She pulled back, breathless, searching my eyes as she pumped her fist up and down my cock. I shivered under her touch.
"Cold?" she asked.
"I'm about to warm myself up," I said, pulling aside her bathing suit bottom.
She leaned into me, seeming to surrender to the feeling of my fingers entering her slick channel. But a moment later she planted her feet on the sandy bottom and launched herself away from me.
"You'll have to catch me first!" she yelled, slicing her way through the water and back toward the shore.
I groaned and then laughed before setting a pace to overtake her. She'd almost made it thigh deep when I reached out and grabbed her ankle, dragging her back towards me laughing and sputtering.
"Carson, stop!" she screamed between breaths as I dunked her repeatedly under the water.
When I finally relented I pulled her against me, wiping her soaking hair back from her face. Her breath was heavy from exertion and her cheeks were flushed from the sun, but she'd never looked more beautiful to me.
"You're so damn gorgeous," I said to her, freeing my erection, sliding her suit aside and entering her in one long stroke. "And you feel damn incredible."
She moaned as I took her there in the water, with my friends none the wiser, and her adorable daughter sleeping peacefully up the beach.
Chapter 19
Lou
Later in the evening, after we'd both showered and Carly had been fed, bathed and put to bed, I walked into my living room to find Carson settled on my couch.
He looked devastatingly handsome, his dark blond hair styled all haphazard on his head, and I couldn't remember a time when anyone had affected me the way he did. There was just something about his presence that comforted me and excited me at the same time.
He looked up at me, his soft green eyes meeting my blue ones.
"Hey gorgeous, I poured us some wine. I hope you don't mind. It's just been a hell of a week."
I smiled as I walked around the couch to sit next to him, snuggling into the pocket between his chest and his arm.
"Not at all. I could use a glass myself."
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as I settled into his side.
"Thank you for taking us to the beach today. It was Carly's first time, and I think she had a blast. You were so wonderful with her. I've never had that."
Carson squeezed me into him and then looked down to meet my upturned face just as my phone rang. I ignored it, choosing to keep eye contact with Carson instead.
"You don't want to look?"
I shook my head just as it started to ring again, and exasperated, I reached for it just to silence it.
"Ugh," I groaned, seeing it was Derek.
"What is it?"
"Just Derek. He calls and texts once or twice a month, but it's been getting more frequent these days."
"Your ex?" he asked and I nodded. "Will you tell me about him?" he asked tentatively.
I stiffened against him, not sure if I was ready to reveal all the bullshit I'd been through in my marriage.
"You don't have to, but I've been thinking about it nonstop since last week when we were at Luke's."
I sighed and sat up on the couch, picking up my glass of wine and taking a giant gulp of it, hoping to stall a little while I gathered my courage. Liquid courage.
Talking about Derek had never been easy for me. I felt blindsided by the man he turned out to be, and I didn't like reliving that time in my life. I was too naive, too trusting, and maybe even a little too innocent to understand what was happening to our marriage until it was too late. And even after, I struggled to make things work for a long, long time, probably longer than I should have. I ended up walking away numb to his indiscretions, completely devoid of emotion as he tried to tear me down, and indifferent to his pleas for me to stay. I was done. Completely and utterly done.
Taking a deep breath I looked at Carson and started spitting it all out.
When I met Derek I had just started high school. He was a manager at Mellow Mushroom in town and I had just started waitressing. He was tall, good looking, very charismatic, and always the life of the party. All the guys wanted to be his friend, and every girl wanted to be his girlfriend.
Seeing Derek at school and working with him most days of the week slowly became the one thing I looked forward to. I would see his dark head moving through the crowded hallways towards me and swoon the minute he directed his devastating smile at me.
Once we started dating it was surreal. I almost couldn't believe that the best looking, funniest, most charming guy in the whole school wanted to be with me, but he did, and he was equally infatuated.
Looking back on it, I probably should have seen some red flags. Derek would get really grumpy if I talked to other guys, or if I couldn't meet up with him right after school. He complained about me hanging out with my friends instead of him, and tried to monopolize all my time. I thought it was sweet that he wanted me all to himself, but later, I realized it was more about him possessing and controlling me.
As my senior year started winding down, he became more and more cagey. I was planning to attend a local community college, and Derek had been looking for a job after his college graduation, but hadn't found anything locally. The only option he had was a start-up company in Virginia, which offered a solid salary and benefits package, but would take him halfway across the country
When he asked me to marry him and go with him, I didn't think twice, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I packed my bags, ignored my parents pleas to give it more time, and enrolled in online college courses.
The first year of our marriage wasn't perfect, but I was content. I cooked, cleaned, studied, ran errands, and basically took care of the house and everything Derek needed. We didn't have much, but we had each other and that's what really mattered to both of us.
When Derek suggested we have kids, I balked at the idea, we were so young, and not well established, but at his insistence, I relented. At first, trying to get pregnant was fun and exciting, but as time passed, it became more of a chore than anything else.
