by Kelly Moore
“Dessert first?” I chuckle.
“It’s the best part. Where did you get this?” She’s found a fork in the basket and already shoveling a piece in her mouth. “This is so good.”
“There’s a bakery not far from here. Their specialty happens to be pie.” I fix two plates of food. She sets it in her lap but finishes the pie before she picks it up.
“Do you cook?”
“I do, but none of this is my handiwork. I’m more of a throw a steak on a grill type of guy.”
“I haven’t had anything cooked on a grill in years.” She pops a grape in her mouth.
“Then you’re in for a treat if you’ll stay for dinner.”
“I’d like that.”
“Great. Let’s hang out here for a couple of hours, then I’ll take you to the boardwalk. They have cotton candy.” I laugh.
“You don’t have to ask me twice.”
“I meant to tell you, I made an appointment to meet with Blind Shadows on Wednesday. I got in contact with a local studio who had some open time slots.”
“I take it, it’s not Aaron’s place.”
“No. I’ve never liked him. He treats women like they’re disposable.”
“He does have a bad reputation.”
“And, yet you went to the bar with him.”
“I felt like you left me no choice.”
“Greg could’ve told you they aren’t his kind of band. He only went so he could see what’s under your skirt.”
“He wouldn’t have made it very far. I’m a black belt in karate.”
“No shit?”
“For reals. My dad was a black belt instructor. He wanted his only daughter to be able to kick some serious ass if I needed to.”
“I guess I didn’t need to break his nose.” I snort.
“No, but it was very chivalrous of you.” She smiles wistfully, and it's dazzling.
We lounge for a couple of hours, rinse the sand off, then head to the boardwalk. First purchase, cotton candy. We ride the bumper cars, play pinball machines, Pac-Man, and end up in a Skee-Ball match against each other.
“If I win, you have to shave off your beard,” she challenges.
“You don’t like my beard?” I rub my hand over it.
“It’s a nice beard, but I want to see the man underneath it.”
“So, what if I win?”
“You choose.” She shrugs.
“If I win, I get to see some of your karate moves.” I lift my eyebrows.
“Deal.” She sticks out her hand to shake on it.
“You sound a little too excited about that.”
“I’d love to show you my moves.” A smile flickers across her face.
She wiggles her ass in front of me. “That’s cheating,” I mumble and she does it some more right before she tosses the ball. It rolls and lands dead in the middle. “One hundred points. Let’s see you beat that.”
I pick up the small brown wooden ball and step back to aim. She leans into my ear from behind. “Are you good with your hands, Jameson?” Her teeth graze my ear, and I let go of the ball. It doesn’t even make it up the short ramp to its goal.
“Ah-ha! I win!” she says with a loud laugh.
“I think you cheated.” I squint at her.
“You’re going to look mighty handsome clean-shaven.”
Chapter 10
“I’m liking it so far.” She sits on the small sink area in the bathroom as I rake the razor through the shaving cream on my chin.
“Remind me to never bet you again.”
She runs her bare foot between my calves. “I always play to win. You best remember that. And, even though you lost, I’ll gladly show you some moves.”
I shave the last part off and rinse my face in the water. I dry it, then look at myself in the mirror. There is a man staring back at me that I haven’t seen in a long time. “Lyla liked my beard.” I look over at her when I realize I said the words out loud.
She hops down. “I happen to think that this man is very handsome.” Her words come out quiet, tense, and thrown over her shoulder as she leaves the room.
In that moment, it’s the first thought I’ve had of Lyla today. When we kissed, it was all Reese. I enjoyed one entire day with another person until now. Then I blow it. I hang my head down and brace my hands on the sink. “Damn it.” Lifting my head, I roll it from side to side, trying to relieve the tension that came out of nowhere.
Wiping the counter down, I clean up and head out to find her.
“Reese, I…” I stop dead in my tracks when I come out and find Reese standing completely naked in the bedroom.
“If we’re going to argue, we’re going to be naked. Take your clothes off.” She points at me.
“This is crazy. I don’t want to fight with you.”
“Shirt.” She waves her hand at me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it out loud.”
“I’m waiting.” She crosses her arms under her breasts.
I yank my shirt off over my head.
“I don’t care that you said it out loud. You’re allowed to talk about her.”
“Then why are we fighting?”
“Pants.” She taps her toes on the carpet.
I take a step toward her.
“Oh no you don’t. Lose the pants, mister.”
I flex my jaw then take off my shorts and boxer briefs .
“Oh my.” She swallows hard, staring at me.
“I’m naked, now what?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a guy ask me what he should do when he saw me naked.” Sarcasm rolls off her.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. This was your idea to argue naked.”
She strolls toward me. “What do you want to do, Jameson, and who do you want to do it with?”
“What do you mean who do I want to do it with?”
She closes the gap until she’s right in front of me. She lifts her arms out to the side. “Who do you see?”
“I see a beautiful, naked woman.” My gaze roams up and down her body.
“I want you to see me, Jameson, not Lyla.” She grabs my hand and lays it against her heart. “I’m right here in front of you, and I’m not going anywhere. But you have to see me.”
