by A. E. Radley
“Well, he could have done it on New Year’s Eve. Not sure which is worse.”
“Both are pretty bad and show Steve’s true self. Right now, it hurts.” She rested her hand over my heart. “It will for a while. But you’ll come out of this stronger. Happier. Steve will regret ruining the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“I can see why your company sends you out to wine and dine their clients.” I flicked away a tear, but a smile formed on my lips.
“That side of me is completely different. I go on autopilot when I have to flatter business contacts. The trick is to blow smoke up their asses so well they have no idea I’m doing it.” She laid her head on my chest. “That’s not hard because most of them have egos the size of the Empire State Building. Don’t think for one second I’m conning you. It’s a shame we live in different countries. I’d like to take you to dinner. Have a proper date. Get to know you more.”
“Just my luck to find the perfect woman when said woman is unavailable.”
She laughed. “Perfect, huh? Are you just saying that because of afterglow?”
“I’m sure that’s part of it, but it’s not the only reason. Not many strangers would have stayed with me while my world was crumbling. I can’t think of one friend who would have been there for me on Christmas Eve. Not without making me feel guilty for taking them away from their festivities. I think that should be one of my first goals when I get back to reality. Assess the good and bad eggs in my circle. Cut out the toxic. Life’s too short to feel like this.”
“People, as a whole, suck. On an individual level, I like some, but I’m extremely selective. When you think about it, really, factoring in human events like the Holocaust, Rwanda, Syria, people suck.”
I laughed. “That’s cheerful.”
She popped her head up again. “It’s helpful to know, because when you do meet someone worth knowing and letting in, you should jump in headfirst and hold on.”
The intensity of her stare stilled my heart briefly. Then it thundered in my chest as if a herd of buffalo were charging. “If you don’t kiss me right now, I won’t survive another second on this planet.”
She did.
Oh God, how was this happening?
Falling for Allison.
No.
Not falling.
I was infatuated.
I wasn’t the type to believe in love at first sight.
And if I remembered correctly, I hadn’t felt a spark the first time she spoke to me.
But now, I was aflame with passion.
I forced Allison flat onto the carpet and climbed on top, my tongue mouth fucking her, my hip rubbing between her legs. She clawed my back.
“My turn,” I growled, pulling my head back to take in her body. “No tattoos. When I spied your nose ring, I thought for sure you’d have at least one. Unless there’s one on your backside.”
She shook her head. “Sorry to disappoint.”
“Not disappointed.” I pinned her arms above her head.
Allison took advantage of my positioning, taking my nipple into her mouth. Not that I planned to admonish her, even when she applied more force with her teeth.
Releasing my nipple, Allison peered down at my wetness. “I could take care of that for you.”
“What? Exactly?”
She nudged my pussy with her right hip. “This.”
I reciprocated by rubbing my hip into her wetness. “You have the same problem.”
“Oh, it’s not a problem. It’s just what I want. Right now. With you.”
“You’ve already had your way with me.”
“If I’d known it was a one and done thing, I wouldn’t have stopped.”
“My, my, my… such a sweet talker.” I kissed the area around her left nipple. “This also needs my attention.” I sucked her nipple into life. My left hand still held her arms down. “If I let go, will you behave?”
“Only if you promise to let me have my way with you again. After you get your fill, that is.”
“Not sure that’ll be possible in one night, but I’ll do my best.” I released her arms. “I need both hands to do the things I want to do to you.”
“Sounds promising.”
“Don’t get your hopes up too much. It’s been a while since I’ve pleased a woman.”
“It’s like riding a bike.”
I laughed. “I’ll never think of bike riding in the same light.” My tongue slid to her other nipple.
Allison dug her head into the carpet, closing her eyes.
My hip continued to keep her in the moment, but nothing more. I wanted to be inside her when she came. With my mouth on her. Tasting her desire. Smelling her excitement. Feeling her body shudder. Hearing her panting for more. Seeing the swell of pleasure tip over into ecstasy.
Just thinking of the things I wanted to do to her brought me to the edge.
My mouth made its way down her stomach, savoring the saltiness of her flesh. My tongue dipped into her belly button, causing her to squirm.
Her pubic area was sparse and expertly trimmed. Had she been expecting to take home a stranger all along, or was she this fastidious every day? A question to ask later because I could now smell her sex, and my body did a full-on tremble.
Holy fucking hell, she smelled incredible. An intoxicating blend of sweet and sexy musk. How had I avoided eating pussy for so long? Especially when it drove me this mad with passion?
I inhaled deeply, doing my best to sear this memory permanently into my brain.
I arrived at the apex, not tasting her quite yet, still enjoying the scent and taking in her glistening sex.
Allison opened her eyes, watching me watch her, the left side of her mouth crooking upward in that way of hers that turned me on. Even more than I already was.
I parted her lips with my fingers, easing a finger inside.
Allison reacted by clenching around my finger but didn’t break her smoldering eye contact.
I moved in and out, slowly. Savoring her warmth.
