by Jessa Eden
We kept playing with each other’s hands as we spoke of those lost years. It was as if we couldn’t help but hold a physical connection. My body hummed with an awareness of her; waiting for the smallest sign she was ready to become more intimate.
She smiled and chatted, but kept me at bay all night. I wasn’t even upset. It felt too good to be with her.
It got late, so she invited me to stay over in the guest room. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I knew it was only a matter of time before we got physical. I told myself I was a patient man, but it was a miserable night as I ached for her sweet body.
The next morning, I wandered down the stairs into the kitchen as Marla prepared breakfast. She stood in front of the fridge, rummaging through the shelves.
I hadn’t really experienced this kind of morning routine since we’d shared her little apartment after high school. The sight of her brought back so many memories. Mostly of her climbing out of bed after we made love to fix us something for breakfast.
A primal need gripped me as I thought about those happy days. Marla was my woman, standing by the kitchen island in her dark sweats, making pancakes.
Mine.
She turned then and casually put down the milk as our eyes locked. The sun glinted off her hair as she drew me in with her sweet brown eyes and sinfully curvy body.
I couldn’t deny my need for her anymore.
I needed to be with her.
Right. This. Minute.
*****
Marla:
I tried to pretend Beau wasn’t staying at my house as I fought the temptation to join him in the guest room all night. My hormones were rampant, begging me to ease the ache only Beau could satisfy. He was a fever I would never be rid of.
Too excited to sleep, I got up early the following morning and fixed Charlie eggs and toast before he took off for work. I didn’t have clients until the afternoon, so I was taking it easy. Plus, I wanted to make Beau breakfast as well.
Ten minutes later, I heard him come down the stairs as I busied myself with whipping up a batch of pancakes. I was a little nervous about seeing him; I wasn’t sure he would still be as open as he was the night before.
But as I turned away from the fridge, he stood in the doorway, so sexy, I could hear my ovaries screaming at me to attack him.
Our eyes locked as hunger blazed in his blue eyes.
I couldn’t deny him anymore.
I couldn’t hold back.
As if the hand of fate was pushing us forward, we moved at the same time, rushing each other. I threw myself at him, wrapping my legs around his waist as he caught me. His large hands molded to my bottom as we collided in one big, colossal kiss.
His lips possessed mine as we pressed together in frantic need so hot, it made me dizzy with desire. Unraveling, I wrapped my arms around his neck, desperate to be close to him. He tasted of mint and an aching tenderness that moved me beyond anything I thought possible.
I wanted to give him everything I had.
Ravenous, we clung to each other as we stumbled toward the stairs, and landed on the second step where we made a mad dash to consummate our reunion.
He slid against me as his deliciously sexy body covered mine. I welcomed him between my thighs as hardcore lust raced through my blood, making it hard to think of anything but Beau.
My pussy was pulsing with a need to mate with this man as I swirled my tongue against his neck. He smelled the same—intoxicating and masculine—which drove me further out of my senses.
We needed to get naked, now.
I sat up and threw off my T-shirt and he did the same.
His body was harder and leaner than he had been at eighteen. So much power in all that sinewy muscle coming at me. Pressing together in glorious skin-to-skin contact, we exploded in an all-out consuming heat.
“Oh, Beau,” I breathed out as our bodies fought for total intimacy.
“Yeah, Sunshine?”
“Make love to me, please.”
“Oh, yeah, I’ll love you good, Sunshine. Where’s Charlie?” he questioned as he reached around to unlatch my pink bra.
“At the salon.”
“Good,” he moaned as my boobs popped out of their confinement.
His hands caressed my exposed breasts, my back arching in sheer pleasure as his mouth latched onto to my nipples, one after the other.
“Oh yeah...I like the way you do that, Shepard,” I purred as his tongue circled around my left nipple again and suckled hotly, setting my pussy on fire. “Oh, more please,” I let out in an aching voice.
He shoved my sweat pants down to my ankles and I kicked them off with my feet. It made me realize I wasn’t really prepared for a mid-morning rendezvous. “I didn’t shave today,” I admitted against his mouth.
“I don’t care!” he grunted out, pulling down his pants, his cock springing up majestically.
His hard-on hit my leg, hot and ready to slide into me. I wrapped my hand around his dick as it pulsed in my hand.
“Jesus!” he breathed out, closing his eyes. “Do you know how long I’ve waited to feel your hand on my cock?”
“I know exactly. Twenty-two years, eight months and twelve days.”
His blue eyes flew open. “You’re killing me, Sunshine. You kept track of the time we were apart?”
“I couldn’t help myself.”
“Stop keeping track,” he growled. “We’re together now.”
“We are?” I asked.
“Yeah, Sunshine. We most definitely are.”
That’s all I need to hear. After flinging my panties off, I spread my legs wide as I braced myself on the stairs. Nothing mattered except our bodies uniting.
His cock. My pussy. Now.
