Fever Pitch

by Ann Marie Frohoff

  He smiled and held his head high. “I’ll do that then. The old-fashioned way.”

  I leaned in closer to his face and lingered at his cheek. “I love you.”

  Jake slid the gold sparkling band onto my right index finger and it fit perfectly. I held out my hand and stared at it. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s spectacular.” Jake smiled proudly, and kissed the ring on my finger.

  “I designed it.” He tugged at his black cardigan sleeve to slip off his sweater, and I looked back at the ring.

  This made me tingle. Really? “Is there anything you can’t do?” I moved over to him as he sat back down, tucking my arm through his, and we both stared at the ring as it sparkled in the light. “You’re seriously the most artistic, magnificently creative person I’ve ever known.”

  He chuckled. “You’re gonna think I’m fulla’shit, but I think I’m gonna take a stab at designing jewelry.”

  “For reals?” I pushed away and looked at him skeptically.

  He stared off in the distance. I could see his jaw tighten and he nodded, blinking, thinking. “Why not?” He looked back at me and pecked my cheek. “This is how you inspire me. You’re like the Milky Way, a billion-trillion stars of blinding inspiration.” He twisted the ring around my finger. “I was thinking about your birthday present and how I wanted it to be something really meaningful…” He trailed off and his lips squeezed together.

  “Hey.” I nudged him. “What is it?”

  He leaned over, taking his glass of wine into his hand and took a sip, then reached for mine, handing it to me. “When you told me you were coming here…it kinda scared me.” He didn’t look at me when he said this, and my stomach turned over.

  “Wow. I’m sorry,” I said faintly. I released my hold on him and took a big gulp of wine, finishing it. I didn’t know what to make of his statement. He’d obviously gotten over it if he was asking me to marry him. I got up and walked to the kitchen and grabbed the wine bottle off the black granite counter top.

  “I’m still afraid, Aly. I’m afraid of letting you down.” I stood in front of him with my glass and the wine bottle dangling from my arms, not knowing what to say to him. He took my hips in his hands, pressing his thumbs against my hipbones. I could feel the warmth of them penetrate my denim leggings and a serious ache shot through me. Every time he touched me, my desire for him was instantaneous. His handsome face lit up, and his yummy lips curled into a smile. “I knew that if I allowed you to come here that I needed to make a decision. That’s when I realized I wanted to really spend the rest of my life with you. There was never any doubt; fear, yes, but doubt, no.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off of his. The black flecks sprinkled throughout the blue of his eyes sucked me in like a black hole. He pulled me close, resting his cheek against my stomach, and wrapped his arms around me. As his t-shirt rose around his left bicep, I noticed the black markings of thin wavy lines and little song notes woven throughout them. He had a tattoo.

  I lifted his shirtsleeve. “When did you get this?” My fingers rubbed over the permanent ink. “What is it?”

  He leaned back and lifted the sleeve up further, inspecting it. “It’s not done yet. It’s a work in progress.”

  “What is it?” I asked again, this time bouncing up and down.

  He gave me a lopsided grin. “They’re strands of hair.” I wanted to ask whose hair, but I knew whose hair, and my stomach got all nervous and then he said it. “Your hair.”

  I inhaled, embarrassed. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because the entire day so far was beyond anything in my wildest dreams? “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No. I’m not.” He sighed and grabbed the wine bottle and the glass out of my hands, pouring me another one. “This is something I went ahead and got done a long time ago, when I first got to New York.” He took his shirt off, and the sight of him half-naked made me go weak. His skin was paler than it used to be, but the definition of his muscles more pronounced. He’d gained weight, and was more buff through his shoulders than he’d appeared to be with his clothes on. Holy shit, I never thought he could get hotter. I could see the silhouette of a face over his bicep, my face, with just one eye and the small bridge of a nose. The long strands of hair weaved like waves over his shoulder and down his arm. The little topaz blue-colored song notes were everywhere throughout the black strands, embedded like jewels.

  I collapsed down next to him in complete disbelief, staring at the ring on my finger, and then at his bare skin and tattoo. He held the glass out for me to take it, and I did. I remained slack jawed and silent. He took his glass and held it up. “Here’s to changing my life forever, Alyssa Montgomery.”

