by Katy Kaylee
He sighed contentedly, and his breathing slowed to a steady rate. I looked at him and realized he was finally sleeping. I kissed his forehead. “It definitely feels real.”
Chapter 20
Lucas
I woke feeling light. Like all the darkness in my life was purged. Laying on my side, Torryn spooned me, her arm draped over me like she was protecting me. I turned, trying not to wake her. Dark circles appeared under her eyes, and I felt guilty for keeping her up through the night. At the same time, I was happy. I’d been torn about our relationship but last night proved she was with me. She forgave me for hurting her and stayed with me as the horrors haunted my dreams.
Gently I stroked her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled. “You okay?”
I nod. “Thanks to you.”
Her hand pressed against my cheek. “I hate that you had to live through the war. That it stays with you.”
I kissed her palm. “You’re being there helped. And to make it up to you, I’m going to make breakfast.”
“Do we have time? I’ll need to get home to clean up and change before work.”
Ugh. Work. For a moment, I considered calling us both in sick, but I promised Oliver I wouldn’t let my obsession with Torryn take up more work time. I checked my watch. It was still early. “We have time. Come on. I make great eggs.”
She laughs. “We’ll see about that.”
I kissed her quickly, happy that this morning she was going to let me feed her. Yes, things were different between us this morning. The unease was gone. She was with me on this. And if I played my cards right, we’d have a second chance to make our love work.
That meant she’d need to meet my mother. I remembered I hadn’t mentioned my mom to Torryn.
“Before we get up, there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”
Torryn stiffened like she was preparing for bad or unpleasant news.
“It’s not bad.” I pulled her close, wanting to assure her. “It’s actually good news.”
“Oh?”
“I found my mother.”
It took a moment for my statement to sink in. “Your mother?” Her expression was tentative as if she wasn’t sure if this is good news or bad, even though I’ve told her it was good.
“It turns out my father had taken me away from her and she didn’t know where I was.”
“Oh Lucas, that’s terrible.”
I nodded. “We both know my father was an asshole. But my mom…she’s great Torryn.” I took a breath because I knew my next comment would reveal the depth of my feelings for her. “I want you to meet her and her to meet you.”
Torryn flashed me that beautiful smile that reached to her green eyes. “Taking me home to meet the mother, huh? I guess that means this is serious.”
“It is to me.” My heart hammered in my chest, partly from happiness and partly because of the sheer terror of taking this step. At eighteen, I’d let my heart fall for her without a second thought. Now, I understood that affairs of the heart could cause real damage. While I felt she was with me now, I couldn’t help but feel scared shitless at letting myself fall headfirst in love with her again. “There’s one thing. My mom is sick. Really sick.”
“I’m sorry, Lucas.”
“I’m trying to make the most of my time with her.”
“Yes, of course. I’m honored that you want to share that time with me.”
The words I love you hung on my tongue, but I held them back. My heart had completely fallen, but I wasn’t quite ready to reveal so much so soon. So instead I kissed her, preferring to show her how I was feeling.
She responded immediately, her body going lax in my arms as I rolled her under me. Before, need and desire were my drivers when I took her body, but this morning, I wanted her to know through my touch how I felt. I didn’t want a frenetic romp in the sack. I didn’t want to simply fuck her. I wanted to make love to her.
With her body nestled under mine, I started by kissing her. It was slow, languid like sleepy morning sex should be. She sighed into my kiss, opening for me when my tongue teased her lips. My cock was hard, ready to drive into her, but I kept it in check. He’d have to wait while I showed this beautiful, understanding, compassionate woman how much I appreciated and cared for her.
Slowly, I drew my mouth away from her lips, trailing along her jaw to her neck. I licked along her collar bone. Her body arched, her breasts rising toward me like an offering.
I lightly kissed each nipple. “So beautiful.”
She let out a needy sigh. I took care of her needs by wrapping my lips around one sensitive nub and suckled.
“Yes.” The word escaped her lips on a gasp.
I sucked and swirled my tongue around her breast, then scraped my teeth over the hard, distended nipple.
“Lucas.” Her hips bucked, seeking my cock.
I moved away slightly. This time was going to be a slow seduction.
“I need you.” Her fingers dug into my back as she sought a closer connection to me.
“I’m here.” As I continued to love her breasts, I moved one hand down over her stomach and lower. My fingers slid through the curls guarding her sweet pussy. I flicked one finger over her clit before sliding two fingers inside her.
“Yes.” Her hips rose, taking my fingers deeper. My dick was jealous of my fingers, but he’d have to wait. My fingers slid in and out of her as my mouth worked one magnificent breast and then the other. I pushed her higher and higher. Her pussy massaged my fingers as they worked her.
“I’m going to come.”
I lifted my head to look down on her face. “Yes, Torryn. I want to watch you come.”
I put all my attention on my fingers, sliding in and out of her, fucking her faster, harder. My thumb flicked and then pressed against her clit.
Her head tilted back and her eyes squeezed shut. “Oh, I’m coming.”
