Dose (loving) Linda again to make her happy

You stand up.

You: "What are you saying, Linda?"

Linda: "I don't even know myself."

Linda shakes her head with closed eyes. Suddenly, she flashes you a soft smile.

Linda: "I don't know what I'm thinking."

She gets up as well, and takes your hand.

Linda: "Forget I said anything, okay?"

You gaze back into her hazel eyes, and a moment later, you can see the shift when her false smile transforms into something more genuine.

Linda (breaths): "I'm lucky to have you. I shouldn't worry you so much."

You smile and let go of her.

You (soflty): "I'm glad we can talk openly about these things."

Linda might be calm now because of your proximity, but this situation was far from fixed.

You: "Hey, how about I join you for some reading time? Been a while since I had time to just read."

Linda: "That would be lovely, honey, of course."

You: "Great, I'll fetch my book and make some tea."

Linda sits back down, grabs her book, and offers you a grateful smile.

Linda: "Perfect idea."

30 Minutes Later

You sit next to Linda on the couch, her feet resting on your lap, when she finally reaches for the mug. There's no steam coming from it because you didn't let the water fully boil. Too risky - You don't want her to burn her mouth when the effect kicks in. You watch her take one cautious sip. She looks mildly disappointed by the lukewarm brew. But then, she gulps down the entire mug in seconds.

Linda: "I think I needed that."

You (chuckle): "I can make you another one."

Linda: "No, it's fine, thank you."

You put your book down.

You: "Linda, what does the word family mean to you?"

Linda: "Where does that come from?"

You (shrug): "Just curious."

Linda: "Well, okay. Wait a second, let think me aboudid. aboudid?"

Suddenly, Linda falls silent. You press the timer on your watch.

Time to fix this.

You: "Linda, listen to my voice and obey."

Linda: "Listen and obey..."

You: "You mentioned you noticed a shift in feelings in both you and Ashley, remember?"

Linda: "Yes... I remember... Something is odd..."

You: "It's not odd at all, Linda. You don't think that way anymore, Linda."

Linda: "It's not odd at all... I... I don't think that way anymore."

You: "Your infatuation for me is perfectly natural, and you'll never question your feelings for me ever again."

Linda: "My infatuation for you is perfectly natural... and I'll never question my feelings for you... ever again."

You: "You are delighted about Ashley's change of heart. You utterly love to see any signs and displays of affection between Ashley and me. It's wonderful."

Linda: "I'm delighted about Ashley's change of heart... Uttlerly love to see... any affection... It's... wonderful... Yes."

You: "Chris, your dead ex-husband, is gone and forgotten. You feel nothing for him."

Linda: "Chris... gone and forgotten... I feel nothing for him."

You: "He was a boring husband, a lazy father. You're glad Ashley finally calls me dad."

Linda: "He was a boring husband... a lazy father... I'm glad Ashley finally calls you dad."

You: "You're happy, and you love your life with me. Ashley and I are the only family you need."

Linda: "I'm happy, and I love my life with you. Ashley and you are the only family I need."

[BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP]

You press the button on your watch and wait a few seconds until Linda's eyes are back in focus.

Linda: "Family..."

You: "Hm?"

Linda: "...is you and Ashley."

She shrugs.

Linda: "You asked what the word means to me. The word is like a synonym for you two. Or did you want to ask me something else?"

She smiles coyly. You smile.

You: "Oh, come on, you know what I meant."

Linda (softly): "Family means everything to me, Adam. You know that."

Linda puts her hand on your knee and looks at you. Her eyes bore into yours, and there is a new intensity, something you haven't seen before.

Linda: "Why don't we put the books down and head upstairs, hm?"

She doesn't have to ask twice. Before you know it, Linda takes your hand and drags you to the bedroom.

You're surprised - none of your suggestions were sexual. It's almost as if you unlocked something, but right now, you can't even tell which of the suggestions led to this. And you don't have time to contemplate it either, because Linda mounts you like a lioness as soon as you reach the bed. Hastily, she gets you out of your clothes, then stands up and strips herself until her curvy body is on full display for you.

She mounts you again and straddles your hard cock.

Linda rides you with a ferocity that borders on ****. Her nails rake down your chest as she pins your wrists above your head. She grinds her hips in slow circles.

Linda: "Don't move."

She's always been this way in bed, the one place where Linda Willard's composed housewife persona gives way to something feral and commanding. You learned early in the marriage not to fight it. You learned to like it. Alas, that was back then. Without the serum, you'd almost forgotten what sex with Linda was like at all.

Her brown hair curtains your face.

Linda: "You don't get to move until I say."

Her thighs clamp around your ribcage. She arches her back, and you watch her full breasts sway as she increases her rhythm. Linda's eyes are half-lidded, her mouth slightly open, and she watches your face the way a cat watches a pinned bird, with total, consuming possession.

Linda comes first. She shudders and moans like there's no tomorrow.

