“But you had me carry you up the stairs.”
She shrugs. “I just like the feel of being in your arms. But I don’t need to look completely helpless to the rest of our neighbors.”
I set her down and she leaves her arms wrapped around my neck. “See you in the morning,” she whispers and kisses the corner of my mouth like she didn’t just see something very disturbing upstairs.
“In the morning …” I release her hand one finger at a time as she takes a cautious step out the door.
Vivian
I’m giving myself a three-day reprieve from my troubles and Oliver’s. It’s not possible to make the memory of his reveal vanish from my mind, but I’m hoping my parents and my birthday will help distract my thoughts. The anger is gone. It’s been replaced with pain … his pain. He’s filed for divorce for reasons that are still unclear, but he chose to leave her before he met me. He technically never lied to me, he just didn’t tell me everything. And I feel with absolute certainty that he wanted to, but the words were too painful to speak.
“Alex?” I knock on her bedroom door then start to open it. “I’m leaving—oh my God! I’m—uh-uh—sorry.” I exit as fast and unexpected as I entered.
What the hell?
“Hey, Flower, sorry about that. I forgot you were leaving this morning. Happy birthday, by the way. I have a present for you on the counter downstairs.” Alex ties the satin straps to her red robe and closes the door behind her.
I can’t look her in the eye. “Yeah, um, so I’m taking off and … I’ll be back uh … later.”
“Flower, don’t be embarrassed. You were the one who inspired us.”
“What?” I whip around.
She bites her bottom lip and nods. “The whole spanking thing. I think it’s kinda in right now. So Sean and I decided to spice things up.”
I swallow hard. “He had you handcuffed to the bed facedown and blindfolded.”
She waves a hand in the air. “Oh that’s nothing new. I thought you must have heard the sound of his palm slapping against my bare ass a few minutes ago. It’s kind of hot.”
My cow eyes refuse to blink. “He’s wearing black leather chaps, a cowboy hat, and nothing else,” I whisper with a shouting exertion.
She grins. “I know, it’s new. What do you think?”
I shake my head like a dog, trying to erase the memory. “I think I need to get out of here.”
“Have a good time!”
“Um yeah, thanks, you too … I guess.” I lug my bag down the stairs surprised to do it without much pain. Alex brought home a box of second skin pads last night and they make walking so much easier.
“Don’t forget your present,” Alex yells down the stairs.
I grab the gift bag and my purse off the kitchen counter then hustle out the door.
“Good morning, birthday girl.” Oliver stands right outside my door holding a single red rose.
He takes my bag and hands me the flower while giving me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
My grin beams out of control. “Thank you.”
“Shall we?” He motions to the steps.
We cross the street and he opens my door. A box wrapped in beautiful floral paper adorned with a wide pink bow is on my seat. “Oli …”
He picks it up and holds my hand while I get in then hands me the gift and walks around to his side.
“Ready, my love?”
Love? Am I his love? Yes, I believe I am.
I smile and lean over. He meets me half way. “I’m glad you’re coming with me.”
“Me too.” He kisses me and then starts to pull away.
I grab his shirt and hold him to me. My tongue brushes his upper lip and he opens his mouth. Our kiss deepens and a moan escapes me. My God what is happening? It’s like my whole body came alive and I’m in desperate need of him, like now! His cologne, minty breath, and clean-shaven face are driving me crazy. My mind screams that it’s too soon, but my body pleads its case with the winning argument: It’s my birthday!
“Oli—” I mumble against his lips. “We should go … inside.”
He pulls his head back. “What?”
I’m breathless. “Let’s go inside. I need … you.”
“Sex?”
I nod trying to catch my breath while fumbling to unbuckle my seatbelt.
“Whoa, wait…” he latches my belt back again “…What’s gotten into you?” He sits up straight and starts the car.
“Nothing, that’s just it. I need you to get into me, Oli.”
He grins and pulls out onto the street. “I like you like this, but you can wait a couple of hours until we get there can’t you?”
I squeeze my legs together. “You mean a couple of days. My parents are not going to let us sleep together.”
He slams on the brakes, thankfully no one is behind us. Resting his arm on the back of my seat, he looks behind us and reverses back into his spot with the speed and precision of an indie driver. His seat belt is off and he makes quick strides to my side. I no sooner get unbuckled and he has my hand, dragging me up his front steps.
Door slam. Pants unfasten.
He drops to his knees and slides his hands up my bare legs under my cotton skirt. Curling his fingers into my panties, he pulls them down.
“Sure, now you’re wearing them.” He looks up at me and grins.
I run my fingers through his hair with a coy smile pulling at my lips.
Leaving my panties on the floor, he skims his hand back up my legs. “What does the birthday girl want?”
I want you to tie me up and spank me. Holy crap! How did that thought invade my mind? Damn Alex! Now all I can think about is being handcuffed to the bed and spanked.
“What’s it going to be, Vivian?” His voice is thick with lust.
I stare down at him pursing my lips to the side, trying to hide my naughty-thoughts grin.
“Tell me.”
The words are on the tip of my tongue ready to jump off. They want to play, but I pull them out of the game and send in a different lineup. “Just … do something to me that you’ve never done with anyone else.”
He raises a brow and smirks. “But it’s your birthday.”
“I know, so make it unforgettable.”
He grins.
“But hurry … I’m a little … desperate.”
“Yeah?
I nod.
“Well, maybe I should take the edge off for you first.”
“The edge?”
“Mmm hmm.” He lifts my left leg over his shoulder. “Are your feet okay?”
“Yes,” I answer through a breathless pant.
He slides my skirt up to my waist and swipes his tongue along my slit once real slow. I let my head fall back against the wall. “Yes …”
He does it again and stops when my hips jerk.
I open my eyes, look down at him, and grab his hair. “You’re supposed to be taking the edge off not keeping me teetering on it in angst and misery.”
Keeping his eyes on mine, his entire mouth covers my sex and his tongue doesn’t stop until I feel completely … satisfied.
“Oli …” My eyes fight to stay open as my jaw goes slack.
“Yes?” He wipes his mouth with his arm and smiles as he sets my foot on the ground and kisses his way up my body taking my dress with him. He sucks in my nipple and it jolts straight to my sex.
He grins and lets my dress fall back over my body then bends down to pick up my panties.
“Here.” He hands them to me. “I’ll meet you in the car.”
“Wait, what are you doing?”
He walks to the pantry. “It’s a surprise, now get your sexy ass out to the car.”
“Okay, okay, bossy.”