by Haley Travis
“Yes. He said that he’d make sure that his father would fail me in the course I’m taking at Huntley if I ratted him out. When I wouldn’t go out with him again, he just rolled around in that sinister black car, shadowing me for weeks. I had nightmares. I almost stopped eating. It was horrible.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Craig muttered. “I only—”
Mrs. Landers came closer, giving him a swat across the shoulder. “Shut up and let her speak, Craig.”
It was a great relief knowing that she was obviously on my side.
“I wanted to thank you for helping me find the love of my life,” I said sweetly. I turned to Mrs. Landers to explain. “See, Craig was parked out in front of the diner where I went to study when I was afraid to be in my apartment alone. His lurking made me too upset to be there unless my neighbor across the hall was home.”
The stabbing glares of death she was shooting at Craig were absolutely comical.
“One night Leif offered to walk me home, and pretend to be my boyfriend so that Craig would leave me alone. Your son didn’t take the hint, so Leif had to pretend a little longer, and now we’re actually together.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I blew him a kiss, knowing that he was listening intently to every word.
“So basically, your son threatened me, harassed me, stalked me, but it all turned out fine in the end. The thing is…” I paused, staring into Craig’s weasley little eyes. “If he comes near either of us, or our homes or workplaces again, I’m pressing charges with the police. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
His mother gave him another light backhand smack across the arm. “Give me your car keys.”
He fished them out of his pocket meekly, and she snatched them. “No car until you move away. That is, if they’ll still take you.”
Mrs. Landers turned to me. “You haven’t said anything to the school, have you?”
“Oh no. Trust me, I want him to leave town.”
She exhaled loudly. “Thank you . You’ve been more than re asonable about this. I’m so sorry for the trouble he’s caused. Let me assure you, he’s grounded until he leaves.”
“You can’t ground me, mom, I’m—”
Her glare almost crackled in the early evening light, silencing him with one glance.
“Your garden is absolutely lovely,” I said to her, before turning and walking back to the car.
Leif opened the door as I approached, and we got in and left as quickly. “That was brilliant in every possible way. Where to now?” he asked with a giant, satisfied grin.
“How about your place?”
“Sure.”
The drive to Leif’s house was fairly quick, and I giggled at the extra friendly wave the gatekeeper gave me.
As soon as we walked in the front door, Leif asked, “Are you hungry? Or would you like to swim?”
I turned toward him, reaching up to wrap my arms around his neck. He was often the one touching me first, so now it was my turn. He returned my kiss enthusiastically, our mouths opening as we moaned softly together.
“I’m so proud of you,” he finally gasped, picking me up in his arms. “You’re sexy all the time, but something about you putting your foot down was extra spicy.”
He headed for the stairs, and I could barely control my laughter. “Put me down and let me walk.”
“This is ceremonial,” he insisted, striding up the stairs and down the hall to his bedroom. “This is a very big deal.”
“What do you mean?”
Leif laid me across the bed, slipping off my shoes and socks as he kicked off his own. Then he sat beside me, leaning in to nuzzle my throat.
“This time, we can make love and I can tell you everything I feel.”
“What? Why didn’t you before?” I asked.
He paused, and for the first time, he looked unsure of himself. It was oddly precious.
“I was nervous,” he finally said. “I knew that you had real feelings for me, but didn’t want to rush you. I couldn’t take the chance of scaring you off if you weren’t ready yet.”
Sitting up, I held his face in my hands. “I love you.”
His sparkling blue eyes were like little bits of the ocean. “I love you, too.”
All the stress of this completely bizarre summer dissolved as he said those words so intensely.
My throat constricted with the force of the emotions flooding me. Forcing myself to breathe, I managed to whisper, “Show me how much?”
“Absolutely,” he said with a conviction so solid that my body was already responding.
Pulling in a nervous breath, his large warm hands slid up my back, unhooking my bra to pull it off with my shirt, tossing it aside.
His hands on my breasts, his breath across the side of my neck – everything was so sexy that I would have fallen if I wasn’t already sitting on his bed. My knees were weak as my heart hammered, as I grabbed him to pull his mouth to mine.
Those thick fingers were everywhere. In my hair, across my cheeks, gently pinching my nipples. The hot strokes of his tongue against mine felt like we were already having sex.
I boldly dropped my hand to the crotch of his jeans, loving his muffled groan as I traced the outline of his erection against the thick material. It was so strained I was surprised it didn’t hurt. Or maybe it did.
Tugging on his t-shirt, he helped me yank it over his head, and I immediately sank my teeth slightly into his shoulder. I squealed as he pushed me back to unfasten my pants. He pulled them off at the same time as my panties, leaving me naked.
