Caught in Us

by Layla Hagen

  "Yep, but I thought I’d throw up."

  "Happens to some people," he admits.

  "Well, thank God I wasn't one of them. Can't spoil my date." Realizing I'm completely out of the gear, I wink goodbye. "It was nice meeting you, thanks."

  Five short minutes later, I’m on the ground, running straight into Damon's arms.

  "This was fun." I grin as he pulls me into a hug. I lose myself in it, inhaling his scent, ruffling his hair as I peek at the jumping platform. It's not something I'd do again, but I discovered something interesting when my feet left that platform to plunge into nothingness. Something exquisite lies beyond fear: freedom. As Damon tightens the hug, I become certain of one thing: whatever happens, no matter how upside-down things look, I can count on him to ground me.

  "Ready for the next part?" Damon murmurs in my ear.

  "Absolutely."

  "There's something I want to tell you first." The seriousness in his tone makes me stand up straighter.

  "Okay."

  "You remember Gabe?"

  "Yes." A hollowness forms in my stomach, rising all the way up to my throat. "He's out of jail?"

  "He got out a month ago."

  "Did you run into him?"

  "He sought me out."

  "Why?" A hundred different reasons pop up in my mind, one less plausible than the other.

  "He wants revenge on James and me for sending him to jail."

  "His illegal behavior sent him there."

  "Yeah, well, he needs someone to blame." Taking a deep breath, he reaches for my hand. "He threatened to hurt you."

  "W-why?" I squeeze his hand tightly, my chest heaving restlessly.

  "It's the easiest way to hurt me and James, because we both love you."

  "That's why you met with James." It all makes sense now.

  "Yes. The job was a pleasant side effect. I know Gabe's involved in drug dealing right now, and James and I are looking for some proof. He should be locked up for a long time if we succeed. In the meantime, I want you to be careful. If anything looks suspicious, I want to know, okay? Keep your eyes open, but don't worry too much."

  "Okay."

  Once we drive away, I cling to him tightly, playing his words in my mind. We both love you. I take in as much of his presence as I can. As always, it's intoxicating, and by the time the bike pulls to a stop, I am drunk on him. It's only after I descend from it and get out of the jacket and helmet that I snap back to reality.

  "What the—?” I gasp, looking wearily at the familiar venue. "Prom and the graduation party were here."

  "Exactly."

  "What are you trying to do, Damon?"

  "I can't make up for all the times I wasn't here with you, but I want to make up for all the special dates I missed."

  "My birthday—”

  "Prom, graduation. I missed a few good ones. Come on, let's go. I don't know about you, but I'm starving," he says. I'm about to remark that this is an expensive restaurant, and he's broke, but he adds, “I sold some old stuff I didn’t need. I received good money for it.” I don’t protest, but I still feel bad that he's spending that money on me. The second we step inside, the waitress comes up to us smiling.

  "Mr. Cooper. Ms. Cohen, welcome. I'll take you to your table."

  The restaurant has two floors and a terrace on top. It's lined with window walls so it can be used even when it's not warm enough outside. She leads us all the way up to the terrace. There are fewer tables here. It's more intimate. As she guides us to our table, a detail makes my pulse ratchet up.

  "Christmas lights," I whisper as we sit. "They're everwhere. Let me guess. This is prom, graduation, and Christmas all rolled into one?"

  "Yep. I thought of doing them one by one, but then I realized it would take forever to get to my favorite part of the night."

  "Mmmmm." I bury my face in the menu to hide my blush. Then I realize...where will we go after dinner? He has roommates; I have a roommate. I could almost face-palm myself. Why didn't I sort this out with Hazel? This is a disaster waiting to happen. As discreetly as I can, I text her. Is there any chance you can stay out later tonight?

  Her reply comes almost instantly. Relax, I've got plans until the wee hours of the morning.

  "Who's that?" Damon asks.

  "Hazel." I push my phone away, giving Damon my undivided attention.

  "Okay, so, since we're celebrating so many things, how about a food festival?"

  "You know me; I like to eat," I reply.

  "That's my girl."

  "Tell me about your dad,” I beckon. “I think he stopped working with mine some time ago."

