by Ashley Blake
I grabbed the sheets, wringing them with my fingers, as his member slowly stretched me, the fullness of him almost too much for me. He began to move in and out of me slowly, and we developed a perfect rhythm, moving in time with each other. He started to move faster, sliding in and out of me, his member thick and hard, my body glistening with sweat. I pushed my hips back against him as he moved forward into me, grinding against him, wanting to feel all of him deep inside me.
His fingers dug into me, pulling my hips back to meet his, and with each thrust he battered deeper into me, his hard member throbbing inside of me, my body wanting all of him. The scent of our arousal was heavy in the air, a perfect mix of pheromones and sex that heightened all of my senses. His member grew harder and thicker inside of me, stretching every inch of me.
“Ah, Lucas, it’s so good! You feel too good!”
He reached around me and rubbed my sensitive nub, slamming into me like a jackhammer and my body started to shake, from deep within me. I lost all control as my orgasm took over, radiating from my core, my body trembling and shaking as everything exploded through me. My muscles clenched around his member and I felt his body tense up as he grabbed the nape of my neck with one hand, the other on my hip as his body tightened. With one final thrust his body shook as his orgasm tore into him, a raw animal sound escaping his lips, his grunt coming from deep within.
He slowly pulled out of me, tossing the condom in the trash next to the bed, and we both collapsed, trying to catch our breath. I rolled on my side, gently placed my hand on Lucas’s cheek and softly kissed his lips.
“Sophie.” A burst of his breath brushed my cheek as he put his arms around my and pulled me close.
I had never felt closer to him. We lay there, holding each other, and drifted off to sleep.
The next afternoon we were walking around looking at the cute little shops in Door County when I saw a really pretty necklace in a window. It was a one of a kind designed by a local artist. Without hesitating Lucas grabbed my hand and we walked into the shop and he asked to see the necklace. He put it around my neck, looked at me and smiled.
“It looks stunning on you.”
He turned to the sales associate and handed her his credit card.
I gave him a big hug and a kiss as I put my hand over the necklace.
“Thank you, Lucas.”
“You’re welcome, beautiful.”
I felt like a princess.
Later that evening Lucas took me to dinner at a beautiful, quaint, Italian restaurant overlooking the lake and we were seated just as the sun was setting. The scene could not have been more beautiful. After we finished eating, we sat there for a few minutes enjoying the view. Lucas reached across the table and held my hand, gently rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb, his eyes searching mine.
“Are you having a good time?”
“I’m having a wonderful time, Lucas. This weekend has been so amazing.”
“Good, I am so happy you could come up here with me, being with you feels so right, Sophie.”
My belly did a little flip and I smiled at him, feeling as if we were the only two people in the room.
“I feel the same way, Lucas.”
“Do you want to go for a walk along the lake?”
“Sure, the moon is gorgeous tonight.”
We strolled along the water, his fingers laced through mine, and we walked in silence for a few minutes, the wind gently blowing around us. We came upon a bench and Lucas stopped, turned to me and gently rested his hands on my shoulders. I looked up at him and his face was serious and his eyes intense as he looked at me. The lake breeze lifted my hair and blew it across my shoulders and he slowly brushed it behind me. His eyes searched mine and as the moonlight illuminated his face, I thought he had never looked more beautiful.
“I love you, Sophie, you make me so happy.”
I could not have stopped my huge smile even if I wanted to. My eyes were sparkling as I looked at him, completely filled with happiness.
“I love you too, Lucas.”
I reached up and put my arms around him and he wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close. He nuzzled his face in my hair and let out a deep sigh.
“Sophie.”
I knew exactly how he was feeling. That indescribable need and desire was there for me too. We held each other close and I never wanted to let go.
He looked at me and then kissed me softly, his tongue sweeping into my mouth and sliding across mine, our love for each other palpable. He wrapped his arm around me as we strolled side-by-side back to the car, and I leaned my head on his shoulder feeling happier than I ever had in my life.
I looked up at him, a tiny pout touching my mouth.
“I can’t believe we have to go back to Chicago tomorrow. Being here with you has been so perfect.”
“I know, I wish we could just stay here but we both have work to get back to.”
“Speaking of that, when do you go to New York?”
“I fly out at 4:00 tomorrow afternoon.”
I stopped in my tracks, completely surprised, and look at him in disbelief. “You do? I thought you were going later this week.”
