BEN
I keepmy eyes glued to the clock, counting down the minutes until Skyler’s last class lets out. She blew past the front desk on her way in, barely throwing a greeting my way before booking it to the studio. I haven’t spoken to her since I dropped her off at her apartment a couple of days ago, and with every passing hour, I grow more anxious.
It’s like there’s an itch beneath my skin, and the only way to scratch it is by seeing her again. I have no reason to think she’s in danger, but I’m fueled by the need to make sure she’s okay.
How have her classes been? What did she have for dinner last night? Is she thinking about quitting because her old-man boss can’t keep his goddamn hands to himself?
The questions bounce against my skull day and night; I’ve tried everything to make them stop. Amping up my workouts didn’t turn my brain off like they usually do and going to bed early had me tossing and turning, trying and failing to ignore my throbbing cock. I’m not proud to admit that I succumbed to my baser urges. Holding my jacket to my nose, I wrapped my hand around my dick and stroked until I came all over my fist.
I told myself it was a moment of weakness—not to be repeated. Skyler’s so young and seems so innocent. It feels wrong to think about her body against mine, and her soft pink lips stretched around my cock. But the way she looked at me the night I dropped her off... For a second, I thought maybe she wanted it, too.
I’m so caught up in my thoughts about Skyler that I almost miss the studio door opening and the string of people filing out. I smile politely at everyone, raising my hand in a half wave to some of the regulars.
“Have a good night,” I say.
A few people reply, “You, too.” Within minutes, the studio is empty, but for the one person I’ve been struggling not to think about.
I stand in the doorway and watch her put away the yoga mats.
“Need a hand?” I ask.
She whirls around, startled. “Oh! Um...sure. That’d be great, thank you.”
The door clicks shut behind me as I enter the studio. I avoid meeting her gaze as I help her stack the mats in silence, determined to seem indifferent, yet unable to stop my eyes from travelling over her body. She’s got her auburn hair pulled into a high pony-tail, accentuating her elegant neck. Her tight forest-green tank top and dark purple leggings hug her figure like a glove. I note the absence of panty-lines when she bends over, and my brain short circuits as I realize she’s either wearing a very small thong or nothing at all under her pants.
She catches me staring and turns her face away, the back of her neck taking on the color of ripe strawberries. I feel almost spellbound as I carry the mats over to the appropriate bins. I stand behind her, close enough to feel her body heat, and still, she doesn’t turn around.
“Thanks, Ben,” she says in a quiet voice. “I think I’ve got it from here.”
My jaw clenches in frustration. I want her to talk to me with the same level of enthusiasm that she showed the night I brought her home, but it feels like she’s dismissing me.
“Skyler,” I say in a low, commanding tone. I don’t know why I say it like that; I just know that I need her full attention.
She shivers and then turns around. We’re standing close enough that our chests almost touch. If I took half a step forward, I could close the distance between us, pressing my body fully against hers. I could wedge my thigh between her legs and let her rub against it.
“B-ben?” Her voice trembles.
She looks up at me with wide, innocent eyes. My gaze falls to her plump lips, still shiny with left-over lip gloss. Finally, I meet her gaze, and her breathing picks up.
I have no idea what I’m doing. My mind and body have felt completely out of control since I met Skyler, and the more time I spend with her, the more I want from her. I thought I could keep my distance, but the longer I ignore my feelings for her, the stronger they grow, like a vine wrapping around my ribcage, holding my heart hostage.
None of this is logical or right. Still, I let my hand rise to cup her cheek, skimming my thumb across the petal-soft skin of her bottom lip. Her cheek is so warm against my palm it’s almost hot. I stare, transfixed, as she parts her lips and licks the pad of my thumb.
My cock instantly hardens in my track pants.
I groan.
“I’m gonna kiss you now.” Though I didn’t ask her permission, I still give her time to move away, to reject what’s about happen if she doesn’t want it. I slowly lower my face to hers, stopping when our lips are less than a breath apart.
This is it, her last chance to pull away before I lay my claim on her.
But she doesn’t move.
Instead, she tilts her head back and whispers, “Please, Ben.”
Unable to contain myself any longer, I crush my lips to hers, feeling my entire body light up. Her lips mold perfectly to mine, so soft and sweet it almost makes me dizzy with desire. She opens her mouth to take a breath and I use the opportunity to kiss her deeper, swallowing up her gasps and whimpers.
Her small, trembling hands flatten against my chest. At first I think she means to push me away, but then her fingers curl around my shirt, pulling me closer. I slide my fingers into her hair and carefully tease her hair-tie down her ponytail, freeing her soft auburn locks to fall onto her shoulders. I weave my fingers through the strands, gripping them gently, as I angle her head back and kiss her neck.