Something Personal Ch. 02

These calls were almost a nightly ritual, to the point where it felt like something was missing if they didn't speak at the end of the day. It had been so long since she'd let her guard down with anyone new, but with Gavin it was basically effortless. Whether they were on a hike or playing pool or just hanging out at one of their apartments, it was just easy and comfortable. He put up with her teasing him for being too scared to commit to a woman and he poked fun at her obsessively organized habits. He reminded Nina a little of her brothers; knowing exactly which of her buttons to push while making it clear that he'd always have her back.

"I'll let you go," he said later.

"Yeah, I should probably sleep. Goodnight." She smiled and waved at him.

"Sleep well, Nina."

---

The horrifying crash made Gavin bolt out of his seat. He rushed to the window and saw a small car smashed into the row of mailboxes belonging to the apartment building next to his. He turned to find his shoes, his EMT training taking over, when something made him pause and narrow his eyes, studying the car closely. Nina's car.

He froze for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes. Sirens broke through the fog and he hurried downstairs. By the time he got to the street, she was already being looked over by a paramedic. Nina was pale, seeming to curl in on herself.

"Nina," he said, his voice pained.

She looked at him, her eyes dazed.

Then: "Hey, Gavin."

It took him a second to register the voice and he noticed the paramedic, recognizing her as someone he had worked with several times on various calls.

"Hi, Steph," he said faintly. "What happened?"

"I - my brakes -" Nina stammered.

He sat next to her, resting a hand lightly on her back while Stephanie took care of her, feeling utterly helpless and using all of his self-control to not wrap his arms around her.

"It'll be okay," he said, hoping he sounded convincing.

Finally Stephanie gave her the all clear and they were alone. Gavin placed his hand lightly on her back, trying to get the image of her smashed car out of his mind. He was hanging on by a thread, wanting nothing but to crush her to him and keep her safe.

"Let's get you home," he said, his voice hoarse.

She swayed slightly and nodded. He helped her up the stairs and into her apartment, settling her on the couch under a blanket and handing her a glass of water. She held the glass as if numb, shivering under the warm blanket. Gavin hovered nearby, watching her anxiously.

"Can I get you anything else?" he asked quietly.

Nina looked up at him, taking a second to focus on him. She put down the glass and held a shaking hand out to him. He was at her side in an instant, gathering her in his arms, tightening them around her securely. She let out a shuddering sigh and burrowed into him. The panic in his chest morphed into something else. Relief. Comfort. A longing that became almost as painful as the fear and worry that had gripped him.

"Thanks," she whispered.

He kissed the top of her head in response. He didn't know how long he held her but noticed when her breathing steadied.

"I think I'm okay now," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt.

"Okay," he said, not loosening his hold.

"Gavin?" She giggled, poking his stomach.

He flinched but kept his arms around her. "Yes?"

"I'm okay...you can let go."

"I'm not okay yet; give me a minute," he said quietly.

Nina softened. Not that she relished being the reason for his concern, but his obvious worry for her safety caused a surprising reaction. She had always been self-reliant, refusing to let it seem she couldn't take care of herself, but it had felt natural to let Gavin soothe her, and she gave in to the urge to comfort him in return. She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him, not moving until he did.

"Thanks," he said, leaning away to look at her.

Lifting her head, she rubbed her finger on the wrinkle between his brows, then rested her hand on his cheek. He swallowed hard, the contact creating an electric spark on his skin.

"I'm fine," she assured him.

He nodded uncertainly. "Do you need anything?"

She snuggled against him, still shaking a little.

"Want to watch TV?" he asked.

"Hush," she admonished. "Just – stay. Okay?"

Stay? What the fuck?

"Nina –"

He lost the ability to speak when she nuzzled his neck, kneading his back with her hands. His chest rose with the force of his inhale and she ran her hands up his chest until they were around his neck, her fingers teasing his hair. He forgot how to breathe. He stared at the top of her head and was about to speak again when her lips pressed against his neck. She ran her tongue up to his ear and flicked his earlobe with her tongue. Sucking in a sharp breath, he gripped her shoulders and held her away, waiting until she looked at him.

Her eyes were darker than he'd ever seen them, smoky and mysterious. Ignoring the doubts in the back of his mind, pushing aside the impulse to question her, he cupped her cheeks and leaned in, baffled when she moved her head back. He tried again but she eluded him. They were like two matching ends of magnets trying to be forced together. He looked at her inquisitively.

"No kissing," she whispered. "It only complicates things."

So that's all this is. It was as if he felt his entire body deflate. Well, not his entire body. A certain part of his anatomy was yelling Who cares?! while his mind railed against the idea. It wasn't enough. Was it? Maybe it could be. He swallowed hard, trying to think.

Looking into her eyes, feeling the soft skin under his hands, he succumbed. He twisted his fingers in her hair, tugging her head back slightly, watching her eyes widen, her beautiful lips parting.

"Bedroom," he said firmly.

