Because of Them (Because of Love #2)

Chapter Twenty-Six

MICHAEL

M y feet twitch inside my boots. Not the work ones, for a change. A pair of nice leather ones Brendan assured me would make me ‘look the part’. Sure, they look nice, but they squeeze at the sides of my feet and rub at the back of my heels. I’d much prefer my worn in steel caps, even if the seams are a little frayed and the years of mud has stained the black into a faded, murky grey.

I also wish I’d been to the gym this morning. Worked off some of the excess energy that swims through me. My calf cramps as I walk across the driveway, a painful reminder that I’ve skipped leg day most of all. But the truth is, going to the gym just hasn’t had the same appeal lately. Not when I could be spending time with Audrey. I still care about my fitness and I do enough to maintain the physique I’ve grown accustomed to, but smashing endless weights day in and day out, fighting to lift that little bit more than the guy next to me, just doesn’t have the same appeal anymore.

Even so, it’s a good release when I need it, and I should have gone this morning. Should have anticipated the anxious way my limbs feel like they’re on fire and my pulse pounds against my neck.

Too late to go back now though. I step up to Audrey’s porch and freeze with my hand on the door handle. Should I knock? I stayed here the night before last, and the one before that. And plenty of other nights over the past few weeks. We agreed that I would make a gradual move into the house, easing my way into Audrey’s—and Maisie’s—day-to-day lives. This place is starting to feel like home, but I don’t know if I should call it that yet. Or if I should act like it, or if I should knock on the door like a guest.

A shared laughter echoes from deep within the house, the low bass of Christmas music wafts through the windows. And then, Maisie’s cheerful chatter, distinct as though she is right on the other side of the front door.

“I want … when … Michael …” I don’t catch all the words as she chitters away at a breakneck speed, but that was definitely my name.

I wiggle my toes, hoping the itch disappears when they realise the boots are staying. It doesn’t, at least not yet. Baxter steps in between my legs. His tail wags vigorously, slapping my legs with his playful force.

“Okay,” I whisper down to him.

Straightening my shoulders, I turn the matte black knob and push into the house.

Maisie squeals from down the hall, barrelling towards me and cheering. Baxter pulls at his lead, bouncing to meet her. They’ve met before, but every time it’s the same playful excitement. From both of them.

Once Baxter has found some chill, I unclip the lead and let him nuzzle against Maisie’s stomach. She pets his back in long strokes.

“Oh Baxter, my sweet sweet boy.”

I can’t hold back the smile that spreads across my face as I watch the two of them. He’d never been around kids before, and I’d been so worried how he would react. To Maisie, sure, but also to the babies. But he has fully committed to the fur-brother role.

“Hi Michael,” Maisie sings, keeping both hands on Baxter. He nuzzles against them when her movements slow to a stop.

“Hey Maisie.”

“We’re down here,” Audrey’s voice floats through the house, her gentle melody soaks into my skin, heating my soul from the inside out.

I make my way towards her, nudging Baxter out of the way as I move past. “Let me know if he gets annoying,” I tell Maisie. She opens her mouth, eyes wide as she shakes her head.

The dining table has been turned into a spread, far too large for the four of us and Maisie. A small selection of deli meats is scattered between countless cheeses, fruit, dips, chocolate pretzels, veggie sticks, chips, mini cupcakes, candy canes and gingerbread. Nothing is missing. In the centre is the crystal vase my mum helped me pick out for Audrey’s birthday. The lilies I got her started wilting a while ago, but they’ve been replaced with an abundance of greenery, deep burgundy flowers and bright red … berries? I think. They spill out onto the table in a way that can only be deliberate, the green gum leaves twisting around the plates of food. The flowers and berries are scattered throughout and the whole thing looks like it belongs in a Christmas catalogue. It begs me to start eating, and I’m desperate to fill the pit that’s been forming in my stomach, but it’s also incredibly perfect. I don’t want to ruin it.

“I went a little overboard.” Audrey gestures to the table from where she sits on one of the stools by the island bench.

Callum sits at the head of the table, holding Cassidy between his legs. He chuckles. “A little.”

“Well, I did too.” Cassidy steps away from him, arms folding. She glares down at her boyfriend before turning to me. “Hi Michael.”

