by Julia Wolf
He rested his head on the headboard and exhaled slowly when I reached the bottom. I leaned in and kissed up both sides of his neck, ending on his lips. Neither of us moved for a long moment. We breathed in and out together slowly, my forehead on his.
We’d had “the talk” and decided we didn’t need condoms since I was on the pill and we’d both been tested. Having Charlie bare inside me had felt necessary after that first time. I wanted to be as close as I could to him. If it were possible, I would climb inside him. I had never had such an overwhelming desire to be close to someone as I did with Charlie.
Charlie gripped my hips, urging me to move. We started slow, as if we had all the time in the world. I languidly rolled my hips over him while I explored his chest with my hands and mouth. Our lips joined, sucking and licking and kissing until we were breathless.
“I need to take you hard now, Eliza,” Charlie groaned.
I held onto his arms, grinding my clit against his body. His grip on my hips tightened as he pistoned up into me while I pushed down. My thighs slapped against Charlie’s as we took each other frantically.
Sweat beaded on my forehead as I tried to keep up with the pace Charlie set. I let him take control of my body, moving me how he needed. Seeing him so desperate for me brought me to the edge, where I teetered, waiting for him to come with me.
Our eyes locked, and I felt him harden inside me. I pressed down and circled my hips, giving my clit just enough friction to ignite my orgasm. Charlie groaned when I tightened around him, but he kept his eyes on me as he came. I moaned his name and raked my fingernails down his arms as I rode out his pleasure and mine.
“Charlie, Charlie, Charlie,” I sighed.
He pulled my trembling body against his and held me gently but fervently. He laid his head on my shoulder and whispered my name.
“Thank god today’s a rest day, because I can’t feel my legs,” he teased.
I giggled. “And I was thinking I feel like I could run a hundred miles right now.”
Charlie leaned back and cupped my face in his hands. “Eliza, tell me the truth. Did you just siphon my life force from my dick with your body?”
I snorted so loud, we both started laughing and shaking. He kissed my smiling lips with a loud smack, then carried me into the bathroom.
“Let’s get you clean, miss.”
I admired his smooth back when he leaned into the shower stall to turn it on. I couldn’t wait to see it covered in ink when he got his back piece. He’d put it off until after the marathon so he didn’t have to worry about healing while we were running long distances.
“I have to go practice my songs before work, so this can’t be a sexy shower. Got it?” I said sternly.
Charlie grabbed his chest. “You wound me. I can control myself.”
I stepped past him into the warm spray. “Well, maybe I can’t,” I said.
He groaned, and I giggled. He was much too fun to tease.
After we showered, I played the piano for a bit, then ran home to get dressed before work. When I was walking back to the salon, smiling to myself, I heard a whistle from across the street.
“Hey, pretty lady!” Charlie called from the sidewalk outside his shop.
“What do you want, crazy man?” I called.
He ran a hand over his hair. “Think you have time today to fulfill your side of our bargain?”
I motioned for him to come over, and he jogged across the cobblestone street. I looked up and down the sidewalk, finding it empty and quiet, so I jumped on him, wrapping my legs around his waist.
“Hi, again,” he said, grinning up at me.
“Hi, Charlie. You want a haircut?”
“Yeah, I’m starting to get shaggy. Do you have time?”
I nodded. “I do right now. Ready?”
He put me down, and I unlocked the salon door. I’d set aside time in my schedule to clean and organize, but spending more time with Charlie sounded better.
He stood just inside the door while I turned on lights and our computer. When he hadn’t moved after I’d walked around the salon, I gave him a curious smile.
“What’s up?” I asked.
He turned his focus to me and shook his head. “I haven’t been in here before. Eliza, it’s beautiful. I can’t believe you opened this when you were, what? Twenty-two?”
I patted my chair, directing him to sit down. “Yeah, twenty-two.” I ran my hands through his hair. “Just a trim?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yeah, work your magic.”
I felt him following my movements in the mirror as I got out my clippers and shears. I plugged in the clippers and picked out which guard to use to cut the back of his hair. Then I unfolded a black cape and draped it around Charlie’s shoulders.
“How did you learn to do all this?” he asked.
I turned on the clippers, the soft buzzing sound filling the quiet room, and starting at the nape of his neck, I pushed them up, following the shape of his head.
“I never saw myself working in an office. I wanted to do something creative and this was my calling. As you can imagine, my parents adamantly disapproved and wouldn’t pay for cosmetology school, so I went to the owner of the salon where I got my hair done and asked if I could apprentice under him.”
“Huh. I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Mmhmm. For two years, I went to college and apprenticed with Ali. He recognized my distinct style right away and helped me hone it. After I got my license, I worked in his salon for two more years as a junior stylist while I finished my business degree. I met Rachel at Ali’s salon, actually.”
I laid my hands on his shoulders and smiled at him in the mirror. “Come on, let’s go wash your hair.”
Charlie followed me to the row of sinks in the back of the salon and sat down in the chair I pointed to. I laid him back, and he looked so cute, I leaned down and kissed him. Before I could stand back up, he wrapped his arms around me and brought my mouth back down to his. He licked the seam of my lips, opening them to his tongue. We took our time, kissing slowly and thoroughly before he let me go and I straightened.
