Enemy Down

by Cathryn Fox

  “Maize, you feel so good,” he says, his voice a low soft whisper as he puts his lips to the hollow in my throat and presses soft kisses, a contrast to the fierce way he’s pounding into my body.

  “You do too.” I close my eyes, lose myself in the sensation, while I concentrate on the pleasure building between my legs. I struggle to breathe as I roll my head from side to side, and when he grinds against my clit, another wave builds inside me. “God,” I whisper.

  “Come all over my cock, babe,” he whispers, and as soon as the words leave his mouth, they taunt my sex, and I let go. I bite down to suppress a cry as I clench around him. He groans in my ear, a tortured sound as he holds on.

  “Let me feel you,” I whisper. “Fill me, Christian.” Under the covers, we can barely see each other, but I know he’s staring, just like I’m staring at him, taking in his silhouette as he pushes deep and lets go. A quiver goes through my body as he spurts into me and I squeeze his cock, wanting every last drop. “So good.”

  He nods, and his lips find mine for a deep, sensual kiss. Our tongues tangle, taste, leisurely explore, neither of us in a hurry to break the connection.

  “I’m so glad you came,” I say, pushing the blankets off us so I can see him, and the corners of his mouth turn up.

  “Was I taking too long or something?”

  I laugh and whack him. “I’m glad you came by tonight, and I’m glad you came too.” A giggle catches in my throat.

  He slowly pulls out of me. “Do you have tissue?”

  “Yeah.” With my body and limbs so lethargic, I slowly reach over and grab the box. He pulls out a few tissues and wipes us both up and drops them into my trashcan.

  I hear a creak in the hall and put my finger to my lips. We wait, and when the sound passes by my door, I exhale the breath I was holding.

  “I should get out of here, huh?”

  A knock sounds on my door. “Maize, are you up?”

  I push Christian so hard he falls off the side of the bed with a thump, and I grab my book and toss it to the floor. My door creaks open and I pull my blankets up to my chin.

  “Everything okay? I thought I heard voices and then a bang.”

  “I, uh, fell asleep with my book, it must have fallen off the bed.”

  Oh, Maize how easily the lies are coming now.

  “Did you need something?”

  “I didn’t mean to wake you. I thought you were up, and I wanted to let you know my shift got changed. I have to go in early tomorrow, but that means we can have dinner tomorrow night. Why don’t you see if Ryan wants to come over, then we can all watch a movie or something?”

  “That sounds like a great plan.” I stretch to give her the hint.

  “Okay, you get back to sleep. I’m off to bed in a few minutes too.”

  “Night, Mom.”

  “Night, love.”

  My door clicks shut and I lay there for a second until her footsteps are down the hall. I lean over the bed and find a stark-naked Christian on his back, his hands covering his manly parts. “Sorry,” I whisper and cover my mouth to stifle a chuckle.

  “You don’t look sorry. You look like you’re laughing and I nearly flashed your mother.”

  I grab my shorts and shirt and tug them on. “Here, get dressed.” I toss his clothes to him.

  He dresses quickly and I sit on the bed crossed legged to watch him. “I feel like I’m back in high school,” he grumbles.

  “Got caught in a lot of girls’ beds, did you?”

  He gives me a playful wink. “Who says I got caught?”

  “Then the part about being in a lot of girls’ beds is true?” Damn, I hate the jealousy racing through me. The floor creaks again, and I walk quietly to my window. I turn and he tugs me to him, planting a very possessive kiss on my mouth. He kisses me hard, long and deep. It steals my breath and sets fire to my last working brain cell.

  “What was that for?” I ask.

  “When you’re hanging with Ryan tomorrow, that kiss is what I want you thinking about.”

  There’s something in his eyes, something soft and sincere, and it hits me in the chest, a little to the left. I am so completely in love with Christian.

  “We’re just friends.”

  “Yeah, with a guy that looks like Ryan-freaking-Reynolds.”

  He’s jealous. I’m sure of it, and I love it. I tap my chin. “Do you think?”

