by Allie Able
* * *
The party is in full swing, but all I can think about is getting Katie back to my condo. I take another drink of my beer, as I watch her talk to Summer and Lexie. I can’t remember what my life was like without her in it. Even when we were just friends, I liked to watch her. I promise, that’s not as creepy as it sounds. I would watch the way her hands moved when she talked and got excited about something. I would watch the way her smile lit up her whole face, when someone said something funny. I would watch the way she walked across the room, almost as if she were floating on air. I craved being around her, if only for a little while.
Someone bumps my arm, briefly drawing my attention away from her. I look over and see Grant’s smiling face, before I turn back to watch Katie laugh at something Lexie said.
“So, is it as painful as you thought it would be?”
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. “What the fuck are you talking about, Grant? You need to lay off of the beers,” I joke.
He snorts out a laugh. “If I recall correctly, when you first met Summer and I told you I was in love with her you told me, and I quote, ‘That shit sounds painful.’ So, what I want to know is, is it as painful as you thought it would be?”
I smile remembering that conversation and how pathetic I thought Grant was being. That was actually the night I met Katie.
“It’s more painful than I could have ever imagined, but it’s so worth it.”
He pats my shoulder a few times. “I’m going to miss you, brother,” he says in a gruff voice.
I nod my head, but keep my eyes trained on Katie. “You too, man. Will you look out for them while I’m gone?”
“Of course.”
We are both quiet for a few minutes, sipping our drinks and looking around the party. Katie turns her head towards me, like she knew I was watching her the whole time, and winks. I smile in response, before turning to Grant. I click my bottle to his and reach out to shake his hand.
“Alright, we’re going to head on home. Thanks for the party, man.”
Still shaking my hand, he pulls me into a hug and slaps my back a few times.
“Be safe, Nick.”
We have been seen some terrible things. We have lost friends and we have held men while they took their last breath. We know what can happen in a blink of an eye.
“Always,” I respond.
He pulls back and I look at him one last time before making my way over to Katie. “Sorry, to interrupt ladies, but I’ve got to steal my girl. Thank you for the party, Summer,” I say placing my hand on Katie’s back.
“No problem. You’re leaving first thing in the morning?” Summer asks, with a worried expression.
“Yeah, I’ve got to be at the airport by 12:00 pm.”
She surprises me by wrapping her arms around my waist and giving me a rare hug. When I first met Summer, I’m pretty sure she would have freaked the fuck out if I would have tried to touch her. I’m so glad to see that she doesn’t have that problem now, but I don’t like to see her so worried. I pat Summer on the back, as look over her shoulder and see Grant making his way over to us.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” I mumble.
She takes a step back and nods her head. Grant slides his arm around her shoulder and pulls her to him.
“You’re coming by Mom and Dad’s house in the morning, right?” Lexie asks.
“Yeah, me and Katie should be there around 9:00 am.”
She nods her head and her eyes get shiny. I need to get the fuck out of here before I lose it. I give her a kiss on the cheek and say bye to Grant and Summer one more time before leading Katie away. I don’t bother with any more goodbyes. Everyone has already given me well wishes and I just don’t think I can handle any more of that right now.
With my hand on Katie’s back, I lead her around the side of the house and to where I parked my truck. I help her into the passenger seat, before making my way to the driver side and backing out of the driveway.
“I had fun,” Katie mumbles.
I grab her hand and bring it over to my rest on my leg. “Me too, kitten.”
“Will you show me the house you are thinking about buying in the morning, before we go to the airport?”
“Yeah. I was going to show you tonight, but I don’t think you will be able to see much at night. We will swing by there before we go to my parents’ house.”
She nods her head in response. “Okay.”
The inside of the truck is quiet for the rest of the short drive to my condo. I know she’s dreading tomorrow, just like I am, but I want tonight to just be about us and not think about tomorrow.
I pull my truck into my designated parking spot and turn to look at her.
“Katie, can we just be us tonight? I feel like tomorrow is going to be really on hard on both of us and I just want to be with you tonight, with no lingering sadness. Can we do that, please?”
“Yes,” she says quickly.
I nod my head and kiss her hand. I walk around to her side and hold her door open.
“Have I told you how unbelievably gorgeous you look tonight?” I whisper in her ear, as I help her out of the truck.
“I don’t believe you have,” she answers with a smirk.
I place my hand on her lower back and lead her towards my building. “My apologies, Ms. Fitzgerald. You look stunning.” I lean down to kiss her neck as we wait for the elevator. “And I really want to fuck you, while you’re wearing those shoes,” I whisper.
She inhales a sharp breath and her whole body trembles. “That sounds like a plan,” she turns her head towards me, as the elevator door opens, and winks.
Shit. This sassy woman was made for me.
Chapter Nineteen
Katie
WE WALK INTO NICK’S CONDO and the first thing I notice are the views. Even at night, I can see the ocean. The second thing I notice is that there is nothing personal in this whole place. I spin in a circle, taking everything in. His condo is large and open. There is a couch and a love seat in the living room, along with a TV and few end tables. The kitchen has a bar with a few stools scooted up to it and the appliances look brand new. The wall that faces the ocean is nothing but windows. I bet the view during the day is to die for, but that’s it. This place could belong to anyone. I don’t see any personal touches, not even a piece of mail. Nick is standing with his shoulder against the wall and his hands tucked in his pockets, watching me while I look around. I look up at him and raise my eyebrows in question.
