Torn (6 page)

           
“It’s
so beautiful,” I said looking at the glow of the sunset reflect off the ocean
waves. He came up behind me and wrapped his strong arms around me, I sighed
heavily. Being so close to him was wonderful yet painful at the same time
because I wanted him so badly but I behaved myself and didn’t give in to my
temptations. I leaned back into him as we stood on the deserted beach watching
the day wash into night. He dropped his head down onto my shoulder and I felt
him breathe me in deeply. Then it was his turn to sigh.

           
“Everything
alright?” I asked knowing he was longing for me the same way I was longing for
him.

           
“Um
yeah of course,” he lied. I knew he would never ever be the one to make the
first move so I pulled my hair away from my neck exposing the delicate skin to
him and I felt his breathing grow rapid. If I couldn’t give him all of me at
least I could give him some of me I thought.

           
“Drink
from me,” I whispered. This time he didn’t resist he put his lips to my neck
and kissed lightly. I thought I had never felt anything so wonderful until he
wrapped one hand in my hair and the other he placed tightly around my waist. I
felt a slight prick like a shot and I heard him moan. I leaned my head to the
side more so he could get as much of me as he needed. I began to feel fuzzy
like I had quite a few drinks yet when I looked out over the dark ocean I could
make out ships miles away from the shoreline. He grabbed me tighter and I could
feel his hardness pressed up against me and then I moaned. I wanted nothing
more than to have him inside me right then, right there.

           
“Oh
Arch I want you so very much,” I whispered into the night ocean air. He took
the hand that had been wrapped tightly around my waist and let it drop down, he
rubbed at me lightly at first and then faster and harder I gave in to it. I
gave in to all the heightened sensations and right when I didn’t believe I
could take it anymore my body exploded with pleasure and then my world went
black.

Chapter
12

           
I
opened my eyes to find myself lying in Archer’s bed beside him. I reached up
and felt my neck remembering what had happened last night and I smiled sweetly
to myself. My neck felt a little sore but I saw no other signs of trauma. I
looked over at Archer seeing him sleeping peacefully and it made me smile
again. God how I wished we could be together I thought as I looked over to the
clock on his nightstand it read 12:46 pm. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!

           
“Archer!
Archer get up! We have to go get my kids,” I exclaimed. It got Pharaoh up off
the end of the bed and he stood at the bedroom door wagging his tail as if
saying come on lady let’s go see those kids! I shook Archer a bit harder and a
smile spread across his lips.

           
“Mmmm
Liz you taste so good,” he said groggily.

           
“That’s
awesome Archie, I’m happy but you’ve got to get up. I have to get my kids
remember?” I said anxiously and it must have dawned on him because he instantly
opened his eyes in alarm. His eyes had changed colors yet again and they were
the deepest color of purple I had ever seen. Could this man get any more
beautiful I asked myself as he jumped up and started frantically getting
dressed.

           
“Liz!
Get up, get ready! We have to go see your kids!”

           
“That’s
what I’ve been trying to tell you,” I said smiling. Watching him run around his
bedroom like a chicken with its head cut off. We got ready in a hurry and we
were out the front door by 1:15.

                                   
***

           
On the
way over he seemed really nervous so I grabbed his hand and he smiled over at
me.

           
“I
hope they like me,” he said and I found it so endearing that this big strong
man was worried about impressing a five year old and a seven year old.

           
“I am
sure they will adore you,” I said and I meant it that seemed to calm him.

           
“Um
Liz, I think you should drop me off at the park before you go to Richard’s
mom’s house. I don’t think me being in the car would go over to well,” he said.
He had a point. Richard was finally giving me the chance to see the kids I
didn’t want him to yank it back away from me.

           
“You
wouldn’t mind?” I asked. I didn’t want anyone to feel disrespected.

           
“Not
at all,” he said. “I’ll be like a surprise.”

                                   
***

           
I
pulled up to Richards’s mother’s house and my stomach was in knots. I wanted to
see my children badly, Richard and Deb not so much. As soon as I opened the
door to go up to the large house the front door busted open. Out ran Mattie and
Morri yelling mom and I felt tears of joy spring to my eyes. I ran to them as
well with my arms wide open so I could hug them tightly.

           
“I
missed you guys so much,” I said fighting back tears.

           
“I missed
you too momma,” Morrigan said cheerfully.

           
“Me
too mom,” Mattie said with a smile on his face.

           
“Have
them back by five,” Deb said coolly standing in the front door looking at me in
utter disgust, she then turned and slammed the door shut behind her. No Richard
then? No surprise, I didn’t care I was with my children and that’s all that
mattered to me. I gathered them up and we set off to the park.

           
Once
we got to the park they took off running in the direction of the playground,
Mattie to the swings and Morri to the biggest slide ever of course. I glanced
around wondering where Archer was but I didn’t see him anywhere, maybe he got
nervous and decided not to stay. Who could blame him? Meeting someone else’s
kids was a tough thing to do as you never knew how well the kids would accept
you I thought as I felt two wonderful arms wrap around my waist.

