by T Gephart
His arms gripped me and rolled me backward into a sitting position. My knees bent in front on me like a barrier. With a hand on each thigh he teased apart each leg so he had unrestricted access to me. He leaned forward and licked, just as I had done to him, through the cotton of my underwear. I leaned back against the wall as my hands threaded through his hair, begging for more.
“Take them off,” I murmured impatiently.
He hooked a finger around the edge of my soaked panties and pulled them to the side, his hot mouth exploring my core. I felt my insides tighten as he slid a finger inside me while the heat of his tongue continued to swirl over my clit. The cool water cascading over our bodies intensified all the sensations.
I arched my back, wanting more as he grabbed my arse and lifted it closer to his mouth.
“These need to go,” he tore at my cotton panties as the white fabric ripped from skin.
He tossed the shreds aside with the rest of our discarded clothes and pulled my centre back up against his mouth.
The spray of the water bit at my skin, I was overwhelmed as he continued to invade me with his tongue, his thumb tracing circles over my clit.
“Ahh,” I moaned as I tilted my head back. I could barely stand it.
“Come for me.” He lifted his head momentarily, his eyes hooded.
“In me,” I begged as I reached for his cock, desperately wanting to feel him inside me.
“Come for me first baby and then I will give you anything you want.” He inserted two of his fingers and I coated him instantly with my slickness. “Come for me Lexi.” He moved his tongue over my silky folds. I arched my back as I tightened, splintering apart around his mouth.
I screamed out his name as my body shuddered, unable to stop my limbs from shaking.
He turned up the hot water, the change in temperature making me involuntarily shiver.
“I need you in me.” I rolled over onto my knees, unable to stand and positioned myself in front of him.
He groaned as he gripped my waist. I rubbed my opening against the head of his cock, begging him to enter me.
He hesitated, sliding in a fraction at a time. I rammed back against him hard, taking his complete length inside of me.
“Lexi,” he cursed as I leaned forward and allowed him to slide out of me.
“Is this what you want?” He flattened his palm on the base of my spine, steading himself as he inched inside me.
“Yes,” I tried to push against him again, but he resisted.
“You want me?” He pushed in a little further, and although I had only just come, I could already feel myself build again.
“Yes,” I begged as he filled me.
“Yes,” he moaned as he continued rocking against me.
He picked up the tempo, driving himself hard and fast inside of me. I met each one of his thrusts, taking him deeper, needing more.
My core clenched against him as his name spilled from my lips. Speaking coherently was a skill I no longer possessed.
A primal moan tore from Alex’s throat as he quickened his pace, his fingertips biting into my flesh.
It was frenzied and out of control, and we couldn’t stop.
“Alex,” I screamed, shattering around him while he continued to rock within me.
“Lexi…Lexi.” He kept repeating my name, my release enough to finish him, his body shaking as he exploded inside of me.
The warm water cascaded on top of us as we both collapsed on the floor. My limbs shook, exhausted, as I lay flat on my stomach against the bottom of the shower stall. He covered me with his body, weaving his fingers through mine as he panted against my back.
“That was mind blowing,” he murmured as he kissed my shoulders.
“I expected nothing less.” I giggled as my body continued to tingle.
He lifted off me and pulled me into his lap, grabbing the shower gel and a washcloth from the internal shower ledge. He squirted the luxurious suds into the cloth, lovingly washing my tired limbs.
“I love you Alex.” I nestled closer against his chest.
“I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that.” Satisfied I was clean, he coated his own body with suds. “I love you too Lexi.”
We let the water wash away the bubbles before he continued to pamper me by carefully washing and conditioning my hair.
“You spoil me,” I leaned against him, my skin wrinkled from being under the water for too long.
After shutting off the water, he helped pull me to my feet. He covered us each in large fluffy bath towels before carrying me back to our bed. He laid me down on the mattress where he continued to kiss me, lavishing me with attention. We made love again, slowly this time and then laid in each other arms where we absorbed each moment before we would have to say goodbye.
