by Jewel E. Ann
“Don’t forget your present,” Alex yells down the stairs.
I grab the gift bag and my purse off the kitchen counter then hustle out the door.
“Good morning, birthday girl.” Oliver stands right outside my door holding a single red rose.
He takes my bag and hands me the flower while giving me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
My grin beams out of control. “Thank you.”
“Shall we?” He motions to the steps.
We cross the street and he opens my door. A box wrapped in beautiful floral paper adorned with a wide pink bow is on my seat. “Oli …”
He picks it up and holds my hand while I get in then hands me the gift and walks around to his side.
“Ready, my love?”
Love? Am I his love? Yes, I believe I am.
I smile and lean over. He meets me half way. “I’m glad you’re coming with me.”
“Me too.” He kisses me and then starts to pull away.
I grab his shirt and hold him to me. My tongue brushes his upper lip and he opens his mouth. Our kiss deepens and a moan escapes me. My God what is happening? It’s like my whole body came alive and I’m in desperate need of him, like now! His cologne, minty breath, and clean-shaven face are driving me crazy. My mind screams that it’s too soon, but my body pleads its case with the winning argument: It’s my birthday!
“Oli—” I mumble against his lips. “We should go … inside.”
He pulls his head back. “What?”
I’m breathless. “Let’s go inside. I need … you.”
“Sex?”
I nod trying to catch my breath while fumbling to unbuckle my seatbelt.
“Whoa, wait…” he latches my belt back again “…What’s gotten into you?” He sits up straight and starts the car.
“Nothing, that’s just it. I need you to get into me, Oli.”
He grins and pulls out onto the street. “I like you like this, but you can wait a couple of hours until we get there can’t you?”
I squeeze my legs together. “You mean a couple of days. My parents are not going to let us sleep together.”
He slams on the brakes, thankfully no one is behind us. Resting his arm on the back of my seat, he looks behind us and reverses back into his spot with the speed and precision of an indie driver. His seat belt is off and he makes quick strides to my side. I no sooner get unbuckled and he has my hand, dragging me up his front steps.
Door slam. Pants unfasten.
He drops to his knees and slides his hands up my bare legs under my cotton skirt. Curling his fingers into my panties, he pulls them down.
“Sure, now you’re wearing them.” He looks up at me and grins.
I run my fingers through his hair with a coy smile pulling at my lips.
Leaving my panties on the floor, he skims his hand back up my legs. “What does the birthday girl want?”
I want you to tie me up and spank me. Holy crap! How did that thought invade my mind? Damn Alex! Now all I can think about is being handcuffed to the bed and spanked.
“What’s it going to be, Vivian?” His voice is thick with lust.
I stare down at him pursing my lips to the side, trying to hide my naughty-thoughts grin.
“Tell me.”
The words are on the tip of my tongue ready to jump off. They want to play, but I pull them out of the game and send in a different lineup. “Just … do something to me that you’ve never done with anyone else.”
He raises a brow and smirks. “But it’s your birthday.”
“I know, so make it unforgettable.”
He grins.
“But hurry … I’m a little … desperate.”
“Yeah?
I nod.
“Well, maybe I should take the edge off for you first.”
“The edge?”
“Mmm hmm.” He lifts my left leg over his shoulder. “Are your feet okay?”
“Yes,” I answer through a breathless pant.
He slides my skirt up to my waist and swipes his tongue along my slit once real slow. I let my head fall back against the wall. “Yes …”
He does it again and stops when my hips jerk.
I open my eyes, look down at him, and grab his hair. “You’re supposed to be taking the edge off not keeping me teetering on it in angst and misery.”
Keeping his eyes on mine, his entire mouth covers my sex and his tongue doesn’t stop until I feel completely … satisfied.
“Oli …” My eyes fight to stay open as my jaw goes slack.
