by June Kramin
Dusty scooped her up and carried her to his bed, worried that she wouldn’t make it on her own. He remembered what was missing. One small detail from before. “Let me get you a more comfortable shirt.” He went to his drawer for his AC/DC shirt and handed it to her. She stared at it blankly. “Want me to turn around?”
“I want help,” she said, sitting there with her eyes closed.
“Raise up your arms.” Katie did as she was told. Dusty pulled off her tight t-shirt and slipped his on her. Once she was covered he asked, “Bra?”
“Take it off.”
He ran his hand across the back, then discovered it was a front latch and quickly popped it free, careful not to brush her breasts too much in the process. After struggling slightly with pulling it through the sleeves, he laid her down and covered her up.
“You warm enough?”
She nodded.
He dared to kiss her forehead. “I’ll ride the couch.”
“You don’t have to. If you were going to attack me, you’d have already done it.”
“Want me to get a bucket just in case?”
She shook her head no. “Why are you so good to me?”
“I already told you. I love you.”
“That’s creepy,” she mumbled before falling into a deep sleep.
Chapter Six
Katie woke up with a pounding in her head. Judging by the lack of light, she guessed it was before six. Far too early to be up on a Saturday. A stirring in the bed caught her attention; slowly the previous night came back to her. What an ass I am! She opened her eyes and saw Dusty lying next to her.
As if he felt her gaze, Dusty’s eyes opened up. The warm smile he gave her instantly melted any fear that he judged her for what happened last night. What the hell was she worried about anyway? He was the freaky stalker guy. She lifted up the sheet to look at how she was dressed.
“We didn’t have sex, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I don’t remember changing.”
“You ditched the jeans in the bathroom. I helped you with the rest. I swear my eyes were closed when I helped you with your shirt.”
“Oddly, I believe you.”
Dusty propped his head on his hand. “Do you remember much?”
“I’m pretty sure I yacked. That or you have a cat and it took a shit in my mouth.”
“All I smell is cherry schnapps.”
“Gross.” Katie ran to the bathroom. Finding a toothbrush on the counter, she assumed it was one she’d used by the way it was discarded. She scrubbed vigorously at her teeth and tongue. “You have any aspirin?” she hollered through the door.
“In the kitchen. I’ll get it.” A moment later there was a gentle knocking. She pulled the door open; Dusty was there with a glass of water. Not being able to help liking what she saw, she allowed her eyes to explore his body. He was shirtless and yummy. She accepted the pills and water from him and closed the door again, hoping to hide the sudden flushing of her cheeks. She wanted to try to recover in case he had noticed.
“You feed me cinnamon or something?”
“Not this time.”
“What?”
“Uh…no. It was all booze, sweetheart.”
She pulled the door open quickly again. “You got me drunk?”
“You got yourself drunk, cupcake.” He stepped closer to her. Katie hated that she suddenly felt weak. “If you wanted to take advantage of me, you already had me,” Dusty said as he leaned in for a kiss. Katie wanted to be angry at him, but her pounding heart wouldn’t let her. She leaned into his kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. A moan escaped her throat. She silently cursed herself for letting it out.
Dusty could hardly fight his grin when she moaned. He knew he was winning her over. Scooping her up as they remained locked in a kiss, he walked her to his bed. After placing her on it, he waited for a protest that never voiced itself. His hands slid down her sides and removed her underwear, then he removed his pajama pants.
“You need to get something, Dusty.”
“You sure?”
“No glove, no love.”
“Give me a second.” He ran to the bathroom, returning in record speed with a condom. In another minute, he was inside her. Even though he had made love to his Katie only yesterday, to her this was the first time and that’s how it felt for him. He actually felt like he was cheating on his wife and was momentarily guilty. He recalled his fight with her about that subject, but couldn’t concentrate on any details of it. The euphoria she put him in let his mind wander to nothing else than what they were doing right then. He took his time pleasing her as he had perfected over the years. He knew every spot that made her gasp, every movement that made her catch her breath.
Dusty knew when she was ready and once again, or for the first time—depending on how you wanted to slice it—they climaxed together.
Katie’s legs and arms wrapped around him tight. “Don’t move,” she whispered before giving his neck a kiss.
“Not on your life,” he said, returning the gesture. After his breathing had returned to normal, he slid off to the side and kissed her forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“You asking if I feel like a slut, or about my hangover?”
“Either.”
“My head isn’t so bad and oddly, I’m okay with this. You’re creepy, but damn good in bed.”
“Can we go exclusive and stop with the condoms?”
“Exclusive? You work fast, Mister…. what is your last name, anyway?”
“Andrews. Why? You ready to take it already?”
“You sure move fast.”
“I know what I want.” He could stop from planting kisses where he could reach.
“I could probably go to jail.”
“I’m not that much younger than you.”
“What are you? Eighteen? I’m insane.”
“I’m twenty…one.” He had to stop and think for a second exactly “when” he was.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure, babe.”
