Lizzy (A MacLaughlin Family Novella)

by Krystal Shannan

  The sun was starting to drop already, changing the sky from blue to orange. Maybe they could eat outside and watch the sun set over the hills across the lake.

  A door slammed behind her back at the house. She looked over her shoulder. Ethan was getting their bags out of the truck. He waved at her again, but this time beckoned her to him. She waved back and made her way down the dock to the sidewalk and up to the patio. The flagstones of the patio were striking reds and tans, reminding her of the sunset starting to mix at her back. A pergola shaded part of the porch and then the other half was completely covered from the weather. Jasmine grew in pots near each post and laced its way through the trellis above the large table.

  The scent of the flowers was intoxicatingly sweet. She moved past them, and hurried inside to the kitchen. Ethan was standing over the sink, washing a bunch of grapes.

  “Hey, baby. He smiled.

  She walked up next to him and he leaned down, placing a kiss on her cheek.

  “Hungry?”

  “Yes. I was just exploring a little. You didn’t tell me how lovely it is out here.”

  “This was my grandfather’s pride and joy. When I was a teenager, he’d take me out here every weekend. He left it to me when he passed.” He turned off the water and put the grapes on a towel to dry.

  She plucked one and popped it into her mouth. The sweet and tart was just perfect. “It must have been a wonderful place to spend so much time.”

  “It was. Some of my fondest memories are in this house or out on the boat with him.”

  “You sound like you were very close to your grandfather.”

  “When my mom died, he took me in at fourteen and raised me. So he really was more of a father to me than my dad.”

  “What happened to your father?”

  “He was wasted most of the time and got us kicked out of almost every apartment I remember living in. And, if it wasn’t him causing problems, it was my half-brother. I think they are partly to blame for me entering the military.” He heaved a sigh and leaned his hip against the counter.

  She reached up and cupped his face. “Your grandfather would be proud of the man you are today, Ethan.”

  “I think so, too.” He smiled, covering her hand with his, then pulling it to his mouth and kissing her palm. “I know he would have adored you.”

  Heat rose in her cheeks. His lips against the palm of her hand had made her whole body shiver with excitement. If she was a cat, she would have purred, instead her stomach growled, completely ruining the moment.

  Ethan burst into laughter and heat flamed in her cheeks again.

  “Stop laughing at me. I can’t help it.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” He walked her around the counter and helped her into a barstool. “What would you like for dinner? I was going to cook out burgers, but—”

  She frowned. Meat had not been her friend lately and after the nauseous spell at the wedding reception, she wasn’t in a hurry for a repeat performance.

  “I see by your scrunched face, I was correct in yanking that idea. So… I stopped at a corner store while you napped and got a variety of bread products to go with the fruit and cheese I packed.”

  “Yeah, my stomach has been a little out of sorts lately. But, bread and cheese and a little fruit sounds perfect.” She glanced outside at the changing sky. “Can we eat outside? The sunset is just gorgeous.”

  “Sure. Let me get us some tea and I’ll meet you out there.”

  “I can help. I really do feel fine.”

  “Let me pamper you some.” He shooed her out the door and she wandered over to an uncovered portion of the patio with two chairs and a small square table between them. The wooden chair was surprisingly comfortable. She leaned her head back and soaked in the multi-colored kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, and yellows. So beautiful. She closed her eyes and listened to the waves on the lake.

  “Are you sleeping again?” He chuckled as he put down a tray of food and two glasses of iced tea.

  “No!” She turned abruptly to face him, catching the tail end of a wide grin. Tease. “I love this place. I don’t know how you leave it behind and come back to the city again once the weekends are over. I could live out here permanently.”

  “I’m glad you like it. I’d hoped you would.”

  “How do you have the time to keep it so immaculate?” Her mom was a neat freak, but this place resembled a photo in a magazine.

  “Oh, I have help. Greg takes care of the outside and his wife, Terri, makes sure the inside stays in order. She also stocks the fridge for me every Friday.”

  “Who are they?”

