Us Again

by Jennah Thornhill

  “I… I’m going to go get dressed, it’s good to see you Nate.” El says while she’s glaring at Sammi. A secret code between the pair is clearly passed and Sammi trails after her with her head bowed.

  Yeah, Sammi is going get her head chewed off now.

  Walking further into the apartment, I sit at the little table and chairs, that they have in their kitchen and Dean hands me my beer.

  “Don’t you think you’re getting away with this little stunt either you bastard. She had no idea I was coming here, did she?”

  Sheepishly Dean takes a mouthful of his beer and ignores my question, which is all the answer I need.

  “El is a runner dude, you know this and by bringing me here when she is unexpecting, it isn’t going to do me any favors with her. What were you and Sammi thinking when you hatched this little plan of yours?”

  Swallowing down some more of his beer, he goes to answer me, but he’s stopped short when Sammi comes rushing back out of what I’m guessing is Eliza's bedroom. She grabs the bottle of wine that’s sitting open on the table.

  “Emergency, this is needed,” she says then rushes back off in the direction she just came from.

  “You do realize that El might just kill your sister for this. Then she’s going to make you eat your own dick afterwards.”

  Beer comes flying out of Dean’s mouth when I say that.

  “Dude, you have no idea, do you? You can’t see it, but we can. If you think that just seeing her has your therapist is going to get you pair back together, then you’re sadly mistaken. We both know that you wouldn’t have asked to see her out of doctor hours. I know she certainly doesn’t make house calls, so we decided to just give you both a little nudge in the right direction. You’ll be thanking me for it in the end, now stop whining like a little bitch and drink your beer.”

  The Cavendish siblings really are a force to be reckoned with.

  Almost an hour later and with some rushing from room to room on Sammi’s behalf, me and Dean have drank another two beers from their fridge. We’re talking about anything and everything when Sammi exits the room they’ve been holed up in and declares that they’re finally ready.

  Standing from my seat, I wait for El to come out behind her, only she doesn’t appear and my heart sinks. Which surprises me. I didn’t think I was actually excited to see her, but as it turns out I was.

  “Eliza Maria Rodriguez, get your butt out here now. We have cocktails to be drinking and your wasting time.” Sammi growls.

  If I thought her wearing just that towel earlier was sexy, then holy mother of God. My dick goes from soft to full blown erection in a nanosecond, the minute she steps out of her room. My breath actually hitches in my throat and my eyes trace every inch of her, as she stands on the other side of the open plan apartment, looking nervous. That dress she’s wearing, looks amazing on her, but the dirty part of brain is thinking it would look a whole lot better on my bedroom floor.

  “Dude, pick your jaw up off the floor will ya, you're drooling.” Dean whispers in my ear.

  “Do I look alright?” El asks, only I can't answer her, because I'm lost for words on how fucking alright, she does look. When she walks further into the room and turns to get something off the couch, its then I notice that the dress is missing a big chunk out of the back.

  Without thinking I spit, “You're seriously going to go out wearing that, it's got massive hole in the back of it.”

  Dean says, “Not cool bro, not cool at all.” As if warning me that I've just overstepped the mark. He doesn't need tell me; the minute the words leave my mouth, I know I've woken the sleeping Lioness. Her posture goes rigid and if we were in a cartoon, there would be smoke coming out of her ears.

  “Oh shit.” Sammi whistles.

  Yeah, I'm in for it now.

  “Who the hell are you too tell me what I can and cannot wear, you're my patient. Nothing more and nothing less. So I suggest you keep your opinions on my clothes to yourself.”

  Well fuck me, if the dress hadn't already give me a ready to burst erection. Then the sass that's bursting from her now certainly would have. I'm starting to love the fact that she's not scared to give me shit. It's refreshing after having everyone bend to my will, since I've played professional ball.

  I don't say anything back; I just give her a smirk of my lips and a nod of my head in understanding. An understanding that makes her think she's won. When, what I'm really saying is that she has no idea that I have every intention of getting her out of that dress, quicker than she expects. All four of us drain what we have left of our drinks, before we head out the door. I told Matt my driver that we wouldn't be long, I bet the poor man is bored stiff waiting for us.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Eliza

  Who the fuck does he think he is?

  He can’t just come in here and tell me what I can and cannot wear.

  When I first stepped out of my bedroom in this dress, I was nervous about him seeing me like this. Now, I don’t know why I was. Glancing at him from under my lashes, I could tell he was having trouble keeping his eyes off me. That filled me with excitement, instead of the nervous butterflies. Then he had to go, open his hole and go all alpha male on me, when he has no right to.

  I was right when I told him he was my patient and nothing more or less. We aren’t friends, not really. There’s too much history and secrets that need to be hidden for us to be anything else. As we leave my place and head out, I can’t help myself and with every step he takes in front of me, my eyes stay glued to his ass, in his snug fitted jeans. His backside was always one of the things that turned me on when we were together. It seems not much has changed in that department. Leaving through the main entrance of our apartment building, we’re greeted by a smartly dressed guy. Who is standing by a black SUV, with the back door open.

  “I’m sorry about the wait Matt, but we’re here now. Thank you.” Nate says to the man standing there.

