3. Bridget
CHAPTER 3
Bridget
No one’s ever washed my hair for me—well, not outside of a salon. Certainly, none of my previous hookups. It’s intimate, and I don’t do intimate.
“I can do it myself. I’m a big girl.” I laugh nervously, pushing at Ethan’s chest.
He grabs my wrists and holds me flush with his hard, naked body.
“I know you’re fully capable, but I’d like to do this for you,” he pleads as he flashes me that dimple. Releasing me, he snakes his hands up my back and into my hair. Applying pressure to my scalp, he makes small circles with his fingertips as the tension slowly eases out of my muscles.
“I’ll let you do anything you want if you keep doing that,” I moan. Fuck that dimple and its magical powers.
He reaches over and grabs my shampoo, squirting a generous dollop into his palm. He turns me around so my back is against his chest and rubs his hands together before massaging the suds into my scalp. Fuck, that feels so good. I melt into his chest. My shower has a massage head, and he removes it from the holder as he begins to play with the nozzle.
“What are you doing?” I ask, confused.
“Finding the right pressure. Too hard, and it’ll splash into your eyes. Too soft, and it’ll take too long to rinse out.”
“Are you the Goldilocks of washing hair? All the women you sleep with must love this.”
Chuckling, he uses his hand to shield my eyes from the soapy water that runs down my face as I tilt my head further back. “Close your eyes,” he says, ignoring my jabs.
After a few minutes of the most amazingly intimate experience of my life, he continues, “You keep making light of this experience, but I’m serious about wanting more than one night with you. I’m not going to scare off that easily. I have five younger sisters, and they will confirm that I’m great at washing hair. My mom—well, technically stepmom—needed my help with bathtime so we could get through it faster since my dad was always working, and I helped wash hair for as long as it was appropriate for an older brother to do so with younger sisters. And to address your other comment, all the women you speak of are few and far between. I don’t have a lot of random hookups, and I’ve never done this with anyone.”
That is equal parts endearing and terrifying. I can picture him kneeling on the floor next to his mom as little girls splash water in the tub. As an only child, I didn’t grow up in that kind of chaos, and I’m not sure it’s something I’d like to participate in. And the thought that a man like this has not only done it, but probably wants to experience it with children of his own one day, is the reality check I need to cut this off before it goes any further. I cannot give him the future he craves.
“Where’s that beautiful head of yours at, sweetheart? I spent five minutes massaging the stress out of you only for you to go rigid in my arms.”
“Thank you for washing my hair. But I need to remind you that this is just for tonight.”
“I’m not asking for a lifetime. Just one more night, and then we’ll see where it goes from there.”
“That’s the thing. It’s not going anywhere else. I don’t do relationships, just sex.”
“If you think what we did tonight was just sex?—”
“Nope, I’m going to stop you there,” I cut him off before he can finish that thought. “It was great sex, but nothing more.” The last thing I need is a puppy following me around thinking he’s found his new home.
“If I only get one night, then I get the whole night.”
“I didn’t agree to those terms,” I say, throwing his earlier words back at him.
“Well, I didn’t agree to only one night. So, if we’re going to compromise, I get the whole night.”
“Fine,” I acquiesce. I’ll kick him out in the morning. “But don’t expect breakfast.” The more you feed a stray, the more likely it is to return. My time in Cougar Town will only be for the night. I won’t be taking home any pets, no matter how cute this pup is.
I add conditioner to my hair, letting it sit as I scrub my body with body wash. Ethan takes the bottle from my hand, squirts some soap into his hand, and glides it over his well-defined pecs and chiseled abs as my eyes track the movement. “You’re drooling, sweetheart.”
Flustered, I roll my eyes in annoyance. How does he keep doing that? Seeing through my armor? Or am I not good enough at hiding from him?
“I’m not drooling. Can you turn around? You’re distracting me, and I need to wash all my parts without feeling like I’m a cat bathing myself in front of an audience.”
Flashing me that dimple, he smiles as he turns toward the wall. “Now I’m picturing all the positions I can bend your body into in order to lick you clean.”
“Behave. I’m almost done,” I chide as I finish washing my intimate parts. My eyes drift down to his backside. His perfectly round ass is held up by some tree trunk-looking thighs. Fuck, he looks like one of those rugby players in those videos Becka keeps sending me. He slowly bends, running the soap over his thick thighs.
