Chapter Thirty-Six
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
It was a full house, and Natalie couldn’t be happier for Eugene.
They had been planning this housewarming party for a couple of weeks. He’d invited his coworkers, some of the new neighbors he’d met, Ned the contractor, and, of course, Linc and Hazel, along with Natalie and the kids. Natalie’s mom and stepdad had stopped by for a short visit but had to leave early to go visit a sick friend.
It was nice to finally meet the people who worked with Eugene.
A couple of the neighbors had brought their kids, and fortunately, since Eugene’s house was close to hers, Natalie also knew these neighbors. And Cammie and Christopher already knew the kids, which was perfect. So the kids had all run off to have some fun in the pool. And with parents surrounding the pool area and agreeing to keep an eye on her kids, Natalie could take a break and go look for Eugene.
She already knew she’d find him in his media room, his pride and joy. It was totally soundproof and wired up for sound and video like nothing she’d ever experienced before. The room was filled with his coworkers, who were all suitably impressed.
“Dude,” Heath said. “This setup is sweet. You never have to come in to the office anymore.”
Eugene laughed. “You’re just saying that so you can goof off if I’m not there.”
“Nah. I like the design we’re doing. I want to take it to the finish line.”
“Speaking of,” one of the women said, “what do you think of the new matrices and vectors we set up? I think it helped speed up the processors and gave the ride a smoother look.”
That’s when Natalie tapped out, because if they were all entering the matrix or vectored to another world or whatever video or wild ride thing it was that they did, it went way over her head. She made her way back to the pool area and found Hazel and Linc sitting poolside, their gazes focused on Cammie and Christopher.
“Are you monitoring my children?” she asked as she pulled up a chair next to them.
“Watching your kids is enjoyable,” Hazel said. “They’re so sweet, Nat.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “They can be. They can also be small terrors.”
Linc shrugged. “That’s how they learn survival instincts to help prepare them for adulthood.”
Natalie laughed. “I suppose you’re right.”
Her dog, Grizelda, came over for some love, then ran off after some of the kids. The great thing about Grizzie was that she loved the kids, and the neighborhood kids—including her own—also loved her.
Suddenly a blur flew past her and landed with a splash in the pool. The kids screamed and laughed, and Natalie realized it was Eugene. The kids all flung water at him and laughingly smacked him with pool noodles. He grabbed a water cannon and started spraying them.
“He’s like a kid,” Linc said. Then he stood. “Still, I should probably assist him before the kids take over.”
“Yes.” Hazel gave him a smile. “He looks like he’s in dire need of your help.”
Linc pulled off his shirt and made his way into the pool, diving in and finding himself under similar attack from six very adorable children.
“Siblings,” Hazel said, rolling her eyes.
“At least yours seems calm and rational. He’s just throwing the ball with the kids. Eugene is jumping all over the place giggling and laughing like a child.”
Hazel laughed. “Hey, he enjoys playing with them. Not too many men will get down to a kid’s level. He’s a kid at heart. He’s going to make an incredible father someday.”
He’s going to make an incredible father someday.
That sentence hung in the air, nearly choking her with panic and dread.
She’d been prepared to have a conversation with him later today about her feelings for him. Tell him that she loved him. But with that one sentence, the cold realization hit that if she entered a serious relationship with Eugene, if she pondered a future with him, she’d be denying him the one thing he was so good at. The one thing he might truly want someday.
A family of his own. The opportunity to have children of his own. Because she was done having kids. She’d made that clear, and she knew in her heart she didn’t want to start over having babies. Which didn’t mean that Eugene wouldn’t want to start a family. Of course he’d want to have his own kids. He was so good with her children, dove in right from the start with Cammie and Christopher, and they’d accepted him immediately.
How could they not? He was charming and fun and sweet and she owed him honesty about how she felt.
Oh, she could never tell him now how she truly felt. At least not what was really in her heart, how much she loved him. That would be so unfair to him.
No, she’d have to sit him down and explain the reality of the situation. That their age difference had finally reared its ugly head.
They were in two different places in their lives. His was just getting started. With everything, to be honest. New job. New house. He had a chance to start a new relationship. Find someone to fall in love with, get married, and have a family with.
Whereas she was in a different place, somewhere completely different. Divorced, free, independent, and raising two incredible children. She was moving forward with her life as it was. She wanted…well, she didn’t know exactly what she wanted yet, but she’d eventually figure it out.
Liar. You do know what you want. You want Eugene. You love him. You want him to be a part of your life, your kids’ lives. You want that happily ever after with him.
