Wonderwall

  The weather is pleasant for early November. We walk by the water—downtown was built around Lake Cassidy. The many trees along the pathway are decorated with twinkling lights, and there is a joyous feeling in the air, making me even happier than I already am.

  We didn’t order dessert at The Cove—there was nothing on the menu that appealed to us. So when we pass by the still open ice cream shop across the street, I pull Sebastian in its direction.

  “My treat,” I say as we enter the store. The smell of chocolate, caramel, and everything delicious hits my nose, and my mouth begins to water.

  “Nu-uh. We’re on a date, you’ll hurt my male pride.”

  I roll my eyes at him. “Don’t be silly, I’ve paid for you many times before.”

  Sebastian tugs me to him and using his free hand, he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “That was before we became more.”

  “All right. Just this once. I know how hard you work at Kinkos to pay for your hockey gear. I won’t have you spoiling me.”

  “Baby, it’s my job to spoil you now. Get used to it.”

  We get our ice creams and resume our walk. We make our way to the illuminated fountain on the town square, and take a seat on a bench facing it. As I lick my delicious treat, I feel Sebastian’s gaze on my face, his stare intense and hot. I stop eating, and heat rises to my cheeks when my gaze connects with his. He robs me of air.

  “God, I want to kiss you,” he says in a hushed tone, but loaded with meaning.

  I scooch closer to him. “What are you waiting for, then?”

  He breaches the small distance that remains between us and his lips touch mine. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, cold and chocolate flavored. Every single cell in my body begins to tingle, and I forget everything around me. Sebastian’s tongue dancing with mine is all I care about. Then I feel something cold and slimy drop onto my lap.

  I break the kiss and look down.

  “Oh, shoot. My dress!” Sebastian laughs, and I smack him on the arm. “Look at what you’ve done.”

  “Me? I just said I wanted to kiss you. You were the one who almost jumped me.”

  I glare at him for one brief second, before I grab his hand, the one holding the ice cream cone, and aim it at his chest. That wipes the smirk right off his face.

  “Ah, Liv. Come on! Dad will kill me. This was one of his favorite ties.” Sebastian tries to clean the smear off, but all he does is make a bigger mess. The silk tie is ruined.

  A bout of guilt sneaks in. It wasn’t my intention to get him in trouble with his father. I’ll have to replace the tie, but it was totally worth it.

  I stand up and make my way to the fountain. If I don’t get rid of the stain on my dress, then my mother will have a fit. When I reach the fountain, I look over my shoulder. “That will teach you not to laugh at me.”

  I sit on the fountain’s ledge and gather some water with my hand, pouring over the stain, letting the fabric soak through. I’m glad the dress is black. The water is freezing, and goose bumps take over my arms. I should have never given my back to Sebastian, though. I know better. Suddenly, a splash of ice cold water hits my face. I let out a girly scream and Sebastian just guffaws away.

  He wants war, he’ll get war. I go after him, trying to think of a way to make him pay, but he’s faster than me and maintains his distance. He’s expecting retaliation, and retaliation he’ll get, but not in the manner he thinks. I just had a brilliant idea.

  I go back to the ice cream shop, knowing that Sebastian will trail after me. I pretend to ignore him, but I’m acutely aware of his presence, watching my every move. I get another cone while he waits outside. I join him and I still pretend he’s not there. Instead, I devote all my attention to the pistachio and vanilla ice cream in my hand, licking and sucking it, moaning with pleasure like it’s the best thing I have ever tasted in my life. All the while, Sebastian watches me with his mouth half open and eyes bulging out.

  “You’re evil,” he finally says.

  “I know.”

  Chapter 8

  Olivia - A month and a half later

  I stare at my stupid front door and can’t believe I was dumb enough to get myself locked out of the house wearing nothing more than flannel shorts and a threadbare t-shirt. The cold December air seeps through my inappropriate clothes and if I don’t start moving, I’ll turn into a human Popsicle. It’s only three in the afternoon, Mom and Dad won’t be home until past eight o’clock.

