by Roxie Odell
“I like the way you think.”
“Thomas, you said we’d know, that we’d just…feel it. Do you feel anything?”
“I feel all sorts of things, baby doll. Most of all I want you to feel me,” he said as a smoky gaze overtook his face. He seemed to look right through her as they almost tumbled into the house.
The place was sparsely furnished because it was used often for events. Thomas knew it well, though, and that left Cheri feeling a momentary pang of jealousy and sadness. She was sure he was not the first woman who had accompanied him there, but she didn’t want to know about his previous visits. It doesn’t matter, she told herself, because I’ll be the last woman he brings to this place.
Despite their passionate buildup, they were awkward together at first. Thomas mussed Cheri’s long, cascading hair before he slipped her blouse from her, with help from her raised arms. He briefly stared at her breasts, encased in a nude satin bra, pushed up and grazing his chest. He kissed her while he worked frantically to take off his t-shirt. It seemed to take forever for them to undress, even though it was only a matter of seconds.
Their room was small but also lightly furnished, so it felt like they had plenty of room. Cheri stood in the open space on the floor and slipped off her jeans, and Thomas did the same. They turned to each other like naked dancers, about to begin. He rushed over to her and swept his arms around her but didn’t lift her up. As soon as she turned her face to him, he took possession of her, driving his tongue inside to claim all of her. His arms trailed the length of her body, desperate to touch every part of her. He drew her knee upward and fit his body tightly against hers. He pressed her buttocks firmly into him as he grinded his erection against the delicate, damp folds of her center.
Cheri had the option of climbing up and lowering herself onto him, but instead she let him lift her and carry her over to the bed that suddenly seemed more cozy than cramped. There was a fireplace in the room, and as they passed it, they both caught sight of themselves in the mirror above it.
She let her body arch away from his, baring her breasts in the reflection, a simple but powerfully erotic move. Thomas lifted her with ease, holding her body high enough so he could plant his hot lips on her erect nipples. Cheri spasmed in his grip as he gracefully maneuvered her to the bed. The feather mattress rose up around her, like a cloud; it was the most decadent thing she had ever lain upon, other than Thomas himself. The dense cotton sheets were luscious against her skin, and the comfort was beyond sensual and made her lazily content to receive him.
Thomas was not ready to be inside her just yet, so he stood and showed himself to her. He was cut like a gallant knight, and his unruly hair falling below his ears made him look a little uncivilized. Absolutely taken by him, Cheri widened her legs just a bit more to welcome him.
Thomas grabbed a pillow and tossed it on the floor, then knelt on it. He rested her thighs on his broad shoulders and barely touched his tongue against her most sensitive spot, right between her legs. He worked her thighs, just a little up and down, countering the rhythm of his tongue. Cheri lifted her buttocks, fishing for the tip of his tongue, desperate for him to dive more deeply with it. Thomas evaded her with a sensual tease and instead pressed his thumb against her, grazing her clit with sweet agitation. Cheri pumped against him and drew her body up tight, heightening her own pleasure. She felt so selfish, as if she was taking and not giving, but she relished it all the same.
Wetness flowed from her, mixing with the moisture he gave her. Finally, he plunged his firm tongue inside her walls, the most decadent torture she could imagine. Immediately she craved climax, wanted to feel her body seize with the ultimate rapture. It was a bittersweet feeling, because as much as she wanted to feel her climax, she also didn’t want the feeling to end. She wished she could linger there, in that pleasure, forever.
No one was as talented at loving her body as Thomas. He knew just how much pressure to apply, exactly where she wanted and needed to be touched. He made more feather contact with his tongue and threatened to send her over that glorious edge, but he was still not ready to let her cum. “Not yet,” he whispered.
“Your turn,” she murmured.
“Another time,” he whispered in her ear, then turned her over onto her belly, leaving her round buttocks exposed and vulnerable.
