by Tamsin Baker
Opening my eyes, I searched around the room for a clock.
Ten AM.
Bloody hell! No wonder I feel so rested.
Jo’s soft, warm body had certainly done the trick last night. I’d slept so solidly and with no nightmares, I could barely believe the difference. I never admitted it to anyone, but I’d struggled with proper sleep ever since being attacked as a teenager. I was strong and fast now, but the memories of being jumped from behind and not being able to defend myself still haunted me.
I pulled back the covers and got to my wobbly feet, sleep and lethargy still making strength impossible, but life was good.
I grabbed my phone on the way to the shower and saw several missed calls from Phillip and the boys.
“Argh. I’ll deal with you guys when I’m awake.”
A note was taped to the mirror in the bathroom.
Alec, I’ve gone to University for the day.
Back at 6 PM.
Help yourself to the fridge, but you may need to order some more stuff in as well.
Jo xoxo
Wow. Xoxo huh?
I laughed to myself and turned on the water, marveling at how light and euphoric I felt. Here I was in the smallest bathroom ever, with a girl I barely knew, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I stepped into a tiny cubicle with lots of hot water and sighed as any lingering stress leached out of my system.
Once I was dry and wearing the one comfortable pair of pants Law had packed for me, I grabbed a bowl of cereal and sat down on the couch with my phone.
“Hey, Phillip. What’s up?”
“Have you checked the news this morning?”
I rolled my eyes at his terse tone and crunched down on my cereal. “Course not, I just got up. What’s happening now?”
“Photos of you are all over the papers again this morning. This time they’re more graphic and horrible. You vomiting, passing out in the street. Photos of the woman you hit with a black eye. It’s pretty bad, Alec.”
My stomach rolled, and I dropped my spoon into the bowl, splashing milk in my lap.
“I didn’t frickin’ hit her! The only way it could have happened was if I clipped her as I fell. What are we going to do about this, Phillip?”
“I think the best thing we can do is refrain from commenting … but…”
I sat up straight on the couch, putting my cereal on the coffee table and narrowing my eyes at the wall.
“But what? This could turn into a criminal charge, Phillip. We can’t just do nothing!”
Those stupid bitches had deliberately drugged me, for God knows what reason, but it wasn’t for my benefit. And now they were getting paid for photos of me doing things I would never have done if I wasn’t under the influence of that bloody roofie!
“I agree. I think we have to put out an official statement in regards to the drugs that were slipped into your drink, including the fact the hospital found evidence of it and focus on you trying to recover from the effects of such a breach of your privacy and personal safety.”
“That’s a better plan, Phillip. I don’t like the idea of being labeled anything so horrendous as a girl basher.”
We talked for a bit longer and finally worked out a strategy that unfortunately had the best chance of success if it included Jo, since she was the best witness of the night. I didn’t really want to include her, but if she could tell her side of the story it really would be the best way of fixing things.
The rest of the day went by pretty fast. I had some of my favorite foods delivered to the apartment and ordered takeout for dinner. I spoke to some of the other guys who were all rapt to hear I was safe and well, and staying with the chick who’d saved me from being trodden on in the streets.
“Yeah, yeah. Say hi to Issy for me.” I hung up on Zeck, who was being far too mushy for me. Bloody boys had gone from normal skirt chasing band members to pussy-whipped “we’re now on holiday” pansies.
I tried to scowl, but I had to laugh in the end. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought that this was where we would end up.
We?
I groaned and rolled my eyes. When had I decided I was in the same boat as all of them?
I lay down on the couch that smelled vaguely of Jo’s shampoo and drifted off into sleep.
****
Joanne
What a horrendously huge waste of a day. I’d had two anatomy classes, human biology, and surgical theory, and all I’d done during those classes was Google information on Alec and fantasize about his beautiful body.
I growled at myself as I opened my front door. So much for being an intelligent woman. At the moment, my hormones were leading me around and not my brain.
I stepped inside with a few groceries to the sight of Alec fast asleep on the couch, my small kitchen benches now covered with bags of food and takeout.
He ordered food in. Awesome.
I crept in on tiptoes, trying not to wake him, but Alec groaned and began stretching like a cat when I got about halfway across the room.
“Welcome back, beautiful.”
My stomach dropped. Didn’t he sound like a practiced man-whore today?
“It’s Jo, in case you’d forgotten who you were staying with.” My tone was icy, but I couldn’t help it. When he’d needed help, he’d come to me, not any of the hundreds of women who’d professed to have slept with him—if the internet was anything to go by.
A slow, rumbling chuckle surfaced from the couch, and I hurried over to the kitchen, unpacking what I’d brought home and noticing how full the fridge now was, too.
Camembert and salami. Yum.
“I know who you are, Jo. You don’t need to get so huffy.”
Huffy? Ha!
“Well I’m glad you’ve remembered my name, but obviously you didn’t know where you were before. How many women have you greeted with that phrase anyway?”
Watch it, Joanne! You sound like a jealous, lovesick idiot.
He laughed a little louder.
“None. You’re more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever seen. You deserve the title.”
