“So, how was your date last night?” Mom asked after a little while.
Surprised at her question, since I hadn’t offered that information to her yesterday. I gave her a questioning look. I slumped my shoulders as she shrugged hers, both saying, “Mari” at the same time. No further explanation needed; her name summed it up.
Mari talked to my mom as much, if not more, as I did. When my mom invited me to dinner, Mari got the same invitation, always. Once, Mari worried I’d be upset or jealous about her relationship with my mom, but I knew she didn’t have a great relationship with her own mother. So, I made sure she understood it only solidified her role as my sister. This led to what Mari calls a “hug-fest,” a spontaneous event which occurs when there’s an overload of emotions present, preventing us from speaking.
Shaking my head, even as I smiled, I said, “My date was very nice.” I continued my task of preparing the ornaments, then I sighed and added, “It was perfect actually.”
I could hear the smile in Mom’s voice when she said, “So, is it safe to say that you’re dating each other?”
My eyes rolled in pure reflex at her sarcasm. “Yes, Mom. We’re dating.” Again my smile widened as I recalled his words from last night. Definitely perfect.
“Good. Was the pout because you’d rather be with someone else right now?” she asked, always in tune with what was going on with me. It was cool and annoying in equal measure.
Not wanting to hurt her feelings, I considered my answer carefully before speaking. “No, it’s more like I wish I could be in two places at once.”
“Quite the smooth-talker, aren’t we?” Mom said, tossing a strand of lights at me. I caught them with a laugh, proud of my comeback.
“It’s true, though, so I totally get credit for it,” I declared, plugging in the lights to see if they worked.
“Of course you do,” Mom huffed as she stood. With her hands on her hips, she stared up at the top of the tall tree. I could see she was trying to figure out where to start. Then she declared, “All right, Miss Top-Shelf-Retrieval, let’s get this done so you can get to that second place.”
My smile was wide and beaming as I looked at her. She winked and tossed me another strand of lights. “Thanks.”
I was surprised that my lack of sleep didn’t slow my work out this morning. Then again, it probably had something to do with all my pent up … tension. That was putting it politely. I felt my body relax slightly at her good morning text. Men everywhere were shaking their heads at how pathetic I was. Even more so when I called her back just so I could hear her voice.
“Good morning, Jonathan,” she answered, her voice a soothing balm to the last remains of tension in my shoulders.
“It’s better now,” I admitted. “How are you on this chilly San Diego morning?”
“Better now,” she answered with a small laugh. I smiled and fell back onto my bed, one arm behind my head.
“I like that answer. So, what are your plans for the day? Got any room for me in them?” I asked, trying to sound more hopeful than pathetic. Though I’d have begged if necessary. Goodbye Man-Card.
Her voice sounded happy and sweet when she said, “I was hoping to relax at home today. Maybe watch some movies.”
“That does sound relaxing.” Time to start begging, I thought, but I didn’t get the chance.
“Would you like to relax with me? I think you need to take it easy on the knee today.”
“Is that an order, Coach?” I asked with a smirk. I’d gladly relax and rest my knee with her for as long as she wanted.
“It’s a suggestion. Now you can decide what you’d like to do.”
“Name the time, and I’m there.”
“I just got home, so any time you want to come over is fine with me.” Her voice was softer, almost shy.
Standing up slowly to make sure the knee was okay, I grabbed a sweatshirt from my closet and my keys from my nightstand as I said, “On my way out the door now. Should I pick up some food on the way?”
“Not unless you want something special. I just went shopping this week so there’s plenty to eat here.”
“Anything special I want is already at your place, so I’m on my way,” I confessed, stepping outside, the cold doing nothing to diffuse the warmth that was once again surging through my body. Just the anticipation of seeing her was a heady feeling. Damn, did this woman have a serious hold on me.
“Like I said, you’re definitely good with the words, soccer player.”
I smirked, remembering my response the last time she said those words to me. “And like I said … that’s not all I’m good with, Leeann.”
