He sighed. “I know. But when Dale—that was his name, by the way, Dale Grange—when he was standing there, looking at me… His face, I’ll never forget the look on his face. He seemed happy. He was holding a gun, and at first I thought he was going to shoot me and I was terrified. And then he pointed it at himself, and he was shouting…” He was shaking, he realised distantly. Mandy climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around him, and he breathed in the scent of her shampoo.
“Stop.” Her voice was muffled against his chest. “You don’t need to explain this to me.”
He squeezed to show her how much he appreciated her faith. “Yeah, I do. You’re so important to me, Mandy. I want you to understand that—it’s not a little thing that stops me from being there for you. I saw a shrink for more than a year after that night. For a long time, I couldn’t close my eyes without seeing Dale shoot himself, and hear him shouting… ‘I’m your biggest fan, and I’ll die to prove it’.” Even after so long, thinking about it brought him out in a cold sweat. “After that, I was so afraid to encourage fans. What if they felt they needed to prove themselves? Or what if someone decided to copy Dale? I told my manager and publicist no more backstage passes. Then I decided no more autographs, then no more interviews… In the end, my performances were shit, because I was afraid of the fans. And so I stopped.”
They sat in silence for a long time. Mandy snuggled in Blake’s arms, holding him tight. She was warm and soft and smelt good, and despite the pain of retelling his personal nightmare, he felt more relaxed than he had in ages.
She tipped her head back, meeting his gaze, and he kissed her lips. For a moment she sat passively, then she opened her mouth and kissed him back. She slid her hands up to rest on his chest, and she lightly scratched her nails over his nipples.
Blake growled and fell back against the mattress, dragging her on top of him. She was wearing one of his T-shirts, the cotton wrapping her in soft folds. He stripped it off her swiftly, only slightly hampered by Mandy’s attempt to help. Finally she was naked, straddling him, and he pulled her down and nuzzled her neck, loving the now-familiar way her body trembled under his touch.
“Blake…” He didn’t know if it was a protest or encouragement. He took it as the latter.
He was already so hard his dick throbbed, and as he nibbled and licked his way down her torso she made the mewling noises he loved to hear, her body shifting beneath his mouth. Her skin was so sensitive, it was as if every time he touched her, he was branding her, and the involuntary reactions were the sexiest things he’d ever seen. He paused in his exploration to play with her breasts, circling his tongue over the creamy flesh but carefully avoiding her nipples, and she made a sound of pure frustration. She clenched her hands in his hair and yanked, and he obediently clamped his teeth down. She cried out, her hips lifting, and his dick rubbed against the soft skin of her thigh, his balls tightening. Keep it together.
Blake slid his hand down her body and between her legs and stroked through the wet heat, circling around her clit as he tugged at her nipple with his teeth. Her pussy clenched, cream sliding over his fingers, and a moan was torn from deep inside her.
He laved his tongue over her tender skin, and planted soft kisses down her stomach, nuzzling as he went.
“Blake,” she mumbled his name, her legs parting, one knee bending. He lifted his head and briefly met her gaze, then smiled. “So, that’s what you want, eh?”
Her hands were still tangled in his hair, and she tugged, pouting. “Please, Blake?”
He looked down, licked his lips and bent and hovered over her pussy. He blew gently on her sensitive flesh and she shivered, her legs widening.
He lowered his head that last little bit, and the first long lick elicited moans from both of them.
He traced his hand up the inside of her thigh, slid through thick cream, tickled at her entrance. He abandoned her sweet spot, instead licking down, up, lingering, inhaling her scent and unique flavour. Blake slid two fingers into her, and her inner muscles tightened around them.
He lifted his head and waited for her protest. “Touch yourself,” he ordered. She lifted shaky hands to her breasts, smoothing over the soft skin and tweaking her nipples. “Good girl.” He bent back to his task, stroking inside her as he nibbled on her clit. Her body was racked with tremors now, and her moans were like music. He turned his fingers, searching, and then found that spongy spot. He gently scraped his teeth over her clit at the same time that he pressed on her G-spot.
