I was surprised he remembered me so vividly and I don’t remember him at all. “And you remembered me from that long ago?”
Alex reached up placing his hand on my stomach as it curved toward my back. His hand was warm and when his thumb rubbed at my skin, I wondered how long I would last with these questions.
“How could I forget the woman I fell in love with that night?”
Something crawled up my neck, both inside and out. For a moment, I thought he was touching me there, but I realized it was my imagination. I felt intensely attracted to Alex, and I cared about him . . . but love? As I stared into his heart-stopping eyes, I wondered if I was capable of feeling love for a man, even one as wonderful as Alex?
“But you never talked to me that night. Trust me, Alex, I would’ve remember if someone who looked like you came up to me. How can you fall in love with someone you never met?” My throat tightened at my last question, making it a whisper.
I shifted back as he lifted up onto his elbow. “How can music touch your soul with one note? How can slabs of different colored oils spread across a canvas move you to tears? These are all inanimate objects, yet people spend their lives desiring them. Perhaps I don’t know enough about relationships, or maybe my mother screwed me up so much that even my idea of love is sick. But I can’t help how I feel, Aria. And being here with you, it has only deepened.”
Something about tonight was twisting my mind and clawed at my heart. Shaking my head to clear things, I hugged my knees to my chest. I trusted Alex and knew he would never hurt me, yet I felt like that young girl trying to break free from her captors through a bathroom window again. My heart was racing, and I was on the verge of tears all because Alex told me he loved me.
I hated how fucked-up I was.
“I didn’t say that to scare you off, Aria. I wanted to be honest. And I know you couldn’t possibly feel the same for me. There are things you are used to men giving you that I couldn’t.”
Alex tried to reach for my hand but when I pulled away he looked as defeated as I was scared. “What can’t you give me, Alex? Why do you say these things to me? To confuse me? Am I some game to you that you play at my emotions like sculpting clay?”
A tear finally broke free and I pushed it away with the palm of my hand. Alex frowned and crawled over the bed to me. “No. Aria, no. I am not playing at anything. I never told you because I was afraid.” He released a breath, sinking further into the bed. “Afraid I would lose you when I finally had a chance with you.”
“What is it you can’t give me? A life with you? I’m wondering if I am even capable of that.” I paused, releasing a stuttered laugh. “I have never spent this much time with a man I was attracted to and not had sex with them. And here we are. I have no shirt on. We are lying in bed in a crappy motel room and you still haven’t kissed me. Is that what you can’t give me, Alex? A kiss.”
“I guess we are both new to this,” he said as he brushed his fingers over my lips.
Despite the war inside my body his touch was more than soothing, it was wanted. That confused me even more. As much as I feared his love, I craved his touch.
“But what can’t you give me?” I asked and feared what the answer would be.
“Sex. I can’t . . .” he said and pulled away.
When I sought out Alex’s eyes, I saw the same war raging there.
“You can’t, or you won’t?”
“Neither. Both. I don’t know anymore.” He shook his head.
I reached my hand for his and he smiled. “Then tell me. What are you afraid of?”
Maybe we were both fucked-up. And in our crazy, messed up minds, perhaps our hearts could find peace together.
“Of hurting you,” he whispered as his shoulders slumped as if he just released the biggest secret and the weight of that burden was no longer his to carry.
“What? Is your penis the size of a broomstick with the girth of a can of pop?” I had to make a joke. It was becoming too intense in here, and not in a good way.
“No, of course not. It’s not about the size. I’m afraid I’ll hurt you by doing what turns me on.” Alex’s face reddened and as I tried to lift his chin he turned away, refusing to see me.
“What turns you on, Alex? Please tell me it’s not having sex with dead bodies because I’m pretty adventurous, but I will draw the line with that.” I held up my hands but hoped my words would ease his heartache.
He smirked. It was the best half smile I had ever seen. The man was a virgin. He probably thought doggy style was depraved.
“No, I don’t want to have sex with dead bodies or animals or anything like that.”
“Oh, thank God. For a moment I was worried.” I winked.
“A few weeks ago, when we almost kissed. That’s how I am. I pulled your hair and forced myself on you. I am sorry.”
I was silent as I thought back to that moment. How he took control and the usual shy, uncertain Alex turned into someone with confidence and restrained power. Even the memories warmed my thighs and I squirmed at the wetness that grew.
“Are you kidding me right now? That was so hot, Alex,” I said as I shook my head, smiling and running my fingers through my hair as if he was pulling it right now. “We didn’t even kiss but I went home and used my vibrator a few times replaying our scene in my head.”
“You did?” His eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes. I would imagine that you finally kissed me. Shoving your tongue into my mouth. Not gently but pushing it inside and later . . .” I drifted off overcome by my imagination.
“What about later?” Alex scooted closer.
I sucked on my lower lip as I noticed his cock thickening between his legs. “Later you replaced your tongue with your cock.”
His nose flared as he closed his eyes. I had a feeling, a warm, nipple-hardening feelings, that Alex had the same thoughts about me.
“What if I hurt you?” he whispered.
