Groomless - Part 1 (4 page)

“I could say the same to you…and mean it literally,” I said, winking at him.

He smirked, then grinned. “I’m really gonna miss you, baby.”

“I’ll miss you too,” I said. “My life’s going to be so boring while we’re apart.”

“Only if you let it,” he said, so firmly that it sounded as if he was scolding me.

“Well, I’ll try not to.”

“Good. And it’s not like I won’t be back. You know I will.”

I wanted so badly to latch on to that idea, to believe that he would come back for me, but I was sure it wouldn’t be the case.
How can he be sure anyway? Who knows what he’ll find out there in the big world when he leaves this little place and his hometown girl?
I knew he was only saying what I wanted to hear, what he wanted to believe, but once he arrived in that new place, started swimming in that much bigger pool, I was sure he would experience bigger and better things and quickly forget all about me.

“I wish this night could last forever,” I said. I knew it would, in a way, for even though I could not stop time, the memory would be one I would forever cherish, a fond recollection I could look back on in a week or six months, even five years. I knew I would always be able to vividly recall every moment, every touch. It would live forever, if only in my mind and every beat of my heart.

“It can’t last forever,” Luke said, “but it doesn’t have to end just yet.”

“Good, because I don’t want it to.”

We kissed again, and I thought if I really let myself fall into that kiss, time might really stop. Almost immediately, he was erect again; I could feel his rock-hard, excited, hungry cock pressing against my hip. Unable to stifle the temptation, I reached down and touched him. I felt and enjoyed his sharp intake of breath as I started to run my hand slowly up and down his remarkable, unforgettable length. It seemed almost unbelievable that he was ready to go so soon, but he was. When he reached a hand down and touched me between my legs, I cried out; I was more than ready too.

“Get on top of me again,” he pleaded, stretching out on his back.

I started to climb on the way I had before, facing him, but he guided my hips and turned me the other way, so he was looking at my back. He slapped my ass, hard enough for me to feel it but not hard enough to hurt me. Slowly, I lowered myself down on him, taking as much of him as I could from that angle, and he groaned as each inch eased into me. I rested my hands on his muscular thighs and started to move my hips back and forth, then in circles, just the way he liked it.

“That’s it,” he said, gripping my hips.

Even though my back was to him and I couldn’t see his face, I knew he was gritting his teeth. I smiled as I imagined the look I knew was etched on his face, that enraptured look I loved so much.

“Yeah, right there. You know just the spot.”

Right away, the sensations began to build and swirl inside of me; it was as if my body’s one desire, the very reason I’d been created, was to come in contact with Luke. That delicious, undeniably exquisite feeling began almost immediately. I leaned forward a little so he entered me at a shifted angle, and when he hit that spot again, more shivers shot up my spine. I bit my lip, trying to control the tiny squeaks that were bubbling out of my throat.

“Right there,” he said, his hands tightening on my hips. “Yeah, baby! I like how you’re doing that. Oh, fuck yes…” He held me tight as he started to move his hips faster, thrusting into me. “You’re gonna make me come again,” he groaned. “Do you want me to come again?”

“Not yet,” I answered, hoping he’d wait for me.

That swirling, pleasurable, unspeakable sensation was still building inside of me, and while I was getting close, I wasn’t quite there yet. I wasn’t sure if it was even biologically possible for us to come together twice in one night, but I was willing to give it a try, because nothing felt better.

“Lie back on me,” he coached. “Just lie back, right on me, right here.”

I did as he said, so that my back was against his chest. His cock, still inside me, began pummeling me at a completely different angle. I gasped as he reached one hand around and started rubbing my clit with two of his skilled and playful fingers. I gasped, almost unable to breathe.

Our heads were right next to each other, and I turned so my face was against his, till I could feel his stubble rubbing against my cheek. I kissed him the best I could from that angle, and he reached his other arm around me and began playing with my tits, squeezing, pinching, and pulling my nipples, just to the point where it almost started to hurt. I didn’t mind a little pain, but he somehow knew exactly where my threshold was, exactly when to stop or ease of. Luke knew my body better than I knew it myself. No matter what position we tried, practically writing our own updated version of the
Kama Sutra
, we fit together perfectly.

“You do make me feel so good,” I whispered.

I lay on top of him, with my legs spread and his cock thrusting deeper and deeper into me, his fingers massaging my clit and squeezing my nipples, our mouths pressed against each other. I was his, totally and completely, and when we were together like that, our bodies frolicking in unison, literally joined together at the hip, we were transformed into something else, something greater than either of the two of us could ever be on our own. With Luke, I felt an intimate togetherness, an ecstasy, and a singularity that I knew I would never, ever be able to achieve with anyone else.

“Baby, I’m about to come,” he said, gasping as he pulled his mouth from mine. “I’ve got to… I’ve gotta… Oh, I’ve got…” He began muttering things I couldn’t understand as he tried to hold out a little longer. His eyes squeezed shut, and the muscles in his neck protruded like cords.

The swirling pleasure inside me overtook everything, every thought, emotion, and sensation, and it felt like my brain was shutting off. It was a power surge, and I feared that I would not be able to withstand the oncoming blasts. Luke literally shouted as he came, like a wolf howling at the moon above us, his voice a long, lovely echo. The sound vibrated through his chest, right into me, intensifying my own orgasm. My whole body seemed to contract for a second, then exploded outward. I screamed, gasped, and cried out, too, simply because my body demanded release of the tsunami of passion swelling within me.

I was trembling as I slid off him, my heart thudding in my chest, my breathing heavy and labored, as though I’d just run a marathon. A cloud passed in front of the moon, and the milky light around us dimmed, making the yellow glow of the candles seem even brighter.

