by Tl Reeve
She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the back of the house. We walk into the kitchen, and she introduces us to all the women and one guy in there before leading us into the living room. Her husband, Thad, looks up from the game as we walk inside.
“Hey, Dominic and Maia. Glad you all could come today.” He introduces everyone in the room to us.
Their son, Tyler, runs over to me, jumping into my arms. “Hi, Maia! I got a firetruck and some blocks for Christmas!”
“You did? That’s great! What else did you get?”
I listen as he describes all his gifts. Thad invites Dominic to sit with them and watch the game. He kisses me on the forehead and finds a seat, asking a couple of questions before settling in.
Tina grabs my arm and pulls me into the kitchen while I’m still holding Tyler. He finishes telling me what he got for Christmas. After he’s satisfied with my oohing and aahing, he gives me a hug and climbs down, running back into the living room.
“He still talks about when we went to the zoo. He wants you to go to the science center with us when we go again.”
She laughs, putting her hand over her stomach. She grabs my hand, looking at my ring. All the women crowd around me to look at my ring too.
“Spill it. How did it happen?” She gives me her full attention, her hand tightening on mine.
I look at the five women looking at me expectantly, and cringe inwardly. I’m so not used to having this much attention on me. Tina notices and tells everyone to back off some. They give me a little space, and Tina turns back to me. I tell them what happened, giving all my attention to Tina to reduce my anxiety about all the women in the room.
“You’re engaged to that hunk of man you came in with? I’m so jealous!” one of them says. I can’t remember any of their names, but I’m sure I will with time.
“Courtney, if you would just say yes to James, you would be engaged too,” another one says.
“Yes, but he doesn’t look anything like hers does.” She pouts and points at me. “Besides, maybe if he gave me a ring as big as hers, I would say yes.”
I step back, and Tina pulls me over to a tall chair at the counter before walking around to the other side. The oven dings, and she pulls out the largest Turkey I’ve ever seen. She bastes it and sets it on a rack beside the stove.
“We don’t have too much longer now until dinner will be ready. Melissa, can you make sure the table is set? Thanks.”
One of the women stands up and walk into another room. Another one stands up and helps her to finish putting food in decorative bowls and on plates.
The one who’s sitting by me nudges my arm. “How do you know Tina?”
“We work together,” I tell her.
“How long?”
“About four years,” I say.
She nods, considering what I just said.
She’s opened her mouth to ask another question when Tina announces, “Time to eat! Let’s go.”
Her husband magically appears and picks up the turkey, carrying it into the dining room. Dominic walks in behind him, making a beeline straight for me, easing my anxiety with his touch. We walk into the large dining room with everyone else and have a seat.
Thad says a prayer before everyone digs in to the feast sitting on the table between us. We each take some food and pass it to the next person. There are a few dishes I’ve never tried before, so I put a small amount on my plate to see how they taste.
The feast is amazing. When I finish my plate, I lean back in my seat, holding my stomach.
“This was amazing,” I whisper in Dominic’s ear.
I feel him shiver, and smile.
“Not as good as yours,” he whispers back, kissing me on the forehead before pulling back.
Tina stands up. “Okay, everyone. If you’re finished eating, take your plate setting into the kitchen and wash it. I’m not washing dishes for all of you.”
I take mine and Dominic’s plates to the kitchen along with our silverware. He follows me with our drinks glasses.
We’re washing our dishes when we hear someone grumble behind us, “Why do we have to wash our own dishes? That’s why we came to some else’s house to eat.”
Someone else behind them says, “Be glad she didn’t pull out the paper plates, cups, and silverware. That’s what I would have done.”
I stifle a giggle as Dominic and I dry our plates, placing them on the counter.
Dominic goes back into the living room to see the next game, and I stand in the corner of the kitchen, watching all the activity. A few people bring in the food, placing it strategically around the stove in case anyone wants seconds.
Tina appears beside me. “Thank you so much for coming. I know it’s a lot for you, because you’re not used to this many people, but you’ve done excellently. My family loves you.”
“They’ve all been really nice. I enjoyed coming over. Thank you for inviting us.” I grab her hand and squeeze it.
A handsome man who resembles Tina walks over to us.
“Maia, this is my brother, Ryan. The one I was telling you about.” He has the same blue eyes as Tina, and her blond hair.
He reaches out his hand, and I shake it. “You are beautiful. I’m sorry I didn’t come into the restaurant when my sister told me to.”
“Yep. You missed out forever. She’s engaged now,” Tina says.
“But she’s not married yet, so there’s still hope,” he teases, a smile on his face.
I feel the red creep up my face. “No hope, but thanks for the compliment,” I tell him.
“I hear you’ve been trying new experiences,” he says.
“I have. It’s been eye-opening. I’ve had a great time,” I tell him.
We talk about some of the experiences I’ve had, and he gives me some suggestions. He’s showing me a video of him bungee-jumping when I feel a finger in my back belt-loop, pulling me back against Dominic’s body. His scent surrounds me, and I relax back into him.
“Ryan, this is my fiancé Dominic.”
Ryan nods at Dominic over my head. “Lucky guy. I told her I should have come to the restaurant like Tina told me to on many occasions.”
