Second

by Chantal Fernando

  He chuckles and kisses my lips. “I get hard just looking at you, Sabina. Yes, I can go again so soon. I want to feed you first, though.”

  I sit at the table until the omelette is ready, then eat while he has a quick shower. I’m washing my hands in the sink when he walks back into the kitchen, although this time he’s stark naked.

  “And this time it’s on purpose,” he says, winking, making me crack up laughing. He comes up and lifts me in his arms, picking me up like one would a bride, and I emit a girly squeal. He lays me down on the couch and starts to slide off my denim shorts, going down on his knees. I watch him, feeling so overwhelmed with him, but in a good way. In the best way, like I can’t believe he’s here with me right now, making me feel so happy, butterflies in my stomach, like life is so fucking amazing. Because he made it that way. He runs his fingers over my white lace panties, then slides them down too. I want his mouth on me again, but I’m too shy to ask for it. I just watch him instead, waiting for him to make his next move.

  “What do you want, Sabina?” he asks, as if reading my mind.

  “Ummm,” I mumble, leaning back on the couch.

  “Yes?” he prompts.

  “I want your mouth on me again,” I say in a quick rush of words.

  “You want my mouth where?” he asks, touching the inside of my thigh. “Here?”

  “Well you could start there,” I say, making him laugh softly.

  “And where do you want me to end?” he asks, kissing my thigh on the exact spot his fingers were.

  I clear my throat. “My pussy.”

  “Hmmm,” he hums, smiling at me. “Anytime you want my mouth on you, just tell me, Sabina. And you’ll get what you want.”

  He lowers his head to taste me.

  I smile and moan at the same time.

  *****

  “We’re going to have to get out of bed eventually,” I say, lying on top of him. “Should we order some food or something?”

  “Yeah that sounds good,” he says, reaching out for his phone. “What do you feel like?”

  “Are you going to order food with your dick still inside of me?” I ask him, eyes going wide. I try and move off him but he keeps me in place with a hand on my spine.

  “Why? What’s wrong with it? It’s not like they’re going to know what we’re doing right now,” he says, sounding amused.

  “Yeah, but that’s not the point,” I say, lifting my head and resting my palms on his chest.

  “Chinese?” he asks, pressing buttons on his phone. He brings the phone to his ear, a smirk on his face. “Hello, yes, could I please place an order for delivery.” He waits a second, then says, “Yes, I’m inside my girl right now, just in case you wanted to know.”

  My eyes go the size of saucers as I try and grab the phone from him. I get it in my hand and look at the screen, but the bastard wasn’t even on a call. He starts laughing like he’s the funniest man on earth, while I roll off him, pick up a pillow, and start hitting him with it.

  “You gave me a heart attack!” I growl, shaking my head at him. “And you better actually order some Chinese now.”

  He laughs again, softer this time, and reaches his hand out to me. “I will. Get back in bed.”

  I climb back on the bed and dive under the sheets while he actually orders this time. He rattles off my apartment address then hangs up, instantly enfolding me in his arms. I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of just being next to him, my skin pressed against his, knowing that I made the right decision to give the two of us a chance. There’s no way any other man could have made me feel like this.

  It’s just him.

  We’re in our little bubble now, and I’m not going to worry about what is beyond it.

  He runs his fingers through my hair and starts to massage my head.

  “That feels so good,” I murmur, in a complete state of bliss.

  “Why don’t you tell me about everything you’ve been up to since I saw you last?” he says in a soft tone. “All about your travels, everything. No detail is too small.”

  I smile. “Okay.”

  And I tell him everything about where I went, who I met, and what adventures I got up to. And he listens, hanging on to my every word like no one else ever has before.

  Chapter Sixteen

  We venture out the next day.

  We decide to take a road trip down south, where we will spend two nights. It’s nice to get out of the city sometimes, and I can only imagine the place that Dean booked for us to stay. I told him I wanted to pay but he pretty much ignored me. He better let me pay for something at least during this trip, because I want to contribute in some way. At least I paid for the petrol, but only because if he got out of the car it would have drawn attention. I think he’s a strong and gracious person to not complain about not being able to do normal everyday things. Little things, like walking into a store without people wanting to take photos. It has to be tiring, but he never complains. He truly loves what he does, and I need to understand that being with him comes with a lot of different things. I need to accept all of those things.

  Dean’s hand is on my upper thigh as he drives, and I like it there. “Do you want me to drive?” I ask him, stretching my arms to the roof. “Let me know if you’re getting tired, or if you want a break.”

  “I’m fine,” he says, squeezing my thigh. “Do you want to stop and get something to eat or drink?”

  “No, I’m good,” I tell him. I kind of need to pee, but I can wait until the next petrol stop.

  When we get there, I check us in while Dean unloads the bags, then we walk to our room. Well at least I thought it was going to be a room. “You rented us a whole house?” I ask him as he unlocks the door and opens it for me to enter. I walk inside, and the place is absolutely stunning. Spacious, modern, and luxurious.

  “This place is insane,” I say, looking around. “I can’t believe this is the place you chose.”