Bonus Family Christmas. That’s what the women had called it when they came up with the idea. A new tradition because even though they are divorced, Maisie deserves a celebration with both her parents together. It makes sense, mostly because Audrey and Cassidy somehow get along so well. I wasn’t going to question their decision either way though.

Maisie runs into the room demanding that it’s time for presents.

“You said as soon as Michael gets her,” she whines.

“No, I said we have to wait for Michael to get here. That’s not the same thing.” Callum’s voice is calm but stern, a skill I’ll have to master.

“Well, it’s the same thing to me.”

Audrey struggles off the stool and I race over to help her. “Christmas is not all about presents,” she says once she is on her feet.

It’s impossible for me not to hold her protectively while she stands so close to me. I wrap an arm around her, pulling her into my side. My free hand rests on her stomach, and our babies kick playfully under my touch. It’s hard to believe she has two butternut pumpkin sized babies in there, according to the app I downloaded anyway. Although, the midwives did say they will probably be a little smaller. Regardless, I have no idea how they fit. Audrey’s insides must be squished within an inch of their functionality, and the thought only makes me appreciate her more.

“Yes it is. ” Maisie stamps her foot in front of us.

I have to bite my lips together to hold back the laughter that threatens to spill out. “Um, yeah. It kind of is for a kid.”

“And I’m a kid. See Mum.”

Audrey whips her head towards me. “Michael.”

“Sorry,” I whisper before squeezing her closer. Time could stop, for all I know. She relaxes underneath my arms and I breathe in the fruity smell of her hair. Her breasts move against my chest as she breathes, slow and steady like she might fall asleep in my arms.

I forget where we are, forget who we are with. Nudging her neck up with my nose, I kiss the soft skin behind her ear. She whimpers and I move to claim the sound with my mouth. Just a small kiss, a reminder. A promise.

A chirping voice screams, “Ew.”

Audrey pulls away from me like we’re teenagers caught making out behind the gym. Her cheeks are flushed.

“Sorry,” I whisper to her again.

Her chin jerks in response, but she rolls her shoulders and spins to face the room with a wide grin. “Presents!” she cheers, shifting the attention back to Christmas.

Maisie cheers, racing over to the tree in the corner. When I left yesterday evening, the pine tree was still bare. I’d lugged it inside and figured out how to make it stand straight in the base, but it took longer than I anticipated. Once it was safely standing it was time for dinner, and then for Maisie to go to bed. Audrey had to swear she wouldn’t do the decorations while Maisie was in bed.

They must have spent all morning decorating it. Baubles and handmade ornaments are scattered around the needles, heavily focused on the lower half. Fairy lights wrap around the tree, twinkling a gorgeous snowy white glow that leaves little reflections all through the room.

Maisie crawls under the branches to retrieve a gold wrapped bundle. Baxter follows her in, knocking a few dangling baubles on his way. When he emerges from under the tree, pine needles stick to his fur. Before I can call him over, Cassidy crouches beside the couch. He bounds over for a pet and she works to pick each one out.

Maisie takes a few steps away from the tree and looks between her mother and father. Audrey gives a little nod.

My mouth drops open when Maisie walks over to me, shuffling her feet along the mat and holding the present in front of her. Something tingles along my spine and settles in my stomach. Not like the anxious pit that was there moments ago, this is light and airy. I spent hours trying to come up with the perfect gift for Maisie. Audrey said she likes Bluey and Frozen and singing and dancing but nothing felt right. I scoured the shops, and every online retailer I could think of, and I doubt the silly little token gift is enough. I drop to my knees, hoping that it is because the last thing I expected was Maisie to get me something.

“This is for you.” She forces the present into my hands. My fingers tremble as I take it from her.

“Wait here.”

I stand, turning to see Audrey holding out the small wrapped box I left under the tree last night. Taking it from her, I drop back to the ground.

“And this is for you.”

Maisie snatches the present from me and tears away the red paper. Her eyes light up and I’ve never seen her cheeks puff so much with her smile. She beams brighter than all the Christmas lights on the street. In the entire suburb.

“A microphone?!” She squeals, jumps, twirls, in excitement. She rips at the box to get to the bright pink, battery operated microphone. Turning it on, her squeals are amplified through the house. “Oh my golly Michael, this is the best thing ever!”

Audrey’s hand rests on my shoulder as I start to open my present. “Maisie chose it herself.”

