by Stella James
“What happened?”
“We were driving home from the movies,” she says. “It was raining pretty heavily. I remember how loud it sounded when the drops were hitting the roof of the car. Somehow, we ended up in the wrong lane and we hit a truck head on,” she tells me. “My parents and my younger brother Andrew died on impact before the ambulance even showed up. I was stuck and unconscious. The car was leaking fuel and they didn’t have time to cut me out, so they had to pull me out of the broken window.”
“Jesus, Anna.”
“I didn’t feel anything,” she says. “I was out of it until the next day pretty much. They did some skin grafts but, as you can see, they still look pretty rough.”
“You’re beautiful Anna,” I say, kissing the top of her shoulder.
“You’re just saying that because you got laid,” she laughs softly.
I don’t do pillow talk and normally she’d be right. I’ve been no stranger to saying whatever bullshit charming line slips into my head. But everything is different with her. I’m different with her.
“No,” I say, gently rolling her onto her side, tracing the slight curve of her hip. “Beautiful.”
“I believe you,” she says after a beat. “What are we going to do? I can’t just be casual, not with this,” she gestures between us.
For the first time in six years, I don’t want casual. I don’t know where the hell this is going, but I can’t share Anna, I know that much.
“I can’t have anyone else touching you Anna,” I say, nudging her onto her back. “Especially now that I know how it feels to be buried inside of you,” I whisper against her ear, watching with satisfaction as a shiver dances over her skin. “I can’t have anyone else making you smile,” I kiss along her collar bone. “I’ll take you on cheesy dates,” I say, pressing my lips to her stomach. “If that’s what you want.
“Mmm, and what about you? I’m nice, but I’m not nice enough to share my man,” she gasps as I sink my teeth gently into her side and lick the mark.
I look up and meet her stare, knowing I’ll have to work so damn hard not to fuck this up but that she is worth it.
“How could I ever touch anyone else when I have you?” I slide one finger inside of her and add another. “You’re fucking perfect.”
“No, I’m not.”
“All of you Anna,” I say, pulling my hand from her and sucking her taste from my fingers. “Perfect.”
*
“This should be ready right away,” Anna says, cracking open the oven door and peeking inside at the pizza we made.
“Plates or eat it right off the pan?” I ask.
“Plates,” she says, rolling her eyes.
We spent most of the day in my apartment, laying in bed. I took Anna once more, so I could show her just how perfect she is before we decided to get out and get some fresh air. Everything about our day together was normal, as it would be if this were a week ago. The only difference is I can’t stop touching her. We’re at her place right now, cooking together with the plan of staying in and watching a movie. I keep waiting for my inner cynic to start ripping this all apart but the only thing I feel is…content.
I set two plates on the counter and watch as Anna bends over and carefully pulls the pan from the oven. She looks up at me and smiles as she sets it on top of the stove.
After we eat, I force Anna to go sit down and choose a movie for us while I load the dishwasher.
‘’What are you in the mood for?” she calls from the living room.
“Nothing that will make my testicles shrink,” I call back.
I swipe her glasses from the kitchen table as I head into the next room. I set them on the coffee table and take the seat beside her, angling her as I sit and pulling her bare legs onto my lap.
“I’ve got it narrowed down to two,” she says, putting on her glasses. “The Expendables or Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.”
“I can honestly say that is not what I was expecting,” I say with a laugh. “The Expendables? Really?”
“My dad had a thing for action movies,” she shrugs. “I saw all the old school actors in their glory days, I guess it makes me nostalgic to watch their new stuff now whenever it crosses my path.”
“I’m sorry babe.”
“Don’t be,” she says. “It’s a happy memory.”
“Okay, Stallone it is,” I say.
We’re halfway through the movie when I glance over at Anna and I suddenly give zero fucks about Sly and his band of justice seeking mercenaries. She’s wearing the same dress she was earlier, but she’s taken the elastic out of her hair and as she watches the screen, she plays with the ends of her hair and I swear I’ve never seen anything sexier. Her legs are still draped over my lap and as I trail a hand slowly up her thigh, I watch her for a reaction.
When my fingertips reach the bunched-up hem of her dress, she pulls her bottom lip into her mouth and shifts her weight slightly. I inch further up, slowly, savouring the feel of her soft skin. She parts her legs for me, her eyes are still on the T.V but her breath hitching slightly. I continue to watch her expression as I finally reach the lace between her thighs and feel the heat from her pussy as I brush my fingertips across the scrap of fabric. When I slide them to the side and dip one finger inside of her, she closes her eyes and gasps quietly.
“Look at me, Anna.”
She opens her eyes and turns to face me, sinking back into the armrest of the couch. Her eyes are heavy, her lips curved up into a sexy grin.
I thrust my finger all the way in and revel in the way her mouth opens and her sweet pussy instantly grips me. I slide my finger back and forth before adding another and placing my thumb on her clit. I rub gentle circles, watching in fascination as she holds my stare and bucks her hips up slightly.
“Pull that dress off, Anna. let me see you.”
She reaches for the hem and pulls it up and over her head, tossing the garment to the floor before she reaches for her glasses.
