Raw by Simone Sowood (42)

“Not really. I want to talk about Knox.”

My shoulders drop. When Darla gets something in her teeth, she won’t let go until she shakes it to death.

“We wanted to spend time together today, but his daughter’s home.”

“And by spend time together, you mean fuck?”

“Yes,” I say, sighing.

“No problem. I’ll just go over there and tell the kid you two are going on a date.”

“No! I fucking mean it, Darla. She must never, ever even suspect anything is going on between us. That’s his number one rule. If the kid finds out, the deal is off. And I really fucking don’t want the deal to be off so I’m telling you now, if you say something it will not be funny or cute. It will end this. Before it’s really even started.”

“What do you mean before it’s started? You mean you haven’t done it yet?”

I shake my head.

“What’s the hold up?”

“The girl, Piper. She’s been off school. So you have to promise me, you can’t say anything to her. Or you’ll ruin everything and turn me back into a nun,” I say, my voice pleading.

“Shit. Okay, I get it. I promise I won’t do anything to fuck it up.”

“And neither of them know about the vlogging, they can’t find out.”

“Of course, I get it.” Darla hugs me, and I struggle not to break down in her arms. I don’t know why. It must be the craziness of the last two days. As much as I’ve missed her famous hugs, but all I can think of is what it was like being in Knox’s arms.

“Thanks.”

“You must be desperate to get him in bed. We’ll figure something out.”

I breathe deep, my mind flowing back to the couch this morning. I don’t know if that made me more or less desperate for more.

Darla follows me through to the kitchen, where my laptop is open on the table. She makes her living vlogging too, and we always have lots of information and learning to share. We each have over two million subscribers now, but our goal is ten.

“Did they take the troll comments down?” she asks.

“Not yet. They said they’re investigating.”

“Let me see them again,” Darla says, and drags my laptop across the table. I open my YouTube page and click on one of the videos.

Hung like a Donkey: U talk bullshit

Ox Man: She talks like an angel

Hung like a Donkey: now u talk bullshit

Ox Man: Fuck you, you pimply virgin

Darla and I look at each other, our brows furrowed. The other comments weren’t there yesterday.

“What the fuck. Who is Ox Man?” I ask.

I click into another video.

Hung like a Donkey: Ur already stupid but U need to be spanked

Ox Man: I’ll fucking hunt you down and beat your sorry ass into oblivion if you keep harassing her

Hung like a Donkey: Ooo, listen to the big man, how u going to do that?

Ox Man: I have my ways, cocksucker, want to test me?

“This is fucking weird,” I say, staring at the screen.

“Are there more?”

“Let’s see,” I say and click into another video.

Hung like a Donkey: Go get some so u know what you’re saying

Ox Man: The only thing you know is the palm of your hand.

Hung like a Donkey: Fuck u

Ox Man: Touchy. Keep on dreaming about fucking someone one day

Hung like a Donkey: Fuck u

Ox Man: Fuck off out of here and leave Avery alone

Melissa Chick: Yeah, what Ox Man said. Move along, little man

This is weird. I don’t know if it’s good or bad. At least I have fans who’ll defend me.

“Are you Ox Man?” I ask.

“Fuck that shit. I’d be Vixen or Black Widow or something. Is it you?”

“No. No, no, no. I don’t do that kind of stuff.”

“The internet is weird,” Darla says, and shuts the lid. “But forget about it, it’ll all get taken down soon anyway.”

“I know.”

“Right now we have bigger issues, like getting that hottie out there in your bed. Let me babysit the kid tonight, I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“She’s not my daughter, it isn’t up to me,” I say, laughing.

“Do you think we can convince Knox?”

“I don’t know, he’s pretty protective of her.”

“We’ll just have to convince him. It shouldn’t be too hard, go put on a tighter top.”

“Wait. We might have an easier chance if you can win Piper over first. Then she’ll beg her dad to let you babysit.”

“Fine by me.”

“Wait. We’re going to need a reason he’s going out, and I can’t babysit.”

“Fuck this shit, this is like being in middle school.”

Before I can react to her outburst, Darla stands and storms out of my house. My heart races as I stand and chase her.

She hustles straight into Knox’s garage.

“Hey,” she barks at Knox, drawing his attention.

His face falls, and his lips tighten as he glares at her. Maybe this is a bad idea. Darla keeps going until she’s standing next to him, and I race up beside her, placing myself between them. Close enough that Knox’s manly scent engulfs me.

He looks at us like we’re unwelcome door-to-door salesmen.

“We were thinking,” I start, “that Darla can babysit Piper.”

“What for?” he says.

“So you two can fuck, obviously,” Darla says.

Knox’s eyes bore into Darla like lasers. I glare at her, willing her to shut up. I position my body between Knox and Darla, drawing his attention to me.

“Tonight. Darla can babysit, and you can come over.”

My cheeks flush. Darla is the forward one, not me. This is out of character, and I’m not all that comfortable with it, but I have needs in the form of a burning desire between my legs.

Knox looks at the ceiling of the garage, either deliberating or figuring out how to tell us to get lost. I’ve got nothing to lose now.

I hold his arm, go up on my toes, lower my voice and say, “I’ll wear the blue blouse.”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows my words.

Knox leans, and growls “Didn’t I satisfy you enough this morning?”

Still on my toes and holding his arm, I lean my other hand on his chest and say, “Maybe. Maybe I didn’t get the chance to scratch your itch.” I bring my lips closer to him, “And I’d really like to scratch your itch.”

Dropping off my toes, I can’t believe I just said that. Or did that. Or want him so bad.

Darla asks with a smile, “What happened before I got here this morning?”

Shit, I forgot she was here.

Knox

At eight on the dot, the doorbell rings. Piper bounces to the door, the way she’s been bouncing around all afternoon. I should’ve sent her to school, instead of agreeing to this arrangement.

I’m a couple feet away from the front door, when Piper flings it open to reveal Darla standing there.

“Hey Darla, where’s Avery?” Piper says, peering her head out the door.

“You know what, she’s really sick in bed.”

“Again?”

“Yeah, I think it’s food poisoning or something. But don’t worry, we’re still going to have lots of fun, just like we talked about this afternoon,” Darla says.

As part of the agreement after the discussion in the garage, Avery and Darla spent the afternoon hanging out with Piper, so Piper would feel comfortable with Darla.

“Well, I have to get going, have fun you two,” I say.

“You smell nice, dad. Is that the cologne I gave you for your birthday?” Piper asks as I pass her to get to the door.

“Yep,” I say, not stopping. It’s been sitting on the bathroom shelf since she gave it to me, ignored. When I stepped out the shower tonight, I saw it and put a bit on. Along with a fresh pair of jeans and a black T-shirt that might be considered a size too small.

“You never wear it. I’m glad you finally are. It’s really nice…” she says as I walk out the door. I pull the door shut behind me, while she’s still talking.

Darla had better get her away from the door and windows, so she can’t see where I’m going. I’m still not convinced this is a good idea with her home. I wait at the corner of my house for a minute, to give Darla time. I wanted to wait two minutes, but can’t. Not when I’m this fucking close.

I ring Avery’s doorbell, and the door opens as if she’s been standing on the other side waiting.

Before Piper can see, I rush inside and Avery shuts the door.

We stand in her little foyer without speaking, eying each other. My eyes rake over her, my breathing heavy. As promised, she’s wearing the blue blouse. Instead of pants, she’s got on a short, black skirt that’s tight. Very tight, it clings to the curves of her hips, and I fight the urge to spin her around to get a good look of her ass in it.

When I finish surveying her, our eyes lock and I step closer to her. She smells as amazing as she looks, clean and sweet like orange blossoms. I pull her into my arms and fight the urge to nail her against the wall right here by her front door. I have to remember I get to take my time tonight.

Holding her tight and meshing my fingers through her hair, I put my lips to her ear and say, “Talk to me. I want to hear your voice.”

“You look good,” she says, her voice pure sultriness, though I detect a slight quiver.

“I’m glad you wore the blouse.”

“And the thong,” she says.

“Good, I can’t wait to tear it off you.”

Avery swallows, and I can’t wait any longer. Gripping her head, I crush my lips against hers. Her soft, full lips on mine springs my cock to life. We explore each other’s mouths with need.

Still holding her silky hair, my other hand travels down the curve of her back to her ass. I squeeze it, and a light moan comes from her throat. I squeeze it tighter, wanting the fabric gone between it and my hand gone.

Her hands explore my arms and slide between the tight fabric of my T-shirt and my body. Each one of her fingers leaves a trail of sparks on my skin.

I break our kiss, and move my lips over the softness of her cheek and neck. My cock fucking hurts from straining against my jeans, and I need to get them off before it breaks.

“Let’s go upstairs,” I say and release her.

With her hand in mine, I lead her up the stairs of her own house. I’ve been here many times to help Mrs. Coupland with maintenance stuff, and head straight into the bedroom at the top of the stairs, the one Avery’s always sitting in the window at. Apparently masturbating to me as I work.

“No, not this one,” she says as I enter the room and flick on the light.

It’s the one in her new videos, decorated like a fucking boudoir.

“Yes, definitely this one,” I say, tightening my grip on her hand as I march into the room.

My eyes flick around, the back wall is never shown in the videos. Lighting on wheels is pushed into the corner. The wall is covered in shelves stacked with shit in its packaging. A closer look and they’re all sex stuff. I know from her videos all about the products she vlogs about, and I assume those are them.

Beside the shelves is a rack of clothes. Fuck me, it’s all lingerie. A man could get lost in this room and never come out.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” Avery says, tugging me towards the door.

She can’t budge me. I yank her into my arms again.

“What’s wrong with this room? Because that bed looks pretty fucking inviting,” I ask, knowing she won’t tell.

“It’s not as comfortable as the one in the other room, is all.”

“Who fucking cares,” I say and lock my mouth on hers.

Avery protests for a second, before relaxing into me. Our tongues clash, fueling me with more and more need. She moans, the sound making my cock even harder.

She scoops her hand under my shirt, and I break the kiss to pull it off over my head.

“Damn,” she says, her eyes wide as she traces my tattoos and my muscles with her fingers.

I’m eager to rip her clothes off, to expose whatever lingerie from that rack she may have on underneath, but not before I watch her suck my cock in that blue blouse.

Still standing in the middle of the room, I push down on her shoulders. Avery doesn’t resist. She takes the hint and drops to her knees like she wants it as bad as I do.

My cock strains at my jeans, and she takes no time in popping the button and unzipping the fly. Avery tugs them down, until the waistband is around my thighs and out of her way.

She does the same with my boxers, and my cock springs free.

Avery gasps as she sees it for the first time. Most women do, given my huge size.

She takes my cock in her hand and rubs along the shaft. I groan a little and throw my head back. Her tongue connects with my shaft, and this time I gasp. She drags her tongue from my balls to my head, circling it around as she reaches the head.

My back tenses, throwing my head back again. I quickly look back down, so I don’t miss a second of her lips on me.

While she continues to lick up and down my shaft, she cups my sack with her hand and fondles my balls. Still holding my balls, she clamps her mouth over the head of my cock, her tongue flicking as she draws it further into her mouth.

“Fuck,” I growl at the view. It’s everything I’ve been fantasizing about for weeks, and it feels a billion times better than I’d ever imagined.

To counter the tingling rushing up and down my back, I widen my stance and rest my hands on her head for support.

“Stop,” I say. If she keeps going, I’m going to give her a mouthful. And I want to see her naked before that happens.

Avery

“But,” I say in protest.

I’m on my knees, and eye level with the most glorious cock I’ve ever laid eyes on. Or tasted. Having him in my mouth sent a rush of heat to my pussy, flooding my walls.

God, he tastes good. I open my mouth and lean forward, determined to get it back in my mouth, but Knox yanks me up by my shoulders.

“I was enjoying that,” I say.

“So was I. Too much,” he says, his voice rough.

Knox tugs at my top, and I pull it off over my head, exposing my bra. It’s another lace one, this one red with a matching g-string. There’s barely anything to the bra itself, and my tits spill out of it.

His eyes pop, and he exhales sharply.

“If I’d known what was under that blouse, I would’ve ripped it off when I stepped through the door.”

The words wash over me, racing my heart. I’m relieved to know he likes my body as much as I like his. It’s nervous hooking up with a guy you already know has a perfect body, I didn’t want him to be disappointed.

He draws me into him, his right hand wedged between us, holding my left breast. Our upper bodies are pressed tight against each other. My body is already flaming from him, but the skin contact ignites it further, turning me into a volcano of lust.

Knox pushes his fingers inside the waistband of my skirt. I undo it, and let it fall to the floor, leaving me in nothing but the g-string.

I step back to grab his jeans and push them further down his sculpted legs. Before I get to his knees, he wraps his finger in the string and yanks. The panties tear away, leaving me in only my bra.

“Better,” he says, and lifts me in his arms.

He drops me on the worn-out mattress, because I’d never intended for it to be anything other than background dressing. I sink into the worn-out bed and Knox climbs on after me, kicking off his jeans and underwear.

Our mouths find each other for a moment, before Knox’s firm lips trail down my neck and over my collarbone. With a finger, he pulls both cups of my bra down, freeing my breasts and he grunts in approval.

I moan as he kisses over them, moving between my nipples, teasing them with his tongue. With my leg, I rub against his rock-hard cock.

Knox props himself beside me, his hand rushing over my body until it reaches my mound. Without pause, two thick fingers push straight into my walls, which are slick with want. Without any attempt to be gentle, he rams them into me over and over while his thumb rubs against my clit.

I can’t stop moaning and squealing. The noises I’m making embarrass me, but I can’t help myself. It’s too intense, and I’m all too aware of Knox’s head hovering over me, his intense eyes burning into my face and over my body.

Every last inch of my body tingles.

“I’m going to come,” I blurt, my voice a breathy whisper.

Knox yanks his hand away, kisses my forehead and says with a smile, “Not yet.”

He fights the worn-out mattress and moves to the end of the bed. My body still tingles and buzzes. Not even trying to understand what just happened, my eyes vacantly watch him take a condom from his jeans and roll it on.

In moments, he moves his body between my legs and kisses over me. His tip is against my mound, pushing through my lips until it finds my entrance.

Our eyes find each other’s, and lock together with an intensity almost too difficult to bear. But for some reason, all the nervousness I’d had when he arrived tonight melt away.

Still holding my eye contact, he slowly enters me, his large cock stretches and fills me in ways Nathan’s never did.

He gives me a quick, open-mouthed kiss and begins to move in me, still taking his time. I swallow, still not quite believing this is happening. It doesn’t take long before I’m on the verge of tipping over again.

I can’t stop moaning. Each slow thrust forces a squeal from me. My breath is ragged.

“Not yet,” Knox says, and pulls out of me.

Holding me, he rolls us both over until I’m straddling him. He pulls me flat against him, and undoes my bra, pulls it off and tosses it away.

“I want to watch your tits bounce as you ride me,” he says as he pushes me upright.

He positions his cock at my entrance, and I lower myself onto him. Sparks fly through my insides as I let my weight sink onto him, bringing him deeper into me than before. It almost hurts, it’s in so deep, but somehow it’s pure bliss.

Even though he’s on the bottom, Knox pulses his hips and my body bounces. A smile springs onto his face as my tits jiggle and shake. He keeps bouncing me, and soon I’m back to squealing. My walls spasm more and more.

And with his hands on my ass, he yanks me off him. I moan in protest, but his hands sweep me along, until I’m sitting on his face. His tongue roves through my folds and zeroes in on my clit.

I’ve never done this before, I don’t want to suffocate him. Knox’s hands are firm on my ass, and hold my weight. Unable to hold my torso upright, I lean onto the heavy headboard.

Knox’s tongue slides between my clit and entrance. The tingles shooting up my back and down my legs are overwhelming, but I’m determined not to make any noises. Or at least as few noises as I can. I don’t want him to stop this. Ever. Why does being on top make it more intense?

