Bring The Rain

Chapter 26

Ara's POV

  Mike spent so much time making yesterday's breakfast special for me so I wanted to return the kind gesture. I dressed in a new strapless pink body con dress that was plain but hugged my body and made my curves look perfect.
  For breakfast I whipped up homemade French toast, scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon and sausage; all plated and ready for my boys when they came downstairs for breakfast. It had become second nature to cook good meals for them but this morning I felt different. I was full of nervous energy that I couldn't shake. Last night replayed in my head constantly and if I wanted to 'take things slow' as I stated to Mike then I needed to stop being so forward. After all I was the one who gave the first kiss and after that we both got caught in the moment.
  I told myself that I would behave decently today and keep my hands (and lips) to myself. I heard the sound of small footsteps running down the stairs. Zahir was the first to pop around the corner with a bright smile on his face. He ran right up to me and jumped into my arms. He could not get any more adorable as he giggled while I kissed his little cheeks. "Ok go get in your seat and I'll bring you some breakfast". He quickly jumped out of my arms and ran to the dining table. Next Mike rounded the corner but not in his usual pressed button up shirt and matching suit pants. Instead he was wearing jeans and a casual tee shirt, something I'd only seen him in on his days off. He still looked just as handsome as ever.
  When he came into the kitchen our eyes locked and he headed directly in my direction. I've been around Mike for almost two months now so why the hell did the sight of him make me so nervous today. I could barely utter "good morning" once he was close to me. "Good morning beautiful" he said before pressing his lips on mine. That promise I made to myself to behave today went right out the window the moment he touched me. He grabbed my waist pulling me closely and instinctively my arms wrapped around his neck deepening our kiss.
  Zahir began to make kissing noises while giggling. "Muah! Muah!" He said loudly while blowing kisses. The adorable distraction broke the spell that Mike had on me and I let go of him putting distance between us. "I just finished cooking breakfast for us". I turned to pull the plates down from the cabinet. I needed any excuse to get away from Mike and those lips he just couldn't keep to himself. The man had a habit of making me feel like a schoolgirl with the biggest crush in the world. I didn't want to embarrass myself or show how tense I was around Mike so I tried my best to keep myself out of his reach.
  He insisted on helping me prepare our plates and as we sat down to eat he made sure to sit as close to me as possible. While we ate and chatted he gently ran his fingers over my back and shoulders complimenting my outfit. Now I wasn't sure if the form fitting dress was a good option. Although Mike clearly enjoyed it, his touch made me jittery and his face gave away his intrusive thoughts every time he looked over my curves in this dress. I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with him during breakfast. I knew it wouldn't take much to get the two of us all over each other again.
   "Ara, are you nervous"? He asked and I could hear the playfulness in his voice. "I guess I am, this is just new for me". Mike turned to fully face me and held my hands in his. "Remember I don't want you to feel pressured into anything. We will take things as slow as you need".
   He kissed the back of my hand and we went back to eating our breakfast. It was such a simple phrase yet it made me feel one hundred times better. I knew I could trust Mike but hearing him tell me again and again that he would never rush or pressure me into something was what I needed. With Javier it was always pressure. Pressure to look a certain way, pressure to have sex with him when he wanted, pressure to cook and clean the way he wanted, pressure to be his version of perfection that I could never achieve. With Michael it was the complete opposite. Mike never rushed me to be or do anything I was uncomfortable with. I had full permission to be myself in our relationship.
   We chatted and ate together as a family and I felt more at ease now. "Are you not going to work today"? Mike's face changed as he stared at me. "You know how much I want to spend more time with you but I spoke with Mr. Swank's assistant this morning. Our top investors will all be in Florida tomorrow to see the new location and as president it's important that I be there to greet them". Of course I understood how important this was to Mike. He worked so hard for this new position and he needed to make a good impression with his bosses so he had no other choice but to go. I just hated that it had to happen so quickly.
