by D W Marshall
Forward and backward.
Up and down.
Slow, delicious circles around his enormous cock. The look in his eyes and the moans escaping him tell me that he is about to reach his peak of excitement and I will be along for that ride with him. We both erupt in a glorious mountain of sensations, cries, moans, and love spasms. I collapse on his chest and I don’t move an inch. His cock pulsates deliciously inside me. We are fast breaths, sweat, and pounding hearts.
“That was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced,” Miles says breathlessly.
“I’d agree if I had the strength,” I tease. He attempts to pull out, but I push closer to him. After all, I am still on top and have more control. “Don’t you dare take my new best friend away from me. We are still getting acquainted.”
Miles complies and a small, pleased laugh escapes his lips. We fall asleep in this way.
Chapter Nineteen
Miles: Having My Cake and Eating it Too
Would it be in poor form to propose to Maeve today? I answer my own question and the answer is yes. If I didn’t think she would laugh in my face, I might just do it. I mean, I know Maeve is kind and she would let me down gently and never laugh, but the answer of course would be no. We barely know each other, and she has so much healing and growing to do as a person that it would be wrong. But after making love to her last night, I am convinced that there is no other woman on this planet for me but her. She is, in a word, everything. How can I want more?
She is smart, funny, creative, loving, sexy, and beautiful.
But, in the same breath, she is vulnerable, afraid, and in the middle of major healing. I already feel guilty for letting things go so far. How selfish am I? But then I have to remember what Dominic said to me—I can love her through this, and if I really love her I will want to protect her more than anything on this earth.
I can do this. I can love her and be in love with her, and I can train her to be lethal because of the love I have for her. I have no choice. The line has been crossed. The blurred lines have intertwined. We are a team.
But can I be with her again like I was last night? Is that fair to her? Oh my goodness, I want it to be, because making love to her was the most spectacular thing that has ever happened to me. She became mine last night. And I take the best of care with what’s mine.
It is hard to believe that Maeve and I could find love under these circumstances, but we have. I love her more than anything. My fear is that we moved to soon—she is hardly ready. Dominic encouraged me to move forward based on his life with Vivian. Vivian and Maeve may share The Chamber, but that is the extent of what they have in common. Maeve was fragile before her time at that evil place. Her problems began long before. I’m sure when Vivian came home things might not have been perfect but from what I understand, she had two very loving guys to choose from, not a douche-rocket of a fiancé and a world of judging faces.
I should have given her more time. But to step away from her now would be as good as rejecting her, and that is the opposite of what she needs. No one wants to hear I’m leaving you for you, not me. Even it were true, it would take time for them to understand the truth behind your words. In the beginning they would despise you. The only choice I have is to let her lead in the romance department. I will listen to her. Not her words, but her unspoken words to guide me.
Okay, I need to get out of my head, because overthinking is a man’s worst enemy. My new vow is to take care of even her simplest desire.
Hunger, that should be her first desire this morning. I decide to grab breakfast for my girl. I order eggs, bacon, toast, and juice for us.
Chapter Twenty
Maeve: Am I Dreaming?
I wake earlier than usual, because my mind remembers what happened between Miles and me last night. Our promises to one another. The perfect puzzle fit that our lovemaking revealed. Was it real? I open my eyes one at a time and find myself alone in bed.
It was a fecking dream, wasn’t it? No way something so amazing could have really happened to me.
It would have been the perfect ending to the most wonderful day. I am about to hop out of bed to go to the bathroom when the door to our room opens. Miles is standing in the opening. Cast in heavenly light from the living room, he regards me with a look so tender I can only blush.
“Good morning, beautiful. I brought breakfast. I thought you might be hungry after last night,” he says, crossing the room.
So I didn’t imagine last night.
I stretch my arms above my head. “Hi there,” I say.
Miles crosses the room in haste and I am swept into his arms and our lips are entwined. I don’t hesitate to peel his clothes off so that he is bare-muscled perfection in front of me. His erection is full when he sinks deep inside me. The feeling is everything. In and out he thrusts into me. We are sighs and moans. I grind my hips around in circles as that familiar feeling builds inside me. I nudge him to encourage him to roll over so I am atop. When I gaze down at him, the look in his eyes tells me only that he is in love. I don’t move, he doesn’t move. I contract my walls around him and his body flinches in pleasure each time.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you,” he says.
Tears fall uncontrolled onto his chest and stomach. I trail my fingers through the grooves and sinews of his body, dragging my tears down. Then I lose myself in this moment. Grinding onto his cock as if it were a ride at the fair. I lift up and sink down over and over until we both come apart. The fiery sensations are powerful and wonderful, because Miles is the first man I have made love to in more than a year. I don’t stop grinding after we come and it is driving him crazy. When I can no longer move I collapse on his chest. His arms envelop me.
I don’t know how long we are asleep, but my noisy stomach wakes me. “I’m hungry now,” I say.
“Well we will have to go get food, because I am sure what I got is cold.”
We don’t bother showering. We dress and head down in search of food.
