by Katie Ashley
“My opinion of you is certainly a work in progress.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
We began working in perfect sync with Gabe washing the dishes and me doing the drying. When he picked up the mixing bowl, he paused. “Do you want to lick the spoon?” he asked.
“Yes, please.”
As my tongue darted out, Gabe’s eyes flared. Electricity crackled through my body, causing the hairs on my arms to rise. Time crawled by as we stood there staring at each other.
Gabe broke the silence by saying, “Fuck it.” Tossing the spoon to the counter, he then reached out and jerked me to him.
“What are you—”
Gabe crushed his lips against mine, causing me to moan. His kiss was a combination of tenderness and insistence. His mouth moved against mine almost with desperation. Sweet Jesus, the man could kiss. He was even better at it in real life than he was in my dream. It didn’t seem fair that he should be so good at so many things.
As Gabe plunged his tongue into my mouth, his hand slid around my ribcage to cup my breast and my nipple immediately hardened under his touch. He continued kneading my breast while his thumb brushed back and forth over my nipple, which drove me absolutely wild.
Then, as suddenly as it had all started, it stopped. Gabe jerked away from me, his wild gaze meeting mine as he jerked a hand through his hair. The kitchen was filled with the sounds of our heavy breathing. Before he could say anything, I leapt back at him, fusing my lips to his.
After knocking the leftover ingredients to the ground, Gabe grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me up onto the counter. “Too many clothes,” he muttered as he eyed my chest.
Since I completely agreed with him, I grasped the hem of my t-shirt and quickly ripped it over my head then tossed it to the ground. Gabe’s greedy hands jerked my bra straps down, freeing my breasts. He licked his lips before his mouth closed over one of my rock-hard nipples. “Mm, yes,” I muttered as I pinched my eyes shut.
As Gabe’s teeth grazed my nipple, his other hand came between my legs. Through my jeans, he rubbed the heel of his hand against my pussy. With a moan, I threw my head back. God, it felt so good have his hands on me. I began arching my hips to get more friction. When it wasn’t enough, I murmured, “Please.”
Gabe replied by unbuttoning and unzipping my jeans. He pulled them down from under my butt…so easily. His hand dove into my panties and worked its way down to my pussy. When his fingers touched my clit, I once again cried out. As Gabe sucked my nipple into his mouth, he thrust one finger deep inside me. “Hmm, yes, more,” I pleaded.
He obliged by sticking another finger into my pussy. Biting down on my lip, I rocked against his hand. His mouth and his fingers felt just as good as they had in my sex dream. When Gabe pulled his fingers out of me, I groaned in frustration. “I want to fuck you with my tongue,” he said. Um, okay. He certainly wasn’t going to get an argument out of me with that one.
But in the heat of the moment, as Gabe started to pull down my panties, I remembered how unprepared I was for this moment—like not lady-scaped at all kind of unprepared. It was one thing for his hand to feel it, but it was a completely different thing for him to see it. “Wait, no.”
His dark brows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“Um, it’s, well…” Embarrassed heat rushed to my face.
“What?”
“I’m not ready.”
A sexy smirk curved Gabe’s lips. “Babe, you’ve soaked my fingers—you’re more than ready.”
I ducked my head. “Not like that. I mean, it’s been a while, so I haven’t taken care of things…down there.”
He shocked the hell out of me by closing his eyes in bliss. “Are you telling me you have a full bush going on?”
I gasped. “Um, well, not a total bush, but it’s certainly not how I’d prefer you to see it.”
His eyes popped open. Before I could protest any more, Gabe jerked my panties down, and I shrieked when he widened my legs. Desire filled his gaze at the sight of what I felt was my overgrown jungle. “That is so fucking sexy.”
“You’re joking?”
He answered my question by burying his face in my pussy. I sucked in a breath before wheezing it out. “I guess you’re serious,” I said as I panted.
