The Line Between

by Tamsyn Bester

  He was slightly taken aback by my words, and so was I. But he brought it out in me, making me want to match him in every way.

  He smirked, and after rubbing the head of his cock against my clit, he gripped my hips and pushed inside with one hard thrust. I covered my mouth with my palms to silence the shocked scream his invasion evoked, and arched my back as my body adjusted to his size. It had been a while since I’d last had sex, and even then it wasn’t like this. The slight twinge of pain subsided, and I was overcome with the feeling of exquisite fullness.

  “You okay?” Dane’s voice was strained, and I relaxed my shoulders so that I could look at him. His face was taut, no doubt from holding on to his control, and his stomach rippled with his harsh breaths.

  Words weren’t possible, and any attempt to speak would probably misfire on account of my brain checking out, so I did the next best thing to show him I was more than okay.

  I squeezed my muscles, and rolled my hips, fighting not to smile when Dane growled. He pulled back, and then slid back in once, twice. On the next thrust, he let go, and pounded his way into my body, his piercing hitting the same spot every time. I tried to keep quiet, but it was proving to be almost impossible in my delirious state.

  “Mmmmmm.” I bit into my palm, and screwed my eyes shut. I was already so close.

  “That’s it.” Dane stared down at where his cock drove into me. “God, I’ve never seen such a perfect pussy.”

  With my free hand, I started massaging my breast, twisting my hard nipple between my fingers. My skin was slick with sweat as our bodies came together, the smell of us permeating the air.

  “Please,” I whined, pulling my hand through my damp hair.

  “I’ve got you,” grunted Dane. “Just,” Thrust. “Like.” Thrust. “That.”

  My orgasm hit me like a tidal wave, ripping its way through every never ending until they were frayed. My thighs shook, my toes curled, and I stifled my scream by covering my mouth with my forearm. Dane didn’t stop, and it intensified the euphoria pulsing through every fiber of my body. I wanted him to fall over with me, so I hooked my feet behind his waist, and clenched around him until he fell forward and shook between my legs. His teeth sank into my breast, muting his snarl while he rode out his own orgasm.

  We stayed like that until we could breathe again, and all the while I rubbed his back, his arms, his thighs, and his chest. I’d never in my life thought sex could be so… tempestuous, and explosive.

  “Damn woman.” Dane’s hot breath hit my neck, and felt a ridiculous smile overtake my face.

  “You weren’t so bad yourself,” I replied haughtily, feeling pretty good about myself.

  He lifted his head, his eyes bright and brilliant as they regarded me. “We’re not done yet.”

  He’d started to soften inside me, but after a few minutes, I felt his cock lengthen.

  “Again?” I couldn’t hide the surprise – or arousal from feeling him harden inside me – from my voice.

  That wolfish grin was back. “Baby, I’m an animal. By the time I’m done, you won’t be able to walk without thinking about me.”

  He crashed his lips to mine, and didn’t let up until dawn broke over the horizon. I was incredibly satisfied, and fucked until I could barely breathe. And then it was over.

  When I woke up to the sound of my alarm, I was alone, with nothing but my memories and the delicious soreness between my legs. I waited for the regret, but it never came.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Dane

  I WASN’T COMPLETELY unfamiliar with contrition. I’d lived with it for a long time after my sister died, and even allowed it to consume me for a while. It was the same feeling that crept over me earlier, but I couldn’t determine where it came from, whether it was from leaving Kennedy alone after several mind-numbing rolls between the sheets, or because I’d gone there with her in the first place. Would she get the wrong idea? Would she expect it to happen again? Would she be upset and feel like I’d used her?

  Shitshitshitshitshitshitshit!!!!

  A heaviness settled in my chest as the warm water from the showerhead pelted my tired body. It was early, and I had to force myself out of bed to get ready for practice with the team. Having gotten only two hours of sleep, I was sure it was going to be a nightmare.

