For the Love of Raindrops

by Beth Michele

  “So, I’d like to—” She starts with a yawn, but I interrupt her because I know where she’s going with this.

  “I want you to, Evie.” I look down at my dick. It’s so hard you could hang something off of it. “Believe me, I do. But, we’re not in a rush, right?” She shakes her head and I add, “Plus, you’re tired and I want you at your full potential.”

  A laugh spills from her mouth and she leans up to tease my lips with her tongue.

  “Oh, I’ve got lots of potential,” she promises, as she gives me a preview, slipping her tongue inside and twirling it around mine until I’m the one who’s groaning.

  We alternate between talking and kissing until her lashes begin to droop against her cheeks and she settles onto my shoulder. With her in my arms, my heartbeat quickly finds a steady rhythm.

  I wait for her breathing to even out then hop off the bed and grab my clothes, staring at her as I dress. I could watch her sleep for hours. She’s so beautiful. Those ruby lips of hers are curled into a sleepy smile, beautiful red locks fanned out against the pillow.

  “Dream of me, Evie,” I whisper, brushing a few strands away to press a kiss to her forehead. With one last glance at the note on the bedside table, I smile as I head out the door.

  BURSTS OF LIGHT dance across the ceiling when I open my eyes. I blink a few times, my mind getting lost in imaginary shapes as I adjust to the morning sun filtering through the curtains. A cat-like grin stretches my lips and I turn my head to the side, expecting to find Dylan. What I don’t expect is the strange sort of disappointment that clenches my stomach, or the way my muscles ache with longing when I discover he’s not there.

  I grab the pillow and cuddle it against my chin, breathing in his clean scent. My mind flashes back to last night and how amazing it felt to be touched by him. A shiver ripples across my skin and I squeeze the pillow tight, wishing it were Dylan.

  My phone is on the table and I reach for it to call Nora, when a folded piece of paper catches my attention. I prop myself up against the headboard, snatching both my cell and the note, smiling when I see the handwriting.

  He watched her sleep, as he had done a thousand times before in his dreams, and he knew that he could watch her forever.

  I let out a dreamy sigh as I clutch the note to my chest, my heart skipping to an insane beat. There are so many different sides to Dylan and it makes me feel pretty special that I get to experience all of them.

  Nora pops into my head again, and I can’t wait to tell her about last night. Already, my cell phone is littered with incoming texts from her. I slide the screen to find eight messages, the last one a picture of a giant pack of Tic-Tacs. Underneath it are the words, I CAN HELP! in large, bold caps. I laugh and shoot her a quick text.

  Hey, u at class?

  Well, it’s about time. I thought the bed had sucked you up.

  Ha, ha. Do you have time to meet at Java? I don’t have to be at work until 2 today.

  Sure, have class at noon though.

  10 work? Going for a quick run.

  K – See u then. Come with details. :)

  I drop the phone on the bed when Zoey peeks her head in with a whisper.

  “Hey, sleepyhead.” She pushes the door open and sags against the dresser. Her uniform is filled with creases as are the corners of her eyes. Strands of her chestnut hair fall out of a messy ponytail.

  “You okay? You look wiped.”

  “I am,” she admits, shrugging off her jacket and chucking it into the laundry bin. I’m going to bed. But you…,” she makes an attempt at a half-smile, “you look chipper.”

  “Chipper?” I giggle, pulling the blanket higher toward my neck when it hits me that I’m still naked.

  “I’ll take that as a sign that you and Dylan finally got your heads out of your asses?”

  I don’t reply because I’m not exactly sure what she means. Or maybe I am, but plead the fifth anyway. Plus, I’m still sitting on cloud nine, where I’d prefer to stay.

  “I thought so, and I’m glad.” She yawns into her hand. “Okay, we’ll talk later. My bed is calling me.” No sooner is she in between the door and the hallway when she turns around. “By the way, since when do you ever sleep naked?” She winks and flips her keys in the air, catching them in her fist. “Must have been some night.”

  The door clicks shut and I sink back down on the bed, pulling the covers over my face—but it’s no match for the uncontrollable smile on my lips.

