Chapter Six
Lisa
The creak of the door echoes in the room once again as Garrett finds his way inside. He doesn’t say a word, but it’s obvious in an instant that he isn’t taking the hands-off approach tonight. He snatches the covers off of me, strips my pants and panties off and positions his face between my spread thighs. I don’t have time to say anything, only time for the gasp that escapes my throat as his talented tongue makes its first pass. I arch my back and close my eyes as I give myself a silent promise that I will catalog every last second of this to replay in my memory when I’m back in my bed alone.
He takes his time bringing me to climax, doing things to me I’ve only ever read about, and it’s absolute torture having to be silent the entire time. It’s a beautiful kind of torture though. When he’s exhausted me with his mouth, he shifts up between my legs and slides inside of me slow and silent, which is in direct contrast to the fast and ferocious way he was eating me just moments ago. The flex of his muscles are visible in the moonlight as he keeps his pace slow, never breaking eye contact, leaving me breathless. My hips rise to meet him, our bodies in sync.
The spicy smell of his skin surrounds me as he takes me. Owns me. Controls my body with his. It’s one of the most intimate moments I’ve ever had during sex. With my legs wrapped around the back of his thighs I’m urging his movements on. He rolls taking me with him allowing me to be on top. I rise and fall in slow, controlled strokes taking things at a snail’s pace. I like to draw it out.
“Lisa,” he growls.
He jackknifes up so we are now face to face and urges my feet around his back. We are nose to nose when I feel his hips flex the first time. He’s so deep this way and the sensation has my head falling back. I can feel my hair sweep across my ass a second before he licks the shell of my ear and sucks on the perfect spot along my neck that drives me wild. Then he whispers, “Eyes on me, sweetheart.”
I turn my face back to him and stay that way as we flex and roll against each other drawing us closer to nirvana. This position is sensual and intimate and I relish every second of it. His one arm is around me holding us tighter together while the other moves into the small space between us to find my breast and tweak the tip. I forget that we are in his parent’s home as I cry out with abandon, squeezing my eyes shut.
He readjusts us so that he’s above me again. His gaze is piercing through me. His expression unreadable and my heart contracts, unsure of what’s happening between us as my emotions tangle within, as my body submits to his. His hips piston in and out of me as my world shatters like a dropped glass on tile flooring and somehow with his body, with his movement he puts it back together again. He groans his release never breaking eye contact with me.
When we’ve both finished, I feel the tears build and I fight to keep them at bay. Not wanting him to know that I’ve fallen in love with him. There is no doubt in my mind. I’m in love with Garrett and I’m terrified to leave him tomorrow. I don’t want to feel the emptiness that I did after Matt died. I know this was never meant to be more than a few days at the most, but it has changed me and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. My tears don’t leak out until we are repositioned with my back to his front, legs tangled together like last night.
Thank God he passes out because I don’t want him to know that I’m crying myself to sleep. So many things have happened. Starting with the confirmation that Matt has left a baby, that’s not ours, in this world. Followed by a day filled with family and friends of the man I shouldn’t be falling in love with, and ending with the most sensual lovemaking I’ve ever experienced. I know Garrett has to fly to New York for work, while I have to go back to my vacation in St. Pete. This has been the best week of my life and I hate for it to end, but I guess that’s just the way life goes. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
My heart aches with the thought of living without him, but he’s been honest all along about not wanting more. It’s my own fault that I’m feeling the way I am now. At least I get to say goodbye. With Matt I never got that, which is part of what hurt so damn bad.
Garrett
Coward that I am, I pretend to sleep while she cries. My arms are already around her and the gentle shake of her body as she fights the emotion guts me. I know if I acknowledge her pain then I’d also have to face the feelings that have grown during this week and that is not something I’m willing to do.
