by S. M. Shade
Remee shrugs and kicks her shoes back off. “Why not? I guess we’re staying in.” She picks up her phone and taps the screen a few times to check the weather app. “It’s supposed to storm all day.”
There’s an undercurrent of nerves in her voice, and the smile she gives me when I sit next to her is shy. Remee’s never shy. Uptight and anxious, yes, but she’s one of the most confident people I know. Her reaction is adorable, and as much as I want to fuck the hell out of her, I want to take care of her too.
Before the wheels can start spinning in her head and make her reconsider, I cup her face in one hand and kiss her. The way she melts against me, wrapping her arms around me is amazing. There’s no awkwardness. No hesitation. From the moment I touch her, I’m lost in her.
We undress each other, and having Remee spread out naked in front of me beats any fantasy I’ve ever had.
She reaches over to retrieve a box of condoms from the bedside table drawer and hands me one, watching while I set it aside. Crawling over her body, I feel her shiver when I murmur in her ear, “Not so fast. I’m taking my time with you. We have all day.” Her eyes close as I kiss down her neck. “And I’m going to make you come over and over again.”
“Jesus, Owen,” she breathes, and I love that my words are getting to her. Remee likes dirty talk. Is there anything about this woman that doesn’t turn me on?
She runs her hands down my sides, around to my back, then down to squeeze my ass. Her head falls back, accompanied by the tiniest whimper when I lick and suck her nipples. Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me up, and she licks into my mouth with an unexpected ferocity that makes me want to fuck her until she begs me to stop.
Something clicks between us, and any thought of taking my time is forgotten as we become nothing but hands and tongues.
The cry that leaves her when I wrap my arms around her thighs and delve in with my tongue is the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever heard. She squirms against my face, but I’m not letting her go.
Friends who have sex, she said.
That’s not where this is headed, and I know that even before my name tumbles out with the pulses against my tongue. This woman is mine. And I have the whole summer to make her see it.
Before she can fully recover, I have the condom on and her legs wrapped around me. Leaning over her, I rub my cock at her entrance. “Are you sure?”
“God, yes.”
The last half of the word comes out with a gasp as I sink all the way into her. Holy Fuck, she’s perfect.
This is perfect.
Until I start to move and the bed lets out the most godawful noise I’ve ever heard. I try to block it out but with every stroke, it seems to get louder. Seriously, what is wrong with this bed? Bedsprings squeak, but they aren’t supposed to sound like a tortured cow.
Remee gazes up at me, her hands still on my ass, and her chest starts shaking. She covers her mouth with her hand, and one look at her has me laughing too.
“I’m sorry,” she says between giggles. “It sounds like someone pulling a straw in and out of a fast food drink.”
Yeah, she’s pretty much nailed the description.
“Other bed,” I decide, and pray it won’t be the same when I pick her up and move her over to it. We have no trouble picking up where we left off. Reserved, uptight Remee is nowhere to be seen for the rest of the day. We fuck each other for hours, with breaks only to eat and shower before we’re back at it again. It’s not just hot and sexy, but the most fun I’ve ever had in bed with someone.
Exhausted, we end up under her covers listening to rain lash against the windows. “Are you overthinking this?” I ask when she gets quiet.
“No, are you?” She rolls to face me.
She is, and I want to distract her before she can have any regrets. “Nah, I was just thinking about the abominable snowman.”
“What?”
“You know, like, exactly what makes a snowman abominable? Did he do something wrong? I mean, Frosty came to life and started following kids around. That’s an abomination.”
“Frosty the Abominable Snowman probably doesn’t have the right ring to it for a holiday song.”
“True.”
“I always wondered what guys thought about after sex,” She cuddles against me and yawns.
“Now you know.”
My worry that Remee would regret us hooking up doesn’t seem to be an issue. We spend the weekend together like we usually do, at the beach and wandering around town. The nights are much better. With a naked girl underneath me, how could they not be?
