Finding Peace (Breaking Free Series Book 2)

by Becca Taylor

  I smile at the memory. I thought he was crazy offering me the place for so cheap. Then when I saw the apartment I knew he was insane.

  “I got it for a steal too.”

  “I think I got the better end of the deal. He pulls me so I’m across his legs, forcing me to look at him. “Tell me what got you tense a moment ago.”

  “Truth?”

  His hands rub my temples, relaxing me even more. “Yes, I always want the truth. Even if it kills me, Aly.”

  “It’s my own insecurities, I guess. Bentley, what we have, our friendship, means a lot to me. Probably more than you know.” I take a breath, to think of what I want to say without making me seem pathetic.

  “It means a lot to me too, Angel.”

  “Well, what happens if things go wrong between us? Could we go back to being friends? Would we just ignore each other, which would be impossible with me living here? Would I have to leave here?” I say it fast, just to get it out there. I look down, not wanting to hear his answers to my questions.

  “Look at me, Angel.” Bentley’s hands on my face guide my eyes back up to his. “Don’t give up on us before this even starts. No, we don’t know what will happen. Will we have fights? No doubt about it. It’s called getting to know one another. But, making up can be so good. Neither of us can predict the future, but what I do know is I want this. I’ve never wanted anything this much in my life. Will you give us a chance, give me a chance?”

  I crash my lips to his. It is everything I need to hear. As I kiss him, I feel a vibration against my leg. He curses under his breath. He checks his phone, telling me it’s Hunter wondering where the hell he is. I grab his phone out of his hands, sending a message for him.

  Me: Hey, Hunter, It’s Aly. Sorry I kept your boy from you this morning.

  Hunter: About damn time. Now tell him to get his ass over here. The house isn’t going to paint itself.

  Me: I’ll get right on that boss.

  “You better get over there. I have to do some shopping anyway.” As I disengage my body from his, he groans his protest. I pull him up from the swing, since he makes no effort to move. As I head inside, he follows close behind.

  “Tonight, I’m taking you out. Our first official date.”

  “What time should I be ready? What should I wear?” I am concerned I sound a little too excited and try to dial back my enthusiasm.

  “Something casual, not dressy. But, underneath, I want you to go to one of those sexy lingerie stores you like and pick out something just for me. Something HOT.”

  “Who says I’ll put out on the first date? A true lady doesn’t even kiss on the first date.” He’s on me in one quick stride.

  “Oh, I think I can get you to change your mind. I have some moves you’ve not seen yet.” He brings his face close to mine, kissing me deeply. “Tonight, Aly, you publicly become mine. Be ready by seven.”

  Alyssa

  WHEN BENTLEY LEAVES, I call Kat to tell her everything. I need to hear that this is a good thing, Bentley and I, that it’s all going to work out. I need reassurance from my best friend.

  Kat barely has time to say hello before I blurt out everything that transpired, starting with the movie and ending with the invite to tonight’s real first date. Her first response is much like Hunter's.

  "About time it happened!” After that, her comments aren’t like Hunter’s anymore. “So was it good? Big, small or just right in size?” It is only fair, since Kat was asked those same questions after her first time with Caleb.

  "Not saying a word, Kat." I redirect the conversation. "Since I was planning on shopping today anyway, you want to help me pick out something for tonight? I figure Caleb is working today since Bentley isn’t."

  "I'm in. Where do you want to go?"

  "Where else?" I ask her.

  In unison, we exclaim, "5th Ave!”

  The shops on 5th Ave in Naples are more high scale then where we usually go. Every once in a while, Kat and I like to shop for something that the mall doesn't offer. Plus, we get to go to our favorite restaurant for lunch, a grill place that offers island food. During lunch, I tell her all about the reservations I have, and what Bentley said after. I still feel like it is a dream, that at any moment, ‘poof’, it will be gone.

  “Aly, I know you. You over think everything. You are not dreaming, this is real. Bentley is into you; he has been for a long time.”

