Falling Star

by Laura DeLuca

  “Lainey,” Drew whispered her name, though he was sure his voice was lost in the breaking surf. “Oh, Lainey.”

  Not wanting to overstep any boundaries, he moved his hand from her breast, instead stroking her hair, damp from the cold mist that sprayed their faces. He longed to pull it free from the ponytail so he could run his hands through its soft tresses. Another wave broke at their feet, and now they were up to their ankles in saltwater even when the surf pulled back. The next crash managed to splash as high as their thighs.

  “The tide is coming in fast.” Lainey panted between kisses. “Unless you want to get completely drenched we should probably head back.”

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing you get a little wetter.” As he spoke, his fingers teased her most intimate spot. Even through her denim she shuddered with pleasure, and he wondered if the dampness was all saltwater or if her need was as urgent as his.

  In response to his unspoken question, her lips sought out his again and her hand did some teasing of its own. Just when he feared he might release far too soon, she backed away, but this time with a mischievous smile playing across her lips. “What do you say we head back to my place and get out of these wet clothes?”

  Drew didn’t need to be asked twice.

  Chapter Nine

  “Having trouble with the locks?” Drew’s hands slid under her jacket as Lainey struggled to slide the key into the slot. She giggled and moaned simultaneously as he nibbled on her ear.

  “Maybe I wouldn’t have so much trouble if a certain someone didn’t insist on distracting me.”

  “You can’t be referring to me?” Even as he spoke, his lips roamed to her neck, making the hairs there stand on end. “You must be talking about that older couple we ran into in the elevator.”

  Lainey laughed again and almost snorted. When they stepped from the elevator onto the fourth floor, one of her neighbors from the condo had given them an incredulous stare. The old man’s eye twitched as he leaned on his cane while his wife regarded them with dismay, taking in their damp clothes and disheveled appearances.

  “Is it raining out there, Lainey, dear?” the woman asked curiously, patting her perfectly coiffed gray curls with concern. “The sky was perfectly clear a few minutes ago, but you two look like you’ve been through a Nor’Easter.”

  “No, no, Mrs. Bens,” Lainey assured her. “No reason to go back for an umbrella. It’s a perfectly marvelous day.”

  Lainey and Drew darted down the hall before the seniors had a chance to ask any more questions, but she could feel their reproachful stares boring into her back. It didn’t bother her though. Most people on the fourth floor already thought she was crazy. The only noises that ever emitted from her room were either the sounds of drumming from her meditation CDs or her singing along with her favorite show tunes. Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Bens were the last things on her mind. At the moment, Drew tortured her with innocent foreplay while her slippery hands attempted to get a good grip on her keychain. She dropped it twice and missed the keyhole multiple times before they finally gained entry.

  “Got it!”

  Lainey cheered as she pushed open the door. They were immediately greeted by the scent of amber incense. Even though she hadn’t burned any since the previous evening, the aroma lingered, welcoming her home with its soothing qualities. She took a deep breath, hoping it would calm her racing heart, before gesturing for Drew to enter. Once they were inside, Lainey flipped on the lights and tossed her jacket on the sofa while Drew took in her eccentric décor. Statues of everything from goddesses to fairies lined the shelves, with quartz crystals and other natural stones placed Feng Shui style between them. There were also bookshelves everywhere, with titles ranging from The Secrets of Numerology to The Study of Modern Paganism. Sprinkled in with her extensive library on spirituality were a few selections about the history of Broadway musicals, part of her research for her novels.

  “Interesting place you have here.”

  That told Lainey he was more open-minded than the last man she invited into her home. That guy took one look at her bookshelves and told her she was readying her soul for the eternal flames of hell. She’d figured a California guy would be more tolerant to her system of beliefs, but she was also fairly certain her reading list and home décor weren’t Drew’s top concern at the moment. But now that he’d entered her most personal space, Lainey was a little nervous. She wasn’t a virgin, but she was ... very selective. She could count on one hand the number of lovers she’d had, using less than half her fingers. Surely, someone who’d lived in Hollywood and clinked glasses with the rich and famous was far worldlier in the bedroom, even if he’d only recently overcome his fear of roller coasters.

