True North (23 page)

He added his hands to my shoulders and kneaded the muscles.

“
We’ll hit the slopes for a week.”
Oh my God!

Now he’d slipped his fingers over my collarbone and had begun unbuttoning my blouse.
Hello, distraction.

“
From there we head out through Utah.”

He opened my shirt, and his right hand slipped underneath the fabric of my pink lace bra. “Um … and Nevada …”

“
Where we’ll spend a weekend in Sin City now that I have Lady Luck on my side.” He spoke this directly into my ear with a deep, low, vibrating tone that changed the rhythm of my breath.

“
And down the California border to Death Valley National Park,” I said.

His hand crossed its own border; the waistband of my black yoga pants. He tugged my shirt down, baring my shoulder, and dipped a finger into my panties. He was a pyro technician, a highly trained expert in the art of igniting me with his every touch.

“
Come summer …”

“
Did you say, ‘come?’” he growled.

I arched back and opened my legs. Jake slid his finger deep inside of my most intimate place, sending me reeling.

I reached my hands back and let my own fingers stroke his neck and jaw. He was working my nipple; pulling and pinching at it.

Fuck!
I couldn’t think straight. I started to move to get out of the chair, but he pressed me down, forcing me to stay where I was.

“
You’re not finished explaining the plan,” he insisted gruffly.

OH!
Now he was working his finger in and out of me in a delicious cadence.

“
We’ll learn to surf in … southern Cal then … ride up the coast to Half Moon Bay.” I gripped his arm and sighed against it. “Oh, Jake.”

He used the heel of his hand to rub at my clit, causing it to pulse with exquisite agony.

“
Then what, baby?” he purred.

“
We’ll get stoned in Washington.” I sounded like I was out of breath.

“
You skipped over some …”

“
I need you now!” I pleaded.

“
How bad?” he teased.

“
You know how badly! You can feel it.”

“
Oh yes, you are so very wet.”

I moaned.

“
You’re so hot when you come. But I need to hear you say it, Olivia.”

At the sound of my name on his lips I let out, “We could throw a dart at a map and go anywhere we want. No rules.” He liked that part.

Jake sunk his teeth into my shoulder with a gentle roughness while he continued to stroke my aroused flesh with the perfect amount of pressure and tension. My amazing pyro held me for a moment at the edge before the fireworks erupted and shot through every nerve with vital force.

I cried out, squeezing my fingers into the muscles of his arm which was hard and tense in his sweet exertion.

“
Now!
I want you now!” I demanded.

“
Yeah you do.” He was wearing that cocky smile that was so gorgeous and made me weak at the knees.

I pulled his arm away, stood up and pushed him into the chair.

He asked, “What’s your plan, sexy?”

I wasn’t completely sure, I had never tried this one before, but I had an idea I was going to follow through on.

I was standing in front of him in my black yoga pants and lacey baby pink bra. I gave him a little show as I peeled off each article of clothing. I had wanted to do it slower and more teasing-like, but who was I kidding? I was desperate to sink him inside of my aching center.

I unbuttoned his jeans, the bulge of his erection made it difficult to unzip them, but I got it. Pulling them down and off of him along with his briefs, I released him.

I climbed on top of him.

“
Oh, God, Livie! Do it!” He snatched one of my nipples in between his teeth then sucked it between his lips.

I lowered myself onto his hard shaft; until I was fully open and he was sunk so deep inside of me I lost all semblance of rational thought.

“
Oh, fuck, you’re perfect!” he mumbled over my breast as he continued sucking and licking over its now very hard tip. He grabbed the flesh of my hips in both of his big, strong hands and worked me back and forth over him, grinding his heat into my throbbing core.

We both moaned, and he let go of my tit to watch my body gliding on top of his. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Livie! Come for me again. I want to see it in your eyes.” With his demand he controlled my hips as he thrust into me with long, deep and hard strokes. He pushed in and drew away tortuously slowly, held it, and then shot up full-force back into my center till I cried out.

