Delicate (Sublime Series Book 1)

by Michelle Everett

  He held me tighter. Let his cheek rest against the top of my head. We stayed there for an eternity. No words spoken. Just feeling. Just being.

  Tobias

  Dad was sitting in his favorite chair when I walked back into the family room. He clicked off the TV and set his beer down on the end table. I crashed down onto the couch like a sack of potatoes. I rested my elbows on my knees, leaning forward to bury my face in my hands. Dug my hands into my hair and squeezed. The sting from pulling the roots somehow made my heart hurt a little less.

  “Kinda sucks, don’t it?”

  I looked up to Dad. His face was sympathetic. Kind. Knowing. “What sucks?”

  “Fallin’ in love. It hurts.”

  “Yeah.” I sighed. Pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers. “Yeah it does.”

  “You wanna talk about it?” God, I love this man. How he can read me like an open book is the most frustrating and relieving feeling in the world. He said nothing more. Just waited for me to respond.

  “I don’t know what to do, Dad. I mean… ugh!” I couldn’t even figure out how to describe what I was feeling. There are over 170,000 words in the English language. None of them worked.

  “Hm.” Dad nodded his head. “I think you do.”

  “No, see that’s the problem! I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say or how to say it or when to say it. I don’t know exactly how I feel to even describe it even if I did know what or how or when to say it. I’m so fucking confused.” I shook my head, fell back against the couch and stared at the ceiling. There was this weird burning sensation in the backs of my eyes. I hadn’t cried since my mom left us.

  “Tobie,” Dad offered quietly, “you may not be able to find the right words to describe how you’re feelin’, but I can see it.” He stopped, waiting for me to stop staring at the ceiling and look at him. “I see a boy who has grown into an amazin’ man. I see someone I’m proud to call my son and now my friend. And I’m watchin’ that man fall apart because the woman he loves actually loves him back. And that scares the ever living shit outta him.”

  Yup. Here they came, my eyes were getting blurry.

  “And all I wanna tell him is that it’s gonna be ok. Hell, it’s gonna be better than ok. It’s gonna be fuckin’ great. Because when a man as amazin’ as you and a woman as incredible as Amber find each other it’s like stars alignin’ or some shit.” I chuckled at his attempt to describe romance.

  I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my palms to keep the tears from coming out. “I know. It’s just… I feel like she’s so much better than me. I mean… I’ve wanted this to happen for years, but now that it is I realize that there is so much more between us that I hadn’t anticipated. She’s so much better than me. She deserves so much better than me. Look at me, Dad. I haven’t even gotten my first paycheck yet and I’m living with my parents. I’m young. I don’t have my shit together. I have nothing to offer her.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. You’ve got a lot to offer her. You’re smart. You’re talented. You’re a hard worker. And I know I’m bias, but I think I’ve gotta pretty good lookin’ boy, too. You musta gotten that from me,” he grinned.

  “Look, I know you barely got two pennies to rub together right now, but damn it son, there’s so much more to love than the material things you bring to the table. Hell, look at me ‘n Susan. When we met, I brought a shit load of baggage with me. A messy divorce, piles of debt… a son. Not exactly what every woman dreams of. But she loved me anyway. And I love her even more because of it.” He stood up and walked over to me, sitting down next to me. Resting his large hand on my back.

  “Son, being in love doesn’t mean buying expensive things. It doesn’t mean big houses and fancy cars. It doesn’t mean any of that. It means puttin’ the other person first. It means wakin’ up every mornin’ with the goal of makin’ the other person happy. It’s goin’ to bed every night knowin’ that the best part of your day is wrapped up in your arms. It means self-sacrifice. It’s feelin’ like your heart is gonna pop every time they smile.”

  I took a deep breath. Drug my hands through my hair again and down my face. “I feel all of that for her. I just want to make her happy. I want to spend every day of my life with her.”

  He clapped me on the back. “I know, son. And I can tell just by lookin’ at her that she feels the same way about you. Don’t be scared of this. Embrace it. Grab it by the horns and make it yours. Because you ain’t gonna find another woman like Amber in a million years.”