She smiled devilishly, standing and taking his hand. She cocked her head suggestively and all his questions disappeared, instinct and desire taking over. Her eyes widened when he stood and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into the bedroom. She nudged his shoulders, sitting him on the bed and grasped the hem of his shirt, her fingers tickling his skin as she nudged it up his torso. His breath caught in his throat when she dropped the shirt to the floor and stared at him for a long moment before touching him.

Nina moistened her lips, roaming her hands over the light dusting of hair on his chest, admiring his well-defined chest and arms, the ridges of his six-pack. Her fingers traced the Maltese cross tattoo on his right pectoral, having never realized how sexy a tattoo could be. She murmured approvingly, undoing his jeans as she stared at him. He stood suddenly, kicking his jeans off, his eyes trained on hers. The heat from his gaze made her feel light-headed, a thoroughly unfamiliar response. She tried to smile coyly at him, needing to keep the upper hand, fighting the uncharacteristic impulse to lie back and let him take over.

As if he could read her mind, he took her arms, turning her and shoving her back onto the bed. She narrowed her eyes defiantly, sitting up and whipping her shirt over her head. He froze at the sight of her chaste white bra against her porcelain skin. He let her undress, his fingers twitching with the urge to help. She unhooked her bra, holding it over her breasts for a moment of unexpected shyness before drawing the garment away. Reclining, she undid her jeans, smirking at his gasp when she shimmied her hips to lower them. She was more stunning that he had imagined – shapely limbs, perky breasts, and a trim waist that flared out into sexy hips. Her abs flexed as she slid her panties off and he sucked in a breath. That she was fit was no surprise, given her active lifestyle, but the combination of athleticism and femininity in her form was more alluring than he thought possible.

He growled, gripping her hips, and she grinned. He surprised her by kneeling next to the bed, giving her inner thigh a bite. She flinched, trying to scoot away but he held her still, slowly running his tongue along the crease in her thighs teasingly. Nina heard herself whimper and pushed at his shoulders. This was too much. It was too...intimate. But then his tongue came closer to its target, still taunting, and her hands moved of their own volition, tangling in his hair. She felt his soft chuckle vibrate against her, teasing her for a few more seconds before he finally ran his tongue along the length of her.

She jerked her hips and gasped, the current running straight through her body. He moved languidly over her, circling with his tongue and stroking her with his hands as he explored her. A low moan started from deep in her throat and he increased his pressure, steadying her legs with his hands. She raised a leg and hooked it over his shoulder, his arms coming around her hips to hold her tightly to his face as his tongue found the firm button, flicking it several times.

Nina groaned, pressing his head into her. God. It had been too long. Refusing to let herself become attached to anyone since her divorce, she had denied herself this for too long. Not that anyone could compare to this. Gavin clearly had a talented mouth and the experience to back it up, but there was more to it than skill. His touch gave the impression that it really was all about giving her pleasure and not some perfunctory obligation before he could get to the actual sex.

"Gavin," she gasped.

The sound of her husky voice saying his name made him grateful he was already on his knees, and he moaned against her. Her legs stiffened and he circled her clit with his tongue before closing his lips around it. She tensed and he squeezed her behind, applying more pressure with his tongue and soon she was writhing against him, her breath coming in quick, surprised gasps, her thighs almost crushing his head, until finally she let out a loud cry. Her legs relaxed and started to tremble before she went completely slack. He unhooked her leg from his shoulder and ran his hands up her flat stomach, gently stroking and caressing her breasts with his hands and mouth.

He stroked the length of her back, noticing she was still trembling a little. Nina moved her lips to his neck, running her tongue along the length of it before focusing on his chest, her fingers pinching his nipples lightly. She nudged him to his back and straddled him, a fierce look in her eyes. Leaning over him, she opened the nightstand drawer and took out a condom, ripping the package open with her teeth.

Gavin groaned at the sight, then watched her roll the rubber on, realizing for the first time just how erotic putting a condom on could be. She dug her fingers into his chest, lowering herself onto him agonizingly slowly. Her eyes rolled back and she groaned. He was lost at the sight, at the sound, at the feel of her, tightly clenching around him. Cupping her breasts, he flicked her nipples, grinning when her back arched. He fought the impulse to flip her over and plow into her until she was screaming his name, forcing himself to wait patiently for her to move. He continued teasing her nipples, rolling them between his fingers. She whimpered and rotated her hips, her hair falling over her face.

"Jesus," he breathed.

She looked at him smugly through heavy-lidded eyes, giving him a slow smile.

"Ready?" she murmured.

His eyes widened, transfixed by the wantonness of her expression. Her smile grew and she rose up to his tip and plunged back down. He grasped her behind, kneading the flesh of her firm cheeks. She circled her hips on him again and he groaned.

"Tease," he gasped.

She arched her eyebrows, leaning back to prop herself up on his thighs, continuing to roll her hips. He gave her bottom a sharp slap and her body jerked forward. She looked at him accusingly and he stifled a laugh. Inflamed, he slipped his fingers between her legs and found the slippery, swollen nub, flicking and pinching.