He slides his one arm across my ass, so I’m resting on his forearm. With his other hand, he moves straight to my pussy, and two of his thick fingers straight into my entrance. Knox sucks my clit into his mouth and massages it with his tongue.

With something for my walls to clamp around, my pussy spasms, sending a shockwave up my back and neck, straight to my brain. I scream and slump hard against the headboard as his fingers continue to move in me, and his mouth continues to attack my clit.

I dissolve, and he has to remove his fingers from me to grab my upper body and stop me from falling to the side.

Pulling me down and flipping me over, I’m on my back again, my pussy still spasming and waves still rushing through my body. Knox is over me, the muscles of his broad shoulder tense. I want to kiss them, to feel their hardness with my tongue, but I can’t. I’ve sunk into the mattress and am trapped.

The tip of his cock is at my entrance again, and this time as he enters me I feel relief, relief for having something for my walls to grip. He begins to move in me, sending a burst of tingles through my chest. He rest his head against mine, so our cheeks are touching and our mouths are near each other’s ears.

His voice low, he says, “Talk to me.”

Knox

“Your body is unreal, you should be on the pages of Playgirl,” Avery says, her voice somehow even huskier and more sultry than normal. She pauses, and says, “You were right, you really know what you’re doing.”

“Stop trying so hard.”

I don’t know what I want her to say, but I don’t need false flattery. I just want to hear her talk.

Avery swallows hard, and I move a little faster in her. My cock has never been so happy. It’s so much better to be able to take my time than it is to bend a nameless woman over my car for a quick fuck.

“I wasn’t,” she whispers.

“I thought you didn’t approve of me,” I tease, pressing my cheek a little harder against hers.

“I most definitely approve of this. You’re some kind of dream.”

“Better than you imagined than when you were thinking of me while you touched yourself?”

“Holy fuck, yes.”

“Yeah, same here.”

She adjusts her hips, taking me in deeper. Avery stops talking, but I keep thrusting, each one makes her moan in my ear. My balls are a tingling fucking mess, and I don’t know how much longer I can deny myself. But I need to make her come again.

“This time when you scream, scream my name,” I say, my voice firm.

Avery clamps her legs over mine, tilting her hips further. Her hands are hooked around my shoulders, and her fingernails dig deeper and harder into my skin. I keep thrusting into her, my cheek tight against hers.

Her whole body tenses underneath me, her legs and arms fix around me with all her strength. She’s close, and I grind myself into her, rubbing against her clit as I move.

“Oh, fuck, Knox. Knox!” she yells beside my ear as her fingers claw down my back.

Oh God, her voice calling my name.

I grunt as a shudder rushes up my back, and I fill the condom with cum.

My lungs heave, and I breathe heavy through my mouth to refill them. Avery relaxes her limbs and flops them on the bed.

I don’t want to leave her yet. I prop myself over her on my elbows, and brush my lips against hers.

Neither of us says anything for a few moments. When my heart rate calms down, I look at her. Avery looks up at me, biting her bottom lip.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing.”

“I’m just really glad you came up with this idea,” she says.

“I don’t know. I think I’m going to get a lot less work done, since I’ll be over here so much.”

She throws her head back, laughing, and I press my lips against her exposed neck. Unable to help myself, I kiss down it to the fleshy bit where it joins her shoulder and suck it hard into my mouth. I don’t normally leave my mark, but Avery needs one.

My new fuck toy.

“Stop it. You’re bad,” she says, but doesn’t do anything to stop me.

I move my mouth higher up her neck, and give her another hickey. She’s going to be wearing scarves in her videos this week, all because of me. I give her two more, not believing she’s letting me.

Satisfied, I hold the condom and pull out of her, set it on her bedside table, and lie beside her. The bed bows under our weight, forcing us tight against each other.

“Should we get Darla to babysit again tomorrow?” she asks.

I don’t answer. Part of me is filled with guilt over what we’re doing. Lying to Piper so I could come fuck the neighbor probably isn’t the best parenting in the world.

On the other hand, a man has needs, and I can probably be a better father if I’m not suffering from blue balls all the time. I could’ve gotten her a babysitter for the classic car drives, but after seeing Avery and watching her videos, that lost all appeal.

I’d have to imagine any woman bent over my car was Avery. And I’m not that pathetic.

But we have to be careful. Piper must never find out about our arrangement.

“Too risky,” I say, however much I want to.

“You mean we have to wait till Monday?” she says, her eyes roving over my face.

I laugh, cup her cheek, as say, “The night is young.”

“Yeah, you don’t have to go home until at least midnight. Darla won’t care.”

“Yep.”

I relax back into the bed, the shift in my weight bringing Avery even closer to me, and our bodies overlap. With her head on my shoulder, we rest. Her nipples are hard, and I mindlessly circle them with my thumb.

This is good. Comfortable. Like dinner was comfortable, and hanging out with her afterwards. Though it’s much easier to be in her presence when I can touch her at will.

My back starts to ache from this shitty mattress.

“This bed is shit,” I say, sitting up.

“I told you to go in the other room.”

“It was worth it,” I say, and get off the bed.

“What are you doing?” she says, her voice alarmed.

“Just looking.”

I move to the back wall, the one never shown in her videos. The shelves are full of sex-related products. I ignore them, I have no use for any of them. It’s the lingerie rack I want to see.

The rack is wedged between the shelves and the lighting. As I move closer, something on the shelf catches my attention. Used concert ticket stubs. I pick them up, curious to know what she saw.

I’m taken aback for a moment. They’re for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, my favorite band. I’d wanted to go, Marcus got us tickets, but I couldn’t find a good babysitter for Piper and had to miss it.

And Avery got to go.

“That was for their concert last year. It was an awesome show, but then the Chilies are an awesome band,” she says.

“Sure are,” I say, and toss the tickets back on the shelf.

I turn my attention to the clothing rack. All sorts of lingerie are packed onto it. Slutty stuff, cutesy stuff. Lots of stuff I want her to put on for me of both types. She could do a fashion show for me right here.

I don’t ask why she has all this stuff since I already know the answer, and I don’t want her to know I know. She doesn’t volunteer anything either.

“You should wear this for me next time,” I say, holding up a hanger with a blue satin corset on it. There are no bra cups on it, so I could watch her tits bounce and swing as she rode me. Plus it’s blue, her best color. “Yeah, definitely wear this.”

I continue riffling through it, looking for other things I want her to wear most. Avery appears at my side, in front of the shelf. She reaches into a box and pulls something out.

“Only if you wear this,” she says, holding up a yellow thing.

“What’s that?”

Avery spreads it between her fingers, and the shape of a giraffe becomes clear.

“A banana hammock. You put your dick in the neck, and when it’s hard, the giraffe’s neck stands tall,” she says, trying not to laugh.

“No fucking chance,” I say, laughing.

She lets her laugh out, and I turn into her, pulling her against me, both of us still laughing.

Avery

It’s freaking me out, having Knox in my fake bedroom, looking at my crazy shelves and rack of lingerie that companies sent me to pimp. God knows what’s going through his head. He must think I’m a weirdo, but at least he isn’t asking questions.

I grab my phone, and send my Chilies playlist to the wireless speaker.

“Nice,” Knox says as “Under the Bridge” starts. He takes my hand, and says, “Dance with me.”

I laugh, and say, “Okay, wait, I need clothes on.”

“No way.”

“Yes, I can’t hang around naked.”

“Choose from those,” he says, pointing to the rack.

“Fine,” I say, raising my eyebrow. I pull the blue full satin panties off a hanger and pull them on, followed with the matching bra.

“What about me?” Knox asks.

I burst out laughing, grab the giraffe and toss it at him.

He chuckles, grabs his boxers out of his jeans, and puts them on.

The song is half over, but Knox pulls me close to him and we sway to the music. I lean into him, and follow his body as he moves. I run my hands over his broad back, still amazed at how hard his body is.

“Take Me to the Other Side” comes on, and we continue dancing and laughing. Knox takes my hand and twirls me, pulls me back and dips me before we’re laughing too hard to continue our crazy dance.

I sink back against his body, and we continue our slow dance, through “Californication” and the rest of the playlist. Even though we’re barely moving, my heart races.

Relaxed, I pull the giant, supposedly unbreakable feather off the shelf and tickle him with it.

Knox smirks, grabs my wrist and wraps his other arm behind me, reaching all the way to the fleshy bit under my ribs. His hand closes on the fleshy bit, and my body contorts as I laugh.

“Stop it,” I say, my voice high pitched from laughing.

“You’re crazy.”

He holds me easily in one hand while his eyes search over the shelves. He laughs when he sees the book called Every Physically Possible Sex Position. Pulling it from the shelf, he lets go of me and flips through the pages.

Each page is illustrated with a bland cgi couple, contorted in all sorts of positions that I don’t believe are physically possible. It’s a thin book, only a hundred pages or so.

“This should keep us busy,” he says, chuckling.

“I don’t think most of those are possible. And a lot look painful.”

“We’ve done most of the rest already tonight,” he says, and drops the book on the floor.

I haven’t done the vlog on it yet, and crouch to pick it up to keep it from getting damaged. After smoothing the cover down, I set it back on the shelf.

Knox picks up an oversized pink dildo. It’s rubbery and wobbles as he moves it. His face screws up as he watches it, and he drops it back on the shelf. He moves on to white chocolate powder, body jewelry, and a neon cock ring, examining each in turn.

“Are you going to go through it all?” I ask.

“You’ve got a lot of crazy shit here, but you know what I’ve been dying to do to you?”

“What?” I ask hesitantly.

“Shave your pussy,” he says, his eyes boring into mine.

My cheeks flush. I hadn’t expected that. I hope this isn’t a comment on my maintenance. I just trimmed for him this afternoon.

Before I can answer, he stands and leaves the room. My eyes follow him as he goes into the bathroom, and comes out again with a towel, face cloth, shaving cream, and razor.

Holy shit, he’s serious.

“On that shitty bed, or the floor?” he asks.

This isn’t something I ever thought I’d do with someone the first time I slept with them, but it’s easy being with Knox, and it feels right.

“I’ll take the floor thanks, I don’t think my back can take any more of that bed.”

I lie back on the floor, and he kneels between my legs. Knox hooks a finger in the full satin panties, and slides them down my legs. I kick them the rest of the way off.

My bare ass is on the only new carpet in the house. I thought he was going to put the towel under me, but instead he squirts the shaving foam over the top of my pelvis.

It’s cold and I shiver at the contact. It starts to dribble down my folds, and I shout, “Ah.”

Knox catches my eyes, a devilish grin on his face. I get the impression this is something he’s been planning.

“The thing with stubble is it scratches.” Knox drags the razor down my strip of hair. ”By not shaving, you’re risking me not wanting to kiss your lips.” He shifts his eyes down, “And I want to kiss these lips.” He shoves my legs apart and drags the razor alongside my mound, wiping it on the towel after each line.

For once, I don’t know what to say. I don’t have a comeback.

He works in silence, in the most thorough shave I’ve ever had. I’m a little nervous of the blade but he’s careful. For whatever reason the slow, deliberate activity quickens my heart and fills me with flutters. I ache for his touch.

Satisfied with his job, he sets the razor on the floor and wipes all over the area with the wet face cloth. Knox pats me off with the towel, making sure he’s cleaned the foam from everywhere. I feel like an engine in one of his cars. It’s amazing how someone so otherwise brutish can work so delicately.

Knox rests his hand on my tummy, and leans to kiss the freshly bare skin he’s exposed. I gasp, everything is extra sensitive and I squirm to cope with the intensity. His lips and tongue take their time exploring my freshly bare skin, and I tilt my hips, willing him for more.

Heat races through my veins, and I moan. It seems like I’m waiting all over again. Like it’s Wednesday night all over again.

He rams his finger into me, my walls slick and ready for him. Gagging for him. My extreme wetness seems to please him, and he grunts. Far too quickly, he pulls his finger away and stands and grabs the leg of his jeans.

Pulling the jeans to him, he fishes out another condom.

“I have an IUD, you don’t need that,” I say, knowing Darla would kill me without him being tested but somehow I don’t give one fucking shit at this moment.

“I do,” he snarls.

That’s definitive. I’m not going to argue.

After rolling it on, Knox grabs my hips and flips me over. I’m face down on the new carpet. He grabs my hips again, this time pulling me onto all fours, his hard cock against my now dripping bare lips.

His hand runs up my spine, dipping with the curve of my back, leaving a trail of lava in its wake. I lean back into him, grinding against his erection, teasing it. Begging it.

Knox ignores me, and undoes my bra, letting it slide down my arms to the floor. He reaches around and grabs my tit, now swinging free.

“Fuck, you’re hot,” he says, his voice strong and loud.

A high pitched moan escapes me in response, and he drives his cock into me. My elbows bow at the force, but I avoid hitting my face against the floor. At the same time, my pussy explodes with heat and lust and desire.

Knox

Deep inside her, I run my hand over the curve of Avery’s waist, hips and ass before settling on grabbing her waist. I hold her in place as I move in and out of her, my balls slapping against her lips.

I can’t fucking believe she lay there like that and let me shave her. Every last bit. I took my time and she didn’t even care. Judging by her moaning, she enjoyed it as much as I did.

Except she probably didn’t realize the real reason I wanted to shave her. There’s no way she did. Avery would’ve said something if she knew I knew about her vlogs.

I can’t wait to see what she says about it in her next video. Wearing a scarf to hide the hickeys.

My heart hammers against my ribcage as I pound into her. Shit, I hope I don’t bruise her knees. She’s not complaining, anyway.

Avery reaches back and cups my balls. They tingle like crazy against her skin, and she rolls them in her palm. Fuck me. Fuck her. This is too good.

I keep pounding into her, forcing more and more moans from her. The sound of them sending shudders down my back. As much as I love pounding into her from behind, I need more of her calling my name.

I stop moving, lean my body over hers, and say, “We’re going on the bed.”

“Let’s go on the other one, the mattress is so much better. That one sucks too much,” she says, her voice breathy but pleading.

As much fun as fucking her in this room is, that mattress is utter shit.

“Fine,” I say.

Avery moves to crawl away from me, but I tighten my grip and thrust into her again. And again. I’m not done doing this yet.

I rub my hand over the fleshiest part of her ass, marking a target, and swat it.

“Ah,” she moans.

“Did you like that?” I ask her.

She says nothing but lets out another moan that goes straight to my cock.

Her pussy tightens around my cock as she flinches when my hand makes contact with her round ass. I raise my hand higher this time, and spank her ass harder.

Avery’s back arches hard at the impact, her pussy a vice grip on my cock. Her ass is red from my treatment, and I switch hands to brutalize the other cheek. I spank it once, twice, smiling as it starts to turn pink.

My balls start to draw up, and the tingling nears its maximum. Without apology, I whip out of her, stand and pull her to her feet. I spin her around and pull her close to me, the way we’d been when we were dancing.

The dancing that felt so right. I haven’t danced since before Piper was born. Maybe dancing with Avery was worth the wait.

With my index finger, I tilt her chin and press my lips against her. My balls are still tingling like crazy, and I need them to calm down, but the kiss doesn’t help. If anything, they’re tingling more and I’m too close to the edge for safety.

I break the kiss and step away. It’s impossible to stop my eyes from raking over her naked body. Naked even of the hair I shaved from her. The only thing covering her now are my hickeys.

Avery lifts her arm and trails her fingers down my chest. I close my eyes as her hand nears my cock, but she doesn’t touch it. Instead, her fingers move up again, tracing the lines of my abs and pecs.

When she reaches my neck, she slides it over my shoulder and down my arm, this time gripping my muscles in her hand.

She swallows hard when her hand reaches mine. I grip my fingers in hers, a smile springing across my face. Avery looks at me, her full lips half parted and her eyelids heavy.

It’s too much.

Still holding her hand, I lead her into the other bedroom. Unlike the one in her videos, this one still looks exactly like it was when Mrs. Coupland lived here, but with different furniture. The closet is open, and clothes are piled up on her dresser and the end of her unmade bed.

