Chapter Five

PAIGE

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I was both confused and satisfied, and that was a strange place to be. A small part of me was embarrassed for humping Jay like a dog in heat, even if he’d enjoyed it too. Then there was a part of me that wondered what the hell I was doing.

I’d sworn Jay and I were going to be friends, but then he’d asked about kissing him to see what his lip ring felt like and all I could think about was actually doing it. He might have been teasing or he might have wanted me to kiss him, all I’d known was I needed to kiss him, and not because I wanted to play with his piercing.

I felt connected to him in a way I’d never felt with anyone. I was inherently comfortable with him and had told him more than I’d told anyone except Jules. I felt like he saw me, really saw me, and he liked me.

The teasing was fun, the flirting was a little heady, and being in his arms was exhilarating, but we were just friends.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked as he came back into the living room and sat with me.

“I think we took things out of the friend zone for a second there...”

“Maybe a little. I normally don’t have orgasms with my friends.”

“Me either.” I giggled and shook my head. “I don’t want to be that person, but what does that mean?”

“What do you want it to mean? I’m not playing games, I’m just curious about what you’re thinking.”

“I don’t know...”

“You like being friends?”

“Yeah.”

“And you liked what we just did?”

“Oh yeah.”

“So why not combine both?”

“Like a fuck buddy?”

“Somehow you make that term sound cute instead of crude.” He laughed. “I guess it would be kind of like that. You were just talking about how stressed and overwhelmed you were feeling. Still feel that way?”

“No, I don’t.” I was surprised. I didn’t feel any of what I had before we’d kissed.

“So think of it as stress relief.” He winked. “We’re friends who mess around to help us deal with the stress in our lives.”

“Doesn’t sex usually create more stress?”

“Who said anything about sex?” He raised his eyebrow at me.

I was about to sputter and apologize for being so self-absorbed and assuming he’d want to sleep with me when he laughed and pulled me up against his body.

“I was fucking with you. If I hadn’t just shot my load ten minutes ago I’d be imagining at least five different ways I could make you scream for me, and actively stopping myself from doing them. I want you, Paige. I want you more than I’ve wanted anyone.”

“Me too, about you,” I corrected quickly. “I’ve never wanted someone like this before.”

“So how about we just act on it? We do all the friend stuff I’m learning is actually kind of cool and add in all the sexy stuff that I definitely know is cool. Best of both worlds.”

I mulled over what he’d said and nodded after a minute. “Best of both worlds.”

He grinned and dropped a kiss on my lips before leaning back and pulling me with him.

I’d never tried to keep my emotions and the physical separate, but then again I’d never really had emotional feelings for someone. I had a feeling Jay was the kind of guy I could fall for, but I wasn’t the girl for him. He needed someone better, but I wasn’t about to turn away from the chance to experience him.

Fuck it. I was going to live my life and focus on the present.

* * * **

I spent all of Sunday acting like a fool, checking my phone every ten minutes, and when Jay texted me at eight o’clock just to say hi I’d been way too excited about it.

On Monday we picked up coffee after class and went to his apartment to hang out. We didn’t actually get a chance to drink our coffees while they were hot because we got distracted with making out on the couch like teenagers.

Unfortunately Jax had come home before we could get to the grinding and the orgasms, so we’d finished our cold coffees and just hung out.

I didn’t see him again until Wednesday’s class, but both of our apartments were busy so we’d settled for going for a walk.

I liked how we could hang out without the physical stuff. He was the same guy in public as he was when we were alone, and I didn’t feel like it was all an act to get me to mess around with him. He really did want to be friends, and that was as refreshing as it was confusing.

On Friday Jay and his brothers were going to a club downtown and they invited me and Jules to come along.

Jules had been excited, but I’d been unsure.

“What’s making you frown?” Jules asked as she helped me straighten my hair.

“I don’t know what to expect tonight.”

“What do you mean? You said you guys messed around before...do you not want to do that again?”

“No, I want that. It’s just this is the first time we’ve gone out like this together.”

“I’m not following, sweetie.”

“What if he meets some hot chick who can rock his world in ways I could never imagine? We’re not together and I have no claim on him, but I don’t think I could handle seeing him with another girl.”

