Torn (30 page)

“Does your dad know you’re here?”
Nate asked as we opened the bedroom door.

“No, Mom’s been super sneaky. I
think you have a fan.”

“She has one in me if she’s cool
with a bad boy like me dating her daughter,” he grinned, taking my hand as we
walked up the hallway.

“You, bad? I see you, Nate
Hudson, I see underneath all of that. And I think Mom does too. Pops will one
day, just give him time.”

Mom and Josh were just carrying
the reheated dishes to the table as we walked in. I saw Josh’s gaze drop to
Nate’s and my hands entwined and immediately went to release, but Nate squeezed
harder, trapping me. It was his way of telling me that Josh was going to have
to get used to it. I gave Josh a half-smile and he returned a muted one, but he
didn’t leave the room. It was a start.

“Nate.” I shook my head, unable
to say any more, as I fingered the long silver lariat necklace, which had tiny
clear crystals interspersed throughout it. It was beautiful, but what I loved
even more were the two charms that hung from each end piece of the chain, which
rested just above my navel. One was an open silver heart, the other a silver
infinity symbol, which he’d had engraved with our initials. It must have used
up all of his Christmas overtime at the garage to pay for this.

“You really like it?” he asked,
his face only lit by his bedside lamp next to where he’d propped up his iPhone.

“It’s … I’m never taking it off,
apart from in bed, the shower, or swimming. I can’t believe you spent so much,”
I gently scolded.

“Saunders’ mom works in the
jewelry shop and got me a really good discount, so please don’t worry about the
money.”

“I won’t then,” I confirmed,
though really I would in secret, but it was a matter of pride to him. He didn’t
want constant reminders that he couldn’t treat me to the sorts of things he
thought I deserved. I was just happy to be his, regardless of gifts or gestures,
though I really would treasure this necklace for the rest of my life, just like
my first date M&Ms, which were now inside a new M&M ceramic container,
untouched.

“I love my gift too. It’s very
me, that rough-and-tough biker, bad-boy look,” he teased.

“You’re not rough, you don’t have
a bike, and you only look like a bad boy, but you are tough, Nate Hudson.
You’re so strong, I’m super proud to be your girl. I just thought it would make
you look extra sexy.” We stared at each other, smiling, until I was unable to
stifle a yawn. It was past two a.m. already.

“Lie down and turn out the light,
we’d better say goodnight.”

“Do we have to?” I asked as I
carefully lifted my new gift over my head, and made him laugh when I kissed it
and carefully set it on my bedside table, then did as I was told.

“Yes. If you’re coming to spend
the day with me and Josh tomorrow, I’d like you awake for some of it.”

“Ok, but it’s getting harder and
harder to say goodbye.” I felt myself pout and gave him my best pleading look.

“I know the feeling,” he sighed
as he turned off his light and lay down too. “So how about we never say
goodbye, we just say see you later,” he suggested.

“See you later? Ok,” I nodded. “It
doesn’t sound so final. Goodbye is like never going to see you later. It sounds
like it’s permanent.”

“I’d better hope you never say
goodbye to me then.”

“Or you me.”

“Never,” he responded
immediately, shaking his head with a smile as I yawned again, fighting against
closing my eyes. “Come on, baby, sleep for me. I’ll stay with you until you
drop off, ok?”

“Ok,” I murmured. “See you later,
Nate Hudson.”

“See you later, Sky Torres. Sweet
dreams.”

Sky

Late January

“Ok, enough about me, what base are you
at?” I asked Liam, after I’d filled him in on my life. How things had eased
with Nate, Josh, and Billy since he’d returned from his Christmas vacation.
There was still an air of tension between them all, but they were speaking and
we could all hang out together again. Nate and I tried to make the effort to
spend some time with them each week, not to just lose ourselves in each other,
which was far too easy to do.

“Third,” he grinned. I squealed
and clapped my hands.

“When did this happen? Have you been
holding out on me, Liam Cooper?”

“Maybe, just a little.” He looked
apologetic as I raised my eyebrows, knowing a hurt look was probably on my face
right now. “I didn’t want to say anything because I knew you’d get overexcited
and I wasn’t sure it would work out.”

“Tell me more, tell me right now,
and maybe, just maybe, I’ll forgive you for lying to your best friend.”

I listened intently as his face lit
up while he gushed about a “JC McDermott” that he’d met at college. That
Bootylicious website, which I’d set Liam up on as a joke, had paid off. Being
able to explore his sexuality from the safety of his room had built up his
confidence to start returning the looks and smiles he’d been getting across the
lecture hall from JC. One thing had led to another and JC had asked him out.
Other than when we were hanging out gaming, I’d never seen Liam look so happy,
which made me happy. I’d been so worried about him, and now he had someone else
to lean on.

“I think I’m in love, Sky,” he
finally sighed, with a dreamy look on his face.

