My Heart Skips a Beat

by E. L. Todd

  She was sitting in the center of the bed, looking like a vision.

  I inched closer to the bed, breathing hard and swallowing the lump in my throat at the same time.

  She watched me, a playful look in her eyes. “Why do you still have your clothes on?”

  I pulled my shirt off while I held her gaze. Then I removed my jeans. If she looked down, she would see how excited she made me.

  And she did. Then she returned her eyes to mine.

  I crawled on the bed then moved close to her. I didn’t touch her because I was nervous. Was she giving herself to me? Could I have her? Could I make love to her? Could I please her the way I wanted to? I’d give anything to taste her.

  “You want me?” she whispered. “Why are you so distant?”

  “I can’t believe this is happening…you didn’t give me any warning.”

  “That was the whole point.”

  I stared down at her then brushed her hair over on shoulder. When her neck was revealed, I gave her gentle kisses. I wanted to draw this out and make it last as long as possible. “Shit, you’re beautiful.” My hand moved under her dress and I felt the skin of her ribs.

  “You’ve been so patient with me. I want to reward you.”

  “Baby, just loving me is a reward in itself.” I kept kissing her until I could force myself to stop. “You don’t owe me anything. Don’t give me something out of duty or obligation.” I wished I would just shut my mouth and enjoy her.

  “I know you’ll wait for me but that doesn’t mean…we can’t do other things.”

  “So, what other things am I allowed to do?” I didn’t want there to be any misinterpretation. The last thing I wanted to do was to push her too hard and make her regret it.

  “You can touch me.”

  I picked her up the moved her to the top of the bed, resting her head on a pillow. “Can I see you?”

  She nodded.

  I moved my lips to hers and kissed her slowly, feeling her warm mouth against mine. Then my hand moved to her back where I unbuttoned her dress with a single hand. When I got it undone, I moved to her bra.

  Once it was loose, I pulled it off. When I looked down, I almost came then and there. She had the nicest rack I’d ever seen. Her chest was big, but perky and round. Without thinking, I leaned down and sealed my mouth over one nipple. I kissed her and sucked her hard, making a moan emit from her lips.

  I cherished her body, loving the fact I was the only one who had her like this. My mouth moved down to the thong she wore. I looked into her eyes before I slowly pulled it down her stockings and her heels. Then I moved my face between her legs and tasted her. I sucked her clitoris then moved my tongue around.

  Beatrice moaned quietly, her body writhing on the bed. Her hands dug into my hair, and she didn’t know how to continue the pleasure I was giving her. I was amazing in bed, but now I barely had to do anything since she was so inexperienced. I tasted her for a while before I moved back up her body. Then I leaned over her with my mouth near hers. “Have you ever had an orgasm before?”

  She shook her head.

  I pressed my mouth to hers while my fingers moved down below. I knew she liked what I was doing to her because she was soaking wet, and not just from my mouth. I rubbed her clitoris while I moved one finger inside. She was tight but smooth. I continued to kiss her while I felt her shake underneath me. Her nails dug into my skin and she started to moan uncontrollably. I kept moving my fingers until I felt her tighten around me.

  “Oh god…” She gripped me so tightly I thought I might bleed.

  I stopped kissing her and stared at her face, watching her come undone underneath me. I’d wanted to make her come the moment I set eyes on her. I’ve never seen something so beautiful in my life.

  She breathed hard as her orgasm passed. “Oh…”

  I kissed the corner of her mouth then her neck.

  After she regained her breath, she reached down and pulled my boxers down.

  I stopped kissing her and pulled back, watching her reaction to me.

  When she got them down, she stared at my size, her eyes wide.

  I kicked them off the rest of the way.

  She continued to stare at it like she didn’t know what to do with it.

  “I’m bigger than average,” I whispered.

  “You don’t say…” She swallowed the lump in her throat and kept looking at it.

  I didn’t know what she was willing to do, so I let her take the reigns. I pressed my face to hers and kissed her again, hoping that would relieve the pressure of me expecting her to do anything.

  She kissed me and wrapped her legs around me.

  Knowing my cock was so close to her entrance was the biggest turn on in the world. When she moved the right way, my cock glided past wet folds. I wanted to slip inside, just for a second, to see how she felt. But I stayed in control and didn’t do anything I’d regret later.

  She pulled me to my back then leaned over me. “Conrad…”

  “Hmm, baby?” My hand was in her hair and I wanted to keep kissing her.

  “I don’t know how to…you know.” She looked at my hard cock.

  “I’d be more than thrilled to show you.” Knowing she’d never touched another guy’s cock was so hot. Her first experience would be with me, and that made my cock twitch. She was mine in every sense of the word.

  I grabbed her hand and brought it to her lips. “Lick it.”

  She did as I asked.

  Then I moved her hand to my cock and wrapped her fingers around me. The moment her warm hand gripped me, I thought I’d explode. She squeezed it gently, her fingers massaging me.

  I held her wrist. “Now move up and down.” I guided her up and down my shaft, staying just below my head. The longer she moved her hand, the harder I breathed. My threshold was low since I hadn’t fooled around with anyone in over a year. It didn’t take much to set me off.

