The Pledge

by Laura Ward

  Alec’s kisses were eager, his lips pressing against mine with such intensity I hardly had time to catch my breath. He moved down, trailing his lips along my neck until he reached my chest. Every place he left a kiss felt hot, and I felt flushed.

  “I missed the way you tuck your hair behind your ear when you’re nervous.” His lips branded my right shoulder. “I missed the way you smile when you know you’re out-debating me.” His mouth traced the words into my skin before leaving a scorching touch on my rib cage. “I missed the way you can get lost in a book and fall into its pages.” His kiss settled between the swell of my breasts, and his breath feathered across my skin.

  A tear rolled down my face as emotion overwhelmed me. I wasn’t just another body. He saw me. The real me.

  He looked up and propped himself up on his elbow. He reached up and wiped the tear away with his thumb. He left his hand on my face and gazed down me. “What’s wrong?” His fingers stroked my cheek.

  I closed my eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath. “I’m so happy we get a second chance.” Another tear escaped me, and his face pinched as he reached up to wipe that one away, too.

  “Second chances don’t change the past. They just prove we can learn from our mistakes.” He pressed his face into my neck, his mouth just below my ear. “I’m not the same guy I was in high school. I’m going to prove that to you.” He kissed the curve of my neck.

  “Please, keep going. I don’t want you to stop. I need this.” My voice was strong, and I threaded my fingers into his hair.

  He raised his head, watching as his fingers skimmed across my shoulders and down over the swell of my breasts, tracing the edge of my bra. He unhooked the clasp on the front and then pulled back the lace. He inhaled sharply when the tips of his fingers caressed me.

  “I can’t get you out of my mind. You’re…amazing.” His gaze followed the path of his fingers. The reverence in his voice sent my heart soaring in a thousand different ways at once before it slammed back in my chest. Alec’s hand cupped the weight of my breast before his thumb lightly circled the center. I pressed my lips together to hide my moan, but his triumphant smile was proof that he heard me. He brought his mouth to my other breast while his thumb continued to massage my nipple. His gaze never left mine.

  As soon as I felt his warm, wet tongue, I closed my eyes. The feeling was so sweet that light burst behind my eyelids. My breaths came quickly as he sucked and nibbled. I squirmed and writhed beneath him, his touch both gentle and demanding. All of my questions were gone. I had no doubts, no worries, only trust. Alec’s embrace was the one place I belonged.

  He moved down my body, kissing my belly until he got to my panties. He lifted his head in question.

  I licked my dry lips and gulped in a breath. “Not all the way. But—” I swallowed hard. I needed to tell him exactly what I wanted, but I was embarrassed to say the words aloud.

  “My hand?” He pushed up to press another kiss to my lips, coaxing away my apprehension. His tongue stroked mine, and I relaxed. Pulling away, I nodded.

  His grin was wicked as he inched his way back down my body and then slid my panties down my legs. He reached down between us to stroke me, sending pulses of heat racing through me with every touch.

  My hands were buried in his hair, gripping the strands in desperation. Alec’s fingers moved along the warmth between my legs, dragging with sweet tenderness, before circling along my center.

  I gasped, clutching him tighter to me and arching up into his hand. He’d never touched me like this. If I felt like I’d been on a rollercoaster before, I was wrong. Pleasure surged through my body, and I held on tight as he took me to the edge before kissing me gently.

  Alec stilled his fingers and looked up, his eyes searching my face. “You still okay?”

  This man. I loved that he didn’t want to push me too far, but right now I needed him to keep going.

  “Please,” I groaned, and he smiled, relief filling his face. He slid two fingers into me, watching my face as he moved them in and out. Each stroke of his fingers sent delicious tremors through me. I tensed, squeezing my eyes shut. “Yes,” I dragged out the word and just when I thought I would crack and fall over the edge, he changed the rhythm...the angle...the pressure. Dear god I hoped he’d never stop.

