HE SPENT MOST of Wednesday preparing for his date. He went in and got a haircut and a beard trim. He picked up snacks and supplies for dinner. He also picked up extra condoms. It was like a talisman. For luck.
Theyd end up in bed. He hoped itd be that night, but even if it wasnt for another month, it would happen. They had so much sexual energy between them, it sizzled.
He cleaned the house, changed his sheets and bedding. Aired everything out and moved furniture three times.
He was officially ridiculous, and he didnt stop even after hed realized that.
There were three movies. Horror, a thriller and some comedy bro-flick. Hed let her choose.
In the shower he considered jerking off so hed be more relaxed. Thinking about her had him tense and agitated, but in a way he sort of dug. He hadnt had to work this hard for a woman, well, ever, actually. Hed had her before, which only spiced things up. He knew what it was like to be inside her. Knew what her lips felt like wrapped around his cock. Knew what she tasted like.
Hed thought hed remembered her body. Hed seen it naked an awful lot. But in the brief glimpses of her he caught out at the river, hed noted curves. More than shed had then. He had tended toward tall women with big tits and a lean look. But Natalie was voluptuous. He hadnt realized he had a thing for all that swoop and dip, but he was utterly converted. Nicely though, the big boobs part was there, too. Hed been so focused on the curves, hed only barely noticed the ink and hoped for a far closer inspection very soon.
So yeah, he soaped a hand up and wrapped it around his cock as he imagined her naked. Wet, but not from swimming. Flushed from orgasm. On her back in his bed. Her lips swollen from his kisses and from sucking his cock. Her eyes half-lidded and dreamy.
Open those thighs.
She complied with that smile of hers. Unashamed of what she wanted, of what he did to her. She was slick, dark with desire and when he fed her his cock, pressing in slow and steady, she made a sound that wrapped around his balls and tightened.
She wound her legs around his waist, grabbing two handfuls of his ass and pulling him closer, urging him on. She loved fucking as much as he did. That wouldnt have changed. Tight and hot, her inner muscles would flutter around him as she got closer. As he got closer. Her nails dug into his skin as she arched, her neck bared to his lips as he licked and nibbled.
Climax shot through him, yanking him from that fantasy as his dream Natalie dissolved, leaving him alone and still half hard as the water rushed over his skin.
* * *
SHED GONE WITH casual that night. Her favorite supersoft T-shirt with the V-neck and some jeans. No heels this time. He lived on a farm so if he wanted her to walk or do something outdoorsy, shed be better off in the sneakers shed chosen instead of sandals.
Of course, as she followed the road, drove through a gate that hed given her the code to and continued on, she realized the word farm probably wasnt adequate for the land, the orchards and fields in the distance. She saw lights from a few houses and passed two until she saw the turnoff for his.
Off the main road, she could see the river in the distance as she parked in his driveway. All glass and gorgeous, warm wood, his house was Northwestern modern. The opposite of her Victorian, but it fit him.
She didnt get the chance to knock; he opened up with a smile before shed even been able to raise her hand.
Hey, you found me.
Yes. Your instructions were perfect, thanks.
He opened the door wider and motioned her inside.
Are you a shoes-off house?
He snorted. No. If you want to, go on ahead. Im not wearing shoes because I dont want to. But its your choice. He paused and bent to kiss her quickly. Sorry to burst your foot-fetish suspicions.
She laughed and put her bag down in the entry.
He took her hand. Want a tour?
Yes, please.
It was a great house. Clean. Very modern but warm at the same time. His living space was great with big couches and chairs.
Is yours the house everyone hangs out at?
We split it up pretty evenly. My house is the middle point between Ezra, who is closest to the big house where my parents are, and Damien, who lives the farthest from it. We spend more time at Damiens these days because Mary is such a great cook. He paused. Want to see the upstairs?
Natalie nodded, and he took her up the stairs fronted by a wall of glass. This view is insane.
We all worked with the same architect who took the land and views into account as she worked. All our houses are unique and fit our individual tastes, but theyre on the same continuum so you can see the thread. Its a light touch. Each room has something about it that I love. My work space has excellent afternoon light. My bedroom gets the sunset. Kitchen gets morning light. All that jazz.
He opened the door to a huge room with several guitars on stands, a large desk with two monitors, big chairs and a wet-bar-sized sink and fridge. This is my work space.
She went in, impressed. Wow.
He blushed, brushing his fingertips over the neck of a guitar. I spend more time in here than any other place but my bedroom. I can run tracks in here. Were all hooked into a network with the board in the barn, thats our studio here. I write here. Ezra sleeps on that big couch a lot. He snorted a laugh.
You and he do the writing?
About eighty percent of it is me and Ezra. Ezra does the bulk of production. Damien and Vaughan write a song or two each album.
So youre closest to Ezra, then?
He laughed. Ezra and I collaborate really well, but were too much alike in some ways, so we fight a lot. In the old days, it was nose-breaking sort of fighting, but now its more pissy bickering. Though we do occasionally get physical. He knows how to push my buttons. He and Damien are closer. Vaughan and I tend to pal around more, but hes been away a lot over the last month. His girls just went back to school, so hes been spending time with them. But, and dont tell Ez this, Ezra is the person whose advice I seek out when I need an honest take. Hes pretty wise for a dick.
She shook her head, imagining what it was like for their mother to have four really handsome sons who got into all the trouble they did.
He opened another door.
My bedroom.
She walked into the room, spinning slowly. Stunned.
What? Why do you have that look on your face?
I never expected this. Where the rest of his house was modern though comfortable, his bedroom was homey. His huge bed dominated one wall and was dressed with fluffy bedding. Heavy drapes were pulled back to expose sheers and windows looking out to the fields beyond, and if she was right, Mt. Hood on clear days.
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined two walls. She traced her fingertips over the spines. This was the bedroom of a hedonist. Of the kind of person who spent the entire day in bed reading and watching movies.
Fucking.
Never expected what?
She turned to him. This warm, inviting, comfortable space. Its womblike. I want to take a nap in your bed right this instant.
The worry on his features wisped away with a pleased grin. Well, go on ahead. But only if I can nap with you. I love a good nap.
I can tell. Napping was one of her biggest vices.