Redemption

  “Good morning, beautiful.” I smiled and motioned for her to sit down. For a moment, she looked at me, then at Jeremy. I could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her. She was finding this scene just as unreal as I was, but I hoped it was in a good way.

  “Would you like some pancakes?”

  Tyler shook her head. “Coffee. I need coffee.”

  She walked towards the percolator, but I stopped her. “You sit down. I’ll take care of everything—including making you pancakes.” I looked over her slim frame. “You look like you need some.”

  Tyler raised her eyebrow at me. “Is that so?” She walked over to Jeremy, kissed his head, and sat down.

  “Big Uncle Jimmy’s been naughty.”

  Tyler frowned “Wh—”

  “Because he broke the sink,” I interrupted. I looked at Tyler, silently asking her to go along with it, and she nodded.

  “Yes, he’s been naughty.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief and got back to making the pancakes.

  “If Jimmy is my uncle, then what about Dean?”

  I stiffened. Not knowing what to say or do, I turned to face a shocked Tyler. She stumbled on her words, not having a clue how to answer.

  “That makes me whoever you want me to be, grown-up.” I smiled cheekily and gave him a wink. Tyler visibly relaxed and gave me a smile of gratitude.

  Jeremy just shrugged. “Okay.”

  And that was that. Thank fuck. I wasn’t sure Jeremy was ready for the big reveal yet. I didn’t know how long Tyler wanted to wait until we told him, but she probably thought it was too soon. I would just have to wait until Tyler thought it was the right time. Our future was uncertain, and I knew I couldn’t stay out here without making a permanent decision in my life. One that would affect all of us. If Tyler said she wanted me back, I wouldn’t hesitate. I would go home, wrap everything up there, and move my arse over. I didn’t care what it would take.

  Once the pancakes were made, I managed to get Tyler to eat one and Jeremy had three. I didn’t know where he put it all, but it was actually nice watching him eat. He was messy, but what almost four-year-olds weren’t?

  When breakfast was done, I grabbed a shower and got dressed back in the same clothes from yesterday. I kind of felt like I was in limbo. I wasn’t sure what Tyler wanted. What should I do? Should I stay? Should I go?

  “Shall I call Jimmy and see if he can help me find and install a new sink for you today?”

  Tyler was sitting at the kitchen island, coffee in hand, reading today’s paper. Jeremy was in the living room, happily playing with his toys.

  “I don’t want to cause you too much trouble, Dean.”

  I sat down next to her and took her hand. “When is anything I do for you too much trouble? I want to do it because I love you. I want to do it because I need to find any excuse just to spend more time with you and Jeremy. I just want to do it all.”

  Tyler smiled and laced her fingers with mine. She looked at them linked together. “So many years have passed since we properly held hands like this. There was a time I didn’t think I would ever get back to this point.”

  I looked at her sadly. “I know.”

  Tyler sighed, still staring at our hands. “You’re the father of our child. If you want to see more of us, I can’t stand in your way. I won’t stand in your way.” She looked back up to meet my eyes. “Besides, I want you here, too. I want you to stay.”

  My heart exploded with hope at that moment. I wanted to scream from the rooftops just how fucking happy that one sentence made me.

  She wanted me to stay.

  I didn’t know whether she meant for good, but it was a great start. I couldn’t help the smile that reached my lips.

  “Does that mean you want to stay?” Tyler looked timidly towards me.

  “Rosey, I will stay as long as you and Jeremy have me. If you want me to stay, wild horses couldn’t make me leave.”

  Tyler leaned forward and touched her forehead to mine. “I don’t know what our future holds, Dean. I can’t make any definite decisions yet. I have Jeremy to think of in all of this.”

  I nodded. “Of course you do. He is your number one priority, just as the both of you are mine.”

  Tyler leaned back and smiled. “Thank you. Just give it time. If you can stay around for a while, I’d like to see how things go.”

  I nodded with a smile. “That is all I can ask for.”

  Tyler sighed with a smile. “Good.” Then she turned in the direction of the hallway into the living room. “Did Jeremy find us on the sofa together this morning?” I nodded and she gave me a concerned frown. “What did he say?”

