Chapter 4 - Reunited (Part 1)

4.

Sutton stood against the glass wall overlooking the Mississippi River in her penthouse condo, daydreaming. She couldn’t believe how completely her life had changed in the short six months she’s lived in New Orleans. Overcome with satisfaction that she’d finally built up the nerve to make the move, now her dream was finally coming true. She’d received a seven figure record contract, a lavish, twenty-two hundred square foot condo at the end of Poydras overlooking the river, a new car, and was almost finished recording her first album – all in six months. It exceeded her dream.

“We made it, Ethen,” she whispered up at the sky.

As soon as she said it, her thoughts turned to Greysen. She thought of him often, wondered what he was doing now, where he’d gone after that night in the bar. She’d asked Mr. Hebert about him – where’d he go, who’d he signed with…his last name. But he had no answers. “He’s only gone by Greysen as long as I’ve known him. He was talking with a few companies that night….I’m not sure which one, if any of them, he signed with, sorry.”

Sorry. Yeah. Not that she could regret making the choice to follow her dreams…or, she shouldn’t. Truth was she was beginning to. She thoroughly enjoyed recording her music, and all the fancy dinners and the parties were nice, but there was still a piece of her that was empty, longing…alone. She’d spent so many years guarded and unwavering where her heart was concerned; then one night she let go of all of it, and in the same night, it all got ripped away again. Not that she was in love with Greysen…but she could’ve easily fallen in love with him, and for the first time in over seven years, she wanted to be. She felt so much for that amazingly talented, gorgeous, perfect being that made her feel so much pleasure in the brief time they shared. It wasn’t just the physical pleasure, though that was phenomenal, he’d touched her heart, her soul; he’d moved her in ways no one had done since Ethen. In that short time alone with him, he’d made her…happy, and she just walked away from him; walked away from the only other man in her life that made her heart race with excitement, her stomach flutter with nerves and her blood rush with desire all at the same time. She wanted so desperately to find him but had no idea where to start looking.

She’d spent the past six months wrapped up in fast-paced, hectic days and lonely, aching nights thinking about what she could’ve had with Greysen. She’d lie in her bed visualizing that night in the courtyard, his hands on her body, his mouth pressed to an area that so ached to be touched, the caress of his velvety soft tongue. His kiss was beyond description. She’d never felt such ultimate satisfaction – not even from Ethen. It was like Greysen knew her body and knew exactly what to do to pulverize the barrier she’d spent so long building up around her.

If it had been anyone else, she probably wouldn’t have even walked out that back door to the courtyard, but she wanted Greysen from the first moment she’d walked into the bar – the night she’d only heard his voice. She imagined what it would’ve been like to go passed that kiss, to touch that bulging, solid body, to feel him inside of her. She fell asleep most nights clutching her pillow tightly to her shaking, lusting body.

Walking through Jackson Square, she headed towards Café du Monde for some morning coffee – smelling it and the fresh beignets from blocks away. The streets were full; packed with people walking, enjoying the sites. She could always tell which ones were tourists with their cameras and maps out, looking quite confused with the layout of the city. Some people were taking rides in the horse-pulled buggies, snuggling into each other under a big flannel blanket. Street performers were abundant, drawing crowds of people to their individual shows. There was a couple with a small baby getting their portrait drawn in caricature form – big bubbly heads and pouty lips – by a man sitting before an easel. There was a guy dressed as a cowboy and painted in head-to-toe silver, every inch of him, even his clothes, and he posed over and over as people walked up and took pictures with him. Small children with bottle caps stuck into the soles of their shoes tapped light, tinny beats while people passing by threw money into their cardboard boxes placed before them. The bells rang loudly in the tower of the St. Louis Cathedral, recognizing the beginning of new hour.

It was almost March and one couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day. Spring was coming and it was easy to tell from the influx of people out enjoying the picture-perfect weather. The sun glistened brightly overhead in a nearly cloudless blue sky. There was a slight breeze flowing from the river, bringing a warm and muddy smell to the crispness of the cool, clear morning.

Sutton stopped and closed her eyes, stretching her neck and raising her face to sky to bask in the warmth of the sun’s radiance when she was bumped and knocked straight down on her butt. She looked up and her stomach jumped up into her throat as her heart stopped.

“Sutton?”

“Greysen?”

He reached a hand down and helped her to her feet. Without another thought, she threw her arms around his waist and he responded accordingly. He wrapped his arms tightly over hers, encircling her waist, and pulled her into his solid, warm body. He was even more beautiful than she’d remembered him, standing in his form fitting gray t-shirt, faded blue jeans and flip flops. Uhh, he was utterly devastating. His hair had grown just a bit longer and ended in full curls framing his perfectly square jaw. They stood silently for a long minute, wrapped in each other’s arms like reunited longtime lovers.

“Where have you been?” Sutton asked; her face still nestled against his neck. She breathed him in deeply, remembering his delicious savory aroma.

