by Solveig Yrsa
Layla grinned, her heart fluttered when she saw he had one of her inhalers. They made their way to the small park, it had a lit water fountain in the main area with several benches, and a playground off in the distance. She sat down on a bench and looked at the fountain. “You know what I’ve always wanted to see?” she said, breaking the silence.
Spencer sat down next to her and waited for her answer. “Snow. I have never seen snow, I remember seeing it on the televisions when I would walk by shops, or if they had a movie on at the shelter and I got in during Christmas. I always wanted to just feel it.”
Spencer leaned back on the bench. “I’ll take you this winter and we’ll see snow. It’s not my favorite thing, it’s cold and wet, but maybe you can make it more enjoyable.” He blushed and mentally smacked himself at that corny comment. He hated this, he was horrible at expressing himself, and every time he had to, he felt his anxiety level spike. It was different with Rachel and the others he dated. He would simply buy them something to show his affection or they would have sex. With Layla, they had barely kissed. She just enjoyed talking.
Layla turned and smiled at him. “I would like that, but that seems a bit expensive, to travel to where there is snow.”
Spencer shook his head. “One day you’ll stop telling me how things I want to give you are too expensive, and I can’t wait for it, it’ll be easier to spoil you when you don’t ask about prices.”
Layla was quiet for a minute before sighing. “I’m not Rachel,” she said softly.
Spencer nearly choked at her words as he turned to face her. “I know you aren’t, why would you say that?”
Layla shrugged, “I don’t want things from you. Honestly it makes me uncomfortable when you buy me expensive things, because I have no way to give you something in return. I don’t want to be spoiled. I don’t want trips or bags or jewelry or overpriced food.”
“Then what do you want?”
Layla looked deep in his green eyes. “Just you.”
Spencer took a sharp intake of air, he felt his heart rate increase. “Layla, I… just me isn’t enough. I’m not a good person, I’m horrible at expressing my feelings, having money and being able to give you things to show you I care, it’s…it’s all I’m good at.”
Layla rolled her eyes. “Swiping a credit card is not something to say you’re good at. And good! I’m happy you don’t think you’re any good at expressing your feelings because, neither am I! I have no idea what I’m doing with you, I mean, am I supposed to kiss you? Are we supposed to be sleeping in the same bed? Am I your girlfriend? I don’t understand any of this. So maybe, you and I can figure it out together.”
Spencer sat quiet as he listened to everything she said. He stood up and pulled her up to him.
“What are you doing?” she asked as she stumbled into his broad chest.
He looked down at her and blushed, “Are you… wait…” he shifted uncomfortably and then looked back at her. “Will you… be my girlfriend?”
Layla looked up at him with reddened cheeks and gave him a shy smile. “Yes,” was all she managed to get out before his lips met hers. Layla was tense and unsure as she pushed her lips against his.
Spencer noticed her tense demeanor and broke apart. He looked down at her frustrated face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just… not good at the kissing thing. I don’t like doing it because I can’t figure it out.”
Spencer smirked. “Well that is something I can definitely help you with. Why don’t we go back home first though?”
Layla smiled and started to follow him back to the car. Spencer noticed half way back that she’d slipped her small hand into his, he gave it a small squeeze as he continued to lead the way.
***
Once inside, Spencer told Layla to go change into her pajamas and meet him in his room, he wanted to check on his mom.
Layla walked up to her room and closed the door. She took off her boots and clothes and then looked in her dresser for pajamas. “Wait… am I supposed to wear something nice as pajamas since he’s my boyfriend? He didn’t say…” She bit her thumbnail as she thought for a moment. She grabbed her phone and did a web search:
What to wear to sleep with boyfriend
She blushed at all the nearly naked women that popped up. “This can’t be right? Is this what he’s expecting?” She kept scrolling through and finally saw something that she actually owned thanks to Samantha. “Even that’s a little bit much…” she sighed. Grabbing the silk teddy nightgown out of her dresser, she slipped it on before heading to his room, praying that no one saw her in this ridiculous outfit.
