“What’s the empty frame for?” he asked, taking it out of the box.
“A picture of you and Brooklyn. You need to get on that.”
His eyes softened and he looked through the rest of the box’s contents: an engraved nameplate for his desk, a stone paperweight and a pen set.
“Damn, you’re making me feel like a fuckin’ professional here, baby.”
“As well you should.”
He set the picture frame back in the box and eyed me. “You feel like getting fucked by a professional?”
“You know I do.”
He moved the gift boxes to the floor and climbed over me, parting my thighs.
“Thanks for the presents, Viv,” he said softly. “And for taking a chance on a roughneck like me.”
“You’re so easy to love, Kane.”
He pulled my t-shirt up and over my head, kissing me softly before moving to my breasts, where he was not soft. He sucked and nipped and licked while I hummed my satisfaction and wrapped my ankles around his thighs.
Kane brought my body to the brink with his mouth before taking a condom from the nightstand drawer. His gaze roamed my body hungrily as he sheathed his erection.
“One day soon I’m gonna come in your sweet pussy, Viv,” he said in a low tone. “Of all the stupid shit I did when I was younger, I never once fucked anyone without a condom. Not consciously, anyway. I must’ve when I was high since I’ve got Brooklyn. I’ve got no memory of it, though. I want it with you, when I know it’s safe.”
“Yes. I’m on birth control and I want that so much.”
His eyes were dark as they locked with mine. “I’ll get tested. Then when you come to my office I’ll fuck you hard and fill your cunt full. I like the idea of you walking out of there wet with my come.”
He flipped me over and pulled my hips back, entering me from behind. I moaned and pressed myself back as he sank into me.
I let myself get lost in him, crying out his name as he pounded into me. He pulled me up, my back to his chest, and leaned around to kiss me. One of his arms was locked around my waist and with his free hand, he found my sweet spot and circled his fingers until I came so hard my knees nearly gave out. He was right behind, thrusting deeply into me and biting down on my shoulder as he came with a loud groan and a shudder.
“So fucking hot,” Kane said as he pulled out of me and took off the condom. He took it to the bathroom trash can and then we laid back down for a few minutes, the smells of sweat and sex in the air.
Breakfast was a semi-success. My breakfast casserole wasn’t great, but the cinnamon rolls were decent. I wasn’t much of a cook, but I liked feeding Kane, so I’d just have to get better. And in the meantime, he was too wise to admit my cooking wasn’t the best.
“Ready to go see Brooklyn?” he asked when we’d finished the dishes.
I looked at the clock on my wall. “What time are we supposed to be there?”
“No set time,” he said, shrugging.
“Are you sure it’s okay? I don’t want to interrupt anything.”
“It’s fine, Viv. We’re not staying. I just want to give Brooklyn her present on Christmas instead of next time I see her.”
This meant a lot to him. I agreed, took a quick shower and dressed in a dark green sweater dress, brown leggings and tall brown leather boots.
I was quiet on the drive there, because I was nervous. Meeting Brooklyn was a big deal. I wanted to get to know her, if she and Kane and Cori were ready for it. But I worried about stepping on her mother’s toes. And I didn’t have much experience with kids. What if she didn’t like me?
When we walked up to the front door of Cori’s modest bungalow, I slipped my hand into Kane’s for support. He smiled and rang the doorbell.
“Dad!” The little girl who opened the door took my breath away. She was beautiful, her dark eyes shining with happiness.
“Kane?” a female voice called from inside.
“We just came by to drop off gifts.” Kane led me inside, still holding my hand.
When we went inside, the few family members inside silently checked us out. Cori’s relatives had probably never even seen Kane.
The small house was cozy, with garland over the doorways, a tree covered with a child’s homemade ornaments and opened gifts scattered on the floor. The smell of cinnamon filled the air. Even though none of the furnishings looked new or expensive, they were stylish and the place looked like a comfortable home.
Cori was thin and petite with long, perfectly straight chestnut hair. She was pretty and Brooklyn was too, but Brooklyn looked just like Kane. Seeing the man I loved reflected in the face of his little girl melted me inside.
I wanted kids. With him. I hadn’t seriously thought about it until this moment, but seeing him next to his daughter made it all so clear. I wanted Brooklyn to be as much a part of our lives as she possibly could, and I wanted more kids, too.
“Guys, this is my girlfriend Viv,” Kane said to Cori and Brookyln. He wrapped an arm around my waist.
“Hi,” Brooklyn said, smiling.
“Hi.” I smiled back and turned to her mother. But Cori just regarded me with a cool expression and said nothing. Maybe she was skeptical of any woman who would be spending time with her daughter.
“This is for you,” I said, handing her the centerpiece I’d bought her. It was a basket of Christmas greenery and pinecones. She looked at it with her lips set in a thin line.
“Thanks.” She took it but wouldn’t even look at me. Kane rubbed his hand over my hip.
“Brooklyn, I’ve got something for you,” he said.
Her dark eyes sparkled happily as he handed her a small box. She tore through the shiny silver paper and delicate red ribbon to reveal a Tiffany blue box. Kane seemed to be holding his breath as she opened it.
She gasped and looked up at him. “It’s so pretty. Can I wear it?”
“Brook,” Cori prompted her. “What do you say?”
“Thank you,” she said to Kane.
“You like it?”
“I love it. Can I put it on?”
Kane looked at me. “I’ll let Viv handle that because me and those tiny necklace clasps don’t get along so well.”
Brooklyn handed me the box and I looked down at a silver heart-shaped pendant on a chain with small sparkling silver stones on one side. Kane was working hard at being a good dad. I was so proud of him.
I helped Brooklyn move her hair aside and I put the necklace on her, trying my best to ignore her mother’s icy glare.
“Perfect,” I said when she turned around to show it to me.
“We have to go,” Kane said. “But I’ll see you soon, Brook. Maybe Viv and I can take you ice skating over your school break if it’s okay with your mom.”
“Can I?” Brooklyn asked Cori.
“We’ll talk about it.”
“Merry Christmas,” Kane said to Brooklyn.
“Merry Christmas.” She smiled and toyed with the shiny new necklace around her neck.
Cori reached for Kane and hugged him, pressing herself to his chest. I gripped my purse strap, feeling awkward and out of place. He patted her on the back, but didn’t return the full embrace. Finally, she pulled away, her eyes full of emotion as she looked at him.
We said goodbye and walked out, and Kane wrapped his arm around my waist again for the walk to the car. Once inside, we drove in silence for a couple minutes before I spoke.
“What was that about?”
“What?”
“Cori,” I said, my tone indicating it was obvious. “She hates me.”
“No, don’t take it that way.”
“She glared at me the whole time we were there. What does she have against me?”
He shifted in his seat and I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach.
“Kane. What does she have against me?”
“How can she have anything against you? You’ve never met before.”
I sighed with aggravation. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice how cold she was to me.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Was she just upset that we dropped by unannounced?” I continued before he had a chance to answer. “No, because look at the way she hugged you. It’s just me she hates.”