18. A Different Kind of Distraction
As Carla squeezedthrough the missing post of the fence, returning from her morning visit to Gia to confess her sins, she thought, Well, that could have gone worse. She trotted across her own yard, climbed the deck steps, and entered her home through the sliding glass door.
Within moments, she saw Matt sitting on the couch, feet up on the ottoman, TV on. Carla could tell he was trying to act nonchalant, but she knew he’d been anxiously awaiting her return—and a recap of what transpired. She caught Matt”s stare. ”What?”
”Well?” Matt gazed at her quizzically.
“Well, what?”
”How did it go? I mean, you’re back. You aren”t in tears. I can only imagine it wasn”t a total disaster... Right?”
Carla released a long-held sigh of relief and sat beside Matt on the couch. She wouldn’t torture him any longer and filled him in on the events of her brief talk with Gia. ”Surprisingly well, actually. She doesn”t even seem that mad. It”s almost like she knew something like this would happen eventually. Or that somehow people would find out.”
”Well, there”s no surprise there. I mean, you”re Gia’s best friend, and you”re not exactly easy to keep secrets from! Even when they don’t come out willingly,”Matt teased. He quickly changed the subject when he saw Carla’s shoulders hunch guiltily, moving the discussion away from Carla’s inability to mind her own business and back to Gia. ”So, what”s she going to do?”
”Honestly, I don”t know. I don’t think she even knows yet. I think she needs to process it all. I gave her the login information for the Only Gardeners profile. She wants to see the conversations for herself.”
”That makes sense,” Matt said. “Do you think she”s going to reach out to him?”
”I mean, I think she has to, right?” Matt rubbed his chin, seemingly deep in thought. “It’s his kid—and there’s no debating it. It only takes one good, solid look at the two of them to recognize that. Honestly, I don’t know why none of us figured it out sooner.” Carla raised her fingers to her mouth out of anxiety over the whole situation.
“Who would have guessed that Ben and Gia were ever even a thing, let alone that they slept together and had a child right out of high school?” Matt grabbed Carla’s hand and pulled it away from her face. “Don’t bite your nails. They’re too pretty.”
Carla blushed and allowed Matt to place her hand in his lap, holding it snuggly in his. ”Yeah, I guess so.” Carla shrugged. ”Not knowing what she”s going to say is killing me!”
”Well, all we can do is sit back and wait... I hope that, eventually, she fills us in on the details. And if not, Carla, for the love of God and all our sanity, please mind your own business. We BOTH mind our own business. No more meddling. Got it?”
”Yes, Matty, I promise. I think maybe I learned my lesson this time.”
Matt let out a chuckle. ”I highly doubt that,” he said, rolling his eyes. “But, I guess time will tell!” Still holding Carla’s hand in his lap, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her closer. ”Now that this chaos has subsided, can we get back to our regularly scheduled programming?” Matt gave Carla an exaggerated wink and slid her hand over the bulge in his pants.
“Mmm,” Carla purred. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
“I can think of several of our favorite activities I wouldn’t mind revisiting,” Matt flirted, kissing Carla softly behind the ear, then on the side of her neck.
“Matty, I’m sorry about all of this.”
“Shhhh,” Matt said. “No more talking.” Matt released Carla’s hand and slid one arm under her back and the other beneath her knees, lifting her with him in his arms as he rose from the couch. Carla wrapped both arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest, nuzzling him to take in his scent. He was her comfort. He was her home. He was everything she wanted for Gia and the very reason she’d gone behind her friend’s back in the first place. I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, but Gia is so good. If I have this, she deserves all of it and more, Carla thought as Matt carried her upstairs to their bedroom as if she weighed no more than a child.
Still holding Carla in his arms, Matt leaned forward and pulled the blankets down using one hand before setting her down on the bed and situating the pillows so she could rest her head comfortably. He pushed a stray hair out of her face, tucking it gently behind her ear before placing his lips against hers. As their lips met, Carla couldn’t help but wonder how their spark was still there after so many years—every time.
Carla couldn’t get enough of Matt and knew he felt the same. She momentarily pulled away from Matt’s lips and muttered, “Everyone should have this.”
“Mmmhmm,” Matt replied. “It’s about to get better.” Matt began kissing gentle, light kisses across the features of Carla’s face, beginning on her forehead, then nose, then cheeks, before moving down. He kissed the side of her neck, lingering for a moment, nibbling her ear lobe gently, then doing the same on the other side.
Carla felt dizzy. Good dizzy. Matt always made her feel that way. He continued toward Carla’s chest, taking a moment to raise her arms above her head and carefully lift her shirt over her head before unclasping her bra and removing it. His lips moved to her breast, taking a nipple gently between his teeth as his other hand wandered to the opposite side, gently cupping, pinching, and caressing.
“Matt, don’t stop,” Carla urged.
“My love, I have absolutely no intention of stopping anytime soon. We can be at this all day if you want. Now, close your eyes and relax. I want to taste you.”
“Mmm, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Matt lingered at Carla’s chest for a few more moments, teasing her with his fingers and mouth before running his fingers down to her stomach and the top of her abdomen. His hands moved gently under the waist of her pants, pulling them downward and then tossing them to the floor, leaving Carla lying before him in only her panties. He took in the sight before him, admiring her striking beauty and well-toned body. “You’re so beautiful, my princess,” he muttered.
Carla let out a moan. She had a thing for pet names—and ‘princess’ really got her going, a fact Matt was well aware of. She raised her hips, silently urging Matt to continue. He took the hint, sliding her panties down her legs and bringing his lips to one side of her hips with a gentle kiss, then the other. His mouth moved to her lower abdomen, slowly placing another kiss just below her belly button.
Matt placed a hand against Carla’s inner thigh and pushed hard, spreading her legs wide. His kisses slowly made their way to her pussy, tongue teasing around her lips and the edges of her folds, circling her clit slowly and sensually. Matt continued to lick, suck, and tease Carla, his tongue diving inside as her hips rose to meet his mouth. Matt could tell she was close to an orgasm when she reached her arms forward and held his head, pressing him deeper into her. Carla’s hips rose and fell to meet Matt’s mouth as he licked with more pressure against her clit in response to her fingers intertwined in his hair.
“Oh my God, Matt. Matt, don’t sto—” Carla hadn’t even finished her sentence when her climax hit. She dug her fingernails into him as her entire body clenched and tightened, blissful sensations coming in waves, leaving her spent but fulfilled. Matt pulled away from Carla, wiping his face with his hand before collapsing next to her on the bed, allowing her to wrap her body around his, intertwining their limbs.
“Feel better?” Matt asked.
“Mmhmm,” Carla responded, shaky and unable to find any actual words yet.
“Good. Rest up for a bit. There’s more where that came from. I have a few other ideas to keep us occupied until we hear from Gia.” Matt grinned and pulled Carla close, knowing their afternoon was just getting started.
“I love you, Matty.”
“Love you, too, princess.”
“Your turn next,” Carla promised.