Chapter Victory!
Daphne was in a meeting with her staff when the door opened. She looked over to see James walking up to her.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” James said to everyone before his eyes stuck to Daphne.
He walked closer and her heartbeat sped up.
“The settlement went through,” James said.
“O-okay,” Daphne said.
Her staff looked from James to Daphne. Reggie had a shocked look on his face that quickly turned into a knowing and playful smile.
“Miss Thomas, I was wondering, now that this case is over, if you might be able to give me the honor of letting me take you out on a date.” James smiled.
“S-sure. When?” Daphne asked.
“Now.” James grinned, reached out and, grabbing her hand, dragged her away.
“Reggie, take over the meeting!” Daphne said.
“You have fun, girl. See you tomorrow.” Reggie waggled his fingers in a wave as the rest of the staff looked to one another and then Daphne and James. Daphne hadn’t reached the elevator lobby when they were already talking to one another.
“So, where are we going?” Daphne asked, a big smile on her face.
“Mmm, I was thinking a rooftop bar so I can tell the entire world that I’m dating the most beautiful and smartest lawyer in Toronto.” James winked.
Daphne pushed her tongue against the side of her mouth and poked his side.
James flinched and laughed. “But seriously, I want to flaunt you off to everyone—let them know that we’re together,” James said.
“Good,” Daphne said, flattered by his forwardness. “So what are we then?”
“Hmm, I’d say we’re at least at the boyfriend and girlfriend stage,” James said as they stepped into the elevator.
She squeezed his hand. Hearing him call her his girlfriend and knowing she could call him her boyfriend gave rise to an immense joy that made it feel as though she were floating. “I’d agree.”
The two of them kissed, wearing big smiles as the elevator came to a stop and they headed out of the office.
“To the rooftop bar we go,” Daphne said, taking in the beautiful day and the man beside her.
***
James looked at the time. It was getting late and he needed to go and pick up Julia from school. He’d only been able to sip on his beer as he unwound with Daphne, pleased that they didn’t have to hide anymore.
“I have to go and pick Julia up,” James said.
Daphne seemed to think for a minute. “Well, if we swung around my place, I could grab some clothes and stay over at yours this weekend,” Daphne said. It was a Friday.
“You sure?” James asked, checking to make sure that she was really okay with it.
“A full weekend with you two—I think I’d survive.” Daphne leaned forward.
James kissed her, pulling back to see the heat in her eyes. “Someone horny?” he asked in a low voice so no one could hear.
“Maybe, but that’s for later.” Daphne stood and grabbed her purse as she headed for the bar and paid up their tab.
James followed her up to the bar and out, getting her into his car. They headed to her place; she packed quickly and they were off to Julia’s school.
Daphne and James got out of the car and walked over to where the other parents were waiting for their kids. Daphne looked nervous but James grabbed her hand and brought her over.
A few of the parents stared and talked to one another.
James didn’t mind as the bells for the school rang out.
Kids piled out of the school in droves, heading for the buses or the waiting parents.
Julia, seeing James and Daphne, let out a cheer as she ran up to Daphne and grabbed her hand.
“Heya, tyke! Have a good day at school?” Daphne asked, taken with Julia as they headed for the car.
“We had gym! I got three people out in dodgeball!” Julia said proudly.
“You did! High five!” James could only smile wryly as his hand was forgotten and Daphne smacked hands with Julia.
“Are you staying the weekend?” Julia asked.
“That’s the plan,” Daphne said.
Julia had a wide smile as they got to the car and she jumped in the back.
Daphne and James got into the front of the car and headed home.
“I have five new sketches! Can you do my hair? You do it much better than Daddy,” Julia said in a rush, making Daphne laugh. The two of them had become close over the last couple of months.
“Traitor,” James said, looking at the two of them.
They both smiled, neither agreeing nor denying.
He could only laugh as the two of them went back to talking and they arrived at home.
Julia tossed off her coat and her bag, kicking her shoes off in excitement.
“Julia,” Daphne said in a low voice.
Julia paused just as she was about to run off and cleaned up her belongings.
“Better. Now, where are these sketches!” Daphne said excitedly.
“In my room!” Julia rushed off with her backpack. Daphne followed behind her.
James watched her going up the stairs. She’d made his house her home, ruling over it. It was comforting.
She seemed to sense his eyes on her. She turned around, kissing her hand and blowing him a kiss.
“Go have fun. I’ll make dinner,” James said.
“You do have your uses,” Daphne said.
“Sorry, Miss Order-in Extraordinaire?” James held his chin in thought.
She tried to pout, but it only seemed to make her cuter in James’s eyes.
He couldn’t help but laugh as she couldn’t hold the expression anymore. Her pout fell apart as she quickly ran up to Julia’s room lest James see her smile.
***
Dinner went well. Julia told them all about her day at school, what the kids were doing, and her plans for the weekend. Daphne was all caught up on the entire week.
Julia then went off to play with her toys as James and Daphne sat and talked on the couch.
James got up with a groan, picking up Daphne’s legs that had been resting on him. “Julia’s bedtime,” he said by explanation.
“I’ll help you. I don’t think I’m long for sleep.” As Daphne spoke, she yawned, having to blink away her watery eyes.
“Okay, I think she’d like that,” James said.
They got Julia ready for bed, pajamas on and teeth brushed.
She was more tired than it looked as she was already starting to fall asleep as they turned off the lights and headed toward James’s room.
