Loving Jade: Flynn's story - Riverstone Estate Series - standalone

by Roya Carmen

  “Last night was amazing,” he says softly, “but it was so fast, so dark… I barely had a chance to look at you.”

  I laugh. “Me either… I want a better look too,” I say with a bite of my lip. I can’t wait to feast my eyes on what’s under that suit. The man looks amazing in a suit, or in jeans and a plaid shirt, but I can’t wait to see him naked.

  He leans over me, and pulls a strand of my hair in his fingers. “Today, we’re taking it nice and slow, and I’m going to see every inch of you.”

  I swallow hard. I don’t know how I feel about that. Even with the clothes on, I can tell he has an amazing body. But me, not so much. I’ve never had a great body. I’ve always been short and a little chubby. My mother used to call me ‘dumpy’. Flynn has probably been with dozens of gorgeous tall skinny girls. How will I compare?

  “What if you don’t like what you see?” I ask, unsure.

  He shakes his head and his gaze lowers to my mouth. “You’re beautiful,” he says simply and it almost brings tears to my eyes. No one has ever told me I was beautiful before – except Michael. When Michael first said it to me, he owned me from that moment on. I desperately needed to be loved in that way, to be admired, to be desired.

  He kisses me softly. “I’ll love every inch of you, Jade.”

  I close my eyes and reach for the buttons of his shirt. I undo them slowly as he slides his hand under the skirt of my yellow silk dress. He reaches my lace panties and I get so aroused, I can feel the heat between my legs; a pounding warmth. He toys with my panties as I pull his shirt from his pants. Our mouths are still tangled, our breaths hot.

  He reaches for his bowtie and undoes it swiftly. I laugh at the sight – the man is in a hurry. I pull off his heavy jacket and discover the sexiest gingham suspenders. I pull at them and shoot him a mischievous grin. “I love these… very sexy.”

  He laughs. “I love your shoes… very sexy.”

  “Should I keep them on?”

  “No. I need to see every inch of you,” he says, “and that includes your adorable toes.”

  I pull down his suspenders, just about ready to devour him, but the shirt takes forever to take off. We fiddle with his silver cufflinks and finally… it’s off. But then there’s his undershirt. Damn. I catch a glimpse of his shoulders; ripped, and both of them tattooed.

  So fucking hot.

  He leans into me for another kiss but I press my hand against his chest – I need to get a better look at those tattoos. I’ve seen them before but I never really looked; a gorgeous Celtic design on one shoulder and on the other, the letter M surrounded by a star – the initial of an old girlfriend? A split second of jealousy overtakes me until I see two names etched in the M – Ken and Paul.

  I don’t ask about the tattoos – it’s not the right time. I just want to get lost in him. I peel off his undershirt and god damn!

  Lord, have mercy.

  Jade

  I was right. He has an exceptional body. My hands travel wildly over the curves of him, desperate to feel the softness of his skin, to take in the smooth hard curves of his torso.

  He grabs my wrist and stills my hand. “My turn,” he says with a playful smile. “I want that adorable dress off.”

  He presses the length of his body against the mattress and pulls me over him in one swift move. Suddenly, I’m the one straddling him.

  “Take it off,” he says. “I want to see you.”

  Shit.

  I pause, not quite knowing how to go about this.

  He lifts his chest to mine. “Here, I’ll help you.” He wraps his hands behind my back and slowly undoes my zipper. I close my eyes as he gently peels off a strap and kisses my shoulder softly. He doesn’t linger too long, eager to get me naked. His hand grasps the skirt of my dress and he pulls it up and over my waist. I stretch my arms to the ceiling, wanting to be naked for him.

  I want him to see me.

  He pulls the dress over my head and leans back on the bed. His darkened gaze plays over the curves of my body with such intensity I can barely stand it – I’ve never felt so desired.

  “I was right,” he says. “You’re perfect.”

  I trace the tip of my finger along the lacy edge of my pink panties, and let him take me in. His fingers join mine as he gently pulls at the band of my undies. I know we’re taking it slow but I can’t wait to make love to him again.

