GRIND

by Stephanie Brother

  What was I freaking out over? We’d already been together twice, in a much more intimate way than having dinner together.

  I tried to calm myself down, telling myself that I was getting anxious for no good reason. Maybe I just wanted it to work out so badly that it was actually getting to me.

  So much so that when Jacob texted me that he was outside my house, I squeaked, shoving my feet into a pair of my favorite boots and adjusting my bra before dashing down the steps. I must’ve looked like a total mad woman with my hair flying out behind me.

  “You look very nice,” Jacob said, smiling as he opened the passenger door to his truck for me.

  “Thanks,” I replied breathlessly. “You clean up pretty nicely, yourself.”

  And it was true. Jacob was decked out in a black button-up shirt, with a nice pair of gray pants that fit him in all the right places. He didn’t really have to do too much to look fantastic, though. Especially when there wasn’t a stitch of clothing on him…

  I slid into the cab of the truck and bit back the smile that easily formed on my face. Just being around Jacob made me feel better, it was so weird. Our unending conversation on the way to the restaurant made it seem like it barely took any time at all. Things were just that easy between us.

  “I’ve never been here before. I’m assuming they have pretty good food?” he asked.

  We stood outside the front of Obriccio’s and left the valet to park Jacob’s truck, Jacob’s eyes following him suspiciously until he was out of our sight.

  “Well, it is one of the best restaurants around, if you ask me. But I guess that’s just a matter of opinion. My father’s always taking friends out to lunch here.”

  I couldn’t help but notice the slight frown on Jacob’s face, but it was as if it had never happened when he took my hand in his. “Shall we?”

  We were seated at a table near the back, thanks to my well-known last name, and had a great view of the rest of the place, overlooking the strip. Outside, the palm trees stood in stark contrast to the sun setting behind them. Even the night around us felt like it was alive.

  Sort of the way I felt around Jacob.

  He glanced at the menu, one dark eyebrow raised. “Does this place not believe in listing its prices?”

  I laughed. “You’ll find that in a lot of places like this one. I guess they just figure you can afford the food, whatever the price, so they don’t want to distract you with numbers. It’s presumptuous, to say the least.”

  Nodding, Jacob flipped to the next page. “I have to agree with you there. What are you in the mood for? I’m seeing a lot of seafood… Not really my thing. Well, this looks like it might be pretty good.” He pointed to a picture of a dish that was filled with a sampler of food.

  I found it refreshing to finally be out with someone who wasn’t so concerned about the way he was perceived in public. It was something I always had to deal with with Liam, and as someone who wasn’t too concerned with what other people thought about me, I was never very pleased.

  “Not a fan of seafood?” I teased. “Blasphemous! Actually, I only really like a couple different types of fish, myself. And I can’t stand shellfish, totally gross. My dad used to try and force me to try clams and oysters, and scallops too,” I said, wincing from memory. “Way too salty. And slimy.”

  I just loved seeing the corner of his crooked smile quirk up. “Glad to see I’m not the only one who thinks that way.”

  Once the waiter brought our drinks to us, I lifted my glass up, suddenly feeling shy as he stared back at me. “A toast. To the soon-to-be Dr. Jacob Alder. May his reputation as Dr. Jake the Snake ever precede him.”

  Jacob joined in, chuckling as he raised his glass. “Here, here. And I raise my glass in toast of fun times in supply closets, as well.” He gave me a little wink as we clinked our glasses together, both of us laughing.

  I wasn’t at all surprised throughout the rest of dinner, the way Jacob seemed so animated but down to earth at the same time, full of energy, but not boastful, either. It was just amazing to me how different two people could be. But then I stopped comparing him to Liam, no longer caring what Liam was or wasn’t like. He was the past. And who knew… Maybe I had some kind of future with Jacob? From what I could tell, I could only be so lucky.

