by Beth Michele
“They sound like a fucking trip. And your sister?”
“Ah, Tiny.”
He snorted. “Tiny?”
“Yup. All five-foot-one inches of her. I’ve been calling her Tiny since she was ten. Although whenever I think about her I always think of that quote, ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’ Because you do not want to mess with Tiny. She will chew you up and spit you out. Growing up, I wasn’t exactly the most confident kid. Glasses, acne that wouldn’t go away, not to mention it was all I could do not to look at other boys. I cared way too much about what other people thought, and Mia, she didn’t care at all. Even at ten, she walked around like she owned the world. She still does. And she slayed a lot of dragons for me. To the point where I was embarrassed I couldn’t stick up for myself.”
Drew rushed in, immediately coming to my defense. My chest filled with warmth. “Kids can be cruel, Sam. Shit, adults can be cruel. Expectations, judgment. It’s all bullshit. You have to live the life you want to lead. Because we only have a certain amount of time on this earth, and then poof, it’s gone.” I nodded because Drew was right. But when you’re a child, or at least when I was a child, it was easier said than done. “I’d like to meet your sister. I think we’d hit it off.”
The thought of Drew meeting Mia sent jolts of excitement racing over my skin. “Yeah, she’d like you. She’s attracted to wildness.”
His mouth twisted up on one side. “What are you trying to say? You think I’m wild?”
“Compared to me, you’re Tarzan.” My eyes wandered to the open door of his closet and I caught a flash of the upheaval. “A messier version.” He tossed his head back in a laugh and I ogled the contour of his throat, the soft strands of hair breaching his neck, the single freckle dotting his shoulder. A sigh spilled out. I was so comfortable with Drew. At ease in a way I never had been before. Never allowed myself to be. “Laugh it up. Feel free,” I teased, and he fisted a hand against his mouth to curb his laughter.
“Not many people can make me laugh, Sam. But you, you’re really funny. Now I definitely see where the subtle humor in your books comes from.” Drew dunked his spoon into the remainder of the chocolate before bringing it to his mouth and inhaling it. “Wow.” He used the edge to scrape every last bit of ice cream from the bowl. “That was fucking delicious,” he added, reaching over to set his bowl on the bedside table.
“You sure you got it all?” His gaze returned to mine and he glared at me, but his lips were dancing as they struggled to withhold his grin.
“Now who’s the wiseass?”
“Actually, you missed some.” I reached out with my thumb to swipe a glob of chocolate from his chin. He grabbed my finger and closed his lips around it, swirling his tongue and sucking it into his mouth. My cock stirred, skin flushing with heat. Sparks flared in his eyes as he bit down gently on the tip of my finger.
My swallow was too loud as he slid my thumb slowly from his mouth, gaze piercing, and let me go. He peeled the bowl I was now gripping in my other hand, away. As he leaned over me to place it down, his chest brushed mine and I inhaled a sharp breath. Drew’s touch, whether purposeful or not, made my body quiver with need. In every way possible, I wanted him.
He shifted slightly so he was above me and dipped his head, teeth grazing the sensitive skin of my earlobe, hot breath filling my ear. “Sam…,” he whispered, sending a shiver cascading down my back. Already, my body gravitated toward him, pushing up from the sheet to connect with any part of him I could reach. I rubbed my foot against his calf, my hand coming around to trail along the arch of his spine. His lips drifted to my jaw as he covered my skin with soft, wet kisses. Finding my mouth. Long, drawn-out strokes of his tongue against mine. I could’ve kissed him forever. He tasted like rich chocolate and bananas, and I smiled, knowing somehow it was okay I was ruining our perfect kiss.
“What’s funny?” he breathed against my mouth. His grin was as wide as mine.
“You taste delicious,” I murmured, my tongue flicking out to lick his bottom lip.
“Should’ve had the banana split,” he teased, easing lower to take my nipple between his teeth, tugging on it and eliciting a sharp spike of pleasure to shoot through me. My cock pulsed, aching for him. Wanting him to keep going—wanting to be released from the confines of my boxers—wanting his mouth on me again.