I had found a job as a nanny to help pay the bills and save up for a baby, but when I'd get home at the end of the day, exhausted from chasing after two young kids, Derek would come home ranting about how dinner wasn't ready, the house was a mess, and how his blood pressure meds had been sitting at the pharmacy for several days without being picked up. I tried to start managing my time better so I could get everything done and keep him happy, but I was wearing myself thin.
Liz, the woman I nannied for, and I had become really close. She had a lot of trouble getting pregnant, and gave me tons of advice. We formed a bond almost immediately after meeting each other, and I was so glad to have a friend and confidant of my own. Someone who I could talk with about Derek and get advice from. Someone who wasn't part of his work crowd.
Liz was really my only friend. I had some acquaintances, but it was mostly people I'd met through Derek, and I couldn't really call them true friends. Most of the single women wanted to get to know me so they could get to Derek, and the married ones were all spouses of Derek's friends, so having Liz was like a lifesaver.
As Liz and I started getting closer and hanging out more and more, Derek grew more and more jealous in addition to berating me about my inability to get pregnant. He was always lashing out at me, saying that if I loved Liz's kids, and Liz's life, and taking vacations with Liz, that I should just move in with her and her family. He was being irrational, like he couldn't control my relationship with Liz, so he didn't want me to have it.
The first time I caught him cheating on me I was devastated. He blamed me though, saying that I drove him to it. He said a good wife would be making sure that her husband had everything he needed when he needed it, including sex, and since I wasn't home when he needed it, or didn't want to do it when he did, he found it elsewhere.
We were young and obviously had some communication issues, so we talked it out, decided
to try harder, and moved forward.
After another year of marriage, fraught with emotional and what turned into sexual abuse, and more infidelity, Derek had become a different person. Gone was the charismatic, charming, all American boy next door, and in his place was a brooding, malcontent, image of the man I had fallen in love with.
"We were never the same after that," I said to Carson.
"He sounds like a dickhead."
I nodded noncommittally because really, I haven't told Carson half of the story, and he doesn't have any idea how far beyond 'dickhead' Derek actually goes.
"So what happened when you found out you were pregnant with Carly? That must have made him incredibly happy, even if he'd already ruined your relationship."
I sighed heavily. "Carson, I'm beat, it's been a really long day. Do you think we could save the rest of the story for another time?"
"Sure," he said, standing and giving me a toe curling kiss.
After Carson left, with promises to call me in the morning and of lunch dates during the work week, I crawled into my bed exhausted, but my mind wouldn't let me sleep. It kept spinning, thinking about everything I'd left unsaid that night, and about the huge secret I was still keeping from Carson.
Chapter 20
Carson
The next few weeks flew by and Lou and I had been spending as much time together as we could, Carly included. Things were going better than I could ever have hoped, and I was increasingly excited about what the future held for us.
"Carson," my dad said, walking into my office. "We didn't get to do dinner after the scare with Caroline missing, so your mother and I are planning to do that this weekend instead. Caroline and Luke are coming, and we'd love it if you could make it as well."
"Thanks Dad. I have plans to take Lou out though. Rain check?"
"Nonsense, just bring her with you. I won't take no for an answer," he said, ducking back into the hallway.
I cracked my knuckles and turned to my keyboard, deciding to fire off a message to Lou before I forgot about my dad's invitation.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: A Family Affair
Hey Beautiful,
Dad just stopped by. He wants us to come out to the house for dinner with him and Mom. Caroline and Luke will be there and dad insisted we bring Carly.
Free Saturday?
- Carson
Pressing send, I turned to some files I'd been working on, trying to sort out some client complaints about one of the account reps who was recently let go.
A while later I looked up when my e-mail dinged.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Monty Python
Hey Babe,
I'm free Saturday, but I'm worried. Are you sure I should bring Carly?
XO, Lou
I laughed at her reference to Monty Python.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: No Spanish Inquisition
Lou,
I assure you there is nothing to worry about, they just want to get to know you better.
P.S. I doubt they've ever seen or heard of Monty Python. Nice reference though, I'm impressed.
- Carson
I hit send and waited a moment, expecting an immediate reply, which came a second later.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Gwyneth Paltrow x2
Okay, we'll go. I'm trusting you.
P.S. I've never seen Monty Python either, but I love that movie Sliding Doors.
XO, Lou
Furrowing my brow I quickly pulled up Google and searched for Sliding Doors. After reading a brief synopsis of the movie it seemed to be some sort of romance about a girl whose life is sent in two different directions, not my usual thing, but with an apparent Monty Python reference, it made the short list of movies I needed to see, and I made a mental note to watch it sometime soon.
**
"Are you sure this is okay? I feel awkward," Lou said as we pulled up to the house.
"It's fine, believe me. My parents already love you, I know they're going to love Carly just as much, if not more. My mother has been talking about grandkids nonstop since Caroline and Luke got back together. Hopefully Carly will provide enough of a fix to get Caroline a short reprieve."
Lou's nervous laughter filled the cab of the truck as I reached over and took her hand in mine.
