I could have stayed in his tub all night, but I don’t want to waste my time on me when I can be with him.
I pull his T-shirt over my head and watch as it falls nearly to my knees. I’m not putting my dirty underwear back on, so it’s commando for me tonight. Looking at his toothbrush, I contemplate whether or not to use it. I’m not sure we are at the place in our relationship where we can share a toothbrush. Isn’t that too intimate? You’re thinking about letting him press himself inside of you, and now you’re debating whether to let his toothbrush enter your mouth? I laugh at how incredibly obtuse I’m being.
I quickly brush my teeth, brush my hair, and exit the bathroom.
The house is silent. I pad through the hallway and into the living room where I see him lying on the couch. Trying not to disturb him, I silently tiptoe to the chair that flanks the sofa.
“How was your bath?” The sound of his voice startles me. I jump what feels like several feet.
“You scared me. I thought you were sleeping.” He leans forward and pulls me across his body. The T-shirt slips up and shows off my thighs. “The bath was wonderful. Thank you. I don’t think anyone has ever run me a bath. I’m touched.”
“Your ex is a dick.” He pulls me down on top of his body. We lie with our stomachs pressed together and my head on his chest.
“Yes, he is.” I move around until I feel comfortable. His hands rub my back in a slow and gentle up and down motion. His fingertips barely graze my naked thighs and bare bottom. I squirm trying to pull the T-shirt down to cover myself.
“Don’t,” he says calmly. “I can’t see you, but I want to touch your soft skin. I’m not going to push you any further than you want to go. Lying here with you is perfect just as it is.”
“I’m not worried about you pushing, Zane, I’m worried that you won’t like me.” Did I really just say that out loud? Was I this insecure before Tyler?
He stops everything and leans up to look into my eyes.
“How could I not like you? Even if I took the fact you’re beautiful out of the equation, which I can’t, you are still the nicest, kind-hearted girl I’ve ever met.”
“You’re just trying to get into my T-shirt,” I tease.
“I bamboozled you into working with me, which I have to say is one of my finest moments. You look at my baby with the loving eyes of a parent. You treated my mom like she was important to you. How could I not like you?” He tweaks my chin. “Yes, you’re right. I would love to get into your T-shirt, but just being with you is good enough for now. Will you spend the night? No expectations, I just want to hold you.”
He just wants to hold you? Yeah, right. My subconscious is very vocal today. I snuggle my face into his chest and breathe. It feels so good to be here.
“Let’s climb in bed, sweets. The baby will be up at some point tonight, and I want to snuggle before he interrupts our time together.”
I lift myself from his chest, trying hard not to let the T-shirt ride up and show off the goods. Maybe my decision to not wear underwear wasn’t well thought out. As soon as I’m in a standing position, he takes my hand and leads me to his bed. The comforter is already pulled to the end of the bed and a light blanket and sheet are all that remain.
I feel nervous. I’m about to climb into bed with this man, and I have no idea what to expect. I slide into his bed and pull the sheet over my body.
“Do you prefer a particular side?” I ask. I know that I tend to gravitate to the right side, but I can sleep just about anywhere.
“You’re fine just where you’re at.” I lie back on the pillow and watch as he undresses.
He’s obviously comfortable in his own skin. He pulls his shirt off like most men, crossing his arms in front and grabbing the hem to lift it over his head. I watch as his body is slowly revealed. It’s like having my own Chippendale model right here. I see his happy trail emerge as the shirt slowly glides up his torso. Strong abs and a broad chest come into view. He tosses his shirt onto the dresser and reaches for the belt of his jeans. He pulls it free from his pants and rolls it up to sit next to his shirt. He unbuttons his jeans and pulls down the zipper. My breath catches as he steps out of his pants. His boxer briefs hug tightly to his thighs and show every muscle he has. He turns around and walks into the bathroom and I am gifted with a fantastic rear-end view.
