The Only One for Her (9 page)

Chapter 18: Lindy

Before seeing Trace again, I had to call Ro. My day with him had been so wonderful and when he’d shared his story about his best friend Jake, he’d captured my heart. He
had
me. I didn’t know how it exactly happened, but I was his. Life kicked me in the face when I lost Dane and now I wanted to make every second count. Trace had pulled me from the ivory tower where I’d kept my feelings hidden, delivering me straight into his strong arms.

“Hey, Lindy,” Ro said. “How’s it going with your new beaux?” I could hear the happiness in her voice. She was enjoying this
I told you so
moment way too much.

“Ro, we shared the most amazing day together. The picnic at the waterfall was incredible. We made out like teenagers. He opened up to me about losing his best friend. It was the perfect day.”

“That sounds so romantic. I’m jealous.”

“Ro, I think I’m in love with him. When he opened up to me about his best friend dying when he was nineteen something happened inside me. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Sounds like you’ve connected to him because he can understand what you’ve gone through, Lindy. He’s lost someone, too.”

“He does seem to understand me. He’s very empathetic.”

“Where is he now? Are you seeing him again?”

“He’s in his hotel room getting ready to take me to dinner.”

“Another date. Sounds like he’s into you, too.”

“He is. We just…somehow…go together.”

“Then, why are you talking to me? Why aren’t you with him?”

I didn’t answer her right away. Fear washed over me. I was scared of what was happening between us and it being ripped away from me. Everything always seemed to be taken away.

“Lindy?”

“I’m here,” I said with a shaky voice.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m afraid. I’m just afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Of getting hurt. Losing again.”

“Lindy, what I’m about to say may sound harsh, but I have to say it. It’s time you get out of your own way and live again. I’ve watched you for three years mourn the loss of Dane. I know you two loved each other very much and I know you needed to grieve. But, now’s the time to live. You’ve done what you went there to do…let go. Now you need to grab on to Trace. I have a gut feeling you two are meant to be.”

“You don’t think it’s all too fast? How can I already be in love with him?”

“Life is mysterious, Lindy. I don’t know how anything happens, but it does. It’s happened for you. What are you waiting for?”

“You’re right. I don’t want to wait another second. I’ve gotta go.”

I hung up the phone before saying goodbye. Ro would understand. I had already showered and gotten ready. I was going to Trace’s room.
Early.

Knocking briskly on his door, my heart began pounding furiously in my chest. I was breathless with anticipation. Thoughts of him doing things to me played out in my head.

The moment Trace opened the door, I leapt into his arms.

“Lindy…is everything okay?”

“It will be,” I said as my fingers found the buttons on his shirt. I started off clumsily attempting to unbutton them, but that was beginning to take too long. Mustering all my strength, I pulled the fabric apart as hard as I could, buttons flying everywhere, exposing Trace’s chiseled chest. Another pull and his shirt was completely undone. I slid my hands under the shirt, onto his shoulders. Instantly, his shirt was rumpled on the floor.

“Oh fuck, yes.”

I’m sure I heard him mutter, “Oh fuck, yes,” which made my need double. He wanted me too.

Trace stared at me with an intensity that made my insides turn to goo. Without saying a word, he closed the door behind us, scooped me up in his arms, and carried me toward the bed.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he held me so close I could feel the pounding in his chest. Before I could say a word, his mouth was on mine. His soft lips covered mine until he parted them with his tongue, invading me. His hot tongue swirled with mine while his hands began lifting my knit top. Before long, it joined his shirt on the floor. His kisses continued while he unhooked my bra. My heart raced knowing we were going to do what we had both been thinking about all day. The pulsing between my legs became stronger.

“Lindy, you’re so fucking beautiful.” He kissed my neck, placing little nips behind my earlobe. “I’m absolutely crazy about you. My skin felt alive as he dragged his lips across my collarbone, kissing me as he went. I was already so turned on. “I want you so much.”

His hot mouth plunged to my breast, taking in my nipple, sucking until it turned into a tight bud. My head fell back from his onslaught, soft groans escaping my lips. I could feel him, hard as stone, pressed against my bottom.

He swung us around, moving on top of me in the process. Trace sat back on his knees as he began pulling off my jeans. I lifted my hips to help him. Gazing down at me, he had pure love emanating from his eyes. “I could look at you forever. Every inch of you is perfect.”

Before I could respond, his pants were off and I could see his entire male prowess. This man was gorgeous. Gazing into his hazel eyes, I couldn’t catch my breath, but I didn’t want to. I wanted all of him connected to me…forever.

“I’ve been thinking about what I want to do to you all day, Lindy,” he said, as he made his way between my legs. Spreading me apart, he drew in a breath. “I love your scent.”

