Chapter 9 #4
Pumpkin was a big guy. At six-two and packed with muscle, he was aware that he could be an intimidating presence.
Hell, even after losing muscle mass, his biceps were still thicker than her thighs.
After feeling how tight her pussy was, even after two orgasms, Pumpkin knew it was still going to be a squeeze.
Dosia sat up on his chest, seeming to be coming back to herself as Pumpkin was rolling the condom down his cock. Her eyes widened when she saw his size, and damn him, he couldn’t stop the surge of pride at her reaction.
“Sit up a little more,” he coaxed gently.
When she did, Pumpkin moved himself further up the couch between her legs. He carefully adjusted her hips over his, but didn’t immediately push inside her as his cock so desperately wanted him to do. Instead, he brought her head down to his and kissed her, long and languid .
Dosia didn’t seem to mind or notice her own essence coating his mouth as she melted into his arms, molding her body to his. He wrapped an arm around the small of her back as the other folded into her hair.
“Fuck, Dosia, baby,” he groaned against her mouth. “I can’t get enough of you.”
Despite the condom he’d already put on, he truly had the intention of verifying with her that she was comfortable continuing.
He didn’t want to pressure her, regardless of what he wanted, and had only meant to be prepared.
So when Dosia worked her way onto his cock, fitting him to her entrance and slowly sliding down his length, Pumpkin about lost his ever-loving mind.
Their kiss became gasping and fevered as she moved her hips. With their height differences, Pumpkin arched his back and bent his knees, bringing his cock up towards her as she pushed down. She felt incredible, better than he ever could have imagined or remembered through a drunken haze.
As their tongues battled for dominance and Pumpkin’s grip on her hair tightened, he knew two very important facts.
First, Dosia was his . She was made for him: mind, body, and soul.
There would never be another equal to her in this world.
And second, he was utterly and completely gone for her.
It wasn’t love, not yet anyway, and it didn’t have to be.
It was devotion, a melding of souls that would one day lead to love.
The kind that poems and epic tales were told of.
Sparks flew and ecstasy reigned as they succumbed to the intoxicating feel of the other.
Dosia was lying over Pumpkin’s chest. He was lazily rubbing her back up and down with one hand while playing with the fingers of her left hand with the other.
“You know, I don’t even know your full name.”
Dosia’s lips twitched against his chest. “Theodosia Licorice Woods. ”
She felt Pumpkin’s chin dip, but she refused to look up at him because she could only imagine the expression on his face. “Licorice?”
She shrugged. “My family are Pagans. All of our names have some meaning that connects us to nature.” Before he could inquire about that part of her history, she asked, “What about your name?”
“Seth Ivan Andrich.”
Dosia’s head perked up at that . “Andrich? As in…the bridge?”
To her shock, pink colored his cheeks above his dark beard. “Yeah,” he answered begrudgingly. “That’s where my accident happened. In my defense, I was in a medically induced coma when they made the decision to rename the bridge after me.”
A shiver ran through her. Between that news, the chill of the fall day, and their lack of clothing goosebumps raised up all along her body.
Dosia had been set to ignore it, too comfortable to consider moving, but Pumpkin noticed, or guessed, and flipped them, turning his naked body into a living blanket for her.
“Thank you.” Dosia smiled up at him as their naked bodies rubbed up against each other’s again. She let out a moan, and then a light giggle. “I can’t believe we slept together.”
“Really?” He propped himself up on his fist, his elbow by her head. “I can’t believe we waited this long. If SJ hadn’t been at the restaurant, I think I would have ended up fucking you over the dinner table.”
Dosia shook her head, biting her lips to keep from smiling at him again. Mainly because she couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. “At least we used protection this time.”
Pumpkin raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? We used protection last time too.”
Dosia blinked, surprised by this. “We did? I just assumed we hadn’t with the pregnancy and all.”
“I woke up next to two used condoms, and as drunk as we were, I highly doubt I would have been able to get it up a third time.”
Dosia snorted. “Sorry,” she stifled quickly. “I just… I’m just grateful. I spent six years thinking I had reckless, unprotected sex with a stranger. ”
“Nope. Just reckless, protected , amazing sex with an incredible sexy man.”
She couldn’t stop the laugh that time. He smiled down at her, but it was the look in his eyes that had her pausing.
It was the look of a man who saw something beautiful in front of him.
She saw it every time Grandpa Marmot looked at Grandma Solstice.
She remembered her dad looking at her mom the same way.
Her heart started beating quickly for an entirely different reason. Shit, she was going to ruin her good mood. She just knew it was too good to be true. “Can we talk seriously for a moment?” At his raised eyebrow, she added, “Please, Pumpkin?”