Linda: "Now you."

She changes her angle, taking you deeper, and within minutes, you're done. She collapses against your chest, breathing hard. You feel her heartbeat hammer against yours.

Linda: "God, I needed that."

You (panting): "Me too."

You stroke her damp hair. She makes a satisfied sound, like a cat being scratched in exactly the right spot.

The two of you stay like this for a while, peaceful, relaxed, satisfied.

Linda: "Let's go back down. It's too early for bed, and I want to finish my chapter."

You: "Alright, sounds good."

You both freshen up, dress casually, and descend the stairs. Linda settles back into her corner of the couch, legs tucked beneath her, book in hand. You pour yourself a glass of water and sit beside her.

Evening

Not long after, you hear the front door.

Ashley (calls): "Sorry, I'm late, mum! Nicole and I got way too deep into chem and lost track of time."

Ashley breezes in with her backpack slung over one shoulder, her black ponytail swinging. She's still wearing those purple leggings that hug her toned ass perfectly, but accompanied by a black top this time. Her eyes land on you, and she smiles.

Ashley (cheerful): "Hey, Daddy!"

She drops her bag by the door and immediately crosses to the couch. Before you can react, she leans down and wraps her arms around your neck from behind. She plants a kiss on your cheek.

This is it, the moment of truth. Your eyes dart to Linda. Your wife's wary skepticism from this morning does not make a return. Instead, she watches the two of you with an expression that can only be described as radiant. Her eyes are bright, her lips curved into a soft, blissful smile. There's no trace of suspicion, no flicker of discomfort. She looks like she's witnessing something sacred.

Ashley's body is warm against your back. You can feel the swell of her breasts press against your shoulders through the thin sports fabric. Your pulse spikes, and you immediately feel a twitch between your legs.

You: "Hey, Ashley. How was studying?"

Ashley: "Brutal. Nicole's struggling even more with chemistry than I am, so I ended up teaching her half the material. Well, the half I understood, at least. But I think we'll be okay for the exam."

She releases you and turns to Linda. You exhale slowly.

Ashley plops down between you and Linda and leans her head on her mother's shoulder.

Ashley: "Hi, Mom."

She wraps an arm around Ashley and pulls her close to kiss the top of her head.

Linda: "Look at you two. God, this makes me so happy."

Ashley raises an eyebrow.

Ashley: "What?"

Linda: "Just... this. You and Adam getting along. It's everything I've wanted for years, sweetheart. You have no idea."

Ashley's expression softens.

Ashley: "I know, Mom. And honestly? I feel terrible about how I used to act. All that hostility, all those years of being awful to him..."

She shakes her head.

Ashley: "I don't even understand why I was like that. It's like I was a completely different person."

Linda waves a hand dismissively, her voice light and unbothered.

Linda: "You know what it was? Your whole thing with Chris. That man..."

She pauses, and you watch something flicker across her face, a micro-expression that resolves into mild distaste.

Linda: "Chris was never much of a father, honestly. He was lazy, and he was checked out. You never knew what it meant to have a proper father figure."

Ashley nods slowly, as if this makes perfect sense.

Ashley: "Yeah. Yeah, I think you're right. But now I barely even think about him anymore. I know I... I used to obsess over his memory, I don't even know why. And now it's just... blank. Like a background noise that's been finally switched off."

Linda: "Good. That's healthy, sweetheart."

Linda cups Ashley's face in her hands. She presses a kiss to her forehead.

Linda: "What matters is the present and the future. This family. The three of us."

You feel something complicated coil in your stomach. Pride. Guilt. Arousal you're trying very hard to suffocate.

Linda turns to you with that incandescent smile.

Linda: "Why don't we all watch a movie together? Like a real family night?"

Ashley: "Oh my God, yes! Can we watch Tangled? Please, please, please?"

Linda laughs.

Linda: "Of course, sweetheart. Adam, hand me the remote?"

Minutes later, the three of you are on the couch. Linda sits in the armchair to the side, curled up with a throw blanket, positioned where she has a clear line of sight to both you and Ashley. She insisted on the armchair, claimed it was more comfortable for her back, but you notice how her gaze keeps drifting from the screen to the couch where you and Ashley sit.

Ashley tucks her legs beneath her and leans into your side to rest her head on your shoulder. She pulls a blanket over both your laps.

Ashley: "This is nice, Daddy. I'm glad we talked last night. Like, genuinely. I feel like a weight's been lifted."

You: "Me too, Ash."

Halfway through the movie, Ashley shifts, laying her head in your lap the same way she did last night. Her body curls into a comfortable C-shape. One hand rests on your thigh. The warmth of her cheek through your sweatpants is dangerously close to your dick.

You adjust your position carefully. You cross one ankle over the other, willing yourself into compliance.

You glance at Linda. She watches you and Ashley with an expression of quiet rapture, fully ignoring the movie. She catches your gaze.

