“I’m here, aren’t I? I'm trying.” Being coaxed out of studying so much, spending time with Dane has been slwloy changing my perspective on life. My priorities and how much time I was spending with my head stuck in schoolwork. We’re young, and it won’t last. I have good grades and can afford to relax a little.“What’s his deal anyway? For a guy who has no problems talking to girls at any other time, he seems incapable of being normal around Elisa. It’s painful to watch.”I turn our focus back to them now they are near the water's edge. Elisa is fidgeting with her nails and kicking one foot in the sand in an obvious girly nervousness. Tyler has both hands in his pockets and seems to be saying something amusing to her because I can hear her small giggles occasionally. She ducks her head, probably blushing, and Tyler follows every time by leaning in and down so he doesn't lose sight of her eyes. It’s cute to watch, but their three-foot gap speaks volumes.“Boy’s in love….. doesn’t matter h
The light chap on my patio door has me stooping mid-duvet pulling as I was getting ready for bed, and I head over, knowing exactly who it is. We’ve been home less than half an hour after getting home late, and he’s already looking for me. I’m not shocked given how we left things when we got home.Things were getting heavy and steamy in the dark of the car, and I knew when we separated that neither of us was calm enough to go to bed and sleep. Not that there was much kissing. Just hugging, a little groping, and getting real close and breathy thanks to having some beers as the sun went down, and even though I didn’t get drunk, I do still have a slight bravado I know came from the refreshments.“You’re insane,” I whisper as he slides open the door and slinks into my darkened room. There’s only a low light lamp on which I sleep with, and we stay hushed, knowing our parents are already in bed. They were asleep when we got home, aware we were at Tyler’s family party. “Stop climbing that way
Dane says nothing but stares at me long and hard and then sighs, knowing he’s defeated. Even in the dim light, I can see his handsome features, carved mouth's soft lines, and small perfect nose. His eyes are dark in the shadows, which somehow causes him to appear older and sexier. I'm suddenly aware of how we have subconsciously moved together under the sheets, so every inch of him is pressed to me.I brush back his dark floppy bags from his face, long enough to reach the tip of his nose, and admire how beautiful this human is. Sighing at the sheer prettiness of my boyfriend and feeling like the luckiest girl alive even to get to touch him this way. I always thought Dane was hot, but somehow, falling for him this way, I seem to have become obsessed with his perfection. He’s an art form.“I love you.”Dane catches me off guard with a husky, gentle confession, stated boldly even if it was almost wispy in deliverance. It tugs at my heart as soon as I register the words, and my eyes mist
I nod mutely. Every sensible part of my brain is saying Kayla, no, but there's a naughty in me. Hormone-driven and curious, who wants to know what it's like. In a safe way, with no regrets and no harm no foul. He says I don’t need to be touched by him that way or even undress. Maybe it's my beer-fogged brain making the decisions, but I’m weirdly devoid of doubt.It's the bravado of the girl who first told Dane she wanted to be with him, even if it meant breaking up later, raising her head, and she is all in with some exploration. The inquisitive nature in me that wants to explore something new. Sometimes, she’s a separate bolshy entity in my personality who jumps in, says, and does things I would normally crumble at, and it seems she wants her boyfriend to show her how to get off tonight.Who am I becoming?Dane nods before raising his hand and pushing me, so I turn away from him. Fully onto my other side, he scoots up behind me as he brings his arm over my body, cocooning me and spoo
I'm catapulted with a jolt of ecstasy at that contact, groaning loud enough it shocks me and aware of spreading tingles climbing up from my toes. My motions on my clitoris have become faster and harder, having found my pleasure point, and Dane tugs me onto my back to get more access to me. Leaning over me to half cage me in without stopping what I am doing, and ducks his head.Flat out, splayed under him, he uses his mouth on my breast instead, urging on my moans. A kissing, gentle tease as he seeks me out and continues the sucking and nibbling of my neck, there instead. Pushing me further into this chaotic state of need and yearning. I lose all sense of time and reality and become a slave to only what he’s making me feel.Even though he said he wouldn’t touch, I've made it very clear this is what I want, and he catches my nipple between his front teeth and sends me into arching, groaning, and moaning overload.It’s so good I cover my mouth to stay quiet. Pressing my palm flat to it a
Dane is cradled over me, trying to keep his weight from killing me. Neither moves beyond him sliding his fingers away from me and out of my shorts, and then he finally leans up and props his forehead against mine before gently kissing me on the lips. Taking a second to inhale slowly, he looks crazy sexy and mussed up like this. A gentle peck of reassurance that only further makes me feel like what we just did was normal and natural.His eyes are heavy and pupils large, lips swollen from using them all over me, hair chaotic because at some point, without knowing it, I must have dragged my nails through it. He looks so exceptionally seductive.He's breathing heavily, too, so his breath fans my face weirdly gently, and I can focus on him slowly. Seeing a sheen of sweat on his nose and forehead, given the fact he probably had his face buried in the pillows through most of that. It’s hardly a cool night.“That’s so not how I intended that to go….it was supposed to be a lot less…….just less