She crawls out of bed early on Sunday morning, and I drag my eyes open. “What are you doing?”
“Getting dressed.”
“Request denied. I insist you get back in bed right now.”
“It wasn’t a request. I’ve been slacking on yoga and meditation since we got here, and I’ve always wanted to do it on the beach.”
“You’re going to the beach?”
With her back turned to me, she bends over to pick up her shoes. Her yoga pants outline her amazing ass and thoughts of sleep disappear. Remee in skin tight clothes bending every which way on the sand? I’m in.
“What are you doing?” she asks when I get up and start pulling on clothes.
“Going with you. The beach isn’t safe alone. You might get attacked by gulls or something.”
After a moment of consideration, she points at me. “Fine, you can go, but this is supposed to be relaxing. No acting like an idiot.”
Laying my hand on my heart, I let my mouth fall open. “When have I ever?” At the sight of her expression, I hold up my hands. “I won’t disturb you, I swear. You can even teach me how to do yoga if you want. Even though we both know I’m remarkably flexible.”
Her eye roll would be a bit more convincing if she could control that grin. We end up on the same beach where I took her to study the stars, and there’s not another soul in sight. Not surprising since the sun has barely risen.
Chilly air paints goosebumps down my arms while we lay out our beach towels to use in lieu of yoga mats. Remee props her phone up where I can see it. “I have this memorized, but it’ll be easier for you to follow the video.”
It starts with a minute of silence and breathing, then leads me to a new discovery about myself. I am not, in fact, remarkably flexible. Keeping my promise not to disturb Remee, who nails every pose like she’s been doing it her whole life, I grunt and sweat my way through a few minutes until the woman onscreen folds herself in some ridiculous way. It looks to be a testicle crusher, and I’m done.
Remee’s lost in her own world, and I take a second to watch her bend her body to match the instructor without opening her eyes. Contentment rests on her face. Outlined against the white sky, she’s beautiful. Though I tease her about being uptight about some things, I envy her calmness. The way she sits back and examines everything before making a decision is in stark contrast to my impulsivity, but it’s one of the things I love about her. My mind and body never want to stay still.
Quietly, I retrieve my phone and take her picture. Judging by the amount of time left on the video, she’s only about halfway finished so I walk away, giving her some space, and spend the rest of the time exercising in a way that won’t leave me tied up like a pretzel.
Sand sticks to my sweaty skin after the last round of push-ups. Exercising on the beach sucks. Give me the gym. Remee smirks at me when I sit up. “Yoga harder than it looks?”
“Maybe I just don’t feel a need to be able to kiss my own ass.”
She scoops up her phone, and I flop back down beside her. “If you want to go for a walk or whatever, I have a fifteen minute meditation podcast to do.”
“As long as it doesn’t include trying to roll myself up like a joint, I’m in.”
The audio starts with a woman’s voice giving instructions. Okay, I swear I’m not judging. I know there are a lot of people who benefit from this, and there are some things I find useful. Relaxing my
shoulders, unclenching my jaw, realizing where I’m holding tension, great. Some of the other commands, not so much.
Once it’s over, Remee glances over at me. “Did you get anything out of that?”
“It was relaxing, and honestly, I tried, but Rem, I have no idea how to breathe into my pelvis.”
A snort of laughter leaps from her before she covers her mouth.
“I’m serious! You heard her say it! Breathe into your pelvis. How’s that even possible? Last time I checked, my pelvis doesn’t have lungs. Or does it mean breathe on your pelvis? Which in that case, I’m sorry, it becomes a fetish. And impossible.”
“You’re impossible,” she laughs.
“Yeah, but you like me.”
She stands and gathers up her towel. “You’re tolerable.”
“Okay, that does it.”
Her shriek when I scoop her up and cradle her against me scares away a flock of seagulls. “What are you doing?”
“Admit you like me. Say something nice about me or we’re going into the water.” The air is still cool as I march us toward the edge.
