“I’m in.”
I took a shuddering breath at his words as he paused. I wanted more, so I waited.
His voice was silky smooth as he spoke to me. “I know that’s what you are afraid of. I know why you ran. I should have told you about Bryce, but I wasn’t as sure then as I am now. I know this is all really soon and I know you will barely be divorced, but this is something we both know is worth taking the risk for. There’s no question of what’s going on here. Come back, come fall in love with my son like you want to. He will love you back. There are two men here that could really use you around.”
I sank to the bed next to my open suitcase. “I couldn’t handle falling in love and pushed aside like that again. I don’t think I can go through it again. And with you—with you, Rhys—I know how much it would hurt,” I admitted.
“I’m in.” Those two words were all I needed.
“Okay,” I said hoarsely.
“Okay.”
I hung up with him then called the airlines. I was scheduled to fly out first thing Friday morning, unable to get an earlier flight due to the holiday.
I quickly texted Rhys my flight info and told him I would be at his house by noon on Friday. I couldn’t handle hearing his voice any more tonight and not being with him. I went to sleep dreaming of two sets of grey eyes that held my heart.
R: I burnt my fucking turkey. How is that even possible? Don’t these things have to cook for hours?
V: I’m sorry. I just pissed in my bikini laughing at you. I’ll have to get back to you on that one.
R: It’s only noon and this day is a disaster.
V: If it makes you feel better, I forgot to thaw my chicken and have to eat a frozen burrito.
R: No, it doesn’t. It makes me sad. There are three other turkeys left for us. I’ll save you some. We can have a picnic in bed.
V: A picnic in bed sounds kind of romantic.
R: I can be romantic. I can do one even better. I heard a song while I was cooking and thought of you.
V: Really? You have a song for me?
R: Yeah, with a kick ass guitar solo.
V: Uh huh. Send me the link.
R: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFAcjKnak1M
Oh God, I was pretty picky with my music. I sat staring at the link, wondering what kind of music he could possibly be thinking of me to. I bit the bullet and clicked the link and damn near had a heart attack on the beach.
The man was a fucking miracle.
It was Thanksgiving and I couldn’t get to him fast enough. Halloween—aka my birthday—had sucked as well. Christmas better damn well be good to me. After another day of sunbathing, I took to my favorite chair on the back deck and called my mother.
“Hi, Mom. Happy Thanksgiving,” I said, hoping she didn’t hear the sadness in my voice.
“Baby girl, I sure hope you are relaxing and enjoying yourself.”
“I am. It’s beautiful here, Mom,” I noted, staring at the ocean as the waves rolled in and the sun blazed in the background, making it’s descent.
“Good girl. Have you talked to Rhys?”
“Every day for hours. Mom, he’s wonderful, like a truly amazing person.” I felt my voice shake. Why the hell was I getting emotional?
“He is,” she agreed, waiting for more.
“He has a son. A baby named—”
“Bryce, I know, honey. He told me in the hospital. He showed me a picture. He’s got to be the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen, aside from you, of course.”
“Wait,” I interrupted, “you knew about his son?” My whole body came alive in a jolt as she confessed to me.
“Yes, he told me he hadn’t introduced you yet but would remedy that when you got home in one piece. That man is in love with you, Violet. I got to know him pretty well. It can happen when two people are worried sick and stuck in the same room together for hours.”
He’d told my mom, which meant he had every intention of telling me. My heart filled then burst.
“Mom, remember when you told me I didn’t need a man for anything?” The quiver in my voice returned, along with a burn in my throat.
“Of course.”
“I think I need him,” I said, wiping tears from my face. “That’s why I’m here. I can’t stop needing him.”
“Oh, baby, you are in love with him. You want him. But if you had to do it alone again, could you?”
“Yes…no…I don’t know. When it comes to him, he’s got me pretty good,” I said, burying my head in my free hand and trying desperately not to fall apart on the phone with her. She would only worry, when the truth was they were tears of relief.
