13. Amy
13
AMY
L andon’s place is on the edge of town. It’s a brick two-story with thick carpet, dark paneled furniture, and a navy blue living room. It’s both masculine and homely.
Landon wraps me in a woolen blanket and settles me on the soft couch while he heads to the kitchen to cook us a meal.
We move to the table to eat, and as he puts the bowl of spaghetti in front of me, my stomach rumbles. I didn’t realize how hungry I am.
“You need carbs and protein and rest.”
He watches me as I eat and isn’t satisfied until I’ve eaten the entire bowl.
I stand to help with the dishes, and he pushes me gently back on the chair. “You need to rest. I’ll get a bath running while I do the dishes.”
I stay in the kitchen, chatting with him as he loads the dishwasher and washes the pots. Now that our relationship is out in the open, I’m more relaxed around him, and we talk easily. But there’s a niggle at the back of my mind. We haven’t talked about what “this” is exactly. I can no longer deny my feelings toward Landon. And that terrifies me.
All my life, I’ve thought I never needed anyone but myself. I never thought I’d tie myself to a man and open myself up to potentially be hurt. But now I’m not sure I can walk away.
After the dishes are done, Landon leads me upstairs to the bathroom that adjoins his bedroom. It’s one of those old-fashioned tubs with brass claw feet, and it’s full of steaming water and bubbles. Lavender scent fills the room, and candles line one side of the tub.
“I found these in Izzie’s old room.” Landon indicates the candles. “And the lavender.”
I’m overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness, and tears spring to my eyes. Landon closes the distance between us and cradles my cheek in his hand. “Don’t cry, baby girl.”
His thumb brushes over my cheek, sending heat skittering over my skin. He’s so close I can smell his aftershave. Emotions well up inside me until it feels like my chest might explode.
“It’s been a big day,” is all I manage to whimper.
Landon cups my cheek and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Have a warm bath, then get into bed.”
He pulls the oversized sweater over my head and drops it to the floor. He helps me undress, and every movement is slow and tender. He’s looking after me, and it melts my heart.
This is what it must be like to be with a man who loves you.
The thoughts confuse my mind, and he must take my confusion for tiredness. Landon pulls off my leggings that are still wet around the ankles and my socks. My toes are puckered from sitting in wet socks, and Landon frowns at my feet.
“You should have told me they were wet.”
I wiggle my shriveled toes. “I didn’t know.”
Every part of the last few hours has been surreal, and numb toes didn’t feel that important in the scheme of things.
Landon unhooks my bra, and I’m naked before him. He takes a sharp intake of breath as his gaze locks on my body.
Heat inflames my skin as his gaze sweeps over me. Then he ducks his head. “You need a warm bath.” His voice is choked like it’s hard to speak.
I love that I have this power over him. I love that his ability to resist me is wearing thin.
But he puts his needs aside to help me into the bath.
As I sink into the warm waters, the anxiety of the evening begins to melt away.
I lean back against the tub and sigh, letting every last ounce of anxiety dissolve in the bathwater.
I open my eyes to find Landon kneeling next to the bath holding a washcloth. The warmth of the bath seeps into my skin, making my bones weary. I’m overcome with exhaustion, so it’s nice when Landon dips a washcloth in water and lifts up my arm. He proceeds to run the cloth over my arm and then every part of my body, washing away the dirt from the trail and the grimy streaks the rain left on my skin.
“I hope this is okay; I found it in Izzie’s bathroom.” He holds up a shampoo bottle.
It’s a brand I don’t recognize, but I’m too exhausted to care. “It’ll do.”
He squeezes some into his hand and moves around to the back of the bath. Firm hands massage my scalp as he works the shampoo into my hair. I close my eyes and let the sensation of his firm hands engulf me.
A girl could get used to this.
After he’s given my head a thorough massage that has me almost asleep, he rinses the shampoo off and repeats the process with conditioner.
Ten minutes later, I step out of the bath scrubbed clean and my body weary.