  “They live down the road a couple miles. My grandfather hired them to take care of the property several years before I inherited it.” He sat in the chair next to her and grabbed a cracker from the plate. “They already knew the property, so I kept the same contract with them my grandfather already had.”

  She bit into a sweet grape and couldn’t help the little moan of pleasure that slipped from her lips.

  “Good?”

  Their gazes locked and she nodded. “Thank you. It’s all delicious. I know it’s not what you’d rather be eating.”

  His eyes darkened. Or maybe it was the light from the sun fading to blues and purples.

  “I would much rather a taste of you,” he said.

  Nerves fired throughout her body, sending arousing flutters of anticipations across her skin. The ever-present hum of her libido kicked into high gear and her pussy throbbed. She wanted the same thing. After so many weeks of sneaking around, trying to find a moment to be alone…Now they had a whole two days.

  “I think I might need a tour of the inside of the house, particularly the bedrooms.” She stood from her chair and took a step toward the back door. The hint was not lost to him. He leapt from his chair, grabbed her hand, and pulled her along behind him.

  They rushed through the back door and living room. “I’ll give you the real tour later. Right now, I just want you.” He paused in front of a closed door and cupped her face in his hands.

  She couldn’t imagine anything better than that. “I want you, too.” And she did. Her body was crying for the attention, impatient to have him inside her, filling her.

  He pushed open the door and led her inside. The bed was a large four-poster king. The bedding was a deep red and matched the curtains. The walls were dark brown. The wall the headboard was against was covered in an embossed gold wallpaper. It was masculine, but cozy. The lighter hardwood and ivory rugs helped break up the dark colors. Even though it was nothing she would have picked, she loved it. It was Ethan. And, she was madly and deeply in love with him. Getting to see this place was like getting to see an entirely different side of him.

  His hands were all over her, squeezing her ass, caressing up her torso, and sliding beneath her shirt. Take it off. Her brain wanted the clothes off them both. She kissed him and tugged at the hem of his t-shirt.

  He removed her shirt first and then obliged her by swiftly yanking his off as well.

  She ran her hands up his sculpted torso, chest, shoulders, and then down his arms. He smiled at her and stood still.

  “We don’t have to rush.”

  “I know.” The raspy quality in his voice and slow Texas drawl melted her brain cells.

  “I…You…” She blinked. “Just tell me what to do. Anything you want.” She was his to command and found that concept freeing.

  He moved her to the bedside and laid her back on the mattress. “Before you do anything for me, I’m gonna make you scream in pleasure.”

  A shudder slid down her spine and she relaxed into the bed as he slipped her pants and underwear from her lower body. He knelt on the floor between her legs and placed each of her calves over his shoulders. Warm air from his mouth caressed her bare mound.

  “You smell so sweet, baby. I can’t wait to taste you.”

  The muscles in both legs flexed as he wrapped his arms around them, holding her hips still. His tongue gra
zed her clit and she gasped. It wasn’t going to take much to send her careening over the edge.

  He sucked gently on her clit and then thrust his tongue inside her channel. She arched into the caress and moaned. More. She wanted more. She wanted his cock deep inside, moving and filling her completely.

  “Please, Ethan,” she begged, but didn’t know what to ask for. The lower half of her body trembled, ready to fly at a moments notice.

  He released her hips and placed a hand on her abdomen. He pressed down and licked her from slit to clit, making her squirm and moan. Then he slipped two fingers inside her vagina and pumped slowly, focusing his tongue in circles around her swollen throbbing clit. He brought her so close, but wouldn’t touch it. Exquisite torture.

  “Ethan,” she panted, drawing in breath in short labored gasps. The ache had spread across her entire body and a light sheen of sweat coated her skin.

  His pace increased and he pulled the whole of her swollen nub into his warm mouth. She screamed as the world shattered around her like the night sky on the Fourth of July. The raw power of her climax arched half her body off the bed. He only held on tighter, coaxing a second wave of pleasure to crash through her body, leaving her panting and limp on his bed. How he expected her to be able to move now was beyond her comprehension.

