She looked so exhausted and vulnerable that he had the strongest urge to take her into his arms and shoulder her burdens for a while. He yearned to see her smile again.
“Hi, Allison. I thought you might need some groceries if you insist on cooking for us.”
Allison’s face brightened. “You went shopping?”
Russell nodded. “It’s the least I could do.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and said, “I thought you didn’t even know where the supermarket is?”
Russell raised his eyebrows until he saw the teasing glint in her eyes. “You little minx!” With those words, he closed the distance between them and grabbed her arm, making a threatening gesture as if he intended to spank her like a naughty little girl.
Allison put up a mock protest, and ended up engulfed in his arms. All play came to a halt as he plastered his lips on hers. His kiss was rough and untamed, but she didn’t seem to mind. On the contrary, she pressed her sweet and soft body against him and opened her lips for him to ravage her mouth. And only when they were both gasping for breath did he release her, his voice thick with passion whispering in her ear, “That is what you get for being naughty and teasing me.”
She had to giggle and said, “I’ll have to be naughty more often, then,” before she pulled his head back down to her own with a strength that surprised him. Panting with desire, he obliged and kissed until they were both senseless. Her soft curves pressed into him and he soon felt his shaft hardening. He finally broke her kiss, swooped her up into his arms, and carried her into his bedroom.
He wanted to see her smile. After only having her around for one day, he’d missed her. The most wonderful smile in the world, attached to the sexiest woman in the world. He had missed her happy singing voice, her chatter about nothing, and her presence.
All of these thoughts and more swam through his head, as he carefully laid her down on the king-sized bed.
The woman who lay beneath him was the most beautiful woman in the world. He loved her strawberry blonde curly hair, the feel of her soft skin against his. In fact, he loved everything about her.
He unbuttoned her blouse and placed little kisses down her neck on her collarbone and her décolleté. Her skin was so smooth and soft; he yearned to taste every last inch of it. His tongue trailed across her skin, leaving moist patches behind.
Allison squirmed beneath him and opened her eyes. “Russell…”
He quieted her with another heated kiss on her mouth, a kiss that multiplied his desire for her and made him aware of how hard he was. He needed to have her, now.
Russell slid her blouse off her shoulders and proceeded to kiss her bare skin while Allison’s hands wandered across his back, tugging at his shirt and sliding beneath the fabric. Her hands on his skin made him shiver.
When he’d gotten rid of her blouse and her skirt, she lay in panties and bra before him. A smile overtook his features, because true to herself she wore beautifully colored lingerie with flowers. It was perfect for her.
His arousal grew and he could barely contain himself. She helped him to rip off his shirt and pants.
“God, you’re so beautiful.”
Allison watched him, the green spots in her eyes glowing like emeralds, and he leaned over her, ravaging her mouth with yet another kiss. When she moaned his name, he made short work of the rest of their clothing before coming to lie down on top of her, pressing her into the mattress.
His hand brushed her hair back from her forehead, before he kissed a path down her nose, across her jawline, coming to stop for a few minutes at the tender spot behind her ear.
When she writhed beneath him, he continued his downward progress, laving her breasts for long moments before moving even further south. She had her hands tangled in his hair, and when he finally reached her sex with his tongue, he groaned as she dug her fingernails into his scalp.
He spent long moments using his lips and tongue to drive her up the mountain of pleasure. There was nothing more important in that moment than pleasing her.
“Russell, stop teasing me.”
He kissed her one last time before rising above her, insinuating a place for himself between her thighs. “Who said I was teasing?”
Allison shuddered as he joined their bodies together, having slipped on a condom seconds before. She felt awesome, and he was amazed to find that this time was even better than the first.
He set up a slow, gentle rhythm, wanting the moment to last as long as possible. When her body tightened around him, he leaned back and hooked an arm under her thigh, bringing their bodies into even closer contact as he increased the speed of his thrusts. Soon she was begging him to not stop, panting as he drove her even higher.
The sound of Allison screaming his name and the feel of her fingernails digging into his back was too much for his self-control. He gave in to his need and pounded into her furiously until he too, fell over the edge, finding a sweet release in her body like he’d never found with another woman.
It was much more than a physical release. There was something almost spiritual between them, an exhilarating sensation he could definitely get used to.
Chapter 13
It took a long time for Allison’s breathing and heart rate to slow down after that earth-shattering orgasm. This time had been even better than their first time, because she was counting on a future together with him.
When he rolled off her, she rolled with him, snuggling up against his side and placing her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her close while she stroked his abs and his chest. His strong legs intertwined with hers. It felt so good to lie in his arms; she’d never been happier.
She glanced up at him, and noticed the satisfied smile on his face. For the first time since she’d arrived, he didn’t have that dark and aloof look upon his face. She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat, overwhelmed by her emotions.
After a while, her stomach rumbled and Russell hugged her closer to him. “Are you hungry, Ally?”
