Placing a kiss on Olivia’s forehead that lays peacefully on our hero’s shoulder, I lead the way to the apartment and unlock the door. Stepping aside, I hold the door open and watch as he heads down the hall to her room. Justin waits patiently to pull the blankets down before he gently places her into the bed. He kisses her forehead and tucks the blanket around her before whispering, “I love you, baby girl. Sleep sweet Robin, Batman will keep you safe.”

I watch the interaction with tears once again running down my cheeks. I still don’t understand how Justin managed to break the walls around my heart. Once our eyes meet, he prowls toward me. One hand grips my hair, keeping my face turned up to him, as his other grips my waist, anchoring my body to his. He keeps his eyes open when he takes my lips this time. Not letting me hide from him.

“I’m not letting you go,” he says against my lips. “You’re mine.” Looking deep into my eyes, it feels as if he is staring into my soul. “Say it. Tell me you’re mine.”

Closing my eyes I say, “I’m yours.”

The scratch of his five o’clock shadow has goosebumps pimpling my flesh and my nipples tightening. “Bedroom,” he breathes into my ear, and threading our hands together, he pulls me toward my bedroom. The desire to hide my body from his probing eyes is ever present. Stress, childbirth, and long working hours have ravaged my body. Backing up to the bed, I pull him to me, lifting my lips to his.

Sliding his hands under my shirt, he pulls it over my head. He then makes easy work of unclasping my bra, freeing my tits that aren’t nearly as perky as they used to be. He’s standing to his full height and begins inspecting me, taking in every inch of my skin. I reach up to cover myself, the feelings of self-consciousness and embarrassment of the stretch marks that cover my skin. Catching my hands in between his, he steps closer to me. “Don’t hide from me, you’re beautiful. I want to devour every sexy inch of you.”

Reaching behind his head, he pulls his shirt off, adding it to the pile of clothes on the floor. “Have you seen yourself? It’s hard for a girl not to feel self-conscious when you have all that going on.” I can’t stop myself from sucking in my stomach in as I grip the sheets, fighting the desire to cross my arms over my chest again.

He watches me for a minute, then takes a step back and flips the light on. Embarrassment reddens my face, crawling down my neck to my chest. I close my eyes. Feeling his lips on my stomach, I open my eyes to see him kneeling before me, his eyes on my face.

“What are you scared of me seeing? These marks?” The tip of his nose follows a stretch mark from the waistband of my jeans to my belly button. “This is proof of your ultimate femininity. Your body grew, nurtured, and protected a baby.” Unbuttoning my jeans, he slides them down my dimpled thighs and helps me step out of them, leaving me standing in lacy pink panties.

His hands glide up my legs to my hips, twisting me to spin around in a circle for him. When my back is to him, a growl emanates from his chest. “Fuck, your ass is amazing. The perfect heart shape.” Holding my hips in his hands, he pulls my ass into his groin, forcing a whimper from me. “Do you feel that? How hard I am for you? My cock doesn’t lie, baby, it wants you. It needs you.”

I peak at him over my shoulder and pull his head down to me. “Then what are you waiting for?”

With a deep groan, he leans me over the bed, ditching his pants and boxers in the process. I feel featherlight kisses going up my spine, as he slowly drags my panties down my legs. “Step out and spread your legs for me.” My pussy clenches at his dirty command, as its still on display for him. The cool air on my heated flesh makes me shiver, but a second later, his finger is dragging through my lower lips. Collecting my arousal to glide over my clit, he licks a wet line at the crease where butt becomes thigh. His thumb circles my clit over and over, his pace steady and controlled, never entering me. His slow and calculated movements are driving me insane with the need to be filled. I’m a moaning, panting, wiggling mess of need but the pressure and pace stay the same, just enough to push me over the edge.

“Please,” I whisper, my face on the bed and hands clutching at the blankets.

I can feel the smile on his lips as he kisses one cheek, he’s enjoying my suffering. I feel him use another finger to apply just enough pressure to my pussy, the anticipation of its insertion has me holding still, but all he does is gather more wetness and move it to my ass. No one has ever touched me there before, such a taboo place but just the thought of him breaching my puckered hole brings a moan from my lips. His finger circles the sensitive hole, gathers more wetness, then slowly pushes against it.

“Oh, God.” It feels wrong but so good. My body is trembling with the desire for release.

I jolt away and sit straight up in a panic, my heart racing. My body is still trembling with the need for release. If I can get that much pleasure from a dream, I can only imagine what it will be like when we are finally able to come together. Wait, what am I saying? Justin and I are nothing more than friends, although if he can give me orgasms like that, I may have to revisit the idea of us being friends with benefits.