“You are coming home early, aren’t you?” She was smiling. I could tell.
“Yes, Mom.”
“See you soon.”
V: I’ll be at your house in twenty minutes.
R: Jesus, did you just send me another picture of you half-naked on the beach?
V: I took it yesterday.
I got no response.
My heart was pounding out of my chest. The entire plane ride all I could do was think about his smile, his laugh, his kiss, his touch. I knew so much more about him, and yet it seemed like useless details compared to … simply … the way we felt. When he and I were together the world fell away and I knew for certain this—this, what I was feeling right now—was the way you were supposed to feel when you fell in love. I pitied the previous me who had lived so long without it.
I all but ran through the airport, dragging my luggage like it was a nuisance. I couldn’t remember ever wanting someone this bad. I had proven to myself that I was capable of being alone the last year of being married to Alex.
Now the truth of it was, life was just much fucking better with Rhys.
I would do this for me. I would allow myself to be happy. I would take a chance with Rhys and I would do it afraid.
I parked on his pavers next to his sedan and flew up his steps, running my fingers through my hair.
Suddenly the door was open and there he was. My chest was rising and falling as I took Rhys in. His forearm rested against the jam and he was leaning casually as he studied me. I heard the song he sent me playing in the background and my eyes filled. God, I was gone on this man. He took me in from head to foot and I couldn’t move as he drowned me in a sea of grey.
“You’re becoming very cheesy and romantic, Sir,” I said, my voice raspy and breathless.
“What do you say we break the curse of these steps right now?” He took two steps forward and I was in his arms, his mouth covering mine with his kiss. We both moaned, desperately pulling and pushing with tongues and hands. And then I was in the air with my legs wrapped around him, holding on tight as he carried me into the house and up the stairs. As the music grew more intense, I buried my head in his neck, breathing him in. I had listened to the song at least a hundred times by now and felt every word. Soap and spice filled my nose and I moaned a hello as I welcomed it. He put me down on my feet at the top of the steps and stood back, taking off my shirt slowly. I stood with my breasts exposed and peaking for him as he slowly unbuttoned my jeans, keeping my eyes on his. My lips parted as he slid them down my legs along with my panties and removed my shoes. I waited naked before him as he perused my body. He cupped a breast and moved his hand slowly up to my face, tracing the scar under my eye with his thumb. I let a tear escape me as his thumb slid up and down my cheek gently. He moved his other hand to my face and pulled me to him, capturing my mouth, thrusting his tongue deep. My knees buckled and he caught me, hooking my legs with his arms and taking me to his bedroom. He laid me on the bed and spread my legs, eyeing my drenched middle as he pulled his shirt over his head with one hand. Moving slowly, he tugged his jeans and briefs down, and then I was covered by his sculpted chest and his broad shoulders and the face that had ruined me for all others. He slid his fingers inside me and I heard his groan. Grazing my clit lightly, his eyes filled with lust and I mourned the loss of his fingers as he pulled his hand
away to remold and shape the contours of my body. His lips traced my front half, covering every inch of skin; then he turned me over and repeated his explorations with his lips and tongue. My limbs hummed as he turned me again, pulling me under him, spreading me out and massaging my thighs as he dipped his head and licked the divot in my neck. His tip was at my entrance and I gasped at the feel of him. He put my hand over his chest.
“This is home.”
With one thrust I was gasping his name. He moved inside me, grinding his thick cock so hard I dug my nails in his shoulders roughly, wrapping my legs around him tight as I pulled him deeper. He traced the scar on my neck with his lips as he circled his hips, making love to me slowly but with so much friction, I was on edge. I ran my hands over his chest and down his arms as he lifted me with his strokes, his eyes telling me everything.
“Rhys,” I whispered as his lips hovered above mine, my whole body shaking underneath him. He kissed me deeply, capturing the gasp from my orgasm and not letting me free. When my spasms subsided and he had no more breath to steal, he tore his mouth from mine. I looked up at him with everything in me and said the words that had been on the tip of my tongue that I could no longer keep inside. “I love you.”
