Scattered Pieces

by Allie Able

  “I want to feel you come in my mouth. Can I use my mouth on you, Summer?” I ask again.

  “Yes.”

  I quickly make my way down her body, until I'm resting between her legs. I part her with my fingers and lick up her center. She tastes sweet, like honey, just like I knew she would. I gently lick her, until she is grinding against my face. I lift both of her legs, over my shoulders, and use one of my hands to pin her hips to the bed. I use my other hand to sink a finger into her tight pussy, moving it quickly back and forth, as I lick at her clit. Her moans get louder, indicating she is close, so I add another finger inside of her. Her heels dig into my back, and her body arches, off of the bed, as she comes hard against my hand. I slow the movements of my fingers and continue to gently lick her, as her body trembles under me.

  Once her movements have stilled and she relaxes against the bed again, I remove my fingers, licking the wetness off of them and wiping my face against the inside of her thigh. I move up her body and kiss her forehead, before laying down beside her. I wrap my arms around her waist and gather her close to me. Nothing in my life has ever felt so right, as it does to have the beautiful woman limp and sated in my arms.

  After a few moments of silence, she lifts her head and looks at me. She traces my jaw with her finger tips, her eyes following the movements, before she looks up into my eyes. “What about you?” she asks in a groggy voice.

  I smile down at her and shake my head, “I'm fine, sweetheart, tonight was about you.”

  She looks confused for a moment, as she searches my eyes. “Are you sure?”

  “I'm sure,” I reassure her, kissing her forehead, again, “You have to be at the bakery early in the morning. Sleep, sweetheart.” I tuck her head into the crook of my neck.

  She lets out a contented sigh before cuddling deeper into me. After a few minutes, I hear her breathing even out, as she drifts off to sleep. I kiss the top of her head, before I do the same.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Summer

  I WAKE UP THE NEXT morning feeling unusually warm. I look down to see that there is a large hand spread across my bare stomach and all at once, last night comes rushing back to me. I have never in my life been taken care of in bed like that before. When I lost my virginity, it hurt like hell and I certainly didn't orgasm. Even when Ryan and I were just dating and things were good, he was more of a 'stick it in and get himself off' kind of guy. I just thought that was how sex was, until last night, and we didn't even go all of the way. I would have been more than happy to return the favor to Grant, but I think it was sweet, that he wanted to make it all about me.

  I can hear that his breathing is still even, indicating he is still asleep, and I wonder if I should wake him up. I need to get ready to go to work soon, and I don't want to just leave him laying in my bed, at least not without telling him bye first. I can feel his hardness against my bottom, and it takes everything I have not to rub against him.

  I roll over in his arms, so that I'm facing him, and take a moment to study his face. I lift my hand and run it over his scruffy beard, remembering what it felt like between my legs. God, this man is talented with his mouth. I lean forward and kiss his lips gently. His eyes slowly blink open and I lean back so that I can look at him. “Good morning,” I whisper, smiling at him.

  “Good morning, sweetheart,” he says, his voice thick from sleep, as he smiles down at me. “Did you sleep good?” he asks, as his hands start rubbing up and down the bare skin of my back, reminding me of the fact that I am still very naked.

  I nod my head and feel myself start to blush, thinking about last night. He must see the blush, because he chuckles and leans forward to kiss my forehead.

  “I need to get to the bakery, but you can hang out around here today if you want. Maybe, when I get off of work, I could make you dinner?” I ask. Grant continues to stare down at me, not saying anything, and I rush to fill the silence. “I mean, unless you have plans. You probably have plans. We could just do it another time.”

  He leans forward and silences me with a gentle kiss on my lips. “I don't have plans. Dinner sounds great, but you don't have to cook if you don't want to,” he says with his lips still pressed against mine.

  “I don't mind,” I whisper.

  He leans back just enough to look down into my eyes, again. “I have to run home and do a few things around my house, but I will be back by the time you get home. Should I pack a change of clothes?” he asks, with a serious expression.

  I feel my face blush again just thinking about sharing my bed with him again tonight. My voice suddenly won't work, and all I can manage is a nod.

  “Okay,” he whispers, leaning down and giving me another kiss, this one deeper and full of promise. “I hate to say this, sweetheart, but if you don't get up now, you're going to be late.”

  I nod my head and reluctantly break away from his embrace and roll over, climbing out of the bed. I can feel his eyes on me as I make my way towards the bathroom. I know that I'm not horribly unattractive, but the scars I have on my back and stomach are not something I ever thought anyone would see, much less in the light of day. So I walk as quickly as I can until I'm behind the closed door of the bathroom. I know I'm going to have to talk to him soon about Ryan, but I'm still not sure if I'm ready to share that part of me. I want Grant to get to know me, before adding my messy past into the mix. With a sigh, I turn on the shower as hot as it can go and climb in.

  * * *

  I get to the bakery a little later than normal and Lexie is already outside waiting on me.

  “Girl, I'm judging by the look on your face and the fact that we open in approximately 45 minutes and you're just now getting here, that your date with Grant went well,” she says with a giggle.

