Page 41 of Sheltering Hollis

“Really? That’d be great. I’ve waited tables before. I need to get Olive into school and all that. Get a car. Get a phone.” I raised a hand to my forehead, but she grabbed my other hand.

“Breathe, you’re alright. No rush. The offer is there. You’ll figure everything out. The MC owns the diner, so the job is there if you want it. If you decide you don’t want it, that’s fine too.” She gave me a gentle smile. “Can I hug you?” she asked uncertainly. “I’d like to.”

I nodded as she leaned into me, her hair smelling of coconut. “Thank you for everything.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re here.”

We waved goodbye to them on the porch, and the feeling of being a little family swept over me, even if it felt surreal.

“Can I show you my room, momma?” Olive was already tugging on my hand.

“Let’s go see what Helena did.” Dimitri was already guiding me up the staircase. The entire house was a dream. It must have taken years for him to get it this way. Olive tugged me into a bedroom that was straight out of Olive’s bedroom dreams. A four-poster stood in the corner of the room, the hardwood gleaming, and the bed had a triple yellow blanket with actual sunflower pillows. Bookshelves stood waiting on the walls for her books, but sunflowers were already painted on one wall.

Dimitri stared around, looking bemused. “Wow, do you like it, moya milaya?”

“I love it!” She jumped up on her bed, laying on her back. “It’s awesome.”

“I’m glad. Let your mom get out your bedtime things, and then you can see where we sleep. I don’t want you to wake up and be scared.”

“You won’t leave, right?” Her face tightened, and I remember all over again that she still had anxiety about me disappearing on her.

“No, I won’t leave unless it’s for work. But you can call me anytime if you need me, and I’ll pick up no matter what.” Her little face scrunched as she watched him.

“Tomorrow is kitten day, so you need to sleep after story time,” he added, and I knew he had her. I almost laughed out loud. Clever.

“Okay, momma. Let’s get busy. We need to get to bed.” Olive proceeded to go to her bag and pull her things out. Dimitri had already brought up her boxes and her small bag. In no time, I’d gotten her settled with her clothes out for the next day, her toothbrush in her attached bathroom. What a pleasant surprise that was. She and I had always shared a bathroom. She trailed after me to see where I would sleep if she woke up and needed me. Down at the end of the hall was the master, a large room with an even larger bed. We walked in, Olive taking stock of the area with a practical eye.

“Are you ready for story time?” Dimitri came out of the bathroom, his feet bare and wearing sweats. “Who gets to read?” Dimitri had gotten used to Olive being very decisive about who got to read her a story, but he was greedy, too. I’d noticed he coveted his story spot as much as I did. He looked mouth-watering in his sweats, leaning against the doorway, offering to read to my daughter.

She considered, looking from me to Dimitri. “Well, it’s only fair that because you got to read yesterday that it’s momma’s turn.” Dimitri looked so crestfallen that I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Don’t worry, there’s always tomorrow. Let’s go, sweetpea.” Taking my win, I took her tiny hand in mine and went to enjoy reading to her. After tucking her in, I waited until she fell asleep, leaving the bathroom light on and the door cracked before I snuck back to the master.

TWENTY-TWO

Dimitri

“Come here, baby.” She looked exhausted and more than a little on edge as she returned after putting Olive to sleep. All evening, she had vacillated between excitement and looking like she would bolt out the door any second.

Pulling off her clothes, she slid under the sheets against my side. Running my hand down the curve of her hip, I marveled at the feel of her and the pleasure I got from having her in my space. I’d never brought a woman here before. This was new for me, too.

“I need to unpack,” she murmured against my lips. “I should be doing that.” Her body said that wasn’t what she wanted. “Olive might wake up.”

“I’ll hear her, don’t worry.” I continued my exploration, pushing her back against the sheets. “Relax, malysh. I got you.” It was an old house with creaky floors despite any work I’d done. There was no way I wouldn’t hear her. Not to mention, I had surveillance in the house, around the perimeter, and on the windows.

Tweaking her nipples, I circled them gently, soothing them, biting them in alternating patterns. “You’re so sexy.” I loved each one, sliding a hand down to graze her thighs. She arched her neck, exposing it to me, the blue veins visible in the moonlight. I traced them with my fingertips.

“Stop teasing.” She squirmed, spreading her legs wider.

“Hmm, do you want my hand somewhere?” I asked, kissing the tip of her nose, trailing my fingers down the hollow of her throat, peppering little kisses along her skin, sucking it into my mouth.

“Or something … anything.”

I liked her like this, needy. My cock pulsed as I knelt between her legs. “You’re drenched, baby. Don’t forget, no screaming. You’ll wake Olive,” I cautioned. Pushing my cock into her pussy I groaned. Fuck. It was so good. “You’re strangling my cock, malysh.” It was the best feeling, this wet heat, the look on her face as I stroked in and out. Putting one of her legs over my shoulder, I fucked her slowly, deliberately, making sure that I was hitting her g-spot.

“Right there,” she moaned. I willed myself to keep going even though I could come right now with one hard stroke. “Don’t stop.”

“I won’t, moya lyubov’,” I promised. She was ‘my love’ … there was no doubt in my mind. Rubbing my fingers against her clit I felt her come, milking my cock as I pumped into her. Letting myself go finally, it seemed as if the orgasm went from the tips of my toes all the way to my ears; it was so intense. Sex had always been something I’d excelled at. I’d made sure my partners were satisfied, and I knew how to get myself off. With Hollis, she brought something else to the equation that I didn’t know I was missing. I wished irrationally that she wasn’t on birth control. I knew she wasn’t ready for that discussion, but I wanted a mini-us. Rolling us over so she lay over me, I cradled her.

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