“And here?” I slowly trailed to the other breast and repeated the action.
When I glanced up at her face, she gazed back at me with heavy-lidded eyes. Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths, and she licked her lips. Seeing her respond to me and knowing how much I was affecting her made my cock throb.
I could relate to the ache she was referring to because I felt it, too.
She wasn’t the only one in pain.
But this wasn’t about me.
“Where else?” My fingers went to the waistband of her leggings, but I made no move to go further. I dragged my fingertips back and forth against her smooth skin, from one hipbone to the other.
Her stomach quivered.
Mackenna’s hand landed on top of mine. Taking a deep breath, she paused before pushing both of our hands into her pants. Letting her guide me, I felt a small patch of hair before my fingers slid through her wetness.
We both moaned.
“Holy fucking shit, babe.” Resting my forehead on her shoulder, I took a second to get myself under control.
It was hard not to think about what it would feel like to push into her slick heat, and the throbbing in my dick intensified.
“What do you want?” I placed an open-mouthed kiss on her neck. “I need you to say it.”
Mackenna shivered and pressed down on my hand.
“I want you to touch me,” she replied, giving me the permission I needed.
I circled her clit and she gasped.
“There,” she breathed out. “It hurts there.”
“I’ll make it better,” I promised, continuing to slide my fingers over her slick pussy.
Moving her hand in tandem with mine, I let her set the pace, let her show me how hard and fast she wanted it.
Her eyes screwed shut and her lips parted. “That feels good.”
Then her arm pulled away and it was up to me to finish the job.
When I moved to her opening to collect more of her wetness, she tensed. It was almost unnoticeable, but I felt the slight jolt in her body and the way her breathing hitched.
“Watch me,” I whispered, and she opened her eyes. “It’s just me. You tell me to stop and I’ll stop.”
“Don’t stop.” She shook her head. “Keep going.”
“I’m gonna get you off this way.” Applying more pressure, I rubbed her swollen clit faster, and her body started to shake. “Keep your eyes on me.”
“Okay,” she panted. “Okay.”
“Better than okay?”
She nodded. “Yes. So much better.”
My erection pressed insistently on the outside of her thigh and I resisted the urge to thrust against her.
Against my own will, my hips started moving. The head of my dick slipped through the opening in my briefs, and the piercing below my sensitive tip rubbed against the nylon of my gym shorts, causing relief and torment at the same time.
Getting the piercing had been at the beginning of my self-imposed celibacy. Because of the healing time, I knew I wouldn’t be able to be sexually active anyway.
All healed up now.
And the new sensations were almost too much. Too good.
The girl beneath me was too beautiful. Too sexy.
My feelings for her were too deep. Too unexpected.
For the first time ever, I was going to come inside my pants.
Mackenna’s body shuddered and writhed as she spread her legs wider. I wanted to peel the leggings off her so I could see the perfect pussy I was touching, but I could tell she was close.
Her hand gripped the pillow under her head and she gasped.
“Jimmy,” she whimpered. “I’m about to—I’m gonna—”
A moan ripped from her throat as her body bowed off the bed. A gush of wetness soaked my fingers and I continued making circles over her clit as she rode out the orgasm.
She canted her hips, the movement causing her body to rub against the tip of my dick.
My balls drew up tight and I couldn’t hold it back any longer.
With a groan, I pressed myself up against her thigh as my cock pulsed and warm cum coated the inside of my shorts.
For several minutes, neither of us said a word as we basked in the moment. Our breathing evened out, our hearts slowed.
My fingers still cupped her hot, wet center and she jolted from oversensitivity when I slid my hand out of her leggings.
When I glanced at her face, Mackenna wore a lazy smile.
“What am I supposed to say now?” Her tone was light and a little playful. “Is thank you an appropriate response?”
I chuckled. “You can say whatever you want.” I placed a kiss on her forehead. “And I feel like I should be the one saying thank you. That was the hottest experience of my life.”
“But I didn’t even take my clothes off. And you didn’t get to…” she finished with a wave of her hand.
“Ahh… I sort of did,” I said, a little embarrassed.
Propping herself up on her elbows, she raised her eyebrows. “Did what?”
“I need to change my shorts,” I stated flatly.
Shocked, her mouth dropped open, her lips making a perfect ‘O’.
Then a slow smile spread over her face, and she pointed to the dresser. “The gray pants you wore last time are in the top drawer.”
I gave her a quick kiss before hopping up to change.
When I got back, I pulled her close.
“So, my brother’s graduation…” I started again.
Mackenna’s eyes narrowed. “You tricked me.”
“I did not. You agreed of your own free will.”
“I was coerced.”
“No takebacks.”
Frustrated, she blew out a breath. “Fine. Tell me about our trip.”
Grinning because I got my way, I gave her the rundown. “We leave early Saturday morning. It’s about a five-hour drive and the ceremony is that afternoon. We’ll stay the night, then come back Sunday.”
The more I talked about the trip, the more excited I got. I wanted to show Mackenna everything. My town, my family, my old high school.
