Book One: Chapter 23
Book One: Chapter 23
“Look daddy! Clean hands!” Aria proudly declared as she and Caden returned from the bathroom.
“Very good!” he laughed picking her up and carrying her to the table which had been set much the
same as the night before minus the candles. Even the bouquet remained as the centerpiece. “So
what’s for dinner?”
“Lasagna,” Macey said bringing out the dish. “Come on everyone sit.”
The kids climbed into their seats as their mother served out their portions alongside steamed
vegetables. Caden looked at his meal and then to his mother expectantly. Macey chuckled bringing out
a plate with a wedge of parmesan. She held the shredder over his lasagna and grated the cheese onto
it. He smiled happily.
“Me too mommy!” Aria declared.
As Macey performed the same task for her Julius recalled the scene from the restaurant when Caden
requested parmesan only to give his mother a disappointed scowl at the shaker. Was this the cheese
he really wanted?
“Do you want some too daddy?” Aria asked.
“Well…” Julius glanced at Macey wondering if she would repeat the task for him as lovingly as she did
for their children. His answer came as she set the plate, cheese and shredder within his reach before
sitting down to her own meal. Apparently he would have to do it himself. The kids snickered at his
expense though he didn’t really mind.
They fell into comfortable silence as they ate. Macey’s cooking was as amazing as he remembered.
She often made dinner during the two years they were together but he couldn’t recall ever sincerely
praising her efforts.
“Did I ever tell you…you are an amazing cook?” Julius suddenly asked looking at her. Macey looked up
but didn’t answer perhaps trying to recall. “Because you are an excellent cook.”
Julius grasped her hand kissing it. Macey blushed though he wasn’t certain if it was from the
compliment or the kiss. Aria and Caden exchanged smiles while their parents were distracted. This was
going quite well considering they were already into Phase Five, the last stage of their plan.
This part was the trickiest as it relied on their father to make the boldest move yet. They felt he was
ready but they weren’t so sure about their mother. Not only did their father have to make the move but
their mother needed to accept it.
“Macey…there is something I’ve wanted to ask you,” Julius said. Aria and Caden perked up to listen. “It
seems dad purchased an art gallery and the grand opening is tomorrow night.”
Macey nodded already aware but not wanting to admit what she knew.
“…So would you like to go together?” Julius asked and held his breath waiting for her answer.
Macey bit her lip. His gaze was sincere, almost pleading. Should she tell him the truth now? What
would he think? Would he think less of her or more? In the end she simply didn’t have the courage.
“…Sure. Yes,” she finally said. “We can go together. All of us.”
“Yeah!” Aria excitedly cheered. Initially she had been disappointed by her father’s question but held it
in. Going as a family meant they would be together the whole night. There was plenty of time to
complete Phase Five. Caden nodded in silent agreement.
Julius let out the breath he was holding and kissed her hand, “Thank you. So tomorrow we’ll go
shopping for party clothes, all right?”
“Can we?” Aria clapped excitedly.
“Aria, we already have party clothes,” Macey shook her head. She had strived to teach the children to
be frugal and not waste the gifts they were given. They certainly weren’t poor but that was no reason to
be careless.
“But you already wore those dresses mommy. We should get something new!”
“Aria.”
“If we get something new then we can match daddy too!” Aria declared.
“Now that is an idea,” Julius smiled.
“What are you going to wear, daddy?” Caden asked.
“Well, a suit. It’s supposed to be black tie.”
“Don’t worry, Caden,” Macey assured him knowing how much he hated restrictive formal wear. “There
isn’t really a dress code.”
“But I want to match daddy,” Caden said. “Aria always gets to match you. I want to match too.”
Macey bit her lip. Caden had always despised formal attire claiming it was uncomfortable. Yet he
encouraged his mother and sister to wear pretty gowns. He never complained but maybe the truth was
he really did want someone he could match the same way his sister did. She felt Julius’s grip tighten
drawing her attention. He watched her with the same sincere, pleading look. Julius wanted them to go
as a family.
Finally she conceded, “All right. Okay. We’ll go shopping tomorrow.”
Julius smiled kissing her hand again while Aria clapped. His father warned him Macey didn’t need him
and perhaps that was true but he still hoped for, longed for, her to want him and to want everything he
could provide. For now he would revel in the fact he would attend the event with his family by his side.
