Positive/Negativity

by D. D. Lorenzo

  The night he left The Blackjack, he left me speechless, breathless…and scared. At first I was excited and attracted to him like a moth to a flame, but that was what frightened me. Moths get burned, and I didn’t want to put myself in a position to be scorched. Being near Declan that night proved that he could make me forget my convictions. Women were ready, willing and able to meet his every need when he was on the road. Being gorgeous and charismatic was a cocktail that they would have found irresistible. I would have, if I hadn’t examined myself. I wasn’t the type of woman he was used to, and I didn’t want to be. I valued myself enough that I deserved to get something more from a man than just sex, and I was willing to try and find that person. I could have gotten a physical release from a “BOB”. I didn’t need a man for that. I wanted more than a physical relationship, and I presumed that he only wanted to take me to dinner with that end result in mind. When he called, and I refused, I could sense his shock through the phone. He wasn’t a man that received “no” for an answer very often. Extending a polite regret to him, I honestly thought that was the last I would hear from him. When he continued to call, his persistence won me over. Looking back, I’m glad he didn’t give up. We started slowly, with walks and coffee, which graduated to movie dates and time spent together. Throughout the past few weeks, our time together was fun for both of us. I was getting to know the real Declan, and I loved his company. We were good together and were building a relationship. TTT

  Damn him! Actually, he pointed out his bed, and my mind went back to the beach. His kiss stole breath from my lungs. He was scrumptious, and I love dessert! To say that he was a good kisser wouldn’t be accurate. There are no words to articulate how he made me feel when he kissed me. He was the most mouth-watering and the most handsome man I’d ever seen. His charms were wearing me down day by day. His arms and legs were so massive and muscular, and I could just imagine being entangled in them. I had gotten glimpses of his tattoos, but I’d never seen him without his shirt. His kisses had gone from delicious to decadent to powerfully sinful, and there was lots of touching, writhing, and rubbing involved. The one thing that endeared him to me was that he never, ever pushed me beyond where I wanted to go, especially after our first date. It showed me that he cared about me; about what I wanted. He didn’t make it all about him. That was so rare these days.

  Before him, I hadn’t been in a relationship for quite a while. I had even begun to wonder if guys excited me anymore because I hadn’t found anyone appealing. I have no doubt that all my girl parts are working just fine with him! When he entered my mouth with his succulent tongue, I felt clenching and tightening in areas where attention had long been neglected. When he placed his hand behind my head, the feeling intensified into a hot, searing ache, and if he hadn’t stopped, I’m not certain I would have. I now felt comfortable and trusting of him. He was drawing a direct, burning, and raw desire from me that he used his tongue to transmit, and it was…electrifying.

  Good Lord! How did he do that? I forgot where I was for those few minutes, and all I could think of was the sensations that were firing, like spark plugs, inside of me. With him looking at me, with that lush, dominating mouth of his, his dark hair, that slight stubble on his chin, those thick muscles in his neck and shoulders…talking about his bed—well, I’m finding it hard to concentrate. I need to change the subject…

  “So, did you have everything inspected when you moved in? The electrical? The plumbing? The roof? The heating? The air conditioning?”

  “I had my realtor hire a home inspector to make sure that everything was in working order.” They said it was, with a few minor things to repair, but I knew I wanted the house.”

  “It’s a great house. There’s nothing better than falling asleep listing to the ocean, except waking up to hear it again and watching the sunrise…With you next to me, naked. OMG! Stop it! I’ve always loved being at the beach. It makes me content.

  I watched Aria’s face as she spoke about the ocean, and I witnessed a smile and then a veil of serenity come over her. She had to be the most genuine human on the planet. She couldn’t disguise her feelings if she tried. She’s completely transparent, which hopelessly attracts me to her.

  I was so used to being in the company of people who manipulated others. They put on personalities the way you’d wear a mask. She was refreshingly none of those. With her, what you saw was what you got.

