Sweet Little Lies

by Michele Grant

  Good words and definitely the ones I wanted to hear.With those words, the mood shifted from frantic and urgent to slow and sensual. I slid my hands from the small of her back around to the swells of her breasts, stroking softly before moving along to the curve of her rear. She sighed against my lips and looped her hands around my neck. Even in high heels she barely came to my shoulder. I pulled her in close, wanting to feel as much of her against me as possible. She was soft, warm, and smelled faintly of vanilla frosting.

  As if still dancing, we turned and stepped in unison toward the bed. Dipping her backwards slowly, I followed her down and took a minute. I was horizontal on a bed in New York with Christina Brinsley. It felt good. I looked down at her face. She had a faintly dreamy smile floating around the edges of her lips, her eyelids were at half-mast, but the expression in them caught and held me. A combination of trust and admiration with a sprinkle of excitement and a lot of desire; it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen. My voice was husky as I voiced my thought. “I’m glad we’re doing this, but don’t thank me yet. It’s about to get a whole lot better.”

  “Cocky young thing, aren’t you?” she teased, but I saw that pulse at the base of her neck flutter faster.

  “You tell me later if I’ve earned it or not, okay?” Sliding down the zipper of her dress, I reminded myself to go slow.To savor.To seduce. As I brought my hand around to release the front clasp on her bra, she caught my hand.

  “Just so we’re clear—this is just a thing, for the moment … right?”

  “Definitely. You’re heading back to the Bay. I’m staying here.”

  “No muss, no fuss.”

  “No victim, no crime. No harm, no foul.” However many ways she wanted me to say it, I would.

  “Still not a date.”

  “Clearly not. May I continue?”

  “Please do, Mr.Williams.”

  I peeled back her clothes and undergarments as if unwrapping a valued gift, stopping to tease, taste, and touch along the way. Her breathy sighs turned to throaty moans as I discarded her lacy panties and explored the liquid warmth waiting for me there. Parting her slowly, I replaced my fingers with my mouth. Before I could relish her flavor, her nails dug into my back.“Steven!”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’ve no need of teasing foreplay…seriously. I’m good.”

  “You’re very good but—” My words strangled in my throat as she reached between us to stroke me determinedly. Before I could finish my sentence, my pants were unzipped and shoved downward.“I wanted to go slow.”

  “Next time.”

  “Next time? I thought we were for the moment.”

  “Steven, you want to debate my word choice or do you want to get naked and do this?”

  When she put it that way …“Let’s do this.”

  “Baby, I’m waiting on you.” Her eyes glinted challenge.

  I was up to it. Quickly, I stepped back and sent my clothes flying, keeping my eyes on her. Damn, she looked good. She lay on the bed in nothing but those sky-high sandals. I fished a condom out of my wallet before I flung my pants to the side. “Christina,” I said as I rolled the condom on.

  She watched me with a hunger that made my hands shake a little.“Hmm?” Now she was the one with her eyes glued on me.

  I repositioned her on the bed. Standing over her, I slid a finger and then a second between her legs to test her readiness. Her groan and her heated moisture told me she was ready. Lying over her I slid forward, slowly breaching her opening and sinking deep. She was snug, pulsing and warm. We both groaned and shuddered. Her arms and legs came up to pull me closer. I sunk in a little deeper.“In case I forget to tell you …”

  “Yes?” She shifted slightly and squeezed her internal muscles around me.

  I sucked in a breath and had to concentrate on what I was trying to say.“In case I forget to tell you later … this is the best non-date I’ve ever had.” I slid back a little bit and sunk back in, rotating my hips.

  “Umm, Steven—shut up and don’t date me some more.”

  I shut up and got down to business.

  9

  We Kiss and Say Good-bye

  Christina—Saturday, August 15, 10:18 a.m.

  It took me a second to figure out where I was when my eyes opened. Squinting against a bright light, I blinked a few times. I was naked, in bed, in a hotel room. I blinked some more to focus. I was… in New York City. I turned my head. For the second time in as many days, I found myself waking with my head on Steven’s shoulder and my hand on his …oh! That was not his chest—considerably south of that but also with a pulse of its own. I started to lift my hand away when his hand covered mine.

