by Robin Stone
Another moan, louder this time. My clit grew harder as I pictured Ben taking Alex’s thick cock into his mouth. I liked the way Ben’s eyelids drifted shut as he sucked. The way he put his hands on Alex’s thighs and swallowed every inch.
I circled my clit, then slid my fingertip into my opening. I was wet now. My breasts grew achy, and I gave my nipple a light squeeze.
“Oh, fuck!”
I definitely heard that. Ben was probably on his knees in front of Alex. Or maybe he was stroking him, his hand covered in soap to ease the way?
A warmth in my thighs turned into a heaviness in my pelvis. I bumped the base of my hand against my clit as I slid my finger in deeper. Male moans reached my ears. I dug my heels into the sheets and tilted my pelvis, unable to stop bucking against my hand, but I didn’t let myself come.
I heard a groan, a thump, then a string of curses. A few minutes later, they laughed, and the shower turned off. Ben came out of the bathroom first. He was grinning, and his erect cock bobbed in front of him.
“That sounded good,” I said.
“Tasted even better.”
He climbed in and covered my body with his. I loved the weight of his warm, damp body pressing me to the mattress. He smelled like my soap and shampoo.
“Did you come?” he asked.
“Almost.”
I was still a bit sore from last night, but I wanted him inside me. He rubbed his cock against my folds, sliding easily against my wetness.
“Fuck, I need you,” he said.
I wrapped my legs around his hips, thrusting against him. Ben moaned. Sweat formed between our skin as our hot bodies ground together. He looked at the door.
“Don’t wait for him,” I said. “Please, Ben.”
Alex finally emerged with a towel wrapped around his hips.
“Don’t move,” he growled.
“Goddamnit, Alex—”
Alex sauntered over to the bed. He put his hand on Ben’s ass, pushing him against me. Ben’s cock pressed against my clit.
“Please!”
I hated the whine in my voice, but I didn’t care. My pussy was slippery. I moved against Ben, but he held still. Alex gave Ben a hard slap on the ass. Ben’s cheeks turned red, and he bit his lip. His breath came out in short puffs, and his arms shook.
Alex opened my drawer and handed Ben a condom. “Go ahead, then.”
Ben sheathed himself quickly and sank into my body. I wrapped my arms around him as he thrust into me, eyes closed, muscles straining. I wanted him deeper, deeper, and he shifted forward a little, pounding against my clit.
Alex said something, but we ignored him and worked toward our orgasm. Ben held on to my head, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck. The bed rocked hard, almost thumping against the wall, and finally the tingles turned into throbs as I came, pulsing around Ben, crying out and digging my nails into his skin. Ben thrust a few more times and came, moaning against my neck, pressing my clit to draw out my orgasm.
I closed my eyes, holding on and riding the waves. Ben kissed my neck as he finished pulsing inside me, and we finally stilled, breathing hard.
When I opened my eyes, Ben was looking into mine and smiling.
“Damn, Red. Wish that had been me.”
Ben ditched the condom and came back to bed, still breathing hard. Alex took off his towel, rolled it up, and snapped it close to Ben’s ass.
“Stop, Alex. You’ll hurt her.”
“Ain’t gonna hurt her. Just wanna hurt you.”
He gave the towel another snap, connecting with Ben’s ass. Ben howled and got out of bed. He stalked over to Alex and pushed his chest. Alex took a half-step back, then moved forward until they were nose to nose.They stared each other down, chests heaving. My heart pounded in my throat.
“Alex,” I whispered. “Ben.”
They both blinked, and Alex looked at me.
“Don’t worry, I’m just messin’ with him. Sometimes I get tired of his smart-ass attitude.”
“And sometimes I get tired of the macho bullshit.”
Ben started to turn away, but Alex put his hand on his shoulder.
“Benny, come on.”
Ben tried to shrug him off, but Alex leaned over and kissed him. Ben’s posture was straight, and he held back. But Alex slid his arms around Ben’s waist, and he relaxed a little. Ben sighed and opened his mouth a little.