“Trace,” I uttered. But I couldn’t say anything else, because his mouth descended upon me, his tongue licking my clit. Moaning was all I could muster as my hands grabbed at the bedspread tightly. Light pulses surged through me as his tongue continued circling my clit.

My legs were shaking from the pleasure of his tongue massaging the spot that would soon make the earth fall away. Trace slowly slipped two fingers inside me, escalating the intensity I was already experiencing.

“Come for me, beautiful,” he said between licks.

Within seconds, I did exactly what he wanted of me, I came…hard. Screaming out was all I could do. The waves of ecstasy crashed over me again and again as I squeezed his fingers inside me. Sounds escaped me that I hadn’t made in a long time. Barely being able to move, I said, “That was…beyond words.”

My eyes locked with Trace’s. He had a shiny grin on his face as he moved toward me, hovering over me. “Lindy, every sound you made was so sexy to me. Everything about you.” His hand caressed my face. “Everything.”

The look in his eyes seared my heart. Could he be in love with me too? Was any of this really possible? I wasn’t going to ask. I was going to feel. Feel him fill me up and take me over the edge again.

“Everything about you is perfect too,” I murmured, and still recovering from what he had just done to me, my words were barely audible.

Trace didn’t waste any time. His lips found mine again. I could taste our sex from the stickiness that covered his lips. Sliding his hand down the side of my body, I quivered beneath his touch. “Make love to me, Trace,” I whispered.

Trace grabbed a condom out of his suitcase, and within seconds, he was rolling it on.

Trace slid his hard cock up and down my hot core, with each stroke building anticipation inside me. He gently slipped inside me, then pulled back, taking his time. Each time he reentered my body, he went a little deeper into my wet interior. “Trace, it’s okay. I want all of you,” I said, my hands grasping onto his firm ass.

With that, he slid all the way inside me, filling me like I expected. “Lindy, you feel so damn good, baby.”

“So do you,” I groaned out. Trace was moving in and out of me ever so slowly.

“I have a feeling you know exactly what you’re doing,” I said before his mouth landed on my left breast. How did he know that was the more sensitive one? Between his tugs, swirling, and light scrapes with his teeth, I thought I was going to explode.
Again.

“I want you to come again for me. I want to feel you squeezing me, hear you screaming out, and watch your beautiful face.”

I loved that he talked so much during sex, telling me what he wanted. And of course, all I wanted to do was exactly what he asked for. In my heart, I was his…utterly and completely his. Being anywhere else, with anyone else, was unthinkable. Trace Michaels was
my
man.

Within seconds, my undoing happened and an orgasm ripped through me. Trace was right behind me, groaning as he came. Our eyes never left each other’s. He gently stroked my face with the back of his hand, not moving from my body.

“I don’t want this moment to end,” he said.

“Neither do I.”

Trace nuzzled my nose with his. His mannerisms were so adoring. I hadn’t felt adored in so long. Trace had managed to connect with me on a much deeper level than I thought possible. Pushing my fears away, I gave my heart to him completely.

Chapter 19: Trace

I had been completely taken by surprise when I opened the door, but it was the best surprise of my life. Lindy laid her head on my chest and wrapped her arm and leg over my body. She had drifted off and I would have joined her, but I wanted to savor every moment of her in my arms. Glancing over at our room service dishes, I couldn’t help but smile.

Our quiet dinner in had been just what we’d both needed. She had impressed me with her take-charge attitude when she’d entered my room. Being with her made everything else I had been going through seem a million miles away. Lindy had become my air. I not only wanted her, I needed her. As I surrendered to sleep, I couldn’t imagine life without her.

A crack in the drapes allowed a hint of morning to shine through, drawing me from my sleep. I remembered a farmer’s market we had passed and thought fresh fruit would be a great way to start the day. Not wanting to wake Lindy, I carefully removed myself from our bed. Slipping on my jogging pants and T-shirt, I was out the door in under a minute. Fresh fruit and juice sounded like a great way to start the day. I’d also see what local delicacies I could find. Hopefully, Lindy would still be sleeping by the time I returned. I wanted to surprise her.

The farmer’s market didn’t disappoint and I managed to fill my basket quickly. They even had a griddle where they were making macadamia nut pancakes, so I got us each an order.

My plan today was to take Lindy parasailing. It was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. I just didn’t know I’d be doing it with someone…else.

“There’s my gorgeous girl,” I said walking through the door. Lindy was just beginning to stir. She stretched and moaned slightly, getting my full attention as the sheet pooled around her waist.

“Looks like you’ve been busy this morning,” she murmured.

I placed the bags on the table and made my way over to Lindy, climbing back into bed. “I got us fruit and macadamia nut pancakes, but you look way more appetizing.”

“I am starving,” she said as she looked up at me through her long lashes, “but not for food.”

