Breathe Into Me (24 page)

Those feelings didn’t last long though because as soon as he withdrew to the point that I couldn’t take it anymore, he pushed right back in. It was faster and harder than the first time but it was nowhere near slamming like he talked about. It was just right, just enough to make my toes curl and a sound to tear from my throat that I had never heard before.

He did it again, the slow pull out and the fast thrust in. My breathing was becoming uneven and I was sure at any moment I would hyperventilate from my erratic breathing pattern. But I couldn’t stop, and I didn’t want him to stop.

My hands were still on his back and I could feel his skin becoming sticky and then slick. He was sweating and he was trembling. I knew he was holding back from what he really wanted to do for my sake, but I wanted more. I was right at that point where I knew what was coming, but it just wasn’t enough to make me fall over the edge yet. So out of instinct I took Kane’s earlobe into my mouth, lightly caressing it with my tongue before giving it one hard suck and then a bite and that was all it took.

Kane grunted as his thrusts became erratic, faster, and harder … it was just what I needed. I pulled my knees high up around his hips as my orgasm rocketed through my body. I could feel my insides bearing down on him. Gripping him and squeezing him because it knew that it didn’t want to let him go either, like it was trying to hold on to Kane and keep here there forever.

His name tore from my throat, out into the open air and echoed throughout the field. With one final thrust Kane threw his head back and roared, releasing himself inside me before his body collapsed on top of mine.

I had already come down from my high and I took the time to rub slow circles on his back while he composed himself. When his breathing had finally become normal, he looked at me. I couldn’t contain the huge grin that was on my face, and after seeing my smile the same huge dimple-sinking grin that I loved so much appeared on his face.

I started giggling for no reason. I guess I was just so happy at that moment I didn’t know what else to do. “Kane that was … that was…”

“Unbelievable,” he finished for me.

“Yes. Unbelievable.” I smiled and he kissed each of my cheeks, my forehead and then my lips. His cool lip ring touching the heated skin of my face each time he did.

When he stopped kissing me I just looked at him and I was struck with a certainty—one I wasn’t ready to say to him, but I knew in my heart—that I was falling in love with Kane Riley. But as happy as I was about that … it also scared the life out of me.

Kane helped me slip my dress back on. I had to go braless and panty-less since they were still soaking wet from our swim. I was thankful we had taken a truck out here tonight. I couldn’t imagine how horrible the ride home on the back of a motorcycle would be. But after what had just happened I wonder if I would have really minded.

I was still flying high when Kane pulled the truck back onto the main road. Neither of us had spoken much but neither of us could hide the smiles on our faces either. We were both casting secret glances at each other across the cab of the truck until Kane’s hand latched onto my thigh, pulling me across the seat to sit next to him.

“That’s better.” He winked at me and interlaced our fingers before bringing them up to his lips.

So much had changed in such a short time. A few months ago I couldn’t wait to get out of my home town, get away from the place that held the darkest memories that I thought would swallow me up and drag me down, holding me in their darkness forever. Finally away from that place, I was learning to breathe again. Learning to be myself again.

This would make my mom happy. She wouldn’t have wanted me to live out the rest of my life the way I had been living—well, living probably wasn’t the right word—the way I had been
existing
these past six years. I glanced at Kane through my lashes, my mom would have loved him. She would have loved the tattoos and probably even the piercing because it showed he didn’t care what others thought of him. That he did things because he wanted to. That he wasn’t afraid of what people thought. She wanted to be that way … she just found herself in a situation that she couldn’t get out of without there being repercussions that she would never be able to live with.

Sharing custody of me with my dad, her not being able to protect me if he were to ever try to abuse me the way he had her, was not an option to her. So my mom staying in an abusive relationship protected me, in a weird way.

Kane cleared his throat, jarring me from my thoughts. “I know I said I would take you back to the dorms, but I’m not ready to say goodbye to you yet. It’s fine if you don’t want to, but would you like to spend the night at my place? I will take you back to the dorms first thing in the morning if that’s what you want but I just want to hold you tonight. I want you in
my
bed,
with
me.” He glanced at me to see if I was considering this, but, really, what was there to consider? I was already dreading the goodbye when he dropped me off. The thought of spending the night in his arms sounded like the perfect way to end this perfect day.

“Yes.” I enthusiastically nodded my head. “I would love to spend the night with you.”

I smiled when I heard the engine rev a little louder, obviously he was speeding up a little to hurry and get us home.

We pulled into the parking lot of Shot’s and Kane cut the engine. He opened his door and held out his hand for me. I slid across the seat, careful so that my dress didn’t ride up too high. I was, after all, going commando at the moment. We held hands as we made our way to the stairs that lead to his apartment.

When we made it to the door Kane bent down and picked something up. I then realized it was the leftovers Emma had sent home with him that he had asked Landon to drop off, which reminded me I needed to call Jessi and let her know I wouldn’t be back to the dorm tonight. Kane let go of my hand to pull a small, silver key from his pocket and slid it in the lock. After a little twist he pushed open the door and motioned for me to step in ahead of him.

