Summer Loving

by Lise Gold et al.

  Her laughter turned into a sniffle. “If I knew that was all it took, I would have had you buy me a closetful instead of moving into a separate bedroom.”

  “I think this, along with therapy, is the start.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  “Never change.”

  “You hate when I nag.” Her expression turned somber.

  “Do you know what I hate more? The thought of you never nagging me again. That would make everything we’ve worked for worthless.”

  “Going forward, nights like this are a must. We don’t have to pretend, but we need to be close like this, feeling your skin against mine. I’m remembering my life before you—”

  “Turned into a bitch who cancels vacations at the last second for the stupidest reason imaginable.” A heavy sadness took root in my chest. “You know better than most how self-involved I’ve been.”

  “A personal assistant learns all the secrets.”

  “I know. It’s why I had to marry you and make you co-owner.” I wore a mischievous grin, the one Jamie had fallen in love with so many years ago, before the company had more than a handful of employees.

  She squeezed my nipple between her thumb and forefinger.

  “Harder.” It was my turn to plead.

  “Will you let me in more from now on?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “How do I know when we check out at the end of the week, you won’t turn into the Alex I was starting to hate? The one I couldn’t stand sharing a bed with?” Jamie squeezed harder.

  “I promise I won’t.”

  “You’ve promised before.”

  “I’ll sign a paper stating if I take you for granted again, I’ll sell my half of the company.”

  She released my nipple. “You’d actually sign something?”

  I started to scramble for my iPhone.

  She pulled me back. “Look me in the eyes.”

  I stared deeply into her sapphire eyes, sparkling from the intensity of the moment. “I, Alexandra Cabot, will put you, Jamie Cabot, first from this moment on. When you sent me the text that you were leaving me for good…” I had to blot out her words, not because I was angry but because they terrified me. “It cut through me. I arranged to come here while in the back of an Uber and had to bring the spare clothes in my office, hence tonight’s outfit. I don’t even have a swimsuit.”

  “Yes, you do. I packed for both of us and didn’t have the heart to dump your shit out before catching my flight.”

  “You’re always saving me.” I kissed the tip of her chin. “Please, don’t leave me. I know coming here doesn’t solve all our problems, but don’t give up on me just yet.”

  “I never wanted to send a text like that.”

  “I’m glad you did, because it woke me the fuck up.”

  She applied pressure to my nipple again.

  A moan escaped me, and Jamie increased the pressure.

  I nipped her earlobe, her weak spot. “You might get tired of all the attention I’m planning on giving you.”

  “I… doubt… that.” She struggled to get the words out since I had my tongue in her ear.

  Our mouths met, the kiss soft, sweet, and full of sincere promise.

  I peppered her neck with nips and kisses. When I reached her perky nipple, my teeth clamped down hard before sucking it into my mouth.

  “I’ve missed you so much.”

  My lips skated over her skin.

  Jamie threaded her fingers into the hair on my head, not guiding me but joining in the journey as an equal partner. My need escalated. I had to show her how important the relationship was.

  When my mouth arrived at the apex, she was so wet. That was one of the things I’d always cherished about Jamie. Her ability to give everything to me. Always making me feel like I was her entire world.

  I craved her but wasn’t in the mood to rush things. Earlier, I had lost my control, which I knew she appreciated. Now, I needed to explore her body as if it were the first time. With my hands. Tongue. Nose. Each touch and scent awakened the love that had been shoved deep inside of me when my goal became to conquer the business world. The cost of that had almost been too great.

  I raised my head to check in with Jamie.

  The love in her expression brought tears to my eyes. Me, the woman who never cried. Not even at my own mother’s funeral two years ago.

  She beckoned me with a crook of her finger.

  Our lips met again.

  “I adore you,” I repeated in between kisses.

  Her hip gyrations increased with urgency. Our tongues collided. I pressed my leg into her pussy to be treated with a guttural moan. We kissed as if stopping would break us. We, as a couple, absolutely required the physical connection. Nothing on this planet made me feel this incredible.

  And to realize I’d been so close to losing everything.

  Making love to Jamie didn’t just involve sex. The experience wasn’t solely physical. It was how the two of us came together, in body, heart, and spirit. It was the only true way to demonstrate to my wife what our union meant.

  She pulled away, gasping for breath, her head sinking into the pillow.

  I started my journey back to her.

  Going down.

  And down.

  My teeth raked her hair. Jamie’s musky scent welcomed me home. I smothered my face in her warm and welcoming pussy. My tongue traveled down one lip, back up the other, and then split them apart, thrusting deep inside her.

  “Oh, Alex.” She gripped the sides of my head.

  When I slipped three fingers inside, she clutched tighter with her hands, needing to hold me for support. The first flick of her clit made her left leg jerk with anticipation. The next flick brought forth a primal moan.

  My wife wanted me. No more teasing. No more relationship discussion. Action.

  I went deep inside, my fingers curling upward in the exact spot that made Jamie’s toes curl. I focused my tongue action on the sweet spot, my mouth filling with her sex.

