Pull You Through

by Kaylee Ryan

  “We don’t need it. Come here,” he says.

  I step closer to him, cautiously. When I’m close, he wraps his arms around me and kisses my neck. “My hands will find you, even in the dark.” With that, he steps into the shower, and I follow after him. Luckily for us, the suite has a huge walk-in shower so we have no door or shower curtain to deal with.

  Slade moves me to stand under the warm spray. I hear him open the bodywash, and then I feel him. Warm, soapy hands roam every inch of my skin. “You need me to wash your hair?”

  “No. My turn,” I say, turning to put him under the spray of the water. I fumble with the bodywash but eventually get a glob in my hands and rub them together. I take my time exploring the rugged muscles of his chest, working my way down to his cock. I stroke him once, then twice. He groans as my hand glides easily with the bodywash and water as lubricant.

  “As bad as it pains me to say this, we need to give you some time.”

  “I’m fine,” I assure him.

  “I know you are, and I want it to stay that way.” He rinses quickly and turns off the water. As if he can see in the dark, he presents a towel, wrapping it around me. I can hear his footsteps as he leaves the room. Before I can reach the bathroom light, a soft glow from the bedroom filters in through the open door. “Thought you might need to see,” Slade says, stepping back into the bathroom and hanging his wet towel on the rack. In all his naked glory, he then walks back to the bed and climbs in.

  I guess that’s that. I try to not to feel rejected. I know that’s not what’s happening here, but my mind won’t shut off. Did he not enjoy it? I tramp down the worry refusing to let the insecurities of my inexperience get the best of me. It’s his first time, too. Neither one of us knew what to expect. Quickly, I dry off and brush out my hair. From the soft glow of the light filtering in the room, I take a look at my reflection. I don’t look any different, but I feel different. I feel like my heart no longer beats in my chest for the sole purpose of keeping me alive. It also now beats for him. I don’t bother taking the time to dry it; instead, I hang my towel on the rack beside Slade’s and head back to bed. As soon as he sees me, he holds up the covers as a silent invitation to join him. Turning off the light, I slide under the covers and snuggle up next to him. His arms wrap around me, and his lips press against the top of my head.

  “You okay?”

  “Perfect.” I am. I couldn’t imagine tonight being any better. My first time, our first time being any better.

  “Yes, you are,” he murmurs.

  We lay there in silence. I’m tired, yet I’m too amped up to sleep. I feel different. It sounds crazy, because I’m still me, but I almost feel as though he’s a part of me. Maybe it’s because it was my first time. I don’t really think that’s it, though. Sure, that may be part of it, but it’s more than that. It’s Slade. It’s the way he makes me feel cherished.

  “That felt like it was more than just sex.” I send the words out into the darkness.

  “That’s because it was.” We’re both quiet, letting the meaning of our confession sink in.

  Slade rolls over on his side and pulls me into his chest. His calloused hand traces the length of my arm, over my shoulder and up my neck before he cups my cheek. “Some might say it’s too soon,” he whispers. His hot breath mingles with mine.

  “What’s too soon?”

  “Some might think it’s too soon for me to tell you that I love you.” My breath hitches and I think my heart just skipped a beat. He runs his thumb gently across my cheek. “Because I do, you know. I love you, Austyn. If I’m honest, that’s really not a strong enough word for what you bring to my life, for what you’ve given me.”

  He loves me.

  “I don’t expect you to say it back, but I needed you to know where I’m at. I know we agreed to see how things go with the distance between us, but I know how they’re going on my end. You are my end and my beginning, and I want all the things in the middle, only with you.”

  Placing my hand on his cheek, mimicking him, I say the words without reservation. “I love you too.”

  He exhales and then his lips are on mine. With a twist of tongues, our hands roam over every inch of our exposed skin. We kiss for hours until we’re both too exhausted to go on. It’s then we fall asleep tangled in each other’s arms, with the security of our love wrapped around us.

