This was what home should feel like.

Tommy and Kylie had gone out to run a few errands while Kimberly had gone back to his house to settle in the new space. Tommy's mother had left early in the morning, a moment before Kylie and Tommy made their way to the bake sale. Luckily for Tommy and Kimberly, Carol had been a good guest and the room had been left clean and with fresh linen. The sheets smelled just like they did in high school. A memory that made Kimberly smile. Tommy must use the same detergent that his mother used. It was familiar, warm, and comforting.

The house seemed so different than the last visit. She couldn't wait to get out of Reefside the last time she had been there but now it was feeling more like home than Angel Grove. This feeling was something she could get used to.

It didn't take long for Kimberly to get everything unpacked, after all, she only originally intended to stay overnight. She hadn't brought much from Angel Grove, at least not for an extended visit.

It wasn't until now that Kimberly took in Tommy's house. The walls were mostly bare, except for a few pieces of artwork that Kylie had made in school that were proudly displayed on the oak paneled walls. Tommy didn't own any matching furniture, almost as if he'd pieced together a set by scavenging things from yard sales and antique stores, but it was home. It was more of a home than she could remember. It was the home of a family. It was him.

Her house growing up may have been beautiful and kept together, but the walls held a darkness that she tried to not remember. It was the cries of her father as her mother walked out on him and her. College life had treated her a little better and that was the first time she tried to make a place her own. It didn't get any better than poster boys she had from her Abercrombie and Fitch days. She had about five of them and she was in love with every single one. The smiles. The hair. The washboard abs.

The house had been quiet for only a few moments before Kylie and Tommy returned home. Kylie was still five and that meant she came with a lot of noise. Kimberly didn't mind it though. If anything, she loved it. It was a lot better than the empty house she always went home to.

Tommy greeted Kimberly a little braver this time. Instead of the sorry excuse of a hug, he kissed her cheek. Still wasn't what she wanted, but it was better. Kylie didn't seem to notice anything different, and it left Kimberly wondering how receptive Kylie would be about a relationship between them. Would she be completely against it? Would she think Kimberly was trying to take her place in her dad's heart? Or worse, would she think Kimberly was trying to take her mom's place? Kimberly wasn't too sure how much Kylie knew about her mom. She never brought her up, at least not to her.

She'd be okay with this. I know she would be.

However, the doubt never left her mind, no matter how many times she tried to tell herself otherwise.

But I've never been seen as a threat to her before.

It had been so difficult to keep her distance from Tommy. She tried to not stare too long or bite her lip too much, but that was a near-impossible task. She kept herself busy by making dinner for everyone but she could feel him watching her. It was like their own personal brand foreplay. Every single time he looked in her direction or smiled at her, she swooned. It wasn't like her to be that way around a guy.

The memory of the night before kept replaying in Tommy's head, even at the most inappropriate times. This was so unlike him. There hadn't been another woman that inhabited his thoughts more than her. Not that he minded very much. He could live like this. This could be theirs someday. He'd talk to Kylie about his relationship with Kimberly eventually. He'd let a few months go by and drop a hint, maybe keep taking her to therapy and talk to her therapist about it, wait a few more months and drop another hint, therapy again, another hint, therapy, hint— wash, rinse, repeat! She'd be open to this in a few years.

No. no. no. Years? That's too long.

He didn't want to wait that long. Kimberly didn't deserve that, but realistically, how long were they planning on going along with this? Wouldn't it just be a matter of time before she got tired of waiting for something that was never coming? There would be no ring. There would be no kids, not from him at least.

Don't think about that.

"Dinners ready," Kimberly called out and it gave Tommy a flash of what he had already given up.

If he'd known this could have been his life then he might have made different choices. Maybe he would have held off on that vasectomy he was desperate to get. Maybe he could be have been the one to give Kimberly everything she wanted.

That didn't matter anymore. That wasn't who he was.

Fuck. He needed her.

Tommy turned to Kylie who had been playing in the living room, "Go clean up, Bunny."

"Okay," she answered before placing her toys down and skipping right off.