The way he raked his gaze across my flesh was positively obscene. His biceps flexed as he lifted me, centering me on the bed, placing my body exactly where he wanted it.
The loss of control wasn’t upsetting anymore. It was wildly hot.
Then he was lower, on his stomach between my legs, his palms running along my inner thighs. My head fell back with a choked cry as he dragged his tongue side to side all the way through the crease of my sex.
“Damn, you’re delicious,” he grunted, circling his tongue around my already swollen button, as his finger slipped inside.
A strange whimpered scream left my throat as I stared at his blazing eyes.
I already knew that he was going to be doing this every day, forever. I already knew that he loved possessing me. Pleasing me. Dragging every squeal straight out of my throat.
Leif spread me open wider, plunging his tongue inside me until I thought I might pass out from the overload of sensation. Then he replaced his tongue with two fingers, reaching deep to find a hidden secret spot deep inside me.
When he pressed against it while lapping at my clit, it was like flipping a switch. One second I was a nice, normal girl. The next I was a wild beast who was about to explode with the biggest orgasm of her life.
“Please…” I choked, trying not to pull his hair and probably failing. “Yes.”
Even though I was experiencing more physical pleasure than anyone could stand, I still felt unbelievably emotional. Leif was stroking me so firmly and gently at the same time. His free hand moved across my belly and hip, holding me in place. Studying me. Caring for me.
I felt absolutely worshiped.
The knowledge broke over me like a wave at the same instant the damn broke inside me, my climax pinning my limbs heavily as I shook helplessly under him. My pulse echoed in my ears as it felt like pure heat was hollowing me out.
When I was able to see again, I focused on Leif looking absolutely pleased with himself. He began to start the cycle again, but I took hold of his ears, pulling him toward me.
“Jeans off, please,” I whispered, pulling his mouth to mine. The faint salty, smoky taste on his lips was completely arousing.
Leif stood up for just a second to yank off his pants and shorts, leaving me to gasp at the sight of his swollen cock. There were already a few drops of pre-come at the tip, and it looked like it was already throbbing.
I pulled Leif over me, or at least, guided him to where I wanted him to move.
He buried his face in my neck for a moment, raking his teeth along my skin, then down my collarbone as he took hold of his shaft, pressing it to my wet opening. Even a single inch felt huge as he slowly slid inside.
I felt flushed, restless, needing more but glad that he was taking his time.
Leif took my hands, clasping them beside my ears as he pressed deeper. “I love you, Hayden. My heart belongs to you. We’re already forever.”
“Yes,” I whispered, blinking away the unshed tear as he smiled down at me. Then I murmured again as he sank ever deeper. “Yes.”
Despite the perfect temperature controls, the air felt hot and thick, our hearts beating a primal rhythm as the deep ache in my belly pulled him in. My knees bent to lock my legs around his waist.
“Easy, baby,” he said softly. “Let me open you up slowly.”
Even as my body was screaming for him to take me hard, Leif was still caring for me. It was beautiful and maddening. So much like him.
As he moved deeper with small, measured thrusts, my entire body registered too much sensation. The pressure of his thickness inside me. His hot breath across my skin. His lips on mine. His palm squeezing my breast.
Finally he sank completely inside me, with a few long, smooth strokes. I couldn’t hold back a whimper, but then, I didn’t want to. I never wanted to hold anything back with him again. My thighs tightened around his hips as I squirmed up against him, practically riding his body.
“You feel too good, baby,” he moaned against my mouth. “How am I supposed to control myself with you moving so sexily like that?”
“Don’t,” I begged. “I want you to lose control with me, please.”
His eyes locked onto mine with a sinful gaze, as his lips quirked up in a lusty smile. “I’ll never completely lose control with you, beautiful. But if you want more…”
He began to pump slow and deep, with a raunchy rocking of his hips that made me gasp. As he increased the intensity, my breasts began to shake with every thrust.
I could already feel the tingling of another climax brewing. His movements were intoxicating, almost as if he were dancing over me, pounding to an unheard beat.
Then Leif’s lips came to my ear. “Your little moans are driving me crazy, baby. You’re going to have to stop that, or I’m really going to lose my mind.”
His hand latched onto my hip to hold me down so that he could grind a bit harder, faster. There was no way I could have silenced myself through pleasure like that.
“I can feel your little pussy squeezing me so tight, baby. Is that how you’re going to show me you love me every single day?”
“Yes,” I gasped. “Please.”
“Please, what?”
His other hand slid down to place his middle finger on my clit, strumming it softly even as his length thrust in and out harder, faster.
