Beautiful Ties

by Alicia Rae

  “You did this all…” I paused, feeling overwhelmed with emotions. “For me?”

  “Yes.” He nodded, unleashing one of his shy smiles that I hadn’t seen very often. “I thought you might be hungry after your meeting.”

  My insides warmed, and butterflies replaced the hunger in my stomach. I didn’t know what I had ever done to deserve this man, but I was never letting him out of my sight—ever. Unable to restrain myself, I barreled forward, throwing my arms around his nape, and I kissed him reverently. His hands came to my hips, steadying me, as he matched my fervor while stroking his tongue with mine. Reluctantly, I drew back, and he let out a content sigh, dropping his forehead against mine.

  “God, I love it when you kiss me like that.” He grinned. “Are you ready to eat?”

  “Yes.” I smiled, tilting my head up at him.

  He sidestepped to the left and pulled out a chair for me. “I hope you like lasagna since I found the ingredients in your cabinets,” he teased.

  “I love pasta,” I replied, taking a seat.

  Jason came to his side of the table and sat down. He lifted a large spoon, and then he placed a serving on my plate before putting a larger one on his own. He pulled aluminum foil off of another platter and handed me a slice of bread.

  “Thank you,” I said, lifting my fork to take a bite. The lasagna had been cooked to perfection, and I moaned under my breath while chewing. “Wow, this is really good. Where did you learn to cook so well?” I asked.

  “Thanks.” He chortled. “My mom is a big cook, and she always dragged me and my two brothers into the kitchen, saying that her boys would learn how to make meals,” he said with affection in his voice.

  “My mother always cooked with us, too. For some reason, I was never able to master the skill. I seem to have a gift for either burning or undercooking food,” I said before taking another bite.

  Jason swallowed a mouthful and then grinned up at me. I could tell he was remembering some of my disastrous meals.

  “Yeah, you do.” He smirked playfully. “I must say I prefer burned over raw though.”

  “True,” I agreed. “But now, I know you’ve been holding out on me all this time. You’re such a fine cook that I think you should take over dinners,” I teased.

  His eyes danced with humor as he looked at me over the candlelight. “I think I can handle that.”

  Throughout the rest of the meal, we carried on conversations about this and that. I told him more about my meeting and how pleased I was that I had been able to close the sale. I felt proud of myself for never wavering during the meeting, and I was confident that my backbone was firmly back in place since the mishap with Frederick Adams.

  I brushed over my conversation with Diane in the parking lot, still feeling confused as ever about the whole situation. When telling him about Diane’s response, I could see a brief irritation and sadness arise in Jason, so I quickly covered the topic and moved on, not wanting to sour our evening. I knew he wanted to be there for Pearl just as much as I did, but I could see how much her situation bothered him. I wondered what else I could do in order to make it better for all of us. I firmly believed that if there was a will, there was a way, yet with so many unpredictable circumstances I had no power over, I kept coming up empty-handed. Feeling powerless was an awful feeling, and I promised myself that I would find a solution soon.

  I steered the conversation back to him moving in. Jason informed me that he had made another trip back to his place and moved a few more boxes before unpacking all of them. I was amazed at how much he had accomplished since I left this morning.

  Once we finished eating, we cleared our plates and cleaned the kitchen. A smile was firmly etched into my features the whole time, thinking of how domestic we must look and how natural it felt to have him permanently in my home. I put away the last dish as Jason gathered me in his arms from behind.

  “Now that dinner is done, I have something to show you.”

  Intrigued, I pivoted to face him, and I curled my arms around his shoulders. “What’s that?” I asked with excitement in my tone. He is full of surprises today.

  “You have to come with me to the bedroom.” He grinned wickedly while his eyes shimmered with a boyish look.

  Anticipation spiked within me, and I wondered what he had up his sleeve next. “Okay,” I answered.

  Whatever he had to show me must have been important because it had him gently wrapping his hand around my wrist before he tugged me in the direction of the bedroom. I laughed at his enthusiasm while I tried to keep up with his eager pace. After entering the room, I saw a large present sitting on my bed. It was wrapped in silver paper with a big blue bow on the front.

