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Meant To Be Ch. 02

By: bethanie155



Author's Note:

I am so incredibly surprised at the response to this story! I had no idea that it would be so well received. Thank you again for all of your feedback. I am still very new to writing, so your encouragement, your suggestions and even your constructive criticism, helps me to grow and become a better writer. Please continue to vote and comment! 

I hope you enjoy Chapter 2!

*****

Nathan and Kelsey leapt to their feet, scrambling to get dressed before Amy let herself in.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Kelsey whispered frantically as they jerked their clothes back on. 

"I have no idea. She always knocks with her damn key though," Nathan groaned. 

They fell back onto the couch and tried to look as natural as possible as a key turned in the lock. Kelsey grabbed the remote and restarted the movie just as Amy opened the door. She made quick eye contact with Nathan, then her eyes drifted across the couch to Kelsey. Amy glared.

"We aren't even broken up for one day and you've already got her over here?" Amy gestured towards Kelsey as she slammed the door behind her. 

"We're friends, Amy," Nathan said without looking at either of them. "Besides. You're right. We did break up last night. So, what do you want?"

Amy pouted and walked over to where Nathan was sitting. Her hips swayed as she walked. She knelt down by the couch and grabbed his hand, running a long, manicured finger up and down his palm. 

"I just thought that maybe we could talk about things, you know? I don't like how we ended it last night, baby," she batted her long eyelashes at Nathan, then looked at Kelsey. "Um...you're free to go now, sweetheart. He doesn't need a 'friend' right now, ok?"

Kelsey cringed. Amy would never change. She had no doubt that Nathan would fall back under her spell, just as he had countless times before. She stood up abruptly. Nathan jerked his hand away from Amy.

"Don't ever talk to her like that, Amy. Kelsey, don't leave. Please," Nathan pleaded.

She held up her hand and shook her head. She could feel an angry heat rushing to her chest and face. She simply couldn't stand the sight of Amy. She grabbed her purse and keys and quickly walked to the door. She opened it and stepped outside, never once looking back. She waited a moment to see if Nathan would come after her, but when he didn't, she jogged to her car and pulled out of the parking lot as fast as she could without squealing her tires. As she merged back out onto the main road, she glanced in her rearview mirror and could still see Amy's little convertible parked next to Nathan's truck. Kelsey felt hot tears fill her eyes. 

Amy Buckley would always win. She would always be able to come in and convince Nathan to take her back. Kelsey had watched it happen so many times over the years. 

Kelsey choked back tears as she realized that there was a good possibility that things between them had really been ruined. She mentally berated herself for confessing her true feelings for him. She couldn't believe that she'd ever let things go that far in the Lowe's pool, not to mention what just happened at his apartment. Kelsey brushed her fingers across her inflamed lips. The taste of Nathan was still there. She rolled up to a stoplight and laid her head back against the headrest. She had no idea what to say to Nathan now. Even if he didn't take Amy back right away, Kelsey knew that it was inevitable. Amy was that fantasy girl that all guys wanted. Nathan always took her back. She had no reason to believe that this time would be any different.

As Kelsey pulled back into her parents driveway, she saw that all the lights were off. Her parents were out. She threw the car in park and shut off the engine. Nothing but the sounds of an occasional car passing by or a lonesome cricket filled the air. Kelsey rested her head against the steering wheel and closed her eyes.

A single, hot tear fell from her cheek and landed on her leg as her frustration consumed her. She couldn't believe she had let things go that far. 

>>>>><<<<<

After using the bathroom and getting ready for bed, Kelsey pulled her lavender shirt over her head and it quickly joined her shorts in the laundry basket. She grabbed her phone and plugged it into the charger next to her bed. She opened the screen. She had 2 missed calls and 2 missed texts from Nathan.

Nathan: I made her leave. Please come back.

Nathan: I'm so sorry that everything was ruined tonight. Please call me.

Kelsey slipped under the sheets of her bed. Her panties still felt damp from all of the action with Nathan a little while earlier, so she slipped them off and threw them at the laundry basket. Then she realized that she could smell his cologne on her bra, so she sat up, unhooked it at threw it angrily at the growing pile of discarded clothing. She fell back to her pillow and covered her body. She glanced out the window at Nathan's old bedroom. Yesterday, she smiled at the memory. Tonight, it just made her sad. 

Just as she started to drift off, her phone vibrated. She reached over and picked it up, squinting at the bright screen as she read a new text.

Nathan: I can't sleep. I'm coming over. 

Kelsey: Don't worry about it, Nathan. We can talk about this some other time.

Nathan: No. Now. I feel like shit.

Kelsey: I'm trying to go to sleep. I have to work in the morning.

Nathan: The sooner we talk, the sooner you can sleep.

Kelsey sighed. Nathan was a lot of things and stubborn was definitely one of them. She rolled her eyes and got out of bed. She reached into her drawer and pulled out some shorts and a tank top. She put them on and climbed back into bed. 

Kelsey: My parents are gone. Park at your house. You remember the code?

Nathan: 29590?

Kelsey: Yeah. Come on up when you get here.

She laid back in bed and waited until she heard Nathan's truck pull up to his parents house. She waited in silence until she heard him open the front door and close it behind him. Several seconds later, she heard his heavy footsteps climbing the stairs. Kelsey's heart started pounding. She didn't know how this conversation would go and her nerves were taking over again. 

Her door creaked open and Nathan peeked around until he saw Kelsey, sitting up in bed. She kept the sheet securely tucked under her arms and around her chest. 

"Hey," he whispered, closing the door behind him. She watched as his fingers twisted the small lock on the knob. He turned around and put his hands in his pockets, standing several feet away from the bed.

She shrugged. "Well? You took her back, right? That's why you're here...to tell me that you took Amy back again?" 

Nathan shook his head. "No. I didn't. I told you, I made her leave."

"But you will take her back."

"No. I won't, Kelsey. You helped me realize that Amy just isn't right for me. I can't have a future with someone like her."

Kelsey sighed heavily, dropping her head down. 

"Listen, Nathan...what happened tonight-"

"Was fucking incredible," he interrupted. 

"Yes, it was amazing, and it could have been more amazing, if it hadn't been for her. I'm just saying, that what happened tonight just shouldn't have happened," she said. 

Nathan exhaled and laced his fingers behind his head, which caused his t-shirt to ride up slightly. The small gap between the hem of his shirt and his shorts revealed his tanned, defined stomach. A small patch of hair started below his belly button and disappeared beneath the band of his shorts. It was something that Kelsey had noticed plenty of times before, and had even admired from time to time at the pool, but in that moment all she wanted to do was to press her lips against it. She shook her head and mentally reminded herself to focus.

"I realized on the way home, that Amy is always going to win. If it isn't Amy, then it will be someone just like her. Someone gorgeous and perfect. I'm not Amy, Nathan. I'm never going to be. And I can't start something, knowing that Amy can just breeze back in at any moment and take you from me. I love you too much for that. If I could go back to last night, I would. I would have kept my mouth shut and let you make up your own mind about her."

Nathan dropped his arms and sat down on the edge of Kelsey's bed. 

"I don't know what else I can say to convince you that Amy and I are done," he said, staring at the floor.

"Then don't say anything. Don't you think it's best if we just try to act like this weekend never happened?" 

"Fuck no!" he laughed. She couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. She stared down at her hands that were resting in her lap.

"Listen, maybe you can forget about it, but I won't be able to. I told you, you helped me realize that I could do better. All I've needed was for someone to grab me by the shoulders and shake some sense into me. You did that. My guy friends look at Amy and tell me how lucky I am. They don't see what you see, Kels. They don't see someone who won't hug me back or someone who actually knows how to smile and have a good time. They see eye candy and think I'm a lucky son of a bitch. I've spent a long time trying to convince myself that it was good enough. Then you and your big mouth come home from college and turn everything upside down." Nathan grinned. 

He shifted his body and faced Kelsey on the bed. "I'll tell you what, if you can name one person that you know of that is better for me than you, then I'll shut the hell up and never mention this weekend ever again."

They stared at each other defiantly. 

"C'mon. One name. One girl that you think is good enough for me, other than yourself." Nathan grinned at Kelsey, knowing she wouldn't be able to complete the challenge.

She thought for a moment, but couldn't come up with anyone. Her shoulders slumped in defeat and she shook her head. He nodded and moved up her bed. Her breathing was almost nonexistent as she watched his strong, masculine form crawl towards her. Her hands gripped the sheet around her tightly. 

"Kelsey, I'll leave right now if you really want me to."

She took a deep breath and shook her head. "No. I don't. I've just got my guard up now. I just need to take this slow, Nate. I'm too scared of messing this all up."

Nathan gently pulled the sheet from around her chest and let it fall to her waist. He laid her back on her bed and leaned over her. 

"I'm not going to try to have sex with you tonight, alright?" he said, looking into her deep brown eyes. "You're way too nervous for that, and I'd feel like I was just taking advantage of you." 

Kelsey nodded. 

"But," he added with a smile. "I am going to kiss you, because I learned last night that my best friend also happens to be an amazing kisser."

She smiled and leaned up on her elbows, lifting her face to his. 

"Slow," she reminded him.

"Nice. And. Slow." He punctuated each word with a tiny kiss. 

Their slow, lingering kisses helped calm Kelsey's nerves. Eventually, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his torso down on top of her. Feeling his weight pressing into her was comforting. She felt safe and protected underneath Nathan's muscular frame. He already knew everything about her and that gave her a sense of security that she'd never known before. 

She felt the fingers of his right hand comb through her hair and cradle the side of her head. She sighed against his mouth and shifted her body so that he was laying directly on top of her, between her legs. The sheet was still between them, but she could feel Nathan's erection growing against her as their tongues and hips started to move in unison. 

Nathan leaned back and stared down at her. 

"You're making it really difficult not to rip this sheet off, Kels." His lips bypassed hers and connected with her delicate collarbone. 

Kelsey raised her chin, exposing more of her skin and allowing his lips to explore. He didn't disappoint. His mouth sucked and kissed her expertly, leaving no flesh ignored. His mouth then found it's way behind her right ear. 

"Can I tell you something?" he whispered.

"Mmmm. Yeah?" she moaned, closing her eyes as she ran her fingers up the backs of his strong arms. 

"I can't wait to go down on you."

Kelsey shivered as a rush of excitement flooded over her. 

"Oh yeah?" she breathed. 

"Mmmhmm. After that blowjob you just gave me? I need to return the favor." 

Kelsey smiled. "It was that good, huh?"

"Fuck," he growled into her cleavage. "Yes, Kelsey. That good." He lifted his head and leaned over her mouth. "I wasn't lying when I said that it was the best I've ever had."

She hooked her arms around his neck and kissed his bottom lip. "Then I guess I'm going to have to work really hard to top myself, aren't I?" 

Nathan pressed his mouth into her again, this time making it clear that he wasn't wanting to stop until she said so. She felt his mouth open slightly, so she took the opportunity and slipped her tongue between his warm, parted lips. She slid it against his, gradually working it back and forth, before his tongue took over and penetrated her mouth with an equal amount of force. Their tongues dueled and danced and before they realized it, their hips were grinding against each other again, this time feverishly. 

Kelsey blindly searched for one of his hands. She grabbed it and wrapped his fingers around her braless breast. Her aroused nipples had been rubbing against her tank top the entire time, and had stiffened against the fabric. Nathan could feel the hard bud press into his palm. He let his fingers explore, eventually letting them squeeze her nipple firmly. Kelsey's lips broke away from his and she let out a muffled groan of pleasure. 

Suddenly, he pulled back. He was breathing heavily, leaning on his elbows above her. 

"No. Please don't stop."

"God, Kelsey. I don't want to, but I just know that you'd regret having sex with me so soon. If we don't stop now, I'm scared that I won't be able to. You're just so beautiful and I can't believe that this is really happening. I don't want to fuck this up, either." 

Kelsey closed her eyes and exhaled. "I know. You're right. Slow. We have to take this slow and figure it out as we go along."

Nathan pressed his forehead against hers. 

"Soon," she said reluctantly. 

He nodded and kissed her one last time before pulling himself off of her all together. As soon as he sat on the edge of the bed, she missed his weight on top of her. She sat up and knealt behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her breasts into his back. 

"Thank you for coming over here."

"I had to. I felt terrible. I still do. I can't believe she came over." 

Kelsey cringed at the memory. "I know. Great timing." 

"So, what now? I'm guessing that you want to keep this quiet for the time being?"

"Yeah. I think that's for the best. If anyone else knew, all we'd get would be opinions or pressure. I just want to take this slow. If something happens and this just doesn't work out, I have to be able to keep you as a friend, Nate." Kelsey shook her head. "I can't let this crash and burn, and lose my best friend at the same time." 

He reached up and rubbed the arm that was wrapped around him. 

"That's fine. Whatever you want. Nothing official, no pressure. We'll just take it a day at a time."

Kelsey kissed his cheek. 

"Thank you."

Nathan sighed. "There's one problem."

"What's that?" 

"My balls are going to fall off if we keep this up. I think this is the fourth time today that I've been hard because of you."

"Fourth?"

"I went to bed hard and woke up hard because of what happened last night. I couldn't stop thinking about you before you came over...got hard then, too." 

Kelsey let go of him and moved to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. She linked her arm through his. 

"Then you gave me head and I nearly drowned you with my load." They laughed. "And now, here I am with my fourth hard-on of the day. I haven't been this horny in a long time."

Just listening to Nathan talk about how excited she'd made him, made Kelsey's hormones explode. 

