17
CHELSEY
BLAINE’S EYES WERE HARD AS STEEL
as he stepped out of the room and left me alone with my parents. I wanted to call out to him. I wanted to beg him to stay and block me from their rage. I could see it boiling just behind my father’s eyes. I could see it in the snarl of my mother’s mouth. There was about to be hell to pay.
The room fell silent, and I could practically see the smoke coming from their ears as they glared down at me. My ankle chose that moment to begin to throb, and I reached down and laid my hand over it. Memories of the night bombarded me, making me flinch from my aching head.
The night had been terrible up until the last few minutes with Blaine. Honestly, I’d do it all over again if it meant I’d get to relive his kisses all over again. The way he touched my face was amazing. Even with the mud dry and crusted all over me, he touched me like my skin felt like silk.
The look on his face, the way he said my name and called me his, all of it melted me on the spot. The pain in my ankle and head had all but disappeared when his lips were on mine.
The truth was, he knew exactly what he was saying and doing, and he had never been more right. I
was
his. I’d melted for him and became putty in his hands. It was sad how easily I’d fallen for him and his words, and I knew no matter what, I’d see him again. It didn’t matter if I had to sneak out every night until I was eighteen, I’d do it for him. And something told me, he’d do the same for me.
**********
I WENT HOME WITH A SPRAINED ANKLE
and a slight concussion. All things I could live with. What I couldn’t live with were the ridiculous rules that were laid down the minute I stepped through my front door.
There would be no more riding to school with Lynn. There would be no more leaving my house without either my mother or father in tow. There would be no more staying after school without a teacher’s written note. All things that made me feel like I was ten all over again.
It was embarrassing and completely preposterous, but I guess I understood a tiny bit.
Did I screw up? Yes.
Was I going to ever get back on a four-wheeler or have another drink? Hell to the no.
I’d learned my lesson. That was the thing about me. It only took once and I was done. I wasn’t a glutton for punishment. At least I wasn’t unless it had something to do with Blaine. And being away from him for the three days I was out of school was punishment enough.
I couldn’t wait to get back to school and see how things had changed. I wanted to see his smile and his icy eyes as they moved over me, making me feel like there was something special about me. I loved the way I felt around him—the exhilaration of being near him.
So, when it was time for bed the night before I went back to school, it was with a smile full of anticipation that I turned my lamp off and snuggled into my sheets. I laid there staring up at my ceiling fan and thought of Blaine. I thought of his kisses and the cocky smirks that played on his luscious lips. It wasn’t long before my eyes were getting heavy and I couldn’t wait to fall asleep and dream about him.
I was dancing on the outskirts of my conscious, sleep slowing seeping into my brain, when a tap on my window had me sitting up in bed with a gasp. My heart accelerated with excitement instead of fear. I knew who it was without even checking.
Going to my window, I peeled back my curtain to find Blaine there smiling back at me. I unlocked the window and pulled it up as quietly as possible, before standing to the side and helping him in.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered as I closed the window and set my curtains back in place.
When I turned my attention back to him, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me. His fingers caressed my heated cheeks as his lips moved over mine. His teeth grazed my bottom lip before he sucked it softly pulling a moan from the back of my throat.
Pulling away, he kissed the tip of my nose before resting his forehead against mine.
“That was nice,” I said with a smile.
“Hell yeah it was.” He grinned down at me. “I know it’s late, but I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.”
I was more than happy that he couldn’t wait. I was having a hell of a time waiting myself.
“How did you know I was coming back to school tomorrow?”
“I harassed your friend Lynn until she told me.” Reaching up, he ran his fingers through my hair sending chills running down the back of my neck and spine. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I countered.
His smile dropped and a serious expression moved over his face as his eyes took me in.
“What are you doing to me, Chelsey?” he asked. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Using his thumb, he tugged my bottom lip out of my teeth. I hadn’t even realized I was nibbling on it again. And then he leaned in and softly sucked the spot where my teeth had been. My stomach grew heavy, and my nipples harden beneath my tank top embarrassing me and making me pull away and cross my arms.
His eyes moved down my body and a smile tugged at his lips as if he knew exactly what he was doing to me.
I moved over to my bed and sat down, pulling my sheet over my body as if I was cold. He followed behind me and sat at the edge of the bed.
“So, how are things at school?” I asked, quickly changing the subject to something safe. “Any idea what we made on the project for Mr. Liam?”
He moved in closer, his hand going to my cheek before he moved his thumb over my skin back and forth. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the feel of his roughed skin against mine.
