Chapter 22

“What do you want to do tonight?” Dean murmured happily into the phone and I smiled.

“I can’t believe it’s the first time I get to see you since we agreed to date last week.” Dean chuckled low and my body responded almost instantly.

“Whose fault is that?” He teased.

“Yours, all yours.” I joked and he laughed in response. I sighed happily into the phone, “this is the first time I’ve smiled because of something besides Tommy all week.”

Dean grunted, “I’m sorry babe. I shouldn’t let that happen.”

“It isn’t your fault. You’re the only one who makes me smile.” I replied honestly.

“It shouldn’t be like that Tori.” He answered harshly.

“This is the part where you sound flattered by my comment,” I snapped, my good mood slipping away quickly.

“I am babe, it’s just sad that I’m the only person in your life right now; besides Tommy, that makes you happy.”

“Well I’m sorry my life is too pathetic for you, but it has been a difficult two months.” I grumbled and Dean grunted.

“I didn’t mean it like that. Dammit Tori, I’m just trying to say that I feel sorry for you!” He shouted and I huffed.

“I don’t need you to feel sorry for me. I don’t need your sympathy or empathy or whatever the hell it’s called. I need you to distract me from the hell my life is.”

“Is that all I am to you?” He questioned. “Just some damn distraction!” Dean sounded furious and I didn’t blame him. I hadn’t realised how hurtful my words were until he reacted.

“I’m sorry, of course I don’t mean that Dean. You’re fantastic and that is the reason I’m with you. When I’m with you I forget about everything else and I get to just focus on being happy. I love that Dean.”

“You do?” He whispered.

“Yes I do. You make me happy and with everything that’s happened to me recently, that alone is something magnificent. Don’t belittle it.”

“I would never do that. I’m thrilled that you find happiness with me, I really am. You make me so incredibly happy Tori. I still can’t believe you chose me. I was so sure it was Kevin you wanted.”

He is, I thought. “No, you’re the one I want Dean.” I lied without even flinching as the words drifted off my tongue. I was a horrible person.

“I want to kiss you.” His voice turned husky and I forgot about my dishonesty. “I need to see you soon Tori.”

I giggled, “what are you waiting for then? If you’re looking for a formal invitation then it’s going to be a long night.”

“I’m on my way.” He rushed and ended the call. I beamed at the phone and waited patiently for Dean. Not long after our phone call ended, did Dean arrive. My parents were out and it was just me and Tommy and now Dean alone at home. I wasn’t sure if that was a recipe for a disaster or a wonderful night.  I was in the process of opening the door for Dean when a notification sounded from my phone. I looked at my phone and noticed three missed calls and five text messages from Kevin. I skimmed through the messages.

They were all the same.

I’m sorry about the ambush. Please let me see you so I can explain. We need to talk about our kiss.

I ignored his messages and put my phone away. Dean walked into the house and as his eyes caught mine, his steps increased and suddenly he was right in front of me and his arms had snaked around my waist. He held me to him and lifted me off the ground so that our lips were in line with one another. I wrapped my arms around his neck and mirrored his grin.

“I missed you so freaking much my gorgeous.” He leaned in and smashed his lips on mine. I moaned into his mouth and kissed him back. I let my mind drift as I got lost in him. His kiss was heavy and fast, our tongues collided and teeth crazed. It was exquisite.

“I swear nothing ever tasted as great as you.” Dean mumbled against my lips before recapturing them. He kissed me greedily while he loosened his hold on my body and let me slide down the length of him at a slow and tantalising speed.

My body rubbed against his and the feeling was something out of this world. I felt every indentation of his muscles as I made my decent and I groaned in pleasure at the incredible feeling. Dean’s breathing was slow and he released a long tormented growl as my lower body rubbed his. His body responded to mine eagerly and the feel of him made me hungry for more.

“That was an amazing greeting baby.” Dean smiled at me and I smirked.

“I know; my skills are great right?” I joked and he kissed my nose.

“I’m so happy to see you.”

“Me too.” Dean leaned in for another kiss but a beep from my phone interrupted us. I grimaced, “sorry.” I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket and saw Kevin’s name.

Why are you ignoring me? I scowled at the screen and Dean ran the pad of his thumb along the creases on my forehead.  “Are you still fighting with Kevin?” He asked. I looked up at him and saw his eyes fixed on my phone. I pulled it away from his peering eyes and nodded.

“I don’t want to talk about.”

“I understand. We should probably tell him about us soon though. He is my best mate after all. I want him to know about the girl who makes me the happiest I’ve ever been.”

