Stuck in Between (Bound by Your Love)

by Bennett, Blakely

  While I waited for Red, I reread the offer. Three weeks of vacation, plus ten personal days and thirty percent more than I was currently making in salary. His firm also included a bonus structure. It seemed outrageously generous.

  “Are you satisfied with the terms?” he said as he settled on the couch next to me.

  “How much input did you have on the offer?”

  “I told him I thought you’d be an asset, but I didn’t work on the package. I’m sure most is standard for my company. Did you like Ted?”

  “He seemed great … and relieved to have the position filled.”

  “So what’s stopping you? Me? Regardless of what happens here, we can work in the same building. We won’t have to cross paths except at company meetings.”

  “Are bonuses standard?”

  “Yes, based on our income for the year.”

  “Okay.”

  “You’ll take the job?” he said as if he took pride in my decision.

  “I’m desperate to get out of my job and the offer is enticing. The time off especially.”

  “Don’t forget about the perk of having lunches with me,” he said, trying to suppress a grin.

  “Oh great, so we get to shake up our group and your employees. Speaking of shaking up things, I’m serious about us telling Bond.”

  “I’m fine with that, but let’s wait until after this weekend and the party at his family’s house.”

  “Okay, that makes sense. He might not want to talk to either of us after we tell him,” I said, imagining the scene. “How about Sunday afternoon? I usually have breakfast on Sunday mornings with Lainie, and I could swing by here after. Of course, that all depends on today.”

  “No pressure.”

  “None at all,” I said, laughing. My stomach growled loudly, making me laugh even harder. “I need some food.”

  “I packed a picnic on the boat.”

  “You did not!”

  “Come and see.”

  The sunny and temperate South Florida day had wisps of clouds scattered across the sky. Climbing down the steps into the cabin, I saw the grapes, cheese and crackers, some type of salad spread, and a chilled bottle of wine. “Planning to get me drunk?” I shouted up to Red so he could hear me over the loud engine.

  “I’ll take you any way I can get you,” he yelled back.

  I popped a couple of grapes into my mouth and grabbed a cube of cheese on my way up the two flights of stairs to the bridge.

  As he drove the Sessa slowly through the Intracoastal, he swiveled his seat to face me. I came to him at the same time he held his arms out to me. Sitting down on his lap, I faced him and tilted my head up just as he lowered his mouth to mine.

  “Hmmmm,” I moaned as he lavished me with warm wild kisses. His arousal pushed against my bathing suit bottoms.

  “We need to stop,” he said, lifting me off his lap. “I have to concentrate until we’re out to sea.”

  Sitting on the cushioned bench across from him, I said, “We can talk then.” I rubbed my hands together with a sinister smile. “I have some questions for you.”

  “Shoot,” he said, glancing my way then redirecting his attention to the front of the vessel.

  “Do you have any other siblings?”

  “No, just Aideen.” He eased the boat to the left down another canal.

  “Did she really have a crush on Bond?”

  “Not at all. I think she just said that to see your reaction.”

  “Why doesn’t she ever come by and hang with the group?”

  “Early on we went our separate ways when it came to our social lives. We are opposites in many ways, you know. She loved hanging out with the wealthier crowd and for the most part, I couldn’t stand them. Somehow they felt they were superior to everyone else simply because their parents had money. I found her friends to be shallow and not worth my time. She didn’t fit in with my friends any more than I did with hers.”

  “Do you think she realized who I was right away?”

  “Probably, there’s no telling what her motives were.” He maneuvered the Adjustable Bend through the red and green buoys and continued, “She’s a slippery one, like my dad. Hard to tell what angle they’re playing. However, I love her and would do anything for her. And I trust her.”

  “Anything but call your mother?”

  “Calling my mother, which is bad enough, usually means I end up speaking to my father, and that never goes well. I email her often and she doesn’t respond. I know she gets them all. We’re in a standoff at the moment.”

  “Huh. Is Aideen really your twin?”

  “Yep. Our mother couldn’t have any more children after she carried us to full term.”

  “Do you want children?” I said, crossing my legs in front of me.

  “I’m not sure. I wouldn’t consider having them unless I found a stable relationship. You?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I don’t think I do.”

  “Really? That surprises me. I would think you’d be a natural.”

  “After everything we’ve been through with my sister, I’m not sure I’m up for that.”

  “Well, you’re still young, you might change your mind.”

  “Maybe,” I said, watching the nice houses pass by. “Have you ever been in love?”

  “Have you?”

  “Answering a question with a question? Well, I’ll tell you anyway. I’m not sure I know what love is. Certainly not healthy love. I have thought I was in love with Bond, but he always manages to twist it around into something else. I really don’t know is probably the best answer I can give you. Your turn.”

  “I haven’t.” He glanced at me and then set his attention back on driving the vessel. “I certainly would never want the relationship my parents have. My father is a controlling asshole who gets off on embarrassing our mother at the oddest times. Our house parties were the worst when we were kids.”

  “Will they be at the party on Saturday?”

  “I hadn’t thought of that, but probably.”

  “I’m really dreading the party, other than seeing Lily. I love that girl.”

