Two
1876 Words
Jerome unlocked the doors of his home and dragged his luggage with him into the large and quiet house. He looked around and inhaled deeply.
"Hmm, that homey scent. I missed you, house," he said to himself and took off his jeans jacket then walked into his kitchen and looked around before opening his refrigerator and took out a can of soda.
Jerome scanned around his clean kitchen with his eyes until his gaze landed on a photo of him and everyone, during their time of their picnic two weeks after the whole Leila incident. He walked to it and grabbed it then took in everyone's faces with a small smile on his face.
"I really missed you guys," he stated and his door bell rang. "It hasn't been up to five minutes and someone is already looking for me?"
Jerome dropped his picture frame and soda before walking lazily to the door. He peered through the peephole to see if he could recognize the person but frowned when he could not. He rolled his tired eyes and pulled it open to reveal a brunette haired woman who looked a year or two younger than him. She waved at him while her face was kept in a huge smile.
"Uh, who are you?" He asked, meeting her hazel eyes.
"Hi, I'm your new neighbor," she simply said and pointed to the house beside his casually. "I just moved in and was-"
Jerome shut the door in her face and strolled back to the kitchen to grab his soda. He snapped it open and took some generous gulps before bringing his hand down from his mouth.
"Sorry, newbie but I'm not interested in making cherry neighbors as friends," he said and walked to his luggage, then his phone rang before he pulled it out and smiled at the ID. He immediately answered the call and sat down on one of his couches then exhaled.
"Aren't you supposed to say hello first?"
He chuckled. "You called first, Nora. Anyways, let's not nag on that. How are you?"
"I'm fine and bored," came her dragged response which made Jerome laugh momentarily.
"Why would you be? Isn't your time with Harry in Miami fun? I mean, you're in one of the best place to be right now and you can't possibly tell me that you're bored," he stated and took a huge gulp from his soda can.
"I know, Jerome. I know, it's just that everything here is so dull. Listen, I'm not saying Harry is lame or whatever, it's just so dry right now. This isn't the best time to go on vacation."
He was about to say something when the other end of the phone fell silent and he began to hear Nora and Harry discuss before the phone gave off struggling sounds.
"Uh, Nora?"
"Nah, it's Harry. What's up?"
"Oh, hey. I'm good. How's your own vacation going?" He asked then snickered when he groaned hopelessly.
"Miami isn't what I expected this time of the month. It's packed, yes but not fun. But at least we got some rest cause we're coming home."
"Yay!"
Jerome took the phone away from his ear to look at it incredulously before placing it back.
"Are you two out of your mind? You need it, well, you in particular, Harry. So, what do you think you're doing?" Jerome asked as he stood up from the couch and ran his fingers through his ruffled blonde hair.
"Don't worry yourself, okay? We'll be back tomorrow. Besides, I can't leave Mason all alone with the rate at which work has doubled. See you soon."
The call ended and Jerome just stared at the phone for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders then walked to his luggage. He looked over his shoulder and gazed at his front door then scoffed.
•••
Mason parked his car in the courtyard of his home and stopped the engine then exhaled in exhaustion. He unfastened his seatbelt and picked up his work bag then alighted from the car with slumped shoulders and made his way into his house.
He walked into the living room and smiled when he saw Lex sitting on the floor with a few of his toys around him. He dropped his work bag and tiptoed to the baby who had not seen his father yet until Mason knelt down and tapped his shoulder before Lex made eye contact with him then grinned widely before crawling towards him and using Mason's thigh as a support tool to help himself between Mason's legs.
Mason chuckled as his son rushed into his arms then laid on it. He shook his head at Lex then carried him up into his arms and stood up.
"Did you miss daddy and why are you still awake at 9?" He asked as he made his way into the kitchen where noises were coming from. He entered the clean room and saw Ciara making their baby's food at the sink.
"Hey, Mason," she said, glanced at him then back at her work on the sink.
"Hey, babe," Mason replied and stood behind his fiance then kissed her shoulder. "How are you?"
Ciara shut the baby's feeding bottle shut and turned around to face Mason who wore a tired look on his face. She looked down at Lex who had his face in Mason's neck before looking up at him with a small smile.
"You've been working too hard, Mason. Maybe you should relax a little bit before you get sick. And you know what happens when you fall sick, Lex tends to cry uncontrollably," she stated and held his cheeks.
