by C. L. Stone
Later, she’d ask Matisse if she could write a resume on his computer, and then she’d chat with Cai. He might know of some employment agencies. Somewhere, she had a bag full of brochures she’d gotten at the homeless shelter. Shuddering, she turned up the heat. Last night, she’d had no choice but to stay at a shelter after running away.
The hot water ran over her face and saturated her hair. She opened a bottle of body wash, sniffing to see if she could match it with one of the guys. She couldn’t help smiling as she uncapped each bottle. A knock on the bathroom door had her fumbling and then dropping it on her foot.
“Ow! Shit! Sorry! Fuck! Come in!” She didn’t know who she was apologizing to: the bottle? Her foot?
The door opened and Cai’s voice carried to her over the water. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Sticking her head out of the curtain, she blinked at the water running into her eyes “What’s up?”
Suddenly, she was very aware of her nakedness. The same thing seemed to have occurred to Cai, because he looked everywhere but at her. He spoke, but she only caught every other word with the running water and the distance between her and the door.
“Come in. I can’t hear you.”
Stepping inside, he shut the door behind him. “Tyler spoke to Dr. Murray and he’d like you to go in with him. He wants to speak with you today, instead of Monday.”
“Oh. Okay.” Her stomach cramped with nervousness.
“You don’t have to do it today, Nora. I’ll call and talk to him.”
“No.” She shook her head, whapping herself in the face with a dreaded lock of wet hair. “It’s okay. It’s part of my contract. I’ll go in.”
He nodded, but glanced away. The muscle in his cheek jumped, a tell-tale sign of stress. She reached out a hand, dripping water all over the floor, but couldn’t quite reach him. “It’s okay, Cai. It’ll be awkward, but I’ll be fine.”
Seeing her hand outstretched, he took it. She craned her neck to see his face. “I thought Apollo was the tallest.”
“He’s not.” He continued to stare down at her, his face serious. “I’m going to kiss you.”
The ability to speak left her and she could only nod.
Holding tightly to her hands, he seemed satisfied with keeping their kiss chaste. At least, until she lost her footing and scrabbled for the shower curtain. Before she could rip it down, he caught her, arms wrapping around her naked back so she soaked his t-shirt.
A deep groan left his throat, and he stepped into the shower, not caring about drenching his jeans and shirt.
In all honesty, she didn’t care either. She loved the feel of his wet shirt against her breasts and the way she could trace the muscles in his back, outlining each one through the wet material.
But it wasn’t enough. She needed his skin under her fingers.
His hands traveled along her back, careful of the scrapes and stitches, until he could cup her bottom in his hands. Trying to get closer, she stood on her tip toes, mashing her chest into his and arching her hips forward. The hard length of his erection pressed against her. She turned her hand to trace it through the wet denim, and he ripped his mouth from hers to take in an audible breath.
Her eyes opened, asking for permission. He knew what she wanted and he nodded, quickly ripping his shirt off so it landed in the tub with a slap.
She struggled to undo the button and tug the jeans down his legs. It was nearly impossible and finally she left him to wrestle himself out. She giggled, watching him wiggle his hips to push down the material over his thighs. When he smiled at her, her heart soared.
Cai! In a moment she would get to taste him. As soon as he managed to step out of his jeans, she kissed him again. His hands threaded through her hair, holding the wet strands away from her face and neck so he could lick and suck a path to her collarbone. He stayed a moment at the dip below her chin, licking the droplets of water pooling there.
There was a tremor in his hands as they skimmed up and down her arms before slowly palming one of her breasts. His thumb rubbed against the tight nub of her nipple, circling around and around.
Moaning softly, she pressed her body tighter against his. She loved the feel of his skin against hers, and must have said so, because he whispered in response, “I love the way you feel.”
Gathering her courage, she let her hand encircle his erection. She stepped back a fraction of an inch, so she could look down at him. She wanted to see and memorize every plane and angle of his body.
Their skin contrasted, his gold against her light brown. Hard to her soft, his muscles were carved, there was no give about him; he projected strength.
His chest was covered in a light dusting of hair, an upside-down triangle from nipple to nipple, and down to the center of his stomach, turning gold and springy at his groin. Trailing her fingers through the curls and then lower, she cupped the heavy sac between his thighs.
Face pained, he groaned low and quiet, as if aware anyone could hear them. His eyes were tightly closed, head tipped back, the muscles in his neck standing out as he clenched and unclenched his jaw.
Cai was a man who didn’t like to lose control. With a small amount of pride and wickedness, she made him skate close to the edge. She massaged him, pulling gently on his balls while her teeth grazed the line of his jaw, tongue sneaking out to capture the water and rasp the dark stubble on his skin.
His hand shot out, grabbing the balance bar while his other hand pressed into her lower back, urging her closer. She licked down the cord in his neck until she came to his shoulder, and then collarbone, sternum, and across to his nipple. She fixed her mouth on it, flicking her tongue along the tip, and then bit down.
His entire body flinched, and then, to her utter delight, he lost control.
“My turn,” he growled tightly, his voice promising retribution.
But she had a strategy, and dropped to her knees, quickly taking his length in her mouth.
