by Sherri Hayes
This kiss was all soft lips and gentle suction. It did nothing to dampen the fire inside him.
She pulled away before he was ready, so he followed her with his mouth, seeking more.
Beth laughed. “I promise the wait will be worth it.”
“My cock feels like it’s about to explode.”
As if to test his assertion, she wrapped one hand around his cock and the other cupped his balls. She squeezed each three times, and he nearly fell over. He dug his fingers into the sides of her hips and closed his eyes. “Beth . . . please.”
“Please what?” she asked against his lips.
Before he could form a coherent thought, her hands were gone and she was moving away from him. He opened his eyes to find her slipping behind the wheel of her car. She grinned up at him and waved. “Call me.”
Drew stood without moving as she drove away, his cock painfully hard. Making it to Saturday was going to be torture. Pure torture.
***
Beth was pulling into her driveway when Nicole called. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. How’d your movie date with Drew go?” Nicole asked.
Tucking her purse under her arm, Beth hurried inside, and kicked off her shoes. “It didn’t.”
“What do you mean it didn’t?” Nicole demanded.
Beth sighed, and flopped down on her couch with the phone to her ear. “I mean we ended up going for a walk instead. Apparently, he let it slip to his mom that he was meeting me this afternoon, and was told to extend an invitation to me to the family’s Memorial Day barbecue.”
“Meeting the family, huh? That’s a big step. You gonna go?”
“I haven’t decided. I told him I’d think about it.” Beth rolled over and propped herself up on her elbow. “Oh. And we’re going out Saturday.”
Nicole got real quiet for several moments. “Going out as in meeting up again to hang out or going out as in going on a date?”
Beth didn’t answer right away. She wanted to let Nicole stew a while. “The second.”
“Finally!”
“It’s only been a month.”
“A very long month,” Nicole insisted.
“If you say so.”
They both chuckled.
“So tell me, how did a walk turn into plans for a date?”
Beth eagerly filled her best friend in on the details of her time with Drew, including what turned out to be the first of several kisses. Nicole was riveted, and pumped her for details. Her friend burst out laughing when Beth relayed the heated good-night kiss she’d shared with Drew. “I would have paid to see that.”
“I don’t think we’re ready for an audience.”
“Beside the point.” Nicole released a contented sigh. “I’m happy for you.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s just a date.”
“And several kisses. Rather passionate kisses. We can’t forget those,” Nicole said.
Beth rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say.”
“So does that mean you’ll be coming to the club together Saturday night?”
The thought had crossed Beth’s mind. “I don’t know. We have a lot to talk about. That is, if the date goes well.”
“Don’t jinx yourself. Why wouldn’t it go well?” Nicole asked.
“I don’t know. Just nerves, I guess. Look, I should go. I have a few things to do before I turn in.”
“All right. Sleep tight. And dream of that hunky fireman of yours.”
Beth shook her head. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
Disconnecting the call, Beth headed for her bedroom, placed her phone on the charger, and booted up her computer. She located her limit list and opened the file. It had been a while since she’d read over the list, let alone updated it. She and Ben had been together for three years. At the beginning, it had been a useful tool in helping them navigate the kinky side to their relationship, but after a while they’d foregone their lists entirely and relied solely on verbal communication. If something came up that interested one of them, they brought it up and discussed it. It showed a level of comfort . . . of trust.
Beth snorted. Trust.
She took a deep breath and pushed Ben out of her thoughts. This wasn’t about Ben. It was about Drew. Her and Drew. And in situations like theirs, lists were good. They had to start somewhere, and knowing what kinks interested each of them was better than guessing. She needed to know what Drew wanted to explore. Who knows? They might find out that their kinks weren’t compatible. It wasn’t as if they’d talked about them in any detail.
As it turned out, most of the changes she made were minor. They consisted of changing things from ‘want to try’ to ‘like’ or ‘dislike’. The vast majority of it, however, stayed the same. What happened with Ben made her more cautious, but it didn’t change what she enjoyed.
She saved her new list and logged off the computer. Knowing she needed a little me time before turning in for the night, Beth headed for her bathroom and began filling her tub with water.
Once she made sure the temperature was right, she opened the bottom drawer of her vanity. Tucked into the back underneath several hand towels were two of her treasured bathroom accessories. One was a dildo. The other a vibrator. Both were waterproof and perfect for some underwater fun. There was nothing like a nice long soak in her bathtub, and two of her favorite toys, to relax her.
With her bath ready, Beth removed her clothes, twisted her hair up into a bun, and lowered herself into the tub. The warm water surrounded her. Baths were something she cherished. Before she’d bought her house, she’d lived in a one-room apartment that only had a small shower. The only time she was able to take a bath was when she went home to Ohio, and that wasn’t often. One of these days she was going to have one of those soaker tubs installed so she could stretch out and still have the water come up to her chin.
Beth leaned back and closed her eyes, letting her mind drift. It didn’t take long for Drew’s image to flood her vision. She could still feel his hands on her back, her hips, her butt. His cock pressing against her, wanting desperately to be let out.
