Enemy Down

by Cathryn Fox

  I cringe. All my time has gone to my studies, or to Christian. I’m a terrible friend and it’s no wonder she’s mad at me. “I know, I know. I’m so sorry.”

  She grins. “It’s okay, at least one of us is getting it.” She leans across the table all conspiratorial like. “So tell me everything. I want all the details.”

  I laugh. For the last month now, she’s been trying to get me to give her the nitty gritty on my bedroom time with Christian, but I don’t kiss and tell. “Wait, why are you not getting any?” I ask. She shrugs and her gaze goes across the room to Barrett. I gasp. “Don’t tell me you’ve gone and fallen for a footballer?”

  “Not really. I don’t know. You know we hooked up last month, right?”

  “Yeah, and now you like him?”

  “No, I hate him. We were supposed to meet up again last night, and he blew me off for some card game.”

  “Yeah?”

  She leans in closer. “Apparently, there’s more than secret auctions that go on at Wolf House. We’re talking illegal card games with high stakes, and it’s not just college boys participating either. Sometimes their rich daddies and uncles join in, along with some millionaires looking for a little fun.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  She shrugs. “Wait, this conversation isn’t supposed to be about me, it’s about you. How’s the ankle?”

  “Good, the boot is gone. My appointment this morning was fast. I didn’t want Christian to take me, but he insisted.”

  She grins. “I’m sure he did.”

  “It’s a huge relief to have it off. My God, I was so worried I’d still have it on for Thanksgiving. Christian and I are going to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate.”

  “I wonder…” she asks with a grin.

  “What?”

  “How many times you can say Christian’s name in a minute.”

  I shrug and make light of it. “He took me to my appointment, and I have been staying with him.”

  “Dinner, huh? Where are you going?”

  “To one of his favorite spots. Christian…” She grins and I catch myself and take a breath. “He’s headed to Aspen after Friday night’s game, and I’m headed home, so this is a last dinner or something.” Maybe it’s a goodbye dinner, one last hurrah, before I go back to my place. Maybe he’s planning on breaking that to me tonight. I knew it was coming and I’m fine with that.

  Are you really, Maize?

  “I read your Harvard letter, made a couple of suggestions, and sent it back to you.” She reaches across the table and takes my hand. “You’ve got this, Maize. But I’m going to miss you when you go to Massachusetts. Soon enough you’re going to start talking funny, taking drives in your ‘cah’, and going to the ‘bah’. But you’ll be a wicked good student.”

  I laugh as she puts on a Boston accent. “Speaking of cah, what time are we leaving tomorrow?” Just thinking of Mom’s turkey dressing has me salivating.

  “One. Right after class.” She glances around, her gaze falling over the footballers across the room. “I’m looking forward to getting out of this place.”

  Just then my phone pings and my heart jumps in my chest. It’s crazy how happy I get every time Christian texts or calls me, but he knows I’m in the library, and he’s still in class, so this is strange, and really I need to stop being so happy to hear from him. I’m sure after tonight, I’ll be back in my house and he’ll be back in the bed of some hot cheerleader. I grab my phone and it’s not a text, it’s a call coming in from my mother.

  I frown. “That’s odd.” I glance at Kaitlyn, take in her worried look. “It’s Mom. I’ll be right back.”

  I hurry outside to take the call, my stomach tight. It’s not like Mom to call in the middle of the day like this. I slide my finger across the screen. “Hey Mom, what’s up?” I ask.

  “Am I catching you at a bad time?”

  “No,” I say and sink onto the stairs when I hear the strain in her voice. “Are you okay?”

  “I am, but I’m not,” she says with a sigh. “I have to work all weekend. One of the girls went on maternity leave early, and we’re short-staffed. I’m sorry, honey. You can still come home, I just won’t be able to make us a big meal and I’ll be at the hospital most of the time you’re home.”

  Disappointment courses through me but I’m not going to complain. Mom is the only family I have, and things could have been a whole lot worse. “I understand. Maybe I’ll just stay here and study.”

  “I feel awful.”

