Just Me (16 page)

He joined me in the hall. “I didn't. That's what took me so long to get to your uncle's house. Dom let me pull out a bed he had in storage and helped me set it up.” He touched my cheek and added, “As much as I want you in my bed with me, I didn't want you to feel you had to: that there was no other option.”

And just when I thought it wasn't possible to love this boy any more, I am proven wrong.

“
I'm a very lucky girl.”

At my door, Bastian turned into me and lightly brushed his lips over mine. This was our first night together and I was eighteen, but we were both feeling a little off because of the events that led us here. I was still angry and so was Bastian. When we made love for the first time, I didn't want anything to taint the experience. One look at him and I knew he was thinking the same.

“
I'll see you in the morning, Bastian.”

“
Sweet dreams, beautiful.”

Closing the door quietly behind me, I headed to the bed. It was a very comfortable bed, but I laid there as the minutes ticked by because I couldn't seem to slip into sleep. I knew exactly why I wasn't falling asleep. This wasn't where I wanted to be. I may not want to have sex tonight, but I did want to feel Bastian next me. Climbing from bed, I moved across the hall before knocking lightly on his door.

When I entered, he was just flicking on his light: an action that made visible his dragon.

“
What's wrong?”

“
I really appreciate you and Dom setting up a room for me, but I want to sleep here with you.”

His eyes held mine as he pulled back the covers. It was all the invitation I needed. I slid in next to him as he pulled the covers up and shut off the light. Our bodies were pressed together from chest to thigh, my head resting on his shoulder. He held me so closely as if he never intended on letting me go.

“
Better?” I heard him whisper.

“
Perfect.”

I was having the most incredible dream…until I opened my eyes to find Bastian next to me—watching me—a slow smile spread over my face.

“
I wasn't dreaming.”

By the expression on his face, he had a similar experience when he woke. Turning on my side to fully face him¸ I touched him without consciously knowing I intended to. His inhale was audible and his body hummed under my fingertips. My eyes tracked the movement of my fingers before I moved my gaze back to his sizzling one.

“
I'm eighteen.”

He actually growled, deep in his throat. “We have school.”

“
Um.” Was my only thought on that as I leaned over and kissed his chest. With almost superhuman speed he moved on top of me and I had only a second to see the raw lust, which turned his features harsher, before his mouth took mine. The kiss was hot and slightly out of control, so I was surprised when he managed to pull himself together enough to move away from me: going so far as to climb out of the bed. He realized his mistake when my eyes moved down his bare body to the boxer briefs he wore. I hardly recognized my voice when I all but purred, “That is so not helping.”

“
Brat.”

My eyes traveled back to his face to see a combination of desire, humor and frustration there.

“
As much as the idea of spending the entire day with you in this room appeals to me on every single level, we have school. Missing school the day after we first move in together will have the adults thinking too much and worrying. I don't want any reason for anyone to try to take you away from me so as much as I want you, we have to wait for a better time.”

He was right, of course, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow because at the moment, all I wanted was him. I dropped back down on my back and moaned, “I hate when you make sense.”

And then he pounced, caging my body with his own as he kissed me like it was his job.

“
After school, though, is another matter.” He lowered his head to nuzzle my neck before he whispered. “And I can't wait.”

“
Holy hell.” I muttered, Bastian chuckled before he pressed a kiss to my mouth. He climbed out of bed and looked back at me from over his shoulder.

“
Stop lazing about, we've got to get to school.” He started for the bathroom and I just stared my fill. Stopping in the doorway, he turned his head so I could see the wicked grin that curved his lips. “The sooner we get to school, the sooner we get home.”

Yup, he couldn't have found any more inspiring words to get me out of bed. In under ten minutes, I was waiting at the door.

***

As soon as we arrived at school, we were called into the principal's office. He didn't look thrilled to be having the conversation: the one about how he understood it wasn't really his business since we were legal, but if our business outside of school began to affect our school life it would become his problem. How he knew that Bastian and I were living together, I didn't know. It was an awkward conversation, to say the least, but we managed to survive it. The principal appeared more uncomfortable about the whole thing than Bastian and me.

At lunch later in the day, Shawn patted my shoulder. “I never liked your aunt. I'm sorry she did that to you.”

“
Thanks, Shawn, but I'm fine. I'm thrilled with my new living arrangements.”

Poppy knew me so well that she understood I didn't really want to talk about my aunt. She changed the subject. “What's the plan for Saturday?”

She caught my smile of thank you and replied by winking at me.

“
I've booked a car to take us into the city and home again. It's scheduled to arrive at...” Bastian looked at me and smiled, “our apartment at four.” I got all warm and gooey at him calling the apartment ours. But wait—this was the first time he had divulged any information at all about my birthday surprise.

“
New York City?” I asked for clarification.

“
Manhattan.” He confirmed.

“
Tyler and I will go to Poppy's so you can pick us up there.” Sophia offered.

“
I think maybe Lark should come to my house too, so we can all get ready together. Mom and Dad have something they want to give you, Lark.”

“
Perfect.” Bastian said before he started to eat his lunch.

“
That's it?” I asked.

“
Yup.” He looked so cocky.

“
Not fair,” came out in more of a whine than I intended.

***

I brooded over Bastian's evasiveness for the next few periods and while I changed for gym. What was he planning? Kira must have seen me space out, because she started over to me.

“
Is it true you are living with Bastian?”

How the hell did she find out about that? “Yes, I am.”

She reacted like I slapped her. “He deserves better than you, surely you must know that.”

“
What, someone like you with the pedigree even though you're vindictive and shallow?”

