Bonus Mum

A/N - Hello again. This idea has been on my mind for quite a while. The only reason that I'm putting it in this category is that 'step anything' is still seen as Taboo. I mean, if you're someone who watches naughty movies, faux incest is now a very popular genre.

The love interest for the MC will be non-Anglo-Saxon to reflect Australia's growing multiculturalism in the twenty-first century, so there is also an interracial aspect to this story (Australia does have a large minority of Asian descending Australians).

Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.

Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.

Comments are appreciated as always.

Feedback by email is always welcome. Enjoy chatting with anyone who likes my work.

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Was falling in love with his stepmother such a bad thing?

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Losing a parent when you're a child is one of the hardest things experienced in your life. Most of us are fortunate to have mothers and fathers who love us unconditionally. And most of us are fortunate enough to have our parents around for long enough that they can finish raising us, providing more support and guidance once we are adults. In many cases, not only do they remain a parent, but they also become somewhat of a friend as well.

I was one of the unfortunates who lost one of their parents at a young age. I grew up in a household as a single child with two parents who doted on me. My father always called me 'his little man'. And my mother... My mother was an angel in my eyes. She was beautiful. Intelligent. Loving. I still remember all the hugs that she would give me. I was one of those little boys who sought out cuddles with his mother. She always had this delightful scent, a mixture of soap and perfume. She always felt soft.

For eight years, I had a wonderful childhood. Mum stayed at home until I started school. She then chose to return to work as she had trained as a nurse, taking time off work to raise me for a few years, making sure that she kept up to date so she could return to work without any major issues. My father had started his career working a physically demanding job though by the time I was six, he more often than not wore a suit and tie to work instead.

Neither of my grandmothers worked, so once Mum returned to work, one of my grandmothers would pick me from school and look after me until either Mum or Dad would collect me. Mum did her best to always work shifts where she would be home at night but given that there is always a nursing crisis regarding staff numbers, she sometimes couldn't make it home to kiss me goodnight.

But she'd always be there to drive me to school, getting out to walk me to the gate. I would always hug her, and I didn't mind that she'd give me a big kiss on the cheek. I wasn't embarrassed that she'd call out that she loved me. I always told Mum that I loved her in return.

Mum didn't come home from work one night when she should have. I was asleep when everything happened. Dad gently woke me up mid-morning. I had no idea what was going on as he helped me get dressed while I was half-asleep. I was asleep again once we arrived at the hospital. When he woke me again, I saw his eyes and couldn't understand why my father appeared to be crying. I never saw my father cry. Then I saw my grandparents were crying when we entered the hospital.

Before we entered a room, my father got down on one knee and held my shoulders. "I need you to be brave right now, Mark," he said softly, "Something happened tonight. Your mother..."

Even at only eight years old, your brain puts two and two things together. It was in the morning. We were in a hospital. And Mum hadn't come home. "Mummy?" I asked.

"She's now an angel, Mark," my father told me, "We're here to say goodbye to her. Can you do that now?"

It was the worst moment of my young life. Mum looked like she was asleep. My father cried as he kissed her forehead and whispered that he loved her. He lifted me up and I cuddled my mother for the final time. I'm sure that I cried though that's something I don't remember. I do remember asking my father to leave me there. A nurse walked in, saw what was happening, and assured us that we had time.

The house was different when we got home. It felt cold without my mother's presence there. Dad wasn't all there either. Our grandparents came around. So did aunts and uncles. Friends of the family. The time up until the funeral was rather confusing. I'd be at school one day then at home the next. Dad didn't go back to work, and I didn't miss that his entire focus was now on me. He'd always been a good dad, but he was certainly hugging me a lot more.

I hated the funeral.

Given my age, I didn't really know what grief was. I figured out later that Dad spent at least a year grieving the loss of his wife. I just felt sad all the time. It was bad enough that my teacher at school realised and after speaking to my father, I was sent to speak with the counsellor at school every week. My mood would fluctuate wildly. I was usually sad, but just occasionally, I'd feel such anger that I didn't know how to deal with it. I didn't like crying in front of anyone, so I would usually find a quiet place by myself where I could do it alone.

The counsellor was a kind woman and helped me deal with all my feelings. I was too young to properly articulate everything, but she explained things in a simple manner that I could understand. And she made sure that my father was with us sometimes as I knew that she was also trying to help him at the same time.

Slowly but surely, my father picked up the pieces of his life and seemed ready to try and move on. I think it was the first anniversary that we visited her grave that gave him at least some sort of closure. We both placed flowers on her grave, my father holding me close. He said some quiet words and when we arrived home, I sensed that a weight was off his shoulders.

If he was ready to start dating again, I wasn't sure. I didn't find myself packed off to my grandparents' place too often if he was going out on dates. But I didn't miss that, slowly but surely, my father's mood improved. He started to smile again. His entire focus had been on me, and I knew he'd done everything he could to be the best father possible.

I was eleven years old when my father introduced me to a woman. I was old enough by then to know that Dad had been dating. He'd sat me down and explained that he did want to fall in love again. Part of me was angry that he'd try and replace my mother. But he explained it in a manner that I could understand. He'd always been good like that.

"Her name is Emily, Mark," he told me during dinner one evening. Dad had needed to take over cooking a few nights a week as my grandmothers had both insisted on cooking in the months after losing my mother, "She will be around on Friday night for dinner. Is that okay?"

"Um... Yeah, sure."

"I know it isn't easy for you. But I'm hoping that you do like her." He rested a hand on my shoulder. "She's not to replace your mother. No one can do that. But she is someone that I have growing feelings for, and I think it's the right time for you to meet as we have been dating for quite a while now."

"Okay, Dad. I'll try and be good."

I was now old enough that I could take the bus to and from school, the walk from the bus stop to our home only around ten minutes. One of my grandmothers would be there waiting for me. I'd do my homework. They'd give me snacks as they'd always insist that I was a growing boy who was full of energy. They were not wrong as I'd head outside after homework to play with friends who lived on the same street.

On Friday afternoon, I arrived home to be greeted by both grandmothers. I had no homework and was left rather bemused at how they fussed over me. My maternal grandmother sat me down and assured me that I shouldn't be upset as neither she nor my grandfather was upset. They knew that my father had to move on.

"He will always love your mother," she told me, "As much as you will always love your mother. Her spirit lives on in you."

They made sure I was dressed in some nice clothing. Just jeans and a nice shirt. Nothing formal, but not the usual t-shirt and shorts that I'd normally wear around the house. Dad arrived home a little later than normal, my paternal grandmother making herself scarce quickly as my father walked into the living room holding the hand of a young woman.

Well, younger than him, and I knew that my father had been a few years older than my mother. To my surprise, I knew his new girlfriend was of Asian descent.

"Mark, I'd like you to meet Emily.'

Emily was pretty. In fact, she was beautiful. Not as beautiful as my mother, but then again, I would always be biased. But when she smiled at me, I felt myself smiling back. She offered a small hand which I grasped gently in return.

"Lovely to meet you, Mark. Your father has told me a lot about you."

Her voice had no real trace of an accent. In fact, she sounded like most people I spent time around. "Nice to meet you," I replied.

Dad had organised to have some food delivered as we sat in the living room to start. Emily sat next to me and asked me lots of questions. I asked some of her in return. She was quite a bit younger than my father as she was only twenty-six while my father was in his late thirties. She had two younger daughters, the oldest being eight years younger than me, the other barely being a year old. She had been married, and technically still was, though she had been split from her partner for over a year. She worked for the same company as my father. That was how they'd met.

"So what do you think?" my father asked me after he'd taken Emily home.

"She's really nice, Dad. I like her."

His face broke out in a large grin. "You do?"

"Yeah... She's pretty too. Ummm... But where is Taiwan, Dad?"

He laughed out loud before he opened his smartphone and used a map to show me where it was. "Just off the coast of China. She'll be able to explain a lot more as you get to know each other."

Things moved quickly over the next twelve months. Emily was officially divorced within a month of me meeting her for the first time. It was after that that I met her children for the first time. Her oldest daughter took an immediate shine to me. Her youngest daughter could just about walk though wasn't talking too much just yet. I talked to Emily all the time, probably because she was a new pair of ears that I could chew off.

And I was always asking her questions. She loved that I asked about her family. She explained that she was born in Australia to parents who were also born in Australia. It was her grandparents who had emigrated to Australia after they had married but before starting a family. She explained that she had mostly spoken English at home, though she did speak some Mandarin. Her parents had been fluent in both languages having been raised bilingual. Her parents hadn't been as insistent on her learning Mandarin.

Dad asked me if I would have a problem with Emily moving in with us. To be honest, I didn't... But I did worry about things of my mother's disappearing. Her photo was still on the mantlepiece. He sat me down and made sure that I had nothing to worry about.

"I'm going to give you a lot of her things to keep. And other things will go to her parents. But her presence in this house won't be eliminated. Emily would chew me out if I did that."

"Um... And what do I call Emily once she moves in?"

"You call her Emily, Mark. She's never going to try and replace your mother. She'll be a good friend. Maybe a confidant. And hopefully you will grow closer as you spend time together."

I gave it some thought. "Okay, Dad."

