The Right One

by Ariadne Wayne

  His gaze was intense, but I couldn’t look away. You’re still holding his hand. I let go, laughing nervously.

  “So, tell me about yourself,” he said.

  I shrugged. “I’m thirty, I own a small finance company."

  Elliot had that dazzling smile across his face again. “I’m twenty-five. I play guitar in a band sometimes. I have no permanent job and no idea where I’m going with my life.”

  Instead of something witty, I nodded, not knowing what to say next. “Okay.”

  What was wrong with me? When it came to picking up men, I was usually pretty good with it. Did I even want to pick him up? He was my neighbour. What if things went weird?

  “So, uh. Why don't you know where you're going in life?” The words came out slowly; I must have sounded like an idiot.

  He shrugged. "I was always in trouble at school,” Elliot said. “I never took anything seriously, spent so much time goofing off. Even got suspended once for sneaking into the school pool at night. That just got extended into adulthood.”

  I laughed, pointing at myself and nodding. “Smoking in the bike sheds.”

  “Aren’t we a couple of trouble makers?” His eyes twinkled with mischief, his face only inches from mine, and the gap was closing.

  “It sounds like it.” I swallowed hard, my heart beating like crazy as our faces drew closer together. He eliminated the distance, kissing me and after a moment his tongue found mine. I gripped his forearm as the kiss intensified while his hand landed on my hip. I didn’t want it to stop, and the way he kept kissing me, I don’t think he wanted that either.

  When he finally pulled away, we kept our eyes locked on one another. This was new, exciting, something I hadn’t anticipated. I’d just enjoyed having some company and him being a bit of eye candy wasn’t hurting.

  “So?” A grin spread across his face.

  “So,” I said.

  “Where to from here?”

  I could have said so many things. Instead I shrugged and giggled like a damn schoolgirl.

  “You know I’m really crap at relationships,” he said.

  I rolled my eyes. “It was one kiss. Not a relationship.”

  Elliot licked his lips, tightening his grip, pulling me just that little bit closer to him again.

  “What if I want more than one kiss?”

  My body was on fire. This whole thing was insane, but I just wanted to see where the ride was going. And the way that kiss had gone, I was picturing some crazy journey.

  “What if I want more too?” I asked,

  There was no answer to that question as Elliot’s mouth covered mine, his tongue performing a tango in my mouth as he ran his hand up and down my spine. He pushed me back on the couch, still kissing me, his body on top of mine.

  I spread my legs, hooking them around his waist to pull him even closer, pressing myself against him, feeling him harden as we dry humped and kissed like it was going out of style.

  My brain told me to slow down, get to know him a little better before jumping into bed with him.

  Screw it, my body said. We’re on the couch, not the bed. It was a small technicality, but I didn't care, I was ready to get that man inside me.

  He laughed as I rolled us off the couch and onto the floor where I could grind my hips and rub against him, nearly getting off in the process. It seriously was not going to take much.

  “Is this what you want?” he asked.

  “I don’t want a relationship; the last one nearly destroyed me. I’ve made it a rule not to get serious. But I could be open to being friends with benefits. You know, you clean my car the way you did in that car yard, with no shirt on and lots of bubbles, then you get to come in and do the same thing to me.”

  Elliot laughed, reaching up to pull out the clip that held up my hair. Dark curls spilled down around me, and he gripped them, pulling me down to his lips for another kiss.

  “What do I get in return?”

  “Sex. Lots of sex. With no strings.” I reached for the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head. He grinned, slipping his hands around me, unhooking my bra and cupping my breasts in his hands, rubbing his thumbs across my nipples.

  “I think I can handle that.”

  I slid back, pushing his shirt up and letting him sit up just enough to get it over his head. That muscular chest I’d spied from across the road was even better up close, his skin the colour of bronze. Kissed by the sun, as my mother would say.

  Leaning over, I kissed him again. He smelled so good, that soapy clean smell that told me he’d made an effort before coming to see me.

