Kitchen Affairs (26 page)

“I understand, Molly. I get scared too. Sometimes I think you are too good to be true. But I want to enjoy every moment with you regardless.” He didn’t allow me to respond;
instead, he pulled my lips to his and kissed me deeply. I surrendered to his mouth as I kissed him back. I wrapped my hands in his hair feeling his curls between my fingers. I slowly brushed my fingers down his cheek and down his torso. The feeling of his hard body under his suit was getting me anxious and craving him more.

“Molly, I love you,” he whispered into my lips breaking our kiss for just a split second.

“I love you, Drake. With my whole heart.” He rubbed my straps off of my shoulders exposing my naked breasts as he cupped one with his warm hand. “I need you. Now, Drake,” I demanded as he slowly undressed me.

“I still get butterflies around you.” He confessed as his lips made their way down my neck.

“Fuck butterflies. I feel the whole zoo when I’m with you.” He chuckled as I took charge.

I lowered my hands to the buttons of his suit and pushed it off of him. I fought with his tie, but after a few attempts and an escaped laughed from Drake, he offered me a hand to get the rest of it off of him. I unbuttoned his white shirt and ripped it out from his pants. I could feel him hard against me and I was ready and willing.
I was addicted to this man.

Serious addiction – the best kind.

After stripping him down to just his briefs, I climbed on top of his lap straddling him as his hands pushed my dress up and over my hips. I rubbed up against him teasing him with the lace of my panties. He moaned in my mouth as I rotated my hips against him once more. He pulled my panties to one side and slipped a finger in, feeling my wetness and hunger for him.

“Molly, you never disappoint,” he said eagerly against my neck making his way down. I tilted my head back giving him access to my naked skin. Drake kissed me tenderly from my neck down to my chest where he sucked hard on my nipples
until they were hard.

“Oh, Drake…” I moaned against him as he continued kissing me. I was ready for him.

I reached down pulling his briefs down and exposing him. I continued straddling him as I let him enter me, feeling every inch of him as my body went into convulsions. I yelled his name out while we continued making love, kissing each other deeply, and touching one another. His skin felt soft over his hard muscles as my fingertips explored his body.

“Molly, you are my everything,” he confessed as he broke the kiss. “Please never doubt that.”

“I won’t. I promise,” I reassured. I placed my hands on both sides of his face, kissing him softly letting him know I meant it.
I can do this. I can be his.
I knew I needed to let my guard down and let him in fully. I needed to allow myself to be happy even though all the insecurities and drunk ex-girlfriends.
I can do this.

“Sometimes I just look at you and think ‘wow, I want to take off his pants’. Is that bad?”

“Hell no. Especially when I’m think the exact same thing,” he said smirking. “Thought that the very first day I saw you.” He paused as he remembered the day thoroughly. “Is that bad?”

“Not at all, Mr. Stagliano. Had I known, I would’ve surrendered sooner,” I teased knowing damn
well I put up a good fight that first week.

We continued making love just moments before the limo stopped. The smirks on our faces told his driver exactly what we had been up to. It was obvious that he was paid to keep silent and to not mention a word.

Drake escorted me into my apartment, lifting me up and carrying me through the door. It was late so Stella and Michael were already in bed for the evening. We decided to grab a couple glasses of wine and lay in the loveseat together.

“I could never get sick of this view,” I said leaning into his chest.

“Same here. But you know, it’s even better a hundred floors up.”

“I’m sure it is,” I laughed. “But some of us are on a budget,” I tantalized.

We never talked about money with one another. It was like a silent buzz kill that none of us wanted to bring up, however, I was pretty certain Drake wondered how I managed financially seeing that I lived in a nice condo in Chicago. I wanted to reassure him that I was fine financially, yet I didn’t feel we were yet ready for that conversation.

Two days after Liam’s accident, an attorney who held Liam’s will and life insurance contacted me. I was stunned. I didn’t even know Liam had a will
or
life insurance. It wasn’t something we had ever talked about. Apparently, right after our engagement he took out a life insurance policy and wrote out a will. He had left Stella and I will a huge chuck of change that allowed me to stay home with her for the first year and pay our rent for the past three years. Knowing Liam did that for his family brought so many feelings to the surface that I didn’t want to deal with yet at the time. Knowing that each month when I write out the rent check that it’s all because of Liam makes my heart mushy every time. Liam truly loved us. He was unbelievable.

“
Well, what if someday, you and Stella move in with me?” he asked snapping me back into the present.

“Move in with you?” I asked stunned.
My eyes grew wide at the realization of what he just asked me. I hadn’t even considered that an option seeing that Michael was my roommate and Stella was very attached to him.

“Yeah. I mean, some day,” he counter offered at my
reaction. “Just thought that maybe in the future, we could be a family.”

My heart dropped as
I felt my love for this man couldn’t get any deeper; it just had.
Family.
“You want us to be a family?” I asked surprised.

“Of course, Molly. I love you and I love Stella. I want us to be a family some day. Don’t you?” His face was now soft
as he mentioned a future with Stella and me.

“I do more than anything, Drake. I just didn’t know if that’s what you w
ould want. I mean, taking on that kind of responsibility. It’s not an easy task,” I responded seriously. Although I was more than happy to hear Drake talk about us having a family and moving in together, I wanted to be cautious of the situation knowing that Stella is an important factor in my life.

“I’m sure it won’t be easy. Especially those rebellious teen years,” he chuckled. “But it’s you. I want you, Molly. All of you. No matter what.” He smiled and leaned in to kiss me. “We can take it slow, don’t worry. I want Stella to be comfortable with me before we move any faster.” His reassurance was just what I needed to hear.
God, this man is perfect.

