Alexander

I jerked inside of Soledad, knowing how hard I was going to come. This feeling that came along with protecting her and Lindsay was settling deep inside of me as it moved into various emotions. I knew that it was coming out as I fucked her but the way she was moving with me told me that she needed it as well. I felt her tightening around me as she moaned my name, coming over my cock. I grabbed her feet and lifted them to my chest before I started fucking her hard and deep. She was tight and wet as I moved, feeling something deep inside of me.

I came, filling her with one rough jerk. I’d been sleeping with Soledad for a few months now and every time it got better. She was it for me as much as Brent teased me and I loved making her mine. I knew that I loved her, and it made this worse. I wanted to murder the mother fucker for messing with her, regardless of how much it was to stress her out.

I let her legs drop as I allowed the waves to take me over, my cock aching from the hard release. Soledad was breathing heavily underneath, and I took a moment to look at her in the moonlight. She was beautiful as her skin flushed from her own release and I pulled out of her and dropped to my side. I pulled her into my arms, considering my thoughts as I kissed her hair. “You feel so good,” Soledad murmured, sounding sated and tired.

“Move in with me,” I said as she froze.

“What? I thought I was just staying here for a while. What about Rosie?” My heart heated at the concern for her friend and second mother.

“I can get her into a place nearby. I’ll always take care of her since she helps so much with Lindsay.” I watched as she seemed to consider my offer.

“Will that affect work?”

“No more than it isn’t already. We’re keeping that separate well now and work comes first. I just want you close to me when we’re not working.” I couldn’t believe that I was saying this to a woman. I didn’t consider the idea seriously but now that she was here, I wanted them both to stay.

“I signed a lease at the apartment. What are we going to do about that?” She asked as I shrugged.

“She can rent it out to someone else at an astronomical rate. Carly will like that.” I said it sarcastically as Soledad took me in. I regretted sleeping with Carly the few times that I did but it was done. She knew how much I cared for Soledad from that first night and seemed to accept it. I heard her laugh and pulled her closer to me.

“Is this because of the situation? I can stay with other people for a while until things settle down.” She offered as I considered her words. It was based on the situation to a degree, but I wanted her here. Were the few close friends that she had here able to put her and Lindsay up comfortable and make it convenient for Rosie to watch her? Probably not. “Millie lives close to the office.

“I don’t think your young, single friend have enough room for the both of you.” I reminded her as Soledad rolled her eyes. “This made me think of the idea but seeing you both here makes me know what I want. You both mean the world to me.”

“Alex,” she murmured, leaning over to kiss me. “I feel like I should transfer at the office or something. Dating is one thing but living together is different.” She let out a breath. “Living together. Wow.” I knew what she was saying because I’d never thought about this as anything else than an event in the far future. The loft seemed huge when I bought it but now I had to make a room for Lindsay and figure out the third. Would we have our own kids down the line?

“I know. Sleep on it and we’ll talk tomorrow.” I told her as I let my eyes drop closed. I was tired emotionally from everything going on and surprisingly didn’t want her again in lieu of sleep.

I woke up to the sound of voices and looked around my room. Blinking, I tried to place who it was. Soledad? Yes, but there was someone else and I smiled as I remembered that Lindsay was here. I rose to use the bathroom and slipped on some clothes to head out to the kitchen where Soledad was sipping coffee with her hair pulled into a messy bun. “Good morning, beautiful.” I told her, kissing her hair as I reached down to rumple Lindsay’s long hair. “You guys hungry?”

“Pancakes?” Lindsay asked as I grinned. I poured some coffee and mixed banana pancakes in a bowl as Soledad watched, seemingly deep in thought about something. Was she thinking about my question?

I cooked the flapjacks and served them up on three plates as Soledad brought them to the table. She had gotten a glass of orange juice for Lindsay and watched her take a long drink. “Did you sleep well?” I asked the little girl as she smiled at me and nodded.

“Your bed is so big in there. I woke up and got to see the sun come up over the water. So pretty.” The idea of that made me groan but it was gorgeous. I’d gotten the chance to do the same after coming home just in time for the sunrise.

