Page 69 of Seduction

“Okay, little man. We talked about this last night. You need to listen to your mom.”

“But… why do I have to go?”

“Well, at school, they’ll teach you all kinds of stuff so you can be smart.”

His ears perk up, eyes widening as he turns to me.

“Stuff likeyouknow?”

“That’s right.”

“Okay!”

He runs for the stairs, calling impatiently over his shoulder, “Come on, Momma!”

“Thank you,” Ellen says, giving me a grateful smile before leaving the room.

When Mikey is all set, she asks me to occupy him while she takes a shower. We watch cartoons until she walks into the room, grinning.

“What are you so happy about?” I ask.

“Do you know how good it feels to have him here”—she jerks her head at Mikey—“andhave an uninterrupted shower?”

“I take it that’s rare,” I say, smiling as I stand.

“Itneverhappens.”

“Glad I could be of service.”

I walk them to the car, strapping Mikey in. Standing by her open door, Ellen lays her palms on my chest.

“Thank you… for last night… this morning.”

Lacing my fingers through her hair, my eyes meet her beautiful blue ones.

“You don’t need to thank me. I told you I’d be here for you either way. I’m just happy you chose this direction.”

“Me, too.”

I kiss her forehead. I want to do more, but we’re in her driveway, in plain view of her neighbors. Not to mention little Mr. Sponge is probably watching.

“You mind if I hang out here for a while?”

“Of course not. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Thanks.”

I watch them leave, then head back inside, climbing into Ellen’s bed. This feels weird, not having anything to do. Free time is something I haven’t had a lot of in the last couple of years. I turn on the TV, getting halfway through a movie before I get bored. I remember Eddie turned one of the rooms into a gym, so I set out to find it. An hour on the treadmill, a couple sets on the weights, and I’m back to being bored again. I toss my sweaty clothes in the washer, hop in the shower, and then end up back in bed. I grab my phone, using the time to check on something I ordered for Ellen, and handle some business for my new office.Man, I can’t wait to open it up.

Ellen walks into the room as I’m on the last call. I try to listen to what the man on the other end is saying, but my attention is focused on her as she changes into a sundress. I get the man off the phone as soon as I can, turning to Ellen as she joins me on the bed.

“I put your clothes in the dryer,” she says.

“Thanks.”

“Does that mean… you’re naked under there?”

“Why don’t you find out?”