  Grumbling, I make my way to Sebastian’s house, hoping he hasn’t gone to hockey practice yet. His car is still parked in front of the house, but that means nothing. He could have gotten a ride with Ansell, which happens more often than not. I ring the doorbell and start to jump up and down in a vain attempt to warm myself up. I hear the sound of hurried footsteps on the stairs inside and breathe out a relieved sigh.

  Sebastian opens the door. He eyes me up and down, and his eyebrows shoot up to the heavens.

  “Liv, what are you wearing? It’s freezing outside.”

  “Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Captain.” I push my way inside. “I got myself locked out of the house when I went to check the mail box.”

  Sebastian shakes his head and chuckles. “Only you. Come here.” He pulls me to him and begins to slide his warm hands up and down my frigid arms, the friction making my limbs thaw out.

  “Mom and Dad won’t be home for hours, and Jer is at Ian’s house. I have to finish reading The Taming of the Shrew and write a stupid report on it. But it’ll never happen now. I’m screwed, Bas.”

  “Don’t despair, my dear damsel in distress. Super Bas is here to save the day.” He takes my hand, and I follow him to his dad’s office.

  “I’m pretty sure there’s a copy of The Taming of the Shrew here,” he says.

  We both stare at the floor to ceiling bookcase, filled to the brink with books of all sizes and shapes. After a minute scanning the shelves, Sebastian pulls out an old leather bound book and gives it to me.

  I see the faint, golden lettering on the cover, and worry releases its grip on my heart. I need to ace this report, otherwise there will be hell to pay.

  “Oh, thank God.” I clutch the book to my chest and get on the tip of my toes to place a soft kiss on Sebastian’s lips.

  “That’s it? All I get is a measly peck on the lips?”

  The doorbell rings and cuts the comeback that was on the tip of my tongue.

  “Your ride?” I ask.

  “Yeah, Ansell is running late.” We go back to the foyer and Sebastian grabs his jacket from the rack by the door. He puts it on, and I can’t resist teasing him a little bit.

  “I guess I should be thanking him as well.”

  Sebastian frowns and sucks his lips in.

  “I don’t think so.” He hoists the duffel bag standing by the door onto his shoulder and steps closer to me again. “I’ll be back around five thirty. I think Mom and Dad have a dinner thing tonight, so they won’t be home until very late. There’s food in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

  “I’ll be okay, Bas. Shakespeare will keep me company.” I wave the tiny book in my hand.

  Sebastian leans in and kisses me, probing my lips open with his tongue. It’s warm and tastes like mint. I kind of wish he would stay. My arms encircle his trim waist, bringing us closer. He groans before pulling back.

  “I’ll never be able to leave if you keep kissing me like that.”

  I take a couple of steps back, giving him my most smoldering look. “I’ll see you later, Bas.”

  ☂ ☂ ☂

  Sebastian

  The house is quiet and dark when I return from hockey practice. I call out to Liv but don’t get a response. She must be really into the book. I head to the kitchen.

  My head was not in the game again during hockey practice, but at least this time, I managed
to fake my distraction. All I could think about was that Liv was in my house and that both our parents would be gone for part of the evening, leaving Liv and me truly alone for the first time since we started dating. They’re happy Liv and I are together, but at the same time, there is an obvious concern when they look at us. At least, I know what my parents are thinking when they observe with me with rapt attention every time Liv is around.

  Dad even had the talk with me about responsibility and such before I picked her up for our first date. It wasn’t a sex talk per say. That happened when I was thirteen. I know my parents are concerned about how fast my relationship with Liv has progressed and how attached we are.

  I shake my head as I open the fridge. I don’t want to think about my folks when I got Liv all to myself for a least a couple of hours. Every time I’m near her it feels like I’m going to combust on the spot, and when I touch her? Forget it. It’s fire meets gasoline. It’s a miracle I don’t explode every time we make out. Anticipation makes my stomach clench as I wonder how far we’ll take things today. Liv and I have only been dating for a month and a half, but it’s like our relationship started on the twentieth date. I have known her for most of my life, the intimacy we share is unique.

