Animate Me (19 page)

“I have to warn you Nathan, my breasts, especially my nipples are super sensitive. Don’t be alarmed if I get carried away when you touch me.”

Is she kidding?
All I want right now is to make her get carried away. I want it really, really badly.

She scoots even closer, pushing herself firmly on top of my erection, finally giving me the friction I desperately need.

From the looks of how she’s arcing her back she wants me to take her nipple in my mouth. My tongue leads the way, and after its tentative introduction with a circle and a flick, I surrender to my instincts. Brooke wasn’t kidding about being sensitive. The minute my lips wrap around her she starts moving over me.

I guess in the back of my mind I’m always convinced that each time will be my last intimate experience with Brooke—that my lucky streak is finally over. So I’m hyper aware of every feeling, the way my heart skips when she winds her fingers through my hair and pulls me closer…the sounds she makes as I work my tongue over her, making me feel like I’m doing something really right.

Unlike Rachel, whose eye’s were always closed, Brooke’s eyes are open and she watches me doing everything I can to please her. Watching seems to arouse her even more.

Her fingers grasp my hair and she pulls hard as she rocks back and forth on my lap. I want to be inside her so badly, but I try to stay focused on not losing control. If she keeps rubbing against me like this I’m going to lose it for sure.

“Nathan?” she whispers, her voice hungry and raw.

“Mmmm?” I respond, as I look up, her nipple still in my mouth.

“I think I should warn you…I mean, if you keep doing that I’m going to come.”

In that moment it hits me that
I’m
making her feel this way. I pull back and look up at her while my fingers tighten over her nipples. I’m arousing her to the point that she may come undone in my arms, and I want that so badly.

“I really want to make you come, Brooke.” I insist, surprising myself with my boldness.

“You do?” She considers my expression while running her hand down my chest. “Is it turning you on to see what you’re doing to me?” Her face is flushed and her breathing fast and shallow.

I nod. “You’re so beautiful.” I take her in my mouth again, with a desperate urgency and she groans, her head falling back. “…and sexy,” I moan. “I’m so excited right now.”

“Believe me, I know how excited you are. You don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

“I’m not going to be able to hold on much longer,” I warn her. I sink into her cleavage and my hands cup her bottom and help guide her rhythm over me. My heart’s pounding.

But luckily I don’t have to worry about jumping the gun because her erotic dance suddenly becomes a powerful force. Watching her orgasm is like taking an advanced course in the power of female sexuality. The look on her face alone could make me come.

“Nathan,” she cries, her eyes fluttering, her body electrifying.

Oh man, I’ve never seen or felt anything like this. I just hold on tight and give her everything I have. I’m so focused on Brooke that my climax sideswipes me, hitting me with sudden impact. I gasp and surrender, as the wave hits me with astounding force.

I’m in the final moments of settling when I feel her lips against mine. The kiss is sensuous as her breasts graze against my chest.

“Good?” she whispers as she runs her fingers through my hair.

I grin. “Oh, yeah. You?” I’m so comfortable with her now that I’m not even embarrassed.

“Really great. I feel amazing.”

“You do?” I ask, knowing, but wanting to hear it again anyway.

She takes my face in her hands and looks into my eyes. “You make me feel amazing.”

She kisses me again, and as much as I don’t want to delude myself, I know I feel something else, another feeling in that kiss—something sweet and tender.

When I go into the bathroom to clean up I’m so happy that I don’t even care what a mess I’ve made getting off with my clothes on. I wipe up as best I can before I wash my hands and return to the living room.

Brooke is sprawled across the couch, and I smile at her. “Sorry about this, but I really need to take a shower and change. I can’t work on the website like this.”

“All messy from our fun?” she says, looking blissful.

“Yeah, pretty much,” I admit grinning.

“Don’t worry, I’m too relaxed and happy to focus on work anyway. I’m going to take a long hot bubble bath and go to bed. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

She takes my hand and leads me to the door before hugging me.

With my hand in hers I realize that Arnold’s lingering presence from earlier has completely faded.

“I’m sorry we made you messy.”

“I’m not,” I insist. “It was worth it.”

“You are really something Nathan Evans. I hope you know that there’s nothing more sexy than a man who makes a woman feel beautiful.” She gently pushes my messy hair out of my eyes and off my face.

“So I’m sexy now?” I tease.

“You’re a sex God, and I’m honored to be in your good graces.”

“Gee Brooke, you sure know how to make a guy feel great.” I grin. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Feeling entitled with my sex God crowning, I lean down and gently kiss her, savoring one more taste of her sweetness. When we part she smiles up at me. “Okay, tomorrow…I’ll be waiting.”

Between my thrill of pleasuring Brooke and anticipation of my meeting with Sharper Edge Comics tomorrow I can barely sleep. I pull out my iTouch and listen to Wayne, reliving every perfect moment with Brooke until I finally doze off.

• • •

There’s a mile stretch on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City where just about every fifth storefront is a sushi restaurant. I get so confused by their similar names that I’m almost late for my meeting with Chris from Sharper Edge Comics. It doesn’t even matter to me than I had sushi for dinner with Brooke last night because I’m probably going to be too nervous to eat.

Luckily when I get there Chris seems cool and laid back, not one of the “suits” who make a sport out of raking artists over the coals. He’s even wearing jeans without his shirt tucked in, so I immediately feel more at ease.

After we’ve ordered and gone through formalities, he asks me what my long range plans are for both my career and the B-Girl Series.

“The thing is, Nathan, you’re unique. You have a distinct, modern style with your art, combined with a very strong story sense and great character development. There’s a need for people who can create compelling characters and story lines….it’s a rare talent; where there are lots of ‘hands’ that can draw.”