Everything was black; there was no light at all, not even one of those little plug-in night lights. I heard the door close behind me then a click. The room lit up and I turned to see Kane with his finger still on the light switch.

“Well, this is my place.” He nodded toward the open room.

I turned and took it all in. It wasn’t bad. It had an open floor plan. There was a long bar that separated the kitchen from the living room and I could tell the kitchen had been recently updated. It had dark granite countertops and sleek stainless steel appliances. The walls were painted a cool electric blue and was accented with black throw rugs and vases.

I bet Emma helped him decorate. It was too put together for a bachelor pad. The living room had a large flat screen TV hanging from the center of the wall and a dark leather U-shaped couch sat across from it. Again there were accents of burnt orange throw pillows and a bowl of orange and brown globes that sat in the middle of the coffee table in front of the couch. Now I was certain Emma had her way with decorating. What guy would think to buy that?

I stood there, not really sure what to do next. I had never spent the night with a guy before so I didn’t know protocol on these sort of things. Did I just go sit on the couch and get comfortable? Did I wait for him to offer me a seat? Since I didn’t know, I just stood there like a huge idiot.

Kane walked around me and into the kitchen. He began pulling the left overs out of the bag and placing them in the fridge. “If you’re hungry I can heat some of this up for you.” He peeked around the fridge door at me. I shook my head no and continued to stand there taking in the rest of the apartment.

Directly in front of me I could see a very small hall and what looked like three closed doors. I guess that’s where the bedroom and bathroom were. Speaking of bathrooms, I really needed to pee. Clearing my throat I asked, “Can I use your bathroom?” Well, that came out a little dumber than I thought. Of course I could use his bathroom. If was going to be staying here all night, I’m pretty sure I would have to use it sometime throughout the next few hours.

Kane didn’t seem to notice the stupidity in my question. He only came around the bar and took my hand. “It’s right over here. Hey, do you want to take a shower? Wash some of that pond water off? You can wear my clothes and I will throw yours in the wash.”

A shower actually sounded like heaven right now so I nodded.

Kane showed me where the bathroom was and I took one look in the mirror and just about face palmed. My hair was a mess! It was actually sticking up on the left side like I had stuck my finger in a light socket. How could I not notice that my hair looked this bad? How could Kane not laugh every time he looked at me? I was trying to get my fingers through my unruly hair when Kane came back into the bathroom with some folded clothes in his hands.

“These will probably swallow you, but at least they are clean. I will have your clothes washed in no time though.”

I smiled and took the soft cotton shirt and boxers from his hands. “Thank you.”

Kane smiled and lightly flicked his lip ring with his tongue. The sight of that one simple move had my belly fluttering and I quickly turned to set the clothes down on the sink.

“Well, I will let you get to it then. I’ll be right in the living room if you need anything. All the soaps and shampoos are in there.”

I turned back around to look at him and could see a sly smile on his face. Did he know what the lip ring did to me? Was he doing it on purpose? I had no time to ask—not that I was sure I would—before he stepped back out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

I sat down on the closed toilet lid and tried to compose myself. It was a good thing he left when he did because had he still been playing with that lip ring when I turned back around, I probably would have drug him in the shower with me.

I couldn’t believe I was spending the night and that I would also be spending the night in his arms. Speaking of spending the night, I really needed to call Jessi. I got up and walked over the countertop where I had laid my cell. It had been on silent and the screen was already lit up with two texts. The first from Jessi.

Trying to wait up for you! Where the hell are you?! I want to know what happened. Text me back bitch!

The next one was a bit of a surprise. It was from Nate.

Still on for meeting to work on the project in the morning? Let me know, I’ll bring coffee.

Shit.
I had forgotten all about meting up with Nate tomorrow. That meant Kane would have to take me back to school a little earlier then I thought. I tapped out a quick response to Nate letting him know we were still on and that he could bring me whatever he was having. I got an almost immediate response back from him saying he would be at the library at nine.

I decided to call Jessi instead of texting her. There was so much I wanted to tell her and I didn’t think my fingers would keep up. After one ring, she picked up.

“Spill it, hooker! Where the hell are you?! You are never out later than me.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m at Kane’s. I won’t be coming back tonight so you don’t have to wait up.”

The high-pitched squeal she let out had me holding the phone away from my ear. It was so loud I wasn’t sure that Kane didn’t hear it all the way in the living room.

“I knew it! You’re going to have sex aren’t you?!”

I bit my lip and ran my finger back and forth across the counter top. “About that,” I paused then looked up at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look any different did I? I sure felt different, but I still looked like me … but I wasn’t a virgin anymore. I felt like there should be some neon sign above my head flashing ‘she swiped her v-card, folks!’ But there was no sign, just me. Just Kelsey, but I knew I was different. That fact was evident from the dull ache I still had between my legs. The ache that was the reminder that Kane had been there.

“We kind of already did…”

There was silence on her end before another squeal. “Oh my God! Kelsey! How could you not tell me right after it happened? Where did it happen? When?! How was it?! I bet it was good. Kane looks like he would be good. Tell me, does he have piercings anywhere else?”