The Line Between

by Tamsyn Bester

  “You’re so full of yourself,” she said. “You’re deluded if you think I’d waste a minute of my time trying to piss you off, like I’m one of your groupies vying for your attention. It’s quite sad actually. You think so highly of yourself, when you know I couldn’t care less.”

  I leaned in, and fought the urge to grab her to me. She was testing every single one of my limits and she had no fucking clue.

  “You care,” I replied. “I’ll show you, and I’ll make you pay for your little stunt tonight.”

  She opened her mouth, a quick-witted retort on the tip of her tongue no doubt, but I crushed my mouth to hers before she could get it out. I’d been fantasizing about her sassy mouth for years, and I wasn’t sure if it was her conspicuous animosity towards me or my inability to restrain myself that pushed me over the edge. Either way, I was taking what I wanted with no intention of giving anything back. I was met with resistance, Kennedy’s mouth unwilling to open. She even shook her head, albeit a half-hearted attempt to get me to stop. The noticeable tension in her body seeped into mine, and I waited it out the only way I knew how – by pushing a little harder until the futility of her attempts to fight me off became clear. I knew the exact moment she yielded, and I couldn’t be less bothered that it had taken her so long. All I cared about was that she had.

  My tongue dove in, tracing the contours of her hot mouth. She tasted like coffee, and mint, and the combination was surprisingly delectable. It took a moment for her to respond, but when she did the atmosphere shifted. The electrical pulse between our bodies surged through every part of my body, warming my blood, and making my heart jump wildly. Her delicate hands held onto my forearms, and moved up as I wrapped my arms around her trim waist. I lifted her up and placed her on the edge of her desk, stepping between her legs so that our hips were perfectly lined up.

  Kennedy bit my bottom lip, and I groaned into her mouth, coaxing her to bite harder. I wanted it rough, and I got the distinct impression she did too.

  “Dane.” My name left her mouth as a whimpered rebuff, but there was no way to stop me from taking this from her, or her from giving it to me.

  “Don’t talk,” I said, my voice thick, and gruff against her soft lips.

  “Demanding,” she breathed. I fought a smile. This beautiful woman – I no longer thought of her as a girl – was determined to push my buttons.

  My hands tightened around her waist, and I squeezed, a silent directive to heed my warning. Like the smart girl she was, she listened, and her body molded to mine in implicit submission.

  With deft fingers, I lifted her too-thin tank over the perfect globes that were her tits, and clutched them in my palms with a firm grasp. My dick jumped in my jeans, and I rocked my hips, pressing into her. I wanted to feel how wet she was, if she was as aroused as I was. With that thought in mind, I dropped a hand between her legs, and down the front of her shorts. My fingers slipped through her smooth skin, and found her soaked.

  “Jesus,” I muttered. “You’re so fucking wet. Is that for me?”

  “No,” she sighed.

  I opened my eyes, and pulled away. “You’re lying.”

  I pushed my fingers into her, loving the way her tight body sucked my fingers in. “You really,” – I curled my fingers up, and pressed – “shouldn’t” – I did it again, only harder – “do that.”

  “Ahhh…oh shit.” Her breathing became choppy, her hips riding the hand between her legs while the other played with her pebbled nipple. She held on to me, and dug her nails into my arms for leverage. I hissed, watching her mouth form an ‘O’ while I brought her to the brink of orgasm. I’d never seen something so devastatingly beautiful in my life – lips flushed, cheeks tinged with a rosy hue and eyes begging silently for release.

  “You like that?” I asked, moving my fingers in a circular motion. “You like watching me do this to you?”

  Her eyes widened, and I knew I had her. She liked the dirty talk, and her body reacted to every word.

  I let go of her breast, and slid my hand around her neck. “Tell me you’re close,” – I ground my jaw, and inhaled her scent – “Beg me to make you come.”

  She struggled, but I gave her the chance to work through her hesitancy to give in to her baser need. Or maybe it was her resistance to having me be the one to satisfy it. I felt the change, rather than saw it, when she relented.

