Sliding (The Stone Series)

by Kitty Berry

  Tate looks me directly in the eyes and swears he never touched another girl and that no other girl except me has ever touched him.

  “So that’s what you want a girl like Amanda who lets her boyfriend treat her like that, a servant who will do anything for you? Because guess what Tate? I’m not that girl and I will never be” I warn him.

  “I don’t want you to be like that, Amanda and Lindsey; girls like them make me sick. I like that you challenge me, give me a fight. Hell, even the way you slapped me today. It hurt like hell, it brought tears to my eyes but the fact that you care about me that much to get that upset…I like that” he admits.

  “So did you watch them have sex? Did you watch Asia and Bobby too? Does Asia know about this?” I ramble off.

  Tate sighs and looks at the ground when he says, “I never watched Bobby and Asia but he’s told me every detail of what they’ve done and yes she knows all about Eric helping Bobby. I don’t think she knows that I was involved. She told Bobby that he didn’t know what he was doing when they were fooling around and after the first time they had sex she told him he’d better learn how to do it right.”

  He tries to touch me but I move farther away. “Did you go home after and think about her while you…you played with yourself?” I ask not really wanting to know the answer.

  “Who?”

  “Amanda or Lindsey, anyone.”

  Do you want the truth?” Tate asks but doesn’t wait for my response. “I have never thought of Amanda or Lindsey. I think of what it will be like to have sex with you. That’s always what I think about when I whack off…you.”

  Tate looks at me trying to gauge how this is going over then he asks, “What is bothering you the most about this Brook? The fact that it happened, that I didn’t tell you or that Lindsey did?”

  I don’t look at him when I answer, “All of the above Tate” and I stand up to walk back inside.

  Tate gets in front of me and blocks me with his size. If he wants to keep me where I am he can do so very easily, he must outweigh me by seventy pounds and he intends to keep me where I am. He puts his hands on my shoulders and tells me to sit back down while he pushes me with just enough force to make me sit but not hurt me. I don’t have much choice so I sit there but I don’t want to hear anymore and I don’t want to talk so I curl my knees into my chest and I cover my ears. This irritates him which was my plan.

  “Stop being a baby, Brooklynn. Look at me” he orders but I ignore him.

  Tate kneels in front of me and shivers from the wind and lack of sweatshirt and my heart melts just a little. He bends his head and nudges me with his nose and I want to forgive him but I don’t know how to get past this. I don’t like that he hid this from me. If he hid what Lindsey did what else is he hiding or will he hide?

  Tate can’t take my ignoring him for long so he’s the one to break the silence, “I’m sorry Brook, it was wrong and I knew that when I did it but I did it for you, for us. Yes, I did it for me too but I wanted you to think I knew what the fuck I was doing. I didn’t want you to be like Asia was with Bobby and think that I sucked at sex stuff which I would have by the way without Eric’s help. I just wanted to be able to make you happy. You are so amazing and beautiful. You could have any guy you want. You could have any experienced guy that you want and I don’t want you to leave me for someone better than me at sex.”

  Tate’s voice cracks like he’s about to cry, “Please forgive me, please don’t break up with me. I love you, Brook. I need you. You are my whole world; I’ll do anything to make you not be mad at me anymore. Just tell me what to do to make this all better between us and I’ll do it.”

  I think for a minute and then I honestly respond, “There is nothing you can do to make me not be mad about this or to make it better between us. I just need time to try to forgive you and you need to earn back my trust. You can’t lie to me or hide things from me and then expect me to trust you. Now go home and call me when you get there so I know you get home safe.”

  Tate smiles for the first time tonight and asks, “So does that mean I am still your boyfriend? You’re not breaking up with me?”

  I sigh and think about it for a minute or two then I answer from my heart, “I love you and no, I guess I am not breaking up with you but I am still mad and this changes things between us. I don’t trust you right now and I hate the way that makes me feel, it scares me.”

  Tate stands and I stand with him. “I’m sorry; I’ll do everything I can to earn back your trust. I love you” he says while looking at the ground then he goes to leave without trying to kiss me or taking his sweatshirt back, I guess he figures why push his luck so I take his sweatshirt off, stand on my tip toes, slide it over his head and kiss the cheek I slapped this afternoon.

  “I’m sorry about your face, it’s much too handsome to be slapped” and I turn and walk back inside.

  Chapter 7: The Reminiscing

  When we get back to the hotel after my doctor’s appointment Tate has to have a meeting with Dominick and his security team to learn everything that happened with the threat against him but the information is never shared with me. I’m told there was a threat made against Tate and until further notice we will have tight security. Tate claims it’s nothing to worry about, just some silly nonsense over song rights and a disgruntled songwriter. This has happened a few times before.

  The first time it happened was when a woman became obsessed with Tate after seeing his picture in the tabloids and she snuck into our home, put on some of Tate’s clothes and was found in our bed. After that we got basic security and hired Dominick. Then once when Tate was representing a rapper who had reportedly been in a gang, the opposing gang was rumored to have a hit out on Tate for producing a song that had lyrics about them that they didn’t like. The last time anything like this happened was at least three years ago when Tate was with another client on tour and some girls ended up in the musician’s hotel room. Tate got involved when they learned the girls were way under age and destroyed the hotel room with their drug party. Shortly after, one of the girls started stalking Tate. She would call his studio or show up there trying to get in. She even sent him naked pictures of herself.

