by Stone, M. T.
“Maggie told her not to be mad at you. That she was okay with the way things had been,” I explain, reiterating what Mandy had told me on the phone the night before.
“So Maggie knew about everything? That’s just great,” he says, sliding the pork into the barbeque pit. “Now I feel like a total ass.” He closes the lid and wipes his brow with his forearm.
“Actually I think we are all better off knowing the truth. At least now Mandy and I both understand why Dad acted the way he did. Before this, Mandy thought he had just run you out of business out of sheer greed and I thought he was just an asshole,” I tell him very bluntly. “I honestly wish Mom would have leveled with me a long time ago. Things could have turned out much different between Dad and I.”
Ray looks at me with a pained expression caused by years of torment. “If we had it all to do over again, we would probably do a lot of things differently. I wanted to marry your mother before you were even born, but Darla was just a little baby. Maggie and I had a fight one night and she made it clear that if we split up, she would move back here and I would be dead to both of them. I couldn’t stand the thought of not being part of her life. ” A tear pops out of one eye and he quickly wipes it away. “I don’t regret raising the girls, but I have regretted everything else every single goddamn day for the last twenty years.” He opens the lid and stokes the coals in a long moment of silence.
“I understand,” I finally say, breaking the tension between us. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to walk away from your little girl.”
“It’s enough to crush even the toughest man’s heart,” he replies with tears now streaming from both eyes. “It’s right up there with spending the majority of your life with the wrong woman.” He wipes his forearm across both eyes and let’s out a huge sigh. “I gotta go get cleaned up before I get this shit in my eyes.”
I hand him a paper towel and say, “Thanks for the talk, Ray. You might want to have the same one with Mandy this weekend,” I add as we walk up the sidewalk.
“I will. I’m going to set both girls down tomorrow night and lay it all out,” he says before entering the house. “They have enough on their minds right now.”
“I agree. Tomorrow night would probably be better.”
“You know,” he pauses in the doorway and looks back at me. “I’m glad you turned out to be Victor’s son. I think you and Mandy will be good for each other.” He gives me a slight grin before turning and heading inside.
“Thanks, Ray.” I follow him into the house. “I appreciate that.”
Chapter 11
Trey
It’s close to midnight by the time Mandy drops me off at the B&B in Lynchburg. I know I should probably let her go back home and spend this time with her family, but they were all going to bed anyway. I reach over, placing my hand on her cheek and lean in giving her a warm, sensual kiss.
“You are making it pretty damn hard for me to go back home,” she murmurs as our lips part.
“That was my intent,” I whisper back, feeling a rush of hormones. I immediately take her lips in mine once again, kissing her even more fervently than the previous one.
“Okay, I’ll stay for a little while,” she relents, shutting off the car. “But only for a little while.”
“Only for a little while,” I agree, taking her by the hand and quietly opening the front door. We tiptoe past the registration desk and tread as lightly as possible on the creaky old staircase. We slowly navigate the rest of the noisy floorboards that make up the hallway and both give a sigh of relief when we finally reach the door to my room.
“I feel like a high school kid.” Mandy giggles before creeping inside the room and turning on the overhead light.
“Yeah, this whole day has been a little weird,” I admit.
“Weird? Weird in a bad way?” she asks, turning back toward me.
“No, weird in a good way,” I laugh. “I don’t know, everything is just so different from everything I’ve ever known. I’ve definitely never stayed in a place where I had to sneak in at midnight,” I tell her with a laugh.
On cue, there is a knock on the door, so I crack it open just slightly. “I just wanted to let you know that we will be serving breakfast at eight thirty,” Peggy says, pushing the door open wide enough to get a good look inside. “Oh, hello,” she says to Mandy. “I thought I heard voices in the hallway. At least now I know I’m not going completely crazy.” She comes into the room and looks directly at Mandy. “I knew you looked familiar, I didn’t put two and two together until I saw your mother’s car. I’m so sorry to hear of her passing.”
“Thank you, Peggy,” Mandy says, accepting a hug from her.
“I’ve known her since she was a little girl. How is your dad doing?” she asks after pulling back a bit.
“He’s doing pretty well. She’s been sick for a long time, so they had both accepted the inevitable,” she says with sadness once again dominating her features.
“Well, you tell him hello from me. I hear you are having a private service for her?”
“Yeah, Mom didn’t want a fuss. You know her.” Mandy sighs.
“Well, I have a fresh peach pie for you to take with you when you leave,” she says. “It was your mother’s favorite.”
“Yes, it definitely was her favorite.” Mandy tears up again. “Thank you Peggy.”
“My pleasure. Now you two have a good night,” she says with a rather judgmental look on her face.
“Oh, I’m not staying,” Mandy quickly retorts, setting the record straight. “I just wanted to make sure he got in okay, being a city boy and all.”
“I understand, dear,” she replies, with a strong note of skepticism.
We both just stare at her while she slowly closes the door and creaks her way back down the hallway to the staircase. Mandy gets a big grin and says, “Okay, maybe this is a little weird.”
