by B. K. Leigh
“So beautiful.” He whispers in awe. “So fucking beautiful.” He whispers again. His chest hovers just above mine as his lips descend towards mine. His tongue dances with mine in a divine motion. The taste of salt still lingering in his mouth.
“I don’t think I can move.” I giggle into the crook of his neck. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him as close to me as possible.
“You feel like that now, but wait until after I’m inside you.” His voice is husky as he speaks. I have no doubt about that.
“Does that mean this can come off?” I tug on his cotton T-shirt. The thin material creates a barrier between us, and I need it gone. “I want to feel you against me.” I practically beg. He doesn’t need any convincing. The thin material is pulled from his chiseled body and thrown to the bedroom floor. He pulls his jeans off next. The material falls from the bed and pools onto the floor. It’s just us now. His skin against mine. Body to body. I like his lips on me, but I can’t help but shutter thinking about him being inside me again.
“Spread those legs, sweetheart.” He whispers into the shell of my ear. I waste no time opening my thighs for him. His hips grind into mine almost instantly. I can feel his dick rubbing against me, warning me about what’s yet to come. “I’m not going to be gentle.” Killian warns as he takes himself in his hand and lines himself up with my opening. “I can’t do slow, Tatum. Not when I’ve wanted you for so goddamn long.” He growls. I barely get a chance to prepare myself before he buries himself almost all the way to the hilt inside of me. I cry out. It’s a strangled sound, yet it only seems to spur him on.
“You’re so fucking tight, Tatum.” He breathes out heavily. “So fucking tight.” He repeats. My cheeks flush. Even the slickness from before does nothing to help with the friction between us. Killian is huge. Not that I have anyone to compare to.
“Killian.” I let out around a deep breath. It feels like I’m breaking, completely ripping apart. But the pressure building deep inside my core is a ticking time bomb about to explode. Killian keeps going, thrusting deeper and deeper every single time.
He’s a master at manipulation. Molding my body against his in every which way. He commands and I’m all too happy to comply. His body sets the rhythm as we dance along to its illicit and powerful beat. The pain and friction are gone, replaced with something more than any high I’ve ever experienced. This is astronomical. This is euphoria. I bet if I opened my eyes in this moment fireworks would be going off above us. Two worlds colliding to make one. Our worlds are exploding almost as if to say thank you for finally falling into line. In this moment Killian and I are just another couple madly in love. In this moment I can finally forget about all the wrong in the world.
The moment I feel him finish inside of me it’s as if my entire body ignites with fire and I explode from the inside out. Every limb shakes as the red hot fire travels within me. I don’t even feel him pull out until I see his naked body moving across the room. I watch with hooded eyes as he opens a door and quickly disappears.
Chapter 25
Tatum
I don’t know how long I slept for, but by the time I woke up it was way past time to get home. Grams wanted me back for dinner, but now I’m hoping she’s in the Christmas spirit considering I’m going to be walking through the door Christmas morning like nothing ever happened.
“You’ll be fine.” Killian says in a low voice on the way to bring me home. His large hand wraps tightly around my thigh in a reassuring gesture even though I feel anything but. I flash him a small smile for trying but inwardly I cringe. Walking in to Grams is different than walking in to both Grams and Haley. Grams would be more manageable without Haley acting as her sidekick. My stomach begins to drop the closer and closer we get. As the car turns down the driveway and the small house comes into full view my stomach all but does a back flip.
The phone in my pocket vibrates taking all of my attention away from my impending doom.
CoCo: Merry Christmas to my bestie and Bean <3 I love you.
Cohen’s text makes me smile and for a minute all seems to be right in the world.
Tatum: Merry Christmas, Coco. I love you.
“Who’s got you smiling so early in the morning?” Killian asks around a strangled chuckle. If I weren’t mistaking I’d say I hear a hint of jealousy wrapped around each and every word. I don’t think he meant to sound like that.
“Cohen.” I tell him honestly. I can see his body go rigid the second I mention his name. “He’s my best friend.” I say to reassure him.
“Does he know that?” He asks skeptically.
“Cohen and I are, and will always be just friends.” Soulmates. I decide to leave that part out. A small part inside of me is giddy over the jealousy that seems to over power him whenever I mention another guy’s name.
“If you say so.” He mumbles under his breath. My stomach dips as the car comes to a complete stop right in front of the front steps. Grams’ small home looks inviting and cozy from the outside, but I have no doubt there’s a storm brewing on the inside.
I reach for the door handle and swing the car door open. The air outside is frigid this morning and nips at my bare cheeks. I hear another car door shut and turn just in time to see Killian round the hood.
“What are you doing?” I ask him in a panic.
“What does it look like?” He says casually as he walks up beside me. “What? I don’t even get a goodbye?” He jokes as he tips my head upwards with his fingertips.
“No I...” I begin to speak but his lips cover mine, silencing me completely.
“You what?” He chuckles softly against my mouth.
“You don’t play fair, Killian.” I pretend to pout.
“You should probably go.” He whispers begrudgingly.
“Grams is gonna kill me.” I tell him honestly. His arms wrap around my waist and pull me into his body tightly.
