Chapter Fourteen
My sister took Lucky out one more time before she left, and he’d already curled up on the couch and passed out. I’d only heard from his parents once since they’d left, which was kind of unusual. Generally, I heard from the owners via email every day. I always sent a little nightly recap and that’s when I usually got a response, but not with Lucky’s parents. They must have been having a really good time.
I stared at my cell phone and felt a wave of anxiety flow through me. The thought of texting Billy was exciting, yet completely nerve-wracking. I was a big ball of messed-up. I wanted to sleep with him, but being in a plaster cast wasn’t exactly how I pictured our first encounter. But if I didn’t jump on the occasion, I’d completely miss out, and it had been a long, long, long time since I’d been attracted enough to anyone to even think about the deed.
And since meeting him that was all I could think about, so how could I let an opportunity like this slip by all because I’m being a nervous Nelly.
I groaned and Lucky opened one eye before falling back to sleep.
“It’s no big deal,” I told myself. “Just text him like you do this thing all the time. Fun is your middle name.”
I took in a deep breath and quickly texted Billy three simple words.
My sister left.
The moment I hit send, my stomach tied into a million little knots as I waited for his response. Tonight could go in so many different directions. It wasn’t like he’d actually said anything about sleeping together, but why would he? Billy had more class than that, but what if all he meant by coming over was watching a movie or something? It wasn’t the first time I gotten my idea of fun and his crossed.
I groaned again, hoping a message would pop up soon.
“Lucky, what is about this man that always makes me think about sex?” I leaned back in the recliner and stared at the ceiling. “As I’ve proven over the last several years, there is more to life than sex.”
Lucky was completely ignoring me and I fully understood. This topic was way above his pay grade. After several minutes without a response, my pulse started to slow to a normal rate.
When I’d just about given up, a message popped up from Billy.
Still up for a little fun tonight? I rented a couple DVDs and can bring some popcorn.
“Of course he did,” I muttered to no one, pushing away the disappointment and attempting to welcome the relief.
Sounds perfect. I’ll be here.
He texted back quickly.
I counted on that.
Even if it was only a movie night, my stomach flip-flopped with delight. At least I’d get to see him and there wouldn’t be anything to interfere.
I glanced around the living room, which looked a lot tidier than when he was here last. The flames were roiling in the fireplace and Lucky’s soft snores filtered through the air. I wasn’t sure how he’d feel when we booted him off the couch.
I hobbled into the kitchen just as my cellphone rang so I quickly hobbled back to the recliner.
Expecting it to be Billy, I was completely surprised to hear my mom on the other end.
“Hey, dear,” her voice sang into the phone. “Your dad and I are so looking forward to our visit. How are you feeling?”
“I’m only taking Ibuprofen now and then so I’m doing fantastic.” I sat back down in the recliner. “It’s so nice of you guys to come out here for so long. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Oh, please. That’s what early retirement is for. We’d planned on visiting for a couple weeks, so what’s the difference with adding a couple more to the mix?”
My parents were the most selfless, giving people I’d ever known. They’d always made time for my sister and me, and I couldn’t imagine them not in my life. My mind wandered to Billy. I wondered what all went on with his family, what made him so closed-up on certain topics? It didn’t sound like he’d had a stable upbringing, but I wanted to know more.
And I shouldn’t. If this was nothing more than fun, what did it matter?
“Honey, are you okay?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I get kind of foggy at this time of night.”
“I understand. You have a lot on your plate, but your dad and I will be great dog sitters. You tell us what to do and we’ll make sure we do it.”
I laughed, knowing she meant it. “Maybe I’ll be lucky and I’ll get my walking cast sooner so we can be tourists.”
“Don’t count on it.” I heard my dad in the background.
“I also called to see if there was anything you needed us to bring. Your sister said she was going to go grocery shopping for you tomorrow and then some man on the island was going to help the day she left? Is he reliable? Can he be trusted? Do you feel safe around him?”
More than she knew.
