Everything was fine until I decided to look at her, directly. Lord help me. She’s not even aware I’m staring. This is so from a porno, and I can’t decide if she’s doing it on purpose or innocently.
She’s holding the cone and swirling her tongue around the ice cream in slow sensual circles. She starts at the bottom, gliding over the edges and then closes her mouth over the tip and sucks.
She has to be doing this deliberately because now she’s making a line up the center with the end of her tongue and licking the top then sucking again.
When she pulls back just a little there’s a drip of white cream on the corner of her mouth and over her upper lip.
I feel something cold running down my hand but otherwise, it’s numb and I realize my ice cream is probably melting everywhere but there’s no chance in hell I’m taking my eyeballs off the free erotica sitting in front of me. She hasn’t even looked up, and her feet are swinging like she has all the time in the world.
She used her finger to catch a drip and sucked that into her mouth. Her lips closed around it and it came out with a pop sound that made my cock rise to the call.
I can hear the blood in my head and my groin has tightened up uncomfortably. My eyes are burning and the hair on my neck is standing up.
When a drop of pure white cream ran down the cone and dripped onto her cleavage I felt my mouth water but then she made a, “aww,” sound and got it up with her finger to suck it off again.
When she started on the cone again I almost cried but I also almost screamed. I can’t do this anymore. So mid-lick I slapped it right out of her hand and onto the street.
She looked at me with owlish eyes.
I winced, “no, oh God please. Just stop.” I stepped closer, “I’m sorry Sunshine, but for the love of God, no. Stop. I can’t.”
“What’s wrong? What did I do?”
Huh…. She looked truly innocent. I threw away what was left of my puddle then rinsed my hand off in the water bubbler to her right.
She was staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “Moses? Can you fill me in on why you bought me an ice cream then smacked it out of my hand?”
I sighed and tried to work down what will now be my second inconvenient hard on. “You uh…it’s the way…” I cleared my throat and waited but she was still clueless. “I really don’t want this to sound wrong.” I came close and she held my belt in front. “You eat ice cream cones like you’re giving head and I know I promised I’d wait but if you do it again, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and take you in my car.”
With wide eyes, she covered her mouth. “Chris used to yell at me about it all the time. I didn’t believe him. I thought he was just dirty minded.”
“All men are.”
“Sorry,” she was smiling so I’m not sure she meant it but then she kissed me. Just a sweet pressing of lips, but she still had ice cream above her lip so I ran the underside of my tongue over it.
She withdrew an inch but then held my eyes and came back slowly. This time, she sucked my lower lip into her mouth and I kissed her longer.
“Come on,” I took her hand and tugged her down from the wall.
“Where are we going?”
“There’s a really awesome art hall, where you can paint whatever you want on canvas’ they provide and wine taste. Up for it?”
She jumped in the air, “how do you always think up the coolest dates?”
“Because I’m desperate not to think about sex. Guys get creative when they’re deprived.”
She held my hand and laughed most the way.
CHLOE
July
It’s two-weeks out from my event and now it’s been a two week stretch since Moses has contacted me. I send him funny messages every couple days and leave hello’s on his voicemail but he’s dating. I’m not about to go crazy on him and demand a callback. It’s not my way, but yeah it’s a little hurtful. It happened with Katie too.
My dance event has me nervous and anxious and I need him more than ever but at least I have Brianna.
I rolled from my back to my side to check my phone. It’s not Moses that beeped me so I lay back down just as Brandon turned over in my bed to hold me. He smells amazing, also expensive. His strong arms are circling me and I realize it might be my turn to stop making time for Moses. I finally have this great guy and I’m still moping over a buddy that shelved me.
Okay, that’s unfair to say, he didn’t shelve me. When you’re in a mixed-sex friendship and one of you starts dating, it’s healthy for the other to step back or even… nope don’t want to go there.
“Hey,” Brandon grumbled in his sleep.
I looked up at his sleepy eyes of crystal and burrowed into his chest. “Hey…”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine…” I looked past his chest to the window where the sun was shining through the glass part of the roof. “When’s your first appointment today?”
“Noon,” he stroked my arm, “it’s an operation for a dog. He’s old, though, I’m not sure it will go okay.”
I thought of Goliath and my heart squeezed. “That’s sad. Do you ever dislike your job?”
He sighed, “It’s not that I dislike it ever, but sometimes it’s hard. Working with abused animals is the worst.”
I cringed. “I don’t know how anyone could hurt a pet.”
“I even get hitting a human over a pet.”
I frowned. “Or just…not hitting anything. No one deserves to be mistreated.”
“Well, sometimes people ask for it but animals don’t.”
That didn’t seem right but then again I’ve met people I wanted to slap. “I wish we could stay here.” I squeezed him close. “Let’s not move. Let’s quit.”
He laughed, “hand me the phone so I can call out permanently. I’m all yours.”
“We’re almost at four months.” I realized out loud.
He sat up on his elbow and looked down at me. “I know.” He bent to kiss my neck. “I have flowers coming to your door at one.”
