Bad Habits Part 91

"No, sweetheart." Cain stopped. He looked ahead. "What's that?"

Simone's eyes lifted to his. "I think it's a boathouse. I told you their place has a lake. Yep, it's a boathouse."

He started walking her toward it. He didn't speak at first. She knew that meant something, but she let him get around to explaining it on his own. The year had happened to them so fast. they'd gone through so much. They'd grown. She knew how to be a partner for her lover, husband and friend. That mostly meant letting him be.

Cain tried the door to the boathouse and it opened. They were greeted with the musty aroma of damp wooden floors and sweaty walls, along with closeted air. There was a boat, but off to the left, outside of the wall of tools was another room. The door was ajar to reveal a futon and TV. Cain led her inside. The melody from the jazz band could still be heard. Simone approached the dusty window to see guests arriving and leaving. There was no sign of her sister though. "Wonder where Kim and Mathew slipped off to. It's their wedding."

"Babe?"

She looked back. Cain stood there watching.

"Yes."

"I spoke to Maryanne."

Simone sucked in a silent breath. The divorce was quick. Maryanne had made sure of it. But from the last moment Cain had seen her, to this day, she believed they had no contact. "Okay."

"She called the office two days ago. Elliot's wife gave her the number."

Cain's new business partner was a chum from college. He went on to be pretty successful with another architecture firm and wanted to branch out on his own. He put up the capital and Cain put up the talent. She was so proud of him. They were vying for the bid on a new building design outside of Queens. Simone knew that Elliot's wife wasn't too fond of her. She was a brunette version of Maryanne. Cain had told her that she and Maryanne were sorority sisters.

"Wait! She called you two days ago and you're just now telling me?" Simone asked.

Cain smiled. "I was going to tell you then, but you had already left for Carolina, and since I've been here, well, there was never a right time."

"Okay," Simone said, trying to act as if it were. Truthfully, it stung. Maryanne wasn't evil like Keith. She had no reason to really dislike her. After all, she was the other woman in Maryanne's life. Even now, Simone felt guilt over their beginning. Cain had shared the amount of guilt he felt for his actions during his marriage, before and after the infidelity. If he and Maryanne needed closure, she would have preferred to hear about it as soon as it happened. That was her preference.

"She lives in Paris now."

"France?" Simone asked.

Cain nodded. "Bonnie's there with her. She said they were able to repair their relations.h.i.+p after Andrew was sentenced to prison. They were always close, despite the dysfunction. I guess I'm glad they have each other."

"Bonnie saved our lives." Simone nervously turned the band of her wedding ring. "I'm glad she has peace." Simone cleared her throat. Cain watched and read her expression. He was good at reading her. "So how is Maryanne?"

"She's engaged. Met a man. Says he owns some vineyards in Italy and France."

Simone couldn't hide her relief. Of course she didn't fear losing her husband. Still, she savored the news. "Wow. She's doing great then. But why did she call?"

"Why?"

"Yes," Simone asked again.

Cain ran his hand back through his hair. He looked around. Taking a seat on the futon, he extended his hand to her. "Come to me."

Simone walked over and took his hand. He sat her in his lap. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. She tried to settle her fears.

"When everything went down, I never told you about my mother."

"Rachel? You said she went over a bridge, and that she was being transferred to another hospital by Andrew. It's what those agents kept questioning you about."

"I did some things. I didn't want you incriminated, so I never said what."

"Wait, Cain. What are you saying? Those agents were right? You had something to do with your mother's escape?"

"Listen to me. I'm not proud of what I've done. You wanted us to let go of the past, all of it. We have. This is something I kept from you to protect you. I never wanted you implicated in anything. You understand?"

Simone nodded.

"My mother got away."

"You helped her escape?"

"She helped me fight back. To get Andrew Hollingsworth out of our lives, I needed her help. But she wouldn't do it without a reward. I set into motion the means for her escape. The escaping she did on her own. But I'm culpable."

"Okay. Okay. What does this mean? Why are you telling me this now? Is your mother back?"

"No. She's gone. For good, I'm sure. But she's not dead."

"How can you be sure? You said she dove into the river."

"Maryanne called. She wanted to warn me. She said she owed me that much, considering our divorce was the first step in her healing. Whatever that means. She said she saw Rachel in Paris."

Simone blinked, shocked. "She saw her?"

"She's positive it was her. She's not a threat to us. I just wanted you to know."

Simone touched his face. "I know your mother's relations.h.i.+p with you is complicated. You don't have to explain anything."

Cain buried his face in her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Simone wrapped her arms around his shoulders while seated on his lap. She held him to her breast. She didn't quite understand Rachel's hold over him, but she didn't fear it. This was not Alice and Keith. They were different. Suddenly, the embrace they shared became more. He nuzzled her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, his face traveling up so he could pepper kisses under her neck. Cain s.h.i.+fted to lower her on the futon. Simone didn't object. She opened her heart to it as she always did when there was a need for them to reconnect.

