by Smith, Mary
“Would you shut the fuck up and listen to me? You’re so quick to jump to the end, and I have something important to say.” She got right in my face. I could smell the sweetness of cranberry juice, and tequila, on her breath. Her golden eyes cut right through me.
I threw my hands up. “Sorry, carry on.”
“I like you, Andrew,” she started again. “I really do. I’m glad that I took this job and we got to know each other better. I consider you a good friend, and that is a title I don’t give to just anyone. I was hired to be your tutor, and I don’t want to ruin that, or our friendship, by complicating things.”
I stared at her for a few seconds, searching her face. I jumped up and pointed my finger right in her face. “You’re a damn liar.”
“What?” she squeaked.
I walked over to the other side of the room. “You’re. A. Damn. Liar,” I repeated, growing angrier with each word.
“How dare you call me a liar?” she yelled, hands on her hips, her chest heaving.
“Oh Katie, it’s written all over your face. I can see it. You’re just making some stupid excuse, when in reality, you like me a hell of a lot more than you’re saying.”
“I just told you I liked you, dumbass!” she shouted at me.
“Name calling, Katie, really?” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Look,” she threw her hands up in the air, walking over to me. “I don’t want to get hurt.”
It hit me, like a puck in my chest. That was the third time she had said that. “You think I’ll hurt you?”
“Nevermind.” As she pulled on the knob, I raced over and slammed the door back shut.
“Tell me,” I whispered in her ear, inhaling the scent of strawberries, her back still facing me. She didn't say anything, but her body was tense. I could feel it against mine. “You said you trust me, so trust me. I would never hurt you. Why would you think that?”
“Sometimes people make promises they can’t keep.” I thought about what I told Uncle Mike, about the sadness in her eyes. There was something there, and she needed to lean on someone.
I boldly placed my hand on her flat stomach, and pulled her against me. I heard her breath catch. “I’m here. Tell me, Katie.”
She shook her head, and placed her hands on the door, as if to hold herself up.
“You don’t know me, Andrew.” She sniffled.
My Katie was crying. The blunt, stone-face, beautiful girl was showing an emotion that I didn’t think she had. The light in my room caught the face of her watch, bringing my attention to the Cinderella on it.
I walked forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned around slowly, and I could see the tears falling slowly I gave her a small smile, and cupped her lovely face in my hands. I wiped the tears away with the pads of my thumbs.
Her kissable lips were calling out to me. I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to feel hers on mine. I leaned in, and I felt her grip the sides of my shirt, pulling me closer to her. Her hot breath was overtaking me as I closed the gap.
We both moaned as the connection was complete. Her soft lips fit flawlessly on mine. I removed my hands from her face and grasped her hips tightly. She opened her mouth wider and I drove my tongue into her. The sweet cranberry taste of her just added fuel to me, and I pushed her harder against the door.
She gently bit down on my lip, and I had to have more of her. My body was screaming for me to just take her, but I didn't want to move too fast, either. I wanted to savor the moment.
I picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist, and her arms around my neck. I walked us over to the bed, without breaking our connection. I gently laid her on the bed, with her legs stilled wrapped around me, but she broke from my lips, arching her back.
“Andrew,” she panted my name. I yanked off her scarf, and I began to kiss down her neck. I unbuttoned her shirt, nibbling on her collar bone. Her breasts were hidden behind a lace camisole, but I could see how perky and perfectly shaped they were as I kissed down her chest. I tugged the delicate fabric down, exposing her to me. Katie’s nails dug into my hair and neck as I took her nipple into my mouth. I sucked and, ever so slightly, bit down on it. She tightened her legs around me, moaning my name again.
I licked across her chest to her other breast as my hands snaked down her torso to the top of her jeans. I unsnapped them and pulled down the zipper. I was about to touch her wet sweetness when Katie grabbed my hand.
“Stop, Andrew,” she panted firmly to me. “Please.”
I looked up at her, and her face was flushed. Her lips were swollen, and her hair was splayed all over my pillows.
“Sorry,” I said.
She unlocked her legs from my waist, and cupped my face. “Please, don’t say you’re sorry. Trust me, I don’t regret it at all, but I’m not like other girls that have been in this bed. I don’t have sex with just anyone.”
I nodded, pushing myself up to her face and softly pressing my lips to her. “I respect that.”
I rolled off of Katie and onto my back, taking her with me. She composed herself and then relaxed into my side, where she fit perfectly. Katie clutched tightly to my shirt I rested one hand on her hip, and the other covered her hand on my chest.
We didn’t say anything; we just lay there together.
Chapter 13 – Katie
I rested my head on Andrew's chest, listening to his heartbeat. The rhythm was so soothing it made me forget about making out with him a moment ago. It made me feel relaxed, and I hadn’t felt this way in the longest time.
“Katie?” Andrew asked tenderly.
“Yes,” I smiled up at him.
He rubbed his hand up and down my back. “What did Amber say to you?”
I didn’t say anything at first. I wasn’t sure if I should tell him, but then again, why should I hide it from him? “She told me that I should take a chance with you, because you really liked me.” I rose up and was mere inches from his face. “Even if you’re an ass.” I grinned at him.