“Well, that doesn’t usually happen when I shampoo my clients,” I said, my thumb rubbing over my swollen bottom lip.
“That was your tip. I hope you liked it.” Charlie winked up at me. Are these shampoo chairs sturdy enough for two? Because I’m way too tempted right now.
“Hey, girl, hey!” called Frannie as she walked through the salon.
She came to a stop when she saw I wasn’t alone.
“Sorry, E! I didn’t realize you had a client.” She covered her mouth and started to walk by, but I waved her over.
“It’s Charlie!” I said.
“Oh!” She leaned over the shampoo bowl and grinned down at him. “Fancy seeing you here bright and early.”
He gave her a wave. “Eliza said she wouldn’t be seen in public with me unless I got my hair cut, so here I am. She can be really brutal.”
I laughed and turned on the water. “Watch it, buddy, I’ve got a hose and I know how to use it.”
Frannie looked like she was holding in a laugh, her eyes crossing from the effort.
“I know, I know. Say it!” I said.
She danced in a circle, arms in the air, and sang out, “That’s what he said!”
Everyone laughed at how proud of herself she was. She walked away, arms above her head as though she was victorious.
I washed Charlie’s hair quickly, because I knew the salon would start getting busy soon and I wanted to have him to myself for just a little while longer.
The top of Charlie’s hair was long. Unless he used gel, it flopped down on his forehead, giving him a boyish look that drove me absolutely crazy. I liked it when he combed it to the side too. With his tattoos, and his uniform of jeans and T-shirts, it gave him a Rebel Without a Cause vibe.
As I combed his hair and held it between my fingers, snipping the ends, Charlie watched me in the mirror. More than anything, I want
ed to stop everything and kiss him again, but along with Frannie, another stylist, plus our receptionist, had arrived for work, so it wasn’t happening.
“You know I’m really proud of you,” Charlie said quietly.
I met his eyes in the mirror and tilted my head to the side. “You are?”
“Mmhmm. You’ve really built something here. And I know you had money from your grandparents, but I’m picturing twenty-two-year-old Eliza, fresh from living under her parents’ thumb her whole life, striking out on her own. It’s really impressive.”
I had to look away. I knew my salon was nice, and when Rachel became my partner, we’d made it exceptionally nice together, but I never thought of anything I’d done as impressive. Except Charlie saw me that way, making me wonder if I should see myself that way too.
“Thank you, Charlie. That...that means a lot, coming from you,” I said quietly.
When I set down my comb and shears, he captured my hand and squeezed it briefly, then let it go.
After I ran gel through his hair and blew it dry, I whipped the cape off him and brushed the little hairs off the back of his neck.
“All done!”
He spun around in the chair to face me. “I love it. Best cut I’ve ever had.”
I kicked his foot. “You didn’t even look!”
“I can tell by feel. My head is happy.”
I held my hand out to him. “Come on, crazy. You gotta get out of here so I can work.”
Charlie and I walked outside, hand in hand. I studiously avoided looking at Frannie. I could almost feel the smirk on her face. She had to be dying to make a comment about us banging.
On the sidewalk, Charlie asked, “Is it okay if I kiss you?”
I nodded. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
Still holding my hand, he pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to my lips.
“You gonna come over tonight?” he asked.
“Want me to?”
“Uh, hell yes I do.”
“Then I will.”
He started to cross the street, and even though he was still in front of me, I already missed him.
So I yelled out, “Charlie!”
He turned back. “Yeah?”
“The answer is yes!”
He furrowed his brow, unsure of what I meant.
“Yes to adventure,” I clarified.
He raised his brows and tilted his head. “Yeah? We’re going to Japan?”
“We’re going to Japan!” I said.
He walked back to me, picked me up, and spun me around.
“You are the bee’s fuckin’ knees, Eliza.”
“And you’re fuckin’ rad, Charlie!”
When I finally went back inside, I couldn’t wipe the silly grin off my face no matter how hard I tried. Frannie stood behind the desk with her arms crossed and the smirk I’d known she’d have on her face.
“You’re a goner, girl,” she declared.
I couldn’t even deny it. I was so far gone for Charlie, I didn’t know if I’d ever find my way back.
Twenty
There were sequins everywhere.
The dress code for Rachel’s bachelorette party was sequins—that’s it. Frannie’s closet was filled with dresses and tops that sparkled like a disco ball, but mine was sorely lacking. Instead of buying something I’d never wear again, I’d ordered the most obnoxiously shimmery dress I could find on Rent the Runway.
“Oh, E, you should never take that dress off,” said Frannie.
I’d chosen a blue and gold sequined wrap dress with a halter neckline. It dipped low in the front and the back and was much more risqué than what I would normally wear, but I kind of loved it. Only for tonight, though. I wasn’t becoming a sequin convert.
“Look at you, Frananas. Damn, baby!”
Her dress was microscopic. I had no idea where she possibly wore it besides the bedroom or a drag show bachelorette party.
“What about me? Admire me!” Rachel twirled in her Kelly green A-line sequined dress.
