by Abbi Glines
He continued to gently caress my back and my body became even more relaxed. My eyes grew heavy and the warmth pulled me under. Until there was nothing but Saul and that was all I cared about.
Twenty- Four
“Henley.” Saul’s deep voice was near my ear and I turned to snuggle closer to him.
When I heard a low chuckle, I smiled contentedly and went to slide a hand over him, but I couldn’t find his body. Confused, it took me a moment and I blinked then realized it was dark. I had fallen asleep.
“It’s dark.” I stated the obvious. My voice was thick from sleep.
“Yeah, it’s four in the morning,” Saul replied.
Four in the morning? Four in the morning! I sat up quickly, almost losing my balance and falling off the edge of the bed.
“Woah,” Saul said as his hands held my arms. “Easy,” he added.
“Work,” I said. “I have to bake.”
“I know,” he replied. “Let me get you home.”
Oh. Okay. Yes, I could go back to Gran’s and have plenty time to bake. It was fine. I started to stand up and I remembered. Several things. First of all, that I was completely naked. I grabbed for something to cover myself with and ended up pulling the sheet up to my neck.
More laughter from Saul.
“I’m naked,” I told him.
“I’m aware of that,” he replied, sounding amused.
I sighed and looked around the dark room for my dress. That’s when the memories of him taking the dress off and all that followed surfaced. I looked back at him and even in the darkness, I could see his smirk.
“Henley, my face was between your legs last night. Are you really worried about me seeing you naked?” he asked.
When he put it that way, it sounded ridiculous. “Yes,” I told him, knowing it was dumb.
He moved then and was right back holding my dress out to me. “Here,” he said.
I took it. “Thank you.”
I slipped it on quickly and then stood up. He was still standing by the bed, so my body brushed against his. He didn’t say anything or even touch me and I felt a slow sick knot begin to form in my stomach.
“I’ll get your bag,” he said then moved away.
I stood there in the dark room and watched him go. This was not what I expected him to act like after… well, after we had sex. I wasn’t sure how I thought he would act, but this was not it. He was acting like he had before we had done anything.
I wasn’t sure how I should act. Having sex with a guy I had only known a few weeks was not like me. Especially since the guy had just broken it off with his girlfriend. Who was I? Where had Henley gone?
Saul returned with my bag. “I’ll carry it. Here’s your shoes,” he said and put them in front of me. Looking at him I realized that Henley had lost all common sense due to the hotness of the man in front of her.
I quickly slipped my feet into them as he began walking to the door. I followed, trying not to read too much into this. I needed to focus on getting to Gran’s and baking things. I didn’t need to overthink every single second of last night. I had slept with Saul. It had been incredible. I was twenty-one years old and we were single. This was completely acceptable.
I had to be honest with myself though, Saul had been with a lot of girls. This was nothing new or special to him. Whereas I had only been with Will three times before he died. That was the extent of my sexual experience. We were not the same. This was all surprising and confusing for me.
The house was quiet as we went down the stairs and then out the front door. Saul held it open for me then when we reached his truck, he opened the door for me again. Both were polite and I thanked him. However, there was no soft kiss on the lips or touch of his hand on my back. Nothing. It was all very cold and I couldn’t convince myself that this was normal.
“I forgot your panties,” he said as he backed up and pulled out onto the road.
“Oh,” I replied. My panties weren’t of great concern right now.
He didn’t say anything more and a couple minutes later, we were pulling into Gran’s driveway. When he cut the engine and climbed out, I was surprised. At this point, I expected him to open my door and push me out while the truck was still moving. He seemed ready to get rid of me. Was this how it worked? He got sex and now he was moving on.
I didn’t wait to see if he was coming to open my door; I did it myself and when I stepped out, he was right in front of me. I stared up at him scared that I had made a mistake, sad because I was already missing him and he was right in front of me.
“Henley,” he said in a low voice.
“Yes?”
He took a deep breath. “Stop looking at me like that or your baking isn’t going to get done. Hillya will show up here looking for it and find me fucking your hot little ass on the counter. Do you understand?”
My face flushed and my eyes went wide but I managed a nod.
“Good. Go inside and get your stuff done. Then come back to my place,” he said as he brushed a stray hair that was blowing into my face back.
“Okay,” I whispered.
He groaned and stepped away from me. “Go inside.”
I started to say something and he shook his head no and pointed at the house. The gleam in his eyes was a warning. One that made all my worries vanish. Smiling, I grabbed my bag and turned and headed for the house.
When I was inside and the door was closed behind me, I looked back to see his truck lights come on as he pulled out of the driveway. My cheeks hurt from grinning so big. He wanted me to come back. Which meant I needed a shower and to change. I glanced at the clock and hurried to start on my baking. While the banana loaf was in the oven, I got a quick shower. Then I put the muffins in and shaved my legs. When the granola was baking, I brushed my teeth and changed into a pair of cut off jean shorts and a red tank top.
