Promise Me: Diamond In The Rough 2

by Hart, Rebel

  I gripped his shirt and pulled him down to me, crashing our lips together. As the last of the school bells tolled, signaling the end of the day and the departing of the busses, the ringing swallowed the world around us. My tongue found his, rushing goosebumps along my body. I felt students running by us, trying to get to their rides home before it was too late. Clint fell against me, pinning me to his locker. His hands fell to my hips as I slipped my arms around his neck. I giggled against him. His warmth surrounded me. And as he pulled me closer to him, his arms engulfed my back.

  Making me feel safe, and reminding me of just how far he’d come with his recuperation.

  “You know, that crash might actually be the best thing that’s ever happened to my academic career.”

  I snickered against his lips. “You just like the fact that I did your homework.”

  He cupped my cheeks. “I mean, I’m also showing up to classes. Paying attention. Generally not being an ass.”

  I paused. “Maybe a little bit of an ass.”

  “Oh, now you’re just asking to get punished.”

  “That obvious, huh?”

  I smiled before I captured his lips again. His hands cradled my cheeks softly as the rest of the student body slowly trickled beyond us. I slid my hands through his hair, enjoying how he’d grown it out. The stubble on his jawline tickled my skin, sending shivers up and down my spine.

  And as I groaned softly down the back of his throat, he broke the kiss. Nuzzled our noses together. Pressed his forehead against mine.

  “Maybe we could go somewhere more private so I can dole out the punishment accordingly.”

  I giggled. “Only if you admit I had a little bit to do with how well school’s going for you.”

  He paused, gazing into my eyes. “Don’t you ever get it twisted. Rae. You’re the sole reason why I’m doing so well.”

  I felt my heart skip a beat with his words. “Come on. Let’s go back to my place.”

  “Your mom’s not there?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. Went out with D.J. last night, which means she won’t be home for a day or two.”

  “I’m sorry, Rae.”

  “It is what it is. I mean, she made her choice. I can’t do anything to change her mind about that choice. She’ll just have to deal with his shit, I guess.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. But, I can think of other things I want to do.”

  I winked at him and that impudent little grin of his stretched across his face. I helped him exchange his books for the ones he needed out of his locker. Then, together, we started for the school doors. Our hands laced together as we started for my house. We walked across the school lawn as the summer sun beat down against our shoulders. His hand wiggled away from mine before he threaded his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him.

  Then he kissed the top of my head. “I could do this after school every day, you know.”

  I grinned. “Come back to my place and punish me?”

  He snickered. “Spending time with you, you numbskull. But, also yes, now that I think about it.”

  I swatted his chest. “You’re relentless, you know that?”

  “And you're gorgeous. Not my fault I can’t stop staring at you.”

  “I’m pretty sure that is the billboard definition of a ‘personal problem.’”

  “You don’t hate it, though. Do you?”

  “Now hold on a second there, buddy. I never said anything about not enjoying it. You’re just not going to blame that horny teenage mind of yours on me.”

  He chuckled. “You’re a bit to blame. But in all the best ways.”

  I smiled. “Just know you aren’t the only one that feels that way.”

  He growled playfully as he pulled me closer into his body. I worked my hand into his back pocket, feeling his strength rolling around against my palm. I leaned my head against his chest as we turned down my street, and the dirty, dingy smell of the place almost passed me by. I sighed with contentment as we made our way for the house. I saw it looming in the distance, like a darkly-smeared stain on a light blue canvas. Thunder rumbled in the distance, despite the sun hanging high in the sky. And as we walked all the way up to my porch, my mind began churning with all sorts of thoughts.

  All sorts of nasty, wanton thoughts.

  “Do you have to work tonight?”

  Clint’s voice caused me to focus. “Uh, no. I’m not on the schedule for a couple of days.”

  “I’ve noticed you haven’t been working much lately.”

  I shrugged. “I think the manager is hesitant to schedule me. You know, since I was his main closer.”

  He paused. “Ah.”

