by Candace Shaw
“Yeah, I figured it would.”
He reached back to the table, popped the cork on the bottle, and proceeded to pour the champagne into the two flutes. He handed her one and sat on the couch next to her with his glass pointed toward hers.
“You want to make a toast?” she asked.
“To you, of course. Thanks to you my dull backyard is now an oasis of peace and tranquility. I sincerely appreciate all of your hard work in creating a refuge for me to enjoy after a long day at work.”
“You’re welcome.” She clinked his glass, and they both sipped on the champagne.
“So, how does this roasting marshmallows work.” He grabbed the bag and opened it.
“Just put it on a stick and set it over the fire for a few seconds.”
“All right. Let’s try it.”
After about ten minutes, they’d both gone through three marshmallows before getting it just right. Some had fallen right into the fire and some were too burnt to eat.
“I think this one is perfect,” Traci said, pulling it out of the flame. She blew on it before biting into it. “Mmm … this is good. Do you want the rest?”
“Certainly.” He leaned over and slid it off of the stick with his teeth.
Traci licked her lips at the sight of his teeth pulling on the marshmallow just as he’d pulled on her panties during the massage.
“Okay, let me try to get this one right.” He slid a marshmallow on his stick and set it over the fire. Traci raised his arm some so the gooey treat wouldn’t burn.
“That looks good,” she said as he lifted it out and blew on it.
“You can have it,” he said, placing it to her mouth. She bit into it, and dragged the rest off of the stick and into her mouth. “Delicious, huh?” He reached out with his finger and wiped the side of her mouth; at the same time she swished her tongue over to lick a piece that she felt on the corner of her lip. Instead, she licked his finger and she froze. They stared at each for a few seconds while his finger still lingered in her mouth. She kissed it lightly, and in one swoop he grabbed her up on his lap and sunk his lips on hers, showing no mercy as he ravished her senseless.
Moans of relief and her pent up desire for him rushed through her as his sweet tongue met with hers. She knew this was wrong, but he felt so damn good as their kissing intensified with every touch of his lips on hers. He tugged the scrunchie out and raked his fingers through her hair, pulling her further into his mouth. Holding unto his neck for support, she wrapped her legs around his waist. His lips left hers, awakening a frustrated sigh to escape her throat. She wanted him to continue kissing her, and yet she wanted his heated lips on her neck, breasts, and anywhere else he sought. Sean was sending her on a whirlwind of pure ecstasy. What the heck was she thinking when she’d told him she didn’t want to see him again. And miss out on his long tongue stroking and tantalizing her to the point of vaguely remembering where she was?
“I need to tell you something,” he said on the side of her neck as he nibbled and tugged on her skin.
“What?”
“I need to tell you why I stopped us from going any further the other night.”
“Well, it sure as hell wasn’t because you didn’t have any condoms.”
He jerked his head up and gazed at her with a sly smile. “And how do you know that?”
Shoot. I wasn’t supposed to say that.
“Um … I kinda opened a drawer and saw them, but in my defense Caitlyn had me convinced you had some kind of sex slave room considering I saw that whip and handcuffs.”
“Uh huh. Cute. No, dimples, I don’t have a sex slave room, and the toys didn’t belong to me. I’m not the black Christian Grey.”
“Sooooo … you aren’t mad at me?”
“No. I’m glad you told me. I sort of figured you must’ve seen them considering when I went into the drawer a moment ago, I noticed one of the boxes was turned a different way. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m sort of a neat freak and everything has its place. That’s my OCD.”
“I’ve noticed. So what do you want to tell me?”
“The reason why I stopped us from going any further is because I needed to make sure I didn’t have any STD’s.”
She wasn’t expecting that answer at all. “Oh. Do you?” Her heart beat sped up as she awaited his answer.
“No. I had my test on Monday and it came back yesterday. I’m good, but I just wanted to make sure before we went any further. I would hate to lose you over something like that.”