She stared out over the water, the splashing and laughter and the way her kids clung to Eugene like he was everything to them. Their protector, someone who was important in their lives. Her heart twisted as she thought about the kind of future they could have together.
No. That wasn’t her life. Or, it could be, but that would be so incredibly unfair to Eugene. She refused to do that to him.
So, later tonight, they’d talk. She’d be honest with him. He’d understand, and, of course, he’d see the logic in all of this. He’d realize that she was right, and they could go their separate ways without hurting each other.
It was all going to be just fine.
· · ·
“Ugh. I’m so full. I shouldn’t have had two burgers.” The party had dwindled, leaving just Eugene and Natalie and the kids, along with Hazel and Linc.
Linc looked over at his brother. “You ate two of those monster burgers?”
“Hey. Chasing little kids around the pool worked up an appetite, okay?”
“Uh-huh. You poor thing. I’m sure you were wasting away waiting on the food to be ready. And now you ate too much and you want to die.”
Eugene sank farther into the chaise. “Didn’t say that. I just said I was full. Satiated. Appreciated a good meal.”
Linc snorted. “No, that’s not what you said.”
Hazel came outside. “Kitchen’s clean and we have puppies to tend to. You ready to go?”
“Yup.” Linc got up and so did Eugene. He pulled Eugene into a hug. “Great house and awesome party, bruh.”
Eugene hugged Linc tightly. “Thanks for everything. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
He walked with them into the house. “Where’s Natalie?”
“Oh.” Hazel turned around to face him. “She said to tell you that Mom and Paul are home now, so she’s running the kids over to their house to spend the night, because they’re going on some farm tour early tomorrow morning. She’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” He hugged Hazel. “Thanks for all your help.”
“You have a great house, Eugene. And my sister did an incredible job decorating, which I’ve told her about ten times already.”
“She did, didn’t she?” He walked them to the front door and said goodbye again, then waited while they made their way to their car before he shut the door. He wandered back into the backyard to put chairs away, reorganize the tables, and make sure everything was put away.
After, he went inside, smiling as he realized how clean it all was. He had Natalie and Hazel to thank for that. Grizelda looked up at him with an expectant tilt of her head.
“Wanna go outside?” he asked.
She wagged her tail.
“Okay, girl.” He opened the door and she bounded out to the backyard.
The house was so quiet now. He’d always enjoyed the quiet. Being alone had always suited him. But now he’d gotten used to kids and dogs and noise, so he found the silence…well, silent. It was weird.
After letting Grizelda inside, he flopped down on the sofa and took out his phone, scrolling through his photos to review the pics he’d taken during the housewarming tonight. He smiled at the one of him and Natalie sitting on the front porch with the kids and the dog.
They all looked so good together. Like a family. Like they were meant to be together. All of them.
He stood, pacing the room, realizing how much he needed to talk to Natalie, to express his feelings to her. To tell her how much he wanted her and the kids to be a part of his life.
Tonight. He’d do it tonight.
And now he was more nervous than ever.
But excited, too.
· · ·
Natalie pulled up in the driveway, turned off the engine, then just sat there, going over and over in her head how she was going to break up with Eugene.
Just the thought of it tightened her throat. She couldn’t fathom hurting him. Losing him would devastate her. She couldn’t even imagine how upset the kids would be. They’d grown so attached. How was she even going to explain it to them? And what about Linc and Hazel? How would that go once she and Eugene broke up? They were always together as a foursome—as a family. But after tonight…
This was going to hurt a lot of people. She’d bungled this so badly. She knew better than to get involved, yet she’d done it anyway.
She gripped the steering wheel, contemplating backing out and going home. But that would only delay the inevitable. It was better to be honest, to just get it over with, no matter how much it hurt.
At this point she wasn’t certain she was going to get through it without falling apart.
She got out of the car and walked to the door, her finger hovering at the doorbell. She inhaled several head-clearing breaths and pushed the button.
Eugene opened the door, his bright smile making her doubt she’d be able to do what needed to be done.
“You’re back.”
“I am.” Grizelda was there to greet her so she bent over to scratch the pup behind her ears. She walked inside and followed him down the hall toward the living room.
“Get the kids dropped off okay?”
“I did. They’re so happy to spend the night with Gramma and Grandpa. And even more excited about going to the farm to see the chickens, cows, and goats tomorrow.”
He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her against his chest. “Aww. I’m sure they’re going to have a great time. I can’t wait for them to tell me all about it.”
Dammit. Tears welled in her eyes. She blinked, frantically forcing them back. She was relieved to know he wasn’t looking at her.
But then he turned her around. “So, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now.”
