Here it goes, big exhale. Breathe. Breathe, May.
“So was it worth the trip?”
There. The question is out of my mouth and now floating in the air between us. Do I chance looking at him? Yeah, I do. He’s so nice to look at.
He’s about my height, with an inch or two on me maybe. His sandy-brown hair is short but not shaved and complements his sun-kissed skin. His eye color is a little tricky. I’m seeing a few colors all at once. It looks like it’s that color that changes according to what kind of mood a person is in. Brown, hazel, green? All I want to know is if I am going to be around long enough to figure out which color goes with which mood.
I haven’t turned my entire body to look at him, just my head, which at this moment, feels way heavier than ten pounds. So I just put my chin down, place my cheek on my shoulder and take him in.
He’s looking straight forward, and it’s forever until he finally takes another drink from his beer and turns his entire body to face me. His eyes lock with mine.
“Darlin, It was totally worth the trip.”
I close my eyes and smile into my shoulder, possibly the biggest smile I’ve ever had on my face.
He reaches over with his hand and pushes down lightly on my shoulder.
“Darlin’, if I’m the one that makes you smile like that, then you have to let me see it.”
Nope, I was wrong. This is the biggest smile I have ever had on my face; the first one is a very close second.
Ending the conversation on a great note, we pay our bill and leave. We didn’t even eat. I laugh in my head at that. Were we too nervous, too shocked? Who knows? Heading out of the door, I ask him where he wants to go now. I am walking a little ahead of him, and he grabs my hand. Up until this moment, we haven’t had deliberate contact, but we sure as hell have now, and I loosen my fingers so he can entwine his with mine as we walk back to the truck. When we are in, I ask him what he wants to do now.
“Show me your home away from home,” he replies.
“You got it.”
That’s easy. Diamonds. Those people are like my family, my best friends. Not surprising, seventy-five percent of them are guys because well, I just don’t get along with girls. I thank my dad and three brothers for that. Except for the all-female bar staff, Tana, Lynn, and Stacey are three of the most awesome chicks I have ever met in my entire life. Stacey is the mom figure, Lynn is the Swedish bombshell with tattoos, and Tana is the tiny roughneck that swears like a sailor, my kind of people.
Walking in there, I kind of feel like Norm from Cheers.
“MAAAAAAAY!”
I roll my eyes. Jeez, y'all.
I take Kevin around to meet everyone. The guys all bow up their chests when meeting Kevin because they need him to know that they protect me, knowing full well that I can take care of myself.
Craig, Steve Mike Bob, Bill Bill, Steph, and Tito: my boys.
“Break her heart; I break your face,” Steve says with a big fake smile on his face. He thinks I didn’t hear him, but I did. When Steve looks away, Kevin looks at me. Tightening my lips, I shake my head as if to imply for him not to worry about it.
After all the catching up and having a few laughs, Kevin and I settle up at the bar next to the Megatouch machine. It’s my spot, and that’s my machine, no matter what Tee-Tee and Taby say.
After a couple hours, everything has blurred and melted away. It’s as though we have been friends all of our lives. We aren’t that gross couple you see making out all over each other. Our legs are still touching, and his left hand rests on my right thigh from time to time. Every now and then during our conversation, I reach down and lightly run my nails up and down his forearm. I’ve noticed that every time I do that, he’ll stop mid-sentence and close his eyes.
Does he enjoy it, or is he is thinking about something or someone that motion reminds him of? I don’t know, but every time I stop, he takes my hand and puts it back, letting me continue until he has had his fill. It’s quite adorable.
Getting home was just as fun as being at the bar, completely relaxed, radio blaring country music, and us singing along as loudly as we can. We already knew we had the same taste in music, amongst other things.
A couple of friends from the bar follow us back to my house. It’s not a huge party or anything, just a handful of people that come after hours to hang out, drink, listen to music, and get into the hot tub.
Oh, yeah. Gotta love the hot tub.