It was a testament to my self-control that I didn’t break any land speed records on the way to her place. Having a car with an engine that made it easy and fun to drive fast, also meant it was one that caught attention. A speeding ticket was not on the agenda today.
As I knocked on her door, I wondered if it was just going to be the two of us, or if Mari was here too. Didn’t matter, I was just happy to be in the finally-dating-and-can-kiss-and-touch-her-when-I-want stage of our budding relationship. Just then, Mari opened the door.
“Deja-vu,” she said, cocking her hip and resting one hand on the door, effectively blocking my entrance. “We really need to stop meeting like this. Lee might begin to wonder about us.”
Her tone wasn’t as playful as I thought it should be, and I fought the discomfort over it. Did I do something to irritate her? Something told me she wasn’t a chick you wanted to tick off. Thankfully, Leeann rescued me. The door opened all the way, making Mari’s arm drop limply at her side. “Knock it off. There’s no need to be a bitch to Jonathan. It’s not his fault you have to go to your parents’.”
Leeann smiled and extended her hand in invitation. I took it and made my way inside with her leading. The door closed loudly behind us, drawing our attention back to it. Mari looked really irritated now, and I resisted the urge to move farther away. Being around the many women in my family, I recognized the danger of the situation.
Looking between Mari and Leeann, I asked, “Am I interrupting something?”
“Yes,” Mari stated firmly.
Leeann squeezed my hand in reassurance before looking up at me. “No, not at all. Mari’s spoiling for a fight because she hates going to the annual Christmas party at her parents’ house. She does this on all major holidays, but Christmas is the worst. She’s trying to make you uncomfortable so you’ll leave, which will make me cry, therefore meaning she will have to stay and smother me with hugs.”
“Definitely uncomfortable, but definitely not leaving,” I offered with a smirk, challenging Mari to try harder. There was a few seconds of silence between us, like a stand-off. It was comical and reminded me of something I could see my mom and Allie doing. I fought the urge to laugh just as Mari caved. She huffed and swung her arms in a dramatic way, voicing her continued frustration.
“But Leeeeee, I don’t want to go…” Mari whined.
Leeann dropped my hand and walked the few steps to Mari. She handed her a purse and a set of keys. “Go Mari. It’ll be over before you know it. Besides, you said you were excited to see your Grams. Maybe you can sneak out with her and toilet paper the neighbor’s house.”
Mari snorted, reluctantly taking her purse and keys. “We can’t do that two years in a row.”
Leeann turned her around and opened the door. “Well, maybe Grams already has another prank planned out.”
Mari allowed Leeann to push her out into the hall as she grumbled, “I sure hope so. I don’t know how long I can endure my stuffy parents and all of their stuffy friends.”
“You got this, now go. Grams is waiting,” Leeann encouraged as she stepped back inside.
I heard Mari mumble, “Whatever happened to chicks before dicks?” before the door closed.
Leeann turned and faced me, leaning against the door with a smile. I chuckled, and she held up a finger, telling me to wait. It was silent as we waited for wh
atever she was expecting. Then I heard a sad little knock on the door as Mari said, “Okay, I guess I’m gonna go now. Thanks for nothing. I hope he has a little dick, and you don’t get off.”
Leeann gasped. With a hand covering her mouth, and her eyes practically bulging out of her head, I could no longer hold back my laugh. This was a first for me, since it wasn’t common for someone to wish me a little dick. Plus, I knew it wasn’t true, and there was no way in hell Leeann wouldn’t get off with me. It was almost like a challenge had been thrown down. Only problem now was that I was thinking in detail about getting Leeann off, and my unruly dick just realized she was in arms’ reach. So much for that self-control I thought I had.
Shoot. Me. Now. I couldn’t believe she said that—oh my God. I thought the chicks before dicks comment was going to be the low blow. But no. My best friend—my sister in every way but blood—lobbed a live grenade in the space between Jonathan and me, then exited stage left. I could feel my face flush with heat. It was beyond warm; it was an inferno of embarrassment, and there was nowhere for me to escape.
