“Oh my god! That was so freakin’ hot!” Katie squealed in my ear.
My knees weak and my lips still tingling from his kiss, all I could do was smile.
Chapter 5
Sunday night my phone rang. I was sprawled out on my bedroom floor with my chemistry textbook and laptop open in front on me.
“Hi,” I answered.
“I have to ask you a question,” Nathan said playfully. “If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be?”
I laughed. “What?”
“I think you’d be a Christmas tree. Or maybe a palm tree,” he continued. “Beautiful, special, unusual.”
I blushed, but said, “Unusual? So you think I’m weird?”
Nathan chuckled. “In the best way.”
Grinning, I closed my textbook and leaned against my unmade bed. “Well, what kind of tree are you then?”
“Hmmm….I don’t know, you tell me.”
His voice turned deep and low, causing my insides to flutter.
“Something strong and charming,” I said.
I blushed harder and squeezed my eyes shut. I’d never been so forward before. Nathan somehow made me feel brave and vulnerable at the same time.
“I missed you after the game. I wanted to ask you to wait for me,” he confessed. I was suddenly thankful for the subject change.
“Why didn’t you?” I cringed. Did I sound too clingy and whiny?
“My parents were there,” he told me. “I thought that might be too much too soon.”
I let out a sigh of relief. I was sure I liked Nathan. In fact, I was sure I liked him way too much. I needed to figure out how to keep my emotions in control. It would be easier just to break this thing off before it got started.
“Nathan, maybe we should—”
“Don’t,” Nathan cut me off.
I frowned. “Don’t what?”
“You know what. Don’t run away, I really like you. There’s nothing to be scared of.”
“Nathan—”
“Do you want to watch a movie? Come over,” he quickly changed the subject. “I have popcorn and sodas…”
I wanted to run away. I wanted to say let’s just be friends, even if that’s not really what I wanted. Truth was, my sudden feelings for Nathan had me terrified.
I sighed. I’d just go over there. It wasn’t a big deal. We could hang out, watch a movie, kiss…
The memory of his passionate kisses, his warm soft lips molded to mine rose in my mind so quick it drowned out every other thought. A fire roared to life in my gut, enflaming my whole body.
“Is it kettle corn?”
I could hear his smile. “Of course.”
“I’m in my pajamas. I was studying,” I protested weakly.
“Perfect,” he said. “And you can study later.”
“Okay, how do I get there,” I agreed.
Nathan gave me his address which I typed into my GPS. His apartment wasn’t far away, but it was already almost ten when I pulled into the parking lot.
I was nervous. Really nervous. I took a deep breath and made way up the stairs to his second story apartment.
Nathan’s roommate, Chase, opened the door, smirking.
“Well, hey there,” he said, motioning me inside. “Nate’s in the shower.”
I took in their apartment as I walked inside. It was more than obvious that two guys lived there. They had street signs and sports stuff all over the walls. A simple dark wood table sat in a little nook off the kitchen.
There was a small bar separating the kitchen and living room and two barstools. The living room had two small mismatched couches and there was a large flat-screen TV hanging on the wall.
I dropped my purse on the couch and turned to face Chase.
“I was just leaving to go out, but you can make yourself at home,” he said. I smiled and sat down, leaning back into the cushions. Chase left and I heard the water shut off. A few moments later, Nathan appeared.
His dark hair was wet, curling slightly at the ends. He was wearing a white t-shirt that stretched taut across his large chest and hugged his biceps, contrasting with the peak of dark swirling lines of his tattoo. He was wearing nylon basketball shorts and I was suddenly thankful he hadn’t come out in just towel.
I don’t think I could have controlled my reaction.
“Hey, beautiful,” he grinned at me, showing me all his perfectly straight white teeth. I was suddenly self-conscious. Did I look like a mess? I looked down at my plaid pink pajama bottoms and tugged my pink t-shirt down a bit, thankful I had at least put on a bra before I left.
I cleared my throat to dispel the awkward tension. “So, what movie are we watching?”
Nathan plopped down next to me and leaned back against the cushions. He leaned forward until his nose brushed mine. My heart sped up at his closeness and the hungry look in his eyes.
“Why don’t you pick one,” he said pointing to the stack of DVDs in a crate on floor. “And I’ll make the popcorn.”
I nodded, but before he got up, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, then closed the distance between us and kissed me. It was soft and sweet and short. Before I could respond he disappeared into the kitchen.
I took a deep breath and slowly pushed it out. Maybe this was a bad idea. I was wound so tight. The desire and lust inside me felt like a live wire.
Control yourself, Ashley, I chided myself.
