Painted Memories (32 page)

He was closer to me now than he'd been in two days. I couldn't speak and held my arms stiffly against my sides. Drew's gaze shifted from my eyes to my mouth, and I licked my lips unconsciously. I heard what he said about my father, and had plenty of time to deal with that later. Right now, he was standing in front of me, stunning me more with his confession. With his hips against me, his hand twisted tighter on my shirt. Peering at his face, the moon glinted off his eyes, and his irises twinkled like emeralds. I had to catch my breath.

I reached for his shoulders, gripping his shirt in my hands and pulled him against me at the same time his mouth crushed my lips. Clasping my waist under my shirt, his tongue rushed past my lips, swirling with mine. His hands were soft, but firm, and he dug his fingers into my skin. He ignited me with his touch and I slid my hands across his chest until my fingers found the hem of his shirt. I pushed the fabric up, exposing his warm skin. Drew moved back slightly and wasted no time pulling it off. Stepping closer, his fingers grazed my hips and up my sides. My breathing was labored, and my hands shook in anticipation as time seemed to slow down. His fingers were extraordinarily sensual and he lifted my shirt up at a slow, agonizing pace. The further his hands rose, the faster my breathing became, until he pushed my arms up and removed my shirt. His fingers traced the side of my cheek and across my jaw. Holding my chin between his thumb and index finger, Drew lightly brushed his lips across my mouth as he stared into my eyes. I held my breath, unable to move, standing there in my bra under the stars, suddenly feeling intoxicated by his gaze.

“Love finds us at different times, different moments in our lives. For some people, it happens gradually and grows over time. For others, it clamps down on their souls and won't let go. It's a unique feeling that won't leave your heart. There's no reason for it. She’s in your life; you can't
do
or
think
of anything else, but her. You want to spend every moment in her company, even if it's only to gaze upon her face and be close to her. You're that for me, Lilly. When you walked into my apartment with my mail, you left with my heart. I've been in love with you since that moment, and nothing you've said or done has changed how I feel about you. Nothing ever will.”

I couldn't move and Drew's dreamy eyes engaged mine, waiting for a response. His words felt like a marriage proposal without the ring. Silk, warm fingers brushed down the side of my neck and back up as the pad of his thumb swiped over my cheek. He cupped the side of my face and I pressed my hand into his, leaning into the comfort of his embrace. Closing my eyes, I reveled in the moment, replaying his words through my mind once more.

Pulling his hand away, I flung myself against him, grasping his neck to pull him closer. Drew stumbled back slightly, as he closed his arms around me. I found his mouth on mine and we kissed deeply with hunger and necessity. Our tongues collided in a rhythmic motion, hot and vibrant, full of passion and longing. He tasted sweet and I melted in his arms, feeling dizzy the more we kissed. Drew grasped my hair with his hands, turning and pulling my head as he tasted my lips, nipping and tugging on them before spreading hot kisses along my jaw and down my neck. His lips slid over my shoulders as his fingers pulled away the straps of my bra. I arched my neck and moaned when his tongue swirled over my skin. My hands skimmed down the front of his chest, my fingers feeling the curve and bumps of his taut stomach. Further down my hands slipped until the tips of my fingers felt his jeans. I pressed my palm down the front and felt the hard erection that was begging for release. A half growl, half groan vibrated through him, and in an instant, I was hoisted up in his arms. His hands squeezed my butt, while his mouth peppered hard kisses over my chest and between my breasts.

“Get the blankets,” I murmured with bated breath.

Drew set me down and spun on his heels, reaching for the blankets he brought out with him. He grabbed the cushions from the two couches at the far side of the gazebo before spreading one blanket across it. It looked like a makeshift mattress, and even though we only had to walk through the yard to get to the guesthouse, this was so much more intimate. Making love to him here, under a blanket of stars, was about as romantic as I could ever imagine.