My orgasm took my body over with pounding release. I started to tilt my head and close my eyes on autopilot when Jake said, “Keep your eyes on me, princess, I want to watch.”

I was gone, lost in his sex hazed eyes. He roared fiercely. His skin thrilled with goose bumps, and every muscle in his body pulled taut. He rode out his climax, pulsing inside of me.

“
There is no other feeling in the world like burying myself in you,” he said, breathless.

A knock at the door made us both jump a little in surprise. “Three Men and a Moving Truck,” the guest announced.

Jake and I laughed at our perfect timing. “I’ll handle it, gorgeous.”

I kissed him on the scruff of his cheek and darted to the bathroom to get dressed.

“
OH MY GOD! I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU TWO!” Jules came running out of the North mansion and fell into us with a hug. “I’ve missed you both! Mom and Dad catered out a huge spread for your little bon voyage. We even got your favorites, Jake, Maryland crab cakes and Maine lobster.”

We started walking towards the house. “Have you heard from Nate or my Dad?” Usually Nate answered his phone—at least he always texted me back.

“
Nate was acting weird all morning. He bailed on Caleb around two o’clock, saying he had to take care of something and nobody’s heard from him since.”

Probably girl trouble
, I thought to myself. A New Year’s date gone wrong.

“
Holy Shit! Little brother you look like hell!” Josh came out the door, down the steps and wrapped Jake in a bear hug. “I think this is one hell of a plan you got going here.”

“
It was all her idea.” Jake threw a thumb at me.

“
Little sister!” Now I was being hauled up in Josh’s beefy fireman’s arms. “I knew the day would come that you two would finally find your way to each other.” He grabbed my left hand. “Where the hell’s the ring, Jake?”

I choked and snatched back my hand.

“
Wow, Josh, don’t hold any punches,” Jake deadpanned.

“
I’m an MMA fighter, why would I?”

“
I have an endgame, you d-bag!” Jake threw a fist into Josh’s arm.

“
Well get on with it then.”

The two started wrestling and Jules and I went into the house.

“
Olivia!” Suzanne put her arms around me in a motherly hug. “It’s so good to see you. You look beautiful!”

“
Thank you.” Suzanne was petite, strong and beautiful, with long blonde hair to her waist. She was wearing denim jeans, an embroidered button up blouse and cowboy boots.

“
So school’s all finished up?” she asked as she set elegant long stemmed wine glasses on her white marble countertop. I sat at the pretty, polished cherry wood kitchen table. I had just about grown up in this house. I loved Suzanne’s cast iron stove with rustic looks, but modern amenities. Cast iron Lodge pans dangled from hooks over it.

I could see through the doorway that a lavish spread had been put out in the formal dining room, and it made me feel very special knowing it was for me and Jake.

“
Yes. I got A’s in both classes. I can’t believe how many thesis papers I had to write for English 101. I’m not sorry it’s over,” I admitted.

“
Livie!” Jules cried out in offense, her mouth full of food she’d sneaked from the table.

“
I know, English is your life,” I said dramatically. “But I’m really excited to see the art around the country—in Utah they have ancient Native American art that dates back thousands of years, and then the graffiti in southern California and local artisans and galleries. It’s going to be an awesome experience.”

“
You’re the best thing that ever happened to Jake, Livie. You saved his life.” Jake’s mom planted a kiss on my cheek, and I melted into it. I couldn’t remember having been touched or kissed by a mother figure since it had been so long since I’d seen my own mom. It was too bittersweet, and I had to push the sensation out of my head.

“
Well,” she continued, “I think, when you’re both satisfied with the States, that you should travel Europe—to further your art education, of course.” She winked at me. “Seriously, though, I’m certainly not scoffing at a university education—on the contrary, I believe you should earn your degree—but you’re both young, and I think a hands-on opportunity like travel is much more enriching than a classroom and textbook.”

I loved Suzanne. She was opinionated and told it like she saw it. She was nice, but commanded respect. I’d always admired her. And the fact that she approved of me meant a lot to me.

