Finding Our Course: Collision Course Duet

by Ahren Sanders

  We really didn’t get to do anything with Shana and Professor Grant, so Crystal was getting our attention.

  I decline the next shot and sip my beer. Bryce hasn’t called or responded to my messages since lunchtime, and he usually calls before going to the gym. I check the phone again, and Quinn snatches it out of my hand.

  “Stop it! He’ll be here in less than two days. Enjoy the party.”

  “I am,” I insist.

  She opens her mouth to argue when there’s a loud noise from the front. Jeremy Silver and a few others from our cheerleading crew come toward us.

  “Nice article!” He takes me into his arms then spins me toward Roxy who is waiting.

  The music starts, and Quinn drags Crystal and me to the dance floor. Soon, most of our group is dancing around. I get a sense of deja vu from our last party in Rio. This time, though, Hank is as far away from Quinn as possible. I point this out, and we both double over laughing.

  The song ends, and instead of leading into another song, the DJ comes over the microphone. “Okay, all you Cavaliers, let me hear you!”

  The whole place erupts in cheers and whistles.

  “This crowd looks like it’s ready to kick some Tarheel ass this weekend!”

  The yelling gets louder as the faint drum of the school song starts. I look at Quinn, who’s grinning like a loon. She grabs my hand and leads me directly to Jeremy and the rest of the cheerleaders. We all share a look and give a small chin lift.

  This doesn’t happen often in bars or clubs, but it’s pretty common around campus, especially on game weekends. I get into position in front of Jeremy and lean into his ear.

  “How much have you drank?”

  “Not even one beer. We’ll go to shoulder on six.”

  As soon as the beat hits the chant, we all jump in. The routine is pretty simple with a pattern of claps, arm pumps, and calling out the words. On count six, Jeremy lifts me easily to his shoulder, and the bar goes wild. The DJ keeps the momentum going with a few more spirited yells, but I freeze.

  My pulse starts racing the second I sense him. Bryce is here. The scent of his cologne assaults me, and when I glance back, he’s standing behind Jeremy with his arms stretched.

  Jeremy braces the back of my knees, and I fly into Bryce. He catches me easily and crushes me to his chest. My arms wrap around his shoulders, and I bury my face in his neck.

  “You’re here!”

  He lifts my head back and gives me his signature smug grin. “Seems so.”

  I roll my eyes and seal my mouth to his, kissing him hard. His fingers fist my hair, tugging against my scalp. I moan into his mouth, tingles shooting through my whole body. Slowly, he moves back and kisses along my jawline to my ear.

  “Babe, if you don’t stop, we’re going to give everyone a show. I’m not opposed to finding a dark corner or possibly another maintenance closet.”

  “Stop what?” I flutter my eyelids and give him my most innocent voice. “I was only reacting to your surprise arrival.”

  He chuckles and pecks me quickly then sets me down. “Walk in front of me and get us seated. I wasn’t kidding about finding a corner.” He flexes into my hip, and I feel the hard outline.

  I get us to the booth, and he situates me onto his lap. Nate walks up with a bucket of beer and sets it on the table. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and sits across from us.

  “What are you guys doing here?”

  “You’ve been talking about this celebration since Monday. We didn’t want to miss it,” Bryce responds.

  “What about work tomorrow? I thought you couldn’t get here until Saturday.”

  “We actually still have to work tomorrow, but it’s a special assignment.”

  “What’s that?”

  “We’re meeting with the ROTC program in the morning then making an appearance at a military recruiting event.”

  Nate snickers under his breath. “Bryce pulled this out of his fucking ass, but I jumped on board. Wanted to be here to celebrate your big accomplishment.” He jerks his chin in approval.

  “There’s something I need to tell you. We’re not alone—” Bryce is cut off by a voice that makes my skin crawl.

  “You really are a cheerleader,” Liza says accusingly.

  I stiffen, and Bryce’s arm snakes around my waist possessively. Nate raises one eyebrow at me, waiting for my reply.

  “Yes, I am. How are you, Liza?”

  “Great, but it’s been a while since I’ve been in a college bar. Forgot about all this shit.”

