Sex Becomes Her

by Regina Cole

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah,” Eliza said, sounding tired. “Just crap from home, that’s all. Sorry. I’ll turn it off.”

  “Whatever makes you more comfortable,” Chandler said, keeping his tone even, and put an arm around her shoulders. She snuggled next to him, sighing with pleasure as he massaged her scalp.

  They stayed quiet on the drive to the restaurant, the radio playing a low-key tune in the front seat, the cabbie humming along. Drawing circles on Eliza’s arm, Chandler kept his brain moving forward.

  He had to draw her out, had to prove himself trustworthy to her. Time was running out, and if he didn’t pull this off she’d run away and he wouldn’t get this chance again. He had to be careful, but move decisively.

  He wasn’t going to lose her because of carelessness.

  “Here we go,” said the cabbie as he pulled to a stop in front of a brick building with a black awning in front.

  Eliza waited while Chandler paid the guy, and together they walked hand in hand to the hostess stand. Eliza squeezed his fingers tightly when he asked for a private booth. Hopefully she approved.

  After the appetizer plates had been cleared away, and their entrées had arrived, Chandler saw his chance and he struck.

  “So, you’re from the Midwest, huh? I’ve been out there several times for different jobs and things. Some really pretty areas out there. Small towns, that kind of thing?” He arched a brow as he broke off a piece of bread.

  “Yeah, it is. Well, it can be. My town used to be one of my favorite places in the world.” A nostalgic smile lit her face, and Chandler stared.

  “There’s this little main street that’s lined with these cute mom-and-pop stores. You know, art galleries and jewelry shops and a hardware store that still sells the same bolts they had in 1920. And in the summer they open up the stage in the town square to local bands. People spread out blankets and just listen to music on the grass. I grew up there. So it’s home.”

  But one word had stuck out to him, so he asked.

  “You said it used to be. What changed?”

  Her smile disappeared, and was replaced with a dark look.

  “The way people looked at me changed. I guess they thought they knew who I was, and when I turned out to be a little bit different they treated me like an outsider. And now, even though I live there, I don’t think I can ever feel at home there again.”

  18

  She knew she’d said the wrong thing because the look of concern on Chandler’s face made her want to cry. She stared down at her pasta, wondering what to do now. Damn it, this wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

  “I don’t know why you feel the way you do, but I know what it is to feel like everyone has betrayed you.”

  Thankful for the conversational safety line, Eliza grabbed it. “What do you mean?”

  Chandler gave a wry grin as he wiped his fingers on his napkin. “Well, I told you about my ex-wife, Andrea.”

  “Right.”

  “We met in college, and we shared a lot of mutual friends. So when we split, the friends split, too. A lot of them sided with Andrea.”

  “That’s awful,” Eliza said, setting her glass down. “But I thought you’d said she broke it off.”

  “She did. So a lot of our friends had heard her complaining, and they thought I was a bad guy because things didn’t work out.” Chandler stared down into his plate as if he could understand the universe if he looked long enough. “For a while there, I’d go out to the same restaurants and bars that I always had, and I’d get the cold shoulder.”

  Somewhere inside Eliza’s chest, a little glow began to flutter. She pressed a hand against her sternum to keep it from moving too much.

  “I know how you feel. When Tyler and I broke up, my whole life changed. No place felt the same; no people looked at me the same way. It was as if someone had ripped the mask off of me and everyone could see the monster beneath.”

  The words sailed out of her, leaving her breathless when they’d gone. She wanted Chandler to know he wasn’t alone. She got that feeling, she really did. She’d experienced that hell, was still living it at home. He wasn’t alone, and he wasn’t bad. She had to let him know that.

  Reaching across the table, she caught his fingers with hers and squeezed. Just to let him feel that she was there, and she understood.

  He flashed her a small smile. “I’m sorry that you went through that. So Tyler started telling people you were an awful person, too?”

