by Taryn Plendl
I wasn’t sure what to say, and when I felt him stiffen under my hips, I couldn’t do anything but suck in a huge breath which made Ian practically throw me off of him. “Ian? Are you okay?” I asked, not knowing who was more embarrassed.
“Ally, we need to talk.” Ian was running his hands through his hair.
“Okay.” I said, waiting for him to talk.
“Damn it Ally, I am tired of you avoiding me!” I just stared at him, seeing how frustrated I had made him with my stupid friend plan.
“I can only think of one thing Ally, and that thing is you. No matter what I try to do you always are first in my mind. There is only one reason.” He said looking at me. “I love you.”
Even though I already knew this after speaking with his mom, it felt so amazing to hear the words from him. Before I had a chance to respond, he continued, “I don't want anyone else to have your heart or kiss your lips or hug you the way you hug me, and you’re the only one I want to hold. Please let me love you Ally, please.”
“Okay.” I say quietly.
“Okay?” He looked shocked as he gazed into my eyes.
I can’t help but smile at him. “I’ve missed you Ian.”
“You have?” He says, raising his eyebrows.
Leaning toward him, I put my hands on his legs so I can look him right in the eyes. “I can't help but to miss you. You were the one that picked me up when I was hurt. You showed me that you cared, and made me feel something I never felt before. I love you too Ian.”
Chapter 35
~Ian
I can’t believe it, she loves me! She was already leaning toward me with her hands on my legs, so it wasn’t far to close the distance. Taking my hands and starting at her wrists, I touched her ever so softly, dragging my fingers up the length of her arms until I reached her neck, holding her in place. Leaning forward, I gently kissed her on that sensitive spot right below her ear. “You’re so beautiful.” I whispered as I placed soft kisses along her jaw, moving toward her mouth. When I firmly pressed my mouth to hers, she let out a small moan, and I pressed harder, running my tongue against her lips until they parted slightly, allowing me to claim her mouth. My head was swimming as we continued to explore each other’s mouths, touching each other in a way that I had wanted to for so long.
Way before I was ready to, Ally pulled back, panting and flushed with desire. “Ian?”
“What baby?” I sighed
“Umm, my knees are cold.” I looked down and realized that we were both still kneeling in the snow, and she was in a thin pair of leggings. “Come on, let’s go back.” I said, reaching down to help her up.
We walked hand in hand, glancing at each other with nervous excitement. When we broke through the trees, I paused. “Which house?”
***
By the time we made it into my house we were both freezing. Shutting the door, I turned to face Ally who was trying to smile even though her teeth were beginning to chatter.
“What would you say to a bath?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.
“Right now, that sounds like heaven!” She said shivering. Grabbing her hand, I led her down my hallway to my bedroom. She paused as we entered, looking around and gasped when she recognized a lamp on my bedside table.
“You bought something of mine?” She asked astounded.
“Of course. Ally, I told you that I thought your work was amazing.” She turned to face me, taking my face into her hands and leaned up to place a small kiss on my lips.
“Thank you. That means more than you know.”
“Come on, let’s start that bath.” I walked into the master bath and started the water.
“Wow, this is a great tub! It’s huge!” She was taking everything in, and I had to remind myself that she had never been past the kitchen, and that was when she was so sick that she probably didn’t remember much anyway.
As the tub filled up, I noticed Ally biting her lip, looking a little anxious. I placed my hands on her shoulders. “Ally, if this is too much, please tell me. We aren’t in any hurry.”
“I just, umm…I just don’t really have much experience with all of this.” She spoke so quietly that I almost didn’t hear her.
“We can take things slow Ally. I love you, and as far as I’m concerned, we have forever.”
“I love you Ian—I want this.” She said gesturing her hand between us.
“You’re sure?” She nodded as she pulled her sweatshirt over her head. With her eyes on mine the whole time, she lifted her t-shirt over her head until she was standing there in only her leggings and her bra. When she reached behind her and unhooked her bra, I thought I would die.
“Oh God Ally, you are so beautiful!” I pulled my shirt over my head and stepped toward her, craving the feel of her skin on mine. Sliding her bra down her arms, I was mesmerized by her perfect round breast and soft pink nipples. I reached out and brushed my fingers across them and she gasped as they hardened. Leaning down I took one of her nipples into my mouth, “Oh!” She gasped, leaning into me.
I slid my fingers below her waist band and carefully lowered both her leggings and her panties, kneeling as I did, trailing my hands down her legs as I lifted each foot out of her pants. I ran my hands back up her legs, placing small kisses along their path until I reached the center of her thighs. I placed a tender kiss at her cleft. “Oh please!” she sighed, and felt myself grow harder than I thought possible.
As I stood up, I worked myself out of my pants and led her over to the bath. Climbing into the bath, I sat behind her, pulling her down against my chest.
“Ally, you don’t know how long I’ve wanted this.” I pulled her hair to the side and placed soft kisses into her neck.
Tilting her head back, she kissed the edge of my chin. “I love you Ian.”
“Are you warm now?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.
“Why, what did you have in mind?” She asked, raising her eyebrow back at me.