He ruffled my hair with a smile. "Good lad."

Emily and her two daughters moved in a couple of weeks later. We already lived in a four-bedroom house, my parents having bought it in preparation for having more kids, so there was more than enough room for all of us. I'll admit it was a little weird at first whenever I saw my father and Emily hugging and kissing. They'd kept that private during any of her previous visits.

When my father proposed to Emily, I'll admit that I was a little sad. But Emily earned my love when she sat down with me one day on the couch as my father looked after her two daughters.

"Your mother is still here, Mark," she said, gently holding one of my hands, "You know that I wouldn't tolerate her photos being taken down. I'd never replace your mother."

"I just really miss her sometimes," I whispered.

Emily gently pulled me into a cuddle, and I could sense she smiled as I hugged her back. "You'll always miss her," she told me, "Even when you're my age, or your father's age, you'll miss her. But you'll always carry her with you. What I can tell you is that I'd love to be part of your life going forward. I might not be your mother, but I'll be your friend. Someone you can trust. I think the best way of looking at it is like this." She had me lean back to meet my eyes. She smiled at me. "Think of me as a bonus mum."

"Bonus Mum?" I asked with a smile.

"Yes. Bonus Mum. Everyone else will call me your stepmother. You don't have to call me Mum. That name is taken. And don't call me Bonus Mum. Just call me Emily. But as I raise my own children, I'd love to help your father raise a young man."

My father walked in to find me cuddling Emily on the couch. He only told me later that she was crying happy tears.

My father and Emily married when I was thirteen years old. Both of her daughters were flower girls and were very cute. Dad asked me to be his Best Man. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. Emily looked very pretty in her dress. She never stopped smiling. And even to my still rather young eyes, I could see how she looked at my father. I knew my new sisters also loved my father.

I knew enough that they disappeared every second weekend to visit their own father. I knew nothing about why Emily had divorced him, and I'd never met the man. I never overheard conversations about him either. But the girls were always excited about seeing their father, so I was left thinking that he wasn't all bad.

With their marriage, life settled into a routine. I was probably your typical moody teenager from time to time. Emily's presence in the household certainly helped though. She was always full of joy, always seemed to be smiling. When she was in the kitchen, I'd sometimes hear her humming away. Dad doted on her something fierce. There was no doubting how much my father loved her. As much as my mother? I just thought that my father was lucky enough to find two great loves.

By the time I was eighteen, Emily would often state that I was a chip off the old block. I stood just about as tall as my father. I'd broadened out as I liked to go to the gym and also played sport regularly. I probably didn't eat well enough though it didn't seem to matter. Brown hair. Blue eyes. I'd started shaving early and was already at the point where I had to shave almost daily.

My little sisters were a joy to be around. It was safe to say that I had shadows whenever I was in the house. I know Emily worried about them bothering me. She'd sometimes walk into the living room to find me on the couch with a sister to either side. Sometimes they'd be playing. Occasionally, they'd be cuddled against me as we watched a movie or some television. There was more than one photo of that on the wall, and I'd seen Emily shedding a couple of tears at the sight.

Dad insisted that I remain at home for as long as I needed, even though I hadn't gone into university and had started working at an engineering firm while completing a part-time TAFE course. I didn't make great money, but it was physical work that I enjoyed. Left me knackered at the end of the day, but I enjoyed it and that's what mattered.

Given that I was now an adult, I was dating around a bit. I didn't tell Dad or Emily that I was dating as, well, it wasn't exactly dating. I had started my own business, for want of a better word, when I was around sixteen. I'd happily do the mowing for anyone in the neighbourhood, and as I grew more experienced, I offered to do more things. Our street and others nearby were full of single women and a lot of single mothers. Many of them appreciated my help and I never charged too much.

After I turned eighteen, the offer of money turned into the offer of money and maybe lunch or dinner, and more than one offer of sex. I wasn't stupid enough to turn down offers like that. It was how I lost my virginity, and I did take advantage of it. I was just smart enough not to open my mouth and talk about it with anyone else. I say that, though I'm sure my father figured it out. He'd occasionally give me this look when I returned home, and I swear he just knew. I probably had a look on my face that gave it away.

But he never said a word.

I was at work, twenty-one years old, still living at home with my family, when Emily called me just after lunchtime. She was in floods of tears, and I could barely understand her. I told my boss something was going on and I was in my ute minutes later, speeding all the way home. She wasn't there, a note on the table stated she was at Westmead Hospital.

I had a sick feeling in my stomach as I didn't do the speed limit the entire way. Probably went through more than one red light though I didn't give a shit. If the coppers pulled me over, I'd explain why, take the fine and points, then just keep on going.

After parking up my car, I headed inside, gave the name of my father... And the face of the nurse couldn't hide that it was bad news. Emily walked in barely a couple of minutes later and immediately hugged me.

My father had been found at his desk at work. By the time paramedics arrived, he was already gone.

Being left with no parents at the age of twenty-one was a sickening feeling. But my heart went out to Emily at the same time. She'd loved my father deeply. I'd never been blind to the fact that they'd been incredibly happy together. My sisters were at the hospital and joined our hug. I tried to wrap my arms around them too, as they were also crying. Worse was my paternal grandmother. She had buried her husband two years earlier and now had to say goodbye to her son.

I was left to organise everything for the funeral. Emily simply wasn't capable, and my grandmother was far too heartbroken to do anything. While I was sorting out my father's things, I was grateful that he'd left a will in the hands of his lawyer. Everything would be sorted out in the end, though it didn't really matter for the moment.

Emily was in pieces. She was given as much time off as possible from work. She spent a lot of time in bed, making sure that she had plenty of tissues, and giving her cuddles whenever she needed them. The girls were terribly upset though they recognised that I was stepping up. They had a couple of days off, then returned to school. I drove them and picked them up. Once or twice, I'd be called to come and collect them as they were too upset to be there.

The funeral was a difficult day for everyone, and giving the eulogy was the hardest thing that I'd done in my life. The only thing that had made me smile during the entire time was that Emily insisted on his being buried next to my mother. When I suggested that one day long into the future that she would be buried to his other side, she clutched at me and sobbed, whispering that's what she hoped as well.

When it came to my father's will, I would have preferred the old man to be alive, but he'd made sure that his family would be looked after. The house would be split between me and Emily. There was money to be allocated out to everyone. The girls would be looked after too.

I had already returned to work as it was a good distraction. Emily was taking longer as she simply wasn't in the right frame of mind. My sisters were doing their best to help. They had always been good girls, and the three of us made a good team. We were always around to give Emily lots of hugs, and I know that she appreciated all of those from me. If she thought our relationship was going to change because my father was gone, I was doing my best to reassure her that I'd always be around to support her. Whenever I whispered that I loved her, because I truly did, she'd hug me even tighter, whispering that she loved me too.

It was around a couple of months after the funeral, and our lives had been sorted out, that I was fast asleep in bed one evening. I was still in the same bedroom though it was now the room of a young man. It had been repainted. New furniture. Larger bed. Now that I owned the house with Emily, I had no plans to move out though it might make things awkward if I started to date someone.

I was fast asleep when I felt my blanket being pulled back and a body slip into bed next to me. I knew it wasn't my sisters. Every so often, one of them couldn't sleep or would have a nightmare and come to me for comfort. I told Emily about it and she had placed two thick blankets in my room so they could sleep on my bed but not in bed with me. More than once, she'd opened the door to find me fast asleep, two cute little girls snuggled against me. Emily told me that she'd had a little cry more than once at the sight. I knew my little sisters absolutely adored me.

But I knew it wasn't my sisters as they never joined me in such a manner. I'd explained why to each of them. It might look perfectly innocent, but the implications wouldn't be good. They understood.

"Emily?" I whispered.

I heard her sniffle, her back against my chest. "I can't sleep. I haven't slept well in months," she whispered back.

I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight. She cried even harder. It nearly had me going as I could hear the heartbreak. She turned over and sobbed into my chest. I had a feeling that she needed a really good cry. I had no problem holding her as she sobbed. When she eventually calmed down, I caressed her back, thankful she was wearing something at least. I slept naked and was thankful that she hadn't noticed yet.

After kissing her cheek, I felt her settle down. Whether she slept through the night or not, I couldn't be sure, but when I woke in the morning, she'd rolled over and was spooned back against me again. I managed to slide out of bed, putting on a pair of shorts, before I knelt next to the bed to look over Emily. Her black hair was styled in a bob, curling around her ears. She had brown eyes that always spoke volumes about her emotions. Cute little nose. Fair complexion otherwise. I had no idea about the rest of her as I'd never done laundry. It had been agreed long ago that I would look after the outside. Dad had helped with chores on the inside.

I kissed her cheek again. "Thank you," she whispered.

The girls were good as always as I got ready for work while they were getting ready for school. When it came time to say goodbye to their mother, I thought it would be awkward that she was in my bedroom. But they didn't say a thing, and the drive to school wasn't a problem. As always, I earned a hug and kiss on the cheek from each. The first time they said they loved me upon leaving, I could barely see the road as I drove to work. Something like dust in my eye. Maybe it was allergies.

