“Oh good, I was hoping you’d answer and not your mother.”
“Sounds like you’re up to something.”
“Yes I am,” JC said proudly. “I want to plan something fun for her birthday.”
“She’s already doing something with Rhett and Gina and Tyler, I think.”
“Then I’ll make it another day.”
“What do you want to do?”
“At first I was thinking of having you guys come out here, but now I’m thinking of going there, as a surprise. I might bring Joe and Kelly too.”
“And the baby?” Laurel asked excitedly.
JC laughed, “We’ll see. I don’t know if they can bring her up.”
“When do you want to come?”
“Well, since her birthday falls on Thursday, I’m thinking I’d come in on Friday, and then have a party Saturday.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“But listen, I want it to be a surprise. I want to rent someplace out, but since I don’t know the area or anything, I’m gonna need to get in touch with Gina to help me plan it. Can you give me her number?”
Within seconds of giving Gina’s phone number to JC, Laurel heard her mother stirring in her bedroom. “Good timing,” she told JC. “Momma’s just waking up now. Do you want to talk to her?”
“Sure. But remember, don’t tell her I’m coming or say anything about the party.”
“Got it. Talk to you later. Momma?” she moved down the hall. “JC’s on the phone.”
Malinda, still half-asleep, beamed as she took the phone from her daughter. “Don’t forget we’re going shopping at noon,” she said before going back to her room with the phone.
“That works out great,” Gina told JC. “That’s her weekend off.”
“Good. Okay, so I need you to pick out a good place to have it and give me the number so I can book it.”
“Why don’t I just go ahead book it?”
“I know that sounds like it makes more sense, but it’s something I want to do. And if I let you do all the booking and stuff, I won’t feel like I did the work.”
Gina smiled, “That’s too sweet. Okay. I know a few places that she likes. Let me look them up,” she flipped through the phone book to find the numbers of Malinda’s favorite party places. She gave them to JC. “First choice is The Columns, but if you can’t get it, just go down the list in the order I gave them to you.”
“Got it. Thanks for your help Gina.”
“No problem. Talk to you later,” Gina hung up the phone. After a moment she began dialing again. “Guess what?” she said when the call recipient answered.
“What?” Tyler asked, mocking Gina’s cheerfulness.
“Well, secondly, you are invited. And first, JC is throwing Mindy a surprise party and he just called me to get the phone numbers of a bunch of different reception halls.”
“No shit!” Tyler said. “Isn’t he the romantic one? Why don’t they make ‘em like that for my team?”
“They barely make enough for my team, so don’t feel bad. Mindy just lucked out, and deservedly so.”
“Well this is exciting. Who else is invited?”
“I’m in charge of the guest list, so I guess whoever I damn well please. Although, it probably depends on where we end up having it, so we know how many people we can fit.”
“What places did you tell him?”
“The Columns. That’s the one I’m really hoping for. But if we don’t get it, there’s the Garden Place, the Marriott, and Kloc’s Grove. If we do get the Columns, we can invite more people, but if we end up with the Marriott or something, then not so many.”
“Is the Columns hard to get? I’m sure he’ll get a reservation. He can just throw some pop-star weight around,” Tyler quipped.
Gina laughed. “I hope so. I like that place the best.”
“Well let’s start planning now. We’re already looking at me and you, Rhett and Curtis. Are kids allowed? Laurel and her friends. I’m sure there’s a few more guys on the team that Rhett and Curtis will bring. I’ll have a date. You might have a date,” Tyler began to run down the list.
“What do you mean I ‘might’ have a date?”
“It depends on which guys Rhett and Curtis bring. You might show up single and try to snare one of them.”
Mulling it over for a minute, Gina replied, “Yeah, you have a point,” she laughed, before adding, “Mindy hasn’t told him about the other job yet.”
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. There’s still too much of a stigma on that. It’s probably easier to tell someone you’re gay nowadays then it is to tell them that.”
