“Say it again, Kayla,” he whispered so close to her mouth she leaned in to feel his
lips against her own. “I want to hear you crying out that you love me when I pleasure
you, not just whimpering my name.”
“I love you… Please… Whatever you want,” she whispered as she drew his mouth down
to hers. His lips were firm against hers and she melted against him before pulling
on his shirt until he released her long enough to shrug out of it. Then he was back
at her again, using his hands in her hair to maintain the connection of his mouth
with hers. She struggled to free him of his clothing while he backed her against the
wall next to the door.
When she finally managed to get his jeans down far enough, he kicked off his shoes
and out of the pants. He paused long enough to pull a condom out and cover himself
and then went back to kissing her.
Her hands found his waist and slid around to cup his sculpted bottom so she could
pull him to her. The passion in his eyes turned to pure aggressive lust and he gently
but firmly pushed her against the wall. He rested his other hand on the wall beside
her head.
Stepping back from her slightly, he said, “Out of the clothes.”
Unable to look away from his hungry gaze, she reached up with shaking hands to unbutton
her blouse. She’d not changed clothes after the funeral, other than discarding her
wrap when she’d lain down to rest earlier. He continued to hold her against the wall
as his thumb caressed her collarbone. His eyes eventually left hers to follow the
progress of her hands against the buttons of the shirt.
“Faster, Kayla” he breathed. He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes,
never releasing his hold on her.
She got her shirt and bra off, unzipped her long skirt and pushed it down her thighs.
“Leave the shoes and panties on for now…that is
so
hot.”
Once she stepped out of the skirt and was left in nothing but her high heels and panties,
his eyes roamed the entire length of her, starting at her feet. When his gaze finally
made it back to her eyes, he stared at her for a long moment. Then he captured her
mouth in a quick but searing kiss before finally whispering, “Say it again, Kayla.”
“Please, Ronnie…” she whimpered. “Make love to me.”
“No. You are supposed to tell me that you love me. Now you will have to wait for it,”
he said.
She cupped her breasts and massaged them until she felt his finger run along the inside
band of her panties, near her hip. With a firm yank he pulled them halfway down her
thighs, exposing her to his view and the cool night air. Leaning forward as if to
kiss her, he instead placed his cheek against hers. “Touch your sweetness, Kayla.”
The intensity with which he watched as she slid her hand between her legs was as tantalizing
as the feel of her fingers. His breathing changed, which also created a physical response
in her. The tension made her vision hazy and caused her legs to shake so badly that
the movement forced her panties down around her ankles. She stepped out of them and
her shoes. Then, without warning, he released her neck and gripped her shoulders,
forcing her to turn around and face the wall.
He slid his hands from her shoulders, down her arms to her hands, which he flattened
against the wall.
“Don’t let go,” he said quietly into her hair.
She felt one of his muscular legs push its way between her own, forcing her legs apart
as though he were about to frisk her. Turning her face to the side and leaning her
cheek against the wall, she saw him inspecting her backside much as he had done to
her front. A trail of fire followed when his fingers caressed and explored all the
places his eyes had seen.
She could feel his hand guide his erection to where she needed it most. She let out
a gasp as he pushed into her. He held himself still within her while his hand slid
around her waist and his fingers picked up where hers had left off. Where her touch
had been light and gentle, his was firm and relentless, causing her to rock back against
him.
“Say it again, Kayla,” he said, setting a rhythm for them both.
“I love you. God, Ronnie, I love you so much,” she said, trying to gain a hold on
the flat surface of the wall as her body spasmed in ecstasy. That seemed to break
the last of his control. He ground himself into her, pushing her whole body forward
until the waves of intensity began to subside.
He suddenly stopped and pulled away from her. When she turned to look at him, he drew
her to him and lifted her up, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist. Then,
to her amazement, he walked over and eased them both onto her bed. Reaching between
their bodies, he guided himself back inside her.