  I smiled. “He said you said sleeping on the sofa was bad for you.” She started chuckling. “I told him that we must have fallen asleep without realizing, and that’s when he asked me for pancakes.”

  Tyler raised her eyebrow. “Pancakes, ha? You even got me to eat one. What was that about?”

  I got off the stool and eased myself in between her legs. I nuzzled her neck and eased my way up to her ear. “You used to be so curvy. I loved your curves, Tyler. Don’t you realize boys like a little more booty to hold at night?” I pulled back to gage her reaction.

  Tyler giggled. “You really are on a roll with the pop songs lately, aren’t you?”

  I tilted my head a little. “Despite being in my thirties, I still like to keep up with the times.”

  Tyler laughed. “Oh, yeah?”

  I pulled Tyler forward into my hardness. She gasped as I smiled. “Yeah. I also want to lick you up and down until you say stop.”

  She raised her eyebrow. “Really?” I nodded. “What makes you think I’ll say stop? It will be more like ‘lick it good’.” She breathed heavily into my mouth and I couldn’t wait any longer.

  I placed my lips on hers and felt the warmth of them against mine. I could taste the coffee she had been drinking and smell the perfume she wore. My senses were going into overdrive. I wanted her again. I wanted her all the fucking time. I think it was even worse knowing I had to contain myself more around her because of Jeremy. The more I knew I couldn’t push this, the more I wanted to.

  Suddenly, as if reading my mind, Tyler pulled away and started giggling.

  “What’s so funny?” My smile mimicked hers.

  “It just feels like we’re naughty teenagers. It’s almost like life is making us relive what we missed all those years ago. Does that make any sense?”

  It made perfect sense. “Well, I’m not sure we would have been breaking our parents’ sinks.”

  Tyler burst out laughing, then turned bright red. “Erm… Yes, well, I just got lost in the moment. It had been a while.”

  I shook my head and nuzzled my crotch into hers. “Rosey, you can get lost in the moment anytime you want. All you have to do is ask and I’ll be there.”

  Tyler raised her eyebrow. “Is that a promise?”

  She was smiling, but I knew there was a hint of something unnerving under it. Was it doubt? Worry? Uncertainty? Hope? I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I’d be damned if I wanted her to look at me like that. I needed her to trust me again, and I was going to try my hardest to make that happen.

  “Tyler, I would promise you the world if I could, but there is one thing you can never have any doubt about, and that is how I feel about you. I promise you with all my heart, soul, and body that I will be there for you as long as you’ll have me. Everything of mine is yours anyway.”

  Tyler sighed with a resolute smile and nodded. “I believe you.” She grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it before leaning her cheek against it. I felt her soft skin against mine and just that little touch had my dick throbbing for her.

  I closed my eyes, trying to fight the urge to grab her and pull her into the bathroom again. Maybe then we could break the toilet, but certainly not with Jeremy around. I sighed, kissed the top of her head, and pulled my phone out of my pocket. Tyler raised her eyebrow questioningly. “I’m going to text Ji
mmy.”

  I texted him to come over whenever he was ready. He answered seconds later.

  I’m coming over straight away because Tara’s working and I’m bored as fuck.

  Within twenty minutes, Jimmy was knocking at the door and, as usual, Jeremy was eagerly waiting for whoever was on the other side. Once the door opened, Jeremy jumped up and down as he clapped. “Big Uncle Jimmy is here!”

  Tyler leaned in and kissed Jimmy on the cheek. “Hey, Jimmy. Is Tara working today?”

  He nodded with a frown. “Yeah. It’s shi—” He covered his mouth quickly and looked at Jeremy. “Sorry, Jeremy. How’s my big boy?”

  Jeremy giggled and pointed to the stairs. “You’ve been naughty. You have to sit on the naughty steps now because you broke Mommy’s sink.”

  Jimmy frowned. “I didn’t—”

  “Don’t you remember when you sat on the sink last night and it collapsed?”

  Jimmy looked at me as if I had gone nuts. I glared at him, then looked at Jeremy. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “Ah, sugar, I forgot. I’m really sorry about that.”