“Do you think I am?” He rubbed my cheek.
“Yes,” I winked at him.
He chuckled . “Come on, I’m serious.”
“So am I,” I said, pinching his side. He growled, and I laughed heartily.
I rested my chin on his shoulder and looked at his handsome face. I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted more of him. I almost lost myself once he had me on the bed. It took every ounce of self-control I had to pull myself out of the sexual fog before it went too far.
It wasn’t like it was with Wes. Andrew’s touches, kisses, and the way he felt was so much different. They were made me feel like he really cared for me.
“Did you want to go back to the party?” he asked me.
“Nah, I think I’m going to go home.” I rolled away from him and off the bed.
“What?” He sat up on his elbows. “Why?”
“Well, it’s late. I have to study, and you have practice in the morning. Then we need to have our study session,” I reminded him.
“Katie, please, don’t go,” he begged.
I crawled over to him and kissed him hard on the lips. “See you tomorrow.” I winked at him and rushed out the door. I couldn’t stay in that room another second, because if I did, I would have ripped off my own clothes.
I hastily ran downstairs and found Lindsay in the corner. I told her I was heading home. She looked at me questioningly, but I told her I was fine.
The smile was painted on my face as I practically skipped to the BMW and drove home. As I bounced into the apartment, I felt like I had a new lease on life. All this from just kissing Andrew? I popped the cap off the beer from the fridge and sat at the kitchen table. My lips still felt swollen from his kiss, and my legs shaky.
I thought about Nick, and how I wished I could call him and tell him all about my experience with Andrew. I closed my eyes and remembered the first time Brandon kissed me. When he dropped me off, my big brother was waiting for me. My parents were already in bed, but not Nick.<
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“So, I see you made it home on time,” Nick said, nodding to the clock on the kitchen wall.
“Why are you still up?” I said as I sat down next to him.
“What? Did you think I would be in bed while my baby sister was out with Mr. Hot Lips?” Nick teased.
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. I didn’t want him to tease me, so I tried to come up with a mature comeback. “Shut up,” was all I had.
Nick laughed at me. “Oh, did someone get their first kiss?”
I put my face in my hands and shook my head. “I’m not talking to you about this,” I said.
He just laughed harder. “You did.” He pushed my shoulder. “Was he a good kisser? Or was he like a dog kisser?”
I looked at him, confused. “Dog kisser?”
“Yeah, you know, did he lick all over your face?” He gasped. “Or were you the bad kisser? Did you lick him?”
I just stared at him, with my jaw dropped. Was my brother seriously asking me these questions? “Nick, why do you care about how I kiss?”
He thought for a second. “Well, when you meet Prince Charming, I want to make sure you don’t screw it up.”
I furrowed my eyebrows at him. “Why can’t you be like other brothers, and pretend that you don’t care about my love life?”
He shrugged. “Because I’m your protector, and I love you.”
I rolled my eyes at him. He was always sticking his nose in my business in the name of protecting me.
“Speaking of which,” he said as got up from the table, walked over to the kitchen counter, and picked up a small package. “I ordered this a few weeks ago, but it just came in.” He came back and handed it to me.
“What is it?” I looked over the box, and opened it up. “Oh, Nick, are you kidding me?” I pulled out the contents. “A necklace. Why does it have your initial?”
“I think it suits you. That way,” he took it from my hand, and clasped it to my neck. “When I’m gone, you can look at it and think of me.”
“Nick, it’s the ugliest thing I have ever seen in my life.” I rubbed my hand over the ‘N’. “Besides, you keep telling me you’re going to be fine in Iraq. You told me it was just going to be administrative this time.” I looked over at him.
“Right, the only injury I’ll be getting is paper cuts.” He winked at me.
“You promise?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
He kissed the top of my head. “I promise.” He teased.
“Fine.” I knew that deep down he was lying so I wouldn’t worry about him. My brother the solider was getting ready for his second tour in Iraq, and I was more nervous than ever for him. “I’ll wear it forever,” I told him truthfully.
A knock at the door brought me out of the memory. I wiped away the tears that were streaming down my face. Who would be here at this hour? I looked out the peep hole, and it was Andrew.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I opened the door. He walked in without an invitation. “Andrew?”
“A little bird told me that you would be here. Alone.” He wagged his eyebrows at me.
My heart sped up as I watched his eyes roam up and down my body. “Andrew,” I scolded him. “I said no, earlier.” I hoped my voice wouldn’t crack as he looked me over, making me ache for him more.
He moved in closer, and our eyes connected. I could smell his cologne, and my knees weakened. “That same little bird told me about your rule.”
I stepped back, throwing my hands in the air. “Well, shit, did Lindsay tell you everything?”
Andrew threw his head back and laughed. “Listen,” he said as he reached for my hand, and tugged me towards him. “I’m not here to have sex with you, but I do want to spend time with you. No tutor mode, just Katie mode.” He kissed the inside of my wrist.
I thought for a moment as I gawked at his chiseled jaw. “Are you asking to spend the night in my bed, without sex? Just a night of cuddling, and the occasional kiss?” I teasingly walked my fingers up his chest.
