Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 56

Homegrown Love, part two

Read part one of Homegrown Love first!

“Hope,” Paul answered, sounding as breathless as she did. “What are you doing here?”

God, he looked good. Hope wanted to throw herself at him the way she’d done so many years ago. She was the one who’d instigated their first kiss, the one who’d seduced him over and over again, the one who’d admitted their attraction and got them together.

She’d told herself over the years that she was over him, that his dark hair and blue eyes wouldn’t have the same effect on her they’d had years ago. That his broad shoulders and arms that surprised her with the gentleness despite their strength wouldn’t make her mouth water. That his masculine scent, like fresh air and a tinge of motor oil from the cars he was always tinkering with, wouldn’t bother her.

But standing face to face with him, she knew she’d been a liar.

Pushing thoughts of how much she’d loved Paul aside, Hope focused instead on Adam. She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped back to try to block his view of Adam in the backseat. The last thing she wanted was him coming into town for the first time in five years and trying to take her son. He couldn’t have him. It wasn’t an option.

“I live here, Paul. You’re the only who left town and never looked back.”

“You look amazing. Are you in school?”

Before Adam was born, Hope wanted to go to college and get an art degree. She’d always loved to paint and wanted to study it, to learn as much as she could and become a great artist. When she found out she was pregnant she was lucky to even finish high school.

“No, I’m not in school. I never had a chance to go to school.”

“Why?” he snapped, sounding angry and hurt. “Why wouldn’t you go to school?”

Hope shrugged, not willing to tell him about Adam. “It just wasn’t the right time. Maybe I’ll go one day. Listen, I’ve got to go. My car doesn’t look too bad and it’ll probably cost me more in insurance if I file a claim. Can we just forget about this? A favor between old friends?”

Paul snorted. “Old friends? Is that all we were?”

“Paul, I can’t do this okay. I don’t know why you’re back after all this time but I can’t do it.”

“How about a drink? Can I buy you a drink?”

“I’m only 20. Plus, I don’t drink.”

Paul grinned, that half smile that always made Hope feel like she was the only person in the world who mattered, even when he seemed to be laughing at her. “I was talking about a coffee. We are at Beans.”

Hope glanced behind her and looked at the coffee shop. She wasn’t going back in there. She wasn’t going anywhere with Paul when she had Adam with her. He couldn’t see his son. He would know.

“I was just leaving actually. I’ve got somewhere else I need to go.”

Hope turned back to her car like she was going to get in, hoping Paul would do the same. Instead he stepped closer to her, then glanced into the backseat. “You have a kid?” he asked, stunned. “Are you married?”

Hope dug deep for courage and told the truth. “Yes, I have a son. And no, I’m not married. His dad ran out on us.”

Paul was clearly shaken. He ran a hand through his hair, something Hope knew he only did when he was frustrated or worried. “How old is he?”

Hope’s heart beat faster. She knew she couldn’t lie to Paul, she never could, but she didn’t want him to know the truth. “Four.”

Paul’s eyes snapped to hers and saw everything she wanted to hide from him. She could tell the moment the truth dawned on him, the moment he realized he was the deadbeat dad who’d run out, the moment he looked back at his son and saw himself as a child.

“I have a son?” It was a question as much as a statement.

From within the car Adam waved at Paul, unaware of the turmoil going on between the adults standing there watching him through the window.

“Paul, this isn’t the time or place for this conversation. Maybe you can come over later and we can talk. We still live with Alex at the house. How about eight?”

Hope knew Adam would be asleep by then and Paul wouldn’t be able to yell at her too much if there was a child sleeping. At least she hoped.

Paul finally nodded his agreement and turned silently back to his car. He got in and drove off, not giving Hope a backward glance.

One down, now she needed to tell her brother who Adam’s father was, and that his best friend was in town.

The post Homegrown Love, part two appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

Homegrown Love, part one

Hope swiped the last few strokes onto her latest masterpiece and sat back to admire her work. She was good. She knew it. She just needed someone else to think so too.

A door opened down the hall, letting Hope know her son, Adam, was awake. At four Hope knew Adam’s naps weren’t going to last much longer. She just hoped he would be good while she took time to paint. Working full time during the week left little time for Hope to work on her art, but she wasn’t about to give up. She wouldn’t let another one of her dreams go.

Adam shuffled into the room and curled up on Hope’s lap. She looked down at his raven black hair and bright blue eyes and her heart clenched like it always did. He looked just like his daddy, not that Paul knew anything about Adam.

When Hope found out she was pregnant, Paul was already gone. As her brother’s best friend he regretted seeing her behind Alex’s back. The guilt got too much for him and Paul left town, changed his number, and never looked back.

Hope knew it was for the best. Paul had told her many times he never wanted kids so having one when he was barely 20 years old would have been like a prison sentence. Not for Hope though. She’d always wanted to be a mother. Of course she’d imagined it with the father by her side and when she was older than 17, but she’d done the best she could.

“Can we get ice cream, Mommy?” Adam asked as Hope rubbed his back and played with his hair. They had a trip planned to a local coffee shop that afternoon, one that carried artwork from local artists. Hope wanted to see if they would show some of her pieces, even one, to get her started.

“Yeah, I think we can do that. Why don’t you go get dressed and we’ll get some ice cream after we go by the coffee shop.”

Adam crawled off her lap and padded down the hall to his room.