After hours of watching her sleep my fingers ache to touch her one last time so I give in tracing the curve of her breast with a lazy finger, making light swirling motions around her nipple. It tightens in response and I roll it between my thumb and forefinger. I repeat the process of trace, touch, roll and this time am rewarded with a sleepy mewl, while her hips tilt back against mine. I press my cock against her ass seeking more friction. My fingers trail down over her ribcage, over the curve of her hip, and down to the lips of her pussy. As soon as I make contact with her sweet spot, she starts panting and begging me to fuck her. God, I love that.
“Please, Garrett, fuck me, fuck me, please,” she whispers louder than I’m sure she means to. I continue to stimulate her until her body stiffens and shakes with the force of her release. After her body becomes rubbery with bliss, I remove my fingers, bringing them to my mouth so she can see and hear me suck her cream off of them. I give her the groan of a starving man.
I nudge her top knee forward and enter her in the spoon position. Pulling her hips against me, I rock in and out of her, the motion slow at first, allowing the tension to build. I’m grinding against her ass each time as I feel her hips move back against mine. When I can’t take it anymore, I flip her on to her back and place a pillow under her hips for leverage. I tug her legs over my arms as my hands plant themselves on either side of her ribcage. I penetrate her soaking wet passage. I’m surging with the intent to go deeper than I ever had, which draws a keening sound from her that I hadn’t heard until now..
Almost as if it’s just a teaser, I pull out, lean down and suck her sensitive cherry tips into my mouth. One at a time, I’m fanning the carnal fire already burning between us and the way we are together it won’t be long before it spreads like a wildfire out of control.
Once I have her squirming and whimpering I readjust her legs over my shoulders and hammer back into her. Our bodies are working together like a finely-tuned machine. Building a climax that scorches through me from my balls all the way up my spine. Even as she thrashes beneath me I continue to work until every muscle I own tenses up, my eyes close tight, and I explode in a rush of hot fluid inside her.
That was the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever had and it rocks me to my core. I roll off of her, my legs weak from exertion and stumble to the bathroom. I wet a washcloth and clean her using as much tenderness as I can. Then I crawl back into bed and lay on my side with my head propped in my hand as I examine her, never saying a word.
Melancholy like I’ve never known before pulls at my gut, twirling and tumbling until I’m weighted down by its effect. Realizing that I feel something for her I’ve never felt before I give her a gentle smile as her eyes take in my every expression. I sweep tender finger strokes over all of her skin, from her hair to the tops of her thighs. It’s almost like I’m memorizing every last dip, curve, and line of her skin. The gentle petting seems to lull her back to sleep.
Once I’m certain she’s asleep, I slip out of bed and take one last look at my beautiful Lisa. The slight ache I’ve been feeling in my chest all night expands and consumes me. I’ve never felt this before and I hope I never have to again. I place one chaste kiss on her cheek and leave the room without a sound.
I go to my room and change my flight to an earlier one. Then I sit down with a pen and paper to once again take the coward’s way out. I’m a real asshole for leaving this way, but there is no way I’ll be able to say goodbye and watch her heart break like I know it will. I never wanted to cause her the pain that her husband did and if I stay until she wakes up it will happen. I’m not the kind of man who settles down and a woman like her deserves someone who will.
My mom meets me at the bottom of the stairs and I’m a little startled by this. It’s early even for her. To be honest I was trying to avoid my parents too. I knew how they would feel when I made my decision. I never should have brought Lisa here. I should have said goodbye in that hotel room down south.
“Don’t do it, Rhett. You’ll regret it.” The warning in her tone evident.
“My flight got changed, Mom. The client needs me there earlier than expected. I didn’t want to wake her. I wrote her a note. Can you give it to her when she wakes up?” I avoid eye contact knowing she’ll see through me. She knows me better than I know myself sometimes, which on a normal day is a good thing. Today? Not so much. I hand her the letter and before I can move toward the door she pulls me into a mom-hug and holds tight.
With a shaky voice she says, “Rhett, she’s the one. I know it, you know it, we all know it. Don’t make the mistake of a lifetime and let her go. You’ll be sorry. I know you will. Please listen to me for once, son.”
