Landon's Obsession: An Endless Series: Book 3 (Series 3) (50 page)

      I laughed. I was feeling rather giddy ever since our
talk this afternoon. After nearly fucking everything up with my anxiety
meltdown, and causing Maya a myriad of fear and worry, the rest of the day had
been rainbows and Lego blocks. I was sick of kicking myself in the ass for
doing stupid-ass shit; from now on I was going to be more focused on Maya and
Nola’s feelings rather than my own.

     I opened the door and motioned Maya ahead of me. She
stepped in looking around with cautious curiosity. Voices were coming from the
living room so I grabbed her hand and pulled her along with me. When we
appeared in the entry way the room went dead quiet and I could feel Maya freeze
at the undivided attention. I knew they had been salivating to get their eyes
on Nola…as well as Maya…so everyone was here; my roommates Nic, Seth, Noah, and
Evan, as well as their girlfriends Carrie, Nadia, and Amanda. Blake was here
too.

     “Hey, is that the missing link…?” Evan raised his arms
in shock, but then he lowered them with a grin. “No, it’s just our long lost
roommate.”

     I gave an eye roll at his exaggeration. Just because I
spent every evening at Maya’s didn’t mean they never saw me any more. I was
here every morning…
unfortunately
…and they saw me throughout the day in
classes and at lacrosse practice.

     “Oh my, gosh. There is no way that little girl is your
daughter, Landon.” Maya jerked against my side at Amanda’s animated squeal.
“She is way too cute to have come from your ugly genes. But then she does look
more like her mother, so that’s probably a good thing.”

     Maya was stiff beside me and I knew that Amanda’s
careless comment had hit her like a brick. My heart breaking for her,
and me
,
I pulled her into my side, kissed her cheek, and whispered. “It’s okay, darlin.
She’s just making a jab at me.” I raised my voice. “She also suffers from vomit
of the mouth.”

     Not at all put out, Amanda poked her tongue out at me
with a smile. “Only where you’re concerned. You’d make any girl hurl.”

     Nola’s tiny hand stroked my cheek. “Daddy, you sick?”

     My heart melted into goo at her touch. I smiled
reassuringly while all the girls in the room sighed at how adorable my Nola was.
“No, baby girl, I’m not sick. Amanda was just talking out her…” I grinned as
Maya frowned ferociously at me. “Amanda was talking about something else.” I
amended, giving Maya a ‘
like I would say that
’ look.

     She rolled her eyes and shook her head in
exasperation…but at least she’d relaxed. Tugging her forward I headed for the
chair Evan was occupying and he wisely scrambled up letting us have it. I
herded Maya into it and sat on the arm with Nola in on my lap.

     “Everyone, this is Maya and Nola. Maya, that’s Nic,
Carrie, Noah, Amanda, Evan, Blake, and you already know Seth and Nadia.”

     Waves and greetings were passed around and Maya
returned them all with a hesitant smile and wave of her own.

     Carrie leaned forward on the couch from where she was
sitting kitty-corner the chair. “Maya, Landon has been showing us pictures of
Nola all week and I have to say they don’t do her justice. She’s beyond gorgeous.
Hi, Nola. I’m Carrie.” She held out her hand. Nola took it and they did a small
handshake. “You can call me Miss Carrie. Some people call me Care bear so if
you have a hard time remembering my name just think of that. Miss Carrie…Care
bear.”

     “I like the Care Bears. Miss Carrie…Care bear.” Nola
sing-songed.

     The girls again went all dewy-eyed at Nola’s endearing
performance.   

     Carrie returned to Nic’s side and he growled in her
ear. “You know that’s the only name she’s going to remember now.”

     “Yep.” She answered with a grin. “I’ve become the
favorite right off the start.”

     “She already learned my name this afternoon, so I’m the
first favorite.” Nadia proclaimed smugly.

     Amanda glowered and turned to Noah. “Honey, what rhymes
with Amanda?”

     Noah frowned. “Dam...darn, that’s a hard one, babe.
Does it have to be a real word? You might have to ask Dr. Seuss on that one.”

     Evan slapped his leg with a snort. “I got it. Amanda
Panda. You’re wearing white and black moreover so it will be easy for her to
remember.”

     Amanda looked down in contemplation at her black skinny
jeans and off-white blousy top. “I’ll go with that. Nola, my name is Amanda.
Miss Amanda the Panda.”

     “Miss Amanda who looks like a Panda.” Nola chanted
catching onto the game.

     Grinning and loving Nola’s enthusiasm I unzipped her
coat, pulling it off of her.

     “Oh my, gosh!” Carrie exclaimed. “That is the cutest
shirt. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

     “My daddy drew this for me.” Nola pulled at the edge of
her shirt looking down at it.

