Holly chuckled sadly. "She's told everyone that she caught John fucking me."I leaned back against the counter and sipped my coffee. "Fuck, I'm so sorry Holly." If she could do that to her best friend, I was doomed.Holly's eyes filled with tears. "She's my best friend. I know I always talked big about leaving her behind, but I never would have actually followed through with it."I leaned against her shoulder. "I know it's not the same, but I'll be your best friend.""I appreciate it," she said with a sad laugh. "Just watch out for Jules. I know you don't want to hear it, but she's really hurt right now."I couldn't look at her. "I never led her on.""It doesn't matter. Just imagine how you'd feel if John had fallen for Steph."We had just moved into the living room to finish our coffee when John came in. "Hey, Holly," he said as he bent down to kiss me on the cheek. "I ran out of things to do. I can hang out in Kate's room if I'm intruding.""It's fine," she said. "I need to go and g
"I want to come back and see you. I hate that I've made problems in your life, but I'm not ashamed of being selfish about this. I want to know what happens next."I took a deep breath. "I was thinking earlier about how connected I feel to you right now. It's a little scary when I think about you leaving, but at the same time, I can't imagine not feeling this way about you, not anymore."His guarded expression opened into a relieved smile. "Exactly.""I'll be graduating from Pellissippi in the spring, and Mom can't afford to send me to the University of Tennessee for my bachelors. I have to decide whether to try to finish my degree with loans or just start working somewhere. I have to decide whether to stay at home with Mom or move somewhere else." I squeezed his hand and gave him a sly grin. "But one decision I've already made is that I'd like you to be a part of my life, whatever else happens."He squeezed my hand this time, but just when he was going to say something in return, our
"I'm leaving," he said, gathering up his clothes, then began putting them on as he walked up the hallway.I got my robe from the hook on my closet and followed him out into the living room. "I can explain.""I'm sure you can, but not today. I need to go. I can't be here right now.""Promise me you'll come back," I begged as I grabbed his arm to stop him. I felt the tears in my eyes, but other than that I felt nothing. I was entirely empty.He shook off my hand as he got the last of his things packed in his duffel and backpack, then he looked at me for a long moment. I could see the pain I'd given him so clearly now, but nothing else showed. I had no idea what he was thinking."I promise," he whispered as he pulled me into his arms to kiss me with a tenderness I didn't deserve. Then he got his bags and left without looking back.I don't know how long I stood there before Mom came back out of her room and asked, "Is he gone?""Yes." I turned to face her."All the lies, Kate, all the lie
"Just give me some time. I'll think of something.""Don't worry about me. I'll figure something out. I need to go.""Call me after she leaves. Please?""I'll talk to you later," I said, hanging up quickly and putting the phone back in my robe pocket.After I heated the water and made some tea, I went back to my bedroom where Jules was reading intently. I put her cup down on the nightstand and sat back at my desk, putting my foot up on the edge of the bed as I leaned back to sip my tea."You've got a way with words."I could only look at her. Her hair fell around her face and curled under her chin. Her lips were full and her breasts were larger than mine, but they fit her frame well. Sitting cross-legged, she allowed me to see that her panties had an opening in the crotch. I could see her bare slit through the hole, and realized that her lower lips were the same color as those on her face. I couldn't stop staring at them.She began to flip through the pages faster, skimming more than r
Jules just laughed and rolled over to look at me. "You don't even know who you are, VV. One week of cock and you think you know all about love? Well, I've loved you longer and better than he ever will. When you have your little vanilla wedding night fantasy, you'll remember this and wish I was there!"I couldn't say anything. Instead I covered my ears with my hands. I'd always known she loved me, but it was then I realized what I'd done. I'd kept her waiting all these years, with unspoken promises of someday, maybe, perhaps ... There were no words to repair this.Sitting up, she began putting her own clothes in order. She put on her shoes, picked up her purse and stared down at me with ice in her eyes."Please, wait," I begged. "We need to talk about this.""This?" she cried. "We could have had this for years! When you kissed me, back when we were still girls, you knew I loved you then. You joked about it, but you knew, you just didn't care. And once I realized I could never have you,
"So how did you get beat up? And don't tell me it's complicated.""Jules came over. I told her everything and we kinda fought about it." There was a word that would explain everything. A word that could give a name to what had happened, but I couldn't make myself say it. I felt guilty of it, too."So how did you cut your lip if she didn't hit you?"I didn't speak, the scenery flowing by the window seeming to have a hypnotic effect on me. I was so tired I think I fell asleep with my eyes open. But then my mouth chose that moment to speak for me. "It got cut when she kissed me."Holly didn't say anything after that, so I shut my eyes and rested my head against the glass. The next thing I knew, she was helping me out of the car. I managed to make it to her couch before I collapsed.She put my suitcase and bag next to the door. "Go to sleep. You're safe now."I don't know how long I'd slept when I heard my phone ring. I was vaguely aware of Holly pulling it out of my back pocket. I dreame
