The Suit (24 page)

“Edie,” he says my name firmly. “It is your success. If he hadn’t liked your stats, he wouldn’t have sent them to you. I was only a middleman. He didn’t do it as a favor to me. This is all you.”

“And six yearlings bring me up to seventy-five percent of the business we had before Daddy Bud passed.”

“That’s right.”
He smiles. “And that’s why we’re celebrating.”

I may not be completely happy with the way this played out, but I’m still grateful. Suit really does care about me. And now I can relax. My farm is safe and won’t be taken from me. “You’re right. We do need to celebrate!” I hop up and kick off my boots. Suit stares up at me, but his hands con
tinue to work on uncorking the Champagne bottle.

“I think I feel like taking a swim.” I wink at him as I shimmy off my jeans and yank my tank top off. “Care to join me?” I toss my shirt at him hitting him in the face. The cork pops at that exact moment making me jump. Foam billows out of the bottle and down his arm and we both laugh as he stands and toes off his boots.

“Why not.”

We spend the evening swimming and taking s
wigs from the Champagne bottle which leads to our warm bodies entwined in the cool water. Suit leads me out of the water and lays me in the grass. His body is hard and wet as he kisses me everywhere, torturing me with little bites here and there. Water drips from his shaggy hair on my lips and chest as he whispers words of how beautiful and amazing I am. My heart wants to explode.  

There’
s not much Champagne left, but I moan in sweet pleasure when he pours some of the bubbly drink over me. It fizzes against my skin, pooling in the hollow of my throat and navel. I close my eyes as Suit takes his time, lapping it off of me, licking with long and lingering strokes. I’m so worked up right now I want to scream. But it’s a delicious torture. One I wish would end, yet last forever. 

“Edie,” he whispers. “I just want to lick and bite every inch of you. Taste every part of you.”
As he moves down my body, I tremble as I wait for the delicious feel of his tongue. When his head centers between my legs, he blows softly just before he pours the remainder of the Champagne over my sex. I’m so worked up that when the Champagne fizzes against my flesh, I almost come.

“Every inch of you is so beautiful,” he tells me
, just before he runs his tongue over my clit.

He sucks and bites and licks, squeezing my ass, until my legs tremble and I’m a knot of beautiful built up tension. He won’t let me come even though I beg, “Please. Please, Suit.”

Finally, he hears my plea. Climbing up my body, he kisses my legs, belly, and neck, until he’s above me and the head of his cock is at my entrance. Kissing me softly, he pushes inside of me and we both hiss. Everything feels so intense I wish I could melt into him. We take our time, pulling and clawing at each other, until we’re both lost in the ecstasy of release.

Afterwards, we dress with satisfied smiles on our faces. There’s no denying that what just happened out here was magnificent. It wasn’t scripted or planned. It was the most beautiful type of love making. It was us.

After we’ve climbed on our horses, I playfully ask, “So, you are the son of a horse trainer…are you not?” I question playfully.

“I suppose so,” he answers quietly.

“How about a race?”

“You want to race me?” He narrows his eyes at me and I snort.

“What? Scared you’ll get beat by a girl?”

“Pfft,” is his response.

“You don’t think I can beat you?”

“No,” he answers flatly.

“Okay, hotshot. Let’s go!” I kick my horse’s sides and we take off like a bullet. Suit comes to seconds after I leave him in the dust and starts gaining on me. I’m laughing so hard, okay, maybe a little buzzed from the alcohol, and seconds later I’m on the ground, searing pain shooting through my ankle.

“Shit!” I hiss. My horse is long gone as Suit slides off of his and comes to my side.

“Let me see,” he says calmly as he extends my leg. The moment he turns my ankle I moan in agony, but I can tell it’s not broken. It’s not that kind of pain.

“Damn you and your sexiness on a horse distracting me,” I snap at him.

“I think this would count as a win for me,” he teases.

“I agree. The only way you can beat me is if I’m injured.”