  “So, uh, are we going to do it on the floor? Or is there somewhere more comfortable?” he asked. I was so into this, I hadn’t even thought about it.

  “Well, my bedroom isn’t far. Plus, I have condoms in the drawer beside the bed.”

  “I always carry one in my wallet. Doesn’t bother me where as long as we do.”

  I squealed as he flipped me over this time, pinning me to the floor, kissing my breasts and stroking them as if they were the most precious things he’d ever had his hands on. The mixture of tender and rough was really doing something for me.

  “Let’s go to your room. I’m picking your mattress won’t be as hard on my knees as this floor. Or yours.”

  My eyes widened at his words. He wasn’t just planning on one time and go. This was either going to be a marathon or lots of little bites. I could handle either right now.

  “I don’t care as long as we stop talking and start doing.”

  Elliot pushed himself off me, holding out his hand. “Come on.”

  By the time we got to the bedroom, his pants were on their way down and I was treated to the sight of this gorgeous, naked man who wasn’t just big in stature. It was like every single damn Christmas had come at once.

  My vagina was about to be very happy with me.

  He’d grabbed his wallet out of his jeans and fished out the condom, which he now held in his hand. Standing awkwardly, a smile on his lips, I looked at him blankly before realising I hadn’t taken off my pants and my gaze had been fixed firmly on his groin.

  I grabbed his hand, sitting him down on the edge of the bed. I slipped off my jeans, and knelt before him.

  Alexander was bigger than any man I had been with before. But Elliot took the cake. Hell, he had the whole damn bakery.

  He looked down at me with wide eyes. That just excited me further.

  As I lowered my mouth onto him, he groaned as I took him as far in as possible. The clean, soapy smell was really doing it for me; I couldn’t get enough of the scent and I slid my mouth back and forward, taking deep breaths, enjoying this as much as he very clearly was.

  As I ran my tongue up and down his length he moaned. I raised my eyes to meet his. “Want me to keep going?”

  He nodded. “That feels amazing.”

  Pretty amazing for me too.

  I had always been one to enjoy giving head. It was that fun, quick thing you could often get away with when sex was just too difficult to sneak in. Like that time in the bathroom at uni with Katya’s now fiancé, or in Alexander’s car in the restaurant car park before going to have dinner with Dad.

  Tonight though, I could just take my time and savour this man who I hoped would savour me afterward. I could do with keeping my ankles around my ears for a while.

  “Holy crap. I’ve never had a blow job like this before.”

  His words spurred me on, and I sped up my movements, gripping him tightly as he moaned.

  “Get on the bed,” he said, gasping.

  “But I’m not finished.”

  “Rebecca,” he growled, and a lightning bolt went up my spine

  I did as I was asked and climbed up on the bed, rolling onto my back. Elliot pushed my legs apart, leaning over me to kiss me, running his fingers up my thigh and making me shiver in anticipation.

  “Don’t tease me,” I whispered.

  “That’s all you’ve been doing to me since we met.�
� His deep laugh vibrated in his chest as I stroked his skin.

  He moved back, replacing his fingers with his lips, planting gentle kisses on my thighs before plunging his tongue into me. As he flicked it over my clit, I nearly took off, needing this so badly, wanting him so much.

  “Elliot,” I moaned, reaching down to run my fingers through his hair, torn between wanting this to go on all night and wanting him in me.

  I shuddered, closing my eyes. It had been a long time since anyone had brought me to such heights and I wanted to revel in it.

  When he moved away, I opened my eyes in time to see him tear open the condom packet and roll it on. I looked at him in awe, this magnificent man about to impale me. I’d really struck it lucky this time.

  He slammed into me, and I moaned. Having him inside me felt as good as I’d imagined, and I closed my eyes, my arms above my head, my hips pushing back and meeting his every thrust.

  “You’ll be the death of me, Rebecca,” he whispered.

  “Why’s that?”

  “This feels better than anything in the history of everything.”

