The One I Love

“We learned about it in daycare,” he said. “I go there a couple times a week so grandma can get her hair done.”

“Oh.” I chuckled. “What else do you learn there?”

“I know part of my A, B, C’s now,” he said, putting his cup in the holder on his seat. “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, emeno peas.”

“That was amazing,” I said with laughter. I watched Seth look out the windows at the passing buildings, his eyes growing wide.

“Look, mom,” he said, tapping her and pointing at one of the larger skyscrapers. “I haven’t drawn that one yet.”

“Well, we’ll have to come out sometime so you can,” she smiled, before looking up at me. “Seth really likes to draw buildings. He’s drawn half of Brooklyn already.”

I smiled and looked back at the green-eyed child. He was much smarter than I realized, especially since the only time I’d spent with him was a few minutes when we first met and then today, with the pumpkin. I was just glad he seemed to be getting used to me. I didn’t want to spend the whole day watching him hide from me like his mom had a tendency to do. I watched Casey from across the seat while she talked and laughed with Seth. The sight brought a sudden warmth to my chest. She really loved her little boy, it was obvious in everything she did. I was seeing a completely different side of her today. Whether she was angry or not, I was glad I decided to get up off the couch and go to her house.

As we passed out of the city, Seth stuck out his lip, sad that all the big buildings were gone. Casey leaned over and started pointing out the smaller businesses, especially the banks that were built to look like small replicas of Greek buildings. She explained why they looked that way and Seth listened to every word she said with wonder and excitement. It was strange, there was something about this little boy that reminded me a lot of myself when I was little. His interest in architecture was something I’d always possessed myself. Even as a little boy, I loved to help my parents scout out new locations. I shrugged my shoulders, figuring if nothing else, it would help me talk to him and understand him a little better.

Chapter 10: Casey

As we rode along, I couldn’t help but feel extremely nervous about the whole situation. My mind was reeling with confusion. I didn’t know whether to think Dex’s invitation was a sign that he was interested in more than just sex or if it was just another one of his random attempts to get me back in the sack before his next trip. The thoughts running through my mind were dangerous and I could feel a lump forming in my throat as I thought about Dex, Seth’s father, wanting to be a part of our lives. My mother had no qualms about allowing this to go on, yet she was the one person who knew the truth about Dex and Seth.

I glanced up at Dex who was staring over at me with a kind look on his face. I smiled at him weakly and turned my attention back to the passing scenery. We were getting close and I watched as we passed the empty hay fields and brightly

colored trees. The limo turned left down an old dirt road with wooden cut outs of pumpkins and ghosts. Seth was so excited he could barely sit still, yelling out every animal he saw as we passed the farm and barns. The limo pulled into the parking lot and the driver let us out before finding a space. I gawked at the large white farm house and lawn full of games and events for the kids. Realizing I wasn’t holding Seth’s hand, I looked down in panic only to find him walking along in front of me with Dex. I glanced over at my mother who was looking straight ahead with a knowing grin on her face.

“No,” I said. “Don’t even entertain the idea.”

“I’m just happy to be out of the house,” she said with a guilty tone.

When we got up to the booth, Dex refused my money and paid for us to do everything. First, we played about a thousand games and I stood back laughing as Dex and Seth tried to knock down bottles with bean bags. Seth was really warming up to Dex and he even let him pick him up and pretend he was going to toss him at the bottles. His little laugh mixed with his father’s brought a tinge of sadness to my chest. I wanted to enjoy this, pretend like it was real, but I knew I would only be left with a broken heart when I had to go back home and face reality.

After the games, we took a hay ride and Dex sat close to me, looking me in the face from time to time with those big blue eyes of his. If it weren’t for the gate across the back of the trailer, I probably would have melted right off into the field. Seth clung to me tightly as we went over bumps, keeping one hand firmly on Dex’s knee. It was like he felt okay because he knew Dex was right there. When the hay ride was over, Dex picked Seth up off the trailer and put him up on his shoulders, walking through the crowd and pointing out all the different animals in the petting zoo. Seth didn’t seem to be too fond of the goats and chickens so he stayed plastered on Dex’s shoulders, pointing out every animal from a far and repeating everything Dex said. Finally, after the smelly petting zoo, we took a break and I sat down at the picnic tables, sipping hot cider while my mom took Seth to get cleaned up.

Dex sat across the table from me, blowing warm air into his hands and drinking the coffee he got in place of cider. His face was covered with excitement and I couldn’t help but feel close to him at that moment. He seemed to be having a good time with me and my family, which was very strange and completely unexpected. He turned toward me and reached out, tapping me gently on the nose.

“You look like Rudolph.” He teased. I smiled at him, my gaze locked on his.

“It’s a cold day,” I replied. “I fully expect to see snow by Thanksgiving this year. But, this cider should warm me right up.”

“I could think of several ways to warm you up,” he said slyly. “None of which would be appropriate for the Upstate Pumpkin Path and Farm.”