  He stopped at the edge of the bed, maneuvering us until we were face-to-face. His hands lifted mine in between the center of our bodies. “I’ve wanted to give this to you for a while now. I went back to my apartment this morning, and I realized that today felt like the right day. I knew this belonged here now,” he said in a serious tone, gazing into my eyes.

  Before I could respond, he reached for the gift and handed it to me. It was square and tall, so I rested the bottom edge along my mattress to balance the object. I looked between him and the present. My heart started to pound erratically within its confinements.

  “Open it,” he breathed.

  With shaky fingers, I tore a wide section at the top seam of the paper in a downward motion across the front. I gasped as I saw a mixture of blues and whites making up a familiar sky. My eyes whipped to Jason’s, seeing them glow with a profound sense of satisfaction at my response.

  “Keep going,” he urged with a smile.

  I ripped off another part of the paper, revealing green shades of pine trees and then sparkling blue water, and I continued removing the paper until I reached the browns and tans of the dock.

  My favorite dock.

  I was moved beyond words.

  He had bought me the canvas at the art gallery—the one I had dearly wanted but could not justify the price.

  Once completely uncovered, my vision blurred with tears threatening to spill onto my cheeks. I blinked them back, only to feel a knot lodging in my throat, as I gazed up at him. “You bought this for me? When?” I asked, trying to rationalize my thoughts.

  “Shortly after I saw you looking at it that day in the gallery,” he answered. “I could see the way it had captured you and how much it meant to you. I wanted you to have it.”

  I shook my head, glancing back down at the canvas, as I balanced it with my left hand. “But it cost so much. I don’t think I can accept it,” I said, knowing it was too expensive of a gift.

  Wordlessly, Jason lightly put his hand on mine. He gently pushed backward on the canvas until it was lying flat on the bed. His hands came to my waist, pulling me against him. My breathing was audible as I waited for him to speak. His eyes were expressive, searching mine, as he lifted his hand and ran the back of his knuckles down my cheekbone.

  “Abbey…” he said my name with a certain softness that had me weakening at the knees. “I’m in love with you. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to say the words.” He brushed a tendril of hair off my face and tucked it behind my ear. “But when I went back to my apartment today and saw this painting, all I could think about was how my world rises and falls with you.” He slid his thumb across my jaw and tipped my head up until he was looking directly into my eyes. “You have my heart tied in knots, Abbey. Every part of me is woven with thoughts of you.”

  My heart and mind were reeling. He loves me. I placed my hands on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart beneath my palms. I ran my trembling fingertips upward while gathering my thoughts.

  “I never expected to fall this hard or this fast,” I breathed, meeting his eyes while speaking from my heart. “The things you make me feel inside and the way you look at me as though I’m all you see make the word love seem as if it’s not enough to describe what I feel for you.” I cupped the back of his nape, delvi
ng my fingers into his hair. “It’s so much more powerful than that.”

  Bending his head forward, he kissed my cheek and then my nose. He abruptly pulled back. His eyes, consumed with a burning desire, bore into mine. A loving grin spread across his features before he nestled his cheek against mine. “So, does that mean you love me, too?” he asked in a lighthearted tone, pulling back to look at me once more.

  I tightened my grip on him like he was a lifeline, and I released an unreserved laugh. “Yes.” I nodded, knowing he had captured my heart, my body, and my soul in every possible way.

  I saw passion flash in his eyes a second before his luscious lips crashed over mine. Needing him more than my next breath, I surrendered my mouth to him. Our tongues twined with one another, causing my insides to erupt with my own scorching need. His hands gripped my sides as he pivoted me, and the back of my knees bumped into the bed. He moved his left hand to lift the canvas from its spot before carefully setting it on the floor.

