just tired. Like she's detaching. It's fucking spooky. You'll learn to tell the difference between normal tired and that. Then she needs a session. Under normal circumstances our regular trips to the club are enough to keep her going without extra sessions. We might have very light play sessions here during the week.
"But now...” He looked out the sliders. “I'm hoping once the shock wears off and she's helping teach you that it will give her enough to focus on and I can back off on the sessions for a while. We'll have to keep a close eye on her."
It sounded both weird and right for Kaden to say “we” when talking about her. “Why aren't we out there with her right now?"
"Because when she does something like this and can find release on her own, it's better for her to handle it on her own. It's helping her cope in a healthy way. She'll come find me—or you now too, I guess, depending on what's happening—if she needs aftercare."
Seth rolled his eyes. “Great. More vocabulary."
Leah climbed out of the pool. Now it registered in Seth's mind that she was naked. In the low light he hadn't noticed before.
Kaden headed for his bedroom. “I'll talk to you in the morning."
Seth finally got his drink of water and returned to his room in a daze.
What had he said yes to?
Despite his swirling mix of emotions, he knew he couldn't back out now.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 4
Seth awoke to the smell of coffee and...
Mmm. Bacon.
Leah was a great cook. He remembered his stay with them after his surgery, when she cooked every meal for him. They'd spent a lot of time talking while he was with them, with Kaden gone to work every day. Leah stayed home and took care of him. She was always comfortable to talk to.
He rolled over and looked at the clock. Seven-thirty.
He was about to get up when he heard a soft tap on his door. He pulled the sheet back over him because he'd slept naked. “Yes?"
The door opened. Leah peeked in, smiling. Despite her puffy eyes the smile seemed genuine. “Coffee."
He nodded. “Thanks. I'll come get some in a minute."
She pushed the door open. He was relieved to see she was wearing a long T-shirt in addition to the collar. “No, silly. I have your coffee.” He realized she carried a steaming mug.
"Oh. Thank you.” He nervously smoothed the covers to hide his morning boner, then realized that might have made matters worse.
She walked the mug over to him and set it on the bedside table. “You don't have to thank me."
"Um, it would be rude if I didn't, babe."
"I owe you, not the other way around.” She took a deep breath as her smile faltered before she regained it. “I've got maple bacon, scrambled eggs, and I'm starting the French toast now."
"Jesus, Leah. I'm going to look like a water buffalo in a month."
Her playful grin finally reached her eyes. “Don't worry. I'll help whip you into shape."
She left him laughing.
* * * *
He'd take a shower at his brother's before he went to class. He dressed, then walked out to the kitchen. Leah stood at the stove. The place smelled great. He had to admit he'd really missed this. During his earlier stay, he'd quickly grown to love being with Leah and Kade.
It felt like a home. In a way he'd never felt, even with his ex wives.
"Where's Kade?” He took his usual place at the counter.
"He'll be out in a few minutes.” She walked over and took his mug without asking, poured him more coffee.
"Thanks."
She started to say something but he held up a hand. “Listen. Y'all are just going to have to get used to me saying thank you.” Leah smiled again. He studied her. “I'm still convinced this is a really whacked out nightmare or something. No offense, hon."
He wished he'd kept his fucking mouth shut, because she looked sad again.
Kaden's dying.
She nodded. “I know,” she whispered. “Me too. No offense."
They both froze, then nervously laughed. He stood and held out his arms. She went to him and he hugged her. For once
"But now...” He looked out the sliders. “I'm hoping once the shock wears off and she's helping teach you that it will give her enough to focus on and I can back off on the sessions for a while. We'll have to keep a close eye on her."
It sounded both weird and right for Kaden to say “we” when talking about her. “Why aren't we out there with her right now?"
"Because when she does something like this and can find release on her own, it's better for her to handle it on her own. It's helping her cope in a healthy way. She'll come find me—or you now too, I guess, depending on what's happening—if she needs aftercare."
Seth rolled his eyes. “Great. More vocabulary."
Leah climbed out of the pool. Now it registered in Seth's mind that she was naked. In the low light he hadn't noticed before.
Kaden headed for his bedroom. “I'll talk to you in the morning."
Seth finally got his drink of water and returned to his room in a daze.
What had he said yes to?
Despite his swirling mix of emotions, he knew he couldn't back out now.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 4
Seth awoke to the smell of coffee and...
Mmm. Bacon.
Leah was a great cook. He remembered his stay with them after his surgery, when she cooked every meal for him. They'd spent a lot of time talking while he was with them, with Kaden gone to work every day. Leah stayed home and took care of him. She was always comfortable to talk to.
He rolled over and looked at the clock. Seven-thirty.
He was about to get up when he heard a soft tap on his door. He pulled the sheet back over him because he'd slept naked. “Yes?"
The door opened. Leah peeked in, smiling. Despite her puffy eyes the smile seemed genuine. “Coffee."
He nodded. “Thanks. I'll come get some in a minute."
She pushed the door open. He was relieved to see she was wearing a long T-shirt in addition to the collar. “No, silly. I have your coffee.” He realized she carried a steaming mug.
"Oh. Thank you.” He nervously smoothed the covers to hide his morning boner, then realized that might have made matters worse.
She walked the mug over to him and set it on the bedside table. “You don't have to thank me."
"Um, it would be rude if I didn't, babe."
"I owe you, not the other way around.” She took a deep breath as her smile faltered before she regained it. “I've got maple bacon, scrambled eggs, and I'm starting the French toast now."
"Jesus, Leah. I'm going to look like a water buffalo in a month."
Her playful grin finally reached her eyes. “Don't worry. I'll help whip you into shape."
She left him laughing.
* * * *
He'd take a shower at his brother's before he went to class. He dressed, then walked out to the kitchen. Leah stood at the stove. The place smelled great. He had to admit he'd really missed this. During his earlier stay, he'd quickly grown to love being with Leah and Kade.
It felt like a home. In a way he'd never felt, even with his ex wives.
"Where's Kade?” He took his usual place at the counter.
"He'll be out in a few minutes.” She walked over and took his mug without asking, poured him more coffee.
"Thanks."
She started to say something but he held up a hand. “Listen. Y'all are just going to have to get used to me saying thank you.” Leah smiled again. He studied her. “I'm still convinced this is a really whacked out nightmare or something. No offense, hon."
He wished he'd kept his fucking mouth shut, because she looked sad again.
Kaden's dying.
She nodded. “I know,” she whispered. “Me too. No offense."
They both froze, then nervously laughed. He stood and held out his arms. She went to him and he hugged her. For once
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