I bit his shoulder as he plunged deep into me. He fit just right, pleasure forging inside me as I held him in deep for a second before he pulled out.
“Holy hell,” he breathed out, fucking me in earnest. “God, you feel so good,” he groaned aloud.
This was the way it was supposed to be.
Me, clenching around his cock.
Him, fucking me as hard as he could.
I shuddered against him as he pressed, soothing the ache that had been inside me for the last twenty years.
Thrusting as hard as he could, Beau slammed our bodies up a step every time we collided. Higher, higher we rose until we landed on the second floor. Our breathing echoed off the walls as we made love on the hardwood.
Incredible friction.
Raw and righteous fuck.
I didn’t care about the burn on my backside as I wrapped my legs around his ass and threw myself against his swollen cock. He plunged into me so deep, the thickness of his dick hit the top of my clit. Already in overdrive, I let out a burst of moans.
I was coming undone and Beau was coming with me.
*****
Beau:
Tight.
Tight as fuck inside her.
It was like coming home, my cock nestled up inside her again and again.
God, she squeezed me just right. Not too hard. Not too soft.
I pumped my hips against hers, unable to hold back as we made love on top of the stairs. The soles of her feet ran along my calves as our bodies slammed together.
I was eighteen again, being with the woman who I had compared every other chick to for the last twenty fuckin years.
It was sweeter, tighter, better...Fuck! It was everything.
I reached down between us, my finger finding her clit. “Come for me, Sunshine. Come for me.”
She arched back, sucking me in as I found the right rhythm.
Goddamn, she was sexy as hell as her mouth opened in a cry of completion.
I was right behind her. “You feel so good...I’m not...oh, shit...I’m comin!” I roared, slamming into her deep as I filled her up with my seed.
*****
The world was a glorious righteous place after that fantastic fuck. My god, sex with Marla was my favorite thing. Ever.
> We spent the morning in bed, taking our time the second time around. She rode me, slowly coming apart on my dick as she threw her head back in ecstasy.
I wanted to fuck her repeatedly in every way imaginable. But the real world intervened as responsibility crashed down on us. Denying myself a third round, I pried myself away from her sweet body and headed to the office as she went into the salon.
It was useless really.
All I did was think about her.
“What are you smiling about?” Donna asked, bringing me in an afternoon coffee as I tried to study some new prospects for the team.
“Just had a good morning, that’s all.”
She scoffed. “You must’ve had a hell of a good morning. You never smile this much.”
I shot her a big grin. “You’re right. That’s going to change, though.”
She shook her head as she left the office, but I could tell she was pleased for me.
I tried to concentrate on work the rest of the day, but I found myself back at Marla’s by five o’clock, desperate to get inside her again.
******
Five days later, Charlie met me at the penthouse. We were scheduled to meet up with Ibrahima and train. I was in such a good mood, I let Charlie drive my Mustang to our workout. He was thrilled to get behind the wheel and take it out for a spin.
“Are you ready?” he asked, revving the engine.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I answered dryly.
He wiggled his eyebrows at me and peeled out of the garage, tearing into the street at breakneck speed, the back of the Mustang sliding sideways almost slamming into some parked cars.
“Whoo-hoo!” he cried as the car straightened out and we left a billow of smoke behind us. “That was awesome!”
I laughed. “You definitely know how to peel out, Charlie.”
“I try. Now, where are we going?”
“You’re going to take a left at the next light.”
“I’m on it.”
Somehow, we survived the journey to the gym. But it was an eye opener. Marla was right. Our kid loved to take corners fast. I was going to arrange for him to spend time on a racetrack. For my own sanity.
“This doesn’t look like much of a gym,” Charlie announced as he glanced around at the sparse training equipment.
“Trust me; you’re going to feel it in a few minutes.”
“Beau!” Ibrahima called as he walked out of his little office.
I waved and dropped my bag by the wall.
“Whoa. He looks fierce,” Charlie whispered under his breath.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”
“This is your boy?” Ibrahima asked as we met up on one of the blue mats.
“Yep, this is Charlie.”
“He looks just like you.”
“I know.” I smiled. “Good looks run in the family.”
He laughed heartily, letting out a deep rumble. “Is he working out with us today?”
“He’s gonna try.”
“Don’t listen to him. I’m ready.” Charlie puffed out his chest, as if it would mask his skinny frame.
Ibrahima raised his eyebrows. “We’ll see about that.”
That afternoon, Ibrahima put him through the paces with a series of push-ups, rope climbing, tire pulling, and sit-ups. Charlie could barely move when he was done.
“You do that every day?” he asked as he sat down on a blue mat in exhaustion.
“Almost.”
“You’re crazy. That’s way too hard.”
“You just need a little discipline. In a while, if you keep at it, you’ll be stronger, bigger, and in amazing shape. But it takes a great effort and you have to want it.”