  “It’s okay, baby, leave it there,” he said in a deep and sleepy voice.

  It was the exact same thing he had said yesterday. “Déjà vu?”

  “This is much, much better.” He kissed my forehead.

  I lifted my gaze to meet his.“Hey, you.”

  “Hey.Are you freaking out yet?” He traced his index finger along my hairline and down my cheek.

  “Should I be?” Really, I was more worried about what my hair looked like.

  “We had dinner, we went dancing, we…”

  “Burned up some sheets?” Casually, I stroked upward with my hand. I loved the heavy weight of him. He was long, thick, and smooth.Amazing how much pleasure those inches of flesh could provide. Stroking down and back up, I smiled with the memories of the night. He twitched, growing firmer and warmer in my hand. Fascinated, I squeezed along every inch from base to tip and flicked lightly across the head with my thumb.

  “Dear God, that’s good.You have the hands of a…anyway, yes, we set the sheets aflame. Three times at my last count. I think we broke all your non-date rules.” His finger moved down the side of my neck to my shoulder.

  “Are you in love with me?” I shivered a little at his touch, switching strokes to teasing flicks with my fingertips.

  He pulled in a deep breath as his finger slid from my shoulder to my chest. “I’m in love with your left hand right now.That’s all I can attest to.”

  “Well then, I think we’re still okay. It’s only the men who profess to love me that cause me problems.” I slowed my tempo to match his lazy touches.

  “Are you in love with me?” His finger grazed my right nipple as if by accident and then circled, pressed, and moved to the left.

  “There are a few parts of you that I am growing mighty fond of.” I slid on top of him and looked my fill. He was smooth muscles covered with honey-kissed skin. He was long lines and aroused-male scent. I sat up, wriggling my hips a little.

  “You better watch yourself, girl.You are asking for it.”

  “I just might be.Are you going to give it to me?”

  He put his hands on my hips and arched up. I was so liquid, his hardness slid back and forth making wet noises.“Only if you ask me nicely.”

  I leaned down and sucked his bottom lip into my mouth. “Steven, I’m wet.”

  “I noticed that.”

  “I’m wet, I’m sticky, my hair is all over my head, I don’t know what kind of breath I’m working with, and I quite frankly need to pee.”

  He went completely still for a second and then dissolved into laughter. I joined him for a second and then climbed off him and out of the bed. Still giggling, I ran to the bathroom and shut the door, taking care of business before stepping up to the sink. Flicking on the light, I looked into the mirror.

  “Ahh!” I screamed at my reflection. Last night’s curly do was a frizzy fro.We’re talking eighties Chaka Khan hair.What was left of my mascara was ringing under my eyes in splotches. Speaking of eyes, mine were of the bloodshot variety.

  “You look fine!” he shouted from the bedroom.

  “Fine for roadkill,” I muttered. Grabbing emergency hair serum and a brush, I tamed the beast and twisted it into a tight bun. I brushed my teeth and scrubbed my face. I opened the door a crack and announced, “I’m going to take a shower.”
Shutting the door, I switched on the tap and set the shower temperature to a shade below scalding. Grabbing a washcloth and a bottle of body wash, I climbed in the shower.

  A minute later I heard the door open. “Do not be offended. I have to pee.”

  “Do what you need to do.” A flush later and the curtain opened.

  “You know New York City is under strict water conservation laws.”

  “I think I read that somewhere.”

  “You would only be doing your civic duty to share the water.”

  “Far be it from me to shirk my civic duty. Come on in.” He climbed in behind me and I saw him place a foil packet on the soap ledge.“You need an umbrella in the shower, S. Dub?”

  “I am just that civic-minded, Ti-Ti.” He took the washcloth from my hand, knelt down, and began to lather me in stroking circles. He started at my feet and ankles and worked his way up the front, down the back, and along my sides. By the time he stood back behind me, I was a panting bundle of nerves and sensations. He adjusted the spray to hit the side wall and whispered,“Lean forward.”

