30. Olivia
Chapter 30
Olivia
I walked into my house and set my bags by the door. It was so quiet compared to the lake house where I’d shared the space with nine other people. I missed the noise and the company. Coming back to this big, empty house all alone was harder than I imagined it would be. I was still surrounded by Nan’s things, and all that did was reignited the ache in my chest and the longing in my heart. It was so hard to be surrounded by her yet not be able to see her and feel her soft arms wrap around me in comfort. I couldn’t hear her voice or seek her advice and wisdom when I was faced with a tough decision, just like I was now.
If I was being honest, there was more than one difficult decision that needed to be made. The longer I stayed, the harder it would be. Did I stay and run the bakery as she had hoped, or return to my life in Atlanta? Could this thing with Landon go further than one night? If so, would I let that sway my decision one way or another? I hated that I was even considering it. We’d spent one night together, and already I was letting that muddy my decision.
I ran a frustrated hand down my face and went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Gulping it down, I refilled the glass and took it to my room along with my bags. Yesterday’s day drinking left me feeling dehydrated with a dull throbbing behind my eyes. Waking up in Landon’s arms with the morning sun piercing into my skull hadn’t helped matters, nor did the fact that he pretended nothing had happened once we parted.
Disappointment swirled in my gut as I began to unpack. He’d looked at me like he wanted to kiss me when he came downstairs for breakfast, but it was short-lived. After that, he barely spared me another glance, and we didn’t speak the rest of the morning. He gave me one last lingering look as we’d parted ways, and before he turned from me, I saw a flash of regret in his eyes. Regret for what, I wondered. Because he finally gave in to his attraction for me, or because his brother would never forgive him for consorting with the enemy?
I was startled from my ruminations by a subtle banging coming from downstairs. Tentatively I went to the landing and peered over the rail. It happened again, and I realized it was someone knocking on my front door. Who on earth could it be at this time on a Sunday? Maybe it was Honey. She had covertly tried to interrogate me about my absence from our bedroom this morning, but I’d managed to evade her questions. I still wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened with Landon and me, but if I didn’t answer, she would just use her spare key to let herself inside.
Rushing down the steps, I went to the door and threw it open without checking to see who it was. I sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of Landon standing on my front porch, one hand braced on the door frame. His expression was desperate, and his chest heaved with a stuttering inhale when he looked up and his eyes caught on me. I realized then that I had been partially undressed when he knocked on the door and wasn’t wearing a shirt. His gaze raked down my body, and my skin heated beneath his scrutiny.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I just can’t seem to stay away from you,” he answered and stepped inside. His hands were on me in an instant. They framed my face as he pulled my mouth to his. My lips parted on a gasp, and he dove inside. He held me reverently as his tongue tasted and licked inside my mouth. I fisted the cotton of his shirt and drew him closer. He tasted like coffee and forbidden desire. Anticipation hummed through my body as he backed me toward the wall and pressed me against it.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he confessed, dropping his lips to my jaw and skimming them down my neck. “The way you taste,” he groaned, “the way you gasp just before you come.” A needy whimper worked its way up my throat, and his lips curved against my skin. “I need to hear it again, but this time, I want to be buried so deep inside you, you’ll still be able to feel me there tomorrow.”
“Yes,” I breathed, the word an agreement and a plea. He growled against my throat, and I felt the rumble all the way down to my core. A throbbing ache settled between my legs, and I arched into him, desperate for more contact. His hands dropped to my ass, and he lifted me into his arms. My legs instinctively snaked around his waist, and when his hardened length met my sensitive center, I moaned. He squeezed, pulling me harder into him and rubbing his erection against my throbbing clit.
Landon yanked the cups of my bra down, exposing my breasts. My nipples pebbled as cool air whispered across them. A low curse fell from his lips before he closed his mouth over one. My head fell back against the wall as I moaned and bucked against him. His tongue lapped at the tight peak before he grazed his teeth over it. A shiver ran through me, and I clutched at his shoulders desperately.
“Where’s your room?” he asked, peppering kisses up my chest and along my throat between each word.
