Chapter 22: “Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.”

Kenny

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Patrick was dressed to go out when I arrived in Wilmington. Jeans and a polo were his standard going out attire, and his dark green shirt made his hazel eyes glow... as he narrowed them on me.

“What’s different?”

“You’re so suspicious!” I dropped my bags on the floor. “Nothing’s different.”

“Liar. This is not the pensive, angst-ridden Kenny who visited us last time.”

Rolling my eyes, I stopped at the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water. “You’re so full of shit. That’s a total exaggeration.”

“You’re full of shit.”

Elaine entered the room carrying Lane, who only wore a diaper and a towel. “Baby here—no more swearing,” she called. “He just had his bath, and I barely got a diaper on him when he heard your voice.”

Laughing, I scooped his wiggling, grinning body from her arms. “How’s my big boy?” I kissed his chubby neck and took a deep breath of Baby Magic. “I’m sorry I was gone too long this time.”

He struggled in my arms, and I loosened them. Putting his hands on my cheeks, his blue eyes grew round. “Two mommies.”

Behind me I heard Patrick snort, and I cut my eyes at him. Back to the baby, I held my expression neutral. “Yes. Lane has two mommies who love Lane very much.”

“Ah, now you’re making it sweet.” Patrick pretended to complain.

Elaine breezed into the kitchen at that remark. “What’s sweet?”

“Lane has two mommies.” I said, and she paused.

Her hand went to her hip, and her expression grew thoughtful. “I guess we never really talked about that. Should we make out now or wait until later tonight?”

Patrick almost choked on a laugh, drinking from my water bottle, but I hugged Lane closer. “Do you think it’s confusing? I mean, should we call me... something else?”

She walked over to us, rubbing Lane’s little back. He reached out and stuck his fingers in her silky hair. “Two mommies.”

Her voice was gentle. “You are mommy—”

“No way, you’re mommy,” I argued. “You’re doing all the work.”

For a moment we only stood there, the two of us looking at the small human tying us together. My stomach twisted, and I couldn’t help wondering if she’d ever be able to think of me as anything more than a problem. Her annoying cross to bear.

Elaine was still rubbing Lane’s little back. “I love this guy.” The warmth in her voice gave me hope.

“Me too,” I said softly.

Our eyes met then, and she sighed, a small smile peeking on her lips. “Sounds like Lane has two mommies.”

Patrick put the water bottle down and walked over to where we were. “Daddy is very lucky. Two mommies is hot.”

Elaine punched him in the arm, and I snorted. Lane’s little face frowned. “No hit. Bad.”

“Daddy likes when Lainey hits him.” I kissed his little nose. “What else are you learning at preschool?”

“Not enough cleanup.” Elaine scooped an oversized racecar and a handful of stray Duplos off the floor, tossing them into a square bin in the living room. Then she was back, purse on her shoulder. The black dress she wore had geometric beige panels down the sides, making it look like a halter.

“I love that dress!” I sat in a chair by the table still holding Lane.

“If you were taller, I’d give it to you.” She kissed my head briefly before giving the baby a longer kiss on his chubby cheek. It was unexpected, and I liked the gesture. “We won’t be out too late.”

“Stay as late as you want! We’ll have dinner and then snuggle up with a few books until we fall asleep.”

She smiled and headed to the door as Patrick stepped forward to hug me and kiss his son. “Tell teacher Lane’s mommies kiss each other.”

“Patrick!” Elaine scolded from the door, but that made me laugh.

“Good one,” I chuckled, as he pecked my cheek.

“Tomorrow I want to hear all about this new guy.”

I tried to frown, but it came off as more of a distorted grin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“Exactly.” He winked and followed Elaine out. I carried Lane to the living room, ready to relax and spend the evening with my boy.

* * *

The next morning, when I emerged from Lane’s room, Patrick’s going out clothes were replaced with jeans and a white tee. He held a mug of coffee. I held my overnight bag on one arm and my sleepy little son on the other.

“Did you two catch up?” he asked, handing me the mug.

“Yes!” I was refreshed after spending an easy evening watching airplane and video-game movies then going to bed at ten snuggled up with my baby. “I think we read every new book he got since my last visit. Holy crap!”

“Preschool had a book fair.” He grinned, rubbing Lane’s back.

“I figured it was something like that.”

Lane reached for him, and I passed the little guy over. He tucked his blond head into his daddy’s neck.

“Take care of your mini me.” I sipped my coffee watching Lane’s chubby fingers moving up and down on Patrick’s shoulder. “You two are too cute.”

