"Are you ready, Jack?" Aaron called out, grabbing the bags of California blend from out of the freezer. He put them on the bottom of the canvas bag on the counter and then placed the store bought rolls on top. "We only have thirty minutes before we need to be at Miss Erin's."
"I'm coming, Daddy." Aaron heard his son thumping down the hall. "The bag is a little heavy for me to lift."
"What do you have in here?" Aaron asked as he picked up the duffle.
"Some reading books, a coloring book, my iPod, stuff like that. Aunt Penelope says to be prepared for every situation." Jack grinned up at him. "So, let's go."
Aaron ruffled his son's hair and then picked up the food bag from the counter. While Jack got in the car, he put both bags on the seat next to his son.
The drive didn't take long, and when he pulled into the driveway, he saw Rossi's Cadillac and parked next to it, feeling somewhat relieved to have a friendly face other than Erin's there. They got out and he handed Jack the food bag before leading him up to the porch.
Penelope wrenched open the door before he could ring the bell. "Little man!"
"Aunt Penelope!" Jack launched himself into Penelope's open arms, his head coming to rest on her baby bump. "Hey! She kicked me, Aunt Penelope!"
"She's doing a lot more of that, Jack. I've only about fifteen more weeks of her inside me, so she has to get strong enough to survive out here." She took Jack's hand and led him inside, Aaron bringing up the rear. He felt a pair of hostile eyes on him and looked over to see a young woman glaring at him.
"Hello, Molly," he said evenly, not letting his face show any emotion, happy or sad.
She narrowed her eyes further. "Hello, Aaron. Mother is in the kitchen and would like to see you. My brother and sister will be here shortly. They're visiting Daddy's grave right now." It was a deliberate jab and he took it in stride.
"I can't wait to meet them. If you'll excuse me." He nodded to her and took off down the hall to the kitchen, finding Erin there, an apron tied around her waist. "Hello, Erin."
"Aaron!" She turned to face him, a warm smile on her lips. "I'm glad you made it!" She closed the distance between them and kissed him soundly, wrapping her arms around him. He could taste the alcohol on her breath and sighed a little.
"Honey, are you drunk?" he asked, looking at her in concern.
"Maybe, just a little." Her face crumpled a little and she dug her hand into his shirt. "Oh, god, Aaron, she hates me. You're the one safe harbor I've found in my life right now." Tears began to pool in her eyes and he wiped them away gently.
"I told you , at any point I can back off, give you more time, more space. I want you to have your family."
"But you are a part of my family now, Aaron. You and Penelope and Jack and Georgia. I let my heart be tender and I can't let you go now."
She was open and vulnerable to him and he smiled softly as he pulled her close once more. "I don't think I can let you go, either, Erin. Now, what do you need me to do?"
"If you could pull the turkey out of the oven so David can begin to carve it, I'll heat up the vegetables you brought." He nodded and did as instructed. As he set the turkey on the counter, he heard the door open and close.
"We're home, Mom!" Aaron turned to see a young man and woman taking off their coats. "The stone you picked for Dad looks really nice. I know Molly's probably bugged you about this, but why isn't your name on there, too?"
"There was only one plot available."
Erin looked ready to say more when Jack ran into the room crying. "Daddy!"
Aaron knelt by his son, taking him in his arms. "What's wrong, buddy?"
"Molly, Molly said that you should have died with Mommy, so that you would leave her mother alone!" Jack buried his face in Aaron's neck as he sobbed.
"That girl. I'm going to…"
"No, Mom, I'll handle it. Calm him down, he needs a gentle hand right now. Becca, you finish dinner." She nodded and took the spoon from her mother's hand. Joshua went to the door and then turned to look back at them. "Mom, all I want is for you to be happy after what Dad did to you. You've found that with him. I can't begrudge you that."
Erin nodded, tears rolling down her face. She knelt next to them and opened her arms. Jack fell into them, wrapping his little arms tight around her waist. "Why is Molly so mean, Miss Erin?"
"She misses her daddy and she's angry about how he died. The three of us are easy targets for her anger right now. I am so sorry that she hurt you, precious." Jack nodded against her chest and she held him all the closer. Aaron wrapped his arms around them both and held on as they heard the front door slam.
