Page 27 of Fun Together (Make Romance #1)

Eli

I’ve got to get it together.

Faye was just breaking down over another guy—one of my oldest friends—and here I am, unable to stop thinking about kissing her. The entire drive to her apartment has been silent, and for once in my life, I don’t try to fill it with idle chatter.

It’s simple. I will walk her to her door and go home. I will push all thoughts of kissing her out of my head. Before she got that call from Rett, the air inside that photobooth was charged with something that I don’t think either of us have chosen to acknowledge yet.

What if we did acknowledge it, though? I felt closer to her tonight while we were dancing, not just physically, but it felt like she relaxed into me—letting me in for the first time.

I glance over at her and she’s looking out the window. Some of her hair has fallen out of her bun, and it trails down the side of her neck. I want to reach over and brush it behind her shoulder or tuck it back into her hair. I want to take her hair down and run my fingers through it.

Upstairs.

Leave.

No kissing.

We arrive at her apartment building, and I find a parking spot out front. “I’ll walk you up.”

Her black dress shines in the moonlight, swirling around her curves, and I’m entranced. When we get to her door she asks, “Do you want to hang out for a little?”

I shouldn’t, because my will power is hanging on by a thread, but nothing will ever give me the ability to say no to her. “Sure.”

She unlocks the door, and we step into her entryway.

“I’m really sorry,” I say.

She looks confused. “For what?”

“Tonight. I wish there was something I could do.” It drives me crazy, knowing she’s upset. Wanting to fix it, but not knowing how. Wanting to touch her, hold her, make her feel better.

Again, I wonder what she’s thinking.

“I should apologize to you. I had a weird moment. It’s just—” She leans against the back of her couch and starts to sniffle, like she’s about to cry again. Her voice breaks as she shuffles around to sit on the couch. “It’s?—”

I rush over to sit next to her, completely at a loss for what to say. I place my hand against her back. “It’s okay.”

“It’s these stupid shoes,” she finally says and looks up at me, lip trembling. “My feet huuuuurt.”

It’s not funny, but I sort of laugh because it’s so unexpected and cute. But I’m also relieved, because this is something I can help with, an action I can take to comfort her in some way. “Here.” I tap my legs. “Put your feet up.”

She smiles and swipes her hands across her cheeks. “I’m being dramatic. You don’t have to take my shoes off for me.”

“I want to,” I say.

She turns and bunches her dress up so that her legs can swing up onto my lap. Seeing her dress pulled up, revealing a glimpse of her thighs is giving me ideas. More than just kissing ideas. I shift so that her feet aren’t resting on what is becoming an obvious proof of where my thoughts are going.

I swallow hard and try to get my brain stem to instruct my fingers to unclasp the buckle on her shoes.

They’re black with tiny straps that crisscross all over her feet.

She lays her head back and closes her eyes, letting out a sigh as I loosen them.

They’ve left red marks all over her feet and I glide my hands over them, pressing my thumbs gently into the indentations. “No wonder you were hurting.”

She sighs again and I swear it almost turns into a moan. “That feels . . . amazing.”

I move my hands up to massage along her ankles and calves. Her skin is soft and smooth.

What if I just ask her? It never hurts to ask. “Can I ask you something?”

She turns her head toward me and opens her eyes. “Mm-hmm.”

“Were we about to kiss earlier?”

Her eyes widen the tiniest bit, and I swear she glances at my mouth as she says, “I think so.”

I continue running my hands over her arches, up her calves, and back down again. “Can I be honest about something?”

“Okay?” She huffs out a nervous laugh.

Fuck it. “I really want to kiss you.”

Now it’s out there—and either she wants to kiss me too, and I’ll be sucked into the Faye vortex forever, or she’ll reject the idea, and I can move on.

She sits up and scoots closer so that she’s almost sitting in my lap, almost the exact same way we were sitting in the photobooth. She rests her forehead against my shoulder and her voice is muffled against the fabric of my shirt. “I really want to kiss you, too.”

Then she looks up at me, and her eyes seem to tell me that she’s come to the same conclusion I have. We both want this, so what’s the harm in seeing how it feels?

I place my hand on the side of her neck, with my thumb resting along her jaw. “Not a pretend kiss?” It’s suddenly the most important thing in the world to me that this kiss be the most real thing I’ve ever experienced.

She grins and a wave of pink spreads up her neck into her face. She’s so gorgeous, and I feel like I swallow my own heart waiting for her answer. “No pretending.”

I press a soft kiss on the underside of her jaw where her flush always appears first. This spot has been taunting me all night, ever since our dance together.

She places her arms around my neck, bringing us closer together.

I kiss across her bare shoulder until I reach her neck.

I take in her scent, the sweetness of her warm skin.

She leans her head to the side, giving me better access. I trail kisses up and along her cheek until I reach the corner of her lips. Then, I move to the other side and repeat this path, drawing out the anticipation, before finally bringing my mouth over hers.

It’s tentative at first, like we’re trying to figure out the rhythm of each other. We fall into pace easily, though, and I never want to stop doing this. It’s been so long since I’ve made out with someone for the fun of it, just to explore.

Kissing Faye is really fucking fun.

I pull back for a beat to give us some air. I run my hands down her sides, and she’s breathing so hard, I can feel her lungs expand beneath my palms. I’m breathing hard, too. “Are we—” I don’t even know what I was going to say, but I feel the need to check in. “Are you good?”

She smiles. “Yeah—I’m good. Are you good?”