“I’ve been around.”

She frowned with his vague answer.

“Around? It’s been six months…” She pulled away from his embrace feeling very stupid. That night meant nothing to him. She was just another cheap and easy woman who swooned at his words and gave into his kiss. He took what he wanted and moved on while she was falling in love. She wasn’t the one who walked away; there was nothing to walk away from.

He caught her hand and held her close to him. “I went looking for you when I’d finished talking, but you’d already left with that agent from Uptown. I flew out to LA to talk with a couple of big wigs out there and when I got back here…well, once I did find you again, I didn’t want to bother you. You looked so…happy. I didn’t want to be the one to interrupt that, to interfere in your dream.”

She relaxed in his grasp and looked up to his gentle, violet eyes.

“I know we don’t know each other, Greysen, but that night…well, it meant more to me than I think you realize. That may be the norm for you but I’ve never…”

“Sutton, neither have I. I’ve never had someone move me the way you did, the way you do, still. I just had to be close to you and when I felt your body in my hands, uhh, I just couldn’t help myself. But I wanted you for so much more than just that…kiss.” His smile came out bashfully but made his eyes sparkle like backlit amethyst.

Just hearing him say the words made her body react to him. Her pulse quickened and her thighs twitched with the memory of that sensational kiss. She reached out her other hand, which he took without hesitation and pulled her back into his secure embrace.

“You don’t know how I have thought of you over these six months,” he whispered to her ear as he nestled his face next to hers.

“I have thought of you too. I think of you every day…of what could’ve been if I wouldn’t have left with Mark that night.”

“If I’d have had any idea that you felt the same way as me, I’d have chased you down when I saw you walk out with him. I thought…”

Sutton pulled her face back just enough to see his eyes. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s stupid.”

“No, it’s not. Tell me, please,” she pleaded softly.

“I just thought, maybe, I’d pushed you to a place you didn’t like…maybe, you were mad at me for what I did to you and that’s why you never looked back…you never looked for me.”

“But I did look for you. Mr. Hebert didn’t even know your last name. I tried to….Wait, did you say that you thought I didn’t like what you did?”

He nodded. She giggled.

“Uhm, just in case you missed it and the back-arching scream that tore from my throat wasn’t clue enough,” she raised on tiptoe so her mouth was almost touching his ear, “I’ve never felt so much pleasure in my life and I dream about it, every night.”

Greysen chuckled, a sexy, throaty sound. “Me too.” Sutton lowered herself and looked up to his glowing eyes as he finished. “I remember the look on your face, the sound of your scream, the feel of your satiny skin,” he traced a finger over her cheek, “your taste…” He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and licked his lips slowly.

Sutton watched his tongue tracing the silky skin of his full lips and her breath caught in her throat. She felt the overwhelming need to lean in closer and take his tongue into her mouth. His eyes opened and Sutton knew he could see her staring at his mouth with smoldering eyes. He lowered his face within an inch of hers and smiled softly. His voice dropped as he placed his palm against her cheek and she looked into his eyes again. “Your memory consumes me.”

“Where are you going?” Sutton asked, suddenly breathless and staring into the eyes of a man who so quickly held her heart.

“Nowhere of importance. You?”

“Same. My condo is about twelve blocks away…if you’re not busy…”

Greysen looked at her, eyes bright and eager. “There is nothing in this world that could take precedence over you.”

They stepped through the front door and into the living room with a full view of the open kitchen to their right. The only separation from it to the living room before them was the black granite bar. The far wall was mostly glass windows which were encased in brick. The warm sage green of the adjacent walls were just a shade lighter than the living room set placed in a semi-circle around the wood burning fireplace. The fluffy white carpet started at the front door and covered to the back wall then transitioned into deep brown, hardwood floors at the bar.

Sutton took off her thin, black sweater and laid it and her purse on the bar while asking, “Would you like something to drink?”

When she turned, Greysen was only inches away from her.

“I’m hungry.”

She stood still before him, arms bent behind her, hands gripping the bar so tightly her
knuckles went white.

“Uhm, I have some left over Chinese from last night…” she started to say, but Greysen had already started shaking his head.

“I don’t want Chinese.”

He stepped in closer, placing his hands next to hers on the bar so that they barely touched. That gentle brush of his soft skin on hers sent goose bumps up her arms. She stared back into his eyes which were so full of the same desire that was burning through her gut like a scorching branding iron.

“What would you like,” she swallowed audibly, “to eat?”

His face was only inches from hers. She could feel the warmth of his breath – smell that same sweet spearmint that she remembered tasting in that chaste touch of his lip with her tongue from their one night together.

“What I’ve been craving for the past six months.”

Sutton, of course, knew where he was headed but she wanted to hear him say the words. His voice was like a drug to her; she couldn’t resist it and waited fervently for another hit. She took a deep breath to steady herself and asked in a strained breath, “What’s that?”