  I shake my head, as I unlock the door for us to walk inside, before I reply. “It went good,” I confirm, as I take my purse into the office. I walk to the kitchen, with Lexie hot on my heels.

  “That's all I get? Just that it went good?” she asks, “That cute blush you have going on is telling me that it went better than just 'good',” she says, making air quotes with her hands.

  I laugh. “Okay, yes, it was more than good. He stayed the night and he is coming over again tonight, so that I can cook him dinner.” I get the mixing bowls down and start pouring flour into them. “But, as you pointed out earlier, I have like 45 minutes before we open and I have got to start baking if we are going to have anything to serve.”

  She makes a squealing noise and starts jumping up and down, while clapping her hands. I give her a stern look and she immediately stops jumping around like a buffoon and visibly tries to straighten out her face, before nodding her head at me and thankfully letting it go, for now.

  “Okay, honey, don't stress. Jenna will be here in just a second to help. We will have everything out on display before we open the doors, but I want details later,” she demands sternly, pointing at me.

  I roll my eyes and reluctantly nod my head. I hear a knock on the door and look over at Lexie.

  “That's Jenna. I'll go unlock the door,” she says, as she quickly moves out of the kitchen towards the front of the shop.

  A few minutes later, Jenna walks into the kitchen. “Good morning, Summer,” she says cheerfully as she surveys the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Jenna. I'm running really far behind this morning.”

  She smiles as she looks over at me, “We've got this.” She puts on her baking apron and gets to work.

  I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that between me and her everything will be ready before opening.

  * * *

  My day turned out to be just as busy as my morning was. Jenna went back and forth between helping me in the kitchen and helping Lexie at the counter. I stayed in the kitchen most of the day, only going out to check stock, occasionally. At around 6:00 pm, I am dead on my feet and I still have an hour before we close. I know I'm not going to be in the mood to cook, when I get off of work. I text Grant asking him if it's
okay if we just order take-out. He must know I'm tired and texts back telling me that he has it covered and asking me if there is any food I don't like. I text him back telling him I'm not picky and that I should be home around 7:30 pm.

  Even being as tired as I am, I'm excited to go home and see Grant. Just being around him brings out a side of me that I didn't even know existed. He is charming, sweet, and funny. He makes me laugh more than I have laughed in years and I have fun with him. I just hope I'm not getting in over my head and that he won't bail, as soon as he finds out about my crazy ex-husband, and just how damaged I really am.

  Lexie walks into the kitchen right as I'm putting my phone back into my pocket. She sits down, on one of the stools I have at the island, and lets out a dramatic sigh.

  “My feet are starting to feel numb. We've slowed down a little bit out there now,” she says, hitching her thumb towards the doors that lead to the front.

  “Yeah, I'm about to start cleaning up in here now,” I say, as I start loading all of dishes into the sink and wiping down all of the counters. Lexie is uncharacteristically quiet, so after a few seconds I stop what I'm doing and look over at her, only to find her studying me.

  “You seem different,” she says when she catches my eyes.

  “Different how?” I ask, confused.

  She shrugs her shoulders. “I don't know, just happy. Not that you weren't happy before,” she quickly reassures me, “but there was always a lingering sadness in your eyes.”

  I look back at the counter and continue wiping it down. “I don't know, Lexie. I feel happy, but I'm also scared shitless,” I respond, with a humorless laugh.

  “That's understandable, Summer. Have you two talked about your ex?”

  I shake my head refusing to meet her eyes. “No, but yesterday was only our first date. I will find a way to bring it up soon.”

  I hear her sigh, again, and I look over at her. “I know I don't know everything, only the bits and pieces you have shared with me, but I know that this is a big part of your life. You were married to that jackass for six years. Maybe Grant is the right person for you to share that hurt with, sweetie,” she says gently.

  “But what if he's not. What if it's all too much for him and he decides that being with me, and all of my baggage, is too much of a hassle?” I ask.

  “Then he is not the one for you,” she returns immediately, “You need someone who doesn't mind all of the baggage that comes with you. You need someone who wants to help you carry it, until you are finally able to let it go for good, not someone who sees that as a burden. I think Grant could be that guy, if you will just give him a chance.”

  I think about how gentle he was with me last night and how he didn't rush anything and I know she's right. “I will talk to him soon, I promise.” I agree.

  She nods her head in acknowledgment.

  “By the way,” I tell her, as I throw the dish towel into the dirty clothes hamper, “You read way to many romance novels. You are starting to sound like a damn love therapist.”

  We both laugh as she nods her head. “I do love my romance, that's why I don't date. No one can compare to the men I read about but, I'm holding out hope there are still some good guys left.” She winks at me and gets up from her stool, before making her way out of the kitchen. For her sake and mine, I hope there are some good guys left too.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Grant

  I PULL INTO SUMMER'S DRIVEWAY and see her car already parked there. I grab the to-go bags of food I picked up from the Mexican restaurant and my duffle bag off of the backseat and walk towards her front door. I knock and a few seconds later she opens the door. She must have showered and changed after work. Her hair is still damp and she is wearing a soft white t-shirt and black shorts. “Hey, Grant,” she says, with a smile, as she opens the door wider for me to come in.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” I reply, as I walk in and give her a kiss on the cheek.