  When I laughed, he moaned loudly. “Do that again?”

  I laughed again, and his biceps flexed, the tight expression on his face showing his effort to hold back and not finish this too early.

  “I just want this to last as long as possible,” he said, his words confirming my interpretation of that expression.

  “Me too.” I ran my finger up his arm. “Although, it doesn’t really matter. After we’ve finished, we can always start again.”

  Elliot laughed. “I like the way you think.”

  He slowed, and my heart beat faster as we just gazed at one another. It would be so easy to fall for him, love him, want more than just sex.

  But that was all I wanted right now. No strings, no commitments—just lots and lots of great sex. And this was amazing. Elliot knew just how to hit all my spots.

  He called out my name, his body stiffening over mine as he came and leaned over, pressing his nose to my own. It was strangely the most intimate moment we’d shared.

  His lips grazed mine. “That was amazing.”

  “For me too,” I whispered.

  “Strictly casual?”

  I don’t know if his half-whispered sentence was a statement or question, but I nodded.

  Elliot rolled to my side, lying flat on his back and panting at the effort. “I can handle that.” He grinned.

  * * *

  It was a little after three in the morning, and we’d had sex three times. Good things come in threes. So had I.

  “Have you ever thought about having kids?” Elliot asked.

  We snuggled, Elliot with his arm around me, my hand resting on his chest, cuddled in for the warmth and comfort he brought in the afterglow of sex.

  I frowned. What a weird question to ask when we’d just met one another. “Why?”

  Elliot shrugged. “Just curious I guess. You seem to have everything else going for you; I’m just wondering what Ms Wallace thinks the future holds.”

  I stroked his chest with my fingers, closing my eyes for a moment. “I have thought about it, but I don’t know if I’ll ever do it. I’d be too scared they’d end up with the upbringing I had.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  I took a deep, loud breath. “Dad lost a lot of money in a deal. I was young, but I remember them fighting and then him moving out. After that I was bounced back and forward. Sometimes I’d wake up not remembering whose house I was in. Mum would drink half a bottle of gin and I’d come home from school and have to pick her up off the floor."

  I nuzzled his shoulder. This wasn't something I'd spoken about often, and not with anyone so new to my life. Elliot was somehow different. "I couldn’t keep a boyfriend. Either Dad wouldn’t approve, or Mum would flirt with them to the point where I was ashamed to take anyone home.”

  His warm, gentle hand stroked my shoulder and he kissed my forehead softly. “Look, I don't know them to judge them, but I do know you’re not your parents, Rebecca.”

  “I know. I don’t know if I want to take the risk.”

  Elliot squeezed my shoulder, and I nuzzled his chest, so warm and safe. Something about him was comforting, reassuring. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew I could trust him.

  “I want kids,” his soft voice said.

  I looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Oh, not right this second,” he said, his chest vibrating with his deep laugh. “I have this dream of all the pieces falling into place. Finding someone to love, someone to have kids with, sorting out my work situation. I can’t keep doing odd jobs for a living.”

  “Don’t look at me. I’m hopeless at relationships, and don’t know what I want,” I said.

  His hand stroked my cheek as he raised my face to look at him. “Whatever this is, I like it. So, I’ll be happy if you want to keep doing it.”

  “I want a friend, Elliot. A real friend. This is just icing on the cake. Lots and lots of icing.”

  He laughed again, dipping his head to kiss me. His kisses melted me, but I couldn’t give in, wouldn’t let myself be hurt so badly again.

  “I can be your friend, and I’ll give you lots of icing,” he murmured.

  I snuggled back onto his chest and closed my eyes.

  He was gone in the morning, disappearing in the night I guess because I’d emphasised the no-commitment approach I was going to take to our relationship. I was used to waking in a cold bed.

  But I kinda wished the house smelled of bacon.

  Chapter Seven

  It’s hard to get over your ex when he still lives in the area. When we broke up, Alexander took his things and left, and not once had he called me to discuss us.