I laughed when he licked over a tickle spot. He’s getting hard against me and my body is getting wet. He’s still working to satisfy me but I’m complicated and he’s willing to take the time.
“Did you bring more condoms?”
He pulled back to look at me, “question, what if we try it without?”
I felt annoyed but didn’t show it, “because I told you why. I don’t want to get pregnant.”
“You’re what? Twenty-four? Shouldn’t you be thinking about it by now?”
I let him kiss up the side of my neck again while I digested that. “I’m twenty-five, and women think about it at different times in their life. For now, I stay safe.”
“But think about it,” he put his hand under the covers and felt between my legs. I parted them for him and he slipped his finger in. I’m not sure I was ready enough because his fingers aren’t comfortable in there but I let him touch me anyway as he explained, “I want to know what it would feel like to be in here, without anything between us.”
I figure if I’m going to tell him no to not wearing condoms he should be allowed to touch me all he wants but he’s not good at fingering a woman. His hand is too rough and expects instant gratification.
“Maybe in the future.” I put him off.
He looked sad. “Is this an intimacy boundary? What if I pull out?”
“I’m really just not ready Brandon.”
He stopped raking me with his fingers, thank God. Then he held my side. “Alright, I respect that. Tell me when though and we’ll venture from there.”
Now I feel bad, he’s accepting.
My phone buzzed and I reached for it out of habit. It was a text from Moses.
“I’m an awful friend and I know it. Please don’t hate me. What about lunch tomorrow?”
I feel warm inside to see he hasn’t totally forgotten me but I still feel a little sad.
“Who is it?” Brandon asks while pulling the sheets down off my body. While I
’m looking at my phone he kissed my nipple and I lost my concentration.
“It’s just Moses.”
He paused, “the gay friend?”
I frowned at him. “Moses isn’t gay.”
“He does gay things like wear bracelets and his best friend is a girl.”
I set my phone down and sat up. “Those bracelets are prayer beads and his being my friend doesn’t make him gay.”
“I’m just teasing. Maybe I’d just prefer he was gay.”
I tried to pull the covers back up but he wouldn’t let me have them. “Why would you need him to be gay?”
“Well, I’m not dumb Chloe. He’s a good looking guy and you…you’re…”
“I’m what?”
He smoothed his hand up my thigh, “you’re hot, but also you’re an exotic dancer. Your morals are different.”
I laughed in disbelief. “I’ve never cheated on a guy in my life. My morals have nothing to do with my dancing.”
He got up and I was glad. He’s being an ass. I pulled the covers up to hide my nakedness and sat with my knees to my chest while I watched him get dressed.
“You’re right. Drop it.” He pulled on his pants then buckled his belt. “Sometimes I get images of you guys in my head and I guess…”
“Moses and I? We’ve never been more than friends.”
He stopped to blink at me. “Never? You really think I believe that? Chloe, I’m not judging you if you sucked his cock once. You’re with me now so it’s all old history.”
The way he said that was gross to me. “Moses is my best friend. I told you that before we started dating. If you’re getting like, jealous or something, you have to move past it. I love having you here and being with you and I like you so much but I’m not giving up the guy that’s been there for me forever.”
He bit his lip and shook his head at me. “Funny how I’m the one that has to get past everything. Your pole dancing, your boyfriends, your-.”
“Whoa!” I held up my hand to stop him and tried to pull in my temper. “What does my dancing have to do with this? Why do you keep throwing my passion in my face like it’s-?”
He flung his shirt at me and Goliath got up from his dog bed to stalk our way with a deep growl in his throat as Brandon raised his voice at me for the first time, “Because it’s fucked up that you expect me to be okay with you doing something slutty for a paycheck! If I was a pimp, wouldn’t you be offended? Your grinding on a fucking pole half naked offends me!”
I was stunned to silence. Did he really yell at me? Throw his shirt at me? Put down my art?
“Brandon, I’ve never been dishonest with you about anything. I even told you what happen in my life as a kid. I do understand that my being a pole dancer might be weird for you. You’re not the first guy to stop seeing me over it but it’s what I do. I like it. It makes me feel good and talented and strong. It’s not all about sex, there is sex, but it’s also about resistance, strength, form, and skill. If you came to the studio and watched, you might understand. I don’t strip for men anymore. I go to big shows, performances, and competitions. Then there’s this event.”
He laughed in a snide way, “and there are men there?”
“Well yeah, in the audience, or as judges-.”
“So what am I supposed to tell people? I’m an esteemed vet with a name building in my profession,” he got louder and louder until Goliath started barking at him. “What do I say to colleagues huh? Oh, my girlfriend isn’t satisfied with me so she whores on a pole? It’s sick!”
I think feeling let down is official. “I’m not a whore!”
“Yeah! It’s the same thing! Then don’t act like one! And will you shut this fucking dumb dog up I can’t think!”
I stood on my mattress with the covers still wrapped around me and pointed at the door. “No, Goliath makes more fucking sense than you do. Get your shit and get out of my apartment, you insecure piece of mangina shit!”