“Upstairs.” He carried me effortlessly up the stairs, and I directed him to my door. He crossed the room in a few quick strides and lowered me to my bed. His large body loomed over me as he held my gaze, searching it for hesitation.
“There’s no going back once we do this,” he said, his eyes pleading for me not to turn him away.
“I don’t want to go back. I just want you.” I wanted to forget everything that had happened before this moment. The accident, Landon’s blame and hatred, every moment we’d spent at odds. All I wanted was to feel his hands on my body and his lips on mine.
“Thank fuck,” he growled and crushed his lips to mine. He dropped his hands to my waist and pulled at the drawstring of my cotton shorts. The motion was frenzied and desperate, his yearning clear in his rush to divest me of my clothing. He tossed my shorts to the floor, quickly followed by my panties. My bra was gone in a flash. He had me naked beneath him in a matter of seconds.
Resting back on his haunches, he admired the sight before him. Anticipation shivered down my spine, and goosebumps erupted over my skin. His eyes traveled down my body, and he licked his lips when they settled at the juncture between my thighs. On instinct, I pressed my legs together, trying to get some relief. His gaze darkened, and a crooked grin tugged up one side of his lips. He slid his hands up my thighs, his thumbs brushing the crease of my groin when he reached the tops. The touch was so close to where I needed it, but far enough away to make me squirm with frustration.
Landon stood and pulled his shirt over his head and quickly stepped out of his pants. His boxers were tented from his impressive erection, and I watched with rapt attention as he pushed them down his hips, and it sprang free. I licked my lips, remembering the salty flavor of him on my tongue. I wanted more, but Landon had other plans.
“Open,” he said, tapping the inside of my ankle. I let my legs fall open, and he let out a low curse. Gripping his dick in his hand, he gave it a long, slow stroke, and I greedily tracked the movement. “Show me how you like to be touched,” he demanded, his hungry gaze fixed on me.
My face heated, and a blush crept up my cheeks. I had never touched myself in front of anyone before. Given, I hadn’t been with many people since leaving home, but it wasn’t something I’d ever felt comfortable doing before. Though for some reason, I felt safe with Landon, like I could do anything, let him do anything, and I would love every second of it.
I brought my hand to my stomach and tentatively skimmed it down my waist and toward my center. My fingers inched lower until they met my swollen clit. I sucked in a sharp breath at the contact and reached further, dipping my middle finger inside myself. It came out slick with my arousal, and I used it to circle the tender bud. My head fell back on a moan, and my legs opened wider. The bed dipped, and I cracked one eye open to find Landon kneeling between my spread legs. He gripped my thigh with one hand and continued to pump his fully erect cock with the other.
“I need to taste you,” he groaned and lowered himself to the mattress. He brushed my hand away and replaced my fingers with his tongue. I arched into him, and he chuckled, the sound rumbling against my flesh with a delicious vibration. I was just as needy for his mouth as he was for my taste.
He wrapped his arms around the backs of my legs, his hands clamping down on my thighs as he feasted on me. I writhed against him, impatient for the release building inside me, but he took his time, bringing me to the edge with languid strokes of his tongue. My fingers speared into his hair, and he tightened his hold on me.
“Yes. Right there,” I panted as he worked me over, flicking his tongue over the spot that had me seeing stars. His name left my lips on a shout when I came, and my thighs clamped down on the sides of his head. My entire body shook with my release, and when I finally stilled, my need temporarily sated, I looked up and found a satisfied smirk plastered across Landon’s lips. They glistened with my arousal, but he didn’t bother to wipe it away. Instead, he swiped his tongue over them and hummed his approval. My lust reignited, and fire lit my veins.
“Fuck me,” I pleaded, and his eyes darkened with desire. He wrapped his hands around my ankles and yanked me to the edge of the bed. A surprised yelp ripped up my throat at his unexpected roughness, but my core clenched with desire. He slid one hand up my torso and between my breasts before settling it on my throat, giving it a gentle but possessive squeeze. I held back the moan threatening to spill from my lips, surprised by how much I enjoyed the feel of his hand there.
