by Gia Riley
“No. We aren’t leaving until you spill it. Something’s nagging you. I can feel it. What’s going on?”
I’m hesitant, but I open up to Cara anyway. She can’t help she’s related to my boyfriend. “I don’t think I’m sexy enough for your brother.” I’m ready for her to flip out on me, but instead, she laughs. A full out, cracking up, hysterical laugh. I glare at her, wishing she would stop making a joke out of this. “Forget I said anything.”
I stand up and cross the room to find my purse, rooting around inside for my keys and ID.
“Wait. You’re serious?”
“I was. But never mind.”
“I’m sorry, Sophie. I shouldn’t have laughed at you, but why would you think that? My brother is crazy about you. Anyone can see it.”
I shrug my shoulders, unsure if this is the kind of conversation I can have with her considering the circumstances. But she is my best friend on campus.
“Come on, tell me,” She begs, with a puppy dog face.
“I’ll tell you, but can you be my friend and not his sister for a few minutes?”
Looking worried, she scoots close to me on my bed, ready to listen. “Sure, go ahead. Hit me with it.”
Cautiously optimistic this won’t freak her out, I let my words flow carefully out of my mouth. “I’m worried I’m not sexy enough for him. Or that maybe he’s not attracted to me in all the ways he should be. Remember the night at the party, when those two girls were on him. They were smoking hot. Even I admit that and I’m a girl.”
Cara pauses, tries to speak, and then stops again. Finally, she continues, “Have you discussed this with your counselor? She’s way more qualified to help you with this than I am. I’m afraid if I say the wrong thing I’ll trigger you.”
Her hesitation is exactly why it’s so hard to be open with others. They think I’ll run to throw up if I don’t like their advice. “No, I promise you won’t. It’s not about throwing up or anything like that. It’s the only thing I can come up with when I try to figure out why he doesn’t want to be intimate with me anymore.”
“Since when does my brother not want sex? Let me rephrase that. Since when wouldn’t a hypothetical guy resembling my brother who is not my brother not want sex.”
Although this is a serious conversation, I laugh at her attempt to separate her genes from Kipton’s like I asked her to. I knew I was asking her to do the impossible. “It’s okay. You can call him your brother. But that’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. It’s embarrassing, but it’s been a couple weeks now. Not once has he made a move other than kisses, or a few sensual touches. It never progresses to anything more. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with him, but I’m worried I don’t do it for him.”
Cara stands up and shakes her head no. “I highly doubt that’s the case.” She paces back and forth just like he does when he’s stewing over something important. I smile at their noticeable similarities. “He would never cheat on you, Sophie. Sure, he’s had his fair share of chicks, but he wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Well I hadn’t even considered that, but now you’re freaking me out.”
“No. He’s not. He would never do that to you. I’m just thinking out loud. It doesn’t make sense, but maybe he’s just taking things slow. Do you want me to talk to him? I’ll ask him what’s up.”
“Oh. God, no! This stays between the two of us. I’m begging you, Cara.”
“Okay, calm down. But if you don’t get some tonight and break out of this funk, I may have to say something. It’s just not right. A girl has needs too.”
Yes, I need my boyfriend to want me. “I’m fine, I promise.”
“If you’re sure.” I shake my head that I’m good. “Let’s get going. I need a few shots after that.”
I reach over and snatch my cell off the bed. The screen lights up and the call from earlier is still connected. Stabbing at the red x on the screen, I die a thousand deaths.
Cara turns around when she realizes I didn’t follow her into the hallway. “Now what?” She huffs.
I stand staring at my cell in shock. “Cara, the call. Your brother’s call. It never disconnected.”
“So?”
“So! I think he heard our entire conversation just now.”
She rolls her eyes and stomps back into the room. “You don’t know that for sure. Kipton has ADD most of the day. He probably hung up a long time ago.
“But the timer was still running. If he hung up, it would’ve stopped.”
Cara takes the phone out of my hand and inspects it. She checks the call log and notices the extended time on the previous call. “I doubt he could hear even if he was trying to eavesdrop.”
