* * *
“You told him, didn’t you?” Quinn asked.
Peyton stopped in her tracks, a folded shirt in her hands. “How’d you know?”
“I could just tell in his eyes.”
“How do you mean?”
“I don’t know. He was thanking me for taking care of stuff last week while you were gone. And it just seemed he was thanking me for taking care of you back then, too.”
Peyton smiled and put the shirt in the dresser. “That’s nice.”
“I was a little worried he’d go off on me for leaving you,” Quinn said.
“He wouldn’t do that because it wasn’t your fault.”
“How’d he handle it?” Quinn asked.
“Better than I could’ve ever imagined.” Peyton blushed. “The multiple orgasms were nice, too.”
“Multiple?” Quinn screamed. “I’m so proud of you!”
Peyton covered her face with her hands. “Oh God, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“God? Did you call out to Him? Did you? Give me the juice. How big is he? How’s the sex?”
Peyton rolled her eyes. “There’s something wrong with you. There really is. You are a crazy person. You know that, don’t you?” She tossed a few pair of underwear in a drawer. “There hasn’t been any sex.”
“Huh?”
Peyton paused and twirled her locket, trying to find the right words. “There’s been some, uh, jobs given.”
“As in both kinds of jobs?”
“I’m not telling you that!”
“Both giving and receiving?”
Peyton threw a pillow at her. “Yes, OK?”
“And how was his job performance?”
Peyton’s face lit up. “Stellar.”
Quinn let out a little squeal. “Sounds like sex will happen any day now. We definitely need to get the slut drawer ready.”
* * *
Bret closed the creaky front door and stepped back onto the porch. “So how’s Peyton?”
“Good,” Reed said, picking at some rotted wood. “We had a great time.”
“I’m glad she got away. She’s just been through so much that I ....”
Reed raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing,” Bret said, his lips in a tight line.
“Nothing? First you make a comment weeks ago about ‘hard knocks’ and now this. What do you know?”
“She’s just lost a lot of people — Gram dying and her parents.”
Reed shook his head. “You knew and didn’t tell me.”
“I couldn’t, man.”
“Why? Because of Quinn?”
“Partly,” Bret said. “It’s also private.”
Reed turned his attention back to the rotted wood. He didn’t want to be aggravated, but he was. Bret knew before him, and it was still eating at him that Griffin did, too. “You could have told me.”
“And I could tell Peyton about your dad, but I’d never do that because that’s private, too.”
Reed took a deep breath. “Sorry, dude. It’s just been a little intense the past few days.”
Bret shrugged his shoulders and patted Reed on the back. An apology wasn’t needed — nor was any heart-to-heart discussion that bickering women might require. They walked off the porch together. “The house must have room for a 72-inch TV,” Bret said. “I don’t care what Quinn says.”
* * *
Peyton stared down at a sympathy card from Griffin. While she was in Seaside, Quinn and Bret had taken care of writing a thank you note to him — just as they’d written notes to many other friends and customers who’d sent flowers, gifts, cards, and charitable donations on behalf of Gram. But Peyton knew a written response to Griffin just wasn’t enough.
She missed him. He’d been in her life for 20 years, and she didn’t want to lose someone else, though had no idea how to continue their friendship. She checked the time, believing Griffin would surely be at work, and decided it was a good time to leave a message on his cell. She thankfully got his voicemail and left a simple message of thanks.
There was another person who deserved more than a note. Marion Langston had made a huge donation to Gram’s favorite rose garden at Poydras Home. It was a gesture that was perhaps overly generous for someone Peyton had met only twice. Still, it was a gesture that deserved a phone call. Marion answered excitedly and insisted Peyton meet her for lunch at Commander’s Palace. It was a strange request, but Peyton had no choice but to accept.