  She did it harder and faster.

  I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her, all my senses on fire. Just when I was about to explode, she stopped. I whimpered because I was in pain.

  She moved down to my waist then leaned over me, her hair over one shoulder. “Can you teach me this too?” she asked.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat then nodded. I had to clear my throat because words left me. “Stick it in your mouth as far as you can go, and then use your tongue to massage it…” My mouth went dry just from talking about it.

  She leaned over me then gripped the base. Then she slowly inserted it into her mouth.

  “Fuck.” My head rolled back because it felt so good.

  She inserted me as far as she could handle. Then she did it again, slowly.

  “Just like that, baby.” I grabbed her hair and held it in my hand while she took me in over and over. Just watching her give me head was the sexiest thing in the world. “Now use your hand like before.”

  She wrapped her fingers around me and moved up and down with her mouth.

  I enjoyed it as long as possible before I couldn’t hold back anymore. “I’m about to come, baby. Pull out.”

  “I can swallow.”

  My head rolled back again, her words shattering me.

  Her mouth took me in only once before I exploded inside her.

  I gripped the side of her head and felt myself squirt. I forced myself not to move her head further down like instinct dictated me to. I enjoyed every second of my euphoria, relieved I was finally having my first orgasm in a year. “Fuck, that felt good.”

  She swallowed everything then leaned back. “Did I do it right?”

  “You were perfect,” I said, out of breath.

  She moved up my chest then leaned over me. “I want to make you feel good.”

  “Mission accomplished,” I said with a weak laugh. I pulled her to my chest, exhausted and satisfied.

  She snuggled into me, her naked body pressed against mine. “I’m glad you were my first.”

  I opened my eyes and looked at her. “
I’m honored, Beatrice. It means a lot to me that you trust me.”

  “I trust you more than anyone.”

  I kissed her forehead and felt my heart ache. “I love you so much, baby. You’re my whole world.”

  “And you’re my family.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Silke

  Three months had come and gone. I would forever remember the last time I saw Arsen. It was a painful parting, and the sight of his tears nearly killed me. If I spent any more time wishing things had been different, my head would explode or my heart would give out.

  No matter how I looked at the situation, I couldn’t deny the truth.

  Arsen was right.

  We could never have a future together, not now. He’d be in prison for years, and by the time he got out, he wouldn’t be the same. The year we spent together changing his life would all be for nothing. No matter how I justified our love, I knew we didn’t have a future together. Our lives would never be normal. I could never have the life that I wanted. We could never get married. Our relationship would be a work-in-progress at every moment in time. The good times would come, but the bad ones would linger indefinitely.

  There was no doubt I loved Arsen with my whole heart, but the strength of my emotion wouldn’t change anything. He and I were from different worlds. As much as it pained me, I had to let him go. He wouldn’t take me back even if I wanted to be with him. I could beg and plead, but he would always push me away. He would get out of prison then shack up with some girl, share a cigarette with her. I’d be a distant memory, the woman he could never have.

  Getting my life back together was difficult. Every time I walked the streets, I remembered how Arsen and I were supposed to find our way together. We were supposed to begin this new journey, have a new start.

  But now I walked the path alone.

  I applied for a few jobs in museums and galleries but no one ever called for an interview. Honestly, I didn’t really care. I was too depressed to care about anything anymore.

  I even applied to the MET for a position as an assistant curator in their art department, but I knew I wouldn’t get it. Just because I went to a fancy school and received an award for my sculpture didn’t mean I was desirable. There was no doubt that thousands of people far more qualified than I am were applying for the same position. I didn’t even have experience, so I knew I wouldn’t be considered. It was a shame, I could use the distraction.

  But then I got a phone call. And an interview.

  I was so excited, that for the first time in months, I didn’t think about Arsen or our final words. I actually jumped up and down in excitement, feeling happy for the first time in forever.

  All my friends and family were doing really cool things, and I was the only one camping in my apartment. Skye was going through a hard time with Cayson, but she still wasn’t as bad as I was. I was glad I had something to focus on. Sitting around and thinking about Arsen wasn’t helping.

  ***

  After I went on my interview, I got a phone call two days later. It turns out, I got the job.

  Oh. My. God.

  My first instinct was to tell my parents. Unable to wait until they got home, I headed to my dad’s shop and walked inside. Dad was behind the counter with Slade, doing paperwork while the rest of the workers were at their stations. Radio winked at me like usual.

  “Dad!” I said excitedly.

  He flinched at my approach. “Hey, sweetheart. What brings you here?” The happiness was in his eyes, and he seemed more excited than usual. He was probably thrilled I was out of the house and didn’t look so depressed.

  “I got a job!” I was hopping on my heels.

  “Really?” he said. “Where?”

  “At the MET,” I said.

  Slade raised an eyebrow. “Where the baseball team is?”

  “No, idiot,” I hissed. “The biggest museum of art in the country.”

  “That’s great, honey.” Dad came around the counter and hugged me. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “I’m an assistant curator! How cool is that?” I said.