It’s an awesome night out, one of the clearest nights I have seen in a while, come to think of it. I can see every star, and I’ve never seen the moon so full. I didn’t even have to turn the porch light on when I came out to heat up the hot tub; it’s that bright. After the tub and underwater lights are turned on, I prop the left side of my butt up on the ledge and drag my fingers through the water, waiting for it to warm up.
The sliding glass door opens and shuts, but I don’t take my eyes off the night sky. It’s just someone stepping out to have a smoke, I’m sure.
Then I feel it. He isn’t touching me, but I just know that it is him when his cologne wraps around me, and I take a deep inhale in. Yeah, that’s Kevin. He smells amazing. I can’t help but to think back to the conversation when I talked about how there isn’t much else sexier than a great smelling man. The absolute presence of him is surrounding me. He places his hands on my bare shoulders and runs them down my arms then back up, his touch is light, but he effectively gives me goose bumps everywhere. A small shake goes from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.
“You cold, darlin’?” he whispers against my shoulder.
“Definitely . . . not . . . cold,” I say, closing my eyes as I focus on his touch and how it is making me feel right now.
He takes half a step forward towards me, and our bodies are completely touching. Holy hell that feels good. I blow out the breath I have been holding, afraid to ruin the moment if I say anything.
His hand moves off my arm, skates down the right side of my back, and slides down to my thigh. He brings it up, slowly and to the left, and I am now sitting on the outer rim of the hot tub. He moves into the empty space between us, not wanting to have so much there.
I think he reads minds. Well, mine anyways.
I raise my hands to put on his chest because I crave another point of connection to him, but I stop an inch or two away. Are my hands shaking? It isn’t like this is my first kiss, so what is going on with me?
I answer that question as fast as I ask it in my head. I’m in love with him. Up until now, we’ve been fulfilling the mental and emotional connections, and now we have thrown in the physical aspect, and there ya go. What if it’s bad? What if there is no spark, no desire?
I push the thoughts out of my mind and lay my hands on his upper chest. Feeling his heart beating so fast, I close my eyes again to take it in. He’s here.
Opening my now heavy eyelids to look into those gorgeous eyes of his, I freeze because he isn’t looking at my eyes. His gaze is lower and to my right. I look down and see the tank top I changed into doesn’t cover up my scar.
Shit! I scream in my head.
I have told him about it here and there, but I never went into detail or anything. He’s just staring at it. The doctor said I would have a slight scar. Slight, my ass.
My breathing has picked up, but my head is slouched low. A really great moment ruined by something so ugly. Damn.
He moves in, slowly and steadily. He lowers his head down and presses his full lips to the horrible reminder. There’s that shake again. After he is done kissing the entire thing, he picks up his head and looks at me. His hands run back up my arms, over my shoulders, across my collarbone, and then up my neck. He’s now holding my face in his hands. He takes a stabilizing step forward and moves to me. Our eyes dart to one another’s, to each other’s mouth, and then back to the eyes again.
Just a little further. Our eyes are closed; we lean a little closer now.
“Is the hot tub ready or not?” a co
uple of people are making their way through the glass door and stripping off their clothes. I close my eyes and laugh. Leaning my forehead against his is all I can think to do because I don’t want to let him go.
“Yeah . . . it’s ready, y'all,” I say without moving.
He kisses me on the nose and lets go of my face.
“We’ll continue this later, darlin’,” he says, helping me slide off of my seat.
There’s absolutely no question that we will.
CHAPTER SIX
After the fun has died down and everyone has gone home for the early morning, Kevin and I are finally alone since the hot tub. Oh, the hot tub. However, the after-hour mess is very much present in the living room, kitchen, and back porch.
Going into the kitchen, I get a garbage bag and begin the ever-dreaded cleanup. After a quick shower, Kevin has also grabbed a trash bag and has started the cleanup in the living room–He didn’t have to do that. Most times I just put some tunes on and clean it up myself. Kevin is kind of peeved that no one stayed behind to help. I just chuckle and go about cleaning up.
