Chapter 4
Melody
I don’t know what was on my plate because I can’t taste a damn thing with Jonas’s hand on my thigh. Weirdly, it doesn’t feel out of place. And it doesn’t feel sexual, either. It feels like a promise. Like he’s saying, “I’m here” in a supportive way.
Kaden pops the last piece of a roll into his mouth, burps then laughs as he says sorry. Marianna giggles.
“You guys are a mess,” Jonas says with a warm smile that I find fascinating. I wonder how that mouth would feel on my body.
I stand abruptly. “I’ll clean the kitchen if you want to help Kaden with his homework?” I need to keep my hands busy. My head is all over the place.
Jonas ruffles his nephew’s hair. “You have homework?”
Kaden looks crestfallen. “School is hard, Uncle Jonas.”
Jonas stands and puts his hand on Kaden’s shoulder. “I know, buddy. Marianna, come with us.”
She slides from the chair and skips after them.
I rinse the dishes and then load them into the dishwasher. The chore gives me a chance to put the heat between me and Jonas in perspective. The verbal tango we’ve danced to for years has reached the boiling point.
Sex is going to happen. Maybe we were always heading toward that, and I didn’t see it or maybe I didn’t want to acknowledge it. But I do now. I want Jonas. So I’ll have him. It’s cut and dried. In and out. Fuck on then fuck off.
I pause in the middle of the kitchen and glance toward the living room. Jonas is laughing with the kids as Kaden runs in circles bucking and mimicking horse sounds.
A loud timer goes off startling me and Jonas claps his hands. “Bath and bed time. C’mon, let’s go.”
There’s a chorus of complaints from the kids and I half expect Jonas to fold but he shakes his head. “Neither of you will want to get up tomorrow if you don’t go to sleep now.” He ushers them still protesting down the hall. In their wake, the house grows quiet.
I turn my attention back to the kitchen and wipe the counters, then decide to mop the floor. Though I’d cleaned up the spill the dog had caused earlier, it won’t hurt to make sure I didn’t miss anything sticky.
At least that’s the story I’m feeding myself. The real story is I’m wondering how having sex with Jonas will change things. In the future, will I recall visions of us naked and feel super awkward when I run into him?
We didn’t set an ending date for what’s going to happen, and I guess I’m expecting a dick sprint and not a dick marathon. A quickie just to put the lust monster back in the cage.
The floor is sparkling clean by the time I’m done and my thoughts are almost dick free. I put away the supplies then head to the back of the house. I’m halfway down the hall when Marianna runs to me clutching her favorite book. I’ve read it to her a million times and counting before tonight.
“Let me guess.” I pretend to think about it. “You want me to read this story to you tonight.”
“Yes!” She jumps up and down with excitement.
I scoop her up and carry her into her room. Pushing aside a collection of stuffed animals on her bed, I tuck her in then sit beside her.
I start reading and when the dragon becomes busy helping the boy save the kingdom, Marianna’s eyes drift shut. I smooth her hair away from her little face and then quietly close the book and set it on the dresser.
I leave her room quietly to go tell Kaden goodnight.
He’s sitting in bed looking worried.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Jonas returns and hands him a cup of water.
“I’m supposed to bring cupcakes to school tomorrow.”
“No problem,” I assure him. “We’ll stop on the way to school and buy some.”
He shakes his head as I finish speaking. “They’re for Angel.”