Thomas was in complete control, and Cheri liked it. His rough palms skimmed her smooth skin, and the hardworking texture of his hands sent tingles through her, till she could not help but cry out. He stroked her more, from head to toe, and pressed light kisses down the length of her back. Cheri thought she would convulse with pleasure just from that, so steeped was she with arousal. Just when she thought the two of them had experienced the ultimate pleasure any two people could share, Thomas pushed the limit a little further.
His lips again traveled the length of her ticklish spine, and Cheri clutched the mattress, struggling to withstand the sweetness. She pummeled the bed at one point, begging for mercy. She felt him climb above her, and his firm chest brushed the softness of her delicate back. The heat from his body warmed her.
His abdomen fit perfectly over the curves of her buttocks. He pushed upward, and the head of his erection prodded her wet opening. She was ready for him. She arched her hips, eager to take him in.
Thomas brushed the hair from the side of her face and leaned over so his mouth was at her ear. “I love you,” he whispered, so softly. Then, with that, he pushed upward and was inside her.
The heat from his length was incredibly sensual, and Cheri’s body literally pulsed with arousal. Waves of erotic electricity washed through her, pushing out all her most erogenous spots. Her nipples were hard against the sheets, and she could hardly breathe.
Her cries whirled around the small, ancient room, sailing into its history. Thomas tipped them to the side, pumping into her gently. His fingers held her thin waist, then glided down the length of her thigh and pushed her against him as he moved into her. He parted her knees and strummed the sensitive insides of her legs. She drew up tightly around his hardness. A growl escaped from deep within his chest; he sounded like a snorting bull, pawing the earth. His rough fingers found her center and pressed as she moved against him.
She bucked this way and that, seeking a pinnacle she knew she would find. She found herself dancing on him wantonly, pressing down and to the side to give him as much pleasure as she could. She squeezed her channel to embrace him as she moved, maintaining the sweetest friction for them both. He pressed her knees wide and rested her leg on his to keep them open. He rubbed as she moved, then nestled his lips down at the base of her neck for the finishing torture.
Unable to contain herself in the wake of that incredible thrill, she exploded wildly. Thomas flicked the tip of his tongue at the dip in her neck, and ragged cries burst from her throat. She wanted more, but she was sure she couldn’t bear it.
As if he took some delight in her heavenly torture, his movements took on greater command. He drove into her mercilessly, with more power and firmness, pushing her pleasure-sensitive body to the absolute brink. Cheri’s body shook with the action, her flesh reverberating as he hammered into her again and again. He placed her trembling hand between her equally shaky legs, braced her hips, and continued to pound. She knew he was ready to cum, so she wagged her pressured touch just a little more, holding off until she knew for sure he had reached his climax.
Finally, Cheri let go, and she and Thomas crashed into a sea of bliss. Their bodies, glazed with sweat and other juices, writhed in pure pleasure as they came together. They cried helplessly as they were seized with ultimate pleasure, more pleasure than either of them had ever felt before, even with each other.
Cheri was sure the antique bed had never been party to such unbridled passion before, and for a moment, she feared it might break under the force of their rapture. Nevertheless, she insisted on experiencing the moment to the fullest. The comfort of the feather mattress as spasm after sweet spasm caused her body to ham
mer against itself was unforgettable sensuality. She had the presence of mind to stroke him, knowing her touch would be a thousand times more magnified as he came along with her. Thomas reached for her as well, though he was nowhere near recovered from the storm of passion they were submerged in.
A few moments later, spent and out of breath, they sprawled on the little bed and let the moment carry them to a deep and wondrous slumber.
Chapter 11
Somewhere in the night, Thomas got up and made sure to put the leftovers in the fridge. Cheri slept like a rock on the little bed, which seemed to suit them perfectly. She didn’t wake up till she felt Thomas sitting up in the bed to check his phone.
