1 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: This is the Good Bits. 2 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 2: This excerpt from Just This One Summer by Claire Connolly 3 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: is brought to you by the Goodbits dot Com. 4 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 3: I don't know your name, I say, with a small 5 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 3: shake of my head. The intensity of this overwhelming. 6 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: It's Nico, Nico. 7 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 3: I repeat it, filling the silence with another question. Is 8 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 3: it short for anything? 9 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: Niccola? 10 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 3: He poses his features into a mask of. 11 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: Strength, conqueror of the people. Perfect. 12 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 3: There is something about him that speaks of victory and conquering, 13 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 3: of being conquered. How I wish I had a tighter 14 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 3: grip on my body's sponsors, but I don't. Forces at 15 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 3: work that's so much bigger than me. Desire flares in 16 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 3: the pit of my stomach, and even though I can 17 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 3: think of a dozen reasons to ignore it, I absolutely 18 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 3: don't want to. Yeah, I angle my body towards his, 19 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 3: my pulse racing. Am I really going to do this? 20 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 3: Do what my brain screams at me. He might not 21 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 3: be interested. It's very possible, given my lack of experience, 22 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 3: that I'm misreading everything. I'm not good. 23 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 2: At this stuff. 24 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 3: And this guy is really seriously gorgeous. He could have 25 00:01:54,680 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 3: his pick of anyone A flash of lightning spears through 26 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 3: the sky, just be on the window, and I startle. 27 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 3: It's not much, an involuntary gesture, barely enough to register. 28 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 3: But his hand shoots out as if to steady me, 29 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 3: his strong fingers curving around my arm. The lightest touch, 30 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 3: so gentle and reassuring, but it shoots little arrows of 31 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 3: awareness through my bloodstream and makes my cheeks burn with heat. 32 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: You're okay? 33 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 3: Did he move closer or have I We're standing toe 34 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 3: to toe, so I have to crane my neck to 35 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 3: meet his eyes. Now I can feel his chest moving 36 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 3: with every breath he draws. Yeah, I'm fine. I suck 37 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,679 Speaker 3: in a gulp of air that's spiced with his intoxicatingly 38 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 3: masculine fragrance. 39 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: You're jumpy. 40 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 3: My lips whist in a grimace because he's right. I 41 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 3: am jumpy. Sometimes you don't need to be. A divot 42 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 3: forms between his brows. 43 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: You're safe here. 44 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 3: Had he intentionally chosen the word I let slip earlier? 45 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 3: I bite down on my lower lip, chewing it distractedly? 46 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 3: Am I? 47 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: Of course? 48 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 3: I lift my hand and press it to his chest, 49 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: surprising us both. The thing is I don't know if 50 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 3: I want to feel safe right now. He closes his 51 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 3: eyes for a moment, his face unreadable. Nope, my blood 52 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 3: is rushing so fast I can hear it in my ears. 53 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: I am terrified of what I'm doing, of what I'm feeling, 54 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 3: but I don't look away. Nope, Maddie, My name on 55 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 3: his lips is essential incantation. Yet he stays where he is. 56 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: I didn't invite you here for this. 57 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 3: Insecurity reaches inside of me easily. 58 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: I'm an idiot. 59 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 3: He doesn't want this. I drop my hand and spin 60 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 3: away from him. Oh God, I know, I'm sorry. I 61 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 3: don't know what came over me. I shake my head, 62 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: unable to look at him, staring across the room. You've 63 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: been really kind, and I shouldn't. His fingers curve around 64 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: my wrist, pulling at me gently. 65 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: The same thing that came over you has come over 66 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: me too. 67 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 3: My heart skips a bit. 68 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: But I invited you to shelter here with no agenda. 69 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: I need to know you believe that that you won't 70 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: think I'm taking advantage of the situation. 71 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 3: Pleasure floods me, but it's quickly engulfed by bitterness. He 72 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 3: seems so perfect, just like Michael seemed perfect at the start, 73 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,799 Speaker 3: But Nicol isn't Michael, and I'm definitely not the same 74 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 3: woman I was back then. In any event, I'm not 75 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 3: looking for a relationship. I've learned my lesson there. God 76 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 3: knows if I'll ever feel secure enough to want to 77 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 3: pursue anything long term. But in this moment, with this man, 78 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 3: my desire is big enough to cloud my doubts and questions. 