The Role

by A. B. Wilson

  “God, Markus, I’m so sorry!” My apology was negated by my inability to stop giggling.

  “Oh, you think this is cute?” He pulled me across his lap and hit a button on the door that silently raised the soundproof privacy screen between us and the driver.

  I nodded emphatically, hiccupping a bit as he arranged me on his lap. His hands slid beneath the hem of my shirt. I could feel the rough skin from the light abrasions on his palms as he feathered his fingers over my ribs. One hand slid from beneath my shirt to wrap around my ponytail and tug my head back, opening my neck and collarbones for exploration by his lips.

  “Still think this is funny?” His hoarse whisper tickled my ear, and the gold flecks in his eyes glittered at me as he dared me to say yes.

  I shrugged nonchalantly and tried to lean in to kiss him, but he pulled harder on my hair, holding me back. A thrill went up my spine as he took control.

  “Yes? How about this, then?” he demanded as he rolled his hips beneath me. An arrow of warmth shot through my body and I could have sworn it was possible to smell the desire thickening the air between us. I moaned and pressed against him, unable to move my head with his death grip on my ponytail.

  “Or this?” He pulled my shirt down from the inside, stretching the neck to reveal the lacy midnight-blue bralette I had put on because it reminded me of his eyes. His pupils dilated and he licked his lips as he eyed the tops of my breasts and rapidly tightening nipples through the translucent lace. “Take your shirt off, now, Alina.”

  I shivered as his words reverberated through me and I slowly pulled my shirt up, taking my bralette with it. Markus shifted me to the middle of the bench seat and knelt on the floor between my legs, staring up at me in awe.

  “You are so fucking beautiful,” he ground out as he wrapped a hand around each of my thighs, spreading them wider, and leaned in to tease my left nipple with his tongue. The combination of the cool air conditioning in the car and his warm breath on my chest made me moan and arch my back toward him. He reverently cupped my other breast in his hand, stroking gently as he switched between the two.

  I looked directly at the frosted glass of the privacy screen, wondering how much the driver might be able to see. Was it completely opaque, or could he see our silhouettes as Markus knelt between my knees? Not knowing was the ultimate turn-on.

  I lifted my hips slightly as his other hand tugged gently at the button and tie on my pants then dipped beneath the loosened waist. He quickly established a slippery rhythm, sliding one finger shallowly through my pussy. “More, Markus, deeper,” I begged as I worked my own hand down to rub my clit.

  A car horn honked next to us and I flushed as I pictured the people around us possibly watching. They were stuck in traffic, trying to get home, completely unaware of the fact that two people were inches from fucking next to them. I moaned as I continued to touch myself, loving the fact that we were in public, so close to being caught. Every touch, every feeling was heightened with that delicious knowledge.

  Markus batted my hand away and pushed me back to lie lengthwise across the seat. “This is for you. Now sit back and be a good girl. Stop trying to do my job,” he growled.

  As he yanked my pants and underwear down with one violent motion, I reached out a trembling hand to carefully unzip his jeans before inching them down and off to lie in a pile with my clothes. He shuddered as he took in the sight of us completely naked in the back of the hired sedan stop-starting its way through Berlin traffic, barely hiding behind the tinted windows.

  A short lock of hair tumbled over his forehead and his eyes seemed to ask a serious question even as he leaned away to rustle through his pants for the condom in his wallet. Was this too soon for me? For us? Should we at least wait till we were back at the apartment?

  “Please, I need this,” I whispered and pushed him back, unrolled the condom over him and hovered over his lap. I bent to kiss him with open eyes that I hoped conveyed everything I felt for him in that moment, and he wrapped his hands tightly around my waist.

  “Yes, fucking ride me, Alina,” he hissed as he held me up over his cock. My head dropped back as I began to sink slowly down onto him, feeling the internal stretch barely on the pleasurable end of pain as he bottomed out inside me. My thigh muscles quivered as I started the long, torturous pull back. We both watched, mesmerized, as his cock emerged then disappeared back into my body.

