It was a slumber like no other. Octavia’s eyes parted just enough to notice that it was still dark in her bedroom, and it felt like she’d slept through many moons. Pulling her arms above her head, Octavia stretched and rolled her head, cranking her neck up to peek over her shoulder. To her delight, Jonathon did not disappoint. He lounged comfortably against her with one arm flung across her waist, and his lips snug against her ear. His eyes were closed, and the gentleness of his sleep brought forth the softness of his features. Octavia turned full circle and relaxed, watching his chest rise and fall.

Her eyes outlined the contours of his face, and she made it a point not to touch him for fear of disturbing his rest. What they’d shared last night was magical, and Octavia hadn’t slept like this in weeks. Unable to stop herself, she nestled further under him, her nose now teasing the tip of his chin. Being under Jonathon felt so right, Octavia had to wonder why she didn’t just let him in about her dreams. Even now, Octavia wrestled with burdening him with her yearly breakdowns, but damn it, she wanted to stay right here forever. She pushed her nose against his lips and soaked up his scent. His groomed bread sprinkled against her chin as she rubbed her face against his.

Was this a dream and any moment she would wake up? Surely Octavia couldn’t be this lucky. Her dreams had been everything but pleasant.

“Good morning, beautiful,” his thick voice drummed.

A rippling warmth surged over Octavia. “Good morning, handsome,” she returned. Heavily, his eyes opened to peer at her. A languid grin slipped across his face.

“Handsome, huh?”

Octavia pressed her lips tightly and blushed, ducking her head just a bit. “That’s what I said,” she confirmed.

“Mmm,” Jonathon growled into her ear, pulling her tighter. A giggle shred from Octavia, and her eyes flipped over to settle on the clock on the wall. As her vision soaked in the hour, Octavia’s eyes popped when she read ten-fifteen. Gasping and sitting up, Octavia’s gaze slipped around the room. That’s when her eyes fell on the closed blinds and curtains. She took her sight down to the bottom of the drapes and saw light spilling through. Octavia turned quickly back to Jonathon with a stricken look on her face.

“Calm down, sweetheart. You have the day off,” Jonathon said. “You’ve got the next two days off, too.” He pulled Octavia back to the bed, but she popped back up.

“How? There’s a ton of work, and oh my God, I’ve scheduled clients. I can’t just take off at the beginning of the week,” she panicked.

“You can… you will… you have…” He pulled his head back, staring at her with heavy eyes. “I’ve taken care of you. If it makes you feel any better, Claudia took back some of her clients, and Selena’s taking your calls.”

Octavia stared at him. “When did you talk to them?”

“This morning when Selena called your phone.”

“You answered my phone?”

Jonathon watched her for a moment. “Yes, is that a problem?”

“I just don’t want you to be scaring off my boyfriend or nothing like that,” she teased.

Jonathon wrestled her back down. “Don’t play with me, woman,” he rumbled. Octavia almost giggled her head off.

“Ah!” she screeched.

Jonathon covered her with his macho frame and slipped between her legs. With tears in the corners of her eyes, Octavia laughed when suddenly she was filled with an insurmountable pressure. A sharp gasp hit her lungs hard as Jonathon invaded her with his prodding length. Immediately, Octavia’s eyes fell, and her hands clutched his thick shoulders as her essence spread to accommodate his girth.

“Oooh my, my, my…” she crooned as Jonathon slid in and out of her.

“What were you saying?” he murmured.

“Nothing,” Octavia said. “Nothing at all…”

“You think that I’m going to let you get away now that I’ve got you?” His lips drifted to hers. “Nah, never happening,” he pressed. “So, if you are considering pushing me away, get it out of your pretty little head.” Jonathon plunged into her with a blunt force that stole her hearing and sent a firework presentation of pops exploding inside her eardrum.

“Aaah! Jonathon…” she whined. Jonathon nibbled across her bare shoulders and drilled into her sex with a fury so lethal she was about to come instantly. Another wounded cry fell from her, and the headboard ricocheted as the curve of his head knocked against her G-spot.

“Oh, dear God!” Octavia cried.

