by Alice Brown
“Always knew Mr. Atkins was a man of good taste!” Once he had her where he wanted her on his lap, he wrapped his arms around her and dropped his head in search of her lips. He loved her lips: moist, soft, and luscious. “He and I have known each other for about forty years now.”
“Yes, I met him when I went with Kate to deliver blood.” Where Erica was getting the strength to hold a conversation with him, she didn’t know. Especially when all she wanted to do was get lost in his kisses. “He recounted many fascinating details about his time with President Lincoln and WWII. He certainly has seen a lot of history in his time.” She stopped for just a moment as she cocked her head and seemed to scrutinize him. “He also told me he helped train you.”
Kevin knew Erica wanted him to open up a little about his past. At one time in his life, this thought would have terrified him. Now, he found he wanted to share everything with her, past, present, and future. “Yes, he played a very instrumental role in my training. We’ve been friends for years. In a way, I consider him an uncle. He and Charles remind me of two brothers in many ways.”
Erica scooted out of Kevin’s lap to resume her packing. She could easily converse with him while packing, so as not to delay their trip any longer. As Kevin observed everything being put in the suitcase, it suddenly hit him there was one piece of clothing that was noticeably missing. Glancing down at the open suitcase next to him, he inquired, “Where is your bathing suit?”
Erica had been hoping that it would have gone unnoticed. She had packed shorts, and a few short-sleeved shirts, deciding that they would have to do. Not really wanting to confess, she silently debated on what to tell him. “I don’t own one. I haven’t exactly wanted to show this scar-ridden body off in a bathing suit, for several years now.”
“How do you plan to go to the beach without a bathing suit?” Kevin asked, clearly astonished.
“What am I supposed to do about all the scars? If anyone sees them,” Erica trailed off, never finishing the sentence. Clearly upset, she closed her eyes and looked away. It was obvious she was ashamed of her body, and that was something Kevin could not abide by.
He stood up, enclosing her in his arms immediately. Holding her tightly against his body, he gently whispered in her ear, “You will be alone on the beach. You won’t need to worry about your scars. You could go skinny dipping, if you wanted. Besides, I happen to think you have a beautiful body, and I plan to worship it every chance I can.”
Erica glanced up at him, feeling her face turn red from embarrassment. She simply was not accustomed to someone making her feel beautiful. He gave her what he hoped to be a reassuring smile. “Go ahead and finish packing, and we will swing by the mall on our way out. We’ll grab you a late lunch there and then head on to the beach house when we are finished shopping.”
“Oh, lovely,” Erica grumbled under her breath, “I’m going to the mall with a man who seems to spend cash like athletes drink water.” Although, thinking things through, an actual bathing suit might be nice since they were going to the beach, and Kevin had assured her of privacy. Even so, she certainly had no intentions of sunbathing nude! What about the scars on her arms, though? She was always more than a little self-conscious about those.
Suddenly, her mind gave her a perfect playback of what she and Kevin had done just a few short hours ago. He certainly didn’t seem to mind her scars then, she told herself. Her heart hitched a beat, and she felt her cheeks grow warm as she realized they would be alone together at the beach for the next several days. Considering what they had done earlier, Erica assumed the heat in Kevin’s gaze was from wanting her again.
“You’re blushing,” Kevin teased lightly. Erica made certain she removed herself from standing too close to him, aware that if he reached out to touch her, he would have access to read her thoughts.
“It’s nothing.”
“Come, love, no secrets.” He growled in a husky voice, and Erica made the mistake of glancing up into his eyes. With his dark eyes smoldering, she was putty in his hands. He could have asked her anything at that moment, and she would have been unable to do anything but comply completely.
With a slight shrug of one shoulder, she hedged, “It just hit me, we are going to the beach, and you have never seen me in a bathing suit before.” There was enough heat coming off her cheeks to fry an egg.