“Oh, shit, oops. I forgot to clear these away,” Avery says as she rushes ahead of me, and sweeps the clothes on the bed into her arms and drops them onto a pile on the dresser.

Wasn’t she expecting me tonight? Where did she think we were going to be?

“Come here,” I say and hold her as I pull us down onto the bed.

The mattress is firm, and we don’t sink into it. Perfect.

Avery lies on her back and I position myself between her legs. I guide my tip into her entrance, her walls tight around me as I move into her.

Our mouths meet, and we kiss as I start moving. She breaks the kiss to gasp for air, her chest heaving from my pounding.

“Don’t forget my name,” I say, my voice low in her ear.

“How could I ever forget your name, Knox?”

Her voice, her words. My name coming out of her mouth. I need more. I can’t even think straight from it.

“Say it,” I grunt, and grind myself into her with extra force.

“Jesus, Knox, this is insane. Oh God, oh God! Knox.”

Each word gets higher and higher in pitch and tightens my balls more and more.

“Knox,” she screams loud enough my ears ring, and I lose control.

My cock explodes into the condom, shudders rip up and down my back and legs in a violent orgasm.

Avery cries out, digs her fingernails into me and writhes around under me. I swear I’m about to fill the condom all over again at the sight of her.

We’re quiet for several minutes, catching our breath. Not ready for me to go.

I roll off her, and lie on my back beside Avery. Taking the condom off, I set it on yet another of her bedside tables.

“What time is it?” she asks.

“Midnight,” I say, glancing at her alarm clock.

“You don’t have to go yet. Right?” Avery says, gripping my arms.

“Not yet,” I say, rolling onto my side.

Avery pulls the comforter up from the end of her unmade bed and covers us with it. She rolls onto her side, facing away from me, and nestles herself into my body.

I drape my arm over her, and pull her tighter against me.

This is the only time I’ll ever have the chance to fall asleep with Avery in my arms, or with any woman in my arms. It’s one of the sacrifices I’ve made for Piper. Fuck them, yes. Hold them, no. No relationships, no women in my bed. Since I was twenty two.

On Wednesday I would’ve been out of here by now. But after hanging out with Avery all day yesterday, and tonight, I don’t know. I can’t bring myself to leave yet.

“This was good,” Avery says.

“Real good.”

My body is heavy, and I close my eyes.

Shit. The alarm clock says it’s four a.m. I’d planned on resting for ten minutes. Maybe fifteen. Not half the night.

“I have to go,” I whisper in Avery’s ear, not wanting to wake her.

“No,” she moans.

“No choice.”

I kiss her hair, rub my hand over her shaved pussy one last time, and get out of the bed as smoothly as I can. After finding my clothes in the other bedroom, I dress and leave.

Without making a sound, I open my door and sneak into my house. Darla jolts up on the couch, her hair springing around her.

“Holy shit, you two are machines,” Darla says.

“Is everything okay with Piper?”

“Yeah, she’s a great kid. We had lots of fun. Any time you two want another fuck fest, you just let me know. I’m happy to come hang with Piper and give you two fun time.”

I grunt, wanting her to leave before she ruins my good mood.

“You don’t have to worry about how long I stay, I’ve got my iPad. I just FuckTimed my boy toy is all. Poor thing, he’s going to have a hard time cleaning his keyboard. All that jizz getting underneath the keys and all.”

What the fuck is her problem? I glare at her in silence.

“Anyway, you better have taken care of Avery’s needs, and not just your own, Mister.”

Shocked, tired, my lip snarls at her.

“I’m going to bed,” I say, and walk up the stairs.

Avery

I wake up at seven, a ball of energy. Despite all the physical activity last night, I haven’t felt this good in months.

I’m overflowing with ideas for my vlogs, thanks to Knox. Ideas about things that never even occurred to me before. Or things Nathan would never do. The facesitting, the spanking, the shaving. Fuck me, Knox is good.

Though despite all the incredible sex, the memory that warms me more than anything else, surprisingly, is the laughing and dancing. Although falling asleep in his arms was pretty fucking nice, too. Being with Knox was pure fun.

Just like having supper with him the other night was fun.

Remembering the rules, I sigh. This is an itch-scratching arrangement, and I can’t forget that. I have to get better at suppressing my emotions, is all.

Darla is still asleep. I don’t even know what time Knox left last night. After closing her door to let her sleep in peace, I shower, dress and go into my fake bedroom to shoot some of my new ideas.

Holy shit, this place looks like a bomb went off in it. Dried puddles of shaving cream dot the new carpet, the stuff from my shelves and lingerie rack are strewn around the room, and the bed is a caved-in mess.

I spend half an hour quietly tidying, going over and over what I want to video in my head before I forget it. The bed is a nightmare to get to look good again, and I end up flipping the mattress so there’s no massive ditch in the middle.

Finally I’m ready to shoot my video. Shit. A last careful look in the mirror, and I realize my neck is covered in hickeys. I run the tips of my fingers over the marks. Instead of anger, my mind is filled with the memory of Knox giving them to me, and I have to adjust myself before my panties get too wet.

After digging around in my closet, I find a pretty pink scarf and fasten it around my neck to hide the hickeys. Back in my fake bedroom, I hit record and I start talking.

“Ladies, if you find a man who knows what he’s doing. I mean one who really knows how to treat your body, someone just so utterly amazing he blows your mind, hold onto him tight. Even if it is just a fuck-buddy relationship. Because those men are unicorns, and I think we all know how much every little girl dreams of finding a unicorn. But don’t worry guys, I’m here to teach you how to become a unicorn. Or at least a white horse. Guys, you become one of those types of lovers, and your woman will be begging you to do whatever you want to her.”

How would I have made this video with Nathan as my reference point? That man wasn’t any sort of special, and he certainly didn’t treat my body like I was special.

I talk a bit more, about how a man can learn, trying to give them hope — and more importantly, make them want to watch the rest of my videos and become one of my subscribers.

Still flushed with the excitement of last night, I rush edit the vlog and post it.

After I hit the button, I tap my teeth with my finger, wondering if I should do a shaving video. I definitely want to, but maybe it’s better to wait a couple of weeks, until it isn’t so personal. After all the purpose of my videos are to help people improve their sex lives, not air my sex life. Just because my sex life suddenly went from nunnery to off the scales, doesn’t mean I have to share every detail with my viewers.

At least I have good news in my inbox, the troll comments have been removed and the person who made them banned.

I change my top, and am about to shoot a video about spanking, when Darla bursts into the room.

“I can’t believe you’re in here. You shouldn’t even be able to walk. Was Knox a disappointment?”

I burst out laughing and shake my head no.

“Then why can you walk? You were up until four, I can’t believe you’re even awake.”

“Four? That’s what time he left?”

“Yes babe, I was up all night so you could fuck longer.”

“We fell asleep at midnight.”

“What? No wonder you look so rested” she says, plopping onto the bed.

Darla messes up the bed again, but I’m too busy laughing to tell her to move.

“You should’ve slept on his couch. Got some rest,” I say laughing.

“Can’t. Had the toy boy amuse me online, you know?”

Alarmed, I say, “Piper better not’ve heard.”

“Don’t worry, she was deep asleep by then. I checked.”

“How was she last night? Because I’ll have to kill you if you slipped any info about where Knox was.”

“Don’t worry, the subject didn’t come up once.”

“Did you play a lot of would you rather?”

“Hell, yes. Plus we talked about her mother.”

“What?” I bark. Piper never talks to me about her mother.

“Yeah, I called her out on the Africa bs, and she told me how she doesn’t know anything about her mom. Which is weird, I figured she was going to say her mother died, but apparently she’s alive and kicking.”

“Oh God, please tell me you didn’t say anything to upset her, Knox will go ballistic.”

“Au contraire, she was relieved someone finally saw through the charity work in Africa crap. Piper wants answers, is all. It was a cry for help, I can’t believe you couldn’t tell.”

My brow creases, and I stare at Darla, processing her words. Did Piper need my help, and I missed it? She’s just so bright, I took the Africa thing at face value. Now I feel like an idiot for it.

“Oh,” I mutter.

“Anyway, babe, you still haven’t spilled the dirt on last night. What was he like?”

My body warms and a smile bursts onto my face at the memory of Knox.

“Look at you, speechless and blushing, he must’ve been good,” Darla says, laughing.

“Here, watch the video I just posted,” I say, and hit start on the video.

Darla leans close to watch, her lips pursed as she stifles a laugh.

When the video ends, she says, “Unicorn?”

I bit my bottom lip, nod and say, “He was that good.”

“Or you were just that desperate. Six months since Nathan. And no offense, but he never struck me as a sex god. “

“None taken. Knox couldn’t be more different than him.”

“Lucky you, having him right next door.”

“My weekdays just got a whole lot better, that’s for sure.”

“Hold on, babe, why are you wearing a scarf when it’s hot out?”

Darla tugs at my scarf, pulling it off and exposing my neck. My hand flies up to cover the marks left by Knox. She snorts at the sight of them.

“Shut up. Not one word.” I say with a smile.

She sticks her tongue out at me and we both dissolve into a fit of laughter.

“Look, there he is now,” Darla says, nodding her head to the window.

Knox is in shorts and running shoes, and stretches up as he opens his garage door. The stubble is back, and he looks hotter than ever. My body fills with heat at the sight of him, and my heart races.

He looks up at the window, and I lean back. I’m not sure I want him to see me, not yet.

Two days, that’s how long we have to wait until Piper’s back at school.

Two long days.

We go out for dinner that night and talk shop all evening. Although I have fun with Darla, I keep thinking of Knox.

Darla spends most of Sunday morning in her room, FaceTiming her boy toy. She winds up leaving after lunch. I spend the rest of Sunday wishing Monday would hurry up and get here.

Knox

It’s Sunday evening, and Piper gets up off the couch to go to bed.

“How are you feeling, sweetheart? Are you okay to go to school tomorrow?” I ask. I don’t want to rush her back or anything, but after Friday night, I’d really like to pay Avery another visit.

“Yes, Dad, I feel great. And I’m bored from hanging around home so much. I miss my friends.”

“As long as you’re sure.”

“Yep, good night!” Piper says, and races up the stairs.

I open Hulu and watch two episodes of Community because they remind me of the night with Avery. Halfway through the second one, I turn it off, angry at myself for letting myself get sucked into her. No relationships.

Instead I find a movie to watch, with lots of shit blowing up in it.

When the movie ends, I can’t help myself. I grab my iPad and open Avery’s YouTube channel. As always, there’s a new video for yesterday and today. Today’s is her talking about some book. The subject doesn’t interest me, and there are no marks on her neck. She must’ve filmed it earlier. I finish watching purely to listen to her voice.

I start the video she posted yesterday. She’s wearing a scarf to cover the marks I left on her neck, and my dick twitches at the sight. It stiffens fully when I realize what she’s saying. I’m her fucking unicorn. Not that I needed her video to know I blew her mind, but now she’s confessing it to the whole world.

Intending to leave a comment, I try to log in but my account has been banned for breaking the rules of their community. Apparently you’re not allowed to threaten people.

Whatever. I watch the video again and start thinking about all the things I’m going to do to her in the morning.

* * *

In the Thunderbird, I drop Piper at school for breakfast club at eight and head home. I don’t even bother to pull it all the way down my driveway before hopping out and going to Avery’s front door.

I ring the bell and wait. I ring the bell again. That Darla chick better be gone.

Avery opens the door, tying a white cotton housecoat around her. I hook my hands into the belt and back her into the house, kicking the door shut with my foot.

“Good morning,” she says.

“Have you showered yet?” I ask, kissing her neck and taking her hand in mine. Her smell put my dick on alert.

“No, I just got up and haven’t had time yet. I usually have a coffee first to get me started.”

I don’t say anything as I pull her upstairs and into the bathroom. I pull open her housecoat, revealing an old T-shirt that she must’ve slept in. The swell of her tits underneath it, hanging free forces me to swallow in anticipation.

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting this,” she says.

I smirk at her, debating whether to say anything about her video. After all, she did say she wants her unicorn to have his way with her.

Moving my body tight against hers, I crush my mouth against hers. Our kiss is frantic. It’s been two and a half days, but it feels like two years.

Flicking the housecoat over her shoulders, I let it fall to the floor. She lifts her arms as I pull her shirt up over her head and drop it onto the housecoat.

Avery grapples with my clothes, and I pull my shirt off as she yanks down my shorts and boxers.

With one hand in the small of her back, I push her against me, our naked bodies pressed tight together. Avery runs her lips over my chest, filling my veins with fire. With my other hand, I turn the water on, set it to a good temperature and flick the lever to start the shower.

“Get in,” I say, urging her to step into the tub.

Without hesitating, Avery steps into the tub and sticks her head under the shower head.

She closes her eyes and she soaks her hair. The water runs down her face and over her tits and on down to her shaved pussy. Avery increases the show, by running her hands over her body.

Fuck me.

I let my eyes feast on the view. My cock is fully awake now. All of the blood in my body has rushed to it. I’ve got to stick to the plan, it has to wait.

I step into the tub, and rub my hands over Avery’s wet skin. My lips crush against hers, and I grind myself against her.

Breaking the kiss, my lips travel down the slick skin of her neck until I’m bent over with her nipple in my mouth.

She moans, and I carry on my plan. Following the flow of the water, I kiss over her tummy, until I’m kneeling in front of her. Grabbing her ass to support her, I flick my tongue through her folds, locating her clit.

Using my tongue, I expose it to the pounding water. The hot water is flowing down both sides, and I guide the water to her clit. Taking a mouthful of water, I suck her clit into the pool of water in my mouth, and force the water back and forth across it.

Avery gasps, and her legs buckle, but I hold her ass tight to support her.

“Knox,” she says, clamping her hands on my shoulders.

It’s time. I move one hand across her back so my arm can support her body. From the other hand, I push two of my fingers into her, and pump them against her front wall.

“Ah!” Avery cries as her legs buckle. My free arm takes all her weight. Her legs dangle useless under her. Her grip on my shoulders ends, and her arms dangle useless beside her.

I keep working at her pussy.

“Help,” she says, breathless, her torso slumped against the wall.

I ignore her.

“I can’t, I can’t,” she says, pawing helplessly at my head. “Please.”

She looks uncomfortable, and I made my point. I withdraw my fingers and hold her steady. Getting to my feet, I turn off the water and put my arm around her.

But she’s pure jelly and struggles to get out of the tub. I chuck her over my shoulder and walk to her bedroom, the messy one with the good mattress, and chuck her onto the bed.

I run back to the bathroom and grab a condom out of my shorts. I rush back into the bedroom. Avery is propped up on her elbows, her knees bent up and water from her wet hair drips down her tits.

Our eyes connect, and my cock pulses with ache, with want. I start to roll the condom on.

“If we got tested, you wouldn’t need that, you know. I have an IUD.”

“You told me already,” I say, as I finish putting the condom on. I’ve already been tested, I know I’m clean. That’s not the issue.

Avery slides one leg down, a pouty smile on her full lips. She gets better by the second. I climb onto the bed and up between her legs, stopping to kiss her tits on the way up.

Our lips lock and I thread my fingers through hers, holding her hands alongside her head. I push my cock into her entrance, and she moans into my mouth.

Placing my head alongside hers, I move in her tight walls.

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to come in the shower,” I say, my voice a low growl.

Avery doesn’t say anything, instead she moans as I push in and out of her.

I continue, “Because it doesn’t matter how strong I am, I only have two arms. And know what I’m doing.”

Avery

I don’t understand.

My body is screaming with joy and I can’t think straight. I can barely see straight, my body tingles everywhere, including, seemingly, my eyeballs.

“And that’s why you can’t get your pussy licked in the shower,” Knox says.

I still don’t understand. Only that the memory of us in the shower comes flooding back. I thought I was going to crack my head open and die in that shower, and a part of me thinks it would be worth it.

“Knox,” I say, whimpering at the recent memory.

He increases the depth of his thrusts, his thick cock tight against my walls. I lose the ability to breathe as my muscles coil tight around my lungs.

