Drawn To You (Paloma's Edge)

by Shaw, Robin

  I shook my head at myself, taking off my sandals. I lay on the bed with him. “It’s me.”

  He slanted his body. His hazel eyes were all I needed to see in the pitch darkness of the windowless room. “I’ve forgotten how your lips feel,” he told me.

  “Then it’s my job to remind you.” I pinched his chin a little and he smirked. I titled my head, my mouth meeting his firm and soft lips. At some point, I had gripped onto his short hair. My body cleaved to his until all I could register was the pulse of his cock against my navel. Deepening our kiss, he stroked my tongue as his breathing increased and his groin twitched against me in stronger invitation that I couldn’t ignore. A pained expression flickered across his face.

  Chase cupped the back of my head, the pressure of his nails sending a sharp sting of desire flowing from my nipples to my core. He groaned and I found myself getting more excited by the sound. Pulling in a breath, he jerked his head back a little, our chests apart, but our legs were locked together. “Chase,” I whispered. “Let me take care of you a little for a change.”

  “Babe.” He swallowed roughly, a sheet of perspiration on his face as he warred with himself. “You’re so fucking sweet.”

  As his eyes fell closed, I tugged at his waistband and undid the tie, and the crotch of his shorts opened. His cock jutted out, his veins straining. Before I wrapped my hand around his length, I reached for the nightlight and he emitted a long and heavy sound.

  “Where’s your lube?” I asked. I felt like I was in need of oxygen by asking him, but I wasn’t some passive participant who didn’t want this as much as he did. I wanted to please him however I could, at his pace.

  “Under the bed,” he gritted out and I moved fast to get the bottle. When I had it, I placed it between my thighs. Coughing, Chase settled his hand on my neck. “Go ahead.”

  With his eyes barely open, the anxiety in his face was replaced with an aroused calm that I hadn’t seen in his gaze, or in his face since we’d really gotten physical. I brought my hand to his fit stomach, running it on the little trace of hair below his belly button. When I took him in my hands again, he was solid. I lightly stroked his cheeks with my hand, knowing his was drawn up tight. Any pressure that was too forceful or too fast and he’d come fast. And he deserved the same diligence from me that he’d given me. I circled my thumb on the swollen head of his penis and spread the drops of pre-cum from shaft to tip. He took the lubricant bottle from between my thighs, and when I met his gaze, he had already poured some on my hands. I rubbed him at a snail’s pace, watching as his face tensed from my stimulation on his sensitized skin.

  “Fuck.” His voice came out thick and he pulled in a heavy breath, “Babe, that feels good.”

  “Is this how you like it?” I gave him a quick squeeze and ran the tips of my nails on his sac. Back bowed, sweat ran down his neck and chest. I proceeded to stroke his shaft up and down and swirled my thumb and index finger around his head repeatedly. When he was almost too close, I decelerated.

  Chase answered me by pulling my neck so that we kissed. At first it was gentle. And then he pinched my nipples. The shock to my body made my lips part and he skillfully flirted his tongue with mine. I pushed his chest away as he twitched in my hand, needing my undivided attention. His cock swelled up more in my hand, his balls even heavier under the clutch of my other hand. The muscles in his face and body strained as I pumped him faster and faster. My heart pounded in my chest as he spurted in thick streams over my hands and on my shorts.

  I slid my top off, wiping off my hands, and pulled my shorts down and slid underneath the thin covers.

  Chase pressed me down with his chest and laid his head between my breasts.

  ***

  Chase

  Beth brushed her fingers over my chest. We’d been awake for about an hour and a half, but we had enjoyed the silence. I hadn’t had such a good sleep like I had last night in months. Beth had, hands down, given me the best hand job I’d ever had. As she faced me, her rosy nipples tightened. The flush that she’d had last night was returning full force.

  A furrow lined Beth’s eyebrows and I could see the wheels turning in her head. Frowning, she covered her mouth and got up, but I held her arm and she lay back down beside me. “My breath is fierce is in the morning.” It sounded like she’d knocked back a few drinks the night before and just woke up, but I knew differently. She was still incredibly sexy.