  I make a couple of sandwiches, knowing that Liv most likely didn’t eat anything. I also grab a couple of sodas and chips before I head upstairs. When I enter my room, I find Liv sleeping on my bed with The Taming of the Shrew lying open across her chest. She looks so peaceful. I take a moment to drink her in. My gaze wanders slowly up her toned legs, reaching her itsy bitsy shorts that are now my second favorite article of clothing Liv possesses. The denim skirt is the first.

  Her snug t-shirt has rolled up to reveal her flat stomach, and I want to glide my tongue over it, dying to taste her smooth skin. My body reacts of its own accord, desire runs free through me, through my veins, invading everything. I finally move from the spot by the door and walk in. When the door closes, I wince as it clicks shut, but Liv doesn’t even stir. I put the food on my desk and tiptoe toward the bed. I try to move the book out of the way as gently as possible so not to wake her up. I want my lips to do the job like she’s a fairy tale princess, and I’m the prince. But she purrs like a kitten, a very sexy kitten, and I don’t mind that she’s awake before I could kiss her.

  “Bas,” she whispers softly.

  I lie on the bed next to her and place soft kisses on her collarbone, and then up her neck, her cheek, the corner of her mouth. She hums and I discover my new obsession—collect every sound she makes, record them, preserve them, so I can listen to them later when I’m alone, and relive our sweetest moments.

  She stretches, bringing her body flush against mine. “You’re home.”

  “Yeah, baby.” My hand trails down her arm, loving how her skin feels so soft and warm under my calloused touch.

  Liv rolls to her side, and without opening her eyes, her lips find mine. Our tongues mingle, probe, tease, and with each stroke, my body temperature rises further. I move on top of her, and when her legs open to accommodate me better, I think I’m going to die. My hips grind against hers, and a new kind of ache emerges. This is torture, sweet, sweet torture.

  Liv’s hands trace the side of my ribcage, going lower until her fingers curl around my t-shirt. I lean back and let her remove the piece of clothing. I stare at her with hooded eyes, silently begging her to allow the next step. I won’t do anything she’s not ready for, I’ll ask every time even if we’ve already done it before. But I don’t need to say it out loud with words. We’ve developed our own set of signs; we can read each other’s mind. It’s our very own superpower. And her eyes urge me to go on.

  I lean down and let my tongue glide over her collarbone, going lower, toward the V of her shirt. Her hands are in my hair, and she arches her back, sighing, making everything feel that much warmer. I want to touch her everywhere.

  My hand sneaks under her t-shirt, crawling up inch by inch until it reaches the edge of her bra. I stop and wait for her to hold my wrist, tell me I’ve gone too far. But she doesn’t, and I keep going, and now my hand covers her breast completely. Our kissing becomes more frantic, our teeth collide, our teeth bite. I play with her, I tease her, and all that it’s doing is making me needier.

  “You’re killing me, Bas.” She can barely get the words out with our mouths fused together like that.

  I laugh. No, she’s the one killing me. I want to taste her smooth skin. I want to mold myself to her until we become one. I pull back and again, send her my silent plea. I can read it in her face, in her gaze, that she’s okay with it, but she feels the need to reassure me with a nod of her head. I slide her gauze-thin t-shirt over her head. She’s wearing a simple, white cotton bra underneath, but it’s sexier than anything Victoria’s Secret can produce. I begin to bring my body down again when Liv puts her hand on my chest.

  “No, wait.” She sits up, and without taking her eyes off mine, unhooks her bra. Painfully slow, she pushes one strap down, then the other. My breath catches at the sight of her breasts, and my mouth goes dry. I want to taste them more than anything in my life.

  Liv pushes me off of her and stands up. Confused, I follow her movements like she has a magnetic field surrounding her. She takes a deep breath, and I can’t read her anymore. She’s put up a shield, and I don’t understand why she’s shutting me out now. Her thumbs hook on the elastic band of her shorts, and she slides them down her legs. No, not only the shorts, but her underwear, too.

