Third Time's A Charmer

by St. John, Jodi

  Harris

  Nic discovered Olivia had been married and that her husband had been killed in an accident. The house in the woods where she was belonged to them. She had gone back for what I had assumed was a tying up of loose ends, I guess. How she was doing was the only thing going through my mind the past few days. I was crazy worried about her. I wanted to comfort her. I wanted to be there for her. I was going out of my mind. I realized I was getting nothing done with her gone. So I made a decision.

  The plane landed and I grabbed a rental. I drove down the highway to where it said she was. I pulled into a small parking lot. It was a radio station. Pretty easy to figure out with all the towers and antennas surrounding the building. I took a deep breath and got out of the enormous SUV they gave me. I hadn’t been recognized yet. That was weird. Almost unheard of. I haven’t been able to go anywhere unnoticed for 5 years. It was refreshing. I climbed the steps into the building and walked through the glass doors. There was a front reception area with a lovely gal sitting obviously working on a computer. I walked up to the counter. She looked up and froze. Busted. She stood but still didn’t speak. I met her with a smile put my hand out and said “Hi, I’m Harris.” She nodded, shook my hand then silently pointed to an open studio door.

  There she was with her back to me. My throat was in my chest. I started to walk over before I noticed the ON AIR light on. Some dude who was talking with her spotted me and obviously recognized me too. “Well come on in.” he said heartedly, and pulled another microphone down between them. Livy turned around and I was immediately glad I had gotten on that plane.

  Her smile made my heart race as I stepped towards the mic. Then she hit me with her ‘what the fuck’ look. But she couldn’t hide her smile for very long. The guy started talking to me about the new album I was working on and we had an easy conversation about it and the direction I was taking with my sound as a solo artist, even some other cool avenues. He was engaging and funny. Livy just sat there, half-beaming half-glaring at me. I didn’t care. When the show was over, Mark shook my hand, thanked me, and left the studio, closing the door behind him. I turned to her and the only thing I could think to say was, “Hi.”

  Chapter 31

  Olivia

  There he was, standing there with that goofy dimpled grin. He had found me. I don’t know how but he found me. He flew here from LA. For me. And all he could say was, hi. I jumped off my stool and wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled me close into the best hug I have ever felt. He was mumbling about being sorry he surprised me but that I wasn’t answering his texts and he got worried and he just needed to make sure I was alright. He went on and on. I think he was scared I was going to be mad. He was wrong. I was glad he was here right now. So glad. He just held me swaying me side to side. Then I pulled back and asked him how he found me. He looked at me with that naughty smirk and said, “Oh, Olivia, I’m not the one lacking in my detective skills, remember?”

  I smacked him on the chest. He let out the best laugh. A relieved one I could tell. He was nervous. I wasn’t sure why. I was truly happy he was here. Which surprised me. He hugged me again and opened the studio door. We stepped out together grinning. Kelly was there with her, ‘I know what’s going on here’ look. I didn't know what was going on, but she saw it. We stood and talked with her some more before heading out the door. We stood outside for what seemed like forever looking at each like ‘now what’. I looked him square in the eye and said, “I can’t believe you came all this way for me.”

  He furrowed his brow and replied, “Livy I would go anywhere for you.”

  I bit my lip and started walking to my Rover. I looked over my shoulder, smiled and yelled, “You coming with me or what??”

  Chapter 32

  Harris

  I grabbed my bag and walked over to her. She had this incredible smile on her lips and I don't know what came over me. I grabbed her and kissed her. A sweet, slow kiss. I pulled back to gauge her reaction and she smiled. I ran my thumb across her bottom lip and sucked my own in as I inhaled the scent of her. “It’s really good to see you.” I said softly. She grinned, winked at me and replied, “Apparently.”

  I cannot describe how I was feeling. I’d never felt like that before. I felt like a kid who got exactly what he wanted for Christmas. I was excited and giddy but in a natural way not a nervous one. I was never nervous around Livy in the first place but I just basically told her how I felt about her and it was okay. I landed in her world, uninvited, spent all of 2 seconds explaining why, and then I kissed her. Oh, my God, it felt good. There was no turning back now. I wanted her to know exactly how I felt about her and I just gave her one hell of a hint.

