Page 15

Story: Risk It All

E merson

“I hope you know that I can only afford to buy you a slice of pizza and some water,” Anthony warns me as we walk through Central Park together the next night.

“What? I thought you were some big hot-shot comedian? Didn’t you just get that spot at the famed Comedy Vault?”

He grins. He had told me all about how Ari had called him to tell him that he got the spot at the club as he was on his way to pick me up for our date from my new apartment.

He had grabbed me and kissed me as soon as I answered the door and I could feel the excitement and happiness radiating off of him in waves.

Theo had just landed in Los Angeles and he sent him a message telling him the good news as I grabbed my purse.

By the time that I got back, he had been grinning like a lunatic and telling me that he was sure that Theo was already searching for places for them to live in out here.

I just hope that it’s close to Layla’s and my place.

It’s starting to get dark and we stop at one of the street vendors, each grabbing a slice of pepperoni pizza and a bottle of water before we make our way over to a bench.

“How’s the gallery?” he asks me as I take a bite of pizza.

“Incredible. Everyone who works there is so friendly and the artwork,” I sigh and Anthony grins. “The artwork is breathtaking. Truly beautiful.”

I tell him about each individual piece of art in great detail but Anthony doesn’t seem to mind. He’s just enjoying listening to me ramble on and I love that he’s supportive of me and what I love and am passionate about.

I’ve missed this, listening to him tell about his day, seeing his smiling face. We stay and sit on the bench long after we’ve both finished eating our food.

He tells me about Theo and him moving out here and I ask him how excited Alexander was to hear that he was moving out of his penthouse.

“He put on a brave face but I could tell that he was sad that I wouldn’t be sleeping at his place and eating all of his food.”

I giggle, enjoying his sense of humor and the way his eyes light up when I laugh.

“Eden asked me to go out for drinks with her for a girl’s night.”

“Yeah? Are you going to go?” he asks.

“Yeah, I think she and Layla will get along together, so we’re going out for some tacos and margaritas on Thursday.”

“So we’ll have to have our second date on Friday then.”

I smile at him and I know that things are going to be alright between us.

We get up and walk toward the exit of the park. We wind up back on the street close to my apartment and I bite my lip before I ask him if he wants to come up and see my new place.

I think we both know what I’m really asking.

“Sure,” he says but I can tell that he’s excited.

We cross the street and I let us into the building. He follows me up the stairs and into my tiny new place.

It’s small but actually pretty nice. There’s color everywhere, from the rug in the living room to the dirty plate and mug on the kitchen counter.

“It’s nice,” Anthony says as I close the door behind us.

“It’s tiny,” I correct him with a laugh. “But I kind of love it.”

I grab each of us a beer and we sit together on the couch that we brought with us from Los Angeles.

I still have some apartment listings from a few weeks ago and when I spot one in the trash, I tell him about them and promise to email them to him and Theo to look over.

There’s even another apartment in this building that’s still available and I know that he’ll be texting Theo about them getting it later tonight.

“I missed you,” Anthony whispers, scooting closer on the couch to me.

“I missed you too.”

“Don’t ever disappear on me again. Please,” he begs me and I can see the pain in his eyes.

“Don’t break my heart and I won’t.”

“I won’t,” he promises me as his lips meet mine.

As soon as Anthony’s lips land on mine, it’s like no time has passed at all. He still has me burning hotter than anything ever has before. He still has me out of my mind with lust with just one touch.

I know that Layla could be home any minute so I don’t let things get too hot and heavy.

Instead, I pull away, grabbing his hand and dragging him to my bedroom.

He kicks the door closed and reaches for me but I’m faster.

I’ve got him backed up against the door and am sinking to my knees before he knows what’s happening.

“Emerson,” he groans as I undo his jeans and pull them down his thighs.

His fingers tangle in my hair as I open my mouth around the tip of him.

“Holy shit! Fuck!” Anthony shouts as I suck on him.

I look up and my eyes get trapped by his. The way he’s staring down at me… it’s almost like he’s in awe.

No, not awe.

Like he’s in love.

I lick and suck along his length until I feel him start to swell in my mouth. Anthony’s fingers tense in my hair as he tries to pull me off of him.

“I need to be inside of you,” he grits out and I let him go, reluctantly.

As soon as his cock is out of my mouth, he’s got me on my feet and is pulling at my clothes. We stumble toward the bed, crashing down on it together.

“You need to get a bigger bed,” Anthony whispers against my lips and I laugh.

“I’ll look into it,” I promise him as he rolls me onto my back, grabs a condom from his jeans that are still around his knees and thrusts into me.

The pace is rough, both of us desperate to make up for lost time. We move together, my hips rising to meet each of his hard thrusts.

He shifts back onto his heels and I sink my teeth into his shoulders when his cock rubs over a certain spot deep inside of me. My thighs wrap around his hips as I search for a way to take him deeper inside of me.

“Right there! Right there!” I shout, wrapping myself tighter around him as I feel myself start to rocket toward my peak.

My pussy clenches around his thick shaft and we both groan as I feel him swell inside of me.

After that, it only takes one pump and we’re both coming, my teeth sinking into my lower lip, legs trembling uncontrollably around his waist. He makes a hoarse sound into the curve of my neck, his hips slamming forward, pleasure rippling in my gut, twisting it as the release burns through us both.

His muscles ripple with power and helplessness as he holds himself steady above me, and I run my hands over his skin and watch as his blue eyes go unfocused, his body seizing as my pussy throbs tightly around him.

Both of our bodies lose tension at the same time, my legs dropping from around his hips and he holds me against his chest, kissing my forehead and cheeks.

“I love you, I love you.”

“I love you too, Anthony,” I whisper as I relax against him, curled into his side.

“So, are we exclusive then?” I ask a few moments later and Anthony laughs against my lips.

“Yeah, Emerson. We’re exclusive. You’re my girlfriend… and my future,” he whispers and I melt into his side even more.