The Predator [1]

by Brooke May

  “Can I help you?” Chamberlain takes me by surprise. I jump back against his bare chest. I peek up at him over my shoulder, my hair already wet and sticking to my neck and back. His eyes are dark and hooded as he takes the washcloth from me and proceeds to finish washing my body.

  I lean back against him, lolling my head on his upper chest and shoulder. “I need to get your back, panda.”

  His hands come up behind my back and move in slow circles. “May I return the favor?”

  “Of course.” His thick voice causes my body to shudder with need. A need I’ve acquired because of him.

  On the shelf next to us, I grab his soap, lather some in my hands, and then start to rub it against his bare chest, lightly digging my thumbs in as I go. “Oh, that feels good.” Chamberlain drops the washcloth and grabs my hips. I step forward and place a kiss on his neck, where I can see his vein bulging. “Katie, you’d better stop.”

  “I want you, Chamberlain.” I do want him. I am insanely sore, but I want him in me again. He groans, pushing me until my back hits the shower wall. His arms come up to cage me in while his lips make their descent to assault mine.

  “Good morning, you two love birds!” Scott’s voice comes in over the sound of the running water.

  “Dammit, Scott!” Chamberlain yells while I shriek.

  “Ah, shower sex, good stuff if you can manage the weird positions.” He chuckles followed by a door closing.

  “Damn him.” Chamberlain looks back down at me. “He really knows how to kill a mood, doesn’t he?”

  “We’d better get out,” I mutter, wringing my hair out and stepping out to dry off.

  XOXO

  “I WANT TO ask you something.” Chamberlain grabs my hand as he continues down the street. We are still in Gwen’s Camaro, but we are heading over to drop it off and get the rust bucket.

  “Okay?” Once we drop off the car, we are going over to the garage he works at to work on his car. Change the oil, I believe.

  “Would you be okay with staying the night with me on the weekends?” He is nervous, and that makes me smile. “You know … that way you can be at all my fights.”

  “I would love that.” The nervousness eases from his face, leaving him stunningly handsome with his stubble slowly returning already. It would be a wonderful break from my parents’ house anyway.

  We pull in behind his car. He cuts the engine and hands me his keys. “Go ahead and get in. I’ll run these to Gwen.”

  “Okay.” We get out, and I walk over to his car and get in through the driver’s side. It doesn’t smell as bad as last time, but it still isn’t a clean smell. I start the car and watch as Gwen meets Chamberlain at the door.

  They talk for a few minutes after he hands her keys back. He leans in to give her a quick peck on the cheek, but she wraps her arms around his shoulders and neck to give him a hug. Her eyes close, and from here, it looks like she is rubbing her cheek on his shoulder. His arms are wrapped around her back.

  I know I lack experience with relationships and friendships, but this hug looks a bit too friendly to me.

  Chamberlain is the one who breaks the hug. He waves at her, and she faces me, waving with a smile. I force a smile and give a weak wave back.

  “Ready to learn a few things about cars, Katie?” Chamberlain climbs in.

  “Sure.” I hate the feeling that has just taken hold of me. Everything Chamberlain says and does around me shows me that he cares about me, but I have to be missing something with those two.

  XOXO

  THE FEELING EASED away at the garage. It was quiet as Chamberlain got me dirty with step by step instructions on how to change the oil in his car. I was a little shocked at how nice his motor looked under the rusted hood. It’s as if he cares for the car, but doesn’t have the funds to fix it completely.

  We worked through lunch, and when he thought I had learned enough for the day, he drove me back to my parents’ house. Thankfully, there were no cars when he pulled in and dropped me off at the back door.

  “Thank you for last night and teaching me today.” I lean in to kiss him, the smell of oil strong on his skin. I’m sure I smell the same.

  “You’re welcome, Katie. Next time, we’ll work on changing a tire.”

  “Okay.” I kiss him several times, reluctant to leave. “Talk to you later.”

  “Bye, baby.”