“You shouldn’t carry me,” she said in a breathless whisper. “I’m a little too heavy
for you to be doing that.”
“Do you like the way I fuck you, Kayla?” he asked.
“Yes, you know I do,” she replied breathlessly.
“Well, I don’t
do
bony women. I need a
soft
place to land, someone I can play with who won’t break,” he said, capturing her mouth
for a brief kiss before releasing her lips and moving against her. “You are the perfect
size, the perfect
fit
for me, so don’t start telling me what I should or shouldn’t do to your body unless
it’s to ask me for more sex.”
As though to make his point, he pounded into her over and over again until pleasure
overtook her.
“I love you, Kayla,” he whispered, his breath catching as she lay holding his body
on top of her own.
It felt so good to be lying in his arms again, skin on skin. He moved off of her just
long enough to dispose of the condom, and then he was back, keeping one heavy leg
and one muscled arm draped across her as though to keep her from leaving his side.
They lay there, in silence, for several minutes before she looked up at him.
She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.
He slept
…and was even better-looking while dreaming. The fact that he’d put his all into making
love to her, even after such a long day, only endeared him to her more.
* * *
She awoke to kisses on the back of her neck. Ripples of pleasure spiraled down her
back from his hot breath against such delicate skin. Without a word, his hands and
mouth worked magic upon her exposed skin until she squirmed against him and attempted
to reach behind her to touch him in return. He pushed her hands away and she buried
her face in her pillow and moaned in frustration. The cries of frustration turned
to sounds of desire, and soon her body was soaring once again.
He kissed her neck a few more times before whispering, “I should go before Addie gets
up, and definitely before my sisters show up for whatever the hell they have planned
for you. If you hurry, I’ll make you some coffee before I go.”
It was then that she realized his hair was wet and he smelled like soap. He’d woken
up and dressed while she slept. “Okay, give me ten minutes.”
She showered and brushed her teeth and made it downstairs in record time. Ronnie sat
at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a smile. Gathering her robe around her
for warmth, she sat down and he leaned over, kissed her and then she wrapped her hands
around a cup.
Everything about him made her want him all over again. His smile was seduction all
by itself; his sparkling blue eyes spoke of the most exquisite sin; and the way he
kissed her—like he was ready to take her right there—was just too much this early.
“Now who is hiding, stealing away early in the morning to avoid detection. You do
know that Addie is completely onto us, right?” she asked.
“Yeah, I know
that,
but if my mama or sisters catch me…” he said with his sexy grin.
“You’re not going grocery shopping with us today?” she asked. When he had worked for
her he had taken care of the shopping most of the time.
“Oh, no. They can handle this by themselves if you aren’t up to it, though. They would
understand,” he said.
“If I turn them down will you stay here with me for another hour or two?” she asked.
“I have a few things to do today but if you are a good girl and tough it out with
my family, I’ll reward you for it later.” He smiled and winked at her as he stood
up to leave. He gathered a few things and then loaded the chairs into his truck. With
another of his molten kisses he was gone.
His timing was perfect. Just as she’d dressed and fixed her hair and makeup she heard
a knock on the door. Stepping into the hallway, she heard Addie talking to Carrie.
Heading downstairs, Kayla showed them into the kitchen and offered them some coffee.
They had brought over a turkey and a ham, which Carol stuffed into the refrigerator.
“Ronnie must have taught you how to make coffee. This stuff will put hair on your
chest,” Elaine said, raising her coffee mug in a toast and winking at Kayla. She felt
her cheeks warm with embarrassment.
So much for Ronnie’s secrets.
They made a menu of what to have for Christmas dinner along with a grocery list while
Addie showered and got ready to go.
Shopping with the three women was an experience. It looked like they were trying to
feed a small army. Was it possible to make that much food in a day and a half? They
also talked constantly. With their heavy southern accents, people occasionally stared
at them.
