He stilled for a moment, looking down at her. He kneeled between her legs, studied her, smiled into her eyes. “You’re beautiful,” he said, bending to tongue a nipple. She automatically arched; his mouth on her felt so nice. Then his fingers were in her most vulnerable place and he whispered into her ear, “Wet and ready. Is your brain as ready as the rest of you?”
“Oh, yes,” she whispered back.
He took a moment to slide on a condom, then started to rub her there, along her inner parts.
“Stop screwing around,” she commanded. “I’m ready!”
He laughed low in his throat, a sexy rumble that set her nerves on fire. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, finding and entering her. With his mouth on hers he pumped his hips a few times and she went off like a rocket. And so did he.
They held on to each other, panting, her legs wrapped around his waist and his mouth on hers. She rubbed his back, his nice round butt, his strong thighs. A minute passed as their breathing evened. Then he slowly withdrew and fell onto his back.
“Holy God,” he said, breathless.
“You’re telling me,” she agreed.
He rolled onto his side toward her, a hand on her belly. “You okay?”
“I’m very okay,” she said. “I’m outstanding.”
“You are indeed,” he said. “We’re a couple of runaway trains. That might’ve been a record. I’ll try to go slower next time.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been that wild before,” she said. “I went a little crazy.”
“Did I complain? I don’t think I complained.” He brushed back her hair from her forehead.
“I’ve been tested—no STDs,” she said, touching his cheek. “Will you indulge me with a blood test? Just to be sure? I have the birth control covered.”
“Sure,” he said. “That’s not asking too much.”
She rested her hand on his neck. “Don’t get a big head but I’ve never had sex like that in my life!”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Pretty standard stuff. Missionary position. I didn’t even get to do everything I’m dying to do.”
She was thinking that it far surpassed standard. She leaned toward him, touching her lips to his. “It’s still early. Thank goodness.”
* * *
She rocked his world. Rob was completely blown away. He was not the least surprised; just from the little time they spent together—their conversations, the short amount of kissing—suggested they were right for each other. He just hadn’t imagined they’d be this perfect together. Their bodies fit together like they were made for each other.
They had sex again, of course, and he was a bit more leisurely. He tasted her entire body and she had a taste of his. But once again it couldn’t last too long before they were panting and pulling at each other and consumed by overpowering need. He rode her, rocked her, filled her, rolled over and pulled her atop him and enjoyed her as she took all he had and he took all of her.
They had a quick shower together and dressed again for dinner. He finally had a chance to appreciate her pretty underwear, black lace and brief enough for him to floss with. He had a vision of slowly removing it and the vision made him so happy.
They had just made it as far as the kitchen when his phone rang. Sean reporting in. Rob was just explaining what was in the refrigerator for him when Leigh tapped his shoulder and said, “There’s plenty of this chicken thing if he’s interested.” When he gave her a pointed look, she just shrugged and said, “Helen will be home before too long, anyway.”
“You sure about what you just did?” Rob asked her while they waited for Sean to walk over and join them.
“We’re not making love anymore tonight, Rob. At least not with an audience. The big question is, are you all right letting your son see you with the town doctor?”
“I told them who I’d be out with,” he said. “They were on to me before I officially asked you out.”
So, Sean came to dinner. He thought her chicken thing was awesome, winning her over completely. Before dishes were cleaned up, Helen came home. They were a chatty little foursome for about a half hour before Helen excused herself to go to her room and read.
Rob told Sean to go wait in the car for him while he said good night to Leigh. He had a lot on his mind with no idea how to drain all the thoughts into his mouth. So he kissed her. “I’m sorry, I’m a little out of practice.”
“I’d argue that,” she said.
“I remember sex,” he said.
“Very well, I think...”
“The words,” he clarified. “Saying the right things, that’s harder. I don’t want to scare you off but I want to tell you how much it meant to me. It wasn’t what it usually is. But I’m not driving this race car. You’re in charge.”
“Afraid I’ll have high expectations?” she asked him with a smile.
