Going the Distance (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Cara Addison

  “You’re not working on vacation, are you?” Chet asked, pointing at the laptop.

  “Not really,” she responded, placing a towel on the deck and laying her upper body down against the white cloth.

  “She’s an author,” Brett added.

  “I thought you worked in marketing?” Bobbi queried.

  “What do you write?” Chet asked.

  “Biographies,” Austin answered, still lying on the towel.

  Brett howled at her response. “Did you bring a copy of the book?” he asked, still laughing.

  “My bag.”

  Brett pulled out the novel and placed it on the lounger in front of Chet. “Oh, I’ve read that,” Bobbi exclaimed.

  “Thank you.” Austin smiled, placing her elbows on the towel, placing her chin into her hands. “Did you enjoy it?”

  Bobbi nodded enthusiastically.

  “Did Chet?”

  Bobbi chuckled. “He did, but he doesn’t likely know it.”

  “What the fuck are you two talking about?” Chet asked, picking up the book.

  “My favorite part is on page 144,” Brett suggested, leaning back into his chair holding his gaze on Chet.

  “Full disclaimer,” Austin cautioned. “I’m not to be held responsible for what might happen if you read that.”

  “What she’s trying to say, is that it’ll make you hard,” Brett added.

  “Yeah, right,” Chet scoffed.

  They each watched him as he read. “OMG,” he muttered, his eyes glued to the page. Bobbi watched his eyes widen as he read. Austin noticed he was holding his breath. He set the book down and stared at Austin and then Bobbi.

  “I tried to warn you,” Brett said as Austin and Bobbi leaned over to inspect his bulging crotch.

  “My work here is done.” Austin laughed as she effortlessly lifted herself from the pool and, wrapping the towel around her waist, sat back down in the chair.

  “Do you ever get tired of that reaction?” Brett asked, leaning over to kiss her.

  “Not one bit.” She smiled.

  * * * *

  Saturday morning, her alarm rang at eight a.m. She reluctantly rose, and began packing her suitcase. She showered, and packed away her toiletries. She had cleared out the bathroom as he walked in to shower.

  “What time is your flight?” he asked before closing the glass door and stepping under the steaming hot water.

  “Two o’clock,” she responded, not wanting to think at all about the end of their week together. “You?”

  “One thirty.”

  She packed away her laptop and set aside the items she would need for her carry-on bag as he showered.

  “We’ve got three hours until we have to get to the airport,” he said a few minutes later. “Coincidentally, I have three of these.” She smiled as he held up three black foil wrappers.

  She walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, lightly kissing him. “Now I really don’t want to go home.”

  “I know,” he sighed, returning her kiss. “We’ve got a pretty good thing going here.” They kissed for a moment. “Come back to bed with me,” he whispered. “I want to make love to you.”

  “Is that wise?” she tested, unsure if increased emotion was sensible, given they would be saying good-bye in a few short days.

  “It’s the best idea I’ve had all week,” he responded, leading her by the hand.

  She lay across the bed, gazing deep into his eyes as he lay down beside her. He ran his hands down her neck and across her shoulder, leaning in to kiss her. The smell of his cologne was intoxicating as she kissed him. She inhaled deeply, nibbling and softly kissing and licking his neck as her hands ran over his body. A few minutes later, she reached for a square foil packet. She pulled open the package and delicately rolled the latex into place. He moved, allowing her to shift her body under his. He was on his elbows and knees, leaning down to kiss her. She lifted her hips to meet his, guiding his shaft into her hot, wet flesh. She pressed her hips against him, slowly taking him deeper. She gasped as his head brushed against her G-spot. She greedily pressed deeper, wanting him to fill her pussy completely.

  “Damn,” he moaned. “That feels unbelievable.”

  She gasped, slowly increasing the speed and intensity of her movement.

  “I am going to miss this,” he said slowly.

  A sob escaped her lips as his words sunk in. Tension slowly and steadily grew in her core. She slid against his skin, lifting and lowering, desperate to reach the tipping point where her body would shiver and shake.

