Chapter 12 #3
I tilt my head up to look at him. “You look so big from down here.” And as soon as the words leave my mouth, I see the smirk rise on his face.
“Tall, you know… as in length—shit, I mean your height… Fuck, I give up.” Flopping onto my back on the bed, I lift my arm to cover my eyes in embarrassment.
“It’s the drugs, I don’t make sense,” I mumble as I feel his legs brush along the outside of mine.
The bed dips on one side of me, while he takes my hand and lifts it off so he can see my eyes.
“You already know the length, sweetheart, and what it’s capable of.
Now, I love that you have your own guilty pleasures in this bed, but it’s not necessary to pack that in your suitcase for Boston.
I guarantee you, it won’t be needed. Not.
Once.” His words are so smooth that it’s like melted chocolate slowly pouring over my body, with a warming sensation that has me wanting more.
“You’re cruel,” I whisper.
“You started this.” His eyes fall to my chest where I know my nipples are hard as rock, confirming to him what being this close and his raspy voice is doing to me.
“Then you finish it.” I want him to touch me, anywhere. I shouldn’t want it right now, but I do.
He drops his head. “Fuck,” he says under his breath like he’s not able to look me in the eye. His body moves quickly, and he stands again, walking himself back so he isn’t touching me.
“We can’t. We both know that.” His voice almost sounds like he’s in pain. A quick glance at his jeans and I’m sure he’s uncomfortable. Lifting his hands to the top of his head and linking them together, he sighs and turns around with his back to me.
Pushing myself back to sitting, I feel guilty for putting him in this position.
“Landon,” I say gently.
“We need to pack. Just tell me which drawer not to open.” I watch him take a deep breath before he turns and faces me again, and it’s like he’s flipped a switch. The commanding Landon is back.
“Okay.” I nod to him, acknowledging he’s right.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he checks the time. Clapping his hands together, he smiles at me. “Right, tell me where to start. Time’s ticking, and we’re not missing that flight.”
It snaps us both out of our lust-fueled moment to concentrate on the job at hand.
“I’ve put her suitcases on the bed in her room so you’re not bending over to unpack them, Mrs. B,” Landon announces as he comes back into my mom’s living room where she has me seated on the couch. There are enough pillows both around me and under my leg that we could open a pillow store.
“Thank you, Landon,” she replies as she brings in the tray with some glasses full of iced lemonade on it, as well as a plate of cookies and her famous cinnamon rolls.
“Please sit, I’ve got you something to drink after your long trip.
” Placing the tray on the coffee table, she motions for him to sit beside me.
“That’s kind of you, but I really need to go. I want to see the boys, and I’m surprised they haven’t come banging on your door by now.” He stands with his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.
“Oh shoot, of course you do. Just wait here and let me pack up some cookies and rolls for you to take home. I might have baked up a storm the last few days.” Mom is already walking out of the room, still talking to herself in the kitchen.
“Great idea, because I’m sure they need more sugar.” He rolls his eyes as he rocks back and forth on his feet.
“Hey, cut them some slack, they deserve a reward for being so good while you were away.” I giggle, thinking about the photo Felix sent us while we were waiting to board the plane in Rochester.
It was of the cracked glass on the painting in Landon’s family room.
There was a rogue game controller that got loose in a very intense game of bowling.
He also sent a few snaps of the look of sheer panic on the boys’ faces at what they’d done.
Landon, being the father he is, FaceTimed them straight away so they weren’t distressed for too long.
Being firm with them that they need to be more careful, but then softening so they knew they weren’t in too much trouble and he still loved them.
“I love that you believe Felix, Adrian, and your mother that they were perfect little angels. Considering you spent two weeks with them over Christmas, you know that can’t be true.” He rolls his eyes at me.
We’re both making idle conversation, trying to avoid the important words that need to be said.
Mom comes hustling back into the room with the container full of goodies for the boys but stops short, as she takes in the awkward silence.
“I just need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be back in a moment, Poppy. Say hello to the boys for me, Landon.” She gives him a squeeze of the arm and then is gone again. Who knows if she even needed to go or if she knew we needed to talk and she’s giving us some space.
“I’d better get going.” He steps closer, standing in front of me. I wish I could just jump up and hug him, but it’ll take me almost ten minutes to get myself off this couch. And five of those minutes will be needed just to clear all the pillows.
“You call me if you need anything, no matter what time of day or night it is.” I can tell it’s not a suggestion, it’s a clear instruction that he expects followed.
“Even if it’s to get up during the night and you can’t get out of bed on your own.
I don’t want your mother hurting her back trying to lift you. ”
“Wow, nice way of telling me I weigh a lot.” I’m trying to joke around, which is what I do sometimes when I feel pushed to talk about my feelings.
“I’ve carried you a few times now, so you know that’s not true,” Landon replies, still in a serious tone. “Don’t talk negatively about yourself, Poppy, I won’t allow it.”
A warm feeling starts flooding my heart. Landon thinks more of me than I think of myself.
“Landon. Thank you… for everything.” I gulp mid-sentence. I want to say more, oh so much more, but I’m stuck for words.
“I’m glad you called me. You need me and I’ll be here. No matter what happens in your life.” He hesitates. “You’re important to me, Poppy, I hope you know that.”
Not giving me time to answer, he leans down and his lips land on mine.
Finally!
So soft and tender, he brings my lips to life. His hand slips around the back of my head as I tilt up for him. It always feels so magical when his fingers are in my hair, slowly caressing me, while my brain shoots fireworks of excitement in my head.
I grab hold of his shirt, wanting more. But it’s too late. Landon pulls away from me, leaving me panting because he took the air out of me.
“See you tomorrow, we’ll talk then.” He stands, turns, and walks out of the room.
He doesn’t look back. Doesn’t say any more.
Just leaves me here, wondering where the hell we stand.
It’s too much for me to take right now.
I lay my head on the back of the couch and just wish the world would stop spinning and let me off. There’s too much change to process at once, and I’m barely managing to hang on right now.
What even is my life this last week! I’m so confused.