I loved watching their perfect muscular bodies pressing together. Alex, with his broad shoulders and chest. Ben and his lean muscles and back. It was starting to get heated when Ben pulled away.
“Asshole,” he muttered.
Alex finished dressing. “I’ll be downstairs.”
He left the bedroom and thumped down the stairs, making as much noise as possible.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
“He’s acting up because we both like you a little more than we should. You’re getting to him. He doesn’t let just anyone ride on that stupid bike.”
I smiled. “Really? Not even you?”
“Guys don’t ride bitch.” He cringed. “Sorry. He rubs off on me sometimes.”
I got up and put my robe on. I stepped in front of the mirror and combed my hair. Ben came up behind me and put his hands on my hips.
“Listen,” he said. “Will you come out with us tomorrow night?”
I stopped combing, and our eyes met in the mirror. I hadn’t thought about going out with them. This was just about having fun in bed. Or was it? Ben ran his fingers through his hair. He shifted his weight from side to side.
He was nervous, and it was adorable.
“Where?”
“I’m playing at an open-mic night, and I’d like you to come.”
I put the comb down and tightened the belt on my robe. Ben stilled.
“Yes, I’ll come.”
He exhaled. “It’s at the coffee shop on Fifth Street. Mostly college kids. You could sit with Alex. Alex’s friend might show up.”
“I’d love to watch you play.”
He grinned. “I’m singing, too. Original song. You’ll have to sit through the other singers. I’m second to last. Winner gets listed in the ad for the coffee shop. I’ll be famous in a two-block radius.”
“You’re pretty confident about winning.”
“Competition’s pretty lame,” he said. “There’s one guy who yodels.”
I laughed. “There’s so much more to you two than meets the eye.”
“Same with you,” he said. “You look like a sweet, innocent secretary. You’ve got everyone fooled.”
“That’s administrative assistant to you, buddy.”
I looked at his smooth, tanned face next to mine and wondered how it would ever work out.
CHAPTER 11
Saturday was rainy. I folded laundry, watching the rain stream down the windows. I made brownies and finished getting ready for Cara’s visit. Ben said he had to practice, and Alex was busy with friends.
Emily called, and we talked about school. She was doing well, getting As in her science classes. She was thinking about going into medicine. I couldn’t be prouder of my girl. Her voice warmed my ear, and I missed her. We happily chatted for over an hour.
Ben sent a text with directions and told me to get to the coffee shop around seven. An hour before I had to leave, I went upstairs to change. I decided on a pair of dark jeans and a brown sweater. I went into Emily’s room to look for a pair of brown boots we shared. She’d left them behind, saying she didn’t dress up much in school.
An hour later, I pulled up to the coffee shop. The rain had let up, but deep puddles covered the sidewalks. The street was lined with historic brick buildings. The coffee shop was on the edge of town, close to a college campus. College kids walked in groups down the sidewalk, smiling and laughing.
I found a parking space and went inside.
The coffee shop was warm inside, lit with small lamps and candles. The smell of gourmet coffee washed over me. I scanned the crowd, then spott
ed Alex sitting at a table, bouncing his leg. He stood out with his leather jacket and brawny body. His hair was damp, and he was cradling a cup of coffee. The college students were eyeing him warily.
When he saw me, his eyes brightened. He stood, his big thighs shifting the table. God, it was nice to have a man excited to see me. My stomach fluttered like I was on a first date. I wove through the crowd to his table.
“Rachel.” His voice was gruff, and his gaze drifted over my body. “You look…real nice.”
“Thank you.”
I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and a blonde girl sitting next to us paused, a cookie halfway to her mouth. If Alex came in here for Ben, they probably weren’t used to seeing him with a woman like me. He was intimidating in his big leather jacket, with his strong brows and scruffy jawline. The facial scar didn’t help. It was small, but you could see it from a few feet away.
