by Naomi West
“I do love it.” I pretended to be reading the letter in my hand but I was too distracted. I had worried at first that my little job—which paid but didn’t pay much—wouldn’t be enough for Snake. We had a house to remodel and a child to raise, and I didn’t want to feel like a burden. But he hadn’t complained once, instead putting the entire weight of earning money for the household on himself. My paychecks mostly went into savings or towards extra things I wanted for Ariel. My life was so easy and happy these days.
“I know you do. And one of these days, you’ll have a huge book contract and Ariel and I will have to go on tour with you while you sign books and negotiate movie deals.”
I shook my head and glanced up at him. “You’re being ridiculous again.”
“Am I?” He gave me an innocent look. “I thought I was just telling the truth.”
Returning my attention to the letters, I pulled off the top one and put it on the bottom of the stack. As soon as I saw the next letter, I froze. I recognized the handwriting immediately, and my eyes paused on the greeting. I wasn’t sure I could go on.
Snake noticed my distress immediately. “What’s the matter?”
But I had already started to absorb the words, and I couldn’t stop. I held out one finger to let him know he had to wait a moment while I read. My eyes flew over the words quickly, nearly skimming the document before I slowed down and read it all over again. I knew who this letter was from, but I hadn’t expected it to say what it did. When I was done, I handed it over.
He moved Ariel so that he was holding her with one arm. I reached out for her, but he refused me. He wanted the baby for himself. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to focus on how sweet that was. I handed him the letter with a shaking hand and turned away, biting my thumb between my front teeth.
“Dear Bambi—”
“No, don’t read it out loud. Please.” I already knew what it said, and I didn’t want his voice to overlap the words inside my head. Besides, I needed a moment to think and to try to absorb this. Of all the letters I had received during my short time as a columnist, none of them had ever been like this.
Dear Bambi,
I had seen your name in the paper plenty of times. Every time you won a pageant or made the honor roll, the Myrtle Creek Messenger instantly printed your name. I was shocked when I saw it there as a writer.
It took me a long time to make the decision to write to you. I know that we didn’t part on the best of terms. At first, I thought you would cool off and come back to me like you did before. It’s been long enough that I imagine you won’t. And if that little child of yours is anything like you were as a baby, then I’m sure you feel you have all the family you need right there with you.
What I’m doing a terrible job of saying is that I’m sorry. I wanted the best for you, and as a single mother I felt it was my duty to do everything I could to make sure you never knew just how miserable I was or how much I worried about you. That translated into me pushing you toward the beauty pageant, in the hopes that you could become something better than either your father or I had ever been. My past was ugly and dark, and I wanted something different for you.
I can see now that all I succeeded in doing was making you miserable. I never considered your desires or feelings. I’m sorry for that, but I don’t know that I could have changed it. Even if you were to come running back home right now, I’m not sure that I would behave any differently. Old habits die very hard. I’m glad that you were finally able to point it out to me in a way that made me understand, but I wish it hadn’t torn us apart like it did.
I can see from your articles that Snake is still with you. I pretended plenty of surprise at first, but really, I knew it could only be that way. He went to great lengths for you, and it sounds as though he’s still doing that. He’s also doing a much better job at it than I ever had. Please tell him thank you for me, and that I’m sorry for getting him arrested. Now that he has a child of his own, perhaps he will understand.
It shames me to know that the newspaper knows where you live but that I don’t. I had considered hiring a private investigator to find you. Not to try to convince you to come back or to do any of the other things I had tried to get you to do, but simply so that I knew. Instead, I decided this was the better route. It’s not as thrilling, I’m sure, as the letters from your devoted readers.
And they really are devoted, Bambi. You were always popular in Myrtle Creek, but now more so than ever. Papers are selling so fast they can hardly keep up, and they had a news article about the stunning rise in their online subscriptions. It’s all because of you; I know it is. Don’t be surprised if they ask you to come speak at a local event sometime soon. The Peach Festival is coming up in a few months, and I’m sure they’d be thrilled to have you.
If you do find your way back here sometime, I’d love to see you. Snake and the baby, too. I understand if you come right by our old street and keep on driving, but I really do miss you. I want so much to hold my granddaughter in my arms for just a moment and to see you now that you’re happy. Just think of me, dear, because I’m always thinking of you.
Love,
Mother
Snake finished with the letter and set it back down on the counter. “Are you all right?” he asked softly.
I braced myself against the counter. “I don’t know. I just—I hadn’t really been thinking about her since we moved here. I’ve been so involved with the house and the baby and school.” A wave of guilt fell over me. I knew I shouldn’t feel bad about it at all. Mother had been horrible to me; she had admitted it herself.
“That’s okay,” Snake assured me, wrapping his free arm around my waist and pulling me close. “You were doing what you needed to do, and nobody can blame you for that. Besides, your mom was pretty much the worst. Even she didn’t expect you to keep in contact with her.”