  She seemed happy. The Rover was full of boxes and I really had no idea where we were going. She must have sensed my curiosity. “I was on my way to my lake house about 3 hours away from here. All of these boxes are from the house I just put up for sale.” She turned to me, took one hand off the wheel and placed it on my thigh as she continued, “Harris, I was married once, to a wonderful man. I loved him more than I ever thought a person could love someone. He was working out West. He would work for 2 weeks and come home for 1. A nasty winter storm had moved in and the rest of the crew was waiting until morning to drive the 10 hour trip home. Miles wanted to get home. Home to me. The visibility was terrible and the roads were glare ice. The semi didn’t even see him. He was killed instantly.”

  I had tears in my eyes listening to her. She looked down and when she looked up she had tears in her eyes too. “It was 6 years ago. This is the first time I have been back here to our house.”

  I put my hand on hers “Oh Livy. I’m so, so sorry."

  She gave me a small smile “I’m ok, Harris. I am. I'm lucky to have had him for the time I did. I can’t run anymore. It’s time to write a new chapter. I know first hand our time here on earth can end at any moment and life is meant to be lived. Otherwise you're wasting the precious gift someone else didn’t get.”

  At that moment she was the most beautiful I had ever seen her. Radiant. I reached up to touch her cheek and pull her toward me. Our lips testing, teasing. Then I deepened the kiss. I'm lucky I was sitting because otherwise I would have been too weak to stand. That's what kissing Livy did to me. It wasn’t just a kiss. I felt it with my entire being. We kissed slow, tongues tasting, her soft lips molding to mine. She felt so good in my arms. She sucked my bottom lip between her teeth and smiled. “Shall we go?”

  She sat back in her seat and cocked her head studying me. I stared back at her, grinning, not wanting to forget this moment…ever.

  Chapter 33

  Olivia

  His naughty grin went right to my core. My heart felt so light. I had my whatever Harris had become back with me and it felt good. We talked and laughed while I drove us east to the lake. We sang to the radio. His voice was intoxicating. When he spoke, when he sang, when he whispered my name. It made things inside me flutter. We stopped for something to eat along the way. Small towns were great for not recognizing my little rockstar. He was able to walk about like he hadn’t been allowed to do in many years. I could see how refreshing it was for him. All of a sudden, he wanted to go and check out everything around. It was charming. He was charming. And I'm so glad he was with me.

  We hit the road that led to the cabin. Harris was like a little kid looking out the window at the lake as we got closer. I pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. I turned to look at Harris and he was already looking at me. And smiling. “Thanks for bringing me along, Livy. It's absolutely beautiful here.” We got out and grabbed our bags. I pulled the keys out of my purse and headed up the deck to unlock and let us in. Last time I was here was right before I got the call to work with him.

  I opened the doors and stepped inside, opened the drapes to let the sun in and opened all the glass doors on the front of the house facing the lake. The warm breeze hit me immediately. Harris came up behind me as I stood staring at the lake. He put his arms around me and hugge
d me from behind. His head resting on mine. He smelled incredible and I closed my eyes and breathed him in. He kissed my temple, grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door toward the lake. We ran down the hill to the lake, just like I used to do as a kid.

  My dad had built the place when I was 3 and we spent every summer here. I loved being here. It’s the last connection to my parents I had. And it’s beautiful. Literally on the edge of the developed world. Beyond us is untouched land. The last of its kind in the nation. It’s vast, wild and breathtaking. We walked out onto the dock. I kicked my shoes off and rolled up my jeans and sat on the end to put my feet in the water. Harris was right behind me. Soon sitting by my side with his feet splashing as he moved them in the lake. “This is amazing!” he said. “Let’s go swimming, yeah?”

  He pulled his shirt off and I swear his pants were coming off next. That is until I put my finger up and pointed at the neighbor’s house he obviously didn’t see. He laughed and did a little dance for them. Sweet Jesus he was hot. Those crazy tattoos had never really done anything for me before, but after him telling me in the car the stories behind some of them I now saw them as hella sexy. Dammit.

  I dragged him up to the house to show him where I kept all the swim suits. I had every size and every style. It was kind of my thing to collect swim suits. They were always put to good use when someone came to visit. Harris went to change and I grabbed a suit for myself and went upstairs to undress. I came down the spiral staircase to find him looking at family pictures on the wall. He turned when I hit the landing and gave me the one eyebrow look. “Wow…why don’t you have any suits like that at my house?”

  I blushed I think. Oh my God. I blushed. Like a teenager. Good lord. I didn’t really think about it. I threw on my favorite navy striped string bikini. I rolled my eyes and took off out the door. “Race ya.”