Chapter Twenty-One
Miles: Exhausted
This morning at breakfast she glowed and radiated love, and it was beautiful on her. She should always wear that shade of happy. We shared a plate at the buffet as only a couple experiencing new love can. We each had to eat with one hand because we couldn’t keep the other ones to ourselves. It was nice. Older couples watching us didn’t seem to see color, only a young, happy couple in love.
We meet with Dominic and Vivian at a private warehouse that is equipped with space for gymnastics and boxing. We warm them up with running. For Dominic and me this is easy, but the girls look like they are going to kill us. When we hit the center floor, Maeve is out of breath, clutching her side and says, “There’s more?” I can’t help but laugh and nod. The look on her face is that of a toddler who was told they couldn’t have a toy or dessert, and I want to kiss the wrinkle between her eyes. Adorable.
We take them through a conditioning routine that we expect them to eventually commit to memory. This way they can do it anywhere.
After conditioning we take them into the boxing ring and work on some simple kicks and strikes. When the girls are sufficiently beat, we take them to grab lunch. Maeve is so tired she asks for a smoothie so she doesn’t have to chew.
The girls crash the second we get back to the room, so I head into the living room area to watch TV with Dominic.
“I think I made a huge mistake with Maeve,” I say when he hands me a cold beer and flops down on the other couch.
“Why, man?”
“I think it was too soon. She needs more time to get herself together, and now I pushed her into intimacy. It’s only gonna confuse her,” I say.
“How do you know this isn’t exactly what she needs?”
I take a swig of my beer and think about what he is saying.
“You love her, right?” he continues.
“I do. I love her. But I don’t know if she should depend on me this way, before she even knows how
to depend on herself,” I say and let out the breath I am holding.
“Look, I get what you are saying. But the way I see it, as long as what you do with her is out of love, you can’t go wrong. She will learn all this about herself…it just might take longer ‘cause you fucked up and blurred the lines,” he teases.
I throw a sofa pillow at him. “You ass!” He was the one who was extra-encouraging me.
Dominic laughs.
Fucker.
Maybe he is right. Only time will tell. I know one thing—it is nice to have them on this journey with us.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maeve: Training
“Uh, did we really sign up for this shite?” I ask Vivian while we do our seven-billionth squat. “Because if we did, once we are ripped and trained we should kick our own asses!”
I have never worked so hard in my entire life. We run through this freaking conditioning routine daily. Today we are doing it in our hotel suite on our own while the fecking guys just watch.
“I hate them! We should kick their asses,” she says and we glare at the guys who only laugh harder at us.
After we go through this brutal routine—which I have to admit is reshaping parts of me; I notice I am not as soft as I was in my legs and arms—we are heading back to the gun range on Blue Diamond Road. The guys in there are really cool and the big German Shepherd always greets me. The guys said that Vivian and I have taken very well to shooting handguns. I won’t say that I like guns more than before, but I definitely have a respect for them. At some point in our training we are going to experience what we should do if someone pulls a gun on us. Scary.
As always, after training we are treated. This afternoon we are going to be spoiled at the spa. Which Vivian and I really need for our sore everything.
“This is the part I love—the special reward for our hard work,” Vivian says.
I don’t look over at her because my eyes are covered with cucumber. We are wrapped up like mummies. “Me too. If I could, I would like to just do this part of the training,” I say.
Vivian giggles. “Good luck getting either one of them to agree to that.”
“A girl can try, right?”
“Yep, she can. Speaking of a girl trying… I notice things steaming up with you and Miles,” Vivian says.
“Truthfully, I don’t know what we were waiting for. We are really good together. I just hope it lasts.” I say my fears aloud.
Silence.
“Listen, we can’t predict the future. If anyone knows that it’s you and me… The only thing we can do is live in each moment and hope for the best future we can get. Hell, a bus could run us over after this beautiful spa day.”
I sigh. “That is an awful thought, Vivian,” I say.
“Doesn’t make it a lie.”
“Sure doesn’t.”
We sit in oversized, comfy chairs like lumps of formless clay, relaxed by our numerous treatments. There are cold and hot dipping pools in front of us, but I am too loose to move. Instead, we sip cucumber and lemon water and have an array of teas and fresh fruit to snack upon.
“Do you think about it often?” I don’t have the say what it is. I know that Vivian is one of the strong from our time in The Chamber. Does she have bad dreams? Does she remember vivid details like I do?
“More often than I care to. I wish there a pill I could take to help me forget. What about you?”
“The nightmares are less frequent. I don’t know, since I came to Vegas I have felt better. Being with you has been the best kind of therapy. A real sisterhood. I guess I could really begin to heal if I knew that evil place didn’t exist and the man responsible was behind bars.”
We both sigh. “I know. I feel awful knowing the things that are taking place there right now. Dominic has a plan though. It scares the shit out of me, but he is hell-bent on bringing that maniac to his knees,” she says.
