by Terry Towers
“Ahh, no.” He lined up his shot, took it and sank the 8 ball, winning the round. “I want to at least meet this chick that you seem so working up over. I’ll be honest, the fact you met a hot girl on the internet seems rather far-fetched to me. I want to see the proof for myself.”
Reed began grabbing the balls from the pockets to begin racking them up again when he saw her enter. He could feel the dorky grin spreading across his lips and was powerless to stop it. 24 hours had passed since they parted ways at the park and there had barely been a minute that he hadn’t thought of her, even his dreams had been consumed with her.
She stopped just inside the entranceway and scanned the pool hall until she spotted him and gave a wave as she proceeded towards him. He watched his intently watching the way her hips swayed with each step under the thin fabric of the knee length black skirt she was wearing. His eyes moved up to the red blouse unbuttoned just enough to give him a hint of what to expect underneath the fabric. To his dismay an erection began to form watch from watching her.
She’s going to think I’m some sort of sex-starved fucking pervert, I can’t even be near her without being hard.
He gave Corey a swat on the shoulder. “Okay, man. Game over. Beat it.”
“Wow. I was wrong. Shit, if chicks like that are on the internet then maybe I need to take a crack at it.”
Reed laughed. “Problem is they usually get to know you first online and I doubt you’d make it to the first date.”
Corey laughed with him. “Prick.”
As she approached, she hesitated a moment a dubious look on her face, no doubt considering what type of greeting would be appropriate. Taking her out of her misery and perhaps being a little forward, although he didn’t care, Reed put down the pool cue and slipped his arms around her, pulling her in tight to him despite the fact she’d feel his erection. Fuck it if she did.
“Would it sound desperate and stalkerish if I told you I’d missed you,” he whispered into her ear so Corey couldn’t hear before regrettably pulling away. He could see the disappoint in her eyes as he pulled away and it made him feel damned good.
She gave him a saucy little grin. “Little bit. But I feel the same way.”
He’d almost forgotten Corey was still there, until the sound of someone loudly clearing his throat from behind, reminded him. turning and stepping aside he motioned towards Corey. “This would be my roommate Corey.”
She took a step back and eyed first Reed, then Corey and then back to Reed. “Wow, you two look a lot alike.”
“Yeah, we get that a lot.”
Corey slung his arm around Reed’s shoulder. “Yeah, when we were Freshmen we’d tell chicks we were brothers. Seems chicks and their friends love dating brothers.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she cocked a brow at Reed. “You did that huh?”
Reed shot Corey a glare. “Look, change of plans, let’s get out of here. Corey can pick up the tab.” He turned back to Corey and gave him a pat on the back. “Right pal.”
Corey jaw clenched. “Yeah, would love to.”
“Good.” Grinning, Reed slipped an arm around Chloe’s waist and escorted her from the pool hall, a little quicker than necessary. Corey had lots of shit on him and would be more than happy to share it with Chloe. Since this relationship, if that was what it was, was so new he was determined to make a great impression. She seemed to think he really was the Prince Charming she’d been praying for and he didn’t want that to change. Corey telling her all the stupid shit he’d done over the past few years certainly wouldn’t paint a wonderful picture. He’d appear like every other dick she’d encountered and dammit he wanted to be better than that for her.
“You seemed to be trying to get me out of there pretty quick?”
Reed looked down at her as they walked across the parking lot towards his car. She was eyeing him intently, but an amused smile played on her lips. “If you get him talking we’ll be there all night, and maybe I want you to myself tonight.”
“Nice save.” She said laughing. “What does he have on you?”
“More than I’d like.” Reaching his car, he opened the door for her and motioned for her to get in. “I’ll bring you back for your car later.”
She placed a hand on his chest, refusing to enter the vehicle. “Just wait a second. I want to know a secret. Something he has on you. It can’t be any worse than some of the stupid crap you did when we were kids.”
“Don’t be so sure.” Reed thrust a hand into his hair. “Come on. It’s just stupid, embarrassing things really.” He motioned a second time for her to enter.
She leaned against the door, refusing to budge a wide smile on her lips. She was enjoying his discomfort. “Secret first. Or maybe I should go find Corey…” She pushed off of the door and started to walk past him.
Grabbing her wrist, he stopped her in her tracks. “No. Wait. You win. Get in the car and I’ll share a secret.” He cocked a brow at her. “Happy?”
Spinning back around she planted a kiss on his cheek and then slipped inside of the car. “Very.”
~*~*~*~
Chloe watched Reed through the windshield as he walked around the front of the car and slipped into the driver’s side.
“So, spill. A secret and not some silly nonsensical one. I want a juicy one.”
He slumped back into his head and sighed. “Fine. I dated a girl who was insanely religious and was a virgin, so I told her I was one too thinking she’d sleep with me quicker. I was twenty-one, hadn’t been a virgin for a while.”
“Did she believe you?”
Reed chuckled and slipping the key into the ignition and starting the car. “Nope. She broke up with me. Apparently I was sent to her by God to tempt her.” He huffed, rolling his eyes. “Yeah.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. “So how old were you?”
