by S. M. Shade
My disappointment doesn’t last long. How could it with Layton’s warm arms around me, his hands playing through my hair? Being with him feels so good I don’t want to sleep and miss a second of it.
“Why did you change your mind?” I ask, letting my fingers explore his chest hair.
“Change my mind?”
“You avoided me after I kissed you. Is it just that I’m not your student anymore?”
His nose nuzzles into my hair. “I was trying to do the right thing. Stay away from you until the semester was up, at least. You’re a hard person to resist.” His hand slides into mine, our fingers interlocking. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
“You were thinking about me?”
“Constantly. Your smile, your laugh.” He punctuates his words with kisses on my bare shoulder and my skin tingles in the most wonderful way. His voice is deep and more coarse than I’ve ever heard it when he murmurs in my ear. “What it would feel like to get you underneath me, how you’ll look when I make you come. What noises you’ll make when I do it again.”
His words are the most exquisite torture when I know I can’t have what I want. “I have never hated my uterus more in my entire life than I do right this second.”
The bed shakes with his laughter, and after a few seconds, I can’t help but join in. The bedroom door swings open and Midnight comes bounding onto the bed, making us laugh harder as he does his best to lie between us. He finally settles for sleeping at our feet, and I drift off thinking about how amazing it is to be here.
With a man I want to be with.
When I wake the next morning, the bed is empty, but the scent of bacon and coffee smells amazing. I can hear Layton banging around the kitchen, making breakfast. The level of excitement I feel just to see him again is ridiculous. It occurs to me I must look like warmed over hell, and I hurry to grab my clothes and toiletries from my bag before heading into the bathroom.
Stripping down to my underwear, I brush my teeth, wash my face and run a comb through my tangled hair. Just as I’m changing my tampon, Midnight noses his way through the door I must not have closed hard enough.
“Back up, buddy,” I laugh, tossing the tampon in the trash can and putting in another. In half a second, Midnight plunges his head into the trash can, grabs the used tampon and darts out the door like a streak of lightning.
It takes a moment for me to realize and my panicked reaction is not one of my finer moments. After the bloodfest last night, I absolutely can’t have the dog running around with my used tampon. Surely, the universe could not be so cruel and heap that much humiliation on one person in a twenty-four-hour time period.
“No, get back here!” I hiss and run down the hall after him. “Midnight!”
With the string dangling from his mouth, he stops in the hall and leaps back and forth like this is the greatest game he’s ever played. “Bring it here,” I order, keeping my voice low and praying Layton won’t hear. “Come on,” I cajole. “That’s a good puppy. Give it here.”
One step toward Midnight is all I get before he retreats farther, bouncing around and trying to get me to chase him. Damn it. For the first time in my life, I understand Cruella Deville’s hatred for dogs because I swear if he doesn’t give me that damn thing before Layton—
“Hey.”
Fuck. Fuckety fuck and all the fucks.
Layton stares down at me, confusion mixed with amusement written on his face. “What’s going on?”
It doesn’t occur to me until that moment that I’m still only wearing panties. I’m crouched down in the hallway, hissing insults at his dog in nothing but panties. For the longest moment, I’m just frozen with no idea what to say.
My explanation isn’t necessary anyway because the puppy, who I’d have no problem turning into a coat about now trots over to Layton and drops the bloody tampon at his feet like he’s presenting him with the best gift ever.
There are no words for the level of embarrassment I feel the moment Layton realizes what it is. What do I do? Do I run over and pick it up? The insane urge to kick it is hard not to act on, like that would do any good now that he’s seen it.
“I—he came in the bathroom.” It’s all I can manage, and I see Layton piecing it together in his head. My face burns like fire when he reaches down and plucks it up by the string.
“I’m sorry. He likes to dig in the trash. I’ll put him outside for a bit, so he won’t bother you.”
When I just stand there like an ice sculpted idiot while he throws it away, he adds, “Are you okay?”
Nope. Dying of mortification. “Yeah, fine,” I mumble, and retreat to the bathroom where I now plan to spend the rest of my life.
How many times am I going to get blood on this man?
Chapter Thirteen
Layton
Kelly joins me for breakfast and neither of us brings up the whole tampon thing. I don’t want to embarrass her any more than she already is, though the memory of her almost naked in my hallway trying desperately to get Midnight to listen makes me swallow back a laugh.
“I want to ask you something,” she says, nibbling on a piece of bacon. “The activities director agreed to the little show I want to put on at Shady Acres next month for my music class project.”
“I’ll definitely be there.”
She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “I was hoping you’d perform with me. We could surprise your grandmother.”
Is she kidding?
“I’m not sure Happy Birthday is going to wow anyone.”
“Which is why I’m going to teach you a new song so we can play a duet.” Before I can protest, she adds, “I can make it simple, have you play the chords while I play the melody. Think how much your grandmother would love that. You’d have to come back to lessons a couple of times a week, though.”
“Devious. Playing the happy grandma card.” She grins when I shake my head at her.
“Is that a yes?”
Leaning on my elbows, I bring my face closer to hers, and I love her reaction, the way her lips part and her skin flushes. “I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll learn another song and humiliate myself in front of all the elderly people and some students, if you’ll come back to Adulting Club.”
