Beautiful Ties (13 page)

For the second time today, the beauty of his naked skin awed me. The mere width of his shoulders combined with the thickness of his muscles made him look nearly edible. He bent forward to place kisses along the side of my neck, skimming his way toward my collarbone. I shivered as a delicious tingle raced down my spine.

His hands grasped the hem of my tank top, sliding one side up at a time. The act was sweet torture as my anticipation of what was to come rose to new heights. After removing my shirt, his hands came to my back. I arched into him, so he could unclasp my bra. He gradually peeled the lacy material away, baring my breasts to his hungry eyes.

I gasped, raking my hands through his soft hair, as his mouth dipped to seal around my nipple. His tongue swirled around and around the sensitive flesh until I convulsed at the overwhelming sensation. He repeated the action on the opposing side as his hands removed my lower garments. Once I was naked, he sat back on his haunches as if he was appreciating the view. It was an extremely intimate gesture that would have normally made me feel self-conscious, but with him, I felt safe and adored. The sheer look in his eyes stole my breath away.

“God, Abbey, you’re even more beautiful than I imagined,” he whispered huskily.

Before I could respond, he maneuvered himself until his mouth was hovering above my belly. His lips connected with my skin. Persistent hums of pleasure flooded from every part of me. Trailing sweet kisses along the way, he advanced downward. His thumb gently skimmed across my swollen clit. I whimpered at his talented touch, knowing I was already on the verge of coming, and we had barely started. He had my insides wound that tight with anticipation and need.

His hot, wet tongue swirled over my sex, back and forth, lingering with an exquisite slowness, like he was savoring each touch. I closed my eyes, clenching the bedsheets with both of my hands in tight fists, as I relished each sensation, my arousal climbing. Tremors of my orgasm rose with a sense of force. He must have sensed it, too, because in the next instant, he flicked his tongue over my clit once more, and then he gently sucked it into his mouth with his lips. Light exploded behind my eyes as an earth-shattering orgasm ripped through me. I opened my eyes and cried out, overcome with its intensity.

He gave me a second to catch my breath before looming back over me. His eyes were keen and hot. Without another thought, I reached up, pulling him closer, to capture his lips. He kissed me with such passion that my need to have him filling me full took over. I glided my hands to his chest and then down to his eight-pack, feeling each indentation of his muscles under my fingertips. I seized the clasp of his pants and yanked them open. After grabbing a condom out of his pocket, he sat back to help me remove his jeans and briefs.

My breathing became labored as I watched him roll the latex material down his long, thick girth. I licked my bottom lip eagerly before moving my gaze back to his face. His eyes were already watching me, and I could see his need for me burning in them. Without delay, he repositioned himself back over me. My hand extended between our bodies to take him in my palm. Gently, I stroked him, feeling his silky smoothness over the hardness of his erection.

His jaw jumped in response. “Fuck,” he said on a strangled groan, closing his eyes. “That feels so good.”

The husky tone in his voice reverberated straight to my groin. I let go of him, and he positioned himself at my entrance. With his captivating blue eyes on me, he drove into me with one slow, long thrust. I moaned as he continued to seat himself impossibly deep within me. My fingers came to his shoulders, delicately squeezing him, as a warm buzz washed over me.

He bent forward, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck, as he started to move. At first, his thrusts were slow and sensual as if he was savoring the moment. I held on to him as he started to increase his tempo, creating a delicious friction within me. He tilted his head to place sweet kisses along my throat. Then, he grazed his teeth down the path of my jaw. With every movement of his hips, he undulated even farther inside me. With the way he was brushing along my inner walls, I knew my release was imminent.

My muscles grew tight, causing me to squeeze around him. I heard my name leave his lips at the same time I felt him growing taut over me. We catapulted over the edge together, moaning in unison, as we let go.

