by Tl Reeve
“Perry.” She needed more, needed him, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, embedding him deeper inside her. “More.”
“You’re so wet,” he whispered in her ear. “Perfect.”
The slow grind sped up, morphed into shallow strokes, that right when she thought she would lose her mind from desire, turned into deep plunges. “Yes!” The pleasure so intense, she had no choice but to yell out.
“Eden.” He grabbed the back of her leg and drove into her. “God, Eden.”
There was no awkwardness with Perry. With him she could do, be whatever she wanted. Her body tensed, her heart sped—any moment now she would have to go over the edge. She fisted his hair and kissed him deeply.
“Ah!” He gasped for hair and continued his thrusts. Together they were the rhythm and the melody, working as one.
“Perry.” In need of just a little more, she trembled, dug her nails into his shoulder. “I’m there!”
“Yes!” He slammed into her.
Together, their bodies pulsed in time. She drew him into her, riding out the waves of pure pleasure and bliss while his heat filled her.
Both panting and holding on to each other, he remained inside her as they came down from the euphoria.
“Eden.” Still hard, he returned to circling his hips to hers.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. Though she’d just had an amazing orgasm, her arousal still lingered, and she found herself moving with him. “Please.”
“I’m here.” He pressed down. “Anything you need.”
Her breath caught. “Oh.”
He never let up, and he covered her face with kisses. “Do you know how absolutely stunning you are when you’re going to come?”
“I need…” She couldn’t get the words out. She was weak, yet tight at the same time. “Please.”
“You’re there,” he coaxed her. “Come on me, let me feel it.”
At last her body yielded, throwing her into another climax that undulated through her entire body. This one lingered, leaving her lying, spent, and satisfied.
“This is our future.” He spoke into her open mouth.
“I hope so.” How she found the strength to speak, she would never know.
“How can it not be?” He moved off to one side. “The town gave you me, and together we will make our mark on Eden.”
She grabbed his hand.
He kissed her back and got out of bed. “I’d better get our clothes before the rest of the community reappears. Stay right there. We are making love all night.”
She heard him leave and wiped her brow. The town had given her him. Her hand slid down to her stomach. They’d never even thought of using any sort of protection, a mistake she’d never let herself make before. What else did the town have planned for her future?
8
Night Eight
In search of his bedmate, Perry turned and dug through the tangle of pillows and sheets—this was one day his morning erection wasn’t going to go to waste.
As he’d promised, he and Eden had spent the night making love. The entire night had been incredible. With her, he was a star again. Together, they would put this town on the map, live out her great-grandfather’s dream, and make a few of their own.
Fine, he sounded like some chick flick, but he didn’t care. This was happening. They were happening. He had found his place, his mission, and his purpose.
After combing through the bedding and not finding his woman, he sat up and blinked the sleep out of his eyes. All he wanted was to wake up in Eden, in more ways than one. A quick glance around the room told him that his girl already grabbed her clothes. He huffed. There were many things to figure out, none of which could be done if they weren’t in the same place at the same time, and definitely not with his raging hard-on.
Since he and Eden were now together, he refused to take care of his situation alone. In fact, as he pushed the covers aside and stood, he decided that Eden would now solely be responsible to taking care of any erection whenever and however it popped up. Hell, they lived in a small town, more like a microtown, and one of the benefits was they could just take breaks whenever his need arose. And it was going to arise often.
Deciding it was the perfect time to retrieve Eden for a little morning delight, he forced himself to get dressed, combed his hair the best he could, and headed out of his room and down the stairs.
“Perry!” Before he reached the front door, Eden’s mother jumped out of the kitchen, beelined for him, and grabbed his face. “How are you this fine morning? You must be starving.”
Well, he was hungry, but not for food, and his answer was way too obvious, even for him, and he wasn’t known for being subtle. “I’m fine.”
She took him by the chin and pulled him down, staring into his eyes. “Are you fine or are you excellent?”
What did this woman know? Was it that obvious when a man had sex? A lot of sex? Mind-altering woman riding him in the middle of the night then him turning her over and pounding into her until they came for the umpteenth time together kind of sex. Just the thought of it made him heat. He had to go get her, and truth be told he didn’t care if the whole boarding house heard her scream as he plunged into her. All right, fine, maybe they would go do it by the boulder or something. “I am better than good. I am exceptional.”
The second the words were out of his mouth, Eden’s father appeared.
While her mother beamed at him, her father crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
All right, he supposed they knew. He’d never heard anyone return home last night. How loud had they been? Eden had screamed out a few times.
At the moment, Perry couldn’t let himself think of that, and he cleared his throat. “Exceptional in the most respectful, chaste way, of course.”
Her father gave him one nod.
“We can all be exceptional at dinner tonight.” Eden’s mother gave him a hug. “Tonight is the last night of Hanukkah, a time for miracles.”
Her father continued to give him the stink eye, and Perry couldn’t blame him. “I have some things to discuss with Eden.” He took his cue to exit and dashed for the door.
