by Lacey Black
A huge round of applause erupts in the room. “And now, let’s dance,” Erin says with a smile.
Music from the small band begins as couples around the room rise and head towards the dance floor. “Dance with me, beautiful,” I say to Lia before I place I kiss on her bare shoulder.
She doesn’t answer, but turns and stands before me. She’s fucking magnificent in that gown. I take her hand and slowly make my way towards to dance floor. Jake and Erin are already on the floor, spinning and swaying to the music.
“I meant what I said earlier,” I whisper softly into Lia’s ear. I inhale quickly, sucking in all of her sweet scent.
“What was that?”
“You are the most beautiful woman here tonight,” I tell her confidently. She smiles that beautiful smile as she lays her head against my shoulder. We sway back and forth to whatever oldies ballad the band is playing. “You blow me away, Lia. When I’m with you, I want things I haven’t wanted in a very long time. I want to imagine the future and a life with you in it,” I confess. I’m nervous to say the words, and I tried to stop myself from saying them, but I just couldn’t. I’m spewing my guts in the middle of the damn dance floor like some love-sick sap.
Lia looks up with tears in her eyes. My lips descend on hers as if completely on their own. I love feeling her in my arms and I damn sure love the feel of her lips on mine. Mine. That’s what she is. I claim her as my own in a total caveman, barbaric way. The gentle touch of her tears between our cheeks is my undoing. I long to take every ounce of pain away from her in this moment. Everything. No horrible past. No fear for today. No worry about tomorrow.
“You’re in public,” Jake chastises from next to us. “Don’t give the old ladies something to gossip about tomorrow at the salon,” he adds with a smirk.
“What about you? You’ve had your hands all over your wife all night,” I say.
“Well, we’re still in the honeymoon phase. No one is going to be surprised when we sneak off to the storage room in about five minutes,” Jake says with that cocky smile of his. I know that smile. I have one that matches.
Erin laughs nervously from within his arms. “Behave yourself, cowboy. These people are paying for my new library project, and I don’t want them to put their wallets away just yet because you can’t keep it in your pants for one evening,” she says with a rueful smile.
Lia and I laugh at my brother and his new wife. It’s hard to picture Jake before Erin, and the fact that they’re having a baby just makes the picture that much more complete. He’s a lucky bastard.
The song is nearing its end when I see Vicki walking towards us in a long black gown. She looks good, but she’s nothing compared to the woman currently in my arms.
“May I cut in?” she asks from behind Lia. I feel Lia tense in my arms as she turns to look at the woman behind her. I’m just about ready to reply to Vicki when I feel Lia start to pull back.
“Actually,” I start, grabbing a hold of Lia and pulling her back in my embrace. “This dance is for Lia. Vicki, this is Lia. My girlfriend,” I say, slowly so that there’s no question as to who I’m holding in my arms.
“Nice to meet you, Lia,” Vicki says without extending her hand. “Girlfriend? Wow. I never thought I’d see the day.” Vicki seems to give Lia the once-over before turning her attention back to me. The smile she gives is pleasant but I can detect the hint of sadness. “I’m glad to see you happy, Nate. Enjoy your evening,” she adds before she turns and walks away.
That went well. Actually, that was better than I could have imagined. There was no scene. There was no drama. Nothing. Vicki walked away, even if she might have wanted more. She knew that what we had was temporary. Lia is permanent.
After several more dances and a walk-through of the silent auction tables, I gather Lia in my arms and prepare to make our escape. The party is winding down now, and I’m ready to take her back to my place and make slow, sweet love to her body. I’ve been hard since she pressed against me during that first dance.
I head over and kiss my mom on the cheek. “Good night, Mom.”
“Good night, Nate. Good night, Lia,” Mom says as she leans over and wraps Lia up in a motherly hug. The same hug I see her give my sister and sister-in-laws. I want that for Lia. Family. Something she’s never really had before. I’m all too ready to share mine with her.
“We’ll see you tomorrow night,” I say as we head out.
I place my hand on her lower back and guide her towards the exit. The dress dips dangerously low in the back; to feel bare skin along with the soft satin material is a big cock-tease. Her skin is warm and soft and I can’t wait to feel so much more of that bare skin shortly.
We’re inside the car and heading towards my house a few minutes later. I move our linked fingers up to my mouth, placing soft kisses along her knuckles. I hear her breathing hitch as I run my tongue along the soft bumps of her fingers. I slowly start the art of seducing her. I press down a little more firmly on the gas pedal - I can’t help it. I need to get her home. Now.
The car is barely in my driveway when I have the ignition shut down and the door open. I move with long strides towards her door and have her out a moment later. I pull her flush against me, leaning her back against the warm metal of the car. I close the door as I devour her mouth with my own, threading my hands in her long hair. God, she tastes so damn good.
“I need you inside, right now,” I growl against her lips.
“Take me inside, Nate,” she whispers just before taking another kiss for herself.
I growl, again, and lift her up. Thank fuck for that slit in the dress. It’s the only thing that saves the material from being ripped apart when she wraps her legs around me. My legs take big strides to get to the house. I’m up the porch, unlocking the door, and slamming the door closed behind me within seconds.
