Chapter Twenty-seven

It was him. She was sure of it. Like the Greek god Triton, there was Nico Jones, rising from the waters of Lake Michigan. Becca sat watching his near-naked body, mesmerized by the sheer he-ness of him. His sun-kissed, cocoa-colored skin gleamed as water dripped from his hair and clung to his oiled and buffed body like diamond drops.

Oak Street Beach at Lake Shore Drive—Chicago’s version of the famed Venice Beach—was billed as one of the city’s sexiest summertime hangouts, and the presence of Nico Jones merely added truth to the notion. From sun-worshipping bikini-clad beauties to meeting-weary businessmen walking the beach with their pants rolled to the ankle, from happy tourists to Rollerbladers and cyclists, Oak Street Beach was the gathering spot to see and be seen. And this third Sunday in June was no exception.

“Hot damn!” Cris exclaimed sitting up and removing his shades for a better look.

“Whoa. Oh my God, that’s Nico,” Becca informed him, gripping his arm tightly. Neither one of them could take their eyes off the shoreline.

“Your Nico?”

“Yep. My Nico,” she said with a pride of ownership she didn’t really deserve.

“Damn,” Cris repeated, his words changing from enthusiasm to concern. “No wonder you were bugging.”

Nico stepped through the people-littered sand to his staked-out territory, just a Frisbee throw away from Becca’s adoring eyes. Instead of toweling off, he lay down on a large blanket to air dry. She was relieved to see that the beauties surrounding him were of the toddler variety. At least today, she would have him all to herself.

“How do I look?” Becca asked, scrambling to find her purse and cosmetic kit. Why hadn’t she worn the yellow bikini instead of this totally unremarkable tank suit?

“You look great. Just throw on some more gloss and big attitude,” Cris suggested.

Becca straightened up her ponytail and put on her skirt and oversize sunglasses before taking a deep breath and venturing over. She stood, unnoticed, looking down at him, taking a moment to admire his beauty. Nico lay on his back, his arm crossed over his face to shield the late-afternoon sun from his eyes. Had biceps ever been so beautiful? From the slow rhythm of his breath, it was apparent that he was napping. As she debated whether to disturb him or not, Becca had to fight the urge to lie down and snuggle up beside him.

“Nico?” she asked, hoping she sounded as surprised as she was pretending to be. Becca watched as he slowly opened first his eyes, then his lips to smile. “What are you doing here?”

“This is one of my favorite spots,” he informed her, sitting up. The way he studied her face and torso, it was clear that he had no idea who she was.

“Can I get silk panties here?” she asked, smiling and hoping he’d get the clue and remember their first encounter.

Becca could see the pages of his memory turning as he tried to remember. “Ah, sexy ring girl. How are you, gorgeous?”

“I’m good, but, well,” she said, smiling nervously, “you said you would call.”

“Oh, don’t put it on me. I waited for you to call me at the bar. When you didn’t I figured you’d just blown me off for some other lucky dude,” he said, tagging his on-the-fly explanation with an irresistible smile.

She tried, but Becca was unable to keep a poker face. She knew there had to be a plausible explanation for Nico’s not following through on his promise to contact her. She was delighted that he’d wanted to talk with her and mortified that she’d screwed up so badly. Yet fate had happily extended them a second chance.

“So, gorgeous, what do you say we have that hookup we never got to have?”

“Whoa, now?” Becca asked, feeling her eyes go wide with excitement.

“Absolutely. I don’t want to wait another moment. I know it’s short notice, so if you already have plans—”

“No, now is perfect,” she admitted, a bit too quickly. She knew her overeager response had just cost her many cool points, but Becca didn’t care. Nico Jones was so eager to see her that now was not soon enough.

“Okay. Um, could you…don’t go away…’cause I have to…I’ll be right back,” she rambled on nervously. Becca took several steps backwards, unable to tear her eyes away from her good fortune. It wasn’t until she tripped slightly that the spell was broken and Becca hurried back to Cris.

“He wants to take me out,” she reported as she began frantically gathering up all her beach apparel.

“Okay, but did you find out why he didn’t call you?”

“He said he was waiting for me to call him.”

“And you believe him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. But he’s here now,” Becca admitted with a giggle, “and he wants to hook up with me.”

Becca turned and took two steps, then turned back around to Cris. “I’m nervous,” she admitted, hugging her belongings to her chest.

“You’ll be fine. Just play it by ear. Here, take this,” he said, finding his batted-up jeans and reaching into the pocket, pulling out a condom. “And call me as soon as you get home. I want details. Every last juicy one!”

