“Well hello to you, Mrs. Michaelson.” I climbed to my feet, and wrapped my arms around her, feeling secure for the first time in months. I’d forgotten how amazing it felt to be this close to her.

  “I’ve missed you,” Jenna said, in between kisses.

  “I’m never going anywhere again.”

  She kissed me fiercely then pulled away. “When the girls are in bed, and certainly before Santa gets here, you’re gonna show me how much you have missed me.”

  “Grrr,” I growled. “Yes, Mrs. Michaelson.”

  *

  I peeped my head around the door and the girls were finally asleep.

  They were so excited to have me home, and despite the fact I’d been with them every day since my test results came back, they still knew life was different.

  The results were a turning point for both Jenna and me.

  We’d been talking for a long time. We both wanted the same thing, but she had to be sure what I was telling her was true.

  And when the decision was made for me to come home, nothing was going to stand in my way

  *

  I lay in bed, and admittedly, it felt strange being back there.

  We had discussed selling the house, but we both loved it here and saw no reason to unsettle the girls any more than this last year already had.

  Jenna was in the bathroom – I could hear her pottering about.

  A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and I gasped, then chuckled at the sight before me. Jenna was dressed as a sexy Mrs. Claus. Black heels, a red velvet basque with matching suspenders, and a cute little Santa hat with white fur trim.

  I pulled the duvet back.

  My cock hardened immediately, and all the muscles in my body tensed. I’d worked out daily, all the anger and rage built up inside me channelled into making myself look the best I could. I looked pretty good, even if I did say so myself.

  She licked her lips as she walked over to the bed, then dropping onto her knees, she crawled toward me. Kissing the tip of my cock, she looked up at me. “I’ve missed both of you.”

  “I bet you’ve missed my cock more,” I joked.

  “Mmmm,” was her only reply. “I’m saying nothing that could get me convicted in a court of law.”

  “Oi, cheeky,” I replied, pulling her attention back to me. “Kiss me, you horny bitch,” I said.

  “Okay, stud,” she replied, “but I want so much more than that, just so you know.”

  “Oh, you’re gonna get so much more than that, I promise you that much.”

  She lay on top of me, kissing me for a long time, then pulled away, the same mischievous look on her face that the girls sometimes had.

  “What are you up to?” I asked

  “Look under the bed and see for yourself–I might have bought you an early Christmas present.”

  I looked under the bed and found the glittery red bag with the big bow. Plonking it on the bed, I peered inside and laughed. “What the hell is that?”

  “I think it’s called ‘Santa’s Little Helper.’”

  I pulled the novelty vibrator from the bag and cast my eye over it. “I wouldn’t say anything about this was little.”

  “Well, we can try it out, and then decide, what do you think?”

  “We?”

  “Yes, both of us.” She looked into my eyes. “I know everything there is to know about you, Zane, and as long as we’re always open and honest with one another, there’s no reason we can’t explore together.”

  Sounded good to me, but I wondered what she meant by the explore together comment. I chose to ignore it for now, but I wanted to know if it meant what I thought it did.

  “I want you so badly, Jenna.”

  “Then what are you waiting for–you’re in charge?” she purred, as she lay on her back and opened her legs.

  Another surprise awaited me when I noticed the little red panties she was wearing. I would have to undo the laces to taste her, and that’s exactly what I did.

  I placed a pillow underneath to lift her pelvis and pushed her knees wide, needing as much room to explore as possible. Wanting her to enjoy every moment, I slowly licked her inner thigh, increasing speed and intensity. She loved to be teased, I knew that. Listening to her breathing, I could hear the excitement building, and the slight movement of her hips proved it. I grabbed ‘Santa’s Little Helper’ and turned it on, feeling the vibration. Slowly I rubbed it along her thigh until I was at the opening of her pussy. I wasn’t going to give it to her straight away and teased, pressing the tip of the vibrator onto her clitoral hood while I explored her labia with my tongue. Before long, she was writhing on the bed, moaning in ecstasy as my tongue explored deeper into her. Once again, I increased pressure and speed with my tongue, then increased the pressure of the vibrator, rubbing in an up and down rhythm. Feeling she was close, I eased off with the vibrator and with a side to side motion, I explored her some more, before shudders racked her body, and she was mine once again.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Christmas Day and it was still dark when the girls came bounding excitedly into our bedroom.

  “Father Christmas has been,” Macy shouted. “I heard him on the roof.” She held onto her sister’s hand.

  I rolled over to look at their excited faces.

  “Come on, Jen–we’ve got no chance of anymore sleep, have we, girls?”

  “No, Daddy,” Naya said, a mischievous look on her face.

  I held my arms open and they leapt onto the bed like excited puppies.

  They rushed into my arms.

  “Merry Christmas, my little angels. I love you.”

  I kissed them both on top of their cute little heads.

  “Mummy loves you too,” Jenna said, pulling the girls into her arms and covering them with kisses. “Shall we go and see if Father Christmas ate his mince pie and gave the carrots to the reindeers?”

  They nodded their heads, needing no further encouragement.

  I watched as they rushed out of the room, looking adorable in their little Christmas pudding romper suits.

