Part 12 (1/2)

”Better now,” he replied. Turning to find Maria at my side, he let go of my arm and found his way to her. They shared a hug comparable to the one he had just given me. The image of the two of them together made my heart fill with love.

That image gave me hope. It gave me a sense of family and completion.

We found two loveseats and turned them to face each other. Maria and Mikey took one, snuggling up close to one another. I took the one opposite them and put on my best game face.

Narrowing my eyes at Mikey and using one hand, I pointed to my eyes. Then spinning them around to point in his direction, I nodded my head. ”I got my eyes on you, boy. You're going down. Having a pretty girl on your side doesn't intimidate me one bit.”

He laughed and Maria smiled, winking at me.

It had only been five minutes into our game of battles.h.i.+p when Sadie came up to the back of the loveseat I was sitting on and leaned over a little too far.

Maria's eyes narrowed, and she scooted forward slightly.

”These teams look slightly uneven,” she stated. ”Mind if I join, Mikey?”

Yeah, it was a smooth move asking the kid. ”Gavin is losing. I'm not sure there is any hope for him,” he stated, and I shook my head. He was even able to get a laugh from Maria with that comment. ”But if you want to waste your time, sure.”

Sadie came around the side of the loveseat and sat down a little too close at my side. I was tremendously uncomfortable and just wanted to get this game over with. Sadie continued to lean in to get a closer look at my battles.h.i.+ps displayed on my game board, when it was our turn.

At one point, she rested her breast against my arm and I s.h.i.+fted quickly. I found her continuing to smile at Maria, as if there was some hidden game she was winning. The entire thing was making me angry. I kept my cool for the sake of Mikey When the game was over, the victorious Maria and Mikey decided to go outside. I directed them to go ahead without me. There was something I needed to handle.

Maria looked at me with a confused expression. ”What are you doing?” she asked.

”There is someone I need to set straight. Someone needs to know my heart belongs completely to you. I don't have room for games, baby.” I leaned over, kissing her softly. ”I won't let anyone make you feel uncomfortable.”

”It's okay,” she whispered.

”It's not, but it will be. All I need is five minutes.” I kissed her forehead. Looking over at Mikey, I pointed to Maria. ”You take care of my girl for me, little man. I'm trusting ya.” I winked and he laughed. Grabbing Maria's arm, he pulled her outside.

I watched them until the door closed behind them. Taking in a deep breath, I turned back toward the main room.

Finding the person I was looking for was simple. Her face lit up when she saw me approaching. ”Can we talk for a minute?” I asked.

She smiled and pointed toward a small room to the right. I followed behind, avoiding the fact that she was shaking her hips a little more than was natural.

She closed the door behind us, and I went to the opposite side of the room. There was something about the way she was looking at me that was making my skin crawl.

”What is it you need to talk to me about?” she asked.

”What game are you trying to play?” I asked. ”And don't say you're not, because I'm not that gullible. I thought at first you were just a friendly person. I let the touch in the park slide.” She took a step closer and I watched her carefully. I was a grown d.a.m.n man, and there was no way a 120 pound woman was gonna make me back down.

”I come here to see Mikey and only Mikey. I would appreciate the flirting, and unnecessary touching to stop.” This time I took a step toward her. ”I am very deeply in love with Maria. I have no intention of doing anything to jeopardize that. Please respect her. She deserves that.”

I stepped around her and looked back one last time. ”Mikey means the world to me, so let's not let this interfere. But if for some reason it does come between me and that boy out there, I will fight you on it.”

I walked out into the garden area, where Maria and Mikey were in the middle of a game of horse. Standing off to the side, I watched as they laughed with one another. Maria was pretty d.a.m.n awful at shooting baskets. Mikey even tried to show her how to hold her hands. With each attempt, he only laughed harder.

”If we were playing a game of who missed the most baskets, you would be the champ,” Mikey stated, and Maria wrinkled up her nose and stuck out her tongue at him.

She tried once more, and the ball bounced across the gra.s.s and rolled toward the fence. Mikey ran off to retrieve it, and I took the opportunity to sneak up on my girl.

I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her in close. ”I still find you undeniably s.e.xy, even though you can't shoot for s.h.i.+t.”

”Ha ha, very funny, smart a.s.s,” she whispered back. She shook her a.s.s from side to side, making me step back from her just barely. She turned in my arms and looked up at me. ”What did you have to do?”

Looking down into her beautiful eyes, I grinned like a lovesick fool. I kissed the tip of her nose. ”Just had to make sure Sadie knew how in love I am with a certain girl.”

”A certain girl?” She raised an eyebrow.

”A woman, actually-a gorgeous, feisty woman,” I clarified. ”She makes my heart race.” I winked.

Mikey came running back with the ball and I finished out the game of horse, while Maria cheered us on.

Chapter Twenty-Five.

Maria fell asleep on the way back from the boys' home. I turned to look over at her when I placed my truck in park. She must have been dreaming, because she would whimper or moan on occasion.

Her hair was fanned out over the back of the seat. Reaching out, I traced my finger along her lower lip, outlining the curve. Her lip twitched beneath my finger and I smiled.

Leaning in just a little closer, I brushed my lips over hers, attempting to bring her out of her sleepy state.

When that didn't work, I pressed a little harder and sucked on her lower lip.

”Mm,” she moaned. I went in again, and she responded by biting mine in return.

She came at me with force, pus.h.i.+ng back, crawling across my lap, and straddling me. She gripped my neck and placed her lips against mine, devouring me. Her hips began to rock, and I could feel myself growing hard beneath her.

I had only planned to wake her up, but she obviously had other things in mind. Attempting to hold her hips still, she pulled my hands away. Pulling at the bottom of her s.h.i.+rt, I lifted it up and over her head.

I palmed her breast in my hands, through her bra. The lacy material hid nothing, as her nipples grew hard. Leaning forward, I bit down on one, while pinching the other with my fingertips.

Her head fell back, and I lowered my hands to work her pants buckle loose.

Maria rose up off of my lap and pulled at her pants, one leg at a time. I wasted no time pulling off my s.h.i.+rt and sliding my pants down below my knees. When she climbed back onto my lap, all she wore were her panties, and I greedily raked my eyes over her body. She was so G.o.d d.a.m.ned gorgeous.

”You do know we could have moved inside for this.” My voice was full of want and need.

”That takes all the fun out of it,” she stated, as she began ma.s.saging my erection through my boxers. I was so hard that the head of my c.o.c.k was peeking out of the top.

”Do you have a condom in your wallet?” she asked.

I nodded my head. ”Yeah, but we could go without.”