The house remained rather quiet that evening. I was trying to get back to at least some sort of normality, but I missed my evening chats with my father. Once I was an adult, he wasn't just my father but was my best friend in many ways. On my eighteenth, I went out for some beers with him first before I spent time with my mates. I could talk to him about nearly anything. Emily had dinner prepared as always then focused on the kitchen.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I watched her.

She stopped and lowered her head. That was all I needed to know. I walked over and turned her around, wrapping my arms around her. She'd received a hell of a lot of hugs in recent months. I felt her hug me back.

I arrived home from work on Friday to find Emily waiting for me. "You've been looking after us for months, Mark," she said after hugging me, "I want you to head out tonight. Go spend time with your friends. You can live your own life a little bit, at least."

"Are you sure? I really don't mind keeping you company."

"Go out and have some fun," she insisted with a lovely smile on her face.

I called one of my mates and wasn't surprised that they were all heading down to the local pub for some Friday night beers. When I arrived a little later, there was a loud cheer, a round of handshakes and slaps on the back before I found myself with schooner in hand, surrounded by a good bunch of blokes, chatting shit before we watched the Friday night game.

I was smart enough to get a taxi to and from the pub, staggering inside the front door around midnight having enjoyed perhaps one too many. I managed to undress and get into bed before I pretty much passed out straight away. I woke up at some point during the night and felt a body against mine. Given that I wasn't exactly thinking straight, I was left thinking it was one of the lovely women that I sometimes spent time with. My hand slipped under what felt like a thin vest and I cupped a breast. I heard whoever it was gasp as I rubbed my cock against her.

"Can't remember who I brought home but not complaining," I murmured, "But you'll have to wait until the morning before we can have a little fun together."

Waking in the morning alone, I remembered getting home though not a whole lot else. I had a vague recollection of someone being in bed with me but wrote it off as a dream. After putting on a pair of shorts, I got up, stretched and visited the bathroom before I wandered into the kitchen. As soon as Emily turned around and met my eyes, she started to blush.

I felt my stomach drop. "Oh shit!" I shouted, cringing slightly as my sisters were in the living room, "Fuck... I mean... Ah, fuck... Was that you, Emily?" She smiled at me and nodded. "Shit... I was drunk and I thought you were someone else. I didn't..."

"Don't worry about it. I've made you a couple of bacon sandwiches."

"Emily, I'm sorry. I really didn't..."

She stopped to rest a hand on my forearm. "It's okay," she whispered, "You'd have a few drinks. I probably shouldn't have come in last night but... When I was with you the other night, I slept so well. I felt good the next morning."

"I dread to ask..."

"I felt good again this morning. That's all you need to worry about."

I polished off the bacon sandwiches, Emily bringing out a cup of coffee for me while I was eating. I knew she loved looking after me. I tried to insist on looking after myself. She'd just give me a look and still cook for me. I spent the rest of the day outside focusing on looking after the front and back yards. My sisters were mostly too young to be heading out of an evening, so I bought some takeaway for the four of us before we watched some boring Saturday night television. I zoned out though the two girls loved it. Emily spent a bit of time on her phone, a bit of time watching whatever was playing.

The girls still had a reasonable bedtime even on the weekend. After they were both in their bedrooms, Emily poured herself a glass of wine and sat down next to me on the couch. She curled her legs underneath, feeling her eyes on me. I finally turned and looked at her.

"What?" I finally asked.

"Call me curious, Mark. I know this will be a topic that we've never discussed. I'm sure you never talked to your father about me and him. But I am curious about you. Something that you said this morning... Well, I'm now wondering."

"About...?"

"I'm guessing you're not a virgin."

I couldn't help bursting into laughter. I'm sure plenty of young men and women remain virgins into their twenties. Not every young person is out there trying to fuck anything that breathes. But once I was eighteen, I came into my own and wasn't shy about enjoying variety.

"No, I'm not a virgin, Emily. Are you sure that you want to have this conversation?"

"We've always talked about everything, Mark. But I know we've never really talked about your love life."

"Okay, I'll bite. What do you want to know?"

"Would I know your first?"

I got up and had to grab a beer from the fridge before I could really get into this conversation. After I sat back down and had a sip, I finally returned my eyes to hers. "Miss Anderson," I finally replied.

The shock on her face had me chuckling again. "Cheryl? But she would have been... older..."

"She was thirty-six at the time," I said, "She was single. Mother to two young children. Horrible luck while dating. She enjoyed the sight of me mowing her lawns while shirtless. She offered me a drink... Then dinner... Then... Well, she offered herself. I was a virgin and told her that. I swear her eyes lit up with excitement."

"But I'm guessing you didn't date?"

"No. I guess she is what you would call a booty call. She calls me, I'll head on over and have some fun."

"Is she the only one?" I had to take another sip of beer to hide the smirk. Emily noticed and playfully slapped my shoulder. "Mark! How many?"

I cleared my throat. "Well, there's Miss Taylor. I was doing a whole bunch of odd jobs for her over the summer. One day, she walked out in a sundress, grabbed my attention, and took it off to reveal her naked body. We made love in the backyard."

"Oh... Wow... She usually comes across as so prim and proper."

"Don't let that fool you. She's an incredibly passionate woman."

"Then there's Miss Andrini."

Emily laughed out loud. "But she's in her fifties!"

"She was fifty-one at the time. She really enjoyed... er... doing something for me. She was incredibly talented when she was on her knees." Emily knew exactly what I meant as she started to blush. "And I'm the sort of young man who always returned the favour. Cheryl taught me well."

Cheryl was Miss Anderson. Out of all the women of the neighbourhood, she was still the one that I liked the most. Although we had fantastic sex, she was also a good friend. But I was only eighteen at the time, and she was double my age. I knew it was just a lot of fun.

"Were all these women ones who you did odd jobs for?"

"Er, no. Miss Williams was a simple booty call. I guess it was word of mouth as she called me up, asked if I'd like to join her for lunch one afternoon. Let's just say that lunch wasn't a plate of food on a table. I've never had sex with a woman so quickly in my life."

Emily couldn't help laughing away. "So the ladies of the neighbourhood have been well and truly cared for?"

"In a manner of speaking. To be honest, I've even had a couple of married women ask if I was interested. I said no. If they were unhappy in their marriages, I wasn't going to involve myself. I'd never help someone cheat. I understood regarding Mrs Watkins. Everyone has heard the rumours about what happens behind the walls of her house. I've seen her around a few times. We'd smile at each other, and I'd give her a quick cuddle. Told her more than once to just leave him."

"All of these women are older than you, Mark. Have you never been with a woman the same age or younger?"

"No. To be honest, once I started having fun with Cheryl, I didn't give women my age the time of day. There's no bullshit when I'm with her or any of the others. Most of the time, it started with just sex. But I like to think that we've now become friends, and even if the physical relationship stopped, we'd remain friends."

"Sounds like you have a soft spot for Cheryl though."

"Always will because she was my first."

"Did your father know?"

"Yeah, he figured it out. Left it alone for a little while before he sat me down and gave me some advice. Warned me not to fall in love as, well, I knew there was an age gap between you and Dad, but a younger man dating an older woman... He mostly thought about me wanting kids."

"Do you want kids, Mark?"

That question made me shrug. "To be honest, I don't know. I have to meet someone whom I love before I'd even consider it."

"What about the idea of settling down?"

I sipped at my beer again. "To be honest, a couple of mates have already started doing that. Steady girlfriend, started on their careers. Looking towards the future. Buying a house if they can afford it. Getting married. Started families. I know people are starting later nowadays, particularly when it comes to the kids, but I'm twenty-one now. The idea of finding someone, falling in love, having a long-term relationship doesn't worry me."

"Are you worried about sharing a house with your bonus mum?"

Calling herself that always made her smile. I'd tried calling her 'Mum' once or twice over the years. It made her cry the first time. But it just felt awkward. Not weird, just awkward. I tried because I genuinely loved Emily. She hugged me the second time, whispered that she would have loved to be my mother. But she kissed my cheek and told me that she loved me regardless. Made her cry again when I told her that I loved her just as much.

"Well, I wasn't going to bring home any of the women in the neighbourhood. And with the girls in the house, I wouldn't want to bring back anyone they didn't know."

"So I'm not cramping your style?" she teased.

"No, Emily. I was relieved that Dad sorted it out so we can continue living together. I know you would have never kicked me out, but I wanted to stay here, make sure that you and the girls were okay."

Emily placed her glass of wine down and immediately cuddled into my side. "I'm glad that you want to stay with me," she whispered, "You've been so supportive. I couldn't have done it without you."

We remained like that for a little while until she yawned, sitting up and telling me that she should probably go to bed. I knew she still wasn't sleeping well. Dad had told me that he sometimes felt like a zombie for weeks on end after losing my mother. I locked up the house as usual, checked on the girls to make sure they were asleep before I headed to bed.

I was woken again for a moment sometime during the night or early morning by who I knew was Emily sliding into bed next to me. I wasn't wide awake, but with it enough to wrap an arm around her, pulling her close. I felt her shuffle against me. When she gasped, this time I knew she realised that I was naked.

"Can put on underwear," I managed to grumble.

"It's okay," she whispered, "Just want to sleep with you holding me."

