by Hazel Kelly
A coil of warmth tightened inside me. "I’ll do just about anything for those blueberry bagels."
"Careful now. I'll hold you to that."
"Did you see Steph this morning?" I asked. "Do you know if she's gone out or-"
"She's going to be sleeping all day."
I furrowed my brow. "Really? Did she say that?"
"She did, yeah. When she got home this morning."
"This morning?"
"Around the time I arrived," he said. "In a little red dress that- if I recall correctly- looked really good on the chair in my room."
"Damn," I said, running a hand through my hair. "She must've had the night of her life."
"Let's go have the day of ours," he said, lifting me by the waist.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his hips.
"Before I collect my thank yous right here on your welcome mat."
I smiled into his neck as he carried me to my room and locked the door behind us without setting me down.
Then he sat on the edge of the bed and held my waist so I could lean back and look at him, my body temperature rising as I felt him swell beneath me.
"God there are so many ways I want you," I whispered. "I don't even know where to start."
"Then let me," he said, laying me on my back. He lowered himself over me and opened my mouth with his, swirling his tongue around mine.
My feet dangled off the edge of the bed, and I felt like I was floating as he slid his big hands up under my loose tank top and dropped his lips to my neck.
I grabbed the bottom of his shirt and dragged it up so I could admire the way his muscles moved over me, and he stopped touching my body just long enough to pull it off over his head.
A moment later, I felt his warm breath on my chest, and my nipples puckered for his attention.
By the time his thick fingers found the zipper on my pants, my insides were already flooded with anticipation.
I lifted my head just in time to see him sink to his knees at the side of the bed, dragging my shorts and underwear down with him.
And when he draped my thighs over his shoulders and licked my wet heat, I dropped my head back and dug my fingers into the comforter beneath me.
Chapter 54: Shane
Her body was going crazy for me.
Each curl of my tongue seemed to work her into a deeper frenzy, and from time to time, I'd feel her thighs come together around my head, locking my face between them as she writhed with pleasure.
And she tasted like candy- like those big bags she used to get at the movie theatre that always cost a fortune because even the most disciplined moviegoer gets greedy in their presence.
And in this case, I was no different.
I couldn't get enough, and I was determined to give her one of those slow build orgasms, one that would sneak up on her for ages until she felt like she'd been dangling over the brink for an eternity.
Then I'd let her come forever, right down my throat while I savored the taste of her on my tongue.
I swear the only thing I wanted more than making her full of me was to be full of her pleasure.
And as her hot little hips squirmed against my face, I became increasingly confident that we were both going to get exactly what we wanted.
"Oh god Shane," she breathed. "I'm going to come."
I suppressed my smile and kept licking her swollen bud. She'd been telling me she was going to come for five minutes and from the amount of silk dripping down my throat, she'd already started.
She groaned and tilted her hips up, as if her body was trying to give her a break.
But I had other plans.
"It's too much," she said. "I can't stop coming."
I sank my fingers into her hips and held her still.
"Shane-" my name was a whispered secret on her lips.
And then her body shook like someone had a given her a shock, and she let out a moan that never seemed to end.
I fucked her orgasm with my tongue, splashing against her desire as she pulsed.
When her clenching began to slow, I reached down, undid my pants, and stood straight up so her legs stayed flat against my chest.
"I want in on this," I said, guiding the tip of my aching dick to her wet slit.
She inhaled sharply through parted lips, and I sank inside her tight heat.
She moaned as I drove against her center, causing vibrations in my dick that traveled up to the back of my neck.
"You feel so good," she said, looking at me through half closed eyes.
I grabbed her ankles and tried to control my speed, but between fucking her and having her taste on my lips, I was so worked up a firehose couldn’t have held me off.
Her hips were off the bed as I pounded her, the slap of my balls the only sound in the room besides her panting.
Meanwhile, as I stared at her gorgeous body on the bed, I forgot how to breathe.
I kept thrusting into her, though, looking between her parted lips, her bouncing tits, and my slick cock disappearing inside her.
"Don't stop," she pleaded.
I lost the feeling in my legs.
She craned her head up to watch for a second, and I swear I got even harder.
