Slowly, he trails his fingertips along the curve of my hips…the tops of my arms…the elastic of my cap sleeves. He tugs them over the crest of my shoulders, and his mouth disengages from mine as his hands find their way to my jawline. I release a moan when he presses upward with his thumbs, forcing my head back and exposing my neck as he licks and nips his way to the hollow of my throat.
With his lips no longer on mine, a moment of clarity passes, and before this goes where I’m pretty sure it’s headed, I need to tell him about my indiscretion. The one mistake that could end all of this before it starts.
“Kaeleb.” My voice is throaty as my fingers find his face, splaying along his cheeks, trying to force him away from away from my neck. “Kaeleb, I need to tell you something.”
His body stiffens against mine before his head rises, bringing his face in line with mine. As he peers into my eyes, a moment of realization flashes across his face. He lowers himself and whispers in my ear, “I don’t want to know. I just need to know if you were safe.”
A relieved sob forces its way through my constricted throat as I nod my head, his scruff grating against my cheek as his warmth breath hits my ear with his own exhale.
“I’m sorry, Kaeleb.” The words become lodged as I swallow. “I was so lost. Searching for…something. Anything to take away the pain.”
He leans back and his thumbs stroke my cheeks as he shakes his head. “I’ve made mistakes too, Bree. You know that better than anyone. If you think I have any right to judge you for what you’ve done, you’re mistaken. This moment, right now. This is what matters. Not the fucked up shit we’ve done in the past.”
He swipes another rolling tear. “This is our moment. A beginning and an end. Are you with me?”
My lips break into a comforted smile. “I never want to be without you. I love you, Kaeleb.”
“I love you too, Bree. Always have. Always will.” After another pass of his thumb alongside my cheeks, he fastens his fingers around my nape and crushes his lips to mine.
My arms circle around his neck and a moan escapes into his mouth, prompting his own guttural groan to pass into mine. Our bodies mesh together as I sink into his hold, his hands releasing me to find the zipper on the back of my dress. He unzips it slowly, sending shivers down my body with a rush of cool air and anticipation as he slides it methodically along my arms and over my hips. My knees lift, allowing him to free me of my constraints, and his eyes darken as they roam over my naked skin. My panties are removed as well, leaving me on my knees in front of him, completely stripped, free of clothing and inhibition.
My fingers find the hem of his undershirt and I lift it just as deliberately along his arms and over his head, fully appreciating every little bit of this moment that I can. My virginity may be lost, but I know this isn’t about sex. This is about two people who are about to give the ultimate gift to one another. Sex is one thing, but the act of making love, of joining together as you give your heart, your mind, your soul to another person, that’s something that I never want to forget.
When my hands slowly rise to his belt, my teeth find my bottom lip and I glance upward at his beautiful face. His eyes find mine, half-open and hooded, darkening another shade once my fingers make contact. We stare at each other, never breaking our connection as I unbuckle his belt, slide his pants over his lean hips, or when I pull them off and throw them to the floor. Our gazes remain locked as we take in the meaning of what’s about to happen. My entire body hums with desire, causing the air to become electric between us as his heavy-lidded eyes hold mine. Full of anticipation, need, longing, passion.
His arm hooks me around the waist as he flips me onto my back, his body settling snugly between my legs. The weight of his elbows dips the bed beside my head as he presses his hardness right where I need it the most. Pressing up on my heels, I grind against him hungrily, the feeling euphoric as he lowers his head to my neck; our slick, sweat-covered chests sliding with our movements. My nipples pebble with the friction as my legs find their way around his waist, locking around his back, pulling him closer. A hiss escapes his mouth, only to be silenced as his lips seal over my breast. The warmth of his mouth and the teasing of his tongue send my back flying off the bed as my hands find his hair. Tugging and pulling it, I allow him to work my other breast.
“Kaeleb, please.”
His mouth releases me, but his tongue doesn’t. With one long stroke, he trails his way from between my breasts, along the center of my neck and over my jaw, ending with his teeth grazing my chin. A surprised gasp parts my lips and Kaeleb takes full advantage as he dips his tongue into my mouth, sweeping over mine, sending my body into a heated frenzy. I release my hold on his hair and swiftly pull his boxers over his waist, only to let my feet do the rest of the work. My fingers dig into his flesh as he presses against my core, releasing another deep groan into my mouth. He soon positions himself at my entrance, but suddenly pulls back, sending my body into panic as his warmth vanishes.
“Bree, I need to—”
“No, you don’t,” I cut him off breathily. “I’ve been on the pill since I was twelve.”
A satisfied laugh fills the room. I open my eyes to see a cocky grin on his lips. “Eager are we?”
I don’t smile.
I don’t laugh.
I don’t respond.
I don’t do anything but reach up and grab his neck to heave him back down and devour his mouth with mine. He kisses me back, our lips working with equal fervor before he breaks away, looking me directly in the eyes as he positions himself for entry. My entire body quakes with his approach as he whispers in my ear, “You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”
Laughter bubbles up and through my throat before I press my lips to his, mumbling against them, “Oh my God. Please, stop talking.”