  I ask Tate to have Mac come to California to be my security but he’s hesitant to leave our Connecticut home unattended.

  I need to get to my studio; I’m working with Heidi on a new workshop. Tate insists that Dominick take us and never leave my side, I have no choice but to agree. On the way to Heidi’s suite I have a brilliant idea. I am going to set Dominick and Heidi up. I think they might work out well together. She’s probably ten years younger than him but she’s always complaining that in our business the only men she meets are gay and any guy she meets in a bar needs a mommy to take care of him, not a girlfriend or a wife. I plan to see if I can let them fall into it on their own before I start my match making. I figure laying a little groundwork with Dominick on the way over couldn’t hurt too much.

  I tell him that Heidi and I have worked together for about five years. She became my assistant after she danced for me in a video. My assistant at the time left to start his own dance company and Heidi felt like a perfect fit and she has been. I tell Dominick that she is a brilliant dancer and has such wonderful visions for our choreography. He listens attentively, more attentively than he’s ever listened to me before so maybe he is interested.

  I chance it and ask about his personal life, “So, um Dominick do you uh date? I mean I’ve never seen you with anyone but that doesn’t mean…I was just wondering if…” I trail off and Dominick smiles at me.

  “I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment, I’ve never been married and in case your next question is about my sexual orientation, I am not gay” he says with the smile still on his face.

  “I’m sorry Dominick I shouldn’t pry it’s just I guess I’m a little lonely and just need a friend for some girl talk. Not that you remind me of a girl, Oh I should just shut up.”

  Dominick laughs at me and says
it’s fine.

  “I’m looking forward to meeting this Heidi you speak so highly of. I’ve been lonely now for a long time. It would be nice to have someone to spend my free time with, that’s what you’re up to isn’t it? Not that I’ll have any free time with our bumped up duty but it’ll be over soon Mrs. Taylor don’t worry, you and Tate are safe with me and my team.”

  “Dominick, listen you and I kind of got off on the wrong foot when we first met. I don’t know; I always felt you were Tate’s person and we never got to know each other. Please call me Brook and let’s talk more often. Now come on, I’ll introduce you to Heidi. I think she’s going to like you.”

  I introduce Heidi to Dominick when we arrive at her door and they exchange some small talk. They engage in pleasant conversation during the short car ride to the studio. When we arrive at my studio Dominick turns and heads to sit by the door while we work out some of our choreography and Heidi mouths “thank you” to me. We work for a few hours and accomplish what we’ve set out to do; it turns out to be quite a good workout too because of course Heidi is showing off for Dominick. He watches from his post at the door and I notice him taking calls from time to time. I’m sure it’s Tate checking up on us.

  When we go to leave Dominick makes a smooth move and opens the front door as Heidi passes by the car and she accepts his gesture and climbs in. I jump into the backseat and wink at Heidi in the mirror. Dominick gets out of the car and opens her door for her again when we arrive at the hotel and when him and I get into the elevator to head to my suite he informs me that they have dinner plans for later that night.

  I head into our suite to find it empty, I have no clue where Tate is off to and why he’s gone somewhere without Dominick. Dominick excuses himself and heads off to locate Tate. I decide to shower so I turn on the radio to find “Pour Some Sugar on Me” playing and I’m back in high school again.

  ************

  The fall of our junior year flies by without much more fan fair after the “sex debacle”. Tate started on the Varsity football team and I cheered, we went to and won states with much credit going to Tate and his skills once again.

  Tate’s father has to take a business trip to Hawaii and his mother is going with him. They are scheduled to leave right before Valentine’s Day which is also Tate’s birthday. They feel terrible leaving Tate for his birthday but they have already told me their plans to throw him a surprise bash when they get home, I of course have told Tate all about it knowing he hates surprises. While his parents are gone Tate is staying at his Nana’s house but Tate and I devise a plan to spend the night together for his birthday. He tells his Nana that he will be staying the night at Bobby’s and he has Bobby pick him up at his Nana’s house. I tell my parents that I am sleeping at Wendy’s house and I have her come pick me up. Bobby drops Tate off at his house shortly before Wendy drops me off there.

  Tate has just enough time to fill his bedroom with candles before I arrive. Tate greets me at the door and pulls me into his house and into his arms. We’ve spent many nights on the phone leading up to tonight talking so I know what I’m getting myself into when Tate takes me by the hand and leads me up the stairs to his bedroom. He opens the door and all of my senses are set on fire. I can smell the aroma and see the flickering of the candles, hear “Together Forever” on the radio and feel Tate’s touch on my lower back guiding me into his room. I hear him close the door then I hear the click of the lock and I look at him confused, I thought we were alone. Why the need to lock the door, to keep me in or keep someone out?