“So who do you thank every night for those sexy green eyes? Your mom or dad?” Nico asked as they sat outside of Oak Street Beachstro, finishing up a Chicago-style deep dish pizza smothered in hot pepper flakes.

Even after all these years, the question still caught her off-guard. Becca had no idea whose eyes she’d inherited.

“My dad,” she told him, falling back on a fifty-fifty guess.

“I bet he has no idea what an exotic and sexy gift he gave the world,” Nico said, sliding his fingers between hers.

Both his words and touch caused Becca to blush. “So why did you become a bartender?” she asked, wanting to know but also wanting to turn the conversation away from her parentage.

“Because one day I want to own my own bar. No, make that several—first here in Chi-Town, and Vegas, then L.A. So I’m learning the biz from the ground up. Besides, I love bartending. Mixing cocktails is an art form—kind of like cooking. I like coming up with new recipes and drink presentations, though silk panties wasn’t my recipe,” he said, shooting her a devastating grin.

“That’s a crazy name.”

“Yes, but a memorable one. There are a lot of drinks with sexy names.”

“Tell me some,” Becca insisted, enjoying the spicy taste of both the meal and their conversation.

“Well, there’s the slow comfortable screw. That’s vodka, Southern Comfort, sloe gin, and OJ. And who can forget a screaming orgasm, which is amaretto, Bailey’s, and Grand Marnier,” Nico informed her with a sly smile while lightly caressing her hand. “And then there’s my favorite, sex on the beach.”

“What’s in…uh…that?” Becca asked, her words momentarily catching in her throat.

“It’s delicious,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “Vodka, melon and raspberry liqueur, and pineapple and cranberry juice. Everyone should try it at least once.”

Becca giggled nervously, not knowing how to respond to Nico’s sexual innuendos. The two sat staring at each other for several moments before Nico abruptly stood. “I can’t take those eyes any longer, and it is getting hot as hell in here.”

“But we’re outside.”

“Which says a lot about how you affect me. How about we get out of here and go enjoy the beach. I know the perfect spot. You haven’t lived until you’ve watched the sunset on the lake. Wait here for a minute,” Nico told her as he disappeared into the bar area. He reemerged five minutes later with a bottle of white wine and two plastic cups, thoughtfully uncorked by his fellow bartender.

Nico reached for her hand as they departed the restaurant. Becca smiled joyfully in the dusky light as she actively refrained from breaking into a skip. Here she was, walking hand in hand with Nico Jones as if they were a couple. Could life get any better than this moment?

Dialogue was sparse, but Becca didn’t mind. She was far too starstruck and dumbfounded by her good fortune to make any kind of decent conversation. Shoes in hand, she followed Nico through the sand about a quarter mile onto a concrete jetty that jutted out over the lake. It was a more private location away from traffic and beachcombers and provided a spectacular view of Lake Michigan. Nico pulled the blanket from his backpack and spread it out across the jetty.

“This is the hottest spot in the city,” Nico declared. The two sat shoulder to shoulder, sipping their wine and enjoying the colorful spectacle of the setting sun. After two glasses, Nico put his arm around Becca and stroked her neck as they watched the violet blue sky turn dark over the lake. Becca sat in blissful awe, luxuriating in Nico’s presence and listening to the soothing lap of the lake waves. It was the perfect sensory blend of touch, sight, and sound, and Becca had never seen, nor could she have imagined, such a perfectly dreamy setting.

“So, gorgeous, I’ve been wanting to tell you something all night,” Nico said, turning to face her.

“Yes?”

“Those lips of yours are driving me crazy. May I?” he asked, leaning in so their foreheads touched but progressing no further. She could smell the wine as his warm breath gently misted her face. She grinned, knowing right then that he was special. Unlike Gil or Mike, Nico had asked permission to kiss her. He hadn’t simply assumed it was okay, and Becca was touched by his thoughtfulness.

In lieu of a verbal response, Becca brought her lips to his, timidly kissing him, hoping she was doing it right. Did lips have muscle memory? She tried to recall the kisses she’d shared with Gil at the Crème de la Crème. Becca mimicked his movements, and added a few of her own.

He returned her kiss with the practiced expertise of a sexual vagabond. Nico showered her face with soft, fluttery kisses as he pulled the elastic band from her ponytail, freeing her hair. He pulled away long enough to entangle his hands in Becca’s mane, using his fingers to comb gently through her hair.

Brushing a wayward lock from her face, Nico began nibbling at her ears and neck. Using his body weight, he gently pushed her back on the blanket, positioning their torsos until they were on their sides, lying belly to belly. The concrete was hard, but after Nico’s long, toe-curling kiss Becca felt as if she were floating and ceased to notice. His kisses continued to release the tension in Becca’s body, leaving her increasingly relaxed and receptive.

