Back To Good

by Laura Benson

  “I took that one a few years back. I was in the engineer’s booth. So the shot was perfect.” He must’ve watched my eyes follow the trail of pictures.

  “It’s incredible.”

  He nodded his head. “Do you want something to drink? Water, beer, wine?”

  I could’ve really used a glass of wine, but I opted for, “Water, please.”

  I sat down on the couch and sunk in. I wasn’t expecting to be enveloped in leather, but this damn couch was so comfortable. Matthew came back with a glass of water in one hand and beer in the other.

  Looking around, I murmured, “I’ve never been here.”

  Twisting the top off his beer, he took a deep pull. “Yeah, not many people come to casa Matt.”

  I nodded, taking a sip of my water. It quenched the fire in my throat. For some reason, words were failing me. I knew what I was doing here and why I was here. But now that the adrenaline from earlier was gone, I felt dirty and a bit nervous. I leaned over to pull a drink coaster toward me and promptly spilled my water all over the leather ottoman.

  “Shit! I’m so sorry.”

  “No worries. He stood up, headed toward the kitchen bringing back paper towels. “Leather is easy to clean-up; hence the living room being covered in it.”

  “I feel like an idiot.” Matthew mopped up the water and threw the towels into the wastebasket. He pulled me up, bringing me close to his chest. He smelled like me and a bit of himself. I found myself wanting to be buried in his strong arms.

  “You are not an idiot. It’s water. No big deal.”

  I sighed into his chest. “I’m not talking about that.” I peeked a glance at him, watching his face convey every question that he was afraid to ask.

  He took a deep breath and stepped back from me. “Does this have to do with Joey?”

  “Somewhat, Matthew. I’m just not sure what I’m feeling right now. Earlier, I wanted to jump on you and fuck your brains and smartass-ness right out of you. Now, I’m not sure I’m thinking clearly. Obviously we’re attracted to each other.” I started pacing.

  I knew that I wasn’t making much sense. I stopped in front of Matthew again, placing my palms on his cheeks. “I’m a mess,” I joked as I started stroking his face, slowly moving my fingers to the nape of his neck where his hair gently grazed his shirt collar.

  He managed to snake his arms around my waist, pulling me in tightly. “For once, Charlie, don’t think and just feel.” A light brush of his lips ghosted over my lips, trailing down to below my ear. A soft moan escaped my throat as I tried to do what he asked. I was trying my hardest to just enjoy this. This was everything I needed. Matthew murmured all the right things, while slightly teasing me. My nipples were pebbling under my shirt, and I wanted him to take them into his mouth and make sweet love to them.

  With hooded eyes, he slowly stopped the torturous but wonderful exploration of my body, Matthew linked his fingers with mine and proceeded to his bedroom.

  Matthew took his time undressing me, slowly working me up to a frenzy that I suddenly found myself in. With nothing more than white lace underclothes still on, he proceeded to remove his pants and shirt. I knew that what I saw beneath would be nothing short of miraculous, as he’d filled out quite nicely. He ran a tongue along my lips as he jimmied his jeans off. When he was down to his boxer-brief, I saw what awaited me. I’d felt Matthew before, but just seeing it try to snake its way out of his underwear was impressive. I managed to pull myself up to the headboard of his massive king-sized bed while Matthew crawled on all fours trying to get to me. He flashed me an amazing smile which in turn caused me to get up on my knees and meet him half-way.

  Smashing our lips together, I couldn’t get enough of him. He was quickly becoming my air and every kiss we shared, I took his breath and entwined it with mine. His fingers tangled in my hair pulling slightly on it, giving him more access to my neck.

  “Christ, Charlie. You have no idea how badly I want you.”

  “Shhhh…” It was all I could say, as I trailed my lips down his chest, finally meeting his belly button. That garnered me another amazing smile while he slyly managed to unhook my bra. Ever so carefully, he pulled one strap down ‘til it rested at my elbow. He followed the same path with the other shoulder. He trailed kisses until he found the erect nipple. With a tug and a pull, he sucked on my nipple, causing me to sway backwards. I could feel the rush of warmth and wetness pool in my panties and realized that I really wanted this to happen. Arching my back to give him better access to my breasts. While sucking on one, his fingers were pleasuring the other one.

