Painted Memories (24 page)

Light from the hallway streamed into the room, projecting a soft, warm glow over his face. I could see the desire that burned within his eyes. I cupped his face between my hands and kissed his lips lovingly. My hands moved down his neck and across his shoulders, feeling the soft lines of toned muscles along the way. Continuing the same motion, Drew moved his hands up my arms and across my shoulders to my neck. Our eyes locked, as if we both understood this was much more than just casual sex. He was going to make love to me, and it would be unlike anything I had ever experienced. And it wasn’t because it had been a long time since I was with anyone. There were other guys in college and relationships that lasted a few months here and there, but none of them were like Drew. None knew my past or what I went through with my father. None left me with an overwhelming need to be near them and touched by them. None, did I love as much as I loved Drew. I crushed my mouth to his, our tongues fighting for dominance. I could taste his desire as it spread through my skin like an electric charge, and I gripped his shoulders, feeling the current running through my body. His arm wrapped around my waist as his fingers fiddled with my bra until he popped the hook. I shrugged off the straps, an annoying barrier keeping my flesh from touching his. I tossed it across the room and reached for the button on his jeans.

“Oh, no, I don't think so,” Drew said before he lifted me off my knees and lay me back against the pillow in one fluid motion.

I squealed with laughter,
then whined teasingly. “Oh, c'mon, no fair. I'm practically naked here!” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

He chuckled softly in my ear as he grabbed my wrist in each of his hands and pressed them to the bed beside my head. “Personally I don't think you're naked enough.” Kissing me below the ear, his tongue glided down my throat and over my collarbone, leaving a shiver in its wake. A gasp escaped me when he released my wrists and cupped both my breasts with his soft hands. I ran my fingers through his hair, directing his lips lower down on my body. I moaned and nearly melted into the sheets when his tongue swirled over my breast and he sucked the bud of my nipple into his mouth. His hands skimmed over my stomach like silk and slipped into the band of my shorts. Lifting my hips slightly, he eased them down and I kicked them free, resting my right leg over his hip. Drew reached for the back of my thigh, his palm moving up the length of it until his fingers traced the outline of my panties. I wanted them off... wanted every bit of my flesh bare beneath him. He sat up, and my leg slid down to the bed as his eyes examined my nearly naked body.

Rising up, I kissed him while his hands cupped one of my breasts, the other cradling the back of my head. I tugged at the waist of his pants, teasing his stomach with my fingers before I unbuttoned and unzipped them while slipping my hand inside. He was hard, straining against the fabric, begging to be released from its confines. When my palm rubbed against his hard bulge, a rush of breath blew across my face. Drew's hands wrapped around my back and moved downward until I felt his fingers grabbing my butt with both hands.

When I pushed his pants from his hips, he released his hold on me and worked his way out of them. I gazed at him as he sat before me on his knees at the foot of the bed. My breath caught as I beheld his beautiful body. Tight lines curved down his arms, his body perfectly toned, begging for me to touch and feel its contours. Drew
wasn't built like a bodybuilder, but toned and trimmed in all the right places. I ran my finger down his chest and back up to cradle his cheek in my hand.

His eyes were soft and longing as he stared back at me. I brushed his lips with my thumb before dragging his lower lip down and kissing him. We kissed slowly and deep, as if we were both trying to show the other how much emotion we felt. I pulled away slightly, still feeling his heavy breathing against my mouth.

“Make love to me, Drew. Plea—”

I was on my back before the words left my mouth. His hands raked down my hips, jerking my panties off on the way. I was completely naked, and the way Drew’s eyes surveyed my body set my skin on fire.

“God, you're beautiful,” he said as he leaned over me.

His knee wedged between my legs and I submitted, opening them wider, allowing him to settle there. His skin felt hot when he pressed his body against me. I wrapped my legs around his hips and arched my back as he rubbed against me.

“Lilly,” he breathed heavily against my neck, “are you sure you want this?”

I gazed into his face. “I couldn't imagine
not
wanting this.”

He kissed me and smiled before he moved away. “Okay, let me put something on.”

I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. “I'm on the pill, have been for years.” His eyes lit up as he settled back and I wrapped my right leg round his hip, opening myself up to him. His hardness slipped inside me and I dug my fingers into his back as he pushed deeper inside me. He groaned into my neck, his hands gripping the sheets on each side of my head. Slowly, he moved in and out of me, teasing the burn that tore through my center. I wanted more, and harder, faster. I slid my hands down as far as I could reach and pressed against his lower back. I rocked my body faster, increasing the friction against me. My climax was close, and I could feel the overwhelming burn building up. I cried out louder each time he thrust into me. His pace slowed and he looked into my eyes.

“Want me to stop? Am I hurting you?”

“No!” I yelled, breathless as I wrapped my other leg around his hip, pulling him deeper into my slickness. “Please don't stop.”

Drew drove hard as he pumped into me. His mouth covered mine, his tongue plunging deep into my mouth as he kissed me fervently. I wrapped my hands around his neck while he rode me. His thrust was hard and quick, and I knew he was as close to peaking as I was.

It was like someone flipped a switch. I lost all strength in my body and withered beneath him, crying out as the blissful sensation pumped through me. “Yes,” I faintly heard him whisper in my ear as he slowed his rhythm, and rode out the wave of ecstasy before lying still. He brushed strands of damp hair from my forehead and kissed my cheek.

“Wow, Lilly. That was—”

“Oh, I'm sorry; I just kind of stopped there, didn't I? I didn't mean to... did you even get to... you know... but wow, Drew that was so...” I couldn't even talk, let alone come up with the right words. It was so much more than I thought it could be. I wanted to do it again, over and over.

Drew laughed as he brushed my lips with his thumb. “It was...
you
were amazing,” he said between kisses. “And I think our timing worked out perfectly.”