  Jeremy grabbed his hand and lead Jimmy to the stairs. I saw Tyler mouth I’m sorry to him as Jeremy made him sit on the step.

  “You have to stay here for five minutes. Got it?” Jeremy wagged his finger at Jimmy and it was the most fucking comical thing I ever saw.

  Jimmy looked taken aback. “Okay. When do I know I can step down?”

  “When I say you can.” Jeremy nodded his head and walked away.

  “I’m so sorry,” Tyler whispered, walking away with a huge grin.

  “What the fuck was that?” Jimmy hissed under his breath.

  “Dean!” Jeremy’s shrill voice could be heard. “Jimmy has to stay there on his own!”

  I pulled my head back and shouted, “I’m coming!” I leaned forward and quickly whispered, “Tyler and I broke the sink last night and I told Jeremy it was you. Sorry, man.” I patted his back, turned and walked away.

  “You little shit!”

  For some strange reason, Jimmy’s time was extended past the five minutes.

  Chapter 13

  Tyler

  The next few days went by in a whirlwind and I was the happiest I had been in a very long time. The flowers kept coming…just as Dean promised. We seemed to spend every waking moment together. We went out shopping for a new sink, and Dean and Jimmy fitted it for me. Dean bought Jimmy a guitar to apologize for the sink incident. He was a little pissed after having to sit on the steps for ten minutes, but the guitar and promises of plenty of beer seemed to bring him around.

  I liked Jimmy. Although there was an element of danger about him, there seemed to also be a gentle giant hiding amongst his hard façade. I could see why Tara went for him. He was handsome, but he also had that hardness. We were all becoming really close and it made me finally feel like I had a true family now. Dean and I were parents during the day, and at night? Well, let’s just say the animal in us came out. I think it was because we knew we had to behave ourselves around Jeremy. We would sneak the odd kiss and take an opportunity for an embrace, so we were so wound up by nighttime, which ended in what I can only describe as angry sex. I didn’t know why, but I was completely wild around Dean. I let my walls down with him. I let myself be who I truly wanted to be. I felt so comfortable around him, it just seemed easy for me. Things were different when I was with Evan. I knew him for four years, but never at the same level of intimacy Dean and I had. How could you beat childhood sweethearts? How could anyone move on from their very first true love? The one that stuck. The one that foretold promises and hope. I always knew I’d be lost without him. And that’s the part that scares the shit out of me the most. He hurt me so much, that part will never go away, but the love I had for him was stronger than any other emotion. It ruled everything. My heart, head, body, and soul. Dean had all of me, and it scared me shitless.

  I didn’t let Dean know how I felt as that nagging feeling I always had still ate away at me. I was still grieving. I still got angry when I thought about my friend Jeremy and the precious life he lost. I still felt that pain in the pit of my stomach knowing it was Dean who hurt our relationship in the worst way possible. Jeremy died thinking I did the most heinous thing imaginable. He died thinking I let him down…and it was all Dean’s fault. It was still hard to get past that. It was still so fucking hard to let go. In fact, sometimes I would get angry at Dean because he couldn’t fix it.

  I know it was illogical to think that way, but I did. My emotions were all over the place. At times, I would find myself looking at Dean and thinking how could he have done that to me? I would get angry and frustrated, and I would feel myself boil up. But all he had to do was turn, lock me with those eyes, and smile at me. Just that simple gesture washed away everything. Those were the times I felt I could let him in again. Love him the same way I knew he loved me. Trust that he wanted to be with me for the right reasons. Trust that he loved me. Trust that he loved Jeremy. Sometimes, the animal in you won out. You either bonded the moment you met, or you didn’t. With our son and Dean, it was simple. They breathed through each other. I could see it and feel it. Jeremy was bound to him now, so I knew Dean never being a part of us wasn’t an option anymore. Our son chose our path for us. Dean would always be a part of our lives.

  It was Saturday and, as usual, Dean and Jimmy had arrived. Tara was only supposed to work until six, but a medical emergency came up and she needed to stay longer. Dean told me that Jimmy needn’t be in town anymore because he had found me, but I had a feeling he wanted to stay because he was secretly falling for Tara. It made me smile thinking about it. Tara needed someone good in her life and, for some reason, I knew Jimmy was it. She had been through so much in her previous relationship with her husband that she deserved to have some happiness.

