Lulu's Loves Read online

“I think I have to be, or you’ll leave.”

  He pulled his shirt over his head. I’d seen his chest at the beach, but this; this was different. He slipped his pants off, and then, to my surprise, he slipped his underwear off. Naked, he crawled in my bed. The sight of him left me breathless.

  His body is beautiful…Breathe, Lulu. Breathe! You have to get naked too, but naked bodies sharing kisses, in a bed with this gorgeous man with no sex, is more than I think I can bear.

  He lay there waiting – watching. Finally, I gathered the courage and slipped down to my underwear. I took a deep breath. Biting my bottom lip nervously, I continued until I too was naked.

  “Oh my God, Thom. I don’t know if I’m as strong as you think I am.” I laughed, nervously, pushing my hand through my hair.

  “We can do it, Lulu.”

  I crawled in beside him and he pulled me close. The feel of his skin touching mine left me excited in ways I’d never felt. He turned me in his arms, so that he was holding my body, spooning me. He kissed the nape of my neck and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me even closer. I held my breath.

  “What are you doing?” he whispered in my ear.

  “Praying,” I said with a sigh.

  “Me, too.”

  We stayed just like that most of the night. I dreamed, but it wasn’t in my sleep. I couldn’t sleep. I dreamt of him making love to me. I dreamt of ‘the next time,’ wondering when that might be. I dreamt of the exploration–the pleasure. I dreamt of the feel of him inside me.

  At six, he stirred; it only made me want him more. “Are you awake?” he whispered.

  “Yes.” He raised the covers and scooted closer. He’d never moved very far away, but there we were once more, skin touching skin.

  “Don’t. Move. A. Muscle,” I said, when he finally had his arms around me.

  “What?” He laughed, nuzzling my neck.

  “I mean it. Lay still. I haven’t slept all night. All I could think about was you making love to me, and if you’re moving around, I just don’t think I can be strong a minute longer.”

  “Tell me your dreams, Lulu.” He kissed the back of my neck and held me tighter. Thank God the rest of his body remained still.

  “I can’t. Talking about it…” I inhaled deeply and then blew the breath out. “I’ll have an orgasm if I even think about it again.”

  “I love your honest heart. I love your laugh. I love the feel of your body touching mine, and I long for that day.”

  “Which day?” I asked.

  “The one where I will slowly enter your body…”

  “STOP!” I cried out and sat upright.

  I looked back at him. He flashed an easy smile that spread across his face. It was like the sunrise when it hits that spot on the horizon where it becomes more than a tease. He pulled me back.

  “Was it hard?” he asked, the smile becoming teasing as I looked in his eyes.

  “A couple of times,” I replied. He laughed out loud.

  “I don’t want you to leave me.”

  “I have to. My classes start next week and I have to get ready.” I pulled him closer. Placing my hands on his face, I drew him to me for a kiss. It was the most passionate kiss I’d ever shared. Finally, I pulled away, quickly. I threw the covers back and moved toward the bathroom to shower.

  “Lulu?”

  “Thom?” I replied, looking back over my shoulder.

  “You are beautiful.”

  BREATHE, LULU, BREATHE!

  “So are you, Thom Miller.”

  As I turned, he started singing.

  Your body is a wonderland

  Your body is a wonder – I’ll use my hands

  Your body is a wonderland

  I stopped again and turned back. He was lying there with his hands behind his head, watching me. A smile rested teasingly on his lips.

  “I can’t wait.”

  I showered and when I returned, Thom was dressed, waiting for me on the sofa.

  “Even fresh-faced, you are beautiful,” he commented at my lack of make-up.

  I couldn’t think about him right now because a dam was about to burst.

  How did this happen in such a short time?

  I started gathering my things, chucking them in my bags. When I had everything packed, he rose and helped carry the bags to my car. I went back to double check the room before leaving the key. When I got back to my car, he was leaned against his, legs crossed at the ankles, waiting. As I approached, he opened his arms and I stepped closer.