“Oh, Knox,” I cry, and my pussy turns into a spasming wreck.

Waves radiate out from between my legs as I grip Knox for support. I realize I’m digging my nails deep into the flesh of his back, and force my fingers to relax.

Knox growls and his cock throbs. He slams his pelvis into mine and buries himself deep inside me as he comes.

His chest heaves as he hovers over me, and we both struggle to catch our breath.

Looking down at me, he says, “I’m really looking forward to having you beg me to do whatever I want to you,” he pauses, and adds with a smile, “and your kitten.”

Fuck, I suddenly understand.

My breath catches in my lungs, and I feel like I’m suffocating. I turn my head to the side and force a cough. I can’t bring myself to look at Knox, but I can feel his body jiggle as he laughs.

I try to wiggle out from under him, to run away and hide. Knox cages me in, I can’t go anywhere. I should’ve known from the way he didn’t freak out at my wall of sex toys on Friday. Idiot.

“Don’t run away from your unicorn, you’ve got to hold onto me tight,” he says, grinding his dick into me as he speaks.

I cringe, once again wanting the earth to swallow me whole.

Resigned, I ask, “How long have you known?”

“Since the first time we met.”

“Oh, you’re a long-time fan?” I tease, trying to turn the tables.

Knox laughs and I snap my head up to look at him. As soon as my lips are angled up, he plants a kiss on them, still half laughing.

“What?” I ask.

“Hardly. That day a friend told me you’d moved to town. I’d never heard of you, so he showed me your videos. When I met you that night, I couldn’t believe the hot chick who gives out sex advice was living next door to me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? That’s some kind of invasion of privacy, or something.” I push my hands up on his chest to move him off me, but Knox doesn’t budge.

“I tried to comment on the unicorn video,” I cringe again when he says unicorn, “But my account’s been banned. Apparently you can’t make threatening comments.”

“Did you make other comments on my videos?”

He kisses my forehead, and says, “Yes.”

My brow creases as I try to understand what he’s saying. He was banned? Was he the troll?

“Jerk, how dare you make all those comments about me.”

“You were supposed to appreciate them.”

“This is insane. First you don’t tell me you knew about my videos, now you’re telling me you were my troll. Do you know how upsetting those types of comments are to me?”

“Why? You should be thanking me.”

That’s it. “Get out of me,” I demand, pushing him.

“What the fuck, baby?” he says, kneeling back. “I shouldn’t have told you. I didn’t have to, you know. But since you’re posting about me now, I thought it would be the nice thing to do.”

In my mind, I’m leaping to my feet in outrage. In reality, my legs are like fucking jelly, and they’re not leaping anywhere. My mind races over everything he’s said and done.

Fuck. The shaving. Shit. The shower. The hard, fast fuck. Wearing the blue top to suck him off.

Knox looks at me. “That Hung like a Donkey guy was saying some nasty things to you. I thought you would appreciate your… unicorn protecting you.”

I understand. A smile spreads across my face. He’s not my troll.

“That’s why you wanted me to wear the blue top while I sucked you off, isn’t it?”

Now it’s his turn to look awkward. Knox looks away and for a second, his breathing pauses.

“You’ve probably been over there watching that video, jerking off and dreaming of me giving you the best blow job ever. Am I right?”

Knox leans down, grabs my head and pulls it close to his mouth. “So what if I did,” he growls.

Holy shit, I wasn’t expecting that answer. He did? He admitted that? Butterflies explode in my chest.

Breathlessly, I say, “I hope the real thing lived up to your expectations.”

“Better, even,” Knox says, and crushes his lips against mine.

Our kiss has all the heat and passion as the earlier one in the bathroom. For a moment, I think we’re going to start all over again.

He breaks the kiss, and says “I have to get some work done.”

“So do I.”

“What are you going to say about me today?”

“Nothing. You’re not always the subject, you know. In fact, you barely ever are.” There goes my idea for today. I’ll have to do a question-answering video to make up for it.

“Let me know if you need any help. I’ll be more than happy to give you some more ideas.”

Knox leaves the room. His clothes are still in the bathroom. I’d follow him to get my bathrobe but my body is still tingling so much that I can’t bring myself to get off the bed.

He returns, carrying his clothes, and sits on the edge of the bed to dress.

“Are you at your car thing tonight?”

“Every Monday.”

“Want me to watch Piper?”

“Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, she’s a cool kid. You’ve done a great job raising her,” I say, and immediately feel foolish. Is it weird to tell a guy you think he’s a good parent?

Knox turns his head to me, his eyebrows raised, “You think so?”

I manage to crawl over to him, and drape myself over his back.

“Absolutely. Piper sure is lucky to have such a great dad.”

He doesn’t say anything, and I feel like an idiot. Why did I say that? Just because I think it. I have to get better at this arrangement. It’s sex, nothing more.

How can I make it nothing more?

Knox stands to pull up his shorts, and I slump back onto the bed. He does up the button, and I don’t want him to leave. I want him to stay and hang out with me all day. But I know we both have mortgages to pay.

“See ya,” he says, and steps towards the bedroom door.

“If you want a nice lunch break, you know where I am,” I say.

He grunts as he goes through the door. Maybe the father comments were too much. Too far out of a fuck-buddy agreement.

A second later, he pokes his head back in the door, and says, “Come for dinner tonight, before I go.”

“Sure,” I say, filled with relief as the butterflies fill my chest again.

“We eat early tonight, I leave at five thirty.”

Knox’s feet are heavy as he walks away. “Okay,” I call out as he thumps down the stairs.

“I still don’t know why you’re so angry at me for attacking that other poster,” he yells up from the bottom of the stairs.

“I’m not,” I yell on reflex, and the door bangs shut. How could I be? I still can’t believe he’s Ox Man, and that he cared enough to attack Hung like a Donkey for me.

I’m speechless. And still jelly. I flop back on the bed, hoping I’ll be able to walk straight by dinner.

Why do I have to live next to such a great guy when I can never be anything more but a neighbor with benefits?

Knox

Every Monday, I stop working at five, have a quick shower, and heat up the leftovers of the one-pot wonder I make on Sundays for supper. I don’t have much time, the classic car ride starts at six, and it’s a thirty-minute drive.

Today, like every day after school, Piper is in her room doing homework. She likes to get it out of the way so she can watch Law & Order in the evening. She only shows her face after I call her for dinner. Though maybe she’s avoiding helping to get dinner ready.

At one minute to five, the doorbell rings. I expected Piper to get it, but she doesn’t so I make my way to the door and open it. Avery stands on the step, a silky scarf wrapped around her neck, a half smile on her face.

Damn her. I don’t know what I was thinking when I invited Avery for dinner tonight.

“Hey,” she says.

“Come in.” I turn and walk back to the kitchen.

“Where’s Piper?”

“Upstairs, doing her homework.”

Avery stands close to me, too close. She stands on her tiptoes and whispers, “Don’t worry, not even a hint.”

Before she can move away, I grab her tight and breathe her in. My lips brush against hers and her mouth parts.

This isn’t good she shouldn’t be here. This goes against all my rules. The rules I’ve followed for thirteen years.

The problem is, I want her here.

“I need to hurry,” I say, backing away from her before my dick wakes up.

“Of course.”

Avery passes me the plates from the cupboard, and I load them up with my chili. When they’re full, Avery puts them on the table and gets the cutlery while I get the sour cream.

“Supper,” I yell.

Piper thumps out of her bedroom and comes bounding down the stairs.

“Avery!” she says when she enters the kitchen.

“Hey Piper. I thought I’d come hang out with you tonight, keep you company.”

“Cool.”

“I won’t be late, Piper. Home by seven thirty on the dot.” The ride ends at seven, I can leave any new clients to Marcus and get the hell out of there and back to my girl.

“Don’t worry about us,” Avery says. “We can amuse ourselves.”

Taking my eyes off my plate, I glance up at her and our eyes meet. A shudder runs through me, and I quickly fix my eyes back on my food.

“Guess what?” Piper says to Avery. “I’m finished middle school in less than two weeks.”

“That’s exciting. Big plans for the summer?”

“Nope. Only preparing for high school.”

“It’ll be a big change, that’s for sure,” Avery says.

I can’t believe she’s starting high school. How will I react when she starts bringing boys home? Other than to scare the shit out of them.

“Avery, can you come to my eighth grade graduation? It would be so awesome if you could come.”

“I don’t know, what are your dad’s plans?” Avery asks.

I don’t have any, I think. Just turn up and see my baby officially finish grade school.

“I have big plans, it’s so exciting, and I want you to be there for it,” Piper says.

“What plans?” I ask. I don’t know anything about any big plans.

“It’s a surprise. For you too, Dad.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“Well too bad, it’s my graduation, my surprise.”

There’s no point in arguing with her right now. I shake my head and shovel the rest of the food in my mouth while the two of them talk. Listening to them relaxes me.

“Gotta run,” I say.

Like always, I leave my plate on the table. I’ll clean it up when I get home, after Piper goes to bed. I grab my wallet, phone, and keys, and walk out the door.

After sliding into my Thunderbird, I turn the key and listen to the engine purr. As I drive to the car show, I consider what just happened. I sat and had dinner with Avery and Piper. And afterwards, I left the two of them together and walked out the door to go to work. As if we were a family.

It’s not something I’ve ever wanted. And it’s dangerous. So why did I invite Avery into my house?

As much as I don’t want to admit it, I like hanging out with Avery, even when she’s fully clothed.

The realization pisses me off. I spend the entire time at the event leaning on the side of my car with my arms crossed, angry. The hood is up, people can look if they want, but I’m in no mood to talk to anyone.

Why the fuck did I let Avery get into my head? I broke the rules. No fucking the same chick more than once a month. No fucking anyone Piper knows. No relationships.

I couldn’t keep my cock in my pants, and now everything is fucked up.

“What the fuck is your problem tonight?” Marcus says, on his walk up and down the street.

He calls it mingling. I call it trolling for pussy. At least that’s what I called it when I did it. Marcus has a harder time than I ever did. The blond man-bun doesn’t help, but his real problem is his clothes. The chicks here aren’t interested in suits, they want muscles on display.

“Nothing.”

He leans on the car beside me. “I’ve known you a long time, buddy, this ain’t nothing. You are fucking pissed. Look at you, your face is so hard, you’re scaring people away.”

“Good.”

“Is it that new pussy you were telling me about?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Is that a no?”

I exhale sharply. I can’t even figure out what it is. Or if this is about Piper or not. Sure, she’s great, but now I’ve got all these fucking feelings for Avery that I never wanted to have, and I don’t know how I can have both of them.

I swore up and down when Piper was put in my arms that first day that I wouldn’t expose her to a string of relationships. That I wouldn’t be like my mother. I had a different daddy every month. Sometimes every week. None of them lasted. None of them gave a damn about me.

I wasn’t going to repeat that with a string of women. At least not in my house. My pussy and my child would be kept far apart.

But before now, I could never see myself with anything but a string of women. How could any man be happy with just one? As far as I was concerned, all I wanted to do was bend them over my car and have a little fun for the night.

“You going to say anything?” Marcus asks.

“Nope.”

“Whatever is going on, you need to lighten up.”

“Lighten up?” I repeat, my lip snarled.

“Yeah man, you always take life so seriously. Stop denying yourself for once. Loosen up and enjoy things.”

“I have a kid, I can’t.”

Marcus laughs, “Piper’d probably thank you for not being such an uptight bastard. And so would I.”

I grunt, my back muscles tense with the situation.

“I thought you were fucking her today. Did it fall through?”

Against my will, a smile forms on my face.

“You dog. Was she as good as you thought she’d be? Did you get your cock down the bitch’s throat?”

Just as fast, the smile vanishes.

“Shut your fucking mouth,” I snap, unwilling to hear him talk about Avery like that.

“Touchy. Sounds like it’s more than a little fuck to me.”

“I’m going home.”

Without waiting for Marcus to leave, I shut my hood, open my car door, get in and start the engine.

I have a thirty-minute drive to figure out what to say to Avery when I get home.

Avery

“Like I said, one Law & Order is enough. We’re watching something else.”

“But the deal was I help with the dishes and we can watch it,” Piper says, pouting.

After Knox left, we finished our supper at a slower pace, chatting about all sorts of things. But I was too chicken to go anywhere near the subject of her mother. Piper didn’t bring it up, so I left it alone.

When we finished eating, Piper left the room. My mother would’ve killed me if I did that. I hauled her back and told her we were watching the news channel all night unless she helped me clean everything up. And I may have lectured her on helping her father out more.

“We did watch Law & Order, it just finished. Now we’re going to watch something else. How about Community?”

“Fine,” she grumbles. Sometimes I see a lot of Knox in her.

“You can pick the episode,” I say as a peace offering.

Piper takes the remote and scrolls through Hulu until she finds the episode she wants. It’s the first paintball fight, one of my favorites. And apparently one of Knox’s. Figures we’d have the same favorite TV show of all time. And favorite band. I wonder what else there is.

We just watched the paintball episode when I was here on Thursday. That night was easy, too. Being in this house is too comfortable. With both Knox and Piper.

Forget comfortable, who am I kidding? I like being here. I like them. I want to hang out with them both.

But like I’ve been telling myself all day, I have to remember this is about sex.

I don’t know how to make it only about sex when Knox does things like invite me over for dinner and defend me against internet trolls. How? This isn’t fair. And it’s never going to work.

Because the more time I spend with him, naked or not, the more time I want to spend with him.

Why did I get myself into this situation. The more I sit here, rolling it around in my mind, the more upset I become. Tears prick my eyes, and I pretend to laugh so I can wipe them away without Piper noticing.

I’m not cut out for a fuck-buddy arrangement. I can’t keep my feelings separate. It’s never going to be enough for me, and it’s better I end it now, before my feelings get even stronger.

It will hurt far less.

Shutting my door on the most amazing sex ever is going to be difficult and require every ounce of my willpower, but I have no choice. I can’t let my heart get involved any more than it already is, because I know I would be crushed. Knox made it clear, no relationship. And here I am, not even a week later, wanting more from him than just his body.

I have no choice.

Piper put the next Community episode on, the conclusion to the paintball episode. I glance at my watch, it’s almost seven thirty, Knox should be home any minute. I’m not sure I can face him now.

“Wow, I just had this crazy brainstorm of ideas for my book,” I say without looking at Piper. Does she still think I’m writing a book? “I need to get going so I can write them all down before I forget. Your dad will be home in a minute, are you all right if I go now?” I force as much enthusiasm into my voice as possible.

“Of course. I’m almost in high school. Remember?” Piper says.

I don’t know if it’s wrong to leave her, but it’s only for a few minutes. Knox will be home soon. And if I’m here when he gets home, I know there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to hide my feelings. Piper would get a full display, and I can’t do that. It’s too important to him.

“Great, thanks,” I say, and stand to leave.

“Avery?”

“Yeah?”

“How important is it to follow your dreams?”

I turn back to face her, and say, “It’s the most important thing a thirteen-year-old girl can do.”

“Really? So I should do whatever I can to make my dreams come true?”

“Absolutely.”

“Thanks. Good night.”

“See you later,” I say, and leave.

As soon as I shut my door, the rumble of Knox’s car comes down the street. My heart pounding, I go upstairs without turning the lights on.

It’s only seven thirty, so I hide away in my fake bedroom. At my desk, I scroll through all my new comments. There are a few new ones, fans telling me how much they appreciate my advice. One is from someone saying how much they like the unbreakable feather. One is under the annoying your partner video I made about Nathan’s stupid noises.

Hung like a Unicorn: u were more annoying than that, stupid bitch

I stare at the comment. It’s stupid and childish and I don’t feel threatened by it. But it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize Hung like a Donkey has taken the new name Hung like a Unicorn. If he makes any more, I’ll report him again.

I can’t bring myself to do any real work, instead I mess around on social media. Darla is also online and when she notices I’m online, she FaceTimes me.

“Hey, babe. Knox come around today?”