  “It’s fine, though. Really. Just means I get to spend more time with you.”

  “But I know you want the hours.”

  I reached for my keys. “I mean, I do. Yes. I need the money. But I’ve been saving money for a couple years now. I just have to shift around a few things and not spend so much of my money at once, and I’ll be okay. You know, still on track for things.”

  “What kind of things?”

  I slid the key into the lock. “You know, plans for after school.”

  “We’ve never really talked about those, you know.”

  I paused. “We haven’t, actually.”

  “Want to talk about them now?”

  I shrugged as I opened the door. “I mean, they aren’t much. I want to move out and get a place with Allison. That’ll probably put me near UCLA, since that’s where she’s headed for her architecture degree. I’ll live off my savings for, hopefully, five months while I find a job. Then I can start saving money to go to a community college or something like that.”

  “What do you want to study?”

  We walked inside. “Graphic design of some sort. You know, do something with all this doodling I do on a regular basis.”

  “Doodling?”

  I nodded. “Yep. I enjoy drawing. Have we not talked about this?”

  “Not enough for it to ingrain itself into my memory.”

  Huh. Odd. “Well, we can talk about it now, if you’d like.”

  I closed the door behind us and went to turn the lock. And as I did, I felt Clint’s hands fall to my hips. His lips pressed against the shell of my ear, causing me to press back against him. Our bags dropped to the floor. My head fell back against his chest. I sighed as his hands traveled my body, massaging my excess and caressing my clothed breasts.

  “How long have you been drawing?”

  His voice was low. Rumbling. Sensuous. I moaned softly as he nibbled my ear, making my knees quake underneath me. He slowly walked me forward, pinning the front of my body to the door. He kissed down my neck, making me gasp as he pulled the collar of my T-shirt off to the side.

  “Clint.”

  “Answer the question, Rae.”

  Then he spanked my ass softly, causing me to jump.

  “Oh. I, uh… um… for as long as—I don’t know. I just always have.”

  He nodded. “Kind of like my writing.”

  “Uh huh.”

  His fingers slid into the loops of my jeans. “Can you get a graphic design degree at a community college?”

  He pulled me back into his rock hard girth and I moaned against the door.

  “I don’t—I don’t know. I—I’m sure there are certificat—oh, Clint.”

  “Focus, Rae. I’m trying to get to know you better.”

  I groaned. “You’re trying to torture me.”

  He chuckled. “Same difference.”

  “I don’t—have it all quite planned. I guess I just—shit, Clint.”

  “You guess you just what, beautiful?”

  His hands slipped underneath my shirt. “You can’t do this to me. You’re just—”

  He bit into my shoulder with a growl. “Just what?”

  I whipped around, no longer able to contain myself. My back fell against the door as I cupped his cheeks, pulling h
is lips to mine. But he stopped just mere centimeters from my lips. I felt his hands fisting my shirt. Ready to draw it over my head. My eyes found his and I saw a fire behind them. A fire I hadn’t seen in weeks. I breathed the air he afforded me. I nuzzled my nose against his. And as his eyes closed, I heard emotion fill his voice.

  “Whatever you want to do with your life, I’ll always support it.”

  I love you. “Thank you, Clint.”

  His eyes opened. “I’m serious.”

  I love you. “I know.”

  “Wherever you go and whatever you do, I’ll be cheering you on. From wherever I am.”

  I love you so much. “Thank you, handsome.”

  “And when I’m done with this beautiful body of yours, I want to talk through what your plans are. So we can get you progressing down a road you want to be on.”

  I love you to the moon and back. “Sounds good to me.”

  Our lips fell together and his hands gripped behind my thighs. He hoisted me against him, pinning me to the front door as his tongue fell down the back of my throat. He pulled me away, effortlessly carrying me up the steps and to my bedroom. I reached out with my hand to slam the door closed. I sucked on his lower lip as growls bubbled up his throat. My back fell to the mattress as he freed my hands from around his neck. He threaded our fingers together and pinned them above my head. He kissed down my cheek. My neck. My clothed chest and my stomach. I rocked against him as my thighs heated, waiting for him to strip me of my clothes.

