Damn, I must be growing a vagina. What is this woman doing to me?
“Hello. May I help you?”
Not Lawrence.
“Just came in to look around.”
“Feel free. My name is Winter. Let me know if I can help you with anything.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you.”
I browse the store, searching for Lawrence without any sign. The salesclerk gives me ample time to look around before returning to offer help again. “Are you looking for a gift?”
“No. Actually I’m looking for Lawrence Thorn.”
“She stepped out to grab dinner at the restaurant on the corner. Want me to call down there and let her know you’re here to see her?”
I’m relieved to know she’s here. “Has she been gone a while?”
“Long enough that I would expect her to be back soon.”
I don’t want her to have notice of my arrival. “I’m not in a hurry so I’ll keep browsing around the store until she gets back.”
“All right. Would you care for some water or chai tea while you wait?”
I smile inside, remembering the morning we had chai tea together. “I’m fine, thank you.”
I look around and come across an oddity. Looks like a grass dildo. “Winter, what is this?”
“A sage-and-sweet-grass smudge stick.”
“What do you do with it?” I’m a little frightened to hear the answer.
“You burn it and use the smoke to purify or bless people and places.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed that.”
Wren, you have weird shit in your store. I think you may be much deeper into this bohemian stuff than I thought.
“Have you ever been in the store?”
“No. I have no idea what most of this stuff is or what you do with it.”
“That’s okay. I’m happy to answer any of your questions.”
There’s an entire wall of natural remedies. Insomnia. Depression. Cold and flu symptoms. The list goes on and on. Looks like there’s an oil, herb, extract, or healing stone for whatever ails you.
The display of lavender catches my eye so I open the tester for a sniff. Mmm. Smells so much like Lawrence.
The door chimes but I don’t turn. If it’s Lawrence I don’t want to be seen. Not yet.
A minute later, I hear the aged wood-plank flooring creak behind me. “I might be able to help with choosing an oil if you give me a description of your symptoms.”
Ahh. Sweet Lawrence’s child-like voice is music to my ears. A melody my ears have craved. It’s been too long since I heard it.
I return the bottle of lavender to the shelf, keeping my back turned on Wren. “I met a woman whom I believe has bewitched me.”
I hear her quiet gasp and I know that she has recognized my voice.
“Lucas?” Her voice is barely a whisper.
I continue standing with my back to her. “I can’t sleep. I can’t concentrate. It’s impossible to work because she’s in my head. All. The. Fucking. Time.”
I turn around and my eyes meet hers but more than that happens. She’s beaming and I think that I may even see a glisten around those beautiful baby blues. It’s in this moment that I realize how very much I want her. My longing is stronger than I thought it was.
I’ve come here like an ocean reaching and running toward her as though she’s my shore.
Fuck. I’ve never chased a woman. Only ran from them.
“I need something to remedy this overwhelming desire I have to see her.”
She doesn’t throw herself into my arms so I’ll not get my movie-like reunion. “It’s probably not an oil you need. Have you tried calling her? Or maybe texting?”
“I wanted to. I thought about it every day since she left.”
“But?”
“I was afraid she might have come to her senses and decided that I was a bad idea.”
“I have it on good authority that this woman feels the exact same way. She can’t sleep or concentrate or get this one particular man out of her head.”
I move closer and place my hand on the side of her face. Hers comes to rest on top of mine as she turns her face inward to kiss my palm. “You’re here with Ollie?”
“Yes. The business trip came together at the last minute. And I didn’t want to call because I was afraid you’d tell me it would be better if I didn’t come.”
“I’m very happy you’re here.”
Lawrence wraps her hand around mine and uses it to lead me to the checkout counter. “Winter, can you close tonight without me? Lucas and I haven’t seen each other in a while. We have some catching up to do.”
“I can close, no problem.”
I follow her to the back of the store, and we slip out the exit. She stops in the dark alley and takes my hands. “I’m happy to see you.”
“I’m happy too.”
I haven’t touched her in a month and it’s all I want to do. This isn’t the most ideal place but I can’t help myself.
I cradle her face and bring my lips to hers, but stop before they come together. Only our breath touches. “Every day that you’ve been gone, I’ve hardly thought of anything but you.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about you too.”
“Is there any chance we can get back the night that we should have had a month ago?”
She nods, her eyes never leaving mine. “How long are you staying in Savannah?”
“We’re driving back early Monday morning.”
“I think we can get our night back plus two more.”
Three nights. Surely that will be enough for me to get my fix so I’ll stop obsessing night and day over this woman.
Porter was right. I’m risking my friendship with Oliver. My business relationship. Maybe even my livelihood but I don’t care. She’s worth the gamble.
I’m going all in.
12
Lawrence Thorn
I can’t believe Lucas has come to Savannah or that he showed up in the middle of my store out of the clear blue like that. What does this visit mean?
We live four hundred miles apart. It’s a hookup. It has to be.
“Where are you staying?”