For a second I warm at the memory of this morning, but I quickly recover. I have to steel myself against him. Knowing Darla, she’d tell me to toughen up and embrace the fuck-buddy lifestyle.

“Let’s not talk about him right now,” I say.

“Fine, because guess what? I’ve got gossip for you. Nathan’s fiancée left him.”

“Really? That was quick. Smart cookie.”

“But get this, word on the street is she left because he’s shit in bed. A friend of a friend told me she said, and I quote, ‘How did you live with an internet sex advisor for so many years and not learn a goddamn thing about a woman’s body?’ End quote. Can you believe it?” Darla says, and dissolves into a fit of laughter.

I laugh as well, a great belly laugh that relieves all of the tension I’ve built up over Knox. I’m in tears, and we both laugh and laugh.

Grabbing a Kleenex, I wipe my eyes and blow my nose. “Shut up,” I manage to say.

“And the now ex-fiancée is telling everyone she knows.”

“I can’t say I disagree with her. If she needs someone to back her up, send her to my Facebook page.”

“How were you with him so long?”

“I know, I know. Okay? I’m an idiot.”

“Oh well, it’s in the past. Now you’ve got that sex machine to keep you happy.”

“Yep,” I say, trying to keep the laughter going. I’m not ready to talk to her about Knox.

We spend the next twenty minutes making fun of Nathan before Darla’s boy toy arrives and we end the call.

My mind is clear enough now that I can focus on work, and I throw myself into the endless task of editing, planning and keeping track of finances. I debate taking the unicorn video down, but it’s had over a quarter million shares already and is one of my fastest videos to ever get to that many shares. I’m making a killing on ad revenue in it, so I leave it up.

No matter how stupid I now realize it is. I have to be more disciplined. No more hurried, unplanned videos.

In the morning, I wake up early and sleepwalk to the kitchen for some coffee. The doorbell rings. Tying my housecoat belt around me, I make my way to the door on shaky legs, knowing full well it’s Knox.

I take a deep breath, open the door, and say the words I practiced over and over in my head while lying in bed earlier, “This arrangement isn’t working for me. We have to stop. The…”

Knox’s hands are on my hips, and he backs me into the house as I try to speak. His mouth covers mine, swallowing my words. His kiss is charged, and sends a jolt of electricity through me, grounding me to the floor.

He pulls his lips away, and says, “It’s not working for me either.”Knox

“What?” Avery asks, her voice barely audible.

“The whole drive home last night, I was looking forward to seeing you. To find you in my living room, waiting for me. When you weren’t there, I knew I couldn’t ignore this any longer.”

“This?”

“Yes, this,” I say, hating saying what I’m feeling out loud. “Whatever it is that’s between us.”

Avery closes her eyes and swallows. I nudge her deeper into the house and close the front door. She hasn’t said anything yet, nothing that lets me know what she’s thinking.

Maybe I’m making too many assumptions. I drop my arms from her, and walk towards the kitchen.

“Coffee,” I say, it isn’t a question.

Avery still doesn’t say anything as she follows me into her kitchen. Since when was she ever quiet? I don’t like it.

I go through her cupboards and make two cups of coffee. Her kitchen is hideously ugly and out of date. Instead of setting them on the kitchen table, I carry them into her living room and set them on the coffee table.

On autopilot, she follows me back to the living room.

“Sit,” I say, gesturing to the couch.

Avery sits on the leather armchair.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” I ask.

“I… you surprised me. I had to tell you this morning that I can’t do our arrangement.”

“I already told you I don’t want that either.”

“I’m not sure what you want. A relationship? What about Piper?”

Piper. It’s true, I don’t know what to do about her.

“I really wish you’d sit with me on the couch.”

I let my words hang in the air. With a tense jaw, Avery moves from her chair to the couch, our shoulders grazing.

“You really want a relationship?” she asks, staring at the blank TV screen.

“Yeah, I do. I want you in my bed every morning and at my table every night.”

“Would it be a secret from Piper?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Since Piper was born, I’ve never had a relationship. A girlfriend.”

I let the word girlfriend sink in. I’ve spent my whole adult life avoiding having one. And not once have I ever been tempted to have one. But with Avery, I can’t help myself. I need this woman. In all of my life, not just my bed.

“You haven’t had a girlfriend in all these years?”

Ignoring her question, I say, “Maybe we don’t say anything. She can draw her own conclusions. Besides, we’ll let this develop as it’s going to develop.”

“You think? Piper will want answers.”

“She won’t. She’s been trying to get us together since you moved in.”

“Really?”

“Piper constantly told me how much you liked me,” I say, sliding my arm around Avery.

“Yeah. She did the same to me.”

“See? She’ll be fine. Happy, even.” I hope.

“I didn’t know you felt the same way. I really thought I had to end this today.”

“No chance, baby. I’d never let that happen.”

Avery smiles and rolls her bottom lip in her teeth. Unable to resist, I take her chin in my hand, and tilt her head to me. I brush my lips against her cheek and onto her full lips.

She kisses me back softly, before turning her head away and saying, “You really haven’t had a girlfriend in thirteen years.”

Resigned, I say, “Almost fourteen.”

“Since I’m your girlfriend now, I’m going to pry. Not because I’m nosy. But because, like I tell my viewers, the better I know you, the better our relationship will be.”

I laugh and roll my eyes. “Are you always going to analyze me with your advice? Because believe me, I’m going to show you how wrong a lot of your videos are.”

“Ah! They are not.”

“Eating you out in the shower?”

“Okay fine, but that’s only one.”

I lean into her ear, and say, “Yet. I’ll show you more. Be patient.“

“I am being patient, but now you have to stop ignoring the question.”

“I forgot what the question was.”

“Why no girlfriends?”

“Because. My mother had a string of boyfriends when I was growing up. Not a string, more like a revolving door. I hated it and promised Piper when she was a baby that I wouldn’t do it to her.”

Avery runs her fingers over my arm, looks me in the eyes and says, “Sorry.”

Holding her eyes captive, I say, “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

“I mean, it must’ve been so hard, denying yourself for so long.”

I smirk, and say, “Trust me, I wasn’t denying myself at all.”

“Oh,” she says, leaning away, “Is that why the condoms? Because if you have something, you have to tell me. I mean it.”

Pulling her back to me, this time tight against me, I say, “I’m clean. I even have the paperwork to show it.”

“Then what’s with the condoms? Most men beg and lie not to use them. We don’t even need to use them, and you insist.”

“It’s trust.”

“What? You don’t believe me when I say I have an IUD in? Do you want me to show you the paperwork to prove it?”

“It’s not that.”

“But if I’m going to be your girlfriend, don’t you want to be bare inside me? To feel your skin against mine,” she says in her sultriest voice.

It’s almost enough to throw her down on the couch and fuck her bareback right now.

Almost.

“I do. Trust me,” I say.

Avery sits up straight, her brow creased.

“So, what’s the deal? Are you going to tell me.”

My throat tightens at the question. I should’ve known changing our relationship status would mean discussions like this. I’m not sure I like it.

Avery tucks her hair behind her ear, still looking at me for answers. Her eyes trace my face, and I figure I owe her an explanation. At least I get this out of the way. The thing I’ve never talked about in years.

I clear my voice, and say, “When I was twenty one, I met this chick in a bar. We hooked up, and it became a pretty regular thing for a few months. Brandi, her name was Brandi. She told me she was on the pill. Great news, right? All the bareback fucking I wanted. Until she told me she was pregnant.”

Avery sits up straighter, and leans her body against mine, “Piper?”

“Yeah. Turns out I wasn’t the only guy she was fucking. I knew she was seeing someone else. Which was fine, it was casual between us. God knows I had enough other women going on. But I spent the entire fucking nine months not knowing if the baby was mine or not.”

I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. I’ve never said them before, and now I’ve started, they keep on coming. The more I speak, I lighter I feel.

“That’s rough.”

“Over the months, she told me she was sure it was the other guy’s, and that they were in love and going to get married and raise the baby. When the baby was born, the guy demanded a paternity test. Turns out Piper was mine. Brandi stuck her in my arms and said she was marrying the other guy anyway, and that he wasn’t going to raise a kid who wasn’t his. She walked away, and that’s the last time I ever saw her.”

“That’s it? Not even any notice or time for you to prepare?”

“Prepare? I spent most of the nine months thinking it was his. At most I thought I’d have to pay child support. You stick a baby in the arms of a twenty-two-year-old guy, and suddenly I was a father? What the fuck did I know about babies? All I knew was cars and partying.”

Avery

I’m still stunned. During my restless night of being torn between wanting Knox to come ravage me in the morning and having to end our arrangement, I never believed there was a third option with Knox. I refused to even consider the idea of a real relationship. An idea I wanted so badly, but refused to consider because I never once thought it could come true.

And yet, here we are. Together on my couch, with Knox opening up to me about his life. I lean into him a little harder.

I can’t imagine plunking my baby in the arms of an unprepared twenty-two-year-old guy to take care of for a day, let alone forever.

“How did you cope?” I ask.

At first I felt like I was prying. But now it seems like he needs to get this off his chest. I wonder how many other people he’s told this.

Knox’s lips move into a half smile, and he says, “I learn real fucking fast.”

“Did your mom help you?”

“At first, yeah, but then she moved to Florida with another of her boyfriends.”

“To retire?”

“She retired, but the guy was my age.”

“She sounds like Darla,” I say, laughing.

Knox laughs, and says, “She is like Darla. All my mum needs is that curly hair.”

“Well, things worked out. Piper’s a great kid, you did a great job of raising her.” This time I don’t feel awkward when I tell him I think he’s a great father.

“Thanks,” Knox says, and takes a sip of his coffee.

“You’re too humble.”

Knox grunts.

“You should be proud of what you’ve achieved. You’re an amazing dad.”

“She isn’t grown up yet, there are still plenty of opportunities to mess up.”

“Somehow I don’t think you – or she – will.”

“Like the bra? And the period? I don’t know anything about that stuff.”

“It doesn’t matter. You let me help her, and that’s the best you could do.”

“Maybe. At least it got me in your skirt.”

“All you had to do for that was smile once in a while. And be nice. Neighborly, even.”

“You want neighborly?” he asks, a gruff edge to his voice.

“It would’ve been nice when I first moved in.”

As I finish my sentence, Knox grips me by the back of my head and pulls me to his lips and crushes his mouth against mine. I whimper at his touch. Our tongues poke and twirl around each other’s and this time when my heart flutters, I do nothing to try to ignore it.

I have feelings for this man, and I no longer have to ignore them. Somehow, that makes the kiss more powerful.

Knox then kisses to my ear, and in a low voice asks, “So this is official?”

I wrap my arms tight around him, and in a quiet voice say, “Definitely.”

“And you’ll be at my table tonight?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss your cooking.”

Clamping his lips back on mine, he half scoops, half pushes me onto the floor. I’m wedged between the couch and the coffee table, on the old carpet. Knox fumbles with the belt of my housecoat before finally getting the knot out and yanking open my housecoat.

I’m in my panties and old T-shirt, but don’t care. Neither does he. His big hands put my T-shirt up to my neck, exposing my breasts, before he pulls off my panties. His lips are back on mine, and my walls are slick with want.

In moments, Knox’s weight is on me, and still dressed, his hard dick is at my entrance. Without waiting, he pushes into me. I moan as my walls stretch to fit him.

Only then do I realize he didn’t stop to put a condom on. My heart is beating like crazy, and butterflies explode in my chest. I moan again, my walls tight around his bare cock.

The hard floor holds me firmly in place while he pounds into me. Heat burns between my legs, but above that, my heart pounds harder for him.

I wrap my legs around his, my body building and building and I clutch onto his shirt.

“Knox,” I whimper as waves burst through my body. My pussy turns into a quivering wreck and spasms tight around his dick. His bare dick. I moan at the thought of him filling me.

Knox groans and releases himself into me, his dick throbbing as he comes.

Breathless, he kisses my lips and says, “I hadn’t planned to do that.”

“Not use a condom?”

“Not fuck you on the floor like this.”

I swallow, and say, “Sometimes the situation calls for it.”

“Sometimes.”

“Knox?”

“Yeah?” he asks, brushing my hair back from my face.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

He closes his mouth over mine, and our mouths lock in a tender kiss. I don’t think I could ever get enough of him.

Eventually, he pulls away. While I clean myself up, he makes us each another cup of coffee. We sit on the sofa, and I snuggle up against him while we drink and talk.

After half an hour, Knox says, “I have to get some work done, I have no choice.”

“Of course. Me too. I’ll see you at dinner?”

“I expect you there,” he says, and kisses my forehead.

After he leaves, I stay on the couch both letting my body and mind recover and process what went on here this morning. It’s almost too good to be true.

Eventually, I haul myself upstairs and dress. I have to film a product-pimping video today on the physically possible sex positions book, which is good because otherwise I’d end up making some gushing vlog about Knox.

At my desk, I can see Knox out the window, working on his latest car. My heart flutters, knowing he’s mine now. I could sit here all day watching him, but I can’t. I have too many exciting ideas to share with my fans.

But first, the book pimping video.

I work all afternoon, shooting it, editing it and doing admin tasks. It wouldn’t have taken so long if I hadn’t spent so much time looking out the window at Knox. Somehow I’m going to have to find more discipline.

Now it’s nearly six, and I wrap a fashion scarf around my neck to cover the still visible hickeys.

I ring his doorbell, and Knox answers, a grin on his face. Before I can say hello, he leans over and kisses me. That’s a much better hello than I’d expected.

Standing tall again, he says, “Come in.”

Knox takes my hand and leads me through to the kitchen. Everything feels different now. The charged air between us settled, relaxed.

Piper’s still upstairs, and we chat as we get supper ready. He’s made a beef and barley stew today. Somehow he found the time for that. I reach up to get the bowls out of the cupboard, and he puts his hands on my ass.

“You’re bad,” I say, laughing.

“I couldn’t help myself,” he says.

“I’m glad you two are finally together,” Piper says.

I drop the bowls and they shatter on the floor.

“Piper,” Knox and I say at the same time.

“Aren’t you supposed to be doing your homework?” Knox says.

“I finished it, and thought you’d want help to set the table. I didn’t know Avery was here.”

“Since when do you help set the table?” Knox asks.

Piper looks at me and smiles. I guess my lecture yesterday about helping out her father has sunk in.

“Do you have a broom?” I ask as I pick up the bigger shards of the bowls.

“I’ll get it,” Piper says.

I clean up the broken dishes, while Piper sets the table and Knox ladles out the stew in more bowls. Through dinner, Piper and I chat as usual. Knox even joins in, a lot more than he did before. He’s relaxed, smiling and visibly happy and is even more fun to be around.

After dinner, the three of us clean the kitchen together.

When we’re finished, we head into the living room. Piper sits on the armchair, and Knox sits beside me on the couch and puts his arm around me.

It’s a perfect day. Sex in the morning, and cuddling in the evening.

So perfect, we repeat it every day for the next two weeks.

Knox

“I’m so excited, tomorrow is going to be the best day ever,” Piper says, her face beaming.

She’s finished grade school, and tomorrow officially graduates from eighth grade. All week, she’s been reminding me that she’s a high school student now, and officially almost a grown up. And that her birthday is in a month and she’ll be fourteen. As in not my baby girl anymore.

I know the next four years are going to get even worse. That she’ll want less and less to do with me, and more and more to do with her friends. Until the day she brings a boy home. How the fuck am I supposed to deal with that?

“I still remember my eighth grade graduation,” Avery says from her position beside me on the couch, “I tripped when I went up to get my certificate.”

“And that’s why we didn’t get the shoes with the heels too high, right?” Piper says.

“Exactly.”

“I don’t want to make a fool of myself tomorrow, especially with the surprise I have planned.”

“What surprise?” I ask.

“Duh, it’s a surprise. Surprise means I can’t tell you. Or it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Piper’s gone on about her surprise for the past two weeks. I don’t like surprises. No matter how much I’ve pressed her on what it is, she wouldn’t tell me. It’d better be something stupid, and not anything like introducing me to a boy at the ceremony.

