She cried out, and I felt a gush of warmth against the base of my cock. I knew she was coming, and I pushed my way through it. Marginally, she relaxed, and I pushed her forward so she was bent over the counter. She cried out as I slammed inside her over and over. I knew she was getting a bite of pain along with the pleasure, and I also knew she liked it.
I held off as long as I could, and then I came inside the condom, inside Jamie. She remained leaning over the counter, trying to catch her breath. I kissed between her shoulder blades, my lips as tender as her skin. “Are you okay?” I asked.
She nodded, but the only sound she made was a tiny mewling noise.
I laughed and pulled out, going to dispose of the condom. She was shaking out her jeans when I came back into the room.
“Don’t go yet,” I said. I took them from her and motioned her toward my twin bed. “I want to take another look at those scars. And then I want you to tell me about them.” I made my voice as forceful as I could, even though I trembled inside.
“And if I can’t?” She stared at me.
I shrugged. “Tell me what you can.”
By the time I’d kissed them all over and over, I wanted to throw up, just because of the story she told me.
“That feels really good,” she said, as I traced the longest and deepest scar with my lips.
“Good.” I wanted to replace all the bad memories with thoughts of me. When she thought of the scars on her back and her arms, I wanted her to think of me, rather than of anything that happened in the past.
I stroked her back, and watched her closely as she fell asleep. She looked so calm and trusting, the opposite of how she normally looked. My eyes grew heavy, and I followed her into sleep.
When I woke up, Jamie was gone, leaving behind nothing but the memory of the afternoon with her.
8
Mom came in through the door from the garage, jerking me out of my memories of that day with Jamie in the dorm. I tugged my shirt lower and spun to face the counter, pretending to get some coffee. Honestly, I just wanted to hide the bulge in my track pants. Ever since that day, every time I saw Jamie the same thing happened. The memory of the day she was so vulnerable warmed my blood and made me want her all over again.
But Mom was here. And I’d just been with Ash the night before, and my wife was missing. I was an ass for even thinking about Jamie that way. Or Ash, for that matter. My wife, the woman I loved more than anything, was gone, and I was getting wood over someone else. What kind of man was I?
“Mason,” Mom called. “Jamie was just telling me what she’s been up to. Did you hear? She helps to teach at a program for troubled youths.”
“I’m teaching them how to repair cars,” said Jamie as she followed my mom into the kitchen.
“Isn’t that wonderful?” Mom was smiling from ear to ear.
“Wonderful,” I said, distracted by the streak of grease across Jamie’s forehead.
“Mason,” Mom scolded. I was thirty-six years old and my mom still had the ability to make me feel like a teenager.
I tried a smile. “It’s really great, Jamie. I’m glad you found a great way to use your talents.”
Jamie narrowed her eyes at me. She went to the sink and washed the grease from her hands and arms. Mom helped her to wash away the dark smudge on her forehead. All I could think of was slipping up behind her and pushing her shirt up around her shoulders so I could taste her back. I cleared my throat. Hard.
Mom slapped me on the arm. “Mason, stop being so surly. Nobody likes a grump.”
Jamie crossed to the coffeepot and poured herself a mug. She hitched a hip against the counter and stared at me over the rim of the cup. She didn’t blink. She just stared. It totally unnerved me, to the point that I choked on my coffee.
“Mason!” Mom said, coming over to whack me on the back. “What is up with you today? Wasting a good sip of coffee like that…” Then she grinned.
I pinched my lips together tightly. It didn’t feel right laughing while Lynn was missing. It just didn’t.
Mom sobered when she saw the look on my face. “Jamie and I were just talking about going shopping. Would you like to join us?” She stared at me expectantly.
“Not a chance in hell,” I muttered.
Mom gave me that look that only moms can give. “Fine. Stay here.” She turned to Jamie. “Are you ready?”
Jamie dropped her eyes from where they had been resting on my lips and nodded her head. “Of course.”