I laugh. “I’m very good.”

Then she gets a look on her face, like she wants to say something else, but is hesitant.

“What is it?”

“Can we . . . ?” She runs her hands along my shoulders. “Keep feeling good?”

I brush her hair behind her ear and nuzzle against her neck. “Tell me how to make you feel good.”

She shivers. “Kiss me again.”

I grab her by the waist and move her so that she’s fully straddling me. She leans down and brings our mouths together.

Now our kisses become frantic, almost messy. We’re not worried about keeping rhythm at all. It’s less kissing, and more like consuming.

Her dress has ridden up further so that I can grab her thighs as she rocks her hips back and forth over me. I don’t think I’ve ever been harder in my life, and the feeling is so amazing I’m worried I might come in my pants.

I don’t even care if I do. I grip the sides of her hips and guide her to continue the motion. “Does that feel good?” I ask.

“Yes.” She whimpers, and that sound alone almost sends me over the edge.

I kiss her neck and move the straps of her dress down to lightly bite and kiss her collarbone.

I glide my hand over her ribs, wanting to touch higher, but seeking out her permission first. I think she knows what I’m getting at, because she places her hand over mine and guides it up over her breast. She’s not wearing a bra, and I can feel her nipples harden beneath my fingertips.

I pinch them through the silky fabric, and I watch her face to see if she likes it.“Do you like that?”

She tightens her grip on my shoulders and leans into my touch, so I take that as a yes. She continues grinding on my lap, and the only sounds that echo through her apartment are the rustles of our clothing and our heavy breathing.

“Eli, I think I might—” She quickens her rhythm and brings our mouths together. I bite and suck on her lower lip and she begins to tremble in my arms before she buries her face in my neck. “I’m so close,” she moans into my shoulder.

I move my hands up to grip her ass while she rolls her hips over me. “That’s it, Faye, you’ve got it,” I coax.

“Oh God,” she gasps as she comes, before relaxing against me.

I rub her back, allowing us both some time to catch our breath. That was the hottest thing I’ve ever done, and neither of us is even naked.I didn’t even take my tie off.

Suddenly she stiffens and jumps off my lap.

“Oh my god, did I just—” she darts off toward the kitchen. “I am mortified right now.”

“Faye, it’s okay. It’s more than okay, that was?—”

“That was so embarrassing!” she interrupts and covers her face with her hands.

I take a couple of breaths and adjust myself as best I can before getting up from the couch and going over to her. “Don’t be embarrassed.” I reach up to pull her hands down away from her face.

“I can’t believe I just did that with you, or more like to you. Did you . . .” she trails off and gestures to my crotch. “Never mind.”

I fight the urge to laugh because she’s worried about whether I came or not. She escapes to the kitchen. I can’t let her feel embarrassed about this, but I also don’t want to make it completely obvious that I enjoyed that way too much, when she’s clearly distressed.

“Wait, talk to me.”

“I don’t think I can form words right now. I mean I’ve never even—” She stops talking abruptly.

“Never even what?”

She hesitates, like she truly doesn’t want to finish the sentence.

After what feels like eternal silence, she says, “I’ve never had an orgasm with anyone else before.

” She grabs a glass from the cabinet and fills it with water.

She faces away from me and chugs the entire glass.

I think I hear her mutter, “Can’t believe I just told him that. ”

I have no idea what to say. I’m doing the math in my head on how that could be possible. Did Andrew never . . .? Did no one before Andrew ever . . . ?

She continues, talking faster and with more words than I think I’ve ever heard her use at one time.

“I mean, I’ve had orgasms before. Obviously.

But, like, with myself. I’ve only ever been with Andrew and one other guy, and it just never happened with them.

It’s like a . . . mental block I’ve always had.

” She pauses and briefly looks me in the eye.

“I don’t even want to know what you’re thinking right now. I’m sorry.”

Sorry? For letting me take part in one of the most erotic experiences of my life?

“See? I’ve broken you,” she says. “Normally you’d make a joke, or at the very least say something encouraging.”

“I’m just processing,” I say.“Do you want to talk more about it?”

I’m scrambling for what to say. Did I somehow cure this block she’s had? Look, I’m not immune to the little ego boost that comes with making a woman come. But usually that ego boost is accompanied by a smiling, satisfied woman. Not one who looks like she’s wants to run away.

And honestly, I didn’t really do much tonight, other than talk her through it. Maybe that’s what works for her. Maybe we can figure that out together.

She shakes her head vehemently. “Let’s just forget this ever happened, okay?”

Like I could forget. I’ll probably think about this for the rest of my life. I walk over to her. “If that’s what you want.”

“I think that’s best, don’t you? I don’t want things to be weird between us now.”

I run my hands down my face. “Things don’t have to be weird. I want to do whatever makes you comfortable.”

“Yes, let’s just erase this night from our minds.”

I feel a keen sense of disappointment. Now that I’ve dipped my toes in the water, I want to fully dive in. “Okay, yeah. Sure.”

She nods her head like the matter is settled. “Thank you for being there tonight. Sorry for the whole emotional breakdown thing and then the . . . other stuff.”

She heads over to her door, which I take as my cue to head out. Probably for the best, considering I need to get my head straight, too. But I can’t leave knowing she feels that what just happened was a bad thing.

“For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you,” I say.

“Here comes the cheesy pep talk,” she teases. “For what?”

“For not holding back.” I lean down and place my mouth just by her ear. “And just for the record, you didn’t hear me complaining, did you?”