I’m not turned on by dirty talk, so I don’t say anything; I merely revel in the sensation of his tongue on my most sensitive spot. Two of his fingers enter me, which makes me moan louder still. I claw at the sheets with closed eyes.
I’m so very much aroused that the lightest touch of the tip of his tongue makes the nerves in my thighs twitch violently. Just before I’m ready to explode, he pulls his head back and rises above me. “In the drawer,” is the only thing he gasps out.
I lean over and open the drawer on the nightstand next to the bed. There’s a box of condoms in there, and I quickly grab one and hand it to him. He tears it open and rolls the condom down over his penis. Then we lay back, and Linden thrusts into me before I can even take another breath. When his crotch brushes my overstimulated clit, I come immediately with a loud scream.
Linden freezes. “Jesus, you … careful, or you’ll break it,” he gasps and ceases to move, until my spasms have subsided.
“I-I’m sorry,” I stammer as soon as I can catch my breath and find my voice.
He leans down and kisses me softly. When we lose ourselves in a passionate, tongue-dueling kiss, I can taste myself on his lips and tongue. His thrusts are hard and fast now, but that doesn’t bother me. I focus on approaching the now-familiar precipice all over again. I’m going to reach a climax and jump down that cliff a second time.
“You’re so damn tight,” he growls, breaking our kiss for a brief moment.
I again capture his lips with mine and press against him. I want to feel every inch of his skin on mine. I wrap my legs around him so he can’t get away from me, and that allows him to thrust even more deeply into me.
Linden teases that special, sensitive spot deep within me, and I’m getting closer with ever thrust—until I finally explode with lust.
“OH GOD, BABE!” Linden screams out as he spends himself inside me.
Panting, he sinks down on top of me, caressing my cheek. After another kiss, he places his head in the hollow of my neck.
I draw up my legs and feel the aftershocks as I caress the back of his neck.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmurs.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I whisper back, basking in the heat his body radiates.
He places kisses on my neck and collarbone, and I shiver when his stubble tickles me there.
I close my eyes and can hardly believe what a relief it was to finally voice all my fears. Linden makes them all seem small and insignificant. It’s not the sex, but his words that have reassured and soothed me. He was as desperate, as hurt, and as insecure as I’ve been.
Maybe we’re the proverbial fools rushing in. Maybe we won’t make it. But until we know … I’m going to enjoy every single moment from now on.
Chapter 17
A week has passed since we decided we’re giving it another try. Gavin was released from hospital, my friends arrived in Austin, and finally my three weeks of genuine vacation started today.
“Thally is here!” Camille calls out as she leads me out into Delsin’s backyard, or rather, his father’s.
“Thally!” my assembled friends cheer from their various lounge chairs and towels strewn around the pool.
I smile as I step out into the glaring sun. They don’t know yet that Linden and I are back together, and I’ll only announce that when he has arrived, too. Tonight, he and his pals have another gig I want to attend. Maybe my large circle of friends will join me in the audience. I expect them to treat him like an enemy of the state, however—at least in the beginning.
“Is everyone doing good?” I ask nobody in particular. A nod here, a “yes” there, and some don’t bother to answer, too busy jumping in the pool. With today’s scorching heat, I’m going to do the same thing later, that much is certain.
I undress down to my bikini and sit down with Cami in the shade. “Tell me, what have you been up to?” she asks. “Were you really that busy? You haven’t called in ages.”
“Well, it was exhausting and sleepless, but I also had a great time.” I smile.
“Nate told me Linden kept showing up. Is that the reason you didn’t get enough sleep?” she asks, not even hiding her curiosity.
I lean back and look over at Avery and Dahlia, who are playing basketball on a tiny hoop in the pool with Delsin and Hailey. “Thally?”
“Huh?” I ask, after absent-mindedly shaking my head.
“Is Linden’s sudden reappearance the reason?” Cami repeats.