He opened his mouth and snapped it shut. “twenty.”
A roar of laughter exploded from her. “Bullshit.”
“What?”
“I know for a fact you fucked Andrea Lawson in the woods behind the high school when you were 16.”
Reed’s brow furrowed as he shut off the car. “How do you know that?”
“Are you kidding? Andrea has such a big mouth. Everyone in town knew that.”
“You were only twelve, how did you find out?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I was twelve, not stupid. Information trickles down.”
“Oh…” He leaned forward to turn the car back on and then stopped. “Alright, fair is fair. What about you?”
Her smile faded. “What about me what?” It was fun hearing him confess, but not so fun when the tables were turned.
“When was your first?”
Chloe looked down at the purse sitting in her lap and began to tinker with the golden chain strap.
“Have you?”
The intensity of his stare made her even more uncomfortable. She didn’t want him to think she was some unexperienced little girl. But if things were to progress, he’d know anyhow. “I’ve never actually. Its not to say I haven’t experienced other stuff, but the actual… sex. Not so much.” She lifted her eyes to see him smiling, not a contradictory smile but one of reassurance.
“That’s good because being the ex-older-stepbrother I would feel the need to kick the ass of whoever took the virtue of my ex-young-stepsister.”
Their eyes locked a minute, the with a burst of laughter Chloe swatted him in the chest with her clutch. “You’re such an idiot. Just take me on this date you planned already.”
Joining in with her laughter he started the car and pulled out onto the road. Despite her questions he refused to tell her where he was taking her for their mystery date, but that was okay by her, they could be spending the evening in complete silence staring at a blank wall and she’d be perfectly alright with that, just being with him was all she needed.
~*~*~*~
“You know how to salsa?” She gave him a skeptical look as they entered the c
lub and peered down over the metal railing at the dance floor where close to a hundred couples were grinding against each other in time with the music.
“Nope.” Grabbing her hand he led her down the stairs.
“Then why are we here?”
He look down at her and shrugged. “It was an idea. Depending on how this works out it may or may not have been a good one.”
They stood on the sidelines for a song. Glancing up at Reed, Chloe grinned, he was watching the couples with intensity as if studying the moves. She suspected that might actually have been the case. Despite his antics, he was an overachiever.
“Alright. We can do this,” he stated pulling her onto the dance floor. Once they were dead in the center of the dance floor he twirled her around pulled her back up against his front and into his arms just as the song switched over to a soft, sultry melody.
Leaning her head back against his shoulder, Chloe closed her eyes and allowed the music to flow through her. Her body moved with and against his. It didn’t take long for her to feel the emergence of an erection pressing at her bottom. His hands slid to her lower abdominals, pulling her bottom tight against him. Her arousal increased with each second that passed.
Chloe reach up behind her and slid her hand behind his neck as she turned her face to him. “Now I’m starting to understand why we’re here.”
Reed looked down at her and grinned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” But the amusement mixed with desire dancing in his blue eyes betrayed him.
She couldn’t help but smile back. “Liar.”
He slid his hand up her body to her chin and tilted her face up as he lowered his lips to hers. As their lips met, his hand on her stomach snaked it way under the waistband of her skirt stopping just as he reached her mound. She moaned against his lips, wanting him to move lower and wanting him to stop at the same time. There were so many people around them, anyone could see, but none seemed to be paying them any attention. Each couple was enthralled in their own partners attention.
Reed’s lips left hers and his hand slipped back to her stomach when the song changed, this time a faster song. Chloe groaned inwardly, she didn’t want to leave the pleasure of his arms quite yet.
“Ready?” Reed asked, taking her hand in his opposite one.
Chloe didn’t have a chance to respond before he gave her hand a tug, spinning her out and away from him and then pulling her back. Giggling Chloe did her best to keep up with him.
“I thought you said you didn’t know how to salsa.”
He winked and pulled her back into his arms. “I’m a quick learner.”
As the night wore on and Chloe’s feet began to hurt from dancing in her heels all night she found herself surprised at just how well he adapted. They certainly weren’t the best dancers, but they managed, mostly due to whatever dance God blessed Reed that night.
Chapter 4
“Are you sure I’m allowed to be here?” Chloe asked as Reed led her through the back door of his dorm building. It had been five days since they had their first date at the park and they’d had as many dates. Normally she didn’t care to be smothered by someone she was dating. A couple dates a week was more than enough, but this was different. She couldn’t get enough of being with him and he didn’t hide the fact that he felt the same way.
He looked back at her and winked. “Nah, you’re not, it’s after hours, that’s why we’re sneaking in the back way.” The door closed silently behind them and they made their way up a flight of stairs to the second floor.
“It’s the weekend, won’t someone be up and about?”
“It’s a long weekend so most of the people are gone. Of the ones left, the college bar doesn’t close for another hour, most of the guys stay till the very end and many hook up so don’t make their way back until morning. Sometimes, depending on how wild of a weekend they had it may not be till Sunday night.”
