The Cliff

by Gucker, Christie A. C.

  “Wow, someone sure does want to get in touch with you.”

  “I couldn’t care less who it is. The only person I want to hear from is right here.”

  “What if it’s Woof?” I giggled. He made an exaggerated sigh, pulled away from me and grabbed the phone. “Caller ID says it’s Dane. I thought he was at Lori’s for the night?”

  “Maybe something’s wrong. You’d better answer.”

  “Hello? Dane, everything is fine. She’s right here with me. What do you mean why is she here? Please calm down; I don’t understand why you’re so upset. Of course you can speak with her.” Grant shot me a perplexed look and handed the phone to me. “It’s for you.”

  “Dane, is everything all right?” I questioned

  “Lanie! What …

  Chapter 6

  Well That Was Bizarre

  … the hell is going on? I’ve been trying to reach you all day!” Dane’s furious voice boomed over the phone. I was sure Grant, and possibly Woof, could hear him. A knot formed in my stomach and I immediately thought he must know what was happening. I gave Grant a worried look and he quickly came over to me. That was a bit of a mistake, because as soon as he slid beside me, he began biting my neck and nibbling my ears, trying to make this conversation even harder. I giggled.

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  “Dane, no. What’s wrong with you? What’s the matter?”

  “I’d like to know why you think it’s okay not to answer your house or cell phone,” he demanded. I realized I’d left my cell at home. It didn’t matter, anyway. “Well? Are you going to answer me?”

  Now I was getting angry. Who did he think he was? What right did he have to be questioning me like I was a child?

  “Dane, I left my cell at my house. I’ve been at Grant’s since the storm hit. We figured we’d watch movies to kill the time. Now what exactly is the issue?” Dead air. Nothing. “Dane?”

  “I have that presentation on Monday, and you need to complete the graphics. I need to land this and you’re not helping.” Okay, that’s not where I thought this was headed.

  “I finished the presentation. I emailed it to you and about ten other people.”

  “I didn’t get it. You need to meet me at your house right now so we can finish it.”

  “Are you kidding me? Have you looked outside? I’ll do no such thing. It’s done. And what’s wrong with all your technology that you aren’t getting texts or emails lately?”

  “Nothing is wrong with my technology. It doesn’t matter. I need to be prepared. This proposal is huge for us. Now get your stuff together and meet me here or at your house.”

  By now Grant was getting visibly angry. Maybe he was feeling protective. He walked over to his computer, switched it from sleep mode and opened his email. I saw him open my email with the presentation, hit forward and then write:

  D

  Here is the presentation. Please respond when you receive it to confirm.

  I have reviewed it and it is perfect as always. Now relax and enjoy the rest of your night. You and I are going to talk tomorrow.

  G

  He hit send. I actually heard Dane’s email go off in the background. He must have been sitting at his computer.

  “So, you have it now?”

  “Yes. I got it.”

  “Now open it and look through it. I’ll wait.”

  “It’s impeccable, as always. Are you staying over at Grant’s tonight?”

  “Yes. Grant would never tell me to walk home in the middle of a huge storm. Not sure if it’s really your business, anyway. So are we done here?”

  “Yes. Done.”

  “Bye then.” I waved to the phone and hung up, turned it back on, and placed it on the table until it went dead.

  “Well, that was bizarre.” Grant crawled next to me on the couch and began kissing my neck again.

  “Yes. Bizarre. Who cares? I think we were in the middle of something?”

  “Grant, you didn’t find that phone call a complete moment killer?”

  “Nothing could kill this moment.” I smiled. There he was, being a complete sweetheart again.

  “Come on. Let’s go upstairs in case any storm-chasing peeping Danes show up.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me upstairs.

  “Grant, really, does that whole phone call not bother you?”

  “What do I need to do to get that call off your mind? Wait, I have the perfect eraser: my tongue.” He pushed me down onto the stairs and lifted my shirt above my breasts and began to bite and lick, making little circles with his tongue.

  “Oh,” I squeaked.

  “Have you forgotten yet?”

  “Nope, not yet. I think I need a lot more erasing,” I snarked. He was kneeling on the stairs between my legs and looked up to cock an eyebrow at me.

  “Really now. I’ll have to try harder.” He popped down a stair, smirked at me and then dove between my thighs, making O shapes with his tongue. My legs immediately began to shake. Oh please take those stupid briefs off me.

  “How’s that for brain bleach?”

  “More,” my voice croaked. It was the only word my mouth could form. I was jelly. As all great minds think alike, he ripped the briefs off me and buried his mouth on my sex. My buttocks came off the ground as his sweet mouth began tugging at my lips. I was afraid I was going to drown him I was so turned on.

  This man knew how to pleasure a woman and I was so happy to be that woman. I could feel my toes curl as he slid two fingers inside me so I shoved my hands into his hair, pushed his head down and raised my hips off the steps to be even closer.

