All I Ask

by Corinne Michaels

She takes a step closer, removing her pants as she keeps her eyes on me. “I like a man with a plan.”

  I move closer, mimicking her movement. “I’m glad.”

  She reaches behind her back, unhooking her bra. “And what are your plans, love?”

  “Well, you’ve already taken care of step one by removing most of your clothes.”

  Teagan’s eyes fill with mischief. “I like to think ahead.”

  When her bra falls to the floor I fight back a groan. She’s perfect. Everything about her is desirable. My plan is to love her as much as I can. I want to give her every damn reason to get back on a plane and come home to me.

  “I’m grateful for it.”

  She pulls her underwear down, so agonizingly slowly that I can’t do anything but watch. I stand here like a man in desperate need of water and she’s the river in front of me. I’m thirsty for her and I can’t wait to drink until I can’t anymore.

  “Derek?” She calls my name after a few moments of me staring.

  “Hmm?”

  “What’s next?”

  Next is taking that drink.

  I move toward her, my hand tangles into her long blond hair, holding her head right where I want it. I kiss her, pour every damn emotion I’m feeling into her. All my love, hope, desire for the future. Our future.

  Teagan’s hands roam my body as I continue to give her everything. She reaches her hand between us, gripping my dick, and I moan. Everything feels so good with her.

  I bring my lips down the column of her neck, loving that she tilts her head to the side to give me better access. “You’re perfect, do you know that?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  I bring my hands down slowly, grazing her soft skin. “You’re perfect for me, baby. Everything about you makes me want you.”

  Her eyes close and her head falls back. I pull her down to the blankets so I can adequately love her.

  Lying on my side, I look down at her and marvel. She’s truly magnificent. Her hair is sprawled out around her, eyes filled with desire, lips are swollen, and I wish I were a painter because she’s a vision.

  “I love you,” she says, looking up at me.

  “I love you.”

  “Please don’t make me wait,” Teagan pleads.

  My hand moves to her breast, kneading and then my mouth follows. I lick, suck, and flick her nipple while her fingers thread in my hair. I move from one side to the other, listening to each noise and loving when she starts to squirm.

  “Yes,” she moans when I pull a little harder and then bite gently.

  I shift so I’m on top of her and then start to move down lower. I have to taste her. There’s nothing like when she comes apart in my mouth.

  I slide down, kissing my way and she lets out a small cry of anticipation.

  “This is the next step,” I tell her before my tongue is on her.

  Then, I’m much too busy to talk.

  She shifts and pants as I make circles on her clit, driving her crazy, making myself harder than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m drowning in her and I don’t care if I ever come up for air. Her sounds become more intense as I push her higher.

  “Derek! God! I can’t-I—” She speaks in half sentences and I know she’s close.

  I slide a finger inside of her heat, increasing the pressure with my tongue.

  Her fingers grip my hair, pulling just a little and then I use my teeth and she screams. I continue to extract every ounce of pleasure I can.

  Teagan lies there as I make my way back up her body, needing to be inside of her, but she moves to the side. “I have a plan too,” she says as she pushes me onto my back.

  “You do?”

  “Oh, yes. A woman always comes prepared.”

  “And what does your plan entail?”

  Her smile broadens and her lips move close to my ear. “A lady never tells.”

  I’m about to say something, but her hand wraps around my dick and starts to pump. Words fail me and she takes advantage. She moves down, and I’m going to fucking lose it. Her lips press a kiss to the tip and then she slides her mouth over my length.

  “Jesus Christ,” I mutter, lifting my head to watch and our eyes meet.

  I’ve had blow jobs before, but Teagan’s mouth on my dick is almost too much.

  In countless dreams I’ve envisioned this. Yet all those nights of jerking off as I imagined her mouth sliding up and down haven’t prepared me for this.

  She takes me deep, using her tongue as she moves back up. Her mouth is hot, wet, and I am about to lose my control.

  I try to think about anything other than what she’s doing, but I can’t focus long enough for it to matter. When it comes to her, I’m helpless.

  “Tea,” I call her name. “Baby, you have to—”

  “Hmm?” she moans around my dick.

  “Baby, please. I need you,” I fucking beg. I beg because I had plans, dammit. I was going to love her. It was supposed to be all about her.

  She pulls off and I’m not sure if I’m relieved or I want to cry. “You need what?”

  “You.”

  Teagan straddles me. “Then have me you shall.”

  She sinks down and my entire future flashes before my eyes. All the things I want are crystal clear.

  I want to marry her, love her, give her kids if that’s what she wants. I want to be a father to Chastity and Everly. I want the life that we should’ve had from the start. Now, I just have to wait for her to come back to me, so we can live it.

  Chapter Forty

  Teagan

  Present

  I lie on Derek’s chest, listening to the sound of him breathing, wondering how in a few hours I’ll find the courage to leave.

  Even if it’s just for a year, I can’t help but feel like it’s going to change everything.

  I move my head to rest on my chin and stare at his peaceful face. I feel the tears building at the impending separation. I can’t look in his eyes and then get on that plane. There’s no way I’ll actually go.