As I look around the room, the events of the previous night comes back to me. After calling out of work, I sat down and explained to the ladies what had been going on between Justin and I. The connection I felt to him, how I feared that connection, and how there was no way in hell it was going to turn into anything romantic. Emma, Avery, and Amber all disagreed, but I was adamant on that point. I have a little girl to worry about, I can’t let her get attached to him, and then have him decided a ready-made family was not for him. We are friends, that’s it, nothing more.

Emma then told me to write her brother back, and Olivia demanded I send him the pictures she colored as well. I told them all I needed time to think about what I was going to say to him. After a while, they allowed me to change the subject, so we put Olivia to bed, and they proceeded to get me drunk. I can’t remember much of anything else that happened after that, other than Avery and Amber making me drink enough for the two of them and them leaving to go home at some point. I woke up in a bed, so I assume that I somehow made it to the guest room and passed out next to Olivia.

Stretching my arms up above my head, I look over to my right and see the clock flashing eleven a.m. “FUCK!” I look to my left and see I’m also missing a little girl. Before I have a chance to panic any further, the door swings open and Emma comes in carrying a breakfast tray.

“Stop all that screaming. It’s too damn early for that nonsense. Before you panic, I texted your boss and said Livie was still sick, but you would be in tomorrow morning. She is in the kitchen with the old man. I promise he won’t bite, now sit here and enjoy your breakfast. I’m sure this is the first time you’ve slept past seven a.m. since Olivia was born.”

She promptly sets the tray down on my lap and spins on her heels to leave the room, closing the door behind her. Now that I know everything has been taken care of, I sit back and enjoy my breakfast. Emma is right, I haven’t slept past seven a.m. in years. I am going to enjoy this while I can, plus I finish where that dream left off and get the orgasm I was so desperately waiting for. .

After I finish my breakfast and coffee, I decide to go in search of Olivia. I follow the voices down the hall and find Emma standing in the doorway of the kitchen. “Why are you standing in the doorway?” I ask.

“Shh! Don’t ruin this,” she says as she continues to aim her camera into the kitchen.

I turn toward the kitchen and find Jimmy and Olivia sitting at the table, eating breakfast. Olivia is sitting there coloring, while Jimmy is drinking his coffee and eating breakfast. Suddenly, Olivia puts her crayons down and slides the pictures over toward Jimmy.

“‘ake it. For you,” she says with a smile.

Jimmy picks up the paper and looks at it. I can tell from the look on his face that he is trying desperately to make out what is exactly in this picture but doesn’t want to hurt her feelings.

“This is the prettiest picture I have ever seen. Can I hang it up downstairs?’

Olivia raises her hand to her chin and begins to tap, pretending to think about it. I look at Emma, my little one is up to something. “She has been trying to get him to let her call him Grandpa all morning, and he refuses. He says he isn’t old enough to be a grandpa to anyone, but according to her, he is old. I think she has finally backed him into a corner.”

I cover my mouth to stop my laughter from escaping. “I call you Gampa,” Livie says with a smile. The look on Jimmy’s face is priceless, but he takes it all in stride. He holds out his hand to Olivia.

“You have a deal, princess.”

Olivia grips his hand with hers and gives him a shake. “I no pincess. I wobin, ‘Mma broder is Ba’man. Ba’man be my new daddy.”

Emma and I both gasp, alerting the two to our presence. I don’t even know how to respond to her. She hasn’t even met Justin. Olivia has talked to him once through a Skype call, but Emma said that they only exchanged a few words. How can she be so attached to him already, I need to do something to nip this in the bud before she gets hurt.

“Livie, just because Justin is Emma’s brother and we are all friends doesn’t mean him and Momma are going to fall in love and get married.”

“I know,” she responds as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Daddy told me. No worry, Momma. We be otay. Gampa, can we go put the ‘icture up?”

Jimmy looks in my direction, and I nod my head. “Sure thing, let’s go find the perfect spot for it.” He holds his hand out to her, and they both head down the stairs to the bar. Once they are out of sight, Emma screeches.

“Where the hell did that come from! She thinks you are going to marry my brother?”

“Emma, you heard the same thing I did. You are not helping my panic level right now. She said her daddy told her. Her dad is dead, and I am supposed to be okay with all of this.” I walk over to the closest seat and try to even out my breathing. At this point, I want to grab Olivia and pack up everything we own and move back to Texas.

“Take a deep breath. They say that our loved ones are always around watching over us after they are gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if Trent is watching out for you and Livie. You said that you feel this connection with my brother. Have some faith, maybe you guys were put into each other’s path for a reason.”

“Do you hear yourself right now? Would you even be saying this if she wasn’t talking about your brother?” I get up so fast that I knock the chair over as I start to pace around the kitchen.

