Now that I had a moment to think, I couldn’t stop staring at her legs.
“My brother will be staying with us for a while.”
“Little Jakie-Jake. Aww, I can’t wait to see his adorable little cheeks.” She scrunched up her face as if she was giving him a million kisses.
“Yes!” I pointed at her. “That right there. I would consider giving you the house if you treat him just like that when he comes.”
The last time she saw Jake, he was thirteen. His voice hadn’t dropped yet, and his growth spurt didn’t hit until later that year. She remembered the pint-sized boy who followed her around like a love-sick puppy.
Little did she know he was a big hulking beast now.
“I’ll give him a big hug and pinch those dimpled cheeks, I promise. Where does he live now?”
“Chicago.”
“The big city.” Her eyes went wide, and she fanned her hands in front of me. “I guess he’s a big boy now.”
I fell to my knees in front of her and clasped my hands. “Please, I am begging you to call him a big boy when he comes. It would be a dream come true.”
She frowned. “You have the weirdest fantasies, Tyler.”
If watching your little brother get embarrassed because the woman he used to have a schoolboy crush on call him a big boy in front of people made me strange, then I didn’t want to be normal.
I sat back on my haunches. “My only fantasy right now is getting out of here and having something to eat.”
Iona lowered her hand to help me up. “That’s my surprise. Close your eyes and follow me.”
THIRTEEN
Tyler
“HOW MUCH LONGER DO I have to keep my eyes closed?” I asked for fear she was leading me to my death.
“Not much farther.”
“You said that a mile ago.”
We were still walking. Before we left the office, I told Olivia to lock up. She was now awake and having a make-out session with Carter in my office. I really hope they left before it went beyond kissing.
Once we were on the sidewalk, Iona made me keep my eyes closed—which I did for about a minute. When I heard a horn blare, I opened my eyes to discover she was leading me directly into traffic.
“I hadn’t factored in all the turns. It’s taking longer than I thought.”
Once we safely crossed the street, she swore she would let me look at the ground when crossing the street as if that made it any safer.
“At least I don’t hear cars. You aren’t leading me to Old Legend Cliff, are you? You’re going to kill me, aren’t you? Make it look like I accidentally fell off a cliff. That’s why there’s no blindfold. Leaving no evidence behind, that’s smart . . .”
My heart pounded in my chest. At one time in my life, I knew Iona. She was my best friend, but I hadn’t seen her in over a decade. People changed. She could have turned into a murderous she-devil.
“You guessed it! How did you know I planned to parade you all through town so there were dozens of eyewitnesses before I shoved you off a cliff?”
“Your sarcasm isn’t appreciated at the moment.”
“No need to worry now, we’re here.”
Iona finally dropped her hand from covering my eyes and I blinked. I was temporarily blinded by the late afternoon sun, but it felt nice not having her sweaty hand over my eyes. At first, I thought, kinky, but the longer we walked, the more it went from sexy to irritating torture.
Once I could see, I noticed the picnic table with a white tablecloth, dishes, silverware, and a large covered dish in the center, and I realized what this was.
She went to the table and waved her arm. “Dinner is served.”
I was in shock. This place held so many memories of her that I haven’t been here since she left. The old shed was still standing off in the distance near the woods. “This is our old spot.”
It hurt too much to be here for the first few years after Iona moved. After that, I put the place out of my mind. Why visit a location that reminded me of the girl who captured my heart only to discard it without a thought?
“The paps don’t know about it, so we won’t be interrupted like we would if we went to a restaurant. Besides, I always loved this spot.”
Her fingers brushed along the edge of the table and the hazy gaze made me wonder if she was reliving the old times, too.
I had been struck silent by the most beautiful and thoughtful woman I was lucky enough to know. She was the opposite of a she-devil, and I was ashamed that thought ever entered my mind. I wanted to tangle my fingers in hers and pull her toward the stream. Make love to her like I did eleven years ago. Only I would know what I was doing this time.
“Why are you staring at me like that? I hope you don’t think it was stupid. We can eat at a restaurant if you want.”
I strode toward Iona and slipped my fingers into her silky black hair. Without any hesitation, my lips descended on hers. She tasted of lemons and sugar and I couldn’t get enough.
“Is this what you want?” I said against her cheek before I kissed my way down her neck.
“Yes. God, yes, Tyler.”
I didn’t need to hear her words because her hands told me everything. Iona’s arms wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me close. I shuddered when her fingernails scraped through my scalp. Every hair on my body went on end and my cock soon followed.
Despite this location being a little secluded, anyone could walk back and see us, but I didn’t care. Knowing that she never wanted to end our relationship in the past and what she went through without me caused my heart to reverse everything.
I pushed her back against the table and got down on my knees. Lifting her yellow T-shirt to expose the tender caramel skin of her stomach, I dotted kisses from her belly button to just under her breasts.
Every ounce of anger that rose to the surface in the past whenever I saw her picture flash on a screen for a movie or the mention of her name was disintegrating. In its ashes, a fiery heat rose that was about to engulf me.
Iona’s hands left my head and she lifted her shirt and pulled up her white lace bra with it. Her tits were perfect handfuls, ready to be held, and licked, and sucked.