"I know but with the recent building constructions going on at the new neighborhood, everyone is busy with their main duty. I can't sit back and do nothing, Ciara. I get paid to watch, assist and protect the company as their manager, plus the money is for my family. You and Lex," he whispered and kissed her forehead.
Ciara nodded. "Of course, but remember that I work also. I just don't want you overworking your system, okay?" She smiled up at him then nudged her head at Lex who had been quiet and breathing calmly on his shoulder.
"I think he's asleep," Mason uttered and snickered. "Was he waiting for me to come home?"
"Duh, he literally loves you more," she replied and brushed past him.
"Come on, baby. You and I both know he loves us so much. He's just a kid who knows what he's looking for in each of us," Mason said then faced Ciara who was putting back the baby's foods on the shelves. "Hey, I was thinking. I think I need to get a personal assistant."
"Yeah, I think that'll work. That way you won't be working like you're taking two positions. I like the idea," The dark haired woman said with a grin then walked up to him. "Why don't you post an ad for such role then you and Elizabeth can screen or interview them before the month runs out."
Mason nodded and handed Lex to Ciara and just when she was about to leave his grasp, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his chest the best way he could with Lex between them.
"I have really missed you, my love," he whispered affectionately and ran his fingers under her shirt. "Even though I saw you during lunch time, I missed you. You've made me so addicted to you."
From under her lashes, she looked up at Mason who had his bottom lip between his teeth and hooded eyes not of tiredness but of want. She shifted their son in her arms and raised herself on her toes to kiss him on the lips and felt her heart beat increase when he held her tighter and took control of the kiss.
Mason moaned as he felt the soft lips of his lover work with his and moved his wandering fingers from her lower back to her stomach. He felt her hiss in pleasure before Lex began to fuss then let out a little cry. He gritted his teeth and pulled away hesitantly to stare at Lex who was now awake and crying.
"He's hungry, he ate too early tonight and I need to feed him. Why don't you go take a shower while I feed him," Ciara suggested and grabbed his bottle.
"Sure, but we're not done yet," he said with a wink then left the kitchen.
"Everytime he kisses or touch me, it feels so like a year ago," she said and looked down at Lex who's mouth was latched around the mouth of the bottle. "Please don't wake up at night again, Lex. Just sleep peacefully for Mommy and Daddy, okay?"
Lex made a sound in his throat that Ciara took as a response before shifting his gaze from her to the ceiling.
•••
Ciara slowly placed Lex in his white crib and covered him up with his little blanket before moving away silently to the entrance of his white and multi-colored baby room. She turned the light dim then shut the door and walked towards the door on the adjacent side.
Once she walked into the dim room, she rushed to the bed and dropped on it with a heavy sigh. She looked around their room, taking in the changes done on it. From the vanity table that held their cosmetics, opened and stuffed walk-in closet, a few of Lex's toys laying around the floor then the two couches and the television that was turned on.
"A lot has indeed changed ever since Lex came into our lives but I love it," she whispered and Mason walked out from the steaming bathroom in nothing but wet body and sweatpants.
Ciara found herself taking in his wet muscled upper body with a bite of her lip. She watched as he used a towel to dry off his hair before he walked towards the bed.
"Irresistible, I know," he said in a light tone and laid down on the right side of the bed. "I already told you my body is yours. I keep saying it, so don't hesitate to touch me when you want to."
Ciara raised a brow and sat up to face the smirking man. She gave him a daring look, crawled closer to him and pushed him to his back then straddled his strong hips. She bit her lip and stared down at him with hooded eyes while he wrapped his arms around her small waist.
"I can touch you, anywhere?" She whispered close to his cheek and heard him swallow then pressed her hips harder against his, making her breath hitch. "Can I touch your lips with mine?"
Mason moaned out a response and she gave him a heated kiss on his lips before pulling away. He looked up into her dilated and dark hued eyes then ran his fingers from the top of her spine to her hips and smiled weakly when she curved over his body.
"Can I kiss your stomach?" She whispered against his lips and he squeezed her hips softly before she moved lower and came face to face with the muscled planes of his flat stomach.
Mason gripped her hair when she sucked on his abs and occasionally placed soft kisses on them. He felt her go lower and immediately looked down at her.
"Go ahead, babe," he whispered breathlessly and moaned when she got lost between his strong legs.
•••
- Writer
