That’s the thing about hookups—they’re all well and good to scratch an itch, but they lack the intimacy that brings about the real high.
She grips her breasts, squeezing them between her hands and playing with her nipples.
She rocks her hips harder, round and round, up and down. Her pussy throbs around my cock and I know she’s close—thank God since I’m barely hanging by a thread.
“Rory,” I warn.
“Almost,” she pants, her head falling back, eyes closed.
With a long moan, she starts to come. I can’t take it anymore, grabbing her hips and thrusting up into her. Either she doesn’t care, or doesn’t notice, that I’m holding onto her.
“Fuck, yes!” I cry out, coming inside of her. She continues to move her hips, riding the wave. I collapse, out of breath and my body damp with sweat.
After the last pulses of her orgasm fade she falls on top of me. I wrap my arms around her, holding our bodies together. Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, I close my eyes.
This girl.
This girl.
She’s the girl.
And fuck if that isn’t the scariest thing I’ve ever had to face.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Rory
Stifling a yawn I enter the kitchen to the smell of pancakes.
“You’re making me pancakes?” I blurt in awe at the sight of a shirtless Mascen standing over a griddle full of a variety of chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes.
He looks up from flipping a pancake. “I mean, we gotta eat.”
I slide onto one of the barstools, resting my elbow on the counter and my head in my hand. “That’s for sure.” I think back to last night and how after a short nap we were back at it again with another round early this morning. I drifted back to sleep and didn’t even notice when Mascen left the bed.
Mascen piles the stacks of pancakes high on a plate then starts to clean everything up.
“I can do that,” I protest, getting up. “You cooked.”
“You’re the guest,” he reminds me. “I’ve got it.” I’m ready to argue the matter further but then I think better of it. Mascen and I can both find reasons to bicker over everything, it’s time to rise above it. “Grab a plate.”
I pick up one of the empty plates he’d already put out and pile three chocolate chip pancakes on it, drenching them in syrup. He looks at me in surprise and I shrug innocently. “What? I’m starving.”
I sit back down where I was before, digging the side of my fork into one of the pancakes for a bite. The pancake is light and fluffy, the chocolate melting instantly on my tongue. “This is delicious.”
He grins, pleased by the praise. “Thanks, they’re my mom’s recipe.”
He fixes a plate with some of the blueberry pancakes, sitting beside me. His arm brushes against mine as he moves and he smiles.
I feel like it should be weird being here with Mascen, things being this easy and fun between us, but it’s not. Despite how things started out I think we were headed this way the entire time.
With breakfast done we clean up the last of the mess together despite his protests. Afterward, he grabs my hips, lifting me onto the counter so he can fit into the space between my legs.
“What are you doing?” I place my hands on his stomach as he comes closer.
“I don’t know. I was thinking I might kiss you.”
“That so?” I bite my lip to hide my growing smile. Things might’ve changed between us but that doesn’t mean I want to make everything easy for him, even a smile.
“Mhmm,” he hums, cupping the side of my right cheek in his left hand.
“What if I don’t want to kiss you?”
He arches a brow. “Then I won’t kiss you.”
He knows I’m playing, but he starts to pull away anyway. I grab the back of his neck. “Kiss me you idiot.”
“You’re the one who protested,” he reminds me a second before his lips touch mine.
Maybe because in the past I’ve only had hookups, I’ve never liked kissing too much. I’ve found it intimate, far more intimate than sex which might sound strange to some, but it’s the way I’ve felt. Kissing Mascen, though, feels natural.
The kiss doesn’t last long and I find myself wishing for more.
He lifts me off the counter and I look at him with a curious expression. “What do you want to do today?”
He gives a small shrug. “Anything we want.”
* * *
I’m amazed by how quickly time passes with Mascen. Before I know it two weeks of break have passed and Christmas is days away. The living room of his townhouse now boasts a sparkling Christmas tree after I begged him to go get one. I haven’t had a real Christmas tree in too long. Even though he protested I know he’s glad we got one and he definitely enjoyed decorating it.
Passing him a cup of hot chocolate I sit down on the couch and curl into his side.
“Mmm,” he hums upon tasting it. “That’s good.”
“I told you that you had to use milk, not water.”
“These marshmallows are so tiny.”
“Mini-marshmallows are for sure the way to go.” I take a sip of the hot chocolate I made for us after Mascen told me he hated it.
Setting the cup on the tray he put on the ottoman earlier, I stretch my legs out and lay my head in his lap. Almost immediately he starts brushing his fingers through my hair and my eyes grow heavy.
I can’t believe how content I’ve become with him. We still haven’t talked about what we’re doing, tried to put any labels on this. I think we’re both too stubborn and maybe too scared.
“If you keep doing that I’m going to fall asleep.”
His fingers still for a moment before starting up their ministrations. “You wouldn’t dare fall asleep.”
“Why not?” I hold back my yawn which is a mighty task.
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“Where?” I sit up slightly so I can look at him and his fingers fall from my hair.