Linda (mouths): "I love you."

You (softly): "I love you."

On your lap, Ashley sighs contentedly. She nuzzles deeper.

Ashley (murmurs): "I love you, too, daddy."

Linda's hand flies to her mouth. A small, breathy squeal escapes her lips. It's high-pitched, girlish, completely out of character for her.

The squeal makes Ashley stir slightly. Her head shifts on your lap, turning so her face is angled more toward your stomach now, her cheek pressing against the fabric of your sweatpants. Her eyes stay closed. Her breathing remains slow and even. She doesn't wake.

Linda grins so wide it looks like it might hurt.

Linda (whispers excitedly): "Oh my God, did you hear that?!"

You're fascinated by Linda's reaction. You give her a nod, and your hand hovers over Ashley's dark hair for a moment before it settles gently. You stroke her black strands.

Linda (whispers): "This is everything I ever wanted, Adam."

Linda leans forward in the armchair, both hands clasped together now like she's watching something precious unfold. Her eyes are bright, focused entirely on the two of you on the couch.

Linda: "For years, I dreamed about this. Years. I used to lie awake at night wondering if you two would ever get past all that... that hostility. All that coldness. And now..."

She sighs again, and a beatific smile crosses her face.

Linda: "Now she's calling you 'daddy' and falling asleep on you like you're the most natural thing in the world."

You glance down at Ashley. Her lips are parted slightly. One hand is curled loosely against your thigh. You gulp.

You pull the blanket back up to tuck it around her shoulders.

Linda watches you do this with an expression that can only be described as adoring.

Linda: "You're such a good dad to her, Adam. I mean that. I know she put you through hell, but you never gave up. You kept trying. And now..."

She gestures at the couch, at the sleeping girl in your lap.

Linda (softly): "...now look."

You: "She's been through a lot. I think she just needed to work through some things."

Linda: "Maybe. Or maybe she just needed to see you for who you really are."

She stands, crossing to the couch. For a moment, you think she's going to sit down, but instead she leans over and presses a soft kiss to the top of Ashley's head, then another to your temple.

Linda (murmurs): "My two favorite people in the whole world."

She straightens, running her fingers through your hair once before stepping back.

Linda: "I'm going to let you two have your moment. I'll be upstairs if you need me, okay? Just... take your time. Carry her up when she's ready."

You: "You sure?"

Linda: "Absolutely. This is important. Father-daughter bonding time."

She says it with such sincerity that you almost forget you engineered this entire dynamic from scratch.

Linda blows you a kiss from the doorway.

Linda: "I love you so much, Adam. Both of you."

And then she's gone, padding up the stairs in her bare feet, leaving you alone with your stepdaughter asleep in your lap, her warm breath seeping through the fabric of your sweatpants, her body curled trustingly against yours.

The movie plays on. You don't watch it. You watch Ashley instead. You see the rise and fall of her ribs beneath the hoodie, the flutter of her eyelashes, the faint smile still lingering on her lips.

When the credits run, you gather her into your arms again. She feels lighter than yesterday somehow. Her head rolls against your chest, her lips parting with a soft murmur.

Ashley: "Mmm... s'okay, Daddy... I got it..."

But she doesn't got it. She's dead weight by the time you reach the top of the stairs. You lay her down, pull the comforter up, and stand there for a moment in her darkened room. The glow of her computer screen illuminates posters of bands you don't recognize.

The wedding photo of Linda and Chris on Ashley's nightstand tries to mock you, but this time, you smile smugly at the man in the picture and then at his sleeping daughter. You've won.

Wednesday - Afternoon

You leave the lab early as soon as your daily serum dose is done. You're too excited to see your family.

When you pull into the driveway, you notice Linda's car is still in the garage. Good. You let yourself in through the side door and hear movement upstairs, drawers opening, the clatter of jewelry on a vanity.

You find Linda in the master bathroom, halfway through applying lipstick. She's wearing a fitted black dress you haven't seen before. Her dark curls are pinned up loosely. She catches your reflection in the mirror and startles.

Linda: "Adam! You scared me. What are you doing home so early?"

You: "Wanted to surprise you. Where are you headed?"

Linda caps the lipstick. She looks at you, touched at first, but then she rolls her eyes.

Linda: "Carrie asked me to meet her for drinks. She's been texting nonstop, honestly, it's getting a little exhausting."

You'd almost forgotten about Carrie, that nosy troublemaker. But she shouldn't pose a problem, now that both Linda and Ashley were thoroughly content and happy with you. It shouldn't be much of a problem convincing Linda and Ashley to drop Carrie for you. After all, she was part of Chris' side of the family.

On the other hand, it couldn't hurt to get her on your side as well. You already paved the way on Saturday at the café. You remember actually having a nice time for once. Aaaaaand you do have another dose, after all. Might as well use it to charm Carrie. You could make her accept you fully, and then be done experimenting with the serum...