I press Lia against the back of the front door. She grinds her sweet wetness against my painful erection as we continue to make love with our mouths. My hands are everywhere. Her hair. Her neck. Her breasts. I need this damn dress gone. Stat.
I spin around and practically sprint to my bedroom. Once inside, I don’t lay her down on the bed; no, not yet. First, I want to slowly remove that tease of a dress from her delicious body.
Lia stands before me and my eyes don’t know what to feast on first. Her hair frames her beautifully flushed face. Her breasts are practically spilling out of the top of that amazing dress. Her leg is exposed just enough through that slit. I want it all.
I find the zipper at her side and slowly - painfully slowly - tug it down her body. The dress begins to part and the top starts to fall away. What I find underneath steals my breath away. There is no air in this damn room anymore. My eyes practically bug out of my skull as I take in the goddess in front of me. Lia shimmies until the dress falls loosely around her hips then pooling into a pile of red material at her feet. She is wearing a red lace corset, red lace panties, and garter belts. Fucking garter belts. I almost come in my pants like a teenager and probably would if she were to moan right now.
“Damn, you take my breath away,” I finally say, not taking my eyes off of her for one second.
Lia tugs on my shirt, pulling it out of my pants. Her fingers fumble with the small buttons and the cuff links. I try to help, but end up ripping a few buttons off in the process. “Fuck it. I’ll buy a new one,” I say, as I rip the shirt off me, the rest of the way.
Her hands send lightening through my veins as she touches my bare chest. I release the button on my pants and let them fall to the floor before I pull her flush against me. Her body is hot and soft. The red lace scratches against me in the most delicious way. My lips find her neck; the long, slender column is so enticing.
Lia pulls away and sets herself back on my bed. Our eyes are glued to each others as she lies back on my covers. She looks like a beautiful goddess in red lace lying there. I want to - no, I need to - worship her body. Right. Now.
I make quick work of removing my
shoes and socks and releasing my pants from around my ankles. I reach for my nightstand and pull out a condom from the drawer, setting it down on the pillow next to her head.
Lia pulls me down for another earth-shattering kiss. Her lips are urgent and intense and match my own. I run my hand down her torso, feeling the stiffness of the corset. She is a vision in red.
I reach the junction of her legs and find the lace material already wet. Soaking wet, clear through. I suck in a deep breath and remind myself to take it slow. Lia doesn’t need me losing my shit and taking her urgently. She needs me to worship her for the beautiful woman she is.
I push aside the material and stoke her wetness. Her body shakes under my touch and her eyes flutter shut. Her nub is already swollen and practically pulsing against my finger. I know that a few more seconds of concentrating on that part of her body and it’ll be over for her.
Well, for the first one of the night.
I rub my thumb around and run my tongue down her neck. Her thighs quiver against my legs and it takes all I have not to thrust myself deep inside of her right here and now. She’s so damn close.
I pull away from her neck and run my tongue down her body. Her breasts are peeking out of the top of the corset and there’s a sexy little strip of bare stomach visible between the corset and the panties. I move my hand under her ass and pull it up towards me. The act pushes her glorious pussy up. It’s practically begging for my mouth, so I don’t deny myself any longer. She tastes like a very aroused woman as I lick and suck on her core. Her hands dive into my hair, holding my head firmly in place as she grinds against me.
“Nate,” she moans breathlessly.
“I want to hear you,” I mumble against her sex, the vibrations of my words sending her closer to the edge.
I dive my tongue deep inside of her - as deep as it will go - as I continue to rub around on her clit. It takes a matter of seconds before Lia is screaming my name in ecstasy. Her juices coat my mouth as I savor the taste and feel of her coming against me.
I find her mouth with my own, loving the taste of her arousal mixing in our kiss. We don’t speak as I reach blindly for the condom on the pillow. I make quick work of sheathing myself before I move fully between her thighs.
I pull back from the kiss and look deep into her blue-gray eyes as I move myself to her entrance. Our eyes remain locked as I slowly push myself inside of her. Her breath hitches, but her eyes only show pleasure. I pray that my eyes show the same reaction because the feel of her body surrounding mine feels so fucking right.
I return my mouth to hers and slowly pull back out. When I reach the tip, I slide back inside in one slow, fluid motion. Lia’s hands grasp my back. The bite of her nails is almost my undoing as my hips flex a little harder this time. My lower body starts to take over and moves on its own. I make love to her body, mind, and soul. She’s the one. She’s the one I want forever.
“I love you, Lia,” I whisper against her open mouth.
She inhales audibly and tightens her legs around my waist. I look into her stunned eyes. Her eyes fill with unshed tears and so much emotion. “I love you, too,” she whispers as a stray tear falls down the side of her face. I use the pad of my thumb to swipe the tear away but several more follow.
I find her mouth again with mine and give her a deep, passionate kiss. I want her to know how much she means to me. I want her to know that I haven’t said those three words to another woman, in fourteen years. Hell, has there ever been another woman before Lia? Hell fucking no. I’ve been waiting my entire life for Lia.
