by Shayne Ford
Tense, she moves, her eyes sparkling, alive and intrigued. A soul woman in the making. I can see why she gives in to Thalia’s crazy ideas, like this one for instance. I also understand why she runs away from her once in a while.
Cupping the back of her neck, I pull her to me and kiss her. Trembling like a stranded kitten, she curls a hand around my neck while splaying her fingers on my chest. I let her set the pace.
Mustering more courage, she runs her palm over my abs, her kiss growing more confident. Caressing her breasts, I roll her bottom lip between my teeth and suck it gently.
She smiles against my lips and thrusts her tongue into my mouth. I stroke her, and she deepens her kiss as we get a good taste of each other.
Keeping her sealed to my mouth, I run my hand between her thighs. Her hand slips under my towel.
The water stops running in the bathroom. Shooting a glance in that direction, she pulls her hand away.
“Shh, shh, “ I say as I brush my lips against hers, and cover her with soft kisses, all the way down to her neck, and her chest.
“You don’t have to run away... Cassie...”
She pulls away slightly, her eyes filled with surprise, prompted by my words or perhaps the sound of her name rolling off my lips.
She looks at me as if she didn’t think I would remember her name. Gently, I lean in and place another kiss on her lips.
“You don’t have to be afraid...”I whisper, witnessing the rise of a smile on her lips.
Keeping my eyes trained on hers, I push my fingers between her legs. Tilting her head back, she dips her gaze to my mouth, her eyes narrowing with a smile.
A flash from the past rushes to me... I push that image away. Slipping her hand back under my towel, she slides closer to me.
“That’s way better...” I murmur.
She locks my lips, and pulls the towel open, stroking me as if I’m her beloved pet. We deepen our kiss, and she starts rocking against me. I stretch my arm for a condom. Placing a hand on my chest, she looks at me.
“Not yet...” she says, giving me a suggestive smile.
Stretching a grin, I pull up, and lean my back against the headboard while she glides down.
Clasping her hands on my thighs, she molds her lips on the tip of my cock. Sucking gently, she rolls her tongue over the head, presses her full lips around my thickness, and starts sliding down.
I let her find her way.
No rush, no pressure. She gets a taste of me, and soon, she takes me deeper, her mouth wrapped around me, the sight of her beautiful face connected to my cock sending ripples of pleasure through me. I grab her hair as my shaft starts stirring in her mouth. I bring her to me and kiss her again.
Swiftly, I roll the condom down.
We’re no longer alone, but she doesn’t care. Eyes rooted to me, she straddles me and slides her core down on me. Filled, she starts to move.
Moments later, I flip her, and bring her under me, covering her body with mine. Her hands travel up my back, then on my chest, and in my hair. Her eyes sparkle, locked with mine, a soft smile tilting her lips.
I can’t take my eyes off her. I see her, and I also see a ghost of the past, and for a moment the two collide, and as I lose myself in it, I no longer see Cassie. I see Layla.
Her eyes fill with light, and her nose wrinkles with pleasure as her lips curl into a lustful smile. Her fire blazes wild all over me, and her love envelopes me as her voice calls my name, telling me that she’s mine... telling me that she loves me.
And for a damn moment, a good feeling sneaks up on me.
Wrapping my hand around Cassie’s neck, I move slowly, undulating on top of her, making love to her.
With every thrust, her chest rises, and her eyes glimmer, her lips quivering as her body responds to mine, soft and warm and loving. Her hand slides up my chest, and my neck, her fingers rolling onto my lips as I kiss her fingertips.
What the hell am I doing?
I kiss her softly, and she whispers across my lips.
“River... This is so good.”
My heart thuds in my chest, my eyes covered with mist. I slide my hand under her backside and thrust deeper. Her body tenses, and so does mine. A moan escapes her lips as her eyes widen, and her body stills, her pulsations quickening.
She gasps, and I claim her mouth as I thrust the hardest. Screaming in my mouth, she shudders under me, and I let my body fall with her, repressing the roaring that swirls inside my chest.
