Sweet Tea & Second Chances: A Second Chance Small Town Romantic Comedy (Lovebird Café Book 1)

by Dylann Crush

  Rain beat down on the little white church, sliding down the steepled roof and pouring onto the ground outside. Sounded like a river roaring over us.

  Cassie leaned forward and I lifted her shirt, the bra along with it, up and over her head. I needed to touch her, to taste her. I sat up and lowered my mouth to her chest. She clawed at my shirt as I licked and sucked her nipples into hard peaks. I broke contact just long enough to whip my shirt off. She pressed her torso against mine and we stilled for a moment, her legs wrapped around my waist, her arms clasping me tight against her, letting the feeling of skin on skin settle over us before moving on.

  She moved first. Lowered her head and nibbled on my ear. Goosebumps popped up along my neck, coursing down my side. I raised my hips, pressing into her, letting my body show her how much I wanted her, how crazy she could make me. She pushed me backward and wriggled out of her skirt. Eager, I unbuttoned my jeans. Nothing but tented boxer briefs and a pair of light pink lacy panties stood between me and home plate.

  Parts of me had been inside her before. In June a finger traveled over the taboo territory, and a few weeks ago my tongue made the same trek. But the frenzied rush to come in the front seat of the truck had never afforded me the time to explore the lines of her body at my own pace. I rimmed the edge of her panties with a finger. She flung one leg over my hip and ground into me.

  I pulled away. “Slow down, Cass.”

  She drew back and smiled at me, then put her hand on top of mine and pressed them back down between us. I edged her panties down, exposing a triangle of fine, silky hair. My finger trailed down, past the curls to brush over her folds. Her legs bucked up and she writhed against my hand. I slid my finger inside. She was soaking wet. A drop of moisture squeezed out the tip of my dick making a dark wet spot on my briefs. I wasn’t going to last long if we kept this up. I pushed her panties down and she grabbed hold of my boxer briefs, dragging them down my legs.

  My dick sprang to full attention and she reached a tentative finger out to touch it. She’d never seen it in all its glory. Was she impressed? As her finger made contact, my muscles pulsed. “For fuck’s sake, don’t touch me. I won’t be able to hold back.”

  “You sure the whole thing’s going to fit?”

  “There’s only one way to find out.” I sat up and ripped open the foil wrapper I’d brought. I’d been too embarrassed to buy condoms from Ol’ Man Morris’s place, so Jake had given me a handful of his.

  Light from the candles flickered in her eyes as I unrolled the circle of latex onto my dick.

  “Is it supposed to light up like that?”

  A glowing greenish sleeve encased my rigid penis. I crawled over to the flashlight and pointed it on the ripped wrapper. “Fuck, Jake. He gave me a glow-in-the-dark one.”

  Cassie laughed, then laid down on her back and spread her legs. “At least we’ll be able to tell if it goes in.”

  I shook my head, wadded up the wrapper, then crawled back to her, my glowing dick bobbing up and down like a light stick at a night time parade.

  She covered up her mouth and tried not to giggle. “It’s okay, really. I’m sure it works the same.”

  Jake was probably busting his ass laughing at me right about now, but there wasn’t room for thoughts of him in my brain. Glowing cock or not, tonight was our night, and I was going to sink this bad boy before I lost my nerve.

  Bracing myself up on my palms, I positioned myself between Cassie’s thighs. “You ready, Cassafrass?”

  “Mmm.” She trailed a finger down my chest, past my belly button and cupped my balls. “Bring it home, big guy.”

  As I lowered myself down on top of her, I pushed into her. Where was the hole? Jesus, I couldn’t find it. My cock bounced around between her legs, searching for an entrance.

  Cassie reached down to guide the tip in. “Go easy on me, okay?”

  Warmth enveloped me. Every muscle strained. It took every ounce of control to hold back, and I was only about half an inch in. “Just give me a minute.”

  Her fingers ran lightly over my sides. “Take all the time you need. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.” My hips nudged forward, pushing me into her just a tiny bit further. “God, Cassie, you feel so good. Am I hurting you?”