  NORA ISN’T THERE when I arrive at Java, so I order her an iced coffee, a hot chocolate for myself, and two blueberry muffins.

  This place, with its updated red and black contemporary decor makes me laugh. When my mom used to bring me here every Saturday morning for hot chocolate and muffins before ballet class, it was nothing but dull, brown booths with a hideous orange tile floor. It was certainly nothing to write home about, but always held a special place for me. Still does, even though I don’t come by as much anymore.

  It’s pretty crowded this time of day. Being so close to the university, there are groups of college students hanging out or getting lattes to go.

  After paying the barista, I manage to snag a table. I’ve just about set the cups down when Nora bounces on to the chair, startling me, and I nearly spill my drink.

  “Geez, Nora, a little warning might be nice.” I blot a napkin over the splotches of chocolate on the table.

  “Okay,” she folds her hands together in front of her, “so spill, no pun intended. I want to hear all about last night. Dylan left to walk you across the street and never came back.” She leans in closer, keeping her voice down. “Did you have coitus interruptus?”

  “Nora,” I giggle, peering at her over the rim of my cup, “why can’t you just say sex like a normal person?”

  “Because nothing about me is normal, and you love me that way.” She flicks her fingertips against her shoulder with pride, and adds, “So did you, or didn’t you?”

  “No.” I take another sip of liquid courage. “But, he did, you know, the oral sex thing.”

  “Oh my God! He went down on you?”

  “Nora!” Heat pinches my cheeks as I glance around the cafe. Luckily, no one seems to be paying attention to our lewd discussion. “Yes. The thought of it always grossed me out before. But it was amazing and I definitely want him to do it again.”

  “Well, that’s what happens when you have the right person doing it.” She reclines back in her chair, eyeing me with a questioning gleam. “So, did you return the favor? Give him a blow job?”

  I duck my head behind my drink, but not from embarrassment. Simply because I really wanted to, but Dylan wanted to wait. “No.”

  “OMG!” She brings a hand to her head as if my confession pains her. “More blue balls. He must be so pent up. Poor Dylan.”

  “I wanted to,” I tell her, and even now, there’s a tingle between my legs at the thought. “But he didn’t want me to… I guess he’s trying to take things slow.”

  “Slow? You two crack me up. It’s been thirteen years.” She shoots me a wicked glare. “You’ll be lucky if you can even fit that thing in your mouth at the rate you’re going. I hope you’ve got a good gag reflex.”

  “Nora!” I give her a playful jab with my elbow and we burst out laughing. “So…,” I break off a piece of muffin and pop it into my mouth, “what was the deal with Braden yesterday?”

  “Oh, God. Nothing. You know,” she taps her pink nails on the table, “he comes off as this tough guy, but I think deep down he’s a big old softie.” She swirls the straw around her drink before taking a sip. “It’s weird. Even though we were in the same circles growing up, we never got to know each other that well. I mean, you’d think with you and Dylan so close that might have been different. Anyway, I think he’s got a thing for pink hair.”

  “Hmph. Well, you are awfully cute, Nora. Plus, you’ve got brains, so you’re kind of the full package.”

  “Oh, I’m the full package, all right,” she jokes, gather
ing crumbs into a pile.

  She looks around the cafe and when she talks again it’s almost as if she is reading my mind. “I remember coming here a few times with you and your mom on Saturday when we were kids. She was always so sweet, buying me two cookies. But the ballet thing,” she giggles, her tone ripe with exaggeration, “I’ll never understand that. You were kind of a clumsy dancer.”

  “Still am,” I announce proudly. “She just wanted me to give it a try. So I did, for a whole year, probably just before they were ready to kick me out. Plus,” I shrug, “I loved our time together. We had our Saturday routine and I really looked forward to it.” My heart expands thinking about how much I miss her. “She was one of the few moms who stayed to watch the class. Most of the others went back home or were on their cell phones the entire time. I really appreciated that about her.”