  "Yeah, apparently my dad found someone who paid more for his stuff, and yours found someone who was cheaper. Everyone's happy,” Damon says, shrugging. “He's in London right now; I think he'll stay there for a few months. I don’t talk to him often."

  We order everything. Appetizers, roast beef, turkey, and top it all with cake. By the time the waitress brings us the cake, the button of my jeans threatens to pop open, and I feel sleepy.

  "I need a break. I can't eat this right away," I say, eying the delicious chocolate cake in front of me. I can’t believe it, but I might have to pass on dessert.

  "Let's skip it altogether." His voice is low and rough, sending a delicious jolt right through me. I press my thighs together in an involuntary attempt to curb the ache there. In the flash of a second, my sleepiness vanishes.

  "Yes."

  ***

  The ride to the dorm passes in a haze. When we reach the door to my room, I suddenly have a lump in my throat. I know what follows next, but I'm unsure how to do this.

  "Come on in."

  "Is that an invitation?" His green eyes lock on mine.

  "Yes," I breathe.

  "Be careful, Dani. Once you let me in, I don't plan on leaving."

  "That's what I'm hoping, even though Hazel will return eventually." I fumble in my bag for my keys, feeling Damon's breath at the back of my neck. Heat radiates from where his breath brushes my skin, spreading on my shoulders, down my arms, chest, and further down, until my intimate spot is pulsing. "Damn it, where are they?"

  Damon lays an arm around my waist, pulling me gently to him.

  "Relax, Dani," he whispers. I nearly giggle in relief when I find the keys.

  "Here they are."

  I unlock the door and welcome Damon in our living room.

  "This place is huge compared to my dorm," Damon comments, and I can tell he's trying to make small talk to put me at ease.

  "Hazel's mom made sure we got one of the largest units available on campus. Our bedroom is pretty small, though. Wish we'd gone for a unit with separate bedrooms." I open the door to the bedroom, experiencing the same feeling of nervousness I did when I first welcomed him in my room back home. After Damon left, I started reading steamy novels—part of my rebellion. I found out I really liked them. I really hope my reading will substitute my lack of experience.

  "See? Tiny."

  "You’re blushing." Damon runs his fingers over my neck, then down my chest. "That makes self-control very hard for me, you know that, right?" He bows his head, and I moan when his lips touch my neck. I fist his hair, willing him to continue. "I missed you. God, I missed you," he mutters against my skin. His hands roam over my back, their touch making my nerve endings shimmer. I slide my hands under his shirt, caressing his rippled muscles. Every single one is as contoured as I remember.

  I become putty in his hands, a mere slave to my need, driven by desire. He nibbles at my lower lip then tugs at it with his teeth. He removes my top, leaving me only in my bra. Sitting on my bed, I pull his jeans down, biting my tongue as I take in the sight of him in his boxers. Then he gets rid of them, and I suck in a deep breath. I want to caress his thickness, but have no idea how to do it right. Focus, Dani. You’ve read enough romance novels. You can do this.

  Just as I gather some courage, doubts overcome me again. Sure, I’ve read enough novels, but they didn’t spe
cifically say how hard to squeeze, or exactly how fast I should move my hand. Damn it. Why doesn’t sex come with an instruction manual?

  “Dani, stop looking at my dick as if you’re about to dive into a science experiment.”

  I glance up to find Damon looking at me. Oh, crap. How long have I been staring at his shaft? He grins, beckoning me to touch him. I wrap my palm around his thickness.

  “That’s right. Now move your hand up and down,” he says huskily. Furrowing my brows, I do as he says.

  “Is this okay? Should I do it faster, or—”

  “You’re doing great.” His eyes are locked on mine, his chest moving up and down faster than before.

  “Show me.” I say the words in a whisper so low, I fear he might not hear me. But he does and places his hand over mine, pressing on my fingers. I tighten my grip. Then he changes the tempo to more rapid movements. When he pulls his hand away, I continue. Following my instinct, I stroke him even faster. He grunts out my name.

  I keep my eyes focused on him, drinking him in as he tilts his head back. His nostrils flare as if he's forcing himself to breathe in and out. He’s coming undone at my touch.