He chuckles and leans in, kissing my forehead. “Let’s get you back up to the house.”

I sit in a chair while he collects the horses and watch as he unsaddles
the them and puts them in their stalls. He looks so natural doing this kind of thing and I snort to myself remembering my first impression of him. I thought he was a snob, a white-collar yuppie who didn’t know anything about getting his hands dirty. I was wrong.

“Come on. I’m carrying you.” He scoops me up and despite the pain in my ankle, I sigh and relax against him. It feels so good to be in his arms. “We’re taking a bath.”

“We are?” I ask, not entirely surprised, just making conversation.

“Yeah. I liked making love to you out there by the creek, in the field, but I’ve got, like, a pound of dirt and grass in my ass crack,” he says in a deadpan tone.

I burst out in laughter and soon I feel his chest shaking as he laughs with me. “A bath it is, then,” I say.

The next day Suit excuses himself when we finish our work and heads to the house. My ankle is better today, a little tender when I put weight on it so I’m taking it easy. Suit took really good care of me last night, bathed me and iced my ankle. I sigh as I watch him head up to the house. He’s almost perfect. With the exception he hates everything that I love.

Joey’s been a little off with me since he caught Suit and me that morning. I guess he feels awkward. I do too…a little.

“You have plans this weekend?” I ask trying to break the tension between us.

“I’m taking Charlotte Miller out on Friday night.” He half-smiles as he plops down on the love seat in the tack room. His ball cap is on backwards and his hair peeks out of the bottom. Joey’s a handsome guy, in a skinny and all limbs kind of way.

“Oh, she’s pretty,” I nod approvingly. “Nice too.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been wanting to ask her out for a while and finally got up the nerve to do it.”

“Good for you, Joey. I hope it’s a great date.”

“What about you? You and lover boy have plans this weekend?” I want to believe he’s trying to joke with me, but his tone doesn’t match the friendly smile on his face.

“Joey, I need to apologize to you,” I begin. “I’m sorry about what you saw. I know how uncomfortable it must have been for you.” When he doesn’t say anything I continue unable to bear the silence. “I know you’re worried about me…being with him.”

His gaze meets mine and he lets out an audible sigh. “You’re a grown woman, Edie and you can do what you want. But I’m your friend and I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

I smile at his words. Joey has always looked out for me. “I know, but I know what I’m doing. Both of us know where this leads and that it ends when he leaves.”

Joey gives me a soft smile and says, “I think we both know that’s not true.” He stands and hugs me. “But I’ll be here when he leaves and I’ll help in any way I can. That’s what friends are for.”

When I make my way back up to the house, I find Suit in my grandfather’s room moving furniture to the center of it and covering it in plastic.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

He turns to me and smiles. He’s still wearing his work clothes from today, sweat wets the fabric of his shirt. “I think it’s time for you to paint this room and make it yours. I said I’d help you.” I stare at him blankly, a moment. Do I want to change Daddy Bud’s room? Taking in my dismal response to his surprise he stops and approaches me.

“Hey. I’m sorry. I should’ve asked first. We don’t have to—”

“No,” I interrupt him. “It’s time.” I smile faintly. “Thank you, Suit.”

He lets out a sigh of relief and hugs me. “Let’s go into town and pick out some paint.” He takes my hand and we head off to town.

I can’t believe I got the job. I thought I completely tanked the interview. Parker was offered a job, too, which will work out well for us since we can rent an apartment together. We’ll both have to take and pass the New York Bar when it comes around to ensure we get to keep our new jobs come fall.

When I got the call informing me I was being offered a position, I had mixed feelings of happiness and dread. On some level, I thought if I didn’t get the job, maybe it was a sign that God was pointing me in a different direction. Maybe he was pointing me to Edie.

