Page 28 of Score
“Mama would talk about all the places we would go one day.” Verity releases some mix of a giggle and a sigh. “She would let it spin so fast, and then she’d stop with her finger and wherever it landed, we’d put it on our list. That’s the way I’d describe the night I met you. Like that globe just spinning and spinning, and as soon as I saw you, heard you playing onstage, the world stopped. And there you were.”
“And there you were.” I tip my head to catch her eyes. “I haven’t felt this way before either. We can go as slow as you want. What would make you feel safe? We don’t have to have sex. We can—”
“No, I want to,” she cuts in, burying her face in my shoulder when I laugh at the swiftness of her response. “I promise I’m not always this horny.”
“I don’t mind if you are, as long as it’s only directed at me.”
Her smile fades and she looks at me, her eyes frank and honest.
“About that,” she says. “I’d always assumed being with more than one person violated something, but it didn’t violate what Petra and I had because we agreed to it. Once I set aside what I thought all relationships had to be, and accepted what ourswas, that it was open, I was fine.”
“I can respect what you had with her,” I say, laying my words out carefully, “but I want to be clear I’m not interested in that arrangement.”
“I know that. It was a matter of what Petra and I expected from each other—being honest, communicating. You expect monogamy. I have no trouble giving you that. I want that with you and can promise you’ll be the only one.”
“That’s really good to hear.” Relieved, I press our linked hands over my heart. “Fidelity is a hard line for me. After how my parents’ marriage ended, how my dad treated my mom, I’m not doing that to anyone and I won’t settle for it.”
“I understand,” she affirms, not looking away, making sure I know she means it, and that she knows what it means. “It’s just you, just us.”
I pull her back onto my lap and sink my fingers into the soft curls falling to her shoulders. We kiss, and it’s ferocious, not gentle or tender. It’s a kiss I want to crawl into. We lick and suck and bite until my lips are numb and faint bruises bloom along her collarbone, at the bend of her shoulder like a bouquet.
“I wanna see you,” I say, tugging her shirt up to reveal a black lacy bra.
She sits back and pulls the T-shirt over her head. Next, eyes never leaving mine, she reaches back and unclasps the bra, setting her breasts free. They bounce a little, full and tipped with dusky nipples.
“God, Vee.”
My voice sounds reverent, like she is a call to worship I’m answering, and that’s how it feels as I lay her down on the narrow bed and peel off her skirt and underwear. I bury my nose in her neck and dust kisses over her breasts. Making my way down her stomach, I lick into her belly button and mouth the soft skin of her hip, her thigh, kissing behind her knee. I stroke between her legs, where she is so wet and so soft.
“Monk,” she gasps, letting her legs fall open and rolling into my touch.
Pushing two fingers inside, I continue stroking with my thumb and bend to take her breast between my lips.
“Oh, God. I’m gonna…” Her expression twists and she turns her face into the pillow and fists the sheets.
My existence is whittled down to her pleasure; to the feel of her skin, the way her little sighs and moans tell me she loves this, the scent of her arousal—it all goes to my head. When she comes, her eyes roll back and her neck arches and her heels dig into the mattress. As soon as she goes limp, her chest rising and falling with labored breaths, I pull her legs over my shoulders and dip my head to taste her.
“God, Monk,” she groans. “I just… I can’t again.”
The hell she can’t. I spread her open, losing myself between her legs until she’s all I see and taste and smell. She’s my tunnel, and there’s nothing else but this moment and the way she comes apart for me. I rest my forehead against her stomach and slow my breathing.
“That was the best orgasm of my life.” She laughs and reaches down to trace my eyebrows, my cheekbone. “Correction. The two best orgasms of my life. Don’t stop. Make love to me.”
I hesitate, her words about her parents echoing in my thoughts. Whatever happens next between us, it might change things forever. Meeting her already has, but she’s too tempting spread out like a feast. I kiss her, rolling my tongue around inside her mouth so she can taste herself.
“Hmmm,” she moans, gripping my neck and pulling me in closer. “You got on too many clothes.”
I chuckle, pulling my sweatshirt over my head and stripping out of my pants and briefs. I’m climbing back to her on the bed, but she presses her hand to my chest.
“Wait,” she breathes. “Let me look at you.”
Avid eyes explore me as surely as a caress, and I feel the weight of her desire over my chest and abs and lower like a touch.
“You have a beautiful dick,” she says, taking me in hand and stroking.
“Fuck.” I go rigid and lean my forehead against hers while she pulls on me and cups my balls. “I’m gonna lose it if you keep that up.”
We laugh and the breaths mingle between our lips.