Taking the bus to Denny's gave me too much time to think, but Holly had refused to help me at all. Sitting on the bus, I kept seeing visions of my blood on Jules' lips, but it wasn't her mouth I saw, it was the torn fabric of her panties and her delicate inner lips that I'd tasted in my madness. I could no longer deny that a part of me wanted exactly what we'd shared, and it was that desire that tormented me. I forced myself to focus on John and my promises to him.Jules was already seated when I'd gotten to Denny's. After sliding into the booth across from her, I glanced up at her face. She looked like she hadn't slept any better than I had. Her hair was tousled and she was wearing a rumpled black sweater.When the waitress came around, I ordered a coffee while Jules just stared at me, her face unreadable. I refused to speak, until finally she said, "I didn't know if you'd come.""We need to talk," I shrugged. "I'm here."When I took a sip of coffee, she noticed me wince when it touc
There was a faint buzzing in my ears and my mouth suddenly felt slick, like I was about to be sick. I knew her inside and out, there was no way she was bluffing. "You're serious.""Yes, I am. I can't stand by and watch what I know is going to happen," she replied, taking out her wallet and putting some money on the table. Before she walked away, she bent down and kissed me tenderly. I couldn't stop myself from kissing her back, but it felt like everyone was staring at us. Touching my face, she whispered, "Come today or not at all."All the way back to Holly's apartment, I sat on the bus and stared out the window. My mind bounced back and forth--my best friend, my boyfriend, her lips, and his eyes. The scale was balanced, but as my heart went one way and the other, the world shifted under my feet.When I got back to Holly's apartment, she was sitting on the couch watching a game show. She looked up at me and frowned. "You're going to her, aren't you?"I didn't acknowledge the question
Between his looks and his heavy money, Riccardo Bainchi could have anybody on this planet. He had gone out with plenty of women who were half his age without wrinkles and stretch marks, those who could still give him kids.I had dedicated my life to him, had given up all hopes and dreams I had because the money was nice and he treated me better than some of the other jobs I had in my teens. I never got a college education so the opportunities had always been limited. I had nothing to offer him.Before I could voice any of those concerns, he was at my side. He took my chin in his hand, pulled me closer to him, and kissed me hard on the mouth. I stiffened in his hold for a brief moment, wondering if this was all some sort of… joke.But Riccardo didn’t make jokes, especially not with me.“Riccardo,” I whispered between kisses. “Wh-What are you doing?”He seized my waist and lifted me onto the table, almost immediately dropping to his knees between my thighs. I leaned my arms back on the
Riccardo Bianchi scrolledthrough his phone at the head of the dining table with an empty glass of whiskey in front of him. After wiping down the kitchen counter, I refilled the glass, my hand trembling from the nerves zipping through me right now.I had worked for the Bianchi Family for nearly thirty years and had never asked for a night off because I had never quite needed it before now. Riccardo gave me more than enough time during the week to spend my days doing whatever I wanted with his dirty money.But I wanted to go out Friday night with a man I had met at the grocery store. He had worked there for the past five years, but I had never gotten the courage to talk to him besides some desperate little smiles here and there.“What’s wrong?” Riccardo asked.“N-Nothing!” I said too quicklyHe grabbed my shaky hand, stopping me from pouring any more. “Ophelia.”Sucking in a breath, I placed the bottle of alcohol down on the counter and hurried toward the front of the table to distance
She turned off the buzzing toy and climbed up next to me. Her breath smelled like beer and my musk, but I didn't care. I kissed her, holding her face between my hands. She opened her mouth and sucked my tongue between her teeth. "I want you to fuck me with your fingers while you kiss me," she said.I found her wet and open when my fingers reached her mons. I pressed her back against the pillows and kissed her with abandon. She began to move against my palm, making quiet mewing sounds as I rubbed up and down. Every kiss was open, every bite a tease. I ground myself against her side, while my fingers slid along and between her slit.She was holding back. I could tell she didn't want it to be over too soon. I began to kiss her neck and ears, enjoying her biting my shoulder as I worked her closer to the edge. She began to hold her breath, just like John had when he got close. I grabbed her hair and pulled to expose her neck as she had done to me."Oh, fuck yes," she whispered as I licked
