by Kylie Walker
He pushed in and out of her, harder and faster while her orgasm consumed her again and thrashed through her body. She was panting and finally opened her eyes to watch his face as the rapture claimed him. He reached down and put her ankles up on his shoulders and began to fuck her as hard and fast as he could. She reached up above her head and hooked her fingers over the headboard so that she could hold on. Finally with a grunt that Heather worried the neighbors on both sides of them probably heard, he reached his climax. It seemed to hit him in waves as he pulsed in and out of her. When he finished coming at last he collapsed down on top of her and they lay there like that shaking and gripping onto each other tightly. After several long minutes he pulled his weight up off of her. She was instantly cold as soon as he was gone. She watched his tight butt disappear into the bathroom and when he returned she was still in the exact position that he had left her in. He slipped into the bed next to her and put his arm underneath her neck to pull her into him. While she lay there Heather wondered what had happened to her. She had never felt like this before. She had never done anything like this before, but all she could think of was how badly she wanted to do it again.
CHAPTER 7
Gavin lay on his back in the bed and watched as Heather tried to button up her blouse with shaky fingers. She let him hold her for about ten minutes after they both came and then she had gone into defensive mode. She slid out of his grip and off the bed and her pretty face was bright red as he watched her gather her clothes.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She smiled. It looked shaky, but genuine. “I’m better than okay,” she said. “That was amazing. No regrets, thank you.”
“I wish I could think of a word stronger than amazing because that one doesn’t seem to fit,” his voice was deep and smooth. He wanted to ask her to stop getting dressed and get back into the bed. He wanted to hold her and feel her scrumptious body against his again. “Thank you, Heather. Maybe we can...” She interrupted him, it seemed like on purpose.
“Oh there’s my skirt.” She put her back to him and went over by the door to pick it up. He wanted to ask for her phone number. He wanted to know that he could see her again. But her demeanor had suddenly changed and her hurried actions to get away were telling him that she wasn’t interested. He told himself that was a good thing. Wasn’t he the one that just told Jim he had no desire to get into another relationship any time soon? Damn it! Jim! He sat straight up in the bed as Heather picked up her purse. “What time is it?”
She glanced nervously at her phone and said, “About six fifteen.”
“Whew, okay, I still have time.”
“Me too, but I have to run.” For a second he thought she was just going to leave but before her hand reached the doorknob she turned back around and came over to the bed. Leaning down over him she pressed her lips softly to his. “Thank you again,” she whispered. “Take care of yourself, Gavin.”
“Heather...” she brought her fingers to his lips.
“Let’s leave it at this Gavin, okay. This was...exactly what I needed.”
It was what he needed too, but sadly he wanted more and obviously she didn’t. He nodded. “Me too. Thank you, Heather.” He sat there then and watched her leave. The second she closed the door he regretted agreeing to just leave it there. He already wanted her again. He jumped out of bed and grabbed his pants. He was still pulling them on when he opened the door to try and catch her. The doors to the elevator were already sliding shut. Shit! He hadn’t even gotten her last name. He closed the door and leaned into it. At least he knew she wasn’t getting out of here tonight. He might have to go door to door, but somehow he was going to find her.
**
Gavin made it down to the formal dining room of the resort just in time to see a few well-dressed guests stepping through the doors. The rehearsal dinner was for the wedding party, but Sadie and Jim had also included close family members and good friends. Gavin was glad to see he had made it before everyone was seated since he would be at the main table at the head of the dining room. After Heather left he had jumped in the shower and dressed in the gray suit and plum colored tie that Sadie had picked out for the best man to wear to the rehearsal dinner. The groom would be in a black suit and plum tie and the three groomsmen would wear gray suits the color of the one that Gavin had on, but their ties would be in varying shades of purple. When Jim first described it to him and told him it was the wedding planner’s suggestion and Sadie loved the idea, Gavin had a hard time visualizing it. Now that he saw them all together he could see that the dresses the woman wore matched the men’s ties exactly. Sadie’s silk plum dress was the darkest and the colors lightened from the maid of honor on down the line.
Jim noticed as Gavin came through the doors and made his way over. Sadie was deep in conversation with her aunt and it didn’t look like dinner was being served just yet so he was in the clear.
“Hey, I thought maybe you changed your mind about showing up tonight,” Jim said, breathing a sign of relief.
“I’m sorry...I laid down for a while and overslept.”
“It’s cool, you didn’t miss anything. Dinner will be out in about seven minutes,” he said, looking at his watch. “But I wanted to warn you about something.”
“Warn me? You’re not serving shellfish are you?”
Jim laughed. He had known since they were kids that Gavin was allergic to shellfish. “No way. It’s Chelsea...”
“Oh please don’t tell me she made it up before the storm hit.”
Jim grimaced. “I’m afraid so.”
Gavin groaned. Chelsea Dumont had been Annie’s best friend since they were children. She also married a wealthy man and inserted herself into the upper crust of society. Sadie took Annie off the guest list for their wedding, happily, after the divorce. Chelsea was a different story however. Her husband’s family was somehow related to Sadie’s father and it would have been an insult to the family to exclude her.