  He says I’ll come back, we’ll be together and everything will be fine, but he can’t know that.

  I have to walk away without regrets, and leaving Derek will be my greatest one.

  Slowly shifting so as not to wake him, I check my phone. I have an hour before I need to leave for the airport.

  My eyes find his perfect face, he smiles in his sleep and I can’t help but hope he’s dreaming of me. I lean over, kiss his lips, as a tear falls. “I love you,” I whisper softly, but pray he hears me somewhere deep in his mind.

  I get up, get dressed, and head downstairs. I call for the car service the gallery has set up and now ask them to come here instead of to my house.

  Then, I walk around again, admiring all the things he’s done, and when I reach the painting room, a silent sob breaks free from my chest. We didn’t get enough time together. I never got to sit in here and paint like I’ve dreamed of. This gift was everything because it meant he believes in me. I want to rush back to the bedroom, wrap my arms and legs around him, and not leave. I feel like I just got him.

  I watch as the car pulls up, wipe away my tears and head out. When I reach the door, I close my eyes, hoping he can feel my love.

  As I head to the car, my heart feels like it’s being ripped from my chest.

  One step closer.

  “Good morning, Miss Berkeley,” the driver says with a smile.

  “Good morning.”

  He takes my bag, placing it in the trunk and then opens my door.

  I stare at the bedroom window, hesitating because I want more time. These last few days went too fast. Last night felt like I blinked and it was over.

  I hesitate, waiting, praying he doesn’t wake up because if he comes after me, I don’t think I’ll go, but at the same time hoping he does so I can stay.

  “Did you forget something inside?”

  How do I answer that?

  “I didn’t forget anything, I’m just leaving something behin
d.”

  The driver seems to understand my words. “I see. Do you need a few minutes?”

  I shake my head. “No, if I don’t go now…”

  He gives me a sad smile and I get in.

  My eyes don’t move from that window. “Please wake up. Tell me to stay,” I whisper.

  There’s no movement in the house and then the driver gets in the car. My heart is breaking and I think about how upset he’ll be that I left like this. I wonder if he’ll understand that if I didn’t, I’d still be wrapped in his arms. The car begins to move and the tears continue to fall as I drive away, leaving my heart in the house on Destiny Lane.

  * * *

  “So you’re through security?” Chastity asks as I’m wandering through the airport.

  “I just got through.”

  “Are you okay?”

  My daughter, always worried about me. “Not really.”

  She sighs. “I didn’t think so. Everly told me about what her dad had planned with the house.”

  Everly told her? Well, that’s new. “You and Everly talk?”

  “I guess we kind of became friends when we plotted to take you and Derek down.”

  “Evilness has bonded you?”

  Whatever the reason is, I’m glad they have left the mean girl act behind.

  “I guess. She sent me a text that maybe we should find a way to bring you back together this time.”

  I’m glad they’re both okay with us dating now. Too bad it didn’t happen before this job offer. “At least when Derek brings you down, we don’t have to worry about someone killing the other in the car.”

  Chastity laughs. “Are you at all excited?”

  “To see you? Yes. I already miss you.” I say the words and my chest tightens. “I’ve never really been away from you.”

  “Then why are you going?”

  There’s a beep on my phone and I don’t have to look to know who it is. Derek has realized I’m gone and is calling.

  “I’m going because this is an opportunity I will never get again and you want out of that town.”

  She goes quiet and the beeping starts back up again. I can’t answer. I have to stay strong, and if I hear his voice, I’ll break. “You know, I always have wanted to, but now I don’t.”

  I stop moving. “What?”

  “I thought about it last night when Grandma asked about seeing my father. I never realized it before but living here was hard because I never knew if I would see him or if I wanted to see him or if seeing him would matter. Now that I have, it’s not so hard. He’s really an idiot.”

  “Yeah, he really is.”

  “But all I ever heard about was how great he was. Everyone here makes him out to be this great guy and I didn’t understand why you hated him so much. It’s been hard. And then Everly came and made my life hell, so I wanted out. But, Mom…” She pauses and my heart races. “I don’t think I want to go anymore.”

  I don’t want to go either, but I wanted for just once, to be worth something more. I was finally being told “yes” instead of “no.”

  “Why are you telling me this now?” I ask with a groan.

  “Because if you want to stay, I wouldn’t hate it. I would have Mrs. Stinkers and her babies. I can still work with Dr. Derek at the clinic.”

  I find a chair and slump down in it. This isn’t the conversation I expected to have with her. I thought she’d tell me how excited she is and how ready she is to meet me. Now she’s talking about staying there and her cat and friends. Right when I think I have it all figured out I’m made aware that I know jack shit.

  “Chas…”

  “I’m just saying…”

  She’s just killing me, that’s all.

  “We will begin the boarding process for flight 445 to West Palm Beach, Florida, in about twenty minutes. Please make your way to gate A-2.”

  I sigh. “I have to go, Chas. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mom. Make good choices.” She ends the call before I can say anything else.

  I look down at the phone, seeing the missed calls from Derek. He has to be so mad or hurt. I know that I would be if he did that to me, and now I hate myself for doing it to him.