  “Oh Grant, just like that.” And then he would switch it up. I would be upset but then his new erasing would feel even better. “Oh Grant!” I screamed and his tongue picked up its pace. I could feel myself approaching orgasm, but I wanted to make love to him.

  “Grant, I want you inside me. Please. Now.” He obeyed my command, quickly crawled on top of me and thrust deep inside. I was immediately butter.

  His eyes grew dark and his lids heavy with lust and he held me still by my shoulders so he could have full access to every bit I could offer his length.

  “It’s like you were made for me, Lanie,” he whispered, and that made me orgasm again. Who knew Grant had the power to make women orgasm just by saying their name? I was going to make him say my name constantly. When we recovered enough to move, he pulled me to my feet.

  “This has to be very uncomfortable for you. We should move things upstairs.” His eyebrows shot up twice and I couldn’t help but mimic back at him. My legs were weak from the amazing passion we had just shared in the middle of his stairwell and I had to steady myself against him. He smiled a genuine smile and I was giddy with the thought of making love to him all night.

  “How about a nice, relaxing bath?”

  Third cleaning of the day for me, which was fine, because I was feeling extra dirty. The bath in Grant’s room was an oversized jet bath with a horizon pool on the sides. I watched as he ran around his room gathering candles, quickly placing them on the floor all around the tub and lighting them. In a matter of moments he had transformed his bathroom into a steamy, romantic cove.

  We shed what remained of our clothes and I tossed a sock at his head. He grabbed me and kissed me urgently. When he released me, I tossed the other at him. He kissed me again.

  He took my hand and helped me as I stepped up and into the tub. My muscles instantly relaxed as I hit the water. Apparently, lovemaking on the stairs had taken a bit of a toll on my body. I sighed in complete contentment as Grant poured in the bath salts.

  “That’s an interesting find in a bachelor’s place,” I teased.

  “Chelsie dropped them off early this afternoon. She said I might need them. My cousins must have been planning for this to happen.”

  “For years.” I grinned.

  He climbed in with me and our bodies intertwined. I had never been this happy in my entire life as I was in this moment, this night with Grant
. I was in a complete state of bliss and he seemed to be, too. We didn’t speak much, but instead, whispered sweet nothings into each other’s ears. I found it hard not to kiss him often. I felt his hands move to my breasts, where they remained, massaging and caressing until the water began to cool.

  “To my bed?”

  “Yes, sir, that would be wonderful.” I think I was beaming.

  His bed was a huge king-sized super cushy one and we sank into it together. He turned me on my side and spooned me. It was like our bodies were made for each other. A perfect fit. He stroked my hair and kissed my neck and soon sleep fell upon us. The storm still raged outside, but here with Grant, I was warm, safe and happy.

  I awoke by being jolted out of sleep by a large crash of thunder. I felt Grant’s arms tighten around me. This is where I belonged, in this man’s arms. I sighed blissfully and turned over to press closer against him and quickly returned to a deep slumber.

  When I awoke in the morning, I was alone. Sitting up quickly, I began to panic that the night before had all been a dream.

  “Grant?” Then I heard his steps on the stairs and relief filled me. When he entered the room, he had a tray with a smattering of delicious breakfast treats, freshly brewed Kona coffee and a huge grin. He wore only the briefs I had been wearing last night and it made me smile to think I was the last one wearing them. His body was perfect; lean and cut. He looked like some kind of mythical creature too beautiful for this world.

  “Wow, breakfast in bed?”

  “If I have my way, I’ll be serving the next few meals to you right here.” I smiled, ran a hand across his cheek and headed to the bathroom for a quick moment.

  I used my finger to brush my teeth, splashed water on my face, put my hair in a loose knot and pulled on his Turkish bathrobe and then headed back to bed as fast as I could. We sipped on coffee and nibbled on fruit and chocolate croissants.

  “So, chocolate croissants?”

  “Chelsie again. She gave me quite a care package yesterday.”

  “I have to remember to call and thank her.”

  “And fill her in on all the delicious details?”

  “Of course. Hopefully I can get her and Samantha at the same time so I can tell them how satisfying breakfast was.”

  When we had finished, we refreshed our coffee, placed the tray on the ground and cuddled back into bed together. It wasn’t long before our coffee was abandoned and we were making love again.

  “Grant, you said something to me last night. I just want to understand.”

  “I meant every word I said to you.”

  “But you said that you loved me. That you always have.”

  “And again, I meant every word I said to you.” His gaze was intent, honest. I believed him.

  I couldn’t say it back even though I felt it. I loved him, but I wasn’t ready to tell him yet. I wanted to be. This was all happening so fast and I wanted to make sure things would be okay with Dane. I didn’t want to lose our little family or hurt either of them.

