Chapter 291: My Kids Hate Me

"I need you," I breathed, desperation making me shameless. "Need to feel you inside me. Need you to—ah!"

He thrust forward without warning, filling me completely in one smooth motion. The sensation pulled a strangled cry from my throat, something between a gasp and a sob.

"Shhhit," he hissed through clenched teeth, his fingers digging into my hips. "You're still so tight—hah—so wet—"

He withdrew slowly before driving back in, the delicious friction making my arms tremble. The wet sounds of our bodies meeting filled the room, obscene and intensely arousing.

"Deeper," I pleaded, pressing back against him. "More—"

James responded with a guttural sound, somewhere between a growl and a moan. His pace increased, each thrust harder than the last. The headboard began to knock rhythmically against the wall, adding to the symphony of our coupling.

"Touch yourself," he commanded, voice strained with the effort of holding back. "Want to feel you come around my cock."

I reached between my legs, finding the sensitive bundle of nerves already swollen and slick. The dual stimulation was overwhelming, pleasure building so rapidly I couldn't catch my breath.

"Jesus—fuck—" James's voice broke as his rhythm faltered. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling my head back. "El—you're squeezing me so tight—can't—"

"I'm close," I gasped, my fingers moving faster. "So close—James—ah!"

"Let go," he urged, his thrusts becoming erratic. "Want to feel it—need to feel you—"

The tension shattered. My inner walls clamped down around him as pleasure pulsed through me in waves. I cried out something that might have been his name, might have been pure nonsense—I couldn't tell through the overwhelming sensation.

"Fu-u-uck," James groaned, the sound dragged from deep in his chest as his hips stuttered against mine. I felt him pulsing inside me, his release triggering aftershocks of my own climax.

We collapsed onto the mattress, a tangle of sweaty limbs and ragged breathing. James gathered me against him, pressing lazy kisses to my shoulder, my neck, anywhere he could reach without moving too much.

After a while, I shifted, propping myself up to look at him. "Shouldn't you be getting back to work? Saving the Thornton empire and all that?"

His lips curved into a lazy smile. "Day off."

"What?"

"We solved the major crisis last night. The whole company has today off."

I stared at him incredulously. "And you're spending your day off sleeping in your office?"

James pulled me closer, nestling my head against his chest. His heartbeat was strong and steady under my ear. "I'm spending it with you. You're here, so I'm here." His voice softened as he added, "Where you are is home."

The simple declaration hit me with unexpected force. After six years of raising our children alone, of building walls around my heart, of telling myself I didn't need anyone—James Thornton had just claimed me as his home with five little words.

I watched as his eyes drifted closed again, exhaustion reclaiming him despite his recent energy. My fingers traced the lines of his face, memorizing every detail—the dark sweep of his lashes, the stubble darkening his jaw, the slight furrow between his brows that even sleep couldn't completely smooth away.

"Where you are is home," I whispered back, though he was already sleeping too deeply to hear.

***

James shifted his weight from one foot to the other outside my apartment door, his arms loaded with gift bags. After weeks of constant business travel and late nights at the office, he'd finally put out the company fires. The dark circles under his eyes had begun to fade, replaced by the eager anticipation of seeing the twins again.

I opened the door before he could knock, and his face lit up when he saw me.

"Hey," he said, leaning in to brush his lips against mine. "Miss me?"

"It's only been two days," I replied, stepping aside to let him in.

He grinned, adjusting the colorful bags in his arms. "Longest day of my life. Where are my favorite small humans?"

"Playing with clay in the living room." 

James's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he strode into the apartment.

"Theo! Harper! Guess what I brought you?" he called out, arms wide open with gift bags dangling from his fingers.

The usual tornado of small limbs and excited shrieks didn't materialize. Instead, both children froze like deer caught in headlights. They exchanged a look that seemed far too calculated for kindergarteners, their little faces hardening into masks of indifference.

James's smile faltered. He lowered his arms slowly, setting the bags on the counter.

"What's wrong? No hello for James?" He crouched down, putting himself at their eye level. "Is my little squirrel and bunny rabbit mad at me?"

Theo suddenly became fascinated with his own socks, staring at his feet as if they held the secrets of the universe.

"I have to do homework," he mumbled, not looking up. "Miss Johnson said we need to make a super big dinosaur." Without another word, he darted away and up the stairs, not even glancing at the gifts.

Harper remained, standing with her hands behind her back like a tiny drill sergeant. Her bottom lip protruded in an impressive pout that could have anchored a small boat.

James reached out to touch her golden curls, but she jerked away dramatically, as if his hand might be contagious.

"Harper—" he started.

She ran to me, wrapping herself around my legs. "Mommy, I need to finish my unicorn puzzle! I'm missing one corner and I have to find it right now!"

Then she bounced up the stairs, deliberately stomping each step with her tiny feet.

James stood frozen in the middle of the living room, looking as lost as a puppy abandoned at a gas station. His perfectly tailored suit seemed out of place among the scattered clay and half-finished crafts.

"What just happened?" he asked, his voice tinged with genuine hurt.

I bit back a smile despite my own confusion. "Honestly, I have no idea."

James loosened his tie, running a hand through his hair. "Did I get the wrong gifts? Or is it because I missed taking them to the park? Theo wanted me to watch Jurassic Park with him last time, but I was in Sydney..."

"Why don't you go up and try talking to them?" I suggested, squeezing his arm. "They're probably just in a mood."

The floorboards creaked under James's feet as he climbed the stairs. I followed a few steps behind, curious to see how he'd handle this unexpected cold shoulder from his biggest fans.

He knocked lightly on Theo's door. A loud thump followed by rustling sounds came from inside.

"Theo? Can I come in?" James called, slowly pushing the door open.

The sight inside made me stifle a laugh. Theo had wedged himself halfway under his bed, his little legs sticking out and kicking frantically as he tried to disappear completely.

James crossed the room and squatted beside the bed. "Hey buddy, lost something under there? Need some help?"

"I'm playing hide-and-seek with my LEGO battleship," came Theo's muffled reply. "Uncle James, please go away. You're too big and you'll scare it."

The hurt that flashed across James's face. He stood slowly and backed out of the room.

In the hallway, he turned toward Harper's room. Her door was firmly shut with a hand-drawn sign taped to it. In wobbly crayon letters it read: "NO BAD DADDYS ALOUD! ONLY GOOD PEOPLE CAN COME IN!" The word "daddy" had been scribbled out and rewritten several times.