“Why are you so great?” I asked him with a serious look. “I mean, really? You are too good to be true sometimes, Drake Stagliano,” I smiled against his mouth and he leaned in to kiss me once more.
Seriously, amazing!

“I told you, babe. You make me want to be great. That’s what you deserve.” He squeezed me against his chest.
“Everyone comes with baggage. I just happen to be very good at unpacking.” He smiled kissing the tip of my nose. “Now, let’s get you off to bed.” He lifted me off of his lap and carried me into my room, holding me tight, never letting me go.

I shuffled through my drawers quickly trying to find my black stockings.
Where the hell are they?
I slammed the drawer shut and darted to the closet to scramble through the piles of clothes on the floor. It’s been a hectic last few weeks with rounds and finishing my classes, but the day was finally here. Graduation.

“Stella-bug! Sweetie, help mommy,” I begged. I wanted to look great today. My parents
drove in to watch me walk the stage finally getting my degree. Having the internship was a perfect end to my training. I felt great training next to professional chefs for the past several months. I was ready for this. Ready to graduate, ready for a career, and ready to let Drake love me.

“Mommy, you look beauty-ful!” Stella smiled as I twirled around.

“Let me grab my cap and gown and then we can go.” I grabbed them off the bed and headed into the living room where my parents, Drake, and Michael were sitting and waiting.

Michael and Drake stood up as they saw me enter wearing huge grins on their face. “What?” I asked confused
at their reactions.

“You look incredible!” Drake walked over to me grasping me in a tight hug. “Are you ready?”

“Sure am! Let’s do this.” Drake had his limo pick us up so we could all ride together. My parents had never been to Chicago, so when they arrived four days ago Drake insisted on taking them around to all the sites. Although my parents weren’t married anymore, I could still see their chemistry. It was an instant connection and it was obvious it was still between them.

We had taken a
sunset boat tour the second evening of their visit, which ended up being a romantic dinner date for four.
Awkward.
My parents, being great like they usually are, made the best of it. They enjoyed getting to know Drake and hearing all about him.

I was excited about the
ceremony and having them all there to watch me was the best feeling ever. It was like a dream come true. Finally, after all my struggles and hard work, here I was finishing my degree, madly in love with a wonderful man, and made a great little family.

The ceremony was long and Stella got antsy bouncing up and down in her chair. Finally, my name was called and I walked up the steps
. I greeted the college President as he shook my hand and congratulated me. I continued walking to my advisor where he wrapped me in for a hug and whispered “congratulations” in my ear. My advisor helped me through everything these last three years. I greeted one more staff member and received my diploma. I held it up high for my family to see; proud of everything I went through to get to this very day. My mind flashed back to the very moment I knew my life would forever change.

“Mom, I received a letter today from Kendall College!” I shouted through the phone. I applied three months ago and today was finally the day I would know. Stella was only eight months old and hopefully in short four months I would be moving to Chicago. I was so nervous holding that letter in my hands. My future was at stake and whether or not I got in meant everything to me. I wanted to do this. I needed to do this. For Stella and me.

“Well, honey, what’s it say?” she urged impatiently.

“Okay, mom, I’m ripping it open!” I placed my phone on speaker and put the phone down. I ripped it over shredding the envelope in the process. I opened up the three-folded letter and started reading out loud.

“Oh my god, oh my god!” I screamed reaching for my phone. “Mom, I got accepted!”

For the next four months, I packed and got ready for our new lives in Chicago. I begged Michael to come with me and after some convincing, he reluctantly agreed. The program started out intense right from the beginning. We had long classroom hours, which meant long study sessions. Stella just started being mobile and walking around everywhere, which meant I stayed up late almost every night after she went to bed. For months and even years, I struggled between being a student and a single mother. I wanted to be both, but only being one person, I often overdid it and was exhausted all the time.

Once Stella got enrolled in preschool, she was able to make some friends and socialize with children her age, which made it easier to study at night seeing that she had played hard all day and went to bed earlier. Each moment I had with Stella was precious even when we weren’t doing anything. It was those little stolen moments that made me appreciate her even more. She was the one person I was doing this for. She deserved two loving parents, but since she only had me, I had to play the role for both.

“Babe, I am so proud of you!” Drake found me after the ceremony and swooped me in for a tight hug. I buried my head into the crease of his neck where his scent once again sucked me in.

Michael, Stella, and my parents weren’t far behind them as I hugged each of them. I know Stella was too young to completely understand the significance of today, but I knew she could look back some day and be proud of her mom.

I searched for
Travis, as I wanted to say goodbye. We were both heading in different directions as he got a job in San Francisco. I would miss him, and our little fun moments we shared in the kitchen, but I was really happy for him.

“Travis!” I yelled waving my hands in the air. “Over here!” He finally noticed me and ran in my direction. He smacked hard into me giving me a tight squeeze. “Gees, Trav. You are going to kill me with those bear hugs!” I gasped trying to breathe.

“I’m gonna miss you, Mols! Especially all those funny clumsy moments of yours!” He teased nudging me. I rolled my eyes at him as he made fun of me most of the time for dropping, spilling, tripping, or just being pure clumsy.

“I’ll miss you too, Trav. Thank you for everything. Seriously, you were a great study partner.” I hugged him remembering our weak moment in the kitchen. We were able to
move on from that, but I knew Travis still loved me. “Good luck! And don’t’ forget to call me! And come visit!” I shouted as the crowd got rowdy. We hugged one last time before he ran back to his family.