“Have you ever … I mean … you’ve …”
“Yes, when I was in college. It was curable, thank goodness. I was stupid, didn’t use a condom, and … well, let’s just say after my father gave me a penicillin shot, we had a man to man conversation. I’ve used condoms ever since, but I still get paranoid and so every six months or so I get tested for everything.”
“Well, I just had my yearly pap a few months ago so I’m good. Of course, I haven’t had sex in who knows when, but I still have the STD panel done during my exam since Raven always insists.”
He placed his hands on either side of her face. “Now do you understand why I wanted to wait?”
“I do, and I thank you for that. A lot of men don’t care or even think about such things.”
“So now tell me your reasons for not wanting to see me again.”
Her brow creased. “I’ve already told you.”
“No, you never gave a clear reason.”
She sighed for she knew she hadn’t. “I just think its best that we don’t see each other anymore because you love your single life, and I want more than just a fling.”
“So do I, and have from the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“You may change your mind one day.”
“Are your dimples going away?”
“No.” She tried to muffle a smile but couldn’t. He always had a smooth way to make her do exactly what he wanted.
“Then neither am I.” He kissed each dimple as she giggled.
“Okay, we’ll try it your way. Keep in mind, if you hurt me my brother is in the Army, and even though I’m the oldest, he doesn’t play when it comes to his baby sister.”
“I have three sisters … trust, I understand.”
Lifting himself off of the couch while she was still clinging to him, he carried her to the outdoor bed. He laid her down on it and proceeded to close the sheers.
“We’re outside,” she reminded.
“And?” he asked, pulling her legs around his waist and staring down at her.
Goodness he was riveting and yes, she wanted him, but … “You have neighbors.”
His brow raised and a cocky grin inched up his left cheek. “You’ve noticed the ten foot tall, brick privacy fence surrounding my backyard, right?”
“I may get a little loud,” she whispered.
“There’s no may about it. You will get loud, but my neighbors behind me are in New York for the rest of the month. The house on the right is for sale and vacant. The house on the left is an half an acre away and the teenagers usually play their music or video games so loud I totally doubt they can hear anything outside of their house.”
“Well, in that case—” she started, but couldn’t finish as he lowered his lips to hers.
Chapter Eleven
Sean placed hard yet tender kisses down Traci’s neck until he reached the first button of her shirt. He teased his tongue along the top her cleavage and slid it back around her collarbone as sensational moans sighed out of her mouth. Her hands roaming over him were knocking him out of the sensual state he was trying desperately stay in. He wanted to take it slow in order to savor every inch of her delectable body. He lifted his head and stared down at her fire-filled eyes. Heck, he’d already experienced her body and had discovered some of her turn on spots when he’d given her the body massage.
On that note, Sean ripped open her shirt as the buttons popped and scattered onto the pergola floor. Her sexy giggle informed him he’d made the b
est decision. Shoving her bra out of the way, he sank his lips on her hard nipple relishing in its tautness.
“I’ll buy you a new blouse,” he said in-between kissing and sucking her breasts that he’d missed. “And anything else you want.” Reaching his hand around her back, he unsnapped her bra in one flick followed by pulling off her shirt.
“I just want you,” she breathed out. “Only you.”
Sliding his hand down to her khaki shorts, he unbuttoned them as her hand rested on his. At first he thought she was going to stop him, but instead she unzipped the shorts. Lifting her bottom off of the bed a tad, she pulled them down along with her panties. He sat up on his knees and finished yanking them off along with her shoes and socks.
“Your body is exquisite. I can’t wait to give you another massage but not now. I need to be one with you.”
Sitting up, she reached out to his belt. “Well, hurry up then.”
Sean snickered at her demand. It was cute, but she’d soon learn who was in control.
