Chapter Fifteen #2
“I want a marriage like my parents.” A pause stretched between us. I slowed for the traffic light at 19. “I think I want at least one. But not more than two. My cousin has three and it’s a lot.”
“Chuck and his brother here both have three.” I shook my head. And they’d been part of six. That house had been loud, and Chuck’s mama had been often overwhelmed. “It’s definitely a lot.”
Her soft exhale held a distinct note of relief, and the air around us felt lighter. I dropped my hand on her knee and squeezed. She covered my fingers with a light hand.
We were okay. Still not at the same place, but okay.
And I wasn’t terrified she’d leave me any longer.
Once we arrived at Chuck and Deanne’s, I opened her door and grabbed the box of cookies. I propped my wrist atop the door as she slid out. “I’ll take you out for real this weekend.”
She wrinkled her nose. “What are you talking about? This is great. Low stress and good company.”
I wrapped her in a hug, the cellophane holding the flowers crinkling between us. “You’re great.”
The front door opened so Deanne could yell at us. “You two stop canoodling and get in here.”
Folding my arm about Lila’s neck, I eased her forward and nudged the truck door shut. “A hug is not canoodling, Dee.”
“A hug is completely canoodling, Daniel.” She beamed at Lila. “I’m so glad to see you, Lila. How’s work?”
“Good. I closed a huge sale today I’ve been working on for weeks . . .”
Deanne pulled her into the house and toward the kitchen, the two of them chattering the whole way. I followed to find supper laid out on the island – salad and garlic bread and Deanne’s million dollar spaghetti. My mouth watered.
Paul toddled to me, yammering a string of words I had no hope of deciphering. Setting the cookies aside, I lifted him to perch on my arm. “Hey, buddy. Your brothers already in bed? Why aren’t you there?”
He immediately grabbed my nose, and I winced. The splint was gone, sure, but it was tender and his grip was solid. “Yeah, it looks funny, doesn’t it?”
Paul chortled, smacking his palm against my cheek.
Lila’s sudden silence sank in, and I glanced around to find her staring, lips parted. Grinning, I hefted Paul higher so he giggled. “This is my buddy. He’s his daddy’s made over.”
Deanne, arranging the flowers in a vase, snorted. “They all are.”
“I don’t know.” I set Paul down, and he raced to his daddy walking in from the hallway. “John acts like Tick.”
“John totally acts like Tick.” Chuck lifted Paul over his head and lowered him to buss his belly before gracing Lila with a wide smile. “Hey, Lila. Good to see you.”
She murmured a greeting before he carted Paul off to bed.
I enjoyed just being with her while she and Deanne nibbled off a cheese board while we waited for Chuck.
She relaxed further as we fixed plates and moved to the table, and by the end of the evening, filled with good food and good friends, she was my Lila again.
On the drive home, quiet filled the truck, but this was the good quiet, a comfortable stillness. I walked her to the door, and on the porch, she turned into my arms, smoothing a finger over the collar of my t-shirt. “Do you want to stay?”
I touched her cheek. “You’re not gonna have to ask me twice.”
Her giggle vibrated into my hand. Inside, I left my shoes next to hers at the door, like so many times before, then followed her to the bedroom, my gaze lingering on the sway of her hips.
The scenario evoked other nights we’d shared, but felt different still.
I was making deliberate choices, filled with a keen awareness our emotions weren’t the same.
My chest lifted with a steadying breath. I wrapped an arm about her waist and tucked her into me. Cradling her face in my palm, I held her gaze and lowered my head to kiss her. She surged into me, arms about my neck. I took my time, teasing her bottom lip, our mouths clinging.
I slipped my fingers beneath the hem of her shirt, stroking the smooth skin at her waist. Inhaling the light floral of her soap blended with the clean, sharp scent of her shampoo, I kissed along her jaw to nuzzle her ear.
She pressed her fingertips into my shoulders, a breath shuddering through her so I smiled against her cheek.
I knew that sound, the one she made when I did something she liked.
