Focus

“I need to hear about all the dick you’re getting, immediately.”

Allow me introduce my dear friend Caroline, the only one of my Boston crew to make the trip to Nashville to see me since I had moved out there. And also a typical loud-mouth Boston girl, as you can see.

“Will you keep your voice down, please.” I looked around the restaurant to check if anyone had looked over, but thankfully the little diner was relatively empty.

Caroline smiled at me across the fifties-style yellow table top. When she scooted forward, the aging leather booth squeezed under her thighs. She lowed her voice, only slightly. “Ok, please, please, PLEASE tell me about all the dick you’ve been getting.”

I tried to contain my grin, but it was impossible when thinking about the sex James and I were currently having. “It’s, uh, yeah, really good.”

“Ugh, God, I’m fucking jealous. I’m six months into a dry spell and so horny I’m about ready to rip my clothes off anytime a semi-attractive man walks by.”

I nodded sympathetically. “We’ve all been there. You know I was in the same boat before James.”

“And how did you meet this guy again?”

I smiled at the memory. “Playing pool at a bar.”

“I hope you beat him.”

I scoffed. “Of course.”

“We need to go back there so I can get a little southern lovin myself while I’m here.”

“Naturally. Though I can’t really speak for the quality of southern men. James is from Canada, so he’s more northerner than us.”

Caroline let out an excited squeal. “Oh shit, that’s right. Does he have an accent? Say ‘yah der hey,’ the works?”

I giggled against my hand. “Sometimes, the way he says certain things I can tell he’s from the great north. It’s pretty damn cute, actually.”

“I’ll bet.” Caroline surveyed me for a moment and then reached out to take hold of my hand. “Babe, you know you’re glowing when you talk about him, right?”

I rolled my eyes. “Please.”

“I’m serious! And you deserve it. I’m really happy for you, Syd.”

“I thought you were jealous?”

Caroline dropped my hand and picked up her menu. “Oh, I am, but only about the fantastic sex. You can keep that gushy romance to yourself. Give me a good hard fuck followed by a cold beer and I’m set for life. No feelings necessary.”

And that’s when I remembered why Caroline had been my best friend for years. I joined her looking over the greasy food options, but I could feel her glancing my way sporadically. “Something else on your mind, Care-Bear?”

She tossed her menu to the side of the table. “Alright I have to know, how many inches is that tall drink of water packing in his cup?”

I smirked, but avoided meeting her stare. “More than enough.”

“That’s not an answer.” She fell into a full blown whine. “Come on, I want to live vicariously through you so I need details.”

I made her wait while I picked out a speciality burger and chocolate shake. Then still longer while we order from the waitress. Left alone again, I smiled at her impatient look. “Fine. I haven’t taken a ruler to him, but I’d say eight inches maybe, ten at the most.”

Caroline sat back in her seat and sighed. “Oh. My. God.”

“Uh, yeah. And trust me, he doesn’t just have a sizable boat, but he also knows how to rock the motion of the ocean, you feel me?”

“Of that I have no doubt. I’ve seen him skate, and boy has some moves.”

I couldn’t help it, I felt myself swell with pride. “You watched a Preds game? He’s good right?”

“Yeah. I mean I don’t know shit about hockey, but I caught the Bruins game on TV two nights ago when they were in town and he looked good. Mostly though I was distracted by that other fine piece of ass, the defenseman.”

“Josi?”

Caroline waved me off. “You know I don’t know his name. Tall, broad shoulders, the most beautiful cheekbones I’ve ever seen in my life, and some damned mesmerizing eyes. He did the half time interview with the hot blond girl.”

“It’s an intermission, not half time, but yeah, that’s Roman.”

“Mmm, Roman…yeah, he can conquer me, any fucking time he wants, goddamn!”

Even though I felt like a traitor, I had to agree with her. “He is pretty fucking hot.”

“Ooooo, I’m so telling James on you!”

I gave her a sceptical look. “Come on, we both know you’d never sell me out like that.”

With a shrug Caroline responded, “You’re right. But now I have blackmail material.”