Dominic replies, pulling me tighter to him. “I am a lucky guy. She’s amazing!”
We chat with Ryan a little longer before moving through the house to speak to different people. We finally leave, and get home about seven p.m. We play a card game before getting dressed and getting ready for bed, before we leave for our cruise tomorrow.
I gaze at my ring, sparkling on my finger as it lies on Dominic’s chest. I look up at him. “We’re getting married.”
He smiles at me. “We are. When do you want to do it?”
I consider for a minute. “Can we think about it when we get back? I’m so excited about this cruise, and we can make plans afterward.”
“Sure.”
He pulls me up to his face and kisses me, deepening it immediately. I open my mouth, allowing him access, moving as close as I can to him.
I pull back and face him. “Can I touch you?”
He nods and pulls the covers off himself.
“Take off your clothes,” I say.
I pull off my shirt and shorts, then my panties, waiting for him. His eyes widen, then he removes his underwear per my request.
“Turn over on your stomach.”
Again, he does as I instruct.
I start by running my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. His hair is so soft as I run my fingers through the strands.
He moans. “I’ll be asleep before you touch anything else if you keep that up.”
I smile, running my fingers down the back of his head to his neck. I keep my fingers moving to his broad shoulders. I flip my leg over his back, straddling him as I work my fingers further down, caressing the planes of his muscular back. I stop every now and then to kiss and nibble in certain spots. I reach his lower back and kiss all the way across, stopping at the dimples right above his ass, kissing and sticking
my tongue inside each of them, making him moan. My insides start to curl at the sounds he’s making.
I slowly work my way down to his toes and have him turn over. The feel of his skin under my lips and fingers makes my insides clench, and I have to stop for a moment and take a deep breath before continuing. Kissing my way up his body, I moan, skipping over the area where his cock stands prominent, inviting me over. I move to his face, touching and kissing down his cheek to his lips. I kiss and nibble, teasing, not letting him deepen the kiss.
I work my way down his neck, feeling him straining with the effort of not grabbing me. The feel of his hot, soft skin over hard muscle makes me want to stop what I’m doing and have him take me right now, but I force myself to be patient. I run my hands over his shoulders, the muscles flexing under my touch. Running my hands down his arms, I stop at his hands, rubbing them and kissing each of them. I take one of his fingers and put it in my mouth, sucking on it before pulling it out between my lips. I hear him suck in a breath, and my lower regions coil even more.
Moving back to his chest, I start working my way down again. I stop at his nipple, flicking it with my fingers. My mouth finds its way to his nipple, licking it, then sucking on it. I kiss my way to the other one, doing the same, his moans spurring me on.
I touch, lick and kiss the rest of the way down his chest and past his stomach. He’s panting by this point. His manhood is calling to me, standing strong and proud, waiting for me. I hesitantly wrap my fingers around it, squeezing gently. He hisses as his hips move for me. My fingers explore the softness that covers the hardness. I experiment a little more, moving my hand up and down, making him hiss again.
My lips touch it of their own accord, my tongue poking out between my lips, licking it. Lifting my eyelids, I see him looking at me, his eyes hooded. My need to taste him overrides any nervousness I might feel as my mouth covers him. I suck and move my mouth up and down on him.
He moans and lifts me off him. “If you keep that up, it’ll be over before it starts. My turn.”
He flips me onto my stomach, moving my hair to the side. I feel his soft lips as he kisses down my neck and back, stopping along the way to massage my muscles. He reaches my ass and spreads my cheeks, massaging them before kissing in between them, making me moan. He moves further down, kissing my legs down to my toes.
The warmth continues to spread through my body as he turns me onto my back before grabbing one of my feet again. I watch him take my big toe into his mouth and suck, making me hiss. He kisses and nibbles his way up my legs until he gets to the apex of my thighs. Like me, he skips that area, starting again at the top. I’m squirming and moaning at the sensations his touch gives me.
His lips start at my forehead, and he kisses his way down the middle of my face, stopping at the tip of my nose. He drops a small kiss there, and I smile. He takes my lips next, pecking them first, then applying more pressure. His tongue slides over my lips, asking for entrance.
I open my mouth for him, moaning and squirming as his tongue sweeps inside. His tongue strokes the inside of my mouth, sensually, making sparks flow through my body and the curl that’s tightening low in my body even tighter. My toes curl as he continues his assault on my mouth.
He pulls away and peppers little kisses down my neck to my breast. My nipple finds its way into his mouth, and he and takes a long draw on it, making me arch my back. He pays it a little more attention before working his way over to the other one, doing the same. My skin prickles with awareness.
My lady parts clench as he works his way down my stomach. He hooks my legs over his shoulders as he reaches my pussy. His fingers rub my clit, causing my hips to rise. I feel his hot breath right before his tongue replaces his fingers on my clit. I arch, pushing myself against his mouth as he nibbles and sucks on my pussy.
He inserts his finger, and the sensation intensifies. I scream as he continues to suck, lick and stroke his fingers inside me. I try to get closer to him, but it’s still not enough. I feel something building inside me. When he stops, I growl in protest as he moves up my body and looks into my eyes.