“I think I’ll stay home.”
Cara grabs my arm and hauls my ass into the hallway, kicking the door closed in the process. “No. We’re going and we will have fun. Stop dwelling on things you can’t change. It’s one of our goals on the board remember?”
After I started therapy, Cara and I hashed out our differences. We even went as far as making a roommate agreement. I thought it was silly, but she insisted it would bring us that much closer. Although she just mentioned one of my goals, we both try to work on all of them together. That way it’s easier to keep each other on the right path.
Regardless of my embarrassment, I suck it up and drive the two of us to the party. It’s time to face the music. When I pull into the gravel lot next to the house, I cut the engine and stare blankly ahead. The warmth of the heater is quickly being replaced by the chill in the night air. “Are you coming inside, Sophie?”
Before I can answer, Kipton’s opening her door. “Cara, a few of your friends are inside playing beer pong. Can you give us a minute please? I need to talk to Sophie alone.”
“Sure, Kippy. Go easy on her though.” She pats his shoulder and hurries inside the house.
Kipton takes Cara’s place in the passenger seat of my car. The way he’s looking at me can only be described as feral. I swallow the lump of apprehension in my throat just as my chest begins to rise and fall rapidly. I’m afraid to speak first, but the tension is too palpable to continue in silence.
“Kipton?” I say his name in the form of a question, hoping he will explain why we’re hanging out in the car and not going inside to the party.
“Sophie.”
I twist my fingers in my lap, nervously. “Um. Do you need me to drive you somewhere?”
“No.”
These one word answers are killing me. “What’s wrong?” I need him to ease my fears.
“Do you see the treehouse atop the tree in the backyard?” I turn my head to the right. “No, the other side of the yard.”
I crane my neck to look in the other direction and spot it in the distance. It looks like it’s in the neighbor’s yard though. “Yes.”
“I want you to go wait for me inside.”
Is he serious? “I can’t climb a tree!”
“There’s slats nailed into the tree trunk to climb up. It’s safe.”
My heart is thumping in my chest. “Why aren’t you coming? What’s going on?”
“I need you to climb up and get completely naked for me. Then, lay down on the blankets. Can you do that for me?”
Holy shit. I clench my legs together, his directions adding to the anticipation of what’s to come. “I think so. But why can’t we go to your room? Where it’s warm.”
“Because I’m going to make you scream so loud, we need to be outside for the air to soak up your cries. After I finish, we can go inside and do it all over again if you want.” He leans close to my lips like he’s going to kiss me, but pauses. “But you’ll have to be quiet inside.”
“Quiet. Okay.” Right now I’ll do anything he asks. “Why though?” I’m positive I already know the answer, but I ask him anyway to torture myself.
He cups my chin in the palm of his hand. “Because I love you. And every inch of this gorgeous body. It’s mine and I don’t want you to ever doubt how much I want you, a
gain.”
I try to duck my head, but he doesn’t let me. Instead, he forces me to look into his eyes. “You heard, didn’t you?”
“I heard every word and I’m glad I did, Sophie.”
“Oh.”
“And I’m so mad at myself for not giving you what you need—for making you doubt yourself.”
“Kipton, it’s okay. It’s nothing. I was making it a bigger deal than it is.”
“It’s everything. I need you, beautiful. There isn’t a moment of my day that I don’t spend wanting you. I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve made love to you. I was worried you weren’t ready after everything that’s happened. But now I know I was the one overthinking everything. I’m relieved I heard your conversation even if I should have hung up.”
“I always need you, Kipton. Please don’t ever think you’re too much for me to handle. You ground me. I feel my best when we’re together.”
He squeezes my hand in his. “I’ll always be your rock, baby.” He reaches over and unbuckles my seatbelt. After placing a tender kiss to my lips, the heat returns to his eyes. “You have five minutes to get ready for me.”
