Love You Better

by Brit Benson

  “Shit,” Kelley hisses at the same time I whisper-yell, “stop!”

  He halts his movements, and I can’t help but giggle at his wide-eyed shocked expression. His answering smile is wicked, and he lets out a groan that’s both tortured and comical.

  Curse this stupid old bed.

  “The floor?” Kelley suggests, and I nod through my stifled laughter.

  “Stay,” he says as he pulls out, and he quickly lays my comforter on the floor before scooping me up in his arms like a bride on her wedding night. With the same graceful speed that he showcases on the soccer field, Kelley has me off the bed and on the floor in a blink. In another breath, he’s back between my thighs and plunging into me. I gasp and release a strangled cry of relief at being reunited. He kisses me once, sensual and deep, before picking up speed and returning to steady, powerful thrusts.

  I have to bite my lip hard to keep from moaning, and when he lifts up onto his knees so I can no longer paw at his chest and back, I grip my breasts instead. His fingers dig into my hips where he’s holding me, leveraging my body so he can hit deeper, harder.

  It feels so good. Almost too good, but still not enough.

  I think I might never stop wanting him like this.

  “I wish you could see how sexy you look right now,” Kelley says, his eyes licking tracks of fire up and down my torso as he continues to buck into me. “Your face is all twisted up in pleasure, your pussy sucking my dick in, taking all of me. Your breasts bouncing with each of my thrusts. Fuck, baby, you’re a fucking goddess.”

  Kelley licks his thumb and brings it to my clit, rubbing up and down on the sensitive bundle of nerves. I clamp my hand over my mouth and moan loudly.

  “You like that, yeah?” He puts more pressure on my clit.

  “Just like that. So good.” He’s driving me crazy.

  “My baby likes being touched when I fuck her.” He rubs faster, pumps harder. When I clench around him, he releases a shuddering groan and squeezes his eyes shut. He falls back down, caging me between his arms.

  “Touch yourself for me,” he commands.

  I slide my hand between us and massage my clit while Kelley continues his relentless pace. He lowers his face to my neck and sucks and bites at my skin, making me whimper and quiver, so close to release.

  “You’re going to come soon for me,” he rasps into my ear and bites my lobe. “You’re gonna come all over my cock.”

  “I am,” I gasp. “Yes, yes, I’m gonna come.”

  When I feel myself start to shake, the beginning of an orgasm tingling deep inside, I rub my clit faster and buck my hips into Kelley’s, once again matching his thrusts, spurring him on with my heels pressed into his lower back.

  “Fuck, Ivy,” Kelley croaks, strangled and breathless. Almost pained. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He chants in time with my thrusts, and he presses his forehead into my shoulder, growling through gritted teeth. “I need you to come, baby.”

  “Yes,” I whimper, and my orgasm explodes through my body, curling my toes and arching my back. Kelley covers my mouth with his and swallows the sounds I make, his thrusts becoming erratic and rhythmless. I feel him swell inside my clenched walls, and he opens his mouth on a silent cry. His beautiful face is the picture of ecstasy as he spills his release into the condom.

  We’re both breathless and sweating. My body is still a mess of raw nerves and tingles, both burning up and shivering. Kelley drops down next to me, and I turn my head to look at him.

  To marvel at this man.

  My best friend.

  My best friend who knows me better than anyone.

  My best friend who would do anything for me, who cares for me and loves me unconditionally.

  And who just owned my body and made me come harder than I ever have before.

  I am literally in freaking awe. I’m gaping again. I can’t help it.

  When he meets my eyes, my breath catches at just how perfect he is.

  “Who are you?” I pant out, and a lopsided, boyish smile takes over his face.

  “I’m Kelley Allen Pierce.” He waggles his brows playfully. “Your first friend.” He kisses my cheek. “Your table buddy.” He kisses my nose. “Your best friend.” He kisses my lips chastely and presses his forehead to mine, whispering “And you’re my everything.”

  I gasp and he swallows it with another kiss, deeper this time, and just as I’m about to lose myself in him again, he wraps his arms around me, quickly flips me over the top of him and drops me on his opposite side.

