Chapter 11
The Sixth Friday
For the first Friday since we’d opened the relationship, I didn’t sit on a barstool at The Muse. Neil had refused to go there to meet up with the man he’d picked out. His refusal made me even more nervous as Friday approached.
I’d texted both Jack and Sean so they wouldn’t worry.
They’d still seemed to worry but had stopped texting back in the group chat when I admitted I was going out with Neil.
My boyfriend. I didn’t tell them that he wanted to watch me with someone else.
I felt too weird putting that in writing.
Besides, I wasn’t sure I wanted them to know.
I smoothed my hand along the skirt I’d worn. The trendy bar Neil had taken me to had a lot more people, even as early as nine in the evening. We’d managed to snag a booth, and Neil sat across from me, his fingers tapping impatiently against the table. He reached for his rum and Coke.
He’d ordered me the same even though I didn’t want to drink. “You need one. It’ll make you less tense,” he’d insisted.
If I had to drink, I would have preferred something fruity. I wondered if Neil really didn’t know that. Normally, I ordered my own drinks, and it had been a while since I had alcohol, but after twelve years, he should have known, shouldn’t he?
I pretended to sip at it, pressing my lips on the rim. My nose twitched at the way it smelled.
“Neil and Hailey?” a deep voice asked from next to the booth.
The man had dark-brown skin, close-cropped black hair, with a hint of facial hair on his upper lip, chin, and jaw. His nose was nice and wide, with flared nostrils, and his lips were plump and pink, a darker pink than the tongue that licked over them as he stared at me.
“That’s us,” Neil said.
The man slid into the booth next to me, and I scrambled to shift closer to the wall. “I’m Isaiah,” he said, his arm spreading over the back of the booth behind me.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I stuck my hand out between us. At Neil’s snort, I started to pull back, but Isaiah captured my hand with his own, lifting it to his lips. When they kissed my knuckles, they were as soft as they looked.
“Well, aren’t you delicious,” Isaiah said, his brown eyes locked on me.
He was being nice. I’d worn one of my work outfits, with the thought that a skirt would have easier access. The idea of that had sent heat through me, which was a relief. Now I was second-guessing the whole outfit, especially the red shirt that probably matched my flushed face.
He didn’t try to hold on to my hand, and I wiped it along my skirt, embarrassed by my sweaty palms.
“Hopefully, you haven’t had too many of those,” Isaiah said, pointing at my drink. “One of my rules is no drunk girls. I prefer the women I touch to remember their time with me.” He winked.
I was happy to push the rum and Coke away. “This is my first one, and I’ve only had a sip.”
“That’s good, then.” His fingers brushed my shoulder. “I would have hated to call this off.”
His eyes were so intense, the pupils wide, making the brown seem darker. I stared down at my hands, which were clenched in my lap.
“Relax, baby,” he murmured, his hand resting over mine. “I’m all about consent. There’s no pressure here.”
My throat was too clogged for words as my heart raced.
“Did you have any questions for us?” Neil asked, draining his own drink.
“What we laid out in messaging was pretty clear.” Isaiah pulled his hand away from mine to reach into his pocket. “I almost forgot. Here’s this.” He pulled up the screen of his phone, turning it my way.
My eyes widened as I read the screen. “STI results?”
“Yeah, all negative, and here’s the date.” He pointed at the top of the screen. “It’s a couple of weeks ago, but I don’t do this type of thing all the time.”
Panic twisted my stomach. “I-I’ve never tested. I mean, I’ve had my annual, and everything came back normal and everything, if that’s good enough. Since I’ve only been with him, I—”
“Hailey!” Neil hissed.
My mouth snapped shut as my eyes burned.
Neil cleared his throat. “I can show you mine.” He started reaching for his phone.
Neil had gotten tested? I blinked at him, but he didn’t meet my eyes.
Isaiah waved him away. “You and I won’t be touching. Ever.” He stared at Neil, making him flush.
“I don’t want that either,” Neil mumbled. “That’s not what this is.”
Isaiah chuckled. “Just being very clear.” His body turned more fully toward mine. “I believe you, baby. I didn’t realize this was a new thing for you. Sure you’re okay with it?” His finger found my chin, tilting my face up toward his.
My throat tightened as he searched my eyes.
“She’s sure,” Neil said.
“I’m asking Hailey.” Isaiah continued to look at me, and I had the feeling he was seeing everything. “Once you do this, you’ll never be able to say you’ve only been with one man. Even if we only do oral.”
Neil’s body count was already higher than mine. “I’m okay with that. I’m just nervous.”
