By a Thread (12 page)

Finnegan’s kept the beer pong tables up for several weeks and made teams sign up for a tournament. She, Millie, Patrick, and Billy had entered the beer pong tournament. Billy and Stella were a team and beating everyone, but so were Millie and Patrick.

Stella and Millie had started their scheduled study groups getting ready for finals. One of her classes without Millie was National Security Law and her study group had just finished meeting. Millie was waiting for her in the student lounge, reading a novel.

“How do you have the energy to read anything other than to study right now?” Stella asked as she slumped down next to Millie on the couch.

“I’m a well-rounded person, El, you know that. Plus, this book is so good. It’s by one of my favorite authors.” Millie shut the book and looked at Stella with a serious expression. “I believe it’s my duty as your best friend to get you laid.”

“Excuse me,” Stella started laughing. “Believe me, if I wanted to get laid I could. Shit, Billy would probably have sex with me.”

“Confident much?” Millie said standing up.

“Not confident… honest. If a girl wants to get laid, she can. Period. That’s the truth.” Stella followed Millie through the cafeteria and to the elevators. They waited with a bunch of other law students to get on the elevator.

“Then why haven’t you?” Millie stage-whispered.

“Not talking about that here.” Stella stared at the numbers as they stopped at the main floor and most of the occupants got out. She and Millie stayed in to go to the garage where her car was parked. They had carpooled.

“I mean. I think it’d make you a better person. You know, put you in a better mood.”

“I’m sure it would.” Stella was thinking she was getting a little sexually frustrated, she had some wild dreams about George recently.

“Maybe we will meet someone this summer for you to use for his body.”

“Maybe…” Stella was pretty sure she was not ready for any sort of complications so using a guy for his body sounded perfect.

“You know who is super-hot?” Millie walked out of the elevator toward Stella’s car.

“I’m sure I have no idea.”

“George.” Stella kept looking ahead, hoping she wasn’t giving anything away.

“We’re friends.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Getting in the car Stella finally looked at Millie. “You know that’s not true, why are you lying?”

Millie laughed, “Because George is fucking hot and he’s single.”

“How do you know he’s single?” Stella steered her car out of the garage onto Massachusetts Avenue and toward Millie’s house. “Anyway, that doesn’t mean anything, Millie.”

“But it does, he looks at you like he wants to eat you.” She giggled.

“He does not...” she protested, but she had caught him looking at her lately like she was a steak.

“Yes, he does. Now, this is a good thing because you can get laid.”

“I can go to any bar tonight and get laid.” Stella said defiantly.

“Prove it.”

“Fine, good thing we are going to a bar tonight.” Stella turned onto Millie’s street. “I do want to remind you that you are not going to bully me into getting laid. The goal is whether someone would be willing to fuck me.”

“You are so gruff... fine. Someone willing.”

Stella walked upstairs in a tight halter-top dress that stopped at mid-thigh. It was red and she was wearing nude strappy sandals with a high heel. Billy looked amused when she walked into the den.

“How are you going to play beer pong in that?”

“Very well.” She responded and sat down and cross her legs demurely.

“Can’t you change? You will distract me with all...” he waved his hand over her chest and then down to her ass, “that.”

“Well go ahead and look, because the goal will be to distract all of our opponents, which may I remind you are mostly men.”

Billy laughed, “You’re a fucking evil genius. I love it.”

Patrick and Millie came out of Patrick’s room and stopped abruptly when they saw Stella.

“Last minute strategy session for the game?” she asked.

“What’re you wearing,” Patrick asked, not amused.

“Well, this is called a dress and these are shoes,” she said sarcastically, pointing to each item.

Millie looked at her own tank top, jeans, and flip-flops. “Well played, ma’am. Well played.”

When they walked into Finnegan’s it was like time stopped and she saw at least ten guys sitting at or around the bar stop what they were doing and look at her. She smirked at Millie, “This is going to be like taking candy from a baby.”

Patrick laughed. “What does that expression even mean? Don’t babies like candy?”

Millie leaned into her ear and said, “It would be if you weren’t still wearing your engagement ring.”

