“Hey, Rock, I’m done outside. Anything else?”
Rock spun around almost dropping the phone. His dick was so hard that he was ready to double over from the ache to be in Bethany’s pussy. He heard her calling his name through the phone. “I’ll call you back.”
“So who was that? You look guilty.”
“Leave it alone,” he growled, before sinking down in his seat behind the desk. Time passing, and not thinking about Bethany or her pussy was the only way his dick could stand down.
“It’s going to be a long night.” Lazarus headed for the coffee machine, where a fresh batch had brewed. “Riggins and Stanford called in to confirm they’ll be here at six a.m.”
“Good. I’m going to need a break.” Rock’s nerves had been on edge throughout the rescue of the family. Every disaster reminded him of his wife’s accident. Each time was a chance to do over what he had failed to do for her. Mandy said that he had to let go of the guilt. Easier said—he didn’t know how to dislodge his doubts and fears.
Rock checked the cupboards in the break room, scavenging for dinner. They ate a meal of canned chili and exchanged stories that they’d shared many times. They’d worked side-by-side for five years and had literally been the saving hand for each other in moments of danger. His friend had been there to help him get focused and back to the job he loved. And yet, Rock didn’t want to share any news about Bethany with him. He didn’t want to see the excitement in Lazarus’s face that he’d turned the emotional bend. In three days, he’d be right back at Point A.
“I’m going to take a nap.” Lazarus yawned. “You got this?”
“Go ahead. Not much happening. I’m wide awake.” Rock went back to his desk and started on his monthly reports, which he hated completing.
Before the hour passed, deep rumbling snores erupted out of Lazarus, filling the room. He lay curled up on a cot that he’d pulled from the closet. Nothing less than a bomb would awaken Lazarus.
FaceTime buzzed on his phone. He recognized the number and answered, “Bethany.”
Her face smiled back at him. “Are you alone?”
“Yeah, Laz is sleeping. It’s just us.”
“Good.” She tilted the phone to her nipple.
“Whoa!” Rock looked around to make sure that Lazarus really was still across the room snoring. “You’re so wrong.” Her finger traced the wide pink circle around her nipple, spiraling toward the tight bud. His tongue stroked the roof of his mouth in frustrated anticipation.
“Only wanted to say good night, in my own special way.”
Rock didn’t take his eyes off the screen. In the rectangular frame, the close-up of her pussy filled the space.
Wet.
Pink.
In his face.
His cock answered, throbbing and hard, aching for release.
Chapter Seven
Bethany looked down at the screen to make sure she had Rock’s undivided attention. Seeing the grin on his face let her know that not only was he watching, he was turned on.
“Go on baby, show me what you’ve got.”
She moaned under the gentle persuasion.
“I’m there with you, next to you, on top of you.” His gravelly voice directed her imagination.
She closed her eyes, sinking into the moment. She thought about the heat of his body next to hers. His soothing drawl caused goose bumps.
She propped the phone so the camera would provide the best angle for her performance. She rubbed her arms. Stretching them full length above her head. Her body writhed under the sensitive need to be touched.
“You sure that you’re ready, Rock?” Her chuckle was heavy with innuendo.
He nodded.
Bethany didn’t feel inhibited. Not one bit. She pressed the beginning of her playlist and let Ed Sheeran croon his romantic stories. The music helped relaxed her muscles. His music lifted her spirits, and the message in the lyrics set the intimacy to celebrate being a woman.
She laid her cheek against the wall, cocked out her hip, legs apart. Her hands were pressed against the wall and she wiggled her hips before turning to face the phone. Slowly she slid down the wall, until she was in a squat. She brought the phone closer.
“Oh, God, yes.” Rock approved.
Her hand slid down over her pussy. Her silky juices flowed, coating her fingers. She tapped her clit, beating the sensitive spot, enjoying the punishment as much as the pleasure.
As one song rolled into the next, Bethany got deeper into the groove.
She took her time inserting her fingers deep in her pussy, sliding along, retreating and entering to the languid beat. Her pussy loved the attention.
With her other hand, she dipped her fingers into the small honey jar that she’d bought especially for this occasion. She collected the sweet, sticky nectar, and liberally painted her breasts, focusing on her nipples.
Each tiny bud was a touch-point of fireworks crackling throughout her body. She couldn’t stop tweaking, pinching the beads to soak up the exciting thrill that shot through her belly and spread to her pussy like a massive electric storm. Already her walls pulsed against her fingers, a signal that her pussy was getting ready. She stirred and pumped, enjoying her body’s wet and hot response.
She entered the zone, playing out the fantasy with Rock. Hoisting her leg up, resting her thighs against her chest, her pussy was exposed as if ready for his insertion. Her erotic thoughts continued feeding the hunger for the real thing.
Bethany couldn’t stop her moans as her fingers worked feverishly. Her breathing hitched. Under the rapid heartbeat, she whimpered and had to grab hold of a pillow to muzzle her self-inflicted torment.
“Let go,” his ragged whisper urged.
She tried to talk, tried to respond, but couldn’t utter a word. Her pussy’s vibrations grew stronger, pulsing neither to the music beat nor to her strokes. Natural sexual vibes shaped its own course, directing the path for her climax.
