by Ali Parker
I laughed and got out of the truck to walk up to her.
"Oh shit." Jacob's tone changed dramatically. "Did he just- Holy-"
"Dude, what's up?" I walked toward Natasha as she stuck her head back out the open door and waved me in.
"Oh man. Lucas just took a hard hit on the ice. He's not getting up. Fuck."
"Where's Aubrey? She with you?"
"Yeah, she's losing her shit right now. I gotta go. I'll text you later. We'll be all right. Nothing you could do but get in the way. Just get over your fears and make that woman yours for good."
"All right man. Keep me in the loop." I hung up and tucked my phone in my back pocket as my heart sank.
"What's the matter?" Tasha pressed her hands to my chest and stopped me in my tracks.
"Lucas took a hard hit at the start of the game and isn't getting up. I'm sure he'll be fine, but they'll probably pull him out for the rest of the game. Knowing him, he'll just be pissed more than anything."
"Oh no. Is Aubrey okay?" She moved back and gripped the side of her shirt.
"I doubt it. You know how she is about him." I pulled my shirt over my head and let my eyes move over the creamy tops of her breasts as they poked above her black bra. "You know, I'd be all right swimming if we could do it without clothes. They're so restrictive."
She laughed and turned her back to me. "Stop acting up and come on."
"No skinny dipping?"
"Not on school property." She bent over and pulled her shorts down her legs, leaving her pretty ass on display.
I moved forward and fondled her a little before she stood up and pressed her back against my chest.
"You look good enough to eat." I licked the side of her neck and tried not to let the smell of chlorine send me into a panic. I hated everything about the place and usually tried to avoid it like the plague. How many times had I made something stupid up to not have to deal with my fears, my past, my loss.
"I probably don't taste as good as you, though." She walked toward the pool and took a few steps in, turning back to look up at me. "Come here and let me touch you."
"I honestly don't know if I can." The sound of my mother's screams filled my ears, her accusations changing me forever as she held my little sister’s limp body beside the pool. "I can't do this. I just can't."
Chapter 26
Natasha
The fear in his eyes was palpable. I hated to see him clam up and the last thing I wanted to do was ruin our night, but I wanted him to feel the freedom I was getting close to feeling. And it was all due to him.
I took a few steps back up and extended my hand toward him. "I'm not going to let you go in here. I'll hold you tightly to me. You're going to love how good my skin will feel against yours."
"Baby, I'm serious. I've been fighting this for ten years. I'm not getting in that pool. You weren't there that day. You didn't see her, didn't hear them." His voice broke as he turned away from me and crossed his arms over his chest.
I walked up behind him and slid my arms around him, holding him tightly as I kissed his back.
"Then tell me about it, Micah. Take me there and let me share it with you. You've walked into my hell and helped me try to start walking out. Don't deny me that with you." I kissed him a few more times and pressed my forehead to his back, letting myself feel how terrified he was. I needed a deep relationship in my life, one where I could explore every part of myself in the comfort of someone who could really love me. I had no doubt that was him, but I wanted him to have no doubts either.
"She was seven. Long brown hair and warm brown eyes. She was kinda short for her age, but both of our parents are short. She'd just started cheerleading and bitched about it every day." He let out a soft chuckle that broke. "I should have been watching her."
"How old were you?" Tears filled my eyes and everything inside me wanted to wilt to the floor, but I knew what I was doing. The release I felt sharing my pain with him and finally letting someone inside my soul was healing. He needed me there no matter how much it hurt me to watch him suffer through it.
He wrapped his arms around himself, pressing my arms tighter around him. "I was twelve. The latest video game had just come out, and I was supposed to be watching her. She knew that we weren't allowed to go outside when Mom and Dad were gone, but I'd pissed her off. She wanted to show me her latest cheer and I didn't wanna see it. I can't even begin to tell you how terrified I was when I couldn't find her. I screamed her name as I ran all over the house... the yard... I screamed until I didn't have a voice. I had no clue she'd gotten into the pool." He sniffled. "I didn't even look. There was a code on the pool and she didn't know it. Or at least that's what they used to tell us. There wasn't a fucking code."