Her pussy gripped my fingers as her pelvis rocked, seeking out her pleasure. Her mouth rounded into a perfect O as her orgasm slid through her.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Torryn.” I watched as she rode out the storm.
Her eyes flickered open, looking sated. Then with a coy smile, she pushed at me until I was on my back. She straddled me, and in one fast slide, sank over me.
The sensation rocketed through my body, and I jackknifed up, wrapping my arms around her and holding her tight over my cock.
“Suck me.”
I looked up at her, a little confused.
She lifted one breast to my mouth. “I love how you suck me.”
My brain cleared enough to understand. I wrapped my lips around her nipple, drawing it in my mouth. Each time I sucked, her pussy would tighten around my cock. It was amazing how in sync our bodies were. How much pleasure in one area led to exquisite sensation in another.
But soon, my cock was too needy for me to suckle her. I was on the precipice of my own orgasm.
“Ride me, Torryn.” I lay back, gripping her hips and urging her to ride me fast and hard.
She didn’t disappoint. She rose and then sank over me, and holy hell, I was in heaven. Her eyes closed and her head dropped back as she sought her own pleasure. Her breasts bounced with her rise and fall over my dick.
“Oh shit, I’m coming.” I had wanted to hold off. To wait until she was coming too, but the sight of her lush body over me was too much.
Her fingers slid between her folds, and that was it. Electricity surged from by balls outward all the way to my toes. I bucked up and emptied into her hot body.
“Oh God Lucas.” Her body squeezed and massaged my cock, drawing out my orgasm. I kept coming and coming, until I saw stars.
She collapsed on my chest, and somehow I found the energy to lift an arm to wrap around her. Even as we lay, her body convulsed around my dick that continued to twitch and pulse inside her.
I was smart enough to know that sex didn’t equate to love. But I couldn’t stop from thinking that great sex like th
is, didn’t happen between strangers or between two people just wanting to get off. No this had to be more than just physical attraction. This had to be love.
It was several more minutes before either of us could speak.
“Does this count as exercise because I think I burned a million calories there.” Torryn lifted her head to look at me. Her gorgeous green eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
“It definitely beats pushups.” I rolled her under me again, keeping my dick firmly implanted inside her. “Just to be sure, we’ll do it again. But first we’ll need sustenance.” I kissed her firmly before moving off her and standing beside the bed. “I promised you eggs.”
“I like your sausage better.”
I smirked her and then shook my slowly softening cock at her.
She leaned forward licking the tip. “I’m still waiting for this.”
My cock perked up slightly. But even with her smile, she still had the dark circles that showed the long night I’d put her through. So, shoving my libido aside, I bent over and kissed her lightly.
“I promise, I’ll let you feast on my sausage some time.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
I gave her my robe, and I threw on a t-shirt and some boxers. Then I made breakfast which we ate as we watched the dawn turn into morning outside my window.
“If you’re up to it, we can go see my mother after work.”
Torryn smiled and nodded. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
I reached across the table and took her hand. “She’s gonna love you.”
“You sound sure about that.”
“I am.” What I couldn’t say was why I was sure. Because I love you.
Chapter 21
Torryn
For the second day in a row, I left Lucas’ place wearing the same clothes I showed up in. Good thing I’m not worried about what others will think about that. Lucas offered to go with me, but I needed a minute to regroup before I headed to work and I wasn’t sure we’d be able to keep our hands off each other. Then there were the three Stoogettes. A part of me would enjoy showing up with Lucas just to show them. But I didn’t want the hassle this early in my career at KGOLD.
I did accept the car service Lucas ordered for me. Once home, I showered and put on my work clothes. Because Lucas seemed to like me in red, I decided to wear a cranberry blouse that was cut low enough in the front to get his attention, but not so low as to be risqué. I paired it with a charcoal gray pencil skirt.
As I headed to work, the car Lucas ordered was still parked out front.
“Mr. Simmons asked that I take you to work as well.” The driver opened the back door for me.
“I’ll have to thank him.” I slipped into the car. I’d just gotten settled when my phone rang. The ringtone indicated it was my mother. “Hi, mom.”
“Torryn, I hope I’m not interrupting. Your dad and I wanted to check on you. Is the job going well? We haven’t heard.”
“Yes, mom.”
“Tell her I’m proud of her,” my dad’s voice came in the background.
“Your dad is proud of you. As am I. Have you made any friends? Are you seeing anyone?”
I loved that my parents were interested in my life. Some of my friends felt like their parents were intrusive, but I knew my parents truly wanted to know how I was and what I was doing. “I have been seeing someone.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“It’s new and I’d like to wait.” Explaining Lucas would take more time than I had on the drive to work, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to share that news with them yet.
“You can tell us all about it when you come home. You can come home, can’t you? Your dad has gone above and beyond planning this birthday. You’d think this will be my last birthday the way he’s going.”
“Fifty is old,” my dad’s voice echoes in the back.
“I’ll get him for that later. So, Torryn, do you think you can make it?”
“I don’t know mom.” I thought about all the time I’d already missed work in my first two days. I didn’t want to risk looking uncommitted to my job by asking for the week my parents wanted me to come home for my mom’s big birthday blow out. “I want to, but my job is so new.”