  When the North Carolina sun shines through the window, I groan, not ready to wake up. I hear a deep chuckle, and his body shakes beside me. “Hush,” I say, burying my face in the pillow.

  “You can’t sleep all day. We’ve only got two more left after this one. And today’s a big day for you.”

  That gets me up and moving. Removing the pillow from over my eyes, I blink them open and focus on Slade. “What time is it?”

  “Just after nine,”

  “What time did you get up?”

  “Six.”

  “You’ve been lying here since six?”

  “Yep.”

  “You didn’t have to wait for me.”

  “Like I’m going to leave you naked in this bed without me. Not happening, angel. I’m going to be glued to your side until Monday morning when I have to report for training. Not to mention today is my girl’s birthday. I have to give you your present.”

  “I’m good with this plan, well, except the present. Being here with you is gift enough. Speaking of plans, what’s ours for today? This?” I motion around the room, hoping a day in bed is what’s on the agenda.

  “I have no idea. Have you talked to Savannah and Brandon?”

  “Yeah, Brandon says they’re staying in bed all day.”

  “I should have guessed that.” I laugh. “What about you? What are you thinking for today?”

  “I’m liking the idea of staying in bed all day. How are you feeling?” he asks, pushing my hair back away from my face, out of my eyes.

  “Sore, but a good sore, if that’s even possible.”

  “We should wait—” he starts, but I hold my hand up to stop him.

  “I’m fine, Slade. I would tell you if I wasn’t. We don’t have time to wait. I’m going home soon and don’t know when I’ll see you again. Besides, today’s my birthday and you can’t say no to me on my birthday.”

  “I struggle with that every day of the week.” He kisses my nose. “I have a small break after training is through before I’m stationed.”

  “What’s a small break? What about Christmas?” I assume he gets time off but I’m sure it’s limited.

  “Five days, maybe less before we report to our permanent stations. We get a few days like we did this time. I think three around Christmas and three over New Year, but they’re spread out. We have to stay close to base.”

  “At least you get a break. I don’t know what my parents have planned, but maybe I can see you again at one of those breaks?” I ask, hopeful. “Any idea of where you’re going to be stationed?”

  “I hope here, but I won’t know until closer to the time.”

  “Would that be a permanent thing?”

  “Yeah, until deployment.”

  “Are you pretty sure you’ll get deployed?”

  “Yeah, not sure where or when, but that’s pretty much a given. That’s my job.”

  “You don’t know when, though, right? They just give you your orders and you have to go?” I hate the thought of him shipping off to another country, the thought of him being surrounded by danger. It scares the hell out of me.

  “Yeah, we might get a few days’ notice, maybe a week. We might know sooner that we’re going to have to deploy, but we won’t know where or the exact date until right before the time.”

  “But you’ll be able to let me know, right? You’ll have time to tell me you’re leaving?” My hope is that I’ll have time to come to him. To wrap my arms around him, to kiss him. I want to do all those things and more to remind him what he has waiting for him here at home.

  His face softens and he strokes my cheek. “I will. Mos
t places there’s Internet access so we can communicate that way. Letters take forever. At least, that’s what I’m told.”

  “I’ll do both.” My chest is tight thinking about him going away, to battle or war, or whatever in the hell you want to call it.

  “I don’t expect that. It would be good to hear from you though.”

  “Look at us, talking like you’re leaving next week. We still have lots of time before that happens.”

  “We do, but you’re my life.” Every time he says things like this, I melt a little more. “Other than the Marines, it’s you. It’s good that we talk about it. I want you to know what’s going on. Even if you’re not here with me, I want you to feel like you are.”

  I take a deep breath. He’s right. I’m pleased we’re open and honest about everything too. “So today? We’re lounging?”

  “Yes.” Leaning in, he kisses me. “Time for some breakfast. You want to go out or order in?”

  “We’re staying in, remember?” I laugh.

  “Just making sure.” He pokes me in the side, causing me to laugh harder.

  “We are not leaving this room. Okay, maybe we might take a dip in the pool. But we are not leaving this hotel today.”