  I shut the shower off, and threw on a clean set of athletic clothes, trying to mute thoughts of Kennedy and what we’d done. It was difficult, especially when it was all stuck on replay in my head.

  Play. Her body opened and welcomed me as I slid inside her. Pause. Pink flesh, glistening with arousal, taking all of me to the hilt.

  Play. Her body strained, so close to the edge, eyes wide, mouth parted. Pause. The violent way she shook, and clenched around me, willing me to fall apart at her mercy.

  I shook my head. Stop.

  If I kept thinking about it, watching the images in my head, I’d have a hard-on all day, and that wasn’t something I needed to worry about, especially if I was going to have lunch with my mother.

  My father was out of town on business, and my mother had called to invite me to lunch. I’d been avoiding her this week, with it being my birthday, but something in her voice reminded me that she had lost just as much as I had, and the last thing I wanted her to feel was that she’d lost me too. I didn’t want her to live with that, so I agreed to meet her at a coffee shop in Brighton as soon as I was done with practice.

  Reid was already in the kitchen when I left my room. He was leaning against the counter messing around on his phone – probably texting Jade – with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up when he heard me come in, and pocketed his phone like I’d caught him doing something he shouldn’t have been.

  “Mornin’.” I greeted him, and set about making some coffee for myself.

  “Mornin’,” he replied, watching me with curious eyes. “You got in late this morning. Have a good night?”

  I couldn’t help but stiffen at his observation. I knew he was suspicious last night, so I’d been extra careful to sneak out of the party a little later to avoid him.

  “It was alright,” I replied, my back to him. It was a lie, a big one at that. It had been one of the most intense nights of my life, even if it had left me feeling confused, and contrite afterwards. I didn’t want to cheapen the time I’d spent with Kennedy by playing it off as nothing, because it wasn’t nothing, but I had to admit how it had fucked with my head. I was too caught up in the urgency of it all to stop and think about how I’d feel when it was all said and done, and now I was wishing I’d thought it through. Not just for my sake, but for Kennedy’s too.

  “Do anything special after you left?” Asked Reid. There was an undercurrent of smugness in his voice that had me turning to face him.

  “Why do you ask?”

  His mouth dipped into a smirk. Bastard.

  “Don’t think I didn’t notice you sneaking out. I know exactly where you went.”

  My breath faltered. He couldn’t have figured out where I was, or who I was with. I was too careful. Unless Jade had said something.

  Fuck. Did she hear us?

  Kennedy and I had both tried to stay quiet. The energy between us, the sexual intensity of it, had me wanting to make her scream until her voice was hoarse, but I knew we’d be caught if we were too loud.

  “You spying on me again?” I asked, feeling more agitated by the second.

  “No,” he chuckled. “I have my sources.”

  “What did these sources say exactly, because I can tell you they’re probably talking shit.”

  “I know you weren’t in your bed when I got home last night,” he said. “And those sources might have mentioned that you were with a certain redhead.”

  Redhead?

  Oh.

  Amy.

  My muscles relaxed in relief. He thought I was with Amy. I could deal with that, maybe even run with it.

  My mouth lifted into a smile I wasn’t really feeling. “What can I say? Maybe y
our sources were right after all. She wanted the D, and I couldn’t resist.”

  Couldn’t resist was fucking right. But there sure as hell wasn’t a redhead involved - only a sexy blonde with purple in her hair.

  So fucking sexy.

  “You’re a horn dog,” said Reid. “That girl is going to think you’re dating.”

  “Nah,” I waved him off. “She knows the deal. It was a one-time thing.”

  I’d forgotten whom we were talking about. I had no way of knowing what Kennedy would be thinking after last night, but I needed to make sure we didn’t have a repeat. I was supposed to hate her, after all, and after one night with her, I knew having more would ruin me. And hurt her. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to live with that guilt.

  “I highly doubt Amy believes that. I just hope you wrapped it before you tapped it, brother. God knows where that girl has been.”

  Right. Amy. That’s who we were talking about.

