Nothing Like the First Time (8 page)

“I love you
, Carls,” he whispered against my mouth.

“And I love you
, Grey,” I said as I rubbed my hand up and down him, knowing that in minutes he would be ready for me to climb on top of him and make love to him the way I knew he couldn’t resist.

It turned out I was right, as only a few minutes later, he pulled me to him and the next words that escaped his lips were “Ride me, baby, please…”

“But of course,” I said as I placed one leg on the other side of him and guided him gently to the entrance of my sweet spot. I was hot, wet, and oh so ready to claim Greyston as mine once more. I slowly lowered myself onto him and the incoherent moan that escaped his lips told me all I needed to know—he was mine for the taking.

We lay out on the dock making love for what seemed an age. After I rode him, he swiftly maneuv
ered himself above me and placed my legs up on his shoulders. I could feel him deep inside me where he belonged—he moved gently at first, building speed and rhythm as he went. I couldn’t help the sounds that passed my lips and I didn’t care if anyone heard—this was what we had both needed since he had come back home.

“Fuck me
, baby, please,” I uttered as he moved my legs around his waist and entered me with one hard thrust. His one hand rested on the dock to support himself while the other was playing with my breasts—making each nipple taut and erect. His mouth came crashing down over mine as we both came at the same time, muffled sounds of us moaning into each other’s mouths as though this was our little secret.

“Goddamn it
, Carly, marry me?” he asked as he lay beside me and wrapped me around him.

“Don’t be silly
,” I answered as I snuggled down and rested my head on his chest, feeling his heart racing against my cheek.

“I’m not, I’m being deadly serious. Marry me. Put all this silliness behind us. Please?” he asked as he lifted my chin so that we were face to face. He placed a chaste kiss on my lips and rephrased the question.

“Carly Summers, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“I… I… ask me when you’re sober and I’ll think about it
,” was all I could say. I wanted to say yes—of course I did. But I couldn’t help but think he was asking in the heat of the moment.

We lay on the dock, ou
r clothes strewn everywhere—the blanket and shared body warmth the only things keeping us from freezing our butts off. We lay side by side, looking up at the sky as it turned from purple to inky black.

“Let’s go inside
,” I mumbled sleepily.

No reply came so I looked
at Grey and saw that he was asleep. I didn’t want to disturb him, so I wrapped myself around him and pulled the blanket tighter around us before falling asleep to the sound of his heart.

The next morning, I woke up before Grey. I gently moved from out of the blanket and found my clothes. I got dressed and then lay back down beside this handsome man who I was head over heels in love with
, whether I chose to admit it or not. He was a sight to behold—with his chiseled jaw and soulful eyes—though they were closed, so I couldn’t peer into their depths.

A little while later, Grey woke up and called for me. I was down at the edge of the dock with my feet in the water. He made his way down to me, collecting his clothes along the way.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said as he came to a stop beside me.

“Good morning
,” I replied with a smile. I looked up to kiss him as he bent over me.

He got dressed and sat at the water’s edge with me. He pulled the blanket around our shoulders.

“I wasn’t drunk last night, you know,” he blurted out of nowhere.

“Really? It seemed like you were a little tipsy, you were asking me silly questions
, after all.”

“Hmm… Should we go inside?” he asked, avoiding the subject of his proposal.

“Perhaps,” I replied.

We got up and I picked up my shoes before walking up the dock and into the house.

“Good morning, were you two out for a stroll in the fresh air?” Naomi greeted us as we walked through the door.

“Yes, it’s a beautiful morning
,” Grey replied coolly, though I did see the hint of a smile on his face.

“Well
, get washed up and ready for breakfast,” she said as she puttered about the kitchen, making all the things for a full-cooked breakfast.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked as Grey went to wash his hands.

“No, sweetie, I have it under control, but thank you,” she replied as she moved to take care of the fried eggs.

“Okay
,” I said with a smile as I entered the small washroom Grey had just vacated.

***

After eating, Grey and I did the washing up. I washed while he dried. He hadn’t said much over breakfast. Come to think of it, he hadn’t said much all morning.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked as I passed him the last plate to be dried.

“I’m good. Why?” he asked in a quiet voice.

“You just haven’t said much
.”

“I’m okay, really. I’m just a little
sore from sleeping on a wooden dock all night, but I couldn’t bring that up at breakfast, could I?” he whispered.

Just then my phone began to ring. I dried my hands and fished it out of my jeans pocket.

“Hey, where on earth have you been?” came Jodie’s voice as I answered.

“I’m… umm… with Grey
,” I answered in a slightly embarrassed tone. I hadn’t told Jodie I was going to the lake house and I hadn’t told her I was staying away for the night. I hadn’t realized at the time that I would stay overnight, it hadn’t even occurred to me.

