9. Legend

9

LEGEND

I stare at her while the internal debate roars inside me. I want to tell her that she doesn't need any of these things and I'll gladly give her as many orgasms as she needs or wants. I run my hands across the scruff of my beard, and I can't help but think about going down on her. Will my beard scratch her thighs, will she let me feast on her, and will she scream my name when she comes?

"I've embarrassed you," she states matter-of-factly.

I cross my arms over my chest to stop from reaching for her. "No, I'm not embarrassed."

She points at the box she's holding in her hand. "Really? Because I'm embarrassed. Do you know how humiliating this is?"

I reach for her and push a strand of hair off her face. As I tuck it behind her ear, I shrug. "You shouldn't feel humiliated. You deserve to have an orgasm, Maya. And however you get that is not anyone's business."

She points to the front of the store. "Well, I'm sure she thinks I'm a loser and that I can't even find a man that wants to go down on me. "

She rolls her eyes, and even though she says it jokingly, I know the thought bothers her. I wasn't going to say anything, but if it makes her feel better, I'll keep my ego in check. "Actually, she doesn't think that at all."

Maya starts to walk down the aisle, and I follow behind her. She picks up a bottle of lube, and I tense behind her as I think about her all swollen and slick. Her head is down, and she acts like she's reading the packaging, but she says, "It's okay, Legend. It's obvious what she thinks."

I lean down. "She thinks I can't give you an orgasm."

She keeps her head bowed for a second, and then she looks up at me, eyes wide. "Oh my God, you're right. That's exactly what she thinks. The way she was checking you out and then when I started talking about how I've never climaxed with oral sex. Oh my God, Legend."

I shrug my shoulders. I don't give two fucks what the woman thinks of me, but I couldn't just stand by and let Maya think people were thinking bad things about her.

She stomps her foot. "I'm so sorry, Legend. I wasn't even thinking, and I should never have…"

I put my hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, I promise." I gesture to the store. "Want to check anything else out?"

She shakes her head, holding up the bottle of lube and the clit licker. "No, this is it."

I take the items from her. "Here, I'll get it."

She reaches for the packages. "Legend, you are not buying my… toys."

I keep walking, not wanting to discuss it any further. I'm not sure why, but I want to do this for her. I may not physically satisfy her, but maybe I could indirectly do it. When we get to the counter, I drop the items by the register and pull out my wallet. The same woman that helped us is the cashier, and she takes the clit licker out of the package. "There is a no refund policy, so we always make sure the item works before you leave." She's looking at me as she inserts the batteries and turns the toy on.

At this point, I can't get out of here fast enough. As she runs my credit card and is putting the items in the bag, Maya steps up and points at me. "Just so you know, I'm sure Legend gives good oral sex."

My mouth drops, and I look at her like she's suddenly sprouted two heads. The cashier laughs like she doesn't believe Maya. "Sure."

I reach for the package and put my hand on Maya's shoulder to get her out of here, but she doesn't budge. "No, seriously." She points between the two of us. "We're not together, but I mean, look at him. It's clear he knows what he's doing. I would be lucky to have him go down on me, and…" Her mouth drops as she realizes what she just said. She jerks the package out of my hands. "C'mon, let's go."

I follow behind her, and as soon as we get outside, she starts to ramble. "I made it worse. I should have just kept my mouth closed. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I knew it wasn't fair that she thought you couldn't give a woman an orgasm. I mean that's preposterous, right? I'm sure you've had all kinds of practice."

I'm following close behind her, and I open the passenger side of the car. She doesn't get in, though. Instead, she turns and looks up at me to continue her rant. "Thank you for buying this. And I'm sorry, I did not know I would embarrass you like that. This is why I shouldn't go out…"

She keeps going on and on, and all I can think about is her saying she knows I give good oral sex. I search her flushed face, and before I can talk myself out of it, I put my hand to her cheek. "Maya… stop."

She slams her mouth shut and looks at me. Does she realize she's licking her lips and giving me the come-hither look? I don't think she has any idea how sexy she is, and I can't resist her. I lean down, and right before I touch my lips to hers, I stop. "I'm going to kiss you now."

She lets out a little pant, and when her lips part, I press my mouth to hers. I wanted a kiss. I just wanted to know what it was like to have my lips on hers, but I wasn't prepared for the way my whole body reacts. I pull her up against me, and even though I'm so much taller than her, she fits against me perfectly. She arches her back as she loops her arms around my neck. I tilt her head, giving me better access as I deepen the kiss. Her mouth opens under mine, and I stroke my tongue along hers.

She whimpers, and I end the kiss with a groan.

Her eyes are closed, and when she opens them, she stares at me in awe. She reaches up and touches her swollen lips. "Legend."

I pull her hand down and wipe my thumb along her lip. "Maya."

She smiles. "I'm sorry for insinuating that—well, you know—in front of that woman in there. I wasn't thinking."

"I don't care what she thinks about me, honey. You didn't have to defend me. "

She opens her mouth but then closes it quickly. "Okay."

I put my hand at the base of her neck and squeeze her softly. Fuck, I'd give anything to be inside her right now. It's like my world is off kilter, and the only thing that would fix it is if she was mine. "Just so you know… I could give you an orgasm, Maya."

Her mouth drops, and her eyes fill with desire. I lean in and kiss her again and then let her go. I'm supposed to be protecting her, and I'm letting her stand in the parking lot, making her an easy target.

I hold on to the car door. "Get in."

She doesn't budge. "But—"

I cut her off as I look around the empty parking lot. "I'm supposed to be protecting you, Maya. Not mauling you in parking lots. Get in the car."

Her eyebrows lift, and I know she hates it when I tell her what to do, but to my surprise, she sits down in the car. I shut the door and then walk around to the driver's side, ignoring the pain of my erection stuffed in my jeans. Fuck, I deserve it. What was I thinking?

I pull out of the lot. "Now where?"

She's looking out the window, her purchases held in her lap. "Grocery store and home."

"Want to go to the store in Jasper or Whiskey Run?"

She shrugs, still not looking at me. "Whiskey Run is fine."

I drive us back to the small town, and the whole way, I try to figure out what I need to do to make this right. I shouldn't have kissed her. I shouldn't have touched her until I knew she was safe. Now it's like I pressured her or something, but she was rambling on and on, looking so cute and worried about my reputation I couldn't resist her.

It takes me the whole ride into Whiskey Run to muster up the nerve to apologize when it's the last thing I want to do. I loved the kiss we shared, and I want more of them, but that doesn't mean I should just take what I want. As we pull into the parking lot of the grocery store, I force the words out of my mouth. "I'm sorry, Maya."

She shrugs and is silent but finally looks at me. "Sorry for what, exactly?"

I grit my teeth. "For kissing you. It wasn't the right place or the right time, and I shouldn't—"

She interrupts me by putting her hand up. "Forget it. It's forgotten."

Without another word, she gets out of the car and walks swiftly to the entrance of the store. I follow behind her, knowing I fucked up.