  “Yeah. Your mom was great, Evie. I’ll never forget all those times I came to dinner. I loved it, you know?” Her posture crumples a bit and she sighs. “I felt like I was part of a real family. I mean, being an only child and having my parents’ divorce so young, there weren’t a lot of family dinners. There were, however, quite a few Hungry Man microwaveable ones at my dad’s house.”

  She makes a weak attempt at a joke, but I know better. The hurt is engraved on her face.

  “Anyway,” she goes on, “I’m sure she’d be so happy to see you and Dylan together. I know how much she loved him. Oh! I forgot to tell you. I finished The Fault in our Stars last night, and—”

  I flatten my palms over my ears and squeeze my eyes shut. “Whatever you do, do not say another word. I’m only twenty percent in. I’m even staying off of Goodreads so I can avoid spoilers. So, unless you want to lose a limb, zip it.”

  “Okay, okay.” She holds up her hands in surrender, but angles her head with a sigh. “Hazel and Augustus,” she starts again, and I make a key with my thumb and forefinger and twist it against my lips.

  “Not another word.”

  “Fine,” she concedes, pushing her chair back, “but as soon as you’re done, we need to discuss.”

  “Deal. Wait, you’re leaving already?” She stuffs the remainder of her muffin in a napkin and shoves it in her purse.

  “Yeah. I need to be at class soon and I haven’t showered yet.” I pass her the coffee as she slings her bag over her shoulder.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Yes, call me after you,” she puckers her lips and inhales a big breath, “you know.”

  “Seriously, Nora?” I shout after her as she walks away. “You need help!”

  “Ah, the irony!” She laughs, waving a hand over her shoulder as she saunters out the door.

  I RUSHED HOME from Java so I could read on my Kindle. Since I don’t have to be at work for a few hours, it’s the perfect opportunity to get lost in Hazel and Augustus with no interruptions.

  I’ve got my feet up, lounging on the couch, when the bell rings. I glare at the door with intense hatred for several seconds, refusing to put my Kindle down. Since I’m not expecting anyone, I ignore it and go back to my book—until I hear Dylan’s voice. Suddenly, the way my heart is racing knocks all thought from my head.

  “Evie?”

  I spring up, managing to grab my Kindle before it hits the floor. But I stop myself just short of the door, taking a deep breath in through my nose and blowing it out through my mouth. The same way I’d be doing it if I were actually practicing the art of meditation with that cute little Buddha that’s staring at me from the corner of the room.

  There’s only one reason I’m doing it now—to find some way to distract from that familiar swarm of butterflies setting up camp in my belly.

  Every time I see Dylan now, it’s like I’m seeing him for the first time. So, when the door opens, the fact that I’m aware of every little detail—the muscular tone of his upper body as he leans against the frame, the chisel of his jaw, and the way the sunlight hits his eyes rendering them a beautiful amber color—isn’t lost on me.

  “Hi,” we both say at the same time. I reach out with my fingertips and brush some fringe from his eyes. Just as I’m about to lower my hand, he grabs my wrist, bringing my palm to his lips for a kiss that makes my toes tingle. I pull my hand back, the red creeping from my ears to my cheeks as thoughts of last night fill my head. He lowers his own head to study me, the corners of his lips twitching.

  “You’re adorable when you blush, Evie.”

  “Wait,” I glance at my watch, “what are you doing here? How come you’re not at the diner?”

  “I left. I told Jordan I wasn’t feeling well.”

  Strange, he looks absolutely fine to me.

  “You okay?”

  He steps inside the door, closing it behind him. “That depends,” he admits, erasing the gap between us. “If okay is not being able to concentrate on making omelets because all I could do was think about you… then yeah, I’m more than okay.”

  With lightning fast movement, he backs me up into the corner. There’s something incredibly hot about him pinning me against the wall, the heat from his body burning into mine. But I don’t have much time to bask in that thought, because when I lift my head he grabs my face and takes my lips in a smoldering kiss that weakens my knees. I bury my hands in his hair, immediately opening for him so he can lick inside my mouth. God, that tongue… and what he can do with it. He’s warm and tastes of mint and coffee, and I need more.

  Before I’m even aware of what I’m doing, my body is flattening itself against his, every part of me touching every part of him, and desire explodes between my legs.