“Yes?” He wipes his mouth with his arm and smiles as he sets my foot on the ground and kisses his way up my body taking my dress with him. He sucks in my nipple and it jolts straight to my sex.
He grins and lets my dress fall back over my body then bends down to pick up my panties.
“Here.” He hands them to me. “I’ll meet you in the car.”
“Wait, what are you doing?”
He walks to the pantry. “It’s a surprise, now get your sexy ass out to the car.”
“Okay, okay, bossy.”
I wait in the car and a few minutes later he comes out with a brown bag and puts it in the trunk.
“What’s in the bag?” I ask when he gets in the car.
He laughs. “For the last time, it’s a surprise, now open your gift. We have two more stops to make before leaving town.
“Whe—”
“Uh uh …” He holds up his finger. “Damn, woman! Just let the day happen and stop being such a nosy control freak.”
I roll my eyes, untying the pink ribbon before removing the wrapping paper. In the box is a messenger bag.
“For school?” I grin.
“Yes. It’s custom made. I picked the floral pattern for the center panel and red and white for the sides. It made me think of your tattoo. Well, and you work at a greenhouse and Alex calls you flower. Sorry, they didn’t have a cannabis pattern as an option.”
“Shut up.” I shake my head and laugh. “It’s perfect. I love it and I’ll no doubt be the coolest freshman on campus.” I lean over and kiss his cheek. “You do realize Alex doesn’t call me flower because of my tattoo or my job?”
“Oh?” He gives me a quick sideways glance.
“It was because I was a virgin. Not sure why she’s still calling me it … since I’m not.” I look over at him.
Oliver keeps his eyes on the road as his lips curl into a roguish grin. “Sorry. I blame myself for that.” He squeezes my leg.
I laugh and squirm out of his grip. “You should.”
*
Our first stop is appropriately Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s our second stop that has me confused.
“The Green Pot? Why are we here?”
“I need to borrow something from Chance.” Oliver pulls around back next to Chance’s truck. “Stay here I’ll be right back.” He gets out, takes the bag from the trunk, and goes inside. A few minutes later he knocks on my window, startling me. I was checking out all the compartments to my new bag and getting excited for my first day of classes like I did in high school. He opens my door.
“What are we—” I look down and see he’s wearing his leather work boots. “Why are you—”
“Get out.” Oliver offers his hand and I take it. He leads me around to the side of Chance’s truck facing the brick wall of the alleyway building. Shrugging off his shirt, he smirks.
I look all around us, feeling a little nervous when the realization hits me. He drops his shorts and boxer briefs and steps out of them.
“Oli!” My eyes bug out. “Oh my God, you’re not seriously going to—”
His lips crash against mine as he pulls up my dress and lifts me up pressing my back against Chance’s truck. I’m still sans panties and before I can even catch my breath, he plunges into me. “Oh God!”
His fullness drains my lungs, and he doesn’t give me a second to acclimate before he lifts me up and lets me fall back onto him. Pinning me against the truck with his body, his ha
nds slide to my breasts. His thumbs dip under the material and rub over my taut nipples.
“Is this how you imagined it?” His breath scorches against my neck as he sucks and bites at my skin.
“Yes …” I moan, meeting him thrust for thrust while holding onto his bare shoulders and digging the heels of my feet into his hard, muscular ass. I arch my back and he exposes my nipple sucking it into his mouth. “Oli!” He drags it through his teeth and repeats with the other side.
“Harder!” What the hell? Did I just yell that?
His mouth moves back to mine as he grips my hips and slams me onto him, hitting the most sensitive spot. I rock my pelvis, finding the perfect edge of pleasure as my clit ebbs and flows against his skin with the sensual tide of his pelvis.
“You’re everything,” he murmurs against my lips while taking my hands above my head and interlacing our fingers. “No take backs…” he speeds up his pace “…not … ever.” I squeeze his hands and whimper into his mouth as fireworks explode in the most incredible birthday celebration ever. He stills, keeping me pinned to the truck. “Oh dear God that was … fucking incredible.” His labored breath washes over my skin and my head collapses onto his shoulder.