  After watching him take several sips, I took the glass out of his hand, placing both of ours on the table. I stood, taking him by both hands, and pulled him up. He smirked at me. “Show me around. What else do you have hiding behind those black drapes?”

  He spun me around so quickly up into his arms. I squealed and gripped his shoulders, burying my head into his neck. I breathed in deeply, inhaling his delicious scent, remembering how his skin used to feel beneath my lips. Even though he was so familiar, everything I felt was entirely new. The feelings were more intense. I wasn’t scared about finally giving myself to him, nor was I confused like I’d been all those years ago when I was too young to know any better. I was certain I wanted him. I was as certain as he was about wanting to spend the rest of his life with me.

  I kissed him slowly and tenderly as he carried me around the other side of the curtain. His tongue felt like velvet, and with each lick I felt the pressure get more intense throughout my body. He held me so tightly I could have melted into him.

  He let me down at the foot of his bed. “Mmm,” I hummed, looking around and down at the bed. “Everything looks new and especially fluffy.” I played with his hair and sat down on the bed, tugging at his belt loops.

  “It is,” he said, tipping me backwards and lying on top of me. I wrapped my legs round him and he pressed into me, kissing and sucking my neck. The chills ran all over my body, and I moaned.

  “I love the little sounds you make when I’m kissing you.” He nuzzled me. “Fuck, Aly, I had no idea how much I’d really missed you.” He buried his head in my hair, taking in several deep breaths. Each time he pressed into me, I could feel him growing harder and harder, and the pleasure radiated through my body. My hands ran up his bare back and I grabbed his face, desperate to feel his lips and tongue on mine.

  He gently peeled off my sweater, socks and leggings and stared at me from the foot of his bed. He unbuckled his belt and slid off his pants. There he was, in all his naked glory and I surprised myself by covering my eyes. I giggled, shaking my head, and looked back at him. “I’ve said it so many times.” I sat up, reaching for him. He took my hand and I pulled him down to me. “I must be dreaming. Pinch me?” I begged, running my hand down his back and over his ass. I shivered and tucked in closer to him.

  “How about I do this instead.” He reached over and pulled a thickly quilted cream-colored blanket up over us and pulled me close. Our legs entwined and our hips, stomachs and chests pressed together. I nuzzled my face into his neck. His skin radiated heat like a steam engine. The warmth of his lips grazed and pecked at my forehead. “I didn’t notice how cold it was in here until I was naked.” He chuckled. “Ima warm it up in here.”

  He went to slide out from our cover and I held his arm. “You’re warming me up just fine.”

  “I’m gonna start a fire.” He glanced at the grey stone fireplace across the room.

  “I’m getting fired up perfectly.” I gave him a pouty face and squeezed the blanket under my chin.

  He thumped the tip of my nose with his finger and got up, stepping toward the chair next to his bed. “Your nipples will appreciate it later.” He laughed softly and grabbed a white towel, wrapping it round his waist, covering his perfectly firm bum. Ugh, he was so freaking hot. I could barely contain myself. I wanted to pounce
on him like cat and lick every inch of him. I buried my face under the blanket, embarrassed at my thoughts, growing slightly insecure. What if I didn’t do it for him? What if I totally sucked at being a lover? I mean sex was pretty basic, right? Insert penis and go for it.

  We’re far beyond hand jobs now, aren’t we, Aly?

  “What’cha thinkin’?”

  His voice made me jump. “Guess.”

  “Stop thinking so much.” He voice strained slightly as he crouched in front of the fireplace, moving the logs around.

  “I can’t help myself.” I sat up, watching him and the muscles on his back flex around. I stared back at the ring on my finger, so badly wanting to put it on my left hand. Finally Jake got the fire roaring, lighting up the room in a soft orange glow. I stared out the window, and it’d gotten really dark. The cloud cover was a deep gray. It was about to rain. I glanced around, looking up at the exposed beamed ceiling and down over the dark red walls, at last realizing the faint paint smell in air. I felt around the bed and grabbed one of the pillows, taking a closer look under the pillowcase. The pillow appeared to be new.

