Focus

My hands were shaking; my stomach threatening to heave up the toast and banana I had eaten for lunch - the only two things that had sounded appealing. I shook out my arms, put my hands on the bathroom sink, leaned over, and breathed.

I tried to talk myself calm. “Come on, Sydney, get your shit together. It’s just a party.”

Right, just a party. I mentally repeated it to myself like a mantra until I felt ready to carry on. I pick up the curling iron again, working it around my head of long auburn hair until loose bouncy curls surrounded my face. I used a barrett to pull half of it back, leaving the locks trailing down my bare back. My make-up was already done, dress and shoes on, so I went returned to my bedroom and the full length mirror ready to survey the results.

I blew out another breath. Ok, not bad. I had purchased the black satin dress at Nordstrom the week before. It was, in fact, the seventh dress I had bought since the beginning of December when James had invited me to the Predator’s holiday party. I returned the first six, for various reasons: too short, too long, too tight, too flowy, too shiny, too flat. This last one, I’ll admit, was perfect: a backless halter top with a ruffled bell skirt that fell just above my knees. The satin made it russly, my bare back made it sexy, but the black made it classic, the cut of the skirt elegant. Shoes were round-toed, four inch, candy-apple red heels, because why the hell not?

I took another breath and felt like I was going to throw up again. Goddamn I was nervous. I had meet several of James’ teammates over the last couple of months, but I suppose it was the thought of being in a room with all of them, plus their wives and girlfriends, all at once that made my stomach do backflips. What was I afraid of? Well, being judged of course, hence the indecision about the many dresses. I just wanted to be perfect; I thought James deserved that much.

I was just about sit down on the bed and hang my head between my knees until the nausea passed when I heard a knock on my apartment door.

“Shit, shit, shit!” My place was a mess, clothes and dishes cluttered my bedroom floor, empty water bottles and smoothie cups monopolized my kitchen counters, and books spilled from their piles on my coffee table and onto the floor. This was not the way I wanted James to see my apartment for the first time, but since I had wasted to much time getting ready, there was nothing I could do.

I pulled the door open with one hand, my other arm holding a random assortment of things I had grabbed off the floor on my way to the door. “Sorry, sorry, I’m running late. Come in, but don’t look at anything, it’s a mess and I -” James had stepped over the entryway and was giving me a strange look. “What? I’m…sorry about the mess.”

A smile broke out on his face. “I haven’t even noticed your apartment, I’m too busy looking at you. You look absolutely stunning, Sydney. Took my breath away.”

I felt my cheeks grow pink at the compliment. James was always saying sweet things about me, my body, my smile, whatever, but this day, this moment, he seemed truly in awe. And it was deeply touching. “Well, shit, thanks, babe.”

He backed me into the apartment and tossed the items I had been holding onto my ratty, thrift store couch. Clutching my face with both hands he asked, “Do you mind if I kiss you? I don’t wanna ruin your makeup.”

That made me smile and I actually felt my nerves releasing their hold on me now that I was in his arms. “I’m not wearing lipstick. Kiss away.”

Without a moment’s hesitation he brought his lips to mine, giving me sweet, tender, delicate kisses that set my heart ablaze despite their chastity. I felt one of his hands move to the nape of my neck and delve into my curls. “Oh, oh, careful, please, my hair is so unruly and I finally got it right just before you came.”

James chuckled and removed his hands from me, stepping back at the same time. “Of course. It looks lovely. I can’t wait to wreck it later.” He gave me a smirk and I finally took the time to take him in fully. Damned if that man doesn’t wear a suit like no other. For this occasion it was a shade somewhere between hunter green and aquamarine, classic fit, paired with a crisp white shirt and pale red tie. Festive, yet sexy as hell. And then there was his hair, freshly washed and slicked back as per usual, but it was getting longer so it curled behind his ears and at his neckline.

I took my turn to touch him now, grasping the front of his jacket with both hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t mention it sooner, but you’re looking pretty damn fine yourself this evening, Mr. Neal.”

His warm hands spread across my exposed back. “You think so, Ms. Moncrief?” I could only nod. “Hmm, well thank you. Maybe if you’re a good girl at this party, I’ll let you unwrap a present early.”