She felt her heart melt at the shortening of her name. It was the first time he’d done so, and she liked the way he pronounced it. Looking up at him, she answered, “Yes, starving. Should I make dinner with the groceries you bought?”
“What if I take you out instead?”
“Sounds great. Let’s get dressed,” Allison said.
“Sunshine.”
Allison turned around, “What?”
“Sunshine. That’s what I’ll call you.”
“Sunshine? Why that?”
“It fits you, Ally. I always feel like the sun comes up when you smile.”
Allison felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. That was the nicest thing a man had ever said to her. He wasn’t such a grouch after all. On their way to dinner, she didn’t believe she could get any happier than she was at this moment in time – with him.
Russell took her to his favorite restaurant and they enjoyed a fantastic dinner. Their conversation flowed easily, and soon they were rushing back to his apartment for another round of heart-stopping lovemaking.
Russell was the consummate lover, and Allison marveled at how much better each time was than the last.
This time he insisted she be on top, and Allison took pleasure in the control he’d given her. A little devil inside her, that she hadn’t know existed, took over and drove Russell crazy with her hands and her mouth, working him up to the point where he rolled them over, taking charge and rushing them straight to orgasm.
After that he made love to her twice more during the night, the last time just as the sun was coming up. He awakened her with tender kisses, spooning her back against his chest and entering her tenderly from behind. He took them to paradise once more, before kissing her on the forehead. “I have to leave, Sunshine, you stay and get some more sleep. Okay?”
She wanted to protest, but as he pushed her softly back against the pillow, she was actually relieved. With barely any sleep last night, she welcomed any extra time she could
get.
Minutes later, Russell emerged from the shower, his hair still damp, smelling of aftershave. He kissed her tenderly. “Come by the clinic with some of your paintings later. They’re redecorating the entire floor. Ask for the facility manager, Mr. Wallace. I’ll let him know you’re coming.”
“I can’t do that. It would be taking advantage of you.”
“Don’t be silly, Ally. Of course it wouldn’t. I’m the owner of the clinic, but Mr. Wallace has free rein regarding the building remodel, including artwork.”
“I don’t want him to buy my paintings because I’m sleeping with you,” she said.
Russell flashed his irresistible grin. “I won’t say a word about our connection. Just that you’ll be stopping by.”
Allison nodded and he headed off to work. She lay in bed replaying his words in her head. Connection? Was that what he calls our relationship? And if so, what is our connection? Is he my boyfriend? My lover? My test subject?
She didn’t have any answers to those questions. Not yet anyway.
Around midafternoon, she arrived at his clinic and met with the facility manager, Mr. Wallace, who absolutely loved her paintings. He asked her to leave three of them with him for a “test drive.”
During a two-week period he would hang up her paintings and see if the patients liked them as much as he did. He offered to pay her a small fee for borrowing the paintings, the amount to be deducted from the sales price if he decided at the end of the two weeks to buy them.
Apparently she wasn’t the only one to do tests. The thought caused her to smile. So far, her own test was working out perfectly. She hurried home to cook a celebratory dinner to share with Russell.
The next days flew by. Russell went to work, while Allison explored Chicago, visiting places of her childhood and pitching her paintings to several galleries. In the evenings they ran together, ate the dinner she had cooked, or went to the movies. And had sex. Lots of sex.
She had moved into his bedroom, and each day she added a new décor item or burst of color somewhere in his apartment. Russell always complimented her on her choices, and seemed genuinely happy to see the changes taking place in his home.
After the first rough days, it felt like they’d been together forever. But despite floating on cloud nine with Russell, Allison missed Sandy Beach. And the more time she spent in Chicago, the more nostalgic and homesick she became.
Chapter 14
Russell grew worried about Allison. They had just finished a movie that should have left her smiling, but instead she looked pensive. “Penny for your thoughts.”
“That won’t buy you a single word,” she said.
“What’s wrong?”
Allison looked at him. “Would you believe I’m homesick?”
Russell hugged her close. “Yeah, I’d believe that. Missing the beach?”
“How did you know?” she asked, snuggling against his chest and closing her eyes.
“I love that place as well. And Chicago is a far cry from Sandy Beach.”
They fell asleep like that, and early the next morning, Russell slipped out of bed and called his receptionist. “I need your help.”
She laughed and then asked, “More grocery shopping?”
“No. I want to make a picnic lunch.”
“Oh, that’s easy.” She gave him the number of a nearby deli that not only provided the food, but the basket, the blanket, and the utensils needed for a beautiful picnic lunch.
“Thanks. Enjoy the rest of your day.” He headed down to the deli, picked up the basket of food, and returned to the apartment. When he got back, Allison was gone. She’d left a pink Post-it on the table saying, “Will be back soon. Getting croissants for breakfast. Kisses – Ally.”
She’d smacked a lipstick kiss onto the Post-it, and he fought a grin. That was so like her.