Spencer smiled as he listened to Vanessa and his mother talk about their evening and how she was doing. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Mom, I’m going to turn in, but if either of you need me just text. Mom, do not try to get up on your own,” he warned before kissing the top of Catherine’s head.
“Tell Layla good night for me,” she said softly, as Spencer walked out of the room.
Spencer walked down the hall and into his room, and the sight before him nearly caused him to pass out. Layla sat on the edge of his bed in a deep purple lace teddy nightgown that barely made it to her thighs.
She looked up at him, her cheeks bright red. “Is this right? I did a web search…”
Spencer could hear nothing besides the blood pulsing in his ears. He just stood there, mouth half opened and eyes as wide as ever.
Layla stood up and walked over to him, she waved her hand in front of his face. “Spencer? Are you okay?” He finally blinked and looked down at her.
“I ummm… yeah… wow… it looks, you look…”
Layla raised a brow and noticed Spencer was red and looking at anything besides her. “You hate it,” she whispered, suddenly feeling even more self-conscious than before. “I knew I shouldn’t have listened to the internet.” She went to walk out but Spencer grabbed her arm and stopped her.
“What? Lay, I absolutely do not hate it.”
Layla looked at him. “Then why won’t you look at me?”
Spencer bit his lip, this was not going well. “Because… it’s just, a little… revealing, and it’s just a little unexpected. But you look… gorgeous!” How in the hell was he going to teach her how to make out now? It was going to be hard enough as it was, but now she looked like she belonged in a lingerie ad, and he was having a difficult time not staring at the part of her body that the nightgown was meant to show off, and was currently doing a hell of a job.
Layla looked at him and cocked her head to one side before laughing. “You like when I look like this.”
Spencer blushed. “Layla, don’t tease me.” He backed up against his bed as she walked over.
“I’m not teasing you,” she laughed lightly as she walked up to him.
Spencer looked down at her, was this really happening? He bent down and pressed his lips against her, he felt her body go rigid again. “Relax your body and open your mouth a little,” he mumbled against her lips.
Layla did what she was told and parted her lips. She gasped as she felt Spencer’s tongue. She closed her eyes and allowed him to explore her lips and mouth before he began to gently bite her bottom lip. Layla didn’t know what happened but she felt an odd sensation in her lower abdomen as he bit her. She involuntarily let a moan escape her.
When Spencer heard her moan, it was literally all he could do to not pick her up and throw her on the bed. He continued to nibble and suck on her lips but he noticed she wasn’t moving. He released her lips and went to her earlobe. Layla gasped loudly when he bit her earlobe before whispering to her, “I want you to do what I’m doing. Act like you’re copying me. I press against your mouth, you press against mine, I put my tongue in your mouth, you put yours in mine.”
His hot breath against her ear was making her feel crazy. She had never felt this way, was this normal? It felt good but she felt like she needed to pop. Spencer went back to her lips and kissed her again. Layla took charg
e and gently ran the tip of her tongue over his lips, asking for entrance. As he parted his lips, Layla slid her tongue into his welcoming mouth. She was timid and unsure at first, hesitantly moving around, then she got enough courage to wrap her tongue around his.
It was Spencer’s turn to let out a moan when he felt her rolling her tongue with his. He ran his hands down her slender neck and bare shoulders, down her sides and onto her small waist, before placing one hand on the small of her back and the other ran back up her body, into her long hair. He pulled her as close to him as possible, feeling every muscle that she moved. He broke the kiss, licking and nipping from her jawline and down her neck, all he could hear were her small gasps and pants as he introduced her to new sensations, and it was driving him mad. He nuzzled into the small crook of her neck and licked her softly before raking his teeth over her porcelain flesh. As he felt her head lull back, he heard her moan again. He smirked as he bit a little harder before sucking gently.