I bit my lip and threw my head back as I pulled him closer. “Oh, God, I hope you’re talking about what’s in your pants because, babe, let me tell you, that’s the only gift I need or want this year.”

“You’ll have to wait and see. You ready to go?”

For some reason, that question sent my nervous stomach into overdrive again. I took yet another deep breath as I released my hold on him, brushing imaginary wrinkles from his suit coat. “Yeah, I think so.” I turned and grabbed my coat and clutch from the couch.

When my coat was on, James hooked his arm around mine as we headed out the door and down the stairwell. “You ok?”

“Yeah, yeah fine. Just really nervous. I mean, these are your people and you love them and I just want to make you proud.”

“Hey, look at me, Syd.” We had paused on the second floor landing and I raised my eyes to meet his. “You’re amazing and everyone’s going to love you. Everyone who’s met you already does. Jos and Ekky? They ask about you all the time.”

“I know and I like all the guys, too. Can I be honest? It’s mostly the wives and girlfriends I’m terrified of. Women judge each other so cruelly, I just…I don’t want to end up feeling like the poor little secretary that they pity. A red-haired Cinderella in the land of blond beauties, you know?” James moved to hold me, but I waved him off, too embarrassed that I’d actually admitted my feelings of inadequacy to him. I pulled him along. “Forget it. Come on. We’re gonna be late.”

The car ride to Peter Laviolette's house was too short (in my opinion) and deathly silent. I think James wasn’t sure what to say to reassure me and I was just trying not to have a panic attack. When he parked a few blocks away, he stopped me before I could get out of the car.

“Listen, I don’t know what you’re feeling so I won’t pretend that I do. But I can tell you this, I don’t give shit if any of the women in there like you. I don’t even care if any of my teammates like you. In our relationship there’s just you and me. No one else’s opinion matters, not in the least. So let them think what they want about you. All you need to worry about me and how much I care about you. Ok?”

Isn’t he something this man? I smiled genuinely. “Yeah, ok. Let’s do this.”

We got out of the car and as my heels clicked loudly down the sidewalk, James took my hand and told me, “I can’t be by your side at every moment, so when you get nervous, just think about how hard I’m going to fuck you after we leave.” I laughed out loud, but James just smiled. “And then I want you to look over at me and know that no matter who I’m talking to, I’m still just thinking about you, naked, writhing around underneath me, pleading with me to let you come.”

Jesus, now I was just ridiculously turned on. I squeezed his hand as he rang the doorbell, putting my mouth right against his ear. “And when you look at me just know I’m imagining your dick in my mouth, come dripping down my chin.”

Now he laughed. “Fuck.”

Peter’s wife was at the door. “James, mind your language please. It’s Christmas.”

He pulled himself together and I stood a little taller. “Sorry about that. Kristen this is my girlfriend Sydney. Syd this is Kristen Laviolette, Peter’s wife.”

We stepped into their home and I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too, dear. Merry Christmas. I’ll take your coats.”

Stripped of our coats, we were led into their massive living room. It felt like a winter palace: high ceilings, a giant, perfectly decorated tree in one corner next to the oversized windows, crystal chandeliers providing bright artificial light, classical Christmas music piped through speakers mounted on the walls, a sea of beautiful men and women in designer suits and cocktail gowns, and then waiters, in stiff, ill-fitting tuxes circulating with drinks and Hors d'oeuvre. Yup, I was definitely out of my league. But then I looked next to me and there was James, winking. And suddenly all was right in my world.

“Sydie! Fashionably late as usual, Neal.” Roman Josi pulled me in for a giant Swiss hug. What’s a Swiss hug? Well, just a hug from a beautiful Swissman.

He released me and we exchanged smiles. It was always so good to see him. “How are you, Roman?”

“Ah, you need to call me Jos, that means we’re really friends, yes?”

“You’re right, Jos, of course.”

“Better…and I’m great, thank you. Nealsy, Webs was looking for you. Something about golf clubs, I wasn’t really listening, to be honest.”

“Shit, I forgot about that. Thanks.”

“No prob, but I gotta find Jessica, make sure she’s not talking politics again.” Roman linked his arm in mine. “I’ll take Sydie with me if you don’t mind, Neal. Some of the girls were asking about meeting her.”