“You won’t humiliate yourself.”
“Is it a deal?”
She closes the distance between us, kissing me, and the urge to drag her to my bed is overwhelming. “Deal.”
I drop her off at her place a couple of hours later, since she has schoolwork to catch up on, but she promises to be at the Adulting Club meeting tomorrow and then I have a piano lesson tomorrow night. I’m not thrilled with the idea of playing when I know others will be watching, but it’ll make both Grandma and Kelly happy. I couldn’t say no. Let’s just hope the song isn’t too difficult.
If Kelly was worried that Adulting Club would be awkward after her absence and with our new situation, her mind can rest easy, along with mine. No one blinked an eye at her returning, and the last week has gone by with no issues. Actually, it’s been the best week I’ve had in a long time.
We’ve gone out to dinner both nights after the piano lessons, and I’m supposed to stay at her place tonight. She seemed hesitant to invite me, maybe because her friends are her age, younger than me, and I’ve had some of them in my class. It may be a little awkward, but if we’re going to make this work, we need to get past stuff like that.
Kelly answers the door, and I can hear voices and laughter in the background. “Hey, come in.”
Her hair is piled on top of her head in a bun, displaying her long neck, and all I want is to get my lips on it. I step inside and grab her around the waist, kissing her. When we break apart, she gazes up at me, cheeks flushed. “Hey beautiful.”
“Hey. My roommates have some friends over too. We can go in my room if you’d rather not hang out with everyone.”
“I’m fine. Introduce me to your friends.”
Her smile is bright as she grabs my hand a
nd leads me into the living room where three girls and three guys lounge around. I recognize Owen, and I’ve seen Serena before.
“Mr. A! What are you doing here?” Owen exclaims.
“I typed asshole into my GPS and it led me straight to you, Owen. And you can call me Layton.” It seems to break the ice and after I’m introduced to everyone, I take a seat on the couch and Kelly sits beside me.
“All right, back to our conversation,” Marty says. “Why do women use so much more toilet paper than men? I can make a pack last a month. Have a few women over and bam, it’s gone.”
Zara rolls her eyes. “Well, we can’t shake our pee off like you can, you know.”
“That still doesn’t explain it,” Marty insists. “You chicks are ridiculous.”
Kelly leans over to me. “If you can’t tell, Marty is the sexist douche of the group.”
Owen speaks up. “I get it. With all the crevices and stuff, it must be like trying to dry a head of lettuce.”
Remee covers her face. “What the fuck? Are you an idiot?”
“Why, are you starting a club?”
It’s funny how much they sound like me, Travis, and Dalton when we get going. Some things you never grow out of.
It’s a fun evening. I spend some time kicking Owen’s ass in a video game and eating pizza. After a couple of hours, Zara suggests, “Let’s play ‘Don’t Get Me Started’.”
“Do I want to know?” I ask Kelly, but it’s Owen who answers.
“It’s great. You’re given a subject and you have to say what you hate about it. You get twenty seconds to rant about it. I’ll go first.”
Zara leans back on the arm of the couch. “Okay, the subject is babies.”
Owen grins and rubs his hands together. Zara glances at the clock and says, “Go.”
And Owen is off. “Babies, don’t get me started. Why do people love them? Stupid little haircuts or bald heads. Don’t contribute to anything. No hustle at all. They’re so entitled. They just expect everyone to do everything for them. Then they stare at you, like, what? You want to fight? But, no, if I hit them, I’m the monster. And they’re so inconsiderate. Just because you have a diaper full of shit doesn’t mean you have to scream down the restaurant where I’m trying to eat. Plus, they’re just boring. Fuck babies.”
He gets the last word out just as Zara says his time is up. Owen grins in my direction. “Your turn.”
Of course, he chose me. “Okay, what subject?”
Owen glances around the room and spots a Shrek DVD. “Shrek.”
Kelly glances up at me from where she sits on the floor between my knees, and I rub her shoulders while I think for just a moment. There’s plenty of things to pick on from that movie. “Okay, ready.”
“Go,” Zara says.
“Don’t get me started on Shrek. The point of the movie is about not judging people for how they look, but they spend the whole film talking shit about Lord Farquad for being short, something you have no control over, whatsoever. Also, how did a donkey fuck a dragon? Wouldn’t there be scales down there? It’d feel like it does when you stick your finger in the straw hole of a fast food cup. Ouch. And the ending! How is being an ugly ogre forever a happy ending? It’s bullshit. Fuck Shrek.”
Laughter echoes through the room, and Kelly smiles up at me. Maybe she’s relieved that I can fit in with her friends, since I know she’s nervous whether she’ll be accepted by mine. There’s not a doubt in my mind that my friends will love her.
It’s late and the others are still hanging out in the living room when we head to her bedroom. She’s still on her period so I know I’m not fucking her tonight, but I’m a glutton for punishment, kissing and touching her the second we get into bed. We can’t seem to keep our hands off one another.