My pace picks up as the emotion of this moment takes hold. I feel her insides start to tighten around me which makes me grow even harder. I move my arms to frame her head and bring my lips back down to hers. Her tongue feels like a bolt of lightning with each flick against mine.
Just when I think I’m not going to be able to hold off any longer, Lia’s insides grip my cock, pulling me hard inside her. I struggle to move as our joint orgasms rip through us. I pump hard as my body spills its seed deep inside of her. I whisper those three little words over and over again as her nails scratch the shit out of my back. It’s the most satisfying pain I’ve ever felt. It’s that reminder that this moment is real; not a dream.
I hold her flush against me for several minutes. I don’t want to move. I don’t want to pull out of her body. I want to stay right here forever.
My dream? She’s right here, underneath me.
She’s the one.
Chapter Twelve
Lia
Nate’s weight on top of me is fulfilling. Hearing the words he spoke while we made love and finally saying them back is the most gratifying feeling. I don’t want to see it end. But I know it will.
Another few tears slip from my eyes as Nate nuzzles my neck with his nose.
“Don’t cry, baby,” he whispers as he rolls to the side, pulling me with him. He’s still buried deep inside of me, and I don’t want him to pull out. I know when he pulls out that it’ll be for the last time.
More tears leak as Nate gently wipes them away. I hold on tight as we both hold each other in the aftermath of our lovemaking. And that’s what that was. It was passionate. Complete. Love. The way I always imagined love to be.
Nate slides out of me and pulls me against his chest. The blond dusting of hair tickles my chest as he tucks me into the crook of his neck. His arms are strong and tight around me and his leg goes over both of mine in a protective manner. The room smells like sex and sweat and it’s just the way I want to remember this night, because when I leave here, that’s all I’ll have. Memories.
Nate pulls back ever so slightly so that he can remove the condom. He ties a little knot on the end and slips it in the garbage can underneath his nightstand.
I try to fight the sleep that is taking hold. I want to stay awake and memorize every breath he takes, every curve of his body, every feeling I have with him against me. Nate’s breathing starts to even out and his hold on me starts to relax. Tears silently fall against his chest as I’m lulled to sleep by the steady beat of his strong heart.
“I love you, Lia,” he whispers as he dozes off to sleep.
“I will always love you, Nate,” I whisper back as I close my eyes, absorbing all I can from this moment.
My dream? Nate is the missing piece of my soul and that breaks me because I can’t stay. I will never forgive myself if I bring my nightmare to the doorstep of those I love and care for the most. It’s the way it has to be.
So, tonight, I will hold him tight.
Tomorrow, I must let him go.
*****
I am awakened before the sun, by the ringing of a phone. Nate is softly snoring next to me, and it takes a few seconds before I disentangle myself from his big body to get to the noise. It’s coming from inside of my clutch purse. I dive for the phone before it can wake him and notice the number; it’s not one I recognize, but it’s local so I answer.
“Hello?” I whisper from a crouching position on the floor.
“Amelia, love. I’ve been looking for you,” the voice on the other end of the line says. My blood runs cold and my heart rate spikes. My hands start to tremble and I almost lose grip on my phone.
“Garrett,” I whisper.
“Amelia, Amelia, Amelia. You’ve been a very naughty girl, love,” he says.
“What do you want?” I whisper, trying to keep the fear out of my voice and failing miserably.
“Oh, Amelia. You know what I want. I want you,” he says coldly.
“You can’t have me. I’m not a possession, Garrett.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong, love. You belong to me. Not that piece of trash fireman you’re shacked up with right now,” Garrett bites out.
My eyes widen then instantly land on Nate’s calm, sleeping face. Garrett knows exactly where I am. Garrett has found me.
Run.
“What do you want?” I whisper.
“You, Amelia. Even though you left me in the mid
dle of the night when I wasn’t looking, then ran off to whore yourself around with half this town, I still want you. See, you’ve always belonged to me.” My breathing is labored and my body is raked with chills. It’s not so much the words he’s saying as the way he says it; calm, yet so disturbing and completely unsettling. “I’ve been watching you whore around with that man for weeks now, Amelia. He has a very nice family, doesn’t he?” The threat is obvious. “You have thirty minutes to gather your things, get out of that house, and come to my hotel room. You will return with me to Daytona, where you will take the punishment you deserve. Do not run off again, Amelia, or the punishment will only be that much more severe when I finally get my hands on you. Thirty minutes, Amelia. Thirty minutes or I come to get you,” Garrett threatens sternly into the phone.
“The hotel on Main Street. Room 325. Do not run, love. I will find you again.” The phone in my hand disconnects and my vision blurs from the tears I didn’t realize I was shedding. I glance at Nate as he sleeps peacefully in bed, completely oblivious.
I have to go.
Now.
I quickly reach for the bag of clothes I brought with me. I dig out a pair of shorts and a tank top, and slip them on. I’m in such a hurry that I don’t even bother with undergarments. I check the bag to make sure I have everything else I packed. When I made this bag yesterday after discovering the gift that Garrett left me, I stuffed as much clothing as I could fit in it. I grabbed all of the cash I had, which is quite a bit since I never opened accounts. Accounts can be tracked.