Now or Never

by A. J. Bennett

  Kneeling between her legs, he held her gaze as he eased her panties off, then his warm lips trailed kisses down her stomach. His tongue dipped into the hollow between her legs causing her to arch her back and let out a moan. She grabbed as much of his hair that she could in an act of pure pleasure, pulling it slightly; showing him with her body how good he was making her feel. She was so wet she thought she was going to scream; she had to bite her lip to hold in a loud moan. His hands lightly traced her body from her neck down, stopping to tease her nipples as she gasped, and then continued down her belly until she was squirming and mentally begging for him to enter her.

  He pulled away and rummaged through his suitcase, emerging with a condom. Thank God. She had totally flaked and would have had unprotected sex. That sobered her momentarily, but it didn’t last long. His lips and warm breath on the inside of her ankle made her mind go blank. Slowly, he made his way up her thighs.

  “Please.” She begged and raised her hips up.

  “Patience,” Todd murmured, crawling up to kiss her firmly, his cock resting against her for a brief, searing moment that made her mindless. “I’m going to enjoy every inch of you.”

  Her head felt like it was spinning out of control. She had never wanted anyone so badly in her life. Maybe, there was something to the no-attachment lifestyle her sister lived. His tongue flicked her clit, and she grasped his hair again and moaned; there was no use biting her lip this time, this man had skills. Josh had never been into oral sex, nor was he very good at it. But Todd was amazing at it. His tongue dipped into her, circling her nub, and he sucked until he brought her to climax, making her entire body shutter.

  Then, he roughly turned her over, his weight pressing her breasts into the bed. His large hands grasped her waist, and she wiggled her ass, needing to feel him inside of her.

  She could have cried when he finally entered her, every hard inch of him opening her and filling her as her body flushed with pure sensation. His hips pumped, their bodies moving together as she lifted her ass and rocked back on him, losing herself in the satisfaction.

  Hours later, their bodies slick with sweat and the mattress half on the floor, Grayson collapsed onto the bed, trying to catch her breath. She hadn’t known sex could be that good.

  Todd lay back, unworried by his nudity as he clasped his hands behind his head. He smiled. “You are incredible.”

  “I’ve never done this before…” Suddenly shy, Grayson pulled the sheet over her chest.

  “What, a one-night stand?” Todd turned on his side to stare at her. For the first time, she realized his eyes were blue. Dear God, she’d just had sex with a man and she didn’t even know his eye color or last name.

  She nodded.

  “Well, I’m honored.” He ran a hand down the side of her face. The move felt too intimate for her comfort, which was absurd since they’d just spent hours in positions she didn’t even know existed.

  “I wish I had met you the day we got here. I would have had you waiting for me every day after work. You’ve seriously just made this one of the best nights of my life.”

  “I’m sure that’s an exaggeration.” Grayson flipped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “Either that or you’ve lived a very dull life.”

  “It’s really not an exaggeration at all. Best surprise I’ve had in ages.”

  “I didn’t know it would be so…good.”

  Todd laughed. “I gave it my best. You know, we come back here once a year, and also go to Memphis twice a year. It’s not that far of a drive.”

  Grayson chewed the inside of her lip. He must have sensed her hesitation.

  “Let’s rest awhile and see about a repeat performance. I’m going to jump in the shower.”

  Grayson nodded and flopped her head to the side as the bathroom door shut behind him. What the hell had she just done? She’d had sex with a complete stranger!

  I must be out of my mind.

  She heard the water turn on and reluctantly jumped up. She found her jeans and sweater, and located her underwear half under the mattress, but she couldn’t find her bra. She didn’t know how long he would be in the shower, so she decided to go without it. Quietly, she stepped into her shoes, and then she slipped out the door.

  She wondered what Todd would think when he got out of the shower, but she didn’t want this to go any further. She didn’t want a morning after walk of shame, or a promise of a future meeting. It was going to stay exactly what it was: a one-night stand.