She lifted her head. “Babe?”
“You prefer cupcake?”
“Usually, I prefer romantic dinners, a few dates and maybe meeting your family before sex.”
“Okay to the first two, I don’t think you’re ready for the last one.”
“Issues with your parents?”
“You could say that.”
“I guess it’s a little late for baby steps. I’ll cope. For now, though, I need a shower.”
“Want company?”
She shrugged. “Why not?”
As Kaitlyn scrubbed Dusty’s back with one hand, the other roamed across his body. He heard her giggle softly. Dusty spun around. “Is there something funny back there?”
“You have the cutest birthmark. It looks like the state of Wisconsin.”
Facing her, he placed her hands on the subject matter. “Yeah, so you’ve said.” He kissed her before any kind of protest could be voiced over that comment. He’d have to win her over a little more before he filled her in. Maybe he wouldn’t have to at all if his luck held out like this.
It suddenly occurred to Dusty that Katie had gotten pregnant somewhere along her time hops. They joked about not being sure which one of him “knocked her ass up.” He wasn’t usually a praying man, but he prayed like hell that what he was doing wouldn’t screw things up. They didn’t use a condom the first time they’d had sex in what was now their present timeline. She let him go without one, but of course she had already known he was safe. Dusty worried for a moment that this could have been that time. He would never be able to live with himself for messing that one up. This wasn’t the Katie that was traveling, though. Things had to be okay. His mind raced with possibilities. His mood must have changed to her. Katie seemed pulled back.
“Is everything okay?”
He forced a smile for her. “Perfect.”
“I was worried you were having second thoughts. I really could have played a little harde
r to get.”
“You don’t need to play anything ever with me, puddin’ pop.”
“Puddin’ pop? You going to do this the whole time we date?”
“Pretty much.”
“You could have told me that before I slept with you.”
“Wouldn’t have mattered.” Again he covered her lips with his.
After they toweled off, Dusty gave Katie one of his pajama tops to put on. “Don’t take this wrong, but you still look a little rough. If you want to hang out here today, that’s fine. I have no plans. I could order us a pizza and pick up some movies later.”
“That sounds great, but could we squeeze in coffee first?”
“Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself. Of course. I have eggs, too. I could whip us up something for breakfast.”
Katie placed her hand on her stomach at the mention of eggs. “Just coffee for me for now. Thanks.”
Dusty busied himself in the kitchen. After a few minutes, Katie joined him. He poured her a cup and slid the flavored creamer in front of her, then returned to the stove. As soon as he picked up the spatula, he dropped it and flew to Katie’s side. “Don’t!” he shouted as he clutched her hand. She had dropped a heaping spoonful of creamer into her cup.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“There’s cinnamon in that.” He walked the cup over to the sink and washed it out.
“How the hell do you know I’m allergic?”
Dusty thought fast on his feet. “You said something this morning.”
“Oh, I guess I did. Thanks.” He refilled her cup and dropped it back off. He removed milk from the refrigerator. “This will have to do. I’ll get you half and half for next time.”
She smiled at him.
“You like the sound of next time?”
“You’re burning your eggs.”
“Shit!” He rushed over to the stove and turned the burner off. “I really can cook. You’re too distracting.”
Katie unbuttoned a button on the shirt she was wearing. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“That’s dirty pool.”
Dusty walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist. Again they shared a long kiss, but Katie placed both hands on his chest. “I really need to lay down for a bit.”
“I’m not really hungry yet, either. Join me on the couch?”
“Sure.”
After they were settled, Dusty pulled a crocheted afghan from the back of sofa over them. He turned the TV on softly, but Katie fell asleep right away. Dusty couldn’t believe through all his fumbling he had still won her over again. He was surprised when he woke up two hours later, not believing he’d slept that long. Katie was still sound asleep. As carefully as he could, he climbed over the back of the couch. He got dressed then slipped out to pick up movies and pizza.
When he returned, she was standing in the kitchen, waiting for the microwave.
She smiled at the sight of him. “Just heating up my coffee.”
“You feeling better?”
“Almost human again.”
He put the pizza down then removed a container of creamer out of the bag. “Got you this while I was out.”
“Thanks.” She removed the coffee from the microwave and added some creamer. Cup in hand, she lifted the lid to the box and inhaled deeply. “This is perfect. I’m starving.” She pulled a piece out of the box and offered him the first bite. He accepted it then gave her a kiss on the cheek with a full mouth. The timing was a little off, but this scene played familiarly in his head.
Katie hopped on the counter to continue eating. “Do you think we’re moving a little fast here?”
He picked up his own piece and took his position in front of her, snuggling himself between her legs. “Not at all.”
“I was on a date with Rex then somehow ended up in your bed. My first instincts were that you were some kind of crazed stalker lunatic, yet I still slept with you. Have I lost all of my marbles?”
“I’d say you’ve finally found your senses. You always study too hard, Katie. You were on the verge of a complete meltdown. I was finally able to get you to take a breath and relax.”
