Cruel & Beautiful

by A. M. Hargrove

  “It’s nice to see Drew with someone. The hockey ho that’s been hanging around here now will maybe get the message.”

  “Oh? Hockey ho?” I laugh.

  “Just wait. She’ll be here wearing his number. You’ll see.”

  “That’s just icky.”

  “It is. She wraps herself around him, too. He does everything to get her off him, but she will not leave him alone. Now she’s going to have to. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she finds out he’s here with you.”

  “Oh, maybe that’s bad, though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Think about it, Caroline. She sounds batshit nutty. What if she tries to stab me or something?”

  “I don’t think she’s that psycho.”

  “I hope not.” I’ll just stay close to Drew after the game and hope for the best.

  A few minutes pass and Caroline elbows me. “There she is.” I look toward the door and a bleached blonde walks in. Her boobs are the size of summer cantaloupes and her lips look like they got stuck in my mom’s Dyson vacuum cleaner. What the hell? Does she have a frequent buyer’s card at the local plastic surgeon’s office?

  Caroline starts laughing. “Exactly!”

  “Did I say that out loud?”

  “You did.”

  “Oops. I need to be better at filtering my thoughts.”

  “No, you’re right. She’s a freak show. What’s wrong with people?”

  “I’ve got nothing for you on that.”

  She shuffles up the stands, and I mean shuffles. When I see what’s on her feet, I get why. She’s wearing five-inch spiky heels. Holy shit. This is a hockey game, for Pete’s sake. Her jeans are so tight, I’m afraid they’re going to split down the middle. And when she wobbles up the steps, she drops something, bends down to pick it up and the crack of her ass shows. Oh, for the love of everything. Cover up the crack! Then I start to think of that … that thing chasing after Drew and I get tickled. And it hits me so hard I start laughing. I laugh until I cry. Then Caroline starts laughing and we know we’re both making spectacles out of ourselves, but we can’t seem to stop. It’s like when you’re in church and you know you’re not supposed to laugh, but the harder you try not to, the more you do. The next thing I know, I’m snorting and the FreakShowHockeyHo is watching us. OhMyGod MakeUsStop!

  Finally—finally!—the guys skate on the ice and that breaks it up for us. We both wheeze for a while but we do catch our breath. “That was way too good to pass up, right?” I ask.

  “Oh, I can see it now. You’re gonna have a heyday with this one. He’s gonna have to tough it out, yeah?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  HockeyHo is only a few rows away from us so we need to cut off our chat. Then she gets up and waddles down to the glass, which is right next to us, presses her melons against it and yells out Drew’s name. I cup my hand over my mouth and snort again. The back of her midriff tank top has number seventeen on it—Drew’s number. She turns toward us for a second and I see the number is on the front, too.

  Caroline leans into me and says, “Told ya.” I can only shake my head.

  Then HockeyHo yells, “I’m pulling for ya, Drew. Show ’em what ya got!” And she gives her melons the old one two.

  I pull my phone out and snap a photo. I can’t resist.

  When the team finishes warming up, they skate into their box and Drew and Sam look up at us. Drew has this sheepish look on his face as he shrugs. I laugh. Then something comes over me and I yell, “I’m pulling for ya, Drew!” And I whistle. That’s my claim to fame. I can whistle really loud with my fingers. He looks at me and blows me a kiss.

  HockeyHo’s eyes bulge to match her melons. She looks at me, then at Drew, and back at me. Then she yells, “I said it first, Drew.”

  I put my hands over my face, double over, and die laughing. I spread my fingers and can see Drew’s shoulders shaking with laughter.

  Honestly, and it’s sad to say, I don’t know who I watch more during the game, Drew or HockeyHo. They are each entertaining in their own diverse ways. HockeyHo is acting the garish team cheerleader. And Drew is spectacular on the ice, to my uneducated hockey eyes. He is graceful, yet aggressive, fast, and accurate with the puck. He has underplayed his abilities, as I knew he would. It amazes me that a man from the south who didn’t grow up skating could master this sport in such short time. I’m not sure if Drew’s team is just that good, or if the team they’re playing is just that bad, but they trounce them eight to zip. Drew scores five goals and gets three assists. And I’m impressed.