“Happy Birthday to me.” I giggle.
He eases me to my feet and opens the driver’s side door to the truck. “Here.” There’s a wad of napkins in his hand. “I don’t think gravity is going to be your friend.”
I grimace with a little embarrassment, taking the napkins and wiping between my legs. He bends down to pick up his shorts and briefs.
“Wait.”
He looks up.
“Just stand there a minute.” I grin and let my eyes explore his naked body and boots. Firm muscles bronzed by the sun, messy copper hair, brilliant blue eyes, and those abs … I could run my tongue over them and give myself another orgasm. Oliver is so sexy it’s not even fair.
He tilts his head to the side, waiting for my eyes to find his again. “Are you done?” I wet my lips and smirk. “Not really, but I’ll finish the tour later.”
He pulls on his briefs and shorts. “You just want me for my body. Do you know how it makes me feel when I see you looking at me like eye candy? I’m a person, you know, with real feelings.”
“You’re right. I do just want you for your body, and if you don’t stop getting your pretty face scarred up, I’m going to have to throw a brown bag over your head when we’re having sex.”
“Get in the car before I swat your ass, birthday girl.”
Did he just threaten to spank me? “You’re all talk, Mr. Konrad.” I look back while sashaying to the car.
He looks at his watch. “We still have ten minutes, Ms. Graham. I think that’s plenty of time to rosy up that fine ass of yours.”
I stop and look over the top of the car at him as he pulls on his shirt while flashing me a suggestive raise of his brows.
“What do you mean we have ten minutes? Are we being timed?”
“You could say that.” Oliver lifts a leg up and pulls off one boot then the other before tossing them in the trunk and retrieving his shoes.
“Get in … We’ll save the corporal punishment for later.”
I slide in the seat and glare at him. “Who’s timing us?”
Oliver starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot. “Chance.”
I gasp. “You told Chance?”
He grins. “I told him I needed to borrow his truck for twenty minutes no questions asked, and I also needed him to keep Maggie occupied inside during those twenty minutes.”
“Did you tell him why?”
“Sure. I told him I needed it to do a favor for my neighbor before I left town with you.”
“But … I … when did you call him?”
“My God, you’re full of questions. I called him after I sent you out to the car. That’s when I grabbed my boots as well.” He looks over at me. “What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. I just love you. That’s all.”
He holds my hand, circling his thumb over my skin. He’s so beautiful and easy to love. I know this same strong hand holds my heart and with the slightest flinch he can crush it.
“I love you too.” He gives me another glance. Honesty radiates from his soft smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes every time he looks at me. I try to imagine the things those eyes have seen because they radiate the emotion from a thousand lifetimes. Sometimes all I see in the depths of his blue eyes are oceans of unshed tears and a permanent void that was once filled by something … someone very special.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Meet the Parents
Oliver
I’m not sure who that guy was back at the greenhouse. Exhibitionist is not a word I’ve ever used to describe myself. The man I am with Vivian is not the same guy that came home from Portland, or even the same guy that left Boston over three years ago. The changes I see in myself are subtle, well … most of the time. Caroline would have shuddered at the idea of sex in any place but our bedroom or the couch. I’m not sure she ever fantasized about me or sex at all. If she did, I’m certain she would never have told me.
Vivian slips off her shoes and rests her feet on the dash. “Is this okay?”
“What?”
“My feet on your dash because you got a funny look when I put them up here.” She wiggles her toes.
“I was just looking at the pads on the bottom of them.”
“Second skin. Alex brought it home last night. Talk about a lifesaver.”
I nod. “I was wondering … Was your reaction the other day typical? I mean, do you often lose it like that in the face of adversity?”