“How do you know my study habits? We don’t have any classes together.”
Again Dusty had to think fast. “I’ve seen you here and there. You’ve always looked stressed out.” He hoped she wouldn’t want more of an explanation than that.
She squinted her eyes at him. “I’d know if I saw that baby face of yours before, Dustin.”
“Dusty.”
“Fine. Dusty. You’re fun and all, but I’m not ready to settle down. Sorry if my lack of self-control is giving you the wrong idea. One, I have too much on my study load and B, I’m not a fan of lawyers. I don’t see a future with a guy whose profession I’m going to despise.”
“Your arguments are invalid, counselor. A, you’ll have plenty of time for me and two, I’m not such a fan of lawyers, either. A Minnesota pro bono lawyer died in poverty, and many people donated to a fund for his funeral. The Chief Justice was asked to donate ten dollars. ‘Only ten dollars?’ said the Justice. ‘Only ten to bury an attorney? Here's a hundred. Go and bury ten more of them.’” He waited for her laugh that never came. “No mercy laugh?”
“Sorry. It wasn’t funny. Why become something you don’t want to be?”
“It’s about who’s paying the bills but have no fear, I’ll get over it soon.”
She tilted her head in confusion. “You’re dropping out?”
“Sort of.”
“How do you ‘sort of’ drop out of school?”
“I move on to something better.”
Katie motioned to the manuscript on the table. “You are going to leave school to become a writer?”
“Not exactly, but something along those lines.”
“Man,” she said as she took another bite. “I sure can pick ’em.”
He snuggled in closer and gave her a quick kiss. “You sure can, darlin’.” Returning his attention to the bag, he pulled out several movies. Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve, Time after Time with Mary Steenburgen, and Time Line with Paul Walker.
Katie flipped through them. “You into time travel movies or something?”
“It just felt like a theme day.”
“You could have picked up all the Back to the Future movies while you were at it.”
“I never did try turning Dad’s Delorean into a time machine for you.” Dammit! He’d slipped again. Luckily for him, she missed that.
“Your dad has a Delorean?”
Dusty took another bite and nodded. “He has a thing for cars.”
“He has a thing for cars, but you drive a piece of shit?”
“I drive a classic. Don’t hurt her feelings like that. If you must know, there’s a Beemer in the garage. I just choose not to drive it.”
“Let me guess. In your little pea brain somewhere, somehow you think this pisses your dad off.”
“Damn, you’re good.”
Chapter Seven
Dusty became caught up in the familiarity of cuddling on the couch with Katie. While wondering what he would do differently this time around, he suddenly bolted upright, remembering exactly what he was supposed to do differently. It startled Katie.
“What’s the matter?”
“Um…nothing. I thought I forgot something.”
“What was it?”
“I…uh…forgot.”
“You’re doing it again.”
“Sorry.”
“Do you need to be somewhere? I can call for a ride home.”
“No, don’t do that.” He pulled her back to his chest where she’d been nestled before he jerked. “I like this. I promise I don’t have to be anywhere right now and if I did, screw ’em.” Katie had said that Courtney was dating this Ronald when they shared a dorm room, but she wasn’t infected until sometime after Katie moved out. The way he saw it, he had time to find the guy and get him to stay away from her.
&
nbsp; Katie hit pause on the remote. “I really should check in with my roommate.”
“That’s Courtney, right?”
Katie sat up, studying him. “We never did go back to her. Didn’t you think she was in trouble or something?”
Dusty tried to word what popped into his head without stammering. “I think it was something I heard. She was dating some jerk friend of a friend. I was hoping she didn’t have her heart broken over it.”
Katie laughed hard. “Courtney? I love her to pieces, but you should be concerned with other things. She doesn’t have a heart to break where men are concerned. She’s made no secret about being in it for the fun right now. You must know someone with a bigger ego than yours for them to think she was getting hurt.”
“You think I have a big ego?”
“Puh-lease. You carry yourself in a way that screams ‘I’m gorgeous look at me, but I don’t care if you don’t.’”
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Is that lying?”
She whacked him hard with a throw pillow. He laughed, pulling her to his chest yet again. “I’m kidding. I don’t think I’m all that. My track record should prove it.”
“I don’t know anything about your track record. I saw the condoms in your bathroom.”
“So? That’s makes me safe, not a player. Have I mentioned the twelve-pack is a year supply?”
She smirked. “What do I see in you?”
“I’m incredibly hot in bed.”
“There is that.”
“Round two?” he said as he waggled his eyebrows.
“No, freak. I need to call Court.”
“You want me to order Chinese for supper?”
“Sure. I like anything.” She picked up her cell phone and walked to the window. Dusty grabbed his, going to the kitchen to give her privacy. This was probably the part where he was talked about. He grinned just thinking about it.
“That hottie with the wavy brown hair that we talked about earlier?” Courtney asked.