Peyton threw on some clothes and made the short drive to the restaurant. She parked along the street, squeezing her Mini Cooper into a tight spot, then made her way to the entrance, her stomach full of nerves. She knew full well — though Marion herself was a delight — a girl can never truly relax around her boyfriend’s mother. It’s like being interviewed for a job or standing before a firing squad.
She jumped at the sound of a long car horn and turned to see Marion stepping out of the passenger side of a tan BMW parked in a handicap spot. Marion waved to Peyton then leaned back inside for a brief moment. Peyton saw the sedan didn’t have a handicap plate. Marion walked towards her, and Richard Langston gave Peyton a smile and a wave before pulling out.
Marion greeted Peyton with a kiss on the cheek. “Nice to see you, dear.”
“You, too. Did Mr. Langston not want to stay?”
“No, he had a meeting nearby, so he just dropped me.”
“Too bad,” Peyton said.
“No, it’s not,” Marion quipped. “And if you were wondering, he’s not disabled, either. His big ass ego works just fine.”
Peyton laughed out loud but quickly composed herself before walking inside the New Orleans landmark, known for its flowers, splendid food, and wine. A hostess showed them to a table in the Garden Room, looking out into a courtyard with a huge oak tree.
“It was very nice what you did for Gram,” Peyton said.
Marion waved her well-manicured hand. “It was nothing.”
“Well, I appreciate it very much. I’m sure Poydras Home does, too. And Reed has been wonderful through everything.”
“He’s a good boy. Of course, like his father, he can be an ass sometimes, too.” Peyton smiled then took a sip of water, her nerves starting to settle. “I actually talked to him this morning. He seemed happy and relaxed. Seems like you two had a real nice time.”
“We did,” Peyton offered and shifted in her seat, her nerves flying back, knowing Marion probably figured she had sex with her son.
“He loves you, dear.” Peyton slightly gagged and took another sip of water. “He didn’t exactly say it to me because he knows I would’ve cried. But he does. I know it.”
Peyton saw tears form in Marion’s eyes. “I love him, too.”
“I know that, dear. I’ve waited so long for him to find someone real, someone special.” Marion dabbed her eyes with her napkin. “I promise I’m really not some smother mother, well, at least not since he was little.” She patted Peyton’s hand. “I just want you and me to be close.”
“I’d like that,” Peyton said.
Marion let out a laugh. “My boy won’t know what hit him with the two of us against him.” She took a sip of water. “That’s what men don’t get. Women rule the world; we just let our men think they do.”
Peyton nodded. “Southern women are especially good at walking that fine line.”
* * *
Reed wanted to cut out early from work. He wanted to see Peyton. He’d grown accustomed to spending day after day with her, both of them just hanging out together, holding each other, taking long baths, waking up in each other’s arms. But he just had too much work to do, too much work to make up. He hated waiting to see her. He liked taking Peyton when he wanted her, like he did last week in Seaside. And as for her needs, well, she could have whatever she wanted from him, whenever she liked.
By the time night fell and he was on her front porch, he was about ready to burst. He walked inside and grabbed her with his hands, pulling at he
r clothes. “I’ve been thinking about you all day,” he said, devouring her neck. Peyton struggled to keep pace with him, as he flipped her shirt over her head and unhooked her bra then lifted her onto the dining room table. “I need you tonight.” He sucked on her breasts then bit softly on her nipples.
“Ouch!” she cried.
Reed pulled back. “Shit, I hurt you?”
“Not really,” she said, reaching for her shirt. “They’re just sensitive. I got my period today.”
Reed grimaced — for Peyton and himself. “Sorry.”
“Happens every 28 days.” She put her shirt back on. “You don’t need to apologize.”
Reed had thought about her all day — her breasts in his mouth, her mouth on him, his fingers everywhere, maybe finally having sex. And now we’re talking about her period. There wasn’t anything more awful. But he knew he needed to roll with it — there was no other option — and decided to see what he could find out. “So you’re on the pill?”
Peyton raised her eyebrows. “Why would you think that?”
