Open Eyes (Open Skies)

by Marysol James

  “Yeah.”

  The smiled at each other and Vicky felt a tightness between her legs. My God, I want him again.

  “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to take a bath.”

  “A – what?”

  “A bath.” Phil kissed her. “I have a deep tub and lots of bubbles. What do you think?”

  “You take baths?”

  “Well, not usually. It’s no fun on my own.”

  “So what’s with the bubble bath?”

  “Honestly? I use it as shower gel.” He grinned in the most charming way. “I have this one that I really like – chocolate orange. But I’ve never found it in a soap or gel, so I just use the bubble bath.”

  She giggled and he started at the sound. He had never seen her so open and natural. She looked ten years younger.

  “OK, then,” she said. “A bath sounds good. It is Saturday and we’ve got nowhere to go, right?”

  He rolled over and held out his hand. “Come on, honey.”

  They went in to the bathroom and Vicky looked at the tub in delight as Phil started to run the water. It was massive, with claw feet and high sides. Just the thought of climbing in to this tub with Phil made her feel breathless.

  The water rose and filled the tub. Phil climbed in first and settled in to the fragrant bubbles. Carefully, Vicky joined him. The tub was big enough that she could stretch almost its whole length and her toes didn’t reach the end.

  They washed each other’s backs, and Phil ran clear water from the tap so Vicky could wash her hair. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes as he poured the warm water over her head to rinse away the shampoo. It ran in clear rivulets down her breasts and Phil caught his breath at her loveliness: she was like a goddess of the morning, bright and shining. He had to touch her.

  He sat up and pulled her in to his arms, turning her away from him. She leaned back against him and felt his breath on her neck. He started to massage her soapy breasts, his thumbs tweaking her nipples in to hard peaks. She arched her back and her neck, shifted her thighs and hips as her sex started to heat up and throb.

  Phil felt her response and he slowly ran his hands down the front of her body, over her stomach, dipped under the warm water. He opened her thighs and traced the curve of her lips between her legs. She gasped and arched again as his finger slipped inside of her, stroking and circling her clit.

  “Phil. Oh, God…”

  She turned to see his face as he touched her pussy and saw his eyes hot and bright with lust. He kissed her, his tongue thrusting in to her mouth in time to the movement of his fingers. She groaned, her thighs starting to shake.

  He whispered against her mouth. “I want to taste you.” He circled her pearl, felt it swell under his fingers. “Here, where my fingers are. I want to taste you.”

  She jerked back. “Oh. Oh, no…”

  “Babe, have you never been kissed down there?”

  She was silent.

  “Vicky?”

  “No. No, Carl always said that it was – it was disgusting.”

  Phil closed his eyes as his already significant hatred for Carl grew even bigger. He was sure that although Carl had told Vicky that her pussy was too gross to go down on, he’d been more than happy to inform her that his pathetic little dick was just fine to suck. Phil took a deep breath.

  “Well. Carl was wrong.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because, babe, I felt you last night. I touched you there, felt how hot and sweet you are. I was inside you last night. And I can tell you that you are not disgusting… not there, not anywhere.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Vicky, when a woman is kissed there, it’s one of the most intimate things that can happen to her.”

  “It is?”

  “Sure. She’s totally open and exposed and vulnerable. It can be scary, to be that way. I get that. If you don’t want to, or you don’t feel ready, it’s OK. No rush.”

  She ran her finger over the tattoo on his forearm and thought about that. He had a point, really. The thought of Phil spreading her lips and stroking her with his tongue was frightening – she’d be totally open to him, in every way. But the thought of his dark head between her thighs, of his mouth on her… it made her breathless, too. Her body wanted him to do that to her. She trusted him to do that to her.

  “I want –” She hesitated, unsure how to ask for what she needed.

  “What do you want, babe?”

  “I want to – to try. To try with you.”

  “OK.” He kissed her, soft and gentle and slow. “We’ll try.”

