by L. B. Dunbar
He climbs down the ladder, holding up a hand to help me down after him. With the blanket slung over his shoulder, he takes my hand and leads me forward.
“Careful.” He guides us in the pitch dark down the one hundred and fifty wooden steps to the shore. His eagerness has him skipping steps and taking them sideways with his long feet in order to keep his hand in mine, but I’m slowing him down.
“Just go,” I encourage with a laugh and allow us to slip apart.
“But you’ll still follow me?” His voice hints at vulnerability again. Doesn’t he realize he’s the one who will eventually be leaving, not me?
“I’ll be right behind you.” Following you anywhere. Upon my reply, he continues to skip down the steps, and I watch as he reaches the beach. He snaps the sleeping bag out to lay across the dark sand and then tugs down his shorts. I reach the base of the steps and laugh loud and strong as he runs for the water, naked as the night. His white backside reflects in the dark before he marches into the water and disappears with a graceful dive.
Nearing the sleeping bag, I see him pop up and shake his head. His hair flips boyishly to one side.
“Come in!” he yells, and I tug my dress over my head. I can’t ever remember skinny-dipping, and I race after him until my toes hit the water.
“It’s freezing!” I call out.
“It’s refreshing!” he hollers back, his voice carrying in the strong breeze. Gingerly, I enter the lake as soft waves lap up my knees, then my thighs, and eventually reach my middle. Zack meets me, and his mouth captures mine. His hands cup my jaw as they often do when he kisses me, and the grasp keeps me attached to him as he lowers us both in the water. My limbs tangle with his before I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. We continue to kiss until he stands again in deeper water. I remain around him like a koala on a tree, and when my legs shift to release me from his body, he cups my backside.
“Plug your nose,” he warns and then tosses both of us into the oncoming wave. As I sputter and laugh, righting myself, I splash the roll of water at Zack, and he splashes back like we’re children. Eventually, he catches my wrist to stop me and tugs me to him, kissing me again. My legs wrap around him once more, and he carries me out of the water, kissing me as he stumbles in the sand.
“You’ll drop me,” I warn, laughing against his mouth.
“Never.” His tone dips as he nears the blanket. He lowers to his knees while I remain wrapped around him, and then he’s laying me back on the sleeping bag. We have more space to stretch and spread, and my legs do just that, allowing Zack to settle between them. As we kiss, he hardens once more and reaches for his shorts. Digging in the pocket, he finds another packet.
“So responsible,” I tease.
“Actually, I borrowed these from Mason.”
“Ew. I don’t want to consider what borrow means. Nor do I want to think about that on Mason.”
Zack has been sheathing himself as I speak, and his head snaps back in my direction.
“You better not think of Mason when I do this.” Two fingers impale me with a sharp rush, and my breath catches. “Sore?”
“Ready.” Shamelessly, I’m wet again, and it’s not from the lake water. He moves his fingers in and out twice before removing them.
“And you definitely better not be thinking of Mason when I do this.” In one swift move, he’s slipping into me again, his dick rock hard. He doesn’t rush, but the effect is still the same. Long and deep, he slides forward until he’s to the hilt.
“Or this.” He latches onto a breast and sucks it until the nipple nearly hurts. Between the cold water and the chill in the air, the nubs are already sharp and peaked. Zack moves within me while his tongue warms my breast and I melt under him. My fingers comb through his wet hair and down his goose-bump-covered back.
“You feel so amazing, angel,” he groans, releasing my breast to look up at me.
“So do you.” The words mingle with a sharp exhale from me. We rock into each other, taking a little more time to enjoy the motion that matches the waves near our feet. Eventually, his fingers move to my clit, and he rubs in short, tight circles until my lower belly flutters.
“So close,” I warn almost too late as I’m suddenly cascading over him, loose and relaxed in a release that seems to drag like the water lapping along the shore. I whimper, tipping back my head and arching my back, forcing him deeper inside me with my hands on his firm ass.