“Did you tell him this?”

“Yeah, right.” I snorted. “And sound like a clingy girlfriend when we’re supposed to be friends who fool around?”

“Then you’ll have to find a way to be okay with it, or break it off.”

“Yeah.” I sighed and tried not to slouch. “I’ll just leave if he finds someone. I don’t want to have to see that.”

“Okay, but tell me if you do. I don’t want you wandering around by yourself at night.”

“I will.”

“There.” Jules grinned as she stepped back and checked my hair out in the mirror. “Wow, girl. Looking hot.”

She was right. Between the subtle makeup she’d helped me apply, my straightened hair and the dress she’d talked me into wearing, I felt pretty.

“Come on. Let’s get our asses to the bar. I’m feeling the need to get my party on.”

I laughed and nodded. I was feeling pretty excited to go out, and that was a first for me.

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JAY

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The minute Jax and I walked into The Honest Lawyer my eyes swept the crowd. It didn’t take me long to find a familiar blonde head in the sea of people, only her hair was straight.

“Seriously?” Jax smirked as he looked at me. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Shut up.”

“You walk in here and the first thing you do is start panting over your ‘friend’. Why don’t you just fuck her and get it over with.”

“Believe me, it’s on my list.”

“Come on. Let’s go say hi to your ‘friend’, maybe then we can find Matt and Avery.”

“Logan’s not coming?”

“He texted and said he might show up later.”

“Huh.”

It wasn’t the most eloquent thing to say but my mind was still on Paige.

I wanted to fuck her, holy hell did I ever want to fuck her. I’d spent the last two weeks dreaming about her. I must have called up every fantasy I had and put us in the starring roles. Dream me had fucked her every way known to man, eaten her out at least a dozen times and had almost died when she’d taken me in her mouth and sucked me off.

Real-life me had made out with her twice and dry humped her once.

As much as my body screamed for her I didn’t want to rush things. I wanted to take the time to know her, to tease her and ease into sex with her. I’d spent my entire sexual life getting chicks into bed as fast as humanly possible, even my one and only girlfriend. I didn’t want to be like that with her. I didn’t want to treat her like all the other women in my life because I wanted her to feel special.

As soon as Paige turned and saw me her entire face lit up and she lifted her hand in a wave, and that joy on her face sent another one of those flutters through me. That was happening a lot around her.

“Hi.” She grinned as Jax and I came up to where she and Jules were standing.

“Hi.” I glanced at Jules and grinned. She was staring between me and Jax with a confused look on her face.

“Hi, I’m Jax, Jay’s twin brother,” Jax introduced with a smile.

“Hi, of course. I didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong. You guys look really different but still exactly the same.”

Jax grinned at her and I elbowed him in the side.

‘Don’t even think about it’ I mouthed when he turned to glare at me.

The last thing any of us needed was for Jax to fuck Jules and leave her hanging. That would drive a wedge between me and Paige, and it would be the Logan/Carly situation all over again.

Jax rolled his eyes and I took that as a sign that he understood.

“I haven’t seen Matt and Avery yet.” Paige looked around. “You said they were coming too?”

“They’re probably running late.” I grinned. “They have a habit of losing track of time.”

Paige flushed as Jules laughed.

“How about a round of drinks?” Jax offered.

“Sure, thanks.”

“What’ll you have?”

“Rum and cokes?”

“We’ll be right back. Why don’t you go snag us a booth?” I suggested as I looked down at Paige. She was taller than usual, and when I saw she was wearing heels my body tightened.

I didn’t know what it was but I loved to see a woman with great legs wearing a hot pair of heels, and Paige’s incredible legs were on display tonight. It was the first time I’d seen her wear anything other than leggings, and I couldn’t stop myself from picturing what her legs would look like wrapped around my head.

I peeled my eyes away from her legs and nodded to Jax. I had to get out of there before I did something stupid like grab her and kiss her until her head was spinning and we were both gasping for breath.

By the time we got back with the drinks Avery was sitting with the girls and the three of them were chatting away like they’d always known each other. Jax slid into the booth beside Jules and I slid in with Paige. Not even a minute later Matt came up with drinks for him and Avery.

