“I know. But I heard Nana talking to Grandpa about you when they thought I was asleep. She said you were lovely and that it was about time Daddy moved on. I don’t really know what she means but I know she likes you. I thought maybe you might be my new mommy.”
Aaron winced. Tegan was silent for a long moment and he wasn’t sure if he should interrupt the conversation or just let it play out. Dillon had asked about ‘getting a new mommy’ a couple of times in the last few months so this wasn’t exactly out of the blue. He’d even put mommy on his Christmas list for Santa. Aaron hated that his son had missed out on a solid, loving, maternal presence.
“I like your dad but we really are just friends. He’s helping me out right now by letting me stay here. So how about I be your friend, too?”
“I’d like that. You know, Nana lets me have ice cream whenever I want. Now that we’re friends, maybe you can give me ice cream when I want, too.”
Tegan snorted. “Your Nana lets you get away with a lot. And the answer is no. You’re already killing me in this game. I can’t reward that.”
“So if I let you win, you’ll give me ice cream?”
Tegan barked out a laugh. “No, but nice try.”
Aaron quickly moved out of sight as the doorbell chimed. He waited a few beats then stepped into the foyer and in full view of the living room.
“Nana!” Dillon flew past him, moving at light speed before Aaron reached the door.
“Wait.” Aaron hurried to the door and looked through the peephole before opening it. He’d tried to explain to Dillon why they had to be extra careful right now but, at five, he just didn’t understand the concept of real danger. He barely understood ‘stranger danger.’
Aaron pulled open the door and smiled when he saw his mom and dad bundled up in their winter coats. They were earlier than they needed to be, which…was nice. He wondered if his mom had planned that. The Red Stone driver wouldn’t be here for another hour. Which would give him much wanted alone time with Tegan.
Dillon jumped into his dad’s arms as Aaron hugged his mom. “Thanks for keeping him tonight.” They’d agreed to take him so he and Tegan could attend the Christmas party.
Part of him didn’t want to go—he’d rather stay here with no one but Tegan for company—but he figured she could use some time away from her voluntary lockdown. She was so positive about everything, never complaining. He wanted to give this to her.
“We should be thanking you,” his mom said, kissing him on the cheek. Her gaze strayed past him to Tegan, who he heard entering the foyer. “You look stunning, dear.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Aaron turned around and got the full view of her—and forgot to breathe. He’d only seen her back so far but this…
Her blue eyes seemed bigger, brighter tonight. Her makeup was darker, smoky, and he realized her dress was a dark blue, not black. It shimmered when she moved toward him. She had an almost hesitant smile on her face.
He tried not to stare, but he swept his gaze over her, taking in everything. Her heels were strappy, lacing around her ankles and sexy as fuck. He imagined her wearing nothing but them, digging the spikes into his back as he buried his face between her legs. And the pain would be worth it to taste her, pleasure her. All the tension from the last couple of days coiled tight in his belly as he watched her. He was so damn hungry for her. He was vaguely aware of the others talking but he just stared at Tegan until he felt a sharp nudge against his rib cage from his mom.
“You look beautiful,” he rasped out, knowing he needed to say something.
Tegan smiled, her shoulders seeming to lose their tension at his words. As if she could doubt how incredible she was. She was a goddess.
“Well, we’re going to get out of your hair,” his mother said, already snapping the leash onto Kali’s collar. “I don’t want you to be late.”
Oh yeah, she’d definitely come early for a reason. Aaron could hear it in the tone of her voice.
“And it’s hot cocoa time!” Dillon was jumping up and down by the open front door as his dad helped Dillon into his jacket.
Aaron smiled at his son’s excitement. “I’ll have my phone on me and—”
“I know all that,” his mom said, waving a hand in the air. “We’ve done this a thousand times. We’re watching a Christmas movie tonight and having popcorn and hot cocoa. We’ll be fine. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He knew they would be okay, but it was still habit to go over everything with them.
Once Dillon had hugged both him and Tegan and they were gone, he shut the door behind them, glad to be alone with her. Guilt slid through him because he loved his son more than anything, but he craved some alone time with Tegan. Desperately.
If he had anything to say about it, the walls she’d put up between them were coming down tonight. “You really are beautiful.” The words came out raspier than before. He couldn’t stop staring at her, wanting her. He tried to shove back his impatience that things between them were moving so slow.
Her cheeks flushed pink. “You said cocktail party-type dress so…I thought this would work.”