by Sara Hess
She started shaking in my arms and I looked down to see her laughing into my chest, and that dispelled some of the tension between and around us. I smiled. “You know I’m right; that’s why you’re laughing.”
“A bunch of brazen, self-centered, vengeful coed’s is pretty daunting.” Carrie tried to sound somber but just ended up giggling.
I groaned at the description. It described perfectly all my previous hook-ups. “I’m done with brazen, self-centered, vengeful coeds. I’m more interested in one naïve, selfless, bighearted coed.”
Carrie scowled. “Naïve, I don’t think I like that description. I’m not a child or stupidly trusting.”
“But you are refreshingly innocent.” I tickled her waist and she jerked backwards with a surprised burst of laughter. It made me feel ten feet tall when I got her to laugh like that.
Chapter Twenty-three
Carrie
“No, stop, stop!” Squealing with laughter I tried wriggling away from Nic but he followed me with those torturous fingers. I fell over onto the bed and he continued tickling me up and down my sides. No matter how sad I got he seemed to always be able to make me laugh.
Suddenly, there was a pounding on the wall. “Hey, if she’s laughing like that then you’re not doing it right; unless she’s laughing at the size of you junk.”
Nic paused in his torment at the pounding on the wall and I gasped in some much needed air, but at that comment my hand flew over my mouth to cover the additional laughter those words brought on.
Nic looked affronted. “That’s not funny.” He growled diving in again.
I shrieked behind my hand and arched in reaction to a very sensitive spot. Abruptly, Nic stopped. Smiling and breathing hard I looked up as he knelt over me on the bed. Eyes that had been smiling brightly in amusement had transformed to an intense emerald green.
“It’s crazy what you do to me.” He said huskily.
My heart almost burst at the emotion in those words and in his eyes. Bending down slowly he kissed me softly with little sips and tugs, but the kiss quickly changed to fierce and hungry. I loved it when he kissed me this way, with everything he had. I returned it just as eagerly tangling my tongue with his.
Reaching up I ran my fingers in his hair like I’d wanted to last night. His soft curls wrapped around my fingers as I gripped them trying to tug him a little closer. Instead of coming down on top of me he laid down next to me. Rolling toward him I pressed myself against his body needing his heat and hardness against mine. Everything in me yearned for it.
Nic’s hand gripped my waist and the heat of his touch moved up toward my chest until it settled over my breast. I gasped at the contact and Nic’s hand stilled. He pulled back from the kiss to look into my face and his eyes burned into mine. I was panting after those kisses but also because his hand remained on my breast.
“Is this okay?” He asked hoarsely.
Too embarrassed to answer, but utterly enthralled by everything he was making me feel, I tugged his head down for another kiss. Nic answered my kiss with a groan and by squeezing the sensitive flesh of my breast, causing them to swell and tingle. I could feel my nipple stabbing into his palm through my bra and sweater.
I moaned at the incredible feelings. Wanting more I arched into his touch. His thumb rubbed over my nipple making it even harder and electricity shot from that spot down to my sex pulling a whimper from me. I had to pull my mouth from his to draw in some breaths. When I did his mouth trailed down to my neck sucking, and nibbling, and licking. My head fell back offering him more.
He took it, traveling up to my ear. His fingers pinched my nipple and I cried out at the burning sensation. So good! Mindlessly, I pushed against him trying to quench the ache that was building. The hardness and heat of his arousal pressing into my mound excited me beyond measure. He pushed back and his penis rubbed that special spot from last night and a sharp punch of pleasure hit me.
“Oh god.” I gasped, both fearful and incredibly aroused by what was happening.
Nic panted into my neck. “That feels good, right?” He pressed into me again delivering another punch of pleasure.
I held tight to his hair my body shuddering in ecstasy. “Yes, yes, too good.” I whispered thickly.
“It can never be too good.” He lay back on the bed pulling me over him with my legs falling to each side of his thighs, my hips flush with his pressing down on his hardness. His lips latched onto mine wildly and both his hands went to my butt grabbing onto each cheek.
The touch startled me and I almost pulled away, but then Nic began rubbing my groin into his and instead I cried out. Yes!
Nic pulled his mouth from mine. “Still too good?” He asked gutturally.
I stuffed my head into his hot chest. “Yes…no….” I couldn’t think past the delight of each push and rub. He didn’t even have to press me down any more, I was doing it myself. One of his hands came up to my nape to lift my head so he could take my mouth again while the other continued guiding my hips. His lips devoured mine as he seemed to lose control.
A throbbing ache was building inside of me making me tremble and tense atop him. My breasts rubbed against his chest with each movement that we made down below causing prickly energy to spread out everywhere. The throbbing became a pulse that centered in my sex and I gasped and pressed, whimpered and pushed, cried out and rubbed until it tightened painfully.
I pulled my mouth from his. “Nic…oh god?” I sobbed at the incredible pleasure.
His hips arched up into mine as he gasped below me. “Just let it come, baby.” He panted. “It’s going to feel so good.”