79 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 3: The future feels a long way away, as though tomorrow 80 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 3: hovers in an entirely different universe. Bawling my courage, I 81 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 3: lift onto the tips of my toes so our lips 82 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 3: are just an inch apart. And if I want to 83 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 3: take advantage. 84 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: Of the situation, what do are you dem What does 85 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: that mean? God help me? 86 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 3: The last words are smothered by his lips as he 87 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 3: crushes them to mine. It's a kiss of complete and 88 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 3: total possession. My knees are weak. His arm clamps behind 89 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 3: my back, as though he knows that without his support 90 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 3: I might slide right to the ground. You're safe. Stars 91 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 3: explode through my mind, Celestial dust blowing through all the 92 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: dark spaces, filling me with light and heat and warmth 93 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 3: and yes, safety. His other hand cradles my head, his 94 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 3: fingers pushing through my rain dampened hair. So I moan, 95 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 3: opening my mouth wider our tongue's jewel. But it's not 96 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 3: a fine, No, it's a capitulation in every sense of 97 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 3: the word. Only. I don't feel as though I'm surrendering. 98 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 3: I feel victorious, like I'm reclaiming an important part of myself, 99 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 3: as though this simple act of passion can stitch something 100 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 3: of myself back into place, just as I'd been before. Michael. 101 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 3: My hands pressed to his chest, seek his shirt, pushing 102 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 3: it so my fingertips can connect with the naked expanse 103 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 3: of his muscular abdomen. He's so warm, and that heat 104 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 3: spreads through me. He speaks in his native tongue, the 105 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 3: foreign words firing inside my body, landing in the pit 106 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: of my abdomen need gross. The storm rate is wild 107 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 3: outside the window, but neither of us hear. Our own 108 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 3: storm is so much more intense, so much more demanding. 109 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 3: He lifts me, easily, holding my body breast to his 110 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 3: own as he carries me through the house, shouldering a 111 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 3: door to a darkened room. Brasanchus, he flicks a light 112 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 3: switch on a sexy grin accompanying the gesture. I look 113 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 3: around for just as long as it takes to ascertain 114 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 3: that we're in a bedroom. In answer, my hands find 115 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 3: his shirt again, pushing it up his body. 116 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: Perfect. I'm emma, the bedroom or my body both. 117 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 3: I'm kissing him again, my hands working the button of 118 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: his pants, unfastening them so I can shove the fabric 119 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 3: down his legs without breaking the kiss. He steps out 120 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 3: of them with the same degree of urgency, and I 121 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 3: laugh for no reason except in this moment, I'm deliriously, 122 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 3: uncontainably happy. He wears only boxer shorts, and the sight 123 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 3: of him strikes awareness through me. Uncertainty and doubts are 124 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 3: always lurking, and they tap my spine now, reminding me 125 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 3: how long it's been since I've done this. And he's 126 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 3: so different, completely unlike anyone I've ever met. 127 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: You are incredibly beautiful. 128 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 3: The words drag me right back to the present, pulling 129 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 3: me into the room, filling me with sensual awareness. There's 130 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 3: no room for doubt. This is right, It's perfect. I 131 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 3: lift my hands into the air in a gesture of 132 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 3: unspoken invitation. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows and 133 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 3: then he's lifting the jumper he'd given me earlier, pulling 134 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 3: it softly over my head before letting it drop to 135 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 3: the floor. I'm surprised. I don't feel more self conscious, 136 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 3: but I'm just not even when his eyes drop. So 137 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: he's staring at me, taking in every detail, and my 138 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 3: nipples pull taut and begin to tingle against the fabric 139 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 3: of my bra So beautiful. The words are deep, but 140 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 3: his smile is sexy and sweet all at once. He 141 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 3: shakes his head, almost as though he can't believe it, 142 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 3: and I want to tell him such extravagant praise isn't necessary. 143 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 3: I don't need it, and I don't believe it. No words, 144 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 3: I lift a finger and press it to his lips. 145 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 3: It's easier, he scrunches his nose. 146 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: Really uh huh, as easy as. 147 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 3: He grabs me by the hips and lifts me up, 148 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 3: dropping me unceremoniously onto the bed, So I laugh and 149 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 3: scramble onto my elbows. As easy as what this? He 150 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 3: wraps his mouth around one of my nipples, his tongue 151 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 3: circling the sensitive flesh, teasing it, rolling it, pulling it, 152 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 3: so I whimper and arch my back, desire driving me utterly. 