“I’m not afraid,” he said. “We had that conversation. We’ve both had sad experiences. We’re not in a hurry.”
“Anymore.” She laughed. “For a while there I was in an embarrassing hurry.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. I think that was my favorite part.”
“Just sleep well tonight,” she said. “We’re adults and that was some real adult fun. I loved my evening with you. Want to know the best part? Sean liked my chicken thing. I’m not much of a cook.”
He grinned at her. “It’s a good chicken thing. And it was sweet of you to feed him. He eats about seven meals a day.” He kissed her. “Thank you for tonight. For all of tonight. I can’t wait to see you again.”
“Tomorrow morning,” she said. “When you come to the urgent care and let me draw some blood. I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colors.”
“I’m not worried,” he said.
“Good. You’ll get a piece of candy if you get through it without passing out.”
“Or one of those nifty head rubs?”
“If you’re good.” She gave him a quick kiss. “Call for an appointment. Tell Eleanor I’m checking your cholesterol. The real truth will be ours.”
Let the man who does not wish to be idle
fall in love!
—Ovid
8
SULLY COULDN’T REMEMBER a slower day than the Monday after he’d had dinner with Helen. He tried to stay busy but every chore he tackled was over with so quickly that by afternoon he was exhausted and feeling his age. That didn’t sit well with him just now. Of course, he’d been up late, reading. Now, that was a new thing.
He had immediately picked up that book she left with him but not because he was interested in the subject. He thought he might get to know her a little better by reading her book. And he certainly did! This funny and classy lady could really toss around the f-word with ease. And she could describe a murdered corpse without much restraint or caution.
It didn’t take him long to start wondering what was going to happen. He brought the book over to the store with him but he kept it out of sight. He took the time to make sure his nails were trimmed and clean; he rubbed some of Enid’s hand lotion into his hands. Several times. He went over to the house just before noon and ran the vacuum around and wiped off the furniture. Helen had left the kitchen cleaner than she found it and he made a silent resolution to do better about that. He gave the bathroom a good cleaning. He made a mental note to do a little new grouting.
He kept looking down the road.
In the early afternoon, Maggie showed up. “I thought I’d see if you needed any help—maybe around the garden.”
“I think she’s shipshape,” he said. “Where’s my granddaughter?”
“Elizabeth is taking a nap while Cal works. I can check the mail room and see what shelves need to be stocked.”
“I think I’m on top of it, Maggie,” he said. “You can check around.”
“I think I’m the only help you have these days,” she said. “Everyone’s so busy. What’s that nice smell?”
He sniffed the air. “I don’t smell anything.”
She sniffed closer to him. “I think it’s coming from you. Did you use bubble bath today?”
“I haven’t been in a bathtub for about sixty-five years!” he snorted, offended.
She sniffed toward him. She zeroed in on his hands. “It’s you,” she said.
“Oh, that,” he said. “I helped myself to some of Enid’s hand cream.” He turned his hands over. “Garden hands.”
She grinned at him. “Well, you smell lovely, Sully.” Then she skipped off to the supply room to see what work might be waiting for her.
He followed her. “Maggie, you hear about that young girl from town? The one with the brain tumor?”
“Well, if I did, I wouldn’t be able to talk about it, would I?”
“If you heard about it professionally, I guess you couldn’t talk about it. But if you heard the rumor, you could.”
“As it happens, I didn’t hear the rumor...”
“Well, let me just fill you in,” Sully said, and proceeded to tell her about Maia. “You must have heard about it.” Then he looked at her face. “You heard about it,” he finally said. “Well, you must be in on it, then. That makes me feel better about things. I hope you can help her.”
“Dad, I didn’t say anything,” Maggie said.
“I just hope it’s you and that you can help her,” he said. “Imagine, a pretty and smart young girl like that, stopped by a brain tumor! Makes you wonder if there’s a God.” Then he stretched his neck to look down the road, watching for Helen. Didn’t she want to write that grisly stuff on his porch anymore?
“Is your neck bothering you?” Maggie asked. “That’s about the fourth time you’ve stretched it out like you have a cramp.”