More Than Friends

by Tabetha Thompson

His voice vibrates deep within me and leaves me tingling. With his mouth right next to me, every breath he takes causes a fresh wave of goose bumps to break out over my skin. My heart speeds up and my core starts aching.

  Like always, Skye picks up on the affect he’s having on me. “Chloe.” His voice sends another assault of tremors through me, causing me to press my thighs together to try to relieve the pressure. He presses a kiss behind my ear and, without my permission, my head leans to the side allowing him access to my neck.

  He lightly peppers my neck with kisses and pulls back. “If you want me to stop, just say the word. This will only go as far as you want it to.” His lips are back on me as soon as the last word leaves his mouth.

  His warm, wet tongue starts at the base of my neck and he slowly makes his way back up to my ear. He takes my lobe and pulls it into his mouth. My breath comes out in a rush and his hands flatten against my tank top.

  My hips glide back and then forward again, trying to seek relief from the heaviness settling between my thighs. I whimper as Skye’s hands slide down and find the hem of my shirt. When he gently tugs on it, I lean forward and he pulls it off, exposing my pink, lacy bra.

  My body is spurring me on, but my mind is screaming at me to stop. Skye leans forward and says, “turn around, baby,” in my ear. I comply and straddle his lap. He places his face between my breasts and nuzzles deep into my cleavage, cupping each mound with his hands.

  I groan and grind my hips into his hardness. In one effortless motion, Skye lifts me. My legs wrap around his waist and he carries me to my bedroom.

  We break the threshold of my door and Skye becomes more eager. He reaches behind me and unclasps my bra, freeing my heavy breasts. My nipples are hard and begging for attention, and Skye doesn’t disappoint.

  He gently places me on the bed and continues to suck and bite at my peaks. He moves a hand to the button on my shorts, and in one swift motion they’re lying on the floor along with my panties.

  He covers my body with his, bracing himself on his forearms right beside my head. He asks, “Are you okay?” Then kisses my neck with a hot, open mouth. I nod. Stopping isn’t even an option anymore. I whimper and raise my hips, rubbing my swollen folds against his denim clad thigh.

  He moves his face in front of mine and a devilish smile crosses his face. I can feel his smile growing as he trails kisses across my mouth and cheeks. Warm, wet lips begin to descend down my body, covering me with more gentle kisses that get more urgent by the second.

  By the time his lips cover my breasts, stomach, and finally settle between my thighs, his mouth is ravenous. His tongue swirls my clit and a surge of white-hot fire shoots through me, causing my back to arch.

  My body trembles. My hips press and gyrate against his mouth, begging for release.

  Skye buries his face in my sex and my fingers find their way into his hair, pulling him closer to me. He lifts my left leg and places it over his shoulder. His tongue alternates between licking my clit and plunging inside me. I grind my hips against his wet lips.

  “Ahh.” The moan leaves my throat and my hips move faster, grinding on his talented tongue and rubbing against his face.

  Skye shifts his body and throws my other leg over his shoulder. I’m a razor’s edge away from losing myself in him. He recognizes the signs and starts working me faster. His mouth moves over my clit, sucking hard, while his fingers delve deep inside of me.

  “Oh, shit! Skye. Ah. God.” I can’t form a coherent sentence.

  “That’s it, baby. Let go. Give it to me. I want it all. God, you taste so good,” he mumbles in between licks and thrusts. My world shatters and my pussy throbs, liquid heat spilling out of me.

  Skye looks up at me and I see that his eyes are full of lust and his face is glistening from my juices. He pulls back and the air in the room suddenly becomes chilly. He stands at the edge of the bed, looking down. His bulging erection stands proud behind his jeans. “So beautiful,” he mumbles to himself.

  I reach up and grab his shirt, pulling him to me.

  “Come here,” I demand. “Please.”

  He licks his lips and looks down on me. I bite my bottom lip and tug on his shirt again.

  “I need you,” I whisper and reach for the button of his pants.

  “Chloe?” I ignore him so he calls again. “Chloe?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Babe, are you sure? I don’t wanna pressure you.” His whisper comes out a rush of air.

