Bound Together

by Marie Coulson

  “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  Pressing his lips to mine, the spark of electricity between us made me smile. Ollie really was amazing and whenever I was around him I felt so comfortable and happy. Ollie’s natural charisma, and gentle charm was completely disarming and totally swoon worthy. I wasn’t just with a great guy, he also happened to be one of my best friends. “Well, let’s get this show on the road.” Holding my hand tightly in his, we walked outside where a cab was waiting for us. My mind suddenly drifted to Daniel, the Mercedes and Jared. Angry at myself for letting my mind wander, I glanced at Ollie and tightened my grip on his hand.

  Entering the restaurant I could feel the nerves swarming in my stomach. Still holding my hand firmly, Ollie led us through to a table in the far corner where a slim woman with long dark hair was sipping a glass of water. Seeing us approach she stood and immediately wrapped her arms around Ollie who, albeit rigidly, hugged her back.

  “Mom, this is Layla.”

  Leaning in to me she gave me a peck on the cheek and smiled widely. “It’s lovely to finally meet you Layla. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  I eyed her with skepticism. “I’ve heard a lot about you too.” Looking at Ollie and then at the floor she sighed. “Yes, I imagine you have.”

  Noticing the tension building between us, Ollie gestured for us to sit. Taking the seat next to me he held my hand on top of the table and brushed his thumb back and forth over my knuckles. “So, Layla. Ollie tells me the two of you have been dating for several months now. How did you meet?”

  I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Well, I actually quite literally bumped into him on my first day at college. We became good friends and then we started dating around Christmas time.” Ollie held my hand firmly and smiled at me. “That’s sweet. So why the long wait between meeting and dating?” I gave Ollie a discomfited look. I didn’t like the direction the conversation was going. “She was in a relationship. He treated her badly. They broke up. That’s it.”

  Ollie to my rescue.

  Sitting back in her chair, his mother gave me a smile but I got the district feeling she was sizing me up. What gave her the right? She’d only just crawled her way back into his life and here she was questioning me? I gave her an icy glare. I was not going to be intimidated by the likes of her. Taking my menu, I gave the waiter my order and sipped on my water, all the time keeping my eyes fixed on the woman sitting opposite me. Her hand brushed Ollie’s as they spoke about his move to Utah this summer and my stomach twisted into knots every time they made plans, spoke about the apartment or even said the word move. “Oliver tells me he’s asked you to come with him Layla. Well, we’ll be very happy to have you join our little family. My younger son Jason has always wanted a sister.”

  I almost choked on my water.

  “Mom I told you to drop it. I won’t pressure Layla into a decision.”

  He placed his hand on the small of my back and I couldn’t have felt more awful.

  “What’s to think about? You love each other, you want to be together, and Utah is only a different state, not another country.”

  “Mom! That’s enough. Just drop it.”

  Raising her hands defensively, she shot me a questioning look and it instantly got my back up. I was glad when our food arrived as it gave me a reason to remain silent as the two of them continued to talk about Ollie’s new life that waited for him.

  “Well, if you’ll excuse me I need to use the bathroom.” Resting his hand on my shoulder he leaned in to my ear. “You’ll be ok?” I nodded and giving me a quick peck, he left the table and the two of us alone. Watching him leave, Ollie’s mother turned her attention to me.

  “Layla, I’m going to be frank and say what I have noticed this evening. You don’t want to come to Utah and you certainly do not feel about Ollie the same way he does about you. Now why don’t we stop pretending and lay the cards on the table. You don’t like me for what I did to Ollie in his past. And I certainly won’t like you if you jeopardize his future happiness. If you don’t want him, let him go.”

  I stared at her in total shock. “How dare you. I am crazy about your son and I would never jeopardize his future.”

  “Oh come on dear. Be honest with yourself. You don’t love my son and the way you have responded to his enthusiasm about moving has left a lot to be desired. I appreciate you care about him and maybe on some level you do love him. But I’ve been the woman you are now. You stay because you feel you should and if you came to Utah it would be for him, not you. Be kind, let him go.”