"Trust me," I said to her, looking into her eyes.
"I do," she said, giving my hand a squeeze and then opening the door to climb out.
Lou grabbed Carly's diaper bag and I unbuckled her from her car seat, pulling her into my arms. As soon as my mother laid eyes on Carly she fell in love.
"Who is this beauty?" she asked, stealing her from my arms and disappearing with her into the house, leaving Lou and I to follow.
"See, love at first sight," I whispered as we set down our things and went to find my mother. She was in the kitchen with my father, Luke, and Caroline who were oohing and ahhing over Carly.
"Lou, she is the most adorable thing! I just love these little blonde ringlets. She reminds me so much of my babies when they were little," my mother said, and I noticed Lou stiffen against me.
"She's my world," Lou gushed before attempting to relax in my arms.
Catching my sister's eye, I smiled. "Got a second? There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Sure," Caroline answered. I released Lou as Caroline lead the way into the hall. "What's up?"
"You know how I've never told anyone else about Meg?"
"God Carson! How can you bring her up when you have Lou in the other room?"
"Listen!" I grumbled at her, irritated that she was always interrupting me. "Lou is Meg. She didn't tell me her real name the night we met."
"Oh my gosh!" Caroline said, her eyes widening. "Eva mentioned something about a comment you made over 4th of July, but I didn't put two and two together until now."
"I just wanted to tell you since you're the only person I ever told about Meg to begin with."
"That's so amazing Carson! No wonder the two of you took to each other so quickly. I'm really happy for you, and thank you for telling me. I think I'll sleep easier knowing you aren't dreaming of one woman while dating another."
I rolled my eyes at her as she patted my cheek and then made her way back into the kitchen, with me close behind.
After dinner Caroline and Luke stepped out onto the porch and my mom pulled out Caroline's and my baby pictures to show to Lou while my dad asked to speak to me in the office.
I closed the door behind me while my dad poured two glasses of scotch at the mini bar. Walking over to the two high back leather chairs in front of his desk, I sat down as he handed me a glass of scotch and sat opposite me.
"What's going on Dad?" I asked as he settled into his seat.
He took a sip of his scotch and set it down before clasping his hands over his belly and looking at me.
"Your mother and I are very proud of you, son. You've come a long way from the party boy you were a year ago. You buckled down, got your head on straight and your priorities in order. You've only been with the company for a short time, but I'm already hearing great things about your work ethic and your people skills. I see you going a long way with the company, son."
"Thanks Dad, that really means a lot to me," I said. My dad had never been one to sugar coat things, so if he was telling me he was proud of me, I knew he meant it, which just made it that much sweeter.
"Since your grandmother died your mother and I have been spending a lot of time out here in Bluffton. We've always loved the area, the slower pace of life, the small town atmosphere. So, we've decided we're not going to sell the house, and instead we're going to move into it fulltime."
"What does th
at mean for Caroline and me?" I asked, since we'd both been living at home recently.
"Caroline isn't planning to go back to Savannah now that she and Luke have worked things out and I know you've been looking for a place...."
"Unsuccessfully," I interrupted him. "But don't worry, I'll figure something out."
"Carson, listen. What I really called you in here to talk about is the house in Savannah. Your mother and I paid it off a few years ago, and since we're planning to live here in Bluffton, and you're already settled there, we'd like to deed the house to you, if you want it."
My eyes grew wide and my thoughts started racing as my dad's words sunk in. Having the house in Savannah to myself would be amazing. I grew up there and I loved it. I could see myself raising a family there one day, hopefully with Lou.
"Are you serious?" I asked.
"Well, you'd have to handle the property taxes and the insurance, but on your salary you should easily be able to manage it," he added.
"Dad, I don't know what to say. This is amazing. Thank you so much."
I stood and so did he, hugging and clapping each other on the back.
"Don't mention it, son. I do have some paperwork for you to sign though, and then we better rescue that pretty girl of yours from your mother."
"You're right. She's probably telling her every embarrassing moment of my childhood." I shuddered thinking of all the ridiculous stories my mother had tucked away just for an occasion like this.
"I hope she hasn't pulled out the picture of you in Caroline's leotard and tutu," Dad chuckled as he pulled out a folder of papers and handed me a pen.
"God, I hope not," I laughed. "I'll never live it down."
"Oh, before I forget, Captain Scott is taking the boat down to the Bahamas this week. There are some tournaments coming up and I want to get her down there and ready. I'd like it if you could head down with me this weekend. We can do a little fishing, and lobstering too if you're up for it. Bring Lou, it'll be fun."
I spun the pen in my fingers as I contemplated an answer. I loved the Bahamas, especially the small island my dad visited where he built a house, but I wasn't sure if Lou would be willing to leave Carly. Sure, we've spent nights away from her, especially when Lou was helping to look for Caroline, but leaving Carly and going out of the country, not being able to get back immediately if there was an emergency? I wasn't sure Lou would go for that.
Emergence (Awakening Series Book 2) Page 9