  “Deal.” Another chaste kiss, then he’s climbing out of bed and pulling on some basketball shorts.

  After I brush out my hair, and brush my teeth, I pull his T-shirt on over my head and meet him out in the small living room. “Hey, I ordered a little bit of everything from room service. Should be here soon.”

  “Thanks.” I sit next to him on the couch, pulling my legs under me and resting my head against his shoulder. He turns his head and kisses me on top of mine.

  “You still tired?” he asks.

  “Not too bad. It was more that I was comfortable and warm than being tired.”

  “Go back to bed. I’ll bring breakfast to you.”

  “I’m up now.” I laugh just as there’s a knock at the door.

  Slade stands and hands me a pillow. “Hold this in your lap.” He must see the question in my eyes. He bends down, bracing both of his hands on the back of the couch, caging me in. “You’re practically naked. No way am I going to let whoever the fuck that is see you.”

  “I have a T-shirt on,” I defend.

  “Like I said, practically naked.” He kisses me quickly and goes to answer the door.

  I try to hide my smile at his protectiveness, but it’s impossible. I’ve seen Brandon be this way with Savvy. Hell, I’ve seen my dad with my mom, but I’ve never been on the receiving end. Not like this. Not when I know it comes from deep inside and his need to protect me from prying eyes. I’ve had guys get jealous over stupid stuff, and they weren’t even my boyfriend. I kicked them to the curb, fast, not wanting to deal with their drama.

  This is different.

  We scarf down our breakfast, sampling a little bit of everything. We’ve worked up an appetite.

  “You ready for your present?” he asks pushing the cart to the corner of the room.

  “It’s not necessary,” I tell him. This time with him is more than I ever could have asked for.

  “I beg to differ,” he says, placing the lid on out uneaten pieces of cake he ordered with breakfast. “Close your eyes. I’ll be right back.”

  Doing as he asks, I close my eyes and listen as his feet carry him away and then back to me. I feel the couch dip beside me. “Open,” he says excitedly.

  Opening my eyes, I see a small black box with a white ribbon wrapped around it. “Happy birthday, angel.”

  I can’t hide my smile as I take the offered box. “You didn’t need to do this,” I repeat.

  “You might as well get used to it, Austyn.” His voice is serious. “No matter where I am, you’ll always get birthday presents from me.

  Nodding, I pull at each end of the bow, watching as it releases in my lap. Slowly, I lift the lid and suck in a breath. Nestled inside is a white-gold diamond-heart pendent. “Slade,” I breathe, running my fingers over the delicate lines of the heart. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as its owner.” Leaning in, his lips connect with mine. “Turn around and I’ll put it on you.” Handing him the box, I turn, offering him my back. He moves my hair to one side and when I feel his lips against the base of my neck, I know the necklace is secure.

  “Thank you,” I say, looking down at the heart nestled against my own.

  Reaching out, he traces his finger along the chain until he reaches the heart. Lifting it to his lips, he kisses it. “No matter where I am in the world, no matter how much distance is between us, my heart will always be with you. This is a symbol of that.”

  There’s no fighting the tears that well up in my eyes. “I love you.”

  “Angel,” he says, leaning in and pressing his lips to mine. “I love you, too.”

  The rest of our day is spent lounging in our room. We watch movies, laugh, talk, kiss, and order more room service. If I were to be asked to describe my perfect day, this would be it. After dinner, we decide to head to bed early where Slade makes love to me, taking his time kissing every inch of my skin. This time it’s not as quick, and we both know what to expect. We’re quickly learning each other’s bodies. He knows that when he kisses me, just under my ear, it drives me crazy. I know that when I rake my nails across his skin, it causes him to shiver and thrust his hips a little faster. Together, we know that it’s not how, but who you are with. The rest just falls into place. That’s how it is between us. Since the day we met, our attraction, and now the love we have for one another, settles us. We’re where we are meant to be.

