From Dust

by Freya Barker

  Even though it’s only eight o’clock and there are still diners, the crowd has thinned some, which is why I decide to follow Viv’s suggestion. I’m sure Gunnar will show up as promised after closing and I welcome some time to try and sort my thoughts before he comes.

  Upstairs I take a quick shower after checking the entire apartment first. It’s something I do now since being back here. The hot spray goes a long way to washing the tension from my shoulders but makes me even sleepier. I dry myself off, towel dry my hair and with the towel wrapped around me, lie back on the bed, just for a minute.

  I wake up at some point during the night to the feel of Gunnar’s solid body pinning me to the bed in what has become a familiar way. One arm serving as my pillow and his other one wrapped tight around my waist, his leg hiked up over mine. My body is tilted toward the mattress and it’s difficult to move without waking him. He obviously found me asleep when he came in and decided to crawl into bed with me.

  With my bladder about to explode, I wiggle myself out from under his body and leave the towel that has come loose during the night. Darting into the bathroom, I quickly pee before flushing and washing my hands. Tiptoeing over to the dresser to grab something to wear, the deep rumble of Gunnar’s voice startles me. “Come back to bed.” Painfully aware that I am stark naked and backlit by the bathroom light, I grab the first thing I can find.

  “Just let me put this on,” I mumble, trying to find the right end to the shirt so I can pull it over my head.

  “Don’t,” he says simply. “Been waiting to feel your skin against mine. Just let me feel you.”

  His eyes are luminous orbs in the dark room and the lust in them is unmistakable. I should probably feel apprehensive, but I’m surprised to find myself growing more confident under his study. When I start moving toward the bed, Gunnar flips back the covers, revealing his broad chest, dusted in dark hair with a few silver strands. My eyes follow the trail that runs down to the waistband of the boxer briefs I’m relieved to find him wearing. His gaze burns a tingle on my skin as it traces down my body. I barely get a chance to slide into bed when his arms reach out for me and pull me on top of his body. I can feel the press of his prominent erection against my stomach and it doesn’t feel like a threat—more of a promise of what he could do to me. I can’t help but rub myself against him restlessly.

  “Mmmm,” his voice rumbles in his chest. “Don’t know if I can just hold you, Bird.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Syd

  “Maybe I don’t want you to...”

  I push myself up and look him straight in the eyes. “Maybe I want you to do to my body what your eyes are promising.”

  His large hands slide down to clutch tightly at my ass and I feel my own arousal slipping from between my legs. Sliding one hand down to grab my leg, he pulls it over his hips so I’m straddling him, rubbing my wetness over his cock. The friction of his hard length slipping and sliding between my pussy lips makes me throw my head back and ride.

  “Look at me, Bird. Gotta see your eyes.” He rumbles; his breathing a little labored. “You run this show, babe, but give me your eyes. I need you here with me.”

  His hands slightly cup my ass where I sit on his crotch and lift me up. Looking him in the eyes, I can see he is struggling to hold back and I know why he is giving me the reins. I can tell he will be a forceful and demanding lover once he lets go and he is allowing me to move at my pace. I can’t wait to tap into that barely contained passion burning in his eyes. But for now, I slide a hand between our bodies and with my gaze firmly fixed on his, I slip my hand around his slick, hard cock and align myself so the crown is poised at my entrance. Leaning forward a little, I touch my mouth to his in a sweet kiss.

  “There is no fear with you, only feelings so deep, I’m overwhelmed.” With that, I slide myself carefully onto his shaft. The stretch of my tissues from lack of use burns a little but the feeling of fullness steals my breath. My eyes don’t waver from Gunnar’s face as his mouth slacks open and a deep rumbling groan escapes. His fingers clutch at my ass cheeks and I know I’ll have his finger marks to carry with me for days. I don’t care. I want him to mark me. I love feeling the barely restrained strength and passion—seeing the effect I have on him by the fire in his eyes and the clench of his jaw. It’s powerful to be able to drive someone to the brink of losing all control. And I know he hangs on desperately for me, trying with everything he has to let me reclaim my body.