“And by ‘face of adversity’ you mean finding out the man to whom I gave my virginity, and to whom I declared my love, is married? If that’s what you mean then yes, my reaction would be typical—irate, out of control, somebody’s going to die. Now, the answer to your other question, ‘do I often lose it’ would be no. So don’t lie to me anymore, keep your dick in your pants except when I request you take it out, and don’t ever wear a cowboy hat in the bedroom. If you can follow those simple rules, you shouldn’t have any problem staying on my good side.”
“Cowboy hat? I take it you’re not a country fan.”
“It’s an embarrassing story that I don’t need to think about right now.” She turns on the radio. “Ooo, I like this song. Gotye, ‘Somebody That I Used to Know.’”
She wails out a few lines about being screwed over then she giggles as I shake my head and change the station.
“Oh, leave it. How perfect …” The same cringe-worthy voice goes into seductive lyrics about big birthday balloons.
“Hey, what’s wrong with Katy Perry?” She yells in a whiny voice as I switch stations again.
“Katy’s great. You, my love, sound like a donkey in labor.”
“Oh my gosh! You shit! I can’t believe you …” She punches my shoulder then folds her arms across her chest and stares out her window.
“What? You just told me not to lie to you, to keep my dick in my pants, and not wear a cowboy hat. What rule did I violate?”
“Just shut up granny driver.”
“Granny driver?”
“Yeah, granny driver, drop the hammer for goodness sake. I don’t want to spend all day in the car with your honest insults.”
“This, coming from the girl who plays with two sticks and a ball of yarn all day. But I love it when you get sassy with me. As long as you’re not throwing shit at my head, I think your fieriness is hot as hell.”
“Yeah, well, cool your balls, buddy. I’m not sure bestiality is legal in Connecticut. Hee haw!”
“I didn’t say you were a donkey, I said you sounded like one, and for your information I believe it is legal in Connecticut. So don’t be surprised if I try to mount my favorite ass later.”
She tries to keep her somber face, but she can’t hold it in. We both fall into a fit of laughter. I glance over and she’s wiping tears from her eyes and c
an’t stop giggling.
“Mount your favorite ass?” She continues to laugh. “That’s just great. You called my singing an ass in labor. Jeez, Oli, how romantic. You sure know how to woo a girl.”
“I aim to please.”
*
The drive here was two of the most enjoyable, nonsexual hours of my life. I love the easy conversations we have and the playful banter. Vivian has a facial expression for every emotion, and I could spend the rest of my life counting and memorizing them. Calling her smart, sexy, and funny sounds like such a cliché, but that’s what she is with me. An uncontrollable smile here, a wink there, the brush of her fingertips along the nape of my neck while I’m driving … it’s all the little things with her that add up to the best moments of my life.
“KISS, Oli,” she says while opening the door. I lean over to taste her cherry lips and she shakes her head. “The acronym, dummy: Keep It Simple Stupid. I’m going to tell them everything before we leave, but there’s no need to back the dump truck up to the front door. You’re my neighbor. We’ve been dating this summer. You worship the ground I walk on … just the basics, babe, stick to the basics.” She winks. Ah, there it is. Then she smiles. Another favorite.
I meet her at the front of the car and offer my hand. She takes it and leads me up to the door. No need to argue with her little jabs. Truth—I do worship the ground she walks on.
“Vivvy!” her mom squeals pulling Vivvy into her arms. “Happy birthday, baby girl.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
She looks back at me and takes my hand again, pulling me into the house. “Mom, this is Oliver … my boyfriend. Oliver this is my mom, Lydia.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Graham.” I shake her hand. She looks between me and Vivian with an exuberant grin and wide eyes.
“Lydia, please. So boyfriend, huh?”
“I hope so.” I look at Vivian and her cheeks turn pink.
“You get in a fight?”
I laugh. “More like a home invasion.”
“Oh dear! Did they catch the person who did it?”
I feel Vivian’s scowl. “Yes, as a matter of fact they did.”
