The Single Game

by Amanda Black

  “Soon, I promise.”

  “All right…but if you need me, let me know. Just think of me as your dedicated student. Whatever you want to call it, as long as it ends with me making you feel good,” he ended with a wink.

  Goddamn him and his sexy winks.

  “I’ll remember that,” I laughed. “Now you really do have to go, or dinner tomorrow is going to get pretty awkward.”

  “Okay,” he sighed. “Come here.” He wrapped his arms around me in another wonderfully tight hug. As he pulled away, he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Thank you for making me the luckiest guy in the whole world.” He kissed me quickly on the lips, and before I could say anything in return he was already running down the stairs to make a speedy getaway before my dad came home.

  I flopped back down on the bed, feeling the same strange sensation jumping and rolling around in the pit of my stomach.

  Fuck.

  I was totally in love.

  Chapter 18

  Dinner was rough, to say the least.

  I didn’t have time to take care of myself after Logan left, so I spent the entire night as a swollen mess. Just when I would start to calm down, my mind would flash to the image of Logan watching me as I sucked him off, and then I would get excited all over again. The entire time I was cooking dinner, his erotic words played back on a loop in my head. It was all I could think about.

  Being with him was making it impossible to keep my mind out of the gutter. Then I had to sit at the table next to my dad while we ate and pretend I wasn’t a quivering mass of desperate teenage hormones.

  On top of that, I spent most of the meal trying to think of a good way to break the news about Logan and his impending dinner visit the following night.

  “Anything new going on at school?” my dad asked as he read over his paper, making our normal, pointless small talk. It was plain to see that he hadn’t expected a real answer when I gave him one.

  “Actually, yeah. Remember that guy I went out with on Saturday?”

  “Doug Black’s boy?” he confirmed, his newspaper suddenly forgotten.

  “Right—Logan. Well, he and I have decided to…be exclusive.” I was trying to avoid the B word, hoping to ease the blow, but Dad went straight for it.

  “So you have a boyfriend now, is that what you’re telling me?” He set down his fork and unbuttoned his top collar button, like the mere idea of a steady boyfriend was suffocating him.

  “Yeah, Dad. That’s what I’m telling you.”

  “God, Eden,” he sighed, dropping his head in his hands. “You’re just so young.”

  “Young? Dad, I’m eighteen! We both are!”

  “Don’t I know it,” he grumbled.

  “You knew I had a boyfriend when we lived in Lombard. Why are you wigging out about this now?”

  “I’m not wigging out. It’s just that…well, honey, I couldn’t stand to see you get hurt again. Your mother had to talk me out of going over to that little shit’s house and kicking his teeth in. I get a little overprotective when it comes to you; I’m your father, sue me.”

  “I understand, but you can’t hide me from the world forever.”

  “Says who?”

  “Dad, come on! I really want you and Mom to get to know Logan and like him as much as I do.”

  “Why do you even care what we think? Don’t most kids these days just do whatever the hell they damn well please?”

  “Sure, most of them do. If you put your foot down, I can’t say that I wouldn’t just date him anyway…but that’s not what I want.”

  “Why not?” He looked up at me across the table, and in that moment he looked way older than his years.

  “Because.” I paused, swallowing my nervousness. “Logan is special. I know it’s early yet, but I have the feeling that he’s not going anywhere for a while, so it would be a lot easier if you guys accepted it now.”

  “Fine,” he huffed. “When do we meet this knight in shining armor?”

  “He’s coming to dinner tomorrow night after Mom gets home. I’d like you to be nice to him.”

  “What did you think I’ll do, shoot him?”

  “I never know with you,” I joked, standing up to clear our plates. As I went to pick his up, he grabbed my wrist to stop me.

  “I’m sorry if I came off too harsh there, sweetie. I just had a major wakeup call last time and it’s left me a little bit gun-shy when it comes to you and boys.”

  “Well, that makes two of us, Dad. But if I can let go and move on, I think you should, too.” He thought for a moment and nodded, quickly going back to reading his paper . I took that as a clear sign that he needed more time to absorb the news.

  As I cleaned up the kitchen, I couldn’t help but be thankful for our awkward dinner conversation. If it nothing else, at least it got my mind out of the gutter for five minutes.

  Of course, that only served to make me think of Logan again.

  I tried to distract myself by watching TV with Dad, but I could only handle so many hours of the NCIS marathon he was watching on the USA Network. Whenever a commercials came on he would switch it over to ESPN for the scores, so I was pretty well testosteroned out by eight thirty.

  “I think I’m gonna call it a night,” I said, stretching as I stood.

  “So early?”

  “Yeah, I’ve still got a little homework to finish, and then I’ll probably just read a book until I fall asleep.”

  “Okay, hon. Good night.”

  “’Night, Dad.”

  I finished my assignments pretty quickly, but with no thanks to Logan.

  No matter what I was reading, I couldn’t keep myself from getting distracted. I kept hearing his sexy voice panting in my ear, over and over again.