Hope sorted through the paintings she had set to the side and picked the ones she wanted to show the manager. She’d been to Beans a few times and knew their style and color scheme and Hope wanted to bring in pieces that wouldn’t take away from the atmosphere of the funky, trendy cafe. She slid three canvases into a portfolio and went to get changed out of her painting clothes.

The ride to the Beans was short and Adam chattered away in the backseat, playing I-Spy, asking questions, and counting. When he got in moods like that Hope couldn’t deny how much he was like his father with his inquisitive nature. It was her favorite times with her son when she could remember what Paul was like, how he was, before he left to relieve his conscience.

Hope never knew how her brother didn’t recognize his best friend in his nephew. Alex had asked her many times who the father was but Hope refused to tell him. She was lucky to have him when she was pregnant. Their parents had died in a car accident and Alex took custody of Hope since he was 18 when they died and she was only 15. Alex worked hard to support the two of them and loved Adam like he was his own son. Hope always felt Adam healed some of the pain Alex felt when Paul disappeared and didn’t look back.

He’d definitely healed some of her pain.

Beans was busy when Hope and Adam arrived. Hope went up to the counter and asked for Monica, the manager. They sat at a vacant booth while waiting for Monica to come out to see them.

“Hi, I’m Monica. You must be Hope.”

Hope stood and shook her offered hand. “I am. Thank you so much for meeting me. This is my son, Adam.”

“Hi Adam. How are you?” Monica asked in a friendly voice.

“Do you have ice cream?”

Hope’s cheeks flushed but Monica only laughed. “You know what, we don’t. But we do have cookies. Would you like one?”

Adam’s eyes lit up and they both looked to Hope for an okay. When she nodded, Monica reached her hand out for Adam’s and led him back to the edge of the counter. She went around the edge and slid a chocolate chip cookie into a bag. She handed it back to Adam and they walked back to the table where Hope was.

“What do I owe you?” Hope asked, pulling out her wallet.

Monica waved her hand. “We give cookies away to kids all the time. It’s no big deal. Besides, if he’s eating we can talk for a minute.” She winked and gestured to Hope’s portfolio.

Hope busied herself pulling out the canvases she brought. She set the first against the wall of the booth, propped one up on the table, and held the third. Monica immediately reached for the one Hope was holding and gazed at it lovingly.

“This is stunning. The colors are perfect in here and the design is modern but with a subtle nod toward a more traditional style. This will definitely sell.”

She set the painting down and looked at the other two. “Wow, these are just as good. You said you’ve never had a showing before?”

“No, I’m working full time and, well, don’t have as much time to paint as I’d like.”

Monica nodded in understanding and picked up the other two paintings. “These are beautiful. They compliment the restaurant so well and I love the overall feel of them. You’re very talented.”

“Thank you.”

“Okay, so how this works is we’ll display them but the sale is on consignment. When they sell, and I have no doubt they will, you will get 85% of the sales price and we keep 15% as a fee. I’m thinking we sell them individually for $600 each or as a complete set for $1500. What do you think?”

Hope nearly passed out hearing those numbers. She’d expected to be offered less than $100 and to think her paintings could sell that well was terrifying and exhilarating.

“I think that sounds amazing.”

“Great,” Monica said, stacking the paintings up. “Give me a minute and I’ll have the paperwork for you to sign.”

Hope grinned like a fool as Monica walked away and was still grinning when she came back and handed over the paperwork. Hope reviewed everything quickly then signed her name on the bottom. She stashed her copy of the paperwork and shook hands with Monica again, thanking her profusely.

Outside, Hope breathed a sigh of relief. If those painting sold she would be in a much better place, and maybe, just maybe she’d be able to do something nice for Alex after all he’d done for her. Things were definitely looking up.

Hope made sure Adam was buckled up and then climbed into her seat and backed out. Before she’d cleared the car next to her, her car stopped and she heard the telltale crunch of a car accident. She hung her head and wondered how in the world she’d been so distracted.

Grabbing her purse and telling Adam to stay put, she climbed out, digging to find her insurance information. A man’s voice apologized, a voice she recognized, a voice she’d never forget.

She looked up at the man behind the voice and her eyes met with ones that matched her son’s. Eyes she hadn’t seen in almost five years. Eyes she never thought she’d see again.

“Paul,” she whispered.

The post Homegrown Love, part one appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

Are you Stuck?

I can’t resist one more peak into the pages of Stuck On The Sidelines. If you’ve already picked up your copy then…

Thank You!

If you haven’t, maybe this will help push you in that direction!

Stuck On The Sidelines is available everywhere now including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. It will be available on iTunes very soon!

 

Andy reached for her but she skated away from him, mentally swearing off men, especially men who were supposed to be under her care. She heard Andy shift behind her and spun around to watch him sit up and shift his knee to a position that didn’t bring him pain. “Chloe, I’m fine. I promise. It’s an injury, not a life threatening issue. Worst case scenario, I get a few extra sessions with the most beautiful therapist in town, probably in the state.”

Chloe felt herself softening at his sweet words. “I really should hand your case over to someone else.” Andy opened his mouth to protest but Chloe just held up her hand and he clamped it shut. “I want you to think about it. I think it’s what’s best for you, for your healing. If I fall all over myself, or all over you, when you’re here, for one, we’ll never get your therapy done, but also, you could get hurt. We’ve been lucky so far that you’ve only tweaked your knee a few times, but it could be worse. You could end up under the knife.”