Jason collapsed beside me and then tugged me against him. We were both covered in a light sheen of sweat, trying to catch our breaths. His hands stroked up and down the length of my back as my heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

“Can I stay?” he asked along my ear.

“Yes,” I replied, hugging him tighter. I snuggled my cheek into him, recalling his words on the beach earlier today.

Whatever this is between us…I don’t ever want it to end.

Today had been perfect. I didn’t want it to ever end either.

My eyes flew open as I heard my doorbell ring, wondering who it could possibly be this early on a Sunday morning. I turned to my left to see Jason stirring next to me.

Well, it’s not him
. I laughed inwardly, remembering our first day of work together when my alarm hadn’t gone off and he’d shown up on my doorstep with coffees in his hand. It was the first time I had been late for work in—well, ever.

“Just a minute!” I yelled, reaching for my glasses on the nightstand and putting them on so that I could see. I scurried out of my bed and over to my dresser.

“Who’s here?” Jason asked in a gruff morning voice.

I glanced over at him as he sat up on the mattress, and the comforter fell down to his waist, making him look completely irresistible.
If only someone wasn’t at the door, I would crawl right back into bed, and—oh, there are so many possibilities.

“I have no idea.” I shrugged. After slipping on my undergarments, I grabbed the first pair of lounge pants and a long T-shirt that I could find in my drawers, and I got dressed. “I’ll be right back,” I added over my shoulder before running barefoot to the front door of my condo.

I swung the door open, and my eyes went wide at seeing Pearl standing on the other side with a backpack clutched to her chest. Her eyes peeked up at me, and at first, they were filled with sadness, then relief, and finally happiness as she seemed to slip her mask into place. Pearl had never been here this early in the morning.

As I noticed her holding her bag so close, I became overwhelmed with concern, and I lowered down to her. “Pearl, sweetie, are you okay?”

She nodded rapidly. Her eyes moistened with tears, but as fast as they had appeared, she blinked them away.

“Yep,” Pearl said in a wavering tone, shifting nervously on her feet. “Um…” she murmured. Her expression turned hopeful. “Do you mind if I hang out with you today?”

“Of course you can,” I answered without hesitation, regarding her.

She was once again dressed in worn clothes that were way too small for her body. Her eyes were slightly puffy as if she had been crying, and her hair looked like it hadn’t been brushed in days. Her appearance cut me deep. My gut told me something was wrong, really wrong, and I needed to get to the bottom of it, but I knew I needed to tread lightly.

When she didn’t respond, I motioned her inside. “Come on in, sweetie. I’m just about to start breakfast. Do you like pancakes?” I asked, shutting the door behind us.

We walked into the kitchen, and her eyes lit up. “I
love
pancakes!”

“Okay.” I smiled, wishing I had awesome cooking skills right about now. The pancake mix I had was the kind that only required water to be mixed in, so that would have to make do for today.

I pointed to the stool in front of the kitchen counter. “Why don’t you hop on up there, and you can watch me?”

Jason emerged from around the corner. He was dressed in his clothes from yesterday. His eyes were perplexed, and then they filled with understanding as he glanced back and forth between Pearl and me.

“Good morning,” he politely greeted the two of us.

“Hi!” Pearl said in delight. Then, she frowned. “Um…what’s your name again?”

“Jason,” he said, extending his hand out to her.

Pearl looked down and then back at him again, outstretching her hand to shake his. “Hi, Jason,” she said in a shy voice. “What are you doing here so early?”

Jason nervously met my stare, and then he saw the pancake box and mixing bowl. He returned his attention to Pearl. “I’m going to have pancakes,” he replied smoothly, but I could see that he was stifling his humor.

“Me, too!” Pearl exclaimed with excitement.

Laughing, I pulled out a pan and set it on the burner. Then, I prepared the batter in a bowl, sliced a banana, and peeled a few oranges.

“Would you like some help?” Jason offered.

“No, that’s okay. I’ve got it.” I smiled at him. “You go ahead and have a seat.”

