Page 122 of Love Without Demands

I took Mama gently in my arms, and her body trembled like a feather in a windstorm as she finally let loose. “I was so young and so afraid,” she cried, pressing her face against my shirt, her sadness soaking the fabric.

I patted her back and kissed the top of her head, allowing this strong woman her moment of fragility. She didn't show it often. When her sobs slowed, I said, “It’s okay, Mama. You don’t have to talk about it.”

“I really do. You deserve to know.” She sighed heavily and lifted her head, swiping vigorously at the wet spot she’d left on my shirt. It was such amom thingfor her to do, and I almost smiled.

“When you’re ready.”

She stopped wiping at my shirt and raised her chin, her tenacity returning with the simple movement. “I’m ready. I haven’t talked about this in years. It was a very painful time in my life, and...” I could see the apprehension warring with determination in her eyes. “Do you think Paul would come over some time so I can talk to both of you and not have to tell it more than once?”

“Of course. He’s mentioned he was interested in talking to you.”

She cringed. “Does he absolutely hate me? Do you think he just wants to yell at me?”

I let out a half-laugh half-scoff noise. “Not at all, Mama, and if he does, I’ll set him straight,” I told her, teasingly punching my palm with my fist. “Paul’s out of town for a few days, but I’ll text him and see if we can get together when he gets home.”

“Well, that’s my new favorite way to wake up,” I groaned as Lehra rolled her hips one last time. She was on top of me, and I was still inside her after some sexy morning lovemaking.

“My grandmother always said there’s nothing better than a morning ride, and I have to agree,” she said, shoving a wild chunk of curly hair behind her ear.

I put on my best scandalized face. “Your grandmother said that?”

She shrugged and flashed me a playful smile. “She grew up on a horse farm, so in all honesty, she was probably talking about her morning jaunts on her mare, Becky.” Lehra bent down and bit my bottom lip before sucking it into her mouth and releasing it with a pop. “I personally prefer a morning ride on a stallion.”

Growling, I rolled us over until I was on top. “Stop tempting me, Tink, or I’ll spend all day in this bed with you.”

“I’d like that, but you can’t. Paul will be at your apartment in an hour.” Her voice softened, and she held my cheek. “Are you nervous about him and Stella meeting for the first time in so many years?”

I reluctantly withdrew from Lehra’s warm pussy and stretched out beside her so we were facing each other. “Maybe a little. Hopefully it won’t be World War Three. I’m not sure I could deal with that.”

“I’m sure it will be fine. Mr. Paul always seems so mellow.” She gave me a smack on the butt. “Plus, I bought bagels for you to use to pacify them if things get heated.”

Lifting up on one elbow, I popped my eyes wide. “You got bagels? From Bagley’s? Woman of my dreams!”

Lehra laughed and drawled, “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Gianna and I dropped some off at Kassie and Monty’s yesterday before they got home from the honeymoon. They were planning to sleep for a full day because of the jet lag. Since they’ve been gone for a few weeks, we figured they didn’t have much food in the house and wanted them to have something to eat when they woke up.”

“Yeah, I got a text from Monty that basically said,We’re home. Don’t call us unless you want to die.” Her nose crinkled, and I frowned in question. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m lying in a wet spot now.”

I kissed her ear before rolling off the bed. “I’ll get you a towel, but next time, maybe you’ll think of that before you decide to treat me as your own personal stallion.”

“Like you were complaining,” she retorted at my back, and I laughed.

Lehra’s eyes scraped up and down my naked body when I returned. “What’s that look?”

Her grin was wicked. “We should do a horseback riding instructor role play. I was picturing you in riding clothes.” She fanned herself. “Totally hot.”

Slipping the towel beneath her, I kissed a circle around her belly button. “I’ll try to find somewhere upstate where we can rent some horses. Maybe we can spend a weekend up there when it warms up.”

She tugged my hair until I looked up at her. “Don’t forget the jodhpurs.”

My mother was a ball of nervous energy. I’d thoroughly cleaned my apartment before she came last week, but so far today, she’d dusted the baseboards, cleaned the oven, and changed all the sheets—even though I hadn’t slept on mine at all.

“Do I need to give you a shot of vodka and a Valium?” I asked when I caught her trying to stand on the bed to clean the ceiling fan.

“You have some?” she asked so quickly I almost laughed.

“I have some whipped cream vodka, but no Valium. Though this is New York City. I could probably find some within half a block.”

---