Our lunch is set in front of us and the waitress asks, “Can I bring you anything else?”
“No, these look great,” I answer.
Kate leans over the table and removes the top bun from my burger, peels off one of the patties, then sets it on the side of her plate. She smiles that radiant smile, then picks up her veggie burger and digs in.
I cock my head to the side, wondering why she did that.
The waitress comes back to check on us twenty minutes later, drops off the check, and says, “Y’all take your time, no rush.”
“Can I have a doggie bag, please?” Kate asks her.
I instantly smile when she calls it a doggie bag. She saved one of my patties for Sadie.
We take the hour drive back home with our fingers laced together resting on the console, and I park in the garage.
Once inside, Sadie instantly smells her treat and noses the bag in Kate’s hand, wagging her tail with excitement. Kate takes it out of the bag and holds it out for Sadie.
“Here you go girl,” she says.
Sadie softly puts her teeth on the burger, then gently removes it from Kate’s hand and swallows it whole in one big, giant gulp.
I dump a scoop of food in Sadie’s dish and she gladly eats her dinner. After she finishes, I leash Sadie so we can take her for a walk. The three of us walk down the steps and Sadie immediately pulls to the left. She doesn’t want to walk toward River’s house.
We take a slow leisurely walk on the sand, hand in hand. The sun is low in the sky by the time we get home. I flip on all the lights and let Sadie free in the house.
“Did you want to watch some television or a movie?” I ask.
“Sure,” she answers.
“I’ve got beer and wine?” I tell her, going to the refrigerator.
“I’ll just have water,” she answers.
I open the refrigerator, remove two bottles of water, then turn around and almost run right into Kate.
She smiles at me, then leans against the counter. I set the water on the counter, then stand in front of her. She raises her hand to my shirt and lays it flat over my heart. I take a step closer, then bend my head down to hers. I trail my open lips over her cheek and take her lips in a kiss. Her hand smooths down my stomach, then she grabs my belt in her hand and pulls my body into hers with a soft thud. I cage her in against the cupboard and rest my hands on the counter behind her. Her hand goes around my back and up my shirt. She grabs the ends of my shirt and shoves it upward, breaks the kiss, then removes it over my head. Before I take her lips back, I tip slightly back, bend my knees, and look her in the eyes.
She cocks her head to the side, then smiles a beautiful smile at me. God, I want this woman and by the look in her eyes, she wants me just as bad. I lift her up and set her on top of the counter. She wraps her legs around me and pulls me close. I take her shirt off, then run my tongue over the edge of her bra on her skin. She palms my head and tips her jaw up. I run my tongue up the dip in her throat, then thrust it into her mouth. I pick her up off the counter by her thighs, she wraps her arms around me, and I walk her down the hallway to my bedroom.
She reaches behind her back and unhooks her bra, pulls it off and tosses it to the floor. I kick the door closed with my foot and make my way to the bed. Laying her down, I lay on top of her, and bring my hand between us to remove her shorts. I kiss down her throat, between her breasts, and down her stomach. She pushes my shoulders downward, as I trail my tongue over her black lace panties. I slip my thumbs under her panties at her pelvic bone, and trail it upward until I hook the ends at her hips, then drag them down her legs.
I place my hands on her ankles and slowly drag them upward, putting the slightest pressure outward. She opens her legs and wraps her hands around the backs of her thighs. She brings her feet up and rests them on the mattress, while I bring my thumbs to her slick entrance. I ever so lightly place my tongue low on her, then flatten my tongue out and slowly lick firmly upward. She moans and grabs her breasts firmly in her hands. I rub her outer wall up and down, then insert two fingers while flicking her tight bud with my tongue. The muscles in her stomach clench together as she lifts her head and watches me.
Her mouth opens, her lips form a perfect O shape, then she moans loudly. She slams her head down on the pillow, then runs her hand up the side of her face and into her hair. With every inward and outward pull of my fingers, she increasingly moans louder and louder. My dick aches to be inside her. The seconds tick by as she winds up tighter and tighter. She takes in several loud, deep breaths, then lets go with her release.
