by Roxy Gray
“You’re so tight.” Michelle relaxed around him, despite her sex wanting to clench harder. The lab coat gathered under her ass. It was partially open, and her breasts bounced against the front of it.
“Stretch me.” She said coyly.
Liam’s face appeared before her. He sucked on her neck, surely leaving a hickey to match the one on her breast. The faint outline was just barely visible. One hand massaged her wet pussy. She brought her heels to his ass, pushing until he finally did it.
Slowly, achingly so, he plunged inside.
Michelle’s back arched off of the bed.
She could no longer speak. She could no longer move. She couldn’t do anything, really. Michelle was powerless to the sensation. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt. Liam just seemed to… fit. There was no explanation. His cock reached all of her walls. It rubbed them just right. She didn’t understand why, but it was better. Better than any other guy had ever felt inside of her. Michelle thought it was the closest she’d ever come to making a scientific discovery.
“Yeah, you like that?”
All she could do was nod frantically.
Liam drove into Michelle’s pussy hard. He pinned her arms above her head. Her breasts bounced, skimming his chest.
“Liam!” She moaned, signalling her climax. He leaned back and traced a figure-eight over her sensitive bud, sending a new wave of pulses through Michelle’s body.
And just as she was coming down from her peak, Liam came too. He leaned over her as he orgasmed, lightly nibbling her neck. His rhythm turned quick and deep.
A long, throaty groan vibrated in his chest.
Michelle felt like they were mixing together. They both floated on a pleasure cloud, somewhere above earth. Existing. Afterward, they flopped over and faced the ceiling. Liam’s arms went around Michelle. She let him keep them there. They just lay, warm and limp in each other's embrace until the next morning.
* * *
Michelle stirred first. She felt a happy, warm buzz in her chest. Liam was hot behind her. His cock nudged her ass cheek, reminding her of something:
The horrible mistake she’d made last night.
What the hell was she thinking, sleeping with Liam? It was the most self-destructive thing she could have possibly done. She’d created an attachment. One that didn’t make sense. One that she didn’t want.
Liam wasn’t boyfriend material. He was rude, for starters. If she introduced him to her parents he’d probably tell them how great her ass was (it was great, but that wasn’t the point). Plus, after all this time of being single, her friends and family would expect a guy who could top her ex’s ‘boyfriend score’. She wasn’t sure Liam could even match it. Nope. Dr. Douchebag Liam Berry was not a viable candidate to own Michelle’s heart.
And that was the reason she had to rectify this situation as soon as possible before he misinterpreted things.
Was she overthinking it? Michelle examined the facts.
Liam was the one who proposed being friends with benefits. He hadn’t said he wanted more, but his actions said otherwise. A guy who just wanted to be friends wouldn’t come and collect her from a date with another guy, Michelle thought. He wouldn’t continue texting her all the time when she had been clear with her intentions. Unless he was in it for something else — a relationship. What was his game plan? To get Michelle to open up as a friend and then snatch her as his partner? Oh no. She couldn’t let that happen. And it would be inevitable if they continued down this slippery slope.
Michelle had to nip this thing in the bud.
“Liam,” she said, gently shaking him awake.
He groaned and stretched, showing off his hard pec muscles. Michelle forced herself to wrench her eyes away from his crotch.
“Morning, you.” He curled his upper body around hers, pressing his erection into her harder. Focus, Michelle. She turned to look at his face. His white teeth peeked beyond his full lips. His skin glowed. He was sexy even with morning breath. Even with his hair flattened to one side of his head.
It was tough for Michelle to spit the words out, but it had to be done.
“Okay, friend. Time to leave.” She said lightly, hoping he wouldn’t take offence. She unwrapped them and stood up.
“Sure. I’ll get out of your hair.” He reached for his shirt.
She hadn’t expected him to comply so easily.
“Busy day today?”
“Not really,” she admitted. “Just have to get some housework done.”
“Got it.” Liam bobbed his head. “Well, if you want any more of what we did last night later, just let me know.”
He pulled Michelle to him and ground her ass against his crotch, showing her how hard he was.
“Okay.” She looked for any trace of hesitation in his face, but there was nothing. He was perfectly fine with this arrangement. And for some reason, that made Michelle very angry.
“You know what? Get the fuck out. I’m not an object for your sexual gratification.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I was just kidding —”
“Well, it isn’t funny. I’m sick of men treating me like I’m just another pair of nice tits. I thought we were friends, but I guess I was wrong. And you know what?” She paused for effect. “I’m not coming to your party either.”
Liam’s calm demeanour had been replaced by annoyance.
“You know I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.”
“Well, it did. You’re a cocky asshole. This isn’t going to work. I knew it from the beginning.”
“Whoa, hang on. I’m sorry if what I said hurt your feelings. I like you, Michelle. I want to stay friends and keep doing this.”
Michelle bit her lip. This was the only way.
“I don’t think so.” Just like that, she shut off.
“Wow,” he blew out a breath. “When you decide to stop being unreasonable, let me know.”