  “I—Well, I don’t—”

  She stopped talking, and pulled her hand free. Her palms were sweaty now. She rubbed them on the napkin in her lap.

  The background noise of the restaurant seemed suddenly loud. Distraction. She had to change the subject, or do something, or get away from this dangerous precipice somehow. Telling Chandler would be too hard, too pointless. Why rip the bandage off with him now? They only had a little time together anyway, no need to sully it with ugly memories.

  “Liza?”

  Her gaze fluttered upward.

  Chandler was looking at her intently, his brows lowered slightly in concern. His hand was stretched out to her, palm-up. An offering.

  “You aren’t a monster. You’re an incredible person. And the more I know about you, the more I want to know. Please, won’t you let me get to know you better?”

  The yes popped into her brain immediately, but her mouth refused to release the word. She stared at him, and the glow in her chest intensified. The glow compressed her lungs, making it harder and harder to breathe. What was that feeling? She’d been attracted to him from the moment she’d first seen him, but this was more than that. This was that choked-up feeling she’d gotten when her dad had surprised her with a puppy on her eighth birthday. This was that terrifying and overwhelming feeling she’d gotten when Tyler had been at his most charming.

  This was the beginning of something special, and it terrified the pants off of her.

  “I need to use the restroom,” she said, and scraped her chair back. Her napkin fell to the floor, but she didn’t waste the time to pick it up. She just bolted for the sanctuary of the ladies’ room.

  It was empty, and she thanked her lucky stars for that. Inside the first stall, she slumped against the closed door and counted her breaths to slow them.

  This was worse than she’d imagined. God, why did nothing ever go like she planned? Chandler was just supposed to be some guy. Some stranger who wanted to fuck her, and then after a couple of days of passion they’d both be on their merry way. Him to North Carolina, her back to her small-town hell.

  She sniffed, and it echoed against the tiles. Thumping her head on the door behind her, she stared at the drop-tile ceiling.

  “I really didn’t think this through.”

  She hadn’t at all. This trip was supposed to help her come to grips with who she was, and allow her to be someone different than she had been. But then what? She’d changed here, at least a bit. She dressed nicer, had managed to be more outgoing, she’d even started to get feelings for someone.

  Oh shit.

  The glow had flared in her chest the second she’d thought that. Feelings. For Chandler. Like, a connection, a want within her for more than his body. For his caring smile, for the way he seemed to put her at ease. God, how could she go back home and face everything being the same when inside her, things were so very different?

  The door to the restroom opened then, and footsteps echoed as the second stall became occupied.

  Eliza flushed quickly, and jerked open the door. She spent too long washing her hands, just because she wasn’t quite ready to face him yet.

  She looked in the mirror. How could she look so much the same? It seemed like a different person should be staring out at her.

  Well, if she was different, then she could make different decisions, right? She nodded and turned off the tap.

  When she got home, she’d figure out a way to squash those rumors. Tyler couldn’t run her out of her own
hometown. Her parents might not live there anymore, but Eliza felt a connection to that place.

  And even if it was shitty, she’d stay there. No one could tell her how to live her life.

  Could they?

  She walked out of the bathroom and wound her way through the restaurant. Chandler was sitting there and fiddling with his phone. But he looked up and smiled when she pulled her chair back.

  “Sorry about that,” she said with a smile. “Just had too much water.”

  “It’s okay,” Chandler said, returning her expression. “I’ve got all night to spend with you. There’s no rush.”

  Well, there was, a little. This trip would be over eventually, and decisions would have to be made. In fact, after tomorrow night, they’d be saying good-bye.

  All the more reason to be enjoying tonight.

  “I thought about the chocolate cake for dessert,” Chandler was saying as he tapped the small dessert menu on the table.

  “Sounds good to me. Two forks?”

  He arched a brow at her playful tone. “Want to share?”

  Leaning forward, she propped her chin on her hands. He really was a great guy. What would life be like if she could follow him back to his home? Would they have any kind of chance at a relationship? Or would he find out about the things she wanted and run just like Tyler had?

