Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

Josie

The man knew how to apologize, that was for sure.

Fox slid down my body, draping my legs over his shoulders. His hands slipped under my ass, and he lifted as he lowered his head. He didn’t start with a gentle flutter or tease, he dove in with his full face.

Oh God.

He sucked and licked, the scruff on his cheeks and chin scraping against my sensitive flesh turning me on more than I ever thought something like that would. He alternated between long strokes with a flattened tongue and tunneling into me. It was nothing like I’d ever felt before. I’d had men go down on me, but this…this was eating me out. I usually found the term kind of cringy, but I clearly hadn’t understood how it differed from plain old oral sex until now.

My back arched from the bed. Fox reached up and held me down. I was on the edge already, and we’d barely started. His tongue lapped at my arousal as my fingers threaded into his thick hair. When he sucked hard on my clit, I couldn’t control how roughly I yanked the strands.

“Fox!” My breath shook.

“That’s it, baby. Come on my tongue. You taste so good…”

My body started to vibrate from the inside out. I moaned his name, and Fox responded by slipping two fingers inside me. He pumped in and out once…twice… On the third time he sucked my clit into his mouth and did some magical swirl, and I exploded. My orgasm packed a punch so hard that I saw nothing but stars as it washed over me.

By the time I could see again, Fox was on the move. He hovered over me, one arm on either side of my head, bearing his weight.

“You good?”

I hadn’t caught my breath yet, so I nodded.

“Need you. Now.”

He aligned his swollen head with my opening and leaned down to gently kiss my lips.

“I want to watch your face while I sink inside of you. That okay?”

“Yes.”

I braced myself for what would come next, expecting the ferociousness to continue, but Fox once again surprised me. He took his time, slowly entering me. This felt different from the other times we’d been together, even from five minutes ago. It was more intimate, more loving. The way he looked at me made me feel like we were the only two people in the world. There was a reason for that—Fox and I had never done it missionary style. As he gazed into my eyes, I realized he was making love to me for the first time. It made my eyes well up.

He glided in and out slowly, moving with purpose and rhythm. His eyes brimmed with the emotions I felt, deep inside my chest. We stayed that way for a long time, connected mind, body, and soul, as our orgasms built. I never wanted the euphoric moment to end. But eventually, Fox’s face grew strained, and his thrusts grew harder and faster. The sounds of our wet bodies slapping against each other echoed around the room. All of my senses were filled with this man, consumed by this man, as my orgasm rushed over me.

“Fox…”

He kept going, his jaw rigid as he strained to hold on. “So fucking beautiful.”

Somehow he managed to maintain as my body convulsed around him. Only when the last wave of my ecstasy started to ebb, did Fox let go. Feeling the heat of him seep inside me had my body trembling with aftershock.

He continued to glide in and out of me leisurely.

I grinned up at him. “Wow. Fox Cassidy does slow and sweet.”

He smiled. “Don’t spread the word around town.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” I stroked his cheek. “Thank you for opening up to me tonight.”

Fox nodded and kissed my lips. “It’s been a while. Have patience with me.”

“I will.”

His eyes searched my face.

“What?” I asked.

He smiled. “Wondering how I got so lucky.”

Hope bloomed wild in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, my luck would be better this time, too.

***

The following morning, my phone rang a little while after Fox had left for work. I was sitting on the grass in the yard, looking for Daisy, and I smiled seeing Nilda’s name on the screen.

“Hi,” I answered. “I’ve been meaning to call you.”

“How are you, sweetheart?”

I sighed. “Really good, actually.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. Laurel Lake might’ve been just the medicine you needed.”

I couldn’t agree more. “It’s a pretty amazing place.”

“That sounds like you might not be coming back?”

My eyes drifted to the house next door. Could I live here? I loved the feel of being in a small town, where you stop in for coffee or at the home-improvement store and people know you by name. Sure, there was a downside to that—like everyone in your business—but that didn’t bother me as much as it did Fox. Because none of it was done with malice. Plus, I doubted there was a pharmaceutical company for hundreds of miles, maybe more. Though since everything happened at work, I’d been kicking around moving into academia. I’d been a TA in college and grad school and had really enjoyed teaching classes. In fact, once I’d mentioned maybe doing that instead of research. But my mother had been appalled. “Universities don’t pay professors like big pharma does,” she’d said. “You’ll be living in that one-bedroom apartment forever.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I said. “But…I’ve met someone.”