“Excited nervous?” he asked. “Or scared nervous?”
I swallowed. “A little of both?”
He nodded, his hand shifting along my jaw toward my throat.
He brushed over my pulse, which had to be fluttering like crazy.
“I like your honesty. Just know, if you change your mind at any point, even while I have my face between those sweet thighs, I’ll stop.
It’s not a onetime yes. I want you saying yes the whole time.
” His lips moved to my ear, his breath raising the hair on my neck.
“And screaming my name when you come. Think you can do that, baby?”
My whole body tingled. “Y-yes,” I gasped.
He pulled back, grinning at me. “That’s a good start. I think your boyfriend is going to regret this. Once you’ve had my mouth and tongue on you, you’ll remember how much better it can be.”
“Oh, he’s never—”
“Seriously, Hailey?” Neil snapped.
I flushed, ducking my head.
Isaiah made a sound in his throat. “Fuck, man. You’ve never buried your face between her thighs?” His hand moved to my shoulder, rubbing this time, making it easier for me to lift my head. “And she’s still with you?”
“Maybe this is a bad idea,” Neil muttered.
“Your call,” Isaiah said. He smiled down at me. “Though it’d be a shame for your girl. Especially if you stay clueless.”
Neil grew quiet, glaring down at the table.
Isaiah reached for my abandoned drink, bringing it to his mouth. His lips landed right where mine had been, the smudge of lipstick giving it away. His eyes didn’t leave mine as he drank, his tongue teasing at his lips afterward.
Nerves and heat danced together in a dizzying twist.
“You’ll be able to give me pointers?” Neil asked, his hand curling around the edge of the table.
“I’ll talk you both through it,” Isaiah promised. His fingers reached for my hair, gentle as he slid them through the strands. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, baby? Me talking you through it?”
“Yes.” I wasn’t likely to get startled if I knew what was coming.
He pulled away, standing up from the booth and holding his hand down. “I think we’re ready to head to the hotel you picked out, then. You want to drive over with me?”
Neil stood, pushing Isaiah’s hand away before I could take it. “She’s riding with me. We’ll meet you there.”
“Sure thing,” Isaiah agreed easily enough, turning away. “You’ve got a key to the room already?”
To my surprise, Neil handed him a plastic card. “It’s room 217.”
Isaiah nodded and walked away. He was wearing low-slung jeans, and I could see the edge of his boxers when his shirt shifted.
“The way you look.” Neil made a noise in his throat. “Is that what you want me to act like?”
I paused in the act of sliding out of the booth, blinking up at him. “I—”
“Don’t answer that.” He grabbed my hand, pulling me off-balance. I tripped as I followed him, pressing my other hand to his back to catch myself. He released me, and I followed him out to his car.
Neil didn’t drive a car as practical as mine. His was a two-seater with a convertible top he didn’t use that often. I scrambled into the passenger seat, listening to the engine rumble.
“Are you really mad?” I asked, fastening my seat belt.
“You didn’t have to tell him I’d never gone down on you.” He glanced at the backup camera before turning his head and reversing out of the space.
The hotel wasn’t far. I felt even more jittery as he pulled into a parking space by a side door. It wasn’t the same hotel he’d picked out that first night. This one didn’t seem quite as nice.
My stomach turned over again as we both looked at the door.
“You still want to do this?” Neil asked.
My underwear was damp. Isaiah had turned me on, just from talking to me and those brief touches. I took a shuddering breath.
“Yes. I want this,” I admitted.
He stared at me as if surprised. Then he shoved open his door.
I didn’t have my own key, but Neil used one on the outside door to unlock it.
The wait for the elevator made my heart hammer faster.
The elevator groaned as it rose one floor, then we were in front of the hotel door.
After he used the key, the flash of a green light was almost too in focus. Neil pushed me ahead of him.
Isaiah sat on the edge of the bed, his hands spread out and his body resting back on them. He’d only taken off his shoes, nothing else, and he stood when I entered the room.
He pointed at the armchair that was turned to face the bed. “You sit there,” he told Neil. “Remember, your woman is mine in here. You don’t get to touch her at all.”
“Fine,” Neil said. He had a scowl on his face as he dropped into the chair.
Isaiah’s hand found my face, nudging it toward him. “Don’t look at him. I want your eyes on me and only me.”
I swallowed. His eyes were so dark and intense.
“You still want to do this, Hailey?” he asked, his voice softening.
I nodded.
“I’ve got to hear the answer.”
“Yes. I want you to go down on me.” Saying it out loud made me dizzy.