"Well, in that case, I need to give you something to keep you horny all night and into tomorrow, don't I?"

"What do you mean?" 

Kelsey unhooked her arm from his and stood up. She stepped in front of him and started to inch the hem of her tank top up. 

"Kelsey-"

"Just enjoy this, ok? You're being patient with me and waiting to have sex until I know that I'm ready, so let me just give you a little preview." She smiled and lifted her top up to expose her flat stomach. She stepped closer to him and grabbed his hand. She rubbed it along the smooth skin of her belly. Nathan groaned and stared up at her. 

"You like that?"

Nathan sighed and nodded. 

"Good. What about this?" she asked as she lifted the tank top up higher, exposing just the bottoms of her round breasts. "Do you like this, Nathan?"

He smiled broadly, his small dimples framing his mouth as Kelsey pushed his hand higher. She dragged his thick fingers on the sensitive undersides of her breasts. She let out a quiet sigh of pleasure and stepped back, lifting the shirt over her head all together. She threw it to the floor and stood in front of Nathan, completely topless for the very first time. Her dark nipples stood out from her tits proudly. The excitement caused a rush of goosebumps to cover her skin, forcing her nipples to tighten even further. She watched as Nathan's hand fell to his lap and squeezed his hard dick through his shorts. 

"God, Kels," he shook his head. "Do you know how long I've wanted this? How many times I've thought about this over the years? Hell, how many times I've beaten off to this exact image in my mind?"

"Oh yeah? Tell me what you thought about," she whispered.

Nathan gripped his cock tighter as she ran her hands along her smooth stomach and traced circles across her breasts. 

"Growing up, as we got older and I started noticing your body more, I couldn't keep my eyes off of you. You've always looked so fucking hot in a bikini. More than once, I remember having to wait for my cock to settle down before getting out of the pool because of how good you looked."

Kelsey dropped her hands and glided them down her sides and over her hips. She hooked her fingers into her cotton shorts. 

"Anything else?" 

Nathan's eyes followed her hands. His breathing picked up as his eyes bounced between her exposed chest and her pelvis, which was a mere foot away from him.

"I've always loved seeing how tight your bathing suits and clothes are against your ass. Your ass is so perfect, Kelsey. I'd always stare at you in school as you walked down the halls, or during our family stuff. Amy always saw it and knew that I liked what I saw. It drove her crazy and she called me out on it all the time." Kelsey couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction swell up inside of her, knowing that the flawless Amy Buckley had felt even the tiniest bit of jealousy towards her. 

He reached out to squeeze her hip, but she pushed his hand back down into his lap and turned around. She started to work her shorts down, exposing a little more of her ass at a time as she listened to him breathe heavily behind her. She worked them down to her thighs, then with a slight roll of her hips, they fell to the floor. Kelsey bent over directly in front of him and picked up her shorts. She tossed them towards her tank top then turned around. 

Nathan was staring directly at Kelsey's smooth, bare pussy. He groaned and looked up at her eyes desperately.

"This is so mean, Kels."

She bit her lip and smiled at him. 

"Why? I'm just giving you something to think about until we can do this again," she said innocently.

He laughed and shook his head. "Right, but now I'm pretty sure my dick isn't going to go soft for days."


Meant To Be Ch. 02



Kelsey held her hands up. "Ok, you're right. This is mean. I should put my clothes back on."

"Fuck no! Let me look at you. It might be mean, but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying it. Hell, I've waited a really long time to look at you naked."

Kelsey giggled and put her hands on her hips. 

"Well, now we've both seen each other," she said confidently.

"You're much easier on the eyes, that's for sure."

"I don't know, Nate. You've become one handsome man, you know." Kelsey stepped closer to him, placing her hands around his neck. She leaned down and kissed him, then stood and guided his mouth to her lower stomach. 

Nathan groaned as he pressed warm kisses against her skin. His hands found their way to her ass and he started to knead it and grab it forcefully. She wanted to know that he was just as excited about this as she was, so she moved against him and straddled her knees on either side of his hips. Her bald pussy started to grind against the stiff tent in his shorts. 

His lips immediately attached themselves to a nipple. He sucked and flicked his tongue against her rapidly. Kelsey arched her back and let her hair tumble down to his knees.

"Mmmm. This is going to be so good, Kelsey," he groaned, her nipple still trapped between his lips.

"I think so, too," she whispered. 

Just as their lips locked in yet another passionate kiss, they heard the garage door open the floor beneath them, and a burst of headlights briefly filled Kelsey's room.

"Fuck! I need my own place. I don't want to be interrupted all summer," she groaned, resting her head against his shoulder.

Nathan exhaled heavily as Kelsey pulled her naked body away from him and stood up. 

"Can I just do one thing before I leave? I'll be quick, I swear," he promised. 

Kelsey looked at him with a confused expression. "I suppose? What?" 

Nathan stood up and grabbed her by the waist. He rolled her back onto her bed, pressing her shoulders back against the mattress. She expected him to crawl on top of her, but instead he pushed her knees apart and knealt between her legs. She started to sit up, but Nathan quickly placed a hand on her stomach and made her lay back down. 

"Nathan...I-I don't know. If you start, I won't want you to stop."

"Well then, it will just give you something to think about until we can do this again, won't it?" He grinned up at her, sarcastically using her own words against her. She groaned quietly, knowing that her parents were home. As much as they loved Nathan, she doubted that they would appreciate hearing them together. 

Nathan leaned down and inhaled Kelsey's scent. Her entire body clenched as he pressed his hands into her inner thighs, pushing them apart even further. Kelsey wrapped an arm over her mouth, moaning softly into the crook of her elbow. Her eyes pinched shut and her body quivered, just waiting for Nathan to taste her for the first time. 

"Look at me while I do this, Kels," he demanded.

She whimpered and lifted her head. She opened her eyes and saw Nathan's beautiful, ice blue eyes staring up at her, with an obvious smile on his face. He refocused on what he was doing, starting by kissing and licking the insides of her thighs. His tongue traced around her wet, outer lips. Kelsey could feel the wetness starting to leak out of her. She dropped her head back to the bed. Nathan pulled his tongue off of her. 

"Kelsey. Watch me while I lick your pussy. Please. I want you to remember this."

His words alone made her start to shake. She lifted herself up onto her elbows and stared down at him. 

He returned to her thighs, kissing and squeezing them one at a time. His kisses eventually made their was back, closer and closer to her sex. He looked up at her and their eyes locked, blue to brown, as he flattened his tongue and took one long, deliberate lick against her pussy, ending it with a firm flick of his tongue against her exposed clit. 

"Ohhhh, my God!" she moaned, too loudly. 

Nathan laughed and grabbed a pillow, pushing it onto her face. Kelsey grabbed it and hooked her arms over it, trying to muffle her laughter and moaning. 

Nathan didn't let up. His hands spread her lips apart as he started to explore her, inside and out. She moved the pillow and looked back down her body and watched as his dark blonde head rolled between her thighs. She ran her fingers along his short hair as his tongue lapped up her wetness. 

"Nathan, oh my God. This is so...so good," she whispered. 

Kelsey propped her feet up on the edge of the bed, letting her knees fall apart. Nathan's tongue continued to dance against her, then he'd stop and suck her velvety lips between his before licking his way back up and around her clit. He never stayed in one spot for too long. He kept her guessing and he kept her on edge, always wanting more. 

The blood was pounding in her pussy. She sat up and lifted Nathan's face. His mouth glistened with her arousal. She was shaking with need.

"Please, I need you to get me off," she pleaded. 

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yes. I need it. Please. Please, Nathan." Kelsey's body was trembling. 

Nathan didn't say another word. He pressed his mouth against her soaked flesh and drove his tongue as far into her as possible over and over again. His hands went from her thighs up to her breasts. They were tingling with sensation as he rolled her nipples between his adept fingers. Kelsey's breathing started to speed up as her senses became overloaded with pleasure. 

Without warning, Nathan pinched her nipples tightly as his lips wrapped around her pulsing clit. He sucked it into his mouth and beat against it with his tongue. Kelsey breathed short, ragged breaths through her nose, trying to keep from screaming out in extasy. She opened her eyes and stared down at her best friend as he gave her the best orgasm she'd had in a long time. Her hips bucked against his mouth, but Nathan's lips never lost contact with her sensitive bud. She wrapped her hands behind his head and held his mouth against her until her climax slowly started to subside.

Kelsey was gasping for breath as she collapsed back onto her bed. Small aftershocks of pleasure coursed through her. 

"Oh fuck, Nathan," she exhaled rapidly. "Oh, God. That was good." 

"Good. I wanted it to be good for you." 

Nathan crawled up and fell back onto the bed next to her. His left hand caressed her right palm as they tried to catch their breath. Finally, after a long silence, their bodies started to relax and they quietly stared at the ceiling. Kelsey rolled onto her side and nuzzled into his chest. 

"I guess there is really no turning back now, huh?" she laughed. 

"No, not really." 

"Fine by me. Especially if it means that we get to do that again."

He laughed and kissed the top of her head before they both sat up. Kelsey stood up and picked up her clothes, sliding them on as Nathan watched.

"I've got to be honest, Kelsey. This doesn't even feel real yet."

She laughed. "I know. I keep wondering how all of this even happened."

Kelsey walked to her closet and grabbed a short, thin robe and wrapped it around herself. 

"Ok. We have to get you out of here before I lose all self control. Let me make sure my parents are in bed. Hang on."

Kelsey quietly opened her door and walked down the long hallway, poking her head through her parents cracked bedroom door. Both were in bed. They may not have been entirely asleep yet, but they were both still and quiet and she knew that she could get Nathan out unnoticed. She rolled her eyes at how ridiculous she felt, sneaking a boy in and out of her parent's house when she was 22 years old. She sighed and reminded herself that it was only for a couple more months, but she silently vowed to start looking for her own place in the coming days. 

She walked past her door and motioned for Nathan to follow her. They walked down to the back door, further away from her parent's bedroom. Kelsey punched the code in the pad, disabled the alarm and opened the door. They stepped outside onto the back porch. 

Nathan turned around and smiled down at Kelsey. 

"I'd kiss you, but-" he gestured to his mouth, reminding her that he probably still tasted like her. She smiled and lifted up on her tiptoes, placing the smallest kiss against his mouth. She dropped back down to the ground. 

"Call me tomorrow?" she asked hopefully. He nodded.

"Ok. Night." She grinned and started to walk back in the house. 

"Kelsey?" 

She turned around. "Yeah?"

Nathan sighed and leaned against the side of the house. "You're really incredible. I'm not sure if I've told you that enough over the years. Even if nothing ever comes of this and all we do is stay friends, I just need you to know that you're the best friend I've ever had," he said sincerely. 

His words echoed deeply through her. She let go of the door and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her for a hug. 

"You're the best friend I've ever had, too" She kissed his cheek and backed away from him.

She smiled as she walked inside. He turned and walked away, trying to quietly make it back to his truck and hoping that his family hadn't realized that it had been parked in their driveway for the last hour.

Kelsey closed the door behind her and reset the alarm. She walked into the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge for something to eat. She settled on a pint of vanilla ice cream and sat at the barstool in the dark kitchen, slowly eating small bites and smiling to herself. 

Her bites became few and far between as her thoughts wandered back to her eventful day. She sighed and put the melting ice cream back in the freezer and went back to her bedroom. She smiled at her crumpled sheets as she closed the door behind her. She fell back onto the mattress and closed her eyes.

She relaxed into the bed and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep with nothing but the faint smell of his cologne on her sheets and the memory of what it felt like to have the delicious weight of Nathan Lowe on top of her in bed for the very first time. 

>>>>><<<<<

Kelsey's phone alarm went off and she immediately groaned as it jolted her awake.

She sighed heavily and swung her legs over the side of her bed. It was still dark outside, but the coffeeshop opened at 6 am. She had to be there at 5:30 to get everything ready for the inevitable Monday morning rush. 

Kelsey got up, showered and got dressed in her uniform. She leaned against the kitchen sink and ate a banana as she scrolled through her phone, checking the weather for the week. Kelsey's dad was just getting up as she was leaving. 

"Have a good day, sweetie." 

"You too, Dad." she replied, grabbing her keys off the kitchen counter. 

"Hey, I wanted to tell you something real quick, Kels. You got a second?" 

Kelsey glanced at her phone. "Yeah, I'm a few minutes early. What's up?"

Her dad poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter. 

"I just want to tell you that I'm sorry if all of us...Mom, Dave, Nancy, me...have ever made you or Nathan uncomfortable. You know, joking about the two of you getting together and all that. We know that you're adults and are perfectly capable of being friends without it being anything more than that."

Kelsey smiled. "It's ok, Dad. Really."

"It's just, we've all seen the special friendship that the two of your have shared over the years and I'd be lying if I said that we didn't all hope that you two would end up together. We all see how happy and comfortable you two are around each other. It just always seemed meant to be."

"Yeah," Kelsey paused. "Dad? Why are you telling me this now? I mean, why on a random Monday morning are you telling me this? I'm not offended or anything, just curious."

He shrugged as he sipped his coffee. "I'm not sure, really. It's just something that I've been meaning to tell you for awhile, I guess. My whole point is that I want you to know that we all love you and we love Nathan. The only reason we joke about you two getting together is because we all just want you kids to end up with someone that makes you as happy as you make each other. That's all." 

Kelsey smiled and walked up to her Dad. She kissed him on the cheek. 

"Thanks, Dad. I love you." She turned and walked to the front door and out to her car. 