“You’re exquisite. You’re my fantasy, Iona.”
Biting her lip, she was eagerly waiting for me to do something but I wanted a moment to gaze at her just like this. Her tits framed by lace and cloth with her eyes darkening as she stared at me. Anticipation and heat and lust and everything I had wanted from her for so long, was rolling off her body, all for me.
“Tyler, do you want me to beg?”
I nodded. If she begged for me touch her or even, to use her, that might make me cream my pants. This had been building up for years and I didn’t know if I could hold back much longer.
“Please, Tyler.” She pushed me to the ground and stood. Before I could ask what she was doing, Iona unzipped her jean shorts and slid them down, along with her white lace thong.
“Oh Christ,” I said as I stared at her neatly trimmed triangle of curls at the apex of her thighs.
If I thought that was a surprise, I never expected what came next. She leaned back on the table and brought her feet up, spreading open for me. I watched in shock and longing as Iona slipped her hand to her clit and began to rub.
“Tyler, please, eat me. I’m so wet. Please.”
She wasn’t lying. This woman was dripping, and her fingers glistened as she fucked herself.
Crawling over, I gave her what she wished. My tongue slid over her folds and I couldn’t hold back my groan. She tasted like peaches covered in cream with just a dash of spice. If we had eaten dinner before this, Iona would have been the best dessert I ever tasted.
I glanced up to find her gaze locked on me as she sucked her lower lip. She released a small whimper with every swirl of my tongue. I reached up and palmed her tit, brushing my thumb across her pebbled nipple.
I wanted to suck on those perky tips, but they had to wait while I gave her what she desired.
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She bared her teeth and with a sharp intake of air, her head fell back.
It was time to tell her what I expected.
“That’s it, Iona. Now come for me.”
She groaned when I took my hand that was on her thigh and slipped two fingers inside her. Her hips shifted back and forth. She must have liked what I was doing as it wasn’t long before I felt her tighten around me.
When she cried my name, I broke the promise to myself. The one I made when I was a teenager—where I would carry her to bed and make love to her.
Instead, I stood while her legs were still trembling and with a few tugs and pulls, I had my pants and boxer briefs at my ankles. I didn’t even bother to remove my clothing before I positioned myself between her legs.
“Yes,” she cried again and instead of hesitating—instead of reminding myself who this woman was to me—I pushed forward.
I’d like to say I felt shame at that moment when I fucked her on the picnic table, the pristine tablecloth wrinkling and the plates sliding to the ground. But what little honor I had in my life was shoved aside by the desperate need to be inside Iona. To be as close to her, body and soul, for all the years we lost.
I was like an addict pleading for one last hit, swearing to give it up but knowing the hollow words were only a means to an end. A moment where I saw the longing in her eyes, and it was me she begged for.
My fingers found her clit as my cock slid in and out. She felt wonderful and I had to slow down or I would never last.
I thought if I lowered my body, bent my head to her chest, it would be more intimate. But we were outdoors, surrounded by grass and sky. I tasted her on my lips as I licked them and held her tight.
“You feel so good. Don’t stop,” she whispered.
“You like that? Like it when I fuck you?”
She nodded and gasped, too lost in bliss to respond. Her dark eyes sparkled and the flush on her tanned skin only added to her beauty.
Iona tightened around me as her eyes rolled back in her head. I watched her unravel and whimper my name. It’s what I had wanted and fantasized about for years.
As she came, her back arched causing her tits to rise and she couldn’t be more striking. Iona was better than any fantasy, she was a goddess.
I stood, smoothing my hand down her stomach and didn’t hold back. My pace quickened. The air thick with the sweet smell of grass and our bodies, and I felt my balls tighten.
My orgasm hit hard, and I grasped the edge of the table. My other hand settled on her hip and pulled her tight. I never wanted this connection to end.
When it did, I fell forward. I was a gasping, heaping mess that lay on her slick stomach. She was warm when my body wanted to cool down, but I didn’t care. It was Iona I held, and I made a promise to myself to never let her go again.
FOURTEEN
Iona
“YOU’RE SO CUTE WHEN you’re mad.” I reached out to poke his nose.
Tyler shook his head and lowered the letter. “What?”
I sighed. “Nothing. Go back to reading your mail.”
Since we fucked like ravenously horny rabbits last night on the picnic table, I hadn’t been able to get enough of Tyler. It was strange since all the other guys I had sex with I couldn’t wait for them to leave.
“Have you seen this, Iona?” He swatted my hand away and held up the letter.
I knew what would make reading that letter much more enjoyable—if it had a hole in it and his dick happened to slip through. Most of my thoughts this morning involved his cock. Like, should I lick it or massage it or let him poke me with it?
Licking my lips, I lifted the paper from his hand and winked. He was sexy when he was confused.
“I’m being blackmailed, Iona.”
“What?” That woke me from my cock worshiping thoughts.
He pointed at the paper. “Read it.”
As I scanned the letter, I noticed it was signed, Asking For A Friend. The person didn’t even have the balls to sign their name.
“This is a lie. I never had an abortion.”