Tommy almost didn't wait for Kylie to turn the corner before he wrapped a tan arm around Kimberly's waist, pulling her inside the walk-in pantry. The door slammed closed, sealing them inside the small and dark closet. He swallowed her surprised gasp, his lips meeting hers instantly, his tongue reaching out to greet hers. God, he'd missed her. Missed the sweetness of her taste, the heat from her body, the whispered moans she made whenever his lips were on hers. This was what he needed, to feel her close to him and flush his thoughts away.

He entangled his right hand in her brown hair while the other found its way to her lower back, securing her tightly to him. It had been too long since he had last kissed her and he was determined to make up for it. The fire inside her only roared louder, telling her just how much she wanted to be close to him.

"You don't know how badly I've been wanting to do this all day," He rasped into her throat, tasting the sensitive skin there. He couldn't resist sliding his left hand even lower, grabbing a handful of her backside.

She can't wear leggings and expect me to keep my hands to myself. I'm an animal around her, running on primal instincts alone.

She smiled in the dark, "Probably as long as I've been wanting to."

His lips found hers again, somehow hoping that he could show her how badly she affected him.. and she did. She could feel the firmness brushing against her belly, making her legs tremble.

He had to pull back. As much as he was enjoying having Kimberly in his arms, he had to slow down. Kylie would be back any minute and she couldn't find them like this.

"I missed you," he told her, his eyes pressed tightly closed as he rested his forehead to hers.

Kimberly's breathing and heart rate were beginning to slow, synching up with the steady rhythm of Tommy's chest.

"I missed you too."

She could faintly see him in the dark. The light from the kitchen had bled in through the cracks, but his features were still hidden in the shadows, exactly the same way they had been the night before.

"There's so much I want to say and do to you right now." She could hear the desperation in his voice.

"I know," she nodded against him, hating to have to be a mature adult and not give in to her desires, "but not right now. Later."

He groaned before reluctantly leading her out of the pantry, "Come one. Kylie will be back any minute."

They cut it rather close because it wasn't more than seven seconds before Kylie turned the corner and skipped back into the kitchen, her long ponytail swaying back and forth. Tommy and Kimberly couldn't exactly hide the darkness behind their eyes. They wanted each other more than they had ever wanted anyone else before and it was clear as fucking day. It was a good thing that Kylie was only five. She didn't understand. Kylie was too young to pick up on the extra glances, the hidden smiles behind a glass of wine, or the way Kimberly was torturing Tommy by rubbing her leg against his under the table.

Tommy would occasionally pause mid-chew when Kimberly's leg would travel further up his leg. She would return a devious little smile that would creep up her pink lips. She knew exactly what she was doing.

How am I going to make it through the day?

Dinner had been amazing, Tommy knew that, but he didn't really remember it. All he could concentrate on was the monster growing in his pants and trying to reel it in at costs. He needed to control himself, but the animal in him just wanted to flip the table and pound on his chest with his fists.

Get it together, Oliver.

"Time for bed, bunny," Tommy turned to Kylie. "Go get ready for bed and I'll be up in a minute to tuck you in."

She pouted by seeing as how he'd already let her stay up a little after her bedtime, she knew she couldn't exactly get away with it again. "Can Aunt Kim do it?"

"Uh, I don't know," He shrugged before turning to Kimberly. "Kim?"

"I don't mind," She returned a warm smile. "Go on up and I'll be right there, kiddo."

Kimberly watched Kylie skip off and she paused before taking the first step on the stairs. "You think you'll be okay by yourself?" She asked Tommy, the smile still on her lips.

"Maybe… but I'd rather not risk it," He stood and walked closer to her, close enough for her to smell him. "I think I'm gonna grab a beer and head out to the porch. Want to join me?"

She nodded, and somehow found the way to speak, "That sounds nice."

"Beer okay?"

"Wine if you have some, please." She gave him a cheeky grin and he laughed. Of course she would prefer that. "I'll be right back."

He watched her leave, leaving him alone in his living room. How was it possible to get so attached to a person that fast? What made things even more terrifying was that Kylie loved Kimberly equally as much. He could see the future there. It was within his grasp. Kimberly was just something else. She wasn't the same girl he fell in love with a decade earlier, she was better and she fit into his life like a glove.

