“You let me in, and I fucked up,” I say. I feel her breath catch, and her body relaxes further into me. “I’m going to prove how important you are to me. You have always been and will always be my top priority, never think otherwise. I’m sorry I made you doubt it, especially after you let me touch you like that. I was a dick, and I hate myself for it.” I graze my nose along her cheek and jaw. “I crave you, Kam, I want all of you, all the time. And I don’t want anyone else to have you. Ever.”
“Keaton, I’m sorry, too.” There’s a hitch to her voice. She shifts out of my embrace, and turns to face me. She looks up from beneath her lashes; her eyes are glassy, cheeks flushed. I stroke her cheek with my thumb. Kami Sutherland is everything I’ve ever wanted in one beautiful package, and I hope to hell she’s willing to try this, because I don’t think I can walk away without a fight. “The terrible things I said…”
“I said them, too,” I reassure her. “We were hurting, we were both wrong.”
“You scare me,” she says softly.
“You scare me, too.” I pull her in close and touch my forehead to hers. “The feelings I have for you scare the shit out of me. I don’t wanna fuck this up.”
“Then don’t.” Her warm eyes sparkle with mirth, a playful grin playing on her lips.
“That easy, eh?”
“Talk to me, I’ll talk to you. We do that, we should be all right,” she says confidently, then tacks on, “Seems simple to me.”
“You’re a beautiful pain in my ass, you know that? You always gonna bust my balls?”
“Someone has to. Who better for the job than someone who really, really likes you, and is willing to let you off the hook now and then? Someone who knows you value your career, and gets that, and values it as well. Someone who just wants to know you’d carve a little time for her if she asked, once in a while.” She raises her brow in challenge.
I grip her hips and squeeze. “I want this, Kam, with you. I want to be the guy who deserves to take care of you, the guy who will make sure you know he’ll always have the time.”
“Hey.” She places her hand on my cheek. “You being deserving? That’s never been the issue, Keaton, you hear me? There’s nothing for you to deserve. You’ve been that guy, since I was what—eight? Six? Get it?” she laughs, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and I feel like I can breathe for the first time in weeks.
“I get you,” I relent.
“Look, I’m not going to pretend I’m not afraid of losing you. I am. I’m not sure I could bounce back again if something didn’t work out between us. But this distance between us has been slowly killing me. I’ve missed you so much it hurts. I hate feeling this way, and I realize more and more how much is at stake for both of us. I want us to promise each other that no matter what, our friendship will survive this.”
“Like I’d ever let you get rid of me, or let you get away that easily,” I say.
“I hated who we were at Sip Club,” she says, pulling me in close by the lapels of my jacket.
“We won’t let it get that far again,” I promise. “We were wrong, what was said was all bullshit. And how I acted.”
“I know.” She rests her head on my chest.
“Except for the things I said about you being mine. I won’t ever apologize for that. You are, and I refuse to share.”
“Caveman,” she says, looking up at me, shaking her head, her “Oh Keat, please,” smile spreading across her mouth. Another one of my favourites.
“When it comes to you, Hellcat, it’s my natural instinct,” I shrug. Then, with both my hands, I frame her gorgeous face, needing her complete attention. “I can’t promise I won’t ever get jealous when it comes to you, ’cause I will.”
“I guess we’ll both have to learn to adapt and cope,” Kam says. “I’m not a jealous person, yet when it comes to you, Keaton, I swear I work overtime fending off an inner green beast from surfacing and losing her shit. I’m saying The Hulk has nothing on this girl.” I laugh.
“You are my absolute favourite, Kami, and I’ll never let you feel like less again. No matter what happens between us.”
“Good thing you’re my favourite, too, I guess.”
“Show me,” I challenge.
“Take your coat off and go sit on the couch, and I will,” Kam sasses, and I practically sprint, tossing my jacket before landing my ass on her overstuffed grey sofa.
