“It’s all still up here,” I say, tapping my forehead. “Are you going to continue your grading?”
“Most likely. The next dan isn’t until I’m twenty-five. So I have a while to train for it.”
“But you won’t compete?”
“No, I won’t compete.”
“Hmmm. That’s a lot of training I have to catch up on. I guess I have a long time before I reach your level and have a chance at beating you,” I smile.
“Does that mean you’re willing to train until you do?” he asks.
“Perhaps. We’ll see if you can change my mind.”
“Fair enough,” he says, standing in front of me. “Attack,” he commands.
I ready myself, trying to decide the best way to attack him without getting thrown on my back.
Faking to one side, I quickly move to the other, hoping to push him through as he reacts. However, he’s too fast, too well trained and reads my move too well, sending me off balance and falling toward the mats. Grabbing at him, I refuse to let go, pulling him down on top of me.
Breathing heavily from the fall, I lay beneath him smiling triumphantly, looking up into his eyes. Slowly my grin disappears, as our gaze locks and his eyes darken. Reaching up, I run my fingers over his face, feeling his skin beneath my fingers before pulling him toward me, kissing him with everything I have.
“I feel so much around you Damien,” I whisper. “I don’t understand what’s happening between us. But I know that I never want to do anything to make you stop being with me. I’m sorry I upset you this morning.”
He pulls back and searches my face, for what, I’m not sure. But it’s then that I realise what upset him this morning.
“Make love to me,” I whisper, my fingers smoothing back and forth over his head. For a moment, I don’t think he’s going to respond, but he lets out his breath, relieved that I figured it out, and brings his mouth to mine.
His hands slide up to either side of my face as he kisses me slowly, sensuously. I can feel the passion pouring from inside him and into me as his mouth moves against mine.
The room is silent but for our breathing and kissing, it echoes out in the vastness of the training area as his hands leave my face and travel down my body. We moan together, as he grips my breast through the fabric of my dress. He rolls his fingers around my protruding nipple, causing me to whimper in response.
Sliding down my body, he lifts my dress, high enough to expose my bare breasts, his warm breath washing over me as he takes a nipple in his mouth, sucking back, grazing his teeth gently over it as he massages the other with his hand. Pulling me up to sitting, he lifts my dress higher, carefully helping me out of it, planting soft kisses on my chest, on my neck, then my mouth before dropping my dress on the floor beside us.
“You are so beautiful Etta,” he coos, running his fingers along my arms and down my back, before guiding me to lay on the mat again. Studying me intently, he drags his fingers down my torso, hooking them into the waistband of my panties and pulling them down my legs in a slow, sensual motion.
Nothing he’s doing is quick, but everything is passionate. Every touch, every kiss – there’s so much emotion behind it.
“Just lay there. I want to look at you,” he murmurs, pushing up on his strong legs so he’s standing, his own erection pushing against his pants, demanding to be set free.
As he looks down at me, I stay as still as I can, not wanting to do anything to ruin this moment. My insides ache with want, I need him inside me – right now it feels like I need him to breathe.
“Take your hair out,” he instructs.
Reaching up, I do as he says, pulling on the elastic and freeing my hair, letting it splay out beside me on the mat.
“Open your legs.”
For a moment, I hesitate, but when I see his cock jump as his eyes graze over my body, a bolt of arousal shoots through me. I love how much he wants me. This dark, beautiful man – wants me. It makes me feel as though I can do anything.
Slowly, I bend my legs at the knees, parting my thighs to show him my core. Immediately, his cock jumps again, and a deep rumble reverberates in his chest.
“Beautiful,” he growls. “Perfect.”
With our eyes locked, he removes his own shirt and pants, standing gloriously naked before him as he rakes his eyes down my body once more.
“Tell me what you want.”
“I want you to make love to me,” I tell him immediately, my voice soft and breathy. My intention clear.
Dropping to his knees, he climbs over my body, planting soft kisses along the way until his eyes, once again meet mine, and his cock presses lightly at my entrance.
“Say it again,” he murmurs, gazing down at me with rapt attention as he takes his weight, effortlessly on his arms.
“Make love to me,” I whisper, running my fingertips lightly over his back.
“Are you ready Etta?” he asks, pushing himself slightly inside of me. I know that this time he’s asking me if I’m ready for him. For everything that being with him will entail. And right now in this moment, I know I would do anything to be with him.
“I’m ready,” I respond.
He slides himself inside me, stretching and filling my depths. I gasp out at his size as I adjust around him, and he starts to move through my slick juices.
“Oh, Etta. You’re so wet.”
Rocking my hips along with his thrusts, I take him in over and over again, my mind spinning as the arousal inside me builds. This is so much more than anything I have experienced before, and I understand why Damien objected to fucking me. This could never be classed as a fuck, the emotion, the movement. The way our bodies connect so perfectly – everything – is so much more.
“Damien,” I pant, as my orgasm threatens to burst, gripping at his biceps as he skilfully thrusts, in and out, slow and perfect. I’m blown away. Every cell in my body is buzzing, and it’s as if the air has thickened as emotion rolls around us, wrapping us in our own private cocoon.