“And if I do it’ll be worth it. Chloe, listen, none of this matters to me. I feel a connection with you and I’m not willing to let it go. If it’ll make you feel better then how about we go out on a date. Get away from here so that I’m wearing my brace and can’t get hurt. Will you agree to that?”

Andy looked up at her, studying her. Chloe wanted to believe everything would be fine, that she could go on a date with him, and that the connection he felt could turn into something more. It felt right on one hand and wrong on the other. She smiled at the mental image of a date with Andy and caught him grinning at her.

“Maybe I could try that. But I need to think about it. Let’s get through a session without you getting hurt and we’ll see if it’s even possible. But if I’m going to think about going on a date with you then you need to agree to consider going to another therapist.”

Andy stuck his hand out toward her and waited for her to grasp it. When she did he said, “Deal,” then pulled her back down on top of him. He sealed his lips to hers as she gasped in surprise, his tongue making a sweep of her mouth before he released her, head spinning and heart pounding.

“Come on, let’s get my therapy going.”

Chloe shook her head with a laugh as she crawled back off his lap and helped him to his feet. They got back into his program but in the back of her head Chloe couldn’t help but think about his proposal. She knew if they were outside the office there wouldn’t be nearly as much there to stop them from getting carried away.

And she was pretty sure she liked that part of the deal the best.

The post Are you Stuck? appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

Stuck On The Sidelines, sneak peak two

I can’t wait for Stuck On The Sidelines to come out next week! Chloe and Andy have been toying with me for months, along with a few new friends, and I am so excited for you to get to know them too.

Their relationship is a bit rocky as they both fight their attraction and let their brains get in the way of how they feel about each other. I had to share another sneak peak with you this week. I hope you don’t mind! This was one of my favorite scenes, I could just see it happening.

Enjoy!

 

Chloe’s skin was flushed. Her eyes were glassy and her breathing had become labored. There was no mistaking how turned on Chloe was, especially when he saw her taut nipples straining to break free of her cobalt blue top. Andy’s cock twitched in recognition when he looked at her and he couldn’t deny how much he wanted her in that moment.

“I was thinking about your progress. About what exercises you need to work on today,” Chloe said. He knew she was lying because her eyelids fluttered closed, betraying the facade of composure she was clinging to.

“No, you weren’t Chloe. You were thinking about skipping my session altogether so we could do this.”

Andy’s lips were on hers before she could protest. Soft and sweet lips met his as their bodies collided. Chloe melted into him when his arms closed around her. He tested his knee and dropped his crutches to the ground so he could focus on kissing the woman in his arms.

Without easing their kiss, Andy lowered Chloe to the ground. He knew their night would be over if he tweaked his knee again and he wasn’t taking any chances this time. He was going to have his fill of Chloe, draw everything he could from her, and find a way to walk away.

Chloe’s kiss drove out all other thoughts from Andy’s head. He wanted to push her away, but the sweet taste of her lips made him kiss her back with every last bit of desire he’d been feeling since he’d first met her.

She whimpered against him and he started to pull back, worried his kiss had hurt her. She gripped his shoulders, not letting him move away. Andy smiled under her lips, feeling as desperate as she was.

He rolled her over, keeping his bad knee on top of her legs. His fingers dove through her hair, pulling it free of the ponytail she’d been wearing, and he felt the silky strands wrap around his fingers. He ached for her, in his pants and somehow, in his chest. He ignored the second one and focused on the first. With caution, he positioned himself between her warm thighs and ground his hips into her.

She whimpered and clutched his back, her own arching with the friction between their bodies. “Andy, please,” she begged. He knew what she wanted, what she was asking for. And he was eager to give her anything she wanted.

The post Stuck On The Sidelines, sneak peak two appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

Stuck On The Sidelines

Stuck On The Sidelines is going to be out in less than two weeks! I’m both excited and terrified that I won’t be finished in time! It’s going to be great though. Chloe and Andy are great characters and I really love their story.

I wanted to share a sneak preview with you this week. I’ll get back to writing short stories for you in a couple of weeks, but for now I wanted to share some of Chloe and Andy’s story. I hope that’s okay with you!

You can click on the cover and go to the Stuck On The Sidelines page which has a brief synopsis and the first chapter. Today’s sneak peak is a bit further along.

Enjoy!

 

He tilted her chin up to look in his eyes. She fought him, but eventually let his fingers guide her face to his. “I care about you too. So come here.”

Andy lowered himself to the seat behind him and pulled Chloe down with him. He kept his bad knee straight out in front of him and directed her to his good knee. She sat down with a smile.

“See, nothing’s going to happen now. I’m perfectly safe. And I want to kiss you so badly that I don’t think I can stop myself.”

Before Chloe could respond Andy leaned into her. She sucked in a breath as he got closer, his intention clear by the look in his eyes. Andy didn’t hesitate, he simply closed the distance between them and sealed his mouth to hers. When she didn’t open immediately for him, he teased her, running his tongue along the seam of her lips and nipping at her bottom one.

She opened on a sigh, one of contentment and pleasure rolled into one, and Andy’s tongue slid into the opening, guiding her mouth open further. Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him, instantly knowing a kiss wasn’t going to be enough.

