I lift the camera and swirl my tongue over the pads of my fingers, tasting myself before sucking them down to the knuckle.
“Put them inside you, nice and slow.” I groan his name as I do. “That’s where I want to be right fucking now,” he grits out, tension in his voice. “Your face,” he whispers. “I can’t look at what I can’t eat anymore. All I need to see is your face.” Lifting my phone, I’m met by the fire burning in his mesmerizing depths, his lust-covered expression bringing me closer.
“Massage your clit.”
Soaked and panting, I stroke my sweet spot and find myself on the brink within quick seconds. “Easton,” I gasp. “I’m already…”
He starts to stroke himself furiously as I press my head back into the pillow and close my eyes.
“Look at me while you come.”
My orgasm unfurls through me in soft waves as I exhale his name. His eyes close briefly at the sound of it before he covers his stomach with his own release.
“How was that?” He asks, heavy breathing subsiding.
“Definitely not lame, but not nearly enough. Thanks a lot. You’ve ruined me.”
“That’s just the start,” he assures as he heads back into the bathroom and wets a rag to clean himself off. The act of watching him do it is so intimate that I somehow feel closer to him in those seconds.
“It’s been the perfect night, the perfect date. How in the hell did people do long-distance before FaceTime?”
“Phone calls, letters,” he says.
“And emails,” I add, which earns me a warning look. “It had to be so much harder back then.”
“I’m glad we don’t have to fucking deal.” He slips back into bed, palm cradling his head, bicep bulging next to him, eyes glittering with warmth and affection. I burn the sight of it into memory.
“Get some sleep, Beauty. You’ve got an article to write for me tomorrow.”
“You’re reading my columns?”
“Every day, like religion. Why wouldn’t I read them? It’s your passion, and you should know,” he gives me a warm half-smile, “even though I rag on you, I love the way you tell stories.”
Momentarily speechless, I battle threatening tears. “That means a lot to me, Easton, really.”
“You mean a lot to me. But I really do love the way you write. That one about the two brothers who got separated for twenty years got me emotional. I wrote some lyrics after I read it.”
“Really?” I ask, my chest exploding. “Will you let me read them?”
“Of course,” he whispers.
“Eight days,” I remind him. “If you’re wondering.”
“I’m counting them. I’m fucking counting,” he exhales harshly.
“Me too,” I admit freely, heart swelling.
“Go to sleep,” he orders. “I’ll hang up when you’re dreaming.”
“Okay,” I say as he clicks off his lights and the shadows from the TV begin to dance over his profile. He flicks through the channels as I settle in. Not a minute later, his eyes focus back on mine.
“Night, Beauty,” he murmurs.
“Night, Beast,” I jest, keeping my eyes trained on him until they give out.
The next morning, I wake up to see he never hung up and am granted the perfect view of his face from where he sleeps on his side. His long, black lashes rest over his sculpted cheekbones, his crimson lips slightly parted. The rise and fall of his chest is barely perceptible due to his comatose state. Ache intensifying as I rouse, I watch him far past the point of acceptable, but I can’t help myself one bit.
I’m in love with him.
Somewhere Only We Know
Lily Allen
Natalie
2 months later…
“He’s Connecticut-bred, so we come from different planets,” Rosie relays, crossing her long, toned legs in the chair opposite my desk. The reason for her impromptu visit the second I flipped on my office light? To report on Dad’s most recent hire, Jonathan, a financial advice columnist who recently claimed the vacant office next to mine. “I conjured one too many daydreams before my gaydar went off. I confirmed it this morning with a social media search. I had to dip way back into his archives for proof. He’s not closeted but doesn’t advertise his sexual orientation, which is cruelly misleading. Needless to say,” she whines, “I’m going back to California broken-hearted.”
I can’t help my laugh. “Rosie, he’s only worked here for two days.”