by Tiffani Lynn
I wipe my mouth with my napkin and stand to greet him. “Hey, man. How’s it going?”
“Good. Having dinner with my wife and then flying to Miami for a couple of days for work. How’s it going for you?”
“Good. We’re a little more than halfway through cleaning the old place out. Still don’t think I can stay in that shithole, but at least it’ll be cleaned out and ready to level. This is my brother Ben, my dad, Ray, my mom, Audrey, and my friend Shay.”
Mike reaches out and shakes each hand, greeting everyone. About that time a stunning blonde, who I’m almost certain is Summer Arden Wade, saunters up and slides in close under Mike’s arm.
Everyone’s mouth at the table drops open, but it’s Ben who blurts, “Holy shit, it’s Summer Arden Wade.”
She blushes a little and I swear Mike stands taller. “This is my wife, Summer. You obviously know who she is.” He then introduces all of us, impressing me with his memory of names. I struggle with that often.
Summer waves and says, “Nice to meet all of you.”
We all mumble the same in return. Summer twirls a lock of hair around her finger and says, “We need to get you fed or you’ll miss your flight. You still have to drive to Tampa.”
“Oh, shit. You’re right.” He kisses her forehead and I swear I hear a sigh from my mom and Shay.
“Sorry, everyone. She’s right. I need to get on with my date-night dinner before I drive south.” He points at me. “You still have my card. Use it. I hope to hear from you.”
“Sure thing, man. I’ll talk to you soon.”
They turn and walk toward the outside deck and I sit back down in my chair. When I turn my attention back to everyone they are all staring at me like I have three heads.
“Why didn’t you tell us you know Summer Arden Wade?” my brother asks.
“Because I don’t. I just met her husband. Nice guy but I barely know him so I didn’t know his wife was a movie star. Although, looking at the guy, it makes sense. Nice people.” I take a sip of my beer and set it back down.
“I’ve watched both of her movies and am hooked on her new television show. I heard it’s filmed here in Florida but I didn’t realize she lives here. That’s crazy. This tiny little town is home to one of the hottest new stars.” Shay shakes her head, still trying to wrap her head around it.
“Jenny is going to be pissed she wasn’t here for that. Maybe a little jealous too. All Jenny talks about is Summer Arden Wade’s hair. She’s obsessed with it. I mean, it’s gorgeous, but she’s out of control.”
“I can’t say anything against that. I agree with Jenny. I think Summer has the prettiest head of hair I’ve ever seen,” Shay tells Ben.
Abruptly, I shift so I can face her. The squeak of my chair startles her and her gaze snaps back to mine. “You think she has the prettiest head of hair you’ve ever seen?”
“Well, yeah. Didn’t you pay attention?”
“I saw it, but you have a mirror, right?”
Shay’s eyebrows scrunch up. “Yeah, what are you talking about?”
“If you looked in that mirror you’d see the prettiest head of hair in the world. It’s been that way since we were kids.” Her mouth opens but nothing comes out. I grab a lock between my fingers and allow the soft strands to drift over my fingers. “Look, it’s beautiful and probably the softest I’ve ever touched.”
Our eyes are locked on each other and the moment is charged with something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s both heavy and electric. We stay like that until my dad clears his throat to get our attention. A pretty pink blush spreads across her cheeks and down her neck and I turn to glare at my dad.
Ben breaks out in loud boisterous laughter and I shake my head. Imbecile.
My mom changes the subject and we make it through another 15 minutes without another awkward moment before we exchange goodbyes.
Seven
Shay
I can’t believe I got lost in him. How easy am I? I was ready to kiss him right in front of his family and toss him my virginity on a silver platter. All he did was stare at me and pay me a sweet compliment. Lonely and horny make me an easy target for a handsome, kind and thoughtful man. Our history also makes me feel like we’ve known each other forever, even though there are years of our lives lost to each other. If I’m not careful I’ll fall head over heels for him and be lonelier and heartbroken when he goes back to the Navy. He says he’s moving back here. Right next door, but I don’t think a single, good-looking guy like him will want to stay once he realizes that our population is mostly old people and there’s nothing to do here. Not that I ever do anything or go out to know this for sure, but this town hasn’t changed much in the years since I was a teenager.