  And it took us no time to get one another naked.

  He filled me with his girth and rocked against my body. He tossed my legs over his shoulders and pounded into me. My jaw unhinged, crying out in ecstasy as he took what he wanted. With me freely giving it to him. I gripped his hair and raked my nails down his back. I felt myself pouring onto him, coating him in my mark. Our pants filled the room. Our kisses grew sloppy as my legs slipped off his shoulders. He pulled out and flipped me around, raising my hips in the air. Contorting my body in all the ways he wanted before filling me.

  Again.

  And again.

  And again.

  “Fucking hell, Rae. Shit, I’ve missed this.”

  “Clint. Clint. Don’t stop. Please, holy hell, don’t stop.”

  “Never. I’ll never stop. Rae. I’m close. Rae!”

  “Clint! Fuck!”

  His hands slid down my spine. I felt him shaking against my ass cheeks. His length grew within me, pulsing and throbbing and aching for release. I gripped my bed sheets as he pinned my cheek to the mattress, wrapping his hand within my tendrils. And as I lost myself in his frantic movements, my body popped. My pelvis erupted. Electricity blinded my vision as my jaw unhinged in silent pleasure. Freezing my movements as my body clamped down around his.

  “That’s it, Rae. Holy fuck.”

  His growls raised goosebumps all over my body. The things he made me feel were outstanding. He collapsed against my body, shaking as he filled me to the brim. My pulsing pushed him out. His lips pressed sloppy kisses against the marks he left on my shoulder. I released the bed sheets from my grip, sliding my hand through his hair as he pressed his face into the crook of my neck.

  I love you.

  I love you, Clint.

  Just say it, Rae. Say the words.

  He panted for air. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

  I love you. “So are you, Clint.”

  “I just want to be like this forever.”

  I love you. “I don’t blame you one bit.”

  “You mean that?”

  I fucking love the hell out of you. “Every word of it.”

  And just as he pressed his lips to the shell of my ear, my phone rang from my jeans piled on the floor, causing me to groan as the all-too-familiar ringtone burst the moment the two of us had created.

  “Fuck.”

  Clint paused. “Who’s calling, beautiful?”

  “Work.”

  36

  Clinton

  I kissed her lips. “I promise you, I’ll make it home okay.”

  Rae sighed. “Are you sure? Because I’m sure if I called Michael—”

  “Leave Mike to his own devices. If I know boys like I know them, he’s probably with Aly enjoying his time. Plus, my house isn’t far from here.”

  “I could call them back and tell them—”

  My face fell. “You’ll do no such thing. They need you at work and I know you need the hours. Get ready. I’ll walk home, okay?”

  “I really don’t feel good about this, Clint. You aren’t fully recuperated. You’ve just been cleared to heal outside of the therapist’s office. It might be too long—”

  I pressed my lips against hers, sealing her words off with yet another kiss. I wrapped my arms around the girl I’d just made love to, pulling her as closely to me as I could get. Her lips smashed against mine. Our teeth clattered together. She made me feel as if I were on cloud nine, floating among the stars threatening to cover the whole of Los Angeles. I knew she was worried about me. I was, too. My stamina was still on the mend, and there was a good chance I’d have to stop for a breather or two on my walk home.

  But I wasn’t going to let that hold me back.

  “Go. To. Work. Rae.”

  I punctuated the words with kisses before my hands slipped to her hips. She sighed as her forehead fell against mine. I felt her fingertips curling into my chest. My heart beat against her skin. Against her hands as they tried keeping me rooted. I knew she didn’t want to go to work. They had interrupted us at a terrible time. And truth be told, I wanted to hop back into bed and hold her. I wanted to leap back into her arms, pull her against me, and fuck her into that mattress until the words poured effortlessly from both of our mouths.

  I knew she needed the hours, though. Especially if she wanted to save to move out after graduation.

  Rae sighed. “At least let me know when you get home safely. Okay?”

