by J Marie
No longer humans, but feral-filled animals in a rut. My balls smack her clit as I thrust in and out of her. She hums and whimpers her delight every time my dick rubs over her special spot inside. She feels good. Too good, and before long that all too familiar tingle starts to creep up my body. I reach around below her and find her tiny nub of nerves and rub it in circles.
Her walls start to clamp down on my dick, and I know she’s close. “Yes, Brooks. Fuck me. Fuck me harder.” I do as she wishes, pounding into her like my life depends upon it, and it’s my last day on earth. More moans escape her mouth, and her orgasm crashes into me so hard that it brings on my own. I see stars behind my eyes, and for a moment, everything goes black before the world is back. I lean down and kiss her back, whispering praise of how good her body feels around me.
We both collapse, but I’m held up by my elbows so I don’t crush her. I pull out and roll beside her, one arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer. I don’t want to give her any room to run. Zero. She lays her head on my chest, and we lay quietly as we come down from the high. Her soft breaths puffing against the nakedness of my chest. Erratic heartbeats coming together to form one beat. A bond. A closeness that I can’t help but get enough of.
The damn alarm on my phone blares, letting me know that I now have thirty minutes to shower and get ready to go to work at the bar. It’s the last thing I want to do. Leaving her alone with her thoughts. I know it probably isn’t the best idea, but I don’t have a choice. I’ve never been one to call off work. Haven’t called off a day since I started and don’t intend to start. “Ugh. I don’t want to go to work now.”
“Then don’t go. Play hooky with me today. Stay. Stay with me.” Those words tear through me. I figure she’d want me to go so she could sit and analyze every single moment and work it out in her mind. The fact that she wants me to stay changes things. It’s as if she’s finally ready to accept that maybe there’s something between us more than just sex. I’ll take whatever I can get. But that’s crazy, right? Could mind-blowing sex really win her over so easily? I don’t see it.
“Okay, I’ll be back.” I slip out from where she lay cradled against me. Picking up my phone, I duck into the kitchen and call Eddie. Bouncing my knee nervously up and down as I lean against the sink, I wait for him to answer. One ring. Two rings. Three rings.
“Hey, it’s Eddie.”
“Eddie, it’s Brooks. Sorry about the short notice, man, but I’m not gonna be able to make it into work today.”
His voice sounds unamused, almost angry when he responds. “Seriously, you’re scheduled to be here in twenty minutes.”
“I know. It’s short notice, and I’m a total dick for calling in, but it’s my first time.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll call Zara and see if she can come in on short notice and cover.”
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”
“Hope whatever you’re doing is worth it.”
“It is.” I know that for sure. She’ll always, always be worth it. Now, I just have to convince her.
I stand in the doorway and watch her shoulders shake slightly. She’s facing away from me on the bed, and I know the telltale signs of crying better than most people. I’d seen it often growing up. Walking over to the bed, I sit down and slip under the sheets, wrapping my arm over her hip and pulling her closer. She shudders against me, and I hold on tighter, pressing kisses to the back of her hair and down her shoulder.
“Hey, baby. Shhh… what’s going on?” I let my fingers trace over her bare hip bone trying to soothe her. To let her feel the comfort in my presence.
She shakes her head right before her eyes find mine. The light streaming into the room kisses her tears as each one slips free, unbeholden to gravity. “I don’t know how to shut them out.”
“Shut who out?”
“The emotions,” she whispers, another sniffle escaping her.
“What emotions? Tell me what’s going on up here.” Moving a stray strand of hair from her face I lean over her, tap her forehead lightly, and kiss her cheek. My heart breaks to see the torment within the deep blue eyes I’ve learned to love.
“I have feelings and I can’t shut them out.”
“Feelings, Mia? This is what all of the waterworks are for, my Pixie girl?”
She nods against me. Rolling over, she curls into my chest and I feel the warm tears falling from her eyes. “Hey, hey. It’s okay. I feel them too, Mia. Do you want to talk about them?”