“Did Max come with her?” Gavin’s only hope was that her husband was with her. While he was around, Chelsea kept her sharp tongue in check and she didn’t gossip. Max was older and descended from Lords and Ladies whose genealogy could be traced back to the middle ages in Wales. He dripped with grace and class and when Chelsea was with her husband, she pretended that she did too.
“No,” Jim made a face. “He sent his regrets that he wouldn’t be back from Europe in time.”
Max traveled a lot taking care of his family business and that’s when Chelsea was out of control. When Gavin first filed for divorce from Annie, Chelsea told everyone they knew that he was having an affair. It took him a while to get back into the good graces of people that he had previously considered friends. He hadn’t ever confronted Chelsea about it because he found it simpler and more pleasant to simply avoid her at all costs and considering it was bullshit. When she hadn’t shown up earlier in the week with the rest of the guests, he had been hopeful she wasn’t coming. He groaned, “I’ll try to behave.”
Jim laughed. “I won’t hold it against you if you don’t.” The bell for dinner rang then and everyone took their seats. Just before the soup was served Gavin saw her. Chelsea Dumont always went out of her way to make an entrance. She slid in just before Kimberly, the wedding planner had closed the doors. It might have been Gavin’s imagination but he felt like all eyes at the table were on him. He pretended like he didn’t notice Chelsea, said a silent prayer for patience and picked up his wine glass. It was going to be a long night.
Throughout dinner Gavin developed a system that kept him from seething every time Chelsea shot him one of her fake smiles. He pictured Heather’s gorgeous face in his head and there was no way he could be angry. At thirty-eight years old, Gavin had been with a lot of women. Nothing he ever experienced prepared him for what it was like with Heather. He had heard people talk about finding that one person who they were made to be with, but after his experience with Annie he wasn’t sure he believed that any longer. The truth of it w
as that until Heather, he hadn’t understood it. He had to find her.
“Earth to Gavin.” Jim was leaning over talking to him and Gavin hadn’t heard a word he said.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Is it bothering you a lot that she’s here?”
“Who?”
Jim chuckled. “Chelsea.”
“Oh, no. I’m ignoring her. It’s all petty anyways. Let her and Annie concoct their vicious stories. They’re the ones miserable in the end.”
Jim clapped him on the back. “I love that attitude.”
“Me too. So what were you saying?”
“Oh, Kimberly told me that Miss Blair made it up before the blizzard hit. She couldn’t make it in time for the dinner but she’ll be at cocktail hour after rehearsal. I know you said you weren’t interested, but I think you might just change your mind when you meet her.”
Gavin smiled and pictured Heather. “I appreciate it man, but since we talked earlier I was kind of presented with a clearer picture of what it is I really want.”
“Care to share?” The waiter sat Gavin’s entrée down in front of him. He picked up his fork and grinned, “When I have more details.”
Jim looked confused but Gavin left it at that. He was wondering how much money he should offer that girl at the front desk to tell him how many Heather’s were registered at the lodge...and which rooms they’re staying in.
Gavin made it through dinner, dessert and his best man toast without even thinking about Chelsea again. When dinner was over Kimberly announced that the wedding party would be meeting in the ballroom for rehearsal and the rest of the guests were welcome to join them for cocktails in the adjoining room. Jim and Sadie left the room first. Gavin was waiting for the bridal party to file out when he felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down into the green eyes of Chelsea Dumont. “Hello Gavin.”
“Chelsea.”
“It’s been a long time. How have you been?”
He was appalled at her nerve. She was so used to using her beauty to get whatever she wanted that she had no idea that there were consequences for her actions...even if someone else is suffering because of them. He took a slow, deep breath and said, “I’ve been great Chelsea, thanks for asking.” He squared his shoulders then and looked straight ahead as he headed for the exit. Chelsea had never been one for taking a hint. He was out the door when he realized that she was still next to him. “Is there something else?” he asked. Chelsea thrived on drama. He could only imagine her disappointment that he wasn’t acting the least bit like he remembered what she had tried to do to his reputation.
“No...I mean yes. Gavin I owe you an apology.”
“For?”
“For telling people that you cheated on Annie. That was her idea because she was just so angry, but I never should have gone along with it.”
“You’re right, you never should have. I don’t let what small-minded people do and think affect my life.”
She raised one perfectly shaped dark eyebrow and said, “Are you calling me small-minded?”
“Enjoy yourself Chelsea. I have to get to the rehearsal.” He left her standing there with her mouth wide open, and forgot about her again by the time he reached the ballroom. He was going to attend the rehearsal and stay for one cocktail and a toast afterwards...and then he was going to find Heather.