“Just a place.”
I roll my eyes. “Do you always have to be so cryptic?”
He pokes my cheek. “It’s part of the fun.”
He starts to get up and I sit up completely. “Wait, we’re going somewhere now? What about our hot chocolate?”
“Bring it.”
I’m not about to leave my hot chocolate behind so I pick up the mug and follow him. I notice he leaves his and I think he might be lying about liking it this way.
In the garage he leads me to the truck. I’ve noticed it during my time here, obviously, but he’s never taken it out.
When we leave he still doesn’t say where we’re going. All he does is swing by a Burger King and order a sack of food and keep driving.
“Why the food?”
“We’re having a picnic.”
“It’s December,” I remind him. “It’s not exactly picnic conditions—not to mention it’s dark.”
“Oh, yee of little faith.”
Eventually he turns off the main road and keeps driving for a ways before parking in a field.
“This is where you’re bringing me?”
“Yep.” He hops out, his boots colliding with the solid ground. He reaches back in for the drinks. “You wait here.”
A few minutes later, after digging things out of the backseat and jumping up into the truck bed he finally lets me see what he’s up to.
I find the truck bed full of blankets and pillows with our food and drinks in the middle.
“We won’t stay long,” he promises. “I know it’s cold, but I wanted to bring you here.”
He jumps up, holding a hand out to help me into the bed of the truck.
“I’m beginning to think you’re a bit of a romantic.”
Despite the darkness I swear he blushes. He adjusts the pillows and I finally sit down, pulling the bag of food close to me so I can get mine. I wasn’t hungry before but suddenly I’m starving and want this juicy greasy cheeseburger mo
re than anything else in existence.
Passing the bag to Mascen he gets his out, lying it in his lap and stretching his legs out.
After we’ve each eaten a few fries, I finally ask, “What’s so special about this place?”
He swallows a bite of food. “It’s not really the place but the feeling.”
“What do you mean?” I pick up my burger for a taste, wiping the corner of my lip when ketchup gets there.
“I found this place by accident, but I’ve kept coming back. It’s quiet here and I’m alone with my thoughts, the good and the bad ones. But when I look up at the stars and see the entire universe I’m reminded I’m not alone. There’s something comforting in that.”
Tilting my head back I look up at the stars. The sky is clear, the stars above infinite. “I think I get what you mean. It’s impossible to feel alone when all of that exists and there’s so much more out there that we don’t know.”
“Exactly.”
I burrow into my sweatshirt more. There’s no snow on the ground, but there’s a slight wind which makes it feel colder than normal.
“During the fall and spring I can spend hours sitting right here.” He pats the space beside his leg. “Sometimes it’s hard to leave. Do you have a place like this?”
I shake my head. “No, I wish I did.”
“What about before? Where did you guys even move?”
“Florida. For some reason my mom thought the sunshine state would solve all her problems.” Picking up a fry I twirl it around between my fingers. “But no, even there I didn’t have a place to go to clear my head. Not like you have the treehouse and this.” I wave my hand to encompass the dark field.
“I wish you had.”
“Hey,” I pop the fry in my mouth, “I got out of there. I got this scholarship and I’m doing what I wanted. I won’t dwell on the past. That’s not good for anyone. It’s over and done with—no do overs. Obsessing over it won’t change, but I can change my future and that’s what I’ve been working to do for years. I want to be somebody, not to prove a point, but because I can. I want to improve others lives too so they don’t have to work as hard as I have.”
He stares at me for a moment, a peculiar look on his face. Finally he says, “You’re really something, you know that, Princess?”
“I’m nothing special.”
He looks into my eyes so intensely that I start to squirm. “You’re special to me.”
I blush, looking down.
One thing I remember my mom telling me before everything went to hell was if one person thinks you’re special then that’s worth more than all the gold in the world.
With the feeling that floods my chest I think she may have been right about that.
Chapter Forty
Mascen
Break is passing too quickly. I’ve never in my life wanted time to slow down like I do now. I know when Cole gets back and classes start up things will be different. I won’t see her every day. I won’t wake up with her in my arms. I won’t feel … complete.
Fuck, I never thought a girl would ever get to me like she does. I didn’t think I would like the feeling of being so wrapped up in another person, but instead of feeling like I’m leashed I feel freer than I ever have.
With Christmas behind us and New Year’s just around the corner there really isn’t much time left.
I used to think I had so much of it, time that is, but I’m discovering there’s far too little of it when it counts.
“I win!” Rory throws her hands up after counting her money.
“Impossible,” I grumble, picking up the money I earned while playing The Game of Life with her.
“Don’t be such a sore loser. I beat you by more than a million dollars.”
“Let’s go again.”
“I’ve won the last three times. You think fourth time’s the charm?” She raises a brow and reaches to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
“Maybe.”
Winning isn’t as important as seeing her have fun.
She resets everything and we go again.