   We made plans that I would drive his SUV and drop him off at the airport in the evening and I could use his car while he was away. "I'm not used to driving anything bigger than my little car". Mike just smiled, "don't worry I trust you, and it'll be so much easier for you to get Zahir and his things in and out. He was right, having the spacious SUV with its extra amenities definitely made life with a toddler much easier.
   "I'll only be gone for a few days. I just need to meet with the investors, show them around, treat them to a nice meal and then I'll be on the first plane back home".
  Even though Mike needed to be at the airport by 3PM he already had plans for us to accomplish before he needed to leave. He took me shopping for a new iPhone which he insisted I have. "No more trac phones. You can pick whatever phone you want. I want to be able to FaceTime you so I can check on you two while I'm gone". He added me to his phone plan and made me pick out a new screen protector and a very expensive phone case. When I said I didn't need anything fancy he told the manager to bring out the latest inventory they had. When I tried complaining that something cost too much he immediately shut me down. "Don't worry about the money" he repeatedly told me.
Eventually I gave in and let him have his way. Once we returned home he taught me how to use the alarm system and set it at night. "The back door is the only entry without an alarm so make sure you deadbolt it. Zahir is a little sneaky and can get out if it isn't locked correctly". I made sure to pay attention to everything he said. Letting Zahir run off like Heather had done was terrifying to think about. Anything could happen to my baby and I felt that Mike would be so angry with me. I wouldn't let him out of my sight while his dad was gone.
   With Javier in jail I felt so much relief that he wouldn't find me and try to take his revenge but I still needed to be as safe as possible, especially with Mike not home to protect us.
  I had everything memorized and felt that I could take great care of Zahir while Mike was away but one thing still bothers me. "Mike I can't leave him in this big house by himself and the guest room in the basement is too far away to hear him if he cries or gets out of bed".
  "You'll sleep in my room. I already have a baby monitor set up in both rooms so you can keep an eye on him during the night".
  Sensing my hesitation he assured me that Heather was across the country with her new boyfriend so she wouldn't cause any more problems. I could feel comfortable staying in Mike's room and feel more at ease knowing I would be just down the hall from Zahir during the night if he needed me.
  Zahir and I sat on Mike's bed playing games on his tablet as we watched his father pack. I was making him play an alphabet game where you match the letter with the correct object. If Zahir was going to play on this thing nonstop then he needed to be doing something other than watching YouTube kids all day. I cheered for him everytime he got an answer correct and helped him with letters he wasn't familiar with. I always encouraged him to try again when he became frustrated and after days of playing this game repeatedly he was now able to memorize almost all of his letters.
  "You're so good with him. I couldn't ask for anyone better to care for him while I'm away". Mike leaned in, kissing my neck gently. I jumped away not in fear but just the slight feeling of his lips against my skin turned me on more than I cared to admit. "We should really leave soon, I don't want you to miss your flight".
   He agreed and he finished packing his suitcase while I took Zahir down to the garage and strapped him into his car seat. After throwing his luggage into the trunk Mike helped me adjust the driver's seat and mirrors to my liking. He was so close I could smell his cologne as he buckled my seat belt for me and adjusted different parts of the vehicle. "Alright from now on whenever you get in just click this button. Your settings are saved so once you click it your seat will automatically move to the position you prefer".
   When we arrive at the airport Mike would have to immediately get out and head inside, I'm sure there would be nowhere to park and he didn't want to make Zahir stand around in the busy airport watching his father leave for fear that it would upset him. I wanted to let Mike know just how I felt. The shy timid version of me needed to fade away just like any fear I had of the future without Javier. Mike tried to shut the driver side door for me but before he could I grabbed his arm. "What is it" he asked sincerely. "I just want you to know how much I'm going to miss you". Without waiting for a reply I put my arms around his neck pulling his lips to mine. Instinctively his arms wrapped around my waist and his tongue quickly found my own. He held me tightly with our tongues dancing in sync as if we'd both waited forever for this kiss.