by Nicole Reed
Nodding at her, I reply, “Loves you bigger,” as she leaves.
Groaning, I really need to talk to Mads about the whole Dray situation, but I know I can’t. She is too biased when it comes to him, with much reason to be. And now, I have to wonder which Dray will I get today? The man who loves to torture me endlessly or the lost boy who calls to me? Shaking myself out of my reverie, I remind myself why I am doing this. Dray. No, wait, I mean Trent. Dear sweet baby Jesus. Trent is the reason I am doing this. For him. I reach my hand up to pop my own self in the head.
Leaning down, I zip my bag up and sling it over my shoulder. “Jonsie, time to go.” Taking one last look in my mirror, I stare at the woman there: Glasses, t-shirt, yoga pants, running shoes, no make-up, with my hair pulled back in a messy bun. Just a friend helping another friend. Scooping up Jonsie, I place him in his travel crate and lock everything up. Deep breath. I can do this.
Arriving at Dray’s, I’m able to drive into the secured parking deck underneath and take the elevator up. My arms are loaded down with my bags and Jonsie in his crate. Thank God that Dray left me a key with the parking attendant, so I let myself in. I’ve been here several times with Trent, since this is where he lives when he is at home. Dray owns the top floor and the entire left side is windows overlooking the city. It is decorated as a bachelors pad, but even I have to admit, it is very tastefully done. Action shots of Dray playing football adorn most of the walls.
When I first came here with Trent, I noted Dray’s self-admiration, mocking his egotistical self, but Trent looked at me and said while smiling sadly, “If someone has never had a family, what photos are we supposed to place upon the walls other than pictures of ourselves?” I felt about two feet high, and it made me look at the pictures again. At that time, I felt something else, the pride that Dray must feel looking at his life and how far he had come. I remember looking at Dray differently for about two seconds before he said something to piss me off again.
Glancing over the photos now, I smile and continue to look around. It’s been awhile, but everything seems to be the same masculine decor. Jonsie begins to bark, seconds before I hear footsteps on the wooden floor and look up. Dray stands staring at me, almost as if he doesn’t know who I am. He’s dressed in white basketball shorts and matching t-shirt. Bringing his hand to his head, I notice that he grimaces and instantly, I remember the concussion.
“What are you doing out of bed?” I ask while setting Jonsie’s crate down and hushing his barking. Looking over at Dray, he still stands there. Setting the rest of my bags down on the floor, I step forward and reach for his other hand. “Have you had your pain medicine?”
Gently shaking his head, he replies, “No.”
“Okay, big guy. Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll find everything for you.” I tug his hand and start down the hallway.
“I’d rather sit up for now.”
“Fine. How about the couch?” He nods at my answer, so I lead him into the spacious living area and to one of the large sectional couches. Releasing his hand as he sits, I ask, “Hungry?” He nods again, acutely staring at me. “Give me just a second.”
Rushing away, I let my rapidly beating heart settle as I walk into the kitchen. What the hell is happening? This concussion must have really rattled his brain. Looking into his fridge, I’m glad to note it’s stocked. I know he has a housekeeper that comes every morning, so at least buying groceries is taken care of. Throwing together a couple of sandwiches, I add a pickle spear and grab a bottle of water to place on the tray I found. Looking over the kitchen counter, I see a white pharmacy bag which I open to discover his pain meds. Twisting the top off, I note which one he needs and add them to the tray.
As I walk back in, I see ESPN playing on the large plasma screen. Dray looks up at me and actually smiles this time.
“I don’t know what is messing with my head more. My injury or you being domesticated?”
“Well if I knew that a head injury was one way to make you almost mute, I would have bashed your brain in a long time ago.”
Setting the tray down on the end table beside him, I rub my empty hands together, “I guess I’ll take Trent’s room. I’m just going to put my stuff away, but if you need me, just yell.” Turning away to retrieve Jonsie and my bags, I hear him speak behind me.
“Guest room is ready,” he says not looking at me, grabbing for his sandwich, and taking a bite.
“Ooookay.” The guest room is right next to his while Trent’s is the farthest away. I know Trent wouldn’t mind me using his bed and he likes Jonsie, so I knew he wouldn’t be aggravated by having a dog invade his area. I start to argue when I remember the doctor’s words about Dray not needing any stress. It’s just for a week and a half. Nodding, I turn around.
Opening the guest room door, I set Jonsie’s crate down and place my bags on the bed. It’s solid white from the carpet to the curtains. It’s a little too sterile feeling until I see the framed picture by the bed of Trent, Dray, and me. It had to be taken sometime within the last couple of years at the lake. We are all sitting on the dock with our feet dangling above the water and our backs facing the camera as the sun sets across the lake. I’m turned toward the guys, laughing at something I’m sure Trent has said. It seems so out of place here, but at the same time, it brings warmth to the room.