“So tell me about this guy.” Patrick sipped his usual morning OJ, and Lane’s head popped up.

I smiled watching the two of them—Patrick held his glass while Lane took a drink. When they were done, I shrugged. “Just one of the new guys at the gym. He’s working with me on my boxing.”

Patrick’s eyebrow rose. “He’s a boxer?”

“Ex.” I took another sip. “Ex boxer.”

“Is he from Bayville? Somebody you knew before?”

“No,” I looked down, chewing my lip. “I’m not sure where he’s from originally. He just moved to the area.”

Patrick’s brow lined, and my chest felt squirmy. “What’s his name? What do you know about him?”

“Slayde Bennett? He’s my age, so he must’ve been just getting started when he had to quit. Boxing, I mean.”

“Why’d he have to quit?” Patrick was studying me too closely.

These were all valid questions, and I hated not having answers for him. At the same time, I knew Slayde. He didn’t.

“I don’t know,” I finally admitted.

Patrick’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Those guys can be violent sometimes.”

“He’s not violent.” My mind traveled to the night on the beach when he’d rescued me. There was no way in hell I could tell Patrick about that. He’d lose it.

“Sounds like there’s a ‘but’ in there.”

“There isn’t!” I shook my head, meeting his eyes. “I was thinking of how to describe him. He’s more into meditation and stuff. He has a system. He’s very controlled.”

Inwardly I cringed. It was all coming out wrong, but thankfully Patrick didn’t jump on that. Instead, he exhaled deeply.

“You’re a grown woman—”

“Thank you!” I said a little too loudly.

“And I was about to say I trust you.” He held my gaze, and my little boy did as well, watching me from where his head lay on his daddy’s shoulder. “But it’s like you women are always saying about my Harley—you’ve got other people who need you now, too. Remember that.”

“Oh, Patrick.” I stepped toward them both. “I could never forget that. I love you guys.”

“Mommy purple.” Lane pulled a long strand of my hair into his little hand. I caught it and kissed his baby knuckles.

He leaned down, and I took him from Patrick, hugging him close and kissing his neck. A lump ached in my throat. It was so hard to leave him. But that was what true love meant—sacrifice, making unselfish choices for the good of your loved one.

“Mommy will be back very soon,” I whispered. “Be a good boy for Mommy.”

Patrick took him, and it was like my heart stayed with that little body. I rubbed Lane’s back a moment longer. “Tell Elaine I said thanks. I’ll be back soon.”

“Take care of yourself, okay?”

Nodding, I grabbed my bag and headed out.

* * *

Driving back to Bayville, I thought about how Slayde withdrew when I first mentioned Lane. It was so common for children of abuse to think they shouldn’t be parents or have any contact with children. I tried to imagine what kind of a little boy he must’ve been to survive the abuse he’d suffered.

He fought all his life, and then he became a boxer. I hoped one day he might trust me enough to tell me why he walked away from his career. Perhaps it was something as simple as he didn’t want to fight anymore.

All of his thoughtful gestures filled my mind, from the flowers to his attempts to feed me instead of himself, and when I pulled into my parking garage, all I wanted to do was throw everything in my house, shower quickly and head right back out to see him.

Just then my phone buzzed with a text. Come to my place before you go home. I have something to show you.

It was Slayde, and I smiled, looking through my windshield a moment before turning the key and backing out of the garage again.

Henry was sitting in the parking lot when I arrived at the crummy apartment building he called home. I tried to imagine what in the world he could want to show me as I studied the sun glowing deep orange as it made its way lower in the sky. It was a beautiful evening.

My phone went off again. Text me when you get here.

I smiled. Just pulled in.

From the corner of my eye, I saw his door open, and he stepped out wearing dark jeans and a white tank. The sight of him made my chest swell with happiness. He was so gorgeous with that light scruff on his cheeks, his muscled arms bent with his hands on his hips. A smile touched his lips, making him look even sexier, and I wanted to run across the parking lot and jump into his embrace. Instead, I opened the door and walked to him.

“Hey,” I said.

He still had that sexy grin on his lips, and he reached for me, tracing a line from my forehead down my cheek to my neck. Energy buzzed through my entire body.

“You were only gone twenty-four hours,” he said quietly. “It felt like you were gone a week.”

Reaching forward, I held his neck as I rose on my tiptoes to kiss him. He quickly wrapped his arms around my waist, scooping me against him in a kiss so full of emotion it stole my breath. His lips moved to my cheek then up to my eyebrow, and I tried to calm my breathing.

Leaning back, I traced my thumbs over his cheeks. “What did you do while I was gone?”

