Chapter 10

Carson

I bring her flowers inside the house for her, and she gives me a light tour of the house. It’s quaint and small, being a bungalow with a single-car garage, and a postage-stamp sized front and backyard. She keeps it neat and tidy, and has a little trouble finding a vase to put the flowers in. “You need a hand, darlin’?”

She chuckles. “I told you it’s been a long time since someone gave me flowers. I’m not sure if I even have a vase.”

“You have a milk jug or a big cup somewhere?”

She looks at the monstrous bouquet. “I really don’t think that’s going to cut it. Oh, here’s one.”

After she pulls it out and fills it with water and the packet of flower food that came with it, she sets it on the table, and I wrap my arms around her from behind. “You like those?” I ask warmly.

“I love them. They’re beautiful.” She caresses my hands and snuggles into me. “In fact, I should take a picture of them.”

“Oh, not now…this is…nice.” I say, holding her close. I give her neck a little kiss and then I raspberry it, making her giggle. She shudders. “Did I give you a little shiver.” I say with a salacious smile and my voice low.

“Um hm.”

I pat her bottom playfully after releasing her. “You better go take that picture before we get into trouble.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” I watch her head over to her purse to pull her phone out. My eyes don’t leave her. Just in her work outfit she’s gorgeous. Her long blonde hair is pulled back into a messy bun, with tendrils hanging down the sides. Not a trace of makeup is on her face, and yet her eyes and lips stand out a mile, with natural pink blushing to make her look polished and healthy. There is no doubt in my mind that I am madly in love with this woman. I have been for a long time, and I’m sure that she feels the same. The trick here is to not screw things up by moving too fast too soon.

If I can just keep telling myself that. Every inch of me wants to hold her and never let her go, but I’m not sure if she’s ready for anything heavy right now. I’m a heavy guy. Been like that all my life. What I’m here for is not a one-night-stand or a fling, no, when I love I love hard and deep, and for the long haul. When I go in, it’s all or nothing, and I sure hope that she’s on the same page, or I’m setting myself up for more heartbreak. I think I’ve had enough of that to last a hundred lifetimes.

She takes the picture of the flowers, and then she backs herself up to me, so we’re in the same position we were a minute ago, and she asks if I don’t mind her taking a picture of us together. “No, I don’t mind at all, darlin’. Why don’t you get one of just us, and another with us and the flowers in the background.”

We take the first shot, and then change position for the second shot. But we can’t get the flowers to show, so we have to hunker down on our knees, and take a shot of us kissing sweetly in the center of the vase. “Be careful, Carson. I don’t want you to hurt your back.” She says, concerned.

“I’m fine, doll.” She shows me the pictures as I stand behind her, holding her close again. “We take a nice picture, love.” I say softly in her ear, and I want so badly to kiss her neck some more, and do a lot more, but I don’t want to mess things up between us. “I should get going, sweet pea. You’ve got an early day tomorrow.”

“But it’s only eight o’clock.” She says, confused. “Unless…oh, are you feeling tired?”

It takes everything in me not to pull her back into my arms. “No, I’m fine. I just…I should go.”

She tilts her head. “Okay.” Her voice is tentative. “Well, tell Chase that I say hi when you see him tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure.”

She takes a step towards me, and I prepare myself. Self control, Carson, self control, I say to myself, like a mantra.

“Thank you for dinner and for the flowers, Carson. You made my day.” She says, snaking her arms around my neck, trying for gentle, instead of needy, the way that I had hoped for.

“You’re welcome, darlin’. It was my pleasure.” I kiss her sweetly on the mouth. “Happy birthday, love.”

Her fingers make trails down the sides of my head by my ears, making my eyes go to her lips. This woman’s got me under her spell, and I think she knows it. As her breasts press up against my chest and her nose meets mine, I can feel her body heat warm me in all the right places, as her eyes tell me what my heart wants to know. That she feels precisely the same way about me as I do about her. “How about I give you a proper birthday kiss, darlin’. The one I should have given you years ago.”

