Love Is In the Air Volume 1

by Susan Stoker

  And perhaps that’s why my words come out guttural and weak. “Did she tell you to do this?”

  “What?”

  You know what, fuck stopping myself. Fuck controlling myself.

  I’m not doing a great job of it anyway.

  I take a step toward her then, a menacing step, and it’s reflected in the golden pool of her eyes. The threat of it.

  Before she can protest, I grab her hand and I begin to drag her behind me.

  “Arrow?” she squeaks and I tighten my hold around her wrist.

  To the point that I can feel her tendons, the delicate, bird-like bones.

  “What… What are you doing?”

  I don’t answer her. I can’t.

  Can’t say the right words.

  “Arrow, stop.” She shakes my wrist. “Stop, please. Let’s talk. Let me explain.”

  I tug at her hand harshly, a silent message to her that she needs to shut up right now. That I don’t want to talk. There’s nothing to talk about.

  “Arrow, listen… Ow.”

  That stops me. Her startled, painful squeal.

  I spin around and find her hopping on one leg. Her other, she’s holding in her free hand and looking at her foot.

  I crash down on my knees in the sand to take a look at it. A tiny sea shell is stuck to the sole of her foot, along with grains of sand.

  Why the fuck isn’t she wearing shoes?

  Why the fuck didn’t I notice?

  As soon as I brush off the sand and the pebbles, she kneels down in front of me. She doesn’t give me a chance to move away and grabs my face in her small hands.

  Her thumbs rub over my cheekbones in soothing circles. “Can we please talk?”

  My fingers curl into fists at my sides. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “There is.”

  “You were running from me.”

  “What? I wasn’t.” Her hands creep up to my hair and fist the strands. “Why would you even think that?”

  Because I’m an asshole. And I thought you’d figured it out.

  “Did she tell you to do this?” I ask the question again and I can see she’s confused. “Did she tell you to leave me? Your fucking sister.”

  I already know the answer before she opens her mouth. It’s on her face and before I can even think about my actions, my hands shoot up and grab hold of her waist, pulling her forward.

  Pulling her into me so we are chest to chest.

  So I’m looking down at her when I growl, “She did, didn’t she?”

  Her fingers fist my hair. “Yes.”

  I can’t get enough air, Jesus Christ.

  “And you were going to do it.”

  “No.” She shakes her head with determination. “No, Arrow. I would never do that.”

  I open my mouth then because I’m starving, choking to death. “Are you lying to me again?”

  At this, she winds her arms around my neck and rests her forehead against mine. Then looking me in the eyes, she says, “No, I’m not. God, Arrow, I’m not. I lied about where I was going because I knew you wouldn’t like it. I knew you’d try to stop me and –”

  “Damn right, I would.”

  She brings one arm forward and puts a finger on my panting mouth. “Stop. You need to listen.” I squeeze her waist to let her know that I am.

  Sighing, she begins again. “I got her call last week and she said that she wanted to see me and of course, I said yes. Because she’s my sister and even though our relationship can’t ever be fully repaired, I just… I just wanted to see her, see if she was okay and…” She shakes her head. “And so I went and…” She stares into my eyes. “She told me that she still loved you. That she wanted a second chance with you and that I should give it to her.”

  “Give her what?”

  “You,” she whispers. “She asked me to… give her you.”

  My nostrils flare and I almost tear her flimsy dress into pieces. “You’re not seeing her ever again. You understand that? I don’t fucking care if she’s your sister or if –”

  “I know.”

  “What?”

  She nods, her forehead rolling against mine. “I know. I told her that. I… She told me that I was strong and brave. She said that I was selfless and she always admired that about me. And that’s why she was asking me to back off. To let you be with her and I…” She licks her lips. “I realized that I’m not. I’m not, Arrow. I’m not brave or selfless or strong. I always wanted to be. I mean, I spent half my life cursing myself for being selfish, for loving you, for wanting you, my sister’s boyfriend. That’s why I always stayed away from you, because I never wanted to come in between you and her. I never wanted my love to be tainted that way. And up until today, I still felt that. I wasn’t sorry for loving you but I still felt that I did the right thing by staying away. But I didn’t. I should’ve told you. I should’ve fought for you. Right from the very beginning, and you know why? Because you’re mine. You’ve always been mine. Ever since I was ten and you were fifteen. It wasn’t me who would’ve come in between, it was her. She did. She kept us apart. Even the first time we talked.”

  The first time we talked.

  I didn’t remember it until she told me. The day she came to live with me and my mother and saw me in the kitchen. I was breaking my mother’s rule – she’s big on rules – and I asked Salem to keep it a secret.

  And she did.

  “I thought that if my sister asked me for something, I would give it to her, you know? I wouldn’t even ask questions. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give her you. Because I realized that I’d backed off once and I’m not going to do it again. I’m not going to back off and let her keep me apart from you like she did the first time. Besides, if she really understood the meaning of love, she never would’ve asked me. And if that makes me selfish and weak and a bad sister, then so be it. I am selfish and I am weak and I don’t care about anything or anyone except you. Except my Arrow.”

  “I’m going to kill her,” I declare in a fierce whisper.

