Shades of Pink

by 33 authors

  Alex walked up the steps of his parents’ small beach house and turned to Olivia. “You’re still crying, Love. What can I do?”

  “Tell me why I’m having these thoughts because they’re scaring the hell out of me. I feel like I’m losing myself,” she cried. “It’s all so sudden. This morning I was fine, I was happy-go-lucky Livia, and now, I just don’t know who the hell I am anymore.”

  Alex held out his hand to her and led her to the porch swing. “I wish I could understand what you’re going through a little better, but I’m sorry, I can’t,” he sympathized. “If I had the chance I would give up everything and stay right here. Everything except for you, I would never be able to give you up.”

  Olivia turned to him with a look that he couldn’t quite decipher. It may have been shock or horror, but to him it looked more like shock laced with just a hint of disappointment. She was always so organized and scheduled, and her future was planned down to the last detail. She must not be able to understand how he would give up every miserable thing in his current life for a lifetime of happiness.

  “Doll, if there is anything you want me to say or do, just let me know.”

  “Just hold me please… just hold me.”

  It killed Alex to see Olivia like this. This was so unusual and confusing, even scary. He only wanted her to be happy, and right now she was far from it. He had never seen her want anything but her up-and-coming career, her degree and the townhouse on the golf course that she had her eye on. But right at this moment, she wanted none of it.

  As her heaves and sobs slowed over the next hour or so, Alex led her inside to the couch. “Are you okay, Love?”

  “I think so, I’m just incredibly sad now for some reason,” she whispered.

  “Will you be okay while I go gas up the car and get supplies for the trip?” he asked. He was actually afraid to leave her, but they needed to get things done so they could leave bright and early in the morning.

  “I’ll be fine now Alex,” she sighed. “I’m going to start packing our stuff. I’ll be okay.”

  Alex kissed her goodbye and headed into town. It wasn’t a long drive, but he tried to hurry so he could get back to the house and be there for her if she needed him. At least he could hold her and make her feel loved if nothing else.

  * * *

  While Alex was in town, Olivia got busy packing their stuff. Although she was still confused, she was also somewhat numb so she was able to get to work without tears clouding her eyes.

  Ever since she was a pre-teen, Olivia Mannon had always known exactly what she wanted out of life and exactly how to get it. Alex was the only surprise she’d ever had, but even he didn’t confuse her like this two week vacation had. Days exploring the beach and the seaside community, and nights making love to Alex, had thrown her for a loop. She had never realized she could be happy doing something other than what was planned. She didn’t like this feeling, she just needed to go back to the way things were; she never felt confused, she had a plan and it wasn’t an option not to follow it. But in the meantime, she was here and her heart ached. Maybe once she was back in the Valley and breathing the smog of Vegas she would feel normal again; maybe fresh air and beautiful sunsets were bad for her psyche. She could always hope.

  The screen door banged against the frame and she heard Alex’s footsteps on the wood floors as he approached the bedroom. “How are you feeling now, Doll?” she heard him call out. His neighbor had given her the nickname of Living Doll because she had an uncanny resemblance to the little girl’s toy doll. She’d agreed that Alex could keep using it as a nickname for her if he promised to use it as a term of endearment and not the call of a sexist pig. He had happily agreed. When he called her Doll, it only meant that he loved her, that she was special and treasured, just as the little girl’s favorite toy had been.

  “I’m in here Alex!” she called to him.

  He appeared in the bedroom doorway with his hands behind his back. “You look better,” he told her.

  “I’m okay. Still sad, but I think I’ll be okay once I get the smog back into my lungs.”

  Alex chuckled. “I’m glad you have your sense of humor back, which makes me think you’ll be just fine.”

  Olivia smiled up at him, his six foot one inch frame towering over her own five foot four inches. “What are you hiding behind your back Alex?”

  “I brought you something from town. Anytime you’re sad, I’ll bring you one of these.” His hand appeared in front of him, holding a single pink rose. “Your favorite flower, in your favorite color, so you will always know that I love you and want you to be happy.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes and she gently took the pink rose from him, bringing it to her nose. “Mmmm, my favorite scent too. How could I not be happy now?”

  Alex took her into his arms and kissed her. She returned the kiss and increased the urgency. “Thank you Alex, for being there for me,” she mumbled into him. “I need you to love me now.”

  Alex needed no more invitation. He pushed the sweater from her arms and lifted her t-shirt over her head. “You make me feel so alive,” he sighed, raining kisses across her chest.

  She tugged the hem of his shirt out of his jeans and pulled it over his head. Her hands burned a path from his collarbone down to the waistband of his jeans. Her hand slipped inside to tease him, just for a moment.

  “Do you need help with that, Love?” he murmured. “I was thinking of taking your jeans off next, but I can help you with mine if you need it.”

  “I do not need help,” she stammered. “I just want to tease you, and torture you so when I do get them off of you, you’re prepared to…” Her words were blocked with a kiss and she continued working the button and zipper on his jeans. Together they finally slipped them off, followed quickly by his boxer briefs.