  Returning his attention back to me, he gently eased me to the mattress and climbed atop of me. His talented mouth found mine again, and he kissed me with a tenderness that overwhelmed my senses. He lowered his hands to the hem of my blouse and lifted it over my head, and then he removed his own shirt. I arched into him as I reached around for the clasp of my bra. I undid the silky material, freeing my breasts to his gaze. Jason’s eyes feasted on my bare chest. He dipped his head down to seal his lips over the firm peak, swirling and sucking, and then he nuzzled the underside of my breast. He dragged his lips across the valley of my breasts to repeat the process on the other side.

  I writhed beneath him. A low whimper seeped out of me, sounding low and full of pleasure, as I shivered uncontrollably. The muscles in my belly contracted on the brink of release. Lowering himself on the bed, he trailed sweet kisses down my abdomen. His hands came to my sides, and he wedged my black skirt up my waist. He slid the thin silk of my panties down my legs and moved his hands to cup my behind, drawing me closer to his mouth.

  His hands moved to slip between my thighs, gently easing my limbs apart. With the slightest touch, his tongue brushed along my folds, caressing the sensitive flesh. My sex throbbed impatiently, and my hips had a mind of their own as I bucked into him. A hoarse and heady primal sound left his throat, followed by one firm stroke of his tongue over my swollen clit. Everything clenched, tightening and pulling from within me. I cried out at the intensity of my climax as it broke through its invisible barrier, sending vibrations through every fiber of my core, as I exploded around him, making me see stars. Dazed and breathless, I drew in mouthfuls of air into my famished lungs.

  Jason gave me a moment to recover as he shucked off his pants and briefs. He came up and over me while gazing down into my eyes. His gorgeous smile hit me hard, square in my chest, momentarily stopping my heart. Yearning to feel his lips on mine again, I sat up and laced my arms around his neck before taking his mouth for a chaste kiss. With slow, precise movements, he fell backward, taking me with him while never breaking our connection, positioning us so that I was lying astride him. My hair pooled on either side of our faces, closing us in. Jason raised his hands and raked his fingers through my long brown locks all while kissing me intimately, like he was a starving man who would never get enough of me. I eagerly matched his fervor, delving my tongue with his.

  I could feel his thick arousal pulsating against my inner thigh, and I maneuvered myself until I was sitting directly above him. His eyes landed on mine, and the feral yet ardent look in them had me mesmerized.

  All I could see was him.

  Without breaking eye contact, he gripped my hips and oh-too slowly pulled me down on him, burying himself to the root. My mouth fell open into a silent O-shape, and I splayed my palms out on his chest to keep myself upright. Together, we found a rhythm—up and down, slow and steady—creating an exquisite friction that rubbed along all my sensitive spots. Tension coiled deep in my belly, so much tighter than ever before. Jason lowered one hand between us, thumbing my clit, and in the next second, I shattered around him. My arms gave out at the intensity of my orgasm. I folded partially forward as his hand met my cheek, and he fervently kissed me, claiming me, and then he let out a groan as he found his release.

  Once we regained our breaths, his right hand hugged around my waist. He pulled my back onto his chest, burrowing his nose into my hair. His body surrounded me, fitting like a glove, as though he was made just for me.

  I awoke on Sunday wrapped in Jason’s arms, feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the world. I snuggled into his warmth, listening to the steady in and out of his breathing, not ready to leave his side yet. Of course, my phone buzzed right in the middle of my relaxing moment. I rolled over and grabbed it off the nightstand, squinting to read the name. A huge grin broke across my face at seeing Ryan’s name displayed on the screen.

  “Ryan?” I squealed delightedly into the phone. “Has my little niece finally decided to make an appearance?” I asked, full of hope.

  Jason stirred next to me as I heard Ryan’s elated chuckle.

  “Yep. Kate has been in labor since two in the morning,” Ryan said.

  “Oh,” I said, counting the hours in my head. That sounds like torture. “How’s Kate holding up?”

  “Well, she got her drugs.” He chortled. “The doctor said Annabel was now facing head down and that Kate is dilated to six—whatever that means. We should have a baby soon.”

