Courting Trouble. Kimberly Dean

over,’ the drummer panted.

      The mattress squeaked.

      ‘Like this?’ Margo asked.

      ‘No, turn the other way.’

      ‘Oh!’ her roomie squeaked. The sound turned into more of a coo. ‘Oh, my.’

      ‘Come on over, Sienna,’ a deep voice prompted. ‘I’ll help you relax.’

      This time, Sienna did jump off the bed. That hadn’t been Margo. She bounded the two steps it took to get to the door and locked it.

      She stepped back.

      And heard more sounds of pleasure.

      Unbidden, her nipples stiffened and she rubbed her hand over the strange sensation building in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t fear. She didn’t feel threatened, and she knew neither of them would make her do anything she didn’t want to do.

      But there had been desire in that male voice. A gruff kind of turn-on.

      Her knees weren’t steady when she took another step back and bumped against the bed.

      She should go somewhere. Anywhere. This might be her home, but the situation was becoming more than embarrassing. She could sleep on Erin’s sofa. Her BFF had already started packing things for storage after the wedding, but surely she had a sheet and pillow to spare.

      Although it was nearly two o’clock in the morning.

      Sienna stared at the clock on her nightstand and swept her hand through her hair. She couldn’t wake Erin. It would take the rest of the night to peel her off the ceiling if she called this late.

      But God.

      The words from next door disintegrated to whispers and sighs. Sienna could hear the creaking of old box springs, the wisp of sheets and the jingle of Margo’s tambourine on the bedpost.

      She moved to the window, trying to concentrate on the rain that had started outside. The heaviness in the air had made it feel even warmer, but the humidity was finally squeezing out raindrops. They wetted the street and streamed down the glass in rivulets. Instead of distracting her, though, the low clouds only tamped down the space.

      The soft rain increased the intimacy and cocooned her with the lovers in the tiny apartment.

      The drummer in the nearby bed let out a guttural sound, and Sienna bit her lip to stop a corresponding moan.

      Oh, she missed sex.

      She might not be any good at it, according to her ex, but she’d liked the intimacy. She’d liked the surprise and the physicality of it.

      She swept her hand down her arm to quiet the goosebumps, but they only perked up harder.

      She missed being touched. She wanted to be kissed. She wanted to feel the weight of a man holding her down as he spread her legs wide.

      ‘Mmmmmm,’ she whimpered.

      She swept her hair off the back of her neck. It was so warm in here, and the rain outside only added to the clamminess. The air-conditioning was fighting a losing battle.

      ‘Come on, babe,’ the man next door said urgently.

      Sienna’s head fell back. She was not going next door. He wasn’t talking to her any more, and she would never ever engage in a three-way.

      Not with her roommate, anyway.

      ‘Give it up, pretty girl. You know you want to.’

      Sienna’s toes curled into the carpeting. She couldn’t leave, and she couldn’t get away. The situation was driving her crazy.

      She sat down on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs and pressed them together hard, but the silk slip teased her tender skin. It rode high on her thighs. Her core ached, and she gasped when she found herself rubbing back and forth on the firm mattress.

      ‘That’s right. Let me make you feel good.’

      Her head dropped back. Need was consuming her.

      She flicked away a bead of sweat that had formed between her breasts, but her breath caught at the sensation. Her hand had brushed against her nipple.

      She bit her lip. It had felt good. A bit naughty, but safe.

      She turned her head away, towards the opposite wall, but the sounds refused to be ignored … and her hand slipped lower this time, to cup her breast fully.

      She shuddered at the unexpected relief it gave her.

      Oh, she really shouldn’t … but what if she just …

      Teeth still worrying her lower lip, she hesitantly looked down. Her hand was cupped fully over her breast, her fingers spread wide. Her nipple felt hard against the middle of her palm, while its twin jutted straight out, tenting the other fragile cup of the camisole.

      Giving in, she cupped it, too. Her breath became ragged as she felt herself. If she closed her eyes, she could pretend it wasn’t her hands touching her. She’d never been one for self-gratification. It had always felt too … personal. Too embarrassing. Too distasteful.

      But this felt good. The warm hold felt confident on her soft flesh, but it wasn’t quite what she wanted. Emboldened by the sex sounds floating in the air and the privacy of her room, she slid her hands under the cups of the camisole and shivered. Oh, that was better.

      Skin on skin. Strength against vulnerability. Feeling brave, she carefully explored the swollen tips of her breasts. They were stiffening and reddening and …

      ‘Ah!’ she cried when she gave them a soft pinch. They were sensitive.

      Sienna quickly looked at the wall, scared that the other occupants might have heard her, but their intimate sounds continued uninterrupted. Glancing at the closed door, she impulsively slid the straps of the camisole over her shoulders and pushed it down to her waist. Sliding her hands up her stomach, she felt her warm skin.

      She fell back on the bed when her hands settled where she wanted them the most.

      Kyle had never spent much time with her breasts and, when he had, he’d been rather ham-handed. He’d sucked at her like a piglet tugging for milk, but, unlike him, she’d never complained.

      It had felt too good to be touched. And stroked. And ridden.

      ‘You are so hot, babe. Come on, you know you want it.’

      Oh, God, she did. Her erogenous zones were lighting up. Sienna rubbed her thighs together helplessly. Rolling onto her side, she drew her legs to her chest. None of it helped the ache deep in her core.

      She slid one of her hands down her stomach. Maybe if she –

      She gasped and yanked her hand away. No, she couldn’t do it. She knew others did. Erin talked about masturbating when Marty travelled for his job. Sienna had never been able to work up the nerve.

      The feel of her own fingers on her most private place? She gave a shiver. It was just too shocking. She even used a washcloth in the shower – although she’d come to look forward to that part of getting clean a bit too much.

      No, she was aroused and needy, but she just couldn’t make herself do it.

      ‘Spread your legs wider, honey. I gotta get inside you.’

      Honey, baby, pretty girl. The endearments in that rough voice were getting to her almost as much as the sighs and grunts. Sienna squirmed on the mattress, her legs opening and closing as she tried to find some relief.

      She rolled towards the nightstand, intending to turn her alarm-clock radio on to block out the words. Margo’s boyfriend might be talking to his lover, but it was as if he was whispering the rough endearments right into Sienna’s ear. He was making her want him.

      No, he was making her want a man.

      Her gaze locked on the closed drawer of the nightstand, and an idea