A Simple Life: Chapter 66 (Patreon)

I don’t even really see the things I’m putting away as my buzzing mind goes over again the wonderful time I’d just had, the tense bit near the end not spoiling at all what was a triumph of an evening.  So much laughter, so many smiles, such high spirits.  The Mayhems had been richly rewarded with gold and reputation but for Althea, and even more so for Avery, the real treasure were the warm memories that I got to tuck away in my heart.

Despite how awesome it had been I was relieved that it was over.  Dealing with that many loud and friendly people for that long was exhilarating, but exhausting!  One on one I could cope with but groups were always a challenge, especially for prolonged periods of time.  I would need some quiet time soon, not to escape like usual but simply to recuperate.  I wouldn’t have traded this evening for anything but that didn’t change the fact that every reserve of social fortitude that I had built up in that peaceful cove with Grandpa last night had been spent and then some.  But that would be something to address later.  Right now, with the present company, being alone was the last thing I wanted.

I was just finishing up the clean up by wiping down the counter when suddenly I feel two long arms slide around my body from behind.   With a smile I press back into Winona’s warm body.  She takes me into an embrace, her arms tightening snugly around me and her hips pinning mine against the counter, and she nuzzles the side of my head.

“Mmm.”  My whole body relaxes inside of her supporting hold.  I put my hands over hers and hug her arms tight to me.

She kisses my head and whispers.  “I never thought they’d leave.”

“Brayden’s still here.”  I say.  “But I think you scared him into hiding.”

“Mmm, good.”

Closing my eyes I take a long breath then let out slowly as I luxuriate in her warm embrace.  She continues to nuzzle at my hair and down my neck and I tilt my head to invite it more.  She lays a soft kiss just behind my earlobe. My smile grows.  “You did great tonight.”

“I had a great group.”  She flicks my lobe with the tip of her nose.  “It was easy.”

“Yeah but…”

“Sprout.”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to talk about the game right now.”

I grin.  “Okay.”

We fall quiet and let our bodies do the talking.  Her hands begin to move, exploring my stomach and chest through my shirt.  I lean back into her and bring my arms up to rest lightly at the back of her head.  As she nibbles at the edge of my ear my fingers play through her long, silky hair.  A hot breath washes over my ear and cheek then her supple lips caress down my neck making the hairs up and down my body stand on end.

“This is all I’ve been thinking about since I dropped you off yesterday.”  Her lips take my lobe to gently suck it before she lets it slip away.  “All I wanted.”

“Ohhh.”  I coo.  “Me too.”

Her left arm was wrapped around my tummy to hold me close and her right hand had found my left pec and she had begun rubbing it just like a small breast.  How I adored the way she touched me.  How I treasured the way she could spoon me so good both while laying down or standing up.  And the feel of her long lean body against my back was heaven.  Her breasts had found a home against my shoulder blades and her bulge was as snug as it could be between my buns.

“You smell good.”  She kisses my hair.  “You look good.”  She flicks her tongue across my ear.  “You taste good.”  She kisses my temple.  “You feel good.”  Nuzzling into neck just below the jaw she suckles and nibbles at the soft, sensitive skin.  “You make me weak baby.”

“Mmmmm.”  I wriggle back even tighter against her.

Winona’s strong yet gentle hands continue to rove over every inch of me above the counter and below the chin.  I slide my hands down her head and let my fingertips stroke across her shoulders before I let them drop down to reach back and hold to her in a behind the back hug.  Her arms then wrap all the way around my chest and she squeeeezes me tight.  Her cheek slides up along mine and there she stays for a time, relishing this opportunity to hold me close just as much as I was savoring being held.  When she does move again she treats me to a series of small, sucking kisses along my shoulder, up my neck, and finishing in behind my ear.

“Come on.” She whispers.  “You and me have some unfinished business.”

“Oh?”

Taking me by the hand she leads me to balcony door where she slides it open and steps outside into the brisk night.  She brings me to the railing where we look out over the glittering town of Haven Point with the black sea beyond it.  Above us the sky glowed a otherworldly orange from the reflected light of the community off the low clouds.  It wasn’t raining but there was a light mists carried on the breeze that softly but persistently coated everything in a light spray of cold droplets.  It was the type of night that demanded a jacket but as Winona turns me to face her and pulls me in close I found myself plenty warm.

She takes a slow, deep breath and looks out over the lights then back down to me, her glasses now spattered with droplets.  Her gaze not simply looking at me but into me and over me, taking in all that I was both inside and out.  I gaze back, in awe of her natural grace and beauty that was only augmented in the gentle glow.

“This is better.”  She says softly, her soul beaming like a full moon.  “This is right.”

“B-Better?”

“Avery.”

“Yeah?”

Very tenderly she takes hold of my face, her hands cupped up along my jaws, and looks deep into my eyes.  “I love you Avery Beckett.”

“Oh!”  Instantly my breath quickens and my eyes tear up as I am hit with an emotional tsunami the intensity of which I was not prepared for.  Face to face and in the flesh the feeling behind the words came through unfiltered and the way our souls connected through our locked gaze drove that feeling straight into my heart.  For a guy who was used to running and hiding from my feelings this was too much real all at once.  In seconds, despite my best efforts to stop it, I am sniffling and blubbering and bawling my fool eyes out.

“Oh Sprout!  What’s wrong?”  Winona says as she strokes my hair.  “I thought you’d be happy.”

“I am!” I sniffle and wipe my eyes.  “I’m s-s-so happy!”  I sob.  “I’m sorryyyy!”

“Sprout!”  She laughs warmly and uses the cuff of her blouse to daub my tears away.  “Don’t cry.”

“I’m s-sorry.”  With a loud snorting suck through my nostrils I wail.  “I love you toooo!”

“Geez.”  She says, her smile beaming.  “If this is you happy I’d hate to see you sad.”

“I’m s-sorry.”  I gasp as I reel back my out of control emotions.  “Y-You wanted it to be p-p-perfect.  N-Now I sc-screwed it up.”

“You didn’t screw nothin up Sprout.  Nothin!”  She says, a sheen of moisture making her face glow and her hazel eyes dancing behind her rain speckled lenses.  Grabbing my head again, this time in a much firmer grip, she continues to peer deeply.  “You were right Sprout.  There is such a thing as soulmates.  There is such a thing a love at first sight.”  She laughs not from anything funny but out of pure joy.  “I love you Avery.  I can’t explain it.  I can’t make sense of it.  But I’ve loved you since the moment I met you.”  She lowers herself so that we were eye to eye and says with all her heart.  “I…love…you.”

“I love you.”  I say back, the tears of joy still streaming but the sobbing ended.  “I love you Winona.”

“I love you!”  She says louder and prouder then gives me a hard lip smashing kiss then pops off to announce again.  “I love you!”

“I l-love you!”  I cry-giggle.  “I love you!  I love you!”

“I fucking LOVE you!”

“He he he!  I love you!  I love you!”  It flows with more feeling each time I repeat it.  I then shout it out for the world to hear.  “I LOVE YOUUU!!!”

“We heard you already!  Jesus!”  Brayden’s bedroom window slams shut.

We look to the window then back to each other…then laugh.  Oh how we laugh!

Chapter 67