Use Me

by Kimberly Knight

  “Well, here’s some more.” Jaime handed me the shot, and I snatched a lime from the counter in front of me where Kylie was cutting slices.

  “But really,” Colleen said, opening the tortilla chips, “you’re moving onto Rhys Cole?”

  “Just because I took one picture with a fellow anchor doesn’t mean I’m dating the guy.”

  Jaime sat next to me with a shot of Patrón in front of her. “It wasn’t because you took a picture. It was because we’d never seen you smile like that before. You were fucking glowing, and you’d just broken up with Corey.”

  “I wasn’t glowing,” I muttered. “It was from all the wine. And maybe the shot of Fireball.” And because he’d kissed my bare shoulder and caused goosebumps to rise on my skin. I left that part out. I also left out the part where we’d kissed—three times. I downed my shot. “Let’s just drop it. I don’t want to talk about boys.”

  “That’s the whole point of a girl’s night.” Kylie laughed.

  “Well, let’s talk about all of your love lives.”

  “We’re all married.” Colleen laughed. “We have boring pre-scheduled sex.”

  I sighed. “I’m not having sex anymore. Or getting married for that matter.”

  “I’m sure Rhys Cole would be up for sex. He told you to use him, so fucking use him.” Jaime slid her shot to me.

  “He didn’t mean for me to use him like that,” I lied. “He meant he’d be my fake boyfriend if I needed rescuing from some guy again.”

  Kylie poured me another shot and handed it to me. I noticed I was the only one to take a shot, and now I was the only one getting another. “Fine. So tonight you find a guy to go home with and have hot sex. It won’t kill you to have a little fun. Just remember we get to go home to snoring and farting, but you can go home and have hot stranger sex.”

  “Hot stranger sex?”

  Colleen sighed. “Sex where you give up control and just feel. You don’t need to worry about how your boobs look while you lie on your back, or if your belly is sticking out some. You just go have sweaty sex and be done with it.”

  Maybe the girls were on to something. And maybe Rhys was right. Maybe I needed to get under someone to forget about Corey. It was worth a try. “I’m not getting any by having you three grill me. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Two more shots later, chips and salsa in our bellies, we were out the door and walking to Judy’s. I was still two shots ahead of them, and I was feeling it. Corey who? Why shouldn’t I try to meet someone else? I could have stayed home, eaten an entire gallon of ice cream and drunk an entire bottle of wine, but I wouldn’t have been happy, so I chose to go out with my friends and seriously consider this stranger sex thing.

  “Hi,” I greeted the bartender as my girls and I maneuvered between people. It was the same guy from a week ago.

  “What will it be?”

  “Four red wines. House is fine.” Girl’s night wasn’t about drinking for taste.

  “No,” Jaime cut it. “Four shots of Patrón and …” she thought for a moment. “Four seven and sevens.” I smiled, remembering that was what Rhys was drinking the other night. It wasn’t a drink I’d normally order, but tasting it on Rhys’s lips wasn’t bad. Jaime turned to me after the bartender moved away to make our drinks. “No wine tonight. You don’t have to work tomorrow, you have no boyfriend tying you down, and the girls and I are Ubering home. You can let loose. The looser you are—”

  “Are you done?” I laughed. “I wasn’t going to object, Mom.” We were already doing tequila shots. One more, and a seven and seven, was going to put me over the edge and I was going to let loose. I knew it. I also knew I needed that to actually go through with stranger sex.

  “Good. Now down your shot and let’s grab a table.” Jamie handed her credit card to the bartender and told him to keep it open. The four of us clinked our glasses together and then downed the agave goodness.

  We made it to a high top table diagonal from the bar. If we had been ten or fifteen minutes longer, the bar would have been packed. After eleven was when things really heated up. I knew that much about going to the bars. In fact, I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol flowing through my veins or what, but the music seemed to get louder even though there were more bodies in the small space.