  “God, I love seeing us together,” he groaned, and I could only whimper in agreement as I continued to set a slow, punishing pace.

  The corded muscles of his shoulders and arms bunched as he held himself back from taking over. I rocked against him, teasing him as I circled my hips until he finally broke. In one smooth move, he spun me around to face the privacy screen and lifted my arms back to circle around his neck, instructing me to hold on and not let go. He wrapped one arm across my chest to hold me in place and I felt the slight burn of his sparse chest hair on my shoulder blades as he slammed into me from below. His other hand slid down between my legs to press against my clit. My entire awareness narrowed down to the single connection point between us, and the people around us, our driver, all of them disappeared.

  “Fuck!” I shrieked as he hit a spot that no man had ever touched. “So fucking good!”

  “God, I can feel you strangling me with your cunt. Come all over my cock, beautiful.”

  His filthy words in that sexy, throaty growl were all it took to knock me over the edge I’d been teetering on. After a few more body-wracking thrusts, I felt Markus finish with a groan. He gently unclasped my hands that were still clenched together behind his neck and pulled me off him to lie on the seat.

  My body shuddered in the cool air as I slowly circled back to earth, idly smoothing Markus’ hair away from his sweaty forehead. The car slowed and Markus managed to raise his head to see out of the window. “Shit, we’re about five minutes away. Hate to break up the afterglow, but we should get dressed. But first—” He kissed me soundly. “We need to do a lot more of that very soon. That was incredible.”

  I yawned and reached for my shirt. “You think we can get a repeat in your amazing bed tonight? I’m also thinking dirty thoughts about that bathtub of yours.”

  His shoulders shook and he helped me pull my bralette and shirt back on. He whispered, “The things I’m going to do to you, Alina… Just wait and see.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Alina

  The next day, our second in Berlin, started with one of those conversations between family members that outsiders should never be privy to.

  A light feminine voice with a slight accent chirped from the entry, “Markus! There you are. I thought you were probably asleep, but this asshole—sshhht, Matti. It’s early. Show some respect for the neighbors—figured you’d be up and probably making love to your new paramour. Isn’t that a delightful word? Paramour? I love it.”

  A gravelly baritone responded in a voice that was pitched only slightly below a shout. “For fuck’s sake, Ella. No one gives a fuck about your fancy vocabulary. And why are we speaking English? Markus, move your tight ass over and let us in. Time to introduce us to your new friend.”

  “We’re practicing for Markus’ friend, Matti,” hissed the exasperated woman.

  I heard Markus grunt as something substantial hit the wall by the kitchen, and the unfamiliar masculine voice continued, “See, Ella? Friend. Why use stupid words when very simple ones work equally well?”

  Muffled laughter let me know that Markus was happy to see his exuberant family, and the echoing hugs and back slapping told me that the feeling was mutual. Even through a few walls, their family togetherness was daunting. I chose to emulate a sloth as I slid a foot out of the perfect haven of Markus’ bed. Parts of my body that hadn’t been worked out in two years were deliciously stiff and sore, and I grinned as I padded over to my suitcase to pull out a pleated midi skirt that hadn’t gotten too wrinkled, and a sleeveless denim shirt that I tied off in the front.

 
“Now, Markus.” Her voice was much clearer now that it wasn’t muffled by a door and hallway. “Tell us about this woman. Also, where’s Max? Didn’t you invite him? You know he hates being left out.”

  “He never got back to me,” Markus said helplessly.

  “Whatever, bro, listen. I’ve seen those pictures. Hot lady, Markus. Fuck, you’ve got excellent taste—”

  “Matti, you sexist pig!”

  “Yes, Matti, please, drop the chauvinism down at least fifteen notches or she’s going to kick your ass. Alina is still sleeping, and I like her. A lot. So don’t fuck this up for me by being an immature dick.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, man. Just complimenting your taste in women and the fact that you’re getting over Kate with someone who already seems far superior. I mean, she’s here, which is more than we could say of Kate mostly.”

  Hearing a slap and a smack, I envisioned the high five, bro hug, fist bump most likely happening and rolled my eyes.