“So deep,” he mutters, licking at my neck before increasing his thrusts. He rocks hard and fast until he breaks, and the rush of him inside me teases me once more. He braces himself on his elbows as he comes down from the high. His forehead lowers as his chest heaves.
“Fuck. I think I see stars.” He laughs as he quickly pulls out of me but rolls me to my side, so I’m tucked into his. Pressing a tender kiss to my forehead, we lay like this as our breathing settles and the night breeze flitters over us. It’s a night I want to last forever when I know nothing does.
+ + +
We must doze a bit because I shift with a start when Zack sits upright.
“Shit,” he mutters, swiping both hands down his face. “What time is it?”
I bite back the snark on my lips. Do I look like I wearing a watch?
“I told Bryce I’d be back by two.”
Having no clue what time it might be, I scramble to my feet and reach for my dress, quickly covering myself. Zack slips into his shorts and shakes out the sleeping bag before flipping it over his shoulder. Still groggy and a little stiff, I head for the stairs and climb at a slower pace with Zack on my heels. He might want me to go faster, but he’ll need to pass me because my legs can hardly carry me.
As we near the top but remain just under the crest of the cliff, Zack captures my wrist. “Wait. Just wait.”
I turn to face him, and he tosses the blanket on the stairs behind me. Remaining a step below me, he aligns our bodies, cups my jaw, and kisses me once more. The kiss quickly heats, and an urgency takes over. Why does it feel like he’s saying goodbye before we top the cliff? His mouth becomes desperate, urgent even. His hands slowly lower, roaming my neck and my shoulders before he breaks free of my lips and spins me.
He brushes aside my hair and sucks at the back of my neck.
“Zack?” I question. What is he doing?
Then he bites the juncture of my neck and shoulder, and my knees buckle. He catches me around the waist as my legs fold a bit and then lowers me to my knees on a step covered by the sleeping bag. He tugs the collar of my dress over my shoulder, sucking at my skin. A slight ripping sound hints at the strain of material before the fabric slips to my upper arm. He continues to suck at my shoulder. Down the shoulder blade. A hand rounds for my front, covering a breast.
“One more time,” he whispers to my skin as he continues to kiss me with a wide mouth and soft caress of his tongue.
“I thought you were late.”
“I need you one more time.” With a hand on the middle of my back, he presses me forward. My knees are a few steps lower than my elbows, and Zack stands a step lower than me. He lifts my dress, shoves down his shorts, and slides inside me again.
“Jesus. You’re so warm. I can’t . . . it’s so good . . . it’s—” His voice catches. “I’ll pull out.” The comment stills me, but Zack is on his own mission. “I promise. I swear I haven’t been with anyone in more than a year.”
I don’t want to think about what that means. “It’s been three for me.”
Zack stops moving. He knows Quincy died a year ago, but he’s adding up the dates, putting together something I’m not ready to explain.
“You’re late,” I remind him in our awkward position, and he begins to move again, taking his time at first but quickly building to a steady crescendo. Our skin slaps in the quiet night, and Zack grunts behind me, filling the air with more words of praise and compliment.
“So wet. So beautiful. So good.”
I’m in the moment with him, but
I’m not going to reach any pinnacle. I’m spent. With his hands on my hips and his rapid-fire thrusts, it doesn’t take him long before he rushes out of me and lays his length on my lower back. Leaning forward, I lower my forehead as I feel him pulse and pump at the base of my spine. He’s breathing heavily again, and I match him. It’s my heart that’s racing.
“Angel, I . . .” he chokes on whatever he planned to say and kisses my back. Catching his breath, he finally mutters, “I’m flying.”
I have no idea what that means other than he’s high from the release. We’ve had sex in four positions, and he’s had three orgasms. It’s a lot in a few hours. Slowly, he stands, uses a corner of the sleeping bag to clean my back, and then wraps an arm around my waist, lifting me to lean against his chest.
“Did I hurt you?” he whispers into my neck, and I shake my head. “I don’t know what came over me, but I can’t get enough of you. I’ll never have enough.”
