“Good morning, sir.”
He lowered his hand and threaded his fingers through my unruly curls, pulling them behind my head so he could watch me worship his glorious cock. “You’re so beautiful.”
I rewarded his compliment with a deep, long plunge down his thick shaft, my tongue sliding against the velvet of his foreskin and capturing a groan of satisfaction from him.
“With my cock buried in your mouth, you’re even more captivating.”
I swallowed as a flush of excitement raced through me, and wanting to please him further, I sucked harder, pulling at him until the unique taste of pre-cum tingled my senses. I murmured my approval and began to feast on him, willing myself to give him the best blowjob of his entire life.
“Alice,” he whispered as his fingers gripped my hair harder. I could feel him desperate to take control, to direct my devotion, but he held back. “Alice! Christ!”
Abruptly his hands left my hair and he tugged at my arm, manipulating my body around until he could grab my hips and guide my legs upwards and over his face.
Shamefully, a low growl left me when I felt his tongue slide over my pussy. “Now I can taste your beauty. And it’s just as delicious as your kisses.”
Each of his words drove my arousal into fever pitch. I’d never been with a partner that spoke during sex, never mind told me exactly what was on his mind. But I found that I liked it. Carter made me feel desirable, wanton, and I could lose all my inhibitions with him, and that in itself was a huge turn-on.
“Sweet Alice,” he mumbled against my flesh. The soft wisp of his breath over my most intimate parts made a shiver of desire trickle through my bones. I rocked over his mouth, pleading silently that he take me where I needed to go.
As if reading my mind, I yelped when I felt the sharp sting of his hand over the soft plumpness of my backside.
“Carter!”
He chuckled. “You love it.”
I didn’t argue; he was right. The faint throb on my skin only added to the pleasure he gave me and I moaned with approval when he granted me another taster of that delicate pain.
Oral sex was never something I had enjoyed before, but tasting Carter in my mouth, his frequent gift of semen making my taste buds explode with gratification, and having his face in between my legs at the same time was incredible. He rewarded my hard sucks by wrapping his lips around my clit and sucking gently, then when I teased him by running my tongue around the head of his cock, he plunged his tongue inside me and took what I offered him.
Before long I felt him swell in my mouth and his devotion on me grew frenzied. His beard scratched my thighs and his fingers bruised my hips as he grew animalistic, eating me out with a passion that I could only replicate – but without the beard.
We came together, our bodies jerking with bliss as I came in his mouth and he came in mine, our joined pleasure only heightening each other’s orgasm.
I rolled off him, panting and trembling as a sheen of sweat coated my hot skin.
“Well that’s how I want every morning to begin.”
I grinned at him when he manoeuvred himself around until he was laid beside me, upside down on the bed. His fingers softly drew across my cheek and he leaned into me, brushing a soft kiss across my mouth.
Noticing me frown, he tapped my nose. “Out with it.”
I frowned harder. “How come you can read me so well?”
“Because you’re an open book, Alice.” He smiled. “And you are the most honest person I’ve ever met. I like that I can translate every single one of your expressions.”
“I’m not sure I do,” I grumbled, but when he quirked an eyebrow, waiting for me to say what was on my mind, I swallowed and went for it. “I just… I just wondered what we’re doing.”
He shook his head. “Not sure I follow.”
I rolled on to my back and looked up at the ceiling. “Us. What are we doing? What is this between us?”
Propping himself up on his elbow he looked at me with such sadness that I braced myself for what was coming. “I was a dick, Alice. I told you that.”
“Yes, you did.” I turned on my side to look at him. Tucking my hands under my cheek I was mesmerised by the clarity in his eyes. I thought he’d have one hell of a hangover but he seemed okay. “But you never told me why you ran.”
He blinked as if confused but then clicked his tongue. “I’m not sure there’s even an answer to that.” Copying my pose, he lay his head down but continued to gaze at me. “You were the first person I’ve slept with since Elizabeth died.”