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Amber

  TOBIE: Can you talk?

  I was worried. Like really worried. Like that kind of worry that makes you walk in circles around the room and want to organize under your bathroom sink kind of worried. What did he want to talk about? What happened tonight? Dinner had gone so well. Being around Susan made me miss my mom so much it hurt. Jack was larger than life and instantly made me feel like I was a part of their family. Family. Home.

  So what the crap had happened? One minute we were all having a great time and the next, Tobie is walking me out to my Jeep looking like someone had just died. I knew there was still so much to learn about him - it had only been two weeks - but something felt terribly wrong. How could his feelings change so quickly? What was he feeling? What was I feeling?

  ME: Yeah. I’m home.

  My phone rang within seconds. “Hey.” I answered.

  “Hey.” His voice was flat and heavy with sadness.

 

  “So, um… what did you want to talk about?” My voice was shaking. I sat down on the edge of my bed, my leg bouncing. I didn’t want to know the answer. I just wanted to crawl under my covers and pretend that the night had ended just as heated as Saturday night. Minus his dad flashing the porch light at us.

  Tobie’s voice was soft on the other end. Hesitant. Scared. “I, uh, I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry about tonight. I just, uh… I had a lot on my mind.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No. I mean, yeah… but, uh… I don’t think I can. I mean, yes, I want to talk to you but I’m not exactly sure what to say yet so… maybe another time… like, when I know what to say?”

  “Um.. ok, I guess. That’s kinda cryptic, but ok.” What was I supposed to do with that information? What was he talking about? How could he have a lot on his mind but not know what to say? Guys are so freaking weird.

  “Tobe?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Is everything ok? … Are we ok?” We. Us. It felt like walking on eggshells to say those words. One wrong move and the whole thing would shatter into a million pieces, leaving a big sticky mess in its aftermath.

  There was a long sigh on the other end. “Yeah, love. We’re ok.”

  There was a small amount of relief to hear those words, but not enough to calm my worry. I scooted back on my bed and laid against the pillows. “Ok. Well… I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”

  “I know.”

 

  “Right. Um, so was there anything else?” Shuffling on the other end. What the heck was he doing?

  “No, not really. I just wanted to say I was sorry.”

  “It’s ok, Tobie. Really. Just promise me you’ll talk to me when you’re ready.”

  “I promise.”

  I waited for him to continue. To say anything. Silence. “Ok, so… goodnight?”

  “No. Don’t hang up,” he pleaded.

  “Are we just going to listen to each other breathe through the phone, then?” I didn’t mean to sound bitchy but I was so damn confused by this conversation that I didn’t know what to make of any of it.

  “Maybe,” he shuffled on the other end again, “I just don’t like being away from you.”

  His words melted into my heart. Here was this huge sexy man telling me that he’d rather listen to me breathe over the phone than be away from me. Suddenly he appeared very vulnerable. Whate
ver was going on in his head he wanted me to just sit with him while he worked it out. Like he needed me.

  “Tobie?”

  “Yes, ma’am?” Oh, fluffy puppies, he’s starting this again.

  “You’re very smooth, you know that?” A soft chuckle on the other end. More shuffling. “What are you doing over there anyway? There’s all this shuffling noise.”

  “Getting ready for bed.” His voice had returned to normal. The fear had been replaced with the normal confidence that I found so incredibly attractive.

  Thoughts of Tobie changing clothes made this conversation take a hairpin turn into the gutter. “Oh, yeah? And what does Tobie wear for pajamas?”

  The shuffling stopped.

  “Nothing.”

  Silence.

  Tobie. Fully exposed. Every muscle, every line, every angle of his body with nothing but a sheet draped over his glorious body. My core was instantly on fire. Flames surging from my stomach, engulfing every part of me in their path.

  “And what does Amber wear for pajamas?” His voice was low, graveling in my ear. Seductive.