  That’s it. I have died and gone to heaven. I swallow hard, and my hands clutch the bed cover beneath me. It takes all of my willpower to remain immobile, to just watch her and not reach out to her. She’s more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined. I let my gaze travel down her body. I want to memorize every single detail, every curve, every angle. When my eyes finally connect with hers again, there’s a mix of emotions in them, but the one that speaks the loudest is love.

  “You’re beautiful,” my voice is hoarse, like I’ve been screaming all day.

  I’ve been dreaming about this moment since Liv had come into my room and asked for those kissing lessons. No, if I’m honest with myself, I began fantasizing about her the day she showed up at my house wearing that mini skirt. But unlike kissing, I have no idea what to do when it comes to sex.

  “Liv, are you sure?” I don’t try to hide my feelings. I’m so afraid. Afraid that she will change her mind and bolt out of my room. Afraid that she won’t.

  “More than anything,” she whispers.

  She grabs my hand and pulls me up. I go willingly but somehow, I’m still unable to move on my own. She doesn’t break our locked gazes as she begins to unzip my jeans. She slides them half way down my thighs, before letting gravity do the rest. Finally, breaking free from my momentary paralysis, I kick the jeans off, and with trembling hands, I get rid of my boxer shorts, too.

  Time seems to stand still as we stare at each other. We’re both breathing hard, and there is an electric charge in the air. I raise my hand and caress Liv’s cheek with the tips of my fingers. She trembles at my touch and closes her eyes. I hold her face between my hands and kiss her softly at first. She steps closer, invading my personal space, taking over everything. Her chest is flush against mine. Her heat scorches my skin, and my hunger for her comes back with a renewed force. I increase the tempo of our kiss, letting the fire consuming me take the lead. I suck her bottom lip when her hand moves down.

  “Liv, I’m about to burst already.”

  She giggles, squeezes me for brief second, before letting go.

  I walk backward, dragging her with me, and then I let myself fall on the bed with her on top. She opens her legs to straddle me and my last shred of sanity evaporates. I never knew sex could feel like this, all consuming, overpowering. And this is only foreplay. I can’t think straight, I’m too focused on enjoying all of the pleasure our flesh rubbing against each other is g
iving me. She’s moving her hips now, and I know I will come in the next minute if she doesn’t stop.

  I roll us over, so I’m on top of her. I reach for my nightstand and retrieve a condom from the drawer. I try to tear the foil packet with my teeth, but my inexperience hinders me. I’m also too fucking nervous. Liv laughs and takes the packet from me, tearing the thing easily with her nimble fingers.

  “Do you want me to…” she trails off.

  I take the condom from her hand. “No, if you touch me again, I’m afraid there will be no use for this.”

  I lean back and attempt to put the condom on. I’ve practiced this a thousand times, but nerves and Liv’s stare make the task seem like I’m trying to build a rocket ship. After what it feels like forever, the condom is finally in place. I move forward and brace my arms next to her shoulders, my knees astride her thighs. I pause and search her gaze again. Despite my burning desire for her, if I find a trace of uncertainty or fear in her eyes, I’ll back down. No questions asked.

  I feel her tremble under me.

  “We don’t have to do this, you know. I’m fine with waiting.” I say.

  “I want this to happen, Bas. I really do.” I see it in her eyes, certainty, and also a yearning that matches my own.

  I bring my body to hers. Our skins clash, hot and smooth, as we kiss with the conviction that there’s no return. We’re committed to it. We let ourselves go, embrace the inevitable. I grasp and stroke every inch of her skin I can find, and she does the same to me. My hand gets between our bodies, gliding down her stomach until it finds her center. Her breathing becomes more and more erratic as I touch her.

  This is all new to me, so I’m going on instinct now. I’ve read somewhere that it will make her first time less painful if I make Liv come first. I increase the tempo of my hand to match Liv’s labored breaths. Her muscles clench around it, and I believe she’s close. A second later, she arches her back as she cries out my name, a shudder going through her entire body. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.