Caught in Us

by Layla Hagen

  I love this about her. She keeps that innocence that made me fall in love with her, but when pleasure overtakes her, she gives herself to me with abandon. In that moment, she trusts me enough to let herself be free and wild.

  "This room is safe. I have it on good authority that James also...fooled around here."

  "I so didn't want to know that." Gritting my teeth, I fight to maintain my composure as she pumps along my length. I rake my eyes over her, studying her from head to foot, then back up. She's wearing a light pink dress with a delicious amount of cleavage and a decent length. It covers her all right, but I can see all the potential it has for me to touch her skin without having to undress her.

  I cover her mouth with mine, slipping my tongue between her willing lips. With one hand, I unclasp her bra. As her breasts spill free, I lower myself to their level, turning her slightly to me. Pulling aside the fabric covering her breasts, I take one puckered nipple into my mouth, suckling on it while watching her coming apart. Dipping my thumb in the chocolate river, I run it across her lips, smearing them. Then I kiss her hard. I push my tongue into her mouth in quick, precise moves, mimicking the act of making love. At the same time, I touch her intimate spot over her panties. She's breathless when I pull away. Perfect. Just the way I want her.

  "Turn around," I order. "I want to take you from behind." I can practically see how the commanding tone makes her eyes dilate with desire, demanding to be pleasured. I bet she's dripping wet, too. Placing my hands on her hips, I turn her around. I push my hands under her dress and discover her thong has ribbons to the sides. Pulling at the ribbons, I undo them, and the panties fall to the floor. I drip my fingers in chocolate again, and I'm sure she expects me to smear her breasts, but I like to surprise her. I place my fingers between her legs, on her slit. She lets out a moan as I move my fingers rhythmically, chocolate mingling with her wetness. Then I get on my knees, pushing her dress up. She fists the fabric, giving me full access. I press my palm on her back, indicating to her to lean forward, so her ass sticks up in the air. Spreading her butt cheeks apart, I lick her folds from the front all the way back. Her thighs quiver as she grips the railing to steady herself.

  "Damon!" The way she grits out my name undoes me. I need to be inside her this very second. Rising to my feet, I take my wallet from my back pocket, retrieving a condom. Sliding my jeans down and the condom on takes a few seconds. I cup her cheeks, playing with the tip of my cock across her folds, teasing her though I can barely keep it together. When I slap it across her clit, a shudder shakes us both.

  "So wet and ready," I growl. "What am I going to do with you?" I watch her lean her head back on my shoulder, licking her lips. This is my favorite moment—the most delicious one—even more so than an orgasm. The moment when raw need and desire subdue her inhibitions. She’s a few strokes away from turning wild and passionate in my arms.

  "Please. I need you," she says.

  "Fuck, you're sexy." I slide inside her, feeling her tightly around me. Gripping her hips, I slam against her, filling her. "You like this?"

  "Yes," she answers. I slam harder. "Yes." Her knuckles turn white as she clasps the railing more forcefully. I enter her like a man possessed. Sweat forms on my forehead, falling in heavy drops on her back. Her moans are intoxicating, driving me over the edge just as much as her spasming pussy. Looking down, I observe my length drilling in and out of her, then tip forward, nibbling at her neck. Dani's skin is soft and carries a sweetness I can get high on. My hand reaches her clit, flicking it. I listen to her breath as I probe her wetness with my fingers, until I see what she likes because I love giving her exactly what she needs. It's not long before she bucks, grinding against me like a woman who's about to claim her orgasm. Then she tightens even more, driving me over the edge, too. Need skims over me, starting at the base of my spine, rippling through me. I force myself to keep my eyes open, wanting to see her fall apart.

  A violent blush spreads over her skin as she tips her head back, crying out with pleasure. I last about two more seconds before my release ravages me. Resting my chin on her neck, I lose myself in her scent, listening to her shallow breath. I belong to her, like this. It's not just the post-orgasm bliss talking, but the year I spent away from her in which I felt like part of me was missing. I need this woman.

