From her cosy seat in her lounge, Casey stared at me, her mouth open in a perfect O. She’d moved into her new home—built by the family on the site of an old barn—just a week ago, and the place was still in the process of being furnished. The kitchen, lounge, and one bedroom had been completed, the nursery was next. They were living the dream.
“He chased you? Then pounced on you?”
“Yep. Right there under the trees.”
From the iPad screen, some fancy hotel suite in the background, Viola gawked. “Holy fuck. And he didn’t kiss you?”
“Nope. Well, not on the mouth. He dove right on in and got to work.”
“Did he come himself?”
I hesitated, considering that fact for the first time. “No. He didn’t even touch himself that I saw. Only me.”
“And it was good?”
“Insanely so.”
Both women gave up twin sighs.
Casey mock-wiped her brow. “That is extremely hot, and I will never be able to look him in the eye again.”
I grinned. “Have ye met him properly?”
“I have. He was here talking to Brodie about joining the mountain rescue. With Blayne’s new job, he’s away too much to commit, but Brodie’s going for it. I might, too, when our baby is older.” She considered me. “I liked him. He’s frank and honest, and the no-bullshit approach suits you.”
I liked that about him, too. As well as a lot of other things. A week had passed since our…dalliance, but not a moment of it had escaped my memory. I pulled a face, trying to frame my next sentence. I needed my friends’ input. They were so much more experienced than me.
“I was thinking about asking him for something else. Another round, but maybe with a difference. I don’t want to only be able to get off after being chased.”
Viola snorted. “That would be a fun relationship.”
“Well, it can’t be a relationship. He might be single, but he’s only here for another three months.”
“Okay then. Why not try straight-up sex? In a bedroom, not the cold ground,” Casey asked. “Lay him out, take the reins, so to speak, and be the one in charge.”
I squinted, assessing my reaction. “I never liked that in the past. What if it’s the same and I get spooked?”
“Then you ask him to tie up your hands and blindfold you, and you’ll be back in your comfort zone.”
Viola groaned. “Oh man. Talk about zones. I’m right in the horny one, and Leo isn’t back until late tonight. I decided against going to every gig because the noise levels might not be good for the baby, but now I’m regretting my choices.”
Casey laughed. “I’m the other side. I can barely move, so sex isn’t an every-minute need anymore.”
It was true. At eight months, she was huge.
“On that,” Casey added. “Any news on baby planning, Cait? Did you reconsider your fertility clinic idea?”
I frowned. “No. Why would I?”
“Because now you’ve jump-started your sex life, sex can lead to love, which might mean you eventually find someone who you want to make a family with.”
I followed her logic. It made sense. And yet… “That could happen, or not. I’ve never had feelings for a man. I haven’t suddenly fallen head over heels for Lochinvar because he made me orgasm. Even if I did find someone, that could take years. Then years more to trust them and know they’d be a good parent.”
“Fair point,” Viola concluded on-screen. “I can remember ye telling me at seventeen that ye wanted to be a mother. Maybe even younger.”
“Exactly.”
Casey gave me a soft smile. “Is that so? I knew I’d want a family in future but not this soon. I can’t regret my baby—I love him or her so much and they aren’t even here yet—but I would’ve liked time with my men to grow our relationship.”
An option I wouldn’t have.
She continued. “If you do find a partner in future, he’ll accept you as a single mother. If he doesn’t, he isn’t the right guy.”
I exhaled a slight sense of misgiving. I had a plan and it was a good one. Sure, there were downsides, but overwhelmingly it would be good. Nothing had changed in who I was or what I had to offer a child. There was still the question of whether I’d have problems, too. No, my mind was made up.
“I’m going to contact the clinic again to ask if there’s been any cancellations.”
I found my phone and tapped out the email, hitting ‘send’ to commit myself once more.
Viola asked Casey pregnancy questions, and I let the knowledge fill me. Soon, I’d need that, too. It was going to happen.
