by B. N. Toler
“Are you saying I’m a fatty?” I act appalled as we climb out. I am a pretty healthy eater, but I didn’t realize he had noticed.
“Let’s just say, every time I hear Queen, I’ll think of you.” He runs up behind me and gives my ass a hard squeeze.
I squeal as I run from him. “Fat bottomed girls? Are you kidding me?” I guffaw, as I twist, trying to look at my butt to see if it looks that big. The song Fat Bottomed Girls makes my boyfriend think of me?
“I’m an ass man. What can I say?” he shrugs unapologetically, his perfect mouth curving slightly as his gaze falls to admire my bottom.
“Are you saying I have a big ass?” I already know the answer to that question. Yes—yes, I do.
“Do you think I’m saying you’re fat?”
“You have a funny way of complimenting a girl, Mr. Mason,” I quip, cutting him a sharp look.
“Baby, you are beautiful. You’re a tiny girl with an awesome rack and an oh so sweet ass.” He grins, closing his eyes as if the thought makes him incredibly happy.
“Why, Rhett Mason, you should apologize to me right now, talking to me in such a way. I am a lady.” I put on my best Scarlet O’Hara impression and try to look miffed.
“And you miss, are no lady…don’t think I hold that against you. Ladies have never held any charm for me,” Rhett quotes Rhett Butler, making a dashing imitation, voice and all.
I can’t help laughing at him as he approaches me. He grabs me and pulls me to him as he leans into me, kissing me hard, holding my head in one of his hands. The blood in my body rushes between my legs, leaving me light headed as his erection presses against my naval.
“Rhett, don’t. I shall faint,” I quote another Scarlett line as I press the back of my hand to my forehead gently and lean back dramatically.
His hold remains strong as he gazes down at me. “I want you to faint. This is what you were meant for. None of the fools you have ever known have kissed you like this, have they? Your Charles, or your Frank, or your stupid Ashley?” He quotes the line verbatim, but instead of using Rhett Butler’s voice, he uses his, and the words are intense. I know he’s trying to tell me something. He wants to be my all, to erase the traces of any other. He is my all. There’s no one else. There is only him.
“No.” I swallow the lump in my throat as he stands me up and stares into my eyes. “No, they haven’t,” I answer softly. My heart is beating a million miles a minute, and I can think of nothing but how badly I want him.
“Good, because you are mine.” His voice is deep, and I feel it vibrate inside of me, marking me, locking itself there so that it may echo within the proverbial walls of my soul forever. He brushes his hand against my cheek and I press into it as his thumb glides across my heated skin.
“So you pretty much know every line of that movie don’t you?” I try to joke to take the edge off of the incredibly intense moment we just shared.
“My mother watched that movie about a bazillion times, so yeah, pretty much.”
“So that’s how you played it in my dream world. You knew the entire thing by heart?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs.
“It’s a good movie. I really enjoyed watching it again today.”
“So you really never went on a real date?” He changes the subject.
“Pizza night doesn’t count. It was in my dreams,” I remind him again.
“I remember some other things that happened in your dreams that felt real to me.”
I blush remembering making love to Rhett under the Willow tree right before I woke up. “It was real to me, too,” I whisper pushing up on the tips of my toes to kiss him.
“Well, if I had known it was your first real official date I might have put together something a little more romantic.”
“It was a great day, Rhett. Thank you.” I smile as I grab his hand and kiss it gently.
His breath hitches, and I know the steel wall of abstinence he has built around himself is on the verge of coming down. He wants me, too; it’s not just me, so why is he fighting it?
“There you guys are,” Hudson chirps as he stomps down the stairs of the front porch to meet us. He’s shirtless and wearing his khaki short and a John Deere hat. “We got cold beers and steaks on the grill. I was making everyone wait for you guys before we ate, but freaking Whit is about to chew my arm off; he’s so hungry. He can be such an ass when he’s hungry.”
“Why’d you wait Hudson? You could’ve started without us.”
“Because family eats together.” His brown eyes squint away from the sun.
