He smiled.
His eyes roamed over her body, his hands began their exploration, then his mouth, oh God, his mouth…it went everywhere. To the crook of her elbow, to her legs where he lifted one and kissed the back of her knee. She startled, he said, “Hurt?” and she said, “No, excited. Who knew?”
He was impressively aroused, she noticed when he came back up. This time, he parted her thighs and pressed his big, masculine palm into her. She reveled in the sensations, in the spurt of pleasure when he exerted more pressure. “Derek…”
“You’re gorgeous when you’re aroused.”
All she could do was moan. “I don’t think I can…oh!” He parted her and inserted one finger…then two.
“No more. I want us together the first time.”
His hand retreated. He stretched out again, rolled on the latex sheath, and pulled her leg over his. Skin to skin excited her.
He ordered, “Look at me.”
She kept her eyes open as he entered her. He was hard and big and filled her completely.
Then he began to move. “Oh,” she protested. “Not so soon.”
“We’ll…” he thrust again “…do more…” He pushed harder “…when we can take our time.” A final thrust and they both spiraled. Not easy like a waterfall. But strong and sweeping.
It was a cataclysmic explosion.
Epilogue
* * *
“Hey, Derek. I got PickWits, a new board game we can play.” Mikey had torn off the wrapping paper then looked up. “You gotta match the pictures with the captions.”
Derek moved to him, picked up the instructions. “Hmm. There’s 504 pictures and 144 captions. And four people can play.”
“Or just us, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“My turn.” Mattie ripped open his present, his dark eyes dancing. “I got a game, too. Oh, gosh. It’s Mousetrap. I wanted this.”
“What do you do?” Derek pretended he hadn’t studied up on age-appropriate gifts for the boys.
“You gotta get through machine traps to get the cheese, but you can steal from each other.” His face was devilish. “I’ll beat you.”
“Maybe.”
Derek sent a slanting glance at Alessia, who cuddled up in a corner of the couch, sipping Christmas morning coffee. Then he said to the boy, “I see. Wow, we’re going to have a lot to do.” He’d become a master at games as a way to relate to her younger sons. It had worked to integrate him into the family.
Pete picked up a long, wide gift. His dark eyes were full of mirth, so good to see. “My turn.” He tore at the wrapping paper. “Oh, four more model airplanes. These’ll take hours.” His eyes sparkled at Derek, too.
He’d made model planes when he was young, and when Pete had shown an interest, Derek jumped at the chance. He was getting to know the oldest child through them.
Surprising them both, Pete had also taken Derek aside and told him that he knew all about the presents Derek sent his mom. And deduced that he was groveling. Pete didn’t ask what Derek had done. Someday, when the boy was older and he could tell him the truth, he vowed he would.
“So, that’s it for material gifts,” Mattie stated.
“Yeah,” Mikey said. “Then we get our things to do presents. One to do with Mom, and probably you now, Derek, and one with our friends.”
Derek totally agreed with how Alessia was raising the boys to be non-materialistic. He’d gladly contributed to the concert Pete wanted to go to with Jason, and the movie tickets to their favorite theater. They’d bring a friend each.
The kids ohhed and ahhed over both their gifts.
“Thanks Mom, and Derek.” Pete sounded very grateful.
“Yeah, thanks,” the boys said in unison.
Mattie stood. “I’m hungry.”
“Doesn’t Mom get a non-material gift from each of you?”
The twins gave each other impish smiles. “Oh, yeah, we forgot.”
“Do mine first, Mom,” Pete said.
Alessia opened the wrapped envelope and then read the paper inside. “Six nights of watching my brothers, so you can go out.” He looked at Derek. “It’s for you, too.” He turned back to Alessia, this time his eyes challenging. “You said I could at twelve, right?”
“I did.” Rising, Alessia crossed to Pete and hugged him. She was so grateful for the changes in him since the smoking incident. “Thanks, buddy.”
He held on a bit longer than he usually did, then said, “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too.”
Derek knew the declaration was the best present of the morning.
The boys gave him first choice for a month in picking the games they played. For her, they would do the weeding once spring and summer came.
“Wow, that’s great, you guys.” She