N. Walters - Past Promises

But that was then. He winced as he thought about his faded sofa and the chair with the duct tape. He definitely needed some new stuff. What was okay for him wasn’t anywhere near good enough for Linda.

Packing away his tools, he headed upstairs to get cleaned up before hitting the grocery store. Linda was busy with a customer, but she saw him and smiled as he was leaving.

She hadn’t agreed to sleep with him again, but she hadn’t said no either. Her smile was warm and inviting. It was enough. For now.

The next few weeks flew by at the speed of light for Linda. Past Promises was doing a brisk business as word got around about her shop and the number of tourists passing through Jamesville increased. Cyndi was promoting Past Promises at her B&B, Stone Manor. The two of them had worked out an advertising campaign where anyone who stayed a night at the B&B got a discount at the store. In return, Linda handed out brochures for Cyndi’s B&B to all her customers.

She’d also hired her first employee. Dana Sampson was finishing her last year of high school. The girl had presented herself the first week the business was open. Quiet but competent, she’d handed Linda a resume and told her she was available to work weekends now and full-time in the summer and maybe beyond. Dana was looking for a job to earn some money while she pursued her passion of painting. She could have had a reception job at her father’s auto body and repair shop, but she didn’t want that. It was the only time during the impromptu interview that Dana had acted like a teenager, screwing up her nose at the thought of working in her father’s garage.

Linda appreciated the girl’s honesty and had hired her a few days later. The girl had immediately become invaluable. She had a wonderful eye for display, was punctual, could follow instructions and was surprisingly good with the customers. The fact that Dana had grown up in Jamesville meant she knew everyone in town and the surrounding area.

As Linda had settled into a routine at work, she’d found time to socialize, getting together with her friends on several occasions for lunch or dinner. Amanda had tagged along with her last weekend when she’d gone to an estate sale an hour’s drive away. Both of them had scored big. Amanda had been in raptures over the boxes of books she’d bought. Linda recognized the enthusiasm in herself. They both loved the old and the unique. She’d taken home four boxes of china and trinkets herself, along with some good costume jewelry, two chairs and a small table.

People in town were beginning to know her on sight now, calling out a greeting to her as she picked up her mail or shopped. It felt…nice.

Linda glanced at the clock. It was almost time for her to open for the day, but she still had a half hour to enjoy her tea. She closed her account book, leaned back in her chair and stared out the front window of Past Promises to Main Street beyond. It was a beautiful May morning, the sun was shining and she was happy.

And Levi was a big part of that happiness.

Levi brought her lunch every other day, stopping to share it with her if she wasn’t busy with customers. He’d lugged boxes, made several furniture deliveries and put up several new shelves in the shop for her.

They spent evenings together just talking, watching movies or even playing board games. She’d discovered his passion for board games when she’d picked up a dozen at a yard sale and brought them upstairs one evening to check to see if they had all their pieces. The games were still being made today, but these were original ones and still in near-mint condition. She knew some collector would love them. They’d ended up playing two of the games. Levi was very competitive, but so was she. Linda had laughed until her stomach hurt.

Some evenings she had to work. With any business, there was always a ton of paperwork to be done. Levi would either leave her alone while she dug through the mounds of paperwork or he would sit in her living room reading or tapping away on his laptop. She had no idea what he was doing and didn’t feel she could ask. After all, they were having an affair, not planning a future together.

Partly, it was a defense mechanism on her part. She knew she was already half in love with Levi but had no idea how much longer he was going to be in Jamesville. She had no clue as to how much money he had, but even with the free rent he was getting from her for his work on the renovation, he had to be thinking about how he was going to live.

Then there were the nights. Her entire body clenched at the mere thought. Levi was an insatiable lover and a generous one. They’d made love everywhere. She could feel her cheeks heating as memories bombarded her. They’d had sex in the bathtub, on the kitchen counter, the table, the sofa and even one night in the stairwell.

He’d come in through the private entrance of the building just as she was locking the inside door to the shop. She’d smiled at him and started up the stairs to her apartment. He hadn’t said a word, but halfway up he’d stopped her, whirled her around and kissed her.

