And in time... (23 page)

“Me chewed it all up.”

Riki fell asleep on the floor with Mr. Dog while watching cartoons on Nickelodeon. That gave Alexis enough time to shower and make herself look nice for Cory. She woke Riki thirty minutes into her late nap. That didn’t go over well. She woke being one crabby little girl. Sitting her at the table with a box of old crayons and some blank paper helped for a little bit. She was fine until Alexis grabbed the permanent marker from her hand. She already had it long enough to color three circles up her right arm.

“Pwease,” she whined. “Me will wite it on a paper.”

“No, you can’t have this marker. It’s for big people. We’ll get you some markers for little girls.”

“A morrow?”

“Not tomorrow. You’re going to play with Emily tomorrow.”

Alexis had been in the middle of setting the table when Cory came in, dressed in jeans and a black tee shirt. He picked Riki up first, but then she remembered the toys in the den and was off to find them. Alexis was thankful for her better mood.

“You smell good,” Alexis confessed when Cory embraced her.

“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve thought about you today?”

“Hmm, I don’t know, tell me.”

“Once,” he joked. “How many times did you think about me?”

“All day,” she admitted while wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him like he’d wanted to earlier. The intimacy between the two of them was new for Alexis, and she sort of loved it. She loved his arms around her waist, holding her close to his body, she loved her arms around his neck, and she loved the way their mouths danced in unison with a kiss that lasted longer than she’d meant for it to.

“Damn, you don’t have to beg for it. I’ll give it to you.”

“Shut up. Go get Riki, it’s time to eat. Wash her hands, she was looking for something under the porch.”

“What?” Cory questioned.

“You don’t want to know.”

“What?” Cory questioned again with a curious frown, watching Alexis set the table.

“Dog poop.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t ask. I wasn’t encouraging that one.”

“Smart thinking.”

Alexis loved this. Like really, really loved it. Who would have thought she would find this much joy in eating cheeseburgers and french fries with a family—her family. Alexis explained the Sam situation. “It’s a little out of your way, but not too bad from here, more if you’re at your house in town. I don’t open tomorrow so I’ll take her in the morning.”

“You don’t have to do that, Lex.”

“Why? Because it makes more sense for you to wake her up at seven? I want to or I would have never fired Cruella De Vil.”

“You’re a mean girl.”

“Me a mean grill, too. Me belwy too full,” she added.

“You eat your broccoli first, you didn’t even touch it,” Alexis coaxed while pushing broccoli into a pile with her fork.

“Me not wike it.”

“You didn’t try it.”

“Lex,” Cory said, wanting her attention.

“What?” she questioned with a frown.

Cory tilted his head and smiled. “Me not wike it, either.”

“Seriously? Neither one of you eat broccoli?”

“I tasted it. It’s in my napkin,” Cory confessed.

“Oh my God. Go bathe Riki.”

“Let’s clean up first. Come on, I’ll help you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to. I learned this thing in a S-E-X class once,” Cory explained. He spelled out the word he didn’t want Riki to repeat. “I learned that a man gets more action in the bedroom if he dries the dishes, or something like that.”

Alexis laughed and leaned into him. “I’m pretty sure you’re okay there. You don’t have to worry about the action in there. You can go bathe Riki.”

“I want to help. I love flirting with you while we wash the dishes together. You should get a dishwasher.”

“Well that was a contradiction. How’re you going to flirt with me if I get a dishwasher?”

“They hum on the spin cycle,” Cory teased with a flirtatious kiss to her neck, backing her against the sink.

“Will you behave? You’re not much help,” Alexis accused while her hands pushed his teeth away from her neck.

The chair squealed across the hardwood. “Me helpa you, Wexis.”

“Aaah, thanks, sweetie,” Alexis praised with a hidden, terrified look to Cory. 

“Ouch!” Cory squealed. The unexpected snap from the corner of the dishtowel hurt like a son of a bitch.

Riki laughed. “Do it gin, Wexis.”

“Don’t you dare,” Cory ordered with a straight finger and a stern look.

The crack was loud that time. Right on the back of his hand. “You’re such a baby,” Alexis tormented.

“I’m about to give you baby. Give me the towel.”

Another snap followed a whine. “You’re asking for it,” he threatened. Cory lunged and Alexis fled, sliding a chair when she ducked behind the table. Cory stepped over it and came after her. Alexis got away, but he claimed the towel.

“I’m sorry.”

“You look sorry,” Cory threatened with an intimidating glare, twirling the towel tightly.

Alexis grabbed Riki from the chair and used her as a human shield.

“Put the kid down.”

“Not until you put the towel down.”