  The song switched to Strip That Down by Liam Payne, and it was as though my hips had a mind of their own. I slid off the stool and started swaying to the beat next to the table. Kylie joined me, and before I knew it, all of us were singing and laughing as the music continued to play from the speakers above. I was letting loose, not caring if anyone was watching or if anyone knew or recognized me. It wasn’t as though I was a huge celebrity in this town, but sometimes I was recognized by older people who watched the news before bed. That was part of the gig.

  Colleen nudged her head, indicating for me to look behind me. My heart stopped as I saw the man I’d met a week ago. Rhys was leaning against the bar, a pint of beer in his hand and a huge you’re-making-me-hard-by-dancing-like-that grin on his face. I smiled back and then turned back to my friends as the song switched. I could no longer focus on the words that were being sung or even the beat because my thoughts were solely on the man behind me. Was he going to come dance with me? Was he hard like I assumed he was? Did he get back together with his girlfriend? Did he come here a lot or just on Saturdays? Would sex with him be considered stranger sex?

  It didn’t take long for me to get at least one of my answers.

  Make that two.

  Before I knew it, a hard—and I mean hard—body was pressed against my backside. All of my friend’s eyes widened, and I smiled, feeling busted. I didn’t know why. Rhys and I weren’t a thing, but it felt as though I was keeping a secret from them. Of course, the only secret was the three kisses that had meant nothing.

  Rhys stepped around me and stuck out his hand, introducing himself to the girls. Then he turned back around and whispered into my ear, “We should take this back to my place.”

  I was lucky that alcohol made me red because I was certain I was blushing. Rhys, in such a short amount of time, seemed to have a way of making my heart smile even when I was sad and lonely. Maybe he was the key to making my heart whole again? Even if we were just fake boyfriend and girlfriend. His words were like a drug that had an instant effect on my body, and laughing with this man seemed to be a way for me to heal.

  I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I mean, I wanted to say yes, but I was with my friends. Then my gaze darted past Rhys, and I saw three other guys walking toward us.

  “Ladies,” one of the guys said with a nod.

  Rhys remembered my friend’s names as he introduced them and myself to Kenny, Jett, and Clark. I recognized Jett as Rhys’s co-anchor, but the others weren’t sports broadcasters. Rhys mentioned they were journalists for his station, so I assumed they helped get stats and other sports-related things.

  “Another round?” Rhys asked twirling his finger around to all of us.

  “Are you buying?” Kylie asked.

  Rhys smiled as the ladies and I returned to our seats. “Of course.”

  “I’m okay,” I stated. “If I have another, you’ll have to carry me home.”

  “Not like I’m not going that way, Cupcake.” Rhys winked and then left to the bar. His friends followed.

  Once they were out of earshot, all three of my friends hissed, “Cupcake?”

  I shrugged. “He wants to lick and eat me.”

  They were speechless as their mouths hung open.

  I shrugged again. “He was joking.”

  “He wasn’t joking,” Jaime whispered, low. “If you don’t get with him, we aren’t friends anymore,” she continued.

  I laughed. “You’ll disown me as a friend for not spreading my legs for a guy?”

  “No,” she corrected. “For not spreading your legs for that guy.”

  I followed the way her finger was pointing toward the bar. The guys were grabbing our drinks, two each, and th
en they started to make their way over to us. “I’ll see what happens.”

  “And we want details,” Colleen stated.

  A lot could happen in an hour, but it was what could happen after last call that excited me.

  “I knew something was going on with you and Ashtyn Valor,” Kenny whisper-yelled as we stepped up to the bar.

  “Nothing’s going on.” Yet. Having more than my lips and hands touch Ashtyn made me crave her even more. There was no doubt that she could feel how hard I was as my dick rubbed against her ass while we danced. I couldn’t help it. I needed to be near her, and I didn’t give a fuck. I wanted her to know—no, I needed her to know that I still wanted her.

  “You said you wanted to get laid tonight. Why not with Ashtyn?”

  I didn’t look over at Kenny as he spoke. Instead, I watched Ashtyn. Yes, I wanted to get laid tonight. “She just broke up with her boyfriend. I don’t want to be her rebound.” Well, maybe I did. I told her to use me for sex, except a part of me knew that once I had all of her, I wouldn’t be able to get my fill with only one time.