He climbs into bed beside me, smelling of peppermint toothpaste. I snuggle up in the safety of his arms, knowing there is nowhere I would rather be. He pulls me close to his chest. The feeling of peace and safety pervades any other thought and I quickly fall asleep.
Chapter 11
I’m so hot, the sweat pours from my brow. So much pain––so much blood. Oh my God, no! No!
“Alexa! Wake up. Sweetie, you’re okay. Wake up!”
My heart feels like it is pounding out of my chest. I feel hands on my shoulders shaking me gently. I swallow the panic as I realize it’s a dream. I look around the room and realize that it’s early morning. Zane looks at me with concern in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, you must think I’m insane.” I reach up and hold on to Zane as if my life depended on it. “Hold me, please.”
He lies down with me, wrapping me in his strong arms.
“Shhh, I don’t think you’re crazy, I think you’re working through things. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, I don’t,” I say softly, the last thing I want to do is relive the nightmare. What I want most is to forget it ever happened. I pull myself tightly against him, knowing in my heart that the warmth of his body will soothe my aching soul. His strong arms embrace me. He holds me like one would hold a beloved child. One arm presses against my back while the other cradles my head against his chest.
His hand gently strokes my back. The strumming motion is like an elixir to my raw nerves. I relax completely under his loving ministrations. Wrapping his fingers through my hair, he gently pulls my head back giving him access to my lips.
His lips brush mine with uncertainty. I can feel his hesitation as his mouth barely glides across mine. I lean into the kiss, only to have him retreat. I tug my head forward, breaking his hold on my hair. I need his lips on mine.
Unrestrained, I crush my mouth into his. I feel like this kiss is just as important as my next breath. Without it, I may wither to nothing. I want to feel something other than pain and sorrow. I need to feel love.
“I need you to love me, Zane,” I say into his mouth as I push the kiss deeper. Whatever reticence he was feeling disappears as his mouth covers mine in a heated kiss. He groans as he shifts his body, throwing one leg across my thigh. One of his hands lies beneath me, splayed across my back. The other hand begins to roam my body freely.
His hand slips beneath my shirt sending shivers down the length of my spine. I arch my back as his palm floats across the heated surface of my chest. I can feel my breasts harden and reach for his touch as he passes.
I hear another groan, but this one comes from deep inside me. The sound is breathy and throaty at the same time. I turn to my side and push my hips forward. I feel his arousal pushing against my thigh and shamelessly grind against him. If I could, I would crawl inside of him.
“I want you, Alexa. I want to make love to you, but I don’t want it to be therapy for you. I want it to be something that’s more than a quick fix.” I look into his stormy eyes and see how the world should be. When a man looks at you in a pure and unfiltered way, it changes you.
“You stir things in me that make me want so much more than a quick fix. I want you. Everything about you calls to me in a profound and special way.” I pepper his face with kisses. “I can’t say that making love to you won’t be healing for me. I can guarantee you that treatment is not why I would do it. I want to feel you move inside of me. I want to connect to you in a deeper, more meaningful way.”
He gently pulls me away from his body and lays me down beside him. His hands caress me from top to bottom. The care with which he touches me is moving. I don’t think I’v
e ever felt so desired.
“I want you to realize that if we do this, everything changes. I don’t want you to sleep in the motel across the street. I want you sleeping with me.” He presses his lips against mine in a completely possessive manner. He breaks the kiss to deliver a warning. “I don’t know if you’re ready to be with me. I have a child, and my life is messy at best.”
It takes me just a second to ponder my choices. I can get up and walk away, but that would mean no Zane, or Aaron. I could stay and make love to this man, but that means that I have to expose myself to him completely.
Without a second thought I tell him, “I’m ready, Zane, life is messy. I know that for a fact. I’m not looking for neat and tidy. I’m looking for something real.”
“Real, I can give you. Right now the realest thing I can offer is passion and desire.”
He pushes himself next to me. There is no doubt he is feeling desire.
