Rosewood Romances Series: A Sweet & Steamy Short Story Romance

by Amelia Star

  But he raises up on an elbow and says, “Listen.”

  The sound of crickets surrounds us. Night is coming on, and Ted looks me in the eyes. “What do you say we get going?”

  “That’s probably a good idea,” I say a bit distractedly.

  Ted starts packing everything up, but then stops a moment and looks at me. “Don’t even think about it.” He turns and gives me a raise of the eyebrow.

  “Think about what?” I turn my gaze from the fog rising off the water on the stream.

  “You’re thinking about Delicious for You, aren’t you?”

  “Oh my gosh, Ted–that’s not at all what I was thinking about.” I laugh.

  He gives in and admits, “Okay, so maybe I’m not a mind-reader after all.” He pauses and reflects. “Or, maybe I am….”

  “Okay, go for it. I’ll give you another shot. What am I thinking now?” I put my long fingers to my temples and pretend to concentrate.

  Instead of answering me directly, Ted takes me in his arms and kisses me passionately. An owl hoots in the distance. “What I think you’re thinking,” he growls in a low voice, “is the same thing I’m thinking. If we should go to one of our places and –”

  I purr, “Mind-reader.”

  And he kisses me again.

  FIVE–TED

  Fifteen minutes later, we’re at her place, in her dim-lit living room.

  Hailey is so strong and vulnerable at the same time, and I can’t help but get lost in the intense stare she gives me as we go to sit on the sofa.

  But I’m not the kind of man who hesitates or waits for the woman he loves to make the first move. So I take charge, even though somewhere in the back of my mind I can’t forget she’s my boss.

  We’re beyond the point of my asking her for permission, and I lean forward and catch her lips on mine. The kiss is searing hot from the start. We’ve been aching for this night for so long, I know it now. She kisses me back urgently, her strong arms wrapping around my shoulders.

  When I slip away just an inch or two to catch my breath, I take a moment to gaze at her expression. She looks relieved, happy, and… yes, aroused. Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s staring at me with her sexiest bedroom eyes.

  “I can’t believe we’re finally here together,” she purrs, and I chuckle at her words because I feel the same way.

  “It’s the perfect moment, boss,” I tease her hotly, but before she can reply with any witty banter, I kiss her again. Our tongues begin dancing together, and we are both ready to complete our love tonight.

  We begin to slowly, achingly, help each other undress. There is urgency in her touch, but I don’t let her rush. I want to taste this moment fully. I want to feel her skin under my fingertips as each piece of fabric is tossed aside.

  As she removes my button-down shirt, she stares at my chiseled chest and bites her lip in evident delight.

  “My god, you are in good shape,” she praises me–though I know she means something else. Something naughtier. I grin at her as I easily unhook her bra, and take an instant to admire her full, round breasts. They are perfect, and her pale skin underneath my dark hands is just as arousing as the feeling of her nipples pressing against my palms.

  I squeeze her breasts softly, and she lets out a tiny moan–the first of many. I pinch her nipples, and she bites her lips, giving me a sensual look.

  Kissing my way down her curvy body, I see her close her eyes and inhale deeply as I roll my tongue over her neck, tasting her musky perfume. I nibble on her ears before traveling further down, peppering her breasts and nipples with a million kisses.

  But that’s not where my journey ends. I keep moving down, down, down, until I find myself between her long, sensual legs. And there I drop anchor, sinking my head between her inner thighs, and lapping the arousal from her pussy.

  She moans in delight, and I hear her humming with arousal as I begin to use my lips and tongue to bring her to the realm of ecstasy. I nibble playfully at her sensitive clit, making her hiss lightly and press the top of my head down harder.

  I bite her again, but softer this time, before beginning to suck on her sensually. My lips are wrapped tightly around her clit, and I hear her moan deeply as I keep on pleasuring her.

  No way am I going to rush my way through her pussy–I’m focusing on her clit, folds, and entrance equally. I want her to slowly make her way to an orgasm, and I have no hurry to get her there.