I squeeze her a little tighter and let go. I turn on my heel and stride toward the door picking up my camera bag and pulling up on the handle for my suitcase. With my hand on the doorknob I say, “I’ll never have what you and Dad have. I’ve always known that about myself. I’ll just end up hurting her and she deserves better than that. I love you, Mom. I’ll come back when I can.”
“You think by leaving now you are saving her from hurt? You can’t be that dense, son. She’s head over heels for you. Please stay.” Her voice cracks and I know from experience that tears follow that sound.
“Mom, I can’t stay. It will be better this way. At least she will be mad enough it won’t hurt. It was never meant to be for us. I’m not even sure why I brought her here.”
“I do. I know why you brought her here. I just wish you could see it.”
I could hear my mom crying as I close the door behind me knowing that I’ll be breaking more than just her heart today.
Lisa
I wake up a little blurry-eyed which I’m sure is a combination of the tears I’d shed and the lack of sleep. Daylight is peeking in the window and the aroma of sex is all over the sheets that surround me. I can feel myself smile until I notice that the bed is empty. I guess Garrett went downstairs again or back to his room. I get dressed, brush my teeth and finish packing. When I head downstairs I realize it’s more than quiet in the house. Wondering if I’m the only one up, I head for the kitchen. What I see puzzles me a little.
Garrett’s mom is sitting on a barstool at the counter, full cup of coffee in front of her, an envelope next to her, and a very sad expression on her face. Through the windows, I can see his dad facing the river, hands on the dock railing, looking out over the water, motionless. No Garrett and no Tommy anywhere in sight.
I hesitate before I flash her a smile, knowing that something is off, but not sure what. “Good morning, Sandra.”
She puts on a small forced smile and says, “Morning, sweetie.”
“Garrett still sleeping?”
She doesn’t answer right away, just stands up and walks toward me with the envelope. She places her hand on my arm and says, “He’s gone. He loaded up a couple of hours ago, said he had a last-minute change in his schedule. He asked me to give you this.”
I tilt my head to the side before I choke out, “He, he, left? Already? Why didn’t he wake me? I would have left, too.”
She shrugs and I can see the tension in her shoulders and the nervousness as she swipes her fingers over the envelope she’s holding in front of her. It’s like a smack to the face when I realize what’s going on. When he woke me up in the middle of the night, that was my goodbye. He chickened out. Couldn’t even say goodbye. A wave of shame crashes into me and the room feels hot. Dizzy doesn’t describe the sudden onslaught of spins my head has going on. I can’t believe he left me here. I shake my head trying to clear the muddled mess of emotions that are clogging my brain up.
“I’m sorry, I’m sure I’m holding you up from starting your day,” I whisper trying to contain the overflow of heartache that’s bubbling to the surface.
I’m getting frantic. I’m reeling from having all of that amazing sex last night to being left here without even a goodbye. Who does that? Takes you to their parent’s house and then leaves you there without a goodbye, without anything? I’m thinking I might hyperventilate and I don’t want his mom to see that. It’s odd, but I’m feeling like I did the night that Matt died. Shocked, empty, scared and crushed with the grief of losing someone else that I love. Gone. No goodbye. What the hell?
I take two steps backward deciding to flee the situation, trying to save face. “Well, let me just pack my stuff up and I will be ready to head out myself.”
I can hear my voice crack on the last word, but before his mom can question me I start to back out of the room, not taking the envelope. I can’t imagine what it has to say. I just know I feel like an idiot for all of this. I shouldn’t have come here. I should have let goodbye happen in St. Pete a couple of days ago. I knew I was falling for him and once again I’ve picked someone who doesn’t want me.
I keep rambling as I go. “I don’t want to miss a day laying on the beach so taking off now is the best idea. Thanks so much for your hospitality, for showing me your town, and letting me stay here. I had a lovely time.”