I could do that, and I quickly drifted off to sleep. I didn't have my alarm set for a Sunday morning, slowly waking up, not remembering at first that Emily had come to me again. When I realised that she was spooning against me, I gently pulled her a little tighter. I remained with her until I knew that she was waking up. She rolled over and smiled at me, giving me a soft kiss on the cheek.

"I think you deserve some breakfast for helping me sleep so well last night. How about mostly a full English?"

"I'd love it. Thanks."

She slid out of bed, showing me that she was wearing a tight little top moulded to her petite frame and a pair of rather tiny panties. She wasn't particularly tall and would fit the term 'petite' rather well. She closed the door so I could get out of bed and put on some shorts. There was a knock on the door within seconds, the door opened and my little sister, the younger one named Melanie who was on the verge of turning eleven, was giggling away as she leapt on me. I tickled her and earned even more giggles, picking her up and placing her over my shoulder.

I placed her down when we were in the living room, turning on the television as I knew she'd want to watch some cartoons or something. Alicia, my now-teenage little sister at thirteen, was probably still in bed. Emily rarely woke her up on a weekend, knowing that teenagers needed their sleep.

Over the next couple of months, I got used to Emily coming into my bedroom every couple of nights to snuggle with me. I asked if she had trouble sleeping on the nights that she didn't. She didn't reply at first but she whispered that she did and that she was feeling incredibly lonely. That left me stumped as I really didn't know what to do.

I hadn't really seen any of my lovers since the funeral. I did keep in contact with them, but they had figured out that I was helping Emily with her grief while also looking after my sisters. I was at work on a Friday when Cheryl called me up, asking if I was interested in a booty call. Considering it had been quite a while, I was definitely interested. I told her that I'd be around that evening. She was rather excited as the kids were not home and wouldn't be until Sunday night.

When I arrived home, I felt awkward as before losing Dad, I would have just come home, showered and got ready to go, told everyone that I'd be home the next day. But now with only Emily, I knew that I couldn't do the same thing. She had returned to part-time work by now, making it home before me every day. She was sitting on the couch when I walked in.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

I had no idea that I looked concerned. "Um... Cheryl called me at work. She's asked me around for the next couple of nights."

I was genuinely relieved that Emily immediately smiled. "Mark, you are your own man, and I know that you want to go out and have fun from time to time. You don't have to worry about me."

"But I do, Emily," I replied, "I know that I'm the younger one here, but I know you're not doing it easy, and I know that you love having me around."

She rose to her feet and walked over to me. She stood up on her tippy-toes and kissed my cheek. "Go and have a shower, put on some nice clothes, and then enjoy yourself this weekend," she said softly.

"Alright... If you're sure..."

"I'm sure. Go and put a smile on her face."

I didn't return until rather late on Sunday evening as Cheryl had spent Friday night, all of Saturday and then most of Sunday doing her best to keep me well and truly drained while I did everything in my power to return the favour. We both knew that our relationship was primarily based on sex. We didn't particularly share much in common though we didn't experience uncomfortable silences.

Emily was up waiting for me when I walked into the living room. She took one look at me and burst into laughter. "Oh my, Mark. Are you okay?"

"That woman is sometimes insatiable. Jesus... I'm glad her kids eventually came home."

"Did you have fun though?"

"Yeah. We hadn't seen each other in a while. It was good. We actually talked about quite a bit too."

After showering, I headed to bed and was fast asleep rather quickly considering that I was exhausted. I'd just switched off my lamp when the door opened. Emily slipped inside and closed the door, leaning back against it. Even in the darkness, she would have seen me pull back the covers. She quickly moved over and slid under the covers, snuggling against me.

"It's okay," I assured her.

"I know this probably isn't healthy for either of us," she said softly.

"You need comfort, Emily. If I can provide it, I will."

I didn't disappear too often for a night away with a lover though as I now worked full-time, the only free time I had available was during a weekday evening or during the weekend. And as the girls were away with their father every second weekend, I didn't really want to leave Emily alone, so if I ever received a call or a message asking if I was free those weekends, I said no. I never told Emilly about that.

The weeks passed by rather quickly and our home resettled into a sort of rhythm. It was no surprise that the girls seemed to move on from their grief quicker than anyone else. I knew they had loved my father, but given that their own father was still alive, and they lived with their mother most of the time, I thought it was good that they were happy again.

I'll admit that I had moments of melancholy, particularly aware that I had no parents left and only two grandparents left. There were also moments of loneliness. I had Emily and the girls, but I knew that wouldn't last forever. I knew that I'd one day have to look for a permanent relationship with someone else.

Despite my own feelings, I wasn't blind to Emily's struggles. She didn't cry anywhere near as often though I could still feel the sadness flowing off her in waves at times. We still spent a lot of time together. And even months after the funeral, she would still come to visit my bed every couple of nights. I had no idea how long it would last and what wasn't helping was that my feelings for her were changing because of it.

And I knew that was just a bad idea.

It was around a month away from the first anniversary of losing my father when the kids were at their father's and Emily was looking a little down in the dumps on Saturday. I was working out in the backyard and had just finished, needing a shower when I had an idea. I found Emily at the dining table, leafing her way through a magazine.

"Emily?" She looked up and immediately smiled at me. "Have a shower, put on a nice dress and shoes. I'm taking you out for dinner then we'll find something fun to do afterwards."

We'd been out for dinner as a family - me, Emily and the girls - but I had never taken Emily out by herself. She couldn't hold back an even brighter smile as she got to her feet, walked over towards me and leaned up to kiss my cheek, telling me that she would definitely get herself ready to be taken out.

"What are you planning?" she asked before disappearing.

"Can drive us into Parramatta. Park up somewhere and then head up to George Street. It's a million times better than it used to be. Plenty of restaurants and one or two bars where we could have a drink. Since I'm driving, I'll only have a beer or two. But you deserve a night to wind down."

Her excitement was immediate, getting up to kiss my cheek before she walked into her bedroom. While she was getting ready, I had a shower, put on a nice shirt, a pair of jeans and a good pair of shoes. Deodorant and a splash of cologne that I knew Emily had always approved. She didn't know that I'd been dating a few older women in the neighbourhood, but she knew when I was heading on a night out and would often give me her advice.

I was waiting in the living room when she walked out later. A simple dark blue dress. Sensible shoes on her feet. She didn't really need to style her hair as it wasn't too long. She had applied a little makeup and lipstick. But it was her smile and general demeanour that had me smiling back at her in return.

There are few places to park for free in Parramatta, eventually sticking to Westfield as at least it was cheap after 5pm. I was craving some steak, asking Emily what she wanted. When I told her what I would like, she took my hand and said that she was happy to go anywhere that at least had good food. I checked some reviews, and we agreed on a place that apparently had great food and a good vibe.

Once I told Emily that the night was on me, she was looking at the cocktail list and I made sure that she ordered one when a server came to our table. I ordered a mid-strength beer and a starter that we could share. Conversation flowed easily between us. To be honest, we had always been able to talk to each other, and as I got older, topics did become more personal.

We definitely enjoyed our meals as both plates were left empty by the time we were done. Emily had enjoyed another cocktail. I asked if she wanted dessert. She laughed and said that she was far too full for that. It was dark by the time we wandered outside, Emily holding my hand, aware her fingers were interlaced with mine. We walked along until we found a bar that appeared to be a little quieter than most.

As soon as music started to play while we were enjoying a drink, she was on her feet, hand outstretched. We joined a few couples on the dancefloor. Emily wasn't shy about moulding her body against mine. I felt her hands resting on my upper back as I caressed hers with mine. We danced through a couple of numbers with her head against my chest before she leaned back to meet my eyes. Without thinking, I leaned down and left a soft kiss on her lips. Given that she only smiled at me when I leaned back enough to meet her eyes, I thought 'To hell with it' and kissed her again. When she kissed me back, I felt her smile when one of my hands ended up gently squeezing her pert little bottom.

When I pulled back, I muttered, "Shit."

Her soft hand caressed my cheek for a second before she rested her head back against my chest. We danced for another couple of songs before returning to our table. I wasn't sure what to think considering who Emily was to me. Whenever our eyes met, all she did was smile.

It wasn't too late when we agreed to leave, walking back to my ute. Emily held my hand the entire way home, only letting go when we got out and walked inside. At the threshold of her bedroom, she turned to me. I pulled her gently to me and kissed her again. It was... incredible, to be honest. She moaned softly as both of my hands ended up cupping her arse. When we broke apart, I almost asked her to my bedroom without thinking about the consequences.

"Goodnight, Mark," she whispered.

"Night, Emily."

After undressing in my bedroom, I lay back on my bed and was ready to beat myself up for taking advantage of her. I knew she was past the heartbreaking grief, but she was still my father's widow. Part of me was simply doing anything I could think of to help her feel better. But I won't lie about the fact that she was attractive, and there was that little part of me that thought, 'Why not me?'

I'd probably been lying back for fifteen minutes when the door to my bedroom opened. My lamp was still on, turning to see Emily standing a few paces away from my bed. She was wearing a sheer black nightie that barely hid her body. I could see she was wearing a pair of black panties, but no bra was visible. Without a word, she slipped off the nightie, leaving it on the floor, before she slid into bed next to me.

