MR. MANCINI
I know I shouldn’t laugh, but the expression on Ashley’s face when she realized she was still wearing that face mask was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. She’s been haunting every waking thought I have since she turned 18, but lately, she’s been taking over my dreams as well. There’s never a time when I’m not thinking about her, and it’s starting to make me feel like I’m losing my mind.
When I’d turned around to find her with her hand buried in her pussy and that sexy, wild look in her eyes, I’d nearly yanked her pants down and bent her over right then and there. I want nothing more than to bury my cock inside her and fuck her until she can’t even remember her name. It’s getting harder and harder to resist that impulse.
I can still taste her on my tongue, and the memory of the smell of her has me so hard it’s painful. God, she’s going to be the end of me. I shouldn’t want her. I know I shouldn’t. She’s my daughter’s best friend. I watched her grow up, for fuck’s sake! Everything about this screams ooff-limitI can’t help how I feel. My cock certainly isn’t listening to me.
With a sigh, I grab my discarded jacket and go to my room. First I had to go to that stupid work function filled with people who constantly try to kiss my ass, and now I’m stuck with a hard-on that’s showing no signs of going away anytime soon, especially not with the source of all my pain just a few doors down from me.
Once my bedroom door is shut, I strip down and head immediately for the shower, craving the hot water on my tense, knotted-up muscles. After a few minutes, I feel my neck and shoulders start to relax, but my cock is having none of it. If anything, it’s standing a little prouder.
I know it’s already a done deal, so I grab my cock like I’ve been having to do at least once a day for the last several weeks and think about Ashley. This isn’t about taking my time; this is about cumming as fast as possible. It’s a means to an end. I tighten my grip and pump myself harder, imagining it’s Ashley’s tight little pussy instead of my hand.
The usual stream of images floods my brain—me on top of her, fucking her while she looks up at me, fucking her from behind, her riding me with her tits bouncing in a hypnotic rhythm. Each scene is more vivid than the last until I get to the final one, the one I always save for last.
I imagine Ashley in the shower with me, my hands sliding over her wet, pregnant belly as I fuck her from behind. The sound of her moaning fills my ears as I picture her arching her hips for me, needing me to fuck her harder and deeper. Right as I imagine her cumming around my cock, I slam a clenched fist against the tiled wall as my whole body tenses seconds before I cum with a force that leaves me gasping.
Even after that rush of pleasure, and even after I’m emptied and spent, I still want her with a force that scares the hell out of me. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I loved Sara’s mom, but it was nothing compared to this. I know I’ll never have my fill of Ashley, but I’d sure like to try. It’s more than just wanting to fuck her, though. I feel protective of her, obsessive about her, and so possessive that I want to follow her around all day just so I can make sure no one else tries anything with her and she’s safe. Just the idea of another man laying his hands on her makes me want to kill someone.
I force myself to calm down and stay under the stream of hot water until my muscles are loose again, and I’m feeling relaxed enough to hopefully sleep. After toweling off, I throw on a pair of boxer briefs and crawl under the covers. I just want a few hours of peace, but the last thing on my mind before I drift off is a pair of sweet brown eyes and the knowledge that she’s right down the hall when she should be in my bed.
I woke up just as frustrated, and if I didn’t need my phone so badly, I would’ve thrown it against the wall when the alarm went off. It had yanked me out of one of my many sex dreams starring my daughter’s best friend, and I hadn’t been ready to leave. At least when I’m dreaming, she’s mine. Now that I’m awake, I’m forced to go back to a world where she doesn’t belong to me.
Forcing myself out of bed, I take a quick shower and get dressed. It’s Saturday, so I don’t have my usual workday, but owning a company means you’re always busy. I need to go in and straighten out a few things and then later on tonight I have a business dinner that unfortunately I hadn’t been able to get out of. I push it from my mind, saving that particular headache for later, and leave my bedroom.
I can’t help but glance at Sara’s door and picture Ashley in there sleeping. I’d love to be able to fall asleep with her small body curled against mine. Hopefully, I’ll at least get to see her before I have to leave. The smell of a delicious breakfast might help lure them down. I set to work and soon the smell of bacon and pancakes fills the room, and I smile when I hear a door opening above me.
I’m in the middle of flipping blueberry pancakes when I see Ashley shyly walk in.
“Good morning,” I say, motioning her forward. “I’ve already made coffee if you want some. Are you hungry?”
Now that she has the face mask washed off, I can see the blush creep up her cheeks. “I’m starving. Thanks.”
While she gets a mug, I ask, “Where’s Sara?”
“Oh, she’s still passed out. I imagine she’ll be sleeping in today. She was up pretty late, I think.”
“Not you, though?”