James grinned and planted a kiss on my cheek. In my ear he whispered, “Good luck. Just remember what I told you.” To Roman he said, “Keep an eye on her for me, Jos.”

Roman looked me up and down and grinned. “Looking this pretty, I’ll keep both eyes on her.”

I rolled my own eyes at that. “Wow, what charm school did you boys attend?”

James smacked my ass as Roman led me away and we navigated the party until we found his lovely Jessica and a bevy of blonde beauties, just as I had expected. (Seriously, what is it with hockey players and blond chicks?)

Roman introduced me around to the women and the Swedes, Forsberg, Jarnkrok, and Eckholm, two of whom I had not met before. Chatter was light and I did my best to blend into the background, laughing when appropriate and nodding politely when the other girls were speaking. With Roman near me it was easier for me to feel more comfortable and was I eternally grateful. But then he and Jessica went to the hit the bar and the other boys scampered off, leaving me alone with a pile of women, only a few with friendly faces. The tone quickly shifted.

Danielle, Gausted’s wife addressed me during a lull in their conversation. “So, Sydney, what brought you to Nashville?”

“I just needed a change. There was a lot of drama in my family that I wanted to leave behind for a while.”

She smiled knowingly and continued, “And you work, right?”

The way she said ‘work’ was slightly patronizing, but I tired to stay positive and answered brightly, “Yes, I’m a legal secretary at Quarles and Brady. It’s one of the biggest firms in the state.”

Eric Nystrom’s girlfriend interjected with obvious disdain in her voice. “Is there something special about being a legal secretary verses a regular secretary? I mean, you just answer the phone and type memos either way, right?”

I took a deep breath and resisted the urge to either cry or smack her or both. I did my best to keep the snark out of my voice, but I knew right away I had failed. “There is a difference, actually. Because law is a specialized field everyone in the office has to have a certain level of legal knowledge, otherwise the attorneys run the risk of being sued for malpractice if someone in their employ makes an error. Of course, I wouldn’t really expect you to understand. Working in an office is so very proletariat, right?”

Forsberg’s and Jarnkrok’s girlfriends both snorted out laughter and I could have kissed both of them I was so grateful. Then Austin Watson’s wife Karly spoke up before one of the ladies eyeballing me could make a comment. “I worked in office before I got my beautician’s licence and it was hell. I don’t know how you put up with it. The men in charge are absolutely helpless and yet don’t appreciate anything you do that saves their asses day in and day out.”

I grinned and agreed with her. “It was not my life’s goal to be an errand girl for lawyers, but for now it pays the bills.”

James’ voice interrupted everyone. “Syd’s the smartest person at that office. They’d be lost without her.” He handed me a whiskey sour that I took happily and immediately sipped.

I told Karly, “James exaggerates.”

He once again spoke over everyone. “Bullshit. Did she tell you she went to Harvard? Full academic scholarship.”

Even the snobby wives looked impressed, which I must admit felt great. Still, I hated that he brought that up; I’ve never been one to boast about where I went to college.

Karly, however, was not allowing me any modesty. “Harvard? Holy shit. Now that’s something to brag about. Were you pre-law?”

“No, actually. I studied Classics, mostly mythological iconography.”

Danielle asked, “And what on earth are you planning do with that degree?”

“Well, I was a semester into a Master’s program when I moved out here. I’m still working on transferring to the university, but eventually I plan to teach, at the college level.”

“My future professor.” I met James’ eyes and they were so full of genuine pride and admiration that I felt tears welling up in my own. After the stress of the party and his bragging on my behalf I was feeling more emotional than usual I suppose.

I finished off my drink to steady myself and then I grabbed his arm as I turned toward the girls. “Will you excuse us, please?”

I hustled James away toward the back of the house. Laughing as we went he asked, “Where are you taking me?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll know it when…ah, perfect.” I found a secluded spot, probably the only quiet area on the first floor, a dark corner under the ornate staircase. We were shielded from sight and the raucous party noise was dulled. I shoved him back to the wall and kissed him as if my life depended on it. I felt his smile against my lips, but his tongue was seriously about its business right away.