  “Meow.”

  Misty’s plaintive cry distracted Lainey from her paranoia. The cat flicked her fluffy tail back and forth and studied Drew with diamond-shaped yellow eyes. Lainey watched as he bent down to scratch her behind the ears, observing, somewhat bashfully, the way his damp T-shirt clung to his skin, showing off his well-formed abs. He smiled when the feline wrapped her agile body around his legs, purring louder than a car engine. Lainey was glad Drew was a cat person. That definitely gave him a few bonus points in her book since Lainey couldn’t imagine life without a furry companion.

  “Looks like I made a new friend,” Drew acknowledged. “Lovable little thing, isn’t she?”

  “Actually, Misty doesn’t usually take to strangers so quickly. She tends to attack anyone who steps through the door. She’s better than a watchdog.”

  Lainey considered mentioning she didn’t often bring strangers home so quickly either, but Drew caught the hesitant quiver in her voice. Leaving an affronted Misty with one last pat, he came up beside Lainey and nuzzled her neck with his nose before whispering in her ear, “We don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for. I’d be perfectly content lounging on the sofa and watching television the rest of the night. All that matters is that you’re beside me.”

  It was odd how as soon as Drew gave her an easy way out, backing down became the last thing she wanted to do. In fact, his gentlemanly patience made her desire him more than ever. Turning toward him, Lainey laid one hand against his chest while the fingers of her other ran down his arm. His flesh was ice-cold and peppered with goose bumps. After their watery rendezvous, Lainey shivered as well. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror behind the sofa and noticed her lips were slightly purple.

  “T.V.’s really not an option,” Lainey told him. “I don’t watch much, so I only have a few channels. Not many DVDs either. Unless you want to have a sing-a-long to The Phantom of the Opera, you’re out of luck.”

  “Then you’ll have to tell me what you’d like to do,” Drew offered. As he spoke, he loosened her ponytail so her hair fell down her back in soft, damp waves. “I’m completely in your hands.”

  Taking his comment literally, Lainey stroked slightly lower down so at least one part of his anatomy really was in her hands. “In that case, I should probably be a good tour guide and warm you up before that hypothermia you mentioned kicks in.”

  “How do you propose we accomplish that?” Though his tone was innocent, his smile was seductive, alluring.

  “You know what they say.” Lainey surprised herself with her own brazenness when she lifted her camisole over her head and tossed it carelessly to the ground. Her firm breasts stood taut in the chilly air, the pink nipples rigid. “Skin to skin is best.”

  Following her example, Drew tore away his own T-shirt, bearing the muscles she’d admired more than once through his clothing. Up close they were even more impressive, especially with the background of smooth olive-tone skin. Though she was captivated by his perfect male physique, she was only able to admire him a second before he pulled her close, pressing them chest to chest. Lainey could feel his accelerated heartbeat thumping in time with her own, and she was sure their body temperatures spiked well over the ninety-eight degree mark.

  “Come with me.” Lainey panted, pulling h
im in the direction of the bedroom. She pointed at the open windows. “Unless you want to give any stragglers on the boardwalk a peep show.”

  Drew allowed her to guide him onto the bed. There the scent of incense was stronger and mingled with the sage smudge she often used to cleanse her aura. The comforting aroma added to her courage and her confidence. Lying down on the bed, she worked to shimmy out of her jeans, but the damp denim clung stubbornly to her skin. She had them about half way down, revealing the tiny lace panties beneath, when Drew came over to assist. With expert hands, he slid her legs free, adding her denim to the pile where his own soggy pants had already been discarded.

