Up for Grabs (Up For Grabs #1)

by Heather Young-Nichols

  I realized while I tried to catch my breath that my arms were hanging limply at my sides. It’d taken me by such surprise I hadn’t reacted fully. Now that was a kiss.

  “Sorry,” he whispered, his breath as ragged as mine. “I couldn’t wait another second.”

  Not trusting my voice at first, I smiled at him then rose onto my tiptoes and kissed his lips softly.

  “No apology necessary.”

  “So,” he started after getting us inside the car and getting the heat blowing. “What would you like to do?”

  “I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

  His evil grin caught me off guard in a way, I think I would have done anything he suggested in that moment. “Movie?”

  A movie snuggled up next to him? Yes, please. But that wasn’t happening in a theater. I wasn’t usually very forward with guys but I decided that was the high school me. Instead, I took a deep breath and went with my gut.

  “That sounds great,” I said as he turned the car in what I assumed was the direction of the theater. “But hey, I was wondering what you thought about maybe,” Dear God spit it out already, “instead of going to the movies, we watch one at your place? I mean if you wanted to.”

  He took the next right and looped back around without answering. I found myself smiling a lot with him, to him, about him, and felt extremely comfortable. Before I knew it, we were back at his place and inside his room. Cain went to grab us some drinks and told me to pick out a movie.

  When he came back, I already sat on his bed and started unzipping my boots. He paused inside watching me until I leaned comfortably on the pillows. After tossing me a bottle of water, he decided to take a look at my choice of films. Then immediately broke into loud laughter.

  “Really?” I nodded. “You might be the coolest girl ever.”

  I’d chosen one of those raunchy comedies guys typically liked but deep inside I was a fifteen year old boy so I loved them, too. While the movie cued up, Cain got himself comfortable leaning back against the headboard with long legs stretched out almost reaching the foot of the bed. I scooted over as close as I could then decided to throw caution to the wind, lifted his arm and rested my head on his chest. Said arm wrapped around me until his hand laid at my waist.

  We laughed in the same places. Me sometimes harder than him. And even made it halfway through without being distracted. The distraction was my fault. I take full responsibility. But his lips couldn’t not be kissed a moment longer.

  First, I looked up at him to admire the view for a while before he glanced down at me. Then, pushing myself up, I paused. My hand grazed and touched the side of his face before I went in for the kill, kissing him so thoroughly even I didn’t know where it came from. I liked having control. My mouth determined what his would do.

  Cain flipped me over putting himself next to me with one leg between mine. Our lips mashed together over and over, all tongue and heaving breaths. For the longest time, his hand snaked around the back of my neck, holding me in place. As if I’d go anywhere. Then that same hand went to my hip, squeezing and teasing until I broke away, almost panting.

  “Ok,” I said once I’d taken in enough air to be able to do so. “Back to the movie then?” It totally came out as a question.

  “Right,” Cain said back, letting out a rough breath.

  Yet he didn’t move right away. Instead, our eyes locked and I was pretty sure he saw in mine what I saw in his. His dark eyes were full of hunger like he might be contemplating his next move. After a painfully aware moment, he rolled off me back to where he’d been before I kissed him. And so did I.

  When everything went back to normal, my fingers traced circles over his chest. I wasn’t focusing on the movie at all.

  “Ok, so I have a confession to make.” The arm around me squeezed. “Despite my little … display a few minutes ago, I don’t hook up. I mean, I don’t judge others who do, but I don’t.”

  He sort of frowned down at me. “I didn’t think you did.”

  “Why not?” No idea why the question came out of my mouth. Did I want him thinking I was into random nights with guys I barely knew? No. But still.

  “You never seemed the type. Especially after you told me about your mom.”

  “You mean in the whole three weeks you’ve known me?”

  He shook his head. “We had a class together last semester. You just never acted like those other girls.”

  I racked my brain trying to remember what class we had together but I didn’t remember seeing him before the party at his apartment. Yet he remembered me being there.