He shifted without a moment’s notice and had my back against the wall, one hand clutched in my hair (which I no longer cared about) as the other lifted my leg at the knee, hooking it on his hip as his palm slid up under my dress. “Mmm, you read my mind, Professor.”

I was already breathless, but still I told him, “Thank you.”

“I should be thanking you. These things are normally boring as all hell.”

He tried to kiss me again, but I held his face in my hands, his rough beard scratching my palms. “No, thank you. For being proud of me. For…liking who I am, just as I am.”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re absolutely perfect. I…Sydney…” His eyes took me in, but he didn’t continue.

“Yeah?”

He let out a breath. “Let’s just get outta here.”

I had to chuckle. “We just got here, we can’t leave.”

I felt two of his fingers hook under my thong at my hips. “Baby, I’m over this party. I just wanna be lost in your pussy for the next few days.”

I stifled a moan with my lips against his as I kissed him again. I should have walked away right then; I knew damn well neither of us would be able to stop once we got started. Still, I continued to kiss him, his hands stroked and squeezed my thighs and ass under my dress as his hips ground his erection against my center.

I pulled away gasping. “James, come on. We need to go back.”

“You started this.”

I kissed his forehead as I pushed him away and started fixing my dress. “Yeah, I did and now I’m ending it. We have all night once we leave. Right now you should be celebrating the holiday with your team and I need to be mingling.” He reached for me again, but I batted his hand away, laughing. “Seriously. Go find Jos or Shea. Talk about golf, or whatever you boys talk about. I’ll find you later.”

I peeped around the corner and since no one was around I walked away, blowing a grumpy James a kiss as I went. I made my way upstairs, to use the bathroom, which, by the way, was bigger than my entire apartment and complete with hot tub, a shower that would hold a massive orgy, and a white marble counter that seemed endless.

I was fluffing my hair when I heard a knock on the door. I ignored it; they could wait until I was done. Then I heard another knock and James’ voice. “Syd, it’s me.”

I unlocked the door and let him in. “What -” He quickly locked it again and then he was on me, pushing me until I was seated on the sink and kissing me dizzy. When he moved to kiss my neck, I protested even as I pulled his body closer to mine with both hands on his back. “God, James…we can’t do this here.”

“Who says?” He was pushing my dress up around my waist and I found I lost my train of thought momentarily.

When he reached for my panties, I lifted myself up so he could pull them off. I told him, “You better make it fast.”

He smiled wide. “The way you look tonight, I was practically coming the minute I saw you.”

I let out a groan of agreement and reached for his belt as he untucked his shirt without bothering to unbutton it. I got my hands on his cock and gave him a few tugs before he grabbed my hips and I wrapped my legs around his waist, heels still on.

He lifted me and then banged my back against the nearest wall. A heartbeat later he was thrusting up inside me. “Ugh, fuck yes, Syd. That’s what I need.”

I nodded and tried to maneuver myself in his arms, but I lacked any real strength in that position. Luckily, James didn’t need my help. He held me up and fucked me hard, one arm supporting my ass and the other threaded in my hair. I hugged him against my chest and nibbled up his neck, losing myself in the enjoyment of the moment.

I’m not sure what was pushing me toward orgasm the fastest: the fact that we were at a formal holiday party fucking like animals in the bathroom, the fact that we were both still almost fully clothed, or our moans echoing off the walls. Maybe it was seeing our reflection in the mirror, James’ pants around his knees, my dress and hair rumpled around me, mouth wide open with pleasure.

Either way, in no time flat I felt myself close to coming and I knew he was right there with me. “James…”

He grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. “I was trying to tell you before…didn’t wanna tell you like this…but I have to. I love you, Sydney. I really do.” It took me a minute to realize what he had said and I was utterly speechless. James Neal…just told me loved me, while fucking me in the bathroom of his coach’s house no less.

We released together and I buried my face in his neck, gasping against his skin as he held me still and close, letting both of us finish and slow down. When he dropped my feet to the floor he tried to kiss me, but I couldn’t let him, not just yet. This man was going to make my heart burst. I asked, “Were you serious with that shit, Neal?”

He nodded and looked more nervous than I had felt when he picked me up. Christ, it was endearing. I frowned at him, unable to resist the temptation to tease him. “Well, that’s too bad. Because I’m crazy in love with you and now pissed that you didn’t tell me that sooner.”