“It was worth it.” He places a gentle kiss against my forehead.
“Definitely worth it.” I kiss him one last time and force myself to head inside. As I step into the kitchen you can hear a random soap opera blaring through the TV speakers. I slow my pace as I near the living room hoping like hell no one is up and awake to see me do the walk of shame. Grams is sitting in her big red recliner with her head tipped to the heavens snoring louder than the voices screaming from the TV.
I let out a breath of relief as I tiptoe across the living room. Thank the lord!
“Where have you been, Tatum?” Haley’s sharp voice bites out from the other side of the living room. She’s sitting in the opposite corner, darkness completely encompassing her.
“Jesus Christ Haley! You look like you need a freaking exorcism. Are you trying to kill me?” Grams’ snoring comes to a screeching halt. Literally.
“Tatum?” Grams asks out loud. Her eyes scan the room until they land on mine. It takes her a minute to focus, but when they finally do I can see the worry swimming around in her pupils. “What time is it?” She asks in a hoarse voice. She looks pale today, her thin frame seems to be even smaller than usual as her favorite recliner threatens to swallow her whole. She hasn’t been one hundred percent since she had her heart attack. She’s gotten better with the medicine she’s been given, but without it she would be a mess. I walk over to her chair and kiss her forehead lightly.
“Merry Christmas, Grams.” I try a different route, hoping like hell she might ignore the fact that I never came home last night.
“Tatum where have you been?” She asks me next. I can see the smug smirk on Haley’s face as she watches on in the corner.
“I’m sorry Grams. I was with Cohen. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” I lie to her. I hate lying, especially to her, but telling her I just spent the entire night fucking my History teacher just doesn't sound good right about now.
“You weren’t with Cohen.” Haley snaps out. “I saw you with that… that man.” She accuses.
“I was with Cohen!” I argue back. “Killian just
gave me a ride home.” I shrug my shoulders as if it’s no big deal.
“Killian?”Grams asks. I can see her trying to place his name. She mulls it over and over until she finally remembers. “That nice young man from before?” A smile lights up her face. I knew she’d like Killian from the minute they met. This might just be my saving grace.
“Yes, that was him.” I say with a smile on my face.
“She can’t be hanging around grown men, Grams.” Haley begins to argue throwing her hands in the air.
“Haley stop your blubbering.” Grams rolls her eyes and focuses all of her attention back on me. “Did you tell him about Bean yet?” Grams questions me next. All of the blood drains from my face at once.
“What do you mean?” I try to play dumb.
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Tate. I knew Killian was the guy the minute I met him. Can’t say I blame you though, I could stay lost in those eyes for days.” She jokes nearly knocking me off of my feet.
“Can one of you fill me in on what the hell you’re talking about?” Haley huffs out angrily.
“Your sister’s pregnant.” Grams tells her with a no frills tone in her voice. I can see the moment the news hits Haley right in the chest. Anger, sadness, and pain overtakes her features.
“Grams!” I chastise her. “What the hell?” I ask annoyed.
“What? It’s not like you were going to tell her.” Grams shrugs her shoulders as if she didn’t initiate the fight that's bound to begin.
“You’re pregnant?” Haley’s voice raises an octave.
“But I was going to tell her!” I keep my attention on Grams.
“You’re pregnant!” Haley all but screeches this time, gaining both mine and Grams’ attention.
“That’s what I said ain’t it?” Grams tells her nonchalantly as if she’s not currently having a meltdown.
“Yes.” I mutter. Talking to Haley is like talking to my mother. A part of me feels as if I’m completely letting her down even though she’s not here to see it first hand.
“When? Who?” Haley shoots out all at once. “Why wouldn’t you tell me?” Her eyes shimmer with tears but she holds them in. “You don’t even look pregnant!”
“I-I don’t know.” I can barely stutter out.
“What the fuck, Tatum! You have your whole life a head of you. What are you supposed to do with a baby?” I can see the minute her heart breaks for me.
“I didn’t plan this, Haley!” I can feel the tears start to build behind my eyelids as everything starts to come crashing down around me. Leave it to Haley to put me right in my place. Grams is too passive. Haley though? She’s about to knock me right off my pedestal. “I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t want this!” My hand goes to my stomach where Bean hides. I may not have wanted this then, but I wouldn’t trade Bean for anything in the world.
“Tatum!” She says my name with an immense amount of disappointment. My heart hurts seeing the amount of pain on her face, especially being the one to cause it. Grams see’s it too, that’s part of the reason why she’s staying silent.
“It was him?” She asks as a light switch turns on inside her head. “The man who dropped you off this morning?” She puts two and two together. There’s no denying it now. “You spent the night with… with that grown man?” She spits angrily.
“I don’t know what to say.” I tell her honestly. “I’m eighteen, the age difference isn’t that extreme.” I try to make her see some reason in this situation.
“You let her do this?” She turns her accusing tone on Grams next.
“Me? She got knocked up when she was in your care, Haley.” Grams throws back in her face. “You were supposed to be watching her, where the heck were you at?” She retorts bitterly.
