Nick woke to the smell of coffee. It took him a few minutes to remember where he was. He reached out to find Cali’s side of the bed empty but discovered the steaming cup of coffee on the bed stand. He could hear the shower running in the connected bathroom.

He’d spent the night making love to Cali in Kevin Bennett’s bed. He’d awakened at two in the morning, knowing he should get up to slink home before she woke up. Instead, he had watched her sleeping peacefully in his arms, remembering how fragile she had looked as she’d begged him to stay. At the time, he had worried he was staying for all the wrong reasons. He didn’t want to use Calista to get even with Kevin. She didn’t deserve that.

Now, in the light of day, he knew he was in much greater danger of losing himself to her. He’d like to think this was the beginning of something special, but he feared the ugliness that had brought them together would always be wedged between them. Things were moving too fast, and he didn’t know how to slow them down without hurting her.

The shower turning off moved him into motion. He got up and scrambled to find his wrinkled clothes on the floor, rushing to throw them back on. He was sitting on the side of the bed, sipping his coffee when she emerged from the bathroom dressed in a casual yoga outfit, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. Calista was a natural beauty. Even with no makeup on, she was breathtaking.

“Good morning, sunshine.” He tried to keep his voice lighter than he felt.

“Good morning, Nick. I hope I doctored your coffee the way you like it.”

“It’s perfect, thanks.”

An awkward silence fell. Cali broke the quiet with a request.

“I was hoping you could drop me off at my car as you’re leaving. I have an appointment with my real estate agent in a couple hours, then need to run a few errands.”

Nick picked up on her reluctance to look him in the eye and suspected she was feeling embarrassed by her behavior the night before. He pushed to his feet and took her in his arms. She felt stiff until he stroked her back, letting his hand fall to cup her ass through the thin pants. He liked the feel of her relaxing against him. He pulled back enough so he could look into her eyes.

“How are you doing this morning? Are you feeling okay?”

She hesitated. “I’m fine, I guess. I slept better than I have since... well... you know. Thanks for staying. I’m just hoping you don’t think badly of me because...”

“Shhhh.” Nick cut her off with two fingers to her lips. “Don’t go there. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Cali. We’re both consenting adults. I care about you.”

“Oh thank goodness. I was worried I’d screwed up any chance of being able to help you with Andi. I hate being alone so much, and I really am looking forward to being able to spend time with you and your daughter. It’s going to help me too.”

Nick had forgotten all about that. His face must have projected his concern because Cali’s face paled.

“You’ve changed your mind, haven’t you?”

“No. I haven’t. It’s just... well shit. I don’t want Andi to get hurt. She’s already lost her mom. If I introduce her to you and she likes you, then...” He stopped, unsure how to finish the sentence without hurting Calista.

“...And then you end up regretting last night, and you’ll want to avoid seeing me again.”

“I’m not going to regret last night. Ever. But I do worry we’re moving too fast, and we’re each too emotional to be making smart decisions about new relationships. I’ll never forgive myself if I end up hurting you like Kevin did.”

Cali wouldn’t look him in the eyes, and he suspected it was because she agreed with him. He pulled her close, cupping her face to force her to look into his eyes.

“Let’s just take this one day at a time. Can we do that?”

She smiled a weak smile. “I guess so.”

“Great. Now, I’m happy to take you to your car. I need to swing by and pick up Andi at her friend Katie’s house, then get her to gymnastics. I know you have errands today, but would you be free to come by for dinner tonight at the house? If you’re serious about babysitting with Andi, you two should meet. I’d like her to get comfortable with you before I leave town.” If he’d doubted she was serious about helping him, his doubts were gone when her face lit up.

“I’d love that so much.”

Cali’s GPS directed her through the winding upscale subdivision lined with million-dollar homes. She was running a few minutes late for dinner with Nick and Andrea. She would have been nervous enough going to their home and meeting Nick’s daughter for the first time, but spending the night before with Nick had complicated things. She was grateful he had seemed as if all was okay this morning as he’d driven her back to her car behind the Irish pub, yet she couldn’t shake the fear of him having second thoughts about what they’d done as they were apart today.

