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thirty-four

Lane

“Unky Nos!” Sage shrieks, running over to the door where Knox scoops her off the ground.

“Hey there, Sagie!” he booms, spinning her around before setting her down and joining me and the rest of the guys in the living room.

“Look at you acting all paternal,” I joke as he takes a seat on the sofa beside me.

“Gonna give me some nieces or nephews, Fort?” Cole teases, taking a sip of his beer.

“I’m not even married yet, Cole,” Knox says, shaking his head. “Why don’t you give me some nieces or nephews?”

“Gonna have to ask my wife,” he laughs. “I’m turning thirty this year. I’m ready whenever she is.”

“What does age matter? I’m already thirty, and I’m not in a rush.”

“Ella has been talking my ear off about kids,” Josh smiles.

I eye him curiously. “You don’t seem too torn up over that, man.”

He smiles wider. “I’m not. We’re probably going to start trying soon.”

“No fu-... flipping kidding!” I reply happily. “Sounds like all of you are going to give Sage some friends soon enough.”

“Duck no,” Ari scoffs, choosing his own substitute word. “I am not having kids. I watched my dad try to be a parent. I’m good. All you duckers can chase around some toddlers. I don’t need that. I’m more than happy to just be the cool uncle.”

Josh stifles a laugh. “What if Lucia wants kids, though?”

Ari looks at him, annoyed. “Lane, you’re gonna want to get your daughter to sleep if you don’t want her to hear the words I’m about to say.”

I throw my head back and laugh loudly. “Come here, little lady. It’s bedtime anyway.”

Sage grumbles and tries to hide behind her uncles, but they’re on my side, so they give her up easily. I scoop her off the ground and take off toward her bedroom, leaving the guys behind for the moment.

She fights sleep for a bit, so I’m stuck a bit longer than I anticipated. She’s usually good at falling asleep on her own, but with four of her favorite people over right now, she’s fighting extra hard.

Eventually, sleep wins, and I join the guys back in the living room.

“Alright,” I smirk, flopping onto the sofa. “My daughter is asleep. Feel free to go off on Garro now.”

“What the fuck, man?” Josh chides.

“Hey, you’re the one who teased him about Lucia.”

Ari rolls his eyes. “I don’t understand what the fuck you guys have with me and Lucia. I can’t fucking stand her.”

“I don’t think you hate her as much as you claim,” Knox shrugs.

“Fuck,” Ari grumbles. “Not you too, Fort.”

“Honestly, she’s not as bad as you make her out to be,” I say. “And you still haven’t told any of us why you don’t like her in the first place.”

“Because it doesn’t matter,” he sighs. “All that does matter is I don’t like her, and she doesn’t like me.”

“Alright,” Cole interjects. “Let’s spare Ari any more torture.” He turns to Knox now. “How’s the wedding planning going?”

Knox smiles brightly. It’s still weird seeing that from him. He’ll forever be Fort Knox in my mind. “Really well. We just picked out the venue and set the date. January next year.”

“No shit!” I say happily. “Congrats, man.”

“Welcome to the family,” Cole chimes, knocking his beer bottle against Knox’s.

“You don’t feel weird at all that one of your best friends is marrying your sister?” Ari asks, popping a pretzel into his mouth.

“No,” he shrugs. “Harlow is so fucking happy, and Knox has been good to her. As a brother, that’s all I want for my sister.”

Knox smiles. “Thank you for never being a dick about it. I love your sister, and I honestly can’t wait to marry her.”

“I know,” Cole replies. “And I’ll cut your dick off if you ever hurt her.”

Knox chokes on his beer as he laughs because, like the rest of us, he knows Cole could never do something like that, even when it comes to Harlow.

“You getting close to marriage with Sage’s new mom?” Ari teases.

“You’re never gonna let that go,” I chuckle. “Things are good. Olive and I still haven’t put a label on anything, but we spend a lot of time together.”

“Sage seems to really like her, too,” Josh says.

“Sage loves her,” I smile. “Liv really likes her, too. She took her the other day, just the two of them. They got their nails done, she bought Sage a new dress, and they had afternoon tea.” I grin wider. “She took my tea-party-loving daughter to a fucking tea party.”

Cole puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s good to see you happy, man. Liv seems really great.”

“She’s incredible. I’m already falling so fucking hard. We haven’t even slept together, and I just can’t get enough of her.”

Josh looks at me like I have two heads. “You haven’t slept together? You used to fuck any woman that looked at you.”

I roll my eyes before sighing. Olive’s past is her own, and I won’t share any part of that. Virginity included. “Just taking things slow,” I shrug. “That’s all.”

“Never thought I’d see the day,” he says in disbelief.

And I get it. I know exactly how I used to be.

The guys know I haven’t slept with anyone since I found out Alicia was pregnant with Sage, but with me now actually pursuing a relationship with someone, it would obviously be hard for them to wrap their heads around the fact that we aren’t having sex.

Would I like to? Obviously. But even if Olive came to me right now and said she wanted me, I’d turn her down. She’s been through enough—she needs to take things slow and get comfortable with the idea of doing more.

I don’t care if that means we never sleep together. She’s more important to me than sex is.

And I’ll make sure I never do anything that could add to her trauma.

When the guys finally leave around ten, I hop in the shower, cleaning myself off… and taking care of myself as well. Can’t really control the fact that I still want Olive, even if I’m not doing anything about it.

Once I dry off, I pull on a pair of fresh boxer briefs and flop onto my bed, ready to relax and wind down.

But when my phone lights up with a text, that’s the last thing I want to do now.

Olive

How was guy’s night?

Lane

It was fun

Just had a couple beers and hung around

Not as rowdy as we used to be

Olive

I’m glad you had a good time

Lane

Know what would make it even better?