Penelope came into the kitchen moments later with Dave. She was holding a place setting and looked about ready to cry herself. "I brought Dave in to carve the turkey. Jack, do you want to help me pour the water?" He nodded and pulled away from Erin to take Penelope's hand and walk with her out of the room.
Aaron helped Erin to stand. She held him close, resting her head on his chest as she watched Rebecca finish the last minute prep work. "Hey, Mom, Aaron, go in the den. I'll get you when dinner's on the table." Rebecca smiled at them as she shooed them out of the room.
Together, they settled on the sofa, Erin pulling her feet up underneath her body as she curled into him. "Penelope and I went shopping the other day. I'm surprised my face still isn't red."
"Why?
"She insisted on putting together an 'I'm Yours' basket. I don't know how half of those things work, Aaron, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings."
"Ah, I see. She does tend to go overboard on things at times. Are you…?"
"No. But I'm getting closer, I think. If you were to get me drunk, I'd fall into bed with you in a heartbeat. Though I don't want that to be our first time."
"You want it to be special. I totally get that." She leaned forward and kissed him, only for them to hear a soft cough in the background. They turned and looked at Rebecca, who was smiling, a soft blush staining her cheeks.
"Dinner's ready." She left the room and Erin stood up, trying not to laugh. Aaron felt the same way, and hand in hand they went into the dining room. Aaron looked at the place cards and saw he was sitting at Erin's right hand. Dave was next to him and then Penelope. Across the table sat Jack, Joshua, and Rebecca.
Erin took her spot at the head of the table and held out her hands to Joshua and Aaron. "Aaron, will you say grace?"
Slightly shocked, he nodded and began to speak. "Oh Lord, we thank you that we could be together on this day where we pause to remember all we're thankful for in our lives. Bless this food to our bodies and bless those who chose not to be with us today. Keep them safe and change their hearts. In Thy name we pray. Amen."
The amen was echoed around the table as they looked up and began to pass around the food. "So, I thought while we were eating, we could play Risk again. I only brought the favorite deck, since today is supposed to be a happy day. What do you think, Erin?"
"I think it would be a great way for us to get to know each other better."
"Wonderful! I'll go first." Penelope pulled off the first card and handed the deck to her husband. "All right, what is your favorite holiday?" She tapped the card against her chin. "I'd have to say my favorite holiday is Christmas. I love getting things for other people. David?"
They went around the table, listening to the responses given, and Aaron smiled when his son said Halloween was his favorite holiday, since then he could be like his daddy. By the time the meal was over, they'd gone through two more cards and Aaron found himself more at ease with Erin's older children.
"All right, men, let's take care of these dishes," Dave said, pushing away from the table. "They fixed everything for us, it's our turn to do the busy work." While Dave scraped the plates off into the trash, Aaron and Jack filled the dishwasher and Joshua made up a plate of food for Molly.
"We'll be leaving in a little bit to see Molly. It's harder on her, since she hasn't seen a counselor. She's a bit like Mom in that regard. But we are working on her. You seem like a really decent guy, I mean, anyone who like Great Big Sea can't be that bad."
"Thanks, Josh, for everything." They shook hands and then he covered the full plate with saran wrap. "Sorry you can't stay for dessert."
"We'll have some for breakfast tomorrow." Joshua left the room and they finished up the work before joining Penelope and Erin in the den.
Aaron sat next to Erin and Jack crawled up into her lap. "Do you have to get over to Jessica's at all?"
"No. She's having her first Thanksgiving with Tom's family."
"Good." She curled up close to Aaron. "Did you like Josh and Becca, Jack?"
"Yeah, they're really nice. Can I go home with Uncle Dave and Aunt Penelope? I want to play with Mudgie." He smiled up at Aaron and he saw Dave and Penelope grinning at him as well. "Please?"
Aaron looked at his lover and saw her nod a little. "Of course you can, Jack."
"Awesome!" He climbed down to the floor and grabbed his bag. "I'm ready to go. My pajamas and everything are in here!" Penelope giggled a little as she looked at Aaron.
"Always be prepared, right, little man?"
"Uh huh, just like you taught me, Aunt Penelope." He went over to her and hugged her tightly.
Dave stood and helped Penelope up. She came over to them and kissed Erin's cheek. "Make sure you start with the Kissable Sensations. It can be delicious." She winked at Aaron and he felt a warm blush stain his cheeks. An awkward silence fell over the room as they were left alone.