  “Just panties and a tank top.” I whispered.

  “Mmm,” he groaned, “I wish I could see that right now. Why don’t you describe it for me instead?”

  “Are you trying to get me to have phone sex with you, Tobie?” I asked coyly.

  “Maybe.”

  I could feel myself getting wet. My clit was throbbing at the thought of Tobie lying naked in his bed, rock hard and listening to me get off. “My panties are light blue. They’re lacy on the back and sit low on my hips.” I could hear him shuffling again. “My tank is grey. Spaghetti straps. Low cut.”

  “Are you in bed?”

  “Uh, huh. Laying on my back against all my pillows. I wish you were here next to me.”

  “Damn, Amber. If I were there I think I’d have to get an up close view of how low cut that tank top is. Would you let me bury my face in your chest? Can I kiss all over your breasts?” My free hand began to wander around my body. Cupping my breast and brushing lightly over my nipples just as he was describing.

  “Uh, huh. But only if I could drag my hands over your abs. I want to feel every... single… ridge.”

  “I don’t know, love. You do that and I’m likely to get so turned on that I might lose control.”

  “Like you did when I ran my nails down your back?”

  “Oh, fuck, yes. Just like that.”

  “Tell, me. What do you want to do to me?”

  “I want to strip you down slowly. Feel your tits in my hands. Rub my thumbs over your nipples.” I groaned into the phone. “I want to lick them. Bite them. Kiss all over them.”

  “Oh, keep going. Tell me more,” I begged.

  “I want to drag my hands all over your body. I want to slide my hands down to your gorgeous hips. I want to see those sexy panties you’re wearing.” My hand followed every word. I stripped off my tank and felt the soft, bare skin of my chest. I rolled my hard nipples between my fingers and brushed my fingertips down my stomach to the edge of my panties.

  “That feels sooo good, Tobie. Give me more.”

  “I want to bury my face in your hot little pussy. I want to smell you. I want to taste you again. So fucking sweet. I want to drag your little panties off your body. I want my fingers inside you again. That tight… wet... cunt.”

  I gasped. That was an absolutely horrible word but oh, my goodness, when he said it, my thighs clamped together and my pussy got even wetter. My cunt. He kept going. “Touch yourself, love. Feel how wet you are for me.”

  I did. I slid my hand under my panties and dipped one finger into my slit. My head fell back and I groaned. “Ohhh, Tobie. You make me sooo wet.”

  I could hear him moving over the phone. My thoughts imagined him spread out on his bed. The sheet tossed to the side. Those delicious lick lines aiming straight for his raging hard cock. “Tobie, babe. Are you touching yourself?” I needed to know. I needed to hear him say it.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Oh, hot damn.

  “Tell me about it.” The words barely formed on my lips. My finger continued to caress the silk between my legs. My orgasm was lingering in the distance. Waiting for me to give her an invitation.

  “You want me to tell you about how I’m imagining it’s your hand dragging across my chest?”

  “Uh, huh.” I mewed.

  “How I want your nails to lightly drag over every single one of my abs? Followed by your lips?”

  “Yes, babe. I want to do that to you.” I purred, still sliding my finger just on the outside of my slit. Gentle touches ever so lightly on my clit.

  “I want it to be your hand on the base of my cock. I want it to be your thumb spreading my pre-cum all over the head. Will you do that?”

  “I’ll do anything you want. I’ll lick all over your stomach. I’ll touch every part of your skin.” He groaned. “I want to feel the heat from your cock brush against my lips. I want to feel just how hard you are with my tongue. I want to feel how thick you are in my hands. I want to taste you. I want to fill my mouth with your cock.”

  “Fuck.” He grunted. “Put your fingers inside your pussy.” He commanded. “Imagine it’s my cock pushing into you.”

  I did. Two fingers deep inside myself. “It’s so tight, babe. So tight and so wet.” I could hear him breathing heavily. “Are you fucking your hand, Tobie? Are you imagining it’s my tight little cunt?”