“I’m not a child, Grams. I didn’t need a babysitter.” I mumble out annoyed.
“I was working! I didn’t think my baby sister would go out and get knocked up for God’s sake!” Haley screeches.
“I’m not a baby, Haley.” I throw out again.
“No, you’re right Tatum. You’re just an eighteen year old high school student having a baby.” She fiercely rubs at her temples as if that motion alone will relieve the sudden stress. “A freaking baby.” She says defeated to no one particular.
“Are you done with the dramatics now or what?” Grams asks her casually.
“Dramatics?” Haley huffs out.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Grams mutters.
“She’s eighteen, Grams.” She says it for the umpteenth time as if it didn’t click the first ten times.
“I know that, Haley. There’s no changing her age, or the situation. Now you can either dwell on it or embrace it, and I chose to embrace it. No sense in spending your days full of misery.”
“You guys are out of your mind.” Haley gets up from her spot in the corner and stomps away. Grams and I watch as she recedes down the hallway until she’s completely out of sight.
“Well, I think that went well.” Grams says with all of the sarcasm she can muster. I want to laugh, but I know in this situation I shouldn't.
“That went about as good as can be expected.” I match her sarcasm with my own and she lets out a light chuckle.
“She’ll get over it, Tatum. She always does.” And with that her attention is turned back on the TV. The soap opera from before still blaring away. Her eyes attach to the screen like she’s been watching it the entire time, completely enraptured by what’s going on in its own made up world.
The rest of the day drags on and on. We don’t unwrap gifts, or watch A Christmas Story marathon on lifetime all day long like usual. Everyone stays separate, except for the few times I make Grams her tea and give her medicine. Haley is virtually quiet and secluded, and as much as the calmness is nice I still wish things were how they used to be back when our parents were still alive.
Not only am I getting silence from Haley but Killian has also gone quiet. He did tell me he was spending the day with his family. Just the thought of them brings a smile to my lips and fills my heart with happiness. Thanksgiving in their household was like none I’ve ever experienced before.
Cohen on the other hand has been texting me nonstop. I wont be surprised if he ends up over here at some point, but now it’s just me, Bean, and the waiting game.
Chapter 26
Killian
“Whoa, big brother. Don’t you look freshly fucked.” Liam snickers the second I step through the front door.
“Watch your mouth, Liam!” Mom slaps his shoulder as she pulls me in for a bear hug. “Come here, baby boy.” We live close, but not close enough. I don’t see her or my dad as much as I probably should, and for that I feel guilty.
“Merry Christmas, Mom.” I reply. Their house is always warm and inviting and today is no exception to that. The air smells like a mixture of spices and homemade Italian cookies.
“Where’s Tatum?” She asks with concern on her face as she finally pulls away.
“She’s spending the day with her family, Ma. Her sister’s in town.” It is technically the truth.
“A sister?” Liam pipes up. “You mean we have the chance to date sisters and you haven’t even mentioned it until now?” He asks with disappointment.
“No! No sisters for you.” I tell him with all seriousness. “We’ve all seen the way you handle relationships, you don’t need another one.”
“If you can even call them that.” Bianca comes around the corner just in time to catch the tail end of our conversation.
“Oof!” Liam grabs at his heart. “You know it’s not a me issue.” He dead pans. I chuckle at the seriousness of his words. It’s always a him issue.
“Next time I expect to see her here with you.” My mother warns me. I watch her back as she fades into the kitchen no doubt cooking an entire feast for everyone. She does it every year and no matter how many times you offer to help she never accepts.
“Are you still seeing her?” My sister asks at my back as we head towards the living r
oom.
“Why ask me a question you already know the answer to?” I retort.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea. If mom and dad knew who she was to you, I doubt they’d be inviting her into their home.” She chides. I stop fast in my tracks and spin to face her.
“Mom and dad like her for who she is.” I snap. “Her age won’t deflect anyone.” I say with a hint of anger in my tone.
“It’s illegal, Killian. I don’t want you getting in trouble!” She tells me honestly.
“What’s illegal?” My dad’s voice comes up behind me and my shoulders instantly tighten.
“Nothing!” Bianca and I both say at the same time.
“Hey, kid.” My dad says his hellos on his way to the kitchen while simultaneously pretending to ignore the heavy conversation my sister and I were just having.
“It’s not going to end up good.” Bianca warns me one last time. As much as I hate it, the voice in the back of my mind can’t help but constantly agree. It’s part of the war that rages day in and day out whenever it comes to Tatum. She’s a walking disaster, to herself, and to my life. But loving her is like a moth being drawn to a flame. It’s bright and pretty and feels good in the moment, but in the end you’re bound to be burned. It’s thoughts like these that almost cancel out the feelings we invoked last night. An entire night of just her and I. Words were at a minimum, but our actions said it all. The way her body moved against mine, going from one pace to another. Fast, slow, all of the above. It’s been playing over and over again in my head since I had to bring her home this morning. There wasn’t an ill thought on my mind until Bianca brought all of this up.
“Not everything ends in disaster, B.” I tell her honestly. Not everything ends in disaster, but it sure isn’t all hearts and rainbows.