She keened and her cunt clamped down on his fingers as she came, her cream spilling over his hand.
Mandy was still floating when Blake’s dick slid into her. “Mmm.” The familiar stretch was wonderful, and her pussy twitched.
His groan thrilled her, and she deliberately tightened her muscles. This time the sound was strangled, and he surged up into her, balancing his weight on his forearms.
His gaze met hers, his teal eyes almost seeming to glow.
“I need you.” He breathed hard. Her insides contracted again, and he thrust.
She gasped, tilting her pelvis to give him better access. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. He rocked forward, the powerful movement of his hips driving his cock hard, abrading swollen tissue. Her inner muscles forgot their fatigue as her clit began to tingle again. The hair on his chest rasped against her over-responsive breasts. Her cunt pulsed, clenched, throbbed, and she screamed as he pumped into her, over and over, until she went over the edge again.
Chapter Five
Blake put away the last of the breakfast dishes and sat at the table with the newspaper. He used to read it during breakfast, but whenever Mandy stayed over he preferred to talk to her. She’d been a bit subdued today, but her goodbye kiss had been just as warm as always.
His cell buzzed, and he leant back in his chair to snag it from the counter. “Hey, Daniel.” He turned the page and began skimming an article on vandalism.
“It’s not Daniel,” Karen said.
Blake frowned. “Karen. Hi. What’s up? Daniel okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine. I actually want to talk to you about Mandy.”
Blake shoved his chair back and stood. “She only left a few minutes ago. She’s okay, isn’t she? Has something happened?”
“Relax, Blake. She’s fine, as far as I know. I want to talk to you about her fundraiser.”
Blake sighed and sat again. “Mandy and I talked about this last night, Karen. She understands why I can’t go.”
“She might understand, but she’s still hurt. I, on the other hand, am not hurt, but I don’t understand why you can’t do this for her. It’s a really small thing in the scheme of it all. We’ll find a quiet spot near the back. You can wear sunglasses and a hat, don’t talk to strangers, and people won’t even look in your direction, much less wonder who you are. Daniel and I would be there to provide a distraction if someone does get curious. And Mandy would be so happy to have your support.”
Blake put his head down on the table, forehead resting on newsprint, phone still held to his ear. His gut churned.
“Karen—”
“No, don’t say anything. Just think about it. And don’t tell Mandy I called you, because she’d freak out.” She disconnected the call before he could even form a goodbye. He straightened and put the phone on the table.
Fuck.
* * * *
Mandy kicked her apartment door closed behind her and dumped her stuff on the floor. Tomorrow was the big day. In twenty-four hours, it would all be over. Regularly scheduled programming would resume, and she could focus on her relationship with Blake.
She’d been trying really hard not to care that he wasn’t coming to the picnic. She understood why. She didn’t want to put him through any emotional trauma. But deep down, she was still hoping that he’d change his mind, because she couldn’t help feeling that she wasn’t important enough.
They were both pretending there was no problem, but the easiness between the
m had disappeared, and they’d gone from having marathon sex every night to only every couple of nights. Plus, no more spontaneous lunch breaks. And she’d spent two nights at her place without him.
Mandy heaved a sigh and fished her cell phone out of her purse. She left everything else where it was and headed to the kitchen. Until the picnic was over, she was officially on call for all disasters that might occur.
She opened the fridge and noted the lack of appealing food. Maybe she’d just open a can of soup.
The doorbell rang, and she looked at the clock on the wall. Eight o’clock. Not late, but she hadn’t been expecting guests. Maybe if I ignore it, they’ll go away. The bell rang again and she made a face. Damn it.
Huffing, she hurried back up the hallway. The sooner she got rid of whoever it was, the sooner she could heat up her soup. She yanked open the door.