Chapter 17
The Test
“SERIOUSLY, WE should do a tour on a cruise, bypass the flying.” Dan grumbled, swallowing the Xanax in his palm.
“You play cruises when you are in your wheelchair, numb-nuts, not now!” Jason pried the hip flask of bourbon from Dan’s hand.
“Dan, you can’t fucking drink on the pills, dude.” Troy shook his head, “You know that shit is dangerous, and we don’t need to be jacked up by Air Marshalls.”
The Suburban twisted through traffic on its way to JFK. I had decided to travel with the band and help them get checked in, knowing I would have to say goodbye before the TSA check point. I almost bought a ticket to ensure I could wait with them at the gate, but I knew that would only make the goodbye harder.
“You OK?” Alex gently nudged me with his arm, his eyes blood shot from lack of sleep.
“Yeah,” I smiled, wrapping my arms around him.
“You wanna get your freak on, we’re cool with it,” Dan grinned leaning back into his seat.
“Dan can you try and not be an asshole for like five minutes?” Alex brushed the hair away from my face and kissed my temple. We were both trying to not let our last moments together be marred by the phenomenon that was Dan.
“A-man, I’m just trying to hook you up, brother. This is the first tour it’s going to be just you and your hand.” Dan grinned and his hand dropped to his lap, his fingers curling around to simulate his crude suggestion. I think everyone could have done without the visual.
I rolled my eyes, not willing to give Dan anymore air time than he deserved, knowing it would only encourage him. “Just ignore him Alex. I find if you do, he usually goes away.”
Alex wisely followed my advice and didn’t engage Dan, knowing the pills would soon kick in and he would be too drowsy for douche-like behaviour. Dan’s fear of flying was a blessing. I couldn’t even contemplate what a flight would be like with him conscious.
“So Lexi, I’m curious.” Dan refused to be ignored. “How many women have you slept with? Was it just the one? Or can we expect to find another couple on our travels this time? You know, it’s a long tour.” He smiled in satisfaction, knowing that I would be unable to ignore the words flying out of his mouth.
“That’s my wife asshole, show some respect.” Alex tensed in the seat beside me.
“She might be your wife, but the question is legitimate. I stand behind it.” Dan stupidly justified not reading the signs that today was not the day for this shit.
“Dan, for someone who brags about sleeping with so many women you sure as hell spend a lot of time interested in the love life of others. I have to wonder why? Is visualising Alex and me the only way you can get it up these days?” I spat back, tired of discussing my past sex life and that of my husband. Can we all just move the fuck on? Like seriously?
“Whoa. You just went from zero to bitch in record time. You got your period or somethin’?”
“I don’t need to have my period to see what a total fucking dick you are being. Don’t you get tired of acting like a fourteen-year-old boy? Can you please just shut the fuck up and let me say goodbye to my husband without your juvenile fucked up commentary!” I exploded, stu
nning the cabin of the car into total silence. Troy and Jason stared at me, wide-eyed. I hadn’t meant to yell, it just kind of happened. It’s like I had no control over my emotions.
“Lexi… I was...” Dan tried to explain, realising that his attempt at humour had well and truly been misinterpreted. Maybe it was because of the impending separation I knew I was facing or maybe it was just fatigue, but I couldn’t take it today. Not now, not in the last few minutes I had before I had to say goodbye to Alex.
“Dan. Enough.” Alex slammed his fist against the interior of the car door. “Lexi, are you OK?” He gently stroked my arm. Great, now I felt even worse. The last memory Alex would have of me would be that of a raving freaking lunatic.
“I’m sorry. I just hate this part… I’m sorry.” I turned to stare out the window, a little embarrassed by my outburst. I didn’t know what else to say.
We rode the rest of the way to airport in silence. My vocal eruption had put an end to any more antics. I rested my head against the car window, regretting the decision to come. When did I become so needy? I just didn’t want the car ride to end.