His hand runs up my stomach and lingers at my breasts. He draws soft swirls over and across the tender flesh. The sensation forces the breath from my lungs. I’m not a stranger to desire, only fulfillment.
“Before we start this, what’s our timeline like? Where is the baby?” I can barely get the words out.
“I just put him back down, he’ll be out for hours. What do you have in mind?” His brows rise in question.
“What are you offering?” I want to try everything with him. Anything he offers will outshine anything I’ve had.
“I’m offering it all. Let’s go from A to Z. If that’s not enough, we’ll make shit up.”
He peels off his briefs and focuses all of his attention on me. He slowly peels my shirt up, kissing the newly exposed flesh as he works the soft cotton inch by inch up my body. The hitch in his breath excites me as my shirt is pulled over my head. I look into his eyes and see unbridled desire. I’ve never been so aroused.
Every kiss he delivers is calculated and precise. The heat of his tongue burns straight to my core. His fingers dance across my body in a rhythm that he created for me alone. I’ve never had anyone worship my body before, but that’s exactly what this feels like. He spends an inconceivable amount of time getting acquainted with every inch of me. I had no idea that lips could be so erotic when placed in the right place with the right pressure.
I try to reciprocate, but he lays me back and tells me that today is all about me. My mind goes blank as my body takes over.
He shifts his body, licking a trail from my ankle to my knee. Foreign sounds escape my lips. It’s not until he settles between my legs that I realize he has no intention of hurrying his exploration.
My hips rise off the bed as soon as his lips meet my most sensitive area. The intensity and heat his tongue delivers leaves me breathless and desperate for release. He crawls up my body, settling himself between my legs. I’m quivering from the inside out. It’s not going to take much to push me over the edge.
He covers himself with a condom that has appeared out of nowhere. With a gentle push, he enters me, and for the first time in years, I feel complete. I exhale and let him fill me with hope, love and him.
His steady rhythm takes my body to a place I’ve only dreamed about. I feel the tension begin at the base of my spine. My head feels woozy and wonderful. I inhale and hold my breath until dizziness threatens to consume me. I release the breath I’ve been holding, and let my body surge over the edge. Spasms wrack me as I clench tightly around him. I know the exact moment he finds his pleasure. He swells within me just before I feel his pulsing release. His eyes lock with mine, and I see my future in his passionate gaze.
The moment will be forever etched in my mind. My body hums with satisfaction. We lay sated in each other’s arms. His breathing slows from erratic gasps to a steady even flow. The prickly hair of his chest rubs against mine with each breath, sending a reminder of how close our bodies remain.
“Was it enough, Alexa, or enough for now?”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get enough of you.” I bury my face into the crook of his neck. We lie together, covered only in our sweat.
“You realize that this changes everything, right? You have to get your stuff and bring it over here.”
“Are you asking me, or telling me?” I feel him stiffen a bit. I’m not sure he’s used to anyone questioning him.
“Which approach will get me what I want?” His fingers glide up and down my arm. He has such a light touch for a big man.
“I’ve spent most of my life getting bossed around by people. I’d like to be asked for once.”
He raises his body and balances his weight on his elbow. My head slides to the pillow beside him. His free hand brushes my cheek sweetly. He doesn’t speak at first. It’s like he’s measuring his words carefully.
“Alexa, you are a surprise. I didn’t expect to find you on the side of the road. I’ve learned lately that sometimes it’s the surprises that mean the most. Look at Aaron, one day I was a single bar owner, and the next day I’m a father. He’s one of the best things to have happened to me.” He looks past me as if recalling a distant memory. “Something tells me that you’re the next best thing in my life. I know it seems quick, and I know that your life has been difficult. I’m asking you to move in with me, and give us a chance.”
I look at him and know without a doubt that he understands who I am. He gets me, he sees me. His actions never reduce me, but always empower and uplift me. The choice is mine, and I choose him.
“I’m totally in love with the fact that you asked. Yes, I’ll move in. I want to contribute by paying rent or helping with Aaron.”
