by Avery Kaye
I can wait.
I can.
7
Jordan
Seven months.
That’s a long fucking time.
Now that I’ve touched Kelsey, kissed her, tasted her, I have no idea how I’ll wait until May to have her. It’s going to be fucking torture. Every single minute.
Pure hell.
Today I learned Kelsey Steele is everything I’ve wanted in a woman. She’s smart. Sweet. Affectionate. Loyal. Passionate. Giving. She sings horribly. Almost as bad as me. She helps people, volunteering hundreds of hours every term. She likes Euclid, and Euclid likes her. She smiles a lot. She laughs a lot. And she makes me laugh too.
When we’re together, I feel alive. I feel like I matter.
Once we’re married, she’ll be my friend, my confidant, my companion…and the mother of my children.
Damn it, I wish I didn’t have to wait so long. My dick gets hard just imagining her stomach swollen with my child.
A small, very stupid part of me is afraid she might not be able to wait for me. What if one of those young assholes, like the one I saw her with in the beginning of the year, convinces her he’s better for her? Would she be easily swayed?
For the most part, I don’t believe she would be. But I’ll admit it, I’m afraid. It would break me to see her make a mistake, taking what she can get right now, rather than what I can give her later.
I want to make sure she understands my commitment to her is real.
After we eat dinner, I take her to the living room and ask her to sit on the couch. Euclid, the big baby, plunks down next to her and rests his head on her thigh.
She chuckles and gives him a scratch, and he eats it up, giving her a big sloppy kiss of gratitude.
“I think someone has stolen my girl,” I joke.
She laughs (that sound makes my heart twist, it’s so fucking precious). “I have to admit, I was scared of him at first. But he’s won me over.”
“I’m glad. He needs a lot of love. I can only give him so much. I’ll be right back.” Leaving her in good hands (paws) I go to my bedroom.
I need to find something that I can give her. Something that’ll make her think of me whenever she sees it.
But what will it be? My ex-wife took almost everything I had.
I let her.
My family told me I was nuts. But I had my reason. After the hell she’d put me through, I just wanted her out of my life. And I wanted all the things that belonged to us purged from my life, too. I wanted to start over fresh.
I didn’t need the big house she insisted on buying. Or the designer furnishings she filled it with. Or the stupid Lexus she drove.
No, I wanted to live simply.
So six years ago, I got a new job. In a new city. I bought a shitty used Ford Focus to drive to work. And I signed a one-year lease on this neglected house close to school.
Here I’ve been. Six years.
Alone.
Six years.
Lonely.
If I’ve waited six years to be happy, I can wait seven months. Right?
I hope so.
I open my closet. On the top shelf is a box of stuff that belonged to my grandmother. My grandmother hadn’t been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But, the beautiful daughter of a hard-working German immigrant, she’d managed to marry well. And she’d developed a taste for expensive jewelry and clothing.
There has to be something in the box I can give Kelsey.
I pull it down and set it on the bed. But before I get it open, there’s a knock on my open bedroom door.
Kelsey is shouldering the doorframe, arms crossed, brows raised. Euclid is sitting next to her feet.
“Am I interrupting?” she asks.
“No.” I pat the mattress. “Come here.”
She walks into the room and sits beside me. Euclid, of course, follows her, jumping on the bed and curling up for a nap.
She asks, “What are you doing? What is this?”
“A box of things that belonged to my grandmother.” Determined to find something special to give my girl, I tear off the tape and open the box. I find a bunch of old jewelry boxes packed inside like a three-dimensional Tetris game. I pull out the first one, an elongated box with a hinged top. Inside, tucked safely in satin, is a gold bracelet with rubies and sapphires mounted on delicate gold filigree links.
“Wow, that’s lovely,” Kelsey says.
I pluck it out and hold it, each end pinched between my finger and thumb. “Try it on.”
“I…”
“Please.”
Kelsey offers her slender, delicate wrist and I hook the bracelet around it.
It fits perfectly.
That’s it. My gift. It’s perfect.