  “Watch the stairs,” I shouted after them.

  Jenna jumped up. “Are you coming?”

  “Try stopping me,” I replied, “but before you go. Merry Christmas, I love you.” I kissed her gently.

  She returned my kiss. “And I love you too, now unless you want them nagging at us, get out of that bed.”

  “Come on, Daddy,” one of the girls shouted, and we both chased after them, down the stairs and into the front room.

  The girls squealed with delight when the doors opened.

  It was magical. Piles of presents all beautifully wrapped, and the Christmas Tree lights twinkling in the background.

  I’d crept down earlier and ate the mince pie, tipped the milk down the sink and placed the carrots back in the fridge ready for peeling and chopping.

  “Wow,” I said. “You must have been very good girls this year.” But, I could have done a cartwheel and they wouldn’t have cared – they were transfixed by the mound of wrapped boxes.

  “Come on then,” I said, holding my hands out, “Let’s see which presents belong to who.”

  Jenna grabbed her phone and turned the video camera on, wanting to record them.

  Within the hour, all their presents had been opened, but that wasn’t all of them. Lunchtime would soon come around and various grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and godparents would descend with a pile more–the girls were extremely lucky indeed.

  Jenna and I decided to save opening our presents until this evening. When the girls went to bed, it would be our time. I hoped she would love the diamond ring I’d bought for her.

  Chapter Twenty

  By five pm, the girls were exhausted and ready for bed. I bathed them whilst Jenna sorted the mess in the kitchen. She was the messiest cook I’d ever known, and rather than clean as she went, a warzone of dishes, pans and cutlery waited for our attention.

  I came down and Jenna was sat on the sofa.

  A bottle of red wine waited for me.

  “Make mine a large one,” I said, not worrying about work, as I had two weeks off to spend with my family.

  “Piggy,” she said, pouring the wine.

  “Careful, or you’ll go over my knee.”

  She leaned in and purred down my ear.

  “Before that, Piggy.” She giggled girlishly. “We need to talk about Chad.”

  “What about him?”

  “I think we need to invite him round.”

  I looked at her, incredulous at such a suggestion, and coming from her today of all days.

  “Why?”

  “He’s your friend.”

  “He was my friend,” I replied.

  “No, Zane – he’s still your friend, and he misses you.”

  “How’d you know that?”

  “Because I’ve spoken to him – quite a few times actually.”

  “Why would you do that?” I asked, angry.

  I’d thought of him so many times, feeling immense guilt for how I’d treated him, desperate to see him, if only to apologise face to face, and after all this time, Jenna’s been seeing him. I stood up, wanting some fresh air.

  “Sit down, now,” she ordered. “I mean it–don’t you dare storm out of this room. Sit down and keep your mouth shut.”

  I knew that look, and she wasn’t going to tolerate me mouthing off. I sat down at the other end of the sofa and crossed my arms like a petulant child.

  She shook her head at my choice of seating. “For God’s sake, grow up, will you? How often have I sat and listened to you over the last year? I can’t count the times, can you?”

  “No,” I grunted in reply.

  “So, you’ll listen to me for once and stop acting like a drama queen.”

  “I’m not acting like anything, but I’ve not seen, or spoken to Chad in months.”

  “And that’s why I want to talk to you about him. We’ve both treated him terribly for something we’re all responsible for.”

  “How do you work that one out?”

  “You had the affair, he knew you were married, I knew all about it and let it continue, until I decided I didn’t like it.”

  There was no mincing her words.

  “But.”

  “No,” she said, silencing me. “But nothing. If you think about it for one minute, I’m right. I ruined his marriage, me.” She tapped her chest. “And it sits like the weight of the world on my shoulders, but you’re partly responsible too.”

  “And if I’d been speaking to him all this time, how would you feel?”

  “I don’t know the answer to that, but this is now, and you need to speak to him. Despite everything, he’s a decent man, I know that much. It’s Christmas, and he has nobody here – I can’t handle that.”

  I felt guilty too. “He’s the best,” I said. “I miss having him as a friend.”

  “Then tell him–you’ve never kicked anyone when they’re down before, and you’re not going to start now.”

  Jenna passed her mobile phone to me. “His number’s in my phone, call him.”

  “Now?”

  “No better time,” she said, getting up. “I’ll leave you to it. I fancy something stronger than wine.”

  “You don’t have to leave the room.”

  “I trust you–both of you, now call your friend and invite him over tomorrow. Don’t take no for an answer, but tell him breakfast will be cooked and served for nine am, and not to be late.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I climbed out of bed, not wanting to disturb Jenna.

  Christmas Day had been long and tiring. We were both shattered by the time we snuggled up and drifted off.

  Looking at the clock, I sighed. It was only five am, but I was wide awake, my mind buzzing with memories I wanted to forget.

  Chad

  I thought I’d put that part of my life behind me, but Jenna’s confession yesterday threw my thoughts into disarray.

  Walking quietly out of the bedroom and closing the door, I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen, enjoying the silence.