  The breeze rolled over the top of the hillside, catching my dress with it, and playing at the end of my hair, twirling it all around my face. It was chillier up there than I thought it would be, and I hugged my arms around myself as we looked down over the rest of the valley.

  Jacob took a swig from the open wine bottle I brought, passing it to me. “I have to say, this is a pretty nice spot.”

  I smiled. I found this little nook tucked away behind some overgrown dry brush a few years ago when I went hiking with a group of friends. Not too many people knew about the little areas here and there that dotted the hillsides above L.A. I liked to go up there any time I needed to think, or any time I needed to not think. I lost count of the days and nights that I had spent just sitting there, after everything happened with Liam.

  “Yeah, I think so too. It’s just nice to get away from it all sometimes.”

  “You know, I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’ve never really been up this way before,” Jacob said softly. “My mom and I, we always had it tougher, you know? And to me this whole area, and the place you’re from? I always thought that was off-limits, that I was never supposed to make it that far.”

  I hated to hear that, because to me, if anyone deserved to have a nice place in the hills, free from worry, it was his mom and him. “I can’t imagine how it must’ve been, I mean how hard it must’ve been for you guys. You said your dad left when you were little, right?”

  Jacob simply nodded.

  “Yeah, my mom died four years ago. I always thought that it would be the three of us forever. I mean, who expects something like that to happen? And then she got sick really fast, and before we could figure out what to do… There was nothing to do. And then she was gone. Just like that. After that I figured that I would live my life how I wanted to live it. My dad wanted me to stay at the house with him, but I had to get out on my own. I say it like it was so hard for me,” I scoffed, realizing how stupid I sounded. “I mean I didn’t have it hard like you. My dad paid for everything. It’s just… I guess this all sounds like some stuck- up bitch’s sob story, right?” I tried to laugh, but there was no humor in it.

  Jacob put his arm around me, pushing back a strand of my hair from my face. “No, nothing like that. You live what you know, it’s just that simple. I shouldn’t really complain, either. If I didn’t struggle I wouldn’t know what it meant to succeed, really. That probably sounds like something you read inside a fortune cookie.”

  Both of us laughed, our shoulders shaking one another.

  “Sometimes I would come up here and try to bring my ex. We were supposed to get married, believe it or not. But he didn’t want it. He didn’t want any part of this,” I said, sweeping my other arm out in front of me. “He didn’t want any part of the real me. I was just like this thing he had to have on his arm at all times. To make himself look better. Looking back on it now… I just don’t understand how I stayed with him so long.”

  Jacob was quiet for a moment before speaking up. “So you guys were engaged?”

  “Yeah. Oh, but that was before I caught him cheating on me. It was all this big drama that I don’t really want to get into right now. But it’s over and done with, and I could hardly care less about him now. I don’t suppose you have any traumatizing tales of love in your past, do you? Picking up strange girls from the strip club and seducing them into falling for you, maybe?”

  This got him laughing again, and I couldn’t help but smile. Making him laugh seemed to be my new goal in life.

  “Well… Not yet, anyway. But I did once date this chick who was also a stripper. Except she was also into taking bribes from the man she danced for. Bribes that involved coke, and molly, and let’s see, I
think there was a week she was into angel dust, so yeah. It’s safe to say things didn’t really work out with her.”

  I just couldn’t see Jacob with anyone who would go down that route in life. “Holy shit, you and a druggie? Now that’s hard to imagine.”

  He shrugged his shoulder, bumping up against mine. “My mom nearly tore her head off when she found out. Mine too, telling me I was a complete idiot for being with someone like that. I think she was worried my whole life that I would somehow end up into some bullshit like that. So she was so relieved when I made it out of high school alive and in one piece. And then I got that job and she just,” he started, wiping his hands out before him, “BOOM—it was like a ticking time bomb with her. She was so hell-bent on trying to get me to just stay in school, and when I ended up telling her my plans of going all the way through college and then med school she softened up a bit about the idea. She doesn’t really mind now, of course, but when I first started… Totally different story.”

