Acting Lessons

by Adele Buck

  Freddie’s head nuzzled back against his chest. “Going to get that door open any time soon?”

  James tried to steady his hand as he guided the key into the lock. “Just don’t want to rush anything.”

  “Dude. We’ve done the go-slow route. I’m done.”

  An idea started to blossom in his mind as he twisted the key and opened the door.

  “I’m not.”

  Freddie stiffened as the door to James’ apartment swung open. What the hell? He was going to continue torturing her? Pulling out of his grasp, she stepped through the doorway and turned in the tiny space available among the stacks of cardboard boxes and randomly placed furniture.

  “I thought we were on the same page,” she said as he closed the door and shot the deadbolt.

  “What do you mean?” He turned back to her and she was gratified by the raw look on his face, the undisguised passion.

  “I thought we were done with the no-sex stuff. Are you playing with me?”

  “Playing with you? Maybe.”

  She would have been infuriated, except she could see the lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes, the teasing expression that she knew all too well. His hand came up, traced the neckline of her blouse with the lightest of touches. She shivered and leaned into him, but he pulled back, keeping the contact feathery. Frustrating.

  Freddie’s breath hitched and she glared at James, leaning away. He raised his hand, palm open to her, the smile in his eyes spreading across his face, his grin shining.

  “Yeah. You’re definitely playing games, James Martin.”

  His eyes scanned her face. “Do you want to play with me?”

  Ah. Freddie suppressed the hot, urgent feelings that James had stoked in the elevator. Looking at James’ gorgeous, full lips, she said, “I can play as long as you can.”

  “A challenge. I like it.” James’ response produced a fluttering feeling in Freddie’s stomach. He seemed far more ready for… whatever game they were playing.

  “Yeah. Challenge.” Freddie’s throat felt thick. Damn him for being so blasé.

  Or was he really?

  Freddie stepped in to him, skimmed her hand up the back of his neck, cupping the back of his head and pulling his head down toward her. Skating her tongue over the edge of his ear, she sucked his earlobe into her mouth, raking her teeth across its surface.

  He shuddered.

  Right.

  Game on.

  Oh, Freddie was going to make this very hard.

  Or harder.

  He was already fully hard, his dick pressing against his jeans with an urgency that threatened to override the hazy plan that had formed in his mind just a few minutes before. Swallowing hard, he summoned up the will to keep himself from just lifting Freddie off her feet, carrying her into the bedroom, and ripping off her clothes.

  That would be fun.

  But if he could do this right, it would be even more fun.

  Taking her hands in his, he turned and walked backward to the bedroom, stroking the palms of her hands with his fingertips as lightly as he could. Her shoulders shivered and she looked up at him through her eyelashes.

  “What are you up to?” she asked.

  “If I told you, it might ruin it.”

  “I doubt it.”

  Reaching the bedroom, he released her hands and lowered sheer fabric blinds over each of the windows, affording them privacy while still letting the mellow, golden afternoon sunlight into the room. Freddie didn’t move, though her eyes tracked him as he moved around the room.

  Returning to her, he stood close enough that he thought he could feel the heat radiating from her body. “You’re awfully still.”

  “I’m waiting.”

  “Hmmm. You okay with the uncertainty?”

  She cocked her head. “Let’s just say I’m intrigued.”

  “Good. Close your eyes. Keep them closed.”

  Freddie looked for a moment like she was about to argue or ask questions, then her eyelids slid down, her long, dark lashes fanning against her cheeks. Her lips parted in an uncertain smile.

  James took a deep breath and bent over, brushing light kisses across each eyelid. Her smile broadened the tiniest bit. He trailed his fingers along her jawline and her chin lifted in response. Leaning closer, he dragged his lips down the column of her neck, giving her the tiniest of nibbles at the curve where her neck met her shoulder. She shuddered and he pulled back, watching her expression. Her eyes squeezed tighter, as if she had to make an effort to keep them closed.

  Turning his attention to her clothes, James grasped the tab of the zipper on her moto jacket and tugged it down, releasing each tooth with excruciating slowness. In response, her back straightened and her shoulders squared. When the zipper reached the bottom and the jacket fell open, he ran his hands over her shoulders, the silky material of her top sliding under his palms. Pushing the jacket down her arms, he stopped when it reached her elbows.

  “What—” Freddie bit her lips together as he shushed her and moved as quietly as he could around behind her. Pushing her curls aside, he kissed the back of her neck, flicking his tongue and blowing across the spot. She shivered again and he pushed the jacket all the way off her arms, letting it fall to the floor.

  Circling her again, he took in every detail of her expression and posture, the pink flush that ran from her cheeks down her neck to her chest, the quiver of her eyelashes on her cheeks, the slight flaring of her nostrils as she inhaled, waiting for his next move.

  When he traced his fingertips along the neckline of her blouse, she bit the edge of her lip and swallowed. Instead of exploring the alluring line of her cleavage, he brought his hands to skim the outer curves of her breasts, the soft material whisper-light against his skin. Her breathing sped up a tiny amount and the flush in her skin darkened to a deeper rose.

  He bent to whisper in her ear.

