Beneath the Vine

by Lillian Bryant

  “It’s nothing. We met… it’s kind of—”

  “Please tell me you had dirty, public sex.” He almost squealed.

  “Jesus.”

  “You did! Selene Cavalier!”

  “Go home to David, you perv.” I walked over to my cello case and unzipped it.

  “Don’t try to evade me, missy. You have some hot piece of ass and I need pictures.” He laughed louder this time and I rolled my eyes.

  I gently placed my cello in its case and clicked it closed. “It’s new. I like him. He’s different, so sexy.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “He’s older, successful… exactly what I’d want if I was ready.” My chest felt heavy as I said what I had been feeling out loud.

  “Don’t sound so sad. You like him? Then date him, have hot sex, be young, and then when it’s time move on, go teach at the best school on the West Coast. Find another sexy, successful guy in L.A. and fuck the hell out of him.” He gave me a placating smile.

  “What if I fall for him?” It was already happening.

  “I’m a man whore, honey, don’t ask me. I’m ready to kick David to the curb. You know I met this guy last night and we—”

  “And… I’m leaving.” I grabbed my purse and pulled my cello case over my shoulders.

  “All right, all right, I’ll keep my oral sex shenanigans to myself.” He giggled and I shook my head.

  “You’re crazy.”

  “You could use a little crazy. You’re done, Selene. You did it girl! The piece is perfect. Go have fun, do something you never thought you’d ever do. I’m talking bucket list shit. Be bold, Selene.” He smirked and my smile grew.

  “Bucket list shit. I like it.”

  “I’m a damn genius, love.” He kissed me on the cheek.

  “Text me when the recording is ready.”

  He walked me to the front door.

  “Sure thing, hon. A few days is all I need.” He opened the door and I gave him one last hug.

  He was right. I’d worked so hard, so damn hard, and it was done. It was time to let loose a bit. I grabbed my phone from my purse. I had a missed text from Bennett.

  Bennett: Can you be here by seven?

  Me: I can. I was going to run home and shower.

  The day had gotten away from me. After I left Bennett’s I’d gone home, changed, got some serious laundry finished, and when Renee got home, I got the third degree on all things Monterosso. I told her the same thing I’d told Darren. Bennett was perfect but only perfect for right now. I never thought of myself as an “only right now” kind of girl, but I hadn’t expected to meet him, let alone fall into this whirlwind with him, either. I liked him, and I was sure if I wasn’t careful I could fall in love with him, but I wasn’t fully ready to just walk away from him. I wanted to experience him and all he had to offer. He was my bucket list.

  Bennett: Shower here.

  As tempting as that sounded, I wanted to change. I was wearing an old NYU T-shirt, my lucky black maxi skirt and wool thigh highs. The fall weather had turned cold and I’d worn the socks to stay warm. My hair was still in the top knot from this morning; I looked like a bum.

  Me: I look like a spinster. Let me get dressed up for you.

  I didn’t have to wait long.

  Bennett: I want to shower with you. We need a do-over.

  Me: A do-over?

  Bennett: This morning, I should have fucked you.

  The ache I felt all day began to pulse.

  Me: I’d like a do-over, please.

  I blushed at my text. When I was with him, it was easy to feel sexy.

  Bennett: I’m sitting here waiting.

  Bennett: Take a cab.

  I was tempted to tell him no, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t accept any other answer. I put my phone in my purse and I hailed a cab.

  The cold air felt harsh as I stepped from the cab in front of Bennett’s apartment. The wind was increasing and I knew it would storm soon. Two plastic shopping sacks whipped in circles in the gutter, the brown fall leaves, now dried and wasted on the ground, skated by my feet as I pulled my cello from the trunk. The cab pulled away and I looked up to the eighth floor where he was waiting for me. The anticipation caused the ache between my legs to heighten. I’d begun to crave it since meeting him that night. I pressed the button on the intercom and, within seconds, he buzzed me in. No hello, no come on up, just a silent invitation.