He made his way out to the porch and stopped. Not only did everyone in the town seem to be out and staring at him, some even going so far to wave to him, but a large tow truck, one much bigger and newer than Eden’s, was parked outside the garage. A nagging sensation, the same stomach twist and dry throat that hit him any time he promised something he couldn’t deliver or dreaded something he had to face, overtook him.
Right before he went inside, an older man, one he didn’t recognize, sauntered out of the garage. The man stopped and pointed at him. “You must be Slick.”
“Perry.” He crossed his arms. How did he get demoted again?
“Ralph.” The man nodded at him. “Finally got your parts in. I’m not sure how you survived this long out here.”
Unsure what that comment meant, he stood there and flared his nostrils.
“Yeah, one day one of these generations will figure out they just need to pack up and leave. Nothing is ever going to happen here.” The man adjusted his suspenders and walked around to the tow truck.
“You don’t know that,” Perry called after him.
“What’s that?” Ralph leaned over.
“This town is going to be much more than anyone thinks.” He lifted his chin.
“You sound just like Eden’s great-grandfather.” Ralph hoisted himself in the truck.
“Good.” Not wanting to deal with this man any longer, he turned back toward the town and bowed.
Everyone watching clapped.
He stood straight up, saluted his public, and entered the garage. Where was she? “Eden?”
The clink of a tool under his car gave away her whereabouts.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, went over to where her feet stuck out from the side of his car, and bent down. “You certainly didn’t waste any time getting to work.”
Once
more she dropped the tool. “Perry.”
He rose and took his time walking around to where her head would be. Now he kneeled down. “Don’t you mean Slick?”
She pulled herself out from under the car and gazed up at him. “You will always be my Slick.”
“Is that short for city slicker or that I’m slippery?” Above anyone, she had to believe in him.
She raised her eyebrows, then smiled. “Maybe it’s how you make me feel.”
Her reference to being turned on around him did soothe the burn, so he leaned down and kissed her. “I wanted to wake up in Eden today.” He winked.
“Technically, you did.” She let out a little laugh.
He basically lay down on the garage floor, something he could say he had never done before. “Were you slick this morning?”
Her cheeks reddened. “I’d better get to work.”
He took her hand. “You don’t have to rush.”
“I have to fix your car. You have to return to your life.” The bit of a smile she sported faded.
“This is my life, Eden. We are going to do this. I’m going to have a concert here, and we are going to do what your great-grandfather wanted. What do you think I showed you last night?” Before he had the chance to press her hand to his lips, she pulled it away.
“I thought you were showing me how much you care for me.” She went to push under the car again.
He caught her. “That is a given. I wanted to show you what I can do.”
“I told you not to try to save my town.” Her eyes were full of fire. “You can’t do it, trust me.”
“So you don’t believe in me.” He let go of her. “What do you think? I’m going to drive away and never come back?”
“Perry.” She huffed his name.
“I think you attract what you fear.” He stood and walked away. If she didn’t believe in him, he would never succeed, and they could never be together.
“I attract what I fear.” Eden stared at her image in the mirror; more like glared at it. Here she had a man who clearly wanted her and appreciated the town, yet she was doing everything she could to make sure he drove away and never returned.
Maybe she just wasn’t ready for his car parts to appear, for him to be able to leave, for him to face his life that didn’t include her. All she needed to do was talk to him, have him give up the notion of some concert, and maybe they could move on with their lives together.
She took a breath and smoothed down the body-conscious navy-blue dress she’d put on for the last night of Hanukkah dinner, and left to get Perry.
As she made her way down the hallway to his room, the sounds of laughter and her family filled the boarding house, and she smiled. Tonight would be a celebration. Yes, Perry’s car was fixed, but he didn’t need to leave right away. They could have tonight, and maybe, just maybe, he would be the one to come back. Everything about Perry had been different.
She stopped outside his door, puffed out her chest a bit, and put her hair over her shoulder before knocking.
The door popped open. “Perry?” She peeked inside.
Rather than a half-dressed man trying to get ready for dinner, or even finding him taking a nap, she was met with a perfectly neat and straightened room with only a suitcase by the edge of the bed.
For a minute she stood unmoving. The second the man heard his engine roar to life, he’d rushed to get ready to leave. Hell, maybe if she’d waited a few more minutes, he would have left without a word. It had happened before, but she swore this would be the last time.
Refusing to react, she swallowed and, head held high, went downstairs. She nodded at the various members of her family and hugged Leah.
Perry’s deep laughter reverberated from the kitchen, but rather than join them, she walked over to the unlit menorah and stared out of the window.
“There’s Eden!” her mother yelled. “Now we can light the candles.”
The entire family gathered around the menorah, and Perry came up behind her.
“Hey.” He took her hand, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. “I missed you.”