  The two of us worked together. My fingers moved in and out, lapping her clit. Jamie dug her hands into my shoulders, her back lifting off the mattress. Each action supported by the other with an expression of desire. I shoved in deep, increasing the efforts of my mouth.

  Jamie jerked upright.

  One.

  Two.

  Three.

  The fourth stroke of my tongue coupled with another lunge inside caused her entire body to convulse until Jamie finally collapsed onto her back. I climbed on top. While her body thrummed with excitement, every muscle seemed to have reached shutdown mode, and I melted onto Jamie.

  She wrapped her arms around me. “That was incredible.”

  “You. Incredible,” I mumbled.

  “Oh no, don’t even think of falling asleep.”

  “Not sure I can stop it,” I said, feeling myself drifting off.

  “But it’s your turn. Or mine. Depending on your definition.”

  Chapter 11

  Jamie

  I didn’t allow Alex time to fall asleep. If I knew one thing about my wife, it was she could work forty-eight hours with no sleep. And, dammit, we were working on our marriage. This night wouldn’t magically repair everything, but it was a start.

  I flipped Alex onto her back.

  Laughing, she said, “Geez, do you think you picked up a sex robot?” The devilish grin on her face made it clear she wasn’t complaining. Not exactly.

  “Oh please. We both know you’re a workhorse when it comes to the office, so don’t even start with this. Besides, we’ve dropped the ruse that we don’t know each other, so nice try.”

  Alex swept the hair off my cheek. “Trust me; no one at work thinks I’m a sex machine.”

  “I should hope not!”

  “I do love your spunk.” Her smile was genuine, exuding the deepness of her love.

  “I think I lost it for a bit.”

  “I may have contributed to that factor.” Alex held a finger a
nd thumb in the air, barely any space between them.

  “While I’d love to lay all the blame at your feet, relationships are a two-way street.” I stressed the word lay for comedic effect, which she seemed to appreciate. “I think both of us stopped compromising. Digging in too much, thinking we were the wronged party.”

  “My therapist said something along those lines.”

  “When you were complaining about me? During the very first session?” I arched my left eyebrow, the one that could nearly reach my hairline.

  “When I was explaining why I was there. Cross my heart.” Alex accompanied this by drawing an X over her chest.

  I melted a bit, feeling the determination in her words. She seemed committed to repairing the damage of letting things slide in our relationship for the past couple of years, the last twelve months being the worst.

  “In the spirit of compromising, I brought something for you. I’m really glad I left in a huff and didn’t unpack your special surprise.” I leaned over the side of the bed to retrieve the item from my suitcase. “Close your eyes.”

  She didn’t argue, closing them immediately. That was new.

  “Earlier you mentioned you weren’t a robot, but…” I fired up a seven-inch pink vibrator.

  Her eyes popped open. “You don’t like using a vibrator. It makes you feel too much like a spectator.”

  “You might be missing the point. You love it.”

  “But—”

  I placed a finger over her lips. “Two-way street, remember?”

  The only sound in the room was the humming sex toy.

  Her eyes were wide with anticipation.

  “I think I’ve had a mental block in this department, because right now, I’m cherishing the expression on your face. And I haven’t even—”

  “Inserted,” she joked.

  Heat flooded my cheeks.

  “I do love the prudish side of you, just so you know. I’ve always found it so fucking adorable.”

  “I’m a prude, for sure. Comes from being raised by two repressed suburban parents from the flyover states.”

  “Hey now, your mom used her first hashtag last week. Learn from her,” Alex encouraged.

  I narrowed my eyes, shutting off the vibrator. “Please, don’t ever bring up learning from my mom while I’m about to fuck you.”

  She let out a bark of laughter.

  “Really, Alex Cabot, you’ve basically owned social media since LiveJournal days.”

  “I believe you mean to say I’m on fleek, and I’ve been burping out the personal deets of my life online since I was nineteen.”

  I blew a raspberry. “Please. Only the personal details that contribute to your brand.”

  “Branding is necessary right out of the gate. That’s where so many people mess up. On day one.” She extended an index finger.

  “How did you know that at such a young age?”

  “Luck, really.” Her gaze dropped to the vibrator in my hand.

  “You want?” I teased.

  “Me want.”

  The whirring sound restarted. I ran the tip along the inside of her leg, causing her to squirm.

  “You really do want it.” The device met her swollen sex.

  She nearly vaulted off the bed.

  I yanked it away. “Sorry.”

  Alex placed her hand over mine on the vibrator and switched it to a lower setting. “Go easy on me.”

  “That seems counterintuitive considering…” I positioned the tip at her entrance as way of completing the thought.

  Alex released a fuck me moan.

  I eased it in and repositioned to keep it inside her while allowing me access to her mouth. “I want to kiss you.”

  Understanding my need, Alex responded with hunger, her fingers fisting the curls on the back of my head.

  I moved the vibrator in and out of her. Given we’d been making love for the better part of the night, Alex was nearing the brink.

  “Do you want more?” I asked.

  Alex could only nod.

  I edged the speed up a notch, penetrating deep inside of Alex, all the while kissing her with zeal.

  It was only a matter of seconds before her body began its orgasmic tremble.

