Jewel Ann - Idle Bloom

“What are we—” I look down and see he’s wearing his leather work boots. “Why are you—”

“Get out.” Oliver offers his hand and I take it. He leads me around to the side of Chance’s truck facing the brick wall of the alleyway building. Shrugging off his shirt, he smirks.

I look all around us, feeling a little nervous when the realization hits me. He drops his shorts and boxer briefs and steps out of them.

“Oli!” My eyes bug out. “Oh my God, you’re not seriously going to—”

His lips crash against mine as he pulls up my dress and lifts me up pressing my back against Chance’s truck. I’m still sans panties and before I can even catch my breath, he plunges into me. “Oh God!”

His fullness drains my lungs, and he doesn’t give me a second to acclimate before he lifts me up and lets me fall back onto him. Pinning me against the truck with his body, his hands slide to my breasts. His thumbs dip under the material and rub over my taut nipples.

“Is this how you imagined it?” His breath scorches against my neck as he sucks and bites at my skin.

“Yes …” I moan, meeting him thrust for thrust while holding onto his bare shoulders and digging the heels of my feet into his hard, muscular ass. I arch my back and he exposes my nipple sucking it into his mouth. “Oli!” He drags it through his teeth and repeats with the other side.

“Harder!” What the hell? Did I just yell that?

His mouth moves back to mine as he grips my hips and slams me onto him, hitting the most sensitive spot. I rock my pelvis, finding the perfect edge of pleasure as my clit ebbs and flows against his skin with the sensual tide of his pelvis.

“You’re everything,” he murmurs against my lips while taking my hands above my head and interlacing our fingers. “No take backs…” he speeds up his pace “…not … ever.” I squeeze his hands and whimper into his mouth as fireworks explode in the most incredible birthday celebration ever. He stills, keeping me pinned to the truck. “Oh dear God that was … fucking incredible.” His labored breath washes over my skin and my head collapses onto his shoulder.

“Happy Birthday to me.” I giggle.

He eases me to my feet and opens the driver’s side door to the truck. “Here.” There’s a wad of napkins in his hand. “I don’t think gravity is going to be your friend.”

I grimace with a little embarrassment, taking the napkins and wiping between my legs. He bends down to pick up his shorts and briefs.

“Wait.”

He looks up.

“Just stand there a minute.” I grin and let my eyes explore his naked body and boots. Firm muscles bronzed by the sun, messy copper hair, brilliant blue eyes, and those abs … I could run my tongue over them and give myself another orgasm. Oliver is so sexy it’s not even fair.

He tilts his head to the side, waiting for my eyes to find his again. “Are you done?” I wet my lips and smirk. “Not really, but I’ll finish the tour later.”

He pulls on his briefs and shorts. “You just want me for my body. Do you know how it makes me feel when I see you looking at me like eye candy? I’m a person, you know, with real feelings.”

“You’re right. I do just want you for your body, and if you don’t stop getting your pretty face scarred up, I’m going to have to throw a brown bag over your head when we’re having sex.”

“Get in the car before I swat your ass, birthday girl.”

Did he just threaten to spank me? “You’re all talk, Mr. Konrad.” I look back while sashaying to the car.

He looks at his watch. “We still have ten minutes, Ms. Graham. I think that’s plenty of time to rosy up that fine ass of yours.”

I stop and look over the top of the car at him as he pulls on his shirt while flashing me a suggestive raise of his brows.

“What do you mean we have ten minutes? Are we being timed?”

“You could say that.” Oliver lifts a leg up and pulls off one boot then the other before tossing them in the trunk and retrieving his shoes.

“Get in … We’ll save the corporal punishment for later.”

I slide in the seat and glare at him. “Who’s timing us?”

Oliver starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot. “Chance.”

I gasp. “You told Chance?”

He grins. “I told him I needed to borrow his truck for twenty minutes no questions asked, and I also needed him to keep Maggie occupied inside during those twenty minutes.”

“Did you tell him why?”

“Sure. I told him I needed it to do a favor for my neighbor before I left town with you.”

“But … I … when did you call him?”

“My God, you’re full of questions. I called him after I sent you out to the car. That’s when I grabbed my boots as well.” He looks over at me. “What?”

I shake my head. “Nothing. I just love you. That’s all.”

He holds my hand, circling his thumb over my skin. He’s so beautiful and easy to love. I know this same strong hand holds my heart and with the slightest flinch he can crush it.

“I love you too.” He gives me another glance. Honesty radiates from his soft smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes every time he looks at me. I try to imagine the things those eyes have seen because they radiate the emotion from a thousand lifetimes. Sometimes all I see in the depths of his blue eyes are oceans of unshed tears and a permanent void that was once filled by something … someone very special.

Oliver

I’m not sure who that guy was back at the greenhouse. Exhibitionist is not a word I’ve ever used to describe myself. The man I am with Vivian is not the same guy that came home from Portland, or even the same guy that left Boston over three years ago. The changes I see in myself are subtle, well … most of the time. Caroline would have shuddered at the idea of sex in any place but our bedroom or the couch. I’m not sure she ever fantasized about me or sex at all. If she did, I’m certain she would never have told me.

Vivian slips off her shoes and rests her feet on the dash. “Is this okay?”

“What?”

“My feet on your dash because you got a funny look when I put them up here.” She wiggles her toes.

“I was just looking at the pads on the bottom of them.”

“Second skin. Alex brought it home last night. Talk about a lifesaver.”

