by S M Broad
“You’re killin’ me, baby,” he whispers in a husky voice. It makes me want this for him so much more. I look down and a gasp escapes my parted lips at the masculine beauty that is his erection.
I shoot him a shy smile as I start to touch him, lowering my face to the hottest cut of muscle on his hip bone. I feel him shake as my warm breath slides across the head. I give him another lick from the base all the way up to that oh so sensitive spot below the crown, and nearly fall over when his hips jerk up off the couch. I push him back down, his response to my touches giving me the courage to finally take him into my mouth and down as far as I can go. I add suction as I come back up, feeling his thigh muscles tensing as I wrap him tight in my fist at the base, working him more.
I suck harder and faster, his muscles bunching as he comes closer to the edge. His fists in my hair give a bite of pleasure and pain at my scalp, and I know he’s close. I want to show him how much he means to me, even if I can’t say the words yet. I squeeze him tighter, twisting my wrist as I continue his pleasure. I suck harder yet and his strained voice makes me smile.
“I’m gonna come.”
I flick my eyes back up to his, so he can see the passion in them, how much I’m enjoying this, and that’s all it takes. He throws his head back on a groan as he comes, shooting sweet, warm liquid into my mouth. I draw every last drop he offers and give one last lick as his body starts to relax again. He picks his head up and looks down at me with a soft smile, his glazed over expression telling me everything I need to know. He grabs my hand with a smile.
“Come here, baby.”
He pulls me into his lap. Cradling me, cherishing me. He brushes a kiss to my temple, my eyelids, and the corners of my mouth. He tilts my head up to look at him again, and his words make my heart soar.
“You’re the most incredible person I know.”
His praise warms my soul, making me glow.
Chapter Twenty-One
We’re pretty much inseparable the entire next week. We go to the aquarium, a carnival, have romantic candlelit dinners, and even play paintball. I never thought I’d laugh so much throwing paint-filled balloons at someone, but Latham brings out the fun in everything. I feel free for the first time in three years. I finally feel like myself again, and I can’t thank him enough. I didn’t know it at the time, but my car breaking down is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It brought me to Latham, and I would be lost without his light that guides me.
Tonight, we made the fifteen-minute drive to Lawrenceville for a nice dinner and afterward; we decide it’s a beautiful night for walk on the pier. We stroll by Twin Bridges Lake, holding hands and stealing sweet kisses. There’s a small band playing, and Latham leads me to the square for a dance. I giggle as he twirls me and whispers the words to Tim McGraw’s “My Best Friend” softly in my ear. I lay my head on his shoulder, reveling in the tenderness of the moment. I have a perma-smile plastered across my face and I love it. Just before the song ends, Latham dips me, and the small crowd that had gathered claps. Latham’s brilliant smile transforms into a deep scowl when he looks behind me. I turn around and see a tall, striking woman with long raven hair and bright violet eyes staring at Latham. She’s got her left arm looped through a man’s elbow, and I can see a huge diamond shimmering on her ring finger. She glances in my direction and sneers, clearly disgusted by my presence. Latham notices, pulling me into the crook of his arm, and works his shoulders back, standing tall with pride.
“Jolie,” he clips, and my stomach feels like it could fall out my ass.
Jolie? The ex. Holy hell.
“Latham…” She eyes his hold on me with a flicker of jealousy. “This is Derek. My fiancé.” She seems to remember the man standing next to her and accentuates the word on a purr, extending her left hand, showboating her diamond with a wiggle of her manicured fingers and a smirk on her stupid perfect face. Derek extends a douchey nod at us and Latham just tips his head in return. I grip Latham’s hand as the angry tension radiates off him. I step forward and extend my free hand to Jolie with a kind smile, despite feeling extra stabby toward the bitch.
“I’m Aayla.” She takes my hand with a limp grasp and fake smiles.
“Well, she’s…cute.” She steps back, lips twisted into a pucker, and curls into Derek’s hold. “So, what have you been up to, Lath?”
She bats her eyelashes annoyingly, and I want to kick her in the vag.
“Work,” he grunts out, and she gazes a little too long at him. Derek whispers in her ear, and she nods.
“So nice to see you.” She finger-waves and they walk away.
“Well, that was fun.” I try to lighten the mood, but it doesn’t seem to help. I tug on Latham’s arm to get his attention and the anger in his eyes is potent. If I didn’t know any better, I’d be afraid of him. Instead, I lean up to him and place a hard kiss on his lips. When I open my eyes, his are no longer angry, but soft and full of love.
“Thank you. I’m sorry about her. She’s a nasty piece of work. She only did that to see if she could get a rise out of me, I know it.” He shakes his head.
“It’s fine. And she’s gone now, so it’s all good.” I stroke his cheek and his light puff of breath warms my hand. He leans in and kisses my forehead. I cover his neck with one hand, resting the other on his chest and hold on tight.