It was as if he literally flipped a switch. She narrowed her eyes and grabbed his arms, pinning them to the bed. A low growl coming from her throat, she began riding him, hard. He was strong enough to overpower her grasp but was too aroused by the way she took charge to even consider it. Instead he wrapped his hands around her ankles and thrust his hips up to meet her. She bounced on him wildly, her hair flowing over her shoulders and chest, her mouth open as she cried out. Her inner muscles were clutching at him and he gritted his teeth, trying to hold out.

"Yes, yes, fuck – God, yes, oh – oh – oh," she chanted.

Nina's head fell back, her fingers still clutching his arms, as the burning warmth washed over her. Before her climax ended, she planted her feet on the bed and kept moving on him, needing more. After her third or fourth orgasm – she lost count – her legs began to tire and she leaned back, pulling Gavin up with her. She fell to the bed with him holding himself over her, looking astonished. She wrapped her legs around him and squeezed his behind, rocking against him.

"Don't tell me you can't keep up," she teased, her chest heaving.

He blinked, still looking stunned. "You're a fucking wildcat," he said huskily. "But, yeah – I can keep up, you competitive freak," he teased.

He withdrew slowly, holding his crown just inside her until she began whimpering, then bottomed out inside her in one motion.

"Gavin," she dragged out his name in a moan.

He inhaled sharply at the sound. His jaw clenched, he thrust into her again and again with increasing force each time, listening to her grunts get higher pitched. His fingers were digging into her waist, pulling her body to meet his. Her breasts jiggled with each movement, her hair splayed out on the bed, her cheeks bright pink; she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. It didn't take long before he felt the telltale flutter soon followed by the contractions of her inner walls. Her grunts turned into cries of pleasure before ending with a long moan as she shuddered beneath him. Gavin bit his lip as he felt the pressure mounting.

"Oh, God, Gavin," Nina cried, arching her back.

He buried his face in her neck and placed his teeth just above one breast, crying out into her skin as he came.

---

They rested comfortably side by side, his arm under her neck but otherwise not really touching. Once his euphoria faded, once he could breathe normally again, he cleared his throat.

"So...are we going to be okay?" he asked, focusing on the ceiling.

"Sure, why wouldn't we be?" she said simply.

He shook his head slightly. He'd never known a woman who could compartmentalize like her.

"You don't think we've just messed up our friendship?" he challenged.

"Maybe we weren't close enough friends to mess anything up," she teased.

He pinched her arm and she giggled. She flipped onto her stomach and he reluctantly met her eyes.

"It'll only be a problem if we let it," she said, shrugging one shoulder.

He studied her for a minute. Her face was still flushed and her hair had tumbled in a gorgeous mess around her shoulders. He had to stop himself from running his fingers through it.

"Good," he said, sighing. "Because we are definitely going to have to do that again."

She pretended to look offended before laughing and getting out of bed. He watched her go to the closet, admiring the way she carried herself as she comfortably walked across the room naked. He felt a stirring between his legs and covered himself with the sheet as she slipped on her robe. Returning to the bed, she tucked her legs under her and sat next to him.

"I do have one request," she said slowly. "And you don't have to agree – it's your choice. But I would prefer if our friends didn't know about this."

"Ashamed of me, huh?" he joked.

She cocked her head, looking at him with a combination of affection and exasperation.

"You know that's not it. It's just...private. It's none of their business," she said simply. "But, I know that's my deal and not yours, so if you want to tell them –"

"It's okay," he interrupted. "Probably save us both a lot of hassle and teasing from them if we keep it to ourselves."

She smiled, continuing to watch him for so long he grew uncomfortable.

"What?" he asked warily.

"Nothing, just – I'm going to go to bed soon..." she said.

"Oh."

Right. Of course I won't be staying over. Because that's not what fuck buddies do. Not sure he could disguise the bitterness of his thoughts, he flipped back the sheet and swung his legs off the bed, pulling on his boxers and grabbing the rest of his clothes. When he was dressed he found her studying him closely and grinned.

"Enjoying the show?"

"Mm-hm," she murmured emphatically, smiling.

He felt his cheeks get warm and looked away. His embarrassment grew when he heard her giggle. She walked him to the door and he pulled her in for a hug, automatically aiming for her mouth, feeling even more awkward when she moved so his lips landed on her cheek. This no-kissing rule was going to be difficult to remember.

"Hey," she said as he started out the door. "Thanks, really."

He snorted a laugh. "I think I should be thanking you."

To his surprise she blushed and gave a shy laugh.

"I meant - the car accident," she said. "Thank you for being there."

He was overcome and lifted a hand to her cheek, stroking it lightly.

"Always," he said sincerely.

Nina smiled appreciatively, watching until he disappeared before closing the door. Leaning against the door, she became aware of the slight ache in her muscles, that strange energized exhaustion that resulted from good sex. That was so much more than just good sex, she told herself. She couldn't remember anything ever feeling that wonderful. She floated down the hall to bed, a smile on her lips.