The six of us sat and talked, laughing and sharing stories. It was strange, Avery and Paige had met once and Jules hadn’t met anyone but me, but it was like we’d already formed a sort of clique and we’d known each other for months.

After ordering a round of shots, and then a few more, Avery and Matt disappeared to the other end of the bar to try and beat each other at pinball while Jules excused herself to go and talk to someone she knew.

Not even five minutes later a girl who was a little familiar came up to our table.

She was hot. With her long blonde hair, her mini dress, her tits pushed up to her neck and her fuck me smile, she was a chick on a mission. Her eyes swept over me and Jax, then settled on me.

Oh shit. I remembered her, barely. I’d hooked up with her before winter break and while it had been a good few hours, I hadn’t bothered to remember her name or get her number.

“Hey, Jay.”

“Hi...” I had no idea what to call her.

“I’ve been thinking about you.” She slid into the booth next to me and pressed her leg against my thigh. “What do you say, buy me a drink and maybe we can rock each other’s worlds again?”

She was giving me the fuck me eyes that told me she was a sure thing, and before I’d met Paige that would have been enough to get me hard and have me excusing myself to go with her.

Right now all I felt was panic and my junk was still very flaccid.

“I’m flattered, but I’m here with someone.” I glanced at Paige and saw the crushed look on her face.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were the type to settle down.”

The way she’d emphasized ‘settle’ had been a direct insult to Paige, and my panic lifted and was replaced with a little bit of hostility.

“I’m here with Paige. I hope you have a good night.”

I turned away from Blondie and a moment later she huffed and stood up. She gave a pretty impressive hair flip and stalked away.

“I’m going to go say hi to someone.” Jax slid out of the booth. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah.” My eyes were glued on Paige and I felt like the world’s biggest dick.

“You slept with her?” she asked, looking at her hands.

“Yes,” I said honestly, “before winter break.”

“Was she good?”

“Good enough.”

“Do you even remember her name?”

“No.”

“Are there a lot of girls like that, where you don’t remember their names?”

“More than I’d like to admit.”

“Oh.”

“Paige.” I reached across the table and took her hand, grateful when she didn’t pull away. “I’ve been honest about my past. I was a dick and I was a player, but I didn’t lead anyone on.”

“When was the last time you were with someone?”

“Other than what we’ve done, it was before I went home for winter break.”

“Was she the last one?”

“No, there was someone after.”

“I know I have no claim on you and we’re just friends—”

“I’m not interested in anyone else. I only want to be with you.”

“Even if someone better comes along?”

“There is no one better because I’m not looking. I may be an ass, but I would never hurt you like that.”

“I don’t have any right to ask you to be with only me, we haven’t even slept together—”

“You didn’t ask. I’m choosing to.”

“I don’t want anyone else either.”

“So we’re on the same page...and hopefully I’ll be on Paige later tonight.”

She laughed at my stupid pun and the cloud over us was lifted.

“What do you say, want to play a game?”

“Like darts?”

“More like a drinking game.”

“I don’t drink a lot. I have to warn you that I get drunk easily.”

“We’ll just sip what we’re drinking instead of doing shots.” I grinned. “I wouldn’t want you to miss the fun while you’re praying to the porcelain gods because you drank too much.”

She laughed and waited as I ordered us a second round. We were both almost done what we had.

“So, how does this game work?” she asked as she finished off the last of her first drink and pushed the glass aside. I did the same with my beer and had an idea. I knew exactly what game I wanted to play with her.

“It’s called ‘Truth’.”

“Like truth or dare, but without the dare?”

“No, just truth. One person tells the other something and they have to decide if it’s the truth or a lie.”

“So like you tell me you’ve never had Chinese food and I say lie because we’ve had it together?”

“Pretty much, only we tell each other things about ourselves. If you get it right you don’t drink. If you get it wrong you do. First to make the other empty their cup wins, and you have to take real sips when you drink.”

“Sounds easy enough.” She grinned. “You first.”

“I once found a baby bunny in our backyard and Logan and I nursed it back to health.”

