Children are the best judges of character. I remember when Ava wouldn’t go around Scott. I thought it was weird, but looking back, she knew there was something off with him. I believe children are innocent, and they can sense it.
“We’ll get out of your hair,” Heather says as she comes close. “Eli and I fly out tomorrow. I really do wish I could be there, even though Milo is here now, it’s just . . . I love you.”
“And I love you,” I say, pulling her in for a hug, “I know you want to be here, but you’re married to a movie star who is in high demand.”
Eli chuckles. “Gotta give the women what they want.”
She slaps his stomach. “You’re a dork.”
“You’re both dorks,” I clarify.
We say goodbye, and Ava comes downstairs finally.
“Milo is back.” She smiles. “Are you two going to make out and that’s why I’m going to Aunt Nicole’s?”
“Yup,” Nicole answers. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to do more than that.”
She should wear a shock collar and each time she says something stupid, we should get to zap her. Maybe that will teach her what is appropriate.
On the other hand, she’d probably like it too much.
“So gross. I swear.”
Nicole laughs. “You asked, kid.”
“Lie to me next time.” Ava shivers.
“Seriously, I had no idea he was coming here. I’ll pick you up in the morning,” I explain.
“Sure thing, Mom. Make good choices, use a condom and all that,” Ava says as she waves her hand. “I’m really too old to be a sister again.”
“Oh my god.”
Seriously, my kid needs help.
Nicole is about ready to pee herself. She’s laughing hysterically at my dismay.
“What?” Ava asks as though she has no idea why we’re horrified.
“Oh, just you telling your mother to use a condom. I thought I’d never experience this level of comedy, but . . . here it is.” Nicole claps her hands. “Bravo, kid.”
Ava bows. “I’m here every night, folks.”
After everyone is done giving me shit, I get the kids all packed to go. Parker is having a hard time leaving Milo alone, and it’s kind of cute.
“Okay, but do you say all words funny?”
Milo scoffs. “I don’t say things funny, you do.”
“You don’t even say bathroom,” Parker counters.
“Because it’s a loo.”
“Lou who?”
“Not Lou, loo,” Milo explains.
Parker looks at him like he’s crazy, and starts to giggle. “You guys are a trip. Come on, Parker, it’s time to go with Aunt Kristin.”
He groans. “But Aubrey will try to make me dress up and get married.”
Milo chuckles and I roll my eyes. “You’ll survive.”
Milo helps me corral Parker and get him settled. It’s as though he just gets how to be a good man. For someone who doesn’t have kids or was never serious about a woman before, Milo is a great boyfriend. Here he is, for three days, to be here for me because he knew I might need support.
“Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, baby.” I give Parker another big hug.
Then he turns to Milo. “Bye, Milo. I really missed you!” He wraps his arms around Milo’s neck and holds on tight.
“I missed you too.”
Kristin grabs my hand and squeezes. Both of us know what it’s like to have another man come into our lives already having children. It’s scary and a leap of faith like none other. You have to hope that everyone can find their way. Thankfully, this has been seamless thus far.
And that’s what also tells me it’s right.
We get everyone out the door and we both stand there.
Alone.
And then, before another breath passes, we collide.
My arms are around his neck, he clutches me to him, and our lips are everywhere. We kiss hard, then soft, moving our mouths down each other’s necks, then back up again. I can’t get enough of him.
We both moan as our hands begin to roam each other’s bodies. Every touch is better than the last.
Milo pushes my back against the wall, and his hot body and the cool wall sends shivers through me. Neither of us talk. Our mouths are fused together, tongues pushing against each other in a kiss that says so much.
He pulls me off the wall, guiding me deeper into the house. Both of us clawing at each other. My hands yearn to touch his skin, so I pull his dress shirt off, tossing it to the ground. Milo follows suit and rips my shirt off over my head as we keep moving.
“God, you feel so good,” he says.
“I missed you,” I breathe and then our lips collide again. No more talking.
I reach for his pants, undoing the button. He steps out of them, continuing to reach whatever bed or surface we find quickest. I want his clothes off. I want him touching me.
It’s been too long that I’ve been without him.
I need him so much.
He pulls my shorts down as my backside hits the couch.
“I have to have you,” he says before kissing me again.
“Need you, too.”
His hands are everywhere. Rubbing and squeezing my breasts, my hands grip his cock, and then he moves his hand to my clit. There’s no finesse to our touch. Neither of us can get enough, and yet we still need more. Milo lifts me into his arms, my legs wrap around him and he walks to the center of the living room.
Both of us are now completely bare to each other. He lies me on the rug and sits up on his knees. “I thought about you like this every day that I was gone.”
I smile. “I’m glad you missed me.”
“Very much.”
“Show me,” I request.
Milo’s grin turns mischievous. “It would be my pleasure.”
He hovers over me, hands beside my head, his lips barely touching mine. “Milo,” I whimper.
“I have other places I want my mouth first.”
And he does. He slides his tongue down my neck, moving slowly across each breast, then he travels to my pussy, licking, and flicking my clit.
“Yes,” I moan as my fingers tangle in his hair.
I build so quickly, it doesn’t seem possible. I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline, or the fact that for three weeks I’ve dreamed of this reunion, but I’m on fire. Each cell is alive with desire, firing off different sensations. Hot and cold, pleasure and pain, but it all feels so good.
He feels good.
I start to shake as my orgasm hovers on the precipice. “I’m so close,” I yell out.
My back arches as the sensations become too much. I feel as though my body is about to shatter from the immense pleasure he’s drawing from me.
Then, he inserts a few fingers, and twists. That’s all it takes. I’m completely gone.
I writhe on the floor, calling out his name, and then he crawls back above me.
“Stunning.”
I smile. “I love you.”
The words came out so easily, and I stop breathing for a second. I knew I loved him, and I do, but I didn’t know I was going to say it right then.
We’ve talked about how we’re falling in love, but neither have fully . . . said it.
Until now.
Milo doesn’t say anything, and now I feel like a total ass. He looks at me—stunned.
“You don’t have to say it back,” I say quickly. “It’s really okay. I just . . . I don’t know, it felt like the right thing to say.”
Shit.
He’s like a deer in the headlights. Way to go Danielle.
His finger covers my lips to silence me. “I love you, Danielle.”
Now it’s my turn to be shocked. “You do?”
He smiles. “Very much so.”
“Oh.” I release a soft sigh. “I didn’t mean for that to . . . come out like that.”
Milo’s hand cups my face. “We don’t do many things like we plan, do we?”
“No, I guess we don’t.”
Milo brings his lips to mine and then I see fear flash in his eyes. “I don’t want to lose you.”
I brush my fingers across his jaw. “You won’t.”
“God, I fucking hope not.”
Milo leans forward slightly, and I open my legs to allow him in. We don’t say another word. We let our bodies do the talking.
But when we’re done, I can’t help but feel a sense of dread in my stomach, warning me something is off. I just don’t know what.
Chapter Thirty
Danielle
“That wasn’t horrible,” Ava tells us as she pops a fry into her mouth. “It wasn’t fun, but I feel like Dad would be happy.”