  Everything is new.

  “Jake did you just move in here?” He stood from his bent position.

  “You want more wine?”

  Uh, evade much?

  “Sure.” I blinked. Did he just ignore me? “Did you hear me?”

  “I did just move in here, a week ago,” he stated flatly, and vanished behind the black drape that separated the living area and his bedroom. I could hear the clinking of the glasses.

  My stomach sank and I wasn’t sure why. My mind began going to a crazy place, and I heard the voices of Nadine and Nicole about his girlfriend Sophia. Was he living with her? Is that why he had to move in here? I reminded myself that he’d just asked me to marry him, but for some stupid reason, I just needed to know.

  “What, were you living with someone?”

  He took a sip of wine and smirked at me. “Aly, who would I be living with?”

  Should I say her name? Ugh, then he’d know I’d been a stalker, a lurking lame ass. “Oh, I don’t know. One of the guys in your band.” I shrugged, now feeling stupid.

  He looked at me carefully and my eyes bounced all over his face. “Aly, I wasn’t living with a girl.”

  Oh my god, he knows me so well.

  “I wasn’t thinking that.” I tried to play it off, squirming around in the bed.

  “Yes you were.” He laughed and sighed, taking a final gulp from his glass. It was getting dark; we were now completely lit up by only the soft golden hue of the fireplace. “I wanted to start fresh, with you. I didn’t want any reminders of anything else. So I sold everything and moved upstairs, here.”

  I so badly want to ask about Sophia. Ugh. There I go again, wanting to know about another chick. What the hell?

  I smiled at him and finished off my wine, handing him the glass. I felt so grown up. I needed to stop with all the insecurities. I pulled at his arm, and he crawled under the blanket with me, still wearing his towel. I tugged at the towel and threw it to the end of the bed, getting as close to him as possible.

  “I’m a little nervous,” I admitted, taking into his chest, stroking it as I listened to his heart beating. My head rose and fell with each breath he took, and he finally spoke words that surprised me.

  “Me too.”

  I looked up and him. “Why?”

  He looked at me tenderly and I reached up, rubbing the stubble on his cheek. “For so many reasons.”

  9

  We didn’t say any other words to each other. Everything just faded into a warm, delicious depth of slow, deliberate kisses and gentle, pleasing touches. Gone were the cold kind of goosebumps; those were replaced with the yearning kind. Even though he was at my fingertips, I wanted him closer. The ache coursing through me made me more eager. I pulled him closer, grinding into him.

  He unhooked my bra, slipping it off as he traced my neck with warm, wet kisses, taking my nipple into his mouth. I wove my fingers through his hair, clinching tightly. His other hand made its way between my legs, and underneath my panties. I lost all control over myself.

  I gasped and moaned. “Oh my god, Jake…” I was breathless with pleasure.

  “God you feel good,” he whispered. “You’re on the pill?”

  “Yes…” I gasped. “I love you.” I was in a state of ecstasy.

  “I love you, Aly,” he rasped. He kissed my stomach, moving downward. The warm wetness of his mouth moved over my thighs, and he removed my panties. “You sure about this?”

  I lifted my head from the pillow and gazed at him with longing as he rested his head against my thigh. I could have peaked right there, just staring at him as he gently fondled me. I threw my head, back laughing softly. He is kidding, right? “Come here.” I reached down, grabbing his face with both hands, tugging him gently upward to meet my lips. I caressed his face and stared at him in the eyes. “I want all of you,” I panted, “I could cry, I want this so bad.”

  The pressure I felt as he began to enter me was quickly replaced with a searing pain. I squeaked and tried to hold in my discomfort, wrapping my legs and arms around him tighter. Gone were the intense, feel-good sensations I was just having. Jake moved slowly as he lifted himself to hover over me, trying not to crush me beneath him. Our eyes met, and I tried to concentrate on the way his electric blue eyes took me in. I ran my hands over his chest and arms. I craved the pleasure I was just feeling moments prior. Then suddenly he stilled and caressed my face.

  “Don’t stop,” I begged through a whisper, my lips grazing his.