  “It’s alright,” Slade said with a shrug.

  Dad glared at him. “Be happy for your sister.”

  “Nah.” He kept writing on the paper.

  Dad turned back to me. “When do you start?”

  “On Monday,” I said. “And did you know it comes with benefits?”

  “Why would he know that?” Slade asked.

  “And it’s a full-time,” I said excitedly. “It’s like, perfect.”

  “That’s great, honey.” He patted me on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

  “Yeah…” For the most part.

  “Have you told your mother?”

  “Not yet.”

  “She’ll be thrilled.”

  “Or not care,” Slade said. “Like me.”

  “I can fire you, you know,” Dad said.

  “Yeah right,” Slade said. “This place would fall apart without me.”

  “Ryan, take a look at this.” Radio waved him over.

  “I’ll be right back, sweetheart.” Dad patted me on the shoulder again before he walked away.

  Slade put down the pen then eyed me. “Congrats.”

  “Thanks.” I knew he meant it.

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

  I guess my brave front fooled no one. “Yeah…it hasn’t been easy.”

  “For what it’s worth, I really like Arsen,” he said. “But I think you can do better.”

  I smiled. “You’ve never been the protective type.”

  “I’m not,” he blurted. “Do whatever you want. I’m just saying…if this guy is in prison…I don’t want you to end up with someone like that.”

  “He’s not a bad person,” I said in defense. “He’s sensitive, caring, and selfless. He just made some bad decisions…”

  “And you never make bad decisions…well, with him you did. But I’m sure you planted a seed for him to change his life around. And that’s the best thing you did for him. Now you need to be with someone who can make you grow, you know?”

  It was one of the nicest things my brother had ever said to me, and he didn’t say nice things often. “Thanks…”

  He patted me awkwardly on the shoulder. “Sure. Clearly, between Trinity and I, I’m the loser. She makes me a better person every day, and I’m learning to be a better boyfriend. But, I try to do things for her too. It’s all about give and take. And that’s what makes a relationship real. With you and Arsen, I felt like you were doing all the work.”

  He was right. “But he needed help.”

  “And you gave him everything you had,” he said with a serious look. “But now it’s time for you to find a man that can give you everything he has. You know, someone who makes you happy. Someone who doesn’t sell weed and isn’t in prison…”

  I chuckled lightly.

  “I’m just glad you aren’t so sad over him anymore.”

  I released a deep sigh. “I’ll always love him. That will never change.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “But…time has made it easier.”

  “Good,” he said. “Don’t feel bad about that.”

  “I don’t,” I said simply. “He dumped me and told mehe never wanted to see me again. And when I came back for him, he never came out. He didn’t even take my calls. He wants nothing to do with me…”

  “I think it’s best for both of you.”

  “Maybe,” I said with a shrug. I didn’t want to discuss Arsen anymore. It was making me sad. “How’s Trinity’s new place?”

  “Awesome,” he blurted. “We’ve been doing it all over the place like rabbits.”

  I cringed. “Just saying ‘awesome’ would have been enough.”

  “She and I are back to our old ways. We snuggle in bed and read together. I watch her sleep. I…”

  “Whoa, hold on.”

  “What?” he asked.

&n
bsp; “You watch her sleep? Like a creeper?”

  “It’s not creepy,” he said defensively. “I love her. It’s not like I’m a stranger.”

  “It’s still creepy.”

  “Well, fine. I guess I’m creepy. I highly doubt Trinity minds.”

  “If you asked her, I know she would have given you a different response.”

  “You don’t know my baby at all,” he said defensively.

  Dad returned. “So, should we go out and celebrate?”

  “Free food?” Slade asked. “I’m there. I’m bringing my lady too.”

  “It’ll just be the family,” Dad said. “No Trinity.”

  “She is family,” he said defensively.

  “Of course,” Dad said. “But I want it just to be us.”

  Slade rolled his eyes. “So, it’ll be totally boring?”

  “It can just be the three of us if you prefer,” Dad threatened.

  “No, I’ll go,” Slade said. “You can calm down now.”

  “Are you sure you want to work with him for the rest of your life?” I asked incredulously.

  Slade reached for his soda but knocked it over across the papers and inventory. It soaked the papers. He quickly grabbed his dirty napkins from lunch and tried to blot everything dry. But since there was so much soda and so little napkin it wasn’t doing anything.

  Dad released a groan while he watched him. “No.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Thomas

  Working as a financial advisor wasn’t exactly thrilling. I told my clients when to invest and how much. Then I told them when to pull out before the stock market took a downturn. I spent my days counting cash and organizing municipal bonds and trust funds. Moving money was all I did.

  I reaped the rewards by charging a low fee for everything I did. Three percent didn’t seem like a lot, especially when I was dealing with high volumes of money, but over the long term, it came out to significant cash.

  I was a very wealthy man.

  My brother took a different route. He went to college and majored in business, a stupid move if you ask me, and he worked as a martial arts instructor. Now that he lived in the city, he was looking for work again. He was amateur and childish, but he did have a gorgeous girlfriend. How he landed her, I’ll never figure out.