Heat infuses my cheeks, and I put on my sunglasses so I won’t give anything away. “Maybe.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” she prods. “You haven’t started seeing him again, have you?”
“Cami, come on. We tried to tell you Delsin was no good for you, too, and now you’ve been with him for a whole year. I … I love Linden,” I confess with a smile, “and I know I won’t get any guarantee of a long-term relationship, but I’m determined to make the most of it for as long as it lasts. Okay?”
She sighs heavily. “Are you happy?”
“Yes, he makes me happy, even though we can hardly go anywhere. We meet at my parents’ house or his rental. A few days ago, we were chased all over South Congress by a mob of screaming fans.”
“Thally, I’ve seen you suffer for weeks,” Cami says, “and I don’t think you should have given him another chance, but I’ll be glad if you can prove me wrong.”
“Maybe I made the wrong decision, but then at least I’ll have the memories of the good times. There are worse things than a relationship gone sour, and even though the last few weeks were horrible, they also formed me. You know?”
“I’m just surprised you can be this positive again all of a sudden,” she muses.
I throw her a searching glance. “I’m happy, Cami, that’s all.”
She leans over and hugs me tightly. “Then I’m happy for you as well, despite everything.”
“Thank you, honey.”
The doorbell rings, and I’m surprised we can hear it back here. Must be cranked up to eleven.
“That should be him,” I say. “He said he’d drop by after they’re done with the sound check.”
“All right, then let me get the door,” Cami says.
“I’m coming with you.”
We rise and walk through the house to the front door. Linden stands on the porch with a bouquet of flowers, which has me confused. Is there something he has to make up for?
“Hi, Cami.” He smiles and holds out the flowers. “I thought I needed to bring something to curry favor after all the bad things she must have told you about me when she was upset.”
Cami blushes. “Thank you.” She looks at the arrangement of flowers. “Bluebonnets, Neem, and Rosinweed. That’s pretty.”
“And very Texan,” I acknowledge. “I bet you went to that hippie florist on Guadalupe Avenue to get real wildflowers.”
“Got me. I thought that, as a farm girl, she’d know what’s what.” He grins. “And by the way, hi, babe.” He greets me with a kiss.
“We should go back to the yard, and I would advise you to show your happiness like that, otherwise Delsin and Ave might come charging right out of the pool to beat you up again,” Cami tells Linden with a deadpan expression.
“We’ll take care of that, don’t worry,” I hasten to say, after I notice Linden’s shocked glance. I struggle not to giggle, because I don’t want to further increase his insecurity.
He holds my hand in a firm grip. “Okay, let’s go. I have some practice being an enemy of the state.”
We cross the house and walk outside hand in hand. Of course all my friends stare with bewilderment or disbelief, but none of them says anything bad.
“Hey, Linden,” Delsin greets him with a skeptical look. He climbs the pool ladder and gets out.
“Hi.”
“Uh … No hard feelings … I mean, uh … ” Delsin shrugs and mimes a punch in the air.
Linden nods briefly. “No worries, I deserved it.”
“No, really. I wanted to give you a few more, but I was held back … ” Delsin grins and then looks at me. “So what’s the deal? All quiet on the Western front?”
I nod slowly. “I think so.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand you. They should really offer classes for that,” he says with a smirk.
“Delsin, I’ll give you extra credit for attending ‘How to Understand Thalia Leroux 101,’” I say with a wink. “But I doubt you’ll ever be a straight-A student.”
Cami, Linden, Delsin, and I burst into laughter.
“If I wanted to trump you, I’d need to attend ‘Sarcastic Repartee 101’ instead,” Delsin says teasingly.
“Or you could be homeschooled by your girlfriend, who definitely knows how to keep you on your feet,” I answer with a sweet smile. The sun is already making my skin tingle. “I need some shade.”
Linden follows me to a set of lounge chairs, and I sit down on one of them. He takes off his shirt and jeans and then sits down behind me. “Did you put on sunscreen when you got here?” he asks under his breath.