  I get out and heft my bag on my shoulder, careful with my dress that Chamberlain helped me bag up. He stays parked until I’m in the door. I wave to him and watch as he backs up and drives down the driveway.

  “Hi, Fiona.” I set my dress and bag on the small table that we sit at and slide into one of the stools at the counter.

  “Hello, baby doll.” She greets me as she is pulling something that smells like cake out of the oven. “Did you have fun last night?”

  “After we left, I did.” I blush at the memory and telling her. Fiona is like my mom. How can I talk to her about my amazing night with Chamberlain?

  “That good, eh?” She is smiling with a knowing look. My blush deepens. “I thought so. Was he a gentleman?”

  I don’t know if she means being an actual gentleman or a gentle man. I bite my lip and nod because he was both. “Last night was wonderful,” I say lightly. “Absolutely wonderful.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  THUD.

  I hit the heavy bag swinging before me again, this time with my right fist.

  Thud.

  Followed closely by my left. I focus on the task in front of me, learning how to throw punches that will knock someone back. I only hear the blood pumping through my veins, my heartbeat, my breathing, and the sound of my fists hitting the bag.

  For the last two weeks, everything has changed. Everything has been wonderful, and I’ve been learning to fight. It has been pure heaven. My parents and Zoey have been rarely seen. I’m thankful they have left me alone since the gala. I think they are starting to get the picture. Even when I saw them for a few brief minutes the Sunday after the gala, they never said anything to me. Literally, they didn’t even acknowledge me when I was home. Not that I minded, I’m used to it.

  However, it does give me a bit of an uneasy feeling, like they are plotting something. Father is never home, so I only have to watch my mother and Zoey. I make sure I lock my door every time I leave the house and even when I just leave to go to the kitchen.

  Outside of my ballet class and my classes, I spend most of my time with Chamberlain and Scott, even Gwen is with us for the most part. She’s grown on me, but I still think she is far too friendly with Chamberlain.

  When I catch her being too friendly with her advances on my boyfriend, I stop and glare. Chamberlain doesn’t seem to notice, and if Scott does, he doesn’t say anything.

  I pull myself out of those thoughts. I just need to gather the courage to talk to Chamberlain about it. But I hold back because I don’t want him to think he has to choose between his girlfriend, who he has only just recently started dating, and one of his best friends. That isn’t fair of me to do that, even though I wouldn’t. I want him to keep his friends, just establish boundaries with her.

  And then there is Amber. Lizzy isn’t trouble, at least not for me. She seems to want to be best friends with me now. I’m not sure why and it kind of freaks me out. She’s crazy; going on and on about Scott this and Scott that, and that seems to piss Amber off more. Whenever she gets the opportunity, she nags me about different things. All of them related to Chamberlain.

  “Did you know that Gwen was Chamberlain’s first?”

  “Why aren’t you going after some rich boy to buy you whatever you want? Isn’t that what little rich brats do?”

  “Are you just with him because you feel sorry for the poor orphan boy?”

  “How can I be sure you aren’t fucking Scott too? What, no rich guys want your diseased body, so you have to go after every available common guy?”

  They all really bother me. She knows nothing about me, and apparently
, she doesn’t know Chamberlain either. He is fiercely protective of me. Scott makes a point of touching me, whether it is a hug or a hand on my shoulder, just to get Chamberlain going.

  Rich boys expect me to be perfectly kept and silent, but Chamberlain doesn’t. He likes when I get mad and when my feistiness comes out.

  And as for her first annoying, plaguing question, I don’t know what to do with that information. There still may be feelings there between the two of them. I know I don’t have much room to talk. My lack of knowledge on how normal people function in relationships is limited, but it is obvious that they decided they were better off as friends than as lovers.

  I throw my hardest punch, only making it swing the tiniest bit. “Remember to pivot your foot.” Chamberlain drawls from behind me, his bare chest meeting my back. I stop mid-punch with my left arm when he slides down my body and grasps my ankles. “Follow through with the punch, baby,” he encourages. I finish extending my left arm until my fist connects with the bag. “Make sure this foot and ankle pivot, and it will be a stronger punch.” He stands, running his hands up the sides of my legs and stopping to rest them on my hips.