“I think she should tell him though. I think it’s only fair. I mean, she waited long enough to tell him about Jake and high school, but now I think she really needs to tell him about the job.”
“Why are you telling me this? Shouldn’t this be directed at Malinda?”
“I just don’t want to stress her out. I know she wants to tell him, but she doesn’t know how to bring it up. It’s a double-edged sword. She wants to make sure they’re at that point where he won’t freak out about it, but the longer it takes to tell him, it’s like she was hiding it that much longer.”
“So she’s damned it she does, damned if she doesn’t, basically,” Tyler was pensive for a moment. “You know what I’ve always wondered? If Laurel knows. I mean, she’s a smart girl. Does she really think that’s all Malinda does, is bartend? Because, when you think about it, it’s not a lie, even though she’s more like a shot girl than a bartender.”
“I don’t think Laurel knows. I know that Rhett hates it. He’s so protective.”
“But she’s needed that, hasn’t she?”
“Well, yeah. Considering any male she’s been close to has walked out or bailed on her. I guess it still disappoints me a little that nothing ever became of her and Rhett. I know Curtis really had high hopes when he introduced the two of them.”
Musing in thought again, Tyler sighed. “This guy better be everything Malinda thinks he is. Rhett will kick his ass if he hurts her.”
Gina found herself laughing. “Rhett told her that already.”
“Good! Alright, anyway, let’s get back to planning this party,” Tyler said.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s JC.”
“Oh hey what’s up?”
“I ended up getting the Marriott.”
Gina sighed. “Damnit, I was really hoping for the Columns.”
“Yeah well, apparently both that and the Garden Place are booked for a wedding. At first when the guy at the Columns told me it was booked, I figured I’d try to influence the guy to make an opening, but then he told me it was for a wedding, so then when I called Garden Place and the woman told me that was booked, I just asked if it was a wedding or something, and she said yes, so I just said thanks anyway and hung up.”
“I guess the Marriott’s not so bad. We can have everyone crash there if they get drunk, right?”
“Actually, yeah. The nightclub and the banquet area next to it are closed off for us for the night, and I booked about fifteen rooms. It occurred to me that maybe I should have booked more than that, but then I’m thinking that maybe people will stay together.”
“That works. I’ve already started a guest list. I’ve got a few stragglers on here that I can’t decide if Malinda would really want there, so I’m still narrowing it down.”
“Okay, cool. Well, I get in that Friday at four, so I’ll give you a call to let you know when I get here, and then you can let Laurel know that I’m here. Then Saturday everyone can meet at the Marriott. Did Rhett tell her there’s something going on yet?”
“He’s undecided about whether to come up with a story or not. She knows all the team dinners and stuff, so if he tells her there’s a dinner, she’ll probably get suspicious. He’s thinking that maybe he’ll just take her there.”
“Yeah but Laurel won’t be able to come, so how will he explain why he’s just taking her and not Laurel?”
“I don’t know. I suck at planning surprise parties. Laurel can just spend the night with her friend, and then it’ll look totally random. She’ll ask Malinda if she can spend the night at her friend’s place, then Rhett can just take Malinda out.”
“Which friend? Alicia? She’ll probably be the best idea. Malinda wouldn’t think anything strange about it.”
“I’ll talk to Laurel. That morning she’ll be at the store with Malinda, I think, so she can plan it with Alicia so that she can call a few times that day to get in touch with Laurel. Then it looks like the whole thing was Alicia’s idea.”
JC smiled to himself in California. “For someone who sucks at planning surprises, you sure are having a fun time working out the details.”
“Hey, once I get an idea that works, I can’t help but be proud of it,” Gina said. “So I’m gonna go finish working on this guest list. Is there any limit to how many people to invite?”
“I’m sure close to two hundred people would fit. It’s a hotel nightclub after all, right?”
“Okay, back up the truck there. I don’t think I even know two hundred people. I meant like fifty.”