I pulled in a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to keep myself from crying. “Yes, I suppose that’s true. But I think I’d still like to do something about it.”
“Are you sure?” Snake looked dubious. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, no matter what she or anyone else tells you. We don’t know what frame of mind she was in when she wrote that letter, and it’s possible she’s changed her mind again.”
“I know.” It was true. Mother vacillated like a fan, and I was fully prepared for that after my last encounter with her. “But I don’t want to stay over here and just pretend she doesn’t exist. That isn’t going to help me, and I want to be a good role model for Ariel. She needs to know that we don’t just avoid our problems.” I stared at my sweet baby girl in Snake’s arms. She meant the absolute world to me, and I would do anything for her. Maybe, to a certain extent, I could understand my mother’s actions just a little bit more.
“Do you think you can do this?”
I nodded, looking up at him and smiling. “I can. I know I can, because I’ll have you with me.”
“I won’t leave your side for a second,” he promised.
“And I’ll have Ariel, too. I have someone to protect besides myself now, and that will make all the difference.”
“If you’re sure.” Snake watched me carefully, still uncertain about the whole idea.
“I am. But we’re not going to do it right away. I don’t want her thinking I’ll come running at her beck and call. Not to mention the fact that the Myrtle Creek Library has already asked me to speak to young women at an upcoming charity even they’re hosting in two months. That will be the perfect excuse for us to go.” I hadn’t yet accepted the invitation because I hadn’t wanted to think about what it would be like to go back home, but now I knew that it would all work out. I had an excuse to be in town anyway, and I would have my bodyguard in the form of a biker.
Snake pressed his lips to mine. “You’re something, you know that?”
“I have a good influence. Now, then. Are you heading back out to the garage for the rest of the day?” Now that I had made up
my mind about the situation, I wasn’t interested in talking about it anymore. There was no time in my new life to dwell on things.
He tipped his head to the side and ran his eyes up and down my body. “I thought about taking a ride, actually. The weather is finally warm enough, and it isn’t too windy today, so I wanted to get the old bike out of the garage. However, I’m thinking I’ve got something else in mind.”
“What’s that?” I never knew what to expect out of him, but in a good way. Snake was always surprising me with something new, whether it was something simple like a nice long back massage or the beautiful vintage car he had purchased for me.
“Come upstairs, and I’ll show you.” He led the way out of the kitchen and through the house, waving me up the stairs ahead of him.
“Why would I go first if I don’t know where we’re going?” I asked, smiling.
“So I can get a nice view from the back, of course.” When we reached the top of the stairs, Snake turned to the right and entered Ariel’s room. He settled her into her crib. She had already been falling asleep in his arms, and she snuggled into the cool sheets. Her little thumb went into her mouth, the rest of her fingers fanning out over her face, and she went to sleep.
Snake came back out of the room and shut the door quietly behind him. “Now I can do what I was wanting.” He came at me and scooped me up in his arms and threw me over his shoulder, carrying me down the hallway to our bedroom. He shut the door behind him with his foot and laid me gently on the bed. He climbed on top of me and kissed me hard and passionately.
“Well, well. I didn’t know you were in the mood,” I murmured as he trailed his lips along the line of my jaw and down my neck.
“I’m always in the mood when I’m around you, Bambi. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen, and I can’t believe I get to keep you.” He slowly worked at the buttons on my shirt, exposing my body inch by inch. His curly hair dusted the delicate skin of my throat.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the thrill of the cool air against my skin. His lips were a warm contrast as they gently caressed the tops of my breasts, and he reached around behind my back to unhook my bra. He pulled it away and tossed it on the floor, suckling and biting on my nipples until they were pert buds. His hands massaged my breasts, worshiping them, owning them.
“Mmm, this isn’t fair. I’m not getting to enjoy you.”
“Don’t worry. Even if we don’t find the time now, we can always do this again later.” My pants came next. He flicked off my belt and yanked my jeans down, his lips moving down my stomach to dive in between my legs.
“Oh!” I tensed for a moment and then relaxed, spreading my legs to give him access. Snake ran his tongue over me, flicking it like his namesake. He explored my core, kissing and licking me into a frenzy. He paused just long enough to rip his shirt off over his head, revealing his strong shoulders and lean torso. I could feel him moving as he removed the rest of his clothes, but he never stopped what he was doing to me. One hand slid underneath me to cup my ass, and he clenched his fingers around me. With his other hand, he slowly slid one finger inside me.
I gasped, overloaded with pleasure. I began to tremble inside, and my leg muscles did the same. “Oh, Snake. You’re too good to me.”
“No such thing.” His voice vibrated against me, encouraging me even more. I bucked my hips against him instinctively, pressing myself against him and begging for more.