“I owe you at least two. Give me the kid. You’re going to feel terrible if I miss and hit Riki.”

“No… You’re going to feel terrible if you miss and hit Riki. I’ll give you the kid if you give me the towel,” Alexis wagered.

“Are you negotiating with me?”

“Yes. I am.”

“Okay on the count of three.” Cory held the towel at arm’s length. As soon as Alexis sprung for it, he grabbed Riki and kept the towel. Riki giggled, squealing with delight.

“You’re such a cheater,” Alexis accused while backing away, knowing he was getting ready to strike. He twirled the towel and tried to snap her. She was quicker than him and grabbed it out of his hand.

“Now what, Riki?”

“Go bathe your daughter,” Alexis demanded with the same intimidating stare, threatening him with the twirling towel.

“We give up,” Cory surrendered as his free hand went into the air. “Put your hands up Riki,” he coaxed.

Riki raised both hands and repeated her dad. “We give up.”

Cory took Riki and bathed her while Alexis cleaned up what was left of the dishes and Riki’s water mess. She flipped off the lights and smiled, listening as Cory tried to get her to say her ABC’s.

“Me not wike a wetters.”

“Don’t you want to spell your name?”

“Me not wike it.”

Alexis stood in the doorway and listened while Cory moved on to why she needed to wash her hair.

“Me not wike cwean hair,” she argued. She played with a pony and a cup, paying little to no attention to Cory at all.

He looked up to Alexis’s smile and stood from the toilet. “I’m going to be back in two minutes, and then you’re washing your hair, got it?”

“Umm, me not wike a cwean hair.”

Cory shook his head and pulled Alexis around the corner by her wrist. He backed her against the wall and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. The longing in his touch, his lips, and his desperation was cosmic. The kind of kiss that left one weak in the knees, yearning for more. Her hands went to their favorite place—his ribs and strong back. His did the same, only higher. His thumb brushed across her breasts, permeating a hardened bead through the thin material of her bra. Alexis moaned in his mouth and turned her head, giving him access to her neck while she caught her breath. Her hips reacted to the thrusting of his, pressing a growing erection into her. Alexis moaned again when Cory lifted her right leg over his hip and drove into the pulsating between her legs. That could have been her undoing. There was no doubt in her mind that she could have easily let go with a couple more minutes.

“Me wike cwean hair now, Daddy,” Riki called from around the corner.

Cory dropped her leg, pulled back, and stared into her rapturous expression.

“Go,” Alexis panted, disoriented, unable to move from the wall. Cory kissed her again and left her to tend to Riki. “Jesus,” she quietly said. After running upstairs for her own more comfortable clothes, Alexis returned in flannel pants and a
Brady County Dragon’s
tee shirt. She turned on the television and Riki ran around the corner, hearing the Sponge Bob tune. Mr. Dog caught her fall when she wiped out.

“Whoa,” Alexis called.

“Me not hurt. Misser Dog didn’t wet me,” she assured Alexis while lifting her arms for her to take her. Alexis lifted her to her lap and kissed her baby shampoo hair. “Me wike a Ponge Bob.”  

“It’s hot in here,” Cory alleged. He lifted his shirt, sliding it over his head.

“Seriously?” Alexis asked. She wasn’t stupid, she knew exactly what he was doing. Two could play that game.

Cory smiled an ornery grin, and slid her feet to his lap. Cory rubbed her feet and the two of them touched, made eye contact, and tormented each other to no end.

“Me have a potty. You can help me, Wexis?” she asked. She crossed her legs and stopped, turning back to wait for Alexis.

“Daddy will help you. Yell for me when you’re done.”

“I’ll help you. Let’s go,” Alexis countered. Geesh. He acted like she’d never wiped a little tush before. Alexis stood and grunted with a long-armed stretch. Her midriff was revealed when her arms were raised and the pink, flannel pants rode lower. Her eyes stayed on Cory’s, and his went to the revealing patch of trimmed hair, barely peeking out.  

“Seriously?” Cory questioned with a frown, repeating her words. She smiled and lowered her arms. “You’re not wearing panties under there?”

“Nope.”

“Show me.”

“Nope.”

“Come on. Just real quick.”

Alexis raised her shirt and lowered her baggy pants, but not far, just enough to tease him a little more. 

“Me done,” Riki called.

“Give her some Nyquil,” Cory teased. Alexis laughed and walked away.

“Do you want a snack before bed? Here, let’s wash our patties.”

“Me not tired.”

“How about hungry, does your belly want a snack.”

“Maybe pop a corn.”

“Mmm, that sounds good. Let’s go make pop a corn.”