“He’s fine.” I chuckled, realizing poor Billy had no idea what he could have gotten himself into. “Very reliable.”
The doorbell rang and my mom didn’t miss a beat.
“Who’s coming to your door at this hour? I talked to your sister who’s already in bed at the lodge.” She didn’t even give me a chance to answer. “Do you want me to stay on the phone while you see who it is? Make sure you don’t blindly open the door.”
“It’s fine, I promise. You’ll see when you come to the island, mom. It’s one big, happy community. It’s probably someone bringing me movies to watch or something.” I felt slightly guilty for not telling my mom.
“I’d feel much better if you’d let me stay on the phone while you checked.”
“It’s hard for me to walk over there with crutches and a phone in hand. I promise I won’t open the door if I don’t know them.”
“I don’t know…”
“I’ll text you and let you know. How’s that?”
I knew she didn’t like my idea of a compromise, but she relented and hung up so I could hobble to the door and let Billy in.
“Did you know it’s not fair to show up looking so good?” I teased, noticing Lady spinning at his feet.
He glanced down at his jeans and a sweater. “Sorry. I’ll do better at looking worse next time.”
“That’s more like it.” I moved away from the door to let him in, and he put the DVDs and popcorn on the table. “But I was talking about Lady.”
He smiled and shook his head. “I should have known. I hope you don’t mind that I brought her.”
“Not at all. She can keep Lucky amused.”
And with that Lady pranced through the foyer into the living room.
“I’ve been thinking about you since the moment I left this afternoon.” He slid his arms around my waist, careful to not throw me off balance.
“Is that so?” I asked, feeling the strength in his hands and wishing I wasn’t standing in a cast in front of this man.
I wasn’t one to compare myself to others often, but seeing the lady in red whom he’d actually dated was a little intimidating. She was gorgeous. Tall. Elegant.
I pet sat for a living. I was super short and preferred Converse to heels.
“Very so.” He brought me closer and I widened my crutches.
See? Sexy.
“I need to text someone to let them know you weren’t a mass murderer.”
“Who?” His brows furrowed.
“My mom,” I muttered and he chuckled.
“She’s a really nice woman.”
My gaze flew to his. “Huh?”
“Your sister gave me their number so we could coordinate everything.” He smiled. “In fact, I let them know I was bringing over DVDs tonight when your mom called.”
“She called?”
“Your parents really care about you.”
“They do.” I nodded.
I saw a dart of sadness flutter through his eyes.
“The benefit of having not the greatest family growing up is that I can really spot the ones who care for one another.” He stepped back and grabbed the DVDs. “You want comedy or drama or…”
“You choose.” I smiled, noticing a mound of tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there a few minutes ago. There was so much about Billy that I wanted to know. “I’m up for anything. No promises I’ll stay awake though.”
I made my way back to my phone in the living room and sent my mom a quick text.
Billy dropped the DVDs off, but I’m guessing you already knew that.
She texted back.
Totally slipped my mind. Love you.
I let out a chuckle and tossed my phone on the recliner.
“We can start with comedy and go to thriller. How’s that?” Seeing him walk into the living room with the stack of DVDs made my heart squeeze. It was like for a minute I could pretend that this was my house, my town, and the man I was dating. I wasn’t usually one to daydream and fantasize, but there was something so perfectly cozy about this moment that I promised myself to remember even the smallest details.
Like Billy’s adorable smile.
And his thoughtfulness as he scratched Lucky’s ear on the way to the television.
That’s when my heart dropped.
“Where’s Lady?” I asked.
Billy spun around and craned his neck toward Lucky.
A slow smile spread across his lips. “Well, at least one couple knows what they want.”
“What do you mean?” His comment kind of threw me a curve.
He gestured to under the blanket I’d used to tuck Lucky in and I saw a bit of black fur poking out from underneath.
“They like each other.” I smiled, seeing a trace of a smile on Lucky’s lips.
“I think they do.” He grinned, turning on the television and sliding in the first disc.
“Has Maddie had her baby yet?”