Jonathan was laughing, which both amplified my embarrassment and calmed my worry about him being offended. Talk about rude and awkward situations. Not for Mari, of course. She didn’t even do it to his face. No, she was safely concealed behind a hollow door—a door I was going to chain lock before she came home tonight. We’d see how much she liked being on that side of the door all night long. Shaking my head, I moved my hand away from my mouth. My voice conveyed my shock, “Oh my God, Jonathan. I’m so sorry she said that.”
Still chuckling, he waved it off and advanced on me. He took my hand that still hovered near my face and turned the palm toward his face. He placed a kiss in the middle before laying it to rest on his chest. Even through the thick fleece of his dark hooded sweatshirt, I could feel his muscles flex with the contact. One of his hands rested on top of mine, holding it firmly in place while his other one swept my hair back behind my shoulder. When his eyes met mine, they were smiling at me as he said, “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m sure her witty personality is one of the reasons you love her.”
I snorted. Witty personality? That was beyond witty; that was downright bitchy. My hand on his chest moved a little, enjoying its current perch, searching for the answering muscle flexion.
He was right, though; I loved her, bitch and all. I smiled. “Yeah, she’s kind of hard not to love, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get to be mad at her. Especially when she implies my boyfriend has a little dick and can’t give me orgasms. That’s just wrong…”
My voice trailed off as my eyes went wide again, and the inferno returned to my cheeks. My rambling nerves managed to use the words ‘boyfriend,’ ‘little dick’ and ‘orgasms’ in the same sentence. Impressive and embarrassing at the same time.
Jonathan’s smirk told me he picked up on all of it. The red cheeks, the words … all of it. I closed my eyes, letting my head fall back against the door with a thud. I just needed to keep my mouth shut for the rest of the night. I was pondering ways to torture Mari when I felt Jonathan’s hand slip around the back of my neck and into my hair. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, that feels good.
His firm fingertips dug into my scalp for a moment before he used the pressure to lift my head. At the same time, the full length of his body pressed into me. My eyes popped up to find his face only inches from mine. His look was one of hunger and intensity, and I rewarded him the same response. My body began to tingle just from the look in his eyes. Oh man, am I in trouble with this guy.
“You called me your boyfriend,” his raspy voice stroked my skin, lighting the nerves in its wake. I couldn’t find my voice to respond; it had abandoned me. So I nodded as best I could with his hand holding my head in place and the minimal space between us. He smiled a sexy smile, drawing my attention from his eyes.
“That makes you my girlfriend then.” This time, his voice was even lower. Huskier. Sexier. It wasn’t a question … he seemed to be stating a fact. Like he was talking to himself. Nonetheless, I responded with another lame headshake.
His sexy smile got bigger, and I felt the hand in my hair get tighter as he used his grip to slightly tilt my head.
“That means I can kiss you whenever I want.” Again, he wasn’t asking, he was stating. Declaring. His eyes searched mine, and I did everything I could to make sure he was seeing my answer staring back at him. Hell yes, you can kiss me whenever you want. I wanted to scream it from the rooftops, but I didn’t have to. Jonathan responded in kind when his soft, warm, masculine lips pressed firmly against mine.
His firm touch demanded me to react quickly. There would be no need to ask twice. Our tongues collided, diving deep, searching for more contact. A fire like I’d never felt ignited in my belly, threatening to engulf me. My hand on his chest migrated up and around his neck to find my other one. They worked together to hold my body against his.
I felt his hand work its way between my back and the door—a space that only existed because the curve of my lower back allowed it. The contrast between his demanding strength and tender ministrations was mind-boggling. I had no idea it was possible to be consumed by the heat of a kiss, yet feel like I was being slowly coaxed into the flames. When Jonathan broke the kiss abruptly, I knew I would’ve fallen had he not supported my weight.