“Mm, no baby,” I tell her. “Leave the glasses on.”
Her eyes land back on mine and she gives me a sexy smile as she places one of her hands around my wrist. My fingers slide easily in and out of her and when I add a third, her head falls back and her eyelids flutter.
“Sebastian, God don’t stop,” she moans.
The glow from the screen illuminates her ivory skin as she spreads her legs wider and grinds herself down onto my hand, fucking it unabashedly and without hesitation. She is so fucking sexy, it’s killing me not to tug my pants down and impale myself inside of her. My cock is so hard, it’s straining against my zipper, desperate to get wet.
“Christ you’re beautiful Anna, touch those pretty tits of yours,” I growl.
Her tiny palms land on her mounds without hesitation and she begins to massage herself, while the wetness from her pussy drips down my fingers. I need her to come. I need to watch her fall apart so I can commit every detail to memory. I press harder on her clit, her moans now bouncing off the walls around us; feeding my ego and my desire to give her pleasure so intense that she never forgets it.
“Oh God, Sebastian, I’m coming, don’t stop,” she gasps.
Her pussy clamps down on my fingers as her honey fills my palm and spills over. She lets go of her tits and spears her fingers into her hair before running her fingertips back down her body as she writhes and eventually settles. I pull my fingers from her and before I can tell her how Goddamn sexy she is when she comes, she’s sitting up and straddling me, pulling my T-shirt off. She’s flushed and wild looking, gripping the back of my head and pulling my mouth to hers as she moans against my lips.
“I don’t know how you do this to me,” she breathes. “I need you, I need to feel you Sebastian.”
She reaches for the button on my jeans, plucking it open and reaching for my cock, which is so hard at this point I’m surprised I haven’t already come in my fucking boxers. I lift us both as she tugs my pants down and grips me in her tight fist, lining me up
with her sweet pussy. She slides all the way down.
“Fuck, Anna,” I groan, my hands tangling in her hair.
“I can’t, I don’t know, I just need,” she mumbles breathlessly.
“Look at me Anna,” I demand, her eyes meeting mine as her grip on the back of my neck loosens. “Just move baby.”
Her fingertips curl into the back of my neck as she lifts her hips slightly and begins to rock back and forth. She moves so fucking slowly and I’m so deep that I can hardly think straight. My hands graze down her sides and settle on her hips, digging into her flesh as she continues to move back and forth.
“Fuck. You feel so fucking good,” I groan.
“I need more,” she says. “Please.”
I wrap my arms around her and flip her onto her back on the plush cushions, I pull back and push into her harshly, feeling the puff of her breath against my neck. Her heels press into my ass, her fingernails digging into my back. I quicken my pace as her pussy sucks me in and holds me tight. The couch squeaks beneath us as I pump in and out, my balls tightening and begging for relief. The second her pussy squeezes me, I let go and come in long strokes, feeling the pulse of her climax around me. The blood rushing through my veins is loud, combined with the smell of her skin, I feel like I might pass out. When I lean back, her eyes blink open and focus on mine. Her lips curve up as she runs her fingers up and down my back.
“Stay the night?” she asks.
I press my mouth to hers and pull out slowly, realizing we didn’t use protection. “Anna, I’m an idiot, we didn’t use a condom.”
“I’m on birth control,” she says. “So, we’re covered there. And I haven’t been with anyone in a while. There’s only been two before you.”
“I’ve never gone without,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she says.
I reluctantly pull myself off her and take her by the hand, leading us to the bathroom. Once we’ve cleaned up, I leave her sitting on her bed in a flimsy white nightgown, brushing her hair. I head back out into the living room and turn off the T.V and make sure the door is locked. When I come back into the bedroom, she’s lying on her side, halfway under the covers.
I crawl in beside her and pull her body as close to mine as I can. She buries herself against me, draping one slender arm over my torso. I fall asleep to the rhythmic feeling of her fingertips dancing along my spine.
Chapter 11
Anna
Pulling myself out of bed this morning in order to make it over to Esme’s was quite the task. Every inch of my body felt used, in the most wonderful way possible. I had opened my eyes and instinctively reached for the other side of the bed, surprised to find it was empty. Embarrassment washed over me momentarily at the thought that maybe Sebastian had changed his mind. Until my fingers landed on a piece of paper propped up on the pillow beside me.
Didn’t want to wake you, I’m at the studio. Call me.
-S
I called Sebastian while I was still under the covers. He said he’d be working all day to meet a deadline that just got pushed up, but we made plans to meet up later tonight once he’s finished for the day. I’m on my way over to Esme’s now, navigating the Sunday morning traffic while Adele plays softly on the radio and I hum along mindlessly. I decided to drive today because Dru wants to go to yoga after brunch, which is something we used to do all the time but haven’t been able to coordinate lately.
I park my car on the quiet sidewalk around the corner from Esme’s building. I’m early as usual but I have some lesson planning I can do and I want to raid Esme’s recipe book for some new ideas. The thought of spending my evenings with Sebastian puts a silly grin on my face that I can’t seem to erase as I make my way upstairs.