  Alex gasped when her hand wrapped snugly around him and started to move in a slow, smooth rhythm. He kissed her and started to move her back toward the bed. “It’s not nice to tease,” he informed her between kisses.

  “You’ll get your turn,” she promised, as she abruptly let go of him and sat on the edge of the bed.

  He stood in front of her and gently pushed her back. She crawled backwards to the headboard and he followed, resting his body on top of hers. “Once we get these jeans off, I’m going to tease you so bad, so slowly, you’ll be begging for mercy.”

  She smiled. “Bring it on, sweetheart.”

  Alex quickly undid her jeans and pulled them off, throwing them clear across the room. His lips started at her ribs and worked their way down to her belly button and then to the top of her black lace underwear. As his lips moved lower, he slid the underwear down toward her ankles and they soon joined her jeans in the pile of clothes. He kept kissing lower and lower until she was squirming in anticipation. His lips suddenly veered off course and worked their way down her left thigh. She whimpered and he chuckled quietly. He worked his way back up her body to her stomach again and then back down. He spread her thighs and put his mouth to her, but only for one fleeting moment as she whimpered again. He spread short, sweet kisses down her right thigh before coming back up to whisper in her ear. “I told you so.”

  Olivia shifted her hips and wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “Damn,” Alex sighed. “Let me go, Doll. I wasn’t done teasing the hell out of you yet.”

  “Promise you’ll actually do it?”

  “Do what?” he asked innocently.

  “Do it,” she responded squeezing her legs tighter around his waist bringing his erection into closer contact with her core.

  Alex exhaled. “Yeah, I promise.”

  She let him go and he kissed his way down her chest and belly before settling his lips on the spot she craved. His fingers spread her open and he went to work on the one spot he knew would give her the most pleasure. His tongue flicked and swirled and his teeth lightly grazed her, causing her to cry out. He shifted his body off to the side and his hands joined his mouth. He entered fir
st one finger and then another, pressing to fill her, to please her. When he felt her tighten and shudder around him, he moved back up her body to capture her mouth.

  Olivia’s legs wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer. “Now Alex, please.”

  “Anything you want Living Doll.”

  Alex sank into her with a groan and she lifted her hips to pull him deeper. “I don’t think I can go as slow as I promised, Love.”

  “You better not!” she demanded and started to move her hips frantically.

  Alex started to thrust as fast as he could but he felt himself winding up too quickly, so he slowed and then came to a complete stop. Olivia whimpered and sighed, resigned to her fate. Alex started to move slowly again and she urged him to increase his pace. “I’ve got a second wind Doll, we might be here for a while.”

  “Alex!” she cried out. “Please!”

  “Is that begging?” he asked as he started to thrust harder against her. His heart was going wild, in time with hers, and the beats matched the rhythm of their bodies.

  “Yes, Alex. Please, I need you.” Olivia's body felt hot and then cold. Her entire being screamed out with every movement of him inside of her, begging for more, begging for an end to the torturous pleasure that he so willingly gave her. With one last movement and a gasp, Olivia came, her body shuddering around him. Alex fell into the abyss right along with her.

  * * *

  Hours later as Alex lay holding her, Olivia sighed in her sleep. He knew then that everything would be okay. She would be sad for a while, but she would come out of it and be happy again. He would have to invest in pink roses for a few weeks and then she would be fine. His heart ached wondering how many times throughout their lives he would have to give her the precious flower. He hoped there wouldn’t be many, but as life goes, there would always be sadness of some sort. The one sadness he truly hoped she would never experience was an end to their relationship. If that ever happened, he would make sure she got one last rose, in her favorite color, to let her know how special she had been to him.

  Alex kissed her lightly, closed his eyes and soon joined her in sleep. Morning would come all too quickly and they would have to be on the road to Portland where his family’s private plane waited for him to fly them home.

  “Wake up, Doll. I have the car packed. All you have to do is get dressed and we can hit the road, Portland awaits.”

  Olivia rolled over and kissed him, but she didn’t smile. “I’ll get dressed and meet you in the kitchen.”

  Alex hurried out to the car to put two of their suitcases in the trunk. It troubled him that Olivia was still sad to be leaving. He would definitely have to do something about that, now and when they arrived back in Vegas. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called her twin to warn him about what was going on. Jackson Mannon, who fancied himself a comedian, would make sure that his sister was well cheered up when they arrived.

  When Alex stepped back into the kitchen Olivia was there. “Are you ready?”

  “We’re not eating breakfast here?” she asked, sounding disappointed.

  “I need to stop at the store so I thought I could grab coffee and muffins and then we’ll be on our way,” he told her as he took their last suitcase from her hand. “I’ll put this in the car. Could you look around and make sure we haven’t forgotten anything? Double-check the fridge and make sure it’s empty too.”

  “Sure,” she said, smiling for the first time that day. “I’ll meet you outside.”

  The store was on their way out of town, only about five minutes from the beach house. Alex pulled into a parking space in front and ran in, leaving Olivia in the car. A few minutes later he walked out handing her a single pink rose through her open window. “I figured you were still sad to be leaving, and I promised that every time you were sad I would get you one of these.”