  “Ugh. You two. Well I guess I’m not surprised about Max. He’s always so busy. But, Markus! This woman! What’s the deal with this? I mean, I did not like Kate, but so soon?”

  “Ella, stop. Look, I invited you here because I want you to meet someone special. Yes, whatever is happening between us is new, but it’s good. And it’s real. She’s real, and I’ve honestly never felt like this before. We’re trying to take things slowly—”

  “What! Where’s the fun in that? Don’t ruin a little brother’s faith in his older brother’s prowess.”

  “Matti, how do you even know what prowess means?” Ella sounded like every bossy older sister ever.

  I couldn’t make out the muttered grumbling that followed until I heard the other two burst out laughing and Markus gasped. “You listened to a romance audiobook?”

  The guffaws ended in shrieks and smacks until Ella, I presumed, broke them up.

  “Fine, Markus, she’s real. As you say. But you better believe we’re going to be testing this out.”

  I figured that this was my cue to meet the family and headed, nervously, out into the living space while I tied my unruly hair back. I was glad for my hands to have something to do as I eyed the tall, blond family members, two of whom seemed to be berating the third about his very immature tendencies toward women. Markus spotted me first and waved me over while the other two engaged in a whispered argument.

  “Guys? Someone I want you to meet. This is Alina.”

  I stepped up next to him as Ella and Matti turned to face me. It was uncanny how much the three of them resembled one another, like messing around with those gender-swap, aging filters on social media.

  Jesus. What do his parents look like?

  I waved uncertainly as they remained frozen in place, looking me over. The big dude, Matti, broke first and bullrushed me. He swooped me up, twirling me around. With his size and viselike grip it was literally like being hugged by a bear. The guy was taller than his older brother by a few inches and jacked in the way that only professional athletes could get, with long dirty-blond hair pulled back in a messy topknot and full tattoo sleeves.

  As he set me down after another bone-breaking squeeze, he looked me straight in the eye. “Hi, I’m Matti. I’m the baby and delighted to meet someone who isn’t Kate and who seems to make my elderly brother happy. Should you decide you’d rather hook up with a professional athlete, though— Oof.”

  Ella elbowed him again and hissed, “How many times do we have to tell you not to be a sexist asshole? And stop manhandling her. What is wrong with you?”

  “Um, pretty happy with your brother, thanks,” I said with a distracted nod. My eyes were stuck on Ella, who’d turned her piercing, light-blue stare toward me. She looked at me with narrowed eyes and a slight purse to her mouth, head cocked as she considered me, giving me the Look of every overprotective mama bear when her cubs were threatened.

  I stepped away from both Matti and Markus, and held out my hand. “Ella, right? I’m so glad to meet you. Markus has told me a little about you and your family. Twin daughters, right? That must be a handful.”

  Ella gingerly shook my hand and continued her appraisal before finally nodding sharply. “Yes, they certainly are, and for today they’re my husband’s problem.” She smiled like a shark. “Well, Markus hasn’t told us much about you, but it’s nice to meet you too. I’m so glad we get to know you before Mother does. Don’t worry, we won’t put you through the wringer too badly.” She grinned gleefully, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.

  My face got hot. I’d forgotten how intrusive families could get. “Thanks. I think the siblings is plenty, since we’ve only recently started seeing each other.” I said the last to Markus, and he grinned faintly at me and shrugged with an annoying “what can you do?” innocent expression.

  He came over to rescue me from their attention and pulled me into his arms. “Ella, Matti, no third degree, okay? I can send you home.”

  “Sure, Markus,” they chorused.

  “I still get to tell her embarrassing stories, don’t I?” begged Ella with a smirk at me. I smiled back, my tense shoulders relaxing for the first time since I’d heard the new voices in the apartment. This was going to be fine. Female solidarity already.

  She and Matti took up seats at the island and looked at Markus and me expectantly.