As she scales down, she looks deep into my eyes, her soft smile making my heart flutter in my chest. Gently, I roll my lips onto hers, and she kisses me back.
Confident, no longer trembling.
Thalia’s stare grills my back. Smoothly, I break away and leave Cassie’s body.
“Give me a moment,” I say cupping Thalia’s perplexed face, and planting a kiss on her lips.
Swiftly, I leap up to my feet. Pretending I have no fucking idea why she blinks like a broken doll, I sneak into the bathroom.
Moments later, I enter the bedroom and slide onto the bed. Sprawled on my back, I take in the two naked women waiting for me, grinning with wicked anticipation as the real party is about to get started.
“I can’t fucking stand it. It feels as if I’m a fucking roadkill.”
Steve pulls the shades down, blocking the sunlight as fast as he can. Still, the darkness doesn’t do much to alleviate an excruciating headache that’s pounding my skull.
I guess I got what I deserve. Shuffling toward the kitchen, I glance around, squinting at the perfect order. The house was cleaned. Good.
“What time is it?”
“Five.”
“Shit. I slept that long?”
“I don’t know if you slept all this time...”
He cracks a smile at my expense.
“Right.”
I can’t even smile without getting a sharp jab of pain in my eye.
“When did they leave?”
“A couple of hours ago.”
“They...?”
Hand propped on the kitchen island, I rub my forehead and my eyes.
“I drove them home,” he says.
I grab a couple of bottles of water from the fridge, set the coffee machine for a double expresso, and turn to him.
“Want some?”
He smirks.
“No, thanks.”
“Why are you smiling?”
“They looked exhausted.”
“They did? No kidding. ”
My lips curl into a faint smile. It hurts even to move my lips.
“Any problems last night?” I ask.
“No.”
His phone goes off. He bolts upright and heads to the door.
“What’s that?”
“Your food.”
Food?
I can’t stand daylight, let alone food.
I pat my jeans for my phone. As I pull the phone out, my hand snags a business card. Cheyenne Lloyd. The memory of Blondie comes back. Yeah... I know where the firm is, if I really need legal advice or... open legs. Off it goes into the garbage bin.
I scroll down the phone’s screen. There are no messages, no voicemails, no missed calls. I look at it, suspicious.
What the fuck is wrong with it? Is it broken? Is there a solar storm? Has the earth shifted off its axis?
After gulping down water and the shot of espresso, I swim for a good hour. Eventually, I shake off some of the hangover, but it takes me a few hours to function properly.
Later on, I join Steve for dinner.
Monday morning finds me in better shape. This is the last week before the summer break. I look forward to some downtime.
I may get my ass on a plane and head for Mexico, or pack my shit and hide in Idaho for a couple of weeks. Still up for debate. If none of them pan out, I’ll bury myself in my studio.
I hit the shower after a couple of hours of lifting weights. As I put my clothes on, my phone starts buzzing relentlessly. It’s only ten o’clock i
n the morning, for fuck’s sake.
Sliding my finger onto the screen, I walk outside.
A bunch of missed calls from Ron and Alana. A couple of text messages. They need to talk to me.
I don’t need to do anything.
I text Ron.
Me: My house.
Fifteen minutes later, he strolls by the pool. Shielding my eyes against the sun, I squint at him as he plops into a chair.
Sharply dressed as always, he fashions a pair of light fabric pants and a linen shirt. He lights up a cigarette and takes a couple of puffs, studying me.
Sparing me the introduction, he breaks the news.
“Alana quit.”
I lean back and fold my arms across my chest.
“So? Why is it such a big fucking deal? ”
He narrows his eyes, looking at me as if I lost half of my brain and can’t possibly understand.
“She’s really good, River. She has all the connections that we need...”
I glance at him, annoyed.
“Come on, now. She quits, she quits. What the fuck is the fucking problem?”
“She quits because of you.”
