With Braydon, everything was harried and fast. There was no time for gentle touches or words of devotion. We were both merely trying to reach that peak as quickly as possible. However, this… This is what it really means to connect with someone.
Henry is taking his time, using the tips of his fingers to search out and discover which parts of my body respond with pleasure by touch alone. With his fingers deep inside me, he takes one nipple into his mouth, lavishing licks, kisses, and tugs on it before moving on to the next. I purr in satisfaction as he then works his way lower and settles between my legs.
Removing his fingers from inside me, he bestows whisper-like kisses to each thigh before his tongue seeks out my heated flesh and licks in one long, glorious stroke.
“Don’t stop, Henry. That feels so good.”
Henry continues to lick and nibble at my flesh, eliciting moans so loud I am sure that, if my new neighbor Danielle is home, she is sure to hear me.
After what feels like an eternity, Henry pulls away. Sitting on his heels, he then reaches over to his discarded jeans lying on the floor where he pulls out his wallet and retrieves a condom.
At the sight of the foil packet in his hands, I grin knowing full well that Henry is not one to carry around condoms.
“I was kind of hoping.” Henry says with the most adorable smile and a shrug of his shoulders.
“I’m glad you came prepared. Now get back over here and show me what you’ve got.” I wink.
“Oh, don’t you worry; I got a whole lot for you,” he quips back while looking down at his very large and impressive cock.
We both giggle like two-year-olds but stop once our eyes meet. With a serious stare, Henry crawls back over to me and gently begins to kiss down the side of my neck.
I turn my head toward him, and our lips meet, kissing gently as my hands once again start to roam over his chest.
“I really am glad you came prepared,” I whisper softly.
“Me, too.”
Removing the condom from Henry’s grip, I tear open the package, and in one slow stroke, I roll it down over his erection.
Once I lie back on the floor with Henry above me, he eases into me gently, finally connecting us in the most intimate way. Everything around us disappears: the unopened boxes and discarded food—everything except for Henry and I and our combined moans.
With each deep thrust, Henry brings me to the brink of pleasure.
“Oh, God… Right there.”
“I need you to hold on just a little bit longer, Kate. Can you do that for me?”
“Y-yes” I whimper, trying so hard to do as Henry asks.
Lifting my left leg up over his shoulder, Henry drives into me with thrust after excruciatingly delicious thrust, buried so deeply I can feel him in my soul.
I am about to cry out and demand he let me come. I can hold on, I tell myself again. I want to fall over the edge together and never look back.
“I’m ready,” Henry grits out between clenched teeth.
Oh, thank God.
With that, my inner muscles clench tightly in a pulsating rhythm that is pure bliss. My eyelids flutter closed, calling out Henry’s name as I ride the wave.
Panting breathlessly, Henry lowers my leg, and I give it a good stretch along with the rest of my body. We curl our bodies to face each other, our hearts beating in unison through our chests, and Henry plants a delicate kiss to my lips. After such a long day, I feel completely sated and just a bit exhausted. The gentle caress of Henry’s hand along my hip combined with the tender kisses all threaten to lull me to sleep but I fight it, not wanting our connection to end.
Pulling from his lips our eyes connect and all I can see or think about is this wonderful man lying beside me. I need him to know what the past few weeks with him have meant to me.
“Thank you for everything, Henry. For helping me move today, for this, and for being there at just the right time in my life.”
“Don’t thank me just yet. I had a great time today too and I don’t want it end. I want more of you, more of this, more of everything. I want to know you Kate, all of you, inside and out. There’s much more to come for us.”
I smile as wide as I can, knowing Henry is in this for the long haul. I can’t imagine being any happier than I am at this moment, and it is all because I took a chance and got lucky.
Henry
Two months earlier
I am not a big drinker, just your typical beer while watching football or when out with friends, but that hasn’t happened in a while now. Today, however, my head is screaming at me to get mind-numbingly drunk.
It is my mom’s birthday, and no matter how hard I have tried to prepare for this day, telling myself I was going to be fine and to treat it like any other normal day, I just can’t. She would have been forty-seven today. So fucking young. She still had an entire lifetime ahead of her.
When I should be focusing my energy on my new job here at Klein Associates, all I keep thinking is, forty-seven fucking years old. Now she’s dead, and it is all because of fucking cancer. Drowning my sorrows seems like the perfect ending to this shit day, and I have the perfect destination in mind to make that happen.
Last week, as I was walking past Mindy’s office, I caught the tail end of a conversation between her and Kate. Slowing down to listen like the infatuated fool I am, I heard Kate mention something about her boyfriend’s pub, Brady’s. I took a mental note not to forget the name, and now I am glad I did. Drowning my sorrows is just what I need but, if I also get the chance to see Kate while doing it, all the better.
Quickly packing up my laptop in my messenger bag, I am out the door in a flash. When I arrive at Brady’s, I am surprised to see just how crowed the place is. Braydon must make a killing here.
With luck, I find an open stool in the far corner of the bar with a perfect view of the door—you know, just in case Kate comes in. As I sidle up to the stool, a very perky blonde greets me.