His smile was blinding, but I only enjoyed it for a second before he was kissing me again, sweetly, then nuzzling affectionately against my neck as he pulled my dress down.

I met his eyes again. “James…you know I don’t always say the right things…but you’ve made the happiest lady in the world, I hope you know that. And I mean it, I really fucking love you.”

“I know, Syd. You’ve said all I need to hear. That’s all I need.” With a smirk he held up my thong and let me step into it. When he pulled it up he pressed a kiss to my cheek and whispered again, just because he could I think, “I love you.”

I opened my mouth to answer, but a banging on the door startled us both out of our love-filled delirium. I started giggling and whispered, “Fuck, how are we going to explain this?”

James just shrugged and draped his arm over my shoulders. “Who gives a shit?”

When he opened the door, Roman was standing on the other side. His face went from annoyance to amusement in two seconds flat. Then, I noticed Jessica standing directly behind him, looking flushed and aroused. It seems we weren’t the only two with filthy plans at that party.

As soon as we all realized what was going on, laughter broke out among us. Neal saluted Roman as we stepped passed them and I gave Jessica a wink when she met my eyes while closing the door.

We did our best impression of respectable part guests after that: James talking to his teammates, me watching him while trying to listen to what people were saying to me, and then me, Roman, and Jessica making eye contact from across the room, grinning like idiots. After about an hour of this, James cornered me at the bar.

“I’ve said hello to everyone, done my duty. Now get your damn coat, we need to leave.”

We went back to his house, which was where we always ended up anyway. I knew right away what sort of mood James was in when he locked the dogs in the dining room and led me upstairs. Sitting on the bed, he had me stand in front of him and for a while he just looked at me.

Finally he said, wearing that nasty smirk of his, “You were a very bad girl tonight, Syd.”

My heart started racing and I felt my skin grow warm. Thinking about that kiss in the dark, our quickie in the bathroom, I nodded and agreed. “Yeah, yes I was.”

“Take your dress off. Shoes stay on.”

I pulled down the zipper running down the right side of the dress and then let it drop and pool at my feet before I kicked it to the side.

“Turn around, bend over.”

I licked my lips and obeyed, spreading my legs slightly before bending over and running my hands down my calves. I heard him move off the bed and his hands came to my hips, peeling the thong off my body and allowing me to step out of it, all the while my ass was sticking out, inches from his face. When he stood up again, I felt him stroke two fingers painfully slow between my thighs starting at my lower back and ending just before he reached my clit. I felt my knees buckle as I groaned.

James wrapped one hand around my waist and stood me up straight, my back against his chest. He licked up the side of my neck and then told me, “You can pick your punishment. Either I take you over my knee or you can’t come for an hour.”

As charged up as my body was, I knew I’d never be able to hold back. And orgasm denial is only fun if I feel like I can control my body. So, I rubbed my ass against his crotch and said, “I think a spanking is in order, Mr. Neal.”

He smiled against my ear. “Good choice.” He backed up and sat a armless chair that was set in the corner of his room. “Shoes off and then come here, baby girl.”

Oh, I was in trouble. He only called me “baby girl” when he really wanted to play rough. Shivers coursed under my skin as I kicked the shoes off before walking toward him, now entirely naked. Seeing him still fully clothed was turning me on more than anything else. He took my hand and pressed an open-mouthed kiss on my knuckles. Our eyes met and he smiled up at me. “Safe word?”

Every time we played like this I picked a new one. This night, naturally, I was feeling sentimental. I chose a name I never call him, but that I know means a lot to him. “Nealsy.”

He chuckled, but nodded. “Nice one. Now come take your punishment like a good girl.” He pulled me down, laying across his lap, essentially bent at the waist with my legs straight, toes on the floor, my torso supported by his legs, his hard dick pressed against my stomach.

He smoothed his palm over my ass as if admiring it, then he removed it entirely, but he didn’t touch me again right away. The anticipation was only serving to excite me more and I found myself shifting my hips, rubbing my pussy against his thigh, just waiting for him to do something.

He brought his hand down my ass, hard and out of nowhere. I moaned at the contact and thrust my hips back, anticipating more contact and he did not disappoint. His hand struck my ass, alternating cheeks, several times in rapid succession and each one was punctuated by my gasping breath or a whine in the back of my throat.