“You really are beautiful,” he whispered, his breath on her ears feeling like butterfly wings. “I’m so glad you found me. It’s like we were meant to be together today.”

Becca melted under his touch and sensitive words. A slight moan escaped her mouth as he nibbled and sucked on her lower lip. She felt his hands caress her neck, shoulders, and back. And, not sure exactly what to do, she mirrored his actions. It soon became apparent that though inexperienced, she was still effective, as she could feel Nico’s hardness pressing against her leg.

Nico’s hands migrated to her breasts. Through the silky fabric of her bathing suit he massaged her nipples until they were hard and stood at attention. He gently nipped them with his teeth before slipping the straps down her arms far enough to expose her breasts to the newborn moonlight.

“Your breasts are beautiful.”

“Wait.” Becca insisted in a breathless whisper, sitting up. Her list of lovers was a short and undistinguished one, and even though her body was begging to continue, she was hesitant. Shouldn’t they spend more time together before they had sex? More than anything, Becca was afraid of Nico’s reaction when he learned that her come-hither walk and talk was more an act than a lifestyle.

“What, gorgeous? Tell me what’s wrong?”

“I haven’t…well…it’s just that I haven’t done this much and, well…what if someone sees us?”

“Don’t worry. Nobody is going to see us way out here. And on the very off chance that somebody does, they’ll just think that I’m one lucky dude,” he told her while massaging her breasts.

“I’m not sure we should do this,” she said, trying to maintain her focus.

“Don’t you like me?”

“Yes.”

“Good, because I like you. Let me show you how much,” he lobbied before replacing his hands with his mouth. He sucked and licked her nipples individually before pushing them together and devouring both in one mouthful. It was an action designed to shake any residual apprehensions, and judging from the aroused moans and close-eyed, dreamy look on Becca’s face, it had done its job. She no longer had the power or the desire to resist him.

Craving skin-on-skin contact, Nico once again pulled away, this time to quickly unbutton and remove his shirt and pants. Stripped down to his bathing trunks, he lay on top of her, his mouth and hands moving wildly over the length of Becca’s body. And after awakening every nerve ending between her head and toes, Nico slipped his hand under her skirt, pushed her swimsuit to the side, and let his fingers explore her inner woman. He fingered her gently, judging the scope of her desire by her body movements and vocalizations.

Becca, feeling wet and ready, remembered the condom Cris had given her. What should she do? Her body was on fire and, looking at Nico’s face contorted with such intense pleasure, she wondered if she really wanted to ruin their first time together with talk of safe sex? She’d just finished her period so she was sure pregnancy was not an issue, but what about all the other stuff? Was there really any harm in doing it unprotected just this one time?

Always trust your gut. Safe is sexy, so be smart. Pia’s advice raced through Becca’s head.

“Nico, I have a condom,” she cooed in his ear.

“You came prepared. You’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you?” Nico said, taking the condom from her and quickly putting it on. Within seconds he was back to grinding his pelvis slowly into hers. Nico continued to tease her with his tongue, hands, and penis, his words acting as an additional aphrodisiac for both of them.

Unable to hold out any longer, Nico slowly penetrated Becca, letting the tip of his engorged penis slip and slide in the juices of her desire. With each thrust he went deeper, enjoying the rub of every crease and crevice of her vagina.

Nico covered Becca’s mouth with his and he reached down between her legs and wet a fingertip with her juices. While he pumped her, Nico massaged Becca’s clitoris into orgasmic frenzy.

She swallowed her screams of pleasure while her body erupted into wave after wave of her first orgasm. Nico continued to ride her, his pace becoming more frantic as he approached his own orgasm. Becca looked at him and saw that his eyes were closed and his face was contorted and tense as he rode his way to ejaculation before collapsing on top of her.

“Oh my God, that was amazing,” he declared, and kissed her on her forehead.

Becca smiled, thrilled that she had pleased Nico. Snuggled up to his body, she listened to the sounds of the waves and tried to dissect what had just taken place. She didn’t feel as she’d expected she would. She had successfully seduced the hottest guy in Chicago, had lusty, adventurous sex, and despite her inexperience had managed to satisfy him to the point of being called amazing, and yet Becca didn’t feel like a winner. She didn’t understand. Nico had made all the right moves, said all the right things, and brought her to her first rip-roarin’ orgasm, but something was still missing.

It wasn’t until Becca was at home curled up in her own bed that she realized what that something was. Not once this evening had Nico called her by name.