  “Oh God,” he moaned. “I want you to come.”

  It was all she needed to hear. A deep, throaty moan escaped as she pressed against him and came.

  “Please don’t stop,” he begged. “I’m almost there.”

  She kept lifting and pressing against him, listening to the now-familiar sound of his body releasing. She dropped to the sheets, spent. He lay beside her, taking her in his arms. They spooned together in silence, basking in the moment. She was drifting, desperately fighting sleep in the comfort of his arms.

  His voice pulled her from the haze. “Do you ever come to New York on business?” he asked, kissing her hair.

  “I’ve been a few times,” she answered.

  “There are direct flights?”

  She nodded. “Lots of airlines fly direct each day. I live five minutes from the city center airport. The airline there flies ten times a day to Newark.” She paused, lifting his hand to her mouth to kiss him. “I’ve even flown in and out on the same day before.”

  “Well, that’s no fun. Next time, plan to stay a few days.”

  She thought about that for a moment. “What neighborhood do you live in?”

  “Greenwich Village.”

  “Alone?”

  “I have a roommate. He travels a lot. Most of his work is in the Pacific Rim.” He ran his hands over her body. His hand was between her legs. She lifted her knee, inviting him to explore.

  “Are you ready for more?” he murmured, dipping his finger into her wetness. She moaned in response. He shifted his hips, sliding his hard cock against her warm, moist lips. He slipped his head into her.

  “Wha…?” she whispered over her shoulder, feeling his naked shaft against her.

  “I…I…just needed to feel you,” he moaned, reaching for the second-to-last condom. “I wish I could…” He couldn’t finish his thought.

  “I know,” she whispered as she ran her hand down his leg. “I wish you could come inside me.”

  He kissed her cheek and then her neck. “Christ, Austin, you’re not helping.”

  Reluctantly rolling the latex into place, he reached around to caress her breasts, slowly slipping into her. He pressed his hard cock into her, pressing deeper with each deliciously deliberate thrust. He held her close as he casually made love to her, holding her as she came, savoring each throbbing pulse of her body as she moaned and writhed.

  “This wasn’t supposed to get personal,” he said as she curled up next to him.

  “No, it wasn’t.” She paused, reflecting on how the week had progressed. “If I’d known this would happen, I’d never have let you read my novel a week ago,” she said with a smile.

  “You wanted this as much as I did,” he said as he kissed her.

  There was no denying it. “Ya, I did,” she admitted.

  She sat up, wiping the cobwebs from her mind. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

  When she returned, Austin sat on the edge of the bed facing him. She picked up the foil square on the side table.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I was half thinking that I’d like to take this home as a souvenir,” she answered with a smile.

  “Take a photo of it,” he quipped. “You can look at it whenever you like.”

  She laughed, remembering she had said the same thing to him. “Is this really the last one?”

  He nodded.

  “From a second box?”

>   He nodded.

  “There are twelve in a box?”

  “There are,” he confirmed as a wide grin crossed his face.

  She thought about that for a moment. “I guess that gives an entirely new meaning to the saying work hard…play hard.”

  He laughed, and reached forward to wrap his arms around her, pulling her back into bed. She laughed and smiled through a dozen kisses before lying back against the sheets. “Wow,” he pondered, staring at the ceiling. “If we’ve used twenty-four condoms, I wonder how many orgasms you’ve had.”

  She giggled, quickly doing the math in her head. “Double that number. Easily.”

  He propped himself up on one elbow and kissed her. “I’d say that’s a very conservative estimate.” He delivered another long soft kiss. “I’ve had so much fun with you, Austin.”

  She took a deep breath and brushed a wayward curl from his forehead. “Way too much fun,” she added, kissing him. “And not just in bed,” she whispered. “All day…everyday.” She kissed his cheek and then his nose. “Sightseeing…shopping…baseball…everything. It’s been very comfortable.” She lay back against the pillow. “Best vacation ever.”