I snorted at him, not believing for a moment I was the only one he’d used that line on. “I am not beautiful.”
He was lying, he had to be. But the heat in my cheeks belied my interest. It would be so nice if someone actually thought I was beautiful.
“I’m not fighting you on this, sorry, ‘cuz you’re just plain wrong. I just about swallowed my tongue when I saw you at the bar the other night. You aren’t hot, gorgeous, or cute.”
I swallowed hard as tears prickled my eyes. I kept my back to him and pretended to be perusing the food in my fridge. “I know.”
“You are more than that. You’re beautiful, stunning, angelic. You are someone I could look at for the rest of my life and not ever get bored.”
I whirled around and stared at him open mouthed.
Pardon me?
“I ah…” He glanced away, red slashing across his cheeks. He’d obviously said far more than he’d intended. The silence stretched, and I tried to divert the conversation for both our sakes.
“Did you order something for dinner, or do you want me to cook up something?”
He lifted his arm. “Those blue bags have pretty awesome gourmet pizzas in them. They were delivered about an hour ago so they may need ten minutes in the oven though.”
I turned on the oven and put the two pizzas in, a weird giggle floating around my throat at how surreal this night was already. “They look great.”
And they did. Covered in a variety of meat, cheeses, and a few veggies, they were mouth-wateringly yummy to look at.
“They’re from my favorite pizza place in Covent Garden. They deliver for some select people.”
“Well, I suppose there has to be some perks to being all rich and famous.” I stuck out my tongue to him, and he laughed, grinning at me with his super white teeth.
“Yeah, there does. You want a drink? I had heaps of different mineral waters and stuff bro
ught over in case you wanted some?”
“Thanks.”
I pulled open the fridge and got us some drinks. He’d been pretty thoughtful actually. I was surprised.
Fifteen minutes later we were sitting down in front of the TV with our very expensive tasting pizzas and lemon drinks.
“Did you have a good day?”
He nodded, swallowing his sixth piece of pizza. Where did he put it all?
“Yeah, it was ok. It’s a bit hard not being able to go out to the gym, or see one of the guys. But I feel so much better after sleeping all last night and today. That drug is finally working its way out of my system. Should be good as new soon.”
I looked down at my food, my stomach turning when I realized that in a day or two, I probably wouldn’t see Alec again. I had my life to get back to and all of my goals to achieve of course. I wouldn’t be bored. I had a bright future ahead. Graduating from university, then I’d get a good internship and make my parents proud.
I shook my head to clear the fuzziness and had some lemonade. Why was my bright future suddenly leaving a sour taste in my mouth after the excitement of the last day or two?
“Cool. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
He ran a hand over my thigh, the heat and suddenness of his movement making me jump. Once the initial shock passed, I couldn’t help but press a little closer to him.
“You going to miss me?”
I shrugged and concentrated on the movie. I had no idea what was going to happen with Alec.
Time to change the subject. I wasn’t a good liar, so I didn’t even try to bluff my way out of it. “Do you have plans for tomorrow?”
He twisted around and slid his hands around to my waist and pulled hard.
I dropped my plate and stared at him. “What are you doing?”
Unable to resist how his palms felt on me, I allowed him to guide my movements and I soon found myself straddling his lap. Facing him, my heart began beating hard against my ribs.
“You are going to miss me.”
Of course I am.
My belly quivered in my body as he cupped my face and pulled it towards him. He’s going to kiss me! Oh. My. God. I held my breath as he moved closer, and I let my eyes drift shut. A moan left my mouth as his lips touched mine, the gentle passion new and perfect to me.
He groaned in a really male, primitive way as I opened my mouth to him and he slipped his tongue in to taste me.
I pressed closer, my aching body rubbing against the hardness growing in his jeans.
God, that feels so good!
His fingers grabbed my t-shirt and lifted. Yes! That’s what I want! His palms against my skin. We broke lip contact so that he could pull my top off, and I opened my eyes for a brief moment, his lust filled face beautiful to me.
I reached for his black t-shirt, pulling it off him and running my hands over his tight muscles and hot skin.
Wow … so beautiful.
He kissed me again, deep and long while his hands moved around my back and unclipped my bra.
The swollen weight of my breasts was released, and my lacy bra went flying across the room. I groaned as his fingers found my tight nipples, rolling them between his fingertips.
I broke off our kiss, throwing my head back on a gasp and arched my back. Alec took advantage of my new position and suckled one nipple and then the other.
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” he said against my skin as he continued to swap from one to another.
All conscious thought slipped away. I was swimming in a hot pool of sensation, trails of fire cascading over my shoulders, my neck, my back.
Even though my eyes were closed I could feel wetness beneath the lids. He made me feel beautiful; he made me feel loved. I didn’t know how he did it, and I didn’t care, because this was the most perfect moment of my life so far.
Hs grabbed hold of my hips, shifted his weight to the edge of the couch before he stood up, holding me and lifting me as though I weighed nothing at all.
I held on tight to his neck, squealing as he walked with me to the bedroom. “I’m too heavy for you!”
“Never.” His voice had changed into a deep bass, his brown eyes now flickering with fire as he stared at me.