James brushed his teeth while Daphne washed the day away.
She got dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.
“Is that my t-shirt?” James asked, already in bed before her.
“Maybe.” Daphne quickly got into bed and snuggled up to him, a pleased smile on her face as if she were some kind of cat. “I like your smell. I’ll need another one.”
“Doesn’t sound like a request,” James teased.
“It wasn’t, and I don’t like sleeping without you around.” Daphne’s voice lowered as she revealed an embarrassing secret.
James turned on his side, looking down at her wide eyes as she wore one of his old t-shirts. He pushed the hair away from her face and kissed her.
It started off slow and simple, but it turned heated. Slowly, James’s hand moved lower, tracing over the shirt and finding her nipple under the shirt. He traced a finger down between her breasts, down her navel, past her belly button, stopping just as he reached the top of her shorts, gently dancing over her lower stomach.
Daphne shifted and opened her legs, giving him greater access. Her hand pressed against his chest and traced down to his boxers, running her nails up and down his length.
James pulled up her shorts so they were grinding against her opening, lightly tracing his fingers over her clit and opening. His body was pressed against hers, taking in the sensations of her body: the firm and the soft, her quick breaths, the flicker of her tongue, the way she lost focus and forgot to move her fingers across him.
She reached into his boxers, grabbing him and slowly stroking him.
James pulled on her shorts, pulling them off to reveal her lower half. He licked his fingers and forcefully played with her opening, eliciting a short surprised noise from Daphne. She forgot what she was doing as James watched her face and the emotions there, teasing but not too fast. There was no need to race, taking his time.
Daphne pushed against his hand, stopping him and pushing him back as she rolled on top of him. Her breasts pushed against him through his shirt. She pulled his boxers off, putting her legs on either side of him as she rubbed her opening up and down him.
He could feel her heat, the stickiness of her own desire. He cupped her ass, pulling her forward to release himself and then let her push backward. His tip pushed against her.
Daphne kissed him as she pushed backward and he pushed forward, their breaths slow and hot as their hips met. They pulled apart. The two of them knew the other’s rhythm.
James’s entire body tingled. He pulled her forward and looked into her eyes, seeing every emotion, taking it all in, living for her pleasure as he pushed forward.
She rotated her hips, bringing him deeper into her as she let out little gasps, her body already strung tight. Daphne kissed James’s neck, sending a shiver of pleasure through him.
His eyes flashed as he grabbed her ass, making her start as he opened her wider.
There was no power games, no dominating; the two of them worked the other, using all that they knew to bring the other higher.
James couldn’t take it anymore as he flipped her over and pulled out.
Daphne was panting on the bed as James felt his strength leave him.
Daphne pulled him down, kissing him. “You know how to drive me crazy, and I love it,” Daphne whispered in his ear.
“I should be the one saying that,” James said. “Couldn’t resist you when you’re wearing my shirt.”
She gave him a knowing smile. There was no awkwardness between them as they knew each other’s bodies completely and how to draw pleasure out from the other.
Seeing those limpid eyes, James was sucked in, unable to look away from her. He didn’t think he’d be able to let her go now.
***
James was on a call in his office as Daphne was doing Julia’s makeup and hair, trying to teach her that she didn’t need all these products she was seeing and also trying out different kinds of braids and the like.
Daphne didn’t expect that she would have found this kind of thing interesting, or that she would feel a fierce protectiveness as she tried to pass on the lessons that she had learned in her life, hoping that they would aid Julia to make her life easier.
Julia was surprisingly silent as Daphne finished off her latest braid.
“Is something wrong?” Daphne asked, finding the atmosphere weird.
Julia looked up to Daphne and then back down with conflicted emotions. “My dad talks about my mom a lot, about where they went, about having me,” Julia said.
Daphne didn’t feel jealous as she focused on Julia, ready for what she wanted to say and letting her get out her words.
“I…I didn’t know her. I only saw her pictures and heard about her. I saw other people’s moms and I thought it would be nice to have one, but I wouldn’t ever get one.” Julia’s face scrunched up, confused by her own emotions that she didn’t understand.
Daphne squeezed her shoulder but didn’t say anything, feeling Julia had more. Daphne’s heart hurt, wanting to take away that pain.
“But then you came and I think that you’re a great mommy.” Julia burst into tears.
“Oh, come here,” Daphne said. Julia’s raw emotion made her tear up as she pulled the willing Julia into a hug. Daphne rocked her back and forth, patting her back.
Underneath that tough and smiling exterior, she was a girl who had heard about moms from her dad and her classmates. Hearing that all the time, she felt lost and confused.
With Daphne, she’d felt as if she gained that stability and even started to say in school that she had Daphne; she didn’t need a mommy.
Daphne’s heart was fit to burst with Julia’s words.
“I might not be your blood mom, but I’ll be there if you ever need anything,” Daphne said.
“Promise?” Julia asked, her voice scared and filled with fear and hope as she held on tighter on Daphne, scared to let go.
“I promise,” Daphne said, wanting nothing more than to help Julia.
Julia held on even tighter, crying freely into Daphne’s shoulder as Daphne continued to soothe her.
James entered the room. Seeing the two of them, he smiled at Daphne, sadness in his eyes at seeing his little girl in so much pain, but grateful for Daphne for helping her.
Seeing their love for each other, Daphne held Julia tighter.
She didn’t want to let either of them go, ever.