The Ocean Between Us (Benton Creek Series Book 1)

by Delisa Lynn

  “Hey, I have an idea. Would you be okay with Bristol staying with my parents tonight?”

  “I guess so. She would love that, I’m sure.”

  “I’ll call them when we get to the hotel. Are you hungry?”

  “Not right now. I’m ready to be naked in your arms.”

  “Jesus Christ, woman. I missed you so much.” He whips the car into the parking lot. “I’ll be right back. I’ll get us a room, we can get dinner later.”

  “Okay, hurry up.”

  He kisses me and exits the car. Pulling my phone out, I send a quick text to Gem.

  Me: Que is getting us a hotel room. Will you be okay there alone?

  Gemma: Hell yeah. Let that hunk of a man tap that shit all night, girlie.

  Me: Filter. Anyways, you good?

  Gemma: Yes, I’ll be fine. Clive is here and if the Castings need help with Bristol, I’ll help them. Take your time.

  Me: Thanks babe, I love you.

  Gemma: Back at you.

  Quaid comes strolling toward the car, his smile enough to light a fire.

  “Good news, they have room service, so we won’t have to leave. I have some extra sweatpants and a t-shirt you can wear tomorrow.” He grabs his bag from the back seat.

  “I’ve never been in a hotel before,” I admit and feel silly. I’ve always wanted to. I’ve seen all the fancy ones on TV and thought about how nice they must be.

  “Well, I’m glad it’s with me.”

  He pulls me closer and we walk through a side entrance. I gasp at the formality of the interior. We bypass the elevator and take the stairs to the fourth floor. Walking down the long carpeted hall, we approach suite four hundred and twenty-two.

  “I wanted to get the best they had, I hope that’s okay.” He grins and pushes the door open.

  My mouth drops open. “This is amazing. Quaid, this must’ve cost a fortune.”

  “Nonsense, I’ll give you anything baby.” He kisses me and I walk around the modern living room.

  There’s a couch facing the largest television I’ve ever seen. To the left of that there is a massive kitchen, fully equipped with large appliances. Walking toward the right there is another double door that leads to the bedroom, which is just as big as the other room. There’s a king sized bed facing a large window that looks out onto the Kentucky mountains. There’s also a bathroom with a tub bigger than my entire bathroom at home.

  “This is beautiful. I love it.” He lifts me by my ass, and I lock my ankles around his waist. “I love you so much, Quaid Castings.” I kiss him, from his lips down, making my way to his collarbone.

  “I need you now.”

  He pulls my shirt over my head. Thank God I wore matching panties and bra. I’m normally not much for cutesy undies, but for him, I would wear them every day.

  Unbuttoning his flannel shirt, I slide it off his shoulders, then grip the hem of his white t-shirt and pull it up over his torso. This man is pure perfection. His toned, taut body has my core dripping with lust. The young man that once had a few pecs now has a full-on six pack with a V that any woman would want to run her tongue over. I go for the button of his jeans, unzipping them and pushing them down his thighs. He is fully erect and his boxer briefs are in my way.

  I’m a woman on a mission.

  I’m going to suck his perfect cock.

  Licking my lips, I flip the band of his boxers and push them down his thighs. His dick springs forward, making my mouth water. I place my hand around the base of his shaft and glide my tongue over the tip, devouring the pre-cum that has surfaced.

  “Mmm,” I moan, taking him in my mouth completely. My hand pumps as my mouth moves.

  “Jesus,” he growls. “I need in that pussy, baby.” He grunts as I suck harder. As bad as I want him inside of me, I want this just as much. His hands grip my hair tightly, and his body stiffens as I run my tongue over his perfect slit. I start sucking harder and his grunts grow louder. My mission is accomplished when I feel warm fluid hit the back of my throat. I swallow every ounce, milking his cock for more.

  “You taste so good.” I lick my lips before kissing him.

  “Now, it’s my turn.” He lifts me and tosses me on the bed, yanks my boots off, then my leggings down my legs. I grab ahold of the duvet, never taking my eyes off him. He pulls the lace that covered my heat down my legs.