And then the world would know how much this woman truly meant to him.
* * *
“In a warm and sultry forest far, far away, there once lived a mother fruit bat and her new baby…”
Aria and Caden cuddled up on either side of him as he read Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. Macey Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
watched from the doorway. It had been years since the kids requested a bedtime story from her. She
wondered if it was because they were bored or if this new found interest was them wanting to create
memories with their father.
Macey felt a pain of guilt. Aria and Caden had never mentioned the desire for a father or questioned
why he wasn’t around. At first she thought it was because they weren’t interested in one but now she
knew it was short-sighted for her to think that. How could they not wonder about their father when they
saw other kids with theirs? There was only one reason they wouldn’t ask about their father…and that
was so they didn’t upset her.
Tucking the twins in bed Macey pulled the door closed her thoughts still churning. Julius hugged her
from behind pulling her close as he kissed the nape of her neck. Macey slowly relaxed as he held her
body against his rocking slightly side to side. He caressed her lazily kissing down her neck.
“Julius…”
“Tell me what you want, Macey,” Julius whispered against her ear. “Do you want me to stop?”
“…No.”
“Good.” He picked her up bridal style and carried her to the bedroom.
Macey gasped suddenly finding herself lifted in his arms. She didn’t protest as he carried her to the
bedroom where he finally set her on her feet. He held her close his mouth finding hers as his hands
roamed her curves.
His lips pulled away long enough to pull her shirt over her head. He immediately pulled her back into
his embrace bowing his head to kiss her neck. His hands fiddled with and finally unhooked her bra.
Macey tugged his shirt off letting her hands run down his chest.
Julius hummed reveling in the feel of her hands. It had been so long since he allowed a woman to
touch him. Every woman’s touch made his skin crawl. Only hers made him quiver with need. Trailing
kisses down her body he pulled down her pants. She stepped out of them shivering, her face already
flushed.
Smiling Julius guided her to the bed laying her down and kissing her deeply. He nibbled her ear and
kissed her neck whispering, “Tell me you want this Macey. Do you want this?”
“Y-yes.”
“As you wish.”
He pulled away shedding the last of his clothes before slowly working up her body. Macey moaned as
his hands caressed her thighs gripping her hips. She gasped as his tongue ran up her entrance and
teased her clit.
“Julius!”
“Shhh…”
She moaned as his tongue continued to work her moist folds darting in and out of her. His hands held
her hips steady as she squirmed with the sensations he was causing. Her orgasm came unexpectedly
as his teeth grazed her clit again. Julius hummed satisfaction slowly working his way higher to suck on
her breast.
Macey groaned trying to catch her breath from her first climax. He left no room for recovery as his
fingers entered her next. His thumb rubbed and teased her clit as one then two fingers stroked inside.
Her moans filled the room as her hips moved against him forcing him deeper. He moved to her other
breast, nipping her tender peak.
There were too many sensations happening at the same time. Her brain couldn’t process them all at
once as she reached another climax. The motion of his fingers slowed drawing out her pleasure before
continuing faster. His fingers curled teasing her. Macey squirmed unable to control herself as her body
clenched and she reached another peak much too quickly.
She lay panting as he finally allowed her a moment of rest. Julius kissed up her chest to her neck.
Macey moaned as he slowly pressed inside her. Her body welcomed him anticipating the pleasure he
would give her.
“Tell me what you want, Macey,” he whispered huskily.
“I—I…I want you.”
“As you wish.”
Julius kissed her deeply his tongue teasing hers swallowing her moans as he pulled out before
thrusting in. She rocked with him as he set the rhythm. Her back arched and her hips rolled against his
drawing him in. She wasn’t ready for her next orgasm as her body clenched around him. Julius
groaned holding back letting her pleasure ride before pressing into her again. His thrusts came harder
and faster. Macey moaned trying to catch her breath. Her mind was muddled as he continued harder,
faster, her pleasure building.
Julius groaned as she clenched his length. There was no holding himself back this time as he filled her
with his essence. They lay slowly catching their breath as they came down together. Moaning he eased
out of her kissing her lovingly as her body completely relaxed. Macey sighed hardly aware he left the
bed. He returned with a warm wash cloth gently cleaning her before rejoining her under the covers.
Spooning her he held her against him and fell into a satisfied sleep.