Love You Still

by Kat Bammer

  17

  They both didn’t see the car that followed them and stopped at the edge of the forest. Nor the man. Who sat there for a long time. Even after he’d observed their journey around the house, through the lighted windows.

  18

  “Am I too fast?” Peter looked her deep in the eyes. They stood in the middle of his bedroom, and somehow he had lost his shirt but nothing else. His unhurried, deep kisses wiped away all doubts.

  “Are you?” She didn’t think so. The way he’d made her feel all evening made her heart soar. The way his hands left her skin all sensitive wherever he touched her, made her feverish. And the way his abs clenched under the caress of her hands made her core clench in return.

  “Yes, I am. I’ve fantasized about this since I saw you again at the airport. Technically not you, but your butt, sticking out of the opening.” Peter chuckled.

  Heat gathered in Lisa’s cheeks and she swatted at Peter. “Thanks for reminding me about that.” She hid her face in the nape of his neck and bit him lightly. “Now that I think of it, I’m not so sure about this anymore.” Take that!

  Peter’s embrace tightened, and he groped her ass while he leaned back to look at her face.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. You and that sweet ass of yours have been the stars of my dreams ever since.”

  Warmth radiated through Lisa’s body and her pulse sped up a notch. “Are you seriously obsessing over my ass?” She looked into his dancing eyes and chuckled.

  “Hey, don’t laugh at me, that’s a very serious obsession of mine.”

  “You’re such a goof.”

  Peter looked at her—unsmiling and his eyes smoldered with intensity. The atmosphere between them suddenly turned hot and heavy until a half-grin split his lips. “Well, Lizzy, I’m whatever you want me to be.”

  Lisa grinned and smacked a wet kiss on him. Which turned into some awful slobby kissing in return. Their banter relaxed her and kept the butterflies in her belly at stake.

  He still fondled her butt. She knew it wasn’t small, but it had enough muscle for her to be okay with her womanly shape. Most of the time anyway. Flaunting her thirteen-years-older naked butt in front of the first boy she’d ever had sex with—not one of those times.

  Peter continued to caress her butt with his left hand, while his right hand wandered upward, along her spine, so slow the anticipation was killing her. He first took her dress with him, but let it fall back down when his hand reached its destination: Lisa’s neck. She loved being touched, being held there. It had always been one of her most sensitive spots. Did he remember? Or was it a coincidence?

  “So, are you sure about this? This is the last time I’ll ask, so think about that answer.” His voice was stern again—gone was the goofy behavior. Peter stared into her eyes as if he could see down to her soul, and his strong hold on her neck made her shiver. The intensity was back, stirring her to say yes to everything this man wanted to do to her. Was she sure? How would she feel tomorrow? Well, she would see and deal with it tomorrow.

  “Yes.” The word left her mouth softly but ignited Peter’s passion and he really took over. Her mouth and her body. He kissed her until her skin was tingling with anticipation.

  Sweet, innocent kisses alternated with deep, wet ones.

  He nibbled on the side of her neck, and kissed the inside of her ear, which made shivers run down her spine.

  Went down on his knees and kissed every single spot of skin he slowly unveiled.

  And she just held on for the ride, but there was no doubt who called the shots. They undressed him together, Lisa fumbling with the button of his jeans until he placed his hands over hers and opened them swiftly. After he stepped out of them and lost his boxers too, she froze for a moment.

  They were still standing in the middle of his brightly lit bedroom. Should she go down on her knees now?

  It was like he sensed her uncertainty and he raised her chin with one finger until she had to look into his eyes. He smiled and eliminated her tension.

  This was Peter—he knew her, and she him. No need to feel awkward with him. Yes, their last time had been a long time ago. The sex had been clumsy. But the connection had been real. They had laughed and cried together. It had been deep and intense and then light and funny again. Easy. Not porn-perfect, but unbelievably good.

  “Get on the bed.”