Jonathon’s lips found her breasts and licked in circles around her nipples. Pacing to her chest, he slid his tongue between the cleft of her breasts while administering unforgiving plummets to her sex. Their bodies clapped against one another, and Jonathon slipped his fingers into her hair. With a steady hold, as if he was riding a bull, Jonathon slammed into her, claiming Octavia’s body with savagely domineering strokes. With each drill, his thrusts became detrimental as he was in a place to tear her completely apart. And he wanted to. If it would knock past all of her fears and hesitations, he would fuck her so disrespectfully yet supremely hard she would pass out in his arms. Octavia screamed his name and her body convulsed as a sheen of flowing tingles flooded her bones. Octavia didn’t get a chance to tell him she was coming it just happened, suddenly with no cautionary notice.

“Jonathon!” she screamed, trembling with harsh vibrations. Her hands tightened into fists, and Octavia beat against his shoulders as a violent orgasm shot through her body. “Aaah! Jonathon!” her voice quivered, and his sexual beatdown became unrelenting as their bodies slapped and thighs stung from the heated impact of their love. Jonathon had waited for this moment for so long that consuming every inch of Octavia was palpable.

“Aah! Damn it, girl!” Jonathon cursed. His lips paced back up her skin, laying kisses on her neck. “Just in case you were wondering,” he said, blissfully stroking her with the same passionate consistency, “you belong to me now. Do you understand, Octavia?”

Octavia nodded while sucking on her bottom lip.

“I can’t hear you,” he said, digging a rotating grind into her.

“Yes, yes!” Octavia shouted. “All yours,” she acquiesced.

“Now come again for me, baby,” he said. “Come with your man.”

As if her body did belong to him, it responded with an earth-shattering orgasm that almost made Octavia bite down on her tongue and spill blood. Jonathon massaged her inner walls with his shaft as they coated each other in a liquid love that ran out of her and down his thick penis. Together they praised one another rocking for what felt like hours until their trembles slowly receded. Jonathon cuddled Octavia as they shifted to the side. Octavia was basked in a glow of euphoria as she snuggled deeply underneath him. Her thighs continued to sizzle from the aftershocks of their vibrant lovemaking. It didn’t take long for her slumber to return and her soft snores consoled Jonathon as he held her.

That it had taken this long for him and Octavia to connect was wild to him, but it had been well worth the wait. If Jonathon could marry her now, he would gladly get down on one knee. He knew in his heart of hearts that she was the one. But one thing Jonathon didn’t want to do was scare her away. Octavia obviously had some issues to sort through, and he would be there all the way for her. Jonathon wasn’t stupid. Even after everything they’d shared, he knew Octavia had a defiance that drove him insane at times. But whatever she needed to deal with would be done with him, whether she fought it or not.

Jonathon closed his eyes and kissed her face as he too sailed back into a dreamless state. When they woke, it was long enough to shower and eat, only to end up back between the sheets. Their passionate mating was on overdrive as they rocked each other and kept a steady pace. As if neither of them had been intimate in years, they treasured each other, cast in a sheen of light perspiration. Their sessions had gone on throughout the day and into the late-night hour, neither of them wanting to leave the other for longer than a trip to the bathroom or kitchen.

Early the next morning it was the rays of sunlight that woke Octavia. She rose and quickly sat up, covering her mouth to a pleasant surprise. Her bedroom, dresser, and floors were covered with bouquets of long-stemmed red roses. The volume of the fresh flowers that surrounded her was astonishing, and the fragrance that wafted from them attacked her senses. Choked up with emotion, Octavia’s eyes misted over with tears. She slid to the edge of the bed and carefully stepped out, moving through the sea of roses in awe. When she made it to her bathroom, Octavia opened the door and peeked in.

“Jonathon?” she called, but she was met with silence. Closing the door, Octavia coasted once more through the flowers and fell upon a tall stalk of roses in the center. Reaching over, she plucked a note from it and turned it around to read.

Good morning, my love. Pack a small bag. I’ll be back to pick you up at noon. The weather is warm where we’re going, so pack accordingly. Don’t ask me where, just be ready. I promise to take care of you. - Jonathon

Octavia’s heart swelled, and she glanced up at the clock on the wall. She had two hours to get ready for wherever Jonathon was taking her. Excited and nervous, Octavia tramp through the roses but before making it to her closet, she dropped slowly to the floor and stuffed her nose in the blooming beauties. It wasn’t like she needed to. The roses held a potency that was thick enough to roam down the hall. But Octavia couldn’t help but stick her nose in the flowers, and it made her dizzy with emotion to receive them.