153 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 3: Wild heat pulls between my legs. God, I cry, and 154 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 3: he smiles against my breast, his finger and thumb press 155 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 3: to my other nipple, clamping down on it with just 156 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 3: enough pressure to make stars shoot across my eyelids. 157 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: This is wow. I thought we weren't talking. 158 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 3: He brought the full weight of his body down on me, 159 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 3: his arousal between my legs, a stark reminder of what 160 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 3: was about to happen. A kaleidoscope of butterflies is rampaging 161 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 3: inside my belly. I meant compliments. He rolls his hips, 162 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,559 Speaker 3: pressing his arousal to my sex. So, despite the barrier 163 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 3: of his boxes and the shorts he'd given me earlier, 164 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 3: I'm incandescent with pleasure. 165 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: I can't tell you that you're beautiful. 166 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 3: I don't need to hear it. I pushed his boxes, 167 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 3: needing more, needing to feel him, needing to be possessed 168 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 3: by him. Please. He pulls up, shifting his mouth to 169 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 3: my other nipple, but this time, instead of closing his 170 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 3: mouth over it, he simply flicks it with his tongue. 171 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 3: It was already so sensitive from the way he finger 172 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 3: and thumb had been toying with it. Seconds ago, so 173 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 3: the sheer hint of contact from his mouth sends my 174 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 3: senses into overdrive. His hands roam my body, running down 175 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 3: my sides with a lightness of touch that is infuriating 176 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 3: because it's simply not enough. I need everything he can 177 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 3: give me, and I need it right this instant. At 178 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 3: my waist, his hands find the elastic of the shorts 179 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 3: and lower it, easing them from my body. I left 180 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 3: my bottom to make it easier. His hands don't leave 181 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 3: my legs long. Once he's discarded the shorts. Starting at 182 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 3: my ankles, he begins a slow cruise upwards towards my thighs, 183 00:13:55,679 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 3: where he pushes a little, separating my legs, writhing on 184 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 3: the bed beneath him, impatient, hungry for him. Don't forget 185 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 3: a condom. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised I've remembered. 186 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: I will when it's time. 187 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 3: There's a promise in that statement. I don't get a 188 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 3: chance to ask what he means. His mouth connects with 189 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 3: my sex, his tongue, his clever, clever tongue, moving slowly 190 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 3: at first, and then more intently, buzzing my sensitive cluster 191 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:43,479 Speaker 3: of nerves until I'm burning up it was so intimate. 192 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 3: My cheeks explode with warmth, but I don't think for 193 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 3: even one moment of asking him to stop. Instead, my 194 00:14:55,600 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 3: hands find his hair, running through it, holding on. Pleasure 195 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 3: threatens to burst through me, tearing me apart completely. When 196 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 3: I'm at the brink of breaking, he moves faster, his 197 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 3: tongue tormenting me, lashing me until I'm trembling. I arched 198 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 3: my back and push down against him, and then I'm 199 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 3: tumbling across the edge of the earth, exploding against his mouth, 200 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: exploding with his name on my lips, over and over again. Ah, 201 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 3: It's unrelenting. Even as I come, he doesn't stop. So 202 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 3: I'm fire in flame, desperate for him, even as I'm 203 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 3: at the end of my tolerance. It's for pleasure. Somehow, 204 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 3: he knows. He understands and pulls away, moving his mouth 205 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 3: to my inner thigh, kissing the flesh there, before moving 206 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 3: back to my sex, kissing me more gently, allowing me 207 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 3: time to breathe to recover before he begins his next incursion. 208 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 3: This time, a finger moves inside me, and I'm moan, 209 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 3: shaking my head, desperate and terrified of the strength of 210 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: my desperation. Even as I know I would happily surrender 211 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 3: to this anytime, anywhere. He watches me in a way 212 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 3: that makes me feel precious and special and sexier than sin. 213 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 3: He watches me in a way that I love. Mikey 214 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 3: wants to understand everything about me so he can pleasure 215 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 3: me over and over. 216 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 2: To see what happens next, click the link on your 217 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 2: podcast app and download Just This One Summer by Claire Connolly. 218 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 2: You'll find a whole host of stories like this one 219 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 2: at The Goodbits dot com, or you can follow this 220 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 2: podcast for free to make sure you don't miss our 221 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 2: next episode. The Good Bits podcast was produced by Olivia 222 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 2: O'Flynn with words by Claire Connolly, Production by Bang Bang 223 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: Studios and title music by Patrick Grigg.