I giggled, thinking this side of him most unexpected. “It kind of turns me on to think of you all alpha male over me.”
He grinned and then turned towards rinsing me thoroughly. “Now, then, the fourth date—since only one has attempted to go there and it didn’t go well—I believe should be defined here and now.”
My eyes went wide when he dropped to his knees in front of me, his head in line with my center. “I’m completely on board with this plan.”
He tilted forward, parting my legs further. “Lean against the wall and put your bad ankle over my shoulder.”
I complied, gasping when he buried his entire face between my legs. He wasted no time, with the new angle allowing intimate access to me. His teeth pulled my clit between them, the gentle nip sending shock waves through me as his urgent fingers penetrated my depths finding me wet and swollen with need. I tightened around him, my body aching for release. Fast and furious, he worked me with his mouth and magical fingers, bringing me to a powerful climax. But instead of easing back, he intensified the sweet torture, rocking me into his mouth as he curled his finger to the spot inside of me, making my eyes roll back in my head for another one.
“OhmyGod, ohmyGod, ohmyGod,” I chanted over and over, finally focusing my gaze on his smug face in front of me.
He let my foot down gently as he stood up. “You okay?”
I nodded dumbly, feeling completely sated. Watching as he squirted more soap in his hands and washed his body, I moved forward. I reveled in the way he closed his eyes in pleasure when I gripped his cock with both hands. Moving one hand down to his balls, I cupped him gently and then rubbed the sudsy lather down the length of his shaft with my other hand. “How does that feel?”
He hissed out a breath. “Incredible. I never thought I’d enjoy foreplay this much.”
I turned him towards the water, rinsing his body thoroughly, and then sinking to my knees, looking up with a smile on my lips.
He reached down, putting his hand alongside my face and sucked in a breath when I opened my mouth, taking him in all the way with the first touch. “Holy shit.”
There was nothing slow about the way I desired him. I wanted to take him off guard as he’d done with me. I knew I’d achieved the goal when, after a couple of minutes, he was trembling with the aftermath of his orgasm deep in my throat.
He helped me to my feet, placing a kiss on the tip of my nose playfully. “Water is turning cold. Let’s get dry and get in bed.”
Before we climbed in, he donned his boxers and held out panties for me. “No naked cuddling. At least not until tomorrow night.”
“Afraid you might slip inside of me in the middle of the night?”
He growled at the thought and then turned out the light, pulling me close. “You should get your rest now because that’s exactly what’s going to happen with staggering frequency after tomorrow. Any chance we could put off this hospital thing and have our date tomorrow morning instead of having to wait until the evening?”
“Oh, there’s no way we can miss it.”
He laughed. “Why do I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me?”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“You’re not giving me a hint about what we’re planning to do at the Children’s Hospital?” Colby was clearly nervous about what I had in mind when it came to his repayment of our bet.
“Nope, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy every minute of it.” We were on our way there in his car early on Saturday morning.
“What’s with the hair?” He flipped my French braid from my shoulder.
I had to bite my lip to keep from telling him. “Oh, you’ll see.”
Once we arrived, he appeared surprisingly upbeat about the prospect of volunteering up until the point where the costumes came out.
“Wait. You want me to what?”
“I’m playing Elsa, from the Disney movie Frozen. The girl you met a few minutes ago, Sheila, is Ana, her sister. There are two choices: you can go as Kristoff, or you can don the snowman costume and be Olaf.”
“What about that guy over there—what’s he going to be?” He pointed toward another man I’d met last week, a big mountain of a guy who’d played football.
“He’s Sven the reindeer, and he called dibs.”
“He actually called dibs on the reindeer? Jesus. What do I have to do?”
He looked completely out of his element, which was very amusing. “If you’re Olaf, you have to give warm hugs. If you’re Kristoff, you only need to stand to the side looking handsome.”
“Kristoff it is.” He grabbed the costume, being a good sport about it. “Any chance Kristoff gets to grope Elsa during any of this?”
I giggled. “He’s Ana’s boyfriend, so no.”
He made a show out of assessing me and then the woman across the room playing Ana. “And what if I’m into both sisters? Is that in the Disney version?”
I swatted him. “Ha. You wish. Now behave. There are little ears around.”
He grabbed me playfully around the waist. “Have I mentioned what a relief it is to be able to make jokes about a threesome with fictional sisters and not have you get pissed off at me for that sort of inappropriate remark?”
I chuckled, stepping back to go get changed. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. Now get changed into your costume.”
Once I was dressed, I put on some blush and let the volunteer coordinator apply heavy mascara with liner to do up my eyes dramatically. When I came out of the makeshift dressing room, I had to laugh at Colby, now dressed as Kristoff. He even had the shaggy blond wig.
“You look very handsome.”
He focused on me with his jaw dropping. “That’s what Elsa wears?”
The dress was fitted, to say the least, but I hoped it wasn’t too much to wear in front of the children. “Does it look bad?”
He smirked. “Uh, no, it looks fantastic. Damn, I’ve hit a new low: I’m lusting after a Disney character.”