  His ear-to-ear grin at the end of the game says it all. I’m jumping up and down with Caroline, cheering and yelling, HockeyHo long forgotten. When they emerge from the locker room, showered, and in their street clothes, he picks me up and kisses me.

  “You were awesome!”

  “I had some fan help!” he says. Then he looks at Sam and Caroline, “See you guys later.”

  They both wave and Caroline says, “Cate, I hope to see you again soon.

  “Me too. It was really great talking with you, Caroline. Maybe next game then.” I wave bye as we walk to Drew’s car.

  “That was so much fun. I loved watching you. I can’t believe how good you can skate. I mean you were everything out there.” I bump his shoulder with my fist.

  He tosses his stuff in his trunk and as I’m getting ready to say something else, he grabs me and his mouth slams onto mine. Hands delve into my hair, and he wraps his other arm around me pulling me tight into his frame. God, can anything feel any better? Oh, yeah, when we’re sexing it up.

  My hands tuck under the waistband of his jeans. I have a need to get naked with him. He must feel it, too, as he deepens the kiss. I moan in response because I want him with everything I have as my blood flames through my veins. My sex throbs and I realize I am rubbing myself against his thigh. I slip one hand further down the back of his jeans and mold it to his perfect ass. Damn. I love his ass. Now I know why. All that skating has made it this way.

  He pulls away and stares, not saying a word. He traces the outline of my face, nose, and lips. It’s nearly unbearable. My throat is thick with desire.

  “Drew, I—”

  In a husky voice, he answers, “You don’t have to say a word. I know. Let’s go to dinner. I need food and then you. In the worst way.”

  “Yes.”

  Dinner is at a small local restaurant. They know Drew because he apparently does carryout here a lot. We hurry through the meal because both of us keep making innuendos about being in bed together. That’s all either of us want.

  We’re tearing each other’s clothes off as soon as we walk in the door. I’ve never experienced this before but I don’t want the feeling to stop. When we’re both down to our unders, he puts one arm under my knees and sweeps me off my feet—literally.

  “How one girl has managed to occupy almost my every waking minute, I have no idea. But you have done a damned fine job of it. I’m glad you’re here and we’re about to get in bed.”

  His voice is gruff with lust. He sets me on my feet and slides his boxer briefs down. His erection leaps out, as though it’s been waiting for this moment. I want to feel it so I reach for it.

  “You’re so soft, yet hard. Such a contrast.” My hand tightens on him.

  “Not too much, Cate.”

  “Did I do it wrong?” I glance up feeling like a chastised puppy.

  “No. God, no. I just want you too much.” Arms reach behind me and unhook my bra, then slip my lacy thong off. “You’re so unbelievably sexy. This is why I can’t think of anything but you.”

  He kisses me again as his hands find their way to my sex. His fingers are gentle, yet purposeful. And he knows how much pressure to apply. I’m moaning as my fingers sink into the muscles of his shoulders. I have to hold on because my legs want to crumple.

  He pulls his hand away and says, “Let’s get in bed.” When he pulls back the covers, he asks, “Did you wash the sheets
?”

  “Yeah,” I say.

  “That wasn’t necessary.”

  “Yes, it was. They were messy.” It’s an unpleasant moment for me and I cringe.

  His hand slides under my chin so he can look me in the eye. “Like I said last night, don’t turn something beautiful into an embarrassment. It was perfect, Cate. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

  His lovely words expunge my awkwardness and I lunge at him. Just as I’m about to kiss him, the corner of his mouth turns up and he throws me backward on the bed. Air whooshes out of my lungs as he brushes his lips over mine. Then he begins to work his way down to the apex of my thighs. Muscles tense as air is vacuumed from my chest. For a moment, I forget how to inhale. The anticipation of what’s about to occur, coupled with the fever in my blood makes me manic by the time his lips and tongue graze over that tiny bundle of nerves. I’m torn between wanting him like this and wanting him inside of me. But before I can think about it further, he does that thing with his finger, inserting it in just a bit, and I don’t need to make a decision at all. My back arches as I latch my fingers onto his hair and come all over the place, calling out his name. When he starts to glide up my body, I jerk him toward my mouth so I can kiss him. I want to absorb this man into my soul, crawl inside of him and stay there forever.