  “Not yet. Are you in?”

  I snorted. “Not even close.” I eased in further. Her body wrapped around me. She was so tight, so fucking tight. “I don’t know how much longer I can wait.”

  “Go ahead, baby.” She pushed her hips up toward me and took in a deep breath. “Just do it, Robbie.”

  I tried to push gently but it was too tight. Then Cassie’s hips thrust toward me, she gasped, and the resistance was gone. I sunk into her, my cock buried in the cocoon of her core. “You okay?”

  She didn’t answer, just wrapped her arms around my middle and moved her hips. I pulled back and pushed forward, slowly at first, fighting the frantic need to rock into her. Nails dug into my back, urging me on. I bucked up and with a final thrust, released seventeen years of pent up lust.

  Cassie held me close until the waves of release subsided. I looked down at her, candlelight bathing her skin in a golden glow. Something wet glistened on her cheek.

  “Oh, hell, Cass. Are you crying?” I rolled off and touched my hand to her cheek, wiping the tears away.

  “I’m fine. It’s just, I didn’t expect it to hurt that much.”

  “Damn. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “It’s okay. Had to be done. I’m just glad it’s over. Did you…was it good for you?” She bit her lip, waiting for me to respond.

  I laid my head down on her chest and held her tight. “God, Cass. It was like…I don’t even know how to describe it. It was…you were…it was fucking incredible. I felt so close to you. Like we were one person. Was it good for you at all?”

  Her nails lightly grazed my back. “I did feel close to you. I wouldn’t say it felt great. But…”

  “But what?”

  “How many condoms did Jake give you?”

  “I dunno…a handful. Maybe four or five?”

  She kissed the top of my head. “Do you think we could try again? I’ve heard it gets better with lots of practice.”

  My dick hardened again. I flipped over and nuzzled her navel with my lips. “Cassie Belmont, you are in luck. If there’s one thing Coach has taught me this season, it’s practice makes perfect.” My fingers teased her nipple to a point. “And I’m quite the perfectionist.”

  Turns out Jake had given me six condoms and we went through every single one. My dick glowed pink, purple, yellow and green that night, depending on which wrapper I pulled out of my pocket. By the time we got up from the blanket, we’d practiced to the point of perfection and Cassie had cried out to God, Jesus, and all things holy at least five times.

  A week later I gave her a silver cross on a long sterling chain for her birthday. The cross had a cut out of a tiny heart in the center. Her grandma said it was a nice thoughtful gift and very Christian of me. If only she knew the truth.

  Every time Cassie fingered that charm or saw a church, I wanted her to remember what she’d said. Cross her heart she’d love me forever. I also hoped it would remind her how I’d possessed her mind and spirit and worshipped her body in all of her naked glory in front of the Nestor County First Methodist Church’s altar.

  15

  Cassie

  Steam rose from the hot tub and I could barely make out Misty’s outline in the dim light of the patio.

  “Jump on in, water feels great.” Misty raised another full pitcher of margaritas in my direction. “Did you bring your glass?”

  I climbed up the steps and dipped a toe into the bubbly water. “Yeah. I guess one more won’t kill me.”

  After Heather had read my index card, Robbie called it quits on game night and the other guys followed suit. Misty put them to work cleaning up the kitchen since they boycotted her plans and rallied all the girls to head down to the hot tub.
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  She topped off my drink before setting it in a cup holder on the side. “I’m glad we have a chance to talk. I’ve been meaning to apologize for the way Becca treated you.”

  I lowered myself in, the pressure from the jets prickling my skin. “What do you mean?”

  “I think she’s a little worried about you being back in town. You know, with Caroline gone.”

  “No big deal. She’s got nothing to worry about.”

  Misty cocked her head. “You sure about that?”

  At that moment, Becca opened the sliding glass door and came out onto the porch.

  I dunked my head under the water and held my breath. Maybe if I counted to a thousand she’d be gone by the time I came up for air. After thirty-two seconds, a lack of air in my lungs forced me to surface. Damn, she was still there.