  I tore my lips away and stared into her eyes. “Come, babe. Jesus, fucking come for me.”

  Alex fought to keep her eyes open, but as she climaxed, she succumbed. Her body thrashed as if an electric current zinged throughout her, lighting every nerve ending on fire.

  I wrapped one arm around Alex, holding her tightly. One final spasm ripped through her before she went limp.

  “I have to admit that was hot.” I shut off the vibrator and lay on top of Alex.

  She ran her hands up and down my back. “You really are amazing.”

  “I can’t take the credit. It was—should we name it? Vicky, perhaps?”

  “Vicky the Vibrator?” Alex chuckled quietly. “Don’t sell yourself short. You get the credit. You always have in this department. I haven’t been able to come in forever when I masturbate.”

  My head jerked up from her shoulder. “Really?”

  “I was starting to think my button was broken.”

  I furrowed my brow. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “That I couldn’t get myself off?”

  I nodded.

  “We weren’t talking much. How was I supposed to work it in? Did you pick up my suit at the dry cleaners? Also, my masturbation attempts have been failing lately. Suggestions? Or I could have signed all my emails with the hashtag BlueCanoe.”

  “What?”

  “The lesbian version of blue balls.”

  “Please don’t teach my mother that hashtag.” I drilled my gaze into her stunning, dark eyes, my mood softening. “I forgot how beautiful your eyes are.”

  “I can feel your heartbeat. It’s in tune with mine.” She held on to me.

  “I’ve missed this feeling.”

  “Exhaustion from fucking?”

  “Us being on the same page.”

  “Me too.” Alex kissed the top of my head.

  Chapter 12

  Alex

  I jerked awake, muttering, “I’m late!”

  “It’s okay, darling. You aren’t late.”

  “I am.” I lifted the covers off me and jumped to my feet. “I have to be… somewhere.”

  Jamie reached for my hand. “No, you don’t. Do you remember where you are?”

  “What time is it?” I looked over my shoulder, my eyes clearing but still not quite comprehending what was happening and where I was. Jamie was here, but we weren’t in our home. And we’d been sleeping in the same bed.

  Jamie glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “Four-thirty.”

  “In the morning or evening?” I clambered back into bed and settled my head onto the pillow, memories from the previous night filling my brain.

  “Technically morning, but it’s always felt more night-like to me.” She yawned.

  “You’ve never been a morning person.”

  “You’ve always been insane, getting up before the sun. It’s not natural.” Jamie yawned again.

  “I’m sorry I woke you.” I snuggled against her.

  “Don’t be. I get to fall asleep with you again. It’s a rare luxury.” Jamie shifted me to place my head on her chest. “I’ll rub your back to help you relax. That used to work in the past.”

  “I don’t deserve you.”

  Her hand stilled on my back. “You haven’t said anything like that in I don’t know how long.”

  “Case in point.”

  “You know, you’ve always been so hard on yourself. Even after we’ve had such a lovely time together. I know you don’t expect this much from anyone else in your orbit, including me. So, why do you demand so much of yourself?”

  “Seems a bit early in the day for this conversation.” I yawned into her cleavage.

  “Says the CEO who lurched out of bed to start work.” Jamie resumed stroking my back. “Try to
explain why you demand so much of yourself.”

  “I don’t know. I’ve always been the one in charge. Even as a child.”

  “That’s true. It wasn’t fair to you. Your dad leaving when you were only seven and your mom falling apart, leaving you to raise your younger siblings.”

  “So many kids had it much worse than I did.” I hated pity. It wasted time.

  “Do you ever wish it’d been different, though? Like maybe your dad hadn’t left you with a bipolar mother?”

  “I only wish Mom had gotten help sooner. I can’t blame her. Mental illness isn’t understood. Still, she needed me. As for my father, I’m glad he left. Any person who leaves his daughters with a mother who needed serious help… well, he’s a douchebag, and I’m glad he’s been out of my life for the past thirty-something years.”

  “What’s going on with Allison?” There was hesitation in Jamie’s voice.

  I sucked in a deep breath. “She doesn’t remember how he was. How he just disappeared one day.”

  “Is she still trying to find him?”

  “Yes. She’s hired a private investigator.”

  “Which you’re paying for, no doubt.”

  “She asked for money. I gave it to her.” I tried not to sound angry since Allison hadn’t been all that forthcoming when making said request.

  “It’s okay to be upset.”

  “I don’t want to be. I can’t tell my baby sister not to contact our father. I just worry how he’ll react if she does find him. It wasn’t too long ago that I received a letter from his attorney requesting money.”

  “More like blackmail,” she scoffed.

  “I know. He thought I’d be embarrassed if the world found out my mother was bipolar. I’ve never hidden the fact. Mom didn’t either. We tried to be honest to raise awareness. But how do I tell Allison our father only uses people? Focuses on their weaknesses for profit? I don’t want him to break her heart, but she’s not one to listen to her big sister. After her divorce last year and Mom dying the year before, I don’t know how much more she can take. I know why she’s seeking him out, but I don’t think she’ll find the comfort she needs.”