“So fucking what? She quits because I no longer want to fuck her, but see this was the deal from the get-go. I didn’t force her into my bed. What the fuck?”
“Listen––”
“No. You fucking listen! She needs her head straight if she wants to do this business. If she leads with her pussy, then I don’t trust her with the business either. It’s that simple. If she doesn’t get it, she can fucking go. I’m not gonna fuck her back into her job.”
He looks at me, thrown off by my seething anger.
“No, but you can talk to her. I don’t understand what’s your fucking problem. You don’t need to be an ass about it. She didn’t ask for much. She bends over backwards to please you. She never said anything about the other women. She’s always on stand by, waiting for your fucking sign.”
I shoot him a glassy stare.
“Are we even having this conversation? Are you really giving me sanctified guidance? What’s my problem? What the fuck is your problem??”
He shakes his head.
“You can fuck as many as you want, but you don’t need to screw the business for pussy––”
“Have you told her that? She needs to hear it. She made a lot of money with us, and I didn’t promise her anything. Why are you busting my balls? She goes, she goes. She might quit for another reason, anyway. What the fuck?”
“She doesn’t.”
“How do you know?”
“She told me.”
“Fine. Are we done?”
“Are you going to talk to her?”
“No.”
I bolt upright and head for the house. It never fucking fails. Sooner or later the women I get involved with, find their way to Ron. He’s always sympathetic. They’re not his women, after all. ‘Cause if they are, then everything changes.
Once inside the house, I text Alana.
Me: No need to talk. Ron told me. Good luck.
By Wednesday things settle.
Once she realizes she single-handedly pulled herself out of the picture, Alana changes her tune, and fast. She stays, and begs me to reconsider everything. By everything, I mean the bedroom action, but I’m no longer interested.
Four more days, and I’m gone. I need a break. I really do.
13
“Wake up!”
Is this a dream, or Thalia’s shouting in my bedroom?
Pushing up to my elbow, I squint at the silhouette gesturing in the middle of the room.
“What’s your problem?” I mumble.
Another shout I don’t care for pierces my ear.
“Wake up!!”
She pulls the sheets off me. What the fuck? Rolling onto my stomach, I hide my erection, and grumble, my face buried in the pillow.
“If that’s your idea of foreplay––”
“I need to talk to you,” she snarls.
“No, you don’t. If you needed to talk to me, you should’ve used the fucking phone like everybody else, or at least approach me in a better moment,” I bark, my eyes still closed.
“You have ten minutes to shower. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
“Oh, thanks for being so fucking generous...” I mutter in my pillow.
“I’m not joking, River.”
Fifteen minutes later, I emerge from the shower. I put the jeans on and take the stairs to the first floor.
Why the hell is she so pissed?
Standing by the window, she glances outside. I slither behind her back, and head to the kitchen.
She follows me, nagging.
“What did you do to her, River?”
Her voice shrills, drenched in anger. I can use a diversion to buy some time, but it’s futile. I know exactly what she’s talking about.
Still, I saunter into the kitchen as if we converse about the weather. This will turn bad anyway, so I do my best to keep my cool.
I turn on the expresso machine, and sneak a side glance at her. Propped against the kitchen island, she follows my moves with rabid eyes.
Swiftly, I take a visual inventory of all the thinks that could fly in my direction without much notice.
“I didn’t do anything to her.”
“Oh, yes, I think you did...”
“Then, why the fuck do you ask me?”
The espresso machine hisses and puffs, the steam drifting through the air. I find it quite ironic.
“What’s the problem, Thalia?” I ask calmly.
“What’s the problem?!”
Her hands smack her hips. Hard.
“I’ll tell you what the problem is...”
Careful not to spill a drop of coffee, I push my expresso to the side and swivel toward her. Crossing my arms over my chest, I wait.
“I’m listening.”
“She’s different since she’s been with you. She acts differently. She’s confused. She’s not sure about things anymore... She doesn’t let me touch her. What things River?? What the fuck is she talking about?”
