Page 97 of Your Sharpest Edge
I coughed a few times, splashing myself with some of the pool water to bring myself back to reality and center myself here to answer his question.
“I, uh.” Fuck. I had no idea how to say this. “I had to come to Chicago, and your mom and grandma had to work together so Mommy was able to come home and take good care of you.”
Damien’s small brow furrowed. “But you’re here now, right?”
I smiled, ruffling his hair gently. “I am. And I’ll always be here for you and your mom.”
He nodded, accepting my answer for now. His attention shifted back to the pool, his earlier curiosity momentarilyforgotten. As he splashed around, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness and love for the little boy.
I turned my gaze back to Anastasia, watching her laugh and chat, her beauty and strength captivating me all over again. She glanced over and caught my eye, giving me a warm smile that made my heart skip a beat.
My mind wandered back to the promise I had made to myself—to be there for them, no matter what. As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the pool, a sense of peace washed over me.
“You guys ready to come in?” Anastasia asked.
“No. Please, Mom, let me stay here for a little bit longer,” the little boy begged.
I turned and looked at him. “I have your favorite pizza and special juice downstairs.”
“Oh,” he shouted. “I love pizza and extra apple juice.”
I laughed as I lifted Damien out of the pool. He ran over to Anastasia, who wrapped him tightly with a towel after taking off his pool floatie.
Chuckling, I lifted myself out of the pool. I walked to where they stood and stared at her while the water dripped onto the cement.
Her red lips parted as her eyes trailed from the ground up to meet my gaze.
“Well,” I asked in a voice that was far huskier than I’d intended. “Can I get a towel, too?”
“Oh.” She jumped backward, almost crashing into the recliner. “Oh,” she repeated. “Of course. Let me just...” She turned around and grabbed a blue towel before she ran behind me and rubbed me down, drying me off.
I chuckled. “I can do that,” I said, grabbing the ends of the towel and running it through my disheveled hair.
“Of course. Oh my god. Yes. Of course you can,” she said, turning around, but I noticed Ledger had grabbed Damien’s hand and was guiding him toward the door, grumbling about alone time and the pizza getting cold.
I grabbed her waist, pulling her tight into my chest. We stayed there for a long while, staring up at each other.
“You’re getting me wet,” she whispered.
I looked down, a straight shot through her cleavage. My cock twitched, and I dropped the towel that I’d slung over my shoulders, letting the water still on me soak through her little blue bikini.
“You’re getting me hard,” I countered.
“I can feel that,” she squeaked out.
“That’s a shame,” I muttered.
“W-why?” She whimpered.
“Because I can’t feel you getting wet.”
I trailed my hands down the sides of her body, tracing along the curves of her figure. It would take a flick of my finger to remove the bathing suit, but it covered what was mine.
“Alex,” Anastasia breathlessly moaned.
My name on her lips never sounded better.
“Yes, malyshka.” The familiar nickname in our first language rolled effortlessly off my tongue.
