Old Lady (3 page)

Nick’s mouth nibbled over her throat. “I love you, babe,” he muttered.

Her heart pounded with the delicious pleasure of hearing those words. He said it often, and he meant them. That was all that mattered to her. How could she ever desire anything else? Her fingers stroked through his soft hair. “I love you too.”

A while ago, she couldn’t have said the words because she didn’t know if she had the power to commit to anyone, but Nick made her see that she was worth loving and it was alright to risk her heart. He taught her to take chances. For him, she would do anything. And yet the beauty of it was that he didn’t desire anything from her. All he wanted was to make her happy, and with time and patience, he achieved that goal.

As they rested together, Gabby’s thought stilled and settled. No woman was as lucky as her. Whatever happened next, she would have the courage to face it because she was bathed in the beauty of his love and it gave her the strength to deal with all the pain that might come her way.

Gabby was prepared for everything – but little did she know that what headed her way was worse than death, worse than anything she ever experienced before – and there was no guarantee that she would survive the impact of it.

CHAPTER THREE

Nick carried the basket down to the bank of the river where Gabby was lying on the picnic mat that she spread under the willow tree. It was a nice, secluded spot, and the branches of the tree bent to touch the rushing water of the river. As she watched him, her heart swelled with love. This was just one of those ordinary, perfect moments when everything looked fresh and cool. The decision to come for a picnic was made on the spot of a moment on a lazy Sunday. Before Nick came to her life, she got few chances to experience such delights, but now they were a regular part of her life.

She could imagine spending her life with him, taking pleasure in these extraordinary mundane events. A picnic was a feast and watching a movie a momentous event, just because she was with him. As he put the basket down, she smiled.

Her heart clenched with pleasure. “Hey, you look like a Greek Goddess, or perhaps one of those mythical fairies that one reads about.”

“You’re a romantic.”

“I wasn’t before I met you.” He joined her on the mat. Digging into the basket, he drew out a bottle of white wine. “You’ve changed me, Gabby.”

“All in good ways, I hope.”

He poured her a glass and handed it over. “Of course, my love.”

As she took the glass from his hand, she saw his gaze sweep over the river. She was still uncomfortable with the idea of love. For her, it was a big deal. For him, perhaps, it was just a normal admission of the way he felt. Even though she said the words, apprehension clenched her with each utterance. In her heart, she expected their relationship to end one day. It was her greatest fear. Even after all this time, she wasn’t quite ready to believe in happy endings.

Perhaps, given enough time, she would lose all the fear that gripped her.

He lay down beside her. “How did your meeting go?”

She’d set up an appointment to meet her study counselor the day before. Gabby was really proud of the way she was taking charge of her education. Initially, she was hesitant about the idea of finishing her high school but now she was excited about joining college eventually.

“He was very supportive. After talking to the board, he is going to put me on an accelerated advance course and I might be able to finish my high school diploma by the end of next year,” she said in a voice that was enthusiastic. “He is already talking about college and wanted to know if I had anything special in mind.”

“Do you?”

She sat and drank some wine. A gentle breeze speared through his hair. Desire undulated in her stomach at the heady sight. Anything and everything he did aroused her. It wasn’t just lust, of course, but she enjoyed the fact that he could reduce her to such a state with his presence alone.

“I’m not sure. But maybe…hotel management,” she admitted. Sometimes she couldn’t believe that she had the nerve to make such plans. A year ago, she wouldn’t have harbored such dreams, but Nick gave her the confidence to believe in her abilities.

“Really? I can see you sitting behind a desk, ordering people about, or perhaps bustling through the lobby of a hotel, taking notes, and setting things right. You can do anything you set your mind on, babe. The world is your oyster,” he said.

As always, he boosted her confidence. “It seems very daunting at times. I don’t know if I would have the courage or the stamina to pursue another four years of college.”

“You can do it. I want you to try and accomplish the goals that you dream about. Life is too short to let things slide. Take charge,” he said in a lazy manner.

“It seems like such an indulgence.”

“It’s a necessity, not because you need to earn the money but because you deserve to fulfill all your desires. Being independent, doing something on your own, that’s important for any person, and you know, sure as hell, I will support you in whatever you want to do.”

She held his hand, squeezed it. “When I was young and swept the floor in the clubhouse, sometimes I used to dream about having my own club. Since I never saw anything else, that was the extent of my ambition. It was kind of cool to imagine myself running a place like that.” She sighed. “I didn’t want to order people about, like Joseph did, but I thought it would be nice to do something on my own.”

She didn’t talk much about her past. It was painful but slowly, she was willing to open up and discuss her fears with him.

“You can do that still. Not a club, but perhaps a store or a boutique,” he suggested.

She waved her hand. “Nah! I think it would be satisfying enough to get a managerial position in a hotel. I could probably start at the lowest level and work my way up. That’s a good learning experience. Perhaps I could do a part-time job along with my college courses,” she mused. Suddenly she laughed. “Sometimes I hear these words that come out of my mouth and I can’t believe that I am even considering these possibilities. It can’t possibly happen.”

“Why not?”

“It’s…I suppose it’s scary to think about the future. Right now, I am just living from day to day. Sure, I am planning ahead but I don’t know if things would work out.”

“They would work out. You will make this your reality. Gabby, you are smart and hardworking. Nothing should stop you from achieving your dreams.” He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Believe in yourself and you can achieve anything. That’s how I started out and I can tell you with experience that we all have the potential to achieve our dreams if we so desire. What lacks in people is the will to stick with something until it happens. Persistence pays.”