“Probably not because I would have no idea if the guy you were talking to is a complete psycho, but because he is my brother, I KNOW he is the most genuine human being I have ever met. He would give his life for you and Livie, and he barely knows you. The fact that he has told you anything about him is a big deal.” Emma steps into my path, making me stand still. “I have been pestering him to join one of these programs for over a year. Ever since Jimmy and I got together and the guys from the team started pairing off. Each one of them getting married and having children, my brother has seemed so lost and alone. He looks like he doesn’t have a place in any of our lives. He stopped coming to the team barbeques and events. We barely see him unless someone physically goes and gets him for something.

“Did you ever think that you both possibly need each other? Please don’t cut my brother off just because you’re scared of getting hurt. Trust me, he is just as scared as you are.”

I know she is right, but I’m having trouble fighting the fear that is starting to take over at the moment. I take in a deep breath and let it out. “Okay, I know you are right. Thanks for talking some sense into me. I know this won’t be the last time you will have to do it, but I have someone other than myself to think about in this situation.”

“I know, and that’s why I let it slide, but seriously get your shit together. Justin is a great guy and would never do anything to hurt either of you.” Emma gives me a hug and heads toward the back of the house.

I bend over and right the chair I knocked over in my panic, sitting down at the table. All of this is moving way too fast for me. I have no idea whether this is a good thing or not, but I do know that leaving Justin high and dry is not the best option. First thing is first, I need to make sure that Olivia understands that what is going on between Justin and me is nothing but friendship. I have to protect her from getting hurt if things go south.

No matter what, she is my number one priority. If I get my heart broken, I can mend it back together, but I will not stand for her heart being broken when I could have easily done something to prevent it.

We spend most of the day at Jimmy’s place, but right before dinner time, I decide we have to head home. We need to get back into our usual routine, me back to work and Livie going to day care every morning.

I decide to keep it simple and make some Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, chicken nuggets, and a vegetable for dinner. I know it’s not the healthiest dinner, but Livie won’t fight me about eating it because it is her favorite. Just as the water begins to boil, I hear delighted squeals coming from the end of the hall, letting me know that Olivia is getting into something she shouldn’t be. With a heavy sigh, I make my way down the hallway and see her sitting on the floor in my room, with all her hair bows in her lap and haphazardly shoved in her hair.

“Livie, what are you doing, monster?” My hands on my hips but a smirk on my lips.

“I pitty!” she shrieks, hands in the air.

“You are pretty, but those are for Momma to put in your hair. Can you put them back in the box, please?”

“Mm hmm.”

“Thank you, baby.”

Picking up one bow at a time, she gets them picked up off the floor and pulls them out of her hair, making me cringe as she rips them from her hair.

“All yone!” She’s so proud of herself.

“Okay, dinner is almost ready. Can you please go put some pajamas on?”

“Cookie!” Jumping up, she runs down the hallway toward the kitchen, her black cape billowing behind her.

“You can have a cookie after dinner, and you have your PJs on.” She quickly changes direction and heads toward her room.

She comes skidding into the kitchen just as I’m finishing up the macaroni. I place everything on a plate for her.

“Make sure to blow on it. It’s still hot.” She nods her head and carefully starts to blow on her food before taking a bite. I wait a few minutes to make sure she doesn’t need anything before starting a load of laundry, picking up toys, stacking books and puzzles. Halfway through folding a load of towels, Olivia comes up to me waving a paper.

“Momma, dis fo Ba’man.”

“You colored him another picture? That’s so sweet of you. I’m sure he will love it.”

“You take a pi-ture of me?”

“Sure, I’ll take a picture of you.”

“Bof us, for Ba’man.”

“Okay, let’s take a picture for Justin.”

Holding my cheeks with her hands, she looks me right in the eyes. “Ba’man.”

“Okay, Batman.”

I head over to my computer desk and grab my digital camera, holding it out in place, I wait for Olivia to get situated before I start the countdown. “Three, two, one. Say cheese,” she shouts, and we both smile brightly for the camera. I check to make sure both of our eyes are open before showing her the picture. She seems to be satisfied with the result.

“Momma put it on the puter and sent it. Ba’man need it now so he not sad anymore.” The size of her heart never ceases to amaze me.

“He is out working for a long time, so he may not see it for a little while, but we can send it right now. He will have it when he gets back, okay?”

“Can we send my pi-tures too?”

I place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Of course, we can! Make sure you grab them all so I can scan them into the computer. I’ll even let you help.”

“YEA! Than do Momma,” she shouts before heading for her room and the stack of artwork she has.

I don’t know where things with Justin and I are headed, but I do know that he is starting to mean something to Olivia. I need to do everything I can do to protect her from getting hurt, even if that means hurting myself in the process.