  "Enough," he grunts, pushing my hand away. Locking his darkened eyes on me, he pushes me gently on my back then removes his shirt. I run my hand hungrily over his granite-like abs, tracing the lines angling toward his pelvis. "Remove your clothes," he orders. I push my jeans down my legs, doing my best to appear seductive. "All your clothes," Damon continues. I obediently get rid of my bra and panties. My nipples pucker, aching for his touch.

  "You are beautiful, Dani." His eyes travel over my body desperately, as if he can't get enough of me. The feeling is mutual, and I beckon him to climb on the bed. I inch my legs apart invitingly. He props a knee between them then leans over me, grazing my nipple with his teeth. I arch my back, gasping, and reach for his shaft again. When I touch him, I feel a few drops of warm liquid on its tip. Warm wetness pools in my intimate spot immediately. On cue, Damon reaches into his discarded jeans for his wallet, retrieving a condom. He rips the package open and slides the condom on, biting furiously at his lips while doing it.

  "It might be uncomfortable in the beginning," he warns me, "since you didn't ...you know."

  I nod, bracing myself for the sharp pain I felt the first time. When Damon positions his tip at my entrance and pushes inside, I sigh. There is no pain, just a sense of discomfort as he slides in. He puts his hands on my sides and I happily rest my palms on his biceps, reassurance filling me. All the discomfort is gone. He slides out and in again with measured strokes, coaxing whimper after whimper out of me. His muscles contort violently under my fingers as if it takes effort not to ravish me.

  "It doesn't hurt." My legs cinch up his waist to give him better access. "You can let loose, Damon."

  "Not a good choice of words." His labored breathing leaves no room for misinterpretation. The next second, his strokes become merciless as he pounds inside me with ferocity, his lips covering my neck and breasts with kisses. A liberating sensation spreads inside me, dissolving the pain I kept hidden, leaving place for hope, bliss, and the conviction that together we will bloom into something beautiful. The heat between my legs becomes singeing as his groin presses on my clit with every move, making me writhe and moan underneath him.

  "Dani, God, you feel so good." He makes love to me for a long time until tension erupts deep inside me, causing my hips to buck. I plant my legs firmly on the bed, meeting his desperate thrusts with fervor. The tension turns unbearable, flaring through me, alighting every part of me until my body begs for release.

  "Damon," I murmur, tugging at his hair and pulling him into a kiss. I feel him widen inside of me, his body going rigid while my orgasm shatters me.

  With one last deep kiss, he pulls out of me and sits on the edge of the bed, still panting. He discards the condom while I trace the tattoos on his arm, wondering if I should shower. My hair sticks to my sweaty neck, but I'm not sure what the after-sex protocol is. I fell asleep last time, and I want to do things right now.

  "Should I shower?" I ask tentatively.

  "You're not going anywhere." He fixes his green eyes on me then slides in the bed next to me. Nibbling my shoulder, he adds, "Turn around; I want to do some spooning."

  "Do guys actually use that word? I was under the impression it was an activity men avoid like the plague."

  "Idiots, maybe," he says with an air of superiority, winking. "I get to feel your cute little ass against me."

  Grinning, I turn around and grind against him. To my surprise, he's hardening again. There is something unbelievably sexy about both of us being sweaty and messy. "You lasted a long time for someone who was afraid he'd come in his pants from merely kissing me."

  "I...prepared for this." He slings his arms around me, pulling me even tighter to him until I can feel his cock pressing against the crack of my butt, giving me hot flashes.

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "I jerked off a few times before our date." He says the words with complete nonchalance.

  "You...umm...wow." Imagining him touching himself makes me burn for him again. I press my thighs together, trying to suppress the need.

  "You want me again, don't you?" he whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

  "Yes," I answer.

  "Good to know I'm not the only addict. I can't get enough of you, Dani." He flicks one of my nipples between his fingers, grazing my earlobe with his teeth. I become hyper-aware of how hard he is. Unexpectedly, he pushes me up on all fours, my ass sticking up in the air. Positioning himself behind me, he swipes his tongue from my neck down my spine, prompting me to shiver.