  He rolled onto his side to face her, kissing her.

  She slowly moved her hand up his thigh and onto his hardened shaft.

  “You’re already hard,” she whispered, massaging and stroking him as she explored his mouth with her tongue. Her hands moved skillfully. She leaned back slightly, watching his eyes grow heavy in response to her touch. His hand moved quickly to her breast, urgently pressing and squeezing. He paused, reaching down to whisk away a drop of his fluid, returning to swirl it around her nipple. She gasped as his moist fingers prodded and pulled, firing shots of incredible pleasure through her body.

  “Taste it,” she urged.

  He looked at her. “You asked about your cum…taste it.” He leaned in and tentatively licked her nipple. “Again,” she murmured, urging him on. He sucked her taut nipple into his mouth, running his tongue around the firm edges. “Fuck,” she whispered. “I hope it tastes as good as it feels.”

  He reached for the final foil packet. “Don’t stop,” she begged, taking the wrapper from him. He reached between her legs, delicately spreading moisture as she ripped open the package. His hand was on hers, urgently rolling the latex into place. He shifted his body, moving between her legs. Her hand was on his, guiding his hard shaft toward her pounding, aching core. “You want this, don’t you?” he murmured, slipping his head around in her juices.

  “Yes,” she begged. “I want you.” He pressed into her. “Ple-e-ease,” she whimpered.

  “Oh God, Austin.” He pressed into her, slipping easily into her warm, wet pussy. He kissed her, thrusting unhurriedly, sinking deeper and deeper. His hips slowly crushed against hers. Skin on skin, they pressed against each other. As her breathing grew shallow, he paused, pressing his hips against her. “Oh God, Brett,” she moaned. “Don’t stop.” He delivered a few quick thrusts and paused again, pressing against her. She gasped and writhed beneath him as the aching tension grew. “Again,” she pleaded.

  “Does that feel good?” he asked, delivering another burst of quick thrusts.

  “Fuck yes,” she gasped, reaching down to clutch the sheets. He thrust slow and purposefully, kissing her neck as she released a long, slow moan.

  “That’s my girl,” he murmured, pressing deep through her orgasm.

  As the tension eased from her body, she gently placed her hands on his face, kissing him. Her hands slowly descended down his neck, his back, and his hips, pressing him deeper. His scent mixed with sound, washing another wave of pleasure over her. “Come with me.”

  “I…I a-a-am,” he moaned.

  They lay motionless together. She could feel his heartbeat pounding against her chest.

  He pulled from her and lay facedown on the sheets, his face turned toward her. She lay on her side, her skin against his, staring into his eyes. She was slowly and gently kneading, caressing, and massaging every inch of his back and his shoulders and his arms, memorizing every detail of his body.

  Her alarm sounded. He lifted his head, glancing at the clock. “We have to check out.”

  “I know,” she sighed. She reluctantly disentangled her legs from his and sat up. He lifted his tired body and gathered his clothes.

  “You aren’t going to shower?” he asked, a little surprised that she was putting her shorts on.

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to wash you off me.” She stood and pulled on her blouse.

  He took her in his arms and kissed her. “This is going to be a lot harder than I expected,” he confessed.

  She felt a knot in the pit of her stomach as she pulled her suitcase out the door toward the elevator, closing the door on a week of frolicking fun. The shuttle dropped them off at the terminal at twelve thirty. They checked their bags and made their way through security, arriving at his gate just minutes before they started boarding the plane. He pulled her over to the wall away from the passing crowds and kissed her. “I’ve had a great week,” he whispered, brushing a curl back from her face.

  The attendant announced his flight and passengers lined up to board the plane.

  “Me too.” She kissed him, not wanting to say good-bye.

  “I’ve only said this to one or two people, and I’ve never said it to a woman. You should be a banker. You’ve got what it takes. You’re smart and you’re a quick thinker.”

  She smiled, flattered by the incredible compliment. “I’m not sure I could sit across the hall from you,” she whispered. “I’d never get anything accomplished.”

