31. Landon
Chapter 31
Landon
So much had changed since the last time I’d stepped foot in this bakery. I now knew how it felt to be wrapped in Olivia’s arms, to be buried deep inside her as she panted my name. I was so afraid to give in to my growing feelings for her that I'd spent far too long pushing her away. The guilt I felt kept me from pursuing what I really wanted, but I wouldn’t let it run my life anymore. It was still there, lurking in the farthest recesses of my mind, and I doubted it would fully go away until I talked to my brother.
I was torn. He needed to hear it from me, but I was worried how he would react. He’d be angry, and I feared what he would do when he found out Olivia and I were seeing each other. I was certain he was the one who'd thrown a brick through her window, even though I had no solid proof. And that was before anything had ever happened between us. Once he learned we were together, the result could be disastrous. He was using again, and that made him volatile and unpredictable.
That was why I needed to try to get him help. He was already unraveling with Olivia being back in town. This might push him over the edge, but I couldn’t let his past with Olivia rob me of a future with her. She was a breath of fresh air when I’d been suffocating for so long. She surprised me with her patient and gentle nature, her soft heart and empathetic soul. I’d been convinced she was a selfish, spoiled princess, but she'd proved me wrong at every turn. Once I shed the preconceived notions I had of her, I was able to see the woman she truly was.
We both deserved to be happy after the pain Lyle had caused us. He’d nearly killed Olivia, then manipulated me into thinking she was to blame. Despite all that, I never wanted to do anything to hurt him, but I wouldn’t let his possible displeasure keep me from finding happiness. I just had to find a program for him, so he could get clean and tackle his demons. He was clearly struggling with more than I’d realized, or he never would’ve embarked on this path to begin with.
Shaking away those thoughts, I pushed through the back door and entered the bakery. Olivia was already there, her hips swaying to the music playing in her earbuds. I stood at the threshold, watching her as she rocked back and forth. Her long, tan legs were on full display in her frayed denim shorts. The days were growing hotter, and the kitchen stayed a few degrees warmer than the rest of the building from all the ovens constantly running. It was a wonder she didn’t bake in her underwear.
That thought caused my dick to stir in my pants. I stalked toward her, needing to feel her skin against mine. After we came together for a second time yesterday, we'd spent most of the afternoon in bed, talking and touching. My fingers danced over her skin, and she’d explored my body with equal fervor. I’d learned more about her in those few hours than I had in the weeks she’d been back. And I suspected I’d only skimmed the surface.
I rested my hands on her hips, and she jumped but didn’t turn around. Dropping my lips to her bare shoulder, I pressed a kiss there, and she relaxed, melting into me.
“Landon,” she breathed, and my eyes fell closed at the heady sound. I loved the way she said my name. It was sensual and reverent at the same time. And I wanted to hear her scream it again.
My arms snaked around her waist, and I pulled her into me. Air hissed through her teeth when I pressed my erection to her ass. Then a groan fell from her lips, and she dropped her head back onto my shoulder. I could hear the music playing through her earbuds now. It was slow and sexy, the perfect soundtrack for what I intended to do to her.
A smile curved my lips as I dropped my hands to the waistband of her denim shorts and flicked open the top button.
“Landon,” she repeated, her voice taking on a warning tone. Her breath hitched when I slipped my hand inside her panties and cupped her.
“Already so wet for me,” I whispered against her ear, and a tiny whimper fell from her lips. Her hands curled around the edge of her work surface as my finger dipped inside her. I trailed that finger up to her clit and circled it. Her hips bucked as she chased her release, her ass grinding against my already straining cock. Just as her muscles began to tense, I moved my finger back to her pussy and plunged it inside.
“Fuck, Landon, I was about to come,” she panted.
“I know,” I replied with a devious grin.
“You bastard,” she said, and I chuckled. I continued to tease her, bringing her to the edge then changing things up again as I slid inside her. Over and over, I brought her to the brink, only to pull back at the last minute. She growled in frustration, her hands curling around my forearm as she tried to guide me back to her clit.
“Patience,” I crooned then nipped at her ear. Finally, I focused all my attention on her clit, and within seconds, she was trembling in my arms and muttering incoherently as the orgasm ripped through her. She sagged against me, and I held her up as her knees threatened to buckle.
Pulling my hand from her pants, I searched for a towel to wipe it clean. Instead, I caught sight of a glass bowl filled with some kind of chocolate sauce. I dipped my finger in it and brought it to her mouth, swiping it across her bottom lip.
“Suck,” I instructed. Her tongue darted out to clean her lips before she wrapped them around my finger. She hummed her approval, and my dick strained painfully against my zipper.
When my fingers were licked clean, I turned her to face me fully and gripped her by the base of the neck.
“It’s my turn for a taste.” I dipped my head and captured her mouth in a kiss. The richness of the chocolate mixed with the essence of her climax. It was the sweetest combination I’d ever tasted.
“I’m pretty sure this is a health code violation,” she said when I finally released her. “I’m going to have to toss this in the trash and start over.”