“Nora…” he warned.
As soon as his taste hit her tongue, she blissed out. She loved the way his sac tightened, coming up close to his body. Grasping his base, she massaged him. When she found she couldn’t fit him entirely in her mouth, she went about licking and sucking. She let her tongue rest under the mushroomed head, giving him short, strong strokes before pushing him as far back into her throat as she could.
“Baby,” he groaned, but he didn’t pull away. He moved her hair out of her face. As she drew back to his tip, she peered up at him. His face was serious, but his golden eyes blazed. If they’d been in the dark, they’d glow, there was so much heat there.
Closing her eyes, she pushed down with both her mouth and her hand, taking him as far back as she could before swallowing around him. She gagged a little, and he tried to pull back, but she grasped his hips, holding him in place. Slowly, she drew away, her hands moving around his hips until she held onto his butt. The muscles flexed, clenching and releasing as he moved in time with her mouth.
She could almost see them in her mind. His golden skin dripping with water while she rested her on her knees, arms wrapped around him and holding him close as she bobbed up and down on his length.
His hand clenched in her hair. “Come here,” he moaned, and pulled her off, lifting her to her feet before slamming his mouth down on hers. “Together.” He stopped kissing her, stressing how important this was to him. “Our first time. We come together.”
She nodded, not trusting her voice. His hand went straight to her core, and he pressed a finger deep inside her curling and tapping while his palm pressed and rubbed against her clit. She struggled not to lose her rhythm. His hips flexed into her hand and she knew she was doing the same. She wanted to get closer and closer, and then he whispered, “Now, Nora.”
She was right there, right with him on the precipice. Her body responded to him, tightening and clenching around his finger. He pulsed in her hand, growing harder. His rhythm stuttered and then the hot jet of his release, warmer than the water, splashed
against her stomach.
Reluctantly, he left her body, dragging his fingers slowly out of her, tracing her slit and then grasping her hand. He twined their fingers together, kissing her tirelessly, the porcelain of the shower cool at her back.
“Baby,” he whispered against her lips, embracing her, and burying his face in her neck. He inhaled once, deeply, and then again. “You know what?”
She shook her head against his chest, unable to formulate a thought, let alone a word at that moment.
“We need to buy you your own soap. You smell like Apollo.”
Giggling, she pulled away from him to look up. He was completely at ease now, relaxed in a way she hadn’t seen before.
“You okay?”
He smiled, nodding, and leaned down to kiss her again.
4
Meeting
When Nora walked downstairs with Cai, ready to meet Dr. Murray, the boys were watching a movie. They all looked exhausted. Apollo slept, his mouth hanging open, and his glasses perched low on his nose. Matisse watched the tv with bleary-eyed boredom, but when he caught her looking, he winked, patting the space next to him.
“I can’t,” Nora whispered, pointing toward the door. “I have to go.”
He made a move to stand, but Ryan beat him to it, waving him back down.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Cai kissed the side of her head. “I’ll see you when you get back,” he said before taking Ryan’s spot on the couch.
“I got this.” Seok came in from the dining room, keys in hand.
“Thank you.” Ryan slumped. “I’m a little afraid I’ll fall asleep if I drive, but I still look better than those guys.” He gestured over his shoulder at the other three boys before leaning down to kiss her cheek. Yawning, he squeezed her arm and returned to the living room.
“You suck,” he groaned at someone.
“Sit with Matisse,” Cai answered. “I’m not moving, and he wanted company.”
“Not his!”
“They’ll be fine,” Seok reassured her.
“Call us!” Cai called out.
“What the fuck, dude?!” He must have woken Apollo.
“We need to go before it gets ugly.” Taking her hand, Seok led her outside and down the steps, past the cars and down the driveway. “Mind walking?”
She shook her head. Dr. Murray wanted to meet on campus, but not at Converse Hall, thank God. If she walked into the building today, she’d stare at the spot Tilly died. Instead, they headed in the direction of the counseling center, located way at the other end of campus.
“Is Tyler meeting us there?” she asked after they crossed the street.
“He had to go earlier.” He squinted against the sunshine. “He might be there when we get there. I’m not sure.”
They walked across the campus green, past the fountain where a reporter cornered Matisse and her, and Ethan Allen Chapel where they’d run for sanctuary. Content with their silence, Nora enjoyed the scenery.
She never thought she and Seok would be doing this. When she’d run away the other night, it’d been partly because of him, and the way he made her head spin. He could be cold and dismissive, and then in the next moment, passionate and caring.
Thinking about the moments they’d shared before she left made her blush. He overwhelmed her.
“Are you all right?” She’d paused and he turned to her, worried. “Do you hurt? Do we need to stop?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I was just thinking.”
He waited, one eyebrow raised. When she didn’t answer right away, he led her to one of the park benches nearby. Pushing her hair back from her face, he leaned in close to her. Her eyelids fluttered close and he pressed a kiss on each one. “What were you thinking about, Nora?” he asked, his breath drifting across her skin.
“Us,” she answered, opening her eyes.