Without answering me, he leaned in and kissed me again. His kiss grew frenzied, his tongue delving deep into my mouth as if he couldn’t get enough of me. I kissed him back, matching his tongue and pulling at his shirt without even realizing I was doing so.
“I want to take it slow with you,” he murmured against my lips. “But it’s so fucking hard. I want you so bad.”
His words made the spot between my thighs throb, and as if he was completely tuned into my body, he reached his hand down and pressed his palm between my legs. The pressure felt amazing, and I gasped at the sensation, making him groan and bit into his own bottom lip.
He pulled his hand back, his eyes moving over my face and taking in my expression. “Is it okay if I touch you?” he asked. “I can tell you like it.”
“Just on top of my clothes,” I said.
And then he leaned over me, slowly pushing me back on my bed.
“Deal,” he whispered against my lips.
And then he was kissing me again as his hands moved over my thin top and even thinner shorts. I wiggled my legs around unable to stay still, and breathed hard into the dim space around us. The moonlight coming through my window gave me just enough light to see his icy eyes darken before he moved down and began to slowly kiss my neck and the skin above my chest.
His fingers moved down my side and grasped my hip before he slowly brought it around and cupped me between my thighs. Applying pressure with the heel of his hand, he sent waves of pleasure through my body. I dug my heels into my bed and whined at the sweet sensation.
Then his hand was gone and he was moving between my legs. He pressed his jean clad thighs against mine, his hardness rubbing right against the sensitive parts of me through my shorts, and before long we were moving together and panting into the air around us.
His body felt amazing, and the more he moved his hips and pressed his hardness against me, the louder the noises that pushed past my lips became.
“As much as I love those sweet noises, you have to be quiet, baby,” he whispered against my neck.
And then he shifted his hips and the slow rise that moved into my stomach exploded. His hand went over my mouth, blocking the loud moans that poured from my mouth, as his hips continued their sweet torture. The roughness of his jeans felt even more abrasive the wetter my shorts became, until finally my shorts were pushed completely to the side and my soaked center was wetting the front of his jeans.
When my body started to shake and the sensations were too much, he stopped moving his hips and replaced his hand with his lips.
“That was so fucking hot, Little Doe.” He kissed the corner of my mouth. “Did it feel good?”
His question sent a blush over my skin and all I could do was nod my answer.
It felt better than good. It felt incredible. It felt like nothing I’d ever experienced before—like something I wanted to experience over and over again.
Wanting to return the favor, I reached between us and palmed his hardness through his jeans. His body went tense and his head fell to my shoulder as he covered my hand with his. A hiss rushed from his lips against my skin and I felt myself getting started all over again.
But then he stopped my hand from moving and placed a soft kiss against my skin.
“Tonight was about you, sweet girl,” he whispered. “Let’s save that for another time. I don’t think I can handle your hands on me tonight.”
He rolled over to my side, pulling me into his arms and then he kissed my forehead.
“But—” I started.
“No buts, baby. Maybe next time,” he said. He ran a finger down my shoulder, making my blood boil. “I should probably go,” he said before he moved to sit up.
Reaching out, I stopped him. “No. Stay,” I whispered. “At least until I fall asleep.”
His smile was soft before he pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose and snuggled into my neck.
My body hummed as I snuggled into Blaine and my comforter. It wasn’t long until sleep came and swept me away.
**********
BLAINE BEGAN SPENDING THE NIGHT
in my bed every night after that. We never had sex, though. Most nights we’d lay in my bed and talk, but some nights, when I’d let him, he’d kiss me and use his fingers in a wicked way I never knew was possible on my body.
I’d wake up every morning with the space next to me empty, only an imprint of him in my pillow and the twinge of happy sensations low in my stomach to remind me he’d been there. As lame as it sounds, I’d always roll over and breathe in the space as if he were still there.
It was a strangest thing. After being programmed my entire life to only think about my future and my GPA, spending so much time daydreaming about Blaine made all the difference. I smiled and relaxed more. Things that would stress me out before had little to no effect on me. Even Lynn noticed the changes.
“You slept with him didn’t you?” she asked around a granola bar.
I bit into my lip to keep from laughing at the expression on her face. “Not yet, but is it weird that I’m considering it?”
She snorted. “Um, hell no. Have you seen him lately? He screams sex just walking down the hallway. FYI I’m totally jealous.”
I shook my head and chuckled.
She was right. Blaine was sexy, and sweet, and just flat out perfect for me. And I knew it wasn’t going to be much longer before I gave him all of myself. As it was, I was sure I was falling in love with him. If I hadn’t already. I had no idea how to tell. All I knew was I couldn’t stop thinking about him, and whenever I saw his smile I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Yes. It was a definite thing.
