Beyond Lace

by Mia London

  Part of the blame rested on his shoulders. He knew in his gut, what they had had was real, and he screwed up not believing her. Their lives were changed forever because of his stupidity.

  He knew the time had come to swallow his pride and face her. He owed her that, at the very least.

  Sunday evening turned out to be a beautiful night for sitting on the back porch of her house. The sun sat low in the sky and cast the mountains in the most amazing shade of copper. She took another sip of wine. The unfortunate thing was that Charlie was still alone with her thoughts. Her thoughts about Blake continued to consume her.

  She heard rustling coming from the side of the house. Her breath caught.

  Speak of the devil. There came Blake, around the corner of her house. He wore black jeans with a fitted gray t-shirt that defined his chest muscles. He approached. Charlie didn’t sense anger or hostility from him.

  She took in air, hoping to calm her jumpy heart.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “Can I sit for a minute?”

  She met his eyes, trying to read what he wanted. “Sure.”

  “I stopped by so I could talk to you.”

  “About?”

  He rubbed his palms down his jean-clad thighs and looked her way. His eyes intense. “About what happened between us.”

  Shit!

  “I went to see Den.”

  Did she hear that right? She thought Blake hated the guy. “You did what?”

  He leaned in closer, resting his forearms on his thighs. “I went to see Den. I never talked to him.” He shifted slightly. “Probably because I was afraid I’d beat the living shit out of him.”

  Charlie turned her head to stare out for a moment before looking back at him. He was going there. Eight years had passed, and now he wanted to discuss it.

  “I asked him to tell me what happened. He told me he drugged you so that he could take those pictures, making it look like you’d slept with him, and then sent them to me.”

  “Mm-hmm.” Her lips thinned. She should be happy all this was finally getting resolved, instead only anger filled her. Her face grew warmer.

  She stood and paced away from him a few steps before circling back. “Isn’t that what I told you?” she asked in a clipped tone, crossing her arms. Suddenly she felt chilled.

  He rose. “Yes, Charlie. And I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”

  His eyes dropped. He looked as sad as she felt.

  She moved two steps to stand directly in front of him. So close, she could feel the heat emanating from his body. “You let him ruin everything.” Her voice flat.

  Tears flooded her eyes.

  “I didn’t know,” he replied softly.

  Her hands balled up. Blood ran wild in her veins. She reached up and pounded her fists on his chest twice. His eyes grew big as saucers. “You should have known.” Her voice rose. “You should have trusted me. Trusted us.” She hit his chest again, and he didn’t budge. She lashed out, and he took it. He deserved it.

  “Yes. I was wrong. I was a fool, Charlie.” His eyes clouded. “I’m so very sorry.”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her heart threatened to explode from her chest. Nails dug into her palms. She hit her fists again on his chest and repeated herself. “You should have known.” Another pound.

  Blake wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her flush to him. He leaned down to rest his cheek beside her. “I am so sorry.”

  Her forehead rested on his shoulder. “I loved you,” she said into his shirt. A sob escaped her lips. Her legs threatened to collapse.

  Eight years. Eight years she’d waited to hear those words. She cried for release.

  “Shh. I am so sorry,” he whispered in her ear again. “Shh.”

  He stroked her back with his hand, still holding her close. “It’s all my fault. You were right. I should have trusted you.” He kissed her temple. “Trusted us.”

  Slowly, her body began to relax, and the tears subsided.

  Her mind spun in a whirl. So was she just supposed to forgive and forget?

  She lifted her head and wiped her eyes with a hand. “Thank you, Blake. I’ve waited a long time to hear those words.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Her brows pinched together.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  She bit her lip so hard it stung. “I just . . . I just don’t know if I can forgive and forget so fast. I mean, it’s been eight years.” His back straightened. “I fought for you to see that Den was lying. I guess . . . I just need some time.”

  He blinked and stared at her without saying a word. His arms released her.

  “Do you understand?”

  “Yes. Yes, of course. You need time.” He ran a hand over his brow and through his hair. “I’ll go now.” He paused. “And give you some time.” He nodded and gave her a small smile, then he spun around and left.

  She stood in the darkness, the only light coming from inside her house. Despite the insane knot in her stomach, she knew she made the right decision. He couldn’t just waltz back into her life like nothing had happened.

  Picking up her wine glass, she walked into her house and locked the door behind her. She was exhausted. She flipped off all but one light and headed to her bedroom.

  Did he think these past years were easy on her? With time, she had started to forget—forget about Den, and forget about Blake and everything they’d shared. But she didn’t know if she had it in her to forgive. That was a tall order.

  She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to come.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Blake sat dumbfounded in his SUV outside of Charlie’s home. She’d had every right to send him away. The blame for the whole Den fiasco lay with him.

  That didn’t change the fact that her words stung. Stung like a sonuvabitch!

  He started the car.

  She’d said she couldn’t easily forgive, and that she needed time. For the first time, in as long as he could remember, he wanted that forgiveness.

  Motionless, he stared at her quiet house. If only he could make her see how truly sorry he was.

  He turned off the car.

