Note: A little shorter than my usual chapters, but it was at a good stopping point before the next and I'll be studying for exams the next few days so I didn't wanna hold out on y'all. :) Hope you enjoy. This story is slowly winding down, but there's definitely still several chapters left!
Now in dry clothes with still-damp hair, Austin, Claire, and Calleigh were slowly making their way down the driveway of Christina's home toward Calleigh's SUV, Eric strolling behind them toward his car.
He couldn't help but notice that a few of her natural waves, set free by the water and humidity, were escaping her messy bun – or that she looked a little too perfect carting kids and a giant tote bag around. He watched her lean forward between the kids, mischievously whispering something in their ears that made both of them stop and turn with confused, cautiously optimistic faces.
"It's not Wednesday," Claire pointed out, repeating what had become Calleigh's constant reminder to keep them all in check every time they'd wanted to do something with Eric. Now, hearing those words come from her seven-year-old, Calleigh realized exactly how silly it was that she'd denied them time with him and vice versa given the bond that was developing there.
Claire looked at Calleigh for answers, her blue eyes then darting over to Eric, not too young to miss the playful smile he was trying to keep at bay. Austin was doing the same, observant eyes dancing between Calleigh and Eric, absolutely understanding that something was shifting but not being able to put his finger on it.
"I know," Calleigh finally answered, a reassuring smile on her lips. "But you can still ask."
Austin's eyes widened a little and it wasn't even a second later that he was blurting out, "Do you want to come over for dinner and a movie?"
"We're making cajun pasta!" Claire added excitedly, bouncing up onto the tips of her toes.
Eric raised his brows playfully. "Well, how can I say no to cajun pasta?"
Claire giggled, reaching for his hand and tugging him toward their SUV like she was going to drag him right on in.
"Wait a minute, kiddo," Eric said, providing just enough resistance to keep her from completely winning but letting her lead him towards that general direction. "I have to take my own car, I'll meet you there."
Grinning, Calleigh had to intervene a little, wrapping her arm around Claire to hold her overly eager hands back.
"We'll see him at the house," she assured, tucking Claire's damp hair behind her shoulder and smiling up at Eric.
"Need me to pick up anything?" he asked.
"No, we're good," she said, eyes drifting down to his chest where his fitted t-shirt now clung to the contours of his muscles. "Just bring yourself."
Eric pressed his lips together and then pursed them, already willing himself to somehow carve out some sort of resolve. Because despite every part of his body and soul screaming out for it, he'd already decided he was absolutely not staying the night. They'd barely talked between themselves and they certainly weren't going to tell the kids anything before they had; the last thing he wanted was for one of them to confusingly stumble upon him in Calleigh's bedroom.
Calleigh looked back at him as she helped the kids into the car, picking up on every bit of his not-so-serious concerns with an innocent smile.
Leaving was proving even harder than he imagined, especially when she was straddling his lap on her sofa and her lips were on his, the only sound pervading the silence belonging to the crash of their lips and little breaths of pleasure. And especially when she'd let her damp hair down to dry into its natural waves that were very fitting for her current state and absolutely his undoing.
Her hands followed the path they'd traveled to and from a dozen times already, slipping from cupping his neck to resting low on his abdomen, his body tensing a little more with every subsequent trip. This time, she slipped her hands beneath his shirt, fingertips coasting down to his waistband just as her tongue caressed his. That was actually his undoing. He groaned, and somehow he summoned the willpower to slip his hand around her wrist and pull it from his skin, to tear his lips from hers and push her back for a moment.
"You gotta stop," he begged her, although he was realizing now that pushing her away wasn't really any better. Because now he could see her reddened lips, tousled blonde hair, and currently questioning deep green eyes, not to mention the adorable furrow of her brow and purse of her lips at his request. Or the fact that the hand he'd used to push her away was currently splayed across her chest – her warm, bare chest revealed by her casual pool cover-up dress that was creeping lower by the minute. "I shouldn't stay," he suddenly reminded both of them.
"I know." She closed her eyes and sighed, thinking all sorts of thoughts she'd never entertain with a rational mind. Like that the kids didn't wake in the night that often and that he'd stayed before and that they could set an early alarm and –
"I'm not staying," he insisted, watching the gears turn in her mind. She nodded, biting her lip, and relaxed her hand in his grasp. He switched from lightly restraining her to smoothing his thumb over the back of her hand. "You can come over tomorrow before work after you drop the kids off at school," he added, hand lightly trailing down the center of her chest and over her ribs to rest at her hip. "We can...talk."
Calleigh nodded, but god she was distracted by the low rumble of his voice, a very sexy product of desire and trying to be quiet, and by that full bottom lip of his. She wanted nothing more than to sandwich it between hers again, to feel his lips roam down her skin like he seemed to thoroughly enjoy, to feel his touch in places they certainly couldn't expose on this couch – or even in her bedroom, apparently, where little eyes might search for them at any given moment.
She pushed herself up, fingers curving around his as she tugged him with her. It was a little more abrupt and decisive than he'd expected her to be about walking him to the door, but they both were a little too far gone right now and she was probably hoping to put some distance between them before it was too late.
Except evidently it already was, because right around her foyer she turned to smile at him mischievously before tugging him down a hall. He hesitated, but he was in no state to resist her as she led him into the quiet little nook of her house and into her office at the end of the hall. She'd been neglecting this space lately, favoring working at the kitchen or dining table where she could sit with the kids and split her attention between work and homework, coloring, or reading children's books. As a result, the kids pretty much never came in here and it was the last place they'd check should they happen to wake.