  Bit by bit, I feel her breathing more irregularly–but slowly, gently. It’s a tantalizing trip to the top of the mountain, and only when she is tiptoeing across the edge do I begin to lick and suck harder.

  It’s then that her orgasm floods me entirely. She squirts on my mouth, staining my chin and nose–but I don’t care one bit. I lick my way through it, extending her powerful orgasm as long as I possibly can.

  She arches back so beautifully, her nails sinking against the pillows of the sofa. I can even feel her inner thighs twitching and quivering as she embraces the pleasure. And then, all of a sudden, she collapses back onto the sofa, a last, high-pitched moan escaping her full lips.

  Raising herself on her elbows, she catches her breath before sitting up. “Oh, Ted…,” she whispers, giving me a sensual look and leaning toward me, helping me lay on the sofa.

  She kisses my abs, and I close my eyes as she pulls my pants down, along with my briefs. My cock, already stiff and ready for her touch, springs free, and she gasps at its size.

  “Ted!” She can’t help herself from exclaiming joyfully as she positions herself between my legs. I groan softly as her tongue first brushes the tip of my bulbous head. She is playful, seductive, teasing as she begins to roll her warm tongue around it, making me ache for her to take me in her mouth fully.

  “Hailey, yes,” I grunt as she finally wraps her full lips around me and then begins to lower her head, taking my erection into her mouth inch by inch. It feels hot, moist, and perfect, and as she begins to bob her head up and down on my shaft, wrapping her lips tight around my girth, I feel the pleasure begin to grow exponentially. “Just like that, yes.”

  I grab the back of her head, sinking my fingers in her stunning black hair. I can’t help but guide her movements with my hand, making her go just a bit deeper, just a bit faster.

  Just when I feel I’m starting to lose control, I know that I need her to stop. I don’t want to come yet, I want her panting and moaning in my arms, getting lost in an orgasm, before I even get to that point. I want to show my stunning boss that all of this is about her pleasure.

  Pulling her back from my cock takes some willpower, as I’d be happy to lie there and have her suck me to the point of no return… but that’s not what this perfect night is about.

  I help her lie on the sofa instead, caressing her hips, her thighs, and her thick lower legs with my fingertips. Then I grab a condom from my discarded pants, putting it on, and crawling between her open legs.

  She is lying there, looking so stunningly beautiful, dark hair flowing behind her head like a midnight crown. She parts her legs for me, and I sink myself in her.

  My erection brushes against her fold and then pushes forward. Her pussy comes open for me, tight and moist, engulfing every inch as I thrust into Hailey.

  “Ted…,” she whispers, lovingly wrapping her arms around my neck and shoulders. I use one hand to guide her legs to do the same around my waist then lean down to kiss her, as I begin to thrust in and out of her perfect, velvety sex.

  She is everything I ever imagined she would be, and more. Our tongues dance together as we begin to move in perfect rhythm. Her body is so in sync with mine–it’s as if we were always meant to be. And I think that we genuinely always were–our mirror-image scars prove it.

  As I hear her moaning louder and louder, her breasts heaving up and down in arousal, I slip my hand between our bodies and aim for that tiny, throbbing spot that aches for more attention.

  I pinch her clit softly at first, and then more insistently, rolling my thumb
and index finger over it to increase her pleasure as I continue to claim her body entirely.

  I keep pushing myself into her with long, passionate thrusts. I’m going almost all the way out, with only my bulbous head resting inside her tight pussy, before shoving my length back inside her.

  Hailey moves her hips in tandem to meet my thrusts, and before long, I can feel her thighs tensing around my body, her breathing going out of control. She moans and pants heavily, her breasts moving up and down faster and faster.

  I know she is about to reach that powerful orgasm, and so I rub her clit harder as I keep loving her with long, passionate thrusts.

  And then it happens. Almost like a firework explosion, she arches and tilts her head back, closing her beautiful dark eyes as she embraces ecstasy.

  Her pussy clenches powerfully around my cock, milking me as her muscles contract tightly around my length. That finally pushes me over the edge, and I give myself in to the pleasure, thrusting one last time deep inside her, and feeling her nails sinking against my back.

