Heartburn (Love By Design 3)

“Then all the more reason for me to hold you.” The gesture was sweet, but my personal space felt invaded.

“You’re smothering me.”

“Yeah, well I like you too much to let go. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No.” Remembering that I don’t actually have my period I lie. “Yes. Awful. I think I should I lie down.” Anything to get Whit to give me an inch of space.

“Okay, well let’s eat first and then go to bed.” He released me and put the food on the warmed grill. We ate quietly and cleaned up. I washed and he dried because it gave our idle hands something to do. Together we finished up in the kitchen and crawled into bed together.

I murmured into the dark, “I’m sorry I freaked out before.” Whit snuggled closer to me leaning over me.

“I’m sorry I gave you a reason to freak out.” He kissed me slow as if he was tasting me, memorizing me, cherishing me.

His kisses were the stuff of girlish dreams you don’t realize you’ve fantasized about since before you knew what kissing was.

“How awful do you feel, Amelia?” He rubbed against me and even though exhaustion was slowly winning, I wanted him. I would always want him, but tonight I felt too traumatized to go there.

“My period.” I grumbled reminding him of my white lie.

“Is it awful if I don’t care?” He whispered into my ear pulling my underwear down under the covers kicking them into the sheets.

“I guess not.” I wrapped my arms around him. I don’t have it yet and perceptive as ever, he must know that. His knee widened my legs and he slipped between them kissing my neck and slowly penetrating my body. He made love to me slowly, only our hearts racing and us not quite out of breath because we’re pacing ourselves like a long run in the dark. It’s sweet, the opposite of most of our encounters, but equally as hot.

“Amelia, I want you to come, come on baby, you’re soaking my cock.” He thrusted so slowly I felt myself release drench him. He kept the slowest pace possible torturing my surrender sweetly out of me. As soon as I shuddered he moved faster building me back up. He released inside me hovering over me. His chest panted, hot heavy air that nearly suffocates. I could feel the wheeze of his breath struggling to catch. I’m tearful and concerned, the lust long gone. I don’t know if he needed to prove something to me, himself, or to both of us but my heart breaks all over again.

“I don’t want to let you go.” I whispered to him and he answered back.

“Then don’t. I’m not going anywhere you’re not.” He fell asleep right after, his body crushing mine into the bedding. I sweated from laying skin on skin. His temperature roasted us. I didn’t care if he smothered me then and I held him while I starred up at the ceiling wishing we could stay like this forever.

30

Whit

Lia hasn’t left my house except to change clothes or grab books to study with, and that suits me just fine. Her anxiety shuts off best when she stayed busy and I do my best to not be a burden to her. I’m slow moving and have been milking up my old man complaints for everything I can, except with her.

“Babe, you okay?” I called toward the back of the house and waited for her to emerge from the bedroom. I shuffled closer taking in her wrap dress tied around her middle. The black dress has a purple floral pattern and her hair is curled in some wavy concoction that’s begging for my hands to get tangled in.

Tonight was a special fundraiser for the park and nature preserve since several hundred acres are charred to the ground. Lia’s photography would debut as the center of the show. She doesn’t know it yet, but the photos from her camera have been printed and framed for tonight’s silent auction. She captured stunning shots of the ridge on fire and as helpless as I know she’s been feeling, these photos can’t be forgotten about on a digital file for the next decade.

I’ve also been working with Evan on leads for the fire. He was right that accelerant made the fire burn out of control. A certain set of twin idiots were the prime suspects but we were drawing a blank on how to prove it. Turns out Ryder West had a solid alibi shagging a naïve little red head I wished he wasn’t. I’ve set my favorite hacker on him to see what he can do to make his life a little more troublesome through legal means.

Lia emerged from the bathroom glammed up. “You ready to go?” She nodded and I lead her toward my jeep. We’ll have a nice dinner uninterrupted. I closed the distanced between us kissing her cool lips. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks. You clean up nicely.”

I straighten my jacket and tie. “Bet you didn’t think I even had a suit.”

She snorted. “I admit I was a little concerned when the invitation read a black tie affair.” This was the first time in a while she genuinely gave me a smile without prompting.

“I don’t just take this

out and dust it off for weddings and funeral you know.” I quipped slicking back my hair.

“Less funny, Whit.” She shook her head and I caught a delicate whiff of her perfume. Light. Airy. Violets maybe.

“We’ll have to joke about this sometime. The guys keep bringing over marshmallows and I’m running out of places to hide them.”

She scoffed rolling her eyes. I pulled up to the newly built nature center and park the car. I got out and opened her door giving her my arm. Lia hopped out but I didn’t let her pass.