  He gestures with a nod to my bed and cracks his knuckles. “Yeah, I think. Keep him out of that bed.”

  “Sometimes we sit on it, Christian.”

  He angles his head, his blue eyes a deeper shade. “Are you trying to provoke me?”

  A door closes in the hall. “You have to go.”

  He grumbles, and throws one leg out the window. “Text me after the dinner and movie.”

  “Why, are you planning to sneak into my room again?”

  He frowns and glances down. “I won’t be able to. Dad is getting home tomorrow and I’m expected to go to a family dinner.”

  “That sounds nice, Christian.”

  “Yeah, we’ll see. Then Saturday there’s this…” He blinks and lifts his head. “Doesn’t matter. Are you going to miss me?”

  “Terribly.”

  “Good,” he says and slides out the window. He curses and I laugh, assuming he landed on one of the prickly bushes. I watch him hurry to his Jeep and climb in, and my body tingles all over, his touch still burning through my body.

  My phone pings, and I jump on my bed and reach for it and read the text from Christian.

  Still thinking about me, aren’t you?

  Maybe.

  Why are you so obsessed with me?

  Must be that first-born quality we both have.

  Ah, yes, the reason we could never work out.

  I stare at his message for a long time, not really knowing what to make of it. Is he reminding me this is just sex? Or is he waiting for me to jump in and tell him it’s not true? As I sit and overthink it, wondering what it was he started to tell me about Saturday night, and then changed his mind, another message comes in.

  I had a really nice time tonight, Maize.

  Yeah, me too.

  Check your dresser.

  Having no idea what he’s talking about, I jump up and go to my dresser to find a little baggie with cookies.

  Grandma’s famous cookies. Now go get some sleep. See you soon.

  My heart beats wildly at the sweet gesture as I set my phone down, knowing sleep is the last thing I’ll be getting tonight, even though I need to be bright and sharp tomorrow for my interview. No, I’m going to lay here and go over the events of tonight a million times, especially the jealousy I heard in his voice and his reminder that ‘only children’ aren’t compatible. I know we both started out in different places, but we’ve grown and changed, and tonight, I really sensed he wanted the same things I do. Then again, I can’t forget Ryan’s reaction when Christian first dropped me off. He was floored when he realized it was Christian, and after he drove off, he gave me a good hard lecture about the rich kids from the right side of the tracks and how I should never trust them because I’d only end up hurt.

  Can I trust Christian?

  My stomach tightens. I was going to wait to talk to him on the drive home—figure out if we had a future together—but maybe I’d better do it sooner rather than later.

  23

  Christian

  With voices rising up from downstairs, I sit on the edge of my bed and quickly send Maize a text, and the pictures of my room I promised her. It was late last night when I got home and I didn’t want to send them and wake her.

  I really want to see her, desperately, but Mom’s party is in full swing, and I’m expected to be here to mingle and find myself a fiancée. That thought makes me laugh. None of the girls here tonight can even compete with Maize. And while I want to be with her, she’s busy with her mom and I don’t want to interrupt their limited time together. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to sulk abou
t it, though.

  I can understand her not wanting her mother to meet me and get the wrong idea, but once I give her the present Linc and I spent all day shopping for, I’m hoping she’ll see that I’m serious and rethink what we have. Maybe then I can meet her mother. I of course want her to meet my family too, especially Grandma, but I’d never bring her to this pretentious bull shit party.

  I stare at my phone, but no reply comes. I haven’t heard much from her since she told me how well her phone interview went with Dean Saunders. She’s going to get a full ride, and he’s setting her up with some firms for their internship programs. She’s spent many hard years working for this and now it’s all in the palms of her hands. I’m happy that I could help the girl who never asks for help.

  A rap comes on my door and before I can get to it, the knob turns and in walks Chelsea. She smiles and glances at the white-knuckled grip I have on my phone. “Are you coming down or are you going to play on your phone all night?” I stand, shove my phone into the front pocket of my dress pants, and she puts her hands on my chest to straighten my tie. “You clean up nice, Christian.”

