“Fine.”
“You don’t sound fine. What’s up?” He plops down next to us on the couch and gently caresses Lane’s head while she noisily sucks down her bottle.
“I got a letter in the mail today.”
“Who from?”
“I haven’t opened it, but I think it’s from Maisy’s parents. Or their lawyers, most likely.” I want to vomit thinking about what it says. I know refusing to open it won’t make it disappear, but reading it will make it real.
“Why would you be getting a letter from them?” he asks, but he already knows. He jumps up and finds the letter in question on the island before returning to me. “You need to open it.”
“I can’t. I’ve been trying for an hour.”
“Doc, we need to see what it says so we can come up with a game plan.”
“We?”
“This guy,” he says to the heavens, like he’s praying for patience. “My ass has been here almost every night. I’ve cooked for you, cleaned for you, helped take care of your baby, and you’re still confused.”
I open my mouth to say something and then shut it. He’s right. We’ve gotten to know each other so well in a few short weeks. I don’t know how it happened, but I think he might be my boyfriend.
“Wipe that confused look off your face.” He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I’m in this with you. Your fight is my fight.”
“Okay,” I deadpan.
“So, can I open it?”
I nod and he plants a chaste kiss on my lips. He then rips the letter open and unfolds the documents. He reads for what feels like an hour. I finally lose my patience.
“What does it say?” Lane finishes her bottle and I set it on the coffee table before lifting her to my shoulder for a burp.
“It says you have a court date. Maisy’s parents are suing for custody.”
I chew on the inside of my mouth, trying not cry. I haven’t cried since I don’t remember when, but with the threat of my daughter being taken away from me, my vision blurs with unshed tears.
“When is it?”
“Two weeks. You have a family lawyer, right?”
“I hired one when I was told Lane was born and Maisy had died.”
“I think it’s time to give them a call.” He refolds the papers and sets them down before reaching over and lifting Lane from my arms. “I’m going to lay her down. I’ll be right back.”
I stare at the wall, so overwhelmed I can’t move. Even thinking about saying goodbye to Lane is too much to bear. She’s made my life exponentially more difficult, but she’s my whole world. Even the most difficult challenges have become the most rewarding and seeing her grow and change every day is the biggest honor I’ve ever experienced.
“You’re scaring me,” Bo says. He maneuvers me so we’re lying down face to face on the oversized sofa. It’s our favorite position to take every night after Lane is asleep and before he has to go home. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t know what to say. I can’t lose her.”
“You won’t. I promise. You’re her dad. You’ve been taking care of her this whole time. They don’t have a leg to stand on.”
“Except that I’m a single man who works long hours in a demanding job.”
“You have a capable nanny and you spend every possible second with her. I haven’t even been able to convince you to hire a sitter for an evening out.”
“She’s still so small.”
“I know.” He rubs circles on my back.
“What if they win?”
“They won’t—”
“But what—”
He covers my lips with his hand. “They won’t, but if they do, we’ll handle it. You’re not in this alone.”
“Thank you,” I say, but it’s muffled by his palm. He lowers his hand, resting it at the base of my throat.
“I want to make you forget about all of this for a while.”
“That’s not possible.”
He gives me a sly smile and crashes his lips to mine. He devours me and second by second, I give into to kiss. Our tongues duel and our lips lock. It’s the most intense kiss we’ve ever shared. His hand reaches under my shirt and his fingers dance along every inch of skin he can reach. His thumb swipes over the flat disk of my nipple, sending shutters down my spine.
He climbs on top of me, his weight pressing me into the couch. I feel his rock-hard erection as he grinds it against my own. We’ve never moved past this level of intimacy. He’s always quick to stop, telling me I’m not ready. I pray he doesn’t this time. I need him.
He must know what I’m feeling, because he lifts my shirt up and over my head. He kisses his way down my neck and across the spans of my shoulders. Then he moves lower, flicking his tongue against my nipples. He continues his way down my abdomen, only stopping to tug my basketball shorts down. God, how I’ve wanted this. He’s teased me for weeks, getting me worked up and then leaving. I’ve had to finish myself off in the shower each time, but it wasn’t satisfying. Not like this is.
My hard cock springs free, slapping against my abdomen. I watch as he grips around the base and drags his tongue along the tip, lapping at the pre-cum.
“Fucking hell, doc. You taste so good.” He wraps his lips around me and sucks. My hips jerk up at the sensation.
Maisy tried to give me head once, but her touch was too light and her lips were too soft. It felt all wrong. But Bo’s tight fist, his firm mouth, and strong suction are fucking perfect.
“Bo,” I moan. “Your mouth feels amazing.”
His other hand goes lower to my balls and he rolls them in his palm. I’m not going to last. I never worried about such a thing with Maisy. I only wanted it over with. But Bo’s a man too, and I worry he’ll judge me on my stamina. That thought has my dick softening ever so slightly.
“Stop it. Whatever you’re thinking. Stop it. Be here with me. I want you to come in my mouth. I want to be the one to get this experience with you. Please give it to me.” His gaze bores into me and I’m instantly at ease. He takes me down his throat and it’s all it takes to get me back in the moment.
My fists clench at my side and my eyes squeeze shut. He bobs up and down, saliva and pre-cum spilling down my cock and onto my balls. A tingle spreads from the base of my spine and a pleasure like I’ve never felt overtakes my body. I don’t just come. I explode. Or at least that what’s it feels like. I bite my fist to stop myself from screaming his name and waking the baby.
Bo takes it all, swallowing over and over to drink all of me down. He waits until my body stills to release me. He kisses the tip of my dick sweetly, before releasing me and climbing back up my body, dragging my shorts and underwear up as he goes. His lips press onto mine and his tongue thrusts into my mouth, allowing me to taste myself. It’s nothing I thought I’d enjoy, but with Bo, I doubt there’s anything he could do I wouldn’t find pleasure in.
I want to discover how he tastes too. I want to make him feel as good as he just made me feel. I slide out from underneath him and slink to my knees on the area rug. I drop one of his feet to the ground and crawl between his legs. He shifts so he’s sitting up and studies me carefully.