  “Honey, the only pressure I’m feeling is between my thighs. Now shut up. I need you,” I demand.

  “Chloe, I’m serious. With all that just friends shit in the diner, I don’t want to push you into doing something you’re not ready for.”

  “Look, I know what I said and I meant it. I need time to figure out what’s between us. But I would be lying if I said I don’t feel whatever this is. I want this as much as you. I’m just worried about what will happen if we don’t work.” I huff and turn my head to stare out the window.

  “Nothing will happen, babe, because I won’t let it. Look at me.” When I do, he continues, “Fuck, I have loved you since the moment I first saw you. It’s not going away now or ever, Chloe. In school, I was so scared to talk to you, but now, I’m not letting you get frightened of what’s between us.”

  I place my finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet. “Skye?” I smile.

  “Yeah?” He returns the gesture.

  “Consider yourself out of the friend zone, babe.” I lean up and kiss him.

  Our tongues wrestle together, fighting for dominance and he gently pushes me onto my back. I slide toward the middle of the bed and he follows.

  I grind my wet heat against him and release a whimper. I pull back and he takes a moment to rid himself of his shirt. My nails run from his shoulders over his chest and slowly trail down his abs to the button of his jeans, leaving a path of goose flesh behind.

  I flip our bodies over with a grunt, and he’s on his back. My naked body straddles him right above the waistband of his pants and I can feel my slickness coating his skin.

  His cock is throbbing underneath me. I place my hands on his chest and, at an agonizingly slow pace, move them up both sides of his body, moaning and biting my lip all the while. He can’t stand it any longer. His hands quickly find the button on his jeans, but have difficulty undoing the clasp. His clumsy hands cause me to laugh.

  Finally, he frees the button and quickly snatches down on the zipper. My head is swimming and my heart is racing. When I take the tip of him in my mouth, his entire being starts shaking.

  I press my tongue flat against him and grip the thick base of his cock as I lower my mouth onto him. Every single muscle in his body tightens in ecstasy.

  He lets out an exasperated growl. “Chloe, turn around. Now!” I ignore his command and lower my mouth again, taking him all the way in until I can feel him in the back of my throat. His cock spasms, threatening to spill into my mouth.

  He roughly grabs my shoulders and pulls me up until I release him with a loud, sloppy popping sound. He flips me onto my back and in one quick movement, plunges deep into me.

  “Mmmm, Skye,” I moan in his ear. I take his lobe in my mouth and suck hard.

  “Does that feel good? Do you like the feel of my hard cock sliding in and out of you?” he whispers breathlessly.

  “God, yes,” I growl. The muscles of my sex quiver around him.

  “God, Chloe, you’re so fucking tight.” He speeds his movements. “I love the feel of you around my cock.” Slam. “The way your body feels under me.” Slam. With every thrust, the quivers that were once confined to my sex, spread through my entire body.

  Every time he pushes into me, I moan and tighten around him. My fingernails are digging into his back; the walls of my sex contract around his dick.

  He leans down to take my nipple in his mouth, and as soon as his mouth makes contact with my skin, I moan and arch my back.

  Between thrusts and clenched teeth he p
leads, “Say you’re mine, Chloe. Tell me you belong to me.”

  “I’m yours,” I moan.

  “Chloe, say it again. Say you’re mine.”

  “Oh God, Skye. I’m yours. I’m yours. Ooh, shit! Oh God, harder!” I yell.

  As the last word rolls off my tongue, my toes curl and my sex grabs hold of him. We both give in to our orgasms.

  He collapses on top of me and just lies there, breathing heavily. My mind is reeling and reliving every glorious moment of what just happened. I grunt, making him realize I’m being crushed under his weight. He rolls off of me and lies next to me, making sure he can see my face.

  “Oh my God, Skye. That was amazing!” I pant.

  “No fucking kidding.”

  After Skye and I have the most amazing sex of my life, we clean up and I call Sara so we can all walk to BAR as a group.

  Sara and I enter first and notice Tom and a couple of guys come out of the office. He’s rushing them to the side exit and out into the alley.

  They’re all tall and muscular with bald or shaved heads. They’re all taking in their surroundings and the tall, bald man in the back comes to a complete stop when he spots Sara and me.