“My God, you’re so damn incredible.” He laces our fingers together, and we walk a little ways before we stumble across the cutest little candy shop called D’s Delicious Delights. I start to walk in, but he pulls away and says he’ll wait for me outside. I kiss his cheek and wander around, checking out all the different types of candy and treats. I pick out a half pound salt water taffy special and fill the bag with passion fruit, chocolate caramel mocha, vanilla cupcake, and a root beer float flavor for Latham.
When I’m in line paying, I see him out the shop window, with a small bag in his hand. He looks around, then shoves it into his back pocket and I wonder what that’s all about. I collect my bag and meet him outside, taking his hand, and we walk back to his car and head home. The ride is quiet but comfortable, as we just enjoy each other’s company, holding hands and listening to the country music I’m coming to love. Just about the time we cross over into Grayson, the sky lets loose, and it starts to pour.
We pull into the hotel lot and I give Latham a kiss, telling him he doesn’t have to walk me in, jump out before he can object, and run like hell for the lobby. I make it in fairly dry, and go to my room, closing the door and setting my bag down. I check on Poppy, her little fishy face making me smile, and I give her a pinch of food. I change out of my clothes, into yoga capris and a tank top, and settle in for the night to watch some T.V.
Half an hour goes by, and I realize I missed the entire episode of How I Met Your Mother that I was watching. I haven’t been paying attention because I’ve been thinking about Latham the whole time. His smile, those gorgeous emerald eyes, the kindness and tenderness he shows me. His strong arms that hold me safe, his amazing chest, and the sexy little happy trail of hair that leads to his…
My thoughts trail into scandalous territory, and I have to rein myself back in. It’s then that I realize something I’ve been feeling for quite some time, but have been denying. I’m in love with him. Not just his body, but his soul, his character, his whole being. I can’t see myself without him. I can’t let one more minute go by without him knowing I feel what he feels for me.
I bolt off the bed and stumble into my Chucks before flinging the door wide and slamming it shut behind me. I don’t stop running as a man coming into the lobby holds the door for me, and I sprint down the street in the pouring rain, trying to run faster so I can get to Latham that much sooner.
When I reach the stairs to his apartment, I skip them two at a time until I crash through the front door without knocking, my chest heaving with stolen breath. Latham is sitting on the couch, stretched back with his arms crossed over his chest and his feet up on the coffee table, watching som
ething on the television. When he sees me standing there, dripping wet, chest heaving, he pushes up to sit, a look of deep concern etched into his brows. Within seconds, he jumps up and is standing in front of me, checking me all over like I’m hurt.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I love you. I love you so much it hurts to think of being without you. I need you in my life,” I ramble, until he shuts me up with a kiss. I grip his short hair and push my tongue into his mouth, whimpering at the sweet taffy aftertaste that still lingers. He pulls away, his eyes shining with complete love. He turns and walks into another room and I blink the rain water out of my eyes. When he returns, he’s holding the small black bag from earlier.
“I saw this and knew you needed it, so you know that you’re always with me and I’m always with you.” He pulls out a small, silver necklace with a circle on it and flips it over for me to read.
You Are My Favorite Place.
My heart tumbles around my chest, and I fall that much more in love with this man. He scoops my wet hair off my neck and fastens the clasp so the necklace hangs.
“You are my favorite place, Aayla,” he breathes softly into my ear, then places a light, searing kiss to my neck, and I can’t wait anymore to give him the last piece of my puzzle. I spin around to face him, whipping my drenched tank top off over my head and slinging it to the floor in a heap. His gaze becomes heated, and he rushes me, picking me up by my ass and walking us to his room. He sets me down and pulls his shirt off over his head, running his eyes over my chest and reaching for the front clasp of my bra. My breasts spring free and he rolls his head in a circle, groaning like he’s in pain. I giggle as I push down my yoga pants and panties, leaving me completely exposed, for his eyes only.
I step to him, unbuckling his belt and pants. He strips in one fluid motion, then reaches to bring me back to him. He cups my chin with his fingers and gives me the most soul-melting, sinfully sweet kiss, as he backs me up against the foot of his bed. He breaks away and taps my swollen lips, so I’ll look at him. His piercing eyes are filled with so much emotion.
“You’re sure this is what you want?” he murmurs, as he strokes a finger down my cheek. I swallow the lump in my throat at his constant care for me and sit down on the bed. Instead of using words, I scoot myself to the headboard, laying back to display myself to him with a smile. He follows after me on his knees, running a hand up my leg, over my side, pausing to lift my arm above my head, locking our fingers together tightly. I let out a small sound as he bites at my earlobe, then trails his hot, wet tongue down my jaw before his full lips come back to mine.
I was tired of waiting. I didn’t know it when I left Alabama, but he’d been what I was looking for all along. He was the road I had to travel to find me again, and I was more than ready to give everything to him.
“I want this. Just you, Latham. All of you,” I pant, breathless against his kiss, failing to contain my own smile when I feel his mouth curve up. He reaches over to his side table and pulls a gold foil packet from the drawer, tearing the wrapper open with his teeth before covering his length.
