Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
CAROLINA
I wanted to thank Oliver for the morning, but we both had to get to work. Instead, we made out against the door until we were breathless, and he whispered a promise to see me tonight around nine. I wondered what he was doing for dinner. I was kind of hoping we could spend all our free time together. But I didn't know what his plans were, and I was hesitant to ask.
Was he spending time with family or friends? Was he working? I was starting to think there was something he was hiding about his personal life. I'd shared quite a bit about mine, including my dad leaving. He'd mentioned his family's Thanksgiving meal they shared with the lodge and the community, but that wasn't personal.
He hadn't made himself vulnerable like I had, and I wanted to know more. Did he get along with his siblings? Did he like working in the family business? And more importantly, what did he do in his free time?
Once vendors started arriving, I was focused on helping them get their boxes of arts and crafts to their booths. There were things to set up, and someone always needed my help.
At dinner time, food arrived for me in to-go containers. I thanked the staff member and took the time to sit at a table just outside the conference room to eat. As usual, the food was delicious. I just wished that Oliver could eat with me. We'd shared lunch though, and we were both busy people. The only difference was, I wasn't sure what Oliver was doing tonight. Surely, he didn't need to work nights.
I knew where the offices were because I'd been in Eli's once. I assumed Oliver's was nearby, but I didn't have a good excuse to stop by and see him.
He might have plans for this evening that have nothing to do with me. I wasn't sure why that bothered me so much. I had the morning with him, which was so much more than I ever expected. He didn't seem worried that anyone would see us together so presumably he wasn't hiding me. But then again, the lodge was fairly quiet. He'd mentioned that there weren't a lot of guests outside of the conference.
When I closed up the room at seven, there was a container of cookies on a table by the door with my name on it. Oliver was so thoughtful. He'd make the best boyfriend.
I hesitated with the snickerdoodle cookie halfway to my mouth. Why was I thinking about how good of a boyfriend Oliver would be? That's not what we were.
I headed straight to my room, stuffing cookies in my mouth to feed my longing for something more. Then I took a long shower. I was exhausted and sore from our morning runs down the mountain.
I just wanted to curl up and watch a movie this evening.
When the knock came at nine, I was nodding off to a holiday classic. I attempted to smooth my hair as I opened the door for Oliver.
I closed the door behind him. "Is everything okay?"
He looked just as tired as I felt. "Sorry, Eli's on vacation with his new girlfriend, and I'm in charge of everything while he's gone." Oliver dropped onto the couch, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just worried something will go wrong, and I'll have to call him for help. He hasn't gone on vacation in a long time. I want to show him that we can run this place from time to time without him."
"You want him to trust you."
Oliver nodded. "They went to California, and he's having a good time. I don't want to burden him with anything."
"That sounds nice," I said as I folded one leg underneath me. I had envisioned that we wouldn't be able to keep our hands off each other tonight, especially after our make-out session at lunch. But I could see that he needed something else. "Have you eaten?"
"I did."
I gestured for him to turn slightly so I could massage his shoulders.
"That feels amazing." His voice was low.
I kneaded his back. "Your muscles are so tight."
"I won't be able to take off during the day while you're here."
I lowered my hands. "That was a nice treat. I don't expect you to take off work to spend time with me."
He turned to face me. " I enjoyed our time together."
"Me too."
"Tonight, I just want to forget about everything: my responsibilities, the lodge, and the list of things to do waiting for me when I get home."
The thing I was missing was that Eli was out of town, and Oliver was stepping in for him. I hadn't expected that, and it certainly raised the stress levels for him. I didn't want to be a distraction. "Are you sure you want to spend time with me?"
"I'm positive." Then his mouth was on mine. It was more intense than this morning. We didn't have to hold back. Neither of us had anywhere to be. There was only the here and now. When Oliver pushed me back until I was laying down and he was hovering over me, I forgot about everything else outside of this room. My job, my family, and my growing feelings for him.
This was all we had. A few more nights before I had to go home, and I was going to enjoy every minute.
His hands were everywhere, on my side, my hip. "I want to taste you again."
"Yes, please," I said, focusing on him as he pushed my shirt up and pulled the lacy cups of my bra down. Then he sucked one nipple into his mouth, grinding his cock against my center. There were several layers of clothes between us, but it felt so good.
He licked and sucked, his scruff abrading the soft skin of my breast. Then he lifted his head slightly. "You still have the whipped cream we used for the hot chocolate?"
I laughed softly. "I like where your head is at. It's in the fridge."