Chapter 36
~Ally
I had never wanted anyone as much as I wanted Ian right now. I could feel his erection pressing on my lower back as I leaned against him in the bath. I was definitely warm now, almost too warm.
Do you want to get out?” Ian asked, as he kissed my neck.
“Mmm Hmm.”
He laughed,” Come on, I don’t want you so comfortable that you fall asleep on me.” He stood up and stepped out of the tub; grabbing a towel he wrapped it around his waist. Reaching for another towel, he offered me his hand and carefully lifted me out of the tub, wrapping me in the plush towel. Grabbing another, he dried the back of my hair and placed a kiss on the tip of my nose.
Without a word, he led me out of the bathroom to his bed and pulled back the comforter and sheets. He dropped his towel to the floor, and for the first time I took in his body as a whole. His shoulders were broad and his upper body had that perfect upside-down triangle shape. His stomach was defined and muscular, and his penis was the most impressive sight. It stood at attention, and I felt a tingle in my own body, knowing that I did this to him.
I dropped my towel too, and stepped closer to him so I could press my body to his. I could feel his erection against my belly and his light sprinkling of hair on his chest tickled as I pressed my face to him. He smelled so good, and I couldn’t help but let myself lick his chest to see if he tasted as good.
Ian sat down and pulled me down with him until we were lying on his bed facing each other with our legs scissored together. Leaning forward, I pressed my lips against his, this time teasing his mouth open, reveling in his soft moans. I allowed my hands to explore his body, tracing his muscles and they flexed and dragging my hand down his spine to his most perfect rear end. I squeezed it playfully as I continued to move my hand around to the front, feeling the moment when Ian held his breath, waiting for me to touch him. I gently gripped him and he groaned. “Oh God Ally, you’re killing me.” As I continued to touch him, sliding my hands up his entire length and back down, he worked his han
ds down my body.
His hands were so gentle as they caressed their way down, over my breast, down my belly, at which he stopped kissing me and moved down to where my newly healed scars were. He placed the gentlest kisses on all three of them before he continued his decent. As he reached my thighs, he whispered, “You smell so good,” and before I knew what was happening, he was touching me, kissing me, bringing pleasure to me that I hadn’t known existed. He was so gentle with me and as he slid a finger inside me, he gasped. “Oh Ally, you’re amazing.” He gently placed another finger inside and continued moving them in and out. I felt a pull in my stomach and a quickening from where his fingers were and his thumb that was rubbing my most sensitive spot in a tantalizing rhythm. My legs began to tremble and my muscles clenched and held on to his fingers as I called out his name in ecstasy.
Slowly I came down from my climax and Ian kissed me on the forehead. “You are so beautiful Ally. That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Ian, I want you. I want you inside me.”
“Are you sure Ally?”
“Oh God yes, please.” I begged.
“Okay, we’ll take this slow, but you have to promise me you’ll tell me if it hurts too much.” He looked at me with such concern.
“I promise.” I said as I leaned up to kiss him.
I watched as Ian pulled a foil package out of his nightstand and ripped it open. He rolled the condom down over his beautiful length and looked at me again. I nodded, and he smiled and nodded back. He positioned himself over me and I could feel him pressing on my opening. I was shaking, partly from nerves and the other part anticipation. “Ready?” He asked, watching me with such love and concern. “Yes.” I breathed as he pushed himself inside me. The sharp burning pain was short lived, and as he buried himself deep inside me he stilled—waiting. “Are you okay, baby?” I nodded, “Just give me a second to get used to it.” I asked, concentrating on the fullness of having him so deep inside me. “Okay.” I whispered, as he slowly began to pull back a little bit at a time and pushed back in. When he felt me relax, he started a steady rhythm, and the pain quickly shifted to enormous pleasure. “Oh Ally, you feel so good. I love you so much!”
“I love you too Ian.” He was slow and attentive—touching, kissing and loving me as he caressed me from the inside out, bringing me more pleasure than I’d ever felt before. He began to shake as he pumped harder and faster and finally stilled deep inside me, “Oh God Ally!” He hollered as he emptied himself inside me shaking until he collapsed on me, both of us trying to catch our breath.
Chapter 37
~Ian
I couldn’t get enough of Ally. She was the most amazing woman I’d ever met. After all she had been through, she was still so full of love and trust, and she was so incredibly sexy that I wasn’t sure I would ever let her out of my bed again.
We spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon in bed making love and holding each other. Finally we found ourselves back in the bath. I was behind Ally again and she leaned back against my chest. I was gently washing her shoulders and front with a wash cloth as we enjoyed the closeness.
“Ian?”
“Hmm?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about your trip to Colorado Springs?”
“Ahh, my mom filled you in huh?” I laughed.
“She told me a little bit. I had no idea how you felt—that you felt the same way as I did.”
“Ally, when I woke up next to you that morning, after you shared everything with me, I knew I needed to close that chapter of my life so I could open a new one with you. That’s why I went.”
“Would you tell me about Laney?” She asked, tipping her head back to look at me.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“It’s part of you and I want to know all of you, so yes.”
I took a deep breath, and realized that for once I didn’t feel like my heart was empty when I thought about Laney. It had been filled with love for Ally—new love, not better or worse, just something entirely different than what I had with Laney.
