Dalia had left the house before Tobi had woken up, leaving me a few minutes alone in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. I stood there, staring out the window, thinking about how difficult it was to let Dalia go. Every day it became harder.

I try not to analyze my feelings too closely too often. I always felt it did more bad than good. All that mattered was I liked being with Dalia and Tobi did too. Watching them together, and seeing how happy Tobi could be with another adult, changed my perspective. I was thinking about the future and it was becoming impossible to imagine without Dalia in it.

She’d become just as important to me as Tobi, just as integral in my life. It was all the things she did for us, the feelings I had when she was around. I was experiencing emotions that were brand new to me. It was Tobi’s excited face whenever she saw Dalia, her squeals of laughter and how she lifted her arms high for Dalia to pick her up and hold her. It was the mutual love I’d see on their faces that warmed my own heart.

I didn’t want a future without her.

Shaking my head, I took a sip of coffee. It was strong and dark, just how I liked it. I heard Tobi’s feet padding down the hall and I smiled as she ran into the kitchen, arms open for a hug. I sat my coffee down and picked her up, snuggling her.

“Daddy,” she said. I breathed deep her special baby scent and closed my eyes. I could imagine Dalia here, getting breakfast together, coming in for a group hug, packing lunch for the picnic. It was such a simple picture but it was amazing.

I wanted that.

“Let’s get ready for the day, hmm?” I asked Tobi. She nodded against my shoulder. “Pancakes or waffles?” She grinned.

“Waffles!” she squealed as she wiggled from my arms and ran towards the bench seat in the kitchen window. No matter what, our Saturday tradition continued.

* * *

Once Tobi was up and breakfast complete, our morning flew by. Later that day we found ourselves in Central Park.

The company had outdone themselves, decorating a large picnic area with balloons, checkered tablecloths, and games all over the lawn. There was badminton, croquet, and even a beanbag toss. It reminded me of a small town fair with booth games, a clown and even face painting.

I was glad I had suggested to Ted to make sure there were activities for the children. It was a nice change to see my colleagues enjoying the day with their families. Having Tobi really gave me a special perspective on life.

The area was swarming with families. I looked down at Tobi, who could barely stand still, her small hand gripped in mine. She never did have any trouble making friends. I had worried about that once. I knew what it was like being an only child, and I’d had to really try hard to move outside my comfort zone as a child and make friends.

That wasn’t Tobi’s struggle, though. She was as social as her birth mother. She naturally connected with other children and they enjoyed being around her. I was thankful for that.

“Play?” she asked, looking up at me hopefully. I smiled, nodding. I watched her run over to a group of children her own age, playing in a sandbox. With one eye on her, I scanned the crowd looking for Dalia. I hadn’t seen her yet.

“Hey Cedric,” Ted said, coming up to clasp me on the shoulder. “This was a damn good idea,” he said, looking around. I agreed. It was a great idea. Everyone was chatting, enjoying Central Park and the beautiful day. Several people had made their way over to the buffet and the aroma coming from the barbecue was amazing.

“Where’s Dalia?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound too eager.

“She should be around. I asked her to come to watch Tobi so you can mingle and have fun,” Ted said, grinning from ear to ear. I wasn’t sure what to make of Ted’s change of attitude. Lately, anytime he mentioned Dalia he was frowning and complaining. But now, he was all smiles and good cheer.

Something wasn’t right.

“You’re in a good mood,” I commented. Ted laughed.

“I’m just happy that the company is doing well. That’s all. I mean, really, look at everyone Ced,” Ted said, gesturing towards all the employees. I looked around again. And he was right. Everyone was having a great time. The weather was good, sunny but not too hot. There was a slight breeze and it smelled of summer.

It was a good day for a picnic. An even better day to celebrate the staff for all their hard work. This was going to be our best quarter yet.

“Ah, there’s Dalia. I’ll go get her so you can walk around,” Ted said, moving away from me. That’s when I saw her. She was wearing a spaghetti strap white summer dress. She looked adorable and sexy, all at the same time. When my eyes met hers, I know what she saw.

Because I saw it reflected back in hers.

I needed that woman more than I needed air.

I moved around the picnic, chatting with staff and their families, but I kept one eye on my sexy Dalia. If I could, I would have spent the entire afternoon just watching her. She drew children to her like bees to honey. They swarmed around her, laughing, giggling, bouncing around on swift little feet.

She never did seem to get tired. Hell, I was getting exhausted just watching her.

Before I realized it, an hour had passed and I’d seen Tobi sitting at a booth, getting her face painted. It was a rarity to see my daughter sit still. But if Tobi was occupied, it meant Dalia was alone, I thought. I searched out Dalia immediately.

Our eyes met across the lawn and I jerked my head, gesturing for her to follow me. As I moved away from the picnic, I looked back, pleased to see her a few yards behind me. I walked down a short path that wasn’t normally very busy.

