading across my face.
June’s eyes were locked on Oliver. She was smiling, too, but her gaze looked heavy on him, like she was as dazed by him as I was.
Finally, her eyes jumped to meet mine, and I read her expression clearly. Just how did you get him?
I didn’t know, but I felt genuine fear in that very instant.
Fear that this wouldn’t last.
Fear that I would mess it up.
That Oliver would slip through my fingers, and I’d forever pine for him.
I couldn’t ruin this. Not when Rowe was tearing through the bag, finding the latest console and games within.
I had mentioned once that Rowe watched other children playing it through the shop window.
I didn’t remember telling Oliver which model. My heart pinched.
Oliver’s laugh was smooth and wonderful, and it made my being come alive. He finally looked up and met my gaze. Pure adoration shone in his expression. I never wanted him to look at me any other way.
With Rowe’s eager acceptance of the professor, the last walls I’d erected fell down in a glorious heap.
I had fallen irrevocably in love with Oliver Black.