Bitter Hearts (A Southern Loving Book 3) (14 page)

The
air seemed to crackle and pop as his hardness stretched her as it passed into
her canal. He slowly filled her womb with his member. Kari bit down on her lip
as Hank pumped without control, he kissed her back as he took her without
consequences. Moans, groans, flesh hitting flesh, and the sound of the table
creaking underneath her filled the electrified air.

Hank
grunts became louder as he began to thrust frenzy, his powerful hands palmed
her ass as his fingers squeezed her flesh. Kari wasn’t able to breathe or
think, it was like Hank was slowly putting her under a spell that only he could
break. She screamed his name over and over as he pummeled her from behind.

Tears
pricked her eyes as she began to whimper as Hank pistoned in and out. Something
was different and she could feel it as he took her. It was like he was branding
her pussy.
I’ll show him
, she thought, squeezing his manhood in her
tunnel, but she wasn’t a match for Hank. He thrust harder and harder until Kari
caved in to the delicious and blissful onslaught of her lover.  

Kari
shuddered and sobbed as she fell over the edge of no return. Her body felt like
it was floating in the clouds as her body submitted to Hank and the orgasm.
Never in her life had she came that hard. Hank grunted and shouted as came
inside of her.

Afterwards,
he laid gently on top of her, making sure not put all his weight on her. He
kissed her back.

“Honey?
Are you okay?”

For
the first time in a long time she felt safe and happy. “I’m…fine.”

He
pressed kisses all over her back. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.”
She moved slightly and he helped her sit up. She lifted her hand up and touched
the side of his face. “I know you will never hurt me.”

He
leaned forwards and kissed her. “You’re damn skippy,”

Kari
laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes. “We should be getting dressed so we
can get on the road,” she said, hoping down and picking up a different article
of clothing.

Hank
looked at Kari. He finally knew what his Aunt Charlene meant by good
relationships don’t just happen overnight. “
It takes time, patience and two
people who truly want to be together.”
When his married friends would say
that a relationship took effort, he always thought they were unhappy. Ha! It
turned out him and Natalie were the truly unhappy people. Aunt Charlene even
Aunt Melody would always say that “
When it’s right, it shouldn’t feel like
work; it is effortless.”

Kari
showed him tonight she was willing to work on her trust issues, but she was
willing to look at him each day with new eyes.

Hank
pulled up his pants and smiled as he thought about something. “Kari…does this
friends with benefits thing still exist or not?” he asked, buckling his belt
buckle.

“Are
we dating?” she asked wickedly at him, slipping on her ivory lace blouse. “What
do you want?”

                “Kari,
I want to be straight with you. I know we each have our own trust issues, but
I’d be obliged if you would consider me to be your man and we could work
through them together.”

Leaning
against the wall she put on her cowboy boots. “Only if we can talk long walks
on the beach-”

“Walks
in the park and feed you ice cream and brownies whenever you want,” he said
interrupting her.

“Well
Mr. Jackson, you do strike a mean bargain.” Kari took his cowboy hat and placed
it on her head. “I reckon I can give us a
swirl
.”

“Alright
sugar, let’s get this show on the road. I have a lot to teach you about the
great outdoors,” he said, opening the door.

Kari
followed him out the door, and paused. “You didn’t say anything about camping.”

“You
never asked,” he chuckled, practically navigating them through the thick crowd
of fair and concert goers. “I promise you K, you will have one helluva good time”

***

Natalie
walked through the door carrying bags of groceries, she found her lover, Dwight
Brooks, sitting on the couch in his robe with his guitar in his hands.  A
little help would’ve been exactly what she needed, nearly falling in the
doorway with the bags. She looked up to see him still playing a tune, clearly
disregarding her need for help.