I grinned at the praise, and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I don't suppose you still want me to go home, do you?”

A sly grin washed over his face. “Oh, if you think we're done here, think again. You're going to be tired in the morning.”

“Am I now? The question is... do you really think you can keep up?” My hands slid across his chest, down his sides to his hips, where I dug my fingers into his skin. He pushed against me and I could feel his erection growing between my legs, a sign he had no
problem keeping pace with me. I arched my head back as his lips brushed over my neck once more and realized three things.

One, this was the best night of my life.

Two, I was never leaving his bed.

And three, the night couldn't possibly be long enough.

It was a thirty-minute drive to the town of Bellstone, where the charity event was being held. While driving, I thought about today, what it was and might become. It was a mixed bag. I woke up in Drew's arms, feeling loved and secure in our relationship. Gradually, however, those feelings faded as the day’s significance dawned on me. Sorrow and regret overcame me as I realized it was five years since Jesse was taken from me. The feeling loomed the rest of my day despite how hard I tried to stay busy. I was doing everything possible to keep it together. I couldn't allow myself to get emotional. I needed to look fresh and happy for Drew, his friends, and colleagues. Tonight was
his
night and he deserved it. Any self-pity parties would have to wait until another day.

I thought about Drew and the night we shared, trying to get my mind off Jesse, and couldn’t resist a smile. I found it extremely difficult to leave his bed this morning, but I knew he had to prepare for tonight. Phillip would soon arrive to pick him up. Drew thought it would be easier to get ready at Phillip's place and meet me at the event. I was fine with that. It made sense since he lived closer to the venue anyway. Afterwards, Drew and I could drive back in my car.

I was stalling; reluctant to leave Drew’s apartment until Phillip finally called and said he'd be there in fifteen minutes. I had no choice then, but to pull myself away and hurry down to my apartment, lest I run into him. There was no way I intended to meet one of my true inspirations, and Drew's best friend, for the first time with a crazy case of bed-hair and still smelling of sex.

My navigation system advised me to turn in one mile to arrive at the hotel. I was nervous, but excited too, and anxious to see Drew in his suit. There was no doubt
he’d look unbelievably sexy and I would want to sneak away with him, but we couldn't. This event was too critical. After working so hard on it for months, there was no way I would let him miss out on any of it. No matter how long the night lasted, or how much I wanted to be alone with him, we weren't leaving early. Meanwhile, I could savor the thought that I'd be going home with him. We could continue where we left off last night, making love until we were too exhausted to do anything else but lie in each other's arms and slowly drift to sleep. We could stay snuggled up against each other with our heads under the covers, shielding the sun’s early morning rays from our tired eyes, both promising the other that we'd get up... in thirty more minutes. The time would tick by; the hours slipping away, until finally, our growling stomachs would eject us from bed around noon.

I was lightheaded with excitement and the butterflies churned in my stomach as I pulled into the parking lot. I couldn't wait to see him again, and with no plans for tomorrow, I saw no reason why we could not relive last night all over again.

Panic struck me when I saw the sign: Ritz Carlton Hotel. I hoped I was dressed properly. Although my family had money, we didn’t do family vacations, and I'd never been to the Ritz before. Nor had I ever been to a charity event, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Seeing a young man directing traffic towards the valet parking section, I laughed out loud and sped past him. There was no way my puny, little Honda Accord would blend in with the luxurious cars I saw in line. I could only imagine what mine would look like wedged between two stretch limos, so I opted for a parking space off to the side.

I stepped out of my car as gracefully as possible, careful not to rip my dress on the heel of my shoe. I sent Drew a text message to let him know I arrived. The navy dress fell to my feet. Its chiffon fabric, light and airy, swayed in the breeze as I walked up to the main entrance. The slightly longer train of my dress trailed behind me on the ground as I walked, which looked elegant, but drove me crazy. The sales clerk in the boutique assured me that it was the style, and not to worry about getting it a little dirty. “That's what dry cleaning is for,” she reminded me; but I didn't feel right spending a couple hundred dollars on a dress, only to get it dirty the first time I wore it.

Ignoring my concern, I bought the damn dress anyway.

The dress definitely complimented my figure. The strapless top molded to my upper body with an intricate weave of cream and navy-colored lace. Pearl beads were sown into the lace with a silk belt that wrapped around my waist, outlining the curve of my hips. It was beautiful and I felt elegantly graceful as I approached the red carpet at the front of the door.

I felt my hair, making sure no stray curls had slipped from my updo. Taking a deep breath, I continued my runway walk until my foot crossed the threshold from concrete to carpet. I peered down the aisle, following the red rug as it molded over each ascending step and saw him standing at the right of the door. With one hand in his pocket, he was watching me. Moving closer, my blood raced through my veins and everything around me faded to black except
him
. The three-piece, grey suit looked crisp and tailored on him. His dress shirt, a lighter shade of grey, stood out against the rest of his suit and silver tie. He was hands down the sexiest man I had ever seen.

Drew came down the steps as I approached and held his hand out to me. I curled my fingers around his as he pulled me in, and his other hand wrapped loosely around my waist. It slowly drifted down my lower back as he leaned in to hug me. His lips brushed over my
neck, his warm breath spreading goose bumps over my skin.

“There are no words to describe how astonishing you look,” he whispered before placing a kiss beneath my ear.

Drew pulled back as I looked down at myself. “Are you sure this is dressy enough? I mean, there are limos here. I'm sure I don’t hold a candle to some of the guests here tonight.”

He pulled my chin up with his finger and gazed into my eyes. “I think everyone here will be jealous. You look absolutely stunning.”

I appreciated the comment and smiled.  “Thank you. I guess I can pull myself together from time to time.”