  A text flashes.

  Derek: I don’t know why you left like that but know that I love you.

  Me: I love you. I’m sorry, please know that last night was perfect. You’re perfect. I just couldn’t go if I had to say the words.

  I put the phone away and head to the store by the gate. In the back I grab a drink and a little girl comes over and smiles.

  “Destiny!” I hear a woman yell.

  I look down at the girl and she turns to the name.

  “Destiny, get back here. Oh, God, you scared me!” Her mother yells with that frantic sound to her voice. “I thought I lost you. Don’t ever leave me like that, okay?”

  My heart pounds as the name strikes me. Someone I love is on Destiny Lane. Someone I left.

  Jesus. I need to get a grip.

  The woman takes the little girl in her arms and walks off, kissing the side of her head as she goes.

  I head out of the store, no longer thirsty, and walk toward the gate. There’s a store with a few toys in the window. I stop short when I see the creepy doll.

  I quickly take my phone out to take a picture to send to Derek and stop. I have to stop doing this. It was my choice to leave and here I am, seeing all these things that remind me of him.

  Instead of sending the photo, I drop my head and walk fast. If I don’t see anything, then I can get through this and do what I keep telling myself is what I want.

  Florida is where the gallery is. Florida is where I will finally make enough money to get out from my parents’ thumbs, give Chastity a better life, and be something.

  They’re already boarding, so I walk straight over to the gate attendant.

  The couple in front of me are talking about their wedding and my chest starts to ache again.

  “Do you think the girls will be okay?” the woman asks.

  “They’ll be fine. This is our weekend. Our daughters will be just fine.”

  She leans her head onto his shoulder. “I can’t believe we’re finally married.”

  His eyes are so filled with love it makes my breath catch. “We waited long enough to finally be happy. It’s still so surreal. We’ve known each other forever…”

  They start to walk forward and it’s my turn. “Miss?” The gate attendant stands there with her hand out.

  I look down at the ticket and the tears I was holding back start to flood.

  What am I doing?

  Why am I here?

  This isn’t the only chance I might have to do something with my art. There were tons of messages and comments asking to buy the paintings outright.

  I’m going to leave for well over a year, and for what? A gallery. A gallery that didn’t know of me until that profile was made. I was fine before that app. Sure, I wanted more, but Derek saw the more in me when I couldn’t.

  He’s what matters. He, Chastity, and Everly are all I need. They’re more than I could ever ask for.

  We could make it through the time apart, I know that. But why make myself wait for the one thing in this world that I’ve wanted more than anything?

  I can paint from that room.

  I can sell them on my own.

  Hell, I can open my own damn gallery. There’s about to be a very empty space above the store that has great views of the ocean.

  “Miss?” the attendant says again, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Are you going to board?”

  “No. No, I’m not. I have to go.”

  I race out of the terminal and down to where the cabs are located. Thankfully, I find one willing to take me the hundred miles up to the island. The entire way, I can’t stop smiling.

  This was the right choice. The only choice. Making a move like this should’ve been full of joy, but it wasn’t. He’s my joy. My family is my joy, not a gallery in Florida.
<
br />   I call Mr. Sterling as we get close to the town limits.

  “I’d like to thank you first and foremost. You have no idea how honored I am that you chose me.”

  He clears his throat. “But?”

  “But I can’t come there. I have something here, in Virginia, that’s more precious to me than anything. You see, I painted those pieces because I never felt like I was on land. I felt as though I were drifting out to sea, looking for the shoreline and the person who sat on that beach. Well, after a very long time, I finally found him.”

  “You’re a romantic, Ms. Berkeley.”

  “I guess I am,” I say with a small laugh.

  “I understand. I’ve been married to my wife for thirty-seven years. I hope you find your happiness.”

  “Thank you,” I say before hanging up.

  The car turns down Sycamore Street and my heart is racing. The cabdriver turns left, and Derek’s outside, walking to his car.

  “Stop here!” I yell and the driver hits his brakes.

  I don’t wait for the vehicle to stop. I throw the door open and I’m running toward him.

  “Derek!” I call his name.

  His eyes widen as he sees me rushing toward him. “Teagan?”

  The tears that fall now aren’t sad. They’re tears of relief and happiness. My happiness. I keep moving, crashing into him, and his arms wrap around me.

  We stumble a little, but he keeps us upright, just like he’s always done. He steadies me when I waver.

  “What are you doing here? What about your flight? What about the job?”

  “I’m not going. You’re what matters to me. You, the girls, this house, I can paint from here. I can paint anywhere, but you’re here and you are where I’m meant to be.”

  He brings his lips to mine, holding tightly and kissing me with his whole heart.

  I watch his blue eyes fill with love and contentment.

  “I love you,” I tell him.

  “I love you.”

  My thumb brushes his cheek and I rest my forehead to his. “Tell me something real.” I utter the words that are his and mine alone.

  Derek lifts his head, his eyes trained on mine. “I’m really going to marry you.”

  “Is that you asking me?” I ask with a huge grin.