JC laughed. “Sorry, I’m used to these crazy release parties.”
“You’ll definitely be downsizing when you see this. Alright, I’m gonna finalize it and start my calls today. I’ll talk to you next week. ‘Bye!” Gina ended her conversation with JC and then called Malinda’s house. Again, Laurel answered, and Gina was able to let her know that it was an adults-only party and fill her in on her part of the plan. Laurel agreed and promised to let Alicia know what she had to do.
“Gina.”
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s not home.”
“What do you mean she’s not home?”
“I mean, she’s not at her place of dwelling. What more do you need me to explain?”
“Shit!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Rhett says she’s not home.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know!”
“Oh shit!”
“What?”
“I bet she went to work.”
“You think so?”
“Why not? She didn’t know we had plans. We already went out on Thursday.”
“Can you go get her?”
“Will they let her leave?”
“They let her leave when Laurel was sick once before.”
“Who let her leave where?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to call and say it’s an emergency and have her get all worried.”
“Maybe she won’t. If Laurel was really sick, Alicia’s mom would be calling.”
“Laurel’s sick?”
“Well, in that case, she’ll see through the lie and just think I’m trying to get her out, and she’d rather stay and make the money.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m just saying. You know I’m probably right.”
“Damnit.”
“What’s going on?”
“You think if I just showed up there and told her she had to come with me immediately, she’d come with me?”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll just get real serious and be like, ‘we have to go right now,’ but I won’t tell her anyone’s sick or anything.”
“That might work.”
“What might work?”
“Hello people, this party is totally dying. Where the hell are Rhett and Malinda? Too busy banging to spend time with us?”
“Tyler!”
“What? JC knows I’m kidding, don’t you? If you didn’t, I’d tell you to get away from Mindy as fast as those tight legs could carry you and never bother her again.”
“Gina!”
“What?”
“I’m going to the bar now. I’ll call you back if I can’t get her.”
“Alright. Good luck.”
“So, what’s happening?”
“Rhett’s going to see if he can get her out of work.”
“I thought you said it was her weekend off.”
“She may have gone in to pick up some extra hours. You know that girl’s a workaholic.”
“I tell you people, that girl is crazy.”
“I hope Rhett’s prepared to just sling her over his shoulder and carry her out the door.”
“Mmm, I wouldn’t mind that at all. For me.”
“Me either.”
“You two are nuts.”
“You are what you suckle.”
“And on that note, I’m getting a drink.”
Malinda sat at a small table in a dimly-lit corner of the restaurant, an old acquaintance on the other side, grinning maliciously at her.
“So I hear you’ve got some new famous boyfriend.”
Rolling her eyes, Malinda answered, “Aren’t you a little too old to listen to gossip?”
“Oh sweetheart, you know that I know it’s not just gossip.”
“Why are you even here? Don’t you have some mergers to make, businesses to bogart?”
“Looks like you’ve been keeping tabs on me too.”
“Please, don’t flatter yourself. Short of being blind and deaf, there’s no way I can survive without hearing or seeing your name someplace. And believe me, I’ve tried.”
“Oh boo hoo. You’re just mad now ‘cause you know I’m a sure thing. One day boyfriend’s gonna fall off the popularity map, and you could have just stuck with me.”
“Are you serious right now? Do you hear yourself? It wasn’t my choice for things to be over, first of all, and secondly, dumping me was the best thing you could have possibly done for me and my daughter,” Malinda gulped back the last of her wine and stood up, prepared to leave.
“Did I say this conversation was over?” her dining partner reached up and grabbed her wrist. “And that’s my daughter too.”
Malinda snatched her arm back, “You don’t control me anymore. Laurel will never be your daughter. You’re just a sperm donor. And I leave a conversation when I have nothing more to say. Which I don’t. Goodbye, Jake.”
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
“Well?”
“Um…”
“What?”
“She’s not…here.”
“WHAT?”