“I’m having it right now.” I panted the words, realizing how corny they sounded and regretting it instantly. But in his usual fashion, Drew glanced up, unaffected, with a wicked smile.
“Oh you so fucking are.”
He disappeared after that, intent on giving me a buzz. And he didn’t disappoint.
Strong hands and rough fingertips moved over my skin in tandem with his tongue—skimming the muscles of my chest, my stomach, my abdomen, and leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake. My body writhed beneath his touch as he brushed past the trail of hair leading to the place demanding him most. He slid my boxers down and off my legs, and my head fell to the side.
“Jesus. Your cock… it’s fucking beautiful.”
His words made me throb even more, my head fogging over with a heavy lust. He just had me in his mouth, but I wanted it again. And when the first, wet flick of his tongue fused with that rough grating of stubble, a groan tore from my chest. It was too loud, too needy, and Drew must’ve sensed it. He bolted up, ripping his boxers from his body as if he couldn’t bear the obstruction. I caught a glimpse of his engorged cock, desperate to have him inside of me.
“Turn over, Sam. On your hands and knees.” Strain seeped into his words like he was having difficulty holding back. But I didn’t want him to hold back. I wanted him to fuck me with everything he had.
I didn’t hesitate. At this point, I would’ve done anything he asked. But as I complied with his request and sat up, he stopped me with a hand on my arm. His gaze was intent on mine as if waiting for…
And then it hit me.
He needed confirmation that I knew this was different for him. “I trust you, Drew.” My voice rang out strong and determined, and I saw the second his chest relaxed and his smile loosened. He kissed me once before jumping off the bed.
I got ready for him, hands and knees pressing into the mattress, ass in the air. My dick so hard it was aching. My heart hammered in my chest as I waited for his warmth, his firm, muscular body to meld with mine.
I felt it then, his heated breath feathering my back as he leaned over me and parted his lips against my skin. His body cloaked mine, hand wandered lower, then lower still, until he reached the pucker between my ass. I heard the pop of a cap and glanced over my shoulder, watching him slick two fingers with lube before moving them in gentle circles around my hole. Slowly, he eased one finger in and I groaned, fighting past the initial sting.
“Okay?” His tone was soft, and it was so much more than okay.
“Yeah.”
He slid another finger in, hooking it deeper. I pushed back against him, needing more. “You like that?”
“God, yes,” I panted, rocking back as his fingers thrusted in and out of my ass. Goose bumps covered my arms and neck while I lowered my head, trying to keep my breathing under control. In such a state of delirium, I didn’t hear the condom package open, but knew the second his fingers left me empty. His cock nudged the opening of my hole, slipping back and forth between my crack. Drew teased me over and over until I couldn’t take it anymore. His breathing came hard and fast as he eased in, taking his time and letting me get used to his size.
But I didn’t need time.
“Please,” I moaned, “I want you inside me.”
He pushed in further, past the ring of muscle, the sharp burn giving way to immense pleasure. My muscles clenched around him and he stilled inside of me. “Jesus. Fuck, you feel good.”
“You need to move, Drew.”
He paused on my words before he pulled back then drove into me, filling me completely. I couldn’t believe how amazing he felt. A moan flew from my lips and
I grabbed onto my cock, stroking it while he continued to fuck me from behind. “So tight, Sam. Feel so good.” His words were choppy, breaths frantic as he continued to stretch me. I loved how little control he had.
He dug his fingers into my hip as his warm, hard length moved in and out of my ass. It was slippery and messy. We were loud. Sounds of our skin slapping and heavy breathing permeated the room. The smell of sweat and sex hovered in the air above us and I got off on it, my body vibrating with pleasure.
Drew sped up, and as his frantic thrusts grew more fevered I beared against him, urging him on. I let out a sharp hiss as his teeth bit into the flesh of my shoulder.