As if he can feel my eyes boring holes into his backside, he stands and turns before stalking toward me, backing me up against the shower wall. He leans back as the water cascades down his body, tiny soap bubbles sluicing over his muscles. My hand moves up his abs, my finger dipping and tracing every divot along the way up to his nipple before tweaking it and rolling it between my fingers.
“Fuck, sweetheart, do you feel that energy when we touch? I’ve never felt that with anyone.”
He opens the shower door and leans out, and I momentarily feel the loss as he reaches toward the counter to grab another condom he’d brought into the bathroom. With the foil packet gripped between two fingers, he grabs my hips and grinds his cock against my pelvis. I pluck the condom from his hand and drop to my knees as I lick the drop of pre-cum off his tip.
Sucking in a breath, he hisses his appreciation as I take his thick cock into my mouth—or as much of it as I can take. I’m going to need some practice with a dick this size if I ever plan to deep-throat him.
What the fuck. Just tonight, only tonight. This is not happening again.
I continue pulling him in as far as I can, hollowing my cheeks to create the perfect amount of suction.
After a few minutes of bobbing, he grabs my hair and starts thrusting into my mouth, fucking my face. I can only take so much of him at a time, but slowly, my throat relaxes, allowing me to take more of him.
“Condom!” he barks through gritted teeth.
“I don’t mind if you come in my mouth,” I purr, holding up the condom between my fingers while swirling my tongue around the sensitive part of his head.
“Fuuuck, that mouth is perfection, but I want to come inside your tight little cunt, sweetheart.”
He pulls away long enough to roll the condom down his length before reaching up to angle the water toward the tiled wall of the shower. “Stand up and bend over. Spread your legs and grab your ankles.”
Who said yoga would never come in handy? I get into position and feel him push inside me. He grabs on to my hips and sets a steady rhythm, the slapping of our bodies creating a chorus of echoes off the shower tiles.
Like earlier in the bedroom, my orgasm builds quickly, coiling in my center as he rubs my G-spot in just the right way. Fuck me, this is a magical dick.
“Again, can’t hear that enough.”
Shit, did I say that out loud?
“Fuck, Ethan, right there. Yes….ahhhgnnn.”
“That’s it, sweetheart. Such a good girl, taking”— thrust —“me” — thrust — “so”— thrust —“well.”
I let go of my ankles and brace my hands against the shower wall so the momentum of his pounding doesn’t knock me over. Before I can adjust to the change in angle, Ethan ropes an arm around my stomach and lifts me up against him. I hook my ankles behind his knees as he carries me over to the tile bench, fully seated inside me the whole time.
He lowers us onto the bench, and I slide my feet to the floor, sitting in between his massive thighs.
“Grind on me. Ahhh, fuuuck, that’s it. Just like that. You’re doing so well, taking all this cock into your tight little pussy.”
I swear I can feel him getting harder inside me. I swivel my hips in circles, grinding on his lap, pretending we’re in the champagne room and I’m giving him the lap dance of his life as my hands press against both walls of the shower. His hands alternate between my hips and ass, grabbing handfuls as he presses his fingers into my flesh. I don’t even care if I have bruises tomorrow because of it. Worth it.
“Open your legs,” he commands.
As I prop one leg over his quad, his hand moves to my clit. He snakes his other hand down and, in one quick motion, picks my other leg up and places it over his other thigh so I’m open wide, straddling his lap.
I continue circling my hips, though it’s difficult with my feet dangling over his thighs as I can’t get enough traction. I try to shift myself when Ethan shoots his hips up in a powerful thrust. Now that I’m spread between his thighs, he has full access to my clit and uses his fingers to continue his ministrations, applying the exact pressure I like as his hips push up into me. Talk about multitasking.
“Holy fuck, I’m going to come again,” I moan right as the most powerful orgasm of my life slams into me. Despite being in the shower, the spray is angled away from us, so I know the wetness running down his length and thighs is from me as he continues pumping up into me from beneath.
“FUUUCKKK,” he roars. His movements get erratic and sloppy as his orgasm overtakes him.
My walls are still pulsing as the last bits of my orgasm consume me, I drop my head back on his shoulder as I pant for breath.
“You sat on this throne like a motherfucking queen,” he pants into my ear as his arms band around my waist, holding me in place.
“Fuck. I’ve never squirted before, and you made it happen twice in one night,” I say, dumbfounded as I gasp for breath.
“I’m happy to serve you anytime, my queen.”
We dry off after the shower, and I pull on a pajama set out of my dresser and go through my nighttime skincare routine. I walk into the bedroom expecting him to be gone and instead find him climbing into my bed.
