Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Nellie
He was kissing me.
Cliff, my sexy, grumpy neighbor, was kissing me.
And damn, he was good at it, too.
I lost myself in the kiss, forgot that my hair was a mess and I was only wearing pajamas. Nothing else mattered but him and our kiss.
When he broke the kiss, a smile played on his lips, and wow, he was even more handsome.
“I…wow…I’m…shit, I can’t even get my thoughts out.” Cliff said, his voice deep and gruff and vibrating off my humming, turned on body.
I smiled like a cat who just got all the milk. Mm hmm, I did that. “Was our kiss a bit too hot for you?”
He stepped back and ran a hand down his face, his hands no longer on me.
I didn’t like it. I wanted him back, pressed against me, my body turning into putty, my problems fading away.
“I guess so. Listen, uh…” Cliff scratched the back of his head and his fun-loving smile turned serious.
The mood shifted. “Shit, I probably shouldn’t have kissed you.
I am not in the headspace to get involved in anything. ”
“It’s okay. I actually really liked it.” I closed the space between us once more and rested a hand on his chest.
But he shook his head and stepped away again. His face turned grumpy, and he looked away.
He shut me out.
Remember his grief…
But then why kiss me?
“I’m sorry I woke you. And I’m sorry again for being a grumpy asshole. Have a good day, alright?”
He left me too stunned to speak.
He grabbed his tools and walked into his cabin, leaving me standing there, dazed and confused.
“So how’s it going up there?” Sally smiled at me over the FaceTime call as she lifted her glass of wine to her lips. “Getting lots of writing done? I know it’s quiet.”
“Sometimes.” I remarked as I speared a piece of chicken on my fork. “Have you ever met the next-door neighbor before?”
Sally tapped her chin. “Hmm, the old couple, right?”
“I didn’t see an old couple. Just a guy around my age.”
“Oh, that must be their son, Cliff.” Sally took a bite of her salad. Once a week we video called while having dinner together and a glass of wine. I missed her a lot. I used to see her nearly every day. “I haven’t seen him in years. I remember him being cute as a teen. Is he still?”
Instantly, my cheeks grew hot. “He is.” I shifted in my seat as I remembered the kiss. Ha, I’d never forget it. It’s replayed in my mind on repeat since it happened two days ago. “He’s also a grump.”
“Really? I always remembered them as friendly. Maybe his parents passing has something to do with it. They died a year apart. That’s got to be a lot to deal with.”
“Yeah, and his dog just died.”
“Oh, no! Wally?! That dog was awesome. That’s so sad.”
“You knew his dog?”
Sally nodded. “He was outside a lot in the summers, playing catch with Cliff.”
“The other morning, I woke up to a banging, and it was Cliff, making a memorial for his dog in his yard. I was kind of snippy about it, because the day before, I’d had a run in with him at the market and he wasn’t friendly.
I went over to confront him but felt bad after I found out what he was doing. And then he kissed me.”
“Wait, hold on, back up the train.”
I laughed. “I know I dropped a bomb.”
“He kissed you? How did that happen?”
“I don’t know. it was like this force between us. We were arguing and next thing I knew, he was standing in front of me asking for a kiss. I said yes and fuck, girl. He can kiss. I mean…shit, I was ready to strip naked right then and there. And I was still in my pajamas!”
Both of us dissolved into laughter.
“But then he apologized. Said he couldn’t get involved in something and he shouldn’t have kissed me. Left me standing there.”
“Are you serious? What the hell was that about?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t stop thinking about him. I need to concentrate on my books. Not on a guy.”
“Just brush it off as a one-time thing and stay inside the cabin.”
“Solid advice, my friend.” I lifted my wine glass up and smirked.
Sally laughed. “Easier said than done, I know. How are your books coming?”
“I had a good night a few nights ago when it stormed, but not much since. It’s supposed to storm tonight though, so I’m hoping I’ll have luck again. Something about the rain brings me inspiration.”
“It’s nice up there. Makes you feel all cozy, with the dark atmosphere and candles.” Sally finished her wine and poured herself another glass.
I smiled into the phone camera. “I miss you, Sal. Please come visit soon. It’s almost halfway through September and we need to decorate.”
“I miss you too. Next weekend sound good?”
“Perfect.”
As I laid in bed later that night, happy I got more work done in my books, I couldn’t help thinking about Cliff and our kiss.
My body reacted in a way it never had before, and I wanted more. I could only imagine what an orgasm would feel like with him.
His tongue on my skin…between my legs…his rough beard scratching at my thighs, my God…
I slipped my fingers beneath my pajama pants and between the folds of my wetness, running them down through the slickness and back up. I stopped on my clit, circling it with one finger over and over, the little nub swollen and desperate for release.
Cliff’s handsome face filled my mind as I thought of us kissing, my hips moving on their own accord. I gripped the sheets with my free hand as my orgasm built higher and higher.
Thunder cracked through the air and lightning lit up the sky.
Oh my God…I wanted him so bad…
The doorbell sounded, and my body froze, my breathing heavy and rushed.
It was after ten pm.
Why was someone knocking on my door?
Panic replaced the desire coursing through me as the doorbell rang again. I hurried out of bed and down the stairs, wishing I had a dog right now.
Just relax. Maybe it’s Cliff.
Who else could it be?
I looked through the peephole, and my entire body relaxed.
It was Cliff.
And then a fire exploded inside me, as if a match struck gas, and my pussy throbbed.
I yanked the door open and there he stood, soaked wet, his dark eyes boring into mine.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t stop thinking about you. About us. About this.” He reached forward and pulled me into his arms, his clothes soaking my pajamas, as his lips found mine, desperate and needy.
I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist as his hands slid beneath my ass and squeezed. He walked us into the cabin, kicking the door shut with his foot, as our mouths never left one another’s. We kissed and kissed, an addictive drink neither one of us could get enough of.
Our mouths moved together as one, nipping, tasting, licking, sucking.
I never wanted to stop.