She pulled out onto the street and made the short drive to work, the whole time, wondering what made her dad choose that morning, out of the last 23 years to tell her all of that. Was it fate? Was it coincidence? Did he somehow know that she and Nathan had officially crossed the line from friendship into unknown territory that weekend? 

Was it really all meant to be?

Kelsey sighed as she pulled up to the back entrance of the coffee shop. She pulled her apron out of the backseat and headed inside. 

Alison was leaning against the wall, waiting on the espresso machine to start. 

"Hey Kelsey," she mumbled sleepily. 

Kelsey smiled. Alison had never been a morning person. She was often grumpier than the majority of caffeine addicted customers that they dealt with in the morning. 

"Hey Alison, you're not mad that I left 449 early the other night, right?" she asked as she tied her apron around her slender waist. 

"No, not at all. Did you get Nathan home alright?" 

"Yeah. I dropped him off then went home and passed out, too. Clubs just aren't our scene, you know?"

Alison snorted. "Yeah, I can tell. Can't say the same for Miss Amy, though."

Kelsey cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"As soon as you two left, she was all over every guy there. Dancing, making out, grinding...the works. She really is a little slut. Nathan's a nice kid. He deserves better."

"I agree. Which is why I'm really happy that they split up on Saturday." 

"Good! Now you can swoop in and show him what he's been missing all these years!"

Kelsey tried to keep a straight face. 

"We're friends, Alison." 

"I know, I know. Really though. Two people. Both good looking...both unbelievably nice...best friends their entire lives. Don't you think that it's just...I don't know. Meant to be?"

Kelsey's head flipped around and she stared at Alison. In the last 20 minutes, two people had told her the exact same thing: that a relationship between her and Nathan just seemed meant to be. She shook her head at the coincidence and got busy with her opening routine. 

>>>>><<<<<

Kelsey ran the register during the morning rush. Customer after customer filed through the line, desperately waiting to get their coffee fix for the day. The first two hours of her shift went by like a blur. Just before 8 am, her latest customer shifted down the line to wait for her order and a familiar face stepped up to place his.

"Good morning, what can I-" Kelsey stopped when she looked up. She couldn't help but laugh. Nathan stood in front of her, dressed in his work clothes, ready to get to work on the new medical building on the other side of town. This coffee shop was completely out of his way and Kelsey knew it. 

"What are you doing here? There's a Starbucks right by your worksite," she giggled.

"I'd rather give my money to a local business," he said. He lowered his voice and leaned forward. "Besides, the staff is much nicer to look at here." Kelsey felt herself blush. 

"How nice of you. Well, Mr. Lowe...what can I get started for you today?" Kelsey said with a flirtatious grin. 

"I thought I'd be nice and take some coffee in for the guys, so I'll need 8 medium regulars, lots of cream and sugar on the side, please." 

"8 medium regulars to go!" Kelsey called out to the barista. She turned back to Nathan. "$14.42, Nate." She gathered the cream and sugar and handed him the bag as he handed her his debit card. She swiped it and handed it back to him along with his receipt. 

"Thank you for stopping by."

"No problem. I figured there was no better way to start my Monday," he grinned and started to walk down the line when Alison walked up and wrapped her arm around Kelsey's neck. 

"Well, Nathan Lowe. Good morning! We don't usually see you this early."

"Hey, Alison. Just getting some coffee for the crew," he replied with a grin.

"So, I hear you're single now." 

"Alison!" Kelsey blurted.

"Well, I just think he needs to be reminded that his best friend, Kelsey, is also single," she explained. She turned back to Nathan. "Nathan, you do know that Kelsey here is single, too, right?" 

Nathan laughed. "Yes. I'm aware of that. We're just friends, though." 

"You don't want some other guy swooping in and snatching this beautiful girl out from under you, do you?"

Kelsey and Nathan's eyes locked. 

"I just hope she ends up with someone that knows exactly how wonderful she is, Alison. Whoever that ends up being will be a very lucky man." He smiled and tucked his receipt into his pocket, just as the barista held up the two, stacked towers of coffee. 

"Bye ladies." He smiled and walked to the door, backing into it to open it, then holding it with his foot to let an older man enter behind him. 

"God, Kelsey. How can you be best friends with him and not want to jump his bones? He gets better looking every time I see him!" 

Kelsey shook her head and cleared her thoughts. She looked at Alison. She still had her arm hooked over her shoulder. She continued to stare at Nathan, who was pulling out of the parking lot, balancing the coffee on his dashboard.

Kelsey dug the heel of her foot into the top of Alison's.

"Oww! What was that for?"

"For sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong!" she laughed. 

"Give me a break. You two will end up together. I just know it." 

Kelsey took a deep breath and smiled to herself as Alison returned to work. She knew that the only reason Nathan showed up at the coffeehouse this morning was to see her and that filled her with a giddy excitement. She didn't realize that she was still staring into the parking lot, long after Nathan had pulled away until her thoughts were interrupted.

"Hey! Young lady! I'm ready to order!"

Kelsey jerked her head back to the counter and found the old man that Nathan had held the door for. 

"I'm so sorry, Sir. What can I get started for you today?" 

>>>>><<<<<

Kelsey walked out the backdoor of the coffee shop and walked to her car when her Monday morning shift ended. She got in and started the engine. Just as she was about to pull out of her parking spot, her phone vibrated. 

Nathan: I'm sitting here on break, and I'm pretty sure you are leaving work right about now?

Kelsey: Perfect timing, I was just about to drive home. What's up?

Nathan: I get off work at 5 pm. My parents are going to my brother's summer baseball thing. Want to come over and swim...and stuff?

Kelsey: And stuff? What kind of 'stuff'?

Nathan: That's entirely up to you.

Kelsey: Yeah. I was actually going to lay out for a little while this afternoon, anyway. I'll see you a little after 5, then?

Nathan: Can't wait. Gotta get back to work.

Kelsey grinned as she tucked her phone back into her purse and drove home. Her parents were still at work, and so were Dave and Nancy, but she knew that she was always welcome at the pool, day or night. She went to her bedroom and changed into her favorite pale blue bikini. She tied the top around her back and neck, then secured the ties at each hip. She grabbed her lotion, her phone and her ipod, and headed out the door to the Lowe's pool. 

Once Kelsey got everything settled, she walked to the pool and dipped her toes in. The water temperature was perfect. She went to the deep end and dove in head first, swimming a few laps before climbing back out so she could soak up some much needed sun and warmth. 




Meant To Be Ch. 02



Kelsey rubbed the lotion into her skin and laid back against the chair. She put her headphones in and relaxed as a soothing breeze blew across her body. She exhaled deeply and closed her eyes. Her early morning shift, combined with the warm sun and soothing music was enough to make her doze off fairly soon. 

Just as her head started to roll to the side, her phone vibrated underneath her thigh. She shielded her eyes from the sunshine and checked her text.

Nathan: Getting off a few minutes early today. Be there in about 20 minutes.

Kelsey rolled over onto her stomach and untied the string on her back. She didn't normally do this, but since she knew that no one was coming home anytime soon, she felt safe enough. 

The music in her ears prevented her from hearing Nathan's truck pull up a half hour later. As she laid on the chair, enjoying the breeze across her warm back, she suddenly felt the ear buds pop free from her ears. She jumped and found Nathan standing over her. He scooped her up and carried her to the edge of the pool. She grabbed at her loose top.

"Nathan, no! Please!" She laughed and kicked her legs against him, but he showed no mercy. He tossed her in the pool, then jumped in right beside her. She emerged from the water, coughing and trying to hold her top in place. He came up soon after, laughing and wiping his eyes.

"Asshole!" She laughed, trying to retie her bikini top.

"Sorry! I had to. It was too easy. You were a sitting duck," he shrugged. "How was work?"

"It was a typical Monday. Except, I did get a surprise visit from my best friend this morning," Kelsey smiled at Nathan. "Why did you go so far out of your way?"

"You know why," he laughed. "I just wanted to see you."

"Sorry about Alison. I love her, but she has a big mouth."

"No big deal. She's pretty cool."

"She didn't make you uncomfortable?"

Nathan shrugged and swam a little closer to Kelsey. "No, why?"

"I don't know, just pressuring you to ask me out and all that."

He closed the distance between their bodies and his hands found her waist underneath the water. He shook his head.

"No. I would have asked you out right then, but you said you wanted to keep this quiet."

Kelsey looked around, just to be sure that they were alone, then lifted her legs around his waist underneath the water. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she kissed him, slow and gentle. Their mouths moved at the same pace of the current in the pool. Everything felt so natural. Kelsey pulled her mouth off of his. 

"You're an amazing kisser," she said.

"So are you." 

Their lips met again as Nathan's hands started to explore her body. They glided through the water and up her smooth back, then back down. He hooked his fingers into the back of her bikini bottoms and slid his hands against her bare ass. He squeezed firmly. Kelsey unwrapped her legs from around Nathan's muscular body and swam backwards a few feet. 

"So, you said that you'd thought about stuff like this over the years?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity. 

"Yeah. All the time, actually. Even when I had a girlfriend at one point or another, just seeing you and being around you all the time, it was hard not to look at you sexually. You're gorgeous."

"What kinds of things did you think about?"

"Hell, I was a teenage boy, Kels. I thought about everything." Nathan laughed. 

"Well, I imagine so, but really...what is one thing you can remember fantasizing about when we were younger?"

Nathan lifted his legs and floated on the surface of the water while he thought about his answer. He lifted his head.

"I know. I used to lay in bed at night and think about what it would be like if you walked in my room, took off your clothes and just climbed on top of me and started making out with me."

Kelsey grinned. "That's so...innocent."

"It didn't seem so innocent at the time, Kels," Nathan laughed and ducked underneath the water. He swam straight for Kelsey and came up behind her. He peeled her wet hair off of her back and kissed her at the base of her neck. She sighed as Nathan's hands circled around her and glided across her smooth belly. Kelsey looked up at the Lowe's home. She smiled and turned around.

"Your Mom kept your bedroom the same, right? It's how you left it when you moved out?" 

"Yeah. Why?" 

A broad smile spread across her face. She grabbed Nathan's hands underneath the water and pulled him towards the ladder. 

"Come with me. I have an idea."

"Come with you where?"

"Just follow me, alright?"

Kelsey pulled herself out of the pool, making sure that Nathan got a good look as she climbed up the ladder. She walked to the lounge and grabbed their towels, tossing one to him. They dried off and wrapped their towels around themselves. Kelsey grabbed his hand and lead him in through the patio door. 

The Lowe's house was quiet. She lead him through the kitchen and down a hall to the large foyer. They stood at the bottom of the staircase. Kelsey nodded towards the stairs. 

"Go on. Go up to your bedroom." She smiled.

"Are you serious?" 

"Nate, we're in your childhood home...alone...for maybe the last time ever. You had a fantasy growing up and I'm about to make it come true. I promise, I'll make it worth it." 

Nathan shook his head and jogged up the stairs to his old bedroom. She heard him open the door and lay down heavily on his bed. She waited a few minutes, just to let him get reacquainted with his old surroundings, then she slowly climbed the stairs. She walked to his bedroom door and knocked softly. She peaked her head in and smiled at Nathan, who was laying on his bed with his hands folded behind his head. He grinned at her as she walked in and quietly closed the door behind her. She made sure that the knob made an audible 'click' sound as she locked it.

She turned and looked around Nathan's childhood bedroom. It had been several years since she'd been in it, but it was exactly as she remembered. Dark gray walls littered with various band posters, a couple guitars hanging on the wall, a bookshelf covered in diving and soccer trophies. She glanced at him as she crossed the room and looked at a photo collage above his desk. Kelsey had never noticed it before, but the board was covered in photos of her and of the two of them together. She smiled as she browsed at the photos, each one sparking a special memory in her mind. She turned and leaned against his desk. 

"So, Nathan. Be a little more specific for me. How exactly did this fantasy play out in your mind?" she asked. Kelsey stood up and dropped her towel, revealing her bikini clad body once again. She leaned back against his desk and waited for his reply.

She watched as Nathan's eyes explored her, top to bottom. He sighed and scooted backwards, leaning his shoulders against his metal headboard. 

"Well, I'd just lay here in bed at night and think about you. I'd think about your ti...I mean..."

Kelsey grinned. "You can call them tits, Nathan."

"I'd think about your tits and how sometimes I could see your nipples through your bathing suit, but then I'd think about how bad I wished you'd just come over and take your top off for me all together."

Kelsey pushed herself off the desk and walked to the end of Nathan's bed. She untied the string behind her neck and held the cups in place with her arm, keeping her breasts covered. She reached behind her back with her left hand and loosened the string on her back and felt the bikini top start to fall free from her body. She slowly pulled her arm away and tossed the small triangle top to Nathan. 

"So, you pictured something like this?" she asked, standing at the foot of his bed, completely topless. She never broke eye contact with him. Nathan groaned as he looked at her breasts. Her dark nipples had become stiff peaks on her flesh and they were getting harder with each passing moment that Nathan stared at them.

He nodded. She saw his cock jump to life in his swim trunks. She glanced at it, then looked back to his eyes. 

"What else, Nathan?"

He exhaled as he began to grip his dick in his right hand. 

"I'd think about your pussy and how much I wanted to know what it looked like. I just wanted to touch it...to watch you touch it yourself." 

Kelsey's hands grazed down the sides of her body and her fingers pinched the ties that sat on each of her hips. She spread her feet apart just a little and pulled each tie open slowly, staring at him the entire time. His breathing was steadily picking up and the grasp he had on his cock visibly tightened. 