  “Oh my God,” I breathed, leaning forward and bracing my arms on the tile in front of me. The sound of the foil packet tearing took what was left of my breath away. I closed my eyes, widened my stance, and waited for his entry. Instead of the gentle, incremental slide I was used to, he slammed into me, filling me deep and quick in one confident stroke. I screamed out and my knees buckled.

  “I got you,” he said, holding me around the waist. “You okay?”

  “Do it again.” Pulling all the way out, he slammed back in, touching places I did not know existed.

  “Just like that?”

  “Again,” I whispered, needing everything he had to give me. He stroked again and again, somehow with different angles and depth. With his free hand, he reached up and flicked that long finger against my sensitive nipple. It was more than I could take. With a sharp, keening cry, I exploded, and wave after wave poured through me. Unsteadily, I pushed his arms from around me, turned and dropped to my knees. Before he knew what I had in mind, I took him in my mouth and sucked.

  “Oh, sweet mother of …Oh.” He swore under his breath and locked his knees as I used my mouth to express my appreciation for his talent and attention to detail. With a free hand, I cupped him and squeezed while still applying suction. That’s all it took. He moaned low and long, threw back his head, and released. I stroked him through it and just as he was finishing, I sucked one more time. “Christina!” He gave up a little more before I let him go. He sunk down to the tub floor next to me. “Wow.”

  “Exactly,” I responded without meeting his eyes.

  He sighed and leaned his forehead against mine.“What is it now?”

  I shrugged and whispered,“How did you know?”

  “What? That you would like it like that?”

  I nodded.

  “I see the depths in you. You aren’t near as buttoned-up and proper as you would have people think.”

  Humph. This guy knew more about me in thirty-six hours than my three idiot fiancés had figured out in years. That was scary.

  He stood up and dragged me along with him.“So now are you freaking out?”

  Again, he was too damn intuitive. I didn’t say anything and reached for the washcloth.

  “‘Cause I’m still not in love with you and this is still not a date.”

  “What is it, then?”

  “Depends.Are you kicking me out after this shower, or can a brother finally get an omelet?” His tone was light and unconcerned.

  I enjoyed his ability to defuse my neuroses with humor. I followed his lead and responded lightly. “You are go for omelets.”

  “Then this is a weekend fling.”

  “I don’t leave until Tuesday night.” Oops. Now that sounded like I wanted him to stick around until Tuesday.

  He laughed.“Then this is a five-day fling. After which we kiss and say good-bye. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.”

  10

  Riding the Wave

  Steven—Saturday, August 15, 7:43 p.m.

  Christina was in the living room playing Xbox with two of my roommates. I was rifling through my suitcase in my bedroom. The apartment in Morningside Heights was a three bedroom, spacious by New York standards. It was in a prewar building with exposed brick, refurbished hardwoods, and wonder of wonders—new plumbing. I don’t like to think about how much of my savings I sunk into the down payment on this place. As it was, I had found three roommates to split expenses with. Jimmy, a fast-talking brother, was one of them. He was talking my ear off now.

  “Man, she’s gotta have a single friend or two in the city she can hook us up with!?”

  I was beginning to think that swinging by my apartment with Christina in tow was not a good idea. The fellas were clowning.You would think they hadn’t seen a pretty girl with brains and personality before. “I told you she’s just out here a few days, and then she’s heading back to the Bay Area. She’s about business, not hooking you knuckleheads up.”

  “Just sayin’ it wouldn’t kill you to ask.” Jimmy was also starting at Columbia as an MBA candidate. He was also a Midwest guy, from St. Louis, and we liked each other immediately when we’d met at the preview weekend months ago. He wasn’t the best-looking brother in the bunch, but he had that personality and sense of humor that won over people easily.

  “Please act like you’ve seen a good-looking girl before.” I opened up a second suitcase, trying to find something suitable to wear to this party Christina invited me to. Record industry, rap stars, finance folks. I was thinking dark jeans and long-sleeve, lightweight shirt. Casual without trying too hard.