“Oh… S…Spencer…”
That was it, her moaning his name sent him over the edge. In one swift motion he effortlessly lifted her up and laid her on his bed. He looked down at her in between his legs as he kneeled over her, his eyes were wild and filled with lust. She stared up at him with wide eyes, her heaving breasts moved up and down rapidly with her heavy breathing. She took her shaking hands and ran them under his shirt, Spencer noticed that she was trying to take his shirt off and leaned back, ripping it off before throwing it over his shoulder. He was about to lean back over her, but Layla sat up and looked from his eyes to his torso. She ran her hands over his hard, tan chest, letting her fingers slide down over his tight abdominal muscles before looking back up at him.
She was so scared and excited at the same time. She wanted to feel more, to see more, to do more, but she was also overwhelmed. She wanted to back away, but what would he think? Would he be mad? She chewed on her bottom lip as she got lost in thought. Spencer watched her, then bent his head down to meet her at eye level.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he whispered.
Layla looked up at him and smiled. “Sorry, I was just thinking.” She placed her hands on his chest and ran them up his neck. Spencer grabbed both her wrists to stop her.
“Lay, I need you to look at me and listen to me very carefully.” He was a good guy, that’s what he kept saying over and over in his head, even though certain parts of him were screaming to continue. “I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t feel 100% comfortable doing. Being nervous is normal when you don’t know what to expect, but if you feel like this is moving too fast, you have to tell me. I want you to be comfortable, I want to go at your speed.”
Layla looked down for a moment then looked back up at him nervously, “You…you won’t be mad if I want to stop?”
Inside, Spencer wanted to die, but on the outside he gave her a reassuring smile as he leaned in and kissed the top of her head. “Of course not.”
Layla smiled and got onto her knees, hugging him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered as she looked at him before kissing him softly.
Spencer returned the favor before breaking the kiss and hopping off the bed. “Alright but, you have to do me a favor and change into something else,” he said while gesturing to her nightgown that had one of the straps slipping down her arm.
Layla looked down at herself, then at him. “Oh okay. So the internet was wrong then?”
Spencer blushed and suddenly felt a bit dirty. Layla may have been twenty years old, but she was so naïve about relationships and intimacy. Am I taking advantage of her? He suddenly felt a bit ill. He noticed that Layla was still sitting on his bed. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, what did you say?”
Layla looked at him frustrated. “I said, was the internet wrong about my outfit?”
“Umm… no, it’s very becoming and I definitely like it.” Spencer rubbed the back of his head. “Okay listen, I’m going to go talk to Sammy, she should be home by now. Why don’t you go change and then I’m going to send her your way.” Spencer didn’t wait for a response as he made a beeline for the door.
He ran down the steps and down a hall before getting to Samantha’s bedroom and quickly knocking on the door. Samantha stumbled to the door and ripped it open, looking at her cousin with one eye open.
“Spencer… it’s freaking one in the morning, I just spent the last—”
“Yeah, I know,” Spencer interrupted, “I’m an asshole, just listen.” He ran his hands over his face. “I’m about to ask you for a favor. A huge, massive favor.”
Samantha rolled her eyes and leaned against her doorframe. “Hurry up.”
“Have the sex talk with Layla?”
Samantha stared blankly at Spencer for several seconds before turning around. “Good night,” she said heading back to her bed.
Spencer ran in her room after her. “Sammy, please, she and I were just—"
“I don’t want to hear this!” she groaned as she collapsed on her bed.
“Sam, listen, I’m terrified I’m going to do something that she doesn’t want to do, but she has no idea what’s happening. Please? I’ll do anything.”
Samantha looked at her shirtless cousin who was currently on his knees in front of her on the floor. “Alright fine, but you owe me so big.”
Spencer threw his arms in the air in triumph. “Thank you! She’s in her room waiting.”
Samantha blinked as his words registered. “Wait… now? Spencer, this can’t wait?”
“Sammy, I don’t want her to have time to misconstrue anything.”