“Ha! Thanks for that.”

“No prob, bob.” Our food arrived and we ate in a comfortable silence for a while. Eventually Caroline continued, “So tell me, honestly, how are you getting on out here? It just feels so…small town.”

“It’s fine. Work is work, it pays the bills. I don’t, you know, get out much, unless James and I do something. And he’s got stuff going on with the team most days, so by the time we hook up he just wants to stay in.”

“Mmm-hmm, I can imagine why.” We shared a smile and I tried to avoid the pink elephant in the room, but Caroline was having none of it. “And you talk to Sam lately?”

I felt myself clam up immediately. “No.”

“You should call him. I know it would mean a lot to him.”

“I’m sure it would.”

“Sydney -”

“Goddamn it, Caroline. The reason I moved out here was because I was tired of people asking me about him, about what he did. He’s my brother and I love him, but I can’t deal with his bullshit right now.”

“Alright, alright. You’re right, and I’m sorry. I just worry about you. You’re down here all alone, and your mom says you sound so distant when you call.”

I knew Caroline was right. It was just hard to admit it. Before James I had been lonely in Nashville and heavily regretting my decision to move away from Boston. At this point, though, I wasn’t so sure about anything. The only thing I could think to say was, “I’m not alone as much anymore.”

“I know, and that’s great. Enjoy him, mostly enjoy that dick, but don’t get so caught up in James that you forget there are people back in Boston who love you, too. And that includes your good for nothing brother.”

I didn’t want to think about my brother, but Caroline did have a point. I was and am very loved by a good number of folks in Boston and that was something to smile about. “How could I forget when at least one of you calls or emails me every damn day?”

“Oh, you wanna be a smart ass, huh? Ok, fine, fuck you, Syd.”

“See now, that’s what I miss, not our heart-to-hearts, but you telling me to fuck off.”

“Glad I could bring a little hometown comfort to your new life in the south. Now, finish your burger and then take me to that bar where you met James. I’m getting laid before I Ieave tomorrow, or so help me God…”

***

Caroline’s visit had been just the thing I needed to break up the Preds long road trip. This was the first time and James and I had been apart and I’m almost embarrassed to admit how much I missed having him around.

To be fair, he did do an excellent job of staying in touch, especially considering how busy I know he was. He would text me about ridiculous things Ryan Ellis said at practice or the pranks he and Roman pulled on Seth Jones. I would get emails from him with links to funny dog videos that he sent at about four in the morning, each with little captions or comments. He would tag me in pictures he posted on Instagram to make sure I saw them and he plastered ridiculous emojis and snide remarks in the comments for all my pics. And he called, every day, he said just to hear my voice and to make me laugh.

Ok, sorry, the sappiness is getting out hand. Both of us were guilty of it during this time, but I won’t bore you with that sort of thing too much. I will tell you that as promised he also sent me dick pics and he must have done it before because his angles and lighting were perfect. Although, admittedly, his cock was so naturally beautiful, it didn’t take many camera tricks to get a good shot. What amused me most was that he would send them at random times of the day from the most inappropriate places: immediately before they took the ice, from the plane on their way to New York, in the bathroom of a restaurant when the team went out to eat after a game. It was his own way of letting me know he was thinking of me, if only sexually.

After Caroline had absconded back to Boston I fell back into my normal routine, and per James’ insistence, made myself at home in his house. I think he invited me to stay at his place while he was away mostly so I could dog-sit his canine children, Nixon and Snoop, but either way, I wasn’t complaining. Before he left he had told me that he loved having me in his bed, even when he wasn’t there to enjoy me in it.

One night, after a good seven days of heavy digital flirtation, I was lounging in bed flipping channels on his TV. My phone vibrated off the mattress and I saw a message from him, with a dick pic, featuring a good portion of the rest of his body that was dripping wet, clearly from a hot tub I could see in the background. I called him immediately.

He picked up on the first ring and didn’t even give me a proper greeting. “You see the Celtics game tonight? That ridiculous alley oop in the third?”