“Worth it,” I said, and she playfully slapped my chest. She went to the trash can and poured the sauce into the bag before dropping the bowl into the sink.
“You ruined my ganache.” She scowled at me, but there was no heat behind her words.
“There’s a lot more I’d like to do with your ganache,” I proclaimed suggestively, and she giggled.
“Get out of here,” she demanded and tried to push me out of the kitchen. I caught her arms and pulled her toward me.
“Think we could recreate this scene at your place tonight?” I asked, hope swelling in my chest. I wanted to see her again, and I wanted to touch her without having to worry about contaminating her workspace.
She smiled, the genuine one that made her dimples pop. Her big, brown eyes softened, and an expression I’d never seen crossed her face.
“I’d like that. I’ll make dinner.” Something unfamiliar and warm stirred in my chest. Nothing sounded better.
“Then you can be dessert,” I promised before striding out of the room to finish my work.
The second my shift at the garage was over, I clocked out and hopped in my truck. I couldn’t wait to see Olivia again. The flower shop came into view, and I decided at the last second to stop and get something for her. This was our first official date, and I wanted to do the gentlemanly thing. I didn’t want her to think all I wanted was sex. Although that part of our connection was incredible, we were more than that.
I pushed through the door of Twisted Tulip and stopped to take in the selection. I’d never been inside the shop before, nor had I ever bought flowers for a woman I was seeing. It was all new to me, and I suddenly realized I was in over my head. I knew flowers had different meanings, but wasn’t sure which type said, “I want to date you despite knowing it might destroy the only brother I have.”
I winced at that thought and moved further into the shop. There were a few pre-made arrangements and bunches of individual flowers. Rae Lynn looked up from the vase she was adding flowers to, and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Landon,” she greeted, a warm smile spreading across her face. “How can I help you?”
“I’m just looking for some flowers,” I began nervously then winced. Of course I was looking for flowers. I was in a damn flower shop, after all. “For a friend,” I added. It didn’t make me sound any less idiotic, but it was a nice try.
“A friend-friend or a friend ?” she asked with a wink and suggestive emphasis on the last word.
“She’s more than a friend,” I admitted, shifting nervously from foot to foot. I didn’t want anyone knowing about Olivia and me yet, and stopping here to get flowers for someone would have the rumor mill buzzing. I glanced around the shop, looking for anyone who might overhear us.
“I have just the thing,” Rae Lynn said, and walked to the cooler. She pulled out a bouquet filled with pink and purple flowers with the occasional yellow bloom dotted throughout. It was perfect. It felt like Olivia, all bright and cheery. I paid the bill and headed to Olivia’s house, stopping quickly to grab a bottle of wine.
My skin prickled, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I pulled out of the parking lot. The sensation of being watched was overwhelming. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see if I was being followed, but the car directly behind me turned off on a side road. I didn’t notice any suspicious looking vehicles, although if someone was following me, it probably wouldn’t be in a sketchy looking, windowless white van.
Shaking off the feeling, I continued onto Olivia’s house, checking my rearview mirror occasionally. When I arrived, the nondescript sedan that had been behind me since the bridge drove past. The woman behind the wheel didn’t spare me a second glance, and I released a relieved sigh. I wasn’t being followed. I was just paranoid about someone finding out about me and Olivia and telling my brother before I could.
Pulling my phone from my pocket for the umpteenth time today, I checked our message thread again just to be sure I hadn’t missed a text from Lyle. Every message I’d sent the past several days had gone unanswered. He hadn’t picked up the phone when I called. I’d contacted the jail and the hospital just to ensure something hadn’t happened to him. It appeared that he was simply ignoring me. It wasn’t unusual, but it still made me uneasy.
Climbing out of my truck, I grabbed the flowers and wine and slung my bag over my shoulder. Luckily, I’d planned to hit the gym after work, so I had a change of clothes with me. A shower was a must after working in the garage all day. I smelled like motor oil and sweat and had black streaks up my arms.
I held both offerings in my hand as I waited for Olivia to answer the door. She pulled it open with a smile, fully expecting me on the other side, but her expression morphed when she saw what I held. Her mouth fell open and she gasped in surprise when she took in the flowers. She reached for them, her eyes filled with delight.
“Landon,” she breathed, her eyes lifting to mine. “These are beautiful.”
“As are you,” I said and hooked my arm around her waist. I pulled her into me and pressed my lips to hers. “Hi,” I whispered when we finally broke apart.
“Hi yourself,” she replied breathily then led me inside. “I’ll put these in water,” she said, holding up the bouquet.
“Do you mind if I grab a shower? I came straight from work.”
“Not at all. You can use my bathroom. Towels are in the closet.” I thanked her and headed upstairs, half expecting her to join me. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed when I shut the water off and she hadn’t made an appearance. I slipped on my gym shorts and t-shirt before returning downstairs.
My disappointment was short-lived when I rounded the corner and found Olivia sitting on the kitchen island, her legs crossed demurely as she rested back on her elbows. She wore only an apron and a pair of strappy high heels. My mouth went dry, and I swallowed as I tried to find my voice.