  I am playing with my food, but her last statement has me looking up. “How do you know that it’s been a long time? Have you talked to him about this behind my back?” I question her out of curiosity, not anger.

  “Not really. When I was living with you and Mike was over, Bentley and I hung out, remember?”

  I remember: Kat would make herself scarce, since she also wasn’t a Mike fan.

  “During those times, he would give me advice. Things he said had me thinking that there was something going on in his head. Not to mention the way he has always looked at you whenever you two are together, like he wants to lick you like an ice cream cone.”

  “Was I blind? I didn’t think he looked at me as anything more than a friend.”

  “Yes, you were. We women usually are when something good is standing right in front of our faces. That or we think he might be too good to be true. Why would a guy like Caleb or Bentley want us? What do we have to offer them? How are we going to keep them satisfied, when our last relationships were disasters of epic proportions?” She hits it on the head. Exactly what I am thinking, she says it right then. The look on my face tells her everything. “I know, Aly. It’s scary, but scary can be good. Amazing, even. So this is my advice to you. Go for it. Mike didn’t define what a relationship is. So, don’t compare the two. Bentley is nothing like Mike. Take a deep breath and just enjoy yourself. It’s new and exciting. Just keep being who you were before you took this step with Bentley. It’s the girl he likes… a lot.”

  I take a moment to process what she said. “Thanks Kat. You always say exactly what I need to hear.”

  She tosses her napkin to the table. “Now, let’s shop! Maybe I’ll get inspired and pick something out to wear for Caleb!”

  Bentley

  AFTER HELPING HUNTER for most of the afternoon, I return home covered in speckles of paint. I swear I scrubbed a million paint chips off my body. I told Aly to dress casual tonight, so I do the same. I choose my favorite worn jeans and white polo style shirt. I spray my favorite cologne on and head out the door.

  Promptly at seven, I arrive at Aly’s front door. I knock, thinking it’s what someone should do when picking up a woman for a date. Normally, I would just walk in.

  “Come in. I’ll be out in a minute,” she yells.

  I pace the floor waiting for her to come out. In my hand, I have a bouquet of purple flowers. I know for a fact that this is Aly’s favorite color. I heard her tell Kat one night when they were looking at paint swatches.

  The minute she emerges from her room, the sight of her takes me aback. Even dressed in jeans, the woman is gorgeous. The denim hugs her curves perfectly. The black top she is wearing is meant to be casual, but to me it is just pure stimulation. It hangs on only one shoulder, draping down her body, making me want to kiss the bare one that is exposed. I swallow. “You look beautiful.”

  She takes the flowers I am holding out to her, smelling them. “Thank you. These are beautiful, my favorite color, too.” She puts them in a vase on the breakfast bar. “You look good. I don’t know what you have planned for this evening, so I can’t decide on shoes.” She grabs a pair in each hand from the nearby bar stool. I point to the sandals, since the heels will be difficult for what I have in mind. She slips them on and we leave the house. I help her into my jeep, knowing it’s on the higher side for her. She reaches in the glove box, grabbing a hat I keep in there. It can get windy with the top down.

  We drive to the nearby restaurant, a beachy, casual location. I want to talk to Aly, but I want her to feel comfortable too. We eat burgers, immediately fall
ing into small talk, just like we always have. Being with her is easy. Talking to her is easier. There is no awkward silence; we just roll from topic to topic. Everything from working on Hunter’s house to the girls’ weekend she has planned. After we finish dinner, we walk across the street.

  “Where are we going?”

  I take her hand in mine, leading the way to the nearby mini golf place. One Wednesday, on our night out, she mentioned how she wanted to go there sometime.

  “Really, mini golf?” She asks excitedly.

  “Yep, I may even let you win. I have to warn you, I’m really good.” I reply with a wink.

  “What aren’t you good at, sports wise? I’m rusty, so take it easy on me. I haven’t played since high school.”

  We get the bucket of balls and putters and head toward the first hole. After the lack of success on the first three holes, I feel the need to give her a few pointers. I stand behind her to show her the proper way to stand and hold the putter. Her ass wiggles against my quickly hardening cock.