“The manager said she hasn’t been in here at all.”
“What?”
“Now what’s wrong?”
“Rhett says she’s not at work either.”
“Give me the phone.”
“Rhett, I’m giving you to JC.”
“Hello.”
“Hey.”
“Are you sure you’re not just trying to keep her away from this party; from me?”
“What? Come on now.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s not like that, man. You know that.”
“I repeat, are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Look, she’s not at home, she’s not at work, and she’s not answering her phone. In fact, the last time I tried, it was off. You’re more than welcome to try calling her, I’m sure she’ll return your call faster than anyone else’s.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Dude, are you seriously trying to fight with me? It’s not supposed to mean anything. It’s the truth.”
“Why does JC look so pissed?”
“He’s talking to Rhett. He walked away so I can’t hear the whole thing, but I did hear that he thinks Rhett’s keeping Mindy away on purpose.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“I’m sure all your little jokes aren’t helping.”
“Oh come on, honey. If he honestly thinks there’s an ounce of truth to anything that comes out of my mouth, then I stand by my word that maybe he’s not right for her.”
“Nothing you say is true? So those shoes you let me buy last week really didn’t look good?”
“Oh please, they looked horrendous.”
“What a minute. Is that a lie too?”
“Everything I say is a lie. And that’s the truth.”
“Don’t say shit like that to me when I’ve been drinking.”
“You’d be confused even if you weren’t drinking.”
“I really wonder where Mindy is.”
“Maybe she has another boyfriend who’s taking her out for her birthday.”
“Somehow, I doubt that.”
“Why not?”
“We’d never approve of the situation.”
“Which is exactly why we don’t know about it.”
“That’s just ridiculous. Oh, JC’s off the phone.”
“He still looks pissed.”
“Alright, Rhett’s going back to the house. If he doesn’t find her, then I’ll start calling. Rhett claims she’s more likely to answer or call back if I’m the one calling.”
“That’s true. Well, while we’re waiting, let’s see how many of Curtis and Rhett’s little friends I can get to buy me a drink.”
“You realize it’s an open bar?”
“I can still get them to pay for it.”
Malinda entered her apartment, slamming the door against the wall behind it. She felt dirty; all she could think about was the shower. The last thing on her mind was returning the thirteen missed calls from Rhett, Gina, and JC. Can’t a girl get a night off alone?
Kicking off her shoes next to the couch as she passed it and making a mental note not to trip over them later, she walked blindly into her bedroom, taking care not to touch anything, not to leave any trace of Jake’s presence anywhere. She stripped herself of all her clothes and dropped them directly into the laundry basket. She got into the shower and turned on the faucet to give the water time to warm up. As she pulled the knob to send the water through the showerhead, she thought back on her evening and shuddered. Jake Pawlak was even more of a sleaze than she remembered, and she couldn’t believe she’d managed to stay in the same ten-foot radius as him for more than two seconds.
He honestly thought she was going to tell him about Laurel, someone he hadn’t seen or given any thought to in over six years. He truly believed she would give him the low-down on what she and Laurel had been up to all this time, in exchange for him buying a bottle of wine.
“Cocky son of a bitch,” Malinda said aloud as the hot spray rained over her. She’d have stabbed herself in the eye with her own shoe heel before she’d give him one iota of facts about her life. She just knew he wanted to hear her say how screwed up her life was, how much better it would have been if she’s just done everything he wanted her to do all those years ago. Leaning her forehead against the wall, she allowed the water to just hit her back and run down her body, as she contemplated how any woman in her right mind could ever stay with Jake. It took a long time, but she finally got her mind and body to relax, and was about to shut the water off when something froze her to the spot.
The faint sound of someone knocking on the door sent a streak of panic through her, as she felt the shot of adrenaline race through her veins. She was terrified Jake had found out where she lived. She might have acquired the balls to stand up to him verbally over the years, but she sure as hell was still afraid to be alone with him. Especially after she made him mad – especially given the naked, vulnerable state she was in.