Chloe stood and straddled him, feeling his erection firm between her thighs. She moaned at the contact between their bodies, her yoga pants not providing much of a barrier between them. Andy’s fingers dug into her hips, pulling her closer to him as he ground against her.

“Tell me this isn’t a dream,” he groaned in her ear before running his tongue over her racing pulse. She clutched at his head, weaving her fingers into his hair and directing him to her neck. His teeth glided down over the side of her throat and danced across her collarbone. Her head fell back to give him access and he dipped lower, his tongue darting out to taste the upper curve of her breasts.

One strong arm wrapped around her waist and leaned her back while the other cupped her breast. His kisses against her bare skin left her aching for more. Her hips moved against his and she felt a stirring deep inside, knowing it wouldn’t take much for her to burst in his arms.

The post Stuck On The Sidelines appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

A Piece of Me, part three

Mature Audiences Only 18+

Catch up on part one and part two first!

Amanda led him into the apartment before she thought about how the place might look to him. He drove a nice car and had offered to buy her dinner without thinking twice about paying for it. He was likely doing well for himself and she was barely scraping by in her efficiency apartment.

“This place is nice,” Bob said from behind her, closing the door with a soft click.

Amanda looked around at the boxes stacked against the wall that she hadn’t unpacked yet, the dirty dishes piled in her sink, and her unmade bed and wondered how he could possibly be complimentary.

“It’s not much, but it’ll do. I’ve only been here about two months.”

“I’ve been in my place for two years and I think I just unpacked the last box three months ago. Life gets so busy that it’s hard to focus on the little things. It’s cozy in here.”

Amanda snorted. Cozy was code for tiny and they both knew it. She met his eyes and her laughter fell away. He was looking at her like he wanted to devour her. Amanda had never had a man look at her that way. Instead of feeling frightened like she thought she should have been, she felt heated, curious.

“I can see a lot of you in this place. It’s beautiful, just like you.”

He moved closer as he spoke, turning the cozy apartment into downright miniscule. Amanda looked up at him, watched him as he watched her.

“I’m glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d never got the chance to do this.”

“Do what?” she asked.

His lips came down on hers with her next breath. It was a soft kiss, sweet. With only their lips touching it was the most sensual experience of Amanda’s life. He didn’t touch her at all, just their lips meeting, hands stuck to their sides. Amanda sighed softly against his mouth and Bob took another step closer, bringing their entire bodies in contact.

His tongue teased the seam of her lips and she teased him right back by keeping them closed. The soft rumble of his laugh, something she felt as much as heard, and she smiled back at him, enjoying the ease of being together.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispered with a snicker.

“Well since I’m the one who was in the hospital tonight I think maybe you have that backward,” she whispered back.

His arms closed around her, bringing her back to him, where he pressed his lips against hers again. He tested her lips, silently requesting entrance, but this time she allowed him in.

His tongue darted into her mouth, almost as though he thought she would clamp down on him before he got in. With the first pass of his tongue she knew she was sunk, so wrapped up in him that she couldn’t think of anything outside the two of them. She forgot all about her money problems, about feeling so alone in a new city, about not really knowing the man she was kissing.

With their bodies pressed together and their kiss going from sweet straight past go to hotter than hell, Amanda knew Bob better than she even knew herself.

Her hands wound into his hair as his rested on her hips. He pulled her close to him, the hard length of him pressing into her stomach. His fingers drifted under the hem of her shirt and her skin felt like fire licked across it, burning up for his touch.

He pulled back slightly from their kiss and leaned their foreheads together. “Jesus, you’re definitely going to kill me. That was… fuck. That was amazing.”

Amanda’s teeth closed around her lower lip and she nodded in agreement. Bob’s eyes focused on her lip and he licked his own. His fingers tightened on her hips and he pulled her lips to his again.

Their second kiss went straight to scorching without even starting anywhere else. All of a sudden Amanda was frantic for him, to feel his skin under her fingers and his body against hers. She clawed at his shirt before he stripped it away, followed quickly by hers. His hands were on her breasts, pulling them free of her bra, before their shirts hit the floor. Amanda pushed at his jeans, getting them just past his hips before grasping him in her hand.

Bob moaned and bucked into her, biting down on her lip with the touch. He wriggled his hips until his jeans hit the floor with a soft thud. He unhooked her bra before working her jeans free. Together they stumbled toward her bed, falling onto the mattress with a laugh together.

“I’ve never done anything like this,” she admitted.

“Good,” he growled.

She laughed at his possessiveness until he pulled her nipple into his mouth. She moaned his name and dropped her head to the mattress. From somewhere he slid on a condom and moved between her legs. “God, I can’t wait,” he ground out from between clenched teeth.

“Then don’t.”

In one swift move he plunged into her body. She arched into him, meeting him halfway. Their twin sighs of pleasure rang out in the silent space and they grinned at each other. “So right,” he murmured.

His body moved on top of her, completely in tune with what she was feeling. As she felt her core clench he moaned into her hair, urging her on, and increased his pace. Amanda wrapped her legs tightly around his hips and used him as leverage to push her hips up to his. Quickly, like lit by a firecracker, her body exploded and she trembled beneath him, holding onto him like a lifeline while she screamed his name.

The only thing she heard over the blood pounding in her ears was the sound of her name as he unloaded into her, thrusting hard and deep before stilling.