She propped herself on her elbows to take everything in.
Usually, I hated being the center of attention. With her, though, right now, I wanted to be the center of everything.
My head dipped closer.
And closer.
I licked my lips, torn between tasting her now and holding off for as long as possible so this moment, and night, would never end.
I added another finger inside her.
Allison moaned in appreciation.
Ever so gently, I flicked her clit.
She tasted as good as I knew she would.
How would it be possible to say goodbye to this woman in a few hours, probably never to see her again?
Knock it off, Dagny.
Live in the now.
And right fucking now, I had my face in between a beautiful woman’s legs. Experience it. Now.
I pressed my tongue into her sex, making Allison groan. A sign she was ready for me.
I circled her clit, her wetness spreading for me to enjoy.
It was like riding a bike. My tongue and fingers knew exactly what to do.
Allison wrapped her fingers around the back of my head, keeping my face in place. As if I’d move away willingly.
I lapped her bud, mixing the speed and amount of pressure, teasing her but also getting her one tiny step closer to the final destination.
My fingers plunged in deeper.
Staying deep longer after each thrust. Pulling back. And driving back into her.
She pulled my face into her as if she wanted to suck me completely inside.
I increased the speed of my tongue.
Her fingers dug into my scalp, alerting me I was doing everything right.
It was amazing to have this effect on someone.
With her, it was even more incredible.
I wanted her to come.
Hard.
For as long as possible.
How had Allison cast this spell over me in such a short
amount of time?
And did she feel the same?
“Please, Dagny. Don’t stop. I need you.” Her vulnerable voice spoke volumes.
That was the proof I needed I wasn’t alone in this.
I shoved my fingers all the way into her, pulling upward, hitting the right spot, causing her legs to tremble as if she’d been hit by a nine-point-five earthquake, coupled with a tsunami-like flood of exhilaration.
“Jesus,” she whispered.
I stilled my tongue but pressed it hard onto her clit, causing one last gasp from Allison before she fell onto her back, spent.
Keeping my fingers inside her for a moment longer, I rested my chin on her thigh, watching her breasts heave up and down, while Allison’s body continued experiencing the overflow.
She lifted her head. “Come here.”
I snaked up her body, planting tender kisses on my way into her waiting arms, all the while trying to still my mind.
Was I only a one-night stand?
Was all of this a result of dealing with heartbreak?
Was I desperate not to feel alone?
A plague for most orphans.
Or was this something more?
Could a one-night stand lead to…?
“What are you thinking?” She cupped my cheek.
I told her without hesitation.
She absorbed my words and worry, not speaking for a second or two longer than I would have liked. “It’s not a secret I wasn’t the best with the long-distance thing with my ex. But, I’m not sure I can let you…” She groaned in frustration. “What am I going to do with you?” She held me tightly against her.
“What do you want to do with me?”
“Never let go.”
“Don’t, then.”
I couldn’t see her face, but her entire body smiled. Then she sighed. “How do we proceed, though?”
“That’s a very good question. As friends, perhaps, who email and text.”
“Friends without benefits?”
“Does phone sex put us into that category? Or Skype sex? Is that a thing?” I repositioned so I could see her face, and I lightly traced my finger around her areola.
“Oh, I’m sure we wouldn’t be the first to have sex via webcam. We’d have to be super creative to come up with an original way to get our groove on that hasn’t been done before.” She placed both hands under her head.
I continued tracing my finger over her chest. “How is it I get dumped by Steve and find you all in the same night?”
“Fate perhaps. Or my karma is kicking in.”
I furrowed my brow.
“I wasn’t all that great at the long-distance thing with X.”
“Did you guys have Skype sex?” My fingers traveled lower down her stomach.
“X wasn’t much into that.”
Allison closed her eyes when my fingers reached her swollen lips. Her clit was still wet and larger than life. Circling it with the pad of my thumb, Allison’s breathing quickened. It didn’t take long to get her from A to Z.
“Did she do that?”
“She may have on an occasion or two, but not as masterfully as you.” Her eyes were on mine, and I believed her. Or wanted to. So very much it almost hurt to think she might not feel the same.
“You have that worried look again.”
I nodded.
“I know you have a lot to take in. Steve. This. And I don’t know how to alleviate the worry or frustration. Except by being honest. It’ll be hard to say goodbye to you tomorrow without knowing when I’ll be able to see you again. The worst that can happen is we find out we have absolutely nothing in common but Skype sex.”
“What if we find out we have everything in common but you’re here and I’m there?”
“Then we’ll figure out a way to be in both places at the same time. But that’s getting way ahead of ourselves. It might be best to enjoy the time we have now and then go from there. Worrying about what may or may not happen won’t accomplish a thing except ruin a special night.” She leaned up and took my face in her hands, kissing me tenderly as if that was the only way to reassure me everything would be okay.
The kissing turned into raw lust that could only be satiated one way. For the rest of the night.
