by Kristen Echo
“Is that a metaphor? Like you wouldn’t want me to fall in love with you.”
She slapped her hand over her mouth and looked around. We were the only two on the dance floor. I slowed our pace.
“If you did have feelings for me, would that be so bad?”
She removed her hand slowly and placed it on my shoulder. “Yes.”
“Why? Because I’m a hockey player.”
“Because you’re a player, and Presley’s brother, and—”
“I’m not a player. Those days are behind me,” I explained, but I could tell she wasn’t buying it. “I like you, Josephine.”
“I like you too,” she whispered.
We stopped moving. “We can pretend we’re not attracted to each other, or we can take the next step? Choice is yours.”
Her eyes dipped to my mouth. A heartbeat later, her lips pressed against mine. I gripped the nape of her neck and kissed her hard. The smooth caress of her tongue slid along mine. She mewled, making my cock harden. One kiss wouldn’t be enough. I needed more. I wanted to rip that dress from her skin and kiss every inch of her body.
“Come back to my hotel,” I murmured as I kissed along her neck. “We don’t have to—”
“Yes!” She grabbed my hand from her hip and pulled me towards the exit. We raced towards the limo. I hadn’t envisioned this was how my night would end, but I was damn glad I had accepted this invitation.
Chapter 3
Josie
A dull ache pressed against my skull. The soft sheets and fluffy pillow provided little comfort. I needed two tall glasses of water and an aspirin to quash the hangover that threatened. I pressed my palms over my eyes, avoiding any signs of a new day.
Overconsumption had led to overconfidence. No amount of hiding would undo my actions. Kissing Aaron Drakos wasn’t a mistake. He was an amazing kisser. Too good. I groaned, hoping my decisions from last night wouldn’t haunt me for years to come.
“How do you feel, Josephine?” Aaron’s deep growl reverberated next to my ear.
The tip of his finger traced the outline of my collarbone. My nipples hardened, and my core clenched. My best friend’s super-hot, extremely kissable, older brother was in bed next to me. His presence didn’t surprise me because he had insisted I spend the night. I never protested. Aaron took care of me. Too bad, all we had done in this bed was sleep.
“Like an idiot.” I slid my hands over my face, hiding the red on my cheeks.
He chuckled low and deep, making the bed vibrate. “Having regrets?”
“Give me a few moments to compose my thoughts and I’ll get back to you.”
“Take all the time you need. The sun isn’t up yet.”
Peeking through my fingers, the darkness from the hotel room greeted me. I turned my head towards Aaron. He leaned over, switched on a side lamp and repositioned his body to face me. His masculine jawline had a hint of morning growth. My pulse raced as he licked his lips. His eyes were half-lidded as he looked at me. Like a coward, I closed the gap in my fingers.
“About last night. I… I’m so sorry.”
“Let’s be clear.” He removed my hands from my face. The pad of his thumb caressed my chin. “You made the right choice.”
When we left the gala, our lips had remained locked until we entered his hotel room. Despite the connection, a drunken hookup was a bad idea. No matter how great his lips tasted. No matter how wonderful his hands felt against my skin. As we stumbled onto his bed, the rational part of my brain took over and I threw on the brakes. He respected my decision and didn’t pressure me for sex.
I had expected to wake up glad we hadn’t crossed the line. Instead of regretting a one-night stand, I mourned not throwing caution to the wind. I always worried more about the future than the present.
Was it really that big of a deal if he used me to heal after his crazy ex betrayed him and broke his heart?
Would it be so bad if I used him to prove I wasn’t doomed to be alone forever?
Nope. But my stupid sense of self-preservation had ruined a perfectly naughty evening. For once, I wanted to not be the good girl. It would have been nice to let loose, have fun, and not second guess my actions and worry about what it would all mean. Casual sex wasn’t the end of the world. We were both consenting adults, but it was too late. He was happy we’d stopped.
I nodded, avoiding his hypnotic gaze. “Yeah. A good choice,” I echoed.
