She couldn’t help it. She was aroused and wet. Brandon then took his lips to her neck and started to kiss her. His kissing was noisier than Devon’s and she shifted her body to adjust to the intimacy of another man. Devon stepped away to watch her. At this, Aria felt a sudden desperation to have Devon close, for sexual release, for running out of the room.
Without so much as thinking, she turned toward Brandon and he kissed her. He then whispered. “I’ve wanted you since that day,” and nibbled in her ear. Aria felt her body tense at the thought of fucking Brandon, the kid whose audition she had liked so much. She shut her eyes and her mind sped through a million different thoughts. She felt dirty and alive and confused. Her mind screamed at her to stop things but her body—her pussy—wanted release. She could feel his expert hands on massaging and spreading her ass.
“Clothes off,” she said, her voice suddenly insistent and direct. “Both of you.” Devon and Brandon did as they were told. She didn’t bother checking out Brandon, instead moving over to Devon and kissing him as soon as he had stripped, snaking her hand around his neck. As they kissed, Aria heard what sounded like change rattling in a pants pocket but her mind was soon distracted by Devon’s fingers brushing against her mound, one finger lightly stroking just inside, feeling her wetness. Brandon moved up behind her again, reaching down to spread her legs. He rubed against her ass and her body reflexively flinched at thought of penetration. She reached down and touched Devon’s erection. It was hard and thick. He groaned against her lips and the sound he made and Brandon’s probing with is cock around her ass filled her with an overriding desire to disregard all caution and just fuck.
Devon ran his hands down her sides while Brandon started to kiss her back, pressing harder against her. Then Devon pushed Aria toward the boardroom table, bumping her into Brandon. He lifted her into his arms and laid her down on the table, where she noticed that a dark blue yoga mat had been placed. It softened the hard surface of the table and she realized how much planning Devon had invested in the affair.
Aria’s breathing was heavy as the two men took in every inch of her body.
“Open your legs,” Devon commanded.
Slowly, Aria did as she was told. “Wider,” Devon said.
She reached to under her thighs and opened herself fully to them. The pace of her breathing quickened, feeling exposed and yet wanting to have him—them inside her.
Devon moved in first. His tongue smoothly slipped between her legs, flicking her clitoris. As he licked, he inserted two fingers and Aria moaned in pleasure as she arched her back. Devon was relentless and bore down on her and all Aria could do was grab at his hair.
Then in one sudden movement, Devon pulled away just as Aria was feeling an orgasm building inside her. He lifted off the table and had her bend down on her knees by Brandon.
She looked at the young man’s cock and took a breath. With her right hand, she took hold of it guide it into her mouth. She closed her eyes as she licked and sucked his shaft.
After several strokes, Devon grabbed her and bent her over the table. He placed his cock at the edge of her folds and plunged. She let a loud gasp, Brandon taste still in her mouth, and Devon thrust with ferocity and hunger that took Aria’s breath away.
She jerked, surprised by the sheer force of his thrusting. For a moment, she forgot about Brandon and the boundaries she was crossing by having Devon inside her. She could feel the orgasm building deep inside her core.
“Please, fuck me. Hard. As hard as you can.”
But Devon suddenly stopped. “No. Not yet. Not with me.”
In smooth, slow motion, he pulled out of her. Aria’s body ached for him to finish her.
She closed her eyes and felt her legs being spread farther apart, and felt the pleasure of two moist fingers delve into her. She opened her eyes to see Brandon between her spread legs. She shivered from the impact and soon his fingers were replaced by his tongue. She moaned, a mixture of confusion and pleasure. His tongue licked up and down her ass. She didn’t stop him but the thought crossed her mind. She was Devon’s. How could she give herself to someone else—to this kid. She could only keep telling herself that this was what Devon wanted.