I don’t know if it’s the thrill of the moment, or the promise of what’s to come, but I can’t get out of the car fast enough. After stumbling over some loose gravel, I trek through the piles of leaves littering the yard. My nerves are already revved up, but the tree seems to grow in size as I inch closer and closer. I slow down and glance back toward my car. Kipton’s still sitting inside, but I’m too far away to make out what he’s doing. Is he really going to make me climb this damn tree?
I reach out and test a few of the wooden boards nailed to the trunk of the tree. When they seem secure enough to hold my weight, I begin to climb. Halfway up, I make the mistake of looking down. For a moment I debate reversing back down to the ground, but when I remember Kipton’s promises, I keep moving higher.
Once inside the treehouse, I flex my hands a few times to restore circulation. After grasping each rung so tightly, I wince when I touch the palm of my right hand. Certain I have a splinter; I try to search for it but can’t find anything. Expecting bare floor boards, cob webs, and a family of ants, I gasp when I take a look around. This was no spur of the moment decision.
AFTER OVERHEARING SOPHIE’S CONVERSATION WITH my sister, I realized that by giving her space in the bedroom, I wasn’t helping her recovery. Instead, I made her feel unwanted and insignificant—two things that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Instead of being upset with her for not coming to me with her worries about our relationship, I was proud of her for talking it through instead of letting it eat her alive.
But the moment Sophie ended the call, I went to the basement and rounded up some of my camping gear. It took a lot of energy to haul it all up into a tree, but I owed her romance and several weeks’ worth of sexual attention.
After blowing up the air mattress, unfolding two sleeping bags, and replacing the batteries in the lantern, the space was looking a lot cozier. I even hung a few of the gaudy campsite bulbs around the ceiling and plugged them into the lantern jack. In all of twenty minutes, I transformed the space into our very own love shack.
As I sit here in her car watching nervously as she climbs up the side of the old oak tree, I’m only able to relax once she’s safely inside. I told her five minutes, but I wait almost fifteen before jogging to meet my girl.
The climb is easier the second time around, especially with both hands free. I expect Sophie to be waiting for me under the warmth of the sleeping bags, but as I lift my body onto the platform, I get the opposite. My beautiful Sophie is completely naked, lying on her side with her silky blond curls draped over her shoulder. All of this was supposed to be for her, but she’s the one giving me the gift.
“Shit, baby. You look incredible.” I stand gawking, ready to blow my load before I even touch her. She crooks her index finger, inviting me closer. Afraid to blink for fear she’ll disappear, I shuffle over to the mattress.
“You’re overdressed, Kipton.”
This confident side of her is so damn hot. “Beautiful, this was all for you. I’m supposed to be seducing you tonight.”
I have to touch her, so I bend down on my knees to taste her lips. She holds the back of my head in her hand, determined to set the pace. Her kisses taste like cherries, most likely from one of her Jolly Ranchers she’s always sucking on. I’d be satisfied kissing her like this all night, but I’m eager to give her more.
Hurriedly, I strip my clothes off, tossing them on the floor in a heap. I climb on all fours next to her before sliding under the sleeping bag, covering the both of us. Sophie cuddles close before climbing on top of me, her body so soft against my skin. Before I touch her anywhere else, I have to kiss her again. Greedy for her lips, I nibble and bite my way through the seam of her lips—our tongues mingling the moment they touch. I’m hungry for more as I knead her naked ass in my hands. She lets out a sultry moan, tipping her head back in pleasure. Damn, she looks amazing.
Placing soft kisses on my chest, then my stomach, she’s inching lower with each peck. I don’t want her want to stop. Her mouth feels too good and when she uses her tongue to trace over the hard ridges of my abs, I fight to regain control. “Sophie, wait.”
Her head pops up and her cheeks redden. Shit, I wasn’t trying to discourage her.
“I’m sorry.” She rolls back onto the air mattress and clutches the sleeping bag. I miss the warmth of her soft curves already.
“No, I didn’t want you to stop.” I have to start thinking with the right head. Sophie tilts her head to the side and creases her forehead in confusion. I’m not making any damn sense.