“Wow
, are you two, you know, an item now?” she probed in her usual ‘casual but nosy’ tone.

“We haven’t really talked about that
,” I said as I made my way out of the door and signaled Grey to stay where he was. I walked down the dock before blurting out that he had proposed.

“He what?” she all but yelled down my ear.

“Yeah, he asked me to marry him. I didn’t think he was serious but now I think I’ve hurt his feelings.”

“Wow
, so what are you going to do? How have you hurt his feelings? Please, spill all the gossip!”

I recou
nted the night before, leaving out the details of us making love. When I had finished my story, she was quiet for a moment.

“Well
, for what it’s worth, I think he was serious, and you not saying yes right away has probably knocked his pride. I think you two need to sit and talk properly,” she said in her serious tone, by which I knew she thought I was an idiot for not saying yes. But there were things to consider and on top of that, yes—the proposal was spontaneous and romantic but also, who proposes just after making love?

“Well
, there are things we need to talk about, Jodie. When the air is cleared, then and only then would I consider a serious proposal.”

By the silence that greeted that comment, I knew
Jodie was choosing her next words carefully—a first for her.

“Yes, th
ere’s a lot to be talked over, I understand that. He left you high and dry ten years ago and now he’s back and proposing. I know it must be a lot to take in, but Carly, you have never loved another like him and you would be a fool not to marry the man who owns your heart.”

“There’s nothing like the first time. No
one can compare to your first love,” I said as I sat at the end of the dock with the blanket around my shoulders.

“Exactly
,” Jodie said. I heard Matt’s voice in the background and was happy that she was happy. Was I selfish to want some of that kind of happiness for myself?

“I’ll call you later
, Jodie. I have things to think through,” I said as I got up and fished my car keys from my pocket. We said our goodbyes and I walked towards my car.

“Going somewhere?” Grey’s voice startled me.

“I…” I couldn’t tell him I needed space, but I couldn’t just run away, either.

“I hoped that last night proved undoubtedly that I love you
, Carly Summers, and wherever you are, I will follow you to the ends of the earth to make you Carly Sterling.”

“I have to get going
, Grey, I’m sorry. Jodie can’t do her shift at work so I said I’d fill in.” The lie rolled off my tongue.

“Really? And you couldn’t come in to tell me that?” he said as he walked towards me.

“Sorry, I was in a rush and I didn’t think. Look, I’ll see you later. Meet me at my place tonight if you’re free,” I said, trying to backtrack and make things better.

“Okay, I’ve got some errands
to run today—I was going to ask you along but it looks like you’re needed elsewhere. I’ll see you about what, six o’clock?” he asked as he brushed a kiss across my cheek.

“Sounds great
,” I said as I got in the car. I wound the window down and Grey crouched beside the car so that he could look at me.

“I love you
, Carls,” he said as he leaned in to kiss me.

I pulled him closer and kissed him with all the fire I felt behind the uncertainty.

“I love you too, Grey. I’ll see you this evening,” I said as I put the car in reverse and backed slowly out of the drive. I waved goodbye and drove in the general direction of home. I wasn’t really working, so what could I do with myself all day? It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be in Grey’s company and accompanying him on errands could have been fun—doing anything with him could be fun, but I needed some space. I needed some alone time to think about Grey’s proposal and about letting go of the past.

Chapter Seven

It was 5:55 p.m. and I heard Grey pulling into my driveway. I hurried to apply a last coat of lip gloss and made my way to the front door.

The doorbell rang as I stood and took a last look at myself in the hallway mirror. I opened the door and my breath hitched in my throat as Grey stood on the top step, looking devilishly handsome in a black shirt and black trousers
—he’d sure dressed up, and as I inhaled, I could smell my favorite cologne.

That heart-warming smile of his played on his lips as he greeted me with a kiss.

“How was work?” he asked as he followed me through into the lounge.

“Oh
, you know, boring.”

“Well
, I’m here now, let the fun begin.” He smiled at me. There was a hint of lust in his eyes.

“I thought we’d go out like a normal couple on a date and then I might invite you back for coffee, if you’re a good boy
.”

“Really? Where did you have in mind? A restaurant? A movie?” he asked as he pulled
me close and nuzzled my neck—his warm breath making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and goose bumps break out on my arms.

I wrapped one arm around his neck and used my free hand to turn his face towar
ds me. I kissed him lightly along his jawline, knowing what it did to him.

“If you keep that up, we won’t be going anywhere
, Carls,” Grey whispered into my ear, sending a shiver right down my spine.

“Oh really?” I laughed and playfully pushed him away before pulling him back to me for one long, slow, delicious kiss. “That’s all you’re getting… for now
.”