“You said, um, this happens every 28 days,” Reed said, awkwardly waving his arms in the air, “so I just figured it was because you were on the pill.”
“It doesn’t happen because I’m on the pill. It happens because I’m a girl. Didn’t you ever take a biology class?”
Reed rolled his eyes. “I just thought since you were so regular, maybe you were on the pill.”
“I’m as regular as clockwork. But I’m not on any birth control.”
“Are you considering it?”
“It sounds like you want me to consider it.”
“No,” he said sweetly, “I figured that was my job.”
“I’d really rather have nothing between us when we make love.”
When? Reed liked where this was going, but his head started to spin. Make love? No girl had ever said that to him before. And he’d never said those words, either — usually finding words like “banging” or “screwing” or “nailing” more suitable. And the idea that Peyton wanted to go commando was truly uncharted waters. “That would be a first for me,” he said, trying not to sound too eager.
“Making love or going MacTavish?”
“Both,” Reed said with a laugh, no way in the world Peyton should know the slang term for sex without a condom — the name of the last North American hockey player to play without a helmet. He made a mental note that Jeremiah should look to Peyton if he had more weird sexual questions.
“You always use condoms?” she asked.
“I couldn’t trust those girls.”
“Not even Heather?”
Reed faked a tight smile. “Not even Heather.” He kissed her on the lips. “What about you? Since you’re not on birth control, you always used condoms, too?”
“I told you I haven’t dated since college.”
“Right. Before then? Were you on birth control before?”
She shifted her feet. “No.”
“I’m confused.”
“What are you confused about?” Peyton asked.
“You always used condoms?”
She twirled her locket. “Can we talk about something else?”
“No,” he teased, “you never let me off the hook.”
“I’d rather not talk about this.”
“What did you use?”
“Nothing.”
Reed shook his head in disbelief. “You just left it to chance?”
“Let’s talk about something else.”
He tickled her. “Not until you tell me.”
“I lost my virginity when I was raped, OK?” Peyton barked. “Happy now?” She shook her head and exhaled.
“Jesus, I’m sorry,” Reed said, falling back, stunned.
“I swear, you can be so damn stupid sometimes!”
A virgin! A woman so sexy, so responsive, so good with her hands, Reed never would’ve guessed in a million years. He grabbed the back of his neck. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Because it’s embarrassing,” Peyton said, looking away from him. “I never intended to wait until I was married or anything. I wasn’t a prude. I had boyfriends. We did other stuff, but I’d never actually had sex.”
“So I’ll be your ‘real’ first time?”
She turned her eyes to him, his face soft and innocent. “We’ll see.”
Reed wrapped his arms around her. “Does that mean you’re cherry pie?” Of all the things Peyton had shared with him, he still didn’t know what kind of pie she was.
Peyton playfully swatted him. “You are disgusting!”
He stroked her cheek then his eyes turned serious. “If you change your mind, I can wear condoms. I just don’t want you to feel any pressure or do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
“I don’t want to be like any of your other women. When we ....”
“How about now?” Reed’s face lit up.
Peyton smiled. “When we make love, I want you to feel only me, and I want to feel all of you.” She pulled Reed close to her, feeling he was ready now. And she finally was, too — but didn’t want her first time to be when she was on her period. “I’ll make an appointment with my doctor to talk about my options.”
* * *
The morning came quickly, and Peyton lay in bed watching Reed scurry around, looking anything but his cool, confident self. She’d been enjoying the show for almost five minutes.
“Shit!” Reed looked under the bed. “I didn’t realize sleepovers were so damn complicated.” He stood up from the floor, his hand gripping the back of his neck, and continued his search for his shirt. “Next time you’re sleeping at my place.”
“Sure,” Peyton said, trying not to giggle, still wearing his shirt from the night. “Let me help you look.” She got on her knees on the bed and started to undo a few buttons. “I think I found it.”