* * *
Collapsing in bed beside her that night I wrap my arm around her tiny frame, pulling her against my body.
“Mascen,” she wiggles against me, “let me go, I have to pee.”
“Not yet.” I bury my head into the crook of her neck. She giggles when my hair tickles her skin.
“If you keep holding me like this I’m going to think you like me.”
I know it’s a joke, but after all our bickering and my harsh words in months prior I feel the need to make it clear to her that I do. “Mmm,” I hum against her skin. “I do like you. Very much. More than I should.”
She stiffens a tiny bit in my arms and I’m worried I’ve said something I shouldn’t have.
“I like you too,” she whispers back. “This is complicated, isn’t it, Mascen?”
She pulls my hand off her stomach, twining our fingers together. Her skin is lighter than my tanned hue with a couple of freckles.
“It shouldn’t be…”
“But it is,” she finishes for me.
She rolls over to face me, tucking her hands under her head. “This might sound cheesy as hell, but I’d rather do complicated with you than uncomplicated with anyone else.”
I crack a smile, amused at her declaration. Smoothing a piece of hair behind her ear, I say, “I don’t know how to do this. Be someone’s … person and … I have my best friend to think about.”
“I know.” She frowns. “But Cole’s a good guy, he’ll get over it.”
“I’m not so sure,” I admit, my voice shaking.
“What do you mean?” Her nose wrinkles with confusion.
I roll onto my back, curling my right arm behind my head as I look at the ceiling. “Look, you know how I am. I’m moody, arrogant, a jerk—most people call me an asshole more than anything else. I’m the antagonist of a story. Cole … he’ll think I’m doing this just to be a piece of shit.”
“Then explain it to him,” she argues like it’s so simple.
I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Arguing about it will do no good.
Drawing my finger down her cheek, I whisper, “You know I will.”
And I’ll try, when the time comes, but Cole’s seen the way I am for years. He’s not going to be easily convinced I care about Rory. And maybe that’s a good thing, maybe I should end this before it goes further. I tend to ruin everything so who am I to believe that she’ll be any different?
Chapter Forty-One
Rory
“Where are we going?” I ask for the millionth time, wiggling in the passenger seat of Mascen’s car.
He told me to dress up, which meant I had to go shopping. Mascen offered to buy me whatever dress I wanted for tonight, but I refused. Just because he has more money than me doesn’t mean I want him to constantly use it on me.
The fitted deep purple and red sequined dress cost more than I would normally spend on any kind of garment, but I figured for New Year’s Eve I’d make an exception. I paired it with heels—God I hope I don’t take a tumble and die—as well as a long black coat I borrowed from Kenna when I texted her about my dilemma. It felt weird being back in the dorm to get it after all this time at Mascen’s place. Knowing classes will start back up next week is bittersweet.
“A place,” he answers, reaching to adjust the volume on the radio.
“A place,” I repeat. “That really gives me a lot of information.”
We’ve been in the car nearly thirty minutes heading in the direction of Nashville but that's all I know.
"It’ll be worth it.” After a pause he adds, “Hopefully.”
“And if it’s not?” I’m sure whatever he has planned will be fine, but I’m still curious about what he’ll say.
“Then we’ll leave.”
“Just like that?”
“Yep.” He looks over at me briefly. “I don’t want to stay somewhere you’re unhappy.”
I swear my heart does a somersault.
Twenty minutes later he exits off the highway, driving through downtown Nashville.
He parks in one of the various parking garages and once we’re on the street he takes my hand leading me to one of the older more beautiful buildings. There’s a clock inlaid into the top of it surrounded by copper tiling.
“What is this?” I ask him, slightly embarrassed by the giddy quality in my voice.
“I’m not sure if you like country music all that much, but I thought you’d enjoy a concert.”
I stare at him in shock as we enter the building and he passes over two tickets to a guy. He nods and reaches for a set of doors waving us through.
I can hear the music already as we run down a hall, my laughter echoing off the concrete walls.
“We’re a little late,” he says, pulling me along. I struggle to keep up in my heels. “But our seats are excellent.”
“Have you been here before?” I ask, since he seems to know exactly where he’s going.
He looks at me like I’m insane. “My dad’s in a band, I’ve been to a lot of different venues.”
“Right, I always forget that.”
He chuckles as we reach a curtain and he pulls it aside. “That’s one of the things I like most about you.”
We head down a set of stairs, the music growing to a deafening level.
The dark tunnel we’re in starts to brighten and suddenly things open up and we’re right beside the stage to the right.
“Mascen!” I gasp, my hand flying up to my mouth. “Holy crap.”
“You like this surprise?” He wraps his arms around me from behind and I grab onto them, swaying with him.
“I love it.” My eyes are wide, taking everything in. “I’ve never been to a concert before.”
“Another first,” he murmurs in my ear, kissing my cheek.
“What do you mean?”
“Bed sex, now the concert. Two firsts of yours that I get to experience with you.”
Bad Boys Break Hearts Page 25
