Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(41)

Another hard blow stung Amanda’s thigh, courtesy of Tina. “Ouch!” Amanda yelled. “Stop that!”

“Nothing. Guess I just have good self control,” Trish said. “I mean, I used to have a boyfriend about five months ago, but we broke up. We never slept together though. I’m waiting until I’m in love for that, and I didn’t love him. We did everything else." Trish bit her lip, clearly having more to say. But she seemed to be contemplating whether or not to say it. "He played the piano,” she added. “I can’t compete with fingers like that.”

“I think it’s good you’re waiting ‘til you’re in love, Trish,” I said. “Sex complicates things.” I knew that firsthand. But somehow the “no sex” relationships seemed equally as complicated, just in a different way. I couldn’t deny that spending time with Adam and not doing anything more than kissing him had gotten increasingly difficult emotionally and physically.

“Bullshit you can’t compete with that,” Amanda said, shocked. “The only person who’s never let me down is myself. It might not feel as good if I’m the one doing it, but I can beat Shane on time any day of the week. Three minutes tops, start to finish. Shane can’t do that to me on his best day.”

Trish looked like we had just told her Santa Claus actually existed. “For real?”

Steph nodded and Danielle shrugged, confirming Amanda’s statement.

“Used to be the case for me too,” I added. “And hopefully it will be later. This cream’s really kicking in. I need some alone time.” I crossed my legs and enjoyed the feeling of my jeans rubbing against me in just the right way. Maybe tonight’s the night, I silently prayed.

My not-so-subtle movement caught Amanda’s eye. “Yeah, you do.”

“Do you have like a floor model I can buy?” I asked Dana.

She laughed at my desperation and then shook her head. “Unfortunately no. Orders usually take about ten days to come in.”

I threw my head back in utter frustration at the thought of another night completely turned on with no release. But that didn’t stop me from spending over a hundred and seventy-five bucks on vibrators of different shapes and sizes. Better late than never.

***

After the party, Amanda went straight to Shane’s to spend the night. I guess all of the sex talk had gotten her a little worked up. I had to admit it had done the same to me. But as turned on as I was, the thought of getting myself so close without finding release would be even worse than what I felt right now. And what I felt right now was pretty bad. Or good, depending on how you looked at it. To try or not to try? Shit, shit, shit. I felt like I was making a life decision. Jesus, Lily. You’re not getting married, you’re just masturbating.

I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and got changed for bed. It was already past midnight, and I was tired. But as much as I tried to close my eyes and relax, I couldn’t stop the tightness in my core. The prospect of a much needed release was just too tempting to pass up. I could do it if I put my mind to it. I was no quitter.

My hips flexed as I began to work my hand down my skin to the area that was still so sensitive from the cream I’d put on hours ago. I slid one hand beneath my underwear to feel the wetness that had probably been there for most of the night.

My mind raced with images of Adam’s hands claiming every inch of my body during our first night at the hotel together. I felt my insides clench and my legs tense at the thought. I could feel myself get closer and closer to a long overdue orgasm as my fingers slid more rapidly over my clit. Come on, come on. Don’t give up. Fuck, I need something else. With my other hand, I let my fingers travel over the wet fabric, pushing gently on my opening as I imagined the full sensation I’d feel with Adam’s cock sliding inside me.

Then I pictured him standing above me, waiting for me to take him in my mouth. Me waiting for him to climb on top of me or pull me against him as he lay beside me. I let my mind go, allowing it wander to thoughts of the dirty words he’d texted me while he had been at the beach last spring. But still that didn’t push me over the edge. And God, I needed to be pushed over, to feel my body pulse with the pleasure I’d been missing for what seemed like forever. And it didn’t matter how I got myself there.

With that realization, Adam’s dirty words faded, and someone else’s took their place. The way I see it, you have two options. I swore I could feel his hips push against mine. Touch yourself while you think about my thick cock . . . over and over again while I make you come. Or . . . actually let me do it. Then my lips were on his, his hard chest against my aching breasts.

And that was all I needed. I felt my insides clench uncontrollably at the memory as my body writhed against my own hands. But it wasn’t until my orgasm had ceased entirely that I realized what had actually caused it.

Oh, shit.





Chapter 17: Max


When I’d agreed to meet Jack for dinner at a steakhouse in the city, I hadn’t anticipated being so anxious about it. But as I buttoned up my shirt and took a look in the mirror, the enormity of our meeting’s importance finally set in. Jack hadn’t told me the specifics of the job opportunity—mostly because I hadn’t given him the chance to until then—but I knew it had the potential to turn into something more permanent. And that knowledge was enough to keep me on edge.