Kelsey felt her bikini bottoms fall away from her skin. The pale blue fabric hit the floor and her smooth, pink pussy was exposed to Nathan. Kelsey licked, then bit her lip. 

"Holy shit, Kelsey. You're so fucking beautiful." 

Kelsey felt a blush spread across her face and chest. She watched as Nathan slipped his hand below the waistband of his trunks. She could see his fist moving slowly under the fabric. She remembered what he said...that he fantasized about watching her play with herself, so she got to work. 

She rubbed her hands across the smooth surface of her stomach. She lifted her hands up the sides of her body, over her rib cage and to the sides of her perky breasts. She pushed them together, then released them quickly, letting them bounce back into place. Her nipples were tingling and begging for attention, so she gently raked her fingernails across them, setting each nerve ending on fire. Kelsey shuddered, then pinched her nipples tightly. 

"Is this what you thought about?" she whispered. Nathan nodded as his fist pumped slowly in his shorts. He watched as her fingers inched down her midsection, stopping just above her shaved mound. Kelsey paused and crawled onto the end of Nathan's bed. She spread her knees far apart and started massaging her inner thighs, one at a time. She was close enough for him to get a better look, but just far enough away that he couldn't touch. 

Kelsey rubbed her thighs, letting her thumbs brush against the sensitive lips of her pussy. Her teeth bit into her lower lip as her hands started rubbing back and forth against her sex. Before long, the soft, damp sounds of her pussy were obvious. She reached her fingers down lower and pushed two inside of herself. Nathan groaned. 

"Fuck. Can I see how wet you are?" he asked quietly.

Kelsey leaned back, spreading her knees apart even further and pushing her pelvis out towards Nathan. She pumped her fingers in and out of herself a few more times before slowly pulling them out. A thick string of wetness connected her fingers to her pussy. She spread her wet fingers apart and pinched them around her clit. She started rubbing it in circles, quickly working herself towards an orgasm. 

Nathan had all but stopped jerking off and was just staring at Kelsey in amazement as she slapped her fingers against her wet clit. She leaned back as far as she could, bracing her left hand on the bed behind her as she fingered herself to a climax. She panted and moaned as the blood rushed and pulsed through her pussy. Her stomach muscles clenched with each powerful spasm. Wetness coated her thighs and fingers as she came down from her high. 

She exhaled shakily and lifted her head. She looked at Nathan who looked stunned. Kelsey smiled. 

"Well? How's that for starters?" 

"Holy fuck, Kelsey. That was one of the sexiest things I've ever seen." 

"Good. Now, it's your turn." 

Kelsey leaned forward and wrapped her fingers underneath the waist of his trunks and pulled them down his legs. His heavy erection pulsed and bounced in front of her as she tossed his shorts on the floor. 

"So, you imagined what it would be like if I came up and took all of my clothes off, then played with myself, then...what else?" she asked as she crawled up the bed between his legs. 

"I-I used to think about you climbing on top of me and making out with me." he mumbled.

"Mmmhmm. And you beat off to that?" She crawled over him and straddled his stomach. She leaned down and pressed her lips against his firm chest, working her way up to his neck. She could feel her hard nipples drag against his chest.

"God, yes. I jerked off to you all the time, Kels. I still do," he confessed.

Kelsey closed her eyes and smiled against his neck. 

"Well, you watched me. Now I want to watch you."

Nathan groaned and lifted his lips up to hers. The sexual tension between them ignited. Kelsey wrapped her hands around his face. Their lips parted and their tongues began to work against each other. Kelsey felt Nathan's thick cock jerk and press up against her ass. She whimpered. It took all of her self control not to slide back onto it, but she knew she wanted him to have this experience first. She wanted Nathan to live out his teenage fantasy while they still had the chance. She knew it would be something that he would remember forever. 

She rolled off of him and laid on his right side. She guided his right hand back to his cock and watched as a thick drop of pre-cum emerged from the tip. Kelsey leaned down and licked it off. Nathan's hips jerked up towards her mouth. She laid back and shook her head. 

"Nope. This is about your fantasy. I want to watch you beat off while we make out." she whispered against his ear. She sucked softly on his earlobe as she felt his right arm started to jerk on his cock. She looked down the length of his body and watched as he worked his fist up and down his shaft. 

"Looks like you could use a little lube, Nate," she said playfully. 

Kelsey laid back on his bed and let her knees fall apart. She took her right hand and rubbed it back and forth against her pussy, which was still dripping wet from her recent orgasm. She massaged herself as Nathan watched. He groaned and jerked himself harder as her fingers appeared then disappeared over and over again into her pussy. After several seconds, she pulled her hand away and wrapped it around his cock. He dropped his head back against the headboard as Kelsey smeared her own wetness all over his aching erection. She dipped her hand back between her thighs and rubbed even more of her own juices along his dick. She laid on her side as she worked her small fist up and down his slippery shaft. Nathan growled and grabbed the metal bars behind his head. 

Kelsey released him and moved back up to his ear. "Your turn. Show me how work your cock, Nathan. I got it nice and wet for you." 

Nathan moaned as their lips met. She could hear his hand pumping faster and faster. She pulled her lips off of his and watched as both of his hands wrapped around his shaft and started twisting and pumping in unison. Nathan's chest was heaving and his hips were starting to buck involuntarily. Kelsey knew that he was close, so she got closer to his ear, still unable to take her eyes off of his swollen dick. 

"That's it, Nathan. Pump that cock. Think about these tits that you wanted to see so badly...think about my wet pussy and how good it's going to feel when fuck...that's it. Come on, Nathan. Let me watch you cum. Please...let me see you cum. Come on. Come on," Kelsey panted against his neck. She wrapped her hand over his and helped to finish him off. 

"Oh fuck, Kelsey! Oh yeah...yeah...oh holy shit!" Nathan grunted loudly as the first burst of cum exploded from his dick and landed on his chest. Several more thick jets of cum followed, each one landing against his chest and chiseled stomach. They were both breathing rapidly by the time his cock started to soften in his fist. She felt his body start to go limp beside her. 

Kelsey sat up and leaned over Nathan. Her tongue darted out and started to lick up the cum that was pooled on his body. He groaned and pulled her hair back, holding it behind her head as he watched her clean his sticky cum covered torso. 

Once she was finished, she sat back on her heels beside him.

"Well?" she grinned. 

Nathan just shook his head and ran the back of his hand along her stomach.

"Kelsey, I have no words."

"All I want to know is if that was close to what you always fantasized about?"

"Yes, exactly what I imagined, only so much fucking better than anything my 18 year old mind was capable of coming up with. Thank you." 

Kelsey smiled and laid down against him. She pressed her ear against his chest and listened as his heartbeat started to slow down. He ran his hand up and down the bare skin of her back. 

After several minutes, the sound of Kelsey's Dad's car pulled up in the Bradford's driveway. 

"Damn it. We better get back outside before he notices I'm not in there." Kelsey stood up and quickly tied her bikini back on, making sure it was adjusted properly. Nathan stepped back into his trunks and straightened up the bed. Nathan squeezed her ass as they left the room and their new memories behind. He chased her down the stairs and back outside to the patio. She threw her towel back on the lounge chair and jumped in the pool, only to have Nathan jump in behind her. 

They came back up and Kelsey playfully dunked Nathan's head back under the water. Just as he resurfaced, the gate between their backyards creaked open. Kelsey's Dad walked to the pool. 

"Hey guys. How's the water?"

Nathan wiped his eyes. "Great, Mr. B. You guys coming over for a swim tonight?"

"Probably not. I've got some work to catch up on. Kels, I'm going to grill some steak. Want one?"

"Sure, Dad. I'll be over to help in a few." 

"Alright. Nathan? You want to join us for dinner?" 

Nathan politely shook his head. "No, but thank you. I'm actually going to go home soon."

"Alright. I'll see you on Wednesday, Nate. Kelsey is taking family pictures. Don't forget. Nancy will kill you."

"I won't forget. See you then."

They watched as Kelsey's Dad walked across the yard and back into their backyard. He closed the gate behind him. Kelsey turned to Nathan. 

"Actually, I'm glad he said something. Both of our Moms wanted to take pictures at Kinley Park. I haven't made it over there to scope out locations or anything yet. Want to come with me tomorrow after work? It will be about the same time of day, so I can get an idea of what the lighting will look like and all that. You can keep me company." Kelsey smiled. 

"Yeah, I can go."

"Good. Thanks." Kelsey glanced back over her shoulder. "I should probably go." 

Nathan nodded. "Alright. I'll give you a call when I leave work tomorrow." 

"Sounds good."

Kelsey started to swim by him, but he grabbed her elbow. He pulled her back towards him and kissed her wet cheek. She closed her eyes and tried to savor the brief moment of intimacy. 

"We'll have to see what kind of fun we can have tomorrow," he whispered in her ear. 

She nodded. He kissed her again, then let go of her arm. She made her way to the stairs. As she toweled off, she watched Nathan swim some laps, then pull an inflatable raft into the water and jump onto it. He laid back and soaked up the warm sunshine. Kelsey slipped her flip flops on and gathered her things. 

"See you tomorrow!" she called over her shoulder, glancing back in enough time to see Nathan wink at her. She walked through the gate and glanced down at her phone. She had one missed call from an unknown number and a voicemail. 

She went up to her bedroom and opened the message.

"Hello. I am calling for a Miss Kelsey Bradford. My name is David Fisher. I own Backlight Studios in Manhattan. We specialize in ad campaigns and do some celebrity photography as well. I am currently looking for two photography interns to begin this fall. I was given your information by a Professor Powell. I've seen your work and I'd like to schedule a meeting with you, and hopefully get you started with our company by the end of the summer. If you're interested, please give me a call back. I look forward to hearing from you."




Meant To Be Ch. 02



I let Gwen pick my outfit. She chose black jeans and a shimmery burgundy top with a plunging back, despite my scared look. I asked her to straighten my hair, which took forever, but when she was done, it was sleek and shiny and flowed around my shoulders. I barely recognized myself.

"God, I wish I had naturally straight hair," I muttered, smoothing my hands over it.

Gwen shook her head. "You're crazy. You know how many women would kill to have your curls?"

I made a face. "You only say that because you don't have to deal with it. They're impossible to control."

She sighed affectionately. "Whatever. Here, use my jacket."

The intercom buzzed and in my excitement I gave her a hug. Gwen started toward the door, telling me I should make an entrance, but I pushed her aside with a laugh. I opened the door expectantly and my eyes widened at the sight of Nick. He was wearing dark jeans and a black turtleneck. Again, he'd made what would be a plain outfit on anyone else completely stand out.

Holy crap, I thought, my stomach dropping to my feet. I am in serious trouble.

"Hi," I said lamely.

"You look beautiful," he said sincerely, taking in my outfit briefly before meeting my eyes.

He kissed each cheek, my eyes drifting shut at his proximity. I could feel his body heat and a rush of longing washed over me.

"Your hair..." He looked a little stunned. "What happened to your curls?" he asked, only slightly teasing.

I tucked my hair behind my ears, smiling self-consciously.

"The miracle that is the flat iron," I told him, laughing nervously.

He wrinkled his brow quizzically but didn't comment on it. Regaining his composure, he glanced around and saw Gwen, giving her a friendly smile.

"Nice to see you again, Gwen," he said, nodding.

"You, too," she replied, grinning. "You guys have fun!"

She walked down the hall after giving us a little wave. I called out a goodbye and turned back to Nick to see him studying me. He smiled when our eyes met.

"Ready?" he asked.

I nodded, picking up my purse and Gwen's jacket. I turned away from him to lock the door behind me and heard his surprised inhale. Facing him, I was confused for a moment before I remembered the open back of my blouse. I blushed slightly and started to put on the jacket. Nick took it from me, holding it so I could slip my arms in, then ran his hand down a sleeve and wrapped his hand around mine. I looked at him through my lashes, my stomach doing flip-flops.

We walked to the restaurant exchanging only a few words, his hand still holding mine. He'd chosen a cozy Italian restaurant in the neighborhood, the name of which I was too distracted to retain. It was dark and romantic; the whole room seemed to flicker with only candlelight. We were shown to a table in a corner near the back of the restaurant, and Nick sat in the chair next to mine rather than across the table. He suggested we order a bottle of wine and I agreed, letting him pick one after we ordered our food. We didn't speak until the wine had been tasted and poured, but it was a comfortable silence. I was still nervous, but enjoyed watching him out of the corner of my eye as he perused the menu or held the wine glass when the waiter offered him a sample. When he did speak, I was unprepared for his words.

"Did I make you uncomfortable?" he asked, his voice low and soft. "Last night?"

"What?" I whispered. "No," I said, my cheeks turning pink.

I smiled involuntarily thinking about his lips. He was watching me closely.

"I just don't want to - well, take advantage -" He stopped and looked at me helplessly.

His unease - presumably about us becoming romantically involved - was upsetting, but I found myself emboldened by his inability to get his point across. He was typically so assured and well spoken.

"You're not," I said firmly with a hint of exasperation.

He continued studying me before finally giving me a warm smile.

"Okay, then," he said simply.

We began talking about the exhibit we'd seen at the Guggenheim, about the play we were going to in a few days. I let him carry the conversation; I was too aware of his body next to mine to really speak coherently. We finished the wine halfway through the meal and ordered another glass each, taking our time to eat and drink. During a pause in conversation, thanks to the wine, I decided to ask the question that had been plaguing me.

"What exactly bothers you about this? About - us?" I asked, looking at him sideways.

I was glad to see that he didn't look flustered or uncomfortable by the question. He met my eyes and smiled.