  Misty raised her glass to me and I took a long draw on my straw. My grandma had always taught me it was best to take the bull by the horns. Either that or run fast enough to get out of the pasture before you got gored. Running appeared to be out of the question so I’d try to avoid her horns until I could figure out a way to get out of there.

  Becca hung her towel on a hook and dipped a foot in the water. “So, Cassie, when are you heading back to Texas?”

  “Couple more weeks.”

  “And you’re a chef?”

  “Yeah, how about you?”

  “I’m a telecommunications account manager. Basically, I blow sunshine up bigwig’s butts in hopes they’ll switch their company cell phone plan over to ours.”

  I pictured Becca actually blowing sunshine up someone’s ass. Her cheeks filled full of air and her lips attached to some schmuck’s giant hairy asshole. I giggled and set my glass down on the edge of the hot tub. I really needed to slow down on the margaritas.

  “What’s so funny?” She lowered herself into the water.

  “Nothing.” I covered up my mouth with my hand and snorted, inhaling a gulp of the chlorinated water. Choking, I pulled myself up on the edge of the spa and coughed. Dammit, I knew I’d drown this weekend, didn’t matter if it was metaphorically or physically. As I sputtered and contemplated which would be worse, death by drowning or death by Becca blowing sunshine up my ass, Robbie slid open the glass door and stepped out onto the patio.

  “Finished with the dishes, Misty. The guys and I are gonna take out the boat. Any of y’all want to come?” He walked toward me. My coughing fit had somewhat subsided. “You okay, Cass?”

  “Yeah, just got a mouthful of water.”

  He put a hand on my wet shoulder, the contact with my exposed skin sending a shock wave down my spine and causing a whole new series of coughs.

  “You might want to wait a few minutes,” Becca said, glancing at her phone. “Someone’s got a little surprise for you, Rob.”

  His brow knit into a frown. “What are you talking about?”

  Becca’s face broke into a big smile as the sound of footsteps tapped on the deck above our heads. “You’re about to find out.”

  “Where are y’all?” A woman’s voice floated down the steps.

  “Down here,” Becca called.

  “Is that…” Misty’s eyes widened in surprise. “What’s she doing here?”

  A head of honey blonde hair rounded the corner followed by a body made for sin. Bronzed skin looked like it had been kissed by the sun, and a skimpy halter top left little to the imagination. Micro shorts barely covered her butt and long toned legs stretched down into a pair of high-heeled sandals.

  “Caroline! You made it.” Becca jumped up and gave her a giant hug.

  This was Robbie’s Caroline? I tried, really tried, not to hate her on sight.

  “Y’all weren’t trying to have a party without me, now, were you?” Her gaze scanned past everyone and stopped on Robbie. “Rob. Oh baby, have I ever missed you.”

  His hand gripped the edge of the hot tub beside me and his jaw tightened. “I didn’t think you’d be back for a couple more weeks.”

  Caroline cocked her head and covered the distance between them. I slid over to a seat across the water.

  Her palm smoothed over the front of his t-shirt and she tilted her chin up at him. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”

  Robbie shifted from one foot to the other. “Just surprised, that’s all.”

  She put her arm around his waist as she burrowed into his side.

  “Welcome back, Caroline. I didn’t know you were coming, but we’ve always got room for one more,” Misty said.

  The consummate hostess, I could tell Misty was trying to make the best of an awkward situation.

  “Thanks. I hope you don’t mind. Becca told me y’all were having quite the party this weekend, and I didn’t want to miss out. Thought it would be fun to surprise my man and come home early.” Caroline pasted a bright smile on her lips and looked around the circle. “Well, I think I know everyone here but you.” Her gaze stopped on me.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Oh, hi. I’m Cassie. An old friend of Robbie’s.”

  “Well, look at that. We’ve already got something in common. I’m Caroline and I’m a friend of Robbie’s too.” Her tone took on an edge. Of course she knew exactly who I was and probably had ideas about what kind of friends Robbie and I had been.