“Yeah, I don’t know if I want it that much,” he said, dramatically flinging himself back on the mat.
I squatted down next to him. “Whatever you decide, it’s your call.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind.”
“You’ve worked hard. Wanna get some dinner?”
He lifted his head pitifully. “Are you buyin’?”
I shrugged. “Yeah, I think I’ve got you covered. Let’s go to my favorite steakhouse. Refuel all that energy you just burned.”
“Steak?” He sat up. “I love steak. But I don’t know if I have enough strength to cut my meat.”
“I think you’ll figure it out.”
“Why don’t you do it for me?” he asked, throwing me off-guard.
I suddenly envisioned myself, cutting his meat for him as a little boy. It choked me up. I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I can do that for you.”
“Are you getting sappy on me?” he asked, studying me thoughtfully.
“Maybe.”
“That’s all right. I think I like you sappy,” he admitted happily.
I stood up, trying to regain my emotional balance. “Good to know. Ready to go?”
“Can you help me up?”
“Sure thing.” I clasped his hand and pulled him up. “But I’m driving this time. No more Dukes of Hazzard shit.”
“Ah...come on. You know you love it.”
I shook my head at his cheeky tone. “No. I really didn’t love the way the back end of my Mustang almost collided with all those cars on the way here.”
“All right, but how about a piggy-back ride out of here?”
“Now you’re pushing your luck. Get your shit. Let’s go.”
God, I almost sounded like a dad.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Marla:
Every moment with Beau was a revelation. At the same time, it was a reminder of the bitter past and a hopeful clue about the future.
He had opened up to me again.
To some extent.
There were some walls still in place. He kept watching me as if he expected me to turn into a shrew at any minute and blow him up again.
I understood.
It was going to take time to rebuild trust between us. I didn’t have the words to convince him he was safe with me and that I was done with the secrets, which had destroyed us. All I could do was stay open and be transparent with him.
We laid in bed one night after making love. Our bodies were warm against each other as we came down from that euphoric high. Time had not dimmed our attraction, we were just better at giving pleasure.
“So what do you want out of life?” I asked as I pressed myself against his side, while he slung his arm around my shoulder.
“I don’t know anymore. I haven’t really thought about it for a while.”
“I guess it would be hard to decide. You’ve done everything you set out to do.”
“I have, but I still need a good challenge. That doesn’t change no matter how much money I make.”
His hand rested on my belly, his thumb idly rubbing back and forth. “Are these from having Charlie?” he asked, referring to the stretch marks running up and down my lower stomach.
“Yeah, I was so big with him.” I had carried him low and wide.
“I wished I had seen that.”
“You would’ve wanted to watch me waddle around carrying that big ol’ belly out to here?” I held out my hand out to indicate my big pregnant belly.
He studied me thoughtfully. “Yes, I would’ve. I still want to see my child growing big in your belly.”
“Are you being serious right now?”
“I don’t know. I like the idea of watching you grow big and fat with my baby.”
A little thrill went through me. I liked the idea, too. But I was too practical to be romantic about it.
“That’s the easy part, Beau. It’s the raising the kid bit that’s hard.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So you’re ready for sleepless nights and dirty diapers?”
“We can hire help,” he answered flippantly.
“But there are so many great moments when you’re in the thick of it. If we were to have a baby, I wouldn’t be okay just handing my child over to a nanny every time he or she screams.”
And there was the distance between us.
His stiff body language told me I might as well be on the other side of the Grand Canyon. He retreated anytime there was the slightest conflict between us.
I reminded myself it was going to take time. That we had even made it back to each other was a miracle.
As I leaned toward his back, unwilling to let him cut me off, I put my hand on his upper arm. He didn’t react right away, but a couple of seconds later, his hand crept up, covering mine.
I kissed his shoulder blade. “It doesn’t have to be something we decide tonight. But I want you to know I would be honored to have another one of your babies. You gave me Charlie and I’ve always been grateful to you for that.”
*****
Beau:
I didn’t know how to be with Marla.
I had spent so many years walling myself off, I didn’t know how to share my life with anyone, least of all her. I hated the way I shut down anytime we disagreed about something. She kept reaching out, but I secretly wondered if she would get tired and stop.
At the same time, hardcore rage was rocking through me faster than a speeding train. I was still reeling from discovering what really happened when Marla broke up with me. To know my father was a true asshole, who cared nothing for my happiness, destroyed any connection or love I had for his sorry ass.
For a while, I avoided my dad, too consumed by anger to confront him.
But fate had other plans.
One afternoon, I was coming back from lunch with Marla, when Donna scurried over to me before I got to my office door.
“Your father is in there,” she announced quietly.
I inhaled sharply. “Does he have an appointment?”
“No, but he insisted on waiting for you.”
I made an about face. “I’ll be right back.”
How dare he fuckin’ show up to my office? The man who had never bothered to come see me at any other time. He probably thought I wouldn’t make a scene in my place of business.