  I was feeling extremely selfish as my hands hung by my sides, doing nothing to him. Breaking away from the breast, he gently laid me back, arranging my legs around his waist. With minute precision, he pulled down my panties painstakingly slowly while softly teasing every ounce of flesh I had down there. Once the panties were flung behind him, he slowly rubbed his nose inside my thigh giving small, extremely torturous bites. He was contemplating his next move, I just knew.

  Pulling up on his knees, he finally pulled the boxer-briefs down, freeing his erection while leaning over to grab the square foil packet he’d somehow managed to leave beside us. He chuckled at the awed look on my face while he pulled me up on to his lap. Matthew took my legs and wrapped them around his waist as he pulled his out straight. Once he breached that first step, I was falling into ecstasy. Ever so slowly, he entered me while lifting my ass cheeks to give him a better angle. Once he was fully inside, we stared at each other. Both of us said nothing as I felt him firmly inside me. With a subtle motion, he moved gently inside of me. I followed and moved my hips as we found a rhythm that worked for us. Every so often I would lean back, and he’d hit that spot that would cause a loud, guttural moan.

  “Faster, Matthew, please,” I would breathe when I’d get to that point. At times I would pull off and slam down on him causing him to shudder and elicit his own gratified moan. He filled me up and gave me everything I wanted that night. I knew then that we weren’t just fucking for fuck’s sake. He was slowly claiming me, making love to every inch of my body until we both exploded in a sweaty, euphoric mess.

  After we finished, Matthew stayed inside of me as we continued to look at each other. “Fucking beautiful, Charlie.” I shivered, and he rubbed my arms. “You are incredible, sweetheart.”

  I was the one to finally pull back as he fell out of me. I laid down and literally purred and stretched my overly satiated body. Matthew grabbed a tissue from the table and got off the bed to take care of the condom. Watching him walk to the en-suite, I could see a very well-cut figure and ass that looked tight and strong. I could flip quarters on that ass. I slowly looked over to my backside and sighed. Dimpled and small.

  Matthew stood in the doorway, completely au natural and completely at ease. Leaning against the jamb with his arms crossed, I leaned up on my elbows. “Is there something wrong?”

  “I was admiring the body in my bed. Her long legs, her hips and breasts that I can’t seem to get enough of.” I giggled at him. I actually giggled then rolled my eyes. Staying in the same position, he shook his head. “We should think about getting some dinner.”

  I nodded my head and stretched out again, working out the kinks that made me feel buttery and relaxed. I’d closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of my back and legs stretching. I’d kept my eyes closed when I heard a seductive growl. I opened one eye in time for Matthew to pounce on me again.

  Matthew treated me to a dinner of store brand pasta and tomato sauce from a jar. We had bread with butter, and he cracked open a bottle of wine. It was an interesting choice of food, but it wasn’t all bad. He’d put on some workout shorts and cooked without a shirt on. I was wearing one of his t-shirts that just skimmed my ass. It wasn’t an overly romantic dinner, but it was pretty special all the same.

  He’d been staring at me over his wine glass as I swirled my spaghetti on my fork. I’d put the mouthful in and caught his gaze. As glamorous as spaghett
i was, I’d still managed to get some sauce on my chin. Matthew leaned over with his napkin and wiped it off.

  A shiver of utter desire tore through me.

  “You keep staring at me, Matthew.” I put my fork down and folded my hands on the table while trying to not break the contact of our eyes.

  Taking another sip of his wine, he placed his glass down. “Just amazed that you’re here.” He looked around the house. “With me.”

  I could feel my cheeks heat up. Knowing what we’d done an hour ago, still lingered between us.

  “I know what you mean,” I said softly.

  “What does it mean for us, Charlie? I know what I want, but I’m not entirely sure if we’re on the same page.”

  I knew exactly where he was going with this. The elephant in the room, which hung on the walls of his house. Joey.

  “I’m not sure what you want me to say, Matthew. We can’t just broadcast that we’re sleeping with each other.”