  “Dane, please. I need to…”

  Her words trailed off as I increased my pace, and when she tightened around my fingers, ready to let go, I stopped.

  It took everything in me to pull my fingers from her waiting body, to not drop my jeans and just thrust into her.

  “I told you I’d make you pay.”

  Kennedy’s eyes fluttered, giving away the exact moment understanding dawned. I was expecting her to cover herself quickly, maybe even get angry. But that’s not what I got.

  She stayed on her desk, totally exposed to me and I held my breath.

  “You did that on purpose,” she stated, her voice shaky and not at all surprised. There was a hint of fortitude there too.

  “You should know I always win,” I replied, feeling rather smug. I watched her carefully. Something on her face changed, her features becoming resolute, and unwavering. It wasn’t much, just a hint, but it was enough to be noticeable.

  “You’re right,” – she inhaled deeply. “You always win. But tell me, Dane, does this feel like winning to you?”

  She leaned back on one hand, and used the other to massage her still-naked breast. Her eyes stayed connected with mine, and they challenged me, revealing a side to Kennedy I had never seen before. I couldn’t move.

  Her hand moved lower, caressing the skin of her taut stomach, and disappeared into her shorts. I didn’t want to believe what I was seeing. I shouldn’t have been enjoying it, but, fuck, I was.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, despising the husk in the tone of my voice.

  She bit her lip, and sucked before replying, “Winning.”

  My throat went dry, and I had to clench my fists to stop myself from going to her. I wanted to stop her, but at the same time I was too enamored with the way she touched herself to do it.

  “Oh God,” she sighed, moving her hand in circles. “I’m so wet for you, Dane.”

  My mouth fell open, but nothing came out. The words were lodged in my throat, despite my need to get them out. Jesus.

  “I’m so close.” She panted, and after a few seconds, her head fell back, and her body quivered. I heard her shudder, saw her painted toes curl, my name falling from her lips in a breathy exhalation.

  Motherfucker.

  She looked back up, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glazed over. Watching that had to have been the hottest thing I’d ever seen.

  Her mouth twisted into a self-congratulatory smile, and I recognized the challenge. I shook it off, reminding myself that I couldn’t give her the upper hand. I needed to be the one to deliver the final blow, even if it felt like she had in fact won this round.

  “At least now I can tell Chase that you’re not as frigid as we all thought you were. I’m sure he’ll put in some extra effort if he knows you might put out.”

  I all but spat the words out, but I had to see it through. The thought of Kennedy going on a date with Chase made me sick, even if I had no right to feel that way. Chase was the star quarterback, with quite the reputation, and the idea of him touching Kennedy riled me up. She wasn’t mine, and I had no claim on her, but that didn’t mean I wanted someone else, especially a douche like Chase, to lay a finger on her.

  Her face fell, giving away the moment she understood that she’d still lost. The desolate look in her eyes showed me too much, and for the first time since we’d started playing this silly game I felt regret. But not enough to end whatever it was that we had.

  For now though, I needed to walk way because she’d managed to fuck with my head, and I had no idea how to regroup.

  There was nothing left to say, so I spun on
my heel, and stormed out, leaving Kennedy and committing the way she looked on that desk to memory.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Kennedy

  DANE LEFT MY bedroom, and I waited for the click of the front door. When I was sure he was no longer on our apartment, I pulled my tank top down, and sank to the floor.

  What the hell had I just done?

  I was mortified, and any sense of victory over Dane was short lived. Once again I’d played right into the palm of his hand, and when the moment was right, he retaliated. I waited, and waited for the bile to climb up my throat, a telltale sign that what I’d done with Dane, and then in front of him made me feel sick. But if I was completely honest with myself, I enjoyed it. The feel of his hands all over my over sensitized skin, and inside me. The taste of his lips. The heat of his mouth. The way his hips fitted with mine. And especially the way his eyes watched me while I touched myself.