I rolled to face her and didn't hesitate in kissing her again. One of my hands ended up cupping one of her small breasts. She was definitely a B-cup. She knew I slept naked, and I felt her covered pussy against my cock. If her panties were not in the way, I would have easily slid inside her. Even through the thin fabric, I felt the heat and dampness of her pussy.

Breaking the kiss, I met her eyes and I'm sure that she realised that I was conflicted. She put a finger to my lips. "Don't think. Just do. Just tonight," she whispered, "Love me, Mark. Please..."

I sat up and slid off her panties. She spread her legs for me, showing a trimmed pubic region and otherwise smooth pussy. It glistened in the light of the lamp. I leaned down and kissed her again, feeling her fingers running up and down my back. I moved down to her neck and earned a soft moan as I kept moving down. Her brown nipples were hard and crying out for attention. She moaned louder as I took one in my mouth and figured out what she liked rather quickly.

Kissing down her body, she writhed underneath me as her excitement built. Making my way down to her groin, I could inhale her scent and almost taste her arousal. She spread her legs wider as I didn't hesitate in tasting her for the first time.

"Yes!" she hissed.

She had a pussy that most men could only dream of. She tasted divine. I wanted to bottle her scent. Her eyes gazed down at me as my tongue got to work. Her hips gyrated as her excitement was obvious. And when her little clit appeared, I slowly figured out how she liked that treated in no time.

"Oh God!" she whimpered.

I wrapped my left hand around a thigh as I worked on bringing her to orgasm. She was incredibly sensitive, my other hand caressing her body. I knew she was on her way as she started to moan even louder, sliding a finger inside her and that was the catalyst. The groan she released as she climaxed made me smile to myself.

"Fuck... Mark... Don't stop..."

I loved my women being multi-orgasmic. And now that I knew Emily could handle more than one in a row, I gazed up at her again and I'm sure she would have loved the look in my eyes. I was relentless though I thoroughly enjoyed teasing her at the same time. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. I rarely heard her curse so hearing her say 'Fuck' quite often was rather amusing.

"Oh God... I'm going to thank Cheryl for training you so well!" she stated with humour.

I almost snorted. Cheryl would probably understand the reason why we were fooling around tonight, but I could only imagine the reaction of friends and family if something were to happen for more than one night. She was technically no longer my stepmother given the loss of my father, but she had still been a motherly figure for quite a few years of my life.

Emily eventually whispered that she'd had enough, and I stopped immediately though left a trail of soft kisses up her body until our eyes were level again. She caressed my cheek and kissed me softly before I lay down and we snuggled together. I turned off the light and pulled her to me. I think we drifted off at around the same time. I was aroused as hell but didn't really care.

I woke alone the next morning, and I was immediately worried, wondering if Emily had woken up and regretted the night before. I put on a pair of shorts and walked into the kitchen to see Emily in a robe happily humming to herself. I cuddled her from behind, her head resting back against my chest.

"Emily..."

She turned around in my arms. "I love what you did for me last night, Mark," she assured me, "I needed to feel loved, and you were there for me. I loved every minute of it. Don't overthink it. Okay?"

Her eyes were imploring me to do just that. So I kissed her cheek and cuddled her. She cuddled me back and I just knew she was smiling. "Okay," I finally whispered.

"Thank you," she whispered back, "I love you."

"Love you too."

The girls arrived home in the afternoon. Their father only ever dropped them off outside, getting out to hug them and making sure they were inside before he drove away. I still didn't know what actually happened between him and Emily. She didn't seem to be afraid of him. It was more a case of no love lost. I'm sure my father had known the truth, but as I didn't think it was my business, I never asked.

Things returned to relative normality after that for the next couple of months. Whenever I headed out for an evening, Emily would smile and tell me to have fun. I didn't tell anyone what happened between me and Emily that night. And I was left thinking that, for Emily, it was simply a pleasant memory.

When the anniversary of my father's passing came and went, there was no visit to his grave by any of us. I had visited my mother's grave a couple of times when I was a teenager, but all it did was make me feel incredibly sad and heartbroken all over again. I talked to people about it, and most would rarely visit those they had lost. When the day passed by, I did ask Emily about it. She smiled and said that she didn't need to visit to remember the good times that she had enjoyed with him. But she knew visiting would only envelop her in sadness again. She carried his memories. His photos were still around the house, the same as my mother's.

It was a few weeks later that I was with Miss Taylor, although I'd always called her Angela. The kids were at home with Emily, so I was out of the house, having a bit of fun. Angela had always come across as a bit prim and proper to others, but when she was home alone and with me in bed, she was an absolute wildcat. Nothing was off limits with her. Our first time together had been out in her backyard, and she got a real thrill out of fucking in public. She loved giving me blowjobs while I was driving. We'd be in the middle of a crowd, and my fingers would be buried in her pussy.

I'd just spent a couple of hours pounding her senseless. Enough that she had to tap out, laughing away as she admitted that her pussy was feeling very tender. She snuggled into me, lying together in contented silence, before I thought that I'd get her advice.

"Angela... A few weeks ago... Emily and I... Well..."

She lifted herself up onto an elbow. "Have a little fun together?"

"Yeah. We didn't have sex, but I invited her out for dinner, we had a great time, and when we got home, she came to my bedroom and I.... um... Well, I helped her feel good."

"With that talented tongue of yours?"

"Yeah."

"How did that make you feel?"

"Confused. I wanted to make her feel good. And she's been far happier lately, even before that night. But it's the ramifications... I mean, she was my stepmother for a few years. Now she's a widow. She was married to my father for nearly ten years. I'm not particularly worried about me, but I know people would judge the hell out of her for being with her former stepson."

"How do you think she feels about you?"

"I know that she loves me. But there's a difference between loving me as her somewhat unofficially adopted son, even though the age gap would mean that she would have had to have had me at fifteen, and then there is loving me as a, well, partner."

"How do you feel about her?"

"Love her to bits, in all honesty. Going through everything that we have has definitely brought us closer together. I feel like I've grown since Dad died simply because I had no choice. I had to because Emily needed me."

"To be honest, Mark, I'm not entirely sure what advice I can give you. It's certainly a different situation from anything that I've dealt with."

"Yeah, a deadbeat husband compared to being a widow... At least your ex still sees his kids."

"He does the bare minimum. I sometimes wonder if nothing would be better."

"Still hoping to meet someone?"

"I will once you tire of me and stop filling my pussy with your wonderful cock."

That made me snort. "That doesn't happen very often."

"It doesn't, but it keeps me going between times that you do."

We were fooling around the next day in the afternoon with my cock buried in her arse when her kids surprised us by arriving home. They only knew that I existed as the young man who would come around to mow her lawns and other odd jobs, and I knew that she would not want them catching me in her house. Angela moved quickly, putting on a dressing gown and getting her kids to follow her to the kitchen. I snuck out of the house, laughing to myself as I drove my ute home. I had mowed her lawns the previous day before we started having fun.

I was still laughing to myself when I walked inside my home. Emily heard and found me by the front door, asking why I was laughing. I admitted what happened and she found the funny side, admitting that I needed a shower as we had been in the middle of having a little fun.

"Oh... Been left with blue balls?" she teased.

That had me looking at her for a few seconds before I smiled. "Well, if you mean I was left hanging that time, then yes. But we'd had plenty of fun already. I'd better go and shower."

I settled down with the girls on the couch after I'd cleaned myself up. Alicia always cuddled me when we watched something together. Melanie still liked to cuddle though also had moments where she wanted to be left alone. Given her age, I remembered what I was like in the early days of being a teenager when I felt the changes starting to take effect.

It would be unusual for Emily to come join me on a Sunday night, so when I felt her presence in my bedroom as I was waiting to drift off, I was surprised but still lifted the covers away for her to join me. I felt her lips on mine briefly before she snuggled into me.

"Were you having sex when her kids got home?" she whispered.

"Want the honest answer?"

"Yes."

"I was buried in her arse, Emily." My blunt response made her chuckle for quite a while. I stroked her back as I felt her move a little closer. "She's very different in the bedroom from how everyone perceives her otherwise."

"And you didn't get the chance to cum in her arse?" she finally asked.

"No. I took care of myself in the shower."

I woke the next morning to the sound of my alarm, Emily waking up with me. She was spooned against me though immediately turned around to face me. To my surprise, she kissed me first, and it didn't take long until it was deep and passionate. My hand moved down to her arse, feeling her leg move to rest on top of my hip. My cock was at its usual hardness in the morning as I felt the fabric of her panties resting against it.

"Fuck it, I've got time," I muttered.

I practically tore off her panties and then made sure to make her cum a couple of times before I got out of bed. I showered and dressed for work, walking into the kitchen to find Emily in a robe, humming happily to herself. I cuddled her from behind, a usual thing I did in the morning, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Glad I put you in a happy mood," I breathed into her ear.

"I'm so happy that you love my pussy so much," she whispered, "Breakfast will be ready shortly. Got to look after the man of the house."