“Yes of course. Your career should be a focus. Absolutely.”
“It’s your mother’s birthday for heaven’s sake,” came my father’s voice. My mother was always the more practical one, while my father was a big cream puff when it came to family.
“She needs to work, honey.”
“Maybe I can come for the weekend.” I really would hate to miss my mom’s birthday. The both of them have always been such a support, especially six years ago when Lucas first left. My father ate a pint of ice cream with me, while my mother explained about all the fish in the sea and how I’d someday find someone who truly loved and respected me. I wondered what they’d think that Lucas was back in my life.
“If you can, we’d love to see you.”
“It’s not every day your mom turns the big 5-O,” my dad said.
“I don’t know how you put up with that,” I told my mom.
“I suppose I am getting old and there’s one thing your dad and I always agreed we’d do no matter what and that is to tell the truth.”
Her words raised a red flag in my brain. Lucas had told me the truth about what really happened. Should I tell him the truth about my initial intentions? I shook my head. I’m the only one who knows my heart was in the wrong place when I went on my date with him the other day. Now it’s in the right place.
The car pulled up in front of the building. “Mom, dad, I’m sorry but I just got to work. I need to go.”
“Yes of course. Let us know about the party when you can. Love you, sweetie.”
“Be good my little beignet,” my father called. I wondered when or if I’d ever grow out of being called that.
“Love you guys.” I hung up the phone and thanked the driver. As I walked into the building, I was a little disappointed not to see Lucas there. Already I was craving him again. Not just his touch, but his smile. His brilliant blue eyes.
I took the elevator up and ignored the Stoogettes as I made my way to the lounge to grab a cup of coffee and then went to my office. I stopped short at the sight of my desk. Something looked off.
I set my coffee down as I sat in my chair and studied the desktop. I wasn’t an organization freak, but I was a creature of habit. I liked to have my desk supplies in specific places because it made work easier. This morning, everything was in a different place. I opened my drawers to see if anything was amiss. Everything that should be in the center drawer was in the bottom drawer. None of the drawers had the nice stationery I’d been given when I first arrived.
I inhaled a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Dumb Stoogettes. I rose from the desk and headed to the supply room to get some paper, but on the way there, I made a detour to Oliver’s office. While I didn’t want to narc on the Stoogettes, I did want to ask for a key so I could lock up my office.
“Ms. Williams. Come in.” Oliver stood up from behind his desk. “Have a seat. Is everything going okay?” He motioned for me to sit.
“Yes. I wanted to thank you for being patient as I acclimate to the city and work.” I remembered how Lucas suggested my day off was a way to help me get settled.
“It’s important that you feel comfortable here. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
“I will thank you. I did want to ask if it was possible to have a key for my office?”
Oliver frowned. “Is there a problem?”
I shook my head. “No, I just sometimes have important items and I feel better knowing I can have them locked up.”
He studied me for a moment then nodded. “Yes, of course. I’ll have maintenance take care of it today.”
“Thank you.”
I started to stand, but Oliver said, “I hope you won’t mind my impertinence, but I am aware of you and Lucas. Your past as
well as your present.”
“Oh.” I’d known Lucas had spoken to Oliver, and Lucas had said their relationship started in the military, so maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised that they were closer than I’d initially thought.
“It’s none of my business as long as it stays out of my business.”
“Yes, sir, I understand.”
He paused a moment before continuing. “Lucas wouldn’t like me saying this, but he’s my friend, a friend who’s been through a lot and I don’t want to see get hurt. I know it’s impossible to know where a relationship will go, but I will ask that you be careful.”
“Yes, of course.”
“I won’t fire you or make any move against you if the relationship doesn’t work. In other words, I’m not threatening your job. I want that to be clear. I’m just asking that you be mindful that Lucas is a good man who’s been through a lot. He is currently going through a lot with his mother. I don’t want you to add to his hardship.”
I nodded as I swallowed my guilt. “I don’t want to hurt Lucas.” My words felt like sandpaper in my throat because just two days ago I absolutely wanted to hurt him.
“Good. Thank you.” Oliver stood and I took it as my cue to leave.
When I got back to my office, I went to work, starting with my coffee that was long overdue.
When Lucas came in, he said hello, but acted like a coworker. That is until I noticed his gaze lingering on the cut of my blouse. He sent me a wink, and then went on to give some work to one of the Stoogettes.
At the end of the day, he met me at my office. “Ready?”
“Yep.” I stood, and put my desk in order for tomorrow. When we left, I locked the door with the key maintenance brought me after lunch.
Lucas frowned. “Worried someone will steal your ink blotter?”
“They can take the blotter.”
He looked at me, but I didn’t want to get into it there. “So, tell me about your mother.”
On the car ride to the hospital, Lucas told me about how he’d found her and the first tentative meeting. “I always thought I’d hang on to the anger and want to hurt her. But when I met her, even before she told me the truth of what happened, I just couldn’t. I guess I could tell that she was a good person.” He shrugged.