  “Okay, guys. Alina and I were talking and planned out a good option. We found a guy who can take us around on a private brewery and distillery tour of East Berlin. It will be this neighborhood and a few others. We’ve got a driver, so it should be pretty relaxed. Does that sound okay to you? Ella?”

  “Yes, of course! Can we FaceTime Max at some point today? I really miss him and doing this kind of stuff with the two of you doesn’t feel right without him.”

  I suddenly remembered that she and Max were twins and felt badly for her. They were obviously the closest of the siblings and she clearly missed him.

  “I’m in too. And, yeah, Ella. We’ve got to call Max. To bitch him out for never leaving his grapes and shit. Markus, lead the way!” Matti leaped from his stool and started doing an exaggerated warm-up routine. “I’ve trained my whole life for this!”

  Markus rolled his eyes at his obnoxious brother and pushed me out of the room before he could say anything worse.

  “You okay?” he asked quietly as leaned against the dresser while I pulled my toiletries and accessories out of my suitcase. “Matti is such a shit sometimes and I should have expected Ella to give you the third degree. Since she had the twins, her overprotective tendencies have gone haywire. If she tries to pry, tell her off.”

  “Yeah,” I murmured. “I’ll be fine. But it’s weird, you know? Hanging out with a family again. It’s not as scary as I thought it would be. I’ve missed it, to be honest.”

  “Good. Fine. Great.” He punctuated each word with a kiss and pulled me back down onto the bed. “Thank you for meeting everyone.”

  I kissed him back and laid my head on his chest, listening to the whoosh of air through his lungs and the steady pounding of his heart.

  Then Matti shattered the moment, charging through the closed door and leaping onto the bed with us, sending it swinging wildly. “Whoa, what the fuck, Markus? This is new. When did you get into sex swings?”

  Markus shoved a pillow at his brother and I rolled off quickly to avoid any physical damage as they continued to wrestle. I slapped on my makeup in the bathroom, going casual for the day with a little highlighter, mascara and gloss, along with a few layered thin gold chains and Markus’ ubiquitous bracelets that were, apparently, never coming off.

  When I left the boys to their bickering, I found Ella on the phone, standing at one of the windows in the main space. She saw me emerge and muttered a goodbye in German before smiling shyly at me. “It really is good to meet you,” she said in a low voice. “I’ve been so worried about him and I’m sorry if I ask too many questions or dig into things that aren’t my business.”

  I smiled back, equally tentat
ively. “I understand. I know you talk to him a lot, so you’ve heard about the shit he’s gone through.”

  Ella nodded as I continued, “I don’t know what he’s told you about us, but we’re trying to take things slowly. We’ve each got our own demons and the show makes things complicated, but honestly, he’s amazing. I feel lucky to be with him.”

  She surprised me by throwing her arms around me and hugging me with unexpected strength. “He’s coming back to us, to life. And if you’re the reason that it’s happening, you and I are never going to have a problem.”

  Even though the last was a little bit of an implicit threat, it was a kind one, and I hoped that someday we could be actual friends. At her thirty-one and my twenty-eight, Ella and I were almost the same age, yet miles apart in terms of life. Or maybe not, I thought as her face lit up when her two brothers came out together, punching each other in the arm seemingly as hard as they could. An equally blinding smile hurt my cheeks as I watched the man I loved—

  Shit, nothing to see here, just throwing casual out the window.

  * * * *

  The walking tour went surprisingly quickly and all of us, unsurprisingly, got completely wasted. Matti was off singing football club songs on the street while Ella flirted mercilessly with the very earnest, twenty-something hipster tour guide. Markus and I floated in our own very tiny, self-contained world, smiling benevolently down at the other two.

  FaceTiming with Max was a blur. He was yet another very good-looking man with Markus’ sharp bone structure, but with dark hair instead of blond. Ella’s twin seemed lovely, perfectly polite to a stranger and good humored in the face of his siblings’ drunken ribbing.

  I hoped I would get to meet him at some point, if for no other reason than because I desperately wanted to know if he dyed his hair to stand out from his fairer siblings. No family should be that good-looking, and he seemed to be the family’s literal black sheep.