by R. S. Kovach
Recognizing the ringtone, Ali hopped off the stool and hurried to her phone. “That has to be my mother, and if I don’t answer, she’ll just keep calling back.” Finding the device, she confirmed the incoming number, took a big sip of the wine, and answered. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hello, darling,” Grace cooed. “How are you?”
Ali sighed, not interested in idle chitchat. “I’m great, but this isn’t a good time.” She turned back to face Hank. He’d taken a seat on her stool and was intently watching the conversation.
“Oh, I’ll make it quick, then.” The woman used her well-known trick of feigning disappointment to guilt Ali into feeling remorse for attempting to blow her off. “I just wanted to ask when you’re getting home.”
“Home?” She wrinkled her forehead. “I’m here for another two weeks.”
“I know, Alejandra, but I’m trying to make plans.” Grace was now being firm and cryptic at the same time.
Ali shook her head in disbelief and downed the rest of her wine before continuing. “What type of plans?”
“Just a little welcome-home party. Family, a few friends—” she said hastily.
“Absolutely not,” Ali cut in. “I don’t want a fuss.”
Grace’s pitch escalated, along with her volume. “How are we supposed to celebrate—”
“There’s nothing to celebrate, Mom.” Ali squeezed the glass so hard, she was suddenly afraid she’d break it. She headed back toward the kitchen to set it down. “To everyone outside of our immediate family, I was just on vacation. That’s what you’ve been telling people, right?”
“Of course, dear.” Grace stressed the second word much too hard, making her sound less than sincere.
“Good.” In spite of her reservations, Ali had no evidence to continue the argument. Setting the glass on the counter, she looked at the smiling man in front of her. She knew exactly what she’d rather be doing, and the only thing keeping her from it was her mother. “Now, I really have to go.”
“Wait, there’s someone who wants to say hello.” Before Ali could object, there was a brief pause and another voice took over the conversation. “Hey there, Alley Cat! How’s the Wild West treating ya?”
She squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced. Maybe if she wished it hard enough, he wouldn’t be on the other end.
“Ali? Are you there?” he said, testing the silence.
She sighed and opened her eyes. “Hi, Robert.”
Her delivery was flat, and Hank looked puzzled. “Robert?” he mouthed silently, but Ali waved off his question.
“I miss you, babe. Can I come out to see you?”
“Babe”? What the hell? Ali cringed. Her ex was the last thing she needed right now. “I’m afraid the place I’m staying isn’t really set up for visitors.” She deflected the blame for the refusal as Hank grabbed her hips and gently pulled her between his knees.
“That’s too bad.” Robert sounded genuinely disappointed. “Listen, maybe you can still help me with something.”
She should have known he had ulterior motives. Other than getting into her bed again, that is. “What did you have in mind?” Ali lightly traced a laugh line at the corner of Hank’s mouth with her finger, looking at his eyes as she asked the question into the phone.
“I want to ask you for some financial advice,” he said over the sound of shuffling papers.
“I’m taking a break from work.” Her eyes widened as Hank touched the top button on her shirt before looking back up at her for permission to continue. “I haven’t even seen the market reports in weeks.” She nodded, biting her lip at the thought of what was coming.
Somewhere in the Hamptons, Robert was none the wiser. “That’s cool. I’m not looking for specifics at the moment, just general info.”
One button snapped open, quickly followed by another. “All right,” Ali breathlessly agreed, unwittingly spurring her ex to continue.
“So we’re thinking of taking Rockitt Joe’s global . . .”
Hank undid the third button and slid one hand inside the open fabric. When his cold fingers touched her warm skin, Ali gasped.
“. . . but I think Asia is better. Maybe South Korea and Japan, for starters.”
“Uh-huh.” She closed her eyes and tilted her head back as Hank cupped her breast and began to gently knead the soft flesh.
“Anyway, we’d need local capital . . .”