He chuckles. “The Bohemian. It seemed fitting… and it’s within walking distance to your shop.”
“I’ve always wanted to see that hotel.”
“Then come see it.” He pauses a moment. “And stay the night with me.”
Yup. Lucas Broussard came four hundred miles to hook up. And I’m okay with that. I want him.
“Okay. But first, I need to swing by my place and pick up some things.”
When I went to Birmingham a month ago, I had no idea that I’d be getting naked with a man. He saw me wearing my plain white everyday bra and panties. Definitely not sexy. And here I am again wearing an ordinary bra and panties. I can’t let him see me like that a second time.
It’s truly sad but I don’t have a lot of sexy things to choose from. I haven’t made a habit of buying sexy lingerie because I haven’t had a man to wear them for. My best option is an ivory lace bralette with matching cheeky panties. It’s probably not the kind of lingerie that Lucas is used to seeing on a woman but the style fits me. And unless I’m mistaken, I think he likes me the way I am, weirdo and all.
“Do you walk to work?”
“I ride my bike unless it’s raining. That was it in the back alley chained to the wall.”
“That old-timey one with the basket on the front?”
I elbow him in his side. “Don’t call Beatrice old-timey. She’s vintage.”
Lucas chuckles. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to hurt Beatrice’s feelings.”
“I won’t tell her what you said.”
I turn the deadbolt on my front door and push it open. “This is it. Home sweet home.”
Lucas follows me in and looks around, smiling. “Everything about this place fits you.”
I love my pink sofa and peacock walls and dreamcatchers and bold prin
ts. Everything about my apartment screams carefree boho. That’s who I am.
“These vivid colors fit me just like the warmth of your brown leather couch and brown walls fit you.” And if I wasn’t already aware, the differences in our decor would be proof of our very different personalities.
I gesture to my bedroom door. “I won’t be long.”
I fetch my overnight bag from the top of my bedroom closet and set it aside while I fold and stack the pieces of clothing that I plan to take.
Lucas calls out from the living room, but I can’t make out what he says. “I’m sorry. What was that?”
He appears in my bedroom doorway. “I said no TV?”
“I had one but all it did was collect dust, so I gave it to my elderly neighbor to replace the old console TV she had.”
“You replaced something vintage with something new and modern?”
“Smart-ass.” But he sort of has me there.
“I’m kidding. That was a very nice thing to do.”
He crosses the room and grabs me from behind, kissing the side of my neck. And I become a trembling, breathless mess.
“You’re taking too long to pack,” he whispers against my ear.
I lean back, pressing my body against his. “And you’re slowing me down by doing this.”
He reaches around and cups me between my legs. “I know but I couldn’t keep my hands off you another minute. I want to be inside you so bad I can’t stand it.”
I was planning to freshen up and change into something pretty for him. But fuck it. “Then be inside of me.”
He grips my long skirt and inches it up my legs. “Do you have condoms?”
I haven’t had sex in over a year. Of course I don’t have any. “You came here to have sex with me and didn’t bring condoms?”
He presses his head to the back of mine and groans. “I have them but they’re in my suitcase, which is in the hotel room.”
“Then we’d better be getting over to the Bohemian.”
He rubs me between my legs. “I have other goodies in the room too.”
“What kind of goodies?”
With his mouth against my neck, he makes a buzzing sound that vibrates against my skin. “Goodies that you are going to love so you might want to get a move on.”
He releases me and I return to packing my bag, a little more quickly this time.
Lucas and I didn’t get far enough to have the birth control talk the last time we were together, and I’d rather not have it during foreplay. Those things always put a damper on the mood. “Obviously, we’ll use condoms but you need to know that I’m not on birth control.”
“We don’t have to worry about a pregnancy. I’ve had a vasectomy.”
What?
I mean… what?
I turn around and look at him, stupefied. I can’t even form words because I feel as though I’ve just had a swift kick to the twat.
“What’s wrong?”
I have to dig deeply in my chest to find my voice. “Why in the world would you have a vasectomy at your age?”
“I can’t go through losing another baby.”
I can’t imagine the hell that Lucas must have endured when he lost his son but, unless I’ve misunderstood, he wouldn’t have the same outcome with a different woman if she didn’t carry the gene for the kidney disorder. “But you wouldn’t lose another baby if you fathered a child with a mother who didn’t carry the gene.”
“True, but who’s to say that another child of mine wouldn’t have a different kind of health problem?”
“Health problems are a chance that all parents take when they conceive.”
He shakes his head. “It’s a chance that I’m not willing to take.”
I might not agree with his mindset but he has the right to feel that way. And who am I to try and persuade him to think otherwise?
He’ll never have children of his own. I suppose that’s why he has such a strong relationship with Bridgette’s.
“Is this a problem for you?”
There isn’t a reason in the world that his vasectomy should be a problem for me. But it is a little, which is so stupid. We’re hooking up and nothing more. I should be happy that I don’t have to worry about getting pregnant. “No, it’s not a problem.”