EPILOGUELAINEHE TELLS me my old house is finished. Good as new he says.I kick off my heels and thank him, but it feels so far away from that place.I guess it will be nice for Mum should she ever come back.Maybe she’ll be back for Christmas. Maybe I’ll get a text.Maybe she’ll even come to dinner with Nick and me. Maybe I don’t care that much anymore.I’m EXCITED about my own life now.I’m excited about finishing up my college course, even though Nick tells me he earns enough for both of us. For all of us. For the children we plan to have and the life we want to lead. Enough for everything.At least child studies put me in an alright position to have babies of my own.I want so many of Nick’s babies.HE SAYS he’s going to redecorate Jane’s room. A new room for new little people when they come along.He’s already started boxing up her things.He’s moved her DaDDy drawing to the corkboard in the pantry. I trace my fingers around the letters sometimes and wonder what it will be like
LAINEIt’s strange to wake up in such a big bed, but there’s so much more room for stretching out. I kick out my legs and enjoy the space, and Nick is right beside me with a quiet smile on his face.“Morning, sleepyhead.” “Morning, Nick.” Nick.It’s going to take some getting used to. How funny, how things change. We’ve been on a rollercoaster, him and I. It climbed so high so fast, and then it tumbled, so scary as the train sped over the drop. But we’re still on the rails, and somehow I think we’ll be climbing even higher this time.It’s late, I can tell by the light at the window. I take in the surroundings, and it’s nice in here, in his space. I like it.I look at the bedside cabinet on my side and wonder what I’ll fill it with. I wonder which wardrobe I’ll hang my clothes in, and if it would be appropriate to bring Mr Ted in here too.“Are you hungry?” he asks.I shake my head, and I’m not today. I’m not.I stroke his face, my thumb brushing over his shadowy stubble, and I want hi
NICKLAINE NEEDED to be cared for, just as I needed to care for her. Both need that special someone to slot so nicely into their broken parts.It was beautiful.It still is beautiful.But this game can’t be all we are, not anymore.I pour her a whisky as I pour myself one. “It’ll help calm you down,” I say.She manages a smile.I take a seat at the table opposite and we sit in silence no longer simmering with conflict.We’re past that now.My demons have backed away into their shadowy pit, and the girl in front of me no longer looks like her soul is breaking.“Tell me about Kelly Anne,” I say. “Not just about what a cow she is, but about why you ever liked her in the first place.”“You want to know?”I nod. “I want to know. It was part of you, Laine. I want to understand why. Maybe that way we can stop it ever happening again.” “It won’t happen again anyway. I’m done with her.” I believe her. Her eyes are full of the pain of betrayal.I know it’s a tough pill to swallow.She takes a m
LAINEI’ve NEVER RUN SO FAST in my life. My feet barely touch the floor as I pound the beachfront, my heart in my throat as I realize what I’ve done. What she’s done.I’m out of breath as I see his car in the distance, but I still keep running, and then I see him, and he’s running too.I slam into his body and wrap my arms around his neck and I want to tell him how sorry I am but no words will come.“What, Laine?! What is it? What’s going on?” His hands are in my hair, on my cheeks, checking me all over, and his eyes are wide and petrified. I struggle for breath, and it pains me so much to see what I’ve done.“Nothing…” I wheeze. “Not like that… it was Kelly Anne! She changed my clock! I didn’t know! I swear I didn’t know!” His eyes are so hurt as he realizes. So hurt.It makes me feel like shit upon shit. I struggle not to cry, but I don’t deserve to cry, not after being so stupid. I’ve been so stupid.I am naive. Just a stupid fucking idiot. Just like Kelly Anne says.“You gave her
LAINEKELLY ANNE IS TOO DRUNK to listen to anything much I have to say, but whenI tell her at eleven that I might make a move early she seems to hear that loud and clear.“NOOO!” she wails and grips my wrist for dear life. “I need you, bestie!”Like hell she does.She’s grinding away on Tyler’s friend Mickey, trying to smile so coyly like there’s any chance she won’t be fucking him this evening. Tyler is too close to me for comfort, dancing so close with a stupid grin on his face. I dance away a little, trying to keep a bit of distance, but wherever I go he follows.“I’m serious!” I tell her. “I’m going soon, Kels! Nick will be waiting soon anyway!”“I’m so sick of hearing about fucking Nick!” she snaps.And I’m so sick of her bullshit and our one-sided friendship, but I bite my tongue and keep dancing.It is her birthday, after all.NICKMY HEART IS in my throat as the bell tolls midnight. I’m scouring the street, scanning the people walking from club to club for any sight of her be
LAINEKELLY ANNE POURSses a sneaky vodka from her dad’s bottle and tops it up with cheap cola. She clinks her glass against mine as she plays some drum and bass compilation I don’t like, as though simply having a bit of alcohol is cause for celebration. It doesn’t feel like it. Not so much.I’ve learned since her last birthday that some celebrations mean something, but it seems Kelly Anne didn’t get tagged in that particular life post.“Gonna get so fucking trashed tonight!” she tells me, and my stomach rolls before I’ve even taken a sip. I have no doubt she’s gonna get so fucking trashed tonight, only there’s no way I’ll be joining her in that. Not with Daddy Nick’s Mercedes waiting like a pumpkin carriage as midnight strikes.I’ve been telling her all week about my curfew. I didn’t say it like that, that it’s a curfew, just that we have plans. Plans. We do have plans. Nick is going to take me shopping for a Christmas party dress tomorrow once the birthday celebration is done and dus