She pulled into the wide driveway of the two-story brick colonial style home. It was dusk and hard to see the house number, but the front porch lights illuminated as she turned off the engine to let her know Nick was waiting for her.

Nick. Her heart did a little flip-flop as she remembered the intense look in his eyes as he’d made love to her in the middle of the night. Her memories of their passion-filled night felt surreal as if they were just a dream.

He opened the door as she walked up the sidewalk. She’d been trying to tell herself all day they’d just comforted each other the night before, but seeing him in his casual jeans and a golf shirt waiting for her with a smile had her panties getting damp in a very uncomfortable way.

“Hey, there.” He leaned in for a quick kiss. “I was worried you were having trouble finding us.”

“No. I just left a few minutes later than I should have. My trusty GPS got me here just fine.”

Once inside, he took her jacket to the coat closet before returning to take her by the hand.

“Ready to meet Andi?”

“You bet. Does she know why I’m here?”

“Yes. We’ve talked about it, and she was happy you weren’t like the other nannies she didn’t like at all.”

“But... does she know who I am?”

He stopped in his tracks, turning toward her.

“No. In fact, she doesn’t know her mom was in the car with anyone when she died. She just thinks Roni was driving.”

“Okay, well I didn’t plan on talking about it, anyway, but I want to be sure to back up whatever you’ve told her.”

They went through a formal living room and an even more formal dining room before arriving at a large kitchen that opened to a comfortable family room. An oversized TV could be seen throughout the whole space. A young girl with long black hair sat in front of the TV currently playing a Disney movie.

“Andi, I’ve told you not to sit so close. You’re gonna hurt your eyes. Come meet our guest, please.”

Andrea listened to her father without complaint although she approached Cali with apprehension. As she got closer, Cali’s heart contracted. She looked so much like her dad it was uncanny. It was easy to see she took after her father more than her mother which might explain why Roni hadn’t bonded with her daughter as much as Nick had. Andrea’s black hair and dark eyes were that of a Greek Mikos. She went to her dad, and he tucked her under his arm for a hug as he introduced them.

“Cali, I’d like you to meet my Andrea. Andi, this is a friend of mine, Cali Bennett. She’s a schoolteacher and loves kids. She’s agreed to help us out this week when I have to head up to New York for work. Say hello.”

“Hello, Mrs. Bennett.” The title kicked Cali in the gut. She hadn’t been expecting it. Andi made it worse by continuing. “Are you related to the Bennett’s my dad works for?”

Cali panicked, unsure how to answer. Nick came to her rescue.

“Yes, she’s related to them, that’s how I met her.”

“Cool. Do you have any kids, Mrs. Bennett?”

“Cali. Please, just call me Cali and no, I’m afraid I don’t have any kids of my own yet. Maybe one day.”

“Do you like Elsa and Anna?”

Nick looked like he was about to apologize, but Cali cut him off.

“Of course. I love Frozen. I went to see it in the theater when it came out and even have a copy of my own at my house.”

“You do? Really?”

“Really. I have a whole collection of Disney movies. They are some of my favorites.”

“Do you have The Little Mermaid, too? That’s my other favorite.”

“Are you kidding me? That was my favorite when I was your age. No Disney collection is complete without The Little Mermaid.”

“Wow. Can I see if you have some movies I might be missing?”

“Sure. Maybe we can watch some new movies you’ve never seen while your dad is out of town.”

“Yippy! Can we Dad? Can I stay up watching movies on a school night?”

Cali grinned as she turned to Nick. “Yeah, Nick. Can we stay up watching movies on a school night?”

