Fire & Flesh

by Kerri Carr

  “You must be worn out,” he said with a smile, letting go of his bags so he could wrap his arms around my waist. He pulled me in for a swift kiss and I almost forgot that I was on the verge of being mad at him.

  “I could use a nap,” I acknowledged, “,but we’ll be here for only a day. I want to see as much as I can.”

  “Hey, we’re not in a hurry,” he said with a smile. “If you want to see the whole damn island, we’ll wait until you do before leaving. Now go take a nap.”

  “Really, Elliot. I’ll be…” a yawn took away the last word.

  He gave me a blank stare. “Go take a nap or I’ll have to spank you.”

  I sucked in a deep breath at the dangerously seductive gleam in his eyes. “Fine, but what will you be doing when I’m sleeping?” I asked.

  “Just check in at the yacht, speak to the captain and then come right back here.”

  “Okay.”

  I undressed and crawled into bed. Elliot approached the side of the bed and sat beside me. Leaning over, he dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Call your mom and let her know you’re okay,” he told me.

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  He smiled. “I’m so glad you agreed to marry me, Carrie. There’s no way I could have let you marry that fool.”

  I opened my mouth to respond but he kissed me. “Go to sleep.”

  Chapter 9

  Despite feeling tired, I couldn’t fall asleep. I tossed and turned in the bed for almost twenty-minutes before I decided napping was a lost cause. I got out of bed and called my mom instead. She wanted to know all the details of what happened between Elliot and me. Once more, I had to remind her about boundaries.

  “Sweetheart, we’re two women,” she said and I imagined her rolling her eyes. “You can talk to me about everything. If he’s as endowed as his father, and something tells me he is, then you should be pregnant in no time when you get back from your honeymoon.”

  “Mooom!” I cried, at the same time my mind racing about the lack of precaution Elliot and I had taken the multiple times we already had sex.

  “You’re such a prude,” she chided.

  “I’m just glad now Noah won’t bother Elliot about him marrying to get his inheritance,” I said. “That’s quite a low blow to have such a stipulation around one’s inheritance.”

  “What are you talking about, dear?” Mom asked. “Elliot received the trust fund portion of his inheritance three years ago. And, he handled it well, might I add. He built a hotel in the Bahamas that’s thriving.”

  “What? You must be mistaken.”

  “I’m positive, dear. Noah was so proud of him and bragged that his son had his business shrewdness .”

  Shock rocked me. Had Elliot lied to me? But, why would he do that?

  “Oh, I must have been mistaken then. Look, Mom, I’ve to go. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Okay, hon. And if you need any advice about—” I hung up the phone before she could continue.

  Thoughts racing through my mind, I dug through my bag for a dress to wear. I slipped it over my head along with a pair of sandals and grabbed my purse. I had no idea where I was going, but I was certain someone would be able to guide me to the nearest pharmacy. I couldn’t afford to get pregnant with Elliot’s baby, not knowing what was going on between us.

  Once the elevator took me to the lobby, I was marching my way to the front desk to ask for directions when I halted. Elliot who was supposed to have been at the dock was leaning against the top of the table. His head was close to Clover’s as they pored over whatever it is they had between them while talking. Clover said something and he threw back his head and laughed.

  I never considered myself much of a jealous person, but I supposed that was exactly what I felt seeing them. Years of insecurity punched me in the gut. I did a doubletake before he could spot me and headed for the elevator. I held my breath he wouldn’t notice me. He didn’t. Why would he notice me anyway when he had the gorgeous Clover in front of him?

  Chapter 10

  Back in our suite, I slammed the door shut and started to pace. I didn’t know what to do, but I was trying to calm down before he appeared. The last thing I wanted to do was fly off the handle. He had promised to love and cherish me till death do us part but I knew he didn’t mean it. I had no reason to be upset with me but I was. Damn right I was!

  The door opened and I tried to calm down before he found me. I was standing in the living room when he entered.

  “Carrie, is everything okay?”

  I turned to him, intending to tell him everything was quite fine. Then I remembered how he had married me under false pretenses. What else had he life about?

  “Why did you marry me?” I blurted out.

  “What?”

  “I asked why you married me? This isn’t about some damn inheritance, is it? Why did you lie to me?”

  He sighed. “You spoke to my dad?”

  I shook my head. “I spoke to my mom who confirmed you lied.”

  “Let me explain.”

  Except that now I had started I couldn’t stop. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into something so crazy. And then you brought me here where God knows how many women you’ve taken in this very room.”

  He scowled at me. “What are you talking about? I haven’t taken any women here.”

  “That’s right because she already works here.”

  “I swear you’re not making any sense.”

  “I’m talking about Clover. Why would you want me over her? I’m not stupid. How am I connected to her? What are you not telling me?”

  “I’m not involved with Clover!” he denied. “She’s simply the front desk agent.”

  “Then what were you two talking about just now?”

  He blinked. “You saw us?”

  “I wanted to go out and spotted you from the lobby.”

  He gave a long sigh and walked over to me. I tried to ward him off but he took me by the arms and kissed me. As mad as I was at him, I wasn’t immune to his kisses. I had melted in his arms by the time he stopped the kiss.