After his tongue traced in and out of my folds, he thrust it inside me. I moaned so loud it echoed through the kitchen. It had been so long since a man had gone down on me, and it had been even longer since it had been a man who knew what he was doing, one who swept his powerful tongue deep inside me. “Oh God, Gabe!”
“That’s it, say my name, baby,” he murmured, his voice vibrating against my sex.
I began lifting my hips to work against his tongue. Sweat broke out along my forehead. I was close—oh, so close—but it felt so damn good, I didn’t want it to stop.
Just as I started to go over the edge, the acrid smell of smoke entered my nostrils. Wait, were Gabe’s oral skills so good they’d set my vagina on fire? My eyes fluttered open to see smoke filling the kitchen.
“Oh shit! The brownies!!” I shrieked. I pushed Gabe’s head away before I jumped down off the counter. On wobbly legs, I hobbled over to the stove. When I threw open the door, smoke billowed back at me.
“Got a fire extinguisher?” Gabe questioned.
“Pantry!” I shouted over my shoulder.
While Gabe rushed to retrieve it, I turned off the oven. After arming my hand with an oven mitt, I reached inside to take out the charred remains of the baked goods. When Gabe appeared at my side with the extinguisher, I shook my head. “Fire’s out. Just open up the windows and doors to get the smoke out.”
“Got it.” After setting the extinguisher on the floor, he made quick work of opening the window over the sink and then the three over by the kitchen table. All I could do was stare at the mess on the stove. I didn’t even care that I was standing almost buck-naked in my kitchen.
Fighting the frustrated tears that threatened to overtake me, I yanked my hand through my hair. “Shit!”
Gabe placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Take it easy. We can make another batch.”
I glanced at the clock on the stove. “By the time I could get to Blair’s, it would be closed.
“But it’s only nine o’clock.”
“You’re in the boonies, city boy. Everything here closes early.”
“What about a Walmart or another store open all night?”
I wiggled my bra back down over my breasts. “It’s an hour away. I have to pick up Linc at Dad’s before ten.”
“Okay, while you go pick up Linc, I’ll go to Walmart for the ingredients.”
Gabe’s offer sent warmth spreading through my chest; I couldn’t believe he was so willing to do whatever it took to help me. But, the feeling of warmth was fleeting, and all too soon it was replaced by a sense of unease. Not only was what we had just done on the counter too fast, so was the whiplash of feelings I was experiencing about him.
“No, no, that’s okay. You’ve done plenty,” I replied as I hopped back into my panties and jeans.
“But I want to help,” he protested.
Shaking my head, I replied, “Just go. I need to sort this out myself.”
Gabe’s expression darkened. “Why are you pushing me away?”
Because I’m mortified that I was so easy, not to mention I’m scared to death we’ve just screwed up what we had by almost screwing in my kitchen.
“I’m not. I just need to clean up this mess and go get Linc.” When he started to protest again, I pinched my eyes shut. “Please. Just leave.”
After huffing out a frustrated breath, he brushed past me. Closing my eyes, I listened to his heavy footsteps as they pounded against the hallway floor. At the sound of the front door slamming, I jumped. Now that I was alone, I allowed the tears to flow. This time they weren’t about the burnt brownies. There was nothing I could do to rectify the mess I had made of those. Now I was thinking there was no way I could
rectify the mess I’d just made with Gabe. So, my tears? They were all about Gabe.
I’m not sure how long I stood dumbfounded on Rae’s back porch. This rejection stung in a different way than her others, and I wasn’t just talking about my blue balls. Things had been changing emotionally between us, and I couldn’t help being annoyed at her for cutting me off the same way she had before she even knew me. Okay, if I were honest with myself, I would say I really felt hurt more than I did annoyance. My dick felt the annoyance that it hadn’t gotten to come buried deep inside Rae’s tight, wet pussy, but my heart was hurt by her dismissing me so quickly and once again alluding to the idea that I was just some self-centered prick. You’ve done plenty. What did the hell did that even mean?