“Put me down!” she laughs, her arms circling my neck to hold on.
“I intend to.” The water laps over my feet, reaching for my ankles.
“Don’t you dare!”
“Still haven’t heard a compliment.”
I’m up to my knees when she says, “You weren’t too annoying this morning.”
“Really? That’s the best you can do?” Her giggles cut short when a few drops splash up to her feet.
“That’s cold! Okay, okay! I like you!”
Her gaze sticks to mine, and I feel a tug that I know she has to feel too. The heat and raw pleasure that shoot through me when I kiss those cool lips is terrifying. She has no idea how fucking addicting she is. If she knew how I felt in this moment, she’d put an end to our summer fling. “Aw, Rem, that’s so sweet.” Before she can reply, I leap into the waves, plunging us both into the cool water.
The first word I hear when we surface is asshole. Arms wrap around me again, and I hold her tight against me. The waves bounce us around, hitting me at chest level.
“I’m going to kill you,” she gasps.
“After the way you just gushed over how much you like me, how sexy I am, and how no man can ever outdo me in bed?”
Shivering a little, she shakes her head. “If you’re hearing voices, you might need a doctor.”
“I hear what I want to hear.”
Her arms link around my neck and she looks me in the eye. “I do like you.” She plants a firm kiss on my mouth. “I’m glad you’re here. This summer would’ve been awful if you hadn’t come.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
When we return to work, I’m prepared to deal with Evan if he gives her any trouble for leaving him waiting for her out in front of the bar, but she shakes her head at the suggestion.
“No. Thanks for the offer, but I can handle it.”
I’ll admit, I want to press the issue, go all caveman and maybe kiss her in front of everyone, but I know that would piss her off. Zara’s lectured us more than once about how women shouldn’t have to use the excuse of having a boyfriend instead of just saying no. It is screwed up when I stop to think about it, that guys respect a man’s claim on a woman more than her assertion that she isn’t interested. I need to let her handle it if that’s what she wants.
It still makes for a long morning of thinking about her until I see her at lunchtime. The smile on her face when she meets me at my truck is a relief, even before she assures me everything is fine.
“I talked to Jim about moving me permanently to the painting crew. It’s the only thing I’m not terrible at. I think he was relieved to do it and not have me screwing up the other stuff. It’s actually kind of fun now that I’m getting better at it.”
Getting better at it has her spattered in gray paint. Flecks and smears cover her clothes and skin. It’s cute as hell. “I told you you’d get the hang of it.” We head to a little hamburger restaurant around the corner and eat at their outdoor tables in the shade.
“No problems with Evan then?”
“No.” She glances up at me. “Are you sure you’re okay with, you know, limiting yourself to sleeping with me while we’re here? I know it probably isn’t the most fair situation since it’s temporary, but I also don’t want a Florida STD.”
There’s so much wrong with that question I don’t even know where to start. “Rem, I didn’t come down here planning to screw everything in sight. I’m having a great time with you, and I’m happy to be exclusive.” For far longer than the summer, but we’ll get to that. “Besides, you’re right. Those Florida STD’s are the worst. Make your genitals look like alligator skin.”
A woman walking past our table whips her head around in horror, and Remee smothers a laugh. “Okay, good.”
“Plus, you’re really sexy, and I love your vagina.”
“Also good to know. It’s pretty fond of you too.” She checks her phone when it buzzes. “Oh wow, they’re actually going to drive down here. Have you heard from Marty or Graham?”
“No, they’re coming here?”
“With Serena and Zara. Kelly can’t make it.”
“When?”
“Next week. Day after your birthday.” She sets the phone aside. “Speaking of your birthday, I have no idea what to get you. Help me out.”
“Babe, this is easy. Three little words. Sloppy blow job.”
We’re both in such a good mood, and when I drop her off a few houses down from the one I’m working on, she leans over and kisses me before joining the painting crew waiting on the porch.
