Take It

by Francesca Penn

  “I thought you got lost.” She patted the couch next to her inviting him to sit.

  “No. I washed my face.”

  She nodded. “I did, too; it sucks smelling like Chinese food. Hit that switch right there, please.”

  He turned off the light, and everything was dark except for the glow of the television. He swallowed his nerves and sat down next to her. She scooted next to him and shared her blanket. He could feel the heat radiating from her body, and his heart started to beat faster. She laid her head on his shoulder and pressed play on the movie.

  She still smelled wonderful, and Nick fought the urge to sniff her. He was semi-erect but tried to focus on the movie. They were twenty minutes into the movie, and he had yet to hear anything Jason or any character said. All his awareness and senses were hijacked by Kalilah; the rise and fall of her chest, the way her hair tickled his neck, the sound of her breathing, the warmth of her hand on his thigh.

  Kalilah sat up and looked at him. “Just do it already, Nick.”

  “Huh?” He looked at her surprised. Was he that obvious?

  Kalilah shook her head. “Never mind.”

  She pushed the blanket to the floor and straddled his lap. He was practically eye level with her nipples. She took off his glasses and put them on the end table next to his keys. He held his breath, afraid to move. If this was a dream, he prayed he would stay sleep long enough to at least kiss her. She leaned in and kissed his lips.

  It was a gentle kiss. Her lips were softer than he imagined. His brain stopped working again. He was frozen. If someone would have told him last week that he would have this kind of contact with Kalilah, he would have called them a filthy liar. His brain kicked back into gear. He felt the warm tip of her tongue at the seam of his lips and instinct overrode thought.

  He grabbed her hips and pulled her closer to him to deepen the kiss. She locked her fingers in his hair and moaned into his mouth when his tongue found hers. Their tongues performed one of the oldest mating rituals as they slid across each other. Tasting and touching. She tasted like the chocolate mints she’d started eating after dinner.

  Nick needed to feel her skin. He slid his hands under her shirt and rested them on her naked sides. Her skin was velvet soft. His cock hardened more and begged for attention. Kalilah rocked her hips forward, grinding against his erection. They both moaned, and she took that moment to nibble on his neck. Nick held on as she assaulted his body with wonderful sensations.

  “Touch me, Nick,” She moaned between kisses. “Move your hands up or down – it doesn’t matter to me.” She nibbled on his earlobe to drive her message home. Nick slid his hands up her torso until his thumbs contacted her nipples. “Yes. Right there.” She murmured before nipping at his lips. Encouraged by her response to him, Nick began to rub her nipples slowly with him thumbs. She arched her back to give him better access.

  Nick didn’t just want to feel her. He wanted to see and taste her. He pulled her shirt off and threw it. He took his time looking at her, and she let him. He loved that she wasn’t self-conscious. Her lips were moist and swollen from his kisses; she was panting, and her perfect breasts were before him in all their glory.

  She didn’t move and allowed him to look his fill. They were full yet perky and topped with light brown nipples. One of his many questions about her was answered. He was in awe.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered in awe.

  For that moment, Nick’s insecurities floated away. He’d fooled around in the past. He knew all about foreplay. This he could do. He cupped her breasts with both hands; he licked her left nipple while he caressed the right. Then, he sucked her nipple into his hot mouth.

  “Oh, Nick…”

  She moaned. She fisted his hair and held his head closer. He was so busy making love to both of her breasts with his mouth that he didn’t notice that she’d unbuttoned his jeans until she pulled his dick out of his underwear. The cool air hit his hot, wet tip and sent shivers of pleasure up his spine. She wrapped her soft hand around it and rubbed the tip with her thumb. Nick almost exploded.

  “Ohhh...” he moaned helplessly.

  Things were moving too fast. He had to regain control, or he’d be coming all over her in seconds. He still had work to do. It took Herculean effort, but he was able to move her hand. She was about to protest, until he kissed her as a distraction, while he tucked his angry dick back in his boxer briefs.