  Kissing his way up my thighs, I feel the stubble on his chin against my core. I’m already soaked. He runs his tongue over my clit and I buck my hips. He places his arm over my stomach easing me back down.

  “You’re so wet, sweetheart,” he murmurs against my flesh. “You taste so fucking good.” He drags his tongue from my ass back up to my pussy then he fucks me with his tongue.

  If I died now…I’d die happy.

  “Oh, god. Yes, right there. God, yes!” I cry out as I feel my orgasm rocking through me.

  “Not God, baby. Quaid.” He smirks. He pulls my bra off my shoulders and takes my taut nipple in his mouth, biting lightly while his fingers reach my clit and my body rocks again. “Hope you’re ready to come undone. I’m going to fuck you hard.” He enters me and I lift my leg so he can go deeper.

  “Jesus,” he groans.

  “Not Jesus. Hendlee,” I retort. He slams into me. “Que!” I yell out as his body tightens and he pumps into me a few more times.

  “That…was amazing,” he murmurs into my neck.

  “I need a bath,” I whine.

  My body is still on fire. I have never been with anyone other than Que and Jason, and with Jason it was just plain missionary—no oral, no foreplay. It never felt right. This…this is what lovemaking is meant to be.

  I’m finally where I should be. In the arms of my man.

  ***

  After a long bath and another round, we make our way back out onto the couch. We search through the menu, looking for something to eat. My stomach growls and I realize I’ve not eaten much today and the day is nearly over.

  “Grilled cheese?” I suggest.

  “Out of all of this, you want that?”

  “Yes, and tomato soup. I’ll have a Pepsi or Coke, whatever they have.” I take his head in my hands. “You know I’ve always been a simple girl.”

  “Sweetheart, you are far from simple. They have ice cream too. Looks like they have your favorite.”

  “Chocolate chip cookie dough? I’ll have that too.”

  Quaid heads toward the phone and places our order. I turn the TV on and he settles next to me. We settle for an episode of Flip or Flop on HGTV. I love this show. They buy houses, make them look beautiful, then flip them and make a huge profit from it. I keep telling Gemma we need to go into business doing something like this.

  “I’m going to call and check on Bristol.” I reach for my phone that’s lying on the table next to us and hand it to him. “Here, you call.”

  He dials the number and puts us on speaker.

  “Hello?” his dad answers, his voice floating through the room.

  “Pop, how’s our girl?” Quaid asks. “Hendlee and I have you on speaker phone.”

  “She’s doing good. We just got finished eating dinner. Chicken nuggets, at her request,” he says and I have to hide my laughter. “That girl loves those things.”

  “Let me guess, dipped in ketchup, eh?” Quaid laughs, knowing it’s true because that’s how he likes them. I don’t like ketchup on anything except fries.

  “That’s exactly what she requested. Just like you, son. You wanna talk with her?”

  “Put our princess on.” We hear some shuffling and Bristol’s voice comes on the line.

  “Hi, Momma and Daddy. Are you in ‘Cago?”

  Laughing, I say, “No baby, we’re in Kentucky. I picked daddy up from the airport, we’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “I miss you, sweet pea,” Quaid gushes. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

  Bristol giggles. “Can we get ice cream?”

  “We sure can. Did Momma tell you about the other house?”


  “Yes. I get another princess room and a lake with ducks.” She goes on about that, and about chickens too.

  There is a knock on the door. Our room service meal has arrived. Quaid gets up to answer the door.

  “Baby girl, we’re going to eat now. We’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

  “Yes, I wub it here, Momma.” My heart swells. I feel like shit for keeping her away from her grandparents all this time. “Tell Daddy I wub him too.”

  Mr. Castings gets back on the phone. “You two have fun and be careful on your way back.”

  “Thank you. Take care of our girl.”

  “She sure is something else.” Quaid laughs as he brings a cart of food toward me. He has ordered far more than I requested.

  “Que, are you trying to feed me for days?” I snicker. “This is a lot of food, but as hungry as I am, I could eat it all.”

