by Ivy Jordan
It was new, well, newer, but I’d hauled quite a bit of gardening supplies since I’d arrived. I wanted everything perfect. This was my chance to prove Alyssa and I were worth trying for.
“So, where are we going?” Alyssa asked.
It was clear she was nervous, all dressed up, and on a date with me, the father of her child, the one who never came back. I knew she didn’t want the stares, the glares, and the whispers. I wasn’t going to let this town ruin our night, so I planned to leave it behind in a cloud of dust from my tires.
“A new place, one a few towns over,” I smiled.
I watched her body relax, sinking against the leather of the truck seats, and her smile washed across her face.
Alyssa leaned forward, turned on the radio, and stared out the window as I drove us an hour away for dinner. I was grateful for the country singers coming through the speakers, giving me a chance to calm down on the drive instead of making awkward small talk.
We finally made it to the restaurant, a cozy place right on the lake. They had party lights lining the awning in front and a giant bull holding their sign in the parking lot.
“Here we are,” I announced, pulling Alyssa from whatever she’d been daydreaming about during our ride.
“It’s on the water,” she beamed, staring out the front window of the truck.
I grinned, stepped out of the truck, and made my way to her side. As I opened the door, she took my hand, letting me help her down to the pavement.
“Sorry it was such a long drive,” I sighed.
“The longer, the better,” she giggled.
Her arm slid into mine, and I stood five inches taller with pride as we walked through the front door.
The night air was warm, and the sky was a gorgeous orange and blue mixture as the sun was starting to go down, so I’d reserved a table on the patio by the lake.
Alyssa appeared to be impressed as we took our seats, beaming with a large smile and her eyes glistening in the sunset’s light.
I watched her slender finger push a loose curl behind her ear as she stared at the menu. I knew what she liked so well that even after twelve years, I could order for her. Some things never change, like how I felt about Alyssa.
“I’ll have the filet, medium well, with a baked potato, loaded,” she ordered.
“No chives,” I spoke up.
Alyssa’s cheeks blushed pink, and her eyes narrowed on mine.
“Thank you; I forgot,” she sighed.
I ordered the same meal and a pitcher of beer for the two of us to share, and then leaned back in my seat to take in the view.
“This is beautiful,” Alyssa said softly.
“Yes, it is,” I agreed, staring right at her, ignoring the sunset surrounding us.
“Holly was going nuts,” she smirked.
“I bet,” I chuckled, not divulging the fact we’d been working together on a plan to reunite our love.
“She really does adore you,” Alyssa noted.
“She’s a great kid. The best,” I boasted proudly.
The conversation stayed on Holly throughout dinner, and even through the last drink from our second pitcher. I hated for the night to end.
“Do you want to take a walk?” I asked.
“I’d love to,” she agreed.
I paid the bill and took Alyssa by the hand, leading her from the patio, down the long steps to the waterfront. A path was created, narrow and winding, just like the lake, allowing us to walk safely under the moonlit sky, hand in hand.
“You really do look beautiful,” I said softly, refraining from leaning in for a kiss.
“Thank you,” she responded.
I wanted to lead the conversation away from Holly, away from why I left, what I did while I was gone. It was just me and Alyssa on that dimly-lit path, and that’s all I wanted on our minds, our lips, and in our hearts.
“I’d love for you to come help me redecorate the old house,” I suggested.
Her eyes sparkled as they looked up into mine. She’d always said she wanted to be an interior designer. I hated that she was working in the old, musty dentist office and not living her dream.
“I’d like that,” she smiled.
“I remember you always had amazing taste and an eye for design,” I complimented.
“I’m saving up to go back to school. That’s why I’ve been working the second job,” she confessed.
My heart swelled in my chest, making it tight and uncomfortable. I wanted to help, but I knew she’d take offense to my offer. I knew having a child, alone, was the reason she’d not completed school and gone after her dream. Why didn’t I come back to at least check on her?
She told me all about her dreams, the same dreams she’d had twelve years ago when I left. It was nice to see her smile, happy, and excited, but inside, I was dying that I had any part in killing, or at least delaying, her dreams.
The wind started picking up, creating a chill in the air. It was late, late enough for the stars to shine brightly in the dark night sky, so we headed back to the truck.
I turned on the heat, blasting it through the small vents as I pulled out of the parking lot. This was my new favorite place. It was our place.
“I didn’t realize we were out there so long,” Alyssa commented and then scooted to the center of the truck seat.
I lifted my arm, letting her snuggle into my side like when we were young, and felt my heart swell against my chest.
I pulled my truck in front of Alyssa’s house. It was dark and empty, and part of me wanted to drag her into the bedroom like a caveman. I stopped myself, remembering what Aiden had said. Let her make the first move.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” I smiled, feeling the ache between my legs.
I stepped out of the truck, my jeans tight against my swollen flesh, and my mind foggy with desire.
Alyssa took my hand as I opened her door, stepped down onto the sidewalk, and pushed into me close, so close.
“Thank you for a wonderful night,” she whispered.
“You’re very welcome,” I stammered, still lightheaded from the rush of excitement she stirred in me.
Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes wide and bright, and she tiptoed upwards like she wanted me to kiss her. How could I resist?
I leaned down, gently pressing my lips against hers. They were soft, delicate, and tasted sweet.
Alyssa’s hands moved up my chest, wrapped around my shoulders, and her mouth pressed hard into mine. Our tongues entangled in a fury of passion that was soon released, leaving me gasping for air and struggling to come back to my senses.
My hand tugged, Alyssa pulling me towards her house. My feet lifted, following her to the porch.
Her giggle made me laugh, even though I didn’t know what we were laughing about. I was giddy; we both were.
I lifted my foot onto the first step; Alyssa was already on the second. She leaned down to kiss me, her mouth pressing hard into mine as she lost her footing. I reached out to grab her, but she was already going down.
Her back hit the porch, and my weight crushed onto her, causing me to panic.
“Are you okay?” I gasped, lifting myself from her small frame.
Laughter roared from her lips, her eyes dancing in the moonlight as they stared up at me.
Before I had a chance to say anything, do anything, her lips were pressed back against mine.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alyssa
What was wrong with me? Liam had to think I was nuts.
He was such a gentleman during dinner, and I was the one who’d said they wanted to take it slow. Now, here I was, making out with him on the floor of my front porch.
I was thankful the motion light had burnt out last week, and that I hadn’t had time to replace it. The darkness of the porch brought with it privacy, intimacy, and a feeling of rebellion, naughtiness, and sexiness that I couldn’t control.
My hands rolled up his back, tracing the creases around his tight muscle
s. My fingers gripped the material of his shirt, lifting it up to uncover his smooth skin. Oh God, I had to have him, right here, right now.
Liam lifted from my mouth, his blue eyes staring deep into my soul. My hands reached up to his shirt, slowly unbuttoning each button. His hand covered mine, stopping it from moving any lower as I reached one of the last buttons.
“Are you sure?” he questioned.
I knew he wanted this as badly as I did, probably more. I loved that he was so respectful, so careful.
“Yes,” I whispered, pushing away his hand so that I could finish removing his shirt.
My fingers playfully slid up his chest, tracing around his pecs, rolling between them through his rippled abs, and slowly circled his navel.
Liam let out a sigh, one that brought a wild vibration between my legs. His mouth lowered, kissing me wildly, madly, savagely, as his hands pushed up my dress, revealing yet another full moon to the night.
My fingers pulled at his belt, and then the buttons on his jeans. The sound of his zipper sliding open brought back so many memories of our first time together—my first time with anyone.
The heat between his legs drew my cold hand into his jeans, gripping his thick cock, stroking it firmly as he let out a growl.
Keys to the house were on the floor beside me. I could see them as I turned my head. They had spilled from my purse when I spilled onto the porch, but I had no urgency to use them. I didn’t want to move from this place, lose this feeling, risk ruining the passion that was sparking between us.
Liam gripped me tightly, rolling me with him as he moved to his back. My legs straddled him, my weight pushed into his strong chest, and our mouths continued to search one another’s.
“I have a condom in my pocket,” he gasped, reaching his hand into his back pocket of his jeans.
His ass lifted from the porch, pushing his bare cock against my silk panties, panties that were now becoming tacky with arousal.
Liam handed the foil package to me, unopened, and ready to use. I ripped open the edge, pulled out the condom, and scooted down on his legs so I could maneuver the rubber over his manhood.
I was a little out of practice, but I managed to get it on without much effort. My hands pushed my panties down over my hips, and then I wiggled on top of Liam while removing them from each leg.
My pussy was bare, pressed against his hard cock once again. Our flesh was so warm, so swollen, that it nearly brought me to orgasm as I slid back and forth along his shaft.
Liam pushed me upward, his large hand on my chest, until I was in a sitting position above him, my legs straddled around him, and my warm cunt pressing into his erection.
“Fuck me like you used to,” he whispered, a wild smirk growing on his face.
I lifted my body, gripping his cock with my hand as it reached behind me. I carefully guided his manhood to my opening, and then released my hand, pressing gently down with my weight to take him inside.
“Oh God,” he cried out, loud enough that I feared the neighbors would hear.
My hand covered his mouth as I let out a giggle.
The weight of my body sunk his cock deep between my legs, causing my laughter to cease and moans to take its place.
His hands lifted to my breasts, cupping them as they bounced on my chest. With a quick tug, he snapped the delicate strings that held my dress in place, and my breasts were bare in the moonlight, his large hands caressing them, squeezing them.
Chills rolled down my spine as his hands drifted down my sides, reaching around to squeeze my ass cheeks. He pushed me towards him, then away, grinding my clit into his pelvis.
My teeth ground, my lips quivered, and my body erupted with powerful pleasure. Liam’s hand rested behind my head carefully as he rolled me to my back, his cock pounding deep inside of me, throbbing, twitching, and finally erupting with the same powerful pleasure as my cunt.
I wanted to say ‘I love you,' to whisper it in his ear, yell it into the night, but I bit down on my bottom lip, stopping myself from moving too fast, messing this up.
My eyes opened to Liam’s, his stare intense, as if fighting the same urge.