  I laugh, and take in her tight black dress. It’s low in the front, showcasing a hell of a lot of cleavage. “Like what you see?” she teases.

  I was simply observing, not ogling. Christ, after Maize, all other girls pale in comparison, but I’m not rude, so I say, “You look nice, Chelsea.”

  “Nice,” she says as her eyes narrow in on me. She spins to show me her body. “I think you could do better than that.”

  “Christian…oh…” Mom goes still when she sees Chelsea in the room with me. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were up here, Chelsea.” She smiles at the girl she believes would make me a suitable wife. “I was just checking to see if you were coming to the party.”

  “I was just on my way.”

  I wave my hand for Chelsea to exit first and we follow Mom down the stairs and into the living room. I grin when I see Linc, and step up to him. “Surgery canceled? Spleen still intact?”

  He laughs and hands me his beer. I take a big drink as he says. “You owe me one, bud.”

  He’s dressed in a nice suit and tie, and he hates suits and ties. I can’t help but think something is up. “Seriously, what are you doing here?”

  “Heard a rumor.” He frowns and shakes his head.

  I eye him. “Do I want to know?”

  “It involves you, so probably.”

  “I’m going to need a drink for this.” I head to the bar and the man attending it pours two shots of tequila. We both knock them back.

  “Chelsea wants you back,” he tells me. “She made it perfectly clear at the pub the other night after you left. Gave hands-off warnings to her girlfriends.”

  “I had a feeling something was going on with her. It doesn’t make sense, though. Why now?”

  “Apparently, her boyfriend broke it off, and she’s devastated. Graduating from college, no ring on her finger when many of her friends are engaged.”

  “She’s barking up the wrong tree, dude.”

  “I know, but I thought you’d need a wingman tonight to help out. Chelsea has a way of always getting what she wants.”

  The bartender pours us another shot and we toss them back. He then hands us a couple beers from the fridge. My phone pings, and I snatch it from my pocket, hoping it’s from Maize, but it’s not. It’s from our coach, sending out a group message reminding us to make good choices and stay fit over the holiday. I laugh just as Linc’s phone pings with the same message.

  I’m about to shove my phone in my pocket when someone bumps me, and it falls to the floor. I reach for it, but Mrs. Jackson puts her hand on my chest and gives me an apology, although I have a feeling she banged into me on purpose.

  “I’ve got it,” Linc tells me as he reaches for my phone while Mrs. Jackson keeps hold of me and drags me across the floor to say hello to her granddaughter. I cast a pleading glance over my shoulder, a cry for help, but Linc just shrugs and takes another drink of his beer. Some wingman he’s turning out to be, but he’s here to run interference with Chelsea and there’s no rescuing anyone from Mrs. Jackson. She pretends to be a little old lady, but she’s a shark with pointy teeth and right now she is trying to matchmake. Why does everyone think I need to be set up? I can get girls perfectly fine on my own. Sure, I let them know it can’t go anywhere, but who I see, who I take to my bed, is my decision, not anyone else’s.

  “Katherine is all grown up,” Mrs. Jackson says to me. “You’d hardly recognize her, but trust me, you two would make the cutest couple.” She taps a blonde on the shoulder and she turns. Katherine smiles at her grandmother, until she realizes her grandmother has her arm latched around mine in a death grip, in case I try to run, I assume. “Katherine, you remember Christian?”

  She nods. “I do. Nice to see you again.”

  “You too.” I haven’t seen her since I went off to Kingston and she was a junior in high school. She was pretty then, still pretty now. Her shyness hasn’t changed either.

  Mrs. Jackson releases me, and claps her hands together. “Isn’t she lovely, Christian?” I turn to her and over her head I catch the way Chelsea is glaring at us.

  “She is. Very lovely.”

  “I’ll leave you two to get to know one another. Katherine, make sure you tell him all about Princeton.”