“Worked yesterday. Today Rook made me an official trainer and gave me a raise.”

“Hey!” I laughed. “Sounds like I need to go out of town more often.”

“No way. I’d rather have you here.” He smiled before leaning forward to kiss me again, right at the base of my ear.

“What did you want to show me?”

With one more squeeze, he released me. “Come on.”

Instead of going into his apartment, he led me in the direction of the pier. I didn’t understand, but I followed him until he stopped abruptly causing me to bump into him.

He laughed. “Sorry.” Catching my cheeks, he kissed me quickly again, and happiness filled my chest. Leaning down, he caught my ankle, slipping off my shoes as I held his shoulders. Then he stood up again. “Close your eyes.”

I wrinkled my nose, and he took one of my hands, lifting it to my eyes. “Close them.”

I did as instructed, and he led me slowly over the sand to the wooden boardwalk. A light breeze blew off the water, and I was glad I’d worn a cardigan for our impromptu beach stroll. Only we didn’t go to the beach. As I followed him, I recognized the sounds. We were walking on the pier.

“You’re going to stop before we get to the end, right?” I teased.

“Stopping... now.” He pulled my hand away from my eyes, and I blinked, looking all around. “Look down.”

My eyes went to the wooden planks in front of us where two large pads were arranged with three small plates holding red, blue, and yellow paint.

“I... I don’t understand.”

“It’s finger paint.” He stepped carefully across the setup still holding my hands. “Sit. We don’t have a lot of daylight left, but you can show me how it works.”

My mouth dropped open, and I sat slowly across from him with the two large, empty sheets between us, slipping my arms out of my sweater.

“I don’t have any fine art books, but I figured nature is a pretty good substitute.”

It was all so unexpected and amazing and sweet. “Yes, I mean, definitely nature is the best subject.”

“Except naked women, of course.” He gave me a sly grin, and I laughed.

“I’m pretty sure we’d get arrested out here.”

“Too bad.” He sat forward, and in the light tank he wore, he might as well have been shirtless. “Blue and yellow make green, right?” He held up a white plastic bottle, tilting it side to side. “I have white here, but I ran out of plates.”

“What do you want to start with? The ocean?” Leaning forward, I dipped three fingers in the dark blue paint and slid them across the paper in a wavy motion.

He’d flattened his whole hand in the yellow and sat back. “Wow. You really know what you’re doing.”

“I’ve finger-painted a time or two. Watch it! You’re dripping!”

He looked down at the paint trickling down his forearm and quickly put it down at the top right corner of his page. “The sun.”

“Nice. I might’ve missed it if you hadn’t told me.”

“Don’t be a snob.” He grinned and moved back to dip his index finger in the red. “I have a better idea for a subject.”

I watched as he started making lines.

“Keep in mind your medium,” I said, lifting the white and pouring a drop on my fingertips, blending it under the wavy blue lines I’d made, creating a lighter blue. “You can’t be very precise with this type of painting. Go for more broad strokes.”

Slayde didn’t even look up. Wrinkling my nose, I studied what looked like a big red triangle.

“Mondrian liked to use large fields of color in his art,” I added, hoping to be encouraging.

“Which guy just threw paint everywhere?”

“Jackson Pollock?” I squinted up.

“Yeah, I’d like to try his technique sometime.”

“Yves Klein covered nude models in ultramarine blue and then had them roll around on the canvass.”

Slayde’s eyes flashed to me. “Why the hell did I set all this up out here? We need to take this back to my place. You’ve given me a great idea.”

“Oh, yeah?” I grinned, leaning across the canvasses. He met my lips halfway, and I put my painted hand on his cheek.

Pulling away a fraction, he laughed. “You’re going to get it now.” I felt his yellow-covered hand sliding down the neck of my floral sundress.

“Slayde! My dress...”

“It’s washable. Look.” He held up the bottle, and sure enough, Washable was printed on it.

“I guess that means the gloves are off.”

“You’re speaking my language now.” He sat back quickly, plunging both hands into the plates. “Get over here.”

Jumping up, I snatched the blue before taking off running down the boardwalk. He was right behind me, one hand dripping red the other bright yellow.

“Slayde!” I screamed, but he caught me, hands sliding up my thighs to my bare stomach beneath my dress.

“Where would be the most unexpected place I can get paint?”

The blue was open now, and I poured it on my hands. Too much gushed out, and it ran down my arms, but I spun around, pushing my hands under his tank. It was up and off, his torso, which was now covered in dark blue.

“All you need is a canvas,” I laughed.