  “Don’t. Life happens and before you know it, it’ll be Christmas and we can gorge on turkey then.”

  She laughs. “That sounds wonderful, Maize. I’ve been so busy lately we haven’t had much of a chance to talk.” A bell chimes in the background, and she covers the phone for a second.

  “It’s okay, Mom. I know you’re busy. I’ve been busy too. I miss you, though.”

  “Okay, hun. I have to run. We’ll catch up at Christmas.”

  She hangs up and I stare at my phone for a second. I’m disappointed, but a really strange sense of relief goes through me because Mom would have asked about my races and I would have had to lie. This way, I won’t have to and by rights, now that my ankle is healed, I should probably move back into my house. That thought sits heavy as I push to my feet and head back inside.

  “Everything okay?” Kaitlyn asks.

  “Mom has to work through Thanksgiving.”

  “That sucks. Why don’t you come home with me?”

  “As nice as that offer is, I think I’ll just stay here and get some work done.”

  “Okay,” she says and stands, looking a little unfocused when Barrett gets up and heads for the door. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Kaitlyn?”

  “Yeah?” she asks and turns back to me, still looking a bit rattled.

  “I’m going to move back home.” I lift my leg. “There’s no reason for me to stay with Christian any longer. I’m all healed now, and I can probably get a part time job and start paying him back.”

  She winks at me. “You have been paying him back, sugar baby.”

  “I am not…” I laugh. “Okay maybe I am, but once I pay him back, I won’t be.”

  She nods. “Whatever you decide let me know, but if I were you…” She snaps her fingers. “I’d stay put and get it, gurl.” I smile and she goes serious. “Hey, are you okay?”

  “Fine,” I fib and put on my best happy face. “Just bummed about Thanksgiving.”

  She eyes me for a moment and I try not to fidget. “You sure this doesn’t happen to have anything to do with a football player and you falling for him?”

  “I am not falling for Christian,” I say as much to myself as to Kaitlyn. “We’re very different people and neither of us is looking for any sort of a relationship.”

  “Sometimes things change, girlfriend,” she says, hiking her backpack up and leaving me with that very real thought.

  I sit there for a moment, that uneasy feeling in my stomach mushrooming, and when the library starts to empty, I pack my books and head back to Wolf House. I go in around the back, habit now, even though I don’t have the boot on any longer, and thanks to the key Christian gave me, I let myself in. I make my way to Christian’s room, moving through the quiet house. Many of the guys have already left for the long weekend.

  In Christian’s room, I glance around, and my heart is heavy as I look at my things all scattered about. I should just pack up and go, and forget about dinner tonight, before I get in any deeper with this guy, if that’s even possible. But seriously, there’s no sense in prolonging the inevitable. I grab my bag and start stuffing my things into it, when the door creaks open behind me. My heart jumps as I turn. Warm and wonderful sensations move through my body when I find Christian standing there smiling at me.

  “Hey sweetness. Getting ready to go home?” he asks, his gaze going to my bag.

  I take a breath. “Actually, no.” I plop down onto the bed. “Mom has
to work all weekend, so we postponed turkey until Christmas.”

  His face falls and he crosses the room, pulls me to my feet and puts his arms around me for a big bear hug, catching me by surprise. “I’m so sorry, Maize…I know how much you’ve been looking forward to it.”

  “Yeah, it’s okay. I’m still limping a bit and this saves me from explaining what’s really been going on in my life.”

  He inches back, and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Why are you packing, then?”

  I shrug. “I figured since my ankle was better now, and the roof is fixed at my place.”

  “You’re not going anywhere.” His voice is so deep, so hard, and so adamant, my body stiffens.

  "What are you talking about?”

  He grins, a playful little gleam in his eyes. “You owe me.”

  I nod. “I know. I plan to pay you back every cent. I told you that.”

  “No, you owe me. I was cutting you some slack because you were in a boot, but now sweetness, you’re mine, bought and paid for. I own you and it’s time you started serving me the proper way.”