“Truth?”

“Nope.” I grinned. “It was a kitten and we found it a forever home.”

She laughed and took a sip of her drink.

“I dented my dad’s car with my bike when I was a kid and let him believe it was Alex who did it.”

“Truth.”

“You suck.” She sipped her drink.

“I lost my virginity when I was fourteen.” I decided to make the facts a little more interesting.

“Lie.”

“Bonus points if you can guess when I did.”

“Sixteen?”

“You’re good.” I lifted my drink and took two sips.

“I’ve never had sex outside of a bedroom.”

“Truth.”

She grinned and sipped her drink.

“I did a threesome during frosh week.”

“Lie.”

“Which part?” I asked teasingly.

“The frosh week part. I’m guessing it was second term freshman year.”

“You sure you’re not a psychic?” I drank down a big sip.

“Nope, just good at reading people.” She grinned. “I’ve never had an orgasm during sex.”

“Truth.”

She nodded and sipped her drink.

“I didn’t get my first blow job until I was seventeen.”

“Truth.”

I sipped my drink.

“I’ve never had oral sex.”

My cock instantly woke up and tried to poke through my pants as I got hard. “Truth.”

She sipped her drink and winked. God damn she was hot.

“I’ve only made out with two girls.”

“Lie.”

“Drink.” I nodded to her cup.

“Really?”

“Like I said. I don’t mind a little kissing but I’ve only ever made out with you and one other girl.”

She sipped her drink and flushed. “I’ve only slept with one guy.”

“Lie.”

She was twenty and gorgeous, she had to have been with other guys.

“Drink.”

I lifted my cup to my lips and took a sip. I only had about one drink left and it seemed her cup was almost empty too.

“I’ve only had one girlfriend.”

“Truth.”

I lifted my cup to my lips and took half a sip. I wasn’t ready for the game to be over.

“I haven’t had sex in three years.”

“Lie.” My mouth went dry, even after just taking a sip of my beer. That couldn’t possibly be true, could it?

“Drink. And I think I win.”

I finished my beer and stared at her.

She’d never had oral, never had an orgasm during sex, had only been with one guy and that was three years ago? My mind started racing as I thought of all the ways I wanted to fix that for her.

“Now you know why I’m a freak.” She finished her drink and put down her glass. “One of the reasons.”

“You’re not a freak.” I reached across the table and gripped her hand. “You’re awesome. And it wouldn’t matter if you’d slept with half your graduating class, I’d never judge you for your past.”

“I don’t judge you for yours either.”

“Come on.” I tugged on her hand and started to stand up.

“Where are we going?”

“To make lies out of some of those truths.”

She flushed and stood with me, her hand gripping mine as she slid out of the booth.

“My place?” I asked as I looked down at her.

“What about Jax?”

“He has his own room. Besides, I doubt he’ll be home anytime soon.”

“Your place. I just have to text Jules to tell her I’m leaving and make sure she’s alright.”

I waited as she pulled her phone out of her cleavage, impressed that I hadn’t noticed considering she didn’t have a huge rack.

“Looks like she’s fine. She met up with some friends and was about to head out to a club.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Let’s.”

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PAIGE

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The walk to Jay’s apartment was silent, and the fact that he didn’t let go of my hand the entire way wasn’t lost on me.

I was horny. I felt stupid admitting it to myself, but I was so horny and worked up I couldn’t think of anything other than getting back to his apartment and fucking him until we were both spent and breathless.

Unfortunately there was that annoying part of my brain that never seems to shut up telling me I shouldn’t do this. I didn’t think he’d ever hurt me on purpose, but once he was with me, after he saw and felt me, why would he ever want to be with me again?

I hated that I couldn’t just let go and be in the moment. That my stupid brain was trying to talk me out of what was promising to be an incredible night. Hell, even if he exaggerated and lied about his skills, he’d be a better lover than the other guy.

I was still fighting with my brain when we got to his apartment, and when he pulled me inside and closed the door I desperately tried to tell my doubt to shut up and let the adults talk.

Jay was smoldering. There was no other way to describe him.