She ran her hands down her torso, lingering on each one of her breasts, tugging at her nipples. What would it feel like to have him sucking and licking every inch of her? Beth planned to find out.
By the time she grazed a finger over her clit, she was ready. Beth reached for her toys and positioned them exactly where she wanted them. The soft hum of the vibrator could be heard even through the water as it massaged her pussy. It felt good, but she needed to be filled. Since she didn’t have a real cock at hand, a fake one would have to do.
The silicone dildo stretched her inch by inch as she pushed it inside. While she enjoyed toys, there was nothing like the real thing. Beth let her imagination take over and pretended it was Drew pushing his way inside her. Drew making her breath hitch. Drew pumping in and out of her faster and faster.
She approached her peak and increased the pressure against her clit. It was enough to send her barreling over the edge.
As her high faded, she was struck with a fit of giggles. Over the last few months, she’d pleasured herself plenty. None of them had been as intense as what she’d just experienced. She had no idea if it was because of the afternoon she’d spent with Drew, or if it was because she’d imagined it was him, instead of some faceless man who happened to have a very talented appendage. Either way, she was feeling extremely sleepy.
Beth opened the drain and forced herself out of the tub. As she dried herself off and got ready for bed, she began humming. It was crazy how happy she was. Nothing had even happened with Drew yet. Okay, that wasn’t true. They’d kissed. And, boy, what a kiss it was. There was definitely chemistry there. She’d felt it down to the tips of her toes.
She strolled naked into her bedroom and plucked one of her favorite nightshirts out of her dresser, humming the entire time. After running a brush through her hair, she slipped under the covers. There was a lot she’d nee
d to do before her date on Saturday, but she’d worry about that tomorrow. Letting her eyelids close, she fell into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning started normal enough. Her alarm went off at five, and by six thirty she was elbow-deep in bread dough. She was in the process of taking a fresh loaf of bread out of the oven right before noon when Tommy popped his head back in the kitchen. “Delivery.”
Beth made sure nothing was in immediate danger of burning before going out front. She had a feeling she might be getting more flowers, and she was right.
“Are you going to read the card?” Tommy was in his element.
“Well, of course I am.”
She had her hand poised inches above the card when it dawned on her that every customer had their eyes trained on her. Every one of them stared at her full of curious anticipation. Mrs. Carlisle—an older woman who came into the café almost every morning—was sitting at a table not far from the counter with her husband of nearly forty years. She held her hands clutched to her chest, a huge grin on her face. They were all waiting.
Heat flooded Beth’s cheeks. She grabbed her flowers and made a mad dash toward the kitchen.
Unfortunately, she didn’t get far before she heard a familiar voice. “Who sent the flowers?”
She looked up and all signs of her blush vanished. There, standing near the door, was Ben.
“You need to leave.” Beth resumed her path toward the kitchen and didn’t look back.
She heard some rustling and raised voices, but remained hidden. Maybe it was cowardly, but Ben was the last person she wanted to deal with. Not now. Not when she was finally getting her life in order.
Beth had no idea how much time had passed, but she didn’t think it was more than a few minutes when Tommy came back to check on her. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. Is he gone?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you.”
Tommy reached for some gloves, and she realized he was planning to work on the sandwiches she was supposed to be making.
“I can get those,” she said. “Why don’t you go back out front and make sure no one needs a refill on their coffee. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of back here.”
He looked unsure. “I can help.”
Beth shook her head. “I’ve got it. Promise.”
The smile she gave him was weak, but it was the best she could do. Ben showing up had thrown her. The last time she’d been somewhat prepared. This time . . .
She placed the fresh loaf of bread in the slicer and began assembling the sandwiches for her customers. Why was he here? Why now?
As quickly as she could, Beth rushed the sandwiches out to the customers who ordered them. She didn’t miss the sympathetic looks she received from her regulars. Many of them had been around when she and Ben had been a couple. They all knew things had ended between them. Some even knew it ended badly. She hated their looks of pity.
Plastering a smile on her face, she finished her task, and then returned to the kitchen. Her gaze fell on the flowers Drew sent. Ben had taken that moment of joy away from her and she hated him for it.
She ran her fingers over the delicate blooms—tulips this time—and extracted the card.
Beth,
I hope you enjoyed our hike as much as I did.
Drew
Simple and to the point. So why did her chest clench? Drew seemed to know exactly what to say and do to break through her defenses. She felt moisture trail down her cheeks, and swiftly wiped it away.
Before she could second-guess herself, she dug her phone out of her pocket, and shot Drew a text.
Got the flowers. They’re beautiful. Thank you. - Beth
Only seconds passed before he responded.
You’re welcome. Call you tonight?
She didn’t hesitate to reply.
Yes. - Beth
Smiling, she laid her phone down on the counter, and got back to work. Ben was her past, and as far as she was concerned, he was going to remain there. She had the potential of a new relationship with Drew. A relationship that wasn’t built on lies. She was going to concentrate on that and forget Ben ever existed.