When I’ve got my kitchen back together, and I have finished wiping off the sink, two arms come out on both sides of me, grip the counter, and push my whole body forward against the cabinets. There is nothing slow this time, not like the first couple of times anyway. It’s like he has been dying to touch me ever since we got interrupted outside. Add that to what happened in the hot tub once we all were in there, holy yes! I caught him looking at me a couple of times when he was supposed to be having conversations with the other guys. Every girl that was there gushed to me about Kevin. I got the basic questions about him. They all wanted to know where is he from, what he does, how long have I known him, yada, yada, yada. I was remembering why I don’t have that many friends that are girls. These girls are my friend’s girlfriends, so I have made every attempt at getting along with them, except Tabby, Tito‘s wife. I love Tabby because she’s awesome. They all thought I was gay. Shocker there.
He presses me against the counter a little firmly. He pulls all of my hair off my back and hangs it in front of me as he places a soft wet kiss on the slope of my neck. He pushes himself so that we are molded together against the countertop. When I feel just how good all this is for him, I let go of a slow “mmm,” and he rolls his hips just a little more, so I can feel all of him. When he stops his torment, I start wondering what else he’s going to do. I don’t have to wait another second. He turns me around so that I am facing him, and he pushes his body against mine, which pushes me back to the counter as though I might try to get away. Not a chance. I look into his eyes, and it’s like coming home. Every single fiber of my being is screaming for him to kiss me. He moves his head slowly to mine, and I lean in while closing my eyes.
And my phone rings.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say, breathless because my ability to speak at full volume is a lost cause.
He gives me a smile and simply says, “Don’t answer it.”
I look at the clock on the stove. It’s 4:30 a.m. That will be Paul calling. If I don’t answer it, he’ll keep calling until I do, and if I still don’t answer, then he will be over here in about fifteen to twenty minutes.
“Let me just let Paul know that I’m alive and that all is well.” I’m damn close to crying out of frustration at this point.
He removes his arms, but I can’t move. I think it’s because I don’t want to, and I want those arms back around me. Taking notice that I’m not moving, Kevin walks into the living room, grabs my phone off the coffee table, and walks back over to me. He hands me the phone and resumes his position with me against the counter. Nice.
Looking at my phone, my guess is confirmed–Paul.
“Hey man, what’s up?” I ask, clearing my throat, trying to sound normal.
“Just got done and was calling to check up on you.”
“I’m good,” I say while looking at Kevin and almost laughing at the fact that we are both smiling like a couple of teenagers.
“You sure you’re good?” He’s on to me, I think.
“Yeah, I’m fine; I’ll call you later.”
I don’t listen for the bye; I just end the call and slide the phone somewhere on the counter behind me.
Then there were two of us, again. So much holding back and interrupting has every nerve in my body on high alert. It’s almost painful.
There is Kevin, standing in front of me, relaxed and cool, looking like he has all the time in the world, and like he hasn’t been denied, a few times.
“God, Kev, I’m so sorr–“
A complete rush takes over every sense I have. His lips feel better on mine, and they feel as wonderful as they look. He doesn’t rush it, but I can feel the urgency in his kiss. It’s just the right amount. With our lips molding to one another’s, we just sink into it. Our arms are in the perfect position of complete and total relaxation. We open our mouths at the same time to deepen the kiss. Our tongues pass over one another’s in yet another slow torment. We stand locked together and kiss that first kiss for a while, not wanting it to end. Nothing beats the feeling of a first kiss.
And then we are dancing down the hallway towards my bedroom. Still holding firm in our kiss, we make it through the door, and I see the glow of lights behind my eyelids. I open them and see that all the candles on my dresser and bedside tables have been lit.
When did he do this? I wonder to myself.
It gives the moment the right amount of romance without overdoing it or turning it corny.
Backing up to the bed, we fall together. Unfortunately, our kiss ends, and we just look at each other because there isn’t any distance between us. There are no phones, no computers, just us, the candle light, and some soft country music.
