by E. L. Todd
His hands closed into fists.
I ran my fingertips up his stomach to his chest. When I reached his shoulders, I massaged them, feeling the powerful muscle that could protect me from anything. I slowly rocked my hips, grinding against his throbbing cock.
He loved it but hated it at the same time.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my chest against his. Every time I moved, my boobs moved too, the nipples dragging against his warm skin. I pressed my forehead to his and watched his lips, seeing them open in desire.
I heard his knuckles pop because he was squeezing his fists so tightly.
I gave him a languid kiss, tasting him like I had so many times. Our mouths moved slowly, taking their time. While I loved everything about our physical relationship, I particularly loved kissing. It was deeply satisfying.
“Muffin…” The quiet desperation was in his voice.
“No touching.”
He released a growl.
I inserted his tip into my entrance and felt the thickness stretch me. His dick throbbed slightly when it entered my wetness. A groan from his throat accompanied it. I slowly slid all the way down until I had him entirely within me.
He took a deep breath like it was the greatest sensation he’d ever known. It always felt like the first time, like we were never prepared for how good we felt together.
I let him sit inside me for a few seconds before I slowly started to ride him, my gaze fixed on his. I held on to his shoulders for balance and moved him in and out. He was the perfect size, big enough to push me to my limit but not so big it hurt.
His hands moved to my ass and gripped it tightly.
“No touching.”
He sighed and removed them.
I bounced up and down, enjoying every inch of him as entered me. When his head pushed my lips apart, it was the sexiest sensation I’ve ever known. My tits shook with every move I made and his eyes were fixed on them.
“You’re so beautiful it hurts sometimes.”
I dug my nails into his chest as I moved.
“Slow down.”
I grinded against him gently, taking him in with restrained slowness.
“Just like that.” He put his hands behind his head and watched me.
Seeing him enjoy me made my body light on fire. Now I wanted him to touch me, to grip me and never let go.
“Muffin, let me touch you.” He kept his hands behind his head as he watched me ride his cock.
I grinded into his hips, feeling my clitoris drag across his pelvic bone. I was almost at my threshold, about to come around his hard dick.
Without waiting for permission, he gripped my ass and rocked me with him. His fingers rested in the crevice between my cheeks, trailing to the back of my entrance. His lips found mine, and he kissed me hard on the mouth, digging his other hand into my hair. “Together.”
I was already there, just seconds from exploding. “I’m gonna come.”
He moved me harder with him, still kissing me. His body tensed under me and his breathing went haywire.
I dug my nails deep into his chest as I felt my body convulse. Everything felt so good. Moans escaped my lips and my eyes glazed over. I looked into his face and saw him reach the same ecstasy that I did, falling into a whirlwind of emotions. We released together and rode the high until it slowly dissipated.
I remained on top of him, loving the feel of him inside me even though he was semi-hard. I could feel the weight of his seed, and that was a turn-on in itself. Hawke stared at me, still catching his breath.
Whenever we were together like this, it felt like no one else existed. It was he and I—against the world.
“Thank you for giving me this.” He pressed his forehead to mine, his hands gripping my waist.
I knew what he was referring to.
“For giving me you.”
Daydreams
Hawke
I was supposed to be reading the stock reports that just came in, but instead, I was twirling a pen between my fingers while thinking of something else entirely. Now, I struggled to focus my thoughts on work because I had something much more meaningful in my life.
I’d never been this happy.
Somehow, it was better than before. Our hearts connected and fell back in place exactly where they had been before. Francesca was the only person I could be myself around—completely. I could say anything and she would understand it, not take it in the wrong way like most people would.
Every day, my reality was a dream. People found love every single day, but most people didn’t have what I had. They didn’t have the person who shared the other half of their soul. They didn’t have that one special person the universe created just for them.
Only I did.
Years ago, I would have said destiny and soul mates were the stupidest thing I ever heard of. It was some sissy bullshit chicks made up so they would have some romance in their lives. But when Francesca came into my life, I couldn’t deny the truth. The evidence was right in front of my face, and one day, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
It was the truth.
Tim, one of the investors in my office, walked through my open door. “We’re headed to the strip club tonight. You in?”
I had a good relationship with my employees. Since their salary was based off their hard work, they had no one to blame but themselves if their checks were insufficient. That allowed them to think of me as a friend instead of just their boss. “No, thanks. Have a good time.” The strip club was one of my usual stops when I went out with the guys. It was one of those experiences that made you feel like shit, but for whatever reason, you couldn’t stop doing it. But now I had absolutely no interest in it. The only woman I wanted to see strip down to her panties happened to be the woman I shared my bed with every night.
“Maybe next time.”
Maybe never. “Sure.”
He walked out of my office and let me return to daydreaming about The muffin girl.
***
She called me after work. “I want to see you.”
“Then come over.” She always waited for an invitation, never showing up on her own. I never understood why. I wanted her to come and go as she pleased. There was no reason to give me a heads up when she was coming. It’s not like I did anything I shouldn’t be doing.
