He stepped inside with the bag curled against his chest. The heat from the food warmed his ribs. “You look nice,” he said. Even though it was the end of the day, her face was cheery. Her eyes danced with joy. She looked so different from last night’s somber Senna.
“Thanks.” She pulled open a drawer and took out some utensils. “What did you get?” she asked. There was no name on the generic brown bag.
“Went to Sal’s.”
“Yummy,” she groaned, dragging out the last syllable. “I loved Sal’s back in high school. The best pizza ever.”
He remembered the way she devoured their pepperoni pizza. “I got a few things we can share. Thought it would be fun to have some variety.”
“Brilliant.”
He set the bag on the table and took out the containers. Setting a foil wrapped bundle on the table, he said, “This is their cheesy garlic bread. It’s amazing,” he added before taking out the next container. “This is the fettuccini alfredo. Also amazing.” Reaching in for another container he said, “Lasagna.”
She closed her eyes and groaned, “You’re killing me.”
When he reached into the bag again, she said, “There’s more?”
He pulled out another paper bag and set it on the table. “Just dessert.” He slid his hand into the bag and pulled out a styrofoam container. Lifting the lid, he revealed dessert. Pointing to the dark one, he said, “This is their peanut butter pie, complete with chocolate ganache.” Then he pointed to the light green one. “This is their key lime pie.” He knew she loved peanut butter and chocolate, and the key lime was his favorite. He figured he was good as long as she liked one of the desserts.
“You bought a ton. There’s no way we can eat all of this.”
He shrugged. “We’ll have lunch for tomorrow.”
She smiled at that and scooped out some of the food onto her plate. “Thanks for getting this. Right before you texted, I was going to make breakfast for dinner. This is so much better,” she said dramatically.
“Breakfast for dinner? One of my favorite things,” he added lightly. He wanted to beg her to make that for him sometime soon, but he figured that would sound presumptuous. So, he went with a boring, “How was your day?”
She picked up a fork and spoon. She jabbed the fork into the fettuccini and then twirled the tines on the well of the spoon to wrap the creamy, cheese coated noodles around the fork. She shook her head and glanced up at him as she dropped the fettuccini onto the middle of her plate. “That man is so weird.”
Josh laughed as he transferred lasagna to his plate. “That’s what I’ve heard.” He cut into his lasagna with the edge of his fork. Then taking on a serious face, he asked, “Do you feel safe there?”
She let out a loud sigh and then added, “Yes, I don’t think he’d ever get violent. I mean that would mean he has an emotion other than automaton,” she giggled. She shouldn’t make fun of him, but it was so true.
“Automaton isn’t an emotion,” he said with a smile.
“I beg to differ. Spend a day with me at work, and you’ll fully understand that emotion.”
“I called Mark about him,” he hesitantly told her.
Her face snapped up from her plate to look at Josh. “You talked to Mark? Why?”
“That day I helped you move that screen, he seemed so odd. I called Mark to make sure that Martin wasn’t dangerous.”
She had mixed feelings about his curiosity. His concern spoke to his feelings for her, but it wasn’t his place to ask about Martin. “I’m guessing Mark approved. Otherwise you would have said something.”
“Mark believes that he’s safe. He has no record of any kind.”
“That’s reassuring. I try to mix up my lunch times, but he always shows up five to ten minutes after me.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I swear he’s doing it on purpose.”
Josh picked up a piece of garlic bread. “Don’t hang out with him alone anywhere. Is his mom always around?”
“You mean ‘Mother’?” she mimicked Martin. “Yes, she’s there more than he is. And trust me, I’m on alert when he’s around. Which is kind of sad. I should be comfortable at work. I spend most of my time there. I shouldn’t have to have my guard up.”
“Yeah, it does suck.” He couldn’t imagine what it was like for women to have to be so careful all the time. To think that at any moment they could cross paths with a weirdo and end up hurt. “Have you thought about looking somewhere else for work?”
She tilted her head to the side in apathy. “He’s the only accountant in the area. I’d have to start from the beginning. Hunt up clients. Pilfer some from Martin, which I signed an agreement saying that I wouldn’t do.
“A non-compete clause?”
She nodded. “It’s only for two years. He wanted five, but I demanded two. I think he was as desperate for me as I was for the job. He acquiesced and came down to two.” She bit her bottom lip. “It kind of sucks, but it is what it is.”
As much as she would enjoy the freedom of being her own boss, she also knew that having her own business could take over her life. She knew she could do it. She just wasn’t sure how long it would take for her to become profitable. And she didn’t want to dip into her savings for something that could take years to turn a profit, especially without any guarantees.
He nodded in understanding and their conversation flowed while they ate.
She savored the last bite of peanut butter pie she could manage and then set her fork down. “I can’t finish it. My body is already on carb overload.”
He scraped the last remnants of his key lime pie from his dessert plate and then licked his fork clean. They had too much history for him to not feel comfortable eating without his ‘guest’ manners. He set his fork down and eyed her plate.
She shook her head, smiled, and warned, “Don’t even think about it, buddy. I’m eating this tomorrow.”