“You wanted to recreate the scene from the bakery,” she said, her voice sultry with a hint of teasing. Reaching her hand to the glass bowl beside her, she dipped a finger into the chocolate and brought it to her lips, sucking it clean as I stood motionless watching her.
“Mmm,” she moaned, and I snapped out of my trance. I was on her in a second, pulling her to my mouth roughly. Her kiss tasted like chocolate, and her skin smelled of vanilla.
“Dinner will be ready soon,” she said in playful warning.
“I don’t give a fuck about dinner,” I growled. “All I care about is dessert.” I yanked her to the edge of the counter, and she let out a surprised yelp. My head disappeared beneath her apron, and I kissed a trail up her leg. She moaned and wiggled beneath me as my mouth neared the apex of her thighs. With one hand, I released the ties behind her back and lifted the material to expose her breasts. Dipping the spoon into the sauce, I held it above her, letting some dribble onto her nipple before closing my mouth around it. She groaned, and her head fell back as I licked her clean.
She was panting by the time I released her, and my gaze landed on her glistening cunt. Her body was primed and ready for me, but I had more in store for her before I would take my own pleasure. Lifting the spoon from the bowl again, I held it above her slit. A small dollop dripped onto her clit, and she sucked in a breath. I leaned forward and swiped my tongue over it. The taste of her mixed with the chocolate was intoxicating. I sucked her into my mouth, and she cried out. Gripping her thighs, I hooked one leg over my shoulder and devoured her, bringing her to orgasm as she screamed my name.
Once she was sated and her body laid limp on the counter, I straightened and wiped the back of my hand across my mouth. I reached for her apron and attempted to pull it down over her body, but she slapped my hands away.
“I’m not done with you yet,” she proclaimed and lifted from the marble. Reaching behind her, she tugged at the strings tied at her neck, and the apron slipped from her body. She caught it before it could hit the floor and folded it into a small rectangle, her eyes never straying from mine. My breathing picked up, and my heart raced in anticipation.
She lowered herself in front of me and placed the apron beneath her knees. Her hands slid up my thighs slowly, and my dick strained against my gym shorts. There was no hiding how badly I wanted her. She reached for my waist band, but I grabbed her hand to stop her.
“Wait,” I commanded, and her gaze lifted to mine. “This won’t do.” She swallowed hard, and her crestfallen look felt like an arrow through my chest. My face softened, and I offered her a gentle smile in reassurance. “Don’t move.”
I hurried to the living room—as fast I could with a raging hard-on—and grabbed a throw pillow from the couch. My step faltered when I returned and saw what awaited me. Olivia was naked except for her heels, kneeling where I’d left her. She was so beautiful and sexier than any woman I’d ever seen. The sight stole the breath from my lungs.
I crouched in front of her and instructed her to lift slightly so I could remove the inadequately thin material from beneath her and replaced it with a pillow. Tangling my hands in her hair, I pulled her to me and captured her mouth with mine. I poured every ounce of longing I felt over the past few weeks in our kiss. We were both panting when I finally pulled away and stood.
This time, she went straight for it, tugging my shorts down my legs and letting my cock spring free. I reached for it, desperate for relief, but she swatted my hand away. She tutted, wagging her finger at me with a wicked gleam in her eye.
“This is all mine,” she said, curling her fingers around my shaft. I thought I might pass out as she leaned forward and swirled her tongue around the swollen head. She sucked me into her hot, wet mouth, and I had to grip the bar stool next to me to stay upright. She teased me with a few short bobs before taking me to the back of her throat.
“Fuck,” I hissed through my teeth, feeling my release already beginning to build. She pulled back, nearly releasing me from her lips, and flicked her tongue over the tip before taking me in again. Her throat strained as she struggled to take my length.
“Breathe, baby,” I soothed, brushing a tear from her cheek. She did as I instructed, drawing a deep breath in through her nose and relaxing her throat. “That’s it. You’re doing so good.” She whimpered at my praise, and I nearly shot my load right then and there.
She drew back slightly before pushing forward again, this time taking everything I had to give her. A muttered curse left my lips, and I tightened my grip on her hair. She looked up at me, holding my gaze as my cock disappeared into mouth. My hips pulsed of their own accord, and she hummed her approval. I began to thrust, reveling in the sensation of my cock hitting the back of her throat. It wasn’t long before my balls were tightening, and the spasms began. She dug her nails into my thighs as my cock thickened with my impending release.
“Olivia,” I growled in warning, and she only picked up her pace. I let out a groan as hot spurts of my release filled her throat, and she swallowed. My legs wobbled when she released me, and I popped free of her mouth. I watched as she swiped a thumb over her bottom lip and sucked it into her mouth, cleaning every last drop of me off her finger.
I pulled her to her feet and kissed her, not caring that my shorts were still pooled around my ankles. Kicking them off, I scooped her into my arms and walked over to the couch, dropping her onto the cushions before stretching out over top of her.
We both came again before we even made it to the first course.