Both his hands were on my butt again pressing me into him hard as he circled and rubbed. The tightening continued to become excruciatingly painful until suddenly I exploded. Pressing my face into his chest I sobbed as indescribable rapture flooded me. My insides kept clenching and releasing as the ecstasy surged over me in waves. I unconsciously bit into his chest never wanting it to end.
“Oh shit.” Nic gasped. “Fuck!” Nic bellowed below me jerking hard upwards with his hips again and again. The action only made the zings of pleasure stronger as they shook me over and over until I finally slumped in depletion.
I came back to awareness slowly. Breathing heavily I lay sprawled out on top of Nic as aftershocks of delight trembled through me. His body was relaxed and his hands were caressing my back leisurely but his breaths were just as rough as mine.
“What was that?” I whispered shakily even though I knew what it was. It had just been so amazingly intense.
“That was a prelude to heaven.” Nic grunted gruffly kissing the top of my head. “I got carried away again; it seems to keep happening around you. You okay?”
Suddenly, mortification swept through me at what we’d just done. We’d just had what accounted to clothed sex in the morning with other people in house who could have heard us. Not too long ago someone had banged on the wall because they’d heard me laughing. How loud had I been during…that? And I was going to have to face Nic here any second, too. I don’t think I could look him in the eye after that or anyone else in this house.
“Oh my, god!” I whispered in an agony of embarrassment.
Hands that had been stroking me tenderly firmed on my back. “I know what’s going on in your mind and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. What we did was natural. We care about each other so it’s doubly natural. If anyone is going to be mortified it will be me because I came in my jeans and made a real mess. I’m going to have to wash up again.”
I wasn’t sure if that made me feel any better, but it did cause me to smile self-consciously. “Do you think anyone heard us?” I whispered nervously.
“I don’t think so, the walls are pretty thick. Landon’s next to us and he probably went back to sleep after he banged on the wall. If anyone heard anything it was me swearing and that could have been from stubbing my toe or something random like that.”
I wasn’t sure if I should believe h
im, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it now anyway. Nic rolled me over to my back and looked down at me. His gaze was heavy-lidded, warm, and sated. I tried my best to not look discomfited, but I don’t think I was succeeding.
A tender smile curved his lips. Bending down he kissed me softly, moving lovingly and gently over my lips. My eyes stung faintly with emotional tears and I couldn’t help but respond; the sensations he roused in me both physically and emotionally were too strong for me to hold back anything. My hand stroked and caressed his chest as those potent feelings rose up once more. My mouth opened to take and receive more. It wasn’t long before our breathing turned heavy all over again.
Nic pulled away suddenly, his eyes no longer sated but smoldering. He jumped up from the bed. “Sorry, I can’t let you take advantage of me again. I want you to respect me.” He teased huskily.
I gapped at him. He gave me wicked smile and turned to his dresser taking out another pair of boxers and jeans. “Let me go get cleaned up and then we can finally get some breakfast. I’m hungry woman.” He walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
I flopped back on the bed. Did he just blame that on me? I covered my face and couldn’t help but smile at his silliness. God, I lov…
I sat up in alarm hugging myself. No! I couldn’t go there yet. If I admitted that, even subconsciously, it would completely wreck me later when he walked away. I knew I was living in self-denial because no matter what it was going to destroy me, but I had to try and make myself believe it. I shivered in foreboding.
When Nic exited the bathroom I made use of it as well; feeling a puddle down south. Afterwards, he took my hand and led me downstairs. We walked into the kitchen to the sight of Seth in jeans and a t-shirt making breakfast. It looked like a lot of scrambled eggs mixed with sausage and a half a loaf of toasted bread.
Unsure of his view of me after last night, or if he’d heard me upstairs, I found it difficult to meet his gaze, but the crooked smile he gave me seemed to hold no veiled judgment and I relaxed to some extent.
“You guys hungry, I’ve made enough.” He offered.
Nic pulled me to the table and made me sit. “I’m starving.” He went to the cupboards and began pulling out plates, glasses and silverware. I watched as the two of them worked like a well-oiled machine getting breakfast ready. It was quite fascinating.
“Do you guys do covert restaurant work on the side? I’ve worked in restaurants that don’t run as smoothly as you two do in a kitchen.”
Nic had already set the table and was retrieving milk and orange juice from the refrigerator. He grinned. “We’ve been living together for two and a half years. We’ve established a certain routine.” He placed the beverages on the table.
Evan walked into the kitchen and my anxiety ratcheted up once again. Another person who knew about me. Either of them could have gone online last night to find out about my past.
He offered me a smile but it held a certain circumspection to it. My return smile wobbled. Looking down I fiddled with my silverware.
“Uhgg.”
I looked up at the sound of pain. Evan was standing near Seth rubbing his left shoulder and they were both scowling at each other. Nic was also glowering, at Evan. I saw Seth’s gaze flicker my way briefly.
“Keep your fingers out of the pan.” He growled, staring daggers at Evan.
Evan’s expression displayed utter confusion. “What, I…”
“Yeah, you’ll ruin the whole breakfast.” Nic barked angrily. He had a roll of paper towel in his hands which he used to hit Evan over the head with as he walked past on his way over to the table. He set it down in the middle before sitting down next to me.
“You want orange juice or milk?” Nic held up both beverages toward me.