  “Your mom is one hell of a lady,” I said. “She has this rare ability to keep my dad in line. Wish I had the same thing.”

  I traced my finger up and down Jacob’s arm, feeling as though suddenly I wasn’t close enough to him even with his arm wrapped around me.

  The moonlight cast an eerie glow on his face, and I could’ve sworn that his eyes were sparkling under it as he looked down at me. It was crazy how in sync we were, because as soon as I thought how nice it would be to kiss him again, Jacob’s lips were on mine.

  They were soft at first, working gently against mine, prying my mouth open and tasting me slowly. It was the kind of kiss you melt into, and before I could realize what was going on, I really felt as though I was melting against the ground as Jacob laid me back on the blanket I had brought along with us. His hand skirted up my dress easily, holding my hip in place as he drew his mouth down to my jawline, kissing down further and further. He slipped the straps of my dress down my arms, and began unbuttoning the front of it one small button at a time. My chest was heaving, my breath ragged.

  Anyone could’ve come across us at any moment, but Jacob didn’t seem to care, and I wouldn’t let myself mind, not with the lust that was raging through me as he began to pull down my panties.

  “Is this okay?” he mumbled as he pushed my dress up to my waist. He pulled the rest of the buttons open, exposing my hardened nipples to the night air.

  “Yes, please don’t stop,” I murmured, spreading my legs open for him. I heard the zipper of his pants and groaned when I felt the thrust of him, filling me up in one swift move. Jacob’s hand rested on my mound, his thumb rubbing circles around my clit as he began to fuck me, sending waves of pleasure riding up and over my entire body. Between the sweet red wine, the beautiful sky above us, and Jacob’s hair brushing up against my bare chest, I felt like a glass of liquid molten lava, threatening to explode out of my own body.

  Jacob grunted as he fucked me harder, and surprised me when he pulled me over on top of him, letting me straddle him.

  I liked this new angle, and arched my back as he squeezed my tits in his hands, heaving them firmly.

  I bounced up and down on top of his thick cock, riding him faster and faster, throwing my back into it more and more. He was so deep inside of me, so thick and pulsing as I sat still for a moment. I slowly pulled myself away before dropping back down on top of him, both of us moaning from the wet contact.

  “That’s right, ride that cock, baby,” he hissed, holding my hips in place and rutting up into me.

  “Oh God, oh God yes!” I cried out, grinding my hips against his.

  Jacob sat up with me still in his lap fucking him like crazy, and he held me in place, both of us grinding against each other, trying desperately to get even closer, even deeper. His head tilted back and I knew that just like me, he was getting ready to fall off that delicious cliff into the warm water below.

  His grip tightened around me, his fingers digging into my skin as I felt him burst inside me, grunting loudly as he went even faster.

  It triggered my own release, and I cried out in complete ecstasy, feeling as though I were falling into the sky, every inch of my skin alive.

  Was this what it was like for other people?

  8

  Jacob

  I lazily trailed a finger across Gabi’s collarbone, feeling the soft skin there. It was some time in the middle of the night, and we were passed out, lying in her bed. The wine had finally worn off, leaving an annoying headache behind. But I didn’t have it in me to care. Not with her lying in my arms.

  She started to stir.

  “Hey sleepyhead,” I said.

  There was a soft groan, and she finally opened her eyes, looking somewhat out of focus. “What time is it?” she muttered.

  “If I had to guess? Probably like three in the morning or something.”

  There was another groan and Gabi rolled slowly over to look out her window. “Why am I even awake?”

  I pulled her closer to me and the scent of her hair sent another kind of feeling right down my body. Damn, she had one hell of an effect on me, and no matter how I tried to hide it, I wasn’t very good.

  My cock was already starting to harden behind her, tucked between my legs but pushing more and more against her fine round ass.

