LisaThe deep groan that left Marc caused chill bumps to break out across her skin, her need to make him feel deeply almost overwhelmed her. Lisa continued to work him hard and fast as he moaned over and over, his body shaking by the time she slowed. He pressed her to the wall and leaned against her, his strong arms wrapping tightly around her. His lips pressed to the side of her face and he breathed in deeply."Don't ever leave me. I'm ruined for anyone else," Marc muttered as Lisa closed her eyes, wanting to memorize the moment to take back to Maine with her."Never. I don't want a future that isn't with you, Marc.""You'll not have one, baby." He kissed her again and pulled back. She hated the loss of warmth he provided and almost turned to beckon him to stay with her in the cabin for the rest of the day. His friend could find a new place to bunk.Marc worked to get his clothes back on in between handing her various items of her own clothing. Her bra was almost ruined from his pass
Lisa"I actually hope I end up just like your dad. I want to give myself over to you in a way that would leave me scarred if anything happened to you." Marc rubbed his thumb over her fingers."Yeah, sounds romantic, but what if I get cancer and die in three years? You're ruined for the rest of your life?""No. I would cherish the time we had together for the rest of my life. I can't imagine anything feeling better than being in your arms or hearing my name on your lips. I want as much of you as I can have, for as long as I can have it. If that time is cut short, then yes... I want to be bent over from losing you. It means that you were, without a doubt, the center of my heart, Lisa.""Do you really believe in love that deep?" she asked, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair. They moved through a thick brush of forest and emerged in front of a vast waterfall, the wind carrying a cold mist."Yes. I feel it already building inside of me. I think most people would do anything to
LisaOne Month Later"Marc, grab the tray of pickles and onions Sicily put together in the kitchen, baby." Lisa turned from the picnic table on the back porch of their large house in Maine."How about you get them and I'll just follow closely behind you?" He smiled and wagged his eyebrows as Kari reached out and swatted at him."No," Kari responded, rolling her eyes. "If you both go into the house again it will be another freaking hour until we see either of you. I'm ready to eat.""She's right. Marc, get the tray. Lisa, go pour tea in the glasses." Sicily walked toward Jake and put her hand out as he gave her the spatula."Why do you always have me start the burgers, but I never get to finish them?" He laughed and moved to stand beside Drake as Sicily stuck out her tongue."She wants us to give her the compliments when we decide they're the best damn burgers in the universe." Lisa looked over her shoulder and laughed. Marc had been with her for the last three days and she had him for
SicilySicily pressed her forehead to the door of the dressing room and let out a long sigh. Was there anything more depressing than trying on clothes because you couldn't fit into a damn thing in your closet?"You okay?" Kari's voice was far too soft, her friend aware of her struggles."I guess. I just think this is stupid. I plan on losing this extra weight... like now. Spending money I really don't have on clothes that I'm not going to be able to wear soon seems dumb." Sicily moved back and unzipped the pants that fit perfectly. Too bad they were two sizes bigger than she wore back in New York. It had been six months since she, Lisa and Kari had left New York and moved to Bar Harbor, Maine. The need to break away from the big city and start a new life had panned out well for both Kari and Lisa, each of them in happy, healthy relationships.I'm the only one without a guy. Maybe if I was thinner... Definitely."Sicily. Losing weight is a great plan, but you have to have something c
SicilyCrimson, burnt orange and yellow leaves fluttered around their feet, the trees a sight to see that time of year. The fall season was the whole reason for Lisa and Sicily picking Maine as their locale for setting up shop and trying to start a new life. She glanced over at Kari, grateful for the girl being with them as well. Kari hadn't been part of the original plan for moving to Maine simply because she was engaged to be married to a guy who was born, and would die, in New York. Frank was a scoundrel and had cheated on Kari the night before the wedding.Sicily reached out and took her friend’s hand, squeezing it and smiling at her as Kari glanced over."Did you hear me? You look lost in thought." Kari squeezed back."Hm? Oh, I am. Did you tell me when Marc was graduating?""Yeah. It's next May from what momma told me. I swear Marc and I haven't spoken in a while. Just both so busy I guess.""I need to call my brother, Johnny. It's been a few months since I've heard his voice to