“Oh fuck!” Her pussy rocked its mini-explosions of her juices like an erupting volcano that sent shivers through her entire body. Her fingers grasped the pillow. Toes curled and her fingers grazed her clit, labia—all of it. She hissed. Every part was super sensitive to the touch. Waves hit in rapid succession squeezing and relaxing until she was weak from the exertion. She stayed still with eyes closed.
She heard Rock groan. She stirred and asked, “What’s up, baby?”
“Had to run in here. To take care of business.” His words were squeezed out, as if he was talking and holding his breath. “Fuck me!”
She didn’t have to see to know that Rock had come. She waited until he’d cleaned up and could talk. “Now, you go back to work and think about me.”
“And you go to bed and dream about me.”
She hung up with a smile. From the look on Rock’s face, he hadn’t recovered. And she was glad for it.
****
Bethany awoke early but didn’t jump out of bed. Only one day remained before she’d be boarding a plane for California. The thought of saying good-bye caused a lump in her throat. She arrived emotional, battered, and bruised. Now she was going home much stronger, yet sad to be leaving. Rock and this delightful retreat were the keys to her revival. She could never tell him she wanted more, hoped for the sky and beyond, when it concerned her feelings.
Funny how quickly she had gotten comfortable to waking up in Rock’s arms. His very scent on her skin and on her bed linens stirred her desire. She loved wrapping herself in the sheet and inhaling his masculine essence. Last night was fun. She had never done anything like that, but with him and for him he released her, freeing the desire to please him.
She roused herself to prepare for a quick shower. She wanted to be ready for when Rock came home. Her phone rang. She smiled, guessing that he wanted to talk about her performance. After fastening the towel around her body, she quickly answered.
“Beth, thank God you answered. I’ve been leaving messages all over the place.”
“
Kelvin.” A heavy lump dropped in the pit of her stomach. “What do you want?” She should have checked the caller ID. Her mood soured in seconds.
“I want you. I want a second chance.” His whining plea grated her nerves.
Bethany sat on the edge of the tub. The cold tiles helped the heat of anger.
“Look, I know you needed space to clear your mind. It helped clear my mind. And, well, honey, we belong together.”
“That’s not ever going to happen.” She knew this for a fact.
“Haven’t you ever messed up? Haven’t you ever acted on impulse…and got it wrong?”
“Not with you. Not like this.”
“Everything you do is on the level of perfection, then?”
Bethany squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Before you left, you said you loved me.”
“I really thought I did. I felt desperate.” Boarding the plane and putting distance between them made her realize how much she had given up of herself.
“It doesn’t switch off like that. Tell me you love me. Maybe your mind has to hear what your body feels.”
“You’re fucking delusional.” She laughed bitterly. “Maybe I was the delusional one. You never cared about me. No matter how much I thought I could change you, that should never have been my job.”
“I can’t lose you. Nothing has been right since you left. I need you to tell me that you love me. I’m on the verge here.”
“Verge of what? Don’t play the drama queen.” She resented him trying to manipulate her.
“I’m hurting without you. All I need to hear are those words again. I need hope.”
“Was that what you were thinking with our landlady?” The bitch had emailed her the evidence of them fucking in their bed.
“Please, Bethany…”
Before she could interrupt, he started sniffling into the phone.
“I love you. I love you. I love you.” Bethany said the words slowly. They had no power. Her giggles erupted at the stupidity of it all. “Kelvin, grow up. I can say the words all day and all night long, you moron. It’s not about words if the action and respect aren’t there. Between us, that emotion never even broke into a seedling. Go back to your landlady and don’t bother calling me again. And my brother and his friends will be over to make sure that you leave and don’t mess with my stuff.”
“But…but they don’t know what’s yours and what’s mine.”
“That’s true. Have fun explaining it to them. Life’s a bitch.” She hung up the phone and set it on the shelf in the bathroom.
In the mirror, she examined her face. Her smile couldn’t have been wider. She pulled up her hair, turning her neck to check out her profile for a new hairdo. Today was another new chapter about to be written. The door to old ways was firmly closed and locked. Her shoulders relaxed and she took a cleansing breath.
Humming to Ed Sheeran’s latest, she turned on the shower and prepared for the day.
****
Rock stood in Bethany’s bedroom. The pounding of his pulse was at migraine level. His ears rang with the declaration of her love. He’d wanted to surprise her. Instead, he was the one getting the huge surprise. A sucker punch couldn’t have done a better job than the full force jab to his jaw. He stumbled out of the room before he ripped the place apart.
Her repetitive vow mocked his retreat: “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Did she have to say it three times? Once would have been enough to deflate the joy he had for their relationship. But there was nothing there, evidently. It was a drive-by fling. He’d been used to bridge a bad patch in someone else’s relationship. And he’d been the sucker to fall for the façade.
He walked and didn’t stop until he was out of the inn. There was nowhere to go to stomp off his bad mood. His exit could only go as far as the porch.
“Has anyone seen Rock?” The soft lilt of her voice carried, like a woman looking for her lover. Maybe that was wishful thinking.