Whit’s words from weeks ago echo in my mind. Hudson has the best heart. “Hudson, you’re one of a kind.” I hug his side with one arm.
“Yeah, well, I am pretty awesome.” He turns and runs inside hollering, Come on! as he goes in.
“Modest, too,” Rhett smirks.
We sit outside, laughing and enjoying the evening. Whit and Sarah have become quite chummy since our altercation and it concerns me. Sarah is a complicated person, to say the least, and Whit can be, well a moron, for lack of a better word. I’m worried for both of them, to be honest, but Sarah is actually smiling. Not even I could take that away from her after everything she’s been through, no matter what the potential fallout might be.
Hudson and Lila are happy and little Beau is in his high chair giggling. They make an adorable family. Hudson has fallen so easily into fatherhood and Lila is a wonderful mother. They’re both so young, but watching them it’s as if this is what they were meant to do.
As the evening winds down, Hudson and I set about doing the dishes while everyone else departs into their own rooms. Hudson is whistling a happy tune, and his mood must be contagious as I can’t help smiling and whistling with him.
“Hudson, you seem so happy.” I smile as I take a plate he just rinsed from him to dry.
“I am,” he beams. “Things finally feel solid.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I feel like I belong.”
I frown slightly with his words, saddened he never felt that way before. Lucy may have moved us a lot in our youth, but I always felt like I belonged when I’m was with my brothers.
“That didn’t come out right,” Hudson continues having noted my expression. “Everything right here, right now, feels perfect. You know, all of us together.” His brows crease. “I mean except for Lucy being gone.”
“I miss her, too.” I bump his arm gently with my shoulder.
“Do you think she knew she was going to die that day?”
I sigh heavily. “I think she had a good idea.”
“I just wish we knew what the fuck happened.” He shakes his head.
“Me too, Hudson, but the most important thing to Lucy was our safety. We’re all safe, and I know she’s resting peacefully because of it.”
“We’re never going to be safe Aldo. Look at us. We hide away, and move around because we are not safe.”
“Yes, we are safe and like you said—we’re together.” I don’t like dismal and morose Hudson. Nothing should ever fill his heart, voice, and eyes except happiness. I would say anything to bring him away from the dark roads of self-pity and fear. I walk those roads often myself, and they’re no place for him.
“You’re right.” He bumps my arm with his shoulder.
“I’m really happy for you, Hudson. You and Lila are great together.” I try to change the subject.
“Yes, we are, aren’t we?” Lila chimes in as she enters the kitchen and hands Hudson an empty baby bottle. Her gorgeous thick hair is tied back in a ponytail and she’s wearing pajama shorts that expose her long, tan legs.
“He go down okay?” Hudson asks Lila about Beau as she pecks his cheek.
“Yeah,” she smiles darting her eyes at me. “Hurry up you two. I’d like to have my husband alone for a few minutes.” She winks at me through her long lashes as she kisses Hudson once more and turns to leave.
“Oh, mama,” Hudson smiles and grabs the dishtow
el out of my hands to pop at her.
“Wow, I really don’t want this visual.” I roll my eyes even though I think they’re cute.
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a man loving his woman.” Hudson shakes his head as he watches Lila leave, admiring the view. Hudson is incredibly handsome, very clean cut and thin. Although he and Whit are identical, they look very different, but Rhett says it’s only obvious to me because I know their personalities so well.
“Oh my gosh!” I yell. “Go!” I play like I’m bothered. “Go do what grown folks do,” I laugh as he saunters out of the kitchen.
Suddenly, Hudson turns to me. “You okay?” he asks in a concerned tone as he flings the dishtowel on the counter.
“Of course,” I stutter, surprised by his question.
“I’m sensing something is going on with you.” He places his hand to my shoulder and looks down on me with his big brown eyes. Honestly, Hudson is like a big teddy bear sometimes, you just want to squeeze him.
“I’m fine, Hudson, don’t worry,” I try to smile as innocently as I can. My mind has been preoccupied with my plans to leave, but I thought I had done a pretty good job at appearing to be normal.