Even though she’d told me I’d done enough, there was no way in hell I was letting this one go. As I started down the porch steps, I dug my phone out of my pocket. After scrolling through my contacts, I hit dial, and I wasn’t too surprised to hear Cumbia music blaring in the background when AJ answered. The drummer for Runaway Train, AJ Resendiz, always spent some of his down time in Mexico where his family was originally from. He and his wife, Mia, had a house in Puerto Vallarta.
“Hey Gabe, what’s up?” AJ yelled over the music.
“Not much. Listen, I know you guys are out of the country, but I need a favor.”
“Anything for you, my man.”
“Do you think Mia could get me the hookup for about fifty to a hundred cannoli from Mama Sofia’s?”
With a chuckle, AJ said, “You back on the weed and have the munchies?”
I snorted. “Not quite.”
“Then what the hell do you need that many cannoli for?”
“It’s a long story.”
“If I’m going to have my wife call back to her dad’s restaurant in Atlanta to request a shit-ton of cannoli, I think I’m owed an explanation.” After he said something in Spanish, the loud music cut off in the background.
Inwardly, I groaned. The last thing I wanted to do was tell AJ what had happened with Rae—he and the other guys would rag my ass for days. “Fine, there’s this woman named Rae, and I was—”
AJ sucked in a breath. “You’ve fallen for her.”
“Whoa, whoa, I didn’t say that,” I protested.
“You didn’t have to. I can hear it in your voice.” Even though he was all the way in Mexico, I could picture the shit-eating grin on AJ’s face. All the married Runaway Train guys were on Eli and me to settle down.
“You do realize we sound like two chicks on the phone right now, don’t you?”
With a chuckle, AJ replied, “I couldn’t give a shit less. I want to hear more about this Rae.”
I could have found a million ways to describe her, but I merely replied, “She’s my muse.”
“Oh yeah, you’re in deep.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
In a rambling mess, I said, “We just burned up the brownies when I was going down on her on the kitchen counter and now I need a replacement dessert for her son’s school bake sale tomorrow so she doesn’t hate me for distracting her with sex!”
Silence came from the other end of the phone. “Did you just say something about burned brownies?”
“Yeah, we were baking together…among other things.”
“Yep, you’ve fallen big time.”
“AJ, could you please cut the shit.”
“I will after one more thing. You said she has a kid.”
“Yeah. Lincoln’s nine—well, he likes to be called Linc.” I was rambling again.
“You don’t do kids.”
I scowled at the phone. “I’m aware of that.”
“Then what the hell are you doing baking with a woman who has a kid?”
“I made a deal with Linc to give him a guitar if he would get his mom to hang out with me.” Feeling like an old gossiping woman, I filled AJ in on everything that had transpired with the Jeep and the songwriting inspiration.
“I seriously do not have words right now, man.”
“I doubt that.”
“Okay, I have plenty but let me just ask you this: are you wanting to get the cannoli just to make it up to this Rae chick, or do you also want them so her kid will like you too?”
“What kind of question is that? This isn’t about the kid—it’s about Rae. If she stays pissed at me, my songwriting will get shot to hell again.”
“I’m not buying it. You could have thrown some cash at Rae to help the situation, but instead, you’re going to drive all the way to Atlanta tonight to pick up some desserts that are sure to be wildly popular at the bake sale, which in turn will make not only Rae but also Linc look good, not to mention that saving his mom’s ass will make you look good in his eyes.”
I remained silent for a few moments, processing what AJ had said. Surely he had to be out in left field with what he’d said about me wanting to impress Linc. This wasn’t about him at all; it was about staying on Rae’s good side. The only thing AJ was right about when it came to me and Linc was the fact that I didn’t do kids. “You’re full of shit, man,” I finally muttered.
“You keep telling yourself that. The truth is, you like the kid.”
“I never said I didn’t. You’re the one saying I’m trying to impress him, which I’m not.”
“And just like the kid told you it would mean more to go out of your way for the breakfast, you’re going out of your way for him.”
I growled in frustration. “Fine. I want the kid to like me, okay? And not just because I’m giving him a guitar as part of this hair-brained plan of ours.”