“Okay. I’ll be there soon.”
After I hung up, I grabbed my extra key and placed it on the floor in front of the door. When ten minutes had passed, I heard her footsteps outside. She stopped but didn’t knock, probably because she saw the key on the floor.
“This is what I want you to do.” I kept the door locked so she couldn’t come inside. “Pick up the key and open the door.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
She stuck the key in the door and got it unlocked. “What was the point of that?” She opened the door and walked inside. “Did you change your locks or something?”
“No. That is your key now.”
“What?” She eyed it in her hand.
“Muffin, just come over whenever you want. You don’t need to ask if it’s okay.”
“But…this is a big step.”
It was? If anything, I expected her to be disappointed I hadn’t already proposed by now. “No, it’s not.” I snaked her keys out of her purse and placed the new key on the ring. “Just come by whenever you want. I want you to feel comfortable here.”
She eyed the keys in my hand then smiled. “Maybe I’ll come by just as you get out of the shower…”
“Perv.”
“What?” she asked innocently. “I’m just being honest.”
“I like your honesty.” I pulled her to my chest and kissed her forehead. The second her body was against mine, I was on cloud nine. All the weight on my shoulders disappeared.
She examined her keys again. “I’d give you mine but I left my spare at home.”
“You don’t have to give it to me.”
“I know. But maybe y
ou’ll walk in on me when I’m in the shower.” She looked up at me, and that cute smile I loved was there.
“That sounds nice.”
“Now who’s a perv?”
I kissed the corner of her mouth and felt myself slip away. Whenever I was with her, I was in a different universe. Time and space had no hold on either one of us. We existed alone, two souls attached with an ethereal glow.
***
The empty pizza box sat on the corner of the bed, a few crumbs inside. Francesca finished the last piece then wiped her fingers. I didn’t like eating in bed but Francesca made me reckless.
“Guess what?” Her knees were pressed to her chest and she was naked. Her hair fell down her chest, hiding her tits from view. While her skin was exposed, all the good stuff was hidden. Somehow, it was sexier than her being completely on display.
“What?” Sometimes, I didn’t listen to a word she said. I just watched her lips move. Everything she said was important, but sometimes I fell under her spell. Her beauty captured me, making me paralyzed.
“Some guy hit on Yaya last week.”
“A guy?”
“Yeah, a guy her age.”
“Really?” I’d never heard of Yaya dating. Actually, the thought never crossed my mind. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t asked her yet.”
“I figured you would pester her to death.”
“I’m playing it cool.” She scrunched her toes, showing her purple nail polish. “Yaya was never up in my business when I was growing up, so I’m not going to be nosey.”
“It wouldn’t be nosey. You’re just curious.”
She shrugged. “She’s a grown woman. If she has something she wants to share, she knows I’m always eager to listen.”
Francesca never told me what happened to her grandfather. Since she never mentioned him, I assumed she didn’t know him very well. Maybe he passed away before she was born. “What happened to your grandfather, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Papu?”
I tried not to smile. “What’s Papu?”
“It’s grandfather in Greek.”
“That’s cute.”
“I didn’t know him very well. He was gone when I was just a baby.”
“I’m sorry.” She’d lost so many people it was hard to believe. “What happened?”
“Cancer.” She scrunched her toes again and stared at her nails. “You never talk about extended family. Do you have any?”
I shook my head. “My dad never talked about his family. My mom had a sister but she died a long time ago. And I never knew any of my grandparents.”
“Both of our circles are small. We’ll need to repopulate.”
Fatherhood wasn’t exactly my calling but it didn’t sound so bad with her. I’d love to hold her hand as we took our kids to the park. The responsibility would be stressful, but I was sure we could handle it. “I look forward to knocking you up.”
She gave me a playful kick. “Is that all you care about?”
“Sometimes.” I looked at her long, slender legs. “Like right now.” I grabbed her by the ankle and gave her a hard tug. She laughed then dropped to her back, her legs in my lap.
“You’re such a caveman, I swear.”
I crawled on top of her then pinned her hands above her head. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I suppose it’s not.” Her eyes sparkled like a green Christmas ornament. There was so much life deep inside, and when I looked hard enough, I saw her thoughts. I saw the future she pictured for us. Her hair was sprawled across the comforter and her lips were slightly parted, like she was desperately waiting for me to kiss her.
I kept her waiting, teasing her. “I thought about you every day when we were apart.” That wasn’t a stupid, romantic line. That was nothing but the truth. It didn’t matter how many women I slept with, I never forgot about the girl I actually loved. Sometimes, when I got coffee in the morning, I thought of her in The Grind. Sometimes, I thought I spotted her on the street but it turned out to be some random brunette. And she was always in my dreams, my sacred place.
Her eyes grew serious, seeing the sincerity deep within me. “As did I.”
