by Tess Summers
The two had talked more than once about if a man had never been married by the age of forty, it was a red flag that something was wrong with him. She knew where her sister was going and intended to head it off at the pass. That red flag did not apply to Ron.
“No, he’s never been married,” she replied firmly.
Her little sister opened her mouth to make a comment. When Brenna shot her a look that dared her to respond, she theatrically closed it and raised her eyebrows again, as if to convey that even though she was shutting up, she didn’t approve.
“And, he had a sixth sense that saved me from a very bad situation last night.”
Brenna said that to squelch her sister’s judgement about Ron, but immediately realized her mistake because by doing so, that opened up the discussion about what transpired with Ray. She didn’t want to talk about that.
“What happened last night?”
Brenna took a deep breath. She really had no desire to relive this, but knew she had to at least tell her sister the basics.
She shrugged. “Ray assaulted me because he was angry that I let his wife know he was dating other women.”
Cassie’s eyes got big, and she shook her head, almost like a cartoon character would after getting hit in the face.
“His wife?!”
“Yeah, his wife.”
The younger woman sat staring straight ahead, trying to absorb what she’d just been told.
“So he hit you because….” She was pointing her fingers back and forth as if keeping track of the events. “He was dating other people and his wife found out about it, but somehow he thought you were the one in the wrong?”
“I’m sure his inebriated state didn’t help his thought process.” Brenna didn’t like saying that because it felt like that was somehow helping justify what he’d done.
“He went to jail–although I’m sure he’s already bonded out. Can we talk about something else now, please?”
To her surprise and relief, Cassie dropped it.
It was Brenna who kept it going when she added, “I’m serious about you not telling Danielle. I mean it, Cass. I don’t want her worrying about me.”
Her sister nodded her head and said, “Okay.”
Brenna’s raised eyebrows conveyed she didn’t believe her.
“I said okay!” Cassie then tried to lighten the mood and giggled, “I won’t tell her that her mother looks like she should be in the next Rocky movie.”
That made Brenna smile. “Shut it.”
The doorbell rang. Both Zona and Rex raced to the door to greet Luke walking in, calling “Hello?” as he did.
“We’re in here!” Cassie replied, trying to disguise her own big grin.
Brenna tilted her head, and her baby sister avoided her stare.
Hmmm, what’s going on here?
She knew Cass would tell her when she was ready to, so Brenna opted to remain silent. For now.
Luke appeared in the kitchen, followed by the canines who worshipped him.
“Just came to pick up Rex.”
Brenna grabbed some money out of her purse and handed it to Luke.
“Thanks for going out of your way. Sorry I wasn’t gone like you expected.”
He narrowed his eyes and held up his hands as if he were offended.
“Brenna, when you adopted Zona and I told you that I would always be available to dog sit, I meant for free.”
Her embarrassment was obvious. “I didn’t realize that’s what you meant. But, to be honest, Luke, I don’t think I can ask you to stay here if you won’t let me pay you.”
Cassie chimed in, “Oh, but you have no problem not paying me!”
“That’s different. You know–”
Luke interrupted the sisters. “Brenna, I love your place. Being on the water, in this house, is payment enough. Trust me.”
He glanced over at Cassie and smiled. “And the hot tub is a nice bonus.”
Brenna didn’t say a thing about her sister’s red cheeks. She knew better than to push Cassie.
Later, when they were all sitting outside, even Ron noticed the chemistry between Luke and Cassie, commenting, “Is there something going on with them?” when the two conspicuously got up from the fire on the patio and decided to leave at the same time.
“I’m not really sure. I wasn’t imagining it though, right? They were acting strange? I think for right now, I am going to mind my own business.”
They sat in comfortable silence, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, his arm possessively around her, as they watched the boat lights in the distance. She liked how warm he was when she cuddled up next to him and closed her eyes while breathing in his smell.
A yawn escaped her. Ron bent down and held her chin as his mouth lightly touched hers.
“Let’s go to bed,” he whispered while looking into her eyes.
*
Ron
Ron stood up and offered Brenna his hand. She called for Zona and shut the lights off on their way to her bedroom. As they were walking up the stairs, he grabbed his bag he’d left at the foot of the landing.
He’d seen her bedroom earlier today when he brought her home from the hotel. It was large but minimally furnished. The ocean view from her bed seemed to be all the decoration she needed. She hit a few switches when they walked in and her blinds began to close as the lights turned on.
He smiled. “Well, that’s convenient. But don’t you like to lie in bed and look at the ocean?”
Gesturing to the sliders that went out to her glass-walled balcony, she said, “I’ll open those once we’re in bed and the lights are turned off.”
Before disappearing into what he assumed was her bathroom, she pointed to a door. “There’s a bathroom for you to use.”
Two master baths?
He was glad Danny at least left her monetarily taken care of. When he walked in the room, he looked to his left and noticed a large walk-in closet that was completely empty, except for a few boxes that looked like they held Christmas decorations. The bathroom décor was masculine, but void of any indication that it had been used.