“Oh? Tell me more.”

I laid back on the grass and shut my eyes. “Well, he’s grumpy, hotheaded, hates change, and is probably the last person I would’ve ever thought I’d be a good match with.”

“I’m hoping there’s more to this description, honey…”

I laughed. “There is. While he’s all those things, he’s also thoughtful, protective, generous, respectful, and fiercely loyal.”

“Those qualities sound a lot better.”

“He’s also tall, broad, and devastatingly handsome.”

“Now you’re talking. You should have led with those. I like tall. Keep going…”

I chuckled. “Fox is really hard to explain. He used to be a professional hockey player, and now he owns a construction company. He’s exactly what you would picture when I say that—rugged and tough. Neither of us was looking for someone. I think it’s pretty safe to say Fox was fighting finding someone.”

“Do you think you’ll stay down there?”

“I don’t know. Things are so new. I haven’t had time to give it any serious consideration. But I have to be back at work in three weeks. Kolax and Hahm are growing impatient, and I’ve maxed out my leave.”

“Would this Fox ever consider moving to New York?”

I laughed out loud. “Definitely not. He’d be miserable.”

“You have a lot to think about, then. But you sound happy. How has your sleep been?”

“I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.”

“Probably all that fresh air.”

Or the orgasms. So much better than Ambien. “Maybe. But tell me about you. How are you feeling?”

Nilda and I talked for another ten minutes. After we caught up, she broached the subject she always did. “Have you spoken to your mother?”

“Not recently. How is she?”

“She’s doing well. You should give her a call. Maybe tell her about this new guy you’re seeing.”

That would definitely not be happening. “She would hate the thought of me spending time down here and dating a guy who does construction instead of neurosurgery. I think I’ll pass on that.”

“She misses you.”

Nilda meant well, so I didn’t argue.

“Before we hang up,” she said. “I need to talk to you about something. I’ve been putting it off, hoping to talk to you in person when you get back, but I’m afraid that’s not going to work out.”

That sounded ominous. “What’s going on?”

“I’m moving, honey.”

“Moving? You mean you aren’t going to live with Mom anymore?”

“No, sweetheart. I mean I’m moving to South Carolina. My sister Bessy doesn’t walk so well anymore, and I want to be closer to help out. Plus, the weather’s nicer, and I’m getting old.”

I sat up, feeling my chest grow tight. Nilda was in her late sixties now, but I was selfish when it came to her. “Oh my God, Nilda. You’ve been with me since I was a baby.”

“I know, sweetheart. But you don’t need to be taken care of anymore, and it’s time.”

“When are you leaving?”

“In a few weeks.”

The skin on my chest felt hot and itchy. No doubt I’d have a rash soon. I rubbed it. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“Your life will never be without me, not as long as I’m breathing. You’ll come visit me, and I’ll come visit you. Charleston is only a few hours from Laurel Lake. If you wind up moving down there, we’ll be closer than if I was here with your mom.”

I sighed. “Does Mom already know?”

“She does. I gave her a few months’ notice. It just never seemed like the right time to tell you.”

“I’m sorry I don’t sound happy. I promise I will be. Just give me a little time to digest it. You’re my everything, Nilda.”

“And you’re mine, too, sweetheart. None of that is going to change. This is going to be good. For both of us.”

It sure as hell didn’t feel good at the moment, but I knew she was right. If my mom called and told me she was moving to Australia, I wouldn’t have been this upset. Nilda was the one person in the world who was always there for me. She was my rock.

“I’ll call you in a day or two. Okay?” I told her.

“I look forward to it.”

I sat on the lawn, staring out at the lake for the better part of an hour after we hung up, remembering all the good times I’d had with Nilda. After my little pity party was over, I texted her.

Josie: I’m sorry about how I acted. I’m happy for you. Really, I am.

As usual, she took hours to respond. Nilda only checked her phone a few times a day. She kept it turned off in her purse, because she didn’t want the battery to die.

Nilda: Thank you. Family is in your heart, so you’ll never be far from me, no matter where we are.

I smiled, feeling genuinely happy for her now.

Josie: I love you, Nilda.

Nilda: I love you, too. Maybe we’ll both be moving on soon. New beginnings don’t always have to come from painful endings.