Tactical Heart

by S. K. Rose

  “Uh huh, I see. Tongue or no tongue in the kiss?”

  I exhale. “Like, a little bit of tongue.”

  “What movie?” she asks, like that really fucking matters. My patience with her twenty questions is running out.

  “Lord of the Rings.”

  “Your suggestion or his?”

  “His.”

  “¡Ay, bendito! Why are you talking to me still? Go suck that boy’s dick raw, you found your fucking soulmate.”

  I slam my head on the steering wheel, scaring the shit out of myself when the horn goes off. “Oh my god, why the hell did I call you?” I press the end button before she can respond and tap the next starred contact in my phone.

  “Please don’t tell me it was a horrible date,” my sister whines from the other end of the line.

  “No, shut your face and listen.” I repeat the same question to my sister but put more emphasis on “Please tell me I’m fucking crazy to go to a stranger’s house.”

  “You are crazy...” she states, and I release my breath. This is what I needed. Someone who’s thinking with their head and not their lady cavern.

  “Thank you, I knew—”

  She cuts me off. “Crazy if you don’t go,” she finishes, and my jaw drops. “I’ve met him Scar, he’s a good guy. Plus, I’ll know exactly where you are and won’t even be far if you need me to come rescue you from the weakling nerd.”

  I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “I...I think I really like him, Jules.”

  Her voice softens as if she can see the fear scrawled across my face. “Then go have fun, babe. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do, but see where the night takes you. Get to know him, or fuck his brains out. Do whatever you want as long as you’re not running away right now because you’re afraid of having feelings again.”

  I love and hate how well she knows me.

  “You’re right.” I sigh. “Okay, thanks, sis.”

  “Go get that geek!” she shouts. I laugh and press end on the call.

  Here goes nothing.

  Here goes everything.

  9

  Kane

  Leaning against my bike, I watch as she saunters back toward me, looking a little more confident with each step she takes.

  “How was the call?” I smirk.

  She pretends not to hear me as she looks over my ride. With a laugh, I hand her my helmet. She turns it over in her hands and looks up at me expectantly.

  “What’s this?”

  “Safety first, Freckles.”

  She sighs but smashes the helmet over her hair. Reaching under her chin, I snap the clasp shut, tighten the strap, and give her a once over. Even in my bulky helmet, she looks so damn cute.

  “What are you going to wear?”

  “I only have the one helmet,” I admit.

  “And they say chivalry is dead.” Her eyes flash with amusement, but her scowl returns quickly as she checks out her reflection in the truck’s window beside her. “I look like an idiot,” she growls.

  “Hush, you look adorable. Also, if you don’t want a head full of tangles, you’re gonna want to braid that hair or something.”

  “How would you even know that?” she asks as she reaches back and starts twisting her hair into a long braid.

  “Are you kidding? Tons of chicks have ridden on this thing.”

  She glances at me from the corner of her eye. “Is that so?”

  I throw my leg over the saddle and shake my head with an exhale. “Nope. Mom makes me drive her around sometimes ‘cause it makes her feel like a “wild biker chick.”

  She slaps a hand to her mouth with a snort. My eyes narrow into slits. “Don’t you dare think about telling anybody.”

  With a giggle, she makes a cross over her heart and slides onto the bike behind me. Her arms immediately go around my waist. As I open my mouth to ask if she’s ready, I feel her body wiggle closer. Her chest presses against my back, and her thighs squeeze into me. I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel good as fuck to have her so close.

  It’s gonna be a long ride if I have this boner the whole time.

  With a quick push of a button, the engine roars to life. I turn my head, so she can still hear me over the noise. “Ready?”

  “Ready!” she shouts back, excitement threaded in her tone.

  With a nod, I hit the gas and peel out of the parking lot. It’s late, and there’s no traffic on the dusty road I take to get home. Speeding up, I hear her squeal as she tightens her grip around me. When we pull up to the house, I let her get off first. Bright eyed and flushed, she grins from ear to ear.

  “That was fucking amazing!”