  There was no time for words. Pressing his mouth hard against hers, Lainey found herself willingly straddled against the mattress, the ivy patterned comforter beneath thrown to the side. Through his boxer-briefs she felt the length of his shaft grinding against her, desperate to escape its confines. Her own body throbbed, longing to feel that thickness deep inside of her. Instead, he drove her mad by moving his mouth away from hers and lowering his lips to spread sweet kisses along her abdomen, until his teasing tongue finally found its true destination. Agile hands plucked away her black panties in one quick motion and he dived into the freshly shaven grotto between her legs.

  “Drew!”

  Lainey instinctively arched her back, moaning in ecstasy as his tongue flicked back and forth in exactly the right spot. Each movement sent another shudder through her body, and a pleasure so intense that colors danced in front of her eyes. All prudishness forgotten, she gave into her desire completely. She didn’t think it could possibly get any more intense, until two fingers reached inside her warm moist folds, moving in perfect time with his tongue.

  “Oh!”

  Lainey had never experienced such instantaneous arousal. It didn’t take long for her body to reach a climax she couldn’t control. Again she cried out, clawing at the blankets as her body shuddered and spasmed beneath him. When even that didn’t stop Drew’s playful nibbles, she experienced an almost earth shattering second orgasm fast on the heels of the first. Only when she came down from that did he finally draw away and curl his lips in a satisfied smile.

  “Definitely sweeter than cotton candy.”

  Before Drew climbed back into the bed, he slipped out of his briefs, revealing the full, substantial length of his organ. Lainey, still breathing heavily, pushed herself up on the mattress, prepared to reciprocate his gift and excited about doing so, but Drew had already rolled a condom along his thick rod. He must have grabbed it from his pocket while she was recuperating because she hadn’t stocked up on them recently. When he was finished, he gently nudged her back against the pillows.

  “I want to be inside you,” he murmured into her ear as he mounted her. “Everything else can wait.”

  Lainey welcomed him into her arms, spreading her legs wide. Her muscles flexed to greet him, wrapping him in a tight embrace. Drew kissed her lips even as he guided his shaft into her deep, slippery mound. He moaned with pleasure as he began a gradual rhythm, pumping up and down. He moved slowly at first, wanting to draw out the ecstasy as long as possible. Lainey’s body moved in perfect unison with his, and though she didn’t think anything could be more satisfying than his prior kisses, the feeling of oneness as their bodies merged had her rising once again toward an unstoppable climax.

  Drew also neared his peak, and his eyes rolled when he tried to hold back until she could ride it with him. When Lainey tugged him closer, digging her nails into his back, his movements became more intense as he recognized her signal. He pounded into her harder and faster, and with each thrust her body yearned for more. Her legs wrapped around him like a vice as the inevitable culmination rocked her body to its core, made even more intense by the fact that her muscles convulsed around his hard shaft. When she cried out, he did as well and their voices merged in resplendent harmony. She felt the explosion of his release even through the protective layer he wore. When it was finally over, he collapsed on the mattress beside her.

  Panting, covered in sweat, Drew turned to her with a satisfied grin. “I’m definitely not cold anymore.”

  Feeling vixen-like, Lainey pulled the comforter up from the floor. “Really, I’m still a little chilly.”

  “You are? I’ll have to find a way to remedy that.” His voice still came in strained pants, but Lainey had caught her breath and was ready to continue.

  “It’s okay.” She grinned. “I’ve got it covered.”

  Giggling at her own silly pun, Lainey yanked the comforter up over her head. After her tongue crawled along his waist, he finally understood. With a moan of satisfaction, he tossed the used condom onto the floor. It took only a few strokes of his member to get it to rise again, harder and firmer than ever. As soon as he reached his full extension, Lainey wrapped her mouth around the engorged organ, pulling and teasing, savoring the salty taste of him despite the lingering hint of latex. At the same time, she fondled his sensitive pouch with the utmost delicacy until Drew was left helpless, moaning under her seductive touch. When he finally released, she sucked every drop down as though it were ambrosia. The theme repeated several times that evening before they both fell into a very well-earned sleep.