“You’d better get to bed, or you’ll be too tired to enjoy tomorrow,” I say.

“Night,” Piper says as she runs up the stairs.

“Good night,” Avery and I say.

“What the fuck is the surprise?” I mutter.

“No idea. She wouldn’t give me any hints,” Avery says.

She’s been sitting beside me on the couch all night, and now that Piper’s gone upstairs, I pull her closer.

“It better not be a boy.”

“You might want to prepare for that. If it’s not tomorrow, it’ll be some day not too far in the future.”

I grumble, too annoyed out by the idea to think about it any longer.

Avery leans her body against mine, and we mindlessly watch some movie. I only pay attention when a car comes on the screen.

Piper loves having Avery around so much, and the two have become even closer. She’s fit right into our family so easily, it’s like she’s always been a part of it.

Part of me still worries that having an actual girlfriend and having Piper have a relationship with that girlfriend is a bad idea. But it’s an idea I’ve been religiously following Piper’s whole life, and breaking it is a weird feeling.

Even though breaking it for Avery couldn’t feel more right.

The credits roll up the screen, but neither of us moves. Avery’s been going home around eleven every night, but tonight I don’t want her to leave.

She presses her hand against my chest and moves to stand, “I’d better get going.”

“Stay here tonight.”

Avery’s eyes move up to mine, and widen when our eyes connect. “What are you saying?”

I lower my voice, and say, “To sleep. I want you in my bed.”

“But what about Piper.” Avery raises her head to mine, inches away from me.

“But nothing. I said to sleep. We both know you can’t be quiet. Besides, I’m surprised you’re not still sore from this morning.” I spent three hours at her house this morning, and when I left she was stuck on her bed.

“You want me to sleep in your arms? But not fuck me?”

“That’s what I said. You can leave before Piper gets up in the morning.”

“I didn’t bring anything to sleep in.”

“Good,” I say and bring her mouth against mine. I break the kiss just as fast, before I won’t be able to stop and we end up waking Piper.

Pushing Avery off me, I stand and take her hand. She follows me around the house as I turn off all the lights, before she follows me up the stairs and into my bedroom.

In silence, I strip down to my boxers while watching Avery peel off her clothes. She leaves her panties on and climbs into my bed. I finally have a woman in my bed and it feels fucking right.

I get in bed, and pull her alongside me. She hooks her feet around my calves and I hold her tighter against me. My dick rests against her round ass, and I force myself to think of Piper to stop myself from sticking it in Avery.

Avery falls asleep almost instantly, and I lie here, enjoying the rise and fall of her ribs under my arm. The scent of her hair fills my nose as I drift off to sleep.

At some point, I wake with a massive hard-on. It’s pitch black, and Avery grinds her ass against me in her sleep.

Still half asleep, I trail my hand over the curve of her hip, and flick my finger under the edge of her panties. She’s wet and she wants me. Fuck, I need to be in this pussy.

I kiss her cheek, put my lips to her ear and say, “Can you be quiet?”

She mumbles something and grinds into me.

I flick my cock out of my boxers, hold her panties aside, and push into her. Being inside her bare, feeling her wetness against my skin, still sends shivers from my cock through my body. I stay motionless, enjoying the sensations.

Moving a little, I move slow and deep. I’m waking up more now, but Avery is still half asleep. With each thrust, her ass pushes back against me. Her breath is shallow and fast under my arm, and she whimpers.

“Quiet,” I whisper, increasing my thrusts.

A moan comes from her throat. I know the noise, it means she’s close. Tingles race up and down my legs and my balls tighten.

Avery’s body gyrates and she tilts her head back, her mouth open. I clamp my hand over her mouth in time to muffle her scream. I hope I muffled it enough.

My body shudders and my dick explodes against her walls.

In seconds, she’s back asleep and I wonder if she was ever even fully awake. Exhausted, I leave my cock in her and fall back asleep.

I wake up with Avery still in my arms, the room bright with sunlight. Not wanting to wake her, I run my hand over her sleeping body before caressing each of her breasts and rolling her nipples between my fingers.

My cock stirs inside her, but I know it’s too risky and that Piper would know. Having her sleep here in my bed is risky enough.

Shit, it’s after nine. Piper will be up. Fuck.

“Wake up, baby,” I whisper into Avery’s ear.

“Hmm.”

“Quiet, Piper’s up.”

“No.” Avery jolts to her elbows, and my dick falls free of her in the movement.

“We slept in. We have to be quiet,” I say in a hushed tone.

“How do I get out of here?”

“I’m going to have to sneak you out.” The way Piper had better never sneak a boy out.

“How?”

“I don’t know, I’ll distract her in the kitchen and you go out the front door.”

Avery laughs, and I cover her mouth with my hand.

“What’s so funny?”

She creases her brow and pulls my hand away, “Did we have sex last night?”

“I’m offended you don’t remember.”

“I remember you putting your hand over my mouth. And I remember a pretty good dream.”

“Dream?”

“Not a dream then?”

“No. Focus. We have to get you out of here without her knowing.”

I should think it was a mistake having her stay here last night, but all I can think of is wanting more of it. Even though I know it’s a mistake.

A mistake that makes me even more angry at myself, for putting myself ahead of Piper. Piper has to come first. I can’t forget that.

Avery

After Knox leaves the room, I pick my clothes up off the floor and pull them on, making as little noise as possible.

Sleeping in Knox’s strong arms all night was too wonderful for words. And it turns out that the dream I had about him last night was real in all its glory. It’s no wonder I slept in and that was a dream I didn’t want to wake up from. And one I hope he’ll let us repeat. Assuming I can get out of the house without Piper seeing me.

I creak the door open and creep into the hallway. At the top of the stairs, I strain my ears to try to figure out what room Piper’s in.

At first I can’t hear anything, so I take a couple steps down the stairs, my feet coming into view to anyone in the living room.

“Avery,” Piper says, sobbing, her voice coming from the living room.

Why is she sobbing? My heart races, and I rush down the rest of the steps.

They’re standing in the center of the living room, Knox is holding Piper as she sobs against him. Her eyes are rimmed in red, and she wipes her nose on her sleeve as she looks at me.

Panicking, I hurry over to them, and rub her back. “What’s wrong?”

What if she’s upset because I stayed over? Knox will be furious, but hopefully not at me. Why didn’t I set my alarm on my phone? Why today, of all days, did I have to sleep in?

I flick my eyes up to Knox and he shrugs, his eyes wide. Piper cries harder against his chest. He hugs her tight but she’s in hysterics, her body heaving as she cries. Knox breathes heavily through his nose, his body tense.

“Talk to us, Piper. You’ll feel better, and maybe we can help you,” I say.

“My surprise. It’s ruined,” she says and wails against Knox.

Part of me wants to tell her to stop overreacting. Nothing is this bad. But Knox’s face is taut, and I bite my tongue.

“What was the surprise?” I ask in my nicest voice.

“It’s not fair,” she says between sobs.

Knox picks her up and carries her to the couch. He sits down, cradling Piper on his lap. She looks tiny against his massive frame.

I’m not sure what to do. I don’t want to intrude on them, but I want to help them both. Neither are looking at me, Piper’s face is buried in Knox’s chest, and Knox is looking helplessly at his daughter. I end up perching on the coffee table across from them.

“What was the surprise?” Knox asks.

“I was following my dream,” Piper says. As she speaks, she looks at me.

My eyes widen, remembering the conversation I had with her a couple of weeks ago. She asked me if she should follow her dreams, and I said always. I was in too much of a rush to leave before Knox got home bother asking what that dream was.

“What dream?” Knox asks.

Piper dissolves into another fit of tears, and Knox visibly tenses even more.

“Avery said to follow my dream.” I flinch as Piper says my name. I’m officially a part of this.

“We should all follow our dreams,” I say quietly, my eyes on Knox.

He doesn’t react as I speak. I don’t think his body could get any more tense to begin with.

“Piper, you need to tell us what the surprise was,” Knox says, his voice strained.

I’m sure he thinks it’s a boy. At least, that’s what I’m thinking it is. Did he break up with her on the morning of the graduation? Is this was a young broken heart looks like?

“No,” she whispers.

“I mean it, Piper, What was the surprise?” Knox says, his voice stern.

“No! I said no I’m not telling you. I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“You don’t have to, but if you want us to help you, we need to know. Come on, sweetie, you’ll feel better to say it out loud,” I say, reaching over to stroke down her arm.

“What was the surprise?” Knox says again, his teeth gritted.

“She’s not coming,” Piper wails.

“Who’s not coming?” Knox asks.

“Mom,” she says.

My heart stops. I thought her mother didn’t have anything to do with her.

“What do you mean mom? Do you mean Grandma?”

“My mom. She’s not coming and I thought she was going to come and I, I…”

“What are you talking about?” Knox says, his nostrils flaring.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning,” I say, and take her hand. Knox runs his hand down her arm, and takes her hand from me.

“When Darla was here,” she says. Knox winces at Darla’s name. “She told me if I want to know the truth about my mother, I should look it up on the internet.”

“Not ask me?” Knox says.

“I do ask you, but you always say you don’t know.”

“Because I don’t.”

“But Darla,” Knox closes his eyes at her name, “said that everyone in the world is online, and if I really wanted, I could find her.” She pauses to swallow and wipe her nose. “And I found her, on Facebook.”

“What did she say?” Knox says, the tendons in his neck straining.

“I asked her to come to my graduation. Because Avery said to follow my dream, and that was my dream. For her to see me graduate.”

“What did she write back?” I ask, and Knox glares at me with daggers in his eyes, and I slouch.

“She didn’t. Until this morning, she told me to… to stop sending her messages and leave her alone,” she says, and dissolves into another fit of tears.

“You should’ve asked me,” Knox says to her.

“But Darla and Avery…” she says through an open-mouthed sob.

Knox’s face becomes stone and he swallows hard. He glares at me and says, “Weren't you leaving?”

My heart stops and my arms fall to my sides. He continues to glare into me, my skin burning under his eyes. My mouth hangs open, but his eyes continue to bore into me.

I don’t want to make a scene in front of Piper. But I want to defend myself, to not be lumped in with Darla.

“I didn’t know,” I say.

“It doesn’t matter,” Knox says, and wraps his arms even tighter around Piper.

Brushing a tear from my cheek, I stand. My knees are weak and my heart thumps all the way up in my throat. I want to defend myself. But Piper is still crying, and I don’t want to upset her further.

“I’ll come over after and help you get ready,” I say, my hand on Piper’s shoulder.

“I’m not going!” she yells, and I step back from them.

“I’ll see you later?” I say to Knox hopefully, but his attention is on Piper.

My heart shattering into a million pieces, I turn, stumble into the coffee table, and flee the house.

I can barely get the key in my lock, my hand is shaking so badly. Finally I get the door open, and stagger to my living room. Stunned, I collapse onto the couch and try to understand what happened. The whole time, tears flow down my cheeks until it seems like I’m crying just as much as Piper.

All day, I’m hopeful Knox will come to my door once Piper has calmed down. The closer and closer it gets to midnight, the more my hope drains. At two in the morning, all hope is gone and I make my way upstairs to bed.

The next afternoon, there’s still no word from Knox. He hasn’t been in his garage all day, but I tell myself that’s because it’s Sunday.

In the late afternoon, I work up the courage to knock on his front door.

Knox

No matter how much I tried to convince her, Piper refused go to her graduation. She said she told all her friends her mother was going to be there, and that it was too embarrassing to go knowing she wouldn’t be.

I kept saying she’ll regret it, that it was the only one she’d ever get but she didn’t care. She was too upset.

Piper spent the day either crying on my lap, the couch or her bed. She wouldn’t even watch Law & Order in the evening. Said she was too busy thinking of everyone having fun at the graduation dance without her.

Her heart is crushed.

And I wasn’t there to protect her heart because I was too wrapped up in my own enjoyment. If I hadn’t been spending so much time with Avery, maybe I would’ve seen signs Piper was searching for her mother.

If I hadn’t been so desperate to get some cock action, Darla never would’ve babysat Piper, and maybe she wouldn’t have got the idea to track her down in the first place.

I failed Piper.

I failed because I broke my own fucking rules, the rules I made to make sure nothing like this ever happened. It kills me that I can’t change the past, but the only thing I can do now is make sure it never happens again.

The rules won’t be ignored again.

There’s a quiet knock on the door, and I know it must be Avery. Anyone else would ring the doorbell.

Not wanting Piper to know Avery’s here, I open the door enough to stick my head out.

There are bags under Avery's eyes, and her normal perfect hair is flat against her skull. She’s beautiful.

I close my eyes for a moment, reminding myself what’s most important. Piper. Piper is all that matters. I can’t let her down again.

My teeth grit, remembering how I let her down in the first place.

“Can we talk?”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I said from the start absolutely no chance of a relationship. I got carried away, and it was stupid. Wrong.”

“But Knox,” Avery says, and lifts her hand like she wants to touch me. I move back, and her hand hangs in the air between us before dropping to her side.

“That’s the way it has to be.”

“Why? Why does it have to be that way? You’re allowed to have a relationship. You’re allowed to think of your own happiness.”

My eyes narrow at her. She doesn’t get it. Doesn’t understand how my job is to protect Piper from getting hurt, and failed. Failed because I was too busy thinking of myself and my dick.

Failed because I let someone else get close to Piper, and wasn’t able to protect Piper against Avery or her friend’s bad advice.

“It does. I messed up on Piper, and I won’t let it happen again. I have to go,” I say and shut the door before I end up pulling her into my arms.

Avery’s muffled voice comes through the door, but I walk away. I go into the kitchen, where I can’t hear her. Piper is sitting at the table, a vacant look in her eyes and she stares at the iPad screen.

“You want to know about your mother? You should’ve asked me.”

“I do. You never tell me anything.”

“What do you want to know? I didn’t know her very well, and after you were born she left and I never heard from her again.”

Piper flicks around on the screen and shoves it in front of me. A Facebook profile of Brandi is on the screen.

“Is this her?” she asks.

I take the iPad, and scroll through a bunch of photos of Brandi. There’s a wedding photo, but it’s not the guy she left me for.

“Yeah, that’s her.”

“But why didn’t she want me? Why didn’t she want to come to my graduation?”

“Because she’s selfish and stupid. And we don’t need her.”

“But why?” Her eyes are wide with confusion, and I resist smashing the iPad against the wall and throwing the table across the room.

“Some people are selfish, and it’s hard for people like us to ever understand them. I’m sorry sweetheart, I really am. I wish there was something I could do, but I’m afraid the best thing is just to get on with living life.”

“But you don’t get on living your life. You never had a girlfriend before Avery.”

I push the thought of Avery out of my head. Piper is my priority.

Piper shakes her head, and says, “You must’ve really loved her.”

I can’t tell my daughter she’s the product of a meaningless bar pick-up.

“I never loved her. Trust me.”

“Then why did you have a baby with her?”

I don’t say anything while I try to figure out the right words in my head.

“Unless you’re saying I was an accident.”

“We were young, and it happened.”

“But if you didn’t love her, why didn’t you ever find someone else to love?”

“I did. You.”

“Me?” she says, smiling.

“Yes, Piper. You.”

My entire life has been about you. And if it wasn’t for me fucking up, we could’ve avoided the heartache and a missed graduation ceremony. How can I ever forgive myself for that?

Piper takes the iPad from my hands and closes Facebook. I smile, and stroke her hair.

I make a coffee, and sit at the table drinking it while Piper messes around online. She starts watching YouTube videos on hair and nails or something. I stare at the YouTube logo in the corner, thinking of Avery.

My throat tightens, but I force coffee down it to warm it up. My feelings for Avery don’t matter. I have to remember that.

“Is Avery coming for supper tonight?” Piper asks, looking up from the screen.

“Not tonight.”

“Tomorrow?”

“No. But I don’t mind if you go visit her at her house sometime.”