He was in bed wearing only his boxers when she walked back in the bedroom. He caught his breath at the sight of her rubbing lotion over her hands and wearing a silky, seafoam green chemise.
Damn, I am one lucky bastard.
The simple act of them getting ready for bed together was so intimate, yet not necessarily sexual, and he couldn’t think of anywhere else he’d rather be than there with her. He wasn’t going to even attempt anything sexual with her tonight–she needed to rest, and he shouldn’t have kept her up as late as he did last night. She paused and looked at him before hitting the switches that shut off the light and opened the sliders’ blinds.
When he felt her arms around his middle and her head against his bare chest, he could tell she was smiling. She smelled like lotion, and he could feel her silk nightie against his stomach and thigh. They looked out at the moon shining on the ocean waves, neither speaking as he stroked her hair. Before long, her breathing let him know she was asleep, but he continued petting her hair, lost in his own thoughts. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so content. How was that fucking possible after less than thirty hours with her?
Still asleep, she rolled over and stretched out. He had been teasing her earlier about hogging the bed, but it was obvious from how much she spread out, that she slept alone. Fortunately, it was a big bed, however, he made sure his hand was on her silky hip as he drifted off. The last thoughts through his head before he fell asleep were, she’s not wearing any underwear, and, I can’t wait until morning.
Chapter Fourteen
Brenna
Brenna woke as the sun came up with Ron next to her, and her mood was happy. Who wouldn’t love waking up and finding that bare-chested, amazing looking man in her bed? Unlike yesterday morning, it didn’t even take her a second to register she was in bed with him–it was like he’d always been there.
She r
olled onto her side, put her hands in a prayer pose underneath her face, and watched him sleep. His hair was wavy and light brown, and she had an urge to run her fingers through it, but refrained, instead studying his handsome face, wondering how his nose had become crooked. Probably by saving someone’s life or some other heroic thing. Or maybe he pissed off one of his recruits when he was yelling at him. It was becoming harder and harder for her to picture him yelling at anyone.
What did he do for the Marines?
Her eyes fell to his tattoo. It suited him. It was understated, not at all flashy, but it exuded masculinity on his strong arm.
She looked back at his face and found him with his eyes still closed, but grinning now.
Opening one eye, he peered at her. “Do you like it?”
“Like what? Your tattoo?”
“Yeah.” He had both eyes open now and there was a twinkle in them.
She nodded her head and focused on the design on his bicep.
“Normally, I wouldn’t. But I think yours is sexy.”
With her index finger, she began to lightly trace its outline on his arm.
“What does semper fidelis mean?”
“Always faithful,” he said in a low voice as he moved his gaze from her finger caressing his arm to her face.
She continued tracing the tattoo while softly repeating to herself what he said, “Always faithful.”
She glanced at him to find he was watching her expression.
“Do you think that describes you or the Marine Corps in general?”
He brushed her hair away from her face. “Both.”
Her finger stopped tracing the tattoo and her eyes narrowed. “And you’ve always been faithful?”
Looking her in the eye, he flatly stated, “Always.”
Brenna looked down and tried not to smile too wide. His answer made her almost dizzy.
She didn’t know exactly what was going on between them, but she did know that there was a yummy, half-naked man in her bed who was always faithful, had taken care of her yesterday, and had been her hero the night before last. She needed to take advantage of the situation and show him just how much she appreciated him.
Her lips began planting feather-light kisses on his chest, and she noticed his nipples getting hard, so she swirled her tongue around the brown tips and sucked gently. Sitting up on her knees, she continued down his core, her hair splayed across his chest and stomach while her lips moved down his body. When she reached his boxers, she wasted no time in removing them. He was now completely naked–and hard–in front of her.
As she kissed his inner thigh, she began stroking his balls with her hand. He let out a small moan, letting her know she was on the right track. Pushing his legs further apart, her breasts brushed his thigh as she rubbed her cheeks against his sac, savoring how smooth and soft it felt against her face. Moaning as she slipped one ball in her mouth, she swirled her tongue around it before sucking gently. She pulled his skin with her lips before moving to the other one, her hand pushing them higher on his cock so she could lick underneath.
He groaned when her attention focused on his shaft. From the base, she ran her tongue up his cock until she reached the tip. There, she twirled her tongue around the smooth helmet before licking back to the base. She did this several times and then without warning, completely engulfed him in her mouth.
He cried out, “Oh fuck,” when her nose hit his stomach, and she held him in her throat before slurping off him.
“Mmm,” she said as she began to jerk his shaft while sucking him in unison with the rhythm of her hand. His cock was amazing. Like, fucking amazing. Thicker than Danny’s, and his length was perfect. So were his soft, suckable balls. And the manscaping he did was appreciated.
She tasted his precum as he grabbed a handful of her hair to guide her head up and down on his dick. He wasn’t rough as he maneuvered her -although she didn’t think she would have minded if he was - but he wasn’t exactly gentle either, and she moaned at his aggressiveness. He held her head down on him deep for a moment, then started thrusting his hips against her face. His breathing became irregular, and he let go of her hair when he warned with a harsh whisper, “Brenna, I’m gonna come.”