“I promise that it still works exactly the same. The only difference is that there’s no sperm in my semen when I come.”
“Okay.” I don’t know how else to respond to that.
I take a final look around the room and zip my bag. “I’m ready if you are.”
He comes to me and takes my bag from me, placing the strap over his shoulder. “I’ve spent the last month being ready.”
I’m experienced in the sex department but I can’t claim to have had a lot of great, mind-blowing sex. In my experience, I’ve learned that most men are selfish lovers. They’re takers, not givers. That sad reality didn’t hit me until a few years ago, and that’s when I took a step back and decided that I’m not a walking vagina for men’s satisfaction, as so many of them believe. I made the choice to no longer give my body to takers who didn’t offer pleasure in return. And boy, did that narrow down potential sex partners.
I believe Lucas will be a giver. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in this hotel room with him right now.
The room is beautiful. And perfect for hotel sex. I knew it would be. I may spend the next three days and nights right here with him and never leave the room.
“Give me a minute in the bathroom.”
“Sure. I’ll be right here waiting when you’re ready.”
I remove my clothes and change into my lingerie, although the word lingerie is a loose term for what I’m putting on. I hope Lucas isn’t disappointed when he sees me.
Releasing my hair from the knot on top of my head, it falls to my mid back in waves, and I remember what Lucas said to me that night at his house. Your hair is beautiful.
I skip brushing my hair and shake it out a little so it retains the curl. I hope he fists it in his hand and uses his grip on it to pull me against him. That would be so hot.
You smell so good. It’s driving me insane. Those were his words when he inhaled my scent before. Let’s see what my seductive oil mixture with its exotic, sweet, and floral scent does for him tonight.
One last look in the mirror and a little push up on my boobs in the lacy bralette, and I’m ready for him.
The sound of slow, seductive music made just for lovers welcomes me when I open the door. The music makes me happy because it means he’s trying to make this good for me.
He’s going to be an attentive lover. I already know it.
Lucas is sitting on the edge of the bed wearing only his boxer briefs. Handsome and practical. I like it.
“I hope you weren’t hoping for something overtly sexy and naughty.”
He holds out his hand. “Come here.”
When I’m standing before him, he places his hands on my hips. Slowly, he glides them around and holds my bare cheeks, which are peeking out of my cheeky panties. A roguish grin spreads beneath his facial scruff and he leans forward, placing a kiss against my stomach. “You wear your skin like silk.”
His eloquent words take me by surprise. “What a lovely thing to say.”
His hands cup my ass and he lifts, bringing me up to straddle him on the bed. Those strong hands then move to each side of my face, holding it as he gazes into my eyes. “You’re sexy without the smut.”
What I see in his eyes confirms everything that I was hoping for. This man wants me just as I am—the natural me.
I tighten my hold around his shoulders and pull him closer, loving the intimate feel of his body against mine.
His hands squeeze my hips when I rotate them in a circular motion, making my crotch rub against his hard cock. Our eyes lock and I nibble my bottom lip, willing him to see the thoughts behind my eyes. I like you, Lucas Broussard. I like you a lot.
He slips his hand into my bralette and circles my nipple with his thu
mb, instantly turning it into a hard pebble. His other hand does the same and then both remove my bralette, leaving me topless.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
Cupping my breasts from the bottom, he pushes them together and lightly pinches my nipples, sending a chain reaction of rapture to my groin. I want my hands on him now.
I try to slip my hand into his boxer briefs, but he quickly flips us over, putting me on my back. Taking away my control.
“It’s been a while. I need to pace myself so this isn’t over too quickly.”
I wonder what constitutes a while for him. I also wonder if he’s been with anyone since we parted a month ago.
It may be silly but I hope he hasn’t been with another woman. I hope my face is the only one he’s seen while his hand stroked his cock. I hope he’s spent every day and every night thinking only of me.
His lips claim the side of my neck and his hand navigates its way down my body. His fingers splay over the triangular fabric between my legs. His light touch is arousing but it isn’t enough. I want more.
I part my legs wide, giving him full access to my body. It’s my cue, giving him unspoken permission to touch me any way he likes.
Shallow breath moves in and out of my chest quickly as I anticipate what will come next. Make me come, Lucas. I need it. I need it so badly.
He pulls back on the elastic band of my panties and glides his hand down the front. Yes. That’s it. That’s what I want.
He pushes a finger through my slick center and then glides it back in a single slow, torturous stroke, barely grazing my clit. Sweet agony—that’s the only way to describe it. Desperate and impatient, I squirm against his fingers, hoping to cue him of my need.
“Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”
“More. Please.” My voice cracks on the second word, making me sound even more desperate for his touch.
He circles the soft pads of his fingers at the top of my slit and his every upward stroke massages my clit, initiating all kinds of tingly sensations.
“Does that feel good?”
“God, yes.”
A soft whine slips from my mouth when Lucas stops and kneels between my knees. “I can do even better.”