  If things were different, she might be able to take that chance. But for now, her personal transformation was too important. Going home and taking control was her first priority. Maybe after that she could lead a different life.

  But until then . . .

  “Yes. I want to share your cake.”

  Chandler watched as Eliza closed her eyes in bliss. The tines of the fork dragged against her bottom lip, leaving a tiny line of chocolate there. Damn, he wanted to lick that spot.

  “That was divine.” She sighed and put down her fork. He couldn’t help but be a little disappointed when she wiped her mouth with the napkin.

  Oh well. Maybe they could pick up some chocolate sauce somewhere and put it to good use in the hotel room. Now that was a plan he could get behind.

  “I’ll take care of this whenever you’re ready,” the waitress said with a friendly smile as she placed the black folder on their table. Eliza reached for it, but Chandler was quicker.

  “No, this is my treat.” He tucked his credit card inside the holder and passed it back to the waitress.

  Once she’d gone, Eliza shot him a look. “You didn’t need to do that. This isn’t a date.”

  “Oh really? Do you usually rub your foot up the leg of a guy that you split the bill with?”

  Her foot disappeared and a flash of disappointment went through him. It was worth it, though. That irritated look on her face was adorable.

  “I just mean that we aren’t dating, so there’s no reason for you to take care of the bill.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, studiously avoiding looking him in the face. It would have been cute if her words weren’t so depressing.

  “No, we aren’t dating,” he agreed. Her surprised gaze shot to him. Was she expecting him to argue? “But I’m in the habit of treating people that I like to dinner when I can. So you’ll have to just get over it.”

  “That’s a little high-handed of you.”

  “I thought you liked it when I was high-handed.”

  “That’s only in the bedroom.” She sniffed and looked out the window to her right. “In real life it can get pretty irritating.”

  “Duly noted.”

  He really shouldn’t tease her so much, but damn, it was fun. The waitress returned with his credit card, and as he filled out the tip amount and signed the receipt he could feel Eliza’s eyes on him. It was only fair. She was driving him crazy with her on-again, off-again approach to whatever it was they were to one another, and he was running out of patience.

  He wanted for this to last longer than the vacation did, but unless he moved fast, things wouldn’t work out. So starting tonight, he’d have to kick it into high gear. Luckily for him, horny Eliza suggested things that normal Eliza wouldn’t ever dream of saying out loud. For this to work, he’d have to implement some of horny Eliza’s suggestions.

  And fortunately, he had an excellent memory.

  “Ready to go?” He held his hand out to her and she took it. They walked to the door of the restaurant, Eliza calling thanks to their server as she passed.

  At the curb, Chandler waved for a cab.

  “Where are we heading?” Eliza asked as she got in the cab, thanking him as he held the door open for her.

  “Back to the resort, unless there’s somewhere else you wanted to go.”

  “Really, back already? It’s kind of early.”

  Chandler glanced at his watch. It was nine thirty.

  “It’s late enough. Tomorrow’s our last day in Hawaii, so we need to get our rest.”

  “That doesn’t make much sense,” Eliza grumbled, but she didn’t say anything else.

  Her hand lay on his thigh most of the way home. He didn’t make a move to touch her, but she continued to keep physical contact with him anyway. It was a good sign.

  The cab pulled up in front of the hotel tower, and Chandler paid the cab fare, pushing aside Eliza’s cash when she tried to thrust it at the man. As the cab drove away, Eliza’s face was a mask of pure irritation.

  “You need to let me pay for something.”

  “You can pay for things when you get home.”

  Was she growling? That was actually sort of hot.

  Eliza turned on her heel and stalked to the hotel doors. Chandler made sure to enjoy the view as she twitched away from him.

  “Now I wish I hadn’t let you move in with me.” She punched the Up button beside the elevator doors and tapped her foot as she waited.

  “That’s a terrible thing to say.” Chandler stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She stayed stiff in his embrace, but she didn’t pull away. When he started kissing the side of her neck, though, she sighed and melted against him.