She kept up the pace that he had set when he had her hair in his fist, and he told her again he was going to come while touching her face, not quite pushing her mouth away but getting her attention, before he grunted, “Oh God, yes!”
He began to gush in her mouth; the warm, salty cum flooding her tongue. She held her head still while he emptied himself between her lips and let it dribble out the sides of her mouth. Stroking him until she couldn’t feel anything more from his cock, she then slurped a few more times.
“You taste so good,” she said as she swirled her tongue around his tip and squeezed any remaining cum out.
Ron lay panting with the back of his hand to his forehead.
“Goddamn, darlin’,” was all he could manage between breaths.
Brenna smiled and crawled up his body to kiss his neck before disappearing to get him a towel.
He cleaned himself off then threw the towel on the floor towards the bathroom, while she watched from the edge of the bed. Reaching over, he tugged her back towards him, and she sighed when he wrapped his arms around her as she nestled against his naked body.
A thought popped into her head: Danny would have already been up and in the shower if she had done that to him. Which she stopped doing after she learned about his affairs. Being her husband’s second–or sometimes even third–choice didn’t exactly put her in the mood to have his cock in her mouth. When they did fuck, there wasn’t a lot of foreplay, and it was always the same–doggie style so they didn’t have to look at each other in an intimate way, and she could get herself off while it was happening.
She had tried being a good wife to Danny. They had a lot in common and were good friends, so that made him easier to live with in the end. She made sure she always looked nice, even as things were falling apart. Before she knew about the others, she loved sex with him. Lingerie was something she wore on a regular basis, and she came on to him–enthusiastically-while willing to try anything he suggested if she thought it would make him happy.
About eight years into their marriage, right after she’d had a boob job, she found a woman’s card in his pants’ pocket and realized she could have been perfect and it still wouldn’t have been enough. He had too many options available to him, and she couldn’t compete with variety, try as she might.
Right about the time she came to that realization was when she stopped writing. She probably resented Danny most for that. Something that had once come so easily to her became non-existent.
Sex with Ron was, dare she say it, the best she’d ever had. He was dominant and in-charge, yet attentive to her needs, and he left her no doubt how much he desired her. That was probably what turned her on the most, being Ron’s first choice.
His perfect cock didn’t hurt either.
*
Ron
Holy fuck, what did that woman just do to me?
He’d had good blow jobs, he’d even had great blow jobs, but how she just sucked his cock was in-fucking-credible. She acted like his dick was the greatest thing she’d ever seen or tasted. Like she couldn’t get enough of it.
Talk about an ego boost.
He began rubbing her slit, and found her drenched.
Holy shit! She wasn’t acting, she loved sucking my cock!
She just might be the woman of his dreams.
While he was caressing her pussy, she began to rub his junk.
If she gets me hard again already, I’m marrying her.
After just a few minutes, he decided, June weddings are nice.
“Mmm, Ron, I want you to fuck me,” she breathed into his ear.
Yeah, there was not gonna be a problem with that.
Chapter Fifteen
Brenna
They fell back asleep after more mind-blowing sex, and Brenna wo
ke up alone in bed. She laid there for a few minutes with a big smile on her face as she relived her time with Ron since meeting him.
He was… What was he?
Dreamy.
She giggled at how school-girl that description sounded.
Too good to be true.
Fuck!
He was too good to be true. When was the proverbial other shoe going to drop?
She listened to see if he was in ‘his’ restroom but didn’t hear a sound, so she got up and brushed her teeth and hair, then checked how her bruise was healing. It had started to turn a greenish-yellow color and didn’t hurt nearly as bad, but it was still ugly. She couldn’t believe Ron found her the least bit attractive with her face looking like that. And maybe he really didn’t, but he sure made her feel like he did.
She was still in her nightie when she made her way downstairs. She wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Too Good To Be True was making a gourmet breakfast.
She walked into an empty kitchen, not at all what she expected–there was no sign of life anywhere.
Did that bastard leave and not say goodbye?
That didn’t seem like him.
She walked out the front door and saw his black truck still in her driveway.
Weird.
Calling for Zona as she filled the dog dishes, she paused. This really was weird. Zona was usually skidding around the corner when she heard her bowls get picked up, and she also was nowhere to be found. He must have taken Zona for a walk on the beach.
Brenna made some chai tea and took her cup outside to enjoy the gorgeous San Diego morning. She was curled up in her favorite oversized blue chair with her eyes closed and face to the sun, when she realized she was feeling happy.
Her.
Happy.
Yeah, that confirmed it. He was definitely too good to be true. Something had to be wrong with him.
Her eyes opened just in time to see Ron running up the beach with a very ecstatic Zona at his side.
Goddamn he is hot.
He looked sexy as fuck as he ran toward her–his running shorts showing off his toned legs, and she loved how his gray USMC tee-shirt clung to his chest and arms. His skin glistened with sweat.