  Right as the word ‘shit’ comes out of her mouth, Quinn and Crystal walk up. Then another woman I don’t recognize joins us at Liza’s side. She’s also very pretty but more in the ‘girl next door’ way. Suddenly, I become anxious, knowing Bryce is here with them. Quinn sums up the situation instantly and takes care of introductions.

  The new girl’s name is Dani, and she’s also on the ship with Bryce. She gives me a warm smile, and I immediately relax. Unlike Liza, she is kind and non-threatening. She shakes my hand enthusiastically and congratulates me on my engagement. At her words, Liza rolls her eyes, which adds fuel to Quinn’s fire.

  “So, Bryce, are you going to chill since the date’s been set?” she teases him.

  “I’m not falling for it, Quinn. Not taking your bait tonight.” He drinks his beer and rests his head on my shoulder.

  “There’s a date?” Crystal squeals.

  “Yep, June nineteenth,” Quinn answers for me, and I catch Liza scowl.

  Her eyes lock with mine and turn stony. I turn away, trying to figure out why the hell she’s here. Bryce feels me tense and kisses my neck lightly. “She’s a part of the program tomorrow. She and Dani are at a hotel, and we asked them to drop us off here. If you want to leave, we’ll get our bags out of her car and leave.”

  “No, she’s not ruining my night,” I whisper back.

  Quinn fills Crystal in on my wedding plans so far, and Nate guzzles his beer shaking his head. He mumbles something like, “Shoot me now.”

  Then Liza makes her big mistake. She lays her hand on Nate’s shoulder and pats lightly, talking softly, “Don’t get upset. June’s a long time from now. A lot can change.”

  She may have thought she was funny, but the whole table goes still. Nate’s face swings to the side with irritation. Bryce growls behind me and slams his beer to the table. Crystal and Dani look at me uncomfortably.

  Quinn shakes her head, chuckling obnoxiously. “Let me give you a hint, Navy Girl—DON’T POKE THE BEAR. And by bear, I mean Bryce.”

  Liza squares her shoulders and narrows her eyes at Quinn. “My name is Liza, not Navy Girl. And I hardly think pointing out that things can change in eight months is poking anything.”

  Bryce speaks up, his voice is deep, giving her a warning. “You’re right, Liza, a lot of plans can change in eight months. Flowers, dresses, shit like that. I’m going to assume that’s what you were referring to.”

  “That’s exactly what I meant. Why the hell is everyone so sensitive? Jesus Christ.” She looks right at him then me. Her expression is blank, but her eyes tell me exactly what she meant.

  It’s official. This woman’s going to be a problem.

  Chapter 19

  My skin tingles where Bryce’s lips kiss up my spine. When he reaches the area between my shoulder and my neck, he bites down gently and then runs his tongue along the sting.

  “Your taste is like a drug to me. I literally wake up wanting to lick every inch of you.”

  I whimper and arch into him.

  His hand skims down my side and around my waist until his thumb grazes the sensitive area below my belly button. My legs spread apart, one wrapping around his thigh. His fingers slide lower, teasing me, until I’m grinding against his hand.

  “Bryce.”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Stop teasing me.”

  “I’m not teasing, baby. I’m taking my time. This morning it’s all about you. All weekend, I’ve fucked y
ou hard and fast, but not now. Now, I savor.”

  Slowly, he glides one finger into me, rubbing lazy circles around the surrounding skin. Another finger goes in, and he massages me from the inside. I tighten my muscles, and he nips my earlobe. Removing his fingers, he untangles my legs and rolls me to my side.

  I rub my thumbs along the scruff that’s grown the last few days. “I like the three day growth. It’s sexy.”

  His eyes melt, and he bends down, kissing me lightly. He positions himself over me and breaks away, covering my chest with small pecks. When he reaches my breast, he licks my aching nipple, his teeth scraping on the tender skin.

  “Ahhh…” I move my hands to his head.

  He switches to the other one, giving it the same attention then continues to kiss down my body until he reaches my hipbone.

  “I’m serious, Devon. I’m addicted to your taste. You’re so fucking wet right now, begging for me to lick you. You have to be quiet, baby. Can you do that?”