I place my hand against her face. “I do see you, and I fucking want you.” I crash my mouth against hers, my hand pulling at the back of her hair to open her mouth wider so that I can taste every inch of her. She grips my ass and pulls me tighter to her. I snake a hand between us and cup her breast. My greedy mouth leaves hers and trails down her chest, drawing a tight nipple between my teeth. She moans and starts moving us backward to the bed. I stop her and spin her around, biting the place where her shoulder meets her neck. “I’m in charge now.” She groans. “Do you understand?” I tug at one of her nipples.
“Yes,” she hisses.
I press my hard cock between us, and her head falls back on my shoulder. The anticipation of being inside her is like a sensual song playing in my head. I glide my hand down her body to her core. Her legs widen, giving me access.
“You're wet.” I bend her over the bed. Her chest is flat on the sheets, and her ass is in the air. I grab her hip with one hand and run my fingers over her slit, then slide one finger inside.
“Yes!”
I flip her over and spread her legs wide. “I want to see you touch yourself.” She does it without hesitation. I get on my knees and kiss the inside of her legs while watching her work her fingers around her nub. I nip my way up until my mouth replaces her hand. She twines her fingers in my hair and holds me close to her.
Her panting increases with every swipe of my tongue. “You taste so good.”
I keep my sweet torture of her going and insert two fingers, pressing backward and slowly moving them in and out.
“Oh, god, yes!” she cries out. Her legs shiver, and she starts to throb around my tongue and fingers. I don’t stop until she’s completely spent and her body falls back on
the bed.
Her skin is flushed pink, and she’s gasping in short, shallow breaths. I crawl up her body and stay still until she opens her eyes and looks at me.
“One,” I whisper against her lips.
“One?” she asks, confused.
I grin and move down her body and suck in her nipple as I twist and tug at the other one. She arches up, and I feel her body tremble again. When she relaxes, I move back up her body to look at her.
“Two.” I kiss her sweet lips. I slide my hand between us, knowing her clit is still engorged. I roll it between my fingers and nip at it. She explodes this time like a stick of dynamite.
“Three,” I rasp at her neck. My cock wants to ignite with her. She’s breathing so hard she can barely talk. “Am I good with my hands?” I ask, throwing her question back at her.
She nods. “And your tongue.” She lifts her head and pushes my chest. I kneel between her knees, and she takes my length in her hand. “Let's see how good you are with this?”
“Oh, baby, you only had to ask.” My hand joins hers, stroking me until I grow even harder. I brush the head at her entrance, and I swear I feel her tremble again. She bites her lip and holds back another orgasm. “Three and a half.” I smile. I thrust into her all at once, and she gasps. I take her hands and pin them over her head in one of my hands. Shifting my hips, I move in and out of her. My other hand widens one of her legs and holds it to the bed. Her other leg drapes over the lower part of my back, and she’s using it to thrust me inside her even deeper. I release one of her hands. “Touch yourself now.” She moves her hand down and rubs circles. I can’t take my eyes off her. I shift again and rock my hips. That familiar tingling rolls up my spine. I hold off until she shudders, then find my release the same time she does. We both slowly come down, but we don’t disconnect from each other.
I kiss her dry lips. “I’d say four and a half, but I think that last one was a little more than a one.” I laugh, and she giggles. I rub my nose with hers, then still until she’s looking at me. “I see you, Reese. Don’t ever doubt that, and anytime you want to fight naked, I’m your man.”
We spend the next couple hours grilling steaks, drinking screwdrivers, and holding each other on a blanket out by the water, watching the sunset.
We make love again, and she falls asleep exhausted in my arms. Before I drift off to sleep, I think about the list Dr. Sanders gave me. Number four was, Make love to a woman and not just have sex. That leaves one more thing for me to accomplish: to let go of Lyla.
* * *
I peek one eye open when something tickles my back. A sheer white curtain is being blown inward in front of an open window. I smell the beach and can hear the waves playing their own tune rolling into the shore. A child’s laughter heard outside the window has me turning over and stretching my body awake. The bed next to me is empty. “Reese?” I smell coffee, and I’m betting she’s in the kitchen. Slipping on my board shorts, curiosity gets the better of me when I hear the child talking and a familiar laugh. “Lyla?”
I open the sheers wide and look through the open window. At the end of the path, I see a woman wearing a hat and sunglasses that look a lot like what Lyla used to wear. A towheaded child is digging in the sand.
Shaking my head and wiping my eyes with my fist, I look out again. I have to be imagining it. “Lyla,” I call again when they don’t disappear. The woman turns her head in my direction and slides her sunglasses down her nose, and I see her eyes.
“Lyla!” I yell and push out the screen. Bending almost in half, I hike one leg out the window and climb the rest of the way out. I stand to look out, and she and the child are walking hand in hand toward the water.
“Lyla! Stop!” I bark and take off running toward her. The faster I run, the further away she is. “Lyla!” I scream again. She stops and faces me. A smile as bright as the sun covers her face, and she waves at me. I get close enough to touch her, and she disappears. “No! Lyla!”