  Now I was irate. She had no right to question my motives or my feelings considering what she had done. “I don’t know who you think you are but the only one hurting Ollie around here is you. You come wandering back into his life and offer him this perfect little family and just like that he’s leaving his whole life to come to Utah. His college, his friends, everything.”

  She gave me a satisfied grin. “I notice you never mentioned yourself in that list. You are hurting him more and more the longer you give him hope. Cut the strings and let him go. I made the biggest mistake of my life when I left Oliver and his brother but I had my reasons, reasons I do not have to justify to you. Oliver has found it in his beautiful heart to give me a chance to make it up to him and I will not stand idly by while you tear his heart out.”

  Standing, I slammed my napkin on the table, grabbed my purse and walked away. Her words, though harsh, were right on the money. She’d seen through me and called me on me on it. As I reached the door, I saw Ollie coming out of the bathroom and putting my head down, I quickened my pace out into the street and across the road to hail a cab. Sprinting out of the doors he yelled after me. “Layla! Wait, where are you going? What’s going on?”

  I stood staring ahead looking for a cab to pass for me to take. Reaching me, he held his hand on my arm and lifted my chin to face him. “Layla, what’s happened? Why did you take off?” I shook my head, unable to look him in the eye. “I have to go home Ollie. I can’t stay here.”

  “I don’t understand. I went to the bathroom everything was fine and I come back and you’re taking off. What did she say to you?” Pulling away from him I exhaled loudly. “Nothing that I didn’t already know. Ollie I…”

  He cut me off, closing the space between us, pressing his lips to mine. “You’re not coming with me to Utah are you Layla.” His forehead rested against mine and weakly I shook my head. He sighed. “I know. I always knew. I understand. It’s a lot to ask of you and I shouldn’t have expected you to leave everything for a man you don’t even love.”

  Tears pooled in my eyes. “Ollie…I’m so…”

  “It’s ok. We gave it our best shot didn’t we? Sometimes the story doesn’t end the way we want it to. Can you do something for me?”

  I gazed into his eyes “Anything.”

  “Let me pretend, just a while longer. I need it.”

  Warm salty tears rolled heavily down my cheeks.

  “Ok.”

  We didn’t stay for dinner. Leaving me on the sidewalk Ollie ran back to the restaurant to say goodbye to his mom and that he would call her the next day. Sliding into the cab beside me he held my hand threading our fingers together. My heart gave an almighty thud as I gazed into his deep brown eyes. He smiled but I knew he was hurting as deeply as I was. The walk down our hall was a long and silent one. Standing outside my room, we stared at each other. Taking my hand, Ollie pressed my palm to his lips and kissed me softly before holding it against his cheek. My heart swelled and my eyes blurred with unshed tears. “I love you Layla. Thank you.”

  I couldn’t believe what he was saying. Everything I’d put him through and he was thanking me. “What for? Breaking your heart?” Tears fell silently from my eyes.

  “No. For letting me know I have one.”

  A sob escaped my lips. Pulling me to him he held me in a warm embrace and stroked his hand up and down my spine.

  “Shhh. It’s ok. It’ll be ok. I promise.”<
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  I nodded weakly, unable to believe his words and I was sure he didn’t believe them either. Releasing my hand he smiled and reached for his door handle.

  Taking his other hand I stopped him. “Don’t.”

  He looked at me confused. “Stay with me. Even if it’s just for tonight. Be with me Ollie.”

  Cupping his face in my hands I kissed him passionately. I kissed him like it was my last and the way things had played out that night, I feared it could be. His hands on my shoulders his tongue slid into my mouth slowly rolling, caressing and stroking my own. “Are you sure about this?”

  Catching my breath I gazed at him and nodded. “I want to be with you tonight Ollie. I want to do this with you.” Taking his hand I led him into my room. Amy had gone home for the weekend so I knew we had the whole night alone. He looked nervous. Closing the door behind us I lit a few candles around the room. His eyes glistened and sparkled in the dim light beneath his long black hair. My palms pressed against his chest, I gently and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. I felt him tense beneath my fingers and momentarily I pulled away. Catching my wrist in his grasp he placed it back over his heart. Gazing down at me he kissed me softly and slid his hands over my shoulders, making the straps of my dress loosen and rest on my arms.

