Having It All Read online

  “Yeah, sure.” He grinned over the top of his menu. “Are mushrooms too Fear Factor-ish for you?”

  She batted her eyelashes. “I can do mushrooms.”

  “Excellent.” Nick closed his menu and took hers, laying them both on the table. “Would you like anything else? How about breadsticks?”

  “No.” She smiled, looking in his warm eyes. “I don’t think we’ll need any breadsticks tonight.” Remembering the cell phone in her purse, she said, “Let me go wash up while you order. I’ll be right back.”

  “Promise?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Absolutely.” She waved a hand in the air. “I haven’t snuck out a bathroom window in years.”

  “All right then.” He settled back into his seat. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Mandy crinkled her nose at him and went to call Dee. Then she shut her phone off. She didn’t want any interruptions.

  * * * *

  She found Nick funny and charming and very intelligent. He was her age, a junior in Business Management with a high grade point average. She was impressed. Hers was high, but nothing like his.

  “So you want to be a teacher?” He pushed his plate away.

  Mandy shrugged, nibbling the last of her pizza before doing the same. “I guess. I’ve always liked working with children.”

  “Children.” Nick feigned a shiver. “Never had much use for them, myself.”

  “Really?” Her eyes widened. “I love kids. My mom got remarried a few years ago and I have a three-year-old brother.”

  He flashed a sarcastic grin. “Delightful. You’re happy about that?”

  She laughed. “Yep. Ty is great, so sweet and innocent. I hope he grows up just like my step-dad, because Sam is really cool.”

  “That’s nice to hear. Usually step-parents aren’t so wonderful.”

  “Sam has long hair that he wears in a ponytail and he’s got a pierced ear. He’s different from anyone I thought my mom might end up with, but they’re very happy together.”

  “What about your dad?” Nick stirred the straw around in his drink.

  “Well,” she hesitated, not sure she wanted to go into many details. Nick seemed so friendly, she decided to open up a little. “My dad died when I was seven. He had Leukaemia.”

  Nick winced. “Wow, sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine losing my father. I can’t stand to be around the guy most of the time, but I wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.”

  “It was rough,” Mandy agreed and used his comment to change the subject. “So you and your dad don’t get along?”

  He grinned. “No, we get along fine. He just drives me up the wall. Sure he knows what’s best for me and all that.”

  Mandy laughed again. “Well, that’s every parent, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose so.” He looked at his watch. “Are you still up for a movie?”

  “Sure. I don’t have any idea what’s playing.”

  “Me neither.” He slid out of the booth and extended a hand to her. “Whatever you want to see is fine with me. Let’s go to the Cineplex and check it out.”

  Mandy took his hand and scooted out of the booth. Nick helped her into her coat, put his jacket on and took her hand back into his own. She liked the feeling of his strong fingers curled around hers.

  They agreed on a newly released romantic comedy, but Mandy couldn’t focus on the movie screen. Nick slipped one arm around her shoulders and began kissing behind her ear. Unexpected feelings of excitement zipped through her, and she froze in nervous terror.

  “You okay?” he whispered.

  She nodded stiffly.

  “Want me to stop?”

  She thought about it for a moment before shaking her head ‘no’. She really did not want him to stop.

  “Good,” he sighed in her ear and nibbled on her lobe. “You’re so beautiful.”

  “Thanks,” she replied, squirming in her seat. Her whole body tingled and, although the sensation was new to her, she found it exciting.

  Nick tugged her head back gently and pressed his lips on hers. Mandy tried to breathe normally as her heart pounded loudly in her chest. Holy cow! When his tongue nudged her lips apart, she opened them and let him in willingly. He pressed into her harder and used his tongue to explore every inch of her mouth.

  She’d never been kissed in such a manner, and her head felt like it was spinning. It was a glorious feeling, and she leaned in to him to prolong the kiss. When she felt his hand cup her breast, her eyes popped open and she pulled away.

  “I’m sorry,” Nick pulled his hand back quickly. “I didn’t mean to do that but I couldn’t resist.”

