Finding Our Forever: (A Defining Moments Novel)

by Andee Michelle

  Dinner is great. We talk about my mom leaving for Italy, her work, and my current school bullshit. I’m not even remotely shy about telling her I’m ready for the next semester break now. This semester has kicked my ass and the makeup I’m having to do from being gone for several days to help my mom took more time than I had thought.

  We talk about everything under the sun—from our favorite sports, to favorite foods, to childhood memories. I have to say that I enjoy talking to her more than any other woman I’ve met before. She’s honest and real and so fun to be around.

  Before I know it, we’ve been sitting here for two hours. The service here is fast, so we’ve been done eating for ages but just continue to have the waitress refill our drinks, and she keeps us stocked with breadsticks and dipping oil the whole time we’re here. I’m going to need to run ten miles tomorrow to burn off all the damn bread I’ve eaten today.

  As I pay the bill and thank the waitress, I can feel Sara’s eyes on me. I turn my gaze toward her. Her face is relaxed and she’s smiling.

  “What?” I ask her with a smirk. “Like what you see?”

  “You know I do,” she retorts, no hesitation.

  “Well, let’s get out of here,” I flirt back. She laughs in response and rolls her eyes.

  When we make it out to the truck, I open her door for her, and this time, let her get in on her own. Her flirting has me kind of at a loss. I mean, I know she’s attracted to me. She makes it obvious, but she said she’s not a one-night stand kind of girl. We’ve been on two dates. Maybe I’m reading too much into her flirting.

  I make my way around to the driver side, and the moment I get in and shut the door, I feel her tiny hand on my leg. She’s in the middle of my bench seat, not the passenger side. I look down at her hand then swing my eyes her way, but she’s looking out the windshield. I put my hand on top of the one she has on my thigh, and she swings her eyes to mine. We sit staring at each other for only a second before both of my hands are in her hair and I’m kissing the shit out of her. It all happened so fast, I don’t even know who started it.

  I feel her body moving from the seat beside me but don’t break the kiss. When she settles herself on my lap, knees by my hips, I release her hair and grab her hips, pressing her down into me. She moans loudly and starts rocking against me, and I swear I almost scream like a girl at the contact. I can feel the heat radiating off her and its making me hard as a rock, and I could probably cut granite right now. I rock into her and she squeals into my mouth before pulling hers away and pressing her forehead against mine. I stop my movements, fearing I’m pushing this too far.

  “I want you so bad, Eli,” she practically growls. I rock my hips forward again and she gasps, pushing herself down and grinding on me. She throws her head back and moans so loud I’m afraid someone outside the truck will hear her.

  “Jesus, Sara,” I whisper. “If you keep making those noises, I’m going to take you right here in my truck. I don’t want our first time to be in my truck, baby.”

  “Please, Eli, just shhhh…,” she says and continues to grind on me. She buries her face in my neck, kissing and sucking it while pressing her hot body against mine. Her hands are under my shirt, rubbing up and down my sides and abs. Her breathing quickens as her moans get closer together. She lifts her head from my neck and arches her back just as her body starts to tremble and she screams out my name. I watch mesmerized by this amazing woman who just brazenly used my body to bring herself to orgasm, fully clothed, in my truck, in the parking lot of a restaurant.

  I rub my hands up and down her back after she collapses onto me, still shaking. Her breathing is ragged. When I feel her body tense up, I know she’s just realizing what she did.

  She starts to climb off me, avoiding looking me in the eye, but I grab her hips and make her stay. In the process, a hissing noise escapes me when her hot core once again rubs against me. “I’m so sorry, Eli,” she whispers before trying to pull off me again.

  “Sara, don’t,” I tell her firmly, still holding her in my lap. “Don’t apologize. I swear to all that is holy that was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” She shakes her head and her face is bright red.

  I push both hands into her hair and pull her face to mine, kissing her deeply. The moment our lips meet, she melts into me and wraps her arms around my neck, running her tongue along my bottom lip before sucking it into her mouth. I groan loudly as she bites down gently on my lip and then places a gentle kiss on it. My hands have found their way back down to her hips, and I’m not even remotely shy about pushing my hardness against her again. She gasps loudly.

