Page 9 of Side Piece

“Yes.”

“Was this your plan all along?”

“Kind of. Not really. I simply wanted to take you to Clyde’s and keep talking. But as the evening progressed, I was aware my bed is only 633 steps from the bar.” We bolt up the long narrow staircase and in my door.

On the other side of the door, I see her retreat for a moment as if she’s shy or doubting me. I can’t have that. She gingerly places her coat on a chair near the door and stands there awkwardly, unsure whether to sit.

“Tess, are you ok?” I move in front of her and wait.

“Yes. Sorry. Sometimes I get in my head and arrest momentum. It’s not you. I do it with all things. Like I try to stop the thing I want from happening.”

“You have all the power here. I can put you in that car if you like. I won’t pressure you.” Her hand goes to my cheek.

“That’s not it at all. Trust me, I want to be here. I want what you want. I simply get nervous when I’m handed something too good to be true sometimes.”

I take her face gently in my hands. I kiss her sweetly. I know what she means. “It’s like you have to choose to believe you deserve it.”

“Yes, something like that. I’m also always afraid of losing the things I want.” She’s so open and vulnerable. We just met, yet her delicate declaration just moved me in a way I couldn’t conceive of, even when we were at the bar earlier.

“There’s no fear of losing me tonight. Your clothes, absolutely, but me, I’ll be here all night.” She grins widely. “Do you want a drink or something?”

“Water would be great.”

5

Tess

He’s in front of me, and his rich sand-colored eyes quiet my nerves. I stare at them and feel as if they’re protecting me from my worst instincts. His hands go up to my arms.

“In a second. I can’t stop thinking about kissing you without your Michelin Man coat.” I breathe in.

He takes me into his arms and hugs me. I melt into him. Then he looks at me with a new intensity and kisses all the doubt away. He’s on my neck, kissing me, and I’m moaning as if it’s a performance. I lift his gray V-neck sweater up and feel for his chest. Fuck, his chest is cut. Wow. It’s hard, but his skin is so soft and inviting. I brush my hand over his nipples, and they peak under my touch. Just as mine will.

“Hey! Your hands are fucking freezing.”

“You’re the one who took my glove off.”

“I’m going to need you to follow me in here, where there are warm blankets and body heat. If that doesn’t work, I’ll run and buy some hand warmers. I can’t have my guests freezing to death.”

Before he walks away, I grab him and kiss him with more assertiveness. He’s clawing at my favorite blouse, and I do really love it, so I help him by unbuttoning the front. He’s instantly on my cleavage. His hands are on the outside of my turquoise blue mesh bra. I also love this bra. I have a thing for bras, so he might be delighted to know I’m pretty lingeried up if this goes well.

“Christ, that’s a good blue. Matches your eyes. That’s a stunning fucking view. So much better than that picture of you in the Post.” He continues feeling my breasts while he talks, and my nipples are hurting because they’re so hard. “Look at that. I can see them turned on right through the lace. Look what I can do.” He fingers the outline of my left nipple through the bra. Then sucks it through the mesh. Fuck I’m so hot for him.

“That is talent.” Then I moan as he traces the right nipple. My hand goes to his head, and the other one begins moving down his back.

He stops suddenly, and I jerk my head to him, and he says, “Can I just say this? The sheer act of kissing you is already better than the last four times I had sex.”

“Wait, we’re going to have sex?”

He leans into me and kisses me, roughly claiming my tongue and lips. I throw my head back.

“Ok, fine. Sex. But first, take me to the blankets. I’m cold.” I stick out my bottom lip, and he sucks on it then takes off down the hallway.

I chase him into the bedroom, and he’s kneeling on the bed in his boxer briefs. Magically stripping in record time. His abs are rippling perfection. How does he do that and keep eating at Clyde’s? I stop at the door and let my flouncy skirt puddle at my feet. I step out of it still in my heels and lingerie.

“Fuck me. They match.”

I curtsey. “Always. Have I hit the top of the list yet?” I put my hands on my hips.