  CHAPTER 11

  Luna burst through the front door without bothering to knock. She was wearing the same clothes she’d had on last night, and her usually immaculate hair was disheveled. Luna was wild, but she was usually more put-together than this. She tossed her purse to the floor just inside and slammed the door.

  Grayson noticed the dark circles under her sister’s eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Long night?”

  “I can’t believe you left me without a ride home.” Luna flopped on the couch; her long legs splaying onto the coffee table as she sank against the cushions and closed her eyes.

  Grayson gaped at her. “Seriously? You can’t believe I left you? That’s rich.” Grayson set Pepper, the fluffy black-and-white cat, on the floor and glared at her sister. “You left me alone at a bar with a random guy. You knew I’d been drinking. What was I supposed to do? Come back and wait for you to stumble through the parking lot sometime before dawn?”

  Luna flipped a long, messy braid over her shoulder and shrugged. “I knew it was the only way to get you to do something reckless for once.”

  Grayson had been sitting quietly in the living room petting the cats for the last thirty minutes, her mind slowly mulling over how different her life was now. Her sister’s wrinkled, day-old jeans drove that idea home. Alarmed, Grayson realized she hadn’t heard a car drive up. “How did you get here?”

  “I walked. Details. Now.”

  Heat rose in Grayson’s cheeks, and she avoided her sister’s probing gaze. She may have had sex with a random stranger, but that didn’t mean she felt comfortable talking about it.

  “OH MY GOD! You really did it?” Luna squealed, leaning over to punch Grayson in the arm.

  “Yes. Are you happy?” Grayson rubbed the tender spot on her bicep, thinking Luna’s knuckles were like razor blades. “I’ve officially crossed over to the dark side. I had my first one night-stand.”

  Luna turned onto her side, her legs beneath her and her face pressed against the back of the couch as she smiled at Grayson. “And?”

  Grayson didn’t bother to fight her grin. “I loved it.”

  “First one-night stand.” Luna smirked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. “I like the sound of that. Here’s to many more. So how was he? Good? I need details woman.”

  Without waiting for a reply, Luna leapt to her feet and left the room.

  Grayson rolled her eyes and followed her sister, too used to her sister’s ping-pong table style thinking to be anything more than amused. She dropped into a kitchen chair as Luna turned on the kettle. “He was amazing. Well, in bed. He was boring as hell until the clothes came off.”

  “I knew it!” Luna laughed, opening the cabinet where their mother kept the tea. “My guy was okay, nothing to write home about.” She tossed a box on the counter and turned to the mugs. “Kinda on the small side, if you know what I mean, though he did have some serious stamina.”

  Covering her ears, Grayson laughed. “That’s enough. Let’s keep our torrid sex details to ourselves.”

  “You want tea or coffee?”

  “Stupid question,” Grayson responded dryly. “I know I was gone a while, but you know me better than that.”

  Luna chuckled, locating the jar of instant coffee in the spice cabinet. They were silent for a moment, the cooling fan in the fridge clicking on in the still kitchen.

  “You wanna do it again tonight?” Luna asked, shooting a questioning glance over her shoulder as she measured out the instant coffee into a mug. “I k
now another great place for picking up guys. It’s a totally different scene. Slower.”

  Grayson’s heart pounded. Did she want to do it again? The excitement of doing something crazy, coupled with a night of pleasure was well worth the effort. But to do it again the next night? Maybe that was what Luna was used to, but Grayson wasn’t sure she could do it. She’d definitely feel like a slut.

  Luna turned around, leaning a hip on the counter. “Hello? Earth to Grace?”

  Just then, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house. Grayson and Luna exchanged surprised glances, and as one, flew through the kitchen door and into the living room, Grayson secretly glad for the interruption.

  Their mother practically floated through the door, dropping a box to the ground with a thud. Pictures spilled out, followed by edging scissors and several containers of glitter. Her curly copper hair was as wild as ever. She looked like the retired hippy that she was in her long floral skirt, peasant top, and large hoop earrings.

  “Hey, girls! What a sight for sore eyes. I’ve missed seeing the two of you together.” She held open her arms, and Grayson obliged by running right into them.