Jonsie’s whine reminds me that I need to take him out. “C’mon baby,” I say as I release him from his crate. Unpacking my bags only takes minutes, as does setting my personal items out. Jonsie sniffs his way around the room when I notice him nudging the door open to explore the rest of Dray’s apartment. I might as well let him go; I’m sure I’ll hear his little barks when he finds Dray. Minutes later, when the silence reminds me that I haven’t heard Jonsie, I decide it’s time to investigate. Making my way back to the living area, I see a sight that has me at a dead stop. Jonsie sits curled up in Dray’s lap as he watches television.
“What have you done to my dog?”
Grinning he replies, “I think he likes me.”
“You fed him some of your sandwich, didn’t you? No table food.” I sit down at the other end of the sectional couch.
“We dogs have to stick together. I can’t answer your question other than to say I never had relations with that woman.” The last is said trying to sound like Bill Clinton.
“I’m serious.”
“Me too,” he says, but again I see him grimace. “Sorry, my head hurts.”
Rolling his neck around, I see the muscles pop up around his shoulders which leads me to look down his strong arms, then down to his large hands. His body is almost unbelievable. Then, you have that beautiful skin covering every inch of it, adding a softness to cover that hard steel. I can almost imagine my hand caressing down his arms, grabbing that large hand and bringing his fingers to my mouth to suck on, one by one. All the while, imagining it’s something else and turning him on by giving a preview of what I am going to do and exactly how. My mouth waters at the thought of tasting him. Would he be sweet or salty? Maybe a mixture of both. A gush of wetness between my legs brings me to the present, and I find myself drowning in Dray’s chocolate eyes.
“Are you wet?” My voice is hoarse. His eyes get a little bigger, when I realize what I just ask him. “Well! Are you well?” I ask again. Oh my God! Oh my God! What did I just do? My breathing is a little harsh, so I try to calm down.
“Come here, Kylie.” He states as he lays Jonsie on top of a cushion asleep, but he never looks away from me. It is almost as if he does, we will lose this connection, and neither one of us can do it.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Fine,” he says, standing and walking to me then dropping to his knees in front of where I sit, making us eye level. The intensity in his gaze, brands me deep, calling to everything within me to respond.
What is happening here? It’s as if I have no control. All is lost. I’m burning from the inside out, fire in the pit of my stomach, the steam warming my body every whic
h way. I swallow and unconsciously lick my lips only to hear him groan. The sound travels straight to my nipples, which harden in response. “Maybe this is a good time to be your asshole self.” Finally my self-preservation rears.
“I’m tired of being an asshole. I want to touch you, but my head is killing me, and I’m afraid I’ll pass out, missing the experience.”
“Oh my God. Some nurse I am.” The lust haze finally clears, and I see pain marring his features. I also can’t help but notice the desire mirrored within his gaze, but first things first. Moving out of the way, I instruct him to lie down, which he does without arguing for once. Grabbing one of the fluffy throw pillows, I gently lift his head and prop it underneath. Not realizing what I’m doing, I end up sitting on the edge of the couch, leaning over him. This has become too twilight zone for me I decide as I try to stand.
“Kylie, look at me,” he commands, reaching for my hand and pulling me back down to sit, which I do almost on top of him.
Looking down into his eyes, I think to myself, over and over, that this is Dray. Asshole Dray. Douchebag Dray. Holy-terror Dray. Bane-of-my-existence Dray. What am I doing? What are you doing, Kylie? My internal voices scream inside, but Dray’s voice calms them all.
“Shhh,” he whispers. “Just let it happen. For so many years, we’ve drawn our battle lines and fought this war, but I’m waving the white flag.”
Running his hand up and down my arm, it’s almost as if the nerves are set to flame where he touches me. I swear that I can almost hear them crackle with electricity.
“Do you feel that, Kylie?” He continues to caress my arm with his hand. “That’s power running between you and me. I never imagined it would be so strong, so intense. Can you even conceive what my body rubbing against yours will feel like? Pleasure unlike either one of us has ever experienced. Sex in its greatest form.”
His words hypnotize me, seduce me, and demolish my inhibitions so that even my common sense agrees with what he is saying. I’ve never wanted sex as much as I want it with Dray at this moment. In my head, I can see images of us entwined together, his dark against my light skin. The sight, in my mind’s eye, so clear, so erotic, that my breathing becomes erratic just with the thought. Closing my eyes, I feel his fingers glide to my breasts, circling the tip through my clothes. My clit throbs in tune with his movements almost as if he is touching me there. Dray grasps my nipple tightly as he pulls and squeezes. The dual motion overwhelms my senses, and an orgasm overcomes me, rippling up and through my body. Clenching my legs together, I moan as I ride it out. My body shakes, tingling with the aftermath of what just happened, and what I need to be happening again; however, sanity returns with me still sitting on the side of the couch. Opening my eyes, Dray stares at me like he knows my every thought. At least now, he has a supreme satisfied smile on his mouth and his shorts are in a superior tent out front.
“Damn girl. That is about the hottest sight I’ve ever seen. Had you been butt-naked, I think I would have exploded right along with you.”
Standing up faster than he can grab me, I back away. “This is crazy. First off,” I point to him than me, “me and you. No way! Not to mention you’re not supposed to be engaging in any physical activity, doctor’s orders.”