“Uh, I guess orange juice, please.” I answered uncertainly. The anger I’d just witnessed over fingers in food seemed a bit overly excessive and I had to wonder if that was what it was really about. That it might have been about me made me hot with humiliation.
“Yeah…sorry.” Evan apologized. “Should have known better.” He went about getting his own placement settings for the table.
Seth was finished cooking and Evan helped him bring everything to the table. Nic grabbed my plate and dished a scoopful of eggs and sausage mix onto it along with some toast. I looked down at it and swallowed down the nausea that rose up. I might have been hungry, but I wasn’t any longer.
“Hey, you okay?” Nic asked, rubbing my back and looking at me with concern.
No, not really. Would I be okay…I wouldn’t know until Nic knew everything and decided.
“I’m not really all that hungry. Can I use your phone and call that person we were talking about?” I asked quietly.
“You should eat something.” Nic urged.
I gave him a weak smile. “I must still be full from last night. You made me eat too much.” I complained teasingly.
Nic frowned at me in concern, but pulled the phone from his pocket. “Remember what I told you; no matter what.” He gave me kiss on the cheek and handed me the phone.
I nodded and walked from the room feeling anything but reassured. It cost too much to hope.
Chapter Twenty-four
Nic
I watched Carrie walk from room feeling the sorrow radiating off her. I wasn’t sure if I should go after her or let her make the call alone. It was with her doctor so she might want the privacy.
“Nice job, Shitlock.” Seth hit Evan again only in the back of the head this time. It was no fair that he got to hit Evan twice.
“What, she didn’t hear me.” Evan protest, rubbing the back of his head.
What the hell had he said? I’d only seen the look he’d thrown her way. “What the hell did you say?” I stood up furiously.
Evan’s expression turned regretful and he raised his hands. He looked nervously toward the doorway. “I just asked Seth, very quietly under my breath, if he’d found the same thing I did online last night.”
My fury didn’t abate, in fact, it increased. “Are you fucking dense. You saw what happened to her last night when the subject was brought up. Don’t bring it up again around her. And if you can’t act normally around her when she’s in the room you need to make yourself scarce. I won’t have her feeling uncomfortable.”
Evan’s arms lowered slowly and he looked at me in surprise and consideration. “Yeah, okay. I understand you care about her.” He glanced toward the doorway again. “But I think you need to know that everything Nikki said was the truth. I just don’t want you ignoring the facts. This girl has got some serious issues going on; killing her father and then institutionalized for a year because of it.”
I knew Evan wouldn’t have been able to curb his curiosity about what he heard, and even though I understood the naturalness of it he could have handled the situation better. I wasn’t going to allow anyone or anything to cause Carrie anymore suffering.
I leaned over the table and growled. “Carrie admitted that Nikki was telling the truth.” Both Seth and Evan raised their brows in surprise at my words. “But she also said that not everything was disclosed by the police to the press. That phone call she’s making is to someone who can tell me the entire story. She can’t because she’s also confessed that another episode would only ensue if she tried. I don’t know what’s online and I don’t care, but I do know that there is no way that Carrie killed her father deliberately or maliciously.”
Evan didn’t say anything as I sat back down, my fury still riding me hard.
“I looked it up.” Seth rumbled quietly. He looked a little ashamed at the admission. “Told myself I wouldn’t do it because it seemed like an invasion of her privacy, but then I thought it might help me understand her situation better.” He frowned. “I won’t go into specifics because there weren’t a lot; it was vague.”
“I’m telling you there’s no way Carrie purposely killed her father, and I’ll tell you the same thing I told Nikki, no one else needs to know about
this.” I stated categorically.
Evan stayed quiet, but Seth nodded in agreement. I looked down at my food no longer hungry myself. Pushing the plate away I stood up walking from the room.
Carrie was in the living room staring out the window. Walking up behind her I wrapped my arms around her. She jumped in surprise grabbing my arms.
“Oh, you scared me.” She exclaimed.
I kissed the top of her head. All the anger seemed to drain out of me as I held her in my arms which I was grateful for. I didn’t want any of that shit festering inside me when I was near her.
“Did you get a hold of her?”
“Yes, she said she could see us today around one if that’s okay with you. She lives in Lexington which is about an hour from here.” She stood tense in my embrace as though she was afraid of the answer; whether it be yes or no.
“It’ll be tight but we can get your stuff from the woman’s shelter, get you moved into your dorm room, and you can get a shower before we have to get on the road.” I pulled her after me as I headed for the front door. After slipping our shoes on I helped her with her jacket and then pulled on mine. Grabbing up her pack we walked out the door.
I peeled out of the driveway as she sat quietly next to me. I was able to get her to talk about various trivial matters on the way to the shelter and then to the University, but I could tell she was distracted and agitated. Not bothering to find a parking spot I just drove up to the front doors of her building which allowed for twenty minute parking.
Grabbing her small suitcase from the truck I followed Carrie to the entrance. When I’d seen her come out of the shelter carrying only the one suitcase I’d wanted to rail against someone. Her mother mostly, but unfortunately she wasn’t available. If I ever did meet Carrie’s mother she was going to get a fucking earful.