I moved around him and kept my arms wrapped tightly around him.
Large tears rolled down his cheeks as he watched me through what had to be a blurred gaze. "Mom and Dad came home and they found her. My mother dove into the pool, fuck, they both did. I ran out there, but it was too late. She'd probably been in the pool for a half hour at that point. My mother cradled her on the side of the pool as my dad ran into the house, knocking me over as he tried to get to the phone. I'll never forget the way she looked up at me, the scream that ripped from her lips as she came unglued. I turned and dropped to my knees, puking until I couldn't hold myself up anymore. They didn't speak to me for a little over a week, though my mother's accusation stung me every day since."
"Baby," I whispered and touched the side of his face. "It wasn't your fault."
"No?" He wiped his nose and closed his eyes. "Then whose was it?"
"It was an accident. It doesn't have to be someone's fault." I lifted to my toes and kissed him softly. He melted against me and leaned into the kiss, groaning low in his chest. We didn't need to get into the pool. He'd walked through most of it with me and I knew without a doubt that he'd open up the rest over time, just like I would about all my hurts.
"Come back to the house with me, Tasha. I don't wanna get in the water."
"I don't think you need to." I kissed him once more before pulling out of his hold and gathering up my clothes. I snuggled against his side as he wrapped his arm around me.
"I hate you," he whispered and squeezed my butt softly.
"Yep. I hate you too." I smiled up at him and lifted to my toes. "Now, take me back to your place and punish me good for that hate?"
His eyes widened a little as his expression softened. "All I had to do was shed a few tears to get into your panties? Why didn't you-"
"Don't even." I got in the truck and watched him walk around the front of the truck as my heart filled with adoration for him. I didn't need my mom or dad. I had him, which was more than enough.
*
I tried hard not to show him how fucking nervous I was as we walked up the stairs toward his bedroom. The guys downstairs teased both of us, but he told me to ignore the idiots and keep walking. I couldn't help but laugh a little at some of their jabs toward Micah. It would seem I was the first girl that had actually walked to his bedroom instead of being carried.
"And here I thought you were one of the last good ones left." I walked into his room and yelped as he grabbed my hand and pulled me backward. I found myself pressed to the door, his strong body holding mine in place as he leaned down and brushed his lips by my ear.
"I'm only a good guy when I need to be." He licked my ear and a shiver ran down my spine. I tried not to moan too loudly, but the thick press of his thigh between my legs felt good. Too good.
"Don't be good tonight," I whispered and lifted my hands toward the ceiling as he pulled my shirt over my head and leaned down to press his lips to the top of my breasts. His fingers pressed into the back of my thighs, and I stifled a scream as he pulled me up the door a little. I wrapped my legs around his waist and gave myself over to the carnality that was sure to come.
"Just hold on tight, Tasha. It's been a long fucking time for me." He rolled his hips, massaging me with the hard length o
f his cock.
"Just don't hold back." I ran my fingers down his back and pulled at his shirt. He moved up for a second, pulling it over his head, and moved back down to lick and suck at my breasts. I moaned loudly and pulled him in closer with my legs, wanting him buried deep inside of me.
He turned and walked us toward the bed as he gripped my ass tightly with one hand and worked on my bra with the other. I ran my fingers down his face and neck, kissing and sucking at his mouth as passion tore up the center of my stomach.
I groaned as my bra opened and he laid me back down on the bed.
"So hot, baby." He palmed my breasts and rocked against me.
"All yours." I reached up and grabbed the front of his waist band, pulling at it. "Take these off. I wanna see you."
The sexy smile that lifted his lips left my body flooding with wetness. He was sure to be the death of me. Something about me being the only person on the planet that got to see this side of him made me feel far more special than I probably should have.