The answer I get is with her eyes. They’re on my lips. I tilt my head, part my lips slightly, and envelop her lips with mine, giving them a gentle suck, pulling back, making a smacking sound, and then I make another pass, this time deeper, skating my tongue along the inside of her mouth, until it meets hers, and she reciprocates, as our lips and tongues glide over and over each other, while I pull her tight to me, and lift her feet off the floor. Kerry-Ann lifts herself slightly, caressing my hair from above me, kissing me back with equal vigor, as I listen to soft gasps come from her throat.

Hands all tangled in my hair, Kerry-Ann’s head is above mine, while she kisses me hungrily yet tenderly, the way I’d honestly hoped she would, telling me exactly what I wanted to hear, with her lips. She pulls back for a second, sliding her hand through my hair, with her eyes pinned to mine. “Your back…is it okay?”

I nod. “It’s just fine, darlin’.” My eyes go to her lips, and she kisses me more, while my hand explores her back and I take a pass over her rear, reveling in how tight yet soft it is. I set her feet back down on the floor and slide my hand under the hair at her neck, stroking her face with my thumb, as my eyes search hers. It just comes out, like my mouth and my brain are no longer connected. “I’m so in love with you, darlin’.” My voice is almost a sigh. “I hope it isn’t too soon to say that, but it’s true all the same.”

“I’ve been in love with you for years, Carson Thomas. It’s about time you said it.” She says softly, scanning my face with her gaze.

Tilting my head, I kiss her again, deeper, sucking her tongue and lips, making her gasp, making her grasp my hair tightly, pulling me closer. I lift her again, but this time I walk away from the door, past the hallway, and lift my lips off hers for a moment. “Which one is yours, darlin’?” I ask, forgetting my bearings and which bedroom is hers.

“Here.” she says, almost breathlessly. We’re at the door of her bedroom, and it’s like she can’t get enough of my lips, and I can’t get enough of hers. We’re a kissing, sucking, panting, mess. My hands cup her rear as my lips leave hers and go to her neck. I’ve been dying to kiss her neck again since earlier, so I have at it, trailing kisses and gentle sucks up and down, while she leans into me, giving me easier access. I feel her hands reach down my chest, sliding down slowly, while mine make a trail up her shirt, skating my fingertips over the soft skin on her back.

Taking a chance, I pull her shirt up, and to my pleasant surprise, she lifts her arms up, and I pull it off over her head. Under it, she’s wearing a cute little pink bra with a hint of lace lining the edges. I trace a line over the lace with my finger, both drinking in the sight of her, and touching her skin, at the same time. Her fingers reach the top button on my shirt, and she undoes them, one by one, and leans up, kissing down the length of me after each additional inch is exposed. When she reaches the bottom, she pulls it out of my jeans, opens it up fully, and makes her way up to my neck, kissing it with so much vigor, I swear to God I’m going to have to explain the hickies tomorrow.

My zipper is downright bulging after that. I pull her to me, again cupping her rear, and she lets out a sexy little moan, kissing my shoulder, and back up my neck again. Our lips smash together, and her arms wrap around my neck, as I pick her up again, and carry her to the edge of the bed. Her hands go to my jeans, as she undoes the button, and then slowly slides the zipper down, as her gaze sears through me intently. Her eyes don’t leave mine as she pushes my jeans down, until I can step out of them, and then I follow suit, placing my hands, palm-down, on her hips, and sliding her pants down, until she can step out of them.

Her panties match her bra, and I smile.

“You like that?”

“Like…doesn’t cover it.” I say, my voice low. “But I should tell you that you wasted your time putting that little number on, darlin’. Because I’m fixing to have you out of that in the next ten seconds.” I say, as I deliver a thigh-searing kiss on her mouth, while undoing her bra, letting it fall to the floor, and pushing her panties down off her thighs, and I manage that in about eight seconds. On my way back up her thighs, I trail my fingertips on the outside, while kissing the inside. All. The. Way. Up. When I reach the apex of her thighs, I kiss it, making her gasp, and then I kiss up her belly, navel, and when I reach her breasts, I kiss the fleshy part, all the way around, and then I take her nipple in.

