Accidental Neighbor by Sharon Woods

Chapter 23

Jennifer

On the drive into work, my smile brightens as I think about my night I spent with Thomas. As the sunbeams through the window hit my face, warming my skin, I feel at peace. There was no sex in any form… We just slept.

I decide to call Olivia in the car on the drive to work. “Hello…” she grumbles through the speaker.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” I singsong.

“What time is it?”

I laugh at her grumbling. “It’s almost seven. Shouldn’t you be getting up soon for uni anyway?”

“Yeah, it feels like way earlier.” Her voice is clearing and I can hear rustling; she must be moving in bed.

“I only have a few minutes before I'll be at work, but I wanted to talk about Thomas.” I gush through the phone like I am sixteen all over again.

“How is that sexy dad?” Her tone is all cheeky, causing me to giggle.

“Amazing. He is everything,” I gush.

“Ugh, you sound loved up. It makes me sick but also, I’m excited for you. If it wasn’t so early.”

“I’m not complaining that I have kept my hearing from your squealing.” I smile as I continue. “I just left his house to go to work.”

“Weekday sleepovers, how's the parentals taking that?” she asks.

“Well, I haven’t exactly told them. Last night they wouldn’t have noticed because they go to bed early and then leave before me. And weekends, I kinda have been saying I’m staying with you,” I say quietly.

“You know I’ll always back you up, but if you’re getting serious, you need to tell your family.”

I sigh. “I know. He invited me to the zoo with the girls this weekend. And I think I need to ask him what's going on.”

“Aww, look at you hanging out as a family, being all cute and shit.”

I grin. “He is just perfect. I didn’t think I could feel like this about anyone, but Tom is different. He is sexy, driven, successful, the best dad to the girls. I just need to know more about his late wife. He won’t open up to me about her and I don’t want to ask in fear I’ll hurt our new—”

“Relationship,” she cuts me off. “Yeah, I get that, but you two are still getting to know each other; just enjoy the ride. I'm sure he will tell you about her soon. Just give him time.”

“You’re right. I’m worrying myself for no reason, I’m sure he will tell me. I’m getting way ahead of myself.”

There is still something in the pit of my stomach when I think about his past. Something isn’t sitting right, but I push it aside.

“Exactly. Just chill out.”

I glance down at the dash to check the time. “I better run. I don’t want to be late for work.”

“Well, now that you woke me up, I'll get ready for school and talk to you soon.”

“Okay, I'll speak to you later.” I hang up, climb out of the car, and walk inside work.

◆◆◆

The girls are in bed by the time Thomas arrives home from work. I haven’t been able to sit comfortably for the last hour, my gaze darting constantly to check the time on my phone. The sound of the front door opening and closing causes my heart to thrum in my chest. I bite down on my lip. When he comes into view, I smile, stand up, and walk over to him, meeting him in the kitchen. He dumps his keys and wallet on the counter before coming closer.

My lips part and I lean in, but he unexpectedly lifts me up onto the counter and parts my legs. A soft “Oh” leaves my lips and a slow smirk twists on his face. He reaches out and grabs my neck, lowering my lips to his in a hard kiss. I skim my tongue along his lips to gain entry, and he opens instantly, granting access. His soft tongue meets mine in a violent kiss. I would happily be greeted like this on a daily basis. I hear a groan from him, and it spurs me on. I run my hands along his biceps and his toned shoulders, until I hold his neck in my hands, feeling the pulse in his neck beating wildly. My beats match his in the frenzy. He pulls back just an inch away from my mouth, his breath tickling my lips, and my lust-filled eyes stare at his eyes, wondering why he had to stop.

“I think I need to eat before we go any further. I feel I will need the energy tonight.” His smoldering stare telling me his thoughts, I feel a flush rising from my chest. Unfair. I want it now.

A soft groan leaves my throat, and a deep chuckle leaves his chest. He leans around to my side and softly bites my lower lobe, dragging it slowly between his teeth as he pulls back. A shudder runs through my spine with the pent-up desire. I feel I'm about to explode.

He rubs my thighs up and down. His hands stop mid-thigh, and his face is in front of mine. My chest is heaving as I catch my breath. He pecks my lips and I open my eyes as he helps me down from the counter and onto a stool. I wriggle from side to side trying to get comfortable.