SicilySicily had done her best to push the conversation off the night before, Kari less than thrilled with her unwillingness to open up. How would she start a conversation like that anyway?"I hate myself most days because I've gotten fat like my mother? I don't want anyone looking at me because all I see is condemnation and pity?"Making a sharp left turn, she let out a soft growl and pulled up to the shop. A little red truck was parked in the spot beside hers, the young guy she hired at the end of the summer a god-send. Martin was nineteen and had just graduated in May from Bar Harbor High, but he wasn't yet sure what he wanted to do with his life, so his parents gave him a year to figure it out. He would be forced to go to college the following year. She was happy to have him as long as he could stay.Sicily let her emotions wash out as she sat in the serenity of her car and forced herself to focus on the day she had ahead of her. The small square in the middle of the town had two
SicilyNo need to embarrass herself with hoping for something that would end in extreme rejection. Sicily’s friends badgered her nonstop about Drake, both of them misunderstanding his constant nagging for a crush. He wasn't interested in anything but her membership to his gym and the ability to tout to everyone that he had worked the town baker into shape. He was a dick most days - balking at her cooking and leaving her to feel like a walking heart attack, which she most likely was."I keep trying to get your boss to come see me." Drake moved toward the counter, tapping it as Sicily looked up."Oh yeah?" Martin moved up beside him, the wonder on the boy's face something Sicily was used to seeing. He wanted to be a chef and to own his own place. He was taken with her simply for that reason alone. She enjoyed it... it meant she was doing something right in some part of her life."I don't have time." She glanced back down, pressing a few buttons on the register to bring it to life. "Besi
SicilyIt took damn near forever to force herself out of the car when she got to the gym. The large brick building in front of her seeming far too commercialized for their sleepy town. The parking lot was half-full, which was surprising seeing that it was only three in the afternoon. Did all of the retired folks work out? Probably. Most of the people she had seen walking the streets were relatively healthy.I'm in the minority here. The door to the gym opened and Drake moved out, holding the door for an elderly couple. The smile on his face was kind, the expression reaching all the way to his eyes.Sicily let out a long sigh, her heart fluttering in her chest. There was no way he would ever see anything but a project in her, but God if she didn't want him to.He glanced toward her, a smile spreading across his mouth.She couldn't help but stiffen as he walked toward her, waving once more to the older couple before stopping outside of her door.Opening it, she stood up and looked him
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
DrakeDrake woke up the next morning before Sicily, realizing it was Christmas and he had everything he needed. He rolled onto his side and reached out, brushing his hand down her back as gratefulness washed over him in suffocating waves.D and Michael Carrington had gone to great lengths to help him restart his life. They'd helped fake his death in a warehouse explosion, put on the funeral and D had played the part beautifully through the event. It was horrifying to think he let his brother go through that shit, but D wouldn't have had it any other way.Drake rolled out of bed, his heart aching in his chest. He'd been wrong the night before. He and Sicily couldn't just look away from D and Izzy's bullshit situation. Where he wasn't sure he could get involved in the syndicate again, he could browbeat his brother into being a man and taking Izzy as his woman. There was no other girl for Demetri.After ordering a huge Christmas morning breakfast, Drake wrapped up in an extra blanket, sl
Sicily"That was fun tonight." Sicily squeezed Drake's hand as they walked toward Kadia in downtown New York. The sign lit up the night, taking attention from anyone who passed by. It was magnificent, the largest club she'd seen."Yeah. I had a good time," he glanced down at her, "and I was serious about what I said. We can go back and join your family after we spend a little bit of time with D and Izzy. I doubt they’re staying long. We just wanted to see each other, and it's safer if we do it in the middle of a large crowd."The line was wrapped around the building, people huddling together and singing Christmas songs with all sorts of odd costumes for the event that night. Sicily smiled and snuggled closer to Drake as they walked to the front of the line."The line is back there, man. Go get in it." A sexy bouncer with a great smile and beautiful aqua-colored eyes barked at them. She let her eyes move down to his name tag, wondering who he was for some reason. Had she seem him befor