  “I have so much I want to say.” As he began to talk, I felt the lump in my throat. He noticed and grinned. “I’ll start with the safety talk.”

  He winked at me. “Drive safely. I want you to come back to me. Call me, or text me when you get home. No texting and driving. I’ll call you at least every other day, every day most likely. What time is best for you?”

  “My classes will end by two, but I’ll have prep for the next day. I’ll be available after five Monday through Thursday and Fridays, after two.

  “You’ll share dinner with your dad,” he smiled. “I have to be there at the pub for happy hour so how about we plan on sevenish?”

  “I will look forward to sevenish rolling around and seeing your name pop up on my caller ID.” I felt the lump in my throat grow larger.

  “I don’t want you to leave me. What a surprise you’ve been these last few days. I can’t wait to surprise you.”

  “You already have,” I replied. “I have to go.”

  I got in the car, and as I put the seatbelt in place, he leaned in to kiss me. “What have you done to me, Lulu Welk?”

  “Thank you for finding me,” I replied.

  Driving home I couldn’t get Thom Miller off my mind. Part of me was anxious, thinking of the next time we’d be together. Part of me was apprehensive, hoping there really would be a next time. Somehow though, I knew there would be. I was pretty sure what we shared couldn’t be faked. We could have had sex and I’d never hear from him again. But we didn’t.

  I called Dad when I got close to Savannah. “On my way, I’ll have dinner ready when you get home.”

  “I can’t wait to hear about your trip,” he replied. I wondered what I would tell him.

  I stopped by the grocery store and grabbed things that I knew we needed, and the things I wanted for the dinner I’d make for him.

  He loves pork chops.

  I made my way by the meat counter. My phone rang. I looked, and when I saw that it was Thom, my heart raced.

  “I’m back in Jacksonville, stopped by the grocery store, and was going to call you when I got to the house.” I said before he said hello.

  “Thank you for the update, but I called to say that I miss you already.”

  “I missed you as soon as I put the car in drive,” I told him.

  “I’ll call you later.”

  What is happening?

  “So?” Dad asked; his way to inquire about my weekend.

  “Best vacation ever!” I announced.

  “What made it so great?” he asked, with a chuckle. I looked up and smiled. Realization made him question me. “You met a guy?”

  “No. A man. Daddy, I met an incredible man.” I took a bite of food from my plate and gave him a minute.

  “You need a man, Lulu, not a guy. You’re too mature, too smart, for just a guy to satisfy you.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “Intellectually,” he stammered. “But after Jason, and you being alone for so long, I’m sure sexually as well.”

  I started laughing. “Oh, the conversations we’ve shared over the years! I didn’t have sex with him, but I want to.”

  “So you’ll be going back?”

  “I hope so. I don’t know when, but I hope so.”

  “Tell me about him,” he encouraged.

  “His name is Thom Miller…”

  At eight, my phone rang. “Hey there,” I said as I answered. I was in the living room watching TV with Dad. I
went to my room.

  “Am I interrupting time with your dad?”

  “He’s watching TV. Our evenings are usually quiet. We talk over dinner. I’m glad you called.”

  “We were slammed for happy hour, so it’s later than I wanted. End of summer,” he explained. “Lulu, I don’t want this to sound weak or whiney…I wish you were here. I don’t know how long I can wait to see you. I’ve had a hard time clearing my head of the feeling of holding you last night.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I’ve never needed a woman, Lulu. Wanted them, but never needed. I need you. What if we planned a quick weekend in Savannah? It’s halfway. I could take the time away from the pub. Danno is more than capable,” he suggested.

  “When?” I asked, allowing the idea to sink in.

  “Friday night.”

  “This Friday?” I asked. I know he heard the shock in my question.

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t want to say no, but…”

  “Too soon?” he asked, his voice full of disappointment.

  Think how to turn this around, Lulu.

  “How about the next Friday? I have to get the lesson plans and everything ready. If we do it next Friday, I have the week to complete all that, and then I’ll be ready for classes the following week.”