  Turning around, I held my hair up as his fingers traced across my neck before gently unzipping my dress. Turning back to face him, I shrugged it over my body and it fell lightly to the floor. Stepping out gracefully, I ran my hands over his bare chest, beneath his open shirt. My mouth closed over his as I pulled and tugged it from his torso. Tracing my fingertips over his chest, I followed every line, curve and contour of his body. I drew in a sharp breath as I slid my hands downwards to his pelvis. Snaking my hands over his hips and around his waist, I pressed my hands firmly to his back, forcing him close to me. His own hands glided up and down my spine gently before resting on my hips. His forehead rested against mine and I could hear how breathless he was and my own chest rose and fell heavily. “Make love to me Ollie.” His lips sealed over mine as he scooped me into his arms and carried me to the bed.

  Gently placing me on the bed, he kicked off his shoes and took off his socks. I stifled a giggle and sat up to face him. Looking up into his eyes, I began to unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants. Tugging them down, I ran my fingers gently over the bulge in his shorts. I’d learned firsthand that night on my couch that he was big, very big. Licking my lips I hooked my thumbs into the waist line of his shorts and gently slid them over his thick, muscular thighs. His long, thick erection sprung free and I grinned. It was beautiful. Solid as stone I took it in my mouth. Rolling my tongue gently around the tip, I heard Ollie let out a deep moan. His fingers threaded through my hair as he stood in front of me, rocking his hips back and forth with the movements of my mouth. Sliding my lips up and down his shaft, I gripped my hands around him, creating a mixture of sucking, licking and rubbing. His jaw clenched and I felt him tense. His hand hooked under my chin he pulled me away and gazed down at me. Rubbing his thumb over my cheek he slid his hand behind my head and gently laid me down on the bed.

  Sliding on top of me he kissed me deeply with a sense of longing. His hands glided down and slid behind my back, releasing the clasp of my bra. Peeling the straps over my shoulders he trailed kisses over my skin as the cotton grazed my arms. Tossing it to the floor, he took my breast in his mouth and rolled his tongue over my nipple. I moaned and arched my back as his hand massaged, caressed and stroked my swollen breasts. Kissing, licking and grazing his way down my body I writhed beneath him. Reaching my panties, he placed a soft kiss onto the cotton at the opening of my sex. I could feel his warm breath on the fleshy lips beneath. It was hugely erotic and yet completely romantic all at once.

  “I’ve wanted this for so long I can hardly stand it. You’re so beautiful. Every last curve, line and inch of your delicate skin is perfect. You’re perfect.”

  His fingers gripped the elastic at my hips and I automatically lifted to allow him to slide them off of me. Once he had disposed of them he continued his attention to my swollen, aching clit. I gasped as the cool metal of his lip ring brushed against my warm skin, the tip of his tongue gliding slowly and gently from the opening of my sex to my clit over and over. He was teasing me and I was going crazy with anticipation.

  His tongue swirled, flicked and pressed against my clit. I cried out as my orgasm quickly built inside me. I’d wanted Ollie for so long, thought about this moment for so long, that now it was finally here I could hardly control myself. The build-up of months of sexual chemistry and tension was coming to a climactic end at last. I gripped the sheets beside me as my legs and arms grew stiff, preparing for the convulsions of the muscles inside me. I panted harder as his tongue drove me rapidly to the edge.

  “It’s okay baby. Let go. I want to give this to you.” His sweet words echoed in my ears as I rocked and ground my hips against his mouth, desperate for my release. My fingers holding on so tightly to the sheet below, I feared I would tear it. Bringing it to my mouth I bit down hard, muffling my loud and pleading groans. His hands caressed and stroked my thighs, heightening the pleasure I was feeling between my legs. Closing my eyes, I stilled as the crashing and thrashing waves of my orgasm rolled through my body. Pulsating, surging and tightening inside me, I cried out his name as tears streamed down my face.