I didn’t need any further hinting or encouragement. Lindy looked so sexy with her mussed up hair, naked in my bed. Before I could make a move, she was kissing me. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her on top of me. Lindy slid her hands up my chest, moving my shirt up along with them. Taking my shirt off, she then began kissing my neck, continuing down my chest. I watched intently as her mouth made its way to my cock. Her tongue swirled around my head, her hands slipping down, gripping my shaft. My head fell back as her mouth took me in, its warmth cocooning me, making me hard. It felt so damn good to have her mouth on me, her teeth slightly grazing me. For several minutes, I let her continue to have her way with me, but I didn’t want to come in her mouth. No, I wanted that reserved for her perfect tight spot between her legs.

I had put my condoms in the dresser next to me. So I grabbed one quickly, putting it on.

Pulling Lindy forward, her legs straddled my hips. I knew I was in Maui, but this view of her on top of me rivaled every view I had seen here so far. Lindy slowly slid herself onto my cock and began moving her hips up and down. Being engulfed by her tight heat sent sparks throughout my body.

“Baby, you…feel…so…good.” My hands dug into her thighs, getting into her rhythm. Her hands were on my shoulders, effectively pushing her luscious breasts together. Leaning forward, I managed to get my mouth around one of her nipples, tugging on it, nipping, and licking. Her sounds told me I had found the right spot.

Releasing her breast, I licked my thumb and found my way to her clit. Between her movements and my strategic touching, Lindy began to scream and I felt the squeezing that I had been anticipating all morning. After a few seconds, Lindy’s body had collapsed on mine. I loved feeling her breasts firmly against my chest while my hands freely stroked her back.

Lindy’s hair was draped over my chest, her nose nuzzling my neck. Her moans were like a purr and I had no doubt I wanted to hear those sounds again and again. Rolling us over, I covered Lindy with my body and began my descent into the abyss she had entered. With each thrust, she made more of her decadent sounds, shuddering beneath me. I kissed her as I exploded, filling her with everything I had.

We lay in a heap on the bed, tangled in sheets for I don’t know how long. “Where have you been?” I asked her. “I’ve needed you for so long.”

Lindy’s hand caressed my face. “I’ve been waiting for you to find me.”

“Well now that I have you, I’m not letting you go.”

“I don’t want you to let me go. I’m completely content right here, in your arms.”

I propped myself up on my elbow. “Lindy, I’m not flirting. I’m totally serious right now. I want you in my life. Please tell me you want the same thing.”

Lindy reached up and kissed me on the lips. “If someone had told me this would be happening, I would have laughed at them. But, I can’t imagine being without you. I’ve guarded my heart so fiercely, for so long. But you have broken through my barriers.”

Pulling Lindy closer to me, I contemplated telling her about the last few days of my life and how I came to be here alone. It would either make us closer or tear us apart. Knowing our relationship was still fragile, my gut told me to wait. Sometimes, waiting was the smartest action a person could take.

“I’m starving. Do you think you could feed a girl?” she asked with a sexy smile.

“Why, that was my plan until I opened the door and found a stunning woman in my bed. At that moment, I don’t think either of us were hungry for food.”

Lindy laughed. “So true, but now I have a ravenous appetite.”

Extending my hand to Lindy, I grabbed us both a T-shirt, and escorted her to the table where breakfast was waiting for us. The room had kitchen facilities, so I took out a pan and heated up the pancakes. In the meantime, Lindy poured each of us a glass of guava nectar and began cutting the papaya.

Placing a plate of pancakes in front of Lindy, I offered her either maple syrup or coconut. “I’ll try the coconut…when in Maui and all.”

She was too adorable for words. I poured coconut syrup on my pancakes as well.

“I was thinking it would be fun to go parasailing this afternoon. What do you think?”

“That sounds amazing. I’d love to.”

“Great. I have reservations for two o’clock in Lahaina. I thought afterward we could grab an early dinner.”

“Mm. Sounds like the perfect way to spend a day in paradise.”

“Anytime with you is perfect.”

Lindy looked at me with such adoration on her face. “What time do we need to leave?”

“I’d say we can go around twelve thirty. I like to be early.”

“I like to be early too,” she said, squeezing my hand.

Lindy went back to her room to shower and get ready. I got cleaned up too, then sat out on the lanai to watch the waves.
Peace
. I finally felt at peace after the hell I’d been through the last few days. Part of me was wondering what was happening back home, but I didn’t call or text anyone to find out. Being out of touch with the real world and submerged here with Lindy was the only thing I wanted on my mind. Checking in would most likely deliver bad news and there was no way I was ruining my time with Lindy to know about whatever ridiculous thing was taking place in the lives of Derrick and Angelina.

A knock on the door broke my gaze from the ocean. My gorgeous girl was ready to go. I had to admit I was grateful I was a planner and had some special things lined up to do with her. I was having the time of my life.