He kissed me on a chuckle. "Get naked. I'll get it."
I hurried to comply, excited to watch him eat whipped cream off my naked body. I wanted something different in my life, and Oliver was certainly giving me that. It was too bad this couldn't last.
Oliver slowly unbuttoned his shirt while he watched me undress. Then he grabbed the whipped cream. "On the bed."
I climbed onto the bed, laying down to watch him shake the canister, his gaze perusing my body. Instinctively, I spread my legs for him.
He made a sound in the back of his throat. "Gorgeous."
I'd never get tired of hearing him say that. I loved that he thought I was beautiful. That he couldn't resist touching me, kissing me. I reached for him. "Oliver."
He placed one knee on the bed and held up his hand. "Let me take my time."
I bit my lip and nodded. He was driving me crazy, but I knew I'd enjoy every second of it. He shook the canister one more time, then placed a dollop of cream on each nipple .
I sucked in a breath at the cool sensation.
"I think this is the best idea I've had yet."
I loved that we could be so hot for each other but laugh at the same time. I wasn't sure what that meant. Because I'd never been with anyone where I had this dynamic. I trusted him to take care of me, our chemistry was palpable, but at the same time, we could relax and make a joke in the heat of the moment.
He was the perfect man. I widened my legs farther as his gaze moved lower. He poured more on my belly button, then my clit.
"I think we need more here, don't you?" Oliver raised his heated gaze from my pussy to my face.
"Oliver, please." My voice sounded breathless. I wanted his mouth on mine. I couldn't wait. I grabbed the canister, throwing it on the bed next to us and then pulled him down. "I need your mouth."
"Mmm. I aim to please."
I grabbed the hair on the back of his head and held him to me as he licked and sucked one nipple, then the other. I was so hot; my entire body was flush with desire.
Then he slowly licked and kissed his way to the dollop on my belly button, and then finally, he settled between my legs. "Your pussy is delicious without the whipped cream, but I couldn't resist. The hot mixed with the cold. Irresistible."
"Oliver," I pleaded, hoping he'd take mercy on me.
Then he devoured the whipped cream on my pussy. Eventually, he was all I could feel: his mouth, his lips, his tongue. I shamelessly rode his face, needing more. He slid his fingers inside me, and I went over the edge, trembling and shaking as he eased me through it.
He moved up my body, kissing my lips. I tasted my sweetness combined with the cream. I'd never tasted anything better. "I need you?—"
"I know what you need." He reached for a condom he must have grabbed earlier with the canister and rolled it down his shaft. I'd never seen anything hotter than his muscles taut, his expression tight. He was barely holding back, and I loved that I affected him like this.
He eased his dick inside me, and I moaned. I couldn't help it. I felt bereft when he wasn't inside me. I needed more. I needed him filling me up. I savored the desire and emotion swirling in his eyes. This wasn't just a physical thing for him.
Oliver was a serious man, someone who took his responsibilities to heart. He didn't enter this situation with me lightly. I meant something to him, and I held that close to my heart.
When he was seated to the hilt, he paused, kissing my lips softly. "You okay?"
"Mmm. So good." Then I tilted my hips, urging him to move.
"You're a vixen; you know that?"
I laughed softly, my hands running over the flexed muscles in his back. "You love it."
With a growl, he pulled back and slid inside me in a delicious rhythm that had me forgetting about everything: what awaited us outside of this room, our responsibilities, our families.
I needed this man inside me. I couldn't think beyond that. Then he was hitting a spot inside me that had my walls clenching around him. I felt desperate with need.
"I got you." Oliver pressed on my clit, and I careened into a world of pleasure I only experienced with him. The waves of bliss washed over me as he thrust harder. When he pressed deep, he dropped his forehead to mine. His entire body shuddered. I waited for the racks of pleasure to dissipate. When he finally relaxed, he murmured, "That was intense."
I ran my hands up his back. "So good."
"I'll never get enough of you," he ground out as if he wasn't sure he liked the idea.
I laughed softly to lighten the mood. "That's the idea. "
He tweaked my nipple. "Vixen."
"And you love it."
He stepped off the bed, tied off the condom, and threw it into a nearby trash can. Then he held his hand out to me. "Shower? I bet you're all sticky."
"Yes, please." I let him tug me to standing, where he pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. There was affection there and real feelings. I wasn’t sure he'd ever admit that to himself or to me.
I pushed the thought of more away. That wasn't our deal, and I wouldn't be the one to violate the terms of our arrangement.