I nodded. I was surprised he’d been so honest but I made sure not to show that to him.
“Sex with Elizabeth was good.” He was open and I saw the flinch in his face at his honesty but I smiled. I would have been more worried if he’d married her and their sex life was crap. That would have been the sign of a tragedy waiting to happen – but one that happened anyway, I supposed. “But I always put that down to love, because I loved her. But then there was you.”
“Me?”
For a moment he didn’t speak and I thought he wasn’t going to clarify his statement, but he did. “Sex with you was just as good. Great, amazing… brilliant…”
“Keep going,” I joked as I preened myself with each compliment.
He laughed and leaned forward to drop a kiss to my forehead. “It surprised me. I didn’t know what to do. I had all these emotions rolling through me. Guilt because it felt so good. Happiness that you and I had gone that step further. Anger that I had let Liz down. Hope that you and I could go even further. But most of all, fear.”
I cradled his face softly, hating that he had gone through all that on his own. “Fear? Fear of what?”
The pain that covered his face almost choked me. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Fear that I would never be good enough for you. That it would happen again. Dread that I would drag you into my pathetic life when you’re already hurting.”
“Hey.” I shook my head. “You’re afraid of something that might never happen. Why worry about tomorrow when you’re living today? That’s a pointless waste. I don’t know what’s going to happen either, and like you, when everything went wrong in my life, I swore I was done with relationships of any sort. But we can’t see into the future. We’re not choosing a ring, Carter. We’re not booking a honeymoon. It’s just one day at a time.”
A soft smile curved his lips and I couldn’t help but lean forward and kiss them; they were so soft, so perfect.
“See, I didn’t think you could get more beautiful, but your heart is what stuns me,” he whispered against my mouth. “If we’re only living one day at a time, I suppose I should take what I can get while it’s today.”
I didn’t understand what he meant until he rolled me onto my back and demanded another two orgasms from me. Not that I was complaining, of course.
WE WERE LUCKY that the hotel had a restaurant that catered to the public along with its guests. Carter, after borrowing some of David’s clothes, sneaked out of the hotel main entrance and re-entered through the restaurant doors, joining all of us at a long table towards the back of the room.
The menu boasted an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, but why is it that when you’re eating with someone you like, you don’t want them to think you’re greedy, especially when you’re already carrying a couple of extra pounds?
I picked at my croissant as I enviously eyed up Carter’s pile of bacon and eggs from where I sat opposite him.
“Is that all you’re having?” he asked, pointing at my plate with his knife as he scowled at me.
I shrugged, popping another piece of the delicious pastry in my mouth. It was actually quite good and I was debating snatching up another. “I’m not particularly hungry.”
Beth, who had pushed Bray out of the way so she could sit next to Carter, smirked. “I bet you have to be careful, don’t you, Alice?”
Everyone turned to her in confusion.
“Well, it looks like you’
re one of those women who have to watch what they eat. And it all hangs around your thighs.”
I wanted to kick her shin under the table when a fierce blush radiated my face.
David glared at her and Janie paused, staring wide-eyed in a stunned silence with her fork midway to her mouth. Bray just lifted his eyebrows from where he hid behind his large mug of tea.
I didn’t know where to look. I had always been conscious of my thick thighs, and now, because Beth had commented about them, it confirmed what I’d always thought.
Carter turned to stare at her like she had a lesion right in the middle of her forehead – I wished. The usual irritated look passed across his face before he turned back to me. A wicked grin lifted his lips and I couldn’t help but lick my lips at the look of indulgence on his face. “Oh, I dunno,” he said loudly. “Alice’s thighs seemed fine to me when my face was buried deep between them this morning.”
More heat poured over my cheeks but this time a grin supplemented it.
“Way hay!” Bray leaned across the table and high-fived Carter. Janie beamed at me and I forced another piece of croissant into my mouth, trying to look blasé about the whole thing. I wanted to lean forward and smack a huge kiss on his mouth, but I just smiled and stared down at my plate.