  “I couldn’t decide what I wanted, so I figured we could nuke the rest later.” He hands me a Pepsi. I normally don’t drink soda, but when I do I prefer that it’s Pepsi. What girl can resist this yumminess?

  We eat, talk, and watch a little TV. When I look up at the clock, I discover it’s after midnight. I snuggle into Quaid’s chest.

  “I love you,” I say softly.

  “I love you too, Hend.” He clears his throat. “Tell me about your pregnancy and when Bristol was born. I want to know it all.”

  I look up at him and see he has tears in his eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I just wanna know about what it was like, and how she was when she was born. I love you both so much, it hurts so bad knowing I wasn’t there for you.” His fist tightens on my hip.

  “I’m so sorry, Que. I would’ve never hidden this from you.” And I didn’t. I told him everything in my letters. “I didn’t tell Maw until I started showing and had no choice. She wanted to go to your parents and I begged her not to because you weren’t responding to my letters. It was a fast pregnancy. I cried through most of it. I was so emotional.”

  “I’m so sorry, baby,” he whispers. “I wish I would’ve known the truth.”

  “I was fine. Like I said, it went by pretty fast. I went into labor on my actual due date. We were at the bakery and I was washing dishes when my water broke. Luckily Gemma was there, and Maw closed the bakery down and we all headed to the hospital. I was a little freaked due to the fact I thought I pissed on myself.” I laugh thinking about it. “We made it to the hospital and I wasn’t in labor very long before Bristol came out. Once I heard her cries, I was in love. She was so tiny and perfect, and most of all she looked just like you.”

  “She’s beautiful. I promise you, you’ll never have to go through this alone ever again.” He squeezes my hand. “I’m an ass. I shouldn’t have listened to Jason’s lies. Was he…there when she was born?”

  “Hell no, he wasn’t. I kept pushing him away, and he wouldn’t go. When Bristol was about six months old he begged me again to go on a date with him, so I did. Then he was just around for everything.”

  “I hate him,” Quaid says, his nostrils flaring.

  “I know baby, me too. Speaking of, I need to get my number changed. He’s been calling and texting, it’s quite annoying.”

  “As soon as we get up tomorrow, we’ll call the phone company. Is he threatening you?”

  “No, not really. I guess. Kinda. I’m not sure. He said Bristol and I are his and always will be.”

  “Over my dead fucking body. I’ll kill that bastard with my bare hands.”

  “I don’t think he would harm us though.”

  “I just worry. I’m not sure how long this mission will be, so it worries me to no end.” He rakes his hand over the back of his head. “After this, we will be able to start our lives together for real.”

  “We’ll be okay. I have Gemma and Clive, and don’t forget I know how to use a gun.”

  “That’s right. Kill that son of a bitch if he comes near you.” I know he is dead serious.

  “I can’t wait to move in with you.” I kiss the anchor tattoo on his chest. For the first time, I notice it has my initials on it. “Is that an H and M?” I ask, tracing it.

  “Yes. It only felt fitting having you with me daily. I was so pissed at you, but I thought back to every day we spent together and regardless of what happened, you were and will always be my anchor.”

  Cue the waterworks.

  “I think I just fell in love all over again.” I drop the robe I’m wearing and straddle his waist. “Now show me how much you love me.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  New Beginnings

  Quaid

  We check out of the hotel and take our time heading back to Benton Creek. I had an amazing night with Hendlee. Once I get back from my mission, I’m going to marry her. We’ve wasted too much time.

  We’re going to pick Bristol up and head to the farm. I want to call the contractor and get things started right away. Wait…I’m marrying her before I leave. No way I’m leaving without making her my wife.

  I pull over so I can look at her without running anyone off the road. “Hendlee, do you love me?”

  “Of course I do,” she says without hesitation. “I always have.”

  I flip the car around and head back toward the mall. “We have some shopping to do. We’re getting married this week.”

  “This…what? This week? Will your family be okay with this?”

  “They’ll have to be. I’m not going back overseas with us not being married.” I let her slip through my fingers once before. Not again. We are going to the jewelry store.