Eyes on mine, she comes to stand in the space between my legs. Leaning forward she runs her index finger across my bottom lip. “I want the freedom to feel your lips on mine, whenever I want them.” She leans down and nips at my bottom lip before brushing her lips tentatively over mine then morphs the kiss into more, something which feels like forever. I pull her gently down on top of my lap. She straddles me, and my dick goes rock hard at having her right there. “I want to know what it’s like to touch you whenever I want,” she whispers. Her hand reaches between us and she starts rubbing my denim-clad cock.
“Kam…” I shift her so I can feel the warmth of her pussy lined up with the head of my cock, so I can rub up on her perfectly.
“And for you to be able to touch me whenever you want.” She gives me a sexy smirk before arching backwards and reaching for the hem of her kid-sized Goonies shirt. She lifts it up over her head and tosses it aside.
“You’re a goddamn wet dream,” I say, my eyes meeting her mouth-watering tits. Lifting herself, she feeds me her tits. I suck on one pert nipple—barbells and all—then the other.
“Yes,” she hisses, “Feels so good, Keat.”
Palming her ass, I start to move her hips, helping her to grind down on my cock. I can feel her lips parting through her skimpy shorts, and if we keep this up, I’m going to come like a fucking thirteen-year-old.
Kam’s gorgeous face meets mine. Her breathing is laboured, her breath hot, as she keeps up the rhythm. I can feel how wet she is even through my jeans. I take her tits in both my hands and squeeze them before bringing them to my mouth once again.
“Fuck, you’re so sexy, Kam. You feel so damn good,” I say, then gently pull at first one barbell with my teeth, then the other, making her moan. I pick up the pace while she rocks her pussy along the bulge of my dick, making me quake beneath her, bringing us both barrelling down the rabbit hole within seconds. She falls, and I’m right behind her. We sit, spent and sated, my hands running down Kam’s bare back while we both catch our breath.
After some time, Kami shifts up and our gazes lock. She gives me a devastating smile and once again rocks my world—but this time, it’s not with her actions but her words. She kisses my lips, then whispers over them, “I want you to be mine, Keat. And, I want to be yours, too.”
“Thank fuck for that, Kam,” I say, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. A few minutes later, I shift us up off the couch. With her in my arms, I carry her to her room, where we both clean up and change before slipping into bed.
We spend the rest of the night talking about the future, both agreeing to keep this between us for now so we can enjoy just being us for a while before letting anyone else into our new world. For the first time in weeks, I fall asleep with a smile on my face. I hold Kami Sutherland, who falls asleep in my arms as mine.
43
Cat’s Out of the Bag
Keaton
It’s Wednesday, and I’m at Brass Tapps with McCoy and a few other buddies for drinks and trivia. With the girls gone to Cancun for March Break, I had to enlist some help. Thank fuck for Tristan, the guy’s like a savant when it comes to useless information, and I know he’ll help me carry the team of Phil, Brody, McCoy and me.
It’s been almost a month since Kam and I have become a couple and we still haven’t told a soul. Although from my conversations with my sister—and the fact that she’s Kam’s best friend—it might not be the big secret we think it is. But between school for Kam and Inkredible still being crazy busy since the spread in INKED, Kami and I have decided we kind of like flying under the radar and h
aving our secret rendezvous too much right now to tell everyone and make it a public thing.
“Starting in fifteen, guys,” Jenn the Quiztress says with a smile and a pat on my back as she drops off our answer booklets.
While the guys are distracted shooting the shit with Jenn and Sandy, who came to take drink orders, I turn to my new iPhone. I’m pissed that it takes me a second to remember where the photo album is, but I manage to pull up the photo I wanted one last look at before the game, one Kam had sent me Monday morning when the girls were about to hit the beach.
Fuck, I miss her.
I can’t help the smile that skates across my face when I see Kam sitting on a lounge chair surrounded by lush palm trees looking like a sun goddess, pointing down to the sexy-as-sin black bikini she’s wearing. It’s the same one I begged desperately for her to leave behind on Thursday night when I’d gone over to spend some time with her before she left for Cancun on Friday after school…
“You sure you’re okay to bring in the mail and water the plants? I can get Jane or Jer to come over and do it, it’s no problem,” Kami asks. I watch from my spot at the head of the bed as she tosses not only a skimpy, purple bikini but also a black one into her suitcase at the foot of the bed.