  “You have the cutest belly button I’ve ever seen,” he says playfully.

  I look down at my navel, laughing. “It’s just a regular belly button… you’re crazy.”

  His fingers draw a line along the curve of my hip. “I am. I’m crazy about you.”

  “I’m crazy about you too.”

  He pulls up to me and in one swift move, he pulls me under him again – so much for soft and slow. We practically devour each other as we peel our clothes off. I frantically fiddle with his belt and pull down his pants. He helps me along and slips off his shoes. He rips off my panties, bites and claws at the flesh on my thighs and hips. I reach for his hard length but he slides down my legs.

  He gently peels off my sparkly heels and plants a kiss on my big toe. I laugh, completely lost in him. He makes his way back up to me. And before he kisses me again, I cup his face in my hands and drink him in – he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, both inside and out. And right now he’s mine. I don’t know for how long, but right now, this moment belongs to just the two of us.

  He presses his hot mouth to mine. I’m desperate for his kiss but he teases, pulling from me. His mouth is frantic as it travels the bend of my neck and over my shoulder. He traces the laced edge of my bra cup with the tip of his finger, sending chills through me – his touch is deliciously gentle just as he is. This is so much softer than our last time, and I savour every long second. I close my eyes as he slides his finger across the fabric and gently pulls out my breast. He licks slow hot circles around my nipple, teasing, and my eyes roll back into my head from the sheer pleasure of it.

  He travels leisurely down the curves of my body, his mouth warm on my skin. He finds his way between my legs and licks the soft skin of my thigh, driving me crazy. He teases as he inches closer and pulls away. I pull at his head, wild. When he finally slides his hot tongue along my sex, I melt into the bed. He doesn’t linger there too long, teasing still.

  God…

  This isn’t what I’m used to. I’m used to kinky, wild and hard. As much as I enjoy passionate sex, I love this just as much. I lean on my elbows, stretch my hands behind my back and unclasp my bra, wanting to be completely naked for him. He frees me from the fabric and traces his long finger along the curve of my breast, completely lost in me. “You’re perfect,” he says.

  “You’re perfect too.”

  He presses closer to me and our mouths meet again. I can taste myself on his lips. As we get lost in wild abandon again, my hands are greedy as they travel down the smooth lines of his torso and ass, and his are busy too. It’s a thing of true beauty – two bodies reveling in each other. My heart beats a fast erratic rhythm, and my body is hot. I want him inside me again. We’re still kissing when I take his cock in my hand, and he bites my bottom lip. “You’re killing me.”

  “Do you have a condom?” I ask, breathless.

  He pulls from me and reaches into his night table. He rips the foil with his teeth, and is quick to ready himself for me.

  I’m eager but he takes his time. He kisses me again, his hands tangled in my hair as mine curve over the angles of his jaw. When he finally sinks into me, I’m in heaven.

  As his hips press into mine, I wrap my legs around him tightly, wanting more. Every thrust drives me wild and brings me closer. His hot breath lingers on the crook of my neck as he keeps going, slow and smooth. I want it harder. I want to come again.

  With all my strength, I pull myself around, and I struggle because he’s so much larger than me.

  He grins, knowing exactly what I’m up to. He pulls me over him in a swift move. “Y
ou want to be on top?” he asks with a sly smile.

  Yes.

  I’m shy. He can see every inch of me this way. But then again, I can savour every detail of him too. We start off slow again, but as the sensations take me over and I feel myself nearing that peak, I grind him harder, arching my back, my ass digging into his hips.

  And he presses harder into me. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he says. He hits my sweet spot over and over again and I want this to last forever. But I know I’m just about to get there.

  I reach my release, and the guttural moans escaping from my throat catch me off guard. I’m completely unhinged and uninhibited. He closes his eyes as he lets go too, and I love that my body is giving him such pleasure. My body might not be perfect but right now, it feels flawless.

  Hot, sweaty and satiated, I nip at his ear and give him a tiny grin. He smiles widely and pulls me to him for another kiss.

  I’m in love. I’m in crazy love.