  Nick slid his left hand up to the base of her skull and his right hand down into her shorts to cup her bare ass cheek. He was right; she wasn’t wearing any panties. He groaned. He pulled her hips forward, positioning her center directly over his dick while simultaneously pulling her head back to gain access to her neck. He tightened his grip, not allowing her to move while planted hot, open-mouth kisses on the side of her neck. He rolled his hips up, providing friction against her clit.

  “Oh, fuck,” she whimpered.

  “Potty mouth.” He teased between kisses.

  Nick sensed that all he had to do was move one more time, and she’d come. But, her hands were on the prowl again.

  Nick grabbed her ass cheeks with both hands, flipping and rotating her until she was lying on her back on the couch with him top of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He pinned her hands above her head and nibbled on her nipples. She was rotating her hips. Searching. He rolled his hips again to give her what she needed.

  “I…”

  She bit her bottom lip and Nick watched one of the most beautiful things he’d ever seen. Kalilah closed her eyes and her head fell back as her body shook from her orgasm. Her perfect lips formed an “O.” Nick loved how she responded to him, and he was proud to be able to give her pleasure.

  He wanted her badly, but her next words were the equivalent to someone throwing ice water on him.

  “You’re still fully dressed. Take off your clothes. I want to feel you skin to skin.”

  Nick stood up abruptly. “Uh. I actually have to leave. Sorry.”

  Kalilah sat up confused. Part of him really wanted to stay.

  “Nick?” He’d already grabbed his keys, put on his glasses, and shoved his feet back in his shoes. “Nick? Where are…”

  Nick closed the door before she could ask and practically ran to his car and drove off. He felt like a coward. He could not stand the idea of Kalilah seeing him naked. His body, pale and untoned against her perfect, tight body, would be a crime. He didn’t think she was the kind of person to laugh at him, but it would crush him to see her sweet gaze become disinterested because he didn’t look good naked. He knew he had to talk to her. He just couldn’t do it in the moment. He’d call her in the morning. Nick felt for his cell. Shit. He had to face the music sooner than he thought. He would see her in the morning.

  Chapter 8

  N ick had robbed Kalilah of another good night of sleep, and she couldn’t yell at him because he’d forgotten his phone. She recognized panic when she saw it. She had no idea what set him off, but she would find out. He did have to get his phone, after all. Then again, he is uber rich. He could buy a new phone just to avoid her.

  Kalilah bounced between several different emotions. She was hurt that he didn’t confide in her. Sad because he’d panicked; she would have stopped had she known he was overwhelmed. She was confused because he didn’t appear to be overwhelmed in the moment. After all, he was the one who eye-fucked her from the moment he arrived, took off her shirt, did wonderful things to her breasts, gotten on top of her, and gave her one of the best orgasms she’d had in a long time.

  He may be a virgin but he was on hell of a kisser. His make-out game was strong. She flushed at the memory. She remembered how he felt in her hand. No problems there either. What was it? Did she do something? She was still so hot and bothered after he’d left, she had to take a long cold shower.

  She gave up on sleep. She climbed out of bed and brushed her teeth. She went in her dresser, threw a thin cotton spaghetti strap nightgown on over her naked body, and he
aded to the kitchen to find breakfast. Her doorbell rang the moment she entered the kitchen. She looked at the clock. 7:30 AM. Kalilah took a deep breath to calm her nerves. The only person up this early on a Sunday morning was Nick.

  She swung the door open. His gray eyes roamed over her body in a heated glance. Her nipples hardened; she started to get wet and annoyed. She loved the way he looked at her. He cleared his throat.

  “Good morning. I know we need to talk.” He waved a bag from her favorite bakery in her face as a peace offering. She let him in. He kicked off his shoes and looked around. He tried to break the tension with a smile. “Do you ever wear clothes?”

  She glared at him. “Says the person still in his pajamas? Yup. Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6 AM to 6 PM.”

  He nodded. “Fair enough. Bolting was cowardly of me. I feel terrible.” His eyes were sad behind his glasses.