  Skye’s body instantly appears at our side and he put his arms around us, leading us into the office.

  “What the fuck was that about?” Sara shouts as soon as the door is closed.

  “I don’t know,” I say.

  “Do you know them?” I look to Skye.

  “No, babe, I don’t,” he says.

  “Well, I don’t know about y’all but those guys look like trouble and I don’t like them hanging around Tom. Chloe, you talk to him or I will,” Sara threatens. Tom and Sara have known each other longer than I’ve known either of them, but they’re not exactly each other’s biggest fans. They only tolerate each other because of me and it can be very draining at times.

  “I will later tonight.” I set my purse in the closet and we all exit the office.

  The night flies by and before I know it, the guys are already about to start their third set. I’m walking by the bar when someone grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop.

  “You gonna sing tonight?” Darrell asks as he releases my arm and smiles.

  Before I can protest, Tom cups his hands around his mouth and shouts to Brady, “Hey, B! Chloe’s going to take the mic for a minute.” Apparently I don’t get a say in the matter, so I just go with it. It won’t be the first time I get on that stage.

  “Hey BAR, y’all having a good time?” Brady says into the mic and everyone cheers in response.

  “Well, apparently y’all have been holding out on us. Chloe, come on, sugar. Get up here,” Brady announces to the audience.

  I reluctantly pull myself away from the bar and climb the steps to the stage, very aware of all eyes on me.

  “You want us to back you?” Brady asks when I approach the microphone.

  “No, that’s okay. Babe, can I borrow your guitar?” I ask. Skye looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, but decides to hand it over. Brady inhales a sharp breath and I look to him in confusion. He just shakes his head, smiles, and grabs the mic.

  “We’ve got a real treat for y’all tonight. Our very own Chloe is going to grace us with a song. Y’all show her some love.” The crowd hollers, clapping their hands and lifting their drinks.

  I’ve gotten on this stage as many times as I have ridden that damn bull. I have a decent voice and have been playing guitar since I was a kid, but I’m not as good as Brady or Skye.

  The song I decide on is one of my favorites. The crowd starts screaming as I play the intro to Pistol Annies’ “Hell on Heels.” Being on stage is always a high. Looking out to the people crowded around the stage, dancing and singing with me, puts a smile on my face.

  I lick my lips and put extra sway into my hips while dancing. I can see Skye in my peripheral and I wonder if he’s thinking about the way I rocked my hips earlier on him like this. I can’t get it out of my head. My body is humming with a sexual charge by the time I near the end of the song, and I slowly walk over to him.

  He’s standing to the far right of the stage watching me with a smirk. I stroke his guitar and remember what it felt like caressing and making love to him earlier.

  A shiver works its way up my spine and sexual energy floods my body, making me bold. Singing the words to the last verse, I press myself hard up against him.

  Looking up at him through my eyelashes, I see the tension in his body and the lust in his eyes. He winks at me as I step back, returning to center stage. The crowd is shouting and clapping, demanding an encore.

  Without an introduction, my voice fills the room acapella and my seductive tone surprises even me. I’ve never been able to master such a provocative sound; the type of sound that could easily peel the clothes from your body. It’s raw, gritty, and promises all sorts of dirty things.

  A warm shiver strokes my insides while I sing Pistol Annies’ “I Feel a Sin Comin’ On.”

  I start stroking Skye’s guitar again, as if it were a lover. Movement to my right pulls my attention and I see that Skye has Harley’s electric blue guitar strapped to his chest.

  When the short guitar solo comes up, I let Skye have it. He slowly approaches me, our eyes locked on each other’s. I abandon the guitar around my neck, grab the mic with one hand, reach out to run the other through Skye’s hair. When my fingers thread themselves into his silky smooth locks, he bites his lip and leans his head into my touch. My insides are on fire.

  My body is so close I can feel the heat coming off of him, my own scent mingling with his.I realize that all I would have to do is angle my head to the side and our lips would connect. The song ends and he does just that.