  He scooted her to the middle of the bed and kissed her softly, taking first her top lip into his mouth and then the bottom lip. The musky flavor of her juices roused her from the encroaching grip of sleep.

  “Be right back, baby girl.” The mattress flexed and bounced as he backed off and stepped away. The familiar sound of a condom wrapper woke her the rest of the way from the euphoria of her orgasm fog. The bed dipped and she spread her legs, welcoming him to her body. She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled his mouth down to meet hers.

  He moaned into her mouth. She slid her legs around his waist. His cock nudged her slick entrance and she arched her back. He thrust deep, filling her completely. She gasped and whimpered. His kisses became harder, more demanding. She gave what she had and took everything he offered.

  He yanked down the bra she was still wearing and pinched her hardened sensitive nipples. She squeaked in surprise, but moaned when he sped up his thrusts, driving deep enough to press against her womb.

  “Mine,” he growled deep in his chest.

  “All yours,” she murmured into his ear when his mouth moved to her neck. She clung tightly as he drove in and out. Slow. Then fast. Then slow again.

  A twinge of pain shot from a nipple. He was rolling it between his fingers. The electric response zinged straight to her pussy. Yet another climax began to swirl and build. He knew exactly how to wind her up and the releases were nothing short of spectacular.

  “Ethan. Ethan,” she panted, the orgasm rising, tightening her muscles.

  “That’s it, baby. Fly for me one more time.”

  “Yes!” The guttural sound tore from her body as she fell over the precipice into the perfect haze of pleasure only an orgasm could provide. Her pussy clenched down and she dug her fingers into the muscles of his arms. The sensations overtook her and he thrust once more, claiming his release with a throaty shout.

  His weight settled on her chest and she focused on the important task of drawing in and exhaling breath. Her eyes closed. With each breath, more muscles relaxed, until she was merely a lump beneath his massive form.

  “I’m a fan of taking our time,” he said, his voice rumbling pleasantly.

  A grin split her face. “Totally.”

  He rolled to his back, releasing her, and left the bed. His form disappeared into the shadows of his en suite bathroom.

  She turned on her side and snuggled into a downy soft pillow. Ethan’s scent filled her nostrils and she sighed. This was where she wanted to stay.

  <><><>

  He walked back into the bedroom after washing up. She was silent in the bed. He could barely make out the soft sounds of her breathing.

  Climbing into the bed, he scooted next to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her soft naked body close to his. He cupped one of her breasts and fondled the nipple. She made the cutest little whimper and swatted at his hand. He released the nipple, but refused to let go of the breast.

  “Shhh…” he cooed in her ear. She murmured something incoherent and he grinned. Completely worn out. He rested his head next to hers, breathing in a her jasmine infused scent. Peace enveloped him and he drifted to sleep. She was what he’d been looking for. Her smile made each day worth living.

  5

  Hunger twisted at her insides. She rolled away from the comforting warmth of Ethan’s body and slid from the bed. Her feet hit the chilled hardwood floor and she gasped. A shiver shot down her spine. She peered back at Ethan. He was quiet and his face wore a contented smile. Nature called and she walked into the bathroom.

  No toilet paper. Typical guy. A smile tugged at her mouth. She opened a few cabinets in the semi dark, hoping to find his treasure trove of teepee. The urge to go grew stronger and she hurried through more cabinets. Getting frustrated, she flipped on a light and continued hunting. What finally caught her eye was the edge of a pink box. A pregnancy test! The bright pink box might as well have had a neon sign above it flashing —I think you’re pregnant. How could he torture her like that? It was cruel. After she’d shared everything. Told him she was broken. Now he thinks I pregnant. He acted like he understood. He’d said it didn’t matter. Apparently, he’d lied. A sob slipped between her lips. Fine! He thinks I’m pregnant. I’ll take the damn test and leave it on his nightstand before I call a cab home. Asshole.

