Always Beautiful (7 page)

Just then Zeppelin came wandering out from the hall. His hair was damp and he wore only a pair of dark jeans hanging low on his hips. I couldn’t help but take in his bare chest and chiseled stomach. I noticed a glint of something silver on the left side of his chest and swallowed roughly. Holy shit, he had his nipple pierced. He must not have worn it in the fight tonight. I didn’t recall seeing it last night either, but his tattoos had distracted me then.

I quickly looked away from him before anyone caught me staring, but I didn’t miss Hannah’s sly smile as she gazed at me. I rolled my eyes and turned to my cousin who stood across from me in front of the sink. “If you run your car, you have to be prepared to leave in a split second though.” He told me. I nodded. “I can handle that. Do a lot of people go to this thing?” I wondered. Tucker answered. “There’s usually a bigger turnout later in the summer. We’ve got about ten drivers signed up for next week.” “Who signs up?” I asked. I tried to keep my gaze on Tucker, but I couldn’t help glancing sideways at Zeppelin as he grabbed a beer from the fridge.

“It’s all guys that have been racing for a few years. Some are older and some are younger. They’ve all got a title to defend as the best or they are trying to make their way to the top.” He explained. Zeppelin sauntered over to me and planted himself firmly between my legs, his back to my front. I felt my stomach coil and tighten and warmth washed through me. He smelled of body wash and I realized he must have taken a quick shower. I noticed Dixon raise a brow at him and then he looked at me. A small smile formed on his lips and he rolled his eyes shaking his head, looking away. I wasn’t sure what that reaction was about, but it was obvious he didn’t care about my sudden interest in his friend or his friend’s interest in me.

“Are we calling some people up or what?” Matt asked. Dixon shrugged. “I don’t give a shit. I‘ve got nowhere to be in the morning.” He said. “No sleepovers in my room!” I piped up. Dixon chuckled. I took another drink, having to lean back a little so I didn’t knock Zeppelin in the head with the bottle. Matt got on his phone and began texting people while Tucker made a phone call. Zeppelin turned his head to look at me. “Are you going to introduce me to Penelope?” He asked with a smile. I grinned and nodded. “Yeah.”

He stepped away from the counter and I hopped down, following him to the door in the kitchen that led to the attached garage. “Are you showing him the car?” Hannah asked. “Yep, he wants to meet her.” I replied. Hannah grabbed Josh’s hand and pulled him along. “You’ve got to see her car babe. It’s really cool. We used to cruise around in it in high school.” She explained.

We stepped out in to the garage and I flipped the light switch. The fluorescent lighting buzzed as the bulbs warmed up and gradually got brighter. Zeppelin stuffed his hands in his pockets and wandered around my car. I watched him as he took in the long, mauve colored body with chrome detailing. He opened the passenger door and leaned in, checking out the white, leather bucket seats and bench seat in the back. Nodding, he righted himself and looked at me.

“This is definitely a good looking car.” He said. “I know she is.” I replied. Josh checked out the car as well and Hannah opened up the driver’s door, firmly planting herself in the seat. I shook my head. “I’ve missed this thing Lucky!” She declared. I giggled. “Well now you can take a ride with me anytime you want.” “Do you remember when we used to cruise up and down that street in Medford? All the guys wanted you to race them.” She smiled. I nodded and bit my lip. “I still haven’t told my dad about that.” I admitted. Hannah laughed. “He would flip the fuck out if he knew.” “I bet he would.” I turned my attention back to Zeppelin.

“So what do you think, I bet Penelope and I can smoke you on Thursday.” I said with a playful smile. Zeppelin cocked a brow at me. “Oh you think so? You’re on angel.” He replied. Dixon came wandering out to the garage. “Brian and a few of his buddies are coming over with their old ladies and Regina is heading over with Lacey.” He announced. “Are you guys planning on staying tonight?” He looked between Hannah and Josh.

Josh shook his head. “Nah, I’ll take it easy so I can drive us home.” He said. “What about you man?” He asked Zeppelin who immediately began shaking his head. “My back still fucking hurts from that couch of yours.” He said. My stomach did some sort of flip flop thing when he said he wasn’t staying. I don’t know why, but I didn’t want him to leave me. Zeppelin turned his attention to me. He cocked his head to the side and studied me for a moment. I wasn’t sure what expression he read in my face, but he furrowed his brow and looked down.