“Blake.” He stood there, all gorgeous with his hooded teal eyes, his almost-curly hair and his muscled forearms, and she wanted to take a big bite out of him. “Why didn’t you use your key?” she asked inanely. He smiled, and her knees went weak.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me here. This way, you can shut the door if you’d rather be alone.” He winked, and she grinned and stepped back.
“Come in, you big idiot.”
He locked up behind him and stepped over the pile on the floor without a word, even though she knew it was killing his organised soul. He followed her back to the kitchen.
“Have you eaten?” she asked. He caught her wrist and swung her around into his arms, then planted a kiss square on her mouth.
“Hey.” His smile warmed her, and she kissed him.
“Hi. So, are you hungry?”
“I could eat. What have you got?” He glanced around the kitchen, frowning.
Mandy shrugged. “I was going to heat up some soup.”
Blake didn’t look impressed, but he turned her towards the table. “I’ll do it. You sit.” Gratefully, Mandy complied.
“So”—Blake watched the can opener as it did its thing—“I know you have to be there early tomorrow, so I was thinking I’d get Daniel and Karen to pick me up on their way.”
She blinked. He wasn’t looking at her, but there was a pinkish stain high on his cheekbones. “You’re going to come tomorrow?” She stamped down on the hope blooming in her chest. Maybe she’d misunderstood.
“Yeah.” He sighed, and turned around to meet her gaze dead-on. “I know this is important to you, and I want you to be happy. I care about you a lot. So I’m going to wear sunglasses and a hat and stay out of the way, but I’m coming.”
Tears welled up in Mandy’s eyes. She felt like an idiot as she dashed them away, then leapt across the room into his arms, and scattered kisses over his face.
“Thank you! Oh, thank you, I’m so glad.”
He chuckled and hoisted her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and leaned her forehead against his. “Thank you,” she whispered, and kissed him, a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth. Then another one, at the other corner, and finally a proper kiss, full on the mouth.
“Mmmm…” Blake’s moan got her wet. Just knowing that she turned him on was a turn on, and she could feel some definite interest stirring in his pants. She wriggled and unclasped her legs, rubbing against him as she slid to her feet and broke their kiss.
“Come on.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him after her, out of the kitchen and down the hall.
“Mandy, the soup.” His protest was weak, and she flipped him an arch look over her shoulder.
“It’s still in the can, Blake. Relax, and follow me.” Turning back, she changed her mind and stopped. Blake ran into the back of her.
“What?”
She turned in his arms, tipped her head back and kissed his throat. “You know, we’ve had sex in nearly every room in my apartment. And your condo.” She licked his collarbone and he shuddered, running his hands down her back and over her ass.
“True. Wait…I think we’ve done every room here. Some of them more than once.” He bent and kissed her, distracting her from her mission. Reluctantly, she pulled back.
“We’ve never christened the hall.” She smiled, practically daring him. He laughed, and she pressed her lips to his chest, absorbing the vibration.
“Our first time was in the front entrance,” he pointed out, but he didn’t resist when she started unbuttoning his shirt.
“That doesn’t count.” She licked his right nipple, then the left. His chest heaved as he sucked in a deep breath.
“Okay, so hallway it is.” He stripped off his shirt and got started on his pants. “What are you standing there for? Strip.”
Mandy unzipped her skirt. “You’re such a romantic.”
“Hey, you started it.” Naked and clearly aroused, he pulled the clip out of her hair and ran his fingers through it. “You’re so pretty.”
Heat crept up her neck. “Thanks. Kiss?”
He backed her up against the wall and kissed her, long, hot and with lots of tongue. His body pressed her against the wall, and she undulated against his dick. He released her hair and stroked down her body, brushing his fingers feather-light against her skin, and soon she wasn’t sure what was him and what was the wafting air from the air-conditioner. She shivered, her nipples tightening almost painfully, then Blake’s hands were on her hips, firm and steady.