His chuckle fills my mouth as he slowly presses forward, filling my body with his length. All humor is lost as our bodies become one. My insides take every bit of him as he settles in, claiming what’s his. What’s always belonged to him.
He withdraws, unhurried, and reenters slowly, as though memorizing me inch-by-inch. I can feel myself clenching around him, my body tightening as he hits an area that I never knew existed. “Damn.” I suck in a deep breath through my teeth. “Don’t stop.”
“I won’t, Sunshine. Not until you’re seeing stars.” His waist begins to circle, stroking me from the inside as his pelvis grinds against my throbbing bundle of nerves, aching for release.
I tighten.
I clench.
I build.
Until finally my body explodes and, as God is my witness, I actually see stars.
“Bree, God, that feels so…”
Kaeleb forms no more words as he becomes lost in me, driven by his own need. He curls his arm around my waist, hoisting my lower body upward as he pumps his entire length into me without reserve. I absorb each thrust, screaming for more, until he drives forward one last time. His body goes rigid as I feel his own explosion warming me on the inside. He continues pushing forward as I come off the tides, hungrily draining his release.
His chest falls onto mine and his forehead nestles into the crook of my neck, our sweat-laden bodies gliding smoothly with our heavy breaths.
“Jesus. I think I saw stars,” Kaeleb mumbles against my skin, his lips sending tingles shooting all over my sensitive body.
I laugh under my breath, sweeping my hand through his soaked hair. “Definitely a life-altering experience.”
His head rises, meeting my gaze as his hand finds my face and presses the hair out of my eyes, his lips curving into a lazy smile.
“You are a life-altering experience.” Leaning forward, he presses his lips against mine, sweetly yet without chaste.
As he ends the kiss, I giggle against his mouth. “Well, I am the sun.”
Backing away, he surveys my face as h
is mouth stretches into a beaming smile.
“And oh, how brightly you do shine.”
After Linda passed in May, I registered for classes at Titan for the summer in hopes that I could get back on track. Junior year was a huge year for me personally, emotionally, and spiritually. Most of it has been covered, but there were a few new firsts I managed to squeeze in over the summer:
The first time I actually attended summer school, taking eight hours both summer semesters and aced all of them. 4.0 in all my classes. Biochemistry, Genetics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Zoology, all with their associated labs. Two of those were retakes from the previous semester. I attended every class—mandatory requirement and all.
The first time I welcomed Quinn back to Titan. Both she and her therapist continued to plea with her parents, explaining the crucial need for her to get back into the real world. Quinn came back to school at the end by the summer, ready to start anew. I recognized the determination and self-assurance in her eyes giving me no doubt that Quinn would be just fine. We rented a new apartment together, signing a six month lease.
The first time I met the infamous Tommy Larkin. If I thought Quinn’s eyes lit up when she spoke of him, seeing her by his side, well she positively glowed. He was a perfect gentleman, always opening her doors, giving her the gentlest of kisses all the time, touching her constantly. I never thought it was possible to see love, its essence in a physical sense, but I can honestly add that to this lists of firsts as well. Because there was a constant radiance that beamed all around them when they were together.
The first time I’m literally tackled and brought to the floor by Walter. After I got over the initial shock of how much he’d grown since I saw him last, we played for hours, Kaeleb leaving us alone for much of the reunion. After several hours of tug-of-war, we both eventually passed out on the floor.
And just when I thought there were no more firsts left for me to experience, Kaeleb of course gave me a big one. But that didn’t happen until the middle of my senior year.
I shiver in my coat, the cold air whipping around us as Quinn and I attempt to eat in the courtyard outside the cafeteria. The sky is grey as winter makes its presence known. I don’t think the sun has shined once during the last week.
“Quinn, it’s fucking cold. Why are we eating out here again?” I sip my soup, trying to spread its warmth through my freezing body.
“Because I haven’t seen the light of day in weeks. I’m sick to death of being cooped up in my room, or the apartment, or the library. Finals are finally over with and I intend to enjoy the outside air for the next twenty-minutes or so. Deal with it,” she ends with a humor-filled smile as she takes a bite of her sandwich.
My head jerks at her snarkiness and my eyes widen. “Damn, Quinn. You do need to get out,” I say on a laugh.
She nods and continues to chew.
Once she swallows, she asks, “Speaking of finals, how were yours? You’re done now right?”
“Yeah, Pharmacology was surprisingly easy.”
Quinn smiles as I take another sip. “It’s like it was meant to be. Have you heard anything back yet?”
“No, not yet. I forwarded all my mail to Kaeleb’s address though. Who knows the last time he checked.”
Quinn’s grin spreads widely and her eyes fill with excited anticipation. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re moving in with him. And I can’t believe Tommy will be here next semester. We will both officially be living in sin.”
I crinkle my nose and shake my head. “I know. Weird, right?”
Quinn sighs. “Not really. You just know when it’s right, you know?”
“Yeah.” I sigh as I spot Kaeleb heading toward the table with a grin on his face. The sight of him still makes my heart race. “You do.”
Quinn notices my distracted gaze and turns over her shoulder, giggling as she twists back to face me. She waggles her eyebrows and I shake my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
Another giggle. “I’m not. I’m romantic. And I like to see you happy.”
