Beyond Lace

by Mia London

  He suddenly wanted that cascading over him, gliding over his chest, tangled in between his fingers.

  “I was thinking I could lay you out on your bed and spread your legs wide so that I could taste you.”

  He felt a quiver down her back.

  “Unless, of course, we don’t make it that far. Then I suppose I’ll have to take you on the kitchen table. I would make you come several times before I dove deep inside you.” His mere words caused his cock to stir inside her.

  Without waiting for another response, he rose, his arms holding her tightly to him as he negotiated out of his jeans. He stepped away from the porch, the clothes strewn about like a cyclone had blown through. He carried his soft, naked, warm Charlie inside and laid her on the kitchen table. He slipped out of her, with much regret.

  “No,” she exclaimed. “Blake, you cannot be serious.”

  Quick as a whip, he leaned over her, grabbed a handful of hair beneath her head to tilt her face toward his. She gasped. “I am very serious.” He claimed her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. He rather liked all this long hair to do with as he wished.

  He broke the kiss. “You can cover up, just stay put. I’m not through with you yet,” he said with a smile.

  He walked to the sink and turned on the hot water. He rummaged for a washcloth and after the third drawer, he located one. It looked new. He smiled.

  He wetted the washcloth and returned to find her waiting as he’d left her, her face flush, and the blanket wrapped around her.

  “Put your feet on the table.”

  She hesitated briefly. He noticed she took in air, and her nostrils widened. Despite her tentativeness, she lifted her feet on the table, and he opened her wider.

  “Christ, you’re beautiful.”

  With the warm washcloth, he smoothed and gently wiped her pussy of his semen. He heard her suck in a breath. His actions were turning her on. He wiped some more and dropped the cloth on the tile floor before he pushed his finger inside her.

  Charlie’s back bowed off the table. He wanted to see her come again.

  The sun was rising. The light streamed through the room and cast Charlie in the most amazing glow.

  “You look beautiful.” He whispered over her lips as he slipped another finger into her warm, wet channel.

  “Blake,” she breathed.

  Her clit swelled more, in anticipation of another climax. Perfect timing. He wanted to make her come, then drive in deep. His cock ached to be inside her again.

  He moved away from her face and bent down between her legs. He glossed his tongue lightly over her engorged clit. Slowly, he teased her with his tongue all while stroking and twisting his fingers inside her.

  She panted. “Oh God, Blake.”

  He applied more pressure with his tongue. At the same time, he pulled out his fingers and pushed her legs down and open.

  “Ah,” she cried out. Her fingers wrapped around the edge of the table, the blanket long forgotten.

  He worked her until she screamed his name, then he rose to enter her, hitting her end.

  He fastened his mouth to hers. Her arms and legs swung around him as he moved in her. They rocked together, and in several beats, he released all his cum inside her like they hadn’t just made love minutes before.

  He was positively mad for her. He couldn’t get enough. He’d barely caught his breath when he hoisted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

  He laid her down and made love to her one more time before he had to go. He wanted to stay all day. He shouldn’t have wanted it so bad, but he did. Regardless, he needed to get back to the house to check on his grandma.

  After retrieving their clothes from the back porch, he pulled on his jeans and buckled his belt. “Charlie, I have to go.”

  “I know.” She sat upright on her bed; her arm holding the sheet covering her torso.

  He leaned forward, his hands straddling her supple body. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

  Her beautiful white teeth showed with her stunning smile. Her eyes sparkled. “Okay.”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  She nodded, and he clutched the back of her neck for one last long kiss.

  He turned to leave wondering if what he’d just done was right. Having sex with Charlie and then making plans to spend more time with her. He wanted to be with her, but knew deep down it was a bad idea.

  His cheeks pillowed, and he let out a long breath. They lived a world apart. Starting a relationship with Charlie wouldn’t be a smart move. He shouldn’t lead her on. He was leaving in less than two weeks.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Blake rang her doorbell right on time for their date. Butterflies filled her stomach like this was a first date. She giggled inside. This was far from a first date.

  She opened the door, and found tall, sexy Blake standing before her. He wore a gray button-down and black slacks sporting a black belt with a polished buckle. Very understated, yet oozing style at the same time. The clothes fit him like they were custom-made.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi. You look lovely,” he said as pressed a warm kiss on her cheek.

  She’d grappled over what to wear, finally settling on a LBD—little black dress—with sleeves to cover the white bandage. She worried if she would be over-dressed.

  “Thank you. And you look handsome.”

  “I want to try a new place in Loveland. It’s supposed to get chilly tonight. Do you have a jacket?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Be right back.” She scurried to her bedroom, grabbed her phone and shoved it into her little purse, and scooped up her jacket laying on the bed.

  After a short drive, they arrived at a Mediterranean restaurant on the lake. They were shown to a corner table in the enclosed patio with an exceptional view of the lake. The moon and stars reflected off the water creating a sparkling glow. “Oh Blake, this is beautiful.”

  “I’m glad you like it. I heard good things about the place, so I thought we should give it a try.”

  “Good call.”