“You do have a good view of it from there,” I agreed as Soledad chuckled. I wondered if there was a nap in Lindsay’s future. We finished the meal and I asked what they wanted to do, seeing Soledad’s eyes darken.

“Let’s go to a park.” Lindsay piped up as I gazed at her mom. “How close are we to the park by our house?”

We were a few blocks away and I searched my mind for parks nearby. I grabbed my phone and went to google it, seeing a message from the investigator I had on Keith. I paused to open the message and read it twice before the words sank in.

Keith was a monster. He had a record of domestic violence and petty crime but a wealthy father in California. That got him out of most long sentences to where he served little time and was free to terrorize the people of his choice. I blinked and forced myself back to reality as I felt Soledad staring at me. “There’s a big park around the corner that has everything. Want to go there?” I looked at Lindsay smiling back at me and then Soledad, gripping her cup tightly. “We’re going to get ourselves together, Lind. We’ll leave soon. Want to watch something?”

Soledad got her settled in front of the TV before we went back to my room to grab clothes. “What happened in there?” Her voice was terse, and I looked at her as I got shorts and a t-shirt for the unseasonably warmer day.

“I got a text from my PI. Keith has a lengthy record of abuse and small crime. There’s even a stalking charge in there that was dropped at some point.” I watched as she closed her eyes and dropped to the bed.

“I knew he did it to others.” Her words were soft, but they told me how hard it had been for her. “I felt so selfish because I was free of him. I didn’t let myself think about them.”

“He has a wealthy daddy that bought him out of everything and I don’t think the punishment is enough to begin with. You did the best you could.” I pulled her against me as I listened for the sound of laughter from the living room. I’d do anything to keep that little girl happy and safe. “You’re only twenty-three. You were so fucking young.”

“I want to stay here. I want us to be happy.” She whispered as she trembled in my arms.

“You will.” I let her shower first and joined Lindsay in the living room, asking what she was going to wear. She’d brought a few different things and while looking out of the window, decided that a skirt and her favorite t-shirt would be perfect. I watched as Soledad walked out with damp hair. She was wearing jeans and a pale pink t-shirt, looking gorgeous. I moved into the hallway to shower and slipped into shorts and my own t-shirt. I languidly jerked off under the water, wanting Soledad again but knowing that I needed to wait.

I grabbed my keys and we walked down to the car, getting Lindsay inside before we took off. We were both in a good mood for her, but I could see the worry in Soledad’s eyes. She watched as Lindsay ran to the massive structure, hurrying behind her as her eyes canvased the area. I didn’t realize how big this place was in terms of safety with the text I’d received. I walked after her and my eyes dragged over everyone as I wrapped an arm around her. “We’re fine.” I assured Soledad as she watched her daughter carefully.

“It’s been years. Why now? He never approached me in Mendocino. He just watched and made me scared enough to leave. He got to me. Is that what this is about?” she asked as she stared at me. “What if he just goes away?”

“Did he call back then?” I asked as she shook her head.

“He’s called work and the cell. I think he wants to hurt me this time.” Her voice was a whisper as she watched Lindsay with a manic expression.

Fuck me. He knew the cell number. I made a note to call the company and get her another number that couldn’t be found. We’d only give it to certain people at the office that knew her and swear them to secrecy. I stared at her as I realized this must have been her life for the last few years. I knew why she hadn’t been with anybody. She was trying to be a mom and take care of her daughter as she slowly fled from place to place. She’d never had a happy experience raising Lindsay, not like a normal mother.

I needed to end this. I reached for my phone and sent a cryptic message to get details about Keith. I needed other options. We took Lindsay to a local museum and wandered around slowly, taking in her enthusiasm, and trying to decompress. “I need to tell Rosie what to do.” Soledad told me as I looked down at our joined hands.

