Love Delivered (26 page)

“Damn, Zo. It hasn’t even been thirty minutes,” he grunted as he stood.

“Yeah, but fishing isn’t an activity that gives me an excuse to touch you.”

That stopped him in his tracks. That elicited the intended reaction. Stenton’s eyes turned hooded and his voice thickened.

“Shit. You don’t ever need an excuse to do that. I’m all yours.”

And that statement hit me in a manner I was sure Stenton didn’t intend. It stung because he wasn’t mine. No, he no longer had a girlfriend, but he wasn’t saying I could be either. Did I want him to be?

Yes. I did.

“We have lots of ground to cover when we leave.” Out of nowhere, I felt his big hot hands at my waist and his breath hitting my ear. “That will be the most important one.” My eyes flew up to him. “Okay?”

I nodded, grateful for his understanding of my needs. I needed clarity. I needed answers. Being with Stenton without them for these past few days was wonderful, but I knew we’d soon resume our lives. And mine never fared well without him.

Stenton laced my hand with his and led me off the property and to the truck. The ride back to the cottage and onto the beach was mostly quiet, and because of me for a change. But the moment we hit the water, Stenton ended my sulking with the first dunk into the cool water.

We returned to the cottage toward the evening hours for a lobster bake dinner. Stenton and I scarfed it down with delicious spirits, stuffing ourselves like pigs until I needed to clean myself from all the salt, sand and sweat. Stenton needed to grab a few things from the store, so he showered then left while I stayed behind. I showered and was combing my damp hair out when Stenton appeared in the bathroom doorway.

“Come with me. Hurry,” his tone wasn’t as urgent as his words.

With little reservation, I dropped my comb and followed Stenton out the back door, noticing security along the way. I tried keeping up with his long strides until he stopped at a small platform a few feet from the water and copped a spot on it. I heard the music on the way there and when we sat, I immediately understood our destination. There was a small concert on the beach by a rock band that seemed to have members younger than me, almost a half a mile from where we sat. We didn’t have the best view, but the sound was perfectly clear. There was a small crowd, but boy, were they energetic.

“They must be local,” Stenton noted.

I nodded my head in agreement. It became obvious by the number of cover songs they performed. There were only about two songs I didn’t recognize. The majority were by Sting, Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Alice and Chains. They were pretty good. It totally captured my attention, allowing me to zone out. In no time I relaxed, lying back on my hands, crossing my legs, and absorbing the energy. Stenton must have sent one of his security for drinks because out of nowhere, I felt a nudge and when I looked up, he was handing me a delicious margarita. Stenton and I sat in silence, occasionally singing lyrics along with the band, laughing at one another when we went out of range.

Their cover of “Come As You Are” was spot on. It spoke to Stenton’s and my situation. I didn’t care how he came back into my life, so long as he came wanting me
finally
. When that revelation hit, I found my eyes traveling over to him. His gaze was gliding over me as he bopped to the beat. I recognized the look in those marbled orbs. He wanted me.
How?
In that moment it didn’t matter. I just needed him to want me. That’s all I ever wanted from Stenton. We exchanged loaded stares for moments long. It was the perfect moment. It was
our
nirvana. And I welcomed it.

Stenton took my hand and did a reverse nod in the direction of the cottage. If he was ready to go, so was I. On our walk back, I asked to get a ride on his back. He obliged and I giggled on my trip up there. As I clasped onto his shoulders, Stenton ran and leaped in the air, pretending to be on the court. I laughed endlessly, caught up in the moment. When he tired himself out, Stenton craned his neck and reached back to cup my face, planting the most impassioned kiss on my lips. His tongue swirled several times before he withdrew, pulling my bottom lip between his teeth to my delight. That’s when I caught a flash.

“What’s wrong?” Stenton asked, halting his steps.

“I thought I saw a camera flash.”

Stenton snorted. “This is one of the most private beaches in the area. I doubt that flash was for us.”