“Etta,” he groans, pushing deep inside me, continuing to thrust as I whimper, gripping him tightly, so close to the edge. “I want you to come with me inside you,” he whispers.
I was already on the brink, but the need in his voice pushes me over the edge. “Damien!” I call out, my hips jerking as my orgasm rips through me.
“Look at me baby. Look at me while you come.”
My eyes fly open and find his as I shudder beneath him, my insides pulsing. I’m just in time to watch his face soften as he spills his own release inside me, our eyes connected in our most carnal moment. He’s beautiful above me, and I feel our bond grow so much deeper in that shared moment.
His thrusts slow down, as he dips his head and takes my quivering mouth in his. The power of what we just experienced, causes me to shake. I’ve never imagined sex could actually feel this…transcendent.
We lay there together, naked and wrapped around each other, on the blue mats of the dojo, for an immeasurable amount of time, kissing and touching, lavishing the other with our passion, so raw and primal that neither of us seems to want to end this moment.
Finally though, we have to. Eventually the gym is going to open to the public, and the last thing we want is for my father to come in here and find us like this. Eighteen or not, it might be enough for him to lock me up and throw away the key.
With the strength of a man twice his size, he lifts us together off the mat. I keep my legs wrapped tightly around him, not wanting to break our connection until I have to. He carries me to the shower room and turns on the water, waiting for it to turn warm before stepping us under the spray. He moves to lift me off himself, but I wrap my legs even tighter around him.
“Stay,” I murmur, gripping him with my internal muscles.
With a grunt, he leans me up against the tiled wall. I feel his erection stiffen again, pressing against my walls as he moves inside me. His movement this time much faster than before. My body jolts with each thrust, his pubic bone pressi
ng right up against my clit.
“I could be inside you forever,” he growls. “You’re so tight. So perfect.”
My body once again explodes, and I moan, shuddering as I spasm around him.
“Etta,” he moans out, pulsing inside me.
When the shudders die down and our breathing returns to normal, he tries to move back again. But once again, I cling to him. “I don’t want this to end.”
“Etta, you’ve got me. This is never going to end. I’m never going to let you go. You are mine and I am yours. There is nothing that can change that now.” He kisses me softly, the water still pouring down over us. “But you need to let go. I need to work today.”
“Oh,” I respond, feeling a little dejected. I had hoped that we could spend the day together as well.
Releasing my grip around him, I allow him to lower me to the ground and remove his shaft from inside me. I feel empty now without him. I want him back.
“Are you doing someone’s portrait?” I ask, as he starts to rub soap over my body.
“Yes,” he responds, rubbing his hands over my stomach, gently kissing my shoulder.
“Can I come and watch you some time?”
“No.” His hands slide between my thighs, washing away our combined juices as they spill out of me.
My eyes flutter closed and my breathing thickens again, but I fight to keep my mind clear. “Will you do a portrait of me then? I want to see what you do.”
“One day.”
“One day?”
He nods, obviously not willing to continue the conversation as he angles the shower nozzle to hit me more directly so he can wash the suds off my skin then his.
“Stay warm,” he says, stepping out of the stream. “I need to get our clothes and some towels.”
When he returns, he follows the same routine he did last night, although this time he helps me dress. Even going so far as to help me into my shoes.
You’d think it would be strange having someone else dress you. But there’s something about the way he does it. It’s not as if he thinks I’m incapable. He does it because he wants to, it’s an act of love.
Love… there’s that word again. We made love, there are acts of love… but is this thing love? Or is it just an intensified version of lust?
I know that I feel a great need to be around him. But, I don’t know exactly what my feelings are right now – it’s all too much to qualify at this stage. All I can do is enjoy the ride, and put a name to it when these initial feelings die down. Even though right now, it doesn’t feel like they possibly could.
Chapter 13
“What are your plans today?” Damien asks, as he pulls up in front of my house.
“Well, I had planned to spend the day in your bed with you. But…” I shrug, lowering my lashes as I turn my head to the side.
“Etta,” he croons, his voice rolling through me like a favourite song. “That’s not possible.”
“I know… work, right?”
“Yes.”
Sighing, I move to unclip my seatbelt, although I’m stopped when his hand clasps over the top of mine.
“What are your plans?” he repeats.
“I’ll probably just hang out here and study, I suppose.”
“Alright. Make sure you have your phone with you. I’m going to call you later.”
“Of course,” I whisper, glancing down at his hand, still covering mine.
He lifts my hand up to his mouth, pressing it to his lips, inhaling deeply. “Wait there,” he tells me, getting out of the car.
He walks around the car and opens the back door, removing my bag, before opening my door and reaching over me to unclick my belt.
Taking my hand again, he helps me out of the car, pausing for a moment to kiss me gently, tenderly.
He then leads me to the front door, digging into my bag for my keys. “This is nice,” he says, turning the oval shaped key ring over in his hands as he reads the inscription. “Was it a gift?”
“It was,” I tell him, not really wanting to admit who it’s from.
He looks at it for a moment longer, before unlocking the door for me and pushing it open. “I’ll call you. Ok?” he reminds me.