I lightly drag my tongue up and down, while she rides out her orgasm. When she’s finished, I remove my fingers and reach for the bedside drawer. I remove a condom, then straddle her low on her thighs. She grabs my belt and pulls herself up.
Sitting up, she unbuckles my belt, and slowly pulls it through each loop, then tosses it to the floor. She unbuttons my button, then drags her fingers firmly down the zipper against my rock hard dick. She reaches her hand under my boxers and palms my dick in her hand. I close my eyes and let out a deep sigh of pleasure. The heat from her silky smooth skin feels incredible on my skin. Her lips come to my chest and she kisses just under my left peck, while her hand continues to move on my dick.
I place my finger under her chin and bring her lips to mine. Sitting up on my knees, she regrettably removes her hand from my dick and places it on the top of my pants. She pushes them down as far as they’ll go, fully releasing me. She grabs on and strokes tightly up and down, before she scoots herself out from between my thighs and kneels in front of me. She presses her bare body against mine and runs her nails down my ass.
I wrap my arm around the back of her shoulder and lay her back down. I kick my pants and boxers off, then rip the condom wrapper open with my teeth. She cocks a crooked smile, removes it from my hand, and places it on the tip of my penis. She rolls it down firmly with her finger and thumb, then cups her hand under my balls.
I position myself over her and take myself in my hand. I run my tip up and down her entrance, then on a downward stroke, I slowly sink inside her. I close my eyes and they roll to the back of my head, she feels so damn good. Her knee comes up to my hip, as I slam firmly into her. Our hips move in rhythm against each other. I place my palm on the mattress next to her head, then thumb her clit in small circles with my other hand. She slightly picks herself up and pulls my lips to hers. She pants on my lips, then moans once again as she climaxes. Her insides constrict tightly around my dick. I close my eyes and see stars as I come. I root myself deep inside her, as wave after wave courses through me.
Her hand wraps around the back of my neck and she slightly massages it with her fingertips. I give her half of my weight as I pull out, then lay next to her. Her fingers come to my hairline and she smooths the hair next to my ear, then smiles at me. This is the first time I’ve seen her without her mask on at all. Beautiful doesn’t come close to what she is. Knowing that she can be with me and what we just did, without her mask, means the world to me.
I smile back at her, then kiss her on the lips.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell her, then get up.
I clean up in the bathroom, then come back to bed with her. She’s put on my t-shirt, and I think her legs definitely look sexier in only my shirt. I pull her back close to my chest and wrap my arm around her.
“Did you still want to watch that movie?” I ask.
“No, I should probably go home. It took a lot to behave like a mature adult earlier, and I’m not going to stop now. Obviously, River and I need to talk. He said a lot of horrible things and I probably said some things that I didn’t wholeheartedly mean as well,” she says.
“Like what?” I ask, smoothing her hair.
“I said I’m not going to work at Mason Group anymore and that he can buy me out. I told him I’m not stepping foot in that building again until he removes the conservatorship,” she says, then sighs.
“What part about
that shouldn’t you have said? I thought you did want him to remove the conservatorship?” I say, confused.
“I do. I didn’t mean to say that he can buy me out. I don’t want that. I also don’t want to fight with River, but he can’t treat me like that, and he can’t tell me who I can see.”
“It sounds like you two definitely need to talk. If things get out of hand, you know I’m only a phone call and two houses away. Any time of the day, or night, I’m here for you. OK?”
“I don’t want to disappoint River. I want to make him happy,” she says.
“But, babe, you can’t do that at the expense of your own needs and feelings.”
“I realize that. I don’t think he realizes that right now, though,” she says.
“Let’s get dressed. I’ll walk you home. I mean it, he’s not to talk to you again like he did this morning. I will not have him disrespect you to the point that you’re crying on the bathroom floor,” I tell her, looking her in the eyes. “Do you get me?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything else.
“I get you,” she says, then kisses me on the lips.