She tried to look for Devon but her view was limited as she lay on the table, her legs spread and Brandon probing her with his fingers and tongue. Emotions and thoughts continued to flood her. Sexual arousal, desire, anger, disgust. With her right hand, she reached across the table in hopes that Devon would grab it, would somehow return to her.
Brandon continued to maneuver his way around her inside. He was flicking her clitoris with his other hand now and she began to unravel, shaking her head from left to right and back. She couldn’t help it. She caressed her breast as they pressed against the table. Her desire for release filled every pore in her body. Where is Devon? I need Devon. She wanted him, not Brandon. Where’s Devon? She began to thrust her hips in rhythm with Brandon’s mouth and fingers. He began to probe with more force. The feeling was intense.
“God,” she half moaned.
She wanted to fight her feelings; she wanted Devon with her. But she couldn’t control it anymore. Brandon sensed this and stood up. He turned her around, lifted on the table, positioned himself between her legs and drove his cock into her. He lifted her legs with his arms, thrusting so hard that Aria could not contain her own desire any longer. She wanted, needed to come.
Where is Devon?
She tried to grab onto anything but couldn’t. The black varnished table was smooth and her hands slid against the surface. She tried to find Devon and managed out of the corner of her eye to see his figure. The thought of him watching her fuck another man overwhelmed her and she came with a scream, her thighs spasming uncontrollably. Her world seemed to burst into bright and blurry streaks. Within seconds, Brandon was coming, too.
When he was finished, he pulled out of her and tried to kiss her on the lips. Aria turned away and all she could think of as she tried to gather herself was that the experience was coming to an end. She had managed to go through with it. Now, she needed to figure out what she was going to do next. She rolled on her side and saw Devon. She had never felt more alone.
SHE ZIPPED UP HER DRESS. Devon had sent Brandon away soon after they had finished. Devon was also finishing getting dressed. Her mind was racing with what she had allowed to happen. It was then that she realized this had been the final straw. She had let things go way too far. Devon turned back to her. “That was hot, baby. You were hot.” He tried to kiss the nape of her neck. But she edged away. She could still feel Brandon’s hands all over her body. She couldn’t shake the dirty feeling that filled her.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she said, looking away.
Devon pulled back. “I want you more than ever, Aria.”
She stared directly at him. “I can’t do this anymore. This went way too far. I’m not prepared for any of this.” She grabbed her purse, determined that she needed to get out of there.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “You’re just going to leave like that?”
“Yes. Devon, this isn’t me. We crossed a line here.” She hesitated and thought about things and realized that she was the one who should have put a stop to it. “I crossed a line here. I need some time to process it.” She pushed past him and left the boardroom.
He watched her leave, dumbfounded. He thought of pursuing her but thought better of it. He had not expected her to react in that way. He walked back to his office, a heaviness dragging him down. When he slumped in his chair, he reached for his phone. He dialed her number and it rang three times and went to voicemail. He didn’t bother with a message. He needed to get to her and say something because he didn’t want things to leave things like this.
Aria was driving but in a dreamlike state. The image of her being with both men kept playing through her mind, somehow unreal and yet crystal clear. It came so easily and even felt so natural, yet there was nothing natural about it. She slept with another man,
even if Devon was the one who initiated it. Devon had called her three times while she was on her way home, but most likely it was just him trying to make amends. None of words was going to change the fact that it had happened. She didn’t want to talk to him—to anyone. He must know that, she thought. It was why he hadn’t bothered leaving a message.
When Aria got home, she hurriedly went inside and collapsed onto her couch, barely making it before the tears began to stream from her eyes. She curled around a sofa pillow and cried uncontrollably until her phone rang. Expecting it to be Devon, she picked it up and was going to tell how hurt and angry she was. But it wasn’t Devon; it was Tyler.
“Ari, are you crying?” he asked immediately after hearing Aria’s greeting.
“No,” she lied, sniffling again as she did.
“You are too. Tell me what’s going on? Is it Devon? Do I need to kick his ass?”