“What are you doing?” I ask suspiciously as he pulls back the covers, patting the mattress to get me to join him. “You’re not sleeping over.”
“Oh, I am, sweetheart. I get the whole night, remember?”
Fuck, I think I did agree to that in my post-orgasm bliss. “Fine, but you better not snore.” I climb into bed, keeping my back to him, and plug my phone in beside me. I feel him moving around behind me. “And don’t even think about cuddling.”
“Wouldn’t even dream of it,” he says as he drapes his arm over my torso. I tense beneath him as his warm breath tickles the shell of my ear. “This isn’t cuddling, just so you know. I need to prop my arm up to help me sleep.”
“You’re pushing it,” I warn.
After a minute of silence, I hear his soft, deep voice rumble against my back. “I need to see you again. Tell me I can see you again.”
“I’ll think about it,” I counter. His arms squeeze me tighter and he pulls me closer.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I told you. I have plans,” I say, hoping he’ll take the hint, but he flips me to my back and hovers over me.
“What about the day after?” I swear his eyes get bigger as he starts to pout.
I roll away from him, pushing my head into the pillow to hide my smile. “So eager.”
“For you? Yes. There’s something here, Bridget. You can deny it, but I can’t.”
Relenting, I turn over under his arm. Our faces are inches apart as our breaths mingle. “Tell you what. If I wake up tomorrow morning and you’re gone, I’ll think about another night.”
“Seems like a trap.”
“I told you, I don’t do repeats, and I don’t do complicated. Keep pushing me and see what happens.”
His arm reaches up and playfully shoves my shoulder.
“Did you just push me?” I scoff.
“I wanted to see what would happen.” He flashes me his entire smile, his dimple on full display.
Fuck. I’m screwed.
________________
When the morning sunlight warms my bed, several hours later, I’m alone. A brief feeling of disappointment washes over me as I reach for my phone on the nightstand. I notice an AirDrop message on my lock screen where Ethan sent me his contact info. Unlocking my phone with my passcode—because it never recognizes my early morning face—I open the message, debating whether I should save his contact info. Looking over at the nightstand, I see a scrap of paper with his name and number scribbled on it, too.
I did tell this man I’d give him another night if he left, and he kept his end of the deal. I’m nothing if not for my word. After saving his contact info in my phone, I send him a quick text.
Morning, pup.
Three dots appear instantly. This was a bad idea.
Pup
Morning, queen. I meant to ask, what’s with you calling me pup?
You followed me around the club. What else was I supposed to call you?
That’s fair.
Not going to deny it?
Not even a little. I’d follow you anywhere.
Especially now that I’ve feasted on you.
Jesus
When do I get to see you again?
I said I’d think about it
I should give him an honest answer, but that seems like a complication and like tomorrow’s problem.
My phone pings again, but this time it’s a text from Becka.
Becka
So…
Did you enjoy your visit to Cougar Town?
Fuck you
No thanks. We still on for coffee?
8 am at our usual spot
Can’t wait to hear all the details!
________________
It’s 7:55 when I walk into The Daily Grind, our favorite local coffee shop. The smell of vanilla and coffee calms me as I step up to the counter and order our usuals, an Americano for me and a flat white for Becka. My dark to her light.
At 8:10, I see her smiling face rush in as she scurries to my table. I stand and extend the cup to her, repeating our regular greeting for our coffee dates. “The first rule of fight club…”
“We don’t talk about fight club.”
“Not even to Robert,” I admonish as she pulls me into a hug.
“You act like this is the first time we’ve met to discuss one of your hookups.” She rolls her eyes at me as she takes a seat. “This isn’t amateur hour.”
I wince as I sit back down in my chair. Damn, it’s been a while since I’ve been thoroughly fucked like this.
“It hurts to sit, doesn’t it? Was he good in bed? Tell me he’s good in bed, and that face is an it-hurts-to-sit-because-the-sex-is-so-good face!”
“Yes and no.” Pushing my palm into my abdomen, I blow out a breath as the sharp pain in my torso slowly eases.
She looks at me confused, and then recognition stretches across her face. “Oh shit, it’s getting worse, isn’t it?”
“While it is true that Ethan is the reason sitting hurts right now, the cramps are getting worse.”
“Are you getting it checked out?”
“Yeah, I have my yearly checkup next week. It’s probably nothing.”
“Text me after, yeah?”
“I will. Anyway, where were we?”