“I feel so special.” I replied, my voice tight. I could feel the dread pull at my stomach. What I was doing was wrong and I knew it, except I couldn't find myself wanting to stop.

“You should be.” He winked and kissed my forehead. “How about a quite night in tonight? You, me and Tommy can watch a movie.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll go fetch him.” I left Dean to find the living room while I went in search of Tommy who I left playing in his cot. He made gurgling sounds when I picked him up. I carried him in my arms while I let his clean baby scent fill my nostrils. The smell of a baby has always been my favourite smell. I was starting to love the smell of peppermint too but I presumed that had more to do with the smell being connected to Kevin.

“There’s a handsome man who wants to meet you.” I called out to Dean who smiled brightly at me and Tommy.

He stalked towards me and smirked, “have I ever told you how hot it is seeing you with a kid?”

I gasped, “you’re such a liar.” I smacked his arm playfully and he giggled. A grown man actually giggled.

“It isn’t a lie. It really is hot. Call it what you want but I think it’s just the image it creates of you as a mother. I’m near that age where I want a family.” He shrugged seeming oblivious to my frazzled state.

“You’re thinking of starting a family already?”

“Yes.” He blushed and I stood frozen in my place.

“The idea of marriage and children doesn’t scare you at all?” I asked again, my mind in a state of bewilderment.

He looked into my eyes and whispered with confidence, “it isn’t scary when you’ve found the right girl.”

I gulped and could feel the bile travel up my throat. I prayed he wasn’t implying me but somehow I knew he was. Dean didn’t seem like the type of person who would date casually. Everything he did was done seriously. Myself now included.

“So what movie have you chosen?” I asked changing the topic.

He frowned and held up a DVD case with a picture of cartoon mice. I cringed. It was the same movie I had watched with Kevin. “Maybe another one.” I suggested. “It doesn’t need to be animation. It isn’t like he understands any of it.” Dean smiled and found a comedy instead.

After placibg the new movie into the player, Dean fell onto the couch and gestured me over. I sat alongside him and placed Tommy in the space between us. Dean grunted and lifted Tommy up. He placed Tommy on his lap and pulled me flush against him with his one hand. Once I was nestled into the crook of Dean’s arm, he moved Tommy until he rested comfortable on both of us. I let my head fall on his chest and looked to the screen as the title appeared.

Dean kissed my head before leaning his own on mine. We sat in a comfortable silence while we watched the movie. Dean rubbed small circles along my arm and stared at Tommy. “He’s so calm. I expected him to be restless.”

I chuckled, “he’s always been a very placid boy.” He nodded in understanding and turned his attention back to the screen. Halfway through the movie, my phone buzzed. I made sure Dean’s attention was still on the screen and quickly looked at my message from Kevin.

We need to talk. We still have the project to finish.

I wasn’t ready to hear his excuses for leading me on. I typed furiously on my phone.

Don’t text me again. From now on we will only converse professionally through email.

I pushed hard on the send button and snuggled deeper into Dean. Two minutes later I received an email from Kevin.

To: ToriCarradale@craze.com

From: Kevinman@jump.co.za

Date: 25 August 2015

Subject: Since you won’t reply to me, I’m emailing you.

Dear Tori,

Please talk to me.

From,

Kevin Smith.

My mouth lifted on the sides when I read his email. Dean shifted next to me and I clamped my lips tightly together. I had to stop reacting to Kevin. I closed the email and turned to watch the movie.

Dean laughed a lot throughout the movie and it irritated me. His laugh irritated me a lot. He had one of those booming obnoxious laughs that made my skin crawl. The movie wasn’t that funny yet Dean found nearly every minute of it hilarious. He would laugh when a character sneezed, fell on the floor or hit something. Remarkably though, he never laughed at the one liners that were actually funny.

During one scene the male character sniffed and Dean laughed so hard that he had to push Tommy completely onto my lap while he held his stomach. His laugh was so piercing that it startled Tommy and made him cry. I had missed ten minutes of the ending because I had to leave the room to calm Tommy, who had frustrated Dean with his cries because he couldn’t hear the movie over his hysterical sobs.

By the time Tommy had calmed down, the movie was over and it was time for his dinner. I fed him in the kitchen where his high chair was. Once the music sounded signalling the end of the movie, Dean entered the kitchen. He stood by the table and stretched his arms up high into the air. Dean’s height meant his arms could only stretch halfway so he chose to bend them at the elbow and leaned back letting his spine click. His jacket hem rose, pulling his undershirt with it and a glimpse of a tanned and smooth abdomen could be seen. My eyes found his flesh and I stared midway through feeding Tommy. My earlier annoyance had suddenly evaporated along with my common sense.