Standing on the side of the bed, he pulled a few condoms from his back pocket and tossed them on the coverlet. He noted the raise of her eyebrow and he bent down to kiss her while he finished unbuttoning his shirt. Her tongue swirling with his was making it hard to concentrate as he fumbled with the buttons. Swatting his hands away, she ripped opened his shirt and whispered ‘now we’re even.’ She wrestled it over his arms and tossed it with his other clothes. Placing kisses along his chest, Traci tugged him by the shoulders until he was on top of her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, Sean grabbed one of the condom packets and opened it. Once he was secured, he kissed her lightly on the lips as he slowly entered her. She gasped out and wiggled her hips until he was all the way in. She clutched his shoulders as he began to slide in and out of her at a steady pace. He was basking in her essence as he became immersed inside of her body and soul. Her muscles clenched around him, contracting and nestling around him tighter. Her head was buried in his chest, but he could still hear her pleasure-filled moans.
Lifting her legs up higher to his shoulders, he held her hands to the bed and delved in deeper as her trusting eyes never left his face. She began to raise her hips and meet his thrusts that increased the more she called out of his name. His name synced along with the seductive moans she screeched out increased his addictiveness to her even more. He was pleased with the way her body responded to his. They were in complete accord with each other. Their tongues, fingers, legs, and hearts were intertwined together as the intensity of their lovemaking amplified as each second passed.
Sean sensed his climax was near especially when she twisted under him and panted his name as her eyes rolled back. Her chest heaved up and down while her body shook the entire daybed as if an earthquake had just hit Memphis. However, it was her releasing an orgasm around him. Her muscles clenching his erection were too much to keep himself under control, and he reached his climax a few moments later.
He bent down and kissed her damp forehead while she calmed down her breathing.
She looked up at him questionably and whispered in his ear. “Do you think the neighbor’s heard me?”
“Sweetheart, as much as I’d like to think they didn’t, it’s possible. You were quite loud, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”
“You weren’t exactly quiet either,” she teased, scooting from under him and lying on her side.
He turned to face her and gathered her in his embrace. “How could I with a sexy, little vixen driving me insane?”
“Well, you weren’t the only one being driven crazy. I’m still on cloud nine.” She paused and glanced around, running her hand along the white sheers at the headboard. “Or it could be that we’re surrounded by all this white.”
“You’re the one that suggested the daybed be draped with mosquito net sheers and topped with a zillion pillows. Not sure how we’re fitting in here engulfed with pillows and this fluffy comforter but I find it quite sexy and romantic.”
She giggled and rubbed her nose on his.
“You’re adorable, but you know that, don’t you?” he asked, rubbing his nose back on hers. He couldn’t believe he’d rubbed noses. That wasn’t him. None of this was him. Making love on an outdoor daybed enclosed with sheers, tons of fluffy pillows and a down comforter with the only light---which was minimal---was the fire pit for the sun had gone down. The same fire pit that he said he would never have a romantic evening with a female. Heck, he even roasted marshmallows. Since meeting Traci he was romantic, more thoughtful, and ready to have only one woman in his life. Her.
Sean traced a finger down her cheek, around to her luscious lips that were red and plump from all of their kissing, down her chin, and ended at the pulse on her neck that was beating erratically. Meeting his lips with hers, he kissed her lovingly and slowly for he wanted to relish every single soft sigh and experience every part of her mouth.
Stopping for a moment, Sean sat all the way and hauled her on top of his lap. He continued their kiss, still unhurried. There was no rush now. Last time he needed to be one with her so bad it hurt. This time he wanted to make love to her slowly to learn every single sensual thing about her. He needed to know all of her erogenous spots, her different sighs and her satisfied facial expressions. He wanted to make sure that whatever her past boyfriends bestowed upon her was erased. She was all his now. In his heart he knew she would be the last woman he’d ever make love to. He couldn’t imagine another woman in his arms. He couldn’t imagine another woman whispering or panting his name but Traci.