“Okay.” I supplied a playful moue.

“Now, if you want a flash on you, I have a few poses I want you to try out when we get back up to the loft.”

That hurled me into a new mental space. “I’ll go first. And promise not to put them on social media, StentRo.”

Stenton rolled his eyes, tried fighting his chuckle. “Don’t start that shit again, Zo.” 

That evening, to close our abbreviated getaway, I indulged Stenton by letting him use old restraints, but in a new position during our play.

Letting?

Who was I kidding? I was sure I received more from our bedroom trysts than he did. I laid on my knees, shoulders, and the side of my face while my wrists were bound behind me, resting my rear, and my ankles attached by the same Neoprene cuffs. Stenton propped my pelvis on a small pillow, leaving me totally exposed for his viewing pleasure. I writhed in the cuffs, tortured by the absence of his touch, but refused to beg.

“Niña,” he growled. “You are beautiful in every way. I told you years ago, I can eat you all day.”

My spine shivered. After two orgasms from his face being buried behind me, I still wanted more. Needed more. Stenton made me greedy. He always kept me wondering what was next. He made me feel alive and desired like this.

“I’m going to give you just one last one because you can’t stay in this position all night.”

Then I heard him rip open the condom. Seconds after, I felt his wide crest breach me. Air blew from my lungs and then Stenton was pulling and pushing rigidly into me. Once he was comfortably fit, his thrusts were more fluid. I had a flash vision of having this regularly, having Stenton around permanently. I relished each plunge he fed me, feeling I couldn’t get enough. Pleasure built in my core as I cried out unabashedly.

“Yessssss…” he enunciated through his teeth.

My body tensed, preparing to detonate and this would be different from those before it. Meeting the onrush of pleasure, I slammed back into Stenton, according to his rhythm.

“I love this. I love you!”

“Fuck, Zo!” he drawled out with a slackened mouth. “You’re gon’ make me—”

And he did. Stenton’s long frame shuddered over me, from behind and I enjoyed every second of feeling him become undone. There was no better bliss.

~~~~~~~~~~

I shuffled in the sheets, regretfully awakening from my sleep. I heard him, which is likely what stirred my subconscious. I flickered my lids, blinking away the haze from my pupils. Then found him down at the foot of the bed, deliciously nude—and inked—from the waist down with his back to me. Stenton was on the phone, speaking low. I could detect the irritability in his raspy morning voice as I sat up, haphazardly covering my breasts. He must have felt the movement of the mattress because he craned his neck back to look at me. My eyes softened, reflecting his. When he turned back to muffle in the phone again, something didn’t feel right.

“Yes. Right away. That’ll work. I have to go and get ready. Text me with the other details. Thanks, Srey.”

“Another excursion before we check out?” I teased.

Stenton let out a long breath. I immediately saw the regret in his eyes.

“Zo, I have to catch a flight out to California. Erik Erceg tried to commit suicide last night. Believe it or not, he’s the only person in that family that I had a genuine relationship with. He looks up to me. I haven’t been in touch with him over the summer even though he’s tried to reach out.” I rubbed his shoulder, my heart expanding about him lowering his guard for someone who seemed to have needed him. Stenton was mentor-worthy. “He’s a troubled kid. Drugs, alcohol and bad friends. Good kid; just misguided. Ellis called, begging me to come see about him. She doesn’t have to beg. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”

“Of course. Should I get dressed now?” I shifted to leave the bed.

“No. You stay and take your time leaving. I’ll have Barry or Rob take you back to Philly and then fly out to California right after.”

My stomach dropped, dread fell over me in disappointment. We were separating. Our nirvana was coming to a quick close.

Slowly, I nodded. “Okay. But I’d rather drive myself. I can close up here and hit the road right after. You don’t have to worry about me. I don’t need protecting.”

Stenton nodded solemnly then stood from the bed. He ambled toward the steps before halting. With his back to me, he brushed the back of his head from his neck, exhaling harshly. He turned back to me, quickly pacing to the bed and took me at the side of my face, kissing me sweetly.

“This wasn’t how I planned to end this trip. There’s so much we need to sort out. I have a lot to share. Promise me you’ll make time to have lunch with me in a few days when I return.”

Stenton’s marbles danced between my eyes, searing me.

“Yes,” I whispered.

There was no way I’d turn down what I sensed would be the context of that conversation. Softly, he nodded again and kissed me before leaving the loft and then the cottage.

They say all good things must come to an end. My nirvana with Stenton was no exception to that truism.