“You are?” I bit my lower lip and
frowned. “How do you know?”

“It’s hard to explain, it’s just
this … warmth, I guess. Of waking up thinking about him, wondering what he’s
doing, getting excited when I know I’m going to see him. Just this completely
comfortable vibe whenever we’re together, like we don’t have to talk, as long
as we’re touching. Plus the fact we can’t keep our hands off each other,” he
laughed, ruining the lovely moment.

“Have you told each other how you
feel?”

“Well duh, of course. Haven’t you?”

“No,” I admitted. I felt all of
that for Nate, and I was sure he felt it for me, but I hadn’t realized that was
love. I had nothing to base it on. Plus saying those words was a huge deal.

“You’ll say it when you’re ready.
So what are you doing for your birthday? The Cheesecake Factory tonight?”

“No, lunchtime instead,” I
smiled. Mom had convinced Pops to change our tradition, knowing that I’d want
to spend the afternoon with Nate, Josh, and Billy, then the evening with Nate.
“It won’t be the same without you.”

“I wish I could be there. I’m
putting away money for a trip to see you, but with going out on dates, I’ve
eaten into some of it.” He grimaced with an apologetic look.

“Don’t, I’m the same. I hope to
come and see you in the summer. Maybe Nate and I can drive up, make a holiday
of it.”

“I’d love that,” he beamed. “Ok,
I’d better start getting ready, he’ll be here to pick me up in an hour.”

“Thanks again for my game, let me
know a night when we can hook up to play, ok?”

“Will do. Remember what I told
you and you’ll be fine. And remember, when you swallow, don’t screw up your
face like you’re sucking a sour lemon. Nothing’s less of a turn-on for a guy
than knowing you hate the way he tastes.”

“Liam,” I giggled.

“Quick recap, tell me what I
taught you.”

“Ok, OBJ Wan Kenobi,” I laughed.
“Master of all things oral.”

“Well, compared to you, I am. Hit
me with it,” he ordered as he sat back and put his hands behind his head.

“Ok.” I drummed my fingers
against my lips as I tried to remember all of his tips for giving head. I’d
decided I was ready, that since I’d mastered hand jobs that had Nate panting,
then eager to return the favor, I wanted to go a step further. I was desperate
to know what it would feel like to take him in my mouth, to see that look of
complete loss of control as I pleasured him. “Best to be on my knees, a guy
likes a woman to look submissive, to give him all of the power. He also wants
something nice to look at, either a sexy bra, or a thong to show off my ass.
Hair pulled back to avoid any awkward choking moments that don’t involve his
cock, and let him see my face. Lots and lots of eye contact, letting him see
how much I’m enjoying it.”

“Excellent, continue my young
padawan. I’ll make a blow job master of you yet,” Liam chuckled.

“Ermmm, be vocal, moaning, then
tell him how big he is, how hard he is, how great he tastes, and how I can’t
get enough. Use my hands too, one at the base of the cock to follow my lips as
I suck, another to fondle his balls and ass. Alternating pressure with my
mouth,
gentle
bites, teasing with slow licks, especially around the
head, his piercing, and slit.”

“God, I still can’t believe he
had it pierced,” Liam shuddered. “He’s got some serious balls.”

“He does,” I winked, making him
laugh again. “Now I totally get the expression ‘A lady on the streets, a freak in
the sheets,’ but he’ll really get turned on if I spit, drool, and slobber?” It
was my turn to shudder. I didn’t like the thought of that, and I wasn’t sure
Nate would like me to go that far.

“Most men do, we’re very visual
creatures. And don’t be surprised if he just wants to fuck your mouth while he
holds you steady. You really need to work on your gag reflex so you can deep
throat him.”

“This is worse than studying for
my SATs,” I moaned, covering my eyes. Mom was going to wonder why the sudden
need for extra bananas each week for me to practice on. But I wanted to please
him so much, I was determined to try and master the technique.

“You asked! I told you, you don’t
have to be the best blow jobber in the world, you only have to be better than
his previous best to blow his mind at the same time. And trust me when I say
that there is never a bad time to give head. We’re always up for it. The more
frequent, the better. Men have seriously high sex drives and a primal need to
release and often. Do that, you’ll always keep him happy.”

“Does it really taste bad? You
know what I’m like if anyone over salts my dinner. Or that time I got a
mouthful of salt water when we went for our surfing lessons.”

“I’ve heard each guy has his own
unique texture and flavor. I love JC’s, but then I guess if you love someone,
you don’t care, you take it in stride. Just don’t spit it out and make “bleh”
noises as you stick out your tongue and rub it furiously while you shudder.
Swallow hard and fast, imagine you’re slurping an oyster.”

“Great. Slimy, salty, and gross. All
this while smiling, looking slutty, getting housemaid’s knee, and the real
possibility of a bald patch from his ponytail pulling, as I murmur, ‘Oh baby,
you taste
soooo
good,’ and force myself not to gag. I can’t wait.”