“Let’s get the table set up!” Matt hollered from inside the house. Josh raised a brow and looked at Dixon. “Beer pong?” He asked. Dixon grinned. “Hell yeah, I’ve got to defend my champion status.” He said and strolled back into the house. “Come on Lucky, let’s go get another drink.” Hannah said as she stepped away from Josh and put an arm around me. I gave Zeppelin one last glance before letting her lead me back to the kitchen.

As the guys set up the dining room table for beer pong, Hannah and I messed around with the stereo and tried to pick out some good music from Dixon’s IPod. People began to show up a little while later. The first group was two guys and a girl who everyone failed to introduce me to. I found out that it was the Brian guy and his friends that Dixon had mentioned earlier. A few more people filtered in here and there and I kind of stayed to my corner by the music with Hannah. Josh came over every once in a while to steal a kiss from her and grab her ass. He and Zeppelin were losing at beer pong and Zeppelin kept making him drink.

“I don’t know how you’re getting home now.” I said to Hannah as we sat on the couch in the living room. She shrugged. “Looks like a sleepover might be happening after all.” She said with a grin. I smiled too. I was starting to feel a little buzz from the drinks. AFI’s “Silver and Cold” came on through the speakers and I began tapping my fingers to the beat, my head bobbing to the music. Hannah began to sing the lyrics and I joined her. I’d always loved this song. It was poetic and held a lot of meaning. I particularly loved the part when the lead singer says “I’ll fall asleep for you”.

Our mini karaoke session was short lived when shouting broke out around the table in the dining room. I craned my neck to see what was going on and saw Zeppelin and Josh jumping up and down in victory. “Son of a bitch, I thought we had it!” I heard Dixon complain. “Let’s go congratulate the winners.” Hannah said with a wink. I stared at her. “Oh come on Lucky, like Zeppelin wouldn’t love if you walked up to him right now and kissed him.” She said. “You know I’m not like that Hannah.” I started to say. Hannah leaned in close to me and whispered conspiratorially. “Then why don’t you start being like that, Lucky. You need to loosen up.” She said. I downed the rest of the drink I was holding and nodded. “Alright, if you think I need to let loose, I’ll do it.” I stood from the couch.

“Are you serious?” Hannah gasped as she shot up from the couch. I shrugged. “Why the hell not? I’m tired of being the prim and proper Lucy Harris who only focuses on school. I want to be Lucky, the girl who loves racing, underground fight clubs, and tattooed boys.” A smirk formed across Hannah’s lips. “What’s gotten into you?” She wondered. “Honestly?” I began. “I can’t stop thinking about how he makes me feel when he touches me. I also think I have a bit of liquid courage at the moment.” Hannah grabbed my hand. “Let’s go then.” She said and began pulling me toward the dining room.

Josh and Zeppelin exchanged high fives and began passing their cups to Dixon and Tucker across from them. Dixon began talking to another girl that was standing nearby. She was a little bit shorter than him and had long dark hair and mocha colored skin. She was really pretty and I wondered if my cousin had a little thing for this girl who I wasn’t familiar with. Hannah must have caught my gaze, because she began speaking. “That’s Regina. She’s actually a really sweet girl. She just graduated with me.” She explained. I nodded.

I startled when I felt an arm come around my waist, guiding me back in to a warm, hard body. “Hey Angel.” Zeppelin said in a soft voice. I turned my head to look at him. “Hey.” I breathed. He easily invaded and overwhelmed my senses, rendering me damn near speechless. His hand rested on my hip and he squeezed gently as he placed a kiss on the corner of my mouth.

Whatever it was, the raging neglected hormones inside of me, the alcohol, or both, I turned abruptly to face him. Coiling my fingers in his hair with one hand, I pulled his head toward me until his lips touched mine. Zeppelin groaned as I slid my mouth against his, small moans escaping as I silently urged him for more. He placed his hands on either side of my hips and pushed me slightly back as his head pulled away from mine. “Holy shit.” He muttered, his breathing ragged. I bit down on my lip and looked down. “Sorry.” I mumbled. Zeppelin began shaking his head. “Don’t be sorry Angel. You just surprised me. I mean…holy shit.” He said again incredulously. He searched my face and then glanced around the room.