           
“Boo,”
he whispered in my ear and memories of last night flooded back into my brain as
I closed my eyes. Then I felt him quickly release me and come to stand beside
me. When I opened my eyes I realized why, Morri was standing before us looking
up at Archer in amazement.

           
“Momma
who is that?” she asked pointing up at him in awe.

           
“That’s
my friend honey. His name is Archer,” I said.

           
“Hi
Morri,” He said to her sweetly and she blushed.

           
“Momma
can he be my friend too?” she asked quietly as if she didn’t speak too loudly
he wouldn’t hear her.

           
“I
would love to be your friend Morri,” he said answering the question before I
could. “How about we go over to the swings?” he asked her holding out his large
hand to her she looked at him and then over at me questioningly.

           
“Is it
ok momma?”

           
“Of
course,” I said and she smiled brightly as she grabbed his hand and began to
pull Archer over to the swings where Mattie was already flying high.

           
“Mattie
look momma has a cool friend, he’s my friend now too! Look Mattie!” I heard
Morri shout out as Mattie jumped down from the swings and Archer introduced
himself. Mattie shook his hand then looked over at me and gave me a thumbs up
sign to which both Archer and I burst out into laughter.

Chapter
13

         
I sat at a bench
watching Archer chase Mattie and Morri in a game of tag and smiled to myself. I
was so happy that the kids had taken to him so quickly and that he had shown
himself to be a very good fatherly figure. I had to stop myself there though,
they already had a father and no matter what the differences between Richard
and I were I had to give him credit, he was a great father. Ok Archer was good
with kids I thought correcting myself and began laughing as I watched Morri and
Mattie run circles around him. He looked over at me and gave me a big cheesy
grin and my heart did a loop de loop. I glanced down at my cell phone to check
the time and realized it was almost time to go and my smile quickly faltered.

           
“Ok
kids, let’s go get some food,” I yelled out to which all three of them cheered,
yep including Archer. Archer grabbed both their hands and they ran over to me
and we shared a group hug before we made our way back to the car. Once I
buckled the kids in the back I went to open my door when I felt eyes staring at
me over the roof of the car. I looked over and Archer was looking at me with
adoration I had no idea why, he was the one that deserved to be adored after
the way he played with kids. I mouthed the words “thank you” and he nodded his
head and then got into the car.

           
We
went for Happy Meals and ate our food if you want to call it that outside at
one of the picnic tables. After we ate I let the kids play at the little play land
they had there as Archer and I watched them and held hands under the table out
of view from any curious eyes. I was really hoping we wouldn’t run into Cora
again because honestly I was fed up with her busybody bullshit and wasn’t sure
if I could bite my tongue with her anymore.

           
“You’re
a wonderful mother,” Archer said bringing me back from my thoughts of Cora.

           
“You’ve
only been around us for an afternoon how could you possibly know that?”

           
“I can
see it when they look at you and when you look at them, there is nothing but
pure love there. It’s very heartwarming,” he said and he squeezed my hand.

           
“Thank
you again for coming,” I said.

           
“There
is no place I would rather be,” he said.

           
“I
think it’s about time for me to drop them back over at Deb’s, you want to wait
here?” I asked him.

           
“Sure,”
he said and smiled.

           
“Kids
time to head back to grandmas,” I yelled out and they both groaned but trudged
over to me anyway.

           
“Momma
I want to stay with you and Archie,” Morri said as she crawled up on Archer’s
lap.

           
“I
don’t want to go back to grandmas! I want to go home,” Mattie whined.

           
“I
know you guys, and I wish you could stay with me too Morri I really do. I wish
we could go home as well Matt but until your dad and I work through some things
I think staying at your grandmas is for the best,” I said trying to be as
honest with them as I could.

           
“And
your mom and I will come visit you as much as we can.” Archer interjected.

           
“You’ll
come every time momma comes?” Morri asked looking up into his face as he
brushed her hair out of her eyes.

           
“Of
course kiddo, I wouldn’t miss hanging out with you guys for nothing,” he said
and she hugged him tightly.

           
“Promise
me you’ll come with mom?” Mattie asked.

           
“You
know it big guy!”

           
“Yay!”
they both yelled out in unison. I smiled and looked over at Archer gratefully.

           
“Alright
guys say goodbye to Archer and let’s head to the car,” I said.

           
“He
isn’t coming with us?” Mattie asked looking confused.

           
“Why
isn’t he coming with us to get dropped off momma?” Morri asked looking worried.
I had no bright ideas of how to explain to them that I didn’t think their dad
would appreciate them being around Archer too much.

           
“Because
I am going to stay behind and clean up after you little munchkins,” he said as
he began to tinkle them both.

           
“Oh,
ok,” Mattie finally said after the tinkle monster had went back into hiding.
“Bye Arch,” he said and once again shook Archer’s hand.

           
“Bye
Archie,” Morri said sadly and he hugged her just as tight as she hugged him, it
made my heart melt.

           
“Ok
guys, let’s go,” I said as I shooed them back to the car. When I passed by
Archer I mouthed “thank you” once again, and once again he simply nodded as he
began to clean up the burger wrappers and drink cups. He is a great man and he
is all mine I thought and smiled all the way to Deb’s.