  “Still angry?” The beep of the elevator’s arrival mingled with his words.

  “No. Just . . . Let me pay for some things tomorrow, okay?”

  “If that’s what you want.” They stepped into the elevator together. Once the doors were shut behind them, Chandler pulled Eliza in close and began to kiss her.

  She tasted faintly of the chocolate that she’d eaten. Sweet, dark, sinful. He groaned his approval as his hands wandered over her back and down to cup her ass. She opened to his tongue, and he tasted her more thoroughly.

  They arrived on her floor much too fast. Another hour or so in that elevator alone with her would have suited him just fine.

  “Come on,” she said, pulling free of his embrace. With a sigh, he followed.

  The hallway was quieter now, the weekend crowd having long-since departed. In just another day or so it’d be full again. Of course, by then they’d be gone—him to North Carolina, and her to—wait, she’d never even said what state she lived in.

  She might live within driving distance. Now, that was a tempting thought.

  “Sorry. The card fell to the bottom of my bag.” Eliza propped her purse on her knee as she rifled through it. Chandler watched. She might be put together on the outside, but the inner workings of her purse were pure chaos. He smiled. It was kind of like getting a glimpse into Eliza’s private life. She was gorgeous, but a little scattered. He liked that about her. Even though his inclinations were toward order, it seemed that a little disorganization suited Eliza to a tee.

  Saying good-bye to her would kill him. But he didn’t want to think about that now.

  “Aha!” She pulled the plastic key card free and gave the lock on the door a swipe. It chirped, the light flashed green, and then they were inside.

  “Boy,” Chandler said, covering his mouth as he yawned. “I’m beat.”

  Eliza’s pleasant expression fell, almost like she was a kid who’d been told they were going to miss the class
field trip. “Really? Already?”

  Inside, he was laughing like crazy, but he kept his expression bleary on the outside. “Yeah, I’m really done in. I guess it’s all the late nights we’ve been having.”

  Scuffing her toe on the carpet, Eliza dropped her purse beside her suitcase. She stared at the lighter streak in the carpet while she spoke. “I thought you were enjoying the late nights.”

  “I was. I am,” he corrected himself, falling backward on the bed. Spreading his arms and legs wide, he looked over at her. “I just don’t think I’ve got the energy to tie you up and spank you tonight, Liza. I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head. “It’s okay. Really. We can just sleep.”

  Rolling to his side, he clucked his tongue in a disapproving way. “I hadn’t figured you to be so lazy.”

  “Lazy? What the crap do you mean?”

  He’d sparked her temper. Good. He’d always liked playing with fire. Propping his cheek on one hand, he watched as she glared at him. She was gorgeous that way, her hands on her hips, her eyes glittering with anger.

  “I mean I didn’t know you were so passive in the bedroom. If I had more energy, then I could tie you up and fuck you seventeen ways to Sunday. And you’d scream my name, and beg me to do more, harder, deeper, but since I’m tired? Well, I guess we just can’t have sex until I can dominate you again. It’s a shame that it’s the only thing you enjoy.”

  Understanding dawned, and a slow smile spread across Eliza’s face. She took a step toward him.

  “So you’re tired, huh? What if I told you that I wasn’t going to take no for an answer?”

  He rolled to his back again, feigning a sigh. “I guess if it’s what you want, I can try to muster up the strength.”

  She pinned his wrists to the mattress, her smile almost predatory. Lust fired in Chandler’s blood as she gripped his skin harder.

  She’d learned as much as he had, apparently.

  “No, you lie there. Where are the cuffs?”

  He grinned. “In my suitcase. Front pouch.”

  “Be right back.”

  19

  Eliza’s heart beat hard, her body covered in sweat. Her hand stung a bit, but it was a good sting, the kind that radiated up her arm and down to her throbbing core. Chandler lay spread-eagled on the bed, his beautiful body glistening, his chest heaving as hard as hers had been.