Alexis lay in Cory’s arms, Riki sat between her legs, and Mr. Dog begged for popcorn from the floor. One big happy family. Alexis was no doubt in love. Not with just Cory, she was in love with her life. She didn’t even mind the dumb preschool show that Riki insisted on watching. She didn’t even turn the channel when Riki dozed off on her arm. She could sleep there all night and Alexis would have been happy. Or maybe not…

“Cory, you have to get her, my arm is asleep. It’s ready to fall off,” Alexis urged in a grunt, trying to shift Riki’s weight.

Alexis closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep on the couch when Cory returned. She tried to hold the smile while Cory kissed her lips and then her closed eyelids. A small slit from her left eye watched him remove his jeans. Cory wasn’t wearing underwear, either. He moved down her body, slid her out of her pants, and parted her legs. Her breath caught in her lungs when she felt his mouth. One small kiss to the pulsating that wasn’t there a second ago, and one, long, tantalizing stroke of his tongue was all it took. Unfortunately, Alexis hadn’t been able to control that undoing of her body well yet. Either that or Cory held the power there. He’d proved to be precisely awesome at what he did. Her fingers were tangled in his hair, pulling while her hips thrust toward him. She had nothing at all to do with that. Cory forced her body to do the things that it did.

Alexis hadn’t even finished riding the first wave when Cory pulled her to his lap. He guided himself inside her while Alexis lifted her shirt over her head and Cory used it as an invitation. His mouth suckled and tormented her breasts while his hands kept up the movement on her hips. Moments later, Alexis moaned, grinding herself toward Cory while she felt the surge, or was that still the lingering effect of the first orgasm? Nope. It was new. Brand new.

“Oh, fuck me, Cory. Hmm. Yes. Right there, baby. Aahhhh,” she called over and over, feeling the intense sensations flood her body.

“Lex, dammit.” Cory pulled her shuddering body toward his and held her tight. Deep inside her, he let go, too, riding the same ripples that Alexis rode.

Together.

Riki was overzealous the following morning. She wanted to go to Aunt Sam’s as soon as her little eyes were opened. Alexis had one hell of a time getting her to eat anything. She was too excited to eat. She ended up being at the studio an hour before she’d planned, just to shut Riki up. She didn’t mind, though; she really did have a lot to do. School pictures were coming up, and knowing how much time was put into it, the extra hour would help. Cory and Riki seemed take precedence over her work lately, and truth be told, she loved it.

Alexis was busy with a customer complaint when Cory called. “Hang on, talk to Bernie for a second,” she said while handing over her phone to Bernie. “I’m sorry about that, Melissa. I would blame the lab, but I can’t, it was my fault. I clicked the five by seven instead of the eight by ten. I’ve got it taken care of, and you’ll have them by the end of the week, no charge.”

“Hello, good looking,” Bernie answered. 

“Good morning, Bernie. How are you?”

“I’m good. You coming to the McKinleys this weekend?”

“I hear that I am.”

“Good, it’s a blast, but if Alexis gets drunk you get to babysit.”

“From what I hear, it’s the other way around.”

“Yeah, yeah, here’s Lex.”

“Good morning, Doc.”

“Good morning, beautiful. How are you?”

“Busy, how are you?”

“Busy, I just wanted to see how Riki did when you left her this morning.”

“She did fine, why wouldn’t she?”

“She didn’t cry?”

“No. Does she usually cry when you leave her?”

“Yes…always.”

“Well, you were leaving her with the wicked old witch.”

“I did a background check.”

“Well, it didn’t work. She’s fine. Sam will love her like her own, guaranteed. I have to go, Cory, I have a million things to get done today.”

“Okay, will you stay with me tonight?”

“At your house?”

“Yes.”

“I will if you really want me to. I’ll have to have my dad come and let Mr. Dog in. You don’t want to stay at my house?”

“Your house is fine. It doesn’t matter as long as I’m with you and able to do bad things to you.”

“You want to do bad things to me, Mr. Baker?” Alexis teased.

“Yes. I very much want to do bad things to you. I have not been formally introduced to your mouth yet. I’ll see you tonight.”

Alexis’s jaw dropped. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Alexis knew the answer to her own question without thinking about it. She knew exactly what it meant, not that she hadn’t thought about it herself a time or two. It was more like…how?

“Bernie, get in here,” Alexis called to her as soon as Paige arrived.

“What?”

“Close the door.”

“What’s up, Lex?” Bernie questioned with a frown when she saw the dismay in Alexis’s expression.

“I may or may not need your help.”

“Okay,” Bernie said while sitting and nodding her head for her to continue.