His eyes were dark with lust and his expression told me just how much he wanted this. He was looking at me like he couldn’t wait to devour me, and my brain finally shut the fuck up.

He pulled me right into his bedroom and kicked the door closed. Before I could say a word he’d scooped me up in his arms and was holding me against his body. He was so tall my feet were dangling off the floor and I instinctively wrapped them around his waist.

His lips crashed into mine in a hot and hurried kiss. His tongue swept into my mouth and teased and toyed with mine, and when he let out small, animalistic noises of lust and desire I was lost.

I clung to him, running my hands through his amazing, thick hair as I kissed him back with everything I had. I sucked his bottom lip into my mouth, tonguing his lip ring as I gently bit his skin. His hand slid down to my ass and squeezed. His erection was hot and hard against my ready sex, and I needed him so badly I was aching.

“Oh!” I gasped as he carried me over to the bed and lay me down, climbing on top of my body as he pressed me into the mattress. His weight was soothing and thrilling at the same time, and I couldn’t stop myself from rocking against his cock.

“Fuck, Paige,” he almost growled as he pulled away and looked down at me. “You drive me fucking crazy.”

“Me too.” I could barely think, and when he rocked his hips and ground his cock against my pussy I cried out and arched into him.

“I want you. Fuck I want you. Do you want me?”

“Yes. Please.” I nodded, arching into him again when he rocked against me for a second time. “Fuck, Jay.”

He caught my lips under his as his hand wandered down to the hem of my dress. As he pulled it up I lifted my hips, until his hand neared my stomach.

“Stop!”

“Paige?” He pulled away immediately and dropped his hand. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Just don’t take my dress off. I...I don’t want you to see my stomach.”

“Are you insecure about your weight?”

“Yeah.” I hated lying to him, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. I needed to be with him at least once before he figured out what a horrible person I was.

“I think you’re beautiful and perfect exactly the way you are, but I won’t do anything you don’t want.” He pulled the hem of my dress down to my pubic bone so I was covered again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood—”

He cut me off with a deep, passionate kiss before pulling away to look at me again. “You didn’t ruin anything. You can tell me to stop at any point, no matter what. Don’t ever go along with something just because you think it’s too late to stop.”

“Even if we’ve already started?”

“Even if we’re a second away from finishing,” he said seriously, his thumb tracing over my lip so tenderly it made my heart flutter. “I mean it. I want this to be about you.”

“Thank you. But I don’t want to stop. Please, touch me.”

He groaned and kissed me again, his hand reaching up under my dress so he could grip the side of my panties. He stripped them off me and tossed them aside before putting his hand on my breast.

Even through the layers of my dress and bra, his touch sent jolts of pleasure through me and I cried out against his mouth.

A moment later his lips left mine and travelled down my neck and across my chest, leaving a damp trail in its wake. He paused over my nipple, visible through my clothes, and pressed his tongue against it.

“Oh god.” I bit my lip and spread my legs so he could settle between them. His tongue felt incredible, but I needed him to ease the ache that was deep inside me.

He took the hint and lifted his head, but instead of moving up so he could kiss me, he moved down and settled between my legs.

“Jay?”

“I’ve been dreaming of tasting your pussy. Please, let me be the first man to pleasure you this way.”

The look in his eyes was both tender and hot, and I slowly nodded.

I lay back, closing my eyes as I nervously waited for him to start.

He gently ran his finger over my slit, pausing to rub my clit for a moment before moving down so he could slip it inside me.

I gasped as he slipped a second finger inside me, and when his mouth closed over my clit and he gently began suckling it and teasing it with his tongue, I cried out in pure rapture.

“Oh god. Oh Jay!” I screamed in the silent room, my hips lifting to force him to move his fingers inside me.

I’d never realized anything could feel so good, and as he teased me I forgot all about being embarrassed or him finding out the truth.

“God you taste so good. So fucking sweet.” He lifted his lips and fucked me with his fingers, staring up at me as I writhed and screamed for him. “That’s it, baby. Enjoy it. Let go and feel everything.”

“Oh fuck. Jay.” I shook my head and looked down at him. “Please don’t stop. Please make me come.”