Piper’s mouth drops, and she stares at me wide eyed. I take a drink of my coffee and try to ignore her.

“Does that mean you broke up?”

That the phrase I swore to fucking God my child would never have to ask me. Not after all the times I had to ask my mother it. Not after all the times I got my hopes up, only to have it stamped out.

“Our life is just us. It’s always been the two of us, and it’s good that way, don’t you think? We don’t need anybody else, we have each other.”

She shrugs, unconvinced by my words. Maybe they would’ve been more convincing if I believed them myself.

“Want to play cards?” I ask, and reach for the deck of cards in the kitchen drawer.

We spend the rest of the afternoon playing cards, and the evening we clean up the supper dishes together and move to the living room.

I sit on the sofa, and Piper on the armchair. She starts a Law & Order. Life almost feels normal again. We don’t need Avery. I don’t need Avery.

Halfway through the episode, Piper says, “I miss Avery.”

I can’t lie. I was thinking of her too, her lips, her voice, her face, instead of watching the TV. I miss Avery snuggling up against me on the couch every night. She could be here in my arms, right now. If I was able to balance a girlfriend with a daughter. Which I’m clearly not able to do, otherwise Piper wouldn’t have missed her graduation.

How did I let myself get so wrapped up in Avery that I missed what Piper was doing? I failed to protect my kid. And lost the only woman I ever wanted more from than just her pussy.

I’m a fucking idiot.

Avery

It’s Monday afternoon, and I’m trying to work.

But how am I supposed to concentrate on my work, when I can see Knox out the window. He’s working on his car, in his shorts with no shirt on. His muscles glisten with sweat from the heat.

For a long time, I sit, paralyzed. Unable to take my eyes off him.

I never felt this bad after Nathan and I broke up. That wasn’t even a tenth as painful as the way I feel now. In the whole four years I was with him, I never for a moment cared about him as much as I care about Knox.

Everything was so perfect with Knox. Sleeping in his arms, waking up with him in me, nothing could get better. And then everything fell apart.

Without bothering to check my hair and makeup, I hit record.

“Hi everyone. I’m not doing so well today, as you can probably see. Right now I’m fighting for my unicorn. Not because of all that stuff I said before, about him being the most incredible lover imaginable, but because he’s the most incredible man imaginable. A man who’s willing to sacrifice his own happiness for someone else. But I don’t know how to make him see that he doesn’t have to sacrifice his life. That he can fulfill his responsibilities and still have me.”

Tears roll freely down my cheeks, but I keep talking, “I want him to know that I can even help him with his responsibility, that I want to help him. Because maybe I feel as strongly about his responsibility as I do about him.”

My throat is tight, and I pause to swallow. I can’t stop the words now. I don’t want to mention Piper in case he gets more mad. If he ever watches this, that is. The webcam is still rolling, and I look off to the left, where I can see Knox outside my window.

“Never in my whole life have I felt so comfortable or that I belong with someone so strongly. I don’t know. I know I normally have all sorts of advice to give you, but today I don’t have any. Today…” I stop talking and watch Knox out the window for a few moments.

“Today, I want to play a game with you. It’s called Would You Rather, and if you have kids, I’m sure you’re familiar with it. My question is, would you rather keep trying to convince the man who owns your heart that having you doesn’t mean hurting his responsibility, or would you rather step back, sit in your house, alone, and wait years for his responsibility to, to…” I can’t say grow up and finish high school. I won’t risk angering Knox.

“To end. And then maybe the two of you can try things again. Because I would wait. I’d wait forever for him.”

I grab a Kleenex and wipe my face, not caring that it’s on webcam.

“Maybe a couple of months ago, I would’ve told you that you have to be with someone for a long time, at least a year, if not more, in order for your love for them to develop and grow.” My mind is racing, and I realize this is why I stayed with Nathan for so long, I was always waiting for the love to appear. The real love that never came.

“But now, now I know that sometimes something is obvious from the start. When you’ve found the person whose life you belong in, you don’t need years to figure it out. You just know. Your body knows, your soul knows. You just have to listen to it. But how do you get the other person to acknowledge it?”

I’m losing the ability to speak without sounding like a blubbering fool. I turn off the camera and sit at my desk.

It takes half the Kleenex box until I can see clear enough to attempt to edit the video. By that point, I’ve lost interest and post it raw and completely unedited.

I sit at my desk until I can’t take it any longer. It’s nearly six anyway. I grab two cold beers from my fridge and march out to his garage without checking my reflection in the mirror.

Knox’s head is buried under the hood of some old car, giving me a nice eyeful of his muscular ass as I walk up the driveway.

I take a deep breath, and say, “Hey. It’s hot out here, I brought you a cold drink.”

Knox grunts and keeps his head under the hood. Is this going to be like the first time I brought him beer all over again?

“I’m not going back inside until you talk to me. You may as well enjoy the beer.”

“Don’t make this hard, Avery,” he says, his voice gruff.

I step forward, and set a can on the engine. Knox sighs, and ducks out from under the hood. He takes the can off the car, but doesn’t open it.

“Can’t we just talk about it?”

“The fuck-buddy thing didn’t work for either of us, and I was crystal clear from the start that a relationship was never an option. There’s nothing else to talk about.”

“But how can you ignore your feelings?”

“Avery, no. It’s still no. It’s always going to be no. That’s the way it has to be.”

“Knox, I understand what you think you have to do, and be.”

“No, no you don’t. You don’t have kids. You’re not the one who spends your whole adult life trying to do the right thing.” His nostrils flare and his eyes bore into me, though his voice is soft, “And you’re not the one who dropped the fucking ball and let your little girl get her heart crushed.”

“That’s going to happen, everyone gets hurt at some point. It’s not your fault her mother abandoned her. How did you ever think you were going to protect her from that realization?” My voice is soft, comforting.

“Maybe, but that would happen a different day, not the day of her graduation. If I hadn’t been, if we hadn’t been, then it wouldn't have happened.”

There’s no point in arguing this with him. My heart aches too much to stand here any longer. I need to leave, before I have a complete meltdown and embarrass myself.

Maybe I should go stay with Darla for a while, until the stabbing hurt dulls a little.

“Okay,” I say, and turn and walk back to my house.

As I round the corner, I can see a brown pick-up parked across the street. Probably another delivery, of more sex-related products for me to pimp. Once on my doorstep, I put my hand on the doorknob.

“Bitch!”

It’s Nathan. He walking towards me from the pick-up. His blond hair is disheveled and his blue eyes fierce.

“You scared me,” I say. “What are you doing here?”

“You fucking destroy my relationship with your fucking videos, and you wonder why I’m here?”

My heart, already racing from talking to Knox, thumps out of control. I’ve never felt threatened by Nathan, but this is weird.

“I somehow don’t think I’m the reason your fiancée left you, Nathan.”

“Everyone I know is calling me squeeze toy!” He roars so loud his voice seems to echo off the house across the street.

I don’t know what to say, but drop my hand off the doorknob.

“I fucking warned you! I told you over and over to shut your fucking mouth. That you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. But still your fucking videos went on and on and you would not shut your fucking mouth!” he screams at the top of his lungs.

Paralyzed, my mind races. What is he saying? Why is he blaming me?

“Every fucking day she used to ask me how I never learned a fucking thing from you. How she couldn’t believe I sucked so bad in bed when I lived with you so long, Avery. It didn’t matter how many times I told her you were full of shit, or how many times I told you to stop. Your fucking idiotic videos went on and on.” Spit flies from his mouth as he yells.

“Who the fuck are you?” Knox demands as he comes around the corner of my house.

Knox

The blond asshole glances at me before turning back to Avery, his face beet red from yelling. He’s standing close to Avery, too close and I rush to them and put my arm around Avery, pulling her back to position myself between them.

“What do you mean, told me?” Avery asks.

“Over and over, you fucking bitch. Until you got me banned.”

“Oh my God,” Avery says, “You’re my troll?”

“You’re Hung like a Donkey?” I demand with a laugh.

“You just couldn’t shut your fucking mouth,” he yells, ignoring me again.

I’ve had enough.

“I told you before I’d send you to oblivion you ever bothered her again.”

The guy’s face falls as his gears turn. “You’re Ox Man?”

“Yeah, you saved me the trouble of hunting you down. And now I know who you are, it’ll be real easy for me to find you if you ever comment on her videos again. And make no mistake, I will come for you,” I say, my teeth gritted and my finger pointing at him.

He sizes me up. The guy looks like he’s never played a sport or done any real work in his entire life. I could crush him.

“Get the fuck out of here and never contact Avery again.”

Without saying anything, he turns and gets in his truck and drives off.

My arm is still around Avery, and she’s shaking. I pull her tight against me and wrap both arms around her. Thank fuck I was here to protect her. But I still don’t like it. I can’t stand the thought of her alone in her house. What if the asshole comes back?

“Get your things. You’re staying at my place tonight.”

“I can’t. There’s no way I can be in the same house as you. That would be a bigger torture than Nathan coming back.”

“You know him?”

“He’s my ex.”

It’s always the fucking ex.

“It’s fine. You can sleep in the spare room.”

“But I can’t. Don’t you see how hard this is for me? How can I stay at your house and pretend that everything's a-okay when inside my heart is ripped to shreds? There’s no way. And what about Piper?”

She thinks my heart is any better? We just have to be strong, is all. I’m tough, I can do it.

“I don’t fucking care. There’s no way I’m letting you stay in your house alone tonight. Either you stay at mine, or Piper and I come stay at yours. Your choice.”

“Knox, I’m really thankful you came and scared Nathan away, but we’re not in a relationship, remember? Your words. I’m not your responsibility. This is my house, and I intend to live in it.”

My breath is heavy. Avery feels so right in my arms but I have to let my mind rule. I can’t let Piper down again.

“Only one night. Give him time to calm down. You don’t know what he might do all wound up like that. You’re coming to my house. End of discussion,” I say, my voice stern.

I squeeze her hard, to emphasis my point. And tell myself I will not be tempted by the swell of her tits pushing into me.

This might be a stupid idea, but I can’t let Avery down. She’s not safe in her house tonight.

Holding her tight, I walk her into my kitchen and sit her at the table. She still looks shell shocked. I make us each a cup of coffee, and set one in front of her.

“Coffee always helps,” I say, sitting at the table.

“There’s only one thing that will help make me feel better,” she says, her eyes lowered to her cup, her body still tense. Avery’s hand shakes as she lifts the mug.

I don’t respond because I feel the same way. We sit and drink our coffees in silence. When I finish mine, I take my mug to the sink and start dishing out my one-pot wonder, it’s goulash today.

“Supper,” I call and Piper comes bounding down the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Wow, Avery, I didn’t know you were coming for supper.”

“Her power's out, there’s a problem with her wiring so she has to stay here tonight,” I say.

“That’s so cool. I’ve missed you. We’re going to have so much fun.”

“Sweetie, you don’t have to miss me. You can come over whenever you want, all summer long.”

Her shoulders drop and her face softens. Finally Avery looks like she’s starting to relax.

“Really? Thanks! I miss talking to you sooooo much.”

“I missed talking to you, too. But I’m right next door, you know where to find me.”

“Okay, so would you rather burp bees or fart flashing lights?” Piper asks, giggling.

“Flashing lights,” Avery says and laughs.

I half listen to their conversation, and half wonder why the fuck I impose these rules on myself. But the graduation memory is still fresh. As much as I don’t like my baby growing up, I was looking forward to watching her go up and get her eighth grade certificate.

And that’s why I have rules. No matter how hard they are to follow.

They talk during the rest of our supper, and I listen. To Avery’s voice, to Piper’s laugh, and can’t help wanting more of this.

The three of us clean up the kitchen together, it kills me knowing how perfectly Avery fits into our little family, but I have to remember my fuck up.

“Can we watch Law & Order?” Piper asks.

“Of course,” Avery answers.

Piper races into the living room and sits on the armchair. Avery looks at me, her eyes wide.

“You know what, I’m exhausted, I think I’m going to go to bed,” I say.

“Night, Dad,” Piper says, the remote control already in her hands.

“Sure,” Avery says, her eyes heavy.

“You know where the spare room is, and Piper can show you where the towels and things are.”

“Okay,” she says, her voice devoid of emotion.

“Good night,” I say and walk upstairs.

“Night,” they both say.

I’m not tired at all, I just couldn’t face sitting with them all evening. I grab my iPad and flop onto my bed.

I mess around, reading all sorts of different things and watching all sorts of different videos until I can’t help myself any longer. I curse myself for being weak and open Avery’s YouTube channel.

She posted a video earlier this afternoon, and I click on it. She looks like shit, her hair’s a mess and her eyes are red. As I watch, my throat constricts so tight I struggle to breathe.

When it finishes, I start it over. My ribs feel like they’re being ripped open.

When it finishes again, I scroll down the comments. It’s only been up a few hours, but already there are hundreds of them. Comment after comment of people telling Avery how amazing she is and how she doesn’t need me fill the screen.

Some comments say I’ll come to my senses. I keep reading through them, until one hits me like a punch in the gut.

Single mom of three: Is his responsibility to his child? I understand what he’s thinking but he’s wrong. Tell him to stop being scared of messing up his children and start being afraid of missing out the (second) best thing that’s ever happened to him!!!!!! Btw, I’m single mom no more, and my kids have never been happier! What do his kids think of you?

What does Piper think of Avery? Easy, the same way I feel about Avery.

Underneath the comment are at least a dozen replies of people agreeing with her.

I read the comment along with the replies three more times, each time feeling lighter and lighter.

After registering a new account, I leave my own comment.

The unicorn: thank you ex single mom of three. And Avery you are right. Everything about you is right. Perfect, even. You are the (second) best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I’ve never been good with words.

Avery

Piper went to bed ages ago, but I’m delaying. I can’t bring myself to drag my feet up the steps to sleep in Knox’s spare room. Though it’s true, I’m too uncomfortable to go home. I’ve never seen Nathan like that, and Knox is right, he might come back.

I’m lucky Knox was there. Who knows what Nathan would’ve done?

Even if Knox having his arm around me, holding me, supporting me was almost too much for my heart to bear. Because I know it wasn’t real. And no matter how much I want it to be real, I have to face facts and push those thoughts out of my mind.

Knox running away and staying in his bedroom all night was proof his mind can’t be changed. I’m here because he’s being neighborly, nothing more.

Still, I can’t bring myself to climb the stairs and sleep in his spare room. Even if it is after one in the morning. I start another mindless movie on Netflix, and lay out on the couch.

“What are you still doing up?” Knox asks in a quiet voice.

His hand brushes over my hair, and I realized I dozed off. I push myself up and sit. The dim end table light is on, but it’s otherwise dark.

“I must’ve fallen asleep watching TV,” I say.

“What were you watching?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.”

“I can’t sleep either,” he says and sits beside me.

Flutters fill my chest. I swallow and become teary. I can’t do this. I can’t be in his house, this close to someone I want so badly. My breathing speeds and I focus on pushing away my feelings.

“It’s been a hard couple of days for me,” I say.

“They haven’t been easy for me either, you know.”

“Thanks for helping me with Nathan.”

“You think I’d let that asshole anywhere near you? Now I know who he is, if he makes any more comments on your videos, he’ll pay.”

His words fill me, and I struggle to keep my feelings down. I bite the inside of my cheek, wondering why he’d say such a thing.

“Thanks,” I say, mumbling.

“I’d never let anyone hurt you.”

I want to ask why, but can’t bring myself to. I can’t sit here. Not beside someone who owns my heart and doesn’t want me. Fuck Nathan, I’ll take my chances.

Staggering to my feet, I step away from the couch.

“Where are you going?” Knox asks.

“Home. I need to go home.”

My heart pounds and my knees are weak, but I have to get out of here. To retreat home where I don’t have to suffer in his presence.

Knox reaches out and grabs my hand, the contact exploding my heart. My chest heaves, stuck between what I want to do and what I need to do.

“I watched your latest video,” he says.