  He couldn’t make himself drive away. What now? Before he knew what he was doing, he found himself sitting on her back porch sofa . . . waiting. Waiting for what? He couldn’t say. He just knew that he couldn’t leave.

  Charlie tossed and turned all night, so by six in the morning she dragged her body to the bathroom. This is all Blake’s fault, she said to herself as she brushed her teeth and threw on her clothes from the night before.

  How am I supposed to handle this?

  Her head shook as she stared at the coffee, slowly dripping into the glass pot. The anger she felt didn’t simply vanish when he apologized. It wasn’t that simple. Life wasn’t that simple.

  She poured a steaming hot cup, added a little cream, and headed out back to watch the sunrise.

  She took several steps when she halted in her tracks. There, to her left, lay Blake asleep on her sofa. He looked so peaceful, she wondered how long he’d been there.

  How many times had she seen him sleep? She squelched the desire to wake him and tell him to go home. Instead, she moved closer and watched him for a moment. His big body overtook her little sofa. That couldn’t be very comfortable.

  His face was so utterly calm and at peace. The same expression he had for the briefest moment the previous night when he’d apologized. Holding her in his arms, he’d sounded so sincere.

  If she were pressed, could she explain why she was holding on to her anger? What purpose did it serve? Wasn’t she just hurting herself? Or was she simply afraid?

  He stirred, and she instinctively took a step back. His eyes opened and focused on her. He placed his feet on the floor and sat up, scrubbing a hand over his eyes.

  “Hi,” he said quietly.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He examined his surroundings. “I want
ed to be here.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I just couldn’t leave.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You were here all night?”

  “Yes. I couldn’t stand the thought of being away from you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you forgive me?”

  As he said the words, a sadness passed over his expression that made her heart ache. They had to move past this, and it was solely her responsibility to make that happen.

  He was open and vulnerable, it captured her. She didn’t need to hear another thing.

  She set her coffee cup on the side table and straddled him to sit on his lap.

  His eyes rounded at her movements, but he didn’t flinch.

  “Thank you for coming back.” She felt a lone tear stream down her cheek. “I forgive you.” She smiled. “And I’m sorry it took me a little time to get there.”

  His thumb gently brushed away her tears from her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry about last night,” she said as she smoothed her palms across his chest.

  A low chuckle came out, and said, “I deserved it.”

  She snaked her arms around his neck and quickly kissed his cheek. “Thanks for coming back.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “You’re welcome.” He placed a soft kiss on her neck.

  They held each other for several long moments. He felt good being close. His warmth spread to her body, chasing her tears away. Chasing her hurt away. Fusing the crack in her heart.

  Charlie smoothed her lips together. Her heartrate sped slightly. He shouldn’t feel this good, but regardless of the time, he awakened her. In more ways than one.

  He pushed back a few inches to look her into her eyes. “I trust you, Charlie. More than I realized. I hurt you, and I hurt us. Thank you for forgiving me.” Then he leaned forward and softly kissed her lips.

  Time had slowed to a snail’s pace. He pulled back to look at her again, perhaps reading her mood. Perhaps trying to read his own.

  His warm breath fell over her face. His dark eyes locked on hers.

  Kiss me.

  He closed the final inches between them and brushed his lips over hers. His firm lips were warm against hers. Warm and inviting.

  God help her, she didn’t want him to stop. Her lips separated, and he slipped his tongue inside. His tongue massaged and caressed hers. A shiver raced up her spine.

  The emotional rollercoaster she’d be on was finally coming to an end. And this is right where she wanted it to end.

  He cupped her face and tipped her head to take the kiss deeper. She moaned into his mouth.

  They may not have many more chances to be together like this. She would savor every minute, every second. Before long, he would be packing to head back to Chicago.

  His hand moved south, and she loved the feel of his large, warm hand cupping her behind. He pulled her impossibly closer, and his erection pressed against her body.

  His body against hers felt heavenly. She wanted him like she wanted her next breath. “Blake,” she breathed.

  “I want you, Charlie,” he whispered over her lips.

  His hands unfastened the buttons of her sweater while she yanked his shirt out of his jeans. Her fingertips danced over the ridges of this stomach and up to the hard planes of his chest.

  He slid the sweater off her shoulders, and his mouth covered the exposed skin on her right shoulder. He kissed, licked, and sucked before trailing a hot path to her breasts.

  She loosened his jeans button and zipper and caressed his growing erection.

  He pulled one bra strap down, then the other. She was exposed but didn’t have the heart to care. No neighbors were close by. And the way she felt right then, nothing could tear her away from Blake’s consuming touch. She yearned for him. Probably had for the past eight years.

  He leaned forward and whipped off his t-shirt and threw it aside. She took in her fill of his gorgeous body—his muscular chest, rippled stomach, strong thighs, and gloriously hard cock waiting for her. The sight of him brought a flood of moisture to her nether parts.

  She slid off his lap and lowered herself before him. His eyes glimmered in anticipation.

  Her hands pulled against the fabric of his jeans and then his briefs, giving her access. She wrapped her fist around his wonderful cock and lowered her mouth. Her tongue glided over his slit before taking him in completely.

