Fulfillment

by Golland, K. M.

  “Hey,” I smiled gingerly at him. “You’re back early.” Shit! What do I tell him?

  “Yes, I am,” he replied, as he eyed Derek with a suspicious scowl.

  “Hey, Mate. I was just picking up the new music composition,” Derek said casually as he put his guitar down.

  I propped myself up and grabbed my crutches so that I could make my way over to Bryce, embrace him and hopefully help remove that betrayed look that was clearly plastered across his face.

  I stopped in front of him and balanced my arms on the tops of the crutches.

  “Did you get everything finish—”

  He grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me hard before I could finish my question. His kiss wasn’t a sensual, loving caress, it was possessive and angry. I pulled away from him and caught a look of distrust in his eyes, and it stabbed me right through the heart.

  “I’ll get going, let the two of you get re-acquainted,” Derek said just as casually as before. He packed up his guitar and slipped past us. “I’ll let myself out.”

  “Best you fucking do that,” Bryce replied, his voice dripping with accusation.

  My mouth fell open and I glared at him. Derek stopped on his way to the door, just a few feet from where Bryce and I were standing and turned slowly. The tension in Bryce’s face was at boiling point. He was almost ready to rip Derek to shreds, and I think Derek would’ve put up a decent fight.

  I placed my hand on Bryce’s arm in the hope to calm him. “Bye Derek, and thanks again,” I said apologetically.

  “No sweat, Alexis,” he replied while eyeing Bryce before he turned back around and left the room.

  When the door closed behind Derek, Bryce stared at it for a few seconds, as if he was ready to knock it down and go after Derek.

  I reached up and turned his face toward mine. “What the hell was that all about? You were so rude to him,” I complained.

  “You tell me, Alexis. What the hell did I just walk in on?” he replied with an icy tone.

  “Are you serious? Please tell me you are not serious.”

  “Oh, I’m very fucking serious,” he hissed, as he eyed me fiercely.

  My mouth dropped again and I turned away from him, hobbling on my crutches toward the door. “What you just walked in on was Derek calling past to collect whatever it was he needed to collect.”

  I wrenched the door open and proceeded through it to the lounge. Lucy was at Mother’s Group, Nic was at work, and the kids were still at school.

  “Why did he have his guitar with him if he was only picking up sheet music?”

  “I don’t know?” I replied, exasperated. Fuck!

  “Doesn’t make sense, Alexis. What the fuck are you not telling me?”

  He followed me out of the room, and I swivelled around to face him.

  “Nothing! What are you insinuating?” I shouted defensively while pointing my crutch at him.

  The fact that he would think what I thought he was thinking pained my chest. How could he possibly assume there was something going on between me and Derek after all he and I had been through? How could he think that?

  “Is something going on between you and Derek?” he asked me, outright.

  A tear rolled down my cheek. “What, so you think that just because I was tempted by you, I would also be tempted by the next person who came along? Fuck, Bryce, you don’t know me at all.”

  I continued on toward the elevator. He followed and gently grabbed my waist, spinning me around and pinning me up against the entryway wall, the very spot that held memories of so many heated, passionate and now anger-fuelled moments.

  Both my crutches fell to the floor.

  He pressed his body firmly into mine. “What was he doing here, and why were you sitting with him, watching him play the guitar?” his tone had softened and his face was only centimetres from mine.

  “Let me go, Bryce. I have nothing to explain.” I turned my head to the side, not wanting to look at him.

  He gently placed his hand under my chin and turned my face back to him. “Alexis, answer me.”

  “Why? It’s obvious you don’t trust me.” More tears fell down my cheeks as I stared into his eyes. “Is this how it’s always going to be between us? No trust, because I gave you a small piece of me when I was still with Rick?” I whispered.