An I love you pressed on my tongue, and I swallowed it. Maybe we’d get to a point where I could say it on the regular, but her reaction to the last time hung heavy in my memory. We weren’t there yet.
When I eased up her hem, she lifted her arms so I could peel the shirt away. Breath stopped in my throat, the way it always did when we were alone like this, I traced the edge of her bra, then ran my thumb over her hardened nipple. She shivered.
“Missed you,” I rasped, pressing my lips to her shoulder.
“Hmm.” Her hands were warm on my back, under the edge of my shift. “So much.”
I fiddled with the button to her jeans, popped it free, then lowered the zipper. Framing her waist, I dropped to my knees and eased the denim over her hips. When I kissed her belly, nuzzling the soft skin there, her muscles jumped under my mouth.
She stepped out of the jeans and kicked them aside before lifting her hands to peel her bra away. I sat back on my haunches, tracing a finger along the curve of the underside of her breast.
“So beautiful,” I murmured and caught a glimpse of her smile.
Desire heavy in my gut, I hooked a finger in her panties and tugged them down, the sharp scent of her arousal all around me.
My fingers in a vee, I slid them over the plump flesh between her thighs, dipping between those lips.
Her indrawn breath hung loud between us, and I groaned. She was dripping. “You’re wet for me.”
“Yes.” She tangled her fingers in my hair.
Palming her thigh, I hooked her leg over my shoulder and leaned in to drag my tongue over her.
“Oh. Yes.” She tilted into my face, nails scratching my scalp. “Please.”
I chuckled against her before I cupped her ass and angled her toward me for the best access.
Breathing her in, I licked and sucked, touching her, feathering my fingertips along her lips the way I knew she liked.
I was hard and leaking precome, a wet spot growing in my boxer briefs, jeans uncomfortably snug.
Her head thrown back, Lila tilted into my face and rubbed against my tongue, small noises of pleasure falling from her lips. Her hand gripped the back of my head, pressing me closer. I sucked harder.
I’d give her anything, everything, she wanted.
Her fingers flexed in my hair, her other hand digging into my shoulder. A moan vibrated all through her, and I groaned, her orgasm rippling under my fingers, on my tongue.
Making her come made me feel like king of the world.
She rode it out, riding my tongue, my fingers, her wetness drenching my lips and chin. I supported her with my arm, nuzzling her as she came down, stroking my hair. Her thigh trembled next to my neck.
With a shaky sigh, she lowered her foot to the floor, tightening her grip on my hair to urge me to my feet. She leaned up to kiss me, going for my waistband, fumbling with the button. “I want you.”
I jerked my t-shirt over my head, fumbled my jeans down, and she laughed, wrapping her arms about my neck as I lifted her and carried her to the bed. I sat on the edge, but she scrambled off my lap.
“No.” Breathless, she stretched out on her back. “I want you on top.”
I blinked. “You sure? I read it’s harder for–”
“Dan.” She reached for me and pulled me down between her thighs. Slipping a hand between us, she circled me with her fingers, rubbing the pre-come all over the head of my dick. The sensation zinged straight to my balls and ripped a groan from my throat. “Please.”
Muscles jumping in my gut, I leaned over her while she touched me. I planted a hand on the bed, hissing between my teeth.
With me hard and cradled in her palm, she guided me, rubbing the head over the wet heat between her thighs.
“Feels good, baby.” I could barely breathe, it was so good. I wrapped my hand over hers and positioned myself to slide inside her.
Home. She was home for me, the intensity swamping me. She was it for me, and I was alone in that.
Eyes closed, I breathed through the surge of terror and the wash of pleasure, wrestling down the adrenaline. She was wet and hot around me, like sliding into heated silk.
She framed my neck with her palms, urging me nearer. “I want you close.”
“I’m here.” Kissing her temple, I angled my hips back and thrust deep. She stretched under me, tilting her hips to meet each of my strokes. I squeezed my eyes shut, lost in her, keeping the fear at bay.
Fear wasn’t my friend.
Still, with her wrapped around me, consuming me, I was absolutely lost.