He chuckled and put his hand up in his defense. “I wouldn’t dream of poaching your dessert.”
“Uh-huh,” she responded dubiously. She pushed her chair away from the table and stood. “We should get the leftovers in the refrigerator.”
“Sounds good.” He helped carry the dishes and food to the kitchen.
After cleaning everything up, they made their way to the balcony. The space wasn’t huge, but it was a good size for a condo balcony. She had a small, round table with four chairs, and an outdoor love seat crammed into the space. She sat on the sofa.
He stepped onto the balcony and looked over his options. Sofa or chair? It was a no brainer. “May I?” he asked, pointing to the empty spot beside her.
She tapped the space beside her. “Yes,” she replied. She felt something that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Urgency. Need. Lust.
She’d dated over the past decade, but no one made her feel the way Josh did. After their talk last night, everything felt right again. The weight of her secret was gone. The heavy shadow of shame that accompanied her ruse had lifted when Josh forgave her for abandoning him. She didn’t have to pretend that dark part of her history never happened. And more importantly, she didn’t have to carry the burden by herself.
He was the only person who needed to know her secret, and she trusted that he would keep it to himself.
In reality, sharing her past with him wove their lives together in a way she hadn’t expected. He wasn’t the boy she’d loved in high school. They had both changed. Life’s experiences had molded them into the adults they were now. And she liked the man Josh had grown into.
In a simple act of connection, Senna slipped her hand onto his thigh and slid her fingers between his.
The vast darkness of the ocean spread out before them. The gentle whir of the waves crashing on the sand below swirled in the night breeze. Everything was perfect. They were together, under a starry sky, with a reunited love.
Was it possible that life was giving them a second chance? Was it possible that their need for each other could overcome such a tragi
c loss?
He gazed into her heated blue eyes. “I thought I was over you, but I’m not. All this time, I’d pushed you to the back of my mind, but now you are up front and center, demanding my attention.”
Disappointed by his implication that she was demanding him to be with her, she interrupted, “You don’t have to be here. You don’t owe me anything.” She tried to pull her hand free of his, but he held tight.
“No, that’s not what I meant.” He shifted on the love seat until he faced her. “I’m glad you’re back in my life. When I was dating other women, you were the measuring stick. I compared them all to you. And none of the other relationships ever came close to what we had.”
Placing his hand on her cheek, he asked, “Can we try this again? You and me? For real?”
His words sent her heart on a tilt-a-whirl ride. A slight dizziness rolled through her. He was her biggest regret in life. She should have done everything differently, but even so, he was there, begging her to take him back. Little did he know that he didn’t need to beg. He’d always been in her heart.
“Yes,” even though the single word was barely breathed, its meaning altered their worlds.
Her chest rose and fell as her breathing quickened.
“I need you, Senna. Just a taste. I need a connection to you.” The words tumbled out of his mouth in a low rumble, like a sexy pleading that overwhelmed her.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as desire pulsed through her. Was she ready to do this?
Hell, yeah. She stood, eyeing him as she stepped in front of him. When she moved closer, he scooted into the middle of the sofa. With a knee on each side, she straddled him. Easing onto his thighs with her core pulsing between her legs, she nestled atop him. There was no missing the firm bulge that tented his shorts.
As her weight settled over him, he leaned forward and slid his hand behind her head. Then, pulling her closer, he pressed his lips against her neck and nipped. The moan that fell from her lips encouraged him.
He pulled her hips closer so that her core pressed against his erection while his lips kissed their way to her ear.
Despite the fact that they’d made out countless times as teens, this felt like new territory. Like each caress and kiss was a bonding, a fresh uniting of themselves to the other.
As his fingers slipped under her shirt and raised goose bumps on her soft skin, she made a sound that pumped up his need. Then voices from a nearby condo interrupted them, and she froze and went rigid on his lap. Her big eyes stared into his.
She couldn’t believe she was straddling him on her balcony like some horny teen. Someone could easily see them. The gossip would spread like red tide along the coast. “We should go inside,” she panted.
“Yeah,” Josh replied and eased her off of his lap. Then, standing, he kept his hand on her back as she opened the balcony door and slid inside. Closing the door behind him, she pulled the curtain over the door so no one could see in.
Unable to wait another moment, she gripped the bottom edge of her shirt and pulled it over her head.
When her shirt hit the floor, he focused on the beauty of her breasts in her lace bra. Full, creamy breasts rose and fell with each breath.
“You are so beautiful,” he said, dragging a finger slowly along the edge of her bra and over the swell of her breast. “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s not too fast?”
When she got up this morning, she’d never expected to be contemplating sex with Josh, but here she was. There was no hint of concern in her. Instead, her heart pulsed with the need to give herself to him. She’d spent the last decade regretting the decision to cut him out of her life. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
“This isn’t too fast. When I’m with you, I feel like everything is right again. Like the last ten years didn’t happen. I want to feel you. I want to know that you are with me in every way.” Could they pick up where they left off?
The sensation of his finger on her breast sent lust shooting through her veins. Her clit pulsed. When his fingers hovered over the front clasp of her bra, he looked at her for permission.