“I’ll put her into the nice hotel around the corner for now. She can come to my place to watch Lindsay. It’s a secure building and they’ll be safe.” I told her as I heard my voice called out. I turned my head to see Kathy, an assistant to one of the other managers. She was with two kids and I noticed that she took in Soledad beside me, who was staring intently at Lindsay.

“Hello, Alexander. How are you?” Kathy asked with a bright smile on her face.

“Great, Kathy. This is my girlfriend, Soledad and her daughter is the one trying to climb on the tree over there.” I chuckled as I watched her, sliding down for who knows how many times.

“I’ve seen you at work. It’s a pleasure to meet you. These are my twins, Zack and Logan.” She beamed at the small boys proudly and I searched my memory to try and remember their birth. I really did keep away from my staff since I was drawing a blank. We made small talk for a few minutes before she went running after the kids. I knew that Soledad wasn’t into it and she pulled me over to where Lindsay was drawing.

“I guess the whole office will know now.” Her voice was low as I searched her face for her reaction.

“We’re out in public and have been for a while. They’re going to know, and I don’t give a fuck.” I knew that I was getting tense and she stared at me. ‘Sorry. This is getting to me.”

“I want you to ask what you asked me last night because you want it completely. Not because you feel like you must protect us. I hate this timing when I’m so crazy about you,” Soledad said softly as I stared at her.

“You are?” I asked as she glanced at me before watching Lindsay.

“I haven’t so much as gone on a date since she was born. I knew the moment I looked into your eyes that I was a goner even as scared as I was.” She smiled slightly and shook her head. “I wanted it to be perfect and completely separate of my old life. I wanted Lindsay to have everything.”

“She does, and she’ll continue to do so. She has both of us wrapped around her little finger.” I assured her as I smiled at her. “I love you both, Sol.”

“I love you so much. I’m sorry I’m so much trouble.” She told me before I kissed her hair.

We returned home to have some lunch and watched Lindsay doze off on the couch. I called to set Rosie up in the suite of the hotel around the corner after Soledad called her. She was watching me in bed as I dropped my phone on the mattress. “It’s room 1235.” I told her as she raised an eyebrow. “Should I start looking for an apartment for her as well?”

“You still want that?” Soledad asked as I smirked. I crawled over to her, reaching under the sheet to tug her pants down. I carried Lindsay to her room after she passed out on the couch, so her door was shut.

So was ours.

I tossed the pants to the floor and maneuvered my body under the thin cover and between her legs. Soledad moaned as I stroked my tongue over her, finding her deliciously wet. She always was. “I love the way you taste.” I murmured before going in for another firm lick.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about the other night.” She told me as her hands gripped my hair. “The way you fucked me so hard made me feel alive at a time when I was struggling. Meeting you made me feel like I was breathing again.” I pressed my mouth over her and sucked her nub into my mouth as she groaned softly. “Oh, God.”

I made her come that way before she stripped and climbed over me to ride my cock. We had to be quiet to a degree, but I felt the way she rocked slow above me. I was buried inside of her and gripped her hips as I came. She whimpered as our release joined together and dropped onto me, her skin pressed against mine.

We cleaned up enough to nap until Lindsay got up and she joined us in the bedroom. The window was open, but I doubted that Lindsay would pick up on the scent anyway. She was young, and we kept that part of our relationship under wraps for now apart from some mild PDA. She wanted us together from the start and welcomed it.

Lindsay cuddled with her mom, still dozing off and I watched them. I imagined her growing up in this room, seeing a blur of the little girl as a teenager. I imagined us all in a house down the line, grilling in the yard as Soledad rubbed her swollen belly with a warm smile.

I woke up with a shock when I watched Soledad die giving birth to our baby in my dream. She was in the hospital and our son was so small. He was barely hanging on and she just bled too much. I looked around to see my girls asleep and stroked Soledad’s hair gently before going to get some water.

Rosie got settled in her room with the assurance to make herself at home. She knew what was going on and thanked me for my kindness to keep them all safe. She looked at me shrewdly when we first met. I knew that she saw me as the player that I was prior to meeting her friend. I was transitioning, after all.