  Holy hell, that commanding voice was new, but unbelievable hot. He had definitely gained confidence and the dominant vibe aroused her.

  She got on the bed and observed Peter. He went to the light switch and bathed the room into semi-darkness. The light from the corridor still came through the half-open door.

  He took some things out of a cabinet that sat on the opposite wall of the bed.

  He came back and dropped the things on the nightstand. Condoms.

  “So, what are your feelings about toys?” He knelt down and nestled himself between her legs.

  Did he honestly just ask her that? Embarrassment rose inside her. “Hmm, well, I like them, I guess.”

  Peter eyes were laser-focused on her. “You guess?”

  God, she felt embarrassed; why did they have to talk about something like that now? Couldn’t they just, well get it on and stop the talk?

  “Yes, I like my toys,” she said with as much conviction as she could muster. “I just don’t know if I’d like them in your hands.”

  Peters face turned softer instantly. Then small wrinkles appeared next to his eyes as he grinned. “Oh, you will like it, I promise. But not this time. This time it’s just you and me. Now let me make you feel good.”

  This was like the strangest before-sex talk she’d ever had.

  Until Peter kissed her again, slowly. Starting at her lips, then in a line down her body. He circled her nipples with his tongue, suckled first the right one, then the left.

  Hard.

  Hard enough that Lisa felt a corresponding pang deep in her core and opened her legs farther.

  Her hands went into Peter’s hair and she held on, while he went farther down and made true on his promise.

  He had the perfect rhythm going on, alternating between licking and sucking, his fingers opening her up to his mouth, and all the while he never forgot there was more to her than just her clitoris.

  Lisa reached her peak in record speed, which didn’t usually happen.

  Peter chuckled against her, so in tune with her body he most likely could sense her emotions. He followed the path back up equally slowly, caressing her whole body.

  God, he really knew what he was doing.

  Lisa couldn’t suppress the thoughts about how much experience he had gained in the last thirteen years. There had to have been tons of practice to get that good.

  “Thinking again?” Peter looked down at her face with a tender expression on his face. He brushed aside some hair from her face before he took her mouth again. He took his time until she was twitching inside.

  She grabbed his butt and pressed herself against him. “Come on.”

  “In a hurry?”

  “Yes.”

  He snagged a condom and sheathed himself in record time, and when she pulled him toward her, she was hot and more than ready again.

  He entered her in a long, powerful stroke that made her gasp when he bottomed out. That gasp turned into a moan when he moved inside her.

  Deliciously slow!

  Their hands intertwined, and he ground against all the right spots. She purred and rubbed against him. “Faster.”

  Peter stopped until she opened her eyes.

  “Still in a hurry?”

  She grinned. “Nope, take all the time you need. No rush.”

  He kept his steady pace until her body once again strained for satisfaction and she grabbed his buttocks. This time he followed her lead, increased his speed until he pushed her over, and followed her with a groan that reverberated against her skin.

  They came together. His heavy body covered her like a sheet. Lisa felt his bea
ting heart against her chest and his breaths against her ear.

  “Am I too heavy?”

  She opened her eyes and turned to him. “No, I like it.” They kissed leisurely while at the same time still connected.

  “Let’s get some sleep.”

  “Hmmm.”

  Peter got up with a one-handed push-up, and she couldn’t refrain from following the veins on his forearm with her finger. He came back after getting rid of the condom and soon Lisa snuggled into the crook of his arm, listening to his breaths while falling asleep.

  19

  Peter, propped on his elbow, stared at Lisa sleeping beside him. They had used his toys on round three and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had that much fun and at the same time such an insatiable hunger for a woman.

  Well, she wasn’t any woman. That was why.

  They had kissed for hours and talked, about nothing and everything.

  When dawn finally broke, she fell asleep in his arms.

  It felt eerily natural to have Lisa in his bed like she belonged in this house and in his arms.