  Mrs. Jackson leaves, and Katherine rolls her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

  I laugh, instantly at ease with her. “What is with the matchmaking? If I’m not mistaken, it’s the twenty-first century.” I see that her glass is almost empty. “Come on, let’s get a fresh drink.”

  “Or ten.”

  I laugh at that. “It’s not so bad,” I say, and then check myself. “What am I saying? It’s bad, it’s really bad.” She laughs with me and hands me her glass.

  The bartender fills it with wine, and she gives me a grateful smile. “If we could just pretend we’re falling for each other tonight, that would really help a girl out.”

  “My mother is at it too, so you could help me out. We can hang out, but you should know I’m with someone.”

  She glances around. “Oh, is she here?”

  I give a fast shake of my head. “No, this isn’t her kind of thing.” I glance around the room, and frown. “She’d actually hate it.”

  “I like her already, and if you’re worried about me trying to get a ring, don’t. I’m more into Christinas than Christians.”

  I laugh at that, really liking her. “I wasn’t worried, but I guess your grandmother doesn’t know, huh?”

  She exhales. “No, I haven’t been able to break it to her.”

  “Sorry about that. I know it can’t be easy.” I put my arm around her shoulder like we’re long lost friends, and guide her to a quiet spot in the room. We both take a seat, and for the next half hour, fall into easy conversation. I catch Linc’s eye a few times as Chelsea and a few of the other girls in the room chat with him. He’s got my back, keeping Chelsea occupied.

  “I thought it might have been Chelsea you were with,” Katherine says.

  “Why’s that?”

  She takes a small sip of wine and crinkles her nose. “She looks like she wants to put me through a woodchipper.”

  I chuckle. “I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have one then.” I stand and hold a hand out to her. “How about a breath of fresh air?”

  We head out onto the back patio, and the cooler night air falls over us. We lean over the rail and take in the dark night. “Tell me more about Princeton,” I say, and for the next half hour we talk about school, and football, and before I realize it, I’m talking about Maize, like nonstop, I need to shut up already. I’m sure I’m boring Katherine to death. I shake my head.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I went off like that.”

  Katherine grins, like she knows something I don’t. “I do. You really like her.”

  I laugh and shake my head. “I do like her.”

  S
he angles her head, her dark eyes moving over my face. “Does she know it?”

  I rake my hand through my hair. “I…I’ve never actually told her, I guess.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  “When did you get so smart?” I ask and when she shivers, I put my arm around her and lead her back inside. Her grandmother gives us a big smile.

  “She’s going to be heartbroken,” Katherine says with a sigh.

  “You have to live your life, Katherine. You have to do what makes you happy.”

  “Great advice coming from a guy who’s at a party when there’s somewhere else he’d rather be.”

  I laugh. “You got me there.”

  She checks the time. “I think it’s time for Grandmother to head home. It was so nice seeing you again, and I look forward to meeting Maize.”

  “You’re going to love her.”

  She smiles at me and puts her palm on my face. “If you love her, everyone will love her.”

  I do. I do fucking love her.

  I reach for my phone, to see if she returned any of my messages, and that’s when I remember Linc has it.

  “Take care, Katherine,” I say and go in search of Linc. The party has died down quite a bit, many of the elderly guests long gone. Linc has had far too much to drink by the time I find him and I guess he’s drowning his sorrows. He really seemed to like Steph, and this breakup has been hard on him. I want to help, but I don’t know what the answer is. A hook up? Spending time alone? All I know is whatever he decides to do, I’ve got his back.

  “You’re sleeping here tonight, bud,” I say and put my hand on his shoulder.

  “Yeah, thinking that would probably be a good idea.”

  “Thanks for running interference.”

  He nods. “Was that Katherine?” His head bobs a little. “Chelsea wasn’t very happy about you ignoring her.”

  “Yeah, it was Katherine, and I wasn’t ignoring her. Besides, you kept her busy.”

  “I should go say hi to Katherine.”

  I stop him. “She’s really sweet, too sweet for you dude, so forget it.”