Nick chuckled. “Wow, you’ve been here three minutes, and I’m already getting ganged up on by you two. The normal rules apply. You get your homework done in time, then sure. You can watch movies until bedtime. Now, I think we’d better eat dinner before the lasagna burns. Andi, set the table please.”

“Okay, Dad.”

She skipped off to the kitchen leaving Cali and Nick. He whispered to her, “That went well.”

“How could it not? She’s perfect, Nick. You must be so proud.”

“Wait until you see her in the morning trying to get her out the door to catch the school bus, and we’ll see what you say then. That’s the one thing she got from Roni. They are both the antithesis of morning people.”

“Well, if I don’t have my coffee, I’m the same so watch out.”

“I don’t know.” He kept his voice down to make sure Andi couldn’t hear him. “You didn’t scare me this morning.”

“I was on my best behavior.”

Dinner was a fun affair with Nick quizzing Andi and Cali on their Disney trivia. Cali was impressed with how bright and happy Andrea was, considering she had just lost her mom a few months before. It was a blessing she was taking her loss in stride.

Andi’s inquiry brought her back to the conversation at hand.

“Do you have Hercules in your collection, Cali?”

“Of course. It was always one of my favorites too since my parents are from Greece.”

“Wow! My family is from Greece, too. Dad says we’re going to go there on vacation one day. Since your family is from there too, maybe you can come with us!”

Cali’s stomach churned with a sudden flood of memories that inevitably snuck up on her when she least expected it.

Nick noticed. “Hey, you okay?”

Calista forced a calming breath. Andi couldn’t have known that she had accidentally opened a hornet’s nest of unpleasant memories.

“I’m fine. I was just... I’ve been to Greece many times. We used to go when I was a kid to visit my grandparents.” Andi had no clue Calista wanted to change the subject.

“That’s so exciting. I checked out a library book about Greece. Dad said I needed to study up on it before I go there so I can be his tour guide. Maybe you can be our tour guide.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Cali stammered. “I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful tour guide.”

Andrea let the subject drop and launched herself into her dad’s lap for tickles. While father and daughter bonded, Cali fought back tears. She wanted to cry that she was alone—she didn’t have Kevin’s child to help her stave off her loneliness now that he was gone. She wanted to cry at the drudged up painful memories of her last visit to her grandparents and how that trip had changed her life forever. She wanted to cry because, for the first time since she arrived, she felt like an outsider—like she was intruding on their private family moment.

Nick sensed she was turning melancholy and lifted Andi to her own feet.

“Okay, let’s clear the table, then you can finish watching your show before you need to go up and take a shower.”

“But Dad, it’s Saturday night. It’s early!”

“I didn’t say you had to go to bed yet.”

“Can we play Wii?”

Nick glanced at Cali. “You mind?”

“Not at all. In fact, I’d love to learn.”`

The next two hours flew by. Andi dragged Cali up to give her the grand tour of her bedroom and bathroom. After her shower, Cali helped Andi comb out her long, tangled hair, giving her tips on how to keep the tangles down since she had similar hair. They ended the night playing several games on the Wii. Cali may have lost every game, but she couldn’t remember having as much fun as she had tonight. She was almost as disappointed as Andi when Nick announced it was Andrea’s bedtime.

“But Dad, can’t I stay up later tonight? I want to teach Cali how to golf on the Wii.”

“I’m sure Cali can wait until next week to learn how to golf on the Wii. You need to get to bed so we can get you up and out to Sunday School in the morning.”

Cali was unprepared for Andrea to throw herself into her lap. The goodnight hug the young girl gave her warmed her heart more than she thought possible. Her eyes locked with Nick’s behind Andi’s back. The smile that lit up his face was anything but parental, reminding her they would be alone again once his daughter was asleep.

Nick was gone for fifteen minutes putting Andi to bed. Cali used the time to try to sort through her complicated emotions. Spending time with Nick and his daughter had made her own loneliness worse. She knew it was petty and she hated herself when she felt real jealousy Nick had Andi to help ease the pain from the loss of his wife.