  “Eden… I want you so bad…”

  “I can’t wait to have you riding me for real…”

  “Baby…please…I’m gonna—oh fuck, I’m coming!…”

  God dammit! How the hell was I supposed to think straight with him haunting me like that?

  I made a trip to the bathroom before bed, and as I made my way back to my room I heard my dad’s voice carrying up the stairs.

  “Maggie, the new boy is already official.”

  Ahh. It must have been time for his nightly check in with my mom.

  “She’s having him over for dinner tomorrow, so be prepared… I don’t know—Logan, I think. He sounds like a pretty good kid. She seems way more excited about this one.” He was quiet for a bit longer as he listened. “I know, Maggie, and that’s what she said, too. Our little girl’s growing up so damn fast.” His voice sounded so sad, so defeated.

  I chose that moment to tiptoe back into my room, feeling a lump forming in my throat.

  I grabbed my phone and fired off a quick text message to Logan.

  So we’re definitely official. The parentals know and dinner is a go.

  Less than a minute later he replied.

  That’s great! Can’t wait to meet them. Thanks for having me over today.

  No, thank you for coming. (No pun intended) ;-)

  Oh ha ha, very funny. Seriously, though, was it okay?

  Baby, it was way more than okay. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind all night.

  I know the feeling. I’ve had the doofiest grin on my face ever since I came home.

  Just talking to him about it was getting me hot again. I knew that I should probably steer the conversation in a cleaner direction, but the constant pulsing between my legs had other plans.

  Did you enjoy it?

  Are you kidding me? I’ve been hard all night, replaying it over and over in my mind.

  Oh, God. Didn’t he know what his talking like that did to me?

  …Maybe he didn’t. Well, two could play that game.

  Stop! You don’t know how turned on I’ve been & hearing about you getting hard only makes it worse.

  Oh, God. Really? Are you wet for me right now?

  Yes! I’m dying here. I keep hearing your sexy
voice saying those naughty things in my ear and it’s driving me crazy!

  Damn. Now I’m hard again.

  Christ, the boy was killing me without even trying. I wanted so badly to reach down and take care of things, but I didn’t want our discussion to stop. It would take me forever to text with one hand, not to mention that it would probably kill the mood, too.

  If only we could keep talking while I…oh, God. Could I do that? Riley had never been anywhere near me taking care of myself; he wouldn’t have been interested. He was always so prissy about things; I just figured it would be yet another thing that grossed him out. Actually, he was prissy about anything that didn’t directly involve him getting off.

  Logan, on the other hand…

  Something told me that Logan would love it.

  Maybe he would get so turned on hearing me that he would join in, too.

  Oh, God. Just imagining hearing his pants and moans through the phone made my stomach do somersaults.

  Before I had a chance to stop myself, I sent off another text.

  Is it too late for me to call you?

  No, go ahead. I have the phone on vibrate, so it shouldn’t wake up my parents.

  I peeked out into the hall before locking my door, checking to make sure Dad had finally gone to bed. I didn’t want to risk him walking by and hearing me moan.

  I climbed into bed and turned out the light, wanting to surround myself with nothing but Logan. As soon as I was settled, I picked up the phone and dialed his number.

  He answered on the first ring. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey,” I replied, much more breathily than I’d intended.

  “I’m glad you called. I was hoping to talk to you again tonight.”

  “Any reason?”

  “Just can’t get you out of my head. Like I mentioned earlier.”

  “Yeah, you mentioned a few things earlier. I just had to call to see if that last one was true.”

  “What one?” he asked, playing innocent, but I could hear his voice hitch as he spoke.

  “I want to know if you’re really hard for me right now.”

  “I told you I was.”

  “No, you texted it. Can you say it?” He was quiet for a moment, so I kept going. “I need your sexy voice. I need you.”

  “You need me, baby?” His voice had dropped down to a breathy whisper. “Tell me what you need.”

  “I need to hear you,” I practically whined, my free hand roaming over my tightening nipple. “I need you to make this hurting stop.”

  “I really wish I was there with you right now.”

  “What would you do if you were?”

  “I’d cuddle with you again.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Well, we’d have to be naked. I’m dying to feel you pressed against me without anything between us.”

  “Mmm…that sounds nice,” I moaned, slipping my hand between my thighs. “What would you do after that?”

  “You really want to know?”

  “Yessss,” I hissed, sinking two fingers between my folds and circling lightly around my swollen clitoris.

  “Well… I’ve always wanted to, but especially after today I really want to…”

  “What?”

  His voice dropped lower, his breathing becoming choppier. “I want to go down on you.”

  “Oh, God,” I moaned, swirling my fingers faster. “You really want to?”

  “Fuck yes,” he grunted. “It’s all I can think about. I want to make you come so hard.”

  I couldn’t control my groan at his words. Hearing his delicious voice say such wicked things was making me insane. I panted loudly into the phone as I worked my slick, fevered flesh.