  I squeak out in surprise. “What was that for?” I giggle.

  “Can’t have my everything laying in the wet spot, can I?” His eyes are mischievous and playful, and I snort a laugh.

  “And they say chivalry is dead,” I laugh again, and snuggle into him.

  20

  After disposing of the condom and taking care of Ivy, I move the comforter back onto the bed and we burrow under it. Ivy snuggles back up onto my chest, and I run my fingers through her hair.

  This is how my first time should have been. It’s how it was meant to happen. With her. Everything down to her childhood home and that fucking squeaky ass bed. It was fun and sexy and perfect.

  In my head, from now on, this will be my first, because it’s the only one that’s ever mattered.

  “Ask me a question or tell me a secret,” she says sleepily.

  “Secret,” I say immediately. “You sure you want this one, though? It’s kind of shocking.”

  “Give it to me, big boy.” Ivy giggles and I give her side a little squeeze.

  “Okay, well. Here goes nothing.” I pause for dramatic effect. “I was almost a two-pump chump.”

  Ivy barks out a laugh before quickly covering her mouth with her hand. “What!” she whisper-shouts. “You mean just now?”

  I nod solemnly. It’s fucking true.

  “Yep. I had to recite Revolutionary War battle sites so I didn’t come too soon. Wouldn’t that have been some shit? I convince you to take a chance on me only to blow my load seconds after my first thrust.” I chuckle morbidly. That would have seriously sucked. Fucking travesty.

  “Wait,” Ivy giggles again. “You mean you were thinking about the Revolutionary War the whole time we were having sex?”

  “Not the whole time,” I defend. “Just right at first, and then again right at the end. The whole middle part was all you, baby.”

  Ivy’s body is shaking with silent laughter, so I give her side another tickle. “You know, if I wasn’t so confident in the fact that I just fucking owned your pussy, I’d probably be hurt by your laughter.”

  “Oh, you think you owned me, do you?”

  “I know I did. Your pussy is now mine. She answers to me from here on out. My dick will take very good care of her. My tongue will help.”

  Ivy gives me a shove. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “I’m just telling you what I know, baby,” I tease, then kiss her head. “Your turn. Question or secret.”

  Ivy is quiet for a moment. I hear her take a few measured breaths before she finally speaks.

  “Does it bother you? How many guys I’ve slept with?”

  I’m taken aback by her question, but my answer comes quickly and without doubt. “Not at all.”

  “Are you sure? I know that some people take issue with, you know, women who, um, embrace their sexuality, I guess.” Her voice is quiet and thoughtful as she continues, “I’ve never worried about it before. But I don’t know, you’re different. I guess you’re the first person whose opinion has ever mattered as much as my own.”

  “Ivy, listen to me now, because I don’t want you to ever question this again. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest that you’ve slept with other people. Was I jealous? Fuck yes. The idea of you with anyone other than me burns me up with jealousy. But do I think less of you? Definitely not. Whether it was one or one hundred, you’re still the same Ivy I’ve always loved. Fuck, I actually really admire your confidence. The way you care fuck all wha
t anyone thinks. It’s sexy as hell. You spend so much time taking care of everyone around you. I will never, ever think less of you for doing something for yourself. As long as that thing isn’t harmful, then do what the fuck you want to do.”

  Ivy snorts. “Are you saying that my hookups were a form of self-care?”

  I laugh quietly and shrug. “Kind of, I guess. Yeah. You knew what you wanted, and you went for it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

  Ivy sits up and turns to look at me. Her eyes trace over my face, studying. I wait, letting her look until she finds what she’s searching for. She opens and closes her mouth twice, then shuts her eyes lightly, before she finally speaks.

  “You don’t know how good it feels to hear you say that,” she whispers. “You couldn’t know what it means.” She leans back down and kisses me.

  “There is one thing though,” I add when she breaks the kiss and lays her head back on my chest.

  “What’s that?”

  “You’re mine now, and I’m yours. If you ever need anything and you’re not getting it from me, if I’m not providing it, I need you to promise that you’ll tell me so we can fix it together.”

