Hitting That Sweet Spot

by Lara Ward Cosio

  “Yeah, this could work.” He was surprised she was open to this after she had been so cautious with him in person. Perhaps this was an easier way for her to take things to the next level, with a safe distance and the sense of control the phone allowed.

  “What would you do to me if you were here?”

  He wasn’t sure how strong to start, but took a gamble. “First thing, I’d grab that dress and tear apart the rest of the buttons.”

  She leaned forward, her breasts pressing together in an enticing show. “That’s a good start.”

  Holding back a smile, he asked her, “What kind of panties would I find?”

  “Um, those hipster cheeky ones.”

  “Perfect to give your backside a good squeeze. And I’d kiss you on the side of your neck, right there where you have that sexy little group of freckles.”

  She reflexively touched that spot on her neck.

  “Then I’d kiss those sweet lips.” Her lips were full and incredibly smooth, almost completely without fine lines. “Your lips are insanely bitable.”

  In response, she bit her bottom lip. “And you, would you want me to touch you?”

  “Yes,” he said with a heavy breath. Sitting up straighter, he reached under the sheet and stroked himself.

  “Are you—I mean, you’re not—”

  Fuck. Had he misread her again? He took his hand away and cleared his throat. “Listen, I’m confused here. Are we not—weren’t we sort of going to—”

  “Not you, Shay,” she said and he was even more concerned. She put a hand over her chest and looked away from the phone. “Really, you guys? That’s so rude. You can’t just spy on me!”

  Now Shay could hear a commotion. Girls laughing, feet shuffling, and finally a door closing.

  Jessica looked back at him. “I hate my roommates.”

  Slumping back against the pillows, Shay sighed. “So do I,” he replied and after a moment they both laughed.

  ~

  That abbreviated phone sex session earned them a new level of comfort when he returned to New York a few days later. Jessica allowed Shay up to her apartment when he went to pick her up. At his knock, she unlocked four dead bolts and swung the door open with a smile.

  Setting eyes on her after their week of talk was like scratching a match against the strike strip. The tension they’d built up in that call was unleashed as they simultaneously reached for each other. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer with an arm around her waist. He held her cheek and neck in his other hand as their lips came together. Her mouth was warm, soft, and willing. Their lips parted in unison and their tongues came together hastily. This reception made him reconsider their evening plans. Why go out when staying in felt so good?

  “It’s the phone sex guy.”

  Shay pulled away from Jessica when he heard those words whispered. He looked over her shoulder and saw two young women in the hallway across the small living room.

  “Evening, ladies,” Shay said and they giggled. He looked at Jessica. “I’m the phone sex guy, am I?”

  Jessica laughed. “We’re leaving,” she called out to her roommates.

  ~

  Phone sex guy. That had been a running joke between them for all their time together, though they hadn’t needed to try it again. Their relationship began at the start of what would be Rogue’s extended hiatus, giving Shay ample time to spend with Jessica.

  Shay found himself smiling just thinking of that nickname, and he realized he’d let his memories take hold and delay, once again, the task at hand. He looked at the phone in his hand, took a deep breath, and called James.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Conor could hear Felicity speaking on the phone and so he quietly moved through the house and out the back to his studio, guitar case in hand. The studio was an expensive convenience, but one that got plenty of use. It provided storage for dozens of guitars, had a soundboard and recording equipment to make rough demos, an upright piano, and room enough for the band to jam.

  Setting the guitar case on a wooden stool, he opened it and retrieved the Telecaster. He slung it over his shoulder and plugged it into an amp, flipping the right switches to power it up. With pick in hand, he played the first song that came to mind, “You’re My One.” It was a song he and Gavin had written together, both with Sophie in mind. It was also the band’s biggest song, propelling them to the world famous status they continued to enjoy to this day. He got lost in the aching, longing feel of the first part of the song, hearing Gavin’s lyrics in his head as he went. The climax of the song was a soaring, triumphant solo that put the Tele to good use.

  He shook the neck of the guitar to make the reverberation of the final notes last, and closed his eyes in surrender to the satisfaction of it.

  “What a fitting song today.”

  Conor opened his eyes at the sound of Felicity’s voice. She was standing part way inside the door. She must have heard about Sophie having the baby. Maybe even heard that he had gone to the hospital to see her. And now she found him playing the song she knew had been written when he was falling in love with Sophie. That was the problem with having been so painfully honest with Felicity when they renewed their friendship—she knew the good, the bad, and the ugly about him. Had they not taken their friendship to a full-blown romantic relationship, there’d be no problem with his past coming back to haunt him. But they were in a relationship and that meant there were far too many things that could intrude upon what they were trying to create together.

  “Fitting?” he asked, deciding to play dumb.

  “The arrival of Daisy, of course.” She stepped all the way into the space and leaned against the wall, watching him in that way that left him entirely uncertain what she was thinking.

  “Em, yes.” He pulled the guitar strap off over his head and set the instrument in a stand up rack. It had played perfectly. Danny Boy was lucky in that regard.

  “It would have been nice to have heard the news from you,” Felicity said. “Instead, I had press calling me for a statement on it.”