Given the house was now paid for and I could handle most of the bills, Emily was still only working part-time. We'd talked about it at length. I just wanted her to be happy. It gave her free time to look after the girls, and she could also look after her gardens out in the front and back yards. Mum had enjoyed the garden, and Emily had been delighted to continue Mum's legacy.

It was that same evening that I was left thinking that things were definitely changing, and although I was no longer confused, I was still unsure as to the direction we were taking. The girls had gone to bed. Emily and I always spent another couple of hours or so together before we would head to bed. After doing my usual thing of checking the house, I found Emily waiting at my bedroom door. She took my hand and led me towards her bedroom.

"Emily, I can't... That was his bed..."

She turned and nodded. "Then we'll get a new bed," she told me.

"Emily... It's just...."

"It's been well over a year now, Mark. I've grieved him. And I still feel sad from time to time. But I need to move on."

"But Emily... I'm his son. You were my bonus mum for a while. Now you're his widow."

"Do you really care what other people think?"

"It's not about me. It's what they'll think about you."

"We'll deal with that later. And I'm not exactly saying this will work. To be honest, Mark... I'm just horny all the time and it's because of you. The good thing in my eyes is that you don't remind me of him." That's when she smiled. "Oh, sure, there are subtle reminders, but if I thought about it, there's more of your mother there. But mostly, you just look like you. If you looked too much like him, it would freak me out."

"You know that I love you, Emily... "

Her face lit up before she cuddled me. "And I love you, Mark," she whispered.

I lifted her chin with a finger. "But if we do this... If you want this... I stop everything else immediately. They all knew about each other and didn't mind. They were booty calls. We had a lot of fun together. But with you, Emily. It's going to be different. And then I think about the girls. If I'm with you, then I have to think about them too."

That made her blink rapidly for a few seconds as her lower lip started to tremble. "Are you sure that you're still so young?"

"I have a lot of time to think and although I'm still maturing in certain ways, I love my sisters and would never want to hurt them or their mother."

We returned to my bedroom, and I took great delight in undressing Emily down to complete nudity. Once I was as naked as she was, our bodies came together as we made out. We tumbled back onto my bed, getting under the covers to snuggle. I had a feeling that she didn't want to make love that night. It would happen eventually.

I was always up before the girls, so for the entire week, Emily slept with me though all we did was sleep and snuggle together. Well, there was some kissing, and my hands loved to explore her body, but I had a feeling we were now taking our time. I might have gone down on her twice, but those were spur-of-the-moment, I really want her to feel good moments. Now that we had admitted that we were attracted to each other and willing to see where things go, I was ready to take my time.

The girls were with their father the next weekend. As soon as they were gone, we were in my ute and heading to get a new bedroom set. We found one that we both liked, and it could be delivered that afternoon. Emily wanted to go shopping for a few other things, arriving home an hour before the delivery truck arrived. They were happy to take the old bed before they left everything in the bedroom. Most of it didn't require much putting together and by the early evening, the new bed was made and Emily looked rather happy with things.

"What do we tell the girls?" I had to ask during dinner. Something simple as we sat close together at the dinner table.

"I'm quite sure that Melanie has already noticed some differences. Alicia still has an innocence about her. We don't need to tell them anything just yet."

Emily was eager to head to bed early that night. She stood up and offered her hand, leading me towards the bedroom though I did my usual thing of ensuring the doors were locked first. Emily was waiting for me in the bedroom, making me grin as she'd already stripped naked. What I didn't expect was the steamy kiss before she started to slowly lower herself down to her knees.

I'm not one to turn down a blowjob. I'm a man. I love blowjobs. But the sight of Emily on her knees, slowly getting my cock out from my jeans was such an erotic sight, I'm surprised I didn't immediately cum on her face. Her face lit up upon seeing my cock as she'd felt it and had seen it though never from that position.

"Well, you've definitely got a nice one," she stated, my jeans falling down to pool around my ankles along with my underwear, "Haven't done something like this in quite a while."

I groaned as she ran her wet tongue up and down my shaft. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with delight as her lips eventually wrapped around my cock and I felt the warmth and wetness of her mouth. My fingers ran through her dark hair as she swallowed as much as she could, feeling her tongue still work the shaft. As she slowly started to bob up and down, I groaned again as the sight of her pleasuring me had been an occasional fantasy.

"Fuck... I can't believe you're doing this, Emily."

"Wanted to do this for so long," she admitted, "And when you pleasured me first, I knew that I was going to eventually do this. Just tell me when you're ready to cum."

To be honest, I was pretty much ready then though I was doing my best to hold back as long as I could. I tried not to move my hips too much. Emily wasn't taking my whole length as it would have meant going down her throat. I didn't want her gagging. Only Cheryl had ever been able to deepthroat me, one of her signature talents.

"Jesus, Emily," I finally moaned, "Fucking hell..."

She knew that I was about to cum. Her eyes continued to gaze up at me. The mixture of lust and love on display would have made me smile if I weren't busy groaning as I was ready to blast. She was able to read my body language, and when I did finally release that first spurt of cum, she was ready for it. Her head kept bobbing up and down, working my shaft, as my orgasm continued, quite a few spurts of cum filling her mouth before I had nothing left, and still she continued to pleasure me.

Sitting back on her knees, the smile on her face had me chuckling as she looked ever so pleased with herself. Lifting her to her feet, I left a soft kiss on her lips before we moved back onto the bed together. She knew that I'd return the favour. She didn't even have to ask. I'd loved going down on her before and I was going to love doing it again for her.

I spread her legs nice and wide, gazing at her glistening pussy. Her scent was driving me wild. Then again, I'll admit that I was one of those men who seemed to just love the smell of pussy. Perhaps I was fortunate enough to have been with women who didn't have, well, issues. I buried my mouth and soon had Emily moaning loudly. Without kids in the house, she could really let herself go.

"That's it, honey," she cried out, "Eat my pussy, baby. So fucking talented!"

It's always nice to hear compliments, and I just couldn't get enough of her taste. I would happily drink her down every day going forward. I had a hand around each thigh and focused on just using my tongue. Her hips gyrated to my movements, feeling her pushing down into my mouth. I figured out the first time exactly what she liked and so simply did it again. When she told me to keep going, I did so. When she told me not to stop, I most certainly didn't.

And then she climaxed. She was ever so loud. She cursed quite a bit. And was incredibly complimentary of my skills. And given that I knew she didn't want me to stop, I slid a pair of fingers inside her, found that special spot, and I made sure that her next climax was even better.

"Oh fuck yes!" she almost screamed out, her hips rising off the bed, fingers pumping her pussy, my tongue on her clit, "Oh baby... Don't stop, honey... Don't stop..."

The only reason that I eventually stopped was due to Emily being absolutely exhausted. I don't think she passed out; she was just incapable of doing anything, even asking me to stop. I finally relented, sucking my fingers clean before I lifted myself up to gaze into her face. Her eyes finally opened, and a beautiful smile formed.

"Love you, Mark," she whispered.

"Love you too, Emily," I whispered back.

She was breathing deeply as she calmed down, continuing to rest on a forearm as one of her hands caressed my back. I kissed her softly as I felt her moving underneath me, and when my cock gently brushed against her pussy, there was no gasp of surprise. Her eyes continued to gaze into mine as I moved, pressing against her.

"Love me," she whispered, "Please love me, Mark."

She whimpered softly as I gently slid inside her. I released a light groan as I savoured how hot and tight her pussy was. I was slowly moving as I sank inches inside her, feeling her pussy clenching around me at the same time. She continued to whimper as I felt her hands on my back, leaning down to kiss her again. Once my length was buried, I had to glance down to look at the sight.

We moved slowly in unison. Her fingers gently pressed into my back. She moved her legs, bending at the knee to rest at my side. I couldn't help the soft moans that escaped me as I savoured being inside her. I kissed her again and again, loving the delightful little moans and gasps she made. Her hips moved with mine, and she smiled whenever I released a groan.

"You feel so fucking good," I managed to say.

"You've got such a big dick, Mark," she replied with a smile, "Feels so deep inside me."

I was thankful for the blowjob; otherwise, I'd have cum inside her within a couple of minutes. Her legs eventually ended up wrapped around me, my head next to hers on the pillow as she whispered her eagerness for me to cum inside her. All of my lovers were on birth control and only slept with me, so I'd never been worried about it, but given that Emily had been a widow for well over a year...

"Emily... Are you safe?"

"I restarted birth control last month for this moment," she admitted.

"Oh, that's so fucking hot," I groaned.

I felt her legs tighten around me. "Part of me didn't want to and for you to fill my fertile pussy."

"You naughty little fucking minx," I teased.

"Fill my pussy, Mark. Claim what is now yours. I love you."

I filled her pussy and then some. Even though I'd only recently cum from her blowjob, I was amazed at the amount of cum that I was able to leave inside her. She kept her legs tight around me, a light kiss on my cheek, as I refused to stop thrusting. I eventually lifted my head and smiled as one of my hands ended up on my chest.

"You're still so hard. Can you keep going?"

"Emily... You have no idea how great you feel."

"Then keep fucking me, honey. I've gone without for far too long. And I know we both hesitated to do this."