  “Are you—oh my God, Eden, are you touching yourself?” He sounded frantic.

  “Logan…I need you,” I whimpered.

  “God, baby, don’t say that. I’m gonna get arrested for breaking down your door with a raging boner.”

  “Are you hard for me now?”

  “Of course! I have been since you told me you were wet. Now it’s getting downright painful.”

  “Will you touch it?”

  “Now? You…you want to hear me?”

  “God yes,” I gasped into the phone. “I’m so turned on I could pass out right now. Just the thought of you stroking it is about to make me come.”

  I heard rustling in the background, which I assumed was him freeing himself from his underwear. “Do you want me, Eden?”

  “So much…want to feel you…inside me.” I was so close. Just knowing that he was joining in with me was shoving me toward the edge.

  “Fuck!” he gritted through his teeth. “Are you wet for me, baby?”

  “My fingers are drenched. I’m so close.” For a moment the only thing I could hear was his ragged breathing. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking that I need to fuck you. Hard. And as often as possible.”

  “Oh, yesssss….” I was just about done for. I could tell from the way his panting was picking up and the sounds of motion in the background that he was getting close, too. He started whimpering and talking faster, his voice completely desperate.

  “I’ve wanted you for so long… I need you… I love everything about you so much—I’m going to die if I don’t feel you soon.”

  “I feel the same way about you!” I cried, my body beginning to shudder. “Oh, God, I’m gonna come…”

  “Tell me that you’re mine, Eden,” he moaned. “I need to hear you say it.”

  “Yours, Logan!” I wailed, exploding around my fingers and seeing stars behind my eyes. “All yours!”

  “Fuck!” He made a deep guttural sound, and I could just picture the thick spurts of liquid hitting his stomach.

  We both lay there for a moment, our panting and gasping the only sounds. When I finally had the energy to speak, it was a breathless “Wow.”

  “Exactly,” he chuckled.

  “Imagine what it will be like when we do it for real.”

  “Believe me, I already do—too much.”

  “I doubt it’s more than I do, Logan. And there’s no such thing as too much.”

  We talked about mundane things for a few more minutes, both of our bodies too exhausted for anything else. When I let out a loud yawn, he followed it up with one of his own.

  “I suppose I should let you get to sleep,” I said, my eyes feeling heavy. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  “No, thank you. That was so sexy. Any time you want to call me up and do that, I’m game.”

  “I’ll remember that,” I laughed. “Good night, baby.” I love you.

  “Good night, my beautiful girl. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “I can’t wait.” I love you.

  “Bye,” he whispered.

  “Bye.” I love you.

  I hit the button to end the call and placed it on the bedside table. Rolling onto my side, I stared at my phone with a huge smile on my face. As I drifted off to sleep, only one thought kept repeating in my mind.

  I love you.

  Chapter 19

  The next day after school, I had Logan drive me to the grocery store so I could pick up ingredients for dinner. I still had a few things at home that I could have made, but since it was my first time cooking for Logan, I really wanted to make him spaghetti and garlic bread. It was my favorite thing to cook and I wanted to share that with him.

  Plus, Dad loved it. I didn’t think it would hurt to butter him up a little bit and make sure he stayed in a good mood over dinner.

  As we walked around the store with our grocery cart, slowly adding more items to buy, I couldn’t help but notice how official we looked. Anyone who didn’t know us might even mistake us for a young married couple.

  Instead of making me cringe, the thought made those damn butterflies come back.

  “I think that’s all I need for dinner,” I said, looking down into the cart. “Would you be terribly offended if I just bought a pie for dessert?�
��

  “You’re kidding me, right?” Logan laughed.

  “What? I’d rather make my own dessert, but I don’t have a lot of time on a weekday.”

  “You’re already going through so much trouble for me. Why would I mind a store-bought pie? You could slap a Twix bar down on the table and call it dessert and I’d be just fine.”

  I could feel my cheeks heating as I looked up at him in embarrassment. “I guess I just wanted to impress you with my cooking,” I said shyly.

  He chuckled lightly and put his arm around my waist, pulling me into to his side. “Eden, I don’t think I could handle much more of you impressing me.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Yesterday just about did me in.” I laughed and shoved at him, starting to walk away when he stopped me. “No, really—I don’t need any more convincing of what a perfect girlfriend you are.”

  “I’m not perfect,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. “Not by a long shot.”

  “But you’re perfect for me,” he said softly, bending over to kiss me gently on the lips.

  “All right,” I gasped as he pulled away, breathless for so many reasons. “We need to get the hell out of here before I pass out and you need to call the paramedics.”

  “If you pass out, I can always just give you mouth to mouth,” he smirked.

  “That is so not helping right now!”

  I ran over to the refrigerated section and grabbed a French Silk pie for dessert, ignoring the fluttering in my heart as we made our way to the checkout counter. We argued briefly over who would pay for the food until I finally caved and let him buy the pie, which he claimed would make him feel like he was actually contributing to dinner instead of just showing up to eat.