  My heart hit full sprint once the elevator doors shut, and, as I made my ascent, I slipped off my panties and placed them in my purse. Be bold, Selene. The elevator stopped, and as I stepped out into the hallway, I felt just that… bold. My fingers hovered over the door handle and I sucked in a deep breath.

  The warmth of his apartment encapsulated me as I walked over the threshold. The scent of cedar wood, sage, and bergamot hung in the air, giving me the heady sensation I’d begun to yearn for. I placed my cello case on the ground and moved deeper into his apartment. He was sitting, waiting, exactly as he said he would be in his earlier text. His short, dark hair was groomed. He was shirtless and his chiseled chest was on display. The dark tattoo and the light smattering of hair across his flesh made him look ever so masculine. He was still wearing his dress slacks, but they were unbuckled, unzipped, and his fist was wrapped around his length. The sight of him, pleasuring himself, it had me unhinged.

  I had no words, but we didn’t need to speak. Our way was a low, soundless thing, a deep understanding that he commanded my attention and my body with one look, one touch. I slowly removed my boots but left my thigh highs on. My clit pulsed as I moved closer, and just as I stood before him, he reached up and turned my body so I was no longer facing him. I lifted my skirt and pressed the cold skin of my backside against him. He growled a low rumble as he reached around, his thumb covering the most sensitive part of me — the part I needed to release this tension, this always present obsession of him between my thighs.

  I let him slip inside me, the thick pressure of this man threatening to tear me apart in the most delicious ways. I liked how Bennett could take me hard and fast, but this… this slow punishment, the way he quietly drove himself into my body had me coming apart at the seams. His deliberate pace shuddered through me, his breathing erratic as I climaxed, falling hard over the ledge he provided me. My body constricted around him, causing him to grip my hips. His fingertips dug into the soft curves as he forcefully came inside me, claiming this body as his. It was what I wanted, it was what I couldn’t stop thinking about all day — every day. I felt his left hand as it skated over my shirt, up past my stomach, roughly grasping my breast and then turning my face to his. Powerful lips devoured mine as we fell from the high of each other.

  “I missed you today.” I shouldn’t have said it, but it was true. He lifted me at the waist, separating our bodies, and I stood.

  “Let’s take a shower. Dinner should be ready soon.” He smiled at me and stood buttoning his pants. “I missed this.” He leaned down and took my lips to his. He kissed me and it was filled with a slow sweetness. When he pulled away his eyes searched mine. “Come on,” he said as he took my hand in his.

  “I’d love for you to play for me tonight.” I handed Selene another pair of sweats.

  “Don’t forget I can’t stay tonight.” She tried to hand me back the sweats as she slipped on her old NYU shirt.

  “I know, I want you to wear them, get warm. I’d rather you wear this home than that skirt. It’s cold, and it might snow.”

  She laughed. “I’m starting to build a small collection of your sweats and shirts in my apartment.” She shook her head as she slipped them on. “I still have your suit jacket. I’ll bring everything back, I promise.”

  I’d forgotten about the jacket. “Keep them. Or pack them if you plan to stay over here. I like seeing you in my things.” Selene in my clothes, I liked it. It made the idea of ownership more concrete.

  She blushed as she nodded. The pink tone of her skin always pleased me.


  “So will you play for me?” I asked again.

  “Sure, after dinner. I’ll play you the piece I recorded today.” Her smile grew. “It was perfect, Bennett. I didn’t mess up once.”

  I pulled my shirt over my head and walked to where she was standing. I lifted her chin and took a moment to really look at her. “I can’t imagine you ever messing up, you have talent. I saw it at the opening.” I kissed her cheek and then dropped my hand. “You hungry?”

  “I am. What did you make?” she asked, and I felt a twinge of guilt.

  “I ordered take out. I’m sure my assistant, Christy, dropped it off while we were in the shower.” Her smile fell just enough I noticed. “My day got busy, I apologize. I promise, next time, I really will cook.” I tangled my fingers with hers and brought them to my mouth letting my lips linger on her soft skin.

  “Someone was in the apartment?” She sounded worried and I laughed.