  …mentally chastising herself for staring at him so boldly, it occurred to her that Declan wasn’t like any man she had ever met—he was “More”…

  T Back in Your Arms Again – The Mavericks

  TT Love You Gently – Usher

  TTT Mercy -– Duffy

  TTTT One and Only – Adele

  “Hi there, big guy!”

  My pace quickened when I saw him. I hadn’t been with him in a few days. I had gotten a few leads from a realtor in the next beach town down the coast, so I drove down to check out the buildings. Seeing Declan made my heart skip a beat and gave me butterflies in my stomach. He was smiling at me and walking toward me a bit faster. I presumed the feeling was mutual.

  I handed him a bag full of groceries. The man didn’t have much food in his refrigerator, and since I was spending more and more time here I wanted to contribute. He liked to dine out quite a bit, just casual places, but seemed to enjoy whenever I’d cook something for him. I had spoken with him earlier and asked him if he’d like me to come over and make lunch for him. I could feel his wholehearted, favorable endorsement of that idea through the phone. The logic for his hasty approval was because I learned that he didn’t like to cook. When he did venture into the kitchen, he had a very limited menu; pancakes, spaghetti, and sandwiches. That’s all. Not a gourmet bone in this man’s gorgeous body. Nope. Not one.

  When I told him that I was making homemade chicken salad for him, he broke into a big smile. He said he especially liked tomatoes on his sandwiches. It seemed like such a little thing but it was just one of the many small things that I was learning about him. Funny thing was I found that it made me happy to make him happy, so if he liked tomatoes, I’d give him tomatoes.

  Aria was spending more and more time at my house, and I was enjoying every minute of it. It was a comfortable thought to think of her being here on a more permanent basis. I thought about her if our schedules didn’t permit us to be together because I longed to be. I had gone to New York for work several times, but it was mostly for two or three days. When I was away, my thoughts were always of her. I couldn’t wait to get back home to her.

  When we were together, I couldn’t get enough of her. If I thought about the long term, I could see the rest of my life with her in it. I couldn’t imagine not having her with me by my side. It seemed crazy because a year ago I would never have entertained a scenario such as this. Now, I had difficulty imagining any part of my life without her present. She fell asleep at my house on more than one occasion, and simply waking in the morning with her there was more than pleasant—it was sublime.

  I was unaware I had a void in my life, but she filled it. She consumed my thoughts and was what I looked forward to—all day, every day. Hearing her voice, or seeing her on Skype, FaceTime or Tango, she teased me unmercifully. She made me laugh and we had fun together. When I was with her, I craved holding her, kissing her and wanting more from her. The time hadn’t been right to fully possess or push her, but it would come. I didn’t want to scare her off again and I allowed her time to work through her grief, but I knew she wanted me. I was making her wait; watching for signs that she was ready. It was killing me, because when she finally relented, I wanted control. I wanted to know that she had no doubts about what she was doing. There would be no room for regrets, and by waiting I wouldn’t allow her remorse for any decision she made.

  Male that I am, she was wearing me down. My desire for her grew each time I saw her. I had control of myself physically and spent much time in the shower after an evening with her. I had never done that for any woman. She sensed
the influence she had over me sexually, and I could tell that she liked it. I think it made her feel powerfully feminine. She was right. She was supreme in her effect on me. Although I took control with women that I had been with previously, I wasn’t emotionally connected to them at all. Not so with Aria. I was becoming a slave to her heart, but in that regard I felt no weaker for it. The delectable and sensuous ways in which we played and teased gave us some pleasure, but I couldn’t wait to give her more. I looked forward to being here, in this beach house, with her. I could sense the desire she had for me and what she wanted from me. I had been holding back, but I knew the time would be soon.

  What I loved about this place was that it was becoming mine and Aria’s. No one else had ever been here and no one else existed when we were here—it was our sanctuary.