“You’re such a tease
, Carly Summers,” Grey laughed and took my hand, leading me to sit on the couch.

“Me?” I tried for an innocent tone,
but failed miserably due to my giggling.

“Yes, you—
now come here and kiss me once more before we go on this date to who knows where,” he said as he drew me into his arms and kissed me. As the kiss ended, I remembered to breathe. I’d forgotten what Grey’s kisses did to me in our youth—it was like he stole my oxygen as well as my heart.

“I thought we’d go to a restaurant outside of town
,” I said, remembering my plan for a real date.

“Okay, I’ll drive, just tell me where to go
,” he said as his fingers ran lightly down my arm.

“Let me get my coat
.” I got up and retrieved my coat and purse before he could tempt me any further into forgetting about tonight’s plans.

We drove over to Luigi’s Italian
Restaurant, making small talk about Grey’s day running errands. Turned out he’d been arranging some things for Lizzie’s upcoming birthday. I felt bad that I hadn’t helped—I could’ve made his job easier but I really had needed time alone.

“So do you have everything sorted or is there anything I could help with?” I asked.

“Are you still as good a baker as you used to be? Mother wants a nice cake but I couldn’t find anything I thought suitable.”

“Sure, I could make a cake. Re
d velvet was always her favorite, right?”

“You remembered?”
he sounded mildly surprised.

“Of course! I love Aunt Lizzie like she’s my own family. I guess I really should’ve visited more while you were gone but…” I pause
d before I could start to cry—I took a breath. “There were just so many memories, Grey.”

“It’s okay, she understands
.”

“She does?”

“Sure. We talked about it when you and I weren’t talking. She said that she loved you and understood why you hadn’t come around more often. She also said a good many things about me being a fool for letting you go.”

“Well
, Aunt Lizzie has always been one for telling the hard truths.”

“She sure has!” he replied as he turned the engine off.

“I hope you like this place,” I said as we got out of the car and walked across the parking lot.

“I’m sure I will
. It’s new, isn’t it? This used to be Marco’s Pizzeria.”

“That’s right, how could I have forgotten that?
” Oh, the amount of times we’d come here for pizza after school… I guess I just blocked those memories.

We walked through the door and were greeted by a good looking Italian waiter.
He may have been cute, but nowhere near as good looking as Grey. He seated us at a booth by the window to give us some privacy. We looked at the menus he handed us and ordered a bottle of wine while we chose what to eat.

We talked and ate and laughed for a couple of hours without knowing where the time went. It was just like the old days when the conversation came easily and the jokes he made had me nearly crying with laughter.

On the drive back to my house, I looked at Grey in profile and was taken back to a time when we used to ride home like this every day. I would sit and look at him, not believing this man could love me—I always thought he was too good for me.

“Hey
, pretty lady, Earth to Carly, come in,” Grey said to me as he snapped his fingers in front of my face. We’d pulled up at my house and I hadn’t even noticed. I got out of the car and walked to open the front door.

“Do I have to say goodnight on the porch or do I get that coffee?” Grey teased.

“What would you do if I said I was out of coffee?”

“I’d drink tea
in a pinch.” He laughed.

“
Tea it is, then,” I said as I unlocked the door and turned to face him, crooking a finger at him in a ‘come here’ motion.

I pushed the door open and felt his hand slip into mine. I led him into the kitchen
so I could put the coffee machine on.

“So are you sure all you want me to do is the cake?” I asked as I
puttered about getting the cups from the cupboard and putting the water into the coffee machine.

“Sure. Aunt Lizzie will be over the moon
,” Grey said as he moved to put his arms around me.

“Behave yourself
, mister,” I warned.

“Behave? I’m not sure I know what you mean
,” he said as he ran one hand up my thigh.

“This coffee won’t make itself, you know!” I
chided in a mock stern voice—though my insides were quickly turning to jelly and my legs wouldn’t be able to hold me upright if he carried on.

He moved his hand under the hem of my dress and as I hadn’t worn stockings, I could feel his touch like a tiny electric charge as it roamed my skin. He found the edge of my panties and though I tried to bat him away, I was unsuccessful because he ran the other hand up the other thigh and then pulled my panties down to my ankles. I stepped out of them, wondering what would happen next. He spun me around and his lips met mine eagerly. He unzipped the back of my dress as he kissed my lips, my jaw, an
d my shoulder as it was bared—he pushed down my bra strap and kissed a trail to the top of the cup. He peeled the dress from the other shoulder and kissed a trail the same as he had on the other side.

