Blooming

by Fletcher, Peyton

  Jen saw it as a final test of how far she’d come, and that was the main reason she was going through with it, mentally she was trying to not think too far ahead because that would be her downfall. For some reason Sean telling her he needed her to do this, helped her control her anxiety. There was a part of her now that liked having something to offer in the way of help and she’d always hated letting people down. Honestly she had to admit to a tiny bit of excitement. As scary as it was, it was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to feel like a princess for the night and she badly wanted to find the strength to hold her nerve.

  Sebastian asked cautiously, “Are you going to be Todd’s date for the night.”

  She smiled sadly, “no.”

  “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing honey?”

  “No not at all, but I haven’t cleared my head just yet.”

  The truth was she’d pretty much decided to get the event over with and then find somewhere local to move to, as quickly as possible. She’d already begun boxing the belongings she didn’t need for everyday use. It felt a little like surrendering to defeat again but this way she could still work on developing her new friendships but without the heartbreak of being in close proximity to Todd.

  Sean interrupted her thoughts, “You’re not going to meet anybody of our age or older who hasn’t got a past full of people you’d rather not deal with, that’s life – God you should meet Sebastian’s ex Bartholomew – he’s 6ft 5, buff and loaded, and I have to see him at every family party because he dates one of Seb’s uncles now. How messed up is that?

  You need to decide if the spectre of Carly Frost is worth losing Todd for? My opinion is you won’t do better than him.” Sean looked at her intently when she didn’t answer, “anyway think about it while you try on the finale dress, designed especially for you of course.”

  Jen gaped at the dove grey sequinned gown that Sean produced from his closet. “Oh my, it doesn’t cover very much does it?”

  “That’s the idea sweetie by the time I’m done with you, you’ll have no inhibitions left to worry about,” Sean laughed evilly.

  ****

  The next morning Jen showered and pulled on an ankle length skirt and the first top she could lay her hands on. She dressed quickly in order to get Hugh out to do his toilet in time, a lesson she’d learned the hard way.

  Coming back in she picked her mail up in the hall and glancing up found Todd blocking her path back upstairs. She stiffened as he smiled at the puppy and ran a hand over his silky head.

  “I missed the little guy, he’s grown so much already,” he said testing the water. “How’s his training going?”

  “He’s good; he’s been a quick little learner.”

  “What did you call him?”

  “Hugh,” unconsciously she had moved closer to Todd.

  “You?” he asked.

  “Hugh - like Hugh Jackman.”

  “Oh right, got to give him some kind of advantage over the big dog’s I suppose, although you do realise he’s got a problem if they think its Hugh Grant instead? He might be in for a few doggy pasting’s then.”

  Jen smiled involuntarily.

  Todd’s eye slid down to her broken arm, clearly visible as she was only wearing a vest top. He bristled when he registered its pristine whiteness.

  “Are things so bad you couldn’t stand to see my name there anymore?” he raised his voice angrily.

  She got angry right back, “It’s not like that; I fell in the bath and ruined it.”

  “You fell, why the hell didn’t you call me? I care about what happens to you, hell I worry about you all the time.” He pulled the puppy from her and started yanking on her good arm and pulled her into his apartment. Slamming the door he released her and marched over to his desk and rummaged around.

  “Where’s Lily?”

  “Back at college, come here.”

  He put the puppy on the floor and beckoned her towards him; she gave him the benefit of the doubt and approached cautiously. When he was within touching distance, he took her by surprise and spun his back to her, grabbing her left arm underneath his in a vice like grip. She could neither get around him nor see what he was doing, then she smelled magic marker and started tugging.

  “Hold still or I’ll make a mess.”

  Jen started swearing some choice words under her breath and he chuckled despite himself, “There it’s done.”

  He released her arm and she pulled it back around him looking down in dismay, the wording read, “Todd loves Jen, truly, only and always,” there was a single crooked kiss.

  “Shit,” she groaned - stretching the syllable out.