She winks at me as Kaeleb takes his seat, setting his backpack on the ground. He smiles at both of us as we fall silent. “Interrupting something?”
“Not really,” I respond.
“We were talking about mail,” Quinn interjects, obviously impatient for my letter. “Have you checked yours lately?”
Kaeleb belts out a laugh and bends toward his backpack, unzipping the front pocket. “I have, in fact.” An envelope flies across the table and lands right beside my soup, Midwestern University College of Medicine stamped on the corner.
My eyes grow wide and I swallow forcefully as I stare at it. Raising my head, I’m met with one pair of green eyes brimming with uncontainable glee and a set of hazel-brown ones full of reassurance. Kaeleb tightens his gaze. “You’ve got this, Bree. Open it.” He dips his head in the direction of the letter.
My hands tremble as I reach down and pick it up. Slipping my finger underneath the flap, I slide it slowly along the seal until it pops open, the typed contents on the inside of the paper screaming at me to remove it. I glance to Quinn, and then Kaeleb, before reaching inside and extracting the letter. I open it, and read the first two lines:
“Dear Ms. Miller,
Thank you for your submission. We have reviewed your application and are pleased to inform you of your acceptance…”
“Oh my God!” My head jerks up. “Oh my God!”
I bound off my seat and shout, “OH MY GOD!”
Kaeleb smiles widely as he stands, and I shuffle along the cement bench until I’m free, jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist. He catches me, squeezing tightly as he laughs, “I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
I squeeze my hold around his neck. “Kaeleb! I’m going to med school!”
He chuckles. “I know, babe, you are. And I’m going with you.”
I gasp and press away from him, as I inquire, “What? Did you get yours today too?”
He nods, placing me on my feet before retrieving his own letter. “Midwestern University Physical Therapy Program, baby!”
“AHHHHH!!!!” Quinn shouts as she jumps up from the table, running over and circling us both with her arms. “I’m so happy! I think I’m about to cry!”
Kaeleb kisses us both on the top of the head before releasing us from our embrace.
Quinn looks at Kaeleb and me, pride in her eyes. “Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you both I’ve picked a major. Finally.”
“Really?” I shout, excitement still coursing through my voice. With her extended absence from school, she’ll technically be a junior next semester. I know she’s been debating a few options and honestly, I can’t wait to see what she’s landed on.
“I know it’s no acceptance letter, but I’ve finally made the decision.” She looks at both of us. “I’ve decided that I want to major in Sociology so I can become a social worker. I want to try to help whoever I can.” Her expression becomes shy. “I mean, so much of my life has been wasted on things that don’t really even matter, you know? I feel as though I can atone for that by making a difference in other people’s lives.”
I place my hand on her shoulder and give her a smile full of knowing and admiration. “I completely understand, Quinn. More than you realize.”
She grins back at me as Kaeleb adds, “Quinn, you’re going to make a difference no matter what you do. It’s your most innate quality.” Her cheeks redden as he pulls her snug into his waist. “You’ll make a terrific social worker.”
As she embraces him, I watch the exchange with a grin on my face. The two most important people in my life are standing in front of me on what is quite possibly the biggest day of my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It feels…complete.
Still smiling, we all take our original seats, the bitter cold no longer noticeable with our excitement.
“Wow. It’s a big day, huh,” I say.
Kaeleb glances at me with a hint of misc
hief in his eyes. “Indeed it is.”
He places his elbows on the table and leans forward. “I’ve got something else for you.”
My brows furrow in question as he looks to Quinn. “I figured you of all people would want to be present for this.”
Quinn’s eyes triple in size as she slowly slides them in my direction, and I meet her stunned expression with one of my own. We stare at each other, speechless, as the sound of the zipper on Kaeleb’s backpack breaks the silence around us.
Hairs lift all over my body as he rises, making his way to my side while Quinn forcefully jerks her head, indicating that I should perhaps be looking at Kaeleb instead of her.
Yeah, she’s probably right.
I clear my throat and shift my body to the right, facing him as he gets down on one knee in front of me. A crowd has somehow formed around us in the past five seconds, but I couldn’t care less about the onlookers as Kaeleb presents me with a black velvet-covered box.
He swallows deeply and clears his throat.
“Bree. I lost you once when we were eight years old. I didn’t even realize that my heart had been searching for yours through all the years since, until that one day when I walked into my Boarding Buddy’s room.” He breaks his speech to grin at Quinn before looking back to me. “And even though you didn’t know it at the time, I knew I had finally found you. My soul breathed for the first time in ten years. That’s how I knew it was you. It was always you.”
A lump forms in my throat and tears begin to roll down my cheeks.
“I lost you again soon after. I allowed you to disappear into your darkness. But I always knew you were still in there somewhere. You see, we’re intertwined. Tethered. Bound. And even while you thought you were alone, you weren’t. I had a strong hold on that cord connecting us and there was no way in hell I was letting you go. I will always be your anchor, Bree.”
His eyes narrow as he gestures between us. “These ties can’t be broken. Our bonds are secure.”
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller Page 23