  He already could see a future with her here. Maybe because he really wanted this to work out between them. This was his chance. He had blown the first time; he would do anything to not blow it this time.

  Peter dozed a little but was instantly awake when the doorbell rang. Lisa didn’t move at all until Odin barked. Then she slowly opened her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He was already dressed and sat next to her on the bed to put on his socks.

  Her face turned alarmed in a split second. “Do you want me gone?”

  He looked at her like she was a little crazy. Then realization dawned on him. She hadn’t heard the doorbell.

  He leaned over to her and kissed her nose. “No, absolutely not. There’s somebody at the door; I’ll just go and check. You”—he turned at the door and pointed at her with his finger— “don’t move. I got plans.”

  Lisa fell back into bed. “If your plans involve breakfast in bed, I’m definitely game.”

  She closed her eyes again and Peter grinned while he went downstairs. Maybe he would eat his breakfast, off her body.

  Peter seethed. His muscles flexed when he crossed his arms and took on a wide stance. “I told Mom, there is nothing to say.” Upstairs Lisa lay in his bed, all warm and sleepy. Just waiting to be cuddled and more. And he was down here. It was still cold, the sun not yet high enough to reach his little meadow.

  “I know you don’t want to, son, but your mom said I should try to, anyway.”

  His father looked smaller. His hair gray and his body haggard. Why was he here—why now? He couldn’t think of one good reason, and on the other hand, of thousands why he shouldn’t be here. He had left his mother soon after Peter left town. Well, at least physically. The cracks in their marriage got visible right after Sophie’s murder. They all had felt responsible for her behavior prior to her death. And Peter had witnessed many fights and mutual accusations between them. They tried to hide it from him. But he had been seventeen, not a little kid anymore. He saw the signs and the effects those fights had on them. They took everything good and turned it into something bad.

  It was hard to watch them, not coping with the death but lashing out at each other. It had made his home a place he didn’t want to spend much time. And he hadn’t.

  This had made his life even more of a living hell, on top of Sophie’s death.

  “No, you don’t get to call the shots. Now go.” He could see on his father’s measured reaction that he had been prepared for an answer like that. They hadn’t talked in thirteen years. Peter had severed all contact. His mother had never understood why he didn’t blame his dad for what had happened to Sophie. But he blamed him for not fighting for his marriage, for his wife, who was a good woman, and for his family.

  “But, son…”

  “I said you should go,” Peter shouted. The similarities between his own actions and those of his father had grated on him ever since his divorce. But his wife— She wasn’t like his mom had been. His wife had betrayed him. Had broken her vows and his trust. She wasn’t a good woman, and it wasn’t a good marriage he should have fought for.

  “Peter, what’s going on.” Lisa appeared behind him and Peter groaned. He should have kept his voice down. She stepped next to him and by her reaction, he could see she recognized his dad.

  “Hello, Mr. Fisher. How are you?”

  Peter looked down at her bare feet. She wasn’t even fully dressed, all she had on her was a white T-shirt of his. It was big on her, reaching to her knees, but it was still only a T-shirt.

  “Hello, Lisa, what a nice surprise. You look good. All grown up. It must have been ages since I last saw you. How are you?”

  His father’s appearance changed right in front of Peter’s eyes. The haggardness disappeared and a pleasant smile appeared on his face. He’d always had a soft spot for Lisa. Said she would grow into a fine young woman.

  “I’m good, thank you, Mr. Fisher.” She turned toward Peter and looked at him expectantly.

  She wanted him to invite his father in, but there was no chance in hell he would do anything like that.

  When she took his hand into her own and squeezed it gently, it was like a clear, white light filled his body. She was by his side. Somehow this feeling calmed him. Mellowed him out. He could do everything with his Lizzy by his side.

  “Why don’t you invite your father in, Peter?” She squeezed his hand again, conveying her empathy, which made him want to please her. He didn’t want to talk to his father at all, and he sure as hell didn’t want him in his house, but he really didn’t want to disappoint her. Wow, when did he become such a sucker for this woman?