  “Am I driving you crazy yet?”

  Was he for real?

  Driving her crazy?

  Um, yes. That would be a definite yes.

  She nodded, her head feeling loose and disconnected—a marionette controlled by shaking hands.

  His breath heated her ear. “Good.”

  Freddie stood in her self-imposed darkness, waiting for his next move. He might be driving her crazy, but she had to admit that the insanity was delicious. She may have been shy in the past, but her personality had always been straightforward. She saw the things she wanted directly, a straight line without detours.

  Now James was taking the scenic route, and she found she was loving it.

  His clothing rustled and she felt his hands at her feet, apparently undoing the laces of her boots. He grasped her leg and lifted first one foot out and then the other, peeling her socks off for good measure. She staggered and held on to his shoulders as she complied with his hands’ silent instructions. She let go when she had both feet flat on the floor again and she heard him stand.

  His hands settled on her waist, gently pushing her backward. She stepped back once, then again, then one more time before she felt the bed hit the back of her legs. She sat, half expecting him to keep undressing her right there, but instead, he picked up her hand and pressed a firm kiss into her palm. She nearly jumped with the force of the electric zing that went through her. His lips moved to her wrist, the inside of her arm, and as he pushed her sleeve up, the inside of her elbow.

  Freddie had never before considered just how sensitive that skin was, but she nearly moaned when his lips and tongue moved over it. Then she groaned when he did the same with her other hand and arm. Warmth washed through her. She was keyed up and yet somehow serene, nerves practically blazing with awareness of everything James was doing.

  And equally aware of what he wasn’t doing.

  His fingers skimmed her waist and the fabric of her blouse skimmed over her belly, then her breasts. She raised her arms overhead to allow him to get it all the way off and it whispered past her face. His hands pressed her shoul
ders and she lay back, nearly weeping with frustration that he left her bra still on.

  More torture.

  His lips and tongue settled on her belly button and she gasped and bucked as sensation shot through her. He chuckled and she rolled her eyes behind the closed eyelids, but didn’t say a word. His lips nibbled up to the bottom of her sternum.

  Higher, higher, higher, she chanted internally.

  He stopped.

  Freddie nearly wailed in frustration but made herself be still. She could feel her pulse, hear it pounding. It felt like her heart was going to kick right out of her ribcage.

  Finally, his fingers touched the front clasp of her bra. The constriction of the band released and she inhaled sharply. A butterfly touch of lips over the top of one breast, then the other, and he lifted the cups aside. She could feel his hot breath over one nipple, but he didn’t move to touch or suck or do anything she expected.

  Instead, he popped the button of her jeans.

  She swallowed as she felt him repeat the same slow move with the zipper as he had with her jacket. She wanted to swell her belly with air, prank him by forcing the zipper open with her breath, but she kept the urge inside and let him work his slow magic. Finally, his hands slid down the sides of her hips and she lifted her butt off the bed as he gradually peeled her jeans and underwear down her legs and off.

  “Sit up.” He stripped her dangling bra off and with soft murmurs encouraged her to scoot back. When her back hit the pillows against the headboard, she sank into them, complying when his hands urged her knees apart. Every nerve in her body was awake and ablaze as she waited for the sound of him moving down, of the feel of his breath where she wanted him.

  Instead, one long finger slid down, inside her, then back out again, using her own slickness to lubricate as he touched her, his finger moving with rhythmic confidence across her swollen clit. She swallowed and her thighs began to shake convulsively, her whole-body awareness exploding into an involuntary shout as she came, her body bucking and shivering. He pressed the heel of his hand against her as she shuddered into stillness and finally opened her eyes. James’s eyes were hooded, attentive.

  “How come you didn’t use your mouth?” she asked.

  He gave her his slowest smile. “I wanted to watch your face.”

  Chapter 12

  Freddie’s eyes were clear and bright as she looked at James. “Got any more plans up your sleeve, since you’re the one who’s still fully clothed?”

  James huffed out a laugh. “You got a problem with that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “I want to be able to see you too. It’s not fair.” Her hand drifted over the placket of his shirt, releasing the top button and tugging him to her. Surrendering the control he had exerted up until now, he obeyed and leaned in to kiss her, but her hands changed course, pivoting and pushing him back onto the pillows. Blinking in surprise, he complied, letting his body go slack. Freddie sat up and swung a leg over his hips, straddling him.

  “Ah.” James slid his hands up the backs of her thighs, cupping the round, muscular firmness of her backside as she unbuttoned his shirt. The slow pace he had been keeping was abandoned now that Freddie had the reins. She tugged the shirt free of his jeans, making him shiver as the fabric slid over his skin. She smoothed her hands over his chest, her touch trailing electrical currents across his body. Bending forward, she nipped one of his nipples, the slight shock of pain jolting through him then ebbing into pleasure as she soothed with her tongue.

  Sliding her hands lower, Freddie made short work of his belt buckle, popping open the button on his fly and sliding the zipper down in less time than he had taken with a single tooth of hers. He lifted his hips as she drew his jeans and boxers down and nearly laughed when she growled in frustration to find he still had his shoes on. They made two dull thumps as she tugged them off and dropped them to the floor. The jeans followed and James watched as she stood and looked up and down his body, amused to see her eyes stop at his crotch.