“Jos—”
“It’s best we didn’t… you know.” I didn’t want to talk about what happened or didn’t happen, but we had to address it and move on. A few kisses didn’t mean anything. A cosmic accident that would never be repeated. “We both had way too much to drink. I can’t remember the last time I was that drunk.”
“Do you remember everything that happened last night?”
“Um.” Admitting it was the best night of my life probably wouldn’t go over well. Every moment of our date had been amazing until I acted like a bumbling teen who’d never reached second base. It wasn’t the age difference or his extra years of experience in the bedroom that intimidated me. It was the way his eyes seemed to reach into my soul and strip away every single one of my barriers. “I need water.”
He rolled out of bed, wearing nothing but tight, black, briefs. His thick legs flexed as he sauntered towards the bathroom. Aaron’s ass was utter perfection. A memory of squeezing that firm backside resurfaced, making me squirm. I swallowed my drool and sat upright, pulling the covers with me. I had borrowed one of his t-shirts to sleep in. As I lifted the neckline, I inhaled. His manly scent lingered.
He returned with a tall glass of water and a painkiller. The bed dipped under his weight as he crawled next to me. “Drink up.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking the glass and pill from his hand.
Our fingers touched and the brief connection gave me goosebumps. I downed every drop. The hydration did wonders for my head. My heart wasn’t as easily soothed. With him so close, I could hardly catch my breath.
“So, do I need to fill in any blanks? Like you kissing me or us—”
I coughed and set the empty glass down on the side table. “I wasn’t blackout drunk. I’m well aware of what we did and didn’t do.” As I cleared my throat, I tightened my grip on the covers. I slid under them and hid. “You’re off the hook. We don’t have to discuss anything.”
“Don’t be embarrassed.” He yanked the covers away, leaving me exposed. He tilted his head sideways, giving me a puzzled expression. “Why are you hiding?”
“To avoid discussing the elephant in the room.” I tugged on the blankets but lost the battle.
“Elephant?” His sexy smirk made my heart skip a beat. “I know I’m big, but I’ve never been—”
“I’m referring to sex,” I huffed, watching the sheets fall to the ground. “We almost had sex. You said you’re glad we stopped. I understand alcohol makes people act irrationally. You don’t want me and that’s—”
He rolled his big body over mine, pressing me into the mattress and stealing the air from my lungs. “I respected your wishes, but I wanted nothing more than to peel that sexy dress off you with my teeth. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m into you, Josephine. I want you.”
“You do? It’s not the booze talking?”
He settled between my spread legs. “You were right to slow things down because we can do better than sloppy, drunk sex. Our first time isn’t something I want to rush.”
I swallowed audibly, digesting his words. Aaron had more notches on his bedpost than your average guy. Women threw themselves at him. I didn’t want to be another puck bunny, tossed aside after spreading my legs. Maybe because of our history, things between us were different, but I didn’t want to test my theory. My heart wasn’t ready for another mistake.
“What makes you think I want there to be a first time?”
The air in the room changed, becoming laced with energy. His brown eyes turned darker. The intensity didn’t scare me like it
had a few hours earlier.
Instead of answering my question, his lips landed against mine. Soft but firm. My eyelids fluttered shut as his tongue coaxed my mouth open. The kiss quickly became rough and passionate. I didn’t push him away.
He called my bluff, slipped his hand under the shirt, and palmed my breast. His agile fingers plucked at my nipple, sending tingles through my body. I raked my nails down his back and cupped his ass cheeks with both hands. The tight muscles flexed as his erection landed directly against my mound.
Aaron kissed his way along my jaw towards my ear. “Tell me what you want,” he whispered.
My body sizzled for more of his hot kisses, but once again my stomach knotted. I wanted him. But I wanted more than a one-time deal in his hotel. I couldn’t be his rebound or have him be mine. As much as I desired him, our lives were too different for us to be anything more.
“I can’t. We shouldn’t.”
“Do you want me?”