  Because I am. For her audacity. For her selfishness.

  For trying to take my Salem away from me. For even thinking about it.

  “I know.” She caresses my hair. “That’s why I told her that it would be best if she never contacted me again.”

  “Where is she?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t know. And I don’t care and neither do you.”

  Breathing heavily, I watch her for a few moments before asking, “Why didn’t you come straight home?”

  Sadness dims her eyes. “I just… wanted to be alone for a little bit. I’d just severed all contact with the one person who was my family.”

  “I’m your family.”

  “I know.” She smiles. “I just wanted some time to mourn the loss of my old one.”

  I swallow thickly. “I thought you left me.”

  “I would never leave you. I’m the clingy girlfriend, remember?”

  “Fiancée.”

  And just like that, her golden eyes shine again. “Fiancée. But not for long.”

  “No?”

  “Nope. I’m going to be your wife this Saturday.”

  Wife.

  Not sure if it’s a word that many guys want to hear or if it’s a word that would bring peace to them. But it does to me.

  She does it to me.

  And just like that, my breaths come easier too.

  “No, not Saturday,” I tell her.

  “What?”

  “Before that. Because I’m done fucking around.”

  She studies my face and chuckles. “You were fucking around before?”

  “Yes. When I said to wait till summer.”

  I only said it because I didn’t want to take her focus away from her classes and soccer. I do that enough already when I drag her around with me for my away games.

  She raises her eyebrows. “Well, I told you, didn’t I? I told you. I said, Arrow, we can’t wait till summer. We should get married as soon
as possible.”

  She did.

  I shot her down though. We had a big fight about it. I had to bring her flowers and write her shitty poetry. And watch some stupid chick flick with her that we never got to the end of.

  Because I distracted her with other things.

  “I’m an asshole.”

  Chucking again, she kisses my lips. “Sometimes. But it’s okay. Let me teach you a little something about marriage.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes. Rule number one: your wife is always right,” she tells me sagely.

  I kiss her lips too. “Is she?”

  “Uh-huh.” She comes back with another kiss. “Rule number two: just say yes to everything your wife says.”

  “What about what your husband says?”

  “Meh. What my husband says doesn’t matter.” When I growl, she laughs and kisses me again. “This marriage thing is going to be a piece of cake.”

  I nip her lip then. “You sure about that?”

  “Totally. I get a hot, sexy husband who’s also a soccer god. He’ll take me out on rides on his motorcycle. He’ll buy me ice cream and he’ll write me poetry. And he’ll fuck me whenever I want. See? Piece of cake.”

  “What do I get?”

  “Me,” she quips. “In all my clingy, dramatic glory.”

  Her.

  I get her.

  That’s all I want. That’s what it has been about ever since I saw her, even though I hadn’t known it back then.

  Her.

  So maybe it will be a piece of cake, this marriage thing.

  Because I get to keep her forever.

  “Okay, then. Let’s get married,” I say before I kiss her.

  My sweet Salem.

  THE END

  Just A Kiss

  Samantha Lind

  Just a Kiss

  A Lyrics & Love Short Story

  Copyright Samantha Lind 2020

  * * *

  Inspired by the lyrics of “Just a Kiss” by Lady A

  1

  Lee

  I stroll out the back door of my best friend Tucker’s house. We just finished watching the Georgia-Alabama game. With the game over, the party is starting to make its way outside. He's got a bonfire area, as well as a little pond on his land.

  I head for the bonfire pile. I might be a firefighter and get paid to put fires out, but lighting shit on fire is just as fun as putting those fires out. Firefighters are nothing but pyro enthusiasts in disguise.

  "You coming?" I shout at Tucker. He's standing in the back doorway with Lindsay, the only woman I've known him to get tripped up over.

  "Hold your horses, we're coming," Lindsay calls out to me as she turns into Tucker. I wave them off and keep heading towards the fire pile.

  I open the bottle of lighter fluid, making my way around the pile as I soak the wood in the liquid. I want this fire to be big tonight. There's not much better than sitting around a fire after dark on a crisp fall evening. Add in a few beautiful women, some music, a drink or two and good conversation, and it's my ideal night off.

  I get the fire going, making sure it isn't going to jump from the pile, lighting anything else in Tucker's backyard on fire. He'd kill me if that happened.

  "Hey," I hear a sweet voice call out from behind me. Turning, I see it is Allison. We've been “seeing” each other for the last few weeks. I'm not the kind of guy looking to settle down, or the forever kind. I like to fuck, and I'm not shy about that fact.

  "Hey, sweetheart. You made it."

  "Yeah, football isn't really my thing."

  "I know." I smirk as I slip a finger through the belt loop on her skintight jeans and pull her closer until she's inches away from me. "How was your day?" I ask, sliding my hand around her hip and holding her close.

  "Good, just a lazy Saturday."

  "Nothing wrong with that; you deserve to take some time for yourself," I tell her, brushing some loose strands of hair back and tucking them behind her ear. "Want something to eat or drink? I think there's still plenty of food."

  "I ate before I came, but I'll take a beer if there's an extra one around."