“I do believe we have done that already.” He kissed my cheek.
“You have practice in about six hours, and I know that you need rest.” I was trying to figure out any excuse not to have him in my bed, because I didn’t know if I would be able to stop myself.
“When have I not gone to Saturday practice hungover or sleep-deprived?” he pointed out.
I didn’t know if I should be so honest with him, but I swallowed back my nervousness and said, “Andrew, if you get in that bed with me, I don’t know how long I can hold out.”
He looked at me and grinned. “I wouldn’t want you to break any rules for me.” He leaned in and gave me the softest, most romantic kiss. His full lips were like velvet against mine. “You won’t have to drive to practice. I’ll see you at one, in the library.” He gave me another quick kiss, and then left.
I didn’t realize that I was holding my breath, until he walked out the door and I released it. I swore my hormones were going to get the best of me.
After I locked the front door, I went to my bedroom and collapsed on the bed. What a night this had been. What the hell was I going to do? I liked Andrew a lot, much more than I should. I had never felt this way about anyone. Not even Wes, or Brandon. So much for keeping things professional.
**
After my morning shower, I didn’t feel like dressing up. I declared it a ‘lazy day’, and put my hair up in a messy bun and donned a pair of yoga pants and my old Malden Musketeers hoodie. I was sitting at my desk doing some extra studying for the midterms this week, when Lindsay knocked on my door.
“Hey, what are you doing up so early?” I asked, as she lay across my bed.
“I have to go to the lab for a little bit, and I figured the earlier the better. Just thought I'd come in here and see how your night went with Andrew?” she said with a wide grin.
“Nothing happened here last night. Besides, thanks for telling him about my ‘no sex on the first night’ rule,” I said as I swiveled my chair away from her.
“Oh please, Katie.” Lindsay rolled her eyes dramatically at me. “He came running down those stairs after you like a dog in heat, and you looked like you were ravished by a wild animal. Hell, I’m surprised you could hold out.” She giggled.
A knock on the front door made Lindsay pop up from my bed. “That’s Franks.” She walked out of the room.
I went back to studying. Well, I tried to study, but my mind kept wandering back to Andrew, his lips, and his touch on my body. It was going to be very hard for me to concentrate on tutoring him today, but I had a job to do.
I had emailed Mr. Moore with Andrew’s weekly progress report earlier that morning. He never replied to my emails, but I made sure to include everything, and how well he was doing. In the few short weeks that I'd been tutoring Andrew, he had caught up in almost every class. After our sessions today and tomorrow, he should be good to go. I knew that my job was for the whole semester, but that was mainly to maintain his grades.
I needed to keep our professional relationship separate from our personal relationship. I didn't want my grades to slip, or his. Plus, with his games and practices, I wasn't sure how much of a personal relationship we would have. Why was I even thinking about this? We kissed. Maybe Andrew really didn’t want anything more than a physical relationship.
“Hey,” Lindsay said, popping her head back into my room. “You need to come out here.”
“Why?” I asked, her strange tone making me feel uneasy.
“Wes Crown is out here, with his dad.” She nodded her head towards the living room.
“Why?” I repeated, as my heart began to pound.
“They said they want to talk to you.” I got up from my desk and cautiously walked into the living room.
In the middle of the room stood Wes, his dark eyes looking at me intently, and all I wanted to do was punch him again. It was the first time I had seen him since our argument. The area around his eyes was a yellowish green color, and there was still a
small Band Aid over his nose. Next to him was the lawyer-likely man I had seen in the newspaper photo. Douglas Crown. He wore a long, very expensive-looking dress coat.
“Ah, you must be Ms. Miller,” he said extending his hand.
“I am,” I confirmed, shaking his hand politely.
“I’m Douglas Crown, and I do apologize for our unannounced visit. I hope that we are not intruding on your morning activities?” he asked formally.
I shook my head, unsure how to respond to him.
“Dad, let’s just get this done,” Wes said impatiently.
He waved him away. “Ms. Miller, we are here to discuss the altercation that occurred between you and my son.” He gave me a tight smile.
I looked over at Lindsay, who was standing next to me. I crossed my arms and stared at him. “What are you talking about? The fact that your son spread lies about me.”
He put his hands up. “I’m not arguing that point, Ms. Miller.”
“So, what is the issue?” My eyes bounced between the two men in front of me.
Mr. Crown smiled. “My son said some things that were not entirely true, and I want to make sure that you’re not planning any legal repercussions against him.”
“Are you asking if I’m thinking about suing Wes?” I asked, trying to clarify.
“Yes,” he said briskly.
I was taken aback. “I’m not planning anything like that.”
“Good,” he said, clapping his leather gloved hands together. “Let’s settle this then.” He reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope. “This is just a small compensation for the trouble my son has caused you.”
My insides trembled as I took the envelope from his hand. I opened it and gasped. It was a check made out to me for fifteen thousand dollars.
“We figured this amount would put this trivial matter to rest,” Mr. Crown explained. “Plus, considering your parental situation, this would help with your schooling.”
“My ‘parental situation’?”
“My son informed me that you’re from a more, let’s just say, financially challenged family.”