“Eventually, we’re gonna have to make it to the bed,” he chuckled.
I laughed. It was true; we’d started to develop a pattern of uncontrollable urges.
“I’d invite you in to stay, but Holly will be home early,” I said quickly.
“Of course. I get it,” Liam stammered.
“We better…” I started to say, say goodnight, but Liam was already sliding his jeans up and around his waist.
“I’ll let you get some rest. You’re not gonna run this time, are ya?” he questioned.
“No,” I whispered.
I didn’t want to run. I wanted to stay in his arms forever, but I needed to make sure Holly didn’t see things moving too fast. She was my main priority. Making sure that Liam didn’t leave, that was my second.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Liam
My phone blared from somewhere, where, I didn’t know. It was early, too early after the late night I’d had with Alyssa.
I lifted my head from the mattress, hanging it over the side to scan my bedroom floor. The light guided me towards it, nearly under the bed.
One eye opened, the other squinted tightly shut so I could read the screen. Bailey. What was she calling for?
“Hello?” I asked slowly.
“Liam, thank God you answered,” her voice filled with panic.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine; it’s Xander,” she gasped.
My heart raced. A million horrible scenarios rushed through my mind before I asked, what was wrong.
“He’s in a really bad place; he needs you, said you’re the only one he’ll talk to,” she insisted.
“Put him on the phone,” I said, sitting up in my bed.
“I can’t; that’s the problem. He’s locked himself in the cabin, refuses to come down, and with the weather changing fast, I’m afraid no one will be able to reach him soon,” Bailey cried.
“I can be there this afternoon, early evening at the latest,” I said, telling Bailey not to worry, and that everything would be okay.
I wasn’t sure everything would be okay. I knew it was hard for Xander to come out of that damn cabin, of the seclusion he lived in, but he did. Bailey had done wonders for him, and as far as I knew, he’d been doing fine until now.
I hated to leave, especially after what happened with Alyssa. Now, she wasn’t the one running away, but I was.
I looked at the time; Holly was already in school, and Alyssa probably already at work. I sent a quick text to Holly, letting her know I had to go help a friend, and that’d I may not have reception for a few days, and then dialed Alyssa’s number.
No answer. Shit!
I left a voicemail at the beep, explaining as much as I could in the little time given. I called the airport, made the arrangements for the next flight, less than an hour to pack and get there, but if I didn’t, another fight wouldn’t leave until tomorrow morning.
“I’ll take it,” I told the lady on the other end of the phone.
I shoved some warm clothing into a duffel bag, along with the basic necessities for climbing that nasty mountain. Why hadn’t Xander gotten rid of that place by now?
I headed to the airport with an aching feeling in my gut, one that told me Alyssa wasn’t going to be okay with me leaving so abruptly.
Airport security was quick, surprisingly quick, although I was stopped, told to leave some items behind or check my bag. I handed it over, letting the woman place a tag on it and shove it on a cart.
The plane took off on time, and even though we ran into some bad weather, landed on time. I called Bailey as soon as I got my bag, her voice still filled with desperation.
“I’m here,” I told her.
“Thank you, Liam,” she gushed.
“I’m gonna head on up the mountain unless you need me t
here first,” I suggested.
“No, go, please,” she pleaded.
The cab driver played classical music, which most would find soothing, but I found irritating. I gave him directions, and when we stopped at the bottom of the mountain, he looked confused.
“Thanks, man,” I said quickly, handing him a fifty, and grabbing my bag from the back.
“You’re sure this is where you want to be?” he called to me as I rushed towards the path.
I lifted my thumb in the air behind my head to signal I was fine and ran up the path.
About a mile up, the path split: one way offered a smooth trail, while the other looked barren, barely used, and treacherous. That was my path.
I reached down and grabbed a stick from the ground, using it to push brush out of my way, as well as to balance myself as I made my way up the steep hill.
It was starting to get dark, and strange noises roared through the tress. It wasn’t cold and isolated like it had been on my first visit. The weather was still good enough for animals to be wandering the hillside, all searching for food before the cold came.
The thick jacket I’d packed was barely enough to keep me warm the higher up the mountain I traveled. By the time I reached the clearing, noticing a dim light through the trees, I was nearly frozen.
Fuckin’ Xander couldn’t just hold up at a bar like other guys.
I knocked on the heavy wooden door. Of course there was no answer. I pushed on it, unable to make it budge. My fingers were frozen, aching as I made a fist to pound again.
Finally, the door opened, and there stood Xander, my good buddy, my brother from the SEALs, my family.
“What the fuck are you doin’ here?” he asked, barely able to force a smile on his wooly face.
“I was in the neighborhood,” I joked.
“Bailey?” Xander asked.
“Yeah. Can I come in or what?” I snipped.
Xander moved from the doorway, letting me into the warm cabin. I moved straight to the fire, pulling off my gloves and warming my hands over the flame.
“Why do you still have this place?” I asked.
“You never know when you might need it,” he shrugged.
Guess he had a point. But if it wasn’t here, he may have been forced to the bar to drink his sorrows, anxiety, or whatever it was that was bothering him away.