  “Alec...” My eyes locked onto his as my body thrummed with pleasure. Tears filled my eyes again. Tears? This couldn’t be sexy. I kept crying, but everything about me was out of control right now. My body, my heart, my mind, raced to keep up with him. All I could do was hang on.

  “Taren. You feel…Jesus you look so beautiful.” Alec’s voice cracked, and his lips trailed up my neck, as he sucked and groaned against my skin.

  “Alec.” I began to shake as his name shuddered out of me with every breath.

  Finally, my body became lax, and Alec lay next to me on the bed, pulling me in close. I pressed my nose against his neck, nuzzling against him, and smelled the scent of his hot skin. He kissed my temple, and I tangled my legs with his jeans-clad ones.

  Hold the phone.

  I was butt-ass naked, and he was still wearing his jeans? This was wrong on so many levels. Easing out of his grip, I moved down his body, licking along my favorite ridges and contours. He grinned and settled back on his pillow. His head rested on his bent elbow as he watched me. His eyebrow cocked as if wondering how far little miss goody-two-shoes was willing to go.

  I’d show him I wasn’t the same girl he knew in high school. More than anything, I wanted to bring him the same pleasure he had just brought me. I knelt next to him and paused, biting my lower lip. I might not have been experienced compared to other girls in college, maybe even other girls he’d been with, but I was a quick learner. My pulse quickened, and I sucked in a breath.

  I slid the button at his waistband through the hole and unzipped his pants, my hand trembling. Alec sat up and covered my hand with his.

  “You don’t need to do this tonight.” He smiled and kissed me softly.

  “I want to do this.” I took a deep breath. “I want to make you feel as good as you made me feel. I’m just not sure I’ll do it right.”

  “Taren.” The scorching intensity in his eyes almost knocked me over. “Anything you do will be perfect.”

  I loved the confidence I felt from the fact that he trusted me. Slipping my hand inside, I rubbed along his hard length and my own body lit up in response when he grunted.

  Threading my fingers into his belt loops, I pulled his jeans down his legs, and he helped by lifting his hips. My gaze was trapped for a few wonderful moments as it found the bulge in his boxers. When I looked up, he grinned as he caught me checking him out. My face flashed hot, and I shrugged. I didn’t care. I was like Julie with an Internet connection and a no-limit credit card. I was going to enjoy every moment of this free-for-all.

  I ran my hands up his thighs and his body tensed. I slid his boxers off and took a minute to appreciate the view. Straddling his knees, I traced my fingers up and around his hip bones. Once I found the tight cluster of muscles on his stomach I ran my fingers over them, too. Alec Hart was big and gorgeous all over.

  My fingers followed the path of his abs down. I wrapped my fingers around him tentatively and he groaned.

  “Fuck. Taren, yes.” Alec propped himself up on his elbows, watching me. Heat coiled through my body, knowing he liked what I was doing.

  I moved my hand up and down his length in a slow rhythm. Holy shit. He felt amazing. Hard, hot, pulsing. As many times as I had imagined touching Alec like this, reality was so much better.

  “Is this good?” My words were quiet, but excitement shot through me.

  “Fuck yeah. Just a little harder. A little…faster.” Alec’s lips parted, and he closed his eyes.

  I squeezed him harder, and his body tensed even more underneath me. I moved my hand faster, and his breathing increased.

  An ache pulsed deep inside me, and I wished I could squeeze my legs together. I was more turned on doing th
is and watching him than I had ever been before. I wanted to push him to the brink, just like he had taken me. I needed him out of control, just like I had been.

  I tightened my fingers around him even more.

  “Yes.” His voice took on an edge. When I picked up the speed of my hand, Alec groaned and thrust his hips up. His breaths came deep and harsh.

  Oh, hell yes. He liked it. Donut girl for the win.

  The thought spurred me on, and I leaned over to kiss him. I let the naked skin of my breasts slide against his sweat soaked chest as I moved my hand faster between us.

  When Alec’s stomach muscles bunched together, he reached up to grab my face with both hands. He kissed me hard as he moaned into my mouth. I swallowed his sounds but kept moving my hand.