* * *
“Jameson.” A hand brushes over my chest, and my eyes pop open wide. “You were dreaming.” Reese kisses my shoulder.
I blink, trying to shake it off. Part of me wants to go back to sleep to see her again; the other part of me doesn’t ever want to go back again.
“You were yelling for Lyla.” Her fingers touch my chin.
“I’m sorry. I still dream about her sometimes.”
“What is she doing in your dreams?”
“She’s always disappearing. This time it was different.”
She props her head up on her hand. “How so?”
“I think she was telling me goodbye. She looked so happy with Jacob at her side.”
“Maybe she was,” she whispers, laying her head on my shoulder, drifting back to sleep.
“Hey, sexy man.” Teeth nip at my ear. “I’ve got to go.”
My eyes open to Reese. “What time is it?”
“It’s seven. I need to get back for a meeting with Greg.”
I make a quick move to grab her, tucking her under my body. “Reschedule it.” I bite at her lips.
“I can’t, but I love that you’re trying to convince me.”
I rest my forehead on hers. “I’m sorry about last night.”
“What that you made me come five and half times?” She wiggles her hips.
“No about calling out Lyla’s name.”
She runs her hand through the side of my hair. “You can’t control your dreams. Besides, it was more of a pained cry, not a passionate one. Then I might be a little upset.” She smiles sweetly.
“If you stay, we could up your count to, say eight.” I grind my hips into her.
“I’d love nothing more, but I’ll have to take an IOU.” She smacks her lips to mine and pushes me off her. “I made coffee and called the little bakery down the street. They’ll be delivering you breakfast.”
I crawl out of bed and tug on my jeans. “I didn’t know they delivered.”
“Anybody will deliver for a price.” She grins.
“Can I call you later?”
“You better.” She grabs her bag and heads out the door. “I’ll be tied up all day, but I’ll be home this evening if you decide you need a break from the cottage.”
Chapter 11
I’m lying on the lounge chair listening to a blues band when the music is interrupted by a phone call coming in from Greg.
“Hello.”
“I heard you were nearby taking in a little R and R.”
“I rented a cottage at the beach, and I think I may never return home.” I chuckle.
“I hate to interfere with your fun, but I need to meet up with you and go over the new contracts we’re instituting for our clients. I know you like to keep up with any changes in our policies.”
“Do you want to come here and get away from the city?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of time. The Thompsons’ art gallery is opening tonight. Why don’t you join Grace and me there?”
“He does a lot of the black-and-white photography, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. I’m sure he’d give you a great deal.”
“I could use something on the walls at the house.”
“Why don’t you invite Reese to come along?”
“She’s standing over your shoulder, isn’t she?” I laugh.
“That she is,” he snorts into the phone.
“What time is the opening?”
“Eight.”
“I’ll meet you at six. Tell that noisy partner of yours, I’ll pick her up at seven.”
I sun for a couple more hours, then shower and pack my things. I’ll need dress clothes for tonight, so I stop by and purchase a new suit and tie. I pull into the garage of Monster Music just before six o’clock. Reese’s Yukon is nowhere in sight. I grab the plastic bag with my suit in it and head to the elevator.
Greg is talking on the phone when I enter his office.
“Sorry it didn’t work out this time. I don’t see them being the
right fit for us. Thanks.” He ends the conversation.
“You look tan.” He chuckles.
“It felt good to take a few days off.” I hang my suit on the back of his door and sit.
He takes out a file and hands it to me. “Here are the new contracts. Reese tells me you’re going to make a demo of the girl she wants to sign.”
“Yeah. I saw them play. They were pretty good.”
“Aaron called me and told me what went down.” He points to my fading black eye. “He tried to convince me not to do business with you anymore. He said the band wasn’t that good and they’d be too much work.”
“Aaron’s a dick.” I flip through the papers. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him everything you send me turns to gold.”
“I don’t know about that, but he was all over Reese.”
“And you felt the need to defend her.” He chuckles. “I did tell him that if he ever touched or looked at my partner inappropriately again that he could skip sending Monster any demos.”
“I don’t see anything in these contracts that are concerning.” I hand him the file back.
“How are things going between you and Reese.” He rests back in his chair.
“I’m not sure we should be discussing it because she’s your partner.”
“I’ve always thought of you as a close friend. When you lost your wife, I was concerned that you’d never be happy again. It’s good to see you back to your old self again.”
“It feels good too.”
“So whatever is going on between the two of you, I’m all for it.”
“I have sneaking suspicion that you planned it that way.” I laugh and stand. “I need to change before I pick up Reese.” I grab my suit.
“Feel free to change in my private dressing area. Two doors down on the right. I gotta go before Grace sends out the hounds. I’ll see you at the art gallery.”
“Damn. You look edible.” Reese's hand smooths out my dark burgundy tie. “I bet we could put this to better use.”
“You look pretty damn hot yourself. Turn around, let me see the back.” The red dress shimmers off her right shoulder. It dips down in the back to her left hip. It’s almost like she’s bare on one side of her body. I spin her around in my arms. “I think we should skip the opening of the art gallery.” My voice is low.
