CHAPTER 20
Declan
I felt her heart beating wildly in her chest as she pressed against me. I was still tingling from the force of my release, still inside of her. I knew that I should pull out, but I loved the feeling. I stroked her damp skin and closed my eyes, breathing the scent of us in.
I pulled out and rolled a sleeping Madeline to her side, smiling down at her peaceful face. I went to get some water, deciding on beer at the last minute as I downed one in a few sips. I took the water upstairs, pausing at the photos on the mantel. I looked them over slowly, debating if I should take them down before my parents got here. That life was over. I glanced towards the stairs, thinking about the woman in my bed. I knew that I wasn’t ready to replace these photos with pictures of Madeline and me, but she felt good when I was inside of her.
She understood what I needed tonight and went right along with it. I’d always enjoyed sex after a hard day at the hospital, but Lisa was often wrapped up in work. I’d jerk off most nights before going to sleep but Madeline knew what I wanted and needed right away. She gave it to me and I knew that she would do anything that I wanted tonight.
I wondered where this was going as I made my way upstairs again. I contemplated where I wanted it to go as I walked into the bedroom to see Madeline on her back, baring her sexy body to me. My cock hardened as I reached down to stroke it, moving faster towards her. I needed her again.
Madeline fell asleep again pressed against me as she smiled. We’d had another go around for about an hour and I made her come in a few different ways this time. She was so willing as I stroked her clit or bent her over and took her from behind. I closed my eyes this time, thankful that we both had the following day off. I never wanted to get out of this bed.
The weeks kept going up until the holiday and I seemed to spend more time with Madeline. It was always behind closed doors and mostly in bed with the weather making long drives dangerous. We just stayed warm inside and fucked regularly. She was losing some of her shyness and getting herself off for me as well as letting me use any toy on her that I wanted. My favorite was the butt plug, at least until I was in there myself.
I never came so hard as I did that day.
I knew that I was growing closer to her, but I pushed the idea away. We’d get a break through both holidays and I could make some sense of this then.
We played it off at the hospital like we were merely acquaintances. Madeline was scared to be part of the gossip and I knew that there was already talk about me since everything with Lisa happened. I just wanted to keep my private life that way; private. I even kept her out of conversations with my parents. I knew that they’d likely support me moving on but having a fuck buddy might not be Mom’s choice term to describe what I was doing. She didn’t need to know anything yet and before I knew it, Madeline was headed home, and I was on my own until my parents arrived.
I worked a few shifts until my vacation began, heading to the airport to pick them up. Mom hugged me tightly and Dad shook my hand as he looked me over. “You’re putting in long hours at the hospital.”
I was also putting long hours into sex with Madeline, but I wouldn’t admit to that. “Yeah, I am. That’s what I do, Dad.” He clapped me on the back as we walked to get their luggage and head back to the house.
“You need to take care of yourself, Declan. Especially right now… you need to sleep and heal.” Mom fussed over their luggage and Dad smiled lovingly at her before he reached for the green bags I’d bought them last year for Christmas. Prior to that, they had been using the same mismatched bags for fifteen years. I reached for her small carry-on bag and heaved it over my shoulder before leading the way to the car.
“Are you hungry?” I asked as I unlocked the doors to load the luggage in the back. “I have the house stocked with your favorites and there’s some good places on the way there. Anything you guys want.” I loved my parents dearly and Mom gave another tight hug.
“I’d love to go to that Thai place you took us to. The tea was delicious,” Mom mused as she pulled away to look closely at me. “Are you sure? You look tired.”
“I’m fine. I have a week off to relax after this.” I assured her as she walked around to the front while Dad opened the door for her. Once she was settled in, he buckled himself into the back seat as I started the engine.
We got to the restaurant and I got us a table, leading the way after the waitress that reminded me of Madeline. She had the same sweet look about her, but my body did not respond the same way it does for Madeline. I let my mom slide into the booth first and my Dad and I took our places. We ordered two pots of the tea and Mom looked over the menu with an easy smile. We ordered a mountain of food, so she could try some new stuff and she looked at me before blowing on her cup of tea. “So, how has work been?”
“I’m getting back into the groove. It’s been great staying busy,” I told her honestly, thinking about Madeline again. She was off for the entire week as well, so we’d likely see each other at the hospital once that was over.
Why didn’t I like that idea?
We chatted about the meal preparation for Thanksgiving as we ate, making me realize I still needed to his the store. Mom acted like she was cooking for a large family the way that she went on. I gave Dad a long look as he smiled at me, reaching for my tea. I’d need a beer at home at this point. We ate until we were stuffed, and I asked for boxes for the rest of the food. The waitress gave me a long look as I handed her a credit card, not meeting her eyes.
When we were in the car, Mom looked at me. “She was interested in you, Declan. Have you considered dating again?” Her tone was gentle, and I stared forward for a moment. “It’s been some time.”
“I am just easing into work. I think I’ll take that slow.” I pulled onto the main street and headed towards the house as Dad asked me another question about the hockey team. He always wanted to go to a game and I decided to try to work on that for him. We pulled into the driveway and Dad and I took their luggage to the guest room on the first floor. I went back to the car to get the leftover food and get it into the fridge while Dad went about making a fire. I closed the fridge and the room was dim again as I sighed.
I joined them in the living room, finding a movie on the TV as Dad pulled Mom against him. We chatted about things like the weather and what to do while they were in town. Everyone was tired relatively early, and I told them to sleep in as long as they needed to the following day. I knew that meant they might sleep until seven instead of five, but it was worth a try. I secured the house and headed upstairs, catching Madeline’s scent as I walked into my bedroom. I stopped and inhaled deeper, missing her tonight. I decided to shower before bed, jerking myself off under the hot spray as I played back the rough sex we’d been having. I closed my eyes and pictured her face as she came, tightening my hold and stroking harder. I knew that my parents would gladly send me out to go on a date, but I didn’t want a date.
I didn’t want a relationship at all. I didn’t want to date. I was passing time with Madeline until I moved onto something else. That’s what I was supposed to do as a widower, wasn’t it?
I played her moan through my mind and jerked forward, spraying the tile with my release. I breathed in hard, feeling the jolts all the way through my body. Dropping back against the shower wall, I regained my composure until I could finish washing off. I dried off and dressed in sweats to sleep, so I could get up quickly and pull on a shirt. Mom would want to spend as much time with me as she could this trip.