Reed turned around, her ample cleavage coming into view. “You naughty little girl.” He captured her in his arms. “I’m going to miss you today.” He unbuttoned the last few buttons and slid his shirt off her shoulders, exposing her round breasts seeming to beg for his touch.
“They’re not sore right now,” she said.
He groaned, wanting nothing more than to bury himself in her cleavage, hating when work got in the way. He slipped on the shirt, and Peyton did the buttons for him, her breasts rubbing slightly against his chest.
“See you tonight,” she said, then he rushed off to work. She fell back onto her plush comforter and pillows, a huge smile on her face, and ran a hand along her fluted bed post carved with delicate rosettes. She bought the bed years ago in the hope she’d find someone special to share it with, and now she finally had.
She hopped up and opened a dresser drawer throwing on a shirt. Her mind began to race. She moved some things aside then opened a few more, finding a few empty. Then she looked in her closet; there was plenty of room there. She didn’t want Reed to move in, but there was certainly enough room for him to bring a few things to her place — at least a shirt or two. She stood in the middle of her room wondering if it was too soon to ask and what Reed would even say — and if he’d want her to leave a few things at his place. Then her bedroom door flew open.
Peyton jumped then settled herself at the sight of Reed, his eyes on fire. “Did you forget something?” she asked.
“I forgot to kiss you goodbye.”
“You came back to kiss me goodbye?”
He walked towards her and took her by the waist. “Yeah, I got to the end of the block and realized I hadn’t kissed you.” His eyes landed on her full lips, his hand stroking her cheek. He slid his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her lips to his, kissing her like the first time on her front porch — as if he might never see her again. When he was through, he turned around to leave, but she grabbed him from behind.
“I forgot something, too.” She dropped to her knees and took off his belt. Reed ran his fingers through her long, brown hair, hoping this was going where he�
��d dreamed. She unbuckled his pants and dropped them to his ankles. Then she did the same with his boxer briefs. He slipped them off before Peyton pushed him onto the bed and took off his shirt.
He was hard and huge, but she didn’t start there. She circled his abs with her tongue then looked up under her lashes, watching him. He pulled a few strands of hair off her face and gently grasped her hair so he could see her face. It excited her, his hand holding her hair, his dick so close to her mouth. She kissed her way down his abs and to his inner thighs, feeling his whole body tingle, seeing his toes curl.
Her breasts rubbed against him as she moved down, her hard nipples brushing against his dick. Then she licked her lips and took his balls in her hand, giving a gentle tug. He watched her work, watched her pleasure him, with a sparkle in her eye, clearly enjoying herself. She moved her soft, pink lips to his balls and took them in her mouth. “God, baby,” he groaned.
Then she slid her lips up just a little, so her tongue could lick the base of his dick, letting it linger while tugging his balls again. She moved up a bit more and took his dick in her mouth, surrounding him, sucking firmly, tightly, sliding her mouth up and down, caressing him with her tongue. He thrust a few times in her mouth while she kept her pace steady, not wanting to rush their first time and never wanting him to forget the warmth of her mouth around him.
Reed closed his eyes and relaxed. “Yes, baby.” Peyton was better than he ever imagined. She was an expert with her hands, but her mouth, her lips, her breath, her tongue were beyond incredible. He opened his eyes, seeing her head move up and down, his hand holding her hair, and felt his body start to tremble. He didn’t want it to end, but he was getting close. She seemed to sense it, too. She grabbed him with her hand and began to pump up and down while sucking more forcefully.
“I’m almost there, baby,” Reed said.
Peyton sucked him more, letting her tongue slide up and down, feeling his dick get harder, bigger, fuller. She wanted him, all of him. He suddenly released into her mouth while panting her name, and she kept on sucking, gently and slower now, not stopping until he was totally done.
She looked up at him, her baby blue eyes showing her pleasure. “You are incredible,” Reed said, running his fingers through her hair. Then he lifted her up to him and rested her head on his chest, holding her close.
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