Her head rears back as I suck it, and she doesn’t hold back the instant, cock-hardening moan that comes out of her. Her nipple is erect and wet from my mouth as I move to her other one and do the same thing. Her breasts are magazine perfect, and not the trashy magazine type, either. She’s a beauty from head to toe. Fingers on the waistband of my briefs, she pulls them down, not wasting a second, before sheathing her hand around my cock, feeling how rock hard I am from her touch. Once she begins milking me, I’m done for. I guide her down to the mattress, and hover my body over hers, kissing her lips, neck, and French-kissing her breasts, listening to the beautiful sounds of desire coming out of her.

She maneuvers her fingers around my nipples, gently squeezing them, while kissing my neck, and that’s it. This woman is bound and determined to set me on fire, and by golly, she has. I decide the only way out of this alive is to set her on fire, too, and extinguish her flame a little bit first. My mouth is on her breasts first, and then I trail kisses, licks, sucks, even little nips, while my hands stay on her nipples, keeping her writhing at my touch. I work my way all the way down to the mark, and then I go in for the kill.

While keeping my fingers on her nipples, gently squeezing them, my lips and tongue are French-kissing her folds, sucking them, awakening that starved nub, making it stand on end, and when it does, my tongue batters it, making her arch her back, making her moan aloud haphazardly, as if her nearest neighbor is acres away, as if letting go of years of pent-up desire, as I lick and suck her until her legs lock up and she lets out the most amorous sound I’ve ever heard, almost animal. She came so fast I’m convinced that she’s not far from another, so I slow a little, letting her adjust, and keep going, until another one builds, moments later.

My cock is throbbing, pulsing on my belly, ready to explode, by the time her legs lock up again, and another orgasm crashes through her, this time making her mewl, feeling some satisfaction. This time I figure she’s ready for the final countdown, so I hover over her, after kissing my way back up her body, and I wait for her cue to let me in. It’s like she reads my mind, since her legs cradle my waist, and she arches her back, wiggling her way, so the head reaches her awaiting wetness. I slide inside her like a glove, and my eyes close involuntarily at the heavenly feeling of being inside her.

She’s warm, wet, and very tight from her recent releases, and I know it’s going to take some fancy footwork to make sure I don’t reach the finish line before she does. As I start moving inside her, I pull her arms over her head, keeping them there with a gentle hold on her hands, so I’m angled, hunting for that magic spot I hope to God she has. The look in her eyes is a combination of lust and love, the perfect kind, and I find myself reciprocating, kissing her at first soft, and then more hungrily, as the desire builds. Releasing her hands, I angle up, so I can reach her nipples, and begin licking and sucking them, getting the desired effect.

As her back arches, her hands go to my nipples, as she circles them with her palms, giving me delicious shivers. She’s meeting me thrust for thrust, as we fall into a deeply pleasurable rhythm, while our breathing turns ragged and the bed squeaks happily under us. “Mmm…Carson.” she mewls my name, giving me such a thrill both in the mind and below the belt. Now, if I can just get the spot so her neighbors learn my name, too. “I want to go on top.” She breathes, eyes flashing with delicious wickedness.

“Whatever you want, darlin’. I’m all yours.” I say, grunting as I slide off her and lay down next to her. I’d love to manoeuvre her over in one fell swoop, but I’m not sure about that with my back, so I play it safe. She crawls on top of me and impales herself with me, hitting the ground running, as if not wanting to lose the beat that we had a moment ago. Her wetness clenches more at this angle, driving me insane, and what’s more is how fucking sexy she looks, riding me like a cowgirl in heat. It’s fucking perfect.

My thumb circles her clit, and she arches her back more, feeling it, as I feel her tighten, and I’m all but hanging on by a thread. We’re both hissing on inhale and moaning on exhale as we climb together. Her hands circle my chest while my finger circles her clit, in almost a pleasure tug-of-war, and then I feel it. “Oh, God, Carson…” she mewls, and I know that’s the preliminary warning, so I make like lightning, as quick as I can, to flip her over, and take her from on top again, thrusting into her fast, hitting that magic spot, and she lets go, for a second encore performance, grasping the sheets until her knuckles are white.

I’m holding my breath, while beads of sweat form on my back, forehead and chest, as I all but bite down, trying to hold on for dear life until her back touches the mattress again…and then I let loose, pulling out fast when I feel my seed reach the tip, buffering our cries with kisses, as I empty myself on her belly, safe out of the way of any danger. My cock rubs on her belly, feeling her softness, reveling in it, as I enjoy my first real orgasm in so many years I don’t even remember.