He wanted to be better when he was with her. He wanted to be the person that she thought he was. It was the abandonment issues that held him back. It hadn't bothered him as much growing up, but when Natalie did the same thing to their daughter that his birth parents had done to him, he relapsed. It wasn't fair to let the fear sink in again. Kimberly wasn't like that. She wouldn't walk out on him and Kylie.

She already has.

He shook his head, fighting the thought away.

That was different. We were young. We wanted different things.

Tommy had worked so hard to get to a good and healthy place in his life. Now things were changing for the better but he still had reservations. Why though? He was happy. He was getting everything that he wanted… maybe it had more to do about the person that he couldn't be. The person that Kimberly deserved and he refused to become. A husband.

He made a quick trip to the refrigerator to pull out a cold beer for him and some wine for Kimberly. After pouring her a glass of white wine, he took their drinks to his front porch, where he sat down and took in the cold air.

The porch had been his place to think. It offered him exactly what he needed, a chair and fresh air. When he couldn't make the drive around town, the porch was his haven. The stars always shined just a little bit brighter from his home, twinkling in the suburbs, away from the light pollution of the city. He lived on the outskirts of town on a large acre lot, but still close enough to have nosy neighbors. He tried planting trees and bushes to keep eyes away, but they had yet to grow high enough to offer any privacy.

Either way, he loved it. It was a good house that Kylie could grow up in. It had plenty of space for the two and above all, it was safe. That was his main concern. She had to grow up in a place where she could be free to become whatever she wanted. A place where she never had to worry about buildings getting destroyed or monsters coming to attack her… a place that wasn't what he had growing up.

Kimberly met him in the darkness, "Hi."

"Hey," He straightened out and scanned her from the tips of her pink toes to the caramel lights in her hair. She was fucking beautiful. "Is she asleep?"

"I think so," She went over to the chair beside him and took the glass he extended to her. "Thank you."

The air was cool on her skin, but the heat he was radiating was hot enough to keep her warm.

After taking a small sip, she let the contents rest on her tongue before she swallowed. "I bet the sunrise is beautiful here."

"It is. You didn't take in the view when you were here?"

"No," She shook her head, "I kept busy inside and when I did go outside, the sun was already over the house."

He placed a hand on her thigh, feeling the smooth skin under the palm of his hand. It felt so good to touch a woman again. Of course, he was sure that he wouldn't feel the same if it had been any woman. It mattered to him more because it was Kimberly.

"I'll wake you up early one of these days and we can watch it together."

"mmmm…I'm not much of an early riser."

"I know, but it'll be worth it. I promise… I'll try not to keep you up too late the night before."

She caught the wink he gave her from the corner of her eye, making her breath catch in her throat. "It's a date then."

Date? Wow, when was the last time he'd had that? He'd slept with a few women since Natalie, but he'd never taken anyone on a date. It was always some rando that he met at a bar or when he went away on business, but a date? That required intimacy, getting to know someone, usually the potential for it to mean something more. A date… with Kimberly Hart… he liked that.

"I didn't even ask you how your week had been. I was a little excited to see you last night. How was the tour of the school?

She brushed her knees together without meaning to, but the mention of the night before had awoken something inside her. She wanted a repeat but wasn't quite sure when that would happen again. It didn't feel right with Kylie sleeping just a few doors down.

"It was better than the pictures," she told him. "It was everything I wanted. I think that just makes the decision a lot easier."

"I'm glad. I want to see you a lot more."

"You will," She promised. "How was your week?"

He gave a strained laugh. "Not great."

"No? What happened?"

He sighed. "Natalie called me."

Her heart stopped, along with the brim of the wine glass to her lips.

"Oh," She said, softly.

Reminding her that she was alive and well, her heart began to pick up, galloping steadily against her ribcage.

'Don't be that girl,' she told herself.

That's his ex-wife, the mother of his daughter, the woman that is tethered to him for life. Be cool. Be supportive. Be the ear that he needs because he obviously wasn't happy about getting the call. Don't be jealous. Don't make demands. Don't ruin this.