“Hey beautiful,” I said, opening the door.

Lindy blushed and smiled. “Hi.”

Walking out the door, I grabbed her hand and we proceeded to my rental car.

***

“Are you all strapped in?” I asked, checking the harness that attached Lindy to the parasail. I wanted my girl to be safe. We were going up eight hundred feet.

“Everything seems good. They know what they are doing, right?”

I chuckled. “Yes, I’m just making sure,” I said, winking at her.

Lindy nudged me with her elbow. “I’ve never done anything this adventurous. I have to admit, I’m a little nervous.”

Putting my arm around her I said, “Don’t worry. It will be fine. You’re going love it.”

They began unfurling the rope that had us attached to the parasail. Within seconds, we were airborne, the wind catching the sail and taking us up in the sky.

“Wow, this is amazing. Oh my God. Do you see that huge fish down there?” Lindy asked, pointing over to the left.

“Yeah, it must be four or five feet long.”

“Crazy, huh. It’s hard to tell what it is. I don’t think it’s a shark.”

“It looks kind of like an eel. Hard to tell from way up here.”

“Being up here sure is a different perspective. Everything down below seems so small and far away. We’re like on top of the world.” Lindy giggled, glancing over at me.

“We are,” I said, taking her hand. She was right. Everything seemed different, brilliant. The water below danced for us and the sun was bright in the sky. Sharing this moment with her was special. But, every second with her since we’d met had been special. She had a child-like way about her that was so endearing. I loved this part of her.

Like all adventures, it didn’t last long enough. Our fifteen minutes went by way too quickly and we dunked in the ocean several times before finally being secured on the boat. Then it was the next couple’s turn. Lindy placed her hand on my leg and whispered thank you in my ear. She was so grateful for everything. Another quality I admired about her. I didn’t feel taken for granted. Had Angelina taken me for granted? Is that how she’d justified marrying me when she wasn’t faithful to me?

We watched the other couple floating through the air like we just had done. They seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as we were.

After our excursion was over, we walked along the quaint little shopping village of Lahaina. Stopping to admire goods in a window, I could see the bliss on my girl’s face in the reflection of the window. Knowing I was the one making her happy brought a surge of pride to my heart. She had had a tough life and I wanted to change that for her. I wanted to make her life easy, make her dreams come true.

“Lindy, what are your dreams for your life?”

Lindy looked up at me with a perplexed look on her face. “That’s a complicated question.”

“No, it’s not. It’s pretty simple. What do you want for your life?”

Lindy didn’t answer. Her eyes were downcast, contemplative.

“Why don’t we get something to eat and watch the ocean,” I suggested. Maybe she’d open up to me if we sat down and relaxed.

“That sounds good.”

We found a restaurant with a spectacular view of the Pacific. After being seated and ordering a Pina Colada for Lindy and a Corona for me, we talked about mundane things like the view we were sharing
until our drinks arrived. I knew Lindy didn’t feel comfortable with my question, but I decided to resume the conversation we had started anyway. I let her have a few sips of her drink first.

Reaching across the table, I took Lindy’s hand. “I’m so glad I have met you, Lindy. I know we’ve only known each other a couple of days, but you have become very important to me. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” she said, her eyes glistening. “You’ve become important to me too.”

“Good,” I said with a short nod. “I want to know what your dreams are so I have a chance to make them come true. I want you by my side, Lindy.”

“To be honest, Trace, I haven’t thought about my dreams since…well, in a really long time. When I became a widow, a flip switched inside of me and I’ve been operating in survival mode. Dreaming has been a luxury I couldn’t afford.”

I didn’t say anything, but kept my eyes locked with hers, urging her to continue.

“Before…before my life fell apart, my dream of being a wife had already been fulfilled and I wanted to be a mother. I was pregnant when Dane died, but we didn’t know it. I miscarried a couple of weeks later.”

Holy shit.
“Oh, Lindy. I’m so sorry.” Looking at her, I could see the shattered life that surrounded her. She had endured so much. No wonder she didn’t have any dreams.

A single tear streamed down her face. “Excuse me. I need to use the ladies’ room. If the waiter comes back, I’ll have a cheese burger and fries.”

I watched Lindy walk away, her head slightly down. In that moment, I decided I was going to do everything in my power to make all of her dreams come true, even the ones she didn’t know she had. 

***

I know I couldn’t take all of Lindy’s pain away, but I could love her, make her feel cherished, and begin wanting a life again. A life with me.

Entering my hotel room, I gently kissed Lindy on her shoulder. “Make yourself comfortable,” I said, hoping she would. “I’m going to get ice and we can have a drink while watching the sunset.

“Sounds like a plan,” she said turning toward me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I held her for a long moment before she let go. I was grateful she was showing me affection. I knew talking about her loss had taken a toll on her.