He smiles and shakes his head. “It’s a condo, Katie. I rent it out, when I’m not here.”
With him being gone so often, that makes sense.
He pushes away from the wall and walks towards me. “Do you want something to drink?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Good.” He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close to him. He kisses my cheek and down my neck nibbling on my skin as he goes.
“You always smell so damn good,” he mumbles.
I moan and tilt my head to the side. He kisses back up my neck and settles his mouth on mine. He licks at my bottom lip, before slipping his tongue inside of my mouth. He tastes so good and I suddenly can’t get enough. I put my arms around his neck and pull him tighter against me. His hands settle on my ass and he moans into my mouth. I don’t even realize we were moving, until my back meets the cool glass wall. He easily lifts me and my legs wrap around his waist. He slips his hands beneath my dress and meets nothing but smooth skin. He breaks his mouth away from mine and looks down at me with lust filled eyes.
“You’re not wearing any underwear?” he asks in a rough voice.
I smirk and shake my head. “Nope.”
He hands dig into my ass as he moans. “Fuck, Katie. You walked around all night like this?”
He doesn’t wait for my answer and I don’t really think it’s needed anyway. His mouth meets mine again, as he moves his hips forward so that his erection is rubbing right against my
clit. My nails dig into his scalp, when one of his hands moves down to my opening and he pushes a finger through my wetness.
“You’re so wet, Katie,” he whispers harshly against my lips.
I nod my head and move my hips trying to get closer to his hand. He surprises me when he slips one long finger inside of me. I groan at the feeling and throw my head back against the glass. He kisses down my throat as his finger slides in and out of me in a steady rhythm.
“Do you need to come so soon, kitten?” he says in a teasing voice.
“Yes,” I breath, desperate for him to take me over the edge.
“You have such a greedy little cunt.”
God, I could probably have an orgasm just listening to him talk. He kisses over my collarbones and down to the tops of my swollen breasts. I whimper when he withdraws his finger, but he just smirks at me as he brings it to his mouth. I feel my inner muscles clench, as I watch him lick his finger clean.
“You taste so sweet,” he groans.
He lowers my feet to the floor and drops to his knees in front of me. He looks up at me, his eyes burning with lust, as he pushes my dress over my hips. He lifts one of my legs over his shoulder and spreads me wide. He drops his eyes to look at the most intimate part of me and he sucks in a breath.
“Shit. You have the prettiest pussy, Katie. So pink and wet.” He runs his middle finger up and down, teasing my opening with just the tip of his finger, before going back up to my clit. I can’t take it. My legs are trembling and my breaths are coming out in fast pants.
“Please, Nick,” I whisper.
He moves his eyes back up to meet mine. “What is it, kitten?” he teases.
“Please make me come, Nick,” I beg.
His blue eyes turn almost black, at my words. His looks back down at me and watches his finger for another second, before opening my legs wider. He holds on to my ass as he lowers his mouth. He licks, sucks, and bites, at my sensitive flesh, until I’m calling out his name and grinding my pelvis against his face. I’m pretty sure my nails left indention’s on his head. He wipes his mouth on my inner thigh and lowers my leg to the floor. I wobble on my heels and he stands quickly, picking me up in his arms and carrying me towards his bedroom. He lays me down on the bed and I watch as he sheds his clothes in record time. His hard cock reaches up towards his belly button and there is a drop of pre-cum on the tip. He watches me as he takes himself in hand and gives his cock a couple hard strokes. I rub my legs together trying to ease the ache.
He drops his hand and, without a word, he crawls up my body and reaches around to my side to unzip my dress. The back of his hand skims across my sensitive breasts and I moan.
I kiss the underside of his jaw, loving the way his prickly beard feels against my lips. “God, Nick. I need you inside of me.”
“Fuck,” he groans. His hands are shaking as he finishes lowering the zipper and starts pulling the dress over my head. He tosses it on the floor and takes in my body. His rubs his thumb across one of my aching breasts, before looking back up at my face.
“No bra, either? I approve.”
Nick bends his head and sucks my nipple into his mouth, flicking it with his tongue. He gives the other the same treatment, as his big hands hold my hips down. He sits back on his knees and pulls me up so I’m straddling his lap. I rub my wet center against the underside of his cock, while his hands go to my hair, pulling out the pins and throwing them towards the night stand.
“I want to see your hair spread out on my pillow,” he murmurs.
When he’s finished, he gently lays me back down. His eyes move all over my naked body, like he’s trying to memorize each and every part of me. I spread my legs wide and hold my arms out, silently asking him to come to me.
His eyes meet mine, as he lowers himself.
“I love you with every piece of my heart, Katie,” he whispers roughly.
My eyes start to burn, with un-shed tears. “I love you too, Nick,” I whisper.