“Well, let’s see, how do I put this? I think Cory wants me to…”

“To what?”

“You know the oral sex thing.”

“He wants a blowjob?” Bernie asked, not understanding what the big deal was.

“Do you have to say it like that?”

“Like what? Give the man a blowjob. I’m not getting it. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t know how, Bernie,” Alexis admitted through clenched teeth.

Bernie crossed her legs and sat back in the chair. She rubbed her hand across her mouth anxiously, trying to figure out what to say. “Alexis, you never gave Mitch a blowjob?”

“No way, Mitch never did anything but get on and get off, and stop saying it like that.”

“I can’t teach you how to. But what the hell am I supposed to call it? It’s a blowjob, just do it. It’s not rocket science, Lex. You’ll know what to do.”

“What if I don’t? What if I throw up or something? It just seems kind of gross to me.”

“Trust me, you’ll know what to do. You won’t throw-up, and it is very erotic and sensual, just do it.”

Alexis took a deep breath and slumped back in her chair. “My life was a lot simpler when it was just me and Mr. Dog.”

Bernie snorted. “Yes, but you’re a lot happier and nicer to be around now that you are getting some.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? You guys make me feel like I was a royal bitch before I met Cory.”

“No, just too responsible. I like you letting go.”

“Bernie, are the hours you work here okay for you?” Alexis asked with a serious tone, straightening her posture while she did a one-eighty on the conversation and studied Bernie.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Now that Cory and Riki are in my life, I can’t wait to get home to them. I just don’t want you to sacrifice time with your family for the studio. I can hire another part-timer, if you want.”

“No… I’m fine with my hours. Travis is never home and Taylor is at my parents’ eighty percent of the time, but thanks for asking. You could watch a porn.”

“I feel like a sixteen-year-old. I have never even done that.”

“Joking? Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Why would I watch porn?”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

“I’ve never needed to. I’m not joking. Sex never, ever crossed my mind. Not until lately, anyway. Now I can’t get enough.”

“I love it. Love looks really good on you. I’ve got to go help Paige with those boys. Give the man a blowjob, then text me and tell me how it was.”

“Yeah, sure. Okay, go.”

Alexis tried to get back to tweaking the order forms for the school pictures. More mistakes were made than anything, and her pinky finger stayed on the backspace button. She couldn’t get her mind off what Cory had said. It was so stupid. She was a twenty-eight-year-old woman in love with a hot doctor. Why the hell was she even thinking about it? It was ridiculous. Bernie was right, it was an everyday part of life for a couple, and she’d been making a big deal out of nothing. Alexis took a deep breath and let it go for the fiftieth time, and then gave up. 

Alexis called into the studio to Bernie and Paige, who had been goofing off. “I’m done, I’m going to get Riki and stop by my mom and dad’s. You guys okay here?”

“Yeah, we’re good. Paige is going to shoot the next one and then we’re done. You can go. Good luck,” Bernie said right after she plowed Paige in the face with a stuffed animal.

“Bitch! Good luck on what?” Paige just had to go and ask, placing the animal in the correct bin.

Alexis shut her up right quick, or tried. “Nothing—”

“Lex is giving her first blowjob tonight.”

“Oh my God, Bernie. She’s my niece.”

“So, Paige does it, too. It’s not new, Lex.”

“You’re such an idiot. I hate you sometimes. And I don’t want to hear about that. She’s my niece for God’s sake!” For real? Bernice Morrison had absolutely no filter. None!

“Chill out, Aunt Lex. I’m not three anymore. But, yeah. Bernie, you’re an idiot sometimes.”

“What the hell?” Bernie questioned without a clue. Paige caught the ball aimed right at her face.

“Well, it’s sort of true. Just because I tell you something doesn’t mean it’s okay to tell Aunt Lex. She used to change my diapers. Have a filter.”

“Exactly, and vice versa. You’re not allowed to tell Paige what I tell you, especially stuff like that.”

“Why am I the punching bag here?”

“Because you’re the idiot! I’ll see you later.”

“Good luck, Aunt Lex,” Paige called. Alexis rolled her eyes, refusing to comment. That was the last time she’d tell Bernie anything. Still shaking her head, Alexis answered her phone.

“Hi, I was just thinking about you.”

“Good I hope.”

“Always. I’m just leaving work. Do you like tacos?”

“Yes, but I’m going to be late. I just sent a patient over to Canterville and I had two more admitted there today. I’ve got to run over there before I get home.”

“Like late, late, or just a little late?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll text you later. Are you sure you’re okay with this? I mean getting Riki and all. I don’t want you to feel like I’m pushing her off on you.”