     Everyone’s eyes zoned in on me and I felt surprisingly
self-conscious. Maya had taken the mermaid picture I’d first drawn for Nola and
had it copied onto a shirt for her. When I’d first seen it this afternoon I’d
been stunned. Maya was always surprising me with shit like that, but she had
never hid her genuine admiration of the talent she saw in me.

     “You drew that, Landon?” Nic’s eye-brows were high with
respect.

     “You know I draw.” I stated somewhat surly.

     Evan snorted. “Yeah, we knew you drew, but you are
extremely stingy in sharing those drawings.”

     “He’s never shown you his portfolio?” Maya asked. “You
should make him because they are amazing.” Her tone was saturated with
reverence and it had my chest expanding in pride. My hand found its way to her
nape, needing to have some contact with her, and I felt her press into my side
as well like she wanted the same thing. That just had my chest swelling
further…and not just my chest.    

     Everyone’s gazes swiveled back and forth between Maya
and me with intense interest. Nadia raised her phone, aiming at me, and before
I could question what the hell she was doing…

     “Shi…am, Landon, I didn’t know you boasted that
expression in you repertoire.” Blake grunted drolly.

     “What are you talking about?” I turned my frown on
Blake.

     He leaned over the couch and plucked Nadia’s phone from
her hand and Seth immediately took umbrage on her behalf. “Blake…” He growled.

     “I only want it for a second; pull Nadia’s panties out
of your crack.” Blake waved for him to calm down while working on Nadia’s phone.

     Nadia sniggered…as did everyone else…while Seth growled
again, and I did it along with him. “Blake.”

     Maya patted my knee. “That wasn’t all that bad.”

     “Well, it wasn’t good, either.” I scowled his way.

     “But it
was
pretty funny.” She chuckled.

     More snicker’s resounded through the room.

     Blake looked up with a grin and winked at Maya and my
annoyance increased…no one winked at Maya but me. Blake ambled over and flipped
the phone over showing me Nadia’s screen. On it was a picture of me, Nola, and
Maya. One of my hands was on Maya’s nape, the other embracing Nola. Nola had a
small smile on her face, hugging her doll, looking adorable like always, and
Maya and I were leaning against each other. Both of us wore expressions of
contentment.

     Blake’s comment made sense now. My face was not
familiar with that expression.

     Snatching the phone from his hand I punched buttons
sending the picture straight to my phone. It was my first family picture of us,
and I fucking wanted it. I knew Maya had observed the picture as well because
I’d felt her inhale deeply against my side. The sight of the three of us
together hadn’t left her unaffected either.

     When I was done I tossed the phone back to Nadia with a
smile of gratitude.

     “Thank you, Nadia.” Maya offered verbally.

     Nadia gave a thumb’s up to both of us. “So…Landon. You’re
portfolio. Is this an ‘I’ll show you now, or show you later’ thing?”

     They all stared at me with differing levels of interest.
Knowing they’d bug me endlessly now that Maya had made such a big deal out of
it I rolled my eyes and caved. “I’ll bring it down when I take Nola upstairs.”

     The door bell rang announcing that the pizza was here
and everyone jumped in hunger. Noah and Evan went to grab them while the rest
of us hit the kitchen for paper plates and drinks. As I rose with Nola in my
arms Maya’s hand landed on my back, and I looked down to see her staring up at
me with only a partial smile of apology.

     “You shouldn’t be hiding your gift.” She whispered.

     Any exasperation I might have been feeling fell away at
her praise and pride, and I was filled with warmth and happiness.

     Fuck, I loved her.

     And surprisingly the revelation of that didn’t surprise
me in the least. It hit me that four years ago I’d loved her but my distrust
and insecurities had me burying those feelings deep. That buried love, it was the
reason it had hurt so fucking badly when I’d thought she’d betrayed me. If it
had been any other girl I wouldn’t have given a rat’s ass, and I’d played it
off like I hadn’t cared, donning my asshole persona, but it had felt like a
knife wound to the heart. It was a wound I had carried for years, hidden like
my love, and it had festered, shaping me into an even worse cynical, miserable
ass than I’d been.

     I wasn’t going to lie to myself this time around
though. Enough time had already been stolen from us and I wasn’t going to waste
any more. Maya was mine, and I was going to do everything possible to make her
realize it.