  She ripped open the box and took the test with her to the toilet along with the roll of paper sitting innocently next to it. At least she found some paper too.

  Moments later she was back at the bathroom counter staring at her splotchy reflection in the mirror. The test lay in front of her, the result screen still blank. The instructions on the wrapper said it would take three minutes for a result to show.

  She walked to the corner of the bathroom and dug out a pair of underwear and a t-shirt from her bag and pulled them on. She ran a brush through her scraggly hair and sighed before returning to the counter. One glance down changed her life. Holy shit! Two pink lines cut straight through the display window. And they were dark. The test seemed quite sure of itself. He was right. I’m pregnant. I can’t be pregnant. How?

  She walked silently out of the bathroom, and through the semi-dark house to the kitchen. Food was needed for this crisis. Pulling open the refrigerator door, she grabbed a container of orange juice. She stared at it for a few minutes before her mind remembered she needed a glass from the cabinet. She poured some and went to sit at the kitchen table.

  Leaning back in her chair, she touched her stomach with her fingertips. It couldn’t be real.

  Something moved outside and she stood to get a better look over the half-length curtains. The glass was cold against her hand as she leaned in close for a better look. A masked face appeared directly in front of her on the other side of the glass.

  “Ethan!” She dropped the orange juice. The glass shattered and she ran for the bedroom. More glass shattered behind her. The intruder was coming inside. “Ethan!”

  She nearly collided with him in the hallway. He’d pulled on a pair of boxers and was tugging on a t-shirt. “A man…T-there’s a man...”

  His demeanor morphed. His body became rigid and he yanked her back into the bedroom and pushed her to the floor. “Get under the bed and stay there.”

  “I…”

  “Now.” His was voice was deep and the commanding tone resonating through her terrified brain.

  She slithered under the bed into the tight space between the floor and frame. There was just enough room for her to center herself and stay out of reach.

  Ethan opened the drawer of his nightstand and closed it again before moving stealthily out of the bedroom. Something crashed and she held her breath. Another loud thump vibr
ated the floor and then a shot. Sounds of scuffling and another crash followed more breaking glass. Her body shook. Ethan would be fine. He was a trained soldier and FBI agent.

  Booted footsteps came toward the bedroom. No. No. No. Ethan was barefoot. This was the intruder. Where was Ethan?

  “It’s amusing that Ethan thought hiding you under the bed would slow me down. Of course I guess it’s either there or the closet.”

  The intruder’s boots walked to the other side of the room. Lizzy turned and moved away from the sound. Tears blinded her vision. Where was Ethan? Was he dead? Had this psycho killed him?

  Fingers brushed against her ankles and she screamed, scooting away from the man who was determined to pull her out from under the bed.

  “Fuck it!” A gun cocked and fired, hitting the floor only inches from her head. Then another. And another. He was firing through the mattress.

  She screamed again, terror filled every pore and rational thought was fleeing from her mind.

  “Come. Out.”

  She slid out the opposite side and leapt to her feet. She made it halfway down the hall before the intruder’s beefy arms closed around her waist.

  “Let me go! Ethan!”

  “My little brother’s gonna be out for a while,” he whispered into her hair. The stench of whiskey was thick on his breath. Little brother? Wait! Out? Not dead! Thank you, God.

  He pulled her down the hallway and through the living room. Ethan lay on the floor, still and his shirt had blood all over it.

  “No! No!” She kicked and thrashed. The intruder groaned, but didn’t loosen his grip. Warm liquid smeared on her hips and legs. He was bleeding, too.

  “Ethan!”

  “Come on now, Lizzy. We’re going outside to play a game of hide and seek.” He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her through the broken back door. The glass cut her feet, but the only thought in her mind was Ethan. “You know how to play, don’t you? He shoved her to the ground. The stone scraped her hands and knees. “I already played with my ex wife. Ethan thought he was helping her disappear. She didn’t win the game.” He smiled. His eyes were dark and cold in the moonlight. Hard. “The cops will probably find her body washed up on the beach any day. But now, I’m going to play a round with you.”