His pupil expanded like he was in a darkened room. One hand tangled in her hair, and he kissed her. The tight grip he had in her hair was at odds with the gentleness of his kisses. They were delicate, but she pressed into him, desperate for more, something to ease the ache he built inside her.
He pulled back, holding her in place when she sought to fix her mouth on his again.
Opening her eyes, she stared up at his face. His mouth was tight, eyes narrowed. “I can’t kiss you here the way I want to,” he ground out. “Please don’t tempt me.”
Feeling a little wicked, she gave an experimental tug to see if he’d let go of her head. He didn’t, and she winced at the small bite of pain that made the ache inside her intensify. He released her, checking his watch. “If I had more time…”
If they had more time, she might end up in his lap, grinding against him. Seok held out his hand and she took it. His fingers pressed against the back of her hand, and his thumb traced a pattern along hers, rubbing gently against the skin and then circling her knuckle, making her shiver.
“Cold?” He stared down at her with a smug look.
Jerking her hand away from his, she crossed her arms. “Fine.” She jammed her thumb against the walk button.
“Nora.”
She ignored him. Sexy, hand-holding, dirty-minded, black-eyed…
“Nora.”
The walk sign blinked, and she bit her lip to keep from smiling before taking a step into the street.
“Nora.” This time his voice held a warning. When she still didn’t answer, he swept up into his arms.
A bunch of cars honked at them, voices calling out, “Nice! Get her man! Kiss her!”
She looked up to catch him smiling at her. “Happy now?”
She nuzzled into his neck, giving him a quick little suck and kiss against his skin. He inhaled, and someone else yelled, “Do it!”
Rolling his eyes, he let her down once they reached the sidewalk.
“If you are upset, tell me. Don’t ignore me.”
“I was punishing you.”
“For not shoving my hand into your pants in the park?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No!” She covered her face with her hands.
“I can’t hear you.” He attempted to pry her hands away from her face.
“For the finger thing you were doing when you held my hand. Teasing.”
“Oh! You didn’t like that? I thought when you shivered…”
“I did!” she answered quickly, glancing around to see if anyone overheard them, but they were alone on the street. “It just, it got me worked up, and you looked so full of yourself.”
He crossed his arms and stepped back.
“There!” She pointed. “There’s the look!”
“What look?” He pressed his hands against his chest in mock innocence.
“You’re the worst.” She rolled her eyes. The counseling center was two houses away.
After jogging to catch up, he walked backward to watch her face. “I think if I was the worst, then you would not be so worked up over my handholding skills.”
“Well, it wasn’t nice.”
“I think it was very nice.”
“Oh my God.” She threw her hands in the air. “You are such a guy right now!”
“Nora?” It was Dr. Murray. He held the door to the counseling center open. “I’ve been watching for you. The door locks automatically when it shuts. Are you ready?”
“Sure.” All of her good feelings disappeared. It was like she and Seok never kissed and never teased. She’d been relaxed and happy, and now, all at once, she was nervous and tense.
“Do you want to wait?” Dr. Murray stared at Seok over her shoulder. “Or do you want to come back? It will be at least two hours.”
Her stomach dropped. When she met Seok’s eyes, he seemed to be asking her what he should do. What she wanted was for him to stay, but she also didn’t want him giving up hours of his day when he could take a nap or work in his shop. “Meet me back here?”
“I can bring you home,” Dr. Murray offered.
“I’ll be back.” He looked at his wat
ch. “Two hours. I’ll be here.”
She nodded, giving him a small wave before she followed Dr. Murray inside.
“Your sweatshirt?” he asked, holding out a hand.
From where she stood unzipping her sweater, she could see Seok hesitating on the sidewalk. Shaking his head, he stared at the house for another moment before turning on his heel and striding away.
Nora peeled the sweatshirt off her shoulders and handed it to Dr. Murray.
“Ready?”
No.
****
The counseling center was designed to look like someone’s house. The only thing giving away its real purpose was a receptionist’s desk sitting unobtrusively near a window. There was a small kitchenette toward the back of the house, and near her, a set of stairs.
“Offices are on the second floor.” He indicated. “Can I get you something first? Water?”
“Please.” She nodded, her throat dry.
The hallway leading to the kitchen was lined with framed photographs and portraits of the original building. There were black and white photos of the house when it was still a private residence, more recent photographs of the building in various states of repair, and a small painting of the house as it stood now.
“It’s on the ghost tours, too,” Dr. Murray called over his shoulder.
She shuddered. Even though it was an obvious attempt to put her at ease, her skin erupted in goosebumps. Lingering in the hall, she admired a small sepia-toned photograph showing a family on the outside stoop.
“That’s Anna Smith.” He handed her a small bottle of water. “She turned the house into a tea room after her husband died.”
Uncapping the water gave her a moment to gather her thoughts. “Oh,” she remarked, taking a small sip.
A light touch on her shoulder encouraged her to turn toward him. “I know you’re nervous, Nora. I get it. I really do.” He gestured toward the stairs. “Let’s go upstairs and talk.”
She wanted to drag her feet, but she didn’t. She squared her shoulders and followed him to the second floor. Pausing in front of the first door, he waited for her to enter, then nudged a round, white object into the hallway and closed the door.