  Ivy presses a kiss to my chest, just above my thundering heart.

  “I promise,” she whispers.

  * * *

  I dropped Ivy off at the testing center at 8:30 a.m. after taking her to the café for some much-needed caffeine and sustenance. The kiss she left me with was sensual and passionate and fucking phenomenal.

  I am so gone for this woman.

  Last night, I teased about owning her, but that was a lie. She’s the one who owns me. She always has.

  Ivy says she’ll probably be done with the test around noon, so I text Jesse and ask if he’s free to hit the gym.

  Me: Just dropped Ivy for the LSAT. Gym in 20?

  Jesse: *arm flexing emoji* *water emoji* *sweating face emoji*

  I shake my head with a laugh.

  Me: *running man emoji*

  Jesse: *thumbs up emoji*

  I walk into the campus gym exactly twenty minutes later. I keep a bag of clean workout clothes in my car, so I didn’t have to stop at the condo. I change and set up on a free squat rack. I’m stretching when Jesse joins me five minutes later.

  “What’s that goofy smile?” He asks in way of greeting.

  “What goofy smile?” I pop a brow.

  He points his finger and waves it in a circle around my face. “This one. The dopey one. The one that’s got you looking all love drunk and pussy high.”

  I stare at him and attempt to maintain a poker face, but Jesse sees right through it.

  “Oh shit.” His grin is Cheshire cat-like, and despite myself, I feel defensive.

  “I’m not talking about it,” I state. Ivy’s not a hookup, and I won’t be discussing my sex life with anyone but her. Not even with Jesse, my other best friend.

  Jesse puts his palms up, but the smile remains. “I’m not gonna press,” he reassures. “Even though I can tell y’all had sex.”

  I bristle at his chuckle.

  “But you know I respect you, man. Ivy, too. You guys are my people. I couldn’t be happier that my people are now officially each other’s people, and we can be shiny, happy people together.”

  I squint my eyes at him and smirk. “This isn’t gonna be a menage, J.”

  He barks out a laugh and tosses his towel at me. “Seriously, though. For real. I’m stoked for you guys. It’s been a long time coming.”

  “Thanks, J.”

  “Also, I totally just won twenty bucks. Bailey bet you wouldn’t hook up until after Ivy took the LSAT.”

  “You guys bet on when Ives and I would have sex?” I scrunch my nose up. What the fuck?

  “Yeah.” He deadpans like I’m the unreasonable one.

  “That’s wrong, man.”

  “Whatever.” He shrugs without remorse. “Wanna grab smoothies after this? I’m suddenly twenty bucks richer.” I toss his towel back at him and he bats it away with a taunting laugh.

  Our friends are asshats.

  Ivy texts at 12:15 and lets me know she’s finished, so I drive to the testing center to scoop her up. Then, I drive her back to her place trying to hide my excitement.

  Nothing is out of the norm. Just another Saturday.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you what my mom told me,” Ivy sits up straighter in my passenger seat and turns to face me. “You know that kid you teach? The one who was at the firm with his mom?”

  “Yeah, Matthew Harrison. What about him?”

  “Well, get this. His mom, Allison, actually works for my mom at the diner. Your mom and I had a talk with Allison last week at the firm, talked about some of her options...” She widens her eyes at me.

  “Okay...?”

  “I think she and her son might be moving in with my mom and Jacob for a while. My mom asked if it was okay that she turn my room into a guest room for Allison, and Matthew will bunk in Jacob’s room. My mom is going to promote Allison at the diner and I’m pretty sure she is now working with your mom to utilize some of those options, and my mom is going to help her out.”

  “Wow.” I blink. “That’s amazing. Talk about a small world.”

  “I know. It’s crazy.” We hop out of the Jeep and walk toward her apartment. “I’m really thinking it’s going to work out well, though. That man, Matthew’s dad? He’s, well, not really the best guy.”

  When Ivy moves to open her door, it’s locked.