Then the voice came. “Malinda! Are you home? Open up!” It was Rhett. Relief washed over her, but she really didn’t feel like entertaining him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t going away. He kept knocking and calling her name. There was a moment of tranquility, and Malinda assumed he’d finally gone away.
Until his voice got louder. “Malinda? Is that you in the shower?”
Damnit. She forgot she gave him a key. “Who the fuck else would it be?”
“Where the hell have you been all night?” He was in the bathroom.
“Can I get some privacy?”
“Hell no. Where have you been?”
“Get out of the bathroom!”
“No!”
“Get out!” she half-screamed, half-growled. Twice in the one night two different men had trounced their way into her personal space, be it physical or mental.
“What is the matter with you?”
“Jesus Christ Rhett, can you get out so I can get out of the damn shower?” Once she was positive he had gone out to the hallway, she pulled back the curtain and wrapped a towel around herself. She didn’t have time for this. “What do you want?” she asked, pulling open the bathroom door.
“Where have you been all night?” Rhett demanded.
“I went out for a drink.”
“With who?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Well what the fuck, you can’t tell people where you’re going, so that we’re not worrying about where you are all night?”
“Oh excuse me, I thought I just turned twenty-seven, not twelve. Besides, I was only gone a few hours. Can’t I get a night to myself? It’s my weekend off, for Christ’s sake. It only comes once a month.”
“Damnit Malinda, we made plans for you tonight, and no one’s been able to get in touch with you.”
Malinda narrowed her eyes. “What kind of plans?”
Rhett sighed. “JC called Gina a few weeks ago and asked her to help him plan a surprise party for you. He booked the bar and the restaurant for us at the Marriott.”
“He did?”
“Yes, he did. And it was my job to come over here and pretend like I was taking you out for a drink or something and take you there. So I get here, and you’re gone. I call Gina. We think maybe you went to work. I go there, find out you hadn’t been there. Now here I am again, and you’re all miserable. So where have you been and what happened? ‘Cause that out for a drink story sounds like bullshit to me.”
Malinda didn’t answer, just turned and went into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Rhett sat down on the couch, fully prepared to stay put until she was ready to talk. Mere moments later, Malinda re-emerged, her hair in a sleek ponytail, dressed in dark-rinse jeans and a lightweight sweater.
“Where are you going now?” Rhett asked.
“To the Marriott, let’s go.”
“But,” Rhett was confused. “What the hell was…Are you going to tell me where you’ve been or not?”
“Not. Let’s go,” she took his hand and pulled him toward the door. “Who am I to kill someone else’s party plans?”
“JC!” Gina, clearly intoxicated, hollered at the man standing not more than five feet away from her. “Got a text from Rhett. They’re on their way in right now.”
JC looked around the room. The guests had all taken full advantage of the open bar, and more than half of them were probably minutes away from retiring for the night. “Great,” he said flatly. “Glad she could make it.”
Gina followed his sweeping glance and noted the fallen look on his face. “None of those people matter, JC. She’s never been Miss Party and never wanted to be. That was my job. The only people she’s going to care about are me, you, Rhett, Tyler, Curtis, and maybe a few of the guys and their wives.”
Through the one-way window, JC saw Malinda and Rhett making their way across the lobby. He quickly flattened himself against the wall next to the entrance. As the pair walked through the door, JC grabbed Malinda from behind. Ignoring her shriek, he turned her around to face him.
“Surprise!” he said, and her eyes lit up.
“I didn’t know you were here! I just thought you planned it.”
JC immediately looked to Rhett. “You told her?”
Rhett threw up his hands defensively. “If you’d been there, you’d know I had to.”