TJ merged onto the airport entrance ramp, slowing with the flow of traffic. The car glided along the departure drop off area before coming to a stop directly in front of the curbside check-in area. Press and fans littered the walkway, with airport security doing their best to move them on.
“I think it’s best if I don’t get out.” I swallowed. There was no point prolonging it, especially with the press there.
“Lexi,” Alex cupped my face and brushed his lips against mine. “I’m going to miss you. I’m going to call you every day until you get there. You’ll get sick of me.”
“I thought you hated talking on the phone?” I smiled, needing to make this OK for him. I didn’t want him to worry about me.
“I’m a changed man.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “Bye baby. I’ll call you when we land.”
“Bye,” I whispered and quickly kissed his lips, aware we had spectators.
TJ exited the car and walked around to open the back door.
I quickly hugged each of the band members and saved my last and longest hug for Alex.
One by one they emptied out of the car, greeted by flashing cameras and excited fans. I waved as Alex looked back and gave him one last smile before I closed the door.
“Where to, Lexi? You want to go home?” TJ asked as the car rolled away from the craziness of the sidewalk.
“Take me to Taylah’s.” I refastened my seatbelt. I was not going to go home and cry. I’d be seeing Alex in at most a couple of weeks. This was silly. I fumbled in my handbag for my newly acquired penthouse keys and pulled out my phone.
Meet me at the Penthouse, I’m bored – L xx
My phone beeped almost instantaneously
I’ve got paint swatches and a nail gun. Shit’s about to get REAL! – Taylah
~~~
The penthouse was so much bigger than either of Alex or my previous apartments. It looked even larger as it currently stood empty. Its walls were almost unwelcoming with their stark whiteness, the space devoid of furniture.
“What did I tell you? Amazing right? Look at all this space. I can’t wait to start. You guys got it at such an unbelievable price.” Taylah seemed more excited than I did with our new residence. She had played a key role in us obtaining the penthouse at a very satisfactory price, with her less than subtle insistence to other potential purchasers that the ghost of a manic opium addicted mob wife from the 1920s languished through the halls.
“Hopefully Lucille will rest in peace now. If only Tony have been more attentive to her, instead of being in Vegas with his Comare. Such a tragic story. Lucky her dog Coco was with her at the end.” I laughed. You had to hand it to Taylah. If she was creating a backstory, she went all out.
I flicked through the massive book of paint swatches that Taylah had handed to me as I sat on the polished floorboards of our newly acquired home.
“Ha! Can you believe they bought that shit? I honestly thought that couple from Rhode Island were going to pee their pants when I told them.” Taylah joined me on the floor as she pushed another book into my hand, this time with samples of fabric.
“Have you heard from Alex?” she asked tentatively. It was hard to believe he’d only been gone seven hours and I missed him so much.
“Yeah he called when he landed in LA. He sounded tired. I hate not being with him, but as soon as Noah is ready to fly, I’ll be on that plane. Matt is going to do an amazing job on the road with them.” I tried to hide my newly found funk. The truth was I’d felt like shit for days, fatigued and wrung out. I hated the emotions I was dealing with. I felt like I could burst into tears at any moment. What was up with that? When did I get so fucking needy? I guess the separation was going to be harder than I thought.
“It’s OK to miss him Lex.” Taylah smiled sensing my change in mood. “Just use this time to think up some creative ways to welcome him home. Surely you still have something tucked away in your bag of tricks.” She shot me a cheeky wink.
“Yeah I know.” My eyes stung a little from my welling tears. Seriously, what the fuck? Pull your shit together, Lexi.
“Hey. What’s with the tears? You haven’t even seen my bill yet,” she pulled an arm around my shoulder and hugged me.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe it’s Lucille,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. The last thing I wanted to do was have a breakdown for no good reason.
“Hello?” Hannah’s voice echoed from the front door. “Lexi are you in here?”