Kevin was oddly touched by her sudden shyness. When he replied, his voice was soft, soothing. “While it is true I have never seen you in a bathing suit, I must admit those long legs of yours prancing around here in your favorite silk night shirt have had my attention for quite some time.” He walked over to where she stood, catching her wrists in his hands and bringing one of them up to his lips for a sensual kiss.
“Besides, I think I got a pretty good view of your body just a few hours ago, and guess what? I love every inch of it.” He kissed her soundly, immediately feeling his cock surge back to life. Making a quick decision to try and hurry her along before he was tempted to throw her down on the bed, strip her naked, and show her how much he adored her body, he inquired, “Are you about ready to leave?”
“Yes,” Erica replied, as she closed the suitcase, although her body was tingling just from Kevin’s smoldering gaze alone.
An hour later Erica found herself unsuccessfully arguing that she didn’t need four bathing suits! She quickly realized she wasn’t going to win, so she finally gave up. Much to her surprise, since he already knew her size, Kevin had added several other outfits to the stack on the counter while she was trying on the bathing suits. On top of the stack of clothing, he placed a floppy straw hat, and looked over at her with a grin. “I don’t want to see that pretty little nose of yours getting burned!”
When the saleslady rang up the total, it hit Erica at how much changing she had done. Just a short time ago she would have dropped her jaw over spending so much at one time. Now she just smiled up at Kevin and said, “Thank you.”
He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss, a reward for accepting his generosity. Whispering in her ear he told her, “I’m going to spoil you rotten, so just sit back and enjoy it.”
While the saleslady ran the credit card through, he casually moved Erica so she was standing in front of him. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her back, allowing her to feel his hard erection in the crease of her ass. Leaning back down he whispered, “Later,” just as the saleslady approached with receipt and bag in hand.
They continued their shopping, and Erica was amazed to realize that Kevin didn’t mind shopping with her at all. She had thought all men hated shopping, but Kevin was proving that theory incorrect. But then again, he seemed to enjoy going into the dressing room with her and helping her try on the clothes. Then there was that incident in the dressing room where he decided he liked that sheer purple top a little too much…
They reached the beach house just as nightfall arrived. As they turned into the neighborhood, a smile came across Erica’s face. Each house was painted a different color, and some of those colors were a bit unusual. If she had to put a name to it, she would have called it the Easter Egg Village. Each house reminded her of a brightly colored Easter egg. They drove past a bright yellow house, a medium blue house, a fluorescent green. The next one was a bright pink, followed by a peach, and so on. She found herself beginning to wonder what color the house was that they would be staying at. She was a little surprised when they drove straight through the neighborhood, and wondered exactly where the family’s house was located. At the end of the neighborhood, a small gravel path appeared. Kevin turned onto the path, and about a half a mile down the path suddenly opened up to a beautiful slate blue house with white shutters. The white wicker furniture sitting on the front porch gave the house an inviting, friendly look, while the short picket fence that separated the backyard from the front allowed for some privacy. Not that you needed a privacy fence out here, there was nothing as far as the eye could see. Erica should have known her vampire family would own a secluded beach h
ouse. The beach lay directly behind the house and the flower boxes on the front windows were well groomed and full of blooming flowers.
Kevin drove up the gravel path to the garage and hit a button to open it. Erica smiled as she stepped out of the car. This house had a comfortable, inviting look to it. Her mind wandered involuntarily, and before she realized what was happening, it had conjured up an image of the two of them living in a house similar to this one. In her mind, she watched as the two of them sat on the wicker furniture on the front porch, watching their children playing in the front yard. She glanced over at Kevin as he grabbed the suitcase out of the back, along with the bags from the mall, and ducked her head quickly, feeling the heat once again rise up her face.
It was no small wonder her mind was playing games with her. Kevin’s hand had succeeded in wandering up her thigh numerous times during the road trip. She had worn a rather short skirt, which he seemed to enjoy immensely. As her mind seemed stuck on replaying the events from the past two hours, her cheeks grew hotter. How the man could bring her to a major orgasm with just his fingers while driving down the highway at the same time was beyond her. He was certainly talented. Her body was still humming from his latest ministrations!