  It doesn’t take me long to feel the build-up happening, and I push her hips back off me a little bit to avoid a mess. My breathing is fast, and my heart is going a million miles a minute. I break our kiss gently and pull her to me in a hug.

  “Let me return the favor, Eli,” she whispers into my ear before trying to trail kisses down my neck. I pick her hips up off my lap and place her on the seat next to me. The moment I set her down, her hands go to work on the zipper of my pants, but I grab her hands and bring them to my mouth, placing a kiss on the top of one of her hands. She looks up with a confused look on her face.

  “Sara, I don’t want you to return the favor,” I reply hoarsely. She looks at me in shock for a second, and then I watch as embarrassment crosses her face. She pulls her hands back and scoots over to the passenger seat, fiddling with her clothing, which is all askew from my wandering hands.

  “Can you take me home please?” she asks, her face turned toward the passenger side window.

  I don’t know what to say, because I’m truly speechless. I mean, do I want her? Abso-fucking-lutely, and if she were any other woman, I’d probably be banging her right now in my truck where the whole world could see and not give a shit. But for some reason, I want this moment to be in the confines of a bedroom. I’ve had sex in my truck before. No big deal. But Sara deserves more than that. She deserves all the things I’ve never done for anyone else. She deserves the romance, the flowers, and sex in bedrooms. Not sex in some dirty parking lot in the city.

  I put the truck in drive and head toward her house. The ride is completely silent; not even the radio is playing. The moment I put the truck in park in front of her home, she’s out of the truck and walking to the door. I jump out and stride after her quickly. She unlocks the door, opens it, and steps inside, turning toward me just as I make it up the steps.

  “Thanks for dinner, Eli,” she says quietly and starts to close the door.

  Oh hell no.

  I put my hand on the door to stop it and watch as her face pops up in surprise. “Don’t. I don’t need an explanation,” she barks.

  I push the door open and step into the house, shutting the door behind me. She starts to speak, but I grab her hand and pull her to me so quickly she lets out only a small screech before I bend over far enough so my lips crash into hers. She reaches up and runs her hands through my hair and then behind my neck, pulling me further down to her. Placing my hands under her arms, I lift her up, and she instantly wraps her legs around me.

  My hands slide down her back, cupping her ass to hold her against me. She moans and squeezes her legs tighter around me, bringing her once again to just where I need her. She pulls back, gasping, her eyes searching mine.

  “I thought you didn’t want this?” she murmurs.

  “It wasn’t a favor to begin with, crazy woman. And I just didn’t want it to happen in my truck. I want to savor every single second of whatever happens between us, and I can’t do that while being worried someone will see us. I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you in the hospital.”

  She giggles before she kisses me again, gently this time, nipping at my bottom lip like she can’t get enough.

  “Eli, I’m not ready to sleep with you, but I really enjoyed what was happening in the truck,” she blurts out a little too loudly, and then her face is red again.

  “You don’t have to be embarrasse
d about any of this, gorgeous. We’ll go at your pace, and just so you know, I’m up for anything you’re ready to give,” I assure her before returning the nips to her bottom lip.

  She nods her head to the side, and I look over to where she’s motioning to and see a big leather couch. I head to it quickly with her still wrapped around me and continuing to pepper my face and neck with kisses. Sitting down with her on my lap, we continue to make out like a couple of horny teenagers, hands groping each other everywhere. Her boobs are freaking amazing, and when I push the neckline of her T-shirt and the cup of her bra down, a perfect pink nipple comes into my view. Running my tongue over it, her body arches toward me, and she starts grinding on my lap again. I pull back, putting her bra and shirt back in place.

  “Sara, I think we should probably halt this amazing make-out session before I take you into your bedroom and do dirty, dirty things to you. You’re not ready for that. You already said so, and I’m about at the end of my rope.”