It’d
been months since she walked out on the man who loved her. Her family thought
she was heartless and naïve by carrying on an affair with Dwight. It was never
ever about the sex, it was about the companionship, how he treated her,
complimenting her or just calling her out the blue to say ‘hi’.  Hank quit the
music scene to become a rancher, where they lived a frugal life style. Now that
the dust had settle, Natalie was seeing how big of mistake she made by leaving
Hank.

Not
bothering to put the groceries up, Natalie went to the bathroom and locked the
door. Tears rolled down her face, she quickly brushed them away. Leaving Hank
for Dwight was the worst decision that she could ever make.  Dwight convinced
her to leave Hank and she did like a fool. Closing her eyes she saw the
devastation in Hank’s eyes that night she told him she was leaving him for
another man. Natalie threw away the only true chance of happiness, she’d ever
had.

 Those
nights she laid in bed festering about Hank shortcomings. Sighing, she reached
into her purse and looked at the missed calls from Maxine Charles, the one
friend she’d had in Nashville. Pressing the call button she waited for the
prissy woman to answer.

“Hey
Max it’s me,” Natalie said as she cringed from the loud music in the
background, “Where are you at?”

“Hold
on!” Maxine yelled. Within a few seconds the background music was gone.  “I’m
at the Nashville Fair, you wouldn’t guess who the performers were.”

Natalie
closed the toilet seat and sat down. “Who?”

“Austin
McBride and drum roll please,” Maxine made noises that mimicked the sound of drum
rolls. “Hank! Your ex-husband performed at the concert.”

“What!”
she hissed. “Hank doesn’t play music anymore he quit.”

“Are
you calling me a liar?” Maxine huffed. “Well I’ll let you in on another little
secret, and your Hankie is not at home sitting around waiting for you to come
home. He’s done got him another woman, an African American one to be exact.”

Natalie
nearly dropped the phone as news about her husband dating again shocked her.
She thought Hank would be drinking himself into a stupor. “It’s not that
serious.”

“Hump,
you didn’t see him buying her clothes out of Country Chick. It’s not like she
needed him to buy it because the way I saw the woman had to be decked down in
the nines…but the most interesting thing that happened in the evening was the
fact Hank’s in the recording studio.”

“What!”

“Now
lookie here, he sung this song I aint ever heard before,” Maxine replied.
“Speculation is that it is about the woman.”

You’ve
got to be kidding me!
“I have to go.” Natalie tried to sound cool
as a cucumber but by the way Maxine started to laugh she knew she wasn’t buying
it. Hanging up quickly, she dialed Hank’s phone number only for an automated
message telling her she had the wrong number.

Natalie
stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. Her red hair was a mess, eyes
bloodshot red and the bags underneath were the telltale signs that she was
tired. Pinching her cheeks until they became pink, she left her husband and was
now living in a nightmare. The huge houses, nice bank accounts and husband that
loved her were now gone. She lived in a small ass apartment and little money in
her pocket. Natalie created this life for herself, it was hard for her to
comprehend that she was solely responsible for the mistake she’d made with
Hank.

Opening
the bathroom door, she rushed around the cramped studio apartment looking for
her luggage. She must have caused too much noise, because Dwight stormed into
the room.

“Where
the hell you going?” he asked.

Natalie
sighed and looked up at him. Dwight Brooks stood tall over her; his tussled,
dirty blonde hair covered his handsome chiseled face. “Home,” she said, and
went back to throwing her clothes in the luggage.

“This
is your home now, darling,” he said jumping on the bed, knocking the clothes on
the floor.

Stopping
what she was doing, she glared at him. “This is not my home Dwight! I’m going
back to Nashville.”

Dwight
shook his head at her. “If you think he’s going to take your cheating ass back,
you’re looney as a jaybird.”

For
the past few months she watched Dwight self-destruct, he was kicked off Liam’s
tour due to his substance abuse problem.  Natalie took a part time job in Omaha,
Nebraska as a secretary to make ends meet until Dwight got himself together,
but she was tired of struggling and having to worry about money. With Hank she
didn’t have to worry about pinching pennies and robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“It’s
better than staying here with your drunken ass,” Natalie mumbled as she zipped
her last luggage up. “I made mistake leaving my husband for you.”