As promised, Hannah had come by to inspect what was to be Alex’s and my new home. Noah had been to visit the pediatrician again this morning, and she insisted on passing through and bringing us lunch. More importantly, she had brought little Noah, who loved his Aunty Lexi’s hugs.
“We’re in the living room,” I called out, wiping away my tears. It was bad enough Tay had seen I was having trouble keeping it together; I didn’t want to burden poor Hannah with it too. After all, she was dealing with a similar separation. Her husband, like mine, was on the road. James was also miles away from us, and her son was suffering his first real illness.
Hannah’s massive Bugaboo pram did not hinder her entrance as she steered it into the room where Taylah and I were camped out on the floor. “Wow, this place is huge. I can’t believe the deal you guys got.” She looked around the room as Noah peacefully slept in the pram.
“Yeah, the realtor practically begged us to take it.” I winked at Taylah. “Seems she was having a hard time finding an interested buyer.” Taylah smirked smugly as she helped Hannah with her bags.
“How is he doing?” I asked, peering at Noah curled up in his pram.
“So much better Lexi,” I could hear the relief in her voice. “Fever has dropped dramatically, and it looks like the antibiotics are working. He should be back to normal in a couple of days and be cleared to fly in a week or so.”
Hannah looked around the room carefully before settling on the floor beside me. “Not to scare you or anything, but my hairstylist mentioned this place might be haunted. A beautiful yet neglected housewife killed herself here during the twenties.” She paused before whispering, “I think her husband had ties to Lucky Luciano.”
Both Taylah and I erupted into laughter. I couldn’t believe how far Tay’s creative fabrication had permeated. “It’s made up Han.” I assured a bewildered Hannah. “Taylah concocted that stuff so no one else would buy it. She was stacking the deck, so to speak.”
“Are you serious? The whole story?” Hannah stood and went over to look at Noah who had woken, his small cries were a protest at the ruckus we were causing. She gently pulled him from his blankets and rocked him in her arms. “Oh, little man,” she purred. “Did Aunt Lexi wake you? Naughty Aunt Lexi.” She grinned, not even showing a hint of annoyance. Noah nuzzled close to his mother’s chest and calmed immediately, the comfort of her arms lulling him back to sleep.
&
nbsp; It was amazing to watch her with Noah. She made it look like it was as natural as breathing and if she harboured any self-doubt, she sure as hell didn’t show it. She softly lowered herself back onto the floor with Noah still curled in her arms.
My eyes misted at the poignant exchange, the tenderness of their unyielding bond was something I hadn’t known with my own mother.
“Are you OK Lexi?” Hannah disrupted my thoughts. I had not realised I had been staring.
“Yeah, I’m just tired… and missing Alex.” I wiped my eyes again. Seriously, what was wrong with me? I was leaking, like every five minutes.
Taylah eyed me suspiciously. “Lex, maybe you should eat something? You look kinda off.” She opened one of the bags Hannah had brought in and pulled out some takeaway containers.
“I made TJ stop in Little Italy, there is this cute new place. They make the most delicious pasta. I got garlic bread too,” Hannah added, laying Noah gently on the floor beside her. She reached across to assist Taylah to serve the food onto the paper plates that were also provided.
The smell of mixed herbs and garlic wafted through the air and made me retch. Yuck, oh my god I was going to be sick. I scrambled off the floor, my hand clasped to my mouth and ran into the bathroom where I heaved into the toilet. Taylah and Hannah had followed me closely behind, but I managed to slam the door shut just before I lost the contents of my stomach.
“Holy Shit, Lexi. Are you OK?” Taylah asked through the door.
“Ugh,” I mumbled before heaving again. I was glad they didn’t have to witness this.
“Lexi, open the door.” Hannah tapped on the bathroom door. The last thing I wanted was company.
“I’m OK.” I called out as I sunk onto the cold tiles, my head leaning against the wall.
“Lexi, open the door.” Hannah repeated, her voice more insistent this time. I felt as if all my energy had depleted as I tried to rise to my feet. I splashed some water over my face before flicking open the lock on the door.
