by Jen Andrews
“Are you sure you’ve given yourself enough time?” he clarified.
Ah, yes. He wanted to know if I was going to freak out and push him away. I hurt him before, and I would never do it again. I knew he was what I wanted, and I was not going to fuck up twice.
“I’m saying yes, Andy. I still need time to deal with some of my issues. All I am asking for is patience. Please don’t give up on me.” He was staring at me as if he was trying to figure out if I was being sincere.
When I couldn’t stand the silence any longer, I sat up and looked him the eyes. “Please say something. You’re making me nervous.” He let out a long sigh as he rested back against the pillows and slipped under the covers with me.
He still hadn’t said anything, so I spoke up, “I know we’ve talked about it before, and we agreed to take it one day at a time. I still want that, and I still want you. Please tell me I’m not too late. Did I ruin everything?”
He stayed quiet for another minute as he took in everything I told him. “As long as you’re still sure,” he finally said. “You know what I want. Besides, would I be here in your bed if it was too late?”
I scooted closer to him and slid my hand across his stomach to rest it on his hip, right at the edge of his boxer briefs. “I guess not…but if you’re gonna be staying here overnight again, we’re gonna have to work on your bedroom attire. I’m not sure how much longer I can stand seeing you wearing these sexy things,” I teased as I ran my fingertips under his waistband and across his stomach. He shivered at my boldness.
Shit…I even shivered at my boldness.
I didn’t know where my nerve came from to be so assertive with him just then. I had officially shocked myself. This man drew out emotions that I didn’t know were inside me. Kissing him was one thing, but sticking my fingertips in the front of his underwear…yeah, that was another story.
He propped himself up on his elbow and got a devious gleam in his eyes as he leaned toward me. “If you don’t like my attire,” he said playfully, “next time you can stay at my place. I don’t wear anything to sleep, so you won’t have to look at them then.” He chuckled and flopped back against the pillows again.
Holy fucking shit.
“I’ll have to remember that,” I replied, definitely needing to get my mind off that mental picture. “Movie time!” I said abruptly and pressed play on the remote.
We laid there for a while watching the movie together. When a beach scene came on, it reminded me I was going to be in Cabo at the end of the month. I hadn’t told Andy yet, so I paused the movie and looked at him apprehensively.
“What’s up, Zoey?” he asked as he snuggled in closer to me.
“I need to tell you about my vacation.”
“What vacation?”
I hoped he wouldn’t be too upset, since I was throwing a big fat wrench into our new relationship.
“I’m going to stay in Mexico for a month with my aunt and uncle. I’m so sorry I forgot to mention it with everything else that’s been going on. It’s been planned for a few months.” I felt terrible for forgetting to tell him.
“You’re leaving for a month?” he asked, taken aback. “How are we going to do this if you’re gone?”
I thought about it briefly, because I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond. “I guess we spend as much time together as we can before I leave. Then, while I’m gone, we can call and text each other. Do you have a computer? We can video chat on Skype. You can wear your sexy bedroom attire, too, so I don’t miss them.”
I laughed, but he did not.
“I don’t have a computer, Zoey,” he admitted as he scooted even closer to me, his head now on my pillow. “Looks like I’ll be getting one now, though.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” I said as I nestled into him, sliding my arm across his chest. I closed my eyes and drifted off.
Waking up the next morning after the best sleep I’d had in more than two years, I found myself still wrapped in the arms of the most incredible man I’d ever known. For the first time in my life, I was content.
A week later, it was clear that Andy and I were completely absorbed in one another. We spent every spare second together, really getting to know each other. We ate dinner together every night, and we frequently stayed the night with each other.
I actually slept better when he was with me. Most nights, no dreams or nightmares invaded my sleep. My mind rarely woke me nightly to stare at the walls and ceiling. I don’t know if it was because I felt safe with him there, or if it was simply because I was looking forward to my life and was finally relaxed enough to enjoy it, instead of living in the past.