  Her eyes flicked up and her breath caught in her throat, Todd was looking at her as if he was going to eat her alive.

  ****

  It felt like a full minute passed as they stood there, Todd held himself stock still while he decided what he should do.

  In the next second he pulled his t shirt up and over his head revealing his beautiful long torso. Heated anticipation sizzled up Jen’s spine as his hands grabbed her waist and pulled her vest off leaving her shocked and trembling in a flimsy lace bra. She made a useless attempt to cover up but he brushed her hands away and dropped to her ankles. Bypassing her skirt - he ran his hands up her bare legs, lifting her up when he reached her butt and perching her on the desk as he stepped between her legs. The strength and speed of his possession left an overwhelmed Jen no option but to capitulate.

  As the breath left her lungs, his mouth clamped down over hers and his tongue forced its way inside, it felt so excruciatingly right she kissed him straight back - not missing a beat in surrender. Jen’s hands went to roam in broad sweeps over his warm back & up to the nape of Todd’s neck. She locked her legs round his hips and pulled back hard on his hair to force him to let her take a breath, before she pressed her lips back onto him. Todd licked and tasted her, biting her lower lip hard enough to make her cry out.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” he rumbled in her ear, Jen buried her face in his neck and laid slow wet kisses on his skin. Todd responded by squeezing her bottom harder pulling her closer against his long thick erection making her squirm with pleasure.

  All thoughts of confusion and rejection fell away from Jen’s mind, in that moment nothing mattered except him and this.

  She grabbed his jaw and looked deep into his desire filled eyes and croaked hoarsely, “Are we really going to do this?”

  “Fuck yes.”

  He reached over her head and smiled into her wild blue eyes, a touch of mischief tinting his. “I’ve dreamt of doing something like this since I saw you strutting in your underwear for Sean and Seb.” Jen looked down wondering what he was up to and saw the flash of scissors in his hand.

  With exquisite care and a precision so slow she knew it was to heighten her suspense, he cut the elastic band holding her hair up. Immediately as it fell in one heavy mass - draping across the desk, Todd ran his fingers through it and bent to kiss the line of her throat. His hand flickered over her breasts and before she could blink he cut through her bra in three sharp snips and yanked it away.

  Jen’s back arched up involuntarily as his mouth latched onto her breast and he suckled her hungrily. She felt a cool blade run along her thigh and a final quiet snip as her cut her bikini briefs away and dangled them in front of her face.

  “You’re all mine now Jennifer.”

  Jen gasped - the combination of cool air and anticipation sending gooseflesh all across her skin. Her hands went to Todd’s waist and squeezed him tight. “Please take your clothes off – quickly Todd please,” she begged, “I can’t be naked on my own.”

  “You take the lead - show me what you’ve got,” he said releasing his hold, perching next to her and crossing his arms.

  Trembling Jen slid off the desk making the decision to suspend her embarrassment for a minute. She looked at him nervously, trying to decide what to do, before sinking to her knees and with shaky hands she unf
astened Todd’s belt and slid it slowly out of the belt loops. Then she unbuttoned him slowly, keeping her mouth busy tracing his sexy abs and his belly, running her finger over the dip of his navel, so focused on her task it took her a few moments to register Todd’s hands sinking into her scalp, grasping thick handfuls of her hair, urging her on. The sexiest rumbling noises coming from deep in his chest.

  As his zipper starting inching down his cock sprang free - surprising her for a second, but she recovered at the double. She was really getting to adore the sight of Todd’s naked body.

  Jen looked Todd up and down from his head to his toes just once, in a mixture of frank appraisal & awe, and then she brushed her cheek against his engorged cock before taking him in her hand and stroking gently. She watched his body’s jolting reaction to her touch and gave a satisfied smile as she looked up into Todd’s intense stare.

  Before she could go any further she was wrenched to her feet and Todd kissed her senseless. “No more foreplay, I need to take you to bed now.”