  “Like this?” she says, knowing exactly what she’s doing.

  “Just like that.” When I step away from her, I give her delectable ass a smack. “Now make your shot.” I adjust myself in my jeans as she smiles looking over her shoulder. I knew I chose the right date night fun. We finish the game, with me checking out her ass every time it is her turn. It has me wanting to take her right here under the windmill.

  “You want to get a drink somewhere?” I ask her. She looks up at me.

  “No, let’s go home. We can have a drink there.”

  We head back, going up to my place instead. I grab us each a glass of wine, leading her outside. She relaxes against me as we watch the ocean in the moonlight. The way she curls under my arm, it’s like her body was made to fit mine. Even the way our fingers mold together confirms she was made for me alone.

  I need her lips on mine. Taking the wine glass from her hand, I place both on the table nearby. It has been hours since I last tasted her. I pull her body across my lap. My fingers graze her lips before I dive in. The kiss heats up the moment our tongues touch. Her hand reaches behind my neck, pulling me deeper. I hear her moan at the same moment I do. She pulls away too soon.

  “Take me to your room, Bentley.”

  I reach under her legs, picking her up. She squeals, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. When we get to my room, I kick the door closed. I take a moment to look at the woman I just placed on my bed. She is sitting on the edge looking up at me. I take a mental picture of this moment. One that I want to remember, the first time she is in my bed. I rip my shirt off over my head while she works the button and zipper on my jeans. I toe off my shoes. She eagerly begins to remove my pants.

  Aly kicks off her shoes, tossing them aside. I pull her shirt over her head, then work her jeans off her body. For the first time I hate them, because they are a bitch to get off. “Next time I want you in a skirt. These jeans are pissing me off.”

  She laughs as she raises her hips to give me assistance. The sight before me kicks my heart into overdrive. Aly spread across my bed in a pink lace strapless bra and matching thong.

  “Shit, Angel. You did good today.”

  She smiles. “You like?”

  I rub my lip with my fingers, nodding yes. I inch myself over Aly’s body as she slides herself back. When she’s positioned in the middle, I wrap her legs around my waist. Wanting every inch of her body wrapped around mine. I kiss her lips, then her neck, and lastly her ear. She grinds her pussy against my rock hard cock with each touch.

  “Bentley, I want you.”

  I love hearing those words come out of her mouth.

  “Soon, Angel.” She doesn’t like my answer because she links her leg around my thigh, flipping me to my back. The move catches me off guard, but turns me on. She straddles my hips, rolling her hot pussy against me.

  “Fuck, Aly.”

  Reaching behind her back, Aly unsnaps her bra, throwing it towards the rest of our clothes. I reach up, taking her breasts in each of my hands, rubbing my thumbs over her nipples.

  “Please, Bentley. I need you. I’m close already.”

  I reach towards the nightstand pulling out a condom. Aly grabs it from my hand. She works my boxers off my body, stopping when my cock springs free.

  For a minute, she just stares. “Every inch of you is sexy.” She kisses the head of my dick, giving it a little lick with her tongue. My head falls back and I clench at the sheets. When I look up, she’s wiggling free of her panties. Before I can even get a good look, she is climbing onto my body again, working the condom over me.

  Her thighs straddle my hips as she grips me, placing me at her entrance. She slides her warm pussy onto me, excruciatingly slowly. I grip her hips, while her hands balance on my stomach. Aly’s bottom lip is between her teeth, eyes shut tight.

  “Angel, look at me.”

  Her eyes open, looking in mine when she takes as much of me as she can.

  For a moment, she sits still, breathing heavily. I roll my hips and she moans. Then she starts to move against me. I’m not sure if I am swearing out loud at this point or in my head. She feels that good; her pussy, warm and wet. Every time she moves downward, I roll my hips up to her. Fucking heaven. The next downward motion I hold her to me.

  “Aly, I want you on all fours. I have been picturing you like that all night tonight.”

