Page 19 of Habibi: Always and Forever

YOUR BOY, ARI

A ri and Reid survived the pining. The secret kisses. But can Daddy Reid survive Sunday dinner with his boy’s family?

Reid’s been part of the Jacksons’ lives for decades, but tonight’s different.

Tonight, he’s showing up not as Sage’s best friend—but as Ari’s man, his Daddy.

Flowers in hand, nerves tucked deep beneath that Daddy calm, he’s ready to claim his seat at the table and prove to Ms. Jackson that the boy she raised is in good hands.

* * *

REID

I paused at the porch, two bouquets in hand, heart thudding harder than it should’ve. One bouquet was for Ari—sunflowers, the kind he loved painting. The other, for Ms. Jackson—white lilies and pale yellow roses, chosen with care. A thank-you that felt honest, not performative.

The porch steps creaked under my boots, but I barely noticed. My focus was on the door ahead, on the boy waiting inside, and the quiet, impossible hope that maybe—just maybe—tonight might change everything.

This wasn’t just any visit. Not for me.

The door opened before I knocked. Sage leaned against the frame, one brow arched, already smirking.

"Showin’ up with flowers? You proposing, or just trying to charm the whole damn family?"

I held up the bouquets. "Why not both?"

He barked a laugh. "Bold move, Romeo. Better not make him cry or Mom will murder you." Then he stepped aside, grinning. “Go on. Your boy’s waiting.”

I followed him inside, nerves still riding shotgun. The smell of lasagna hit me first—cheesy, garlicky, impossible to ignore. Ms. Jackson’s specialty. Ari’s favorite.

Ms. Jackson stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. Her hair was tied up, apron dusted with flour. Her face lit up when she saw the flowers.

"Reid," she said, pulling me into a hug that smelled like home. "You didn’t have to do that."

"One for you," I said, handing over the softer bouquet. "And this one’s for Ari."

She tilted her head, beaming as she took them both. "Ari! Come get your man’s flowers before I keep them for myself."

Ari appeared from the hallway, barefoot and flushed, curls slightly damp like he’d just showered. His eyes went wide when he saw the bouquet.

"You brought me sunflowers?"

"Don’t let it go to your head."

He kissed my cheek, grinning. "Too late. You’re clearly smitten."

"Don’t tell anyone."

Dinner was chaos in the best way—laughter, overlapping conversations, and second helpings before you could finish your first. Exactly how meals at the Jackson house had always been.

Ms. Jackson held up the serving fork, gesturing to the platter. “Reid, you want another slice of lasagna? I’ve got plenty.”

I shook my head with a polite smile. “Thanks, but I think I’ve had my fill.”

Ari didn’t miss a beat. “Funny—you never say that when I give you meat.”

I nearly choked on my drink. Sage actually did, coughing into his napkin while Ari sat there, all wide eyes and innocent face.

Ms. Jackson blinked, unfazed. “What kind of meat are we talking about now?”

“Just chicken, Mama,” Ari said sweetly, reaching for his glass with a smirk aimed straight at me.

Later, Ari leaned close, cheek brushing my shoulder. I could feel his smile before I even turned my head.

“Comfortable?” I asked.

“Very.”

Ms. Jackson smiled as she cleared plates. “You boys always did gravitate to Reid. Even as kids.”

Ari didn’t move. “Maybe I just knew where I wanted to be.”

My chest tightened, sudden and stupid with how much that meant.

Sage made a gagging sound.

Ms. Jackson chuckled. “You boys always were thick as thieves.” Then to me: “Reid, you want to help with dessert? I made that lemon pie you like.”

“Only if I get to steal the recipe this time.”

She tossed me a smile with a wink. “I’ll think about it.”

The clatter of forks and low hum of conversation faded as I followed Ms. Jackson into the kitchen. She moved with practiced ease, pulling plates from the cabinet, her back to me.

“Still take your coffee black?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“Still do,” I said, setting the pie down on the counter.

She poured two cups, handed me one, and leaned back against the sink with her own. The quiet stretched comfortably between us, thick with steam and lemon and old memories.

“You’ve always been someone they could count on,” she said softly, meeting my eyes.”

I smiled into my cup. “I could always count on them too.”

“And I see the way you look at him.”

I swallowed. “Ms. Jackson—” I rubbed the back of my neck. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”

“Life rarely goes according to plan.” She smiled. “Ari’s always been hard to pin down. Dreamy, with big feelings he keeps under wraps. He’s softer than he lets on.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “I see it.”

“Good. Then take care of him, Reid. Love him right.”

That stopped me. “You’re okay with this?”

She sipped her coffee, then reached for the pie. “Let’s just say, I trust your heart. And I’ve never seen Ari look at anyone the way he looks at you.”

I met her eyes, steady. “I promise you this: I will love Ari with everything I have. I’ll protect him, cherish him… and never let him feel alone.”

A soft smile warmed her face. “That’s all I ever wanted for my son. And Reid? You’re a good man. I’m glad he found you.” She handed me the knife and plates. “Now go slice that pie before he comes in here pretending he didn’t eat three helpings of dinner already.”

I took the knife, chest tight with something warm and grateful. “Thank you.”

She didn’t say another word.

After dessert, while Sage cleared the table and Ms. Jackson rinsed dishes, I found myself standing in the hallway, staring at the old photo wall.

There were years of birthdays, graduations, holidays.

One photo caught me—Ari, maybe eight or nine, standing on the porch with a crooked smile and missing front teeth.

I remembered taking that picture. Back then, he was just Sage’s kid brother.

"Hey."

I turned. It was my boy, eyes serious.

"You okay?"

I nodded. “Just… remembering things.”

He stepped up beside me, slipping a hand into mine. “Like what?”

“Your mom made me a cake for my thirty-third birthday.”