"Nothing bothers me, actually. Which is what bothers me."

I tilted my head in confusion. His smile widened.

"I'm too old for you -"

He stopped when I shot him an angry look. Placing a hand over mine on the table, he went on.

"I am an entire adult person older than you," he said jokingly, though I could hear the serious concern behind the humor.

I flashed him a quick smile, then became serious. "We're both adults."

He nodded slowly. I was dying to ask him more questions, ones I knew there was no way I could ask. Even if I had my sisters' natural ease with conversation, questions about where this was going or what he was looking for would have been awkward at this point.

"Yes, but -" he began.

"I know what I'm doing and what I want," I interrupted, shrugging defiantly.

He smiled appreciatively. "As do I," he said in a low voice that made my toes curl.

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the tips of my fingers. My gaze was focused on his mouth and it was a few moments before I could drag them away to look into his eyes. He was looking at me with more than a hint of suggestion. Our knees touched under the table and his remained there, pressed against mine. I blinked and moistened my lips. His eyes darkened and I exhaled deeply, feeling intoxicated.

We finished our meal and continued to talk, though I couldn't remember what we said. I did notice we both seemed to be eating more quickly and soon he was asking for the check. Outside, he helped me with my jacket again, then wrapped his arms lightly around me from behind. His chin was resting on my shoulder and his lips tickled my ear when he spoke.

"Would you like to come back to my flat?"

Warmth spread through me and my lips curved into a smile.

"Yes," I whispered.

I turned to see his smile. He took my hand and hailed a cab. We didn't speak until we were in the elevator when he dropped my hand and laced his fingers together at the small of my back. I saw his eyes traveling over my hair and nervously tucked it behind my ear again. He met my eyes and gave me a small smile, stroking my hair.

"Cassandra, what's a flat iron?" he asked.

I gave a surprised laugh. "It's like a curling iron, except it straightens hair."

"Oh."

I giggled at his expression and he smiled as he twisted a strand of my hair around his finger.

"I like the curls," he said softly.

"Really?" I asked in disbelief. "It's always such a mess, so - out of control."

He shook his head. "You have lovely curls. You do look beautiful tonight, don't get me wrong," he added. "But the curls are - you."

I looked away, blushing. Somehow suddenly we were entering his apartment and he was taking my coat and offering me something to drink. I declined, and he led me to the couch. He put an arm around me, continuing to stroke my hair and cheeks with light touches. He looked at me intently, his eyes caressing me just as much as his hands. I simultaneously couldn't breathe and was breathing too quickly.

I ran a hand up his side and then across his chest, admiring the way his turtleneck hugged his body. I couldn't decide if he was taking things so slowly because he thought I was scared or if he was teasing me, but I was impatient. I slipped my hands around his neck and urged his face to mine. He stopped when our noses touched, his eyes twinkling before becoming heated.

Then our lips met and I let out a small sigh. It was just as wonderful as that first kiss - soft and gentle at first, then passionate. I felt his hands on my bare back and took a shaky breath. He pulled back to look at me and I smiled dreamily. He kissed me softly on the lips, then my cheek, then just below my ear, making me shiver. He murmured my name, dragging out the syllables, his voice vibrating against my skin. I tangled my hands in his hair and buried my face in his neck. He smelled of crisp, fresh aftershave. An ache of arousal zipped through me.

Finding his earlobe, I flicked it with my tongue before sucking it into my mouth, giving it a small bite. He inhaled sharply and leaned back. He looked surprised, then grinned mischievously. Before I could blink he lunged toward me and placed his teeth on the curve of my neck. I squealed and whimpered, my hand on his head pressing him into me. His lips and teeth grazed my neck, his tongue swirling teasingly, until I was breathing rapidly. He drew away and gave me a playful smile that quickly softened to tenderness.

"What would you like me to do, pet?" he asked gently, running his fingers through my hair.

I was speechless, still trying to catch my breath. I tightened my fingers in his hair. He gave me a half-smile.

"I...don't want to assume anything," he said, leaning in to kiss me softly. Resting his forehead against mine, he met my eyes. "Do you want to make love?"

My face flushed hot. I had never been asked to have sex in so many words. I felt like I should be embarrassed, but his tone was so alluring and sexy.

"Yes," I whispered.

He gave me a slow smile, kissing me before moving his mouth to my neck. My back arched, instantly lost at the feel of his lips on my skin. I blinked lazily at the ceiling, noticing random swirling patterns and had to shut my eyes against the dizziness that overpowered me.

"Shall we move to the bedroom?" he whispered in my ear.

"Yes!" I said emphatically, causing us both to chuckle.

He stood and helped me up, leading me down the hall by the hand. His bedroom was dark and I stumbled a bit when my feet encountered a plush rug.

"Sorry, let me get the light," he said quickly.

He turned on the bedside lamp and I looked quickly around the room. It was, not surprisingly, elegantly decorated with clean lines and the absence of frill. There wasn't much furniture: a dresser, a handsome wingback chair with a suit jacket and tie draped over it, and the large bed in the center of the room. My heart pounded loudly in my ears at the sight of it.

Nick took me in his arms, kissing me slowly. My hands clutched his waist and then I moved them under his turtleneck, my fingers greedily exploring the muscles on his back. He pulled back with a smile and reached for the hem of my top. I glanced nervously at the lamp before meeting his eyes. He stopped with his hands on my sides under my blouse, his strong fingers pressing gently into my flesh making it difficult for me to concentrate.

"Are you all right?" he asked in concern.

I bit my lip and nodded, inadvertently looking at the lamp again.

"Can we - turn that off?" I asked sheepishly.

His brow wrinkled in confusion. "The light?"

He gave me an affectionate smile when I nodded again.

"No. I'm sorry, love. I want to be able to see what I'm doing," he explained, stroking my skin under my top. "And I want to see your reactions to what I'm doing..."

His expression morphed into a look of hunger and my heart thumped wildly in my chest. He began lifting my shirt, nuzzling my neck.

"I need to see you," he whispered, his tongue on my earlobe making my legs shake. "I want to see you, all glorious and naked."

I stiffened at the word naked. My body was okay - too many curves and rolls, in my opinion. I had a nice chest, but my thighs and behind always seemed so flabby. I was blushing at the thought of being exposed. Nick was gorgeous and clearly had the body of an athlete - all tight and lithe muscles. I imagined the kind of woman he was usually with and knew I could never compare.

Nick paused with my shirt half-off, his hands resting just below my breasts. I heard him give a small sigh and looked at him through lowered lashes. He brushed his lips across my forehead.

"Please don't be self-conscious," he murmured. "Darling, you're so beautiful. And so sexy," he added huskily. He nudged my top up with his thumbs. "Let me show you how beautiful you are."

I saw the sincerity in his eyes, heard the genuine emotion in his voice, and took a deep breath. Shutting my eyes, I lifted my arms and felt him slip the blouse over my head. I heard another sigh and then his hands were cupping my breasts through my bra. I sucked in a short breath as his thumbs passed over my nipples. Then they were gone and his hand was cupping my chin.

"Cassandra," he said quietly, waiting until I opened my eyes before continuing. "You are stunning. But we don't have to do anything you don't -"

I interrupted him by nudging his turtleneck up his torso, giving him a small smile. He grinned and let me pull the shirt off, standing still as my hands roamed his chest, my fingers tickling his chest hair.

God, he is magnificent, I thought, weak-kneed.

He wasn't overly muscular, a body type I didn't prefer; his arms had just enough definition to hint at their strength without being cartoonishly large. His shoulders and chest tapered from strong pecs to a trim waist. I almost felt my mouth watering and a small whimper escaped my lips as I touched him. I felt him twitch with laughter and found him watching me with amusement. I flashed him a grin before returning my gaze to his chest. My hands dropped to his waistband and I looked at him again. His eyes darkened, giving me the courage to undo his belt and jeans. Soon he was standing there in nothing but his boxer briefs, which left little to the imagination.

I stifled a moan as I studied him. He was the beautiful one. I had the fleeting thought that I would have expected this to make me more self-conscious, but my desire easily overpowered anything else. Before I could second-guess myself, I reached behind me to unhook my bra; Nick's hands quickly joining mine to take over. I stared at his chest while he slipped the bra straps down my arms. He took my hands and held my arms out, his eyes running over my body. Then he embraced me.

"Beautiful," he murmured into my hair.

I sighed when the hard warmth of his chest met my bare skin. He bent quickly and scooped me up to place me on the bed. Hovering over me, he gave me a deep kiss before trailing his tongue down my neck and to my chest. He left teasing kisses around my breasts, his hands gripping my waist, until I was panting and arching my back to meet his mouth. When he finally swirled a tongue around one nipple and then gave it a quick flick, my body jerked and I gave a surprised gasp. He proceeded to tease one breast and then the other until I was moaning and gripping his hair.

Ending that particular torture, his mouth moved down to my stomach. I tensed slightly when I felt his hands at my pants and looked down my body at him. He rested his chin on my abdomen, his eyes questioning. Smiling, I brushed the hair off his forehead. He undid my jeans and slowly dragged them off my legs. I pressed my head into the bed and closed my eyes, feeling his hands stroking me from ankle to thigh.

He stretched out next to me and I turned to him, our mouths meeting in an urgent kiss. His hand ran down my back until it cupped my bottom.

"What do you like, Cassandra?" he asked tenderly, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I want to make you feel good," he said quietly, nuzzling my ear. "Tell me what to do."

I bit my lip, my eyes wide. I didn't know how to answer. I felt his eyes on me and took his hand, placing it on my breast. He cupped it gently, brushing his thumb over the nipple, then grasped it between two fingers, rolling it slightly. I gasped, my head falling back, and he took the opportunity to gently bite my neck. Then his hand was moving on my stomach and I could tell he was looking for my eyes. I arched my back and gave a small moan, then whimpered when his fingers slipped beneath my panties.

"May I remove these?" he asked, running a finger along the elastic waistband.

I would have chuckled at his polite request if my eyes weren't rolling back in my head.

"Yes, please," I said in a throaty voice.

He laughed and I looked at him with a grin. I watched as he moved from my side, then focused on his hands pulling my underwear down my legs. He began stroking me gently and my legs parted automatically, my hips rising off the bed slightly in anticipation. I felt his fingers stroking me, then dipping inside me shallowly. A low groan came out of my mouth. Nick moved back to my side, propping himself up next to me.

"Tell me what you like," he repeated in the same soft voice, his fingers gently caressing me.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I was too shy to try to articulate anything. Besides, he was the first person to touch me this way, so I was at a loss.

"You're doing a great job all on your own," I joked.

He chuckled and kissed me. He held my eyes for a long moment, seeming to come to the conclusion that he'd have to take matters into his own hands, so to speak. His fingers were lightly circling inside me and I felt his thumb graze over my sensitive button. I gasped and he did it again.

"Does that feel good?" he prompted in a husky voice.

"Yes," I whispered.

His lips found my ear, nuzzling and sucking on my earlobe. He kept moving his fingers, alternating entering me with teasing touches.

"This?" he asked each time his hand did something new.

"Yes," I answered in a moan each time.

It usually took me a frustratingly long time to even get close, but in mere minutes I felt the telltale pressure deep inside begin. My body tensed and I held my breath, letting out sporadic loud gasps. He pressed his finger directly on the firm nub and I arched my back, feeling the tingle spread throughout my body. I felt his other hand move between my legs, his fingers entering me just as I cried out. My body convulsed at the sensation and I clutched the bed. I shrieked and moaned, bucking my hips against his hands. He didn't move until I had stilled completely other than my heaving chest. Stretching himself next to me, he gathered me in his arms.

"Christ, that was gorgeous," he said, pressing his lips to my temple.

I gripped his wrist with my hand, my thighs still clenched together, and looked at him. His eyes were wild and dark and my body instinctively turned to his. I realized he was breathing just as hard as I was and I looked at him in wonder for a moment. I cupped his face and kissed him fiercely. His hands tangled in my hair and he responded in kind. Our breathing slowed and our hands languidly stroked each other's backs. I pressed against him, feeling the hardness through his boxers. He lifted my head up by the chin.

"I didn't plan this well, love - I need to get a condom from the bathroom," he said softly.

My stomach plummeted. "I - you can't - I'm allergic to latex," I stammered.

Shit. Idiot, I thought. There were non-latex brands but they weren't readily available in stores. In my giddiness today it hadn't occurred to me and given my lack of activity I knew I didn't have any in my purse. I watched his eyes widen.

"I didn't bring any," I whispered, looking at his unreadable expression.

We stared at each other silently.

"Well, I'm quite the buzzkill," I said wryly, grateful when he laughed. "Look - I'm on the pill," I ventured, watching him closely. "So it's...safe. And I'm, you know, clean."

I rolled my eyes, smirking involuntarily. This conversation was important but I hated the ridiculous awkwardness of it. He gave a small chuckle, still holding my chin.




Meant To Be Ch. 02



"I am as well," he told me, stroking my cheek. "But - are you sure?"

I looked pointedly down at our bodies pressed together, our chests still heaving. I met his eyes with my eyebrows raised. He chuckled again.

"I'm sure. Are you sure?" I teased, nudging my hips into him.

In answer, he rolled to his back and lifted me on top of him, kissing me. His tongue swept my mouth, swirling around mine, quickly bringing my arousal into overdrive. I kissed him hungrily, clutching at his arms. Our hands met at the waist of his boxers and we laughed softly, pushing them off his legs together. He cupped my behind before gripping my thighs, positioning them on either side of him. His hands found my breasts and he fondled them, pushing me gently back until I was sitting up straddling him. We held eye contact for a long moment.