She giggled, feeling a little better at the thought. “No. I’m fine. It’s just been a long week, but I’m home now.”
“Really? What happened?”
She spent a little time telling him how things didn’t work in New York and then sighed. “I don’t want to think about it,” she said. “I’m glad you called. We should get together soon.”
“That’s actually why I’m calling,” he said. “I just got off the phone with Marisa and we decided that tomorrow night we’ll go out to eat. She needs time out with her friends since she’s at home with a newborn and four other kids. Are you free?”
“Yes,” she said, after a long pause. She sniffled once more as she dried her eyes.
They set things up for the following night. She hung up the call and sat in silence. There was no way she was going to tell her friends what happened, but as far as she was concerned, things were over between she and Devon.
***.
Devon fought through insomnia that night. It was clear he had pushed her past her limits.
He attempted to call her several times but never got through. Each time he came closer to leaving a message, but each time he ultimately decided to hang up.
The following night, Aria met up with her friends. She had briefly considered cancelling on them, but forced ultimately forced herself to get herself together and go. She wanted to make sure she kept her friendships intact.
When she got to the restaurant, she was the last to arrive. Marisa and Tyler were talking in hushed tones when she walked up to them.
“Hey, Ari. How’s it going?” He jumped up and gave her a hug. She tried to hold him back and not make a big show of things, but the sorrowful look on Marisa’s face made it clear she knew.
“So, I’m guessing Ty has told you that I’m mourning the loss of my relationship with Devon? You both can relax. I’m not dying here and everything is perfectly fine. There are other men out there, you know.”
Marisa nodded. “That’s right. There are plenty of fish in the sea and I’m know we’ll catch you one. Maybe even tonight.”
Aria rolled her eyes and laughed. “Trust me, Marisa, more man issues is the last thing I want at the moment.” She tried to shrug nonchalantly. “I’m really fine and you guys do not have to worry about me.”
She looked through her menu as the waitress approached her.
“May I get you something to drink?” she asked.
Aria looked up. “I’ll take just water thanks.”
“Whew ...,” Marisa said as the waitress left. Aria turned to her and gave her a questioning look.
“What?” she asked.
“I thought for sure you’d be wanting to go with some hard liquor. Drown your miseries and all that. I’m proud you kept it simple.” She snickered and Aria turned to face her.
“I told you that I’m fine and I truly am. No need to worry over someone who wasn’t committed to you—to a relationship.” She looked back down at her menu but she sensed all eyes on her. Perhaps she would feel comfortable discussing everything if it was just one of them there. She didn’t want things to get awkward and as it stood it already was. She settled on her meal, just as the waitress came back with her drink. They all placed their orders.
When the waitress left the table, Aria looked to Marisa. She wanted to discuss anything but her love life. Marisa’s new baby seemed like the perfect topic. “How’s the newest member of your family?”
Aria beamed. “He’s adorable. And I have pictures.” She pulled out her phone and went to the gallery, showing her pictures off to Tyler and Aria. They oohed and aahed until they reached the last one.
“He’s precious,” Aria said.
Marisa lovingly looked down at the picture, then stuck the phone back in her purse. “He most definitely is.” She hesitated and turned back to Aria. “May I ask what happened between you two?”
Aria groaned. “We just didn’t work out, Mare.”
“But I don’t get it. You two seemed pretty great together. I was telling Ty that I really thought he was the real deal,” Marisa said.
Aria turned to Tyler. “So, Tyler didn’t tell you anything?”
Tyler quickly shook his head. “Not a thing,” he said.
Marisa’s mouth hung open. “Do tell me more. What didn’t Tyler tell me?”
“Let’s just say that he wasn’t always truthful to me,” Aria finally said after pausing to consider her words. “He’s a good guy and I don’t want to bad mouth him, so let’s drop it. Please.”