“The dick. You were telling me all about the dicking you got from Ethan.”
Laughing, I take a sip of my Americano, letting the bitter flavors swirl over my tongue.
“I don’t know how you can drink that without cream or sugar.” She makes a gagging face as she empties three sugar packets into her cup while humming “A Spoonful of Sugar” and swirling the drink with a stirrer.
“And I don’t know how you can drink that swill.”
“We like what we like, I guess.” She flashes a grin at me as though my barbs do nothing to her. And they don’t. Her armor is impenetrable to my thorns. That’s why we’ve been friends for so long.
Becka and I have known each other since college. She’s the yin to my yang. The extrovert who adopted this introvert kicking and screaming. She’s light, bubbly, and happy, an eternal optimist. I, on the other hand, don’t like people. I tried to resist her, but she somehow worked her way into my heart, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Anyway, you were saying?” She flutters her lashes at me.
“He was… quite unexpected.” I can feel my cheeks heat as images of the previous evening flood my mind. “Becka, the mouth on this man. At first I thought he was shy, or annoyed with his friend, but there was an entirely different side to him once we were alone. I swear there was one time when I was rubbing up on him, and his words alone made me come. And his dick! I’ve been with well-endowed men before, but this was different. He actually knew how to use it. I’ve been railed by a guy or two who thought having a big dick was enough and jackhammering me into the mattress with it was acceptable. Zero out of ten stars, do not recommend. But Ethan? He had the right length and more than enough girth.”
“So, he had BDE and knew how to use it? You found the unicorn. Please tell me you’re going to see him again.”
“I don’t know. He texted me, but he’s so young, and I don’t need any complications right now. It was just mind-blowing sex.”
“And how often do you have sex like that?”
“Good sex? Often enough. Great sex? Sometimes. Mind-blowing? That was a first. I sat on the man’s face, Becka—like, actually sat on it. I tried to hover, and he growled and pulled me down.”
“Unreal. I have to tell the book club about this. I’ve only ever read that in a book.”
“Don’t you dare tell your mom friends about my sex life! The first rule of fight club…”
“I’m just kidding… maybe.” She giggles, but I know my secret’s safe with her. “Seriously, I’m living vicariously through you. Robert and I have been together for so long that we have a routine down, and it’s nothing like what you experienced.”
I examine her more closely. I see more than envy in her green eyes; there’s a hint of sadness there too. “Is everything okay with you and Robert?”
She takes a sip of her coffee before twisting her wrist in the air to brush me off. “Yeah, I think we’re just in a rut. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine.”
“Oh no, you don’t. You don’t get to reverse this on me. I’m glad you met someone who gave you an amazing night, but you’re still deflecting a bigger issue here.”
I thought I played that off better. “I really am fine.”
“No woman who says they’re fine is honestly fine, me included. I’m not ready to talk about me and Robert. Are you ready to talk about what’s bothering you?”
I sigh. “Work is a lot lately. I’m under a lot of pressure because of the acquisition, and I’m extremely stressed. Sex helps me relieve that stress.”
“I get that, but maybe it’s time for more?”
“Why do I need a man when I have you? Your friendship means more to me than you know. And men? They’re fun to play with. I’m not interested in a relationship or starting a family. I’m thirty-eight now. I’m pretty sure that window is almost closed, and I’m totally fine with that.”
“Are you? You know I’ll support you in anything you choose whether you want to have a family or not.”
“I’m not sure I want marriage, but I know I don’t want kids. You’re my family. I don’t feel any kind of internal clock urging me to reproduce. I already have what I need. You. And work. And a great apartment.”
“Bridget, you’ll always be my family, but as long as I’ve known you, you’ve never been in a relationship. I’ve never seen you have a boyfriend. I’m not even sure I’ve ever heard you mention other friends.”
I start to open my mouth to protest, but she stops me.
“Coworkers don’t count.”
“Fine. It’s true, you’re my longest relationship. So?”
“And it took me years to annoy my way into your life. I mean, I love that journey for us, but why is that? Why don’t you let more people in?”
I steel myself for this conversation. “Do you remember how I told you that when I was younger, someone broke my heart?”
“Breadcrumbs, Bridget, you’re giving me breadcrumbs.” I give her a look to let her know that I’m serious, and she bites her lips and nods for me to continue. “Sorry. I remember that shithead you dated briefly in college, and I think I remember you saying you dated an asshole in high school, but you’ve never shared more than that with me, just that men suck and that’s why you don’t date.”