  We stayed like that for quite a while. Lying side by side watching the TV without really watching. The movie ended and the screen went black, but we still laid there in the dark talking quietly. With it being our first date I felt all too at ease with him and he with me. Like we’d known each other for a lot longer. As much as I didn’t want to and he didn’t seem to want me to, I had to get back to the dorm.

  Cain flipped the overhead light on making me wince from the sudden assault on my eyes. I’d become used to the dark. My eyes were stunned at the sudden change. We put ourselves back together, shoes, straitening clothes, and reluctantly left his room knowing I’d be back.

  “Dude, I didn’t even know you were here.” Sam sat on the couch, arm flung across the back watching some basketball game on ESPN Classic. His black hair looked like he hadn’t bothered to brush it all day. It worked for him.

  “Yeah, I’m taking Flannery home.” He turned to me. “That’s Sam, my roommate.”

  “Hi.” I gave him a small wave. Which looked and felt completely awkward.

  “So, you’re the Flannery I’ve been hearing about. How’s it going?”

  I smiled widely. Cain had been talking about me? “Good.”

  “I’ll be back in a while,” Cain said not acknowledging the tidbit Sam gave me.

  The rush of cold air hit me like a brick wall against the warm comfort of Cain’s room. January in Michigan could be torture but even with my entire body shivering hard enough my teeth chattered I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.

  “So, you’ve talked about me?” I asked after he pulled out of his parking spot.

  From the side I could see his cheeks rise up slightly and noticed he was driving particularly slow making the trip last twice as long as it should have.

  “I may have mentioned you.”

  “I guess I didn’t know guys gush when a girl captures their heart,” I teased.

  “Pretty confident aren’t we?” My giggles filled the car as he pulled up to my dorm. I just about pulled the handle when he grabbed my hand. “I’m going to walk you up there but it’s cold as shit so if you don’t mind, I’d like to kiss you goodnight here. Where there’s heat.”

  He wrapped one hand around the back of my neck and slowly, torturously, moved in to touch his lips to mine. I turned my body even more giving him better access. His tongue slid across my lip making my whole body melt into his. They parted to let him in. His tongue searched mine, tasting, lingering, curling my toes. When he pulled back, I wasn’t surprised to discover we’d been in there making out like high schoolers for fifteen minutes.

  “Hmmm, if that’s a kiss goodnight … ” I let my words trail off an hang in the air. I didn’t want to go inside after that. It felt intimate the way he looked at me before the kiss and I wanted more.

  “We better get moving. If we don’t, I won’t be able to. Come on.”

  Even walking in the frigid temps, we did didn’t rush. And it seemed he couldn’t help but kiss me one last time before I swiped my card to get inside.

  ***

  I slept in later than usual due to my two previous nights out and knew I’d have to spend the day studying which didn’t fill me with joy. I thought I’d be able to do it once I showered, dressed, and packed up my backpack. If I stayed in the dorm to work, there would be too many distractions, or opportunity for distraction. My cell rang as I yanked my coat on. Cain
’s named flashed at me since I’d put his name in the contacts that first day of class. Apparently, he couldn’t get enough of me.

  “So,” he said without a greeting. “What are we doing today?”

  “Well, I’m studying. I’ve got a ton of work to do.”

  “Oh. Today’s a responsible day then?”

  I sure didn’t want it to be, but flunking out would do nothing for our burgeoning relationship. Not to mention, you know, my entire future.

  “Sorry. But I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

  Cain groaned as we hung up.

  First floor of the library could be a little loud so I headed up, but there were no work areas available on the second. Up on the third, it became deserted. No one ever went up there unless they were going into a finals stupor. It’d be the best place to go for quiet. I made sure to silence my phone so I wouldn’t get dirty looks from the one other person up there. Library etiquette.