Dwight
picked up a half empty beer bottle and took a swig. “You will be back,” he
chuckled.

Natalie
didn’t bother responding to his remark; she picked up her luggage and left him
with hopes of reconciling with Hank.

Chapter Seven

Kari
smiled as Hank maneuvered the truck west on I-40. She listened to the country
music playing over the radio, the lyrics from the song made her mind think
about the relationship she had with Hank. She liked him a lot but hadn’t learned
how to trust him yet. Maybe the side trip to Memphis and Arkansas was exactly
what she needed before reaching Dallas. She didn’t know what the future held
for Hank and her, but she was excited to travel down the unbeaten path of
uncertainty.

                “What’s
up with that smile?” Hank asked, looking at her before glancing back at the
road.

“Country
music.” She leaned forward and turn up the music slightly. “This is the third
song that talked about drinking and being lonely.”

“Country
music keeps it real darling, we let people know when shit happens that we can’t
even control.”

“Tell
me about your life. I’m talking about before country singing and marriage.”
Kari noticed how Hank gripped the steering wheel harder, his knuckles become
ghostly white.

“Well
baby girl, my life ain’t been easy for a long shot. When my momma died it had a
huge impact on my life. Somehow with the grace of god and a great uncle and
aunt, I was able to push through it.”

“Tell
me about your mother, Kate.”

“My
mom was a gracious and humble woman, who didn’t depend on my father for a damn
thing. When Gerald walked out on us when I was six years old,” he shook his
head trying to get the memory of that day out his head, “it crushed her, but
she worked her ass off. I used to blame him for leaving…I thought if he didn’t
leave she wouldn’t have worked herself into an early grave.”

Kari
reached over and put her hand on his lap. “I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“It’s
been 22 years, and there will still be moments where it hits me, where I
remember my uncle and aunt coming home and telling me my mother was gone. It’s
the worst feeling in the world-”

“A
nightmare that you want to wake up from and pray that it didn’t happen instead,
and to wake up and it did happen,” she finished for him.

“Yeah,
my mom was sick but she never missed a talent show or pop warner football
game.” He rapidly blinked the unshed tears from his eyes. “Mom had a stern hand
and was very compassionate. She always wanted me to reach for my dreams.”

“She
would be proud of you.”

 “I
went to the University of Texas where I had a full scholarship to play
football, but I wasn’t happy until Austin talked me into going to Nashville
with him. Next thing you know we’re both getting signed to the same record
label.”

“Wouldn’t
it be better if you guys we’re in a country band?”

Hank
laughed and shook his head no. “Nope, Don Hendricks saw different marketing
value, my mom and Aunt Charlene’s advice to us boys was to live without
regrets.”

There
were plenty things stored in Kari’s past that she wished she could have done
differently. “Do you?” she asked.

“Regrets?
No-our life is about learning and growing. If I didn’t go through dropping out
of college, getting a record deal, and marrying Natalie, I wouldn’t have grown
into the man I am today.”

Kari
understood what Hank was trying to say.  He didn’t look at different obstacles
in his life as situations that he regretted, but she did. She moved almost
clear across the country to avoid her dysfunctional family, ex-fiancé and
friends. “I wish…I could think like you.” She gazed at the green guide sign;
they were only thirty miles away from Memphis.

“Stop
focusing on the wrong things, that’s just making you unhappy. It’s like the
saying ‘
The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have,
might have, and should have.’
Tell me about your life before you moved to
Nashville.”

Kari
turned in her seat and faced Hank. “Well Mr. Jackson, my parents Nigel and
Clare Hayes are not the parenting type.  When you called me a spoiled brat
without knowing me, you were exactly right. I was raised with the finer things
in life, but that doesn’t define me as a person.”