“I can swing by either before or after work. It’s on my way, babe, don’t worry,” I say. When she turns towards her closet, I take the opportunity to reach into the case and remove both suits, slipping them under the pillow I’ve been resting against.
“What do you think? This dress or this one?” she asks, holding up two pretty sundresses. I’m starting to think March Break needs to be cancelled.
“I still think you should stay and teach the March Madness reading program. Think of the kids,” I suggest, followed up with a mouthed “neither,” in regard to the dresses.
“Aww, is someone going to miss me. Worrying about me already,” Kam singsongs, dropping the dresses to the floor as she saunters over to me. My eyes are glued to the sway of her hips in her tight yoga pants. We still haven’t had sex yet, but we do make out a lot. If I play my cards right, maybe Kam will give me a farewell blowjob?
“Nah, I won’t miss you that much. The quiet will be nice,” I say, as she straddles me against the headboard.
“That’s good. I don’t plan on missing you, either,” she whispers in my ear as I pull her Black Keys T-shirt over her head, exposing those gorgeous tits.
“Yes,” she moans, when I suck hard on her nipple. She reaches down, her hands going for the hem of my T-shirt. One thing Kami loves is the friction of her piercings against my exposed chest, so my shirt is usually the first thing to go. She’s slipping her hand behind my back to remove it when I feel her jerk to a stop. I stifle a laugh, knowing I’m busted.
“Keat! You little shit!” she laughs, shaking her head as she dangles both bikinis in the air.
“What?” I say, innocently. “I’m just thinking of that beautiful skin of yours. Pack the one-pieces, best to be sun conscious so you don’t burn yourself,” I try, and she just shakes her head.
“How about I pack sunscreen?” She presses her lips to mine, and I see her toss the bikinis over her shoulder and back into the case.
“Would you at least consider a pantsuit for the evenings?” I ask, making her laugh.
“You’re so going to miss me,” Kam giggles, and I push her onto her back and kiss the shit out of her ’cause, yeah, maybe I will, just a little…
“Let’s do this!” Tristan claps his hands, interrupting my thoughts, and grabs the 10th-round picture booklet, flipping it open for us all to see.
“That’s Helen Hunt,” Tristan says confidently, and I agree, about the question which asks: “Whose eyes are these?” and showcases a cropped headshot of a pair of feminine eyes.
“Yup, I agree,” Brody adds, and I write the answer beside question number four.
“You with us tonight, Coy? She’ll be home in three days, you know,” I laugh, teasing him when I noticed he’s being unusually quiet.
“Shut. Up.” He takes a pull from his pint of IPA.
“Touchy,” I say, making the guys laugh.
“As if you’re not pining away for your little running buddy, Keaton. You aren’t fooling anyone at this table, either. Too bad you’re too pigheaded to admit what we all know.”
“It’s true,” says Philip, “it’s like a perpetual game of foreplay with you and Kam. Aren’t your balls purple by now?”
“Fuck off. We’re friends. It’s good the way it is,” I deflect, not wanting to give us away and also not really lying because it actually is good between us. I wave Sandy back over when Quizmistress Jenn calls a break, deciding I do want another round.
“I have to make a call. I’ll be right back.” McCoy stands, picking up his cell from the pile of phones lying facedown at the centre of the table.
“Hurry up,” I call. “And tell my sister how pussy-whipped she has you while you’re talking to her.” I laugh when he flips me off.
“Between the two of you, I’m not sure who’s worse,” Brody chimes in, and it’s my turn to flip the bird. Just then my phone rings, but when I pick it up, I realize it’s not actually my phone, it’s McCoy’s. I answer anyway, seeing the name “Sprinkles” lighting up the screen. We talk for a few minutes, and Eastlyn asks me to let McCoy know she’s called.
We’re sitting around shooting the shit knocking back some laughs, when McCoy comes back a few minutes later, a shit-eating grin on his face, and I immediately know he’s read my texts, obviously having accidentally picked up my phone when he left the table.
“Everything all right?” Brody asks.