  Switching off the engine, I flip out the kickstand and unsaddle. “Exhilarating, isn’t it?” She nods fervently. “Hang out here for a second,” I tell her. With a nod, she removes her helmet and starts unthreading her braided hair with nimble fingers.

  Unlocking the front door and stepping inside, I pick up the place in a whirlwind of clothes and fast food containers. It could look a lot worse in here, but I don’t want her thinking I’m some slob bachelor.

  I pause to catch my breath and run a hand through my hair. Man, she is something else. I’ve never met a girl like her, quick tongued, sharp wit, crazy hot—she even laughed at my stupid jokes. Girls never laugh at my stupid jokes.

  I’m surprised she said yes to coming over; she paled and looked like she might pass out for a minute. The more I think about it, the more insane it is that she did. What the hell would any girl possibly see in me? She may be a geek like me, but she’s a geek who could get any guy she wanted with the bat of an eye.

  Whatever happens, I cannot fuck this up.

  I will not fuck this up.

  When I throw the door back open, she’s standing on the porch, a shy look on her face as her fingers twist together in uncertainty.

  “Milady.” I bow as I open the door wider and invite her in.

  For crying out loud, stop bowing man—what century do you think this is?

  She giggles. and I refrain from gathering her in my arms. I didn’t invite her here for some fling or a meaningless one night stand; I want this girl to be mine. So like my dad taught me, I’m gonna take it slow, get to know her, and be a perfect gentleman.

  A perfect gentleman who just happens to love smoking pot.

  I lead her to the living room, and she takes a seat on the stiff futon that doubles as our guest bed. I look away in embarrassment.

  “Sorry, it’s a little uncomfortable. We’re saving up to get an actual couch.”

  She waves me off. “No worries. It’s really nice actually.”

  Liar. But a sweet lie.

  “Want something to drink?”

  She perks up. “Unless you’re secretly a cop, I would love a beer.”

  “Coming right up.” I grab two cans from the fridge and join her on the couch. She wraps her arms around herself, and I can see little goosebumps across her skin. “You cold?”

  She shrugs. “Just a little.”

  I grab a clean blanket from my room and lay it over her legs. She looks up at me appreciatively, her teeth biting into her cherry lip again.

  Fucking hell.

  Snatching the controller from the coffee table, I start up the movie and return to sit beside her, leaving a little space between us, so she feels comfortable. Dear old Dad would be proud.

  I grab the joint I rolled earlier from the end table drawer and fish the lighter out of my pocket. From the corner of my eye, I see her grinning.

  “What?” I laugh.

  “A joint? You’re so old school. All the cool kids vape these days.”

  I crinkle my nose. “Fuck that. Herb is superior, always.”

  “Can’t argue with you there.” She scoots closer, until her leg is touching mine. It’s not even skin to skin contact, and my dick is back on high alert. She tugs the blanket over me until we’re both covered.

  She’s so close that her flowery perfume is making me a lit
tle dizzy, or maybe it’s the lustful look in her eyes as they dart to my lips and back up to my hooded gaze. Red hair spills over her shoulder as her head tilts to look up at me. Adrenaline kicks my heart into double time. By the hastened rise and fall of her chest, I know she’s feeling the rush too.

  She’s a drug that taunts me, and all I want is to inject her into my veins.

  My dick is so hard it fucking hurts.

  She nods to the joint in my hand. “Shotgun?” she asks in a husky whisper.

  I was so right about this date being torturous, but I was so wrong about what kind of torture.

  I shoot her a wicked grin and suck on the joint as I light the end. I hold the smoke in, and when she leans closer, I bring my lips to hers and exhale into her mouth. She breathes in the smoke and closes her eyes as she holds it in. When she lets the smoke escape through her nose, she coughs and laughs. I smile and take another long hit.

  I try to turn my attention to the hobbits on screen, be the motherfucking gentleman I know I should be, but my eyes keep sliding back to Scarlett.

  She mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like “fuck it” and shifts beside me. When I turn to ask if she’s okay, her jeans are being tugged down and her shirt torn off. In nothing but thin blue underwear, she slides a leg over my lap to straddle me.