His shoulders twitched its betrayal at the sound of her voice, ready to yield its surrender. He half-turned to announce his presence, but good logic prevailed. Have an ounce of pride and walk the hell away from her. He followed his own advice and stayed put on the porch, freezing while her voice pulled him back in, like a siren.
He spent hours in the snowplow clearing more paths around the inn. A nor’easter was only going to slow guests, not stop them completely. Business had to go on. Life had to continue. He’d have to get over it, and so would his dick.
He kept working, gritting his teeth against the painful chill, cold and anger—bitter companions to his soul. A few times he looked up at the window and saw Bethany looking down. She waved and he could only nod, not even sure if she saw that much. He didn’t care. The wound festered. She might as well have taken a scalpel and surgically removed his soul. It was all hers, as he allowed her to destroy it with her nonchalance.
The sound of approaching footsteps took him out of his musings. From the barn, he had partial visibility. He didn’t want to call out, hoping the person would think he wasn’t there. Mandy had been texting, urging him to return to the house to get warm. Truthfully, the barn was freezing, but it helped keep him out of the wind blasts.
“Hey, you have got to be frozen.”
“What are you doing here?” The wrench slipped from his fingers.
“Brought you a flask of hot soup. Mandy was bringing it, but I wanted to be helpful.” Confusion clouded her expression, as he glared at her approach.
“You can set it there.” He pointed to the flat surface of the wood, outside of arms reach.
“Okay. You’re not hungry?”
“Not really.” At least, not for food. He broke eye contact with her. “I best be getting back to work.” He picked up the wrench, but didn’t have a task that needed the tool.
“Thought I’d see you this morning.” She made a sound of regret that almost made his knees buckle. “I was looking forward to waking up with you between my legs.”
“I had the same plan.”
“So…” Her response took on a hopeful note.
“I came by and there was no answer.” He shrugged, while his jaw clenched.
She mulled over his response. “Must have been in the bathroom.” Now she was the one to break eye contact.
And that slide of her gaze was all he needed to know. He tossed aside the wrench and stormed past her, out of the barn.
“Wait! You left the soup.”
“I’m fine.” He raised his hand without looking back.
Once again, “I love you. I love you. I love you” mocked him, as he strived to put distance between them.
****
Bethany felt the chilly temperature against her skin, but she definitely also felt the cold flash of rejection. Something had Rock out of sorts. Since she left him last night with a dreamy smile and well-spent moment of gratitude, this frosty encounter didn’t make sense. What could have turned his mood so dark, when only last night they had crossed intimate lines with each other.
She watched him disappear in a ramped-up march. Not once did he turn, even though she waited for his sexy broad grin.
All he left her with was the sight of his wide shoulders and a stiff back like a barrier to any further communication. Feeling abandoned, she trudged back to the inn. At least there was warmth, as her teeth chattered.
She’d barely made it back into the house when Mandy pounced on her. “Did you make sure my brother ate his soup?”
“He didn’t take it.” Bethany handed the full flask back to Mandy.
“Why not? Was he being stubborn? Sometimes you have to stand up to that macho nonsense.”
“He wasn’t stubborn, more like weirdly bristling and dark. Made me think that I’d done something wrong.” Bethany didn’t want to remind Mandy of the obvious—Rock was a grown man. A fact she could testify to with her eyewitness accounting.
“Oh, don’t let his brooding create self-doubts
.” Mandy bit her lip.
Bethany thought the advice was too late.
“I like you, Bethany. And I don’t think that I’m talking my brother’s business to say…”
“Spit it out. Is he sick?”
“No. He’s not used to having someone in his life. I know it’s been a couple of days, but he’s been so different with you. I think he’s stepping back because he’s afraid.”
“Afraid…of me?”
“You’re leaving tomorrow. Whatever magic you used to unlock his heart may be in danger of fading.”
“Somehow, I don’t think he’s seeing it that way.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Please don’t. Really, don’t. I had a boyfriend who wanted to push me into an emotional state I didn’t feel comfortable with and didn’t ever want to be comfortable in. Although I have been moved in incredible ways because of your brother, I won’t impose myself on him. Even if it means that I’m boarding that plane without talking to him again.
“That’s called falling in love.” Mandy hugged her.
Bethany held back the tears, squeezing her eyes shut at the reality.
I’m in love with you, Rock.
Chapter Eight
Rock heard the laughter. His sister and Bethany were enjoying her last night, instead of him. She had infiltrated their lives, touching both of them with her crazy outlook. But he constantly worried that he’d be so addicted to her and her pussy that he wouldn’t know how to cope when she returned to sunny California. He’d been affected. And for her, it would be just another day, another experience to file in the memory bank. Playing “rebound guy” sucked a lot.
“Hey, you’re home.” Mandy sat on the couch next to Bethany.
“I’m home until ten, then I have to get back to work. An all-nighter.” His gaze drifted to the photo albums open on their laps. No. Icy dread snaked down his spine. “How dare you?” His question was directed to both.
“I didn’t think it would be a problem.” Mandy looked at him confused.
“Rock, I asked her. I wanted to see Judith…‘meet’ her.”
Bound to Her Page 4
