The Good Neighbor by Kimberly A. Bettes Page B

I didn’t have to feel like I was pushing myself on her by
coming over any more. I knew now that she wanted me here. No more
worrying that I was acting like Bernie. She wanted me.
    I loved the way it felt to have her in my
arms, pulled against me where I could protect her and keep her
safe. I closed my eyes, memorizing the softness of her skin and the
smell of her hair.
    She closed the door behind me and led me into
the dining room. She apologized for the kids having already eaten.
They had been too hungry to wait for me, but she’d waited. We sat
at the table and ate, mostly in silence. She kept smiling at me and
that more than made up for the lack of conversation. It did puzzle
me that she wasn’t saying much, but when I looked at her, I saw she
was deep in thought. I matched her silence, not wanting to disturb
her.
    When we were finished with the pork chops and
had the dishwasher loaded, she took my hand in hers and led me into
the living room where Ethan and Shelby were sitting on the floor
playing a board game. We sat on the couch, watching.
    It would be a lie to say I didn’t like the
way her hand felt, still nestled in mine, or the way her skirt
pulled up just enough to show more of her thigh, or better yet, the
way the heat of her thigh felt against mine. Even through my jeans,
her warmth was unavoidable. I couldn’t ignore it. But I had to try.
The kids were only a few feet from us.
    After an hour or so, the kids reminded Carla
of her promise to let them watch a movie. She made them each a bowl
of popcorn and a pallet on the floor. She and I remained on the
couch. The movie started and the kids’ attention turned completely
to the screen.
    Carla reclaimed her place beside me on the
couch. I could feel her eyes on me throughout most of the animated
film, but I didn’t mind. The kids fell asleep during the movie, but
we left them where they were until it was over. Then, I carried
them upstairs, one at a time. Carla tucked them in and kissed them
goodnight. I waited in the doorway, watching her be a mother.
    When she finished, we went down to the
kitchen where she poured us each a glass of wine. I could feel her
eyes following my every move. We drank the first glass of wine in
the kitchen, and the second in the living room, sitting on the
couch.
    “It’s getting pretty late. I better let you
get to bed,” I said, standing and walking to the door.
    She followed me. “Owen, you don’t have to
go.”
    I turned to her, my hand on the door knob. I
was going to tell her that she needed her rest and I didn’t want to
keep her up and I didn’t want to overstay my welcome and she’d been
more than nice enough...but I didn’t say anything. Before I had a
chance to speak, she planted her lips firmly against mine. She held
my face in place with a hand on each cheek, as if she was afraid
I’d pull away.
    Surprising me even further was the way she
was kissing me. It wasn’t just a peck. She parted her lips and
filled my mouth with her tongue. Although I was taken aback by her
boldness, I didn’t hesitate to respond appropriately. I kissed her
just as passionately, if not more so, than she kissed me.
    We stood there for a while, kissing each
other intensely. I didn’t want to stop. Ever. I could tell she felt
the same way. It was more than the way she was kissing me. It was
the fact that she’d wanted to kiss me so badly, she’d put herself
out there and made the first move. It was the way she wound her
fists in my hair and pulled slightly, just enough to drive me wild.
It was also the way she pressed herself to me tighter, as if no
matter how close we were together, it wasn’t close enough.
    I loved the way she felt against me, her
breasts firm against my chest. The smell of her was more than
intoxicating. These things combined put me over the edge. There was
no hiding my excitement from her now. I knew she felt it. In fact,
I knew the exact moment she felt it. She stopped kissing me and
smiled.
    Then, she took