“Screw doctor’s orders,” he calmly tells me, but there is nothing calm about what his words are doing to me.
“No screwing. Let’s remove screwing from the entire conversation.” I need to diffuse the situation. This is crazy. This is Dray! I’ve lost my mind and an orgasm. I’ve just had my first breast-gasm. My first orgasm stemming from my breast, and it was ah-mazing. I’ve read about them, but just like a G-spot, I thought they were only in big girl fairy tales. WOW!
“Kylie, come back and sit by me.” He pats the edge of the couch where I was just sitting. “We can rub – I mean, work something out,” he says as he takes his other hand and rubs the front of his shorts.
Now this is the Dray that I know, too well, and thank God for that; however, his words don’t upset me as they normally would. Now, all I can think of is, well yes I could do that. NO! I! CAN’T!
“Slow down, Gigolo Joe.” He smirks at my comment. “You are going to take a nap. I am going to take Jonsie for a walk, and I’ll check IT when I get back,” I say staring at his hand grasping the prominent tent in his shorts. Did I just say that I’ll check it when I get back? “I mean IN! I’ll check in,” I tell him. Grabbing my dog from his perch on the other side of the couch, I storm out, quickly remembering to retrieve my key from the foyer table where I left it.
Finding a small grassy park, I let Jonsie down to run. My body and mind are still a jumble of nerves. What has he done to me? What have I let him do? This is a bad idea. I thought I had taken care of my base needs. Evidently not. Actually, not at all. This isn’t going to work. I’ll just return back and tell Dray that we have to hire a nurse. It’s the only responsible decision. He’ll understand. He hasn’t been laid in days, and again, I’m sure the medicine is making him do and feel things he probably wouldn’t normally.
Sitting down on a bench, one foreign thought floats around my head. That orgasm was amazing. I can only imagine...no I can’t imagine what it would be like having Dray in me! Over me. All-around me. My body begins to hum again with thoughts of what just happened. Abruptly, I stand. I can’t do this.
“Jonsie,” I call, and he runs to me. Picking him up, I bury my face in his fluffy fur as I hug him close. Trent. Holy Hell. Trent. This is his brother. His only family. What am I doing? A cold river of fear causes me to have a full body shiver. This is ridiculous. Insane. My traitorous body. This isn’t me.
Slowly, I stroll back to Dray’s, holding tightly to Jonsie. His whine lets me know that I may be holding on a little to snug. “Sorry, boy. Mommy’s made a total fucked up beyond recognition situation.” Once I reach the building, I know I can’t hold off facing him any longer. Plus, if he is asleep, I need to wake him up to check on him.
Entering the loft, I can hear the television is still on, so I walk towards the sound. Dray is lying on the couch when I enter, sound asleep. Leaning over the pillows, I look to his chest to make sure he is breathing okay. I see the rise and fall, assuring me that at least he is. As I begin to lean up, strong hands reach for my arms, dislodging me from the floor, pulling me roughly atop his hard body.
“What the...?” I barely gasp out, when I hear his deep chortle. “Damn it, Dray. Let me up.”
“That isn’t what I heard earlier.”
I try to fight with my arms until he restrains them, locking them behind my back. Squirming, I try to get him to release me. Instantly, I feel his hard-on pushing deep into my belly, which causes me to cease my movements.
“It sure as hell isn’t what I want to hear now.” The sound of his voice gently moves up my spine, like an invisible tongue, licking its way up.
“Dray, I...” I pant my words out, feeling almost as if I’ve ran for miles. “We can’t do this. Please don’t do this. I’ll leave.” The only sound is a heavy sigh as he releases my hands. He sits up, gently rolling me to the side and cradles his head in his hands. “Does your head hurt?”
“No, right now just my dick.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, not meaning it.
With his head still in his hands, he turns his head to look at me, smiling, which completely throws me off.
“Can I ask you a question?” he asks in a whisper.
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Can we get to know one another?”
I know he sees the confusion on my face. What does that mean?
“What I’m trying to say is that I would like to get to know you. Things you like and stuff that you don’t. Food, wine, television shows, movies, and music. Things that ‘normal friends’ would know about each other.”
Only one answer comes to me, “Why?”
At first he looks away, then directly into my eyes. Pain as old as time, hides deep within them, but at the same time, a gleam of hope shines
through.
“Why not?”
He has me there. My heart beats fast. It’s a simple question that should have a simple answer, but simple is a loaded word that doesn’t apply to Dray and I anymore.
“For the time I’m here, I will spend every waking hour getting to know you, if and only if, you promise to keep your hands to yourself. The first time you touch me sexually, I’m out of here. Deal?” I say in a rush.
He smiles, looking away. Part of me braces myself for one of the old Dray’s sexual quips, but after several minutes, I’m blown away when it doesn’t come. Turning back towards me, he still has this knowing smile on his face.
“Deal.”
Why does it feel like I just made a deal with the devil? And why the hell did I feel a ping of disappointment the moment he said “deal”? My body and mind are on two different levels, and right now, I need all my wits about me.