  Slowing, I lift myself and slide back down again, carefully at first and slightly uncoordinated. Gunnar’s hands settle on my hips and gently control my rise and fall on his cock, his eyes following it’s slide in and out of my body.

  “Beautiful,” he mutters between pants. “Need to have your taste on my lips.” His head lifts up further and with one hand behind my back, guiding me toward him, he latches his wide-open mouth on my breast, his brow lined with intensity. He sucks on me so hard and deep, I can’t hold back a deep moan as I feel that pull of his mouth travel all the way down to the walls of my pussy.

  “Gunnar... please.”

  “What do you need, Syd. Tell me.” The words are mumbled around my nipple, urging me.

  “Please... please take over. Take me. Fuck me...” The plea has not left my lips before he has me lifted off and rolled under his big body. I feel no threat. I am in this moment with him and need to show him by letting him take charge. I want him to.

  Lifting one of my legs in the crook of his elbow, he spreads me open and in one strong move, slides balls deep inside me.

  Gunnar

  The clench of her jaw and the hiss of air from her mouth has me freeze up the moment my balls hit her ass.

  “Syd? You okay?” I have to ask, fighting the urge to ram myself into the tight grasp of her pussy over and over again.

  “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.” Her bright eyes plead with me, but the brimming tears bring me to halt.

  “I’m hurting you.”

  “No. Feeling your hunger is beautiful and unfamiliar so please, let me have it all.” Her hand has come up to stroke along my jaw as she lifts her lips to mine. “Give me everything,” she whispers against my mouth.

  Eyes locked and lips molded together, I let go. With deep strokes, I piston my hips into the cradle of hers and give her what she asks for, and that’s everything. There is nothing in my head and heart but this moment; Syd’s giving and my claiming. More than the primal fusing of bodies, it’s an opening of the heart. Something I feel deeply when she allows me to see everything in her eyes. I see heat, love, a hint of vulnerability, and beyond all that, a deep trust that I know I’m privileged to receive. I can’t turn away and lower my forehead to hers as her hands grab my ass and her sharp little nails pull me deeper inside of her.

  It doesn’t take much, the tension between us having built to a burning need. I feel the tell-tale tingle down my spine a moment before my balls tighten in warning.

  “Come with me,” I grunt out as my thumb finds that tight little button right above where my cock slides into her. One firm roll over her clit and I can feel the onset of her orgasm spasm against my shaft. With her mouth slack and her eyes rolling back, she gives herself over. Unable to hold back, my movements become erratic as I pump my own release into her body, groaning out her name.

  “Ohmigod....” Syd breathes out, wrapping her arms and legs around me. I can’t do anything but grunt my confirming thoughts with my face buried into her neck, the mane of hair tickling my face. When I catch my breath, I try to roll off her, afraid it’ll be too much, but she holds firm. “Don’t go. Your weight on me feels secure—safe.”

  I’m still unable to form a coherent word and simply lie sprawled on top of Syd, my dick going soft inside her and my release slipping out, but I still can’t bring myself to move. I realize we haven’t taken any precautions, too wrapped up in the moment and I’m surprised I’m not worried. You’d think I’d be smarter than that, but I know I’m clean as of last check—and Syd�
�s been thoroughly checked out in the hospital. There is no way I’ll ever regret what just happened. The thought of her in the hospital makes me aware that I’m resting my much heavier body on her healing one and I quickly roll over, shifting so I have her on top of me. She tucks her head under my chin and settles there snugly.

  It’s not long before I hear her breathing deepen as she falls asleep, just as the cries of the gulls outside mark the onset of morning.

  The smell of coffee hits my nostrils and wakes me up to Syd sitting on the edge of the bed, a coffee mug in her hand.

  “Morning,” I croak out, running a hand through my bed head and taking in all that is her. There is something tentative about her this morning, somehow even more vulnerable than what I saw in her eyes when I was deeply settled inside her.