A few of the guys from my crew are gathered around the side of the house we’re roofing, laughing their asses off. “Hey, did you lose something?” Colin asks when I approach them. He nods to the ground where a dildo lies in the grass.
Not just a dildo. This sucker is over a foot long.
“Probably fell out of Weston’s ass,” I say, dodging him when he tries to shove me.
“It’s seen better days, that’s for sure,” Weston says, kicking it. It’s filthy and streaked with grime.
Meyer and Trevor are headed our way, and an idea pops into my head. I grab a bucket sitting nearby, flip it over, and cover the giant dong. “What are you doing?” Colin asks.
“Just play along.” Kneeling beside the bucket, I put both hands on the top. When they approach, I announce. “We aren’t fast enough and just because it isn’t poisonous doesn’t mean it won’t bite.”
“Fast enough for what?” Trevor asks.
“There’s a snake under the bucket. Just a little rat snake but nobody wants to get it out of here.”
“Fucking pussies.” It’s everything I can do not to smile. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist. “Move, I’ll get him.”
“Really? Okay, seriously though, he’s fast as hell. Get ready. I’ll count to three, then move the bucket.” If he weren’t so fired up to show us boys how a man gets rid of a snake, this wouldn’t be so easy, and he might’ve noticed Weston slipping his phone out to record.
Instead, he squats beside the bucket like a catcher behind the mound. His hands hover, waiting to react while I count. “One…two…three…get it!” I jerk the bucket away. He grabs the dildo, stands, and holds it up like he just freed King Arthur’s sword.
You can see the exact moment he realizes what’s in his hand. The look of disgust and horror on his face is even better than the way he hoisted it in the air like a trophy. It’s being held at the bottom, and before his brain can communicate with his hand to drop it, it flops over to one side.
“Don’t worry, man. Happens to the best of us,” Colin says.
My chest is about to burst from trying not to laugh, but that comment and the straight faced, serious way he says it does me in. It sets everyone else off too, and Trevor finally throws the dildo. The sight of it bobbing through the air like a javelin doesn’t help.
Graham once told me that my mouth was definitely going to be responsible for my death someday, but I swear there are times it has a mind of its own. Trying to catch my breath between laughing, I can’t manage to get the words out. “Your mm…your mah…”
Colin grabs my arm. “Okay, time to get back.” He practically shoves me up the ladder. The sound of laughter still reaches us when we get to the roof. “The prank you can get away with, but telling the dude his mom lost her dildo in the yard might’ve gotten your ass kicked,” Colin says, as we perch on the edge of the roof, catching our breath.
“I couldn’t help myself. Did you see his face?”
Colin’s phone buzzes, and he grins at me. “What’s your number?”
A second later, the video appears on my phone, and we crack up again watching it. “Get your asses to work!” Meyer calls up to us, but amusement still waves in his voice.
A few minutes after we get back to work, Colin asks, “Do you have plans for Friday night?”
“Are you asking me out?”
“Sorry, you’re not my type, and I’m kind of getting married soon.”
Sitting back on my feet, I stop hammering. “Hey, congratulations.”
“Thanks. My bachelor party is Friday night. We’re basically bar hopping. Do you want to join us?”
“Hell yeah.”
“We’ve hired a car. I’ll let you know when we’ll pick you up.”
“Sounds great.”
Chapter Eight
Remee
After the long work week of painting I’ve had, I’m glad to have the evening alone. My muscles ache, and while Owen is out at the bachelor party, my plan is to relax. My mind has been so full of colliding thoughts over the unexpected feelings Owen has triggered in me. I’m exhausted trying to reason with myself and analyze them.
What I need to quiet the noise is a soak in a hot bath with a new horror book I’ve been waiting on. Owen left me his truck, and with the navigator on my phone I have no problem finding a store to buy a few candles and a bath bomb. Working around drywall dust and sawdust all day, my skin could definitely use some care. On my way to check out, I also grab a small package of chocolates.