  Sweet mother of dragons.

  “Scarlett, we…”

  Her wild eyes look down at me. “We...should do what, Kane?” Her seductive voice sends a shiver up my spine. For the first time I get a good look at the tattoo on her side. It’s a vibrant drawing of Link’s sword and shield from my favorite childhood game Zelda. If I was waiting for a sign, I’m pretty sure I just found it.

  Sorry pops, I goddamn tried. This girl doesn’t want a gentleman, so I’m gonna give her what she wants.

  I’m gonna give her what she fucking needs.

  I slide my hands around her hips and get a tight grip on her ass. Heaving tits spill out of her lacy bra, making me clench my teeth in desire. She tugs on the hem of my shirt playfully before she tears it over my head and throws it across the room. Her fingers fly to my zipper next, dragging the metal pull tab down, and reaches in to free my dick. It’s hard as hell and precum glistens on the head. Her eyes widen as she takes in the size.

  I may be a nerd—but I’m a well-endowed one.

  Her finger swipes gently across the tip of my cock and raises it up to her mouth. Parting her lips, she licks her finger like it was her goddamn lollipop; except, instead of candy, it’s my cum she’s tasting. I grab a handful of her hair and yank her face to mine. Ours lips lock and tongues tangle in a lustful frenzy, and a fire burns through me like I’ve never felt before as we kiss. When she finally breaks away, I’m gasping for air and for sanity.

  As I reach blindly for a condom from the end table drawer, her hands glide down her stomach to her skimpy blue panties. Hooking a finger onto the material, she slides it down, giving me a full view of her wet pussy. Using two fingers, she spreads her lips open, and all I want is to stick out my tongue and lick everywhere I see pink. She presses against my chest, and with her free hand, she grabs the forgotten condom from my hand and tears it open with her teeth. She rolls it over my dick just before she lowers herself onto it with a whimper of desire.

  I let out a loud moan as my dick disappears inside her. A perfect, tight fit. She starts slow, blissfully slow, as she lifts and drops back on my throbbing cock. Her pussy tightens around me, and I let out another grunt.

  “Fucking hell, Freckles.” I groan as she picks up the pace.

  Her tongue flicks across her bottom lip, and I lean forward to take it between my teeth. When her tongue darts out, our lips clash together in a passionate kiss. When she sits back, her movements slow down, and I whisper a prayer to the sex gods because I was about to explode, and I’m not ready for this to be over.

  My right hand glides up the inside of her soft thigh as I continue to thrust inside. Her movements come to a stop when my thumb presses against her clit. She moans, and her head tilts back in pleasure. As I start to rub in small, slow circles, her body starts moving erratically, her moaning getting louder as she slides up and down on my cock, as fast and as hard as she can until her body is thrashing on top of me and a scream rips through her.

  Music to my fucking ears.

  “Get up,” I demand after a few minutes of catching our breath. She looks a little surprised, but she gets to her wobbly legs. I point to the futon. “Get on your hands and knees.”

  Her eyes widen, but she immediately does what she’s told. “Good girl,” I whisper against her neck as I drive my cock back inside her tight pussy. She lets out a gasp and grinds her ass against me in need.

  I won’t be able to last long like this; it feels too fucking good.

  I slam inside her over and over, her moaning rising again as she pushes back against my dick. I grab a handful of her hair, twisting my fingers around her red locks and pull back just enough that her pale throat is exposed. Sassy and argumentative on our date, but look at the way she unravels by giving up a little control. It’s a vulnerable side of her that I find sexy as hell.

  “Oh my god,” she whimpers. “Harder.”

  She gasps when I thrust harder, holding nothing back as I ram into her.

  “Kane, fuck.” Her voice hitches, and it’s music to my ears.

  “Yeah, you like that don’t you?”

  “Oh God, Kane!” she wails my name, and I release an animalistic growl in response.

  Her back stiffens, her fists clench, and another scream rips through her as she gives into the throes of her orgasm.