  "Of course, make yourself comfortable around the fire, and I'll be right back." I release Allison as I step back and take off for the deck. I snag two beers from one of the coolers and jog my way back.

  I find her sitting on one of the logs, the flicker of the fire lighting up her features as the sun has now set. I hear music strike up from the deck; Tucker must have turned on his outside system. I sit on the log next to Allison, popping the top of both beers and handing over one. We clink bottles before taking our first sips.

  "Thanks," Allison says, her head resting against my shoulder as we both sit facing the fire.

  "Anytime," I tell her, taking another swig of my beer. "What's on your mind? You seem a little quiet tonight.”

  "Nothing, just been a busy week, and I'm exhausted. I almost didn't come tonight, but I knew if I didn't at least show up for a few minutes, Lindsay would be mad."

  "I'm glad you're here," I tell her as I wrap an arm around her shoulder and hold her against me. I might say I don't want more with someone, but Allison has had me thinking otherwise lately. The quick fuck or night rolling in the sheets and then her sneaking out come morning is starting to get old.

  Lindsay makes her way over and sits down next to us. She straddles the log, facing us rather than the fire.

  "Did you finish painting today?" Lindsay asks Allison. She pops her head off my shoulder and shifts to mirror Lindsay on the log.

  "I didn't even attempt to. I just bummed around. Curled up with a good book and read for a few hours. The only productive thing I did today was clean my bathroom, then took a long-ass bath and finished my book."

  "Sounds like the perfect day. Maybe I can come over later this week and help you finish up with the painting," Lindsay offers.

  "I'll take you up on that," Allison says before tipping her head back and taking a long drink from her beer bottle. I follow suit and shift so that I'm straddling the log, my legs going around Allison's. I slip a hand along her waist, my fingertips finding bare skin where her shirt has ridden up. It's been a few nights since we were last together, and I find myself itching to get her back to my place, and these clothes stripped off both of us.

  I sit back, allowing the two women to have their own conversation, adding things now and again. I look around, the crowd having thinned out as the evening has gone on. Tucker finally joins us, and he slides in behind Lindsay on the log, mirroring my stance. The way he was all over Lindsay tonight makes me think that things are brewing between the two of them, and it's just a matter of time before he'll be a taken man.

  "Ready to get out of here?" I ask Allison when there's a lull in the conversation.

  "Sure," she agrees, a yawn hitting her.

  I stand up, then offer her my hand to help her up. I might be a one-night stand kind of guy, but I'm still a goddamn southern gentleman who has manners and knows how to use them.

  I lead Allison out to my truck and realize that Tucker is also escorting Lindsay to her car. "Night, guys," I call out to Lindsay and Tucker as I go to open the passenger door of my truck for Allison.

  "I'll just follow you so that I have my car," Allison says, stepping up into my space. She drops a kiss on my cheek, then steps around me and heads for her car. I quickly close the door, then jog over to her car so that I can open the door for her. Those manners are coming out again.

  "See you in a few," she says, sliding into the driver’s seat. I wait until she's clicked the seat belt across her body before I let the door close. As soon as it is secure, I jog back over to my truck and follow her out of the driveway and down the road to my place.

  2

  Allison

  I pull into Lee's driveway. This routine is becoming second nature. I don't know why he insists he doesn't do anything more than friends with benefits. He's such an amazing guy, one that I've known for my entire life and have crushed on f
or years. If he'd just give things a try, I know that we could be more, but he's been firm in his position of no strings. No forever. No labels. So, for now, I deal with it.

  "I've wanted to strip you out of these clothes since I laid eyes on you tonight," Lee growls in my ear as we make it through his garage door. As soon as the door snicks shut, he pushes me up against it, and his lips land on mine. I let my hands roam over his ripped torso, up and over his strong, broad shoulders, until my fingers slide into the long strands of hair at the nape of his neck. I revel at the way he moans as my fingernails scrape against his scalp as he does naughty things to my mouth with his own. "Fuck," he growls against my lips. "I love it when you do that," he says before lifting me up.

  My legs go around his waist. I can feel the bulge his cock is making pressed against my center as he carries me down the hall and into his room. He carefully sets me down on the bed, caging me in as I fall back into it.

  "Are you just going to stare at me, or are you going to fuck me?" I toss out, knowing that he's damn well going to fuck me.

  "Don't you worry one bit, sweetheart. I'll fuck you so good tonight, you won't be walking tomorrow."

  "That’s one hell of a promise,” I quip back just before he flips the button on my jeans, lowers the zipper, and has them off my body in a few seconds flat.

  “A promise I plan to keep,” he says just as his hot mouth descends on my center. He pushes my thong to the side, exposing my wet center to his waiting tongue. He wastes no time, sucking my clit between his lips like a starved man, and I’m his only meal in a month.

  I thrash as pleasure starts to course its way through my body. Lee adds two fingers, and my pussy clenches around them. His tongue never stops lashing at my clit, the bundle of nerves almost to the point of being oversensitive as I lose control in a wave of ecstasy.

  “That’s one,” Lee comments as I come down from my orgasm. His head is resting against my inner thigh as he looks up at me. I can see the smirk on his lips; he’s obviously proud of himself for bringing me to orgasm so quickly.