I meant what I said to him, sex has never been like this for me. Not like I’m swimming in experience. I lost my virginity in college to a guy I worked at the campus bookstore with. We were friends, and he was sweet, but our relationship fizzled out pretty quickly. There just wasn’t enough chemistry between us. The second person I had sex with was a guy named Garret whom I dated for several months last year. It was better, he certainly knew what he was doing, and we got along well for the most part. But it was clear he wasn’t looking to settle down and eventually I ended it when I realized that we’d never move forward. He also had a thing about my scars, he told me they freaked him out and it always made me feel so inhibited. Like I couldn’t really let go. Aside from that, my relationship experience is basically a string of casual dates and dinners that could never seem to gain the momentum to move forward into something more.
Sebastian though, being with him is an entirely new experience. I have never felt the way that I feel when I’m with him. He makes me feel beautiful and sexy and daring. I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be the first time he saw me naked. I’m not ashamed of my body, but I know it’s not perfect. My scars stand out and they represent something sad, and of course I’m only human so I still hear Garret’s voice in my head from time to time asking me to keep the bedsheet draped over myself. But when Sebastian pressed his lips to the most imperfect parts of my skin, I swear my heart nearly stopped beating. No one has ever made me feel so…precious.
I approach Esme’s door and knock briskly before I push it open, a gasp on my lips as my brain adjusts to the fact that Gus, a family friend and Dru’s old boss at the club, is standing beside Esme. His hand is on her shoulder and his lips are on her cheek as she continues to cut up strawberries.
“Anna, hello dear,” she says.
“Hi, umm, am I, interrupting something?” I ask as I close the door behind me and give her a questioning glance.
“Not at all, have a seat,” she says.
“Ohhkay. Hi Gus, how are you?”
“I’m wonderful sweetheart, and you?”
“I’m good. Um, did you want to go put some pants on?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake Gus, go put your damn pants on before the kids get here,” Esme scolds.
He blushes sweetly and whispers something in her ear making her giggle before he turns and heads toward the bedroom in his white and blue checkered boxer shorts. I wait until I hear the door close and set my bag down on the table. I turn to face her, waiting for an explanation.
“What?”
“So, you and Gus, you’re a thing now?” I ask with a smile.
My sisters and I have always thought there was something going on between the two of them, but Esme has always insisted that she simply looks after him because he’s helpless.
“If by thing, you mean have we decided to keep each other company from time to time, then yes, I suppose you could say that we are indeed a thing,” she replies primly.
Just then, Dru and Ethan walk in, followed by Blake and Elle. “Hey,” Dru says. “Everything okay?”
“We might as well get this out in the open now,” Esme says, setting down her knife. “Gus and I have become a thing, as your sister has put it,” she continues. “He’s in the bedroom putting on pants and he’ll be joining us today.”
“It’s about damn time,” Dru says.
“We really should have placed bets on this,” Elle adds.
The conversation changes and filters around us as Esme looks up at me and winks before she goes back to cutting up the fruit on the counter. Gus comes back into the kitchen and is greeted with a hug and kiss from both Elle and Dru as well as a series of manly back slaps and congratulations from Blake and Ethan.
“Okay boys, you can finish congratulating Gus on a job well done after we eat,” Esme says. “Blake, you grab the plates and Ethan you can fetch the silverware.”
*
I roll out my pink yoga mat in the corner of the studio and take a seat, digging my phone out of my bag so I can turn it off. A message from Sebastian lights up the screen.
Sebastian: I think I miss you.
Me: You think?
Sebastian: I know that I miss you. I just didn’t want to sound needy.
Me: I miss you too. I
don’t care if that sounds needy.
Sebastian: What are you doing?
Me: At yoga with Dru and Elle, waiting for class to start.
Sebastian: Are you wearing spandex?
Me: Yes.
Sebastian: Dammit freckles.
I turn my phone off and toss it in my bag, looking over at Dru and Elle beside me to see them both staring.
“What?”
“Something you’d like to share? Or do you always wear a dopey I’ve been having sex grin whenever you text someone?” Dru asks.
“Shhhh, do you mind?”
“Nope,” she says with a cocky grin.
“Fine. I was going to tell you after, but I’ll just tell you now,” I smile. “Sebastian and I ha-.”
“I knew it!” Elle exclaims.
“Shhhh!”
“I knew there was something between you two, the way he was looking at you when he brought you to the hospital,” she says quietly. “Awww, this is so romantic.”
“It didn’t start until recently,” I explain. “It just kind of…happened. But it feels right,” I add. “I had that date with Steven, great guy by the way, and I was really excited about it. But then Sebastian came over and we had kind of a weird moment.”
I give them the quick version of my date with Steven and everything that happened later that night and how I went to Sebastian’s the next day with the intention of clearing the air.
“So, are you in a relationship?” Dru asks.
“I told him I couldn’t do casual and he agreed, so, yes I’d say we are,” I reply.
“And you believe him?” she asks.
“Oh stop being a party pooper,” Elle says to Dru.
“Look, I know this is kind of out of nowhere, but, yes I do believe him,” I reply. “And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll handle it.”
I reach for Dru’s hand and give it a squeeze. I know she’s just worried about me. “Please, just be happy for me okay?”