He took advantage of her absence, grabbed swimwear for them both and some towels. He also tossed a bottle of sunscreen in the bag and then carried it down to his car and tucked it away in the trunk.
Allison was just opening the door when he went back upstairs. He snuck up on her and grabbed her around the waist. “I have a surprise for you.”
She giggled, “What is it?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you now, would it?”
She wrinkled her nose.
He spun her around and then put her down. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
He drove them out of town, heading north along the lake. About thirty minutes up he knew a cute little beach. It wasn’t Sandy Beach, but it was a close second in his mind. She continued to quiz him about their destination, but he only winked at her and refused to say anything. He loved to tease her, and her curiosity was an easy target.
When they arrived, she dashed the length of the tiny beach back and forth, before she jumped at him and hugged him tight. “It’s wonderful, Russ. This place is just what I needed.”
Russell grinned, having a hard time taking his thoughts of her curvy body plastered against his. “Sunshine. Let’s get set up and then go for a swim.”
They swam, they ate, and they sauntered along the lakeshore. It was such a romantic outing, and Russell realized how much he’d enjoyed spending the week with Allison by his side despite his best efforts not to.
As they walked, hand-in-hand, he understood he was falling in love with her, and that each day spent with her made that love grow a little stronger and burn a bit brighter.
She had brought such joy and happiness to his life. She truly was his sunshine, and for the first time in over a decade, he was unequivocally happy. Almost too happy. In the back of his mind, a fear had begun to take hold, and he only hoped and prayed this time it wouldn’t happen.
As they packed up the picnic basket in the evening, Allison said, “I miss Sandy Beach a lot. I can’t imagine ever moving away from there, let alone back to Chicago.”
Russell didn’t interrupt her monologue. By now he knew she had to get it off her chest. And talking was her preferred way to release tension.
“This week has shown me how much I hate the hustle and bustle of the city. The anonymity.
“I guess I’m a small town girl at heart. I like walking into a place and knowing everyone’s name and being greeted by name on the street.”
When she finally stopped talking, he answered, “I fully understand you. I was only there for two days, but I’ve never felt so relaxed and at peace.”
He pulled her around so that she was leaning against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. They sat that way for a while and then she suddenly asked, “What makes you so unhappy?”
Russell was puzzled by the question, and his first impulse was to hide behind his shell like a tortoise, but it wouldn’t be fair to her. He made an effort and started talking about his unhappiness with his life.
“I’m surrounded by people, women mostly, who are so unhappy with themselves they are willing to undergo painful and dangerous surgeries to try and find gratification in how they look on the outside.
“I’m beginning to hate what I do. I’ve always wanted to help people. I became a plastic surgeon to give my patients the means to recover their self-esteem after a disfiguring accident or illness.”
She rubbed her nose before she answered, “Why don’t you stop doing cosmetic surgery? You could change the focus of your practice to accident victims – if that is what you wanted to do in the first place?”
“I have thought about it, but cosmetic surgery pays almost quadruple what insurance does.”
Allison gave him an empathetic look over her shoulder. “And you need to eat.”
Russell laughed. “I could eat even if I never worked another day I my life.”
She turned around so that she was kneeling between his thighs, and perused him with eyes wide as saucers. Her voice was very serious when she said, “Then you should do what makes you happy.”
There was that
word again. Happy.
“And what if I don’t deserve to be happy?” he asked.
“Everyone deserves to be happy. Sometimes bad things happen. That’s life. But it doesn’t have to define the entirety of it.”
She laid a tender hand along his jawline. “Is work the only reason you’re so unhappy?”
She’d hit the nail on the head, but Russell wouldn’t go down the road she was leading him to. No way in hell would he open Pandora’s box and talk about his parents. The grief. The desolation.
He pursed his lips into a thin line and turned his head. Thankfully she didn’t inquire further, but turned back around and leaned against him.
They sat together in silence until the sun dropped low in the sky, her words and their conversation playing over in his mind. He had more money than he could probably ever spend. And she was right; it was stupid to waste his life chasing more money when it wasn’t making him happy.
She started shivering after the sunset, and they quickly gathered their stuff and drove back to his place, arriving well after dark. His mind was still in turmoil, and he realized he needed to make some decisions. Soon.
“Do you mind if I go for a run? I have some thinking to do. You’re welcome to join me, but let me warn you, I won’t be a good conversation partner.”
Allison yawned and shook her head. “No, you go. I’m tired. I’ll find something for us to watch on television for when you get back.”
He kissed her on the forehead and then hurried to change into his running clothes and shoes. During the exercise he used the quiet time to think about his life, and took the firm decision to induce some major changes.
When he returned an hour later, he found a sleeping Allison on the couch. He turned the television off and carried her to his bed. After a quick shower, he cuddled up next to her and quickly fell asleep. She had touched him deep down, and he knew he would never be the same again.
Chapter 15
Momentous Kisses: Love in Sandy Beach Page 6