I snuggled down into the bed and smiled as I tucked one hand under the pillow and beneath my head. “If you’re trying to turn me on with that sort of talk, it’s working.”

James answered with a deep, rumbling laugh. “I am, baby, I am. How are you? Tell me about your day.”

“Boring. Forget about that, tell me about this hot tub I see you’ve been enjoying.”

“Mmm, it’s nice and the one good thing about the hotel in Columbus.”

“Ugh, I’m green with envy. I need a good soak.”

“Is that all you need?”

I bit my lip and enjoyed the way his voice washed over me. “You know what I really need?”

“Tell me.”

“Your dick, ten hard inches, filling me up until I can’t walk straight for a week.”

We both laughed, but that was how we always started these sorts of calls: one of us would use a cheesy line, the other would say something totally off the wall, and then after a good laugh we would really get down to it properly. James asked with a smile I could hear, “You really think I got ten inches?”

“You tell me, hot stuff.”

“I never measured. Remind me when I get back, I’ll let you do it.”

“Will do. Just please tell me your hand on your dick right now, otherwise this is gonna be really awkward.”

“Why? Where’s your hand?”

The appendage not holding the phone had still been tucked under my head, but I then slipped it under his old t-shirt I was wearing to bed. “Pinching my nipple.”

“Nice, do it harder.” I let out a little moan as I did so and he carried on, “What are you wearing to bed today?”

“Your old Guns ‘N Roses shirt.”

“I always liked that one.”

“It smells like you, that’s why I like it.”

“What do I smell like?”

“Like sweat and musk and Old Spice and your unwashed hair.”

“That sounds pretty disgusting, actually.”

“God, no, it’s perfect. I love how you smell.” I had been lazily rolling a nipple between my thumb and forefinger, but thinking about his aura and smelling it on his old shirt really got me going and I started to knead the breast with my palm.

“I like yours, too, that rich, earthiness from between your thighs that makes me want to stay down there for months.”

“Oh, yeah? I wish you would. You don’t go down on me nearly enough, by the way.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I’m back. Let you come on my tongue so I can swallow every drop.”

“Fuck, James.”

“What are you doing?”

“Just touching my breast.”

“Keep doing that.”

“And you?”

“Me? I’m in bed, naked, but my hands aren’t anywhere near my dick.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not ready to come yet and I just wanna talk to you for a while.”

Typical of him to be concerned about me first and I would never complain about that. “So talk to me, James.”

“When I get back, I’m gonna see how long I can down on you while making you wait to come. I wanna see you try to hold back when my tongue flicks across your clit, just so I can watch you squirm and moan and beg for me to let you finish.”

I switched hands and worked my other breast now. My answer came with heavy breaths. “Yeah, good. And are you gonna let me come?”

“Eventually, but I’m gonna make you earn it.”

I felt actual shivers at hearing his words and I fought the urge to slip my hand under the band of my undies. “I will, I promise.”

“I know you will. After you do, I’m gonna start all over again. Running my tongue up your slit slowly until you start to bloom open for me again.”

“Mmm, I’m always open for you. Wide open and wet.”

“Christ, and I miss that. Miss how tight you feel around my dick when you come while I’m fucking you.”

I moaned at the memory of him thrusting into me with force, propping his body over mine for levage, kissing my neck without missing a beat. “James, put your hand on your cock. Please.”

“First you have to tell me how wet you are. Run your hand through your pussy and tell me how wet you are for my dick.”

I obeyed immediately, placing the phone between my chin and shoulder so I could use two hands to peel my undies off. Fully exposed, I spread my legs wide as I bent them at the knees. When I slide my palm over my shaved outer lips I gasped at the sensation. James’ voice brought me back to focus. “Tell me, baby.”

“So smooth and dewy, just dripping for you, James.”

He let out a tiny groan and then continued. “Go deeper. Tell me how it feels.”

I slipped two fingers inside my entrance before forcing them as deep as their limited length would allow. “Good, so good.” I clenched down, trying to imagine it was his hand, getting me ready for his thick hardness. “James…goddamn I miss your cock.”

He let out a breathy chuckle. “Just my cock?”