  I grin, the pulse at the base of my throat picking up pace at the teasing, yet hungry look in his eyes. “Oh, is that right?”

  “That’s exactly right,” he says and grips the hem of my T-shirt. “I’ve been patient, but now that you’re not going anywhere this weekend, I think I might just tie you to that bed, and do dirty things to you.” He walks around me, his breath hot on my neck as he moves my hair from my shoulders and presses hot, open mouth kisses to my tingling flesh. “Now that your leg is better…” he says, grabbing my hips and moving my body. “You’re going to be a good little servant, and do everything I tell you to do.”

  “What…what do you want me to do?” I ask, my voice hoarse and low, full of arousal.

  “I think I’m going to need you to take these pants to your knees. I don’t want them all the way off though. Just enough to show me your hot little pussy.”

  I gulp, heat coursing through my body, amping up my arousal.

  “You see, I’ve not really been able to do everything I wanted with you, with that boot on.” He gives a low, slow whistle. “Now I’m going to fuck you in all the ways I’ve been dreaming of.”

  “What have you been dreaming of?”

  He laughs. “Such a dirty little girl, wanting to hear about all the ways I’m going to fuck her.”

  My body vibrates as he circles me again, dropping to his knees behind me to pull my yoga pants to my knees. He grabs my ass and squeezes my cheeks. My sex clenches, and I reach down to part my wet lips and touch myself. It pulls a growl from Christian.

  “You can touch yourself, Maize…but your orgasm is mine.” I stroke my clit as he rakes his teeth over my ass. I grow so much wetter. His teeth scraping skin feels so good, so naughty. Maybe I am his dirty girl, for wanting and enjoying this.

  “I want you bent over the bed. I want to see your hot, tight pussy.”

  He moves me, until I’m facing the bed. I stand there as he removes my shirt, and bra, and circles my waist to grab my breasts. He squeezes, and pinches my nipples, and the sting travels all the way to my aching pussy. Yeah, I know. I was planning on leaving before I got in any deeper, but what is one more fuck between friends?

  He toys with my breasts for another minute, and kisses my neck, his soft moans curling around me. His mouth goes to my ear. “On the floor, and bend over this bed. Keep your legs together.”

  Holy God.

  I sink to my knees, able to do the move easily now with no boot, and press my breasts to the mattress.

  He goes to his knees behind me. “So goddamn beautiful,” he says and slides one thick finger into me. I let loose a loud moan, uncaring if anyone hears. If this is going to be our last time together, I’m going to enjoy the hell right out of it.

  “You’re so wet, Maize. Have you been thinking about fucking me?”

  “Yes.” I murmur into the bedding, and wiggle my ass, wanting him inside me.

  “I’m back early. Were you going to lay on this bed and put your fingers inside yourself.”

  I groan, loving the way he talks to me. I squeeze my legs together, and his growl of approval burns through my blood.

  “So hot and tight for me.” He slides another finger inside for a snug fit, and I move, rubbing my clit against his bedding. My brain cells stop firing as white-hot pleasure grips my entire body.

  “Fuck, Maize,” he growls, as small spasms start in my core and clamp around his finger. The sound of his zipper releasing fills the room and I moan.

  “Yes,” I cry out. “Put your cock in me, Christian.”

  He goes still for a second, clearly surprised by my demands and while I’m not usually so vocal, I really just don’t care. Like I said if this is our last time, I’m leaving here with a bang—literally and figuratively.

  “You need my cock, Maize…”

  “Yes. I need it. I need you to fill me. I need you to fuck me.”

  He falls over me, presses kisses to my back. “You don’t even have your pants all the way off yet.”

  “I don’t care. Just put your cock in me,” I cry as my spasms grow stronger. I have never in my life had such a full-body experience before. Foil crinkles and the next thing I know, he’s driving into me so hard and deep it pushes me into the mattress and pulls all the air from my lungs.

  “Ohmigod,” I cry out and gasp as he rocks into me, hitting my cervix and every other pleasure zone in my body. I grasp the bedding, claw at it, as the world closes in on me.