She s.h.i.+vered as his lips brushed her brow, her eyes, her cheek, her ear and he spoke. "I will always protect you and our family. Trust me. I won't let you down. You mean everything to me." He came over on the futon, his body next to hers, his hands drawing up her skirt. Simone closed her eyes to his wandering hand. His lips slowly moved to hers and captured them for a kiss. Gently, he eased down her panties. Simone wiggled, lifted her hips, and then s.h.i.+fted to help him. Her bridesmaid gown was now gathered up to her stomach. She reached between them to undo his belt, ease down his zipper and grip his member. She found him erect and ready.

The kissing was a hurried flux of licks and sucks, which grew intense as he forced her thighs to part, getting in between with his pants pulled down to his hips. Simone guided him to her center and he pushed in her with one long stroke. Her mouth gaped in a pleasured gasp, and her eyes opened to look into his.

"I believe in you. I do," she said.

He thrust into her repeatedly, until her channel was slick and accommodating. She hooked her legs around his waist pumping her hips back and forth. Cain balanced with his hand to the arm of the futon as he hovered above her, working his hips to the rhythmic sway of hers. Soon they were cras.h.i.+ng together, panting together. Clinging to the last delicious pangs of their wet, steamy, climax, Cain lifted his head. "You and me, always."

Simone nodded. "Always. No matter what, Cain, we're in this together. Always."

Cain dropped on her, satisfied. She could have been angry. She should be angry. But she wasn't. They had grown, but the truth was, they were growing. Some bad habits on both of their parts were hard to shake.

Simone stroked the back of his head, not bothering to separate. She stared up at the wooden planks of the ceiling, covered in cobwebs. His mother surfaced. So why should they care? Rachel was half across the world. It meant nothing. It meant nothing.

Kim giggled. She tried not to laugh, but her cheeks were puffed and her chest was tight as she fought back her strained efforts to keep the laughter at bay. She elbowed Mathew who winced. He chuckled deep in his throat. Together, they backed out of the room. The boys were laid side by side on the bed. They were so cute.

Always careful of disturbing naptime, Kim closed the door a crack and then pulled Mathew by the hand. She led him across the hall to the other guest room. "If you wake them up, I swear!"

"You swear what?" he said, stepping her back into the room.

Kim smiled, shaking her head. "I agreed to come inside with you to put the boys down. Now let's go back out. The reception is still going on."

"Not yet." He closed the door, locking her in with him.

"Did you see how cute the boys were at the wedding? When Daddy and I came down the aisle and I saw them standing there at your side with bowties, I cried," she beamed.

"We rehea.r.s.ed. They were going to stand next to Matt-Matt and wait on Mommy," he said, advancing on her.

Kim kept stepping back. "Except Danny decided to walk down the aisle, take my hand and bring me to you.

Mathew smiled. "He was in as big as a hurry as I was."

"Stop right there. Seriously, don't come closer, Matt."

Mathew shook his head then reached for her. Kim squealed as he lifted her effortlessly and carried her to the bed.

"No. No. No. No. No," she said pus.h.i.+ng, back and kicking her feet.

He grabbed her arms and put them over her head. "Don't tell your husband no. It should never be said in the first year of marriage."

Kim rolled her eyes and then laughed. "Seriously, we have to go back. Mathew, stop. They will be looking for us."

"Let them eat cake." He dropped his head and bit the side of her neck. Kim laughed out loud. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kept him on her, close to her heart.

"Daddy?" A tiny voice spoke at the foot of the bed.

Mathew's head shot up. He lifted, so Kim did as well. Danny stood in his tux at the foot of the bed, wiping his eyes. He looked at Mathew and then Kim. "Daddy?"

It was the first time Danny had called him that. Both boys always referred to Mathew as Matt-Matt. Neither ever said the word daddy.

"Come here, sport," Mathew said, rising from the bed. Kim watched the way he comforted her son. He was a father, their father, and a good one. She smiled. Mathew walked with Danny in his arms to the window. Her son's face rested on his shoulder, his eyes shut. She touched her stomach, imagining the life stirring there. She rubbed the flat surface of her bridal dress. Tonight, she'd tell daddy, he would be a father again.

Mathew turned from the window and winked at her.

She couldn't wait.

About the Author.

Sienna Mynx is your naughty-author of Contemporary, and Historical Multicultural Romance. Her dramatic tales of forbidden love are for readers that love the bad boys but desire to be the women to tame them. Variety is the spice of life, and each Sienna Mynx tale reflects the diversity that continues to remain colorblind. Sienna currently has 28 published books, as an indie author under her publis.h.i.+ng company The Divas Pen LLC. A current resident of Georgia, Sienna Mynx has emerged into the e-publis.h.i.+ng scene with spicy uncompromising tales of decadence.

To learn more about current and future projects currently underway please visit Sienna Mynx at The Divas Pen ( http://thedivaspen.com).

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