"I was, but that artist, you know the new up and coming guy I told you about? He is going to be in New York for just a few hours tomorrow night so I need to get there so that I can talk to him about possibly showing his work at one of our galleries.”
“When were you going to tell me?” I tried not to sound upset.
“I was going to tell you this weekend. I didn’t mention anything before tonight because I didn’t want to think about work, I just wanted to enjoy being with you.”
“When are you coming back?”
“I will be back on Wednesday.”
I was full on pouting now. “Why can’t you come back on Tuesday?”
“Don’t look at me like that, Sophie, you’ll make me feel bad. I won’t be gone long. I am meeting with Ellie on Tuesday afternoon and a new art dealer after that, so it will probably be a late night.”
My stomach instantly fell into my toes when I heard Ellie’s name. I had forgotten that he was going to see her and I couldn’t wait until that meeting was over. I was so happy that she lived so far away.
“Okay, Wednesday will be here before I know it, right?”
He nodded as he kissed the top of my head and hugged me tight. “Right.”
Chapter 11
I threw myself into designing my bracelet line to help the time pass but the days passed slowly anyway. Wednesday night I was a nervous wreck as I waited to hear from Lucas. The fact that he had been in New York and I knew that he was with Ellie made me sick to my stomach. I don’t think it would have been such a big deal if she had just been a random girl he dated, but thanks to his former girlfriends I knew that Ellie had been a really special girlfriend. I couldn’t help but freak out over the fact that he was spending time alone with her. I tried to focus on the fact that he had told me he loved me before he left, and that she couldn’t come in between us, but it was hard to believe.
He finally called me around 9:30 that night and my heart was banging against my chest, my palms sweaty as I did my best to sound casual and not desperate on the phone. Of course I wanted to ask about Ellie right away but I knew that would piss him off, so I focused on the art stuff.
“How was your trip?”
“It was good, but it was a long two days.”
“Oh, well I’m glad you’re back. Were you able to meet with that new artist?”
“Yeah, that went really well, I think we’re going to show his stuff in a couple of months. I want my dad to meet him so we’re flying out again next week.”
Oh great, more opportunity to see Ellie.
“You really do travel a lot for work, huh?”
“Yes, but it’s never for very long unless I am travelling overseas. Speaking of which…”
I cut him off. “Don’t tell me you’re going overseas, please don’t tell me that.”
“Lucas, first, that is fantastic! I know what a big deal that is for you. I’m so happy for you and I can’t wait to see which piece you choose to show.”
“I already have it picked out.”
“Okay, second, now that the good news is out of the way, let’s talk about the bad news. When are you leaving?” I tried really hard not to whine.
“I’m leaving a week from Tuesday but I will only be gone for a week.”
There was something weird in his voice, he sounded kind of distant, and I could tell that there was something he wasn’t telling me.
“A week is not so bad.”
“No, it’s not so bad. I do have something to tell you about my trip, Sophie.”
There it was. I could feel the panic rising in my throat.
“Okay.”
“I saw Ellie and she is not happy living and working in New York. She asked me if my dad would let her work at one of our galleries.”
No! No! No!
“And what did you say?”
“I told her she was more than welcome to come work for us. I want you to hear me out on this, Sophie. Ellie has an incredible art eye so she would be a great asset to the gallery. My father actually tried to recruit after college but she really wanted to move to New York, so she turned him down. He told her that the door would always be open because she really is very talented. I know you’re not a part of the art world but it is very competitive and when you find someone with an eye like hers, you do whatever you can to get that person to work for you.”
“So she’s going to be working with you? Every day?”
“No, it won’t be like that. She’ll be working at the gallery but, like I told you before, I’m not at the gallery every day. It’s nothing more than a working relationship, Sophie. I love you, I want you to remember that.”
I was silent as I let his words sink in. Ellie was coming back to Chicago.
“I love you too, Lucas. When can I see you?”
“Let’s have dinner tomorrow night.”
“Okay, that sounds good.”
“How’s 6:00?”
“That works for me.” I didn’t feel like talking anymore, the fact that Ellie was coming back was really messing with my head.
“Alright, I’ll pick you up then.”
“Well, I better let you go, Lucas. I’m exhausted.”
“But you didn’t tell me about your week. How has it been so far?”
So far? Oh, great until about 10 minutes ago!