I slid my hands up to his head, grabbing hold of his face and pressing my lips against his.
He turned and sat down on the bed, rolling us until I was beneath him.
He pushed up onto his hands and stared down at me. “You sure you want this?”
I nodded, swallowing the panic down as he looked at me. “Only if you do.”
“Of course I do.”
I laughed, a happy bubble filling up my belly and giving my body a giddy feeling. “Come here then.”
Chapter Six
Joanne
I pulled Alec’s head down, locking our lips together as we fought to undress each other further. My skirt and his pants went flying, underwear, socks and shoes all descending into a big pile on the floor until we were both panting and as naked as the day we were born.
He settled between my thighs, his lips tracing a path of fire all the way down to my pussy. When he finally found my throbbing clit I could have wept. It had been so long since anyone except me had touched there.
He stroked it with his tongue, and I cried out as pleasure pulsed through me. I couldn’t believe he was doing this for me, wanting me to feel this good rather than just taking as everyone else always had. “Alec, that feels … amazing!”
I grabbed at his head, moaning and thrashing as he worked my clit until I lost control. Feral, wanton noises left my throat that he encouraged with his own moans and harder tongue-lashings.
He slid two long fingers into me, and my body exploded in a ray of stars and moans. I shuddered and clung to him as he licked me one more time and then slid up my body until we were lip to lip, pelvis to pelvis once again.
He kissed me long and deep, and I wrapped my legs around his strong waist, arching up to him with need. I was aching so badly, and my body was screaming for him to slide deep inside me.
“I’ll just be a second.”
He rolled to the side and grabbed for his bag, searching through it frantically. He put it down and turned to me. “Dammit. I don’t have any protection, do you?”
I bit my lip and sat up. Oh shit. “If I do, they’d be pretty old.”
I slid off the bed and stepped into the bathroom. I pulled out my bottom drawer, the cool air in the room chilling my hot body. What a horrible way to ruin a beautiful night.
It was so great he was being the responsible one. I hadn’t thought of it, but this was just so cold.
I pulled out an unopened box and stepped back into the room. “Not sure if these are expired but…”
I threw him the box and sat down on the bed. “Well, that wrecked the mood, didn’t it?”
He stared at the box and opened it, drawing out a string of silver aluminum squares and laying them on the pillow next to him.
“Yeah, kind of, but I would have found it a bigger turn-off if you’d just whipped one out from your pocket like you do this every day.”
I crossed my arms over my naked breasts and huffed at him. “I was a bit surprised you weren’t prepared. Don’t you have women in your bed every night?”
He shrugged and glanced away, and my belly tightened. Now I was the one ruining the moment. He’d tried to defuse the situation with humor and a compliment, and I’d just made it worse.
“Sorry, I just don’t do this very often, sorry … again.”
He patted the bed and smiled at me with that smile I adored. Gentle. Sweet. And with a fire building in his gaze again. Maybe it wasn’t too late to save this night?
“Lie down for me?”
I nodded and crawled over to the spot he indicated, lying on my back and smiling up at him.
He stood up, and my eyes were drawn to where he began to stroke himself with two hands, curling and pulling until he began to harden and thicken once again.
> I licked my lips. I so wanted to taste that. Him.
“May I suck you?” His eyes went wide, and I bit my lip. “Um, only if you want me to, that is.”
He groaned and rolled his eyes with a wow look on his face. “Absolutely.”
He knelt on the bed and swung his leg over my shoulder.
I gaped up at him. He was literally straddling my face.
He grabbed hold of the bed head and stared down. “Is this ok, Jo?”
I nodded and swallowed down the fear that rose. A small part of me had always wanted a big male to dominate me, make me feel things I’d never felt before.
But this was very confronting. It was either step up and try something I’d never done before, or back off and never know how good it could have been.
I took a deep breath and stared at his face for one more moment. Alec was offering me an incredible night out of time, and I needed to stop overthinking it, and simply jump on board and enjoy the ride.
I wrapped my hand around his hot, thick shaft and drew him towards my mouth.
I opened and moaned as his silky flesh passed my lips, his dick already starting to thicken and grow as I licked, sucked, and curled my tongue around him.
He gasped above me, rocking his hips, thrusting his cock in and out of my mouth.
How hot is this!
I moved my hands around to his thighs and then his tight ass, pulling him deeper as he tried to move away. I wanted him closer, making those sexy noises that hit me right in the belly. Those moans that told me I was doing a good job.
“Fuck, you’re amazing at that. It feels … argh…”
He pulled out of my mouth and moved down the bed, grabbing a condom and sheathing himself with finesse as he went.
He lay down beside me, his fingers moving between my thighs as his lips captured mine again.
I grabbed hold of his shoulders, kissing him deeply as his fingers slid into me, my body still so sensitive and wet for him that my pussy opened easily.
A moan moved through my throat and I arched and gasped as he slid a second finger inside me.
“Please, I need you.”
I flushed with heat, up my chest and onto my face. I couldn’t believe I’d just said that, but as he rolled on top of me and growled into my neck with passion I was so proud I’d found the courage to voice my needs.