  “Chamberlain.” I wiggle out of his hold and push him back with my butt. “I’m trying to learn here.”

  “Sorry, but it’s very distracting to see you like this.” Delicious promises fill his voice.

  He isn’t sorry at all.

  “Do two more of each and then move to a hook and upper cut combo.” He was over at another bag hitting, so I must be putting on quite the show if he is over here now.

  I focus on the bag and throw a few more while making sure to include the pivot. “Much better,” he murmurs, his voice being drowned out by “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith.

  I switch to the punches he wants me to do, making sure to do equal numbers with both hands. Again, I lose myself in thought. Chamberlain’s big fight is coming up. He said he would be training harder now, but he would make sure to have ‘us’ time. If our ‘us’ time consists of me coming with him and learning to fight while he trains, then I’m game. I really enjoy watching him. He had fights for the last two weekends in a row, and I marvel at how he moves.

  He is graceful and stealthy. No matter how many times I watch him, it never gets old. His nickname fits perfectly; how he wears his opponent down and then goes in for the ‘kill’ is a work of art to watch. Then, of course, there are his predatory eyes – the ones reserved only for me. They make me melt, gush, and sexually ready for him every time.

  The sex between us has become far more explosive than I ever imagined. I want to weep just thinking about finally experiencing shower sex …

  It was last weekend after we got back to his apartment from his fight, which he won it. Scott went out in search of some ‘tail,’ and Gwen was helping her mom at the diner. That meant we were all alone.

  Chamberlain insisted on showering when we got home. He then proceeded to pull me into the bathroom, lock both doors, start the shower, and slowly stripp us both …

  His soft caresses of my naked flesh are the complete opposite of the violent blows he had just delivered to his opponent. His eyes shine with a mixture of merriment and pure joy as he peels me out of each layer of clothing. My skin is super sensitive to each simple touch of his calloused hands.

  I’m getting used to being exposed around him. I don’t feel the need to cover myself as I did the first few times. I feel braver than I had any other time when we’re both completely devoid of our clothes. I walk to him and take him in my hand. His heaviness weighs in my hand as I stroke him leisurely back and forth.

  Chamberlain’s hand envelops mine, making me squeeze tighter. “Like this, Katie.” He struggles to talk. With my free hand, I push his away and watch my brave hand move up and down. Pre-cum works its way out as I continue to pump him. I roll my thumb over his head, causing him to groan, long and deep.

  His head falls back as his hands clamp down on my shoulders. “Damn, Katie.” I continue my movements while Chamberlain’s hips start to piston forward, meeting my hand. Soon, he becomes more irate and uncontrolled. “Stop, Katie.” He grunts. “I don’t want to come yet.”

  When I don’t stop, his hand stills me. I moan with complete need of him. Without taking his eyes off me, he reaches out and grabs his pants that are on the counter. He produces a condom from his wallet. He lets his pants and wallet fall to the floor just outside the shower. “You want to put it on?” He waves the package at me.

  “Sure.” I grab the package and drop to my knees. I rip it open and put the condom on the way he showed me last time. When I’m done, I sit back on my knees to admire my handiwork. I’m not embarrassed to admire him anymore. I’ve stretched and fit to him to the point that it feels like I was made for only him.

  Chamberlain scoops me into his arms, twining my legs around his narrow waist. My hands dive into his hair that has grown a little. He pins me against the wall of the shower. “Hold on, baby.” His hands leave my sides; one braces on the wall beside my head while the other goes down to guide him into me.

  As he starts to enter, my head falls back from the full sensation as I moan his name. “I love how tight you are, Katie. You squeeze my hard dick just right.” I whimper at the way he talks. I may not be able to talk like that or cuss, but I love it when he talks this way to me, especially when we are like this. “So fucking perfect. I could set up camp here and never leave.” He rests his forehead against mine before he starts to leisurely pump in and out of me.