“C’mere,” Luke said, pulling me close to him. Again, he touched the side of my face, brushing away the tears. “You’re crying.”

I curled up next to him and laid my palm on his chest. Still, his heart seemed to be beating in time with my own. “It’s not because I’m sad,” I assured him. “Please don’t think that. This has been the best night of my life, one I’ll never forget. Right now, I am happier than I’ve ever been. I didn’t think it was possible to even feel half that good. Even if it can’t last forever, I will always be grateful that I got to experience this, especially since I experienced it with you.”

“No one knows what the future holds,” he said, stroking my upper arm. “This might be the last time we’ll be together for a little while, but we won’t be apart forever.” His voice was low, barely more than a whisper, with a tinge of happiness in it.

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe it would not be our last interlude, that fate would be kind enough to find a way for us to be a couple, even if he was leaving. “I hope you’re right,” I said.

* * *

As much as I hated to see Luke go, I was happy for his wonderful opportunity, and I tried to be supportive. I went with his family to the airport to see him off. “I got you a present,” I said.

“Aw. You didn’t have to that, baby.”

“I wanted to.”

He grinned as he opened the box and pulled out a multicolored, cashmere tie. “Whoa! This is sharp, but it’s way too expensive,” he said.

I cupped his face. “It’s for your new job. I thought you could use it.”

He kissed my lips. “I love it! Thank you.”

We stared into each other’s eyes. Again, I wondered what the future held, and I feared we might never be together again. His hands trembled, and we both had tears in our eyes. That parting would be the hardest thing either of us had ever had to do. I knew how much he loved me, but I also knew how much it meant to him to make something of his life. His happiness was the most important thing, and that was why I was willing to let him go, no matter how much it hurt. I just hoped he’d stay in touch with me every day, and I especially hoped he would someday come back.

“I’m sure as hell gonna miss you,” Luke told me.

I wiped another tear away. “I’ll miss you too.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

After everyone else said their goodbyes and I gave Luke one last farewell kiss, I watched him walk away from me. My stomach clenched, and even though I hadn’t been able to eat a thing that morning, I felt like I was going to throw up. When he left, tears flowed down my face, and I began to weep like a baby. Of course his family tried to comfort me and remind me what a great opportunity it was and that he was really only doing it to set up a better future for us. I knew they were right about the opportunity, but my heart hated giving him up, if only for a time.

* * *

It’s funny how life can change in the blink of an eye. One minute you’re deliriously happy and in the next, the tears won’t stop flowing. In time, just as I had feared, my Luke became so busy that we grew apart. Lonely and heartbroken, I went off to school to study photography. I eventually refused to take any of his phone calls or texts or emails, as being penciled in or squeezed between other things wasn’t my idea of dating him. I would have been more than willing to carry on a long-distance relationship with him if he had been willing to pick up the phone more than once a week, but in the end, Luke chose his career over me. His made it clear that his Plan B didn’t include me, and the future he had in mind had no room for me in it.

As much as it hurt, I had to come to the realization that I needed to move on. He had rocked my world in so many ways, but I wouldn’t let him shatter it entirely. For the first time, I began dating other guys, and slowly but surely, my life droned on, without the love of my life by my side.

Five years later…

I graduated at the top of my class and landed a great job in the fashion photography industry. A steady flow of roommates came and went, which helped with the rent.

My dad moved to the outskirts of New York City after my mom passed away; it was just too much for him to stay in that big house all by himself, especially since it all reminded him of her, and he wanted to be closer to me. I couldn’t have been happier to have him so close by. I showed him everything the Big Apple had to offer, and he loved the big-city life. He offered to let me move in with him, but I wanted to keep my hard-earned independence.

Things were really going great, and I enjoyed the company of my two roommates. Kate was a model, and Ann was an actress, and both of them were the consummate struggling artists. I fit right in, because I was a struggling photographer.

After Mom’s death, which was a heart-wrenching experience I was sure I would never survive, I was sure things could not get any worse. As if fate was trying to prove me wrong, my father was soon diagnosed with cancer. For a while, he was admitted to a nursing facility, where he could be treated and observed while he fought to get stronger so he could come back home. I tried not to think too much about it, because I didn’t want to tempt fate by daring to be hopeful again. 

My cell rang, and I answered it before I headed into work at the studio. “Hey, Kate,” I said.

“It happened again!”

“What?”

“I swear, that dryer was designed to eat my socks!”

“Um…you’re calling me about socks like it’s some sort of lifetime tragedy? Kate, you really need to lay off the caffeine.”

She sighed. “I can’t keep buying socks.”

“Maybe it’s the neighbor. She’s always pissed because we don’t get our clothes out of the dryer quick enough. Maybe she’s holding them hostage, committing a footwear felony.”

She sighed again, clearly unimpressed by my creative use of alliteration. “I was only five minutes late, and that old bat threw my stuff on top of the dryer and put hers in. Ted, from down the hall, took my wet clothes out of the washer and put his clothes in both the washer and dryer. I’m not comfortable with strangers touching my delicates, ya know?”

“I know it’s frustrating, but you have to play nice if we want to keep the peace. We’ve gotta be neighborly with the neighbors.”

“Yeah, I guess. Anyway, I’m surrounded by walls of towering laundry. I’ve got a few bucks. Can I bum a few quarters?”

“Sure. I’ll bring some home. Next topic. Dinner. Wanna do Chinese tonight?”

“Can’t afford it. I can’t even swing the rent this month really.”

“Huh? Didn’t you get paid today?”

“No. They stiffed me. I went to the job this morning, only to find that the guy closed up shop. The loser was a total scam artist. From now on, I’m sticking with reputable modeling agencies.” She sighed again, more heavily this time, sounding defeated. “How did I ever think I could make it in the playground of America’s millionaires and billionaires?”