He inched closer despite his question. I watched with dripping anticipation as his cock grew beneath his jeans. He had unbuttoned them earlier from the meal and now the zipper was lowering due to the pressure building behind. I licked my lips at the show.
“If my mouth is full of thick cock than I’ll pinch you just above your belly button. And you’ll stop,” I said as I drifted my finger over his lower stomach. “If I can speak then I will say the word you least want to hear.”
“What word would that be?” His thick lips were only an inch from mine.
“Mom.”
Alex groaned and winced. “Yes, that would stop me instantly. But what if your mouth is full and your hands are restrained?”
My back arched, pushing against his chest. I had played at being tied up by a man before, but this was the first time I craved it. Anything Alex wanted to do to me suddenly became my deepest desire.
“Then I will wink at you.”
He removed his gray shirt without a word from me. My fingers itched to slide along his hard chest.
“How do you want to start all this?”
“We start with a kiss, Aria.”
TWENTY
Alexander
“Kiss me where?” Aria asked.
I furrowed my brow. “Now. In this room.”
Her lips curved. “I mean here,” Aria pointed to her mouth, “or here?” She sat back spreading her legs, letting me know which kiss she preferred.
I didn’t know if I would be alive when this was all over because I might die of bliss. She was perfect. My cock twitched and I had to cup myself to ease the tension.
“Why don’t you lie back and find out.”
Aria shifted to the middle of the bed and did as I said. It didn’t take her long to remove her clothes. The purple lace she wore under her jeans instantly became my favorite color.
Curiosity took over. I slid my fingers over the tender skin of her inner thigh until I reached the lace edge. Aria’s expression was a cross between longing and impatience.
I should kiss
her first. Do all the things I had seen in movies, but my hand wouldn’t stop. My fingers discovered even softer skin. Slick and hot and tempting me further.
She sighed. That was it. I closed my eyes and pushed my fingers inside her.
Aria shifted and I heard her moan. I opened my eyes to watch her as my fingers sank inside. She was exquisite. I could barely think as my hand moved in and out of her body.
“Oh, Alex,” she said biting that plump lip of hers that I wanted to fuck later.
My thumb moved over her folds and she whimpered. The more I gave her the more her hips moved up and down and the wetter she became.
I stopped and lifted my hand. My fingers glistened and my nose flared at the scent—her scent. I wanted more of her and I licked my fingers.
It was different than I had expected—not that I had any idea how a woman would taste—but it caused my mouth to water. I had a feeling this was uniquely Aria and that made me crave more.
“Do you want to continue?” Aria asked her greedy fingers dipping under her panties.
“You want more?” I said watching her play with herself.
She nodded, her back arching as she pushed both hands down and began to fuck herself. She was incredible. I knew I wasn’t going to last much longer, so I pushed off my jeans and navy boxer briefs so I could work my cock.
“I’m going to watch you, Aria. And when I come, I want you to lick it off me,” I said to see if she would agree to something I so desperately wanted. These fantasies filled me with shame for so long, and I wondered if Aria would want them too.
“Yeah. God, Alex. You are so hot,” Aria said, and I could hear the slapping wet noise as she rode her hands.
She wanted more, from me, so I gave it to her. I reached over and added two of my fingers to her pussy so she was taking me with her own.
She arched her back. “Oh yeah, Alex.”
“You like that, Aria? You want to be filled?” I said as I moved with the motion of her hands.
“Yes, make me come, Alex. Please.”
It was the begging that really did it. To watch her squirm and plead for release made me rock hard.
“What do you want?” I said watching her brown eyes turn almost black from desire. Her body was flush and all I wanted to do was climb her, pin her to the bed, and go wild.
But if I did that, I wouldn’t last.
“I want to see you. I want to watch you touch yourself.”
Until that point I was only lightly touching myself, just enough to ease the tension. My focus was on her. I never realized that she would be as turned on by me as I was by her.
Once the high of all this wore off, would she even want to look at me? I hesitated for a moment before I gave Aria what she needed.
Spreading my legs out, I sat back with a perfect view of what she was doing to herself. Slowly but with a tight grip, I used her slickness to rub over my cock. When I got to the base of my cock, I squeezed trying to make this last but I knew I only had a few more strokes in me.
Aria sat up on her elbow using one hand now to play with herself. I reached over and pulled down her panties, removing them. When I glanced back, it was too late. I lost it seeing her like that—so wet and playing out my fantasy.
One stroke and I was coming. I moaned her name and even a few curse words. Hot cum sprayed across my stomach as my head fell back. Before my orgasm was finished, Aria’s hot breath was on my skin.
She was doing what I asked, licking everything up.
I pulled Aria up to me and consumed her. My lips crashed onto hers and she tasted like heaven. Her tongue pushed its way into mine and I let it. We kissed for what seemed like forever before I eased up, nipping at her lip as I pulled away.
“Did you come?” I asked realizing that I came so hard I had no idea if she had too.
“Oh yeah I did. Watching you orgasm was like watching a unicorn shoot a rainbow out of its butt. Un-fucking-believable.”
I felt more relaxed than I ever had. Laughing, I tucked my hand under my head and pulled her toward me with the other. She curled into my side and everything felt right. As if her body was made to be next to mine.