  “Ummhmm.”

  He places my legs over his shoulders and licks a pattern until finally swirling his tongue inside of me. My hands fly to the sheets and grip hard. On reflex, my hips buck into him, begging for more. He licks, nips, and sucks until I squirm uncontrollably against his mouth. His teeth graze my clit, and I shatter, moaning into my pillow.

  He sucks once more, sending another ripple of pleasure before moving away. His hands grip my hips as he positions himself and slides inside. Electric sensations shoot through every nerve until we’re flush against each other.

  I push the pillow away and find his eyes piercing into mine. We rotate in sync, never breaking our stare. Heat and energy fill the space around us as he makes love to me. I tilt in to capture his mouth with my own.

  His hips swivel, and I hum on his tongue. His resolve to go slow breaks as his strokes speed up. Sweat trickles down my back, and I have to break away to breathe. My mind dizzy with lust and desire. The familiar coiling starts in my stomach again with the intensity of his movements.

  “Come with me baby.” His voice is smooth and sexy.

  I do as he asks, rasping his name when the orgasm explodes. Tremors rock my body, and I gasp to catch my breath. He grips my hips and groans deep, pulsing inside of me. His body stills, neither of us moving as our heartbeats race together.

  “I dream of the days that we can start every morning like this.” He sweeps my hair over my shoulder and rests his head.

  “Me too.”

  We stay wrapped together until our breathing evens out. He leans back, breaking our connection, and rolls off the bed. He comes back from my bathroom with a warm cloth and cleans us both before crawling back in bed.

  “Shit, I need to unlock the door in case Nate needs to get in.”

  “I’ll do it.” I glance at my clock and gasp. “It’s six a.m.!”

  He shrugs and then links his hands behind his head, smirking. “What can I say? Told you I was addicted to your taste. I had a craving.”

  Flush creeps up my cheeks as I throw on his shirt from last night. “Well, lucky for me.”

  “Anytime, babe. You want to get lucky, say the word.”

  I prance to the bathroom and turn back, giving him my most seductive glance. “You have five minutes, then it’s your turn to satisfy my craving… again”

  “Greedy this morning?”

  “I figure if you can start my day with incredible sex and two orgasms, we should keep going.”

  His smirk turns into a full-blown smile and sends another shiver down my spine. Safe to say, I’m not unlocking that door anytime soon.

  A soft knocking wakes me up, and Bryce stirs against my back. I slide out of bed quietly and throw on his shirt again then crack the door open. Quinn looks at me with fury in her eyes.

  “You are not going to believe that bitch,” she spews.

  “What are you talking about?” I whisper.

  “Liza is here. She’s ready to go. Said she texted Bryce so he should be ready.”

  “What time is it? It seems so early.”

  “Nine.”

  “They aren’t supposed to leave until two!”

  “I know. Nate is talking to her now.”

  “Okay, we’ll be right out.”

  She gives me a sympathetic look as I close the door.

  “What’s going on?” Bryce’s voice is laced with sleep when I crawl in next to him.

  I tell him what Quinn said, and he reaches for his phone on my nightstand. Sure enough, he has two texts from Liza about leaving earlier than discussed. He exhales loudly and gets up, going to the bathroom.

  When he comes out, he’s in shorts and a t-shirt, and his expression is angry.

  “I’m sorry about this. I promise to never ride with anyone again. Let me go talk to her.” He kisses the tip of my nose and leaves.

  I rush to brush my teeth, wash my face, and throw on some clothes. When I get to the living room, Dani gives me a sad smile and a little wave. Liza ignores me completely. Nate pats my shoulder on his way to my room.

  “Liza’s team has a small problem. She may need to work tonight. We need to get back early,” Bryce tells me.

  “Oh, okay. Well, do you have time for me to make everyone breakfast?”

  Liza starts to talk, but Dani speaks up. “That sounds nice. We were going to stop somewhere anyway.”

  “You sure, Dev? You could always go back to bed.” Bryce tucks my hair behind my ear and looks at me sadly.

  “There’s plenty of food. I’ll get started while you pack.”