“I want you to have this,” I tell her.
Kelsey’s mouth forms an O. “Why? Why would you give me this?”
“Because I want you to know how much I care about you.”
“Ohmygosh, Jordan, are you sure?” She doesn’t speak for several agonizing moments. She stares down at the bracelet, her fingertip tracing the filigree curls. “It’s so beautiful. But it looks valuable. And it belonged to your grandmother. Shouldn’t you give something this special to your…”
“Future wife?” I finish for her. “I’m hoping I am.”
“Future wife?” Kelsey’s cheeks turn a precious, sexy shade of pink. “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Say I didn’t just scare the shit out of you,” I blurt, laughing to hide my fear. “Say you’ll wait to be with me. Until May. When we can be together. Say you’ll be mine.”
“I…wife? This is all happening so fast.”
I take Kelsey’s hands in mine. “This isn’t happening fast enough for me. But I have no choice. I have to wait.” I swallow. My throat is dry. My mouth is dry. My heart is pounding. I’m terrified she’ll refuse the bracelet and tell me she doesn’t want to marry me.
She can’t.
She goes back to tracing the swirls on the filigree. She’s shocked. She’s confused. She’s unsure. I can read all those expressions on her face and in her eyes. That’s not what I want to see, but I understand her reaction. This kind of came at her out of nowhere. “Jordan, I don’t know what to say.”
“If you can’t say yes right now then say nothing at all. Let me have hope. For a little while.”
“Well, then.” She circles my neck with her arms and presses her sweet mouth to mine.
I take that as a yes.
My heart soars to the stars. It does a few loops around the Milky Way then swoops back to my body.
Yes, this is where she belongs. In my arms. Always. Forever.
I will make her happy. I’ll give her the world. I’ll give her the whole fucking universe. Just as she’s given me a whole new life.
I’m alive again.
I have a future.
I have hope.
There’s no doubt about it. We will be married.
On the day after graduation, she will become my wife.
I break the kiss and cup her pretty, pink cheeks in my hands. “If you say yes, I will make you the happiest woman in the world. I promise you that. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time.”
“I’m already happy,” she says, laughing, her eyes shimmering.
Euclid jumps up and sets his paws on her shoulder. I shake my head and give him a little nudge. “Hey, quit trying to move in on my girl,”
Kelsey giggles. “I want you to know, I mean it. I’m happy, Jordan. Surprised, but happy. I didn’t expect this. You have no idea how much your love means to me. And his.” She gives my affectionate dog a pat then places her hands on top of mine. “Just promise me you won’t change your mind. Because I’ve never been so happy. And with the life I’ve had, that’s scary.”
That’s an easy promise to make. “Kelsey, I will never stop loving you. Ever.”
A fat tear drips from the corner of her eye. “Thank you. Love hasn’t come easy to me.”
>
“I am going to change that.” I kiss her hand. “Thank you. For giving me a reason to wake up tomorrow morning.” I tip my head, resting my forehead against hers. I inhale deeply, drawing in the scents of her skin and hair and sweet breath.
Euclid decides we both need kisses. We laugh, both tossing our heads as Euclid’s big, slobbery tongue slimes our faces.
“Monday is going to be pure hell,” I tell Kelsey once Euclid has settled down. “Pretending I don’t want to grab you and kiss those pretty lips.”
“It isn’t going to be easy for me either. But maybe that’ll make it that much better when we are finally able to be together.”
I beam. “I love the way you think.”
My Kelsey. My beautiful, smart, clever girl.
My future wife.
8
Kelsey
I play with the bracelet as I hurry across campus.
I love it. Not just because it’s beautiful. Or valuable.
Sure, it’s both of those. But that’s not why it’s so special to me. I love it because it belongs to him. Jordan. My secret fiancé.
I can hardly believe he asked me to marry him on Thanksgiving. I haven’t technically accepted yet. Nor have I told anyone. Not even my bestie. But I’m so crazy-happy it’s been really, really fucking hard not to scream it to the whole world.