  “If we do it next Friday, you may not be able to walk on Monday.”

  “Oh!” He chuckled at my reaction. He said it in such a way that it caught me totally off guard. He surprised me, and he liked it.

  “I’ll make the plans, but I’m warning you. I’m going to be so ready for you that I will eat you alive.”

  “Thom?”

  “Yes, Lulu?” he replied. I could visualize the smile on his face.

  “That’s never happened to me before.”

  “Jesus, Lulu. You better be ready for me!”

  “I’m counting the days.”

  I hung up and went back to the living room. “The man?” Dad asked. I replied with a grin.

  Later, as I got ready, I looked at my bed and felt lonely. We’d only shared a bed one night, but I couldn’t wait for the next one. Thoughts of another weekend with Thom filled my mind until I fell asleep.

  My clock went off at six. I had ten days to get everything ready for my new position at the college and to be ready for a weekend in Savannah with Thom. Setting my clock while I still wasn’t working was a way to get my routine together. I showered and dressed for the day.

  Running by the college, I grabbed a cup of coffee with Professor Duncan and discussed the expectations of the first week. I was ready; I just wanted to be sure I was ready. I went to the English library and researched a few things that I wanted to have prepared and sat at the big table with my laptop taking notes.

  “You know you have access to a research assistant.” I looked up and Professor Wynn was watching me. He was one of the younger professors at the university.

  “I know!” I smiled. “But I know how and where to find what I was looking for.”

  “You’ll get over that,” he laughed. “Are you ready?”

  “As ready as one can be for their first week of teaching. I’m kind of obsessive when it comes to things like this.” I turned the computer so he could see the schedule I was working on.

  “Impressive. But are you ready for the students?” he asked in a cocky way.

  “Professor Wynn, I’ve been a student for the last seventeen years. I’ve experienced jerks, introverts, extroverts, know-it-alls and those who actually do know it all but choose to remain silent. I’ve been corrected, talked over, ignored and talked down to. I think I know what I’m in for.”

  “You’ll do great. I have no doubt, Ms. Welk,” he said and walked away.

  AM I READY? I sounded convincing.

  Thom and I talked every night. He wanted to know about my life as much as I wanted to know what was going on in his.

  He takes an interest in me, so different than what I experienced with Jason.

  The closer it got, the more the trip to Savannah filled my thoughts. It was all I could concentrate on. I shopped, packed my bag, and when Friday came, I was anxious. I made the two-hour drive north straight from work. He’d told me to meet him at the visitor’s center. The red Shelby was waiting when I pulled in. What I experienced next was like watching a scene from a movie unfold.

  Thom was leaning on the car, his legs crossed, his arms folded over his chest. I swear I’d never seen a more beautiful man. He wore sunglasses, faded jeans, and a white button down shirt. His hair curled at his collar and his smile widened as I got closer. It made me happy. I parked and before I had the ignition turned off, he was tugging at the door handle to open it.

  “Get out of this car–now!” he laughed. He had me in his arms before I was completely standing. “I couldn’t wait for you to get here, Lulu.”

  He devoured my mouth with passionate kisses, lightly biting my bottom lip, slipping his tongue in my mouth to explore, pulling my body so close that I could feel his arousal.

  “Stop. I. Can’t. Breathe,” I panted. I closed my eyes thinking that I’d just experienced exactly what he told me I would when I arrived. Now I wondered if every experience he’d taunted me with over the phone would be as vivid as this one.

  “Because I left you breathless?” he chuckled.

  “Where are we going?” He looked at me. “We need to go there-now.”

  “Follow me.” His grin was teasing.

  We jumped back in our cars, and I followed him to the Marriott at the east end of town. He parked and got out. Talking to the valet, he motioned for me to join him. He grabbed my hand and led me to the bar.

  “The room will be ready in half an hour. They’ll deliver our things.” It was just after three when we sat down.