I nod. “I was wondering … Was your reaction the other day typical? I mean, do you often lose it like that in the face of adversity?”

“And by ‘face of adversity’ you mean finding out the man to whom I gave my virginity, and to whom I declared my love, is married? If that’s what you mean then yes, my reaction would be typical—irate, out of control, somebody’s going to die. Now, the answer to your other question, ‘do I often lose it’ would be no. So don’t lie to me anymore, keep your dick in your pants except when I request you take it out, and don’t ever wear a cowboy hat in the bedroom. If you can follow those simple rules, you shouldn’t have any problem staying on my good side.”

“Cowboy hat? I take it you’re not a country fan.”

“It’s an embarrassing story that I don’t need to think about right now.” She turns on the radio. “Ooo, I like this song. Gotye, ‘Somebody That I Used to Know.’”

She wails out a few lines about being screwed over then she giggles as I shake my head and change the station.

“Oh, leave it. How perfect …” The same cringe-worthy voice goes into seductive lyrics about big birthday balloons.

“Hey, what’s wrong with Katy Perry?” She yells in a whiny voice as I switch stations again.

“Katy’s great. You, my love, sound like a donkey in labor.”

“Oh my gosh! You shit! I can’t believe you …” She punches my shoulder then folds her arms across her chest and stares out her window.

“What? You just told me not to lie to you, to keep my dick in my pants, and not wear a cowboy hat. What rule did I violate?”

“Just shut up granny driver.”

“Granny driver?”

“Yeah, granny driver, drop the hammer for goodness sake. I don’t want to spend all day in the car with your honest insults.”

“This, coming from the girl who plays with two sticks and a ball of yarn all day. But I love it when you get sassy with me. As long as you’re not throwing shit at my head, I think your fieriness is hot as hell.”

“Yeah, well, cool your balls, buddy. I’m not sure bestiality is legal in Connecticut. Hee haw!”

“I didn’t say you were a donkey, I said you sounded like one, and for your information I believe it is legal in Connecticut. So don’t be surprised if I try to mount my favorite ass later.”

She tries to keep her somber face, but she can’t hold it in. We both fall into a fit of laughter. I glance over and she’s wiping tears from her eyes and can’t stop giggling.

“Mount your favorite ass?” She continues to laugh. “That’s just great. You called my singing an ass in labor. Jeez, Oli, how romantic. You sure know how to woo a girl.”

“I aim to please.”

* * *

The drive here was two of the most enjoyable, nonsexual hours of my life. I love the easy conversations we have and the playful banter. Vivian has a facial expression for every emotion, and I could spend the rest of my life counting and memorizing them. Calling her smart, sexy, and funny sounds like such a cliché, but that’s what she is with me. An uncontrollable smile here, a wink there, the brush of her fingertips along the nape of my neck while I’m driving … it’s all the little things with her that add up to the best moments of my life.

“KISS, Oli,” she says while opening the door. I lean over to taste her cherry lips and she shakes her head. “The acronym, dummy: Keep It Simple Stupid. I’m going to tell them everything before we leave, but there’s no need to back the dump truck up to the front door. You’re my neighbor. We’ve been dating this summer. You worship the ground I walk on … just the basics, babe, stick to the basics.” She winks. Ah, there it is. Then she smiles. Another favorite.

I meet her at the front of the car and offer my hand. She takes it and leads me up to the door. No need to argue with her little jabs. Truth—I do worship the ground she walks on.

“Vivvy!” her mom squeals pulling Vivvy into her arms. “Happy birthday, baby girl.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

She looks back at me and takes my hand again, pulling me into the house. “Mom, this is Oliver … my boyfriend. Oliver this is my mom, Lydia.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Graham.” I shake her hand. She looks between me and Vivian with an exuberant grin and wide eyes.

“Lydia, please. So boyfriend, huh?”

“I hope so.” I look at Vivian and her cheeks turn pink.

“You get in a fight?”

I laugh. “More like a home invasion.”

“Oh dear! Did they catch the person who did it?”

I feel Vivian’s scowl. “Yes, as a matter of fact they did.”

“Well I hope they get the punishment they deserve.”

Vivian coughs then clears her throat. “Where’s Dad?”

“Working, sweetie. He’ll be home for dinner. Looks like I’ll be setting three extra place settings instead of two.”

“Three?” Vivian leads me to the back porch where her mom lets a dog inside.

“Rosenburg!” Vivian ditches me and picks up the little white fur ball. “I missed you.” She nuzzles her face into his fluffy coat. “Oli, meet Rosenburg.” She hands it … him, to me.

“Rosenburg … interesting name.”

“She named him after the founder of Dunkin’ Donuts. Crazy girl.” Lydia shakes her head. “Have a seat.” She gestures to a padded gliding bench.

“Thank you.” I sit next to Vivian. “Didn’t know you had a dog … a dog named Rosenburg.” I smirk at her. “Your doughnut obsession is worse than I thought.”

She winks. “It’ll be fine. I’m in therapy now.”

My dick twitches, feeling ready to give her some more of that therapy.

“She gets her insane metabolism from her father. It’s not fair. I gain weight just thinking about food.” Lydia gives Vivian the stink eye.

“You could have fooled me.” I smile.

Lydia shares a familiar blush that I’ve seen on Vivian’s face a thousand times. She’s not as tall as Vivian and her curves are more prominent, but she has those green eyes and black hair with a few streaks of gray all pulled back into a bun.

“I like him, Vivvy.”