  “Here,” he pulled out a chair for her to sit, facing the water and then took the seat next to her.

  Immediately, she felt his body heat warm the side of her. Being out on a date with Blake felt comfortable and familiar in one respect. Yet in another way, it felt new and exhilarating as both of them had changed since college. A healthy dose of giddiness running rampant in her veins. Admittedly she’d been thinking about their date the entire day. And there she sat, staring at the menu, trying her damnedest to read the words to make a decision about dinner.

  She peered under her lashes at Blake. He studied the menu intently as well and shifted in his seat to get more comfortable.

  The waiter emerged before she could say anything. “Evening folks. May I start you all with a drink?”

  Blake’s eyes met his. “Yes. We’ll take a bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay, and let’s start with a shrimp appetizer.”

  “Very well, sir.”

  He remembered how much she liked white wine. And Cakebread made her practically orgasmic.

  He set his menu down and faced her. “How’s your arm?”

  “Healing nicely.”

  His eyes glanced down briefly. “I’m sorry about that, Charlie.”

  She covered his lips with her fingertips. “No apologies. I’m alright, and it’s no one’s fault. I’ll be fine.”

  His lips curved, and he nodded.

  They drank their wine and devoured the shrimp. She couldn’t help notice Blake seemed fidgety that night, in a way she’d never seen. Was he nervous? Clearly, he had something important on his mind.

  He needed to find the words. He was stalling. The sooner he laid his cards on the table, the better. He licked his lips for the hundredth time. “Charlie, I need to talk to you.”

  She looked up from her wineglass. Her eyes hardened on alert. “Okay.”

  His heart raced like a jackrabbit. He wanted to be honest with Charlie, but not hurt her in th
e process.

  “I’m leaving for Chicago in two weeks.”

  “Right.”

  “I want to see you, but . . .” Why was it so difficult to just spit it out?

  “But you don’t see us having a long-term relationship,” she finished for him.

  She knew. He let a breath. “Yes. It would complicate things. I live far away. I have a business there. You have your family here and a growing business. We . . .”

  “I know.” She laid her hand over his forearm. “Our time has come and gone. I understand. I’m good with that. We have our own lives, in separate states. It’s good. So let’s just enjoy our time together now.” Her lips curved. It wasn’t a big smile, but it seemed sincere.

  She understood. He should be relieved. And yet, his stomach turned hard as concrete at her words. Our time has come and gone. She was right. He knew it. They both knew it. They should enjoy the time they had together.

  He forced a smile, lifted her hand, and kissed the back of it.

  They drank the entire bottle of wine, which helped him to relax. The conversation rolled, and the evening was turning out better than he had expected. She laughed at his jokes, asked questions about his company, talked about her plans for her company. They ordered coffee and dessert and could have stayed longer.

  “C’mon. It’s getting late. I should take you home.”

  He held her hand the whole drive home, and she didn’t seem to mind one bit. He needed to be touching her. When he pulled into her driveway, all he could think about was touching her from head to toe. Every soft, sweet part of her body.

  He’d berated himself earlier. That night would be different. They weren’t going to be fuck-buddies for two weeks. He wasn’t going to use her and skip town. No, that night he would be a gentleman. He would kiss her goodnight and leave her alone.

  And maybe that’s why he held her hand. So he wouldn’t touch any part of those vastly appealing legs.

  “Stay put.” He smiled. He exited the car and walked to her side to open her door.

  “Thank you, kind sir.”

  She clasped his hand, swung her legs out, and rose. He was overcome. He pulled her close and plunged his lips over hers. He swiped his tongue against her. He could still taste the chocolate on her from earlier. “I love this dress on you,” he breathed over her lips. “Your legs look good enough to eat.”

  Her darkened eyes sparkled. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Would you like to come in?”

  He was tempted. “Not tonight. I need to check on my grandma. Tomorrow. How about a movie?”

  A smile quickly covered her disappointment. “Okay.”

  He walked her to the door and unlocked it. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here, Charlie.”

  “Okay,” she said as she coyly peered up at him with an innocent smile.

  He pulled her close one last time to claim her soft mouth, teasing, longing for more. His hand stroked her thigh. She moaned, and that spurred his hand to move higher. She hadn’t worn stockings, and quickly he learned her ass was bare. He couldn’t help himself. He had to know if she wore panties. Bunching her short black dress as his hand reached up her round globe, he felt her skimpy lace confection.

  “Fuck, you feel so good.”

  He massaged and caressed her ass. She whimpered in his mouth. He should stop. His first two fingers slid under the thong to her mons and down her slit. She was so wet.

  She wants you, said the devil on his shoulder.

  No, walk away, said the angel.

  He dipped a finger through her lips to her core. He lightly pressed a finger in up to the first knuckle. He broke the kiss, pulled out his finger, and slowly sucked his finger clean.

  Her dark eyes widened at his action.

  “Go inside, strip out of that dress, and fuck yourself with your vibrator. I want to go home and picture your luscious body, spread out on your bed, pleasuring yourself. Making yourself come. When that vibrator glides inside you, picture it’s my cock. Understand?”

  Her precious red lips gaped. She nodded.