~~~~~~~~~~

~
Stenton
~

As I closed the door to the hospital room where Erik was, I whispered a silent prayer for his recovery. The kid took a palm full of pills; shit, I could only imagine their potency. I’d always known Erik was fragile. I didn’t quite have it worked out, but his being the only man in the house, outside of Ellis’ new husband, had to take its toll. He had no one to guide him. His sisters’ achievements were paramount. They were launching successful products and had the longest running reality show in history. Just to think it all started from an amateur sex tape Erika filmed with her ex-boyfriend. Having your sister’s ass in front of millions of faces for viewing pleasure had to fuck with you, too.

Erik was a good kid. When we first met, he did things he thought would capture my attention and garner my respect for him. He came with that faux b-boy shit that was humorous, considering I was more of a rocker from Laguna Beach than a d-boy from Newark. I had to indirectly assure him that he didn’t need to put up any fronts for me like his sisters and mother did all the time. I only wanted Erik to be himself. Also, I had a kid myself. A son, who I didn’t want to struggle with identity issues like Erik did. So, I took him under my wing, hanging out with him and allowing him game passes whenever he wanted.

When I spent time with him, his sister, Erika did and subsequently so did Emily and Ellis. I’d learned from speaking to him moments ago that when I broke it off with Erika, no one was checking for him anymore. That was fucked up. I couldn’t promise to do anything about that sad fact. I was in a different place now that I’d been connected to Zoey again. I felt refueled by genuine contact having just been in her company for almost a week. Now, I couldn’t stomach the pretention, didn’t want to entertain the airs. I was tired as hell and wanted to get to my suite and call my son and then his mother before I crashed.

I was on my way to do just that when I heard, “Stent,” over my shoulder.

I turned behind me and found Erika, appearing timorous in her approach. Her eyes were shaky and her posture slackened, not as graceful as I was accustomed to seeing.

“We need to talk. You think we can grab a bite?” she spoke softly.

“It’s going to have to wait. I have a few calls to make before I take it down. Text me tomorrow and we can get up then.”

And just when I pivoted to step off, she asserted, “I don’t think this can wait. I guess Hunter hasn’t been notified yet.”

Now that shit got my attention. Something in my gut told me not to blow her off. I usually listened to my subconscious. Whatever the hell it was that Erika wanted to share, I knew I wouldn’t like. It was just a matter of how much it would anger me.

Thirty minutes later I learned the degree to my anger.

“Rewind that bullshit again,” I asked, brows hiked and forehead wrinkled.

“I’ll be four months soon. I’m starting to show, and now with Erik’s latest major fuck up, my mom wants to derail the negative attention from him. So, we thought it best if Erik and I stayed above the rumors by announcing my pregnancy right away.”

“And what the hell are you specifically going to announce, Erika?” I couldn’t believe the shit she was coming with.

This was all bullshit! Bullshit I wasn’t expecting.
I didn’t get involved in this for this bullshit!

“Mehan wrote up a statement about
during tumultuous times, we’ve learned that we’re expecting a baby, and to please respect our wishes for privacy as we work through this unexpected event
…something like that.” Her eyes skirted around my face.

“Erika, you’re not pregnant by me. Let’s get this shit straight right now.” I knew like hell she was lying out her ass.