Chapter 34
*Livie*
My stomach was doing flips as I stepped off the curb outside the airport. Coming home almost a week early would be a surprise for James, but his excitement will probably be short lived. Beth mentioned the guys had poker night last night, so rather than bothering him early on his day off, I scheduled an Uber. My Uber driver was waiting for me, and quickly hopped out to help load my suitcase in the trunk. Once settled in the back seat, he pulled from the curb and I took a deep breath trying to steady my nerves. I missed James, but I couldn’t let my emotions take control.
As we turned on to Haywood Court, I was consumed by dread. Swallowing down the anxiety churning in my gut, the car pulled into our driveway, and I took a another deep breath, steadying my hands before I opened the car door. The driver quickly grabbed my suitcase from the trunk and I was soon left standing on our front stoop, working up the courage to open the door. I reached for the handle just as the front door swung open. Gasping in surprise, my eyes met his and I knew this would be impossible. How could I possibly tell this man, who felt like home for the first time in my life, that I needed to start over away from the shadow of Nick. Of Nancy. Of Marcus. I needed to find myself away from the legacy of the Johnson family drama.
His arms were wrapped around me in an instant, his lips on mine. I let myself sink into his body, relish in the way he craved my touch. I was a lost cause. My arms wrapped around his neck, my fingers running through his hair as he deepened the kiss. Who knew two weeks could create this longing for one another. Before I was ready, he pulled back, his eyes scanning mine, trying to read the unspoken between us.
“Hi.” He finally spoke. His words coming out as an exhale of breath.
“Hi.” Yup. Definitely a lost cause.
“You’re here.” His arms still wrapped around my waist, he walked us backward into the house. Once inside, he released his hold long enough to grab my suitcase from the porch then snaked one arm around me again. “Why didn’t you call? I would have come to get you. I didn’t think you’d be home for another week.”
“I talked to Beth last night and she said y’all were doing poker night and I hated to ask you to get up early on your day off. It was kind of spur of the moment. Coming home.” I could feel myself start to ramble, and clamped my lips together in fear of the word vomit churning inside. If he could sense my nerves, he gave no indication.
Leaning down for another kiss, he spoke against my lips. “Best surprise ever.”
“Wait, where were you going?” Suddenly remembering that he swung the door open before I could unlock the door. I pulled back enough to see that he was wearing running shorts and an old Northwestern t-shirt.
“I couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d go for a run. I think I’ll sleep just fine now that you’re home though.” Guilt washed over me. This was going to be so much worse than I could imagine. “How long are you home for? Noah didn’t mention you were coming home early, the little shit.” There was a lightheartedness to his words, a hopefulness in his voice.
“Honestly, just a few days. I have to get back, but I really wanted to see you.” I silently prayed the tremble in my throat didn’t betray me.
“Well we better not waste any time then.” His eyes darkened, the corners of his mouth turned upward, and desire blossomed between us. He swiftly lifted me up and tossed me over his shoulder, carrying me to the bedroom. In an instant my worries were washed away by my need for him.
*James*
I drug my tongue up the inside of her thigh, savoring her taste like a inmate would his last meal. The physical need to be with someone had never been as strong as it was with Livie. I craved her touch, her smell, her moans. I drew lazy circles around her entrance, up to her clit and back again. With each pass, her breathing came faster and her moans grew louder. “God you taste so good.” I growled against her wetness, my cock aching to feel the inside of her again. Moving towards her hip, I nipped at her skin, leaving a trail up to her breast, where I pulled her nipple into my mouth, gently tugging it between my teeth. She gasped as I rolled her other nipple between my fingers, using my hands and mouth to test the boundaries of pleasure and pain. Her body squirmed beneath mine, her breath coming in pants, I rocked my hips into her, sliding my cock through her slick folds. She cried out, my name on her lips.
“Not yet baby.” I whispered, before sucking on her tit hard before letting it pop out of my mouth and moving to the other one. As I nibbled and sucked, my hand moved down finding her clit, slowly caressing it. Liv arched her back as another moan poured from her throat. I nibbled my way back down her body, resting my face again between her thighs before devouring her. Flicking her clit with the tip of my tongue, sliding it in and out of her entrance, fucking her with my mouth, I brought her to climax, but didn’t stop there. I greedily ate and ate until she found herself riding another wave of ecstasy.
“James.” Her voice was barely a whisper. My tongue returned to the lazy circles, still lapping up every drop of her that I could get, desperate for more of her. “It’s too much, baby.” Hands dug into my hair pulling me upward, as I registered her words. “I need a minute, and then I need you inside me.” My self control gone, I slid up her body and seated my cock at her entrance, and pushed into her without hesitation. A guttural sound erupted from my throat as I relished feeling her again. She quickly pushed against me, saying “let me ride you” so I rolled us over until I was on my back. Liv wasted no time finding her rhythm, moving up and down my length. I relished watching her use me for her pleasure, her head leaned backward, the sounds erupting from her throat becoming more urgent, her movements more demanding until she was slamming up and down on my cock, all restraint abandoned.
With one hand I teased her breast and pinched her nipples, while the other slid to her clit, my thumb finding just enough pressure to push her over the edge. Her orgasm was my undoing. As her body pulsed around mine, I dug my fingers into her hips, letting her milk every drop from me. With a final shudder and a satisfied smirk, her body collapsed on to mine, our breaths the only sound in the room as we came down from our high.
“I should get a quick shower.” Liv whispered. I have no idea how long we had been lying there, but I wasn’t ready to break our bubble. Sliding my hand up her back, I thread my fingers in her hair, gently pulling her head back just enough for my lips to find hers. A contented sigh escaped me as she slid her tongue past my lips, taking the kiss deeper. Lust rippled through my body, craving my wife again and again. “OK big guy. I’ve been on a plane. I need a shower. You get us some sustenance, and then I’m all yours.”
“Music to my ears!” I bellowed, Liv laughing as she climbed off me and shuffled into the bathroom. I pulled on my briefs that had been haphazardly tossed on the floor along with our other clothes we shed at record speed. Needing to use the restroom myself, I walked down to the guest bathroom, then headed to the kitchen. Armed with a bottle of wine, and a tray with some cheese, fruit and cured meats, I padded back to the bedroom just as I heard the shower turn off. I set everything down on the bedside table and quickly picked up the rest of the clothes from the floor, and deposited them into the hamper in the closet. With a click of the remote, soft music filled the room and the scent of lavender washed over me just before I felt Liv’s arms slide around me from behind. She leaned her head against my back, and I thread my fingers through hers relishing the feel of her against me.
“Feel better?” I asked as we stood swaying to the crooning of Etta James.
“Yes, much better.” Her grip around me tightened, “I really missed you, James.”
“I missed you too, baby. The world doesn’t seem quite right when we’re apart.” I pulled my fingers from hers, turned myself around in her arms, and silently begged the universe to never take her from me again.