They are pretty words on such a lovely night, but something beneath his tone is unsettling. This final rush through sex feels like a farewell instead of a start. However, my foolish heart is racing, and my blood is still pumping, and I want to believe our time together is endless.
I want to believe he’ll make time for me.
17
[Zack]
The next morning, Mason is in a mood. He takes one look at me and smiles big.
“Our Zacky got laid,” he announces to the kitchen, which is thankfully empty of children. My boys are scootering up and down the driveway while Mila and Lorna draw with chalk. I owe Bryce double the money because it was nearly four when I snuck back in the house. To my surprise, he was still up watching some app. He assured me the boys hadn’t stirred, and I asked him to keep it our little secret about how late I returned. I’m certain he will. He’s not up himself, so I don’t know how Mason knows shit, but he’s smiling at me like a pleased father.
Then he steps up to me, clasps my face, and kisses my cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Get off me.” I press at him while trying to suppress a laugh. Losing the battle, I catch Anna watching me. Weakly she smiles, and my chest tightens. It doesn’t seem fair to be feeling all this emotion for River when Anna’s so sad. However, I remember what she said. Flying is a nice feeling, and I finally get it. It’s like Mason explained. Falling sounds negative, like a pit with a hard, rocky bottom is below me. But flying, it’s endless up there with stratosphere upon stratosphere to keep soaring through.
“So. How was it?” Mason asks, placing an elbow on the kitchen island and his chin in the heel of his hand. He bats his eyes like a teenage girl wanting all the details. “Did it hurt? Were you scared? Did you use protection?”
He straightens, but he knows the answer. He gave me the condoms because I didn’t have my own. I know most men carry them everywhere, especially if they’re sexually active or actively seeking one-night stands. As it’s the last thing I expected to happen during these two weeks, I was completely unprepared. I’m even less prepared for how I feel.
River is amazing, as I said, and it’s not just a physical attraction. She makes me laugh. She’s playful and good at heart. Down to her soul, she’s a decent person, and it’s so refreshing.
“Be careful, Zack,” Anna warns. “I have to live next to her when you leave.”
The weight of her words crushes me, and Mason rolls his eyes with his back to Anna.
“We aren’t talking long-term commitment with a diamond and a contract. This was one night.” Mason tips a brow. “Or will it be a few more?”
I don’t know what it will be. I suggested a ten-day fling, but the phrase feels inadequate. Something happened when we were climbing the stairs. It was like heading upward, time felt like it was rewinding, turning back the clock, and I didn’t want to give her up. I wanted time to stop.
The thought reminds me I can’t find my watch. I thought I had it with me when I went to River’s yard, but as I didn’t have it when we went swimming or when I woke on the beach, I guess not. It also wasn’t in my room on the nightstand where I place it when I’m not wearing it.
“Have you seen my watch?” I abruptly ask, changing subjects. Anna shakes her head, and Mason stares at me like I’m crazy.
“Who cares about your watch? We’re talking about a woman here. Zacky got laid.”
“We’re done talking about me. Why don’t you get laid?”
Mason stiffens, and Anna tilts her head from behind Mason, staring at the back of his neck. “Been a little preoccupied,” Mason quietly states. My gaze shifts to Anna. Shit.
“Yeah, well.” I scratch at the back of my neck. “I’ve had a longer dry spell than you,” I tease hoping to lighten the tension. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to happen as Mason’s jaw clenches. Anna’s face scrunches. Neither of them moves. Finally, Mason speaks.
“How about a run to the Lake Liberty project? We can grab Logan and take all the boys.” The suggestion of work isn’t exactly how I want to spend a day, but River needs to sleep. She works the late shift again, and I need her rested for another late night.
+ + +
River texts me to meet her at midnight, and I love that she wants me as much as I want her. At least, I hope the feeling is mutual, and I’m reassured when I find her on the lounger. A light somewhere in the house is on but not reflecting into the yard. A blanket is tucked up under her arms, and a glass of wine sits in her hands.
“Whatcha got under there?” I tease, noticing her arms are bare, as is her chest.
“Why don’t you find out?” she flirts, lifting her glass for a sip. “But first, lose the clothes.”