The ride back to the house is quiet until I say, “I can’t believe I met Summer Arden Wade here in Crystal River. I didn’t even know she lived here.”
“I don’t think she’s been here long. I met her husband at the bar the other night and it sounds like they moved up here from Tampa not long ago.”
“They seemed nice.”
“He was for sure. I talked to him for a little while. He’s ex-Army and his partner is ex-Navy. They have a security firm that’s based here, but they travel for most of their work.”
The rest of the ride is quiet. Once we reach my property, Paxton drives down the driveway and around to my house, stopping near the porch. I’m surprised when he gets out at the same time as I do. He rounds the truck and reaches for my hand. I know I shouldn’t take his, simply to protect my heart from any further damage I know I’ll face, but I can’t seem to help myself.
At the steps of the porch he pauses and releases my hand. My heart rate picks up because the tightly coiled invisible cord that seems to be between us pulls tighter. My breath is coming out in short, fast puffs and he smiles a little, bringing that dimple in his cheek back out before running his thumb along my lower lip. “Breathe, honey.” His voice is like warm chocolate melting over me. “I’m going to kiss you and I don’t want you passing out.”
Oh. My. Gosh. That dimple. That voice. That mouth. I’m probably going to pass out before this ever even happens, just thinking about it.
Pax closes the distance between us and our lips meet so gently at first it’s almost a whisper. Surprising myself, I allow my tongue to sneak out and trace his lips. With a groan he opens for me while slipping his arms around my waist and pulling me fully against him. His mouth is warm and welcoming, and I can’t seem to get enough of it as he fully engages in the kiss. His whole body melds around mine as I squeeze his neck tighter and pull him lower to me. Breaking the kiss, he pulls back and asks, “Can we take this inside?”
My tummy flip-flops and I nod without thinking this through. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so overcome by hormones that I turned off my brain altogether like this. I nod and pull my keys out of my purse and lead us inside.
As soon as we’re through the door I spin and face him, ready for more. I’m not sure if he can feel the heat and the need coming off me, but the feeling is so strong it seems as if it should be flowing out of my pores like water. In seconds we’re making out in a crazy frenzy of lips, tongue and even a little bit of teeth. When his mouth moves across my cheek and down my neck I can’t help the moan that slips from my throat.
The next thing I know he’s leading me to and down on the couch. As soon as my head hits the cushion, he’s over me, hips resting between my legs and a good portion of his muscular body pressed to mine as he resumes our kissing. I thought kissing him while we were standing was amazing. This is beyond that. It’s unbelievable.
His hardness is pressed deliciously against my center and if I had any room for leverage I would rock against him to alleviate the growing pulse between my legs. It’s maddening and wonderful all at the same time and I can’t get enough of it.
“More,” I break away and whisper. “More. More!” I wiggle a little, needing relief from the burning in my core.
“I
don’t want to move too fast with you, Shay. I don’t want you to regret any of this.”
“Please, I need—”
“Shhh. I know what you need. Shift to the side and I’ll give it to you, honey.”
After a little bit of awkward shuffling he resumes the kissing, but this time he undoes the button on my shorts and slowly slips his hand down along the skin of my belly until he hits the damp center of me. I arch against him when he hits the perfect spot and almost knock him off the couch. He chuckles a little and nips my bottom lip with his teeth before swallowing my moan. Those strong, calloused, manly fingers of his work in a small circle between my legs and way too soon my world explodes into a trillion little sparkles. I cry out and shake from head to toe, unable to control my reaction. I’ve never felt as relaxed as I do right at this moment.