"Whenever you're ready, love," he said softly, brushing against my nipples with his thumbs.

I blinked and looked down at his crotch, at my position over him, blushing as awareness washed over me. I wasn't a virgin, but my handful of experiences consisted of fumblings in dark rooms with boys my age who knew as little as I did. I met his eyes nervously.

"Um, I - don't really know -" I paused. "What I'm doing," I finished helplessly.

Panic flashed across his face.

"Cassandra - are you a -"

"No! No, I'm not," I said quickly, unable to bear hearing him saying the word. "I just - I haven't had much experience, I guess. I've only done missionary," I added, looking away and fighting the urge to cry.

Nick nudged my face to meet his, stroking my neck.

"We'll have to remedy that situation," he said playfully.

I smiled gratefully. He pulled me to him for another kiss, reaching between our bodies. His fingers teased my opening briefly and then I felt his crown enter me. He deepened the kiss as he inched slowly inside me, causing me to moan into his mouth. His hands were on my behind, pressing me the rest of the way onto him. I grasped his bottom lip between my teeth, biting gently when our groins met. He gave a start and then kissed me ferociously, one hand on my behind, the other fisted in my hair.

My body was trembling with excitement, with the knowledge that he was inside me. After all this time of watching him and being around him, it had finally happened. None of my fantasies about him came close to the reality of this feeling. He broke the kiss and brushed the hair off my face.

"Fancy a ride?" He grinned wickedly and jerked his hips once.

My giggle came out in a breathy gasp. He nudged my shoulders, encouraging me to sit up. I moved slowly, walking my hands down his body as I pushed back, relishing the feel of him that changed with each of my movements. When my back was straight, he let out a long, shuddering breath.

"God, you look so beautiful," he mumbled, his eyes glassy. He ran a hand between my breasts, then placed both hands on my waist. "You're like a work of art."

I bit my lip as I stared at him, his words and his expression stirring my arousal as much, if not more, than the hardness pulsing inside me.

"How do you feel?" he asked dreamily.

I rocked against him experimentally, causing us both to inhale sharply.

"Fantastic." I dragged out the word.

He smiled slowly. "You feel exquisite." His hands moved to my behind and he gripped my butt cheeks roughly. "Now stop teasing."

"Oh, really?" I taunted, circling my hips.

His nostrils flared and his hands dropped to the bed. His mouth opened as if to speak but no words came. I continued rolling my pelvis, leaning back slightly and placing my hands on his thighs for support. My head fell back slightly as I lost myself in the sensation. When I looked at him again, I couldn't help smiling at his dazed expression. He caught the smile and gave me a scornful look.

"Not much experience," he scoffed, squeezing my behind again.

I grinned and placed my hands on his chest, lifting off him in an attempt to find the right movements. His hands cupped my behind, guiding my body until my back was arching and I was crying out, leaving him to do most of the work. I felt myself contracting around him, the hum of release starting, the blood rushing to my head. He pulled me to his chest and locked his arms around me, thrusting into me.

I was amazed to hear loud grunts and growls coming out of my mouth, my fingernails clawing at his shoulders. He increased the force of his thrusts, his mouth pressed against my ear murmuring words of encouragement and sounds of pleasure. Embarrassed by the noises I was making, I closed my teeth on his shoulder and bit down as I peaked, screaming into his skin.

Coming back to awareness, I felt his hands caressing me, his lips brushing my eyelids and cheeks. My eyes fluttered open slowly, seeing the impression my teeth had made. I touched it gingerly and looked at him apologetically. He was grinning.

"Don't you dare apologize for that."

I blushed. "I didn't mean to - I've never -" I took a shaky breath. "That's never happened to me before."

He looked at me curiously. "Don't normally go round biting people?" he teased.

I giggled. "Well, no. But that's not what I meant."

I sighed in satisfaction and stretched my arms. He was still looking at me quizzically. Too satiated and relaxed to feel self-conscious, I spoke without thinking.

"I've never had an orgasm with another person before - during - you know," I stammered.

He blinked in surprise, then gave me that breathtaking smile.

"What a shame," he said, hugging me. "It was quite the sight."

I pinched his arm and he laughed.

"It was," he said huskily, his lips capturing mine in a heated kiss. "And I need to see it again," he added, rolling us over so that I was on my back.

He combed his fingers through my hair, splaying it out on the bed. He gripped my chin and kissed me languidly, running a hand down my body. He stopped to run a thumb under the curve of my breast, then moved it over my hip, cupping my behind and pressing me to him. I started to wrap my legs around him but he stopped me, pushing my legs onto the bed. He stared at me for a moment, breathing hard.

"Not missionary," he explained with a slow smile. "It seems we've the chance to give you a good learning opportunity, after all."

I giggled, marveling at the light-hearted humor we had maintained while naked and in bed together. It was unlike anything I'd experienced and it relaxed me. By that point I was so comfortable with him it didn't occur to me to feel embarrassed by my body. He lowered his body to mine for a kiss, then rested his chin in the valley between my breasts, his eyes twinkling.

"What would you like to try, pet?"

I ran my hands through his hair, mesmerized by him. I shook my head slightly. Even if I had the ability to speak at that moment, I wouldn't have known what to say. I'd thought about sex quite a bit of course, but apparently hadn't taken the time to do my research.

"What's your favorite?" I whispered shyly.

His eyes softened and he took my hand, kissing the palm. He looked at me affectionately for a moment before his expression turned devilish.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Are you going to tell me it's missionary?" I teased.

His laugh rumbled against my body. He circled a hand around each breast, lifting the nipple of one into his mouth without breaking eye contact. His tongue swept around in large circles and then his teeth closed gently around it, making me gasp. He repeated this with the other breast before trailing his tongue down my stomach. My head was thrown back and I was breathing quickly, so distracted by the sensation that I didn't realize what his intentions were until I felt his hot breath between my legs.

Looking down my body, I saw that he was still watching me. Our eyes locked, he smiled with his mouth open wide, extending his tongue. My back came off the bed at the first contact of his tongue inside me. He moved agonizingly slowly, alternating long swipes and swirls of his tongue with occasional flicks against my still-sensitive button. It was more intense than anything I could have imagined, and I found myself gripping his hair with one hand and fisting the bedding in the other. Anytime I looked at him, he still had his eyes trained on me, gauging my response. When my legs began trembling around him, he started moaning, sending a delicious vibration through my body from the inside out.

My climax arrived so quickly it startled me and I looked at him with wide eyes. He nodded slightly and I felt his fingers push inside me, his mouth now focused entirely on the tender nub. He circled it with his tongue, then pressed firmly against it and my hips shot off the bed. His other hand held my waist and he somehow managed to not lose contact despite my shaking body. I felt myself tense and squeezed my eyes shut, anticipating the moment of release. He closed his lips around the center of my pleasure, creating a vacuum-like suction. At the same time I felt him adjust his hand and suddenly there was immense pressure on my pelvis, his fingertips rubbing against a part of me I hadn't known existed.

I exploded in a cacophony of screams and groans, my vision blurring around the edges. I shut my eyes, my body still shuddering, and saw a burning white light behind my eyelids. This was not the tingling warmth of gently lapping flames; this was pure, hot electricity coursing through my body to my extremities. When it ended, my arms and legs felt like they were made of lead and there was a buzzing in my ears. I wasn't aware of Nick moving until he was beside me, curling his body around mine, tucking me into his embrace. I pressed my back against his chest, my eyes still wide in astonishment, panting and gasping for air. He gently tugged my hand and I realized I had covered my mouth to stifle my cries.

"I think - that's my favorite - too," I said, my breath calming but still coming in gulps.

His arms shuddered around me when he laughed and I gripped his hands. I became aware of his arousal lodged against my behind and pushed my hips back. He sucked in his breath in a hiss and began kissing my neck. One of his hands moved to my abdomen and he pressed me back against him.

"Are you tired?" he said quietly in my ear. "Or are you ready for more?"

Arching into him, I let out a low groan. His low chuckle tickled my neck. He lifted my outer leg and hooked it behind his thigh, positioning himself at my opening. He entered slowly, stroking my breasts and nibbling on my neck. I sighed and melted into him. He was holding me securely, restricting my movements, so I just stroked his arms and closed my eyes, letting myself go.

I felt sluggish and dreamy, suspecting I wouldn't come again. I took advantage of it by concentrating on the feel of him and listening to the sounds he was making. He murmured my name a few times, but it was mostly long moans that vibrated through his body. He laced our fingers together, bringing one to his lips before hugging me to him again. I heard his breathing speed up, felt his muscles tensing, and tried to meet his body in the hopes of encouraging him, making my own small cries of pleasure. When he released my hands and squeezed my hip, I turned to look at him.

God, he is gorgeous, I thought, watching his eyes squeeze shut and then open wide. He met my eyes and cupped my cheek.

"God - oh, Christ," he said in a groan, his forehead meeting mine. "Oh - oh - Cass - God -"

He slammed into me in one final, powerful shove and shuddered around me, burying his head in my hair. I flung my arm behind me to wrap around his head and clutched at his arm with my other hand, trying to remain as close as possible. Our bodies were sticky with sweat and his chest was heaving hard against me. When I felt him slip out of me, I rolled over and snuggled into him, his arms wrapping around me fiercely.

I waited until he began brushing his lips across my forehead to look up at him. He cupped my cheek and brought me to him for a lingering kiss. I rested my chin on his chest and just stared at him.

"What's funny?" he asked breathlessly, poking the tip of my nose.

I realized I was smirking. "You called me Cass," I teased.

His eyes looked blank before becoming amused. "I don't recall." He hugged me tightly. "Perhaps you were right - Cassandra is a lot of syllables."

I chuckled and rested my ear on his chest. I could feel his heart, still pounding rapidly, his chest still rising and falling with large breaths. His hand lazily roamed my back, stopping to tickle the ends of my hair.

"How do you feel?" he asked quietly.

The concerned tone made me look at him curiously. He smiled self-consciously.

"Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" I asked teasingly, my voice sleepy and satisfied.

He was still looking at me apprehensively and my stomach dropped in dismay. I studied him for a moment.

"Do you regret it?" My words were barely loud enough for him to hear.

"No!" He gripped my face and stared into my eyes. "No," he repeated firmly. "I would hate for you to, though."

I sighed impatiently, propping myself up on an elbow. My frustration with his discomfort made me bold and I spoke decisively without thinking.

"No, I don't regret it. I wanted it. I'm not a child, you know." I took a deep breath, seeing the surprise on his face. "Look, I don't know what bothers you so much - if it's just the age difference or what - but obviously there's something...here. Some kind of chemistry or something."

His expression didn't change and I realized I was looking at him almost angrily, my eyes narrowed.

"I'd like to do this again," I continued in a softer voice, running a finger from his chest to his stomach. "But not if you're going to be freaking out about it every time. Because talk about a buzzkill."

My shoulders slumped as if it had taken all of my energy to speak. My innate shyness returned and I blinked, my words echoing in my mind. Had I really just said all that? Me, afraid to say what's on her mind Cassandra? I watched him warily.

I was relieved when he smiled and gave a small laugh. He cupped my face again and brought me to him for a gentle kiss.

"You're an incredible woman," he murmured against my lips.

"Because I yelled at you?" I joked.

His mouth twitched against mine in a chuckle.

"Because you don't hold back." His eyes were serious though his lips were still curved in a slight smile.

"Hmpf," I scoffed in disbelief.

That wasn't how I saw myself. It seemed like I spent most of my time worrying about what other people thought of me, how people perceived me. I didn't know if it was due to the incredible sex or Nick himself or a combination of the two, but in that moment I hadn't had any reservations about speaking my mind. Nick was looking into my eyes searchingly. I couldn't read his expression.

"May I see you tomorrow night? If you're free?" he asked.

I smiled, a light-headed kind of delight washing over me. "Yes."

He grinned, kissing me deeply, then moved to my neck before focusing on my breasts. I moaned, gripping his shoulders. His hand trailed down my body until his fingers were between my legs. I gasped, threading my fingers in his hair. His thumb circled my sensitive nub and I began crying out immediately, flinging an arm over my mouth to muffle the noise. Nick raised his head to look at me, his fingers entering me, his thumb still teasing me.

"Cassandra, don't cover your face," he implored.

His hand was still working its magic and I could barely speak.

"I don't want to - be too loud," I gasped.

He propped himself up without stopping the fingers between my legs.

"Darling, those sounds tell me that you like what I'm doing. Not to mention it's a thrill to know I that I can do that to you – you've no idea how hearing you turns me on. Don't be shy about it."

I couldn't look away from his eyes, dark and smoldering. I forced myself to uncover my mouth, trailing my fingers down his arm until I reached his hand, which I placed on my breast. I smiled softly at him, panting heavily. He returned the smile, holding my eyes as his mouth returned to my breasts.

"Let me hear you, love," he said, his voice muffled. "Let me hear how good it feels."

I threw my head back as his fingers entered more deeply. His hands and mouth would have driven me to the edge on their own, but his words were just as arousing. He brought me to the peak quickly and kept going until I didn't know where one climax was ending and the next was beginning. He only stopped because I used my body to roll him to his back so I could explore him hungrily. I pressed against his crotch, my mouth and hands focusing on his chest and stomach until he was gripping my waist and rocking against me. Sliding down his body, I settled between his legs and circled him with my fingers. I felt heady and wild, like I could never get enough of him.

"Show me what to do," I said boldly, stroking him hesitantly.