His hand reached out to me and his fingers laced with mine. There was concern etched into his features. I worried something like this would happen. The gossip rags would cling to any tiny nugget of information they got and twist it into clickbait. Now Tyler was being thrust into that world—something he never asked for.
“If that is what happened . . . you can tell me the truth. I can’t imagine how scary it was to be pregnant at eighteen with only your mom to help you. I can’t say it would make me happy if that was the outcome, but I wouldn’t judge you.”
I yanked my hand back and stood from the kitchen bar stool.
“I told you I had a miscarriage. Look, Tyler, Hollywood may gloss over the truth with pretty shiny things to distract the public, but I don’t. This is who I am. I never pretended to be perfect. I never pretended that I work for the art or passion of acting. I got into this to help pay bills because my mom struggled with her job cleaning other people’s shit.”
“I’m just saying—”
I held up my hand. “Save it. I would never lie to you. There are women, some of them just young girls, who are in situations where there may be no other choice. The world isn’t set up for people like me or them. They’re damned if they do, and they’re damned if they don’t. But I did have a choice and maybe it wasn’t the best choice, but I wasn’t about to let go of that little bean inside me. But as it turns out, that wasn’t up to me. So, you go and believe an anonymous coward, someone who is too chickenshit to give you their name. It’s easier to believe the worst in people than to really understand who they are and what they deal with in life.”
I crumpled up the paper and threw it at him. Sure, that was childish, but I was angry. This man knew me, yet he doubted the words I spoke to him only a day ago.
He reached for me, but I stepped back. “Iona.”
I shook my head. “No.” I held up my hands. “You weren’t there. That person, whoever they are, wasn’t there. What evidence would they have? This is ridiculous. I may not be a saint, not that I want to be, but I won’t let anyone twist my heartache into something meant to hurt me. I wouldn’t lie like that.”
“But you’d lie about us getting married?” He stood and bent over, reaching for the wad of paper on the floor.
“Fuck you.”
I left. My feet thundered up the stairs and into the spare bedroom, which no longer held my clothes. Tyler’s brother was coming today, and he needed a room to sleep in. I was looking forward to sleeping in the same bed as Tyler tonight, but not anymore.
Slamming the door, I locked it.
Throwing myself onto the bed, it felt like I was a teenager again. A fight with my boyfriend, only this time it was my fake fiancé.
The door handle jiggled and next came a few knocks at the bedroom door. “Iona. Open up. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah you are.”
I never dealt with anger like an adult. Slamming doors and throwing fits was a big stress reliever for me. That, and sex. Good, nasty, angry sex. Which I was mulling over in my head as Tyler banged on the door.
“You have to understand that it feels as if the past eleven years had been a lie. I thought you wanted nothing to do with me. You thought I had sex with you and was done, refusing to answer your calls. None of that was true.”
He had a point, but anger was still coursing through my veins, so I refused to move from the bed.
“But it wasn’t me who typed in the wrong number in your phone. Besides, it’s a little too convenient that you suddenly got my number wrong when you had it long before I left.”
That was the confusing part. I had thought about it yesterday when I was calling the caterer to set up the picnic. Why was the number suddenly wrong?
“I had to get a new phone, remember? I lost it the night we first had sex.” He lowered his voice, saying the last word as if anyone else was in the house and could hear him. “I thought it must have fallen out
of my jean’s pocket when I took them off. Probably rolled into the stream. I went back to look for it, but I never found it. My dad was pissed but got a used one for me.”
“So, you fat fingered it.”
“No. That’s the funny part. My dad had added some numbers in the phone for me before he handed it over. My mom’s number, his, your number, and the school’s number for Jake.”
I was about to ask why he thought that was funny when I heard someone knock at the front door of the house.
“I’m going to answer the door but after, I’m coming back up so we can finish talking, okay?”
“Okay.”
The anger had settled and I stood. I wanted to open the door and pull Tyler in for makeup sex. The loud kind where the neighbors heard.
Putting my ear to the door, I heard Tyler and another deep voice. There was some yelling which caused concern, but it was followed by laughter before I could react.
Taking a deep breath, I turned the knob as slowly as possible and opened the door hoping it wouldn’t creak. Of course, it did.
“Iona!” Tyler yelled. “Jake’s here.”
All thought of being quiet and stealthy slipped from my thoughts. I raced through the hall and pounded down the stairs.
“Jakie-Jake!” I said with a grin so wide it hurt.
I don’t know what I had expected to find when I hit the bottom step, but I would have never imagined that tiny little Jakie would grow up to be the big, beefy guy standing in front of me. He was taller than Tyler by an inch or two, and thick. Big muscle thick.
“Wow, you’ve grown. Steroids?” I asked because he was unnaturally large. One can’t help but think of muscle-enhancing drugs when looking at him.
“No. Nice to see you, too, Iona.”
I opened my arms. “Come here, runt.”
He smiled and two gorgeous dimples appeared on his cheeks. As killer as that smile was, Jake had always been like a little brother to me. I was excited to see how he’d grown up and wondered how his life had turned out. I knew Tyler was a little hard on him and his parents were only a step above neglectful, so I hoped he was happy in his life.
Living Hell (Lost and Found Book 2) Page 9