His weight covered her, pressing her into the mattress that she’d barely gotten used to sleeping on. He nuzzled against her neck and nipped at her ear before ducking into the bathroom. When he came back he crawled right back in bed with her, pulling her body close to his, and snuggled against her.

“I’m not leaving until we do that a few more times,” he said in a sleepy voice.

“Mmmm,” she murmured in agreement.

“You’re beautiful, my sweet love. Now sleep, so I can ravage you again and again later.”

She smiled into his chest and pressed a single kiss on his heated skin before falling blissfully asleep, knowing she’d never again be the same.

I hope you enjoyed Amanda and Bob! A whole new story will start next week!

The post A Piece of Me, part three appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

A Piece of Me, part two

Catch up on part one…

Amanda wasn’t sure what made her accept his invitation, but she was glad she did as soon as she saw relief flood his features. His lips turned up into a beautiful smile and he reached out for her. He grabbed her hand and tucked it under his arm, escorting her out of the ER into the cool night air.

Darkness had fallen while she was in the hospital and she was glad for the ride, and for the meal. Her stomach growled loudly as she slid into his front seat and he smiled down at her as she clutched her belly, as though that would muffle the noise.

Once he climbed in the car he turned the heat on and backed out of the parking space then asked, “Where do you want to eat?”

Amanda knew she was hungry but her sinus infection was still blurring her appetite. “I don’t know. What do you think?”

She cringed at the wishy-washy answer she gave him. She hated when women acted like that with men, like if they made a choice the man would get upset. Amanda always believed if a man got mad over someone else having an opinion then he wasn’t worth the time.

“Well, I could eat just about anything, but I want to make sure you’re better. Between here and Nick’s we could stop for pizza, Chinese, or subs. Close by is fast food chains but I doubt that’s overly appealing on your empty stomach. When I’m not feeling well, pizza is usually a favorite choice.”

Amanda nodded her agreement and tried not to stare at his profile as he turned into Giovanni’s. The scent of the fresh bread, the Italian spices, and the melted cheese enveloped her as they stepped inside. Her stomach growled loudly, approving of the choice, and Amanda allowed him to lead her to a table near the front windows.

They each picked up menus and considered their options. After agreeing to share a pepperoni, mushroom, and peppers pizza, Amanda felt the need to start talking.

“Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Of course,” he replied, setting his drink down between them and giving her his full attention.

“What’s your name?”

His face drained of all color and he looked simply horrified. “Oh, God, I can’t believe I basically kidnapped you without even telling you who I am. I’m so sorry. I’m Bob Rice. I’m the manager at Nick’s and I was there when you passed out. It never occurred to me that you didn’t know who I was.”

Amanda placed her hand over Bob’s to stop his rambling. “I recognized you, but I didn’t know your name. I figured unless you wanting me to call you ‘Blue Eyes’ all night long I should know your name.”

“Blue Eyes?”

Amanda nodded shyly, pulling her hand from his. He caught her fingers before they slipped from his and tangled their hands together again. “When I opened my eyes yours were the first thing I saw. You looked so concerned and I was mesmerized by you. That’s why I couldn’t tell you my name. Well, that and I was confused as hell.”

Bob laughed softly. “I was mesmerized by you, too. When I saw you drop I couldn’t get to you fast enough. When you looked up at me I knew I’d never be the same.” He pulled his hands out of her grasp and ran one through his hair. His expression changed to one of panic. “I can’t believe I just said that to you. You must think I’m crazy.”

“Actually, I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same when I looked at you. I’ve never been looked at with such care and compassion and I felt like I could see everything I needed to know about you when I looked in your eyes.”

His grin spread slowly across his face, starting with the tilt of the corners of his lips until it reached his eyes. He reached out for her hands again and brought them to his lips, kissing each one of her fingers before twining them with his own and rested them on the table between them.

“I’m glad I’m not the only crazy one here then.” His gaze went from conspiratorial to heated in seconds, making Amanda’s body flush with warmth under his eyes. Before he could say or do anything else, their pizza was set on the table between them.

Reluctantly, Amanda released Bob’s hands and smiled when he handed her a plate with the first slice of pizza. Steam was still pouring off the food, and off the two of them, so Amanda busied herself with a sip of her drink before gently blowing on her pizza.

They ate in companionable silence with their chewing and the other patrons the only sounds around them. Amanda was comfortable with him even though she really didn’t know him. She’d never felt that way about another man, even her college boyfriend who she’d dated for close to a year.

When they finished their pizza Bob boxed up the rest and paid the bill. He held her hand as they walked to his car. Once he’d secured her inside and rested the pizza on the seat behind her he climbed in his own seat and turned to her.

“I’m not ready for tonight to be over. I know you don’t know me, but I want to get to know you. I have roommates but we could go for a walk or something?”

Amanda chewed on her lip, considering her options. She didn’t want the night to end either, feeling like the magical bubble they’d found themselves in would pop if she went home. She closed her eyes and took a breath for courage then said, “Why don’t you come back to my place?”

When her eyes focused back on his he was smiling at her. “That sounds perfect. If you’re sure.”

Amanda smiled and squeezed his hand in silent agreement. Bob drove back to Nick’s so Amanda could get her car then followed her to her apartment.

Amanda just hoped she made the right choice inviting him over.

Come back next week to see if Amanda regrets her choice! 