  I will not lose her again. I can't.

  Chapter Thirty: Dani

  “I can’t believe we let ourselves be talked into doing this,” Hazel says, clutching a cup of coffee with one hand, trying to hide her yawn with the other. We are a few days before Spring Break, and there is a fair about majors taking place in the green space next to our dorm. Our dorm supervisor approached us last week, begging us to spend our day behind this booth, because the people who were expected to do it bailed. We accepted. It didn’t seem like much trouble, until we were told we were expected here at six a.m.

  “Yeah, I know. It’s nine already, and I still feel like there’s a hammer inside my head.” And I already drank two coffees. The bright side is that the place is buzzing with people, meaning it’s not for nothing. The sun isn’t burning yet, so all in all, not too bad.

  I’m about to pour myself a third cup from our flask when a pair of arms slide around my waist from behind.

  The fragrance of ocean and mint overwhelms my senses, the underlying scent of man weakening my knees. My man.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” Damon says into my ear, then trails his lips downward, planting a kiss right on my neck.

  “People are looking at us,” I whisper, smiling at a couple of freshmen who inspect the brochures at our booth.

  “So what? They’ll see you’re mine.” His grip on my waist tightens with his last word. This is Damon. He takes what he wants, when he wants. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  When he finally releases me and steps in front of me, I let out an involuntary sigh. The sight of him will never cease to amaze me. He wears black jeans and a burgundy shirt with the top button open, as if he just threw the clothes on him without bothering to look in the mirror. He makes carelessness look so sexy. The shirt hugs his tapered waist and I can almost make out the v-shaped stripes of his pelvis. It mortifies me that everyone else can, too.

  “Hazel, mornings don’t suit you,” Damon teases her.

  She offers a yawn as response. Then her eyes widen, as if an idea popped into her mind. “Can we talk you into taking over the booth?” she asks Damon.

  “Nope. You two should learn the value of saying no,” he replies. “Look at me; I do it all the time.”

  Hazel rolls her eyes. “Like anyone ever asks you to do stuff like this.”

  “They do. I just give them precise instructions of all the holes where they can shove their activities.”

  “That’s very nice of you,” I tell him, but there isn’t much severity in my voice. He works very long hours with James; he should do whatever he likes in the few spare hours he has.

  He leans in to me, his proximity causing my breathing trouble. “Oh, but you didn’t fall for me because I’m nice, did you?” His eyes bore into mine, daring me to contradict him. I don’t. “You did because I’m a bad boy.”

  “The two pigeons,” a cold voice says from our right. Both Damon and I turn to face Gabe. I haven’t seen him since the day of the car chase. I was hoping he gave up. Looking at Hazel, Gabe adds, “And the third wheel.”

  My legs turn to jelly at the implications in his statement. Has he been watching us?

  Damon wastes no time stepping in front of the booth. Towering over Gabe, he grabs him by the collar.

  “You piece of shit,” Damon says through gritted teeth, attracting stares. “If you ever pull a stunt like that—”

  “Careful, Damon,” Gabe says. His arms are limp by his side. He’s not even attempting to defend himself. “If the police interrogate me, they’ll be very interested in you if I tell them you threatened me.”

  I grab the stand for support. I remember Damon telling me the police specifically told
him and James not to engage in fights with Gabe, or make threats. But how does Gabe know this?

  “Damon,” I plead. “Let him go. He’s not worth it.”

  Damon pushes him away, his eyebrows pinching together. Gabe throws me a glance that tells me I’ll find you alone again then walks off without another word.

  Cupping my cheeks, Damon whispers, “I will not let him hurt you. I promise.”

  I nod, sliding away from his grasp as new students stop at our booth. In the distance, Damon and I see Gabe slide into his car. Damon punches the booth, swearing loudly.

  Hazel hands Damon some ice, then tells me, “You can take the bad boy out of the fighting ring, but you can’t take the fight out of the bad boy, can you?” She smiles, but the tinge of worry in her voice makes me shudder.