If I wanted to get her to know me, this was the perfect opportunity.
CHAPTER 23
MACKENNA
And here it was. The unavoidable family awkwardness I’d been dreading.
“I don’t need that big fancy hotel room,” Beverly insisted. “Let Jimmy and Mackenna have it.”
Jimmy threw his hands up. “I don’t know why we can’t all stay at the house.”
“There isn’t enough room,” Matthew, Jimmy’s dad, who I’d just been introduced to ten minutes earlier, argued. “I’m not making Grandma or Mackenna sleep on the couch, and you won’t fit.”
Trying to sink further into the very couch they were talking about, my eyes volleyed from one person to another as they discussed the sleeping arrangements.
“The hotel has a two-room suite,” Linda, Jimmy’s mom, interjected. “Both Mackenna and Grandma can stay there; very comfortably, I might add.”
“I’m not going to separate the lovebirds,” Beverly said, motioning between Jimmy and me.
I didn’t have to look in a mirror to know my face was bright red.
When I’d heard Jimmy on the phone with his dad earlier in the week, he simply told him he was bringing a friend. And now Beverly might as well have told everyone that Jimmy and I were banging like rabbits—even though we weren’t.
“Listen,” I finally spoke up. “I have a solution. I’ll get my own room.”
“Like hell you will,” Beverly exclaimed at the same time Jimmy said, “Absolutely not.”
I looked from Linda to Matthew. “I don’t want to be the reason you have to pay for a hotel.”
“We would’ve had to get the hotel roo
m either way.” Linda smiled at me, then pointed at Jimmy and Beverly. “These two are just stubborn.”
“Fine,” Jimmy said before tossing an arm over my shoulder. “Mack and I will take the room. Grandma, you can have my old bed.”
Clearly pleased, Beverly smiled.
But Matthew didn’t seem so happy. “Hang on a second now. I’m not sure it’s appropriate for you two to be staying the night together. No offense, Mackenna.”
“None taken,” I said, deciding it was best not to announce the fact that Jimmy and I had already slept in the same bed multiple times. “I’m fine with whatever you decide.”
It wasn’t a secret that Jimmy and I hadn’t known each other long, and I couldn’t blame his dad for feeling the way he did.
Apparently, Jimmy didn’t agree.
“I’m an adult, Dad. And I’d like to stay with my girlfriend.”
Jaw dropping, my head snapped toward him. Did he just say girlfriend?
I wasn’t the only one surprised by his statement, because four pairs of shocked eyes landed on us.
“I’m not—he’s not—we’re not—” I stuttered, completely lost for words because the term implied a certain level of commitment.
“Well, it’s settled then!” Beverly clapped her hands together and headed toward the kitchen. “Matthew, do you have any whiskey in this house?”
Seeming concerned, Jimmy’s dad chased after her. Linda hid a smile behind her hand, and Ezra spoke up for the first time since introductions were made.
“Thanks for coming to my graduation,” he said shyly, fidgeting in the green recliner in the corner of the living room. “I don’t have a ton of friends coming to see me walk across that stage… So it means a lot to me that you came all this way.”
And just like that, my heart melted.
I thought I was awkward, but Ezra took it to a whole new level. It was endearing, though. The way his cheeks flushed just from meeting someone new. The floppy mess of blond curls that fell over his forehead. He was exactly how Jimmy described him.
“Thanks for wanting me here,” I responded sincerely.
“You’re always welcome,” Linda said before brushing her own blonde curls out of her eyes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to make sure Beverly isn’t raiding the liquor cabinet.”
*
Something shifted during dinner after the graduation ceremony. As we sat around the dining room table, eating Linda’s meatloaf, I felt the world tilt a little.
Something had changed, but I couldn’t put my finger on it—probably because it wasn’t just one thing.
My heart felt lighter at the sound of Jimmy laughing with his brother as they argued about who knew all the songs to ’90s boy bands and who was better at chess. Ezra proudly claimed the knowledge to the Backstreet Boys lyrics and, apparently, Jimmy was chess champion of the house.
When I told them I was terrible at chess, and would be staying far away from Jimmy during a tournament, his hand caressed my knee under the table and my heart soared in a completely new way.
Pride welled up in my chest when his family asked about my career and seemed genuinely impressed at my accomplishments.
“So you can just work from home?” Linda asked. “You never even have to leave the house?”
“Basically, yes. There will be times when I have to travel to the band for collaborations,” I explained. “But I can record at home and send them the demos. Plus, we can do a lot of our meetings over Skype.”
“That’s so cool,” Ezra chimed in, seeming to be more comfortable around me by the minute. “Can you get autographed posters? And tickets to concerts?”
“Ezra,” Matthew scolded. “You can’t just demand stuff from our guest.”
I laughed. “Actually, you can. Someone might as well enjoy the perks to my job. Yes to both of those things.”
The shy boy from earlier completely disappeared as his face lit up. “Thank you so much.” He pointed his fork at Jimmy. “Keep her.”