They stopped at the door that led into the corridor of the second floor. Reed opened it and peered inside. “It’s clear, come on and be quiet.”
They rushed into the corridor and three doors down and to the left was his room. He had the key out and inserted it as they reached the door, unlocking it and unceremoniously rushing her inside. Closing and locking it behind them.
“What if I have to use the washroom?”
“Our room has a private washroom and shower. It’s tiny, but better than having to share with the rest of the floor.” He flicked the light on and the room, which contained two beds, two desks and two closets lit up. “We also have a small kitchen.”
Chloe took the tour which lasted less than a minute, grateful she and Abagail had decided to get an apartment off campus. “Why are you in a dorm? Why not an apartment like Abagail and I?”
“I came here on a sports scholarship which included housing in the dorm.” He shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea. Each year my scholarship is renewed and so I just never bothered to go off-campus. Less expense means I can spend more time studying and can manage off the money I make as a teaching aid.” He sat down on the bed which she assumed to be his and patted the empty area beside him.
She started towards him when she noticed an easel in the cover of the room holding a painting which was covered in a sheet and a pallet of paint sitting on the wooden stool in front of it. “Is this yours?” She walked over to it and pulled the sheet off of the painting before he had a chance to respond. To her disappointment the painting was blank.
“It’s mine.”
“That amazing, you’re still painting and sketching.” She spun around to face him. “Where’s you’re sketch book?” As soon as she asked, she noticed the book hanging on the back of the easel.
“Chloe. Ah…”
Not giving him a chance to protest she grabbed it from the peg, opened it and began flipping through it. He’d always been so secretive about his sketching when they were kids. She used to sneak into his room when she knew he was gone for the afternoon and wouldn’t be caught just to get a peek at what he was working on.
Walking across the room while scanning through the pictures, all beautifully drawn she reached the last picture as she came to a stop before him and her mouth dropped open. When she looked up to catch his eyes she noticed his face had begun to flush.
“When did you do this?” She looked down at the picture of herself, from the shoulders up. Although the Chloe in the picture was much sexier than she was in person, at least in her mind.
“When I got home the night of our park date. I couldn’t get to sleep so I started messing around. It’s nothing.” He reached for the book, but she snatched it away from him before he could grab it from her.
“I don’t think I’m quite as sexy as I’m pictured here though.” She wasn’t fishing for compliments, the fact he actually thought she was worth sketching was flattery enough, but genuinely felt that way. She could be convinced that she was cute, but sexy… not so much.
“You really don’t believe that?”
When she looked up she saw the frown on his face and shrugged. “I’m not the sexy one. That’s Abagail.”
He stood up and took the sketch pad from her as he slipped a hand to the back of her head and lowered his lips to hers. His kiss was soft, but there was a hint of restrained passion. She sighed against his lips, smiling as returned his kiss, as their kiss grew more passionate, she didn’t even notice he’d twirled her around so she was the one next to the bed, him standing before her.
“Then let me prove it to you.”
She crinkled her nose at him. “How?”
“Let me sketch you.”
She looked down at the pad. “You already did.”
He tossed the pad onto the end table next to the bed and began to undo the buttons of her blouse. Her heart began to thump in her chest as button after button came away and he pushed the blouse off of her shoulders and tossed it onto Corey’s bed.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Of course.” She didn’t
even have to think about it.
“Then let me show you how stunning you are to me.”
She chewed at her lower lip as he unzipped the back of her skirt and let it fall to her feet, leaving her in her white lace bra and panties. “What if Corey comes home?”
“He sent me a text, he’s gone for the night,” Reed murmured as he lowered his head to the side of her neck and gently brushed his lips along the side of her neck. Chloe moaned softly, clutching to his bi-ceps and the desire flared up within her. “It’s just us.”
His hands slipped to her back and with a quick flick of the wrist undid the clasp and slowly slipped her bra straps down exposing her breasts. Reed took a step back his eyes slowly lowering to her chest. “You’re breasts are incredible.”
Her body trembled – a combination of desire and nervousness. “Th-thank you.”
A concerned look crossed his face. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You’re so beautiful, I just want to sketch you. Just say the word and we stop, okay?”
Chloe nodded. “Okay.” She wanted to be bold, but she was trembling inside. She wanted to be that sexy woman he saw he as, even if she didn’t quite believe it herself. “I’m okay.”
Reed crouched before her and placed a kiss on her stomach as his thumbs hooked into the waistband of her panties and tugged them down. She stepped out of them and watched him open the nightside table drawer and place them inside. She suspected she wasn’t getting them back. When he kissed her mound she gasped and started to jump back, but he held her in place, moving back up her body and planting a string of kisses up the front of her body as he stood. By the time his lips claimed hers again, she was a bundle of nerves and need clinging tightly to him and tempted to undress him as he did her.
“Why do you get to keep your clothes, but I don’t?” She asked as he released her and took a step back, his eyes travelling with appreciation up and down her body.
“Because I don’t need to be naked to sketch you.”
“You’re sketching me nude?”
He chuckled, his eyes taking a devious gleam. “Why else do you think I undressed you?”