“Scary is only the half of it. I wish him all the luck. He must know what he is up against. If you guys need anything let me know. I mean, a fat lot of good I can be, but who knows what you might need along the way.”
“I love you, Maeve,” Vivian says.
“I love you too,” I say. “Hey, when’s the wedding?”
“August, and you and Miles better be there. I want you in my wedding.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Maeve: Feeling the Heat
In a rare gesture of kindness the guys give us two days off from training! Let me clarify—they are two days in a row. It shouldn’t feel like hitting the lottery but it does. My body changes are a direct reflection of the training. If I wanted to go back to modeling, it would have to be for fitness companies at this point. My shoulders are missing the softness they once had, and it has been replaced by lines that were never drawn before. My abs have changed too. Well, another clarification. I used to have a flat stomach. Now I have abs, like a four-pack! I also don’t hate running as much as I did before, except for the fact that this city is too hot for most outdoor activities.
We decide to spend the day at the pool. Again, one of the guys has the forethought to secure a cabana for us. It’s the middle of June and by late morning it is already a scorcher. Vivian is rocking a tiny red bikini and I am wearing a black one. I am so proud of Vivian that she can wear anything red after suffering that color for an entire year in The Chamber. And she wears it like a badge. The guys both opt for Hawaiian-print board shorts.
There are half-naked gorgeous women everywhere, showing off the bodies they worked so hard on during the year. Most, anyway. I am sure that some of these sculpted bodies before us were purchased. A chisel here, a tuck there.
“I don’t want to complain about your city, Vivian, but you enjoy baking out here like this? It really feels like I am on the center rack in the oven set to four-hundred-fifty degrees.” I fan myself but it isn’t working.
Vivian laughs. A waitress comes and offers us drinks. I order all the water she can carry on her tray, and Miles coats me with another spray of sunscreen. Did I mention I am fair with freckles? Shade, please.
“You get used to the weather. I love it!” Vivian says.
“Oh I am bringing you to Ireland, my friend. The weather there is a dream!”
“Come on, Maeve, it’s not that hot!”
Miles leans past me. “Are you insane? I fear we might be in the depths of hell,” Miles teases.
We all look to Dominic to get his take on the Vegas heat. “Don’t look at me. This shit is ridiculous! At least back home we have afternoon rains to cool us down. Vegas has the nerve to have a breeze in the summer. That just feels like someone turned on a blow dryer and put it in your face,” Dominic says.
“You guys are all wimps! For all your training, you get whipped by Mother Nature!” Vivian laughs at her joke.
“Don’t front on Mother Nature. She is a bad bitch,” Miles says.
We all laugh, but anyone who has seen an earthquake, hurricane, flood, or tornado can attest to her power.
The waitress comes back with waters for me, beers for the guys, and a martini for Vivian. Our friends Jonathan and Mitch are with us today. Anytime Miles and Dominic plan to drink, their extra pair of eyes appear. I don’t mind them much. They are nice and very professional. Their presence does give off the impression that we are more important than we are. Not that we aren’t important people—everyone is. I mean in a political, celebrity, or social way. Their presence screams, whoever these people are they are worthy of personal protection.
Even with the shade the heat is exhausting. I watch the drunken fun that people around me are having. Still, I keep with the water. I know myself—if I drink in this heat, I will only be sleepy.
At one point I follow Miles to the pool because he promises it will cool me off. We walk in from the beach entry and keep walking until we are in waist deep. The water is cool and refreshing. I sink under, so that I am drenched from head to toe. Did I mention that
Miles never lets go of my hand the entire time we are in the pool? Without being prompted, I use my second pair of eyes and take in my surrounding now that we have changed locations. Something Miles has beaten into me. Always reassess. Even if you stay in the same place for a time, people are constantly on the move.
Vivian is sitting on Dominic’s lap under our cabana. Jonathan and Mitch are sipping water to keep hydrated and their heads are on a subtle swivel. There are too many people in the pool to count at the moment, most drinking some sort of alcohol, enjoying this heat. No immediate threats in the area.
Miles smiles proudly and his lips graze my cheek. “I see you,” he says.
“Trained by the best,” I say.
When we get back to the room, I crash. No shower. We are going out to dinner tonight and I am wiped from doing nothing at all but spending a day at the pool. I feel eighty years old. I don’t dream. I rarely have nightmares anymore. I can feel myself getting better, stronger. My only hope is that the reason has something to do with me, and not because of Miles alone. It is hard to tell what is the truth in that query because I never gave myself the chance to go it alone. I hope I have had something to do with my growth, because I would be a fool to give a man the power again.
How could I ever tell? How would I ever know?
We get showered and dressed to go out. I am relieved that this isn’t a super-dressy night. I am still exhausted from the pool so I don a sleeveless floral romper and sandals. Barely there make-up and my hair in natural waves, because I didn’t want the heat of styling products. Everyone is going casual tonight, and of course Jonathan and Mitch accompany us. We decide to hit the Linq to ride the giant Ferris wheel and we eat at Guy Fieri’s famous and delicious restaurant.