  “Yeah, you know I don’t want any illegitimate kids running around,” I replied. Speaking about this conjured up the memory of how Kennedy’s eyes widened at the sight of my dick, and the apadravya piercing I had. She was fascinated by it, and when he brushed her fingers over the sensitive head, I almost lost it right there.

  Fuck.

  It was going to be a long day.

  The more I thought about her, our night together, the tighter my chest became. I didn’t want to regret it or wish it away, but I couldn’t escape the feeling that it was a mistake.

  Problem was, it was a mistake I knew was going to be hard not to repeat.

  PRACTICE TOOK A little longer on the account of me forgetting the plays at home. I was completely off my game, but the guys on my team knew better than to bring it up. I was particularly annoyed with Chase, and Gavin, and didn’t even pretend not knowing why.

  I’d called my mother to let her know I was going to be a little late, so when I walked into the coffee shop she was already waiting for me. Her honey blonde hair was tied in a bun at the base of her neck, and her make-up was impeccably done to match her outfit. It was all for show though, because beneath that was a woman struggling to move on with her life without drowning in her depression.

  She saw me approaching her table, and her blue eyes flickered with life. It had been too long since I’d seen her, and she looked thinner, more fragile. An unwelcome pang settled in my chest, borne of self-condemnation and remorse. I should have been there for her more, but I was too busy keeping my own head above water. I wanted that to change. For Jewel.

  “Sweetheart.” My mother stood, and I wasted little time to wrap her in a gentle hug. Her familiar Chanel perfume was a strange kind of comfort, bringing back memories of a happier time in my life.

  “It’s good to see you, mom.” I kissed her head, holding onto her a little longer. She let go, and I took a seat next to her. A waitress took our order, and what followed was an awkward silence filled with everything I wanted to say but didn’t know how to. I had no idea how to start, and apparently my mother didn’t either.

  She broke the silence once our coffee’s had arrived, and bent down to reach for something under the table. She placed a box wrapped in silver paper in front of me. “For your birthday,” she said, a soft, sad smile on her face.

  “You didn’t have to get me anything,” I replied. I didn’t want to upset her, but I was grappling with too many emotions at once and was dangerously close to losing the internal fight for control.

  “I didn’t,” she replied. “Open it.”

  I ripped the paper off with little enthusiasm, and when there was nothing left it revealed a black box with the Rolex symbol on it. I flipped the lid and found a vintage Rolex watch perched in the middle.

  I looked at my mother. “Mom, this is…”

  “It was my grandfather’s watch, from 1930. I wanted to wait until you turned twenty one, but…”

  Her words trailed off, but I knew what she was going to say. We’d had that argument many times in the months after my sisters’ death. My mother pleaded with me to make better choices, and live a better life because before we knew it, Jewel was gone, and if I carried on with my drinking, and lewd behavior, I would have had nothing to show for my life.

  I stared down at the watch, and rubbed the face. It had a chrome steel case, with black leather straps that didn’t even look old. I thought it was quite fitting though; a harsh reminder that time was something we couldn’t take for granted.

  “I love it.” I leaned over and gave my mother a peck on the cheek. “I’ll put it in a safe place.”

  My mother shifted in her seat. “I’m sorry your father couldn’t make it. He had some business to take care of.”

  Of course he did. He’d been working more and more, but I guess that’s just how he dealt with his own grief. I pursed my lips, and gave a brisk nod.

  “He’s having some trouble with Anthony Monroe,” she added. “But that’s been going on for years.”

  The mention of Kennedy’s father twisted my insides. From what I’d heard he was a shrewd businessman, and an even worse human being. Reid had let slip that Kennedy had been at her father’s house when she came home looking like a bloody wreck, and I tried to squelch thoughts of him hurting her that way. I didn’t have to protect her, but dammit, half the time I wanted to.

  “Did you know Kennedy was back?”

  My mothers’ question caught me by surprise, and her gaze spoke of understanding, the kind that told me she not only knew what Kennedy had meant to my sister, but to me too. It was unnerving.