“I want you to come with me deep inside you. Are you sure you’re ready?”
I nod. “I am.”
He adjusts himself between my legs and start to push inside me. The friction of him filling me is amazing. There’s no pain, but a feeling of fullness as he pushes further inside me. I feel myself squeeze around him, and he moans, pushing even further until he’s in to the hilt. He stills, looking down at me. He dips his head, kissing me and giving me a smile. Then he slides backward, just a little, before pushing back to the hilt again.
I moan against his lips, flexing my hips to meet his. He does it again, pulling out further this time and pushing back inside.
“Mmm. You feel so good,” he moans into my mouth.
He continues, establishing a steady rhythm, my hips moving to meet his with every thrust.
He rubs my clit with every push, and I feel something inside me start to build. He continues to move inside me, faster, and I move with him. My hands grip his shoulders, holding on tightly, his muscles flexing under my fingers. My mouth opens, and a loud moan comes out.
Dominic leans down and touches his lips to mine. “Let go, baby. Just let go.”
He pulls back, flexing his hips hard against mine. I scream again as my orgasm takes over my whole body. Goose bumps rise on my skin as my pussy squeezes hard around his cock. I hear him grunt as he releases inside me, still moving until he’s left every drop in me.
He collapses on top of me, as spent and boneless as I feel. We lie that way for a while, still connected, as we catch our breath. Then he lifts himself off me, pulling me to him.
“That was beyond anything I’ve ever felt. I love you so much,” he mumbles into my hair as his breathing evens out.
He wakes me in the middle of the night and makes love to me again. As I drift off to sleep again, I hear him say, “No matter what, remember. I love you.”
10
Maia
The ringing of my phone wakes me up. I yawn as I answer. “Hello?”
“May I speak with Maia Guess, please?” the crisp voice on the other end of the line requests.
“This is she,” I respond.
“Hi Maia, this is Leslie with Paradise Corp. I’m calling to offer you the Workforce Management position you interviewed for last week. Will you accept the position?” she says.
My heartbeat speeds up as my eyes widen. My lips turn up in a smile. “Of course I’ll accept the position. Thank you!”
She goes on to tell me about the position, and we agree on a start date. I hang up the phone and look for Dominic, discovering he’s not in the bed.
I walk around the house, checking the bathroom, then the kitchen, and he’s not here. Where is he? I call his number and it goes straight to voicemail. Maybe he’s in a meeting or something. We’re meeting at my apartment and leaving from there this afternoon. I take a shower and get dressed before leaving the house.
My first stop is the restaurant, where I put in my notice. My boss is understanding and advises me that I don’t have to come back, because it’ll be easy to fill my schedule. He notices my ring and congratulates me. I thank him as the smile grows on my face.
I pull up to the restaurant to meet Tina for a quick lunch before we leave. After we’re seated, she grabs my hand, admiring my ring again. “You are so lucky. That man really loves you.”
I smile. “Thanks. I really love him too.”
I go on to tell her about my job offer, and she congratulates me.
“I have a question for you,” I say. “Why do you work at the restaurant, when you live in that big, beautiful house?”
“I like to get out of the house. I’m not really the stay-at-home type. My husband does well with his career, but I want something for myself.” She looks me in the eyes. “That’s why I’m going to college, so I can get my degree.”
I reach over and grab her hands. “I’m so happy f
or you! What’s your major?”
“Business. Just like you,” she says.
“If you need any help, let me know.” I squeal a little. “I’m so proud of you!”
We spend the rest of lunch talking about our life changes and other things. We part in the parking lot with a hug, and I tell her I’ll call her later.
I drive to my apartment, pulling in to my spot, not seeing Dominic’s truck anywhere. I take the elevator up to my apartment, looking at my watch. He should be here any minute. I walk inside, straight into the bedroom to finish packing my bags. I drag them into the living room, wondering when he’s going to arrive. I pick up my phone and call him again, but it still goes straight to voicemail.
I leave my luggage by the front door and walk the short distance to the kitchen. I notice two envelopes under the tiny tree. Both have my name on them, and one says open first.
I pick it up, sliding my finger under the seal to break it. Pulling out the paper inside I open it. It says: I love you. I’m sorry.
My stomach drops and tears fill my eyes as I look at the second envelope, leaving it where it sits. I plop down in the dining room chair, then pick up my phone and press on the icon for Lisa.
“I was waiting for your call.” Lisa answers.
“Is he okay?” I ask.
“Only regretting the decision he made by running from you. He’s finally asleep,” she says.
“What do you mean by that?” I lay my head on my hand, my finger and thumb massaging my temple.
“He walks in the door with no warning and goes straight up to your room. He paces for a couple of hours, then informs us that he’s taking another bedroom and moves his things in there.” I hear her chuckle before she starts speaking again. “He proceeds to pace in there for a couple of hours, then tells me he’s moving back to your room. I take him a drink with some of his leg medicine in it. He tells me you two got engaged and he freaked out. Congratulations, by the way. Before I can get any more information from him, he drinks the whole drink in a couple of gulps and passes out. He’s been asleep for about an hour.”