I tug off my T-shirt, kick off my flip-flops, and pull condoms from my pocket before dropping my shorts. Standing before her naked as the night, I watch as her gaze slowly roams up my body.
“You are one dazzling man,” she hums, letting those eyes eat me up. It’s a nice feeling to work hard on my body and have someone appreciate it other than myself. And not just someone, but River.
I crawl up the lounger and tug back the blanket to find her naked as well. Reaching for the glass of wine in her hand, I remove it and drink the remainder.
“That was mine,” she says.
“I thought we were sharing,” I state, recalling our first night together on this outdoor furniture.
“Not yet.” She slowly smiles and presses her teeth to her lower lip.
I slip over River, forcing her legs apart with my hips. Her body is warm underneath mine, and I tug the blanket back up over both of us. River scoots lower on the lounger, and I cup one side of her jaw before leaning forward to kiss her. She tastes like wine and summer and things I’ve never thought about before, like hearts, flowers, and love.
Taking my time, I kiss River long and sweet, dragging out each pull before adding my tongue to the mix. She follows my lead, keeping us lazy and loose. Her fingers dig into the hair at my nape, and we stay like this for a long time, absorbing each other with tender kisses.
Eventually, my hand skims her body, outlining her form. I cover a breast, dip to her waist, and slip between her thighs. Taking my time with every touch, I memorize her. As my fingers slide into her warmth, her head tips back a bit, and I lick along her neck before nibbling at the cliff of her jaw. She’s so beautiful, so responsive, and I don’t know how I’ll walk away from her.
My thumb joins the mix of fingers in her heat, rubbing her clit until she gives in to me. Less of a rush, more like a slow drag, her release overtakes her. Her thighs clutch at my hand, and her channel clenches around my fingers. Eventually, her hand finds me hard and ready, but I don’t want her fist.
“I need inside you again.”
“I’d like that.” A soft grin curls her lips, and I quickly sheath myself. Entering her last night without protection wasn’t a mistake. It felt amazing as I repeatedly told her, but it also wasn’t smart. I’m safe. I believe she’s safe, but there’s another risk I don’t need to take—a second accidental pregnanc
y. Still, the heat, the wet, the connection were immeasurable.
Once I’m covered, I slip into place and slowly glide home. We seem to hold our breaths as I enter her until I can’t get any deeper. Then I still, kissing her long and lazy once more before her hips roll upward, and mine matches hers. Leaning on one elbow, I move over her body as I had before while we dance in a rhythm I’ve never experienced. There’s no doubt this slow tempo is making love, and with this woman, it feels so right. I’m soaring again.
We keep the even pace as long as we can, torturing ourselves as my shaft feels every pull from her channel, and she gasps at every push inside her. Magnets attracting. I’ll never have enough of her like I thought last night, yet time is ticking. My vacation ends soon.
I don’t allow those thoughts to take over as I roll when she rocks, and I thrust when she bucks. In no time, she’s warning me, and her legs stiffen in that signal she’s ready to release. I stop moving my hips.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her eyes flipping open when they just closed.
“I want to feel you come around me.” My thumb is rubbing her clit in a tantalizing circle, and her smile grows as she gives in to the release. She clenches and squeezes while I’m fully encased in her warmth, and it’s more than I could ever imagine. Once she settles from the high, she’s cupping my backside and forcing me to move, guiding me to catch my own release, which doesn’t take long as I held off to allow the sensation of her around me. Now, there’s no holding back, and I speed up.
“Zack.” My name on her lips catches. “Zack, I . . .”
“Yes.” I know what she’s hinting at. “Again. Together. Let me feel you again, angel.” When she starts to clutch at my dick from the depths of her channel, I burst like a rocket shot to the moon. It’s an explosion of flames and smoke and so much more as I break through another layer of stratosphere with her.
When the sensations subside, I lean forward and kiss her once more, as if we have all night which we don’t. Eventually, I curl her into my chest and just hold her, straightening the blanket over both of us and pretending time stands still, and we can stay like this forever.