Something's Come Up by Michelle Pace, Andrea Randall Page B

for a moment. She used the voice. My command voice.
    So, I listened.
    Pulling out of her slowly, studying her serious eyes, I rolled over and laced my fingers behind my head, elbows splayed out. “Let’s see what you got, Red.”
    My hands didn’t stay there for long. As soon as she drove down on top of me, my hands were gripping her hips. When we first got together, she didn’t get on top often, citing the physics problem of my length versus hers. Clearly, she’d been working on that.
    And I was reaping every benefit.
    Steph wasn’t much of a talker during sex, but her moans and facial expressions brought me to the edge faster than any words could. The closer I got, the tighter I gripped her hips.
    “Ow,” she hissed, throwing her head back.
    I couldn’t loosen my grip, I was too close. There. I held her all the way down as I came with a loud cry.
    “Ah! God!” My stomach was tight and my breath was all over the place, faltering as she screamed too, leaning forward and digging her nails into my shoulders.
    For a few minutes, the only sounds were our labored breathing and the occasional delayed moan, like our voices were just catching up with the experience. Finally, Steph slapped my chest.
    “I’m going to have bruises, Hulk.”
    I pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
    “You’re right about that. I miss that crop, by the way. Do you still have it?” She nuzzled her head against my shoulder and I soaked it in. Stephanie Brier never nuzzled.
    “Nah. I don’t have any of that stuff anymore. Though I should stock up again, since women who enter my apartment seem to expect me to be Christian Grey’s bastard brother.”
    She laughed into my chest. “You were ahead of your time, Cary.”
    “Always was.” I sighed, feeling my eyelids begging for closure.
    She yawned and rolled over, pulling a blanket up over her shoulders. I said nothing as I listened to her breathing even out. When she was fully asleep, I curled my body against hers and breathed her in. Every second I got with her was one less I’d have. I’d always wondered where we’d be if we hadn’t gone to Rome, but settled that it was best that we broke up when we did. Any longer and we would have only hurt each other more.
    If every moment could be like this, I thought as I drifted off to sleep, I could be in it for the long hall. As it was, morning would come and we’d move on. It was for the best.

Pace, February 2009
    W e all sat waiting for lecture to begin. Our professor was perpetually late, so we knew not to bother leaving after fifteen minutes like we would for any other college course.
    I couldn’t focus for shit. Red was due back the next night from her work trip to LA, and I planned to turn up uninvited and tuck her deeply into bed. I’d been without her for three days and had embarrassed myself earlier that day by flubbing an answer in Torts. I’d been obsessing about her ass the entire class and couldn’t think straight. My friends Sid and Stephen gave me shit and I confessed that I was distracted by a girl. Then they gave me even more shit and I vowed that was the last time I’d tell them anything.
    In my defense, class had been particularly boring. As I was fantasizing about Steph’s lily white thighs straddling my face, some scruffy delivery boy brought roses into the classroom for Max, and I remembered with mild interest that it was the day before Valentine's Day. My gorgeous study partner’s secret admirer obviously wanted her to have the extra attention of an audience (or to stake his claim), so he’d sent them to class. Bold move. She looked over her shoulder and winked at me, maybe trying to make me jealous?
    All it did, watching Max and the other female students ooh and ahh over the flowers, was get me thinking once more about Stephanie.
    I felt an evil grin spread over my face and I couldn't stop myself. I picked up my phone and sent Red a pound of red M&M’s customized