“No.” One word spoken so softly in a whisper that I almost miss it.
“Okay, we don’t have to.”
“Thank you. Can you please just hold me for a little while?” This is the first time she’s let me in, and I’m lured into the magic of it. Into the allure of being needed.
“Of course. Anything for you, my beautiful girl.” I don’t know how long we stayed there wrapped in each other’s embrace, sharing one sip of air after the next. Our heartbeats marry into the perfect union after a while and start to beat as one.
“You deserve better than me. I’m a sack of emotional baggage who’s not good enough for you.”
I don’t respond because I won’t grant her a comment to her pathetic excuse at pushing me away. I’m not giving up on her. Not now, not ever.
I’m a hopeless romantic, so help me, and I want her to believe in it too—love and everything that comes with it.
The only thing standing in my way of showing her is Mia. She needs to want this, or it won’t work. I won’t handle her with kid gloves, but she needs to know I’m serious without scaring the shit out of her by moving too fast.
Her breathing slows soon, and I know she’s drifted off to sleep in my arms. The feelings aren’t overwhelming her, at least for a little while. I like the feel of her in my arms where she’s protected and loved. I watch her sleep. She has a small snore, and it’s adorably perfect, just like her.
Her flaws are abundant, I can see them, but we all have scars. Some of us just hide them better, and I have a feeling that Mia has been hiding hers deeply for a few years now. She’s told me bits and pieces of her life, but I crave knowing more about her. Knowing what makes her feel alive. I want to know everything down to the simplest detail. If she opens up, maybe then she’ll trust me to know every truth and hold it like the most precious thing.
I don’t remember falling asleep, but her soft breathing has obviously put me to sleep too. She stirs slightly, and I watch as sapphire blue eyes open in front of me. The beginnings of a smile tracing those pert lips. “Hi.”
“Hey you.” She stretches, and I enjoy a face full of Mia boobs. And there goes my dick. At ease soldier.
“Well, hello big fellow.” A tiny palm cups my shaft, and I’m ready to go in an instant.
“Mmm… someone’s happy to see me.”
“Always, Mia. You make me crazy for you.” I chuckle as her body presses against mine, causing all sorts of inappropriate thoughts to build in my mind. I shove them away. We’ve just had the most passionate sex, she cried and then fell asleep. I want to gauge where we stand before doing anything more sexual with her. It’s more than sex now, and I refuse to give her an out by fucking the daylights out of her no matter how much my dick protests.
“Let’s get dressed. I want to take you somewhere.”
“Where to?” She quirks an eyebrow at me.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Okay…”
“Come on. It’ll be fun,” I say, pulling her hand to follow me as I get out of bed.
“I need a shower. I smell like sex.”
I wink at her. “You smell amazing.” She does. Her cotton candy vanilla mixes with my own smell and the possessive part of me likes that she smells of me.
She groans as she gets out of bed. Her cotton candy hair drapes down her back as she stands. It’s wavy like I imagine a mermaid’s hair would be in the water.
Her pert little ass. Curvy hips. Slim waist.
The bold black gothic tattoo tha
t covers her right thigh, identical to the painting that hangs in our living room. Beautiful shoulder blades. I’m openly ogling her sexy self and when she peeks over her shoulder catches me, she bites her lip, and the urge to haul her back into bed and do anything she asks hits me. I refrain. I’ve been planning this for a while now and today’s the perfect day. “You realize that it’s really dumb to leave a naked woman in your bed to get up and make her go places?”
“I promise you’ll like this place.”
“Worth losing out on all the hot sex we could be having instead?”
“I hope so.”
I watch Mia as she pulls on her typical outfit. Black leggings that slip up her legs and hug every single one of her delicious curves. I want to be those leggings. Overly jealous of them, to be honest, because I want to cocoon her body that closely. To hug her slim legs, her sexy hips. She slips on an oversized sweater that hangs off her shoulder.