  “I love you, Carrie,” he said with a smile. “I thought you would have figured out that from yesterday.”

  “You love me?” I asked in surprise.

  “Yes. I’ve known for a while now and to be honest the morning we ran into each other at your ex’s apartment, I had been about to pay him off to leave you alone so I could woo you.”

  “Are you being serious?”

  “You bet, I am.”

  I shook my head. “But, I don’t understand. You never indicated how you felt.”

  “You were younger. I had to wait for you to grow up. I knew you had a crush on me, but I wanted to know it was the real thing. I was willing to wait on that. Our parents knew the real reason I married you was because I love you so they didn’t protest to the wedding.”

  “Oh.” I had no idea what else to say. “That still doesn’t explain why you were in the lobby just now chatting up Clover.”

  “Now you’re going to ruin the surprise,” he groaned. “Clover was helping me organize a nice intimate dinner between us. She’s nothing but a worker, baby. You’re perfect for me the way you are and I don’t want anyone else.”

  He seemed so sincere I couldn’t doubt him. I threw my hands around him and planted my lips on his. “I love you to,” I moaned. “I loved you for so long.”

  He kissed me back, spreading his hands over my ass. He squeezed and released, before slipping his hands under the hem of my dress. He sucked my tongue into his mouth and I clung to him when he pushed a hand into my underwear and found my center to slip his middle finger inside.

  “Perfect,” he said kissing my face. “I love the way you get in my arms. You’re so freaking wet already, baby and I love that. I love you.” He continued fingering me until we were too bothered and needed more. We tore at each other clothes before he lifted me. He brought me over to the couch and sat with me on his lap. He kissed my nipples, bringing me to stand o
n the couch with my legs spread either side of his head. I sat slowly on his face, and clung to the back of the sofa. He sucked my flesh into his mouth, clutching both my thighs. He licked and tongued me until my legs trembled and became unsupportive.

  Only then did he pull me back to sit down on him. I held his cock at the base with one hand then sat. I moaned at the way he slid into my body, a nice tight fit.

  “Jesus, baby. Ride me.”

  And I did. Gripping his shoulder, I rode his cock bouncing my ass up and down. I tightened my inner muscles, and he groaned. He kissed my neck, my breasts and thrust upward so he slid deeper inside me.

  “Yes baby! That’s it!” he groaned.

  Sensing how close he was to the edge, I moved faster, slamming my ass down into his groin. I felt him twitch beneath me like a second before my climax bore down on me. His cock pulsed in my body and I clung to him, a smile on my face from the mutual climax. When we both came back to, I was lying against his chest.

  “That was amazing,” he murmured, stroking my damp back. “You don’t have to worry about me and other women, Carrie. I didn’t wait for so long for you only to screw up. You mean too much to me.”

  He kissed his chin with a smile. “I’m so happy but there’s one thing, El.”

  He groaned. “What now? Do you want me to introduce you to Clover’s boyfriend so you know how much I’m not into her?”

  I giggled and shook my head. “I believe you about Clover. That’s not it.”

  “Then what?”

  “We really need to stop having unprotected sex if we don’t want to get pregnant right now.”

  He cupped my chin and stared into my eyes. “I guess we’re not using any then. I can’t wait to see you carrying our child.”

  Smiling at him, I knew then I would never regret the day I said “I do” to him.

  THE END

  Another bonus story is on the next page.

  Bonus Story 13 of 44

  The Peace Treaty

  “Your saved twenty-five dollars. Thank you for shopping at Catskill Grocery, have a nice day!”

  Maya handed the elderly woman her receipt and watched her go with a heavy sigh. Ringing groceries for eleven dollars an hour was certainly monotonous. She couldn’t wait for the day that she was finished with college so that she could have a better job. That sent a new wave of hopelessness over her, Maya could only go to school part-time because of her family’s financial situation. At twenty-one years old she knew that night time college courses and working at Catskill Grocery were in her immediate and somewhat distant future.

  “Why do you look like your about to cry?”

  The voice brought Maya back to the present. One of the service clerks, Michael, was at the end of her register studying her intently. She’d known him for about three years, and they’d been in new employee orientation together. Michael was the one thing that made working at the grocery store interesting. He was funny, and they could easily talk about any topic while Maya rang groceries and he bagged them. In fact, they’d received several complaints from customers for their lack of attention to anything else.

  Michael was also very attractive; he constantly wore a smirk that made him appear mischievous and cute, and he had warm brown eyes, wavy dark brown hair even though he kept it cropped relatively close to his head. He was so tall that Maya’s head barely grazed his shoulder. Her stomach did a nervous dance whenever he was around, today being no different.

  “I’m just having one of those moments where I’m questioning my life choices. Working here, only being able to take two classes a semester, my mom having to raise Gabriella and me on her own. I’m having a pity party, don’t mind me.”