  “Oh, weird,” she says with a small frown. “I thought B was supposed to be home.” She fishes her keys out of her bag and I step back, hiding my smile.

  As soon as she walks through the door, she’s hit with flying confetti and a chorus of “SURPRISE!” from Jesse, Bailey, and me.

  “Congrats on finishing the LSAT, my babe!” Bailey shouts and launches herself at Ivy.

  “Group hug!” Jesse shouts just before wrapping them both up in his arms, so I join in, too.

  “I baked you a cake,” Bailey exclaims when we break apart, and she pulls Ivy by the hand into the small galley kitchen.

  I take a moment to look around the room. When Bailey texted me this morning with the idea of throwing Ivy a little surprise party to celebrate all of her hard work, I was all for it. Jesse and I ran to the Party Town store and bought black and gold streamers, balloons, and Congrats banners. Then we came back and “decorated” the apartment while Bailey worked on the cake.

  Honestly, it looks like a high school graduation and a fiftieth birthday fucked, had a baby, and that baby threw up all over the apartment.

  J and I most certainly do not have futures in party planning.

  The absolute fucking joy on Ivy’s face makes it all worth it. She’s laughing with Bailey, and when she looks around at the celebratory embellishments we scotch-taped all over the apartment, her dimple is popped real deep, her face is flushed in happiness, and her brilliant blue eyes are dancing.

  Fuck. She’s so beautiful it actually hurts. If I get to spend the rest of my life keeping that look on her face, I will die a happy man.

  “So how do you think you did?” Jesse asks Ivy after we’ve eaten three quarters of the German chocolate cake.

  “I think I did really well,” she replies, licking icing from her fork. My dick twitches in my jeans at the sight, and the way she winks at me tells me that she knows exactly what she’s doing. “Scores should be back in three to four weeks, and as long as I beat my last score, I’ll be happy.”

  “Wait, what,” I sputter. “Your last score?”

  “Yeah, what’s that mean?” Bailey cocks her head to the side and eyes Ivy.

  “You took it over the summer, didn’t you?” Jesse’s sporting a knowing grin and nods his head slowly. “I had a feeling you already did.”

  “I took it in June,” Ivy reveals sheepishly. “I didn’t tell anyone because I was nervous and didn’t want to have to share my scores if they were bad. I knew I’d probably be taking i
t again, anyway.”

  “How did you hide it?” Bailey asks, and I’m just as shocked and curious as she is. “You’re literally always with at least one of us.”

  Ivy shrugs. “Not always. I studied a lot at the library. Used my phone app and stuff. I think I studied harder this time around just because I was determined to beat my other score.” She takes another bite of cake.

  “Well....” Jesse widens his eyes at her.

  “Well, what?”

  “Don’t play. What was your first score?” Jesse demands. “You know we’ll still love you, even if you tanked miserably.”

  “Oh, why thank you, that’s so nice to hear,” Ivy says dryly, but she can’t maintain the unamused expression, and soon a toothy, proud smile is stretching over her face, and I know, I just fucking know, that this brilliant woman aced that damn test.

  “I scored a 172,” she beams, and we erupt in cheers.

  The highest score you can get on the LSAT is 180, and my girl scored a 172. She’s so damn sexy, her and that big, beautiful brain.

  I’m going to make her come so hard tonight.

  When the cake has been eaten and the revelry has died down, Ivy comes up behind me and tugs me toward her bedroom. I’m ready to jump on her as soon as the door shuts, but she sits on the bed and pats the spot next to her for me to sit, too.

  “Ask me for a question or a secret,” she says quietly, and my heart starts fucking thundering.

  “You don’t have to,” I assure her. “I’m here whenever you’re ready.”

  She smiles, but it’s small and kind of sad. “I’m ready. Last night and today...they were so perfect, Kelley. I need to do this.”

  I nod, take her hand in mine, and whisper, “Ask me a question or tell me a secret, Ives.”

  “Secret,” she says, her voice quiet but strong, her eyes closed. “I went to a party after high school graduation. At that party, I was drugged and raped.” I squeeze her hand and do my best to calm the anguish and rage roiling in my gut.