“Nope. Chance said it might not happen until morning.” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “I think it’s going to be a long night for them.”
“I can’t even imagine.”
“Which part?”
“The actual delivering part.” I hobbled over to the middle cushion of the couch and sat down. “It’s all fun and games until…you know the baby has to come out.”
Billy laughed as he went to get the bag of popcorn for us.
It was so easy being around Billy, and I obviously wasn’t the only one who felt it or he wouldn’t have so many friends, male and female. I glanced over at Lucky who’d curled tighter around Lady and held in a sigh.
Young love melted my heart.
Billy took a seat on the couch and handed me the bag of popcorn before fumbling with the remote. As silly as it seemed, being this close to him made my body temperature rise, and I suddenly didn’t care which movie was about to appear on the television.
“Are you looking forward to your trip?” I asked, propping my leg on a pillow I’d put on the coffee table.
“I am.” He sat back and placed his arm around my shoulders. “But not quite as much as I had been.”
I didn’t want to read too much into it so I just pressed on.
“So you’re headed to Portland first?”
“I’ve got a few meetings and then it gives me an excuse to visit Stone.”
“That’ll be a good start to your vacation.”
He turned toward me and nodded. “It should be.”
“I hope you don’t leave town before we get to have a little fun.” I couldn’t believe the words were out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop myself.
He let out a deep groan that made my entire body heat up with desire. I wanted to hear more of those sounds coming from those beautiful lips.
“Do you really want that, Tiff?”
He’d never called me that before. I liked it coming from him. It made things—us—feel more intimate.
“I do,” I confessed, sucking on my bottom lip with a nervousness I couldn’t hide.
“I don’t want to promise anything I can’t deliver on,” Billy whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. “You know that, right?”
His gaze fell to my lips before returning to my eyes.
“I know that this is only fun. You’re leaving town and so am I.” I bit my lip. “But I’ve wanted this…” My breath caught as I twisted my fingers in his hair. “I don’t care if there’s not a tomorrow for us. I want what’s happening now. I don’t want to regret anything by letting you leave and—” I didn’t know what else to say.
“If I could offer you more, I would,” he said flatly. “But it’s not that time in my life for me. It hasn’t been, and I don’t know when it will ever be.”
“I know,” I whispered, ignoring the voice of caution in my head. I could handle this. “Same goes for me. It’s not like I’m looking for anything long-term.”
A brilliant flash of desire flared in his eyes, and a slow moment of longing stretched between us. I wanted to be kissed by him. I wanted so much more. But we just sat on the couch, his hand holding my good one.
I wondered if he’d continue or if he’d talk himself out of whatever was about to happen. I tried everything to be as blunt as possible. I knew sleeping with him wouldn’t lead to anything more than what it was now, and I was okay with that.
“I’m beginning to think you’re all talk when it comes to having a little fun,” I breathed in. Everything about him was intoxicating.
Billy’s gaze shifted to my mouth, but he didn’t come closer. I realized he was handing me the power. He wanted me to be the one to make this decision. It didn’t matter what I told him. It mattered what I did.
I slid my tongue slowly along my bottom lip, which made his breathing speed up or maybe it was the fact that I’d slid my hand under his sweater, feeling his hard abs and contoured chest. Every dip and peak of his body made my mind endlessly swirl with the thought of getting to feel his bare skin against mine.
I’d played it safe for years. Stayed away from relationships by staying away from men all together so I didn’t get burned.
But for once, I wanted to have a little fun. I wanted to play with fire because for the first time in a long time I knew what I was getting. There were no empty promises. I wasn’t going to get burned because I already knew what to expect. There was only this night, maybe one more.
“I want this,” I whispered, looking into his green eyes. “Don’t make me beg.”
He brought his mouth to mine and everything in the room melted into oblivion. All I could think about was Billy’s lips on mine, his hand skating across my back, the delicious way he smelled of soap and the outdoors. For once, all I was thinking about was this moment and this kiss.
“You taste so good,” he murmured, his lips still pressed to mine. “But I think I need to get you into bed.”