  “Cate, are you sure you’re not sore?”

  “Just a tiny bit tender, but I’m good. I want you, Drew.”

  “Why don’t you get on top? Then you control everything.”

  “O-Okay.” I’m a bit nervous about this. I’ve never done this and I’ll feel so exposed.

  He rolls on his back and reaches for a condom. I watch him put it on and it makes me want to put my mouth on him. When he’s ready, I bracket his thighs with mine and he holds out his hands.

  “For a little leverage.”

  He places them on his hips. “Find your rhythm and I’ll match it.”

  I nod, take a hold of him, and insert the tip. Then I inch down on him. It aches a tiny bit, but it’s okay. I keep going, and slide back and forth until he’s seated all the way. I stop a second, allowing myself to adjust to him. I make the mistake of catching a glimpse of his face. His lips are barely parted but it’s the deep cerulean of his irises that grab me. “Oh, god. You’re sexy.” A different ache replaces the one I had before.

  “Fuck.” He lifts his hips against me, and I move in sync with him. “Not anywhere close to you.” He slides his teeth over his lower lip and bites down. Oh, hell, when he starts to play with my breasts, I know I’m not going to last long. This isn’t good. But maybe it’s his plan.

  “Tell me if I’m doing this right, Drew.” I need to know if I’m pleasing him.

  “Fuck, Cate. What do you think?”

  I toss back my head, riding the sensations, before I straighten and manage to say, “If it’s anything like how I feel right now…”

  His eyes turn molten as his hand moves to my clit. Oh, good lord.

  “I, I won’t, can’t, I’m going to come.”

  My head drops back and I reach for his sack behind me. When I squeeze his balls, he immediately reacts by sitting up and pulling me close. As I climax, he kisses my cries of pleasure away before he follows me over that ledge. Whoa! That was incredible.

  “Don’t move. Let me kiss you,” he says.

  Feathering light kisses across my forehead, cheeks, and then my mouth, he moves from one corner to the other. Then he drops to my neck, where he runs his tongue up and down one side. This is good. The hot kind of good. His teeth and lips join in and he traverses to the other side and repeats his actions. I’m nothing but a squirmy heap when he finishes.

  “I know you can’t, but I want you again.”

  “Who says I can’t?” His eyes dance with mischief. “I may not be able to orgasm, but you can.”

  “Please hold me close like this.” I want to feel all of his skin on me.

  He does and proves his theory by rocking his hips into me as my eyes widen in surprise. I clutch his biceps and try to match his thrusts.

  “Cate, wrap your legs around me.”

  His authoritative voice makes my body involuntarily clench.

  “Oh, that’s nice.” He’s so deep now.

  “Now put your arms around my neck.” His slight commands turn me on.

  “Oh, okay.” We’re so tight. Touching everywhere. I grind myself against him, trying to find that perfect contact.

  “Here, let me ...” He slips his hand between us and I feel his finger touch me.

  “Ah!”

  He laughs. “Too much?”

  “No. Just surprised me.”

  He presses and rubs in a slightly circular motion. And it’s so good. I’m hanging on that edge.

  “I’m almost there. Can you come?” I ask because it’s only fair.

  “Let go, Cate. Don’t worry about me. I just want to watch.”

  I lick my lips and nod. His gaze locks onto mine. His eyes are gripping. But then so is his body as it brings mine to another spectacular climax as I cry out his name.

  “Jesus, Cate. Watching you come is a damn thrill.” He still plunges into me, slowly though, taking his time, running his hands all over my boneless body.

  In an instant, he flips me on my back and brushes my hair off my face.

  “Beautiful Cate. I could make love to you for days.” He rolls to his side and puts his hand on my hip after he pulls my leg over his. “Are you good? Still not too sore?

  “I’m great.”