  I started running down the hill when I could hear him coming up behind me. He scooped me up and continued running down the hill. I started screaming when I figured out he was going to run directly into the lake. And that's what he did. He ran down the beach and into the cold water, carrying me the whole way. He stopped waist deep and started swinging me. I was screaming NO when he got that wicked look. “One, Two, Three…..” And he threw me into the lake. I popped up yelling at him only to see him dive in and swim toward me. He was grinning and so at ease and so sweet and sooooooo gorgeous.

  He pulled me to him treading water.

  He kissed me sweetly and when he went to deepen the kiss I pulled back, smiled and dunked him under. Then I swam to shore as fast as I could, screaming and giggling the whole way. I knew he was coming behind me quickly under water. It was exhilarating. He made me want to play again. Want to live again. I was excited to show him things I hadn’t shared with anyone. Excited to just be with him. Knowing he was going to make it fun. And knowing that I wouldn’t hold back any longer. We would see where this was going to go and I wanted to enjoy every second. He chased me all the way up the beach and we collapsed in the sand. He pinned me down on the warm sand and I was laughing and screaming and he was giving me that naughty, naughty grin. He stood up suddenly and threw me over his shoulder. Giving me the best view of that ass and oh my God those thighs. Glad he couldn’t see me biting my lip.

  I needed a plan. He was going to throw me again. And he did. Except this time I was ready. I took a huge breath before I hit the water and then I stayed under. I swam towards him but enough to the side that he wouldn’t see me. I got behind him, grabbed his shorts and pulled them off. I stood up and threw them on shore. Then turned around to see him with a shocked look on his face. “Not so ‘cocky’ now are we?” I asked.

  Without missing a beat he replied, “Oh, Olivia, you have no idea...” and proceeded to walk out of the water completely naked. Completely confident. And completely hung. Jesus. Now I was embarrassed. I covered my eyes, still peeking of course, as he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself. Then he grabbed the other towel and came over to wrap me up.

  “This place is amazing,” he spoke close to my lips, “and so are you.” he added. I raised an eyebrow, looked down at his towel and said, “and so are you!” He threw his head back and laughed the most genuine laugh. I could never get tired of that sound. I hadn’t heard much of it before. He was like a different person here, almost a better version of himself if that's possible. We laid in the sun on the lounger together until it started to set. We cuddled and talked and napped and joked and laughed. Hours went by too fast when I was with him. I didn’t want this to end. Not yet. So, I decided to see what he would say to staying here for awhile. To which he replied, “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Big smile.

  Kiss.

  Chapter 34

  Harris

  I didn’t want to stop kissing her. And couldn’t wait to do more to her. She wants to stay here for awhile. My secret prayer has been answered. I can’t imagine a week or two, alone, here, with her. Closest I’ll ever come to heaven I imagine.

  We decided to head to town to grab a bite to eat. It was a sweet little tourist town. Might be tricky to go unnoticed. I guess we’ll find out.

  We went to this cool little place where she loved to eat every time she was here. It had a great vibe. Picture cool modern martini bar crossed with hipster attitude. And amazing food. Everything was raised local. I even moaned out loud tasting the dessert, eliciting an interested look from Livy. So, I made her taste it to see what her moan sounded like. Even though I already knew. I didn’t want to ever leave this place. I could stay here with her forever.

  She looked amazing sitting across from me in the dimly lit place. He hair was pulled back, she barely wore any makeup and was stunning in a short colorful bohemian style dress. This woman could stop traffic with those legs. And she’s always in heels making them look miles long. I loved her legs. I imagined them wrapped around me and almost moaned again. Fuck. The thought of it was driving me mad.

  A musician had started in the back corner of the place. We could hear him but he was around a corner. Livy obviously recognized the voice and just then a couple came walking over to the table. Friends of hers. They saw her from across the room and had to come say ‘hi’. Livy smiled, introduced me and we continued to chat with them for a bit.

  Their table was ready to order so they left us, but not before promising to stop by the lake one of these next nights to catch up. I was hoping to have her all to myself but this is her home. I suppose people miss her. I had and she was barely gone a week.

  The musician took a break and we were ready to leave. We walked hand in hand over to say our goodbyes to her friends. The musician was now sitting with them and was staring at Olivia. I didn't like how he was looking at her so I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her hip to mine, my hand splayed across her belly. A possessive gesture. Total dick move, but I didn’t care. Apparently, she didn’t either. She leaned into me, put her hand over mine, looked up at me winked and smiled. My God, I was getting hard just from that look. We said our goodbyes shortly after and headed out into the warm night.