The post A Piece of Me, part two appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

A Piece of Me, part one

Amanda woke up feeling dizzy. Her head hurt and her eyes didn’t want to open. It was like being under water where everything is fuzzy.

Slowly, she heard noises, closer and closer, like she was surrounded. Panic gripped her hard, wondering why there were so many people in her apartment. Amanda took a deep breath and told herself it had to be the TV. The only possible explanation was she fell asleep with the TV on.

After a few calming deep breaths she forced her eyes open only to immediately clamp them shut. Not only did she fall asleep with the TV on but with all the lights on too. It was way too bright. She struggled to remember the night before, wondering if possibly she’d drunk herself stupid before passing out. Otherwise the light wouldn’t seem so bright and the sounds wouldn’t be so hazy.

A hand touched her shoulder and she screamed. Struggling to sit up, Amanda realized she couldn’t move. What the hell?

“Where am I?” she shouted, confused and suddenly terrified. Had she been drugged and kidnapped? What did they want with her?

“Miss, it’s okay. We’re getting you help,” a deep, rich voice said.

Amanda didn’t want to be attracted to her kidnapper, but something about his voice was so soothing. It was like a big bowl of mac n cheese with a side of warm bread. Was there such thing as a comfort voice like there was comfort food?

She settled again, not minding his touch, and pried her eyes open again. She squinted against the bright lights and found eyes that went with the voice. Eyes so blue they were almost silver. Eyes that made her forget everything. Including…

“Miss, can you tell me your name?”

“Uh, I’m… uh…”

The eyes glistened with concern and fear. He looked at someone else, someone near her feet, and flashed a look of panic.

“It’s okay, miss. They’ll be here soon.”

Who? Amanda wanted to ask, but she couldn’t get the words past her lips. All she could do was stare into the blue eyes above her and wonder why he was in her apartment and who was coming for her.

His hand glided over her cheek and into her hair in a loving caress. He whispered to her that she would be okay and that someone would be there soon. Amanda’s eyes slipped closed again before she heard commotion near her feet.

She tried to sit up but couldn’t. The comforting touch left and she was assaulted by the scent of latex and disinfectant. The combination made her nauseous and she groaned.

“Does anyone know her name?” shouted a voice near her left ear.

“Amanda,” she managed to groan. “My name is Amanda.”

“Okay, Amanda. We’re going to lift you now. Just hold still and we’ll get you out of here.”

She nodded then waited and four pairs of hands lifted her up a foot and set her down on something comfortable. She figured they moved her to her bed and was glad she would get to sleep again. She was still so tired.

“Can you open your eyes, Amanda?” someone asked off to her right.

She forced her eyes open and saw an EMT hovering over her. Panic set in again, trying to figure out what happened and what was going on.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“We’re not sure ma’am, but we’ll get you to the hospital and they’ll take care of you.”

“How did you get into my apartment?”

The EMT exchanged a glance with one on the other side of her bed and looked back down at her. “Ma’am, we’re not at your apartment. You passed out while grocery shopping at Nick’s. You’re in the frozen food section of Nick’s.”

Embarrassment washed over Amanda. She knew she’d been run down lately but she didn’t think she was quite that bad. Now she was on a gurney and headed to the hospital because she passed out in public.

The EMT’s rolled her out of the store and into the back of the waiting ambulance. Store clerks and customers watched in morbid fascination as she cruised past and Amanda knew she would have to find someplace new to shop. No way could she face these people again.

Especially blue eyes.

Damn, he was hot too. Rich brown hair with a hint of red, broad shoulders, and the most caring eyes she’d ever seen. Too bad she’d never see him again.

At the hospital Amanda went through a series of tests. She told the doctors she’d been sick and hadn’t eaten much lately and they finally deduced she passed out from extremely low blood sugar caused by a severe sinus infection. After a few hours of observation she was released with a prescription for antibiotics and doctor’s orders to get something to eat.

Amanda put her clothes back on and retrieved her purse, glad someone thought to put it on the gurney with her. It wasn’t until she was about to walk out of the ER that she realized she didn’t have her car. It was still parked outside Nick’s.

She turned to go back to the desk and ask for the name of a local cab company when she heard her name.

“Amanda?”

The voice sounded pained, scared. But she knew that voice. She knew she’d know that voice forever. It only took once for him to be imbedded into her brain and now she was stuck with him.

She turned slowly toward the waiting area and saw Blue Eyes approaching her.

“Amanda. Thank God you’re okay. Are they releasing you?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I have a sinus infection and hadn’t eaten enough. The doctor said I’ll be fine but I need to eat. Of course first I need to get back to my car.”

“That’s why I’m here. Go to dinner with me. Then we’ll go get your car.”

Amanda eyed him curiously. “Why?”

He shrugged and smiled at her. His smile was every bit as gorgeous as the rest of him. She knew all he had to do was smile and she’d be putty in his hands. “Because I prefer eating dinner with a beautiful woman instead of alone. And it’s doctor’s orders.”

Amanda smiled shyly and peeked up at him from under her lashes. “Okay.”

 

Who is the mystery man? Does he feel the same? Come back next week to find out!

The post A Piece of Me, part one appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

Waiting On You, part three

Jayme looked down at their clasped hands and realized she wanted to believe everything Kurt was saying. Could she really just stay there and trust him? She felt safe, yes, but was that enough?