  “It’s fine Mr. Michaels.” He responds.

  “This guy works for Nate?” I whisper to Sammi, shocked at the extravaganza of having someone drive us, instead of just taking a cab like the commoner I am. She nods her head and places her finger of her lips telling me to shh.

  “Wow.” I mouth to her, which makes her giggle.

  “Come on now ladies, your carriage awaits you.”

  Nate’s now standing at the door, with an open arm in an invitation for us to get into the waiting car.

  Still, mildly pissed at his attitude from upstairs, I walk past him and go to get into the car. Only I miss my step and tumble on my heels. An arm that hasn’t been around me in so long, snakes around my waist and catches me.

  “You never were good in heels, Bambi.” Nate whispers in my ear.

  Having him touch me shouldn’t affect me anymore, but it does and it’s messing with my feelings towards him. Especially when he whispers things like that to me. Shrugging him off, I give him a polite thank you and take a seat in the car, followed by Sammi and Dean who get in after me.

  Nate gets in the front with Matt the driver and as we pull off, I hear Matt say, “Where are you fabulous looking people off to this evening?”

  If I had my way, I’d be in jeans and a t-shirt, knocking cheap shots back down at the sports bar. Something tells me that isn’t going to be an option, when I’m out drinking with the famous Nate Michaels.

  “The Continental Club please, Matt. It’s down on 116 West and 4th Street downtown.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I look to Sammi who’s beaming from ear to ear when she hears where we’re going. That place is like Fort Knox to get into, then again when you’re Nate, I guess it is just that simple.

  Pulling up curbside outside The Continental Club, I’m left in shock and awe as we get out of the SUV. We’re guided straight past the line of people, who are queuing around the corner to get in the place. Normally that’s me and Sammi, so going straight in, feels very weird f
or me. Nate is greeted by the large, bald man waiting at the door by name.

  He’s clearly a regular at this place.

  With Sammi clinging onto my arm, bouncing up and down in her heels next to me, like a kid at Christmas. I just shake my head at her enthusiasm. We follow Dean through the door, with Nate trailing behind us. If I’m not mistaken, I hear him mumble something to himself. Entering through the doors into the main bar area, we’re quickly shown to a booth that’s closed off with red rope, by a waitress who is smartly dressed, which surprises me. Then again, this whole night is one big surprise so far. As we all sit down, Nate tells the waitress that we’re celebrating and he would like four glasses and a bottle of Dom Perignon 2003.

  “You flash bastard.”

  The sarcasm just drips from my mouth and I can’t stop myself, but he hears me and he laughs at my comment, before firing back.

  “I’ve worked hard, El. I’m entitled to be flash if I want to be, but you wouldn’t know that would you?”

  His words sting. He’s right though, I don’t know how hard he’s had to work since I left him. All I know is what I saw him do before all that, and what’s broadcast on the TV.

  “Nate…” Dean warns him.

  “Don’t worry dude, I’m not starting anything, I was just stating a fact.”

  Our bottle of champagne arrives and as the waitress pours us our drinks. Another guy dressed just as smartly as her, comes over and greets Nate personally. It’s what I hear him say after that, that excites me.

  “I hope you and your guests are staying for the evening? Tonight's nineties R&B classics night, it’s what we like to call our, this is how we do it night.”

  I look to Sammi who is glaring at Nate, daring him to say no, which he notices and busts out laughing.

  “Well judging by the looks on their faces, if I say no, I might just get killed. So yeah, we’ll be here for a while. Thank you, Ben.” They shake hands and Ben leaves us to it.

  I’ve lost all concept of time in this place, it’s amazing. We’re on our third bottle of champagne and the music that Ben said would be spinning, is just right up mine and Sammi’s alley. We haven’t stopped laughing and smiling all night, but when the music starts, we can’t keep still.

  No Diggity by Blackstreet starts to come through the speakers, I squeal like a teenager.

  “Oh my god, this is my jam. Come on girlfriend, we’re dancing.”

  Pushing Sam out of her seat, so I can get to my feet, I drag her ass onto the dance floor with me. Dean and Nate stay where they are in their seats and laugh at us in amusement as we leave them behind. Stepping foot onto the dance floor, the music just takes over my body. Before I know it, I’m lost in beat, my hips sway from side to side and my arms are thrown up in the air. My feet are killing me from all the other dancing we’ve done, but I couldn’t care less right now. This song is my song and no amount of pain from stupid shoes is going stop me, from getting my groove on with my best friend.

  “It’s been so long since we had this much fun.” Sam shouts over the music and wraps her arms around me in some sort of hug that still lets us dance. When that song ends, we continue to hold on to each other, as I Wanna Sex You Up by Color Me Badd starts and the crowd goes wild.

  “I know someone who wants to sex you up.” Sammi slurs in my ear. Pulling back, I look at her like she’s got two heads.

  “No more champagne for you.” I tell her.

  “Don’t tell me you’re that blind? He hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night. I’m pretty sure if you glanced in his direction right now, you’ll see that he’s still staring. I’m surprised his eyes alone haven’t burnt that dress off you by now.”