I couldn’t even concentrate on the movie. Nathan was leaning against the arm of the couch and he had pulled me against his side. His strong arm was slung over my shoulders and wrapped tight around my body, forcing me to turn slightly into his side and lay my head on his chest. I tucked my knees under me and they pressed into his thigh.
My whole body was aflame. At every point where our bodies touched, my nerves tingled, and my stomach clenched in anticipation. Half way through the movie, I sighed audibly.
Nathan chuckled, I felt the rumbling bass vibrate against my cheek.
“You have no idea how bad I want to kiss you right now,” he murmured in a low sexy whisper.
I stilled, closed my eyes and said a silent prayer that he would. What was holding him back anyways? He’d always been pretty forthcoming with affection before tonight. Hell, he’d kissed me in front of the entire football stadium yesterday.
This was different though. This time, we were completely alone. There was nothing to stop the heat between us from consuming, igniting into an all-out blaze.
I swallowed hard and looked up. Nathan tilted his chin down to meet my gaze.
The tension between us popped like someone had lit a firecracker. His lips were on mine in an instant, somehow both soft and hungry, rough with need yet tender with affection. His tongue sought mine and I moaned into his mouth. Nathan combed his fingers through my hair, tugging my head back as he deepened the kiss. His free hand slipped under my t-shirt, making contact with my skin.
Every single thought I’d ever had to take things slow, to not give it up too soon and to wait, fled my mind. I forgot about being scared, forgot all the warnings I’d given myself, all the times I’d been burned before.
Even the niggling thought that he might have lied to me about being serious with another girl before was suddenly forgotten.
Nathan’s hand that was under my shirt glided higher. I thought he’d stop at my bra. I gasped when his hand slid up underneath the cotton and grasped my breast. He kissed my jaw and down my neck, coming back up to my ear.
“Ashley,” he whispered. His breath was harsh and his heart beat rapidly against my hand that was splayed on his chest. “I really want you right now.”
I bit my lip and clutched his shirt, twisting the material between my fingers.
Nathan nuzzled just below my ear. I whimpered at the loss when his warm hand slipped from my breast back to my waist. He squeezed my hip and stroked his thumb across my flat tummy. All my muscles constricted.
“But we have to stop now, before I can’t control myself
any longer.”
And just like that, I crashed back down to earth.
Nathan pulled back. He kissed my forehead and then he stood up. “Give me a minute,” he said before he walked to the bathroom, but not before I noticed the very obvious bulge pushing at the thin fabric of his shorts.
Immediately my face heated as blood rushed to my cheeks. I was reeling, my emotions raging, my desire still thrummed hard in my veins.
I readjusted my shirt and smoothed back my hair. Bringing my knees to my chest, I pressed my eyes against my legs. It’s not that I was a prude, but I’d sort of been waiting for the right person to lose my virginity too. In high school, I’d thought that would be when I got married or at least engaged. My definition had changed a little since starting college two years ago. But not by much. I still thought sex was a big deal. I still wanted it to be special and with someone I was in love with.
But I’d never felt the level of want that I felt for Nathan. If he wouldn’t have stopped it, I’m not sure I would have either. I heard the toilet flush and a moment later I heard Nathan’s footsteps plod across the apartment.
“Ash?” he asked, and I could hear the concern in his voice. He knelt down in front of me and I dropped my legs so that he was wedge between them. His hands came around my waist and he looked up at me with those big blue eyes. My heart stuttered. “Are you okay?”
I bit my lip and nodded stiffly. He furrowed his brow like he didn’t believe me so I forced a smile.
“This is too fast, right?” he asked.
Surprised at how easily he had read me, and how sweet he was being, I simply nodded.
He blew out a breath, opened his mouth to speak, but then changed his mind and his mouth snapped shut. His hands left my waist and he wrapped his fingers around mine. Several silent seconds ticked by as he stared into my eyes. Finally he pressed his lips together and nodded.
“Too fast. Yeah, okay, let’s slow down,” he said, still nodding. “I’m sorry. We’ll slow down, okay?”
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and nodded. Part of me was screaming no, that I didn’t want to slow down, that I wanted him, desperately. That I wasn’t sure if it was lust or something more, but I was so full of it, I thought I might explode if he didn’t kiss me, touch me, make love to me.
But the fear was greater. It made me swallow my words and choke back all those emotions and the pounding desire.
Slow. Causal. Easy and uncomplicated. That’s what I needed.
Nathan settled back beside me, keeping one arm wrapped around my shoulders and rewound the movie. He slowly stroked his fingers up and down my bare arm and I tried to relax.
Eventually my eyes grew heavy and then dropped shut.
