“Good call.” At least one of us was thinking.
I walk over to him, and he pulls me in for a kiss. It’s not quick, and as he deepens it, his hands go to my face, one to my chin where he tips my head back and the other to my hair. While his touch is soft, he’s controlling me, and my body responds. He kisses me like girls dream of being kissed, and I don’t ever want it to end.
He starts to back up, and I know where this is headed. I’m not about to protest, because when Isaac’s touching me I forget about everything else.
“Mommy!” I hear Rae shout. Quick little feet come racing down the hall.
Isaac lets out a grunt before breaking the kiss. He turns away from the door and reaches down to adjust his cock before my bedroom door flies open a moment later.
Rae comes to a sliding halt when she sees Isaac standing there. “You’re still here.” She smiles and looks excited to see him.
“I am,” Isaac says, returning her smile. “I wanted to have breakfast with your mom.”
Rae scrunches her nose. “She’s not a very good cook.” She whispers this as if that makes it sound nicer. I only laugh because she’s right. There are a few things I can make, but I’m not the best.
“How about I cook then? I’m not too bad at pancakes.”
“Me too! You should add chocolate chips,” she informs him, like that’s a secret recipe.
“Good idea. Think you can help me?” I love how good he is with her already. It helps that Rae is talking to him so easily.
“Yes!” She grabs his hand and starts pulling him from the room. He lets her, but not before he reaches out and snags my hand to come with them.
He asks Rae about her Christmas, and she launches into telling him all the things she got as we make our way downstairs to the kitchen.
As we walk past the long mirror in the hall, my whole body warms at the sight of the three of us looking like a picture-perfect family. It has me wanting to spend the day like this and once again avoid reality for a little bit longer.
I didn’t think the hole I dug could get any deeper…
Eight
ISAAC
The whole day has been perfect. Rae and I made a huge pancake breakfast for everyone, then she took me on a walk through the gardens to show me her play area, complete with a tree house. We sat up there for hours, and she read me books and we pretended to be pirates while Jillian was the damsel in distress.
We ended up taking a drive to see Christmas lights around town, and then the three of us finished the night at a nearby restaurant with outdoor heaters and hot cocoa.
My face hurts from smiling, and my abs actually ache from all the laughing I’ve done. I’ve got years to make up for not doing either of those, and I have a feeling I’m going to be doing a lot more of it.
Today I was able to sneak a few moments with Jillian when I could put my lips on her. I didn’t realize how hard it would be not to kiss her until I had to restrain myself. Although I want to eventually be able to show her affection in front of Rae, we’re taking it slow, at least for today.
“For you,” I say to Rae, handing her the little box.
“Me?” She looks up at me with wide eyes as she sets down her hot cocoa and tears it open.
“Isaac.” Jillian’s voice is soft as she takes my hand.
I shrug. “I saw it in a shop this morning, and I couldn’t resist.”
Maybe it’s because I have this undeniable soul connection with Jillian, but when I look at Rae, my heart calls to her. Maybe it’s due to part of my blood because of my brother, but no matter the reason, I want her to know she’s important to me. It doesn’t matter that she’s not mine; she’ll be mine from now on. Jillian is it for me, and this is our family. Forever.
“Oh my gosh, Mommy, look!” She holds up the charm bracelet with the single heart-shaped charm and smiles.
“It’s a blue topaz,” I tell her as I help her fasten it around her wrist. “It’s the stone for December, which is the month that we met.” I turn the heart over for her to see the little silver disc with the inscription. “And this is the date we met.” I hold her hand and look into her eyes. “Because I want the both of us to remember it forever.”
Without warning, Rae launches herself into my arms, and I catch her with both hands. I hold her to me as she fits perfectly in the space of my chest with her head tucked against my neck. Something inside of me warms at the unbridled affection, and tears sting my eyes. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than for this little girl to belong to me. My piece of shit brother walked out on her, and I’ll spend my life letting her know that I’m never going anywhere.