“I don’t want to make things harder, and I know he said he doesn’t want Sadie to stay at the pool house again, but I think if you . . . I mean, if she needs you, then you should take her.”
“If she needs me, then I’d like to take her,” she replies with a smile.
“Alright, let’s get you home,” I tell her, then help her off the bed.
I take my clothes into the bathroom in Cooper’s bedroom and close the door. I get dressed, then look at myself in the mirror. I smooth down my wild hair, and look at the rosy glow on my cheeks and the smile on my lips. I do believe that, yes, sex is way better than yoga.
I hear a snorting sound coming from the floor on the other side of the bathroom door and I smile. It’s Sadie. I open the door, then she stands up and wags her tail when she sees me. Cooper isn’t in the bedroom, so I walk down the hallway to find him, with Sadie at my side. I see him in the kitchen, then there’s a series of loud bangs coming from his front door. Sadie immediately goes on alert and barks, then runs to the front door, sniffing loudly at the bottom. Cooper’s face knits together with concern and he too walks to the door.
“I know she’s in there. Open this goddamned door RIGHT NOW!” River shouts from the other side of the door, banging loudly again.
“Go back in the bedroom, Kate,” Cooper tells me.
“What is he doing here?” I whisper.
“Sadie, stay with Kate,” he tells her, then she walks down the hall and sits in front of my legs protectively.
Cooper opens the door a few inches, but leaves his hand firmly on the edge. River gives the door a violent shove and rushes inside. He collides his chest into Cooper’s arm, but pushes his way inside the house. Josh is close to River’s side with his hand gripped around his upper arm. Joss is behind both of them with a scared look on her face.
“River, don’t do this. Please, let’s just go home and talk this through,” she pleads.
“KATE!” River shouts into the house from left to right. “KATE!”
River shrugs Josh’s hand off his arm and takes additional steps into the house, but runs into a chair in the family room. He comes to a stumbling stop, then grips his hands on the top of the chair and scans the room with his head cocked to the side to listen. He’s positioned in the middle of the room, with me and Sadie in the hallway on one side, and Cooper on his other side just a few feet away.
“I know she’s here. KATE!” he shouts again, picks up the heavy chair, then slams it down on the floor.
Sadie and I both jump, then she leans her weight against the front of my shins.
“River, please. Just listen to me. I don’t think you should do this right now,” Joss says.
Cooper realizes River can’t see me, even though I’m standing in plain view in the hallway, but both Joss and Josh can see me. Josh has a worried look on his face and he raises his hand to me, silently indicating that I should stand still. River’s head stops cold in my direction, then he raises his nose in the air and inhales deeply. His face turns from sheer anger to murder. He turns his face toward Cooper, then takes two giant steps toward him and violently swings his fist.
Cooper quickly takes a step back, and River misses by a few inches. Josh quickly grabs onto River’s arm to steady him. Sadie snarls her upper lip and bares her teeth toward River, then she starts to growl.
“Stand down, Sadie, stay where you are,” Cooper calmly orders to Sadie.
“River, please,” Joss says with tears in her eyes.
“YOU LIED!” River roars, turning his face toward my direction again. “I can smell it,” he finishes, yanking Josh’s hand off of him again.
Since being blind, River has an impeccable sense of smell. He always said that when one sense dies the others become heightened. There’s no way he can smell that Cooper and I just made love. And I didn’t lie to him. When River asked me that, I hadn’t slept with Cooper yet.
Josh lifts his hand and places it back on River’s arm again. He violently shrugs it off, then turns his whole body in my direction.
“You’re making a big mistake, Kate. You’re not ready for a relationship. I know you can’t see it, but you’re too fragile. You’re delusional if you think you’re at a place in your recovery where you think you can add the pressure of a romantic relationship. You’re naïve, and you have no clue how to even be in a healthy relationship. Who are you basing it off? Mom and Dad? They weren’t happy. Their relationship was a complete lie. You were so blinded by your daddy’s little girl syndrome that you couldn’t see it. They didn’t love each other. Dad didn’t even love us, and he certainly didn’t love you. You were just as much of a puppet to him as Mom was. Mom put on that happy mask when ordered to, and she performed like a circus monkey around clients, at business dinners, and charity galas.”