Looking back and forth from JC to Rhett, Malinda jumped in. “Who cares? I’m not the biggest fan of surprise parties anyway. All that matters is your guest of honor has arrived. Let’s party!” she skipped away from the men and went to embrace her friends. Curtis was seated at the bar with Rhett’s defense partner, Jay McKee, who Malinda got along with well mostly because he lived near her. He bought Malinda a few rounds of shots.
JC turned back to Rhett, “What did you mean by that, why you had to tell her?”
Shrugging, Rhett answered, “I didn’t think I’d get her out of the house if I didn’t. She was in a bad mood. Wherever she’s been all night, something pissed her off. I couldn’t get it out of her what it was, though.”
“So where was she?”
“She won’t tell me. She kept avoiding giving me a real answer, just told me it was none of my business.”
“What happened when you went over there?”
“Well, I saw the truck, so I knew she was home, so I went up and I knocked and yelled and got no answer. I heard the shower, so I let myself in –”
“You let yourself in? You have a key?”
“Yes,” Rhett looked at JC strangely. “Didn’t you know that?”
“No. I wouldn’t have questioned you if I did.”
“Oh. Well, I do. So I let myself in and called for her again. This time she answered and I went in the bathroom to talk to her. Then she bit my head off.”
“I would too if someone just walked in the bathroom while I was in the shower.”
Rhett rolled his eyes and told JC it wasn’t the first time he’d been in the bathroom talking to her while she was in the shower. “I don’t think that’s what made her mad.”
JC shrugged. “So then what?”
“I was just relieved that I finally found her that I ended up pulling that parent thing, where your relief turns to anger and I kind of yelled at her for not telling anyone where she was going. I told her we had plans for her and no one could find her and we were worried. Then she got all smart-assed with me, like ‘what kind of plans,’ and I just told her. So then she just went and got dressed and was ready to go. Said she didn’t want to spoil your plans.”
“She got dressed.”
“Yes.”
“She was undressed while talking to you?”
“She had a towel.”
“A towel.”
“Look man, I love Malinda to death, but it’s not like that. You are really taking this too far. Relax. Just enjoy the fact that she’s here. Jesus.”
“Whatever.” JC wandered into the room, catching up with Malinda an wrapping an arm around her.
What was left of the party continued on, as the remaining guests drank some more and finished off the food that had been served. One by one, (and even two by two), they began to leave the nightclub, the more inebriated of the bunch making their way upstairs to a room. Soon, all that remained were Tyler and his date, Rhett, Jay, Gina and one of Rhett and Jay’s teammates, Mary Donnelly, JC, and Malinda. Tyler was the first of that small group to leave. Mary was next, and Rhett offered to walk her to her car. Gina and her new friend giggled their way to the elevator. JC and Malinda looked at each other. Jay cleared his throat and rose to leave, giving one last hug to Malinda.
“See you at the game,” he told her.
“Ready to go?” JC asked.
“Upstairs?” Malinda asked in reply, as seductively as she could after her many Apple-tinis and shots.
JC chuckled, “If that’s what you want.”
“You’re what I want.”
“That works too,” JC turned to the bartender, who was patiently waiting for the last of his clients to leave. “I guess that’s the end,” he said, passing the guy some cash.
“Hey, thanks man,” Jimmy The Bartender said. “Happy birthday,” he told Malinda, before adding, more to JC, with a wink, “You two have a great night.”
Malinda laughed. “He knows I want to have sex with you right now,” she leaned towards him, practically falling out of her own seat, her hands so far up his thighs that if she had fallen and grabbed for something to hold onto, he’d have been in trouble. “And he knows that I’ve been drinking, so I won’t be all shy this time.”
JC blushed. “I’m sure he does know. Anyone that walked in this room right now would know. But I don’t think they need to know how shy you’ll be.”
“I won’t be shy,” Malinda protested. “Jimmy makes the best Appalinis.”
“Apple-tinis.”
“Whatever. Just get me upstairs and do me,” Malinda slid off her chair and tried to pull on JC’s arm.
JC missed a beat. Then, “What did you say?”