“Please…show me how much you love me. Harder.”
The pressure became so intense it was almost rough, yet he wouldn’t quite lose control. Close enough for now.
“I love you,” I moaned, bouncing under him with every thrust. “More.”
“I love you, gorgeous.” His voice was nearly a growl, as I felt his cock thickening deep inside me.
A mind blowing climax was just seconds away when he whispered, “I love all of you, Hayden. From your beautiful eyes to your adorable giggle to your sharp wit. Right now, this tight, wet pussy is driving me wild.”
My breath rattled as the orgasm blanked my mind, blurred my vision, and made every single muscle seize up for a few heartbeats.
“That’s it, baby,” he grunted, possessing my lips again. “My sexy girl.”
His deep thrusts became slightly erratic, then slower, then Leif exhaled loudly as I felt the heat and wetness of his release inside me.
Feeling that giant body freeze in place was beautifully powerful to me.
As soon as we stopped moving, Leif kissed across my forehead. “I love you, Hayden.”
“I love you, too.”
He sat up with his back against the headboard, pulling me into his arms as he tossed a sheet around me.
I was hit with a wave of exhaustion and tenderness at the same time, from the way Leif curled me against his chest while stroking my back. “Would you like to spend the night?” he asked softly.
“Yes, please.”
His right palm traveled up and down my spine through the sheet, as his left hand wrapped around to stroke my hair. “Do you consider shopping to be a summer activity?” he asked.
“Sure,” I murmured. Then I tipped my head up. “Why?”
“I think we should go shopping soon so I can buy you some clothes you can leave here. That way you can stay over anytime you like, and don’t have to worry about getting ready for work at home.”
Snickering, I burrowed into his shoulder. “What about the times I want you to stay over at my apartment, huh?”
“I have a change of clothes in the trunk of my car,” he said. “No problem.”
Of course he was prepared for anything. “Okay, that’s fair.”
His lips dragged across my forehead. “You know that in a few weeks, I’m going to ask you to move in, right?”
“I was beginning to get that impression, yes.”
“But let’s get through all of the summer things we have to do first. Moving can be a fall thing.”
“Mmm…what other summer things?” I was pretty sure that we had a lot of it covered already.
“There are three different hiking trails I have to show you. More swimming at the beach. The end of August carnival over in Port Kerns. Raspberry picking on my mother’s cousin Darrell’s farm.”
“Raspberry tarts,” I mumbled, starting to lose the trail of what he was saying.
I knew that he would forgive me in the morning if I didn’t catch every detail. I was certainly taking in the most important things.
We were going to make the absolute most out of every day this summer. Every moment together. And every step as we began our new lives together.
Epilogue
_____
Hayden
* Eight Years Later *
Tiptoeing down the stairs toward the loud voices in the living room, it sounded like there was some sort of contest going on. As I peeked around the wall, I had to clap a hand over my mouth to stifle the giggles.
Tyler was having an in-depth discussion with a standing lamp that had been pulled out from the corner to be his co-host. Like father, like son.
At six years old, he was always finding ways to be in charge of a situation. For the past couple of weeks, he’d been hosting shows of all kinds. I’m not sure what kind of a thing he would be hosting in his swimsuit and sun hat, but that likely wasn’t important.
Marta, our four-year-old, was standing on one of the three couch cushions that had been placed in the center of the floor as some sort of contestant podium.
“Hey,” a low voice murmured as Leif snuck up behind me. “What’s the show today?”
Leaning back slightly so I was out of sight, I whispered, “I have no idea. Tyler and the lamp are still discussing the terms of Marta’s competition.”
“See, this is what happens when you limit their computer time,” he grumbled, as his arms slipped around my stomach, pulling my back to his chest.
“Imagination is the foundation of all creativity,” I said quietly. “Their brains have to develop away from a screen.”
“But they could be cod ing already.”
I turned to give him a quick kiss. “It’s much too soon.”
Leif grumbled, then stopped as I began to really kiss him.
Somehow my gorgeous husband had become even more handsome with each passing year. We were wrapped in each other’s arms for hours at a time, whenever possible. Now that I was accustomed to his size, and also his gentleness, he never made me nervous.
Not when in the end he’d on
ly waited three weeks to give me a key to his house, and Glen had tied a pink balloon to the giant gate to welcome me to the neighborhood.
Not when Claudia at Ray's Diner had informed me that she was never allowed to give me a bill again, it was always on Leif.
Not even when I found a small black jewelry box at the bottom of my stocking during our very first Christmas together, when we’d hadn’t quite been dating for five months.