  “Plenty of those—this here’s a woman who has her act to-gether.We could use some upgraded femininity around these parts.”

  I wondered how Christina would take being referred to as “upgraded femininity.” She would probably launch a scathing comeback and then laugh about it.“Oh I see, this is about you trying to get on that come-up with a pimp move. Nice.”

  “Pimpin’ ain’t easy. Easiest way to reach the top is by getting a hand up, my brother.”

  I clapped Jimmy on the back.“Good luck with that. Listen, she and I are just hanging for a few days. So I’ll be right out there with you forging my own come-up as well.”

  “Y’all just hanging out, you say?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “That’s not the vibe I’m tracking, young Steven.”

  “What is it you think you know, son?”

  He wiggled his shoulders and wagged his brows. “I ain’t Dr. Phil or nothing, just saying you two feel like more than a bump and run.”

  “Well, tuck your feelings away there, Oprah.This is what it is.” I tossed a few more things in a garment bag and was turning toward the door when Christina walked in from the living room. When a woman makes you want, and she’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt, you know you’re in trouble.

  “S. Dub. It took me zero time at all to beat down your boys in Madden. Are you in here sewing apparel from scratch? What’s the holdup?” She put her hand on her hip and smiled.

  “Oprah here wanted to talk about feelings and the like.” I gestured to Jimmy.

  “Is that right? What’s he coming with?”

  “He says we have a vibe,” I teased, and walked toward her.

  “You and me?”

  “Me and you.”

  “Hmm. Interesting. And he based this on the thirty minutes since we walked in the door?”

  “Apparently.”

  “That’s impressive. Listen, you two boys wanna light some aromatherapy candles and watch Sex and the City reruns, or you want to go to the hottest party in town tonight?”

  Jimmy hopped up.“Wait a minute, C-Money. I’m invited, too?”

  She raised a brow at me and I nodded. Why not?

  “If you promise never to call me C-Money again, can snatch something to change into in the next two minutes, you’re in.”

  Jimmy
twirled around.“Score! What I tell you, Steezy? On that come-up! Hey, you think I’ll meet some of the rap groupies? My God, I’m about to slay at the party.Y’all not even knowing! Don’t leave without me!” He ran down the hall to his room.

  “You already regret inviting him, don’t you?”

  “I do. But hey, it’s only for one night.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re very live-in-themoment these days, aren’t you?”

  She perched on my lap. “I guess I am. I’m not thinking about it.”

  “Going with the flow?” I ran my lips up the side of her neck to just below her ear.

  She leaned into me.“Riding the wave.”

  “Come what may.” I nibbled across her jaw to her mouth.

  “Gotta problem with that?” She turned to meet my lips.

  We kissed once and then twice before I pulled back.“Since I’m the direct recipient of your wave riding…no. I have no problems with it at all.”

  “Good answer.”

  “You like that?” I smiled against her lips.

  “You know I do.” Her lips curved upward.

  “Ah hell, naw!” Jimmy’s voice interrupted some definite plans I had for the next few minutes. “Are you two going be slobbing each other up all night? ’Cause I could stay home and watch cable for that!”

  “Your boy’s an idiot,” Christina said as she hopped up from my lap.

  “This is true.”

  “But in a mostly harmless way.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  “Come on now, good people.” Jimmy raised his arms up and started shaking his behind.“Let’s go booty bump with the beautiful people.”

  “This living-in-the-moment thing may have a repercussion or two,” Christina said as she followed Jimmy’s gyrating ass down the hallway.

  “Wait a second!” Rob, the youngest of my roommates, called out as we marched past. Rob was a baby-faced, light-skinned, heavyset senior from upstate New York. He was a double major—computer science and graphic design—and planned to blaze a trail in the world of computer gaming after graduation. If Jimmy was the clown, Rob was the cool nerd. The term “geek chic” was invented to describe guys like Rob. “Where you headed?”