On Thursday night of an extremely busy workweek, I had dance class again. I was working at the store most of the week because one of our employees, Jerry, came down with a horrible case of the flu.
I was hardly spending time with Andy, except for a few minutes when he came next door to the store to pick up a case of oil. I saw him every night, but during the day, I couldn’t just stand up from my desk if I wanted to see him, since I was working at the store.
Arriving at class a few minutes early, I sat in my car and sent him a quick text.
Made it to class. Feels like I haven’t seen you in days. I miss you.
It was amazing how the last weeks since Christmas had changed for us. I received a reply back from him while I was walking through the entrance of the dance studio.
Stay with me tonight? I promise to be wearing the proper bedroom attire.
His response made me laugh out loud as I typed out “yes” and hit send.
Once I made it home from class, I showered and dressed in my pajamas, some fuzzy slippers, and a jacket. I grabbed my keys and locked up my place, then jogged across the courtyard, because it was freezing outside and my hair was still damp.
Running up the stairs to Andy’s apartment door, I considered knocking, but wasn’t sure if he was asleep already, or if he was awake waiting for me. I decided to use my keys to let myself in, so I wouldn’t wake him if he were sleeping.
His apartment was dark inside, but I had lived there before, so I easily found my way in the dark. I went to his bedroom, and he was asleep. I slipped my cold body under the covers, sliding right up next to him to get warm. I ran my hand down from his hip to his knee. He was wearing a pair of pajama shorts. Darn.
“Are you happy with my bedroom attire?” he asked, sounding half-asleep.
I laughed softly. “No, not really, but I guess I’ll have to live with it.”
Andy rolled over to face me. “I’ve missed you.” He pulled me closer and kissed me. He must have had a long day, too. He sounded as tired as I felt.
“Goodnight,” I murmured against his lips. I draped my arm over him and settled against his bare chest, instantly wrapped within his warmth. He immediately fell back to sleep. I’d been hoping to fool around a bit, but I decided to let him sleep. Things had gotten a little hot and heavy with us the last week, and it was taking its toll on me. I’d gone too long without sex or a man’s touch.
When I woke the next morning, he was gone. I was in his bed, so I was sure he hadn’t gone far. His bedside clock said it was just after six. As I rubbed my eyes, I heard the shower turn on in the bathroom across the hall.
Creeping out of bed, I tiptoed into the bathroom and combed my fingers through my hair. I picked up his mouthwash from the counter and gargled a bit of it, since my toothbrush was at home. I gathered up my nerve, and stripped off my pajamas, letting them fall to the bathroom floor.
I was ready to take another big step with him. Not sex yet, but I needed him…in other ways. With a shaking hand, I slid the shower curtain back quietly and stepped in behind him. I was so nervous, my breathing quickened and the butterflies in my stomach took flight at the sight of him.
He was even more magnificent standing there completely bare. Water and soap cascaded down his muscular tattooed back, gorgeous ass, and legs. Jesus, how does a man get an ass like that? It was round, yet
muscular and firm looking.
He was washing his face, so I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek on his back to steady myself. My body would not stop shaking. “You know, I don’t like waking up in an empty bed,” I said quietly.
It felt like I startled him. He rinsed his face and turned to me, wiping the water from his eyelids. “What do you think you’re doing in here?” he asked as he smiled down at me. He wrapped his arms around me, dripping soap and water down my sides and back.
When the water hit my body, I noticed it was almost cold. Ah, he needed a cold shower. Poor Andy. I knew all too well how he felt, though. I felt like I needed a few myself recently.
“I thought this would be a good way to spend a little more time with you, since we’ve both been so busy,” I admitted shyly.
Since the water was too cool for me, I reached past him and turned it up to hot. I carefully stepped around him to stand under the showerhead. He stood and watched me as I wet my hair and body. When I was completely soaked, I squeezed some of his bottled soap on a net shower sponge and started washing my body.