“I said, get me upstairs and do me. Hard. All night.”
“Malinda –”
“What, you don’t think I can talk all sexified? I can, you know. And it’s your fault.”
“How is this my fault?” JC got to his feet and began to walk with Malinda to the elevator. Jimmy, who was now wiping down the counter, told JC to have fun before laughing quietly to himself.
“I never thought about sex until I met you. Well, okay, I did, but not like I do now.”
The elevator doors opened. JC stepped through it; Malinda sort of stumbled through it. Once inside, a frenzied make-out session began. Malinda backed JC into a corner and molded herself against him, bringing one leg up to hook over his hip, pulling him closer. Each gentle lurch of the car made various organs in both of their bodies twitch and tighten. When they reached their floor, they tumbled out of the elevator and practically ran the short distance to their assigned room. JC fumbled with the key card, distracted by Malinda’s emboldened caresses. They got inside before things in the hall got too racy, and they heedlessly removed both their own and each other’s clothes before moving things to the bed.
Despite Malinda’s past, she’d always been comfortable with her naked body, and because she and JC had taken things at their own pace, she was never afraid to let JC see all of her at once, but she did have a thing about being exposed during sex, and always wanted to be under the covers when they did it, except for, obviously, when they were in the shower. Because of this, JC was shocked when Malinda pushed him down on his back, on top of the bedspread, and loomed over him. She stretched her nude body over his and delivered a tantalizing kiss.
JC slid his hands down the sides of Malinda’s body, then back up, then down again, moving up her back, into her hair, and back down to her hips. He held her in place while he bucked up against her once so she could feel what she had done to him. He slid a hand between them and touched her, intimately, torturously. A moan sounded from deep in her chest. He quickened the pace, his finger dipping inside her at the same rate his tongue swirled in her mouth. She whimpered against his lips when he wouldn’t let her wriggle free.
He paid for that.
Malinda reached down between their bodies and put a firm hold on JC. A hoarse groan escaped his lips, with her name mixed in it. She skimmed her hand up and down around him, until he could no longer concentrate on what he was doing to her.
And now she could get what she wanted.
She broke free of the kiss and pulled herself up to a sitting position, straddling JC at his thighs, still with a solid grip of her hand. She worked at him until he was straining his hips up at her, clutching for her, trying to bring her body back down to his. Lifting herself over him, she positioned him at her entrance and sank down slowly, reveling in every inch of him, opening her ears to each sigh and moan he made.
Then JC took charge again.
He reached up with one hand, pulling her head down to meet his lips, and held the small of her back with his other hand. Bending his knees behind Malinda, he began bucking and pumping into her. Malinda cried out over and over, until she felt her world start to spin. She buried her face in JC’s neck and listened to his breathing get shallower and heavier as her cries grew louder and sharper. She begged for more, and JC complied with every order she barked at him, working them into a frenzied pace, bouncing them clear off the mattress at times. JC’s fingertips pressed into Malinda’s flesh at the same time her nails dug into his skin, and he slammed his hips up into hers with one last intoxicating thrust, their worlds whirling around them. Malinda whispered JC’s name, clinging to him, and he stroked the soft skin of her back. Once they’d both returned safely to themselves, Malinda rolled off JC, curling up next to him.
“That was the first time you’ve ever been on top,” JC remarked a minute later, not really to Malinda, but more just thinking out loud.
“It was fun,” she breathed before closing her eyes.
A few minutes later she opened them. “Let’s make it my second time.”
JC uttered a low, sexy laugh, pulling Malinda over him. “Let’s.”
Ignoring the shouts and knocks on the wall from their awakened neighbors, JC and Malinda made love with wild abandon the rest of the night. Malinda, still reeling from her alcohol consumption, dropped every inhibition and made as much noise as she pleased, and JC, feeding off her energy, didn’t bother to worry about how loud the bed’s creaking was. They finally collapsed in each other’s arms shortly before sunrise.