“I can tell.” She pulled her hand away and watched as Leah filled the menorah with the candles.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Though he attempted to keep his voice down, a couple of her relatives glanced over at them.
“We are ready to light the candles.” Her mother clapped.
“We are ready to light the candles.” Eden repeated her mother’s words and crossed her arms.
“Before I light the candles, I would like to say something,” her father addressed the crowd.
Eden clenched her jaw. She was going to stay to get these candles lit, and then she was going to take a car and drive somewhere with Internet and surf the web. There, that would show him.
“I just want to say that the town has always given us what we need,” her father began.
Anytime one of her father’s speeches began with the town, they were in for standing there for a while, and she ground her teeth together.
“Back when I was a young man, a beautiful woman came here because she wanted to take some pictures of the local Joshua trees and got lost.” Her father broke out in a huge smile. “Three months later I made her my wife.”
Every clapped.
Once more Perry tried to take her hand, but she sidestepped, colliding with her uncle who pushed her back toward Perry.
Perry put his arm around her.
Not wanting to make more a scene, she tapped her foot, swearing if her father went into the story about the time she was born and a midwife just happened to need air in her tire, she would run out screaming and pulling her hair.
“Tonight, I would like to take the chance to recognize the newest member of our clan, Perry.” Her father pointed at him. “A repair that should have taken no longer than a day took eight, and during that time the town has once again provided, this time for my daughter. It is a miracle.”
Everyone turned to them, nodding and saying Mazel Tov.
Under the spotlight and scrutiny of her family, she couldn’t handle the pressure. They just wanted her to be with someone because it was their definition of happiness, but it had to end, and she had to end it. “Perry is leaving.” She spat the words.
Her entire family let out a gasp.
“Yes.” She managed to dislodge herself from Perry. “He is leaving. His bags are packed. Just ask him.”
The room became quiet. Any happiness that had energized the space was zapped away.
Perry lifted his hand and went to the front by the menorah. “I’m not leaving, not permanently.”
Mumbles vibrated through her gathered family.
“I am coming back. I just need to go home to get some things settled,” Perry continued. “When I return, we will begin planning for our Untethered Concert, and together Eden and I will make her great-grandfather’s dream come true—put Eden on the map.”
“I told you not to try to save my town,” Eden called out to him. “We don’t need you.”
“You do.” He focused right on her. “You need me, Eden, and the town needs me. The town brought me to you to do this.”
“No,” she shot back. “The town brought you here so I could realize I don’t need a man.”
Another round of gasps went through the room.
“I’m here, and I want you.” Perry spoke slow and clear. “Come with me.”
She shook her head. No way would she be left stranded in the city with only him. “You’re leaving. Your bags are already packed.”
“Eden.” Her mother rushed over to her.
She shrugged her mother away. “His bags are packed.”
“Only to keep a promise.” He approached her. “I need you to believe that I’ll be back.”
“I want you to go.” Damn, her eyes heated with tears. “I don’t want you.”
“Don’t say such things.” Once more her mother tried to console her.
“I promise you I’ll be back, and wh
en I return, you will be mine.” He reached out to her.
She turned her back to him. “I’m not waiting my whole life for someone. Never again.”
“Perry is here for you,” Leah piped in.
Eden didn’t say a word. Leah was too young to understand.
Perry came up behind her. “I’ll be back before the New Year. You can count on that.”
“I will count on nothing.” Unwilling to stand there and watch him go, or receive condolences from her family, she walked away.
“Be ready for me,” he called after her.
She refused to turn around and even look at him. The man was leaving and he wasn’t the type to keep his promise. The town could now get rid of him for her.
9
After Eden
“So you got trapped for a week in a town with no Internet, no Wi-Fi, no transportation, barely any telephone, and the woman there communicates via a telegraph?” Lyle sat back and crossed his arms.
“You don’t get it.” Perry hit the table. It’d taken quite some doing to get his business partner to meet with him. He’d left Eden, leaving both his phone and his heart behind. His hands at ten and two the entire ride home, he’d only stopped once to gas up and once to reclaim his hold on the land of technology and gone to the nearest wireless store. After driving for hours, he’d found Lyle at the club he managed as a side job. The jerk had made him wait until the club closed at four in the morning before agreeing to sit with him and hear him out in a booth in the back.
Lyle didn’t respond to his outburst.
“It’s the most incredible place. It’s owned by a family, and they all have jobs there.” Perry didn’t know how to make his partner understand, feel the magic. “They say the town brings them anything they need, and then I was trapped there for eight days because the town needed me, and Eden needed me.”
“I thought the town was named Eden,” Lyle growled.
“The town and the girl and they both need me.” Perry slumped down in his seat. “Actually, I thought they needed me. I drove away, and the town didn’t stop me.” Every hour he’d made it farther from Eden and more into the real world, his life had collapsed. In truth, he’d figured he wouldn’t even get to the highway before his car exploded or something forced him to return to Eden, but, alas, he’d made it all the way to Los Angeles with no incident.
