Mommy Loves the Principal

“Ky? Did he..?”

“Did Jason what?”

Ron couldn’t form the words. He took in a deep breath. Then he clenched his fists. Just the mere thought of any harm coming to this beautiful, precious woman had him seeing red.

“Did Jason beat

me? God, no. Emotional abuse, sure. Infidelity, probably more than I know about. But no, he never raised his hand to me or Molly. He wasn’t around enough to even consider it.”

Ron held her gaze. There was so much pain there. Guilt washed over him. “I’m sorry, Ky.”

“What are you sorry for? You didn’t marry him.”

“No, but I should’ve stopped you from marrying him.”

“Ron, that’s ridiculous. My mind was made up.” She crossed her arms over herself and leaned slightly, as though protecting herself from the memory. “I was wrong of course. But there was nothing you could’ve said to change my mind back then. I thought I had all the answers.”

Ron placed his arm along the back of the couch. It wasn’t an embrace, but it was the closest he could come to it. “I should’ve kidnapped you or something.”

Kylee threw her head back and laughed.

“What’s so funny? I could’ve done it.”

“Whatever.” She clucked her tongue. “You were skin and bones back then. Barely a hundred pounds.”

“What? I wouldn’t have been able to physically accost you? Are you saying you could’ve taken me.”

“I could take you now.” She gave him a playful shove.

“In your dreams, Bauer.” He shoved back.

Kylee gasped, as though affronted. But her eyes sparkled as she did so. “Oh, it’s on, Kidd. You want some of this.”

She rose to her knees on the couch and shoved at his shoulders. Ron easily deflected her jabs. He landed some playful taps of his own on her shoulders and forearms.

“Woman, do you see these muscles?” He got a jab into her belly that had her double over with laughter. “They weigh a hundred pounds each.”

“No, that’s your ego giving off all that weight.”

She straightened and gave him another punch. But put a little more momentum behind it and she fell forward. Ron caught her in his lap.

His arms came well and truly around her this time. She was cradled in his lap as though she were a damsel and he’d just lifted her from danger into the safety of his hold. Her head tilted back as she gazed up at him.

They’d play fought like this before. As kids. They were grown now. Kylee was all grown woman with curves and humps and bumps. And holy heaven did she smell good with the sweetness of duck sauce and the tang of soy sauce coming from the long sigh that escaped her lips. Could that be the smoke from the kitchen fire going to his head?

No. It was Ron’s long-held, tightly pent-up desire for the woman he currently held in his arms. She felt so right here.

“Ouch.” Kylee grimaced.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think my hair is stuck to something.”

Ron lifted the arm cradling her only to find his metallic watchband had caught in her tresses. “Hold still.”

Ron slowly worked the strands of her hair out of the links of his watch. The maneuver brought their heads closer together. He felt her breath on his cheek. He ached to taste the sweetness of her lower lip. With her hair free, Ron set his watch on the coffee table.

Kylee shifted and Ron helped her up. She took her time righting herself. Ron took his time relinquishing his hold on her.