  Beth moved closer to me, the tips of our noses rubbing each other’s. “You brushed your teeth already, didn’t you?” She crossed her arms, pushing those tits farther up. It was like she was asking me to suck on those nipples. I felt her raise my chin up with her tiny hand. I chuckled a little and gave her a nod.

  “Your breath is fine,” I assured. “What’s on your mind?”

  She stroked my jaw and then my scar, but her eyes were trained on me. “I was thinking about where you’re from,” she replied. “I don’t think you’re from any part of Florida.”

  “And why’s that?”

  “I don’t know. My first impression, I guess.”

  “I am from Vermont,” I said. “My family still lives there.”

  Her face brightened at the mention of my family. “Have you visited them? Have they come here to see you?”

  “No and no.” I laughed. “We don’t speak.”

  “Oh, okay,” she murmured. “Do you have any siblings?”

  “I’ve got an older brother.”

  “When’s the last time you spoke with him?”

  “Years ago, just like my parents.” Worry creased her cheekbones. I really hoped that she wasn’t comparing my non-existent relationship with my family to her and her mom’s. They were totally different. “Babe, it’s okay. It’s for the best.”

  She clearly wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t say anything else about it. “I applied to a bunch of schools and got wait-listed for most, including UM. I slacked big time during my junior year of high school. The admissions counselor I had told me to take at least six credits of foundation courses offered during the summer and a remedial course at my community college to demonstrate that I could handle a college education.” She smiled as I talked and I took her hand away from my face, kissing her palm. “And then the coach told the counselor that if my test performance on the field was satisfactory that he’d put me on the team—if I was admitted as a regular student, of course. When I came here, the coach liked my performance and that I’d stayed in shape.” I sighed. “And I liked it here. Still like it very much.”

  Her smile widened. “Enough that you see yourself staying here after you graduate?”

  “If I can earn enough to live in my own apartment, or house, then yeah.” She brought her hand back to the side of my face. “You?” I asked

  “I wanna stay here. It’s a beautiful town.” She rose from the bed. “I am gonna take a shower.” She tapped her chin as if she was pondering something. “Or we can take a shower.”

  “Babe, if we shower, we won’t be seeing your friends today. Especially after last night.”

  A ghost of a smile touched her lips and she took one of the sheets from the bed and covered herself. The bottle of lubricant was next to her feet and her cheeks flamed hotter than it had minutes ago.

  ***

  Gavin, Bri, Beth, and I cleaned the house as best we could after we’d had breakfast and had gone to the local mart to get groceries. There were clean pillowcases and sheets to put on the big-ass couch that three of us guys could sit on, and a blow-up bed for Mariska in the event that they slept over. I could tell that Beth really wanted them to. She’d been so excited when both of them had called and texted her that they were ahead of schedule.

  “Too bad I am working tonight and tomorrow,” Gavin said as he put charcoal in the bottom of the grill and set the chimney starter. “But we’re gonna have ourselves a nice dinner.”

  “And it’s not too hot,” I said. “I am gonna find out if they finished seasoning the meat.”

  “
Done,” Bri told us as she and Beth came out to the backyard with drinks in their hands. “And we’ve got the condiments arranged.”

  “Thanks, girls,” Gavin said.

  “You’re very welcome,” Beth said with a smile, and handed Gavin and I cups. We sipped the homemade iced tea they had made for dinner yesterday. Bri nodded.

  “Are Rylan and Joel coming here or meeting us later on tonight?” Beth asked as she sat down on my lap. God, I loved how she didn’t hesitate to do that.

  A slight smirk lifted up the side of Gavin’s face. “Joel missing dinner with his friends if he isn’t with one of his girlfriends?” He raised a brow at Beth. “Nah, that’ll be the day. He’s the one who paid for all the meat, the bread, and the corn.”

  Beth shook her head at herself. “What was I thinking?” she asked as her phone dinged with a message from Jake.

  Jake: We’re here.