  I lie against him for the longest time, neither of us uttering a single word – just pure delicious silence. I close my eyes, and enjoy the heat of him, my face buried in the crook of his neck, his beard rough against my skin. I relish his smell, and I never want to leave this place, this moment.

  If only life were that easy. If only there were only the two of us – no Michael. Life would be perfect. But my past still pulls at me, like a bully on the playground. I’m struggling to climb up the ladder but he still has a strong hold of my ankle and I can’t get higher.

  Our bodies stick together, hot and sweaty. I reluctantly tear myself away and lie next to him in the cool crisp sheets. He turns to me and smiles and I get lost in his eyes for a second.

  We’re still quiet as we stare at each other, both of us wearing Cheshire cat grins, like we’ve done something we weren’t supposed to do. A small part of me feels guilty but I know I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve filed the papers and I’m moving on with my life. I’m not throwing away a good marriage for a lustful affair. I’m walking away from a toxic relationship into a healthy one. I’m looking out for myself.

  I trace the tip of my finger around the edges of his tattoo, forming the letter M on his skin. “I like your tattoos,” I say playfully.

  A wide grin stretches across his face. “Thanks.”

  “This one,” I start, not sure what to say because I sense that there’s a lot of history to this tattoo. “When did you get it?”

  “I got that one just a few years ago. Aiden and I both got the same one. It’s The Misfits logo,” he adds with a laugh. “It was this little gang we had when we were young.”

  I perk up. I want to hear about this. As a kid, I’d always wanted to be part of a gang. “Who was in this gang?”

  He grins again. “Aiden and I, Amber…” his words trail off and his smile fades.

  “My little brother Ken and our friend Paul. Paul was married to my sister… Trevor’s dad.”

  My heart sinks. He lost both of them in that tragic accident. I’ve heard just a bit about the tragedy from auntie Ruthie. “I’m so sorry,” I offer, not quite knowing what else to say.

  His gaze darts down. “Thank you.”

  We fall into a long uncomfortable silence. I don’t know what else to offer – I’ve never been good in these kinds of situations.

  “I still miss them every day,” he says.

  This is so heartbreaking… I can’t even imagine. “You guys were close.”

  He nods, his mouth a tight line. “Inseparable… all of us.”

  His eyes are wet and I feel badly for drudging all this up – I was just curious.

  “If only I’d been there that night,” he says softly and there’s so much pain in those beautiful eyes.

  “You could never have known.”

  “If I’d been there, I would have stopped Ken. There’s no way in hell I would have let him drive.”

  I swallow hard, speechless. I know he needs to let it all out.

  “Ken and Aiden were both young and reckless,” he adds. “If only I’d been there.”

  I bring a hand to his cheek. “You can’t change the past, Flynn. You can’t blame yourself.”

  “I know. I tell myself that every day.”

  Another long silence fills the room.

  “How about Ruby?” I ask, attempting to lighten the mood. “Was she in the gang?”

  He smiles. “No… she was too small. She was an honorary member. We’d let her join us sometimes and she would be so proud, so happy to be allowed in. She’d always bring something with her; a doll, a colouring book, or a bag of jujubes or licorice.”

  I smile, imaging little Ruby sitting with her big brothers and sister, her dark ringlets bouncing off her shoulders as she runs behind them in big leaps, struggling to keep up with the big kids.

  He pulls me closer and I settle there, in the crook of his arms, content.

  I’m in love. I’m in crazy love.

  Flynn

  My heart is hammering against my ribcage as we dash back to the reception. Jade has a hard time keeping up with me as her heels dig into the grass. I slow down for her.

  We took too long. But I’d wanted it slow. And so did she. I’d wanted to taste every inch of her and take my time. I’d wanted to make love to her. As amazing as our first time was, it was too wild, too fast. I wanted to run my tongue along the curves of her breasts, around her navel. I wanted to discover every inch of her. I figured no one would miss us in the hour between photos and dinner.

  I was wrong.

  “What have you two been up to?” Ruby asks, an unmistakeable impish grin on her face. Eric smiles too. I don’t answer. I think everyone knows what we were up to.