  But there were days where I seemed to see him everywhere I went. That was why the ghost of our relationship had haunted me for so very long.

  The time for buying constant take-out food had gone. I needed to pull myself together and look after number one. No one else was going to do it.

  After work, I swung by the supermarket, determined to fill a trolley full of good, wholesome food. Like donuts. They had sugar, and sugar was natural, right?

  Reluctantly, I scoured the fruit and vegetable section, picking out some beautiful fresh, vibrant looking things to eat. Maybe they’d help pull me out of the funk I was in. Maybe instead of burying myself in work and a good night out, looking after myself might just make me better.

  That and Elliot’s company.

  Now that made me smile, and I grinned like a mad woman as I made my way through the rest of the store. Pretty soon the trolley was full, and instead of the junk I’d been sure I was about to buy, it looked like a pretty decent shopping expedition.

  And then I saw him, just as I left the checkout and headed toward my car. Alexander, on his way in to buy food.

  “Hey,” he said.

  I smiled and nodded. No point being too polite.

  “Doing your shopping?”

  What does it look like, numb nuts?

  I gaped at him. “Is that what you do here?”

  Alexander grinned. “Sorry, that must have sounded dumb. It’s good to see you.”

  “Damn it,” I said, looking at the trolley.

  “What?”

  “I forgot to get any Fanta.” I smiled sweetly and walked away, picking up the pace as I crossed the car park, needing to get away as fast as I could.

  Him being around still rattled me.

  * * *

  Somewhere down the back of the cupboard was a wok, and I now fished through the cooking pots to find it. It had been forever since I’d made a stir-fry, and unpacking all the fresh vegetables had made my stomach grumble.

  It didn’t take long for the house to have that wonderful smell of cooking food, and it seemed a bit warmer somehow, homely, more so than it had done in forever. Who knew all I had to do was to cook a proper meal?

  I couldn’t get it onto the plate fast enough, wolfing it down as I made my way to the cou
ch. My favourite spot.

  Before I got as far as sitting down, there was a knock on the door. Bowl still in hand, I scooped up another mouthful before making my way to open it, licking the fork clean and moaning at how good the food tasted as I pulled at the handle.

  Elliot stood there with a grin a mile wide on his face. “I hope that sound was in anticipation of seeing me.”

  Chewing, I waved my hand to say hello and indicate I was eating. I swallowed and smiled. “Actually it was because I just cooked a mean stir-fry.”

  “Got any left?”

  “I’m getting the feeling you only want to be with me for my food.” I laughed.

  “Hey. I did bring you over food once." He licked his lips, looking down at the bowl in my hand. "Actually, I raced around here as soon as I knew you were home. I wanted to see you.”

  My whole body was warm and not just from the hot food as I grinned at him. “I’m glad to see you too.”

  He took a step toward me, closing the space between us and making my heart beat faster. “Elliot,” I murmured.

  His blue eyes twinkling with mischief, he bent his head, kissing me. Do I have anything in my teeth?

  “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.” He wrapped his arms around my waist, and leaned in to nuzzle my neck. I gripped the food bowl tight, resisting the urge to just drop it and hook my legs around him.

  Torn between the overwhelming need to have this man inside me again and my grumbling stomach, I prodded him with my free hand.

  “What?”

  “Want some dinner?”

  “I thought that was what I was having.” He nipped at my collarbone, and I moaned, this time from my body reacting to his. My stomach gurgled, and I laughed, ruining the moment.

  “I’m sorry, but I really need food. It’s been a long day.”

  Elliot let go, raising his hand to stroke my cheek in such an intimate gesture. I was touched. It had been a long day, and I was tired and this felt better than anything had all day.

  “Oh. Better get you fed, then. It smells good.”

  “Go help yourself. It’s in the kitchen.”

  He kissed me again, despite the broccoli I was certain I had stuck in my teeth, and headed in the direction of the food. I watched as he walked away, admiring the way he filled his jeans and smirking at the thought I would soon have him out of them.