A waitress came over, and I ordered a cup of coffee. Alex drummed his fingers on the table, squirming in the small chair. Laughter and chatter rose up around us. I ached to touch him, but I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to. My foot brushed his under the table.
“I’ve never been here before,” I said.
“I only come here when Ben plays. Not my usual hangout.”
“What is your usual hangout?” I asked. “You never tell me where you go.”
“Got a club across town with the boys. My friend Rick’s comin’ tonight.”
“What kind of club?” I raised my eyebrow.
A faint blush tinged his cheeks. “Nothin’ like that. Listen, I don’t know if Ben told you, but my guys don’t know about me.”
I blinked. “Oh. Okay.”
He rubbed his chin. “Well, I think Rick knows. But he’s keepin’ quiet.”
“How do you live like that?” I asked. “Hiding who you are?”
Alex snorted. “That’s rich, comin’ from you.”
My cheeks burned, and I looked down at my hands.
“I’m sorry, Red. I didn’t mean it.”
His big hand covered mine. His thumb stroked the back of my hand, and my whole body warmed.
“I think my neighbor knows,” I said. “Or she suspects something. She’s seen you and Ben coming and going.”
“Seeing ain’t the same as knowing.”
I put my hands on the table. “I’m going to tell Cara when she gets here.”
“Sure about that?” he asked. “She the judgmental type?”
I bit my lip. I wasn’t sure how Cara would react, but keeping this all inside was killing me. I can’t imagine how Alex kept his two worlds so separate.
“We’ve known each other forever. She knows everything about me…well, almost.”
“All the more reason to keep it under your hat, then,” he said. “Sometimes the people that know us the best judge us the most.”
“Cara wouldn’t do that.”
He shrugged. “Just think real hard about it, because you can’t let the horse back in the barn.”
“I have to tell someone,” I said.
“Does your friend really need to know?” he asked. “I know you’re not the braggin’ type. Just think about it.”
I sat back in my chair, more confused than ever. Cara would be shocked, but I planned to tell her about Alex and Ben. Minus the dirty details. We talked about sex over the years, but not in explicit detail.
Would she really see me that differently? Wasn’t I still Rachel, her best friend? I had to think about it more.
The waitress came back with my order. I put a napkin over my lap and let my coffee cool a little. Alex let out a long breath and ran his hand through his hair.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nerves,” he said. “Always get like this when he plays. He’s gonna win tonight, I just know it.”
“What’s the competition like? He said it wasn’t very good.”
“Well, some of them suck.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “There’s a guy who fuckin’ yodels.”
“He told me about that. I thought he was joking!”
“Looks like the usual crowd tonight, but once in a while someone new comes in. Someone real good. But he’s been practicing.”
“Where is he?” I asked.
“Owner lets him hang out in the back hall before the show. He gets too nervous watching people go first. The crowd makes him nervous, too.”
It was getting crowded. All the seats had been taken, so people lined up against the brick walls, chatting. The door opened again, and a large man came in wearing a leather jacket, torn jeans, and black boots. He came over to Alex.
Alex stood and shook his hand. “Rick, this is Rachel.”
Rick’s eyes drifted over me, then back to Alex. His eyebrow went up a little.
“Nice to meet you, Rachel.”
Rick was dark-haired and classically handsome, with high cheekbones and a strong nose. He looked a little older than Alex, judging from the creases around his eyes. His dark hair had streaks of gray and white. His hands and fingers were covered in tattoos.
“Hello,” I said, nearly swooning from all the manliness.
“Pretty crowded in here,” Alex said.
“No problem. I’ll find a seat.”
Rick disappeared into the crowd.
“Your friend is cute,” I whispered.
Alex smirked. “Careful. A man’s bound to get jealous.”
Before I could respond, the lights dimmed and the crowd hushed. A man came out and turned on a microphone. He thanked the crowd and introduced the first singer. I put my hand under the table and squeezed Alex’s knee.
