by Ali Parker
I needed to bother her more often in the morning.
"I want you so bad." She moved up and ran the center of her body over my lower stomach, coating me in her wetness and making my balls contract.
I gripped her hips and shifted to impale her. She cried out and reached up to cup her tits as she didn't let a second pass before working me. It felt beyond right to fuck her skin against skin. So intimate and delicious.
"Oh, fuck," I groaned and reached down to grab her thighs. "Slow down, baby. I can't hold back like you can."
"Try," she growled, pressed her hands into the meat of my chest and rolled her hips like a well-trained dancer. "I love how big you are. You fill me up and stretch me out. I want more of you. All of you."
Where was this shit coming from? I wasn't sure, but I loved it.
"And your sweet little pussy takes it so well." I pushed at her shoulder, trapping her as far back as I could as I lifted my hips and pumped in and out of her.
The sharp sting of her nails was nothing compared to the flood of wetness that covered my when she cried out and came. Lust like nothing I'd ever imagined wrapped around me, dragging me under its depths and suffocating me.
I pulled her close to me and turned us, pinning her to the bed. "I'm falling in love with you, Erica. Did you know that?" I gripped the headboard and fucked her in long, hard strokes as she moaned in tandem with each delicious slap of our flesh.
"I want that. I want you to love me." She tightened her legs around me and cried out, coming again for me. The strong pulls of her body on my cock had me racing toward the peak of my orgasm. I jerked back and tensed, trying to catch my breath as the room spun. She wanted me to love her. I already fucking did.
"Hold on. I'm so close." I touched the side of her face as she moved to her knees and reached for me, wrapping her hands around my cock and pulling at it, one hand after the other. Faster and faster until I buckled forward and pressed my head against her shoulder.
"You're so far beyond hot," she spoke against my ear and continued to work me. The pressure was intense, the buildup almost bordering pain.
"I thought you didn't want-"
"Shut up and come for me," she barked and that was it.
I lifted up and pulled her against me, both of us on our knees. I made love to her mouth as she brought me through the orgasm and forced me to beckon to her in any way she wanted. I needed the high she provided. It was one of the reasons I kept myself tucked away from her.
Now... in the middle of that high, I couldn't imagine what the fuck would ever have me running from wanting it again. She was my heroine and I wanted nothing more than one more hit. And then one more. And then... one more.
***
"What the hell? Did you fall asleep on the floor by your bag?" Damon opened the front door and barked at me as I jogged toward him.
"Nope. Sorry. Had to talk to Erica for a few minutes." I winked and walked out toward the car where my father was already waiting.
"Talk? Really? About what?" He moved up beside me and smirked. "You dirty dog. You didn't talk. You fucked her."
"Shut it." I popped him in the chest. "I'm not a whore like you. I don't kiss and tell."
He rolled his eyes. "Um, you just did."
"Whatever. Shotgun." I jogged around the car, feeling like a million bucks. Everything about the woman I was in love with was right for me. Where I was sensitive, she was strong, where she needed a firm hand, I had one to give. We were perfect for each other. My fears were complete bullshit.
"You all right?" My father glanced over at me.
"Yep. Much better now. Just needed to work something out with Erica." I got in and buckled up as Damon got in the backseat.
"Or work Erica. Whatever way you want to look at it." He chuckled as my dad snorted.
"Seriously, dude. Don't disrespect her like that." I glanced back in the backseat and gave him a look. "I'll climb back there and whoop your ass."
"Just because you're bigger doesn't mean you're going to whoop anything." He smirked and grabbed his crotch. "Suck it."
"Damon. Really?" My dad pulled down the rearview mirror. "I swear, the two of you idiots get together and all of a sudden, you're ten again."
"Twelve," Damon and I answered in tandem, which started a laugh, easing the tension between us.
"Hey, I'm really proud of you for joining the firm. I know you weren't interested in it at first, but it seems like it might be a good fit." My father reached over and rubbed my chest like he did when I was little and worried about something. "At least until your art gets to selling and you can do that full time."
"You would be okay with that?" I trapped his hand on my chest.
"Absolutely. I don't want you to be anyone other than who you are, Matt. I just want you to figure out who that is and start living the life I know you're capable of living." He rubbed me once more and pulled his hand back.
Damon leaned up between us and sniffled, wiping at his eyes. "This is just beautiful."
"Fuck you." I reached over and pushed at his face. "How Bethany puts up with you is beyond me."
"Karen puts up with me too. They all deserve a prize." My father laughed and turned down the long road that would lead to his favorite country club. "To our women? Erica included, I believe?"
"Yeah... she's definitely included." I nodded and pursed my lips, a little overwhelmed by how blessed I was to see her giving in, if only a little.
There wasn't much I wouldn't be willing to do to keep us moving in the right direction. Being sensitive to how she reacted to me when I got back to the house was key. If she wanted love and adoration, it was hers. If she needed time, I'd back off a little.
Maybe.