His breathing was ragged like mine, and I was nearly dizzy. Maybe it was from the need to kiss him more. The need to consume him like he was consuming me. The hand in my hair tightened once again, tilting my head back a little more. Opening my eyes, I was now in a position that had Jonathan looking down at me. I could tell he enjoyed his dominant position. He was the perfect blend of alpha male and polite gentleman.
“This means I can kiss wherever I want,” he stated with that low, sexy voice again. Whoa. Was he saying he could kiss me wherever he wanted on my body, or more in terms of physical location? Who the hell cares. He could have full access to anything and everything, so long as he didn’t stop doing it.
Wanting to get back to the kissing part, I nodded quickly before pressing up to taste him again. He groaned as my lips met his, and his grip on me tightened. A second later, I was sliding upward against the door. I squeaked at the sudden shift, and my legs wrapped around his firm waist, but our lips remained connected. I didn’t think I could break the connection if needed. All I knew was that I needed to keep kissing Jonathan.
This was crazy. I was dangerously close to embarrassing myself in front of this girl, and I couldn’t seem to find my self-control. Instincts were taking over, and, any second we’d start clawing at each other to remove the layers of clothing between us. We have to stop, I thought as my tongue dove deeper, absorbing the taste of Leeann. She was sweet and tangy, like a cherry. I’d never be able to think of cherries again without having a physically inappropriate reaction to them.
Pressing my body into hers, I braced her weight against the door. When her legs tightened around my waist, I couldn’t stop my hips from flexing into her. Her breath hitched, and I felt her hips swivel, adding more pressure to my straining erection. We have to stop, I thought again as I used the grip I had on her hair to break the connection. It was one of the hardest things I’d done in my life.
Once again panting in the space between us, I continued to brace her body against the door by leaning my body into hers. Fortunately, I had the brain function to keep her weight off the bad knee. Nothing would kill the mood like dropping her on her ass when my knee gave out.
Leeann’s hips shifted against me again, and I finally found my voice, “Baby, we have to stop.”
She whimpered, and her hands tightened in my hair. Opening my eyes, I found her gaze on mine. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen and darker, her eyes wide, and her chest was rising and falling at a rapid pace. It was sexy as hell. This was my wet dream come to life.
“Why?” she asked breathlessly.
“Because you wanted to relax and watch movies today … and here I am practically riding you
up the wall,” I admitted, feeling a little bit more in control than just a few moments ago. “I seem to have no restraint around you.”
Dropping my head onto her shoulder, I released my hold on her hair, letting my free hand wrap under her ass to hold her more securely. Seconds passed, and her hands dropped to my shoulders. Her silence made me nervous, but her body heat could be felt through both of our layers, and I fought the impulse to grind my dick against her again, seeking some form of friction.
Even though I was the moron who said we needed to stop, I wanted to cry when I felt the grip her legs had around me loosen. Even more so when she patted my shoulder with one hand and said, “You’re right, we need to stop this.”
What the fuck had I done? If I thought my Man-Card was in jeopardy of being revoked before, it was never coming back now. What kind of idiot told the sexiest woman he’d ever had in his arms, and grinding on his dick, to stop? This idiot, that was who.
Slowly, I slid her down the wall, making sure her feet were firmly on the ground, before I stood back up, avoiding eye contact. Only a few seconds passed, but they were agonizing. Then I heard the sound of a zipper coming down, pulling my attention away from my shoes. I almost swallowed my tongue in one gulp when I found her shrugging out of the thin hooded sweatshirt she was wearing. Her tank top was thin and did nothing to hide her hard nipples.
Finding her eyes, I was shocked at the heat radiating from them. “Leeann, baby, what are you doing?”
“You’re right, we needed to stop that. You could’ve hurt your knee,” she stated as she threw her discarded garment to the floor. My knee? I have a knee? All I could feel was my throbbing dick. When she grasped the bottom hem of my sweatshirt and lifted it up, I asked, “My knee? What are you talking about?”
I let her lift the sweatshirt over my head, bending over to help. My body heat spiked when she slid her body against mine. The skin felt extra sensitized without the extra layer of our winter clothes.
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