Chapter 16

Arrian sat with Miranda on the living room couch. He had been home not more than an hour when Miranda asked to speak with him.

"I can tell something is bothering you Miranda."

She looked nervous as she attempted a smile, which she failed miserably.

"I want to talk to you about Sam."

Arrian still didn't understand what in the world made her so nervous, sure he could have picked up her feelings, but that was an invasion of privacy.

"She... she feels you may not be the person she wants to be with," Miranda half whispered.

Arrian wasn't expecting this. He felt like someone had driven all the air out of his body. However, his face bore no expression.

Miranda continued, unaware of how tense Arrian was.

"She feels that by being with you, she is losing the chance at having someone all her own—that she will be ignored because you have more than one woman. When you brought that girl you rescued home, it caused her to worry about a relationship with you."

Arrian looked stupefied.

It was true, that when he brought Ashley home, of all the girls, Sam was the least responsive. That isn't to say she wasn't responsive, just that there was an obvious difference between her and the others.

"I understand... at least I think I do." Arrian sighed.

He ran his hands through his long hair hoping in vain that an answer would come to him. It did, but he didn't like it. Still, this wasn't about him, Sam wasn't happy; that was more important.

"Miranda, Sam is free to be with whoever she feels is worthy of her. I didn't become her friend to make her 'mine' or for anything like that. She deserves what she is asking for, and if I were selfish, I would tell her otherwise. I hope she finds what she is looking for."

Miranda could tell, although Arrian's words were spoken with unchanging tone and conviction, his heart was breaking.

"I'm sorry Arrian."

Even in his pain, he smiled at her. He couldn't help it, yes he loved Sam, but she wanted something he couldn't give to her. She had the right to find someone who could give her what she wants.

"It's not your fault. We all want what we want."

"If you would like, we could move back into our old home..."

"No! That isn't something I want to happen. I want you here with me, where you belong. Sam and I are adults; we can deal with this, besides I want to stare at your sexy behind as we walk up the stairs." He grinned.

Miranda blushed a lovely pink, and her pussy moistened at his words.

Arrian stood up and extended his hand to Miranda, and pulled her towards the stairs. He gently nudged her to up the stairs ahead of him as he followed closely behind watching her hips sway--making her ass more appealing by the moment.

As Arrian reached the top of the stairs, he paused in mid step.

At the top, Miranda was completely bent over. Her ass clearly visible down to her bare pussy lips, she was mooning him!

Arrian couldn't help but laugh, which caused him to lose his balance and began to tumble down the stairs.

Miranda watch horrified as he fell and tumbled.

She pulled up her pajamas and ran to him at the base of the stairs.

When she got to him, she turned him over and was rewarded with him laughing even harder than he had been before.

"Damn, girl! That ass of yours is damn near fatal." He mouthed betweens bouts of laughter.

"Oh you!" Miranda said as she lovingly smacked his arm.

Arrian pulled her down to him and laid her against his chest, his laughter had mostly died out. He took her face in his hands as he removed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

He pulled her down into a kiss.

It was a soft gentle kiss, for a few seconds.

The gentleness gave way to passion and desire when Arrian snaked his hand down until he was grabbing the soft flesh of Miranda's ass. She moaned softly into his mouth before intensifying the kiss.

It felt like they kissed for hours, but it was only a few minutes.

Reality was feeling in a joking mood; since, about the time things were going to progress farther, it threw a cup of cold water was thrown on them.

Sarah ran to the stairs and saw her Daddy with Miranda, and she assumed they were tickling each other.

"Oh goodie. A tickle fight! I got Daddy!" She roared before pouncing on Arrian trying to tickle him everywhere.

Arrian laughed not at Sarah efforts, but at the way reality kept things in check. He looked at Miranda and mouthed, "I'm sorry."

She in turn gave him the universal sign of 'your loss'; a gesture that was not lost on Arrian.

Samantha was sitting at the kitchen counter waiting for an opportunity to speak with Arrian. She really liked him, but he already had more women than most men owned underwear.

She wanted a man of her own, not one she would have to share. She heard the clatter of somebody falling down the stairs followed by laughter, then a squeal of delight.

She smiled; Arrian must be playing with Sarah she thought.

Sam knew she wanted to talk with Arrian about her problem, but she was afraid of his reaction.

Her chance to escape was taken away when Arrian, carrying a joyful Sarah, walked into the kitchen.

He sat in front of her and placed Sarah on his lap.

"It's okay Sam." He said reassuringly.

She wasn't expecting that answer.

Her female pride was a little offended.

"What I'm not pretty enough or are my tits too small?" She barked.

"Sam! Mind your tongue. There is a little girl in my lap. As far as what you said, that isn't the reason. It has been brought to my attention that you want something that I can not give you, and you deserve what you want." Arrian said hoping to dispel her misconceived notion.

"Oh."

"Sam, you are very smart and beautiful, you will have no problem finding a man all your own. If you are worried about me don't be. I wouldn't be happy with you knowing you weren't happy with me also."

"But-"

"No Sam, I already spoke with your mother. I want you both to keep living here even if you no longer want to be with me. This is your home and if you want I will treat you as my sister."

Sam raised an eyebrow at him, he in turn blushed at he realized the implications off his words.

"Sorry, I mean I will treat you like a friend."

"I am sorry, I really like you and all, but-"

"It isn't enough."

"Yeah."

"Daddy?"

"Yes Sarah?"

"I'm sleepy carry me to bed?"

"Okay princess, but don't tell your mommy. She will skin me alive if she knew I was pampering you like this."

"Good night Arrian, Night Sarah." Sam said.

They replied "Night Sam."

After tucking Sarah into bed, Arrian made his way to bed. He lay down in the empty bed he now shared with Helen. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep.

It was a cold morning in Thoran. Arrian, Kailynn, Sam, and Cindy had grudgingly left the warmth of Arrian's car to make their way into the school building.

Not far from them, but not visible to them, Angela and Greg Foster were being dropped off by their father, Brandon.