Liam pulled his pants on and headed down the hall.
Michelle followed.
“You’re the one being unreasonable!”
He sighed. She swore she saw a bit of hurt in his face.
“I’m going to go. I’ll see you another time when you’re through sabotaging this thing between us.”
The door opened.
“Don’t hold your fucking breath.”
It clicked shut.
After he was gone, Michelle traced her footsteps back to her room. Back to her bed, where everything had been just fine a few minutes earlier. Why the hell did she go off like that? Why did Liam raise her emotions to psychotic levels? She’d just messed everything up.
It doesn’t matter, Michelle told herself.
Yet she felt like crying.
Bree came home a short time later, just after Michelle had gotten out of the shower. She tried to act normally, but her roommate knew her too well.
“What’s the matter?” Bree asked, pouring herself a fresh cup of coffee. Michelle couldn’t help but notice a small hickey on her collarbone.
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“The doctor just left.”
Bree smiled, but it fell when she saw Michelle didn’t reciprocate.
“So why are you upset? I thought you guys were going to be friends.”
“We were.” Michelle sighed. “But then he proposed to be friends with benefits, so we —”
“You slept with him? Good. It’s about time!” She laughed.
“It isn’t funny, Bree. We got into an argument.”
“About?”
“Well,” Michelle hesitated. She didn’t know how to explain what had happened. “I don’t know. He was acting like this thing between us is just about sleeping together.”
“Is it?”
“Yes,” Michelle admitted.
“And you were mad about that because…?” Bree had a smug look on her face.
“I didn’t like that he was thinking of me
as just a pair of tits or something.”
Bree laughed.
“Michelle, I love you, but that’s very obviously not the reason you’re upset.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve always been fine with sexual relationships. I’ve never heard you complain about being a booty call before.”
“Maybe things are different now.”
“Because you like the doctor.”
“No! I just have more self-respect, I guess.”
“You can have sex with a friend and still have self-respect. You’re a grown-ass woman. I think the real reason you argued is that you’re starting to care about Liam, and it’s freaking you out. Liam isn’t your ex. You’re projecting.”
Michelle felt a burn in her chest.
“No, I’m really not. Anyway, I don’t want to go to his Halloween party anymore.”
“Hmm,” was all Bree said. “Maybe you’ll change your mind.”
“I won’t!” Michelle was becoming adamant. Her roommate wasn’t listening. Her mind was made up.
“Even if I were to date, he isn’t a good option.”
“Why not?” Bree took a long sip of her coffee.
“He’s rude. He’s cocky. He’s… frustrating.”
That was all she could come up with.
“He seemed perfectly nice when I arranged to have him pick you up last night.”
“Right. About that — you’re a dick too.”
Michelle left the kitchen.
She felt like she was talking to a brick wall.
“I’m still going to pick out a Halloween costume!” Bree shouted after her.
“Do whatever you want! I’m not going!”
Michelle would never admit it to her cousin, but she’d had a costume in her head ever since Liam invited her to the party; not that it mattered anymore.
It was over.
She needed to move on.
6
___
Liam stopped texting daily after their argument on Saturday, as Michelle expected. At first, it didn’t bother her. She put it out of her mind and focused on other things: work, friends, and keeping in touch with her family. Everything fell back into place easily, as it belonged. After a few days, he’d been erased from her daily life. It was as if she’d never met the doctor just a few weeks earlier.
Except it wasn’t.
Michelle first noticed the feeling when she came upon Bree and her man on Thursday evening. They were snuggled up together watching a documentary on the discovery channel. A bowl of popcorn rested in Bree’s lap. Her porcelain skin was bare of makeup, and she wore a pair of old, holey pyjamas. Beside her, Jake’s broad figure was wrapped in a knit blanket.
“Hey, she exists!” Bree said, seeing her in the doorway. “Come watch! It’s really good.”
Michelle joined them, but every time her eyes flitted to the happy couple, the feeling returned. It was a sadness that tugged at her chest. Jake would kiss Bree’s nose every few minutes, resulting in a fury of giggles from her cousin. She’d reciprocate by messing up his hair.
“You guys are too cute,” Michelle said. “I’m going to have to tell you to get a room if you keep it up.”
“Don’t be a killjoy.” Bree stuck her tongue out at her. “We both know you could be dating someone too.” She gave Jake a look.
“Yeah,” he added. “Bree said the guy you’re into is hosting a Halloween party tomorrow.”
“Oh no,” Michelle laughed. “We’re not going to that. And I’m not ‘into’ anybody. Not anymore.”
“I still think we should go,” Bree repeated for the thousandth time. Michelle just shook her head.
They sank back into the sofa, easily resuming their cuddle. Something about the two of them together was so… simple. Genuine. Bree’s guard was down. Even Michelle had to admit she’d never seen her cousin this relaxed before.
The sentiment brought Liam’s face to her mind.
She missed the way she felt when she and Liam would have conversations. She missed his full laugh. She thought back to the morning in the hospital when she’d blinked her eyes open, so glad to see his face.