Even though I’m lying on my back in bed, sleep is the farthest thing from my mind. Half of his body is laid down on half of mine, and all I can think of is how great it feels and also that it’s not close enough.
Running my hands down his back, I grab the hem of his shirt and pull it over his head. After one barrier of ours is lifted, I place my hands back on his skin. He’s so warm, almost hot. Being the southern man that he is, I’m surprised that his skin is as soft as satin. I can’t see his back, so I let my hands see it for me. In some ways this is better. Starting at his shoulders, I feel the broadness of them, the soft divot along his spine, and then lastly, the dimples on his lower back. God those are sexy. I want to lick every spot I just touched, but he has other plans. He has worked the hem of my shirt up. Willingly, I take my hands off his back and raise them up over my head, and he makes short work of my tank top.
His eyes seem to focus on my skin a little too strongly. He lowers his head, and his lips are on my scar. It’s almost like he wants to kiss it away. I would let him. He leaves the scar and moves to the middle of my chest and slowly runs his tongue down. He circles my entire right breast with a combination of licks, kisses and soft, warm exhales of his breath on my skin. Thank God for letting me take my bathing suit off when I changed earlier. No fumbling with strings here. He repeats the same motions with my other breast and moves back to the center of them before he continues his slow exploration down my skin to my stomach then to my navel before he stops.
Out of nowhere he slides off me and gently rolls me on my left side. With one finger, he begins to trace the lines of my tattoo on my right hip. He shouldn’t be surprised it’s there; he has seen pictures.
“I could draw this in my sleep,” he says as he finishes his tracing. He drops his head down and begins to trace the same pattern with his tongue. Sweet Lord, this man knows the meaning of foreplay. When he’s done the second time, he pulls my hip so that I’m lying on my back again. His weight is supported by his left side as he brushes his fingertip down the center of my chest and down my stomach. He slides his fingers into the waistband of my shorts. Laying his hand flat, he runs down my left leg, taking my shorts with him. When they are at my knees, I take over and move th
em off my legs, never taking my lips off his. Laying there completely naked would normally make me feel self-conscious but not this time. I want him to see me naked; I want him to see me wanting him.
He moves and stands at the foot of the bed. Seeing him shirtless almost pushes me over the edge; I never thought that was even possible. He has muscles, but they aren’t crazy defined. I can see the outline of his abs and faint lines of his V disappearing into his shorts. His body screams perfection. Top it off with an amazing tan, and words fail me.
He’s watching me take in every single detail of him that I can, and he undoes the button and zipper on his shorts. Slowly peeling off his boxers, I involuntarily swallow. Oh my, how beautiful.
Climbing back onto the bed, he pushes my legs open with his knees and rests against me. Heat is pulsating from my body. He blankets me in his soft roughness and locks onto my eyes.
“I need you, darlin’,” he says softly.
Shit. That’s so fucking hot.
“I’m here, Kevin; goodgod, I’m right here,” I say, placing my hands on both sides of his face.
We lean in to connect in another deeply, wonderful kiss. I could kiss him always. There isn’t any rush to what we are doing, so we wrap ourselves up in each other and just feel things out.
When he does slide into me for the first time, the world stops–no kidding. A joined moan from both of us sounds like we’ve only just started to live. We lay still a few moments enjoying the first-time-together sensation and all the intimacy we are finally sharing with each other.
I bring my left thigh up and place it around his right side, as if giving him permission. He understands and starts to move slowly and deeply, hitting as much of my enclosure as possible. Burying his face in my neck, he lets his weight lay on top of me, still moving. Every piece of our skin touches together, never stopping but continuing the sweet torture that I will volunteer for any day. Slow pants fill the air, and a thin sheet of sweat is forming on both of our bodies. I can tell that he is close, and I know that I am almost there as well. Feeling his body tense is a giveaway. I know his body even though this is the first time.
Need You, Need Me (The Need Series Book 1) Page 4