I huff, peeling at the label on my coffee cup. “I was cheated on and publicly humiliated. After that I swore I’d never give another man that kind of power over my emotions.”
She squeezes my hand. “Naturally. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“I’m not. I learned young that men cannot be trusted and that relationships are a waste of time. I nearly let that guy in high school derail my entire future. And why?” My voice is louder than I intend, and I look around the coffee shop in case I’m causing a scene.
Becka leans in. “Because you loved him, right? And he betrayed you. I know you don’t let a lot of people in, and I am grateful you trust me. But you do know that not all men are like that, right? Despite our rut, Robert is a great man. There are good ones out there. And if a relationship is something you decide you want one day, I’ll support you. I just don’t want to see you end up alone unless that’s your choice. But I also don’t want to see you overlook someone who could be good for you just because someone else hurt you.”
“I’m not alone, I have you. And I can get on an app and have anything I want delivered. I can get a ride anywhere I want at the push of a button. And if I get desperate, I can find someone for a night. I’m fine.”
“Fine. But promise me you’ll give Ethan a chance.”
“Where is this coming from? Did you not just hear my speech? I don’t need a man, I have apps,” I say, wiggling my phone in my hands.
“It’s cute that you think that, but I think he could be good for you. Try with him, please? Worst case, it doesn’t work out and you go back to your apps. Best case? You get more mind-blowing sex and maybe he turns into a worthwhile companion. You can always break it off if it’s not for you. Just try, that’s all I’m asking.”
“Why are you pushing this?”
“Because I’ve never seen you… glow about a guy before. You’ve shared a lot of your sexcapades with me and never have you been this excited about it. And you’ve shared a lot of details. So many details. But also, I know how hard it was to become part of your life. I spent years knocking through your walls like the Kool-Aid Man. I bet there are dozens of Becka-shaped holes in all those walls you keep around you. And Ethan…” She pauses and takes a sip of her drink. She does this to me all the time. Hooks me in with some epiphany and then makes me wait for the rest of her thought. “He seems like someone who’d smash through your walls too. And I love the idea of you having someone else in your corner.”
“I admit the sex was amazing. Fuck, it was the best sex I’ve ever had. What if I never have sex like that again with anyone else? What if it’s all downhill from here?”
“And that’s exactly why you should keep seeing him. Keep having more amazing sex with him and see where it goes. There must be a reason you two are so compatible sexually.”
“He listened to me, Becka,” I confess quietly. “All of me. Not just my words, but my entire body. It’s like he was tuned in to every word, every little movement I made and learned what I needed and gave it to me. If I told him to go slower, he did. Speed up? He did. You know how some guys rush through everything? Ethan took his time. I came so many times I lost count.”
“ You lost count? Miss Queen of Numbers? Damn, girl, if that’s not enough to convince you, I don’t know what is.”
“But that’s exactly why I can’t see him again.”
Becka looks confused. “I’m not following.”
“I lost count. I never lose count. Numbers are my safe space, and he pulled me out of it. He’s exactly the kind of guy that I could get attached to, but when I get attached, I get hurt.”
“Sometimes it’s okay to let go. And sometimes the scary things are the most worthwhile. Pursuing them isn’t easy, but the payoff is worth it. You gave him control of your body, and maybe you could try giving up control over other areas of your life. Get uncomfortable. I dare you.”
“There’s nothing about that man’s body that’s uncomfortable. Trust me.”
“Except his heart. And what he might do to yours.”
“Damn, Becka. Way to make it real.”
“Thanks for coming to my TED talk.” She tips her coffee up to mine. “Seriously, though, I really do like him for you.”
“But what else could we possibly have in common? He’s twenty-two.”
“Just get to know him. I bet you have more in common than orgasms.”
I sigh. “I hate when you make sense. It doesn’t mean I’m agreeing, however.”
“Again, I’m the adultiest adult in the room.”
“Truth. But don’t think I won’t be circling back to that comment about you and Robert being in a rut. I have an idea that could help. I read in a book once about a group of friends who all texted their men asking to sit on their faces. Each man’s response was more unhinged than the last. You should try it.”
“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll text Robert asking to sit on his face if you see Ethan again.”
“Ugh,” I groan, annoyed with myself for falling for her traps. They come from a place of love, but I hate how she knows all the ways to make me confront things that I find uncomfortable. “Why do you do shit like this to me?”
“Because I love you,” she singsongs as she finishes the last of her coffee.