  “Dude,” Jett cut in. “There’s nothing wrong with a little bump N’ grind between adults.”

  My gaze moved to his, and I started to laugh. “Who are you? R. Kelly?”

  He narrowed his dark eyes at me. “Don’t compare me to that child—”

  I cut him off. “You’re the one quoting his song.”

  Jett reached around me to grab two of the drinks Tommy had placed in front of us. “No, I’m telling you to fuck her brains out.”

  “Who’s tab?” Tommy asked.

  “Mine,” I replied and grabbed the last two seven and sevens. Each of us had two drinks. When we got back to the small table, I placed the drink in front of Ashtyn. “Tommy said this is what you ladies are drinking. I hope it’s okay.”

  Jaime spoke before Ashtyn could. “It’s perfect. I actually think that we,” she moved her finger around to indicate everyone except Ashtyn and me, “should go pick a song on the jukebox.”

  “Good idea,” Kenny replied and slapped me on the back as I watched the six of them leave.

  It wasn’t the first time Ashtyn and I had been alone in this very bar, but it was the first time that we had an audience watching our every move. As I stood next to her, both of us sipping our drinks, my gaze fell on the group at the back of the bar. Each one would take turns looking at us, and once they’d realize we were watching them instead of talking to each other, they’d turn around quickly as though they’d been caught. They were. We knew what was up.

  “Our friends are weird.” I looked down at Ashtyn as I stood next to her.

  “So weird,” she agreed and took a sip of her drink.

  I turned my body fully to her. “How’ve you been?” Yes, I asked that question even though ten minutes ago my dick was trying to get frisky with her.

  Ashtyn’s smoky green eyes peered up at me. “Hanging in there. You?”

  “Good,” I lied. I mean, I was good, but I wasn’t great. I was trying to focus all my time on work so I didn’t have to think about anything else. I didn’t even care about Bridgette anymore. The more time that passed after our breakup, the more I realized I’d never loved her. I loved her as a person, and I loved spending time with her and having sex with her, but I wasn’t in love with her. If I had been, I would have asked her to marry me, and the thought of marriage never entered my mind.

  “How’s work?”

  I stared at her for a moment before I spoke, “Are we really going to make small talk?”

  She blinked. “What do you mean?”

  We could talk about work, weather, our favorite colors and shit, but time was ticking before our friends would come back, so I just went for it. I leaned down and rested my elbows on the table next to her as I whispered, “I mean that our friends over there are obviously wanting us to talk about more than the weather. And I’ll be honest with you, Ashtyn, I’ve been thinking about you a lot. Thinking about other places your mouth could kiss my body.” I told her the fucking truth in hopes she felt the same way.

  “We’re both single,” I continued, “and in two more minutes our friends will come back and keep dropping hints that we need to go back to my place. So, Ashtyn, Cupcake, let me pay my tab and let’s get the fuck out of here.”

  Her gaze moved quickly to our friends and then back to me. She shrugged with a smirk. “Okay.”

  I grinned. “Put your jacket on and meet me at the bar.” I strode to the wood top and motioned to Tommy that I needed to sign the credit card bill in a fucking hurry. We didn’t need to tell our friends goodbye or goodnight or whatever. Once they turned and saw us gone, they would know we went back to my place. Kenny would need to crash at Jett’s or Clark’s or in his fucking car in my guest parking spot. I didn’t care. I scribbled my name on the credit card bill, grabbed her hand and then we were out of the bar in a flash.

  “My place or yours?” she asked.

  “Well, I do have new sheets I need to christen.” I smirked and tugged her hand so we could cross the street.

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Yeah?” I asked.

  “Since we’re being honest with each other, I’ve thought about you this past week.”

  “You don’t know how happy that makes me.”

  We made it to my building in record time, but the elevator didn’t descend fast enough. I was excited, my heart beating a little fast as I pushed the up button with my free hand repeatedly until it finally arrived. When it did, Ashtyn went in first, still holding my hand. As the door closed, my mouth met hers, and all memories of our earlier kisses came floating back. Her lips were soft, sweet and a little demanding. She was like that first sip of single malt whiskey after a long day: sweet, smooth and refreshing. I went with it, backing her against the wall, moving my hips into her again. If the elevator didn’t hurry, I was going to strip her of her jeans and silky shirt and do all the things I’d been dreaming about for the past week with her body.