Paxton shifts slightly and I’m reminded that he’s still in his uncomfortable state. I’m such a selfish jerk! How could I forget that he didn’t just reach nirvana like I did?
“Oh, Paxton,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry. I left you hanging and—”
“Stop,” he says, placing a soft kiss against my lips. “Has anyone ever done that for you before?” His eyes bore into mine, waiting for a response. My cheeks flame and my eyes slide away trying to find something to look at so he can’t see the embarrassment so clearly.
“It’s okay. I want to know. There are so many missing pieces, so many lost years. I have no idea what your experience level is but I know it’s probably not much.”
“No, no one has ever done that to me before, not besides me.” Surely my embarrassment will deter him from asking any more questions that will make this worse.
“Please tell me you’ve been kissed before.”
“Yes, I dated a guy when I was 16. Cliff Oleander. He got as far as second base after several dates. We had fun until I had a nervous breakdown at school and became ‘Scary Shay.’ He dumped me in a note the day those kids gave me that nickname. Then my granny pulled me out of school and homeschooled me until I earned my diploma. I haven’t been around people very much since all of that went down so there were no chances for more experiences. Never thought there would be actually.”
Tenderly, he pushes my hair away from my face, allowing his fingers to drift over my cheek and down my neck, pausing at my shoulder. “I’m sorry you’ve been through all of that. You deserve to have a better life and I hope I can help you with that.”
I blink, trying to clear my head and wrap my mind around what he’s saying. “I don’t want to be your charity case because you feel bad for me.”
“How could you think that? Were you not standing in the front yard a little bit ago or lying on this couch? There is no charity involved in this scenario. You are beautiful and kind and smart, and you have the cutest laugh I’ve ever heard. You have a piece of my history that no one else does. You know things about me that I never have to explain or be embarrassed about because you lived them with me.”
“So much has changed since you left this area, Pax. I’m the town freak. A hermit. I’m ‘Scary Shay,’ for goodness sakes!”
“You’re none of those things. You’re a young woman who has survived some traumatic things and did it the best way you knew how. I’ve been all over the world. I’ve seen some serious freaks. You are not one of them.” Pax’s expression is gentle as he waits for my reply.
Could this really be happening? Could he honestly feel something for me? I didn’t think I’d ever be making out on a couch again or have someone look at me like he’s looking at me. Or experience the crazy swirl of feelings that I have twisting inside me.
“So, if I’m not your charity case, what am I?”
“Something so special I don’t have a name for it yet.” His grin is sweet and charming and any other questions I have seem to melt away. That answer will work for me tonight.
The next morning, I wake up and find myself in my full-size bed, on my side, in my shorty pajama shorts and T-shirt, with one leg hiked up over Paxton’s hip, one arm stretched out under his neck and the other wrapped around his middle. I’m breathing my morning breath directly into his face. When I told him he could sleep in the bed with me last night I never envisioned waking up like this. We fell asleep, both dressed, but on top of the covers with my back to his front and he had one arm casually resting across my waist. How do I get out of this position without waking him? It’s super awkward and I want to brush my teeth before he even opens one eye.
I begin scooching away as gently as possible so I don’t rock this rickety old bed, but I only get about an inch away when he clamps down on my hip with one hand, shifts his entire body with lightning-fast speed and rolls me to my back. Hard as a rock, his cock rests against my clit and I moan. His sleepy eyes roam up from my belly, slowly over my breasts, up my neck, past my lips and settle on my eyes. His eyes are sleepy and sexy and I can’t seem to help the involuntary tilt of my hips seeking friction from him.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” he rumbles, and then he dips his head to take my mouth in a kiss designed to make me forget that neither of us has brushed our teeth. It’s deep, long and so freaking perfect that I forget I’m inexperienced and melt into his kiss, his touch, his everything.