  “Waking up, are we?” she mused, reaching behind herself to softly stroke me. I moaned, still too tired to do anything else except let her touch me. Gabi rolled over and graciously took my waiting dick into her warm mouth and hands. She had me spewing my load into her mouth within minutes.

  “You have some kind of special skill set,” I said breathlessly, coming down from the intense yet laid-back orgasm she’d given me.

  With a cute shrug, Gabi rolled back to face me. “So I’ve heard. I figured we can take advantage of the fact that we’re both awake in this bed. Plus, I actually have to get up pretty early tomorrow. Duty calls down at City Hall.”

  I must’ve been frowning because Gabi noticed straight away, the grin on her face fading away. “Is everything okay?”

  I nodded, although I wasn’t really sure if I was being truthful or not. “I mean, I guess so. Listen, I think there’s something you should probably know.”

  She slowly pulled away, giving me a funny look. “Those are never the kind of words a girl wants to hear when she’s lying in bed with someone.”

  I shook my head, trying to calm her. “It’s not anything… bad. I mean I don’t know, I guess it just depends on how you feel about it. But I was talking with my mom and… She actually told me that she and your dad have been dating. For a few months, no less. She never mentioned anything about it to me because she figured I would freak out, but yeah. So there’s that,” I finished quietly, trying to gauge her reaction.

  She didn’t seem half as surprised as I was. “Well, I have seen them around a lot lately together. At least in the office. They seem to be quite close, so it’s not really much of a stretch, I guess. Does that… bother you?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it’s not really any of my business, is it? I’m just always going to be a little biased about the matter, I mean she is my mom. I just wanted to make sure she wasn’t being, you know…” I let my voice trail off.

  “…Taken advantage of?” she finished for me. “I wouldn’t worry about that. My dad doesn’t let anyone in, unless they genuinely mean a lot to him. So she must.”

  I nodded, thinking about what my mom had said about him. “She did say they were pretty serious now. I don’t know, you don’t find this whole thing a little weird? I mean the two of them dating and us… Whatever this is?”

  Gabi slowly sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. “I don’t think my dad would care if he knew that his own girlfriend’s son was dating me. He’s not really worried about that kind of stuff, I don’t think.”

  Something fluttered in my stomach. Did she just say…?

  “Dating, huh?” I asked, not even trying to hold back the grin.

  Gabi bit her
lip, but I could see the corner of it turning upward. “Yeah, so? I mean… At least that’s what I was thinking. Unless I’m wrong?” She pulled her arms around her knees even tighter, and I got the feeling that she was hinging on whatever I was about to say next.

  “I like the sound of it. And I’m glad you don’t think your dad would have a problem with us. That might definitely make things more awkward whenever my mom brings him around.”

  Gabi was quiet for a minute, playing with the sheets on the bed before looking back up at me. “Well, there’s the thing. I don’t think he would have a problem with us dating except…”

  I raised a brow at her. “Except, what?”

  “He may not like the fact that I’m dating a stripper. My dad is pretty big on maintaining this… I don’t know, squeaky clean public image? I haven’t done so hot with that, especially after throwing a lamp at my ex-fiancé in front of a few different reporters when I was kicking him out of my place. This just seems like something they would eat up, you know I mean?”

  And just like that, the way she had kept us equal, maintaining that there was no difference between the two of us, had shifted. Maybe Gabi didn’t think so, but I felt it. “Do you think… I mean does that change anything? For you?”

  Gabi shook her head. “I’ve never been about playing by the rules, in case you didn’t already know that.”

  The relief that flooded through me was instant and I turned over to pin her down underneath me, staring at her, wanting her to know how much it meant to me that she wouldn’t want to just ditch me for some dumb reason. “Well, as long as we’re not playing by the rules…”

  I trailed my mouth down her chest, taking ample amounts of time to linger over every inch of her delicious skin, until I had reached the promised land between her thick thighs, hoping that I could show her just how much this thing between us was working for me.

  9