Stella’s eyes went wide. “Guys will have sex with me anyway,” she said, but she knew Millie was right. “Fuck.” Then she walked up to Patrick, “Hey Patrick, I don’t want my ring getting nasty with all the beer. Could you hold onto it for tonight?” she asked looking at Millie.

“Well, I didn’t see that one coming.” Millie pouted and then went to the bar to get the schedule of their game.

Billy patted the chair at the bar next to his, “Let’s go over strategy.”

“I think I have it covered.” She smiled as she waved at George, his eyes going wide when he saw her.

“Um, did you forget we were playing Patrick and Millie. They’ve both seen you naked on numerous occasions. I don’t think that strategy will work for that game.”

“Billy, calm down. We’ll win if we keep playing like we have been.”

“Hey Billy, Stella.” George had moved to right in front of them at the bar. “Can I get ya’ll something?”

“Hey George,” Stella greeted and leaned into the bar giving him a clear shot of her cleavage. “Can you make a Cosmo?”

“Sure.” His face turned red and then he looked at Billy.

“Harp,” Billy said.

“Be right back,” George said taking off.

Taking her drink she made her way back toward the beer pong tables and waited on their game. She was really bad at this flirting thing, she thought. Taking in the crowd, she didn’t see any guys she was even interested in talking to let alone having sex with, but she also didn’t want to lose her bet with Millie.

As she was waiting, she played with the strap on her of her shoes and watched the match. She laughed as the four guys took shots of beer one after another. She felt eyes on her before she saw who they belonged to. When Stella looked up, George was staring at her like he was undressing her with his eyes. She smiled and he smiled bigger. She wanted to lick his dimples. Stella took him in as he walked over to her where she sat. His broad shoulders were stressing the tight T-shirt he was wearing. It was light blue and made his eyes look more grey than usual.

“What’s with the dress?” George sat next to her casually putting his arm behind her.

“Nothing, what’s up with your tight shirt?” She said touching his chest casually.

He looked down and started laughing, “Nothing.”

They sat together for a few minutes watching the match in comfortable silence and then he leaned into whisper in her ear, his breath warm, but causing goose bumps to spread quickly through her body. His lips on her ear did things to her she thought were long gone. “Where’s your ring?”

Stella closed her eyes and said, “Gone.”

“Why?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“George,” she barely breathed into his ear before Billy came and grabbed her pulling her to the table so they could begin their match. Stella’s body was buzzing in a way she hadn’t felt in years. She turned up her drink and downed the entire Cosmo, looking back at George giving him a weak smile.

Millie threw her ball first and it landed in the cup right in front of Billy. He drank first. Patrick hit another, Stella drank. They hit every cup until there was only one left. Billy was cussing, furious. Millie missed the last shot. It was Billy’s turn now. Stella and Billy hit every cup, Billy hitting the side of the last cup causing them both to gasp. After what seemed to be an eternity the ball fell in the last cup. They won. Billy picked up Stella and ran around the bar with her. She was trying to keep her dress from riding up, they looked ridiculous. Patrick was pissed, he didn’t like to lose.

Patrick walked over to them and threw his arms around them both. “Next time,” he said. Mille just drank the last shot of beer and hobbled over to where they were sitting.

“So, I’m drunk. How’s everyone else?”

“I need more to drink,” Stella complained. When she looked up George was standing there with a round of beer for everyone.

“For the victors you drink for free the rest of the night,” he smiled at Stella. “You two, these are on the house but you will have to pay for the rest.”

“Thanks George,” Millie purred.

“Go ahead and bring another round, George, this is going to be a long night of me drinking to forget.”

Patrick, Millie, and Billy looked at her and she looked at her finger. George heard her, but he had already turned around.

“Hey George, you remember when you asked me out on a date?” Stella yelled over the music in the bar.

“No, not really,” George answered, but his face blushed remembering.

“I was wondering if you were ready for anything else yet,” Stella was drunker than usual. She’d been drinking since lunch with Millie and they were both worse for the wear.

“Whatcha talkin’ about, El?” Millie giggled and closed her eyes.