When I told her I got the news, she exploded with excitement for me, but there was a brief moment—only a flicker in time—when I thought I saw disappointment in her eyes, but she disguised it. I know we’re both fighting the feelings we have for each other. Falling for her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It just happened. Now I’m torn between staying for the woman I love and pursuing my dream.

Edie is fighting it, too. I can tell. She refuses to discuss the possibility we could be more because she thinks I’d be miserable and resent her later if I stayed. I hate to admit this, but I worry about that too. So as of right now, I’m going. It will be the hardest damn thing I’ve ever done, but I have to.

The weeks have flown by and I leave the day after tomorrow. It seems so surreal. This summer has been amazing with her. We’ve finished remodeling and painting Bud’s room, but Edie says she’s not ready to sleep in there yet. I’m glad I did this project with her. I’m not sure if she ever would have without someone pushing her to do it. At least I know I helped in some small way, maybe.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Edie asks as we lie in bed intertwined.

I don’t want to ruin the moment or make her sad, but I don’t want to lie either. “I just can’t believe the summer is over.”

There’s a long moment of quiet before she stretches up and kisses my chin before laying her head back on my chest. We don’t speak another word and before long I feel her body completely relax as she falls asleep. But sleep doesn’t find me. Instead I lie awake thinking about all of the
what-ifs.

I spend most of the afternoon packing my belongings to leave in the morning. My head is swimming with doubt as to what I should do, which tells me maybe I need to leave to sort it all out. There is absolutely no denying that Edie is the girl of my dreams…at least of Johnny’s dreams, but I can’t help letting the practical side of myself take hold. Am I ready to throw away years of hard work and plans for what might just be a summer fling?

I shake my head with that thought. I’m in love with her. I can’t lie to myself about it. I am. She is beyond anything I could ever dream of and the complete opposite of what I thought I wanted. But a part of me knows if I stay and give up this opportunity, I could grow to resent her. 

When I head into the kitchen, Edie is shoveling out servings of lasagna on plates. She’s wearing this strappy, black summer dress with little flowers on it. It hugs her in all of the right places and I just watch her for a moment, trying to get my fill of her.

She must sense my presence because she glances up and gives me a shy smile. We haven’t said much today to each other. My impending departure is like the elephant in the room. Tomorrow is goodbye. This is what we agreed to. I have no idea what’s going through her mind, but for me, I wonder if she’ll miss me. I wonder if she’ll regret the summer we’ve shared in each other’s arms. Then I wonder if she’ll end up dating that douche rocket, Dierk.

When she places our plates on the table, my mind flickers to the memory of her lain across it as I took her. I’ll never forget that night as long as I live.

“It’s a store bought lasagna. I hope that’s okay. I just didn’t feel much like cooking tonight.” Edie finally breaks the silence.

“It smells great,” I assure her as I sit down across from her. We make awkward small talk and I help her do the dishes when we’re done. When the last dish is dried and put away, she stands by the sink, biting her lip, uncertainty written across her face.

“So,” she finally says. “You could pick the book for the night since it’s our last or we could play strip poker?” She waggles her eyebrows at me and smiles.

I don’t speak, but simply raise one hand to her cheek before I kiss her gently. When I pull away, I look in her eyes and she stares back, unsure about what I will say. “No books or role-playing tonight. Tonight, I’m Johnny and you’re Edie. I don’t want be anyone else and I don’t want to make love to anyone else but you.”

Her breath escapes her in one audible whoosh. “I want that, too,” she whispers back.

My hands grab her at her hips and pull her to me, raising her, and her legs wrap around my waist as I set her on the counter. Our kisses aren’t fiery and passionate, riddled with need. Instead, they are slow and savoring, both of us trying to make each one last knowing they are some of our last. I pull away and shake my head as I gaze at her.

“I wish like hell I could be your Mr. Right, Edie James.” Her brows furrow, but before she can respond, I kiss her again. My hands are trembling as I slip the straps of her dress off her shoulders and down her arms. Our kiss breaks long enough for her to unbutton my shirt and slide it off letting it fall to the floor. I quickly help her off the counter and set her on her feet so her dress can land on the floor near my shirt. She wasn’t wearing a bra and I slip her lace panties off, kissing her belly and legs as I take them to the floor, allowing her to step out of them.