  I’M LYING HERE, NOT REALLY awake, but awake enough to know that the feel of her hands on my cock is not a dream. Keeping my eyes closed, I focus on breathing evenly. I want to see what her plans are. Last night was, in a word… incredible. Not that our first time together wasn’t, but I was more confident knowing what to expect, what it would feel like when I slid inside of her. I knew what it felt like to have her warmth wrapped around me. Yesterday, I took my time exploring her body. There’s not a piece of her that my hands, my tongue, my cock didn’t give full attention to.

  Now, in the early morning light, my cock is hard as steel, and her small hands are stroking me. Slow, featherlight strokes have my balls tightening. I keep my eyes closed, although I want to see her with my cock in her hands. I’m sure it’s an image that I’ll never forget, but I hold strong, focusing on deep, even breaths.

  When her mouth wraps around me, my eyes pop open, and I groan. Austyn is on her belly lying between my legs with her hand wrapped around my cock while she takes me in her hot mouth. This isn’t the first time this has happened, but now we’re more familiar with each other, I’m not nervous like I was then. This time, I can sit back and watch the show. Reaching out, I tuck her hair that’s blocking my view behind her ear. She stops, releasing my cock with a pop, and stares up at me. I cup her cheek. “Morning, angel.”

  She grins, then goes right back to what she was doing. Fisting the sheets in my hands, I fight the urge to place my hand on her head and guide her. This is her show, and a damn good one at that. Taking me deeper with each bob of her head, she pushes me closer to the edge. Over and over and over she takes me into her mouth, using her tongue to drive me wild.

  “Austyn, I’m close,” I warn. She doesn’t stop. Instead, she takes me all the way to the base, making a gagging sound. “Now,” I say, and she pulls her mouth away and strokes me as my orgasm rolls through me. When the waves that rock me to my core stop, she hops off the bed and disappears into the bathroom. She’s back a few seconds later with a warm washcloth to clean me up. She then tosses into on the floor and climbs into bed, snuggling up to me.

  “Sorry.”

  “Sorry?” I huff out a laugh. “What could you possibly be sorry for? Blowing my mind?”

  “I didn’t swallow.”

  “And?”

  “That’s the best of the best, right? But I couldn’t do it. I’m not… cr
azy about the taste.”

  This girl… doesn’t she realize what she does to me? “Come here.” I pull her onto my chest and my flaccid cock twitches from the feel of her naked body nestled against mine. “It was amazing, just like you are. I didn’t expect to wake up with my cock in your mouth, but it was welcome all the same. Anytime you want my cock in your mouth, say the word,” I tickle her sides making her laugh. “And, I have no expectations. You don’t like it, don’t do it, simple as that.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “What do you want to do today?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I should call Savannah and Brandon, see what their plans are.”

  “Where’s your phone?”

  “I think I left it on the table last night.”

  “Stay put. I’ll go get it.” I kiss her because I want to, and because I can. She rolls to the side, and I climb out of bed. Her phone is on the side table by the couch, and it’s vibrating and lighting up like crazy. “Babe,” I call out to her as I walk back to the bedroom. “Your phone sounds like it’s blowing up.”

  “What?” She sits up and the blanket pools at her waist, exposing her bare breasts. I hand her the phone and climb back in beside her, taking a nipple into my mouth.

  “H-hey,” she says, to who I assume is Savannah since that’s who was blowing up her phone. “We just woke up.”

  Gently, I push on her shoulder, getting her to lie back on the bed and take her nipple back in my mouth. Sliding my hand under the cover, I find her wet for me. It’s hot as hell that having my cock in her mouth does that to her.

  “Really?” she squeals, and I’m not sure if it’s from excitement or from my touch, but it doesn’t sound like anything’s wrong, so I keep going, running my fingers through her folds while my mouth devours her tits.

  “Yeah, okay. Umm, give us an hour or so?” She says it like a question. “No, okay. Yeah. Right. Bye.” She drops her phone to the bed and rests her hand on the back of my head. “You’re bad,” she pants.