     Difficult didn’t come close to the next few minutes. I
had an emotional need to have Maya as close as possible, and a physical need to
touch her everywhere, but I had to wait. We put together a plate and drink for
Nola and then took her upstairs to Seth’s room where Issy was already settled
in. We’d brought coloring books, her Lego’s, and a couple movies to keep her
occupied. I gave Issy twenty bucks for keeping an eye on Nola, but told her to
come get us if she became too much. Issy waved me away with an ‘
I know what
I’m doing
’ expression and the resemblance to Nadia was just eerie.

     Exiting Seth’s room I began to not so subtly herd Maya
toward my bedroom. “Want to see my room?”  

     Grabbing my arms to steady herself she laughed. “That
sounds like a question, but this feels like insistence.”

     Still herding I waggled my eyebrows,
loving
her
laughter. “Potato…persistence.”

     “Then please, lead…I mean, push the way.” She snorted
delightfully.

     Reaching behind her I thrust my door open and with one
last squeeze of my biceps, that sent a shot of electricity to my cock, she
turned and stepped inside. She appeared to take in the Queen bed, Mahogany
frame and dressers, computer desk, laptop and printer, flat screen and
entertainment system, and other odds and ends with one encompassing glance.

     “Nice little bachelor pad.”

     Not sure what was in that low comment of hers I crowded
in behind her so that our bodies were touching, solid chest to slim back, stiff
cock to soft rear. “And that’s all that has been in here…one bachelor.” I
assured her. No girl had ever been in my room.

     A gasped escaped her lips at our close contact. She
hesitated, and wiggled minutely, before turning.
She is trying to kill me
.
Her dark gaze seemed to search mine before a coy smile curved those generous
lips of hers. A finger trailed down the front of my shirt buttons.

     “So…I hear you have some etchings up here somewhere.”

     More blood rushed south and now my dick was painfully
hard. Jerking myself off everyday was doing nothing to assuage my desire for
Maya. The three months she was gone my libido had died, nothing and no one had
sparked any interest, but it had rushed back with a vengeance when she’d
returned.

     Clinching her hips in between my hands I drew her
closer, pressing my groin into her stomach. “I have a lot more in here besides
my etchings.”

     Cheeks rosy, lips parted with uneven breaths, eyes
restless, Maya wrapped her arms around my waist. “How
much
more?” Her
lip twitched up.

     Her innuendo was not missed, but it was slightly
unexpected. Maya wasn’t normally an innuendo type of girl, but then she wasn’t
a girl any longer. She was a woman and her sexual reference only added to her
allure…and my horniness.

     Heat coiling in my belly I fanned my fingers out over
her jean-clad ass jerking her forward. Squeezing and releasing her firm flesh I
crouched and rocked her softness into my hardness. “Much, much more.” Leaning
down I nipped at her ear before sucking the lobe into my mouth. The scent of
her hair and skin wafted up into my senses making the tension inside me ratchet
higher.

     Maya moaned and sagged into me. Gliding her hands over
my back she left trails of fire in their wake, and the way her crotch was rubbing
on the leg I slipped between her thighs intensified my need. I kissed my way
across her cheek to latch onto her mouth in hunger, and Maya displayed the same
ardor by clutching at my hair and devouring me in return.

     Even though my dick was hard as a spike, and throbbing
painfully, my only wish at the moment was to merely have Maya wrapped in my
arms. The desire to tell her of my love was nearly overwhelming, but I knew
this wasn’t the right place with everyone downstairs. I also wasn’t certain if
it was the right time. I’d only gotten her to agree to restart our relationship
yesterday. Disclosing that I loved her might be jumping the gun somewhat.

     “God, Landon, the way you make me feel.” Maya’s fingers
dug into my scalp sending acute tingles of arousal down my spine.

     Fuck, the way she moaned my name. My grip on her ass
tightened and I pressed her hot center into my cock, lifting her feet clear off
the floor. “Me too, darlin’, me too.” I groaned, suckling her lips.

     Her unadulterated response along with the fire coursing
through my veins took over my thinking.
It felt so fucking good
. Spinning
us around I crushed Maya into the wall, and maintaining our lip lock,
and
frantic groin dance, I slipped one hand up her shirt to capture her satin
covered breast. So damn firm…yet so damn soft…and her distended nipple…ahhh, I
wanted my mouth on it. All of it.

     A whimper exploded from Maya’s mouth as she raised one
leg higher and wiggled in my grip, and against my groin. The kiss was
escalating quickly toward another moment that was in the wrong place at the
wrong time but I was having a harder time controlling my body then I had my
words. The inclination to ditch everyone downstairs and stay up here alone with
Maya was starting to become paramount.  

     “You-hoo, Landon…Maya…come out, come out and play.”

     Evan’s droll yell from the ground floor was the
catalyst I needed to bring me back to the present. Ripping my mouth from Maya’s,
but keeping her close, I set my chin on top of her head and tried to reign in
my jagged breathing. While I knew it was best that we were interrupted, I
wasn’t necessarily happy about it.