The inside of the house was warm and stuffy, evidence of being closed up for some time. Kevin flipped the air conditioner on as he passed by, then continued to drop off the suitcases in the bedroom.
“Sorry it is so hot in here. Let’s go for an evening swim, it should be cooled off by the time we come back in,” he suggested as he wiped a cool finger along the back of Erica’s damp neck. At the moment, Erica felt there wasn’t a spot left on her body that wasn’t covered in sticky moisture.
She smiled up at him with a look of longing in her eyes. A dip in the cool water sounded wonderful. “Give me a moment to change.” She took off for the bedroom, reemerged a minute later, and headed for the bathroom. He walked back into the bedroom to locate and change into his own swim trunks.
Erica quickly changed into one of the bikinis that Kevin had purchased. She opened the bathroom door and almost collided with Kevin. “Wow,” he commented as he gave her a lusty once-over. “That swimsuit looks great on you.” She decided to ignore the burning desire evident in his smoldering eyes and quickly turned away from him, heading for the back door off of the kitchen. She grinned inwardly. Kevin’s eyes looked as if they were going to pop out of his head when she had run into him a moment ago.
When Kevin had picked out the bathing suits, he had imagined what each one would look like on Erica. Now, he sadly realized his imagination had done her no justice. He was digging deep for some self-control and reigning in his emotions, as Erica reached the back door. Screw the ocean, he thought, what I really want to do is snatch that woman up, throw her down on the bed, and strip that little bit of cloth off of her body with my teeth!
As Erica reached the back door, she quickly turned around just in time to catch Kevin checking out her backside. From the look on his face, it was no small miracle he didn’t have drool hanging off his chin. “Are you coming?” she asked innocently from the doorway.
“Not yet, but you are certainly getting my attention in that bikini!” he threw back at her as he walked over to join her with a mischievous grin on his face.
It was totally dark down by the water, an almost moonless night. Knowing the temperature had dropped a few degrees since the sun had gone down, he allowed Erica’s body time to adjust to the water temperature. His body didn’t react to temperature changes like hers did. He led her out to mid-thigh water and stopped, allowing her time for her body to adjust to the coolness of the water.
“Are you cold?” he asked, as he brought her up against him.
“No, not really,” she hedged.
He purposely glanced down at her chest and then raised an eyebrow up at her. “I beg to differ with you on that one, my love. Your body is telling me something entirely different!” He lightly brushed a finger over her nipple, as he grinned at her. “Your high beams are definitely on!”
Erica found amusement bubbling up from inside her as she took in his expression. Sighing heavily, she retorted, “Then warm me up!” as she snuggled her body up tight against his. Kevin reached down and scooped her up into his arms, staring into her face, as he rubbed his hand up and down her arm to ward off the chill. Her nipples were hard little pebbles pressing against his chest.
“You are so beautiful,” Kevin murmured as he leaned down to steal a quick kiss. “I am one lucky guy to have someone like you.”
“That’s funny,” Erica replied, with an odd look on her face.
He cocked his head to one side. “Funny?” He repeated in question, just a little confused.
“Yes, here I thought I was getting the best end of the deal in this relationship.”
Kevin gave her a look that stated he was questioning if she had lost her mind. Didn’t she realize what a treasure she was? How could he be so lucky to have her love? “I love you. I love you with all my heart and soul. Please know that.” His lips came crushing down on hers, and he could not imagine ever getting tired of her. It wasn’t just her beauty on the outside, but he was equally in love with the beauty on the inside as well.
As Kevin led them further out into the water, he was pleased to see that Erica seemed perfectly at ease with him. After he had been forced to hold back his feelings for her for what seemed like forever, he was now quick to take advantage that she seemed to be over her fears, and was open to his attentions.
Leading the way back out of the water an hour later, he led them over to a large blanket that he had spread out earlier. Erica spotted a picnic basket sitting on the blanket. Kevin waited until he had Erica settled on the blanket, and then sat beside her and started retrieving items out of the basket.