Oh. Maybe he was breaking up with her . The thought made her stomach plummet, but then she realized how ridiculous that was. Wouldn’t it be easier if he dumped her, so she wouldn’t have to be the one to crush his heart? Though it was still going to hurt either way.
“Okay. Tell me.”
He swept her hair away from her face. His touch gave her goosebumps. Always had. And when he stroked his thumb across her bottom lip, her knees went weak.
How was she going to survive without those butterflies, that feeling of being swept away by his every touch?
“I love you, Natalie. I’m in love with you. I want you in my life. Every day.”
Oh no. She hadn’t expected this. Those words, the look of utter, truthful love on his face. Before she could utter a rebuttal, he kissed her—a deep, passionate, curl-her-toes kind of kiss with lots of hot, delicious tongue that sent desire swirling through her nerve endings.
She wanted to object, to push him away, put a stop to this. But then he pulled the neck of her top down and pressed searing wet kisses along her throat and collarbone. His hand moved to her ass and squeezed, massaged, drew her against his hard cock, making her dizzy with the need to feel him inside of her. And then all thoughts of having any kind of breakup conversation fled.
With desperate intent she pulled up his shirt, sliding her hands inside to feel the hard planes and angles of his abs. She slid her hand into the waistband of his shorts, grasping his cock and stroking up, then down, focusing her gaze on the burning-hot look in his eyes.
“Naked,” he groaned, jerking the waistband of her pants down. “Now.”
Clothes were flung everywhere and suddenly they were both naked in the living room. Natalie spread a blanket out on the sofa while Eugene disappeared for a few seconds to grab a condom. He came back and kneeled down in front of her on the sofa, pulling her down so her hips rested on the edge.
“I’ve been dying to get you alone,” he said, pressing his fingers on her thighs. “I need to taste you, make you come.”
He put his mouth on her sex and she arched her hips, moaning with sheer delight at the exquisite sensations. Eugene was relentless, never letting up as his mouth and tongue took her right to the edge, then over. She was certain that scream was hers as she shook through the intense waves.
Shaken after that incredible orgasm, it took her a minute to do anything other than lie on the sofa like a limp mop. Meanwhile, Eugene had gone into the kitchen and come back with a glass of water. She took a sip, coating her parched throat. She handed the glass to Eugene, and he took a few sips, then laid the glass on the table.
Then she pushed him to sit on the sofa and straddled him.
“I like where this is going,” he said, sliding his hands around her hips.
She reached over where he had put the condom, flipping the package back and forth in her hands. “Since your cock is still hard—which is very impressive, I might add—let’s get this on.”
“Hey, you’re naked and you just screamed so loud when you came I think I’ll be hard for the rest of the night.”
“Ooh. A challenge. I do like a challenge.” She leaned over and cupped his face in her hands, then put her mouth to his, taking in his breath, his lips, his tongue, the way his hands swept over her back and lower. The combination drove her wild with desire.
She ripped open the condom package and applied it to his cock, then rose up and slowly slid down over him. The feel of him entering her, the way he filled her so completely, made her insides quiver with sensation. She took a shuddering breath.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Mmm. More than okay.” She leaned over him, lifting, then filling herself with the length and thickness of him. The eye contact between them intensified her pleasure, making her lose herself in the beauty of his face. This face that she was going to let go of, that she was going to allow to leave her forever.
Don’t think about it. Not now. Not yet.
“What you do to me, Natalie,” he whispered as he grasped her hips and dragged her clit across his pelvis.
She gasped, leaning closer to him, using his shoulders to help her balance as she grew closer to orgasm. “Yes. Like that. Don’t stop.”
He didn’t, just kept going until she came apart, and then he drove deeply into her and shuddered with her. She dropped down on top of him and he wrapped his arms around her, both of them shaking with the force of their orgasms.
And then he just held her like that, for the longest time, smoothing his hands up and down her back. She could have fallen asleep like this, could have let him hold her like this forever so she didn’t have to face reality.
At least until her hip started to cramp.
She climbed off and went to use the bathroom, freshened up a bit, then came back to the living room to grab her clothes.
“Whoa, wait a second. What are you doing?”
She turned around to see a deliciously naked Eugene leaning against the wall. “I’m getting dressed.”
“No, you’re not. We’re not finished.”
She needed to talk to him. About important things. Though at the moment he was naked and so was she, and she had to admit her brain was a bit sex addled.
Surely that important conversation could wait, couldn’t it?
She held out her hand. “Sofa again, or would you like to bend me over your outstanding kitchen island?”
He arched a brow and took her hand. “Lead the way into the kitchen.”