  She slid off of my lap. “I am gonna let them in.” She jerked her head at me. “We’ll be right out.”

  “Okay,” Gavin and I said at the same time.

  “Need me to get the meat?” I asked him. Beth gestured Bri to come with her.

  Gavin bobbed his head.

  The three of us were in the kitchen when Beth opened the door. Mariska and Jake came inside. Mariska had a multi-colored tote over her shoulder that must have had everything she needed to stay over someone else’s house. She was pretty tall compared to most chicks around here, even taller than Bri. She and Beth hugged each other for minutes and then Jake, swallowed up my girl in his embrace. I decided that I could bring the meat to Gavin in a few minutes. He wanted the grill to be steaming anyway. And from the tickled expression Bri gave me, she knew why I wasn’t going to wait for Beth to introduce me to her two best friends in the backyard.

  ***

  Bethany

  “How’ve you been?” Jake asked in a whisper, and I patted the top of his head. He was casually put together in his white shirt, blazer, premium jeans, and white and navy blue low-top Nikes.

  I pecked him on the cheek. “What does that tell you?” I responded.

  “I am Chase.” Jake and I dropped our hands. He extended his hand out to Mariska.

  Mariska examined him with shrewdness I hadn’t taken for granted. “Mariska.” She took a step forward and they gave each other that confident, business-like handshake. For a second, she slid me a look from the corner of her eyes. Afterwards, she walked near Brianna.

  “Great to finally put a face to the voice I’ve talked to,” Mariska told Brianna. They’d said hello to each other a few times when Mariska had called while I was with Brianna. I knew this was a little awkward for all of us, but I think it was less awkward because I had my two girlfriends talk to each other gradually. “Thanks for taking her on.” Mariska made a face, which seemed to lessen some of the nerves Brianna may have had as her shoulders dropped and her face spread into a smile. “I know it’s not easy, but you’ll find that Beth’s okay.”

  I hit Mariska’s arm. “Shut up.”

  “And I am Jake.” He shook hands with Chase and half-grinned at Brianna and pulled in a deep breath. “Smells good in here. What are we cooking?”

  “About to grill burgers after I wash my hands,” Gavin answered as he sauntered over toward us. “You grill?” he asked Jake.

  “Yup. If I didn’t cook, these two girls would have starved most of the their lives.”

  Gavin motioned with his head like he wasn’t surprised to hear that. Mariska and I couldn’t say anything about Jake’s statement because it was true. “Can Jake throw down?” His gaze darted over to Mariska.

  “Yeah,” she admitted. “He can, but I bet you could teach him a few things.”

  ***

  We were eating in the backyard when Brianna came back with Joel and Rylan, who accepted the plates Gavin fixed for them. Joel placed his dish between Mariska and I, gesturing me to make space for him. “I am Joel, and it is very, very nice to meet you.” He took the ketchup and slathered it on each side of his burger, smacking the buns back on.

  “Likewise,” Mariska replied politely.

  “And I am Rylan.” He waved his hand and began eating.

  Jake introduced himself to Joel and Rylan as he went to discard his plate. Rylan took a seat by the sliding doors. Gavin and Jake worked well together. They had a similar grilling technique. Jake was impressed that I’d remembered how he seasoned meat. But I had to give credit to Brianna for doing it with me, or we all would’ve been choking on our burgers.

  I cocked my gaze over to Chase, who wiped his mouth with his napkin and rubbed the back of my neck.

  “You’ve got a spot,” Chase said, his eyes focused on my lips.

  “Then take care of it,” I told him, and he licked the barbecue sauce on my lips, going in for a kiss.

  We heard groans and I felt my face break out into a wide smile.

  ***

  “I can give you two time alone,” Brianna said with the door half closed.

  “Come back in,” Mariska said with the shake of her head. “Please. This is your room and we want you to stay,” she insisted as she crossed her long, pliable legs on the carpeted floor.

  Brianna came back in and took a cute little antique wooden chair and sank down on it as if it were comfortable. Once the boys started talking about the hottest new Victoria’s Secret model at length, Brianna and I’d decided to take Mariska to her room.