  Once his lips touch mine, I lose myself. His strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close. I allow myself one moment of pure, unadulterated bliss, and then pull back from his lips. The crowd is going insane, clapping, hollering, and jumping up and down.

  Skye grabs the mic from my hand. How I held on to it during the kiss, I have no clue.

  “Everyone give it up for Chloe,” he says. I’m blushing so fiercely my face hurts.

  “Thanks, y’all.” My voice is shaky. The cheers grow louder and I scan the crowd for an escape route. I need a cigarette.

  Passing by the bar, I see Tom a few feet away trying to get my attention. “I’m going to smoke. Come on,” I tell him. He gets up and follows me into his office and then out into the alley behind BAR. Neither of us says a word until the back door closes.

  “Anything you want to tell me, Chloe?” he asks me with his eyebrows raised. I take another drag from my cigarette and let the smoke fill my lungs. There is something to tell but I definitely won’t be telling Tom.

  “Not really,” I exhale on a grey cloud. “Anything you want to share with me?”

  “What the hell was that in there?” he spits and flails his hands in the air.

  “I reckon it was just what you saw. Who were those guys in the bar earlier?” I counter.

  “Do I need to be worried?” he flips the subject back to me.

  “No. I’m not. Do I need to worry about you?” I reply.

  “Would you tell me if you were?” His voice is laced with anger and it’s only going to get worse the longer I hold out on him, but he completely ignores my question. I cave first.

  “Probably not.” I place my cigarette to my lips and take another drag.

  “Chloe, quit being so fucking vague. Do we have a problem, or is it going to turn into one?” he spits.

  “No. Everything’s fine. Quit worrying so much. I can handle myself,” I snap at him.

  I’m just about to walk away when I hear him say, “Yeah, I’ve heard that shit before.”

  I can see in his eyes that he regrets saying the words as soon as they come out of his mouth. “Shit, Chloe, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I just worry about you.”

  “Well, don’t. Okay? There’s nothing to worry about. I can take care of mys
elf. And don’t talk to me about vague. You’ve got some mafia-looking creeps in the bar and you ignore my questions?”

  The back door opens and Skye steps out. “You good?” he asks and I nod. I throw my cigarette in the smoker’s pot by the door.

  “Chloe,” Tom says and I turn to him. “I meant what I said. If it becomes a problem, let me know. I’ll take care of it.” I can tell he means every word.

  “Yep. I think I’m gonna head home. I don’t feel very well.” I walk back inside the bar, not waiting for his response.

  Skye is waiting for me. “You okay?” I suddenly feel like I’m being smothering. Every time I turn around, someone is in my face, and I just want to be alone for two fucking seconds to breathe for a minute.

  “Yes, yes, fucking yes. I’m fine! Fine as fucking frog hair!” I yell and try to pass him, but he grabs my arm.

  “What the fuck, Chloe? Talk to me.” I snatch my arm away.

  “I just need to breathe, Skye. Let me chill for a bit, okay?” I sigh. “Look, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m sorry.” I walk past a stunned and silent Skye.

  I walk into the office, grab my purse, and without telling anyone goodbye, I bob and weave my way through the crowd until I’m in the front parking lot of BAR.

  Grabbing the strap of my purse and clutching it tightly to me, I run the two blocks home at full speed. I’m running away from everything: the bad feeling Tom and whoever those men were gave me, my feelings for Skye, Sara’s constant overbearing and pushy attitude. I need to escape it all and just be alone.

  I run up the stairs and open my door. Everything is dark and quiet when I enter my apartment with the exception of heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. I push the door shut, but before it closes completely, it bounces back, hitting me in the back of the head.

  My steps falter and a warm, sticky liquid drips down my hair and distracts me from the intruder at my door. The pain is making it hard to concentrate on anything else happening around me.

  My head is throbbing and I stumble into the living room as I hear the door slam, my heart racing. The lock clicks into place and an eerie silence floods the apartment.

  My eyes frantically search the room trying to find somewhere to hide, but nothing comes to mind. My feet are heavy and I feel anchored to the floor. A blurry form steps into view, illuminated by the moonlight through the windows. He closes the small gap between us and my body is paralyzed with fear. I can barely manage to make out Todd’s face.