  She reached for my hand. “Cassie, it’s so nice to finally meet you in person.” Her eyes narrowed as she spoke. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  My face burned. Robbie had moved on from me to this…this glamzilla? She towered over me in her wedges. Bright baby blue eyes, perfectly straight nose. Full, permanently pink lips. Flawless skin. If this was his type, well no wonder he’d broke it off. She looked like sex on heels.

  “The guys were just heading out on the boat,” Misty said. “You’re welcome to join us in the hot tub if you want.”

  “Thanks, maybe I will in a bit. Just want to give Rob a chance to give me a proper welcome first.” She wrapped her other arm around him, giving him a side hug. “We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

  Robbie disentangled himself and caught her hand up in his. “Come on, let’s go somewhere we can talk.”

  She batted long, thick eyelashes at him and giggled. “I sure hope you’re planning on doing more than talking.”

  “Get a room!” Becca splashed some water at them. “Oh wait, you can have ours. Go on, lovebirds, get out of here.”

  Robbie’s hand went to his face, and he rubbed his scruff. He glanced my way, his eyes crinkling at the edges, pulling his mouth into a scowl. I focused my attention on the bubbles breaking the surface of the water in front of me and tried to make sense of the internal war waging around the edges of my heart.

  Of course I knew he’d been involved with someone. But Misty said she was gone for the summer, the idealistic teacher off doing a good deed. I pictured her as mousy, shy, and quiet with pasty skin and thick glasses…not a towering Jessica Simpson-lookalike. It shouldn’t matter to me what she looked like. After all, Robbie didn’t mean anything to me anymore. At least that’s what I vowed to keep telling myself. I had the restaurant and Parker to distract me.

  Oh damn. My heart pitched into my gut, sloshing around with all those margaritas. I couldn’t count on the promise of a future with Parker to keep thoughts of Robbie at bay any more. Robbie and I had navigated through some rocky patches the first couple of weeks I’d been back in Swallow Springs, but we’d finally landed in the flirty friend zone. So what if he and Glamzilla were probably going to stay up all night and get reacquainted.

  For a brief moment I let myself remember the feel of Robbie’s nose nuzzling my neck, leaning in for that stupid kiss challenge. The hum of anticipation coursing through my body made me weak in the knees and sent my heart into an erratic gymnastics routine. I’d been fooling myself. From the moment I saw the new and improved, grown-up version of him lounging by the pond, I knew I’d never gotten over him.

  But it was too late now. Robbie represented my past. My future was in Dallas,
even without the safety net of a relationship with Parker. I still had obligations I couldn’t walk away from. I just needed to keep reminding myself of that.

  Sunlight poured through a crack between the mini blinds, a sliver of light falling right across my eyelids. I rolled over and glanced at the digital alarm clock on the nightstand. Why couldn’t I seem to sleep past 6:30 anymore? At least that damn rooster hadn’t woken me. A peaceful quietness had settled over the house, a welcome change from the late night antics of the evening before.

  I’d been the first to turn in at one-fifteen and hadn’t been able to fall asleep for quite a while. The sound of laughter and chairs scraping on the hardwood floor above kept me up. I may or may not have strained my ears for any sound coming from the other downstairs bedroom where Robbie and Glamzilla had retired. All was quiet. They’d either fallen asleep or knocked themselves out by the time I went to bed. I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care. The mantra played on repeat in my mind.

  Sleep…I should try to get back to sleep. God only knew what Misty and Jake had planned for today. I’d need all the strength I could muster to survive another day around Robbie and the Pork Rind Princess. But once I was awake, I could never fall back asleep. Trying would be useless. I flung the covers back and let my feet slide to the floor. My denim shorts sat on top of my duffel bag. I pulled them on and grabbed a clean t-shirt. May as well see if there was anything to cook for breakfast.

  Twenty minutes later I’d made it halfway through my first cup of coffee. Using a griddle I’d found in one of the cabinets, I stood at the counter, flipping homemade banana nut pancakes.

  Misty padded into the kitchen on bare feet. Her hair clumped on one side of her head and lines of pink and red streaked through her eyes. “Please tell me there’s coffee.”

  “Yeah, let me get you some.” I filled a mug from the pot and handed it to her across the counter.