I wanted to ignore his comment but with the cool air and fall foliage, I couldn’t help but be swept up in the romance of it all. I leaned forward slightly as he moved in as well, letting his warm lips touch mine. It wasn’t long and passionate, or seductive and lustful, it was a kiss that meant more than that. As our lips parted, we stared into each other’s eyes, frozen in the moment. Suddenly I felt a child run straight into me and it broke the spell we were under. Seth climbed up into the seat and pulled his hot chocolate toward him, licking his lips. My mom laughed and sat next to Dex, taking a cider and smiling. The only thing left to do after that was pick out a pumpkin and then head back to the city.

The sight of Dex carrying four huge pumpkins across the dusty parking lot with a four-year-old on his trail was hilarious. I never thought I would witness Dex doing something so normal. By the look on his face, I didn’t think he ever thought he would be doing something so normal either. When the driver saw his struggle, he rushed forward to take two of the pumpkins from him and pop the trunk. They loaded the trunk with the pumpkins and the bag full of crafts Dex bought at the gift shop while mom and I loaded Seth into his car seat. Before I could sit down next to Seth, my mother squeezed in, raising her eyebrows at me and looking down at the seat next to Dex. My cheeks blushed and I plopped down, smiling at the handsome man next to me.

It did not take long for both my mother and Seth to pass out. After such an exciting day, they were both exhausted. I laughed quietly at how tired Dex made them by taking them to the pumpkin patch. We didn’t get to do things like that very often. Dex smiled down at me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. There was no resisting him at that point and I did what I knew I shouldn’t, I rested my head on Dex’s shoulder and gave into the fantasy that this could all be real. I knew things would be different tomorrow and I also knew that not having Dex like this all the time would break my heart, but I couldn’t help myself. Right now, it was just too perfect. We rode along the highway, close to each other, looking at the scenery as it flew by.

To say I was disappointed when the country turned to city would have been an understatement. I knew that my daydream of a normal life with Seth’s father by my side was about to end. When we pulled up in front of the apartment, I woke my mom up and told her to go on inside and that I would get Seth. I unbuckled his car seat but before I could pull him out, Dex was carrying him, passed out on his shoulder, up the stairs to the apartment. I smiled, knowing this moment was one I would remember forever, even if it was all just a dream. I grabbed the bags from the trunk, leaving the pumpkins for the driver to get, and climbed quickly up the stairs. I showed Dex to Seth’s room and we carefully laid him down and covered him up. I kissed him on the forehead before tiptoeing out of his room.

My mom was in the kitchen cooking a snack while Dex and I stood in the living room, gathering our thoughts after such a long day. I looked up at Dex as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. He squeezed me tight, pulled back, and kissed my lips softly. He smiled softly.

“Will you come back and stay with me tonight?”

I nodded and grabbed my jacket, checking that it was okay with my mom, which of course it was. Dex opened the front door for me and I practically floated down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk. I was living in a dream. We climbed into the limo and turned on the heat as I snuggled in close to Dex. As soon as our eyes met, our lips followed and I found myself caught up in a steamy embrace in the back of his limo. He grabbed my face, pressing his mouth hard against mine. His hands moved down my shoulders and to my waist, pulling me roughly to him. I leaned into him, knowing this was exactly what I needed to make the day even more perfect. As we drove through the city toward his penthouse, the glow of the city lights flashed across our faces through the tinted limousine windows. I opened my mouth wide for him and moaned softly as his tongue flicked across mine. I could feel a heat in my stomach stronger than any I’d felt before.

When we pulled up to the complex, Dex took my hand and walked me inside, spending no time dallying. In the elevator, we immediately reconnected, this time with more passion. My hands ran over his body and up his chest as we kissed. He slid his hands down over my breasts, down my stomach, and grasped my wet mound. Even through the jeans and layers, he could tell that I was more aroused than I had ever been before. When the doors to the elevator opened to his penthouse, I took no time looking around, but instead began to undress him, walking backward as he led me toward his bedroom.

In the dark, I pulled his shirt from his shoulders and kissed down his neck, feeling his erection through his pants as it pressed against me. My hands trailed down to his belt and I struggled to get it free. He smiled and reached down, trying to help. I backed up and pulled my sweater over my head and tossed it to the side. I slipped my pants and panties off and climbed up onto the bed. He was so busy getting his shoes and socks off that he hadn’t even noticed I was now lying in his bed, waiting for him to take me. He tossed his shoe on the floor and met my body with his eyes. I slowly parted my legs and watched as he licked his sumptuous lips. I could feel my wetness dripping down my pussy and all I wanted was to feel him deep inside of me, to hold me close while he thrust slowly and gently.

Dex bit his bottom lip and crawled up the bed toward me, his cock hard and erect. As he put his hands on either side of my waist, I thought he would continue upward but instead, he looked up at me with darkened blue eyes and lowered his face to my pussy. The feeling of his mouth on my skin aroused me instantly and I moaned as he pushed his tongue outward and licked the juices from my pussy lips. Immediately, my hips began to grind as he rubbed my clit with his fingers and licked feverishly at the rest of me. I reached my hand down and placed it gently on the top of his head.