Chapter 12
“You holding out on me?”
Drew shoved his phone back in his pocket and picked up the nail gun he’d been using before answering Beth’s text. “Why do you say that?
Shawn had called Drew late the night before and asked if he could help put on a roof. He used to work with Shawn a lot on his days off back when they were on the same crew. Now, more often than not, they had conflicting schedules.
His former captain and friend dropped another bundle of shingles onto the roof and leveled a stare at Drew. Shawn raised his eyebrows. It was a look Drew had seen often. It was the you’re-full-of-shit look.
While he was reluctant to tell anyone about Beth, he knew he could trust Shawn. “Her name’s Beth.”
“Is it serious, or just fun?”
It was a valid question. Shawn knew all about Drew’s wilder days. He also knew Drew had settled down over the last two years. “Hopefully serious. We’ll see what happens Saturday.”
Shawn began laying down another row of shingles. “Big date, huh?”
Drew grinned and continued to work. He’d been thinking a lot about his upcoming date. It couldn’t be overly complicated since he had to work the next day, but he wanted to make sure it was memorable at the same time. “I’ve been trying to figure out where to take her.”
They worked side by side for several minutes before Shawn responded. “What does she like?”
“She likes history.” Drew shrugged. “We haven’t talked about it all that much. And I know she likes movies. I guess I could take her to a museum, but she doesn’t get off work until three. That doesn’t leave us much time.”
“This is a first date, right?” Shawn asked.
“Yeah.”
Shawn nodded. “And you want to make a good impression?”
“Of course.”
“Take her to a concert in the park. You can pack a picnic dinner for you both. Women love that sort of thing. Plus, unlike the rest of us, you can actually cook.”
They both chuckled. Drew had taken some ribbing from the guys at the station when they found out he wasn’t a total slouch in the kitchen. That was until they were the ones benefiting from his knowledge.
The more Drew thought about Shawn’s suggestion, the better it sounded. It would be nice to spend the evening under the stars with Beth, listening to music.
The sun was dipping low in the sky by the time they’d finished the roof and cleaned things up. Drew said goodbye to Shawn and drove home. As soon as he walked in the door, he stripped out of his clothes and headed for the shower. Once he didn’t feel as if he were sporting a second skin of dirt and sweat, he fully intended to call Beth. He’d been dying to talk to her all day. Seeing her the previous two days had spoiled him.
He rushed through his shower and threw on some shorts before settling in on the couch with his laptop and his phone. After he’d pulled up information on concerts in the park, he scrolled through the contacts on his phone until he found Beth’s name. He smiled as he pushed the call button.
“Hello.” Beth’s voice was husky. His mind began racing with the possibilities. The only time he’d come close to hearing her like that was after their kiss when they’d both been breathing hard.
“Did I call at a bad time?” He really hoped she would say no.
She sighed. “Not at all.”
“Okay. It’s just . . . you sound . . .” Funny? Weird? Incredibly sexy?
Beth giggled. “And how do I sound exactly?”
“Um . . .”
“Yes?” She was clearly enjoying tormenting him.
“You sound . . . you sound like you’re really turned on.” There. He’d said it.
This time she laughed. “You’re close. I just finished spending some quality time with my favorite vibrator.”
&n
bsp; Drew’s head fell back against the couch and he groaned. All thoughts of his Internet search went out the window. Without conscious thought, he moved his hand closer to his groin where his cock was tenting his shorts.
“Does that turn you on? Knowing that I was pleasuring myself?” she asked.
He swallowed. “You have no idea. Just imagining you touching yourself like that makes me hard.”
“Mmm. I remember what you felt like all hard and ready.”
“You’d think I hadn’t jacked off in weeks,” he admitted.
She hummed. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Drew shifted in his seat. Her voice still had that husky tone and it wasn’t helping his current condition. “You most definitely should.”
There was a long pause, and then her voice dropped even lower. “What do you think about when you’re getting yourself off? Anything you want to share?”
“You.” Was he imagining it, or did he really sound out of breath?
“What about me? Am I doing anything special?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
He cupped his hand over his erection and pressed down. “This morning, I imagined that I was tied to the bed, and you were sitting on my face.”
“Hmm. I like the sound of that. Is that something you’d like me to do to you?”
“Yes.” It was one of his many recurring fantasies. Most involved him being tied up. Everything else varied. Sometimes she was riding him. Other times she had her pussy covering his face . . . grinding against his tongue until he couldn’t smell or taste anything but her. That’s what had filled his vision earlier that morning.
“Are you alone?” she asked.
“Yeah. I’m home. In my living room.”
“Good. If you’re wearing any clothes, take them off.” She was completely serious.
“Now?”
Beth sounded amused by his question. “Something wrong with now?”
“No. I just . . . give me a sec.” He picked up his laptop and placed it safely on the coffee table, then stood and removed his shorts before resuming his place on the couch. “Okay.”