* * * *
“Olivia?”
“What are you doing? Oh my God!”
“Olivia, why are you here?”
Matt rushed over to her and reached for her.
“No. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Chicago.”
“You’re supposed to be at home.”
“Why are you with her…me? What is going on here?”
“Just let me explain.”
“Explain what? That you lied to me about Chicago so you could come here to be with some fake version of me? A version that doesn’t talk? Is that why you lied? So you could get away from my voice? Do I irritate you that much?”
“No. That’s not it.” He laughed.
“Is this funny to you? I’m not very amused right now. You’re here with some carbon copy of me and you think it’s funny? Is it some sick joke?”
“It’s far from a joke.”
“I don’t get it, Matt. How many times have you lied about conferences? I thought we were friends. Friends don’t lie to each other and they don’t do what you’re doing with that, that thing!”
“Olivia, just calm down.”
“Calm down? I will not calm down, Matthew Osgood! You think just because you’re some big shot author that you can do whatever you want? Lie to people and then make fun of them behind their backs? You’re disgusting. I’m not good enough as I am, so you come here and get some fake, dolled up version of me that you can parade around? Thanks, Matt. I thought you were my friend. How could you do this?”
Matt had taken all he could. The woman he loved was pissed at him, hated him, and all he’d ever wanted was the opposite.
“How could I do this? Because I love you, damn it! At least here, at least with this version of you, I can pretend she loves me, that you love me. Do you think this is easy? I have to sneak around, pretending to be with other women because the one I want doesn’t want me. All you want is a library buddy, a friend and nothing else. No strings, no attachments, remember? I’ve had to listen to your stories of fucking and screwing all over that library for years and it broke my heart. I wanted to be that guy, the guy who turned you on! I want to be the guy to take care of you. You’d rather waste more years on guys that treat you like crap. At least here, I get to have a happy ending with the woman I’ve been in love with for a decade.”
“You’ve what?”
She stepped toward towards him and Matt grabbed her by the hands. “I love you, Olivia. You may not love me, you may not…”
Just then, virtual Matt walked by and disappeared through a door behind the front desk.
Olivia met Matt’s eyes and shrugged. “Oops.”
“You? And him?”
“No. No, Matt, I couldn’t go through with it. I swear. Thatthing wasn’t you. It didn’t even talk.”
“But you just yelled at me for…”
“I know. It’s just too weird. Seeing the man I love standing in the lobby with a carbon copy of me was all too surreal.”
“I think we really need to talk.”
“So do I.”
“Wanna grab some dinner? We’re already dressed for it. How about you let me take you on a proper date?”
“I’d love that. But can we just skip the dinner and go right to the talking?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve heard there’s a river here that looks just like the Ohio. We’ve had some of our best conversations at the real version. Let’s go there.”
He held his arm out for her and she looped her arm through it. “This is perfect. You are perfect.”
Olivia kissed him on the cheek and they walked out of the River Jewel toward the shoreline.
“Okay, I need to take these off. They’re hot but they’re not as comfortable as I’d thought.”
“Hot is right. You look amazing tonight. You always look amazing, but…wow!”
“Really? You like?” She twirled in a slow circle, giving him a full view.
“Breathtaking.”
He saw her glance away. She’d always been shy about compliments from him and he loved that about her. Olivia was strong and independent, but she was still humble. Matt had never met anyone who turned out to be the whole package. Not until he’d met Olivia.
“Thank you. You look pretty awesome yourself.”
“So, you love me, huh?”
Olivia smiled “Of course I do. If we’re being honest, I’ve loved you since the moment you crashed through the books at the library.”
“Score one for the clumsy guy.” He laughed and wrapped his arms around her.
“What took you so long? Why didn’t you tell me howyou felt?”
“I couldn’t. I guess I was afraid I’d lose you. Having you as a friend…”
“Was better than not having you at all.” She finished his sentence.
“Yeah. How could we both have been so dumb? We’re perfect for each other.”
“I don’t know. I can’t believe I wasted so much time on those other guys. None of them were you. They never made me feel safe and not one of them ever made me laugh. What was I thinking? I guess I was pretending to be some strong, independent woman and instead, I managed to lose the career I loved while my self-respect flew out the window. In the end, I didn’t get anything I wanted and I certainly created more problems than I needed.”
“And none of those women were you. The way your eyes dance when you’re happy, the way your lip quivers when you pretend you’re okay.” He skimmed the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip and Olivia flicked her tongue out, tasting the trail of heat he’d left on her mouth. “Little things like that are what I love about you. You’re the only woman whose ever gotten to me.” He stared into her eyes and Olivia’s heart raced, tears threatened to escape as butterflies danced in her stomach.
Love, this was what she felt whenever she thought of him. She’d never had this feeling with Randy or anyone else she’d dated. This was how she, it, was supposed to feel. And now, she knew he felt the same. That old ache of loneliness and worthlessness she’d carried in her soul was gone.
“Not even virtual Olivia?” She teased.
“Not even her, funny girl. Nothing and no one will ever come close to being as wonderful as therealyou , b . B ut , she was as close as I thought I’d ever get and I would’ve happily settled for that for the rest of my life if I couldn’t have you.”