He’s repeating what several of my Cal Arts professors told me, when they assured me that story and character development were my greatest strengths.

“But I like to draw,” I insist.

“You haven’t jobbed out any of the B-Girl pages yet to other artists?”

I shake my head. It seems sacrilege to have someone else draw B-Girl besides me.

“Well, that’s impressive, but you’ll have to when we pick up publication. It’ll be impossible for you to keep up with the schedule otherwise.”

“You’re going to test it first for a while, aren’t you, to see how it sells?” I ask, still tentative.

“Oh, it’s going to sell. We’ve done our research. We’re great at marketing and finding the book’s audience. I think you’ll be happy with what we can do for you.”

All the way back to the office I allow myself to imagine what the future could be, huge B-Girl banners at Comic Con and fan girls walking around wearing home-made B-Girl costumes. That’s when I’ll know for sure that I’ve really made it.

• • •

That afternoon on the way to Starbucks, Nick breaks away from the group and walks with me. I’m wondering if he’s going to say something nasty about the caricature that Andy did of Dani and I with Nick scowling in the background. But he surprises me instead with a compliment.

“You look happy, dude,” he comments.

“Yeah,” I agree. “I’m having a good day.”

“Is it true you missed Kevin’s birthday lunch because you had a meeting with a company about your comic book?”

“Uh huh, Sharper Edge Comics. I can’t believe it but unless the lawyers get stupid, I think this deal can work out.”

“Wow,” he says slapping me on the back. “That’s great, I hope it happens for you.”

“Thanks.” I say quietly as I smile at him. I know it means a lot for him to say this considering he’s still not sure what to make about Dani and me.

His face suddenly looks troubled. “But does this mean you’ll be leaving us?”

“I doubt it, and definitely not for now. It’s going to take a while to see if the story has the potential in the market they think it does. But printing and distributing them myself has been tough for me to do. I’ll never reach a broad audience unless I do a deal like this so I want to try it.”

He nods and gets quiet, so I try to continue the conversation.

“Hey, how did it go with Dani after we all went out? She was so happy when you offered to take her home.”

“We talked a little but she still seems very unsure about me. Maybe she thinks she can’t trust my intentions.”

“Well, then you’ll have to prove to her that she can,” I suggest.

“So, when did you get so fucking wise about women?” he teases.

“If I were wise about women, believe me, my situation would be a lot different right now.”

“Really?” he asks, curiosity written all over his face. “Hey, has Brooke been helping you with your B-Girl comics? You’ve been spending time with her. I notice that you always bring her coffee now, and you’re taking her to the Emmys and everything.”

“No, she hasn’t even seen one,” I admit nervously.

“Really?” he asks, too shocked for my comfort level. “I almost called her B-Girl the other day cause she looks so much like your main character.”

“Ahhh, please don’t do that. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea…I mean, it’s just a weird coincidence.” I don’t even look him in the eye, fearful that I’ll give myself away.

“Yeah, sure…coincidence.” He laughs. “Well, good luck explaining that one.”

Later when I walk into Brooke’s office and see her dressed in a pretty navy dress that wraps all around her and shows off her curves, all the B-Girl panic is forgotten.

“Hey, you’re dressed up. You look really pretty,” I say as I set the macchiato down on her desk.

“Thanks.” She smiles sweetly. “Arnauld took me to a nice restaurant for lunch. He’s still trying to make up for the Vegas thing…and guess what?”

“He’s not going to Vegas?” I ask, my nerves shattered to think I won’t be her Emmy date. I knew it was too good to be true.

“No!” she huffs like that would never happen, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

She sits up straight and throws her shoulders back proudly. “I read him the riot act. I warned him if he tells me one more time that my ass is too big or my breasts not big enough, that it’s the last time I’ll be around to hear it.”

I grin, happy to see her standing up for herself. “Oh, that’s great. What did he say?”

“He was speechless. For the first damn time I can remember, he was completely speechless. He just nodded his head and kept eating his osso bucco.”

“Ha! I’m sure you surprised him.”

“That I did,” she laughs. “You really inspired me. When I woke up this morning, I laid in bed and ran my hands over my body…and I felt so good…you know…sexy. It was the best I’d felt in that regard for a long time.”

I swallow hard and look down. Does she have any idea what saying things like that does to me? Now I’m going to be distracted all afternoon imagining her in bed touching herself.

I clear my throat and look up. “Well, you’re the sexiest woman I know, so I’m glad I could help. I’m also really happy that you set him straight.”

Wow…if he keeps screwing up, maybe he’ll be out of the picture soon.

She reaches across the desk and squeezes my hand. Her warmth lingers even after she pulls away to pick up her coffee. No matter how or when it happens, I love it when she touches me.

“Now what do we have today?” She turns the cup until my drawing faces her. This cup is so special that I had Starbucks give it to me empty ahead of time, so I could take my time rendering the image.

“Oh my God, Nathan! You need to draw this for me on good paper…I love it!”

I’m so happy she likes it; I put extra effort in to my illustration of an Emmy award and even used gold and bronze markers to fill in the drawing. In my version Brooke has replaced the winged bronze woman who normally holds up the sphere of metal. Brooke’s little feet are attached to the base as she stretches upwards, her hair flowing behind her. I paid particular attention to capture all of her curves. Brooke is the prize I would be so happy to win.

She reads the line I wrote small, underneath. “You’re always a winner to me.” She puts her hand over her heart and takes a sharp breath. I’m surprised by the sudden emotion.

“Nathan.” She sighs.

“Yes?” I ask tentatively. I hope I haven’t upset her for some reason, or stepped over some boundary I don’t understand.

“You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I hope you know how much I adore you.”