She’d never wanted to be naked more than she did right then. How had she lived without this passion in her life? What a hum-drum existence she’d had over the past decade. The daily monotony of life had dulled her. She’d settled into a routine that kept her so busy that she couldn’t recognize the gaping Josh-sized hole in her life. But coming back to Avenel had altered that. When she was with Josh, she was back on the right track.
Could she dare believe that she’d found love again?
Locking eyes with him, she nodded for him to undo her bra. There was no stopping now. Her body thrummed and ached for the release that only he could give her.
Her breasts hung free as he slipped the bra from her shoulders. He was on fire and had one goal in mind. Cupping a breast with his hand, he teased her nipple with his thumb. It hardened.
The sensations bombarding her made her legs weak. They needed to move this to the bed. Taking his hand in hers, she began a slow trek to the bedroom. Craning her head over her shoulder as they cut down the little hallway to her room, she said, “Follow me.”
Right then, he’d follow her just about anywhere. His cock was heavy and bobbed awkwardly as he walked.
Moving into her room, she approached her bed and grabbed the comforter by the corner. Her breasts jiggled as she flung the comforter to the side.
He couldn’t help but come up behind her, wrap his arms around her waist, and cup her breasts. He pressed himself against her back and rocked his hips.
“Wait,” she whispered, wanting to drag out the seduction. She placed her hands atop his and reveled in the pleasure of his gentle squeezes and nipple play. Once her nipples were hard as stone, she said, “Sit down.”
He moved around her and sat on the edge of the bed. Her breasts were eye-level. Sliding his hands over her hips, he eased her closer until her breast filled his mouth. Sucking and teasing her, he grazed her nipple with his tongue and teeth.
Damn, she didn’t even try to temper the groan his touch elicited. The heat of his mouth on her breast sent a rush of moisture between her legs. She needed more of him naked. Gripping the sides of his shirt, she yanked his shirt free from his jeans and ripped it over his head. Then they were in a battle to see who could get naked the fastest.
He stood and rid himself of his shorts and underwear, while she shimmied her hips to rid herself of her shorts and panties. He pulled a condom out of his wallet, ripped it open, and slid it on.
Once naked, his fingers slid between her folds and stroked, soothing the pulsing ache between her legs. Soft moans fell from her lips as his hand worked her core. As her breathing turned to pleasured panting and his cock throbbed with need, he reclined on the bed with his cock straining for attention.
“Come here, baby,” he whispered as he took in her naked body. Her breasts were fuller than they’d been at eighteen. Her hourglass shape curvier than he remembered, but it was all fucking fabulous.
With a smirk and a raised eyebrow, she eased one leg over him and shifted until she hovered over his body. Grabbing his penis and positioning it at her opening, she eased down and nestled him into her core.
Pleasure overwhelmed her as he filled her. All the misaligned parts of her life suddenly shifted, and everything fit in place. Josh was what she needed. Over the past decade, she’d never found a better lover because Josh was her perfect match.
As his cock slid in and out of her warm channel, he forgot to breath. All he could process was pleasure. He suddenly gasped for air when his brain kicked back in. This wasn’t their first time, but it felt like it.
They were adults now, not impetuous teens going at each other to pacify their lust. No, Fate had given them a redo. A chance to correct the mistakes of their past and start over.
“Oh, god,” she groaned as she rocked her clit against him. She wanted to lose herself in the sensations overwhelming her.
Their f
irst time had been fast and unplanned, but this time they enjoyed each phase. “So beautiful,” he murmured as she rose and fell on him. Her breasts jiggled as she rode him, and he couldn’t keep his hands off of them. The soft give of her breasts and her hard nipples begging to be tugged were mind-numbingly erotic.
She eased into the flow of their dance, helping him move her body in ways that brought them both to the edge. Eventually, the pleasure overwhelmed her. Everything within her tightened, and she rode him hard and fast as her orgasm overwhelmed her.
He was hanging on by a thread. “That feel good, baby?”
“Yes,” she panted. “So good.”
As she slowed, he flipped their positions. She was under him, her legs spread wide and his cock nestled in her. He was so close. It wouldn’t take him long. As he pumped into her,
her channel gripped his cock. Feeling everything tighten within him, he roared through the pleasure that overtook him as he came inside her.
Senna dragged her nails down his back, relishing the feel of him on her, the pressure of his cock in her channel, and the realization that they’d just made love.
“That was fabulous,” she murmured. Nothing could ruin this moment, this gift from Fate.
“Hell, yeah,” he replied. Supporting his weight on one arm, he caressed her cheek with the other hand. “I love…” he caught himself just in time. “I loved that.” That sounded weird. He knew that, but he couldn’t declare his love for her yet, even if he meant it.
She knew him well enough to know what he wanted to say. “I loved that, too,” she replied with a smirk.
As his body returned to normal, something didn’t feel right. He eased out of her and his heart nearly stopped. The condom had torn. He’d been so caught up in the moment that he hadn’t noticed it at the time.
Wrinkles marred Senna’s forehead when she realized the problem. “Oh, my god,” she panted.
“It’s okay,” he assured her as he made his way to the bathroom to clean up. What if she ended up pregnant again?
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