Then he cupped my ass gently, stroking the reddening skin with his thumb. He nudged my thighs apart and dipped two fingers into my soaking wet entrance. “I think my baby girl likes her punishment.”

I nodded and thrust my hips back against his hand as his fingers worked themselves in and out. He spread my wetness over my ass and then went back to spanking me vigorously. I felt welts rising up in the shape of a palm, but the pain was overwhelmed by the delicious throbbing of my cunt.

His hand went between my thighs again, rubbing at my clit as I bucked and moaned on his lap. “Please, please can I come?”

“Yes, baby girl, come as much as you like.”

Just as I was about to do so, his fingers broke off contact with my clit and returned to smacking my ass and I nearly sobbed. I spread my legs further and managed to navigate my body until my clit was rubbing against his massive, flexing thigh and despite his wool suit it felt amazing. I heard him chuckle as his hand continued to make contact with my ass, the sound of skin on skin dominating the room.

“Clever girl, but this might feel better.” He slid his hand under my body, his palm against his thigh, the back of his hand and fingers now under my cunt.

“Ugh, thank you.” Using his other hand, he continued his rough treatment of my ass while I gyrated my hips, rubbing my clit against his immobile hand. When I started to come, he flipped his hand and shoved two fingers back inside my entrance, rubbing his palm against my clit. He never stopped smacking my ass.

I came long and hard, finding a crest of pleasure again and again. Had he not been holding me on his lap, I probably would have just rolled on the floor. As it was, when I was done and panting, he leaned over me and pressed a sweet kiss onto my very red ass cheek before he gently guided me to the floor, kneeling in front of him.

His legs were spread wide and I put both hands on his knees. “You wanna unwrap a gift, baby girl?”

I suppressed a laugh by biting my bottom lip. “Yes, please.” He leaned back in the chair, scooting his crotch closer to me. My eager hands went to his belt, unbuckling and unbuttoning until I could expose his cock that was swollen and pulsing with need.

He sat up again. “Sit up. Open your mouth.” I did so, sticking my tongue out slightly. He stood in front of me, pants opened, but not pulled down and his fingers stroked along my neck until they fisted in my hair at the back of my neck.

He stepped forward, grasping himself with his other and resting just the tip of his cock inside my mouth. I ran my tongue over his hole, tasting his precome and moaning at the sensation. I reached for him, but he shook his head. “Hands at your sides.”

He moved forward again, once again rubbing the tip of his cock across my tongue, but this time letting me take a few inches into my mouth. Once again, I moaned around him and shifted on my knees. He pulled his dick free of my mouth.

“Open wider and then I want you touch yourself until you come again.”

“Mmm, God.” I loosened by jaw as he asked and brought a hand between my sticky thighs, immediately rubbing two fingers over my clit. James pressed forward again, easing himself between my lips and eventually down my throat.

Between his cock in my mouth, his eyes glued to mine, and a hand on my cunt I was already close to coming again. I gasped around his dick and blew a ragged breath from my nose. James pulled back. “Good?”

“Ugh, great. Please…” With his hand still in my hair he pulled my mouth back over his cock and I rubbed more frantically at my clit until I came again, clenching around nothing and moaning around his cock. James pulled back suddenly, breathing heavily. He turned and put his hand on the wall, resting his head in the crook of his elbow.

“Babe, you ok?”

He turned back to face me, smiling. “Yes. Just trying not to come in your mouth.”

I grinned innocently. “Why? You know I don’t mind.”

“Fucking tease.”

“You love it.”

One of his warm palms caressed my cheek, his thumb slipping into my mouth. “Yeah, baby girl, I do love it. Now undress me so I can see you come again.”

I kissed his palm and then dropped his hand so I could strip him down. Taking off this man’s clothes is something that never gets old, let me tell you. I started with his shoes, pulling them off and then freeing his feet from the socks. His pants, still unbuttoned, dropped easily and I took the boxer briefs with them. His cock, still hard and glistening with saliva was too tempting - I licked up his shaft before standing.