“What is this?” Erica inquired, nodding her head in the direction of the items he was removing from the cooler.
“Oh, just a little something Rosetta packed for us,” Kevin answered lightly, as he continued pulling bowls, glasses, and a bottle of wine out of the cooler. He quickly lit two small candles that had also been packed for the couple’s enjoyment.
Curiosity getting the best of her, Erica peeled back the lid to one of the bowls and discovered fresh strawberries. “Oh, one of my favorites!” she exclaimed, her mouth watering as she snatched up one of the sweet, red, plump berries and popped it into her mouth.
Watching the look of pure bliss on her face, Kevin smiled as he opened the bottle of wine and poured each of them a glass full. Erica raised her eyebrow up at him when he handed her a glass. “Why, Mr. O’Rourke, are you attempting to get me drunk?” she asked in a mock
Southern drawl.
Remembering being witness to a dream of hers months ago in which she asked the exact same question, he quoted the reply with a smile on his lips. “Would it help?”
“I’m not telling!” she threw back at him with a laugh, all signs of her mock accent gone. Dodging his response, she quickly turned her attention to investigate the contents of the remaining containers.
What she found made her mouth water more intensely. Pineapple chunks, grapes, raspberries, cherries, and cheese cubes. He reached over and popped a grape into her mouth.
As the fruit hit her tongue, Erica glanced up into his eyes and found them on fire. He seemed to study her intently for a quick moment, and then refocused his attention as he grabbed the one bowl that still had a lid attached. Erica watched as he peeled back the lid, then grabbed a fork to spear a strawberry. Dipping it in the bowl, it came out covered in chocolate.
He brought the delectable treat forward to Erica’s mouth, but chocolate dripped on the way, landing with a plop on her chest. He eyed the trail of chocolate that was quickly heading down her cleavage, and as the strawberry was snatched off the fork with Erica’s front teeth, Kevin leaned forward and rasped his tongue across her chest to remove the spilled chocolate.
The look of surprise was evident on Erica’s face, and at the
moment she wasn’t sure which she enjoyed better, the chocolate-covered strawberry in her mouth, or Kevin’s mouth cleaning up the mess on her chest. She leaned her head back, her chest arching up, enjoying the sensation of his tongue running across her bare skin.
When he finished, he glanced up at her with a wicked grin. “Mmm, you taste delicious dribbled in chocolate.”
Without waiting for a reply, Kevin turned his attention back to the bowls of fruit, acting as if nothing was amiss. Erica grabbed her glass of wine and took a sip, finding herself a bit self-conscious. Kevin chose a pineapple chunk to dip into the bowl of luscious melted chocolate next, and then quickly guided the gooey treat to Erica’s mouth. Halfway to the intended destination, the fruit fell off the fork and landed on Erica’s upper leg. She giggled at the sinful wicked grin that stretched across his face. “Oh, allow me, please.”
He dipped his head down to retrieve the fallen fruit, skittering his tongue in circles across her skin to clean up the spilled chocolate. It was hard to miss the fact that while he was licking the chocolate off her leg, he was also slowly moving his mouth upwards on her thigh. When he reached the bottom of her bikini, he blew a hot breath on the top of her mound, through the material. Erica had been lounging back on her elbows, enjoying his wicked tongue, and now, as he began to sprinkle kisses across her belly, she reclined further back, giving him full access.
When he finished raining kisses across her belly, he headed back down between her legs. Using his teeth, he tugged the bikini bottom out of the way. With the help of one finger, he had it off with little effort. Reaching beside him, he picked up the bowl of chocolate, and using a spoon, drizzled melted chocolate down her belly and between her legs. He heard her gasp softly, as she glanced up to see a purely wicked look on his face.
“I’m in the mood for a little chocolate-covered Erica tonight.”
“I thought everything tasted like cardboard to you,” she replied in a tortured whisper, her eyes glued to the spilled chocolate running down her body.