We got along well as time went on. She learned to respect me as we cooked together and talked over meals. I assured her that I had Lindsay’s best interests at heart as well as Soledad’s. I wanted to take care of them and that was before all of this went down. Now we were close, and she trusted me with this new sense of danger.

I woke up to the alarm, seeing how tired Soledad still looked. I decided to work from home for the first half of the day while Rosie watched Lindsay and get us to the office after lunch. I knew that Soledad would refuse to bail on her team from previous experience.

She walked down the hallway in some black slacks and a green silk blouse that brought out her eyes. I’d enjoyed watching her buy clothes for work. She pulled off the business casual look well and looked sexier by the day. I knew the extra sleep had done her good, even though I was still thinking about my dream about her. “Are you okay?” She asked as we drove in, earning a lazy smile from me. “You’re not mad, are you?”

“I work from home sometimes. It’s a nice break for me. I’d be happy to make a day of it, but you refused, stubborn girl.” I teased her as she rolled her eyes.

“I have to make my boss some money, you know.” She knew that her team was the highest producing and felt quite proud of it, once she was here for a while. “There seems to be something else going on. Did you hear something new?”

I did know where Keith was staying. It was a motel on the edge of town. He didn’t seem to have a lot of money and I hoped that would make him leave sooner rather than later. I always went back to his enabling father though. Was he bankrolling his son? “I’ve heard a few things, but they aren’t a big deal. I’m just keeping track of him.” I paused and parked in the crowded lot. “Did you know his family well?”

“No, they were estranged when I met him. At least, that’s what he told me. They never saw Lind or seemed to do anything for her. That might be his doing now that I know what a mess Keith is. I don’t want her to meet them if he willingly saves his ass every time he needs it.”

We walked into the office as some people were returning to work while others were leaving. I went with the standard rule of no contact even though Kathy passed by us with a bright smile. I went into my office as she took her things to meet the team. They were making great strides with the ad and the client was happy. I enjoyed seeing her working so hard and enjoying it, but I’d take care of her and Lindsay if that ever changed. I had the money, both from a trust fund and the company. I was ready to give her the world once we figured out the Keith situation.

When work was done, we went back to the loft for a home cooked meal from Rosie. I enjoyed watching the women together since it was much like a mother and daughter relationship. It made me wonder about Soledad’s mom. She’d mentioned her a few times and I knew they kept in touch. Now that I knew about Keith, I understood why she’d stayed away. Soledad must have felt guilty for potentially bringing a dangerous man into her family’s life.

I knew that I could fix that for her, terminate the problem. I took Rosie back to her hotel after dinner, earning a kiss on the cheek before she told me to take care of her girls. I assured her that I would and headed back to the loft to where Soledad was likely giving Lindsay a bath before bed. I parked in the garage and headed up to the loft, unlocking the door and walking into the foyer. “Sol?”

“Back here,” she called out as I walked to the bedroom that Lindsay was using. They were in the big bed with a pile of books, wearing pajamas and smiling at me. “She’s going to bed right after this book. She wanted to tell you good night first.”

I walked into the room and sat on the other side of Lindsay. I watched as Soledad read to her, memorizing her gorgeous face as she looked at her daughter with such warmth. I hugged Lindsay good night and kissed her cheek as she told me thank you for letting them stay here. She also told me that she loved me in a low whisper as my eyes stung.

Holy shit. They both loved me.

I followed Soledad into the hallway, shutting off the light as she stretched. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her against me as she laughed softly. “I love you,” I told her as I kissed her bare shoulder.

“I love you, Alex.” Soledad stroked my arms with her soft hands and I closed my eyes.

“Lindsay told me tonight that she loved me,” I told her as she leaned back against me.

“She told me that she wanted to in the bath. I knew that she’d been thinking hard about something and she asked me what I thought. I told her that I loved you and it was okay if she did too.” Soledad turned in my arms and pressed her mouth to mine. I kissed her back, reaching down to cup her ass and hauling her against me. I carried her to my room, knowing that I locked the front door for the night. Anything else that needed to be done could wait.