While Drew was fussing with our
blankets, I saved him some time and trouble by slipping out of my jeans and removing my bra. I left my panties on to give him something he could enjoy peeling off me. The cool air spread goose bumps over my skin, but I was far from cold. I approached Drew’s back and let my hands glide up and around, to the sides of his stomach. His skin was hot under my touch and I felt his breath catch when I pressed my bare breasts against his back. His body heat warmed my cold nipples, sending a tingle through me. I kissed his back and along his shoulders while my hands explored his stomach. Twisting the button on his pants, I slipped one hand inside and grasped his fully hard shaft. My mouth watered and my insides burned as I gripped it, sliding my fingers over the tip. Drew arched his back and groaned, his knees bending slightly. In one quick motion, he turned around, lifted me up and lay me on my back on our makeshift bed.

“Damn woman... the things you do to me,” he said as he loomed over me with his hands on each side of my head. He placed one knee between my legs as his eyes washed over my body.

I touched his soft cheek and disheveled hair, seeing his eyes wild with lust and longing. “So many things I could do,” I teased, “Yet, here again, I'm more naked than you.”

Drew's lips turned upwards as he ran the tip of his fingers over my hard nipples. He sat up and pulled another blanket from the table to drape across my chest. “You look chilly.”

“You could fix that?”  I pulled the blanket over my chest and sat up while he made quick work of removing every stitch of clothing on his body. He knelt in front of me, naked, his skin glowing in the pale moon. I wanted to taste every part of him. Drew pulled the blanket away, wrapping it behind my back and pressed me against him. His hand cupped my breast as he kissed my jaw down to my earlobe, before nipping and sucking it in his mouth.

“I truly mean it, Lilly, I love you so much,” Drew whispered.

I smiled at his softly spoken words. My fingers played with the ends of his hair at the back of his neck. I guided his head down lower to kiss me. His hands slid around my sides and down my back before going beneath my panties to grasp my butt. Sitting back, Drew pulled me onto his lap and I moaned, feeling his erection pressing against my center. I pushed my hips closer, moving back and forth, wincing as his fingers dug into my skin and he helped me move against him.

Pushing my hips back slightly, Drew slipped his fingers beneath my panties and rubbed the tips of his fingers in my most sensitive place. I lifted my hips somewhat, urging him to give me more, and he didn't disappoint. Long fingers slid into me and my
hands clenched his shoulders as a current ran though my entire body. I rocked my hips back and forth, pushing him harder, deeper inside me. It wasn't enough. I wanted more. I wanted it harder... faster. I wanted him to make me wither into a melted heap of sexual bliss by the time it was over.

I kissed his neck, letting my tongue glide over his skin until I found his ear and flicked his lobe with my tongue. “More, Drew. I want more.”

If my panties were anything besides lace, he wouldn't have been able to rip them off my body like he did, leaving me completely naked before him. “I liked those,” I said with feigned disappointment.

“I'll buy you more,” he said in a low, husky tone.

He let me push him back against the cushions on the floor, and I wasted no time climbing on top. There were so many things I wanted to do, to taste… but we had all night. Right now, I wanted to feel the length of him inside me. Deep and hard, fast and slow, until I couldn't take anymore. I wrapped my fingers around his shaft. It seemed thicker and longer, as it pulsed with the need to please. I settled myself over it, letting only the tip inside. I gazed at Drew, whose eyes were wide with shock and marvel. It was a new side of me. I felt confident and brave, unashamed to take exactly what I wanted.

Rocking slowly, I moved up and down, allowing him to slip deeper and deeper inside me until I could take all of him. I savored the ride, knowing I wouldn't last long. Not this round. I was already charged up; about to burst from all the other sensations my body was receiving. Drew placed his hands on my hips, keeping me steady, but let me stay in control. He felt so good, hot and hard, and I sat up straighter, arching my back as I moved. Fingers traced up my side and over my breasts, as one hand rested on my neck. Drew's fingers curled around the back of it and I closed my eyes, reveling in bliss. My body shuddered against him and I gasped out loud, the sensation hitting me like a brick. I fell forward, resting my hands on his chest as I slowed
my rhythm until I was nearly out of breath. I couldn't make myself move anymore, the feeling was too strong, but Drew wouldn't let the sensation subside. He kept my movements going as he rocked back and forth with his hands on my hips. I cried out, turning into mush against him. Drew's thrust became stronger and faster before I heard a growl deep in his throat and he emptied himself, his body shuddering beneath me.