Shock flashed over her face. “I'm not shallow.”

“
Yes, you are. You walk the halls like a goddamn queen. You degrade anyone who you deem isn't on your level and, let's face it, that's practically the entire school to you. It’s always all about you. You, Kira, are the definition of shallow. I may not have money or family, but I love him; I love everything about him and his needs will always come first, even above my own.”

“
His parents must really hate you—you actually have a backbone.” She turned from me and started away.

My voice stopped her. “You really have feelings for him.”

She didn't look back at me when she answered, “Yes, always did, but I knew he didn't respond.” Glancing back at me, she added, “When I saw the look he gave you, the look I always secretly hoped he would give me, I knew you were it for him. What is it about you that pulls at him so?”

“
I don't know, but I feel it for him too.”

Without another word, she turned and left the locker room.

***

After gym I went to art class in search of Ms. Whitney and found her at her desk.

“
I want the scholarship,” I said in way of greeting.

“
Excellent. I'll notify the committee this afternoon.”

“
Thanks.”

“
Lark, I'm sorry about what happened. I knew there was discord at home, but I didn't realize how bad it was.”

“
How does everyone know about it?” I asked a bit miffed.

“
Your uncle came into the school earlier. He wanted the administration to know what happened and to inform them that he stands behind your living arrangements one hundred percent.”

My annoyance instantly faded. Go, Uncle Eddie.

“
I should have seen it and done something. I'm sorry I failed you.”

“
You didn't fail me—you gave me art.”

“
I'm glad you're taking advantage of this opportunity in Maine, you won't be sorry.” She said.

“
No, I won't.”

***

After school I headed to my locker only to find Bastian waiting. We were heading home to our empty apartment and the idea of that had my body instantly warming. “We can just go home, there's no pressure,” Bastian said.

And with those thoughtful words, the nervousness fled. I lifted my head to his and knew my answer was stamped clearly on my face. He looked positively edible.

As soon as we got back to the apartment, I dropped my stuff on the sofa and turned to see that Bastian hadn't moved further than the door. As I studied his face, I realized something.

“
Why are
you
nervous?”

He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and looked almost sheepish when he said, “I've never wanted anything more.”

He couldn't have said anything more perfect and with those simple words my shyness dissolved. I walked across the room and wrapped my arms around him before my mouth found his. He framed my face as he tilted my head and kissed me so deeply it caused my stomach to feel all jittery. His hands moved, to roam down my neck over my back until he was cupping my ass and pressing me hard against him. A slow tension started to build deep inside me and with it I felt achy, almost needy.

My hands moved over him, branding him, claiming him as they followed the corded muscles of his back. Bastian pulled his mouth from mine to find the delicate skin under my jaw, causing the ache in my stomach to spike. I reached for his tee and pulled it up over his head. Stepping back, I just devoured the sight of him until the need to taste him had me doing so, my lips brushing over his chest. When my shirt followed his, I might have whimpered, because the sensations coursing through me were so new and wildly exciting. He touched my bare stomach and I moaned in response.

Bastian looked like I felt, wild and barely in control, when he lifted me into his arms and carried me down the hall to the bedroom. I went boneless when he placed me down in the center of the bed. He stood there looking like some pagan god. He asked in a rough voice, “Are you sure?”

All I could think about was I was going to have sex for the first time and I was going to be doing so with this Adonis-like creature. I had given a great deal of thought to my first time, well, more so recently, in all honesty. So I expected the nerves, the excitement, even the fear, but what I was completely unprepared for was the boldness that came over me. I wanted this boy, wanted him in a way which was both foreign to me and so very strong.

Moving to the edge of the bed, I kneeled in front of him. He held himself completely still while I took the moment to really appreciate his ridiculously beautiful body. His arms were flexed making his tattoos seem almost animated and his dragon was positioned in such a way that my eyes were drawn to the individual muscles of his abs. I had always thought abs like his were airbrushed in magazines for effect, but, oh no, I was so wrong.

He had to be feeling the range of emotions I was, but instead of pouncing, he waited patiently, allowing me to grow more comfortable. Heat burned in his eyes and he fisted his hands to keep from reaching for me.

He watched and waited as I pressed my mouth to his chest. My lips lingered over his heart, which was beating hard and fast, before I trailed kisses down his chest toward the waistband of his jeans. He inhaled sharply when my tongue darted out and dipped into his navel.

He lifted me up to him as his hands pulled through my hair, fisting it just at my nape to hold my head steady, before he plunged right in: sealing his mouth over mine. Even though my eyes were closed, they still rolled into the back of my head. We tumbled backward onto the bed, which drew a laugh from me and to think I could laugh at a moment when every nerve in my body was heating to a combustible level was amazing.

Bastian's body was being cradled by mine; his arms were holding him up so he could look down at me. It was only love and anticipation I felt then. He clearly read my thoughts when I saw the smile that cracked over his face seconds before his mouth covered mine.

His lips glided over my collarbone and down to the swells of my breasts. I didn't realize his fingers were on my bra clasp until he flicked it open. Heat and lust burned in his gaze before his head lowered and he touched his tongue to me. I felt that all the way down to my toes. And when he sucked me into his mouth, I lifted up and offered him more as I grabbed his head and held him there. He moved his mouth lower, pressing kisses down my belly, until he reached my jeans. His head lifted and his eyes were so dark just as his fingers worked at the button. Moments later he was pulling the zipper down. His fingers curling at my waist, as he peeled my jeans and panties down my legs, had me feeling almost desperate to feel him inside me. I was completely naked, spread out on the bed like some sacrifice, and Bastian looked his fill.