He covered my hand with his, moving along his length until I found a steady rhythm. Removing his hand from mine, he ran his fingers through my hair, drawing it gently away from my face and bunching it up into a ponytail so he could watch me. I had never done this before, had never found the idea of it appealing with the other boys I'd been with, so I was surprised by my need to taste and touch him. I wanted to return the pleasure he'd given me, but it wasn't out of a sense of duty that I began running my tongue along his length before circling him with my mouth. I wanted to know I could make him lose control, wanted to feel as close to him as I could, wanted to share in that moment when he reached his peak. The feeling was intense, spreading across my chest in an almost painful ache.

By the time I was rewarded with his climax, my entire body was trembling uncontrollably, partly from exertion, but mostly from the intimate connection I felt with him in that moment. Nick cried out in what sounded like surprised, painful gasps, his fingers fisted in my hair. I didn't stop until he gently tugged on my shoulders, bringing me up to lie on him. My body was still shuddering as if I'd had my own release and I clung to him, his chest heaving frantically.

"My God, pet," he said in a groan when his breathing had steadied. "That was brilliant."

I giggled, kissing his neck.

"Haven't had much experience," he said again, giving my behind a very light spank.

"It's true," I said, grinning though I was blushing. "I've never done that before, either."

He looked at me, surprised and amused.

"Well," he said hesitantly. "It would be crass to tell you you're a natural. I'll just say I feel like the luckiest man alive and leave it at that." He was grinning but his eyes were sincere.

I laughed softly, still blushing. "I feel lucky, too," I whispered, snuggling into him.

He wrapped his arms around me and sighed loudly in satisfaction. I closed my eyes, trying to burn every moment and sensation of this evening into my memory.

---

Gwen strolled into my room where I was packing a bag and handed me a sweater.

"Not that I expect you to be wearing it for long," she teased.

"Shut up," I said, laughing. "Thanks for letting me borrow it."

She grinned and I could tell she was holding back a laugh at my blissful expression. I'm sure I looked perpetually foolish these days. I hadn't stopped smiling, my feet seemed to float just above the ground, and I found myself sighing happily at random intervals.

It had been almost a week, and Nick and I had seen each other every night since we'd first made love. We went on the same outings as before - dinners, art exhibits, bookstores, cafes. One night, when Gwen had been gone for evening classes, I'd made him dinner at my place. Each night had ended in bed in glorious hours of exploration and fun and affection as he learned what pleased me while I discovered my sensuality. Our first night together had opened the floodgates and I felt almost insatiable, my thoughts constantly reliving the previous experiences or imagining what we would do next, my body on fire at the very thought of him. For his part, Nick was equally enthusiastic and more than willing, which increased my confidence and desire.




Meant To Be Ch. 02



I suspected he still had reservations about our age difference, assuming that was what had bothered him in the first place. He'd never spelled it out for me and I refrained from asking. Since my outburst, he hadn't commented on it again, and if he was still uncomfortable, he hid it well. I followed his lead in public and other than holding my hand or placing an arm around me, sometimes kissing me in a secluded spot, we didn't display much affection when we were out. According to Gwen, anyone would be able to tell by just looking at us. I know I always felt the palpable charge between us even if we were on separate sides of a room, so I expect she was right.

I didn't know exactly how to define what we had - there was no mention of a specific label for our relationship, but I couldn't decide what made me uneasy about that. Gwen pointed out that spending that much time with me made his feelings clear, and I essentially agreed. Maybe this is what relationships were like in the real world. It wasn't high school where the boyfriend/girlfriend label was more of a status symbol, and it wasn't college where people either hooked up without commitment or fell in love then married right after graduation. I did my best to push aside my doubts, since whatever it was between us was exhilarating and fulfilling.

We hadn't spent the entire night together yet; I lived so close to work that it made more sense for me to come home if we'd been at his place, and the lack of privacy at my apartment wasn't appealing. Although I wouldn't have minded getting up earlier than usual, he never seemed to expect me to stay and I wasn't yet brave enough to ask. I was trying not to let myself have any expectations so he'd surprised me a few nights earlier when, still tangled up together in his bed, he'd tucked my hair behind my ear and looked at me almost shyly.

"Cassandra, will you stay with me this weekend?" He'd asked hesitantly. "I want to be able to wake up with you and make love..." He had paused, his lips teasing my neck. "I want to cook you breakfast and take a shower with you and spend the day with you." He'd raised his head, searching for my eyes. "Will you stay?"

My chest had swelled, his words washing over me like warm oil, caressing my skin. Unable to speak, I had simply nodded and kissed him.

Nick met me outside my office building after work, enveloping me in a big hug. My face pressed into his coat, I inhaled his scent, warmth and desire spreading through me. He released me and kissed my forehead, pausing to pull at one of my curls. His gaze traveled over my hair and he smiled appreciatively. Silly as it may be, I hadn't straightened my hair again. He bent to pick up my bag.

"What do you think about stopping by a pub for dinner before we head home?" he asked, taking my hand.

"Sure," I said happily, squeezing his hand.

The pub was dark and crowded. We sat in a corner booth, his arm around me while we waited for our food. He began telling me about his plans for the weekend while I watched him, amused. He noticed my expression and poked the tip of my nose.

"What's funny?"

I grinned. I would have been perfectly happy not leaving the house all weekend, but Nick was an active guy, the type who got antsy if he didn't get out of the house daily. Still, it seemed like an adventurous itinerary and I said so. He chuckled and leaned in to give my ear a quick bite.

"Don't fret, love, I'll still have plenty of energy left for you."

I flushed and giggled. Our dinner arrived and I ate quickly, staring at him as he took his time finishing. He chuckled.

"In a hurry?" he teased, feeding me a French fry.

I poked his side. "Not at all. Do you want another round?" I asked innocently, starting to stand.

"Don't you dare," he said, grabbing my hand.

In the cab he covered my hand with his and leaned back against the seat. Feeling giddy at the prospect of spending the weekend with him, I nestled against him, my lips tickling his neck. I felt his breathing change and smiled to myself. He moved our joined hands to rest on his knee, and I untangled our fingers, boldly stroking his thigh until I neared his crotch. He sucked in a breath and grasped my hand, squeezing it tightly to keep my fingers still. I snickered and he looked at me, his eyes heated and menacing.

"Don't be naughty, pet," he breathed.

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked, batting my eyelashes.

His mouth curved in a half-smile but his eyes still looked dangerous. He gripped my chin and stared at me, running a finger along my jawline. A nervous thrill ran through me, my lips parting in excitement. He held my face, staring at me silently for the duration of the cab ride. We entered his building and the elevator, his hand still closed around mine, his other carrying my bag. He continued watching me steadily and I could only stare back, my heart racing. He led me calmly to his apartment but once the door was closed behind us, it was as if a switch flipped.

He dropped my bag on the floor, kicking off his shoes. Pushing me against the wall, he unbuttoned my coat and tossed it on the floor. He gripped my waist and crushed me to him, his eyes still locked on mine. I gasped in surprise, feeling the hardness beneath his pants. He took my wrists and raised my arms over my head, pinning them against the wall. I watched him breathlessly as his eyes trailed over my face and my body, slightly uneasy at the hard expression on his face and at my body's response to it.

"Would you like me to show you what happens when you tease me?" he asked, his voice controlled.

I blinked and looked at him warily. He ran his eyes pointedly down the length of my body before meeting my eyes. His expression cleared momentarily and he gave me a wink. My mouth relaxed into a soft smile and his gaze darkened again. He released my wrists and took a step back.

"Undress for me." His voice was soft yet commanding.

I swallowed, unable to move. He saw my hesitation and leaned in until his mouth hovered near my ear.

"Take off your clothes, love," he ordered in the same quiet tone.

My hips arched toward him instinctively but he drew away before our bodies touched. I gulped and reached for my blouse, shakily undoing the buttons. Rolling my shoulders to shrug it off, I was glad I had kept my eyes on his. His expression was still controlled, but I saw his nostrils flare slightly, saw the noticeable increase in his breathing.

I am turning him on - me. I am making him respond, I thought in amazement. My mouth twitched in a smirk as I reached behind me and undid the zipper of my skirt. I let it fall to the floor and stepped out of it, gratified at his response.

I was wearing black lace panties and thigh-high stockings held up by garters, my feet still in my black pumps from the office. Nick's eyes widened as they traveled from my breasts to my shoes and back again. I flattened my palms against the wall behind me, my legs weakening. He studied me for several minutes as though he kept finding new details that drew his eyes. When he met my stare again, he simply looked at me expectantly.

I raised my hands and cupped my breasts for a moment, then released the clasp in the front. His eyebrows jumped slightly in surprise, then he looked at me approvingly as I opened the bra and pushed my shoulders back, letting the straps fall off my arms. I paused for a moment, my fingers hovering over the garters, watching him as I unsnapped them from the stockings. Taking a deep breath, I pushed my underwear down my legs and carefully tugged them off around my heels. I looked at him again, my fingers on the top of one of the stockings. His head jerked back slightly, then he gave me a slight shake of his head. Placing my palms on the wall again, I waited.

His eyes devouring every inch of my body, he shucked his coat and suit jacket, then raised his wrists one at a time to unbutton his shirt cuffs. My teeth caught my lower lip. I loved taking off his clothes, but watching him undress was a beautiful sight. My eyes followed his fingers as they gracefully undid the buttons of his shirt. He took a step toward me while unbuckling his belt and I stifled a whimper. His hands moved to his trousers and my eyes fluttered shut briefly. Opening them, I saw he had moved one step closer to me, his pants and socks in a puddle on the floor behind him.

He reached up to undo the knot of his tie, sliding it off. My legs trembled at the sight. How can he make removing a tie look so incredibly hot? He slipped it around my neck, tugging lightly on each end so that my head came forward. He wound the tie around my neck once, running his fingers down each end, tickling my skin before drawing away. Shrugging his shirt off his shoulders, he whipped the undershirt over his head and shoved his boxers down his legs. By this point I was panting slightly, clutching at the wall.

He took the ends of his tie and pulled, bringing my body to meet his. His skin was hot, his muscles taut against me, and I let out a soft moan. I placed my hands on him but he quickly shoved me back to the wall, raising my arms above me again, his hand easily encircling both my wrists.

"No touching," he instructed.

I blinked in surprise and he gave me a smug smile.

"You keep your hands still. Understand?"

His dark eyes bored into me. I nodded.

He tugged on the tie again, drawing me off the wall and leading me toward the couch. He walked backward, his eyes still on mine.

"Oh," he added as if it were an afterthought. "And you're not to come until I tell you."

"What?" I whispered.

He nodded, giving me a wicked grin. The backs of his knees had hit the couch and he scooped me up, tossing me lightly on the cushions. Holding himself over me, he removed the tie, dragging the silky fabric over my skin teasingly. He took my wrists in his hand again and wound the tie around them. I could feel my eyes growing larger with fear, but there was no mistaking the heat flushing my body. He didn't knot the tie, I noticed, and realized it would be relatively easy to wiggle out of it but I didn't attempt it.

Nick gripped my chin, his other hand running down my body, his eyes following his hand. He suddenly met my mouth in a searing kiss that left me panting.

"Remember, not until I tell you," he said. "If you come before I say, I'll stop."

I just stared at him, my mouth gaping. He gave me a seductive smile.

What followed seemed like hours of some kind of divine torture. Nick alternated tender, loving kisses with fierce attacks of his lips. He held my bound wrists over my head and caressed my breasts until I was quivering, then pinched my nipples roughly. He repeatedly brought me to the very edge of the cliff with his tongue between my legs, drawing away each time I got close.

He swirled his fingers inside me teasingly, then brought them to my lips. I drew both fingers into my mouth, sucking them deep. I could see his control slipping, his steady expression becoming wild. Pulling his fingers from my mouth, he trailed them to my breasts, dampening my nipples. When he removed his warm hands, the cool air in the room reacted with the moisture, causing my nipples to pucker almost painfully. I gasped at the sensation, my back jerking.

He grinned, his eyes predatory. He turned me so that I was facing the back of the couch, varying his touch with light strokes and firm grasps on my behind. Slipping his hard length between my thighs, he rocked me back and forth. My head flung back and I tried to hold on to the couch but my bound wrists made it impossible. Lifting me easily, he moved us to the end of the couch, positioning my hands on the armrest. Then, finally, he was pushing inside me.

He held my hips tightly so that I couldn't push back onto him, and dipped in shallowly before withdrawing completely. He did this again and again until my head was resting on my hands and I was whimpering and begging. I heard a satisfied growl and he plunged into me in one motion. My body sagged in relief, but not for long. He gripped my hair and pulled my head back for a passionate kiss, slowly moving inside me.

Letting go of my hair, his hands moved from my waist to my hips to my thighs, constantly repositioning me while never altering his thrusts. Tears were forming in my eyes from frustration and pent up arousal. My whole body was tense and cramped from the effort of holding back my climax. He curved around my back and kissed me again, noticing the tears. Swiping a finger under one of my eyes, he pressed his mouth against my temple. My skin felt stretched and thin, his breath burning my flesh when he spoke.

"Are you ready, love?" His voice was rough and unsteady.

"Yes," I sobbed.

"Do you want to come?" He pinched my nipple as he spoke.

"Yes!" I shouted.

He leaned back, moving my body with him so we were upright. Grabbing my leg, he hooked my knee over the armrest and pushed me forward slightly. He twisted my upper body so my shoulder was on the armrest, pulling my bound wrists in front of me. He quickly unwound the tie and flung it to the floor, then gripped my hair.

"I want to see you come," he rasped, his hips moving faster. "I need to see your beautiful face, darling..."