“You’re as pretty as a picture. Actually, let’s take a picture,” Frannie said.
We squeezed together and made duck faces for Frannie’s phone.
“Send that to Joe. He’ll get a kick out of it,” Rachel said.
“Hey! Did you just take a selfie without me?” called Laurel from the entryway.
We were at Frannie and James’ condo in Baltimore, pregaming before the drag show. Rachel and I had gotten dressed there and we’d already done a shot of Fireball, so the party had started.
“Get over here, girl!” Frannie said.
Laurel walked into the living room with her arms out, a bottle of champagne in each hand.
“Hey, ladies! Look at that beautiful, blushing bride!” she exclaimed.
Frannie took a bottle from her and gave her a big bear hug, which was kind of a hilarious visual given that Frannie was almost a foot taller than Laurel.
“I haven’t seen you in forever, L. Where’d you disappear to?” Frannie asked.
Laurel shrugged. “Oh, you know me, busy lawyering. You do look like you could use a home-cooked meal, though. Is James not feeding you?”
Frannie ran her hand over her flat stomach. “No one feeds me as well as you did. James and I just scrounge for scraps. No more gourmet meals from Chef Laurel.”
Laurel laughed. “Hey, you didn’t have to move out!”
Frannie sighed. “I know, but even though he’s a terrible cook, I’m kind of madly in love with the guy and can’t stay away!”
“Is it selfie time again?” Rachel asked.
We crowded around all our phones and took a few pictures, one of which I texted to Charlie.
Miss you. XOXO
He replied before I could put my phone away.
Great, now I’m going to be walking around Joe’s bachelor party with a boner, thinking of you in that dress. Have fun, Miss Eliza! X
I smiled and shoved my phone back into my wristlet.
“You texting your new man?” Laurel asked.
“Yes. Charlie,” I said dreamily.
“You’re looking pretty smitten over there,” she said with a grin.
Rachel wrapped her arm around my waist. “She totally is. I never even see this girl anymore. She’s living in Charlie-land.”
I elbowed her side playfully. “I see you every day at work!” I sighed. “But Charlie-land is pretty damn awesome.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining. I’m happy you’re happy,” Rachel said.
“Who wants champagne?” Frannie sang as she carried four flutes filled to the brim with bubbly into the living room.
We all took a flute and held them up.
“A toast to the bride. I wish you years of top-notch banging!” Frannie said.
“May all your ups and downs be under the sheets!” Laurel said.
“I hope you write a new page in your love story every single day,” I said.
“Awwww,” cooed Laurel.
“Hear, hear! Cheers!” cried Rachel.
We clinked glasses and I sipped my drink. I was still planning on getting up early in the morning to do our last big training run before the marathon—twenty miles. We’d have relatively shorter runs after that, and I knew it would be painful to pull myself out of bed in the morning, but we’d come too far to slack off now. So, I was going to take it easy on the drinking tonight and let the other ladies have my share.
“We’re here! The party can start now!”
Ryan and Marcus disco-danced into the living room, and I started laughing when I caught sight of them.
Frannie pointed to their outfits. “What is happening here?”
Ryan smoothed his hand down his sequined vest. “You said sequins, so we wore sequins!”
“Where in the world did you get this ensemble? Your bowties are even sequined!”
“I didn’t dance on a cruise ship for ten years and come away with nothing,” joked Ryan’s fiancé, Marcus. He’d recently retired from profe
ssionally dancing and a lot of his career had been on cruise ships. Now he was teaching and helping Ryan run the dance school he owned. They were both ridiculously attractive on their own, and together, they were almost blinding. Although the sequined vests did give them just enough of a goofy factor to make it possible to look at them straight on.
Frannie held out her phone. “Stand together. I’ve got to send a picture to your brother!”
Ryan waved her off. “James has seen me in much crazier outfits. This won’t faze him.”
Another drink for everyone, and then we were off, piling into a limo to take us to the show.
Rachel stood up with her head poking out of the moon roof when we started moving.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she laughed. “Hey, Baltimore! I’m getting married next Saturday!” she yelled.
When she sat back down, I squeezed her hand. “A week! I can’t believe you’re going to be a wife.”
On Rachel’s other side, Frannie laid her head on her shoulder. “Our little Rachel is growing up.”
“Oh, shush, I’m older than both of you. And this isn’t my first go ‘round,” Rachel said.
“But it’s the only one that counts,” I reminded her.
“Has Frannie told everyone her drag name?” Marcus asked.
“I know it!” Laurel cried.
Rachel held her hand up. “Uh, I don’t! Spill!”
“You are looking at the world-famous Polly Wannaorgy!” Ryan announced.
Frannie took a bow. “That’s me! No autographs, please!”
“I need a drag name!” said Rachel.
“Mine’s Vixen Van Muffins,” Laurel informed us nonchalantly.
“Of course it is,” giggled Frannie.
By the time we got to the show, we’d all come up with our own drag names. Frannie had been pretty proud of herself when she dubbed me Isla Vinny Cock. We promised to call each other only by our new names for the rest of the night.
The drag show was hilarious and entertaining, and Rachel got a very special lap dance from a seven-foot-tall Madonna. She loved every second of it too.