I found a quiet spot by one of the waterfalls, an area hidden from view by dense foliage. The manmade area was done well, with polished stone and rock. I liked the sound of the water rushing against the rocks and gravel, and it smelled of earth and growing things, especially in the shade. When Dalia found me, I grabbed her in my arms and kissed her. It’d been an urge I’d been holding back since I saw her walk into the park. I hated that I couldn’t do that earlier, that I had to hide from everyone what I truly felt.

I hated that I couldn’t claim her as my own. It was tearing me up inside.

She responded instantly, her body melting against mine. This morning she’d left me still wanting her warm body, and right here, right now, I was taking what belonged to me. I sat down on a low rock wall and pulled Dalia toward me, pushing her legs wide so she straddled me.

“I can’t wait anymore,” I said against her lips. Dalia’s eyes were wide as she quickly scanned the area. Above our secret alcove was a footpath, and although we were hidden, we could see feet walking above us and hear occasional voices over the sound of rushing water. “Here,” she asked, tentatively, but I could see her pupils were dilated with desire. “I can’t wait. Now. Here,” I said. She nodded, resting her hands on my shoulders.

“I don’t want you to wait,” she whispered back. I reached between her legs and almost lost myself then and there, she was so wet already. Always ready for me.

Hungry for me.

“Open your legs,” I demanded. She moaned as she did what I asked. “How long have you been wet for me? Could you feel my eyes on you at the picnic?” I moved her panties to the side, and my fingers slid through her wet heat, teasing her, coming close to her clit but not touching her, not yet. I slid two fingers inside her. “Do you know how hard I’ve been, watching you, waiting for the moment I could get you alone?” She was wriggling in my lap and started to moan softly as I made slow circles around her hardening clit with my thumb. The sound of a dog barking came from the path above and Dalia quickly glanced up. “Nobody can see us,” I said, as I continued to tease her, dipping my finger into her dripping pussy and then returning to her clit. “I could do this for hours, Dalia.” And I could. Watching her like that, eyes closed and her lips parted, her cheeks flushed and her breath coming faster now, it was pure ecstasy. I didn’t know what I preferred: watching her come or feeling her come while I was deep inside her.

Her brow knitted in concentration and she panted in my ear, “Fuck me now, Cedric. I need to come before we’re interrupted.” It was all the invitation I needed.

I unzipped my pants quickly and sighed with relief when my erection sprung free. I grabbed her legs and pulled them up over my forearms, anchoring her to me. Staring straight into her eyes I thrust forward, seating myself deep inside her without hesitation.

I swallowed her scream with my mouth, my own body shuddering at the pleasure.

I held her in such a way that I was in total control. And I reveled in it. We didn’t have any time to waste, and it was fast and brutal, mind-blowing. I thrust into her, my hips jerking quickly. The position made it impossible to pull all the way out, and I was too eager to be deep inside her. She moaned with each push and pull, and I knew that it wouldn’t take either of us very long.

It was hot and slick, forbidden. I loved every fucking minute of it.

I leaned over her, my own legs widening, holding her arching back firmly. The change of angle allowed me to thrust deeper, and before long, I felt her slick heat convulsing around my cock. Her eyes closed and her mouth opened in a silent scream as she came apart in my arms.

Her orgasm triggered my own and I lurched forward, grunting and emptying myself inside her wet pussy. I kept her in that position for a few more moments, glorying in the feel of her around me. I never wanted the moment to end.

I pulled her up into my arms, still deep inside her, and kissed her deeply. I was still hard. Would I ever be soft around her, I thought? Her hips moved above me and I squeezed her to keep still.

“You’re like a fever,” I moaned, closing my eyes and kissing her again. I felt her hands cup my cheeks and when I opened my eyes, she was looking at me so intently that my heart skipped a beat.

Dalia opened her mouth to speak but I heard someone behind me and I shushed her with a swift kiss. Soon, several footsteps sounded and I lifted her off me, my eyes almost crossing at that single act. Her tight pussy was hard for me to leave, but I didn’t want anyone to catch us.

Especially not Ted.

I quickly pulled up and zippered my pants, making sure she looked presentable and took her hand.

“We should get back,” I said, pulling her behind me. As we stepped out of our secret hiding spot, I saw Tobi running up the path to us. She was sporting a new outfit, a green tutu over her jean shorts and fairy wings fluttering behind her. Her face was radiating pure happiness and in that moment, I felt bliss.

But, she wasn’t alone.Ted was right behind her.

“Hi daddy! Hi Dalia!” Tobi squealed, happiness bubbling off of her. “Look at my face,” she said, pointing to the heart painted on her cheek. She was brimming with so much cheerfulness and it warmed my heart.