  Kalilah nodded, and something clicked. She knew there was an issue with his confidence, and this was beyond something he would have told himself. Someone else was involved in the equation somehow. She was still lost in her thoughts when he spoke.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  She looked at him. “I was thinking about you.”

  Nick smiled cautiously. “Well, here I am.”

  “Only because you forgot your phone.” He looked at the floor then back at her.

  “That’s not true. I needed a moment. I just didn’t handle it correctly.” His eyes searched her face for any sign of understanding.

  “Who was she, Nick?”

  Kalilah knew he knew exactly who she was talking about, but he didn’t appear to want to relive anything at that moment.

  “Who?”

  She stepped closer to him and put her hand on his cheek. “Who is the person who zapped your confidence?”

  “Well…”

  He closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek into her palm; the hair on his face tickled. She remembered how it felt on her breasts last night. She mentally slapped herself to focus. He opened his eyes and looked at her with a mixture of desire and defeat. She had an idea.

  “Come with me.”

  She grabbed his hand and led him to her bedroom. He interlocked his fingers with hers. She took it as an unspoken promise that he wasn’t going to bolt again. She pulled him into the room.

  “Lie down.” He looked around and at the door. She turned his face, forcing him to look her in the eyes. “You chose me for a reason. Now, trust me.”

  He acquiesced and climbed under her blanket, putting his glasses on the nightstand. She closed the door making it completely dark. She was grateful she’d purchased her blackout curtains yesterday and made her nosy sister help her hang them. She climbed in on the other side of him and snuggled against him. He wrapped his arm around her, and she laid her head on his chest. His heart was beating rapidly.

  “Take in a deep breath and let it out.” He did as he was instructed, and his heart slowed down a little. “Now. Talk.”

  He told her about the girls that would use him to get to Dex. Because Dex was the “attractive” brother. Then he talked about the girls that tried to be with him just to be in the Sinclair circle. He explained that he used to intentionally avoid sex because he didn’t want any fake pregnancies. Then he talked about Meg and how she was verbally abusive. Meg pissed Kalilah off more than she expected. She hated that Nick was treated badly by the one person with whom he had tried to build a relationship.

  “That’s not normal, Nick. She was a manipulative bitch.” Kalilah fumed in the dark. “There’s nothing wrong with you. You are kind, thoughtful, and smart. She’s full of shit.”

  She felt his chest rumble with laughter. His heart rate was steady, and he was relaxed. Well, most of him was relaxed. He turned so he was facing her. He rubbed her arm as he spoke.

  “Thank you for listening and not hating me because I left.”

  Nick’s voice was soft and sexy. His erection was sticking her in the hip. He was still rubbing her arm while grazing it with his nails, setting her nerves on fire. She didn’t have to see his face to know that he was doing it on purpose. He ran his hand from her thigh, up her gown, and rested it on her naked hip. His face was closer now. She could feel his breath on her check when he spoke.

  “Can you tell me why you never seem to have on panties?” His lips were a whisper away from hers.

  “Easy access and less laundry,” Kalilah said against his lips. She waited to see if he would close the distance between them.

  His soft lips nipped hers. “I’m not ready now, but I will be soon.” He tasted like mint. Their kiss was soft and leisurely. Nick explored her mouth like he’d never kissed her before. He slid his hand down to the back of her thigh and pulled her leg over his. He pulled her closer. His erection pressed against her belly. He broke the kiss and laughed.

  “My little friend has been under so much pressure lately.”

  Kalilah reached between them and found her target. He was big, hard, smooth, and wet. Nick moaned against her lips.

  “Let’s relieve some of the pressure.” Kalilah offered as she started to stroke him. She felt him tense and pull at his shirt. Then she remembered that he didn’t panic until she asked him to strip.

  “It’s dark in here, Nick. I can’t see you.”

  She felt him relax. She bit back a moan when he started to nip at her neck and shoulder.

  “That feels good,” he whispered.