  So whenever Tara worked, I told Jimmy he was welcome to come over. He was quickly becoming much a part of Jeremy’s life as Dean was. He called him Big Uncle Jimmy all the time now and, for the last couple of days, Dean has become D.D. Jeremy wouldn’t elaborate any further than that and whenever I asked, he would move his finger and thumb over his mouth in a zip motion, shaking his head. “It’s a secret,” he would say. Sometimes kids were so frustrating!

  It was after seven and with the boys in the pool, I decided to get some dinner on. I put on some grilled chicken, made some salad, and put four potatoes in the oven. It was another hot day, so I welcomed the cool breeze that sometimes wafted in through the kitchen doors.

  “You know, I could watch you all day standing there like the domestic goddess that you are.”

  Looking up, I saw Dean standing by the door, droplets of water falling from him onto the floor. He called me a goddess, but standing in front of me was every bit a god. His muscles were taut and strong, and he now had an impressive tan, which showed off his tattoos nicely. I never knew I would be turned on by a man with tattoos, but seeing Dean with them always made me tremble. Funny how a little thing like that could turn you on so much. A couple of strands of his wet hair fell down his forehead, and his skin glistened as the sun hit his body. As he gripped the door with his hand, his muscle flexed and my insides turned to mush. How could one person reduce me to a puddle of need? I had known Dean all my life and the affect on me was always the same. Whether in person or in my mind, he never failed to bring me to my knees.

  “Domestic goddess, ha? Don’t get any ideas about putting an apron on me and tying it to the kitchen sink.”

  Dean raised his eyebrow and came swooping in. I laughed and tried to run, but he quickly grabbed me and held me in place. I was about to protest, but the look he gave me robbed me of speech. His eyes danced from my eyes to my lips and back up again. He was making love to every inch of my face.

  “I would love to tie you to the kitchen sink, but for different reasons than you’re thinking,” he growled. He gripped me tighter, taking my breath away. He looked around the kitchen, then back at me with a playful smile. “In
fact, where are your aprons?”

  I shook my head. “Oh, no, no, no, Deaney boy. Not here. Not now.”

  Dean leaned into my neck and inhaled. “You know, my uncle Humphrey calls me Deaney boy.”

  I laughed. “It seems to be a good name for you when you’re up to no good. I bet he calls you it for the same reasons I am now.”

  He pulled his head back and frowned. “I never wanted to tie my uncle to the kitchen sink, and if I did, it would be for completely different reasons. With you, I just want to render you helpless. I like seeing you tied up and at my mercy. I like the fact I can do whatever the fuck I want to you. Completely helpless. Completely submissive. Completely mine.”

  My legs suddenly gave way as a tortured moan left my lips. Dean gripped me tighter as a growl left his. “You don’t realize what the fuck you do to me, Tyler. Every look you give me, every touch I feel with your hands, every moan you release is like the best fucking foreplay ever. I need to be inside you now.”

  Dean looked at me hungrily, but I shook my head. My body was screaming at me that it wanted this, but we couldn’t. Not now. “Jeremy and Jimmy—”

  “Jeremy and Jimmy are fine out there. Jimmy saw me watching you in here and told me he would give us a few minutes.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Only a few minutes?”

  Dean gave a deep throaty laugh and looked at my lips again. “It would have to be quick, which means hard, fast, rough, and now.”

  Without hesitating, I took Dean’s hand and we raced up the stairs. All he had to do was give me the promise of great, rough sex and I was putty in his hands.

  As soon as we reached the top, I dragged Dean into the family bathroom and shut the door. The window was slightly open so I quickly closed it as quietly as possible. The sounds outside were muffled, but you could still hear Jeremy’s and Jimmy’s cheers, along with lots of splashing. I think we were okay.

  Dean hitched up my dress. “I’m sorry we don’t have much time. I had to have you. I need to have you, Tyler. I constantly want to be buried inside you. You don’t know how much it kills me to wait.”