  And I worked. I flew through Communications, which really wasn’t much. My Sociology class required a chapter of reading. Human Biology was where I needed to spend the bulk of my day. Tons of labeling humans systems and trying to memorize where everything belonged. To the point that I started to question once again why I’d chosen it as one of my classes. I hadn’t really decided what I wanted to major in but I did love science. That could be more of a general love because the details were killing me.

  That was until someone dropped into the seat across from me at my table when the entire floor was empty.

  “Stalking is really unattractive,” I said, giving Cain my best glare but I wasn’t feeling it. Too tired to glare. Actually, the fact that he came to the library on a Sunday afternoon instead of off doing whatever guys do on Sunday afternoons kind of exited me. In every way.

  “Not the way I do it,” Cain countered. “Besides, I’m not stalking. I have work to do and you’re distracting me right now.”

  “Then there’s twenty other tables for you to choose from. Oh, not to mention that sweet apartment you live in.”

  “I like the view better here.” His smirk could stay on his face all day, it was that good. “Besides I might come across a big word I need help with.”

  Making the decision to act the way I would with anyone else, I kicked him in the shin. Hard enough he’d feel it. Cain bit his lips together to keep from smiling. Then we went to work but I had a hard time concentrating. The proximity of his legs to mine made it impossible. He must have been taking up the entire space under the table because every time I moved or he did I jolted as his knee brushed mine. The slightest touch and I was on fire and melting. Every motion sent hot lava flowing to all the important parts of my body. And he was doing it on purpose. I refused to look up at him.

  Chapter Six

  Somehow I blocked his presence out and got a lot of work done, but it took its toll. My muscles ached from sitting on the wooden chair so long and my stomach growled to let me know I’d been neglectful. When I checked my cell for the time, I found six missed calls and four text messages from Kendra asking to meet her for dinner. Oops. I quickly sent a text back saying I’d been holed up in the library and I was sorry. She’d understand. Then I started packing up to leave.

  “You’re done?” Cain asked, bringing me out of myself. Actually, he kind of startled me because I’d really forgotten he was there. How that was possible I wasn’t sure.

  “For now. I didn’t get through everything but I can’t sit here any longer.”

  “Good.” He stood up, stretching enough to give me a small peek at the skin above his pants. I rolled my eyes before speaking. He was good at this stuff. The making me want him, making sure I couldn’t be mad. All of it.

  “So, you’re done too I take it?”

  “Like an hour ago.”

  “Then why are you still here?”

  “You’d have to eat eventually.” He threw his arm around my shoulders leading me out of the library.

  He wanted to take me to dinner but I was tired from all the time in the library and asked for takeout. I wanted to get into my pajamas, eat, maybe read a little for Lit class and go to sleep. Cain didn’t seem overly excited about it but agreed anyway.

  And he held my bag of food hostage, the rat bastard.

  “Why did you really come to the library?” I asked as we sat in his car in front of my dorm. I’d finagled a few fries from him. They never tasted better.

  “I had work to do.” I looked at him skeptically. “And I wanted to see you. I figured I’d at least get a kiss goodnight.”

  “Hmmm…” I thought it over and decided to mess with him a little, leaning in until I came close enough I could brush my lips against his if I wanted to and I knew he’d be expecting it. Slowly, I licked my lips, wrapped my hand around the take-out bag, and in my best husky voice said, “I think you’ll have to suffer that one for a while.”

  Then quick as I could muster, I hopped out of the car, bag in hand, threw a little wave over my shoulder, and got inside. Course, I laughed to myself the entire way. After I got to my room, I went to turn my phone ringer back on and saw a text waiting.

  Him: You’re mean!

  Poor Cain. It was pretty clear he was used to getting what he wanted, although he didn’t act spoiled about it. For a split second I felt bad for teasing him. On the other hand, I was the “no hook-ups” girl, he had to know he’d be working for it, too. Yet I really wanted to text him back.

  Me: Not mean. Just playful.