I bent over and slid my hands under her lower back, lifting her just enough that I could slide her farther onto the bed. Then I rolled onto my side and pinned one of her legs under my top arm.
She looked at me, her eyes searching mine.
The pressure in my dick was so great I started to worry I might pass out before I released my charge inside her.
Andi lifted a hand and laid it against my jaw, her shiny eyes still on me.
I came that second, deep and hard, watching her face as I pumped her hot center full of everything I had.
And when my aching need was finally relieved- my craving for release finally satisfied- I stopped moving and tried to catch my breath.
She dropped her eyes and dragged a finger across my bottom lip. "I didn't know I could come that long."
One side of my mouth curled up, making me aware of how serious and focused my expression must've been before.
She squeezed her raised leg around me and pulled me close. "Don't pull out yet," she whispered. "I can still feel you throbbing."
"Your wish is my command."
She laughed. "I could get used to this."
"Me too." I ran a hand over her smooth thigh, pulled her against me, and admired the pink flush on her cheeks.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing."
She furrowed her brow. "You just made a face. I saw it."
"No I didn't."
She craned her neck up. "Shane."
I sighed.
"Tell me."
"I just… I’ve never felt like this about someone, and I don't know what the fuck I'm doing."
Little creases sprang up around her eyes.
"Which is an odd sensation for me. I guess I feel out of my depth."
"Probably because you're so deep inside me."
"An interesting theory," I said. "But if that were the case, the feeling would go away when I eventually pull out of you, and something tells me that isn't going to happen."
She grabbed a pillow from the top of the bed and placed it where we could both lay our heads on it.
"Can I tell you something?" she asked.
"Of course."
"I don't know what the fuck I'm doing either," she said, her voice soft. "All I know is that I've never been happier and that I can't concentrate on anything."
I was relieved it wasn’t just me.
"I've been keeping your picture in a drawer."
I raised my eyebrows. "What?"
"Because I can't breathe when I feel your eyes on me."
"Breathing is overrated."
Half her mouth curled into a smile. "So I'm beginning to realize."
"I guess we'll have to figure it out together," I said. "Like we've figured out everything else."
"Like foursquare and snowmen and slow dancing and the egg drop and college apps?"
I nodded. "Exactly. I'm sure this relationship thing will be no different. Someday we'll wonder what we were ever worried about."
She licked her lips. "Can I ask you something else?"
"Sure."
"In fourth grade, were you going easy on me in tetherball?"
I smiled. "Of course not. You had mad skills."
"You are so full of it."
"Actually," I said, glancing down at where we were joined. "I'm pretty sure you're the one that's full of it."
"Touché," she said. "In which case, how do you feel about making this official?"
"You're seriously asking me now? When we're conjoined?"
"Would you rather I release you first and-"
"No," I said, pulling her close. "It's fine. Of course it's official. Whatever. I don't need labels. I just need you."
She smiled.
"Though I suppose the peace of mind might make it easier for me to concentrate. Craving you has been doing my head in."
"I know the feeling," she said. "Like I said, your picture's been in a drawer."
I lifted my head towards the shelf over her desk. "That one?"
"I only put it back up so Izzy wouldn't suspect anything."
"That was a great day," I said, laying my head back down.
"They've all been great," she said, her eyes sparkling.
I rocked my hips against her again, my dick nearly ready to spring back into action. "Let's see if we can make this one our best yet."
She laughed and gave me a kiss. "I can't think of anything I'd rather do."
Epilogue: Andi
I made my way across the icy sidewalk outside my building, holding my bursting duffel bag just off the ground.
Shane grabbed it before I'd even reached the curb. "What the heck is in here?"
"Laundry.”
“I hope that's not the only thing you got your mom for Christmas," he said, shoving the bag in the trunk of his jeep.
"It won't be," I said. "I just haven't had a chance to do my shopping yet with finals and-"
"Being so busy with me?" He slammed the trunk and beat me to the front passenger door.
I'd told him a thousand times he didn't need to keep opening the door for me, but he kept doing it anyway.
"Great idea," I said, knocking my boots on the side of the jeep before getting in. I watched him walk around the hood and didn't dare pinch myself. Even after all these months, the fact that we were a thing still thrilled and delighted me.