“Ughhhh…Kales, why are we doing this on a Saturday morning? It’s the weekend….. Who does homework on a Saturday morning?” Dane huffs, slumping over me, so I have to lift my laptop from my knees before he lays his head on it and end up holding it over my head while glaring down at him turning to get comfy on my lap. Sitting on my bed, crossed-legged, supposed to be doing an essay due on Monday, yet here I am, pandering to my boyfriend’s childishness.“Because if we don’t do it now, we have to do it before school tomorrow night. I would rather free up my weekend and not worry about being too tired to think straight.” I chastise him gently, trying to stay patient, given this is his third interruption. Laying my laptop back down at the side of his head, I absentmindedly rub my fingers through his hair and scratch his scalp. Even though it is irritating and disruptive, I can’t completely ignore how cute he is looking up at me that way.He’s been glued to me since we got up, and somehow, a
“Is it too soon to look?” I push Dane sideways, trying to peer around the wall into my patio doors, and get hauled back into his arms again. Manhandled back like a lightweight.“You’re worse than a child… give them some breathing space. Given Lees's slowness, Tyler is probably still in the ‘begging for a chance’ stage.”“She’s not slow; she's shy and cautious, and we’ve been out here for twenty minutes already.” I wriggle to be free of his muscular arms and aim for a head duck down into the glass, seeing only my sheers from this side. Even though they are semi-transparent, they do a great job of masking my room in broad daylight. I can’t see a damn thing.“Twenty-eight to be exact…he probably needs longer.”“Doubtful. Lees is probably praying we come back to save her from this mortification.” I huff at him, knowing he only wants to stay out here and keep making out, but my focus is being pulled to the happenings in my room. As much as I tried to kiss him, I wanted to be back there an
I nod, beaming brightly and gazing around our home for the next few years. We only moved in a couple of months ago after a hellish separation, living in segregated dorms. We had roommates who were not great and time spent together was minimal given we were separated across a huge campus and we both had curfews. Long hours studying and little hours being together had made me really miserable. I missed sleeping beside Dane more than anything, and then my dad surprised us on Dane’s birthday with the keys to this place. Bryan coughed up the money to furnish it. A five-minute walk to school for us both and a reunion we both badly needed.One thing my parents did agree on, Dane’s, too, was that throughout our college years, we would not work to support ourselves. They wanted our full attention on study, so they paid our way, gave us allowances, and keep us in a life we were accustomed to while living at home. We’re spoiled, and now we get to be spoiled together.In the first months of coll
FinaleThree years later“You all packed?” Dane wanders in from the lounge to our bedroom where I am zipping up my case, having just finished. Looking rested and chill, given it’s day one of our break from classes.“Yup. You can take it to the car.”“Did you bring warm clothes for London? It’ll be freezing compared to Florida. Bring a jacket, too.”“I listened to you the first time. Everything is in there…that’s why I have such a big case.” I smile, gazing at the handsomeness of my beloved as he slides my luggage from the bed, leaning in to kiss me on the temple. Despite it being a daily occurrence and my having his affection for more than three years now, he still gives me heart flutters anytime he touches me. I almost melt with the gooey warmth of his smile and the attention he gives me.I guess now we attend different lectures all day, every day, I don’t see him as much as I used to, and it makes me long for him more.“Good girl.” He drops it to the floor, extends the handle as he
Dane brushes himself down with a grimace even though she didn’t touch him and turns our way before hitting me with a bright, sexy smile, and he closes the gap between us. Forgetting all about that shrew.“Miss me? Look, such a good boy all enrolled back in school .” he holds up his forms with glee as though serving me some great achievement certificate, and I reach up and ruffle his hair before patting his head.“Such a good boy. I’ll reward you later.”“You can reward me now…teacher still ain't here.” Dane winks, leaning in as though he plans on kissing me and I shove him off and move around my desk to put distance between us. It’s one thing announcing your status but yet another entirely to make out while half the class is openly gawping at Dane for his sudden return.“Behave,” I warn and lean out to pat his cheek, seeing as he looks like a sulky child now.There's chatter around us, and I hear his name mentioned subtly as Charmaigne charges back in, looking ferocious as hell. Her m