“She’s finally down. She was talking a mile a minute about all the things she wants to do with you when I’m out of town. I sure hope you haven’t changed your mind.” Nick had gone to the kitchen island and was opening a new bottle of wine.

“Of course I haven’t changed my mind,” Cali called over to him from the living room couch. “She’s adorable. It’ll be nice to have something new to do this week to break the monotony.”

An awkward silence descended while Nick poured two glasses of wine before heading over to sit near Calista. He handed her a glass before sitting a few feet away, angling his body toward her so he could watch her as they spoke. She felt self-conscious as they sat silently sipping their wine. They hadn’t talked about the night before yet. Not really. She struggled to start the conversation.

“She’s really great, Nick. You’re so lucky to have her.” Okay, so maybe those weren’t the right words because she found herself tearing up with unnamed emotion.

“I know. It’s a miracle.”

“Why do you say that?”

It was Nick’s turn to look uncomfortable. He chugged down half of his wine before he continued.

“Remember, I wasn’t married to Roni when she got pregnant. In fact, we had broken up for several months. I only found out about Andrea when Veronica showed up on my doorstep with a baby in tow. To say I was surprised is an understatement.”

“But you decided to marry her, anyway?”

“Yeah. It seemed like the right thing to do for everyone involved. I figured we’d settle down. Maybe have a few more kids. Live the dream, you know?”

Cali wasn’t sure how to respond. “Some dream. Andi is eight now, right? You decided not to have any more kids after all?”

“I didn’t decide that, but Roni apparently did. I thought we were trying. She even had me convinced it was my fault it wasn’t working.”

“If you read my texts, you know we were trying and couldn’t get pregnant either. Seems our spouses had that in common, too.”

“I am sorry, Cali. I do feel bad I read those texts from Kevin.” He finished off his wine before continuing. “If it makes you feel better, I think Roni got the last laugh on this one. Last week her OBGYN office called to find out why she had missed her regularly scheduled Depo-Provera shot.”

“But... isn’t that?”

“Yep. The bitch actually made me feel guilty I couldn’t get her pregnant again. I hung up the phone that day a changed man. That’s the day I knew my mourning for her was over. It was the day I knew Andi and I were gonna be better off without her.” The vehemence as he spoke the bitter words shocked Cali. He had been looking away but turned his eyes to bore into her as he continued with passion. “You may not believe it yet, Cali, but you’re gonna be better off without Kevin too. He was a prick. He didn’t deserve you.”

Her breath caught in her chest as she whispered, “Is that why you came to see me yesterday?”

His dark eyes were devouring her as he reached out to hold her hand resting on the couch between them.

“It was part of it, yes. I mean, yes, I do need your help this week but...” Nick set his empty wine glass on the coffee table before shifting closer to Cali. She was unprepared for him to reach up and cup her face gently, holding her face in a way that made it impossible for her to look away. “But mainly, it was because I find myself thinking of you at the strangest times. While I’m in meetings or at the gym. I ran through a stop sign the other day because I was daydreaming about you. I must have picked up the phone ten times to call you before I finally did.”

“Me? Why? You don’t owe me anything, Nick.”

“Dammit, Cali, this isn’t about owing you.”

“What is it about then?”

“Damned if I know. All I know is I feel close to you. Even before last night.”

“Nick, that’s natural. We’ve both gone through the same hell. We’re the only ones who really understand what the other is going through.”

“It’s more than that, baby. Didn’t you feel it tonight?”

“I felt a lot of things tonight.” Cali’s heart contracted with his endearment. “I’m more confused than ever.”

Cali went without protest as Nick pulled her into his arms to sit on his lap. She felt the steady rhythm of his beating heart as she snuggled against his chest. She was relieved he didn’t push for more answers. They sat silently, holding each other, each lost in thought, Nick’s gentle caresses on her lower back relaxing her. For the first time in a very long time, Cali felt at peace.