  Mom’s smell was familiar: floral and powdery with a strong overtone of some kind of earthy incense. Grayson squeezed her mom’s thin shoulders. “Thanks for letting me come here.”

  Mom swatted her away. “My children are always welcome. You know that.” She took off her sweater and tossed it over the back of the couch. “So you finally came to your senses? It took longer than I expected.”

  Grayson shook her head. “It took way too long.”

  “I told you that your signs didn’t belong together,” Mom reminded her. “Maybe someday you’ll listen to me. You’re not going to be happy until you find a Taurus.”

  Their mother was an astrology guru. The first thing she’d done when they were born was have their charts made, and their life plans set out before them. Of course like most children, they didn’t listen to their parents. Maybe that could be Grayson’s new pick up line: Hey, baby, what’s your sign? Then she could only say ‘yes’ to the Taurus men.

  The three of them went into the kitchen to pour tea and coffee, leaving Mom’s scrapbooking mess all over the entry foyer. Grayson and Luna spent the next twenty minutes listening to their mother gossip about the other scrapbook ladies. Apparently, a few of the ladies hit the bottle too hard, and one had a male visitor that was not her husband. Who knew scrapbooking could be so scandalous?

  CHAPTER 12

  Grayson pressed the doorbell, and within seconds, the door flew open and Matthew jumped out at them, wearing a grotesque Halloween mask. He’d done the same thing since he was five. He was now nine. Needless to say, the novelty had worn off, but Grayson and Luna humored him by jumping back with surprised shrieks.

  “Let them in,” Ethan yelled from somewhere in the back of the house.

  Matthew groaned and threw off the mask. “Come in.”

  “What no hugs? You haven’t seen me in ages.” Grayson put her hands on her hips and glared at the little boy who was not so ‘little’ anymore.

  “Gross. I’m not hugging you.” He took off and ran up the stairs.

  “You really know how to make a girl feel loved,” Luna yelled up after him.

  Ethan appeared in the hallway. “My two favorite sisters,” he said, yanking them both into a hug. He looked great. His dark hair was starting to grey a little at the temples, and his grey eyes and strong jaw made him very appealing to the ladies. Ethan was virtually a spitting image of their father, and the girls took more after their mom. Ethan’s similarities to their father almost always made her think of him; now that he was no longer a part of their lives it wasn’t a thought she was too fond of. Grayson pushed the memories aside; it pissed her off too much.

  Ethan was a few years older than them, so they weren’t that close growing up, but it sure was nice to relax into his hug.

  “Where’s Heather?” Mom asked, glancing around the open foyer.

  “She had to run to the store to get something for dessert. She made a cake, and it was a little on the flat side, so she tossed it.” Ethan rolled his eyes. Heather strived for perfection, and it sometimes got out of control. Grayson wasn’t sure how she managed to keep the house so immaculate with her two tornado children. Speaking of, Sarah came running in from the back door, her brown curls bouncing around her perfect, round face and jumped into Grayson’s arms.

  Grayson buried her face in the girl’s shiny hair, awed at how big she’d gotten.

  “Aunt Grace!” Sarah said happily, her feet bouncing. “I missed you.”

  Grayson felt a wave of anger at how long she’d stayed away. She didn’t know whether to blame herself or Josh—Both, maybe.

  “Come on out back,” Ethan continued, motioning for them to follow him. “I invited some of the guys from my team over for a cookout. Everyone’s outside. Carry your shoes so you don’t give Heather a heart attack.”

  Grayson put Sarah back on the floor, and she zipped away again. Grayson slipped off her shoes, leaving them beside her sister’s platform wedges and her mother’s Birkenstocks. The three of them followed Ethan across the plush beige carpet of the living room, and into a large open kitchen full of stainless steel appliances and pristine marble counters, then finally out the back door.