“I’ll be waiting,” I tell him, rising up on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on the end of his nose.
Immediately, his hands slide around my waist and he pulls me close to him, burying his face in my hair.
“Not that I’m complaining. But, don’t you have to work?”
Groaning, he releases me, kissing me one last time before leaving me to head back to his car.
“I’ll call you,” he says again.
“Ok,” I laugh, standing at the door and watching him until he has driven out of sight.
“Someone seems very happy with herself,” Kensi says as I shut the door behind me. I can’t seem to stop smiling. “Have a good night?”
“I did. The best.” I grin, moving toward the couch where she’s sitting. “Oh, hello,” I say as Aaron, who’s sitting on the opposite couch comes into view. Suddenly I feel like I’ve been caught out, as if what I just did with Damien was wrong.
“Hey. Can we talk?” Aaron asks, rising from his seat.
“Sure,” I say, a nervousness flitting through my stomach as I take him outside to sit in our small courtyard.
“I tried to call you last night because I wasn’t going to make it back here for that party, but I couldn’t get through.”
“Sorry, I…”
“I know – you decided to go to the city. Kensi told me when I dropped around this morning to apologise for standing you up.”
“Aaron. I’m sorry. I was supposed to text you while we were on the train.”
“No big deal I guess. In a way, we stood each other up.”
An awkwardness settles between us as we sit in the sun of the late morning, listening to the birds chirping around us. My eyes drift over to Aaron, my friend, and a man who holds a sizeable chunk of my heart, as the sun lights his features, glowing off his light hair.
He wears a pair of khaki cargo shorts, and a white t-shirt, displaying a black and white image of a skull in a moon, with a pirate ship in the foreground. Crossing one leg over the other, ankle to knee, he lets out his breath before returning his gaze to me.
“I know you were at Damien’s, Etta,” he states.
I freeze. Not sure what it is I should say to him.
“Jeremy saw you get home with him.”
“Oh…” My chest seems to clench as my head starts to ache. I don’t want to hurt Aaron. I couldn’t bear it if he exited my life. He means too much to me.
“Are you… seeing him now?” he asks, although I’m pretty sure he’d rather it if he never knew.
“Uh… yeah… I am. I’m sorry Aaron. I know you thought…”
“That you and I would finally have a chance? Yeah, I did. But it looks like I’ve lost out to him yet again,” he states.
“What do you mean?”
“You know Bec? That girl we saw him with when I moved in. She and I dated for a while during first year and well… Damien decided he wanted her. Some guys just take what they want, while the rest of us are left standing there wondering what the hell just happened.”
“Did they start dating?” I ask, wondering if once again, Damien has misled me.
“No,” he says, shaking his head as he creases his brow. “Damien doesn’t date. They seemed to become fuck buddies. She really changed though, became a little promiscuous. I don’t know… she wasn’t like that before. There’s just something about that guy. He ruins people.”
“I don’t think he means to.”
“Just be careful Etta. I’ve never known him to have a girlfriend. It’s just a whole string of women whom he uses and moves on from. I can’t tell you how many of them I’ve found crying in the hallway because he won’t see them anymore.” He shakes his head. “I just don’t get why women like him so much. I mean, he just seems like such a jerk.”
“He�
��s just… different,” I try to explain. Although at the same time, I feel that doubt creep back inside my soul as I worry that Damien isn’t being honest with me – that ultimately, he’s just going to move on to the next pretty girl who turns his head.
“You don’t need to explain, Etta. It’s the story of my life. Maybe I should start being the bad guy for a change.”
“No Aaron. You don’t have a mean bone in your body. Don’t talk like that.”
He shrugs a little and looks the other way, squinting into the sun.
“Are you angry with me?” I ask after a while, worried about our friendship.
“No. Never. We’ll always be friends Etta.”
“I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear you say that,” I breathe.
We sit together quietly for a moment longer, neither of us really knowing what to say.
“Well,” he starts, breaking the silence. “I did come around here feeling guilty, prepared to take you to a movie to apologise… it’s still on the table if you want to go with me? I just don’t feel bad anymore so… I reckon you should buy the ice creams.”
Laughing, I nod, relieved that he isn’t going to let my dating Damien get in the way of what we have. “Yeah, I think I can handle that.”
***
“So have you done much about that research assignment? I’ve got all these papers to read through, and I have no idea what I’m going to do with them all,” Aaron tells me, as we leave the movie theatre.
“No, I’ve been so caught up with my birthday, and the move that I haven’t done much at all.”
“You want to come and go through my stuff? It might give you some ideas on what you want to do,” he suggests.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind that actually,” I respond, climbing into the passenger seat of his Lancer.
For a moment I just sit there, wondering what the pinging noise is when he puts the key in the ignition. “You need to do your seatbelt up,” he reminds me.
“Oh!” I exclaim, laughing at myself inwardly – how easy it is to get used to having someone do things for you.
Once we reach his apartment block, I can’t help but notice the music coming from Damien’s place. I know that he’s working, so I do my best to keep myself from knocking on the door. But I really want to see what’s going on in there.
Drawn Page 14