My cock is so hard it’s painful when she runs her hand over it, squeezing gently through my underwear. My sudden intake of breath makes her lips tilt up. Her soft hand slides under the material and I swear I almost go off like a teenager. I’ve never wanted someone so badly. She pulls my cock out and wraps her hand around it.
“Kelly…”
Innocent eyes look up at me. “Can I make you come this way?”
Fuck, I almost come at the damn words, not to mention her slow strokes. Her lips part and she licks them when I nod. I don’t think I’ve had a hand job since college. I sit with my back to the wall, and Kelly straddles my lap. It kills me that I can’t get my fingers into her, but she’s not comfortable with it while she’s bleeding, and I don’t want to push her.
Instead, I pull her shirt off and let my tongue run over every part of her I can reach while she brings me closer and closer. If I’m being honest, I have to fight it for a few minutes because I don’t want to come so fast that I embarrass myself.
She moans into my mouth when I press the bottom of my palm between her legs, outside of her thin leggings. “Is this okay?” I murmur, rubbing a firm circle over her clit.
Her hips jump. “God, yes.”
That little gasp does it. When I warn her, she keeps going, and I shoot onto her stomach, my groan filling the room. When I open my eyes, her heated gaze is locked on my face. Her head falls back when I resume rubbing her through her shorts. Her hips start to gyrate in time, and she presses herself harder against my hand, getting the pressure she needs.
“Layton,” she breathes, desperation lacing her tone.
“I’ve got you.” I move her off of my lap and onto her back. Her muscles tense up and she lets out a whimper when I suck her nipple between my lips, my hand still working between her legs. Her head whips from one side to the other. It only takes a few seconds before she cries out, trying to muffle the sound in my shoulder.
Christ, this is the hottest fucking thing I’ve experienced, and I haven’t even touched her bare yet.
A few minutes later, we’ve cleaned up and she’s in my arms, her breathing slow and even. There are still moments when I doubt myself, where I wonder if what I’m doing with her is wrong.
This isn’t one of them.
Kelly’s phone buzzes just as we’re waking up the next morning and she asks me to hand it to her. The name Stanley is clear as I pass it over. She frowns and tosses it aside.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s my ex. I thought he finally gave up, but I guess I’ll have to block him.”
I slide my hand under her jaw and turn her face toward mine. “Do you want me to handle him?”
A smile creeps over her face. “No, I’m not worried about him. I sent his ring back. There’s nothing else he’s getting from me.”
Her words take a moment to register. “You were engaged?” Not to be judgmental or anything, but she’s so young.
“For a few months.” Her hands thread into my hair. “I didn’t love him.”
“But you were going to marry him?”
“My parents sort of arranged it, and I didn’t feel like I had a choice. But I did. That’s why I left. They think it was because he was cheating with his receptionist, but I never wanted him.” She blinks up at me, hesitating. “You said you were engaged. Why did it end?”
It’s come up before, but I didn’t elaborate. It still makes me feel stupid, that I didn’t know what was going on, but it looks like she’s been through a similar thing. “She was a cheater too.”
Sighing, she nuzzles my neck. “People suck.”
We cuddle for a few minutes before dragging ourselves out of bed. I have essays to grade, and she has to be at work soon. “Pick you up for the barbecue tomorrow?”
“I’ll be ready.”
We’re just stepping into the hall when a yell comes from Serena’s room and Owen steps out, shutting the door behind him. “Sorry! I was just going to grab a joint! I didn’t know you slept naked!”
Serena comes charging out with a blanket wrapped around her. “That’s why you don’t go in people’s rooms without knocking, asshole.”
“You sleep naked?” Kelly says. “What if the house
catches on fire?”
Serena flips her hair back. “Then I’ll walk out of the flames like Daenerys.” She spares Owen one more withering look before retreating into her room.
Kelly giggles and shrugs. “It’s never boring here.”
Midnight is happy to see me when I get home, and I take him for a long walk after feeding him. The rest of my evening is spent grading essays and practicing the chords Kelly showed me on the piano. It’s more difficult than Happy Birthday, but I think I can do it. Kelly pointed out that most people won’t notice a mistake anyway, unless they play.
The concert she’s planned for the retirement home has grown to five students last I heard, who will play an array of instruments or sing. I’m not sure who is more excited about it, Kelly or Grandma and her friends.
Thunder wakes me the next morning, and I have a text that the barbecue Travis planned to hold today is postponed since the rain isn’t forecasted to stop. When I message Kelly to tell her, she gets right back to me.
Kelly: Do you want to come over here? The girls are gone until late tonight.
As I’m typing my reply, I get another message.
Kelly: If you can’t tell, this is me propositioning you. The sharks aren’t circling anymore.
It takes me half a second to realize what she’s saying.
Me: Be there in an hour.
Kelly: Just so you know, you’re coming off a little eager.
Me: You’re going to be coming on my tongue.
The length of time the little dots blink as she types her message makes me chuckle. Caught her off guard with that response.
Kelly: Stop messaging and get over here.
She doesn’t have to tell me twice.
When I arrive, she’s the only one home, like she said. We make an attempt to watch some TV and talk but it’s clear we’re both just trying to keep our hands off of each other.