  “She’s definitely a keeper.” He gunned the engine, throwing me back a bit as the nose rose into the air. After leveling out he continued, “Yeah, I have avoided those types of events for years now. Bond doesn’t have it as easy. I know his grandfather would tar and feather Bond’s father if he were still alive and knew how he was manipulating Bond’s inheritance.” We rode in silence for a while, watching other boaters in the distance. He slowed then cut the engine, and said, “Give me a few minutes and I’ll lower the anchor.”

  I went below for more food and to open the bottle of wine. Finding two plastic wine glasses in the cabinet, I brought them and the bottle above board along with the Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen Red left on the counter.

  “Let’s go sit on the back of the boat,” he said.

  “Will you put sunscreen on my back?”

  “With pleasure.”

  The stern of the yacht was covered with a wooden deck. We sat, hanging our legs off the end. He took the bottle and glasses from me while I started to cover the front of my body and legs with coconut infused sunscreen. The smell of the sea mixed with the fragrance of coconut epitomized Florida for me.

  The yacht rocked lazily with the tide as Red poured each of us a glass of wine. After handing me the wine, he leisurely rubbed the lotion into my shoulders and back. “You have a most beautiful back, Little One,” he said, nipping my neck with small bites. “Skin so smooth.”

  “I used to hate it when you called me Little One,” I said, angling back against him.

  He wrapped his long muscular arms around me and said, “I know. Can you do my back?”

  “One good turn deserves another.” I scooted around and filled my hand with sunscreen. Spreading the lotion over his large back, I said, “I love your tattoo, by the way.” I traced the row of knots making up the branches. “Did it hurt?”

  “Not too much. I
t took a long time though. I had to do it in two sessions so they could get the green just right.”

  “It definitely suits you and it’s amazing how much depth they can create on a flat surface.” I smoothed the sunscreen down to his waist. “Do you know anything about Bond’s original tattoo?”

  “You’ll have to ask him about that.” He drew me back into his arms.

  “I thought that’s what you’d say,” I said as I leaned against his chest. “It’s so gorgeous out today. I love it when it’s sunny with a cool breeze.”

  “So what’s going to be the deciding factor?” he said, running his fingers down my arm.

  “About us?” I said, sitting up and turning to face him.

  “Yes.” He took my hand in his.

  “I’m confused but I don’t want this to stop. You?”

  “I want this, Jacqs.”

  I squeezed his hand and said, “I keep expecting it to be awkward between us since we spent so many years fighting and ignoring each other. Only, the crazy thing is, it feels so comfortable.”

  “Yeah, for me too.”

  We sipped our wine and stared out over the ocean.

  “So what are we going to do?” I said, breaking the silence.

  “Tell him the truth.”

  “Which truth?” I asked. “What happened in my apartment?”

  “No,” he said, pulling me back towards him. “I think that will just inflame the situation. We tell him we are attracted to one another and plan to date.”

  “Are you aware that he wants to try again with me?”

  “Jacqs, honey, that’s nothing new. You guys have been doing this dance for years.”

  I crossed my legs and touched his chest. “He thinks he loves me.”

  “In his own twisted way, I’m sure he does.”

  Sighing, I said, “This is going to get messy. Are you sure I’m worth it?”

  “Trust me, I’m sure. I’ve had years to contemplate it.” He lightly tugged on my ponytail and twirled my hair around his finger.

  “Just not how you would do it?” I asked, searching his green eyes.

  “I’d hoped he would find a good match for himself, and you guys would really part ways. I just got tired of waiting. I’m certain on some level he already knows. I got so angry that he called you to his apartment Friday night. He knew we had a date lined up in the morning, but he convinced you to come over and stay the night. How selfish do you have to be to not consider how that would make you feel?”

  “You said that to him?”

  “Oh, that and a lot more.”

  “Okay, so we can assume he knows your feelings for me, however, I think he might be shocked that I’m equally interested.”

  “Are you?” he said, grinning. And for an instant he looked like a young boy.

  “Have you not been paying attention?”

  He chuckled, lifting me onto his lap. “I think it’s going to take me a little while to get used to it.”

  “I know what you mean,” I said, running my hands up his beard into his hair. “I can’t believe we wasted so much time.”

  “I’ve had that thought a time or ten.”

  I ran my fingers along his golden-red eyebrows, losing myself in his bright, green eyes. As I caressed his face, I felt his cock stir beneath me. “When do I get to see him?” I asked, pointing down between us.

  “How did I get the impression you were all shy and passive?” he said, kissing his way up my neck.

  “You were too busy keeping your distance,” I said, tilting my head and groaning with pleasure.

  “That’s true, but I was always watching you,” he said, adjusting himself underneath me. “I love all of your little moans and groans.”

  “He sure does,” I said, glancing down between us.

  He chuckled and said, “You’re different with me.”

  “It feels different with you. Maybe it’s all those years of fighting. It’s easier for me to stand up for myself and just say what I feel without any filters.”

  “I never thought all that fighting would work to our advantage. I like it. I like it a lot.” He captured my face in his hands and we shared a soulful kiss.

