Five - Sweet, Sweet Breakfast

Marilynn woke up with the sun peering through her window. She glared at the curtains before she threw the blankets off and got dressed and brushed her teeth and headed for the kitchen.

She pulled out eggs and cheese for omlets, along with milk and powdered chocolate milk mix and begun cooking.

Michelle stumbled into the room, clutching a stuffed animal. "Smells good, Mari."

"It'll taste good, too," Marilynn chimed, flipping am omlet. "Come up and sit, honey."

Michelle climbed up into a stool and crossed her legs as they swung. The smell of the food bore into Marilynn's nose, making her itch to eat more. Sizzling cheese and frying eggs filled the room as Pierce and Chase sleepily stumbled in, play fighting with each other.

They both climbed up into a stool and looked at Marilynn. Chase yawned and smiled. "I wish mom did this more often."

"Well," Marilynn started, scooping omlets onto plates, "I just thought that you boys should get a decent meal before school."

"Score!" Pierce shouted as she slid a plate in front of him. "Smells good, too!"

The children dug into their food as if they all were lionesses hunting for their lion.

Marilynn brushed her hands off and started to cook up her own omlet as Marla stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. "Good morning, my beautiful children. Did you sleep well?"

Marilynn slid her omlet onto a plate and handed it over towards Marla. "Here's your breakfast Mrs. Kirshné," she said with a smile.

"Ugh," she huffed, taking the plate. "Just Marla. Mrs. makes me sound old."

At that moment, Tanner walked in. "It makes you sound married, love," he said, hearing her last comment.

Marla rolled her eyes and walked over to the dinner table. "It makes me sound old."

Michelle turned around in her barstool and looked at Marla. "Does that mean you don't want to be married to Daddy anymore?"

Marla choked on her omlet, turning red. Marilynn couldn't figure out if she was turning red because she was choking or if she was hiding something. "No, sweetie. That just means Mommy wants to feel young. I love your father, very much."

Tanner scoffed with a fake smile.

Marla shot him a look and he rolled his eyes, making his way over towards the kitchen where Marilynn stood at the stove, making him an omlet.

He planted his elbows on the counter and looked up at Marilynn. "How are you on this fine morning, Miss Thompson?"

"I'm doing alright," she said, flipping the omlet onto a plate and sliding it in front of him with an awkward smile. "And you?"

When she looked into those deep hazel eyes, memories of yesterday flooded her mind.

Tanner grabbed a fork and took a bite, his eyes rolling at the taste. "I'm eating a pretty amazing meal."

Marilynn turned away from him and FINALLY started her own omlet.

Michelle, Chad, and Pierce finished their food and all got out of their stools, leaving the room. Marilynn perked up and raised her brows. "Nuh, uh, uh!"

They all froze and spun around, hastily grabbing their dishes and taking turns to rinse them in the sink.

She smiled and patted their heads. "Good. Go and brush your teeth then get ready. I'll check your outfits before we all leave."

They all nodded and rushed out of the room, leaving the adults in the kitchen.

Marilynn leaned against the counters with her arms crossed over her chest, her lips pursed into a thin line.

"Marilynn, honey," Marla huffed, placing her fork down after taking three bites of her meal to push her plate away from her. "Tomorrow, try something less weight-gaining to make for breakfast."

"Less weight-gaining? This is an omlet. It's made up of eggs, herbs, and cheese," Marilynn pointed out, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

Marla waved her hands in the air. "Whatever. I was feeling the ounces add up in my stomach after the first bite. Look something up. I'm on a diet."

Marilynn lifted a brow. Marla was already so thin. Her thigh gap was almost two inches, making Marilynn want to grimace. "I'll make something special for you, then."

She smiled and fluffed her hair. "Clean up my plate, will you? I've got to get ready for work."

Tanner looked at the clock above the door and gave her a confused look. "This early?"

"I just got a text from my assistant. Something happened that I have to fix," Marla hummed, walking out of the room.

"It can't wait until your shift starts?" he asked.

When there was no answer, he let out an irritated growl that made Marilynn's blood boil for the wrong reasons. She let out a shaky breath.

Tanner must have heard it because he snapped his gaze to hers, his face in an irritated snarl. "You just going to stand there and stare at me, Nanny?"

Marilynn swallowed the saliva that sat on her tongue and averted her gaze, feeling her cheeks flush with color, thinking about his lips all over her and his stubble tickling her- she shook her head. "No."

The irritated look went away when he looked at her more thoroughly. "You're flushed, love."

The name sent shivers down her spine. Her spine felt as if it had a tremor when he started to slowly walk forward. "Wh-what are you doing?"

"Getting a better look at you."

Marilynn turned her head and shivered. "You don't need a better look at me. Your vision works just fine."

"Not when it comes to you," he mumbled, leaning down to suck on her collar bone.

She gripped the counter so tightly that her knuckles started turning white as she bit her lip to keep in a moan that was waiting at the back of her throat to come out.

He nipped her flesh, making her gasp and her knees started to shake. "T-Tanner. . .p-please."

"Please, what, love?" he asked, his voice vibrating her skin.

She whimpered as he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her up onto the counter. His hands wrapped themselves into her hair, tugging to pull her head back.

When more of her neck was exposed, he nibbled on her skin, gliding his hands down her body.

Lower.

Lower.

Then under her waist band.