Ari smiled. “Sage told me you ate half of it in one sitting.”

“I’d just signed the divorce papers that week.”

He was quiet for a moment, fingers tightening around mine. “You didn’t deserve to spend that day alone.”

“I didn’t feel alone. Not here.”

Ari leaned his head against my shoulder. “You never will again.”

For a while, we just stood like that. I didn’t want to move. Didn’t want the moment to end.

But then Ari shifted, turning just enough to look up at me. “You taking me home tonight, Daddy?”

My breath caught—equal parts amusement and need. “You planning to stay the night?”

His smile turned slow, teasing. “If you’ll have me.”

I brought our joined hands to my lips and kissed his knuckles. “Like I could say no to you.” Then, softer: “Let’s go.”

* * *

ARI

Daddy's palm slid to the back of my neck the second we stepped through his front door, fingers firm, grounding. I barely got a breath in before he had me pinned against it, his mouth on mine, his body pressing close. Heat pooled in my gut. His tongue swept into my mouth, slow and thorough, like he had all night and wasn’t in a hurry to waste a second.

“You’ve been bratting all through dinner,” he murmured, lips grazing my jaw. “You think I didn’t notice?”

My grin stretched wide, breath catching. “Maybe I wanted you to.”

Daddy huffed a laugh against my skin, the sound rumbling straight through me. He stepped back just enough to let his eyes travel down, dark and hungry, before hooking a finger through my belt loop and dragging me toward the bedroom.

My shirt hit the hallway floor. My jeans next. Every touch, every kiss lit me up. But it wasn’t until his hands skimmed under my waistband that he paused.

“You wore purple for me?” His voice dropped, thick with hunger, eyes locked on the lace clinging to my hips.

Fuck, I loved that look. The one that said he was two seconds from losing control. Lace did that to him—every damn time. Like he forgot how many times he’d seen me in it. Like he couldn’t believe I’d wrapped myself up just for him.

And I had.

Because nothing made him fall apart faster than me laid out in lace, aching for his hands, his mouth, his cock.

“You gonna unwrap me, Daddy?” I whispered, rolling my hips just enough to tease. “Or just stare all night?”

We didn’t make it to the bed right away.

He bent me over the edge, lace still on, lips dragging down my spine, his fingers tracing patterns against my skin like he was memorizing me all over again.

Lube slicked his fingers, each stretch dragging moans out of me, his free hand stroking my thigh, grounding me, spoiling me.

When he finally pressed in, slow, relentless, hands gripping my waist, my voice caught in my throat.

There was no space for words, just sensation.

Just his praise in my ear and the way he filled me like no one ever had.

Every thrust, every shift of his hips, was measured, possessive.

Not because he wanted to own me. Because he already did.

By the time I came, shaking and gasping his name, my legs barely held me up. Daddy wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissed my neck like we hadn’t just wrecked each other, and whispered, “Come to bed.”

He cleaned us up gently, his hands tender as he peeled the lace down my thighs. When he was done, he eased me beneath the covers, tucking them around me like I was something precious.

I curled in close, skin still buzzing, head resting on his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath my cheek, grounding me like it always did. My fingers traced one of his tattoos—familiar, comforting.

The script was mine—lifted straight from the first love note I ever wrote him. I’d tucked it under his pillow one morning.

He’d kept the note.

And weeks later, he brought it to Cael and made the last three words permanent.

Your boy, Ari.

Right over his heart.

This was what it meant to be his. To be held quietly and completely, in the one place he kept the most guarded.

“Still think it’s ridiculous?” he murmured, catching the movement of my hand.

I swallowed, barely breathing. “Yeah,” I whispered. “Ridiculously sweet.”

“Good.” He dipped his head, pressing a kiss to my temple. “You wore purple lace just to drive me insane,” he murmured, voice low and lazy, his smile brushing against my skin.

“Worked, didn’t it?”

His hand slid down my back, warm and sure. “You little menace.”

Laughter caught in my throat, soft and full of everything I felt. “You love it.”

He didn’t answer right away. Just wrapped his arms tighter around me, like he couldn’t stand the thought of letting go.

Then, quiet but certain: “Move in with me.”

Everything inside me stilled. The air left my lungs in a quiet rush. My heart stumbled, then found its rhythm again—faster, louder, thudding wild in my chest.

I lifted my head to look at him, searching his face.

“You sure?” I whispered.

His fingers brushed through my hair tenderly. “You stay over most days. Toothbrush in the holder. Sketchpads on the desk. Half the closet taken up with stuff I pretend I haven’t noticed.”

“That doesn’t mean you want me here all the time.”

He leaned back, just enough to meet my eyes. “Ari. I want you here because it feels right when you’re home. And I want to make it official.”

“So this is you proposing domestic bliss?”

“Something like that.” He reached over to the nightstand, pulled out a small box, and held it out.

Couldn’t be a key. I already had one. But when I opened it, my chest went tight.

Inside was a silver chain, delicate, with a small charm hanging from it—a sunflower, hand-stamped with a tiny paintbrush through the middle.

I stared at it, the breath knocked clean out of me.

“You’re ridiculous,” I breathed. “And perfect.”

“Hard to forget a boy who made me fall in love in the middle of a sunflower field.”

Emotion swelled in my chest, messy and huge. I reached for him, kissed him softly, then deeper.

“You’re gonna have to deal with lace in the laundry basket,” I warned.

“I plan to peel it off of you every chance I get.”

My smile broke wide. “Yeah?”

His voice dropped to a whisper against my skin. “Yeah, baby. Welcome home.”

* * *

T his was just a taste. For the full heat (and heart), grab Off-Limits Daddy —Reid and Ari’s complete love story. Click here: https:// mybook. to/ offlimits_daddy

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