For now it has to be our secret. And it has to stay that way until the end of the school year.
That sucks.
Breathless, for more than one reason, I scurry inside Derby Hall and take the stairs two at a time. It’s been three whole days since Thanksgiving. Every minute we’ve spent apart feels like a lifetime. I didn’t know love could be so freaking painful.
At the top of the stairs, I suck in a few big gulps of air before going into the math department. Jordan’s office door is open, and I’m weak. I know we need to be careful, but I have to go in and say hi. I have to see his face.
The instant he sees me, his eyes light up and he smiles. Of course, my heart gets all pitter-pattery and my insides start doing flip-flops.
Gosh, I am falling in love with this man so hard and so fast my head is spinning.
“Hi,” I say, stepping through the doorway. “Are you busy? I couldn’t help myself.”
His smile says he’s very glad to see me. I’m sure mine says the same. My fingertip runs over the links on my bracelet. His mouth opens, as if he is about to speak, but before he says a word, his gaze jerks to the open doorway behind me and he snaps it shut. The sparkle in his eyes dim.
Someone is behind me, I think.
I clear my throat. “I’ll get those quizzes back to you by the end of today.”
“Thank you.” He lifts a brow slightly, acknowledging what I’ve done to cover, and I turn around, to head back to my desk. I pass Dr. Jacobs on the way.
It’s such a bummer the college has rules against profs and students dating, though I kind of get it. Especially current students.
Still this sucks.
I log onto the computer and try to focus on the tasks I’ve been assigned by the various profs in the department, but my mind keeps wandering, taking me back to Jordan’s house.
Back to Thanksgiving night. That delicious orgasm he gave me in his kitchen.
Back to the cuddles we shared after dinner, with that big, goofy dog of his, while sappy holiday movies played on TV.
Back to the kisses and laughter and magical moments we shared, into the wee hours of the morning, before he drove me back to my dorm.
Time drags, measured by the soft tick-tick-tick of the wall clock hanging next to the door. One hour. Two. Three hours sloooooowly crawl by. Several of the professors lock up their offices and leave, but Jordan stays. I have a feeling he’s waiting for all of them to go. So we can have a few minutes alone. An hour later two more have gone, and my shift is done. There’s still one more prof in her office, Dr. Jacobs. So I’m not sure if I should leave without saying goodbye to Jordan or not. I take my time shutting down my computer, hoping maybe she’ll go, but she doesn’t. That leaves me with two options. Go home without saying goodbye to Jordan, or popping in for a quick wave.
I decide on option two.
Yes, I’m weak. Jordan is going to have to be strong enough for both of us.
I poke my head into Dr. Jacobs’ open doorway first. “I’m heading out, Dr. Jacobs. Have a good night.”
She smiles. “You too, Kelsey.”
Now I head for Jordan’s office.
I poke my head inside but don’t find him at his desk. Stepping deeper inside, I scan the small room before turning around.
There he is.
He’s behind the door, and he looks like he’s up to no good.
So much for Jordan being the strong one.
My heart hops in my chest.
Saying nothing, he shuts and locks his office door, grabs my wrist, and yanks. I start to remind him that we need to be careful, but in a single heartbeat I’m locked in his office with him, and plastered against his big, hard, yummy bulk. Looking at me like a hungry bear about to devour its first meal in weeks, Jordan cups my chin and lifts it. His mouth smashes over mine before I manage to utter a single word, and all the air blasts from the room. I wrap my arms around his neck and fight to stand while his lips and tongue ravage mine.
His kiss. Ohmygod, his kiss.
Bone-melting.
Blistering.
Nuclear-fission hot.
My spine arches, pressing my breasts against him. My body burns.
This is what I’ve been waiting for. Longing for. Since I left him Thursday night.
Holding me at the waist, he walks me around, until my back is pressed against the wall. Now I’m trapped, and oh, so happy. Plastered against the cool wall, Jordan’s hot bulk in front of me. One of his hands slips down, cupping my sex over my clothes and I practically collapse. I gasp into our joined mouths and he swallows it up.