Olive

What’s that?

Lane

Hearing your voice

As soon as the message says read, Olive is calling, apparently as desperate to hear me as I am to hear her.

“Ballerina,” I smile. “I missed you today.”

“You just saw me yesterday,” she laughs.

Yes, I did, and after she and my daughter attempted to teach me ballet in the living room, I had her come on my fingers again in the bedroom.

“You know how much I love seeing you, Liv.”

“Yeah.” I can hear her grin through the phone. “I love seeing you, too.” We’re quiet for a moment before she speaks again, more softly this time. “You know, that package came in today.”

I bite my lip as my blood starts heading south because I know exactly what package she’s talking about. It’s the one I ordered when she left on New Year’s Day after I told her I was thinking about what toys she could use when I’m not around.

“Yeah?” I say, tongue wetting my bottom lip. “Did you open it?”

“Yes,” Olive says softly. “It’s very, um, pink.”

I chuckle. “Figured your favorite color would make you more comfortable. Are you intimidated by it?”

It’s just a pink dildo with vibrating rabbit ears, but I know this is very new to her. I can’t imagine she’s just immediately comfortable.

“A bit,” she admits. “But I’m more curious than anything.”

“I know you like my fingers, baby, but that’s going to help you when you’re not with me.”

Her next words catch me by surprise.

“Maybe I should try it now.” Olive’s voice is soft, but the words are still clear.

“Are you going to let me listen?” I ask, unable to stop myself. I don’t want to push her to do something she’s uncomfortable with, but the words flow out before I can rein myself in.

“Yes,” she replies, and my dick is now fully awake again, never mind that I just came in the shower.

“And you’re comfortable with that?”

“Surprisingly, yes,” Liv chuckles. “It’s not like you haven’t heard me take care of myself before.”

“Can I talk you through it?”

“Okay,” she replies, and I hear movement and a drawer opening, so I’m assuming she’s grabbing her new toy. “Tell me what to do, Lane.”

“Relax against your pillows,” I tell her, “and slip off your bottoms. Panties included.”

Olive sets the phone down, and I hear more movement before she speaks again. “That’s done.”

I grow harder at the mental image of Olive bare on the other end of the phone, at least from the waist down. I cup myself over my boxers as I try to tame myself.

“Grab your toy and put it between your legs.” I give her a moment to get into position. “Now, push it into your pussy, baby, but take it slow. It might be a bit uncomfortable at first.”

“Okay,” she says breathlessly. I can tell the moment she starts sliding the dildo inside because she moans softly, and my dick is now leaking precum into my briefs. After a few more moments, she lets out a deep breath. “Wow, that’s… different.”

“Different good or different bad?”

“Good,” she sighs. “Very good. I should turn it on now, right?”

“Yes,” I say, slipping my hand under my waistband and giving a quick tug. “Test out the different vibrations and speeds to find what you like. And make sure the top part is pressed against your clit.”

Olive presses a few buttons before letting out a guttural moan. “Oh fuck. This feels really good, Lane.”

I shove my boxers down now, freeing my rock-hard cock and fisting myself. “Good. I want you to feel so good right now, baby.”

“Would you, uh…” she stammers before starting over. “Do you think you would feel better?”

I groan, pumping my shaft now. “Yes. That dildo might feel good, but my cock would drive you wild.”

“Oh,” she moans. “That sounds… fun.”

“Fuck, Liv,” I grunt, moving my hand faster. “Go ahead and imagine it then. Let go for now and just imagine that it’s me between those gorgeous thighs, fucking you until you come.”

She’s breathing heavily, and her toy gets louder. Olive must have increased the speed. Fuck, that’s hot. “Oh my God, Lane.”

I surrender to the fantasy, knowing that it’s me she’s imagining with her right now.

“I am your God, baby. You’re taking that cock so well, aren’t you? I bet your pussy is swallowing every inch of it.”

“Yes,” she sighs. “All of it. I’ve never felt this full.”

“For now, Livvy,” I breathe, tipping my head back against the headboard.

“I’d fill you so much better. The silicone might be good, but it will never compare to the real thing.

” She moans louder, and I know she’s closing in on her release.

“You gonna come for me, Olive? Are you gonna come all over that toy as you fantasize that it’s my cock instead. ”

“Lane!” she cries before she tips over the edge, riding out her orgasm while chanting my name.

That’s all it takes for me. I come on a groan, spilling all over my stomach.

We both take a moment to collect ourselves, catching our breath and calming our racing hearts.

“Fuck, baby,” I finally say. “I love listening to you come.”

“It kind of sounded like you did, too,” she says shyly.

I chuckle. “Yeah, Liv. I can’t listen to you fuck yourself with the toy I bought you without jacking myself off. It was too fucking hot.”

“You really like listening to me, don’t you?”

“More than you know,” I admit, completely unashamed. “But did I go too far tonight?”

“No, you’re okay,” she reassures me. “I kind of liked that. I’m not ready to actually do any of that, but it was kind of fun to imagine.”

“Imagine all you want then, Olive,” I smile. “But if you ever feel like I’m going too far, just let me know. You’re the one in control of all of this, even if I’m the one telling you what to do.”

“Thank you, Lane,” she says sweetly. “You’re really incredible.”

“Not as incredible as you.”

And what happened tonight? That was also incredible.

Olive isn’t ready to have sex, but she’s fantasizing about having sex. With me.

I’ve already been falling for her; I know that. But I also know how much trust she’ll need to have in someone to even consider taking that step.

And Olive trusts me.

She trusts me to not hurt her. To protect her heart and take care of it.

If she doesn’t realize it yet, I hope I can show her that I’ll take care of it as long as she’ll let me.

Because she already has mine.