  “Grant, you know I feel deeply for you, but …

  Chapter 7

  I Don’t Understand

  … I think we have to talk about all this. And then there’s Dane …” Grant smiled at me but his eyes showed hurt. I wished I could tell him the words he wanted to hear and throw caution to the wind, but I couldn’t do that, it wasn’t who I was. I had to make sure nothing could go wrong. This was something I really wanted.

  “I have every intention of speaking with him today,” he said, his tone serious.

  “Shouldn’t we talk to him together?”

  “We need to handle this very delicately. I need to be the one. It’s a guy thing.”

  “You know I trust you. But I’m sure he’s going to approach me at some point today. Shall I just play coy or clueless?”

  “Neither. You won’t have to play at all. Unless you’d like to play some more now?” He grabbed me and pulled me on top of him.

  “I hate to say this, but we really should get out of bed. Although I wouldn’t mind spending the entire day here with you.”

  “Yes. I know. Duty calls.” I kissed him deeply.

  “How about you come to my place tonight so Woof has some company?”

  “I’m sure we’ll be no company for Woof once we get going again.” He ran his fingers through the ends of my hair, twirling them around his finger.

  “We’re still here, in bed.” I was starting to feel anxious about seeing Dane. But Grant said he would handle it, so I tried to calm myself as well as yank myself away from him to find my clothes. When I was dressed, Grant walked me to the door and kissed me goodbye. I gave him a soft wave and headed home, carrying my boots in my hand. It was still stormy, but I walked slowly. Woof was waiting for me by the door when I got there. He didn’t look worse for wear, so the storm must have not bothered him much. I headed upstairs to call my girls.

  I reached for the phone and realized I had about twenty messages waiting. The first three were from a very panicked Dane. The next few were from Samantha, two from Chelsie with a squealing Samantha in the background, and then two more from a now angry Dane. Oh, and one more from Grant. He must have called while I was walking home.

  “Lanie, I just wanted you to know I am thinking of you. Constantly. That I meant everything I said. And how beautiful I think you are. Oh, and last night was amazing. Let’s have a repeat performance tonight. Okay? Good. I love you.”

  I played his message over and over again and then saved it. I was about to call the girls when the phone rang in my hand.

  “What are you two, psychic? Or do you have cameras hidden around here?”

  “I wish we had cameras. I would love to have watched you two last night instead of the very boring movie Dylan and Steve made us watch.”

  “Have a storm party, did we?”

  “Oh, who cares about what we did? We’re old news. We want to hear all about last night.” I filled the girls in with a play by play of what happened without divulging the graphic details. There were whoots and clapping from the other end and then finally Samantha could contain herself no longer.

  “He told you he loved you?” she said in a high-pitched loud voice.

  “He what?” I heard Chelsie say from somewhere. She must have removed herself from the call at one point. “And?”

  “And I couldn’t say it back yet. I love him. I’m definitely in love with him, I think I always have been.”

  “Then why not?” Samantha sounded upset.

  “We just started heading in this direction. I kind of want the whole wooing thing. Make him work for it a bit.” I smiled. I wanted the whole real deal with Grant. I then told them about Dane’s call and Grant’s email and his intention to go talk with him today. I heard them cover the phone and a muffled conversation began.

  “Umm, Ladies, I’m still here, you know. What are you discussing?”

  “It’s nothing, Lanie … we just agree with the whole make-him-work-for-it thing.”

  “Good! Well, I have to give Dane a call. I’ll call you back. I need some ideas for tonight.”

  Samantha couldn’t wait and started rambling. I heard Chelsie wrestle the phone from her.

  “Okay, Babe, we’ll wait for your call back.”

  I stared at the phone. I wanted to call Dane, but I was still mad at him. And had we betrayed him? I kind of felt like we did. I went over multiple conversations in my head and finally decided now was not the time. I’d wait until Grant called to tell me what had happened. I took dinner makings out of the fridge and prepared a few things ahead of time. I went upstairs, picked out an outfit for dinner and then something sexier for dessert. I called the girls back and took complicated mental notes. Wow, lucky Dylan. Samantha was giving me Kama Sutra instructions over the phone. At one point, she had to email me some pictures, because I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about.

  “You can actually bend like that?” My head was tilted so far over I was almost viewing the image ups
ide down.

  “You get pretty limber after a few months of Kama Sutra,” Samantha said nonchalantly.

  “I bet you do. I think I have everything I need. I’ll give you a call later to let you know how the body origami goes.”

  I hung up and started to mill around the house again, getting ready for the evening. I even tried to get myself into one of Samantha’s positions. Yeah. That particular one was not happening any time soon. I needed to practice. There was a knock at my door. Thinking it was Grant, I ran to answer. It was Dane.