Ali wet her lips, feeling her heart clamor erratically in her chest at the sensation. Every part of her was tingling from his fervent touch.
“. . . to minimize the risk.”
Hank drew his hand away and she looked down at him, wondering why he’d stopped. It was only to undo the final button, and as that slid out of its confines, he pushed the shirt over her shoulders, letting it fall to the ground.
“And I’m not sure about the timeline, but I’m hoping . . .”
Ali lost track of the conversation again as the man sitting on the stool in front of her returned his attention to her breast. With one hand on her hip, he used the other to push aside her lacy bra. His touch left goose pimples in its wake, and Ali balled her fist when his mouth took over. Hot, wet, and insatiable, the licks and nibbles just made her crave more.
“So, what do you think?” Robert finally paused, and Ali realized she had no idea what he’d been saying. Better yet, she didn’t care.
“I’ll give it some thought, but I’m going to have to call you back. Tell Mom I said bye.” She ended the call, turned off the phone, and flung it across the room.
“That guy sounds like a real d-bag,” Hank announced as his tongue teased her rock-hard nipple.
It wasn’t exactly time for this topic, but Ali played along. “Robert? He’s harmless.” She tried to normalize her breathing even though Hank was doing everything in his power to arouse her. “A little pushy, maybe, but I’ve known him forever. He’s almost like family.”
“Family?” He momentarily drew away and frowned. “Didn’t you two date?”
Whoops. “Briefly.”
“Is he the one you said was great in bed?” He cocked his head to the side and thrust his chin up, recalling her brash statement the day of the team-building challenge.
Ali giggled. So he did care. “I lied.”
He smiled, creating creases at the corners of his light eyes. “Good.” Sliding one hand down her body, he watched for a reaction until he stopped at the top of her legs. When Ali didn’t object, he reached between her thighs and began to rhythmically tease the tender spot. Only a thin layer of fabric stood between her and his eager fingers, and Ali wrapped her arms around his neck for support as she felt her knees go weak in response.
Hank’s other hand was still on her hip, while his mouth found her breast again, and the gratification grew exponentially with every second. “Oh, fuck.” Ali drew out the expletive in a soft moan as a surge of pleasure rushed through her.
“That is the goal,” Hank deadpanned, briefly lifting his lips from her breast. She couldn’t help but laugh at his candor, but he suddenly stood, knocking over the stool in the process. He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her fiercely.
Ali dug her fingers into the short hair at the back of his head, pulling him closer. Although she clocked him in the skull a bit too hard with her cast, Hank didn’t mind. In fact, he reached behind her and lifted Ali off the ground, pulling her closer. She wrapped her legs around his hips while holding on to his neck as they kissed again.
When he began to carry her toward the bedroom, she spoke up. “Wait. Do you have protection?”
He stopped and looked at her quizzically while drawing in quick, short breaths. “You mean condoms? Um, yeah.” The question finally reached his consciousness.
“Because if you don’t, I have some,” Ali offered, doubting the confidence of his answer.
“Really?” He g
rinned, setting her back on her feet.
“Sure.” Ali smiled back. “A girl’s gotta be prepared.”
“That she does.” He nodded approvingly. “Why don’t we compare? You get yours, and I’ll find mine. Then we can decide which one is . . . um, better for the occasion.”
While she hurried back to her purse, Ali mentally added Hank’s witty sensibility as another reason why this man was fucking perfect. Hastily digging through the clutter and coming up empty-handed, she was ready to dump the bag’s entire contents on the floor when she finally found a three-count sheet of the foil-wrapped packets. She was about to tear off one when mischief took over.
“What the hell,” Ali whispered to herself, taking all three. On the way to the bedroom, she also slipped off her leggings and socks, arriving in just her bra and underwear, ready for business.
From the sounds of it, Hank was still in the adjacent bathroom rummaging through drawers.
“Are you okay in there?” She sat down on the edge of the mattress and smiled when he burst into the room victoriously holding up his discovery.