Her brown eyes searched hers. Kurt looked like he was in pain, like it hurt him that Jayme didn’t trust him. Like he wanted nothing more from her than exactly what he said; a chance to talk and get to know each other.

“How about this?” Kurt asked. “We’ll get through tonight, talking or just sleeping, whatever you want to do. Tomorrow, you make the call. If you want to go home, I’ll take you as soon as we can get a flight out. If you want to stay through the weekend, we’ll do that.”

Jayme considered him for a moment. Something in her desperately wanted to say yes to him, to trust him. It’d been a while since she’d let herself trust a man. Maybe it was time she tried.

After all, she did seek him out.

“Okay,” she whispered, struggling to meet his eyes. He looked so relieved that she smiled. He grinned back at her and released her hands. Kurt stood and backed himself up to the chair at the edge of the room. Jayme was still perched on the edge of the bed, facing Kurt. She toed off her shoes and scooted back on the bed until she was resting her back against the headboard.

“What do you want to know?” Kurt asked tentatively.

“What’s your last name?” Jayme asked.

Kurt smiled. “Evans.”

“Kurt Evans,” Jayme rolled it around on her tongue. It had a nice ring to it, fitting somehow.

“What do you drive when it’s too cold for your motorcycle?”

“I have an old Jeep Wrangler. It’s on its last legs, but I love it. I bought it new when I turned seventeen. I worked around the house then got a job as soon as I could and saved everything. It’s been a great ride.”

Jayme smiled at him, catching onto his excitement and love of his vehicle. “What do you do when you’re not working?”

“I’m in school part time. My mom died when I was little and my dad died a few years ago. He was heartbroken and never got over losing my mom. Unfortunately he was in debt up to his eyeballs so I’ve been on my own since he died. I have some scholarships, but they didn’t cover everything so I started working to make up the rest. I don’t want to take out loans because I saw what debt did to my dad. In another year or so I’ll have my degree and hopefully can quit waiting tables.”

“What’s your degree in?” Jayme had never known the sadness she saw in his eyes and she was desperate to pull it away from him. A part of her wanted to wrap her arms around him and squeeze his grief away.

“Education. Special ed actually. My college has been great about letting me take whatever classes are available. I need a masters for special ed so I’m sort of doing both programs together. The only classes I have left for my undergrad are electives so they let me move on to grad classes while I finish up the electives.”

Jayme was astonished. He was every bit as perfect as she thought he might be. She could feel the last of her walls coming down, crumbling to the ground between them. Kurt was the strongest man she’d ever met, probably the kindest too.

She patted the bed beside her and he raised his eyes in question. She did it again and he slowly approached her. Kurt settled onto the bed, not close enough to touch Jayme, but on the bed. She leaned her hear onto his shoulder and wrapped her arm through his. She scooted closer so their legs were touching from hip to foot.

Kurt tensed with her touch, but when Jayme rubbed circles on his arm with her thumb he relaxed. “Are you really this good of a guy?”

He laughed. “I would never lie to you. I’m just a regular guy. Everything I told you is the truth. I love kids, I always have, but working with special needs kids is just something I’ve done forever. I have a cousin who’s special needs and I would sit and play with him when we were kids. As we got older I realized he was one of my favorite people in the world and I wanted to be around people like him all the time. He’s amazing, but misunderstood by so many people. I want to give other kids a chance to feel accepted.”

Kurt looked at her when he finished what he was saying. Jayme took advantage of their closeness and leaned up, sealing her lips to his. He flinched at first, surprised by her forwardness so quickly after her near meltdown, but recovered quickly. Their lips melted together, softening as their kiss deepened. Kurt’s hand came up to her cheek and rested against her skin. He sighed at her touch.

Jayme boosted herself up to bring their lips level. Her lips parted and she traced the seam of his with her tongue. He opened tentatively, obviously letting her take the lead. When her hand slid around his neck and threaded into his hair she knew she was a goner.

Jayme leaned back onto the bed and brought Kurt with her. He kept his body off hers but she felt the heat of him against her side. She ached for him, wanting him in a way she’d never wanted another man, but she knew she wasn’t ready for that.

“I love kissing you,” he murmured against her lips before taking her mouth again.

She felt him hard against her hip but it didn’t worry her. Jayme was equally turned on. They kissed on the bed for what felt like hours, hands roaming and tongues exploring, but clothes staying firmly in place.

“I’m not ready for sex,” she finally told him. She was getting tired. It was almost 3 am and she’d been up since 6:00 the previous morning for work.

“I’m not ready to stop kissing you,” he grinned. “Can I hold you? I know that’s not manly, but I want to know what it feels like to wake up with you in my arms.”

Jayme nodded shyly. “That would be nice.”

As they drifted off to sleep Kurt whispered, “Best first date. Ever.”

Jayme agreed and slept soundly in his arms knowing she wanted to sleep right there with him forever.

The post Waiting On You, part three appeared first on Mary E Thompson.

Waiting On You, part two

Make sure you check out part one too!

Kurt drove along the river, the cool air from the water chilling the night even more. Jayme held onto him tighter, burying her face in his back and weaving her hands under his leather jacket for warmth. She loved the smell of the leather and the butter soft feel of it against her skin.

Kurt’s muscles jumped as Jayme explored his stomach. The motorcycle slowed briefly before Kurt hit the gas and they took off, leaving Jayme clutching to him instead of teasing him.