I’m trying to get out of there before I have a major breakdown. I can feel it rising up in me like a volcanic eruption, over all of this unnecessary pain from a guy I’ve known less than a week. It’s official that I’ve lost my mind. I hustle back upstairs and gather my things, so thankful that I’m already packed. As I come back down with my suitcase in one hand, purse slung over my shoulder, keys jingling in the other hand, both Sandra and James are standing there waiting, looking uncomfortable.
I clear my throat and give them both a shaky smile and a quick hug. I thank them again and propel myself out the door. I’m trying to save face even though I’m certain they can see my heart breaking before their eyes. I’ve never been a good actress.
As I’m loading my bag, James comes out to the car. His deep voice grumbles beside me. “Lisa, he’s just scared. It doesn’t excuse what he’s done, but I know my son. He’s scared. That boy has never been in love in his life and he is with you. He’s never brought anyone home with him and never looked at another woman the way he looks at you. I’m sorry he’s a coward. I thought I raised him better than that, but he’ll come around.”
“James, I’d love to believe everything you’ve said, but the truth is I knew this was short-term. I just met him Monday. I’ve been through a lot in the last year and should have known better than to let it get this far. I’m an intelligent person, I just seem to have lost that somewhere along the way. Thank you so much for welcoming me into your home. I enjoyed myself so much with your family and friends.”
I slide into the driver’s seat as tears are pooling in my eyes and I know I’m losing it. James catches the car door before I close it all the way, sets the envelope in my lap and kisses my cheek.
“It only takes a moment to fall in love, honey. I fell in love with his mamma the first time I saw her. She hadn’t even spoken a word to me. Take care of yourself. He’ll come around. I just hope you haven’t smartened up by then. Drive safe.” Then he shuts the door and watches as I click the seatbelt into place and back out of the driveway.
I cry for half the ride back to St. Pete. By the time I get back to the hotel I’m exhausted and heartbroken. I spend the rest of the evening with a bottle of wine I bought from room service while I sit on the balcony, drowning my heartache. I spend some of that time crying and some of that time being pissed at myself for being so vulnerable and stupid.
By the next day I’ve made up my mind to shove Garrett, and my time with him, in a folder marked DO NOT OPEN and file it in the back of my brain. That’s the only way I can try to relax for the last couple of days I have here.
I text my sister to let her know I am alive and back at my hotel. She asks about Garrett and I blow her off by texting: Vacation fling. It’s over. He’s gone back to work. Talk to you when I get home. I’m headed for the beach. Love you. Then I shut off my phone and go to my lounger on the beach.
****
This morning as I’m about to leave, I open the envelope and I feel like I might get sick. I’m afraid of what it will say. Too much or too little, either way it’s not going to make me happy, but I have to know what it says.
Dearest Lisa,
I know I’m a coward for leaving you this letter instead of waking you up. I had a schedule change and have to be in New York earlier than I expected. I had a wonderful time with you, better than I deserved. Commitment has never been my thing and I wasn’t sure how to say goodbye to you. That’s how you ended up in Crystal River in the first place. I should have said goodbye to you in St. Pete, but couldn’t bring myself to do it.
You have been through so much already and I couldn’t be another person to add to that. It killed me to see you sad, even if only for a moment.
I know that life for you will get better. You are making changes to ensure that happiness and are stronger every day for it. You are an amazing woman and deserve a man equally as good to stand at your side. It’s unfortunate, but I’m not that man. I’m sure you figured that out by now. I hope you enjoy the remaining days of your vacation.
Take care of yourself,
Garrett
Well, there you go. I stuff the letter in my suitcase; wipe the tears from my cheeks and head for the airport shuttle. A few hours later I’m getting off of the plane in Cincinnati. As I’m waiting at baggage claim, I get a call from Nancy at United Way, informing me that I got the job. I accept without thinking twice. She’s giving me three weeks before my start date. At least something good came from this trip. Next, I listen to a voicemail that Mark must have left on my phone during my flight letting me know that Jill accepted the offer as it is and he needs me to come by and sign paperwork this week. I’m a little surprised that she accepted without a counter offer, but am so grateful to have something go smoothly for a change.