Slipping on my sandals, I loaded the items in the car and headed to take them to work. I was only five minutes later than I normally delivered when I walked into the back door of the shop. Hillya was covered in flour, and Emily was icing some cinnamon rolls.
“Good morning,” Hillya said, smiling at me.
Emily grunted. She was not good with getting up this early.
“Good morning,” I replied and placed the items on the counter. “I didn’t try anything new this morning. This is some of the regular stuff that sells out.”
“I just appreciate you doing this on your days off. I need you to write down these recipes, so I can get someone in here to help me and you can have a real day off,” Hillya said.
Thinking about this morning and having to leave Saul’s bed, I decided that needed to be moved up the list of things to do. The idea of still being tucked in his bed with him made me wish I’d done it sooner.
“I’ll work on that,” I told her.
Hillya looked up from the bowl she was stirring. “Good!”
I said my goodbyes and headed outside. Soon, I was going to have to ask Hillya about Rebel. Just not today. Things with Saul were new. I was happy and I wanted to enjoy it. I wasn’t sure how long this thing with us was going to last. Being with Saul was all I wanted to think about for now. It was as if I had a break from reality when I was with him.
Twenty-Five
It was a little after seven when I pulled into Saul’s driveway. I had brought another bag with a swimsuit and towel in case it was needed but left it in the back seat. Before I was halfway to the door, it opened with Saul leaning against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest and watching me. He had been looking for me. My chest felt warm and other things I was too afraid to label.
When I reached him, he held out a hand to me and I went willingly toward him. He kissed me then. The way I had wanted him to kiss me this morning. The kiss that said he too enjoyed last night. I went up on my tippy toes and kissed him back with all the em
otions that I wouldn’t speak. Not yet. Maybe never. It all depended on him and how this played out.
“I gotta get to work. Can y’all go suck face somewhere else?” Rio asked, and I pulled back to look over Saul’s shoulder at Rio.
Saul didn’t take his hand off my waist but stepped back and took me with him. “Mornin’,” he said to Rio as we walked by him.
“Looks like a fucking good one for you,” Rio replied.
“It is,” Saul shot back at him.
I heard Rio laugh and then the door closed. Saul looked at me then. “You want go back to sleep?” he asked me.
I thought of getting back in his bed with him and I couldn’t think of anything more I wanted to do. “Do you?” I asked him.
“Sleep?” he asked me.
I nodded.
He slipped his hand under the back of my tank top. “If I go with you back to my bed, I will fuck you again. So my question is do you want to go back to sleep?”
I had always thought using the word fuck instead of sex was crude. Until now. When Saul said it, all my female parts felt a thrill and became very alert.
“I want to go to your bed,” I replied honestly.
Saul said nothing but led me up the stairs and down the hallway to his bedroom. When I heard the door click shut behind me, I turned to look at him. He reached for my waist but grabbed my shirt instead, taking it off and tossing it on the floor. My bra came next then he took a moment to look at my breasts before taking my hand and pulling me toward the bed.
He took his shirt off then his gaze went to my shorts. “Better leave those on,” he said. “I’m going to let you sleep first.”
“Are you going to stay?” I asked him disappointed. My body was aching now and I wasn’t sure I could sleep.
“Yeah,” he said and moved me to the side of the bed then pulled back the covers he had straightened while I was gone.
I sat down and took off my shoes then moved to get under the covers. Saul slid in beside me and shifted so my back was pressed against his chest. His arm sat just below my breasts and I closed my eyes, trying not to think about how incredible last night had been.
Saul’s arm moved and brushed the underside of my breasts, causing me to inhale sharply. Every square inch of my body was sensitive.
“Henley,” he said his voice tense.
“Yes?”
“You need sleep,” he told me. “Don’t wiggle.”
“I’m not wiggling,” I said, turning my head to look back at him. However, the movement caused my left breast to move right over his hand that had been resting too close.
He lifted his body up and pressed my back to the mattress as he came over me. “Yeah, you are,” he said then lowered his mouth to mine to kiss me hard.
I moaned and arched into him, opening my legs so his body fit between them easily. His kiss became more aggressive as he pushed his erection against me. Our shorts were suddenly the enemy. I wanted them off. I wanted him inside me again.
He tore his mouth from mine. “Fuck,” he growled and his hands went to my shorts. They were sliding down my legs along with my panties in seconds. Then he was shoving his down and kicking them off the bed. “You make me crazy,” he said, lowering himself back over me.
It wasn’t until I felt him at my entrance, sliding inside, that our eyes locked and we realized he wasn’t wearing a condom. “GOD that feels incredible,” he groaned frozen.
Yes, it did feel incredible but there was no protection. I wasn’t on birth control and then there was his previous sexual partners to worry about. “Condom,” I whispered hating to bring it up.
He inhaled sharply and then looked directly into my eyes. “I’ve never been with anyone unprotected. Ever.”
Was he asking me to do this without a condom? As much as I wanted to be with him I wasn’t sure I could do this. I said nothing but stared up into his eyes wishing I knew the right words to say.