  There were tears in her eyes and she smiled. “I thought you were just saying that to make me feel better.”

  “Never, Doll. When I make a promise, I mean it and I keep it. Every time I know you’re sad, you will get a pink rose because I know that this one beautiful flower will make you smile.”

  “It’s not the flower Alex, it’s you. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Olivia.” He kissed her through the window. “I have breakfast and coffee too, if you’re interested,” he said, walking around to the driver’s side. He handed it over as he climbed behind the wheel.

  “I’m starving! Thank you, Alex.”

  “Anytime Doll. Are you ready to go?”

  “As long as I’m with you,” she replied with a smile. Tears were still shining in her eyes as they hit the highway. In a matter of a few hours they would be home, and a single pink rose would be waiting for her at the airfield.

  ~~~

  JJ Ellis is first and foremost a wife and mom to 5 kids and after that she is a mommy blogger and author of romance novels. She resides in Casper, WY with her family and one insane mutt where she has all the inspiration she needs to be creative. You can find her at http://www.writerjjellis.com

  MYSTERIES IN PINK

  Matthew E. Welch

  Savannah is all alone. Alex is out of town, and there are feelings there may be someone else. As mysterious gifts appear she wonders who they may be from, and where her feelings for Alex are. Only time will tell as her feelings become attached. Will she move on or stay with Alex?

  ~~~

  The moon lit from a light crescent, making the night shine as I walked out of Zing, the newest club in town. The evening had been an awesome one, with my approval to the latest review I would be working on later.

  A chill ran down my spine as I walked along the curb, headed home from my latest partying evening. I couldn’t help but feel that someone was following me. As I looked over my shoulder I saw five or six people, but all appeared to be minding their own business without the slightest interest in me. So what was it?

  It hadn’t been the first time I felt like I wasn’t alone. After all, as a business assessor and blogger I was bound to meet some interesting people. And when I say interesting, I really mean quite creepy…

  Ignoring the sense that someone was there, I picked up my pace towards my condo. Only three more blocks… Only three more blocks… Turning the corner I reached my hand towards my left pants pocket, ensuring I had my phone just in case.

  Much to my dismay, it wasn’t there. The club was already closed, and I had been one of the last to leave. Keeping my cool I continued walking home. I would just have to contact them the next morning. Just something else I could add to my review, more information on customer support.

  As I turned the last corner I noticed someone walking the sidewalk ahead of me. When what looked like a guy saw me, he went from a sluggish pace to a mild jog instantly. Before I could react or find out why there was such mystery he disappeared around the corner.

  Nearing my house I pulled my keys out, readying myself to unlock the door. I opened the door to my house, and turned off the outside light I left on. Why had that man been there? And who was he?

  Shrugging my shoulders to myself I sat down to pull my silver sandaled heels off and place them at the edge of the stairs. I stood back up and began walking up the cold wood stairs. The walk was only eleven steps, but it seemed like forever as I guided my hand along the rail through the darkened foyer.

  Turning the last corner I headed towards the bedroom. My breath caught suddenly as I turned the corner. On the bed lay a bouquet of pink camellias and snapdragons, with a single pink rose sprouting from the middle.

  They were beautifully arranged, and I absolutely loved the aroma they presented as I picked up the card. But what concerned me most was that someone had been in my home. Had been? Or were they still here?

  I marched over to the window I left open to allow the room to be cool when I returned home. Slamming the window shut and yanking the curtains shut, I glanced around the room to ensure I was truthfully alone.

  Before sitting do
wn upon the bed I pulled the closet door open and double checked to make sure no one else was in the room. Pulling the card up, I realized that there was a long typed message folded up inside instead. Unfolding the note I began to read what had been written.

  When I lay awake lying in the black night,

  There are always thoughts of when you will be back in sight.

  I sleep restlessly, filling my mind with only thoughts of you,

  Waking in the night, I want my best dreams to come true.

  The dreams come and come, filling my heart with desire and love,

  Until I return back home to see you, I know our love still soars above.

  You are the one of my life, our love true to be,

  What I miss most is being there, you and me.

  There never could be another that makes me feel so complete,

  My whole life was changed in an instance when I knew this love was to be.

  Only miles are between us, and until I see you,

  All I will think of is how I miss you, as our love is so true.

  When we are apart I miss you forever,

  Waiting and waiting for the next time we are together.

  Sleepless nights bring dreams and thoughts through my head,

  No sleep will come, but love instead.

  As I finished reading the poem and mystery that had been left upon me I breathed in deeply the sweet scent of the pink flowers that lay next to me. Catching myself in action, I instantaneously pulled away my hand wrapped around the bouquet. To myself I muttered, “Who left this for me…”

  What still concerned me the most in this pink bouquet mystery, and of course the secretive note, was how and why someone had left this for me. I had a boyfriend, and I knew it sure as hell wasn’t him. He was away in another country, and I had just received his most recent letter the day before.