CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O ne eye opened as her internal clock sounded. Without looking at the time, she knew it was five thirty. Years of waking early with Terry had conditioned her to rise before the sun. Jill stretched her arms above her head, and her body screamed in protest.

Wet suction tugged at her nipple. An erotic jolt fired towards her core, erasing any aches. She opened both eyes and saw the top of Luka’s head as he feasted on her breast. The whiskers on his face rubbed against her chest. Beards weren’t usually her thing, but Luka pulled it off.

“Good morning,” she said, massaging his scalp.

A sleepy haze lingered in her vision. She suspected they hadn’t been sleeping for long. A few hours at most. Her body still tingled from multiple orgasms. As his hand settled between her legs, another one built.

“It is,” he mumbled between her breasts. He pushed two fingers inside her as his mouth covered her other nipple, flicking the tip with his tongue. His thumb circled her clit, causing her body to arch into his touch.

Her moans echoed through the room. The attention he lavished to her body left its mark in her heart. One night with Luka had changed everything. Whether he meant it to happen or not. She didn’t want their time to end. She could get used to him far too easily.

Heat bloomed as he worked her over. Her hips lifted to meet his hand, brazenly seeking release. “Rub my clit faster. I’m close. So, close.”

The pressure increased until a euphoric explosion spread from her core to the tips of her toes. Her legs shook as he continued to rub. He wasn’t done. The hairs on his chin tickled their way down her torso and between her spread thighs. He lapped at her release until he brought her to the brink again.

“Luka,” she hissed when he latched onto her pleasure center and sucked hard.

The sensitive area couldn’t handle the added attention. She thrashed from side to side, but he moved with her. With the sheets fisted in her hands, she braced for the inevitable. Another even more vibrant display of fireworks went off. She quivered in places she’d forgotten existed.

He licked every morsel of ecstasy from her body and smiled after. His mustache shined from her juices. “Waking up next to you is a great way to start a new day,” he said.

The accent was even sexier after not hearing him speak for a short while. She wanted to crawl over to him and lick him from head to toe, but she couldn’t move. “Feel the same way about you,” she panted. “I honestly can’t remember the last time I started my day like this. Maybe never.”

He sat back on his heels and peeled the covers back. His cock stood proud, waving hello. “You do crazy things to my body,” he said, fisting his shaft. “Look at me. See what you do.”

Magnificent. She gazed longingly at him and smiled. “Bring yourself closer to me.” Rolling onto her side, she patted the pillows. “I want to see how you work yourself into a frenzy.”

Luka slithered on his knees towards her, stopping inches from her mouth. She licked her lips as he pumped his erection. Rough, even strokes. She covered his hand and followed his rhythm. Her other hand rubbed and squeezed his balls. He responded to the increased pressure of her fist. She was eager to give him what he needed. The speed increased. Luka let go, and she took over. He gripped the headboard as she pleasured him.

“Do you want to taste me?”

Her mouth covered him seconds before he erupted. She swallowed his release and licked him clean. When she finished, he was still semi-hard.

The smell of sex filled the hotel room. His salty flavor lingered on her tongue. She liked all of it. She planted a kiss against his tip and fell back against the pillows. “Do you ever get soft?”

He looked down and shrugged his shoulders. “It will happen when you’re not around. I am more than satisfied. How about you?” He leaned down and cupped her cheek with his large, calloused hand.

Jill laughed at the genuine concern on his face. As if he thought he hadn’t pleased her. “You were fantastic. Amazing even. Luka, you may have ruined me for other men.”

The last sentence was meant to ease his mind, but it rang true. Unlike her ex, Luka listened and tended to her needs above his own. He made her feel like a goddess; more than a rundown housewife.

“I like that,” he said, pressing their lips together.

Not long enough. One chaste kiss and he bounced out of bed, jostling her. He disappeared into the bathroom without closing the door. The partition was left open, allowing no privacy as he whistled and emptied his bladder.

Jill glanced at her purse on the other bed. She darted over and checked her phone. An image of her kids stared back at her. She slapped her forehead.

What had she done?

Sex with a stranger was not the way to reunite her family. This was the opposite. She dropped the phone on her lap. A quick rummage through her suitcase and she found panties. She pulled them on and yelped as Luka returned.

Strong hands landed on her shoulder. “Everything okay?”

Looking into Luka’s eyes, all the trepidation faded. Being with him wasn’t a mistake and she wouldn’t regret it. Not one moment. “I’m hungry. Can you join me for breakfast before my flight?”

One meal wouldn’t change their fate. This encounter was one time only. Once back home, they’d never see each other again. Her brain knew the score, but she wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

“Do we have time to shower?” He ran his fingers down her arm.

A shower with Luka would mean more sex. It would create more intimacy and more confusion. She shook her head. “I doubt it. I don’t have much time.”

He sniffed the air by her head. “You smell like me and sex.” He smiled, then smelled himself. “I stink only of sex. I need more you.”

Her giggle ricocheted around the room as he tackled her to the mattress. Their bodies collided, and he rubbed his face in her hair. His hands went for her underwear. They wrestled until he pulled her panties off.

Her cheeks hurt from smiling. “What are you doing?” She tried to rip them from his hands and failed.

“Making sure your scent sticks to me. I like it.” He brought the fabric to his nose and inhaled.

Pushing him away, she got off the bed. “You’re insane. You can keep my panties. Weirdo.”

Secretly, she loved that he wanted to keep a piece of her close. Jill let him take his souvenir without more protest. Reaching into her suitcase, she grabbed a change of clothes and dressed slowly.

Luka sat on the opposite bed, amid their tangled sheets and watched her. His gaze never left her body as she pulled on new red, lace undergarments. She liked having his eyes on her.

