| |
––––––––
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from the returned favor. Guys typically didn’t spend any more time downstairs than was necessary to lube the tube, so to speak. I assumed Shawn’s oral game would be no different.
You should never assume.
From the first second his hands landed on my thighs, I knew I was going to be in for a treat. His fingers dug into my flesh as I lowered my knees to either side, giving him full access to me.
“When was the last time Dwayne spread you open like this to taste you?”
I propped myself up onto my elbows. “Um. Never? I was hoping I’d convince him to do it here, though.”
“He never wanted to explore you?” he asked as his fingers merged up my inner thighs to tickle my waiting folds.
“He thought it was unhygienic.” I panted as my hips rose to meet his touch. “It grossed him out.”
“Really?” He slid a finger inside me, and I gasped. “It’s one of my favorite things to do. A woman’s thighs against my face. The softness of her core. Her heat against my tongue? Mmm.” He slid another finger inside of me as I sucked in a breath. “Do you like it when a guy goes down on you?”
“It’s been a minute since one has.”
“Well then,” he said, pulling his fingers out of me, “it’s high time you find out.” He winked at me, then dropped his head between my legs. His breath was hot against my entrance. Teasing me. It was torture.
“You’re so wet for me,” he said, breathing heavy.
I dug my hands into the sheets, on edge with anticipation of his touch. He didn’t make me wait long.
“Holy shit,” I gasped, tearing the sheet off the corners as his tongue massaged my clit in a way I’d never felt before. I bucked my hips against his mouth, desperate to feel more of him. He licked and sucked, applying just the right pressure on my G-spot.
“Yes, Shawn. Right there. You’re right there.”
My breathless words seemed to spur him on because his tongue moved faster, pressing harder with each pass. He inserted two fingers inside of me while his tongue continued to work my clit. Faster and faster, he moved inside of me until I could take the torment no longer and exploded against his handiwork.
I screamed his name against the release, fighting wildly to catch my breath as he licked my core a few more times. Each stroke sent shock waves through my body until he finally looked up at me from between my legs.
“Well, that was fun.” He grinned.
“No. That was beyond fun. That was amazing. How did you get to be so skilled with your tongue?”
“Probably in poor taste to say, ‘I’ve had a lot of practice,’ huh?” He shrugged. “I told you, college was wild. That, and I think I might have an oral fixation.” He winked as he stood up, giving me a full show of his beautiful body.
“Well, I owe those lucky ladies my gratitude. That was the best oral I’ve ever had. Seriously. Ever.”
His expression beamed his pride. “Well, you better get used to it.”
If only. If only that was something I could expect when we got back home too. But I knew better than to make any assumptions.
“Look, I know we said we’d sort of let this week be an escape from reality,” I said, “but I was thinking maybe we should talk about what happens at the end of this honeymoon?”
“It would probably be the responsible thing to do. But I say, let’s not talk about all the things we’ll have to do when we get back.” He ducked into the bathroom to grab his trunks. “Those struggles will be there when we return,” he said, emerging with a covered cock. Pity. “Can we focus on getting to know each other this week? And leave all that real-world stuff alone for now?”
“But—”
He covered my lips with his.
“No buts. Just us. Remember? Reality will be there for us soon enough. For now, let’s forget about responsibilities, obligations, expectations, and focus on our mutual pleasures.”
Well, when he put it that way.
“Fine. No talk of the future. Just fun in the sun,” I said.
“Perfect. Speaking of the sun, why don’t we go find some chairs to lounge in and soak up some Vitamin D?”
“Deal.”
A few minutes later, we were both cleaned up, dressed, and had scored two comfy chairs that were as secluded as one could get on a cruise ship. The sun was on the other side of us, so we were able to enjoy the coolness of the shade, as well as the beautiful blues of the ocean.
We swam in the pool for about an hour, laughing and giggling like teenagers and pretending like we were the most in love that two people could ever be. It was a wonderful illusion.
All too soon, the pool became crowded with bodies, so we opted to get out and stare at the ocean while we dried off. We didn’t talk as we watched the horizon slip away from us, each seeming to need time to just be with the view and the moment. It was calming. Healing. The most content I had ever felt. Shirley may have been onto something by taking a job as a cruise director. There was something about the ocean that was humbling. Peaceful. Nurturing.