When I come back up, I pick her up again, her legs instinctively wrap around me, and I head toward her bedroom. We’re almost there when she stops kissing me and says, “No. Let’s go to my new room.”

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“Yeah. We fixed it up together. Seems fitting we should spend our last night together in it.” I know she didn’t mean to, but her voice cracks slightly and I have to swallow back my own sadness.

I take her into the master bedroom, the bed made up with her new white bedding and lay her down. After I remove my pants and boxers, I crawl on top of her. We continue to kiss, our tongues sweeping each other’s mouths, our hands greedily searching the other’s body. My hand slips down between her legs and she’s ready for me. My sweet girl is always ready for me. God, I’ll never get over her. I have never been this crazy about a woman.

When I slip two fingers inside of her, she moans, “Johnny.” I nearly lose my mind. She
always
calls me Suit. Using my real name makes me feel like she’ll remember me, not as the lawyer that spent the summer with her, but as the man she shared something incredible with. Someone with substance that she’ll think about with great fondness.

“Don’t stop,” she begs. I can’t, not when I know she’s going to come for me. I need to watch her, see her face when she lets go so I can memorize the moment. This beautiful woman begging me to make her feel good. Her orgasm unravels and her face lights up as she moans my name over and over.

When she calms she flips us so she’s on top and straddling me. The moonlight shines through the window, illuminating her tanned skinned, and taking my breath away. I sit up quickly and kiss her before I gently guide myself inside of her. We both groan once she’s fully seated on me, the pleasure of it is too much. She fists my hair, our cheeks pressed together, and as she begins to ride me, I feel wetness. She’s crying? I pull back, so I can look at her, but she doesn’t stop riding me. My eyes say what I can’t and Edie hears it.

“Please. Just make me feel good. Make me forget tomorrow is coming.”

I nod and quickly flip her over so that I’m on top again, letting most of my weight rest on her. I want to feel her close, beneath me, her warmness wrapped around me. Tears stream down her face, ripping my heart to shreds with each one that falls. I thrust in her slowly, kissing each pearl of sadness that falls from her eyes, whispering my affection for her in all the ways I can.

“Thank you, Edie for letting me share this summer with you, for sharing your laughter, and your worries, and your body with me. You are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. Thank you for helping me to remember my past in a good way. Thank you for making me feel like a man. Thank you for giving me the privilege of being your man for this brief time. I will cherish the memories of this summer as long as I live.”

She kisses me everywhere her mouth can reach and my thrusts quicken as I get closer to my own climax. Edie’s moans get louder and just before my own orgasm let’s go, she unravels again. When we finish, she wraps her arms around me as the full weight of my body crushes hers.

Eventually, I roll off of her and pull her to me so we’re face to face. She’s still crying. “You’re killing me,” I say, and my own voice cracks. Goddamn, this is torture.

She doesn’t say a word, just kisses my shoulder as I stroke her hair. After a while, she falls asleep and I simply stare at her. Tomorrow, saying goodbye is sure to be hell. And that’s when the chickenshit side of me takes over. I can’t stand to see her breakdown in the light of day. I should go now. I know it’s a cowardly move, but maybe it would be easier for both of us. I need to go. As I carefully move to slide my arm from under her so that I don’t wake her, she moves slightly and in her slumber she says, “I love you, Suit.”

I freeze. No words have ever sounded more beautiful or terrifying to me.

She loves me.

I don’t take time to process it. I know what I have to do. I slip out of her bed and collect my clothes from the floor. Once I’m dressed, I write her a letter, take my bags and go. I was right. Edie deserves a man far better than me. Not a coward that would leave her in the dead of the night because he’s too weak to say goodbye.