“No, the low is you’re dressed as one while doing so.”
He chuckled before I took his hand and introduced him to some of the other people participating. The hospital had done a great job of recruiting an entire cast for the movie Frozen plus some other Disney princesses and superheroes for the kids.
“Is there a show?” Colby asked.
“Yes, they’re bringing all the kids who can come out of their rooms in here to watch it. Then afterwards we’ll go room to room to visit with the kids who asked to see the Frozen cast.”
I moved over to talk to the woman who was set up to play the piano not wanting to dwell on my having to sing. While sober. This was for the kids and I hadn’t thought about Colby being here to witness me performing when I’d bet him.
The children who were healthy enough to attend all filed in, most with family members in tow. It broke my heart to realize some of them were fighting for their lives, but I was here to give joy, and that’s what I was going to do. Thankfully, Ana was up first with her song. After she finished, it was my turn. I didn’t dare meet Colby’s eyes when I started on the song, “Let it Go.”
After I’d finished, the room broke into applause, which must have meant I’d done the rendition proud. Following the show, we spent an hour going room to room, giving little trinkets such as wands and coloring books. One little boy I noticed took a liking to Colby and requested help with his video game. It was cute to see how patient Colby was in showing the boy how to navigate Lego Batman on his console.
In all, it was a great morning of smiles. I felt like I was finally giving back to this world, humbled that these children and their families could be going through a struggle for life yet were grateful for me, a simple girl in an Elsa costume.
We got changed and returned to the car around lunchtime. “You hungry?” I asked, noticing Colby was uncharacteristically quiet.
“I could eat. Do you know what the little boy with the video game is being treated for?”
“I don’t, but I could ask.�
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He shook his head. “No, that’s okay. I’ll ask maybe the next time I go with you. That is if you’ll have me?”
“Are you kidding, you were an amazing Kristoff. I’d love for you to come with me another time.”
“It’s so incredibly fulfilling, yet sad at the same time.”
“I agree. It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?”
He let out a long breath, looking straight ahead toward traffic. “Yeah. My mom does all of these charity things, but aside from showing up at overpriced fund-raising dinners and auctions, I’ve never done anything.”
“It’s never too late to start which is what you’re doing now.”
He turned and looked at me, setting a hand on my thigh. “You were terrific with your singing. The song choice was, uh—”
“Ironic, right? Now if only I could live my life with a Let it go mentality.”
“Any nerves?”
“Some, but compared to how those kids are brave on a daily basis—I guess it puts it all into perspective.”
He squeezed my leg and then pulled into an In-N-Out Burger. We ate in the car, mostly in silence, both processing the morning.
“So, if you don’t mind, I was thinking we’d go back to my house, after which I’d drop you off at your apartment, so you can get ready by six o’clock. That way I can knock on your door properly and pick you up.”
I smiled at the charming way he was approaching these dates. “That sounds good, especially since most of my nice clothes are at my place. What am I wearing?”
“How about a dress and special panties.”
***
After I packed a bag of my essentials, Colby dropped me off at my apartment where I spent the next couple of hours getting ready for my date. I was shaved, lotioned, and my hair was straightened. I don’t think I’d ever spent so much effort in trying to look good for a date.
Glancing at my watch, I saw I still had an hour before he picked me up. Nervous energy had me bouncing off the walls, so when the knock came at the door, I hoped maybe he’d been equally as anxious. Unfortunately it was my mother’s unhappy face which greeted me instead.
“Are you going to make me stand in the hallway, McKenzie, or invite me in?”
“Uh, right, come in. What are you doing here?”
She held up a folded piece of paper in her hand. “Since I had to learn my daughter had surgery from the insurance bills, I thought I’d come out here and see for myself what happened.”
I sucked in my breath. Shit. “I’m sorry you had to find out that way.”
She scanned me from head to toe, focusing mostly on my ankle in the boot. For a moment I thought I caught a glimpse of genuine concern, but then she turned to survey the room.
“I’m assuming your brother knew because when I called him, he told me to talk with you.”
I wondered why he hadn’t warned me. As if on cue, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. “Uh, let me get that.”
“I’m sure it’s your brother calling to warn you as I just hung up with him. He didn’t know I was already here in LA.”
I silenced the ringing but typed a quick text to Colby.
“My mom showed up. Will call you after. Sorry.”
Turning back towards her, I noticed she remained focused on my right ankle. “I’m better now. Had the cast removed from my wrist a couple days ago, and this boot is only for two more weeks before I transition to a brace.”
“You get hit by a car and rushed via ambulance, but you don’t call your mother? Why?”
Oh, no, she sounded really hurt by it. I bit my lip, needing to be honest and not go with my habit of deflecting. “Because all I could think about was you’d insist on me moving home, and I wasn’t ready.”
“And will you be ready by the end of August?”
It was a small eternity before I shook my head no. Only a few weeks ago, I’d been convinced moving home would be my only option, with my internship over and me being in the hospital, but now I couldn’t fathom it. Maybe it was the whole being hit by a car business, reminding me I’d only get one shot at this life, which made me voice my opinion for once. Maybe not out loud, but shaking my head no was a small step in the right direction, at least.