Rising back to her feet, Octavia lifted a rose, taking it with her as she sauntered to the closet. Inside she twirled slowly, wrapped in a jubilation of love. All of the questions Octavia wondered had been answered. Jonathon was such a sweetheart and a painstakingly passionate lover. Thinking she could have a sexual relationship with him with no strings attached was ridiculous. She didn’t know it until now. They meshed together so well it was almost unrealistic. Could a couple really start off as friends, become lovers, and live happily ever after? The latter had yet to be determined. Sure, it had happened to her friends. But everyone’s stars aligned differently, and it didn’t mean it would happen to her.

However, after the night before, Octavia felt it was possible; the only thing that gave her pause was the lingering past that she couldn’t seem to let go of. Octavia shuffled through the racks of dresses, pants, and blouses. Jonathon said the weather was warm where they were going. That could be California or possibly Florida, and the thought of the sunshine state brought a pleasant smile to Octavia’s face. She pulled out a stylish black and beige top bikini. Octavia had purchased it during the summer along with her black off the shoulder one-piece bathing suit but didn’t get a chance to wear either of them.

Octavia decided to take them both. If she had the next day and a half off, then having the swimwear might be a good idea. Octavia tucked the garment under her arm and searched for a few pairs of short shorts and a few thin halter tops. She roamed the shelves and grabbed her black and beige spike heels grinning naughtily. It was refreshing to show her love for Jonathon openly. Even though she had yet to tell him so. Octavia paused and wondered how he would respond if she said I love you. She was content in knowing he would certainly be pleased but would he reciprocate? Octavia shook off her thoughts and grabbed a few other items before leaving the closet.

She waved through the flowers, allowing her arms to hang down and caress the tips of their pedals as she passed. The soft roses tickled her fingers, and Octavia blushed as she pushed open her bathroom door. In the shower, her mind combed over the last two nights with him. The Monday night football game had been missed, and Octavia had to discard the T-bone steak that had been left out on the counter. She laughed thinking about it as she turned under the shower’s spray. Lathering herself with her favorite mango body wash, Octavia closed her eyes and imagined Jonathon inside with her. Her hands sailed over her breasts as she rubbed the suds into her dark nipples, turning them hard as pebbles.

“Oh…” Her mouth parted, and her head fell back slightly as she waved the pad of her finger in circles. “Jonathon…” she crooned. Jonathon had done a number on her. Octavia’s body had never been cherished with the type of reverence Jonathon gave. It was surreal how her nerves reacted from a mere touch from him. Their chemistry had been potent before. But now, after connecting with Jonathon physically, there was a constant buzz that fell over her when in and out of his presence. Octavia knew she didn’t have much time to prepare, but it didn’t stop her from stretching her hands down her bare belly to fondle her clitoris.

“Ooh…” she moaned, limberly leaning back until her shoulders bumped the wall. Octavia couldn’t stop. She was in the depths of a trance with Jonathon’s face, broad shoulders, and solid frame being the only things she saw. Octavia dipped her hand between her flower and let out a purr. Her teeth bit down on her lips, and she rushed for a release, fingering her clit as she imagined his tongue doing, over and over.

“Aaaah!”

Octavia came with a shout, and a gush of warm crème slid down her thighs. Breathing heavily, Octavia’s eyes fluttered as the warm shower water rained down her belly.

“Jesus,” she said.

Taking the soapy sponge, Octavia washed all over again before finally pulling herself from the steamy bath. Finding a seat on the bench in her bathroom, Octavia dried her legs, making sure to apply her shea butter. Since the weather would be warm, Octavia made sure to add more edge control to her hair before packing it also in her small carry-on bag. She teased her hair then pulled it to the top of her head in a tight ponytail and braided her hanging tresses before wrapping the long locks in a sealed bun.

The simple look was cute and worked well with the shape of her head. Adding diamond studs to her ears, and light foundation, Octavia finished off her look with skinny jeans and ankle-cut boots that gave her a three-inch lead on her height. Currently, it was cold outside, so Octavia would dress for the warm weather when they arrived at their destination. She was filled with glee and finished up just in time when the doorbell rang.