“No bra?” I lift an eyebrow, surprised.
“Problem with that?”
“Yes, I don’t want anyone other than me knowing that you don’t have a bra on under there. It’s going to drive me crazy just thinking about the fact that they’re free, and I can’t touch them whenever I want to.” I grind my teeth at the thought of another man noticing she isn’t wearing a bra.
“Self-control, Brooks.”
“It went out the window a while ago, Mia. I blame you. You make me lose control.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I growl at her seductively. “You know it is.” She walks over to me, pressing her soft lips to mine, giving me the sweetest of kisses, and I want so much more. The truth is I’ve lost control. She’s taken me heart and soul, any semblance of normality hanging by the tiniest thread.
“Uh, uh, uh, Brooks. You said no naked sex today. That means we have to get going, you ready?”
“But…”
“Come on, Brooksy. Let’s see this place you have picked out.” I grit my teeth and will the boner that’d risen down yet again over her teasing.
I quickly grab my sweatpants, a long-sleeved shirt, and my jacket. Mia stands in front of me staring. She looks to my crotch, then back at me and points. “No boxers?”
I point right back at her. “No bra.”
“That’s not fair, Brooks. Do you have any idea how much women are going to ogle your boxerless package? You’re basically dangling yourself out there in dude lingerie with those sweatpants.”
“About as much as other men will ogle your braless breasts.”
She crosses her arms and huffs. “Fine.”
“Do you have any idea how hot this bossy side of you is?”
“Oh yeah, you have a bossy side, Brooks?”
“I can be quite demanding when I want to be…”
“Later.” At that, she winks and opens the front door, disappearing.
I follow her out, locking the door behind me, and race down the stairs. She stands waiting at her black Miata.
“Let me drive,” I say, walking around to the passenger’s side.
She quirks an eyebrow. “Do you even have a license?”
I puff out my chest, proud of myself. “Yep, I was very proficient in tractor driving.” She snorts. “I’m serious.”
“Me too, but tractor driving?”
“Hey, don’t judge, tractor racing was a big deal at our compound fair every year. I will have you know that I got first place more than once.”
“Oh my God, you really are serious!” She bends over laughing. A full belly laugh, and I can’t help but join her.
“To answer your question though, yes, I can drive a car. The tractor thing isn’t a joke, though. I can drive a mean farm tractor. You’re looking at a three-time champion.”
“I am sure you can, Brooks. Maybe one day you can show me your mad skills so that I can have all sorts of lusty fantasies about it. That’s a new one for me. Doing it over a tractor. Another thing for the bucket list.”
“You’d think my tractor was sexy.” She stares at me for a minute, a smile curling the red corners of her lips, before laughter bursts from within.
“You can drive if… you never, ever use that phrase again. Okay?” She tosses me her keys walking around the car. I jog around her, and she looks at me like an alien.
“Aren’t you driving?”
“I am, but I’m also opening the door for a pretty lady first.”
“This isn’t a date. You know that, right?”
“Date or no date, Mia. I’m opening your damn door. Now accept it and get in the car, please.” I smile at her.
“Mmmm… do I detect the bossy coming out, Brooksy?”
“You haven’t seen bossy yet, Mia.”
She slips into the car seat and starts buckling her seatbelt. Looking over at me, she winks. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The car is filled with music on the way to our destination. I gaze in Mia’s direction to witness her jamming along to whatever song is streaming through the speakers, bumping the doors. It’s dark and gritty. The simplicity of driving together feels so normal, so comfortable. So…couple-like.
“What song is this?” I ask.
“Oh my God! You’ve never heard of Billie Ellish. Gah… this is one of my favorite songs by her! She’s just so good.” She pumps her fist in the air, dancing in her seat and singing along.
“What’s it called?”
“Bad Guy.”
“Interesting…”
She lightly smacks my arm. “Don’t tell me you hate it.”