I eventually rolled onto my back, taking Emily with me, and she absolutely loved riding my cock. She'd bounce. She'd grind. She loved my hands moving all over her body. She leaned down to kiss me as my hands moved to her arse, and I started to pump into her. And she enjoyed one hell of a climax in that position, her head rolling back as she cried out.

And she kept going. She couldn't get enough of me. I teased her, licking my thumb and gently rubbing her clit. She was ever so sensitive though made no move to stop me. She was so in the moment, so eager to climax, that she was almost in a trance-like state. I felt her pussy clenching around my cock again and again before another climax hit her.

Collapsing onto my chest, I lifted my knees to bend them and wrapped my arms around her. She snuggled onto my chest. I wasn't sure how she was going to be emotional after making love with me.

"I want this," she said softly, "I want all of this, Mark. All the time. I don't care what people think. I've been falling for you for so long. Now that we've made love, I know what I want."

"Sorry for sleeping with the others for so long."

That made her snort as she lifted her head and smiled at me. "I told you to go and fuck them, Mark. It's okay. I wasn't sure if we should do this. I knew you loved me. You've done so much for me already. When I came to your bed that first time, it was simply because I was sad and needed comfort. As I continued to come to your bed, my feelings for you slowly started to change. I felt so safe with you. So loved. And part of me wanted more than just the occasional kiss and cuddle. I wanted to feel you inside me. I wanted to feel your love."

"I do love you, Emily."

"Are you falling for me?"

"I haven't allowed myself to. I've stopped myself."

That made her smile, because it wasn't even an insinuation. If I allowed myself, I would easily fall in love with her. Hell, we were already a family in a way. I still saw the kids as my sisters, no matter what, though that might have to be reframed if things went all the way with their mother.

"I've already fallen for you, Mark," she said softly, "If you're willing to try this with me, I'm not going to let anyone stop us."

"I'm more than willing, Emily. More than willing." I then chuckled to myself. "Guess I'll have a couple of phone calls to make in the morning."

"That's for later. Right now, I'm not done with you yet. Make love to your bonus mum for a little while longer."

I raised an eyebrow and replied, "Well... Miss Andrini liked it when I called her 'Mummy'."

"Oooh, did you like getting kinky, Mark?"

"She got very kinky at times. Angela had a streak about her too."

She pulled my head down and kissed me hard. "Then you'd better give Mummy some more of that big dick of yours, honey," she whispered. I swear my cock throbbed and she felt it. "Oooh, did you like that, Mark? Maybe you can call me Mummy while you're busy filling my pussy with all your cum. Maybe I will stop taking birth control so you can knock Mummy up."

"Holy shit," I groaned, "You are so fucking naughty, Emily."

"I'm going to let myself be naughty when we're in this room together from now on."

When we were snuggling again a couple of hours later, as Emily was insatiable and was quite clearly making up for lost time, she was fast asleep while I was awake. I didn't want to ask about my father and their relationship, but given he was quite a bit older than my mother when she died, and even older than Emily when they were married, I was left thinking... Well, maybe things had slowed down quite early in their marriage. I'd never ask her to compare me to my old man. I simply didn't want to know. I still loved and respected his memory.

But I did ask the next morning at breakfast if things had slowed. Emily smiled at me. "It was probably a couple of years after we married that things well and truly slowed down. It's why we never had children," she admitted.

"Did you want more?"

"I did, though he told me before we married that he likely wouldn't be capable. Your father needed help."

"Oh... Pills?" She nodded. "He obviously wouldn't share that about me. But you still made love?"

"Occasionally. Not as much as I wanted. But that was only part of our relationship. We were genuinely happy, and I loved him dearly."

"You always seemed happy together. I don't remember you arguing much about anything. And the affection didn't really diminish at all."

"It didn't. In the bedroom, even though he had issues, I was happy just to snuggle with him. I loved him. I just loved being with him." I'll admit that I was relieved that she loved him until his dying day and afterwards. And she seemed to realise why I was asking as she took my hand and squeezed it. "I'll never compare you because you are so different. To be honest, you're a little more assertive at times. You have been ever since you had to do everything with his funeral. And you've taken over the running of this household without a problem. I just continued to feel loved, first by your father, now by you."

Given that we'd now made love and confirmed our feelings for each other, Emily proved to be a horny thirty-something woman. She was quite happy to give me another blowjob during the day, sitting on her knees between my legs, blowing me until I came in her mouth. She simply swallowed everything, put my cock back in my shorts, and happily went about her day. I found her after lunchtime, bent her over the dinner table, tried not to tear off her panties before I sank my cock inside her. It was a hard, fast fuck, focused only on my pleasure until I came inside her.

Then I made sure that she enjoyed a climax while my cock was inside her. That earned me a loving kiss, and handing me her panties, she remained wearing only a skirt until the kids arrived home.

During dinner, we knew that we had to tell the girls that things were slowly changing. Emily waited until we had finished eating before she told them.

"Girls... What would you think if Mark started sleeping in my bed?"

Melanie was thirteen years old and not stupid. Her eyes widened in surprise as she glanced between the pair of us. Then she asked softly, "Is Mark going to be our new stepdad?"

Alicia replied by getting up and immediately sitting on my lap. She snuggled against me and didn't need to say a word. I don't think she cared if I was a brother or stepfather. I knew she loved me with every fibre of her being.

"I'm not sure about stepdad," Emily replied, "We haven't talked about marriage as this is all rather new. But what we didn't want to do was change our relationship without letting you know as it will be obvious that Mark will now be with me in our bedroom."

"I'm just glad he won't leave us," Alicia whispered.

I cuddled her tighter. The thought of her being afraid that I'd leave her almost had my eyes leaking. "I'd never leave you, sweetheart," I assured her, "Nor you, Melanie. I love you girls."

Melanie's bottom lip immediately trembled, and I was soon being cuddled by her as she needed a little cry. "Well, I think that's settled," Emily stated, her eyes glistening as her daughters hugged me tightly, "We can figure everything else out later."

Heading to bed that night, I'll admit it did feel a little weird simply because the girls were in the house. Alicia always loved it when I said goodnight to her, making sure I gave her a kiss on the cheek and a cuddle. Even when my father was alive, she liked it when her big brother said goodnight. Emily said goodnight to Melanie first before I wandered in. It was no surprise that she started crying again. I knew it was due to her emotions being a little haywire.

Emily was waiting for me in bed wearing quite a lovely set of lingerie. As I cuddled into her, she whispered that maybe she'd do a little shopping for some sexy little numbers. That made my eyes light up, which made her giggle. "Just make sure that you don't just tear them off," she warned me.

I knew with kids in the house that our lovemaking would have to be a little quieter though it wasn't going to stop us. Her lingerie did end up on the floor, carefully taken off, and we pleasured each other for a couple of hours before she was happily spooning back against me. I rested a hand on her stomach, and I felt her hand on top of mine.

"I'm not sure if you're interested, and it's still early days... I know that I'm only twenty-two now, Emily, but I do want children," I whispered.

I heard her choke back a sob within a few seconds. "I'd love to have more too," she whispered back.

We woke up at the same time as my alarm started to ring at its usual weekday time. We did shower together, making sure I made Emily giggle as I cleaned her up, mentioning that she was a dirty, dirty girl and needed me to soap her up more than once. She kissed my cheek while I dressed and told me that she'd make breakfast for me. The kids were getting up at the same time, and I was pleased to see they were so happy.

Melanie was now getting the bus to school, as she was attending the same high school I had, so I was still driving Alicia to school and would do until she was in high school. She gave me a big kiss and cuddle before getting out of the car.

"Mark?" I looked at her as she smiled. "I have a dad already, but I'd love it if you were my dad too."

Yeah, I had a hell of a lot of allergies as I pulled away a couple of minutes later.

It was amazing how normalised our relationship became at our home. The kids were still magnificent, and if there were any problems, Emily handled them. The girls had always come to me from time to time if they had an issue and nothing changed with that. Alicia had always been affectionate. Melanie is perhaps spending a little more time with me. And the girls quickly got used to Emily cuddling with me on the couch. We kept displays of affection to a minimum.

Whenever the girls were with their father, Emily and I would head out on a date. After barely a month together, I didn't really give a shit who recognised us. I was in love with her and that's what mattered. Emily had never cared from the start. My lovers all knew that I was with Emily as I told them the truth when I told them that I had to end things. Cheryl was incredibly supportive. Angela joked that she wanted an invite to the wedding.

The problem was telling our respective families. Although I had no parents, I had two grandparents still alive and a couple of aunts, uncles and cousins. Emily still had both parents and a brother with his own kids.

"Do we rip the band-aid and do it all at once, or gauge reactions by telling a couple of people first?" I asked her one evening.

"I'm thinking that we tell my brother first. He's always liked you. And perhaps your grandparents. If we don't get any negative responses, we'll tell everyone else."

It was amusing that her brother asked why we even bothered telling him as it was obvious to everyone that we were falling in love, and the fact we were making it official simply confirmed what everyone already assumed. I asked him if it bothered him that I was with my father's widow. He shrugged and said it didn't matter.

"He loved her as she loved him. Now you love her as she loved you. You're both adults now. That's all that matters. She stopped being your stepmother the moment that your father unfortunately passed."