  He tore his lips from mine, his voice husky. “Babe, I’m gonna come. Shit, you’d better move.”

  I bit my lip and kept going, fascinated by the way his face and body tensed. Finally he sighed, long and low, his mouth hanging open and chest heaving as his release spilled through my fingers and between us.

  He stared at me for a moment. His hands cradled my face before he eased me down onto the mattress next to him. He kissed my eyes, nose, and lips while he used a towel to clean us up.

  After he was done, Alec pulled me close and brought his lips to my ear. “You and me, Taren. You and me,” he whispered. “We’re all in.”

  I smiled, pressing my face against his neck, and curled up next to him.

  Me and him.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  ALEC

  The time had come for me to get my girl out of her comfort zone.

  I handed Taren the pair of shoes I’d borrowed from Maureen as I led her to the fifty-five foot freestanding climbing wall on campus. She stopped and stared up at the students making their progress up the wall.

  “You can’t be serious, Alec. This is our date?” The terror in her eyes was clear.

  “Come on.” I put my arm around her waist and led her forward. I leaned over to whisper in a deep voice to her. “It’ll be fun.”

  “You know what would be fun? Going back to your apartment and peeling me out of these clothes.” She smirked and batted her eyelashes at me.

  Visions of a naked Taren flashed through my mind, and I reached up to run my hand back through my hair. “You could tempt a fucking saint you know that?” I glared at her, and she continued to smile. I wasn’t going to give in. “Don’t worry. We’ll get to that later. But first we’re going to have a little fun.” I put my hands on her shoulders and turned her toward the sign-in desk.

  “I didn’t think you’d actually be able to convince her.” Maureen sat behind the counter and handed me two harnesses.

  “I’m not convinced.” Taren pouted at Maureen and then cast another worried glance at the wall. “In fact, I haven’t even agreed. I don’t have muscles like you, Maureen. I’ll never make it up that thing. My idea of exercise is running for the campus shuttle.”

  Maureen laughed. “Don’t worry. Alec will belay for you. He’s not going to let you fall.”

  Taren’s eyebrows pinched together as she looked at me. “What does belay mean?”

  I put my arm around her. “It means I’ll be holding the spotting belt, babe. Don’t worry. I work here, remember?” Maureen had gotten me the job so I could pick up some extra hours on the weekends. I didn’t think I could trust Taren’s safety with anyone else. I knew I’d never let her fall, and she knew it, too.

  I took Taren’s elbow and steered her over to the beginner section. She rubbed her arms and gazed helplessly up at the towering wall and the people dangling from it.

  I slipped my finger under her chin and turned her to face me. “Do you trust me?”

  She looked at my lips and then her gaze found my eyes again. I could see fear, but that faded as her faith in me took over. “You know I do.”

  “Then you know I’m not going to let you fall.” She swallowed and then nodded. I leaned in to kiss her, my lips lingering longer than I meant to because I didn’t want to break the contact. “Ready?”

  She nodded, and I stepped back to slip on my harness. Taren watched with fascination as I tightened all the straps. I held her harness out so she could step into it. When she hesitated, I leaned forward and kissed her again.

  “If you’re a good girl and give this a try, I promise to make it worth your while.” Her eyes narrowed, and she fought to hold back a grin. She’d said the same thing the night she forced me to study. “Do you doubt me?”

  She tapped her foot and cast another terrified glance up at the wall before meeting my gaze. “It better be worth it.”

  My eyes traveled down her body, and she shifted under the heat of my gaze. “It will be so worth it that your toes will curl.”

  She blushed and then moved toward me, holding my shoulders for balance as she stepped into the harness. I might have taken a little longer than necessary to tighten the straps along her inner thighs, and I caught her smiling when she noticed.

  “Don’t start something here you can’t finish.” Her words were a threat, but her tone was playful.

  I ran my fingers along the edge of the harness from her hip to the top of her thigh, and she shivered. “You can do this,” I told her.