  “A sissy white wine, and a bourbon, neat.” The bartender laughed and produced three bottles of white wine for me to choose from.

  Thom leaned close to whisper in my ear. “I thought about a bed and breakfast, but I didn’t know if you howled or screamed during love making.”

  “Oh! You surprise me sometimes.” I blushed. “I’ve never had reason to howl or scream.”

  “You will.” His grin was sexy and telling. I was in for a big weekend. “I ordered room service already. Lots of food. I expect we’ll be hungry. Do you need a bite of something now? Did you eat lunch? I’ll order an appetizer.”

  I laughed at the rapid-fire conversation. “An appetizer would be nice.”

  Finally, they came to let us know our room was ready. Butterflies overcame me; my insides were flip-flopping, and I thought I’d be sick.

  Thom noticed. “Everything all right?” he asked.

  “I’m a little nervous.”

  “Don’t be. You choose the pace. I’m not going to rush or push you. We can go as fast or as slow as you want.”

  “That’s what I’m nervous about,” I tried to joke.

  “Don’t be nervous, Lulu,” he said, and snuck a kiss behind my ear.

  The room had a king-sized bed. I wandered to the window and peeked out. The Savannah River hosted a tanker ship of some kind that moved at a snail’s pace past the hotel. I saw a bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, and a kitchenette with several bottles of wine and liquor waiting. I turned to find Thom watching me.

  “Nice,” I said.

  He noticed my nervousness. “We’ve already been naked, Lulu.” His grin was teasing.

  I walked to where he stood. He held his arms open and I stepped into his embrace. I ran my hands up his chest and started unbuttoning his shirt. He reached for me.

  “Wait.” He did and I finished with the buttons. I tugged the tail of the shirt out of his jeans and threw it back off his shoulders. I kissed his chest and he pulled me closer. While we shared passionate kisses, I worked on his belt and the opening of his jeans. Pushing them down his hips, I let my hand slip inside. I heard him draw in a breath.

  “Lulu, stop.”

  “You better have a really good reason to say
that.” I had him in my hand and allowed my fingers to lightly touch him. I felt a shiver run up his back. He didn’t really want me to stop.

  He kicked his shoes away and pushed the jeans down to step out of them. I never took my hand away. Finally, he wrapped his hand around mine. I felt him guide my hand to pleasure him. He was showing me how he wanted me to touch him. Suddenly, I felt a desire I’d never experienced. I dropped to my knees in front of him.

  “Lulu, stop. You don’t have to do this.”

  “I’ve never done it before because I wanted to.” I looked up at him. “I want to.”

  The look on his face told me he understood what I meant. I took him in my mouth and ran my tongue up and back and then around. I heard him moan and tightened my lips around him. I took him as far as I could, and he pushed me back so I wouldn’t try to go further. I moved forward again, and felt his hands grab my shoulders as he tried to stop me.

  “Jesus, Lulu.” His voice seemed to tremble. “Stop.”

  He raised me from my knees and kissed me. I could taste him in the kiss.

  “Jesus,” he said, again.

  “I didn’t want to stop. I want to please you.”

  “Don’t you think that just the idea that you wanted to would please me?” I wore a short sundress and he lifted the hem and pulled it over my head.

  I was wearing lacy underwear and a matching bra. He took one of my breasts in his hand. As he moved his mouth close, I felt his breath through the lace. I tried not to, but I felt my body arch toward him. His hands went to my back and he unhooked the bra. He slipped it away and kissed my bare breasts.

  “Come with me.” He took my hand and led the way.

  He was naked, and all that remained were my panties. We went to the bed and he hooked a finger through the waist and hip, sliding them away. His hands on my skin were appreciating my body wherever they touched. None of it was hurried; it was slow, euphoric torture. He kissed places that I never dreamed could bring me so close to the edge, and then he’d move to another place on my body. I squirmed and I begged.

  I cried out, softly. “Please, Thom, now…” I was panting as though I’d run a marathon.