He watched me a bit longer, intrigued, his eyes wandering brazenly over my body. He did not make me feel self-conscious in the least.
“You’re going to smell like a man all day now, Zoey,” he smirked.
I didn’t mind. “Yes, but I’ll smell like my man…and I like the way you smell,” I stated a little suggestively.
I peeked at his body, and he was growing hard as I washed myself with his soap and sponge. He didn’t try to hide it. So much for the cold shower he was trying to take. I held the sponge under the water, rewetting it, and then added more soap.
“Turn around.”
Without question, he turned around slowly to face the other direction. I washed down his back, his very firm muscular ass, and kneeled down on the tub floor to wash his legs and feet. Yep, that is a nice ass.
I dropped the sponge and used my hands to wash him, skin to skin. His body was incredible. Solid muscles, golden skin, and a light layer of dark blond hair covered his legs.
Still kneeling on the bathtub floor, I reached up to his hips and urged him to turn and face me. I washed the front of his legs and worked my way up. A narrow trail of hair ran from below his belly button to the most beautiful member of manhood I had ever seen in my life.
No joke. He was freaking perfect. He was also rock hard.
His erection was directly in front of my face, and I couldn’t help myself. I had wanted to touch him for days, and now was my chance. I needed to touch him. Encircling my trembling fingers around him, I began stroking him with my wet, soapy hand.
“Mmm, Zoey, that feels so good,” he whispered.
He gasped as he twitched in my hand, and his hips bucked slightly. I glanced up at him and he was watching me, his eyes already glazed over with desire. I wanted to taste him, so I rinsed the soap from my hand, and then rinsed him off. I wrapped my hand around him again, and took his gorgeous cock into my mouth. Never having done that before, I hoped I was doing it right and that he liked it.
For several minutes, I sucked, licked, and stroked him while he wound his fingers in my hair and caressed my face delicately with his thumbs. His breathing was coming heavier and faster, and I knew he was getting close.
“Zoey, I’m gonna come,” he warned moments later.
Not stopping, I continued what I was doing and stared up at him. I wondered if he was expecting me to stop, which I had no intentions of doing. His face was tilted down, his eyes were open and watching me. It was definitely the most erotic moment of my life so far.
His eyes fluttered closed as his body shuddered, and he moaned my name softly as he came. When he was finished, I swallowed and gently released him.
I loved the way he watched me, the way he tenderly touched my face while I pleasured him, and the way he let me finish him off the way I wanted to. I wanted every ounce of him inside me, physically and mentally. I knew I would never get enough of him.
My legs shook as I slowly stood. I kissed and licked from his hipbone to his chest, where I flicked my tongue across his nipple. He sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes lingering on mine. I backed under the shower again and pulled him with me. We were both still soapy, and it was beginning to dry on our skin.
Not forgetting I was supposed to be washing him, I slowly rubbed the soapy sponge over his chiseled abs and chest to finish what I’d originally started.
We never took our eyes off each other. “You’re amazing, you know that?” he questioned.
Lowering his head, he kissed along my jawline, down my neck and chest to my hardened nipple. He flicked his tongue over it and sucked as he moaned softly. It sent the most breathtaking vibrations through my entire body, and I loved the little noises he made.
Gripping my hips, he turned me, pinning me against the shower wall. Andy began kissing me, his tongue caressing my lips and tongue, his teeth lightly nipping me every so often. He was an amazing kisser, and it had been so long since a man touched me, I could have had an orgasm from only that. His hand eased down my hip and thigh, grasping my leg behind the knee. He slowly lifted it up to rest my foot on the edge of the tub. His hand slid back up my thigh, sliding leisurely over to stroke me with his long, broad fingers.
I was wet and ready, and already on the verge of orgasm after what I had done to him. He circled his fingers around me, and then pushed two of them inside of me. He drew his fingers out slowly, distributing my slick wetness around. While rubbing my clit with his thumb in an easy, circular motion, he slid his fingers back inside me.