  His tongue leaves my mouth and slides down the line of my jaw, brushing my ear, and he whispers, “You taste so good….”

  “Dylan,” I whimper his name, “let’s go to my room.”

  You would think I’d just given him the keys to the kingdom because he takes my hand and drags me up the stairs, shutting and locking the door behind us. With one quick tug, I’m in his arms, and he continues his assault behind my ear, while his hands roam everywhere all at once. His fingers sneak under my shirt and graze the curve of my breast.

  “Do you know what I was thinking about all morning?” he rasps, his voice a deep timbre, and I can barely reply I’m so turned-on.

  “My potential?” I squeak, choking out the words. He rewards me with a mischievous smile as if he likes the idea. I know I do.

  “I was thinking about you. Being alone with you. Kissing you, having my hands all over you, tasting you again. I couldn’t think straight. I,” he places a kiss to the corner of my mouth, “want,” the tip of his tongue teases the seam of my lips, “you.”

  “Dylan,” I murmur, letting my tongue come out to play with his, “you know what I want?” Our breath mingles and the wetness of his mouth makes desire bubble over inside of me. “I want to reach my full potential.”

  “I’d be more than happy to help you with that, Hopper.” He grips my hips, rubbing his hard length against the sensitive spot between my thighs. My nerve endings stir to life, a frenzy of lust running rampant through my body. I can feel how much he wants me, and that alone makes me feel sexy and brave in a whole new way.

  I latch onto his t-shirt, bringing it up and over his head. My eyes immediately rake over his chest and I moisten my lips with my tongue. His skin is smooth and beautiful. A golden bronze surrounded by carved muscle that leads down to that sexy little V. As I let myself go lower, God help me, there’s the beginning of a soft trail of hair that disappears below the waistband of his jeans. My mouth is suddenly parched. He’s no longer the boy I remember, he’s so much more.

  Reaching out, I scrape my nails over the dips and indents of muscle. His chest is already heaving and my own breathing is too loud, but I can’t control it. I want to put my mouth on him, to make him feel as good as he did me. I step closer, touching my lips to the sliver of skin between his shoulder and neck, pressing a trail of kisses across his pecs, his ribs, his abs.

  I drop to my
knees, fumbling with the top button of his jeans. I hear him mutter a curse and can’t help but smile as I stare at the outline of his hard-on. Nora was right. He’s beyond the point of being turned-on, and I’m past the point of no return. I even squeeze my thighs together but it doesn’t help the arousal that is already soaking my panties.

  Anxious for him, I slide his zipper down, managing to shed his jeans and boxers in one shot with a little bit of help. I never knew there was an actual art to that, especially given his current state. His erection springs free and I realize I’m staring, wide-eyed. He’s a lot bigger than I ever imagined. My tongue juts out to lick the tip of his swollen head and he shudders.

  “Fuck.”

  “Dylan. Let’s get on the bed.” Desire strains my voice, so much so that I don’t even recognize it anymore. I push myself up from the floor and follow him over. It’s then that I realize he’s completely naked and I’m still fully clothed. A detail which I’m about to change. I wait until he’s lying on the bed then strip down to my bra and underwear. It’s nothing sexy, but I want him too much now.

  I crawl between his legs, wrapping my mouth around him and he nearly bucks off the bed. Knowing I can give him this much pleasure boosts my confidence and I slide my lips up and down his throbbing length, taking him all the way to the back of my throat. Salt and sweetness coat my tongue, and I swirl it around until he’s groaning in pleasure.

  “Christ, Evie, that feels so good.”

  The huskiness in his voice and the fact that he’s watching drives me and I speed up, using my hand along with my mouth until he raises his hips off the bed. He’s stroking the back of my head, but it’s so gentle, not in that way where he’s pushing me, and I love that.

  “God, your mouth. I’m so close…,” he warns, but it doesn’t deter me. I want to devour every last drop of him.

  “Fuck,” he groans again, as he releases into my mouth and I try my best to swallow without choking. After a minute, I climb back up next to him and his expression is one of bewilderment, which makes me grin.