However, unfazed, Beth continued with her cruel attack. “Yeah, I guess the size of your thighs is not something you’d worry about. I bet your stomach must have taken a bit of abuse.” A smug smile was perched on her face and she placed her chin on her fist as she stared at me.
I frowned, unsure of what she was talking about.
“I mean,” she continued, “every woman who has children suffers with those awful stretch marks, don’t they? I bet they’re scattered all over. Nature is cruel, I’m afraid. But then again, I suppose having a child outweighs the horrible and ugly side-effects of pregnancy, huh, Alice?”
Scrap the kick in the shin, I wanted to stab my fork through her bloody eyeball and see if I could force it out of the back of her head.
The self-satisfied gleam in her eyes stared right at me; she wasn’t even the least bit apologetic at what she thought she had achieved. I mentally praised myself for telling Carter about Josh before she did.
Carter stiffened, and just as I opened my mouth to bite the bitch back, his hand shot out and he gripped my hand. Giving me the faintest shake of his head, he locked his eyes with mine and devoted himself to me in just a look.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Beth.” He spoke softly but kept his eyes on mine. “Those marks are the definition of a real woman. Each scar is a signature of another milestone, another strong achievement. Every silver trophy that covers her beautiful skin is an aphrodisiac. Each one tells a story of a woman who has given the greatest gift ever. She gave life. And there’s nothing damn sexier than that.”
For a moment I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to drop to my knees and give him the best goddamn blowjob he’d ever had. I wanted to kiss his feet, even if I did find men’s feet repulsive. I wanted to squeeze him until he popped. No one had ever defended me, but Carter hadn’t just said those things to put Beth in her place, his eyes told me he spoke the truth, and he had wanted me to hear it.
I think I fell in love with him right then.
I blinked when a slow clap from across the table gathered my attention. Janie was applauding Carter, her soft smile showing just how much she cared for her friend. Bray grinned, and David sighed as if he was suddenly content.
It occurred to me that when Elizabeth died, my friends didn’t just lose her, they also lost Carter that day. They had no other choice but to watch their friend’s life end right in front of them. And when they witnessed the devotion from Carter to me, they also saw a piece of him return.
“It’s about goddamn time,” Janie whispered, her voice choked.
Carter, being the grumpy sod, scowled at her, but I could see the faint twinkle in his glare. Snatching my hand, he pulled me upright. “I’ll take Alice home with me.”
He then hauled me away from the table. I realised I hadn’t even looked at Beth to see her reaction to Carter’s words, but when he spun me around and walked me backwards into the wall, I realised I didn’t care. His kiss was as adoring, as passionate, and as hungry as ever. It was as if he was trying to verify his words with an action. I clung back, kissing him with as much adulation.
He grinned at me when he finally broke away.
“I think you just earned yourself another blowjob,” I stated boldly.
His smile widened. “I can’t think of anything better than a lazy Sunday afternoon with you wrapped around my cock.”
I swallowed at the lump that hastily formed in my throat. “On a serious note, I’m not sure you’re legally within the limit to drive.”
He shrugged, his eyes still fixed on me. “I thought we could spend the day in Newquay. By tonight I’ll be okay.”
I beamed with excitement. The thought of spending the day with Carter at the beach made my heart race. “I think that sounds perfect.”
He gave me a short nod and grabbed my hand. “Although I think you owe me an ice-cream.”
“Hell, I’ll smear it on your dick and eat it after what you just did.”
We both froze. I gawped at him in shock at what had just come out of my mouth. Carter unexpectedly broke into laughter then shook his head. “You’re on!”
I could only hope.