His other hand was cupping my breast and lightly teasing my nipple. I was so aroused, I couldn’t think straight. I tilted my head back as he ran his free hand up and away from my breast to cup the back of my head. He wound his fingers into my hair and held me still. His mouth again found mine, and he darted his tongue in and out quickly, teasing me.
Oh God.
I felt my body start to tighten and tremble from his touch, and heat seared through me as I slowly rocked my hips forward against his hand. He slid his fingers further inside of me, and the heel of his hand massaged my clit.
My orgasm hit me like a freight train. I gasped and moaned as I rested my forehead on his chest. I had to grip his arms for balance, because it felt like my knees would buckle beneath me at any time.
We stood and held onto each other until the water started to turn cool. Eventually, we rinsed off and stepped out of the shower before the water became too cold.
Covered with goose bumps, I pulled the only towel off the towel rack and wrapped it around his waist. I stood on my toes to drape my arms around his neck.
He slid his arms around me and lifted me off the floor until he was standing straight. “Good morning,” I whispered in his ear.
“I don’t know what’s gotten in to you, Zoey, but thank you. I want to start every day like this.”
Gently, he set me back on my feet, turned and pulled a towel out of the cabinet, and then wrapped it around me. He pulled another towel out, dried my arms and shoulders, and then urged me to turn around and began to towel dry my hair.
I loved how he cared for me. No man had ever treated me the way he did. I knew I was completely in love with him and would do anything to please him. Did he feel the same about me?
When we were back in his bedroom, I had so many emotions overtake my head and heart. I felt content and loved for the first time in my life by a man. Not loved as in Andy was in love with me, because I didn’t know if he felt that way about me, but I felt...treasured.
I knew he wanted to see where things went with us, but that might mean many different things. The feelings I had for him were so much more than anything I’d ever felt in my life. They weren’t the same feelings I ever had with Rob. This was much more intense. These feelings were radiating from my very soul.
Is this what a real and true love felt like with a man? I had no idea, because apparently, I’d never been in love until now. And
because no man had ever loved me, the situation was very new, and it was very overwhelming all of a sudden. I had too many thoughts swimming around in my head. Andy was searching through his dresser for clothes, so he wasn’t paying attention to me for the moment.
I looked around for my pajamas and remembered I left them in the bathroom. When I went in to get them, I closed the bathroom door behind me.
As soon as my pajamas were back on, my emotions consumed me, and I needed to sit down. It had been a while since that had happened to me. I needed a minute or two to gather my composure, so I sat on the cold tile floor with my back resting against the bathtub.
I’d been sitting there for several minutes when there was a knock on the door. “You alright in there, Beautiful?” Andy asked.
“Yeah, I just needed a minute,” I replied, my voice shaking.
“Can I come in please, Zoey?” he asked calmly from the other side of the door.
I could tell he knew something was off by the tone of his voice. He sounded worried, but had no reason to be. I would never do anything to hurt him again or make him doubt my feelings for him.
“It’s unlocked,” I called out, letting him know it was okay for him to come in.
Andy opened the door and came to sit beside me on the floor. He didn’t push me, just simply sat and waited until I was ready to speak.
Patience was what I had asked him for, and it was what I was getting. He was already dressed for work in his dark blue uniform, so I knew it was getting late. Say something, Zoey! My conscience screamed at me.
“Andy, I swear to you I’m fine. I got a little stressed out for a minute.” I tilted my head over to rest on his shoulder for comfort. As soon as I touched him, I started to relax and my mind started to calm.
“Have you ever been blindsided by something so suddenly, that you didn’t know how to handle it? Something so out of your control, you just needed to sit and take it all in?”
As soon as the questions came out of my mouth, I regretted them. He’d lost his entire family in the blink of an eye.