Even in the darkness, he felt her questioning stare. “Missed some calls and texts from Tony,” he explained. “The witch’s fingerprints were all over your house and car. They’ve got more than enough to throw her behind bars.” He went on to explain that they had processed his house once before, then told him to have it professionally cleaned. “If they process it again and find any new evidence of her presence there, they can also bust her with violation of a restraining order,” he said.
“That’s good, right?” Cheri sleepily said.
“Yeah, but she’ll probably only spend a night in jail,” he said sarcastically.
“You don’t think she’ll back off, now that she knows the cops are on to her?”
“This has been going on for months, sweetheart, and she’s obviously too stupid to get the message. I’m learning that her kind just doesn’t stop. Tony said she has a history of this, and she’s done it to other people. I guess her rap sheet will work in our favor, but she still needs to be handled,” he said.
His tone made Cheri’s blood run cold, because he was usually a gentle, loving man. Thomas was a tad overprotective but usually seemed attentive and thoughtful, the kind of guy who gave big tips and always thanked everyone for everything. Even the crime he’d committed, the one that had sent him to prison, was a matter of him trying to do the right thing. Now, he seemed like a man without feeling, an uncaring man bent on revenge, because nothing about the word “handled” sounded good.
“Why don’t we let the cops handle her?” said Cheri tensely. “We’ve had enough drama to last a lifetime.”
“Damn it, Cheri,” Thomas hissed. “I’m tired of putting up with all this shit.”
“I know,” she said coolly, “but we’ll get through it together.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it.
“Yeah, I guess. We’ve got no choice, right?”
“Right.”
After they dressed, they took another stroll. The morning in Occoquan was lazy but spectacular. The balmy breeze from the night before had moved on, and the water was like glass. The trees that lined the bay were painted with every fall color imaginable.
“I kind of like this place,” she said, checking out the view. “I could definitely get used to it.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked. “Maybe you could set up shop in one of these little row houses.”
“That would be sweet,” Cheri said with a sigh, “if only I had some kind of talent to sell in that shop.”
Thomas’s arms snaked around her. “You’ve got plenty of talent,” he said suggestively.
Cheri’s insides fluttered with need, and she melted against him. “Mr. Graham, do you really want me to share that talent with the world?” she asked.
“Uh, on second thought, no,” he said, then snatched her by the waist, obviously feeling frisky, causing her to buck at the ticklishness. “We could just climb over this wall and…you know,” he said suggestively. “We can come back anytime, spend as long as you’d like. It’d be a great place to honeymoon, wouldn’t it?”
“Huh?”
Then, without any warning, Thomas dropped to one knee. Most of her knew what he was doing, but a large portion of her mind simply could not grasp it. She almost pinched herself in an effort to wake up, and she felt herself tremble as she touched his hand.
“Cheri Holt, I have put you through hell and high water, and you’ve still stuck with me all the way. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you. I can’t stand to be away from you, not for a minute. I believe, deep in my heart, that we have the kind of love that can endure anything. I’ve been your hero and your heartache, and you love me still. Now, will you please, please do me the honor of being my wife?”
She thought she would faint, overcome with the richness of the moment, so beautiful and unexpected. Thomas had mentioned wanting to spend the rest of his life with her, but she had no idea he was ready to be married to her. She was pretty sure the answer was yes, but her mind-mouth connection seemed broken, and her body was working against her. Suddenly, the sun was in her eyes, and Thomas was bracing her back, his arms as strong as steel railroad ties as he set her down on the sidewalk that was still warm with the heat of the morning sun. For an answer at that moment, all she could do was blink up at him as he stood there with the golden aura of that sun behind him.
“Is she okay?” a man hollered from across the street.
“Yeah, I think she’s fine,” Thomas answered nervously. “She just fainted or something.”
“I-I did?” asked Cheri.
Thomas stroked her hair. “Sort of,” he said, with a tinge of disappointment in his voice. “I guess it was too early to ask.”