Marisa sensed that her friend meant it, so she changed the subject. “Hey, Paul got me a package to a spa retreat in Ojai. And it came with two tickets. They’re for this coming weekend and I want you to come with me, Ari. It’d be great fun to go out and just forget about any problems. Paul’s mom and dad live right there in Ventura. They’re dying to see the grandkids. It’s three days. Come on ... it’ll be good for us.”
Aria thought about it, but only for a millisecond. The truth was that she did need it and it would be nice to have a little getaway and leave work behind. “Three days, huh?”
Marisa nodded. “Three whole days. I can’t imagine going with anyone but you.”
Aria smiled and finally nodded. Marissa seemed enthusiastic and Aria slowly became excited as well. Three whole days of thinking of nobody else but herself. What could be better?
Chapter 23
Aria was packing for getaway weekend when she heard a knock on her door. She ran downstairs and looked outside to find that it was Tyler.
“What’s up, Ty?” she asked as she opened the door.
“Just thought I’d come by and check up on you,” he said.
She opened the door and stepped back for him to enter. “Come in,” she said, leading him into her living room. He followed her to the room and they sat down on the couch.
“So, I’ve been thinking about our get together on Monday and I don’t know ... something just doesn’t feel right,” he said.
“Meaning?” she asked.
“Well, your words say that things are over between you and Devon but your eyes don’t seem to agree. What’s going on? Are you over him? Or, are you thinking that maybe there’s still a chance? Is there something you’re not telling us?”
She groaned. “OK ... if I tell you something, do you promise not to judge me?”
“Ari ... when have I ever judged you?” That was the truth, so she went on. “Devon was all about pushing me to do and try new things both out of the bedroom ... and in,” she started.
His eyes widened. “Oh? Really?”
She nodded. “The other day he proposed something to me and I didn’t exactly say no. If I’m being honest, he didn’t exactly give me a chance to say no. And if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I wanted to say no.” His mouth hung open and she waited for him to process the news.
“Um ... so ... are you going to share?” he asked.
She could feel the redness on her cheeks as it grew. She swallowed hard. “I guess there’s no easy way to say it.” She hesitated and looked away. “We had a ménage à trois ... with a g
uy I’d auditioned.”
Tyler tried not to react but his eyes betrayed him. “Whoa, whoa, whoa ... Ari... hold up, girl. So, he proposed or basically told you that he wanted a threesome?”
She shrugged. “I mean, no. He did tell me. It was more about trusting him .... I don’t know. It so important to him. He’s very controlling. He knows how to press my buttons. He watched as I had sex with another guy. It wasn’t until we were leaving that it totally hit me.”
“Well, did you do something you didn’t want to do? Or, did you do something that you think is wrong, so you’re not happy with yourself? Those are two different things.”
“I crossed a line. Look, it’s just sex. It’s not about the sex. We’ve done things before; not like that but I’m feeling lost. Like I’m losing myself.”
He nodded slowly. “OK, I totally understand. Do you still care fpr him?” he asked. “Or, do you think this totally wiped away all your feelings for him?”
That was the easiest question of all to answer. “Of course, I still love him but I don’t know if he’s capable of love, of trusting—and that scares me.”
“I know, Ari. And I also know that you deserve to be happy and if you believe he could ultimately make you happy, then maybe this isn’t the right way to go. Maybe you shouldn’t run away from him, but maybe tell him why you’re feeling the way you are.”
“Damn ... when do you become a shrink?”
He laughed. “In my spare time.” He winked and she felt like he had made some valid points. Perhaps she would talk to him when she got back. But, first, she was looking forward to getting away with just Marisa and not having to worry about Devon for one moment. If things came to the point where she couldn’t stop thinking about him, then she might just have her answer. Only time would tell and she was ready to find out.
DEVON DIDN’T STOP TRYING to contact Aria but as the week went on, he started to lose hope. On Friday, not long after he tried to reach her again, his phone rang.
When I Dream of You: A Valentine's Day Romance Page 24