In the bathroom, he started the shower, testing the water before gesturing for me to go in first. Then he grabbed one of the body washes on the shelf and squirted a generous amount on his palm. He rubbed his hands together, then rubbed the soap all over my body. He took extra time with my breasts and between my legs until I felt cherished and worked up again.
"Your turn," I said when he'd rinsed most of it off of my body. He dutifully turned so I could soap his back, then his ass. I dropped to my knees to get his legs, not leaving anything untouched. He slowly turned, looking down at me where I knelt on the cool tile. "You don't want to miss anything."
"Mmm." I cupped the base of his cock, and his hips tipped forward as he groaned. I loved the power I had in this moment. I took him into my mouth, hollowing my cheeks as I sucked, pulling off to lick and tease him.
His hand landed on my head, but instead of guiding me, he played with the strands of my hair. It was a confusing combination. His hips thrust gently as if testing how much I could take while his fingers lightly caressed my scalp. I'd never felt so taken care of while I was pleasuring a man.
With a growl, he pulled me to my feet and lifted me in one motion, pressing my back against the tile. "I can't wait any longer. "
His cock nudged my entrance.
"Protection," I thought to mention before he slid inside.
He groaned in frustration. "We've talked about this before. You still on birth control?"
"I am, and I haven't been with anyone else. Just like we promised."
"Same," he said as he thrust in one motion. My legs widened to accommodate his hips. He felt so good inside me, not only filling me up but with nothing between us. I knew he was careful about using protection, and we hadn't had any slipups since that one time. But it seemed to mean a lot for him to forego the barrier. Was he starting to trust me?
I wouldn't let my mind go anywhere else. I couldn't think past the next few days. For now, he was mine, and he trusted me. That had to be enough.
There was no finesse as he pressed me against the wall, setting a relentless rhythm. I was pinned against the tile; the coolness contrasted with the heat of his body. His every muscle was drawn tight, and his expression was a mix of concentration and desire.
I caressed his jaw in featherlight touch, and his cock jerked inside me. We both groaned at the same time. Coming together was electric. I didn't want to be away from him.
"You're killing me," he murmured against my temple.
"In the best way, right?" I asked as I kissed his cheek.
He hummed against my ear as he resumed his original pace. In no time at all, I was careening toward that high again. I cried out as he pressed into me deep, spilling inside of me. His head tucked into my shoulder. He pressed a kiss there before he slowly lowered me to my feet. Then he grabbed a washcloth and cleaned me.
We kissed as the water turned from warm to cool. He reached behind me to turn off the stream. He grabbed a large, fluffy towel, wrapping me in it before getting one for himself. I dried off, then took my time to draw a brush through the tangles in my hair.
When I was done, Oliver snagged my hand and pulled me toward the bed. "Sit down." He searched through the food containers until he found one filled with strawberries. On the bed, he placed a dollop of whipped cream on one and offered it to me. My cheeks flushed. I'd never been fed like this before. There was something incredibly intimate about being naked on a bed with a man and him feeding me strawberries covered in whipped cream.
I took one bite, and he threw the remainder in his mouth. "Almost as sweet as you."
My eyes widened at his declaration, but he wasn't joking. His expression was serious. I leaned over and kissed him, enjoying strawberries-and-cream flavor on his lips.
He banded an arm around my waist and pulled me against him. My hair was damp and our skin flush from the heat of the shower, but I couldn't think of anywhere else I'd rather be but here in his arms.
I quickly fell asleep, and when I woke, he was gone. He'd left a message. Caro— I had to get home to take care of something. See you tonight.—Oliver.
His name was written with a flourish as if he was in a hurry. I wondered what he had to take care of. Did he have a dog or a cat waiting at home for him? Why didn't he say what it was that he needed to get home for?
My imagination was running overtime. We'd trusted each other enough to forego protection but not to tell me all the details of his life? I was conflicted because I didn't have a right to know. But the mystery was driving me crazy. Why couldn't he always stay the night? Where did he go at dinnertime?
Maybe it was because his brother was on vacation, and he was weighed down by the stress of managing the resort on his own. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt until he gave me a reason to distrust him .
Then I snuggled deeper into the sheets, breathing in his masculine scent. How would I go back to Maine and wait months to see him again? The pain in my chest spread throughout my body. As much as I tried to keep my mind on these few days with him, it was hard not to think about what came next.
Whenever I thought about going home, I felt the crush of loneliness. My family didn't need me anymore. My sister was growing up, building her own family. Mom was too. Where did that leave me?