  “I told her to bring it, I texted her just before we got in the shower. Don’t worry, I’m sure she didn’t hear anything. I do love how your moans echo off the slate, though. It’s fucking sexy hearing you come so loudly.” I gave her a wicked grin and she tried to suppress her smirk.

  “You should warn a girl if you plan on bringing another person to the party, Bennett. Jesus.” She giggled and my stomach flipped. Her statement hit closer to home than she knew. I wasn’t sure how she would react when I asked her tonight to let Gage and I share her.

  “I forgive you. I just hope I never have to meet this Christy.”

  “Let’s eat. I had her bring sushi from Avenue A, hope that’s okay?”

  “Sound delicious.”

  We were about half way through the ludicrous amount of sushi Christy had brought. I wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but Selene didn’t seem to mind it, the variety had pleased her and having her in good spirits was the point. She’d had about a half a bottle of my private stock Chardonnay already and was eagerly talking about her time at NYU. I listened, absorbing the things I felt were important. It was oddly refreshing to just let her speak, and the more I learned, the more it became clear she was a planner. Her time at NYU had been structured and focused. She never once mentioned any boyfriends and she seemed to have a grand plan, but, whenever she talked about the future, she’d waver like she wasn’t sure she wanted to let me in on the secret. I guess we were both hiding things.

  “I feel like I’ve been talking about myself all night. I’m sorry.” She popped a roll of sushi in her mouth.

  “I like it. It’s good to know who you are. Beyond the bedroom.” I grinned, and as I hoped, her cheeks pinked. “You should be proud of all that you have accomplished. Never be ashamed to tell people how hard you worked to become the woman you are.” I reached out my hand and skated my fingertips along the line of her blush.

  She cleared her throat. “So what was it you wanted to ask me? You said this morning you had something you wanted to discuss.”

  Her attempt to change the subject should have made me laugh. I wasn’t necessarily nervous, per se, but more worried she wouldn’t agree to what I had planned — worried that our relationship, as short-lived as it was, would end. Even though I’d handle not having her in my life, it wasn’t what I wanted at the moment. “I need you to have an open mind.”

  Her eyes widened. “Um… okay.”

  “I’m not sure how to explain this without it sounding perverted and immoral, but I have something I wanted to ask you, see if it’s something you’d be interested in.” My eyes locked on hers, and she raked at her bottom lip with her two front teeth.

  “Sex stuff?”

  I nodded.

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “I want to share you.” The words were the loudest I’d ever spoken.

  “W-what?” She swallowed again, and I noticed the slight tremor in her bottom lip. “With who? Another woman?”

  “No, another man.”

  She exhaled a harsh breath.

  “Just listen for a moment, that’s all I ask.” I took her hand in mine. “We could show you things, Selene, make you feel more than you’ve ever felt.” The thought of it, saying it out loud, watching as that pleasant pink blush poured across her skin… it was getting me hard.

  “Have you done this before?” she said so softly I almost didn’t hear her.

  “I have.” I tried to keep my voice even. The fact she hadn’t slapped me yet meant that she just needed a slight push and she’d fold.

  “How many times?” she asked with a bit more feeling in her voice.

  “Does it matter?”

  “I guess not.” She took a large gulp of wine.

  “We’d take care of you, set limits. We’d never do anything you didn’t want. If you need time to think about it, I understand. I like you, Selene, and I want you to experience it all, feel what it’s like to really let go, really hand over the reins.” She parted her lips and her chest began to rise and fall faster with each breath. “Let us show you, Selene… let us show you what you’re capable of feeling.” I brought my hand to her cheek; her skin was hot as she leaned into the touch.

  She closed her eyes as I smoothed my thumb along her cheekbone. “Try something I’ve never tried before, bucket list shit,” she mumbled the words, and I chuckled.

  “What?”

  She ignored the question. “Do I get to pick the man?” She opened her eyes and I let my hand fall from her face.

  “No. I’ve only ever shared with my best friend. He’s the only person I trust.” It was the truth. Gage may have made a mistake with Clara, but he had been right, we were all out of control that night.

