He didn’t move when I opened the door and joined him outside, silently closing the door behind me.
There was a chill in the air, a remnant of a cool breeze that sometimes rolled off the mountains and lingered before giving way to summer humidity. I stood in front of him barefoot and raised my arms, wrapping them around his broad shoulders. I had never been short as a child. In adulthood I wasn’t small boned and petite. Many men were smaller than me. And every time I’d been with Nash I’d been fascinated by the size of him. He was about six foot four, layered with muscle, and it was intoxicating when he wrapped his powerful arms around my body. The way he was doing now, surrounding my waist, pulling me against him, forcing me to suppress a moan when my nightshirt rode up and I felt him through my panties.
“Kiss me,” I whispered.
Nash pulled me out of the glare of the porch light first. I felt my back make contact with the wall on the far side of the kitchen window and his mouth crashed into mine with demanding hunger. I knew this area was dark, that we would be unseen. My elderly neighbor lived on the other side of the building. The street was quiet. There was no one to witness the way I urged his hands to keep exploring beneath my thin nightshirt. No one could see how I rubbed my sensitive core against him with a shameless rhythm that would send me over the edge if I kept it up. My panties had to be damp when he peeled them over my hips and loosened his belt. I would do this. I had no will to pull away. I would eagerly open my legs for him right here against the side of the freaking building like a sex-crazed lunatic. I wanted him that much.
But then I came with my legs around his waist, bucking against him like a wild animal rutting in the cool night air and shamelessly getting off by using the friction of his clothes, the pressure of his hands kneading my flesh and the tantalizing feel of his hard cock that was still trapped in his boxers.
“Does that offer still stand?” he challenged when I was still trying to catch my breath.
“What offer?”
“You said I didn’t have to go.”
I planted soft kisses along his jaw. “It still stands.”
“You want me to stay?”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, I want you to stay.”
Nash had more sense than I did. He didn’t screw me out here within sight of the street. He took me to my bed, stripped everything off and put his mouth all over the place until I shook and quivered and was struck with another overpowering orgasm. I was still writhing in its intense throes and trying to stay quiet when he rolled on a condom, lifted my hips and pushed his way inside. I’d already learned something important about him. Nash never fucked exactly the same way twice. He’d been slow and gentle before, teasing at other times, and then there was this, the way he slammed into me with ferocious passion. I loved it. I loved having him inside of me, losing himself, gasping as he came.
Afterwards he kissed my breasts, rolled his tongue along my belly and then pulled my quilt up over my naked body before folding me into his arms.
“Will you spend the night?” I asked, wincing over the question. I didn’t want him to hear how much I hoped the answer would be yes.
“I’d like that,” he said and kissed my forehead. “But I’ll leave early before Emma wakes up. Sleep now, beautiful Kat.”
But I didn’t sleep right away. He fell into a calm slumber long before I did. I was too busy staring at the dark ceiling and trying to sort out the warring thoughts in my head.
I was no longer thinking of ghosts and enemies of the past. I was thinking of something much more practical.
When Nash and I first started down this path I’d sworn to myself that my heart wasn’t up for grabs. But in no time at all he had come perilously close to capturing it anyway. He just didn’t know it.
I wondered if I’d ever tell him.
“I might need a favor,” I said, zipping my fly.
Kat tossed me a mocking look. “I believe I just swallowed your most recent favor.”
I chuckled. She always managed to surprise me. Kathleen Doyle was a perfect blend of wit and beauty.
“I meant a favor that doesn’t involve skin and orgasms.”
“That doesn’t sound fun.”
“It might not be. And feel free to say no.”
She buttoned her blouse. It was a shame. The view was much better when it was unbuttoned. “I’m intrigued.”
“I’ve got to go back to Oregon and clean out my apartment. Most of that shit can get pitched into the nearest charity bin but there are some things worth keeping.”
“And you want my help loading the moving truck?”
I rolled my eyes. “No. I’m planning on flying out, doing a quick clean and pack before driving back here in a UHaul. It should take me less than forty-eight hours but it’s not really a trip suitable for an infant.”
“So you’re asking me to watch Colin.”
“Yeah, if you can take him for just a couple of nights that would be great. I’m already taking way too much help from Nancy when it comes to daycare. I didn’t want to ask her to keep him overnight too.”
Kathleen finished buttoning up and put her hands on her hips, surveying me with a puzzled look. “Nash, I thought you knew you didn’t even have to ask. I’m always ready to help with Colin.”
“And Roxie,” I admitted.
She raised an eyebrow. “Your dog?”
“It would be easier and faster if I could leave her here. She’s well trained. Just feed her, walk her and give her a place in the corner to sleep.”
“Emma would love that,” Kat said, smiling. “The problem is my landlord doesn’t allow pets. I know I’ll be moving out soon anyway but he’s kind of a dick and if he finds any evidence of pet hair he’ll smack me with a mammoth cleaning fee.”
The solution was simple. “Stay at the house for a few days then.”
When Kat didn’t instantly jump at the option I realized she might be thinking I’m one big dictatorial asshole.
Watch the baby. Take care of my dog. Stay at my house. It’s not like you have your own life, right? Right??
Kathleen did have her own life and more responsibilities than I could keep track of. I wished I’d never brought up the subject.
“Look,” I said. “It’s okay. I should have guessed it was an imposition. Maybe Jane can-“
“No.” She interrupted, shaking her head. “It’s really no hassle.” Her pained expression said something a little different.
I sat on the edge of the desk in the office that had been my father’s and my grandfather’s before that. This summer Kat and I had developed a regular routine. Twice a week we’d meet to meet at the store before it opened and do some real dirty work before discussing financial matters. But our interactions weren’t exclusively about naked games and money. Whenever she had the time I took her out to lunch. She and Emma stopped by the house several times a week, Kat to see Colin and Emma to see Roxie. And we talked and texted constantly, about everything from Colin’s new ability to sit up to miscellaneous local news. Aside from Colin, Kat had turned out to be the most important person in my life.
But I couldn’t deny that I seriously loved fucking her. This morning I had taken my time peeling her clothes off and teasing her while feeling triumphant over how easy it was to get her to come on my hand. Then she got on her knees and sucked me off like a champ with my hands tangled in her thick curls, thrusting my cock between her lips to set the pace.