*****
Traci lay with her head on Sean’s chest, running her fingers along its smoothness as she listened to his soft snoring. Their lovemaking had been passionate and exquisite. Sensual and sexy. At times he’d made her laugh and at times he’d made her plead for more with tears streaming down her cheeks. She knew it would be over-the-top amazing with him, but she didn’t realize just how much until it was happening. Until she was screaming and panting his name. It was beyond measure. Beyond all the wild daydreams she’d had about them being one.
She glanced at the clock on his nightstand. It was just before midnight. They’d fallen asleep a few hours ago after their second session that had started outside but ended in his bed. She was completely spent and famished. Deciding to see what was in the refrigerator, she eased away from Sean who pulled her back to him and set her on top of him.
“Where are you going?” he asked groggily.
“To the kitchen. I’m starving thanks to you.” She kissed his nose and nestled her head in his neck.
“Me too. We never did eat dinner and Sadie cooked so much. Let’s go grab something to eat. You need your strength,” he said, popping her bare bottom. “I may have a little ammo left.” He tossed her his pajama shirt that he’d brought in earlier for her to wear, but she was too worn out to put it on.
Twenty minutes later, they sat at the kitchen table. Sean was eating the dinner Sadie had made, but Traci opted for a salad and apple slices with peanut butter. She didn’t want to eat so much late at night.
“So how’s your mother?” Sean asked, taking a gulp of his water.
“Well, it’s funny you asked that. I wanted to call you, but we weren’t speaking.”
“Um … no, you weren’t speaking but continue.”
“Anyway, turns out she went to Vegas this weekend to audition for a reality show. Have you heard of Women Poker Players?”
A puzzled smiled formed across his face. “Yes, I watch it sometimes. That’s interesting. Did she get the gig?”
“Yes. The producer saw her at a private poker game a few months back and invited her to Vegas. Thankfully, my mom’s best friend is an attorney and flew with her to go over the contract and make sure everything was on the up and up. Otherwise, I’d be really worried about her.” Traci went on to explain everything else her mother told her about the reasons that led her to the gambling addiction and why she now knows Mildred has it under control.
“That’s great
to hear, dimples. I’m sure you’re happy as well.”
“I’m relieved.” Traci twirled an apple slice in the peanut butter. “Of course, they’ll still be a part of me that will worry from time to time.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Sean said sincerely. “She’s your mother. I figured it may have stemmed from your father’s death, and I can see how playing poker makes her feel close to him. That’s a good thing.”
He paused for a minute, staring at her as if he wanted to say something else. He took the last bite of the cabbage and tossed the fork on his plate. She titled her head to the side as he continued pondering something while he wiped his mouth with his napkin.
“You have something else to say?” she asked as her curiosity peaked.
“Do you think your mother will like me?”
She wrinkled her nose in disbelief and laughed. “Of course. You’re a great guy. She’ll especially like the work you do with the veterans. My grandfather, her father, died in the Vietnam War.”
“Really? My dad’s younger brother, Uncle Sean, was in Desert Storm and some other missions. When he came back, he was a changed man and not in a good way. At first he was fine; however, over the years it got worse. He’d always been my favorite uncle considering I was named after him, but I didn’t know him anymore. His behavior had become erratic especially after his wife left him because she didn’t understand what was going on in his head. My mom told me had he PTSD. I was in high school at the time and began researching it. I credit it as one of the reasons I went into psychiatry instead of cardiology like my dad. Once my uncle died from taking his own life, I vowed to help other veterans as much as possible in his honor.”
“Wow, Sean I had no idea. What a heartbreaking story. Your mother mentioned the counseling you do with the vets, but I had no idea why.” Finishing the last bite of her salad, she pushed her plate away and sat back in her chair.
“It’s a family thing. We all do our parts to help the community. It stems from my dad. He hated the way his mother died when he was sixteen because she didn’t receive proper medical attention because she couldn’t afford to. It encouraged my father to be the man he is today. No matter what a person’s financial situation is or whether or not they have insurance, we don’t turn anyone away.”