When he started to slow down again Jayme looked around. She smiled to herself as the sign for the airport came into view. She’d always loved sitting off the road near the end of the runway and watching planes take off and land.

Kurt drove by her usual turn off and Jayme wondered if he knew another place until he pulled into long term parking. Once in a parking space, Kurt turned off the engine and removed his helmet. “Are you ready?”

“Ready for what? Why are we at the airport?”

Kurt winked and said, “You wanted crazy. Let’s go.”

Jayme took his offered hand and let him lead her into the airport. He approached a ticket counter and said, “We need the two cheapest tickets leaving tonight.”

“What?” Jayme asked. She thought he was honestly crazy and was starting to think twice about being there with him.

The ticket agent looked equally confused. “Um, where would you like to go?”

“Anywhere. It’s our first date and I’m going to make sure it’s one she never forgets because it’ll be her last first date.”

“That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Let’s see, we have a flight to Miami in thirty minutes or to Chicago in forty minutes. They’re the same price.”

“What do you think?” Kurt asked Jayme who was still gaping at him.

“Are you serious about this?”

“Absolutely. It’ll be fun. I’ve never been to either one so let’s go. We’ll come home tomorrow if you want or in a couple of days. Whenever you need to be back at work.”

“This is crazy,” Jayme mumbled to herself.

Kurt grinned at her and cupped her chin in his hands. He brushed his thumb over her lower lip and said, “God I want to kiss you. I’m trying to wait until we’re in the air though. But you need to choose. Where do you want to go tonight?”

Jayme blushed and shook her head. “Chicago. Pizza sounds good right now.”

Kurt nodded as if she made perfect sense. “Chicago it is.”

They made their way through the airport and waited with the other passengers for their flight to board. Kurt let Jayme have the window seat on the plane and they held hands during take-off. In the sky, surrounded by stars and hundreds of other passengers, Jayme leaned into Kurt. “I will never forget this.”

“Neither will I,” Kurt whispered, a breath away from Jayme.

His fingers twirled a lock of her hair. He sucked in a breath, watching her as her eyes drifted closed. They both knew it was coming, both ached for it, and with the perfect crazy setting…

Kurt touched his lips to Jayme’s. The first touch was tender and soft, like a soft breeze blowing over them. The sparks Jayme had been expecting lit her up and she hummed her approval of their kiss. Kurt’s fingers wove through her hair and he tilted his head to the side to cover more of her mouth.

Jayme felt the slow burn of desire deep inside. Her lips parted under Kurt’s and their tongues touched tentatively, tasting, teasing, learning each other. All thoughts rushed from her head and Jayme surrendered to the feel of Kurt.

His other hand rested on her hip and her hands fisted in his shirt. The muscles she’d explored on the motorcycle teased her and she took advantage of the darkened interior of the plane to slip her hands under his dress shirt to feel him.

His skin was warm. He moaned against her lips, making them tingle with the vibration, as she worked her way across his body. His fingers found the edge of her sweater and brushed against her bare skin. She nearly jumped at the contact, but Kurt anchored her with his lips.

“You are crazy,” he whispered against her lips.

Jayme laughed and nodded in agreement.

They held each other and kissed for what felt like hours. Their initial exploration continued as much as the plane would allow. By the time they landed in Chicago both were on edge and ready to find a hotel room. Once they got off the plane Kurt found a hotel shuttle to take them somewhere for the night.

“I don’t have any clean clothes. Or a toothbrush. This really is crazy.”

Kurt laughed as he pulled Jayme into the hotel. “We’ll take care of everything tomorrow.”

He asked for a room and complimentary toiletry packets for both of them then led Jayme to their room. She started to get nervous as they got in the elevator. Was she really going to spend the night with a man she barely knew. Hell, she realized she didn’t even know his last name.

Kurt let them into the room and tossed their toiletry packets into the bathroom before leading Jayme into the room. She stared at the king sized bed staring back at her and thought she was going to have a panic attack.

Jayme paced the room, trying to figure out what she was going to do. She didn’t have the money to buy a flight home. She was crazy for ever thinking this was a good idea. Now she was in a hotel room with a man she didn’t know and he thought they were about to have sex. Jayme could get raped and killed and no one would ever know. She was crazy, and it was going to be the last thing she ever did.

Kurt stepped in front of her and stopped her pacing. He ran his hands up and down her arms and forced her to focus on him. “What happened? What changed? You’re freaking out. What did I do?”

“I can’t do this. This is nuts. I’m not this woman. I don’t go out with men I don’t know. I don’t vanish in the middle of the night. And I don’t sleep with strangers.”

Kurt pulled her to the edge of the bed and made her sit. He knelt in front of her, putting him slightly below eye level. “Nothing is going to happen tonight. Call someone and tell them exactly where you are. Give them my work information, you know where I work. Tell them anything and everything you want. Then get to know me. I brought you here because I thought it would be fun. I’m not trying to have you flip out. And I promise you, nothing will happen. In the morning we can head straight home or we can enjoy the weekend. Whatever you want.”

Jayme looked at Kurt, trying to understand him, to make sense of everything he was telling her. And for the first time in a long time, she felt safe.

What will Jayme do? Is she going to give Kurt a real chance? Is Kurt as nice as he seems?

The post Waiting On You, part two appeared first on Mary E Thompson.