  While we waited for her turn, I explained to her how the belay system worked. “Whatever happens, don’t panic. Use the commands to tell me what’s going on and trust me to keep you safe. When you’re ready to come down, whether you’re at the top or halfway there, just call ‘Take,’ so I know you’re ready. I’ll lock the rope so you can let go of the wall, and then I’ll yell up, ‘Got you.’ Then you can call, ‘On rappel,’ hold onto the rope, and enjoy the ride down. Okay?”

  “What if I forget the signals?”

  “You won’t, but if you do, I’ll help you.”

  She nodded and took a deep breath, sending another wary glance upward as the person on the wall rappelled down. When it was her turn, I tied the knots and loaded the rope into the belay device. Taren watched my hands with a strange look on her face and then smiled.

  “What?”

  “The rope is red.” She pointed out with a shrug. “Our red string of fate.”

  I was surprised I didn’t notice it first. I grinned down at her. “See? I told you everything would be okay.”

  With renewed confidence, she allowed me to finish the prep work and then stood in front of the wall.

  “On belay?” she asked, just like I had instructed.

  “Belay is on,” I responded to let her know I was ready.

  “Climbing.”

  “Climb is on,” I told her.

  Taren reached out to the wall and tucked her foot into the first crevice and pulled up. She wobbled a bit, and I pulled the rope a little tighter to let her know she was safe. She straightened herself out and reached for the next grip. As she made her way up the wall, her confidence grew. I wished she could see just how amazing she was tackling the wall despite her fears.

  I watched closely as she made slow progress up the wall, clinging to it with every ounce of strength she had. She stopped a few times to catch her breath, but she never gave up. She was about three quarters of the way up when she called out, “Take!”

  I pulled the rope with two long strokes to take out the slack before calling, “Got you.” Gingerly, she let go of her handholds and then gripped the rope.

  “On rappel,” she said.

  I lifted the locking mechanism just enough to let her slowly descend the wall. She kept her feet out like I had instructed, gently pushing off the wall to control her rappel. I couldn’t keep the grin off my face when her feet touched the ground and she turned around with a look of pure delight.

  “Oh my god, Alec. That was...amazing. I can’t believe I almost made it to the top.”

  “I knew you could.”

  Taren threw herself into my arms, and we were a tangle of red rope, carabiners, and kisses.

  Behind me I heard a throat cleari
ng. “You forgot to say ‘Belay off.’“

  Taren and I turned to see a guy glaring at us. He was wearing a Go Climb a Rock shirt and an arrogant expression. I quickly untied the knots in our ropes to release us.

  “Now, belay off,” I told him as I handed him the rope. The guy flipped me the bird, but I didn’t give a shit. Taren trusted me and had conquered her fears. That was the only thing that mattered.

  She grabbed my hand. “Let’s get the belay out of here.” She kept her face straight for all of two seconds before dissolving into giggles.

  ***

  Taren was becoming my new addiction. I couldn’t get enough of her. And seeing her tackle my world by taking on that climbing wall? My girl was a winning hand...a fucking royal flush.

  I rushed through the front door of my apartment, kicking it closed behind me, before I jogged down the hall to my room.

  “What’s the rush, princess?” Caz yelled as I passed the kitchen. He stood at the counter, eating brownies right out of the pan with a fork.

  “Taren’s on her way over,” I said as I jogged down the hallway. She'd be here in ten minutes, and I still hadn’t taken a shower. Spending the afternoon with my cousin had seemed like a great idea a few days ago, but I had forgotten how easy it was to lose track of time when I was with him.

  I shut my door behind me and stripped out of my clothes on the way to the bathroom. Just as I was about to get in the shower, I heard the intercom buzz and when I heard Caz answering it, I jumped into the shower before it was completely warm. Shit. Time to pull off the fastest shower of all time.

  I stood under the spray and quickly lathered up as the hot water kicked in and filled the small room with steam. I was washing the last of the soap off my body when I heard my bathroom door open.

  “Need a hand?” Taren’s voice was as hot and sultry as the air in the room.