CHAPTER 7
The following morning, a ray of sunshine splashed across my face, forcing my eyes open. I smothered my eyes with my palms. My head throbbed, and my cottonmouth reminded me why I never got drunk.
“Ugh.” I slowly reopened my eyes, searching for water.
Then memories of the previous night tugged at the edges of my brain.
I’d come back to the hotel with someone.
We’d had sex in front of the fireplace.
Mind-blowing sex.
But, now I was in the bed.
Alone.
No sign or trace of someone else being in the bed from what I could tell.
And, I had on a T-shirt and shorts.
Had it all been a dream?
A wonderful dream?
But a dream nonetheless?
Steve’s bag was gone, so that really had happened.
I had the mother of all hangovers, so the drinking had happened.
But Allison?
No clue.
I tossed back the comforter and clambered out of bed, taking a moment for a spell of dizziness to subside before heading into the bathroom.
Standing at the sink, brushing my teeth, I tried to replay what I thought had happened last night. Steve dumped me. That memory was forever burned into the repository of shitty things that’d happened to me.
Then I went to Winter Wonderland, and I swear I met Allison.
We had mulled wine. Lots of mulled wine. Sausage and potatoes. Went on the tower ride. She won me a minion. We came back here. Ordered whiskey and a cheese spread. Went hot tubbing. Came back and fucked.
I went all girly, though, and said I wanted more than a one-night stand.
Had she fled when I fell asleep? Dressed me so I wouldn’t know exactly what had happened?
I spit out the toothpaste and gargled with minty mouthwash.
Afterward, I rested both palms on the bathroom countertop and stared into the mirror. “What the fuck happened, Dagny?”
I glanced toward the front part of the hotel room, scared to wander in there to find the best part of the night had never happened.
“Jesus, just get it over with.” I walked into the room.
The cheese platter sat on the coffee table.
There was one bathrobe and one wet bikini bottom discarded on the carpet near the front door.
Where was the other swimsuit? And robe?
Maybe I went to the hot tub by myself.
And drank a decent amount of the whiskey from the looks of the bottle.
Needing cold water, I padded into the kitchenette. On the table by the window sat a large minion with a piece of paper in front of it.
I stood frozen.
Surely, I didn’t win myself the minion.
“Or write yourself a note,” I muttered, taking three massive steps to seize the paper.
It read: Dear Dagny, please accept my apologies for leaving so early to catch my flight. The thought of seeing the sadness in your eyes was too much for me to bear. Also, I hope you don’t mind, but I took your swimsuit and robe to have something of yours to hold on to. Hopefully the hotel won’t charge you for the robe. I’ve changed my trip and will now be in NYC on New Year’s Eve. Will you be my date?
Below the message was her phone number and email.
My eyes scanned all available surfaces for my phone, but I didn’t spy it. Was it still in my purse? I ran to where I’d seen it last, on the table by the door. I fished for my phone, cursing. Why did it always end up at the bottom, in a crease making it difficult to find? Finally, with phone in hand, I dashed back to the kitchen where I’d left the note.
I punched in her phone number.
It went straight to voice mail.
Fuc
k.
I listened to her message, which was professional and to the point.
“Allison!” I started off the message with too much excitement. Bringing it down a notch, I continued. “This is Dagny. From last night—but you know that, or I hope you do.” I covered the phone and groaned. “The answer is yes, I’d love to be your date on New Year’s Eve. Call me when you get this, and we can make plans. I can’t wait to see you again.”
I ended the call, feeling a mixture of exhilaration and sadness.
Seven days.
Then I’d see Allison.
For one night.
But it would be worth it.
Right now, I needed to eat, and nothing on the cheese platter looked appetizing after sitting out all night. I ordered a full English breakfast, pancakes, and fresh fruit from room service. After having sex most of the night and the hangover from hell, I intended to gorge on food.
Then go for a long walk in Hyde Park. That might keep my mind off of everything. Like her smile. The way she touched me. Having her inside me.
Knock it off, Dagny.
No reason to torture yourself.
CHAPTER 8
Once again, I stood on the south side of the Serpentine, near where Steve had told me it was over. Across the water, the entrance of Winter Wonderland was shut for the day. Not that I intended to go, but the sight of it deserted added another layer to the sadness I’d been trying to battle.
A wind rustled my hair some, and I wrapped my arms tightly around my chest.
Surprisingly, there were a lot more people out and about on this chilly but sunny Christmas day. Families. Couples, hand in hand. As far as I could tell, I was the only single person in the park, aside from the occasional jogger.
My phone rang.
Who could be calling me now?
Probably Steve. I neglected answering several of his texts from last night and this morning asking if I was okay.
I answered without consulting the caller ID. “Hello.”
“Hey.”
I smiled at the sound of Allison’s sweet voice. “Hey! I’d thought you’d be on your way home.” I started walking in the direction of Kensington Gardens.
“I just made it through security. I hadn’t packed last night before heading out, so I had to make a mad dash home and shove things into my bag. I probably don’t have one matching outfit, but I’m not complaining. I’d do last night over again every night if I could.”