  We both pant heavily in each other’s arms, in the aftermath of our shared orgasm, refusing to let go still.

  It’s only a few moments later that she finally slowly moves her legs down, and slips her arms from my shoulders, caressing my scar with her soft fingertips as she makes her way to my face.

  Grabbing her by the cheeks, I pull her into a soft, sweet kiss, before whispering, “I love you, Hailey.”

  She smiles against my lips, and I pull myself from her hot, perfect pussy. I feel exhausted and spent, but I’m in ecstasy just lying in her arms.

  “I love you too, Ted,” Hailey whispers back, and I slip away from her legs and crawl up her body, kissing her here and there, but wanting to reach her lips.

  I kiss her lips tenderly at last. As I pull Hailey closer to me, cuddling against her body, I feel as if this is truly the first night of a fantastic adventure by her side.

  She closes her eyes, completely spent, and I see a smile lingering on the corners of her lips. I watch her fall asleep and enjoy her beauty for a few minutes. Then I rest my head among her silky hair and drift off, smelling her musky scent.

  SIX–HAILEY

  I wake and hear Ted breathing, deep and even. It’s so sweet to be with him at last like this. Carefully sitting up, I gaze at his serene face. How young and handsome he is! How strong and virile!

  Thinking back over the last few weeks, I am lost in the wonder of how we got to this point–and now I can only dread the inevitable moment when he will walk out on me.

  It’s bound to happen–if not tonight, then in a week, a month. Maybe, if I’m lucky–a year. I’ve got to face reality. He is just too young for me–or I am too old for him. Either way, there’s no way it will work.

  I drape a quilt from the back of the sofa over Ted, then go get a silky robe to wrap myself in. While I’m in the kitchen making some tea, Ted enters, wearing nothing but his blue and white striped briefs.

  “Hailey.” He smiles, opening his arms to me.

  My inclination is to rush into his arms, to let him wrap me in the illusion that this is true love, that we will always be together like this.

  Instead, I stiffen my spine and continue preparing the tea.

  “Would you like some tea? Or coffee? Orange juice?” I go so far as to smile, but that’s about as far as I can let myself go.

  Ted furrows his brow and steps toward me, “You know what I want, my love.”

  When he envelopes me in a great big bear hug, I almost give in. I can feel my resolve crumbling, my heart longing desperately for just one more kiss, one more day, week–yes, a year–that could be possible.

  But I can’t do it. I must be strong.

  “Ted, please.” I look as coldly as I can at him. It’s like sending a thousand arrows into my own heart–but I have no choice.

  “What’s the matter, Hailey?” Ted steps back, a confused expression on his face. “Did something happen?” He tries to reach out, to brush my hair back from my brow.

  But I stand there, one hand on a hip, and I brush my hair back behind my ear myself.

  “Come on,” I say. “You know what’s going on, Ted.” I turn around and get back to preparing the tea. Doing something is the best way for me to get through this–if I keep my hands busy, I can distract my heart from what it’s feeling.

  “You can’t do this.” I feel his anger radiating at me from across the room.

  I turn around again. “Actually, Ted, I can. And you know why I have to.” I look at him hard, forcing the tears back.

  “No–I don’t.” His angry tone has already dissipated into one of despair. “Hailey–” he rushes toward me– “it was only a few hours ago, we were making love–we said how we love each other! When I said it, I meant it–and I meant forever! And I know you did too!”

  I look down at the floor, but no matter where I look–my eyes keep coming back to him. My gaze falls upon Ted’s bare feet. Even this man’s feet are sexy, I swear!

  Giving up on trying to avoid his gaze, I look him in the eyes. God knows, this is the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life! “Well, Ted. I didn’t mean what I said. It’s just one of those things people say in the throes of passion. You’ll learn that with time.”

  Ted’s mouth opens. “So that’s what this is about. The difference in our ages.”

  Feeling a shiver, I shrug and pull my robe tighter around my waist. “It’s the reality. You’ve got to face that, Ted.”

