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CHAPTER FOUR

Bennett

Our day at the beach was full of fun, laughter, and sunshine.

After building sandcastle after sandcastle, we cooled off in the lake, Xiomara helping Teddy to learn the doggie paddle.

He took right to her, like a moth to a flame, and the way she taught with so much patience and kindness made me believe she was meant to be a teacher.

After we had our fill of sand and sun, I took her back to our cabin in Appleridge for dinner. She insisted on helping, but I insisted she relax though Teddy certainly kept her busy.

I fired up the grill and was about to head inside to grab the hamburger patties in the fridge when Xiomara said, “Your place is nice. How long have you lived here?” She sat at the patio table on the back deck, coloring a picture with Teddy in one of his many coloring books.

“Born and raised. Haven’t left. I like the small town feel and how gorgeous it is up here. There’s lots to do with apple orchards in the fall, the lake in the summer, wildflower picking in the spring, lots of good sledding in the winter. Hell, I could go on and on.”

“That’s amazing. My hometown isn’t nearly as cool.”

“You live near the city though, right? That’s gotta be interesting.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, when you’re younger, maybe. The older I get, the more I like nights at home.”

“I have to agree there. Besides my little guy keeping me home.”

Xiomara chuckled. “The older you get? You can’t be out of your twenties yet.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I’m confident in my guess?”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

“Fine, let’s just get this out of the way. I’m thirty-nine. And you are?”

“Twenty-five.”

Her mouth dropped slightly before a small chuckle escaped. “I could be your mother!”

“No, you would’ve been fourteen or something.”

“Hey it happens.”

Teddy giggled. “Daddy a baby.”

I shot my son a look before flicking my eyes to Xiomara. “Age is a mere number, a number in this game of life that doesn’t matter if two people like each other.” My stare was intense, and I watched the way her chest moved quicker in response.

“I suppose that’s true. But what life differences? Different phases of life? One wanting a family, and one not?”

“You make it work when you want to be together. Growing, changing, adapting. In whatever way.”

“I grow big, Daddy!” Teddy exclaimed and Xiomara laughed at the same time I did.

“Yes, you sure are, little man.” I said before setting my focus back on her. “I don’t care how old or young you may be, Xiomara. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”

Without waiting for a response, I went into the house for the hamburger patties.

I put it out there. She knows I want her.

Right? Was I even clear enough? I wasn’t sure.

I wasn’t the best at reading between the lines or figuring out what women really wanted.

I didn’t have much experience with them, a few casual hookups here and there, and a not so serious relationship that ended up with me becoming a single father.

Which left me putting Teddy first and foremost. Love had to wait while I figured out fatherhood.

But that was three years ago, and I hadn’t met her. Xiomara.

The woman I already had strong feelings for, and they were growing stronger by the second.

I kept the conversation light as we had dinner, learning more about ourselves and having silly conversations with Teddy. She cleaned up while I gave Teddy a bath and put him to bed.

“He’s fast asleep already.” I said as I walked into the kitchen where Xiomara wiped the counter. “Thank you for cleaning up. I appreciate it.”

“It’s the least I can do after a wonderful day and cooking me dinner.” She folded the washcloth and placed it next to the sink. “It’s getting late, I should probably get going. I’ll order an Uber for my ride home.”

“No, I couldn’t let you do that. I brought you here, so I’ll bring you home. I can call my babysitter to come by and sit with him while I drive you home. No biggie.”

“That’s silly to have your babysitter come out just to drive me home when I can easily order an Uber.”

“Or you can spend the night.” I challenged. My son was asleep. I could finally say what I wanted, get an explanation, or ask questions. As far as I was concerned, she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Spend the night? Zane…I…that’s crazy, I couldn’t ask that.”

I stepped in front of her, her back now flush against the countertop, closing the distance between us. I placed my hands on either side of her, firmly gripping the counter and boxing her in. My head dipped low, and I moved my mouth closer to hers, dying for a taste. One little, tiny taste.

Although, one taste would never be enough, I wanted it. I wanted it so bad I was ready to explode with need. “You’re not asking me. I’m asking you.”

“But…I…”

My eyes dropped down to her sexy, plump lips and all I could think about was kissing her, my cock growing bigger by the second inside my pants.

“I like you, Xiomara. A lot. We only just met but…I don’t know, I can’t explain it.

All I know is I want you. All of you. Every part.

The good and the bad. The light and the dark. All of you. All of it. All the time.”

Neither one of us said anything, the air between us charged with electricity. Our hot breath mixed together and my need to taste her grew to unbearable levels. “Let me kiss you. And if you don’t feel anything, then I’ll walk away. But I guaranteed you’ll feel something .”

Xiomara’s lips parted and I took that as a yes.

I thread my hand through the back of her hair and pulled back, exposing her long neck and supple skin to me.

I groaned at the thought of her taste and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I slammed my mouth onto hers, covering it with my own, as our tongues swirled together, all while sipping, tasting, loving.

It was better than I could’ve imagined, our mouths and bodies colliding together in a fiery, addictive explosion of passion. I gave everything I could into that kiss, the passion and desire, the need to prove myself worthy of her and her sweet lips.

“Wow,” Xiomara whispered when I ended the kiss, her fingers flying up to her swollen lips.

“I take it you felt something?” I grinned.

“Just a little…” She giggled, her eyes sparkling.

“A little is all I need to count it as a yes. I’m not walking away. And I don’t ever plan to.”