DrakeDrake let his eyes run across Sicily as she stood in front of the mirror in the hotel bedroom and turned slowly, checking herself out."You look amazing."She walked toward him as he fiddled with his tie, taking over and working on it for him."My brothers never could get a tie on right. The last time I did this for someone, it was at Momma’s funeral." Her hands shook a little. "I did it multiple times that day."He reached up and ran his hands over her hips, enjoying the soft silky black material of her dress. "I'm really good at it. I just wanted you closer."She laughed as a tear ran down her nose. "I'm sorry.""Don't be sorry." He stood and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head as he brushed her hair back. "You can be sensitive over your mom anytime you want, for as long as you want. I'm right here to hold you up."She nodded and pressed her face to his chest. "I just have so many memories of Christmas Eve with her. My chest hurts so bad it feels like acid is ea
Sicily"What did you do while I was shopping?" Sicily stood beside Drake later that afternoon as he loaded up the truck with her packages."I was taking a nap honestly." He put the last of them in the truck and gave her a look. "What in the world did you get?""Presents for all of our friends and something for you." She shrugged and walked around the truck, getting in on her side.He got in and buckled up as the scent of his cologne filled her nose. She breathed in deeper and let out an appreciative growl.Drake chuckled. "What was that for?""You smell good.""Stop diverting. You shouldn't have gotten all those gifts, baby.""Why not? We didn't fly. We'll just put them all in the back seat when we go back home, right?""It's not about where to put them on the ride home, Sis. It's about you spending your hard-earned money on gifts for us. We don't need anything, at least I don't. I have you, baby. That's more than enough." He pulled out his wallet. "Let me give you some money so you c
Sicily"You sure you don't want to come with me?" Sicily forced a pout on her face. She knew without a doubt that Drake would do anything she wanted him to, but shopping was too much. Having some time with her brother and sister for the afternoon would be fun for her, but most likely a drag of sorts. Especially seeing that the brother going was Johnny."I’m sure, beautiful girl." He pulled up to her mother's house. "I'll catch up with you this afternoon.""Will you take me out to see my momma’s grave before we have to get ready for dinner and church?" She leaned over and touched the side of his handsome face. Butterflies danced in her stomach, which seemed silly, but she hoped that he would always have such a strong pull on her."Of course I will." He leaned in and kissed her softly before deepening it a little. She opened herself up, letting him in as he rolled his tongue past her, dominating the kiss in a way that made her blood boil."Behave." She pulled back and smiled."You're th
DrakeThe night was filled with him and Sicily taking turns to explore each other. By the end of it, he was weak, exhausted and completely infatuated with the beautiful woman tucked against him. Not ever being able to sleep well, he was shocked when he woke the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of Sicily talking.He jolted up in the bed, worried that he had missed something. "Baby?""Right here." She opened the various trays sitting on the counter by the TV. "I ordered room service because I didn't want to get dressed yet. Besides, it's snowing like crazy out there."He dropped back down and ran his hand over his chest, watching her as she moved around in a large fluffy white robe. She looked adorable. Sexy."Mine," he grumbled and pulled the covers up. "You know that? You're mine.""I know, you gorilla. You made that more than obvious last night." She nibbled on a piece of bacon and walked over to sit down on the edge of the bed. "You want some?""Of course I do." He r
Sicily"Wow. This place is...""Fancy?" Drake asked as he pulled out her chair. "I heard they have the best steaks in New York.""Something tells me that you're probably right." Sicily sat down, feeling way underdressed for the steakhouse Drake had brought her to. He had on a sports coat over his jeans and white polo, and looked like a million bucks. The best thing in her suitcase was a plain white skirt and a blue sweater with winter boots. She felt cute, but that didn't seem like enough."Evening, folks. Glad to have you in the city and here with us tonight for dinner. May I make some suggestions?" The server wore a white pressed shirt, black slacks and a tux jacket.Sicily sat quietly as Drake encouraged the guy to give his spiel. Once he was done, Drake ordered their drinks and an appetizer. He moved his seat closer to hers and draped his arm over the back of her chair. "You look amazing.""You're just being sweet." She smiled and worked to get her napkin in her lap, not wanting t