  “Come on in, Dad. Let’s grab a cup of coffee.” Peter stepped to the side and his dad entered the house.

  Lisa squeezed his hand again and when she leaned in and gave his bare shoulder a kiss, he instantly wished he hadn’t let his father in. He could grab her, throw her over his shoulder, and have her in bed and moaning in under a minute. Well, no chance of that.

  He led his father and Lisa into the kitchen.

  When they passed the staircase, she plucked her hand out of Peter’s. “I’ll just go get dressed?” she whispered, but Peter didn’t want to be alone with his father for one second, so he grabbed back her hand, shook his head, and pulled her after him.

  “So, Mr. Fisher, what’re you up to these days?”

  Peter went into the kitchen and prepared the coffee while Lisa and his father each took a chair at his small breakfast nook.

  “I’m a writer now. I wrote and published about twenty books in the last twelve years.”

  “Wow, that’s awesome,” Lisa said.

  Peter stiffened; he didn’t know any of this. Maybe he shouldn’t shoot his mother down whenever she started talking about his dad.

  “I wrote a book about Sophie’s death.”

  Peter tensed, turned around, and crossed his arms in front of his chest before he leaned against the counter.

  “I wanted to talk to you about it, before it gets published.”

  His worst nightmare, written down for everybody to read—great, just great.

  Judging by the terrified look on Lisa’s face, she expected him to lose his shit, and his dad’s expression looked like he was prepared for a similar outcome.

  Peter turned back to the coffee machine, swapped the cups, and pushed the button again. The noise of the coffee grinder masked the noise of his deep breathing.

  “Why?”

  “Why, I’ve written the book?”

  “Yep, why did you do it?”

  His dad shrugged his shoulders. “To process, find closure. I needed to examine where I went wrong. There are thousands of different reasons. All very selfish, and pretentious.”

  Peter smirked—he had forgotten his dad’s unique sort of humor. He always made fun of everybody, including himself.

  “Your mother told me you would
not like it.” He kept on talking without waiting for Peter’s reaction. Like he wanted to get it over and done with as soon as possible. “I want you two to read it first so I can still make the edits you request.”

  “Okay,” Peter said. He could see the little smile on Lisa’s face and her body visibly relaxed. Interesting. She wasn’t big on conflict anymore. When she was in her teens, she was in a state of war with her mother all the time. The past years must have mellowed her out.

  When the following silence turned uncomfortable, Lisa guided the conversation away from the edge. “How is the life of an author?”

  “It’s okay—lots of solitude, but I like it.”

  “Will you stay here, for the time being?”

  “Yes, I planned to get a room at your parents’ Inn. How are they? I hope they’ve got room left.”

  Lisa stared down at her limp hands on the table.

  “Mr. Reynolds had an accident a few weeks back. He’s been in a coma ever since. Lisa and a friend of hers have taken over the Inn recently,” Peter said, and his dad looked at him, helpless.

  He brought two cups of coffee to the table. Then he laid his right hand on Lisa’s neck and kissed her head.

  Her smile was rough around the edges, but she stiffened her spine and found her equilibrium again.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Lisa. I had no clue.”

  “It’s okay, it just punches me in the gut sometimes. But we do have room for you at the Inn.”

  Peter smiled. She was tough. His Lizzy. And the perfect host.

  “So, you two are together now? Your mother didn’t say anything.”

  Shit, caught. Peter didn’t know what they were exactly. If it was on him, he would call them that. But he had no clue how Lizzy stood on all of this. This could get ugly real quick.

  He raised one brow in question but Lisa didn’t react so he just went for it. “We are seeing each other. But it’s pretty new.”

  The question had caught her completely off guard and he could see her brain working in overdrive.

  “We’ll figure it out,” was all he said about it before he went back for his coffee and changed the subject. “Have you seen Mom?”