  He raked a hand through his hair, but he still looked incredible. Even when his hair was willy-nilly, he was amazing. “That’s not what I mean, Charlie. I need to know what I am to you. What do I mean to you?”

  Biting my lip, I inhaled a big breath of air, trying to center my rapidly beating heart. “I’m not sure what’s going on, Matthew. I just think we need to take this slow. Like really slow.”

  Matthew got up from the table and cleared his plate into the sink. I could see the muscles in his back constrict and relax as he leaned down on the counter for support. “I’m willing to take things as slowly as you want, sweetheart. What I need to know is what is he to you?”

  I was taken aback for exactly a second. “He means nothing to me. I gave up on Joey after the texts and the compromising positions he put himself in. Right now, he’s just a job. Whatever happened was a minute of extremely stupid and rash behavior.”

  He turned around to face me, walking over to me. Giving me his hand, he pulled me up, cupping my cheeks and slowly bending down to kiss me. It was a sweet, almost chaste kiss. A butterfly kiss, but once the wings started flapping and his tongue darted out to lick my bottom lip, the hunger between the two of us became voracious. My hands worked through his hair, down his neck. Holding on to his shoulders, I tried to pull him in closer. I didn’t want to give this up.

  “Stay with me tonight, Charlie.”

  I laid my head on his chest, listening to his erratic heartbeat that I caused. I was torn between doing what was right and what my body was screaming for me to do.

  “I want to, Matthew; I just don’t think it’s wise right now.” Matthew looked down at me nodding his head.

  “Your staying here tonight isn’t really taking things slowly, is it?”

  I chuckled. He skimmed his hands across my ass as I pressed a kiss to his chest. I was being stupid and giving up the night spent in his arms was completely idiotic.

  Settling in the bed alone at the hotel was lonely. After the evening spent declaring our feelings, I knew I was acting ridiculous for shutting Matthew out while I figured out a way to let Joey know that his best friend was starting to hold the key to my heart. I had been relaxed and calm, but once I left Matthew, everything came rushing back. My brain started working overtime, and I wanted it to stop.

  TV was not holding my attention, and there was nothing but sappy love songs when I turned on the radio. I started searching the Internet for sales and when that lost my attention, I shut the computer down and set it on the floor beside me.

  I wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring with the change in my relationship with Matthew. Sleeping with someone and working in the same office could be a bit problematic. Especially if everyone could see me with a stupid, satisfied grin on my face. It practically screamed ‘I got laid’!

  My phone started buzzing, and I had to get out of bed because I’d left it on the desk.

  Matt: Can’t stop thinking of you and smelling you all over my bed. Sweet dreams, sweetheart. See you tomorrow.

  A broad smile came to my face, and I knew that I was beginning that descent into what could only be madness. My palms were sweaty, my heart rate spiking. I could feel the prickly heat behind my neck.

  Oh shit!

  I was falling in love with him.

  The flush of embarrassment occurred the moment I walked into the office. Debbi was sitting at her desk, typing on her computer and talking to someone on the phone. It sounded like she was scheduling an appointment for Matthew. As much as I wanted to hear what was going on, I just let her buzz me in and headed down to my cubby hole of an office.

  With the events of yesterday, I knew that I’d be in shit-saving mode with the label and dealing with my dad. My first email of the day came in around midnight with my dad demanding my return home. On top of the pictures that were leaked of me and Joey, Daddy talked to the label and wasn’t extremely happy with what had gone on.

  Honestly, I would’ve preferred to send Matthew’s head on a silver platter for the uproar he caused yesterday at the meeting. Andrew would be on my side, and I’d need him to play messenger for me. However, I was afraid that Dad would cut me off, forcing me back home looking like a complete failure.

  Just as I was about to call Andrew, a knock on the door pulled me away from phone.

  “Joey?” He stood there with hands stuffed in pockets looking a bit shoddy. In fact, he looked like he hadn’t slept or showered.

  “Talked to Matthew,” he said, still standing in the doorway. My lips slashed into a straight line because I really wasn’t sure what Matthew had talked to him about. But if he mentioned anything about the two of us, then this relationship was not going slowly at all. And that pissed me off.

  “Oh?” Real smooth, Charlie.