“Yeah, I stepped outside, and was going to call Rory back about the wedding,” McCoy says, “but I grabbed the wrong phone by mistake.” He nods to the table where four identical black iPhones sit. This is why when my Samsung had finally broken, I hadn’t wanted to replace it with an iPhone, but Kam convinced me it would be better for me. Apparently not. “We need to get different cases or something. Anyway, here, Keat. I had yours.” He drops it in my hand with a chuckle. Bastard. I know it’s coming, but I try to skip past it.
“Yeah, I figured that out when I picked up what I thought was my phone when it rang and Eastlyn couldn’t figure out how she misdialed. She said to tell you she’s in her room for the night, and to call her when we’re done kicking ass at trivia,” I relay, knowing he’ll be pissed he missed her but happy she called.
“Perfect, thanks.” He sits back down. “Oh, I almost forgot. Keaton…”
And here it comes.
“…there’s a new message from your little ‘Hellcat’ on your phone. Might be a few by now, your phone was going off like crazy when I was on my way back here,” he announces, that satisfied smirk of his on full display (especially because he knows that while the game’s on, there’s no cell phone use permitted until the next break).
“Asshole,” I say, trying not to show how pissed I am that he made me miss her texts, and how now I have to wait. Patience has never really been my strong suit. And with Kam in Mexico, our communication time has been limited.
“Who the heck is ‘Hellcat’?” Philip asks, breaking the tension. And, of course, my best friend—being the shithead he is—pipes up and asks me, too.
“Yeah, Keat. Tell us about this ‘Hellcat’ of yours?”
“She’s not mine,” I lie, trying not to give anything away. Kam and I decided we’d officially tell McCoy, Eastlyn, and our parents together, so the last thing I want is to blow it now. I glance across the room at Jenn, working my Jedi mind tricks to try to make her start the next round.
McCoy just sits back and laughs, then whispers, “Funny, Keat. I think we both know she’s totally yours.”
“Piss off and play the game, Coy.”
“Easy, Tiger,” he cackles, “or does Kami call you something else?” he asks, getting under my skin. “Pumpkin? It’s Pumpkin, isn’t it?”
“Whatever, man. You know we’re just friends.”
“Yeah, I used to say that about your sister…” the bastard jeers, and I want to wipe that smug look off his face.
Thankfully, the game starts again, and takes my mind off the texts awaiting me. Our team even manages to answer all the questions, but the next break can’t come soon enough. As soon as it does, I jump out of my chair telling the guys I need to make an important call. Their laughter follows me as I leave the table.
Once away from the guys, I pull up a stool at the bar, wave to Cassie for another beer, then begin scrolling and reading through our text message thread.
Keaton: Tell me when you land safe, pls?
Kami: Why? Get East to message you.
Keaton: Just do it, Kam.
Kami: And if I don’t?
Little shit, always playing hard to get in her texts with me, even though once I get her in person, she’s putty in my hand.
Keaton: I’ll hop on the next fucking plane, Hellcat.
Kami: Easy, killer. I’ll message you. Wouldn’t want you coming here to interrupt me from going native ;)
Keaton: Not fucking funny, Kamilla.
Kami: I think it is. Boarding.
Keaton: Safe flight. Message me.
Kami: Yes, boss! SMH
I laugh, remembering how she’d called me shortly after this exchange before the plane took off, to explain how Eastlyn has been all over her about us messaging so much and trying to read over her shoulder. Eastlyn is totally on to us, and is trying to make Kami cave and admit to her that we’re together. And we will tell her, just not yet. We want more time to figure us out as a couple before we let the hounds in. So while Kami’s away, she’ll have to be extra careful not to slip up. Hence the strange messages I’ve been getting when Eastlyn is likely nearby.
Kami: Landed. Heading to hotel.
Keaton: Now was that so hard?
Kami: You’re annoying.
Keaton: Thanks for the message, baby, be safe.
And then, tonight’s message:
Kami: I’m drunk, and I miss u. But in the morning when I look, I’ll remind myself u rd this. Then I’m gonna pretend you deleted it like it didn’t happen. And—like Lord Voldemort—we’ll never mention it again. OK?
First Love (Winning at Love Book 2) Page 24