When we’re both smouldering messes, I lean on her carefully, propping myself up with my elbows, so I don’t make more mess, and I kiss her lips as well as I can muster, seeing as we’re both breathless. I lean my forehead on hers for a moment, and then I reach over and grab the tissue box from the nightstand and clean her up, with her help. We lay facing each other, basking in afterglow, kissing, with expressions that only two lovers have for each other. The first three words that come out of my mouth are the ones that count. “I love you, Kerry-Ann.” I kiss her nose. “If I haven’t said it enough times tonight, happy birthday.”

“I love you, too.” She says, and then she kisses me about a dozen times. “I didn’t get cake, but this was much better.”

I smile. “You want cake? I can get you cake.” I tease.

“No, I’m good. I’d much rather have you.”

“You’ve got me, darlin’.”

“You have me, too.” She sighs after a beat. “I probably should have told you one thing before you stayed for any length of time.”

“What’s that, darlin’?”

“Dawson, my brother?...lives two doors down from me.” She smiles knowingly.

“Oh.” I snuffle a laugh.

“Yes, and he’s about as nosey as a ninety-year-old, so I’m sure he’s figured it out.”

“Are you worried, sugar? Do you think he won’t approve? Does this go against some innate, unspoken vow to your brother slash boss?”

“No, he just won’t let me live it down, and he’ll probably razz you about it pretty bad.”

“Darlin’, I’ve got a pretty thick skin, honey. No need to panic.”

“I wasn’t panicking, I just want you to be prepared.”

“It’ll be fine, Kerry-Ann. I was careful. I was a gentleman.”

“Oh, yes, you were.” She grins evilly. “I believe I started all this.”

“Well, I’m glad that we agree. But for the record, I also didn’t fight you on it, either.” I kiss her on the mouth. “Only a fool would.”

“I would have taken you down.”

I lean on top of her, hovering the upper half of my body on hers. “Oh, yes, you would have, darlin’. I’m afraid when it comes to you, all my defenses are down.”

She’s smiling, tracing her fingers through my hair. “You want to stay the night?”

“I’d love to, darlin’. But I should probably go get us some protection first. It was too close a call for my comfort there.”

“You mean condoms?”

I nod. “Uh huh.” I clear my throat. “Been a long time since I had to worry about that. I don’t even keep one in my wallet like most men do.”

“It’s been a long time for me, too.” She says, tracing a finger down my chest. “But you don’t have to go right now. I think I can control myself for the rest of the night.”

I frown. “Fair enough. I also didn’t bring any pyjamas or a toothbrush.” I add, jokingly.

She leans in and kisses my chest. “You’re not going to cover this up on me, are you. Because that’s just cruel, and I’ll do the same to you, sugar.”

My hand slides down her breast, and I have to stop myself, so I won’t start getting hard again. “In that case, I think it’s too hot for pyjamas.”

She chuckles. “And I have a couple of spare toothbrushes for guests, anyway.”

“You have a lot of guests?”

“Not the kind you’re thinking of, no. Mostly my brothers.”

“What about Tony?”

Her eyes widen. “Hell, no. I’d have to sleep with one eye open.”

I smile, giving her a kiss on the mouth. We lay there for a while, tracing fingers down each other’s bodies, kissing, nuzzling, until we both fall asleep spooning. When I wake up, Kerry-Ann is still sound asleep. I’m so used to being up at four o’clock in the morning, that it’s like I sit bolt upright in bed at that time. It’s a military thing. It’s a part of me now forever, I think. I don’t want to leave her, but at the same time I feel like now’s the best time to go to the twenty-four-hour drugstore up the street and grab the condoms, so I do.

When I return, she’s still sound asleep, so I climb back in with her, hoping that sleep will come. I manage to drift off for a while, until her alarm goes off at five-thirty. She rolls over to face me, giving me a kiss, and I kiss her back, and it becomes kiss after kiss…after kiss. “Good morning.” She finally says.

“Good morning. You usually get up this early?”

“I usually get up to exercise, but I think after last night, I got a good workout in.”