  The stars were out and there were billions of them. I’d never seen the sky lit up like that before. It was then I was struck with her. She was standing there looking up at the stars, her beautiful neck stretched up, crying to be kissed. I held on to her waist and stepped her back up against the side of the brick building. I was hungry for her. Her lips no longer enough for me. I kissed her neck and moved slowly down the plunging neckline of her dress. Her hands went to my hair. I had waited for this moment. It seemed like I’d known her a lifetime and wanted her for longer. She was moaning softly now, fingers deep in my hair and it was driving me wild. I grabbed her hands, brought them between us and stood back to look at her. Her lips red from my assault. Her skin flushed. Her breathing heavy. I put my lips to her ear and whispered, “Let’s go home.”

  She nodded and threw me the keys.

  Once back at the house she grabbed a bottle of wine, 2 glasses and threw a
blanket at me. She took her heels off and went out the door. I followed her barefoot down the hill to the lounger.

  She took the cover off the rock, fire pit to reveal it was ready to go. She took a lighter out of a drawer in the lounger and got the fire going. I was constantly amazed by this woman. She was so independent. And it was so sexy.

  We snuggled up on the lounger together in front of the fire under the billions of stars. She got up to put more wood on the fire and when she came back to me she crawled up the lounger and straddled me instead of laying next to me. My heart was pounding so loud I figured she could hear it. There she sat, on my lap, straddling me on her knees, her dress pulled up to…there. I traced her neckline with my finger and hooked it in at the end to pull her forward. Her hands were on my chest, tracing my bird tattoos. Just what was visible. She smiled and said that my birds peeking out was one of the sexiest things she had ever seen. Like they were meant to be hidden but begged to be unwrapped. I let her unbutton my shirt. I had my hands on her thighs with my thumbs rubbing circles lightly. Her touch was lighting me on fire and I wasn’t sure how long I could go without having her naked on top of me. I moved my hands slowly up her thighs to her hips. I could feel myself twitch in my jeans when I noticed she wasn’t wearing anything under her dress. How did I not notice this when I held her at the restaurant? I squeezed her hips and started moving her on me. I sat up and let her slide my shirt off. My lips touched the skin on her chest between her breasts and her breath hitched. I kissed and slid my tongue across her skin up to her neck. I pulled her dress off one shoulder exposing her breast. I went for her lips and kissed her hungrily, grabbed her breast and felt her nipple respond to me. She kissed me back and nipped and sucked. It was the hottest thing in the world. I had never had a woman like this. So sure of herself. She knew what she wanted. I grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it up and off her, exposing her beautiful body as she sat straddling me in the light of the fire. I will never forget this moment for as long as I live. I kissed each of her breasts and her neck, knowing by her moans that she was ready for me. She undid my pants and started to pull them off. She reached in and grabbed me, feeling how hard I was for her. I scooted my pants off without moving her from me. She slithered down my legs, never taking her eyes from mine, took the knot out of her hair and let it hang loose, then she bent over at the waist. Her silky hair falling on my stomach as she took me in her mouth. By far the most amazing thing I've ever felt. God, she was sexy. My head fell back on the lounger as I moaned her name. She was teasing me by taking me in part way and then pulling out. Then she’d take me deeper and move her tongue in the most satisfying way. She was getting me so close. I wanted her. Needed her. I flung my hands into her hair and pulled her up towards me. I wanted to be inside her. I needed to fill her up. To feel her tighten around me. I slid my finger into her to find her wet already for me. I kept my finger in her and circled her clit with my thumb. She arched into me and let out the sexiest noise. I brought her close with just my touch. Then I slid my hands up her body and lifted her onto me. I wanted to slide in unguided. Oh God, she felt so good. She lowered herself slowly onto me, letting herself take me in inch by inch. I wasn’t going to last long at this rate. She was going to make me explode any time now. I hit her end and her head flew back. I tugged her nipple into my mouth and nipped and teased as she rode me slowly, her hands in my hair holding me to her chest. I grabbed her ass and set the pace. I could feel her starting to tighten. I thumbed her clit and sent her over the edge. My name escaped her lips better than it ever did in my dreams and was enough to send me over with her. We grunted and moaned and kissed, not being able to get enough of each other. When we stilled, she didn’t move. She stayed straddling me, hands on my cheeks kissing me. I never wanted this moment to end. That was the most mind-blowing sex I’d ever had. Holy shit. If she stayed like that, kissing me like that I’d be ready to go again without even pulling out of her. That was it. I was utterly and massively head over heels in love with this woman.