  Joey finally came into my office, not quite closing the door all the way.

  “The meeting,” he stated. I nodded my head, tapping my ever present pen on the desk. He looked down at the drumming pen. “I’m sorry it went the way it did, although, I’m not sorry that Matthew did what he had to, it’s why he’s the best partner I have. He gets me, and he knows what I need. But you absolutely did not need to be collateral damage.”

  “What’s done is done, Joe. I need to work on some damage control with Dad, but I understand.”

  “It wasn’t fair to you, and I pretty much let Matthew know.” He picked at his thumbnail. “I let him know in no uncertain terms that you were not to be hurt in all this. He also showed me the pictures that were taken the night we were at the bar. Charlie, I didn’t know.”

  I held my hand up to stop him. “Joey, I’m not blaming you for that or the meeting. Matthew did things for you, and I appreciate that he did them. Was I happy that he made me feel stupid? No. The pictures didn’t help, but they also didn’t tell the whole story. As for the meeting? Well, it seems that you’re free of your contract so you and Matthew can start forming your own partnership and effectively my business with you is over. So it’s a win-win.”

  I could see the beginning of a smile creep along his lips, but then it changed once I finished talking. I was happy for him, happy that things were going his way and that he’d be happy with whatever he decided. He deserved that. Being a rock star might look like an amazing job, but just in the few weeks I’ve been here, it’s been hard work for him. His concert was exhausting, and he’d suffered the after effects for a few days.

  We’d been talking for a while when Matthew barged into my office, because the door hadn’t been fully closed. Joey stood up suddenly as Matthew started making his way to me. I could tell by the lustful look in his eyes, he wasn’t expecting Joey to still be here. I tried to keep the flurry of emotions at bay but seeing him there in his normal wear of jeans and a t-shirt, I couldn’t help but stare. It brought me back to the night before when we were fully entwined, our legs wrapped around each other. I found the flush climbing up my cheeks and had to look down at my desk to keep Joey from noticing. Biting my bottom lip seemed like a good idea to break the spell and hold Matthew seemed to
have on me.

  I was a right rotten bitch. Falling in love with my ex-boyfriend’s best friend. I started taking in large breaths of air realizing that both of them were crowding me in my small space. The both of them were too big and full, and I felt like the air was being sapped from the room. Joey looked from me to Matthew, crooking an eyebrow at Matthew that spoke volumes to me. Matthew ever so slightly shook his head.

  Clearing his throat, Matthew opened his mouth to talk. “Just came to see if you,” he nodded his head toward me, “wanted to have an apology lunch for yesterday’s meeting.” He looked to me, grimaced then turned back to Joey. “You’re invited as well. We can discuss our next steps.”

  I could see the wrinkles in Joey’s brow like he was trying to figure out a problem that he wasn’t sure could be figured. I held my breath, closing my eyes slowly opening them to see Joey staring at me with a surprised look. I watched Matthew, I could tell that he hadn’t planned on inviting him, but for reasons known to us, he needed to.

  “Sure,” Joey spoke. “Anywhere in particular?”

  “I have no preference,” I said quickly. “Matthew?” I looked at him trying to convey anything to calm him down. Before Matthew could answer, Joey spoke.

  “I want to go someplace where there are no paparazzi,” Joey growled.

  Matthew and I snuck a look at each other. I’m not sure what he was thinking, but I was thinking of that Middle Eastern restaurant we’d hit up the first time I’d come to L.A.

  So that is exactly what I suggested.

  Matthew and I drove together as Joey took his own car. Throughout the drive, Matthew’s fingers were intertwined with mine. I knew we were playing a dangerous game with Joey right behind us, but really, it’s not like he could see in the car. Still I questioned my sanity with agreeing to this lunch. Matthew’s fingers started moving over to my thigh lightly brushing soft touches on my inner thigh that caused me to lose any thoughts of Joey. Which is probably why he was doing this. I pushed my head into the car seat, closed my eyes and allowed myself to get transported to wherever Matthew wanted to take me. I heard a chuckle as he seamlessly pulled into a parking spot. I’d noticed that he’d parked beside Joey in a parking area.