I hadn't been entirely honest with Jules. She was the only woman I'd ever thought of sexually. There were a few times when my imaginary lover grew softer curves and longer hair. It was usually after I'd woken from a dream and I couldn't sleep again without finding release. In those drowsy moments, as my fingers rubbed, it was her breasts I touched, and her mouth I kissed. And when my release came, it was her name I whispered. I was ashamed I hadn't told her.Admitting it in my journal didn't change the way I felt about John. Being with him was satisfying in ways that being with Jules couldn't replace. I loved his rough skin when he didn't shave. I loved holding onto his strong shoulders as he entered me. I loved the way he called my name when he emptied himself into me. John and I had connected so powerfully that I now feared losing him as much as I did Jules. It was hard to believe I'd only known him two weeks.I'd fallen for someone wonderful, my best friend had become something mor
Jules spoke before I had a chance to say anything. "She's my wife. It doesn't matter how old she is."Now he looked even more skeptical. "Ya'll are married?" he asked, his tone implying he didn't believe her.I was confused and turned to ask her what she was doing, but Jules reached around my shoulders and pulled me close. She kissed me, moving her mouth against mine and knocking all other thoughts out of my head. I forgot everything as she took my breath away. She stopped after a few lovely moments and turned back to him. "See?"His eyes opened wide as he licked his lips. "Uh, fine. You're married," he said. Then he turned to go back to the bar, looking back over his shoulder at us twice as he went.I was hot suddenly and took off my coat. "That was unexpected.""You wanted a beer, didn't you?""Yes," I agreed, putting my coat down next to me on the seat. "That was ... wow."When he brought over the beers and sat them down in front of us, he asked, "Ya'll want me to run a tab?""Can
"Anyway, he started asking more and more questions. I could tell he was worried about me moving too fast. He tried to make you seem like some backwoods gold digger and I nearly popped him in the mouth for it," he said, sounding angry with his words clipped short."He just doesn't know me. Jules is worried you just want someone to hook up with that won't complicate your life on campus.""Fuck 'em both, then." he said with a grim laugh."I need to tell you something," I said, but he didn't seem to hear me."Look, you don't know everything that's happened over the last couple of years. Mike's been a good friend. He's helped me get through some serious shit. Even so, you don't have to worry about him changing my mind. I've never felt like this about anyone before. Let them worry. You still trust me, don't you?""Yes.""Then hang tough, only four more weeks and I'll be there. I may even bring the bastard along to put this shit to rest. Hey, maybe we could set him up with Jules?""We can tr
"You mean, John..." She trailed off for a second. "Wait, he took your virginity and all he gave you for Christmas was a fucking calendar?""That calendar was his promise to me. He's coming back in four weeks, with more trips to follow! If you hadn't flown off the fucking handle, I'd have told you--""Oh my God, you can't start dating your cousin! What would I tell Susan?""Why the hell not? It's not like we're actually related or did you forget that part?" When she didn't say anything right away, I took advantage and tried to catch my breath. Glancing back at Jules, I found her standing in the doorway of the closet with the strangest look on her face."You still could've told me, Kate," said Mom, sounding much calmer, but my frustration was beyond my control."Yes, I could have, but with the way you've reacted so far, I'm not sure it would have turned out any different.""Just come home. I've been worried sick about you. I haven't been able to sleep since you left."I laughed out loud
Niro's looked a little like a brown house from the outside, but the interior featured a green and white theme with garish accents in yellow and red. We lined up and ordered our dogs, taking seats in the crowded dining room. Mine was fully loaded with tomatoes, pickles, peppers, and onions, and I knew I'd pay for it later, but I hadn't been able to resist my favorite. Jules had hers with everything except the onions."You're going to regret that later," I said.She looked up at me, puzzled. "What?""Not eating onions." I looked at her with a wicked grin. It was still so odd to see her and want to kiss her. I kept thinking of her as my friend, but then my racing heart would correct me every time I looked at her."I don't mind onion breath." Picking up a single fry, she slipped it between her lips seductively, and whispered, "As long as it's yours."I could feel my face grow hot and had to look away for a moment. When her foot slid up my calf, I chuckled. "You'd better eat fast. I'm alre
The hunger I felt for her couldn't stop my mind from comparing our bodies. My own lips were smaller, and my sensitive nub didn't protrude like hers did. Her flavor was amazing, coppery and bright with an almost electric spark. I'd tasted my own arousal before, but this was like drinking lightning from the clouds. Her wetness spread along my lips and cheeks as she began to moan. When she reached her peak, she was completely still, but her thighs trembled against my face. After she'd cried out, her pulsing finish triggered another fit of giggles as she pushed my face away. I kissed her fingers when she put them under my chin to pull me up."Stop, too intense," she said. "Come here and kiss me. Was that enough to blot out the bad memory?"I was feeling greedy. "No, but it was a good start."When I snuggled down next to her again, we looked into each other's eyes. "It makes a difference when it's you," she murmured, seeming surprised, and it puzzled me."Did you imagine it wouldn't?""I'v