“Hi, there. I’m Candy. What can I get you, hon?”
“Let me get a pint of Guinness with a shot of Jamison on the side.”
“Coming right up,” she responds with a wink then saunters to the other end of the bar and over to the tap to get my order.
Once Candy returns with my drink, I take a long pull, savoring the rich, creamy texture of the stout. Staring at the door as if willing Kate to walk through, my mind wanders to the first day I set eyes on her…
***
I hear the buzz as my phone starts to vibrate on the nightstand next to me, its incessant tone comically unnecessary seeing as I have been awake for hours. Lying on my back and staring at my white ceiling, my mind is a jumble of thoughts. Today, I start my new job at Klein Associates, a bittersweet new beginning for me.
After taking a leave of absence from my previous job over a year ago to care for my mother, I got laid off just as she lost her fight with cancer. I had used up all of my leave time, and as much as the company tried to be understanding and sympathetic to my needs, they just couldn’t hold my position any longer. Work was suffering in my absence, so they need to fill my position. It was a double blow for me, and I spent the days following my dismissal in a state of unbelievable rage and grief at just how unlucky everything turned out to be.
As the only child to my single mother, all responsibility fell on me. Once my mom got sick there was no time for a girlfriend or to build and foster a loving relationship. Even with the help of a homecare nurse, I still had very little time to myself. When I did get time, it was spent worrying over what the future would hold if by chance she made it through. Turns out, I worried for nothing. My mother died, and after paying off whatever bills were left from her care, I had just enough to live on until I could find a new job.
All this doom and gloom has really changed me. I used to be outgoing and fun loving. Now I have kind of given up. I don’t reach out to people; I barely even speak with those few friends and family members who still come around to check on me.
&nbs
p; Grief is a fickle bitch - you never know when it will show itself. What kind of woman would want to deal with that?
Standing outside the doors of Klein Associates, I take a deep breath and straighten my tie, telling myself over and over again that this is my new beginning, that I can let my grief go and start to really embrace my future.
I feel a slight gust of wind pushing against my back. With a short chuckle, I picture that wind as my mother, urging me through the doors. Looking up at the graying clouds in the overcast December sky, I know she is up there somewhere, looking down on me with a proud smile. With that thought, I take one step forward, open the door, and walk into my future.
Taking in the pale, cream-colored walls, I scan the modern office. It’s then that I see her standing to the left of the desk, talking with the receptionist. Lean legs that go for miles tapering into a slim waist are all perfectly displayed in a fitted black pencil skirt. Waves of brown hair spill over slender shoulders and trail down a pale pink blouse. Making out the silhouette of her petite breasts underneath all that pink silk, I feel a twitch behind my zipper.
However, it’s her smile that strikes me speechless. Her full, lush lips tilted up at each corner, her perfect, white teeth peeking through, combined with her hazel eyes, glimmer with a lightheartedness so pure I can only hope to one day feel it again myself. I want to savor this feeling coursing through my body. It has been so long since I have felt anything other than grief and loneliness.
Just then the receptionist catches sight of me, and I make my way closer to the desk.
“Hello. How can I help you?” the bubbly, older woman asks.
Trying to find my voice as the beautiful woman next to us looks me over with that smile still present, I respond, “Hi, I’m Henry James, the new IT guy.”
“Oh, yes, Mr. James, we have been expecting you,” she replies with a welcoming smile that doesn’t quite match the intensity of the woman next to me. “Kate,” the receptionist exclaims, turning to the stunning brunette, “can you take Mr. James down to Trish in HR? I’ll call and let her know you’re on your way.”
“Absolutely,” she responds then begins to lead me away from the desk and down the corridor to the right.
Turning towards me while still keeping pace down the hall, she offers her right hand in introduction. “I’m Kate Winters, one of the advertising associates.”
Taking her outstretched hand, I feel a rush of tingles up my spine as our skin connects, a timid smile my only reply.
“Here we are.” She gestures with her left hand toward the glass double doors marked Human Resources.
Removing my hand from hers, I can barely speak. Overcome with an unexpected punch of emotions—nervousness and desire mixed—I can only manage to squeak out a thank you before she begins her journey back. God, I feel like such a jerk. She must think I am so lame.
With my hand to the door, I watch Kate walk away. She gives me one more look back over her shoulder, that radiant smile still on her face.
“Welcome to Klein Associates, Mr. James. You’re going to love it here.”
“I already do.” My response whispered only for my ears.
***
That was two months ago, and after finding out Kate had a live-in boyfriend, I pretty much gave up hope. I considered dating websites, but I’m just not sure they’re for me. It’s also not really fair to go on a date with one woman when you keep thinking about another.
“Hi, Braydon.” Pulling me out of my memory, I hear my perky waitress purr in what I can only guess is her bedroom voice.