“Oh, fuck.” He shuddered, letting out a strangled groan as he came. I was almost there too, when he took me by surprise and pulled out, flipping me over on my back. His mouth, hot and eager, sought me out. Damp lips wrapped around my cockhead as he suctioned me against the back of his throat. I wasn’t going to last. So turned on from him fucking me that my hips were circling as his tongue lapped at me. When his hand fisted the base and squeezed, my balls drew up.
“Oh, God…” Cool sheets beneath my body, Drew’s wet mouth sliding up and down my shaft, the feel of his saliva gathering around my length—it was all too much. A groan left my chest and I arched up into his mouth. “I need to come…”
His tongue laved the underside of my dick and I was gone, detonating in his mouth. My vision clouded as pleasure slammed into me.
He released me after a minute, heading straight for my mouth, my lips, my tongue. “I fucking love when you come. You taste so fucking good,” he breathed out. “And your ass… so snug around my cock. Just fucking perfect.”
I brushed a piece of sweaty hair from his forehead and chuckled. “You made me see stars.”
The lone dimple in his cheek popped. “I’ve got mad skills.”
“Yes, you do.” My hand lingered against his cheek. He was trembling. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” He shrugged as if it surprised him. “More than okay actually.” His gaze darted to the side before finding mine again. “I feel… happy.”
And I’d never been happier.
“WHY DID WE need to leave the room again? I was perfectly happy with naked Sam.”
I lowered the menu and tilted my head, trying not to think about naked Drew. “Because I wanted something other than what was on the room service menu.”
Drew plucked a lemon wedge from a small bowl and squeezed it into his water. He was half-pouting and he looked adorable. “It’s funny how the one night I want to stay in, you want to go out. Ice cream is a fine dinner.” His brow lifted. “Especially when it’s complemented by naked Sam.” He laughed and I sent him a mock glare. “Okay, okay.” Sitting up straighter in his chair, he cleared his expression. “I shall order a meal.”
Ten minutes and half a beer later, I was still staring at the menu. Drew leaned into the table, tugging it down with one finger. “What’s happening? Do they not have anything you like here at the hotel? We can always go somewhere else if you want.”
I huffed out a breath. “I just can’t decide. I don’t want to make the wrong choice.”
“Sam,” his voice gentled, “there is no wrong choice. Every day you can try something different. We’ve still got time.”
The words on the menu blurred with my thoughts. We had four days. I knew that because I’d started obsessing about it the moment we left his room. The logical part of my brain said everything would be fine. We weren’t worlds apart. He was in New York while I was in New Jersey. But the emotional side had grown too attached to him. Couldn’t imagine going a day without seeing that cocky grin or watching him push his hair away from those amazing blue eyes.
Already, I pictured him finding someone who didn’t have weird compulsions. Someone who was more of a free spirit. Just the idea of it made my chest cave in. If this was a story I was writing, we’d stay here forever. Sometimes fiction was so much better than reality.
“So what’s it going to be? I say, fuck it, why not order everything you want.”
The fog cleared and I was left with Drew’s expectant gaze staring into mine. Everything I wanted was right in front of me. And as of this minute, it was all mine. I was just afraid it wouldn’t last. That I would hold him back. As if Drew was a wild animal that couldn’t be tamed.
The waitress approached our table. I was about to ask for more time when Drew jumped in, picking up his menu and pointing a finger to various items. “We’ll have an order of the calamari steak, the pineapple chicken, and… the shoyu potatoes. Actually, make that two orders of the potatoes.” He handed her both our menus and served up an authentic smile. “I’m a starch lover.”
She walked away expressionless and I broke out into a laugh. “I’m a starch lover?”
His dimple prominent, Drew sat back in his chair and gestured with his hands. “Yeah, you know. Potatoes, fries, rice, bagels. Shit, you haven’t lived until you’ve had a New York bagel.”
“I know what starch is, Drew,” I teased, and he playfully kicked my foot under the table. I took it as an opportunity to twine my leg with his. “And calamari steak, isn’t that kind of a strange combination?”
“Only if you make it strange,” he countered, his statement giving me pause. So much truth in such simple words. Music began playing in the background and if it was possible, Drew’s smile grew brighter.