His lips crush into mine. His body lays half off and half on me.
“I’m happy to have you contribute by helping with Aaron, but there is no rent. I own the bar and the house. What I want from you is your friendship and eventually your love.”
Wow, he’s laying it all on the line right here. It’s hard to say no to him. I already know that I could fall in love with him, if I let myself. Maybe it’s time I let myself.
“You can have everything I have to give.” I’m a bit damaged from my ex, but it’s time to move forward. I need to learn to trust again and not hold every man responsible for the sins of one.
“Right now, all I want is your sexy body connected with mine. Are you game or are we done for the day?”
“It’s such a chore to have you pleasure me endlessly, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice.” I try to say it with a straight face, but I end up in a fit of giggles.
He stops my laugh with a passionate kiss. For the next twenty minutes, we dance between the sheets. I try to give more than I take this time, but taking what Zane has to offer is easy.
He looks at the clock as I look at the ceiling.
“We have just enough time to shower before the little guy begins to stir.” He rolls out of bed and walks to the bathroom. This is the first time that I’ve seen him fully nude. His butt is a solid mass of muscle. Each cheek flexes with every step. “Are you joining me?”
“Nope, I’m going to make coffee and start breakfast. I’m afraid if I get in the shower with you, I’ll get distracted, and we’ll just get dirty again.”
“I can’t argue with you there. With you around, I’m pretty positive that I’m going to be distracted frequently.” He walks into the bathroom; I hear the shower start and his voice calls out above it. “Coffee is in the cabinet to the right side of the sink.”
I slide out of bed and search for my T-shirt. I have no idea where it went once it was stripped off me. I take his discarded shirt from the dresser and slide it over my head. It smells like him.
I peek in on Aaron before I work my way to the kitchen. I watch his lips pucker while he sleeps. His legs are tucked underneath him with his little behind pushed in the air. I leave him to his slumber, while I go to care for his daddy.
The coffee is just where he said it was. Once I get it brewing, I check the refrigerator for breakfast items. It looks like cheese omelets and toast. Shoppi
ng is a must-do chore after I move my things over. He’s missing the staples this girl needs.
“Wow, I didn’t expect you to cook for me, but I have to say it smells great.” He takes two cups out of the cupboard and pours us coffee. He stands behind me and spreads kisses down the side of my neck. I could get used to this.
Just as I plate up our breakfast, I hear the wail of a hungry baby. Zane begins to rise from his seat to get his boy.
“Can I get him? I’ve been dying to hold him. I’ll grab him and change him, and you can get his bottle ready.”
“Knock yourself out. I’ll cover your omelet, so it doesn’t get cold.”
“Thanks.” I plant a quick kiss on his lips and go to rescue a very unhappy camper.
“Hey, little man. What’s wrong? Are you wet? Let’s get you changed.” I pick up the baby and walk him to the changing table. “Guess what? I get to see you more often. Your dad and I are trying to get to know each other better. I hope that’s okay?” I unzip his pajamas and remove his wet diaper. Not wanting to be drenched by his perfect aim I lay a receiving blanket across his waist. “I fell for you the minute I saw you. Your dad took an extra day to wind himself around my heart. I was doomed the minute I met you both.” I promptly slide the diaper under his tiny bottom and fasten the Velcro tabs. “Listen, little man, your daddy is an amazing person, and I will be so happy if you grow up to be just like him.” I finish my one sided conversation while dressing him, and pull him to my chest for a hug and a kiss.
We emerge from the hallway and find Zane sitting at the table, beaming.
“What are you smiling at?” I cradle the baby in my arms and begin to feed him his morning bottle.
“The baby monitor was on. I’m glad you like us both, and you want him to grow up just like me. That might be the biggest compliment ever paid to a man.”
I look around the kitchen and see the monitor as plain as day sitting on the counter. I’m so embarrassed that my private moment with Aaron was broadcast for Zane to hear.
Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin' Anthology 2015 Page 145