In Tune

by JN Welsh

  Her heart opened at the tender memory he shared with her. “They’re like your Valium.”

  “Something like that.” He finished the last few bites of his meal and touched her hand. “Want to take a walk on the beach when we’re done here?”

  “That’d be nice.”

  She was so confused by him. He was the same but different. She had wanted to touch his hair when he told her the story about his mother. She reminded herself to keep things light.

  After dinner, she helped Luke clean up even though he insisted she relax in the living room.

  She stored the lasagna in the fridge.

  “I know you like dessert, so...” He reached into the freezer, pulled out two ice cream cones, and handed one to her.

  “I love waffle cones.” She peeled off the paper wrapper.

  “It’s not a brownie sundae, but they’re pretty good.”

  “Thank you.” She licked the fudge topping. “Mmm.”

  Luke tilted his head and ran his tongue over his bottom lip. His hand stroked her cheek and her fingers formed a bracelet around his wrist. He kissed her, his sigh audible. The kiss was gentle and brief but powerful.

  “This way,” he said.

  The feel of Luke’s lips was haunting. Leona followed him to a door at the far end of the house. “You can leave your shoes.”

  She kicked off her shoes before they left the house.

  They strolled down a small shadowy pathway to the beach, but Leona felt safe with Luke. They strolled hand in hand in silence for a long time, finishing their cones and dipping their feet into the water.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Leona.” He stopped walking and faced her. He let her hand go to caress her shoulders before wrapping his arms around her.

  Leona wanted to flee in fear but craved his touch more. She laid her head on his chest. Keep talking.

  “Luke? Why don’t you call me Leo?”

  His hands stroked her back. “Because everyone calls you Leo.”

  “So?”

  “So, I’m not like everyone else. I also think your name is pretty.”

  The vibrations of his words rumbled against her head. “I see.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. The combination of ocean air and his musky scent was a heady aphrodisiac.

  Luke moved his head down to speak close to her ear. “As much as I want you, Leona, I should have you laid out on the sand. But right now, all I want to do is hold you.”

  Leona’s arousal spread through her body and her already fast beating heart accelerated.

  They were being kissed by the moonlight and caressed by the sound of the ocean. It had only been a few days since they’d last seen each other, but they needed this time to connect to this new level.

  They separated and Leona skipped into the shallow foamy surf that rode onto the sand. “Maybe you need to cool off.”

  Her intention was to splash Luke with water, but the gentle splash was more like an overturned bucket and he was doused in seconds.

  “Oh my gosh.” She stared openmouthed at Luke’s wet clothing and then erupted in laughter at his surprised expression. “I totally didn’t mean to do that.”

  “Really? Okay.” Luke chased her.

  Leona yelped and tried to run but he scooped her up and jogged with her into the ocean.

  “No! I can’t swim.”

  “It’s shallow enough for you to stand. Hold your breath,” he instructed.

  She shrieked and then held her breath just before she was thrown into the water. She jumped up, drenched, and wiped salt water from her eyes. “It’s so cold.”

  “That’s what you get for splashing me.” He waded over and pulled her underwater with him. They broke through the surface and Luke whipped water from his head, as opposed to Leona, who sputtered and dried her face with wet hands and clothes.

  “Let me take you out a little further,” Luke said, catching his breath.

  His hands secured her just below her armpits. Instinctively she put her hands on his shoulders. “Will I be able to stand?”

  “Nope.”

  She shook her head and her heart pounded against her rib cage. With each wave that pushed at her the tightness balled in her chest. She instinctively wanted to press her ear but she was too scared to let Luke go. Breathe, center. Just don’t breathe water into your nose or your ass is going down! She must have looked petrified.

  “I won’t let anything happen to you.” His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

  “I know.” I do?

  “How about we try and if it’s too much we’ll head back?”

  She didn’t answer right away because land was calling her so loud she couldn’t hear her own thoughts.