CHAPTER 8
Heather tried getting ready in time for the rehearsal dinner, but when she had gotten back to Kim’s room, Kim had still been busy in the bathroom and her things were strewn all over the vanity. Since Kim would be at the dinner Heather told her that she would be at cocktail hour for sure. Luckily Kim was too focused on getting ready and get downstairs to ask her any questions. Heather had simply told her that after she found out she couldn’t get a room, she stopped off in the bar for a drink. That part was true and she would probably fill her in on the rest later, after her insides stopped shaking.
She showered and as the water activated the scents on her skin she caught a subtle whiff of the aftershave Gavin was wearing. She didn’t count herself as a connoisseur of men’s cologne so she didn’t recognize the brand...but she knew from the moment she smelled it on Gavin, she would always recognize the scent.
After she dried off and slathered herself in the lotion she always carried in her purse, she slipped on the dress that she had bought earlier in the day. It was a dark blue cocktail dress, off the shoulder on one side and ending just above her knees. She didn’t put panties on because she hadn’t been able to find a pair in the shops that she thought would be smooth enough not to show underneath the dress. The cocktail ‘hour’ would probably only be a couple of hours at the most and most of that time she would be on her feet, so she wasn’t worried about it.
Once she was dressed she sat down at her vanity and began to apply her make-up. While she blended and contoured her mind drifted back to Gavin once again. She regretted not letting him ask her what he had wanted to now. She was sure he was going to ask for her number and at that moment she had convinced herself it would be a bad idea to give it to him. Since then however she had been repeating Kim’s words in her head about just having fun and not always looking at a man as a potential relationship. She had definitely had fun with Gavin and now that she ran out without even giving him her last name or getting his, there was very little hope that she would be able to have that kind of fun again. Her body flushed with warmth and a tickle ran through her belly when she thought about just how much fun they did have. Being with him had opened her eyes to what sex was supposed to be like. Most of the time that she and Phillip had sex the last two years they were together, she simply felt like an outlet. His narcissism was such that he seemed to believe she should just be honored that he was sharing his manhood with her. Things with Gavin that afternoon had been the complete opposite. She almost felt guilty that he had made her feel so good. But damn if she didn’t want to feel like that again. She wondered if she could find him, or if it was too late.
Heather got downstairs just as the staff were finished setting things up for the cocktail party. Kim had done an amazing job with the decorations. Lavender tulips and purple lisianthus’ not only gave an elegant touch to each of the linen covered tables, but they gave off a pleasing fragrance that stimulated the senses. The champagne fountain in the center of it all was understated, but the golden liquid that bubbled out of it held an elegance of its own. Each table held silver platters of prosciutto and cheese and water crackers and the waiters were preparing trays of hot hors d'oeuvres to circulate. Heather couldn’t wait until the business was doing well enough to give Kimberly and Rosie a raise. They both deserved it for all of their hard work.
The wedding party hadn’t arrived yet but the wedding guests staying at the lodge were beginning to show up. She stationed herself near the door and welcomed each and every one of them individually and thanked them for coming. By the time she saw Kimberly approaching from the ball room across the hall, the place was almost a full house.
“Hey, you did an amazing job on this place,” she told her when she got close. “How did rehearsal go?”
“Good.” Kimberly looked beautiful in a strapless green A-line cocktail dress that brought out the green in her hazel eyes. Her light brown hair was straightened and hung in smooth lines down across her bare, porcelain shoulders and Heather wondered not for the first time why none of the men she dated had stuck. “Dinner was amazing and the staff was incredible. We should use this place more often...but in the summertime from now on.”
“I second that idea,” Heather winked. “Where is the wedding party?”
“They’ll be here in just a second. You can go grab a cocktail if you want, I’ll wait here for them.”
“I’ll go grab us both one. What do you want?”
“I’ll take a cosmopolitan,” Kim said as she tugged on her skirt.
“You look gorgeous,” Heather told her. “Stop that.” Kim had a thing about her thighs that she thought were ‘too thick.’ Heath
er and anyone else with a brain as far as Heather was concerned, saw them as shapely. Some idiot Kim dated had told her they were fat and she had taken it to heart.
Heather made her way over to the bar and while she waited for the drinks she once again questioned the very idea of finding Gavin and trying to make something more of it than a one-night-stand. You just never knew about people. Maybe she had dodged a bullet by not giving him her number. After all he had to be in his mid-thirties and he’s not married. As hot as he is that could have a lot to say about him as a person. “Here you are miss,” the bartender placed the two drinks on the bar. She thanked him and the second she turned back toward the door, every thought in her head was gone. Gavin was walking in, dressed in a smoke gray suit with a plum tie. The suit fit him like a glove an now that Heather knew exactly what was underneath all of that expensive fabric she could almost picture him without it. As she stood rooted to the floor, her heart sped up, her mouth went dry and she regretted the fact that she hadn’t worn any panties.
She was torn between feelings of running toward him and those of running away. When he glanced up and his eyes met hers a slow, sexy smile spread across his face and there was no longer any question. As if propelled without a brain to tell it what to do, her body began to migrate in his direction. He was a few feet from Kim when she reached him. She handed Kim her drink without taking her eyes off of his face and she could feel a smile of her own taking up residence there.