  Todd lifted her up and carried her through to his bedroom, Jen’s resolve flickered a little and she looked at Todd for reassurance. It didn’t help - his eyes were full of love and want and need, and there was no chance of going back.

  As he went to place her on the bed Jen reached and dragged the comforter back so they could slip underneath.

  He laid her on her back following her straight down, easing her legs apart as he rested himself in the cradle of her body, his hands roamed everywhere, her neck, her breasts, his fingers delved between her legs and flickered over her labia, revelling in her heat and wetness.

  The feel of Todd’s weight and warmth, skin to skin, was beyond exquisite. It was comforting and exciting all at the same time and Jen was lost to it. She shoved and pushed at his jeans, trying to get more, get closer. Todd tore himself away long enough to fling them off and dived back on top of her making her gasp and giggle involuntarily at his enthusiasm.

  He laved his tongue over her scar, gently sucking, before settling his attention lower. He licked and kissed one breast then the other, cupping and squeezing her - enjoying the silky fullness against his fingers and tongue. Todd lifted his head momentarily - he looked so deliciously rumpled and sexy, his eyes glazed and heavy lidded, his lips swollen. “Jen there is not a single thing I would change about you, you’re beautiful and I can’t get enough of you.”

  “And you are easily pleased,” she said, making him groan with frustration, but in the next second Jen felt his hand settle on her mound and one of his long fingers pushed firmly and smoothly inside her sliding back and forth, testing her. She gasped, arched and thrust back against him. Jen had just got used to the sensation when a second finger plundered her and he whispered gruffly in her ear, “Do you like the feel of my fingers fucking you Jennifer?”

  “Oh God,” was her only response as she locked her arms around his neck nestling into him for reassurance.

  He pulled his fingers out a little roughly making her cry out as she felt his hard cock rest at the entrance to her slick channel. “See, look how our bodies line up just fine now I’ve got you in my bed. Are you ready honey?” Todd’s voice, impossibly so very much deeper than she’d ever heard before, made every inch of her hum like a struck tuning fork.

  “Tell me what you want Jennifer, I want to hear it from your lips.”

  With only a momentary pause Jen fumbled for the right words. She couldn’t bring herself to say “make love” that seemed unrealistic - even more intimate than what they were actually doing, but she wanted to please him, “I want you to fuck me Todd, I, I really do want you to,” she stuttered.

  Todd pierced Jen with a look of desire so intense she shuddered and then with great control he teased her centre over and over with his erection, sliding the length back and forth against her. He desperately wanted this hard and fast but even with the knowledge that there was no barrier, he didn’t want to scare her, so with calculated stealth he slipped the head of his cock inside her, absorbing her cries of pleasure with his mouth even as he groaned himself, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth.

  Chapter 17

  Jen held herself as still as she could, while she opened herself mind and body to Todd’s controlled progression deep within her. She wanted to memorize forever how it felt to have every hot inch of him possessing her for the first time while her body of its own accord shifted and melted around him, getting used to the feel and weight of him inside her. He slid back and forth once, twice and again, and then just when her mind was screaming she couldn’t take anymore he came to rest, seated fully inside her. Todd looked down and his kind green eyes flickered over Jen’s face, reading her. He watched as she breathed in deeply and let out the breath on a shaky exhale then he began to move, rocking up into her - punctuating each gentle thrust with a twist that simultaneously teased her clitoris.

  As Jen quickly responded to the delicious sensations and her face softened and relaxed, Todd’s hand reached for an ankle and brought it around his waist - Jen followed his lead and brought her other up to lock them in place, earning her a deep masculine sigh and a long soulful kiss that she never wanted to end.

  Lifting himself up on his elbows Todd slicked her sweaty hair back away from her face and upped his speed, studying her face - wanting to make sure he was pleasing her. “Look at me,” he demanded, “are you ok, it’s not too rough?”

  “It’s good, it’s really good, I’m OK keep going.” She brought her hands around his waist relishing the play of his muscles. Jen’s fingers got tangled with her own legs as they drifted to his hips and butt digging in, in time with his thrusts.