“Is the hotel restaurant okay?” she asked, slipping a dress over her head.

“Nah. There’s a small place a few blocks from here that makes the best sausages in the city,” he said, pulling on his pants. His tank top lay discarded on the floor by the unused dresser.

She beat him to it and stomped on the fabric, stopping him from picking it up. “Only seems fair we trade.”

Bending over, she picked it up. Her hands wrapped around the red fabric, refusing to let go as he tried to pry it free. They played tug-of-war for a moment, which ended with them on the bed and her on top. Their lips finished the conversation. He tucked his shirt into her bag, letting her keep a souvenir as well.

“We both have places to be my beautiful Jill. I would like to feed you before we part ways.”

The reality hit her hard. After breakfast, they’d go their separate ways. Her focus would return to her kids and helping Terry make it through the playoffs. She wasn’t looking forward to attending more hockey games with a fake smile plastered on her face. She forced a smile as they put on their shoes and she grabbed her purse.

Luka zipped his jacket over his naked torso and threaded their fingers together. “Why do you look sad? Do you not want to go for food? Or is it something else?”

“Has anyone ever told you how perceptive you are?” She was not ready to admit she would miss him.

He kissed her palm. “We will meet again when time permits.”

She chuckled half-heartedly. “I live on the east coast and you’re here. Let’s not make promises we can’t keep.”

His eyes narrowed like a fierce warrior in battle. “I told you I get what I want. We’re not finished. Not even a little.” He smacked her ass, and she yelped.

He lifted his hood and handed her a light jacket.

They left the hotel holding hands like a couple. The restaurant wasn’t much to look at from the outside. A two-story brick building surrounded by skyscrapers. Inside was clean and as narrow as a hallway. The aroma of maple syrup and bacon made her mouth water. Instead of sitting across from one another, they sat side by side in the back booth.

The conversation flowed with an effortless banter. He spoke what was on his mind, but he wasn’t overly chatty. She did most of the talking while he asked a lot of questions. She shared stories of her kids and being a mom. Their childhoods were very different. His hadn’t been easy. Escaping a war zone through his early years, then his parents were killed. He told her his grandmother, sports and faith had helped him through and shaped him into a man.

Being with Luka was easy. Her hand remained on his lap and his arm around her shoulder as they ate. She wasn’t sure who initiated the kiss, but before the meal ended, they were making out like teenagers. Her nails dug into the worn reupholstered vinyl to stop from ripping his jacket off. He made a mess of her hair and she didn’t care.

The waiter coughed to gain their attention. “You can pay at the table when you’re ready.”

She reached into her purse and showed the waiter her credit card. “My treat.”

“I won’t argue,” Luka said as she tapped the machine and paid the bill. “Next time, I’ll buy.”

“We talked about this. It won’t—”

“I’m used to challenges and I overcome them. Distance is easy. We have technology.” He tapped his fingers on her phone. “And there are things called airplanes. Which we both have to catch soon.”

She tried to protest, but he covered her lips. The kiss was very compelling.

“Fine. Give me your number and I’ll call.” She programmed his information into her phone and rolled her eyes at the smug grin that followed.

“I’ll be away for work. It’s a crazy time of year but call me anytime.” He helped her from the table and gripped her hand possessively as they walked out.

At the mention of work, she wondered what he did for a living, but didn’t ask questions. It was better not to know specifics. She wasn’t prepared to provide information about her work or her living situation.

They covered only a short distance when Luka halted. “If I send you a ticket, would you come?”

She chewed her lip, tempted by the offer, but she couldn’t commit. No matter how enticing, it shouldn’t happen. The flattered part of her heart swelled and screamed at her to say yes, but the practical side refused to budge. “Let’s talk first. See where we are in a few days. Okay?”

“You will call, and I will convince you,” he said as they continued walking back towards her hotel.

The sunshine heated her back, spreading warmth to her limbs. She stared at their linked hands as their feet carried them closer to the end. Cars flooded the streets and pedestrian traffic increased, slowing their pace. The sounds of a busy downtown filled the silence.

When they reached the hotel, she sighed. She faced him, ready to say farewell. Her mouth opened, and his lips brushed against hers. He cradled the back of her head as his tongue slipped inside.

The goodbye kiss was passionate and didn’t seem like goodbye. He left her breathless on the sidewalk. Leaning against the glass doors, she watched him jog down the street until he disappeared behind a building. Even then it didn’t feel real. She had to get her head on straight.

The next couple of hours did nothing but confuse her more. She had no regrets about being with Luka, but where did that leave her family. Once she arrived home, she picked up the kids from her in-laws. Terry hadn’t bothered picking them up. She was furious with him. Everything came before family.

Her fingers flew across the screen. He didn’t answer. “Terry Manor, you suck. Ditching me was pathetic but leaving them with your folks was inexcusable. You better have one hell of a reason.” Her hands shook when she hung up. She usually avoided confrontation and was raised to bite her tongue, but she’d let him get away with too much already.

He never called her back. During dinner, he sent her a text. “Sorry. I love you all. See you tomorrow.”

After the kids were tucked into bed, she retreated to the office. Staring out the window at the moon, offered no solace. She closed the deep, burgundy curtains and flopped down behind her big antique desk. The chair rolled and squeaked over the plastic carpet protector. She pulled out the manila envelope from the top drawer. The divorce papers stared back at her. She’d read them hundreds of times, but the signature section was blank.

Jill closed her eyes and Luka’s smile drifted by. Instead of still being angry, crying over Terry’s actions and making excuses for him, she was done. Finished with the past and ready for the next phase in her life. The kids would understand, eventually. She grabbed the first pen she could find scattered on the desk and signed.

Change was in the air.