  Mandy straightened her blouse and looked forwards at the screen. “Maybe we should watch the movie.”

  “Yeah, sure.” He turned to the screen but left his arm around her shoulders. “This okay?” Nick asked quietly.

  “Just fine,” she replied, realising she felt disappointed. “Maybe we could kiss some more.”

  He grinned, pulling her close and pressing his mouth to hers. His tongue moved in again, tracing the edge of her teeth.

  Mandy became lost in the moment until an usher with a flashlight passed by. The small beacon of light froze on them for a moment, and they pulled apart. The man kept walking.

  “Maybe we should watch the movie,” Nick repeated.

  She nodded nervously, holding his hand in her lap. The theatre employee had startled her, but she was more surprised by her own feelings. Nick felt good pressed against her. It was a shocking realisation.

  In his car in her dorm parking lot, Nick pulled her into his arms once again. “Sorry about getting so forward in the theatre. You’re so enticing, it’s hard to keep my hands off.”

  She looked into his eyes. “I really liked the kissing.”

  He chuckled. “Good! So did I. Maybe we could try it again.”

  “I think we should.” She closed her eyes, sinking into his embrace.

  He pulled her into his arms, caressing her neck as he kissed her passionately.

  She let her mind float, enjoying the new sensations overwhelming her. His kiss warmed her, a flush of heat seeping through her whole body. She felt a cool breeze waft over her and opened her eyes.

  His hand had slipped into her blouse, and before she realised it, one breast was fully exposed. He tweaked her erect nipple gently.

  Mandy jumped.

  He held her firmly. “Shhh. Everything’s okay. Relax and enjoy.”

  Doing as he suggested, she inhaled, attempting to calm her breathing.

  He kissed her again, his thumb and forefinger rolling her nipple back and forth. The sensation was electrifying, and she squirmed.

  “Feels good, doesn’t it?” His mouth trailed down her neck, kissing a warm path past her collarbone and lower. He stopped at her breasts. “God, you’re beautiful.” Covering the exposed nipple with his lips, Nick licked the nub before sucking it deep.

  “Oh my god!” She fidgeted in her seat. Tingling sparks of fire zinged from her nipple downwards. Mandy felt her pussy dampen and squeezed her legs together tight.

  “Don’t fight it. Enjoy it!” He released her other breast and focused on that nipple, licking, sucking. One hand spread her thighs, cupping her mound over denim jeans.

  Mandy gasped. It’d be very easy to keep going. When he reached for the snap of her pants, she froze. I can’t. Already farther than she’d ever been with a man, she glanced down, amazed to see his face pressed to her plump breast. He tweaked the nipple he wasn’t sucking with his fingers, and she almost relented. So easy to keep going. Must not. Thoughts swirled in her head.

  “Nick,” she finally murmured, pushing him away gently. “Wait.”

  “You taste incredible.” He laved her nipple. “There are other spots I want to taste.”

  “Please.” She pressed against him again, and he stopped.

  “Nooo,” he groaned.

  His resistance sparked something inside her, and she regained her resolve. “I have to
tell you something.”

  He sat back.

  She repositioned her bra and buttoned her blouse. “I’m not sure what kind of girls you’re used to dating, and I really don’t know what kind of girl you think I am. But I don’t do…that…and I thought you should know it.”

  “Oh,” he nodded, looking at her seriously. “You don’t do that, huh?”

  Mandy felt her face flush. “No I don’t. So if that’s what you were expecting, then you’d better—”

  He pressed one finger to her lips. “I wasn’t expecting anything…except pizza and a movie. Whatever else I got was a bonus.”

  His eyes twinkled and his smile was so sweet, Mandy couldn’t resist slipping her arms around his neck and kissing him again. Nick groaned and held her tight. When he opened his mouth to her kiss, she let her tongue be the first to explore.

  He gave another small moan, and Mandy swallowed it, wanting to discover and taste as much of his mouth as possible. She couldn’t believe after just announcing that she was a ‘good girl’ and ‘good girls don’t’, now she was attacking him in the front seat of his car. And he wasn’t complaining.