It wasn’t until she detected Nick’s erection growing under her bottom that her thoughts returned to their passionate night before. Nick’s seduction was subtle as he nuzzled her hair, sucking her earlobe into his mouth before he trailed sweet kisses down her neck. Her heart rate spiked as she recognized her core clenching with need.

When she lifted her face, Nick captured her lips in a hard kiss as his other hand grasped a nipple through her clothes, pinching hard enough to draw a whimper from deep within. The room felt too warm as their body temperatures rose with building sexual tension.

Relief coursed through Cali as she felt Nick’s hands exploring her body, igniting the same passionate feelings they had felt the night before. She’d worried he would think ill of her for her aggressive pursuit of him twenty-four hours earlier. Tonight, he was the aggressor as his hand groped between her legs, stroking her labia through her jeans.

He stood with her still cradled in his arms. Throwing her arms around his collar, she burrowed into his neck as he carried her silently through the darkened house. He passed the stairs to the second floor, electing to go down a hall instead.

Nick struggled to open a six-panel wood door. Once inside the dimly lit room, she recognized they were in his home office. He stopped to lock the door before carrying her to the large wooden desk with neatly piled stacks of files. They didn’t speak as he set Cali down on the edge of the desk before reaching to swipe the paperwork aside, causing several piles to flutter to the floor.

He was moving faster as if his control was slipping. Their brown eyes locked as Nick grabbed the hem of her blouse, pulling it over her head and tossing it aside. He lunged forward to cup her breasts through her bra, stooping to kiss the rounded curves protruding above the lacy trim. When he yanked the fabric below the swell of her globes, he bared her nipples, and they were pushed up at attention. Cali held him to her tightly, enjoying the feel of his tongue sucking her greedily.

When Cali reached to pull his tucked shirt out of the waist of his jeans, he released her nip long enough to allow the shirt to be pulled over his head. His lips were back on her hardened tips as he unhooked her bra and threw it to the floor.

She spread her legs wide, so he could nuzzle close. He yanked her ass to the edge of the desk before pressing her body to lay back. The desk was just wide enough for her torso and head to fit. Nick’s hands moved to her zipper, divesting Cali of her jeans and panties within seconds, leaving her sprawled naked across the top.

Cali lifted her heels to the edge to the desk, bending her knees, the position leaving her splayed open for her lover to claim her sex with his mouth. When she reached down to fist his hair, Nick glanced up into her eyes with a devastatingly sexy grin. The desire she saw mirrored back at her had her pussy clenching to be filled.

“Stretch your arms out, hold on to the edges of the desk, and don’t let go.” Nick’s voice was gruff as he took charge of the scene.

Cali did as he asked, feeling the familiar tug of submission. She had learned firsthand how thin the line was between dominance and abuse in a relationship. Her husband had crossed the line more times than she could count. As odd as it was, she trusted Nick in a way she had never trusted Kevin. She opened herself, yielding every intimate part over to the man who was eating her out with gusto.

He pulled her lower lips apart, baring her wet core for his inspection just before he nudged her clit with the tip of his tongue. She bucked her ass off the desk to thrust up against his warm mouth. He answered by plunging two fingers deep into her tight channel, curling them just enough to find her g-spot, tipping her into her first orgasm of the night within seconds.

Cali was still in a haze when she felt his tongue move lower to rim the tight ring of her anus. She had never been on the receiving end of this intimate act. She wanted to feel embarrassed, but it felt too damn good. He slid his hands lower to spread her ass cheeks wide, allowing his tongue to venture into her tightest hole. The sexual act was raw... intimate... naughty. It made it that much more exciting.