Even Steph agreed that, clearly, I’d been a doctor in a past life and saved tons of lives or invented penicillin or something because regular girls like me didn't normally get to go around with Adonises like Shane Jennings in real life.
It was obviously a dream.
And I never wanted to wake up.
"What do you mean great idea?" he asked, pressing the window defog button and checking his mirrors.
"I mean, I'll just tell my mom we're dating, and she'll be so happy she won't even notice the laundry."
He laughed. "That sounds like the perfect plan."
"Right? If only I hadn’t already told her over Thanksgiving."
"If only."
He pulled into the street, which was busy with other students packing their cars to go home for Christmas.
"Are you warm enough?" he asked, pulling his navy beanie off to reveal a deliciously disheveled pile of bedhead.
"Yeah," I said, unzipping my coat. "But I couldn't find my hat anywhere-"
"Glovebox," he said, pausing at a stop sign.
I popped it open and pulled out my favorite winter hat. "Where did you find it?"
"On the ground next to the car."
My face dropped.
"Don't worry. I washed it."
"You're the best," I said, shoving it back in the glove box.
"Hey what happened with that job thing?"
"Oh!" I clapped my hands and turned to face him. "I meant to tell you! My supervisor wants to keep me on for our final semester."
"That's great news."
"I know. I'm so pleased. If things keep going well, I'm pretty sure I can get a letter of recommendation from her that would at least secure an interview for me after we graduate."
"Congratulations," Shane said. "You deserve it. You've been killing yourself for those kids."
"I know," I dropped my head against the headrest. "To be honest, though, sometimes I think I'm not cut out for this counseling thing because I care too much an-"
"That's exactly why you are cut out for it, Andi."
"But what if I don’t like it once I’m doing it full time?"
He shrugged. "Then you'll try something else. No biggie. All you can do is try it out and do your best."
I squinted. "And if I fail?"
"There's no shame in failing," he said. "Only in not trying."
"And they say you're just a pretty face."
He furrowed his brow. "Who says that?"
I laughed. "No one. Jeez. I'm just saying I liked your little thought nugget."
"Me, too," he said. "In fact, it reminds me of something I've been meaning to say to you-"
"What?"
"But I haven't found the perfect time."
"Well, you know what they say-" I loosened my seat belt and angled my knees towards him. "No time like the present."
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and pulled over to the side of the road in front of the local playground.
My pulse rate quickened. "Oh my god is it serious?"
He opened the console between us, pulled out an Oreo, and held it up.
I smiled. "Double stuff for a change, huh?"
"Yeah."
"You realize it's nine o'clock in the morning?"
He smiled. "There's a first time for everything."
"You know you can just tell me whatever it is, right? You don't have to use an Oreo to-"
"Yes I do."
"Okay," I said, placing my fingers on the cookie opposite the one he was holding. "Ready?"
He nodded.
I gave the cookie a gentle twist and came away with the icing side. "Hope that wasn't your last one because I get to pick truth or-" I looked down at my half of the cookie and froze.
A circle of icing had been removed from the center and there was a small, shining ring in the middle of the cookie, the bottom of which was stuck in the icing just enough to keep it from falling out.
I looked up at Shane.
He didn't seem surprised that it was there.
My lips fell apart.
"A few months ago, we both made a lot of promises to Izzy."
I swallowed.
He took the Oreo half from my hands and carefully removed the thin ring. "But I want to make a promise to you, from me."
He held up my left hand and sucked the leftover icing off the ring, which sparkled as the small diamonds in the band caught the crisp winter sunshine.
And as he held the ring at the end of my finger, I swear time stood as still as my breath.
"I promise that I'll always be your best friend," he said, fixing his eyes on me. "And I promise that someday, when the time is right-" He slipped the ring on and slid it down my finger. "I promise I'll be a whole lot more.”
I exhaled and glanced down to admire the beautiful ring. "I love it, Shane," I said, looking back at him through watery eyes. "And I love you."
He leaned across the console and kissed me. "You'd be a fool not to."
I laughed and laid a hand on his cheek. "Even then I'd still be your fool."
"And don't you forget it," he said, letting his forehead rest against mine.
"I won't," I said. "I promise."