Greysen moved his lips so they were barely grazing her slightly parted mouth. She could feel the silky smooth, delectable skin that she wanted so badly to taste, brushing over her eager lips as he spoke so softly.

“You…your lips….your tongue,” he licked a faint line from her bottom lip to her top, “your pussy.”

She didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until it came out in a ragged heave with his last word. She licked her suddenly dry lips and whispered back, “Anything.”

Greysen smiled and steadied himself in front of her. He removed his hands from the bar, tenderly placing her face between them.

“That sure is saying a lot for someone you don’t really know.” He smiled slyly.

Sutton wanted to say so badly, “But I do know you…I don’t know how, but I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.” Instead she said, “Does it matter if I already know I’d do anything to please you.” She smiled slightly, using his words from that night on him.

He let a small masculine chuckle escape his throat. “You took the words right out of my mouth.” His face quickly grew serious as he stared into her eyes.

Sutton had waited so long for his touch again, never knowing if she’d even have the chance. It had been seven years since she was touched the first time she was with Greysen, and now another six months had passed and her lust for him had grown so tremendously.

Greysen stood before her and traced his fingertips lightly down her cheeks to her neck. He kept his eyes locked intensely with hers. She still couldn’t bring herself to release her death grip on the bar or she knew she’d collapse. She stood trembling and fighting a losing battle to control her breathing and racing heart as his fingers continued tracing the outline of her body.

She had only worn a blue camisole under her sweater, and now she was so grateful because it left so much exposed skin for him to caress. His hands were so soft, flowing like silk down her neck and slowly tracing her arms all the way down to her tightened fists.

He pulled her fingers to release the bar; it did not take much to coerce her. He placed her hands on his waist and gently traced up her arms as she grasped firmly to his solidness.

He broke the intense gaze to look upon her skin as his fingers made their way across her shoulders and glided smoothly over the silkiness of her chest. He paused momentarily and looked back up to her avid eyes before he pressed the palms of his hands against her body and ran his hands down, curving around her breasts. She was not wearing a bra so when her nipples hardened instantaneously, it showed him how his touch affected her. His soft smile made her pussy tighten with want.

Sutton bit down on her bottom lip as the shaky breath rolled out from between her clenched teeth with a small aching moan.

“You’re more beautiful than I remembered…and so soft. I wonder if you taste better than I remember.” Greysen spoke in a low seductive growl.

“By all means,” she said, unable to withhold the tremble in her voice anymore, “don’t let me stop you from what you want…I’ve dreamt of this moment for so long now.”

“I’ve dreamt of you, Sutton. I thought of you every second of my life since I lost you.”

His hands paused on her waist as they spoke and looked at one another with such devotion, such instant…love. She felt it so quickly, it was overwhelming, but the more she looked at him the more she knew; she did love him. She’d spent the past six months building up this perfect being in her head, falling in love with what she thought he could be, and here before her, he was exceeding everything she’d imagined.

His hands began to slide over her body once again, from her waist, around her back and up, cupping her shoulders as he pulled her body firmly against his.

The muscled length of his body pressed against her willing flesh made the tightening ache low in her body exude through the rest of her and tear out of her throat in a slight moan. He hovered over her mouth with his but would not kiss her yet. Oh, she wanted to kiss him so urgently her lips ached.

He traced her lips with his so lightly it felt like he was brushing silk across her mouth. He moved from her lips to her chin and then brushed his lips across her jaw to her ear. He placed a single soft press of lips to the hollow where her jaw, ear and neck met. Her chest heaved, pressing her breast against his solid chest. She felt his cock swell with the motion as their bodies were pressed in one long tight line. It’d been so long since she’d felt a man hard and thick against her body and it made her pussy respond in a sudden wet burst.

Pressing his full lips to her skin, he continued down her neck, across her collarbone to her shoulder. He lifted the hand that cupped her left shoulder and graced that spot with a light tongue-parted kiss. Her body shuddered involuntarily and her hands that were grasped firmly on his waist, slid to the small of his back, pulling him tighter against her body.

His kisses kept that press of tongue as he kissed each inch of her tingling skin across the top of her chest to the opposite shoulder. Again he moved his cupped hand so he could kiss every piece of satin flesh as he worked his way, slowly, gently, to her neck where he traced his tongue, in one slick gliding motion, all the way up to her ear.

“You taste so good,” he whispered just as breathless as Sutton felt. “I’ve wanted for so long to taste your skin, to feel every inch of your body with my mouth, my hands, my body.” The pulsing warmth of his breath sent shivers down her spine and she snuggled her cheek against his as he spoke. “I’ve waited so long to have you back in my arms. I can’t believe you’re really here.”

Sutton knew exactly how he felt; she’d wanted him since that first night, over six months ago. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere this time. There’s no one here to interrupt us now.”