“Never said that… it’s just interesting…”
“Uh huh…”
A few seconds later, I’m pulling up in front of Rising Tides Art Gallery and slow to a stop. Mia looks at the window, then looks back at me. “Why are we here?”
“Wait and see.” I smile at her. Every fiber in me hopes this isn’t a bad decision on my part. I’ve gone back and forth on the decision, but even if she hates me for it, someone else needs to see her art. To enjoy it like I do. I’ve done my research, and if you can get in here, you’ve made it.
“Okay…” I turn off the car, pulling the keys from the ignition and get out, walking around the front of the car to open her door for her.
Lending her my hand as she steps up onto the curb, her sparkling pools of unending eyes find mine. It’s clear she knows exactly where we are and that in itself holds promise for me. Walking to the front door of the gallery, I yet again hold it for her.
“Thank you,” she says with a smile before stepping inside.
“I love this place. I’ve always dreamed of showing off my artwork here. Only the best of the best gets picked.”
“You want to walk around?”
“Of course. I haven’t been here in a while.” We walk through every exhibit looking at every single piece that lines the walls. Some are dark, others light and bright. Every painting or sculpture is a contrast to the one beside it, almost like they planned it out this way.
I find myself looking sideways at some of the pieces. Some are confusing, and you have to wonder what they were thinking when they created it. They’re odd, and most I don’t understand, but I watch Mia as she spends time analyzing each. The look of pensive admiration crosses her face as we stop at one.
Sometimes she chews her bottom lip like she really wants to get inside what’s going on. I imagine her crawling into the brain of the artist and examining each neuron used in creating such masterpieces.
As if she can tell where each brushstroke comes from and goes to. To me, they all look like lines on a canvas. But to Mia, they are fantastic pieces of a story. Each with a past and a purpose. Each artist tells a tale of their life. Stories of hope, love, pain, the past, the future, and everything in between. She’s in her element and to be able to watch her doing something she loves is nothing short of the perfect afternoon. She tells me little things about each piece as we pass it. Most are artists from the New York area. Her passion for art is endless. I wonder if it’s the thing she
loves most in this world, even if she claims to not believe in love.
“Brooks,” a man says my name from behind us, and I turn to see him walking our way, his arm outstretched to shake my hand. I watch as Mia’s mouth drops open in shock.
She leans over before he reaches us and whispers softly, “You know him?” I nod at her and turn back to Mr. Leonard. “Geoffrey.”
“I’m so glad you could finally come in.” He turns to Mia. “And you must be the impressive Mia Preston I’ve been hearing about…” Her mouth opens and closes twice, only breath escaping, unable to form words. “I’ve heard and seen some pretty incredible things about you, Miss Preston.”
“W-What… how…” Her eyes lace with confusion as she looks back and forth between us, trying to figure out the game plan.
“Brooks here showed me some pictures of your work, and I’d like to extend an offer to show your work here at the gallery for a month-long show. How would you feel about that?”
She nods excitedly. “Um. I would love to show my work here, but I’m confused. It normally takes months to get a show here, and there’s an application and…”
“Well, of course, I’d like to take a look at your pieces in person. Pictures, I’m sure, don’t do them justice. I’d like to extend the offer on a preliminary basis if you can bring them in.”
“You know, I’ve been dreaming about showing my work here since I started college. Never in a million years did I ever imagine it becoming a reality. So, I guess all I have to say is thank you for the chance.”
“Don’t thank me. Your boyfriend practically begged me to offer you a spot, and I can definitely see why. You’ve got an incredible gift, Mia. I don’t say that lightly. I’ve turned many artists away from showing their work in this gallery.”
“Boyfriend…” The smile that’s been covering her face leaves at the mere mention of me being anything other than just her friend and fuck buddy. It hurts, painfully hard. Of course, she won’t see me as anything more. Mia doesn’t do boyfriends. She doesn’t believe in love. She’d told me all along, and my damn hopeful heart had hoped that maybe I was the one that’d make a difference. I can’t blame her. At least she’s honest about it.