All of his weight rests on one elbow so he can use the opposite hand to push my nightshirt up and up and up until my breast is exposed. My whole chest heaves with the deep breaths I’m taking. His mouth closes over my nipple and I arch as far as I can, ready for his attention. I thought his fingers were in charge of bringing all the bliss, but now I know they are secondary to his mouth, which is currently sending lightning bolts to my core. Pulling back slightly he blows softly on my wet nipple and sparks fly in my chest. I run my hands up under his T-shirt, over the smooth skin of his back, and dig my nails in, trying to pull him back down for more. His body shakes with a slight chuckle before he starts again and it’s all I can do to keep from trying to dry-hump him. A quick shift of his weight moves him so he can show the same attention to my other breast as I continue my assault on his back.
“Paxton.” I moan and wrap my legs around him, hoping for more pressure.
He must get the idea because he begins to rock against me and the friction is in the perfect spot, in the perfect amount, and I’m climbing closer and closer to heaven. Just before I clench up and lose myself in the second orgasm I’ve had in less than 24 hours, I open my eyes and they lock eyes with Paxton’s. Something about the intimacy of the moment and the fact that he’s my long-lost best friend pushes me over the edge and I cry out and shudder and shake. Within a few seconds he tenses, shakes and practically collapses on me. Did he just…?
“I haven’t done that since I was in high school. I should be embarrassed, but how can I be when it felt good?” he mumbles against the skin of my neck.
Something about the scenario, like we were in high school, makes me giggle and hold him tighter.
“Seriously, honey, that laugh is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard, but it makes me a little self-conscious when I just came like a teenager in my pants while dry-humping you.”
My giggle turns into a full-blown laugh and when he tries to pull away I lock my ankles and try to hold him in place. “I’m just deliriously happy and it was sweet, what you just said, and I don’t know… I told you I’m a freak.”
“Freaks don’t look that beautiful when they come, honey.”
“You know just the right things to say, don’t you?”
When he opens his mouth to say something he’s interrupted by a knock on the door. Who the hell is knocking on my door? I only have company when I order something or the sheriff stops by. He was here two weeks ago so I know it’s not him.
“Shit, let me clean up and I’ll get it. Put some clothes on, honey.”
I jump up when he moves toward the bathroom and start tugging on a bra under my nightshirt, drop my sleep shorts to the floor and shimmy regular shorts on. By the time I’m pulling my wild mane of hair away from my face,
Paxton is making a bee line from the bathroom to the front door where the knocking is getting louder.
Pax yanks the door open and standing in front of him are Joe and Leo—the Costa guys. What do they want? “She’s already told you she’s not interested.”
“We heard her loud and clear, but we were looking for you and just thought we’d check in with her. Convenient for us that you’re both here,” Joe says as he smirks at me.
As I wonder what this is about I slide under Paxton’s arm.
“Well, we’re here to make Mr. Pearsal—or should we say, Jones—an offer he can’t refuse.”
“I’m not selling either. The land is about to be my home.”
“Did you forget to say, again?”
I glance up to find Paxton’s head tilting, quietly assessing these men.
“I didn’t forget to say anything, and the last name is Pearsal now, not Jones.”
Joe turns to Leo and says, “I think maybe we misjudged them. She’s definitely stronger than I expected. Stronger than me for certain. If I knew my parents were killed by my lover’s parents I don’t think I could ever get past it, much less have a happily ever after.”
Did he just say that Paxton’s parents killed my family?
For one brief moment the world stops spinning for me and all the air is knocked out of my lungs in a vision of truth too powerful to ignore. As I double over, flashes of ambulances, cop cars, my grandmother screaming, and that awful silence once they all left us alone to live in our pain burns through me at warp speed. Before I can stop the onslaught of horrific memories, Paxton growls, “You son of a bitch!” and dives out the front door toward them. Vaguely, I can hear the crunches of knuckles on bone and the grunts of men in a fisted battle. Instead of trying to stop it I sink to my knees and drop my head to the floor. Paxton’s piece-of-shit parents are the ones who killed my amazing, salt of the earth, loving, beautiful family. How did I not know it was them? How? How? How?