“You want to be fucked?” he asked and pressed in closer. His erection brushed against my slick opening, and I hitched my legs up to his sides.
“Yes. Please,” I moaned, needing him inside me more than I needed air.
“Fuck,” he groaned, the word drawn out and pleased as though it was exactly what he was waiting for.
“Condom?” I asked and held my breath. If he didn’t have one, I was sure I did somewhere, but I’d have to look for it. As much as I wanted to feel him inside me with no barriers, it was far too risky. The last thing either of us needed was an unexpected pregnancy.
To my relief, he crouched and retrieved a small square box from his pocket and peeled the tape from it. It was brand new. He must’ve stopped on his way here to get them. A little zing of pleasure rocked through me at that thought. He knew what he wanted when he decided to come here. I wanted the same thing.
Landon quickly tore one of the condoms from the strip and rolled it on. He lined himself up at my entrance then lifted his gaze to mine.
“Are you ready?” he asked, watching me for any signs of doubt.
“Yes,” I replied, my voice needy and wanton. He slowly pushed into me, his eyes never leaving mine. My body stretched around him to accommodate his size. I felt so full that when he stopped, I thought he was completely inside me. I was wrong.
“Can you take any more?” he asked, looking down at where we were joined. My eyes bugged out of my head. How in the hell could there be more? Still, I wanted all of him. I wanted to take everything he had to give me, so I nodded, and his lips turned up in a pleased grin. “Good girl,” he groaned and pulled out a little before thrusting forward again. He continued to do that as my body adjusted to his size until he was fully seated inside me.
“Ahh, you take me so well.” I preened like a proud peacock at his words of praise. Already, I felt the pressure between my hips starting to build. Tension coiled tight in my lower belly as he worked his cock in and out of me. The hand on my throat moved down to my breast, and he pinched and rolled my nipple between his fingers. My pussy clenched around him, and his head fell back on a groan.
“Fuck, you’re tight.” He picked up speed, and my climax built as he continued to pound into me. The stretch was exquisite, and he was glorious to watch, all hard ridges and straining muscles. Even the furrow between his brow as his release mounted was beautiful.
A few more long hard strokes and I was tumbling over the edge. I cried out as I shattered, the orgasm ripping through me mercilessly. My eyes fell closed, and my back bowed off the bed.
“Look at me,” Landon demanded, and I obeyed, holding his gaze as my release spurred his on. A guttural groan tore from his lips as he spilled inside the condom. He fell forward and braced his weight on his arms as he tried to catch his breath. His hand snaked into my hair, cupping the back of my head as he pulled me in for a kiss. It was full of passion and promises, a guarantee that this was only the first of many times he would be inside me.
Once the condom was discarded, he fell onto my bed beside me and pulled me into his arms. He was quiet for a long time as he held me and stroked my bare back.
“We should probably talk about where we go from here,” he said, breaking the silence, and I stiffened in his arms. Was he about to tell me this was a mistake and couldn’t happen again? That it was a one-time deal never to be repeated. I didn’t know if I could handle the disappointment since he'd just given me the best orgasm of my life. Steeling myself, I leaned back and looked up at him, waiting for the blow to land. But it didn’t come.
“I want this. I want us .” He swallowed hard, and his gaze searched mine. “I don’t want this to just be a one-time thing.” I stared at him, stunned speechless by what he’d just confessed. He pressed me into the mattress, so I was flat on my back and shifted his body over top of mine. “I’m tired of fighting this. Maybe it makes me a selfish prick, but I want you to be mine, consequences be damned.” I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Of all the things Landon Crawford could’ve said to me, that was the last thing I expected.
“I-I want that too,” I said once I finally found my voice again.
“We can’t tell anybody until I talk to my brother. He needs to hear it from me.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear, his eyes searching mine for understanding. I nodded my agreement. It was the right thing to do, after all. “Once I talk to him, I don’t care if the whole world knows. Hell, I’ll yell it from the rooftop at City Hall,” he declared with a teasing grin. I giggled as warmth unfurled in my belly and spread throughout my body. It was the first time I’d felt that way since returning home to Magnolia Grove.