  “Maybe,” he conceded. “But I still think you belong in New York.”

  He kissed her, savoring their final minutes together. It was only a few minutes before the attendant announced the final boarding call for the flight to New York.

  “I have to go,” he whispered.

  Her eyes misted. “I know.”

  “Don’t.” He kissed her as she blinked away the hot moisture in her eyes.

  “I shouldn’t have let you make love to me, this morning.” She smiled, sneaking in another kiss.

  “You’re going to get home and by Tuesday, you won’t even remember me.”

  “Right,” she agreed. “By Tuesday, you’ll be in your office in New York and you won’t remember me either.”

  He swallowed hard, hearing how ridiculous it sounded.

  “No, you’re right.” He kissed her. “I suspect I’ll remember you for a long, long time.” He delivered a long, delicious kiss. “I’ve no regrets,” he confessed. “None.”

  “Me either.” She drew in a deep breath. “Good-bye.” She leaned in for one last long kiss before picking up her carry-on bag off the floor and stepping back. Her lip quivered as she forced a smile.

  She turned and walked away, glancing back to see him walk through the door to his plane. She walked to the other end of the terminal, reaching her gate as they announced the final boarding call. She scanned her ticket at the gate and proceeded down the Jetway to the plane. She found her seat and stowed her purse, checking her phone one last time before turning it off for the five-hour flight home. She glanced down at the screen, and drew her fingers to her smiling lips, reading the text that flashed up on the screen.

  This can’t be over. When you get home…book a flight. I’ll see you in New York.

  Chapter 6

  It was just past nine o’clock when Austin’s plane touched down in Toronto. She peeked out the window at the darkening sky, thankful that rush hour would be over and she could make a quick trip to her downtown condominium. Fatigue had won over anticipation, and she was so thankful that her publisher had upgraded her to a first-class seat, allowing her to stretch out her long limbs and sleep on the long flight home. Now that the jet’s wheels were on the ground, Austin turned on her smartphone. She was eager to see if she had received any new messages during the five-hour flight.

  Before departure, she h
ad quickly sent off a last-minute message to Brett, certain he would not be receiving it until he landed in New York. She reviewed their last communication.

  This can’t be over. When you get home…book a flight. I’ll see you in New York.

  She had responded, Name the date and time. I’ll be there.

  It was taking longer than she wanted to connect to the Internet and load her messages. She reflected on her trip to San Diego as she impatiently waited.

  The week had been a whirlwind of fun and frivolity. She had almost forgotten that she had originally travelled to sunny San Diego to showcase her book at a romance novel convention. A smile crossed her lips as she reflected on the moment, seven days earlier, when she met Brett. He was the very smart, very handsome, and very sexy investment banker who had been sitting in the poolside lounger next to her. There was an instant attraction, sparked with sexual electricity. The chance encounter led to a deliciously casual afternoon of sex that transitioned into a week of sightseeing, shopping, romantic dinners, drinking and dancing, all interspersed with dozens of sexual encounters that would fit into the steamiest of erotic romance novels Austin had authored.

  She hadn’t expected the sex to get personal. The memory of Brett’s hands on her body sent a shiver down her spine, instantly elevating her body temperature. She sucked in a lungful of air, inhaling his scent that lingered on her body from the intense sex they had enjoyed just hours earlier. She reluctantly brushed the thought from her mind.

  The airplane slowly pulled up to the Jetway as new messages finally populated her screen. She reviewed the thread of text.

  This weekend. Friday. I’ll meet you at Penn Station.

  Seriously? she texted, as passengers began to disembark.

  Absolutely. Skype me when you get home. I already miss that pretty face. The rest of you, too.

  Her heart melting, she rose from her seat, walking quickly through the terminal. She was anxious to get home.

  It was forty-five minutes later when she walked through the door of her waterfront condo. Her roommate, Callie, was sitting in the spacious living room, enjoying a glass of red wine.