  He grunted. Panted. I could hear his rapid strokes in my ear. “Mmm….” he moaned, “I want that pussy so bad. I want to fuck you hard and love you soft. I want my cock deep inside you. I want to hear you scream my name with every stroke.”

  I was getting close. My greedy little orgasm was sneaking in ready to crash this party. He sensed it. My breathing turned into pants. Whimpers. Groans. “Fuck your pussy with your fingers, Amber. Slide them in and out. No matter how good they feel, my cock will be even better. I want to bury my hard, hot shaft deep inside you.”

  “Oh, Tobie... I’m gonna cum!”

  “Cum on my cock, love. I want to feel your walls grab me and make me cum with you.”

  “Yes! Please… please fill me with your cum. I need it.” I felt the pleasure swell up inside me. I felt my muscles tense, my toes curl, my back arch. I gasped as my head fell back and the screams tried to escape. Nothing. No sound. My body was holding onto every fragment of pleasure it could. I heard him grunt. I heard his rapid breaths. I heard him groan as his release surged through him.

  Once my ability to breathe returned, I was overwhelmed with euphoria. Laughter spilled out of every cell in my body. “What’s so funny?” he asked, short of breath but not upset. I could hear the satisfaction in his voice.

  “You. Me. Us.” I gasped, catching my breath. “I can’t believe we just did that!” I laughed again, “Holy shit, Tobie. I’ve never done that before!”

  “Are you serious, babe? You just fucked me with your words to the best orgasm of my life and you’ve never done that before?”

  “Best orgasm of your life?” I asked in disbelief. “Seriously?”

  “Yes, seriously, Amber, that was incredible! Please tell me you enjoyed it, too.”

  “I don’t think there’s a word in existence that could describe how amazing that was, babe. But I’m sorry to tell you, that it wasn’t the best orgasm of my life.”

  “No?” he sounded genuinely upset. Like he’d disappointed me.

  “No. I much prefer the orgasms that you give me with your hands rather than my own.”

  “Oh, love. You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m just getting started with you.”

  How could it get any better than it already was?! “Do you promise?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Amber

  “AM-BER!” Hannah yelled from upstairs.

  “What?” I called back.

  “Where’s the nail polish remover?!”

  I set the spatula down and turned the bur
ner on low. I’m gonna kill her if my fajita meat burned because she’s freaking out about leaving tomorrow. I made my way upstairs. The nail polish was in the very back of my bathroom cabinet. Why didn’t I just yell that back, you ask? Because Hannah is notorious for stealing my beauty products and if she was given unsupervised access to my stash I’d find random missing products for the next year.

  “It’s under here.” I said reaching to the back for it. “Why do you need it? Didn’t you just get your nails done?”

  “Yeah, but they’re starting to chip. The lady did a horrible job. I don’t want to show up with a janky nail job. What’s with the penguin?” she asked as a side note.

  “Oh, uh…” I glanced at my penguin towel. “I was just messing around one night. Here’s the cotton balls, too. And make sure you put it back. I don’t want you stealing my stuff.”

  “Hey now. I don’t steal… I borrow.” She defended.

  “Yeah, well, you can ‘borrow’ that for the next ten minutes. Then you have to put it back.” I turned to walk back downstairs. “And no ‘borrowing’ anything else unless you ask!” I called over my shoulder.

  I think I heard Hannah grunt when I left the room. Whatever. I headed back to making dinner. It wasn’t even five minutes before she was yelling again.

  “AM-BER!”

  “Oh, for crap sake.” I slammed the spatula down on the counter. “WHAT?”

  “Where’s the... oh… never mind. I found it!”

  I rolled my eyes. Hannah was starting to get nervous about the interviews. Not that I could blame her. The original interviews she had set up weren’t scheduled until next week. That made this interview not only the biggest, but also the first real interview she’d ever had. Thank goodness she had such an easy going and infectious personality. The social aspect of the process would be a breeze. I just hoped and prayed that she’d be able to show them what a great asset to the company she’d be.