  Aly climbs off my body, getting on her hands and knees. I run my hand up her pussy, taking her clit between my two fingers. Her body writhes.

  “Bentley, just fuck me.”

  Shit, I’ve never heard her talk like that before. I enter her fast and hard. For a moment I think maybe I am too rough until she screams.

  “Oh god, yes!”

  I watch my cock slide in and out of her. This sight alone has me wanting to explode right then. I reach around, working her clit in time with my cock. I feel her tightening around me.

  “Faster, Bentley.”

  I work her faster than I have ever in my life. Too fast. She screams through her orgasm. My balls draw up and I blow.

  We both crash to the bed, spent. She lays her head across my chest as I stroke her hair.

  “That was amazing.” She says as she plays with the hair on my lower stomach.

  My dick is already growing again. “It was more than amazing, Angel. There isn’t a word to describe what just happened.” I have never come so hard in my life than I have in these past two times with Aly.

  “Is it always like this? I mean, this good?”

  I pull at her chin to look at me. “What do you mean, Angel?”

  She shakes her head. “Nothing.”

  “No, it’s not nothing. You asked me a question. What do you mean, always like this?”

  “I mean with other women, or men. I don’t want details. For me, that was the most intense feeling I’ve had. Almost makes me think I never truly had an orgasm before.” She hides her face, like she’s embarrassed by what she said.

  I push Aly’s hands away from her face, so she can’t hide from me. “No, Aly. I don’t know how to explain how it feels for a woman. Your body, the way it forms to mine, it has never felt like that. Like perfection.”

  She seems to like my answer because she kisses me. “You are too good to be true. You know that? That’s what scares me the most. This is almost too perfect.”

  “Not too perfect, Angel. Just right.” I tuck her body close to mine. I don’t know why this woman makes me become a big sap, but I think that’s what love must do to someone. At this moment I know I’m forever in love with this woman. And I am never letting her go.

  The alarm goes off way too early the next morning. Unfortunately, it is my day to open Butter My Bread. It’s the first day I am less than excited to go in, all due to the woman snuggling close to my body. I smell her hair as I kiss her head.

  “Aly, I have to go to work. Stay and sleep.”

  Forcing myself to get up, I head to the second bathroom to shower. In
record time, I dress. She still is asleep in my bed. Exactly where she belongs.

  Alyssa

  THE SOUND OF MY phone buzzing wakes me from my sleep. I stretch out my body, wrapping myself in the sheet. I vaguely remember Bentley saying he was leaving for work, but I have no idea what time he actually left. I search for my jeans and pull my phone out of my pocket, noticing the time is close to ten. After last night, I’m not surprised I’ve slept in though. I blush from the memory. I’ve never been too demanding or vocal during sex. Now I understand… once you get good sex, maybe I should say fantastic sex, everything changes.

  I see the message is from Bentley.

  Bentley: Morning, Angel.

  Me: Morning.

  Bentley: Hope you slept well.

  Me: I slept wonderfully.

  Bentley: I’ll be home around 4, I want you there still. Feel free to help yourself to anything you need. Don’t leave.

  Me: I need to go downstairs and shower

  Bentley: Nope. Everything you need is in my bathroom. I brought it up for you. Gotta get back.

  When I check his bathroom, I see my favorite body wash, lotion, razor, shampoo, conditioner, tooth paste and tooth brush all laid out on the counter. Instead of a shower, I feel the need to take a hot bath. I have a soaker, but not like this one. Bentley’s is the king of Jacuzzi tubs.

  I fill it with water, adding soap after I’ve washed my hair. Feeling sexy, I take a picture of myself. I look at it momentarily. Nothing can be seen, just my arms, legs, and a lot of bubbles. I decide to send it to Bentley. I’ve never done something like this before. Once I send it, I regret it immediately. My phone begins to ring beside me.

  Bentley’s voice fills my ear. “Angel?” He sounds like he is running. “You there, Aly?”

  “I’m here.” Is he mad about the picture?