  Him: Good to know. I wonder if that extends to everything. ;)

  Me: Guess you’ll have to try to figure that out.

  Him: Plan to.

  Me: Wait are you texting and driving? :(

  After a long pause, long enough I had time to change and start eating, my phone dinged.

  Him: No ☺

  Me: You mean, not any more.

  Him: Same thing.

  Me: Don’t do that. It’s dangerous.

  Him: I won’t. lol. Seems like someone cares a little.

  Me: That you don’t die? Clearly I’m head over heels. We both know I’m going to over sleep and miss getting my coffee in the am so I’m going to bed.

  Him: Night.

  Tossing my phone on the desk, I did exactly that.

  As predicted, I overslept, threw on the first things my hands touched, and tore off for class. I needed to remember not to take such early ones because even with the best intentions, it was turning into a disaster. The snow fell from gray clouds softly in globs of huge flakes. As I turned into my classroom, I had to brush all the wetness away from me. But oh, man, if there wasn’t a large coffee on my desk waiting for me. Bless him for being an early riser.

  That became our thing. Every day we had class together, Cain brought me a coffee. I stopped even trying to leave early to get one myself.

  I didn’t see him much the rest of the week which made me regret missing that kiss when he last dropped me off. Like I said, he was good.

  That next weekend, he had to go home for a family thing. After spending the last one completely together, I missed his presence. He called when he could and we texted late into the night Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. He said he was bored, even admitting that he wished we’d been dating longer because he would’ve considered bringing me with him. Not for the meet the parents thing but for his entertainment he said. And he hinted at what some of that entertainment would be with enough detail but not graphically. I think he was afraid of scaring me off.

  I didn’t tell him that whatever images were in his head, were in mine, too.

  So, instead I spent the weekend watching movies and being an overall vegetable. Adam and Kendra hung out with me most of the day Saturday and didn’t balk when Ava and Jared joined us. Once Jared asked Kendra if she’d gained weight, which got him a middle finger in return, Ava didn’t seem as bothered by Kendra. If only we’d known that’s all it would’ve taken.

  Cain’s family thing bled over into Monday when he texted me that his sister had her b
aby and he would be staying a few extra days. I thought it was adorable that he thought he had to let me know his plans. And it made me happy. Then I about melted when he sent a picture of him holding the baby, “A boy,” he said. I stared at it for longer than I’d ever admit. And I also wouldn’t admit that I set it as the picture to come up when he called.

  Wednesday before my night class, I hit the cafeteria for dinner and tried to catch up on the rest at Wuthering Heights. We were finishing the discussion that night and I’d fallen behind. I couldn’t even blame Cain for it because I could’ve done it over the weekend when he was gone. But I got lazy.

  “You’re Flannery Tate, right?” This tall-ish dark blond, blue-eyed boy stood with one knee on the booth across from me. He had a similar build as Cain’ but a scaled down version. I nodded, trying to figure out if I knew this guy. “I’m Alex Reed.”

  “Cain’s friend, right?” I’d met him briefly in passing at the party Cain invited me to.

  “Yeah. So, I’m wondering what you’re doing tomorrow night.” Narrowing my eyes, I waited for more. “There’s a party. Thought you’d like to go. With me.”

  “Oh,” I guess that was flattering. “You know I’m dating Cain, right?” And quite honestly, even if I weren’t, Alex wasn’t my type. He came off a bit slimy to me. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Cocky but not in the playful way Cain was.

  “Are you exclusive?”

  I couldn’t answer because I didn’t know. Were we? I kind of assumed we were but hadn’t thought to ask. It seemed we spent every available moment together but I guess there were nights he could be seeing someone else. I made a mental note to bring it up eventually.

  “That’s what I thought,” he said once I’d been silent too long. “Listen.” He leaned in a little closer. “I’ve known him a long time, and if you’re waiting for him to commit, it’ll be a while. Cain doesn’t really do exclusive.”