  "Damon."

  He cups my ass, spreading my cheeks apart, dipping his tongue between them, touching the sensitive skin there briefly. My thighs quiver and I fist the bed sheets for support. Sweet God, this man will be the death of me. He is just reaching for another condom when the door opens, and for a moment the whole scene freezes. Hazel walks in, her eyes widening. Damon and I are both stark naked, and my bottom sticks up in the air. To make matters worse, Damon leaps from the bed, giving Hazel a full frontal view. He seems to acknowledge his mistake and turns around, giving her an eyeful of his butt, as well. I groan, wishing we had turned off the light.

  "Will you turn around?" I ask her, because she seems far too perplexed to realize that's the thing to do.

  "Oh, yeah." She swirls around, giggling. Damon dresses faster than I blink. "Oh, my God, I will never be able to unsee this. Damon, you have spoiled me for other guys."

  "Thanks for the compliment." His clipped tone puts a smile on my face.

  "Poor guys. I will always keep everyone to your ass's standard. Not to mention your other endowment."

  "Hazel," I say, mortified. "Can you drop it?"

  "Well, it's true."

  "I am so not hearing this conversation," Damon says.

  "I thought we had a texting code going on, Hazel."

  "Well, you texted me when you left the restaurant. That was hours ago. I thought he left. Were you at it the entire time?"

  "Aaaaaand I'm out." Damon plants a kiss on my lips. I think it was meant to be quick, but his lips linger until my breath ratchets.

  "Should I leave again?" Hazel interrupts. We immediately pull apart.

  "See you tomorrow." Damon stomps out of the room.

  I pull the sheets up to my chin as Hazel rushes to her bed, watching me curiously. "I want to know everything."

  I tell her, though I still resent her for interrupting us. Hazel giggles and covers her mouth, as if she's watching a movie. The only thing missing is a bucket of popcorn.

  "You are a bit too excited, you know that, right?"

  "I've had zero action all year." She sits up straighter on the edge of the bed, watching me solemnly. "I’m living through you."

  "You have to stop doing that."

  "Are you kidding? Now that I've seen how well-endowed Damon is...How is th
at even legal?"

  "Why don't you make a move on Chase?" I ignore her comment about Damon.

  "I've been through that once, last semester. Not happening again.” After an awkward pause, she tucks herself into her bed, still fully dressed. "I'm too tired to change into my pajamas."

  "Give another guy a shot."

  "We'll see," she says vaguely.

  "You do know you'll have to get out of bed and turn the light off, don't you?"

  "But the switch is closer to you," she protests.

  "Yeah, but I’m naked."

  "Gross. I didn't want to be reminded of that." Grinning, she gets up and turns off the light. She falls asleep the second she returns to her bed, but I'm awake for a long time, replaying the events of tonight in my mind. I wish Damon had spent the night with me. Being in his arms felt so good, so right. I reach on the nightstand for my phone and look at the picture the waiter took of us. It brings a smile on my face and makes my ache for him so much harder to stand.

  I text him on a whim. Are you asleep?

  My phone pings almost immediately. No. I can't stop thinking about tonight. I swear my heart swoops out of my chest. Another ping. I wish I could have slept next to you.

  Me, too, I type back quickly.

  We need to find a sleeping arrangement where I can be with you. I try not to swoon too much and play it cool, but my toes curl all on their own.

  Arrangement? You've just started working with my brother and already sound like him.

  I already miss you, he texts back. We need to get any inconvenient roommates out of the way.

  I allow myself to swoon just a little. Make sure Hazel doesn't hear you call her an inconvenient roommate. She might just let our entire dorm know how well "endowed" you are, and then all the sorority girls will want to jump you.

  His reply comes right away. Don't worry, I'm all yours.

  Now I allow myself to swoon all the way.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight: Dani

  When I get up on Saturday morning, I tiptoe out of bed, careful not to wake Hazel. I've learned from our countless sleepovers that she sleeps like a rabbit. One wrong move and she's up, and waking up Hazel before noon on a Saturday is a course of action to be avoided at all costs.