Chapter 29
“Antero.” She said simply. “The school he attends has a strong parent involvement. He also attends biweekly therapy sessions with a child psychologist. He also meets with an occupational therapist monthly to help with some of the stimming behavior he displays.”
“Stimming behavior?”
“Things like flapping his hands when he’s excited or nervous or rocking, though he doesn’t do them as much as he twirls things.”
“Twirls things?”
“Yes. If I want to distract him from an emotional outburst, he has fidget toys which he can spin. We found when he was quite young he could stare mesmerized at a spinning top we got at a novelty shop. He sat at the kitchen table too many hours to count simply spinning the damn top. The OT helps us figure out what works best to regulate some of his feelings. I’m really fortunate he is as verbal as he is. There are kids in his school who don’t speak. There are children who grow so frustrated they resort to violence and slap and strike out. Antero’s worst trail when he is frustrated or overstimulated is to shut down. He’ll stop talking. He’ll take one of his spinning toys and will hide. The longest he’s gone without speaking is thirteen days.”
“Why? What happened he stopped speaking for thirteen days?”
She gave a shrug. “Amal came over one evening and accidentally stepped on a toy he’d left on the floor, and it broke. It was his favorite car. The next worst one was when I couldn’t find his usual brand of shampoo and 1 bought one which smelled like watermelon. He didn’t say a word to me for a week and the only reason he did speak was because I came home with a bottle of his favorite. Don’t even get me started on the time they ran out of the dryer sheets he prefers.”
He chuckled, “I’m particular too. 1 like the things I like. Once I find something I am comfortable with, I don’t want to give it up.” He tapped her nose, “case in point.”
She hit her bottom lip. “So, I’m a habit?”
“I sure hope you become one.” He didn’t deny it. “This is why you declined a promotion though? His care?”
“Yes. I’m a single parent and while I am supported by my friends, it’s not the same as having a partner who is there day in and day out. They have lives of their own, though they were ready to move to Florida with me.
He laughed at her. “They will be repaid for their kindness and loyalty. I’ve let their family know I am grateful to them and forever there is a debt owed to them from me personally,”
“Don’t tell Amal. She might call it i
“Are you feeling better?”
“Not really. I’m freaking out a bit to be honest. Everything changed so much in twenty–four hours. I’m struggling to reconcile the man in front of me with the stories I’ve heard.”
“What can I do to make it better?”
The question startled her. It wasn’t what she was expecting of him. “I don’t know.
“Can I kiss you?*
“Why?”
“Well, aside from the fact I’ve been dying to kiss you, I think it would make you feel a little better about me.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to remind you of how sexy we are together. I think you will feel better when you realize it wasn’t simply a one–sided attraction on the night we made our son.”
“You paid for it.”
“The knowledge and safety of an encounter which wasn’t going to leave me needing a shot of penicillin, I would have paid more. I would pay a hundred times the amount I paid for nothing more than to have made your acquaintance.”
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Chapter 29
“I was hoping to make enough money to pay off my student debt but mostly I wanted to be with someone my father wouldn’t simply shoot in the head for deflowering his principessa.”
“Well, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be the one who was your first.” He stroked his thumb along her jaw. “You’re beautiful, Alcee. Incredibly beautiful
“I like your eyes.” She blurted the words out and he started laughing at her words. “They’re like Ants but older and wiser.”
“You love his eyes.”
“I do.”
“You’ll love mine too.” He smiled at her.
“Do you promise not to take him from me?”
“I promise I will not take our son from you.” He stroked her cheek softly with a long index finger.
“This is all happening so fast.”
“You sold your virginity to me in under a week. You already know how great it is. From the minute I wake up with you in my arms the morning after, before everything went to pot, I knew you were special and I knew I was keeping you. You were distracted by all the other things going on, trying to ditch being married to a murderous thug and all, his eyes teased her. “Surely, you want very much to see if it was worth the hype?
She leaned a bit closer to him, “maybe I do”
“Just maybe?
“Okay. I do want you to kiss me.
He leaned his head closer, tilting it to one side, his breath wami on her lips as his nose brushed her softly. Her eyelids fluttered closed, her lashes Tanning her cheekbones as his lips stroked across hers tenderly. His fingers cupped her cheek, sliding behind her head to hold her head still as he swiped his lips back and forth across hers. When his tongue darted out to part her lips and seek entrance, Aleee knew one thing for sure.
Lightning could absolutely strike twice.
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