  “You feel so amazing Jen,” Todd’s voice teased her ear lobe, the words that followed driving her sensitivity higher. “You’re hot and snug and all mine, look down and watch, look at how we are together.” He shifted, lifting her legs until they were hooked over his forearms, sinking even further inside her with a groan as her hips came up off the bed.

  Todd saw Jen’s eyes flare with passion as she registered the sight of him slick with her fluids plunging inside her – connecting them intimately and deeply.

  “Can you take more Jen?” he panted – she nodded unable to voice a sensible word, she got it now, she understood why people made such a big deal about sex, she, “Oh my God...” Todd went wild on top of her, almost folding her in two, he bucked down onto her, the full length and thickness of his cock plundering her, the feel of his balls slamming against her thrilled her until everything within her tightened, pulsed and exploded as she came hard and loud - screaming senselessly in his ear.

  Still inside her and holding onto his control by a fine hair Todd let Jen’s body settle back on the bed as her legs flopped uselessly. She was so relaxed he was a little afraid she’d passed out, he gently resumed thrusting - achingly slow now, in and out relishing every flicker and flutter of Jen’s aftermath pulsing around him. “Talk to me Jen - are you still with me?” he whispered.

  Jen’s eyelids fluttered open again, her eyes unfocused and dreamy, “I’m here I can’t believe I’m having sex!”

  Todd gave a hoarse sexy chuckle, “Oh you definitely are and you’re great at it baby.” He bent and kissed her so sweetly and passionately while gently tilting inside her that soon she was practically melting against him and when his finger slipped along her clitoris and he switched up his thrusts, grinding his pelvis into her twice more before grunting his satisfaction loudly, Jen peaked all over again as his hot release swept enticingly through her core.

  ****

  They lay in Todd’s bed for a deliciously intimate hour, chest to chest, legs entangled, necking softly. Too exhausted for more other than to enjoy the proximity, Todd was revelling in Jen’s wide eyed joy and the idea that this was just the first time almost scared him about how good they’d get with practice.

  “Something tells me every lady doesn’t get as lucky in bed as I just did.”

  “I’ll take that compliment and run with it,�
� he laughed, “there’s thousands of women out there who just wish they could be so lucky.”

  “You’re so full of it,” she laughed.

  “No regrets?”

  “I wouldn’t have missed being with you like this for the world - but I’m still all mixed up and a bit angry. I’m not stupid enough to doubt you want me here like this, unless you’re a masochist, so I know it’s me you want to be with as crazy as I still think that sounds. But I still don’t know what to think about your past with her, I can’t even bring myself to say her name. Can you really promise its fully resolved when you’ve had that kind of intense history with someone – you can just let it go?”

  “I’ve told her Jen – as honestly & clearly as I can.” Todd was troubled because although he was telling the truth, he had told Carly over & over in the plainest of terms that he wouldn’t be able to see her again, the problem was from her response he thought Lily’s personally held suspicion may be right. That there was no other man in Carly’s life, and he might hear from her again whether he liked it or not.

  It struck Todd with a sharp thunk that until he was absolutely sure Carly had got the message, he might end up lying to Jen every time they were together.

  “Good, it’s not my place to tell you who to be friends with but my gut says there’s something seriously off about her, and remember my gut has an inbred aptitude for detecting crazy!”

  At that exact moment her gut interjected by rumbling loudly and Todd glad for the excuse to distract her, pulled her out of bed with the promise of making breakfast.

  As Jen retrieved her clothes and her puppy she caught sight of herself in the mirror and gasped, “God I look like Night of the Living Dead.”

  “Todd’s bare-chested reflection appeared over her shoulder. Jen watched his hands reach up to cup her breasts as his mouth snuggled into the curve of her neck and he whispered, “No that’s well fucked woman, I’m very proud of making you look like that. Sean’s not the only one who does makeovers you know?”