In a sweep, I was over his shoulder, and he charged straight into the surf. The water was like ice. I screamed again, but he held me tight against his body, warming me with his heat. We were panting and laughing, my arms around his neck, our noses almost touching.

“It’s all washing off in the salt water.” I made a sad face, looking around us at the rainbow.

“It’s also non-toxic, so the fish are safe.”

“You thought of everything.” I grinned before kissing him hard on the mouth.

His hand moved behind my head to hold me still while he kissed me slower, parting my lips so he could find my tongue. Heat blazed between my thighs, and I shifted my body so my legs wrapped around his waist.

A small groan rumbled in his throat, and he turned us in the water so he was facing the shore. “Looks like nobody else is out here.”

My lips moved to his ear, and I nibbled his earlobe. “Aren’t you worried about our artwork?”

“No.” His voice was a raspy whisper as his hands slid up my thighs. Jerking aside my panties, his fingers sank deep into my core.

“Oh!” Flexing, I lifted up against him.

“I want to roll you in blue paint and make love to you on a canvas.” His mouth moved along my jaw, kissing and pulling small bits of skin between his teeth. I shivered with every little nip, his words sending desire straight to where his fingers were massaging me.

“Yes, please,” I moaned, my hips moving with his hand.

“But I’d like to be inside you here first.” His mouth moved to mine and a splash of salt water went with it. As he moved me around, the ocean mixed with the minty flavor of him.

“Mmm,” I moaned, feeling his hands working at his waist. His erection was at my thigh, and in one swift motion he sank deep inside me, teasing me to the next level of pleasure as the waves lifted our bodies together.

“You feel so good,” he whispered in my ear. “Nothing’s like being inside you.”

The salt water mingled with his words, intensifying his thumb still circling, his teeth nibbling at my jawline. The light hairs across his chest teased my nipples, and my head swam with all the sensations. It wasn’t long before I was hitting the edge.

“Oohh!” My inner muscles tightened so hard, and tremors broke through my legs as the orgasm spasmed in my core. I cried out again, lifting up, holding his shoulder as I rocked my hips faster against him.

His muscles were tense, and I knew he was fighting to hold back. I couldn’t hold back. Waves of pleasure racked my body, and I moaned through the intense sensations.

“Finish, baby,” he breathed in my ear, his free hand trailing lightly over my ass under the water. That tingling move sparked another, harder aftershock in my core.

“Oh, my god, Slayde.” I gasped, riding it again until with a low groan, he quickly lifted me off of him, pulling out.

Fumbling my hand down, I quickly found his rigid shaft beside my thigh and pumped my hand up and down him quickly.

“Fuck,” he groaned, and I felt him jerk, coming in the waves that rocked us. His hips flexed as he thrust into my fist several more times. His eyes were pressed closed, and I kissed him against the temple, down his jaw, as his movements slowed.

He whispered something inaudible against my hair, and I hugged myself closer, pressing my lips to his. He consumed me roughly in that kiss, like he’d been held back from me and was finally released. He held me against his chest, and the emotions moving through me with every heartbeat were almost painful.

We were both breathing hard, melting into each other as the waves continued rocking. Now they were like a lullaby, easing us to calm.

His chin moved, and he kissed my cheek, still holding me firmly against his body. “I could do that a lot.” I breathed a laugh, and he continued. “I’m sorry I had to pull out on you like that.”

Leaning back, I held his neck. “I started the pill Friday, so we’ll have backup in a few days.”

He looked deep into my eyes. “I’ll get tested so you don’t have to worry about anything. I mean, you don’t have to worry now, but just so you’re confident.”

Nodding, I traced my fingertip over his brow. “I trust you.”

“Until then, we’ll be safe.”

Looking up, I noticed the sun setting. I thought about the fact that he was holding me here, shirtless in the water, and I wondered if that meant he was ready to reveal everything.

“Why don’t you head up to my place and get dry. The door’s unlocked. I’ll clean up the paints and meet you there.”

Chewing my lip, I understood he wasn’t quite ready. I nodded. “Are you sure you can get them yourself? We kind-of got paint everywhere.”

“Yeah,” he grinned, kissing my jawline. “I still want to try that sex on canvass technique.”

“That can be our next finger-painting date.”

We were slowly making our way out of the surf. My sundress was soaked and sticking to me, and he scooped up his paint-covered tank, holding it against the front of his body. SLAYER was clearly visible at his neck, but whatever he was hiding was further down, on his ribs, where the white tank was pressed securely under his arm.

“See you in a minute.” I caught his chin and kissed him, determined to show him how safe he was with me. “If you need any help just leave it. I’ll only be a second.”