  Lainey woke to the sound of buzzing close to her ear. Still groggy, she batted the air around her head, assuming one of those big greenhead flies had somehow snuck into her bedroom again. When that didn’t chase the sound away, she forced her sleepy eyes open in time to see Drew leaning over the bed to pull his cellphone from his jeans. Lainey grinned as she observed him, remembering their satisfying night of lovemaking. Even though it wasn’t her first time, it sure felt like it. Both because her leg muscles were pleasantly sore and because she’d never experienced anything as phenomenal as what happened last night. Drew, however, didn’t seem as contented. He frowned as he placed the unanswered phone on the nightstand beside the bed.

  “Who’s calling so early on a Sunday,” Lainey asked through a stifled yawn.

  “Nobody,” Drew grumbled. “At least no one important. Something about work, but it can wait. I have better things to do than talk business.”

  He bent over to kiss her forehead, but the fact that he sounded so annoyed made Lainey wonder if the call might be more serious than he let on. Of course, it wasn’t her place to pry. Besides, he appeared to be over the momentary grumpiness. His naked body leaned closer to her under the sheets, and she scooted over to meet him, shifting her pillow and causing a small satin pouch to poke out from under it. Lainey tried to tuck it back in its hiding place, but it was too late. Drew already noticed it and he gave her a knowing grin.

  “Did I stumble upon your secret stash?” he teased. “I thought it smelled like you were burning something questionable in here.”

  Lainey gave him a playful shove. “The only things I burn are legal, though a few have been known to be mind-altering. This, however, is only a spell bag.”

  “Only a spell bag?” Drew raised an eyebrow. “You mean like a charm or talisman? Is that what you and your friends were up to on the full moon? Dabbling in magick?”

  “We do more than dabble,” Lainey admitted, chewing her lower lip. “We do a lot of things when we get together—meditations, natural healing, and yes, sometimes we make charm bags or do other sorts of spell work, but it’s more about a gathering of women finding their center. As different as we all are, the four of us create a balance. We like to think that each of us is a representation of one of the four elements—earth, air, fire, and—”

  “Water,” Drew finished. “I know the drill. I can’t claim to be an expert on the pagan path, but I researched some of the earth based religions in my theology class in college. I am curious about one thing, though.”

  Lainey cocked her head. “What’s that?”

  “Which one are you?” Drew probed. “Which element?”

  “Let’s see if you can guess. I’ll even give you a few hints,” Lainey offered. “Elisa burns with a lust for life that can d
efinitely be all-consuming at times. Sharon—she’s the calm one who’s always grounded and who we all turn to for advice. She also has a pretty amazing green thumb. Erin was practically a mermaid in another life. You can’t get her out of the water. Even in the winter she hits the indoor pool at the rec center at least once a week.”

  “That must mean Elisa is fire, Sharon is earth, and Erin is water.” Drew used one hand to prop up his head against his pillow, while the other ticked off names. “I’ll admit, I did consider water for you since you liked splashing around in the ocean so much, but the way you seem so at home on the swings and even in that crazy Sling Shot, I figured you were the air girl.”

  Lainey nodded, pleased he understood. “Air is the element of creativity that guides my writing, but it’s also the reason I have trouble keeping my feet on the ground. Of course, I’ve also become the brunt of many airhead jokes among the girls.”

  “Nothing wrong with having your head in the clouds occasionally, as long as you come back down when it’s necessary. But back to your little bag of tricks.” He tapped the charm bag still poking out from under her pillow. “Are you allowed to tell me what it’s for or is that some sort of cosmic taboo?”

  “Not in this case.” Again her words were tinged with anxiety because she knew where the conversation was leading. “It’s a blend of basil, mugwort, lavender, and pennyroyal, with a small piece of hematite and smoky quartz tossed in for good measure. Sharon helped me make it. It’s supposed to prevent bad dreams.”

  Drew’s smile vanished and he turned to her with his expression not judgmental as she expected, but instead filled with concern. He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You have nightmares?”