Chapter 36
Erica
The weekend in Dallas caused something to shift deep inside of me. Why was I fighting against a relationship with Matt? I needed to talk things out with someone. I sat at my desk on Monday morning, trying to reason through how to force myself past the stone wall of fear that kept resurrecting inside of me every time Matt wasn't around. It was childish and quickly becoming an annoyance.
Lanie would be in class, but maybe I'd catch her on her conference time. I picked up the phone and walked to my door, closing it and pressing my back to it.
"Hey. You okay?" She sounded a little out of breath.
"Yeah. Just wanted to hear your voice." I squeezed my eyes closed and took a shaky breath.
"What's up? You don't sound okay. You sound like you're on the edge of tears."
"I am." I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose and slid down the door until my butt hit the ground. That I had on a skirt and my panties would be showing to the world outside my window was irrelevant. I was on the edge of a breakthrough and I needed someone to sling shot me through it. Lanie was perfect for the job.
"Oh no. Did Matt leave again?"
"No. He stayed in Dallas for a few days, but he'll be back in town on Wednesday or Thursday. It was a good visit. I love his family. They're really good to me."
"Any wild sex stories you want to share with your pathetically alone friend? I need to vicariously live through someone. I was even thinking about picking up a porn the other night from that creepy adult store near the grocery store that you love."
I snorted in laughter as a tear rolled down my cheek. "I'm so in love with this guy, Lanie."
"That's awesome!" The joy in her voice was something I wanted for myself. I just wasn't sure how to find it. "Or... it's not awesome?"
"It's awesome, but I'm terrified. I've spent most of my life being strong and aggressive, but with Matt, I want to curl up and purr like a kitten. It's disturbing. It pisses me off. I have nothing to protect myself with where he's concerned. I hate it."
"I think that's exactly where you're supposed to be." She sighed like a schoolgirl in love. "I wish with all my heart I felt that way about someone. Stop letting fear trample down the one thing you've wanted since we met in grade school."
"Love?"
I whispered and couldn't help but think of my father. I missed him so bad it burned my insides. The only love I had in the world was him and Lanie. Now Matt was quickly moving in to take both of their places in my heart.
"Exactly."
"What if he leaves again?"
"Yes. What if he leaves again?" Her voice changed, and I knew I was up for a lecture that was sure to set me straight. She was the only one I'd give the chance to try.
"What's your point, Lanie?" I got up and walked to the window as I wiped my eyes and tried to reconcile the fear inside of me with the fearless woman I'd always defined myself as. It was a struggle, and unfortunately was consuming my thoughts, my time, and all of my emotions.
"What's the very worst thing that could happen if Matt packed up and left you? Would you die? Wilt like a flower in the corner and force me to come get your fragile ass and bury you?"
I rolled my eyes. "You're so dramatic."
"Answer me."
"Why did I call you again?" I reached out and drew a heart on the window, being silly and childish.
"Because you knew I would help you see the truth. Now... answer me. What's the very worst thing that would happen?"
"I'd be broken and lose a few weeks of work, sleep and probably ten pounds."
"But would you die, Erica? Would you never, ever, ever love again?"
I didn't hesitate for a moment. "No. I wouldn't die, and I'm sure I would eventually love again, but-"
"No buts. I've heard and seen all your buts over the years. They're not worth your time to entertain them. If he left, and he's not going to, then you would mourn that loss and I would hold you through it. When you got done, we'd clean you up, fatten you up and get you back to being the strong woman you are."
"I can't work at M&B if he and I don't work out. Not if he's here too. It's too much to ask of me."
"Good. Fuck them then. You do realize that there are literally a million places to work in Seattle for a woman with your skills, right?"
"I guess so." I glanced down to see a group of joggers running by the sidewalk. I needed to get out and get some exercise. It always helped me to feel so much more at peace.
"And you know what? Maybe you would finally stop pretending like you're happy in that big glass building you're hiding out in every day."
"I am happy here." I could feel the need to defend myself literally crawling all over me.
"Right, but it's not you, and we both know it. You have more talent in your pinkie finger than most artists have in their whole body. Are you painting again? You promised me a few months ago that you would pull out your supplies and live a little."
"No," I whispered, emotionally shutting down again. "I don't have time."
"Make time. Build more parts of your life that look like you and maybe you won't have to worry about whether Matt stays or goes because you'll know without a doubt who you are." She paused and the sound of a hundred little voices filled up the phone. She laughed. "I gotta go. I love you so much. Please take my advice and start painting again. You need you before you can need him, Erica."
"You're right. You always are." We said our goodbyes and I cursed her for the next half hour as I worked through the last of my inhibitions. I could find myself again, and then... I would turn that girl completely over to a man worthy of her time. The real Matthew Bryant.
***
"All right guys. Great work." I stood up at the end of our team meeting and glanced around at my small think-tank. "I'm proud of you. All of you."
"Thanks, boss." Lewis' smile forced him to squeeze his eyes shut a little. It warmed me. "We're going for a drink. You wanna come?"
"I'd love to, but I'm going for a jog, and then I promised my best friend that I would dust off my paint supplies and work on rediscovering a passion I let fall by the wayside."
"Oh, nice! I totally want to see what you come up with." Mandy lifted her eyebrows and the rest of the group chimed in.
