“We have a thirty-minute drive,” Ace says.
Startled, I glance at my watch. It’s four. We’ve been chatting for an hour and a half straight. “Luna will wonder where we are,” I say and jump to my feet.
When we get back to Park and Rachel’s house, I realize that my fears were unfounded. Luna and Kacy are playing happily in the bouncy castle. When it’s time to go, Luna kicks up a fuss and she’s on the verge of tears.
“They’ve got on well, haven’t they?” Rachel says as she and Park walk us outside to the car.
“They have. Thanks so much for having us,” I say.
“You’re welcome any time,” she says warmly.
***
It’s odd how leaving your comfort zone opens up your mind to possibilities. My life has consisted of surviving. Raising Vanessa first and now Luna. I’ve never thought of venturing out of my comfort zone.
“Do you want to come in?” I ask Ace when we get home. “I can make us something to eat. Vanessa won’t be home until tomorrow.” Now, why did I add that?
I know very well why I did. I’ve been lusting after Ace all day. Every time I’d glanced at his big hands, I’d imagined them on my skin, caressing me, teasing me, bringing me to orgasm.
“Okay, thanks,” Ace says. “I’ll carry her in.”
“Thank you,” I say.
He lifts Luna ever so gently from the car seat. A lot smoother than I would have done it because she doesn’t wake up from her sleep. It’s just about five and luckily her naps today have stuck to her normal schedule though I’m sure she’ll be a lot more tired from playing with Kacy.
I walk behind Ace and stare at his gorgeous tight ass as he heads to the house. What makes this worse is that I know what it feels like to touch it, to feel the strong muscles of his legs above mine. I’m sure I’m drooling. My body is burning.
After we settle Luna in her bed, we tiptoe out of the room and head to the kitchen.
“What do you feel like eating?” I ask him.
“Anything you have is fine,” Ace says. “I’m not fussy about food. The purpose is to fill your stomach after all.”
I stare at him aghast. “How can you say that? Eating is not simply a matter of filling your stomach. It’s an experience. Think about how food brings people together, introduces you to another culture.”
He stares at me blankly.
“Okay, think how a good meal teases all your five senses?”
He smiles. Taste and smell are things everyone understands. Everyone should love food and those who don’t…well…The only other thing which comes close to good food is sex.
Ace chuckles and raises his hands in the air. “I’m willing to have my mind changed.”
“Good. So, we’ll cook something special and I have just the ingredients for it.”
It’s an excuse to cook something fancy. I love cooking but with just the three of us, and you can’t really count Luna, it’s not fun trying out my new recipes.
“I’ll make something simple for Luna and then cook lasagna for us. How does that sound?” I ask him.
“Sounds good,” Ace says.
Instead of sitting down and having a beer as I ask him to, he takes the bag with Luna’s stuff and unpacks it. He removes the dirty dishes and takes them to the sink.
What is sexier than a man who helps without being asked to?
“Do you want to have kids in the future?” I ask him as I gather the ingredients.
“I think so. Yeah,” Ace says.
“You don’t sound sure,” I say in a teasing tone though my insides are tense. It’s a little late to be asking a man if he wants children when he’s already a dad.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to but being around Luna has sort of made me change my mind. She’s a reminder of what joy means.”
Tears blind me and I wipe them off with my apron. Ace has articulated it so perfectly. The world can get ugly but when I come home and see Luna, all that fades, and all I feel is joy.
Guilt quickly follows and grabs me by my throat. By not telling Ace about Luna, I’m denying him his right to his child. My lower lip trembles. I’m at a crossroads.
Breath in and out. My heart is beating so fast I’m afraid that Ace will see it. I inhale deeply again without being too obvious about it. Okay. I’ll sleep on it tonight and tomorrow I’ll make a decision.
“Are you okay?” Ace asks from the sink where he’s washing up.
I smile. “I’m fine. I’m very fine.”
Luna does not wake up at all and Ace and I have dinner and then clean up. It feels so domestic and cozy. I have to keep reminding myself that my interest in Ace is only as Luna’s daddy. Mind-blowing sex is an extra benefit that I enjoy but don’t need.