I wrapped her legs around my waist and dug one hand into her hair. I’d fallen so hard for this woman. She had me wrapped around her finger, a puppeteer to my entire body. She could control me absolutely—and she didn’t even realize it. “I’m lucky you never stopped loving me.” After what I did, I couldn’t have blamed her if her heart moved on.
She ran her hands up my chest until she cupped my face. “And I’ll never stop loving you.”
***
Axel and I went out to a bar that night. Marie had her friends over so Axel had to find something to do outside the apartment.
“What are you getting Marie for Christmas?”
He drank half his beer but didn’t pick it up again. “I found this jacket from Nordstrom I think she’ll like. It’s gray. That color always brings out her eyes.”
I nodded. “That’s nice.”
“And I’m trying to write her a poem.”
I was about to take a drink of my beer when I stopped. “What?”
“You know, a poem.” He spun his coaster in his fingertips. “Some kind of love song.”
“You don’t strike me as the poetic type.”
“Yeah, I’m realizing that. I’ve been trying to write it for a month. That shit is hard.”
“What made you decide to do this?”
He shrugged. “I got her some nice things to open on Christmas, but I wanted to make her something, you know? Marie likes stuff like that. It’s our first Christmas since we’ve been married, and I want it to be special.”
Since the gesture was sweet, I didn’t tease him about it. “Maybe you should do something else?”
“Like what?”
“Something you’re good at.”
“Dude, I’m not good at anything. You know that.”
That wasn’t true but I wasn’t going to waste my time arguing it. “What about your wedding vows?”
“What about them?”
“What if you wrote them out in your handwriting? Something like that.”
“Hmm…that’s not a bad idea.” He rubbed his chin as he remained deep in thought. “And I can do that.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard.”
“No, it won’t.” He gave me a playful smack on the forearm. “Thanks, man. I’ve spent so much time getting nowhere with that poem.”
“Maybe next year.”
He laughed. “It’ll take me a whole year to write it.”
“So, you didn’t get anywhere with it?”
“I got a few lines but it wasn’t that great.” He took a drink of his beer then eyed the TV in the corner.
“Can I see it?”
“It’s really bad…and I’m not just saying that.”
“We’re always our worst critic.”
He pulled out his wallet then unfolded a yellow piece of paper. He tossed it at me. “There you go.”
I opened it and began to read.
Marie, your ass is off the hook,
Better than any book.
Your heart is big.
But your tits are bigger.
I tried to keep a straight face as I finished it. It wasn’t the worst thing I ever read but it wasn’t the best either. I folded it back up and handed it to him. “Stick with the marriage vows.”
He shoved it into his pocket. “It’s hard, okay? Not a lot of things rhyme.”
I couldn’t wait to tell Francesca about his little poem.
“What are you getting Francesca?”
“Not sure yet.”
“She’s so hard to shop for.” He ran his fingers through his hair like he was anxious just thinking about it. “I got her a recipe book one year and she threw it at me.”
“Well, she doesn’t need a recipe book.”
“I was just trying to do something nice and
she was a total brat about it. So…good luck.”
Francesca didn’t care about materialistic things. If I got her a new phone or some Beats headphones, she would never use them. Designer clothes and shoes weren’t her thing either. The only luxurious thing she seemed to enjoy was our vacation. But I couldn’t give her that.
“You want to use my poem?” He pulled it out of his pocket again.
I tried not to laugh. “I’m good, Axel.”
Christmas Eve
Hawke
The Muffin Girl closed at four since it was Christmas Eve, but I knew it would be insanely packed the entire day. I didn’t work because there was nothing to do during the holidays. No one was working because they were spending time with their families or traveling. Most of the guys took an extended two-week vacation.
I stayed home and waited for her, knowing she would come over the second she could. It was difficult to be apart no matter how short the time period was. When I said goodbye to her in the morning, it was always painful. And when she walked through the door, it felt like an eternity since I’d last seen her.
The lock turned and the front door opened. “Baby, I’m home.”
It took her a while to get used to her key but she finally got the hang of it. “I’ve been watching the door for the past hour.”
She was still in her work clothes. Flour and sugar was caked on her black t-shirt, and her hair was in a braid. She set a pie on the counter. “I thought we could indulge tonight.”
Being in a relationship had its drawbacks. For instance, I ate a lot more because I was always with someone. But I had to keep myself in check otherwise my eight pack would disappear. “Christmas is early.”
She immediately pulled off her shirt and tossed it aside so she wouldn’t get flour all over my apartment. Then she removed her jeans and stood in her bra and panties.
I whistled loudly. “I’ve been a good boy this year.”
“You have.” She headed toward me then jumped into my arms.
I gripped her ass then kissed her hard on the mouth, feeling higher than a cloud. “Want to take a shower?”
“With you? Or without you?”
“Always with me.”
“Then, yes, I would.”
***
We ate the pie right out of the box, forks in our hands.