“You said it, not me.” I slip my arms around her and pull her to me, hoping to pick up right where we left off in the car.
“I don’t think we can do anything here. Especially tonight,” Mandy resists my advance. “Not after the look she just gave me.”
“Does it really matter?” I ask, not wanting Peggy to stand in our way. “You’re a grown woman, an attorney for Christ sake.”
“I know. This town just makes me feel like a kid again. Everyone is so conservative and judgmental. You saw how Peggy acted,” she replies, taking a step toward the door.
“The thrill of being caught makes it even more fun,” I tell her, pulling her to me once again. “I can be very quiet and very good at the same time. Come on, let’s get away with something.”
Mandy
After a long day of wanting him, my defenses are quickly diminishing. “We have to be very quiet,” I reply sternly. “The last thing I want is to make a scene.”
“I understand.” He unhooks my belt and pops the button on my jeans. My pulse immediately quickens, watching him ease the zipper down. I smile to myself wondering how smoothly he is going to be able to get my jeans off of me. I know exactly how difficult they were to put on.
He grabs the only loose denim behind each knee and pulls firmly until the waistband gives way and pops down over my butt. “You’re better at this than I thought, but what about my boots?”
With a sexy smirk, he pushes against my abdomen sending me backwards onto the bed. He grabs hold of both boot heels and within seconds my jeans and boots are all in a pile on the floor at the foot of the bed. “God, you look sexy,” he murmurs while slowly undoing the buttons of his shirt.
“I think you better turn off the lights, just in case,” I reply, with a vision of Peggy opening the door running through my mind. “There is a lock, right?”
He turns the old metal latch, locking the door and turns off the light. There is still plenty of light streaming in through the window, however. “Perfect,” he says, letting his pants drop to the floor. My skin begins to tingle the moment his lips touch the tender skin be
tween my thighs. I can feel his hot breath against my panties as he pauses. “The bed didn’t seem this squeaky earlier,” he whispers.
“I guess I wasn’t paying attention to the bed.” I laugh. “What you were doing was much more intriguing.”
He shoots me a grin and begins unbuttoning my blouse starting at the bottom and slowly working his way up. I find his slow, methodical and persistent movements extremely tantalizing and begin wishing that we could simply rip each other’s clothes off and make as much noise as we want. I squirm toward him making it easier for him to reach the top button of my blouse.
Trey
Based on the way she is already squirming and showing signs of impatience it will be interesting to see if we can remain quiet. The only way to be quiet on this squeaky old bed is by using very slow and deliberate movements. The fact that this slow, seductive approach is completely turning her on is just a fortunate side effect.
“God, I love the way you taste,” I whisper while kissing my way from her navel to the little silken bow at the center of her bra. I skim across each breast with my lips feeling her hardening nipples rising beneath the lacy material. She moans softly, lifting her back to encourage me to unhook her bra. I oblige of course.
“That feels better,” she whispers upon the release of tension across her chest. “I love the feeling of your naked body against mine.”
The old bed lets out telltale sounds as I slip her panties down her legs. I should’ve taken them off earlier. I decide to remove mine as well releasing a burst of squeaky noises that would normally be associated with someone settling into bed. “Now we’ll try to be quiet,” I tell her, cozying up right next to her.
Mandy
Restraint has never been my strong suit, but I’m more content now that we are snuggled into the warmth of each other’s arms. I push back the covers just a bit to compensate for the heat being generated by our intertwined bodies. Trey begins to slowly run his hand over my body once again, as if there wasn’t already enough sexual tension within me.
“No more teasing,” I tell him to no avail.
“I just love how you feel,” he moans softly, continuing a series of soft, sweeping motions. “I love running my hands over your body.”
I reach down between his legs and begin returning the favor. If he thinks he can continue teasing me without any retribution, he is wrong. Within a couple of minutes he pulls away from me, so I nudge him to move between my legs. He obliges, much to my relief.
“I’ve waited all day for this,” he whispers against my skin. “I want to savor you.”
He tugs at my nipple with his lips, causing my breath to catch. He moves his hips so I can feel his hardness against me. “Make love to me.” I reach for his sides and pull him toward me.
“Shhh…” He replies, reminding me that we are trying to be quiet.
Part of me wants to flip him onto his back and go wild, but that little voice reminds me that I will regret it the next time I see Peggy. I take a deep breath and relax as he suggested, deciding to let him to go at whatever pace he desires. He begins to slowly kiss his way back down my stomach and lingers just below my belly button. He is such a damn tease.
I push against the crown of his head encouraging his lips to continue the slow and tantalizing journey to their destination. After several light, titillating flicks using only the tip of his tongue, he finally takes my swollen folds in earnest. Using every ounce of restraint, I resist the impulse to scream out in sheer ecstasy. As the first wave of pleasure recedes, I take a long deep breath preparing for the next wave that follows right behind it. Keep quiet, keep quiet, I keep repeating to myself. Just focus on breathing.