  “No, I get it,” Michael replied. “Your family has had it rough.” He was very familiar with Maya’s messed up home life as they’d talked about it many times. “You got to focus on the positive, girl. Sure it’s going to take you longer, but when you finish school, you could be whatever you want. You could write a book, or be a reporter for some news agency. It will mean so much to you and your mother when you finally graduate.” Then his smirk splayed across his face and made Maya weak in the knees. “Plus, don’t hate on Catskill Grocery, you wouldn’t know me if you didn’t need to work to pay off your loans.”

  Maya blushed and dropped her eyes to the register. “That’s certainly true.”

  Over the three years that she’d gotten to know Michael, something had changed between them. The playful banter between them had become flirtatious, and she found herself play fighting with him whenever he would tease her. Sometimes when he spoke to her, his sentences wouldn’t make any sense, and his face would be as red as hers.

  The biggest thing had taken place just over a week ago on a night that she didn’t have class. They’d closed the store, and once they had punched out, they stood out by their cars talking. Just when Maya was about to go, Michael kissed her and told her that he’d been “dying to do that for longer than he could remember.” Maya didn’t sleep that night, even now as she looked at his handsome face and remembered the kiss, she felt like she was on fire.

  Part of Maya knew that Michael wanted to be her boyfriend. He didn’t treat anyone else at the store like he treated her. She would be lucky to be with someone so attentive and fun, but she couldn’t confront him about it, at least not yet. There were a few things that gave Maya reservations.

  In the three years that she had known Michael, she had shared many details about her life, but she knew nothing about his. Besides the fact that he lived in the same town as the store, she had no idea if his parents were together or divorced, if he had siblings, or even if he’d had another girlfriend before. He kept his life outside of work very private, and it almost made her wonder if there was something that he didn’t want her to know.

  The second thing that made Maya lie awake and wonder if there was something going on with Michael was that he was always sick from work several days during the month, every month, for three years. Honestly, Maya wasn’t sure how he got away with it, but there were always a few days that he was missing, and she had no idea what he could be up to. He certainly wasn’t sick, so what was it? Maybe Maya had an overactive imagination, but if she got involved with Michael romantically would it affect her life, too?

  “Dude, earth to Maya? You’re on another planet today.” Michael waved his hand in front of her face.

  Maya shook her head. “Sorry, I guess I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

  “Let’s do something after work then. I’ll take you to a movie or something.”

  Maya felt her heart pounding in her chest. He’d never asked her to go anywhere outside of work before. Then she despaired because she had her British Literature class tonight. “Can I take a raincheck for tomorrow night? I have class at six tonight.”

  Michael thought for a minute before he smiled. “That would be great. I’ll warn you, though, it’s going to be a slasher flick.”

  “A horror movie? I thought you wanted to reduce my stress?”

  Michael’s smile morphed back into his smirk. “How else am I going to get you to cuddle up with me? We clearly can’t do that here.”

  Maya balked at his boldness. It didn’t matter because their manager called him to go get shopping carts from the parking lot. Maya watched him walk away and wondered if was going to become harder to fight off her reservations. But, before she could dwell on it longer, a customer came with a huge order, and she had to focus on something else.

  *****

  Maya sat down in the lecture hall at SUNY Albany, about a thirty-minute drive from her hometown of Whitney. They were supposed to be discussing the final part of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Maya was relieved because as much as she loved to read, she could not fall in love with this particular old English tale. She quickly tried to scan the story one last time so that she would be prepared for the class discussion.

  She didn’t look up from her work when someone slid into the chair next to her. All semester she’
d been sitting next to this guy named Ian. They had a whole lecture hall to choose from but every Tuesday and Thursday they would pick the same seats together.

  “What’s the next book on the syllabus?” Maya asked aloud, still glancing over Sir Gawain.

  “Moving onto some good old William Shakespeare,” Ian replied, glancing at his paper, still in immaculate condition despite it being half way through the semester. “Some Sonnets and then Hamlet.”

  “God, I love Hamlet,” Maya replied, genuinely looking forward to the change. She shut her book and smiled at her seat neighbor.

  “Who doesn’t?” Ian replied as he pulled out a notebook and tore out a page for her. Maya felt her face go hot as she took in his handwriting. He’d written down notes for her to use during the discussion; not only were there plot lines and character names, but he’d put symbolism and other literary elements on there too.

  “You didn’t have to do this.”

  “I wanted to.” He replied simply.

  Ian was an intellectual. He soaked up every bit of information that he learned at college like a sponge. He was a full-time student but still commuted despite this. Maya had discovered early in the semester that they both came from Whitney, but he’d gone to a private school which is why she didn’t know him before this British Literature course. He had a 4.0 GPA and had plans on being a college professor once he had enough education.

  He had coppery red hair and blue eyes and he sometimes wore dark-rimmed glasses. He was kind and encouraging. He was like Michael back in town. She wondered if, by the end of the semester, he would be asking her out. Why else would he be helping her with her British Literature grade?

  Ian had asked her on multiple occasions if she had a boyfriend and she’d never really given him a straight answer. There was a six-foot-two brunette that made her heart race at home, but they weren’t exclusive. But there was something about Ian that was like how she felt about Michael as well like there was something holding her back.