“Exercise, huh.” I kiss her chest. “Well that doesn’t sound like much fun. But I bet I know something way funner and you’ll get just as much of a workout.” I kiss her breast, and move my way to her nipple, which makes her arch her back. I stay there, kissing, sucking, licking, as her hands slide all over my back and chest and into my hair.

“Oh, shoot…condoms.” She murmurs.

“Got them while you were sleeping, doll.”

She arches more, as I caress her breast, while sucking it. “You think of everything…in more ways than one.”

I chuckle softly against her skin, as I feel her hand move down to my hardened cock. Reaching up to her nightstand, I grab the condoms that I tucked in there earlier, and pull one out, slipping it into her hand, as I carry on with her nipples. Sliding a hand down to her wetness, I circle her clit while sucking and licking her nipples, and she moans, while trying desperately to open the condom. “Carson, mmmm…I can’t do this with you…doing that.” She chuckles in between moans.

I pause, lifting, take the condom from her, and pull it on quickly, then lower myself back on her. “Let me go on top.” She whispers.

“Your wish is my command, darlin’.” I say, flipping onto my back. She begins at my neck, sucking and kissing it, then to my nipples, making me breathe heavily, making my cock dance, making me nuts with desire. As she kisses down my belly, my hands are on her breasts, kneading them, gently pinching her nipples, and then she impales herself with me, and my hands go to her waist, guiding her.

In the darkness, my eyes have adjusted, and I can see her breasts bobbing up and down as she rides me, making me feel things I haven’t felt in a while, and especially so, since I know I don’t have to pull out this time. It’s liberating. My fingers are on her clit, and she slows to savor it, helping me savor it, too, as her body clenches inside, hugging my cock tight, helping me climb faster. I push my pelvis up, filling her completely, and she hisses, biting her lip, looking so goddamn sexy I almost can’t take it.

She leans down, giving me perfect access to her breasts, and I lick and suck them, while still circling her clit, and she lets out near growls, feeling the waves of pleasure. “God…damn, Carson.” She mewls, as if begging. I know these words are spoken in lust, since she’s so tight, I know she’s on the edge, and I’m getting there, too. Her head lulls as she feels…everything. Then she hunkers down, so she can reach my nipples, and she starts licking and sucking them, taking me right down with her.

My breathing becomes ragged and I slow, filling her deeply, listening to the bed squeak softly, as we make love in the early morning. I gently force her onto her back again, and drive into her vigorously, hitting that magical spot, sucking and licking her nipples, driving her to the edge in the best morning sex I’ve ever had. And as her legs lock, her breathing gets choppy just for a moment, and then she moans, as her nails dig into my back, and as I let go with her, riding the waves of intense pleasure together.

As we come down, my mouth is on hers, kissing her lips, sucking them, too, feeling the ebb and flow of the aftershocks with her, until we’re both spent and breathless. I tuck my head onto her shoulder and hold her tight, like I wanted to after we made love last night, and I feel her heart beat against mine. We lay there, catching our breath, as I cradle her in my arms, stroking her sides with my thumbs, and her fingers skate across my shoulders and back. Lifting, I kiss her lips. “Good morning.” I say.

“And that, it is.” She agrees, her voice sultry. “I think I might do my workouts at night, so I can be awakened like this more often.”

“Mmmhmm…” I murmur, rubbing her nose with mine. “I ought to get up and let you get ready for work.”

“Not so fast, mister.” She says, kissing me softly yet longingly. “I’m not letting you get away that easily.”

“I won’t argue with that.”

We lay there, kissing, nuzzling, for a few minutes. “Darlin’, I need to go take care of this condom, before my efforts are for naught.”

“Okay, I’ll go jump in the shower.”

I give her another quick kiss and then we part ways. I throw my clothes on and head to the kitchen. With plenty of food available, I whip us up some eggs and toast, pour some orange juice into glasses, and by the time Kerry-Ann enters the kitchen, dressed for work, I have breakfast on the table. “Wow.” She says, impressed. “I could get used to this.”

“Please do. I’m happy to do it, although, I’m not sure how good of a cook I am.”

“I’m not fussy so you’re set, honey.” She says, snaking her arms around my neck.

“I used the spare toothbrush you were talking about in the guest bathroom. It was still in the package and everything. It’s like you knew I was coming over or something.” I tease.