“Yes, I did. But maybe you could reapply it on my back?” I plead. “My sunscreen is right there in my bag.”
It doesn’t take more than ten seconds before I feel the cooling lotion on my back. Linden spreads it with soft, loving motions of his hands.
When he’s done, he kisses my neck. “Can you do the same for me, please?”
“It would be a pleasure.” I grin, and we trade places.
I rub the sunscreen on his back and notice how tense and cramped some of his muscles are. I lean close to him and whisper into his ear, “Do you want a massage?”
“Ooh, do you know how to do that?”
“Yes, I do. At least, nobody has complained about my skills yet.” I chuckle.
“Linden?” Ave calls over.
“Right here,” he says.
“How about a game of basketball? Guys versus girls?”
“How about after I’ve gotten my massage?” Linden counters cheerfully.
“Nope,” my friends answer in unison.
“There’s more men than women,” I interrupt, “so we get your two tallest players.”
“That would be unfair,” Delsin complains.
“Why? Ave, Thierry, and you are the tallest ones,” I laugh, before turning to Linden. “Do you even want to play?”
“If you give me that massage after the gig tonight,” he barters.
“Does that mean you want to take your most fervent groupie to your room?” I joke, batting my eyelashes at him. “Then I can give you so much more than a massage.”
Linden jumps up and races into the water. I look at his eagerly retreating back and make a face. “Man … ” Then I rise and follow him slowly.
“Come on, Thally,” Draven yells from the deep end.
“I expect we’ll break a few bones each,” I giggle as I climb into the water. “This pool is more like a can of sardines.”
“Stop being such a worrier,” Cami laughs, which I answer with a snort. “All right, Ave and Thierry are on our team, yes?”
“Yeah!” Hailey, Dale, and I cheer.
“I’ll be calling you the Morrison sisters from now on,” Delsin teases the two tallest players.
Everyone laughs raucously, and I laugh with them. While funny, it’s not fitting at all. Avery plays football, and Thierry boxes. I wouldn’t want to cross either one of them, because they could both beat me to a pulp without any effort. But of course they’re real gentlemen with women. Boyfriend material, really, just not for me. Because I fancy guys like Linden … ever since I met Linden. Before him, I used to like blond guys with a friendly smile and a lot of bad-boy attitude, but I guess my current taste in men might serve me better.
“All right, Ava and Thierra, let’s go,” Linden calls out.
Nathaniel acts as referee and throws the squishy ball into the middle of the pool. Delsin and I both dive for it, but I manage to grab it first. I pass it on to Hailey, who throws it to Thierry, who splashes forward to get at the basket. Ave is right behind him, reaches the basket first, and catches his brother’s pass. He dunks it, and we all cheer loudly.
“Two points for the girls,” Nate announces. “Guys, I feel weird calling them ‘the girls’ when two of the most massive guys on campus are on their team.”
“Why don’t you call them the ‘Pink Pussies’ then?” Delsin suggests.
“You better watch out that the ‘Pink Left Hooks’ don’t give you a black eye, baby,” Ave counters with a wink.
“Right, I forgot how tough the Morrison sisters really are,” Delsin laughs.
“Didn’t you say he was your best friend, Ave?” Thierry smirks. “Unbelievable.”
“Guys, we’re playing a game here, not strutting our stuff,” I chime in.
I take the ball from Draven and swim back toward the basket, but Linden blocks me and tries to wrest the ball from my grip. When he leans close enough, I kiss him on the cheek and pass the ball over my shoulder to Cami, who scores two more points.
“Four to zero for the girls and their male support,” Nate announces.
We continue to play. Delsin and Linden work together to score a few points for the male team, and of course they’re successful with that. When I manage to make my way close to their basket again, Linden lifts me out of the water and throws me over his shoulder.
“Cheating!” Cami yells. “Foul!”
“Calm down, Caramel, it’s only a game,” Delsin laughs.