“You promised.”
I cringed at her accusatory tone. “I did not. And considering you chose a school for me without my input, I don’t think you can blame me for rethinking it once I had some time away.”
“You have exactly six weeks to reverse your short-sighted decision. In fact, the baptism for Haylee and Josh’s little girl is set for the weekend before classes start at Georgetown. That would be the best time for you to move home. Go ahead and buy your ticket now; then we can ship your things out separately with a moving company. Did you give notice to your apartment management company yet?”
She bulldozed right over my feelings completely. I stayed quiet, trying to get up the nerve to tell her that absolutely, under no circumstances, was I moving home.
“Fine, I’ll do it since it’s my name on the lease anyhow,” she continued.
“Mom, I’ve been thinking, and I definitely want to stay out here.” There, I’d found my voice.
“You do realize we won’t fund it. Not one penny.”
“I understand, but if we could talk—”
“Is this because of a boy?”
I flushed red, the timing of my relationship with Colby weighing on my conscience. He had nothing to do with my decision, did he? Reverting back to an old habit, I changed the subject. “No. I think I may want to do something with music. I’ve improved with being able to sing in front of people. Just this morning I sang at the Children’s Hospital—”
“You can’t be serious. First of all, even if you were good enough, what is a career in music going to do for you? I’ll save you from having to come up with a reply. Nothing. Now I can see you’re dressed up, and it’s a Saturday night, so I’m asking one last time if you’re staying out here because of a boy.”
“No, I’m not.” At least I didn’t think so. “I love LA, and I don’t see myself going on to business school. It’s not what I want to do with my life.”
“You’re too young to know what you want. Besides, you’re not paying attention to what I’m saying when I tell you we’re not funding you. That means no apartment, no car, no cell phone, and no medical insurance, which clearly you’ve needed during the last few weeks. And if you think you’re touching your trust fund, you have another thing coming because you can’t until you’re twenty-five. And perhaps we need to revisit that stipulation.”
I gasped that she’d go there when it was something my grandparents had setup for me. “Why are you so adamant about this? Over the last four years, you’ve never mentioned me moving home once. Why now?”
She looked on the verge of tears. “Because I’ve let you do what you’ve wanted, and now it’s time for you to be appreciative of all that’s been given to you. I need you home. End of story.”
She walked to my front door, turning back for her parting words. “Six weeks, McKenzie, that’s it.” Opening my door, she walked out of my apartment without a backward glance.
***
I went through a gauntlet of emotions. How the hell could she think I’d never been appreciative? She was making it sound like I’d been an entitled brat who needed to do the right thing by coming home. I’d earned a full scholarship for my tuition, so I hadn’t asked them to pay for my college; I drove a used Honda Accord and lived within a college student’s means.
Mostly, I was disappointed in myself and the fact that, once again, I hadn’t been adamant about what it was I wanted. Instead, I’d let her leave with the last word in the form of a threat, which now hung over me like a heavy blanket.
Colby had texted me to call him when I could. It took twenty minutes to be able to calm down enough to dial.
He answered on the first ring. “Hey, you doing okay?”
“I’ve been better. And I feel terrible saying this, but,
uh, I need a raincheck for tonight.” I was in the shittiest of moods, and the last thing I needed was for him to know what a complete chicken I’d been with my mother. He’d already caught enough of a glimpse of that girl at my graduation party.
“I understand, but let me come over and we’ll talk.”
I hesitated, but realized this wasn’t a state I wanted him to see me in. “Maybe tomorrow.”
“Are you sure, Kenz?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’ll talk to you soon.”
After hanging up the phone, I went into my bedroom and let the tears fall. How could my mom, the woman who was supposed to love me more than anything, not listen to what I wanted to do with my life? Then to insinuate I somehow owed her, and needed to come home in order to pay up was unfair. The thing that upset me the most was that she’d threatened my trust fund, the one set up by my father’s parents. It was fighting dirty, and I didn’t understand why her motivation was so unwavering.
Not bothering to take off my beautiful dress, I sank to the floor against the wall, put my head on my knees, and cried tears of frustration.
Colby found me in the same position forty minutes later. I must’ve dozed because I didn’t hear him come into the apartment until he called my name as he walked through my bedroom door.
“Sweetheart, talk to me.” He sat beside me, his body beside mine against the wall.
“I’m not very good company tonight.”
“So we won’t have our date, but I want to be here for you as your friend. I brought snacks.” He opened the bag in his hand, revealing pink snowballs.
I smiled at his thoughtfulness, wiping my eyes on my sleeve. “I didn’t want you to see me ugly cry, but this is kind of taking my mind off it. The pink ones are my favorite.”
“There’s nothing ugly about you, I promise.” He unwrapped a package and handed me one, popping the other one in his mouth. “Wow, these are—just Jesus—pure sugar, aren’t they?”
I laughed at his expression and then took a bite of my own with a sigh. “How did you get in?”
Bet Me Something (Something Series Book 3) Page 18