  “Christ, Charlie.” His hands cupped her head, and his mouth gaped.

  She moved up and down, taking him as deep as she could. Her fist moved with her mouth. His head lulled back, and the groan from his throat was music to her ears. She tasted a drop of pre-cum.

  She loved doing this to Blake. And truth be told, the longer she sucked him, the more turned on she became.

  His panting grew. “Unh. Stop. Please.” He pulled gently against her head to pull her back. “God, Charlie. I need to feel you. I don’t want to come in your mouth. Come up here.”

  Passion emanated from his eyes. She licked her lips, tasting his salty sweetness, and rose. She reached behind and slipped the hook from her bra, dropping it to the floor. Then she undid her jeans and hooked her thumbs inside her waistband, bringing her jeans and panties to the floor. She stepped out.

  “Oh shit, baby. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

  She loved to hear his words of affirmation. She could recall a million times he’d told her she was sexy or beautiful or a slew of other gracious adjectives. Blake never held back on his compliments. The thoughts, however, were bittersweet. She may never hear them again after that day.

  She reached to the end of the bench and retrieved a folded blanket. She flung it around her back and shoulders, and scooted atop him, sitting astride his legs.

  “You are amazing,” was the last thing she heard before he cupped her face and covered her mouth with his. His kiss was voracious and hungry. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled her chest flush to his. They moaned in sync.

  “Charlie.” His hands roamed her body, cupping her breasts, massaging her until they found their way to the apex of her thighs. “Lift up,” he puffed.

  She shifted the blanket ends to fold under her shins and raised to a kneeling position.

  In a beat, Blake’s hand massaged her inner thighs, working to the center. One fingertip glossed over her opening, gathering her slickness.

  “Fuck, Charlie. You feel so good. Stay right where you are so I can make you come.” Then as his finger encircled her clit, his mouth claimed her nipple.

  The sensations hit her from everywhere. She sucked in air while she clung to his shoulders. Blake’s fingers stroked her lips and massaged her clitoris. He sucked her breast and shot white hot electricity downward.

  “Ah,” she called out. But that didn’t stop him. He knew how to take her body farther. He knew her body better than anyone.

  He moved to her other breast while he applied more pressure to her engorged clitoris. Her hands gripped his shoulder muscles tighter. She was so close, and then he slipped two fingers inside her and bent them slightly to massage her g-spot.

  “Ah. Oh, God. Blake. Don’t stop. Please.” Her head fell forward as if the effort to keep it upright was too great.

  “Never, baby.”

  He pumped his fingers and rotated his thumb until the tremors began and spread throughout her body. The explosion of sensation raced through her body like a shot. “Blake,” she thought she called out, then sagged down over him.

  He rained kisses on her face and neck. He smoothed her hair to the side to kiss her shoulders. His lips on her felt like heaven.

  With both hands on her hips, he lifted her slightly. “Hold me, baby.”

  She raised her head and nodded. As she gripped his cock, he lowered her over him—inch by delicious inch. They moaned, and she took his lips again.

  “You feel so good,” she breathed over his mouth. All she wanted was getting him deeper inside her.

  Hands on her hips, he rocked her. Their rhyth
m was just as she remembered it. All those years ago. Their bodies could work in sync, delivering pleasure together. They were made for each other.

  “You feel so good,” he parroted. He shifted his hands to the globes of her ass and worked them with his big, warm fingers. As he reached, cupping more of her flesh, his fingertips grazed her tight little hole innocently. She moaned not truly understanding the source of the sensation.

  He quickly queued into her desire and brushed a finger sweetly over the spot several more times. She moaned louder. How is it this feels so amazing, she thought in her haze of passion.

  Her pace increased. He groaned into her mouth.

  “Baby,” he panted.

  He was close, but so was she. Even if she didn’t come, she wanted him to come. She wanted him to let go, and she wanted to know she was the cause of it.

  “Ah,” she whimpered at the first wave. Blake flexed in time with her, digging his fingers into her hips. A small explosion detonated, grew, and spread to her entire body. An endless wave of pleasure. She was vaguely aware of his groan as he released, filling her completely.

  Her body slumped over his. His arms snaked around her naked body, pulling her close. They reclined on the bench, naked, under the blanket, completely sated and at ease with each other. Charlie could easily admit it had been a long time since she felt so fulfilled and at peace. Which was strange in one respect because, really, it was just sex.

  “Let’s go inside,” Blake said low into her ear, breaking her little trance.

  She straightened to look at him, then tipped her head. “Why?”

  He smirked. She toyed with him. Blake recalled times, after sex, when Charlie would play with him. A happiness would come over her, and he loved to see it.

  “Well, I was thinking we could do more of this,” he motioned a circle with his head, “inside . . . on your bed, perhaps.”

  “Well, I’ve already had this.” She motioned the same way he did.

  “So, perhaps you’d like something new?” He lifted an eyebrow.

  “Hmm.” She tilted her head, as if contemplating the universe, and a mass of long hair fell to the side.