  He smiles. “You are indeed.”

  “Drew, I, uh, I’m not on birth control. Remember?”

  “I do. Are you worried about the condom?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m still hard so it’s still on.”

  I feel my cheeks heat. “Okay.”

  He’s still moving in me as he watches me closely. “I’ll stop if you want.”

  “I want you to go on forever,” I confess. “I just don’t want a baby.”

  He laughs as he pulls out. “No baby.” Then his face gets serious. “I’m going to marry you some day, Catelyn Forbes. And then we’ll have babies.”

  When I open my mouth to speak, he says, “No, wait. I know this is entirely too soon to talk about this kind of stuff. You don’t really know me, much less love me, nor do I you. But I have this weird feeling about us. And it’s strong. And when I say marry you some day, I’m not talking about tomorrow. But mark my words.”

  I’m speechless. There isn’t a thing I can say to that. The truth is I have a strong and weird feeling about him, too. And I haven’t been able to put my finger on it. Maybe he just did for me.

  “Have I weirded you out?” he asks.

  I smile and shake my head. “Not really.”

  Lying next to each other as we are, it would be hard to lie. “I believe you.” His mouth catches mine and he sears me with another kiss.

  It isn’t until the following afternoon I have the will to force myself to leave. Papers and exams call me back to school but Drew is tempting.

  “Go. You have two degrees to obtain.”

  “I do. You already have yours and I’m still working on mine,” I say.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll have it before you know it.” He blankets me in his warmth and his lips find mine one last time. “This is going to have to hold me until next weekend.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” I tell him.

  “Of course we will. Be safe driving and call me when you get in.”

  The week is like double over-time. Since I didn’t get much done at Drew’s, I have my work cut out for me. Drew calls on Tuesday and wants to know if he can drive down to spend Wednesday night.

  “I want to say yes, like more than you know, but right now I’m underwater. I have three papers due and an exam on Thursday. If you come, I won’t get my work done.” I hate telling him no. There have been few times in my life I’ve hated missing out on things because of studying, but this ranks as number one
.

  “No worries. I understand. Cate, I was there once. Don’t ever feel bad about telling me this.”

  “Okay,” I say with some relief, but admit, “You sure make it tempting though.”

  “So, Friday or Saturday then?” he asks.

  “Friday night. Your place. Do you have a hockey match?”

  “I do. Saturday again. But at night,” he says.

  “Cool.”

  “Hey, I gotta run. I’m at work and I just got a text.”

  “Okay. Call me later.”

  At least I have an awesome weekend to look forward to.

  RIDING THE SUBWAY MONDAY morning is a mistake. I’m used to walking the few blocks to work, which is how I decided on the location of my apartment. The work site I’m headed to is about ten blocks away. And even though I can walk it, I don’t want to arrive in the form of an icicle. I can cab it, but I thought I’d be adventurous and try something new and out of the elements.

  The morning rush is unforgiving. The push and pull of people careens me forward and eventually catapults me up to the sidewalk, where I’m spit out like a wad of tobacco. I’m not familiar with DC yet, so I spend a few moments trying to orient myself. When I find my bearings, I make my way into the steel and gray building.

  After a tango with security and a salsa while trying not to get mushed into the elevator, I make my way to the reception desk on the floor I’m directed to.

  “Mrs. McKnight?” The woman asks brusquely. The severe bun at the nape of her neck seems to be the cause of her forced smile. It makes me wonder if she suffers from frequent headaches wearing her hair like that. TooTightABunitis.

  “It’s Ms. McKnight, actually.”

  She frowns and I wonder if it was a good idea to correct her and earn a place on her bad side. She glances away from me, not rolling her eyes, though I can tell it’s a struggle for her not to. She presses a button on the phone.

  “Miss McKnight is here.” She clicks a button with a perfectly painted nail and focuses on me. “You can have a seat. Someone will be with you.”

  I acknowledge her stern tone wordlessly and take the seat she indicates. A short time later, a tall, slender man with black-rimmed glasses, and reading papers smashed to his face, blindly comes toward the reception area as a brunette follows closely on his heels.