“She’s the only one who can clarify that for you. Why are you mad at me? It was your fucking idea.”
Hurt, she looks at me, her eyes glistening with tears.
“You made love to her, River...” she says, her voice breaking.
I can’t fucking believe it.
“Are you fucking serious? What did you want me to do? She’s never been with a man. ”
“How the hell do you know?”
“Has she?”
She stays quiet, and I start to lose my patience.
“Answer me!” I shout.
She shakes her head. I’m suddenly awake, and I didn’t even get a sip of coffee.
“You wanted me to fuck her only so that you can feel good about it? Is that it? Are you fucking serious?” Her mouth opens and closes a few time, without articulating any words. “It was your idea not hers, and the only reason she wanted to do it was because you messed with her mind. She was nervous as fuck, but she did it anyway. Are you fucking blind? She’d do anything for you, Tahlia, but you can’t see it, can you? You make her nervous most of the time, and yet, she’s still with you... She wouldn’t be with you had she not loved you.”
“I’m not sure about that anymore. I saw how she looked at you. How she warmed up to you. She melted in your arms. She came every fucking time you touched her. I’ve never seen her so fired up. I’ve never thought I’ll ever see her so fucking hungry for your cock,” she says.
Any other occasion I would’ve laughed my ass off at how ridiculous that sounds.
But she’s so damn serious.
I run my hand through my hair and clasp the back of my neck. Buried deep inside me, a smirk struggles to surface. I fight it back for fear I might get caught in Thalia’s crosshairs.
I could certainly point out that her description of Cassie–– as accurate as it is, applies to her as well. This is probably not the
best time to flaunt my fine spirit of observation.
“Listen... I made love to you, and you went back to her. She’ll come around. I was her first man. That’s all. Some women don’t give a shit about it. Some do. Give her some time, and she’ll be fine.”
Tears stream down her cheeks. I’m so fucked.
“You’re not just any man, River... I saw how you touched her. She’s not Layla... ”
My body stiffens, my heart pounding in my ear. A sharp pain jabs at my chest.
“I know she’s not Layla, but you should’ve thought about that before you put her in my bed,” I growl through gritted teeth.
Her shoulders collapse. Tense, I grip the edge of the sink.
I feel like breaking something now. It really pains me to see her hurt. I turn to her, close the distance between us, and pull her in my arms.
She wraps her arms around me and whimpers at my chest.
My voice softens.
“I’m sorry. Give her some time. She’ll be fine.”
I pull away and look at her face. Wiping her tears, I speak softly.
“Listen... This is not only about her. This is also about you. I don’t think it’s clear to you what you feel for her.”
She nods slowly, evading my eyes. Something feels off. A thought that doesn’t make much sense surfaces in my head.
Clasping her chin, I tip her face to me. There’s something in her eyes. She hides something. She lies. She lied to me.
My eyes dart back and forth as bits and pieces come together. The more I think about it the more conflicted the thoughts in my head.
And then, it dawns on me... Oh, no, no. It can’t fucking be.
I lift her chin up. She avoids my eyes. Again.
“Thalia?”
A sickening thought slices through my brain.
My hands drop off her as I step back, and look at her in disbelief.
“I can’t fucking believe it... This is not about losing Cassie over me. You’re not jealous of me, your jealous of her, because of me. This is about me, isn’t it? ”
She looks away, and my head begins to spin. I can’t believe it.
“It was a fucking set-up, wasn’t it?” I murmur. “You set us up. You set me up. You said Cassie is off limits because you didn’t want me to touch her... You wanted me to fuck you, and have her watch us, but then you changed your mind. You needed her in your ploy, to distract her, and me. You wanted it both ways. You used Cassie to get to me. And you used me. You didn’t even care that she’d figure out that we’d fucked before. You really thought she couldn’t tell from the way I touched you? You lied to me, and you lied to her. Why the hell did you do that? ”