Calleigh shut the door behind them and pressed the lock in just in case, then took both of Eric's somewhat reluctant hands in hers and backed up slowly until she'd met the desk.
"Calleigh," Eric warned, breathing out the last of his control as she hopped up onto the desk and pulled him between her legs. "You have two beautiful kids upstairs who have no idea what's going on between us…" he continued even as his hands found her thighs.
It went without saying that the last thing either of them wanted was Austin or Claire to wake up and come to find them in some precarious situation, and yet they couldn't stop this even if they tried. It all made sense: that they'd never been able to stay away from one another, that even when they were off they were still on, that Austin and Claire completely adored Eric, and that he'd fallen into some sort of caretaker role so easily for them even when they weren't dating at all and he had no reason to.
She bit her lip, eyes dancing with his. She knew that he was right and surprisingly rational given their entire day, and yet she also knew deep down that she was right to not feel like this was at all wrong.
"Well," she lilted, and he knew what road they were going down as soon as she moved her hair aside to untie the strings of her halter dress and let it fall from her chest. "Then we better be quick."
Eric shook his head as he leaned into her, taking in the lacy little bralette it was good he didn't know she'd been wearing all night beneath that dress. He rested his forehead against hers, taking a moment to look aside and listen for little feet or voices before he returned his attention to her. His fingers slipped beneath the fabric of her dress at her thigh, caressing higher and higher as he afforded more bare skin to his eyes and hands, and he couldn't help but recognize that they were kind of picking up exactly where they'd left off earlier today.
He took a quick moment to take her in again, tousled blonde hair framing her face, eager lips awaiting his, and eyes studying his every move. He'd had so much resolve earlier about this very thing not happening tonight, and yet here he was. A little smirk toyed at his lips as they found hers, his hands fulfilling their silent promise to progress things quickly as his thumb hooked around the edge of what felt like matching lace at her hip.
"What am I gonna do with you?" he mumbled against her lips, capturing them again as he felt her body arch into his.
Calleigh grinned against his mouth, waiting until their lips slowed and she could pull back a little. Her brows furrowed, a mix of confusion, awe, and happiness filling her features as she stared up at him. "Marry me, apparently," she said with a little disbelief, mirroring the grin that was currently working its way across his face.
Eric sighed happily as he rested his forehead against hers again, tipping his mouth toward hers until he could capture her lips in agreement.
/~/
Soft laughter escaped her lips as Eric's hand trailed back and forth over her now clothed hip. This was quite different than normal: the two of them bathed in the warmth and satiety of afterglow, yet completely clothed again and cuddled back up on the couch where more innocent positions could quickly be assumed should the need arise.
Eric chuckled alongside her, his free hand reaching behind him to better prop up the pillow beneath his head. Calleigh was tucked against him on her side, her head resting on his chest, one hand splayed across his abdomen. He still wasn't staying – they'd agreed – but neither of them wanted to part quite yet despite how late into the night it was. So instead they'd grabbed a blanket and snuggled up on the couch, exchanging light touches and kisses in the silence.
Calleigh bit her lip. "Maybe not my finest parenting moment."
His chest rumbled again with a laugh and she lifted her head to rest her chin atop his chest, looking up at him with eyes that were still bright but beginning to grow tired.
"It wasn't that bad," he assured despite his earlier reluctance. "Besides, you've literally been putting them before everything else since before you even brought them home."
Calleigh took in a deep breath, thinking about it for a moment, and then sighed hard. "I don't know about that."
"I do," he said, not missing a beat. "You've been literally perfect for them – and not in a too perfect kind of way. You're real and honest with them, teaching them to be good people."
A smile graced her lips at his words, but her thoughts quickly wandered. They were going to talk tomorrow, but while they were here and on the topic she couldn't help but voice her thoughts.
"They've had so much happen in their lives in such a short time…"
He could hear it in her voice: the battle between what she wanted and some unattainable level of stability she seemed to hold herself to. She'd seemed to have passed the point of holding herself back because of it, but the worry was definitely still there.
"And they're doing great," he reminded her, voice growing closer to sleep the longer he remained here, soothed by the feel of her warm body pressed against his.
The corners of her lips curved up, appreciative but not totally convinced. She laid the side of her face back against his chest, her body finally calming after its little rush of adrenaline, their time in the sun and the late hour catching up to her. He could practically feel her exhaustion, her body further molding against his as she went a little more lax.
"You're not gonna fall asleep, are you?" he asked, making sure.
"No," she insisted. "Just stay a few more minutes." She closed her eyes, so sure of her ability to hold onto her grasp on alertness.
"I can tuck you in," he offered, feeling dangerously close to closing his own eyes.
"Mmm." She smiled, easily imagining him lulling her to sleep before he left. But, ever practical, she mumbled, "I'd have to lock the door."
He paused a beat. "I think I might still have your key," he admitted, the low rumble of his voice close to a chuckle and further soothing her.
"Might wanna just hold onto that." She smiled, clearly overestimating her ability to hold onto the edge of wakefulness with him here, his voice and his warmth a powerful comfort.
And he'd completely overjudged his own hold on the situation, his eyes inadvertently fluttering closed the more her breathing slowed…