  My gaze darts across the crowd. Everyone is taking their seats at the tables. Jade and I are sitting at the front table with the wedding party. I help her into her seat and I kiss the top of her head. As I settle into my own seat, I can’t keep my eyes off her. She’s flushed, her perfect hair not so perfect anymore; a few tendrils have escaped from her bun and frame her face perfectly. Her eye makeup is smeared. She looks like she has just been loved thoroughly.

  And she has.

  The second dance is the perfect opportunity to have Jade in my arms again. One of my favourite songs is on. I think it’s called All of Me. I’m not sure who sings it but I love the words. I wrap my arms around Jade’s waist and rest my chin against the top of her head. Even with the tall shoes, she’s so much smaller than me, but yet, she feels more right in my arms than anyone ever has.

  All of me.

  The words of the song are fitting – she has all of me. Ever since that first kiss, that first moment she let me in, I’ve been hers completely. I know it may not be simple or easy between us with all she’s going through, and I can’t help but feel that there are hard times ahead.

  But I’m hers, all hers. Now and always.

  Jade

  Fall is my favourite time of the year. Always has been. The air is cool and crisp today. Winter will be late to come this year… I can feel it.

  I trail behind Trevor as he bounds down the trail, delighting in the nature around him. A bed of pine needles crackles under his feet. The hoody of his thick red sweater bounces as he hops over a fallen moss covered log. His red hair seems brighter as a ray of sun breaks through the canopy of trees over us and reaches him – he’s a bright spot in a dark painting, the focal point on a canvas. Flynn walks just behind me, his presence felt in every cell of my body. This is one of those happy moments – a simple moment which will stay in my heart forever, no matter what.

  Will Flynn and I still be together in a year? I don’t know. I’m not sure where I’ll be in a year and that scares me. A small part of me cannot imagine my life without Michael – he’s all I’ve ever known. He’s been hard on me, but before him, I was even more broken. He’s healed me in many ways, but he’s also picked at my scabs.

  I can imagine myself with Flynn. But he seems too good to be true. He’s too good for me. I don’t deserve som
eone like him…

  I shake my head, struggling to derail my train of thought. Sometimes, the old me shows her sad face when I least expect it – the girl with low self-esteem, the woman who is convinced she’s not good enough. I know I’m like this because of years of being told I was worthless by my mother. And Michael, as much as he seemed to love me, continued this pattern for years, although to a lesser degree. Flynn on the other hand, has tended to my wounds, taken care of me. Yet I’m not completely healed. The sad truth is I may never be. But with Flynn by my side, I’m almost there.

  Trevor bends down to inspect a bright red mushroom. It’s straight out of The Smurfs. “Check out this one, Jade,” he calls out. So far, he’s pointed out all the colourful ones to us and each time, Flynn pulls out his phone and snaps a photo.

  “Look over here,” Flynn says to me.

  I turn and smile, and he snaps a photo before I can protest. It’s the third one today. “Stop that…”

  He laughs and tucks his cell phone away.

  Trevor is still studying the red mushroom. He’s fascinated by it. He doesn’t touch it – he knows some wild mushrooms can be poisonous. As I stand next to him, I try to see the beauty around through a child’s eyes. The tree roots lining the ground are sculptures; God’s artwork. The holes at the bottom of trees are homes to fairies. The moss lining the bottom of tree trunks are lush carpets, and the leaves lining the trails are canopies shielding the insects from the sun.

  Flynn’s hand presses softly against the small of my back. “Peaceful out here, isn’t it?” he says quietly.

  “Yes, all I can hear are the birds.”

  He presses his hot mouth against my ear. “You look very cute in your hiking outfit.”

  I laugh out loud. I’m wearing loose khakis, a baggy fleece sweater, Ruby’s oversized hiking shoes, and a baseball cap – I don’t feel attractive at all.

  I turn to him. “Not nearly as cute as you look.”

  He smiles wide – god, he has the most amazing smile. I can’t wait to be with him again, but unfortunately we don’t have the luxury of afternoon delight today. We’re looking after Trevor for a week while Amber and Aiden enjoy their honeymoon, and today’s not a school day.