  “Uh…I don’t know baby language any better than you,” I admitted sheepishly, feeling silly. “But I caught the soon part. We’ll be there as soon as we can,” I added.

  “Okay, I’ll see you then,” Ryan said, sounding like he was smiling into the phone. “Oh, and Abbey?” he said my name as a question just as my doorbell rang.

  My heart did flip-flops in my chest at his tone. Happiness did not describe what I was feeling right now. It was way, way more than that. There were no words.

  “Yes?” I answered, rising from the bed and striding forward.

  “I’m going to be a daddy today,” he said in complete awe.

  My steps faltered at the threshold of my bedroom door. “Yes, you are.” I smiled, resuming my walk to the foyer. “Congratulations, new daddy.”

  “Thank you,” he responded. “See you soon, and drive safe.”

  “I will. Bye,” I said before hanging up.

  I opened the front door. Pearl was standing on the other side, dressed in a snug pair of jeans and a black-and-white polka-dot shirt. She beamed up at me, and her smile was infectious.

  “Hi, Abbey!” She lifted a book in her hand to show me. “This is for my book club at school. I was hoping you could help me read it?”

  “Actually, my brother, Ryan, just called. Kate is having her baby today. Would you like to come with us to the hospital?” I asked her.

  “To see a little baby?” Her eyes went wide. “Of course!”

  “Okay. Just let me check with Diane really quick to make sure it’s all right with her. Then, maybe we can read your book when we get back.” I gestured her inside and shut the door. “Is she working today?”

  “Yes,” she replied gloomily, hopping up on the stool at my kitchen island.

  Phone still in hand, I slid my fingers across the screen and opened my Contacts list. I tapped on Diane’s cell number I had saved last week.

  She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Diane.” I ambled over to stand at the counter across from Pearl. “It’s Abbey.”

  “Yes, I know,” she replied into the phone, her tone brisk.

  I ignored it. “My brother is having a baby today. Would it be okay if I took Pearl along to the hospital with me?”

  “That’s fine. Just have her back before bedtime. Did she bring her school book with her?” She continued on before I had the chance to answer, “Pearl needs to have the first three chapters read by tomorrow for school.”

  I loved helping Pearl with her homework, but the fact that Diane was
now expecting me to do so burned my biscuit. I abruptly turned around, striding forward, so Pearl would not see the sour expression on my face. I bit back my anger and forced myself to smile at the outline of my reflection bouncing off the refrigerator.

  This lady and I are due to have another chat.

  “Sure,” I replied, hearing Jason greet Pearl behind me. “I’ll help her as soon as we get back.”

  “Thank you,” Diane replied curtly, sounding anything but grateful. “Bye, Abbey.”

  She ended the call before I could even say good-bye. My hand slightly clenched around my cell, and I had to ignore the urge to launch my phone at my refrigerator. Closing my eyes, I silently counted to three while listening to Jason and Abbey talk. I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and spun around to face Pearl and Jason.

  Jason gazed at me with that perplexed look in his eyes.

  Pearl broke our connection. “Did Diane say it was okay for me to see the baby?” she asked, her tone full of optimism.

  I glanced down at her and nodded. “All set to go. Just make sure you bring your book, sweetie. We might have some time to start reading it while we wait.”

  “Yippee!” Pearl shrieked happily.

  “I have to get dressed, and then we can go. I’ll be right back.”

  I moved around the island, and I could sense Jason’s eyes on me, but I didn’t look his way because I didn’t want to answer questions in front of Pearl. I beelined straight toward my bedroom.

  After passing the threshold of my room, I went to my walk-in closet. I skimmed over the clothes, wanting to meet my little niece for the first time in something cute. I selected a loose-fitted Kenneth Cole skirt. The material had a graceful flow that rippled down to just an inch or two above my knee. I reached for a pink V-neck silky shirt, smiling over the thought that the color pink seemed very fitting today. Items in hand, I walked over to my dresser and opened it. I chose a pink lacy bra set to match my selection, and then I sauntered into my bathroom to change out of my pajamas.