His mouth meets mine in a soft kiss. He sits up on his elbows so he can watch my face, as he slowly sinks inside of me. I lift my legs around his back and he slips deeper. He holds still, letting me adjust to his hard length. With his elbows planted on the bed beside my head, he threads his fingers through my hair, rubbing circles with his thumbs at my temples. He pulls almost all of the way out before slowly sinking back it, his eyes never leaving my face. I try to blink back the tears threatening to fall, but it’s no use, they spill over my eyes and trail down my cheeks. Nick watches them fall, with an unreadable expression.
“Please don’t cry, baby,” he says in a tortured voice. He lowers his head and kisses each tear away, but that only makes them fall more quickly.
He keeps thrusting slowly, as he buries his face in my neck. My hands move over his back and I feel him trembling beneath my touch. I feel wetness on my neck and I realize that he’s crying too. One of my hands moves up to his head and I hold him against me. I feel his lips against my throat and I close my eyes. I start lifting my hips, meeting him thrust for thrust. One of his hands leaves my hair and he slips it down my belly, to my clit, where he rubs the swollen bud in tight circles.
“Are you close?” he whispers.
I nod my head frantically, because I’m so close.
“Open your eyes, Katie. I need to watch you when you come.”
My eyes pop open and meet his. A few tears are still clinging to his eyelashes and his eyes are burning with intensity. I move my hand down his back and grab onto his ass, urging him to go faster.
“Nick, I’m about to come,” I moan.
I can feel my inner walls starting to squeeze him tighter and on the next thrust he hits me deeper than he’s ever been. I try to keep my eyes on him, but they fall closed as I throw my head back and come hard. I hear him groan and plant himself deep, before following me over the edge. He collapses on top of me and buries his face back in my neck.
We lay like that for a few minutes, trying to calm our racing hearts. Eventually, Nick rolls us to the side. He hitches my leg up over his hip to keep our connection and pushes my hair out of my face. We stare at each other in silence, saying everything that needs to be said, with just our eyes. He pulls me to him and gently kisses my lips, before lowering my head to his chest. He runs his fingers through my hair and it’s not long before I’m lulled to sleep by the steady beat of his heart.
* * *
I wake up feeling disoriented at first and then, with gut clenching sadness, I remember what day it is. The sun has just begun to rise, so I know it’s still early. I can hear Nicks even breaths, indicating that he’s still asleep. I roll over and face towards him. I let my eyes roam over his face, trying commit every part of him to my memory. He must sense me looking at him, because his eyes flutter open. He blinks a couple of times before focusing on me.
“Good morning,” I whisper. I reach my hand out and trace the shape of his strong jaw.
“Good morning, baby.”
He rolls onto his side and pulls me flush against him. He presses his lips against my forehead, my nose, my cheeks and then my mouth. One thing I’ve found out is that Nick has no problem with my morning breath. The one time I tried to jump out of the bed and brush my teeth, he just laughed and pulled me back, telling me that he loves me anyway he can get me.
I kiss him back with a sense of desperation. I’m only going to get a few more kisses before he leaves. That thought brings tears to my eyes, but I hold them back. I refuse to make Nick deal with me sobbing all day. When he’s gone, I’ll let all of the tears flow freely, but right now I just want to enjoy him.
He pulls back from my mouth and buries his face in my neck, breathing me in.
“How do you always smell so damn good? I wish I could bottle your scent and take it with me,” he jokes.
I laugh quietly and run my hands over his shoulders and down his back. I love the way his muscles tighten under my touch. He lifts his head and looks towards the alarm clock on my side of the bed.
/>
“We need to leave in about an hour, if I’m going to show you that house.”
I nod my head. “Are you packed already?”
“Yeah, I packed yesterday.” He’s looking down at me with an unreadable expression.
I run my finger tips over the creases between his eyes. “What is it, Nick?”
He shakes his head and lowers his mouth to mine. “I don’t want to leave you, kitten. I love you.”
“I love you too, Nick,” I whisper.
He takes my mouth in deep kiss and rolls on top of me. He makes love to me like he has all of the time in the world, when we both know that’s not true. In just a few hours, I will have to leave him at the airport. I wish I had known what would happen. I wish I had held on a little tighter, kissed a little longer, and cherished every second I had with him, because the man who would come home, wouldn’t be the same man that left.
Chapter Twenty
Nick
WE PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY of the old house and I hear Katie’s soft gasp. I turn my head to look at her, trying to gauge her reaction, but she jumps out of the truck before I can say anything. I chuckle to myself and turn my truck off.
When I first saw this house, I knew this was it. It needs a lot of work, but the foundation was solid. It sits directly on the beach and the closest neighbor is a mile away.
I walk up beside her and put my hand on her lower back, guiding her towards the stairs. The front porch is large and holds two swings that more than likely will have to be replaced, but it still looks cute. I pull my keys out of my pocket and look down at Katie.
“It needs a lot of work, but try to keep an open mind,” I chuckle.
She looks up at me with wide eyes and shakes her head. “I love it already.”
I gently smile down at her and put the key in the door, leading her inside.
The first thing you see when you walk in is the views. The back wall is made of glass, that lets in a ton of natural light, and the waves of the ocean are so close it looks like you could touch them. The entry way and the living room have an open and airy feel.