  I cannot exactly accuse Gabe based on a look he gave me. He doesn’t show up again the entire day, but I know he’s watching.

  Chapter Thirty-One: Dani

  The next weeks pass in a whirlwind. I’m doing five courses, and that still proves to be a full-time job. Damon's doing four, but also works a lot of hours with James. Thank God we're on the same team in the business project. Otherwise, I'd barely see him.

  "I need a break, or my brain will explode," Hazel complains. It's three o'clock in the morning, and Damon, Hazel, Chase, and I are in our living room, busting our asses to get the presentation for our business class ready. Hazel and Chase sit under the window with their laptops in their arms, while Damon and I have taken over the opposite corner of the room. "I can't believe we’re having exams already. How are you guys doing?"

  "Bickering over who will present tomorrow," I say.

  "No bickering," Damon says in a final tone. "We'll both present."

  "But I hate presenting and you’re great at it."

  "You're good at it, too. It's just out of your comfort zone. You've worked hard on this project. If you don't present, you’ll sell yourself short. Everyone always remembers the presenter."

  "Is this another piece of wisdom you got from my brother?"

  "Yeah, but it's true, and you know that."

  The thing is, I do. "I'm scared," I say quietly, staring at my knees.

  He lifts my chin with his fingers, so I have no choice but to look him in the eyes.

  "You are great; you just let your fears keep you back, and sometimes you need a little push. I volunteer to do that. You push me, too. Hell, I'm at Stanford because you pushed me to apply. You're never going to get out of your comfort zone if you don't try to break through it."

  "You're right," I say.

  "Do you remember Rhetoric & Public Speaking class?" A mischievous smile plays on his lips.

  "Yeah, I wore the red scarf you gave me."

  Leaning into me, he says. "Let’s try the panties trick now." The commanding tone and the scent of his skin—impossible to ignore when he’s so close—are almost enough to make me lose my trail of thought and accept. Almost.

  "Damon Cooper," I say under my breath, "I am not going to stand in front of a class full of people without underwear. Forget it. But I will wear the red scarf again."

  "You still have it?" The emotion in his voice tugs at my heartstrings.

  "Yeah, I kept it after you left. It reminded me of you."

  "God, you two are adorable," Hazel says, making us both jump. She's standing a few feet away. I hadn't realized she was this close. Judging by the uncomfortable look on Damon's face, neither had he. "I would have been severely heartbroken if you hadn't gotten back together. I need to find you a couple name. "

  "What?" Damon looks at her as if she’s speaking pig Latin.

  "Don't open that can of worms ...it's a girl thing," I say.

  "It's difficult because both your names start with D," Hazel continues undeterred. "Maybe I can use your middle name, Gemma. You could be Gamon or Demma."

  "They both sound terrible," I interject.

  "How about D&D?" Her eyes light up.

  "I refuse to have a couple name that's a stand-in for Dungeons and Dragons," I say heatedly.

  "What is going on?" Damon asks, looking at Hazel and me as if he fears we might be losing our minds.

  "Nothing. You'll just be the perfect power couple," she announces.

  "Shouldn't you go back to your presentation?" I ask.

  "We're taking a break." She puts her hands on her hips, tilting her head to one side and then the other one. "My neck is stiff."

  "You've taken a break every hour," I accuse.

  "Yeah, Chase is convinced his neurons will get fried otherwise." Chase is watching a YouTube video.

  "He'll ace the presentation tomorrow. He always does. I need more coffee," Hazel complains.

  "That's not a bad idea," I mutter as Hazel is already walking with determined strides to our coffee machine.

  "We've run out of coffee," she announces. "How is that possible? We don't have chocolate, either."

  Chase jumps to his feet so fast I swear I hear his knees snap. "I'll go to the vending machine real quick and get you a coffee," he says to Hazel.

  "How considerate of you," I say.

  "Trust me; I've seen Hazel low on chocolate and coffee. Not pretty."

  "Very funny," Hazel says. "I'll come with you. Anyone else want coffee?"