We had the most fantastic day. Carter took me on numerous fairground rides until my stomach couldn’t cope with any more and my head was constantly spinning. We browsed the shops and he insisted on buying me a small ankle bracelet that I fell in love with; it was only a cheap thing but attached to it was a tiny Kingfisher trinket that reminded me of the house. We walked along the beach at dusk, hand in hand as we watched the late surfers and ate ice-cream (We found a spot behind a large rock for me to keep my promise), and just before we set off home, Carter held me in his arms as we sat on the sand and watched the sunset over the ocean horizon. It was perfect, and something we had both really needed.
Carter drove slowly on the way home and I got the impression that he didn’t want the day to end just as much as I didn’t.
Plucking up the courage, I shifted in my seat to look at him in the dark confines of the car as he slid expertly through the various tight country lanes towards Mousehole.
I saw the twitch of his lips from the pale glow of moonlight in the car. “I wondered when you would get around to it.”
I frowned.
“The question you’ve been itching to ask me all day.”
I rolled my eyes. “I just wondered if… well, if you have an AA group.”
He paused but eventually nodded. “I do.”
Licking at my dry lips, I took a deep breath. “I really think you should contact your sponsor, Carter. Just for a chat.”
He glanced at me then turned back to the road. His silence unnerved me and I prayed I hadn’t gone too far.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m just worried about you.”
“Alice, I’m fine. It was just a slip up. Nothing to worry about.”
I nodded, even if I didn’t agree with him.
“And what about you?”
I shrugged, unsure of what he meant. “I’m sorry, I don’t…”
“Heroin, Alice.” He was so blunt that I winced. “You had a stash on your table. You were more than ready to hit it up before I…”
“But I didn’t,” I said defensively. “I didn’t.”
I turned to look out of the window when he studied me again. “And what if I hadn’t come along? What then? Because I have the sneaky suspicion that that needle would have found a vein, Alice.”
Blowing out a breath, I shrugged. “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “It was a bad day. A really bad time.”
He nodded as he manoeuvred the car around a particularly sharp bend. “How long were you on it?”
“Just a few months.” I couldn’t look at him, shame maki
ng me hate myself and feel unworthy of even a glance from him. “I suppose I was one of the lucky ones. A few months isn’t life threatening when you go cold turkey.”
“Still bad enough, I would imagine.” I jumped when his hand found my knee and he gave me a small squeeze. “I don’t judge, Alice. Hell, if anyone shouldn’t judge, it’s me. We all have our demons.”
“And it’s how we deal with their return that determines whether they go back to hell or not,” I said quietly, praying he would at least listen to what I was trying to say.
He huffed but then, unexpectedly, he nodded. “I tell you what, if I get that need for another drink, then I’ll phone Henry, my sponsor.”
“Thank you.” It was a whisper but my smile told him how much his promise meant to me. “I’m always here if you need to talk about stuff, you know?”
He nodded. I had a feeling I was the last person he really wanted to talk to, especially when the topic would be me anyway.
Before long we had fetched Mack from Betty’s and were pulling up outside my house.
“You hungry?” Carter asked as I slipped off my seatbelt.
“Very.”
He chuckled as, right on cue, my belly grumbled angrily. “Chinese or Indian?”
I was more excited that he was planning on staying the night. Food came way after orgasms, but trying to be mature I confined my glee and replied, “I could go for a curry.”
“Coming up.” He leaned across the seat and placed a hard kiss to my lips. “Go get yourself naked. The curry can stay warm in the oven while I eat you for starters.”
Anticipation exploded and this time I couldn’t hold back the grin as my body twitched in delight. Nodding eagerly, I gave him another kiss as Mack yanked me out of the car with his own impatient needs.
Carter laughed when I only just managed to shut the car door before Mack pulled me towards the steps in need. Lifting his hand to me, he pipped and then pulled away.
“Hell, Mack! Hang on. I’m not like you; I only have two legs!”
Realising I wouldn’t be able to keep up with him and I was holding back his urgent need to relieve himself, I flicked off his lead and laughed when he flew up the stone steps towards the house and the garden.
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