  She giggles and then climbs off my lap and sits beside me, leaving her hand on my thigh when she’s settled.

  The moment becomes awkward because neither of us knows what to say now. There is so much sexual tension that you could cut it with a knife.

  I need to get out of here. I seriously have the worst case of blue balls ever.

  I stand up, grabbing her hand and pulling her with me as I head to the door. I stop before I open it to adjust the enormous bulge that’s completely obvious to anyone who sees me. Sara watches with fascination before she puts her hand on mine, causing me to freeze.

  “I really wish you’d let me take care of that, Eli.” She runs her hand along my length, but I grab her hand and pull it away, bringing it to my lips and placing a gentle kiss on her palm.

  “Next time, babe. Right now, I’m past the pleasure point,” I say with a wince and she bites her lips to keep from smiling.

  “I’m sorry,” she purrs.

  I kiss her lips softly and then open the door.

  “I’m going to need to see you again soon,” I tell her as we make our way to my truck.

  “Shit, I just remembered my car is at Ramzi’s,” she blurts.

  “Jump in. I’ll take you to get it, babe.”

  “Let me grab my purse. Be right back,” she replies and then runs back to the house.

  Settling myself in my truck, I’m trying to think of everything except the memory of her on my lap. I’m going to need a cold shower and a cold beer when I get home.

  She jumps up in my truck and immediately adjusts the radio again. When I look over at her, I can’t help but laugh. She’s so playful and fun. It may be the first time I’ve ever really enjoyed just hanging out with a woman. She’s definitely different.

  The drive to her friend’s house is uneventful. We chat about getting together again later this weekend before I return to classes on Monday. She has to work most of next week too, so this weekend will be our only chance for a while.

  She directs me to Ramzi’s place, and when we pull up in front of a beautiful two-story house, I’m shocked. Her friend must be loaded. She points to a newer, red Honda Accord and says, “That’s me.”

  I pull up behind her car and kill the engine. Before I can even turn to her to say anything, I hear a door slam and look up to the house. Coming down the front stairs is a woman, looking right at my truck with a huge smile on her face. She’s tall with dark auburn hair down her back, dressed in skinny jeans and some sort of thin, flowy top. She’s wearing heels, but I can tell even without them she’s at least five feet ten or taller. She’s hot, but with a definite bad-girl vibe. How in the hell is this girl Sara’s best friend? They’re complete opposites.

  “Please, for the love of all things holy, tell me you did naughty things to whoever is driving that truck,” she yells so loud I’m sure the entire neighborhood heard her, and I can’t help but laugh.

  I jerk my head over to Sara, who has her face buried in her hands, and I can’t tell if she’s laughing or hiding in embarrassment.

  When I turn back to the woman, she is getting into an old muscle car, not even attempting to stick around and chat.

  “Ramzi, I presume?”

  Sara lifts her head and glares at me, but then rolls her eyes playfully. “The one and only.”

  BY THE TIME THE weekend is over, I’m exhausted. Between playing catch up on my school work and spending longer than normal hours at the gym to work out the sexual frustration Sara leaves me with, I could use a good solid twelve hours of sleep.

  We decide to meet at a new Tapas bar, which just opened. She said it’s dangerous when we’re in a vehicle together, so she wants to meet there. My guess is that, after she stepped back and looked at what had happened the last date, she isn’t ready to move to that level. I’m cool with it.

  As I pull into the parking lot, I spot her little red car toward the back and see her heading toward the entrance. I pull into a spot and start to get out of my truck but stop when I hear her shouting. When I look to where I last saw Sara, she isn’t there, but when I hear the shouting again, I turn to see her up in some guy’s face and he looks pissed. I slam my truck door and start heading that way, noticing a young woman on the ground behind the guy she’s screaming at. When I hear the words Sara is shouting, I break out into a sprint. This guy is going to hit her.

  “What kind of weak pansy-ass hits a woman half his size? Get out of the way so I can check on her!” Sara screams, her face blood-red and her finger getting dangerously close to touching his chest, which he has puffed out.