“Really? Why? Could you have gone your entire life without telling me how you felt? I’ve been so close to tellingyou so many times and not telling you all of these years was killing me. I doubt that I could’ve kept my mouth shut much longer.”
“Really ? . Honestly? I may not have liked it, but I would’ve kept up this charade if it meant keeping you in my life , e . E ven if we always remained friends instead of lovers. Thinking of a life without you in it makes me feel as though I’m suffocating. I am so in love with you, Olivia. All I’ve ever wanted to do was love you.”
* * * *
As they stood facing each other, the full moon cast a bright glow across the rippling water and Olivia decided she needed to do the one thing she’d been dreaming of for a decade. She leaned in and kissed him without stopping to think about it. Matt wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and deepened the kiss. The large barges loaded with coal made their way through the locks of the dam and on to their next stop, but no other souls were around. The only thing between them was moonlight and opportunity.
When their petting had reached an almost unstoppable crescendo, Matt whispered, “Come to my suite with me.”
Olivia took his hand and they entered the resort, hopped on the elevator with their fingers locked tightly together in anticipation of what they were both about to do. When the massive mirrored doors opened, Matt pulled her out of the elevator and down the hallway across the Persian carpet that led to his door. He fumbled with the key card and Olivia planted hot kisses on the back of his neck as she pressed herself against him.
“You’re killing me, w
oman.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, city boy.”
He groaned as the key card finally allowed them access into his room and Matt whisked her inside as the lights automatically came on, pushing her against the wall of his suite, holding her hands above her head as his body meshed with hers.
Releasing her hands, he slipped the thin, black straps of her dress over her shoulders and covered her neck in passionate kisses as he exposed her breasts. Olivia grabbed a handful of his hair, relishing the feel of the short, silken strands she’d earlier dreamed of messing up. His scent was intoxicating and mixed with hers as their desire spun out of control.
Olivia shoved him away, locking eyes with him as she backed him into the bedroom and pushed him onto the luxurious bed coverings and straddled his lap.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
“Ssh.” She covered his mouth with her own, placing her hands on either side of his head, tugging at his hair and pressing her breasts into his broad chest.
His erection throbbed against her pelvis as she ground her hips against him. She knew he was begging to be freed from his silk-clad prison, but she wanted him to want it more. Lifting up slightly on her elbows, she positioned her boobs above his mouth and dangled her voluptuous globes above his mouth, inviting him to taste and suck them. He greedily accepted the invitation and dove right in to devour her, alternating with pinching the other while he sucked.
Primal growls tore through her throat and she forced him to stop long enough to rip his dress shirt wide open. Pearl buttons flew, bouncing off the walls, and Olivia grinned with delight as she saw Matt’s eyes cloud with ecstasy.
“Is this what you’ve been dreaming about?”
“Baby, you have no idea.” Matt flipped her onto her back and wriggled out of his shirt, tossing it across the room.
Olivia fumbled a bit with the belt on his trousers and when it finally unbuckled, she practically ripped the buttons off of his pants. She needed to feel him, hold his shaft in her hands. There was too much fabric between them! “Off! Get them off, please!”
He obeyed as she wriggled out of her dress and shoved her panties down while still lying on the king-sized bed. Matt’s pants and briefs puddled at his feet and he grabbed the scrap of lace around her ankles, yanking them off with a flourish.
Olivia’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of his engorged cock and for a moment, she panicked at the size of it. He was huge! She loved the way her belly flipped in a mix of apprehension and anticipation. No one had ever made her feel the things this man did.
“Whoa. I’m on the pill, but I’m hoping you have a condom. A girl can’t be too safe, ya’ know.”
He opened a drawer in the nightstand, fumbled around and held up a tiny foil package.
“You were expecting to get laid? Oh, wait. Never mind. I guess you were.”
Olivia sat up and snatched the condom out of his hand, ripping the package open with her teeth. Their eyes locked as she unrolled the lubricated sheath over his shaft, giving him a second skin and giving them both an extra layer of protection.
Amazingly, his cock slid into her slick core, causing only a small pinch of pain before her body relaxed and gratefully accepted all of him inside. Like an ocean tide, he moved in, out and over her, their tongues mingling, tasting as they both raced toward towards the brink of climax.
“Yes! God, yes!”
Matt spilled his seed inside the latex barrier as Olivia’s pussy throbbed, milking every last drop from him until he collapsed on top of her, catching his breath.
Olivia’s heart thundered in her chest and her ears were ringing. She’d never screamed during sex before.
“Well…”
“That was…”
“Incredible.” They both spoke in unison, erupting in a fit of laughter.
Matt eased himself off of her and rolled onto his side, facing Olivia.
An awkward silence filled the room as he stared at her. She didn’t really know what else to say.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m wonderful.” She shrugged. “Just not sure what I’m supposed to do now. I’ve never been in this position before?”
“You’ve never lain on your back?”
Olivia opened her mouth to speak and saw Matt was toying with her again. She playfully swatted at him and shook her head. “You’re quite the comedian, ya know that?”