She turned to face him. Her fingers stroked his cheek. “You’re awfully sweet. Sometimes I can’t believe that I ended up with you. This life also seems like a dream, and I am often scared that I will open my eyes and find that I’m in some crummy room alone and all this has been a figment of my overactive imagination.”

He gripped her hand and kissed it. “It’s real, babe. Trust me.”

“I trust you.”

Holding hands, they sat for a while. Gabby took out the sandwiches that she made and they ate while they talked about other things. The weather was lovely. Overhead, a bird twittered as it guarded a nest of young. A squirrel scampered down an elm tree that grew a few feet away, cocked its head and stared at them. Gabby laughed, and startled by the sound of her voice, it bounced away on quick feet.

“Maybe we should throw a party at the house,” he said.

She groaned. “Another one?”

He squeezed her hand. “Not as big as the last one. We should just call a few people at home, do a barbeque outdoors. It will be fun. Also, I have actually never invited anyone in the house and it’s a good start. We’ll keep it causal.”

“Not if Willow and Tasha take over. They will want a theme, a dress, and decorations.” She nearly shuddered. “I enjoyed the experience of organizing that party. It was pretty awesome, but I don’t think I can do something similar so soon.”

“We won’t make it that big, and I will take care of all the details.” he promised as he ran a hand down her back. “I know that you are hesitant to do something elaborate but we will keep it simple. You’ll have a good time,” he encouraged. 

Sometimes she felt as if he was the gardener and she a delicate flower. Under his loving care, she blossomed with each passing day. A few months, his idea would have scared the hell out of her but now she was intrigued. It would be fun. She sighed. “Alright, fine.”

Nick pulled her down on the rug. “Babe, try to be a little more enthusiastic.”

She turned to face him. Putting her elbow on the rug, she rose to gaze into his eyes. “You’re not the one who would have to try on fifty dresses to find the perfect outfit for the barbecue. You aren’t the one who would have to try on a hundred pair of shoes and…”

Her words were stilled as his lips caught hers in a warm kiss. The fountain of lust that exploded in her nerves made her dizzy. The slow and passionate kiss had all the makings of a storm. Her heart pounded so loud that she was sure he could hear it. His tongue swept inside and tasted every nook and cranny in her mouth. His hands crept over his waist and she could feel the warmth of his palm through the thin cotton shirt that she wore. Their lips remained fused together for a long time as they explored and relished each other. When she lay down, he bent over her. Lifting her shirt, his fingers slid inside and touched her warm skin.

A shiver of delight coursed through her veins.

“Here, now?” she said when he lifted his head.

The stormy passion in his eyes gave her answer. His smile was slow, wicked. “Babe, any time for love is the right time.”

“But anyone could walk here and see us.”

He was amused by her concerns. “We’re far away from the main road, and I doubt anyone will come here,” he whispered as he tugged off his shirt and threw it aside.

“And what if they do?” she worried.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said.

The laughter that sputtered out of her mouth died when his hand cupped her breast. The mere touch was enough to send her over the edge of insanity. A hot haze enveloped her mind and all thoughts fled out. She wanted him as if it was their first time. Quickly, he tugged off her shirt and slipped his fingers under the straps of her bra. When he took it off, the breeze hit her nipples that were already swollen with desire. She gasped when his mouth closed on a hard nub that was yearning for his touch. Need, heat and passion; everything jumbled into a waterfall that swelled inside her veins and left her breathless. With a wild abandon, he feasted on her nipples, shifting from one to another as she squirmed under him.

This was amazing.

This was heaven.

When his fingers played with the zipper of her skirt and slipped it off, she let out a gasp of surprise. But she was now too far gone to control the storm that crested and peaked in her veins. He stood and took off his jeans. Her gaze traveled down the length of his hard, sleek torso as it settled on his penis that stood at attention.

When she raised her arms, he joined her willingly on the mat. His cock pressed into her taut stomach as he kissed her once more. From toe to toe, chest to chest, and mouth to mouth, they were joined and soon it would become even more intimate. As she parted her legs, he fit his leg in between to keep them open. His mouth feasted on her nipple once more while his fingers trailed down her creamy skin as he sought her velvety center. She muttered a protest as he paused. She needed the release but he seemed hell bent on taking his time.

His finger found her hard, sensitive nub and he brushed it slightly. The gasp of delight that sputtered out of her mouth echoed in the silence of the woods. He delighted her with quick strokes and then thrust his finger inside her pussy. Sensations, wild and strong, rushed through her senses. When his thumb pressed on her nub, the orgasm that ripped through her was violently pleasurable. Her toes curled as she struggled to get her body back in control. As she shuddered and squirmed under him, he slid up her body to kiss her once more.

Once was never enough. She wanted more.

His lips brushed over hers and his tongue dove in to taste. She enjoyed and relished the scent and feel of his tongue as it clashed with hers. When he slid up her torso, and offered her his penis, she opened her mouth to receive it. Her tongue licked his balls. The scent of his arousal hit her nostrils. Wrapping her tongue around his long, hard shaft, she sucked and fondled. Delirious with desire, he pushed it deep inside and she opened her mouth to accommodate. It throbbed in her throat as she worked her tongue over and around it. In and out, his hips moved in a piston-like movement as he stroked in and out.

The pressure built quickly, and she didn’t fight the waves of pleasure that coursed through her veins, intensifying with each caress. He was close, breathlessly so. His need urged her to pick up pace. His semen spilled down her throat and she gulped quickly to take it in. His short scream of pleasure broke the quiet. When he lay down beside her, she put her hand on his back. It felt great and wonderful. Everything was perfect. Perhaps they needed to get up and wear their clothes, but the woods were so still and peaceful that she didn’t feel like making a move.