I was falling in love with Blaine.
18
CHELSEY
TWO WEEKS WENT BY,
and sneaking out with Blaine became the norm. I was actually surprised at how little guilt I felt about it. I didn’t like lying to my parents, but they’d never understand. They could only think about my future, and I knew they’d never see Blaine as a part of that.
I wasn’t even sure Blaine saw himself as a part of my future, but I hoped he did. Maybe it was too soon to tell, but I was already carving out a space for him along with Columbia. It was a first for me. Usually it was always college and grades. Now it was college, grades, and Blaine.
I couldn’t remember feeling so happy or carefree, and I never wanted the feeling to end. It was like a permanent vacation from reality when I was with him, and we spent every moment possible together. Whether we were in my bed talking, or in the library studying, Blaine made every moment exciting and pleasurable.
Sitting at a library table with my face in my textbook, I flinched when I felt something flitter across my shoulder. Looking up at Blaine through my lashes, I found him pretending to read the book he was holding upside down. His lips were rolled into his teeth as he tried to hold back his smile.
Picking up the piece of paper he threw at me, I tossed it over my shoulder.
“I’m trying to study,” I whispered.
We’d been in the public library for all of an hour and I hadn’t gotten more than twenty solid minutes of studying done. Not that I minded, I was becoming used to Blaine’s flirty, playful side.
He shut his book and leaned onto the table, his face inches from mine. I smiled as he peeked over my history book, propping his chin on it.
“You’re no fun.” He stuck out his bottom lip and pretended to pout.
Flattening the book against my chest, I gave him a doubtful look.
“You thought I was fun last night.” I flirted as I reminded him of how our clothed bodies moved against each others.
I knew he’d done way more with other girls, but I appreciated the fact that he treated me differently—that he was willing to wait until I was absolutely ready, which at the rate we were going wouldn’t be much longer.
He played my body like a fine-tuned instrument, and I was finding it harder and harder to resist and listen to my brain over my body.
His expression smoldered, and I could see in his eyes that he was thinking of the night before, as well.
“You’re a tease, Chelsey Ford.” He sighed. “We’ve been here forever. Can we go have some more fun now?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“I told you I had to study, Blaine. You’re the one who insisted you wanted to come with. I told you you’d be bored. You should probably be studying, too.”
“Why? I’m passing my classes,” he said, resting his chin in his palm.
“Passing or barely passing?”
“Passing is passing, Chelsey.”
Closing my book, I folded my arms over the table and leaned forward.
“Have you thought about going to college at all, Blaine?”
He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. “Not this conversation again.”
“It’s never a conversation. You always manage to avoid it.”
He smiled and winked at me. “You don’t complain at the time.”
I blushed. “Not this time, Blaine.”
He sighed and mimicked my position on the table, putting us elbow to elbow and face to face.
“Why do you care so much?” His eyes were all over my face.
“I want to see you do well. I know how smart you are.” I smiled when I saw the frustration move over his expression. “Don’t worry, I won’t force you. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
His eyes darkened. “No. Please force me, baby,” he flirted.
I shook my head and chuckled. “I’m being serious, Blaine.”
He sighed. “I know you are, but I also know you’re overloaded with your own school stuff, babe. I don’t want to add to that.”
“What? You think I can’t handle it?” I smirked, obviously talking about two things at once.
He leaned forward, pressing his soft lips to mine in a quick kiss.
“I don’t know. Maybe you should prove you can.” He grinned.
The room was getting too hot, my skin too flushed. Quickly, I changed the subject.
“Besides, you don’t have to worry about me, Blaine.” And then realization settled over me. “Wait. Does this mean you’ve been thinking about what you want to do after graduation?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know.” He ran his palms over his face. “It’s different with you. You make me want to be better—make me want to change everything I know about myself.”
Shock moved through me. I hated that he thought he needed to change anything about himself. Especially since I loved everything that made him Blaine.
“Well don’t,” I rushed.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t change a thing.”
The table creaked beneath him as he moved even closer.
“So, you’re into bad boys now, huh?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m into you. I’m not trying to change you, Blaine.”
His hand was warm as it covered my cheek, and he smiled softly at me. “I know. I didn’t think you were. These are
my
thought, and
my
feelings. I want to be the kind of guy that deserves to be with you, Chelsey. Because you deserve that much and more from me.”
It made me sad to know Blaine felt like he wasn’t good enough for me.
“It means more to me than you’ll ever realize that you feel like that way, Blaine, but I want this to be something you do for you and only you.”
“I am, but I don’t think I could do it without your help. Are you sure it won’t be too much trouble?”