  Hopefully, the girls would sleep in a little later than they had yesterday, and I’d use the time I had now to prepare lunch. The beef would need to go in the oven and veg would need peeling too. I might as well get it out the way, then Jenna can relax.

  I looked at the clock again. In just under three hours, Chad would be here, like nothing had happened between us all.

  *

  I’d just put the bacon under the grill as the doorbell rang.

  “Zane, door,” Jenna shouted from upstairs, as though I’d lost my hearing.

  “I heard it,” I replied, sounding sharper than I’d meant to.

  I walked up the hallway and momentarily paused, suddenly terrified of the person on the other side of the door.

  The bell rang again.

  “Zane,” Jenna screeched.

  “Got it.” My hand hovered above the door handle.

  Just open the door.

  Pulling the door open, I held my breath.

  And there he was, that same handsome face, smiling at me.

  “Hello, stranger,” was all I could think of to say. “Merry Christmas.” I held my hand out.

  “Merry Christmas to you too,” he replied, shaking my hand, and suddenly, even after last night’s polite phone-call, I felt awkward. “Are you gonna invite me in then?”

  “Sorry, yes.” I stepped aside to let him in, and without asking, virtually shook him out of his coat and wrenched the gift bag out of his hand. “Let me hang that up for you.”

  Right then, Jenna and the girls walked down the stairs and toward us.

  “Hi, Jenna,” Chad said, stepping forward and kissing her on both cheeks.

  “Merry Christmas,” she said, disregarding the kisses and pulling him into a hug. “I’m so pleased you came.”

  He returned the hug, and as he did, Jenna winked at me.

  “I wasn’t going to turn down a home cooked meal, especially if he’s cooking.” He pulled away and nodded at me, grinning.

  The girls stared up at him.

  “Say hello to Uncle Chad,” Jenna prodded.

  “Hello,” they replied before rushing off into their playroom.

  “Sorry about that, but you don’t hold the same excitement as a room full of new toys.” I passed the bag back to him.

  “It’s okay,” he replied, “These are for the girls – I hope they like them.”

  “You didn’t have to, but thank you,” I replied. “Do you want to give them their gifts now?”

  “No, leave them to play, besides, whatever you’re cooking smells good, and I’m starving.”

  “Shit,” I remembered, “The bacon.” I rushed off into the kitchen.

  “Language, Zane,” Jenna said, following me. “You know they repeat everything you say.”

  “Yes, Daddy, you should know better than that,” Chad teased, bringing up the rear.

  I opened the grill door and wafted the steam away with a tea towel.

  They laughed like a pair of naughty schoolkids. It occurred to me how similar their personalities were, and how much they had in common. Them being friends didn’t seem as odd once I’d thought about it.

  “Are you cooking that bacon, or cremating it?” Jenna commented, a wicked grin on her face.

  “Shut it,” I replied, jokingly. “Or you’ll both go hungry.”

  “Fine,” Chad joked. “Just means you’re babysitting while Jenna and I start on the brandy I’ve stashed in this gift bag.”

  Laughing along with them, I felt the tension easing.

  Today would be a good day.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  I was nervous meeting him, even though I’d seen him on Boxing Day.

  It had taken me a while to persuade him he was welcome, but Jenna, annoyed at the dithering had snatched the phone and told Chad it wasn’t up for discussion, and he would be expected, and that if he wasn’t there, she would come and get him.

  There was no discussion about the past and whilst we all knew, there would be, it wasn’t the right time.

  In the end, I’d worried about nothing and we had an amazing day. The girls fell in love with him, and that was before he presented them with their gifts.

  It was a cold January day and I didn’t feel like going out, but Jenna wanted me out from under her feet, so I arranged to meet Chad in a local bar.

  Sitting there, I chewed nervously at my fingers, and seeing him walk through the doors, my heart all but stopped. Not because of anything else, other than it was so good to see him again. He still looked amazing, but the feelings I had before weren’t there anymore. I loved him as my friend, and I hoped he felt the same way.

  We would be alone together for the first time and I knew conversation would inevitably turn to our past.

  He spotted me, smiled and walked over.

  What do I do now? It was never this difficult.

  Do I stand up, hug him, or shake his hand? I wasn’t sure how to react to him, but he took the decision away from me.

  “Am I gonna get a hug, or not?

  I stood up and wrapped my arms around him. He slapped my back, and everything felt different.

  “How are you?” I asked.

  “Relieved to see you. I thought Boxing Day was gonna be it and I’d never see you again.”

  “It was so good to see you, but I admit, I was surprised Jenna had kept in touch.”

  “Well, that’s a remarkable woman you call your wife–you’re a lucky man, and it meant a lot to me, spending time with you all like that after everything I did.”

  “Everything we did.” I corrected him. “I’m sorry,” I said. “For all of the bad times.”

  I won’t lie and say it wasn’t hard, but I think I’m just about over it now,” he replied.

  “You think?”

  “A part of me will always have feelings for you, Zane, but I know where I stand, and I’m happy with the status quo.”

  It didn’t feel right acknowledging his feelings, and what was I going to say in return anyway?

  “She’s the only person that can shock me as much as she does.”

 

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