  “Hey,” she responds softly and my hand slides under the cover to adjust my cock. The response to her is instinctive and immediate, but I sense this is not the time to give in to my baser needs. I pull myself up in the bed and settle back against the headboard, accepting the coffee she hands me.

  “What time is it?”

  “Nine thirty. We slept in a little,” she says with a small smile.

  “Mmmm’s good,” I mumble, sipping the strong dark brew. Looking at her over the rim of my mug, I can tell she’s gearing up to talk and I don’t want to push, so I stay silent.

  “I’m scared,” she says softly, “but I need to tell you something before someone else does.” She sits ramrod straight and when I try to reach for her, she shifts out of my way.

  “Hey,” I try. “Don’t move away. Look at me. Let me touch you.” She shakes her head and keeps her eyes fixed on the floor.

  “Please don’t touch me right now. You may not want to once I’m done and I don’t want to look at you and see your reaction. It’s easier this way.”

  I have to admit, she is freaking me out a little, but I do as she asks and keep my distance. The ringing of my phone on the nightstand interrupts this odd standoff, but I choose to ignore it. This is more important right now.

  Funny, there simply isn’t anything I can imagine her telling me that would make a difference in how I view her. Not even the fact she used alcohol to self-medicate was enough to turn me away, despite my negative associations with alcohol abuse. I’ve got fuck all, but from her body language—the way she’s making herself as small as possible with her head down and shoulders turned in—I can tell it’s huge for her.

  She’s wringing her hands in her lap and swallowing hard, but before she gets a chance to say anything, my phone goes off again and she nods toward it.

  “Better take that, could be the kids.”

  Right. Fuck.

  I quickly scan the display and see it’s Dex’s school. I can’t ignore this. Something might have happened.

  “Lucas.”

  “Mr. Lucas, this is Wendy McMaster, a student counselor at Reiche Elementary? I have Dexter here in my office and his mother in with the principal. I’m afraid she wanted to take her son with her and had signed him out, but he’s not wanting to go, insisting we call you?”

  I feel the anger amping up my blood pressure. Something must’ve shown, ‘cause I feel Syd’s hand on my shoulder and when I look at her, I see concern in her eyes.

  “Glad you did. His mother disappeared weeks ago and I’ve filed for sole custody. She obviously, finally received the paperwork. I’d like to ask you to keep him in your office until I can get there? I’ll be ten minutes.”

  I stand up, letting Syd’s hand slide off my shoulder and go in search of my jeans.

  “Mr. Lucas, perhaps you should come through the gym? I’m sorry if I’m being presumptuous, but your wife—“

  “Ex-wife.” I correct her a bit curt.

  “Right, my apologies. Dexter’s mother is not quiet. It was quite a scene earlier. I was just thinking you might want to avoid her?”

  “Ms. McMaster, was it? I’m not afraid of a confrontation. Simply keep Dex with you until I get there. I’m on my way.” I hit end on the phone and toss it on the bed, close the buttons on my jeans and grab for my shirt.

  “Is it bad?” Syd stands by the bed, wringing her hands. I forgot for a minute how invested she has become in my kids. Hit with a stab of guilt, I walk up to her, hold her upper arms and bend down to face her.

  “Cindy showed up out of the blue at Dex’s school, wanting to pull him out. He did the right thing and had them call me, but she’s still making a ruckus, apparently.”

  I feel Syd’s shoulders square up under my hands and the look on her face spells thunder.

  “Gotta go, babe. And fuck if I’m not pissed that even at a distance she can fuck up my life. I wanted you to talk to me. Please don’t back out now—I’ll be back soon.” I give her a hard kiss before she can say anything and head for the stairs. Halfway down, I can hear her footsteps behind me and when I turn around, she’s standing at the top of the steps looking down.

  “I won’t be long,” I tell her.

  “I’m coming.”