  The whole experience had my insides coiled tightly, both from disbelief, and a sick kind of arousal.

  God. What the hell was wrong with me? I never behaved like that, like a hussy. I’d never been that girl, and one moment of weakness where Dane frazzled my senses and I was grinding on him, and making myself come with his eyes on me.

  I shook my head, and held it in my hands. I was sitting rather uncomfortably on the floor next to my bed, but I couldn’t stand up just yet. I wanted to absorb the reality of what I’d just done to myself, and maybe it would be enough to make me steer as far away from Dane as I could. I’d done well avoiding him, barely glancing at him when we happened to pass each other in the hallway between our apartments, but we always ended up in the same place, like we were gravitating towards each other in some weird way. It was perplexing, and the more I thought about what it meant, the more it confused me.

  He hated me, and I was supposed to hate him.

  That’s the way it had to be.

  ** ** **

  CHASE CAME BACK from grabbing us two chocolate shakes and cheese burgers with fries and placed them between us on the tailgate of his truck.

  When he fetched me for our “date” thirty minutes ago, I hadn’t imagined coming out to a field with a food stand in the middle of nowhere. But I liked it.

  The food stand was an old, refurbished metal caravan with a few tables and chairs outside. They only made burgers, and fries, and what Chase boasted were the best milkshakes in all of Brighton. He also told me the ‘pop up’ diner – the caravan – moved around, and only stayed in one spot for a week at a time.

  Chase hopped up next to me, and immediately starting eating, while I sipped my shake. He was right. It was the best chocolate shake I’d ever had. Not that I was picky when it came to anything involving chocolate. I looked up at the sky, marveling at how clear it was, and how spectacularly the twinkling stars lit it up. The warm air ghosted across my skin, and I took in the surroundings. There were a few other trucks parked to the side, people laughing as they enjoyed their food, and even a few couples sharing romantic moments in what I thought of as the perfect country setting.

  “What’s got you thinking so hard over there?” Asked Chase, breaking the somewhat awkward silence. We’d managed a relatively easy conversation on the ride over, but now things felt a little awkward.

  “I’m thinking about how peaceful it is out here,” I replied. “And how perfect this spot is for a romantic date.”

  Chase swallowed his food, and turned to me. “I didn’t think it would be considered romantic. I figured girls only liked the fancy expensive restaurants when going on a date.”

  “Good thing we’re not on a date,” I replied with a giggle.

  “Damn, that hurts.” He feigned hurt, and then threw me a playful wink telling me he was kidding.

  I slapped his arm, and took a bite of my fries. “I can’t imagine you go on dates. From what Grady told me you’re quite the playboy.”

  He chuckled, and the sound somehow helped me relax a little.

  “Don’t believe everything my brother tells you. He has a flare for being over dramatic, and tends to exaggerate where I’m concerned.”

  My brows rose in skepticism. “So you’re saying he’s lying?”

  Chase thought about it for a long minute, and then replied, “No.”

  I laughed, and threw my napkin at him. “I thought so. I guess it’s part of the territory though, right? Being the star football player and all.”

  Chase sighed, and looked pensive. “People expect it of me, you know? Sometimes it’s easier to live the image people give you, rather than pretending.”

  His answer surprised me, and I caught the wistfulness of his tone. “Don’t you get tired of it though? Don’t you want to meet someone and settle down?”

  Chase turned his gaze, and stared at a couple across the field who were dancing like no one was watching. “It’s better than getting hurt. And besides, I don’t want to be tied down any time soon. I like my freedom.” He grinned widely, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. That was such a guy thing to say.

  “What about you?” He asked. “Why’s a pretty little thing like you single?”

  The way he asked me made it sound like the idea really confused him. Like me being single was unfathomable. My thoughts immediately drifted to Dane, and I wished they hadn’t. I’d been doing well not thinking about him, and had enjoyed the reprieve after what happened on Saturday night in my bedroom. I hadn’t told Jade about that, and I wasn’t sure I ever would. I was too embarrassed, and not because it was Dane, but because I liked it, and there was no way I’d be able to keep those feelings from Jade.