  She nodded.

  Phil reached for the plug and started to drain the water. He turned her around to face him and spread her legs. She tensed and he smiled. “Easy, honey. Just lie back. We’ll take it slow, OK? And we stop if you say so.”

  He put a towel on the bottom of the tub and she laid her upper shoulders and head on it. She stared at the ceiling and willed herself to relax. This is Phil. It’s not dirty and disgusting, not with him.

  Phil hooked her legs over the edge of the tub and pulled her hips closer. His legs were out straight and he rested her lower body on his muscular thighs. Phil cupped her pert ass in his hands then lowered his head, slowly, watching her watch him. She looked afraid but intrigued. He hoped she’d enjoy this; he wanted her to love it.

  He started slowly, licking up one side of her pussy and down the other. Vicky’s hips jumped forward in to his mouth, and she moaned. Encouraged, he lifted her higher and when he pressed his tongue on the small bundle of nerves between the rosy lips, he heard her gasp. He started to suck on her clit now, gently, then increasing the pressure as she started to move under his mouth.

  Vicky couldn’t believe how this felt: his mouth was hot and sure, and when he lapped at the hard knot between her legs, she lost the ability to think about anything except what he was doing. And she wanted more.

  She didn’t notice when her hands moved to his head, pushing hard against his neck, pressing his mouth on her. His tongue penetrated her and she moaned, deep in her throat. Her hips moved on their own, back and forth, riding his tongue, riding the wave that started to build inside of her. Her body writhed in the tub; she was losing control.

  Phil wrapped her legs around his neck and lifted her right off the bottom of the tub. She gave a cry of surprise and opened her eyes.

  He paused. “You OK, babe?”

  She gazed at him and his breath caught in his chest. Those brown eyes were melting and hot. “Oh, yes. Yes.” She arched. “Please don’t stop.”

  “I won’t. Don’t you worry about that.”

  Phil buried his face between her thighs again, his tongue moving faster now. She panted as her whole body began to shake. The wave inside of her was growing, getting higher and stronger. In the distance, she heard rhythmic, rising cries and she realized that it was her. She trembled wildly under his mouth, and let herself enjoy the sensation of being pleasured.

  Phil felt her thigh muscles jumping under his hands, knew that she was teetering on the edge of coming. He took her entire clit in to his mouth and rolled it against his tongue. Vicky froze, shuddering, silent, so amazingly close now. He slid his finger inside her wet passage and gently thrust, in and out, tugging on her pearl with his lips at the same time. He moved his finger faster, then faster.

  Vicky’s whole world was reduced to his lips and finger and tongue. “Oh. Oh, God. Oh, God. Phil… please. Please!”

  He raised his head for a second and met her eyes, his finger working its way in deeper and harder. “Come now, babe. Come for me.” Still holding her hot gaze, he lowered his mouth to her pussy and gave one long, slow lick.

  Without warning, her straining, reaching body exploded. She arched her back, her head pressed in to the towel, her legs spread open as far as they could go, his mouth
fused to her clit, his large hands lifting her. She let out a strangled shriek, then another. She thought she’d be washed away by the hugeness and strength of the wave – she had no way to fight its power. There was a white light, a flash behind her eyelids, and then darkness.

  When she came back in to her body, Phil was holding her close. She was wrapped in his arms, curled up on his lap, the towel around her shoulders. He was kissing her forehead and murmuring to her; she felt warm and safe and cherished.

  “I’ve got you, Vicky. You’re OK. I’m here.”

  She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

  “You OK, babe?”

  “I think so.”

  He smiled down at her, his eyes watching her closely. “So. How was that?”

  She flushed as she remembered shattering against his mouth. “Umm. Incredible.”

  “Yeah. I thought you liked it.” He touched her cheek.

  “You did? What gave me away?”

  “Well, now, I cannot say anything more. A gentleman does not kiss and tell.”