Trey
I have to chuckle to myself as Mandy’s hips wriggle beneath me and her breathing becomes ragged and choppy. Each time she comes close to an orgasm, I back off allowing her to recover momentarily before increasing the intensity once again. Her abdomen begins to flex and her legs are trembling uncontrollably. She lets out a gasp indicating that she can’t take anymore. I love driving her right to that point where I can feel she is about to lose control.
“Please stop,” she whimpers, grabbing my hair with both hands and pulling me up toward her.
“I love that,” I whisper and begin a slow ascent, taking into consideration that the ancient springs beneath us were trying their best to betray us. “You did well,” I mutter against her earlobe after slowly making my way up her overheated body.
“Oh, you were killing me,” she murmurs, giving me a love tap on the back.
“But in a good way, right?” I smile against her cheek before spreading her legs and moving between them.
“Please… no more teasing,” she whispers in a more demanding tone.
I kiss her hard and move deep within her causing an immediate shudder of delight and an equally intense groan from the old bedsprings beneath us. Fuck this! I roll off the side of the bed and reach for her hand lifting her to her feet. I grab the comforter and pull it onto the floor. “I can’t take it anymore!”
I lower her onto her back and pick up right where I left off, giving her my full length against the hard wood floor. “This is much better,” I moan as I really feel her beneath me and get the full impact from each movement within her. I feel a surge of lust as I begin to fuck her with an intensity that matches how I have been feeling inside ever since the moment I saw her at the airport.
Mandy
The touch, scent and feel of Trey, combined with the feeling that we were getting away with something, is sending me into the most aroused state of my life. The way he is making love to me leaves no doubt in my mind that his level of passion matches mine. Each stroke is firm, but smooth, erotic but caring… it is utter perfection.
My lips reach for his and we engage in an extended kiss while he continues to increase the intensity of each stroke. The electricity dances through my entire body as I kiss him hard, yearning to show the level of passion that is burning within me. No one has ever made me feel so wanted, so sexy… so alive.
“Oh, God!” I gasp as he shifts just slightly and begins hitting me at just the right angle. Any thought of Peggy, or anyone else, hearing us is purged from my mind and replaced by a sheer electric pulse that emanates from the absolute core of my being. “Right there… don’t stop… please don’t stop!” I catch myself yelling.
He continues to thrust his hips, while covering my lips with his to muffle my cries. I can’t help expressing my feelings verbally. He is all I want right now and I want him to continue what he is doing to me. He has been taking me to places where I’ve never been sexually as well as physically and I’m eager to see what lies beyond the current moment.
“I fucking love you,” he groans as he begins to thrust even deeper and harder than before, smashing his lips against mine. I feel his sweat mixing with mine as he pins my hands to the floor and delivers the final long, hard strokes that send both of us into an oxygen starved oblivion.
“Holy shit,” he exclaims as he collapses next to me gasping for air. “Sorry, I got a little carried away.”
“It was perfect,” I assure him, kissing him with intensity equal to what he had been bestowing upon me. “I love you too,” I tell him despite the fact that he had made his declaration in the heat of the moment.
“I’ve never said that before,” he whispers against my lips. “It just feels like we were made for each other.”
“I know,” I whisper back. “It’s incredible. The only thing that can make it even better is if you spoon me while I fall asleep.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he replies lifting me from the floor and tossing the comforter back onto the bed. After I make myself comfortable, he nestles in behind me placing his warm hand on my thigh.
My mind begins to reflect on how Trey had come into an awkward situation, spent the day with my family and is now sleeping in a total dump compared to what he is normally accustomed to and yet there hasn’t been a single complaint. Hearing him say
I love you, however, is what is really blowing my mind.
Chapter 12
Mandy
Trey’s phone starts chirping just after six am. I pick it up since it’s sitting only inches from my face. “It’s a text from Vanessa,” I say, handing the phone off to him. It would’ve been nice if she had waited an hour or two, but she probably doesn’t realize we are in a different time zone.
“Anything new with Tyler?” I ask, rolling over and stretching my arms out in his direction.
“No. He hasn’t done anything since yesterday morning.” He scowls at the phone while scrolling through messages. “They are getting a little worried.”
“Does it normally take this long to come out of something like that?” I manage to ask while yawning.
“It’s usually quicker, but he is detoxing at the same time. His body is going through some serious shit at the moment, so it’s actually best if he sleeps through as much of it as possible.”
“He was that hooked on pain killers?” I ask, propping myself up on an elbow.
“Yeah, Vanessa figures he was up to a dozen pills a day,” Trey admits. “He’s been on them for so long that he had to take high doses to get any relief.”
“Why does he need them in the first place?” My mind just can’t wrap around the idea of someone so young needing to be on pain medication full time.
“He had a lot of knee pain after multiple reconstructive surgeries, so he kept getting refills and I don’t think he ever got off them long enough to see if the pain would subside on his own. His primary doctor didn’t see any harm in it, but that was back before they really started looking at the addiction rates.” Trey rolls to the edge of the bed and stands up. “I knew where this was headed a long time ago. I told Mom that he either needed to be checked into drug rehab or he would end up in a death spiral.”