  “My life is…complicated.” I sighed. “I’m not really interested in dating right now. I have enough on my plate with school, and trying to figure out my major.”

  Chase’s cool green eyes regarded me, and I found myself hoping he didn’t take any offense to what I’d said. We both knew this wasn’t a real date, and that he only offered because he felt bad about hitting me in the head with his football.

  “So there’s nothing going on between you and Dane then?”

  My eyes widened with shock. I hadn’t expected that.

  “Nothing, I mean we can’t stand each other. Why?”

  Chase pursed his lips. “I saw the way he was looking at you at the coffee shop, so I was curious.”

  Instead of replying, I took a bite of my burger, and looked away. I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Chase placed his hand on my knee, and squeezed, making me jerk my head back towards him.

  “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable,” he said quietly, reading my thoughts. “It’s just that, well, I like you, Kennedy, and I want to make sure I wouldn’t be stepping on anyone’s toes if we were to become friends.”

  I swallowed my food, and thought about how to respond. My head was stuck on the ‘I like you’ part, but also on the insinuation that Dane would be pissed if Chase and I were friends. Or possibly more. So I chose honesty.

  “Dane and I have a bit of an ugly past, but there’s never been, nor will there ever be, anything romantic. I doubt we can even make to friends. He hates me too much.”

  Chase’s brows puckered, but much to my relief he didn’t say anything more. Instead, he gathered up our empty food wrappers, and hopped from his truck to throw them away.

  With his back to me, I had the chance to get a good look at him. It made perfect sense why the girls swooned over his classic, clean cut looks. He was dressed in designer jeans that looked like they’d made to fit his legs. The denim hugged his thighs and his butt, and only made his gait look sexier. His navy blue shirt remained untucked, with the first few buttons open, and his sleeves rolled up. His blond hair was stylishly messy, and he had light stubble covering his strong jaw. So why wasn’t I salivating at the sight of him? Why wasn’t my belly swarming with excited butterflies because this gorgeous guy had taken me out to dinner? Even if it was an apology.

  I saw Chase making his way back, and plastered on a wide smile, hoping it would defuse the
slightly tense atmosphere. He walked to the drivers’ side of the truck, opened it, and flicked on the radio. I heard Taylor Swift playing through the speakers, and laughed when Chase reached his hand out to me.

  “I didn’t think you’d be a fan of Taylor Swift,” I said, following him a short distance away from his truck. He turned and wrapped one arm around my waist, and took my hand in his. He started swaying, and I fell into his easy rhythm.

  “I’m not. Her music is terrible.”

  “It is not!”

  “It is too. It’s complete dribble!”

  I swatted his chest. “I happen to like the dribble, thank you very much.”

  “Well,” he coughed, “If I had known you had such poor taste in music, I would never have asked you on a date.”

  “I have great taste in music. Taylor Swift is a lyrical genius, and to be clear, you asked me on a date because you threw a football at my head.”

  “For the record, I didn’t throw it at you. You walked into it.”

  “Oh my God,” I laughed. “You are impossible, Chase Ambrose. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  A chuckle made its way up his throat. “All the time, actually. In fact, my brother likes to remind me that I’m a pain in his ass on a daily basis.”

  I laughed at that, imagining how Grady busted his chops the way only a big brother can. Before I could think about Charlie, and how fiercely I missed him Chase spun me around, and then dipped me. I squealed in surprise, and held onto him a little tighter before he righted us.

  “This reminds me of senior prom,” Chase mused, his lips forming a gentle smile. “Before we got drunk, of course.”

  I snickered. “Why does that not surprise me?”

  Chase shrugged sheepishly, his beautiful green eyes meeting mine. “You can’t tell me you didn’t misbehave at least a little when you went to prom.”

  I looked away, fighting the sudden lump that his comment had put in my throat. “I didn’t go.” My voice was soft, and it betrayed the sadness of the memory.