After they returned and put the groceries away, they made all the desserts and prepared
as much as they could ahead of time. Addie had taken to working side by side with
Carol, watching everything the older woman did to prepare the desserts. Elaine would
have a new task ready for Kayla as soon as she finished the previous one, and the
time passed quickly.
They talked and laughed the entire time, periodically asking both her and Addie questions,
including ones about Kayla’s mother. Somehow talking about her family, especially
her mother’s life and death, made the pain a little more bearable. Kayla actually
enjoyed the day and was surprised when Ronnie and his military buddies showed up with
several pizzas and some beer.
The rest of Ronnie’s family, including his other two sisters, came for pizza as well
a few minutes later. They were a fun bunch of people, and Kayla occasionally felt
tears burn behind her eyes because her mother never got the chance to meet them.
Kayla had worried that Addie would have a miserable Christmas, but watching her laughing
with Carrie and Ronnie’s dad, she knew that would not be the case. Soon enough, Carol
rounded up the group to leave, promising to be back early Christmas morning to finish
up the rest of the cooking.
Addie invited Kaitlyn over to spend the night and the girls spent most of the evening
in the basement while Kayla and Ronnie sat in the living room. Conversation was light
and fun between them, but soon enough she straddled his lap and kissed him. The passionate
kiss they shared turned to touching and they ended up sneaking up the stairs.
Later, when they came back downstairs, he pulled her into his arms and said, “I should
go.”
She didn’t want him to go…ever. Telling him she loved him had unleashed a torrent
of emotions, but where did they go from there?
The weeks when Ronnie had been around on a daily basis had been wonderful. Ronnie
spending the night was like a decadent dessert after a five-star meal. He belonged
in her life. He hadn’t run in fear of Addie. He’d stayed, and now Kayla didn’t want
him to ever leave again.
She should just say what was in her heart…no more secrets.
“I don’t want you to go,” she whispered. “I want you in my arms every night. I want
you to move in with me. Don’t let Sergeant Buck be the man of this house. You outrank
him in more ways than one.”
The look on his face was one she hadn’t seen before, but she didn’t have time to ask
him about it before he was kissing her. “Let’s get through the holidays with my crazy-ass
family, and if you’re still speaking to me afterward, we’ll figure it out together,”
he said when he finally released her mouth.
* * *
Christmas morning dawned bright and early, bringing Carol, Elaine and Carrie. After
running Kaitlyn home, Kayla worked and laughed alongside them as they finished the
rest of the meal preparations. Addie came downstairs just as the rest of the group
showed up, including Ronnie’s friends Seth, Ian and Rusty. Elaine’s husband, Jack,
and Ronnie unloaded a mountain of gifts from the back of Carol’s van. Seeing their
presents, Kayla headed upstairs to pull out the things she’d picked up over the past
couple of days and brought them downstairs.
Descending the stairs and seeing the Christmas tree all lit up with gifts underneath
and seeing all the happy faces, she felt the holidays were like they used to feel,
before her mother had gotten sick. Kayla could not shake the sense that wherever her
mother was, she was also remembering the past and smiling. This felt good—like what
her mother would have wanted for her and Addie.
The guys set up her dining room table to seat as many people as possible. After also
setting places around the breakfast table, they figured out they were still a couple
of seats short. She watched Ronnie, Ian, Seth and Rusty slip out to the garage, and
a few minutes later they came back in carrying her mother’s chairs and table, which
Ronnie must have finished staining. Jack and the two young boys moved the breakfast
table down to make room. It was crowded, but it worked.
Once the table was situated she went to Ronnie and hugged him. “Thank you for my mother’s
table. It’s beautiful.”
Dinner was loud, crazy and fun. Carol ran the family like a teacher at the front of
the class, and it was clear that Addie was well on her way to adoring Ronnie’s youngest
sister just as much as she adored Ronnie. When the meal was finished, the guys all
worked to put the food away since the women had cooked it, and then they carried chairs
into the living room.