“What?”
He pointed behind him to where the sound was coming from. “I love this song.”
I turned an ear to hear better. “James Bay. Yeah, this is a good song.”
“This is a fucking awesome song. Listen to that voice. Also doesn’t hurt that he’s fucking hot.” Drew kicked back his chair and stood. He held out his hand. “Dance with me.”
With eyes that were glittering, it was hard to say no. But I didn’t have a choice. “I don’t think so.”
Drew made a noise like he was thinking hard. “Why not?”
I grabbed onto the neck of my beer bottle for support. “Because I don’t dance.” When I registered the confusion on his face, I clarified. “I can’t dance. I’ve got no rhythm.”
“Sam…” He angled his head and I sensed his convincing argument forthcoming. This guy could talk me into anything. “This isn’t fucking Dancing with the Stars. It’s you and me.”
My eyes shifted to the other patrons then back to Drew. “And everyone else.”
“Fuck everyone else. I want to dance with you.” He extended his arm further between us, his open hand a tempting invitation. Damn it. Why did he make it so impossible to say no? That sweet expression was too much to fight and I folded my palm into his and pushed my chair back.
“Do you ever not get your way?”
His lips pursed in thought. “Nope.”
I laughed and let him lead me to a space in the corner beside an open table. Then I stood there like an idiot and found something interesting on the floor, pressing my free hand into the pocket of my shorts. His touch on my chin prompted me to lift my head.
“It’s easy. You trust me, right?” I nodded, and he advanced two steps until he was so close his breath dusted my lips. He took the hand he was holding and draped it around his neck. “Now do the same with your other hand,” he instructed, and I did, feeling the warmth of his skin under waves of thick hair.
His arms snaked around my waist and he pulled me close, leaning his cheek against mine. I sighed, the sweetness of it pinching my chest, speeding up my heart. “That’s it,” he whispered. “It’s easy. Just feel the music.”
One song melted into another and we didn’t stop. Not even when I saw a couple staring at us with tight, unnerved expressions. I lifted my face away from Drew, missing his warmth instantly. But I needed to stop overanalyzing and say what was on my mind. “I leave in just four days.”
“Three for me, but who’s counting,” he shot back, and it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one thinking about it.
“I’m… I�
�m going to miss you, Drew. Seeing you every day.” The admission burned my throat. Drew pressed his forehead to mine, but not before I caught the red sweeping over his cheeks. The silence I got in return was too loud and my mind held me hostage again. He didn’t owe me the words, but I was desperately hoping to hear them.
“I’ll miss you, too.”
They were so quiet when they finally came, I almost didn’t catch them. But my heart certainly did. Blood pumped life into it, much the way Drew did for me.
I wanted to talk about how often we would see each other once we returned home. But I didn’t dare. Instead, I tried hard to stay in the moment. To relish in the whisper of Drew’s soft breathing against my skin, the thumping of his chest against mine. The noise of clanking dishes broke the spell and I faltered, landing on Drew’s foot.
We broke apart and I shrugged. “I was doing good there for a while.”
“You did great.” He tossed me a reassuring smile as we made our way back to the table where our food was waiting. Drew eyed the various dishes. “I think she made a mistake.” He sat, placing a napkin on his lap. “She brought us three plates of potatoes.”
I smirked, finding my own chair. “I doubt it. You’re charming and you said you were a starch lover so she probably brought you an extra one.”
He forked a piece of steak onto my plate then followed suit with his own. “I’m not sure anyone has ever described me as charming before.”
“Then they weren’t paying close enough attention.”
His gaze flew to mine, that rare shyness tugging on his lips before he returned to his food. I nudged his leg with my foot and caught him smiling as he scooped potatoes for each of us to sample.
“I was thinking we could go parasailing tomorrow if you’re up for it.” Drew licked his lips and closed his eyes as he chewed. “Fuck, these potatoes are orgasmic.”
I chuckled, nearly spitting out my steak. “Orgasmic potatoes. That’s a first.”