  “I didn’t want us to run into a lot of people,” he explains, shrugging apologetically. “And I wanted you to stay in a beautiful place. You’ll get used to it.”

  I roll my eyes, standing by his side and wrapping my arm around his waist. “Well, it’s definitely beautiful. I’m so excited to go diving!”

  I love being in the water, and so does Dean. We could do this every day and I’d never tire of it. Swimming, eating, and then making love. I can’t imagine a better life. Because we’ve been friends for so long, it’s so comfortable to be around him, yet I don’t miss out on the butterflies and dreamy hazes that come with the start of something new. It’s so new right now, yet it feels as if I’m right where I’m meant to be. I don’t understand it, and I’m not going to try to anymore. If something makes me happy, I’m not going to be stupid enough to try and leave it.

  “Me too,” he says. “I also can’t wait to see you in a bikini.”

  “You’ve seen me in a bikini countless times,” I remind him, although the one I brought with me to wear during the trip is something particularly sexy, a new one I’ve never worn before.

  “Yeah, I’ve seen you in a bikini,” he says, hands running over the curve of my arse. “But I’ve never been able to touch you before, or admire you closely without looking away before anyone notices.”

  I glance up at him, my expression gentling. “Let’s consider this a first then,” I say, stepping up on my toes and kissing his lips. “I’m going to change into it, and then you can touch me all you want. And you can look all you want.”

  He rests his hands on the small of my back. “I can’t fucking wait.”

  He kisses me again, deeper, his tongue dancing with mine. We can’t keep our hands off each other, it’s crazy. It’s me who ends the kiss, flashing him a flirty, seductive smile before grabbing my bag and heading towards the bedroom.

  He’s in for something special.

  *****

  “Fucking hell, Sabina,” he growls, walking around me in a circle. It’s the first time I’ve opted for such a
revealing set, but why the hell not? “Do you know how incredible you look? Fuck. You’re not wearing that in front of other men, so I hope you brought some shorts or something.”

  I grin and do a little booty shake. “Relax, Dean. Aren’t we going out on a private boat? It will just be us again.”

  And whoever is driving the boat. Is it called driving? Or maybe it’s steering. I have no idea.

  He runs his finger down the middle of my breasts, over the bikini top and down to my belly button. “Do you know how beautiful you are? How sexy?” He kisses me then lifts me in the air, my legs coming around his waist. “Do you know how many songs I’ve written that have been about you?”

  I still at that. “What? Really?”

  He nods and walks to the couch, sitting down with me straddling him. “Listen to the lyrics, Sabina, because they’re all you.”

  I know all of his lyrics, but never once did I think they had anything to do with me. Never. The song he sang in my living room last time, the one about unrequited love... why didn’t I see it then?

  I guess I wasn’t ready to.

  I know I wasn’t ready to.

  I rest my forehead against his, looking into those mesmerizing green eyes. “I know all your lyrics. I know all your songs. I can sing them, word for word. I’ve always been your biggest fan, Dean, and I always will be, but never once did I think that I’d inspire you to write them about me.” I take a deep breath. “And some of them are really sad songs.”

  “I think my next album will be much happier,” he says, kissing me softly. “I know it will be. Happier, sexier. More passionate, more crazy. More everything, because right now I’m just feeling. Everything.”

  Feeling everything is good.

  Dean changes into a pair of swim shorts and we head straight for the water, without wasting any time.

  We spend the rest of the day in the sun, side by side, just spending time together, making jokes and enjoying each other’s company. Dean tells me about the people in his life, the people who work for him, like his manager, but also his friends in LA.

  “Your phone’s never going off though,” I point out. “Wouldn’t your manager and publicist etcetera be trying to contact you?”

  “My phone is on silent,” he says, shrugging. “They leave a message and I get back to them when I have the time. I hardly take holidays, so when I do they don’t call much unless it’s an emergency or they need to ask me something that can’t wait. Usually they’ll just call my personal assistant and she’ll deal with it.”

  “What about when your friends are trying to contact you?” I ask. “Like that Erica chick you went on a date with.”

  “Erin,” he says, grabbing me and rolling me under him in the sand. “And it wasn’t a date.”

  “Sounded like one to me,” I grumble. “Sounds like you were doing with her what we’re doing right now. Hanging out at the beach.”

  “We weren’t alone,” he says, eyes lowering to my lips. “Did I forget to mention that part? Her brother was with us, he is also a friend of mine.”

  I narrow my eyes on him. “Were you trying to make me jealous?”

  “Did it work?”

  “No.”

  His lip twitches. “Are you sure about that? You don’t seem to like… Erica very much.”

  No, I don’t.

  “Well she’s just a friend, right? So why wouldn’t I like her?” I say, keeping a straight face. I’m actually not usually a jealous person. I don’t think I would have cared if he hadn’t made it sound like a date, and even though he wasn’t mine then, and I don’t even know if he’s mine now, yeah it annoyed me. But I hid it, or at least I thought I did. Jealousy isn’t cute, and although he’s finding it amusing now I don’t want him to think I’m like that. I’m not an insecure person. But damn, I don’t think any woman wants the guy they have feelings for, especially when you don’t even know where you stand, at the beach with another woman.