Looking over to the right, I am intrigued to see what kind of guy Kate goes for. Braydon is a big dude, the type of big that can only come from spending hours in a gym. If that’s the type of guy she wants, there is no way I can compete. I enjoy staying fit and active, but I would rather be outdoors playing sports than grunting my way through rep after rep in a stuffy gym.
Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, I focus all my attention on the conversation in front of me.
“Hey, Candy girl. Holding down the fort?”
“You know it, boss,” Candy replies as she bends over slightly to grab a bottle from the lower shelf, her huge tits practically spilling over her tank top as she does.
She’s making it very obvious that she wants Braydon to notice her, and by where his eyes are, I think she got exactly what she was hoping for. I’m a guy, too, so I totally get it. Candy has a hot body, but from what I have seen so far, that is about all she has.
Turning to walk out from behind the bar, her ass swaying, Candy flicks her long blonde hair while looking over her shoulder at Braydon. His eyes are glued to the ass in question.
“Hey, boss, a few of the other staff are heading over to my apartment after work to hang out. You’re more than welcome to come. You can even crash at my place afterward.”
Looking as if he is considering her invitation, Braydon takes a moment before he responds, “Thanks, Candy girl, but maybe another time.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
I am actually impressed that Braydon turned her down. I would have bet money he would accept.
When he removes his eyes from Candy’s ass, he catches sight of me looking in his direction. Thinking I must want another drink, he comes over. “What can I get you, my man?”
“Nothing, actually. I’m good,” I answer, nodding toward my half empty mug. “Hey, I overheard you talking with that pretty waitress. Looks like she has a thing for you. Why’d you turn her down?”
“I’ve thought about it a lot, actually, but I got a girl at home.”
“Doesn’t sound like your girl at home is holding your attention. From what I just witnessed, your Candy girl has all of it.”
“Touché,” responds Braydon with a chuckle. “My girl isn’t actually home much nowadays, anyway. She’s working crazy hours, trying to move up the corporate ladder,” he says while mockingly using his fingers to make quotation marks. “I guess you could say we’ve been slowly drifting apart.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but if things aren’t so great at home, why stay?”
Looking as if in deep contemplation, Braydon finally responds, “You know what? I have no fucking idea. I’ve been thinking about ending things but then I feel like a dick for it. My girl at home is great, but I don’t think relationships are supposed to be this hard - you know what I mean?”
“I’m unattached but yeah, I don’t think relationships should be hard but I do think they require some work every now and then.” I reply hoping he sees the difference.
“I guess your right but I work hard enough here, I need something easy and free to go home to.”
I am really trying to understand this guy but he is making it difficult with his douche responses. I want to jump across the bar and put a fist in his face or at least give him a good shaking to knock some sense into him. How can he not see how lucky he is to have someone as amazing as Kate? Instead of showing my rage I decide to end this line of conversation and get the hell out of here.
“Well, I guess you just have to do what is best for you. Good luck man.”
I get a distracted “Yeah, thanks” from Braydon as I get up to walk out of the bar and see he has his attention focused on Candy yet again. What a dick.
Without a missed beat, he calls over the crowded bar to Candy who is taking a customer’s order. “Hey, Candy girl?”
“What’s up, boss?”
“Change in plans. You still have room for me to crash at your place tonight?”
“Hell yeah!” comes from a very jubilant Candy, tits bouncing with glee.
Did that really just happen? Did my innocent advice just break up Kate and Braydon? God, I hope he doesn’t plan on stringing Kate along while getting a piece of Candy on the side.
This whole thing is not why I came here. I am feeling pretty shitty now. I am a good guy. I hold doors open for others. I only use the ten items or less line at the grocery store when I actually have ten items or less
. I help old ladies cross the street, for goodness’ sakes. I don’t facilitate the breakup of others.
Watching Kate day in and day out at work—her beautiful smile, the way she laughs, and how she is truly genuine—I want that for my own. As bad as I feel, I can’t help but think this is also for the best. Kate can do so much better than this guy, and if it only took one small question from me, a complete stranger, for him to pick another woman, then all the better.
Maybe this was also the push I needed. I came here to get wasted and sulk over the loss of my mother but maybe this whole night was meant to be. Call it fate or destiny or whatever the fuck you want. I just know that it is time to move past my grief and start to live fully again. I know I can make a woman happy, and maybe that woman is Kate. She deserves a real man who is nothing but devoted and honest to her. Braydon is none of those things, but I know I can be all that and more. And eventually, just maybe, in the end, I will be the one to get lucky.
The End
Acknowledgments
My first trip into the world of self-publishing has been equal parts terrifying and exciting. Thank you everyone who offered kind words, encouragement and support.
I would just like to take a moment to thank some very special people...
To my parents who made me truly believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. I will always be grateful for that. To my sisters for always being there when I needed you. To my best friend Mindy for loaning me not only your name but also your time and guidance. Finally to my beta reader T and my amazing editor Meagan. Thank you for taking a chance on my little story and providing invaluable feedback.
Visit Olivia L. Thomas at the following sites:
http://olivialthomas.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorOliviaLThomas
Lucky: A Love Lane Short Page 5