“Shut up. I’m fine with Riki. I was only asking because if you’re going to be late, late, we’ll just eat supper with my parents.”

“Stop telling me to shut up. You can eat with your family. Don’t worry about cooking.”

“Well, stop being an idiot. I’ll see you when you get home—I mean, to my home.”

“Okay, tell Riki, I’ll see her later.”

“Wait, the last time you told me you were in Canterville, you showed up with a cute little girl. You’re not bringing any more kids home are you?”

Cory audibly snickered. “Promise, no more kids.”

No longer in a hurry to get home, Alexis visited with Sam for a while. She loved having Riki to entertain Emily. She even had time to bake Doug a pie. Of course, Riki didn’t want to leave and Alexis bribed her once again with gum.

“Me wike a big one,” she whined when Alexis tore the stick in half.

“You swallowed it last time.”

“Me won’t.”

“Pinky swear?” Alexis asked. She held her finger in the air and laughed. Riki had no idea what the hell she was talking about. She locked her pinky with Riki’s little finger and shook on it before giving her the rest of the gum. 

“Me chew it.”

“Good girl, keep chewing it.”

“Me did see a mouse.”

Alexis watched Riki chew gum through the rearview mirror while engaging in conversation with her. “You did? Keep chewing, don’t swallow it. Where was the mouse?”

“Me is chewing it. Him was in a bag.”

“In a bag?”

“Uh-uh, him eat a wabit food.”

“Oh, there was a mouse in the rabbit food bag?”

“Aunt Sam was fraid.”

Alexis laughed while picturing a mouse jumping out of the bag. “Did she scream?”

“Him wike me.”

“The mouse liked you?”

“Uh-huh. Me swawoed it.”

Alexis looked through the rearview mirror at Riki, holding her hand around her throat. She didn’t even respond, but she did make a mental note to carry packs of fruit snacks in her purse from now on. She couldn’t keep letting her swallow chewing gum.

Riki loved being at Walt and Lola’s as much as she loved being at Sam’s. Walt had to follow Alexis home on his quad just for Riki. Alexis tried to tell him no, knowing they were only feeding the fire. Riki had them all hooked. That’s why she drove the four-wheeler home. As soon as she tilted her little head and pouted her bottom lip, she had them, especially Walt. “Pwease, Pawpaw Kinney,” she begged. That’s all it took. Riki followed behind her jeep with her arms spread wide while she drove the quad.

After an hour-long bath, Riki was settled on the sofa, snuggled with Alexis and Doc McStuffins. “Him wikes me.”

Alexis kissed her wet hair and nestled her closer. “He does, and I wuv you.”

Riki giggled and pushed her kissing lips away. “Me have a see Doc Stuffins, Wexis.”

“Oh, sorry. Continue.” Alexis checked her phone for a text message. Nothing. It was nearly eight o’clock and he still hadn’t gotten home. Trying not to be the jealous girlfriend, wondering if he was with someone proved harder than she thought it would be. She had to talk herself out of calling him the entire thirty-minute show. She wasn’t that girl. Grrr. Yes she was and she had good reason. Guys cheat. That’s what they do.

“Hey, you want to go read a book in your bed?”

“Me wike a wead a book,” Riki agreed.

After stopping to pee and brush her teeth, Alexis let Riki pick a book and then argued about the Pull-Up. “Let’s put this on first.”

“No, no, me not wike it.”

“But, you might have an accident.”

“Me did pee in a potty.”

“Do you promise not to pee the bed?”

“Me won’t.”

“Why should I believe you? You told me you wouldn’t swallow your gum, either.”

“Me wike a gum.” Alexis lifted the covers and Riki climbed in. “Me can have a gum, Wexis?”

“No, not tonight. We’re going to read a book.”

“Pwease, Wexis,” Riki begged with the cutest little pout ever, the same one that did Walt in.

“No gum, and you can’t whine about it, either.”

“Me wike a whine.”

Alexis laid beside Riki and opened the book for distraction. “Look, here’s a puppy. Let’s see what he’s doing.”

“Him a fall in a hole.”

Alexis laughed when she read the first page. “Polly the puppy jumped over the puddle.”

“Him fall in a hole.”

“His paws, slipped and slid. Polly the puppy fell in the hole.”

“Me teld you.”

Reading to Riki was exhausting. By the time she told Alexis what was going to happen and made her read it, the five-minute book with two sentences per page, took twenty minutes. At least she yawned by the end of the book. Alexis knew when she rolled to her stomach that Riki was moments from sleep. She hummed “Amazing Grace,” rubbing her back and wondering if she should make her put on the Pull-Up.