  She shuts the front door behind us and turns to walk towards the kitchen, talking to me over her shoulder, “I'm sorry I didn't cook. We were super busy again at the bakery today, but I brought you some cupcakes to make up for it.” She points over to a box sitting on the island, when we walk into the kitchen.

  “I knew you would be tired. It's no problem,” I respond with a shrug.

  “Thank you for picking up the food,” she says, as she takes the bags from me and starts unpacking them.

  “You're welcome. Thank you for my cupcakes,” I say, smiling at her.

  She gives me a soft smile in return, before turning to get plates out of the cabinet. I walk up behind her as she starts loading our plates with food and I move her hair over to one side. My hands find her hips and I hold her still as I kiss a path up and down the skin on her neck that I just exposed.

  “You always smell so good,” I whisper against her skin.

  She tilts her head to the side, and relaxes against me. I wrap my arms around her stomach and pull her back so that her body is tight against mine. She lets out a content sigh as I kiss my way up her neck, stopping to nibble on the sensitive skin just behind her ear.

  “Am I still welcome to stay tonight?” I ask, hoping to God she doesn't tell me no. She turns in my arms so that she is facing me. She places her hands on my chest and looks up at me.

  “Do you not want to?” she asks quietly.

  Is she crazy? I run my hand through her wet hair. “Of course I want to. I just don't want to make assumptions. I don't want to rush you or make you feel uncomfortable,” I reassure her, “I loved waking up next to you this morning, sweetheart, and I would love nothing more than to do that as often as I can.”

  She smiles at me, as she whispers, “Okay.”

  I lean down and softly kiss her lips, before pulling back again. “Okay. Is it alright if I put my bag in your room?”

  She nods her head, “Make yourself at home. I'm going to get our plates ready, while you do that.”

  I nod my head and kiss her forehead, before letting her go. I take my bag to her room and set it down on the bench, at the foot of her bed, before going back into the kitchen to help her with our dinner.

  “Do you want a glass of wine?” I ask, as I make my way to the refrigerator. She turns and looks at me, as she spoons the rest of the food onto our plates.

  “I'll actually have a beer, please. Do you want to eat outside?” she asks, as I grab my plate off of the island.

  I nod my head and follow her. I set her beer down in front of her before sitting down. “It's so beautiful out here. I missed the ocean while I was in the Marines,” I say, while looking out at the waves.

  “I bet it was amazing growing up here,” she replies.

  “It was,” I smile, “My parents don't live right on the water like you do, but we came to the beach almost every day, when I was growing up.” I take a bite of my food and look over at Summer, as she studies the ocean.

  “Do you know how to surf?” she asks.

  I take a sip of my beer and nod my head, “Yeah, both me and my brother learned when we were kids. My sister wasn't really interested in learning, but she would tag along and watch us.”

  We are both quiet for few minutes, while we finish eating. Once we are done, I take our plates to the kitchen and grab us each another beer, before joining Summer outside, where she has moved to the swing. I hand her the beer before sitting down and pulling her closer to me.

  “Are you cold,” I ask, running my hand up and down her arm. She shakes her head no and rests her head on my shoulder.

  “Do you want to go for a swim, after our food settles? It's heated,” she says, gesturing towards her pool.

  “Sure,” I respond, trying not to think too much about what Summer's gorgeous body looks like in a bikini.

  We swing for a little longer, before we both get up to go inside and change. I grab my swim shorts out of my bag. I'm glad I thought to bring them. After I've changed, I go back into her room and dump my clothes in my bag. I see that her b
athroom door is still shut, so I knock and talk through the closed door.

  “I'll grab us another drink and meet you outside, sweetheart.”

  “Okay. There are towels already outside in the storage closet,” she replies.

  I nod my head, even though she can't see me, and walk towards the kitchen. I get two more beers and walk outside. With just my swim trunks on, I'm thankful it's starting to get warmer at night now. After setting our drinks down on the ledge of the pool, I walk into the warm water. Her pool is set up so that you have an awesome view of the ocean. Being a contractor, I can't help but notice that whoever designed the deck did an great job.

  I see movement out of the corner of my eye and I turn to watch Summer quickly making her way towards the pool. Holy shit. I know I saw her naked just last night, but I don't think I will ever get enough of looking at her skin. For some reason she looks more enticing having just that little bit of material covering her up. Her bathing suit is a dark green, making her olive skin look even darker. Her legs are what catch my eye first though, they long and toned and my mind immediately remembers what they felt like over my shoulder's and digging into my back. My eyes make their way up her body, admiring her flat stomach and her breasts that are pushed up high. I can see her nipples are hard and poking through the thin material. I have to discreetly adjust myself, so that it's not obvious what the sight of her does to me. Thank God we are in the pool and you can't really see what's happening below the water. I just don't know how in the hell I'm suppose to try and keep my fucking hands off of her.

  I swim towards her, as she walks down the steps and into the pool. “It's colder than I thought out here, but the water feels nice,” she says, when I get closer.