  “Who is he?” she asked.

  She finished her glass of wine and I poured her another as I spoke, “I’ve known him my whole life. He’s in town on business.”

  “So you thought, what? You’d have a little threesome before he left.” She locked her eyes on mine.

  “It wouldn’t be like that. If you enjoyed yourself, we could spend more time with him. Obviously, he’d leave, go back to L.A. at some point, but until then, if you wanted, we’d both take care of you.”

  She sipped her wine and then placed it on the table. “Take care of me?”

  “In the past, when we shared women, it was only a one-time, one-night thing, but you’re special. I know if you’d let us… if you’d let us have you, we’d give you everything. Two men, Selene, with one purpose.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “You.” The word hung in the air.

  “Me?” she breathed.

  “Yes. Only you.” I brought my mouth to her lips, brushing gently with a kiss. She sighed at the touch.

  I pulled away slightly so I could see her, see her as she finally gave in. “Yes.” She placed her palms on either side of my face.

  My smile spread and she bit her lip. “Yes?”

  “It’s seriously crazy, Bennett. It’s something I’d never in a million years think I’d ever do. But with the way you’re looking at me right now, how could I say no. I can’t imagine what it would be like, but I know the whole time you were talking about it, the more turned on I got. I want to be had… I want to feel like I can’t take one last second of it. I want you to show me, Bennett.” She kissed me greedily and moved onto my lap straddling me. My hands enveloped her waist and she deepened the kiss; the Chardonnay on her lips tasted sweet.

  When she finally broke our kiss, she stared into my eyes. It was then I truly saw the fire, her potential. She was going to consume us both.

  “When?” she asked, and I traced my thumb along the seam of her mouth as she parted her lips for me.

  “Tomorrow night.”

  She exhaled. “That soon?”

  “He’s eager.” I brought her mouth to mine again and groaned as she rolled her hips against my growing arousal.

  “What’s his name?” she asked as I kissed a line down her jaw.

  “Gage.”

  That feeling, that slow drop when your heart fall
s into your stomach, you feel sick, you feel as if you can’t breathe. That one word — Gage — was all it took to have me bottoming out. My pulse pushed through my veins so hard I felt it behind my temples. I sucked in a ragged breath. “Gage?”

  Bennett’s lips stilled on the pulse along my neck, just below my ear. “Selene?” He pulled away and his perceptive gaze assessed my face. “What’s the matter?”

  “I feel like I’ve been played.” My voice shook as I attempted to stand from my straddled position above his legs, but he grabbed my waist.

  “Sit.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do.” My eyes locked on his and his grip tightened.

  “Sit down, Selene.” The heat in his eyes flicked like a flame and even though I was angry, I felt him everywhere: on my skin, in my stomach, in my heart as it beat like a raging bull in my chest. “Please,” he added when I didn’t immediately comply.

  I lowered my body again onto his lap, and he pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “What just happened? Did you change your mind?” His brown eyes softened and I wanted to give him a chance to explain.

  “Did you and Gage plan this? He’s been following me, showing up all the time. We’ve spoken, had fucking conversations. I thought at first… I thought he… but now… did you plan this, Bennett?” I swallowed as he clenched his jaw.

  “You thought what, Selene? What are you trying to say? You thought he wanted you? Did you want him to?” His pupils dilated giving him a predatory air.

  I dipped my gaze and he captured my chin forcing me to look him in the eyes. “Yes. I liked that he was following me. I liked the idea of a stranger wanting me.”

  He grazed the pad of his thumb along my bottom lip. “Gage came to the Grand Opening and we both saw you that night. I just happened to make the first move, and I’m not sorry for it. I never intended to share you.” Bennett’s eyes warmed and his jaw relaxed. “It’s been five years since we’ve shared a woman, and we both sensed you… we see your potential. This wasn’t a game, or a ploy, just a fated moment. Both of us, finding you at the same time, it was only after we both realized this, that we’d made the plan to ask you. Him following you… that’s just Gage seeking out what he wants.”