  She kissed him. “OK, then. I guess I’ll just have to remain in awe of your powers of observation.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Vicky put her head on his chest and listened to his heart. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “What did – was I – did I taste OK?”

  “Good Lord, woman. You just have no idea how sexy and beautiful and amazing you are, do you?”

  She shook her head.

  Damn Carl. Just damn this bastard right to hell… to think that he destroyed this woman’s confidence so thoroughly…

  “You tasted sweet and dark,” he said. “Like chocolate orange, as a matter of fact.”

  “From the bubble bath?”

  “Nope. That’s you, Vicky. Sweet and dark and strong.” He kissed her slowly, his tongue licking the inside of her mouth.

  Vicky felt his hardness swell under her and she wriggled her ass, teasing him. He growled and pushed her down on him. She stood, glistening and lovely in the morning light and smiled at him. “Come on, handsome.”

  He got to his feet. “Where are you taking me?”

  “To your bed.” She reached out and grasped him firmly, loving how he hardened even more in her hand. “I’m going to do something about this.”

  “You are?”

  “I am. And more than once.”

  **

  “So. You are Phil.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Opal glared at Phil and he gazed back, his face totally relaxed and open and calm. Vicky hovered between them, worried. She was already thinking that having these two meet was a huge mistake. Oh, God. Please let Opal behave herself!

  “Sit down, right over there.” Opal gestured to the sofa.

  Phil sat and waited. Vicky perched on the sofa arm, her stomach in knots. God only knew what would come out of Opal’s mouth next.

  Opal settled in to her own chair and observed Phil from across the room. Vicky held her breath.

  “I think me and you need to get a couple of things straight.”

  Phil nodded.

  “I am not the girl’s mother, I know that. She is a full-grown woman, and a damn smart one, at that. But she is precious to me, is that clear?”

  “Yes, ma’am. It is.”

  “And I am very curious about how you plan to treat her.”

  “Opal,” Vicky said. “This is really not necessary…”

  “You hush up,” Opal said. “This is between me and Mr. Dobson here. You just wait.”

  Vicky closed her eyes.

  “Now, I know you know her circumstances, how she came to me.” Opal stared at him.

  “I do.”

  “Then let me be clear: this girl had the wherewithal to up and leave one abusive and no-account son-of-a-bitch and once a woman does that, she knows she can do it again. The next time – if there is one – is that much easier.”

  “Yes.”

  “So. I want to know that you’ll be good to her. Treat her the way that she deserves. Will you do that?”

  “Opal. I absolutely promise you, from the bottom of my heart, that I am not going to hurt Vicky.”

  “No hitting her? No cheating on her?”

  “No.”

  “And what about her sweet baby? Sonia? You interested in being good to her, too?”

  “I have no children of my own. I love kids. If I could spend some time with Sonia – taking her horseback riding and hiking in the mountains – I’d consider myself lucky.”

  Opal leaned back and studied Phil. The man was sex on legs, no doubt about that, but far more importantly, he was kind and steady and knew his own mind. His good heart just shone out of him, through his eyes, in the way he moved, in how he looked at Vicky. This man was a keeper; she knew that the second he walked in to the motel and shook her hand. But she was going to make him squirm just a bit, on principle.

  “Umm-hmmm.” She looked at him some more. Why are eye crinkles on men so damn sexy? Mine are hardly the kind of thing that gets the heart racing. Aloud, she said. “Well. I trust Vicky when she tells me that you’re a good man.”

  “Thank you.”

  Vicky smiled at Opal. Yes, the older woman was ornery and crabby and Vicky just adored her. Their eyes met and Opal winked.

  Phil caught it and grinned. He tugged Vicky down next to him on the sofa and she gave a small shriek.

  “Oh, honestly, girl.” Opal got to her feet. “Just kiss the man, will you? I’ll get us something to drink.” She swept out of the room.