  He grimaced. “Sorry, honey. It all happened quickly. Got the word from Gav right when I was having it out with Danny Boy, and to be honest, it was just a relief to break away from that. The three of us went over to the hospital straight away.”

  Felicity nodded and was quiet for a moment. “What was that like? Seeing Sophie with the baby, I mean.”

  Conor wasn’t sure what she wanted to hear. There was no way he could be as honest with her about Sophie as he had been in the past. The truth was that seeing Sophie with her baby was bittersweet. He’d felt a tangle of emotions and thoughts, including what it would have been like to have been the one in Gavin’s place. He didn’t think it was disloyal to wonder at that other path. Sophie was, after all, the first woman he had ever loved. In fact, she had owned his heart for years. And Felicity knew that. Which led him back to his present problem.

  His girlfriend was watching him intently, obviously trying to read him. He had no desire to hurt her. Felicity was the one who owned his heart now. Absolutely and without reservation.

  “It was amazing,” he said. “She looked a mess but was radiating happiness. Gav too. They’re ecstatic, as they should be.”

  “I’ll have to pop round to see them.”

  He nodded and once again silence filled the room. “Well, I got my guitar back,” he said for want of anything else to say. “Had to play it to be sure Danny Boy didn’t fuck it up.”

  “Good for you. And me, I have work to do. Even more so now that the happy news for Gavin and Sophie is out. I’ll probably be working late, so don’t mind me.”

  The odd undercurrent that had been running through their interactions since he’d gotten back from tour a few days ago was even stronger now. He hadn’t understood what it was, had hoped they could ignore it and find their stride again without conscious effort. But today had only made things worse, deepened their divide. He wanted to ask her outright what was happening w
ith them. He wanted to ask her what was behind the odd distance he had felt from her. But, out of fear of what she might say, he didn’t really want to hear the answer, so he said nothing

  After a moment’s hesitation, she turned and exited the studio.

  “Fuck me,” he muttered.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  As soon as Shay ended the call with James, he leaned against the wall with a sigh. After a moment, he slid down it and sat on the floor, staring at the barre and his reflection in the mirror. The room was equipped with a stereo system. It also contained a simple three-piece stand-up drum kit with cymbals. They had had fun playing around as he improvised beats for Jessica to dance to. It was gathering dust now, but it reminded him of the night he had first danced with her. It was the night her roommates referred to him as the “phone sex guy” and when he and Jessica could barely contain their attraction to each other.

  She was flirty and sweet and fun during dinner and drinks. Shay couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Before he had a chance to suggest that they head to his hotel, Jessica announced she was taking him dancing.

  “Ah, no. I’m no dancer,” Shay said.

  “Tonight you are,” she replied with a mischievous smile.

  “Jess, really.”

  “Don’t let this be your strike three.”

  She had already declared his first two strikes the night they met: stalker for waiting outside her restaurant and being a smoker.

  “You’re not serious,” he said but she only smiled and led him by the hand.

  ~

  The club was a small basement space with an interesting mix of a live funk band playing with a DJ to bring in a techno beat. It was hot and crowded with enthusiastic dancers.

  Jessica was wearing a short white pleated skirt and a maroon tank top with strappy sandals. The layers of beaded crystals around her neck swayed as she moved to the music.

  “Shall we get a drink?” Shay asked, hoping to delay having to dance.

  Shaking her head, she wordlessly pulled him with her into the mix of people. He stood as she immediately began to dance and seemed to go somewhere else, her eyes losing focus as she became part of the sound reverberating against the brick walls. She was, of course, a natural with movements that were perfectly in tune with each beat. It was beautiful to watch. It was also stimulating as she frequently got close enough to rub up against him.

  “Come on,” she shouted in his ear. “I don’t care if you’re bad. I just want you to dance with me.”

  He could see she wasn’t going to give up. There was no use fighting it. Though it was true what he had said—he was no dancer—that didn’t mean he couldn’t match her moves. He was the drummer for one of the best bands in the world. Finding the beat, creating a rhythm, was something he knew how to do. And, if it would make Jessica happy, then he’d dance all night long.

  Taking her hands, he pulled them up to his neck so she would hold on to him. Then he gave her what she wanted, dancing with her without reservation. He held her to him with a hand at the small of her back, meeting her eyes.

  After a moment, Jessica let out a shocked laugh. But Shay didn’t let up, moving his hips with hers to the song. They danced for close to an hour, building up sweat as their bodies pressed together.

  As the band wound down their last song, Shay released Jessica only to take her hand and lead her in a spin. She went round on her toes elegantly and ended it by kissing him long and slow on the lips.

  “I think I love you,” she said as she pulled away.

  Shay looked at her with surprise. Her declaration didn’t frighten him, though, as he had already determined that she was someone he wanted in his life.

  “You know what I mean,” she said, waving away her words in embarrassment. “This was just so much fun.”

  “I know,” he said. He took her hand in his and kissed it. “But let’s get out of here.”

  She nodded and this time he led her by the hand.