“Yes,” she said, squinting up at him. “Yes.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said, blushing with embarrassment. “I just thought after all we’ve been through, you were ready to trust me, to—”
“No,” said Cheri, unable to get hold of herself to make him understand. “I mean no, it’s not a bad time, and yes to the other thing.”
“The other thing?” he asked with a nervous laugh, then bit his lip in a most adorable way, like a jittery junior high boy asking a girl to the prom for the first time.
“Yes, I’ll marry you, Thomas.”
Her answer revived them both, and Thomas drew her ragdoll-limp body to him. He patted her back, almost clapping against her, then laughed loudly, like a man gone mad.
“Everything all right over here?” the bystander said as he rushed up to them, obviously having mistaken Thomas’s crazed laughter for weeping.
“Better than all right,” Thomas assured him. “This woman’s going to be my wife!”
“Well, in that case, put ‘er there!” said the man, extending his hand for a congratulatory shake. “This calls for celebration. I own the Sea & Sea. Come on down. Breakfast is on me.”
“See, baby?” said Thomas. “Things are working out better already.”
They gladly accepted the restauranteur’s offer and headed to breakfast.
On the way, they passed a few antique and consignment shops, and Thomas impulsively ducked inside one of them, pulling her along. “Look,” he said, pointing to a jewelry case.
Cheri stared at the rows of lovely rings.
“Of course, there’s no hurry. I’m fine with waiting, if you wanna shop around for a ring, but there’s just something about buying one in one of these little places,” he said, then gave her a quick kiss.
The shop owner smiled and withdrew a tray of rings, then pointed out a beautiful garnet piece. “This one is really gorgeous,” she said.
Cheri had never thought much about jewelry but suddenly she really had a passion for it.
“Supposedly, it was owned by the lady of Rockledge, but I know that could just be local folklore, one of those urban legends. It’s hard to tell. Rockledge was burned a number of times in its lifetime. It’s said the last time was because a teenager set it ablaze to cover his tracks, and this was part of the loot. The owner at the time was very quiet about claiming it, since it was part of the insurance claim. We can’t really prove it, but it’s kind of nice to have a story behind the pieces.”
“Rockledge?” Cheri asked.
“That’s the name of the mansion,” said Thomas softly, then took the ring and placed it on Cheri’s finger.
Cheri smiled down at it, gleaming on her finger as if it was custom made to fit her.
“That’s beautiful. We can turn it into a pendant if you don’t want it for an engagement ring, but we should buy it either way. I don’t want to rush you. I just stepped in here on impulse,” said Thomas.
Cheri didn’t commit one way or the other. She could only gasp out a quiet, “It’s beautiful.”
“And it’s yours now,” said Thomas.
After they shopkeeper bagged up their purchase, they hurried to the Sea & Sea. Cheri was so overwhelmed that she didn’t feel like eating much, so she settled on unsweetened tea and toast, much to Thomas’s dismay. There were leftovers from their wonderful dinner in the fridge, and she knew she could eat that later if she felt the need.
Suddenly, Thomas’s phone beeped to indicate a text message, and he peered down at it, clearly perturbed at the interruption. When he looked up at her, his face wore a worried expression mixed with a bit of frustration.
“What’s the matter now?” she asked.
He took in a deep breath. “Patty’s gone M.I.A. They can’t seem to find her.”
Chapter 12
Rather than take a cab back to D.C., they decided to rent a car from the place at the edge of town, near the marina. Even though she knew they were heading back to potential tension, the drive home was spectacular, albeit pensive and quiet until she decided to make some small talk.
“I wish we never had to work again,” she said.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he said bluntly. “I make enough for both of us.”
“I want to contribute,” she said, happy to talk about anything that didn’t have to deal with the impending situation with the stalker.
“Well, there’s no rush for now, especially if you’re gonna be my wife,” he said with a wink, clearly happy to be discussing their life rather than what they were heading back to.
“That’s tempting, Thomas, but it’s not really cool with me. We’ll have to think about it,” she said. “I’m not really cut out to be just a happy little homemaker.”