  Phil took her flushed face in both of his hands and pulled her to him for a slow and luxurious kiss. She moaned and opened her mouth to his tongue.

  He gently tugged at her hair and pulled her closer. “I cannot wait to get you back to my place. I want to taste you again.”

  She gasped and felt her center throb at just the thought of what he had done to her in the bathtub the day before. She had dreamt about at night and she woke up this morning, wet and open and seconds away from coming. She couldn’t believe how he could turn her body inside out just by thinking about him. They had spent the whole day today in Phil’s bed making love, sleeping, waking up to make love again. Vicky was almost dizzy with lust and happiness.

  Opal came back in to the room, carrying a tray of tea. Phil stood and took it from her and she nodded her approval. Then she saw Vicky’s face, pink and flustered, and she grinned.

  “What on earth did you say to her, to make her look like that?” she demanded.

  Vicky blushed even more.

  Phil shrugged. “I just told her that I wanted to get her back home.”

  “Mmmm-hmmm. I see.” Opal looked at Vicky, thrilled to death that the girl was finally being loved the way that every woman deserves. “I hope y’all can hold on a couple of hours, stay for Sunday dinner.”

  “I’d love that,” Phil said. “Vicky? It’s OK with you?”

  “Yes. Oh, yes, Opal. Thank you.”

  The older woman nodded, her eyes twinkling. “I won’t bother with a dessert, then. You all can just have that at home. Am I right?”

  She was delighted when they both blushed.

  **

  The next morning, Phil and Vicky were standing on the steps of the main building. Vicky had called Julie that morning and asked if she and Rob maybe had some time to meet her. Julie had said sure, and they had arranged a ten o’clock meeting. It was now three minutes to the hour.

  “I can come with you, babe, if you want.”

  Vicky kissed Phil and shook her head.

  “No. No, thank you. I need to do this by myself.”

  “OK.”

  She smiled and then went in to the main building. He watched her go and prayed to God that Julie and Rob wouldn’t fire her. He
was pretty sure they wouldn’t but who knew? If there was one thing that Phil knew for sure, it was that people could surprise you.

  Worried, distracted, a chunk of ice firmly lodged in the pit of his stomach, he walked down the hill to the stables. And he waited.

  **

  Julie and Rob stared at Vicky in utter shock. She sat across from them at the conference table; she looked scared but determined. She had steel in her expression that they had seen before, but only in glimpses and flashes. Today it was fully present.

  Vicky sat silent. She had told them everything and that was all she had come in here to do. She wasn’t going to try to justify lying to them, and she wasn’t going to beg. All she could do now was hope.

  Rob found his voice first. “Vicky… my God. What you’ve been through. I am so, so sorry.”

  “Thank you.”

  Silence.

  “You lied to us.” Julie’s voice was cold.

  Vicky straightened her shoulders. “Yes.”

  “You told us – told us that you were divorced. I asked if you had any children, and you said no.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why did you lie?” Julie shifted in her chair. “Were you afraid we wouldn’t hire you?”

  “Partly, yes.”

  “Only partly?”

  “I didn’t know you. I didn’t trust you. For all I knew, you had some contact with Carl – he’s in business and Kansas is just one state over. Overlap wasn’t totally out of the question. I was also worried that maybe you had acquaintances in common… guests who stayed here who maybe knew him, for example.” She shrugged. “The world is small.”

  “It is,” Rob agreed.

  “So, I was afraid that if you knew Carl, you might tell him where I was. I was also afraid that even if you didn’t know Carl, you might think what I did was wrong. You may have found him online and informed him where I was. And finally, of course, I thought there was a very real possibility that you’d report me to the police for kidnapping.”

  “We still might do any or all of these things.”

  “You might.” She waited. “Will you?”

  Julie sighed and shook her lovely head. “Oh, Vicky. Never. I am never, ever going to contact an abusive man and tell him where to find his wife and child. I also have no plans to call the police.” She turned to Rob. “Do you?”