I bent to throw his shoes at the door.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” He shouted.
“You just put down my work, my passion, and my dog. I’m the only one that’s allowed to put myself down, and once you cross my dog, your ass is gone.”
He came at me in a way that Goliath viewed as aggressive and much to my surprise Goliath bit the fucker on the calf. It was quick but it was serious, and his teeth are like the jaws of life.
Brandon swore and backed up.
I guess Moses was right. I guess Goliath can bite.
Chapter Ten
MOSES
“Chris is making me go out with him tonight. It’s one of his conditions to the divorce finalizing. He won’t tell me where we’re going but he left two gifts.”
This text message from Jenzy is like getting scolded by hot water. I don’t really know how to answer so as I walk to the gym, I don’t.
Chris is working hard to get her back and I’m not sure I can compete with the history.
Once in the locker room I finally come up with a reply.
“Then try to have fun. Even if you’re splitting you can still have fun together.”
I guess that was right to say. Playing the understanding good guy is an external thing, not internal. Any guy playing the role is only playing it skin deep. Under the surface, it still hurts.
She came back,
“Moses, is this getting to be too much?”
I shook my head like she could see me. Nothing is too much. Hearing her even say that makes me worry I’m showing my hand. So I wrote,
“No Sunshine, I mean it. He has a right to want you.”
She then said,
“I don’t have a right to ask, but please don’t give up on me. I know this has to be the worst position to be in. I don’t want this for you. When he signs this will be over.”
I checked the time, I’m going to be late in a minute but this is important. I typed fast,
“Jenzy, I’m with you, that’s the best position, not the worst. I’ll never give up on you, not unless you tell me to.”
In one sentence she made my night,
“I wish you were here.”
I smiled and wrote,
“Me too.”
I locked up my phone and things then ran to my class. About to go in I see through the glass door that my co-worker Ron is running my class. What?
“Moses!” My boss Bridget comes bounding my way like her life depends on it. All platinum blonde hair and ear pieces to communicate with the trainers. “Honey, listen, we have an emergency. Jessica hurt her back and she can’t come in to run the prenatal class.”
“Okay well, is Gerda free?”
“Gerda has a play at her grandson’s school. I need you.”
I raised my eyebrow and pulled my neck back. “You want me to teach prenatal?”
She took my arm and forced me along. Believe it or not, she’s built like a friggin NFL player. “Yes, and don’t ask why Ron couldn’t do it. He’s not experienced like you.”
I gestured to my groin, “aren’t I missing something important for this? Like a Vagina?”
“You know the basics, and this is the teacher’sthird time canceling. I don’t want to lose these clients; their money put our gym ahead in the district.”
I stopped outside the room they were all in. Nothing but very pregnant women that looked anywhere from grumpy to anxious. They’re adorable really but… “So tell them we’ll secure it next time,” I suggested.
She fisted her hands and set them on her straight hips. “You wanna go in there and tell a bunch of hormonal, she-bitches, that the class they traveled to, in California heat is canceled again? Keep in mind two of the momma’s are past due.”
I glanced in the room and imagined myself being strangled by eight pregnant women. “5:00 to 6:15 right?”
Hours later I got home half dead. Bridget failed to tell me there was another prenatal class back to back with that one, and I still had to close the bookstore. Since this is a Friday night the book
store stays open until 11pm and I didn’t get home until after midnight.
I no sooner shut my eye when Jenzy called. I’m still half dead but I would unbury myself for her. I talked half asleep and found out Chris took her to the Planetarium. I fought a tingle of envy. I’d secretly planned to take her next week, but now I won’t. It’s Chris’ thing now.
I made her laugh about the prenatal class and she asked if this was weird, if I’d feel jealous knowing Chris and her are friends. How can I when Chloe is mine?
Oh, Chloe. I still haven’t messaged her.
But then I changed the subject with Jenzy to bike trails. I sensed something in her tone, though…
“What’s wrong?” I asked and she hesitated, “tell me.” I insisted.
“Nothing.”
“Please.”
There was this long and painful quiet and it made me think nervous thoughts like she’s done, or tonight with Chris meant something, but instead she said,
“I’m falling for you Moses.”
My heart stopped beating for a whole minute and my world spun. I sat up on my side in bed and groaned, “please don’t say that when I can’t touch you.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I just…” I fisted my other hand in the bedding, “I feel the same way. I don’t want to rush you, though.”
“You never rush me into anything.”
“Still. I…” I sat up and sighed, “I don’t think you really know just how much I want you. I live for my phone to buzz, I think about you all the time. Even without sex…I want sex but, you fill me up everywhere else.”
“You’re probably afraid I’ll spook and run after the last incident.” She said.
“I don’t need to have sex with you to know how I feel.” It would be nice, but I’ll live.
She put me on speaker by the sounds of it, “okay, you’re right…we don’t need sex.”
I bugged my eyes, “hey now, I’m patient, I’m not dead.”
The Friend Zone (The Relationship Quo Series Book 2) Page 9