“I
do apologize for calling you a spoiled snobby brat,” he said.

“My
siblings and I were raised by nannies…we were never first in their lives. I
believe my trust issues stem from my parents, let’s just say there were a lot
of broken promises.”

“Your
parents were there but not active.” Hank reached over and touched her hand. “I
have learned in the past couple of years that you shouldn’t expect anything
from anyone. Some people only live for themselves and others live for others.”

“Rita
was more like a mother than Clare and Nigel together. Their support was next to
nothing. When you expect more from your family and get nothing it’s totally
disheartening.”

Hank
applied his turn signal and got off the exit. “It’s a hard pill to swallow when
you feel totally alone in the world. This is where you turn your misery into learning
experience.”

When
Hank turned and looked at her at the stop light, her heart nearly stopped, but
it wasn’t what she felt before that was different. It was like his heart was
reaching for hers. Kari looked away quickly out the window. She peaked over at
him when the truck starting moving again, it was amazing how two people could
have everything that money could buy, except for love. Kari allowed herself to
drift off to the sounds of the low country music coming from the stereo.

Hank
could hear Kari’s soft snores. For two months after Natalie left him, he
couldn’t even think about dating again. He was afraid of failure and rejection.
Every day he spent with Kari he wanted to try it again. With her he had a
better realization what he needed in a relationship. 

He
erased all traces of Natalie from the home they shared; removing all her
clothing and boxed up the photographs and anything that reminded him of the
past. He didn’t think he would start to smile again until Kari came into his
life. He didn’t even intend to enjoy writing music again or even something
simple as driving three hours with his woman right beside of him.

Maybe
he was just lucky, because some people searched the whole world to find love.
He had to convince Kari that some things were meant to be like him and her. He
glanced over at her sleeping peacefully and smiled. When she became quiet
earlier, she didn’t have to speak in order for him to see the fear in those big
brown eyes.

Pulling
into the parking lot of the Heartbreak Hotel, he reached over and gently nudged
her until Kari stirred slowly. “We’re here baby girl,” he said softly.

Kari
opened her eyes and stared into his. “That was quick,” she said.

“I
have rules for our weekend excursions,” he said, looking at her seriously.

Kari
rolled her eyes. “Oh god! Not you and those rules again.”

Hank
smiled and shook his head. “Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic,” he
said, kissing her before she could answer. “This weekend together there will be
no talk about regrets or family problems. We will be silly, playful,
spontaneous, generous, thoughtful and affectionate.”

Kari’s
expression went from tired to surprise in a matter of seconds. “I can do that,”
she said as she kissed him really quickly before getting out the truck.

***

All
Kari could think about was a nice hot shower and something good to eat. She
stood beside Hank as he talked to the attendant behind the desk. The hotel was
different than what she was used to, the interior felt like she was in a
throwback 60’s with colors of bright blue, mustard yellow and purple walls.
Kari had to stop from tugging on Hank’s arm and begging him to go to another
hotel.  Instead, she reached up for a brochure.

“I’m
sorry sir, all of our 128 rooms are completely sold out,” the male attendant
named Jimmy, said with a smiled.

“Oh
that sucks!” Kari said aloud. “Maybe we can go to the hotel down the street?”

Hank
turned to see a small smile on Kari’s beautiful face. “We have reservations.”

“Hold
on.” The attendant plucked away on the computer. “We have the Burnin’ Love
Suite available,” he said.

“We’ll
take it,” Hank said quickly, pushing his credit card forward.

“I
just want to inform you the room is normally used for romantic lovers on
anniversaries and honeymoons,” he said.

“It’s
okay, we’ll take it,” Hank said.

“What
is burnin’ love?” Kari asked, she wasn’t privy to the whole Elvis Presley
experience, by the expression and clearing of the throat from the lady beside
them said it all.  The brochure said that fans flocked to Memphis to see
Graceland and to stay at the Heartbreak Hotel. Kari turned around when she felt
a tap on her shoulder. She looked at the woman who was decked down in Elvis
souvenirs, oddly this reminded her of a kid who buys Mickey Mouse ears as soon
as they step foot at Disney Land.