  “Trust me, Leona.”

  “Okay.”

  Luke swam out further and she clutched onto him. He didn’t take her too far and floated with her in the water as the waves pushed them back toward land.

  “See? You’re okay.” His breaths were short from treading water.

  The initially cold water warmed and was as welcoming as Luke’s eyes. She leaned in and kissed him. It was the first initiative to intimacy she had taken since her arrival.

  Luke returned her kiss and the warmth of his mouth, in contrast to the coolness of the water, was thrilling.

  He ended the kiss. “Let’s go back.”

  Luke swam them to shore and when Leona’s feet hit the sandy gravel, she rejoiced and they lugged themselves out of the water and trudged to the house.

  They laughed as they dashed through the halls, hand in hand, in their wet clothes. Barefoot, Luke slipped and almost fell on the tile but Leona steadied him.

  Even as he guided her, she forgot the layout of the house and kept making wrong turns. “I’m so confused.” She could barely get the words out as she giggled.

  Luke’s laughter filled the house. “This way.” He hauled her in the right direction.

  They reached his bedroom, shivering and breathless. Luke ducked into the bathroom and returned with a towel for them both.

  “I’ll get a shower downstairs so you can have some privacy. I’ll meet you in the living room.”

  “Okay.” She didn’t want privacy—she wanted him to stay—but couldn’t get herself to ask him if he would. There was a time when her sexual confidence was intact but after Paul, she’d shut down. It wasn’t until now that she understood how deeply she was affected.

  After her shower, Leona spun around in a strapless bra and matching underwear, unsure of how to dress. The time was late and though pajamas made sense, they weren’t the attire for this scenario.

  Lingerie? Sweats? I’m so out of practice.

  She settled on the most loungewear thing she had packed. A short green and gold print smock dress with spaghetti straps tied together at the tops of her shoulders. Her hair was beyond help and had shrunk into tight curls by the end of her shower. The best she could do was to moisturize the bouncy strands that now hung around her shoulders and let them air dry. She slipped into flip-flops and made her way downstairs.

  Leona neared the living room where music played. When she entered, she found Luke lounging on the couch with his legs welcomingly open in gray sweatpants and a white tee shirt.

  “Hi.” She approached and saw him take a visible inhale.

  “I’ve seen your hair out before, but never like this.”

  Leona smoothed one side, but like a sponge, it inflated again. She had no idea if he liked or hated it.

  “Come here, beautiful.” Luke patted the seat next to him.

  She tripped from the weakness in her legs and fell into the seat. “Is that for me?” She referenced the water bottle on the coffee table.

  Luke didn’t seem to notice her tumble onto the cushion. “Yeah. It’s good for you after being in the ocean, bu
t if you want something stronger I can get that for you.”

  “Water is fine. Thanks.”

  Luke’s hand went to her hair, and then to the back of her neck.

  Leona swigged some water before she set it down on the table.

  “What are you thinking, Leona?” His slow massage on her neck was distracting and arousing. Her breathing had quickened in just a few seconds.

  “How did we get here?” She glanced over at him. Though he smiled, his eyes roved over her, revealing what he craved.

  Luke hooked his finger under the string of her dress. “Do you regret your decision to come?” He slid the thin strap down her shoulder.

  “No.” Leona saw the rise and fall of her own bosom. “I just don’t know how we start.”

  “We’ve already started.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  When their lips touched, her body quivered as if releasing a year’s worth of self-control. She lifted her dress to her waist, straddling him as they sunk into desire. His musk mixed with the sweet pear and lemon perfume of her heavy curls, creating a drugging aroma.

  Luke moaned at her gesture and caressed her back as their kiss deepened. His warm, supportive hands dropped down to cup the soft flesh of her rear. His mouth swallowed hers as his arms tightened around her midsection and squeezed.