"How did that go?" She spoke up as she took another small sip of her wine.

"The same as every phone call I get from her. She yelled, she cried, she blamed me for everything." He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I guess she's right to blame me, but I'm just tired of hearing it."

"Hey," Kimberly shook her head and placed a hand on his knee, "That's not true, okay? It takes two to be in a relationship and you both have to want it just as bad. It's not fair for her to put the blame on you and her take no accountability."

"Yeah, well, I doubt she'll ever see it that way. I'm just tired of fighting. Do you know how nice it is to not hear from her? Then I feel terrible for feeling that way because I wish things were different. Not really our relationship, but just her relationship with Kylie. I wish she had that, you know? What's wrong with Kylie that Natalie can't see what she's missing? I'll tell you what— nothing! Maybe I'm biased but I think Kylie is the perfect fucking child."

Kimberly didn't exactly have the right words to say. It was obvious that he'd had a lot on his mind the last couple of days. He'd never really talked about Natalie or what happened with his relationship, so hearing about his feelings was new to her. It made her feel closer to him.

"This shit gets to me because it's Kylie that suffers. Maybe she wasn't hurting at first, but she's slowly starting to see that she's a little different. There are mother-daughter fashion shows, tea parties, spa days, and sleepovers that we're never invited to because the other girls and mom's aren't comfortable with having a guy there. It's just bullshit and I hate that I can't do anything about it."

He stood up from his chair, needing to break away from the space and move his body around. He walked only a few feet, a frustrated hand rubbing his face.

Kimberly watched him from her seat, feeling her heart shatter for him and Kylie.

"Tommy, I… I'm sorry. I didn't realize things were that bad."

"No, I'm sorry." He sighed, suddenly feeling horrible for saying too much. He turned to face her, "I shouldn't be dumping all of this on you. It's just that I was already miserable because you were gone and then she called me and it was like another stab to a wound. Anyway, she didn't really care to talk about Kylie."

She reached for her wine with one hand and offered the other hand to Tommy, inviting him to sit back down beside her. "Why not?"

"She was more concerned about the girl I had living in my house," He rolled his eyes and took the empty spot beside Kimberly. "Mrs. Johansen called her and told her all about you, or at least some version of you. She had seen you around the house. The townies don't exactly believe in privacy. She's probably watching us from her window right now."

Kimberly took a quick glance across the street, seeing a lonely light inside the older woman's home.

Traitor. I almost brought you cookies.

"Natalie didn't take it well?" Kimberly asked, taking a small sip of her wine.

She knew by the tone of Tommy's voice that she likely didn't.

"She exploded," He leaned back. "I don't know why she's so possessive. It's not like we're still married. We've been divorced for almost four years. It's been over longer than that."

Kimberly knew that possessiveness well. She'd felt it herself in high school, especially when Katherine came into the picture. It was there when she dated other guys too, but not like when it came to Tommy. For him, it was always stronger. That feeling was coming back again, even during this conversation.

Be cool.

"Maybe she still loves you," Kimberly offered.

Tommy shook his head, "She didn't love me any more than I loved her… and I didn't. We were just young and stupid, but it doesn't matter. Things worked out the way they were supposed to and I wouldn't change a thing. I do, however, have to change my babysitter. I can't have Mrs. Johansen watch Kylie again. I lost all fucking trust in her. She'll blab to Natalie and that'll just make things worse."

"Do you have someone in mind?"

"Not yet but I have to find someone soon."

Her gaze fell to the wine in her glass, watching the contents turning in a hypnotic swirl. "What if I watch her…"

He straightened out in his chair, "Don't you have to get back to Angel Grove?"

"Not for at least two more weeks. I can extend my stay and give you enough time to find someone that you can trust."

"You don't have to do that, Kim."

"I want to," She reassured him, "I'm always here if you two need me."

That only meant that she would be here with him longer and as long as that meant even more time with her, he couldn't reject her offer.

Move in with me.

He, honest to God, almost let that slip out. If he would have had one more sip of that Heineken then he wouldn't have had the sense to keep that to himself. Instead of risking it slipping it out, he leaned in and kissed her on those lips that have been tantalizing him all night.