  “This what you need, sweetness?”

  “It’s what I need,” I manage to say past a dry throat. I gasp, cry, buck back against him as he pulls almost all the way out. “More.”

  He grips my hips, his fingers biting into my flesh as he rams into me, hard blunt strokes that steal my last working brain cell. My body burns, aches, as he pounds, bringing on an orgasm that renders me senseless. He groans as I come around his thick, pistoning cock, and I love it. I love what he’s doing to me, what I’m doing to him. I love the honesty in this, the raw, primal way we’re fucking. Both of us are a hot mess as we give and take with unfettered need.

  I soak his cock, and I quiver as my juices drip down my thighs. He changes the pace and rhythm, driving home as he chases his own release. I move with him, meet and welcome each hard thrust, as I encourage him to just take…take everything he needs from me, the same way I took from him.

  His breathing grows harsh, each breath a hot blow against my back, and I close my eyes against the sensation. Stupid tears press against the back of my lids and I try to blink them away. I don’t want my heart to hurt right now. I just want to enjoy the physical aspects of this, but dammit, I’ve been keeping my emotions at bay so long now, and the way he’s taking me right now, it just feels more…more than just fucking.

  It’s not, Maize. Don’t go confusing love and sex.

  I swallow and push back all the girly feelings as he goes still high inside me, and a second later, his cock throbs. “I feel you,” I murmur.

  “So good, Maize,” he whispers, as he comes and comes and comes some more, and I worry he’s going to overfill the condom, and it’s going to burst. He falls over me, his cock still buried deep, his mouth warm and wet on my back. As he presses me to the bed, I sink into the mattress, warm, sated, unable to move a single muscle. We stay like that for a long time, and when he finally pulls out, I miss the connection.

  He disposes of the condom, and I stay exactly as I am as he disappears into the bathroom, coming back with a warm cloth for me. I get rid of my clothes and my heart misses a few beats as he cleans me, and a few minutes later, I find myself positioned in the middle of the bed, Christian beside me, running his big, warm fingers up and down my arm. I’ve been studying so hard, and staying up so late, that with his body wrapped around mine, sleep pulls at me, but I force my eyes open, and turn to find Christian watching me, his eyes narrowed, deep in thought.

  “Hey,” I say a
nd put my hand on his cheek.

  “Why were you leaving?” he asks, his voice serious, his eyes dark and intense.

  “I can’t stay here forever,” I explain, my heart crashing hard against my ribs, I fear one could break. “My ankle is better, and I figured we didn’t need this arrangement anymore. I can still help you with things if you want, as payment until I can actually pay you, but I don’t have to be living here, right?”

  Please tell me I’m wrong.

  After a long moment, he nods in agreement. “I guess you’re right,” he says with a frown, and rolls to the side to look at the ceiling, and I can’t help but wonder what is going through his brain. “But it will have to wait until we’re back from Aspen.”

  “What do you mean…we?”

  17

  Christian

  It’s Saturday, and night has fallen over the mountain town as I pull the rental car up to the massive lodge. After our winning game Friday night, which Maize came to watch, we went to bed early, and got up early to catch our flights, and plan to go back Monday. I’ll miss my Sunday afternoons at the hospital visiting the kids, and we’ll both miss a few classes, but most students travel Monday instead of Sunday to extend their time at home. While we don’t have a lot of time here, I plan to make the best of it. I turn to take in the wide smile on Maize’s face as she gazes around with childlike wonderment. My heart pinches in my chest, wanting to put that smile on her face every single day.

  “You like it?”

  Flabbergasted she looks at me, her eyes full of joy. “Like? Christian,” she says, her voice high and excited, even though we’re both tired from an early morning followed by our flight. But seeing the look on her face is worth it. “This place is gorgeous.” I turn to the massive log cabin structure and try to see it through her innocent eyes. I’ve been here so many times, it’s easy to forget the beauty of the place. I take an extra minute to glance around, and take pleasure in the snow-covered peaks. Maize might not be able to ski, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do other outdoor activities, and a few indoor ones too.