Samantha let out a loud groan and rolled her eyes as she stood up. “So. Fucking. Big,” she growled as she walked up the stairs to Layla’s door, knocking on it before walking in.
Spencer watched his cousin go into Layla’s room and sighed. I guess now I should go take a cold shower. He sighed and headed to the bathroom.
Samantha walked into Layla’s room and looked at the girl sitting in a black hoodie and purple shorts. “Hey Lay, I’m here to discuss the birds and the bees with you,” Samantha muttered as she laid on the bed next to her.
“The what?”
Samantha looked at her friend. “Let’s go make a pot of coffee, this is going to be a very long night.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Layla walked out of her bathroom after taking a shower and headed back to her bedroom. The night before had been a long one, between what had happened between her and Spencer, and then Samantha coming to give her the talk. Layla blushed as she took off her robe as memories of their conversation came back in her head. Layla wasn’t an idiot, she knew the basics, she knew that it took a penis and a vagina to make a baby. But, that was as far as it went. Samantha said there was a difference between knowing the mechanics and knowing the pleasures of sex, and Layla got schooled on everything over about three pots of coffee and a tray of brownies.
She looked at her naked self in the mirror, she saw little marks on her neck where Spencer had bit her. She blushed again and smiled as she remembered the feeling. She turned and headed to her closet and picked out her clothes, settling on a pair of black leggings, an oversized gray sweater, and a pair of tall, black Hunter boots. When she was ready, she pulled her wet hair up into a high bun and headed out of her room. She walked down the hall to Spencer’s room and saw his shirtless figure, asleep in his bed. She snuck in and headed to his bookcase to grab the next book in his series before spinning around and began to tiptoe out.
“What are you doing?”
Layla squeaked and nearly wet herself at the sound of Spencer’s voice. She looked over and saw one green eye peering at her. “Sorry,” she whispered, walking to his bed. “I was trying not to disturb you. I just needed the next book.”
Spencer groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Weren’t you and Sammy up until after four? How are you awake?” His voice was deep and rough, Layla tried to shake off the feelings it was giving her.
“Go back to sleep, I won’t bother you again.” She
smiled and went to leave. Spencer grabbed her wrist and pulled her down to his bed. Her hands landed on his bare chest, causing her cheeks to heat up. Spencer moved his hand to the collar of her sweater and pulled it down, revealing the mark.
He smirked and chuckled slightly. “Cute hickey.” He winked.
Layla glared at him. “Don’t tease me.” She pouted and swatted his hand away.
Spencer leaned forward. “I can’t help it, you look so cute when you’re flustered.” He then leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose before lying back down.
Layla rolled her eyes and got up. “Enjoy your sleep,” she said as she walked out of the room and sighed.
She was bored, she didn’t want to sit here all day, again. Maybe since Spencer is sleeping, I can sneak out and go for a walk. Layla quickly ran down the stairs and headed towards the front door.
“Miss Layla, where are you going?” Layla froze as John appeared from the living room.
She groaned. “John, please, I’m bored, if I stay here any longer I’m going to lose my mind.”
John looked at her and then nodded. “Fine, I will drive you somewhere and drop you off.” Layla grinned and went to open the door again. “Where is your inhaler, Miss?”
Layla smacked her head. “Right, inhaler.” She grabbed her purse and looked through it. “Aha! Got it! Now let’s go.”
Layla sighed and waved as John drove off after she promised him multiple times that she would call when she was ready. She looked at the shopping center entrance and grimaced. There was nothing in there for her, high-priced purses, snobby rich girls, and overpriced clothes. She shrugged and walked into the center anyway, at least it wasn’t the house.
After about an hour of window-shopping, she headed to the food court and sat down. As she looked at all of the people walking by, she had to admit, it was nice being able to sit in such a luxurious area and no one say anything, or looking at her as if she didn’t belong. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a certain blonde heading her way with her friends. Her heart sunk and panic began to set in. Maybe she wouldn’t notice her. Layla’s blue eyes met her brown ones. Shit.