“No, not just that. You, James. I miss you.”

His answer was simple, but spoken with sweetness. “Good.”

God, his voice, deep and demanding one minute and then placating and loving the next. I could have come just listening to him talk, but I needed him right there with me. “Babe…please put your hand on your cock and tell me what to do next.”

He made a choked sound from within his throat and I heard him shift on his hotel bed, miles away. “Alright, pull your fingers out and spread that wetness all over your pussy.”

Panting, I did as he asked, all the while picturing his fingers wrapped around his cock as his hips jerked upwards. “Can I touch my clit now?”

“No, I want two fingers back inside, just for a moment.”

I licked my lips and once again moaned when as I fingered myself. “Ok…now?”

“No. Put the fingers in your mouth. Tell me how you taste.”

“Fuck.” I licked my arousal off the two digits and clenched my thighs together. I was so fucking turned on that the contact of my lower lips coming back together was almost enough to push me over the edge. I spread my legs again and tried to hold myself back. Finally, after sucking my fingers clean, I gave him what he asked for. “So sweet, like warm honey. Next time you fuck me, I want you to finish in my mouth so I can see how we taste together.”

“Jesus Christ…Sydney.” James let out a long groan that I recognized all too well.

I started laughing immediately. “Did you just fucking come before me, you prick?”

Huffing into the phone, James could barely speak, let alone join me in laughter. “I couldn’t help it, you can’t talk about me coming in your mouth after I fuck you and expect me to hold off.”

My smile was wide and prideful. “True. Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be.” His voice dropped lower in tone and demeanor. “Now I want you to touch your clit, use two fingers.”

I let out a sigh as my hand went to work. “Thank you.”

“Keep doing that and listen to me. When I get back, I’m wanna lick every single inch of your skin. Every freckle, every dimple, every curve, every smooth inch of you, until you’re so wet the fucking sheets are drenched. Then, I’m not even gonna fuck you, but just feed you my cock, inch by fucking inch, until your bottom lip hits my balls.”

My entire body tensed at the picture he was providing and I absolutely had to add to the fantasy. “Yes, yes, James. Tie my hands behind my back. Make me take every inch down my throat.”

“Yeah, perfect. I’d love to see you all tied up like that. Exposed just for me.”

“Please. James…”

“You can come when you’re ready, you don’t need to ask. But when I’m there, when I’m licking through that wetness between your thighs, you’re gonna have to beg me to come and if I don’t think you’re asking nicely enough, I’m not gonna let you finish.”

My fingers had been working over my clit at a frantic pace. When I felt the orgasm build, I dipped lower into my wetness and brought the slick digits back over my clit, which sent me over the edge, coming hard, muttering James’ name as his voice continued in my ear, murmuring encouragement.

By the time I was done, my hand was numb and I didn’t even want to try and open my eyes. I rolled over and curled up on my side, letting out a steadying breath. “When are you back again?”

“Two more days, baby.”

“Two more days too long, if you ask me.”

His laughter was his agreement. “Get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow, ok?”

“Ok. And James?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re getting super good at the bossy stuff.”

“Just wait until I’m there. I’ll blow your fucking mind.”

“I know you will, babe. I know.”

“And while I’m telling you what to do, don’t forget, no dogs on the bed.”

I looked down at the foot of the bed where the pitbulls Snoop and Nixon were curled up together, fast asleep, totally unbothered by our debauchery. Apparently James had a thing about his sheets, but I’m a sucker for puppy dog eyes. I grinned at the pups and tried to sound convincing. “Mmm-hmm, I didn’t forget. No dogs on the bed.”

He sounded sceptical, “Alright. Behave yourselves and I’ll see you in two days.”

“Two days.”

“Watch the game tomorrow, too.”

“Always.”

I tossed my phone on the nightstand and then shifted in the bed as I pulled my panties back on with a sigh. I joined the dogs at the foot of the bed and Nixon immediately stood, turned around a few times in place, and then curled up against my chest, his head under my chin. I suppose I had managed to win over all the Neal boys in that house and it was a truly lovely feeling.

Notes