I stood in my kitchen, Grey pressed up against me
, kissing me like the world would end at any moment. I was heady with desire as I undid the buttons of his shirt and took it down his arms. It was then that I got a good look at the tattoo I spied the night of the Christmas pageant. What I saw was the most beautiful phoenix rising from flames. The phoenix itself was black and grey and the flames surrounding it were full color—it was the most beautiful sight to behold, except for Grey himself.

He caught my gaze and his hand turned my face up to his.

“I got it after we split. I was so… broken,” he said in a somber voice. “I was hurting and I needed to turn the pain into something worthwhile—I felt like I had to make a fresh start and how better than a phoenix rising from the flames?”

“It’s beautiful, Grey. I’m glad you turned your pain around.”

“I didn’t manage to get rid of all traces of the pain, though. You can’t erase memories.” He looked at me and I knew exactly what he meant—I had felt the same.

I let his shirt fall to the floor.
It seemed a common occurrence to leave our clothes strewn everywhere the last couple of times together but I wasn’t complaining. I made short work of undoing the button and zip of his trousers, but before I could let them drop, he took my hand in his.

“Show me to your room
, Carls, I want to make love to you in your bed,” he said in a husky voice.

I didn’t say anything, just took his hand and pulled him behind me as I made my way to my room. I didn’t turn the light on, instead I lit a c
ouple of candles on my vanity—there was enough light to see this gorgeous man in front of me. He’d let his hair grow out a little since returning home. His chestnut hair and his chocolate brown eyes were something to behold—he was definitely a sight for sore eyes. No wonder women flocked to him—it wasn’t just his looks though, he was an amazing person.

I finished what I had started in the kitchen and soon he was fully undressed while I stood there in my dress and my bra. He made a move to remove them for me but I shook my head. I lay him down on my bed and stripped for him.

As we made love that night, I was happier than I could remember being in a long time.

***

Upon waking the next day, I looked at Grey sleeping on the other side of my bed and knew that this was meant to be. We were in love and there was no point ignoring his proposal because I wanted to be his wife, to have this wonderful man as my husband. Trouble was, he’d not mentioned the proposal since.

Grey stirred and I snuggled up to him. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me long and slow. I wanted, no, needed this man. He brought the best out of me. It was as though the last ten years melted away, forgotten.
I couldn’t blame him for leaving, he’d done what he felt was the right thing. But now he was back and wanted us to build a life together.

Grey’s phone started to ring and he broke the kiss to reach for it.

“Yes, Mother. No, Mother, I haven’t forgotten. Yes, I asked Carls to make the cake. Okay, see you later,” he said and hung up.

“That was my
mother. She was just checking I had everything sorted for Aunt Lizzie’s party today,” he said as he snuggled back up to me.

“
But I haven’t started the cake yet,” I said as I made a move to get out of bed.

“And where do you think you’re going?” he asked as he pulled me back.

He lay me back on the bed and kissed me, slowly, teasingly. He nuzzled into my neck and I knew I would yield—I couldn’t resist when he made me feel this way. I wrapped my arms around his neck and waited for him to make his move. I wasn’t sure what he wanted from me exactly, but I knew that I felt worshipped when he kissed and touched me. He kissed my body from head to toe and back to my lips. I knew there was no time for more foreplay, the look in his eyes told me he wanted me now.

As he reached for a condom in the bedroom draw
er, I shook my head.

“I don’t have any more, last night was the last one
,” I whispered against his skin. “But it doesn’t matter, I’m on the pill—after the first time we made love, I went to the doctor.”

“Oh
, Carly,” he said as he held himself above me, ready and waiting.

“Just make love to me
, Grey,” I said, my voice full of need.

He guided himself inside me and there was an audible gasp. He wrapped my legs around his waist and pushed deeper inside me. Slowly, he started to move and I matched his rhythm.

“I love you, baby,” Grey said as he kissed me and began to quicken the pace.

“I love you… too…” I breathed out as he moved faster in and out of me. If he wasn’t careful, this would all be over too soon.

“I know, baby, I know.” He leaned down to claim my mouth with his own. He was breathing heavily and I knew he was about to come. I put my arms around his neck and kissed him deeper. He pulled away and rolled us over so I was on top of him—I could feel him deeper this way and I could slow our pace down. I moved against him and he reached for me, pulling my body down to his. His lips met my skin and there was fire. He kissed down my neck and towards my already taut nipples—he pulled one into his mouth and played with the other with his free hand—I relished in the heady feeling.

“I’m going to come
, baby, fuck me harder,” Grey said, momentarily releasing my nipple from his mouth. He moved on to the other one and I found a faster rhythm, wanting to feel him come inside me. We were both moaning and moving quickly until in the same moment, we both came. There was nothing better than the feeling of Grey filling me up.

The aftershocks still rippled deliciously through
my body as I lay myself down on the bed next to Grey.