  Oh, it felt so good to be home. It was only a few days, but I missed being here. I couldn’t wait to be in the kitchen. I liked it here. I kicked off my shoes and started making lunch right away. I had missed Declan so much. I was looking forward to sitting and talking with him. I couldn’t wait to be in his arms again. He gave the best hugs, and wrapped me inside his big, powerful arms. I had given him the nickname “Bear”. When he held me in his arms and I sat between his legs, I took a deep breath and felt the entire world melt away. I missed that the most.

  “Food’s ready. Do you want a sandwich? You have to be hungry,” I said. The iPod was on, and The Mavericks played “Back in Your Arms Again”. T

  Declan came up behind me, held my waist, and put his lips against my ear. I could tell that he had missed me.

  “Mmmm. I am hungry,” he said, suggestively.

  I was melting at how slowly and suggestively he said that statement. That, and the fact that he was pressing behind me, made me tremble in the deepest sensual recesses I possessed. I tried to move forward to press against the counter top, attempting to give myself just a bit more room to prepare the food, but he wasn’t allowing me an escape. I could feel his breath against the back of my neck. My breathing became shallow gasps against his hot assault.

  “Here,” I said, trying to distract him. I placed a tomato near my shoulder. “You said you wanted tomato. Smell this. Nice and fresh, right?”

  I thought I could gain just one minute to collect what was left of my senses. His nearness was causing me to shift from one foot to the other to ease what was becoming an unbearable, tightening tension. I was attempting, with a great deal of difficulty, to feed this man edible food.

  But food wasn’t what he had an appetite for…

  Oh, my beautiful girl! I almost chuckled at her nervousness but I knew she wasn’t afraid. She had developed a playfulness with me and I saw the desire in her eyes when she arrived. She missed me, and it was for more than just companionship. Aria was too modest to be forward. She brought out my alpha male, dominant nature and that meant I’d also give her what she needed. I’d never push Aria and she knew it, but we’d played this game of cat and mouse for some time. If she played coy today, she’d be fighting a losing battle with me.

  She looked as delectable and delicious as the food she was hopelessly attempting to prepare for me. I let her advance just a bit, but when I came behind her, I pushed against her, and she knew that I was there for a need other than food.

  I placed my hands on her curvy backside and allowed them to slide around her hips and down to her thighs. I almost chuckled at my girl as she tried to gain her composure and her breath at the same time. When she sucked in her breath, I could see her pulse quicken in her throat.

  As my hands gripped her thighs and I pulled her back against me, I settled my nose and lips against her shoulder and neck.

  “Mmm. Smells real good…” I said against her neck as I gripped her hair to move it.

  She couldn’t breathe which made me smile. I was happy to know that I had this effect on her because by now, she surmised my statement wasn’t about produce.

  Between her skin and mine, there was only a billowy, blue top with a sexy, little bra underneath. I breathed against her neck, and I felt her begin to tremble.

  She held the tomato in her hand, near her shoulder, as if she were frozen. She hadn’t yet put it down. She may have foolishly thought she would divert my attention.

  Oh, Aria…Why these games? I thought. TT

  I reached around and captured her small wrist and hand within mine. I pulled them back and lowered my mouth once again to the tomato in her hand. I took a bite, staring around her as I did. Her body shuddered as juice dripped down her shoulder to her back and trickled down her front. It covered her breast and nipple, causing it to pebble. They were begging for my attention, so I reached to touch her. Aria pulled her shaking hand toward the counter and placed the tomato there. She braced herself, as if her knees no longer appeared to remember their function.

  I witnessed the transformation in her. The modest and shy woman was allowing her instinctual and unbridled passions to surface. Aria’s sensuality was emerging, and she allowed her inhibitions to fall.

  Leaning herself back against me, she molded herself into my body. I began to tease, torture, and lick under her right earlobe. I followed the path that the juices had gone and dipped into the crevices that my passion was forcing me to go. I continued my assault on her skin, kissing, teasing and tasting until she no longer had control of her consciousness. The drug of my beautiful girl was intoxicating to me, and I wanted more.

