Page 83 of Something Like Shelter

“I feel you on that. I think it is time to seriously consider hiring some help too. Life is too precious to spend every spare moment working. I guess I didn’t notice it as much when, well, work was all there was.”

“And now?”

“Now there’s you. And Adelaide. And Tuna,” he said as the dog sighed loudly, like he knew he was being excluded. “And I’d much rather spend my free time with the three of you than fixing a leaky sink.”

“I retain the right to use your leaky sink skills as needed.”

“Pro bono,” he said as he leaned forward to put his empty cup on the coffee table.

I set mine on the end table, then moved to straddle him.

“Well, I can think of some ways to pay you back…”

Owen - 3 weeks

I couldn’t fathom what was fundamentally wrong with you as a man to wash your hands of a life you created. Then again, that was just one of that man’s many mistakes.

But Chase’s loss was my gain.

And I felt luckier by the day as Willa and Adelaide became so tightly entwined in my life. Especially as Adelaide began to recognize me. She started to give me a big, gummy smile and kick and flail her arms and legs when I walked in the house. Then, when I caught some time alone with her when Willa was showering or running the vacuum, and would blow on her belly or feet, I’d get these big, whole-body laughs out of her. I’d swear I’d never heard a sound so sweet in my life.

It was easy in those moments to imagine myself being there for all her future changes. Like when she would reach for me for the first time, when she would lean against my chest and listen to me read her a story, when she would start crawling and talking and becoming her whole own person.

Then, of course, there was Willa. With her bright smile when I walked through the door. With her endless insane stories about her family and their adventures. With her visions for the future. With her obsession with clean mirrors and her love of really good coffee. With the way she would curl up close to me in bed, would seek me out when she was feeling overwhelmed or upset.

What did I even do with myself before these girls came into my life?

I had vague memories of lingering at the gym because I knew I didn’t have much else to do when I got home. Of nights sitting alone in my house reading or watching mindless TV with Tuna at my side.

As for him, he was thriving with his new living arrangements. He followed Willa around like a lost puppy. He cried when Adelaide cried and loved to poke at her to get those belly laughs out of her like I did. He got someone at home with him all day to take walks or con treats out of.

Life was just… fuller for the both of us.

I was just peeling the tape off the new mirrors in Willa’s completed—at long last—primary bathroom when I felt like I was being watched.

Turning, there she was, leaning in the doorway watching me with a heated look in her eye that took my breath away.

“Well, now, Mr. Matthews, I feel like I owe you a tip for such… excellent work,” she said, her voice going exaggeratedly suggestive.

Playing along, I nodded. “You were an exacting client.”

“And you satisfied my every,” she said, walking her fingers down my chest, “single… desire.”

“I always like to get your needs met.”

“And your dedication deserves to be rewarded,” she said as she unfastened my jeans and slid her hand inside to cup my cock, which was already straining for her.

“And how are you planning to reward me?” I asked, my voice husky with need.

“Oh, I can think of a way,” she said, lowering herself down to her knees and pulling my pants and underwear down as she went.

My body tensed as she looked up at me with want-heavy lids and slowly took me into her mouth.

Desire jolted through me as she took me deep inside, moaning around my length, then working me up and down—slowly at first, then faster and faster as my breath went shallow and deep, needy groans escaped me.

My hand held the back of her head before the need got too strong, and I grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled until my length slid out from between her lips with a pop.

“I can think of another way you can reward me,” I said as I traced a finger across her swollen lower lip. “Stand up and take off your clothes.”