  “Are you ok?” he breathed. “God, baby, you feel so good.”

  “Yes. I’m perfect.” It fucking hurts.

  Jake was slow moving, and as much as the pain ebbed and flowed, each thrust was laced with sensual heat. Looming right below my discomfort was that throbbing, gratifying goodness, and I wanted it so badly. I focused on his breath and matched his movement. Our breathing was rhythmic, and he slowed. He took my leg, squeezing and rubbing the inside of my thigh as he moved into me.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He released my leg, and his gorgeous face met mine, kissing and sucking at my lips tenderly.

  “I love you,” I whispered. I wanted to cry out, he felt so good beneath my hands. I tried to pull him deeper inside me. I wanted to please him. I wanted to finally be everything to him.

  His breathing danced. “Aly, I can’t hold on, you feel too good.” His voice rustled softly in my ear, and I kept pulling him into me, finally bringing him to climax. He moaned, sighed and gasped with his release. I clung to him.

  “Fuck, baby. I couldn’t hold on any longer.” He laid his head next to mine, caressing my stomach. “You drive me crazy. I’ve wanted you for so long.”

  Heat leaked from his skin. I rubbed the perspiration that bubbled over his back and caressed his face as his forehead rested on mine. Gone were the half-assed sex acts of blowjobs and hand jobs. I was beyond content with our first time, but I was happy it was over. My box was on fire, in a bad way, stinging. I thought about how he didn’t use a condom and prayed that The Pill really worked. I wanted a warm wet washcloth and then a bag of ice. I squirmed underneath him. I just knew I had to have bled, right? I mean, that’s what happened to Nicole and Nadine.

  “You ok?” he said, sliding off of me. Our legs remained entwined.

  “Yes.” I smiled, playing with his hair. “Well, I am a little sore, and I’m worried that I’ve probably bled all over your sheets,” I admitted. I sat up and slid to the side, and lo and behold, pink and red wet spots dotted the white bed linen beneath us. I was mortified, even though I expected it.

  I covered my face with my hands. “I ruined your sheets. I’m sorry.”

  “Hey, stop it. They’re not ruined,” he said sympathetically and sat up.

  He kissed my forehead before he got out of bed and reached for the white towel, wrapping it around him. The room would have been dark if it hadn’t b
een for the fire, which had retreated to a crackling ember glow. The reach of its light no longer filled the room, but it danced around as happily as my mood. I scooted farther away from the wet spots, lying on my side. Gross. There are so many things wonderful about sex, but the soggy aftermath is disgusting, I thought.

  Warmth swelled inside me, thinking about how into it we were. I did it, I thought, and it was everything I’d dreamed it would be. I thought back to all those intimate times Jake and I were together when we were younger and how he’d held back, even when I’d begged him to take me. It made me love him more, knowing what that meant. A light flicked on, casting around the black drape, taking me away from my thoughts of triumph. I heard water begin to run. I should probably clean myself up too, I thought. Then as if Jake read my mind, he came back with a wet hand towel, and it was hot.

  “This might make you feel better down there.” I was embarrassed, though I knew I shouldn’t have been.

  “Thanks,” I said, taking it into my hand, waving it around to cool it off. I then placed the warm wet fabric carefully between my legs. I was afraid to rub. It stung. “Holy shit,” I whimpered.

  “I’m sorry,” he said sheepishly, and then his lips curled into a sexy grin. “You want me to kiss it and make it feel better?”

  I sighed and smiled. I so still wanted him. “Maybe later,” I replied sweetly, and reached over, stroking the hair away from his forehead. “Mmm,” I quietly moaned, thinking about him taking me to that place of ecstasy that I’d missed out on because I was too eager to have him inside me. The body amazed me. Here I was, throbbing and hurting, and I still yearned for satisfaction. What was it? “Maybe sooner than later,” I purred.

  “Deal.” He smiled, satisfied with the plan.

  I gently rubbed between my legs and then sat up. I began to rub at the blood-tinged bed cover.

  “Hey, stop it.” He grabbed the towel from my hand. “I’ll have Emily come clean tomorrow while we’re out.”