"Do, do you want to try that one out?" Erin whispered, digging her fingers into his chest.
"If you feel comfortable with that, then yes." She stood before him, holding out her hand. He took it and stood, letting her head him up to her room. "Oh, wow. She must think we have super stamina or something," he remarked as he looked at the large basket on her dresser.
"I know. Okay, she must mean this," Erin said as she pulled out a black box from the basket. Opening it, she handed one flask to him, keeping the other for herself. "Can I go first?" He nodded and she made quick work of his shirt. She twisted the cap off and poured a few drops on her fingers, spreading it over the scar above his chest. Leaning forward, she licked it off, sending a shiver of desire coursing through his body. "This is so silly. I feel ridiculous."
"I don't." He opened his vial and shook out a few drops, making a line from her cleavage to her neck and then he bent and licked the gel off.
"Oh, I see," she shakily said, burying her hand in his hair. "Could you, I don't know, here?" Using her free hand, she angled his left hand to cup her breast. "Please?"
Aaron groaned s he squeezed her breast, feeling her arch into the touch. He fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, slipping it from her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. Gently, he pulled her down onto the bed and began kissing his way down the column of her neck as he unclasped her bra and tugged it from her body. Her skin was so soft and she leaned back as if offering her breasts to be worshipped.
As he began to suckle on one erect nipple, he felt her begin to lose control. Releasing her breast, he looked up to see her eyes were closed, tears running down the side of her face. "Please, don't stop, Aaron. That feels wonderful, I feel wonderful." Erin buried her fingers in his hair and tugged him back down to her breast. He softly blew against the erect peak she'd guided him to and was pleased to hear her gasp. Beneath him, he felt her hips move slightly, and he grinned up at her before engulfing her breast in his mouth.
Her whimpers of pleasure told him he was doing something right as he scored her nipple with his teeth. Their hands met on the tab of her skirt zipper, and she tugged it down while he began to leisurely drag his lips down her body. Aaron made it to just above her panty line before she stiffened in fear. "Honey?"
Erin sat up and wrapped her arms around him. "Give me a few minutes and then try again, please. I know you won't hurt me, that you'll be gentle." He felt her fingers trip over his scars. "I wish my wounds were visible. Then maybe I wouldn't be so stupidly frightened."
"After what you endured, your fear is justified." He pulled her close to him and tugged the covers over them. "Let's just lay here and talk for a little bit. How often did you and Erik make love?"
"Once a week. I, I'd give him hand jobs, so he could at least find relief on other nights."
"Did he ever think to find ways to pleasure you? To make you feel comfortable?"
Erin shook her head. "I was always taught it was my duty to please him."
He leaned over and kissed her sweetly, feeling her melt into him. "Well, I guess it's my duty to please you, then, my lovely one," he whispered against her lips. He felt her smile before she kissed him once more, pushing him onto his back so she could straddle him. Aaron reached up to cup her breasts, teasing the nipples with his thumbs as she writhed atop him. "You are so gorgeous."
She giggled slightly and then took hold of his left hand, running it down her body to rest on her hip. Aaron knew in that moment, he had to let her lead. Erin took a deep breath and copied the movement with his right hand. He hooked his fingers in her panties and tugged them down as she lifted herself up to oblige him. "Touch me, please," she whispered. "Before I lose my nerve."
He ran his knuckles over her mound and watched her take another deep breath as a sad smile spread over her lips. Tentatively, he let his fingers make delicate patterns on her, using the same feather light touches that had driven Haley insane with pleasure. Aaron heard a soft moan escape Erin's lips and he grinned. Emboldened, he let his thumb slip between her thighs to rub along her slit and she rolled her hips into the touch. "Is that good, Erin?"
She nodded and then bowed her head. "I want you to continue, but I can feel the tension building up in me."
"That could be an orgasm building up in you."
"Oh, right."
He smiled and slipped his thumb between her fold to find her clitoris. "Does that…?"
"Yes," she interrupted. "Oh yes, Aaron, oh, don't stop, please." She cajoled him on, her hips moving against his hand as she tried to get closer to him. And then, she stiffened in pleasure, her body bowing back as the orgasm swept over her.
Erin collapsed on top of him, bursting into tears. "Ah, my lovely one, now you know." She nodded as she snuggled into him, and he stroked her hair gently until they fell asleep, wrapped up in each other.