“Millie, I told George, awhile ago, that I don’t date, but I would be interested in doing other things with him and he’s failed to get back to me on that.”

“George, that’s just rude.” Millie leaned back a little in her bar stool and shouted, “My friend needs some assistance in the sex department. Who wants to sign up?”

They both burst out in loud obnoxious laughter. George’s face turned bright red and he moved to the opposite side of the bar. That is, until he saw a guy approach them, followed by another. They were actually flirting with these guys. George walked out from behind the bar and grabbed Stella by her elbow.

“Uh oh, Millie...” Stella laughed. “I think I’m in trouble.” George was dragging her behind him.

“Maybe he’ll spank you,” Millie yelled and burst out laughing.

George pushed her into the office and shut the door. He walked in and circled the desk, “You can’t seriously go home with one of those pricks?”

“Why not?” Stella looked around at the office. “It’s not like I’m with anyone, George.” She walked over to where he was standing.

“You’re not like that, El.” George stared into her eyes.

“Oh George, you don’t know what I’m like.” She dragged a hand across his chest. “I’d be more than willing to show you.”

“El, you think I don’t know you. I know you very well. I know you are pushing me, you want me to want you, but you don’t want to give in.” George pushed her hair off her face and kissed her hungrily.

She gasped separating her mouth from his, “George... I didn’t know you had it in you.” She smiled and rubbed her hand over the crotch of his jeans. “You up for the challenge?” she chided.

He attacked her, pushing her back against the wall and pulling her legs around his waist. He kissed her neck, her mouth, and pushed her shirt down and kissed her cleavage. Stella’s breath was rapid and her heart was beating fast. “Are you?” George set her down and walked out of the office.

“Holy shit,” Stella rolled over in her bed, her head feeling like there were spikes on her brain. Every time she moved her head infinitesimally pain erupted in her head. Her mouth was like it had been stuffed with some sort of really nasty-smelling cloth. She worked her mouth up and down and tried to steady herself while pushed herself up off the bed. She closed her eyes and an image flashed in her mind. Her and George kissing in the bar’s office.
Wow!
She had no idea George would trigger such feelings in her, she wasn’t sure she even had those feelings after Jamie or maybe it had just been so long she didn’t remember what those feelings were like.

She turned the water on in her bathroom and drank directly from the sink. Stella hadn’t been this hung over in a very long time. She put both of her fingers to her mouth remembering the kiss or more like a mauling. Her lips were still red from the kisses, and swollen. He’d been so mad she was going to leave with another guy from the bar. She’d never been interested in leaving the bar with anyone other than Patrick or Billy before last night, which was a little sad if she thought about it.

She pulled Jamie’s jersey over her naked body and walked to the back door to let Cooper out. The jersey and the ring were the only things of her life with Jamie that she saw on a regular basis. She’d gotten through it, she sighed. She hadn’t put the ring back on since she took it off at Finnegan’s. It was in the box with all her memories of Jamie. George was nothing like Jamie. Chastising herself, she was so not ready for relationship material. George was a bartender and would clearly be open to having sex based on their encounter last night.

She opened the fridge and drank orange juice out of the carton. She heard a chuckle from the den. “You’re as bad as we are.” Billy called from in front of his video game.

“Had a little too much fun last night, El?”

“You could say that.”

Stella ran a hand through her hair and grabbed her phone off the table there was a message.

Glad U left with Millie. To b continued

She smiled and put her fingertips to her lips and traced her bottom lip.

“So where did ya’ll go?”

Stella sat down next to Billy and sat as ladylike as possible with only a shirt on. “We went to happy hour in Adams Morgan, but ended up at Finnegan’s, of course.”

“What’s with the gooey look this morning?”

Stella stared at the video game, “You mean the hung over look, I think you should recognize that as long as we have lived together.” Stella smiled and looked at Billy. “Where’s Patrick?”

“Lisa... I know your hung over look, but you have a gooey lovey look in your eyes I’ve never seen before.”

Stella busted out laughing, “A lovey look?” she asked incredulously. “I don’t do lovey.” She made finger quotes around “lovey.”