“Yes,” I answered honestly. “But we should slow down.”
I pressed my hands against his chest. My fingers splayed against the contour of his pecks. I chanced a gaze into his eyes. Big mistake. His lopsided grin was both wicked and sensual. My insides quivered.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted someone this badly, but I couldn’t agree with you more. We shouldn’t rush.”
He clutched the hem of the shirt and lifted it over my head. With my hands above my head, he pinned my wrists together. He kissed me, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth. The raw power and strength he exuded made me wet. Aaron was a man in his prime. My body was giving him the green light to take everything. Only, my heart wouldn’t be able to deal with the aftermath.
“Aaron, you’re leaving soon.”
“Don’t remind me.” He nuzzled my cheek with this nose. “This won’t be an all-day marathon because I have a flight to catch.” He licked from my chin to my breast as his free hand inched over my soft belly.
“We don’t have… arrrggg.”
The palm of his hand pressed against my sodden panties. “You’re soaked,” he growled, rubbing the wet fabric against my folds.
“Involuntary reaction when I’m aroused.”
“Your dripping wet pussy has nothing to do with your attraction to me?” he challenged.
It had everything to do with him. I’d never been this wet in my life. I mewled as he applied more pressure. If he was trying to make me forget my objections to us hooking up, it worked.
“I love the sounds you make.” He licked my nipple and blew cold air against the tip. It pebbled as a frisson traveled the length of me. “So responsive.”
He did it again, teasing me. My back arched, forcing my breast into his mouth. I thrust against his hand. We moaned together like primal beasts. When I opened my legs wider, he moved his hand away. The pleasurable friction disappeared. A greedy whine escaped my lips.
“These need to come off,” he said as he toyed with the top of my lace panties.
I scrunched my eyes shut as I lifted my hips for him to take them off. The drenched material slid down my legs. “It’s a bad idea to have sex on the first date,” I blurted. “I’m not cut out for something casual.”
He chuckled. “You said that last night too. Relax, Josephine. We are not going to have sex.”
My eyes flew open. I glanced down at him. “We’re not?”
“I’m done with sex and much more interested in making love.” He grazed my nipple with the tip of his nose. “That requires time. We need more than a few hours for me to savor every delectable inch of your gorgeous body. You are beautiful.”
“I… I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.
He released my hands and hovered over me, staring at my nakedness. The heat from his gaze gave me confidence. I didn’t shy away.
“Don’t say anything. Just let me explore.” He trailed kisses down my neck and over my chest. “Let me make you feel good.”
Unable to speak, I nodded my consent. I didn’t have the body of a model, but I had learned to accept my curves and work with what I had. I would have never imagined Aaron would be into plus sized girls, but I felt his attraction pressing against my leg. He worshiped my big breasts. His lips roamed from one to the other. I ran my fingers through this thick hair, tugging on the ends when the suction intensified.
He smiled with my elongated tip between his teeth. I smiled back. His eyebrows waggled as he lowered his hand over my mound again. This time there was no barrier between his calloused fingers and my sensitive flesh. I exhaled a ragged breath. The pad of his thumb stroked above my clit as he pushed two fingers into me. The unexpected intrusion made me gasp for air.
With our eyes locked, he pumped his fingers leisurely in and out. He kissed his way down my torso, leaving a wet trail in his wake. He rubbed between my legs until I was begging for more.
“Come for me,” he demanded.
On cue, my core clenched and my orgasm detonated. Before I could scream his name, my legs were over his shoulders and his lips covered my sex. I thrashed against the pillow as he prolonged the climax for what seemed like an eternity.
He took his time, getting acquainted with my pussy. His appreciative murmurs resonated through my body. My legs trembled as his ears tickled my inner thighs. He made love to me with his talented mouth, turning one orgasm into two. My first multiple.
“Oh! My! God!” I chanted over and over until he lapped the last of my release.
He placed me gently back on the mattress. The cold sheets did little to cool my heated skin. I was utterly boneless. I couldn’t lift my head from the pillow, but I watched him lick my essence from his lips.