  He searches my face for a short second then kisses my cheek and walks back to my room.

  Quinn comes in with two coffee mugs and hands one to Dani. They turn on the TV to Bill Tames’ Sunday morning program. When Dani learns that we know him personally, she launches into a hundred questions about our trip and mentors. Liza picks up the student newspaper on our coffee table and looks at me with unbelieving eyes when she sees the front-page article.

  “This is you?” she asks, pointing directly to my name.

  “Yes,” I confirm, turning to the kitchen.

  I gather all the ingredients and prepare one of my mom’s recipes, wishing like hell we weren’t having breakfast with Liza. I’d like to think she’s no threat, but I’d be lying to myself. Even though Bryce gives me no reason to worry, she’s definitely got an agenda.

  “You’re talented; I’ll give you that.” Liza’s voice jars me out of my thoughts. “Heard that about you for weeks, never believed it.” She sits at the kitchen bar, staring at me.

  “Not sure if that was a compliment or an insult.”

  “Bryce and Nate have mentioned your knack for words and pictures. Even Nicole said the pictures you took were cool. When Bryce said you were celebrating your work, I assumed it was a puff piece, but the article was good.”

  “Why do you act so surprised? You don’t know me well enough to make assumptions.”

  She shrugs unapologetically and looks at me with the same distaste I’ve become used to.

  I square my shoulders and swallow hard, staring right into her cold eyes. Confrontation has never been my style, but she’s testing my patience.

  “Listen, Liza, I’m not sure what your problem is, but you need to get over it really quick. I’ve never done anything to you, but the few times we’ve been around each other, you’ve had this silent communication. It’s obvious you’re interested in Bryce, but you need to forget about it. If you think throwing yourself in his line of sight constantly is going to get him into your bed, you’re mistaken. Just because there’s distance between us doesn’t mean shit. Bryce is faithful and dedicated. You’re wasting your time on the wrong man.”

  Her face changes and fire blazes in her eyes. Suddenly, it’s clear; she not only interested in Bryce; she’s really interested in him. Anger washes over her, and she glares at me before finally speaking. “I’m going to say this as respectfully as possible, seeing I’m in your apartment. You are delusional. What are you, like
twenty? I can see how you would build it up in your head about plans for the happily ever after, but I’ll bet anything I have that there is no wedding next summer. Bryce has the potential for an incredible future with the Navy. You’ll never understand what that is.

  “He may think he loves you. I’ll give you both that. But the first time he’s on a ship for months at a time, not many men can handle the temptation. I can personally attest to this. My half-sister is a product of an on-ship tryst. Only other Navy people can truly understand the lifestyle.”

  Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh is all I hear as my ears ring with her declaration. She smiles smugly, and my skin starts to crawl.

  “Did you insinuate that Bryce will cheat on me? Not only that, did you also imply my wedding will be canceled because I can’t be a Navy wife? And what does my age have to do with anything?”

  “Truly, I’m trying to give you advice and insight. Will Bryce cheat? I can’t say for certain, but the chances are there. As for being a Navy wife, you aren’t cut out for it. That’s written all over you.”

  Quinn and Dani come into the kitchen, and Quinn hisses, “besteria cadela.”

  “Don’t speak cheerleader language.” Liza insults her openly.

  Then it hits me, and the thought slips out of my mouth, “You don’t really have to work tonight, do you?”

  She shrugs, non-committal.

  Anger pulses through my veins, and I open my mouth to scream when Nate comes into the kitchen and immediately assesses the scene. He gives me a questioning glance, and I jerk my head, too mad to talk.

  “Liza, tell me you aren’t pulling your shit standing in my sister’s kitchen,” he hisses.

  “No shit. I was only telling her about the challenges of being a Navy wife. Oh yeah, also complimented her on her article.”

  He looks between us, clearly not trusting her, but also not wanting to cause a scene.

  “I’ll give you a hint, and you really should take this seriously. Bryce will flip his fucking lid if you upset Devon. There is no bullshit to this. If you provoke him, you’ll regret it. He’s made it clear where his priorities are to almost everyone. Why you don’t get it, I don’t understand.”