  Both Damon and I raise our hands. As Chase and Hazel leave, I can't help but wonder what his deal is. It's obvious he likes her. He attends to her every need, from carrying her books to making sure she has her coffee, and still he won't ask her out.

  "Let's take a break, too," Damon says, massaging his temples. He leans on his back on the floor, propping his head on a book. "What's with all these brochures about majors?" He points to the shelf behind me.

  "I'm just doing a bit of reading, trying to decide what I'll pick."

  "Relax, Dani. You don't have to declare a major yet."

  "Yeah, but I already want to know what I want to do so I can work toward it. I'm used to knowing what I want."

  "You're too harsh on yourself. That's what the first part of college is for. Soul-searching. Well, between parties and assignments. Haven't you heard the phrase, Not all those who wander are lost?"

  I stare at him in amazement. "That's from The Lord of the Rings." I don't say anything else, at a loss for words.

  "Yeah. After I left, I…" He looks away, but I catch a glimpse of his glassy eyes. "Well, you liked it so much, I wanted to see the movies. And then I thought, if I do it, I'd better do it right. I read the books first."

  "And?"

  "You were right. The movies are cool, but the books are way better. Also, I will never call you my precious again," he says. I burst out laughing and Damon joins me, the clouds in his gaze dissipating. Our separation didn't leave marks only on me. Between the red scarf and the books, we both carried each other's absence with us. It weighted like a rock and hurt like a punishment. "So, about that quote."

  "If they have a map, they don't get lost. That's what I want. I don't want to know exactly how my future will look. I just want a map. You have one."

  "I do?"

  "Yes. You're a talented programmer and one day, you'll have your startup, probably in healthcare."

  "What?" Soft laughter escapes his lips as he sits up straight.

  "You're not the only one talking to James. He is my brother, you know."

  "I have no recollection whatsoever of ever telling James that. Did he say I said that?"

  "Well, no. He said you are very interested in the healthcare industry and are super good at what you do—in fact, so good, he thinks you might leave his company soon and start your own. That was just he and I reading between the lines."

  For a few seconds, Damon just stares at me, but then his face splits into a grin. "Dani, I think you just gave me my map. I’ll help you find yours."

  "Okay," I say. His grin is so contagious I can't help laughing, too. "Where the hell are those two with our coffees?"

  "Let's go check on them."

  There is a ve
nding machine down the hall, and we find Hazel in front of it. She’s chatting with a guy who lives on the second floor of our building, Anthony. He's on the soccer team and hovers around Hazel whenever he gets a chance.

  "Where's Chase?" I ask.

  "This machine's run out of anything but watered-down cappucino, so he went to check the one in the next building." On cue, the doors open and Chase comes in carrying four cups. Damon and I hurry to him, relieving him of two of them, while Hazel and Anthony stay back, talking about Anthony's upcoming game.

  Chase acknowledges Anthony with a forced smile, saying loudly, "Okay, everyone, break's over."

  Hazel jumps slightly, running her hands over her arms as if she's suddenly cold. "It was nice talking to you, Anthony. I have to get back to work."

  "Sure, me, too. Nothing like cramming the day before the exam. So, listen, why don't you come to my next game? It's at the end of the week. We can go grab dinner afterward."

  Hazel's eyes widen, but before she manages to get one word out, Chase shoves her cup of coffee in her hand, putting an arm around her shoulders. "We still have exams next week; she'll be busy studying."

  Anthony looks taken aback for a second, but then his eyes narrow on the way Chase plays with a strand of Hazel's hair.

  "Well, I'll see you around, Hazel," he says.

  Hazel pushes Chase away just as Anthony disappears up the stairs. "What are you doing? He was asking me out."

  "Yeah...he's a soccer player, which equals dumbass," Chase replies.

  "You don't know that."

  Chase takes a sip of his coffee. "Everyone knows that."

  "He has a point," Damon says to Hazel, then turns to Chase, "but it's still her call if she wants to go on a date with him."

  Chase shrugs, drinking up again. He's trying to play it cool. It's high time for me to have a little chat with Chase.