I freeze. He must think I’m an idiot. I swore I’d never post a video unplanned again, but I went ahead and did it again. This time completely unedited, complete with crying and stupid wishes and everything else. My cheeks heat with shame.

At the same time, I want to know what his reaction is.

Or maybe it’s better that I don’t know. That it’ll hurt too much when he pushes me away even more.

I swallow, and say, “Oh.”

Knox squeezes my hand, and pulls me back onto the couch. Our legs are touching, and he’s still holding my hand. I’m exhausted, but the contact wakes my body.

“It was never about you, or my feelings for you. It was about Piper.”

“I know. I just wanted you to see that I understand, but also that you’re too hard on yourself.”

“You know, a lot of people commented on it.”

“They have?” I haven’t looked at it since I posted it. I probably ruined my credibility and career because of it, and right now I want to pretend it never happened.

“They all say I’m an idiot.”

I don’t say anything, but am relieved to hear my fans supporting me. It really does mean a lot to me.

“And I agree with them,” Knox says.

It takes a second for the words to sink in, but when they do, my head flies to look him in the eye for the first time since he woke me.

“You do?” I say, in disbelief.

“I do. And I’ve been thinking. You and Piper, you get along so well. And God knows I’m going to need help with a teenage daughter. She deserves you. At least a chance with you. If you were serious about what you said.”

“I am, absolutely. She’s so amazing.” I laugh through my emotions, “I never thought I’d want to hang around with a thirteen year old so much.”

“She feels the same way about you.”

“And you?”

“Even if I don’t deserve you, I want you. I can’t go on denying the way I feel about you. You make me feel things I’ve never felt in my entire fucking life. And I thought I’d have to ignore them, for Piper’s sake. But if you really feel the way about both of us that you said in the video, then I can’t let go of you. Because you’re right, when you know you’re meant to be with someone, you know.”

Tears stream down my cheeks as he speaks. It all seems like a dream, and part of me wonders if I’m asleep on the couch.

“Of course you deserve me. I understand why you thought you let Piper down. I let her down, too. I should’ve asked her more questions when she brought up her mother, and it breaks my heart that I let her down so much.”

“She isn’t your responsibility.”

“It’s nothing to do with whose responsibility she is. I let someone I care about down.”

“That’s what I did. With you, I let you down.”

“What you did is confirm everything I thought about you.”

“That I’m an asshole?” Knox says, his nose twitching.

“No, that you’re the most caring man I’ve ever met. I just want you to see that you can care for Piper and me.”

“I know that now, after Nathan. After all the comments on your video. And most of all, because you and Piper get along so well. I can’t keep you from her. Which is good, because it’s been tearing me up inside. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”

As he finishes his last word, he cups my head and presses his lips against mine. I fling my arms around him, holding him as tight as I can as our kiss deepens.

All of the tension of the last few days melts away as I melt into his arms. All thoughts of Nathan vanish in his strong arms. Above all, my body overflows with everything I feel for Knox.

He drags his lips away, and with a low voice says, “There’s just one thing.”

“What?” I ask, gasping and desperate for his lips back.

“You’re going to have to learn to come in silence.”

His words force a moan from my throat. Knox puts his hand over my mouth, and says, “That’s what I’m talking about. Can you be quiet?”

“I thought you liked my voice,” I tease, wiping the tear stains from my cheeks.

“I do. But I also like your pussy. And right now I can’t have both.”

“You move fast, right back to my pussy. Is that what this is really all about, I’m here, you’re here, we might as well get together,” I say, teasing, my cheek pressed against his.

Knox scoops me onto his lap, and growls, “You want to wait? I can wait.”

I suppress a squeal, and say, “No waiting. I spent too much time watching you out my window today.”

“I didn’t hear you, I’m glad you can be quiet,” he says, and closes his mouth over mine before I can set him straight.

Our kiss is needy, hungry but at the same time deeper. Like we both know it’s serious this time, and that we’re not just enjoying each other but committed to each other as well. Along with Piper.

I’m officially part of this family now, and I’ve never felt like anything has ever been so right.

The thought fills me with heat, and I whimper, and press myself against him. His hard dick digs into my leg, causing my already slick walls to contract with longing for him to be inside me.

Knox kisses across to my ear, and says, “Come to bed.”

Knox

Taking Avery’s hand, I pull her up the stairs and into my bedroom. After pulling her top off over her head, I slide my hands around her ribs and undo her bra.

I can’t wait any longer. Pushing down the way I really felt for her was crushing me, but now that I’ve released all those feelings, I’m overcome with need to claim her body as mine, the way she’s claimed my heart as hers.

She lets her bra fall to the floor, and I can’t help but smile at her perfect tits — my perfect tits. My dick swells.

While she takes off the rest of her clothes, I pull mine off. Once we’re both naked, I pull her against me and close my eyes at the skin-on-skin contact. I push my fingers through her hair and bring her lips to mine.

Our kiss becomes frantic, my cock now rock hard with anticipation.

Avery wiggles out of my hold and drops to her knees. I struggle to suppress a groan, knowing we have to be quiet. But fuck me, this is too good.

She licks up and around my shaft, and I’m unable to take my eyes off her. Squinting in the dim light, I can make out her full lips as they take me into her mouth.

Bobbing her head, my shaft runs back and forth over her prodding tongue. I have to grab her head to compensate for the intensity. When I think things can’t get better, Avery angles her head up and the next thing I know, my cock is halfway down her throat.

I can’t stop my hips from thrusting, and shivers pulse through my body. This is fucking crazy. My balls tighten, and I grip her head and try to pull her off me, but she clamps her hands onto my legs and sucks harder, holding me in her.

As much as I love this, and I really fucking love this, it’s not what I want tonight. I bend and hook my arms under hers, pulling her off me and onto the bed. I want to take my time with her.

My hand finds her mound, and I push my fingers through her folds and into her entrance. Her pussy is dripping fucking wet, and my fingers glide easily against her, pushing on the spot I know drives her wild.

Avery’s breathing gets heavier by the second, and she moans. I yank my hand away and lightly slap the side of her hip and rest my hand over her mound.

I lean over her and whisper, “Quiet.”

She opens her mouth to respond, but I shush her.

Lying alongside her, I take her clit between my fingers and roll them around it.

In a low voice, I say, “You have to be quiet.”

Her breath is fast and ragged, and she rocks her hips as my fingers move. I let go of her clit, and push two fingers into her dripping wet pussy. I want to taste her so fucking bad, but don’t trust her to be quiet.

I pump my fingers in her until her legs are bending and flopping around and she’s gasping for air. My cock strains against her side, and I can’t hold off any longer.

After taking my fingers away, I move on top of her and push my cock straight in her.

Avery lets out a quiet moan as I move deeper into her. I shush her again, and she bites her lip.

As my hips move, my mind races with all the things we’ve said and done. With the idea of having Avery at my side as Piper grows. And of having her here with me when Piper’s grown up and moves out.

Most of all, it screams at me for almost pushing her away. With almost losing the most amazing woman ever, just because I was too fucking stupid to see what was in front of me.

Heat races through my veins, and the growing tingles in my cock block out my ability to think. I thrust harder and faster.

With my lips to Avery’s ear, I say, “Come for me, baby. Come for the man who loves you.”

She gasps and convulses underneath me, but she’s quiet. Which means I’ll have her in my bed every fucking night this summer. Even if Piper is home.

My hips move faster and faster, and my balls draw tight against me. Finally I can deny myself no longer, and my dick erupts, sending enormous shudders up and down my back.

Out of breath, I lean down and brush my lips against hers, the full lips that first made me want her.

“I love you too,” Avery says.

They’re words I never thought anyone other than Piper would ever say to me. Words I never thought I’d ever want nor need anyone other than Piper to say to me. But in reality, they’re three words that fill me, calm me, and make me know my life can be more than what it was.

After a quick kiss, I pull out and lie on my side, rolling her onto her side and pulling against me, not caring about the cum leaking from her. All I care about is having her in my arms, always.

The sound of Avery’s breath lulls me to sleep.

In the morning, I wake up and feel the most refreshed I’ve ever felt in the morning. Avery is still lying tight against me, exactly where she should be.

A door bangs shut, and a moment later Piper thumps down the stairs. I should talk to her.

Avery is still asleep as I slip out of bed and pull on boxers, shorts and a T-shirt. I make my way to the kitchen, where Piper is eating a bowl of cereal.

“Have a good sleep?” I ask.

“Same as always.”

Without even making a coffee, I sit at the table.

“Can I talk to you about Avery?”

Piper shrugs, and says, “Sure.”

“What do you think about me dating her?”

“It’s great. She’s so awesome, and it’s so nice to have her around to talk to.”

“So it doesn’t bother you?”

“Why would it? It’s about time you had a girlfriend, I never understood why you didn’t date.”

“I was busy with you.”

“So what? Lots of my friends have divorced parents, and they all date. I was worried no one liked you.”

“Hardly,” I laugh, “I was the one who didn’t like any of them.”

“Until Avery moved here.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m really glad she moved to town. And it wouldn’t bother me if the wiring in her house never gets fixed.” Piper takes a mouthful of cereal and chews with a big grin as my mouth hangs open at her comment.

I get up and set up the coffee maker. As I move around the kitchen, I realize how loose my shoulders feel, and how light I feel all over. With Piper’s official approval, every last thing has fit into place.

“Got a cup for me?” Avery asks as she enters the room, a big smile on her full lips.

“Morning, Avery,” Piper says.

“Good morning. Sleep well?” Avery says, and sits at the table with Piper.

While I make the coffee, the two of them talk. My back is to them, and I half listen to their conversation and half wonder how there’s always so much for them to talk about. The two of them are amazing. I’m the luckiest fucking man on the planet.

Epilogue (Avery)

One year later

“Okay everyone, I know you’ve all been waiting for this day,” I say into the webcam. “So here it is, my first video in my new bedroom. Except as you all know, it isn’t just my bedroom, it’s also The Unicorn’s bedroom.”

It isn’t really our bedroom, it’s our new fake bedroom. Since the day Nathan freaked out on my lawn, I’ve stayed in Knox’s real bedroom every night. He asked me to officially move in about four months ago.

Nathan hasn’t attempted any contact with me since, but word on the street is that he found a new girlfriend, one just as boring as him. Which is great, I’m glad they found each other. If nothing else, it keeps him out of my life.

“Over here is his closet,” I say, pointing the webcam to a fake closet with some of his old clothes hanging in it.

I moved in, of course, but I couldn’t do anything with my house, like rent it out or sell it, because of my fake bedroom. All we could do was have lots of sex in it. But it’s hardly sensible to keep paying a mortgage for that.

We couldn’t set up a fake bedroom in Knox’s house because of Piper. So, after I officially agreed to move in, Knox built an extension on his garage. It takes up more of the backyard, but I now have my fake bedroom-office in a room at the back of the garage.

A windowless room, so Piper can’t look in, but Knox put in skylights so it’s nice and bright for filming.

Piper thinks it’s a storeroom. And she thinks I’m taking a very, very long time to finish my novel.

“And over here is the bed. You can see it’s my old bed, I love the headboard far too much to leave it behind at my old place.”

Especially when he drapes me over it to lick my pussy.

It might be the same headboard, but Knox put in a really good mattress. And with him working in the next room all day, it’s going to get a lot of use. Because in the daytime, when Piper’s out, I get to yell his name as loud as I want.

I’m careful not to show them the back wall with the shelves stacked with the products I promote, or the other closet that’s jam packed with lingerie I’m sent to promote.

My embarrassing plea to Knox video went viral, and I got my target of ten million subscribers within days. I swear the whole nation saw it, but, miraculously, somehow this corner of Ohio missed it and no one in town knows what I do. Including Piper.

But as a result, I have triple the products to pimp as I did before. And my income has shot up as a result.

Darla is jealous of my new studio, especially since, and I quote “Your perfect specimen of a man built it with his own two fucking hands.”

She’s doing okay, her vlog hasn’t taken off like mine but she’s increasing her numbers daily. Along with the number of men in her life. She decided one man at a time wasn’t enough to please her in the bedroom and now exclusively engages in sex with two or more guys at a time.

Young, old, she’s not discerning, as long as there’s at least two cocks in the room. Knox and I nearly died laughing when we found out one of those men is often Marcus.

After it came out, Marcus confessed to Knox that he couldn’t get enough of her. He drives the hour to her place just for a booty call.

“Anyway, enough of the tour, I want to move on to today’s topic. It’s something you’re going to be hearing a lot about and I’m sure it’s something many of you struggle with. How to have good sex when you’re pregnant.”

“Let’s start with the early stages, as in, the stage I’m in now.” I pause to let my viewers digest the news.

It was no accident. The reason Knox officially asked me to move in, was because he decided with Piper in high school, and therefore practically all grown up, he decided he wanted another child.

Which sounded perfect to me. Playing mother to Piper flipped a maternal switch in me, and the thought of a baby in my arms was ideal. Plus I already know ahead of time what an amazing father he is. I have far too many friends whose husbands turned out to offer no support, other than playing sports with the kids and showing them age-inappropriate movies.

We made an appointment to have my IUD removed the very next day.

I carry on talking, “When your boobs are so tender and you want to smack your man if he goes anywhere near them.”

I certainly wanted to hit Knox hard last night when he put his hand anywhere near my breasts. I’d read they’d be tender at first, but holy hell, tender doesn’t begin to describe it. Of course Knox isn’t complaining, as they’ve gone up a cup size already and it’s only early days.

Piper is ecstatic to become a big sister. Now her would you rather questions are all on girl versus boy. “Would you rather have a baby who pees straight up in the air when you change him or one who takes forever to clean up after she poops?” Or “Would you rather have a baby who gets to wear cute dresses, or who you can dress up in a mini tuxedo?”

She’s already promised to do all the free babysitting we want. I wonder if she’ll start asking questions if we get her to babysit while we go into the garage for an hour or two.

High school has been great for her, since she was already so grown up going in. The transition to her new school went super smoothly, and she’s joined the debating club. She’s made lots of new friends, though she hasn’t brought any boys home yet. Knox would probably implode, but I’m here to back her up.

We haven’t heard anything more from her biological mother. Piper’s decided she doesn’t want anything to do with her, and that she doesn’t need her since she has me now.

The door opens, and Knox asks, “Ready?”

I spin the webcam around and bring Knox into the frame. “Here he is now everyone, meet The Unicorn.”

Knox scowls at the lens.

“Let’s do that again, can you smile this time?”

He flashes a big smile for me, and it lights up his whole, gorgeous face. No matter how many times I see it, it still melts my panties. My viewers are going to die when they see him. They’ll probably demand I put him in every video.

“Okay,” I say and stop recording. I’ll piece it all together in the edit.

“Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Knox holds open the door of his Thunderbird, and I climb in. He gets in the driver’s side, put the key in the ignition and turns it. But not enough to turn the engine over, just enough to turn the radio on.

“I put this radio in just for you.” He takes my phone and fiddles with the Bluetooth settings until my phone connects to the speakers.

“What happened to being true to the era?” He’s always so particular about restoring his cars.

He doesn’t say anything, but scrolls through my playlists until he find the Red Hot Chili Peppers and starts my playlist. “Take Me to the Other Side” starts playing.

“I figured this would be worth it. Because you know, this is the song where I first realized you were different.”

My brow creases but I don’t say anything. He takes my hand in his. Our eyes connect, sending a now familiar feeling of warmth through me, but also a shock of electricity that makes me shiver.

Knox lifts his hand, and brushes his calloused finger down my cheek.

“This seemed like a good idea at the time.” He takes something from his pocket and holds it in his fingers, his hand between us.

“Marry me, Avery. I picked out a vintage ring for you, but we can change it if you don’t like it.”

The ring is beautiful, with a cluster of diamonds on a white gold band. It matches the car, Knox, and I love it.

I swallow hard and tears prick the corners of my eyes. Flinging my arms around him, I whisper into his ear say, “Yes! A million times yes! And I love the ring.”

Knox pulls his lips to mine, and we sit in the front seat of his Thunderbird, necking.