He was right, of course.

When it came to my family, the first person we told we my maternal grandmother. Her face absolutely lit up and she hugged us both. She wished us luck, aware that there might be some negative responses, but she assured her grandson that as long as I was happy that she would always support me. As for my paternal grandmother, she was surprised and left rather speechless. I was worried for a few seconds before she asked to speak to Emily alone. When she returned a few minutes later crying but with a smile on her face, I knew that everything was going to be okay.

"Look after each other," my grandmother said before we left, "And enjoy a long life together. And Emily, if you wish to make me a great-grandmother next time, I'm certainly going to enjoy it. I love your daughters, but if you were to provide me with one of my own..."

"I think we might start working on that in the near future," Emily replied.

Given that everyone seemed happy, we told everyone else at a gathering at our home. Family and friends were invited to a barbecue. My friends had already picked up on something given that I was no longer dating around. Emily's friends were all looking inquisitively at me as Emily's affection was obvious to everyone. When we finally told everyone present that we were a couple, that the kids accepted it and that there were those in the family who supported us, there were a lot of questions but no real negativity. To be honest, my friends thought it was hilarious that I was 'banging my ex-stepmother'. Yeah, young men can be complete idiots at times.

I think Emily and I were both relieved that the announcement had gone off without a hitch. As we cuddled in bed that evening, she asked me about our relationship and its future. Basically, she wanted to know if I wanted to get married. She knew that I wanted kids but wanted to know if I wanted to make that commitment.

"I do," I told her, "But is there any rush? Why don't we spend a bit of time dating each other, having some fun? Organising a wedding, then a marriage, places expectations on things. Not just between you and me, but also from others."

"Okay. I like that idea... But don't take too long. I took off your father's rings after the funeral as it was too much for me. But my fingers have been feeling very naked."

"Well, there'll be a day when you'll be naked in front of me wearing my rings." My hand moved down to rest over her belly. "But we can also practice on making sure that everything is in working order regarding any future children."

"Oh, I think we should have a lot of practice, Mark. A lot of practice."

I'd had little to do with her ex-husband, so it was quite the surprise that he knocked on the door when dropping off his kids the next weekend. He asked to speak to me. I was wondering what he wanted, but I joined him out on the driveway. I only knew his name and his age. He'd been considerably older than Emily when they'd married. She'd told me that he'd seduced her quite easily given her age at the time. When she ended up pregnant, he agreed to marry her. It was only when she gave birth to a second daughter that he changed.

Let's just say that things grew ugly rapidly and it wasn't only my father who stepped in to help her.

To my surprise, he was polite enough though he knew that I was around fifteen years younger than Emily. He asked about my intentions, concerned about his daughters. I almost laughed in his face but was polite in return. I'd lived with his daughters for over a decade. I'd been their brother, now I would be a different sort of figure. I wasn't going to replace him as a father figure. I would simply be a sounding board for them, a guide through their young lives. I'd offer advice and emotional support. And, of course, I'd love them like my own.

We parted with a handshake.

Emily had been watching from the doorway. She kissed me when I was back inside, asking what the conversation was about. I gave her a brief overview, and I could sense her relief. She hugged me tightly. When I picked her up her legs wrapped around me as I carried her into the living room and sat in an armchair as she snuggled against me.

"Mum really loves you," Alicia stated simply.

"I really love your mother," I replied with a smile.

One thing that really took off was our sex life. Whenever the kids were away, we spent most of the time in the bedroom... And elsewhere around the house. Naked. Doing very naughty things with each other. We continued to learn about each other when it came to intimacy. I discovered something that made her scream like a banshee. She loved it and I made sure I did it often. She absolutely loved going down on me in return. She'd sometimes drag out a blowjob for so long that I'd almost pass out from pleasure when I finally came. I did make her pass out a couple of times after getting her off so often.

But when it came to making love, we kept things nice and simple. She never expressed an interest in anal. And I never asked. I'd enjoyed it with others only when they offered it. She did like me squeezing her butt, and I'd occasionally kiss her cheeks, and maybe even licked down there when going down on her. But that was about it.

And we dated all the time. Once Melanie was fourteen, we trusted her to look after her sister at home for a few hours so that Emily and I could go out for dinner during the week. But when the girls were at home on the weekend, we did things as a family. We didn't miss how people would occasionally look at us given that I still looked quite young and Melanie was clearly too old to be my daughter. Emily was rarely without a smile. Alicia loved her father, but there's no doubt she absolutely loved me as well. I'd been present in her life since she was a baby.

Months passed by and I knew that I was hopelessly in love with Emily and wanted to be her husband. I knew that Emily was head over heels in love with me in return. And in the back of my mind was the fact Emily was older than me and our window to have children was closing.

We were in bed one evening after having finished making love. I just asked a simple question. "Would you like to start trying for a baby?" I whispered.

I had no idea it would make her fall apart. Thankfully, it was pure happiness, but she absolutely sobbed into my chest as she wanted to start trying immediately. The next morning, she made a show of throwing away her birth control, calling her doctor to organise an appointment to make sure that everything was in order.

That afternoon, I cut off work early and headed out to start looking for a ring.

I found the perfect ring within a month. She wouldn't want anything ostentatious. She preferred simplicity. I knew her favourite gemstone. I knew all she wanted was something that reflected my love for her. And I knew how she would prefer for me to propose. I cooked dinner one evening. The girls were with us. And I proposed at the dinner table.

That set off three women at once, sliding the engagement finger onto Emily's finger before I was attacked by three women, one of them my fiancée, two of them soon to be my daughters instead of my sisters.

And Emily showed her love for me that evening. We made love for so long that I needed to call into work the next morning as I could barely drag myself out of bed, Emily spooning back against me once I was settled back against her, my hand on her belly and she was hoping that we had conceived that night.

Our wedding was a simple affair a few months later as we kept things nice and simple. She'd been married twice, of course. Her first was a grand affair that she had hated. Her second to my father was smaller but still a big event. I'd never really given a wedding ceremony much thought, so I was happy with whatever she wanted. So, we married in our backyard where we also held the reception.

We announced during the reception that she was three months pregnant with our first child.

*****

Epilogue

I'm a very lucky man, as my beautiful wife is nearly fifty years old and I'm still as hot for her today as I was the day we married. Hell, I'd been hot for her long before that, but the hesitancy we showed in being together made sense. We knew that we were fortunate to have people who loved us. There had been a chance that no one would have accepted our relationship.

After giving birth to our first son, who we christened Jeremy, my wife was eager to have one more child as she was hoping to give me a daughter of my own. My wife delivered, within eighteen months, a beautiful baby girl we christened Charlotte.

Our marriage has been one of near-permanent bliss. I honestly can't remember us arguing more than a dozen times. I hated the idea of even raising my voice if I did lose my temper. I certainly never did with the girls. I'd never been an angry young man. I had a handle on my emotions and temperament. The girls grew up and although their teenage years could be difficult at times, I made sure that I was there to support them.

Melanie was the first to leave home at nineteen as she chose to go and live with a couple of roommates while she was attending university. She was an intelligent young woman, blossoming into a beautiful young woman at the same time. She certainly took after her mother in that regard though I knew that I would always be biased.

As for Alicia, she remained at home far longer, attending university though we had always insisted that she'd always have a home with us. Her teenage years were difficult for her as Emily figured out that she had some strong feelings for me. We had to deal with that delicately, particularly when Alicia would come to me in floods of tears. She never said anything to me, but she did have that look sometimes which even I grew to recognise. Whether she entirely got over those feelings, I couldn't be sure, but she never did a thing to ever upset me or her mother. She loved us both too much for that.

Jeremy and Charlotte were approaching their teenage years. My son took after his old man in his love for rugby league, and I'd take him to a game every so often. As for Charlotte, she was Daddy's little girl and Emily doted on her something fierce at the same time. We were raising two happy, well-adjusted little humans.

I liked to think that my mother and father were proud of their son.

My career was now in such a position that Emily could stop working entirely. She loved being at home, looking after the family. Whenever she did find herself bored, she would happily volunteer during the day but would always be home to greet her husband. Always a passionate kiss and cuddle. Sometimes, her husband would let his hands wander. Just occasionally, she'd have to whisper that the kids were near, but I'd be having fun that night.

I've only been to see my mother and father once since I married Emily. I did so on my mother's birthday. I explained to her everything that happened and hoped that wherever she was, she was smiling down at me. As for my father, I promised him that I'd look after Emily until my dying day, and that I would keep my promise about laying her to rest next to him when her time came.

Emily was standing nearby with all of our children. Once I was married to her, I never cared for step-this or step-that. I might not have been blood, but those two girls... Even they would occasionally call me 'Dad'. The first time Alicia called me that, it melted me completely.

"Are you okay?" Emily asked, looking past me towards the two headstones.

"Yeah. I'm alright. Just been a long time since I've been here to see them."

She held my hand as always as I drove us home. I glanced at her while stopped at a red light. She'd come into my life as a bonus mum. Now she was my wife and was the love of my life. I'd never seen her happier and she'd given me a family. I couldn't have been happier.

Yeah, I think my parents would be proud of their son.