Page 56 of Signed, SEALed, Delivered

CHAPTER TWENTY

Kennedy

"Only days after prominent Atlanta attorney, John Forrester, served his wife of nearly twenty five years with divorce papers, a spokesperson for the family announced the engagement of his youngest daughter, Kennedy, to another society mogul, Zachary Michaels, son of Dr. Jonathan and Emma Michaels. No date was given for the young couple's nuptials.

A trusted source reveals Claudia Forrester was recently escorted out of a high-end boutique when her credit card was declined and Mrs. Forrester became angry. Reports state the Atlanta police were called, however, no arrests have been made at time of this printing."

“Yes, Mother. I have seen the paper this morning.” My eyes squeezed shut, my index finger massaging my left temple as the pounding of a headache appeared on the horizon.

“How can he do this to me? After all I’ve done for that man!”

I was able to recall a number of reasons off the top of my head. Claudia Forrester was reaping what she sewed.

“Just you wait! Zachary will find a younger, prettier version and you will end up just like me, a discarded housewife.”

Disconnecting, I tossed my phone aside, as the tears made their angry appearance. Turning quickly, I nearly stumble over one of the boxes Jason still needs to pick up and take to his new home. I had to get out of there, away from the anguish my mother's words had filled me with. How had the happiest of times taken such a downward spiral?

Sitting behind the wheel of my car, I had no a clue as to how I arrived outside Zach's house. Not caring if the car was secure, I flew from the driver's seat and through the back door, the alarm announcing my arrival. I knew where he would be at this late hour. Zach was nothing if not reliable and stable. The sound of the late night news anchor he always watched to wind down for the night filled the hall. I didn't bother to remove my shoes or care where my keys and purse landed as I jumped into his bed, his arms catching and pulling me close.

"She called again didn't she?" He reached over and silenced the television, holding me tighter as the sobs returned. "Let it out, Sweetheart," he instructed, keeping his true remarks to himself.

Zach had a long, heated conversation with his mother and future mother-in-law the last time my mother had upset me. Claudia proclaimed I was an ungrateful child and would suck the Michaels family dry. Her words were venomous and Zach watched in horror as they sank their deadly fangs deep into my heart. His mother, the lady that she is, wrapped her arm around me, whispering she didn't believe for a second what Claudia said. Zach had been too angry to say anything to her as he followed us out of the room.

"I told her to go to hell, Zach." I whispered, nestled against his neck, clinging to him as if my life depended on it. "She said you would stray when you figured out I was useless for much of anything." My words caught his attention and he turned us both, taking my face in his hands, his eyes searching mine.

"You don’t need me to tell you how wonderful you are, but since she has planted a seed, I'm going to pour on my own brand of poison and make certain it never grows. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. You’re kind, even when it is not warranted. You're giving, even when you have nothing left to give. You treat people, even the ones who don't deserve it, with respect and decency. You brighten each and every room you enter, and you make every day I get to spend with you a lot better because you're in it. You give me everything I need and then some."

His eyes stared into mine; reassuring me he was telling me the truth. Zach had the ability to give me the strength to face all my demons. My mother, who had cast me off, and any other obstacle I would ever encounter, I knew he would be by my side. But first, I had something I needed from him, something I had been afraid of.

"Zach—" My voice trembled, not with fear, but with the promise of what I was about to ask. He didn't respond with words, but a soft kiss to my damp cheek. "I—I need you to...”

"Anything, Kennedy. Anything you need from me it’s yours."

His words were the key I needed to unlock my courage, freeing myself from the self-imposed prison I had created. I was ready to experience life in it purest form for the first time.

"Make it go away." I pleaded, not only for the hurt my mother had caused, but the doubt Ethan Porter had given me. Doubt in my ability to have a normal relationship with a man like Zach. I knew he didn't need any explanation or further instructions on my request. I also knew I could stop him at any second and he would continue to love me and keep me safe.

With a final search of my eyes and a lick of his lips, Zach dove in. The heat of his breath sent chills down my spine. His hand took a firmer grip on my face, directing my head in the direction he needed it to go. Finally releasing it, he wrapped his arms around my body pulling me tighter to him.

I could feel him, feel his muscles tightening as he caressed my skin. Opening my mouth to his, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him impossibly closer as his tongue met my waiting one. Round and round, back and forth, touches sometimes brief and others long and inducing sounds from me I haven’t heard myself make. I tried to pull back slightly, but Zach was unwilling to break the connection and followed me back into the comfort of the mattress, as he continued to explore my mouth with his pointed tongue.

Warm, rough fingers soon make an appearance along my ribcage, traveling at an easy pace in the direction of my satin covered breast, as his pelvis ground into mine. He was taking my request seriously and the reason for my late night visit was slowly starting to vanish.

Open-mouthed kisses lead the way toward the hand holding one of my newly exposed breasts. He pulled back slightly, long enough to remove my shirt and unfasten my bra. Moving me back to the sheets, warmed by our body heat, his mission resumed once again. Wet pressure encircled my left nipple, the sensation causing me to gasp, yet not allowing me to voice my pleasure. Zach was in control and I was along for the ride. A ride that would take me to a place I had only read about, but never visited, even by myself.

His pelvis made deliberate and even paths against my center, each thrust bringing more pleasure than the one prior. Bringing his mouth back to mine, his tongue buried deep in my mouth, my brain was on vacation as his fingers passed over the stitching on the hem of my pants. I felt his hesitation as he closed in on my panty line and, in a bold move, I reached down, directing him past the silk fabric, to the area of my body that wanted him the most.

With his lips attached to my neck, Zach pulled his lower body back enough for me to remove my pants and panties. With the material gone I could feel his erection, and yet I yearned to feel more. While he continues his assault on my neck, I ventured my right hand down his shoulder, passing over his pecks and finally to the soft cloth of his boxers. Refusing to second guess myself, I dipped my hand inside and took his engorged shaft gently in my hand, stroking first with just my fingertips, and then adding more pressure as Zach's moans increased against my neck. I circled my thumb over the head as my remaining digits encircled his shaft. Zach smashed his mouth to mine, pushing his tongue inside; giving me a preview of what I hoped would happen next.

Pulling his cock out of my hand, Zach slowly moved lower, kissing a trail all the way to the junction of my thighs. I should have been trembling, frightened of what was about to happen, but here, in this room, with only the flickering light from the television, I caught sight of the platinum ring he had given me just a short time ago. He had promised forever and placed a sign of that commitment on my finger for the world to see I was the love of his life. With the ring still in my vision, I spread my legs, watching as my future husband locked eyes with me and kissed the tip of my pelvis.

Zach spread me open, as the tongue he had explored my mouth with, discovered hidden treasures. He took his time closing his eyes briefly. I pulled myself up on my elbows to get a better vantage point, watching as his tongue played with my swollen nub, while his fingers disappeared in my opening, bringing about a deep, breathy moan. I could feel his calculated motions as he searched for something deep inside, gasping when I felt the quiver deep inside my pelvis, knowing he found what he was looking for.

I wanted to continue watching his tongue as it pleasured me over and over, but the feeling was too great and the sensations caused me to fall back and close my eyes, my fingers pulling tightly at the sheets. I knew I was close not only by the tidal wave building in my pelvis, but at the wet sounds coming from Zach's tongue and fingers. I had read enough romance novels to know what to expect and had a general idea of what was happening. Nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming sensations I felt as my entire body jerked and my spirit seem to float above the bed. The utopia of it all explained why men and women craved this act so much. No drug could ever replicate this and I was certain I never wanted to share this with anyone else...ever.

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