Before either of us could respond Beverly asked for another whiskey on the rocks, and her request was denied. She pouted, but I wasn’t oblivious to Jimmy discretely passing her his flask under the table when Matthew and Linda went into the kitchen to get dessert.
They brought out an ice cream cake, which was pretty much a glorified ice cream sandwich. My eyes shot to Jimmy, wondering if he’d requested it on my behalf. He gave me a knowing look and I hid my goofy smile behind my napkin.
My mouth watered as they passed me a slice. It was perfect, with an Oreo cookie crust on the bottom, a layer of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and whipped cream on top.
Heaven.
Then Jimmy’s parents switched to the topic of his classes in the fall, and my heart did a nosedive, plummeting to the pit of my stomach. The fluttery feeling I’d gotten so used to morphed into a sick, churning sensation below my sternum.
My appetite suddenly disappeared and I placed my fork down on the plate while staring at the half-eaten dessert. I’d known all along Jimmy didn’t intend to stay in Tolson, so the dread I felt was unexpected. And unpleasant.
As they talked about the college campus and dorms versus apartments, reality hit home.
There would be a time, in the near future, when I would be alone in my house. Alone in my bed. Just… alone.
Two weeks ago, that was all I’d wanted.
So why did it make me so sad?
CHAPTER 24
JIMMY
Pacing from one end of the hotel room to the other, I took a few deep breaths and shook out my hands. I pulled open the mini fridge and uncapped a water before taking a long drink as I listened to the shower running behind the bathroom door.
I was extremely wound up—probably from holding myself back with Mackenna all week. Although we made out like teenagers and were almost always touching in some way, we hadn’t gone further than kissing since last Sunday.
Mackenna hadn’t asked for it, and I hadn’t pushed.
But I could feel it—soon one of us was going to lose control. In this battle of wills, one of us would break first.
And I needed it to be her. She had to be the one to make a move.
There was something extremely erotic about that fact that I’d gotten her off, but I hadn’t seen her naked yet. Not even a nipple.
There was also something sexy about being in a hotel room. Maybe because it was unfamiliar. Away from reality. Kind of like being on vacation.
I heard the water shut off, and when Mackenna came out I felt like the wind was knocked out of me. Not because she looked any different than usual—but because she looked the same.
And everything about her was perfect.
Long, damp hair around her shoulders. Pink cheeks and lips stood out against her pale skin. Loose white T-shirt. And those crazy leggings. This pair was decorated in roosters, just like her ridiculous kitchen.
Feeling a little weak in the knees, I sat down on the edge of the bed.
When she got close enough, I grabbed her by the thighs and dragged her over between my legs. From where I was sitting, it put me at the right height to kiss her stomach. I nuzzled the soft material of her shirt with my nose and let out a happy sigh.
“Jimmy,” she whispered. I looked up at her troubled eyes and immediately knew something was wrong. “What are we doing?”
“Um, we’ll probably watch TV or something. We could order a movie—”
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it,” she interrupted softly.
Placing another kiss over her belly button, I wrapped my arms around her. She squeaked when I pulled us down onto the mattress so we were lying side by side.
Anxiously twisting her fingers together, she continued. “We’re together all the time. Sometimes you look at me like I’m—” She paused as she searched for the right word
. “—important. You called me your girlfriend.”
“That’s what a relationship is, Mack.” I brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “And I’m proud of you. Proud to tell people you’re mine.”
“This wasn’t supposed to be a relationship. It was supposed to be fun.”
I frowned. “You’re not having fun?”
“I am,” she admitted, absentmindedly tracing the tribal tattoo on my chest. “But it seems like more than that, too.”
“I want more than casual with you. I was pretty clear about that from the beginning.”
Her eyebrows pinched together. “I just didn’t realize it was going to feel like this.”
“Like what?”
Those stormy eyes connected with mine, and she didn’t need to say the words for me to know what she meant. She was having feelings for me. Feelings she’d never had before.
“You’re not alone in this,” I told her. “The feeling is mutual.”
“You’re someone to be proud of, too,” she said, affectionately rubbing her thumb over my bottom lip. She smiled a little, but her eyes were sad. “But this won’t last. You know that, right? You’re leaving at the end of the summer.”
She wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know, but there were other options we hadn’t discussed. “What about long-distance? Would you be willing to do that?”
“No,” she replied with certainty.
“No?” Rubbing at the spot over my heart, I tried to lessen the ache I felt at the thought of ending things with her when I went back to school. “We could try. People do it all the time.”
“No,” she said again with a quick shake of her head. “I’m not cut out for long-distance relationships. Missing you would be terrible. I’d always wonder what you’re doing. Who you’re doing it with…”
“You don’t trust me.” It wasn’t a question.
“Don’t take it personally.” Twisting her lips into a wry grin, she attempted to lighten the mood as her hands went back to exploring my body. “It’s not like we’ve known each other for a long time, Jimmy.”
“Well, that’s something I can work on,” I told her. “We’ve still got time.”
Her fingers stopped their perusal of my chest, and her face turned skeptical. “We don’t have to decide anything today.”
Dropout (The Good Guys Book 3) Page 16