He closed his eyes and came.
I had exhausted her last night before we finally took a bath together, passing out just before dawn. When I opened my eyes this morning, she had stolen my breath. I traced the curve of her hip with my fingertip. The scar on her cheek had healed so beautifully, if I didn’t know it was there, I might have missed it. The larger one on her neck was a beautiful shade of pink. I moved my fingers over it gently. I couldn’t stop touching her. Her tan lines had me hard again as I traced every single one. Her hair was a little lighter than it was the last time I saw her. Her breathing was sweet and even, passing through the most perfect set of lips possible on a woman. I knew she was sleeping well and had to resist with everything I had to keep from waking her. I trailed my finger around her nipple and it pulled tight for me. She moaned before her lips slowly formed a smile.
“You were faking?” I said, smiling down at her as her eyes fluttered open.
“Only for the last few minutes,” she whispered. I was instantly on her.
“You aren’t tired of me yet?” She grinned as she opened up for me, wrapping her legs around my hips, urging me to sink into her.
I looked down at her beneath me and pulled her bottom lip into my mouth as I mumbled around it. “I really hope you don’t have any other plans this weekend. Come here.”
I pushed my need away and sat with my back to the head board and pulled her onto my lap.
I placed her between my legs, facing away from me so I cradled her. Her breath hitched as I rubbed her nipples with my fingertips, burying my head in the side of her neck, tonguing it and pulling at the skin gently.
“Rhys,” she begged as I opened her legs between mine, lifting them at the knee. I smoothed her stomach with my hands then brushed her sides gently with the backs of my fingers. She tilted her head back and moaned as she looked up at me. I took her mouth, thrusting my tongue in slowly. She kissed me more aggressively and I dipped my finger low and felt her growing wet. I grabbed her hand and brought it between her legs, tracing the tip of her clit lightly back and forth with her fingers. She gasped in my mouth then pulled away.
“Rhys, I can’t,” she said as she attempted to pull her hand from my grasp. I kissed her deeply and brought it back down, dipping her fingers inside and pulling it back up to her clit, making slow circles and pressing it tightly just where I knew it affected her the most. She gasped again and I knew she’d felt it. Her breathing picked up as her perfect breasts rose and fell with her spike of desire.
“Right there, move your fingers like this.” I circled her fingers and she dropped her head back against my shoulder and started moving them as I’d told her. Her moans increased as she was pulled in by her own touch.
“Feel that, right there. Faster,” I whispered in her ear as I guided her fingers, seeing the goose bumps form on her arms. She called out to me and I nearly lost my shit as my cock twitched. Fuck, this was perfect. I felt her legs begin to shake and let her hand go, rubbing up and down her sides and laving her neck with my tongue.
“Oh God, Rhys.” Her voice was hoarse, letting me know she was on edge. I felt her body start to break. I bit her shoulder gently and she came, by her own hand, in my arms. I gripped the side of her head with my hand, pulling her hair and trailing kisses down her neck as she shuddered. She looked up at me, her eyes dazed.
“Do it again,” I whispered to her. “For me, do it again.” She lowered her hand and licked my lips as she continued to work her pussy. I felt the flex of her thighs as she moved her fingers faster and once again came apart in my embrace.
“Now let me drink it,” I said, moving her off my lap and turning to hover above her. She looked up to me, wide-eyed.
“I told you so.” I grinned before making my way down between her thighs to lap up her handiwork. She smiled and nodded as I kissed my way down, sucking and licking her until there was nothing left while she writhed beneath me.
I sat up in bed and stretched fully, my limbs weak from two days of endless lovemaking with a side of viscous fucking.
“Good morning.” I looked to see Rhys staring up at me as he adjusted his head on the pillow to get a better look, gripping it behind him.
“Hi,” I said, leaning over to kiss his beautiful face. He pulled me to his chest and ran a hand up and down my back.