  I nodded. “Of course. This’ll give me time to stretch my legs. Work on my stamina. Allow me to clear my head for a bit before getting into the house.”

  “Is your dad still there?”

  I paused. “Yeah. He’s still home.”

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  It made me sick she even had to ask. “I’ll be fine, Rae. I know how to stand my ground with him.”

  “I don't know about this.”

  I cupped her cheeks. “Look. It’s a twenty-minute walk. It’s not even six o’clock. You’ll hear from me before you get ready and leave for work in the first place. I promise.”

  And after a pause, she nodded. “Okay. Let’s get you out of here, then.”

  “Atta girl.”

  She walked me to the front door before pulling me in for one more kiss. She fisted my shirt, wrapping it around her hand before pulling me down to her lips. I growled down the back of her throat and cloaked her in my arms. I loved it when she took control like that. When she thought she had the upper hand. I whipped her around, backing her into the wall in front of the door as my knee pressed between her thighs.

  The glorious thighs I’d just relished with my lips.

  Rae giggled. “We’re both going to be late if you don’t stop.”

  I grinned. “I’m not the one that initiated that kiss, beautiful.”

  “I guess I’ll take the blame for it. But just this once.”

  “Just this once, indeed.”

  I chuckled, then captured her lips one last time. I kissed the tip of her nose, both of her cheeks, then planted one on her forehead. And after pep-talking myself in my head, I finally pulled away. I left her house, walking myself up the street and out of view before I stopped to catch my breath.

  And for the first time in a long time, I admired the world around me.

  I noticed the flowers lining the sidewalks as I walked by them. I noticed the cracks in the concrete where the land below it was slowly winning the war. I gazed up into the light blue sky, slowly cracking against the colors o
f a sunset teeming on the horizon. Things I’d never noticed while zooming around on my motorcycle. A world I had yet to experience because of the fast-paced, angry life I’d led up until this point. The breeze blew against my face, drying the beads of sweat on my brow as they formed.

  It felt different than the breeze on my bike.

  It felt comforting. Soothing. Not like the talons that clawed at my leather-jacketed back while speeding through town. I mean, yes. I missed my bike. But there was something about the world around me that couldn't be appreciated while on it. Like the rabbits hopping around in people’s front yards. Or the laughter of young kids growing up down the off-shoot roads I passed to get to my own. The grass was green. I mean, incredibly green. A vibrant green that reminded me of those darkened neon signs in antique shops around the city.

  I smiled at the life around me as I turned down the road I lived on.

  I had a lot of good things going for me now. I had a great girl in my corner. I had new friends I felt I could trust. Who supported me and weren’t dragging me down and encouraging me to be an absolute asshole. I had a stepmother who wanted a relationship with me. I had teachers who were helping me get through homework and missed tests so I could still graduate. Hell, even the principal of the school smiled at me every once in a while, instead of frowning my way with disapproval and frustration in his eyes.

  I felt good about life, for once.

  I stopped for one last breather a couple of blocks away from my house. I watched it looming in the distance, sparkling underneath the harshness of the sun. Sweat dripped down my back as I sighed. I watched the off-colored white glisten against the deep red shutters of the house. During the entirety of my childhood, I remembered that house in three distinct ways. Three different sets of colors that all popped more than the houses around it. Maybe it was the fresh coats of paint put on it every year that kept the house lively. Maybe it was the fact that it was the biggest house on the block. Or, maybe, it was the fact that we had the only house with a wrap-around porch as well as a wrought iron front gate that was barely utilized.

  Either way, it stood out.

  I picked up the pace. I went from standing still to walking. To speed walking. To jogging. I burst into a sprint, pumping air through my lungs and feeling them expand into my back. I felt the last pangs from my ribcage fall free, releasing the last of the pressure in my gut. I smiled at the sensation. At how free my body felt. I rushed up the driveway and leapt onto the porch, relishing the sweat that dripped off my brow. Down my nose. Drenching my neck and the collar of my T-shirt.