  “Do you think Alfred will marry us?” Hendlee asks. He’s the minister at my parents’ church.

  “I don’t see why he wouldn’t. We can get our marriage license tomorrow and get married this weekend.”

  “We’re moving into the house and getting married before you leave?” she whisper-yells.

  “Yes, darlin’, we are.”

  This is going to be fun. I would have liked to do a normal proposal and have all the bells and whistles that go along with it, but knowing that she will soon have my last name and be in ‘our home’ makes a last minute, spur of the moment wedding fun.

  “We’re really doing this aren’t we?” Hendlee places her arm on mine, and we walk through the mall parking lot.

  “We are. First stop is the jewelry store, then we need dresses for my two favorite girls, and Gemma.”

  “You’re amazing, and I am…lucky.” She snuggles close to me.

  No, I’m the lucky one.

  I have everything I’ve ever wanted.

  ***

  Four hours and a few maxed out credit cards later, we arrive at my parents’ house. I know they’re going to be excited for us, and happy that the house will be lived in now. I open the door for Hend and she gives me a questioning look.

  I kiss her softly. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “I’m nervous, is all.” She takes the shopping bags from the back seat.

  Before we make it on the porch, the door swings open. “Momma, Daddy! I missed you. Grampa gave me ice cream before bed.” She jumps into my arms. “He said you used to eat it before bed all the time.”

  The look on Hendlee’s face says she isn’t too happy about bedtime ice cream.

  “Babe, it wasn’t much I’m sure.”

  “It’s fine, but don’t make it a habit, little one. We brought you some goodies.” She kisses Bristol’s cheek.

  “You went shopping?”

  “Yes, and we have some exciting news.” I sit her on the counter and my mother and father gather around.

  “I’m gonna have a brother?” Bristol asks.

  “Oh heavens no, sweetie,” Hendlee says, ruffling her hair.

  “Oh, well what’s the exceting news then?” She crosses her little arms over her chest.

  I smile and squeeze Hendlee’s hand. “We’re getting married this weekend.”

  Hendlee brings her left hand up, showcasing her new rock.
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  “We are?” Bristol asks. “Do I get a ring too?”

  “This soon?” my mom says dubiously.

  “About damned time,” my father says.

  “Yes, sweetheart, you get a ring too.” I pull the small diamond solitaire from my pocket. Hendlee helped me pick it out. “Now you can wear this like Momma is wearing hers.” I kiss her forehead after I slip the ring on her finger.

  “It’s so shiny.” Her eyes dart to Hendlee’s finger and giggles. “Look, Momma, it’s wike yours.”

  I clap my hands. “Well, I think we have a house to organize and a wedding to plan.”

  ***

  It’s been five days since we decided to get married. We went to the clerk of courts and filled out the forms for our marriage license. The girls have been so busy planning everything. Although it was a fast decision, we’ve been able to get everything in order, get our marriage license, and my father put the house in Hend’s name and mine. We’ve decided to have the wedding on the farm. It has such sentimental value to the both of us. I grew up there, as did my lovely bride to be. Today I’m picking Clive up and we’re heading into town to get new boots. Since the wedding is small and sweet we’ve decided to keep it country. I’ll be in my dress blues, and my best man will be in his Wranglers and cowboy boots. I have to laugh thinking back to the conversation between he and I when I asked him to be in our wedding.

  “Dude, you really have to ask? Other than that beautiful woman, I’ve been your best friend since we were in our mothers’ wombs. I’m so proud of you, and would be honored to stand next to you.”

  “Thanks, man, I really appreciate it. You know you’ve always been like a brother to me. I would have been in so much trouble when we were younger, but you kept my ass in line. I’m sure my parents love you more for that.” I give him a fist bump.

  “So you’re really going to come back and live your life here in this boring town?” He gives me a questioning look.

  “Yep. It’s already done. After this tour, I’m officially out of the Navy. I’m going to miss it, but I love my girls and want to be here where they are. Plus, I miss our fishing trips.”