He ran the flat of his tongue up the entire length of my pussy and put a second finger inside me. Electric tingles shot through my body. I quaked in his grip, biting my tongue to keep from crying out. I whimpered my pleasure to him until I couldn’t stand it. My muscles tensed and relaxed so quickly that it was making me dizzy. It felt so good, but I needed my body to calm down for a minute.
“Stop,” I whispered. “Please. I can’t take it anymore.”
He shook his head and worked his tongue faster, touching me in all the right places. “I want to show you just how much I like pleasing you. I want to make you come over and over again.”
My hands clutched at the sheets, bunching them up and making them pop off two corners of the mattress. “Oh, you are. Trust me, you are. But you’ve got to let me have a turn at you. I want to make you happy.” I pushed at his shoulders to make him stand up.
Finally giving in, Snake gave me one last lick. I slid off the bed and went right to my knees, looking up at him as I took him in my mouth. With that dark hair and his sleek muscles, he was so strong and sexy. He was hard as a rock and huge, just the way I liked him. I sank my lips all the way down his cock, running my tongue down to caress the very base of it. He moaned and threw his head back, bringing his hands up and running them through my hair. He gathered it into a rough ponytail and twisted it in his grip.
A thrill surged through me. I knew Snake would never do anything to hurt me or that I was uncomfortable with, but when we were in the bedroom I was more than happy to let him own me. He pulsed in and out of my mouth, pulling my hair and sending tingles through my breasts. I gripped them in my own hands, completely turned on.
“Pleasure yourself,” he whispered. “I want to know that you’re getting off on this, too.”
I was, but I followed his orders. There was nothing better than having that hard dick in my mouth and hearing the noises I could make come out of him, but I slipped one hand down between my legs and caressed the same area he had been working on only a moment ago. I was still so wet for him, and I wanted to tell him but I couldn’t. I wasn’t willing to let go of him. It didn’t take long, since I’d already come once. I felt my inner walls pulse around my finger, and I sucked harder.
“That’s it, baby. You get yours.”
I opened my throat to let him all the way inside, my shrieks only contained because my mouth was so full. He twisted my ponytail and shoved himself inside me, pulling away just as quickly.
The next thing I knew, he picked me up and set me on the chair we had positioned at the end of the bed. I leaned back, and he pulled my hips forward so that I was at the very edge of it. Snake grabbed my ankles and set them on each of his shoulders. He pierced me with his shaft, gripping the arms of the chair. I put my hands behind me to grab the back of the chair. The angle was perfect, and I twisted my ankles so that my feet wrapped around behind his head. Snake slid slowly in and out of me, but he picked up speed as he worked. His legs were bent so that he was level with me, but it gave him plenty to push against. Soon enough, he was slamming into me so hard that our skin smacked together audibly, his balls banging against my ass and my tits jumping with every movement. He grunted his satisfaction as his girth grew and he filled me with his seed, collapsing exhausted onto the floor.
“Still wanting to go on that motorcycle ride?” I teased, watching him with cat eyes from the chair.
He grabbed the arm of the chair to pull himself up and grinned. “I think I got enough of a ride for now, but don’t go anywhere. I might need you again later.”
My whole body felt completely relaxed. Every muscle had been so tight and then had suddenly let go, making me feel sleepy even though it was the middle of the day. Even so, I wanted more of him. “I certainly hope so.”
“Trust me, I will. I’ll need you again, and then again and again and again. I can’t get enough of you, Bambi.” He stood and went to the bedside table, fetching something from the top drawer that he kept palmed as he came back to me. He was on his knees on the floor in front of me, his eyes earnest. “And not just for sex. I need you as a lover, but also as a friend and the mother of our child. I need you as my wife.” Snake opened his hand to reveal a small velvet box, and he lifted the lid to show me the diamond ring inside. “Will you marry me?”
My heart thundered even harder than it had during our lovemaking. I pressed my hand to my bare chest to still it, but it was no good. Tears pricked the backs of my eyes, and I just shook my head for a moment because I couldn’t speak. “Oh, Snake,” I finally whispered. “Of course, I will.”
<
br /> My husband-to-be slipped the ring on my finger, and I turned it slightly so that the light danced against it. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Snake pulled me to my feet and held me close. “So are you.” He kissed me, gently at first but growing more passionate as our tongues twirled together. Our naked bodies were pressed against each other, hiding no secrets, and it was soon evident that he wasn’t yet done with me.
He laid me on the bed once again, but it was completely different this time. Snake slid back and forth slowly, his hips dipping and pulsing gently as he looked into my eyes. We weren’t doing anything wild or kinky, but a white light filled my body and sparked in my vision. I simply couldn’t exist without him. My body pulled him inside and gripped, refusing to let go of this wonderful thing I had found. I cried out softly as tears of joy ran down my cheeks.