  “Does Chase have a brother?” Mariska asked with the curl of her lips. “Because maybe his generosity and looks run in the family.”

  “Hmm…ummm,” Brianna joined with an equally devious expression. I felt the pink tinge creep on my face, flaring out onto my neck.

  I rolled my eyes at them. “He does have a brother, but they don’t talk,” I said, instantly wishing I hadn’t had a case of loose lips. I had a strong feeling that Chase wouldn’t have liked that I’d said that. I’d thought he was going to put the breaks on our conversation earlier this morning, which was why I hadn’t asked him more questions.

  “Why not?” Mariska said with a downturn of her face.

  “I can’t go into it.”

  Brianna instantly looked indifferent, or she may have hid her interest well. She knew that Chase was a sensitive button for me, and it wasn’t because we’d only been friends for a month. If Chase wanted Brianna and Gavin to know about him, he’d tell them.

  “Don’t tell me you dropped your panties before he told you anything about himself,” Mariska remarked.

  I leveled my eyes with her. “Don’t be a bitch,” I warned her. It was wise that she didn’t make a comment about Chase’s scar, because I didn’t think I’d be able to let that pass.

  A weighted silence hung in the air. “I was being a bitch,” Mariska said.

  After Mariska showed us the most recent photos of Pete, Brianna and I gave her a tour of the house.

  Chapter 13

  Chase

  Beth looked like she was in her own world as she goofed around with her friends on the dance floor. And I loved watching her have a conversation with them as they adjusted their moves to each song. They all looked happy when a country song came on, because they got to rest their feet some. Beth had this burgundy sleeveless top on with two thin strings that went around her neck and a generous scoop in the front, but it was a tease because when I looked down, there was a matching tank top sewn underneath it. The leopard-print black pants she had on with the cute little black shoes was just enough to emphasize the dip on her lower back and her backside curve out even more. Her friend Mariska had her hair in curls just like Beth, and wore a dark maxi dress. Rylan and Amberlynn were in the arcade section, and since that was in my direct line of vision and I hadn’t seen anyone in there, there was no doubt that they were fooling around. Jake was dancing with some girl. But it didn’t escape my attention that he had been staring at me every few seconds throughout the night even while flashing his perfect white teeth at his dance partner.

  “How’s J
ared doing?” Joel asked Millie.

  She quirked a brow at him. The orange feather earrings she was wearing matched the orange in her tattoo.

  “Jared’s good.” She tilted her head. “If he’s not too tired from work, he’ll come and wait until I close the bar with Gavin.”

  “Where’s Emilio tonight?”

  “He has the night off.” She handed me another club soda with lime. “But you know if he doesn’t have anything to do, he’ll come here and end up working.”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen that happen,” I said as Millie handed other customers their drinks and crackers.

  “I am gonna get a platter of tostonos,” Joel told me. “You wanna split an order?”

  I nodded and looked at Millie. “Let’s do two orders of tostones. They’ve gotta be hungry.” I leaned my head towards the girls.

  “And a light beer,” Joel added.

  We’d polished off our plate of tostonos and the crowd had doubled as expected, but Joel, Jake, and I were still able to see the girls. Rylan and Amberlynn had decided to take whatever they’d started in the arcade section back at his house. The Looney Tunes ringtone came on and I stood up to get my phone out of my pocket, knowing that it was Pierce. But it had gotten so loud in here that I’d have to shout to make sure he heard me, so I went outside.

  “Pierce,” I said as I walked through the doors and passed by Gavin and another guard.

  There was no response and I grunted because my phone was acting up. I repeated myself and then hung up. I called Pierce back and it went straight to his voicemail. Maybe his phone had died or he’d shut it off for some reason. He should’ve been at La Floridita by now. I headed towards the front of the bar again when Jake came out as if he was looking for someone, and clearly that someone was me. I liked making him wait to see when I’d go to the men’s room so he could step to me. It was much better to talk to him out in cool, fresh air.