  “I get it now.” He makes a scoffing sound. “You just think I’m a punk kid. A kid from the wrong side of town. I don’t drive a fancy car or have a big house, let alone a big bank account….”

  I look back at him. “Where did you come up with this?” I ask.

  “It’s the reality, isn’t it?” He repeats my words, mockingly. “You want to blame it on my being too young, but really you wouldn’t mind if I were young–as long as I was from a better part of town or could buy you a big diamond ring.”

  “When did I say anything like that?” I can’t believe he thinks I would feel this way about him.

  “Well, you didn’t have to. You have made it perfectly clear, Hailey.” He turns and heads back into the living room.

  I can hear him getting dressed in silence. A few minutes later, I hear the front door close.

  Tears rushing down my face, I run to the living room window, lift back the curtain, and watch him drive away.

  I lay down on the sofa where his deep manly scent remains, curl up in the quilt, and cry myself to sleep. I’m pretty sure the love of my life just walked out, and I must accept he’s never coming back.

  SEVEN–TED

  At the center on Monday, I’m in the kitchen alone when Serena saunters in to see how dinner is coming along.

  “You still need to leave early, to get to Delicious for You, right?” she asks coolly, so I can only suspect she has a feeling something’s up.

  “Well, actually,” I sigh. “I’m not sure if I should go back into Delicious for You tonight or not.”

  Serena gives me a questioning look. “Okay, spill the beans–what’s up. Didn’t you go out with Hailey on Friday? Did something happen?” Serena steps back. “You didn’t take her to Zeppelin’s Super-Burgers for dinner, did you? I know that’s your favorite place, but, really, Ted….”

  “Aww, now, give me a little credit. I’m not that stupid.” I’m grateful to Serena for getting a little chuckle out of me. It’s the first time I think I’ve smiled since leaving Hailey’s place early Saturday morning.

  “Well, then, what is it?”

  I start at the beginning—how we went to Hailey’s place after our picnic. How, when I woke up after we made love, I found Hailey in the kitchen. “She was acting all cold and uncaring, like nothing just happened between us. I just couldn’t understand why she would do that.”

  “Well, what was her explanation?” Serena raises an eyebrow, questioningly.

  “Oh, she tried to come up with s
ome excuse about the difference in our ages,” I explain. “But I made clear what I thought about that—that she was just brushing me off. You know, women from across the river aren’t looking for men like me.”

  “Men like you?” The tone of Serena’s voice is making me feel uncomfortable, like maybe she’s not going to agree with me.

  “You know—guys without the big bucks, who don’t wear fancy business suits to work and make multimillion-dollar deals.”

  Serena stares at me, mouth slightly ajar. “Ted. You’d have been better off taking her to Zeppelin’s for a Super-Burger than basically telling her you thought she was that shallow. Oh, Ted. Don’t you understand?”

  I shake my head. “Don’t go telling me something like Hailey actually meant what she said. And I didn’t listen to her.” I slap myself upside the forehead so Serena doesn’t have to. “How could I have been so stupid?”

  Serena and I lean against opposite sides of the stainless-steel table in the middle of the kitchen and shake our heads. “Well, what are you going to do to fix this, Ted. You need to let her know the truth about how you feel–if the truth is that you don’t care about the age difference.” Serena raises an eyebrow at me, and looks searchingly into my eyes.

  “You’d better believe I don’t care about the age difference!” I exclaim, taking off my apron and handing it to Serena. I give her some quick instructions on how to finish tonight’s dinner preparations for the kids, and get going.

  I’ve got a few errands to run before going in to work tonight at Delicious for You.

  ◆◆◆

  It’s as busy as usual in the kitchen when I get to Delicious for You. Hailey gives me one frozen look, then goes on bustling about as usual with the thousand things she takes care of simultaneously throughout the evening.

  By the time closing comes around, I’ve had a chance to speak with each of the servers and kitchen staff members, and even the cleaning crew. We get our regular closing routine taken care of. But instead of going to let Hailey know we’re ready to have our stations checked, each of us keeps fidgeting about, finding something to do until it’s time.