  We’re still dancing, but I manage to look at over to Nate out of the corner of my eye. Sure enough the bitch is right and my dance moves falter for a split second. He’s looking right at me and his jaw is so stiff, I’m pretty sure he’s going to break some teeth.

  I can’t deal with that right now; I tell myself and go back to my friend and continue to dance. Only I’m aware now that I’m being watched.

  Two more songs later and I declare enough, my feet are dead and I need to pee. Going back to our booth, Sammi plonks her backside down and I grab my small purse from my seat. I go in search of the bathroom after I’ve drained my full glass of champagne.

  Classy if I’ve ever seen it, way to go me.

  After going to the toilet, I leave the stall and go to wash my hands and refresh my lip-gloss. I notice standing there, is a barbie doll blonde, smacking her lips together with freshly coated lippy.

  “You’re with Nate Michaels tonight I see.”

  It’s not a question. She obviously knows I’m here with him and my friends tonight.

  “Make the most of it won’t you? You’ll be gone by morning; he doesn’t keep his bed friends around for long.” She sneers at me, before trotting off on heels bigger than mine.

  What a bitch. Who jumps to them sort of conclusions, just because I’m having a drink with someone? A jealous bitch, that’s who.

  I could let her comments get to me but I don’t. Instead, I finish in the bathroom and head out the door. Just as I step out, I’m stopped, grabbed around the waist and pushed up a dark corner. I try to scream, but just I stop myself, because even though it’s been forever since I’ve these hands on me, my body knows who they belong to instantly.

  “It’s only me, Bambi. You know I won’t hurt you.”

  His voice sends tingles down my spine, tingles I hate to admit that I’ve missed.

  “Nate….”

  “Ssh now, I’ve got you.”

  Without being given a second to even catch my breath, his lips attack mine in a bruising and punishing kiss. Bending at the knees, his hips keep me pinned to the wall in the dark corner, as he seeks entrance to my mouth. My heads telling me that this is all kinds of wrong, but the girl who loved him something fierce when she was a teenager, is winning. She wants nothing more than to lose herself in the only man she’s ever loved. Giving him access to my mouth, his tongue strokes mine. Just like that, everything that we once were, comes rushing back to me. The passion, the want and the need we both have for each other is still there. A fire in the pit of my stomach that’s been burnt out, is suddenly alight again. I want nothing more than to have him kiss me.

  “You have no idea how much watching you dance in that dress has tortured me, El. You can’t be doing shit like that, baby. I’m all set to burst and in more ways than one.” He murmurs against my open mouth.

  Dragging my hand from where it’s hanging limply at my side, he places my palm on the front of his jeans. Straight away I’m met with a raging hard-on, that’s not going anywhere any time soon.

  “Nate, we can’t…” I try to protest, but even I wouldn’t believe me with my pathetic attempt.

  “Yes. Yes, we can El. I’ll do all the therapy you want me to, just don’t deny us this. We both want it; we both can’t pretend that we haven’t been dreaming of being together again.”

  Oh shit.

  How can he still make me this weak in the knees?

  His forehead meets mine, as we inhale each other and with the hormones that are flying between us, he’s right. I do want this, I want him. I always have. Allowing myself this one little indulgence, doesn’t mean anything. We’re just two exes getting each other out of our system. He won’t need to know anything else.

  “Take me, Nate. Now,” I demand.

  He doesn’t need to be told twice. My hand is in his and I’m being taken through a door, that leads down another long corridor and out what looks like a fire exit.

  When we’re both out of the exit and into what looks like an alleyway at the back of the club, we’re met with pelting rain. It doesn’t stop us though, because I’m in his arms with my legs wrapped around his waist, before I could protest about getting wet from the rain.

  “It looks like the weather is gonna get you wet before I’ve even had a c
hance to touch you.”

  My back hits the brick wall and scrapes my bare skin, but I couldn’t give two fucks. I’m burning up from the inside out with lust and if he doesn’t touch me soon, I’m scared might combust. Our lips meet and his hands are in my now wet hair.

  “Fuck me, you still taste so damn good.”

  His breath tickles my skin and I whimper like I’ve never been touched before. Placing one of my legs on the ground, he leaves one wrapped around him. His fingers start to trace a path up my thigh on the leg that he’s released.

  “Nate…”

  “I’ve told you once, El. I’ve got you.”

  Oh boy, has he got me.

  The tips of his fingers catch the edge of my silk panties and I’m ready to scream in frustration. The rain adding even more sensitivity to my already sensitive skin. Dropping my purse to the concrete, I grip onto his strong muscular shoulders. I dig my nails in, as he hooks his thumb inside my underwear and starts to rub my clit in circles.

  “Fuck, god yes.” I pant.

  “You always were so responsive when I touched you, but unless you want to get caught, I need you to be quiet, baby.”

  A growl leaves my mouth, as he plunges what feels like two fingers inside of me.

  How the fuck does he expect me to stay quiet, when he's turning me into a horny and wanting woman in the rain? That thought alone thrills me.

  Curving his fingers, he hits just the right spot in my pussy and I have to lean forward and bite the junction between his neck and shoulder.