  “What about this?” Kalilah pushed him on his back and straddled him. She slid her hand up his cock and back down slowly. She repeated the motion and added more pressure. With her other hand, she cupped his balls and squeezed him gently.

  Nick growled and grabbed her hips to sit up. He pulled her gown off and dropped it next to them. Kalilah felt the cool air flow over her body, and it heated her skin more. He slid his fingers up and down her back. His hands left a trail of fire. She arched against him begging for more contact. He obliged by sucking one of her nipples into his mouth; his facial hair causing friction on her sensitive flesh. She stroked him faster.

  “Ah...just like that.”

  He groaned before switching to her other breast. She felt Nick’s hands slide down her back and cup her ass cheeks. She shuddered when he squeezed and held her tighter.

  “Your…ass…is amazing,” he said between moans.

  Nick’s mouth found its way back to her throat and sucked. Kalilah ached for his touch. Her slick center throbbed and begged for attention. Her hips buckled involuntarily. She tried to ignore the ache and focus on Nick’s needs. As if hearing her thoughts, Nick’s hands grabbed her thighs and inched forward achingly slow. He rubbed his thumb down her slit. They moaned in unison.

  “So smooth…”

  He whispered. His thumb started to rub her in a circular motion. His middle finger rubbed up against her opening.

  “And wet…”

  Kalilah gasped when one, then two, fingers entered her. Her strokes became urgent as she ground against his fingers. The delicious friction was driving her crazy.

  “I…ah…”

  Nick moaned as his body tensed. He grabbed Kalilah’s gown with his free hand and covered his pulsing cock as he began to spurt out his warm essence.

  His fingers were more, insistent and Kalilah felt the pressure building in her body. She was close. She just needed…more.

  “Nick…”

  She pleaded. He understood and added more pressure to her sensitive button. She shook with pleasure as her orgasm tore through her.

  Nick held her tight as she shook and kissed her along her collarbone. Kalilah rolled off him and laid on her back. She was spent, and they didn’t have sex. She could only imagine how that would be. They were silent until their breathing returned to normal.

  “I’m glad my gown isn’t silk,” Kalilah quipped.

  “I’m sorry.” His voice was still husky. “If it was silk, I’d buy you three, and it will still be worth it.”

  Kalilah smi
led. “You’re lucky that it’s cotton. I can throw it in the wash.” Kalilah climbed out of bed. “Don’t move.”

  Nick snorted. “I couldn’t move if I wanted to.”

  Kalilah went into the bathroom and threw the gown in the laundry. She wet a cloth with warm, soapy water and went back to clean Nick up. He moaned at the contact.

  “I could get used to this.”

  Kalilah rolled her eyes. “Shut it. Now air dry. While I take a nap.”

  “A nap.” Nick scoffed. And looked at his digital watch. “It’s 8:45 in the morning.” Nick laughed.

  Kalilah swatted at him. “First, orgasms are draining. Second, I didn’t sleep well last night.” Kalilah didn’t mean to share the second part until it was already out of her mouth.

  Nick sobered. “I’m sorry. I will be a better friend. I promise.”

  Friend. Kalilah knew there weren’t a couple. She knew that he asked her to help him lose his virginity. She also knew that he hadn’t made any suggestions of them being together. But, it didn’t make it sting any less.

  She was worried about the sting. They’d only hung out for a week. Granted, they’d talked every day that week. She shook that rationalization out of her head. Seven days was seven days. Plus, it had only been two days since she’d accepted his proposition. She was getting too attached too fast; she needed to get some alone time and clear her head.

  Kalilah’s stomach growled loudly. Well, at least that was something she could control.

  “I’m going to get the food you brought.”

  She needed a little space from Nick, even if it was just for a few minutes.

  Nick relaxed in her bed and stared into the darkness. Nick didn’t know what caused it, but he noticed a shift in her mood. They’d just shared a wonderful experience, but she seemed more withdrawn. So far, this was not working in the direction he’d expected. He needed to find a way to keep her connected to him.