  When she exhaled, he inhaled her hot breath. Luke’s hardness poked against the material of his sweatpants and through the barrier of her panties. Her insides had never felt more vacant. The music continued to play in the background, but Leona’s only focus was on what Luke was doing to her.

  Luke released her mouth, swaddling her into a hug. Though she missed his lips, she welcomed the brief break and laid her chin on his shoulder. His heart thumped against her chest, competing with the pounding of hers. He stroked her back and his hand meandered to the straps of her dress. Leona held her breath in excitement.

  Luke tugged at the ties on each strap to undo them.

  “Is this going too fast for you, Leona?” His hand maneuvered inside the material of her dress and she practically jumped out of her body when he caressed her back.

  “No,” Leona said. “I climbed on you, remember?”

  He gave a light, deep chuckle and grabbed the top of the dress, peeling the material down to her waist.

  “Good. Because I really want to fuck you.” He whispered the seductive words into her ear and she was heady from the blood rushing through her.

  She pressed her hands against his chest, separating from him enough to see the intense desire in his eyes. Her hands went to either side of his face.

  “Well, I really want you to fuck me.” She grazed his lower lip with her finger.

  Luke arched an eyebrow at her bold response.

  Leona shrugged. She went to kiss him but he backed away.

  “Let me see you.” Luke’s eyes dropped to her bra-covered breasts.

  He had delivered the gentlest of commands and Leona felt compelled to obey. With shaky hands, she reached back and unhooked the undergarment. As she flung it on the couch, Luke’s hands massaged her flesh. She moaned at the rightness of his touch. His mouth joined his caress and her breasts rejoiced with hardening nipples.

  Her fingers messed his hair, and she drowned in the warm sensation of his mouth as he suckled. His teeth delicately scraped the hardened buds and she threw her head back.

  “Luke,” she bit out and tightened her grip on his head and neck.

  Luke secured his hands under her seat and lifted her.

  “Whoa.” Leona held on, fastening her legs around his waist.

  “I’ve got you.” He carried her the distance to the bedroom.

  “For someone who thinks I’m only light for about five minutes, you sure like to pick me up,” she whispered against his ear. Her teeth trapped his soft earlobe before teasing it with her tongue.

  “Mmm,” he moaned, and smacked her ass. “It was the best excuse I had at the time.”

  “Oh.” The light sting of his punishment aroused. She kissed his neck and then his lips before burying her head at the crook of his neck. She moved her hair to the side to prevent it from obstructing his view.

  They reached the bedroom and Luke set her down. He dialed down the dimmer switch until the room was a dusky glow and started to undress.

  Leona pranced over to the switch and spun it to its highest setting. Luke squinted from the sudden brightness.

  Leona shielded her chest with one arm. “I don’t want to miss this.”

  Seduction spread across Luke’s face. “Should I do a strip tease or is normal okay for you?”

  Leona bit her lip to stifle a smile. “Normal’s fine.”

  “If you get to watch, so do I.” He pointed to her shielded breasts.

  Leona’s hands dropped to her sides and her dress hung at her waist.

  He kept his eyes on her as he gathered the material at the bottom of his shirt and stretched it over his head. His movements were slow and determined. His lean, well-defined chest and abdominal muscles were in full view, as was the tribal tattoo snaking up the left side of his body. The artwork spilled onto his belly and crept around to his back. Leona was alive with anticipation at the thought of finally seeing and touching the ink that hid under his sweatpants.

  A thin layer of hair feathered his chest and formed a T shape as it extended to his lower abdomen until it disappeared under the cover of his clothes. The chiseled pelvic muscles at his hip guided Leona’s eyes down to his hands working on the drawstring of his sweatpants.

  Luke untied the drawstring and angled his sweats down at the rim. The material fell to the floor and he stepped out of them. He wore boxer briefs that highlighted the sexiness of his sculpted body and olive skin. His green-gray eyes commanded her to do his bidding.