I clear my throat. “How was your day?”

He wanders to the plate of dinner and heats it up as we talk. “Busy, but I got more plans approved today, so I feel like I am catching up on my work. I don’t know how long it will last though.”

“I guess it’s not a bad thing to be busy.”

“Definitely not, especially because Josh has just taken it over, so he needs as much work as possible. I just don’t want it to affect the kids… But enough about me. How did your day go today?”

I take a deep breath, stretch my hands out in front of me, and fiddle with them.

“Helen pulled me aside at work today.” Still keeping my gaze on my hands, I’m nervous to meet his.

“Yeah?” he questions.

“Yeah… She asked if you had looked into any child psychologists for Rose.” I slowly lift my gaze.

He pauses with his fork in midair, then he takes his bite and chews. It’s quite for a few seconds.

“No, I haven’t, but you don’t think she has improved either?” His quiet tone has my shoulders dropping.

Sliding further on the counter, I reach for his hand. I want to hold it as I speak to him about this. “At work she consistently seeks me out and gets highly emotional if I’m not around. I think it would help her if she had the right person; it's not a reflection of you. You are a wonderful father, Tom—the best I have met. But I think you need help.”

Saying that was hard, and I swallow and watch for his reaction.

His mouth twitches before flattening into a thin line. I feel my throat beginning to constrict, panic setting in. It’s too late to take it back.

He rubs his forehead with his spare hand before covering our hands and glancing back at me.

“You’re right. I have tried to help her for a while now and it doesn’t seem to be working… and I'm all out of options.” He offers me a small smile.

“Helen has some contacts if you need some recommended ones.”

“Thanks, that's great. I might need them.”

He gently tugs his hands from mine and finishes his dinner. I watch in silence, giving him time to process everything, even though inside I feel uneasy.

He scrapes his dish clean and stacks it away before walking around the kitchen to my side and standing in front of me. “Let's check on the girls and get to bed. I need to finish what was started in this kitchen earlier.”

Pinching my lips, I nod before clasping his outstretched hand and walking to Lily’s room. I think Thomas wanted to check on Rose tonight. I wander down to his room, and he walks in and straight to the bathroom to shower and brush his teeth. He comes out ten minutes later, a white towel wrapped around his middle, his chest glistening from the water. My mouth opens and closes, becoming dry.

Watching as he moves his hands to the opening of the towel, he tears it apart, dropping the towel on the floor before crawling on his hands and knees to meet me in bed.

I lie down, and he hovers over me and captures my lips with his. This kiss is rougher and more urgent, which excites me, I love the multilayered man Thomas is. My hands dive into his brown finger-swept locks, and I pull his head closer to me, panting between kisses. He tastes minty and fresh. Feeling his hand around my top, trying to lift it, I remove my hand from his hair and rip my top off so fast, throwing it across the room. I quickly unhook and throw the bra. Thomas breaks out into a laugh at the urgency. But he got me way too hot and bothered earlier and I need release as soon as possible.

He smashes his lips back to mine as I reach out with my palms and feel his body. The hot, soft skin and all the ripples are sending me closer to the edge. “Tom, I need you,” I whisper into the still air.

I didn’t think he heard me but when I felt his hands skimming my stomach, trying to push down my pants, I knew he heard. I shimmy my hips, helping the pants come down. Once they are off, I feel the panties sliding down my thighs and calves before the cool air hits my warm entrance. I shiver. “Hurry,” I stutter.

He grabs a condom and rolls it on before he quickly lines himself up. I expect him to slam into me but of course he treasures me even when I don’t want him to. But I don’t complain when I feel him enter me and my walls adjust. I still haven’t completely adjusted to his size.

Once he is all the way in, he pulls out at a torturous pace. I let out a frustrated groan, and he chuckles in the crook of my neck and growls, “I want to enjoy this; otherwise, I'll go quickly.”

Unable to talk, I just close my eyes and move my head. He continues at the pace he wants and I just enjoy it. My fingernails trace his hot skin, and I can feel every little muscle in his back. I'm climbing higher and I don’t know how much more I can take, then I let out a moan and come. A few seconds later I can feel his release. I slowly blink my eyes open; a satisfied smile plays on my lips. He drops down beside me and I can see him breathing hard, trying to recover.

Knowing he is just as affected by our intimacy as I am makes me happy.