Chapter 6
I immediately knew I was not in my bed when I woke up. Warm and comfy, I snuggled deeper into my pillow. When I took a deep breath, I could smell his scent—clean but also a little bit spicy. A mixture of his soap and cinnamon gum.
I blinked open my eyes and looked around Nathan’s small bedroom. I was sprawled out on his queen size bed that was pushed up against one wall. Directly across from me was a large window with mini-blinds. Next to the window sat a simple black desk piled high with books, pens and paper flung across the surface. A black chair was sitting in front of it, his jacket thrown haphazardly across the back.
On the other wall there were two doors. One was obviously the closet. Its door was ajar and I could see clothes and football gear sticking out. Next to the bed was a small night stand with a lamp and two drawers. On top, I found a note.
Ash,
I had to go to class and then I have practice.
I’ll call you later.
Nate
It definitely was not a romantic or sappy love note, not that I really expected Nathan to be that sort of guy. But it still made me smile. I fell back against his pillows and I couldn’t help but think about last night. My heart beat automatically picked up and I chewed on my bottom lip as I tried to organize my thoughts.
All this was definitely happening too fast. And I was afraid it was just my hormones taking over and thinking for me. Love and commitment, then sex has always made sense to me. I got that sex was meant to be special, that it cemented an emotional and spiritual bond with a physical one.
I blew out a frustrated breath.
No matter much I tried to remind myself of these things, I couldn’t help but feel reckless and out of control when it came to Nathan. The intense attraction felt explosive and inevitable.
And that scared me.
We needed to slow down and fast. I sprang out of his bed, gathered my stuff, and managed to sneak out of the apartment and down to my car without running into Chase.
~000~
“Ashley!” Katie waved me down as I entered the student center.
There were pool tables, computers, tons of couches and tables and students occupying the whole space. There was also a book store in corner of the building with everything from school supplies and textbooks to clothing and snacks. There was also a small cafeteria.
I tossed my stuff down next to Katie and told her I was going to get something to eat. When I returned with my sandwich and chips and a soda, Katie was grinning like an idiot at me.
I rolled my eyes and said, “Nothing happened.”
“Uh huh,” she snorted. “I can see you’re blushing, so spill!”
I sighed and reluctantly told her everything. When I was finished she twisted her mouth to the side and looked at me like she was contemplating something.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m trying to think of some good advice to give you, but—” she wrinkled her nose and shrugged her shoulders. “—I’m not really sure what you should do.”
“Have you…are you and Drew…” I trailed off hopping she’d get what I was trying to ask.
“Yes,” she nodded, a slight smile on her lips.
“And before Drew?”
She nodded as she spoke, “Yes. My high school boyfriend, and a couple guys before Drew freshman and sophomore year.”
I knew my virgin status was a rarity among my friends and most college kids, but I’d never dated anyone more than three months and it usually felt wrong or I felt pressured. I had gone farther with Colin than any other guy and looked how that turned out. But with Nathan—
I looked up and it was like he magically appeared. I watched him walk into the student center and two girls immediately came up to talk to him. He smiled politely and then laughed before making a quick exit.
When he looked in my direction his eyes immediately found mine and his smile widened, splitting his handsome face and causing his dimples to sink into his cheeks.
He plopped down next to me, slinging an arm around my shoulders and squeezed me into his side. He pressed a quick kiss to my temple and then proceeded to take a bit out of my sandwich.
“Hey!” I protested. Nathan grinned and took another bite.
I laughed and he hugged me tighter. After he swallowed, he looked at me apologetically. “I gotta go, baby. I gotta hit the weights before practice. I’ll call you later?”
I nodded. Nathan leaned in to give me a quick kiss and then he was gone. I frowned.
And then I felt like kicking myself for being such a girl. It’s not like he didn’t kiss me at all, but it lacked…something. I sighed. Was I missing something? Trouble. This whole freaking thing was trouble wrapped up in a hot sexy lust-inducing moral-reducing package.
I was looking down at my sandwich and I let out a shriek of surprise when I felt Nathan’s hands suddenly on my face. A moment later, his lips touched mine.
Nathan sucked my bottom lip between his and then my mouth opened and his tongue tasted mine.
Thoroughly.
He groaned and then pulled back, his hands still on either side of my face holding me in place.
“Sorry,” he said, smirking. “This slow thing is hard.”
I nodded my head in agreement. He kissed my nose,
then whispered, “I’ll call you later.”
Before I could respond he was gone.
~000~
Tuesday night I was lounging on the couch in my sweats, my long hair in a braid, watching some trashy reality show on television when there was a knock on my door. I got up to answer it and smiled wide when I opened the door and saw it was Nathan.
The Best Kind of Trouble Page 4