He took a step back and I let my legs drop to the bed and moved up on my elbows to watch him undress. He turned in a slow circle, completely naked.
"Good?" He moved toward me and tugged my shorts and panties down my legs without unbuttoning them.
I chuckled. "So much better than good."
"Hold on to my neck." He crawled up on the bed and pulled me with him as I held on tightly. A soft whimper ripped from deep inside me as he laid down and pressed himself to the front of me. We fit together almost too well.
"I'm falling in love with you, Micah." I took a chance. I couldn't seem to help myself.
"Good." He shifted his hips and pressed into me a little as the world spun around us. I wanted the type of pleasure I knew he could provide and for the first time in forever, it was enough to keep my fears at bay. His strong fingers slid between my back and the bed, upward until he cupped the base of my head. "Let me know when you catch up to me. I'm done falling. I'll catch you though. Don't worry."
I lifted up and pressed my lips to his as he thrusted hard and drove into me. The sound of our collective groans was trapped in between our slow, deep kiss.
He took his time with me, sliding his thick body against mine, kissing me in ways that left me panting for air, driving into me until I was ready to buckle with pleasure.
"God, you feel good." He licked up the side of my neck. "You're close. I can feel your pussy swelling."
"Fuck," I cried out and jerked underneath him as my orgasm hit. Hearing him talk dirty, if even a little, was more than enough.
"Ride it, Tasha." He sucked my ear into his mouth and rolled his hips, never picking up his speed and still pulling me into the deepest pool of pleasure I'd ever experienced.
I inhaled loudly as I gripped him against me. The franticness inside of me was a complete opposite to the smooth, calm expression on his handsome face.
"So good," I whispered and closed my eyes as he continued to rock himself in and out of me. "Don't stop."
"Never, baby." He ran his nose along my jawline and licked at my mouth. "I am gonna have to get a condom soon though. You're everything I want in my life. It's hard as fuck to hold back from release with you beneath me."
"Get one." I cupped the side of his neck as he leaned down and kissed me thoroughly, his lower half never changing speed. I was edging toward orgasm again, but I figured he would go with me if I wasn't careful. "Get it now. I'm close again."
"Good." He nipped at my mouth and moved back, turning, and walked toward his nightstand.
I smiled at the sight of his ass tensing up as he rolled it on and turned to walk back toward me.
"Come here." I reached for him and wrapped my thighs back around him. "Let me finish it."
"Hell yeah." He rolled us over and gritted his teeth as I slid back down his cock, pressing myself up to take him in fully. "Oh shit. This isn't going to last nearly long enough."
"Hush." I smiled as he lifted his eyebrow at me and reached up to run his hands down my shoulders and around my hips. His tight grip on my ass already had me tingling inside. "It's not going to last long is it?"
"Nope." He sat up and wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me down for a long kiss as I gripped his shoulders and used my hold on him to lift off his body and impale myself back down over and over. "Faster. Fuck me fast."
I smiled and pressed my teeth against the front of his shoulder as I leaned into him and bobbed my ass in the air.
He groaned loudly as his fingers tightened on my flesh. The sexy sound of him losing himself threw me over the edge with him. I made sure to hold him tightly and moan my pleasure against his ear.
Chapter 27
Micah
"Tell me again how you talked me into this?" I slipped my hand into hers as we walked up toward her mother's front door.
"Sex." She winked at me and moved up to ring the doorbell.
"Sex we had last night, or the sex we're going to have tonight?"
"Both?" She glanced over her shoulder and stole another piece of my heart.
"I'm down. Anything you want." I moved up as her mother opened the door and stepped back. I tried hard not to stare at Professor McCraven, but it was hard as hell. It wasn't difficult to tell she was a beautiful woman, but her appearance made it tough to tell her age. She looked more like Tasha's grandmother than her mother.
"You guys are early." She moved toward the center of the house with that being her only greeting.
