long before he was whimpering.
“Want me to suck you?”
“Yes.”
“Gonna come for me again?”
He nodded.
“You’re incredible.”
“Yours.”
“Ours.”
Then I took him into my mouth while Denver kicked up his game. It wasn’t long before they were both coming, my mouth filled with hot jets of Edison’s release. Denver’s grip on my hair was painful, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt, I could do this for the rest of my life and never need anything more.
After, we were a mess, but we didn’t care. Denver pulled out, and we each added a finger inside Edison’s ass, holding in the gift we’d given him. The kid was practically lethargic. The profoundness of the moment shifted something in my chest. For a second, I thought it was panic, but then I recognized it for something different, something more.
I found a discarded shirt and cleaned Edison up the best I could. He was messier than both of us, but by the look on his face, he wasn’t concerned.
The three of us traded kisses until our hearts settled to a more normal rate. Edison between us, we lay close, always touching, unable to stop.
The hour was late, and before long, we surrendered to sleep.
Sun streaming through the window woke me the following morning. I squinted against the assault and looked around. Denver wasn’t in bed, but Edison was sprawled across the mattress, taking up all the room, still far away in dreamland. He was on his belly, hands folded under his chin, lips parted, long lashes resting peacefully on his cheeks. I stared and stared because he was more beautiful than ever, and I didn’t want to look away.
I shifted onto his pillow, placed my head beside his, and watched him sleep for a while. This precious child who wasn’t a child anymore had always meant the world to me. I had no idea that feeling could possibly grow bigger or stronger, but it had. Overnight it had.
In the distance, I could hear Denver working in the kitchen, probably making coffee or breakfast. For the first time in many, many years, I felt settled and happy. No longer chasing a fleeting feeling I could never catch, no longer mourning a time I was sure I’d never get back. It was within my grasp, and I’d be damned if I’d ever let it go.
Unable to help it, I grazed my knuckles down Edison’s cheek. His skin was mostly smooth. There was a subtle rasp from the facial hair he still couldn’t quite grow.
He licked his lips in his sleep and sighed.
“Mine,” I whispered, breathing him in. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.” I kissed him gently, trying not to wake him.
He stirred regardless and peeled his eyes open one at a time. “Dad?” His voice was hoarse, thick with sleep.
“Good morning.”
The smile he gifted me was pure and shone like the light of a thousand suns. “Good morning.”
“You okay?”
“I’m perfect.” He closed his eyes for a long blink before focusing on me again.
I rested a hand on his bare hip under the covers, his smooth skin hot from sleep. I pecked his mouth, once, twice, the third time deepening the kiss until he groaned and kissed back. “I love you, kiddo. So much. Last night was everything. You were amazing.”
“I love you too.” He closed his eyes again, clinging to me, his smile content.
“I’m gonna get up. Sleep more if you need to. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
He mumbled and snuggled deeper into the pillow, burying his face.
Finding a pair of Denver’s joggers, I followed the scent of coffee toward the kitchen. Denver was reading the news on his iPad, wearing a thin pair of cotton pajama pants and a T-shirt, his hair a rumpled mess.
He glanced up as I entered, a soft smile on his face. “Good morning.”
I bent and kissed him, lingering a minute, roughing my hands over his unshaven jaw. I hummed, loving the feel of his mouth. “Morning.”
“Coffee?”
“Mm… Please.”
He got up to grab me a mug, but I crowded him against the counter before he got there, nuzzling his neck and engulfing him in a tight hug. I needed to touch him as badly as I’d needed to touch Edison. “Last night was incredible,” I mumbled against his skin.
Denver rested his hands on my hips. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He encouraged me to lift my face, cradling my cheek. I nuzzled into the hold as he looked at me, his gaze full of wonder and awe. “I meant what I said, Har. I want you