Page 27 of Serial Love

“Sally’s with her and Roscoe’s working today,” she replied with a smile. She looked down at their clasped hands.This feels right. Like I’m taking a chance but it’s not really a chance.

Looking around at the beautiful vista in front of her, she cocked her head to the side and asked, “Why here, Jack? Why not some big building in Richmond?”

“Tony’s got a place like that,” he answered. “Nice building, not exactly downtown, but still in the city. Underground garage, a reception area with a nice lady that books his appointments. Behind the conference rooms for clients is a huge area where his team works.”

“You didn’t want to have that kind of setup?”

“I need space. Fresh air. Grew up on a farm in southwest Virginia and I find the city to be…I don’t know…choking, I guess.”

She nodded her understanding. “I lived and worked in the city but always loved coming to Mountville. And now, I can’t imagine moving back.”

“I also didn’t want to live out here but have to drive forever to get to my office. So, I built everything I need right here. Got space, land, privacy. My men come out here to meet. I’m only about twenty minutes outside of Charlestown, so it works for all of us.”

They sat in companionable silence for a few moreminutes, the gentle movement of the swing relaxing both of them.

“So…” he said, dragging out the word. “You came today.” His statement was more of a question. An unspoken,What does this mean?

She lifted her gaze to his, unable to hold back the smile that escaped when she recognized the strong man’s nervousness.

“Yeah,” she whispered. “I came.” Looking out over his neat yard for a moment, she turned back to him as she felt the squeeze on her fingers.

She had practiced what to say ever since she woke this morning after seeing his face in her dreams all night long. Licking her lips, she could not remember her speech, so she blurted, “You say you don’t have a white picket fence in your future, Jack, but you came to me. You let me in. The bracelet…the coming to the rescue yesterday…all of that could be just being a good neighbor…granted a good neighbor who has the means to protect someone. But when I say you came to me, I mean youcameto me. You talked. You let me in. Then you kissed me and said you wanted more. And you gave me the freedom to choose to come here if that was what I wanted. I came today because I want in. I want to know you. I’d like to see where we can go. But I’ve got no idea what I’m getting myself into if you still say there’s no white fence.”

He listened as her words rushed out, warmed by the fact that she had come…and understanding his words had made her feel lost.

“For so long, finding someone was not what was inmy future,” he answered honestly. “I loved what I did in the Army with Special Forces and then on my team. I knew if I wanted to replicate it here, I needed money, dedication, and total commitment to building a business that would make a difference. It’s taken several years and quite honestly, in a shorter period than I would have thought, it’s booming and making money for me and my new team. But it’s taken one hundred percent to make it so.”

She nodded, understanding that just like she had been committed to her job and now to Gram’s care and business, he had done the same.But what is he offering? I can’t do casual.

Gathering her thoughts, she plunged on. “I get that…I really do. But Jack, I can’t be…um…an incidental…um…you know.”

His brow furrowed, not following her train of thought. “Baby, you’re going to have to spell it out for me, ‘cause I’m not sure what you mean. An incidental what?”

Blushing furiously, she felt her cheeks warm and not from the summer heat. Leaning in to whisper as though they were in a crowd instead of in the middle of nowhere with no one else around, she said, “You know. A…friend with benefits. A…um…fuck bud?—”

Rearing back in dismay, he growled, “A fuck buddy? That’s what you think I’m offering?”

“I don’t know,” she rushed. “You haven’t really told me exactly what you’re thinking.” Blinking furiously, she knew her blush had deepened.

To her surprise, he pulled her over, sliding her entirebody until she was tucked into his. He wrapped his arms around her small frame, holding her tightly, praying she could feel his sincerity even if his words had not conveyed it.

“Okay, baby, here goes. You’re right, I haven’t made myself plain, which makes no fuckin’ sense because I’m a man who usually puts it right out there.” Pushing her back slightly so that he could hold her gaze while his arms continued to hold her body, he said, “I felt something for you from the first time we met. Started out as admiration, moved to concern, and now has shifted to you being someone I want to know. I can’t promise you the dream future right now, but I want to spend time with you and see where this might take us. The rest, we’ll figure out as we go. But you being an incidental, fuck buddy is not what’s on the table.” He peered into her sky-blue eyes and asked, “Understand?”

A smile split her face, and he had to admit, lit his heart. Reaching up his hand to cup her cheek, he rubbed his thumb over the soft skin. Leaning in, he stopped a whisper away. “I need to hear you say it, beautiful.”

“I’m with you, Jack. I’m willing to see where this goes.”

Hearing those words, he slammed his lips over hers, taking her mouth in a kiss that devastated any doubts she may have had. Plunging his tongue into her warmth, he explored her feel, her taste, drinking in her essence. He shifted her around so she was now sitting in his lap, her back to his arm still wrapped around her and her legs stretched over the seat of the swing.

He continued to cup her face as he took the kissdeeper, swallowing her moans as he plundered her mouth. Sliding his hand from her jaw downward, he felt her pulse at the base of her neck before it barely skimmed over her breasts and down to her waist. Slipping under the bottom of her shirt, he promised himself he just wanted to touch her skin, but that was a mistake. The instant his fingers found the silky smoothness of her stomach, he had to force himself to move them to glide over her back instead of her breasts, where they wanted to be.

His cock was painfully pushing against his zipper, and her sweet ass wiggling in his lap was not helping. Shifting his right arm, he leaned her further back as he slid his hand to the front until her bra covered breasts filled his palms.

Bethany tried to remember her last lover, but it had been a while, and her body was now decrying that loss. She had not even used her battery-operated boyfriend in so long she was not sure where it was located. The electricity jolting to her core had her already climbing the peak, wanting to throw herself off into the abyss.

Throwing caution to the wind, she reached down to lift her shirt up over her bra and as his eyes sought hers quickly, a lust-filled smile was all she could offer. His smile matched hers as his fingers pulled the cups of her bra down exposing her rosy-tipped nipples, already pebbled as they beckoned his mouth.

He answered their call, kissing his way down to her breasts, his mouth latched onto one extended nipple, tugging and pulling as he sucked it deeply. She involuntarily reached her hand down, touching herself throughher jean shorts, but he moved her hand away and replaced it with his.

---