I lean up and bite his bottom lip, making him growl as he reaches between us with his free hand and guides himself into me at a torturously slow pace. I feel a rush of warm air on my cheek as he exhales on a groan, stopping to regain his composure, and locks me in his gaze, his forehead resting against mine.
I lean up slightly to give him a soft kiss and a nod, letting him know that I was all good. Good? No, I’m fucking great. Time seems to halt until he starts to move, leaving all my coherent thoughts back on his living room floor with my wet tank top, as he rolls into me in waves. My eyes flutter closed as our bodies meet and part with passion, over and over. Every move of his powerful hips brings me closer. My breath is short, heart stuttering, until I see fireworks behind my eyelids. His name leaves my parted lips on a gasp as a haze washes over me.
“Ah shit, baby.” He rasps. “I love you.” Latham pumps into me a few more times before he shudders and grunts, finding his own release. He stills, holding himself over me, pressing his lips to my forehead. After a moment, he rolls to the side, pulling me into his warm embrace and covers us up. We lay there for a while before I get cold, so we get in the shower to wash and warm up, but we don’t do much washing.
By the time we’re actually clean, the water starts to run cold and I’m shivering all over again. Latham leaves me in a huge fuzzy robe to get some dry clothes, returning with an oversized Georgia Bulldogs hoodie for me and a pair of track pants for himself. I slip it over my head and am swimming in it, but I don’t care. I smell it and grin. When I’m done twisting my hair into a braid, I find him sitting up in bed, watching a show about cars. I crawl in beside him and cover up, snuggling into his bare chest, inhaling his rugged woodsy scent. He rubs my arm absentmindedly, perfectly content to just lay with me as we watch T.V.
“I was gonna tell you this earlier, but didn’t want to spoil our night.” He looks down at me and I nod for him to continue. “We finally found the part for your car, but it’s in Chattanooga, and Davis and I have to make a run to pick it up.”
“Oh. When are you going?” I sit up taller, making our faces level.
“I'm waiting to hear back from the guy, but it'll be a day trip. We'll leave early and be back in time for lunch.”
“Okay. I'll probably be working anyway, so time will pass quick.” I smile at him and glance over to the half open curtains, watching as the last little bit of the days sunshine makes the room glow in a warm, golden hue. Turning back to him, I press an unhurried kiss to his lips.
“Aayla.” he says nervously.
“Hmm?”
“Stay,” he breathes against my mouth. “Wherever you were going when your car broke down. Don’t go.”
I can't help my smile. “I don’t have anything in Cary. I was just going there because it has the best memory with my dad.” I look at him again. “My life is here now. I’ll stay. I’m yours.”
I lean down and kiss his chest before straddling his lap, showing him again just how much I’m his.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I spent Sunday in bed, wrapped in Latham’s arms. We stayed at his place all day, making love, watching movies, and eating takeout.
When Monday rolls around and it's time to get back to reality, I feel like I'm floating everywhere I go. Work passes quickly, and I enjoy my break when Latham comes in for lunch. Any time I get with him makes me happy, but I feel like it's never enough. If wanting to be around him all the time is wrong, I don't want to ever be right.
Latham is working late tonight, so after I close up at Abby's, I make the short trek back to my room, but something feels off. A shiver travels down my spine as I look around but see nothing out of the ordinary. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and feel a little better, until I get to my room and see my door standing wide open. I halt, and a sense of dread seeps into my bones. I grab my phone out of my bag and dial.
“Well hi, beautiful,” Latham answers on the second ring. My voice is frozen, but my breathing is heavy and I know he can sense something is wrong.
“Aayla. Talk to me, baby.” Worry paints his tone.
“S-someone broke into my room,” I stammer.
“Go to the lobby. I'm coming. You hear me? I'll be right there.”
The line disconnects, and I back up, all the way to the front doors of the hotel, still holding my phone to my ear. I sit down on the small bench, just inside the doors, trying to calm down and stop the tears that are welling in my eyes.
I feel Latham's presence before I see him, and my shoulders slump with peace when he comes into view. He wrenches the door open and scoops me into his arms. His unique scent relaxes me, along with his hug.
“Are you okay?” He searches my face, wiping my shed tears. I can't find my voice, so I just nod.
“You're staying with me,” he vows with finality, and when I try to tell him no, he shuts me up with
a kiss.
He clasps my hand in his and tows me along to the front desk, where he demands to speak with the manager. The police arrive to check the room and we're there for maybe about an hour while they talk, asking me questions I can barely answer, before Latham leaves me in the lobby with the manager, an officer, and a whole gaggle of other people while he goes to my room to pack up my stuff and get Poppy.
When we get back to his place, I flop down on the couch with Boss, running my cold hands over his soft fur. He nuzzles his wet nose into the crook of my arm. Latham emerges from the kitchen with a mug and hands it to me, sitting as close to me as he can get. I rest my head on his shoulder as more tears escape from my eyes. I haven't felt fear like that since the night with Brant, and I never wanted to feel it again. We try to watch T.V. but I know neither of us can focus on it, so we decide to go to bed.