  * * * *

  Nick walked Mandy to her dorm room door and, as she paused before opening it, he leaned in to her. He couldn’t leave without one more kiss—or ten. Cupping her chin gently, he smiled at Mandy before covering her mouth with his.

  She kissed him back with enthusiasm, and he groaned inwardly. It would be so easy to push her up against the wall and press his aching erection against her thigh. But she’d nearly jumped out of her skin when he’d touched her tit that first time. It’d taken all his persuasion to get his mouth on them. He couldn’t imagine what she’d think about his rock hard cock. That would have to wait for another time.

  Her arms slipped around his neck willingly, and he dared to press his body against hers lightly. She didn’t back away, and he caressed her neck and back with his hands. Their kiss was lingering and sweet, nearly driving him crazy. The longer he stood there with his tongue in her mouth, the more he wanted her.

  He pulled away regretfully. “I should go.”

  “Yeah,” Mandy agreed, breathless with her face flushed pink. “I had a really nice time tonight.”

  “I did too.” He reached for her hand and kissed the back of it. “I don’t suppose you’re free tomorrow night?”

  “I might be.” She smiled at him.

  His insides melted. She better be, he thought. He needed to see her again. Not really wanting to leave her now, Nick knew he must.

  “There’s a party at the frat house. Would you like to go with me?”

  A look of uncertainty crossed her face. “I don’t know about that.”

  Nick added quickly, “It’s non-alcoholic, if that’s what’s bothering you.”

  She looked into his eyes. “You really want me to go?”

  “Absolutely.” He couldn’t figure out where her insecurity came from. She was the most stunning woman he’d met on campus this year—hell, in the two and a half years he’d been at the U of I, but she didn’t seem to realise it. “How about I pick you up at seven? There’ll be tons of food, so don’t eat first.”

  “Seven,” Mandy agreed. A questioning look crossed her face, and she asked, “Jeans?”

  Nick smiled. “You could wear sweats and still be the most gorgeous woman there. But jeans will be fine.”

  She blushed, something he noticed she did quite often. He found it a cute habit.

  “Just no togas, right?” Mandy teased.

  Nick laughed. “No togas. This time, anyway.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek lightly. “See you tomorrow at seven.”

  Mandy touched her face and leaned against her door as Nick walked away. “Thanks again for tonight,” she called after him.

  He smiled back at her and winked. “Thank you.” He almost ran over two girls getting off the elevator as he stepped on, and Nick jumped back. “Sorry,” he stammered, and they giggled as they passed him.

  He didn’t want to look back and see if Mandy noticed his blunder. But as the elevator door closed he caught a glimpse of her, smiling at him with the sweetest look on her face. Then she was gone.

  Nick shifted his jeans on his hips, trying to adjust the throbbing erection that pressed against his leg. Every time he thought it was simmering down, images of Mandy went through his mind and his cock twitched to life again. It was hopeless.

  From his first glimpse of her a few days ago, standing in the street next to her car, Nick was lost. He’d seen plenty of blue-eyed blondes before and even slept with a good number of them. But something was different about Mandy Stevens. She carried an air of innocence about her, and the more he got to know her, the more he realised it wasn’t an act. She seemed naïve and somewhat unsophisticated. Nick was pretty sure, given her reactions and declaration earlier, that she’d never been with a guy before.

  That thought made his cock jump again. We have something in common, he thought, smiling. Nick had never been with a virgin. He walked out to his car, shivering against the cold wind, and got in quickly. Starting the engine, he let the air warm up before rubbing his hands in front of the heater. He hadn’t been with a virgin yet. He hoped to rectify that situation very soon.

  * * * *

  Nick’s frat house was usually well-lit at night. The Greek Council was cracking down on fraternities and sororities, and there were strict rules in place regarding members of the opposite sex and alcohol in the house. Since he liked living there, Nick followed the rules.

  He shared a room with Karl Browning, the childhood friend he grew up with in Chicago. Karl was a jock, and sometimes his priorities irritated Nick, but usually they got along well.