There were people starting a new game of beer pong. Dixon was talking to Regina still but they had moved to the couch in the living room where Tucker and who I assumed to be Lacey had appeared as well. Josh and Hannah were talking closely near the kitchen. I hadn’t even remembered her leaving my side. It was hard to be coherent when I was around Zeppelin. He made me only see him. He made me want to be reckless. I was in virgin territory in more ways than one with this entire situation, but that didn’t stop me from saying what I did next.

“Do you want to come to my room?” I asked as I leaned my head closer to his again. I placed a soft kiss on his lips and met his blazing blue eyes again. “Do you want me to come to your room Lucky?” Zeppelin asked. His hand rose and he trailed a finger along my collar bone. I nodded slowly. He raised a brow, gazing at me as his finger slid across my skin lightly. It made my whole body shudder and my heart race. “Well then I can’t refuse you of what you want.” He said softly. “No.” I breathed. Zeppelin smirked and removed his hand, placing it in mine. “Lead the way Angel.”

Chapter 4

~June 2012~

I pulled Zeppelin along with me as we wandered down the hall to my bedroom. My stomach filled with butterflies. I wasn’t sure what I was doing or why, but I knew that I wanted it, wanted him. I opened my door and let go of Zeppelin’s hand, turning to close and lock it behind him. I didn’t bother turning on the light as I stepped closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He immediately grasped my hips and pulled me into him.

As soon as our lips touched, my heart leapt into my throat and my blood warmed. Zeppelin traced my bottom lip with his tongue before entering my eager mouth. Turning my body, he walked me backward until I felt my mattress behind my knees. His hands released me and slid down to the back of my thighs. He hoisted me up and I wrapped my legs around him. Carefully, he kneeled on the bed with one leg and began guiding my body back. As soon as my back touched the mattress, his lips traveled across my cheek and down to my neck. He slid his tongue along my skin as one of his hands roamed underneath my top. He felt like fire against my belly as he inched his way closer to my chest. I could feel my nipples harden as he slowly made his way to the lace of my bra.

I tightened my legs around his waist. I could feel his hardness against my core and moaned as he pressed into me. His hand slid over my breast and he began to massage it gently as he nibbled along my neck. My hand trembled as it ran down his shoulder and across his strong chest. I felt the cold metal of the barbell in his nipple and swept my thumb across it. Zeppelin sucked in a breath. I stopped moving my hand and tensed. Pulling back, his burning gaze locked on to me.

“What’s the matter?” His rough voice asked. “Did I hurt you?” I wondered. Zeppelin let his tongue slide along his lower lip before biting it, trying to hide a smile. He shook his head slowly. “No baby. That definitely didn’t hurt.” He said. “Oh.” I said quietly and smiled nervously. Zeppelin brushed my hair back and leaned in to kiss me. “You can’t do anything to hurt me.” He spoke between kisses. “In fact,” He added before kissing me again. “I don’t mind if you hurt me a little.” He drew my bottom lip between his teeth and bit down gently before tugging. I whimpered and squeezed my thighs against his hips.

He pulled back to look at me again, smirking. “Like that Angel. You can bite me if you want.” He leaned down and kissed me and pulled back again. His hand moved to my shoulder and he gently scraped his fingers down my arm, causing me to shiver, but it didn’t hurt. “You can scratch me if you want.” He whispered. He picked up my hand and placed it back on his chest, moving my thumb with his along the barbell again. He sucked in a breath again and groaned, pressing himself into me. “You can touch me if you want.” He said breathlessly. I nodded and went back to running my thumb against the piercing as he bent down to kiss me again.

One of his hands cupped the side of my face as his mouth moved against mine intensely. His other hand traveled down the front of my body slowly. Once he touched my thigh, he grasped it and pulled it up higher on his waist as his body pressed firmly against me. My body was on fire, my heart was racing, and my mind was focused solely on Zeppelin and what he was doing to me. What I was doing to him and how never had I ever wanted anything as much as I wanted him in this moment.

I wasn’t drunk, a little buzzed, but conscious enough that I was aware of exactly what I was doing. As I kissed Zeppelin, I began to think about what this could lead to. Obviously by the way he touched me, he wasn’t a virgin like I was. Could he tell that I was new to this? Should I tell him before we went any further? Suddenly I was a bundle of nerves and my body went from hot to ice-cold as I thought about the enormity of the situation. I had spent my life carefully planned and only moved according to that plan. This, him, was not part of that laid out path that I had wanted to take. Did that make what I was doing wrong?