“It’s been fine, Lucas. I really have to go.”
“Sophie, what is going on? Talk to me.”
I didn’t feel like getting into the whole Ellie thing and I really didn’t want to sound like the jealous girlfriend, so it was best that we ended the call.
“I’m just tired, Lucas. It’s been a long day. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, sure.” He sounded defeated but I didn’t have time to think about that. I was worried about Ellie.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yep, 6:00. I’m looking forward to it, Sophie. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I sat on my bed staring at the wall, wishing that Gigi was home so I could talk to her. I didn’t know how to process the information I had just gotten and my head was spinning. I could feel myself starting to freak out so I took a few deep breaths and decided to turn in for the night. Thankfully, sleep came quickly.
The next day I threw myself into designing the bracelets because my deadline was looming and I had to have samples ready by the end of the following week. I had finally come up with five really good designs and I needed to take them to get made. Gigi hooked me up with her cousin who owned a jewelry shop and they put me in touch with a company who would make the prototypes on the cheap. I just needed something to take to my meeting with Glitz the following week because they were ready to really get things moving. I made an appointment to drop off my designs with them the following day and just as I was hanging up the phone I heard Gigi’s key in the door.
I ran to the door and she looked totally surprised as I flung it open.
“I have been dying for you to get home!”
The look of surprise changed to concern when she saw the look on my face.
“What happened? You look completely stressed out!”
She dropped her bag, grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the couch, her eyes searching mine.
“Okay, tell me what’s going on.”
I took a deep breath and told her about Ellie.
"She's going to be working with him, Gigi. Every single day, the ex-girlfriend who probably still wants him is going to be with him all the time! What am I going to do?”
“Okay, first, take a deep breath and try to calm down. Lucas told you he loves you, Sophie, and I believe he does. He also told you that things with Ellie were over a year ago and he doesn’t have those feelings for her, right?”
“Yes, he said that.”
“Do you have any reason to think he’s lying to you?”
“No.”
“Well then you’re going to have to trust him, Sophie. Just take things one day at a time, you don’t want to screw things up with him before they’ve really had a chance to get started.”
I took a deep breath, put my head in my hands for a few seconds and then looked at my friend and smiled.
“You’re right, you’re the voice of reason that I needed. Thanks, Gigi.”
“Anytime, girlie. Do you want to grab lunch somewhere?”
“Sure, let’s just get a sandwich at Jimmy John’s or somewhere like that.”
“Okay, cool.”
After lunch I worked on my blog for a while and then around 5:00 I hopped in the shower to get ready for my date. I felt more nervous than I had in a long time and I just wanted everything to be like it was before Lucas told me that Ellie was moving to Chicago.
Lucas showed up right on time at 6:00 and when I stepped off of the elevator to greet him in the lobby, he took my breath away. It had only been a few days since I had seen him but I had forgotten how incredibly good-looking he was. I stood there for a second not saying anything, just taking him in and I let out a deep sigh. This gorgeous man loves me.
He winked at me as I walked toward him and I couldn’t help but smile at him. I instantly felt good about us and in that moment nothing else mattered to me but us.
He smiled as I walked toward him and he pulled me in for a hug and a quick kiss on the lips.
“Hi, beautiful. It’s good to see you.”
I looked up at him, my eyes searching his. “It’s good to see you, too.”
I had totally forgotten that we were standing in my lobby until I heard my doorman clear his throat. I looked over at him with a sheepish grin and he gave me a small wave.
“Hi, Charles.”
“Hello Sophie, Lucas. I hope you both have a nice evening.”
Lucas nodded at him. “Thanks, Charles. Have a good one.”
We hopped into the Maserati and I realize that I had no idea where we were going for dinner. I turned to Lucas who was totally into the song that was playing on Sirius, bopping his head to the music.
“Hey, where are we going for dinner?”
“I thought we would go to North Pond, I hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, that sounds great, I have never been there and I have really wanted to go.”
After we were seated at the restaurant, we started talking about Lucas’s trip to Italy.
“So are you just going to roam the streets looking for new artists?”
“Pretty much. Ariana told me where she saw some really talented artists so I’m going to start there and then, yeah, I am just going to roam around and see what I can find. I’m going to start in Florence, then go to Rome, and Tuscany.”
“That actually sounds kind of cool, that’s a really neat way to discover new talent. I can’t wait to see who you find.”