  The protruding outline between his legs motivated her to wiggle out of the dress. Now, in only her lace panties, Leona sashayed over to him.

  “Comfortable?” he asked.

  Hell no. “Yes.”

  “Good.” Luke pushed her to the bed with force.

  Leona squealed as she landed none too gracefully on the bed but exhilarated from the shot of adrenaline.

  Luke crawled on top of her and she reached up to cradle his cheek, guiding his face to hers. Passion flared between them and her heart banged against her rib cage. She was in Luke’s bed, kissing him, and there was no place else she wanted to be than here with him.

  He guided her opened legs wider and nestled between them. Leona collapsed against endless pillows that smelled like him.

  Luke pressed his arousal against her and kissed her deeper. His mouth again left her lips to suck and nibble the flesh of her bosom. He balanced on his knees, grabbed hold of both her legs and heaved her to him. Leona gasped as her butt slammed into his knees and she was spread for his viewing.

  Thank goodness I wore nice underwear. Leona hoped he liked the black, high cut, lace panties she chose. Luke eyed the embroidered barrier, indicating it wouldn’t be on for much longer.

  His hand teased her inner thigh and the triangular indentation of bone and heated flesh that framed her center. His fingers targeted the tender, sensitive folds of skin through the thin layer of her panties. Leona concentrated on his every move.

  Luke’s thumb found entry inside the moist material and gently massaged the swollen button. The electric sensation spread through her. Her labored breath and her hips wiggled under his touch.

  Luke’s lips curved upward, satisfied with her reaction. He was adorable even when he was being pompous about his bedroom skills. Affection oozed from her fingertips as she reached for him.

  He pulled his ruthless thumb away and descended to capture her lips. As his tongue entered her mouth, his hand crept into the top of her panties and curved until they found the entry point of her pussy. His fingers slipped inside of
her and, now lubricated with the honey of her arousal, once again massaged her clit. Leona whimpered and her body jerked in pleasure as Luke’s fingers glided over her.

  “You’re drenched, Leona. Dripping.” His voice was heavy and unrecognizable, and his eyes were fixated between her legs as he moved his fingers in and out of her ravenous center.

  Leona squirmed and moaned. She had been touched there before but it had been so long and Luke seemed to know exactly what to do to send her soaring. He released her and stood. She delighted at the protrusion of his maleness through his underwear, constricted and angled for entry.

  He grabbed hold of her panties at her hip and pulled them down. Leona bridged her hips and he peeled the material over her rump. With her legs in the air Luke stripped her panties off and tossed the lace aside.

  Leona sat up, yanked his boxer briefs down to his knees, and gulped at the sight of him. The elusive tattoo swirled and curved down his pelvis, disappearing into the dark hair at the base of his shaft, but beyond the ink, was Luke’s size. Leona reprimanded herself for ever considering declining Luke’s invitation to come to San Francisco. Seeing Luke in his birthday suit was worth every mile traveled.

  Luke’s body shook with laughter. “What should I make of that reaction, Leona?”

  “It near poked my eye out.” She needed humor to calm the growing excitement bubbling inside her.

  Luke laughed even harder. “What am I going to do with you?”

  Eye level with his bulging cock, Leona wanted nothing more than to pleasure him and have Luke please her in every way possible.

  “If you don’t know, I have some ideas.” She stretched her lips around his hardness. She was tentative at first as she adjusted her jaw, and then claimed him with skilled assurance. Her hands held him at the base where she could feel the soft skin of his sac. He glistened from the slick coating.

  Luke’s laughter ceased and he sucked in air. “Oh shit.” He descended backward onto the bed and pillows. He stopped her long enough to kick off his underwear, and then guided her head back to him.

  Leona simpered up at him, kissed over to the left side of his sculpted pelvis, and planted teasing kisses where the rest of his tattoo decorated his skin. The stiffened organ twitched in anticipation of her mouth. Her fingers twirled and played with the hair covering him at the base.