  As strong and masculine as I have always known him to be, he had a vulnerable side that moved me even more. Kissing him back, I threw myself into the kiss with abandon. “Hmmmm,” I sighed.

  “Just like that,” he said against my mouth.

  “Will he come out to play?” I said, reaching down between us.

  He held my hand against his stiff erection and said, “I don’t trust myself. I want to take this slow and do it right.”

  “I could tie your arms behind you so you wouldn’t be tempted to mount me.”

  “Mount you,” he said, laughing hysterically. He became serious and said, “Tying is my department.”

  “Oh?” I said, not sure how I felt about his disclosure. “Can I at least see him? No touching?”

  “Let’s skinny-dip,” he said, whipping off his trunks and diving into the water. He swam around to face me.

  I finished off my glass of wine and slowly unhooked the top of my bathing suit, letting it fall to the deck. Circling around, I bent over so my butt faced him and shimmied the bottoms off. I’m sure he caught a glimpse of my pussy between my legs.

  “Get in here,” he ordered, his voice sounding gruff.

  I obliged and dove in, coming up for air facing him.

  “You have a beautiful pussy and I’m a fan of your smooth lips,” he said, stroking his fingers between my legs as we both worked to stay afloat.

  “She’s a fan of your fingers and mouth.” I reached down to feel Red’s cock. My tiny hand didn’t make it all the way around his girth. “Wow,” I said, “I need two hands with you.”

  “Uh … one hand feels pretty good right now.”

  I giggled and said, “I hope he will fit.”

  “We’ll have fun working on it.”

  Wrapping my legs around his torso, he treaded water, and we resumed our steamy kisses. Even though I loved the feel of his naked skin against mine, the heat of our connection rose to volatile proportions, and I pushed off Red’s chest and swam back to the end of the boat. I looped my elbow over the transom and hung, waiting for Red to join me.

  “Shall we grab the food and take it to the front of Adjustable Bend?” he asked, pulling himself up onto the back of the boat and reaching down to lift me out of the water.

  I tried not to stare at his magnificent cock that hung heavy, slightly to the left. I pulled on my bathing suit as he yanked on his shorts. Bottle of wine and glasses in hand, I followed him below deck. “You’ve never told me the significance of your boat’s name.”

  “Yacht and it’s a type of knot.” Before gathering up the crackers, tuna salad, and grapes, he put two towels under his arm.

  “The name is a type of knot?” I asked, picking up the cheese in my free hand.

  “Yes. It’s the kind of knot that can easily be lengthened or shortened.”

  “You know a lot about knots then?” I asked as I mounted the steps. Turning around, I saw his devilish expression. “Oh.”

  He pinched my bikini covered bottom and I slapped his hand away just before trotting to the bow of the ship. After we had set down the food and spread out the towels, he poured us each another glass of wine.

  I reclined back on my hands and just admired the view. “I can see why you have Adjustable Bend. It’s so quiet and peaceful out here.” The ship rocked against the tide, leaving me incredibly relaxed. I hadn’t taken a day off from work in a long while and it felt decadent.

  “I love it. It’s a great stress releaser, amongst other activities.”

  “Just remember who is holding whom off.” I popped a grape into my mouth.

  “I want it to mean something.”

  “How would a hand job not mean something, big boy? You would come in my hands and never forget it.”

  He chuckled and said, “You are a feisty one. Truly, I would love
to, but let’s wait until we talk to Bond.”

  “Did you have to bring him up again? Bond who? Who knows whose bed he’s currently in? And you know what? I finally don’t care.”

  “That’s excellent to hear. I actually have to get back to the office for a meeting this afternoon.” He finished off his glass of wine and lay on his side facing me.

  “I see. Uh huh, right, good old office meeting.”

  “Stop being so adorable Jacqs, you make it hard for me to fight your womanly wiles.”

  “I have womanly wiles?”

  “In abundance.” Red started to sit up and said, “You can stay up here or keep me company in the cockpit.”

  “Let’s clean up and I’ll join you.”

  “Great.”

  On our way back to Red’s house, I lay on the padded bench across from him and watched. He glanced at me now and again and seemed to be mulling something over in his mind. I wondered if he was rehearsing the conversation we needed to have with Bond or if he had a presentation at work.

  It gave me the opportunity to stare at him shirtless. His small nipples were hard in the wind and I wondered if he’d like to have them sucked. I wanted to finger the small gauges in his earlobes and run my hand along his chest following the trail of hairs into his shorts. I found his lips fascinating as well, so full and soft yet surrounded by a full beard that he always kept neat and short cropped.

  I shook my head and sat up crossing my legs. “Thanks for the introduction to Ted, and for taking the time to spend today with me.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Once we were on dry land, I said, “You seem distracted.”

  “Sorry, this is how I prep for my meetings. I run potential questions through my mind and my responses. Come here,” he said, reaching for me.

  I walked into this embrace, and melted against his warm chest.

  “Thank you for giving me a chance,” he whispered into my hair. He held me for a few moments and then we parted. “What are your plans tomorrow?”

  “Going into the office and giving notice. I’m not really looking forward to it. When I get home I’ll email Ted and tell him I’m taking the job. I also need to swing by Bella Boutique and get a boring, black dress.”