"Thank you," He said, brushing his lips on hers once more.

Her cheeks were tinting themselves pink as the heat slipped in. His kiss was softer than the one he had given her earlier in the pantry. Whew, she needed air.

"I do have to make another trip back to Angel Grove," she said, pulling back. "I only planned on staying one day, remember? I didn't pack much."

"I highly doubt that." He rubbed at the scruff on his jaw, "Let me guess, you planned for one day… what is that? Five different outfits?"

She stuck her nose up in the air, making him chuckle. "Actually, it's only four."

"Does that include the one you're wearing right now?"

She looked down at her chambray top and black leggings. "…no."

He gave her a cheeky grin, the same one she'd always melt for, "Then it's five."

Their conversation had taken on a much lighter turn than it had earlier and Tommy was thankful for that. He'd gotten heated remembering his conversation with Natalie. He wasn't quite sure why he was spilling everything to Kimberly at that moment, but there was no one else he would rather talk to. She would always understand. That's just how their relationship was. Even their break up didn't pull them apart. She'd remained his confidant, which is why Natalie was so threatened.

He watched her finish up her wine, the bottom of her glass raised high in the air as she made sure to take in every last drop. When her tongue brushed against her bottom lip, he swallowed hard. He wanted his lips on hers. He'd waited all fucking day already.

"Come on," He said rising and extended his hand out. "I'm tired of talking."

She took it without hesitation and followed him to the side of his house, where the light wasn't directly hitting it. The neighborhood had quieted down by now, leaving only the sound of their laughter.

As soon as they were out of view of the street, Tommy pinned Kimberly to the side of his house and crushed his lips into hers. Her stomach nearly did a backflip. Why was this always so good? She'd never get tired of feeling his lips against hers or his hands on her body.

When he reached for the buttons on her top, she paused. Red light. They were outside. What was he expecting to happen? She'd never done anything like this before. She was used to a room.. with a lock, or an empty house. But outdoors? Where anyone could just walk up and find them? Or someone could hear them? This wasn't her. This was wild.

"Tommy, what are you doing?" She pulled back, but made no attempt to stop his fingers, "What if Mrs. Johansen sees us?"

He'd likely give her a heart attack if she peeked out her window. Might teach her a lesson though. She was never going to mind her own business as long as she lived across the street from him, so why did it matter what he did?

He grinned back at her, "Then let's give her something to talk about."

When her shirt was opened and his mouth moved to the top of her breasts, her eyes closed. God. yes.

But the light was still red.

"What about Kylie?" Kimberly's knees buckled when Tommy moved his lips to her neck. He held her in place and she was sure that if he hadn't, she'd be on the floor already.

"She's asleep, remember?" He told her, easing her worries. "She knows not to come outside after dark."

That was all she needed to hear to let herself be free. She tasted the Heineken on his tongue and melted by the heat from his body. She was like a teenager all over again, sneaking out at midnight to meet a boy… and that boy was always Tommy. The added pressure to keep quiet was equally as thrilling. God, he was everything.

Reaching behind himself, Tommy pulled his shirt up and over his head, throwing his shirt into a heap on the floor.

She bit at her lip when he revealed his Abercrombie abs. They looked like they could have been chiseled by fucking Michelangelo. He deserved a spot inside the Louvre, right next to Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa.

Her fingers traced the hard lines, making her mouth dry and her center wet.

I'd have had him on my wall in my dorm room.

Her hands trembled frantically at his belt, trying to solve the puzzle keeping her from her prize. It was difficult to keep herself together, especially when his hand moved past the waistband of her leggings and worked a finger inside her, then two.

"Oh, God. Please don't be watching," She panted against his lips.

He kissed her again, hungrily, "It's just you and me."

His fingers curled inside her in a way that had her throwing her head back against the vinyl siding of his house. Ragged breaths became the only sounds in the night. She wanted more. She needed more.

yes.