  “Syd, I don’t think—“

  “I’m coming. While you deal with that unbelievable piece of work, I’ll be making sure Dex is all right.” She stands with her arms crossed and one hip jutted out; her mouth a straight line, making it clear she won’t budge. Fuck me.

  “You’re coming. On the back of my bike.” I tell her resuming my trek down the stairs, but not before I see her eyes go big and I turn quickly to hid the smile on my face.

  Syd

  “Hey, honey. You okay?”

  I walk into the student counselor’s office to see Dex sitting on a couch, sniffling. The moment my butt hits the seat beside him, he throws himself into my arms. It breaks my heart.

  After a thrilling, but short ride on Gunnar’s bike to his house where we picked up the truck, he drove us to the school. He guides me through the gym entrance to avoid Cindy, who is apparently still in the front office, demanding to take Dex with her. Knocking on the Student Services door, he quickly identifies himself and introduces me to Wendy McMaster, who guides me into her office while Gunnar heads off to deal with his ex.

  “I’m sorry,” Dex sobs, “I don’t wanna go with her anymore. She just showed up and wanted me to go with her. I like it at Dad’s—I wanna stay there.” He blows his nose with the fistful of tissues I tuck in his hand, my arm still around his shoulders.

  “Don’t you be sorry about this, Dex. You did the right thing and I’m sure your dad’s gonna tell you the same thing as soon as he has a chance.”

  For a while, we just sit there, my arm around him and his whole body leaning into me, his head on my shoulder. Ms. McMaster has disappeared into the outer office, leaving us alone.

  “Why is she like that, Syd? Mom?” The small voice startles me out of my thoughts.

  “I don’t know, buddy. Sometimes people don’t see what is right in front of them until it’s missing, and when they try to turn back the clock, they find that it’s impossible. You can’t go back, but you can go forward, it’s just hard sometimes to know how. I think that maybe your mom is having a hard time moving forward. I’m sure she doesn’t mean to confuse and hurt you guys, or if she’s even aware she’s doing it, but don’t give up on her. Everyone should be given a chance to do better. We all at least deserve to try.”

  Dex snuggles in a little closer and I look over his shoulder to find Gunnar standing in the doorway, a wealth of emotions shining in his eyes, but with a small smile playing on his lips.

  “Ready, kid?”

  Dex, who just now notices his dad, jumps up and runs straight to his dad, who lifts him up. With his arms around Gunnar’s neck, I hear him whisper, “Sorry,” and Gunnar squeezes his eyes shut.

  “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. This has nothing to do with you, kiddo. Sometimes adults are not so good at dealing with their problems and they draw kids into them. You did the right thing, telling them to call me. Proud of you, kid.” He plants a kiss on Dex’s hair.

 
“That’s what Syd said you’d say.”

  Gunnar’s eyes find mine. “Syd’s exactly right.”

  The words from his mouth are more than a response to Dex. I can see it in his eyes. Talking to Dex, he is speaking to me.

  “Having fun?” Gunnar’s deep rumble comes from behind me as I struggle to get bait on my line.

  We had picked up Emmy from school right after getting Dex. Gunnar had said he fully expected Cindy to go to her high school after and we hurried over before she’d have a chance to create a scene there as well. Gunnar hadn’t discussed what happened during his confrontation with his ex, but his focus was on his kids.

  After getting Emmy dismissed for the day for a ‘family emergency’, he piled us in the car and drove to Casco Bay, only stopping to pick up some cheap fishing poles and food for a picnic.

  I worried about the pub, but he said he’d call Leanne in early and would give Viv and Dino a head’s up. After giving those two assurances we would be back before the evening rush, he grabbed my hand in the truck and didn’t let go again.

  We’ve had our lunch and I’m trying my hand at fishing while the kids are playing around the lighthouse. Fishing is apparently a skill I’m not blessed with, because every time I feel a nibble, I find my bait eaten, but no fish on the line. Gunnar chuckles each time I reel in to find nothing on my hook, while he pulls in fish after fish, only to release them immediately.