Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Shaw
I spent the night worshipping my angel, endless sex and kisses, touches and orgasms, until we drifted off to sleep in the early morning hours.
Unfortunately, kids come with an early wake-up call.
Adilene groaned when she heard Mama being called from her Lolly’s bedroom and stirred underneath the covers. After a minute, she wiped the sleep from her eyes and sat up. She looked back at me and smiled. “Shh, you stay here.”
“No. I kept you awake all night. I should get up and help.”
Adilene chuckled. “Will you stop being so damn perfect?”
“Can’t help it.” I grinned and stretched my arms above my head. I took her by the waist and pulled her naked body down onto mine, kissing her soft lips. “You deserve it.”
She kissed me back but pulled away all too soon. “I wish we could stay in bed. But the kids are hungry, so I must go.”
“I know, angel. I’ll help. Unless you don’t want the kids knowing I stayed the night?”
The color drained from her face, and she covered it with her hands. “Oh shit. I’m such a terrible mother. I didn’t even think of that.”
“Okay, how about you go get them and head downstairs, start the morning, and I’ll come down after. We can say I slept on the couch because it got late and the weather. Whatever you’d like me to say.”
“That works. Thank you. Most guys would run for the hills.”
“I’d be stupid to run away from you. Children or not, I know you’re the one for me, Adilene.”
Adilene said nothing, but her eyes spoke a thousand words. The biggest one was a question—how?
“I don’t know how, angel. It’s a feeling I have in my gut. One I’d never felt before for anyone. But I trust myself. And I know it’s you I want.”
“I want you too, Shaw. It’s just a lot to think about with my kids, and…”
“I know. So let’s just enjoy each other, okay? We can go on dates, we can learn about each other, no pressure. I won’t even call you, my girlfriend. Just my angel.” I teased.
“Okay,” Adilene said before kissing me softly.
I kissed her back, pouring all of my feelings into the kiss before letting her go.
“If you’re not busy, we can spend the day together. My mom is picking up the kids later to bring them to the zoo for a Christmas party.”
“You mean, we get alone time? Just us?”
Adilene nodded as she stood. “Yes. Just you and me.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice.” I grinned.
I watched her dress into a pair of comfy pajamas, and when she left the room, I already missed her.
It was crazy, the entire thing was crazy, but it was here, and it was in my face. I’d be crazy to turn away from it.
I spent most of my days working, whether on the software I was developing or at my job in IT, and with my parents off traveling and my friends busy with their own families, I often found myself alone.
But Adilene and her children brought me the family I didn’t know I was missing, didn’t know I wanted.
After several minutes, I got up and dressed, freshened up in the bathroom, and made my way downstairs. Adilene was already cooking breakfast. The kids sat at the kitchen table with fruit and milk, the TV playing a kids’ cartoon.
“Hey, guys,” I said as I walked in, the kids’ faces lighting up. “Sleep well?”
“Shaw, you’re still here?” Lenny asked, his eyes wide. “Did you sleep over?”
“Yes. On the couch. The snow was coming down hard last night.”
“Snow, yay! Lots of snow! I love the snow. Do you, Shaw?”
“Snow!” Lolly jumped in with the cheering.
“Of course I do. What’s a better way to spend an afternoon than building a snowman?”
“Mama doesn’t like it,” Lenny announced.
Adilene laughed as she opened the oven and slid a tray of cinnamon rolls in. They looked delicious. “Only when I have to drive in it, buddy.”
“Oh. Mama doesn’t like to drive in it,” Lenny said matter-of-factly as if that’s what he’s said from the beginning.
“Yeah, it can be messy. Lolly, do you like the snow?”
She nodded her head quickly, her pigtails bouncing. “Me love snow!”
Adilene handed me a cup of coffee before sitting at the table with us. She sipped on her mug and smiled at me from above it. Our connection was palpable, and I wished I could take her back to bed.
“After breakfast, Nana is going to pick you up and take you to the zoo. They are having a Christmas party,” Adilene explained, her eyes never leaving mine.
I couldn’t wait for our alone time.
“The zoo? Yay!” Lenny cried, a piece of strawberry flying from his mouth.
“Whoa, Len. You’re spitting your food.” Adilene handed him a napkin.
“Zoo? What the zoo?” Lolly asked.
“Where the animals are, don’t you remember, Sis?” Lenny looked at his two-year-old sister like she was crazy, and I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.
“Yes, you know, the giraffes and elephants. Remember Lolly?” Adilene said to her daughter, who nodded her head happily.
“Mama, come. And Shaw?” Lolly asked.
“Not this time, sweetie. Nana wants to spend some time with just you and Lenny. She’s going to take you out to dinner for pizza and ice cream, too.”
Lenny’s face lit up. “That’s my favorite dinner!”
“Me too!” Lolly cheered.
After a delicious breakfast of Adilene’s homemade cinnamon rolls, we cleaned up the living room of all the toys. Deb stopped by to get her grandkids, looking very happy to see me.
“Still here, I see, Shaw?”
I chuckled. “Yes, ma’am. You know, the roads and such.”
Deb’s eyes twinkled. “Mmhmm, yes, the roads were terrible.” She kissed and hugged her daughter, whispering in her ear something that made Adilene blush. I could only imagine what she said.
When she left with the kids, I pulled Adilene into my arms and kissed her. “Your mom is a hot ticket.”
“She is, that one. Always keeps me on my toes.”
“Like mother, like daughter?” I asked before kissing her jaw.
“I think you might need to find out.”
“Oh, angel, I plan to. I plan to find out everything. We have forever to get to know one another.”
“Yes, yes, we do.”