“It means love,” she said. “Just like you two.” Tobi beamed and I felt Dalia stiffen next to me.

“What the hell is she talking about?” Ted said, coming up behind Tobi. Tobi looked back at Ted and scrunched her shoulders.

“Daddy and Dalia kiss. That means they are in love,” Dalia sang, hopping from foot to foot. She giggled, running to Dalia’s side and hugging her leg. “I think Dalia is pretty,” Tobi said with a smile.

We all stood there in awkward silence. It was as if the ground had opened up and swallowed me whole. I couldn’t believe this was happening, especially not now. This wasn’t how I wanted Ted to find out. And shit, I had no idea Tobi had been so observant. I should have known better.

“Ted, let me explain,” I began, seeing Ted’s face reddening. I knew that look. I’d seen him fired up on more than one occasion. And I didn’t blame him. We’d been keeping our relationship a secret behind his back, while he’d been confiding in me his worries about his daughter.

I felt like the lowest kind of asshole in that moment.

“I wanted to tell you,” Dalia said, breaking into the conversation. She reached down, picking Tobi up and perching her on her hip.

“You should have told me,” Ted said to us both, but I knew he was mostly speaking to me. I could see it in his eyes. He felt betrayed.

Fuck, he was right. I had betrayed him. His friendship and his trust.

“We weren’t sure how to tell you,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Shit, Cedric, that’s my daughter,” Ted fumed. I narrowed my eyes, anger rising in my own chest. It was possessive. Dalia was mine now, I thought. I felt the heat travel up the back of my neck.

“She’s not a child, Ted,” I said tiredly. I could feel the annoyance in my words but I couldn’t stop. “You need to listen to her, she’s a grown woman,” I half growled. Ted opened his mouth in a semi gape, his eyes widening. And in that moment, I realized that Ted had done me one of the biggest favors of my life. He had opened my eyes to a life I never thought possible. He’d given me Dalia, a woman that I was sure I was falling in love with. He had given me the assurance that I could, and would, be a good parent to Tobi.

That just because Tobi wasn’t with me all the time didn’t mean she wouldn’t grow up to be a good kid. Being apart from Tobi was harder for me than it was for her, but it was good for her, and necessary.

Ted, in his overbearing protective and pushy way, had shown me a lot in the past few months. He showed me what I didn’t want to be when Tobi was an adult, and it gave me hope that I would be more understanding when that time came. So I said as much, right to his face.

“Thank you, Ted,” I finished. I watched in amazement as Ted deflated right in front of me. My heart went out to him. I could only imagine what he was feeling. Again, I couldn’t help but compare his relationship with Dalia to mine and Tobi’s in the future.

It was eye opening.

“Excuse me,” Ted said stiffly, turning from us and walking away. I felt Dalia jolt forward as if to stop him, but she didn’t. When I looked at her, her face was crestfallen.

“What are we going to do?” she asked me. And I didn’t know what to tell her. All I knew was that I wanted her with me and Tobi, always.

“Let’s go home,” I said.

“I’m sorry daddy,” Tobi whispered, putting her head on Dalia’s shoulder. Dalia crooned to Tobi, shaking her head. Before I could answer, Dalia did.

“Don’t be silly. You don’t have anything to apologize for,” Dalia said back to Tobi. I watched as she kissed my daughter’s forehead and my heart squeezed in my chest. I saw love in Dalia’s face.

Love for Tobi. It left me feeling shaken.

We returned to the picnic but Ted was long gone. Tobi was getting sleepy, so it was easy to say our goodbyes and leave without arousing suspicion. I was sure the festivities would continue on without us.

Dalia was quiet next to me as we walked home. Tobi was drowsing in her stroller, so it was natural that we didn’t speak at all, allowing her to drift off for her nap. I was also glad to give Dalia time to think. By the time we got home, Tobi was sound asleep, and I was happy to have the opportunity to speak to Dalia privately. We had a lot to discuss.

“Let’s go inside. I’ll put Tobi in her bed and we can talk,” I said to her. She nodded, following me into the house. I left Dalia in the living room and made my way upstairs to Tobi’s room. I laid her down in her bed and kissed her forehead, throwing a light blanket over her.

“Sleep tight, honey,” I whispered, running my hand across her baby soft hair.

I closed the door behind me as I left.

“I feel terrible,” Dalia said as I walked into the living room. I sighed, coming forward and rubbing my hands along her arms.

“It’ll be okay.” At least, I hoped it would. My own thoughts were a jumble but it was important to me that Dalia knew that I was here for her. Whatever it took, I would be here for her.

“He was pretty angry,” she said, looking up at me with sad eyes. My heart melted. I didn’t like seeing her this way. Cupping her cheek, I bent down and kissed her lips softly.

“We’ll get past this,” I said against her lips.

We had to.