"Thanks. I'll bring it up here when I figure out what it is." I laughed and glanced up as someone darkened the open door of our conference room. "Mitch. Come on in. We were just wrapping up."
"Hey, guys." He walked in, his smile warm and welcoming. I liked the guy as a friend and partner in our combined tasks at the firm, but I needed to tell him about Matt. I could only hope that he would respect my feelings. He'd been inching closer and closer over the last few weeks, and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt him or step on his toes in any shape or form.
"Hey, Mitch." Lewis stood and shook hands with him before my team filed out and left us alone.
"You have dinner plans?" He slipped his hands in his pockets and studied me. He was the perfect man for a steady, strong future filled with love and security. But he wasn't my man. No matter how much it made sense for him to be.
"No, but I'm just going to head home. A nice jog this evening should do me good." I crossed my arms over my chest, grateful that I wasn't at all uncomfortable around him.
"You sure? I hate to eat alone." His eyes moved across my face.
"I do too, but I'm starting to date someone. I just don't want him to think that something is going on between us when we're just good work friends." I pursed my lips as his expression changed a little. "You understand, I hope?"
"Absolutely. I think that's fantastic. A beautiful woman like yourself shouldn't be alone... not ever." He winked and turned to walk toward the door, pausing and glancing back before going out. "If you change your mind... I'm right down the hall."
I laughed and nodded. "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."
"Please do." He walked out and I let out a long breath I didn't realize I was holding. Should I have divulged the fact that it was Matt I was seeing? He and I hadn't really talked about where in our relationship we were, but it felt like it was time to sit down and do just that.
My only hesitation was that he worked for me. I wasn't sure how well that would go over. I might have to call Damon to see how he worked it all out for him and Bethany. Matt and I were only lovers, but poor Damon had both barrels loaded on his news.
Lovers and step-siblings.
Yeah... he had it much worse.
***
I got home and played with Zek for a few minutes before eating a banana and changing into my running gear. I'd make some dinner and call Matt when I got back and then get busy on painting a new masterpiece. Just the thought of doing it gave me a keen sense of belonging to something - to my art.
My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it before heading out the door. Unknown number.
"This is Erica Hall."
"Erica. It's Jonathan Luntz. How are you?"
"Good, Jonathan. How are you?"
"Doing very well. I assume Matthew told you about the showing on Friday night, correct?"
"Yes. He did. I'll be there. We're bringing three other people with us. I was a little surprised at your graciousness with the tickets. This is the private event you and I discussed having first, correct?"
"Exactly, and no matter on the tickets. You will all fit in beautifully, I would imagine. We have some of Seattle's finest coming in that night. It should be fun for sure."
"Excellent. I look forward to it." I was winding down the call, which was a little out of place, but maybe Jonathan was just a superb host of sorts?
"One more thing, if you don't mind. I have something that's been nagging at me continuously for a while. I'm thinking I just needed to call you and get it off my chest."
I stiffened. "Sure. Go ahead."
"When Matthew and I met to finalize the agreements, he mentioned that you painted as well, and I think you and I might have even chatted a little about it at dinner. My memory fails me often. I'm getting older."
"Hardly," I said and laughed.
"I'd like to see some of your work. I keep dreaming about having a pair of artists who are married and deeply in love working for me."
"Working for you." I ignored the married and deeply in love part. I had to. It was too much to drea
m about just yet.
"You know what I mean. I want a showcase of what real passion looks like this spring. I'm not sure what your talent looks like, or if you're at all interested in being highlighted next to Matt, but I want to see your stuff. I can't seem to shake the fact that I'm missing greatness by not making this call."
"Greatness?" My heart fluttered. "I'm not sure greatness is a good title for me, but I'll happily show you some of my old stuff. I was going to start working on something new tonight."
"Good. Let's talk after this weekend and set something up. That work?"
"Absolutely, but let's keep this weekend just about Matt. He's been dreaming of this moment his whole life. I don't want to steal a drop of attention from him."
Jonathan sighed. "I love that. See... that's the passion I'm talking about. We'll talk soon then. Be safe and I'll see you Friday."
"Friday." I hung up and glanced around the condo as Zek danced around my feet. "Wow. Change is in the air, little guy. I can feel it all around me."
I was grateful that the emotion that accompanied my realization was excitement and not terror. Good things were coming... I was sure of it.
Chapter 37
Matt
Not getting to see her most of the week left me with the sound conclusion that my life was shifting from Dallas to Seattle. I'd be letting go of my apartment in Texas before January at the rate things were going, and funny enough, everyone would be thrilled about it. By the time I got on the plane to fly back home on Thursday morning early, I was lifeless and fully depressed.
Somewhere along the way of avoiding Erica, I fell head over heels in love with her. Maybe that above everything else scared me. I just needed to have a sit down conversation with her about my mom and dad's relationship and how dicked up it got over time. I couldn't handle handing her my heart and have her throw it in a meat grinder by cheating on me. It wasn't as if I had a choice in either matter, but a 'come to Jesus' meeting would help calm my nerves a little.