  “Yes,” I replied. I cleared my throat. “She goes to Brighton.”

  “Have you seen her?”

  “No,” I lied. The words came out too quickly, and my mother quirked a brow.

  I rushed to defend myself. “I know Reid has, because Jade and Kennedy live together, but I’ve been too busy with classes, and helping Coach Ford to get out.”

  I changed the topic and asked my mother what she’d been doing to keep herself busy.

  “Oh, I’ve been redecorating the house,” my mother replied. She perked up, and I listened intently. I needed to escape thoughts and talk of Kennedy, if only for a little while. I’d be dealing with that…issue…when I got back to campus.

  “That reminds me,” my mother added, “Your father and I will be away for Thanksgiving. Would you like to join us?”

  I didn’t have to think it through before replying, “No, that’s okay, thanks mom. Reid invited me to his house this year.”

  Her face fell, only this time I didn’t feel quite so guilty. I hadn’t spent Thanksgiving with my parents since my senior year of high school, and it had more to do with my father than the absence of my twin. We couldn’t be in the same room for more than ten minutes before fighting over one thing or another, and sitting around a table pretending to play nice wasn’t appealing.

  “Oh, that’s okay. But promise me we’ll do this again soon? I don’t see you enough, and I miss you. I know your father does too, even if he doesn’t say it.”

  I swallowed. “Sure, mom. I promise.”

  We chatted for a short while longer until my mother said she had a few errands to get done before she had to go back home. We said our goodbyes, and I watched her climb into a town car and drive away before I headed home myself. The heaviness from earlier was still looming, and by the time I stopped in the lot outside our dorm, I knew exactly what I had to do.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Kennedy

  TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ played through my earphones, and all I could do was laugh at the irony. It had been a week since what I referred to as the ‘Dane Incident’, and he made no secret of the fact that he was avoiding me. Again. So, like any self-respecting woman in my situation would do, I brushed it off even though it hurt, and kept myself too busy to obsess over it.

  The cafeteria was crowded, but I was able to find an empty table after picking up a cheeseburger, and some fries for lunch. Not the healthiest fo
od choice, but I was too deep into my ‘I Have No More Fucks To Give’ phase to be bothered.

  Jade dropped her textbooks onto the table with a thud, and dropped down next to me. I removed my earphones just as Ashley followed suit.

  “Seriously, these professors are trying to prevent me from living long enough to attend finals,” said Jade. “My Art History professor puts the ‘itch’ in ‘bitch’.”

  “I know what you mean,” replied Ashley. “I’ve been working non-stop in the labs for the last month. I’m exhausted.”

  She started eating her usual – chicken salad with lite dressing – while Jade and I dove into our burgers.

  “You’ve been quiet his week,” remarked Jade. She gently jabbed me in the ribs to get my attention. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I’ve just been busy prepping for finals. I think I may have finally decided on a major.”

  At least that was the one thing to come of my self-induced weeklong social hiatus.

  “And?”

  “Educational Psychology, with a minor in English.”

  “That’s great,” Jade enthused. “Definitely sounds like something you’d enjoy.”

  I nodded, filling my mouth with more food just to avoid making idle chitchat. I wasn’t really in the mood for conversation.

  “Good God, that boy is hotter than a heat wave in July,” said Ashley. The change of subject was welcomed, since I no longer wanted to be talking about me, but when I turned in my seat, and noticed who she was talking about I wished I’d left my earphones in.

  Jade watched me from the corner of her eye, but I kept my gaze down, pretending not be aware of everything Ashley was prattling on about.

  “He’s just too damn sexy,” she said, ogling him with open appreciation.

  “He’s trouble,” replied Jade. “And he can be a total douche.”

  “Douche or not, I’d happily become a notch on his bedpost for one night with him.”

  I cringed, and ducked my head to hide my reaction. They had no idea what had happened so I couldn’t very well tell her that being tossed aside after one night with him sucked. Even though I was over it.