Page 43 of Living at 40

“I do not want to hear this,” Zack mutters.

“Anna heard the old man died. He had kids, probably around the same age as his young wife. We haven’t seen anyone there this summer, though.”

Zack shakes his head, and I remember that the house next door to Lakeside Cottage belonged to Zack’s family when he was young.

“What a waste,” Mason mutters.

“Don’t be a dick,” Zack says, turning on Mason.

“What? I just meant it’s a shame a house with this view is sitting empty.” Mason’s words are insensitive, but I understand what he’s saying. As a construction guy, he knows the property is worth millions, while the house isn’t worth half as much after all these years.

“I have a dick,” Zack’s son Trevor blurts. Mason snorts and leans over to fist-bump the kid.

“Me too, kid,” he says.

“Please don’t encourage him,” Zack mutters. “Trevor, remember what I said. We don’t say such words around other people.”

“What’s wrong with dick?” his brother, Oliver, asks, and Zack tips his head back, thudding lightly on the chair back.

“On that note, I think it’s time to get you monsters to bed.” Zack stands, and I turn to Autumn.

Her face glows in the light of the fire. She’s so beautiful. I could love her. I could be that man she’s waited for, who wants her and wants a family with her. Then I glance across the fire and see Lorna and hope inside me shatters just a little bit.

+ + +

The rest of us remain around the fire until darkness coats the sky. Ben and Mason decide to hang out a little longer, but Anna eventually tells Mila it’s time for bed, and I tell Lorna the same. Lorna and Mila head up the long staircase first with Anna and Autumn behind them, and I follow, deciding I’d like to tuck Lorna in tonight. As we reach the landing halfway up the difficult climb to the house, I catch Autumn’s wrist, and she stops walking.

“Let me hold you tonight.” In the darkness of the trees hovering over the landing, it’s difficult to see her eyes. “We don’t have to do anything more tonight if you need a break. I just want to hold you close.”

She nods, chewing the corner of her lips. I want to lean in and kiss her so badly it hurts, but Lorna is up ahead, and Anna paused on the staircase.

“You guys coming up?”

“We’ll be right there,” Autumn says, leaning in and stealing her own quick kiss from me before breaking free of my hold and taking the steps upward.

After a shower, teeth brushing, and a second drink of water, Lorna is finally settled into Mila’s room, and I head to Autumn’s bedroom, sneaking inside as I’ve done the other nights. Crawling up behind her on the bed, I find her hair wet.

“Did you shower?”

“I smelled like smoke. I don’t like when it lingers in my hair.”

“Should I shower?” I tease, slipping my arm over her waist.

“Nope. You can stay right here.” My lips find her shoulder but long to move lower, into the dip of her neck. However, I promised nothing more tonight, so I just hold her, inhaling her scent and marveling at the fit of her body against mine. We lay on our sides, her back to my chest. Unfortunately, she squirms a little bit, and her firm ass brushes against my front where I’m rock hard.

“You are not making this easy,” I tease, nuzzling my nose into her hair.

“I can’t seem to help it. My body likes how you feel behind me and responds accordingly.”

“Yeah. Like when I had you on your knees last night, pummeling into you?”

Her breath catches, and now I’m just torturing myself with the images of me behind her, sliding in and out of her.

“Yes,” she whispers breathlessly, and I squeeze her tighter to me.

“And how is your body responding to mine right now?” I whisper just below her ear.

“I’m wet, and I want you. I ache for you, actually.”