“I met Laney in college. She was fun and happy and very driven. She was going into journalism, and wanted to make a name for herself. We thought we would get married after we graduated, but right before our senior year, she was diagnosed with an aggressive type of bone cancer. She went through so many treatments, but it didn’t help. The cancer had spread throughout her body. The treatments stripped the life out of her—made her so sick. I guess I had fooled myself into thinking she would be okay, so when she finally died, it destroyed me.” Ally was rubbing my legs as she listened to me.
“I threw myself into my studies, and as soon as I graduated, I got a job here in Durango. I had asked if I could work from home, and they were extremely flexible with me. I wanted to just hide so I didn’t have to be around anyone. I didn’t want to have to explain, so it was easier to be alone.”
“I totally get that.” Ally said softly.
I kissed the top of her head. “I know you do.”
“Ally, do you remember when I burst into your house—when you were having a nightmare?” She nodded. “Well, it was the first time in so long that I was able to look past myself, to see that other people were suffering too.” I paused to place another kiss on her shoulder. “When you showed up on my doorstep so sick and needing to go to the hospital, I thought I would completely break. I hadn’t been to a hospital since Laney had died, and the thought of going into another one almost sent me over the edge, but when I saw how vulnerable you were, I knew I couldn’t leave you.”
“Thank you for that Ian; I couldn’t have done that if you weren’t with me.”
“You helped me see past myself. I knew you had been through something awful, but I had no idea what, but knowing that you kept living in spite of it all made me want to also.” I tipped her head back so I could see her eyes. “Your strength and stubbornness and silliness brought me back. I fell in love with you—every part of you.” She smiled as I leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips.
“Ally, we both have pasts—things that hurt us and almost destroyed us, but that is what it is—the past. It will always be there, but it won’t define who we are now and in the future, together.”
“Thank you for trusting me enough to share this Ian.” She said as she nuzzled back against me.
***
I watched her as she picked at a piece of toast across from me. “Ally, will you let me take you to dinner tonight?” Her eyes shot up and I could see a bit of fear and uncertainty in them. “Like in town?” She asked. I reached across the table and put my hand over hers. “I would be with you Ally, I know you are nervous, but I won’t leave your side, I promise.” She finally nodded. “Good, I have a surprise for you too.” She turned her head to the side and smiled. “What is it?” I laughed. “Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“Go home and get dressed, just casual and we’ll get going. It doesn’t look like that toast is cutting it anyway.” I chuckled. “I’ll pick you up in 45 minutes.” I said as I walked her to the door, taking her face into my hands and pressing a kiss to her sweet lips. “See you soon.” She hollered as she walked across the drive toward her house.
***
At 5:30 p.m., I pulled up in front of Ally’s house. She bounded out the door looking amazing in a pair of fitted jeans and a green cashmere sweater. She had black boots with a low heel, and her face looked radiant.
I jumped out of the car and opened the door for her, giving her a kiss as she climbed in. I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, and settled myself in, buckling my seatbelt. “You look beautiful Ally.” I couldn’t stop smiling at her. “You look mighty fine yourself Mr. Rhodes.” She said as her eyes trailed up and down my body, making parts of it come alive. “You better stop looking at me like that Miss Mitchell, or we might not make it to dinner.” I said as I put the car into drive and headed down the main drive.
“So where are we going?” She asked,
biting her lip, still obviously nervous.
“There is this great restaurant right on the edge of town with mouth-watering steaks. It’s quiet and shouldn’t be too crowded today.” I said as I squeezed her hand.
***
“That was perfect Ian.” Ally wiped her mouth and leaned back with a look of contentment. I could watch her all day. I knew this wasn’t easy for her. Her hands had been shaking as we pulled into the parking lot, but she had gotten out and come with me anyway. I was so amazed by her strength and determination. “Do you want dessert?” I asked, smiling and waggling my eyebrows. She giggled, “I don’t think what I want is on the menu.” God I love this woman!
I signed the check and stood up, offering her my hand. We should make a couple of stops while we’re in town.”
“Like where?” She asked, slightly worried.
“Well, we should buy groceries for our Christmas dinner, maybe a pecan pie?” I smiled at her.
“Oh yes! That sounds perfect!”
“Hey Ian, do you think the hardware store is still open?” She asked as we reached the car.
“I imagine so, did you need something?”
“Yes, I was going to send an email today, but I was, umm…detained.” She said, blushing a bit.
“Come on, I’ll take you there.”
***
The hardware store was empty other than Mr. Reddy as we walked in. He raised his eyes from what he was reading to offer a quick greeting, before he did a double take. “Well, well. What a wonderful surprise to see you here Ally.” He said coming around the counter, looking back and forth between us, focusing on our joined hands and smiling.
“Hi Mr. Reddy.” She said quietly. “Could you help me find a few things I need for a project?” She asked as my phone started to ring. She looked at me to see if everything was okay. “My mom.” I said, as she nodded. I turned around and answered the call as she walked down the aisle with Mr. Reddy, talking quietly.
“Hi mom, did you make it home okay?”