“Not alone, I hope?”
“Not alone, Tiffany.” His voice was gruff with need, and a shiver ran down me with the way he said my name.
Without any effort, he scooped me in his arms, making me feel as light as a feather, even with a cast.
“I bet it’s not every night you get to take a girl to bed who is part plaster.” I looped my arm around his neck, and he laughed before pressing his lips to mine.
We somehow made it to my bedroom where Billy laid me on the bed, his eyes combing over me as if I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“I’m not trying to rush things, but we might want to take my yoga pants off now with the cast and all.”
He laughed, but his gaze held a stormy intensity as he slid his fingers along my waistband, slowly working the fabric down my legs. I was grateful I’d had on a pair of lacey underwear instead of what I typically wore.
“You look so cute when you’re smiling,” he said, crawling over me, careful not to bump my leg or wrist, before pressing his mouth back down on mine.
With this kiss, desire raged between us. There was nothing tame about the way his tongue met mine, and his hands ran underneath my shirt. It was like all the other kisses had led to this moment.
Billy’s hands explored my body with such determination and expertise that my body trembled, ached, and burned for more. I’d never experienced desire like this.
A little moan escaped my lips as Billy slowly brought my shirt over my head, dropping it on the floor before he kneeled over me, his eyes canvasing my body, followed by his fingertips.
“You’re absolutely gorgeous, Tiff.”
I held up my arm with the brace and waved a little. “Even with this?”
“I like my women bionic.” He laughed, bringing his mouth along my neck, sending another wave of shivers through me.
As he worked his mouth down my neck to my chest, I pulled off his sweater with one hand and threw it behind us.
He was gorgeous. He had more tattoos with designs so intricate I would need hours to absorb all the beauty and meaning. The dark lines against his bronzed skin were extraordinary. He was extraordinary.
Billy brought his eyes back to mine, and my breath caught as he unfastened my bra. His hands skimmed my breasts, stopping at the nipples to tease and taunt.
I’d never felt so turned on before. The ache for him only grew stronger as his gaze stayed on mine, and he brought his lips to mine once more. I wrapped my only working leg around his waist and attempted to unbutton his jeans with my good hand, but it turned into a fumbling mess.
Billy broke free from our kiss and quickly undressed the rest of the way, shaking his jeans and boxers to the floor before bringing his tongue to my belly, teasing me.
His body was even more incredible than I’d imagined, and I’d done quite a bit of imagining. I wiggled my hips, silently begging him to take off my panties, which he quickly did.
Every part of me wanted Billy inside of me, but he was taking his time, caressing me, working his fingers between my thighs, bringing my whimpers to near cries.
“Billy,” I whispered, pressing my hips against his hardness. “I can’t take much more.”
Those words unleashed what I needed as his mouth crashed to mine, and he slowly entered me. Feeling his fullness inside of me made my heart pound to incredible speeds.
He let out a low, guttural moan as I ran my fingers along his back, bringing my leg around him and moving my hips in a matching rhythm of ecstasy. I’d never felt sensations this intense as he moved into me with each push.
“Don’t stop,” I murmured, twisting my fingers through his hair.
“I don’t think I could,” he whispered. “You feel absolutely amazing.”
The moment he spoke those words, my body exploded into ecstasy, our kisses turning more frantic as we both lost control with one another, and I knew I’d never regret this night.
As he caught his breath, still hovering over me, his gaze connected with mine.
“That was incredible,” I whispered.
“I was thinking the same thing,” he murmured, brushing back some of my hair, as our bodies remained tangled together. “I’ve never…”
He stopped himself, and I tilted my head to get a better look.
“You’ve never what?” I asked.
“I’ve never quite experienced something like that.” He pulled me into him, and I felt my body melt into his.
I closed my eyes and felt his warm breath skating across my neck as I wondered if what he said was true. Not that it mattered.
But that was the problem. It did matter.
He swept a soft kiss across my cheek, and I let out a wistful sigh as my mind wandered to the impossible and I fell asleep.