On the inside, Michelle felt a void. It rattled her.
She was always first to acknowledge that she didn’t need a man to be happy. After her ex, she’d promised herself never to let someone so deep into her soul that they’d be impossible to extract without hurting herself in the process. She refused to be one of those women who relied on their partners to shape their life. They couldn’t stand on their own. They needed someone else to feel whole. It was too risky. So Michelle had become strong, unwavering, like a deep-rooted tree in a storm.
And now she was being uprooted over what — a doctor who didn’t even care enough to text her after their fight?
That wasn’t like Michelle at all.
“Someone’s in the driveway,” Bree said, turning in her seat to peek out the window.
Despite her internal dialogue, Bree hoped it was Liam. When she stole a glance for herself, her heart sank. It wasn’t a range rover: just a honda civic with a delivery logo on top.
The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Michelle said.
When she opened it, the man had already gone back to his vehicle.
“What the..?”
It was a pumpkin.
A fucking pumpkin.
“What is it?” Bree appeared beside her. She laughed.
“Who’s it from?”
Michelle lifted the massive thing and brought it inside, setting it on the kitchen counter. It had been carved with two simple words: open me.
“Here, let me help.” Jake pulled the top off with difficulty and stuck his hand inside, retrieving a note. Michelle’s name was scrawled across the top in capital letters.
She opened it reluctantly, under Bree’s watchful eyes.
Michelle,
I know you’re pissed off at me, but I really want you to come to the party tomorrow. I pretended that I was cool with just being friends who mess around, but I was lying. I miss your face. I like you a lot, and I think you like me too. Please show up and give this thing a chance. You won’t regret it.
Happy Halloween.
xx Liam
It was the sweetest note a guy had ever written Michelle. So much so that it triggered an unusual reaction. She started to cry, and she couldn’t stop.
“Hun, can you give us a few minutes?”
Jake left the room, and Bree wrapped Michelle in her arms. She left wet spots all over her shirt.
“Hey, it’s okay. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t know,” Michelle admitted. “I thought I was being smart by keeping to myself. Now I’m not sure.”
“Well, I am. I know you. You like this guy, and you’re scared to let him in. It’s okay to be afraid, but you can’t let it take over your life… Unless you want to stay single and give up on men altogether.”
“I don’t want that,” Michelle sniffed. “I really like him.”
“Girl, then we have to go,” Bree declared. “I’m not letting you say no. You’re done with this whole self-sabotage thing. Period.”
Michelle looked from Bree to the pumpkin.
Then from the pumpkin to Bree.
She pursed her lips in deep thought, finally coming to terms with the fact that her roommate was annoyingly right.
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll go.”
* * *
The following evening, Michelle nervously dawned her Halloween costume, hoping it would send the message that she intended. She stared into the mirror, reciting what she’d say when she saw Liam.
“I’ve been thinking about the two of us, and…”
No, that sounds stupid.
“So, how about we go on a real date?”
A little better.
“Liam: I like you. I want to go out.”
Direct, but aggres
sive.
Michelle flopped onto her bed and squeezed her eyes shut, taking a few calming breaths. She’d just have to come to terms with the fact that she didn’t know how Liam would react when she showed up. She’d have to be vulnerable.
It was scarier than any costume they’d see tonight.
“His building is really nice,” Bree said casually as their uber pulled up outside. It was a glass-clad tower, with a pointed curve at the top. Jake helped the girls out of the car, dressed (of course) in his fireman uniform. Bree had created a bright red fire hydrant costume for herself, though she’d sexed it up to include cleavage for Jake’s benefit.
“I’m so nervous,” Michelle admitted. She wished she’d brought a joint.
“Here.” Jake handed her a flask. She took a long swig.
“Thanks.”
Upstairs, Michelle knocked at the door, but nobody answered. The party was loud enough to be heard from the hall, which she took as a cue to enter.
The place was packed.
There were women dressed as cats and witches. Some looked like fitness models. Others just looked like they wanted an excuse to dress provocatively, which was fine by Michelle. Her costume leaned to the revealing side. People held wine glasses and beer bottles. A group in the kitchen was doing shots of tequila.
Michelle’s hips swayed to the music as she walked around, surveying the place for any sign of Liam.
And then she saw him.
“We’re going to get drinks,” Bree said immediately. She and Jake headed to the makeshift bar in the other corner of the living room.
Liam noticed Michelle.
He abruptly exited his conversation and came over. He looked her up and down, smiling wide.
“You came.”
Michelle was in his arms before she could even open her mouth. His delicious cologne wafted into her nostrils, and she sank into the hug. Michelle smelled the faint aroma of beer on his cheek. All of the things she’d practiced earlier in the mirror fell out of her brain, replaced by her happiness of the moment.
“Do you like my costume?” She asked.
She’d chosen it just for him.
“I do. A lot. What about mine?”
“It’s not very original… But I quite like it,” she laughed.