  The backyard was like a mini-paradise. The cobblestone patio was surrounded by large, leafy ferns, and a gurgling pond was surrounded by pale solar lights that were just beginning to come on in the evening light. A large table sat under an umbrella covered in cartoon palm trees. A group of men gathered just beyond the edge of the patio, sipping cans of beer in shorts and T-shirts.

  Grayson nearly tripped when she made eye contact with a very familiar man.

  Holy shit, she thought unable to move her body, the guy from Starbucks. Derrick. What the hell was he doing here?

  She glanced away and hoped she didn’t look as shocked as she felt. She hated that he could get her pulse racing by his presence alone. This cannot be happening.

  “Hey guys, these ladies here are my mom, and my twin sisters.” Ethan tilted his head towards them.

  “Damn, Ethan. You’ve been holding out on us.” A huge guy with mocha skin stood in front of the smoking grill with a grin.

  “Marcus, don’t get any bright ideas. My sisters are off-limits to you bozos.”

  Luna put her hand on her hip and smiled. “I think we’re old enough to make our own choices. I, for one, happen to love bozos.”

  Marcus laughed. “I like it. She’s got spunk.”

  Ethan went around the group of six guys and introduced them all, but Grayson was so shocked at seeing Derrick that she barely mumbled in reply. Luna, on the other hand, was already in her element, flirting with everyone.

  Grayson was happy to stand in the background and let her sister shine with all the attention, as usual. It definitely made her life easier, having an outgoing sister.

  She stole another glance at Derrick. What were the chances? One in a million? And why the hell was her stomach down to her toes like some silly high school kid? She wanted to bolt, but she had no logical reason to leave.

  Instead, she willed herself to not look in his direction, but it was useless. She was disturbingly aware of his presence. For the next forty minutes, every time she looked up, he caught her eye. He kept his face smooth and impassive, which was annoying. He could have shown some hint of recognition.

  In a lull in the conversation, Luna glanced at Grayson, one shapely eyebrow arching. She waved at the group. “We’ll be right back. Marcus, make sure my steak is well done.” Luna took Grayson by the arm and dragged her into the kitchen.

  The moment the door shut behind them, she shook her head. “No.”

  “No what?” Grayson said innocently, though she knew what her sister meant. It was like Luna could read her mind, which was annoying.

  “Don’t even think of it,” Luna said firmly. “Those guys are really off limit
s.”

  Grayson frowned. “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything. You’re the one out there flirting, not me.”

  “You can’t keep your eyes off old rusty out there. What’s his name?”

  “Derrick,” Grayson answered, a little too quickly.

  A glint of recognition showed up in her twin’s blue eyes. “Derrick. As in coffee shop Derrick?”

  “Yep. The same one.” Grayson leaned away, glancing out the window. Derrick was laughing; his head tossed back and the last vestiges of sunlight glinting off his hair. God, he was sexy.

  “Interesting.” Luna tapped her manicured finger to her lip. “But, off limits. You do not want to get involved with a guy from around here. And you definitely don’t want to get involved with a guy from Ethan’s team. Special Forces guys are total dogs.”

  “What was that?” Heather walked through the door with bags in her arms. She was a lovely woman with a round, pretty face capped by curly brown hair. “Did I just hear you put down your brother and my wonderful husband?”

  “Of course not.” Luna straightened. “I was just telling Grayson she didn’t need to get involved with anyone on Ethan’s team.”

  “Which one?” Heather giggled, sliding her grocery bags on the counter. “I know all their dirty little secrets.”

  “Derrick.” Luna said with disdain. “I mean I’ll admit it he does have that sexy redhead thing going for him, but still. Grayson is newly single.”

  “I hate to say it,” Heather said wryly, “but I agree with Luna on this one.”

  Grayson crossed her arms over her chest. “I never even said I liked the guy.”

  “Uh huh. Then why do you keep staring at him all googly-eyed?” Luna asked, crossing her arms to mimic Grayson.

  Grayson rolled her eyes. “I do not.”

  “Seriously, he’s not good for you.” Heather started taking out the contents of the bags as she spoke. “Every team party he brings a different girl. I don’t think he’s ever settled down.”