“Henley, I would never do anything to harm you. I swear.”
“I’m not on birth control,” I said softly.
I could see him clench his jaw as he looked at me. “I’ll pull out.”
I didn’t know all the details of sex but I did know that if he didn’t come inside me then I wouldn’t get pregnant. At least I was pretty sure that was required. I wish I had asked my mother questions about this now. Saul looked to be in physical pain as he held himself over me not moving. Waiting on me. I had to decide. I knew that making him stop and get a condom was the smart thing. His blue eyes appeared to be pleading with me. I was weak.
Unable to stop myself, I lifted my hips and he sank in deeper. His eyes closed tightly and he appeared to be in pure agony as a low and long groan came from his chest. “HOLY FUCK!” he shouted. His arms were trembling as he held himself over me.
Watching him made my pleasure increase. Lifting both legs, I wrapped them around his hips and pulled him down. He filled me completely then. Saul cursed again and he hands fisted into the sheets beside my head.
“You’re so fucking wet and hot,” he said between his teeth. “I’ve never,” he was breathing fast and hard, “never been without one,” he finished. “Damn nothing has ever felt this good.”
He moved then and I kept my legs wrapped around him. My panting became as heavy as his. I wanted more of it. More of him.
“I’m gonna have to stop, baby. I can’t stay in.” He broke off with a moan of pleasure as he sank deep inside me again. “If you come on my dick, I’m not going to be able to stop,” he warned me as my body began to tremble with the release that was almost within my grasp. It was there and my body was hungry for it.
“AH!” I called out, clinging to Saul as it began to claim me. The orgasm burst from me and the ecstasy took over as I held onto his shoulders and cried out his name over and over. This one was different. I could feel the pulse of his erection as the bare skin of his cock slid inside me. The intimacy that provoked intensified everything. Just as I began to fall back to earth, Saul shouted and jerked away from me.
Startled, I opened my eyes just as he shot his release all over my stomach. “FUUUCK!” His body shook, his neck was so taunt the veins stood out, and his head was thrown back. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
When he was done, his hands fell to his sides and he drew a long deep breath as his gaze met mine. “You have no idea the strength that took,” he said then moved his gaze to my stomach covered in his come.
“What?” I asked confused.
He lifted his eyes back to mine. “Not to let that go while I was inside you,” he replied. “God, Henley, that was… fuck… it was,” he stopped then and grinned. “Hell, I don’t have words for it.”
He moved back then, getting off the bed, and stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
I watched him go to the bathroom and come back with a hand towel. He wiped up his release from my stomach then dropped it on the floor before climbing back into bed and pulling me against him.
Like last night, he began to caress my back with his fingertips and slowly, I was drawn back to the relaxing security of being in his arms.
Twenty-Six
Standing outside Lily’s penthouse was a much different experience than the last two times. Saul unlocked her door and went inside. “Mom!” he called out her name.
“Saul? Is that you?” she asked.
Saul looked at me before replying, “Who else has a key and calls you mom?” He motioned for me to come inside.
The penthouse smelled of garlic and parmesan cheese.
“I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. I hope you’re hungry,” Lily said as she walked into the living room from an arched doorway to the left of the kitchen. She shifted her gaze from Saul to me and a smile spread across her lips. “Henley! I didn’t know you were here. Did Saul find you outside? Sometimes I think the doorbell isn’t working
,” Lily said as she came toward us.
Saul slid an arm around my back. Lily stopped and studied that for a moment then she looked at Saul. Realization dawned on her and her eyes went wide. “Oh,” she said, “You.” She paused and looked at me. “You two are together,” she finished.
This was not my mother and just because she was looking at me, I didn’t feel as if it was my place to answer her.
“Yes,” Saul replied.
Lily waved a hand in front of her then crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, Saul. I don’t know. She’s Honey’s granddaughter. Honey was so good to me. I loved her.” She looked at Saul with an almost pleading expression. “And Honey loved her granddaughter.”
I felt Saul tense, but he didn’t move his hand. “I know that,” was his response.
Lily fidgeted with her hands some more and then frowned at Saul this time. “She’s not your type.”
Of all the things I expected from Lily, this was not it. I wasn’t sure if I thought she’d be happy about this, but I did not think she would be so obviously upset over it.
“It’s not like that,” Saul said.
Lily threw her hands up then waved them at us. “It looks like it is like that. You’re touching her, she’s here with you, you said you were together.”
“Have I ever brought a girl here?” he asked her.
Lily shook her head. “No, you haven’t. But Saul, she’s not like the girls you date. Henley is a good girl. She’s got a plan for her life and she has goals.”
“And I can’t date her because she’s good?” he asked.
“I don’t think I can stand it if you hurt Honey’s granddaughter. And you will, Saul. You will.”
Saul’s hand fisted in my shirt and that was the only indication his mother’s words were affecting him. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what to say or if I should speak at all. Lily wasn’t well right now and she was recovering and getting back on track. I didn’t want to say something to derail her.
“I would never hurt her,” Saul said.