My smile took over my entire face, making my cheeks ache. “It’s not any trouble at all.”
I got up and walked around the table, needing to feel his arms around me, and sat in his lap. He smiled and pulled my face down toward his lips. They were firm and soft as they moved over mine, and then his tongue was a warm pressure against the seam of my lips.
I opened them freely and his tongue swept the inside of my month, swirling around my own and making me moan in the back of my throat.
Someone dropped a book close by and I jumped at the sound. Realizing where we were, I stood and covered my blazing cheeks with my palms.
“You’re a bad influence, Blaine Wesley.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
His smile was truly wicked. He stood, taking my hand and pulling me toward the back of the library. It was a place I’d never explored, full of books I never found interesting. The space was dim and deserted, giving us the secrecy we desired.
He pulled me around him and pushed my back against the bookcase. The bindings dug into my shoulders and the smell of old, dusty books swirled around me as he covered my body with his until we were touching in every way possible.
My thighs clenched together as desire pooled low in my stomach and warm against my panties.
“You’re going to get us kicked out of here.” My words came out muffled because his lips were already pressing against mine.
“I promise not to get your library card revoked.”
And then his tongue was filling my mouth, and his warmth and taste was all I could focus on. Blaine was the master of kissing, and I wasn’t saying that because he was the only boy I’d ever kissed. I couldn’t even imagine finding someone who kissed better than Blaine.
I was lost in everything he was, and everything else seemed to fall away as his hands moved down my arms and took my wrists pulling them above my head. He held them there with one hand as the other came down in a delicious pressure along my side.
He moved it around my hip and over the curve of my ass, squeezing and pulling me tighter against the hardness that was pressed between my legs. I moaned, and arched harder against him.
We’d done our share of making out over the last two weeks, but this was the first time Blaine had taken charge completely—not allowing me to move or fight. It both scared me and excited me.
His lips were moving down my neck and his hand was no longer holding my arms up as it moved over my ribcage. He squeezed gently before moving higher and higher. When his hands covered my breasts, I thought I was going to die from the sudden burst of pleasure.
His thumbs moved over my hardened nipples at the same time and a burst of hot liquid tingled between my thighs. I didn’t realize I was pushing myself harder against Blaine’s hands until I noticed I could no longer feel the bookcase behind me.
My body flushed hotly, and I fell back against the shelf the same time Blaine dropped his hands. We were breathing hard, our chests rising and falling rapidly. His forehead was resting against my collarbone and we stood like that for several seconds.
When he finally lifted his head, his icy eyes found mine.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his hand coming up and his thumb sweeping across my bottom lip. “I didn’t mean to get carried away. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Blaine. You weren’t the only one who got a little crazy.”
“I swear I didn’t bring you back here to do that. I only planned on kissing you.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine, promise.”
He nodded. “Good.”
He placed an innocent kiss on the tip of my nose and then another against my lips. I knew he didn’t trust himself any more than I trusted myself to deepen the kiss. His hand found mine and he pulled me through the library back to our spot so I could get my books and bag.
An hour later, he was dropping me off a block from my house. Forging teacher’s notes had become his specialty, and we didn’t want my parents catching on to what we were doing. We followed certain steps every time we did something together, and I hated that I had to sneak around with him. He was worth so much more to me.
“I’m sorry you have to drop me off here and not at my door like a real couple.” I gripped my hands in my lap and squeezed my fingers together.
Reaching over, he lifted my chin and softly smiled. “Hey, I understand. It is what it is, right?”
I nodded. “I just don’t want you to think I’m ashamed of you because I’m not. I’d tell my parents right now if you wanted me to. I just know they’d make it next to impossible to see each other if I did.”
He took my hand and brought it up to his lips. “I know, Little Doe. We have a good thing going here. I don’t want anything to ruin it.”
I smiled, his breath making my fingers tingle “Me either.”
I gathered my stuff, hating all the moments when I had to leave him, and moved to get out. He stopped me.
“You want to do something on Saturday?” he asked.
Exhilaration surged through me. “Sure. Like what?”
His grin grew evil and I was almost afraid of his answer.
“I have a few things in mind.”
I pouted. “That’s not very nice, Blaine.”
“Nope.” He smiled and leaned in to kiss me. I melted as usual. “But it sure is fun,” he muttered against my mouth.
I laughed. Cupping his cheek, I deepened the kiss and lost my fingers in his dark hair. His finger lingered down my cheek before moving over the soft skin of my neck. And then he pulled away and pressed his forehead against mine.
“Goodnight, Chelsey.”
“Goodnight, Blaine.”