“River,” Joss painfully whispers.
Every word that comes out of his mouth stings, and silent tears fall down my cheeks. It’s just not true. These are the most vicious lies I’ve ever heard. Dad did love me, he did love Mom, he loved all of us. Each Saturday morning I spent giggling with my dad becomes clouded by tears, and I start to wonder if I made them up. I can feel Cooper’s eyes burning holes into my soul from across the room as he looks at me. He takes a step to walk over to me, but Josh raises his hand and urges him to stay where he is. River hears his foot step and his face snaps toward Cooper’s direction, then he continues to talk.
“If you think for one goddamned second that I’m going to allow you two to have a relationship when I know she’s mentally, emotionally, and physically incapable, you have another thing coming.”
He looks back toward me and says, “I swear to God, Kate, the day of that car accident when I looked into Mom’s eyes as she was dying, I swear, I heard her silent prayer for me to look out for you, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Every ounce of my flesh tingles on my body as he talks about the car accident. The smell of burning rubber and gasoline start to permeate the air. I slowly look at Cooper and see his stunned reaction, then I look back at River. If it weren’t for Sadie leaning against me, I think my shaking legs would have given out by now.
“The last thing I willed myself to do, was to look at you to make sure that you were alive. I fought the pain in my head, and the urge to close my eyes and pass out, because I had to see you. My vision had already started to become distorted as your face turned into a wavering mirage. With relief, I saw your terrified little eyes. When I saw you only had a cut above your eye, only then could I allow myself to pass out. Before I was fully out, I felt you place your hand in mine, I gave you all my strength, and I felt your relief down to my soul,” he says, pounding his fist over his heart.
My own heart feels like it’s being ripped out of my chest. Through my tears, I look at Joss and she, too, has silent tears streaming down her face.
“My God, Kate, do you know what I went throu
gh when I thought you had committed suicide and that you were dead? When I got that phone call from your roommate telling me you had downed an entire bottle of pills and you were lifeless on the floor, covered in vomit, I felt like I failed Mom. I couldn’t get to you fast enough. I’ve never cursed God and the world so much for not being able to see you with my own eyes, to see if you were laying on the floor dead or not. I ran across the room, going by blind faith that Mom would lead me to you. I slipped in your vomit and fell to the floor right next to you.”
Again, I look at Cooper, but now he’s not looking at me, he’s looking at River with terror splashed all over his face. His eyes slide across the room to mine, and I quickly look back at River.
“Did you even know I was there, Kate? Did you know I threaded my fingers through yours, and I held your lifeless hand the entire way to the hospital, covered in your drying vomit? I sold my soul on the spot and swore that if you made it through, I’d quit pussyfooting around with your treatment, that it was time for some brutal, tough love. I knew that you’d most likely hate me, but I loved you way too much and gladly accepted it, if that’s what it took to get you better. I was going to do anything and everything in my power to make sure that you got the treatment you needed, and that you never felt like you needed to do that again. After I knew you were going to make it through, I left the hospital and went to mom’s grave still covered in your vomit. I knelt in front of her gravestone and I swore on my life, that I would do better and that I’d never let her down again.”
I thought I imagined River was there with me. I thought I imagined him holding my hand. I swear he was there giving me his blessing and passing me to Mom on the other side.
His voice changes from angry to calm and barely there as he continues, “Kate, you aren’t ready. I’m sorry if you think I’m being an asshole, but so help me God, I’m only doing this because . . . I love you. I never want to see you like that again. I will not pick out your coffin for you. Do you hear me! Cooper, if you think you love her, and hopefully you’ve heard every single word I’ve said, you’ll do what’s best for Kate and you’ll let her go. I’ll give you a few minutes to say goodbye, then Kate, you need to come home. I know you’re angry with me, we can talk about this in the morning.”
I Hear...Love (A Different Road #2) Page 10