  “No, Hunny,” his voice surrendered and he dropped his head. “I just know when I’m being lied to.” He raised his gaze back to mine. “And you’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

  “So you immediately think the worst. Did you not stop to think that I could be lying for a reason? One that did not lead to me having it off with your best friend?” I gave him a questioning look and the look he returned was one of remorse. “Obviously not,” I sighed and turned away once more. “Let me go.”

  He turned my face back to him yet again. “So you admit that you are lying?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you going to tell me what you are lying about?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want you to know. Not yet, anyway.”

  “Alexis, that doesn’t cut it,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “Do you trust me?” I asked imploringly, as I ran my fingers down his distraught face.

  He searched my eyes for a moment, a moment longer than I would’ve liked or expected. “Yes,” he finally said.

  “Then do that and trust me. When I want you to know why I need Derek to help me, I will tell you.”

  He continued to hold me against the wall as he peered into my eyes; into my soul, my answer obviously causing him distress.

  I smoothed his hair away from his face. “Bryce, I promise you that I love you; only you. And I promise you that no man has made me feel what you make me feel, and no man ever will. I promise you I will never betray you, not in any way. I love you, Bryce. You. Now, I’m only going to say this once, so, either accept it and take me to bed...or just take me to bed. It’s your call.”

  I waited for a split second before his lips met mine, this time the anger gone and intense love and passion once again present. I wrapped my leg around his waist and struggled to lift the other—my muscles all but depleted. He noticed my strain and gently lifted it for me as he walked me into the elevator.

  “I’ve missed you”, he said through tongue and lips. “I couldn’t wait any longer to see you again, to touch you again. I just don’t function without you anymore.”

  “I know, and that’s not healthy.”

  “Fuck being healthy,” he growled, as he walked me into our room.

  I giggled as he tenderly placed me onto the bed, my amusement stopping when he reached for the button on my jeans. Just that one action indicating his motives had my pussy aching for his touch. So much so, that I lifted my pelvis automatically in order for him to pull my jeans down with ease. He did just that, but stopped at the freakin’ moon boot.

  Slowly, he undid the Velcro straps. “How is it?” he said as he gently lifted my foot from its brace to inspect it.

  “Good, apparently really good. I’ve started physiotherapy and already I’m gaining back strength.”

  “That’s great, Hunny.”

  He carefully removed my jeans completely, leaned over and placed a soft kiss on my healing ankle. My body reacted and shuddered in response as he continued to kiss up my leg, stopping when his lips touched the material of my underwear. He looked up at me through his lashes and grinned as he bit down on the seam and aggressively dragged them off with his teeth. Oh holy fuck, he’s a sexy animal.

  Crawling back up my legs, he bent my uninjured one over his shoulder, his head now perfectly positioned in between them. I sucked in a ragged breath as he touched my clit with the pad of his finger, my body bucking with sensation.

  “Oh God, I’ve missed you...I missed this,” I breathed out as I tilted my pelvis to get closer to his mouth while his finger kept teasing me, tracing my wetness up and down and swirling at my entrance. “What
are you waiting for?” I panted.

  “I’m admiring the view. Your pussy is pretty fucking nice to look at.”

  “It’s also pretty fucking nice to taste, so stop admiring and taste it.”

  He chuckled, leaned forward and pressed his nose into me then, pausing for a second, breathed hot and dipped his tongue. I clenched his hair and dug the heel of my foot into his back. “Mmmm,” he growled, so I clenched and dug deeper. I loved his growls.

  Bryce pleased my pussy with his sensational tongue and fingers, flicking and sucking at my clitoris while sliding his fingers in and out of me. I could feel every insertion and every retraction as he repeated the motion while altering the pace. His movements had the ability to trick and tease my mind and body.

  “I want you, Bryce, all of you,” I pleaded.

  He pulled away and crawled on top of me. “I’m all yours, Hunny.”

  It had been weeks since we were last with each other, and I desperately wanted to feel him inside me again. I needed to feel him for so many reasons. Reasons that were solely for pure carnal necessity, but also reasons for wanting to reconnect with him after both of us losing a piece of our hearts.