“So, tell me about you,” Shawn asked once we were both settled onto the lounge chairs. Since most people were in the pool, our spot was even more secluded. That suited me fine. The closest people to us were about ten chairs away.
“What about me?”
“Tell me more about what other places you want to travel to, your hobbies, your friends. Oh, I know, tell me who at the reception was your bestie?” He rolled to his side to give me his full attention.
I twiddled with my hands. “Um, no one at the reception was a bestie. My family is small, and there were only a few people from work. I’m not exactly Miss Popular.”
Shawn raised an eyebrow. “But what about the seven bridesmaids you had? Surely one of them you’re close to.”
I shook my head. “Nope. Those were Dwayne’s family. His cousins, sister, and an aunt of his. And of course, Emma, who left with my groom.”
“Ah, that’s why that side of the table was empty at the reception.”
I laughed. “Yeah, you probably noticed quite a few empty seats.”
“I did, actually. Well, if it’s any comfort, none of my friends were there either.” He winked at me.
I sighed. “It’s kind of pathetic I don’t have many close girlfriends, isn’t it? My one friend, another librarian, was bedridden with twins but aside from her, I don’t have many friends. I used to before I moved to Erwin. I can’t seem to find my people, I guess.”
“How long have you lived there?”
“Only a few years. I know it takes time to settle someplace new, but it doesn’t feel like home yet.”
“Where in New England did you move from?”
“New Hampshire. I miss real seasons. Everything is the same all the time. The same-colored trees, the same blue sky. I never thought I’d miss something as simple as a change in the weather.”
“So, tell me about Dwayne. You two don’t seem compatible, honestly.” He seemed genuinely interested in hearing about my past, instead of waiting for an opportunity to talk about himself. It was refreshing.
“Ugh. We weren’t. But I thought he’d be different. He wasn’t the usual asshole I’ve dated in the past. He had a stable job. Seemed to have his head screwed on right.” I shrugged. “I figured, with time, I’d learn to love what was good for me.” Biggest mistake ever.
“But you didn’t.” It wasn’t a question. He seemed to pick up on my tone and how much I regretted the choice.
“I didn’t.”
He didn’t appear to judge me for my biggest secret. I didn’t love Dwayne. And yet, I was so willing to marry him. I was messed up.
“So why did you move from a spot you loved to be with him?”
And there was the ten-million-dollar question.
“It seemed like a promising idea at the time, I guess. I wasn’t getting any younger, and it wasn’t like anyone else was busting down my door. I worried this might be my one chance to have some adventure. Get out of the small-town life and explore the world. Little did I know I was trading one small town for another, more boring one.”
“So, you’re hoping for a life full of adventure from your stand-in groom?” he asked.
I laughed. “Well, something a little more exciting than only looking at the brochures in the office or daydreaming of places in books. You have no idea how hard Dwayne fought me to take this cruise. He hates spending money on things he thinks are wasteful. Hell, we never even went out to eat.” I frowned. “I don’t mean to sound like a spoiled brat or anything. I don’t need to be wined and dined twenty-four-seven, but an occasional outing would be nice. And I didn’t think asking for a cruise I’ve wanted my whole life for my honeymoon was unreasonable.” I twiddled with my hands in frustration.
“Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t marry that snore of a man.” He clapped his hands together. “Because I for one, love eating out.” He winked. “I also like adventure. So, what types of adventure are we talking about? Skydiving, bungee-jumping, surfing with the sharks?” His eyes were alight, as though he were ready to do all of them right then.
I shook my head. “I don’t need to do death-defying things. I’m not opposed to them, but I suppose it’s more that I long to see more of this world we live on. There is so much I haven’t seen, you know?”
He nodded slowly. “I get it. I felt that way too. Major wanderlust. Until I saw you, and then I was home.”
I looked over at him, ready to laugh, but from the look in his eyes, I knew he was telling me the absolute truth. And I couldn’t help but wonder if I didn’t feel the same way.