“You are magnificent,” he said, leaning his head on his hand next to me.
With an ear to ear grin, I turned my head to face him. “I think you’re the magnificent one.” I reached for his shorts. “Your turn.” The instant my fingers grazed the edge, he pushed my hand away.
“Next time. We might have pushed things a little far today, but I needed to taste you.” As his teeth raked over his bottom lip, my entire body trembled. “When can I see you again?”
“I’ll be visiting you in Vegas for winter break. Presley and I already have our tickets.”
“That’s a long way off. Any chance I could convince you to fly home with me today?” He waggled his brows seductively.
I bunched the rumpled sheets in my hands and turned away from him. “No. That’s not going to happen.”
He gripped my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. “Why not?”
As much as I liked Aaron, I wasn’t going to chase him around like a puppy. I had a life in Toronto. I wasn’t prepared to follow him to another country, and I knew he would never leave Vegas. Our lives were too different. Plus, if things didn’t work out, I’d lose a guy and my best friend.
“We live busy lives. We have commitments, and jobs, and—”
“Shhh.” He placed a finger over my lips. “I don’t want a laundry list of cons. I like you. We’ll figure something out.”
Of all the women in the world, he picked me. My heart swelled. I really liked him too. More than I was prepared to admit. I opened my mouth, but he silenced me with a kiss. It wasn’t hurried. It was perfect. Just like him.
We cuddled for over an hour. Talking. Laughing. Enjoying each other’s company. When the sun brightened the room, I was spent, sore and deliriously happy.
He shifted and groaned. “I have to go.”
I glanced at the clock on the side table and nodded. We were out of time. He had a flight to catch, and I had schoolwork to do. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and glanced at me over his shoulder.
“You don’t have to rush out. Feel free to stay as long as—”
“I’ve got a busy day too.” I sat upright. “You can shower first.”
“We can do it together,” he offered.
I lifted my brows. “Then we’ll never get out of here.”
“You’re smart.” He kissed t
he tip of my nose. “I like your smart mouth.” He kissed my lips. “I like that we’ve known each other for years, and I’m just now discovering your secrets.”
I chewed my lip. The chemistry, attraction, and magnetism flowing between us was undeniable. I wasn’t sure if Aaron said these things too all the girls or if I was special. With my limited dating experience, I was in over my head, but I chose to believe the latter.
He nuzzled my ear. “This is just the beginning for us.”
I believed him.
Chapter 4
Aaron
My cell had blown up before I boarded the plane. After the fifth text from my sister, I ignored the beeps. She wanted details about the gala and Josie’s whereabouts. She included a link to a news article about my generous donation to the university with a picture of Josephine snuggled in my arms. The photographer had captured our chemistry and her beauty perfectly. I had uploaded the best one to my social media accounts before turning my phone off.
There was no denying the sparks firing between us. We looked good together. We were good together.
The more I thought about our pseudo-date, the more I wanted a real one. I wanted to hold her delicate hand and kiss her soft lips again. Her body had been a dream to explore. She had the most enticing, supple, and luscious curves. The erotic noises she made when I swallowed her orgasms would stay with me forever. I wanted to feel her tight walls grip my cock as I thrust into her. Beyond the physical attraction, she had an energy and laugh I found magnetic.
Josephine differed from the women I usually dated. In a good way. She never put on an act to become the woman she thought I wanted. We’d known each other too long for insincerity. She spoke her mind and had a big heart. I had dated enough in my youth to spot a rare and precious treasure when I found one. I didn’t want to let her slip though my fingers. Her hesitation and need to go slowly made sense given my history and her recent breakup, but this wasn’t a rebound. At least, not for me.
When I stepped off the plane, thoughts of my little sister’s curvy best friend consumed me. I was so busy daydreaming; I failed to notice my ex until she stepped directly in front of me. The airport was packed with fans and media, welcoming us home. Destiny wasn’t smiling as she slapped me across the face.