She had closed her eyes to enjoy the new sensations, so she was unprepared for a thick digit, coated with her own juices, sliding effortlessly into her tightest hole. Cali squealed with delight as the pleasurable fullness surprised her. Kevin had used her ass for his rough sport many times. He had even been able to wring orgasms out of her by applying pressure to her clit as he sodomized his wife. Never had he made her feel like she felt at this moment—she almost panicked. Nick chose that moment to peer up at her, his mouth still on her pussy, his fingers shoved in her tight hole—his eyes pierced her heart. The raw heat she saw there melted her to a pool of sexual need. She heard herself pleading for more.

“Nick, please...”

He answered by adding a second finger to her ass. It still didn’t hurt, but she was acutely aware of her body stretching to accommodate the new intrusion. Her lover’s domination of her body continued until Cali shattered into pieces across the desk. As she lay boneless in her recovery, she sensed Nick moving away from her and heard the rustling of his remaining clothes falling to the floor. The room fell silent, so when she felt him behind the desk near her head, she opened her eyes to look up at a hard erection jutting inches above her with Nick’s grinning face just beyond.

He spoke for the first time in several long minutes. “I’m going to fuck your mouth now, baby.” It wasn’t a question, it was a command, and it shocked her and thrilled her in equal measure. She remained still, allowing him to manhandle her body closer to the other side of the desk, pulling her toward him until her head was no longer supported by the hardwood. He helped her head fall back, presenting her mouth for his consumption.

The idea of him using her mouth to pleasure himself excited Cali. As he moved his body closer, she got her first close-up view of his heavy sac hanging below his thick rod. Nick had to bend his knees to put the tip of his erection against her lips. She opened reflexively, welcoming his cock as he slowly slid inside her, and his hands reached forward to squeeze her breasts.

He allowed her several shallow insertions to get used to his thickness. Each stroke went a bit deeper until she finally felt him nudging the back of her throat. Her body revolted with a gag that had phlegm flooding her mouth and coating Nick’s cock.

He set a steady pace that kept the back of her head pinned against the hardness of the desk. She surrendered to his facial fucking, trusting him implicitly to pull out to allow her deep breaths of precious air. Each break for air had new strings of phlegm spilling from her mouth. She wanted to be embarrassed at the mess they were making, but the pleasurable groans he was emitting told her he was enjoying their session just as it was.

Cali was prepared to drink his cum, but Nick had other ideas. Her throat felt raw from his rough use by the time he stepped away from her to move to the other side of the desk again. He pulled her body back, so her head was resting on the desk before grabbing a condom packet on the desk she had failed to notice before now. The protection slid on easily. He pulled her ass off the desk, pushing her bent legs far apart and back toward her chest, opening her core to him completely.

Their eyes met before he claimed her. There was so much emotion there, she couldn’t interpret it.

“Are you doing okay, baby?” His question surprised her. “Still with me?”

“Better than okay. Take me... please. I need you inside me, Nick.” Her voice rasped from his use of her throat.

Her words pleased him, and his eyes consumed her as he warned, “Don’t let go, Cali.”

It was hard to hold her position when Nick’s carnality had him surging forward in one swift stroke. She fought to keep her wide hold on to the edges of the desk as he plummeted her tightness. She was so wet, their coupling made slurping noises in the otherwise quiet room. Only Nick’s occasional grunts of exertion from his fast fucking joined the soundtrack.

“Come with me, Cali. I want to watch you fly, baby.”

Always a good girl, she did as he demanded. She arched her back as they both cried out their climax. Several minutes went by as Nick slumped over Cali’s body, still connected in the most intimate of ways. He captured her lips in a tender kiss just as she felt his softening cock slip from her body. She finally released the edges of the desk to hug him tightly.

Nick broke the silence with a quiet, “Wow.”

Cali couldn’t help but giggle. “Double wow.”

As intense as their lovemaking had been, Nick pulled her up before lifting her into his arms to carry her the few feet to the comfortable chair near the door. They snuggled quietly, each lost in thought. Cali’s last thought before she drifted off to sleep was how grateful she was to Kevin for cheating on her with Veronica, or she would have never met the amazing man holding her tightly in his arms.