  ~

  Shay had taken a room at the Archer Hotel to be closer to Jessica’s apartment, and they spent the short cab ride there kissing insatiably. Jessica was turned so that her legs were folded over his lap and he stroked her bare skin slowly, feeling in her kisses her desire grow as his hand teasingly inched closer to her panties. The drive was almost too short, as they had to briefly interrupt their foreplay upon arriving at the hotel.

  He had a room with a view of the Empire State Building through floor-to-ceiling windows and Jessica couldn’t look away from it. It was lit up against the dark sky with soft white lights. While she gazed out at it, he stood close behind her and focused his kisses on the little grouping of freckles on the side of her neck. She let her head fall back into him with a soft sigh.

  Reaching under her skirt, he found she wore the same style of panties she had mentioned in their phone call. They accentuated a shapely backside that he squeezed with growing urgency.

  “Wait,” she said but he barely heard her as he moved his hand around to the front of her panties. “Shay, wait.”

  Now he pulled away. “You okay?”

  She turned to him. “I am. I just—I mean, would you mind if I took a shower? Just with all that dancing, you know?”

  “A shower sounds good.”

  Just give me a few minutes.”

  He watched her move past the king sized platform bed and cross the hardwood floors of the small room toward the bathroom. She didn’t quite shut the door and he heard the spray of the shower. Had she wanted him to join her? He wasn’t sure, and didn’t want to misread her like he had so many times before. After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped out of his shoes and socks, pulled his tee shirt over his head, and unbuckled his belt.

  “Jess?” he said and tapped on the door.

  There was no response, just the sound of the water. He pushed the door open halfway and caught her reflection in the mirror. The glass shower door exposed her as she lathered herself with a washcloth. Her body was thin but strong, her muscles nicely shaped from years of dance. Her butt was round and high, her breasts firm and tipped with small dark nipples.

  “Are you going to join me?”

  Shay blinked, feeling a fool for his act of voyeurism. “Love to,” he said and moved into the white subway tiled room. He quickly dropped his jeans and boxer briefs and stepped into the shower with her.

  “You’re beautiful, Jess. Truly, you are,” he told her.

  She smiled and quickly glanced down at her feet. Putting one foot over the other, she scrunched up her toes. She had no shame with him seeing her body, but the feet that had been brutalized with countless hours of ballet pointe shoes and other dance efforts were a different story.

  Feet that showed her hard work weren’t anything that bothered him, but he sensed it wouldn’t help to tell her that. Better not to acknowledge it at all.

  “Soap me?” He stood under the spray of the water and it felt good to rinse off.

  Squeezing body wash onto the cloth, she mixed it with water to work up suds, then trailed it over his chest. She took her time, rubbing his pecs and abs, under his arms and along his biceps. Just as with their video call, he could see her desire for him as she looked at his body. Her naked hunger for him turned him on even more.

  “Go lower,” he suggested when he couldn’t take it anymore.

  She smiled and did as he asked, soaping his hips and then taking him into both her hands as she stroked him clean. It was a delicious kind of torture as the slightly rough texture of the cloth combined with the warmth of her hands had him painfully hard. He kissed her eagerly, cupping her breasts in his hands as he backed her against the wall. Her hands came away from him and she moaned as he pinched her nipples. She wrapped one arm around his neck and the other around his waist and the feel of her wet body against his intensified his need for her. Biting her smooth, full bottom lip enough to get a gasp out of her, he met her eyes. They were dark and full of desire, matching his own.

  “Shay, should we—do you have s
omething?” she asked when he pulled her leg up, her knee against his hip.

  “Em, yes. Yes. Hang on.” He swung open the shower door and leaned out to reach into his dopp kit. He grabbed a condom and tore open the packet before quickly rolling it on.

  They were in the back corner of the shower, not getting wet but engulfed in steam. He pulled her to him and brought her leg up to his side again and explored her with his fingers as they traded impatient kisses. Her moans echoed against the glass, and when she got close to climax, he pushed deep inside her. He was the one to moan when she stretched her leg upward and out, opening her hips as she hooked her knee over his bicep.

  “Oh, Jesus, that’s good,” he told her.

  He kissed and bit her lips while toying with their rhythm, teasing her by bringing her to the edge of orgasm several times before finally sending her over. As he came, he broke away from her mouth and instead pressed his lips to her leg, worshipping the flexibility that allowed them to get that much closer. He had a whole new appreciation for the perks of dating a dancer.

  ~

  Still damp from rinsing off again, they fell into bed. Shay pulled Jessica into his arms and she felt small as she clung to him.

  “You all right?” he asked and kissed her forehead. She nodded against him. But there was something in her silence that told him she wasn’t okay. Deciding to try to make light of it, he said, “Was I all right?”

  Her laugh was muffled against his chest. She pulled away enough to look at him. “Yes. Definitely yes.”

  “What’s wrong, then, love?”

  “I just . . . I’ve never slept with someone I haven’t been in a relationship with.”

  “And you haven’t still.”

  “Shay. Let’s be real.” She moved away from him and sat up, pulling the bedding over her naked body.

  He sat up with her and watched her. The drapes were partially open, and the glow of the Empire State Building was their only lighting. He knew her argument before she spoke but he let her have her say.