  “And I’m all yours, don’t forget that,” I whispered.

  He leaned down and pressed his warm lips to mine, gratifying me with his delicious tongue.

  I pulled away. “Oh, and please don’t forget my ankle is exposed, unprotected and highly fragile.”

  “Your ankle is safe with me, I’ll be careful. Now shut up and let me fucking make love to you,” he growled with a smirk on his face.

  I grabbed the back of his head and pulled him to me, hungry for the man who fulfilled my every need. He reached up and unbuttoned my blouse, pushing each side away and exposing my chest. His hands felt smooth as they glided across my skin removing the unwanted material.

  Reaching down, I took hold of his belt buckle, unlooping the leather strap and gaining access to his pants. I unbuttoned those too, and found his erection ready for my grasp.

  A rumble of relief resonated through him as I placed my hands on his cock, slowly gliding them up and down. I delighted in the feel of him tensing under my touch. It gave me a sense of empowerment and reassurance that his cock belonged to me.

  I clenched it tightly before I positioned it at my entrance, and before he pushed into me, we had a silent moment, our eyes communicating as perfectly and as clearly as they had always done. I could tell he was checking to see if I was okay, and ready to make love for the first time after losing the baby. I was. I was ready to move ahead in the hope that once again I would carry his child, our child.

  I touched his face, smiled softly and nodded, causing his eyes to sparkle and fill with love as he pushed forward easing himself inside of me. His rhythm was slow, soft and sensual, and I took great pleasure in every rock of his hips.

  He was controlled in his delivery, fashioning our love making to last a long time so that we could savour each other without a care in the world. I wanted to roll him over and slide my tongue down his neck, chest and follow the happy trail to a happy place. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t move without hurting my ankle. So I accepted submission and let him take control of my body, which he did with a blinding talent. He owned every part of me and made it known by leaving no surface of me untouched.

  “I hate not being able to move, Bryce. I want to climb on top of you and ride the fuck out of you,” I said breathlessly.

  He lowered his head and tongued my neck just below my ear. “I love it when you ride the fuck out me, too. But right now, you will lie here, and you will let me fuck you.”

  I dragged my nails down his back as he escalated his pace, feeling my own orgasm at the breach of explosion. “You feel so good,” I moaned.

  He grabbed my hands and held them above my head. “Tell me, you love me and only me,” he demanded, as he dragged his length out to the tip.

  “Bryce!” I pleaded, closing my eyes and wanting the feel of him to return.

  He slowly slid back inside me then pulled out just as brutally slow. And grazing his teeth on my lobe, he breathed into my ear one more time. “Tell me. I want to hear it again.”

  I arched my neck and moaned louder. “You know I love and only you.”

  He leisurely slid back in then out. “Again,” he growled, his long strokes, pure bliss.

  “You, Bryce,” I breathed languidly.

  Another long delicious stroke followed by an animalistic groan. “Alexis.”

  “You,” I replied more aggressively.

  He increased his pace, sliding in and out, harder and deeper.

  “Only you,” I cried out and released as he spilled into me while jerking and kissing my neck. “Only you, Bryce,” I repeated as I gasped for air.

  His mouth found mine as he let go of my hands. I instantly grabbed his face and pulled his head back, looking at him intently. “I love you and only you.”

  “So you fucking should,” he smiled, before seizing my lips.

  We lay there laden in sweat for several minutes, entwined in each other’s arms. I was limp, exhausted, and thoroughly sated. I was also relieved to once again feel I had jumped another hurdle in my life. Although this particular hurdle wasn’t one I wanted to forget or put behind me. There were hurdles or road blocks in our life that we wanted nothing more than to make a distant memory or disregard even, but my miscarriage was not one of them. Yes I wanted to move forward and carry on with my life, but I wanted to acknowledge what I’d lost and remind myself daily of what I already had and what I could still attain. I wanted to be always grateful. If I had learned just one thing in life, it was that pessimism hurt only the ones that could not and did not want to be optimistic.