“I’m here for you—”
“Go be with your wife.” I push him jokingly, interrupting him.
“Thanks, sis.” He smirks, turning back to me. “I’m going to go show her my one eyed snake.” He makes a Popeye stink-eye at me.
“Hudson!” I gasp. “You’re so gross!” I scrunch my face at him.
“I’m a love man. That’s what they call me, I’m a love man.” Hudson sings Otis Redding’s, Love Man as he descends down the hall; one of our favorite songs from Dirty Dancing.
I turn back to the dishes, trying not to be jealous. At least somebody’s getting laid in this house, even if it isn’t me.
After I finish the dishes, I find Rhett sitting at my desk in my room. I watch him for a moment—a very brief moment—because he heard me coming down the hall with his blood healer hearing. He quickly stands and my inner self swoons as he walks towards me, shirtless, his jeans hanging slightly off of his hips, exposing the top of his boxers. I nod my head up and down appreciatively at the fine specimen before me.
“What?” He smiles at my expression.
“Just enjoying the view,” I smile back.
He walks up to me and kisses me softly, leaving me riveted with his energy. I have grown accustomed to this, so it doesn’t leave me almost collapsed as it once did. The blood that rushed between my legs from my reaction to our little Gone with the Wind moment earlier, never left. I’ve been walking around with the female equivalent of a boner ever since. Seeing Rhett shirtless, eyes hungry, is only making it worse.
Slipping my shirt over my head, I toss it to the side. He eyes me curiously, but doesn’t stop me as I shimmy my jeans off and stand before him in nothing, but my bra and panties. His eyes run up and down my body as he exhales loudly. I’m surprised he hasn’t stopped me by now and wonder if it’s because of our argument in my dreams last night or if he, too, is still reeling in perpetual lust like me from our Rhett and Scarlett bit.
After a moment, he places his hands on my sides and pulls me into him, kissing my neck. With great haste, I begin sliding his jeans down. Once they’re down, he quickly kicks them to the side and I slide his boxers off, exposing his sizable erection. I take him and turn him so that his back is to the bed and push him down. My inner self is doing back-flips, excited that Rhett might actually give in to us. Leaning into him I make my way down his body, kissing and licking over his abs, biting him gently on the way. I glance up at him as seductively as I can, but sad eyes stare back down at me.
“What’s wrong?” I stand and run my hand through his dark, thick hair. I want Rhett so badly I think I may self-combust with lust, but I don’t want him to make love to me because he feels forced to.
“You make me really happy,” he smiles at me and pulls me close to him so his face is on my chest, his erection pressed against my belly, taunting me. All I can think about is how badly I want to slide myself onto him. Just the thought is almost sending me over the edge into orgasm.
“I love you, Rhett,” I whisper.
His eyes widen as he looks up at me. I’ve never said it before. He knows it already, but saying the words means something more. Is this what he’s been waiting for? His breath hitches as he stands and rips my panties at the sides. He quickly removes my bra, tossing it across the room as he kisses my shoulder. His touch feels like ecstasy; smooth, crisp, paralyzing pulses surge through me. He steps back again and looks me up and down before meeting my eyes again. Suddenly, he falls on his knees before me, wrapping his arms around me, his head resting on my chest between my breasts.
I run my fingers through his hair again. “Are you okay?”
“No. I’m a wreck.” He presses his forehead into my chest.
“What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t been scared of anything in a long time, but now I’m scared I’m going to wake up one day and you’ll be gone.”
My heart rate increases slightly, but I fight to control it, hoping he doesn’t sense it. I kneel down before him and kiss him. “I’m yours, Rhett. Make love to me,” I whisper as I press my body into his.
He eyes me. “We should wait.”
“No, we shouldn’t. I love you and I want to give this to you.”
“I don’t need you to give me your virginity to prove that you love me,” he smiles softly as he pushes my hair behind my ear.