“You are very energetic and happy today? Is it because your boyfriend is returning?” I tease Tyler as he almost bounces into the row behind us in the first class of the week. Throwing his bag down and grabbing Elisa by the head to plant a dramatic kiss right on her crown. I spent the last few days at home settling Bryan in and getting used to the new strained dynamic at home, and I am glad to be back here. As nice as it was to have so much time home and spend a lot of it with Dane, it still felt like we were walking on eggshells around my mom, and it was taking a mental toll. Life is adjusting, though, and my mom really is keeping her mouth shut, even when she walks in on us, cuddling or kissing.“He’s been so excited; it’s actually cute… can’t deny the bromance is strong in those two, and I pale in comparison.” Elisa pipes in, grinning back at him with her funny dig over the chair she’s half-turned in, and he leans forward to peck her on the tip of her nose.“Bestie love does not ev
“We can go to my study…Dane, just Kayla.” She adds as though he will follow and he probably was going to, but she’s right. Something started between her and I and should be resolved that way. Dane has been shielding me too much lately because of my inability to face more drama. I need to put my big girl panties back on. Her and Dane have nothing to say to one another anyway, and he will only put her on the defensive, which I want to avoid.“I’ll be close by….just yell if you need me…… Very close by.” Dane doesn’t lower his voice; instead gets louder with his warning tone, making it obvious to my mom that he doesn’t trust her, and I pat his arm to get him to release me.I slide out of his arms and follow my mom out of the kitchen, across the hall, and into the study without looking back, even though I can feel all their eyes follow me out. Already, my insides are like a washing machine because I do not know what exactly she intends to say to me.My mom is being weirdly quiet, too, and
“You four are making me feel chronically single.” Hannah huffs, pushing the cans of soda across the breakfast bar towards Elisa as Tyler opens up some bags of chips for us to share. We have a stack of pizza boxes waiting to dive into and a plan to darken the nook to spend the day eating junk and watching movies. Dane and I are too tired for anything else and feel like we are on some emotional comedown after a month of hell.“What happened to your Korean boyfriend? That distance could not separate you from?” Dane chimes in with obvious sarcasm oozing, while leaning into me from behind to deposit the dip we made. It’s clear to me that teasing Hannah is a full-time occupation when they are in the same room. She really is like his annoying younger sister, even if she is our age.“I am devoted to Min Yoongi, but I would like to experience a present boyfriend. Someone I can touch and laugh with.” Hannah sulks slightly, clearly regretting her life choices.“I can’t imagine anyone would want
My Dad never calls me, rarely picks mine up, and never texts either. So, seeing it now, flashing so invasively on my phone is enough to make my heart thud through my chest painfully.“Do you want me to give you space to take it?” Dane interrupts my obvious inability to move, breaking the spell it’s cast over me.“No…stay!” A sense of panic grips my stomach and throat, and the sudden cold wash of nerves sobers my good mood. Instantly afraid of what he is calling me for even though, logically, I know.My mom must have called him, or Bryan, at least.Maybe he wants to clarify…I don’t even know.“Are you going to answer it or keep staring at it?” Dane interrupts the deer in the headlight motion of me holding it at half arm’s length, and I blink at it, then him, and shake my head.“Do you need me to do it?”“I don’t know.” I sound terrified. I don’t think I have it in me to answer the call. There is so much grey area when it comes to my dad. So many times I have been hurt by him that faci
“Well, this is depressing.” Dane wheels his case into his old barren bedroom, gazing around at the emptiness even though all his furniture is still there. “It feels like someone else's room.”All the personality is gone without his things in here, and it smells like a fresh, floral hotel, thanks to Monique. His art, posters, pictures, trinkets and books are all gone, leaving empty walls, shelves, and surfaces where he used to have such an array of masculine things, more so after he moved in here permanently and brought it all from his mom’s house.“Imagine how it made me feel watching it get this way….you’re an ass.” I throw him a mock glare and get a kiss blown back at me.“I wanted you to miss me.” He winks and goes back to his case. In a happy mood ever since we started packing to come here.I gaze around, infected by his happiness, and yet sigh at the memories of being in here without him.Even the lack of his laundry tossed on the floor somehow makes this place impersonal. The be
“There’s a lot that this test result will change….I know now is probably not the best time to talk about where we go from here. You probably need to process it the same way we did, but I want you to know….I'm not going back to the UK. I’ll sort it out myself. Enroll back in school, find somewhere to stay, maybe with Tyler….” Dane sounds so far removed from the immature rebel of months ago who was forever making my life hell and living stupidly. He sounds like this experience has aged him so much.He has a sensible head on, his eyes set on the future and he’s not reacting one ounce to my mom. It’s like she no longer has any affect on him.“You’ll move back home, there is no argument in that. I’ll call the school and arrange for you to go in and re-enroll. I’ll call your mom and explain things. Don’t worry about anything. I told you, didn’t I… always your home and whenever you wanted to come back.”For being the fragile one here, Bryan seems to be the one most resigned and okay with thi