  There was a Playstation contest going on when he got to his room. “Hey,” Nick said to Karl and their buddy Dino Manetti, tossing his coat on a chair. He dropped onto his bed and kicked his shoes off.

  “How was the date?” Karl asked, grasping his game controller and grimacing at the television screen.

  “Good. How were things here?”

  “Manetti is dead meat,” Karl growled, punched his controller aggressively and yelled “Yes!”

  “Fuck!” Dino slapped his hand down on the bed. “You suck, Browning.”

  “Want to?” Karl grabbed his own crotch.

  Dino waved his friend off and stood up. “You wish, asshole. I’m hitting the sack.”

  “Next time, the loser sucks my dick!” Karl called after him.

  Dino extended his middle finger in a gesture of irritation as he walked out.

  Karl chuckled. “Pussy.” He flopped on his bed and looked at Nick. “So, speaking of which, you get any tonight?”

  Nick made a face at him. “It was our first date, for crissakes.”

  “Struck out, huh?” Karl nodded.

  “Fuck you,” Nick replied jovially.

  “Hey, I invited the Diego sisters to the party tomorrow night. I thought we might take them out first and have a few drinks before we come back here.”

  “You’re on your own, man. I invited Mandy.”

  “What?” Karl sat up. “You asked Little Mary Sunshine to the frat party? Are you crazy?”

  “Why do you say that?” Nick shifted uncomfortably. He knew Mandy travelled in a different circle than most of the people in his fraternity, but he didn’t think it was such a big deal. He hoped it wouldn’t be, anyway.

  “She’s just so…so…”

  Nick flashed Karl a look and could tell his friend chose his words carefully.

  “…so Little House on the Prairie.”

  “Bullshit,” Nick replied. “Once you meet her you won’t feel that way. Mandy is cool.”

  “Yeah, well, is Mandy a sure thing for tomorrow night? Because I can promise you, my friend, the Diego twins are definite home runs. They’ll leave us well-satisfied by the time we drop them off.”

  Sitting up to yank off his socks, Nick made another face at his roommate. “I told you, you’re on your own. Take D
ino with you.”

  Karl rubbed his hands over his face. “Manetti is a pussy.” He slowly grinned at Nick. “I’ll escort them both to the party. That should pay off big time for me at the end of the night.”

  Nick shook his head, trying not to smile at his friend’s warped sense of humour.

  “We’ll compare notes tomorrow night,” Karl taunted him. “See who had a better time at the party…and after.”

  “Fuck you,” Nick tossed out their standard retort and stood up. He grabbed a towel and his bathing kit. “I’m hitting the shower.”

  Karl laughed as Nick left the room and headed across the hall to the bathroom. Nick hoped no one needed to use the john because he wanted to stand under the hot water spray for as long as it took to make the throbbing in his cock go away. He needed to get his mind off Mandy Stevens, but the pressure in his jeans wasn’t helping. Maybe if he released a little tension he’d sleep better.

  The large, sterile room appeared empty. Nick stepped into the shower area and chose a stall. He stripped in the outer section, tossing his clothes on the bench. Grabbing soap and shampoo, he turned the water on, heating it up before stepping in and tugging the curtain closed.

  His cock ached. Nick set the soap on the ledge, running a lathered hand over his shaft. He knew he’d done the right thing by not pressuring Mandy on their first date. Hell, since he’d never shagged a virgin before, he had no idea how long it would take to convince her. It might take a few dates before she felt ready.

  Stroking his erection up and down, he hoped that wasn’t the case. Mandy drove him wild, and he fantasised about getting into her pants. For such a thin, trim woman, she had a ripe set of tits, full and round. He groaned, remembering the feel and taste of them. He could only imagine what he’d find when he got those tight jeans off.

  Nick leaned against the tile wall, urgency increasing as he jerked his rod. Mandy was most definitely a natural blonde, and he envisioned the light coloured hair covering her pussy. Does she shave or trim it up? Most likely not. She probably wasn’t used to touching herself down there, let alone being touched. He intended to do more than touch. He’d bring her to orgasm with his tongue before plunging his cock into her tight channel.