The first singer was a long-haired college girl who played a guitar and sang in a sad, lilting voice. She was pretty good and drew mild applause. A trio of college boys sang and played guitar, and a woman sang a cappella. The yodeler came out next. He was horrible. Alex put his hand over his eyes, and I bit my lip.
Two more singers came out and performed to various levels of applause. Ben finally strolled up to the microphone. Alex sat up straight and nudged my leg.
Ben wore a dark sweatshirt, jeans, and a baseball hat pulled low over his eyes. He wore his favorite work boots, splattered in paint. A girl brought him a stool, and he sat down. He strummed a little, then cleared his throat. He looked like a college student himself. So young and good-looking. He scanned the crowd for us, and when he saw us, he smiled from ear to ear.
“This is for Rachel,” he said.
My hand flew to my mouth. Alex put his hand on my thigh. The crowd quieted, and Ben started playing a ballad similar to the one he’d played in his apartment. His voice was clear and strong. He sang about love and giving his heart away. It was sad and romantic at the same time.
I had feelings for Ben and Alex, but I wasn’t sure how they felt about me until tonight. When Alex greeted me so enthusiastically, like he’d been counting the minutes to my arrival. The flash of anger that crossed his features when I said his friend was cute.
And this song. Ben was shy, but the song said everything, and I was hooked. I closed my eyes and swayed to the music, my heart swelling with love and happiness for the first time in ages. I couldn’t wait to get Ben into my bed so I could tell him I felt the same way, too.
A girl sitting near next to us whispered to her friend. “He’s so good!”
“And hot,” her friend replied.
And mine.
When the song ended, the audience burst into applause. A flush crept over Ben’s cheeks, and he thanked the audience.
“Kid did good, didn’t he?”
I was smiling so hard, my cheeks hurt. Ben stood and disappeared into the crowd, and the last singer came on. He was a decent singer, but not as good as Ben.
After the performance, the singers came out, and the crowd voted for their favorite by applause. The yodeler got booed. One of the girls got a loud cheer, but Ben won by a landslide. A few people gave him a standing ovation. The lights went back up, and Ben finally came out, winding
through the crowd with his guitar case. We stood up to greet him.
He put his case down, and I gave him a tight hug, inhaling the scent of coffee mixed with his manly scent. My throat burned a little, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his manly scent. He put me down and kissed me.
“Thank you,” I said. “So this is what you do at night when you leave my house.”
“Yeah. The coffee shop circuit. Pretty soon I’ll have groupies.”
“You already have some,” I said.
Alex shook his hand and thumped him on the back. The crowd started filing out.
“Guess he has a girlfriend,” the girl commented. “Too bad.”
“She looks kinda old, though,” her friend said.
I frowned. Alex whirled around.
“Hey, missy, watch yer mouth! Apologize to the lady.”
The girls’ faces turned pink. They apologized, then pushed through the crowd and left.
“Damned kids,” Alex muttered.
“Stop,” Ben said. “You sound so old when you talk like that.”
“Don’t care. I need you,” he said in a low voice.
“Need you, too, big guy.”
They stepped closer, and their bodies were jostled by the crowd. Alex eye-fucked Ben. Ben’s nostrils flared, and he licked his lips. Anyone looking at them directly could sense the sexual tension. My nipples tightened a little, thinking about them in bed together.
“Hey, great job, kid,” Rick said.
He thumped Ben on the back, and if he noticed anything, he didn’t comment. He said goodbye and left. The college kids parted as Rick left, his big arms swinging, boots thumping on the floor.
“He knows,” Ben said.
“Maybe,” Alex said. “But he don’t care.”
“You sure?”
“You’re not the one who has to worry about it,” Alex said.
“Thinks he’s so fuckin’ tough,” Ben said.
“Told you not to worry about him.” Alex said in a low voice. “You’re the only one I want.”
The sexual tension ratcheted up a notch. Their breathing grew louder, and Ben took a half-step back. Alex put his hands on his hips, making him look even bigger. His dark eyes fixed on Ben’s mouth. I sensed they wanted to kiss, but were holding back.