Our bodies were making a slapping sound as they met. His hand was still fisted in my hair, the other pinching into my waist. I had the fleeting worry that I wouldn't remember how to climax after holding it off for so long.

"Come for me, love," he implored.

Then his hand moved from my waist to the nub between my legs and my body convulsed.

"God," he gasped, feeling my inner walls clench around him.

I watched his eyes widen and twisted my body so I could grip his arm. I shrieked and cried out, his reaction spurring me on.

"Christ," he panted. "Cass - you are - the sexiest – woman - I have - ever seen." He punctuated each word with a deep thrust into me.

"Nick, Nick, oh - oh God," I screamed.

"Yes, love," he breathed. "Yes, let me see you come."

His eyes were bright, looking at me almost as if in admiration. I watched his features contort slightly and felt his hips speed up. I twisted more and reached up to touch his cheek.

"Come with me, Nick," I whimpered.

He blinked once, grabbed my hips, and pounded into me. I lost my hold on him and placed my hand on the armrest, arching back into him. He let out a long shout while I cried out in ecstasy, our bodies shuddering with our release. Chests heaving, I slumped over the armrest and his body dropped onto mine. He brought his arms around my shoulders and held me tightly. Before I could catch my breath, he was standing and cradling me in his arms. I looked at him in wonder, a bright smile on my face. I was exhausted, but also energized; he seemed to be experiencing a similar adrenaline rush.

"Have you learned your lesson not to tease me, love?" he asked as he carried me down the hall to his bedroom.

I slipped my arms around his neck and gave his chest a bite.

"Nope," I said defiantly.

He chuckled and threw me onto his bed, leaping on top of me.

"Naughty girl," he teased, his lips finding mine.



Meant To Be Ch. 02



"You did what?" I exclaim as I reach out to grab her, Ashley's body stepping between us just in time. 

"This doesn't concern you," Mary bellows standing her ground while Ashley pushes me back.

"It certainly does."

"Sit down."

"Don't you dare order..."

"Casey!" Hearing Ashley yell my name is the only thing that makes me stop, that can stop me. At this moment, my cell rings. My eyes burn a hole into Mary. Ashley grabs me, fingers on my chin forcing me to look at her. "Take the call, let me handle this."

I open my mouth to protest, but she silences me. "Please, I didn't handle it last time, this is my chance. Please for me?"

I yank the cell from my pocket and flip it open walking to the stairs and heading up. 

"Great news Case! I have a week of paid vacation time next month so I can visit you guys! Hello?"

"I heard you Teri," I grumble into the phone. 

"Goodness Case who died?"

"Mary's here."

"Mary who?"

"Ashley's ex."

"Beg your pardon? You have got to be kidding me! What does she want?"

"To speak with Ashley."

"No way, tell her to leave."

"Can't."

"Fine pass her the phone, I'll happily do it."

"Ashley and she are downstairs talking."

"Without you?"

"I was there up until you called."

"In that case get back downstairs, goodbye."

"Wait, it's okay."

"She begging Ashley to take her back?"

"Something like that. You know for a second I actually felt sorry for her, I really did until..."

"Until what?"

"Apparently back in New York, when Ashley confessed that she and I had slept together, Mary lost it and called her names among other things." I couldn't even say it out loud.

"What do you mean other things?" Teri asked voice low and hard.

"I'm not going to repeat it, I can't right now."

"Did she hit Ashley?" 

I let the question hang in the air unanswered. Finally I simply said, "I want to kick her ass."

"It's not to late Case, hell I think you should buy a gun."

I couldn't help but to laugh despite the seriousness in Teri's tone. "Don't tempt me."

"Look Case, Mary will be gone in a few minutes and that leaves you and Ashley. You two are all that matters, you have each other. She loves you and you her, got it?"

"Thanks."

"I have to go, are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Alright, talk to you soon."

"Hey Teri."

"Yes?"

"We can't wait for you to get your behind down here."

"I know, I know."

Laughing we hang up and I hurry downstairs. Mary's head is hung low and Ashley is no longer angry. In fact, she looks quite relieved as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, a weight I had no idea was present. It bothers me that she kept this from me, but on the other hand, I understand why she did. Now all I can hope for is that she is finally able to unload here and now and feel cleansed afterwards. 

Mary looks up when she hears my arrival. "I'm sorry Ashley, I really am. I did everything for the wrong reasons. I hope one day you can forgive me." Looking at Ashley one last time, she abruptly turns and walks downstairs and out the door.

With the sound of the door slamming shut, Ashley collapses and I catch her in my arms, holding her against me as the tears pour from her in rivers like a dam that has burst. I whisper sweet nothings to her and hold her tight as she lets it all out finally. After several minutes, I help her to the couch and she sits down leaning against my shoulder. "You feel better?" I ask.

She doesn't answer just simply nods. When she is able to speak she tells me the whole story. Exactly what happened in New York and what reasons Mary has given to explain not excuse her inappropriate behavior. Fear apparently had been the primary cause. I didn't really understand why, but I did know what it was like to be ruled by fear. Everyone has experienced being either the cause or effect or sometimes both of fear. Fear is not a good motivator when it comes to relationships, not just sexual relationships, any and all. I had learned that lesson early in life. 

"I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I had no idea just how much it still affected me until I pulled into the driveway and saw her."

"A hot shower will make you feel better."

Nodding Ashley stands. "Do you mind if we stay in tonight?"

"Not a bit, I would enjoy that."

In the bathroom, I turn on the water and undress Ashley before stripping away my own clothes. Suddenly Ashley grabs me, her lips crushing mine, a need so strong driving her to pull me close, that I have a hard time catching a breath. My heart pounds against my chest as we kiss. Under the hot spray of water, we take turns washing one another, our lips only parting when absolutely necessary. The need consuming Ashley is understandable considering the circumstances, but I too had a growing need, a need that I couldn't clearly put into words. 

After drying off, with Ashley's back against the sink for balance, our lips still dancing together, I finally break away, Ashley whimpering at the loss. 

"I want to love you." I couldn't phrase it any better than this, but somehow I knew Ashley understood exactly what I wanted. Our lips pressing together again, we slowly walk back out of the bathroom, fumbling towards the bed until the heel of her foot bumps against the foundation. Ashley lies down, her eyes closed, her hands out above her head as I hold her foot in my hands, massaging gently and slowly in the beginning. I knead and massage every inch of her foot and then gently lower her foot and take the other one in my hands and repeat the same procedure. 

"Oh this feels so good," she moans. Her chest rises and falls as she lies peacefully on the bed, perfectly content. This very sight sends a flame of desire sweeping through my entire body. I continue massaging her foot not wanting to cheat her out of this pleasure despite more pleasure sure to follow. While kneading the base of her foot, I raise her foot a bit higher, and moan as her toe disappears into my waiting mouth. I gently suck on her toe and am rewarded with a shiver from Ashley. My lips take another toe hostage and I suck harder with two captives now in my possession. Ashley's body is writhing on the bed, her hands running through her hair and down her chest. "Oh Casey," she moans my name as I take another hostage. My hands move to her ankle and calf, tracing the smooth skin with my fingers and lightly kneading her calf. After a few minutes, I switch to the opposite foot and work the magic once again. I keep my eyes on Ashley's face for the most part, but every now and again I peek at her center and notice with every passing minute, she glistens more. By the time I finish with her little hostages and move to her delicate ankle, her hands are kneading her breasts, her right hand every so often wandering down south. I release her foot, both hands now free to run along her smooth legs. Our eyes focus intently on one another and I feel the sole of her foot press against my breast, my nipple immediately responding. Her big toe and the one next to it spread just enough to allow my hard nipple between them. She moves her foot slowly back and forth, her toes fucking my taut nipple, the sight alone enough to make my knees go weak. I hold steady, enjoying the sensation to much to give it up. I lean forward, knees pressed against the mattress for balance, my hand reaching for her dripping pussy. Slowly I run my fingers along her center before dipping inside and scooping some of her sweet essence into my fingers. Withdrawing from her warm center, I run my sticky fingers over my nipple while Ashley's toes continue stroking my shiny nipple. I dip my fingers inside again and apply her excitement to my other nipple and her foot immediately begins stroking that nipple. Her own fingers travel south and then slip inside, my own fingers mirroring her actions on my body. Without any spoken words, we both make love to our pussies, watching the other one pump vigorously inside. Ashley's free hand is busy stroking her clit, my free hand flat on the mattress as I try to keep my balance. Both of my knees are shaking badly and I'm not sure I will be able to hold myself up when I orgasm. Suddenly Ashley stops completely and lowers her right foot south down my stomach, circling my belly button before pressing her toe inside of my center. I gasp both hands darting out seeking balance. As suddenly as it began, it stops. Ashley makes a come here motion with her index finger and it takes every ounce of self restraint I have not to jump in the air and land on her crushing her. Instead I gently lie on top of her, but in a 69 position. My tongue furiously laps at her center seeking every drop of honey, her tongue copying mine like Simon says. I spread her smooth lips apart and glide two fingers inside. My breath catches in my throat when I feel her enter me. I insert a third finger and shiver with anticipation knowing Ashley will follow suit. I cry out when a third digit penetrates. My lips wrap tightly around her clit and I moan against her clit and my body releases every ounce of fluid I have when I feel her moans vibrate through my clit. My head begins spinning from the pleasure leaking from my body as my lover's pleasure pours directly into my mouth. I work hard to capture every drop not able to bare the thought of missing some. Our sweaty bodies untangle and I roll to the side. I keep my hand on her skin needing to keep contact and apparently so does Ashley. 

The next evening, having decided to go to Swirl, Ashley is dressed in a skirt while I'm in jeans. We stop at Charlie Trio's on Huntington and Alhambra Rd for dinner. I order calamari among other dishes, but I must have calamari. Sitting in a booth, our feet seek contact underneath the table. Slowly Ashley runs her foot up and down my pant leg until finally I can't think of anything else. "What was I saying?"

Ashley laughs and draws her foot away. "You talked to Teri and she has vacation time coming up."

"Oh yes, but first why don't you come sit next to me."

We finish dinner sitting with our thighs touching one another's, oblivious to everyone else in the restaurant, occasionally my hand rests and lingers on her thigh until the waitress stops by to check on us. Parking for Swirl was a challenge, but once inside we give our eyes a chance to adjust. Standing just inside the entrance, hand in hand we look around at our surroundings. The light inside is dim at best, but clearly both gay and lesbian couples were here tonight and at this particular moment Madonna's "Like a Virgin," was playing loudly. Round tables were scattered throughout and a group of women were shooting pool by the entrance. Ashley and I walk to the bar, noticing the four corners of the bar are pretty much in darkness. We pass a couple, lips locked obviously in their own world. Ashley stares and then smiles back at me. At the bar, we each take a stool and I order two beers. I learned of this bar shortly after arriving in LA. I had been here once before and it was an eye opening experience having come from the Midwest. We just didn't have a bar like this where I came from, or if we did I certainly had never found it. I met a woman within five minutes of my arrival, and I swear she waits for newcomers to visit. Her name is Rachael Yu, a very pretty Chinese woman with long dark hair and sexy dark eyes to match. She has a sexy deep voice which is what had done me in, and as Ashley and I take our first sip of beer I hear that deep voice holler, "Break," as the sound of billiard balls crashing into one another before scurrying off to their respective corners fills the room momentarily. Within a minute, I feel someone coming up behind me and I say, "Hello Rachael."

"Hello Casey, I haven't seen you around in awhile."

I spun around on my bar stool. "I've been very busy." I had shared with Ashley my night with Rachael. "Ashley this is Rachael, Rachael this is my girlfriend Ashley."

"This is your first time." It wasn't a question. Rachael had a smirk on her face. 

"Don't even think about it."

Shaking her head Rachael lets out a rich deep laugh. Ashley looks at me smiling, she knows about my little theory. Rachael straightens up and looks at me. "I only ask if I may have one dance?"

I look at Ashley and she smiles. I nod and Rachael escorts Ashley onto the dance floor. A slow song begins and I look at them on the dance floor making sure Rachael is behaving herself. So far so good. I look around and locate the couple from earlier still engulfed in their own little world. Despite the lighting I can tell the redhead has her hands under the blonde's shirt, their bodies pressed so tightly together they look like sardines that just popped out of the cramped can. The song ends and Rachael and Ashley make their way back to the bar. 

"She behaved herself," Ashley reports.

"Thank you Casey. It was good to see you again."

I nod as she makes her way back to the front of the bar. Ashley is watching the couple openly grope each other. 

"Want to dance?" I offer.

Smiling she accepts my held out hand. Ashley leads us to a corner of the floor and I'm not a bit surprised. Her arms wrap around my neck and I hold her close enjoying the warmth of her body. 

"Rachael told me to take care of you." 

My eyes narrow. "Really?" Ashley nods smiling. Our bodies close any gaps between us, melding together beautifully. "I'll take care of you and you take care of me."

"You bet." Ashley wraps her arms around my waist but soon her fingers slowly slide under the shirt. My nipples are hard and waiting for her touch and when she slides her palms over my nipples, I back us up against the wall, her back lightly hitting the wall. My lips devouring hers, her legs wrap around my waist, my arms around her supporting her. I place my face close to hers so she can hear me say, "Deja vu."

Grinning ear to ear she replies, "Except this time our positions are switched." 

"And it's a bar instead of a bathroom, we're moving up in locations."

Ashley laughs. "We should go home."

"Really?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Rachael told me to take care of you and that is exactly what I intend to do."              

THE END