He planted a few pecks on my knee. “No, I don’t mind,” he murmured against my skin, moving his hand up and down my thigh, fingers grazing the skin a little higher with each pass. He looked to me, eyebrows raised as if for permission, and I nodded. “Don’t get me wrong, I definitely want more, but when, or if, you want me inside you, I don’t want you to have any doubts. I’m happy to keep making you feel good.”
My pulse quickened, and I settled back, sinking deeper against the pillows and headboard. Previous lovers had tried to get me to climax like this. There was never a big finale. I began to just fake it, so the guy didn’t feel bad.
“Okay?” he asked, and I nodded again. “Good.” His tone was distracted as he planted sweet kisses higher on my thigh, his tongue wet on my skin for brief moments.
“Jake.” I purred his name, my head bobbing backward.
“Mm?” He spread my legs wider, arms wrapping around my thighs as he kissed only a few inches from my center. He stilled, his eyes meeting mine. “Do you want me to stop?”
My knees slowly fell apart as he settled between them. My words were punctuated with stuttered breaths, anticipation taking hold. “No. I, uh. Don’t stop.” My hips gyrated as he shifted higher, and I swayed between desperately wanting his mouth on me and cringing at the shame I’d feel if I couldn’t get there. “I might take a while to finish, though.”
He smiled up at me, that cute crooked grin, then looked down at where my legs met, his gaze intense. I was open to him, bare in so many ways, and he settled his hands on my thighs as he continued to kiss higher. “I’m in no hurry. Tell me what feels good, okay?”
As his mouth met its destination and his tongue began a slow trail, my head fell back against the pillows. I had no idea this was what I was missing. I moaned as he glided over my slick, sensitive folds, expertly flicking, circling, and stroking, leading me to the edge until I reeled.
Ten
Jake: I can’t wait to see you again.
Jake: When are you free? I should be good after 9:00.
I wrapped a fluffy towel around my chest and leaned against the sink in my bathroom. I’d left Jake’s hotel room around two in the morning and taken an Uber home after a searing kiss in the hotel lobby. He’d invited me to stay, but that felt too big, so I told him I had an early meeting. After only five hours of sleep, I should have been a wreck, but I was buzzing with energy. Multiple orgasms: more effective than coffee. Who knew?
Naya: I have to do a favor for my boss tonight so 9 will be good.
Jake: I can’t wait to see you again.
Naya: You already said that
Jake: I know. I have no chill.
Jake: Also, I can’t wait to see you again.
Positioning the camera in selfie mode and finding that perfect angle that thinned my face, I snapped a photo. My shoulders were dappled with water drops, the towel hugged my breasts, and the sunlight from my bathroom window cast my skin in a great light.
Though the thrill of being a little naughty and turning him on made my temperature rise, I debated whether I should send it. Davis had taken photos of me when we dated, and I always feared he’d share them.
But Jake’s not Davis.
Once again, I imagined the sweet smile from the ice cream shop and the heated gaze after we kissed. “They’re different,” I said to the empty room, and hit send.
Naya: And now you don’t have to wait to see me.
The three dots bounced, indicating he was composing a reply before the buzz came a minute later.
Jake: Wow.
Jake: I will have this image at my fingertips all day—you are so cruel.
* * *
I walked casually across the quad between meetings, enjoying the fresh air and open sidewalks. Students had started their mass exodus from campus, and everything was peaceful. I’d wanted to work at TU because of the chance to collaborate with top scholars, but the campus grounds still took my breath away after all these years. Daylilies peeked up toward the sky, dotting the manicured lawn with yellow and red touches that made the sunshine just a bit brighter. Nearby, the splash of water from a stone fountain mixed with the sounds of music blasting from a group of students gathered around a laptop. This looked like the cover of an instructional manual on how to have the perfect day. I briefly considered twirling in the breeze.
What the hell is going on with me?
What was going on with me was definitely my handsome stranger who didn’t seem like much of a stranger anymore. I continued down the path to my office, a smile plastered on my face.
“You look like you’re in a good mood.” The familiar voice of a colleague interrupted my thoughts as she slowed her speed going in the other direction. “End of the year, right?”