 “I’m
sorry dear, are you guys on your honeymoon?” the woman asked with a hint of an
Irish accent, she adjusted her fanny pack in a true international tourist
fashion.

No
was on the tip of Kari tongue until Hank put his arm around her waist. “Yes it
is,” Hank said.

“Well,
hopefully the burning love experience will help you guys conceive tonight.”

Kari
started to cough and move slightly away from Hank. “Thanks-”

“Dearie,”
she said, putting her hands on her hips. “Arthur and I conceived on our
honeymoon. You know what, I’m going to wish baby dust your way.”

“No
please don’t,” Kari said shaking her head no, she looked up to see Hank with a
grim look on his face.

“Eloise,
leave those young love birds alone.”

Kari
saw the man who she presumed was the husband named Arthur walking towards them
holding a white envelope. He was a cute, tall older man wearing a kagol hat
that covered his white hair.

“Dear,
they’re on their honeymoon. I told them how we conceived Adam on our honeymoon.”
She smiled dreamily at her husband.

Kari
needed to get this woman’s attention off baby dust. “How long have you guys
been married?”

“Forty-two
years,” Arthur said happily, staring into his wife eyes. “Every day we have
together is a blessing. We learn years ago not to take one another for granted.”

Hank
wrapped his arm tighter around Kari’s waist. “Well hot damn, I hope me and my sugar
gets to be married that long.” He kissed her on the cheek.

“Yeah,”
Kari responded in a low voice.

“Fight
for what you want and you will,” Arthur said.

“Baby
dust,” Eloise said, blowing imaginary air at Kari and Hank.

“Eloise,
this is your fifth couple you’ve wished that on,” Arthur said, pulling her to
the elevator.

Kari’s
ears perked up as she heard Janet remark before climbing onto the elevator. “I
have a great track record with wishing young couples baby dust,” Eloise boasted
proudly.

“What’s
wrong?” Hank asked looking suspiciously at her.

“Oh
nothing,” she replied. “We’re not having sex.”

“Why
not?” he asked, trying to keep a straight face.

Kari’s
face paled and looked behind them and back at him “She wished baby dust on us,”
she whispered.

Hank
took the white envelop from the attendant, they walked to the elevator where he
stared laughing at her. “You don’t believe in that Hocus Pocus.”

“No,”
she lied.
Crap,
Kari swore when the elevator dinged open. She didn’t
know what to believe, Rita had so many old wives tales that were burned into
her memory.

“Good,”
Hank replied with a smirk on his handsome face.

Kari
could tell that the cowboy didn’t believe her. She stood there in silence
thinking about Eloise and the whole ‘Baby Dust’ remark. Since she could
remember, Kari had never wanted to have kids, it wasn’t because she could
afford the sounds of pitter patter of little feet.  She wanted to be a better
parent than hers. Clare and Nigel were selfish parents who only thought about
their needs and wants which didn’t include their children, unless it was to
show them off at family or business functions.

Following
the red carpet to their room for the night, they both stood there gawking at
the room that read “Burnin’ Love.” Hank put the key card into the slot and opened
the door slowly. Kari looked at Hank and back at the room that was decorated in
black and red, did she mention there was a lot of red in the room? There were
pictures of Elvis hanging from the wall. The room made it feel like she was in
some gothic sex dungeon.

Walking
past the gold dining room set with dark red velvet chairs to a sitting area with
a matching colored throwback sofa. The furniture was old, not even her grandparents
had furniture like that. She followed Hank to bedroom where there was
contemporary black furniture. Kari ran her finger across the dark red comforter
set.

“I
thought I would be seeing a heart shape bed,” she said, breathing a sigh of
relief. “Or mirrors above the bed.”