  “Harder,” I beg, bringing my face up to gaze at him. It is so much more intense when we keep eye contact. I love it. He pulls back, stops, and then slams hard into me. My mouth falls open as my back hits the shower wall. My hands try to secure a hold of something. “Again.” I continue to beg until his thrusts become relentless.

  With a sudden hunger, I grab his face and guide his mouth to mine. Our teeth hit one another, hard and brutal, while our tongues give way to a feverish need. I grab hold of his tongue ring with my teeth and pull what I can into my mouth to suck. This makes Chamberlain’s other hand come up to the wall like its counterpart. He groans and pounds even harder.

  It becomes too much, so I release his face, drop my hands to the base of his neck, and just hold on, screaming out babble and his name.

  “Oh, fuck! Katie!” Chamberlain shouts. His hands clamp down on my hips, securing me while he continues. “You squeeze the fuck out of me, baby! Give it to me. Come on!”

  “Chamberlain!” I shout as my orgasm takes me, drowning out everything but him and his touch. “Oh!”

  “Fuck!” He pounds a few more times and then a few slower, easier ones. “Katie.” He whispers my name against my lips like a prayer.

  “You okay there, lil’ bit?” Scotts causes me to jump out of my skin and swing randomly toward him. It also effectively cools off my need for Chamberlain.

  “Fine.” I manage to say while grabbing my heart. I can’t believe I allowed myself to think of that when I’m in a public place, a gym for that matter.

  Scott tilts his head, a frown in place. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” I wave him off. “I just need to take a break.” This seems to satisfy him because he shrugs and walks off.

  I walk over to the bench where my water bottle and towel sit. Dabbing my face, I feel him come up behind me. Rough hands come around to rest on my waist, and then I’m being hoisted up against him. “What’s the matter, baby?” he whispers into my ear, bringing the desire back.

  I turn my head and see that he is down on his haunches. “Just remembering.” I blush, but it is probably hard to tell since my face is already beet red, or at least it feels that way.

  “About?” He rests his chin on my shoulder.

  “The shower.”

  He groans and pulls me back, so I fall onto his lap. I bite back a groan when I feel him growing hard. “Chamberlain, not here,” I admonish him.

  “Baby, fuck.” He kisses my shoulder. “I can’t help but want to to
uch you while you look like this; shorts, sport’s bra, hair in a braid, and tape on your knuckles. That all turns me the fuck on. I can’t help but get a little angry and possessive with all the other guys in here seeing my girl like this.” He growls and bites my earlobe, making me screech. “Then you tell me what’s on your mind. I have half a mind to haul you into the locker room right now.”

  “Really?” I can’t help but sound lustful.

  He frowns. “Not now, but maybe someday.” He stands us up. “Go get ready to leave; it’s lunchtime.” He slaps my behind as I walk away, feeling needy.

  XOXO

  “OUR USUAL, PLEASE, Rose.” Chamberlain smiles up at Rose as she brings our water to us. She scribbles down our order and takes off. Today, we are sitting in a corner both, so instead of sitting across from me, Chamberlain is right next to me. “Are you busy tomorrow after your ballet class?” He rests his hands on the table, clasping them together while looking down at them.

  “No.” I turn in my seat, so one leg is folded under the other, and rest my hands on the back of the seat. “Why?”

  He lets out a brief laugh with a sad smile. “It would have been my parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.” He looks at me. “Every year I go visit them. I would really like you to come with me this year.”

  My heart aches for this amazing man. I place my hand on top of his. “Of course, I will.”

  “Thank you, Katie.” He turns to face me now and pulls me into a hug. “They would have loved you,” he murmurs into my hair and takes a deep breath as if my scent centers him. “I’ll pick you up after your class, okay?”

  “Sounds great.” I nuzzle my nose against his neck. This is a sudden change from how he was acting at the gym. I thought for sure he would be trying to do something by now, but he just continues to hold me.