“Found it!” Hank boasted gleefully before hurrying to her, but his success was diminished as Ali waved her find. “Damn. Three?”
She innocently shrugged, and they exchanged packages. “ ‘Ribbed for her pleasure?’ ” Ali read the tagline. “That’s thoughtful.” She giggled.
“Thank you.” He nodded before inspecting what she’d brought. “Ah. Ultra thin?” Hank grimaced and tossed the pack aside. “Let’s just keep those for later. Now, do you want to do the honors?”
He pushed his sweatpants to his ankles, stepped out of them, and stood in front of Ali with hands on hips. His crotch was at her eye level, and she stared at his obvious erection under the tight boxer briefs. She wanted to accept the offer, but her hand shook even as she raised the condom. “You better do it.”
The words were like a blast from a starting pistol, signaling the end of the final obstacle before proceeding. Like a good competitor, Hank dispatched his underwear, ripped open the package, and rolled the flimsy latex sheath in place under record time. Ali let out a surprised squeal as he tipped her backward and her head hit the firm mattress. Bending over her, Hank straddled her body and began to kiss her neck. He started under the earlobe and slowly made his way down, paying particular attention to her collarbone, breasts, and navel.
Ali arched her back in approval and gently scraped her nails down his firm biceps, feeling his body tense up with each pass. She winced when his stubble tickled her stomach, and he drew away. Reaching under her back, he unclasped her bra and removed it effortlessly before tugging at her underwear. Ali took the opportunity to scoot farther up the bed as her black lace panties slipped down her legs. Hank tossed the garment behind him and, with an almost feral look of passion, crawled back on top of her. She clutched his neck and opened her legs to let him in, wrapping them tightly around his torso to guide his rhythmic thrusts.
They moved in unison, breathing heavily into each other’s ears as their increasingly sticky bodies audibly slapped together. Contentment radiated from her inner core as Ali drew the man as close to her as physically possible, filling a void that she never knew was there before. She gently bit his shoulder; he tasted salty and smelled of musk. He nuzzled her earlobe, jumping slightly as her hand ran down his side.
“That tickles.” Without breaking his rhythm, he laughed before covering her mouth with his own.
“I like a man who can admit his weakness,” Ali whispered between kisses.
Hank drew away just enough to look into her eyes. “Oh yeah? And what’s yours?”
Ali giggled. “Naked men who ask too many questions.” She pulled him back down again, craving his closeness.
He moaned in response and increased his already passionate frenzy. The feeling was so good that Ali wanted it to both go on forever and reach its full crescendo at the same time. She held back as long as she could, enjoying the moments to their fullest. When she finally lost control, a chill ran through her in spite of her burning skin, and she involuntarily gasped. Hank’s movements also became more hurried before his body tensed and he let out a low groan. Releasing him from her grasp, Ali unclenched her legs and he pulled away. Retreating to the bathroom, he momentarily left her alone.
Lying on top of the covers with her chest heaving and her knees shaking, Ali stared at a hairline crack running the length of the ceiling and grinned. Although quicker than she would have liked, sex with Hank had turned out to be pretty damn awesome.
She stretched her arms above her head. He’d only been gone for a few seconds, but she missed his presence already. After the flush of the toilet and the brief sound of running water, he quickly emerged from the bathroom and stopped to stare at the naked woman sprawled across his bed.
Without any clothes, Hank appeared even taller. His skin glimmered from a thin layer of sweat, and each muscle group was fully accentuated by the physical exertion. But his muscles weren’t the only parts of him still hard and primed to go, so Ali was surprised when he bent down, rummaged through the discarded clothing, and pulled on his sweats.
“I was hoping for . . . round two?” she suggested, rolling onto her stomach and crossing her ankles in the air.
Narrowing his eyes, he ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t hold it against me, but I’m about to act like a typical man and totally ruin the moment.”