  “See anything you like?” he asked.

  “Everything.” Her avid eyes lifted, locking to his gaze.

  “It’s all yours.”

  “Excellent.”

  Climbing back onto the bed, Freddie nibbled up the inside of James’s thigh, pausing at his crotch.

  “Careful with those teeth,” he said.

  Freddie smiled and bent her head to draw her tongue up his length, jolting him again when she blew a cool stream of air across him. James’s breath hissed in.

  “You gave me the idea. Blame yourself.” Freddie’s smile went feral, her huge eyes narrowing to glittering slits as she looked up at him.

  He would have responded, but his brain dissolved as her mouth closed around him, hot and soft and wet. He groaned and closed his eyes, surrendering to the sensations as she worked him deeper and deeper into her mouth, one hand wrapped around the base, tongue swirling over the head as she drew her head back, then plunging him back inside, over and over again until every muscle in his body was drawn tight as a bowstring.

  “This is your show, but—“ he hissed as she pulled away with a soft pop and blew again. “Oh, God.” His voice was strangled. “I’m not going to be able to hold out much longer if you keep doing that.”

  Her response was to take him back inside her mouth, a deep hum emanating from her throat. His release was instantaneous, rushing through his whole body and robbing him of breath. She didn’t stop, didn’t pull away. The heat and pressure and slickness continued, swallowing him down until he subsided back onto the bed and covered his eyes with his hand.

  “Holy hell, Freddie. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” He trailed off, removing his hand from his face and looking down at her as she released his softening penis and gave him a stern look, swallowing one last time.

  “Shh. I meant that to happen.”

  Sitting up, he trailed a finger over her cheek, her skin smooth and luminous. “Thank you.”

  Her expression lost its edge and she nipped at his finger as it approached her lips. “I need some water. You have a glass in your bathroom?”

  “Let me get it.” James slid off the bed, his knees wobbling slightly as he stood. Good grief. That was…intense. Amazing.

  Walking to the bathroom, he filled a glass with water and brought it back to the bed. Freddie watched him as he weaved his way through the boxes and discarded clothing, her eyes intent. He handed her the glass. “Everything okay?”

  She sipped, her eyes locked on his. “More than okay.”

  Freddie drank some more water. Her jaw ached a bit, but it was worth a bit of soreness to see that dazed, loopy look on James’s face. He slid into bed beside her and she offered him the remaining water.

  “Thanks.” He drained the glass and set it on the nightstand, tugging the covers over both of them and sliding down into the bed, his hard, warm body pressing against her side. She trailed her fingers along the planes of his chest, his abs, smiling teasingly as she reversed course at his belly button.

  “You think you’re teasing me, but I’m down for the count for now,” he said, his dark eyes hooded and sleepy as he looked at her.

  “Maybe I’m teasing me.”

  “Well, then. Don’t let me spoil your fun.” He tugged her down under the covers, wrapping his arm around her until she was snuggled into him, the warm, familiar smell of his body drugging her senses. She felt his lips press to her forehead and then he reared his head back to look at her face. “Was the wait worth it?”

  Freddie scanned his eyes. Was there a trace of uncertainty?

  What happened?

  Where was the supremely confident James? Freddie took a deep breath. “Worth it? You wanted—well, I wanted too—to get back to knowing each other before we, well, before we got physical again. I think we did that. Don’t you?”

  The pinched look at the corners of his eyes eased. “Yeah. I think so.”

  “Where’s this coming from?” Freddie’s heart was a
rabbit threatening to run out of her chest.

  “What?” James’s eyes widened, guileless.

  “This uncertainty. You’re usually the guy who has it all figured out.”

  His eyelids slid down as he puffed a self-deprecating laugh. “According to you, maybe.”

  A twinge of irritation twisted Freddie’s gut. “Are we back in the, ‘I’m looking up to you and you’re so beyond me in years and experience’ and whatever else?”

  James’s eyes flew open and his alarmed stare made her instantly regret her words.

  “No, Fred.” His hand slid up her side, warmth radiating from his palm. “This has nothing to do with the differences between us and everything to do with making sure that we’re on the same page.”

  Freddie bit her lip. “Sorry.”

  His hand rubbed in soothing circles on her back, his face relaxing as his eyes met hers. “No, don’t apologize. We’ve got history. We can’t ignore it. We have to incorporate it. There’s no such thing as a real fresh start.”

  Blinking, Freddie realized he was right. There was no erasing their past together, even if she wanted to. Which, she didn’t. As much as their history came with the baggage of him being the guy who knew what was going on and her always lagging behind, it also contained delighted discovery and deep affection.

  And now? Freddie’s throat was tight and her heart thudded uncomfortably fast.

  Affection suddenly seemed like a tepid word for what she was feeling.

  “Whoa, what’s going on in there?” James slid his hand up Freddie’s back and he tapped the back of her head with a soft finger. Her eyes had gone wide, then shuttered, as if she didn’t want him to know what she was thinking.