With a growl he lowered his mouth to my mound again, and I immediately felt my body tighten to a point that almost hurt. I’d never felt anything so good or strong and I was sure my muscles would snap if he didn’t end it soon.

“Oh yes!”

Thankfully the pressure inside me broke and with it came a wave of pure bliss and pleasure. For a moment it was like I was taken to another place, and when I opened my eyes I found Jay lying over me with a tender smile on his lips.

“Oh wow.” I smiled contentedly, lacing my hands in his hair as I looked up at him. “Oh my god.”

He didn’t say anything. He just brushed my hair off my forehead and gave me a soft kiss.

“I’ve never felt anything like that, never knew I could...” I blushed and looked away. “Sorry, I’m getting all philosophical about your oral skills.”

“Don’t stop. In fact, I think you should write me a poem.”

I burst out laughing. “A poem about your oral sex skills?”

“Why not?” He grinned wickedly. “I’d write one to your pussy in a heartbeat.”

I blushed and tucked some of his hair over his ear so it wouldn’t fall in front of his gorgeous face. “Maybe we should save the poem writing to other people.” I started to reach for him but he grabbed my wrist and shook his head.

“I told you, this was about you.”

“You don’t want to have sex?” I was confused, and a little hurt by the rejection.

“Oh, I want to have sex with you. Trust me when I say I think about it way too often and it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to roll on top of you and bury my cock as deep inside you as I can.”

“Then why don’t you?” I asked softly, arousal washing over me at his words.

“Because I don’t want to rush into sex with you. It’s my pattern and you’re different. I want you to be special.”

“Okay. What about you? You’re still hard.”

“As a fucking rock. But time heals all wounds.” He grinned.

“If you don’t want me to touch you, can you touch yourself?”

“Paige?”

“I want to watch you, see your pleasure. Please?”

I had no idea when I’d gotten so bold, but the idea of him jerking off in front of me was so hot I had to squeeze my legs together to try and stop the ache that was already forming deep inside me.

After a moment he nodded. I watched as he lay back on the bed and lifted his shirt. When he slid his hand down to unbutton his pants my breath caught, and I almost choked when he reached into his black boxer briefs and pulled out his cock.

He was definitely gifted, and a lot bigger than the only other one I’d seen. He was also uncut, which was different, but still sexy as all hell. I took a moment to admire how perfect he was, then he began to stroke it.

I cuddled up to him, looking between his face and his cock as he masturbated for me. I could see how much he was enjoying it, and he kept his eyes on me the entire time.

His free arm slipped around my body and pulled me close. His grip was tight, and as his breathing changed I knew he was getting close to his orgasm.

As much as I wanted to watch him come, I wanted to see his reactions more. I kept my eyes locked on his, watching with rapt attention as a mask of pleasure fell over his face.

“Oh fuck.” He bit his lip ring and leaned forward. “Kiss me.”

Forgetting all about watching him I leaned up and pressed my lips against his. A moment later he grunted and pulled me so close it bordered on painful, and when he released me I knew he’d finished.

“That was really hot.” I smiled as he pulled away, drawing in a deep breath as he shook his head slightly.

I looked down at his softening erection and for some reason the sight of him still gripping his shaft sent a tingle rushing through my body.

“Yeah. It was,” he agreed and pulled away from me so he could pull off his shirt. He used it to clean up and then tossed it in the hamper. “Come here.”

I snuggled up to him immediately, sighing at the connection I felt with him.

He’d just shared a private moment with me. I felt special, and that he trusted me.

“I’ve never done that in front of anyone,” he confessed as he kissed my temple.

“I’m glad we could both have a first.”

“You’ve really never had a guy go down on you before?”

“I’ve only been with one other guy and he never did it.”

“No others?”

“He’s the only guy I’ve ever messed around with, other than you.”

“Even kissing?”

“Real kissing.” I nodded. “I kissed a few guys during spin the bottle in middle school, had a few in junior high that were less than stellar, but he was my first and last real kiss. Until you.”

“Is there a reason you were never with someone else? You said it had been three years so it’s not like you just broke up.”

“I never found someone I trusted.” I felt terrible only telling him half the truth, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment by telling him everything.