     “Aren’t you glad I brought you to meet my friends?” I huffed
out. Giving one last compression to her soft breast I forced my hand out of her
shirt.

     Maya giggled huskily and hugged me, and I swear my
heart did a fucking jig in my chest knowing she was becoming more at ease with
our intimacy.

     “I like your friends, but I have to say that being in
the same room with your roommates girlfriends has made me feel a little
inadequate. Those girls are gorgeous. I mean, standing next to Nadia in a
bikini was bad enough, but geesh, they all look like models.”

     I snorted at her insecurity. The girl had no idea of
her beauty; I don’t think she ever really did. “Maya, while I’m not going to
lie and tell you they’re ugly; to me…they don’t even compare. The first time I
saw you I thought you were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, and now
you’ve become the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

     Her arms constricted and her head joggled back and
forth on my chest. “For the first time I question your artist’s eye, because
Carrie is nearly ethereal. Her eyes are remarkable.”

     I kissed the top of her head, stroking my hands over
her back. “I’ve become partial to dark chocolate eyes that grab at my heart
whenever they look at me.”

     She squeezed me again and sighed, sending hot air
through my shirt.

     “Landon, I’m coming up if you’re not down in two minutes.
You can’t keep her to yourself tonight. Well, at least not until later. So get
your
kambuz
down here. If you don’t know what that means I’m certain
Maya can translate.” Nadia yelled this time.

     “It means caboose.” Maya relayed directly, amusement in
her tone.

     Smiling, I expelled a deep sigh. “Come on. That’s one
girl who will do as she says.”

     My dick was still achingly hard and blatantly obvious, and
it was going to take more then a few minutes for it to go down. Taking her hand
I pulled her over to my dresser and grabbed my portfolio. This would work as
camouflage. Before leaving the room Maya stopped me though. Without saying a
word she began unbuttoning the cuffs of my sleeves and rolling them up my arm.

     “What are you doing?” I asked with a bewildered smile.

     She gave a quick glance up at me before returning her
attention to my sleeves. “I like seeing your tattoo peeking out.”

     “Really?” I had never cared one way or another if a
girl liked my tattoo, but I had gotten my tattoo in part because of Maya, so I thought
of it as partly hers now. Where once I had viewed it as a memory of her
betrayal, I now saw it as a testament of our past, and a tribute to our future.

     She gave another swift glance up. “It makes my girly
parts tingle.” Cheeks that had been flushed with arousal where now rosy in
self-consciousness.

     My brows shot up and I barked out a surprised laugh.
This new side of Maya was like a slap on the ass; surprising but arousing. “You’re
mouth has gotten bolder in the last four years…I like it.” I murmured into hair
as she rolled up the other sleeve.

     She looked up meeting my gaze, her dark eyes liquid,
her finger mapping out the lines of my ink. “Time changes us all.”

     Leaning forward I kissed her forehead. “That’s true.” Since
meeting her I’d made a vow that all my changes would be positive. Maya and Nola
deserved the best. “Come on.” I pulled her from my bedroom. “Time to share you
with the masses.”

Chapter Twelve

MAYA

     I was going crazy with lust.

     It had been a week since the Saturday get-together at
Landon’s house, and that was the last time Landon had touched me with
unrestrained passion. When he’d said he wanted to restart a relationship back
up with me I thought our sessions of kissing and touching would increase, but during
the last week he’d kept our kisses brief, and restrained. Four years was a long
time to go without sex and being around Landon had suddenly kick-started my sex
drive into overdrive.

     I was horny as all get out, and I wanted more than
soft, quick kisses. I wanted deep, and hard, full on contact.

     Before Landon came back into my life my sexual appetite
had been rather…nominal. Those far between times I felt the need for a release
I’d used my own manual labor to get myself through. I’d thought that perhaps
becoming a mother, or the Kris episode, might have resulted in my sexual
apathy, but now I was starting to realize that maybe it was because Landon
hadn’t been around.

     In all these years no one else had sparked the fire of
my desires like he did. I’d somewhat dated people in the last two years, but
most of those had been because Gabby had set me up with them on the sly. I’d go
out with Gabby and Lon for a night out and they would bring someone along
hoping I’d connect with them. I was pretty certain I’d met every one of Lon’s
cousins, and while many of them had shown an interest in more, and they’d been
good-looking, I’d kept them in the friend zone because I hadn’t been at all attracted
to them. I had walked away with some long-standing friendships with a few of
them though. Lon had some sweet-heart relatives. They were big and tattooed,
but they were teddy bears.