We lay still against each other, wrapped in the blanket, our breathing slowly becoming shallower over time. Drew combed his fingers though my hair and sighed against my neck, brushing a kiss over my skin.

“That went a lot faster than I wanted it to. I couldn't help myself,” I said.

Drew glanced at his watch and smiled. “It's barely ten o'clock. I have quite a few more things to do to you before I let you to fall asleep tonight.”

“Oh? Is that right?”

“Oh, yes, and it will start with a nice, long, hot shower.”

I could already imagine our wet, hot, slick bodies sliding against each other and started to feel that familiar tingle in my nerves.

But I would wait.

For now, I wanted to enjoy the moment. To snuggle deeply into Drew's embrace while I etched it into my memory. I couldn't imagine being any happier than I felt now. It wasn't the sex that made it great, but knowing Drew loved me that meant everything.

My past and present, he loved me with all of his heart, and I couldn't ask for anything more.

I was in the parking lot of the local Olive Garden, waiting for my father to show up for dinner. Since you had to travel into the next city to eat at a more upscale restaurant, the type my father always favored, I preferred staying local. The closer to Mom's house, the better I felt. What if I had to make a mad dash out of the place? If I did, I wouldn't have to go far. There was no question I was nervous. Every conversation we'd had over the last five years started with angry words and ended with one of us stomping out of the room or hanging up the phone mid-sentence. No question our relationship was a walking disaster. I couldn't imagine either one of us ever talking in a civilized manner. Hopefully, the restaurant and flighty-eyed patrons would help keep our attitudes in check. Maybe.

Drew left sometime after lunch Sunday afternoon. After our tryst in the gazebo, and a couple more rounds later that night, it was nearly impossible to pull myself out of bed and away from him. It was even harder to see him leave, despite knowing I'd see him in a few days. I pushed away the panic of seeing him go, knowing he could do no good here, and had something far more important to do at his studio. Plus, there was no need for him to miss work on my account.

After Drew left, I spent the rest of the afternoon going through Jesse's room with Mom and driving the donated items down to the local shelter. Surprisingly, we both felt really good about it, knowing we stashed away our own mementoes of him for safekeeping. For some reason, I expected Dad to stop by and try to talk again, since he was so adamant about it on Saturday.

He didn't.

Big surprise.

That was Dad, a lot of talk and no action... except in the courtroom. He was excellent at his job, and loved it with a passion.
It surprised me how he was able to keep his work separate from his drinking. Mom said he was a sophisticated drunk, never mixing the two, especially not when he had a big case coming up. If he ever did let things slip, and was too tipsy to go to work, he worked from home. There was no way he'd ever look less than perfect when he showed his face at the office. Dad was a closet drunk, and damn good at it. I had no doubt his friends and colleagues didn't know anything about his problem, but after my phone call yesterday evening, I guessed his secretary probably spread who knows what kind of rumors around the office. Dad refused my call, due to an important meeting. After not hearing from him Sunday and most of Monday, I was tired of waiting around for something to happen. I kindly asked his assistant to “inform Mr. Morgan that his daughter is on the line and it was his last chance, if he wanted it.” She stumbled over her words and put me on hold before Dad came to the phone. I quickly let him know it was only at Drew’s insistence that I was giving him a chance to talk to me. I asked why he was so intent on talking to me on Saturday, but never tried to contact me afterwards. He calmly explained he had an emergency case that came up and couldn't be ignored. He said he was in court for the majority of the day and probably would be on Tuesday as well. I couldn't help thinking it was all rather convenient, but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt when he offered to take me to dinner the next day to talk.