  I come with her scream still ringing in my ears.

  10

  Scarlett

  What...what time is it?

  Sunlight filters between gray curtains into an unfamiliar bedroom. I’m lying in a sea of black sheets, except...my sheets are blue. I look over and see a mop of messy brown hair peeking out from the covers beside me.

  The night comes back to me in flashes of hazy images. Alcohol, weed, and... sex. Lots and lots of sex. On the futon, up against the fridge, bent over the washing machine, in this very bed. The stamina of this guy was insane, an insatiable fuckbot with a dick that refused to quit.

  My average Joe of average height and average build does not have an average dick. My cervix is going to be sore for a year. Also, he is in deceivingly good shape, not rocking a full on six pack, but he was definitely hiding a nice and lean body under those clothes.

  Was it stupid to bone on our first date? Definitely.

  Do I regret my decision? Not for a second.

  That was the hottest, most satisfying sex I’ve experienced in my entire life. I learned more about myself and my desires last night than in the culmination of all my sexual encounters.

  And Cody Black? He was a limp dick noodle compared to Kane.

  I release a happy sigh and feel a smile stretch across my face. I can’t believe how perfect last night was; I’ve never connected with someone so completely. It wasn’t just the sex either. He’s a total goofball like me, and I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. He asked questions, actually listened, and we love all the same geeky stuff. Finally, someone I don’t have to explain my love of gaming to because he fucking gets it.

  If I was a simple girl, I might start believing in fairytale love again—but that would be the mind blowing orgasms from last night talking.

  Moving slowly, as not to wake him, I slip out from beneath the covers. I collect my clothing that’s scattered around the room and peek into the living room. When the coast is clear, I snatch my bra that’s hanging from a lamp and grab my panties that are tucked under the futon. After I use the restroom and get dressed, I look around a little—okay, let’s call it what it is—I’m snooping. My bare ass may have taken a tour of this place, but I wasn’t exactly paying attention.

  Between Kane’s and what I imagine is Leo’s bedroom, there’s a bookshelf with movies, video games, littl
e figurines, picture frames, and books. I pick up a frame that has a smiling Kane next to who I imagine are his two brothers and parents. They’re a lovely looking family, and as much as I hate myself for it, I’m a little jealous. We’ve always had money and expensive toys, but we didn’t have happiness. Dad did his best when he was alive, but he was so concerned with helping others that his own family fell to the wayside. And then there’s Mom, controlling and manipulative, not an empathetic bone in her body.

  I would trade all the money in the world for what Kane has.

  I move to the corner of the room that is set up with a desk and a monster of a computer. No doubt in my mind that this is Kane’s gaming corner. There’s a headset hanging off a hook and double monitors propped up on the desk. Although everything looks used, possibly second hand, there’s not a speck of dust to be found. It’s obvious he puts a lot of care into his electronics. I grin when I see a Tactical Heart sticker on the side of his glowing computer tower. It’s a black heart with white crosshairs in the center. I have the exact one at home on my laptop.

  Kane’s bedroom door creaks open as he strolls into the living room in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs. In the light of the day, I get a better look at the tattoo I noticed last night on his chest; it’s some sort of logo with a scorpion tail in the middle. It looks strangely familiar...

  His face breaks into a surprised smile when he sees me. “Good Morning, Freckles.” He probably thought I snuck off in the middle of the night—but his dick damn near fucked me into a coma.

  “Morning.” I grin back.

  He looks me over. “Shame to see you back in clothes.”

  “Play your cards right, and I might fix that.” I wink.

  He squeezes his dick with a groan. “You’re gonna be the death of me, woman.” He crosses the room and wraps his arms around me.

  I lay my head on his chest, and he pulls me in tighter.

  We say nothing because we don’t have to. Being here, like two pieces of a puzzle, everything feels right. I’m always a ball of anxiety, jumping from one thing to the next with a million thoughts in my head. In this moment, everything is...quiet. I’ve never felt so comfortable, so relaxed, and all it took was being wrapped up in the arms of this stranger.