Page 13 of Nick: His to Claim

Maggie dropped her head and snuggled into his chest as close as she could get. “I won’t Nick, I won’t,” she assured him, sighing.

Nick held her for a little while longer until he could hear the crescendo from the TV telling him the movie would soon be over. Very gently he helped Maggie pull up her panties and cords while she hissed and squirmed. He tilted her head back and brushed her hair softly off her face.

“I want you to go upstairs and get ready for bed, honey. The kids and I will clean up, and then I’ll take them to get an ice cream. I doubt you’ll want to ride along tonight,” he told her with a twinkle in his eye. “But I’d be glad to bring you back a hot fudge sundae.”

Maggie was surprised he remembered her favorite treat. There was no way she could sit right now, and she wasn’t sure about the immediate future either. As bad as the spanking was, the cuddling after was wonderful, and she felt as if a weight had been lifted off her.

“No thanks, Nick. I think I will get ready for bed and rest until the kids get back.”

“Okay you go, take it easy and rest. I’ll make sure to give you a little time to compose yourself. Go on now, honey, and do as I say,” he told her, giving her a warm kiss and a little push in the right direction.

Maggie went willingly. The last thing she needed was for the kids to ask why she’d been crying or, God forbid, to find out.

Nick was picking up the phone before she rounded the corner.

“Mason, we need to talk. I’ll be over in about an hour.”

Chapter Four

Nick didn’t come in the next morning. The kids started watching for him long before he was due to pick them up and were out the door before he could get fully in the yard. Maggie watched from the window as he got everyone situated and buckled in. For a minute she thought he would come in and ask her again to go along, but he didn’t.

It was just as well. The more time she spent with him, watched him with the kids, the harder it became to remember she was doing the right thing. The rosy picture he painted of their becoming a family was tempting. Having someone to share things with again, help carry the financial burden that came with three growing children, and of course the physical pleasure…

What’s wrong with you?Things are working out just fine...

Who do you think you’re kidding,a little voice whispered back, and with that Maggie threw herself into her Saturday chores with a vengeance.

By three o’clock the entire house was spotless. Maggie had turned up the stereo and tried not to think about Nick out having fun withherchildren. Popping open a diet soda, she slumped tiredly onto a bar stool, mopping her brow with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. It was only natural for them to form an attachmentto a strong male figure after the emptiness of the past year, and it had been empty.

The struggle to get up and face each day, working, keeping up the house, and making ends meet, had sapped Maggie’s natural vitality. It had only been since the holidays that life seemed to have come back into her, the holidays and Nick. It was astonishing to her that a man she hadn’t seen for years, truthfully hadn’t really thought about for years, could have such a devastating effect on her.

Yes, he was Jason’s father and they did have a certain bond between them, but she had managed to make a fine life with Jim. He was steady and dependable. Maybe their’s hadn’t been a particularly passionate marriage, but they got along. No drama, no surprises and she sure hadn’t spent the last fifteen years pining for Nick. He had been relegated to the past, and he should have stayed there instead of turning her world upside down.

At five o’clock Maggie showered and started dinner. Even though she was beginning to get angry with Nick for keeping the kids out so long, she felt the least she could was to invite him to dinner. She had to admit she had accomplished miracles today, finally getting to those chores she had been putting off. With Caitlin underfoot it was hard to tackle major jobs, and by the time the kids were in bed, she was usually too beat. Although it pained her to admit it, she hadn’t had a whole day away from the kids in months, and she had enjoyed pampering herself after the housework was done. She even had enough time to give herself a facial and paint her toenails—amazing.

By seven, Maggie was frantic. Crazy thoughts of car accidents and other catastrophes plagued her. If Nick had taken only Jason, Maggie would have been convinced Nick had kidnapped him, but what reason would he have for taking Todd and Caitlin?

Revenge... Maggie ran a trembling hand through her hair and shut the oven off. The roast was dried out and charred, and thevegetables had turned to mush an hour ago. How could he do this to her? He must have known she would be worried sick!

The hoopla coming from the driveway pulled her out of her agonizing, and she jumped up, getting to the kitchen door at the exact moment her three hyper kids burst through. Caitlin was hugging a teddy bear twice her size and dragging her coat. Todd and Jason were arguing loudly about who beat whom in some game, and Nick was laughing at their antics.

“Mommy, we went to the zoo, and the park, and the ‘cade’,” Caitlin told her, yawning. “Then we ate at Mickey Dee’s, and I got to play in the balls.”

Maggie stood stock still. The hands on her hips were trembling, and the three males watching her all realized they were in deep trouble. Caitlin was only concerned with getting her bear up to her room and introducing him to her other stuffed animals.

Nick’s eyes silently pleaded with Maggie not to ruin the day, but she was beyond reason. “Just where have you been?” she demanded sharply. “I’ve been worried sick.”

“Mom,” Jason began, only to be interrupted as Maggie continued, not even waiting for her question to be answered.

“Apparently no one could be bothered to call me and let me know you were all right. I can’t believe?—”

“Mom, we were fine, just having a good time,” Jason burst in. “We were with Nick for Pete’s sake,” he continued in disgust.

“Don’t use that tone of voice with me, young man,” Maggie shot back, but when she reached out to take Jason’s arm, Nick stepped between them, towering over Maggie.

“Jason, Todd, help Caitie get her bear upstairs; I want a few minutes with your mother.”

The arms crossed over the broad chest directly in front of her kept Maggie from contradicting his order, and it was an order.The kids obeyed instantly, slipping gratefully out of the room and feeling slightly sorry for Nick.