  His lips trailed kisses from my sex all the way up to my neck where he nuzzled and breathed me in deeply. His hand beneath my head, he kissed me. Never speaking a word, we gazed at each other as he gently slid inside me. Closing my eyes, my head fell back and he took in a sharp breath, almost hissing. Pressing my palms to his back I ran my hands all over his body. His chest, his broad shoulders, the length of his spine and finally resting on his tight, firm behind. He gasped as I squeezed and palmed his flesh in my hands. His hips rocked back and forth unhurriedly, withdrawing before gradually sliding back inside me. His eyes glistened in the light and as I lay there beneath him, I could feel the thundering of his heartbeat. Pressing his lips to mine firmly, he closed his eyes and his body tensed. He was close and I wanted to go to paradise with him. Pushing my hands into his behind I urged him deeper. Withdrawing slowly before gently pushing back inside me, his tip brushed against my g-spot and I gasped. It was heavenly. Our eyes fixated on one another, we held each other tightly, lovingly; as though we were dependent on the other for our next breath. His eyebrows furrowed and I could feel him pulsing and throbbing inside me. “Oh god Layla. I love you so much.” He was breathless and his words hit me hard. As my muscles tightened around him, I was swimming in a pool of lust, need and hurt. His tongue ran over my bottom lip and I moaned as another mind blowing orgasm ripped through me. I bowed and practically levitated off the bed. I cried out his name as he held me close, finding his own release. We were so painfully close that I couldn’t tell where his body ended and mine began. We’d become one sensual, post-coital mess.

  Panting and trying to control my rapid breathing, I lay there gazing deep into his eyes. Brushing a lock of hair from his face, I pulled him to me for another heart stopping kiss. Rolling onto his side, he wrapped his arms around my waist and spooned me. I could feel his breath on my neck and its comforting warmth allowed me to doze in and out of consciousness. Neither of us spoke. It was too painful and there was nothing left to say. It was over and though we both knew the implications of our night together, I knew he’d needed it just as much as I did. With his head pressed against my back, I silently cried, shuddering as the tears fell down my cheeks. Turning me to face him Ollie stroked and wiped away each tear as it fell without a single word. He lay there just holding me for hours as we gazed into each other’s eyes, until we could no longer keep them open and fell into a deep and sorrowful sleep.

  * * *

  Reaching out my hand I opened my eyes as it fell on an empty space. I leaned up on my elbows scanning the room but he wasn’t there. Getting out of bed I headed for the bathroom but he wasn’t there either. In a pa
nic I grabbed my robe and flew out the door to his room. Hammering my fist hard onto the wood I waited for an answer but none came. Taking a chance, I opened the door to find it unlocked. My heart shredded into a thousand pieces as I stared at the empty side of Ollie’s room. His posters, guitar, everything was gone. I held my hand to my mouth as tears began streaming down my face. I walked to his bedside cabinet where I found an empty frame where my picture had once sat. It had been replaced with a note with my name on it. Clutching it in my hand, I ran back to the solace of my bedroom. Slumping onto the bed I read it as my body racked and convulsed with sobs.

  Layla

  I couldn’t bear to wake you. You looked so peaceful laying there that it seemed the greatest sin to disturb an angel as she slept. I’ve never been good at goodbyes and honestly I don’t think it’s a word I could ever use with you. I can never say goodbye to you Layla, it feels so final and the thought that I will never see you again would kill me. What you gave me last night, I will never, ever forget that and you have no idea how much it meant to me. I hope you don’t mind but I kept the picture. I wanted a reminder of our time together and of you. I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss you but I couldn’t stay, not now. Spending seven more weeks with you and not being able to touch you, kiss you or hold you in my arms would be agony. I won’t put you or myself through the pain. I always knew you couldn’t come with me but the fact that you even considered it and maybe even thought you could do it, tells me all I need to know. I will love you forever and you will always be my first and true love. I was your friend before I was your lover and I will always be here for you whenever you need me. There’s just one last thing you have to do for me Layla and it’s the most important. Don’t feel guilty. We gave it our best shot and that’s all I could ask for. I don’t regret one moment and you shouldn’t either. So smile, laugh and sing at that god awful bar every Friday. Eric may not look as good as me doing it but he’s a hell of a guitar player. Take care of Amy for me and don’t let her and Mel get into too much trouble, one fuck up in our group is enough and in my absence I’d rather they not take my title. Loving you with every beat of my heart. I’ll see you soon.