“And I’m scoring anyway,” I tell them after I’ve torn the ball from Linden’s hand. I throw it and hit the plastic backboard before it falls into the hoop.
“Yeah,” Thierry and Avery cheer loudly. “Atta girl!”
Dale makes a few more baskets after Avery lifts her on his shoulders and barrels his way through the rest of the swimmers. The entire game is great fun. Linden finally lets me slip from his shoulder back to the ground, laughing.
We keep playing until the score is even, and then we stop. It was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. It’s hard to score points against all those tall guys, even with Avery and Thierry on our team.
After, Linden and I lie down on a lounge chair together, cuddling in the shade while the others continue to play and splash in the pool. Dale and Ave have taken the other extra large lounge chair.
“Dahlia, would you like to come to the concert tonight?” Linden asks her.
I look at her and smile, because she gives him a wide-eyed stare. “Yes, I … Yes, if Avery wants to go, too,” she stammers.
“I’m not averse to a concert,” he murmurs.
“I brought VIP tickets for everyone,” Linden explains. “You can watch from the press pit up front, so you wouldn’t be squashed by the crowd.”
“That’s very generous of you,” I chime in.
He shrugs. “You’ve barely seen your friends this last week, because I was all over you. And there’s also a little after-show party later, which will be way more fun with a bunch of friends.” He chuckles.
I nod. “Oh, I see. So you’re not that generous, after all. It’s purely egotistic.”
“Me? Never,” he says in mock outrage.
I giggle softly, even though I’m afraid I’m acting like a starry-eyed teenager, and then I snuggle closer to his side.
***
That evening, Linden makes me join him in his dressing room while my friends sit in a lounge, waiting for the show to begin. I’m afraid the photographers are going to curse us for being such a large group in their press pit, but that’s not our concern. Linden invited all of us.
He sings a few scales to warm up his voice.
I’m sitting in an overstuffed chair, watching him get dressed. The band changes their outfit three times during the concert. They start out in a denim look that doesn’t appeal to me much, but will probably elicit a few squeals from the audience. Granted, he does look hot in his dark blue overalls, but to me, the outfit looks too close to a
construction worker. He’s wearing a baseball cap in neon colors with that. Very 90s.
“I’ll be so glad when I finally get to decide what I wear on stage,” he complains as he turns back and forth in front of the mirror.
I rise and walk over to him. “Don’t worry, you look hot, even though this outfit’s not my personal favorite.”
“Really?” he asks, sounding unconvinced.
“Really.” I nod with conviction. “And the rest of the outfits are better, so no need to worry. Just put that shirt on and you’re good to go.”
“The white one?”
“Yeah, and leave it unbuttoned. That’s it.”
“I think I should wear normal jeans. That would be much hotter, wouldn’t it?”
“So all the other girls can see what belongs to me? No, thank you.” I smirk.
“What—”
I laugh out loud, and he doesn’t finish his shocked question. “All right, all right, I’ll allow them to swoon over you.”
Linden pulls me close. “They like the Linden who flirts with them from the stage and in video clips. The real Linden, the one these girls will never get to see, he only loves you, okay? My heart is yours, babe.” He kisses me gently.
Just as the kiss threatens to become more passionate and lead to something else, there’s a knock on the door. Alexis sticks his head in. “Three minutes. Are you coming?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right out,” Linden says. He breathes another kiss on the corner of my mouth, before taking me by the hand and leading me out to a long corridor.
Azer has brought all my friends back here, and he’s in the process of directing them to the press pit. After Linden has taken his leave with yet another kiss, I hasten to join them.
The venue gets dark, and the noise subsides. The teenagers are probably taking a few deep breaths before resuming their screaming and whooping.
“Are you ready for Downstair Alley?” a deep voice encourages the audience. It sounds like Alexis. “Then scream it out loud!”
And the screaming starts up again. I end up next to Nathaniel, who pats my back. “It’s cool that Linden invited us all,” he barks into my ear. It’s the only possible way to communicate in this spot.
Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) Page 29