“That’s my last one. I always keep a few around, just in case.”

She kisses my lips. “Thanks for breakfast.”

“You’re welcome.” I say, as we kiss tenderly, yet deeply, at the counter. We hear a knock at the front door, and then a lock turn, and Dawson, Kerry-Ann’s brother, and my orthopedic surgeon, appears. Kerry’s Ann’s face is expectant, yet mine is beet red. “Good morning.” I say, wishing like hell that I’d kept quiet the second that it comes out of my mouth, but it’s innate. I was raised to be polite. I can’t help it.

He gives us the once over. Kerry-Ann’s arms are still around my neck, like she doesn’t care if we’re caught red-handed or not, so I got with it, leaving my hands at her waist. “I was wondering when in the hell you two were going to get together.” He says, as though he was irritated that we hadn’t done anything about our likeness for each other, and now it’s a goddamn relief.

Kerry-Ann smiles and looks at me. “What did I tell you. He’s a busybody.”

Dawson takes a step towards us and shakes my hand. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good. How about yourself?”

“Fine. Had a great night’s sleep.” He looks at the table. “I see my sister has made me breakfast like always.”

“Uh, actually, Carson made us breakfast. Meaning, he and I. I didn’t know that he was making breakfast, or I would have told him about my freeloading brother who occasionally cops a meal from me.”

I lift a hand. “It’s okay, man. I can whip more up. It’s all still out. We haven’t even eaten yet.”

“Thanks, man.” Dawson says, impressed. “Hey, you should come up to Houston with us this weekend. We’re getting together for Kerry-Ann’s birthday.” He says, looking at the honking bouquet of flowers on the table. “I assume that’s why you’re here…aside from the obvious.”

Kerry-Ann ignores her brother’s jibe. “At least he got me something. Hell, I think you’ve forgotten my birthday since we were kids and mama reminded you.”

“She still reminds me, actually.” Dawson says, eating off Kerry-Ann’s plate. “I just don’t know what to get you. I’ll wait until the weekend and mama can help.”

“Some real lucky woman is about to find you some day.” Kerry-Ann says facetiously.

He ignores her, as I throw more eggs onto the frying pan. “So, what do you say? You up for a ten-hour drive with me and my sister?”

“Do I get to ask him first?” she says, irritated, raising both her brows. “And for the record, we’re not going together. Ten hours in a truck with you is enough. I’m not about to subject Carson to that.”

“I can go. It doesn’t matter if we all go together. I’ve got lots of siblings myself. I’m used to it.” I say, trying to be helpful.

“He’ll need to be coached a little, don’t you think?” Dawson says. “After all, daddy doesn’t like anyone messing with his little girl.”

“He can handle it, Dawson.” She says firmly. “He’s got a sister himself.”

“Oh yeah?” Dawson’s brows raise.

“Easy, tiger.” Kerry-Ann says. “She’s married and about to have a baby any day now.”

“Oh.”

I can’t help but chuckle. This dude is completely different outside the office. It’s uncanny. “You looking to hook up, man?”

“Na, it’s for the best. With me being a surgeon, I haven’t got the time.”

“Quit whining.” Kerry-Ann says, annoyed.

“I’m not whining. The man asked a question.”

“Fine. Just don’t go on about it.”

“Fact is, now that you two are together, it won’t look like you and I are a couple at the office anymore.” Dawson adds.

“We look so damn alike, stupid. I don’t think anyone’s thought that.”

“We need to chuck the damn name tags is all. With us both having the same last name, it looks like we’re married, not brother and sister.”

She laughs out loud. “I did not know that this bothered you so much.”

He ignores her as I hand him a plate with eggs. “Thanks, man.” He says to me, then he addresses his sister again. “Hey, Kerry-Ann, not that I’m putting any pressure on you here, but say you two got married…would y’all take his name?”

Both of us freeze. Kerry-Ann guffaws. “Dawson…what has gotten into you?”

He shrugs. “It’s just a question.”

“Much too early to be asking that.” She scoffs. “And poor Carson here…good lord!”

I wave. “It’s okay.” I say. “You haven’t met my brothers yet. You wait and see what kinds of things they blurt out in the wrong company.”

…and soon she’ll find out.