“Stay another day. Bryce is coming home in a few hours.” He held me close to his chest, caressing my face, my shoulder, my arms.
“I want to, I do, but I need to get home, unpack. I promised my mother I would come have a late Thanksgiving with her. I don’t want to interrupt your routine, either.”
“You wouldn’t be interrupting,” he whispered, taking my mouth.
“Morning breath, Rhys, jeez, doesn’t it bother you?” I covered my mouth with my hand.
“Nah, I like it dirty.” He moved my hand and plunged his tongue into my mouth as I pushed at his chest, caving to his tender kiss.
An hour later, we were at his front door and I was having a hard time keeping my clothes on. Every time I went to reach for my coat, we were again kissing and stroking and touching.
“You know you want to stay,” he whispered as he brushed my hair away from my face.
“I feel like we’ve had this conversation before,” I said, pulling him closer. I couldn’t get close enough and it seemed neither could he. He smiled and reluctantly let me go.
“Be careful, and tell Pam I said hello.”
“Yes, your new best friend and my mother. I’ll make sure to let her know.” I stood there as we grinned at each other and then I remembered my conversation with her. “You told my mother about Bryce, before you told me. Why didn’t you mention that? I would have been a lot less hurt.”
“I want you to believe me, especially when I tell you something important, Violet. Me. Not anyone else.”
I nodded and turned the knob, looking back at him. “Why do I feel like if I leave the bubble will burst?”
“We had a rough start, but now we won’t let anything shake us, right?” He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my lips.
“Right.” I made my way down the steps, practically dancing, and gave him a wink as I turned to walk to my car. I got behind the wheel and buried my forehead on the top of the steering wheel, saying a late Thanksgiving prayer. I prayed like I was accepting an academy award. I couldn’t believe my new reality. I heard my phone ping.
R: What in the hell are you doing?
I looked up and saw him watching me from the porch. I turned crimson.
V: Gathering my thoughts, Rhys. A little privacy, please.
I watched him look at the message and smile.
R: Were you talking to yourself?
V: No.
R: I saw you talking to yourself.
; V: If you must know, I was praying.
R: Praying in my driveway?
He was laughing hysterically now and I laughed with him as I replied.
V: Don’t you have anything better to do than spy on me?
R: No, there’s nothing better to do than you.
V: Cute. I’m leaving.
R: Bye, beautiful.
I made it to my mother’s and had the turkey and dressing I’d loved since I was a kid. It was amazing and a perfect end to my weekend. My all-knowing mother beamed at me throughout dinner, and questioned me in her roundabout way.
Thoughts of Rhys and our picnic in bed kept me warm on the drive home. Truly comfortable in my own house for the first time since my attack, I settled in that night, heart and stomach full. Right before I drifted to sleep, I got a picture.
It was of Rhys holding his sleeping son. Rhys was grinning, though he looked exhausted. Bryce had his little hands gripping his t-shirt, his eyes closed and mouth open, his long dark lashes covering half his chubby cheeks. The message attached said “Godzilla for sale.”
Caring for a woman was easy for me. I had always cared for different women for different reasons.
Loving a woman had always been quite a bit harder.
Doms don’t have to say I love you.
I got my companionship and sexual satisfaction through my relationships with my subs, but in truth, I could never really classify them as real relationships. I had heard the words ‘I love you’ out of a woman’s mouth on more occasions than I’d ever cared to, mostly in bed. Making a woman come repeatedly had its disadvantages, especially if her feelings got involved and it wasn’t mutual. And up until this point, it never had been.
Often they confused sexual chemistry with love, and I would have to break it off carefully once they confessed their affections. There was a fine line. I used to think I wasn’t capable of loving a sub, until her … but when it ended the way it did with Bryce’s mother, I was sure it was just poor judgment. She fascinated me with her wicked ways and what I once thought was so intriguing became what I was most disgusted by. Three years wasted on a woman who had almost taken my son’s life before he’d had a chance. She was my past.
The Last Dance: Sexual Awakenings #3 Page 4