  ***

  Bryce and I decided we would go to Nate and Charli’s school and surprise the kids by picking them up ourselves. I also needed to see my friends and break through that initial awkwardness that always plagued a terrible situation. I accepted that those types of reactions were natural responses to a sad event and were inevitable. But it didn’t mean I liked to let that awkwardness linger or dwell, or drag out before things went back to normal.

  We pulled into the school carpark in the Lexus, and I spotted Tash, Lil, Jade and Steph. Tash had not long left City Towers herself to pick up William and Thomas, and I loved that Bryce had been so wonderful when organising her role as an event supervisor. She now had a flexible job she loved and was able to work hours where she could still drop her kids off and pick them up. He’d mentioned she was always thanking him for it.

  “Wait there, Hunny and I’ll help you,” he said, as he switched off the engine.

  He exited and gave the girls a wave as he crossed over the front of the car and opened my door. I went to grab my crutches when he lightly gripped my arm and pulled it toward him.

  I automatically protested. “No, you are not carrying me in the carpark of my kids’ school. I absolutely and unequivocally put my foot down, Bryce.”

  “You can’t put your foot down, remember?” he said with a tinge of arrogance. Smartarse.

  “Bryce, I mean it,” I said sternly.

  “Okay, okay,” he chuckled. “Your friends are coming over here anyway, so I won’t need to carry you.” He nodded toward the girls who were making their way over to the car. “Just let me help you out, Hunny.”

  “Okay,” I said, as I abandoned my stance.

  He took hold of both my hands and slowly pulled me up and out of the passenger seat so that I was standing on one leg. I put my hands on his shoulders for support, when he took advantage and placed his hands on my sides, lifting me flush against his chest and quickly wrapping his arms around my arse.

  “You lying arsehole, put me down,” I said through gritted teeth, while scanning the carpark for onlookers.

  “Settle down, I’m only carrying you to the bonnet. Although, we can stay just like this if you’d like.”

  “Bryce Edward Clark—”

  He gave me a wicked smile. “B
onnet it is then.”

  As he placed me down on the hood of the car, I glared at him with a smile that I tried desperately to suppress but couldn’t. He was just so aggravatingly adorable and I had to secretly commend him on his efforts.

  Standing there facing me with his back to my approaching friends, I looked up at him and let out a long frustrated breath.

  “I hate this part,” I said, with a regretful groan.

  “What part?”

  “The sympathy and sadness part.”

  He lifted his hand and put his knuckle under my chin, tilting my head up. “It goes hand in hand with progression.”

  “I know, I just hate it.”

  He winked at me encouragingly as Steph stopped beside him.

  “Lex, how are you?” she asked as Bryce stepped aside.

  She moved forward and wrapped her arms around my neck, giving me a squeeze.

  “I’m getting there, Luv.” I replied, while smiling reassuringly over Steph’s shoulder to the others.

  “That’s good, Hun. One step at time,” Lil said, always calm, supportive and first to offer encouragement. Jade agreed and gently squeezed my thigh. I placed my hand on top of hers as a gesture of thanks, that being all Jade and I needed to exchange. She was like me in that way; sometimes less is so much more.

  Tash stepped up to me next, pausing before she leaned and hugged me tight, sending me a message through her body-hugging squeeze. The beautiful bitch brought a tear to my eye.

  “Don’t you dare start singing,” I warned, as I choked back more tears.

  I heard her sniffle next to my ear. “I won’t...I’m just...so sorry, Lex.”

  I whispered back. “I know, Hun.” I patted her back to let her know I was grateful for her thoughts, but that I was alright.

  She pulled away and wiped a tear. “If you need anything, you know where I am.”

  I nodded. “I know, Tashy.”

  “You know where we all are,” Lil reaffirmed.