“Rhett, I don’t understand. You made love to me in my dream before I woke up. Do you not want me anymore?” I choke on my words as tears pool in my eyes.
“Aldo, of course I want you,” he cups my face with his hands. “I just want you to be—”
“Please. I’m ready,” I interrupt him.
He stares into my eyes and I can see an internal battle occurring within him. After a moment, he slides his hands under my arms and lifts me like I weigh no more than a feather. Super human strength is a perk of being a blood healer. He turns me towards the bed and presses me against it while forcing me to stand erect, leaning against him. As our bodies join, his erection presses into my lower back, taunting me. He gathers my hair and twists it like a horse’s mane around his hand, pulling it to the side, forcing my head to shift as he kisses my neck while his other hand gropes my breast gently, running his thumb across my nipple, teasing me. Still holding my hair in one hand, his free hand slides down as his energy intensifies. Cool vibrations nip my skin as his hand moves lower, building my anticipation. When he finally reaches his destination he begins to rub gently in circular motions, increasing his energy as he does. All of the blood in my body feels as though it has rushed to the exact point where his fingers are touching me.
I cry out, but he hushes me with a soft, “Shhh.”
My body lurches, begging to collapse on the bed as it works towards orgasm, but his gentle hold on my hair forbids it.
“Not yet,” he whispers as his fingers move faster, rubbing circles of ecstasy over my clit. The world stands still as I explode in orgasm, and when I finally come to, he turns me and throws me on the bed. He kisses my feet and works his way up my leg, my torso, kissing and biting softly, until he reaches my lips.
I raise my hips, pushing my body into his, begging for his touch, his entrance. I reach down and gently grab his length, trying to lead him to me—in me.
“Not yet,” he whispers again.
I look at him confused, until I realize what he’s saying. “Why not?” I ask as tears well up in my eyes. My inner self collapses on her bed with a you’ve got to be fucking kidding me expression.
“Because I don’t need it to know you love me,” he smiles gently rubbing my cheek with the back of his cool, smooth hand.
“I need it, Rhett. I need you,” I plead.
“Aldo, don’t be silly.”
I jump out of bed and grab my jeans, leaving my ravaged panties on the floor.
/> “What are you doing?”
“I need a minute,” I snap.
“You’re mad at me?” he asks with disbelief.
“No, I’m just being silly,” I hiss. “I’m sorry I’m so fucking silly because I’m a woman who loves a man and wants to make love to him. I’m a regular fucking joker over here.”
“So what you’re saying is—you’re mad?” His lips curve as if he’s fighting the urge to laugh.
“You’re laughing at me?” I stare at him, anger scorching through me like a forest fire.
“No. You’re just cute when you’re mad.” He sits up, facing me, my white sheet covering his privates.
I’m cute? “Just admit you don’t want me.”
He stands quickly, his body seeming to take up every inch of space in the room. I step back as he grabs a handful of hair at the nape of my neck, forcing my head back so I have to look into his eyes. His lips are pressed into a flat line, his jaw tense.
“You fucking listen to me.” His voice is almost a growl. “I want you. I want you so damn bad it hurts. Everything about you makes me crazy. Your smell. Your laugh. The way you touch me makes me want to fuck you six ways ‘til Sunday.”
Holy shit! My nipples harden and my body leans into his as he presses a hard kiss to my lips. I blink rapidly before I snap back to reality. Wait a second. “Then why won’t you make love to me?” I push him off and he releases my hair. I can see a fury boiling in his eyes, but I don’t know why. He says he wants me, but won’t act on it? What does that mean?
He places his hand gently on my face and runs his thumb over my cheek. “Aldo. I promise it will happen. Please be patient. I have my reasons.”
I push him back so he falls on the bed. I have no desire to argue with him. I’ll be leaving soon, and I don’t want to leave while we are arguing. “I’m just going to have to invest in something battery operated.” I flash him a saccharine smile.
“Don’t waste your money. I want to be the first.” He bites his lower lip as his dark eyes run up and down my body.
“Are you off your meds?” I stare at him in disbelief.
“What?”