His brows drew down. “Of course. You can tell me anything, Dosia.”
He lifted his hand to cup her face, and Dosia felt like such a bitch for her next words. “I can’t date you.”
Pumpkin blinked. He removed his hand from her face, and despite that his warm, big body covered hers, Dosia felt utterly cold in that moment. “Are you married?”
“What? No!” How could he even think that after what they’d just done?
“Then what’s the problem?”
Dosia took a deep breath and closed her eyes, needing to not look at him when she said this.
“It’s all happening too fast. We’re still strangers, Pumpkin.
I agree that you have a right to be in JJ’s life, and SJ is her brother, but you and me…
?” Her voice trailed off. “This can’t happen again. I need to…figure some things out.”
His body was completely still over hers. And he was quiet. Too quiet. Dosia opened her eyes, needing to see his reaction. He was staring down at her, his expression oddly blank for the bomb she’d just dropped on him. Even his heartbeat felt steady.
Dosia swallowed hard. “Say something.” Her voice was little more than a plea from her elevated nerves.
“So you want to co-parent without sex?” He said it very factually, not accusatory or jokingly. Like he was verifying the sky was blue.
Dosia swallowed, suddenly not sure. But it was that hesitancy that proved her point.
“We know nothing about each other,” she pressed.
“Can’t we just…” Dosia shrugged, not even really sure what it was she was asking for.
“It’s just all moving too fast. I need time to think and I can’t do that with you,” she waved a hand up and down his naked body, “like this.”
He continued to stare at her. It was awful , honestly. She would have gladly taken anger over an utter lack of emotion.
Then he nodded. “As long as you’re good with me being in JJ’s life, I’m good with just being co-parents.”
“You are?” Disbelief coated her voice and her face.
He shrugged. “Sure. I mean, you’ll still have my cut and my protection. That’s a dealbreaker there, but we don’t have to be a couple for that to happen.”
Dosia swallowed hard. “I, uh, I mean, thank you. I think.”
He nodded sharply, kissed her on the fucking head like she was his godsdamned sister, and then stood up. Moving carefully, he started getting dressed. “What are you doing this afternoon?”
Dosia tried not to stare. She really, really did. But damn. Those muscles and tattoos and the way his jeans hung low on his hips and his sex-rumpled hair…
She jumped when he said her name again. “Um, what?”
“This afternoon?” he repeated, pulling on his shirt. “My PT has me on walker-only right now after I was a bad boy and ditched my cane.” He made a face. “So my activities are limited, but if you’re free, I’d love to meet JJ. Officially, I mean.”
Dosia shook her head, trying to clear it.
It was easier to get her thoughts together now that his clothes were back on.
“Yeah.” She cleared her throat and repeated more firmly, “Yes. That’ll be fine.
How about you and SJ join us for dinner?
I’ll clear the others out and it’ll just be the four of us. ”
He gave her a half-smile. “Sounds like a plan. Want me to pick up a pizza or something on the way?”
Dosia nodded. “That’d be great. Neither of us are picky, so whatever toppings you get is fine with us.”
“Will do. I’ll text you when we’re on our way.” He grabbed for his walker, and she saw his shoulders slump in defeat. “Christ, I hate this fucking thing.”
“Use it,” she encouraged, gathering up her clothes. “If not for yourself, then for your kids. They need you whole and healthy, Pumpkin.”
He reached for her, placing two fingers under her chin.
She nearly dropped her clothing in shock.
He studied her for a long moment, his dark eyes intense like he was searching for something.
She had no idea what he was looking for, but he must have found it, because he suddenly dropped his hand and gave her a single nod.
“Get dressed. I can’t unlock the door until you do.”
Dosia scooted out of the way so he could pass her with his walker.
Her clothes clutched to her chest, she watched his back as he slowly made his way to the door.
Utter disappointment hit her like a tidal wave.
She’d gotten what she’d wanted, and yet, it wasn’t what she wanted.
Maybe. By the gods, she didn’t know. Which meant she made the right decision.
She wasn’t in the correct mindset to commit to anything, and yet, fuck, it hurt that he hadn’t fought for her. For them.
And despite that he was coming over for dinner, when she was dressed and he finally was able to walk out of her bookstore, it felt like he was walking out of her life.
Her shoes still scattered around, Dosia collapsed back onto her couch and covered her face with her hands.
She had no idea what to do. Her instinct was to call Calliope, but she refrained, not ready to talk to her aunt yet.
So she ended up just sitting here, in her customer-less store, feeling like she’d just gained and lost a partner in one fell swoop.