Ali sighed. Too late. He already had when he began to get dressed. “Your self-awareness is exemplary, so I’m going to forgive the slight. What’s up?” She forced a smile, expecting a letdown.
“I was hungry before, but after . . .” He paused before grinning. “After you, I’m starving. Mind if I order food now?”
“Of course not.” She laughed in relief, realizing it was already early afternoon and neither of them had eaten since breakfast. “Please, go ahead.”
He clapped his hands together. “Awesome. And if it makes you feel better, you were definitely worth the wait.”
He disappeared from the room before the words reached her consciousness, and Ali scrambled to her feet to pull on her own hastily shed garments. Worth the wait, huh? Did that mean she’d caught his eye when they’d first met, just as he had hers?
“How long has it been . . . this wait?” She followed him into the kitchen while buttoning her shirt.
Hank frowned and scratched his temple. “A couple of months, at least.” He picked up a takeout menu, turning it over.
“Oh.” Ali’s hands froze on the last button. He hadn’t meant the wait for her. He meant the wait to have sex at all.
“Why?” He looked up but got the answer from seeing her expression. The corners of his mouth twitched as he resisted the obvious urge to smile at the misunderstanding, but his eyes betrayed him. Stepping to her, he put his arms around her waist. “Of course, I’ve been dreaming about getting you in my bed ever since you tried to hit on me that morning in the barn.”
Damn, he did notice. “I did not!” She tried to save face, pulling herself to her full height while remembering how she’d awkwardly thanked him for not running over Harriet’s dog.
“Oh, yeah?” He cocked his head to the side while softly wetting his lips with his tongue. “What were you doing then?”
Ali cleared her throat. “Being polite,” she said, attempting to continue the lie, but Hank’s silent stare got to her. “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll admit, I did have ulterior motives for going to the stables that day.”
“See? That wasn’t so hard.” He laughed before kissing her. Letting go, he pulled out the menu again. “We never decided, did we?”
She shook her head.
“If I can make a suggestion, Chinese would be the fastest.” He pulled out a glossy leaflet from the bottom of the pile. “They’re literally around the corner.”
Ali nodded, not really caring at th
is point. “Chinese it is.”
Hank picked up his cell phone from the counter and began to scroll through his contacts. “Any preferences?”
“Nope. I’m easy. I’ll eat pretty much anything.” He looked up and grinned, but Ali just rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
After he’d put in an order that would feed a small army, Hank excused himself to take a long-overdue shower. He’d just shut off the water when the doorbell rang, so Ali accepted the delivery and had placed all of the containers on the counter by the time he reemerged. She ducked out to wash up and when she returned to the kitchen, she caught Hank tugging apart one of the white paper containers.
“What in the world are you doing?” She crossed her arms and looked on in disbelief.
Standing in just a towel around his waist and with water still dripping from his hair, he continued to unfold the box. “Making a plate.”
She scoffed. “You know you have real plates.”
“Why would I get those dirty when this is why the box is made like this? See?” He proudly gestured toward the heap of vegetable lo mein sitting on top of a flattened piece of heavy paper.
Heading toward the cabinets, Ali looked for the dishes she’d seen earlier. “Because that’s a total urban legend.” Finding the right shelf, she took out two ceramic plates and handed one to Hank.
“I’m good.” He waved off the offer and began eating his noodles.
Ali rolled her eyes. “You are such a guy.” She scooped a spoonful of rice out before adding a helping of Szechuan chicken.
Hank swallowed the bite and grinned. “After everything in there, you just realized that?” Not waiting for her answer, he offered Ali a set of fancy chopsticks like the ones he was using.
She held her cast up in response. “Forks?”
After he pointed to a drawer on the other side and she found proper utensils, they ate in silence until Hank looked like he was going to fall asleep again right there on the stool. Ali urged him back to bed and offered to tidy up, expecting him to be out cold by the time she joined him. Instead, he was propped up on pillows watching a baseball game.