She moaned and rubbed against him again, loving the drag of his hard cock on her abdomen, the dampness that signified pre-cum. She tore her mouth away from his.
“Blake, do it, put it in. I don’t want to wait.” He didn’t argue, just lifted her. She opened her legs and wrapped herself, arms and legs, around him as he positioned himself and pushed into her. She wasn’t as ready as she could have been, but she was wet enough to enjoy the friction as he slid in. “Ungh…” She bit his neck as he began to thrust, a steady rhythm…too steady. “Blake!” She deliberately contracted her pussy muscles around him, and he gasped, his breathing becoming uneven. She did it again, and this time he moaned, losing his rhythm. “Harder,” she whispered, digging her hands and feet into his back, and he started pumping again. This time his strokes were shorter, harder, less about rhythm and more about instinct. Mandy’s breathing hitched, and her whole body began to tingle as he continued to drive into her, his skin damp with sweat. Pressure built deep in her pelvis.
“Blake, I’m going to come, just a bit more, more… Ohhh…”
Every muscle tensed, clenching hard, and the pleasure-pain was almost too much, then it was over and she was limp. Only Blake’s grip on her and the wall at her back kept her from being a puddle on the floor, as Blake continued to pound into her. Amazingly, terrifyingly, the tingling returned, and as Blake groaned and pumped into her one last time, her cunt spasmed again.
Chapter Six
Mandy’s phone beeped. She tore her attention away from the activity at the food booths. It was a text from Blake saying they’d arrived, and where they were setting up.
A warm glow spread through her chest. Every time she remembered that Blake was attending, happiness flooded her. After a quick check to make sure everything was under control, she left matters in the hands of the experts and wove her way through the crowd towards her honey and her friends.
Daniel caught sight of her first and waved. They’d chosen a spot on the fringe of the crowd, next to a big tree with some low-hanging branches. The day was bright and sunny, so the three of them looked quite normal in hats and sunglasses. A blanket was spread on the grass, and Mandy caught sight of a wine bottle and a hamper from the gourmet deli near Daniel’s place.
“Hey.” She plopped down on the blanket and leaned over to kiss Blake.
“Hey yourself.” He smiled and held out a wineglass. She took it and sipped the deliciously fruity wine, then passed the glass back.
“That’s it for me. I’m working.”
Karen checked her watch. “Only for seven more hours, max. Then you can relax.”
/> Mandy’s cell rang. “You cursed it,” she told her best friend.
“Amanda speaking.”
“Mandy, it’s Colin. Do you know what time the band is getting here?” Mandy frowned and waved away the grapes Karen offered her.
“They’re not here? They were due”—she glanced at her watch—“about half an hour ago.”
“Well, they’re not here.” The sound technician didn’t sound happy. Mandy knew that until the band arrived he couldn’t perform most of the sound checks.
“Okay, give me a second and I’ll find out what’s going on.” He grunted an acknowledgement and she disconnected the call.
“Problem?” Blake asked as she scrolled through the contacts on her phone.
“Don’t know yet. I hope not.” She found the number she was looking for and waited for The Shit Kickers’ publicist to pick up.
“Mandy, hey,” the man sounded harried, and Mandy felt the first dull throb of a headache.
“Paul. What’s happening? Why aren’t the guys here? They go on in less than an hour.”
“Yeah.” There was an awkward pause. “Here’s the thing, Mandy. The guys have decided they don’t want to perform today.”
The throb became a vice, squeezing her head until she thought it would explode. “What?” The word came out as a hoarse whisper, and she cleared her throat. “What?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to talk sense into them, but to be honest, I don’t think you’d want them there anyway. They’re stoned, and the picnic is a family event…” he droned on, but Mandy heard only the buzzing in her ears. Her phone slipped from her hand.
“Mandy?” Blake’s voice, sharp and direct, and his hand on her cheek, snapped her back. “What’s wrong?”
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