It didn't take her much longer before she was able to undo his belt and the button of his jeans. Her hand slipped inside, wrapping her fingers around the hard flesh, just like she had done the night before. She damned anyone that had been able to touch him like this before. Her hand was soft and warm, and it greeted him like a hug.

Tommy's eyes slipped closed as the memory of his fantasy came into play. Her hand moved just how he loved and he was struggling not to come already, but he knew it would be over far too quickly if she didn't stop. What he did realize, however, was that she was far better than his own fist. What a shitty job he had been doing. There was no competition between his hand and hers. She'd always win.

Unable to take much longer, he pulled his fingers out of her and sucked them into his mouth, dying to have a taste of her again. Fucking sweet. He could easily become addicted to this.

Unlike their first time, where they focused solely on bringing the other pleasure, this was faster, primal, frantic. Like if they dared slow down it was never going to happen again.

Sometime during their frenzy, Kimberly had kicked off her shoes and pull down her leggings.

"We have to be quiet," He whispered into her neck when she jumped up and wrapped her legs around him.

"No promises," She returned devilishly, feeling his tongue on her pulse.

They weren't quiet. Neither of them. Not when he pushed himself inside her. Not when she clawed at his back. Not even when they thought they heard the snapping of a twig in the woods.

'Enjoy the fucking show, assholes,' Tommy thought to himself when the idea that someone could be watching them popped up. 'because I'm not stopping.'

He was already so close to the edge. Her cheers only drove him even madder. His muscles twitched beneath her touch, pulling him closer to her. This was the third time and he still hadn't seen her. It wasn't fair. He wanted more. He needed to see her perfect little body in the daylight or at least with a fucking light. Her curves were already engrained in his mind, but he had yet to see them the way he wanted. She was perfect… the little vixen.

Kimberly's top was hanging off her forearms, giving her a little modesty. Not like she was too much of a modest girl to begin with. This wasn't how Tommy wanted to end his first night with her in his house, but he couldn't control himself. He was very much the animal he thought he was. She did something to him. Something he had never felt with anyone else. Maybe it was the fact that they had history, or that he would fantasize about this all throughout high school but had been too terrified to act on it. High school Tommy would definitely high five him now.

Wait half a lifetime, buddy. It'll happen eventually and it'll be everything.

She was wet, sweaty, sticky… and he was the cause of it. Tommy let a huge inhale of pride fill his lungs, expanding his broad chest. He was sending her over the edge. She wanted this to last longer, but she couldn't hold on anymore. She'd exercised all her will power. It was too much and her high-pitched groans signaled she had gone over the edge and found nirvana.

The explosion of stars filled in her eyes, leaving her wondering if her eyes were open or closed. Tommy followed closely behind her as he lost all inhibition, rippling inside her. He cursed into her neck when the time came and he fought with the oxygen around him to let him breathe again.

I can't fucking move.

He was stuck this way, inside her, and while he could happily live like that for the rest of his life, he still had a five-year-old to take care of. Somehow he found the strength to pull out, although he didn't think he would be able to, and gently placed Kimberly's feet back on the ground.

"I'm sorry," He said, surprising her.

His forehead came to rest over hers and she inhaled his scent. "What are you sorry for?"

"I got carried away. This isn't how things should be. You should get a bed, warmth, pillows or something."

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "But this was so much better, don't you think?"

"God," he groaned and took her bottom lip between his teeth. "You're damn right it was. I never thought I'd see Kimberly Hart outside. Aren't you allergic to the outdoors?"

"Very funny, mister," She poked at his chest with a finger while they quickly dressed. "Maybe I just never had a reason to be outside… but you definitely just gave me one."

She kissed all his thoughts away the next moment. Maybe this wasn't how he expected things to go, but he had no complaints about how it ended, especially now that he knew Kimberly enjoyed it just as much as he did. What the hell had he done that earned him this good fortune? He didn't deserve it. As much as he hated for the night to end, it had to. And as much as he wished Kimberly could come back into his room and sleep beside him, she couldn't.

Not yet… but one day she would.

Author note: Hey guys! Hope you all enjoyed! I'm gonna take the next few days off to enjoy time with my family. Happy Holidays if you celebrate! See you next time!