  Excessively labored breathing was heard in unison. I continued to lick and suck my way down to that space where her neck and shoulder merged. That curvature of the most sensitive tendon was begging me to graze her with my teeth.

  It was there on that spot of Aria’s body that I felt her relinquish ownership of herself and yield completely to me. I licked the delicious juices of fresh tomato off of Aria’s skin, reveling in my conquest. My beautiful girl’s self-control was waning. She now belonged to me…

  Oh, my sweet heaven! Declan’s mouth against my ear and my neck made me feel desire like I had never felt it before. If I had second thoughts before, I had no doubt of my craving for him now. I was shifting my hips to attempt to ease the ache that was building…I could feel his hot breath, his succulent mouth, and his teasing teeth. The combination of his talents was about to drive me out of my mind. He made me feel wicked…

  “You’re the best thing I’ve ever tasted, beautiful,” he said in a low, rumbling voice. TTT

  His tone indicated that he was remembering other, more satisfying, treats, and he made me blush. Moving creatively he exerted his unrelenting pressure against my backside, informing me of exactly how passionate he was. His hand began a slow, intoxicating exploration under my shirt. The heat that I felt was building to form an inferno.

  He took control and blazed the passion that was within. He artfully moved his hands in such a way that he was driving a pulsation that had begun in a most decadent way. His teasing, pinching, and pulling of sensitive areas had excited me beyond reason.

  My hands, which I had haphazardly placed on the counter, failed to steady me. One of my hands landed onto a slice of bread with the slippery mayonnaise. I gripped the bread in desperation. It was a poor substitute—for I wanted my grip to be on him.

  I could sense his command. He was in complete control of our lunchtime rendezvous. His heat was burning out of control. When he was satisfied with the torturous assault from behind, he turned me to face him. I closed my eyes. I don’t know why. Perhaps I was afraid of the intensity that I’d find there.

  “Open your eyes, Aria,” Declan said. I obeyed. Declan’s eyes were intense and hot, but I saw love there.

  He lifted my hand and took each of my fingers, individually, in his mouth, licking and sucking the slippery mayonnaise from each one. OMG! I never took my eyes from him. The sensuality of this man disarmed me.

  His hands, just moments ago at my waist, effortlessly lifted me onto the counter. They came under my shirt to lift and remove any nuisance of fabric that offended him or hinde
red his mission.

  Once my breasts were bare before him, he titillated, teased, and tantalized each one. With desperate, luscious care, attention, and passion he looked at me. I couldn’t help but stare into his hypnotic eyes.

  I don’t believe I ever took a breath of air, for he skillfully took my breath away. He was so talented, masterful, and powerful in his lovemaking, making me feel so…

  …sexy…

  …desirable…

  …passionate…

  …secure…

  He placed both hands over my breasts, looking at them

  “Sheer, absolute perfection,” he said, then looked into my eyes with a teasingly wicked smile.

  He made me feel that I was just that—perfection.

  His gaze left my eyes, and he bent to give each stiff, aching nub a kiss. Snaking his hands around my body to frame my back, he reached up to the back of my head, running his fingers through my hair.

  He gripped my hair and pulled my head back, exposing my throat to him. Looking at me with hot intensity, he paused for a moment.

  “Tell me you want this, Aria. I won’t touch you or push you further unless I know that you want this.”

  I couldn’t think, but I knew with all certainty I wanted this. This was as far as we’d gone before and I was being given a moment to think. I didn’t need to think—I knew. Pent up emotions had been so bottled up inside. Grief that brought me here, happiness about my decision to move to the beach, joy in finding a person to care for—all waiting for release. It was only a matter of time before the intensity I felt for this man escalated. I was the one who needed to feel secure, and Declan gave me security. He was also giving me a choice. I didn’t need any more time to make it.