“I’m glad you trusted me.” He kissed my temple again and I smiled against his chest. It was then I noticed his nipple piercings. “Took you long enough.” He grinned when I looked up at him. “Your lip was practically rubbing against it every time you talked.”

I’d expected rings like his lip, but they were small silver barbells and they were incredibly sexy.

“You like them?”

“Oh yeah.” I nodded and looked up at him. “Do they do anything other than make you look like sex on a stick?”

He burst out laughing and shook his head. “Sex on a stick?”

“Or sex on legs, if you don’t want to be reduced to being an object.”

“No, please. Objectify me all you want.” He grinned. “They feel good. They make my nipples sensitive.”

“Can I?”

“Sure, but I have to warn you. I’m a little hyper-aware right now so this will probably feel really good for me.”

“Good.” I grinned and leaned my head down to his chest.

I delicately ran my tongue over the piercing, smiling slightly at the feel of cold metal against his hot skin, and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath.

“Feel good?”

“Oh yeah.”

“I’m going to have to remember to pay them some attention next time.” I grinned as I pulled away from him.

“I’ll remind you if you don’t.”

As we laughed I lay back against his chest. This moment felt right. After the incredible oral sex and then watching him, lying in his arms was perfect. He felt familiar and comfortable, and I felt connected to him.

“What do your tattoos mean?”

“Not a whole hell of a lot.” He laughed and shifted so he could face me better. “Most of them I got because I thought they looked cool, I fell victim to the tribal craze so you can see most of the other work on my left arm is trying to build on the massive tribal design I got when I was sixteen and thought I was such a badass.”

“What about the other arm?”

“I just kind of filled it with things that I like.”

“What are those numbers, the lines of them?” I’d only just noticed the eight lines of numbers since they were on the inside of his upper arm. I’d never seen anything like it.

“Latitude and longitude co-ordinance. It’s where everyone in my family was born. The top two are my birth parents. Then it’s me and Jax, then our parents, Matt and Logan. We’re all from different places but we’re family.”

“I love that.” I reached out and traced my fingers over the numbers. “And what about this?” I asked as I ran my fingers over what looked like a phoenix that started on his shoulder and ended at his elbow.

“That’s to remind me that the hardest things in life can only make you stronger. I guess it’s a way to remember that life sucks sometime, but there’s life after death.”

“Wow. I’ve always thought about getting one.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but I have no idea what I’d get.”

“It’s a big decision. I kind of wish I’d been a little more careful with my first few, but hey, at least they turned out good.”

I laughed and snuggled against him. The more I learned about him the more I could see Jay was a gentle soul and a really great guy.

“I should go,” I said reluctantly. “It’s getting late.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, but just nodded.

“I’ll walk you home. How about you find your underwear and I’ll get another shirt.”

“You know, I was so distracted I didn’t realize I’m still wearing my shoes.” I giggled. “Maybe next time I’ll remember to kick them off.”

“Don’t you dare. I left them on for a reason.”

“You like them?”

“I like heels.” He nodded. “There’s something so sexy about a woman leaving her heels on when she has sex. Maybe it’s the look, but they make me very happy in the pants, if you know what I mean.” He tossed a grin over his shoulder at me as he pulled a shirt out of his dresser.

“Then remind me to wear heels every time I see you.” I found my panties and scooped them off the floor.

“Next time you come over just bring a pair. You can leave them here.”

“Really?”

“Why not? It’ll be easier for you if you’re not balancing on toothpicks all the time, and I’ll get to see them when you’re not here and remember how incredible you look in them.”

“I’m a size seven, so if you have some fetish about wearing women’s shoes, you’re barking up the wrong tree, bigfoot.” I pulled my panties on and stood up straight.

He laughed and shook his head. “No fetish. I just like to look at them and remember.”

“Okay then. Next time I’ll bring my sexiest pair.”

“Thank you to every higher power out there. My prayers have been answered.”

I laughed and took his outstretched hand. I loved how things weren’t awkward or strained between us. We were still able to laugh and poke fun at each other. Maybe this friends with benefits thing would work out for us.