“You give, you get, Torres. And
don’t tell me you haven’t imagined that tongue piercing working on your clit.
Be sure to douche, no one wants to eat in the fish market. And trust me when I
say you don’t want to discover chocolate in the tunnel either.”

“Liam,” I laughed. “Go, or we’ll
both be late.”

“Good luck, let me know how it
goes.” He winked and ended the call after we’d blown each other a kiss. God, as
if all the information he’d imparted on blow jobs wasn’t enough to freak me
out, he’d just had to give me the low down on rimming as well. They didn’t
teach
that
in sex-ed.

I kissed Mom and Pops goodbye as
they dropped me off at the arcade. When the boys had asked me what I wanted to
do for my birthday, their treat, I’d told them that I’d like nothing better
than to hang out with them here, so we could have some fun and laughter like we
used to before things went wrong. Plus it was time they dealt with seeing me
and Nate together for real, because we weren’t parting any time soon. I waved
to my parents after thanking them for my lovely lunch, not to mention the
generous transfer they’d made to my savings account. I smoothed down my dress
and quickly checked my lip-gloss. I was a bit overdressed for the arcade, but
Nate had said he wanted us to dress up for our date tonight, and this saved
going back home to change. I was in a black wool dress that stopped just above the
knee and hugged my body. It had a V-neck at the front, showing a little bit of
cleavage, but not enough for Pops to moan that I looked cheap. I had my hair
loose, some minimal eye makeup, as usual, some silver and diamond studs, my
necklace from Nate, that I wore almost everywhere, and I’d gone for a pair of
peep-toe black shoe-boots to give me some extra height. I headed inside to find
them gathered around the pool table, pleased to see that they were all laughing.

Nate spotted me first, as if he’d
been waiting impatiently with his eyes on the door. I smiled as I saw the
lustful look on his face when he scanned me, before that radiant one-dimpled
smile that I adored appeared. I’d been so focused on his face, it took me a
moment to realize that he wasn’t in a tee or one of his Henley shirts. I gulped
as I registered how different he looked. Not that bad-boy Nate didn’t do it for
me, but wow! He was in a pair of dark indigo jeans, with polished, and right-on-trend,
pointed patent dress shoes instead of his battered army boots. A crisp white
formal shirt, rolled at the sleeves, was open at the neck, showing off the sexy
hollow of his throat and his masculine Adam’s apple. He also had on a black
wool vest with pale gray checked stripes. But he’d kept his messy hair and the
leather cuff I’d purchased for him. I’d only ever seen him casual, naked, in
his work coveralls, or in his baseball uniform. He’d abandoned his cue and made
it across to me by the time I’d drunk him in, and I nearly swooned. One hand
captured the back of my neck, the other my hip, as he pulled me in and lay a
deep, open-mouthed kiss on me, which had me reach up to grip his biceps for
support.

“Jesus,” he growled in my ear
when he was done rendering me to putty. “Are you trying to give me a heart
attack?”

“I wanted to look pretty for you,
but you’ve eclipsed that with your new look.”

“You don’t look pretty, Sky, you
look …” He pushed me away, holding me at arm’s length to scan me again. “You’re
the most stunning girl I’ve ever seen and I’m fighting really hard to keep my
cock under control.” He slowly let go of me, his eyes telling me he’d rather be
anywhere than here, with Josh and Billy watching, but they wanted to celebrate
with me too. We’d have our alone time later. I put my hands on his shoulders
and whispered in his ear.

“If you think this is stunning,
imagine how I’ll look later, naked but for my necklace and hot pink lace bra
and matching panties, on my knees with your cock in my mouth.” I patted his
shoulders and left that hanging as I walked away to go and hug Josh and Billy,
smiling to myself to hear Nate choking in the background. Take that, ex-lovers
of Nate Hudson. I was going to make him remember no one but me.

“Yes!” Billy uttered, fist-punching
the air as he beat Nate at pool for the second time. I was busy playing pinball
with Josh, trying to hone my skills. I’d improved significantly from the first
time I’d played against him, but he was still the master. I’d raced Billy while
Josh and Nate had played pool, touched to find that Josh had obviously asked
the arcade to wipe the machine and reset all the scores to zero as if there’d
been some kind of glitch, so Billy would never find out that Josh had always
let him win. We’d played a best of three, and he was less than complimentary
when I killed it each time, taking the top spots again.

“Wow, I’d have thought Nate had
pool down pat, being a great sportsman and all,” I observed, as Josh and I
watched him shake Billy’s hand, conceding defeat.

“He does, he’s an ace at that too,”
chuckled Josh. “He’s doing a me, and I know it kills him, especially when he
wants to show off with you around.”

“Do you guys have any idea how
special you are?” I asked, squeezing his hand as I held his gaze. “Does Billy
ever do anything for the two of you in return?”