I unbuttoned his shirt first and then rubbed my hands up his chest and over his shoulders, shoving the dress shirt and suit coat off in one motion. Sinking my fingers into his now sweaty hair I pulled his face down towards mine as his arms wrapped around me, pulling us together. “I want you to fuck me so hard, James. Fuck me raw.” I kissed him hard before he could answer. Pulling him with me as I back up towards the bed. When I sat down I winced, having forgotten all about my tender backside.

James, that prick, giggled at me. “How’s your ass?”

I gave him a sassy raised eyebrow in response. “Not as sore as it could be. Do better next time.”

Laughing harder now, James crawled on top of me, pinning my arms to the bed while kissing me. When I tried to deepen the kiss, he held back, only licking the seem of my lips and kissing the corners of my mouth.

“Roll onto your stomach.” I did as he asked and he sat back on his heels, pulling my hips onto his lap, my legs spread wide apart. His thumb brushed the cleft of my ass before moving deeper within my folds to press inside me. “You still wet for me, baby girl?”

“Mmm, God yes.”

I felt his thumb leave, only to be replaced by his cock filling me to the hilt. I rested my forehead on my crossed arms and my moans were muffled because of it. James gave me a few shallow thrusts in that position before abandoning it, stretching out on top of me, hips between my thighs, cock still burrowed inside me.

His hips barely moved, but the slight friction affected us both. Laying his palms over the back of my hands he interlaced our fingers, pressing them down hard. I turned my head to the side and he came down to rest his forehead on my temple. Our breaths mingled as he fucked me slowly, and though the feel of his pelvis against my red ass was slightly painful, I hardly noticed it, too caught up in the heat starting at my center and spreading through my entire body.

“James…tell me again.”

He kissed my ear, my neck, my back, pausing to breathe in the smell of my skin, his hands never leaving mine, his cock never ceasing it’s thrusting. He kissed the side of my mouth he could reach. “You tell me.”

“Ugh, I love you.”

“Good. Tell me you’re mine.”

“Fuck, James, I’m yours. All yours.”

“Good girl.” My body fluttered around him at that simple phase and I gasped out a moan.

James sat up on his knees, pulling my hips up and back and then pressing into me again, slamming his cock between my folds again and again, harder and harder each time. His bed shook, my body was on the edge, instinctively thrusting back against him as he came forward and inhuman sounds were torn my throat.

I felt him take hold of most of my hair, wrapping it around his fist and wrist, pulling back so my face turned towards him. “Harder, James.”

Without comment he groaned and tightened his grip while also forcing me to take more of his cock, butting against the deepest of me with unbridled force. He pulled tighter on my hair and brought his other hand down on my ass again, and again and again. Making my bright red flesh turn burgundy and raw, just how I asked him to. I whimpered when he shifted his hips, poking at my g-spot with the head of his cock.

“Baby girl…please come for me.”

“Fuck, James, yes.” My body listened to his gently uttered command, tightening around him, pulling him deeper, milking every drop of come from cock that released soon after I did. He pulled out and laid down next to me, so close our noses almost touched, but not quite. His soft fingers delicately grazed my ass and it felt refreshing on my hot flesh. When we were both breathing normally, he simply rubbed his kiss swollen lips across mine.

I closed my eyes. “Mmm, that’s nice.”

“You want some ice?” I shook my head. “Aloe?”

“Babe, I’m fine. Just don’t stop what you’re doing.” I opened my eyes to meet his icy blue ones studying me intently. “Tell me again.”

“My unsentimental girlfriend suddenly wants romance? Very suspicious behavior don’t you think?”

“You’re turning me into a believer. Tell me, please.”

He kissed my nose. “That you’re perfect?”

“Not that.”

He nuzzled my neck. “That I don’t give a shit if anyone likes you because I do?”

“Closer.”

He whispered in my ear. “That I love you?”

“Yes…”

“I love you.”

“Oh my God, why is that so sexy?”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“James…let’s never leave this bed, ok?”

“Deal. That means while my dick is getting hard again you better pick a new safe word, because I’m not done playing with you yet.”

I smiled and had only one thought: Thank fucking God for James fucking Neal.

Notes

I was trying to get this published before Christmas, but I had some writer's block and rewrote the party scene about five different times. Many apologies, but I hope you still enjoy it.