Landon wraps a fluffy bathrobe around me and leads me into his bedroom. His hands have been all over me as he washed me down. His touch was tender rather than sexual, and that’s making my chest ache. I want this. I want this every day for the rest of my damned life.
“Get comfy,” he says pulling back the sheets, “and I’ll take a quick shower.”
He tucks me into bed and kisses my forehead.
I grab his arm before he moves away. I want him to lie next to me. I want to kiss him and do everything with him. But he shakes his head. “Get some sleep baby girl.”
I try to stay awake, but I must doze off because the next time I wake up it’s the middle of the night. It’s pitch black, and there’s a heavy weight draped across my middle. Landon’s steady breathing behind me is comforting.
I move, and my body presses up against him. I’m naked. I took the robe off before I got into bed, and I don’t have any pajamas. I don’t have any clean clothes.
My body bumps up against him, and he stirs. I feel thick thighs and something else. Something that grows hard as soon as I press against it.
I smile to myself and can’t resist wiggling my hips.
Landon’s arms tightens around me. “Watch out, baby girl.” His voice is hoarse from sleep, but suddenly I’m wide awake.
“Why, what will happen?” I ask innocently as I press my hips back against his hard cock.
His breath grazes the back of my neck and his hot lips kiss my shoulder, making me shiver. This time the bucking of my hips isn’t something I can control.
“I’ll show you what will happen, baby girl.”
His breath is on my shoulder and I tilt my head back, loving the sensations that are tingling through my body.
His hand moves from my waist and slides up my body to cup my left breast. He pulls me toward him, and his cock slides between my legs and grazes the outer folds of my pussy.
Wet heat floods my pussy and I buck against him, wanting more.
His fingers graze my nipple, and it instantly hardens. A moan escapes my lips, and I whisper his name. “Landon.”
He responds by kissing my neck, and his mouth moves up to my ear. “I want you, Amy.”
His hips move back and forth, making his cock slide between my legs.
“I want you too.” My voice is a desperate whisper.
I bear down on him, angling my hips so every time his cock moves between my legs it brushes my sensitive nub.
Landon pauses his movement, and his hand releases my breast. I whimper at the loss of his touch. He moves his hips back and grips my waist, then rolls me over onto my back. He leans on his elbow so he’s looking down on me. I can barely see him in the dark until he switches on the bedside light.
I blink at the sudden light, wondering if I’ve done something to anger him. And then I see his face.
“I’m not talking about your body.” He glances down at my heaving chest, and his eyes darken. “Although I want that too.”
His gaze comes back to my face. “I want you, Amy, for life. I’m not playing. I want you in my bed, I want you in my home, I want you by my side every damn day for the rest of my life.”
“I want to marry you, Amy. I want to make you my wife.”
I can hardly breathe at his words. Everything I witnessed with my parents comes crashing to the surface. The fights, the divorce, Mom’s eyes ringed red from crying.
Then I look at Landon’s intense gaze and the love that shines out of his eyes. I think about the way he took care of me today and the way he’s always taken care of me. And I remember Mom’s words.
All love is risky. You might get hurt. But I can guarantee you, it will be worth it.
And I know that I’ve got to take the risk. If I walk away from Landon, I’ll give up my only opportunity for love, because I’ll never feel the way about anyone that I do about him.
“I want that too.” I whisper the words, and as soon as they’re out I feel free.
I’m not my mom and dad. This love will last. I have to believe that. And even if it doesn’t, I won’t regret a single day with this man.
Landon breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his taciturn face. “You make me happy, Amy. You make me remember what love is.”
His lips meet mine, and they’re tender and soft. And every feeling between us is shared in that kiss. His fingers brush my cheeks, and every last doubt flees my mind.
Whatever happens in the future, I will never regret this moment, ever.
Landon’s hand runs down my cheek and down my throat. My head tilts, and we break from the kiss. The look in his eyes has turned to deep desire.
“Now that you know you’re mine, Amy…” He plants soft kisses down my throat and the heat of his breath warms my skin. “It’s time to claim you.”