  He stepped back, and waited for her to turn around and walk inside. When he heard the door lock, he returned to his SUV.

  “Christ almighty,” he exhaled. He nearly hauled her inside, laid her down on the first flat surface he found, and fucked her until she screamed in ecstasy. He wanted her in the worst kind of way. But she wasn’t just some girl, and he didn’t want to treat her as such.

  His cock was hard as granite. He shifted in his seat to get comfortable. He’d need to take care of this ache. Soon.

  Charlie had done what he said. She undressed, lay on her bed, and used her vibrator. It took hardly any time for her to climax. When she was through, she texted him.

  Satisfied, but only partially. I need another one.

  He must have been doing something because his response took a few minutes.

  Oh, no babe. The next one is mine.

  She sighed.

  She rose from her bed and went to her bathroom to ready herself for bed. Thoughts about their conversation over dinner trickled into her mind. She suspected he’d want to clear the air about not having a relationship, not wanting to complicate things between them. She understood that. She’d agreed to that. But she didn’t like it.

  Of course, it made absolute sense. They lived over a thousand miles away from each other.

  She felt tears pricking the backs of her eyes. She finally had Blake back. They were free from the black cloud of the past that hung over them for so long. And she wanted him in her life. Was she asking too much?

  Back in Chicago, Blake had a thriving, successful business. She couldn’t ask him to give that up to move back to Colorado. She also had a successful business, and her family was here. She could leave no easier than he could.

  She sighed and flipped off the light switch. Enjoy the time you have, Charlie.

  Sure. Easier said than done.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Charlie poured the last of the coffee into her cup. Back to work, she thought. Enough daydreaming. Because that’s what she’d been doing, daydreaming about Blake.

  Until . . .

  She thought about their date—a nearly perfect date. Except for the fact that he didn’t see them having a long-term or long-distance relationship, it had been perfect.

  She exhaled. She tried to focus on work because the knot in her stomach was distracting. She looked down at the coffee she’d just fixed and grimaced. She poured it down the drain and left the cup in the sink.

  Focus, Charlie.

  Her next project didn’t require an inordinate amount of thought. A local insurance agency contracted her to create a retractable, floor-standing banner to be used for trade show and expos. She worked the mouse with placing a graphic, then their logo. She reviewed the text. Perhaps a border. Yeah, nice touch. She saved her work.

  Her thoughts wandered. “At least he wants to see you tonight,” she said to herself. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. What should she wear?

  Her mind replayed the movements of his hands, his mouth, his hard body. That brought her lady-parts alive. Would he be a “gentleman” tonight or would he give her what she craved? What she knew he craved too.

  So what if they only had two weeks together. Why let it go to waste?

  A knock at the door snapped Blake from his thoughts. “I’ll get it, Grandma,” he called as he walked to the front door. He was expecting a general contractor, to look at his grandmother’s bathroom. Or the Pink Powderpuff of Plumbing as he liked to call it.

  “Hello. Mister Strickland?” A man with bright eyes, wide shoulders, and an extra forty pounds on him stood at the door with a notebook in one hand, extending the other.

  Blake shook his hand. “Yes. Mister Harrison. Good to meet you. Come in.”

  “Please call me Bill. You’d like to remodel a bathroom, is that right?”

  “Yes. Right this way.”

  The man trailed Blake upstairs where grandma sat at her tiny de
sk writing. She looked up from her work and smiled. “Hello, Mister Harrison. I’m Rosie Strickland. So glad to meet you.”

  “You, too, ma’am.”

  “Please follow me.”

  They walked into the space, and to Bill’s credit, he didn’t let on that he could lose his lunch at any point.

  Blake started. “I don’t think there is anything of value here that needs to be saved. I’d like my grandma to have the most up-to-date, current bathroom possible and still fit with the style of the house.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Immediately, Bill started making notes and taking measurements. “Do you like the layout of the bathroom, Mrs. Strickland?”

  “Um, yes. I do.”

  “Good. So do I. The toilet isn’t too far from the door. Now, I’d like to create a barrier-free shower,” he stooped down and motioned back and forth with his hand by the shower door. “If we take away this little step here, it will make it easier long-term for getting in and out of the shower.”

  “Terrific. I like that idea,” his grandma smiled. Blake loved to see that smile. Just as much as he loved to see it on Charlie’s face.

  Bill and Grandma spoke about a few other particulars until they were both comfortable that he understood what she wanted.

  “How soon can I see a quote? And how soon can you start?”

  Bill retrieved a business card from his shirt pocket. “I should be able to have the quote to you in twenty-four hours. We can start in about nine or ten days, if that works for you.”

  “Okay.” That meant he would be gone when most of the work was being completed. He should call Adam. Ask him to oversee the project.

  “I’ll email it to you, yes?”

  “Yes, and I’ll receive the invoices for the entire remodel.”

  “Great,” he offered his hand to Grandma, then Blake. “I look forward to working with you on this project.”

  After Blake had let Bill out, he went to his grandma in the kitchen. “Grandma, I won’t be able to be here the whole time while they remodel your bathroom.”