“Do you know what you do to me?” he whispers in my ear.
Goose bumps instantly coat one side of my body, from ankle to neck.
I shake my head, even though I have some idea. There is a big, hard bulge grinding against my stomach. And it’s making my insides twist into knots.
A crazy impulse flashes through my head.
What if I unzipped his pants right now? Would he stop me?
What if I pulled out his cock right now? Would he stop me?
What if I dropped to my knees right now and took his cock in my mouth? Would he stop me?
I shudder, and my mouth waters.
Every part of me wants to do all those things. And more. Every. Single. Cell.
I hunger for him. For his taste. For his touch. I can’t get enough.
I want to try.
Letting my weak and wobbly knees buckle, I slide down the wall, letting it support me from behind until I’m squatting. My hands follow my descent, fingers hooked, clawing at his chest and stomach until they reach the waistband of his pants.
I lift my eyes.
Stop me now. Or it’ll be too late.
When he doesn’t try to lift me back to my feet, I shift to my knees, kneeling upright, and unbuckle his belt.
A flare of hard male hunger fires in his eyes, and his jaw clenches. He’s on the verge of snapping. So am I. We shouldn’t be doing this. We’re in his office. Yes, the door is locked. But if someone knocks, we could still be caught at any moment.
But I can’t stop. Can’t.
I push the button through the hole.
Should stop.
Can’t.
I drag the zipper down.
Really should stop.
Can’t.
I open his jeans and tug on the waistband of his boxer briefs.
His massive cock springs free.
Holy crap, it’s huge. This is the first time I’ve seen it. My heart hammers against my breast bone.
I lift my eyes again.
He looks like a wild animal, about to pounce on its prey an
d sink its teeth in.
I’m the prey.
It’s really hot in here.
I return my attention to the jutting part of him I’ve just uncovered and wrap my fingers around it. He’s thick. Very hard. But his skin is smooth and soft. Having given a hand job or two (or more) in my lifetime, I know what to do. I give his cock a slow pump and enjoy the view as his expression darkens.
I feel so powerful. And sexy. And wicked.
I do it again, and a droplet of precum seeps from the slit.
You know, I have to taste it. Have to.
Sliding my hand to the base, I take the plump head into my mouth. He’s sweet and salty. Delicious. And his low, deep groan of desire makes me want to be even bolder and naughtier.
I am a virgin. But I’m not innocent. There is one sure way to satisfy a man without having intercourse. So naturally I’ve become pretty good at it. I drop my jaw and take him deeper, deeper, until he hits the back of my throat.
He tangles his fingers in my hair and pulls, and his length slides out. “Holy shit, Kelsey,” he murmurs.
I lap at his scrumptious head like it’s a lollipop and am rewarded by a mouthful of cock again, delivered slowly as he uses my hair to hold my head in place. My tongue pillows his length as it pushes to the back of my throat before retreating once more. Before he thrusts inside again, I suck and slurp and lick his cock like a hungry little kid, devouring the world’s most delicious treat. I glance up and swallow a giggle. His jaw is clenched so tight I think it might snap.
He drives his dick in again, this time thrusting even deeper. I relax my throat and take him as deep as he wants, enjoying every second, every inch. He pulls out, this time giving me no time to play. Deep, he tunnels. Down my throat. I open wide as he pushes down, down, down then slides back out, down and out. He is literally fucking my face, my nose grazing his lower belly with every inward thrust. I grab his hard ass, my fingers digging through his pants, and welcome his invasion. Faster, he fucks my face. Faster. I feel the heat radiating off his body. I hear his breathing, growing faster by the second. He’s about to cum. I know it. And it’s making me throb all over.
I shift my hands, sliding them around to the front. I pull on his pants, tugging them down so I can play with his balls. They’re high, tight, and sensitive. I cradle them in my palm and tease the skin between them, enjoying his reaction. He’s on the verge of cumming and I’m going to give him a shove. Feeling brave, I let my finger wander back, toward his anus. When I find it, I slide my finger inside.