Clothing had been quickly discarded as he’d pulled her down and taken her on the floor of the landing, driving into her so hard she’d had to push her hands against the wall to keep from hitting her head. He’d taken her hard and fast and she’d loved it. It had been an intense and extremely erotic experience.

Shaking off the erotic memory, she squirmed uncomfortably in her chair, trying to ignore the fact that her panties were damp. The man was bringing out a side of her she’d never known existed. Around him, she felt alive and sensual and free to take what she wanted.

And it wouldn’t last.

She sighed. But at least she could enjoy it for now.

“That was a big sigh, darlin’.”

Linda jerked around in her chair, her heart pounding. Levi stood behind her looking as sexy as ever in a pair of blue jeans and a faded blue chambray shirt. He perched on the corner of her desk and crossed his arms over his massive chest. She swallowed another sigh.

“I swear I’m going to get that bell for you.” She put her worries away and smiled at him, ignoring all thoughts of doom and gloom.

Levi tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers grazed the sensitive lobe before he trailed them down the curve of her neck. Her breath caught in her chest before resuming at a much more rapid rate. Her nipples tightened, becoming visible through her bra and the thin silk of her blouse.

“Wouldn’t do much good,” he informed her as he let his fingers slide over her collarbone.

“No?” Her reply was little more than a breathy gasp.

He shook his head. His dark hair shimmered and settled back around his shoulders. “Nope.” He continued the gentle caress, back and forth over her skin exposed by the V-neck of her blouse. “I’d just silence the bell.” One long finger dipped into her cleavage.

Linda bit her bottom lip, barely stifling a moan of pleasure. “Did you want something?” Now that was a stupid question.

“Oh yeah, I definitely want something.” He withdrew his hand and held it out to her. “I need you to see something in the storage room.”

“The storage room?” She felt like a parrot, but she couldn’t keep the disbelief from her voice even as she took his hand. Here she was, body primed, ready to explode and he wanted to show her something in the storage room.

“Yeah.” He pulled her out of her chair and led her to the storage room. The moment she crossed the threshold, the door closed behind them. His big body crowded hers back against the door. “I lied.”

“Did you now?” She grasped his shoulders for support as she peppered his neck and chin and jaw with kisses. He always looked and smelled so good.

He grunted and pressed his lower body against hers, rubbing his erection against her stomach. “Yeah. You don’t need to see anything, but I sure as hell do.”

His fingers made quick work of the buttons on her blouse and he carefully spread the silk back. A low hum broke from deep in his chest as he flicked open the front clasp of her bra. The lacy material fell away, revealing her breasts.

Levi clasped the globes in his hands and let his thumb circle the areolas. “This is what I wanted to see. So tight and pink. Like juicy berries.” He lowered his head, his breath warm and moist against her flesh.

Her core clenched and cream dampened her panties. Threading her fingers through his hair, she tugged his mouth closer. He gave a satisfied laugh, captured one peak in his mouth and suckled.

Linda gasped at the delicious sensations that surged through her. As always, the moment he touched her, all other thoughts fled except getting closer to the man in front of her.

His hands skimmed down her sides, molding her hips and thighs. She groaned when he touched her calves. He changed directions then, his fingers moving steadily upward, pushing beneath the hem of her skirt. The material bunched as he shoved it around her waist.

He released her nipple with one final tug and knelt on the floor in front of her. “Oh darlin’.” He raised his head and smiled as his fingers brushed her bare thighs. She was wearing thigh-high stockings rather than pantyhose. “You are so damn sexy.” His fingers skimmed the crotch of her lace panties.

She sucked in a breath as he barely touched her swollen clit.

“You’re wet and ready for me. Aren’t you?”

She nodded as he repeated the caresses, a strangled cry breaking from her lips. Her body was on fire. Her breasts were swollen, the tips wet from his mouth. Her skirt was shoved up around her waist, exposing her damp underwear. She was mostly dressed, yet felt more exposed than if she were naked. She felt wanton and voluptuous.