Under the slightly wrinkled gold paper is a denim utility belt. The dark fabric is covered with pockets, loops, fasteners, and hangs from a wide black belt. It doesn’t matter that I still have a perfectly fine belt in my ute. It doesn’t matter that I don’t use it as often now that I’m spending more time managing Noah’s hotel build than I do on the tools. It’s perfect. Because it’s for me, from Maisie.

The little girl who once scared me shitless, who I once ran away from. Not only am I slowly getting used to being around her, not only am I not scared to see her anymore but sometimes I get kind of excited. And she wanted to get me a Christmas present. She cares about me.

Tears well in my eyes.

“Michael, are you okay?!” Maisie’s voice still booms as she speaks directly into the microphone.

I reach my arms to hug her, and she squeezes her little body into mine. “Merry Christmas.”

Hours later, when all the presents are unwrapped and most of the food on the table has been eaten, Maisie is still singing every line into the microphone.

“That stays here,” Callum grumbles as he gathers their things.

There was tension, leading up to this weekend, it creeps back through the room. The air chills with it. It’s nearing Maisie’s bedtime, but when she leaves Audrey won’t see her until after Christmas. Even though it was her choice, I can see the way she stands back, shoulders tense as they all say goodbye. I’m sure she’ll be grateful for it next year, when she can spend the babies’ first Christmas with Maisie as well, but that doesn’t make this year any easier.

She squeezes Maisie a little harder than usual, pulling the thin fabric of her cardigan around over her bump.

“You’ll leave the sign for Santa? Just in case he comes here by accident?” Maisie voice tremors, the microphone finally falling limp in her hands.

“Of course I will.”

Once they are gone, I steer Audrey away from the kitchen and towards the couch.

“Put your feet up.” I tell her as I walk back towards the kitchen.

She protests but leans against the cushions and props her feet on the coffee table. Her head falls right back until she is looking off the back of the couch and up at me. There’s a twinkle in her eye. She watches me intently as she pulls her lower lip into her mouth and lets it out slowly. My cock twitches, thinking of all the things we could do with her in that position. Well, of one very particular thing. I step towards her, thinking with my dick.

The back of the couch is low, and my crotch is right in her face. Even with her upside-down there’s no hiding the rapidly forming bulge in my pants. Her tongue darts out to lick her lips. With the tips of my fingers, I tickle her cheek, one thumb pressing on her mouth. She swallows, her throat bobbing.

“Audrey?”

Stretching her arms over her head, she grabs the back of my legs and pulls me closer. Her face is pressed against my erection. I let my hands explore down her body. One holds loosely around her throat, the other stretching lower to massage her breasts. She moans, and I crumble at the sound.

“Audrey?” I ask again.

In answer, she bites playfully through the fabric of my pants. A grumble forms in my chest as she fumbles with the button and zipper. I help her get them undone and she pulls my jeans down along with my briefs.

Her warm breath coasts along my shaft, sending a shiver that stretches right through me. With a long languid lick, Audrey teases me from base to tip.

“You’ll need to do most of the work,” she whispers. Adjusting herself, she lets her head tip back over the couch and drops her mouth open. My heart races with anticipation.

I nudge the tip of my cock past her lips and adjust one of her hands to rest on the back of my thigh.

“Pinch if it’s too much.”

Audrey tickles me, humming in response. The vibrations in her throat edge me forward until she takes every inch of my dick in her mouth. I pull out before she gags, but she hollows her cheeks and sucks me down.

Fucking her face, I dip my hand into her top and toy with her nipple. She moans again and I nearly come apart. My balls draw tight against her face as I pump in and out, her tongue flat against my shaft and the tip falling deep into her throat. Pleasure is a wave that washes over me until I can’t hold it in anymore.

“Audrey I’m going to …”

With the hand still wrapped around my leg, she holds me inside her. My release comes hard and fast as I spill deep in her throat. She sucks every last drop out of me and only then does she release her hold so I can pull back.

My chest heaves as my vision blurs and returns. I hoist myself over the couch until I’m straddling Audrey, all my weight on my knees either side of her legs.

Mascara runs down her cheeks but … fuck. I can’t get enough of her. I bunch my fingers in her hair and lean down to kiss her puffy and swollen lips. Her tongue carries my salty taste but I savour it.

“Fuck, I love you.”

She giggles under me. “I love you, too.”