“Well, your hungover ass face is doing something.” Billy retorted.

Stella snorted, “Ass face?”

“...and you’re being funny and almost pleasant.” Billy smiled, “I’m confused by your change in attitude today. I’ve only known one you and you are switching it up.”

“Shut up Billy, I’m always funny.” Stella threw a pillow at him.

“Oh you think you’re funny...” Billy paused his game and looked at her. “I like it. I hope you continue to be pleasant because I like your smile and I haven’t seen it nearly enough.” Billy started his game and Stella smiled to herself.

The next weekend, Stella limped over to the bathroom in Finnegan’s. She and Patrick had run ten miles that morning and she was already sore, which was a bad sign. She, Billy, and Patrick had starting drinking early this Friday and it was starting to relieve some of the pain she felt in her legs. As she pushed the door to the bathroom open, she was pulled by the arm into another door across the small hall.

Shrieking due to being surprised, she almost fell into whoever had a death grip in her right arm. She was pushed up against the wall in the little office and George was pressed against her entire body. Her body responded immediately, a slow smile crept across her face.

“Well, hello there, George. You need something?” Her face inches from his. Stella gazed into his eyes and saw only desire before he kissed her. George had both of his hands wrapped around her jaw with his thumbs close to her mouth. Then he moved his left hand through her hair and parted her lips with his. She moaned into his mouth and leaned her head back. George took that opportunity to kiss her exposed neck. Out of breath Stella whispered near his ear, “So does this mean you’re interested?”

He nipped at her top lip before he answered, “That would be a yes.” His hands were now roaming all over her body igniting it like she hadn’t felt in years. “If I weren’t working I would take you home immediately,” he growled.

“What’s wrong with here,” she teased and pulled his ear lobe with her teeth.

“Oh, no. This is going to be slow and deliberate.” She smiled at him, putting his arms on the wall framing her face.

“I’m a fan of both, but I’ll allow it.” She blew her bangs out of her eyes. “I like this side of you, George.” She ducked under his arm that was blocking her against the wall. “Very sexy.” She opened the door and walked backward out of the little office, trying to appear like the adventure hadn’t affected her. It was clear from his pants that George had been. “You may want to stay in here a minute,” she laughed, pointing at his crotch, and limped her way to the bathroom.

The rest of the night dragged as Stella’s stomach twisted with anticipation. She told Patrick and Billy to leave without her. George assured Patrick he would get her home safely, he winked at her as he said it. She was so nervous she drank a little more that she intended. As she waited for George to finish his duties at the bar, she texted Millie.

So tonite- me and George

U & G what?

He’s going home with me

Good you need a lay—don’t fuck it up

How encouraging

It’s like riding a bike

I used to be good at that once too

Don’t worry

Nervous

Don’t be. Call me with details tomorrow… never mind I’m coming over

George walked over to where she was slouched at the table.

“Sorry you had to wait, love.” He put his hand through her hair and looked into her eyes.

“You ready?” he asked.

“I’m the one who has been waiting for you,” she replied, accepting his hand as he pulled her out of the chair.

“No love, I’ve been waiting for you for over a year,” he smiled and guided her outside.

After a self-conscious walk to Stella’s house, they barely made it into her room before she literally ripped his shirt off. He growled and picked her up. Stella wrapped her legs around him and explored his mouth with hers.

“El?”

She was breathless as he threw her on her bed. “Let me do this how I want, okay?” George was looking at her so intensely it made her pause for a minute.

“You kiss me like that again and you can do what you want with me.”

A grin spread slowly across his beautiful face. He lifted her shirt and kissed her stomach and pulled her shirt over her head. She struggled with his belt.

“I’ve dreamed about this,” George put his hands on her face and kissed her so gently it took her breath.

“George...” she sighed.

He quieted her with his lips, pushing harder against her. “Shh,” he hushed her with his mouth. Then George pulled her pants off and began kissing every inch of her body, starting with her ankle and went all the way up her leg to where she was throbbing for him. She wanted him so bad.

“George.”

“Quiet, El. Let me love you.”

She was so caught up in the moment and her wants and needs that she didn’t correct him.