  When we finally arrived on my floor, I stepped away from her warm body and directed her, still hand in hand to my front door. Before I could find my keys, I was pushing her up against the wall next to my door, kissing her again. I couldn’t get enough. At the same time, I was trying to find my keys in my pocket, but it was hard.

  And so was I.

  Finally, I got the door open, and we were moving inside. At that moment, I had no idea where my bedroom was. I didn’t care. Ashtyn was in my condo, my hands were all over her body, and my lips were still tasting her. We started to strip our clothes, leaving a trail from the front door to the living room. I was two seconds away from leaning her over the back of the couch and having my way with her, but she spoke against my mouth.

  “Where’s your bedroom?”

  “You can only fuck in a bed, Cupcake?”

  She pulled her head away from me. “No, but I thought you’d want to get rid of her memory.”

  I did. And since we’d started this relationship—or whatever you wanted to call it, with us ending other relationships, she was right. I needed new memories to go with the new sheets. I wanted to smell Ashtyn on my pillow and not the laundry detergent I used.

  I led her to my bedroom, both of us partially undressed. “Turn around,” I instructed.

  Ashtyn turned, and I moved to her, brushing her blonde hair to the side, and then I ran my finger down her spine until it met the clasp of her bra. Her head fell forward, and under my touch I felt her skin rise, responding to my trace on her skin. I moved forward, kissing down her back where my finger had left a trail. I was right, my lips loved more of her body than just her lips, and by the way Ashtyn moaned, I knew she did too. Instead of stopping at the clasp again, I continued my path. My lips slowly descended as I bent behind her and wrapped my arms around to the button of her jeans. The nickel button slide through the slit and I pulled her zipper down, my lips never leaving her skin until I got to the waistband of her jeans. I shimmied her pants down until she was
standing in front of me in only her black bra and matching panties.

  “He’s fucking crazy,” I breathed, looking at the way Ashtyn filled out her panties.

  “Who?” she asked, looking over her shoulder.

  My gaze met hers. “Fuck nut.”

  She smiled. “I agree.”

  My hands went to the cotton on her hips, and I slid it down her legs until she stepped out of her panties. I tossed them behind me and then unclasped her bra and threw it in the same direction.

  “Turn around,” I whispered. My heart was pounding, anticipating the sight I was about to take in. When she turned and looked down at me, my dick strained against the zipper of my own jeans.

  “Why am I the only one naked?”

  That was a good question.

  I brought my lips to hers again. We kissed as I worked on undoing my jeans. We kissed while I tugged them down my legs. And we kissed while I stepped out of my boxers. Once we were both completely naked, our mouths stayed fused as I pushed her back until she hit the end of my bed. Then, as she scooted to the center of my king-sized bed, I crawled on top of her.

  I trailed kisses from her mouth, down her neck, across her breasts, not stopping my journey until my tongue took its first taste of her pussy. She was sweet, almost like the whiskey I’d been drinking that night, and the moans coming from Ashtyn’s throat told me I was on the right path. I spread her more, my tongue going as deep as it possibly could. I added my finger as I circled her clit with my tongue until she moaned and clenched her thighs together as she came.

  No words were spoken as I slowly ran my hands along her smooth, ivory skin from her calf up to her breast. My lips returned to hers, my hard cock pressed into her side and my hand pinching her nipple. I didn’t know how long I could hold out, but I was waiting for Ashtyn’s breathing to return to normal. Granted, I was still working her body instead of letting her rest. I couldn’t help it.

  A warm hand wrapped around my dick causing me to break our lips apart. She started to stroke me with her soft hand and I really couldn’t let it continue because I was on the brink of coming as it was. Instead, I reached into the nightstand and grabbed a condom. As I rose up on my heels to sheath myself, Ashtyn’s hand fell away from me, and she spread her legs, welcoming me to enter her.