“There. Now was that so hard to admit?” AJ teased.
“Be glad you’re in Mexico right now, or I’d be kicking your ass.”
“Ha! Bring it on.”
“So, you’ve got my back?”
“As long as you’re aware that these cannoli are going to cost you a fucking fortune.”
With a laugh, I replied, “I don’t care.”
“Fine. I’ll call Duke and tell him to start an emergency batch. They should be done by the time you make the trip from Bumblefuck to Atlanta.”
Duke Martinelli was AJ’s father-in-law. When he had retired from the NFL, he’d opened an Italian restaurant in the heart of Atlanta and named it Mama Sofia’s, after his mother. “Tell Duke I’ll owe him big time.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll let you make it up to him,” AJ joked.
“Whatever, man.”
“All right, I’m hanging up and calling him.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. I owe you, too.”
“The only way I want to be repaid is for things to work out with you and this girl.”
Rolling my eyes, I protested, “But you don’t even know her. She could be a real bitch or a gold digger.”
“I know what you’ve told me, and from that, I know she’s someone worth pursuing—someone like my Mia.”
I jerked a hand through my hair. “She could be. I just don’t know.”
“Then find out.”
“Okay, I’ll try.”
“Talk to you later, man. Thanks.”
“Yeah, later.”
Long after Gabe left, my feet remained frozen to the kitchen floor. I would have been a complete statue of myself if I didn’t continue running my fingers over my swollen lips. Each time I did, I closed my eyes and thought of Gabe’s mouth on mine…his hands on my body…his tongue inside me. Just as I would flush with desire, mortification would once again crash over me.
As Aunt Sadie would say, I’d just behaved like a brazen hussy. I mean, how else would one classify my behavior? I’d allowed a man I’d known for less than a week to go down on me in my family’s kitchen. Sure, he was a talented songwriter known around the world who called me his songwriting muse, but he was still a stranger to me.
While I’d been an avid watcher of Sex and the City back in the day, I’d only managed to live vicariously through their libera
ted sexual escapades. The five men I’d slept with in my life had all been within the confines of either a relationship or long dating period. Well, there was that one-night stand with a Falcons player, but I was only twenty at the time. I had certainly matured and become much wiser since then.
“What the hell?” Kennedy demanded.
Coming out of my stupor, I whirled around to face my sisters. Kennedy’s wide gaze ricocheted around the room. “What happened?”
“Uh, I burned Linc’s brownies.”
Kennedy cocked her head at me. “Yes, I can smell that, but did a tornado blow through here as well?” She motioned to the floor where Gabe had swept the leftover ingredients and bowls to the floors before hoisting me up on the countertop.
“Gabe… He…” I pinched my eyes shut.
Ellie appeared at my side. “Did Gabe hurt you?”
My eyes flew open as I wildly shook my head. “No, no, no! It was nothing like that.”
“Then what was it?” Kennedy asked.
“I thought my vagina caught on fire, but it was the brownies burning,” I said absently.
Kennedy and Ellie exchanged a look. “Do we slap her or try to get some alcohol in her?” Kennedy asked.
With a scowl, I replied, “You don’t need to slap me.”
“Considering the state you’re in and the way you’re talking, that’s still debatable,” Kennedy said.
“While I don’t need slapping, I could use a drink.”
Ellie nodded. “Kennedy, grab the tequila from the pantry.”
“I’m on it.”
Steering me over to the table, Ellie said, “I think you need to sit down.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” I replied as I flopped down in one of the chairs.
Kennedy returned with the tequila and three shot glasses. Always one for extreme bluntness, she asked, “Did you guys fuck on the kitchen counter?”
“If oral sex counts as fucking,” I replied before throwing back the tequila. Oh shit. That was some extreme TMI I’d just unloaded on my sisters.
While Ellie’s eyes bulged in horror, Kennedy paused with her shot glass in mid-air. “Whose ass am I going to be bleaching off the countertop?”