He gently grabbed her wrists, “And you, my friend, are amazing.” Placing his lips on her cheek, “Now, I’m gonna hop in the shower. Wanna join me?”
A kiss on the cheek? “Um, no.” She glanced at the clock on the bedside table and the realization of what they’d just done set in. “I really should be going.” Olivia hopped up and dressed quickly.
“Are you sure? You can always stay here. I’ve got the room for a while longer.”
“Um…”
“Olivia, stop. We can’t run from this anymore.”
“But…”
“But, nothing. I love you, Olivia. I’ve loved you for years and I know you feel the same. I saw the other, um, me, remember? We both came here to be with each other, albeit virtual versions of each other. We’re both here in the flesh now. You finally know why I’ve been coming here and I’m not ashamed of what we did. We owe it to ourselves to be happy with each other. I think this moment has been long overdue.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes “I love you. I’ll never cheat on you or leave you. I can’t promise that I’ll never hurt your feelings or space out when I’m writing a book, but I can promise I will always do my best to make you happy. I’ll move Heaven and Earth, if that’s what it takes. All I want in return is the chance to prove it to you.”
Olivia melted against him. She noted that his eyes were glassy from tears he was holding back, and she kissed him. “I’ve waited almost a decade to hear you say that. We have a lot of lost time to make up for. I love you, too and I never want to lose you. You understand how terrified I am, right?”
“Of course I do. But I will do everything in my power to make you forget the fears you have. I’ll make you so happy, I swear. Just knowing you’ll be with me is enough for me. We know everything about each other. I love your OCD tendencies, the way your eyes sparkle, how your lip quivers when you’re up to no good and you love my weird, guy stuff. We’re a perfect fit. After ten years of friendship, I’d say we’ll make it through anything. We already share our lives with each other. The only difference is, now we can share everything. No more secrets.”
He kissed her, slowly at first and deepening with every heartbeat until she pulled back slightly. “Did you really mean you’d move Heaven and Earth for me?”
“You know it.”
She stepped back and took his hand, leading him to the large bathroom where she found a Jacuzzi tub just like the one that had been in her own suite. “Then, how about you rock my world again before we go home?”
“Home? Together?”
“For as long as you’ll have me, Matt. Will that make you happy?” She purred.
“Consider yourself mine forever, Liv.” He took her hands in his. “It’s time for both of us to be happy. In fact, I’d be the happiest man in the world if you’ll have me as your husband. I know I don’t have a ring to give you yet, but…”
Tears welled up in Olivia’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She threw her arms around his neck, planting kisses all over his face, murmuring “Yes. Yes. Like you said, it’s been long overdue.”
THE END
Other Books By In This Series
Anything You Want
River Jewel Resort
Chapter One
“I don’t know, Lexi. That sort of thing doesn’t feel right to me.” Sydney Blake shook her head, knowing her best friend was only trying to help.
“Look Syd, you need to loosen up and have a good time. Just take a break and get out of town for the weekend. That cheating bastard already took the last four years of your
life and threw it away. Don’t give him another minute. You can’t just sit here moping for the rest of your life.” Alexandra Harvey and Sydney had been friends for fifteen years and in all of those years, she only wanted what was best for Sydney. Right now, a romp with a new guy was all she talked about.
“Lexi, I’m still married.”
“And? Roger broke those vows the moment he screwed Miss Nasty. Maybe you’re married on paper, but do you still feel like you’re in a real marriage? Are you saying you’d actually consider going back to that jerk?”
Would she? That seemed to be the million dollar question. Sure, Roger had called, begged and pleaded with her. He even cried. Cried! Should she take him back? Sydney had no idea. She never thought she would be in this position and there was no clear answer to her problem.
“Honestly, I don’t know. He says he is sorry. Maybe it was a one-time thing?” Sydney’s stomach tightened every time she thought of Roger and what he had done. She didn’t have to close her eyes to imagine the whole ordeal. She saw it twenty-four hours a day. Walking in on her husband while he screwed his accountant had been the worst day of her life.
“Syd, if you believe this is the first and last time…”
“It is. It was. He swears he won’t do it again.” Even as she said the words, Sydney wasn’t sure she believed them. Was she trying to convince Lexi or herself? How could she expect her best friend to believe Roger if she, herself couldn’t?
“Sweetie, you know I want you to be happy, but I don’t think you and Roger can fix this.”
Sydney knew Lexi was trying to help, but she hated how Lexi looked at her. Pity filled her blue eyes as she stared across the table at Sydney and pity was the last thing in the world she wanted. Sydney just needed her life to go back to the way it was. If only miracles happened to people like her.
“Maybe this is for the best. Did you ever think of that, Syd?”
“For the best? My husband cheating on me with his red-headed, pixie of an accountant is for the best? Seriously?” Sydney tried hard to reign in her emotions. Her hands shook and she felt those same ever-present-as-of-late tears threatening to spill as she held onto her white mug engraved with the Java Bean's logo. She scrolled her finger over the elegant, brown script now faded from too many washings and tried her best to avoid Lexi’s knowing stare.
Long Overdue (River Jewel Resort Book 3) Page 5