  “Why don’t you mind your own business, bitch?” he shouts in her face. “This ain’t got shit to do with you!”

  The moment her hands push into his chest, I know shit is about to hit the fan. Why the Sam Hill would she watch that guy hit his girl and think he wouldn’t hit her back when she tried to push him out of the way? I’m going to have to have a serious talk with her.

  I make it to her just as he brings his hand back to hit her. I pull her body to the side as his eyes land on me.

  “This your nosey bitch?” he growls into my face.

  “Sure is, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll put your hand down before I break it. She’s right, man. What the fuck are you thinking hitting that girl?” I roar. I let my eyes fall to her quickly. She’s out cold on the gravel parking lot, blood trickling out of her nose and mouth. She’s as small as Sara, and this big son of bitch is over six foot and 250 pounds easy.

  “You need to mind your own business too, man,” he grumbles, kicking his foot out slightly and nudging the girl on the ground. She doesn’t look a day over eighteen, and this guy’s closer to thirty.

  “Don’t kick her, you asshole,” Sara screams and tries to go around him to get to her. I grab her hip and once again pull her to me.

  “Dude, you need to step away from her so she can check her out and make sure she’s okay,” I tell him. He looks down at her and his face changes from anger to concern and he starts to bend down to her.

  “Don’t touch her!” Sara screams and pushes away from me, basically throwing herself between the asshole and the girl. He pushes her sideways, but she catches herself against the car before hitting the ground.

  Oh hell fucking no.

  “That’s it,” I bark just as the guy stands back up and comes at me. The moment my knuckles connect with his face, I know I broke his nose. I feel the crunch and he drops to his knees, grabbing his face as the blood pours out of his nose. Sara is behind him when he drops and she takes that moment to kick him in the back as hard as her little legs will allow, causing him to pitch forward onto the gravel.

  She immediately puts her fingers to the girl’s throat to check her pulse. Then she puts her head down close to the girl’s ear and starts to talk to her gently. The girl’s eyes flutter open and tears immediately start to fall. Sara continues to talk to her very low, trying to keep her calm.

  “Eli, you have to call an ambulance,” Sara says to me calmly, never t
aking her eyes off the young girl.

  “My phone is in the truck. Give me yours.” She throws me her tiny purse thing that she had around her wrist. I pull the zipper back and pull her cell phone out, hitting 9-1-1.

  “9-1-1 what is your emergency?” a deep voice questions.

  “Yeah, I need an ambulance dispatched to 2711 North Haywood Blvd. A woman has been hurt,” I tell him quickly.

  “Can you see any visible injuries?” he asks calmly.

  “Her mouth was bleeding a little bit. My friend saw a man punch her, and then she went down. She’s awake now but still laying on the ground. My friend is a nurse, so she’s keeping her still until the ambulance gets here,” I reply.

  “Okay, good. They’re only a few blocks away,” he confirms, and as soon as he finishes the sentence, I hear the siren.

  “Can you please dispatch a police officer too?” I ask him a little quieter, turning my body away from the asshole so he can’t hear me. I don’t want him to run. He’s still sitting on the ground with his face in his hands, bitching about his broken nose.

  “Yes, sir, I’ve already dispatched them. They should be there momentarily too.”

  The moment the ambulance comes into view, I thank the operator and hang up. When they stop, the back doors pop open and they rush over to the girl on the ground.

  “Ma’am, my name is Eric. Can you tell me your name?” one of the EMTs asks her.

  She looks up at his face before answering. She seems confused and out of it. “Bella,” she croaks out.

  “Can you tell me where you’re hurt?” he asks gently.

  She tries to sit up, but Sara tells her not to move. The EMT looks at Sara as if she’s crazy, and when he starts to chastise her about it, Sara shuts him down quickly.

  “Look, Eric, I saw him hit her twice before I got to them, and they were full hits by that huge pile of shit over there,” she blurts while pointing at the guy before she continues. “The last hit knocked her unconscious and she hit the ground head first. She could have a head and/or neck injury. You need to immobilize her.”