  His eyes are filled with humour and mischief as he says, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me? Especially when you have absolutely nothing to worry about. With any woman.”

  Any woman?

  How is this man so amazing?

  “Even Bella Reed?” I ask gently, pressing my lips to his in a quick kiss that I can’t help.

  He laughs shortly, then pushes my hair off my face. “Especially her.”

  I smile as his lips descend back on mine.

  Chapter Seventeen

  We’re back home and I’m washing our clothes from the trip while Dean is making us dinner. When someone knocks on the door I have no idea who it could be until I hear Tara’s voice. I grin and rush to the door, then pull her into my arms.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” I say, squeezing her.

  “How was the trip?” she asks as both of us let go.

  “Amazing,” I say, leading her to the kitchen.

  “Hey, Dean,” she says, smiling and awkwardly waving at him, making me laugh. She looks really cute in a floral summer dress and sandals, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun that she’s perfected over the years.

  “Hey, Tara,” Dean says, flashing her a charming smile. “Stay for dinner? I’m making enough to feed an army.”

  She glances at him, then back at me. “Sure, I’ll stay. I feel like I haven’t seen you in so long, and I need my Bina time.”

  I love my best friend.

  “Do you want to watch a movie, eat snacks, and gossip?” I ask her, already heading to the kitchen for some chips and dip to tide us over until dinner is ready. “You going to join us?” I ask Dean as I pass him, winking at him.

  “No,” he says, smirking. “You go have some girl time. I’ll finish up here.”

  I wrap my arms around him and kiss the side of his neck, grateful for him being so cool, and then sit on the couch with my best friend.

  “Tell me everything,” she whispers, taking the chips from me and opening them. “All I get from you is a message saying you’re going away with Dean, who you slept with.” She pauses and smirks. “You lucky bitch, by the way.”

  I know just how lucky I am.

  I give her a very brief rundown on what has happened so far, basically that I want to give things a try with Dean, which has her smiling from ear to ear. “I’m so happy for you, Bina,” she says, patting my leg. “And can I say that I’m so proud that you’re back in the game.”

  I roll my eyes at her. “I’m not back in the game. I’m exploring something with someone I’ve known for a long time.”

  This is anything but a game.

  It’s kind of scary, putting my heart on the line like this, and possibly even losing one of the most important people in my life if it goes sour. I know he says it won’t, but he doesn’t know that. No one thinks their relationship will turn bad, but the sad truth is that most do. Just look at the divorce rate. I don’t think anyone goes into a relationship thinking that it won’t work out. Everyone starts out optimistic.

  What a depressing thought that is.

  “If it’s dating, you’re in the game,” she says, smirking. “Now don’t do your overthinking bullshit and you’ll do fine. By the way, Dean Amore is domesticated? Cooking? Is there anything he isn’t good at?”

  She wiggles her eyebrows.

  I shake my head no.

  We both burst out laughing.

  I can just imagine what Dean is thinking, hearing us laughing our arses off, but he should know by now what we’re like when we’re together. We’re loud, always making private jokes, and usually take things too far.

  “How did your date go the other night?” I ask, turning the focus to her. “Seeing him again, or not?”

  She makes a face. “I’m not sure. The date went okay, but there wasn’t really that in-your-face chemistry, you know?”

  “Is this the guy that Persephone set you up with?” I ask.

  Sephie knows some really hot guys. Hell, she even has two hot brothers, but they’re both taken.

  She nods. “Yeah an
d he’s good-looking and a gentleman and everything. I just don’t know.”

  “Maybe give him another chance,” I suggest. “Did you kiss him? I think you can tell if there’s chemistry or not by the kiss.”

  “I didn’t kiss him,” she says, smirking. “I’m taking it slow, Bina.”

  “But now you don’t know and you’re reconsidering another date,” I say, nudging her playfully. “I say go for the second date. And kiss the crap out of him. Then report back to me on compatibility.”

  She laughs and says, “Fine, I guess we’ll see how it goes then.”

  “If not, there are plenty of other men out there,” I say, smiling to myself.

  “Are you suddenly a romantic?”

  “No,” I deny.

  “Then why are you still smiling?” she asks, arching her brow. “You’re so cute, Bina.”

  “I’m not smiling,” I lie, touching my cheeks with my palms. “Okay, maybe I am. I just feel so… ughhh!”

  I can’t even explain it. Just everything.

  “Happy?” Tara supplies, smiling warmly. “It’s so good to finally see you happy.”

  Finally?

  “You don’t think I was happy before?” I ask her in a soft voice. Was I happy before? I thought I was.

  “I do,” she says, expression softening before. “But I don’t know, this is different.”

  She’s right, it is different. I don’t know, I can’t explain it either.

  “It feels good,” I say, ducking my head, then glancing at her.

  We share a look.

  She knows me so well. She knows what I’m thinking even before I do, and the look in her eyes tells me that she understands exactly how I’m feeling.

  Then she smiles, and says, “I guess you’re not going to be my wingwoman anytime soon then?”

  “I can still be your wingwoman,” I say defensively, brow furrowing. “I just won’t be chasing the D with you.”