“
The gang’s all here, let the party begin.” Caleb came in, more jovial than usual, with his dad, Jake and Josh close behind.

“
Colt, did you pick up the wine?” Suzanne asked her husband.

He came around the counter and kissed her softly on the lips with just the slightest linger. I had to smile. They’d been together since they were in high school. I hoped with all of my heart that the love between Jake and I would stay that strong.

Colt turned to me. “Ms. Morrisey, it’s a pleasure as usual.” He popped the top of the bottle.

“
Hi, Colt,” I said. I felt Jake’s hands fall on my shoulders from behind me.

“
I think you might as well start calling me dad, don’t you?” he said, and everybody started laughing.

I felt my face burn red.

“
Colt North, now you’ve embarrassed her!” Suzanne scolded as she filled each glass.

“
It’s okay, ma’am, I’m used to the North boys,” I replied.

Colt gave a good-natured chuckle.

After a moment, Caleb came into the kitchen wiping his hands on a towel. “I’m starvin’ and it smells great!”

“
Everyone come and get a glass. We have a toast to make,” Suzanne announced.

We all stood with our glasses raised.

Colt said, “To our beloved son and our wonderful new daughter, may you find the happiness that feels like home in one another and learn to treasure it.”

We all followed with a chorus of, “Here, here.” I savored the wine as I savored the moment, etching it in my memory to keep.

We all gathered around the dining room table and sat. Jake sat next to me and Suzanne and Colt each sat at one end of the table. The dining room was elegant and rustic. A wrought iron chandelier hung from the ceiling over an extended, dark wood table surrounded by red fabric chairs. A huge flagstone fireplace displayed a crackling fire and Suzanne had lit candles about the table. Two servers were there to make sure all of our needs were met.

“
Hands,” Colt reminded. The North family wasn’t specifically religious, but they believed in giving thanks.

We all joined hands and Suzanne said, “We are so grateful for our family and how that family is growing. May your merciful hand continue to be stayed upon us.”

We all agreed silently and dug in.

The food was sumptuous. As we ate, Jake explained to the family our adventure plan. They listened on eagerly, so thrilled for us. All I could think about was how awesome it was to be surrounded by family; by family who loved you and accepted you no matter what.

That familiar ache tried creeping up on me to spoil the moment of joy. My parents had never been a part of anything I’d done, and I fantasized about how beautiful it would be if they could have been here and been a part of this. Nate always did his best to make up for them and cover the gap.
Where was he anyway?
It wasn’t like him to turn down free food. I smiled to myself. He knew we were planning on heading out tomorrow, too, because we were trying to stay ahead of a blizzard that had been forecast.

Colt and Caleb discussed business, Jake talked about one of the area’s big fires and how frustrated he was with some of the outsiders working the oil fields. It was all good, he said, except sometimes it seemed Williston had turned into a town from the lawless Wild West. Jules told us about her online courses and her work-from-home job processing legal papers. She even hinted at the idea of joining Sam and Will in Seattle next year for school.

I felt bad for her. She was getting sick of waiting for Nate. We both thought once Jake had broken through the “little sister” veneer, Nate would have upped his game and showed some interest … only he hadn’t, and Jules was heartbroken.

When we finished the spectacular meal, we adjourned into the living room, gathered comfortably and set up Monopoly Empire.

We were laughing and having a blast—I had just obtained Coca-Cola and was ready to sink my paws into Samsung—when the doorbell rang. Jules jumped up so fast her knee hit the table, shaking our pieces and disturbing our wine glasses.

“
I’ll get it,” she sang loudly. “It’s probably Nate.”

When she came back into the room her face had gone ashen. My dad was behind her with Nate trailing him, and I knew immediately something was seriously wrong.

“
Hello, Suzanne. Colt,” my dad slurred.

Shit.
He’d been drinking. His eyes were bloodshot and it looked like he and Nate were a mess, and I wondered if they’d physically fought.