  Tate senses my apprehension and explains, “Just in case, don’t worry we’re alone and I’m not holding you hostage.”

  Tate takes me into his arms and we start to dance to the music that has changed to “I Don’t Want to Live without You.” When he feels my body relax in his arms he leads me over to his bed and I sit down on the edge. I am wearing Tate’s favorite tight black sweater and jeans with rips in the knees exposing my skin. Tate has on his grey football t-shirt and jeans that are zipped but unbuttoned, his have a rip in the thigh exposing his hot muscular flesh. He looks so incredibly hot like this I almost don’t want him to take off his clothes…almost. He is standing in front of me between my legs as he puts his hands into my hair and pulls me to him. I gently lift his shirt revealing his flat, toned stomach and I gently press a kiss on it. Tate lets his head roll back and a moan escapes him. He takes me by surprise when he sits next to me and asks to talk.

  “Brooklynn, are you one hundred percent sure about this, once we do it we can’t go back. I won’t be mad if you want to change your mind. I will be frustrated as hell and have blue balls for the rest of my life but seriously, I won’t be mad. I don’t ever want to make you do anything you don’t want to do” Tate tells me.

  “I’m totally sure; I don’t want to change my mind. We’ve planned everything, I’m ready, and we’re prepared. It’s my birthday and Valentine’s Day present to you. Remember?”

  Tate sighs, “It is the best present ever, you are the best present ever.”

  I slide my tongue between his partially parted lips. I hear as he catches his breath then he starts to kiss me hard as he pushes me down on his bed and climbs up my body, lying on top of me. I know my lips are going to be swelled beyond recognition within minutes of this kind of assault on them but I love every sweet second of it. I feel the weight of him on me, his body heat and the hard length of him against my jeans. I have never been this turned on before in my life and I know it’s from the anticipation of what is yet to come.

  Tate kisses me hard on the lips again. He runs his tongue over my top lip first then my bottom. When I part my lips he slides his tongue into my mouth and I suck on it before I release it. His breathe catches from my actions and he smirks at me saying, “Feeling frisky tonight are we?” as he lays his body next to mine. We lay next to each other for a while before Tate rolls on his side, looks me in the eyes and says, “Make love to me now Brooklynn. Be my first, my last, and my only. Let me be yours.”

  I nod yes then plead, “I’m so scared it’s going to hurt. Please do it slow and easy, okay?”

  “I don’t want to hurt you baby but I do think it’s going to hurt a little. If it hurts too much I’ll stop okay? But I think it’s better if I get it in fast, if I try to break through you slow I think it’s going to hurt worse. Kind of like a band-aid, you know. Now try to relax and don’t tense up. It shouldn’t hurt more than you can handle” he claims but what the hell does he know?

  As “Truly” by Lionel Richie is playing Tate slowly rolls on top of me, between my legs. His legs spread mine apart and I oblige making just enough room for him. He kisses my forehead saying softly, “I love you; you are so beautiful, mine, just mine.”

  Tate kisses me on the lips and asks, “Ready?” He feels my body tense and instructs, “Relax, I’m going to try my best not to hurt you but if you are tense like that then it’s going to hurt more.”

  And just like that we are a mix of pleasure and pain, neither of us knowing where one of us ends and the other starts. We are one, bound together forever by one simple act of passion. I curl into a ball and start to sob. I cry over the pain and my lost innocence. I cry for Tate and I, knowing this has changed us both forever, questioning for the first time if we were really ready for this, but it’s too late now. There is no going back, no repairing broken flesh or erasing experiences, memories that will stay with us for a life time. I just hope it will be a life time together.

  Tate curls his body around me and kisses my hair and tells me over and over again that he loves me.

  “I’ll be right back, stay here, don’t move” Tate says after a while.

  When Tate comes back he has a tray with a drink for each of us on it, he hands me mine and I drink every last drop. There are also flowers for me and a small box on the tray. Tate says the flowers are for our first time and the box is my Valentine’s Day present. He is also carrying an ice pack for me.

  “Did I hurt you?�
�� Tate asks as he hands me the ice pack. It feels cold and soothing and I’m glad for it. I admit I’m in some discomfort but I admit it felt good too. He kisses my forehead and I thank him for the flowers and he tells me to open my Valentine’s Day present. It’s a locket on a necklace with a picture of us together in it. On the back Tate had it inscribed, “First, Last & Only”. He puts it on me and I promise never to take it off. He blows out the candles, curls his body around me and we fall asleep in each other’s arms, forever changed.

  The next morning I wake up with soreness between my legs and it instantly reminds me of Tate and where he was last night. I feel the weight of Tate’s body sprawled over half of mine and his body heat is just bearable. I start to wiggle free but his arms surround me holding me in place. I realize he’s awake when he starts kissing my hair, “Hello beautiful girl. Waking up with you in my arms is the best” he murmurs.

  “Hey” I respond and I feel him pressing into my leg.

  “How sore are you? Do you think we can go for round two before we need to leave? Wendy and Bobby said they’d be around to get us in less than a half hour but that should give us enough time. I’ll be gentle” Tate entices me.