He sat on the stool next to Pearl, and she immediately started firing off questions.

“Do you have a dog?” she asked him.

“No, but I want one,” he answered kindly.

I poured the pancake mix onto the hot pan, and then I started to pull plates, glasses, and silverware out of the cabinets. I peeked glances at the two of them conversing as I set each item on the kitchen counter. It was so cute to watch him interact with her. He had such a soft side.

“What kind?” she asked.

Jason leaned on his elbow, dropping his chin to rest on his palm. He seemed to enjoy talking with her. “Hmm…maybe a Siberian husky or a Great Dane,” he responded.

Pearl’s eyes widened. “Great Danes are
huge
!” she nearly shouted.

I flipped the pancakes with a spatula.

Then, Jason asked a question. “Do you have a dog?”

She frowned. “No, Diane won’t let me have one. She said they’re expensive and too much work. But when I grow up, I’m going to have three dogs.” She sighed dreamily.

“Three?” Jason chuckled.

“Yep,” Pearl answered. Then, she rested her head on her hand, mimicking Jason. “Maybe four.”

“I hope you have a big yard.” He laughed softly again.

“So, did you have a sleepover last night?” she asked.

Her question caught me off guard. Spatula in hand, I whipped around to face the two of them.

“Uh…” Jason mumbled, stalling for a response. “Yeah,” he finally admitted sheepishly in a wary tone as if he was caught between a rock and a rough place.

I assumed it was because he didn’t want to lie to the sweet young girl.

Pearl’s face fell slightly. “Oh…I’m not allowed to have sleepovers.” She frowned, but then her mood perked right back up. “But I have tons of friends that I visit a lot!”

Jason smiled tenderly at her. “That’s great.”

“Breakfast is ready,” I said, pulling the food off the burner and placing it all on a large tray.

Jason stood and came over to the other side of the kitchen island to grab the plates, glasses, and silverware. He distributed them out on the small kitchen table, and then I filled everyone’s plates, feeling quite proud that I hadn’t burned any pancakes.

There is hope yet for my cooking skills.

The three of us took our seats. Pearl chose the place setting next to me while Jason sat at the head of the table on my opposing side. We each dug right in to our meals. Questions started filling my mind about why this little girl had shown up at my door so early in the morning. It wasn’t that I minded in the slightest. I couldn’t help but wonder what this Diane woman had been up to so early that she would leave a seven-year-old home alone. I wanted to give Pearl some time to settle in and feel comfortable with Jason and me, but I couldn’t help my growing concerns. So, I decided to make light conversation to see if she would open up to me.

“So, Pearl, where is Diane today?” I asked gently in the middle of bites.

She swallowed a huge mouthful of pancake before shrugging. “I don’t know. Diane said she would be back sometime later.”

My eyes widened, utterly horrified with her answer.
How could a grown-up just leave Pearl unattended? And Pearl has no idea where Diane is in case of an emergency?
That was preposterously wrong on every level in my books.

I looked up at Jason, seeing his expression mirroring my own. His jaw was set, and a forkful of pancake was stopped midair.

“Does she leave you home alone a lot?” I asked. My gut churned, fearing I already knew the answer.

“Yep,” she answered. Then, she turned to look at me. “It’s okay though. I’m used to it.”

I had to fight the sudden urge to go over and voice my opinions to this Diane woman. For one, she wasn’t even home, and two, it would not help the situation at all. I took a deep breath. I longed to directly ask the one question Pearl had always seemed to avoid in previous months by changing the conversation to a different topic.

“Is Diane your mom?” I asked her softly.

Her posture went rigid in her seat, and she was silent for what felt like an eternity, the question hanging in the air between the three of us. “No,” she whispered. “I don’t have a mom…or a dad,” she trailed off.

Tears blurred my vision, and a profound pain unbearably seized my heart for this little girl who I had come to love like one of my own family members.