Such gorgeous skin stood before me. I gasped as his shirt rode up higher displaying the bottom end of an impressive set of hard muscles. I licked my lips automatically and Dean chuckled. He straightened his body and strolled towards me with heated eyes and a smirk radiating his face.

Once he reached me, he leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “if you wanted me, all you had to do was ask.” I gulped and released a shaky breath. I was hot and bothered and dying to taste him. I looked into his green eyes and watched his lower as they drifted to my lips. I leaned in and Tommy gurgled breaking our connection.

I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. I quickly fed the last spoon to Tommy and then put the bottle of food on the other side of the table, far away from Tommy. I climbed out of my seat, completely aware that Dean’s eyes had yet to leave me, and reached for Dean. I clashed my lips on his and pulled at him. I let my tongue assault him and groaned when his returned the favour. I was desperate for him and my body was hot for the pleasure he could create in me. Dean reached for my thighs and in one swift move, lifted me onto the table. His body fell into the gap of my legs and pushed against my centre. His hands held my waist tight but quickly began ascending higher up my body. I wrapped my arms around his neck and touched the base of his neck where his head ended. I wished for hair to run my fingers through.

Dean’s fingers brushed my ribs and my body tingled. “Tori.” He moaned and moved his mouth to the base of my throat. I closed my eyes and stopped thinking. I let my body get lost in the feeling of unadulterated pleasure. He sucked on the exposed skin of my shoulder and I gasped at the feeling of satisfaction. He twirled his tongue in tormenting circles in the hollow of my shoulder and I sighed. “Oh Kevin.” I breathed at the same time Dean let out a long groan. I froze and my eyes opened as my body suddenly tensed. My lust filled haze was long gone and I waited for the repercussions of my slip up.

Dean felt my body still and stopped his enticing kisses. He looked at me with a frown and I sat waiting with bated breath for his accusations. They never came.

“Am I going too fast? Did I scare you off? I’m so sorry Tori.” He buried his head in the crook of my shoulder. “I just got carried away with how fantastic you felt.” I sighed in relief; he hadn’t heard me.

I laughed nervously in reply. “I just think we should cool it down, especially with Tommy watching.” I looked to Tommy who sat idly playing with his spoon in his mouth. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten about him. I pushed at Dean’s shoulders and jumped off the table. I rushed to Tommy and grabbed the spoon out of his hands. I began pacing with the spoon held tightly in my grasp. I had never been so distracted that I had potentially left Tommy in danger. He could have choked on the spoon and I would have been helpless, all because I got lost in kissing Dean.

“Tori what are you thinking?” I stopped in my tracks.

“I ignored him Dean. He could have choked.”

“Who?” He asked. I stared in shock at his stupidity.

“Tommy!” I shouted. “You let me get distracted and I forgot to make sure he didn’t have any choking hazards in his reach. How could I have done that?”

He laughed, “relax, it isn’t that big of a deal. It was only spoon dammit.”

I clenched my fist and held the spoon so tightly in my one hand that I could feel the outline of the spoon being crafted into my skin. “I think you need to leave.” My voice was venomous.

“What? You can’t be serious Tori?” He seemed generally surprised by my outburst.

“Leave. I need to calm down and its Tommy’s bedtime. I refuse to ignore him anymore tonight.”

He grunted, “then let me stay. I’ll wait in the living room while you put him to bed. We can play when you’re done.” He licked his lips suggestively and I pulled my lips up in disgust.

“No,” I said sternly. “I’m not in the mood to socialise anymore. Please leave, I’ll call you tomorrow.” I looked away from him and I heard him grumble under his breath. Dean slowly walked towards me and kissed my head. “Goodnight babe.” He whispered and left the room.

Soon after Dean left, the front door closed and then his car engine sounded and I heard him drive away. I looked to Tommy who was rubbing his eyes lazily. He yawned and looked to me sleepily.

“Let’s get you to bed.” I picked him up and walked him to my room. I rocked him to sleep while I tried to let my mind focus on anything besides the night’s activities. I thought of how I had abandoned Tommy at first but the thought only made me want to cry, instead I let my mind create a vivid image of Kevin.

My mind conjured up an image of his piercing grey eyes and I smiled. I could feel my disappointment and anger disappear the more I looked into the image of Kevin’s eyes.

He was my happy place.