“What’s going on, Kipton? Isn’t this what you asked for? You said in the car–.”
“No, beautiful. I know what I said in the car, but tonight is supposed to be all about you. You don’t have to do anything, or say anything. It doesn’t matter what you think I want. I did this for you—let me make you feel good.” She still looks uncertain. “What’s wrong?”
She swallows and licks her cherry stained lips. “Nobody’s ever done anything like this for me, especially without expecting something in return.”
“It’s all you, Sophie. Now are you ready to be wow’d?”
She giggles and her eyes light up. Finally she says, “Wow me, Kipton.”
I end up doing just that, several times, until we’re both so exhausted it’s too much effort to move inside the house. Instead, we cuddle up under the moonlight in our own little world away from the chaos of college life. We’re safe, satisfied, and complete.
“Thank you.”
“Baby, you don’t have to thank me for loving you. And you’ll never have to question how attracted I am to you again. I won’t let you forget this time.”
It’s never been this intense after sex. As long as I got off, I was happy. In fact, before Sophie, I’d be dressed and on my second drink by now. What she and I share is different, insanely different. But I crave it.
She holds tight to my hand, her body slightly trembling. Assuming it’s from the mixture of sweat and the chill of the night air, I pull her closer to my body. “I love you, Kipton,” she whispers against my chest.
For a minute I think I imagined it, but after her body tenses up, waiting for my response, I know it was real. “God, beautiful. I love you too.” If possible, I squeeze her even tighter. She has no idea how her words just lassoed my entire heart, pulling tight with no intention of easing up. She’s it for me. She’s fucking it.
“DO YOU TWO LOVE BIRDS have any idea how long it took me to find your asses?”
What the? I wipe the sleep from my eyes and turn my head. Cara’s standing at the end of the mattress tapping the toe of her boot against the wood. “Shhh. You’ll wake Sophie. Why are you even up here?”
“I should ask you two the same thing. I broke two nails climbing up here to make sure you were still alive. Two, Kipton!” She holds out her mangled nails like it’s
my fault she’s incapable of climbing a damn tree.
“How did you know we were up here?” Sophie questions. I didn’t realize she was awake. Leaning over, I place a kiss on her forehead. She wraps her arms around my neck and finds my lips.
“Excuse me, can you stop making out and answer me?” We don’t stop. “Guys, come on. That’s gross.” We still don’t stop. Sophie smiles against my mouth and our laughter mingles with our kisses. She’s enjoying this. Finally, Cara kicks the air mattress and jolts us hard enough that we break apart. “Are you done, sucking face?”
“No,” I respond honestly. “Not so fun is it?”
“Ugh. Well I’m ready to go back to the dorm. Let’s move people. And, I apologized about you catching me with Drew.” She claps her hands like Mary Poppins and shushes us.
“Trust me, we hear you.” I’m almost afraid to ask, but I torture myself anyway. “Where did you sleep last night?”
“In your bed with Drew.”
“Oh hell,” I groan. “Did you at least change the sheets?”
“We slept, Kipton. There was no sex. But now I regret that. Especially since you two were in a damn tree all night leaving me stranded. I looked everywhere for you two.”
She’s going to love this. “Can you climb back down without killing yourself so we can get dressed?”
Her eyes widen and her mouth pops open. “You mean. You’re both naked right now? Under there?” She gestures toward the sleeping bag. The only barrier between us.
“Yes.” Sophie rolls on her side and can’t help but laugh at her roommate.
“Oh for the love of god, you two, that’s disgusting. Someone’s gonna get a damn tick. Put some clothes on and hurry up!” She sits back down on the wood floor and eases her way onto the ladder. I don’t hear any noise, so I assume she makes it safely to the bottom. It’s confirmed when I hear the pile of leaves under the tree rustle with each retreating footstep.
We do have to get moving, but I want one last moment alone. She’s going home today for a week and I’m not used to being in separate beds let alone different towns. “Good morning, babe.” I roll on top of her, covering her body entirely with mine.