"Better early than late," Tasha called after her and moved toward the kitchen.
I took a deep breath and followed them, hoping like hell her father would be easier to talk to. I stopped at the edge of the kitchen as Tasha walked toward a mountain of a man and slipped into his arms. My mouth had to be hanging to my knees.
"Seriously?" I mumbled as they turned to face me. "Tasha. This is Jerald Kelly. Like the Jerald Kelly."
He chuckled and extended his hand. "Right now, I'm just her dad. Remember that."
I shook his hand and smiled. "Of course. Wow. I had no clue your dad was a legend."
"Don't give him a bigger head than he already has, please." Natasha's mother walked by and tugged at what had to be a wig.
"You're Micah Sanders. I'm not surprised Tasha is dating you. You're whooping ass at Providence. I caught a little bit of the highlights from your game last night. Great job." He tilted his head to the side and studied me. "How's the wrist?"
"You guys know each other?" Tasha glanced between the two of us.
"I'm a basketball coach for a Pro team, sweetie. I know everyone, seeing that I'm always looking for new players for the Celts." He turned and walked back toward the kitchen as Tasha wrapped her arms around my waist.
"You're drooling." She wiped my chin and laughed as I wiped it too.
"Am I really?"
"No, silly." She kissed me quickly and turned to walk back into the kitchen. I sat down at the barstool closest to me and tried not to stare too much. I'd been watching Jerald Kelly since I was a kid. His trophies were all over Providence from his college days, and his Pro career had been one of the longest in basketball history. Seeing him as a coach for the Celts was the ultimate, but having him as Tasha's dad?
I was fucking mind-blown. I pulled out my phone and texted Jacob, needing to unload that shit on someone. He texted me back that he already knew and I was an idiot for not knowing.
"So, Micah. What are your plans in a couple of years? You going to try for the NBA or you have some great degree you're hoping to use?" He walked over and set a beer down in front of me. "You drink?"
"Yeah, I do." I picked it up and hit my bottle against his before taking a quick sip. "I'm honestly not sure what the future looks like. I've always wanted to be in the NBA, but my Economics degree is something I enjoy the heck out of as well." I glanced over toward Tasha, who was watching me closely. "Part of it all hangs on what Tasha's gonna do too."
Her father glanced over his shoulder and back at me as a smile lifte
d his lips. "Good answer. I know a few guys in the NBA if that's the route you're hoping to go."
I chuckled and shook my head. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks a lot, sir."
"Just doing my part." He walked back into the kitchen with Tasha hot on his heels. I just sat there, staring after him, wondering what the hell else I didn't know about my new girlfriend. She was a bundle of surprises, and damn if I didn't love unwrapping each of them.
*
"What did you and your mom talk about after lunch?" I reached over and took Natasha's hand while we drove back toward campus.
"She just updated me on her treatments and how things were going." She shrugged and glanced down at our hands. "She apologized for all the shitty things she said to me when she was going through her hard time, and I nodded. I'm not sure I'm good with just accepting an apology because my dad seems to be back in her life. It's like she's not in need of a punching bag because things are going well. It's stupid."
"Well, just take things one day at a time. That seems like the best way to handle your relationship with her." I tugged at her hand. "Come closer."
She smiled and scooted beside me as I wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
"Did you mean what you said about the future? About figuring out what I'm going to do first before you make any plans?"
"Yep. I can see a lot of different possibilities, but all of them wouldn't make much sense without someone beside me that I could share all of it with." I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss before turning my eyes back onto the road.
"I like that." She laid her head against my shoulder and snuggled up to my side.
"Good. Where to now? You wanna come back out to the house with me or what?"
"I'm actually in the mood for a nap. Drop me off at my dorm and I'll meet up with you later. Would that be all right?" She turned and leaned in, kissing the side of my face several times.
"Yep. I need to talk with Jacob anyway. We're going to come up with some new rules now that Darren's out of the house."