“What’s your obsession with butts. First you worry about dying from farts and then you compare me to something coming out of a butt,” I said before I kissed the top of her head. She smelled of the sea and sex.
“What can I say? I like butts. Speaking of butts, I never got a good look at yours. Turn over,” Aria said as she propped herself up on her elbow.
“Am I being inspected?”
“No. Just shamelessly ogled.”
Rolling over, I tried to glance back to see what she was doing but I only caught glimpses of fluttering, flaxen hair. I suddenly felt what she was doing. There was a slap followed by something sharp digging into my ass cheek.
“Ow. What was that?”
“Just my teeth. I had to take a bite. I can now officially say that I am the first woman to tap that ass.”
“You’re a butt woman, huh?” I said as I rolled over causing her to frown.
I grabbed her and pulled her on top of me, nuzzling my head into her neck. Even after all we did I couldn’t get enough of her.
“You know my one true weakness.”
Pulling my head back I stared up at her. “You have more than one weakness, Aria. I would say you have two.”
“Mmm. And what are they?” Aria asked as she peppered kisses across my chest.
“Sex and food.”
Her kisses came to a stop and she looked up at me. “I think you’re right. I once had a dream where I was having sex and eating a three-course meal at a fancy restaurant. When I woke up I was angry because the dream ended. That was the best dream ever.”
I combed my fingers through her hair. I wondered if the satisfied smile on her face was from what we did together or memories of her dream.
“I know your weaknesses, Alex.”
“Okay, what are they?” I said.
“You have many.”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t. I only have one.”
Her eyes widened and she sat up. “Based on what just happened on this bed, I would disagree. If you do only have one, what is it?”
Lifting myself up I cupped the back of her head with my hand. “It’s you.” I leaned in to kiss her. She sighed as my tongue found hers.
The kiss was light as we soon drifted off to sleep still wrapped in each other’s arms.
A buzzing sound woke me and I glanced over at the clock. It was ten thirty in the morning.
“That’s my phone,” Aria said with a groggy voice as she scooted to the edge of the bed. She grabbed her purse from the bedside table and dug inside until she got her phone. “Hello?”
Relaxing back, I made a mental note of all the smooth curves of her body.
“Oh no. How bad is it?” she said before pausing. “Of course, I can be there. I’ll meet you there in a half hour.”
My heart sank as she pushed the phone back into her purse. Our time together had to end. I knew it did. I just didn’t think it would end so soon.
“Alex, I have to go. Tiffany’s son is in the hospital. She needs me right now.”
TWENTY-ONE
Aria
“He fell down,” Tiffany said, her eyes red and swollen.
It hurt to watch my friend upset, so I wrapped her in my arms and brought her to a chair. Memories of my sister comforting me the last time I saw her added to the pain.
We sat in two of the three black leather chairs in the doctor’s office. Alex hovered in the corner. While I comforted, he appeared uneasy. His eyes scanned the room for something.
I wondered if he had a problem with hospitals. I knew some people didn’t like them and given Alex’s unusual life, I wouldn’t be surprised if his mother caused him to fear hospitals too.
“Tell me what happened,” I said cradling Tiffany as her tears streamed down her cheeks. I took a tissue for her, from a box that sat next to a plush unicorn, off the l
arge wooden desk in front of us.
Tiffany and I had grown closer over the last month. As she helped me with the mural, I spent more time with her and her son, David. She was the kind of friend who would never bother you with her problems unless it was an absolute emergency.
I knew when she asked me to meet her at the hospital with David it had to be serious. How could I run off to some paradise with Alex, knowing I left my friend behind in her time of need?
She’s everything to that boy and that boy was everything to her. Tiffany was the example of how a mother should be. Alex’s mom and my mom should have taken lessons from her.
“The physical therapist tried to get him to climb up steps in the stairwell of the building. Usually, he does the steps in the physical therapy room, which has three wide steps and a lot of room for someone to work with him. But the stairwell is four floors and the steps are cement.”
She took a breath as her voice began to waver before continuing, “I don’t know what happened exactly but I think the therapist looked away for a moment and David slipped. He was making such good progress. A million thoughts are running through my head. Did he break something? Will this cause him to regress? Why wasn’t the therapist focused on him? Grrr. I want to hit that therapist so hard.”
Tiffany shook her fist in the air. I was about to say something about finding some guys to beat up the therapist when Alex came over and sat on the other side of Tiffany.
He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Tiffany, remember what I told you when I first met you?”
She sniffled, shaking her head. “No. I’m sorry. I don’t.”
“You are a good mother. Accidents. They happen. It can’t be helped. But you took him straight here and are fighting to find out what went wrong. That’s what counts. Maybe this therapist was in the wrong, maybe he wasn’t. But, since you are a wonderful mom, you will find out and do what is best for David.”
Tiffany took a deep breath and relaxed back into the seat. Her tears had stopped. “You’re right, Alex. I know sometimes I doubt myself. Especially when something like this happens. Our old physical therapist moved away so we have this new one. He’s okay, but sometimes I get the feeling he isn’t one hundred percent present.”
One Wild Ride Page 11